A monthly newsletter from Masjid Bani Hashim Jumeirah Islands, Dubai Issue#45 July 2017
A Monthly Newsletter by Masjid Bani Hashim, Jumeirah Islands, Dubai Issue #45 July 2017 بسم اهلل الرحمن الرحيم السالم عليكم و رحمة اهلل و بركاته (٣٢) ن َ ن أَف ََالتَ ۡع ِقلُو َۗ خيۡ ۬رٌ ِّل َّلذِي َن يَتَّقُو َ ُٱأل َخِ َرة ۡ ب َو َل ۡهوٌ۬ۖ َولَلدَّا ُر ٌ۬ َِومَا ٱلۡحَ يَوٰةُ ٱل ُّدنۡيَآ إ َِّاللَع «And the worldly life is not but amusement and diversion; but the home of the Hereafter is best for those who fear Allah, so will you not reason?» [Al-An'am: 32] Keep moving… Yes, I know the feeling. There is tiredness, a little bit of lethargy after a Ramadan full of activity and joy. Subhanal Allah. And it is holiday season; while there is a lot of moving around, here and there, travelling etc. In fact, we are not moving much unless our heart is moving. What’s the morale behind this introduction? Do not stop your heart from moving towards what Allah SWT likes; do not forget that the life of this world is an enjoyment for a temporary period; in shaa Allah the real enjoyment, the never- ending enjoyment is going to come in the hereafter, when in Jannah, life will be perfect as Allah SWT will make us perfect. Then indeed, we can rest! But now, whatever you are doing in this beautiful and beidhnil Allah blessed months, keep your heart moving with the remembrance of Allah SWT, keep doing adhkar as you see beautiful sites during your traveling or even from your work desk, in case you plan to spend these months working. Aim beidhnil Allah not to lose the gains that you made in Ramadan and this is only possible when we seek refuge in Allah SWT from the evil desires within of our lower self and from our greatest enemy, shaitan. The trick is not to give holiday to “TAQWA”. You can give holiday to everything else, but “TAQWA” is that stronghold that you do not want to let go out of your hand in any form or shape.
A Monthly Newsletter by Masjid Bani Hashim, Jumeirah Islands, Dubai Issue #45 July 2017
Any decision that you must take, always remind yourself, is my Rabb going to be pleased with me if I do that? If the answer is yes, move ahead; if no, stop! And if not sure, then maybe it is safer not to go that way to avoid falling into doubtful matters. Doubtful matters invite footsteps of shaytan and honestly shaytan is a company you can very well do without! Alhamdulil Allah. Whatever you do during these summer months, just make sure you do not take off your protective garment of taqwa and Allah SWT know best. شآ ِء وَٱملۡ ُن َك ِۚر َو َلو َ ۡال َ ۡم ُر بِٱ ۡلفَح ُ ۡ ن فَ ِإنَّهُۥ يَأ ِ َٰٱلشيۡط َّ ِخطُوَٰت ُ ۡن َومَن يَتَّ ِبع ِۚ َٰٱلشيۡط َّ ِخطُوَٰت ُ ْ منُوا ْ َالتَتَّ ِبعُوا َ ۞يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱ َّلذِي َن ءَا ﴾٢١ٞعلِيم َ ٌسمِيع َ ََُّشآ ُۗء وَٱهلل َ م ۡن أ َحَ ٍد أَبَدٗا َو ٰلَ ِك َّن ٱهللََّ يُزَكِّي مَن ي ِّ ع َليۡ ُك ۡم َورَحۡ مَ تُهُۥ مَا زَ َكىٰ مِنكُم َ ََِّضلُ ٱهلل ۡ ف «O you who have believed, do not follow the footsteps of Satan. And whoever follows the footsteps of Satan - indeed, he enjoins immorality and wrongdoing. And if not for the favor of Allah upon you and His mercy, not one of you would have been pure, ever, but Allah purifies whom He wills, and Allah is Hearing and Knowing» [An-Nur: 21] Alhamdulil Allah Rabb al alameen, wa Salato Wa salamo Ala Rasulil Allah.
A Monthly Newsletter by Masjid Bani Hashim, Jumeirah Islands, Dubai Issue #45 July 2017
This Issue Introduction: Pages 1 - 2 The Real Superstars: Pages 4 - 5 The Best Remembrance: Pages 6 - 7 The Virtues of Knowledge: Pages 8 - 9 Cheer up: Pages 10 - 12 No Fear upon them nor do they Grieve: Pages 13 14 Rules for Life from the Qur’an: Pages 15 - 16 Surah Yusuf #89-92: Pages 17 - 19 The Obligation of Loving Allah SWT: Pages 20 - 25 Surah Al Maryam: Pages 26 - 30 Masjid Bani Hashim: Pages 31 - 33
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list of the people who were considered as hypocrites at the time of the Prophet (SAWS)- the list was known only to the Prophet (SAWS) and this companion. It was never revealed who were on that list, and to this day no one knows the names of the people who were on it. He remained true to his nickname of Saahib as Sirr; he is Hudayfah ibn Yaman (RA).
