Keep strong family ties (hadith)

Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “Whosever desires to have expansion in his sustenance and a prolonged life, should treat his relatives with kindness.” (Bukhari & Muslim) 

According to a Hadith, “One who joins ties when family members are co-operative and returns the same affection cannot be said to be one who joins family ties, rather the one who can truly be termed a person who joins ties is he who upholds and maintains the ties when the other family members have severed ties with him.” (Bukhari)  

A cursed person is one who is deprived of the mercy of Allah. It is an indication of this deprivation that this sin is punished in this world as well as in the Hereafter. “There is no sin more deserving of having punishment meted out by Allah to its perpetrator in advance in this world along with what He stores up for him in the next world than oppression and severing ties of family.” [Tirmidhi].  

 

Keep strong family ties!

Quran verses
16:90 (Y. Ali) Allah commands justice, the doing of good, and liberality to kith and kin, and He forbids all shameful deeds, and injustice and rebellion: He instructs you, that ye may receive admonition.
2:177 (Y. Ali) It is not righteousness that ye turn your faces Towards east or West; but it is righteousness- to believe in Allah and the Last Day, and the Angels, and the Book, and the Messengers; to spend of your substance, out of love for Him, for your kin…
4:36 (Y. Ali) Serve Allah, and join not any partners with Him; and do good- to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, those in need, neighbours who are near, neighbours who are strangers, the companion by your side, the wayfarer (ye meet), and what your right hands possess: For Allah loveth not the arrogant, the vainglorious.
Narrated Jubair bin Mut’im: That he heard the Prophet saying, “The person who severs the bond of kinship will not enter Paradise.”(Bukhari 8:73:13)
Narrated Abu Huraira: I heard Allah’s Apostle saying, “Who ever is pleased that he be granted more wealth and that his lease of life be pro longed, then he should keep good relations with his Kith and kin.” (Bukhari 8:73:14)
Narrated  Aisha: (the wife of the Prophet) The Prophet said, “The word ‘Ar-Rahm’ (womb) derives its name from ‘Ar-Rahman’ (i.e. Allah). So whosoever keeps good relations with it (womb i.e. Kith and kin), Allah will keep good relations with him, and whosoever will sever it (i.e. severs his bonds of Kith and kin) Allah too will sever His relations with him. (Bukhari 8:73:18)
Narrated Abdullah bin ‘Amr: The Prophet said, “Al-Wasil(one who maintains good relations with his kin) is not the one who recompenses the good done to him by his relatives, but Al-Wasil is the one who keeps good relations with those relatives who had severed the bond of kinship with him.” (Bukhari 8:73:20)

Action Plan

When we say “family” we mean the traditional definition of it namely husband, wife and children. Grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins , in laws and other relatives are also part of the extended Muslim family.
1.  Have at least one meal daily together  as a family preferably supper/dinner -- so you can catch up with each other.
2. Pray together -perform a salaah together as a family.
3. Learn something together i.e hadith, quran, arabic
4. Play board games or sport with each other.
5. Be loyal to each other, support each other and always consult the family when making big decisions.
6. Join a charity organisation and encourage the family to volunteer and assist with the cause.
7. Be nurturing to each other.Be able to communicate openly with respect to each other.
8. Set up family rules.
9. Ensure all the family chores are dealt with fairly.
10. Listen and understand each other.
 
Ideal Muslim home should be:
1. Simple and not ostentatious, for the Holy Prophet said: “Eat, drink, give sadaqah (charity) and wear good clothes as long as these things do not involve excess and arrogance.”
2. Clean, for the Noble Prophet said: “Cleanliness is part of faith.”
3. Free from statues or revolting pieces of art, for the Holy Prophet said, “God is beautiful and loves beauty.”
4. A place where there are the basic necessities of food and clothing; where meals are eaten together, and where there is hospitality and generosity.
5. A place where the greeting of Salaam (Peace) is heard at dawn and at night, and at times of going and coming.
6. A place where tenderness, love and mercy are the norm, for the Quran says: And we have made between you love and tenderness.
7. A place where the recitation of the Quran and the performance of salaat [prayers] is a daily occurrence, and where knowledge is imparted and pursued.
8. As a Muslim, one is required to maintain a close and caring relationship with one’s relatives. According to the Holy Prophet, one is required to visit relatives, inquire about their circumstances, spend on them, and give them sadaqah (charity) if they so deserve.

Taking notes!!!

1) Active listening. "Passive" listening is what you do when you watch a sitcom or have a casual conversation. In contrast, active listening is when you listen carefully to make sure you understand and learn the information that is being conveyed. Here are some things you should do to listen actively.

• Listen for the main point and major subpoints. Don't just write everything down. Listen carefully and make sure you understand what the purpose of this lecture is. As you take down notes, keep the main point in mind and make sure you understand how these notes are related.
• Listen for an organizational structure. Unless the teacher is a terrible lecturer, his or her notes are probably organized into some kind of outline. Listen carefully to figure out how the ideas are organized and they will make more sense. Of course, if your professor provides an outline by writing on the board or using PowerPoint notes, take advantage of this.
• Pay attention to organizational cues. Listen carefully for words and phrases that reflect the organizational structure of the lecture. Pay close attention to the introduction, as it will probably indicate how you should organize your notes. If the lecture begins with, "Today I'm going to talk about three ethnic conflicts in the Middle East," then you have a good idea of what's going to follow. Listen for "signpost" words to indicate a transition for one point to the next, such as "next" and "finally" and numerical signposts like "first" or "third."
• Listen with your eyes. Speakers communicate information through nonverbal communication. Watch the professor, and be aware of how he or she uses hand gestures, eye contact, and other body language to convey points.
• Remove distractions. Don't tempt yourself! Put away all potential study distractions, such as the campus newspaper, your Sudoku puzzle, your cell phone, and anything else that might be more interesting than the lecturer.
• Practice. Learning to concentrate and listen actively is an endurance skill. Make yourself do it, and it will get easier over time.

