Wednesday, June 15, 2011

seeking salvation


During the Majlis Zikir today, Ustaz Shafi (above) quoted what Allah mentioned in the Qur’an:


And when My servants ask you [O Muhammad] concerning Me, then
surely I am very near [2:186]

He then stressed on this part of the verse 3 times:

surely I am very near!
surely I am very near!
surely I am very near!

And then he quoted [50:16] :
Closer to him than the veins in his neck!

And that was all it took to make many who were present drown in
"O Allah; Enlighten what is dark in me, Strengthen what is weak in me, Mend what is broken in me, Bind what is bruised in me, Heal what is sick in me, Straighten what is crooked in me, and Revive whatever Peace and Love has died in me. - Amin"


[Qur’an 25:70] Except for those who repent, believe and do righteous work. 
For them Allah will replace their evil 

Sunday, June 12, 2011

oh Allah please forgive me..

oh Allah please forgive me..
Oh Allah please forgive me..

Allah who is the turner over hearts

Allah who is the turner over hearts! 
Make my heart firm upon your religion
Hadith Tirmidhi

Subhan’Allah..


Horseshoe Bend, Arizona.

Subhan’Allah..


Aurora Borealis.

Subhan’Allah..


Vulcan, Island of Lanzarote, Canary Islands.
The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: 

"The woman who boastfully parades in front of males after adorning herself is like the darkness of Qiyamat."

The Prophet (saws) said: 

Whenever you make a supplication for another believer and he is not present, an angel will say ‘and same to you.’

Why do I wear hijab?

10. Because I’m free!
No one has the right to see anything of me that I don’t give them permission to see. It’s my right to choose who gets to see the best of me – and that will be the one who Allah gave the right to see me, the one who is halal for me, not some stranger. This is a man who will, insha’Allah, have the same feelings of love towards me, and will be willing to sacrifice for me like I sacrifice for him.
9. Because I am precious.
There’s no way I’m going to degrade myself by becoming an object to be seen by the eyes of every man and stranger. And I’m not going to let anyone steal a glance at my bare body, so long as I can help it.
But I can’t stop the men from looking… and I apologize to my sister who does not wear the hijab, because there are those out there with weak souls that will look your way, even if you do not want it. That is why Allah made the hijab fard, so that those with weak hearts will not be tempted in the same way. I’m talking about those men who, wherever they walk or drive, are always looking at every woman they see. And they continue their search, because no amount of looking is enough for them – but I won’t let them see much of me.
8. Because I respect myself.
I value myself and will not enter that sexual race where the prize is a vulgar word, a lustful glance, or the offer of an inappropriate friendship or relationship.
7. Because my beauty isn’t just on the outside.
When my husband comes along, the one I will marry and give a part of my life to, the one I will share my hopes and dreams with, the one who will become the father of my children – he will not choose me because of my body, insha’Allah. I do not want him to love me for it; I want him to know me for who I really am, to love my personality, to respect my values. Beauty fades with age, but the soul does not. There are many women out there who choose to wear the hijab after they are married, thinking that is how they will win a husband over initially. But if it was beauty that won him over in the first place, it can win him over again with another woman.
6. Because I fear for my brother in Islam.
The one I see at school or work or even on the bus, the one who’s struggling to please Allah by lowering his gaze. I do not want to be a hardship on him, and I do not want to be an obstacle in his path of closeness to Allah. How would I stand before my Lord bearing such a sin?
5. Because I care about my brothers in Islam.
Many of these are brothers who, more than anything, want to get married to fulfill their desires in a permissible way, want to avoid haram glances – but they can’t get married yet because of their financial circumstances. I do not want to be a reminder of that to any of my brothers as he passes me, I do not want to be someone who arouses the desires he is trying so hard to control.
4. Because the “zina” (fornication) of the eye is the glance.
The Prophet salla Allahu alayhi wasallam said, “Every son of Adam has his share of zina. For the eyes may commit zina and their zina is looking…” [Bukhari, Muslim and Ahmed].
I want to protect myself from such glances. I don’t want to make such glances. I don’t want to be the object of such glances, either, and I certainly don’t want to be the cause of these glances. I don’t want anything at all to do with them.
3. Because I care about my sister in Islam.
The woman who walks along with her husband as he glances at me, comparing us and thinking of all the different women there are out there, while she experiences the hurt and jealousy. One day I might be faced with the same thing, and even if I think I’m pretty… well, there’s always prettier.
2. Because I fear for myself.
Then there’s another reason, a more important reason, and it’s the hijab: that hijab I will one day wear as part of my burial clothes. There’s one difference here – I won’t have a choice about whether I wear that hijab or not, so why not wear it in this life, while I have the choice to follow the command of Allah? Allah asks us to be modest even in our graves when no one will see us or value us, so why shouldn’t we do it while alive? I want to wear hijab before it’s too late to be rewarded for it, before it’s too late to avoid punishment for not wearing it. I would rather walk this earth obeying and pleasing my Lord because I choose to, rather than meeting Him on the Day of Judgment having displeased Him.
1. Because Allah said so.
But in the end, these are all secondary reasons, all reasons that come after the most important reason of all: I wear my hijab to obey Allah and worship Him. Even if I did not know the wisdom behind hijab or have any other reason for wearing it, I would still wear it because He has asked me to. I choose to be of those who say, “We hear and we obey” [2:285].
And that is why I wear my hijab, walhamdulilah. May Allah make the hijab a jewel to every Muslim woman, as it is to me.