As Muslims, we are required to have the best of akhlaq, moral characteristics and part of having best manners is keeping secrets that others have entrusted us with. It is a great sin to reveal what we have been told in confidence. Indeed, it’s a trait of hypocrites to disclose secrets. It was narrated from ‘Abd-Allah ibn ‘Amr that the Prophet (SAWS) said: “There are four qualities, whoever has all of them is a pure hypocrite, and whoever has some of them has a characteristic of hypocrisy until he gives it up: when he is entrusted with something he betrays that trust; when he speaks he lies; when he makes a promise he breaks it, and when he disputes he resorts to lies and falsehood.” (Bukhari, Muslim) There was one companion who was known as Sahib as-Sirr—Owner of Secrets or "The Keeper of the Secret of the Messenger of Allah - may Allah's peace and blessings be on him". He had a
Hudayfah ibn Yaman was one of the early converts to Islam and was extremely close to the Prophet (SAWS). The Prophet (SAWS) admired him for his unique characteristics. Hudayfah had three qualities that particularly impressed the Prophet: his unique intelligence that he employed in dealing with difficult situations; his quick wittedness and instinctive response to a situation, and his ability to keep a secret even under persistent questioning. Hudayfah (RA) is the only companion who had the choice to be either an Ansar or a Muhajir. What a unique choice subhanallah. His father, Al Yaman was from Makkah from the Abs tribe, but he had to flee to Medina as he had killed someone in Makkah. He had a treaty for protection with a tribe called Banu al Ash-hal. He married there and had children. The restrictions on his returning to Makkah were eventually lifted and he divided his time between Makkah and Medina but stayed more in Medina as he was more attached to it. This was how Hudayfah (RA) had a Makkan origin but was brought up in Medina. When the Prophet (SAWS) started preaching in Makkah, a delegation from the Abs tribe, which
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included Al Yaman, went to the Prophet to accept Islam. Hudhayfah(RA) hence grew up in a Muslim household and was taught by both his mother and father who were among the first persons from Madina to become Muslims. He (RA) became a Muslim even before meeting the Prophet and longed to meet him. When he eventually met the Prophet(SAWS), Hudayfah asked him ,"Am I a Muhaajir or am I an Ansaari, O Rasoolullah?" "If you wish you may consider yourself among the Muhaajireen, or if you wish you may consider yourself one of the Ansaar. Choose whichever is dearer to you," replied the Prophet. "Well, I am an Ansaari. O Rasoolullah," decided Hudayfah(RA). Hudayfah(RA) and his father had participated in all the battles except at the Battle of Badr. This was because his father and he had gone out of Medina and were returning but the Quraysh caught them. They were held captive and were told that they would be released on the condition that they wouldn’t fight against the Quraysh. When they returned to Medina and asked the Prophet (SAWS) what they should do, the Prophet (SAWS) advised them to honor their word. In another narration, it is said that they were held back during the time of battle and hence couldn’t take part. Hudayfah and his father took part in the Battle of Uhud. His father Al Yaman (RA) was mistakenly
martyred at the hands of the Muslims. He was in charge of defending the camps that had some of the families living in it but he left the post to take part in the battle. He was chased by some soldiers of the Muslim army and eventually killed. All this happened in front of Hudayfah (RA)’s eyes and he tried to shout out to the soldiers warning them that it was his father that they were going after but it was to no avail. Hudayfah (RA) reached his father as he was breathing his last. When the Prophet (SAWS) heard about what happened, he wanted to give him blood money on behalf of the companions who had killed his father but Hudayfah (RA) refused saying that his father wanted to die a martyr and he got what he wanted. He also forgave the companions saying, ‘My friends, May Allah forgive you, and He is a forgiver. Ameen!’ SubhanAllah what an exemplary character! He not only not take the blood money but he also forgave those companions. He knew the reality of the dunya and the bounties that awaited in the Hereafter. He was very grounded and not shaken easily from his mission in life. ... to be continued
Abu Hurairah RA reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) never found fault with food. If he had inclination to eating it, he would eat; and if he disliked it, he would leave it. (Bukhari and Muslim)
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Shaddad bin Aus RA said: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, "The best supplication for seeking forgiveness (Syed-ul-Istighfar) is to say: `Allahumma Anta Rabbi, la ilaha illa Anta, khalaqtani wa ana `abduka, wa ana `ala `ahdika wa wa`dika mastata`tu, a`udhu bika min sharri ma sana`tu, abu'u laka bini`matika `alayya, wa abu'u bidhanbi faghfir li, fa innahu la yaghfirudh-dhunuba illa Anta. (O Allah! You are my Rab. There is no true god except You. You have created me, and I am Your slave, and I hold to Your Covenant as far as I can. I seek refuge in You from the evil of what I have done. I acknowledge the favours that You have bestowed upon me, and I confess my sins. Pardon me, for none but You has the power to pardon).' He who supplicates in these terms during the day with firm belief in it and dies on the same day (before the evening), he will be one of the dwellers of Jannah; and if anyone supplicates in these terms during the night with firm belief in it and dies before the morning, he will be one of the dwellers of Jannah." (Bukhari) 9