2) Proper techniques for writing and lecture notes. Learning to write down all the important information in an organized way is a challenge as well. Here are some tips to help you out:

• Write down the date and the topic of the lecture. This will help trigger your memory when you are studying.
• Learn to write quickly. Or type quickly, if you're using a laptop. Use lots of abbreviations. Don't worry about getting down every word, especially words like "a" and "the." Don't worry about writing neatly. As long as you can understand your notes, it's neat enough.
• Write down definitions. If your instructor defines a term, make sure you write it down and understand what it means. .
• Don't copy outline or PowerPoint notes word for word. Here's a common problem: a teacher puts a PowerPoint slide up, and students are so busy writing down every word on the slide that they stop listening to the lecture. This causes them to miss information that was discussed in the lecture but not written on the slide, and it also makes active listening impossible. Instead, use the notes to help you follow along.
• If your instructor indicates that something is important, mark it. This is a strong clue that something may be on the test.
• If your instructor is going too fast or is unclear, say something. Even the best lecturers get a little garbled sometimes. There's nothing rude about asking your teacher to clarify a point.
• Err on the side of writing down too much. Excess notes are probably not going to hurt you on the exam. Not writing down enough will.

3) Reviewing your notes. This is very important, but students don't do this nearly enough. Review your notes to make sure you understand all the information and to keep it fresh in your head. Here are some note reviewing tips:

• After the class period is over, rewrite or type your notes as soon as you can. This can help quite a bit with retaining the information.
• Read over your notes before each class period. This doesn't take very long and helps you contextualize the new information.
• As you look over your notes, mark anything that doesn't make sense to you. Stop by the instructor's office hour and ask for clarification, or ask a fellow student to help you out.
• Make friends with a studious fellow student. Find someone who goes to class all the time and who takes good notes, and sit down together once in awhile to compare notes with each other. Even if you listen actively and come to class all the time, you're bound to miss a point here and there, so this can help you both out.
• Get help if necessary. If you're having problems, show your professor your notes and ask for some guidance. Or stop by your campus study skills center and have someone go over your notes with you.

Read more at Suite101: How to Take Effective Class Notes: Active Listening and Lecture Note Taking Skills for College Students http://collegeuniversity.suite101.com/article.cfm/how_to_take_effective_class_notes#ixzz0uolJxv9b

Friday Reminders

Recite Surah Kahf
Abu saeed khudri (R.A) says that Rasulalah (S.A.W) has said that :
"Whoever recite Suratul-Kahf on Friday (the night between Thursday and Friday) enjoys the illumination between two fridays."(Nasai)
Hazarat Abdullah Bin Umar(R.A.) says that the Rasulallah(S.A.W) has said that: "Whoever recites Suratul-Kahf on Friday, will enjoy a light shining from his feet to the heaven and will have his sins forgiven comitted between the two Fridays." (Ibn Marduya)
Friday Bath:
Hazrat Abu Amama (R.A.) says that the Rasulallah (S.A.W) has said that: "The bath of Friday, pull out every sin of the man from its root." (Tibrani)
Read "Ale-imraan" after Maghrib
Abdulla Bin Abbas (R.A.) says that Rasulallah (S.A.W) has said that: "Whoever recites Suratul-Aale Imran on Friday, angels enjoy the divine shouwer of salutation on him till sunset." (Tibrani)
Read "hha-meem-Dukhan"
It is reported from Hazrat Abu Huraira (R.A.) that Rasulaalah (S.A.W) has said that:"Whoever recites Suratul-Ham-Mim Dukhan on Friday (the night between Thursday and Friday) enjoys the prayer of 70,000 angels for his forgiveness and gets all sins forgiven."(Tirmizi)

"Strive for your life in the Hereafter as if you will will die tommrow.....
and strive for your life on Earth as if you will live forever." (Islamic teaching)

Gems from class

Kareema- Saying Bisimililah should always be said before doing anything; but do not say it if you intend to do something wrong.

Nabeela- leave that puts you in doubt and take out that which does not put you to doubt

Nabeela- gem from the recitation-listen to the recitation of the Quran attentively and ponder over the verses

Sana- Ask from the one who is the Lord of the worlds and you will not be deprived

Sameera- Quran has hidaya for all mankind, but only those with taqwa can benefit from it

Rania- Allah swt is the owner of mercy all mercy and he has special mercy for those who are true believers, (I want to be with those people inshallah)

Zamirul- It's a Dua, so reflect upon the verses and say Ameen sincerely.

Annie- malik yaoum deen, deen is the recompense of what we deserve ...that just illuminated my hearth and my desire to attain taqwa

Zara-Beg for guidance. we have to ASK to be guided.

Nabeela: it is Allah who could guide you and non other...guidance is the best blessing.

Umme: True guidance is the guidance from Allah

Taibaimtiaz: Allah(SWT) be our guide.

Ameena- Ar Rahman : possessor of vast mercy and Ar Raheem: shows mercy for those who deserve it.

Faiza: We ask Allah to guide us to the straight path, In guidance we ask him to take us there until we have reached our destination, Subhan'Allah.

Tayaba-True knowledge is not what we know, but what we act upon

Zainab-Stay on the path that is straight and Allah will give you of his blessings and fulfill all your needs, Inshallah.

Sana-Ar-Raheem meaning specially merciful for the believers,Alhamdulillah we are Muslim and Allah is s[specially merciful for us

Nabeela: i.a ameen let Allah(SWT) guide us till the end.

Siddikha:  'nabudu, wa iyyaka nasthaeen': first the act of worshipping Him alone, and then asking for His help/guidance

Sara- Ibaadah is humility coupled with love and it is every action that Allah loves and is pleased with - a slave usually obeys the master but without loving to do it, however, the slave of Allah obeys Allah with humility and love at the same time.

Zamirul-It's the first surah in the Quran-Allah swt is educating us.

Moderator_02: Gem - Iyyaka na'budu wa iyyaka nasta'een - Allah links the aim and the means. The aim is to worship Allah and the means is by seeking His help.

Maha- " we humans believe we are so mighty and strong, yet without Gods help all, always goes wrong"

Bushra:Every day in every Salah, ask Allah for Hidayah irshad and tawfiq

Misbah- My Gem:Thanks Allah SWT for everything 7 for every need ask Allah SWT

Misbah-Always ask HIM SWT to show us the right path because HE SWT knows what is good for us.

Mardhiya- Allah is so merciful He has made it so easy for us if we only knew. And our enemy shaton tries to make us forget, give up, make excuses.

