A monthly newsletter from Masjid Bani Hashim Jumeirah Islands, Dubai Issue#16 March 2015
A Monthly Newsletter by Masjid Bani Hashim, Jumeirah Islands, Dubai Issue #16 Mar 2015
بسم اهلل الرحمن الرحيم السالم عليكم و رحمة اهلل و بركاته
Introduction Have you ever thought about having a “cave”, where you can seek refuge every now and then to get back your strength? Allah subhana wa t’Ala granted the As’habul Kahf, the people of the cave mentioned in Surah Al Kahf, a peaceful refuge in a cave when they were persecuted for following their deen - Islam (ayat 10 - 11) ِ إِذْ أ َ َوى ا ْل ِفتْيَ ُة إِ َلى ا ْل َكه َ ْْف فَ َقا ُلوا َربَّنَا آ ِتنَا ِم ْن َل ُدن َ م ِرنَا َر َ ك َرحْ مَ ًة َو شدًا ْ َ ْ َلنَا ِم ْن أBِّهي (Remember) when the young men fled for refuge (from their disbelieving folk) to the Cave, They said: "Our Lord! Bestow on us mercy from Yourself, and facilitate for us our affair in the right way!" ِ َع َلىٰ آذ ِ ْف ِ ان ِه ْم ِفي ا ْل َكه َ َف َ س ِن ع َددًا َ ني َ ض َربْنَا Therefore, We covered up their (sense of) hearing (causing them, to go in deep sleep) in the Cave for a number of years. What lessons can we derive from the above ayat? We all go through both challenging and very happy times in our lives and both these times should bring us closer to Allah (swt) by His (swt) remembrance. Difficulties can only be overcome by His (swt) Might and Power. Happiness can only be chained by shukr, gratitude as this happiness is not your doing, it is a gift from Allah subhana wa t’Ala. Both these moments should remind us of Allah subhana wa t’Ala, should bring us closer to Him (swt) and should make us increase in remembrance of Him (swt) as it is in the remembrance of Allah (swt) that the hearts find peace. Surah Ar-Rad, ayah 28 وب َ ا َّل ِذي َن آ ُ منُوا َوتَطْمَ ِئ ُّن ُق ُلوبُ ُه ْم ِب ِذ ْك ِر اهللَِّ ۗ أ َ َال ِب ِذ ْك ِر اهللَِّ تَطْمَ ِئ ُّن ا ْل ُق ُل Those who believed (in the Oneness of Allâh - Islâmic Monotheism), and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allâh, Verily, in the remembrance of Allâh do hearts find rest. Now, let’s go back to your own “cave”, there must be some specific remembrance of Allah (swt) that is a means of refuge for you, you keep returning to that cave.
A Monthly Newsletter by Masjid Bani Hashim, Jumeirah Islands, Dubai Issue #16 Mar 2015
I will share with you one of my “caves”, Istighfar. Istighfar, seeking forgiveness of Allah (swt) is one of the most secure refuge you can find on the face of the earth. If I am happy, I should realise that this happiness is from Allah subhana wa t’Ala. If I am sad and/ or going through a problem, I know there is a possibility that there might be a sin that is coming on my way and I want to seek Allah subhana wa t’Ala’s forgiveness and hence avoid the evil consequences of my sins. In a nutshell, choose a cave amongst the beautiful adhkar and/or dua’a that you really like and as you know, Allah subhana wa t’Ala never fails in His (swt) promise. If He (swt) is saying that in His (swt) remembrance you find rest, then surely in the remembrance of Allah (swt) you will find rest. Just try it with belief as belief is a condition necessary to be able to witness this feeling of tranquility. ِ غ ِف ْر لِيْ َوا ْر حَ مْ ِنيْ َو ع ْ اَللّٰ ُه َّم ا -َْاف ِنيْ َوا ْرزُ ْق ِني Allaahummagh-fir lii war-hamnii wa ‘aafinii war-zuqnii. (Tariq al-Ashja’i. Sahih Muslim #4897) O Allah, forgive my sins, have mercy on me, give me health and safety, and provide me with sustenance. ِ ك ِ ً َّوأِيْمَ ان،ن َ ْ من َ سأ َ ُل ُ ن ِ س ٍ صحَّ ًة ِفيْ أ ِ يْمَ ا ك َو ِّ َّو َر حْ مَ ًة،ٌ َّونَجَ احً ا يَّتْبَ ُع ٗه فَ َالح،ٍخ ُلق ْ َ اَللّٰ ُه َّم أِنِّيْ أ ْ ُافيْ ح ِ ع َ ْ من ْ م ْ ك َو ِر ضوَانًا ِّ ًغ ِف َرة َ َّو،َافيَ ًة Allaahumma innii as’aluka sihhatan fii iimaan(in), wa iimaanan fii husni khuluq(in), wa najaahan yatba’uhuu falaah(un), wa rahmatam minka wa ‘aafiya(tan), wa maghfiratam minka wa ridwaana. (Abu Hurayrah. Mustadrak Hakim #119/1919) O Allah, I ask You for sound health with faith, faith with good manners, success here followed by success in the Hereafter, mercy from You, health and safety, and Your forgiveness and pleasure.
الحمدهلل والصالة والسالم على رسول اهلل
P A G E 4 ! A Monthly Newsletter by Masjid Bani Hashim, Jumeirah Islands, Dubai Issue#16 Mar 2015
This Issue Introduction: Pages 2 - 3 Where is this fragrance coming from: Pages 5 - 7 Ma’iy’yah( معيةbeing With), Qurb (قربCloseness) & نزولNuzool (Descent): Pages 8 - 13 The Real Superstars: Pages 14 - 16 Love Fear and Hope - The 3 Essential Ingredients for Eeman: Pages 17 - 22 Learn Tajweed - What is Tajweed?: Pages 23 - 24
New
Growing Up Muslim ~No One Understands Me~:
Pages 26 - 29
Prophet Ayub (pbuh) ~A consolation to those who are ill or deprived~: Pages 30 - 34 The Physics of Nature in the Light of Quran: Pages 35 - 40 Cheer Up!: Pages 41 - 42 Masjid Bani Hashim: Pages 43 - 45
A Monthly Newsletter by Masjid Bani Hashim, Jumeirah Islands, Dubai Issue #16 Mar 2015
Where is this Fragrance coming from? Our reflections on Ibn Al Jawzi's (may Allah SWT have mercy on him) ”Catching thoughts" continue... Alhamdulil Allah, one special thought which I think can create in us the desire to excel in coming closer to Allah SWT only to please Him SWT : Being mindful of Allah SWT in private. We all go through struggle in our lives, Subhanal Allah. We are faced with difficult situations along with disappointments. Sometimes, we have desires, feelings or thoughts which are not pleasing to Allah SWT. Sometimes we want to give up. In a nutshell, there seems to be a fight, an inner struggle that no one can see...between the evil in you and the good in you. The good in you will only prevail if you have fitrah, imaan, taqwa and tawaqul in Allah’s SWT reward. All of these feelings are a secret between you and your Rabb, your Khaleq. So at that time of inner struggle between you and your nafse...when you are able to win over your nafse and you are doing so only to please Allah SWT, i.e. with ikhlas, that is when you will witness the increase of the love of Allah SWT for you and when Allah SWT loves you, what is going to happen??? Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet ( )ﷺsaid, "When Allah loves a slave, calls out Jibril and says: 'I love so-and-so; so love him'. Then Jibril loves him. After that he (Jibril) announces to the inhabitants of heavens that Allah loves so- and-so; so love him; and the inhabitants of the heavens (the angels) also love him and then make people on earth love him”. [Al- Bukhari and Muslim]. People will love you...Subhanal Allah and the more struggle you do with ikhlas, the more honour you will attain in front of people and generations to come. This honour from Allah SWT which is revealed in the way people treat us and talk about us is in shaa Allah an inheritance we want to leave this world with, when we die: ( )رب اجعل لي لسان صدق في اآلخرين: My Rabb, make me a truthful tongue (ie: people talk good about me after I die) amongst others.
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A Monthly Newsletter by Masjid Bani Hashim, Jumeirah Islands, Dubai Issue #16 Mar 2015
Key Points: ()الخاطرة: Being mindful of Allah (swt) in private ()مراقبة اهلل في الخلوات ()إن للخلوة تأثيرات تبني في الجلوةAnything inside impacts our outside. ( )كم من مؤمن باهلل يحترمه عند الخلواتHow many believers respect Allah (swt) in their heart? Subhan Allah. ( )فيترك ما يشتهيSo he will leave what he desires. A desire can be something bad or something not haram but excessive. ( )حذرا من عقابهOut of fear of His (swt) punishment. ( )رجاء لثوابهHoping for the reward from Him (swt). ( )او اجالال لهOr out of magnification and respect of Him (swt) – all of these feelings are in the heart. For example, imagine in front of the elderly, you will not do certain things to show respect to them, and to Allah (swt) is the best example, you leave things out of fear, hope, or respect to Allah (swt). ( )كأنه عودا على مجرم و تفوح الرائحةJust as the incense that burns and when it’s over, it leaves a scent behind. Similarly, anything that you have inside your heart will show on the outside. ( )و على قدر املجاهدة في ترك ما يهوىAnd depending on how much you struggle to leave what you desire, then ( )تقوى محبتهYou will have more of Allah’s (swt) love. ( )يزيد الطيبAnd your fragrance will increase. ( )فترى عيون الخلق تعظم هذا الشخصThen you will find the eyes of the people magnifying this person, Subhan Allah. They will see him as a great person and they will respect him though they don’t know him, Subhan Allah. ( )و ألسنتهم تمدحهAnd their tongues will praise him. ( )و ال يعرفون ملا؟And they don’t know why. This person doesn’t want the praise and he is not talking about himself, but he is simply doing something inside his heart that no one knows but Allah (swt) and as a result people respect him, but they don’t know why, Subhan Allah.
