Wednesday, May 31

On Friendship...


Your friend is your needs answered.
He is your field which you sow with love and reap with thanksgiving.
And he is your board and your fireside.
For you come to him with your hunger, and you seek him for peace.
When your friend speaks his mind you fear not the "nay" in your own mind, nor do you withhold the "ay."
And when he is silent your heart ceases not to listen to his heart;
For without words, in friendship, all thoughts, all desires, all expectations are born and shared, with joy that is unacclaimed.
When you part from your friend, you grieve not;
For that which you love most in him may be clearer in his absence, as the mountain to the climber is clearer from the plain.
And let there be no purpose in friendship save the deepening of the spirit.
For love that seeks aught but the disclosure of its own mystery is not love but a net cast forth: and only the unprofitable is caught.
And let your best be for your friend.
If he must know the ebb of your tide, let him know its flood also.
For what is your friend that you should seek him with hours to kill?
Seek him always with hours to live.
For it is his to fill your need, but not your emptiness.
And in the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures.
For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed.

K. Gibran

Monday, May 29

A Few Reminders...

1. Give Allah what's right - not what's left.

2. Man's way leads to a hopeless end - Allah's way leads to an endless hope.

3. Alot of kneeling will keep you in good standing.

4. He who kneels before Allah can stand before anyone.

5. In the sentence, the devil may be a comma - but never let him be the period.

6. Don't put a question mark where Allah puts a period.

7. Are you wrinkled with burden? Come to the mosque for a face-lift.

8. When praying, don't give Allah instructions - just report for duty.

9. Don't wait for 6 strong men to take you to the mosque - for your janaazah.

10. We don't change Allah's message - Allah's message changes us.

11. The mosque is prayer-conditioned.

12. When Allah ordains, He sustains.

13. WARNING : Exposure to Allah may prevent burning.

14. Plan ahead - it wasn't raining when Noah built the ark.

15. Most people want to serve Allah, but only in an advisory position.

16. Suffering from truth decay? Brush up on your Quraan.

17. Exercise daily - walk with Allah.

18. Never give the devil a ride - he always wants to drive.

19. Nothing else ruins the truth like stretching it.

20. Compassion is difficult to give away because it keeps comming back.

21. He who angers you, controls you.

22. Worry is the darkroom in which negatives can develop.

23. Give Satan an inch and he'll be a ruler.

24. Be ye fishers of men - you catch them and Allah will clean them.

25. Allah doesn't call the qualified - He qualifies the called.

26. Read the Quraan - It will protect you from hellfire.

Sunday, May 28

Malice:To Hate & To Hurt (Part 1)



Continuing from the talk “Envy: The inferno within”, this talk addresses another of the diseases of the heart. One of the related topics of envy even related by the Prophet SAW in this Hadith is hatred. Malice, hatred, enmity, feelings, all these sentiments and emotions more or less overlap and cover the same thing. The Hadith referred to mentions both envy and hatred. It’s a Hadith related by Imam Tirmidhi in his Sunan and Imam Ahmed Ibn Hanbal in his Muslim.

On the authority of Az-Zubair bin Al-Awaam (RA) who said; The Prophet SAW said that the disease of the nations that preceded you has crept into you. Namely envy and hatred, and hatred is the shaver. I don’t say it shaves and removes a persons hair, rather it shaves and removes a persons deen. By that Allah in whose hands rest my soul, you will never enter Jannah until you believe, and you will never believe until you come to love one another. Should I not inform you of something that will establish this love for you and amongst you? Spread salaam amongst you.

In this Hadith, the Prophet SAW has actually linked the two diseases of envy and hatred. The diseases of the heart are not trivial, they are destructive. One of them has an extremely destructive nature. As the Prophet SAW himself describes here, hatred. We do not take the topic of love, harmony, affection, brotherhood, unity seriously. For us unity is standing on one platform, speaking apparently from one voice, singing from the same hymn sheet. Singing the same tune and song in one voice in unison. To us, unity means standing for a photo shoot, together, standing side by side, beaming from ear to ear. To us unity means putting on a front. This isn’t unity. Not in the name of religion, not in the site of Allah SWT and the Prophet SAW. Unity, harmony, love, brotherhood; all of these sentiments are related not to the smile, or to the glint in ones eyes, or to the glimmer between ones teeth, or the appearance. The sentiments are related to a person’s heart. It emanates from the heart just as hatred comes from the heart.

What Islam expects its followers to do is to eradicate that hatred from their heart, not just in ones face, in ones speech, but from ones heart, to develop that love in ones heart. Those feelings of love and affection in ones heart, not just in ones speech. This is the difference between us and the companions (RA). They were clean of heart, honest of tongue. We, are very hypocritical. We smile to each other, offer praise to each other, we flatter each other, but as soon as we turn away we’re full of anger and hatred and we abuse each other.

