Video: Al Ikhlaas (Mishari Rasheed al Afasi)

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim



In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: "Whoever recites Surah al-Ikhlas 10 times Allah will build for him a palace in Paradise"

The Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa'sallam said:



"The Muslim is a unique Ummah among the whole of mankind:


Their Land is ONE, their War is ONE, their Peace is ONE,


Their Honour is ONE and their Trust is ONE."


[Ahmad]

The Hajj: A Poem~Ibn Qayyim al Jawziyyah

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim




In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

The Hajj: A Poem


Ibn Qayyim al Jawziyyah



By Him whose House the loving pilgrims visit,



Responding with ihram at the appointed limit,



Uncovering their heads in total humility



Before One to Whom faces bow in servility.



They exclaim in the valleys, "We have responded to You -



All Praise is Yours, and Kingdom too!"



He invited and they answered, with love and pleasure;



When they called upon Him, nearer came the Divine treasure.



You see them on their mounts, hair dusty and dishevelled,



Yet never more content, never happier have they felt;



Leaving homelands and families due to holy yearning,



Unmoved are they by temptations of returning.



Through plains and valleys, from near and far,



Walking and riding, in submission to Allah.



[At the Ka'bah]



When they see His House - that magnificent sight



For which the hearts of all creatures are set alight -



It seems they've never felt tired before,



For their discomfort and hardship is no more.



Now the eye of the Lover drowns in its streams,



It sees through its tears the goal of its dreams;



Now for Allah, how many tears are issued,



Each one being followed by a multitude?



When the eye perceives the House, its darkness clears,



And from the sorrowful heart, pain disappears;



Vision cannot encompass this beautiful sight:



Each glance returns with greater delight!



No wonder at this, for when the Merciful preferred



The House for Himself, it became most honoured.



He clothed it in Majesty, a magnificent garment;



Embroidered it with Beauty, a wonderful ornament!



The hearts all love the House therefore,



Awed and humbled, in respect and honour.



['Arafat]



Now to 'Arafat, hoping for Mercy and Forgiveness



From the One overflowing with Generosity and Kindness;



Now for Allah is that Magnificent Standing



Like, though lesser than, the Day of Reckoning.



The Irresistible draws near, His Majesty manifest,



Boasting to His angels, for He is the Mightiest,



"My slaves have come to Me so lovingly,



I'll be Generous and Merciful, willingly.



I have forgiven their sins, - to this you are witness -



Fulfilled their hopes, and showered them with goodness."



So joyous news! O people of that standing,



When sins are forgiven and Mercy is spreading;



How many slaves are set completely free?



Whilst others seek a cure, and heal will He.



Now Satan is never known to lose such face:



He's blameworthy, rejected, in utter disgrace.



For he sees a matter that enrage him must:



He flees, slaps his face and covers it in dust!



Such Forgiveness he never did see



As granted by the Lord, and such Mercy!



He built his edifice from every temptation available



Till he thought it was complete, unassailable;



Then Allah struck his building at its very foundation,



So it fell upon him, tumbling in devastation;



What worth has his structure, this evil ploy,



That he does build, and the Lord does destroy?



[Muzdalifah & Mina]



Now to Muzdalifah, to spend the night



In the Sacred Area, then Prayer at first light;



Now on to the Great Pillar, which they need



To stone at the time of the Prayer of 'Id;



Now to their tents for the sacrifice prepared,



Reviving the tradition of a Father revered.



If sacrificing themselves were Allah's demand,



They would respond, submitting to the command;



Just as they'd expose their necks in Jihad



To Allah's enemies, till these stream with blood;



They discipline themselves, presenting the head for a shave:
Bringing humility and happiness to the obedient slave.



[The Tawaf of Ifadah/Ziyarah]



So when they've removed those natural growths,



Completed their rites, and fulfilled their oaths,



He invites them again to visit His House:



What honour and welcome this visit allows!



By Allah, they visit it in so much splendour,



Receiving their rewards and plenty of honour;



There Allah bestows Grace, Favour and Kindness,



Showing Generosity, Mercy and Forgiveness.



[Mina]



Then they return to Mina, each to his tent,



Every minute wish is granted, and they are content;



They stay there a day, then another, then a third,



They're allowed to depart early, but to stay is preferred;



They stone the pillars daily after the sun's decline,



With a slogan of Takbir in the presence of the Divine!



If only you could see their standing there:



Palms outstretched, hoping for Mercy's share!



"O Lord! O Lord! Knowing as You do



That we hope for no-one, only You!



Then grant our wish, O You All-Knowing,



We pray for Your Mercy overflowing."



[The Farewell Tawaf]



When they've achieved at Mina all their gains,



Once more they fill the valleys and plains:



To the Ka'bah, the Sacred House, by the end of the day,



To circle it seven times, and then to Pray.



When departure nears and they are certain



That the bond of proximity is about to loosen,



There's only a last stand for a final farewell:



Now for Allah are the eyes that swell,



And for Allah are the heavy hearts that turn



Into cauldrons of desire where fire does burn;



And the passionate sighs whose heat so vigorous



Nearly melts the Lover, ecstatic, rapturous!



Now you see those bewildered, perplexed in the throng,



Whilst others chant their sorrowful song:



"I depart, but there remains for You my yearning,



My fire of grief is raging and burning;



I bid farewell, but longing pulls my reins -



My heart is encamped in Your eternal plains!"



No blame today for saying what you feel:



No blame for expressing what you used to conceal!




||IslamicAwakening.com||

The Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa'sallam said:


"The Muslim is a unique Ummah among the whole of mankind:

Their Land is ONE, their War is ONE, their Peace is ONE,

Their Honour is ONE and their Trust is ONE."