A Monthly Newsletter by Masjid Bani Hashim, Jumeirah Islands, Dubai Issue #16 Mar 2015 ( )و ال يقدرون على وصفه عن حقيقة معرفتهAnd they can’t describe it because they are far away from the reality. This means it is not a deed that everyone sees, it is something hidden that no one knows. ( )و بعد املوت تمتد االرائح على قدرهAnd after death, this ‘scent’ will remain depending on the strength of that struggle, subhan Allah. ( )فمنهم من يذكر مدة ثم ينسىThere are those who will be remembered for some time, and then are forgotten. ( )و منهم من يذكر مئة سنة ثم يخفى ذكرهAnd there are those who will be remembered for a hundred years, and then are forgotten. ( )و منهم أعالم يبقى ذكرهم ابداAnd there are those who are like flags, they will be remembered forever like the prophets and the companions, Subhan Allah. You even have scholars who are being remembered like Sheikh As Saady, may Allah (swt) have mercy on him had seven students, and then he had one student, Ibn Uthaymeen, may Allah have mercy on him. So you don’t know where is the barakah, so many of his books were published, translated, and are being studied, to this day. Though he never said this is what I expect to happen, Subhan Allah. If you want to be remembered, then make this dua’a: ()رب اجعل لي لسان صدق في اآلخرين My Rabb, make me a truthful tongue (ie: people talk good about me after I die) amongst others And the opposite, there are people who have a ‘stench’ in their heart, they did not struggle for Allah (swt), so they will be remembered negatively, they will leave behind an ‘odour’, Subhan Allah. ( )ال تهملوا خلواتكم و سرائركم فإن األعمال بالنيات على مقدار االخالصIbn Jawzi (may Allah SWT have mercy on him) said: Don’t abandon what is a secret in your heart because the deeds are according to your intentions, and this depends on your sincerity. May Allah (swt) purify our hearts. Ameen. May Allah (swt) forgive us and accept from us. Ameen.
Ma’iyyah (being With) Qurb (Closeness) & Nuzool (Descent) Ma’iyyah means to ‘be with’ and Qurb means ‘closeness’ or ‘close to’ (like qareeb).
of what they did. Verily, Allah is the All-Knower of everything. [58:7]
Ma’iyyah
َ 2. رى َ قال ال تَخافا ۖ إِنَّني ٰ َ م َع ُكما أَسمَ عُ َوأ
These are often misunderstood ayat of the Quran. Examples of these ayat include:
He (Allah) said: “Fear not, verily! I am with you both, hearing and seeing. [20:46]
ِ َّ َ أ َ َلم تَ َر أ الس 1. ماوات َوما َّ ن اهللََّ يَع َل ُم ما ِفي ِ َ ِفي األ َن ِمن ن ُ رض ۖ ما يَكو جوى ثَالث َ ٍة ٰ ِ َ هوَ را ِب ُعهُم َوال ُ مس ٍة إِ ّال ُ إِ ّال سهُم َهو َ خ ُ ساد َ َِوال أَدنىٰ ِمن ذٰل ُ ك َوال أَكث َ َر إِ ّال م َعهُم َ َهو
ِ ً آيات اهللَِّ ثَمَ نًا َق اشتَ َروا ِب 3. صدّوا عَن َ َليال ف َ سبيلِ ِه ۚ إِنَّهُم سا َء ما كانوا يَعمَ لو ن َ
ِ أَي َن ما كانوا ۖ ث ُ َّم يُنَبِّئُهُم ِبما ع َملوا يَو َم ٍ ش ِ َ ن اهللََّ ِب ُك ِّل َّ ِم ِة ۚ إ يء عَلي ٌم َ القيا
Have you not seen that Allah knows whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is on the earth? There is no Najwa of three, but He is their fourth, nor of five but He is their sixth, not of less than that or more, but He is with them wheresoever they may be; and afterwards on the Day of Resurrection, He will inform them
If you do not aid the Prophet (SAWS)–Allah has already aided him when those who disbelieved had driven him out [of Makkah] as one of two, when they were in the cave and he said to his companion, “Do not grieve; indeed Allah is with us.” And Allah sent down his tranquility upon him and supported him with angels you did not see and made the word of those who disbelieved the lowest, while the word of Allah – that
is the highest. And Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise. [9:40] ُ ُفَ َلمّ ا جا َوزَه 4. م َع ُه قالوا َ هوَ َوا َّلذي َن آمَنوا ِ ُال طا َق َة َلنَا اليَو َم بِجالوتَ َوج َ ۚ نود ِه قال َ ا َّلذي َن يَظُنّو ن أَنَّهُم مُال ُقو اهللَِّ َكم ِمن ِفئ َ ٍة َ َقلي َل ٍة ِ غ َلبَت ِفئ َ ًة َكثي َرةً ِب ِإذ َمع َ َُّن اهللَِّ ۗ َواهلل الصا ِبري َن ّ But those who knew with certainty that they were to meet their Lord, said: “How often a small group overcame a mighty host by Allah’s Leave?” And Allah is with the patient ones. [2:249] These ayat are misconstrued by some to mean Allah (SWT) is everywhere, however, just the context of the actual ayat themselves (I have italicised for emphasis) indicate that Allah’s (SWT) Knowledge is everywhere, not Allah (SWT) ‘physically’. This is also further proved by the following ayah: ِ رض في ِ َ هوَ ا َّلذي َ َ ماوات َواأل ُ ستَّ ِة الس َّ َخ َلق ِ ع َلى الع َُرش ۚ يَع َل ُم ما يَلِج َ َوى ٰ أَيّام ٍ ث ُ َّم است ِ َ ِفي األ رض َوما يَخ ُرجُ ِمنها َوما يَن ِز ُل ِم َن ِ الس ُ ماء َوما يَع ُرجُ فيها ۖ َو م َع ُكم أَي َن ما َ َهو َّ َ ُكنتُم ۚ َواهللَُّ ِبما تَعمَ لو ن
He it is Who created the heavens and the earth in six Days and then Istawa (rose over) the Throne (in a manner that suits His Majesty). He
knows what goes into the earth and what comes forth from it, what descends from the heaven and what ascends thereto. And He is with you (by His Knowledge) wheresoever you may be. And Allah is the All-Seer of what you do. [57:4] Al-Asbahaani, a scholar who wrote a dictionary for words in the Quran, said ma’a (with) can mean coming together physically, or in time (i.e. they were born together), or to indicate help, i.e. Allah (SWT) is with them. This is something that exists in the English language as well. And as mentioned, this is proven simply by the context of the ayat. Imam Ahmed said, “The verse started with knowledge, and ended with knowledge.” In one extremely insightful argument, Ibn Qudamah said, when the Prophet (SAWS) told Abu Bakr (RA), Allah (SWT) is with us, if it was meant as they said, then it would necessitate that Allah (SWT) is with the Pagans outside the cave as well just as equally! The Ash’aris claim that this is making ta’wil of these verses. AlAajurree said this cannot be ta’wil since ma’a can have different meanings based on the
context. This is especially obvious from the context of the ayat. AdDahhak, a student of Ibn Abbas said, “He (SWT) is upon the Throne, and His (SWT) Knowledge is with them.” Sufyaan ath-Thawree said concerning His (SWT) being ‘with’ that it is “His (SWT) Knowledge.” Ibn Taymiyyah (RA) said, “Whoever looks into the words of the famous Imams from the Salaf (the first three generations of Muslim) concerning this topic will come to know that they were the most accurate in discernment regarding this topic, due to authentic texts and unadulterated intellects. He will see that their statements are established upon the texts and the intellect. Due to this they were united not differing, established and not deficient. Those who opposed the Salaf and the imams did not understand the reality of their statements. So they did not know the reality of the texts and the intellects, so they started to go in different directions and they began to differ about the Book, so they became opponents of the Book. Indeed Allah (SWT) the Exalted said,
َ ِذٰل ك ِ ن اهللََّ نَزَّ َل َّ ِتاب ِبالحَ قِّ ۗ َو إ َّ َ ِبأ ن ا َّلذي َن َ الك ِ اختَ َلفوا ِفي ٍ شقاقٍ ب ِ تاب َلفي ِ الك َعيد “And Indeed those who differ about the Book are in extreme dissension” (2:176) (Dar’ut Ta’aarudul-Aql wan-Naql (2/301)). Lastly this the ayah that is one of the most misunderstood. ِ خ َلقنَا َ َو َل َقد َ اإلنسا ِس ِب ِه ُ ن َونَع َل ُم ما تُوَسو ِ ب إِ َل ِ يه ِمن حَ ب ِل الو َريد ُ َن ُ فس ُه ۖ َونَح ُن أَق َر And indeed We have created man, and We know what his own self whispers to him. And We are nearer to him than his jugular vein. [50:16] Again, the context makes this ayah clear. It should also be noted that the scholars of tafseer also noted that the ‘we’ in this ayah means the angels recording the deeds, and this is understood from reading the ayat immediately following it, ِّ ن ِ الش ِ ع ِ ع ِ إِذ يَتَ َل َّقى املُتَ َل ِّقيا مال َ ن اليَمنيِ َو َ ن َقعي ٌد
”When the two receivers receive, seated on the right and on the left” [50:17].
