A monthly newsletter from Masjid Bani Hashim Jumeirah Islands, Dubai Issue#39 January 2017
A Monthly Newsletter by Masjid Bani Hashim, Jumeirah Islands, Dubai Issue #39 Jan 2017 بسم اهلل الرحمن الرحيم السالم عليكم و رحمة اهلل و بركاته Introduction Transformation of an Individual غيِّرُوا ْ مَا ِبأ َنفُسِ ہِ ۡ ۗم َ ُغيِّ ُر مَا ِب َقوۡم ٍ حَ تَّىٰ ي َ ُن ٱهللََّ َالي َّ ِإ Lo! Allah changed not the condition of a folk until they (first) change that which is in their hearts. (Surah Al-Rad (Part of ayah 11) We are going through difficult times for the Ummah, with some brothers and sisters going through very hard times. May Allah SWT forgive us all and facilitate a way out for them. Surely, there is something that we are doing which is not right, something that is not allowing us to overpower the shaytan and the supporters of shaytan! Communities are made up of individuals; Muslim Ummah is one of these communities. We individual Members of this community are to blame for the situation of our brothers and sisters, wherever they are in the world. We have stopped advising the good and forbidding the evil; we have become weak despite our increasing numbers. We are fascinated with the glitter of the world, which we want more and more, while forgetting that death is the reality, it will surely come to pass. May Allah SWT grant us a good end and forgive our sins. How can we stand up again? How can we get back our honour and our glory? Subhanal Allah, each of us individually needs to fix his/her heart and start focusing on its purpose in life. Having said that, we do not have the strength to fix ourselves for sure! The solution is to flee to Allah SWT, to beg for His pardon, to ask Him to fix our broken hearts and affairs and to make sincere supplications for the ummah. We will surely not attain the glory, if we are going to follow the shaytan and do what is nor pleasing to Allah SWT. Our Success, our honour and our glory are totally tied up with following the Qur’an and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad SAW. Enough is enough! م ُد َ َ ٱأل ۡ ع َليۡہِ ُم َ َۡشعَ ُقلُوبُہُ ۡم لِ ِذڪۡ ِر ٱهللَِّ َومَا نَزَلَ ِم َن ٱلۡحَ قِّ و ََاليَكُونُوا ْ كَٱ َّلذِي َن أ ُوتُوا ْ ٱ ۡل ِكتَـٰبَ مِن َقبۡلُ فَطَال َ منُوٓا ْ أ َن تَخ َ ن لِ َّلذِي َن ءَا ِ ۡ أ َ َل ۡم يَأ ن َ منۡہُ ۡم فَـٰسِ قُو ِّ ٌَستۡ ُقلُوبُہُ ۡ ۖم َو َكثِي ۬ر َ َق Has the time not come for those who have believed that their hearts should become humbly submissive at the remembrance of Allah and what has come down of the truth? And let them not be like those who were given the Scripture before, and a long period passed over them, so their hearts hardened; and many of them are defiantly disobedient. (Surah Al -Hadid, ayah 15) Alhamdulil Allah Rabb al alameen Wa salato wa salamo ala Rasulil Allah
A Monthly Newsletter by Masjid Bani Hashim, Jumeirah Islands, Dubai Issue #39 Jan 2017
This Issue Introduction: Page 1 The Real Superstars: Pages 2 - 6 Arabic Pronouns: Page 7 Sincerity is the Way to Salvation #12: Pages 8 - 11 Cheer up: Pages 12 - 13 Surah Yusuf #64 - 65: Pages 14 - 17 Shukr: Pages 18 - 21
NEW!
Why doesn’t Allah SWT Answer our Duas?: Page 22 - 25 Afdhal Al Dhikr 5: Pages 26 - 27 Surah Maryam #2: Pages 28 - 31 Masjid Bani Hashim: Pages 32 - 34
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that I have to give in charity, and I see that you are more in need of it than anyone else.” I brought it near to him and the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said to his companions: “Eat,” but he refrained from eating. I said to myself: “This is one.” Then I went away and collected some more. The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) moved to Madeenah, then I came to him and said, “I see that you do not eat (food given in) charity; this is a gift with which I wish to honour you.” The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) ate some of it and told his companions to eat too. I said to myself: “This is two”. We will continue with the story of Salman Al Farsi (RA), from where we left off in the last issue. Salman Al Farsi, son of a priest and one of the elite in Persia, traveled through different lands and situations and finally ended up in Medina as a slave. When he had gone to Makkah with his master, he had recognized Muhammad (SAWS) as being the Prophet. Then when he heard that he (SAWS) was making Hijrah to Madina and had stopped at Quba’, he went there to meet him. To continue from his own account of his story as narrated to Ibn Abbas: “I had something that I had collected, and when evening came, I went to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) when he was in Quba’, and I entered upon him and said to him: “I have heard that you are a righteous man and that you have companions who are strangers and are in need. This is something
Then I came to the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) when he was in Baqee’ al-Gharqad, where he had attended the funeral of one of his companions and he was wearing two shawls and was sitting among his companions. I greeted him with salaam then I moved behind him, trying to look at his back to see the Seal that my companion had described to me. When the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) saw me going behind him, he realized that I was trying to find confirmation of something that had been described to me, so he let his rida’ drop from his back, and I saw the Seal and recognized it. Then I embraced him, kissing (the Seal) and weeping, and the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said to me: “Turn around.” So I turned around and I told him my story as I have told it to you, O Ibn ‘Abbas. The Messenger 3