[Ahmad]

Video: A Meeting With Allah

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim


In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

A Meeting With Allah

The momentous meeting between the Awliya and Allah as they see His Glorious Face.

The Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa'sallam said:



"The Muslim is a unique Ummah among the whole of mankind:

Their Land is ONE, their War is ONE, their Peace is ONE,

Their Honour is ONE and their Trust is ONE."

[Ahmad]

Truthfulness

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim


In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

Truthfulness

Shaykh Salman al-`Awdah



Moral Character of the Daa`iya

Translated by Muhammad Buneef

"O You who believe! Have taqwa with Allah, and be among the truthful." (Surat al- Tawbah:119)

Many people understand truthfulness to mean truthfulness of the tongue through speech alone. In reality, truthfulness is a vast curriculum. It is as much one of the characteristics of the Muslim's personality both outward and inward, as it is his speech and action. From it are the following:

A. Truthfulness in conveying the Religion: That is, one must profess the correct belief built upon truthfulness with Allah Azza wa Jall, not upon hypocrisy, deceit and patronization. This is why truthfulness is mentioned in the Qur’an as the opposite of hypocrisy. "That Allah may reward the truthful for their truth, and punish the hypocrites if He wills, or turn mercifully towards them..." (Surat al-Ahzaab:64). Therefore, it is necessary to posses the outward Islam with the inward Imaan; it is necessary to have the correct belief in Allah, the Last Day, the Angels, the Books, and the Messengers. The outward guidance must conform to the inward guidance.

Here, is one of the hidden plots of shaytaan who inspires the daa`iya to neglect some of the outward good deeds under the pretense that his inner reality is not the same. So he avoids this in order to avoid deceiving the people! This is a huge mistake. The good deed which you perform outwardly is so because of the righteousness and truthfulness in your heart as long as you do not do it for riyaa' [show], reputation or in order to deceive the believers.

B. Truthfulness in speech: Truthfulness in speech expresses a dignified personality, manhood, insight and generosity. No one would resort to lies unless he has a wicked nature, a wicked nafs [self], and a weak personality. A good-natured individual denounces lie and rebukes it, which is why all of the [previous revelations] agreed upon the prohibition and admonition of lie. How about the daai'ya then, can you imagine him lying!? I believe not, inshaa Allah. Some of the daai'yas may come across ambiguously by making certain statements which some people misunderstand, then later they may find out the opposite of what they misunderstood. Then they accuse him of lying. Besides, ambiguity may lead to the acceptance of some minor lies under the pretense that it is helpful!! So be cautious!

If you are in a situation that would cause you to lie, avoid doing so, and remember the words of Abu Sufyaan before Heracles when he was asked about the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam) and he [latter narrated to Muhammad sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam], "I swear by Allah, if I was sure that they would not have transmitted a lie from me, I would have lied about you." [Bukhari] This man, who was an idolater at the time, avoided lying out of fear that his lying would be transmitted, or that he would be insulted some day because of it. Re avoided lying even though he needed to do so We know that the honor of today's duaat [pl. of daai iya] has become a target for a barrage of arrows, and this is why it is necessary for the daa'iya to close the door before the foul wind comes in, so that he can be safe!

C. Truthfulness in deeds: Meaning that a person's deeds have to be purely for Allah Ta'ala without riyaa' or seeking good reputation, "Whoever hopes to meet his Lord, he should do good deeds, and not join any one in the worship of His Lord." and "...that He may try you; which of you is the best in deeds." (Surat alKahf:11 and Mulk 2) Fudail bin Ayaad commented that, "Which one of you is the best in deeds" means 'most sincere and pertinent.' He was asked, "O father of Ah! What is most sincere and pertinent?" He said, "If the deed is sincere and not pertinent it won't be accepted, and if it is pertinent and not sincere, it won't be accepted. It will not be accepted until it is sincere and pertinent!" Included among the subject of truthfulness in deeds is, possessing clarity and avoiding obscurity or ambiguity. It was reported upon the authority of Abu Dawud and Nisaa'ee that after a confrontation with a man, when the companions refrained from standing up for him sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam he rebuked them, so they said, "O Messenger of Allah, we don't know what is in your nafs, couldn't you signal us with your eye?" He (sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam) said, "It is not becoming of a Prophet that he have a deceiving eye!!" [Abu Dawud, Nisaa'ee, Hakim, Ahmad from the hadeeth of Anas in which it is, "A Prophet does not wink."] Tirmidhi reported that 'Abdullah bin Salaam, may Allah be pleased with him, said "When the Prophet, sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam, came to Madina the people came out and said, 'The Messenger of Allah has come! The Messenger of Allah has come! The Messenger of Allah has come!' So I came forward among the people to look at him (sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam), and when I beheld his face I knew that his face wasn't the face of a liar. And the first thing that he (sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam) said was, "O People! Spread the salaam, and serve the food, and pray while the people are asleep, you will enter Jannah peacefully." [Ahmad, Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah.] The truthfulness of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam) spread from his heart to his tongue...to the extremities, it became manifest in his honorable face...(sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam). Everyone who beheld his bright vision saw truthfulness and was assured that his face was absolutely not the face of a liar!! We are in need for the type of duaat who transmit truthfulness with their speech and deeds so much so that truthfulness becomes a natural disposition swimming through their veins, emerging through their outward behavior, so that when the people see them they say, "These are not the faces of liars!" We are also in need of duaat who are beautified with moral excellence, who stay away from selfishness and agitation, who persevere through their tranquility, who are moderate in their manner of speaking in all circumstances in such a way that the people are able to look at their characteristics and say, "These are the characteristics of Prophets!"