Qurb َ سأ َ َل ُ ريب ۖ أ جيب َ َو إِذا َ ك ِعبادي ُ ٌ عنّي فَ ِإنّي َق ِ ع إِذا دَعا ن ۖ فَليَستَجيبوا لي ِ دَعوَةَ الدّا ِ َولي ُ ُؤمنوا بي َل َع َّلهُم ي َ َرشدو ن And when My servants ask you, concerning Me – indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me [by obedience] and believe in Me that they may be [rightly] guided. [2:186] This ayah is also self explanatory in this regards. It is why the scholars have said we are closest to Allah (SWT) when we are in prostration. He (SWT) is Qareeb to those whom He (SWT) loves. Some more ayat mentioning Qurb follow. ِ َ يَع َل ُم ما يَلِجُ ِفي األ رض َوما يَخ ُرجُ ِمنها ِ الس ُ ماء َوما يَع ُرجُ فيها ۚ َو َهو َّ َوما يَن ِز ُل ِم َن َ ال َّرحي ُم ال غفو ُر He knows that which goes into the earth and that which comes forth from it, and that which descend from the heaven and that which
ascends to it. And He is the Most Merciful, the Oft-Forgiving. (34:2) َ ََُّواهلل ٍ خ َل َق ُكم ِمن ت ُراب ث ُ َّم ِمن نُطفَ ٍة ث ُ َّم جَ َع َل ُكم ِ أَزواجً ا ۚ َوما ت َ َحم ُل ِمن أُنثىٰ َوال ت َضعُ إِ ّال ِ ِب ِع ص ِمن ُ معَمَّ ٍر َوال يُن َق ُ لم ِه ۚ َوما يُعَمَّ ُر ِمن َ ِن ذٰل َّ ِتاب ۚ إ ٍ عُمُ ِر ِه إِ ّال في ِك ع َلى اهللَِّ يَسي ٌر َ ك
And Allah did create you (Adam) from dust, then from Nutfah (male and female discharge semen drops i.e. Adam’s offspring), then He made you pairs (male and female). And no female conceives or gives birth, but with His Knowledge. And no aged man is granted a length of life, nor is a part cut off from his life (or another man’s life), but is in a Book (Al¬Lauh Al¬Mahfûz) Surely, that is easy for Allah. (35:11) َ َو ِعن َدهُ مَفا ِتحُ ال ُ غيبِ ال يَع َلمُ ها إِ ّال ۚو َ ه ُ َويَع َل ُم ما ِفي البَ ِّر َوالبَح ِر ۚ َوما تَس ُق ط ِمن ِ َ مات األ ِ َو َر َق ٍة إِ ّال يَع َلمُ ها َوال حَ بَّ ٍة في ظُ ُل رض
ٍ َوال َرطبٍ َوال يا ِب ٍتاب مُبني ٍ س إِ ّال في ِك
And with Him are the keys of the Ghaib (all that is hidden), none knows them but He. And He knows whatever there is in (or on) the earth and in the sea; not a leaf falls, but he knows it. There is not a grain in the darkness of the earth nor anything fresh or dry, but is written in a Clear Record. (6:59)
ِ َ ماوات َواأل ِ الس رض َويَع َل ُم ما َّ يَع َل ُم ما ِفي ِ ن ۚ َواهللَُّ عَلي ٌم ِب ِ ت َ ن َوما تُعلِنو َ ُس ّرو ذات الصدو ِر ُّ He knows what is in the heavens and on earth, and He knows what you conceal and what you reveal. And Allah is the All-Knower of what is in the breasts (of men). (64:4) ِ ول ا َّلتي ت َ ُجاد ُل َ س ِمعَ اهللَُّ َق ِ َك في ز وجها َ َقد َّ َِوتَشتَكي إِ َلى اهللَِّ َواهللَُّ يَسمَ عُ تَحا ُو َر ُكما ۚ إ ن سميعٌ بَصي ٌر َ ََّاهلل Indeed Allah has heard the statement of her (Khaulah bint Tha’labah) that disputes with you concerning her husband (Aus bin As¬Sâmit), and complains to Allah. And Allah hears the argument between you both. Verily, Allah is All-Hearer, AllSeer. (58:1) َ َ َوتَ َق ُّلب.ُني تَقوم َ ا َّلذي ي َ َراك ح ك ِفي ِ الس ُ إِنَّ ُه.اجدي َن السميعُ العَلي ُم َّ َهو ّ Then if they disobey you, say: “I am innocent of what you do.” And put your trust in the All-Mighty, the Most Merciful, Who sees you when you stand up (alone at night for Tahajjud prayers), And your movements among those who fall prostrate. Verily! He, only He, is
the All-Hearer, the All-Knower. (26:218-220) َ ن في ُ َوما تَكو ٍ ن َوما تَتلو ِمن ُه ِمن ُقرآ ٍ شأ ن ُ ع َلي ُكم َ َوال تَعمَ لو شهودًا َ ن ِمن عَمَ ٍل إِ ّال ُكنّا ِ ن َ ِّب عَن َرب َ إِذ تُفيضو ك ِمن ُ ُفيه ۚ َوما يَعز ِ الس ِ َ ثقال ذَ َّر ٍة ِفي األ ِ ِم ماء َوال َّ رض َوال ِفي َ ِغ َر ِمن ذٰل َ أَص ٍتاب مُبني ٍ ك َوال أَكبَ َر إِ ّال في ِك
Whatever you may be doing, and whatever portion you may be reciting from the Qur’an, – and whatever deed you may be doing, We are Witness thereof, when you are doing it. And nothing is hidden from your Lord (so much as) the weight of an atom (or small ant) on the earth or in the heaven. Not what is less than that or what is greater than that but is (written) in a Clear Record. (10:61)
Nuzool (Descent) Nuzool is one of the most controversial attributes for the people of kalam. It is a hadith which has been narrated by 39 Sahabah and is recorded in practically every book of hadith
(most notably Bukhari and Muslim). The following is one of the narrations of it: Abu Huraira (RA) reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: Our Lord, the Blessed and the Exalted, descends every night to the lowest heaven when one-third of the latter part of the night is left, and says: Who supplicates Me so that I may answer him? Who asks Me so that I may give to him? Who asks Me forgiveness so that I may forgive him? [Muslim] This hadith is explicit and nothing can be understood from it except the fact that indeed it is Allah (SWT) who descends and asks who is asking of HIM (SWT) so that HE (SWT) may forgive us. Some of the mutakallimoon tried to argue that this means His (SWT) Mercy descends and not Him (SWT). The response to this is that aside from the fact that this is ta’wil, the hadith mentions “Allah Tabaraku wa Ta’aala descends” so how could it make sense that “His Mercy the Exalted and Most High” descends? There is an ijmaa’ of the early scholars on this issue as well. Fudayl ibn Iyaad (d. 187AH) said
that if someone says I do not believe in a Lord that descends, to say I believe in a Lord that does as He wills. This hadith as mentioned, is mutawaatir, and has hundreds of chains of narration. See again the contradiction of the people who say they will only take mutawaatir narrations in Aqeedah, and then reject this narration. Another argument they employ is to use logic and say that it is always the last third of the night somewhere, so is Allah (SWT) constantly descending? Ibn Taymiyyah responded to this by saying that this is a perfect example of the methodology of the people of kalam. Time and space are both created, so how can they try to confine the Creator who is far above time and space to these restrictions?