of Allah (SAWS) wanted his companions to hear that.” Then Salman Al Farsi (RA) was kept busy with the work of a slave, until he had missed attending Badr and Uhud with the Messenger of Allah (SAWS). He said: Then the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said to me: “Draw up a contract of manumission, O Salman.” So I drew up a contract of manumission with my master in return for three hundred palm trees which I would plant for him, and forty uqiyahs. The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said to his companions: “Help your brother.” So they helped me with the palm trees, one man gave thirty small trees and another gave twenty, and another gave fifteen, and another gave ten, i.e., each man gave according to what he had, until they had collected three hundred small trees for me. Then the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said to me: “Go, O Salman, and dig the holes where they are to be planted. When you have finished, come to me and I will plant them with my own hand.” So I dug the holes for them, and my companions helped me, then when I had finished, I came to him and told him. The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) came out with me and we started to bring the trees close and the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) planted them with his own hand. By the One in Whose hand is the
soul of Salman, not one single tree among them died. So I had paid off the trees but there still remained the money. A piece of gold the size of an egg was brought to the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) from one of his campaigns. He said: “What happened to the Persian who had a contract of manumission?” I was summoned to him and he said: “Take this and pay off what you owe, O Salman.” I said: “How could this pay off everything I owe, O Messenger of Allah?” He said: “Take it, and Allah will help you to pay off what you owe.” So I took it and weighed it for them, and by the One in Whose hand is the soul of Salman, it was forty uqiyahs, so I paid them their dues and I was set free. I was present with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) at al-Khandaq, and after that I did not miss any major event with him. Narrated by Ahmad in al-Musnad (5/441). The scholars of hadeeth said: Its isnaad is hasan. After accepting Islam, Salman Al Farsi when asked whose son he was, would say:"I am Salman, the son of Islam from the children of Adam." It was Salman Al Farsi who had suggested the digging of the trench around Medina when it was going to be attacked by the Quraysh army and Jews in the Battle of Khandaq. When Abu Sufyan, the leader of the Makkans, saw the ditch, 4
his own hands. When some people came to Mada'in and saw him working in the palm groves, they said, "You are the amir here and your sustenance is guaranteed and you do this work!" Salman Al Farsi would reply,"I like to eat from the work of my own hands," Salman however was not extreme in his asceticism. Abu Juhaifa (ra) narrated that the Prophet (saws) made a bond of brotherhood between Salman Al-Farsi and Abu Ad-Darda . Salman paid a visit to Abu Ad-Darda’ and found Um Ad-Darda’ (ra) dressed in shabby clothes and asked her why she was in that state. he said, "This stratagem has not been employed by the Arabs before."
She replied, "Your brother Abu Ad-Darda’ is not interested in (the luxuries of) this world."
The word khandaq ( )خندقis the Arabized form
In the meantime Abu Ad-Darda’ came and prepared a meal for Salman. Salman requested Abu Ad-Darda’ to eat (with him), but Abu AdDarda’ said, "I am fasting." Salman said, "I am not going to eat unless you eat".
of the Persian word kandak ,meaning "that which has been dug" Salman Al Farsi was also known as "Salman the Good". He lived a rough and ascetic life, living a simple and humble life. It is said that he wouldn't seek shelter under a roof , but would rather seek it under a tree or a wall. When a man offered to build a house for him, Salman Al Farsi refused saying he had no need of one. The man persisted and said, "I know the type of house that would suit you. I shall build you a house which if you stand up in it, its roof will hurt your head and if you stretch your legs the wall will hurt them." When he was a governor of Al Madain, he would give his stipend of five thousand dirhams in sadaqah. He lived from the work of
So, Abu Ad-Darda’ ate (with Salman). When it was night and (a part of the night passed), Abu Ad-Darda’ got up (to offer the night prayer), but Salman told him to sleep and Abu Ad-Darda’ slept. After sometime Abu Ad-Darda’ again got up but Salman told him to sleep. When it was the last hours of the night, Salman told him to get up then, and both of them offered the prayer. Salman(RA) told Abu Ad-Darda’, "Your Lord has a right on you, your soul has a right on you, and your family has a right on you; so 5
you should give the rights of all those who have a right on you." Abu Ad-Darda' came to the Prophet (saws) and narrated the whole story. The Prophet (saws) said, "Salman has spoken the truth." (Sahih Bukhari) Salman (RA) was a scholar noted for his vast knowledge and wisdom. Ali (RA) likened his wisdom and knowledge to that of Luqman (AS). Ka'b al-Ahbar said: "Salman is stuffed with knowledge and wisdom like an ocean that does not dry up." Salman had the knowledge of Zoroastrian , Christian scriptures and the Qur'an. He translated parts of the Qur'an into Persian during the life-time of the Prophet. He was thus, the first person to translate the Qur'an into a foreign language. The main lesson we learn from his story is to always be in quest of truth and to not be content till one has worked hard and has become convinced of what one has is, in fact ,the truth. And when one sincerely hopes and strives for anything, Allah SWT makes means and ways for us to achieve it. The deal is that we need to work and put in effort. The deen didn’t just fall into Salman Al Farsi’s lap- he struggled and journeyed and went through varied difficult situations – he didn’t give up and this was one of his remarkable quality, that he kept going with patience. Even though he grew up in an influential household, and
could have been a major figure in the Persian Empire, he renounced all this for the sake of religion. According to the most reliable account, he died in the year thirty five after the hijrah, during the caliphate of Uthman.