Surely truthfulness in carrying our dawa is a cause for people to accept our religion, and we should not be like the actor on the stage who shows the people the opposite of what he really is. In this case, the reality of such a daa'iya is quickly revealed and the people rush away from him.

It was reported that one of the Salaf [pious predecessors] used to affect people and bring them to tears while admonishing them, to the point that you could hear them crying loudly. Yet someone else may have given a better speech in the same gathering and may have been more knowledgeable, but he could not affect their hearts nor bring them to tears! So his son asked him about this one day and his response was, "The weeping of the mother who lost her beloved is not like the weeping of the one who is paid to do so."

Therefore the first mean for the success of the daai'ya is: His truthfulness in carrying his dawa, his seriousness in it and truthfulness in words and deeds must be his method and characteristic of him. Elegant sweet words are not most important - even if they are required - more important is truthfulness, that he is in harmony with himself, and his speech comes from the heart.

Long ago it was said:

"If a word comes from the heart it will land in the heart... and if it comes from the tongue it will not even pass the ears!!"



|| Islaam.com ||

The Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa'sallam said:

"The Muslim is a unique Ummah among the whole of mankind:
Their Land is ONE, their War is ONE, their Peace is ONE,
Their Honour is ONE and their Trust is ONE."
[Ahmad]

The Principal Characteristics and Rules of Islamic Manners

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim



In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful



Assalamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu


The Principal Characteristics and Rules of Islamic Manners

Marwan Ibrahim al-Kaysi



Morals and Manners in Islam - A Guide to Islamic Aadaab

© 1986, The Islamic Foundation

The principal characteristics and rules of Islamic manners for various aspects of life can be summarized as follows:



1. In almost everything, deliberation (and not haste) is required. A Muslim should consider how a matter might turn out; then, if the outcome appears worthwhile and good, he should carry on, otherwise he should refrain.



2. Kindness and gentleness in a Muslim's dealings with others are essential.



3. Cleanliness and purity of body, place, clothes, etc., should be one of the most conspicuous characteristics of Muslim life.



4. Beauty, elegance, orderliness are values for the Muslim to observe, and whenever possible to attain.



5. According to Islam, a good deed done with courtesy beautifies that deed; impudence, on the other hand, destroys the good in it.



6. All a Muslim's deeds should express an attitude of humility and not arrogance.



7. A Muslim is commanded to avoid any act that might harm himself or some other person, physically, mentally or morally.



8. In the daily life of a Muslim, silence is preferred to unnecessary speaking.



9. A Muslim should treat others as he would wish them to treat him. Like for others what he would like for himself. Good manners without consideration for others are an impossibility.



10. A Muslim should never order or ask anyone to do something that he would not do himself.



11. Favouring the right side or hand in things such as giving, taking, shaking hands, eating, drinking, walking, etc., and using the left hand for such things as cleaning oneself in the toilet, is recommended.



12. Eating, drinking and clothing oneself, etc., well, are allowed as long as the motive is not pride or arrogance. Life characterized by extravagance is abhorred.



13. Though extravagance is abhorred, this does not imply that a Muslim should not have money or not enjoy life. The effects of God's blessings upon him should be visible to others.



14. Being generous and not mean or avaricious is a virtue.



15. Gratitude to God should characterize a Muslim's life, whether He blesses or burdens him, and gratitude with patience and fortitude.



16. A Muslim must be always faithful.



17. In all aspects of life a Muslim must exercise moderation and be natural; unnaturalness and exaggeration are disapproved.



18. A Muslim should be self-sufficient and should seek the help of other Muslims only when it is urgent and necessary.



19. Copying or imitating other cultures and religions in any way is forbidden.



20. Obedience and carrying out another's orders or wishes may not contradict the teachings of Islam; if it does, the teachings of Islam must be given priority.



21. Maintaining sexual identity is most important. Imitation of men by women, or of women by men, in dress, manner of walking, etc. is forbidden.



22. One of the most pervasive characteristics of Islamic manners is discipline, leading to balance and harmony in the life of the individual and the community.



23. Flexibility and tolerance are also characteristics of aadaab al-Islaam. Broadly speaking, any particular conduct is tolerated or accepted if it is civilized (i.e. considerate of others) and respectable (i.e. inoffensive to the individual and community) and provided it does not fall into the categories of the abhorred or forbidden.



||Islaam.com||

The Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa'sallam said:


"The Muslim is a unique Ummah among the whole of mankind:

Their Land is ONE, their War is ONE, their Peace is ONE,

Their Honour is ONE and their Trust is ONE."

[Ahmad]

Hajj: The Journey of Hearts

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim


In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful



Hajj: The Journey of Hearts

Muhammad ash-Shareef

Arafah – 10 Years After Hijrah



The man was standing with Rasul Allah – sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam – when he was thrown from his camel. The camel stomped and the man’s neck was snapped. Dead. “Bathe his body with water and Sidr and bury him with both garments,” said Allah’s Messenger. “Do not cover his head, nor touch him with Camphor ... for verily he will be returned (to Allah) on the day of resurrection in the state of Talbiyah! (Labbayk Allahaahumma labbayk)” – Al-Bukhari and Muslim ‘Amr ibn Al-‘Aas narrates, “When Islam entered my heart, I went to the Messenger of Allah and said, ‘Give me your hand so that I may pledge allegiance to you.’ The Prophet spread his hand, but I withdrew mine. He said, ‘What is wrong ‘Amr?’ I said, ‘I want to make a condition.’ ‘And what is that?’ he said. I said, ‘That Allah will forgive me.’ Then the Messenger of Allah said, ‘Did you not know that Islam wipes out what came before it, and that Hijrah wipes out what came before it and that Hajj wipes out what came before it!” - Sahih Muslim




The Ultimate Reward




Rasul Allah – sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam - said, “And there is no reward for an accepted Hajj … except Jannah!” What is the first verse that you read in Surah Al-Hajj? It does not speak of Arafah, nor does it pronounce the pillars of Nahr day. It simply says ...