Taleem ul Quran 2010 Notes #3 (July 21st 2010)

Study Skills by sister Aisha Altaf

Allah forgives the one who gathers in the remembrance of Allah.

The angels honor the people of knowledge. people who learn knowledge and then act upon it, Allah loves those people, and he's also a friend of Allah. Prophet Ibrahim answered the call of Allah and brought others to it, he was the friend of Allah. 'lbn al Qiymm, stages of Knowledge 1) asking questions in a good manner 2) remaining Quiet, listening attentively 3) understanding well 4) memorize 5) teaching 6) fruit of Knowledge is to act upon the knowledge. Quran reached us through oral, listening and reciting. You have to read everyday to 1) to increase your vocabulary 2) to expand your imagination 3) to explore new avenues of Knowledge 4) to develop critical thinking 5) to discover new ideas 6) to learn from the experiences of others 7) to understand different cultures. The reward of gathering in a mosque is, if his intention is nothing but for the sake of Allah, is equal vent to the reward of hajj.

Allah mentions the people of Knowledge near the angels. The prophet Muhammad wants to sit with the people that remember Allah more than the ones who free slaves.

Husne Akhlaq Class by sister Rushda

beautiful character. Husna khuluq is the best way to deal with people, It's

the inner beauty. Akhlaq is your character, manners, and dealings

Imam Ghazali explained Khuluq as; Khuluq it is a constant state of the inside that is manifested in our actions. In the world the highest, exalted character was of the prophet. Muhammad. We should follow the prophet Muhammad.

Abu Hurairah real name Abdur Rahman. He came to Makkah and stayed with the prophet Muhammad. Abu Hurairah means father of Kittens, he was called that because he loved to play with kittens when he was little. Abu Hurairah narrated the most hadith, Abu Hurairah suffered many hardships. Abu Hurairah was an orphan. Abu Hurairah had a strong relationship with worship, He had a great relationship with his mother. Good charter of Abu Huriairah: He had a good relationship with his mother, Love to prophet, and love of Knowledge.

Ahsaan is to do utmost good. Khuluq means characteristics, habits traits, morals, inward appearance. Halaq means how something is created. Halaq is outward appearance and huluq is inward appearance. Ha la qa is a verb and it means worn out. old. To be completely beautiful, you have to be beautiful from the inside. The real beauty of a person is in its habits, dealings, and actions. What you do is a reflection of who you are.

Taleem ul Quran 2010 Notes #3 (July 21st 2010)

These are my notes for today's class. The notes aren’t in detail, its just brief details.

Tafseer by sister Maryam Saeed Sarah fatiha

To Keep you self away from doubts, and the shaitan, you have to recite Aoozu billa. When we say bismillah 'it means we remember Allah. and our acts become good.

Ba ra Kah means sitting of a camel, especially the she camel. baraKah is a mercy and a blessing from Allah. We should actually relay on Allah, by saying bis millah it means you relay on Allah.

Aya 2. The prophet Muhammad used to say Alhumdulilah in good and bad times. You should say Alhumdulliah in bad situations because it could be worse, You can praise people, but praise for Allah and people is different. Praise Allah-perfect, love, respect people-Imperfect. superficial.

Aya 3-Allah is Rahman for every creature, and Raheem for specific people.

Aya 4-he is the master of the day of judgment.

Aya 5-We shouldn't worship anyone else because there is no one like him, He is the one who nurtures, feeds, us, We ask Allah to guide us

Aya 6-Allah can show us the stright path: If we need guidance we should look upon Allah. Two types of guidance hadaya Irsheed-Its a light of Knowledge. Haddya Tawfeeq-To imply the knowledge The master, Rubbulalimeen told us that this is his path. The path that you have to pass before going to jannah is called pullsiraat. Connect the Knowledge of the Quran with your daily life. Guidance is something you will never get, unless you want it

  Aya 7-The favored people are prophets, righteous, truthful. Stick firmly to the truth even if there are a few people. Magdoob are those who have knowledge but don't implement on it. Daleel are those who have no Knowledge and they don't implement.

Ameen means on Rabb accept this from us

No one else other than Allah deserve the complete praise

Rabb means to nurture something gradually until its complete

Deen means recompense. Recompense means to get back what you deserve. The word deen also refers to justice. To give recompense to the one that deserves. Day of Recompense = Judgment day. The literal meaning of the word Ebadah is to show humility- humility means whatever you show me I will do-and Love.To express obedience lbadah is every action that Allah loves of statements and actions. These statements and action can be hidden or shown, Had aya is to guide someone with affection, Kindness, niceness, gentleness, with ease. Hadaya is to show the path, help them walk on the path, and help them reach the path. Mustaqeem is that which is stright, balanced, which leads stright to the path, that does not have ups and downs, its not the wrong way. The stright way is the way that leads to jannah. Ghadab is such anger that turns into revenge. Maghdoob are those who earned the anger of Allah, Dalal means misguidance. to get lost, to be away from the right,away from the right destination. Ghadab are the ones who know but don't care. dalal are the ones who are ignorant, don't have Knowledge.

    Sarah baqarah is a Madni Sarah, it was revealed after the hijirah. Makki and Madni has to due with the era, the time, not the place. Sarah baqarah is the longest surah in the Quran, it has 286 verses Al baqara literally means the cow."Learn Surah AlBaqarah and Surah Ale-Imran because they are two lights and they will shade their people on the day of resurrection just as two clouds or two lines of flying birds.  ("their people" means those who learned them.)

        Aya 1-These letters are of the Arabic alphabet. These letters are called haroof muqatlad-disjointed letters. Different opinions of what Huruf Muqata'at (ex: alif lam meem) mean:  1.  names of Allah (but there is no evidence for this). 2. these letters can't be translated. they don't have a meaning. 3. These letters have meaning but we don't know the meaning.  Only Allah knows. They don't have a literal meaning but they have a purpose, for example: to grab the attention of the listeners. The people (i.e. Arabs) are being reminded that these letters are the same as their but they can not produce something similar so he purpose of these letters is to show the miraculous nature of the Quran.