Reported by Abu Hurairah (RA): The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “A woman is married for four things: for her wealth, for her lineage, for her beauty or for her piety. Select the pious, may you be blessed!” [Bukhari & Muslim] Riyad us Saliheen, Chapter 45, 364 While selecting a wife, one should give preference to religion above all other qualities, for she will be the mother of your future generations.
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ARABIC PRONOUNS
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Reported by Abu Hurairah (RA): Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, "While a man was walking, dressed in clothes admiring himself, his hair combed, walking haughtily when Allah caused the earth to swallow him. Now he will continue to go down in it (as a punishment) until the Day of Resurrection." [Muslim] Riyad us Saliheen, Chapter 72, 619
Reported by `Adi bin Hatim (RA): Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “Everyone of you will speak to his Rubb without an interpreter between them. He will look to his right side and will see only the deeds he had previously done; he will look to his left and will see only the deeds he had previously done, and he will look in front of him and will see nothing but Fire (of Hell) before his face. So protect yourselves from Fire (of Hell), even by giving half a date-fruit (in charity)�. (Bukhari and Muslim) Riyad us Saliheen, Chapter 50, 405
In search of goodness Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, and peace and blessings be upon the Prophet Muhammad, the last of the Prophets and upon all his family, companions and his followers. As I write, I would to clarify to you dear reader, that the first target is my own self and only then it is you! During our last issue, we talked about going through a dark tunnel and we went back in history and we remembered Yunus AS, who cried to Allah SWT from the belly of the fish: َّالَّ إِلَـ َه إِال ني َ ك إِنِّى كُنتُ ِم َن الظَّـلِ ِم َ َسبْحَ ـن ُ َ "أ َنتThere is no God but You, Glorified be You! Truly, I have been of the Zalimin wrongdoers.'' Surat 28 Al-'Anbyā' (The Prophets), part of verse 88. Hence let’s assume that we are doing the same, whenever we are going through a dark tunnel in our lives. Having said that, I pose this question for your reflection: should we ever stop saying the above supplication and/ or any other supplication for forgiveness and release from our difficulties? Should we wait for major tests like the one that affected Yunus AS for us to repeat the above supplication with faith and determination?
Subhanal Allah, a day of a believer would be incomplete if he or she does not run to Allah SWT by realizing that He is above any faults and His knowledge, His Wisdom, His Mercy are vast and complete. Alhamdulil Allah Rabb al Alameen, Subhanal Allahi wa behamdehi. As he realizes the كمال, the perfection of His Rabb, his Lord, his Nurturer, his Creator, his Disposer of affairs, his Provider, subhanal Allah, the individual realises that his sins are indeed an injustice to his own self and to the creation of Allah SWT. The only way out is fleeing to Allah with istighfar, seeking forgiveness of Allah SWT and thereby saving oneself from the evil consequences of the “polluting” sins upon ourselves upon our ummah and the society in general. One of the modern-day analogies applied to seeking forgiveness is of “Panadol”; despite being an interesting analogy, I find it incomplete as Panadol is only a temporary pain relief while istighfar if done with sincerity and consistency, the source of the pain will disappear and doors of goodness will open for the individual. Subhanal Allah, i.e. he will not only be cured from the pain, but he will also feel healthier and contribute more for his own and his society’s betterment. Hence, the solution to our problems, the lightening of the burden of the sins that we carry 12
and the opening of the doors of goodness are nothing but the result of istighfar, of this realization that we commit sins, some which we are aware of, others which we are not aware of, but still these are also sins that we will be accountable for as ignorance is not bliss! As we grow in knowledge, we will become more aware of the sins and as we become more self-aware, it only makes sense for us to act more consciously. Having said that, I realize, that every son of Adam commits a sin but the best of them is the one who repents. The Prophet (SAW) said: “Every son of Adam sins, and the best of those who sin are those who repent.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 2499; classed as hasan by al-Albaani. Ibn Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) said: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “If anyone constantly seeks pardon (from Allah), Allah will appoint for him a way out of every distress and a relief from every anxiety, and will provide sustenance for him from where he expects not.” [Abu Dawud]. "O Allah! Make me among those who, when they commit an act of virtue, feel good, and when they commit a mistake, they seek forgiveness." [Ibn Majah]
Reported by Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri (RA): A man heard another reciting Surat AlIkhlas repeatedly. The next morning he came to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and informed him about it as if he considered it to be of little reward. On that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “By Him in Whose Hand my soul is, this Surah is equal to one-third of the Qur’an.” [Al-Bukhari] Riyad us Saliheen, Chapter 183, 1011
Reported by Abu Hurairah (RA): The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “The most truthful statement a poet has ever made is the saying of Labid: Everything besides Allah is vain.”
Alhamdulil Allah Rabb al alameen
[Bukhari & Muslim] Wa salato wa salamo ala Rasulil Allah
Riyad us Saliheen, Chapter 55, 490 We learn from this Hadith that to compose, recite and quote good verses, as evidence, is permissible.