[O Mankind! Fear your Lord, indeed the eruption of the (final) Hour is a horrific event. On that day that you shall see it, every nursing mother will be engrossed away from that (child) she was nursing, and every pregnant woman will abort her pregnancy, and you will see the people (appearing) intoxicated, while they are not intoxicated; rather it is the punishment of Allah, severe.]




Hajj is not a journey of the body such as one may take to a vacation spot or tourist attraction. It is a journey of the soul and heart. When one pays a careful eye to the verses speaking of Hajj, they will find that verse after verse concludes with a commandment of being conscious of Allah’s presence, or a reminder of Allah’s bounteous favor upon us, or a link between Hajj and the final day.




The Destination




In the not-so-far-away days of old, whenever a journey was to be undertaken proper provisions had to be prepared. The deserts were long, hot, and harsh. Unmerciful. There were no gas stations to fill up with chips and refreshments, or rest stops to slurp water from a fountain. In fact, there was not a human in sight for miles upon miles of barren sand dunes. Losing the way meant losing your life. Thus, you had to have the provision with you before you made the journey. Enough food, enough water, enough everything to carry you to your destination. From here, in the verses dealing of Hajj, when everyone shall have to make some sort of journey to reach the Ka’bah, Allah tuned the attention of His slaves to another journey, a journey every soul is traveling, whether they know it or care to just remain heedless. Allah turned their attention to the journey to the Hereafter, to Paradise or Hell.




[And take sustenance (with you) for the journey; verily the best sustenance is Taqwa (piety and righteousness).] – Al Baqarah 2:197




On the day Buhaym Al-‘Ajlee set out with his companion for Hajj, he looked toward the endless desert awaiting them both and wept, his chest soaking from the tears. “This is something,” said Buhaym, “that has made me understand the most certain journey I must one day take to Allah!”






Hajj – The Journey Of Hearts



The Provider



There is debate over whether someone who performs Hajj should be called a Hajji. It is not something found in the Sunnah; rather it has an interesting backround in our cultural history. In antique days, when someone decided to perform the journey for Hajj, it was synonymous with bidding farewell to life on earth. This was due to the treacherous obstacles of traveling in the desert - trials such as sickness, starvation, and the struggles of the separate situations. An entire village might gather to bid those people farewell. When someone would go through such a remarkable journey and return alive, they would dedicate their lives to the worship and obedience of Allah. Gone was the cheating, or the lying, or the missed Salah. He was now a Hajji. Today, with the Jumbo jets and ocean liners and Mercedes busses, the facilitation of performing Hajj has taken away the luster of the title Hajji.




Some might complain that there are no queen-size mattress beds in Mina, or that the air conditioning motor is a tad too loud. But dear brothers and sisters, who is it that provided us with all the blessing that we are living in? It is the same Allah that has tested us here on the plains of Arafah. The slave of Allah can only truly understand the favor of Allah upon him when it is taken away.




[There is no blame upon you for seeking bounty from your Lord (during Hajj). But when you depart from Arafat, remember Allah at AlMash’ar AlHaram. And remember Him as He has guided you, for indeed you were before that among those astray.]




Alhamdulillaah.




Indeed the greatest blessing that Allah has favored us with is Islam, and it alone suffices as favor. Allah knows we are going to get dusty during Hajj, Allah knows it. So don’t be surprised when that dust blows, instead turn to Allah and hit back with patience and a whisper of gratitude to Allah.




[Then let them end their untidiness, fufill their vows, and perform Tawaf around the ancient House.] – Surah Hajj 22/29




Ibn Al-Qayyim wrote a Qasidah about this journey of the hearts, here is only a glimpse of some of the Arabic verses:

[He says, My slaves have come to Me (for Hajj) out of love for Me


And I am merciful to them, bounteous and loving


Glad tidings O participants of that stand (on Arafah)


a moment when Allah forgives all sins and showers His mercy]

Abu Hurayrah narrates: I heard the Prophet say, “Whoever performs Hajj and does not commit any Rafath (obscenity) or Fusooq (transgression), he returns (free from sin) as the day his mother bore him” – Al-Bukhari





Getting The Heart In Shape




Many years ago, as the Hujjaj swept through the valley of Muzdalifah, a man remarked out loud, “My look at the number of Hujjaj!” The wise man replied, “Nay, the passengers are many, but the Hujjaj are few.”



I once heard the story of a man who was blessed with the opportunity to join the caravan for Hajj regularly. However, his shortcoming was that he could never control his anger during the days of Hajj, and would snap cursing others. Well, one person had an idea for him. His inspiration: Instead of cursing Muslims during Hajj, write all your bad comments on a piece of paper - fold it - and then when you get mad at someone, just hand him the paper. On the top of the tiny envelope write, ‘Do not open until after Hajj’. The man agreed. As incident after incident assailed him, the man would simply smile, then frown and hand out the tiny envelopes to the provoking party. Everything was going smoothly until the day when he was walking to the Jamarat and someone stomped his toes. He lost all control. Teeth gritting, he snarled and took out his briefcase of envelopes and dumped it on that poor guys head.