Disagreements

Sa’d bin Abi Waqas (RA) and Khalid bin Al-Waleed (RA) had a disagreement. They were human beings, not angels, they had a disagreement. In their disagreement, they both raised their voices and each said something to the other. When they parted, Sa’d bin Abi Waqas (RA) was sitting with someone, who began speaking ill of Khalid bin Al-Waleed (RA), thinking that these two have just had a disagreement, so let me seize this opportunity and get in a few words of my own and say what I wish to about Khalid bin Al-Waleed (RA). Why? Because, Sa’d bin Abi Waqas (RA) is angry, has just had an argument with him and he’s receptive and will listen to what he had to say. This is what we do today. But the Sahaba(RA) were different.
For us, if someone has been loyal and friendly to us for all our lives and one day we have a (minor) disagreement, a petty and trivial opinion on something. We are so bitter, so spiteful, that then we don’t just wait for somebody to come to us and speak ill of them, but we go out and search for their faults. We re extremely receptive, so much so that even if something is half baked, or half true and exaggerated, or even a blatant lie, we accept it on that occasion and at that moment, because that is what we want to hear. We are different, the Sahaba were different. So this person spoke in front of Sa’d bin Abi Waqas (RA) speaking ill of Khalid bin Al-Waleed (RA). This person was interrupted by Sa’d bin Abi Waqas (RA) who said “Leave it! because our disagreement (Khalid and mine) does not affect our relationship. We may have a disagreement in worldly terms, but it does not effect our religion, in any way; it does not affect our brotherly love, it does not affect my deen or his deen. Even in our disagreement, neither of us will transgress the bounds and limits set by Allah. Even in our disagreement none of us will commit a sin with the tongue or with the heart”.
They were the Sahaba (RA), we are the total opposite. To each others faces, we are flawless, the epitome of manners, sweet words, soft speech, soft approach, all emulating humbleness. Inside we are seething with anger, hatred, bitter and spiteful over nothing. This feeling of hatred within, it’s not trivial. We may appear as though we are united, on one platform with one stance.
In the Quran, Allah SWT speaks about unity, and says of the Jews, in Surah Al Hashr, “Think of them as being one and united, despite appearance of unity, their hearts differ”.
Unity even in Allah’s book, by our standards is not the unity of voice, unity of thought, rather it’s the harmony and unity of peoples hearts. It’s not trivial to hate someone or dislike someone, to be bitter and spiteful towards someone, to rage within. None of this is healthy for the individual or even for their religion. The Prophet SAW says in this Hadith that “..the disease of the nations before, has crept into you, envy and hatred…”. So hatred shaves a person’s religion; just as when one shaves their head, there is nothing and it is clean and free of hair, similarly, when a person’s religion is shaved off by one of his misdeeds, such as hatred, his account of good deeds is as bare as a bald head. Empty. Nothing. That is why the Prophet SAW has warned us and explained further in this Hadith, swearing in the name of Allah that we will never enter Jannah until we believe and come to love each other.
Many of us have this idea that we shouldn’t turn away from each other for more than three days, even children grasp this concept. Some think this is a joke or something taught that kids love to repeat that we can’t be enemies or not friends for more than 3 days. Allahu-Akbar, there are many Hadith that speak of this prohibition.

Allah says in Surah Al-Imran “Hold on fast to the rope of Allah (Quran) and be not divided amongst yourselves, and remember Allahs gifts to you and his blessings upon you, when you were enemies of each other, and he created enmity in your hearts and through his blessing you became brothers. And prio to this you were upon the edge of a pit of fire, and Allah saved you from it. In this way does Allah explains his verses to you, in the hope that you may find guidance”.

Everybody seems to know this verse. In this verse Allah SWT is addressing the Ansar Sahaba of Medina predominantly, because prior to the arrival of the Prophet SAW, the whole population of Medina, engaged in very bitter and futile warfare. It was a war of attrition and detonation. They were just killing each other off. That is why Allah SWT describes their conflict as being upon the edge of a pit of fire. Through the Prophet SAW, Allah united their hearts. The lesson to us from this verse, is that no matter how much we repeat this verse of the Quran, or we hear its translation and its meaning, until we practically apply it in our lives; in the manner of the companions, who lived by the teaching of this verse. Until then, we will never achieve that unity, we will never achieve the harmony that Allah SWT speaks of.

Words of Wisdom

The Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم left for us his beautiful words of wisdom; their length may be miminal but their meaning is never ending. Following is a collection of just a few of these gems:
1.. "The best richness is the richness of the soul."
(Bukhari)
2.. "A Muslim who plants a tree or sows a field, from which man, birds and animals can eat, is committing an act of charity."
(Muslim)
3.. "There is a polish for everything that takes away rust; and the polish for the heart is the remembrance of Allah."
(Bukhari)
4.. "What actions are most excellent? To gladden the heart of human beings, to feed the hungry, to help the afflicted, to lighten the sorrow of the sorrowful, and to remove the sufferings of the injured."
(Bukhari)
5.. "The most excellent Jihad is that for the conquest of self."
(Bukhari)
6.. "If you put your whole trust in Allah, as you ought, He most certainly will satisfy your needs, as He satisfies those of the birds. They come out hungry in the morning, but return full to their nests."
(Tirmidhi)
7.. "When Allah created his creatures He wrote above His throne: 'Verily, my Compassion overcomes my wrath."
(Bukhari & Muslim)
8.. "Allah will not give mercy to anyone, except those who give mercy to other creatures."
(Abdullah b. Amr: Abu Daud & Tirmidhi)
9.. " 'Son, if you are able, keep your heart from morning till night and from night till morning free from malice towards anyone.' Then the Prophet said: 'O my son! This is one of my laws, and he, who loves my laws verily loves me.' "
(Bukhari)
10.. "Say what is true, although it may be bitter and displeasing to people."
(Baihaqi)
11.. "Kindness is a mark of faith, and whoever is not kind has no faith."
(Muslim)
12.. "When you see a person who has been given more than you in money and beauty, look to those, who have been given less."
(Muslim)