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Some=mes, protec=ng children becomes an obsession, but remember that Allah سبحانه وتعالىis the One who protects them from all harm, not you, even from sickness and bad friends.If you want His protec=on, you must guard yourself from falling into sin. The guardianship of Allah سبحانه وتعالىis of different levels. Those who rely on Him, and take the means, get special protec=on. Some of the means are reci=ng the ayat Al-Kursi. Another means is praying the Fajr salaah in the masjid. The Messenger of Allah صلى اهلل عليه و سلمsaid: ال يطلبنك اهلل من،من صلى الصبح فهو في ذمة اهلل فانظر يابن آدم ذمته بشيء
سورة يوسف Surah Yusuf # 64-65 سنُرَا ِو ُد َعن ْ ُه أَبَاهُ َو إِنَّا َلفَا ِعلُو َ ن َ قَالُوا خيْ ٌر حَ ا ِفظًا َ َُّقَالَ هَلْ آ َمن ُ ُك ْم َع َليْ ِه إ َِّال كَمَ ا أَمِنت ُ ُك ْم َع َلىٰ أ َخِ ي ِه مِن َقبْلُ ۖ فَاهلل ني َ َو ُه َو أَرْحَ ُم الرَّاحِ ِم He said, “Should I entrust you with him except [under coercion] as I entrusted you with his brother before? But Allah is the best guardian, and He is the most merciful of the merciful.” 12:64 Ya'qub عليه السالمexpressed his sadness, fear and suspicion when the brothers spoke of taking Yusuf عليه السالم. Now he has a flashback, of that painful =me. Their father does not want to lose his sons by expressing his suspicions. So he brings his fears in the form of a ques=on. He does not directly talk about their betrayal. The test from close rela=ves is very challenging. Ya'qub عليه السالمis implying he does not trust them. His statement shows the power of his faith. He trusts Allah سبحانه وتعالىto protect Binyameen. This situa=on was dire; Ya'qub عليه السالمhad to send his youngest son to another country, on a journey of many months. The more you trust Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the more your level of success increases. Ask Allah سبحانه وتعالىto grant you power and success. Have zero confidence in yourself, and 100% confidence in Him. He took charge of guarding us, whether we ask for it of not. If you don't know Allah سبحانه وتعالى, you are not alive.
١٠٤٩ # حديث، ٩ # كتاب، واح مسلم He who offers the dawn (Fajr) prayers will come under the Protection of Allah. O son of Adam! Beware, lest Al lah should call you to account in any respect from (for withdrawing) His Protection. Leave the sins and go forward towards Allah سبحانه وتعالى. The Messenger of Allah صلى اهلل عليه و سلمsaid to Ibn Abbas: َْاسأ َل ْ َا سأَلْتَ ف َ َو إِذ,َ اِحْ فَظِ اَهللََّ تَج ِ ْدهُ تُجَ اهَك,َيَا غ َُالمُ! اِحْ فَظِ اَهللََّ يَحْ فَظْك ََِّاست َعِ ْن ِباَهلل ْ ِست َ َعن ْتَ ف ْ َو إِذَا ا,ََّاَهلل ١٤٧٢ # حديث، ١٦ # كتاب، رواه الترمذي O lad, be mindful of Allah and He will protect you. Be mindful of Allah and you shall find Him with you. When you ask (for anything), ask it from Allah, and if you seek help, seek help from Allah. Protect your hearing; don't listen to anything bad. People will push you to say something you would later regret. Ignore the pressure and run towards Allah سبحانه وتعالى. Lower your gaze; don't put yourself in a fitnah. Your righteousness will help your genera=ons to come. Allah سبحانه وتعالىwill protect your progeny because of your good deeds. During difficult =mes, you need more protec=on. The Messenger of Allah صلى اهلل عليه و سلمsaid : 14
الش َّد ِ ة ِّ تَ َعرَّفْ إلَى اهللَِّ فِي ال َّرخَا ِء يَ ْع ِرفُك فِي ١٩ # ، ألربعون النووية Recognize and acknowledge Allah in times of ease and prosperity, and He will remember you in times of adver sity. Yunus عليه السالمwas swallowed by a whale. In its belly, he was s=ll protected by Allah سبحانه وتعالى. When the whale regurgitated him, Allah سبحانه وتعالىmade a pumpkin bush grow to protect his skin. Yunus عليه السالمwas in that complete darkness for forty days, invoking Allah سبحانه وتعالى, calling out to Him, in pitch blackness : ني َ ِ ِسبْحَ ان ََك إِنِّي كُنتُ ِم َن الظَّامل ُ َال إِ ٰلَ َه إ َِّال أ َنت There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers. 21:87