“Muhammad al-Durrah incident”



“Muhammad al-Durrah incident”

The Muhammad al-Durrah incident took place in the Gaza Strip on September 30, 2000, on the second day of the Second Intifada, amid widespread rioting throughout the Palestinian territories. Jamal al-Durrah and his 12-year-old son, Muhammad, were filmed by Talal Abu Rahma, a Palestinian cameraman freelancing for France 2, as they sought cover behind a concrete cylinder after being caught in crossfire between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian security forces. The footage, which lasts just over a minute, shows the pair holding onto each other, the boy crying and the father waving, then a burst of gunfire and dust, after which the boy is seen slumped across his father’s legs.

The boy had died after being shot by 4 bullets. After an emotional public funeral, Muhammad was hailed throughout the Arab and Muslim worlds as a martyr. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) accepted responsibility at first, a position they formally withdrew in September 2007.
The Prophet (pbuh) said that the Hour will not come until: “you see the (once) poor, naked, barefoot arab shepherds of sheep and goats competing in making tall buildings”

Why as Muslims, we call ourselves slaves of god? While...

…Christians consider themselves beloved people/children of God.


This is a response to this question. :)


Firstly, we, Muslims consider ourselves beloved people of God, too! 
We define our own relationship with Allah. As reported by Abu Huraira, the Prophet (saw) said: 
Allah the Almighty said:


I am as My servant thinks I am. 
I am with him when he makes mention of Me.
If he makes mention of Me to himself, I make mention of him to Myself; and if he makes mention of Me in an assembly, I make mention of him in an assembly better than it. 
And if he draws near to Me an arm’s length, I draw near to him a fathom’s length. And if he comes to Me walking, I go to him at speed.


Evidently, as reported in this Hadith Qudsi, Allah loves us ever so much. Especially if we love Him!


Apart from that, here are other evidences of His love:
Many verses from the Qur’an which talks about the characteristics of a believer that he loves.
His obvious blessings. (e.g. our 5 senses, family & friends, etc.)
His names (e.g. Al-Wadud, which means the Loving one.) See the list of His 99 names with the meaning here!


However, we prefer to call ourselves servants and slaves of Allah, because weknow our place. We realise and admit that He is our Creator and the Almighty. We admit that we are totally insignificant and powerless against Him. We submit to Him and are willing to serve Him - adhere to his orders and restrictions - for we admit that He knows best. Allah is our god, and we are His servants(by-choice).:)


Hope this somewhat answer your question. Basically, we define our own relationship with Allah. :]


Wallahua’lam.