Aya 2- Za Ii Kah is used to show the greatness of Allah, It shows that the person who implies this book is also going to be in a exalted situation in front of Allah. kitab is that which is recorded, or written. Raib is such a doubt that creates unrest in a person, a state of being unsure. Leave that which puts you to doubt, and get what doesn't put you in doubt. There is no doubt in the Quran. you should be 100 % sure. La Raib means: 1. there is no doubt that this book is has been sent by Allah. 2. there is no doubt that it has correct guidance for the human being.or means no doubt that what is in the Quran is best for us 3. there is nothing incorrect in it.The literal meaning of taqwa is to take protection from the anger of Allah, punishment of Allah. To do That you have to do what pleases Allah, and stay away From that which will anger Allah. Only a person with taqwa will get guidance.

      Aya 3-Iman means to make a statement by the tongue, -and to believe it in the heart, - and to act upon it.Ghayb refers to everything that we do not see but Allah has informed us of them and we have to believe in them.(for example We have not seen Allah, the Hell fire, and Jannah)

In this verse/aya ghayb is referred to all those things that are hidden from us, but we have to believe in them. 1) Allah 2) angels 3) day of judgment 4) jannah and jahannum

They believe in the unseen, and they establish the prayer Qayama when you stand in prayer Iqama-to make something stand stright to establish something correctly Salah-dua, prayer, supplication, In our religion salah means the specific words and actions that are performed in a certain way.

lqamatis salah-praying the 5 daily prayers. praying in the prescribed manner, for men in particular praying in congregation, praying in the prescribed time. A person cannot have taqwa unless he establishes the prayers. If you don't have taqwa, you can't be guided.

 

If I made any mistake please forgive me:)

When We Don't Pray!!!

SAYINGS (HADITH) OF PROPHET MUHAMMAD (Sallallaahu alaihi wa salaam)

The one who disdains prayers (Salat) will receive Fifteen punishments from Allah.
Six punishments in this lifetime
Three while dying
Three in the grave &
Three on the Day of Judgment.

THE SIX PUNISHMENTS OF LIFE :
1. Allah takes away blessings from his age (makes his life misfortunate)
2. Allah does not accept his plea (Dua's)
3. Allah erases the features of good people from his face.
4. He will be detested by all creatures on earth.
5. Allah does not reward him for his good deeds. (No thawab)
6. He will not be included in the Dua's of good people.

THE THREE PUNISHMENTS WHILE DYING :
1. He dies humiliated.
2. He dies hungry.
3. He dies thirsty. Even if he drinks the water of all seas he will still be thirsty.

THE THREE PUNISHMENTS IN THE GRAVE :
1. Allah tightens his grave until his chest ribs come over each other.
2. Allah pours on him fire with embers.
3. Allah sets on him a snake called 'the brave', 'the bold' which hits him from morning until afternoon for leaving Fajr prayer, from the afternoon until Asr for leaving Dhuhr prayer and so on. With each strike he sinks 70 yards under the ground.

THE THREE PUNISHMENTS ON THE DAY OF JUDGMENT :
1. Allah sends who would accompany him to hell pulling him on the face.
2. Allah gives him an angry look that makes the flesh of his face fall down.
3. Allah judges him strictly and orders him to be thrown in hell. 
----------------------------------------------
THOSE WHO DO NOT SAY THEIR PRAYERS OF:
FAJR : the glow of their face is taken away.
ZUHR : the blessing of their income is taken away..
ASR : the strength of their body is taken away.
MAGHRIB : they are not benefited by their children.
'ISHA : the peace of their sleep is taken away.

Taleem ul Quran 2010 Notes #2 (July 20th 2010)

Today's class went great. I truly learned a lot. I think Allah has really blessed us all. Here are my notes for today's class.

• We must ask Allah to open our hearts, and make knowledge easy for us. We ask Allah to loosen the knot from our tongue, and make them understand my speech. (Ta-ha 25-28)
• Rabbi Zidni Ilma- O Allah increase our knowledge
• Whenever you recited these duas you have to visualize everything your saying 
• If you go on the path of knowledge, you will get a lot of rewards.
• The angels honor you, and you are mentioned in bigger gatherings.
• Abdullah bin Mubarak said 2/3 part of true knowledge is good manners.
• Our Ultimate goal of life should be to seek the pleasure of Allah.
• You have to cleanse your heart to gain the pleasure of Allah, at to remove any jealousy.
• Knowledge is light, and that light is not given to sinners.
• Every time something is difficult to study make istighfar
• Benefit from your teachers, friends, parents, etc
• The best time to study is after fajr. The prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) made dua that O Allah bless my Ummah in the early time.
• Etiquettes of learning;
• Arrive on time- So you don’t miss anything, and you won’t distract others
• Do come prepared- have your pens, pencils, books ready, review your notes
• Filling in the gap- come to the front of the class because satan fills in the empty gaps.
• Make space for others-
• Be considerate and show respect for other
• Be considerate and show respect to the teachers
• Even online it is important  to follow these etiquettes i.e attend your class where you won't be distracted
• Actively participate in group discussion and in class
• Memorize your lesson properly
• Avoid whispering
• LISTEN ATTENTIVLY:to understand, to take lessons, to gain wisdom, to increase your vocabulary, to expand your knowledge, to discover new ideas, to learn from the experiences of others, to be aware of your surroundings, to be listened to
• Good listening can be attained by concentrating and focus
• WRITE EVERY DAY: to organize your thoughts, to release your emotions, to learn sentence structure, to express your views, to inspire and motivate, to capture special moments, to record your ideas, to open people's minds, to convey a message
• if we are shaky, how can we give certainty to others, so confidence is also important
• Every messenger was given a miracle. The prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) was given the Miracle of the Quran
• It is important to know the words of the Quran because our Iman grows stronger, it will help us to concentrate in Salah, Qur'an touches our heart and make our actions change only when we understand the words of our creator.
• Tafseer is the science by which the Quran is understood, the science of the interpretation of the Quran
• The method of learning the Quran is to understand Quran by Quran, to understand Quran by hadith, and by the history
• Root letters are the original letters of the word, the basic letters or foundation of  a word that is necessary to analyze the word linguistically
• The word Quran is a noun; the root letters are qaf ra hamzah
• The literal meaning for surah is enclosure, fencing.  Another meaning of surah is an elevated plain or land.
• Ayah means 1) a sign, an indication 2) a lesson 3) a miracle  4) a verse or sentence
• lafaza- to throw something out, emitted spoken
• There are 114 surahs, 30 juz, 6236 verses, and 77437 words, 323,671 letters
• Harakah literally means movement, in order to pronounce a word you have to move your mouth.
• To seek refuge is called isti'adha; ta'awwudh:a'udhubillah
• The harf ba- has 17 different meanings
• Ism ul Jalalah--exclusive grand name of Allah SWT
• Rajeem means the accursed, far from the mercy of Allah
• Surah Fatiha is 25 words, 113 letters, 7 verses, makki surah- revealed before hijrah, and 5th surah to be revealed, 1st surah to be revealed in its entirety
• Surah Fatiha is also called ummul kithab. or the seven repeated verses.  Surah Fatiha is the foundation of the Quran.
• Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah said,"Al-Hamdu lillahi Rabbil-`Alamin is the Mother of the Qur'an, the Mother of the Book, and the seven repeated Ayat of the Glorious Qur'an."
• Surah Fatiha is the greatest surah of the Quran
• Surah Fatiha is also called al salah, Ash Shifa ,Ar Ruqqia (the remedy), al Hamd (the praise), Al-asaas- the foundation fathihathul kitaab (opening of the book). I hope I got all of the names.
• An Nahl:98 So when you recite the Qur'an, [first] seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the expelled[from His mercy].
• seen meem wo is the root words of bismi
• bi means with ism means name
• The root letters of Rahma are  ra ha ma
• Ar-Rahman indicates a great amount of mercy.
• Allah shows mercy to every single creature even if he is a disbeliever.
• The word rahma is also used for the womb of a mother
• Ar- Raheem the one who shows special mercy. It is the mercy of this life and the hereafter
• Hamd means to mention the most perfect attributes of someone. It is based on respect and love. It is praise that is very sincere. Since praise out of love and mercy is for Allah.
• The root letters of Rabb are  ra ba ba
• Rabb means to gradually nurture something so that it reaches its stage of completion
• Rabatulbiat is also used for a women.
• Rab gives the meaning of Khaliq : creator, Malik: owner & Mudabir: planner.
• Al Alameen is the pleural of Alam
• Alam means a sign,or a flag. A flag because a flag indicates symbols
• Allah is the Rabb of all of the worlds