Allah سبحانه وتعالىgives everything in the correct propor=on. Some=mes too much richness can give rise to arrogance, and too much need can lead to hopelessness. َّربُّ ُك ْم ذُو رَحْ مَ ٍة وَاسِ َع ٍة Your Lord is the possessor of vast mercy. 6:147 Even the disbelievers get a share of the mercy of Allah سبحانه وتعالى. That is why no one should despair of it. He stretches His arms towards criminals too. A mother might forsake a wicked child. But Allah سبحانه وتعالىnever abandons anyone. His gates are open for anyone who repents. ۖ َكت َبَ َربُّ ُك ْم َع َلىٰ نَفْسِ ِه الرَّحْ مَ َة your Lord has decreed upon Himself mercy. 6:54 The Messenger of Allah صلى اهلل عليه و سلمsaid: َت ْ سبَق َ خلْقَ َكت َبَ ِعن ْ َدهُ فَوْقَ َعرْشِ ِه إِ َّن رَحْ مَ تِي َ َضى ا ْل َ إِ َّن اهللََّ ملَ َّا ق
Yunus عليه السالمconstantly made this dua. Allah سبحانه وتعالىprotected Yusuf عليه السالم, sending him back to his father a[er forty years. He was protected from all harm, even from his father, who loved him so much, he would have spoiled him. Mercy is a praised characteris=c. The mercy of human beings is incomplete and flawed. But the mercy of Allah سبحانه وتعالىis perfect. His mercy encompasses everything in the universe. شيْ ٍء رَّحْ مَ ًة َو ِعلْمً ا َ ََّربَّن َا وَسِ عْتَ كُل Our Lord, You have encompassed all things in mercy
َضبِي َ غ ٧٤٢٢ # حديث، صحيح البخاري When Allah had finished His creation, He wrote over His Throne: My Mercy preceded My Anger. Allah سبحانه وتعالىis the Bestower of mercy. He is the Source of all mercy. Abu Hurayrah رضي اهلل عنهsaid: ،َضمُّ ُه إِ َليْ ِه ُ فَجَ عَلَ ي،ٌّص ِبي َ أَتَى الن َّ ِبيَّ صلى اهلل عليه وسلم رَجُ لٌ َو َم َع ُه فَاهللَُّ أَرْحَ مُ ب َ ِك:َ قَال،ْ نَ َعم:َ أَتَرْحَ مُ هُ؟ قَال:فَقَالَ الن َّ ِبيُّ صلى اهلل عليه وسلم .ني َ َو ُه َو أَرْحَ ُم الرَّاحِ ِم،ِِمن َْك ِبه
and knowledge. 40:7
٣٧٧ # ، داب املفرد
There is nothing that Allah سبحانه وتعالىdoes not know. Wherever the knowledge of Allah سبحانه وتعالىgoes, His mercy also reaches. Allah سبحانه وتعالىhas associated His mercy with His knowledge. Every creature enjoys His mercy, He is the Owner of the real mercy. َ َرب َُّك ا ْل َغ ِنيُّ ذُو الرَّحْ مَ ِة And your Lord is the Free of need, the Possessor of mercy. 6:133
A man came to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, with a child which he began to embrace. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said. ‘Do you show mercy towards me?’ ‘Yes,’ the man re plied. He said, ‘Allah is more merciful towards you than you are towards this child. He is the Most Merciful of the merciful. Narrated `Umar bin Al-Kha_ab رضي اهلل عنهsaid : 15
Some Sabi (i.e. war prisoners, children and woman only) were brought before the Prophet صلى اهلل عليه و سلمand behold, a woman amongst them was milking her breasts to feed and whenever she found a child amongst the cap=ves, she took it over her chest and nursed it (she had lost her child but later she found him) the Prophet said to us, "Do you think that this lady can throw her son in the fire?" We replied, "No, if she has the power not to throw it (in the fire)." The Prophet صلى اهلل عليه و سلمthen said, "Allah is more Merciful to His slaves than this lady to her son." فَ ِإذَا ا ْم َرأَةٌ ِم َ ن،ٌسبْى َ َق ِد َم َعلَى الن َّ ِبيِّ صلى اهلل عليه وسلم خذَتْ ُ ه َ َ السبْىأ َّ ص ِبيًّا فِي َ ْ إِذَا وَجَ دَت،َسقِي ْ السبْىِ َق ْد تَحْ لُبُ ثَ ْديَهَا ت َّ “ فَقَالَ َلن َا الن َّ ِبيُّ صلى اهلل عليه وسلم،ُْض َعتْه َ ْص َقت ْ ُه ِببَطْ ِنهَا َوأَر َ فَأَل َ ُق ْلن َا الَ َو ْهىَ تَ ْق ِد ُر َعلَى أ َ ْن ال.” أَتَ َر ْو َن َه ِذ ِه طَارِحَ ًة َو َل َدهَا فِي الن َّا ِر َ فَقَال.ُتَطْرَحَ ه اهللَُّ أَرْحَ ُم بِعِ بَا ِد ِه ِم ْن َه ِذ ِه ِب َو َل ِد َها ٥٩٩٩ # حديث،حيح البخاري The faith of Ya'qub عليه السالمwas very strong. When you believe that Allah سبحانه وتعالىis your Rabb, it gives you confidence in Him. Human beings change, but Allah سبحانه وتعالىnever changes. He is Perfect, His way will never change. He wants you to feel desperate and a_ach to Him. This a_achment gives you eleva=on. All the mercy on earth is 1% of all the mercy of Allah سبحانه وتعالى. This includes the mercy we feel for each other. Some people have more mercy than others, and volunteer for charity work, looking a[er people and animals. The Messenger of Allah صلى اهلل عليه و سلمsaid: خالَ ِئ ِق فَ ِب َها َ َني جَ مِيعِ ا ْل َ ْ َس َم ِمنْهَا رَحْ مَ ًة ب َ إِ َّن هللَِّ مِائ َ َة رَحْ مَ ٍة ق خ َ ر َّ َ ش َعلَى أ َ ْوالَ ِدهَا َوأ ُ ْيَتَرَاحَ مُ و َن َو ِبهَا يَتَعَاطَفُو َن َو ِبهَا تَ ْعطِفُ ا ْلوَح ني رَحْ مَ ًة يَرْحَ ُم ِبهَا ِعبَا َدهُ يَ ْو َم ا ْل ِقيَا َم ِة َ ِِسع ْ ِس َع ًة َوت ْ ت ٤٤٣٤ # حديث، ٣٧ # كتاب، سنن ابن ماجة