participated in the Battles of Badr and Uhud and was known for bravery and righteousness. Abu Salama (RA) and Umm Salama (RA) loved each other dearly. It was Umm Salama's (RA) wish to be united in Jannah with Abu Salama (RA) as his wife. She once told her husband, 'I heard that if the husband of a woman dies and he is one of the inhabitants of Paradise, and his wife didn't remarry after him, then Allah (SWT) will bring them back together in Paradise. The same applies to a man (whose wife dies). So let us make a pledge that I will not marry after you and you will not marry after me." Abu In the last issue, we read about the life Salama (RA) asked her,'Will you obey of a very honourable woman - Umm me?" Umm Salama (RA) said, "If I did Salama (RA). We continue with her not want to obey you I would not have story on how she came to be the wife consulted you (by mentioning this of the Prophet (SAWS). hadith)" Abu Salama (RA) said," If I die, you should remarry." He then made dua' After the many difficult months of to Allah (SWT),” O Allah! Provide for separation, Umm Salama (RA) and her Umm Salama a better man after me, who (RA) son were reunited with Abu will not disgrace her nor harm her" Salama (RA). They stayed in Madina Abu Salama (RA) died after he got for a long time and were present when wounded at the Battle of Uhud. the Prophet (SAWS) and Abu Bakr (RA) arrived from Makkah. The Prophet (SAWS) had come to see Abu Salama (RA) was the son of him when he was wounded. The Barrah bint Abdul Mutallib, an aunt Prophet (SAWS) was on his side when of Prophet (SAWS). He was also a Abu Salama (RA) died. With his blessed foster brother of the Prophet (SAWS) hands, the Prophet (SAWS) closed the as both were breastfed by eyes of his dead Companion and then Thuwaybah. The Prophet (SAWS) raised them in prayer. "O Allah, grant loved Abu Salama (RA) and he (RA) forgiveness to Abu Salama; elevate him was an early convert to Islam. He among those who are near to You; take
charge of his family at all times; forgive us and him, O Lord of the worlds; make his grave spacious for him and fill it with light. Ameen.” Umm Salama (RA) became extremely lonely after Abu Salama (RA) passed away. She (RA) says, "When Abu Salama passed away, I did not feel comfortable asking Allah (SWT) to replace him for me with someone better than him. I asked myself, 'who could be better than Abu Salama? Had he not done this and that ? Was he not such and such’ Umm Salama (RA) was pregnant with Zaynab when her (RA) husband passed away. When her (RA) idda period of four months and ten days was over, Abu Bakr (RA) proposed marriage to her (RA), but she (RA) refused. Then Umar (RA) asked her (RA) to marry him, but again she (RA) refused. Then the Prophet (SAWS) himself asked for her (RA) hand in marriage. "O Messenger of Allah," Umm Salama (RA) replied, "I have three main characteristics: I am a woman who is extremely jealous and I am afraid that you will see something in me that will make you angry and cause Allah to punish me; I am a woman who is already advanced in age; and I am a woman who has many children.” "As for your jealousy," answered the Prophet (SAWS), "I pray to Allah the Almighty to take it away
from you. As for your age, I am older than you. As for your many children, they belong to Allah and His Messenger.” Allah granted both hers and Abu Salama’s (RA) prayer, and she (RA) married the Prophet (SAWS) in the month of Shawwal, in the 4th year after Hijrah. And thus Umm Salama (RA), from being a companion of the Prophet (SAWS) became the Mother of The Believers. Aisha (RA) narrated that the Prophet (SAWS) used to visit each of his (SAWS) wives in turn after the 'Asr prayers to enquire about them. He would start from the apartment of Umm Salama (RA) because she was the eldest among
Umm Salama (RA)was very learned in religious matters. She (RA) knew 307 Hadiths by heart and was well versed with the finer points of Islamic law on foster-relations through suckling and divorce. 'Abdullah bin 'Abbas used to consult with her (RA) for many points of Shari'ah, (Islamic law). Umm Salama (RA) was well known for being eloquent in language. She (RA) used words and phrases that were well chosen and would be exactly what she (RA) wanted to convey.
them, and would finish his rounds at the apartment of ‘Aisha (RA). Umm Salama (RA), because of her beauty, knowledge and wisdom held an eminent position. She (RA) was educated and was very devoted to the welfare of the destitute and needy. She (RA) took part in many battles along with the Prophet (SAWS) ,for example, the Battles Bani Mustalaq, Ta'if, Khaybar, Hunayn and the conquest of Makkah. She (RA) was present at the signing of the historic treaty of Hudaybiyah. Several of the Ayat of the Quran were revealed to the Prophet (SAWS) when he was in her (RA) apartment.
She (RA) lived for a long time, outliving all the other wives of the Prophet(SAWS). She (RA) died in 61 AH, at the age of eighty four, may Allah (SWT) be pleased with her (RA). Abu Hurairah (RA) said the funeral prayer over her. She (RA) also lived to see the rule of Khulafa' Ar-Rashidin. Zaynab bint Jahash (RA) was the first among the Mothers of the Believers to pass away and Umm Salamah (RA), the last. This was during the rule of Yazid bin Mu'awiyah and she (RA) was laid to rest beside the other wives of the Prophet (SAWS) in Jannatul Baqi'.
Love Fear and Hope
The 3 Essential Ingredients for Eeman One of the most beautiful things about the concept of worship in Islam is the truly unique way in which it incorporates the feeling of love, fear and hope within the hearts of the worshippers of Allah (SWT). Understanding how to combine these three qualities into the worship (ibaadah) of Allah (SWT) is one of the most essential things that every Muslim must grasp, not least because every sect which has drifted from the Straight Path has strayed in the aspect of worship. In Islam no worship is complete
our Rabb and the Rabb of all the
without the presence of all three
worlds. Rabb is usually translated as
qualities: love of Allah (SWT), hope in
‘the Lord’, but this translation does not
His (SWT) Mercy and fear of His
do justification to this name of Allah
(SWT) Punishment. Contemplate the
(SWT) and all the meanings this name
opening Surah of the Quran - Surah
carries.
al-Fatihah - and you will see this for yourself.
In reality, Rabb means that Allah (SWT) َ َ العامل ب ني ِّ الحَ م ُد هللَِِّ َر
is the Creator of everything; He (SWT)
Aayah 1: “All praise [and thanks] is
sustains and nourishes everything; He
for Allah, Rabb of all the worlds.”
(SWT) gives life and Death; anything
good that we have is from Him (SWT);
In this opening ayah (verse) of the
everything is dependant on Him (SWT)
Quran, we have LOVE of Allah (SWT)
and nothing can happen unless He
and every time we recite this ayah we
(SWT) wills it. Furthermore, for the
are testifying to our love for Allah
Muslims He (SWT)- the Rabb - is the
(SWT). How is that you ask?
One who has Guided us to the Truth
and Given us good morals and
It is because in the ayah, we are
manners.
acknowledging that Allah (SWT) is
ِ ٰال َّرحم ِ ن ال َّرحيم
Thus when we testify that Allah (SWT) is our Rabb, then we are
Ayah 2: The Rahmaan (Merciful) and
acknowledging that He (SWT) is the
the Raheem (Mercy-Giving) .”
One who has given us so many
blessings - so many that if we try to
In the first ayah of Surah al-Fatihah,
enumerate His (SWT) blessings, we
Allah (SWT) mentioned He (SWT) was
would be unable to do so. So how
the Rabb. In this ayah two more of His
could we not but LOVE Him (SWT)?
(SWT) beautiful names are mentioned:
ar-Rahmaan and ar-Raheem.
After all, we all love those who show kindness towards us or present us
Ar-Rahmaan means that He (SWT) is
with gifts. And therefore the
the Most Merciful.
Messenger of Allah (salla-allahu alaihe wa-sallam) encouraged the
Ar-Raheem means that He (SWT) is the
exchange of gifts between Muslims
Giver of Mercy, in other words His
because it helps to strengthen ties and
(SWT) actions are full of Mercy and He
develop love for one another. He
(SWT) shows Mercy to His creation.2
(salla-allahu alaihe wa-sallam) said,
“Give gifts to one another, you will
When we mention these two names of
come to love one another.”1
Allah (SWT), then we have HOPE.
Since He (SWT) is the One who is full
So imagine the LOVE we should have
of Mercy, and we hope He (SWT) will
for our Rabb (SWT) who has given us
forgive our mistakes and shortcomings.
everything: nice families, shelter,
We should never lose hope, because
security, food, health and above all the
Allah (SWT) says in the Quran,
Guidance of Islam and the Sunnah.
ِ ُقل يا ِع ِ ُي ا َّلذي َن أَس َرفوا عَلىٰ أَنف س ِهم ال َ باد ِ ن اهللََّ ي َُّغف ُر الذ َّ ِتَقنَطوا ِمن َرحمَ ِة اهللَِّ ۚ إ نوب جَ ميعًا َ
We should be overwhelming in our love for Him (SWT). That is why we praise Him (SWT) and thank Him
َ هوَ ال ُ ۚ إِنَّ ُه غفو ُر ال َّرحي ُم
(SWT) and say,
“O My slaves, who have transgressed
“All praise (and thanks) is for Allah,
against themselves! Despair not of the
Rabbil- ‘aalameen.”
Mercy of Allah, Verily Allah forgives
1
Collected by Imaam Bukhari in al-Adabul-Mufrad and declared hasan by al-Albaanee in al-Irwaa (1601)
2
As explained by Ibnul-Qayyim (d.751H) in Badaa’I ul-Fawaa’id.