 

If I made any mistakes please forgive me. leave comments to let me know what you thought of today's class and what you learned :)

Taleem ul Quran English course Notes #2 (July 20th 2010)

I will post the notes for todays class as soon as possible Inshallah

Hadith- Taleem ul Quran course

 

The Messenger of Allah ‫ ﷺ‬said;
“The best amongst you is the one who learns the Qur’an and
teaches it.”
[Al-Bukhari]

The Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬said;
“Never do a group of people gather together in one of the houses of
Allah, reciting the Book of Allah and pondering over it, except that
peace descends upon them, and mercy surrounds them, and the
angels encircle them, and Allah remembers them in His gathering.”
[Abu Dawud]

Allāh will raise those who have
believed among you and those who
were given knowledge, by degrees.
[al-Mujadilah: 11]

Jubair narrated that the Prophet
(s.a.w.) said, “Rejoice! For verily, this
Qur’an - one part of it is in the Hands
of Allah, and the other part is in your
hands. Therefore hold on to it, for you
will never be destroyed, nor will you
ever go astray after it!” [Musnad Ahmed]

Anas reported that the Prophet (saw)
said, “Verily, Allah has chosen people
amongst mankind. The People of the
Qur’an - they are the People of Allah,
and His Chosen ones.” [An-Nasa’i]

Hadith- Taleem ul Quran course 2010

Narrated AbudDarda': "Kathir ibn Qays said: I was sitting with AbudDarda' in the mosque of Damascus.  A man came to him and said: AbudDarda, I have come to you from the town of the Apostle of Allah(peace_be_upon_him) for a tradition that I have heard you relate from the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him). I have come for no other purpose. 

He said: I heard the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) say: If anyone travels on a road in search of knowledge, Allah will cause him to travel on one of the roads of Paradise. The angels willlower their wings in their great pleasure with one who seeks knowledge, the inhabitants of the heavens and the Earth and the fish in the deep waters will ask forgiveness for the learnedman. The superiority of the learned man over the devout is like that of the moon, on the night when it is full, over the rest of the stars. The learned are the heirs of the Prophets, and the Prophets leave neither dinar nor dirham, leaving only knowledge, and he who takes it takes an abundant portion. (Translation of Sunan Abu-Dawud, Knowledge (Kitab Al-Ilm), Book 25, Number 3634)"

Taleem ul Quran English course

I have enrolled in Taleem ul Quran english course. I am hoping to have the most knowledge about Islam. I hope that Allah guides me, and makes it beneficial for me.  About me, I am memorizing the Quran, Alhumdulliah I am on the 23rd para.
 Also inshallah I will be posting notes, and helpful information related to the course.

Food as Medicine

Kiwi

Tiny but mighty. This is a good source of potassium, magnesium, Vitamin E & fiber. It's Vitamin C content is twice that of an orange.

Apple

An apple a day keeps the doctor away! Although an apple has a low Vitamin C content, it has antioxidants & flavonoids which enhances the activity of Vitamin C thereby helping to lower the risks of colon cancer, heart attack & stroke.

Strawberry

Protective fruit. Strawberries have the highest total antioxidant power among major fruits & protects the body from cancer causing, blood vessels clogging free radicals. (Actually, any berry is good for you..they're high in anti-oxidants and they actually keep us young.........blueberries are the best and very versatile in the health field........they get rid of all the free-radicals that invade our bodies)

Orange

Sweetest medicine. Taking 2 - 4 oranges a day may help keep colds away, lower cholesterol, prevent & dissolve kidney stones as well as lessen the risk of colon cancer.

Watermelon

Coolest Thirst Quencher. Composed of 92% water, it is also packed with a giant dose of glutathione which helps boost our immune system. They are also a key source of lycopene - the cancer fighting oxidant. Other nutrients found in watermelon are Vitamin C & Potassium. (watermelon also has natural substances that keep our skin healthy, protecting our skin from those darn sun rays)

Guava & Papaya

Top awards for Vitamin C. They are the clear winners for their high Vitamin C content. Guava is also rich in fiber which helps prevent constipation. Papaya is rich in carotene, this is good for your eyes. (also good for gas and indigestion)

Tomatoes

Tomatoes are very good as a preventative measure for men, keeps those prostrate problems from invading their bodies.

