Assalamualaikum 😄 my amazing brothers and sisters,
A few days back I went to meet a relative of mine with my mum. I was observing the fast of Shawwal, and since it was maghrib (prayer at sunset) time I had to break my fast there. There was this little sister around 6 yrs who was playing with me and we had our dates 🍮 together. Later on I went inside a room to pray maghrib and she came along. Now as I wanted to pray, I took a prayer mat and asked her “where is the Qiblah (direction)?”. I have prayed their before also, but I just couldn’t remember the right direction. So she pointed me straight, but since she was a child I just asked her again “pakka?” meaning “sure?”. So she replied,”yeah, I also pray in this direction”. Then I well assured moved ahead and went on with my prayer.
After I was done with my prayer I asked her, “So why didn’t you join me for the prayer?” playfully.
“Because it is NOT Ramadan and I am not even fasting.”
Well I was quiet for few seconds after which I explained her that Salah (prayer) is to be prayed at all times, not just ramadan or when you are fasting.
Ramadan came and went, we had our Eid celebrations also, now what? Back to the pretty same life. I don’t think I should write anymore because what the little sister said speaks tons in itself. Just remember that to make your child what you want, you need to be one yourself. You can’t run around them shouting to pray or do something that you don’t do yourself. See the depth of what she said, maybe you can find greater lessons than me and if you don’t mind do share them also. 😊
Ayan got a new job and the company was doing great after his advent, eventually within few months of his appointment he got promoted. Their boss gave a party to all his colleagues and their families. Zaavan, Omar, Labib and few others were sitting and having their after meal tea when Labib spoke up full of suspicion “I was waiting to get promoted since long, wonder what has Ayan done so special to get this post?”. Perhaps bribed the boss said Zaavan and others nodding in agreement. The conversation continued each one giving their own opinions on the topic. Someone said maybe he is involved in something illegal and someone even suggested that he was involved in magic! Clearly visible that they weren’t happy with his promotion. Omar stood up and said “he is a good guy and we should think better of him, maybe he just worked hard!” and walked away annoyed with the fact that no one was happy for the success of their brother and moreover were talking negative of him.
On the other hand the sisters were all congratulating Ayan’s wife Sara for her husband’s success except Adiva who was standing far away from them with Tanaz. Adiva exclaimed disgusted “how could she post such a thing about me?”
To which Tanaz replied “she never meant it for you.”
“How do you know that?”
“How do you know that it was meant for you, it was just a general reminder for everyone”emphasizing.
“I just know, didn’t you notice she didn’t even greet me.”
“That is because she didn’t see you. Lets go there and she will surely greet you when she sees you.” And surely enough did Sara greet Adiva and Tanaz upon seeing them.
Assalamualaikum😄 my amazing brothers and sisters,
This is the scenario in most of our parties and gatherings. Some people assume ill of others just because they got good job, earns more, a student getting good marks, sister looks beautiful and many more. Apparently those people who think worst of others have shortcomings themselves. Like ibn qayyim al jawziyah (rahimullah) said that our tongue👅 is like a spoon, how? Well with the spoon we can taste a pot full of food, in the same way the tongue scoops out whats within our hearts. If our hearts are clean so will be our tongue and if the hearts are filthy so will be our tongue. This is one of the reasons for our negative speech.
Negative assumptions are indeed a great problem and what we need to do is to close the door on them even before they start developing within our minds. Most of the arguments, altercations and squabbling between friends, family, with different people in communities, schools, job places you name it, are because of negative assumptions. So and so said that, he said this, she said that….and it goes on. Allah says in the Quran-
“O you who have believed, avoid much [negative] assumption. Indeed, some assumption is sin. And do not spy or backbite each other. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his brother when dead? You would detest it. And fear Allah ; indeed, Allah is Accepting of repentance and Merciful.” (Surah Hujurat verse 12)
Some assumptions are obviously fine if they are good assumptions but negative assumptions are sin as mentioned in the verse. Now lets analyze how are assumptions, spying and backbiting connected. If a person assumes something about someone the urge to know more about their assumption can lead to spying, which can further lead that person to do backbiting. Spying and disclosing others secrets is not the right way to go about and about backbiting as we know it is equal to a dreadful deed, eating the flesh of your brother. As for the proper definition of backbiting lets take a look at our greatest source-
Abu Dharr once asked the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him): O Messenger of Allah, what is gheebah (backbiting)? He replied: It is to mention about your brother that which he detests. Abu Dharr said: O Messenger of Allah, what if that which is mentioned of him should actually be in him? He replied: Know that when you mention that which is in him, you have committed his gheebah, and when you mention that which is not in him, then you have slandered him.[1]
We are all effected by this disease at some point of time and we need to find the cure for it before it takes a major form and cures will be mentioned in my next post. But for now as Allah mentioned in the verse that he is merciful and accepting of repentance we should seek his mercy and forgiveness if we have done backbiting and assumed wrong of others.
[1] Reported by Abu Hurairah(RA) Reference : Sahih Muslim 2589 In-book reference : Book 45, Hadith 91
Assalamalaikum – May peace be upon you my amazing sisters and brothers out there.