In Hajj I have seen people who snatch for patience and the reward of Allah during those trying moments, like a man pan handles for gold. I asked myself, what is different from them and those who spend their breath in criticism and argumentation? It finally dawned that it was not the body of Zayd or ‘Amr that I was witnessing, but it was the hearts of Zayd and ‘Amr. Some people come to Hajj prepared financially. Others come with a prepared heart – that is what’s essential. Whether the grindstone grinds us to dust or polishes us up depends on what we are made of.




Now - How To Get That Heart In Shape For Hajj?



Firstly: Attend lectures and workshops dealing with Hajj Hajj is one of the pillars that Islam is built on. When someone intends to perform this rite it a must upon them that they learn it well. Rasul Allah – sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam – said, “Seeking knowledge is obligatory on every Muslim.” Imam Al-Bukhari writes in his Saheeh, ‘Chapter: knowledge comes before statements and actions.’ He then quoted the verse of Allah:




[So Know, that there is no deity except Allah and ask forgiveness for your sin.] - Surah Muhammad, 47/19





Secondly: Establish Salah and Perform Qiyaam ul-Layl



When Rasul Allah – sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam – was preparing his heart for the mission of conveying this Deen, Allah ordered him to prepare using Qiyam ul-Layl. Allah ta’ala says:




[O you who wraps himself / Arise (to pray) the night, except for a little] – Surah Muzzammil, 73/1,2




A student once slept over at Imam Ahmad’s house, rahimahullah. Imam Ahmad had left a vessel of water for him, and upon arriving at Fajr time, found the vessel still full of water. He was shocked and remarked, “How can a person be a Talib Al-‘Ilm (student of Islam) and not stand for Qiyam ul-Layl!” Some said to Ibn Mas`ood, may Allah be pleased with him, "We are unable to wake up to perform Qiyam ul-Layl." He told them, "You are distancing yourselves from it by your sins."





Thirdly: Repentance to Allah and Dua



It was during the days of Tashreeq when Jirbreel – alayhis salam – came to Rasul Allah – sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam – with the words of Allah:



[When the victory of Allah has come and the conquest / And you see the people entering into the religion of Allah in multitudes / Then exalt Him with praise of your Lord and ask forgiveness of Him. Indeed, He is ever Accepting of repentance.] Surah An-Nasr



This was the culmination of 23 years of Da’wah, Jihad, and work; here now was the farewell pilgrimage. What did it end with?




[Then exalt Him with praise of your Lord (Tasbeeh) and ask forgiveness of Him]




Subhaanak Allaahumma wa bihamdika, Allahumma ighfir-lana / Glory be to you O Allah, and may You be praised. O Allah, forgive us!



||Source||

The Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa'sallam said:


"The Muslim is a unique Ummah among the whole of mankind:

Their Land is ONE, their War is ONE, their Peace is ONE,

Their Honour is ONE and their Trust is ONE."

[Ahmad]

Humbleness

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim


In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

Humbleness

Salmaan ibn Fahd al-'Awdah

Humbleness is to know the value of oneself, to avoid pride, or disregarding the truth and underestimating people. As the Prophet sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam said, according to Muslim and others,

"Al-Kibr is rejecting the truth and looking down upon people"

[Muslim, Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud].

Humbleness is for one who is important and significant and he fears to gain notoriety or to become too great among people. As it was said, "Humble yourself, you will be as a glimmering star to the viewer on the surface of the water even if it is lofty." We don't say to an ordinary person, "Humble yourself." But it is said to him, "Know the value of yourself, and do not place it in the wrong place!"



It was narrated by al-Khattabi in al-Uzlah that Imaam `Abdullah bin al-Mubaarak came to Khuraassaan [in Persia] and went to a person who was known for his zuhd and wara' [asceticism and cautiousness in piety], so when he entered where the man was, he (the man) did not turn around nor give him any consideration at all. When 'Abdullah bin al-Mubaarak left, some of the people who were inside with the man said to him, "Don't you know who that was?!" He said, "No," He was told, "This is the 'Amir of the believers...this is... this is... this is... `Abdullah bin al-Mubaarak." So the man was astonished and came out to Ibn al-Mubaarak in a hurry apologizing and absolving himself from what happened, saying, "O Abu 'Abd al-Rahmaan! Forgive me and advise me!" Ibn al-Mubaarak said, "Yes... whenever you come out of your house and see someone, assume that he is better than you!" He knew that the man was conceited. When Ibn al-Mubaarak inquired as to what the man's profession was, he found out that he was a weaver!! [See comments of adh-Dhahabi in aI-Mizaan concerning Waasil bin Ata'a]. Therefore, this educated Imam noticed that this mutazahid (devoted pious person) possessed a kind of arrogance, conceitedness and feeling of superiority over others.



This disease sometimes envelops pious people; this is why he offered advice that was easy for him. Many times we find this characteristic in some of the pious people, as well as some of the duaat. But when it reaches the small students who misbehave with their shaykhs, scholars and teachers this really hurts inside! There is no objection if you differ in opinion or judgement with a scholar or a daai'ya as long as you are qualified to do so The problem occurs when this difference of opinion becomes a destructive element to the scholar's dignity, diminishes his value, disregards and disrespects him. This may be accepted from the common people, or from the people of innovation and misguidance, but it is not allowed in any circumstance for Ahl-As Sunnah and from the students of `Ilm al-Shariyyah. Surely the scholars of Ahl as Sunnah wal Jamaa'ah in particular, are requested to call for that which is good and to forbid the forbidden, as well as to take into consideration the prominent people... if they are disappointed by the closest people to them, then they are not expected to react in the same manner. Therefore one of them is like a brave knight who is only supported by women! That is, if the Ahl as Sunnah protected their scholars' honor, and knew their value, and encircled them, they could have carried the duty of calling for that which is good and forbidding the forbidden in the correct way. But when a scholar is disappointed from among his own circles, he can't say anything. How sad it is that some people of innovation on the contrary reached the point that they even grant their shaykhs and masters some kind of sanctity, blindly follow behind them.