Allah has one hundred (degrees of) mercy, of which He has shared one between all of creation, by virtue of which you show mercy and compassion towards one another and the wild animals show compassion towards their young. And He has kept back ninetynine (degrees of) mercy by virtue of which He will show mercy to His slaves on the Day of Resurrec tion. The share of everyone out of this 1% is miniscule. People have mercy according to their natures. Those who are placed in certain situa=ons in which they need more mercy are given what they need, such as a mother with a handicapped child. All is from this share. Mankind cannot bear more than that share of mercy. The Messenger of Allah صلى اهلل عليه و سلمsaid: َل ْن يُدْخِ لَ أ َحَ دًا ِمن ْ ُك ْم عَمَ ُل ُه الْجَ ن َّ َة َسولَ اهللَِّ ؟ ُ َوالَ أَنْتَ يَا ر:قَالُوا َض ٍل َورَحْ مَ ٍة ْ َوالَ أَنَا إِالَّ أ َ ْن يَتَغَمَّ َد ِنيَ اهللَُّ ِمن ْ ُه ِبف: َقَال f٢٨١٦ # حديث، صحيح مسلم None amongst you can get into Paradise by virtue of his deeds alone. They said: Allah’s Messenger, not even you? Thereupon he said: Not even I, but that Allah should wrap me in His Grace and Mercy. Allah wants you to be under His mercy. The Messenger of Allah صلى اهلل عليه و سلمsaid: َََّسفَقَالَ الْحَ مْ ُد هللَِّ فَحَ ِم َد اهلل َ خلَقَ اهللَُّ آ َد َم َونَفَخَ فِي ِه الرُّو َح َعط َ ملَ َّا َُِّب ِإذْ ِن ِه فَقَالَ َل ُه َربُّ ُه يَرْحَ مُ َك اهلل ٣٦٩٤ # حديث،٤٧ # كتاب، جامع الترمذي When Allah created Adam, He breathed the soul into him, then he sneezed and said : All praise is due to Allah. So he praised Allah by His permission. Then 16
His Lord said to him: May Allah have mercy upon you. (Part of longer hadith)
ني الصدوقُ املسل ُم معَ الشهدا ِء يو َم القيام ِ ة ُ التاج ُر األم الجام: املصدر- السيوطي: عبداهلل بن عمر املحدث:الراوي
The first phrase Adam u_ered was to praise Allah, the first phrase he heard was regarding the mercy of Allah. All the obliga=ons of Deen prescribed by Allah are a mercy of Allah, and all the things forbidden and unlawful are harmful for the human being. ِضا َعت َ ُه ْم ُردَّتْ إِ َليْ ِه ْم ۖ قَالُوا يَا أَبَانَا َما َ وَملَ َّا فَت َحُ وا َمت َا َع ُه ْم وَجَ دُوا ب ظ أَخَانَا َونَزْدَا ُ د ُ َِضا َعتُن َا ُردَّتْ إِ َليْن َا ۖ َونَمِي ُر أ َ ْه َلن َا َونَحْ ف َ نَبْغِ ي ۖ ٰهَ ِذ ِه ب َكيْلَ بَعِ ي ٍر ۖ ذَٰل َِك َكيْلٌ يَسِ ي ٌ ر And when they opened their baggage, they found their merchandise returned to them. They said, “O our father, what [more] could we desire? This is our merchandise returned to us. And we will obtain sup plies for our family and protect our brother and ob tain an increase of a camel’s load; that is an easy measurement. 12:65 This was the best =me, decreed by Allah سبحانه وتعالى, for the brothers to unpack their baggage.They found all their bartered goods returned to them. In other words, they got the food grains free. The bartered goods were hidden so well in the baggage, it was obvious they were returned inten=onally. This act shows the gentleness of Yusuf عليه السالم. He didn't want to embarrass his brothers by giving them the food grains for free. This made the brothers really appreciate him, and gave them a reason to go back. This was Divine planning. Yusuf عليه السالمwanted his brothers to come back with his younger brother.
3391 : الصفحة أو الرقم- الصغير صحيح:خالصة حكم املحدث The truthful, trustworthy merchant is with the Proph ets, the truthful, and the martyrs on the Day of Judgement. Yusuf عليه السالمwas more than generous. He gave them 10 full camel loads, one for each brother, and in addi=on, all their bartered goods back. They were able to get ample food for their families in droughtridden Pales=ne. Their families too benefi_ed from their trip. They gave all these reasons or their father to take their brother on the next trip. If they took their brother, they would be able to claim an extra camel load of food, which was sorely needed. They convinced their father step by step. It was an easy condi=on that they had to fulfill, not harmful in any way, because they would get their share of the food at the end of it. Yusuf عليه السالمwas very gentle, he wouldn't harm them, and they will take care of their brother. The whole procedure was not difficult, because they would profit at the end. They would hasten to Egypt, get the food, and be back soon. The travel would not be long-drawn. This whole dialogue was to convince Ya'qub عليه السالمto send Binyameen with them to Egypt to meet Yusuf.