Tuesday, May 23

AL KAWTHAR ACADEMY APPEAL

Sheikh Riyadh ul Haq set up the Al Kawthar Academy in Leicester a few years ago to serve as a place to hold gatherings and organise the da'wah and talks which take place. The building in Leicester is literally an old factory and is very simple but Alhamdulillah has served its purpose. It was purchased through qardha hasana and most of these were for 2 years. 2 years is now up an the Academy is in serious financial difficulties.

Every Friday night, Sheikh does a dars of the summarised Sahih al-Bukhari in English, something which has never been done before, all of which are broadcasted on the PalTalk. However, the situation has got so bad that the dars has not taken place for 2 weeks now. The amount of material Sheikh has produced is just phenomenal. Each dars of Bukhari is available on the website http://www.alkawtharacademy.org/index.php to buy as a cassette or download as an mp3 (FOR ONLY £2!), in addition to the the other lectures. This totals a number in the region of 350!!
Shaytaan threatens us with poverty by making us believe charity decreases wealth. I'm sure many people can vouch when I say that you can feel the barakah in your money afterwards when you donate to charities.
We all know the benefits of giving in charity :
"The parable of those who spend their property in the way of Allah is as the parable of a grain growing seven ears (with) a hundred grains in every ear; and Allah multiplies for whom He chooses; and Allah is Ample-giving, Knowing." (Surah Baqarah 261)

Subhanallah the least we owe to our 'ulema is to allow them to be able to disseminate their 'ilm, which in this case is through financial assistance.

One practical way we can all help is by setting up a standing order for £10 a month, which even for us students won't break the bank. Think of how quickly we spend £10 normally, subhanallah. Allah 'azza wa jall prefers the small but consistent good deeds to the bigger, infrequent ones. And if you can afford more then please do so, and if you can't afford £10 then Alhamdulillah please give what you can. You can donate online using PayPal here http://www.alkawtharacademy.org/institute/donation.php
The situation is urgent.

May Allah reward you for your intentions and strengthen you in emaan and grant you success in the akhirah and this dunya. I humbly request you make du'a for the maghfirah of the whole ummah including myself and of course the Al Kawthar Academy.
Wassalaamu 'Alaikum, wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakaatuhu

Sunday, May 14

THINK ABOUT IT.....

1. Be like the bee, which lands on fragrant flowers and fresh branches.
2. You do not have time to seek out people's defects and mistakes.
3. If Allah is with you, then whom do you have to fear? If Allah is against you, then what hope do you have?
4. The fire of envy consumes the body, and excessive jealousy is like a raging fire.
5. If you do not prepare today, then you will not be able to do anything tomorrow.
6. Withdraw peacefully from places where idle arguements are going on.
7. Let your morals and attitudes be even more beautiful than a garden.
8. Do acts of kindness and you will be the happiest of people.
9. Leave people to their Creator, leave the envier to death and forget about your enemy.
10. The pleasure of haram actions is followed by reget, loss and punishment.
May Allah guide us all and keep us true to the right path inshaAllaah!

Saturday, May 13

Ten Thoughts to Ponder

1. Remember that you Lord forgives those who ask Him for forgiveness, and He accepts the repentance of those who repent, and He accepts tho who come back to Him.
2. Show mercy to the weak and you will be happy; give to the needy and you will be well; do not bear grudges and yu will be healthy.
3. Be optimistic, for Allah is with you, and the angels are praying for your forgiveness, and Paradise awaits you.
4. Wipe away your tears, think well of your Lord, and chase away your worries by remembering the blessings that Allah bestowed upon you.
5. Do not think that this world is ever perfect for anyone. There is no one on the face the earth who gets all that he wants or is free from all kinds of distress.
6. Be like a tall tree with high aims; if a stone is thrown at it, it simply lets fruits drop.
7. Have you ever heard that grief brings back what has been lost, or that worry corrects mistakes?
So why grieve and worry then?
8. Do not expect trials and calamities, rather expect peace, safety and good health, if Allah wills.
9. Extinguish the flames of hatred from your heart by forgiving everyone who has ever hurt you.
10. Ghusl, wudu, siwak and being organized are effective medicines for all kinds of distress and worry.