Red beans

Red beans including small red beans and dark red kidney beans are good sources of iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, copper and thiamin. They're also an excellent low-fat, low-calorie source of protein and dietary fiber. Red beans also contain phytonutrients that may help prevent chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer!

Mushrooms

They are often reffered to as the good fungus and their nutrional benefits are plenty. A study conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health showed that men who consumed 160 micrograms of selenium per day cut their risk of prostate cancer by 65 percent! Mushrooms also contain valuable niacin, riboflavin, copper, potassium and pantothenic acid, much of which is vital for turning food into energy! They are also known to have potent immune-boosting and cancer-fighting properties!

Milk

Now we all remember how as kids we were coaxed by our parents to drink milk! Milk is a good source of calcium that may help prevent brittle bones. Milk and milk products are still considered to be the best and easiest source of calcium!

Garlic

Garlic was worshipped by the ancient Egyptians, chewed by Greek Olympian atheletes and thought to be essential for keeping vampires at bay! No matter how much we talk about the benefits of garlic, it's not enough! Garlic is known to reduce the risk of heart attacks, killing bacteria, keeping your heart healthy & warding off coughs and colds. It is also known to reduce cholesterol. New research indicates that taking garlic during pregnancy can cut the risk of pre-eclampsia (raised blood pressure and protein retained in the urine)

Broccoli

Many of us dislike broccoli and avoid eating it but the truth is that this magic vegetable is a good source of calcium, potassium, folate and fiber, broccoli contains phytonutrients, a group of compounds that may help prevent chronic diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes and some cancers. Broccoli is also a good source of antioxidants that protect your body's cells from damage

Almonds

Nuts are good for you since they conatin high levels of mono-unsaturated and polyunsaturated fats which are good for your heart and almonds are a great source of fiber, riboflavin, magnesium, iron and calcium and vitamin E. In fact, almonds have more calcium than any other nut. Like most nuts, almonds provide one of the best plant sources of protein!

Amazing Power of Human Mind !!!!!!!

The Phenomenal Power of the Human Mind

I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid! Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer inwaht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh? Yaeh, and I awlyas thought slpeling was ipmorantt.

Medical Benefits of Salah

There are several medical benefits of Salat (Namaz):- of offering Salah and as every Muslim knows that the best part of Salah is the sujood, that is the prostration.

No wonder the Quran has mentioned the word sujood, prostration no less then 90 times in the glorious Quran. Where [do] you do sujood in the Salah? Normally when you [stand] erect, blood does flow into the brain but it is not sufficient for a healthy brain. During Salah when you [go into] sujood extra blood flows into the brain, which is very important for [a] healthy brain. When you do sujood, this extra blood supply to the skin on the face [helps] prevent diseases such as chilblain etc.

When you do sujood there is drainage of sinuses and there are fewer chances that a person will have sinusitis, that is inflammation of the sinus, this drainage of module sinus, of the frontal sinus, and a person has less chances of having inflammation of the sinus, that is sinusitis.

There are various benefits. [For example], when a person does sujood even the bronchitis's, the secretion of the bronchitis, they get drained, there are less chances of having bronchitis.

When a person breathes normally only two thirds of the capacity of the lung is exhaled out, the remaining one third remain in the lung as a residual air, now when you do sujood the abdominal visra, they press against the diaphragm and the diaphragm presses against the lower part of the lungs, the lower lobes, and when you breath during sujood even this one third residual air is aired out and that's very important for a healthy lung. There are less chances of having diseases of the lungs.

When you do sujood, there is increased venes return there is less chance of having hernia, etc. Due to posture in sujood there is less chances of having hemorrhoid, that is piles.

In a salah we stand up and we sit down, do qayam, rukuh, sujood and when we stand up from same position the weight is localized on the bottom of the feet and the calve muscle and the thigh muscle are activated and they increase the blood supply to the lower part of the body, which is very important. Further we do various postures like standing erect, bowing down, prostrating, the vertebra column takes various postures and there are less chances of having disease of the vertebrae, of the spine.

There are medical benefits [and] you can give a talk only on this topic. But we Muslims, we offer Salah to thank Allah (SWT), to praise Him. These are just side dishes. They are like dessert. You know it may attract a person who is a non-Muslim, towards Salah but our main meal, our main biryani, our main course is to thank Allah (SWT) and to obey the commandments of Allah and the Prophet. That is the reason we offer Salah.

Why 5 times daily salat:-

As I mentioned in the earlier episode that Salah is a sort of programming towards righteousness, that we are programmed towards righteousness. And the requirement [is] that it should be repeated [a] minimum [of] 5 times a day. For example for a very healthy body, a doctor will tell you, you require [a] minimum [of] 3 meals a day. Similarly for a spiritual soul, a person is required to offer Salah 5 times a day. And the requirement is, [that] there are chances that because of the evil in the society around us, we may get de-programmed. So if we are kept on being re-programmed, there are more chances that you will remain [steadfast on the] Sirat al mustaqeem, on the straight path. Therefore it is compulsory that every Muslim should offer Salah [a] minimum [of] 5 times a day.

Doesn't Salat disturb my job productivity. If you know the rules of management, [you will know] that a person cannot work continuously for hours together. If a person comes to office at 9 o'clock in the morning and sits till 6 o'clock in the evening, continuously for 9 hours, in fact he will be less productive. That is the reason that there are some short breaks given in between. So a person can get re-created, you know we have recreation. Similarly Salah is a sort of recreation. It rejuvenates you. If someone tells me that I am losing time, I am less productive, because I waste 15 minutes having lunch break, I would say that he is not a logical person because only if he has meals regularly, can he do more work. Similarly if a person offers Salah at intervals, I do agree he may have to work for a few minutes but when he stops and he comes back to work he works with a much better frame of mind and productivity overall will be much better. So for a logical person and a modern person he has to agree that there should be breaks so that a person can get recreated and Salah is the best form of rejuvenating your mind.