This was more than they could desire. What else could they possibly want? This is a trade technique; free services or goods in the beginning, to lure the customers back next =me. The Messenger of Allah صلى اهلل عليه و سلمsaid: 17
Eyes
Nuh (AS) made a ship when
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Ibrahim (AS) left his
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Reported by Anas bin Malik (RA): Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “Among the inmates of Hell, a person who had led the most luxurious life in this world will be brought up on the Day of Resurrection and dipped in the Fire and will be asked: `O son of Adam! Did you ever experience any comfort? Did you happen to get any luxury?’ He will reply: `By Allah, no, my Rubb.’ And then one of the people of Jannah who had experienced extreme misery in the life of this world will be dipped in Jannah. Then he will be asked: `O son of Adam! Did you ever experience any misery? Did you ever encounter difficulty?’ He will say: “By Allah, no my Rubb, I neither experienced misery nor passed through hardship”. [Muslim] Riyad us Saliheen, Chapter 55, 462 Let us focus on the luxuries of akhirah, not the luxuries of dunia.
Why doesn't Allah SWT answer our duas? Imam Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah SWT have mercy on him) said: “Dua’ and ta’awwudhaat [prayers seeking refuge with Allah SWT] are like a weapon, and a weapon is only as good as the person who is using it; it is not merely the matter of how sharp it is. If the weapon is perfect and free of faults, and the arm of the person using it is strong, and there is nothing stopping him, then he can lay waste the enemy. But if any of these three features is lacking, then the effect will be lacking accordingly.” (al-Daa’ wa’l-Dawaa’, p. 35). From this it will be clear that there is an etiquette and rulings which must be fulfilled, in the dua and in the person making the dua. There are also things that may prevent the dua reaching Allah or being answered – these things must be removed from the person making the dua and from the dua. When all of these conditions are fulfilled, then the dua may be answered. 1. Sincerity in making dua. This is the most important condition. Allah SWT has commanded us to be sincere when making dua, as He SWT says: (١٤) ني َل ُه ٱلدِّي َن َو َل ۡو َك ِرهَ ٱ ۡل َكـٰ ِفرُو َن َ ِص ِ خل ۡ فَٱ ۡدعُوا ْ ٱهللََّ ُم “So, call you (O Muhammad and the believers) upon (or invoke) Allah making (your) worship pure for Him (Alone) (by worshipping none but Him and by doing religious deeds sincerely for Allah’s sake only and not to show off and not to set up rivals with Him in worship)” [Ghaafir 40:14]. Sincerity in dua means having the firm belief that the One upon Whom you are calling – Allah SWT, may He SWT be glorified and exalted – is alone Able to meet your need, and it also means avoiding any kind of showing off in your dua. 2. Repentance and turning back to Allah SWT. Sin is one of the main reasons why duas are not answered, so the person who is making dua should hasten to repent and seek forgiveness before he makes dua. Allah SWT tells us that Nuh (peace be upon him) said: ٰت َويَجۡ عَل َّل ُكم ٍ۬ ني َويَجۡ عَل َّل ُك ۡم جَ نَّـ َ َٲل َوبَ ِن ٍ ۬ ( َويُمۡ ِد ۡدكُم ِبأ َ ۡمو١١) ٱلسمَ آ َء َع َليۡكُم ِّم ۡدرَارً۬ا َّ ( يُرۡسِ ِل١٠) ۥ كَا َن َغفَّارً۬ا ُٱست َ ۡغ ِفرُوا ْ َربَّ ُك ۡم إِنَّه ۡ ُفَ ُقلۡت (١٢) أَنۡہَـٰرً۬ا “I said (to them): ‘Ask forgiveness from your Lord, verily, He is Oft-Forgiving; He will send rain to you in abundance, And give you increase in wealth and children, and bestow on you gardens and bestow on you rivers.’ ” [Nuh 71:10-12] 3. Beseeching, humbling oneself, hoping for Allah’s SWT reward and fearing His SWT punishment. This is the spirit, essence and purpose of dua. Allah SWT says: (٥٥) ۥ َال يُحِ بُّ ٱملۡ ُ ۡعتَدِي َن ُخفۡيَ ًۚة إِنَّه ُ َض ُّرعً۬ا َو َ ٱ ۡدعُوا ْ َربَّ ُك ۡم ت “Invoke your Lord with humility and in secret. He likes not the aggressors” [al-A’raf 7:55].
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4. Urgently beseeching and repeating the dua, without getting exasperated or bored; this is achieved by repeating the dua two or three times. Restricting it to three times is preferable, in accordance with the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). Ibn Mas’ood (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) liked to say a dua three times and ask for forgiveness three times. This was narrated by Abu Dawood and al-Nasa’i. 5. Making dua at times of ease, and saying more duas at times of plenty. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Remember Allah during times of ease and He will remember you during times of hardship.” Narrated by Ahmad. 6. Seeking to draw closer to Allah SWT by calling upon Him by His Most Beautiful Names and Sublime Attributes at the beginning of the dua or at the end. Allah SWT says: (١٨٠) سيُجۡ زَ ۡو َن مَا كَانُوا ْ يَعۡمَ لُو َن َ ۚسنَىٰ فَٱ ۡدعُوهُ ِبہَاۖ َوذَرُوا ْ ٱ َّلذِي َن يُلۡحِ دُو َن ِفىٓ أ َۡسمَ ـٰٓٮِٕ ِهۦ ۡ ُٱأل َۡسمَ آ ُء ٱلۡح ۡ ََِِّوهلل “And (all) the Most Beautiful Names belong to Allah, so call on Him by them” [al-A’raf 7:180]. 7. Choosing the clearest and most concise words and the best of duas. The best of duas are the duas of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), but it is permissible to say other words according to the specific needs of a person. Other aspects of the etiquette of making dua, although they are not waajib (obligatory) , are: to face the Qiblah; to make dua in a state of taharah (purity); to start the dua with praise of Allah and blessings upon the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). It is also prescribed to raise the hands when making dua. One of the things that helps to bring a response to du’aa’ is to seek the best times and places. Among the best times is the time just before Fajr (dawn), the last third of the night, the last hour of Jumu’ah (Friday), when rain is falling, and between the Adhan and iqamah. Among the best places are mosques in general, and al-Masjid al-Haram [in Makkah] in particular. Among the situations in which dua is more likely to be answered are: when one is mistreated or oppressed, when one is traveling, when one is fasting, when one is in desperate need, and when a Muslim makes dua for his brother in his absence.