Love Fear and Hope
The 3 Essential Ingredients for Eeman all sins. Truly He is Oft-Forgiving, the
whosoever does evil equal to the weight
Most Merciful” [39: 53]
of an atom shall see it.” [Surah 99 : 7-8]
The need to have FEAR in our
So when we recite this third ayah of
worship is shown by the next ayah of
Surah al-Fatihah, we remind ourselves
Surah al-Fatihah. ِ ِمال ِ ك يَوم ِ الدّي ن
of this Judgement and accountability
Ayah 3: “King/Master of the Day of
fear - that maybe our evil actions will
Judgement.”
be too great and we will be responsible
for them - May Allah (SWT) protect us
When we recite this ayah, we remind
from such a fate.
that should bring about in us a sense of
ourselves of the Day of Judgement when all of humanity shall stand
Then the next verse goes on to say: َ ّاك نَعبُ ُد َو إِي َ إِي ُ ّاك نَستَع ني
before Allah (SWT)… naked, uncircumcised and barefooted. People will appear drunk, out of their intense fear, though they will not actually be intoxicated.. On that Day, every person will stand before Allah (SWT) and account for his sins, knowing that not even the smallest action which he did is hidden from Allah (SWT): َ ثقال ذَ َّر ٍة َ َومَن يَعمَ ل.ُخي ًرا يَ َره فَمَ ن يَعمَ ل ِم َ ثقال ذَ َّر ٍة َ ِم ُش ًرّا يَ َره
“You alone we worship.” We single out Allah (SWT) for our worship. And how do we worship Him (SWT)? With LOVE, HOPE and FEAR. And in order to achieve these qualities, we need Allah’s (SWT) assistance, so we say then,“We seek Your Aid.”
Striking the Balance After understanding the need to have
“So whosoever does good equal to the
love, hope and fear in our worship, the
weight of an atom, shall see it. And
next question that naturally arises is
that, in what proportion should these
Therefore whenever we do a good
qualities be present in our worship?
action, we should hope that it has been
Again we turn to the Quran for the
accepted by Allah (SWT), but at the
answer:
same time we should also have fear that َ ُ َوادعوه خوفًا َوطَمَ عًا
maybe it isn’t enough or that the good
“Call upon Him with Fear and
deed has not been worthy of
Hope.” [ Surah (7): 56]
acceptance. Likewise when we sin, we should have hope that Allah (SWT) will
َ ن امل َ ضاجعِ يَدعو ِ ع ِ ن َربَّهُم َ تَتَجافىٰ جُ نوبُهُم ِ خوفًا َوطَمَ عًا َو ِممّ ا َرزَقناهُم ي َ َ ُنفقو ن “Their sides forsake their beds, to invoke their Lord in Fear and Hope.” [(32): 16] So both fear and hope should be present in our hearts equally. Anas (RA) reported that the Prophet (salla-allahu alaihe wa-sallam) entered upon a young boy who was dying. The Prophet (salla-allahu alaihe wasallam) asked, “How are you?” The boy replied, “O Messenger of Allah, I am in between hoping in Allah and fearing for my sins.” The Prophet (salla-allahu alaihe wa-sallam) said, “The like of these 2 qualities do not
accept our repentance and forgive us, but we should also fear that we may be accountable for it. This balance should be reflected in our Dawah (which of course is also worship). So when we invite others to the Truth, we should not give them the impression that ‘they have nothing to worry about’, nor do we suggest that ‘they are doomed forever’. Rather we couple warnings with encouragement. We inform them of the horrors of the Fire and tell them about the bliss of Paradise. Just as we find Allah (SWT) telling us in the Quran: ِ ِ ع َلي ِهم إِلىٰ يَوم َ ُّن َرب َ ََّو إِذ تَأَذ م ِة مَن َ القيا َ ك َليَب َعث َ َّن ِ ُسريع َ ن َر َّب َّ َِذاب ۗ إ ِ الع ِ مهُم سو َء الع ۖ قاب َ ك َل ُ يَسو َ َو إِنَّ ُه َل غفو ٌر َرحي ٌم
unite in the heart of a servant except
“Verily your Lord is Quick in
that Allah gives him what he hopes
Punishment and verily He is the Oft-
for & protects him from what he
Forgiving, the Giver of Mercy.” [(7): 167]
feared.”3
And the scholars of Islam say, “He who
worships Allah (SWT) with hope only is a murji’ee. He who worships Him
3
Collected in Sunan at-Tirmidhi and Sunan Ibn Majah and authenticated by Sheikh al-Albani in Ahkam al-Janaa’iz (no.2)
Love Fear and Hope
The 3 Essential Ingredients for Eeman (SWT) in fear only is a Harooree
abandon sin, they just point to their
[Khaarijee]. And He who worships
hearts and say, “Allah (SWT) knows
Allah (SWT) in love only is a Zindeeq
what is in my heart”, or “Allah (SWT)
[eg. the Sufis,]. But he who worships
forgives”, or something else like that.
Allah (SWT) in fear, love and hope is a
Muwahhid Mu’min [a believer upon
As for the Khawaarij, they worshipped
Tawheed].”4
Allah (SWT) in fear only because they
held that anyone who commits major
The Murji’a were a sect that emerged
sins was a disbeliever and would
within the first century of Islam. The
therefore dwell in Hellfire forever. This
people of this sect (i.e. the murji’ees)
of course is gross extremism and
believe that sins do not affect faith i.e.
straying from the correct path. The
no matter what sins a person commits,
Prophet (salla-allahu alaihe wa-sallam)
his eeman (faith) is complete and
said: “There were two men of Bani
perfect. They worship Allah (SWT)
Israa’eel who strove equally. One of
only with hope because they believe
them committed sins and the other
that as long as one believed and
strove hard in worship. And the one
testified to Islam, they would enter
who strove in worship came to see the
Paradise regardless of their actions.
other in sin and kept saying to him:
“Desist.” So one day he found him
Unfortunately, all too often nowadays
committing a sin and so said to him:
we find a similar attitude amongst
“Desist” So he replied, “Leave me by
many Muslims today, which is why
my Lord, have you been sent as a
we find that so often we try to advice
watcher over me?”. He said, “By Allah,
someone to turn to the Deen and
Allah will not forgive you, nor will
4
Quoted by Ibn Rajjab in al-Takhweef minan-Naar.
Allah admit you to Paradise”. Then
developing more ‘love’. It is thus clear
their souls were taken and they came
how imbalances in any of the three
together before the Lord of the
qualities of worship can lead to major
Worlds. So Allah said to the one who
deviation and straying to the True
strove in worship: “Did you have
Guidance. It is therefore important for
Knowledge of Me, or did you have
every Muslim to combine all three of
any power in what is in my Hands?”
them in his heart properly.
And He said to the sinner: “Go and enter Paradise through My Mercy.”
As was mentioned before, the fear and
And He said to the other: “Take him to
hope should be in equal proportions6,
the fire.” Abu Hurairah (RA) said: “By
but as for love then that should be
Him in whose Hand is my soul! He
uppermost. As Fudayl ibn-‘Iyaad (RA)
spoke a word which destroyed this
said, “The love is better than the fear.
world and the hereafter for him.”5
The fear protects us from sinning, and
the love makes us do what is prescribed
Therefore we should never say of
with an open heart.”7
anyone that he or she is a ‘lost cause’ or ‘doomed’ or the like for this is a
May Allah (SWT) grant us what we
great sin. However, we fear for those
hope for and protect us from what we
who commit major sins because they
fear. And may the Blessings of Allah
have been threatened with
(SWT) be upon our Prophet
punishment in the Quran and the
Muhammed (salla-allahu alaihe wa-
Hadith. However it is up to Allah
sallam), upon his (salla-allahu alaihe
(SWT) whether He (SWT) chooses to
wa-sallam) family, his Companions
punish them or whether He (SWT)
(RA) and upon all those who follow
will forgive them. The Zindeeqs are
Guidance until the Last Day.
groups, such as many of the Sufis who
Ameen.
have reduced the religion to just ‘love’ and so all their talk and their mystical practices are centred around 5
Collected in Sunan Abu Dawood (english trans. vol.3, p.1365, no.4883). See Saheehul-Jaami (4455) by Sheikh al-Albani.
6
This was the opinion of most of the Salaf. Al-Fudayl ibn ‘Iyyaad said that, when one is healthy and well, then fear should predominate, but when terminally ill then hpoe should predominate - so that one should strive to do good when well and not despair of Allah’s Mercy when terminally ill. [Al-Takhweef minan-Naar] 7
Reported in Al-Takhweef minan-Naar of Ibn Rajab. Note that some scholars hold that the fear is better than love, and Allah knows best.
as full science of reciting the Qur’an rules properly, which further enhance tunes to the words of Qur’an. So what will be the difference between yours and an Arab’s recitation? Well none!!! Right??
Know what Tajweed is? If someone asks me what is Tajweed the simple answer is to recite the Qur’an beautifully, as beautifully as we hear from the famous reciters in the world. Someone will smile and say oh common how’s it possible, I am not an ARAB how can it be even I will try my best I won’t be able to recite like them. And my answer will be yes of course why not?? Yes you are not an Arab but do you know that not all Arabs know Tajweed!!! Yes, it doesn’t come naturally to them other than the language or letters which is their mother tongue. Even Arabs have to learn the Tajweed! Surprised? When I heard that I was surprised too. The fact is when we study tajweed we learn the proper pronunciation of Arabic letters as well
Learning the Tafseer, meanings, the details, depth study of Qur’an is one thing, but if you are not reciting the Qur’an properly and beautifully then you are not appreciating the full beauty of it. By reciting the Qur’an with Tajweed we will automatically read it with melodious tone without even trying! Because the rules of Tajweed gives the poetic composition to the Qur’an. It is not poetry but it is poetic and whenever we will hear the reciter reciting beautifully we will enjoy, will understand and appreciate it so much more. And when we read a Surah in Salah it increases our ‘khushu'. As in Salah we constantly thinking about how I am reciting would actually aid the concentration and our mind would be focused and that’s where the khushu comes from.