Heartfelt advice to a friend by Imam Ibn Qayyim al- Jawziyya (d.751H) ِ ن الرَّحِ يم ِ ِسم ِ اهللَِّ الرَّحْ مَ ـ ْ ب In the name of Allah, The Lord of Mercy, The Giver of Mercy We thank Allah SWT for this opening. In shaa Allah T’Ala we will continue sharing with you the translation in English of Ibn Qayyim’s “Risalatu Ibn al-Qayyim ila Ahadi ikhwanihi”. “I have never regretted anything as much as my regret over a day on which the sun sets and my life span decreases while my good deeds have not increased” Ibn Mas’ud (radiy Allahu’anhu)” The Favored Ones In contrast, those to whom Allah SWT conferred His Favor upon are those that He has guided to acquire knowledge about Him, then submit to Him, and prefer Him over everything else. Truly, those are the ones who embarked the path of safety while the rest are walking on the road of doom. It is for this reason, Allah SWT ordered us to recite every day and every night for a number of times [during the salah], ٦ُستَقِي َم ۡ ۡط ٱمل َ َٱلص ٰر ِّ ه ِدنَا ۡ ٱ «Guide us to the straight path (6) » ٧َٱلضآ ِّلني َّ ع َليۡ ِه ۡم و ََال َ ِۡضوب ُ غيۡ ِر ٱملۡ َغ َ ع َليۡ ِه ۡم َ َط ٱ َّلذِي َن أَنۡعَمۡ ت َ َص ٰر ِ «The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray (7) » [Al-Fatiha: 6-7] To be among those whom are guided by Allah SWT to the right path – the servant of Allah SWT is in great need to know all that which will benefit him in this life and the hereafter; to be inclined to favour what will benefit him over anything else, and to avoid all that which harms him [in this life and the hereafter]. If however, one overlooks knowledge, 10
they will then be embarking upon a path of those who are astray, and if one deviates, does not comply nor submits to Allah SWT, one will then be treading on the path of those whom Allah SWT is angry with. By this elucidation, it becomes clear [to us] the highstatus and significance of this supplication and prayer, and the great need of people to have it fulfilled in their lives as the happiness of the person in this life and the hereafter depends on it. The servants need [of Allah SWT] for guidance is always persisting in all affairs, with every breath one takes, every moment one lives, and [the need for having this supplication be answered] manifests in every affair, be that in all that one receives or all that one leaves – for one cannot but to be: 1.
A person whose ignorance made him to believe in matters or to perform actions that contravene [of Islam]; hence he needs to seek Allah’s SWT guidance about these matters.
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A person is aware of the guidance [of Islam about some matter] but, nevertheless, he intentionally contravenes it, hence he needs to repent from it [i.e. sin].
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A person who lacks guidance [on particular matters] at both levels, knowledge and action; therefore he fails to acquire the knowledge and to act upon its purpose [accordingly].
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A person whose guidance on some matters is incomplete, i.e. he is guided only on some aspects of a matter; hence he needs to perfect and complete his guidance.
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A person whose guidance does not extend to cover the details of the matters he is guided to; hence he needs guidance on these details.
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A person who is guided to find the [directions to the] right path but that requires him to have guidance again after he embarks upon it, because to be guided to [find] the right path is one thing and to be guided after [proceeding it] is another thing. For example, a person may know the directions to a particular town but he cannot travel the journey because to do that, he needs to have guidance on how to make the journey, such as knowing the best time for traveling, knowing the best quantity of water needed for the trip and knowing where to rest during the journey and etc. If the latter guidance is not acquired, the traveler may suffer or die during the trip.
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A person who needs to have future guidance on some matters just as he had guidance on such matters in the past.
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A person who holds no view on some matters so he neither believes them to be false nor true; hence he needs to be guided to the right belief about them.
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A person who believes he is guided in some matters while in fact, he is astray without realizing it; hence he needs to change his position, which cannot be except by the guidance of Allah SWT.
10. A person who is guided to some matters and yet also needs guiding, advising and directing others to what he was guided to as this will maintain his guidance; otherwise he may be deprived from it. This is because as the known proverb states, “like the fault, like the punishment” i.e. as a person guides and teaches others, Allah SWT will guide him and teach him to become a rightly guided person who guides others too. This is a rank that was narrated in the supplication of the Prophet SAWS, who said: “Oh Allah adorn us with the beauty of iman (faith), make us rightly guided who guide others; do not let us astray or lead others astray, let us be peaceful with your supporters and belligerent with your enemies, make us love those who love for they love you; and let us show enmity against those who disobey your command (Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah #1119; it was declared da’if by Albani, Da’if al-jami #1194)
In shaa Allah TO BE CONTINUED...
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said to Bilal RA "Tell me about the most hopeful act (i.e., one which you deem the most rewarding with Allah) you have done since your acceptance of Islam because I heard the sound of the steps of your shoes in front of me in Jannah." Bilal said: "I do not consider any act more hopeful than that whenever I make Wudu' (or took a bath) in an hour of night or day, I would immediately perform Salat (prayer) for as long as was destined for me to perform." (Bukhari and Muslim)
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Abu Mas`ud `Uqbah bin `Amr Al-Ansari Al-Badri RA reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, "Whoever guides someone to virtue will be rewarded equivalent to him who practices that good action." (Muslim)
Abu Hurairah RA reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, "The best day on which the sun has risen is Friday. On that day Adam was created, he was admitted to Jannah, and he was expelled therefrom." (Muslim) 14
ones in this book.
is the start of a
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brother, implying that stealing was in his genes. Disbelief and sinning is not carried in genes; disbelief is an odd thing for the person. Belief, on the other hand, is in the genes, because it is natural. The behavior of the brothers showed their jealousy, aLer so many years. If you don't change yourself, it can fester in the heart for years. If the brothers knew their boundaries, they would not have treated their siblings so badly. Knowledge protects from sins.