P.s. Christians call themselves slaves of god, too. Google it. haha. :)


p.s.s. We dont call ourselves children of god because, as stated in Surah Al-Ikhlas: God begets not, nor is He begotten.

Saturday, June 11, 2011


«اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ غَيْرَ مَكْفِيَ وَلَا مُوَدَّعٍ وَلَا مُسْتَغْنًى عَنْهُ رَبَّنَا»

O Allah ! All praise is due to You, without being able to sufficiently thank You, nor ever wish to be cutoff from You, nor ever feeling rich from relying on You; our Lord!

* A conversation of a Muslim sister *

“I’m so tired.”

“Tired of what?”… “Of all these people judging me.”

“Who judged you?”

“Like that woman, every time I sit with her, she tells me to wear hijab.”

“Oh, hijab and music! The mother of all topics!”

“Yeah! I listen to music without hijab…haha!”

“Maybe she was just giving you advice.”

“I don’t need her advice. I know my religion. Can`t she mind her own business?”

“Maybe you misunderstood. She was just being nice.”

“Keeping out of my business, that would be nice…”

“But it’s her duty to encourage you do to good.”

“Trust me. That was no encouragement. And what do you mean `good` ?”

“Well, wearing hijab, that would be a good thing to do.”

“Says who?”

“It’s in the Qur’an, isn’t it?”

“Yes. She did quote me something.”

“She said Surah Nur, and other places of the Qur’an.”

“Yes, but it’s not a big sin anyway. Helping people and praying is more important.”

“True. But big things start with small things.”

“That’s a good point, but what you wear is not important. What’s important is to have a good healthy heart.”

“What you wear is not important?”

“That’s what I said.”

“Then why do you spend an hour every morning fixing up?”

“What do you mean?”

“You spend money on cosmetics, not to mention all the time you spend on fixing your hair and low-carb dieting.”

“So?”

“So, your appearance IS important.”

“No. I said wearing hijab is not an important thing in religion.”

“If it’s not an important thing in religion, why is it mentioned in the Holy Qur’an?”

“Youknow I can’t follow all that’s in Qur’an.”

“You mean God tells you something to do, you disobey and then it’s OK?”

“Ye God is forgiving.”

“God is forgiving to those who repent and do not repeat their mistakes.”

“Says who?”

“Says the same book that tells you to cover.”

“But I don’t like hijab, it limits my freedom.”

“But the lotions, lipsticks, mascara and other cosmetics set you free?! What`s your definition of freedom anyway?”

“Freedom is in doing whatever you like to do.”

“No. Freedom is in doing the right thing, not in doing whatever we wish to do.”

“Look! I’ve seen so many people who don’t wear hijab and are nice people, and so many who wear hijab and are bad people.”

“So what? There are people who are nice to you but are alcoholic. Should we all be alcoholics? You made a stupid point.”

“I don’t want to be an extremist or a fanatic. I’m OK the way I am without hijab.”

“Then you are a secular fanatic. An extremist in disobeying God.”

“You don’t get it, if I wear hijab, who would marry me?!”

“So all these people with hijab never get married?!”

“Okay! What if I get married and my husband doesn’t like it? And wants me to remove it?”

“What if your husband wants you to go out with him on a bank robbery?!”

“That’s irrelevant, bank robbery is a crime.”

“Disobeying your Creator is not a crime?

“But then who would hire me?”

“A company that respects people for who they are.”

“Not after 9-11”

“Yes. After 9-11. Don’t you know about Hanan who just got into med school? And the other one, what was her name, the girl who always wore a white hijab…ummm…”

“Yasmeen?”

“Yes. Yasmeen. She just finished her MBA and is now interning for GE.”

“Why do you reduce religion to a piece of cloth anyway?”

“Why do you reduce womanhood to high heals and lipstick colors?”

“You didn’t answer my question.”