This is in reality a kind of slavery and dissolution of the follower into the followed. This is the practice of the Batiniyya groups through the ages, in such a manner that it conditions its individuals to give a certain degree of al-`isma (protection from error) to their leaders and Imams. Even the Mu`atazila, the ones who practice "rationalism" and almost have no place for emotions... one of their poets said about their Shaykh Waasil bin Ata'a, "He has, behind the sea of China to it's farthest parts, and in every place behind the barbarians, men (duaat) whose leader is not weakened by the irony of a tyrant... nor by the plot of a deceiver ... They are the people of Allah's religion in every place, and the lords of its fatawa and the science of dispute." And the people of the Sunnah are worthier of evaluation and respect of their scholars. There is no good in a nation where the young do not respect the older, and the older do not have mercy on the younger. It is from the humbleness, from knowing the self value that the young beginner should not look at himself as a rival to this or that scholar, and say, "They are men... and we are men"!! As a matter of fact, manhood differs, that is, the description of manhood in the Noble Qur'an was addressed in a form of glorification in many places,

"...in it are men who love that they should be purified."

(Surat al-Tawba:108)

And,

"In houses which Allah has ordered to be raised, and that His name may be remembered therein; they glorify Him in the mornings and the evenings. Men whom neither merchandise nor trade divert from the remembrance of Allah and keeping to prayer and giving zakah. They fear a day in which the hearts and eyes will [fearfully] turn about..."

(Surat al-Nur: 36-37).

Manhood also refers only to masculinity in other places:

"And that men from among people used to seek refuge with men from among jinn..."

(Surat al-Jinn:6)

Therefore, men are not all the same.



Humbleness is that one should humble himself with his companions. Frequently when the spirit of competition and envy is agitated between companions and rivals, a person may feel superior over his companion, he may be pleased by harming him, degrading his value and importance, accusing him of defects or exaggerating his faults. Faults that may have come to light when seeking advice, or correction. In reality this is what is called jealousy. It is amazing that the daa`iya becomes jealous about the gathering of a thousand or two at a meeting of knowledge or da`wah but he will not have any kind of reaction if he heard that twenty of thirty thousand people attended a concert or a sports event. By Allah, this is sad, for even if you were not pleased with your brother about something, it should be sufficient for you that he is calling to Allah ta`ala and teaching people the Deen and is sincere in general. In fact, he may even be correct in some of the things that you criticized him about.



Humbleness is to humble oneself to one who is below you. If you find someone who is younger than you, or of less importance than you, you should not despise him, because he might have a better heart than you, or be less sinful, or closer to Allah than you. Even if you see a sinful person and you are righteous, do not act in arrogance towards him, and thank Allah that He saved you from the tribulation that He put him through. Remember that there might be some riyaa' or vanity in your righteous deeds that may cause them to be of no avail, and that this sinful person may be regretful and fearful concerning his bad deeds, and this may be the cause of forgiveness of his sins.



According to Jundub, may Allah be pleased with him, the Messenger of Allah a mentioned that a man said, "By Allah, Allah will not forgive so-and-so," and that Allah Ta`ala said, "Who is swearing by Me that I will not forgive so-and-so? I surely have forgiven so-and-so and nullified your deed" [Muslim]. Therefore, do not act in arrogance towards anyone. Even when you see a sinner, do not act superior towards him, nor treat him with arrogance and domination. If you feel that the sinner may perform some acts of obedience which you do not, and that you may also posses some defects which the sinner may not, then deal kindly with him, and gently give da`wah which will hopefully be the cause of his acceptance and remembrance.



Humbleness is that your deed should not become too great in your eyes. If you do a good deed, or attempt to get closer to Allah ta`ala through an act of obedience, your deed still may not be accepted,

"Allah only accepts from those who have taqwa."

(Surat al-Maida: 27)

This is why some of the Salaf said, "If I knew that Allah accepted one tasbeeh from me, I would have wished to die right now!"



Humbleness is that, when you are advised, if Shaytaan calls you to reject the advice, you must negate him. Because the purpose of advice is that your brother points out the defects that you have. As for he who Allah ta`ala has protected, if he finds one who will advise him and show him his defects, he'll overcome his nafs, accept from him, thank and make du`aa for him. This is why He sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam said,

"Al-Kibr is rejecting the truth and despising the people"

[Muslim, Tirmidhi, and Abu Dawud].

The arrogant never gives credit to anybody or mentions good about someone, and if he needed to do so, he would also mention five defects of that person. But if he hears somebody reminding him about his own defects, he will not be flexible nor comply due to his inferiority complex. This is why it is among man's moral integrity to accept criticism or comment without any sensitivity or discomfort or feelings of shame and weakness. Here he is, The 'Amir of the Believers `Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, raising the flag and lifting the motto, "May Allah have mercy on a person who informed us of our defects."

Source

The Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa'sallam said:


"The Muslim is a unique Ummah among the whole of mankind:

Their Land is ONE, their War is ONE, their Peace is ONE,

Their Honour is ONE and their Trust is ONE."