سورة يوسف Surah Yusuf # 89-92 ُوسفَ َوأ َخِ ي ِه إِذْ أ َنت ُ ْم جَ ا ِهلُو َ ن ُ قَالَ هَلْ َعلِمْ ت ُم مَّا فَ َع ْلت ُم ِبي
There are two explana2ons to this part of the verse. إعتذار لهم • Yusuf عليه السالمis giving them excuses, that they didn't know. Even if people are making mistakes inten2onally, we should give them excuses. Yusuf عليه السالمknew they has hatred in their hearts. He had the power to avenge himself for their wrongs against him, but he pardoned them. فعلتم فعل الجاهلني
He said : Do you know what you did with Yusuf and his brother when you were ignorant? 12:89 Yusuf عليه السالمset the stage to reveal his iden2ty to his brothers, in a very gentle way. The brothers had met Yusuf عليه السالمso many 2mes, but didn't recognize him, whereas Yusuf عليه السالمrecognized them straight away. The reason for this was that Yusuf عليه السالمwas a small boy when he was separated from his family, and changed while growing. The brothers were grown boys when they disposed of Yusuf عليه السالم, and they had grown older but were recognizable. The sons came back to Egypt this 2me because their father told them to go find Yusuf عليه السالم. It is amazing that Ya'qub عليه السالمfelt that Yusuf عليه السالمwas in Egypt; this was an inspira2on from Allah سبحانه وتعالى, as apprecia2on of his abundant hope in Allah سبحانه وتعالى. Yusuf عليه السالمwanted his brothers to realize the gravity of their ac2ons without hur2ng them. The brothers were shocked that the Aziz, (who was Yusuf, but they didn't know that), knew about their brothers. They had thrown Yusuf عليه السالمin a well, and sold him to slavery; they accused Yusuf عليه السالمand Binyameen of being thieves. They essen2ally disowned Binyameen, by puIng him with Yusuf عليه السالم, when they said he was a thief like his
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Their ac2ons were those of the ignorant. Someone with knowledge would not behave in this way. Yusuf عليه السالمadmonished them in a gentle manner, with wisdom. He didn't want to break his brothers; he wanted to change them in a gentle way. ُوسفُ َو ٰهَذَا أ َخِ ي ۖ َق ْد َم َّن اهللَُّ َع َليْن َا ُ ُوسفُ ۖ قَالَ أَنَا ي ُ قَالُوا أَإِن ََّك َأل َنتَ ي ني َ ُضيعُ أ َجْ َر املْ ُحْ سِ ِن ِ َص ِب ْر فَ ِإ َّن اهللََّ َال ي ْ إِنَّ ُه مَن يَت َّ ِق َوي They said : Are you indeed Yusuf ?” He said “I am Yusuf, and this is my brother. Allah has certainly fa vored us. Indeed, he who fears Allah and is patient, then indeed, Allah does not allow to be lost the reward of those who do good. 12:90 The brothers now realized that the impossible had happened; the Aziz was their long lost brother, Yusuf! Yusuf عليه السالمdisclosed his iden2ty in a very gentle way, taking care of their feelings. He was in a very high posi2on because of the criminal ac2ons of the brothers. He didn't blame them, or complain, because he wanted to reform them. He had faith, taqwa and was established in Egypt, having control over the treasure of the country. He saw only the blessings in the nega2ve situa2ons. He was now 17
the Aziz because he had been thrown in the well. Every situa2on in life is good, the best for us, even if we cannot realize or see the good. The experiences of being in a well, and the years he spent as a slave, made him stronger, because he was alone, without family to support him. Yusuf عليه السالمincluded Binyameen in the blessings, which shows his humbleness. He doesn't carry any bad feelings about the past, rising above all that. َص ِب ْ ر ْ إِنَّ ُه مَن يَت َّ ِق َوي ⬇ ⬇ ني َ ُضيعُ أ َجْ َر املْ ُحْ سِ ِن ِ فَ ِإ َّن اهللََّ َال ي Yusuf tells them the equa2on of his life, puIng his wisdom and experiences in this sentence. الصبر ⬅ اإلحسان+ التقوى He did not call himself a muhsin, he says that Allah سبحانه وتعالىwill not let anyone deeds go for a loss. He had taqwa, and he did not follow his own or anyone else's desires. He was also pa2ent, and did not complain. This is ihsaan, which will result in your ac2ons being excellent, and you will deal with people in the best manner, giving them more than they deserve. Allah سبحانه وتعالىprotects and preserves the reward of those who act with excellence. ني َ قَالُوا تَاهللَِّ َل َق ْد آثَر ََك اهللَُّ َع َليْن َا َو إِن ُكن َّا َلخَاطِ ِئ They said : By Allah , certainly has Allah preferred you over us, and indeed, we have been sinners. 12:91 When Yusuf عليه السالمwas in prison, the inmates realized he was a man with taqwa, although he didn't announce it; his ac2ons showed his heart. Everything does not have to be expressed by the tongue. They say ac2ons speak louder than words. The one who has Taqwa will talk less and do more good deeds. The one who is a hypocrite will talk a lot about his good deeds, but will do less ac2on. Some people are hidden soldiers, working behind the scenes, doing great jobs, without anyone knowing of them. It is always beSer not to speak about the good deeds you do.