“In fact, I did. Hijab is not just a piece of cloth. It is obeying God in a difficult environment. It is courage, faith in action, 
and true womanhood. But your short sleeves, tight pants…

“That’s called `fashion`, you live in a cave or something? First of all, hijab was founded by men who wanted to control women.”

“Really? I did not know men could control women by hijab.”

“Yes. That’s what it is.”

“What about the women who fight their husbands to wear hijab? And women in France who are forced to remove their hijab by men? What do you say about that?

“Well, that’s different.”

“What difference? The woman who asked you to wear hijab…she was a woman, right?”

“Right, but…”

“But fashions that are designed and promoted by male-dominated corporations, set you free? Men have no control on exposing women and using them as a commodity?! Give me a break!”

Wait, let me finish, I was saying…”

“Saying what? You think that men control women by hijab?”

“Yes.”

“Specifically how?”

“By telling women how and what to wear, dummy!”

“Doesn’t TV, magazines and movies tell you what to wear, and how to be `attractive’?”

“Of course, it’s fashion.”

“Isn’t that control? Pressuring you to wear what they want you to wear?”

[Silence]

“Not just controlling you, but also controlling the market.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, you are told to look skinny and anorexic like that woman on the cover of the magazine, by men who design those magazines and sell those products.”

“I don’t get it. What does hijab have to do with products.”

“It has everything to do with that. Don’t you see? Hijab is a threat to consumerism, women who spend billions of dollars to look skinny and live by standards of fashion designed by men…and then here is Islam, saying trash all that nonsense and focus on your soul, not on your looks, and do not worry what men think of your looks.”

“Like I don’t have to buy hijab? Isn’t hijab a product?”

“Yes, it is. It is a product that sets you free from male-dominated consumerism.”

“Stop lecturing me! I WILL NOT WEAR HIJAB! It is awkward, outdated, and totally not suitable for this society … Moreover, I am only 20 and too young to wear hijab!”

“Fine. Say that to your Lord, when you face Him on Judgment Day.”

“Fine.”

“Fine.”

[Silence]

“Shut up and I don’t want to hear more about hijab niqab schmijab Punjab!”

[Silence]

She stared at the mirror, tired of arguing with herself all this time.

Successful enough, she managed to shut the voices in her head, with her own opinions triumphant in victory on the matter, and a final 
modern decision accepted by the society - but rejected by the Faith:

“Yes!” - to curls on the hair - “No!” - to hijab!

————————————————————
Subhana’Allah!!!

“And he (/she) is indeed a failure who corrupts it [the soul]!”[Holy Quran 91:10]

“Nay! You prefer the life of this world; While the hereafter is better and more lasting.”[Holy Quran: 87:16-17] “You are the best community (Ummah) raised up for (the benefit of) humanity; enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong and believing in Allah.[Holy Quran: 3:110]
If Allah is your helper, none can overcome you; and if He forsakes you, who is there after Him that can help you? In Allah (Alone) let believers put their trust.
The Holy Qur’an (3:160)

Allah will grant a way out for anyone who heeds Him, and provide for him in a manner he could have never anticipated.Allah is enough for anyone who relies on Him; Allah will accomplish His purpose. Allah has granted everything in due proportion.

[Surah Talaq:2-3] “Give glad-tidings to those who have sabr. Those who - when afflicted with a affliction - say: Indeed, we belong to Allâh and to Him shall we return. They are those on whom are the blessings from their Lord and His mercy. They are the ones who are guided.” [ Sûrah al- Baqarah 2:155-157]
“Give glad-tidings to those who have sabr. Those who - when afflicted with a affliction - say: Indeed, we belong to Allâh and to Him shall we return. They are those on whom are the blessings from their Lord and His mercy. They are the ones who are guided.” [ Sûrah al- Baqarah 2:155-157]


"Improve your secret and private life, and Allah will improve your public and social life. Make matters well between you and Allah, and Allah will make matters well between you and people. Work for the Hereafter, and Allah will be enough for you in your worldly concerns."

— Imam Sufyaan

Why do we not realise 
that it is not up to people to gauge how pious we are,
Whatever deeds we do is strictly for Allah.
A pious person will never try to impress others with his deeds.