[Ahmad]

Of Malls and Mus’ab bin ‘Umair

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim


In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

Of Malls and Mus’ab bin ‘Umair

Umm Rashid

Big city, bright lights. Cars flash in fast lanes. Young Muslims are getting ready to hit the “night scene”. Branded shoes and designer clothes in place, clutching the latest mobile gizmos and sporting the trendiest watches, their perfume smells --- more than anything else – of money.

You can see them “hanging out” in groups, lolling in the bright lights of a megamall, lingering aimlessly in hypershops, buying a knick knack to drive away the boredom; even if it’s just for a second.

You can see them sipping cappucino at a Starbucks café …watching people go by, sharing a joke and laughing raucously; vacant eyes straying over to huge tv screens for the latest football score.

You can see them racing cars dangerously late into the night, music blasting from the stereos, startling passersby while they laugh in their faces. A standard sight.

Each time I see this all-too familiar scene, I find myself thinking of someone. Someone who lies buried in the blood-wet earth of ‘Uhud, feet covered by scented grass and his body covered only by a square woollen sheet that was not even sufficient to cover him completely. Someone who was his mother’s pampered son, he wore the best clothes his rich mother’s money could buy, his perfume scented the streets he walked through. The talk of Makkan matrons and maidens in their plush salons, the toast of his peers in the city’s clubs, the most flamboyant young man of the Quraysh, who left a life of pleasuring the Self to gain the pleasure of Allaah: Mus’ab bin Umair bin Hashim bin Abd Munaf who was also known as Mus’ab al Khair.

Mus’ab was only a youth when he heard of the new Prophet who had arisen among the Quraysh and his Message of monotheism; Makkah talked of very little else in those days. His curiosity piqued by all the talk, Mus’ab decided to approach the Prophet sall Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam on his own to determine the truth of his Message.

One night, instead of joining his friends in their customary revelry, Mus’ab made his way to the house of Al-Arqaam Ibn Al-Arqaam which came to be known as Daar al Arqaam among the Muslims. It was here that the Prophet met with the growing band of Muslims, away from the eyes of the Quraysh. It was here that the Companions talked over the future of their faith, heard and recited newly revealed portions of the Qur’aan and prayed behind the Prophet sall Allaahu ‘alayhi wassallam to Allaah.



That night, Mus'ab sat down among the gathering of the faithful and heard the Prophet sall Allaahu ‘alayhi wassallam recite verses of the Qur’aan. From that moment on he forgot for ever his life of luxury and indolence, in the ecstasy of discovering the key to eternal life.



Mus’ab’s path to the faith was not easy – his mother, Khunnas bint Maalik, a strong willed woman infamous for her sharp temper and sharper tongue – was his chief opponent. In order to avoid an unpleasant confrontation with his mother, Mus’ab initially avoided telling her about his new faith. However, people found him frequenting Daar Al-Arqaam more than his usual haunts and saw him coming under the influence of the Prophet sall Allaahu ‘alayhi wasallam. It wasn’t long before news of his conversion reached his mother.

Reacting with the imperiousness of her nature, her pride in her lineage and her age-old allegiance to the gods, she commanded Mus’ab to return and repent to the gods he had abandoned in his “foolishness”; and when he refused, she had him shackled and imprisoned in a corner of the house.



Somehow, news of the first emigration of some Muslims to Abyssinia reached Mus’ab in his incarceration and his heart longed to join his brothers in the faith. Using his ingenuity, he managed to delude his mother and his guards and escaped to Abyssinia with other emigrants. Later, he returned to Makkah with them for a short while and emigrated a second time, this time as the Prophet [SAW]’s chosen envoy to the new centre of faith: Yathrib.



When Mus’ab returned from Abyssinia, his mother sought to imprison him yet again. But this time he vowed that if she attempted that, he would kill all those who came to her aid to lock him up. She knew the intensity of his determination better than anyone else and so she bade him a final farewell, crying bitterly: Go away, I am no longer your mother.

At this, Mus’ab went close to her and said: O Mother, I am advising you and my heart is with you, please bear witness that there is no God but Allaah and that Muhammad is His servant and messenger.

Enraged, she swore: By the stars, I will never enter your religion, to degrade my
status and weaken my senses!



But Mus’ab entered Islaam in the spirit of the Qur’aan when it says: udkhuloo fi silme kaafah [enter into Islaam completely]. He forsook every semblance of satisfaction of the Self for the sake of Allaah – his dress was tattered, his food was simple, the bare earth was his bed.



One day he went out to meet some Muslims while they were sitting around the Prophet sall Allaahu alayhi wassallam, and when they saw him they lowered their heads and shed silent tears at the sight of the pampered youth of their memory , moving about in wornout patches held together by thorns, which barely covered him. After Mus’ab moved away from the gathering, the Prophet sall Allaahu alayhi wassallam recalled: I saw Mus’ab, and there was no youth in Makkah more petted by his parents than he. Then he
abandoned all that for the love of Allaah and His Prophet.



Recognizing Mus’ab’s noble manners and patience, the Prophet [SAW] commissioned him to instruct the people of Yathrib who had pledged their allegiance to the Prophet at ‘Aqabah, to call others to Islaam and to prepare the city for the eventual migration of the Prophet [SAW].



At that time, there were among the Companions men of sterling character and nerves of steel, men who were older and more experienced in the ways of the world; yet he [SAW] chose Mus’ab as his representative. And Mus’ab proved worthy of the Prophet’s choice many times over, dealing with detractors with patience and sagacity.