The brothers are about to confess, taking a strong oath. People take an oath in order to make others believe in them, and accept what they are saying; it is like an affirma2on. The brothers now swear to confess, which was not easy for them aLer so many years. The brothers had realized that Allah سبحانه وتعالىfavored Yusuf عليه السالم. They were jealous of him because their father preferred him, and they threw him in a well because of that, which resulted in Allah سبحانه وتعالىpreferring him too. They understand the ac2on of Allah سبحانه وتعالىThe preference of Allah سبحانه وتعالىis seen in his perfect manners and noble character, not in his high posi2on. They are the sons of a messenger, so they realize this fact. To have a high status but lowly manners and character would spoil the favor. His good manners were apparent by his posi2ve words and aItude; he didn't blame them at all. His heart was clean, and no blame was there. He did not feel anything nega2ve for them. The good manners and character are fruits of faith. The true colors of a person show in 2mes of difficulty. This is why the travel shows up the reality of a person. Yusuf عليه السالمwas bestowed with the best manners and character, and was established on earth. The brothers had planned all their moves; they did not make mistakes. They were older men, and it was difficult for them to confess to their sins so long ago. It was the mercy of Allah that they realized their mistake. This was not a humilia2on, it was humility. ني َ قَالَ َال تَثْرِيبَ َع َليْ ُك ُم ا ْليَ ْو َم ۖ يَ ْغ ِف ُر اهللَُّ َل ُك ْم ۖ َو ُه َو أَرْحَ ُم الرَّاحِ ِم He said, “No blame will there be upon you today. Allah will forgive you; and He is the most merciful of the merci ful.” 12:92 Allah سبحانه وتعالىteaches us how to be muhsineen in spite of facing difficul2es from those close to us. The plots of men are more severe and calculated than those of women, because they plan prac2cally, whereas women are more emo2onal and spontaneous. The plots and plans of Allah are perfect. We see the maximum level of goodness in Yusuf عليه السالم. He suffered throughout his childhood, but never let 18
for anyone. When someone wrongs you, give them 70 excuses, and you will never blame them. It is as if Yusuf عليه السالمis saying that his forgiveness is not important. So he makes dua that Allah سبحانه وتعالى forgive them, and cover their mistakes, without men2oning their sins. This is also a way of reform.
it make him biSer. Allah سبحانه وتعالىtests those whom He holds dear, more than others. Do not compare your test with that of another. Allah gives you only enough challenges that you can bear. You are nurtured by the bad behavior of people. If you understand this fact, it becomes easy to deal with people. Do not let people be your concern; you are dealing with Allah سبحانه وتعالى. The brothers now realize that, not only their father, but even Allah سبحانه وتعالىprefers Yusuf عليه السالمover them. Love is a favour from Allah ;سبحانه وتعالىyou cannot force anyone to love you. Allah سبحانه وتعالىcan choose anyone He wants.
Yusuf عليه السالمnow points out the mercy of Allah سبحانه وتعالى. The sequence he follows is that he absolves them of all blame, then asks Allah سبحانه وتعالىto forgive them, and then men2ons the mercy of Allah سبحانه وتعالى. He is the Most Merciful, more than Yusuf عليه السالم and Ya'qub عليه السالم. No one is as merciful as Allah سبحانه وتعالى. Yusuf عليه السالمwas oppressed for so many years, but he did not become biSer; rather, he became beSer and better. He involves them with Allah سبحانه وتعالى, to make them aSach to Him. It is as if Yusuf عليه السالمis invoking Allah سبحانه وتعالىto have mercy upon them. This is نهاية اإلحسان, the maximum level of ihsaan.
The brothers confess their crime; now we see the maximum level of forbearance from Yusuf عليه السالم, he shows his pure heart. When people close to you are not good to you, and you, in turn, are good to them, even though you are in a posi2on to take revenge, this shows ihsaan. Yusuf عليه السالمwas now in a posi2on of authority and honour. Allah سبحانه وتعالىplaced him in a higher posi2on than his brothers. This was the situa2on in which he forgave his brothers. When someone is scolded, berated and blamed, the feeling is one of being stripped, shrunk, drying out. You want the earth to open up and swallow you. Yusuf عليه السالمis telling his brothers there is no blame on them, because he didn't want to hurt their feelings, or embarrass them. Scolding is worse than bea2ng; words can hurt more than blows to the body, and you never forget them. No one wants to be blamed, and they avoid the person they wronged out of this fear. Everyone loves a person who is easy going and kind, not blaming or crea2ng fear 19
