#converthelp

[everydaydua]

DAILY DUA

Dua while bowing in prayer (rukoo‛) #4

اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ رَكَعْتُ وَبِكَ آمَنْتُ ، ولَكَ أَسْلَمْتُ

خَشَعَ لَكَ سَمْعِي ، وَبَصَرِي ، وَمُخِّي ، وَعَظْمِي ، وَعَصَبِي ، وَمَا اسْتَقَلَّت بِهِ قَدَمِي

Translation

O Allah, unto You I have bowed, and in You I have believed, and to You I have submitted.

My hearing, and my sight, and my mind, and my bones, and my tendons, and what my feet carry, are humbled before You.

Transliteration

allaahumma laka raka‛tu wa bika aamantu, wa laka aslamt,

khasha‛a laka sam‛ee, wa baṣaree, wa mukh-khee, wa ‛aẓmee, wa ‛aṣabee, wa mastaqallat bihi qadamee

Sources: Muslim No# 771; Abu Dawud No# 760; At-Tirmidhi No# 3421, 3422

[asma-al-husna]

Allah calls Himself Al-Mutakabbir— The Supremely Great, The Perfection of Greatness— on one occasion in the Quran. He is the One who is supremely great. Al-Mutakabbir reveals His Greatness and power at every moment and in every incident!

The Supreme, The Possessor of All Rights, The Perfect Greatness

Mutakabbir comes from the root kaaf-baa-raa, which has three main meanings. The first main meaning is to be great in size, rank, or dignity, and the second to to be great in age and in learning. The third main meaning to have rights, privileges, and attributes that others don’t have.

This root appears 161 times in the Quran in 18 derived forms. Examples of these forms are kabura (“hard”), yastakbiroona (“arrogant”), akbaru (“(is)greater”), and al-kibari (“the old age”).

Linguistically, kibriya means greatness and sovereignty, and it encompasses the meanings of the perfection of one’s self and existence; nobody can be described as such except Allah. Allahu Akbar– Allah is the Greatest— comes from the same root, as well as the name of Allah, Al-Kabeer. Al-Mutakabbir is the One who possesses all greatness, who is above having any of the qualities of His creatures, who cannot be harmed by the oppressors among His creation, and whose greatness and pride are the utmost.

Al-Mutakabbir Himself says: He is Allah , other than whom there is no deity, the Sovereign, the Pure, the Perfection, the Bestower of Faith, the Overseer, the Exalted in Might, the Compeller, the Superior. Exalted is Allah above whatever they associate with Him. [Quran, 59:23]

Allah Al-Mutakabbir versus the arrogant

Allah ‘azza wa jall describes people as mutakabbireen (arrogant) on multiple occasions in the Quran. They have arrogance in their hearts and actions towards Allah by disbelieving in His signs and they are arrogant to other people by looking down on them due to position, race, wealth, etc. The Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: Allah is beautiful and loves beauty, arrogance is: rejecting the truth and looking down on people. [Muslim, At-Tirmidhee] Only Allah is al-Mutakabbir in a positive sense.

A lesson on how to battle pride

What is the opposite of kibr (arrogance)? It is humility, the adornment of a believer. Abu Hurayrah radiyallaahu ‘anhu narrated that the Prophet salallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: . . . and no one will exercise humility for Allah’s sake, except that Allah will raise him up [Muslim] Urwah ibn Zubair radiyallaahu ‘anhu said: I saw Umar carrying a large leather water canteen on his shoulder. I said to him, ‘O Amir-ul-Mu’mineen, you shouldn’t be carrying that’. Umar replied by saying, A delegation came to Medina and I saw their obedience to me, and some ‘nakwah’ entered into my heart and I wanted to destroy it.

We all know of the strong personality of Umar radiyallaahu ‘anhu and yet when a small amount of pride (nakwah) entered into his heart, he hurried in an attempt to destroy it before it destroyed him.

How Can You Live by This Name?

1. Be great by being humble.

O you who believe, whoever of you should revert from his religion, Allah will bring forth a people He will love, and who will love Him, (who are) humble towards the believers, and powerful against the disbelievers . . . [Quran, 5:54] The greatest strength that you can attain is to have true reliance upon Allah ‘azza wa jall and to seek His support in hardship and ease. The highest level of greatness you can attain is to show humility (tawaada) to your Lord. Those who are well grounded in knowledge say: ‘We believe in it; it is all from our Lord.’ None will take heed except the people of understanding [Quran, 3:7]. Don’t only follow the ayaat or ahadeeth that suit you, but strive to apply the whole message to your daily life and dealings.

2. Respect others for the sake of Allah.

O you who have believed, let not a people ridicule [another] people; perhaps they may be better than them; nor let women ridicule [other] women; perhaps they may be better than them. [Quran, 49:11] Your knowledge of others is only by perception. Don’t mock or insult others as they might have a higher position with Al-Mutakabbir than yourself! Respect others, even though they may possess less beauty, knowledge, wealth, fame, or status or have a different skin colour. The Prophet salallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: Whoever possesses an atom’s weight of kibr will not enter into the paradise [Muslim]. Abu Bakr radiyallaahu ‘anhu said: Let not any Muslim belittle another Muslim, for the lowest of the Muslims is great in the Sight of Allah.