Learn tajweed yourself and teach your children yourself. Who could be a better teacher and role model than a mother herself. After learning the Quran, we must practice it and spread the word in our family and our community. And the sad part of reality is that let alone having the urge of reciting the Qur’an beautifully and melodiously most of us don’t even know how to read it at all!! Or know very little, or above all read it wrong!!! At times, while reciting many brothers and sisters unknowingly make mistakes which means changing of Allah (SWT) words. To learn how to read the Quran the way it was descended upon our Prophet Mohammed (SAWS) is obligatory. It is a must and Fard e Ain on all the Muslims to learn and implement the rules of Qur’an while we recite it, or read it in our Salah. And we must learn Tajweed in the company of qualified teachers who can teach according to correct pronunciation and rules. Likewise, send your children to the teacher where they may learn how to recite the Quran with correct pronunciation and Qi ‘rat. If there is not an available teacher or institute in your town or area, then establish one.
My Advice??
Alhamdulillah we are blessed to live in a time where we see institutes and teachers of Qur’an almost in all the areas or at least nearby. Or if not then in this internet technology world there are hundreds of sites which offer courses of tajweed in groups as well as individually. All we have to do is to run towards Allah (SWT) and He (SWT) would take care of the rest.
Growing Up Muslim ~No One Understands Me~ News flash from the young Muslims to the
live. With that in mind, here are some
world: We already knew that and it’s no
pointers.
walk in the park. While the adults are busy declaring this week, this month, this year, and indeed this century as “the century of the youth,” “our future,” and the “next generation,” you, the young Muslims, are busy trying to get their attention to start a dialogue. You don’t want too much, you just want a chance to be heard. You just want a chance to share what you are experiencing as you grow up in majority non-Muslim societies. It is clear that growing up in such an environment poses formidable challenges to you. Whatever reasons, our community has not given much thought to helping you face those challenges and you are left thinking to yourself, “no one understands me.”
The last thing you want to do is to feel sorry for yourself and do nothing to help improve that dialogue, that communication with your family and with the community. You potentially face a lot of stress in negotiating the various worlds in which you
Know Yourself No matter what your family situation is like with regard to practicing Islam, remember that you have been blessed by Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala Most High to be a Muslim. If your family is practicing, most likely you were raised in an environment that helped you to understand and learn more about Islam and your obligations to Allah (SWT) as a Muslim. If your family is not practicing or engages in minimal practice of the religion, and you did not have other relatives or friends who were practicing, there is a possibility that you were not exposed to the beautiful religion that is Islam.
In either case, if you have come of age, if you have reached puberty, the responsibility to learn about Islam and to practice the religion rests fully on your shoulders and your shoulders alone. You cannot simply say
Growing Up Muslim ~No One Understands Me~ “practicing Islam is too difficult because I live in a society that is mostly non-Muslim. How am I supposed to pray when I am in school? How can I fast when everyone around me is eating? How can I not date when everyone my age has a girlfriend or a boyfriend?” You cannot say “the pressure is too great and I do not want to look or feel different.”
Know Your Family When you feel like talking to someone, do you turn to your mother or father or neither? Too often, young people write off their parents as people who will never understand what they are going through, so they do not even talk to their parents. To some degree, parents might not be able to relate to exactly what you are going through, but the general themes of what young
On the other hand, you have to struggle to
people face while growing up are fairly
be a better Muslim in the face of all these
consistent. Themes such as fitting in;
challenges to your identity. You have to
struggling with peer pressure; choosing
learn to navigate these challenges because
friends; spending time with friends;
of Islam not in spite of Islam. Once you
engaging in pastimes frowned upon by one’s
exert some effort at exploring the religion
parents; balancing social, academic, family,
and becoming comfortable with its
and religious responsibilities; and so on
teachings, you will begin to enjoy
might vary with regards to how important
worshiping Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala
each of them is to you in comparison to how
and to develop a relationship with Him
important they were to your parents’
(SWT). Take precaution as you learn about
generation. But the themes, you will agree,
Islam so that you are traveling the middle
are just as applicable to you today as they
path and not being tempted to veer from
were to your parents when they were
that middle path.
growing up.
Growing Up Muslim ~No One Understands Me~ The critical ingredient to making sure that
and tell your parents clearly whatever it is
your parents understand you is not to give
that bothers you or is bothering you. Do not
up on them and to struggle hard to make
speak in circles or be vague. If you have
sure they do not give up on you. Be fair,
made a mistake, admit it to your parents so
frank, and friendly with your parents. You
that there can be a level of mutual trust.
cannot expect them to know everything
Admitting mistakes is a sign of maturity and
about what you are feeling nor can you
seeking forgiveness is a sign of humility. Be
expect them to relate automatically to what
mature and be humble, but remember to be
you are experiencing. Be fair to them by
frank.
communicating with them regularly and
Â
keeping them updated on what you and your friends talk about, what troubles you at school, and even what troubles you at home. The least effective dialogue is one in which you never speak to your parents and then show up one day with a major problem, expecting them to understand you, empathise with you, and rescue you. Be fair. Â
As you bridge the gap between you and your family, remember to treat them as your friends. There is no reason for interactions between children and parents to be full of anger, frustration, and exasperation. Over time, you will find that your parents can relate to you and, in fact, your relationship with them will expand such that in addition to having a parent-child relationship, you will also develop a strong friend-friend
In addition, you should be frank. It is
relationship. You will realise you are friends
possible to be frank and courteous,
with your parents the day you can share a
respectful and gentle all at the same time.
joke with them or the day you can laugh
The key is to make sure that you are not
together about a mistake that either the
using words or phrases to which your
parents or you made. So remember to be
parents cannot relate. Just make du`aa’
fair, frank, and friendly!
Growing Up Muslim ~No One Understands Me~
Know Your Community, Your Imam
Final Thoughts
Often parents will seek to involve you in
Caught between managing the difficulties in
the local community and to interact with the local imam. Rather than treating their efforts as a threat or as a potentially uncomfortable experience, treat their efforts as an opportunity for growth. Throughout your interactions with community members and the imam, look carefully for the bright side, the learning opportunities. Again, look at such a situation as an opportunity to grow. Be patient and respectful with the community members and the imam. Just as we suggested with your parents, you should also be fair, frank, and friendly with the community members and the imam. Your goal should be to help them understand you better even as you begin to understand their perspectives.
living in a majority non-Muslim society and finding your way in the Muslim community, with families, community members and even the imam who do not understand you or the issues you face, is stressful to say the least. However, you are young, resilient and can overcome the stress with the help of Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala and through effort that you exert on your own. It is critical to know yourself, to know your family, and to know your community. Your goal is to move the dialogue from a state of “no one understands me” to a state of “with the help of Allah (SWT), I’m going to become understood by my family and community.” After all, when you face stress in your daily life, you should turn to Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta`aala for sure, but also to your family and your community for support!
Prophet Ayub ()عليه الصالة والسالم ~A consolation to those who are ill or deprived~ Prophet Ayub (peace be upon him)
things did not make him (pbuh)
was one of the descendants of the
arrogant. His (pbuh) wealth provided
Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him)
him (pbuh) with a medium by means of
and a nephew of Prophet Ya'qub
which he sought Allah's (SWT) grace.
(peace be upon him). He (pbuh) was
Allah (SWT) blessed Ayub (pbuh) to be
sent to reform the people who lived in
wealthy for 80 years. During this time
the desert situated in the north eastern
he never forgot to worship or thank
corner of Palestine.
Allah (SWT). He (pbuh) shared his (pbuh) wealth with the poor and
When Ayub (pbuh) was chosen to be
clothed the naked.
the Prophet, he (pbuh) started to teach the people about Allah (SWT) and His
Ibn Kathir (RA) narrates that once Iblis
(SWT) religion. He (pbuh) advised the
(shaytan) heard an angel praising Ayub
people to do good and shun evil. As
(pbuh) to other angels, extolling his
usual with all the Prophets, very few
(pbuh) noble character, patience and
people believed in him (pbuh) in the
remembrance of Allah (SWT) and
beginning but gradually the number
describing him (pbuh) as “the best
of his (pbuh) followers began to
creature on earth today, and an excellent
increase. The story of Ayub (pbuh)
model for the worshippers of Allah.”
gives consolation to all those who are
The angel also added that Allah (SWT)
ill or deprived of wealth or children.
had blessed him (pbuh) with long life
and plenty of riches, yet he (pbuh) was Prophet Ayub (pbuh) was a
never haughty or selfish. His (pbuh)
prosperous man with firm faith in
family, servants, the needy and the
Allah (SWT). He (pbuh) possessed
poor, all had a share in his (pbuh) good
vast farms, enormous wealth, many
fortune. He (pbuh) bought slaves to set
cattle and valuable property but these
them free and made those who received
his (pbuh) charity feel as if they were
of his (pbuh) family were crushed.
doing him (pbuh) a favour.