The Obligation of Loving Allah SWT From the obligatory and necessary aspects of the Faith is having love for Allah SWT, love for His Messenger (SAWS), love for His believing slaves and love of faith and good deeds. This love of Allah SWT and His Messenger (SAWS) must take precedence over the love for children, wealth and souls. Allah SWT says in the Qur’an: َسـٰ ِكن َ َسا َدهَا َوم َ نك َ ۡۡشو َ موَٲلٌ ٱ ۡقتَ َرفۡتُمُ وهَا َوتِجَ ـٰ َرةٌ۬ تَخ ۡ َ خوَٲنُ ُك ۡم َوأَزۡوَٲجُ ُك ۡم َوعَشِ ي َرتُ ُك ۡم َوأ ۡ ِن ءَابَآ ُؤ ُك ۡم َوأَبۡنَآ ُؤڪُ ۡم َو إ َ قُلۡ إِن كَا م ِر ِهۦۗ وَٱهللَُّ َال يَہۡدِى ٱ ۡل َقوۡ َ م ۡ َ َّصوا ْ حَ تَّىٰ يَأ ۡ ِتىَ ٱهللَُّ ِبأ ُ سبِيلِهِۦ فَتَ َرب َ َسولِهِۦ وَجِ هَا ٍ۬د فِى ُ م َن ٱهللَِّ َور ِّ ۡضوۡنَهَآ أ َحَ بَّ إِ َليۡڪُم َ تَر (٢٤) ني َ ٱ ۡلفَـٰسِ ِق “Say: If your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your wives, your kindred, the wealth that you have gained, the commerce in which you fear a decline, and the dwelling in which you delight are dearer to you than Allah and His Messenger (SAWS) and striving hard and fighting in His cause, then wait until Allah brings about His Decision (torment). And Allah guides not the people who are disobedient.” [(9): 24] Ibn Katheer explains this verse saying it means wait for what punishment in store for you. And such a warning only takes place when the deed is necessary obligatory or certain requirement. Excellence of Loving Allah Love for Allah SWT and His Messenger above the love of everything else is one of Faith and a sign that he has tasted the sweetness of Faith, according to the saying of Prophet Muhammad (SAWS): “There are three characteristics that if one possesses then, he has tasted the sweetness of Faith; that Allah and His Messenger are more beloved to him than anyone other than them, that he loves a person and he only love him for the sake of Allah, and that he hates to return to disbelief just as he hated to be thrown into the Fire.” [Bukhari and Muslim] An Nawawi stated: “the meaning of ‘the sweetness of Faith’ is that the person gets pleasure out of obedience and bearing hardships and he prefers that over worldly desires.” What is Loving Allah? The love of the slave to His Lord and His Messenger is in their Obedience and avoiding their Disobedience. One who claims to love Allah and His Messenger of Allah (SAWS), then disobeys them and give precedence to their words over and above everybody else's, is indeed a
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liar with respect to his claim of loving Allah SWT and His Messenger (SAWS), since Faith has been denied for those who turn away from obeying Allah SWT and His Messenger. He, the All-Just has declares them to be hypocrites and nonbelievers in His Book saying: (٤٧) ني َ ك بِٱملۡ ُؤۡ ِم ِن َ ِٕك َومَآ أ ُ ْو َلـٰٓٮ َۚ ِم ۢن بَ ۡع ِد ذَٲل ِّ منۡہُم ِّ ٌَّ۬سولِ َوأَطَ ۡعنَا ث ُ َّم يَتَوَ َّلىٰ فَرِيق ُ منَّا بِٱهللَِّ َوبِٱلر َ ن ءَا َ َويَقُولُو “They (hypocrite) say, “We have believed in Allah and in the Messenger and we obey, then a party of them turn away thereafter, such are not believers.” [(24): 47] The Height of Love for Allah, the Exalted Love of Allah SWT has two levels: The first level is a must for every Muslim to complete the obligatory aspect of Faith. It is to love Allah SWT with a love that requires one to love what Allah SWT has obligated upon him and to hate what Allah SWT has forbidden for him: i.e. to perform the obligatory deeds and avoid forbidden deeds. To love His Messenger who conveyed from Him SWT, His Commands and prohibitions and to be pleased with what he (SAWS) has conveyed from Allah SWT of the religion and to accept that with pleasure and submission. َسلِي ً۬ما ۡ ُسلِّمُ وا ْ ت َ َضيۡتَ َوي َ جا مِّمَّ ا ق ً۬ شجَ َر بَيۡنَ ُه ۡم ث ُ َّم َال يَجِ دُوا ْ ِفىٓ أ َنفُسِ ہِ ۡم حَ َر َ وك فِيمَ ا َ ُن حَ تَّىٰ يُحَ كِّم َ ك َال يُؤۡ ِمنُو َ ِّف ََال َو َرب “But no, by your Lord, they can have no Faith, until they make you judge in all disputes between them and find in themselves no resistance against your decisions, and accept (them) with full submission.” [(4): 65] Loving the Prophets and Messengers and those who follow them in good for the sake of Allah SWT, since He (SAWS) said: “Indeed, the firmest handhold from eeman is that you love for Allah and hate for Allah.” [Hasan - Ahmad (4/286)] Therefore, a Muslim loves the Prophets, the righteous ones loved by Allah SWT, the sincere followers of the prophets, the martyrs and the pious, since they carry out that which Allah SWT loves, so he loves them for Allah SWT and this is from the completion of his love for Allah SWT since loving the beloved of the one that you love is from the completion of the love for the one that you love. Further, a Muslim hates the unbelievers, the hypocrites and the people of innovation and sin, since they do that which Allah SWT hates so he hates them for Allah SWT. Anyone lacking in any of these matters, is lacking the obligatory aspects of Faith. Consequently, Loving Allah SWT means to give precedence to what Allah SWT loves and wants for a slave, over what the slave loves and wants for himself. He must love what Allah SWT loves and hate what He SWT hates. And this results in the completeness of his Faith.