By Dr Zakir Naik

Ibn Al-Qayyim quote: The need for Allah (swt)

“Truly in the heart there is a void that cannot be removed except with the company of Allah (swt).
And in it there is a sadness that cannot be removed except with the happiness of knowing Allah (swt) and being true to Him.
And in it there is an emptiness that can not be filled except with love for Him and by turning to Him and always remembering Him.
And if a person were given all of the world and what is in it, it would not fill this emptiness.”
- ibn al Qayyim al Jawziyyah

Islamic Poems

A BEAUTY TIPS

For attractive lips- Speak words of kindness.

 

For lovely eyes- Seek out the good in people.

 

For a slim figure- Share your food with the hungry.

 

For beautiful hair- Let a child run his or her fingers through it once a day.

 

For poise- Walk with the knowledge that you will never walk alone.

 

People- even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed.

 

Never throw out anybody- Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you'll find one at the end of your arm.

 

As you grow older- you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.

 

The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides. The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole, but true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows, and the beauty of a woman, with passing years, only grows!

 

I walk among people of all different kinds. Different lives, religions, and beliefs. They might all be different but I am the one that sticks out. For I am a Muslim.
A follower of Islam. A Muslim in the land of the non-believers. I don’t belong among these people. We see things differently. There are blind and heading the wrong path. I with Allah’s gaudiness walk the right one and I see. I see what is wrong and right.

Though I might sometimes envy them for how free they are. Always I hold back. No, I am a Muslim. I believe in Allah, the mighty and most humble. Allah! The creator of this land, these people, and me. I might not get to wear shorts or tank tops but you see I keep myself to me.
I am a Muslim. I follow Allah’s path. Heaven is my mighty goal. I pray and thank Allah for what I have got for I know so many haven’t not yet seen the light and some will never see it. Always they will be blinded by dark. By all that is wrong. By all that is evil. Oh, Allah please protect me and my family. Keep me away from what is unholy. Let me be strong and overcome all that stops me from believing in you. Oh, Allah protect me and my family

My Allah, My life

This earth, this dunya, is a drop of a sea
The final destination, The Akhirah, which is beyond infinity
This test and trial makes me blue
Fighting shaytaan is the hardest thing I ever had to do
Years and days will quickly go by
To Allah alone I cry, who will always stay close by my side
Allah has commanded us to give Zakah and Pray,
This Deen is of Allah and his Messenger, not some play
So let us repent for the sins we commit night and day
My days are lonely and they are cold,
My goal is to obey Allah as my days grow old and He takes my soul
Allah is present everywhere, Allhamdu lillah my connection with Him is strong
He lives in my heart, His Mercy and Blessings are enormous and beyond
When I sacrifice and give up something for His sake,
In return He rewards me with something better in its place
My life is corrupted and my days are rough,
Sometimes my tests and trials get so tough,
But for the sake of Allah, it's never enough
Allah and His Quran is my guide
If He wasn't there for me, I'd break, swelter and die
My mother is gone far and away,
A visitor lies beside her grave,
I know my mother is gone, and Jannah lies at her feet
She is distant from me, buried in too deep
If not in this world, then in the next we will surely meet
Everyday I live my life- only to Please YOU, O MY ALLAH !.
You are the comfort of everyday of my temporary life.
My ALLAH..........My LIFE.

4
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=islamic+poems&btnG=Google+Search&me…

Inspiring Story:: A Carrot, An Egg And A Cup of Coffee

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as though just as one problem was solved, a new one arose.
Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to a boil.
In the first, she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil, without saying a word.
In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl.
Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me what you see."
Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied.
Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did, and noted that they were soft.
The mother then asked the daughter to take the egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg.
Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee.
The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma.
The daughter then asked, "What does it mean, mother?"
Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently.
The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak.
The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened.
The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.
"Which are you?" she asked her daughter.
"When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?"
Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?  Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, ... but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and a hardened heart?  Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity?
Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?
The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way. The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can't go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.
When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling. Live your life so at the end, you're the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying.

It's easier to build a child than to repair an adult...

This is so true - May we all be COFFEE!

To be the most beautiful woman in the world

With your beauty, you are better than the sun; with your morals you are more sublime than musk; with your modesty you are nobler than the fuul moon; with your compassion you are more beneficial than rain.
So preserve your beauty with faith, your tranquility with contentment, your chastity with HIJAB.remember that your adornment is not gold, silver or diamonds, rather, it is two rakaas at FAJR, going thirsty when you fast for Allah, concealed charity which no one knows except Him, hot tears that wash away sin, a lenghty prostration born of utter submission to Allah, shyness before Allah when the inclination to do evil overwhelms you. Clothe yourself with the garment of TAQWA(piety) for you are the most beautiful woman in the world, even if your clothes are shabby(poorly dress).
Clothe yourself with the cloak of modesty, for you are the most beautiful woman in the world even if you are barefoot. Beware of the life of bewitching immoral disbelieving woman, for they are the fuel of the fire of hell. Allah says in the (Quran 92:15) ; "NONE SHALL ENTER I(HELL) SAVE THE MOST WRETCHED"!

I Want To Enter Paradise......What should I do?