Prophet Ayub (pbuh) was much
Overhearing all this, Iblis became
shocked but he (pbuh) held fast to his
annoyed and planned to tempt Ayub
faith in Allah (SWT). He (pbuh) neither
(pbuh) and lead him (pbuh) to
shed a tear nor heaved a sigh. He
disbelief. Shaytan could not believe
(pbuh) prostrated before the Almighty.
that there was a servant as sincere as
He (pbuh) remarked that possessions
Ayub (pbuh). Shaytan thought that his
and children were the gifts from Allah
(pbuh) wealth was the reason for his
(SWT). If He (SWT) had taken His
(pbuh) sincerity, so he asked Allah
(SWT) things, it was useless to lament
(SWT) for power to take away Ayub's
over their loss.
(pbuh) wealth, with the intention of misleading him.
After a few years Prophet Ayub (peace be upon him) suffered from skin
Prophet Ayub (pbuh) displays patience:
disease. His (pbuh) parts of body were covered with loathsome sores. He (pbuh) had many ugly looking ulcers
Prophet Ayub (pbuh) was a pattern of
on his (pbuh) face and hands. The sores
humility and faith in Allah (SWT). He
were full of worms. It is narrated that
(pbuh) was very patient. He (pbuh)
he (pbuh) picked up those worms
suffered from a number of calamities
which fell from his (pbuh) abscess and
but did not utter a single word of
praised Allah (SWT) for creating them.
complaint. One day his (pbuh) big farm was attacked by the thieves. They killed many of his (pbuh)
Above all, his (pbuh) false friends
servants and carried away forcibly all
attributed his calamities to his (pbuh)
his (pbuh) cattle. Prophet Ayub (pbuh)
sins. They ridiculed and looked down
did not feel sorry at this loss but
upon him (pbuh). Everyone deserted
thanked Allah.
him (pbuh) with the exception of his (pbuh) faithful wife, Rahima.
After some time the roof of his (pbuh) house fell down and many members
Prophet Ayub ()عليه الصالة والسالم ~A consolation to those who are ill or deprived~ Shaytan tried twice to mislead Ayub
(pbuh) health. Shaytan was not
(pbuh) after he (pbuh) lost his (pbuh)
successful in misguiding Ayub (pbuh).
wealth by asking Allah (SWT) for power to take away his (pbuh) children and health. Allah (SWT) said I will give you power over his (pbuh) body, but I warn you against
When Prophet Ayub (pbuh) was in an extremely pathetic condition he prayed: ُّ الض ُّر َوأَنتَ أَرحَ ُم ََس ِني ّوب إِذ َّ نادى َربَّ ُه أَنّي م ٰ َ َوأَي ِ ال ّر َ احم ني
approaching his (pbuh) soul, tongue, and heart, because in them lies the
"Truly adversity has afflicted me and
secret of Faith. Ayub (pbuh) acted in
You are Most Merciful of all who show
the same manner as when his (pbuh)
mercy." (Surah 21: Verse 83)
wealth was taken away from him (pbuh). Shaytan realised that he couldn't misguide Ayub (pbuh), so he went to his (pbuh) wife to mislead her by reminding her of their previous lifestyle. She grew tired of him in the
Allah (SWT) accepted his prayer. The Holy Quran affirms: َ فَاستَجَ بنا َل ُه فَ َك ُ شفنا ما ِب ِه ِمن ُض ٍّر ۖ َوآتَيناه ِ م َعهُم َرحمَ ًة ِمن ِع كرى َ أَه َل ُه َو ِمث َلهُم ٰ ندنا َو ِذ لِلعا ِبدي َن
long run and prayed for his (pbuh) death. She cursed her husband for retaining integrity in Allah (SWT). Shaytan was successful in misleading his (pbuh) wife. This led to her complaining to Ayub (pbuh) about their present state. This caused Ayub (pbuh) to become upset with her and he (pbuh) vowed that he (pbuh)
"Then We heard his prayer and removed that adversity from which he suffered, and We gave him his household and the like thereof along with them, a mercy from Our store and remembrance for the worshippers”. (Surah 21: Verse 84)
would beat her 100 times if Allah (SWT) gave him (pbuh) back his
Allah (SWT) then restored him (pbuh) with all that he (pbuh) had lost. Ayub
Prophet Ayub ()عليه الصالة والسالم ~A consolation to those who are ill or deprived~ (pbuh) now had to fulfil his (pbuh)
Prophet Ayub (pbuh) was one of the
vow of striking his (pbuh) wife. Allah
celebrated Prophets. His example
(SWT) ordered him (pbuh) to strike
illustrates: that those who remain
his (pbuh) wife once with 100 pieces
patient under the stress of all
of good smelling grass, out of mercy
circumstances, are never deprived of
for her. Indeed Allah (SWT) is the
high rewards. The Holy Quran affirms:
Most Merciful.
ٍ ش ٍ َع َون ِ خ َ يء ِم َن ال َ َو َلنَب ُلوَنَّ ُكم ِب قص ِم َن ِ وف َوالجو ِ َس َوالثَّم ِ ُموال َواألَنف ِّ رات ۗ َوب َ األ ِ .الصا ِبري َن َش ِر ّ
Prophet Ayub (pbuh) recovers
ِ ا َّلذي َن إِذا أَصابَتهُم مُصيبَ ٌة قالوا إِنّا هللَِِّ َو إِنّا إِ َل يه
and prospers:
َ أُو ٰل ِئ. ن َ راجعو ِ ۖ ص َلواتٌ ِمن َربِّ ِهم َو َرحمَ ٌة َ ع َلي ِهم َ ك َ َوأُو ٰل ِئ َ ه ُم املُهتَدو ُ ك ن
Allah (SWT) turned to him (pbuh) with mercy. He (pbuh) was
"And surely we try you with something
commanded to strike the earth with
of fear and hunger, and loss of wealth
his (pbuh) foot. He (pbuh) complied
and crops, but give glad-tidings to the
with the order and water from the
steadfast, who when a misfortune
spring gushed forth. He (pbuh) took a
befalls them, say lo! we are Allah's
bath with the water and got cured
(possession of Allah) and to Him shall
from his (pbuh) evil disease. After this
we surely return. Such are they on
he (pbuh) was restored to prosperity.
whom are blessings from their Lord, and mercy. Such are the rightly
Prophet Ayub (pbuh) knelt and prayed expressing a deep sense of
guided”. (Surah 2 : Verse 155-157)
gratitude to Allah (SWT). He (pbuh)
The story of Ayub (pbuh) should be a
never forgot His (SWT) favours, mercy
constant reminder for us all. Many of us
and love.
complain about the little things in life. Allah (SWT) tested Ayub (pbuh) in ways that can happen to us. His (pbuh)
Prophet Ayub ()عليه الصالة والسالم ~A consolation to those who are ill or deprived~ faith and patience are things that we
me and You are the Most Merciful of all
as true devout Muslims should try and
Who show mercy." [Qur’an: 21:83]
implement in our lives, when Allah (SWT) tests us in these situations. In the Qur'an Allah (SWT) says: ِ خذ ِبي َِد َك ُ َو ضغثًا فَاض ِرب ِب ِه َوال تَحنَث ۗ إِنّا اب ٌ َوجَ دناهُ صا ِب ًرا ۚ ِنع َم العَب ُد ۖ إِنَّ ُه أ َ ّو
َ فَاستَجَ بنا َل ُه فَ َك ُ شفنا ما ِب ِه ِمن ُض ٍّر ۖ َوآتَيناه ِ م َعهُم َرحمَ ًة ِمن ِع كرى َ أَه َل ُه َو ِمث َلهُم ٰ ندنا َو ِذ لِلعا ِبدي َن "So We answered his call, and We
"Truly! We found him patient. How
removed the distress that was on him,
excellent (a) slave! Verily, he was ever
and We restored his family to him (that
oft returning in repentance (to
he had lost), and the like thereof along
us)." [Qur’an: 38:44].
with them, as a mercy from Ourselves
During these times, we must
and a reminder for all those who
remember Allah (SWT) more and be
worship Us." [Qur’an:21:84]
more thankful instead of being dissatisfied with our condition. We should praise and thank Allah (SWT) for every condition that He (SWT) tests us with. As we know these are the times when Shaytan tries to play with our minds, emotions, and weaknesses. Allah (SWT) would never forget to reward a servant for such a great task. ُّ َالض ُّر َوأَنت ََس ِني ّوب إِذ َّ نادى َربَّ ُه أَنّي م ٰ َ َوأَي ِ أَرحَ ُم ال ّر َ احم ني "And (remember) Ayub when he cried to his Lord: Verily, distress has seized
This story should remind us that we should never make our worship and sincerity toward Allah (SWT) contingent on our perceived blessings. Allah (SWT) tests us in many ways and we should, therefore, be steadfast in His worship constantly. May Allah (SWT) give us the faith and the patience when we are tested.