As being a human there always has been a common interest of knowing the future due to our limited knowledge, to know the unseen in order to make it better or save ourselves from the harm that might come along. Though unaware of the days to come, I am sure we have all planned for the future to some extent. Each one of us has a plan on how to spend the rest of our week, month or year, from adults to children. We have planned for our career and other things but we aren’t certain about it. Planing to be a doctor, engineer, architect, fashion designer, though how many of us are certain about our plans-none, because the plan is never ours!
I am not a magician or horoscope reader (and they are not permitted in Islam) unaware of much details about the future but I can show one aspect of our life that will definitely happen, I will show you the future. 🎆 Excited to see?!
Yes! That is exactly what you are thinking💭. An unwanted though foretold reality. Everyone knows about it but little do we reflect upon it or act upon it. What do I mean by act upon death? It means to prepare for it, a spiritual preparation by increasing ones good deeds. Realize it early better than late, don’t let our death be realization of other person. Remember before you do any wrong, it can be the last thing you do and I am sure we all wish to die in the best state of our life. Since there is no second round, it’s just game over. I pray that may Allah the almighty take our souls in a situation when we are closest to him than we can ever be in our entire life. Ameen! . I am not trying to scare 😛 you it is just a simple reminder for you and MYSELF. So what we need to do is be happy 😄 have faith and hope in the creator of the worlds and keep on doing good deeds no matter how trivial it is. Do the obligatory and try for the voluntary.
“Read! In the Name of your Lord Who has created (all that exists). [Surah al-‘Alaq 96:1]
It all starts from reading, trying to read A B C D…. as a child, then a phrase, a sentence, a page, and finally a book. Haven’t we learned in school about the importance of reading books, make reading a habit, make books your best friends and all sort of things. Now let’s have a closer look, it’s not just read, it’s read in the name of your lord, in the name of Allah. Read to gain the pleasure of Allah, to get beneficial knowledge not just random fictitious books.
So as a Muslim it is even more important and something that shouldn’t be underestimated since it is a command first to be revealed to our beloved Prophet (ﷺ). With so much of stress given on this topic how come anyone can ignore reading. True knowledge comes from reading along with good vocabulary obviously :P.
According to Ibn Kathir this verse indicates that honour and nobility of man is in his knowledge. What makes humans different from animals or should I say best creation of Allah? It is our knowledge, our intellectual and understanding abilities, which all comes and develops through reading.
Isn’t it simple!. To understand, memorize, implement any type of knowledge – it goes back to reading. Reading Islamic texts as well as general texts is important, though our priority should be our deen which eventually teaches the way of life. Reading books of health issues, nutrition and healthy lifestyle, business management, self-development etc. can definitely help in our personal development. Biographies of Prophet (ﷺ), Sahabah, and righteous people should be read so that we can take lessons from their lives to be a better person. Habitual reading is important, especially reading Qur’an, if we don’t have that habit then let’s develop it since this habit is going to result in our development. You might have read twilight, hunger games, wimpy kid, famous five etc .
Today’s necessity is to read the “Quran” and understand it. The reason for our sufferings is due to our negation of Quran and it’s commands. Just praying five times a day, fasting and paying charity won’t work people! To improve all these acts of Ibadah, to improve our understanding about Islam we have to read. Our deen is always fired with questions, shouldn’t we have enough knowledge to defend it? And all concerns can be answered through reading.
When did you last read the Quran?!?
It’s even more sad to see some people preventing woman from learning how to read Qur’an, preventing them from gaining knowledge, and I am sure it is purely due to culture not Islam. Woman has been scholars in one era, Prophets wife Aisha (RA) was one of the best jurist, Khadijah (RA) was a business woman and many more examples can be given. It is something common that if the woman of the house is wise and knowledgeable so will be the kids and families are the building blocks of our society which in turn will lead to a very knowledgeable and productive Ummah.
All the evil practices in our society in the name of Islam which actually is the result of culture is due to lack of reading our scriptures. Jahiliyan is again creeping among us, instead of progressing we are moving away from Allah because of our laziness and not understanding the importance of Allah’s command.
Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous.
Who has taught (the writing) by the pen.
He has taught man that which he knew not” [ Surah al-‘Alaq 96:1-5]
When we talk about reading it comes along with writing ( or typing 😛 ). We have heard a lot of quotes in regards with pen. Pen is mightier than sword, pen is the greatest weapon and much more. Indeed this is true, and we as Muslims are also commanded to use the power of pen. There is narration that states, “record knowledge by writing”.
This is such an explicit instruction from our Creator, the Qur’an has answers to all your questions just take this bit of time or maybe in other words make an effort to move up to the Qur’an, open it and read it with sincerity. You want to make a change, be a revolutionist, then push yourself and READ. Encourage your family to read, follow the Qur’an and the Sunnah and trust me you will see the change. Let the revolution begin with YOU. Gain and share knowledge, propound your ideas, views and opinions.
My sisters and brothers the only way to get closer to Allah, our creator is to follow his command and read. Read his word, read Qur’an, read hadith, read the seerah of Prophet (ﷺ), read the biographies of the righteous and successful people.
Then In Sha Allah as it is said, “whoever acts according to what he knows, Allah will make him inherit knowledge which he did not know.” (tafsir Ibn kathir)
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