The Second level of loving Allah SWT is the level of the forerunners in good. This is where the love is raised to the loving whatever Allah SWT loves of voluntary acts of obedience and disliking whatever Allah SWT dislikes in the minutest aspects of disliked acts. It includes being pleased with whatever Allah SWT decreed in the way of afflictions. Causes that bring about Love for the Lord of the worlds 1. Recognizing the Bounties of Allah SWT The Bounties of Allah SWT upon His slaves are so numerous, that it cannot be counted or enumerated, as Allah, the All Merciful says in the Final Revelation: (٣٤) ٌِنسـٰ َن َلظَلُو ۬مٌ ڪَفَّا ۬ر َ ٱإل ۡ ن َّ ِهآۗ إ َ صو ُ ۡسأ َ ۡلتُمُ وهُۚ َو إِن تَ ُعدُّوا ْ ِنعۡمَ تَ ٱهللَِّ َال تُح َ َوءَاتَٮٰكُم مِّن ڪُلِّ مَا “If you count the blessings of Allah then you will never be able to count them.” [(14): 34] The heart holds love for the one, who acts good to him, or when he acquires something beneficial from him. This is a common phenomenon, which takes place in every human, so according to this observable fact, in order to love Allah SWT one should know the Great Blessings and Bounties bestowed upon him by Lord, which will lead him to loving his Allah, the Exalted. 2. Knowledge about the Names and Attributes and Actions of Allah SWT This is another phenomenon, which leads to love, attributes and actions. So, by knowing Allah by His Exalted Names, Absolute Attributes and Righteous Actions is one of the ways that leads to His SWT Love, since one who knows Allah SWT loves Him. And one who knows Him SWT obeys Him, and is honored by Him. 3. Pondering over His SWT Creation Pondering over the Creations of Allah, the All Able, will lead one to the specific knowledge of the heavens and the earth and the all He created, for all this will indicate His Greatness, Power, Majesty, Perfection, Eminence, Compassion, Mercy, Strength, Subjugation, and other of His SWT beautiful Names and Attributes. One whose knowledge of Allah SWT is strengthened, one’s love for Him SWT is also strengthened as well the love of obeying Him SWT. He will then experience the pleasure of worship, whether it is in prayer, remembrance or other forms of worship. 4. Acting towards Allah SWT with Sincerity To act with sincerity and purity, while going against one’s desires is a cause of Allah SWT to bless a slave and when the slave is blessed, he further loves his Lord.
5. Remembrance of Allah SWT One of the greatest causes that bring about one’s love for Allah SWT is increasing one’s remembrance of Allah SWT. Whenever a person loves something, he remembers him more often. And it is through the remembrance of Allah SWT that the hearts find tranquility: (٢٨) ُمنُوا ْ َوتَطۡمَ ٮِٕ ُّن ُقلُوبُهُم ِب ِذ ۡك ِر ٱهللَِّۗ أ ََال ِب ِذڪۡ ِر ٱهللَِّ تَطۡمَ ٮِٕ ُّن ٱ ۡل ُقلُوب َ ٱ َّلذِي َن ءَا “Yes, verily in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find tranquility” [Surah ar-R’ad (13): 28] And in fact one of the signs of love for Allah SWT is the constant remembrance of Allah SWT by one’s heart and tongue. 6. Reciting the Qur’an and pondering over its verse. One of the causes that bring about Allah’s SWT love for His Slaves is reciting the Qur’an and pondering over its verses, in particular those verses that contain Allah’s SWT Names, Attributes and Actions. 7. Remembering the Day when the believers will meet their Lord. Another cause of love for Allah SWT is remembering what has been mentioned in the Qur’an and Sunnah concerning the believers seeing their Lord in the Hereafter. Ibn al-Qayyim mentioned ten causes that result in Allah’s SWT love for a slave and the slave’s love for His Lord. First, reciting the Qur’an while pondering over its meaning and what is meant by it. Second, getting closer to Allah SWT by performing voluntary deeds completing obligatory deeds. This is as in the Hadith al-Qudsi: “My slave continues to getting closer to Me by performing voluntary deeds until I love him.” [Sahih Bukhari] Third, continual remembrance of Allah SWT under all circumstances, with one’s tongue, heart and actions. Fourth, giving precedence to what He SWT loves over what you love when you are overtaken by your desires. Fifth, the heart knowing Allah’s SWT Names, Attributes and the heart roaming in that garden of knowledge. Sixth, observing Allah’s SWT kindness, goodness and bounties, both open and hidden. Seventh, and this is the most wonderful: the heart becoming soft, subdued and meek before Allah SWT.