Things which may prevent du’aa’ from being answered include: 1. When the dua is weak in itself, because it involves something inappropriate, or involves bad manners towards Allah SWT or it is inappropriate, which means asking Allah SWT for something which it is not permitted to ask, e.g. when a man asks to live forever in this world, or he asks for a sin or something haraam, or he prays that he will die, and so on. Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “A person's duas will continue to be answered so long as he does not pray for something sinful or for the breaking of family ties.” Narrated by Muslim. 2. When the person who is making dua is weak in himself, because he is faint-hearted in his turning towards Allah SWT. This may be either because of bad manners towards Allah SWT such as raising his voice in dua or making dua in the manner of one who thinks he has no need of Allah SWT; or because he pays too much attention to the wording and tries to come up with unnecessarily ornate phrases, without paying attention to the meaning; or because he tries too hard to weep or shout without really feeling it, or he goes to extremes in that. 3. The reason why his dua is not answered may be because he has done something that Allah SWT has forbidden, such as having haraam wealth – whether it be food or drink or clothing or accommodation or transportation, or he has taken a haraam job, or the stain of sin is still in his heart, or he is following bid’ah (innovation) in religion, or his heart has been overtaken by negligence. 4. Consuming haraam wealth. This is one of the major reasons why duas are not answered. Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “O people, Allah is Good and only accepts that which is good”. Allah commanded the pious to follow the same commandments as He gave to the Messengers. He SWT says: (٥١) ٌصـٰلِحً اۖ إِنِّى بِمَ ا تَعۡمَ لُو َن َعلِي ۬م َ ْ ُّسلُ ُكلُوا ْ ِم َن ٱلطَّيِّبَـٰتِ وَٱعۡمَ لُوا ُ يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلر ‘O (you) Messengers! Eat of the Tayyibat [all kinds of Halaal (lawful) foods which Allah has made lawful (meat of slaughtered eatable animals, milk products, fats, vegetables, fruits)] and do righteous deeds. Verily, I am Well-Acquainted with what you do’ [al-Mu’minoon 23:51] (١٧٢) َٱش ُكرُوا ْ هللَِِّ إِن ڪُنت ُ ۡم إِيَّاهُ تَ ۡعبُدُو َن ۡ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱ َّلذِي َن ءَا َمن ُوا ْ ڪُلُوا ْ مِن طَيِّبَـٰتِ مَا َرزَ ۡقنَـٰ ُك ۡم و ‘O you who believe (in the Oneness of Allah — Islamic Monotheism)! Eat of the lawful things that We have provided you with’ [al-Baqarah 2:172]
Then he mentioned a man who has travelled on a long journey and is disheveled and covered with dust; he stretches forth his hands to the heaven, (saying) “O Lord, O Lord”, but his food is haraam, his drink is haraam, all his nourishment is haraam, so how can he du’aa’ be accepted?” Narrated by Muslim. The man described by the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) had some of the characteristics which help duas to be answered – he was traveling and he was in need of Allah SWT, may He be exalted and glorified – but the fact that he consumed haraam wealth prevented his dua from being answered. We ask Allah SWT to keep us safe and sound. 5. Trying to hasten the response. Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The dua of any one of you will be answered so long as he is not impatient and says, ‘I made dua but it was not answered.’” Narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim. 6. Making the dua conditional, such as saying, “O Allah, forgive me if You will” or “O Allah, have mercy upon me if You will.” The person who makes dua has to be resolute in his supplication, striving hard and earnestly repeating his dua. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Let not any one of you say, ‘O Allah, forgive me if You will, O Allah, have mercy on me if You will.’ Let him be resolute in the matter, whilst knowing that no one can compel Allah to do anything.” Narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim. In order for duas to be answered, it is not essential to adhere to all of these points and be free of all that could prevent one’s duas from being answered. That is something which happens very rarely. But one has to try hard and strive towards achieving this. Another important point is to realize that the response to the dua may take different forms: either Allah SWT will Respond and Fulfill the desire of the person who made the dua, or He SWT will Ward off some evil from him because of the dua, or He SWT will Make something good easy for him to attain because of it, or He SWT will Save it with Him for him on the Day of Resurrection when he will be most in need of it. And Allah SWT knows best.
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Masjid Bani Hashim At Jumeirah Islands, Dubai
Masjid Bani Hashim by the Grace of Allah (SWT) عز وجل, opened its doors on 2nd Ramadan 1434; July 10th, 2013 and is a Non-Profit Organization. It envisions to offer intensive courses, lectures, workshops, Tafseer el Quran with Taddabur, Tajweed, Seerah of the Prophet & صلى اهلل عليه وسلمother important subjects in Islamic Studies. Our Mission Masjid Bani Hashim’s mission is to provide authentic understanding of Islam based on Qur'an & Sunnah of our beloved Prophet Mohammed ()صلى اهلل عليه وسلم. 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 and recite The Quran.
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