Sunnahs of Our Beloved Prophet Muhammad

Sunnahs of Eating:
Sit and eat on the floor.

Spread out a cloth on the floor first before eating.

Wash both hands up to the wrists.

Recite “Bismillah wa’la barakatillah’ aloud.

Eat with the right hand.

Eat from the side that is in front of you.

If a morsel of food falls down, pick it up, clean it and

eat it.

x Do not lean and eat.

x Do not find fault with the food.

x Remove your shoes before eating.

x When eating, sit with either both knees on the

ground or one knee raised or both knees raised.

x Clean the plate and other utensils thoroughly after

eating.

By doing this, the utensils make dua for one’s

forgiveness.

x Recite dua after eating.

x First remove the food then get up

x After meals wash both the hands.

x Thereafter gargle the mouth.

x Whilst eating one should not remain completely

silent.

x Eat with three fingers if possible.

x One should not eat very hot food.

x Do not blow on the food.

x After eating one should lick his fingers.

Sunnahs of drinking:

x A Muslim should drink with the right hand. Shaytaan

Drinks with the left hand.

x Sit and drink.

x Recite “Bismillah” before drinking.

x After drinking say ” Alhamdullilah”.

x Drink in 3 breaths removing the utensil from the

mouth after each sip.

x Do not drink directly from the jug or bottle. One

should pour the contents into a glass first and then

drink.

Sunnahs of Sleeping:

x Discuss with one’s family members matters

pertaining to Deen before going to sleep (whether it is

in the form of reading some Islamic Books or narrating

some incidents of Sahabah etc.).

x To sleep in the state of Wuzu.

x To make the bed yourself.

x Dust the bed thrice before retiring to bed.

x One should change into some other clothes

(e.g.pyjamas) before going to sleep.

x It is Sunnah to sleep immediately after Isha Salaah.

x To apply surmah in both the eyes.

x To brush the teeth with a miswaak.

x To sleep on the right hand side.

x To sleep with the right palm under the right cheek.

x To keep the knees slightly bent when sleeping.

x To refrain from sleeping on ones stomach.

x To sleep on a bed or to sleep on the floor are both

sunnah.

x To face Qiblah.

x To recite Surah Mulk, before sleeping.

x To recite Ayatul Kursi.

x To recite Surah Ikhlaas, Surah Falaq and Surah Naas

before sleeping 3 times and thereafter blow over the

entire body thrice.

x Recite Tasbeeh-e-Fathima before sleeping.( i.e. 33 X

Subhan Allah 33 X Alhamdulillah and 34 X Allahu

Akbar).

x To recite the dua before sleeping.

x To wake up for Tahajjud Salaah.

Sunnahs on Awakening:

x On awakening rub the face and the eyes with the

palms of the hands in order to remove the effects of

sleep.

x When the eyes open in the morning say “

Alhamdullilah” thrice and then recite Kalima Tayyibah.

x Thereafter recite the dua on awakening.

x On awakening cleanse the mouth with a miswaak.

Sunnahs when wearing clothes:

x Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) loved white

Clothing.

x When putting on any garment Rasulallah (Sallallahu

Alayhi wasallam) always began with the right limb.

x When removing any garment Rasullallah (Sallallahu

alayhi wasallam) always removed the left limb first.

x Males must wear the pants above the ankles. Females

should ensure that their lower garment covers their

ankles.

x Males should wear a “topee” or turban. Females must

wear scarves at all times.

x When wearing shoes, first wear the right shoe then

the left.

x When removing them first remove the left and then

The right.

Sunnahs of the Toilet :

x Enter the toilet with your head covered.

x To enter the toilet with shoes.

x Recite the dua before entering the toilet.

x Enter with the left foot.

x To sit and urinate. One should never urinate whilst

Standing.

x To leave the toilet with the right foot.

x To recite the dua after coming out of the toilet

x One should not face Qiblah or show his back towards

the Qiblah.

x Do not speak in the toilet.

x Be very careful of the splashes of urine (being

unmindful in this regard causes one to be punished in

the grave).

x After relieving oneself, to cleanse oneself using

water.