My question is short. I want to enter Paradise, I want to strive to control my self (my nafs), I want to kiss my mother’s hand every day, I want to keep away from whims and desires and from the Shaytan, I want Allah (swt) to call me a devoted slave on the Day of Resurrection, inshaAllah, I want to love my brothers and sisters, and I want my faith to keep increasing. What should I do?.
Praise be to Allah.
We ask Allah (swt) to make you steadfast in adhering to the truth, and to make your hopes come true, and to make you one of those who turn to Him and who know the truth, defend it and adhere to Islam.
The things you mention in your question indicate that you have a sound and pure nature, and a great desire to achieve great things and to give everyone his rights. These are great hopes that can be achieved through faith, as it was narrated that Sufyaan al-Thawri said: Faith is not wishes or pretence, rather it is what settles in the heart and is proven by actions.” So we will discuss the matter of faith and how important it is in becoming a devoted slave, pleasing and honouring one’s parents and achieving the victory of Paradise.
Whoever seeks to achieve great things has to stay up at night (worship).
Hence al-Fudayl said: “You hearts can never taste the sweetness of faith until they shun worldly pleasures.” And he also said, “If you cannot pray qiyaam at night and fast during the day, then know that you are deprived.”
The sincere believer has a heart like a burning coal, hence it was narrated by al-Haakim in his Mustadrak and al-Tabaraani in his Mu’jam with a saheeh isnaad that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Faith wears out in your heart as clothes wear out, so ask Allah (swt) to renew the faith in your hearts.”
The believer’s heart may sometimes feel overwhelmed by clouds of sin. This was portrayed to us by the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) when he said: “There is no heart that does not have clouds like the clouds that cover the moon. When the cloud covers it, it is dark, and when the cloud moves away it shines.” Narrated by al-Tabaraani in al-Awsat, and classed as saheeh by al-Albaani. So the believer’s heart is sometimes covered with a cloud and its light is hidden, and it remains dark and lonely, but if he strives to increase his store of faith and seeks the help of Allaah, that cloud goes away and the light in his heart starts to shine again. Hence one of the salaf said: “It is part of a person’s smartness to c heck on his faith and be aware of what affects it.” It is also part of a person’s smartness “that he recognizes how the Shaytan whispers to him.”
So he has to come back to faith. If you come back to faith and do as it requires, then you will achieve what you want. We will tell you of a basic principle which will let you know when faith is present and when it is not. Imam Ibn al-Jawzi said: “O you who are turned away, O you who are deprived of meeting your loved ones, if you want to know how you stand before the king, then look at how you are spending your time and what work you are assigned to do. How many people stand at the door of the king, but no one enters except the one whom he cares for. Not every heart is fit to draw close, not every heart can be filled with love, not every wind is like the morning breeze.”
If a person want to know how he stands before Allah and how he stands in relation to His commands and prohibitions, let him look at himself and see what he is preoccupied with. If he is busy with da’wah and with saving people from the Fire, striving to attain Paradise, helping the weak and needy, honouring his parents, then let him rejoice in the fact that he is close to the King of kings, for Allah (swt) does not help anyone to do good except those whom He loves.
But if he is has no interest in da’wah, dislikes the daa’iyahs and does not do good things, if he is preoccupied with this world and its gains, and with gossip and asking too many questions, whilst not doing much or following his whims and desires, let him know that he is far from Allah (swt) and has been deprived of that which will bring him closer to Paradise, because Allah (swt)says in His holy Book (interpretation of the meaning):
“Whoever desires the quick-passing (transitory enjoyment of this world), We readily grant him what We will for whom We like. Then, afterwards, We have appointed for him Hell; he will burn therein disgraced and rejected ( far away from Allah’s Mercy).
And whoever desires the Hereafter and strives for it, with the necessary effort due for it (i.e. does righteous deeds of Allah’s obedience) while he is a believer (in the Oneness of Allah Islamic Monotheism) — then such are the ones whose striving shall be appreciated, (thanked and rewarded by Allah)”
[al-Isra’ 17:18-19]
My brother, if you want to have a high position in all kinds of good deeds, to be a devoted slave of Allaah and to honour your parents, and you are seeking Paradise, then you have to do the following:
1 – You have to revive the faith in your heart. Faith is what will bring the Muslim everything he seeks in this world and in the Hereafter. Faith is the key to all goodness and locks the door to all evil. The means of reviving and strengthening faith in one’s heart are many and varied, including doing a lot of acts of worship and righteous deeds.
2 – You must turn to your Lord sincerely, as it says in the report: “If My slave turns to me inwardly and outwardly, I will turn the hearts of My slaves to him with love and mercy.”
Allah (swt) has made worship the ultimate aim and loftiest purpose of man:
“And I (Allah) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone)”
[al-Dhaariyaat 51:56 – interpretation of the meaning)]
3 – You should always set your sights on the highest degrees, and make your goal in life to earn the pleasure of Allah (swt), and strive to attain the victory of Paradise, or to attain the highest Firdaws. You should strive as hard as you can to achieve these lofty aims.
4 – You should follow the example of historical Muslim figures such as the Sahabah, Taabi’een and righteous forebears
5 – You should make the most of every minute, every moment and every heartbeat to use it in such a way as to increase your faith.
6 – You should try to keep company with righteous people, because the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “A man will follow the religion of his close friend, so let each one of you look at whom he befriends.” Narrated by Abu Dawood and al-Tirmidhi with a hasan isnaad. Good friends are one of the best means of helping you to obey Allah (swt) and to avoid sin and error.
7 – Doing a lot of righteous deeds which will bring you happiness in this world and in the Hereafter.
8 – Praying qiyaam al-layl, making du’aa’ in the time just before dawn. The feet of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to swell because of his desire to be a thankful slave, even though Allah (swt) had forgiven his previous and future sins.
9 – Persisting in reading a portion of Quran daily, and other dhikr that helps you to think and ponder the meanings of the Quran.
10 – Striving to spread the word and make da’wah for the sake of Allah (swt), and working for Islam as much as possible.
If you want to reach the status of devoted slave for which you long, then be as Allah (swt) commanded His Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him):
“Say (O Muhammad): Verily, my Salah (prayer), my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of the ‘Aalameen (mankind, jinn and all that exists)”
[al-An’aam 6:162]
Being a devoted slave of Allah (swt) means declaring one’s devotion and belonging to the Lord, which can only be achieved by applying this aayah, so that we are for Allah (swt), the Lord of the Worlds, in all our affairs.
Being a devoted slave of Allah (swt) can only be fully achieved in this manner; it can only be achieved by worshipping Allah (swt) in the fullest sense of the word, which means making our living and dying, and all our movements, for Him alone. So we only speak that which is pleasing to Allaah; we only do that which is pleasing to Allah (swt); we focus our intention in these words and deeds only on Allah (swt). Worship should not be reduced to merely raising and lowering our heads at certain times, or giving a few pennies every once in a while, or fasting a few days each year, or moving our lips to say a few words and dhikrs.
Hence the deeds that lead to this status – of being a devoted slave – are innumerable and may take many shapes in all aspects of our lives and the places where we live. This is by the bounty of Allah (swt) towards us and towards all people.
Just look, in every place where you find yourself and every moment that comes to you, for that which will please Him, and what you think He wants to see you doing, and do it. Then you will be a devoted slave.
Finally, we ask Allah (swt) to accept righteous deeds from us and from you, and to gather us and you in His mercy with the Prophets, siddeeqs, martyrs and righteous, and those are the best of companions.