Eight, being alone with Allah SWT during the time when the Lord descends during the last portion of the night while reading His SWT Book and ending by asking for forgiveness and repenting. Ninth, sitting with the beloved and sincere, benefiting from the most fruitful of their speech. And not to speak unless speaking is more beneficial and you know that it will improve your state and be beneficial to others. Tenth, remaining away from every cause that comes between the heart and Allah SWT. These ten causes take the lovers to the station of true love and bring them to their Beloved. [Ibn al-Qayyim, Madaarij-us- Saalikeen, vol. 3, pp.17, 18] Signs of Sincere Love From the signs of sincere love for Allah SWT and His Messenger (SAWS) is adherence to obedience of Allah SWT, seeking the pleasure one may face for his striving and following the way of His Messenger. Allah SWT has said: ع َلى َ ني أ َ ِعزَّ ٍة َ علَى ٱملۡ ُؤۡ ِم ِن َ ۥۤ أ َ ِذ َّل ٍة َُسوۡفَ يَأۡتِى ٱهللَُّ ِب َقوۡ ٍ۬م يُحِ بُّہُ ۡم َويُحِ بُّونَه َ منُوا ْ مَن يَ ۡرتَ َّد مِن ُك ۡم عَن دِي ِنهِۦ ف َ يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱ َّلذِي َن ءَا (٥٤) علِي ٌم َ ٌَشآ ُۚء وَٱهللَُّ وَٲسِ ع َ َضلُ ٱهللَِّ يُؤۡتِي ِه مَن ي ۡ كف َ ِم َة َآلٮِٕ ۬ۚم ٍ ذَٲل َ ۡن َلو َ سبِي ِل ٱهللَِّ و ََال يَخَافُو َ ن فِى َ ٱ ۡل َكـٰ ِفرِي َن يُجَ ـٰ ِهدُو “O believers! Whoever from among you turns back from his religion, Allah will bring a people whom He will love and they will love Him, humble towards the believers, stern towards the disbelievers, fighting in the way of Allah, and never afraid of the blame of the blamers. That is the Grace of Allah, which He bestows on whom He wills. And Allah is All Sufficient for His creatures needs, All Knower” [(5): 54] And He SWT says: (٣١) ٌغفُو ۬رٌ رَّحِ ي ۬م َ َُّغ ِف ۡر َل ُك ۡم ذُنُوبَ ُك ۡۗم وَٱهلل ۡ َن ٱهللََّ فَٱتَّ ِبعُونِى يُحۡ ِببۡ ُك ُم ٱهللَُّ َوي َ قُلۡ إِن كُنتُ ۡم تُحِ بُّو “Say (O Muhammad (SAWS)): “If you truly love Allah then follow me, Allah will love you and forgive you your sins.” [(3): 31] Allah SWT has described those who love Him with four characters: First, they are humble towards the believers. That is they are soft, compassionate, and merciful towards the believers. They ‘lower their wings’ to them in mercy and kindness. Allah SWT says: (٢١٥) ني َ ك ِم َن ٱملۡ ُؤۡ ِم ِن َ ن ٱتَّبَ َع ِ َ ِك مل َ َِضجَ نَاح ۡ خف ۡ وَٱ “And be kind and humble to the believer who follow you” [(26): 215]
Second, Allah SWT describes them as harsh against disbelievers. The meaning of this is toughness and harshness to them. Allah SWT says: (٩) َصي ُر ِ ۡۡس ٱمل َ مأ ۡ َوٮٰ ُه ۡم جَ َهنَّ ُۖم َو ِبئ َ ع َليۡہِ ۡۚم َو َ ظ ۡ غ ُل ۡ ني وَٱ َ يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلنَّ ِبىُّ جَ ـٰ ِه ِد ٱ ۡلڪُفَّا َر وَٱملۡ ُنَـٰ ِف ِق “O Prophet! Strive hard against the disbeliever and the hypocrites, and be severe against them.” [(66): 9] This is related to the fact that those who love Allah SWT must dislike His SWT enemies. This is a necessary component of sincere love. Third, they do not fear the reproach of anyone who may reproach them. That is, they strive to perform those acts that He SWT is pleased with and they do not care if anyone reproaches them as long as they are doing a deed, which is pleasing to their Lord. The lover is occupied with what his Beloved loves and to him it is the same if he is reproached or praised by the people for his deeds. Fourth, he follows the way of the Messenger (SAWS), obeys him, implements his commands and refrains form what he prohibited. Allah SWT has associated love for Him SWT with love for His Messenger in His Words: “…are dearer to you than Allah and His Messenger” [(9): 24] Consequently, the love of Allah SWT cannot be sought except through following the path and obeying His Messenger and neither can one have complete Faith except by following His Messenger as He, the Exalted says: َسلِي ً۬ما ۡ ُسلِّمُ وا ْ ت َ َضيۡتَ َوي َ جا مِّمَّ ا ق ً۬ شجَ َر بَيۡنَ ُه ۡم ث ُ َّم َال يَجِ دُوا ْ ِفىٓ أ َنفُسِ ہِ ۡم حَ َر َ وك فِيمَ ا َ ُن حَ تَّىٰ يُحَ كِّم َ ك َال يُؤۡ ِمنُو َ ِّف ََال َو َرب “But no, by your Lord, they can have no Faith, until they make you judge in all disputes between them and find in themselves no resistance against your decisions, and accept (them) with full submission.” [(4): 65]
Ubayy bin Ka`b RA reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said: "Abu Mundhir! Do you know which Ayah in Allah's Book is the greatest?" I replied: "It is `Allah la ilaha illa Huwal-Haiyul-Qayum (Allah! none has the right to be worshipped but He, the Ever Living...'" (2:256) Thereupon he (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) patted me in the chest and said, "Rejoice by this knowledge, O Abu Mundhir!" (Muslim)
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those.
were
that
27
but
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you
Hudhaifah RA said: The Messenger of
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with
Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said,
him) said: I heard the Messenger of Allah
"The person who goes about with calum-
(sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) as saying:
nies will never enter Jannah."(Bukhari
"None of you should observe fast on Fri-
and Muslim)
day except that he should observe fast
*Calumny - a false and malicious statement designed to injure the reputation of someone or something
either one day before it or one day after it." (Bukhari and Muslim)
Masjid Bani Hashim At Jumeirah Islands, Dubai
Masjid Bani Hashim by the Grace of Allah ()سبْحَ انَ ُه َو تَعَالَى ُ 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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