THE PHYSICS OF NATURE IN THE LIGHT OF QURAN
OCEANOLOGY - BARRIER BETWEEN SWEET AND SALT WATERS Consider the following verse from the Quran: In the Arabic text the word “barzakh” means a barrier or a partition. This barrier is not a physical partition. The Arabic word maraja literally means ‘they both meet and mix with each other’. Early commentators of the Quran were unable to explain the two opposite meanings for the two bodies of water, i.e. they meet and mix, and at the same time, there is a barrier between them. Modern Science has discovered that in the places where two different seas meet, there is a barrier between them. This barrier divides the two seas so that each sea has its own temperature, salinity and density. Oceanologists are now in a better position to explain this verse. There is a slanted unseen water barrier between the two seas through which water from one sea passes to the other. (Principles of Oceanography, Davis, pp. 92-93.). But
when the water from one sea enters the other sea, it loses its distinctive characteristic and becomes homogenised with the other water. In a way this barrier serves as a transitional homogenising area for the two waters. This scientific phenomenon mentioned in the Quran was also confirmed by Dr. William Hay who is a well-known marine scientist and Professor of Geological Sciences at the University of Colorado, U.S.A. The Quran mentions this phenomenon also in the following verse: ِ ض َق َرا ًرا َوجَ ع ََل َ األ َ ْر ْ م ْن جَ ع ََل خ َال َلهَا أَنْهَا ًرا َّ َ أ ِ َوجَ ع ََل َلهَا َر َو ِ َْني ا ْلبَحْ َري ِ َن ح َ ْ اسيَ َوجَ ع ََل ب ۗ اجزًا َ ه ْم َال يَ ْع َلمُ و ُ معَ اهللَِّ ۚ ب َْل أ َ ْكث َ ُر ن َ أَإِ ٰلَ ٌه “And made a separating bar between the two bodies of flowing water?” [AlQuran 27:61] This phenomenon occurs in several places, including the divider between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic Ocean at Gibraltar. But when the Quran speaks about the divider between fresh and salt water, it mentions the existence
of “a forbidding partition” with the barrier. ِ ْم َرجَ ا ْلبَحْ َري ٰ ب فُ َراتٌ َو ٰ ن ُ َو هَذَا َ هَذَا َ هوَ ا َّل ِذي ٌ ْعذ ِ خا َو ً َِم ْلحٌ أُجَ اجٌ َوجَ ع ََل بَيْنَهُمَ ا بَ ْرز حجْ ًرا مَحْ جُ و ًرا “It is He Who has let free the two bodies of flowing water: one palatable and sweet, and the other salty & bitter; yet He has made a barrier between them, and a partition that is forbidden to be passed.” [Al-Quran 25:53] Modern science has discovered that in
including Egypt, where the river Nile flows into the Mediterranean Sea. (Oceanography, Gross, p. 242 & 244. Also see Introductory Oceanography, Thurman, pp. 300-301)
DARKNESS IN THE DEPTHS OF THE OCEAN Prof. Durga Rao is an expert in the field of Marine Geology and was a professor at King Abdul Aziz University in Jeddah. He was asked to comment on the following verse: ٍ َأ َ ْو َكظُ ُلم َ غ ْ َات ِفي بَحْ ٍر ُلجِّ يٍّ ي موْجٌ ِم ْن فَو ِْق ِه َ ُشاه ُ اب ۚ ظُ ُلمَ اتٌ بَع َْضهَا فَوْق َ موْجٌ ِم ْن فَو ِْق ِه َ ٌ َسح ٍ بَع ْ َ ْض إِذَا أ م ْن َل ْم يَجْ َع ِل َ خ َرجَ يَ َدهُ َل ْم يَ َك ْد يَ َراهَا ۗ َو اهللَُّ َل ُه نُو ًرا فَمَ ا َل ُه ِم ْن نُو ٍر
estuaries, where fresh (sweet) and saltwater meet, the situation is somewhat different from that found in places where two seas meet. It has been discovered that what distinguishes fresh water from salt water in estuaries is a “pycnocline zone with a marked density discontinuity separating the two layers.” This partition (zone of separation) has salinity different from both the fresh water and the salt water. This phenomenon occurs in several places,
“Or (the unbelievers’ state) Is like the depths of darkness in a vast deep ocean, overwhelmed with billow topped by billow, topped by (dark) clouds: Depths of darkness, one above another: if a man stretches out his hand, he can hardly see it! For any to whom Allah giveth not light, there is no light!” [AlQuran 24:40] Prof. Rao said that scientists have only now been able to confirm, with the help of modern equipment that there is darkness in the depths of the ocean. Humans are unable to dive unaided underwater for more than 20 to 30 meters, and cannot survive in the deep oceanic regions at a depth of more than
THE PHYSICS OF NATURE IN THE LIGHT OF QURAN
200 meters. This verse does not refer to all seas because not every sea can be described as having accumulated darkness layered one over another. It refers especially to a deep sea or deep ocean, as the Quran says, “darkness in a vast deep ocean”. This layered darkness in a deep ocean is the result of two causes: 1. A light ray is composed of seven colours. These seven colours are Violet, Indigo, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange and Red (VIBGYOR). The light ray undergoes refraction when it hits water. The upper 10 to 15 metres of water absorb the red colour. Therefore if a diver is 25 metres under water and gets wounded, he would not be able to see the red colour of his blood, because the red colour does not reach this depth. Similarly orange rays are absorbed at 30 to 50 metres, yellow at 50 to 100 metres, green at 100 to 200 metres, and finally, blue beyond 200 metres and violet and indigo above 200 metres. Due to
successive disappearance of colour, one layer after another, the ocean progressively becomes darker, i.e. darkness takes place in layers of light. Below a depth of 1000 meters there is complete darkness. -Oceans, Elder and Pernetta, p. 27. 1 2. The sun’s rays are absorbed by clouds, which in turn scatter light rays thus causing a layer of darkness under the clouds. This is the first layer of darkness. When light rays reach the surface of the ocean they are reflected by the wave surface giving it a shiny appearance. Therefore it is the waves which reflect light and cause darkness. The un-reflected light penetrates into the depths of the ocean. Therefore the ocean has two parts. The surface characterised by light and warmth and the depth characterised by darkness. The surface is further separated from the deep part of the ocean by waves. The internal waves cover the deep waters of seas and oceans because the deep waters have a higher density than the waters above them. The darkness begins
THE PHYSICS OF NATURE IN THE LIGHT OF QURAN
below the internal waves. Even the fish in the depths of the ocean cannot see; their only source of light is from their own bodies. The Quran rightly mentions: “Darkness in a vast deep ocean overwhelmed with waves topped by waves”. In other words, above these waves there are more types of waves, i.e. those found on the surface of the ocean. The Quranic verse continues, “topped by (dark) clouds; depths of darkness, one above another.” These clouds as explained are barriers one over the other that further cause darkness by absorption of colours at different levels. Prof. Durga Rao concluded by saying, “1400 years ago a normal human being could not explain this phenomenon in so much detail. Thus the information must have come from a supernatural source”.
The Success Formula! بسم اهلل والصالة والسالم على رسول الله
It was dark, dark It was night, even when it was daylight The world outside was smiling The heart inside was crying Subhanal Allah Unfulfilled expectations, sadness, grief and worry overwhelmed the heart I sat down and started to do the accounts I wanted to come up with a happiness formula I wanted to come up with a success formula I wanted to find out why 1+1 was not 2 My mind had stopped working I was too tired and overwhelmed I raised my hands to the skies Was I talking to the skies? Had I lost my mind? Subhanal Allah No, No, I was talking to Allah, Rabb al alameen
I asked Ya Allah, the mind cannot grasp the reality, the heart is crying, the tears do not stop…I cannot find my way, have lost the meaning of life, struggle seems too heavy, open the way ya Rabb I sat down, looked at the skies, touched the sand and watched a bird spread his wings and fly high and above, subhanal Allahi wa Behamdehi I had found the answer I had found the answer in the spreading of the wings of the bird He was carried by Allah as He was doing what he was created for, while I was so chained by the earthly desires, that I was being dragged by my desires as a slave going here and there, as if I did not have a purpose Subhanal Allah I fell down in sujood and I asked for the utmost prize Ya Allah make me your abd, Ya Allah make your servant Ya Allah, make me trust you as this bird trusts you Subhanal Allah As I stoop up from sujood I said Bimil Allah, Tawaqal alal Allah My heart was overwhelmed with light I could hear a group of birds surrounding a tree and chirping It was about to be Maghrib, the sun was setting They were chanting the praises of Allah Reminding me that life is only worth living in praise of Allah سبحان اهلل وبحمده وصلى اللهم على نبيه الكريم
Masjid Bani Hashim At Jumeirah Islands, Dubai
Masjid Bani Hashim by the Grace of Allah عز وجل, opened its doors 2nd Ramadan 1434; July 10th, 2013 & is a Non-Profit Organization. It envisions to offer intensive courses, lectures, workshops, Tafseer elQuran with Taddabur, Tajweed, Seerah of the Prophet pbuh & major Islamic Studies. Our Mission Masjid Bani Hashim’s mission is to provide authentic understanding of Islam based on Qur'an and Sunnah of our beloved Prophet Mohammed (صلى اهلل عليه وسلمs). Masjid Bani Hashim welcomes all and provides a golden opportunity to access Islamic Courses to all seekers of Ilm. Without rushing back home, you can make a stop at Masjid Bani Hashim to nurture your soul, pray & recite Quran.