Mus’ab entered Yathrib as a guest of Sa’ad ibn Zurarah of the Khazraj tribe. Together they went approached the citizens of Yathrib, explaining the message of Monotheism and reciting the Qur’aan. Once Musa’ab and Sa’ad were sitting near a well in an orchard of Banee Zafar, when they were approached by Usayd ibn Khudayr brandishing a spear in obvious rage. Sa’ad whispered to Mus’ab: This is a chieftain of his people. May Allaah place the truth in his heart.

Mus’ab replied calmly: If he sits down, I will speak to him.

Usayd was angry at the success of Mus’ab’s mission and shouted angrily: Why have you both come to us to corrupt the weak among us? Keep away from us if you want to stay alive. At this, Musa’ab smiled and said softly: Won't you sit down and listen? If you are pleased and satisfied with our mission, accept it; and if you dislike it we will stop telling you what you dislike and leave. Sticking his spear into the ground, Usayd sat down to hear them out. As Musa’ab began telling him about Islaam and

reciting portions of the Qur’aan to Usayd’s expression changed. The first words he uttered were : How beautiful are these words and how true! What does a person do if he wants to enter this religion?

Mus’ab explained: Have a bath, purify yourself and your clothes. Then utter the testimony of Truth (shahadah), and perform prayers. Usayd testified that there is no god but Allaah and that Muhammad is His Messenger, prayed two rakaats of salaah and was followed by another influential man: Sa’ad ibn Muaadh.



By the time the Prophet [SAW] emigrated, there was not a single household in Yathrib in which Mus’ab had not endeared himself and the Message of Islaam. In the subsequent pilgrimage, he led a company of 70 people went from Yathrib to pledge allegiance to the Prophet.



In a famous incident after the victory at Badr, the Muslims captured some Makkans and sought to ransom them. Mus’ab was passing by the ranks of prisoners and stopped when saw his brother, Abu Azeez ibn Umayr among them. However, instead of interceding on his behalf, he instructed his brother’s captor to bind him securely and to extract a large ransom for the prisoner, because “his mother is a very rich woman” When the brother sought to remind Mus’ab of his relationship, Mus’ab replied: I only recognize brotherhood of the faith, this man is my brother, not you!

At ‘Uhud, the Prophet sall Allaahu alayhi wassallam chose Mus’ab to bear the battle standard. In the melee that followed the archers descent from the hill where they were stationed, in violation of the Prophet [SAW]’s orders, the Makkans fought back fiercely. Taken unawares by the cavalry of the Quraysh attacking from the rear, the Muslim ranks scattered. Intent on harming the Prophet [SAW], the Makkans searched for him while he was being guarded only by a handful of companions. Suddenly, someone shouted that the Prophet [SAW] was no more.



It was at this juncture that Mus’ab’s glorious life reached a fitting culmination: Ibrahim ibn Muhammad related from his father, who said: Mus’ab ibn ‘Umair carried the standard on the Day of Uhud. When the Muslims were scattered, he stood fast until he met Ibn Qaami'ah who was a knight. He struck him on his right hand and cut it off, but Mus'ab said:And Muhammad is but a Messenger. Messengers have passed away before him . He carried the standard with his left hand and leaned on it, when
his left hand was cut off, he leaned on the standard and held it with his upper arms to his chest, all the while saying: And Muhammad is but a Messenger. Messengers have passed away before him. Then a third soldier
struck Mus’ab with his spear, and the spear went through him.



After the battle, the Prophet and his companions came to the plain of ‘Uhud to bury the martyrs, some of whose bodies had been mutilated by the marauding women of the Qur’aysh. Pausing when he saw Mus'ab, the Prophet [SAW] recited: Among the believers are men who have been true to their covenant with Allah. Then he [SAW] looked at the remains of his companions in the battlefield and said: The Prophet of Allaah witnesses that you are martyrs to Allaah on the Day of Resurrection.



There wasn’t enough material to serve as a shroud for Mus’ab. Khabbaab ibn Al-Arat narrated: We emigrated with the Prophet for Allaah’s cause, so our reward became due with Allaah. Some of us passed away without enjoying anything in this life of his reward, and of them was Mus'ab ibn 'Umair, who was martyred on the Day of Uhud. He did not leave behind anything except a sheet of shredded woollen cloth. If we covered his feet with it, his head was uncovered, and if
we covered his feet with it, his head was uncovered. The Prophet [SAW] said to us: Cover his head with it and put lemon grass over his feet.



It was this memory of Mus’ab in his martyr’s grave, that caused companions like Abdur Rahmaan ibn ‘Awf to cry in fear of having no share in the Hereafter, because they had been granted a life of plenty and ease right here in this world. Once his servant brought him a meal to break his fast and ibn ‘Awf burst into tears, remembering Mus’ab who had passed away without tasting the good of this world, to the certainty of eternal pleasure in the Hereafter.

As night falls, I think of the shadows lengthening across ‘Uhud where the martyrs lie buried, when visitors drive off leaving the plain quiet, dark and peaceful. I think of the graves of the shuhadaa, resplendent with the dazzling light of the truly fortunate: those who are pleasing to Allaah and are pleased with Him.

In the neon dazzle of malls, where countless young Muslims strive daily in the trivial pursuit of pleasure, we would do well to bear the memory of Mus’ab radiyy Allaahu anhu in mind. It may keep us from getting lost in the light.

IslamicAwakening.com

The Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa'sallam said:



"The Muslim is a unique Ummah among the whole of mankind:

Their Land is ONE, their War is ONE, their Peace is ONE,

Their Honour is ONE and their Trust is ONE."

[Ahmad]