Sunnahs of the Home:

x To recite the dua before entering the home.

x To greet those that are in the house with “Assalaamu

Alaykum”.

x To announce ones arrival by coughing, greeting, etc.

Even though it may be your own house.

Other Sunnahs of High Importance:

x Using a miswaak is a great Sunnah of Rasulullah

(Sallallahu alayhi wasallam). One who makes

miswaak when making wuzu and thereafter performs

salaah will receive 70 times more reward. It will also

enable one to easily recite the kalima at the time of

death.

x To take a Ghusl bath on a Friday.

x To apply itr (applies to men only).

x To show mercy to those that are younger than you.

x To respect your elders.

x It is sunnah to ponder over Allah Ta’ala and His

Creation.

x For men to keep a beard that is one fist in length.

x To visit a Muslim when he is sick.

x To be good towards ones neighbour.

x To meet a Muslim with a cheerful face.

x To care for the poor and the needy.

x To keep good relations with all your relatives.

x To honour a guest even though he may not be of a

very high position.

x To greet all Muslims by saying ” Assalaamu alaykum

wa rahmatullahi wa barakaatuhu”.

x To keep the gaze on the ground whilst walking.

x To speak softly and politely.

x To command people to do good.

x To forbid them from doing evil.

x To carry ones shoes in the left hand.

x To make wuzu at home before going to the Masjid.

x To enter the Masjid with the right foot.

x To leave the Masjid with the left foot.

x To recite some portion of the Quran Shareef daily.

x To be hospitable towards one’s guest.

x To exchange gifts with one another.

x To make dua to Allah Ta’ala for the fulfillment of

one’s needs in what ever language one desires.

x To consult with one’s parents, teachers or elders

before doing any work.

x To respect one’s parents.

Subuh



Kira-kira 1400 tahun lepas, Rasulullah SAW mendoakan untuk kita: Sakhr al-Ghamidi meriwayatkan bhw Rasullulah SAW bersabda: 
"Ya Allah, berkatilah umatku pada AWAL PAGI mereka." 
Apabila baginda mengutus utusan atau tentera, baginda mengutusnya pada permulaan hari. Sakhr adalah seorang pedagang, dan dia mengutus dagangannya pada permulaan hari: dan dia menjadi bertambah kaya dan mewah. (at-Tirmidhi dan Ahmad) 
Apa korang rasa? Lebih seribu tahun lepas baginda SAW mendoakan seluruh ummatnya supaya diberkati pada awal pagi. 
Adakah kita sanggup mensia2kan doa seorang Rasul kita sendiri? 
Kalau korang tengok balik kat hadith tu,tentera diutus pada awal pagi dan mereka diberkati. 
Sakhr seorang pedagang, dan dia berjaya kumpul kekayaan. 
Sesuatu yang kita tak akan dapat dari mana-mana buku business. 
Rather, Nabi kita sendiri yang telah mengajar kita. 
Cuma diri yang dhaif ni yang kurang mendengar. 
Nak bukti lagi? 
Diriwayatkan dari Abu Hurairah : 
"Rasulullah SAW berkata: 
'Agama itu mudah, dan sesiapa yang memberatkankan dirinya dalam beragama tak akan dapat meneruskannya dengan cara sebegitu. Jadi janganlah kalian melampau, tetapi cubalah menjadi sesempurna yang mungkin dan terimalah berita baik bahawa kalian akan diberi ganjaran; dan dapatkan kekuatan dengan beribadah pada waktu PAGI dan malam." (Bukhari) 
dapatkan kekuatan dengan beribadah pada PAGI dan malam.... 
Nampak kan patternnya di sini... :) 
Kalau kita betul2 menginsafi hadith ni dan sampaikan pada orang, memang insaf nak bangun lewat & tido balik lepas Subuh. 
Kerugian yang sangat nyata....