3. Battle arrogance.

Allah ‘azza wa jall is the only true king and you are His slave— let’s not forget this. It’s easy to fall into arrogance (takabbur), thinking you know better and transgressing the limits set by Allah al-Mutakabbir. So keep checking your heart for feelings of arrogance creeping in and deal with them straight away by reminding yourself of the greatness of Allah. Al-Hasan al-Basri said: I wonder at the son of Adam! He uses his hand to wash himself from his waste once or twice a day, yet he seeks to compete with the All-Mighty? Don’t get carried away with your wealth or achievements, know it is from Al-Mutakabbir and not from yourself. The way to avoid arrogance is to remember Allah as much as we can until it becomes a habit to instantly thank Him for any good that comes our way, so increase in saying alhamdulillah!

4. Be humble to increase your knowledge

Abdullah ibn Mu’tazz radiyallahu ‘anhu said: The humble student is the one who gets the most knowledge, just as the lowest places on earth collect the most water. So always be humble towards your teachers and invoke Allah for them.

5. Ask al-Mutakabbir.

Every day ask Allah al-Mutakabbir to save you and protect you from the evil of pride and arrogance.

O Allah, Al-Mutakabbir, we know that You are supremely Great. Guide our hearts and actions to humility towards You, our Deen and Your creation. Protect us from arrogance and assist us to ways to cure any arrogance that entered our hearts. Make us of those who are blessed to witness Your Grandeur in Paradise, ameen!

[fluffy-appa]

﴿وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا رَشَدًا﴾

قال الإمام ابن القيم

رحمه الله:

الرشد: هو العلمُ بما ينفع، والعمل به.

"And prepare for us from our affair right guidance.(Rushd)." ● [18:10]

Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim رحمه الله said: "Rushd is the beneficial knowledge and acting in accordance to it."

● {إغاثة اللهفان ٢/٩٠٥}

[daily-hadith]

Daily Hadith

Bismillah Walhamdulillah Was Salaatu Was Salaam 'ala Rasulillah

Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Amr (Radi-Allahu 'anhu):

A man asked the Prophet (Sallallahu 'Alaihi Wa Sallam), "What Islamic  traits are the best?" The Prophet (Sallallahu 'Alaihi Wa Sallam) said,  "Feeding the people, and greeting those whom you know and those whom you  do not know."

Bukhari Vol. 8 : No. 253

[questionsonislam]

Why does Allah need our worship?

The answer to this question is given in the verse: Worship your Lord, Who created you and those who came before you, that ye may guard (against evil).

There is an outcome of worship: Attaining the degree of guarding (taqwa). Man attains the degree of taqwa, that is, he attains the degree of fearing of Allah, abstaining from his prohibitions, keeping away from what He has forbidden. It means, the benefits of worship pertain to man.

People, who do not attain this degree, spend their lives in sins, disobedience, polytheism and ingratitude. They lead men to go to Hell.

Then, the degree of taqwa, is the position of abstaining from Hell and from every kind of evil that leads to it. Abstaining from Hell leads man to Paradise. It is we who are in the need of Paradise and who will benefit from the boundless bounties there. Then, how can we ask such a question!?

Surah al-Ikhlas teaches us that Allah is the Eternally Besought One. Eternally Besought One means Everything needs Him, but He needs nothing.

In the uterus, feet have been attached to us so that we can walk here. Stomach has been attached to us so that we can be nourished by nutrients. Eyes have been attached to us so that we can see things. It is we who are in need of all of these things. Why should Allah need to bestow on us such bounties!? If we fulfill our duty of giving thanks to Allah through worship, we will go to the land of the thankful ones, Paradise. There, it is again we who will taste the physical and spiritual bounties in such an ultimate degree that the bounties of this world will be in the degree of a shadow in comparison to the bounties there.

Then, in both worlds, we are needy and we are the consumers. Why should Allah need to grant us the bounties of Paradise? Why is such a question asked?!

Another aspect of the issue:

In The Signs of Miraculousness (İşarat-ül İcaz), the following is expressed: What expands that exalted spirit of man is worship. What develops his aptitudes is worship. What broadens his ideas and takes them under arrangement is worship

Every sound mind accepts without any doubt that the expansion and progression of mans spirit is for man himself. Thus, man will be able to benefit more from Paradise that he will attain in the future. Paradise is similar to this world in one aspect. Trees, animals and also men have come to this world. They all benefit from here; but each of them benefit according to its disposition and abilities. That is, just coming to the world is not enough. The way to benefit completely from this world is to be able to enter it with exalted abilities and faculties. The benefits of each person from this world are not the same. The believing servants will enter Paradise by the favor of Allah, but their benefiting degrees from the bounties there will be in comparison with their worship and sincerity.

Worship also has a curative aspect besides its progressive aspect:

Man can avoid from every kinds of evils from makrooh (abominable) acts that turn the stomach, to haram (illicit) acts that poison only through worship. How can a person protecting his heart, spirit and all his faculties from mistakes and wrongs by such a divine treatment ask such a question about worship!?

God Almighty has no need of your worship, nor indeed of anything else. It is you who needs to worship, for in truth you are sick If someone who is ill responds to a compassionate doctor who insists on his taking medicines that are beneficial for his condition by saying: What need do you have of it that you are insisting in this way?, You can understand how absurd it would be. ( Flashes) (Lemalar)

[basicsofislam]

ISLAM 101: ETHICS: Part 3

How should the ethics of a Muslim man/woman be?

According to the information obtained from the Quran, every Muslim woman/man has the following characteristics – in summary:

- He believes in Allah and the Day of Judgment. He is careful about the seditions of the world and the tricks of Satan. He worships his Lord, fulfills His order and avoids His prohibitions. He surrenders to Allah fully. He repents a lot and asks his Lord for forgiveness due to his mistakes, negligence, and sins.  

- He is aware of his responsibility toward his family members. He seeks Allah’s consent in everything that he does. He orders what is good as much as he can and forbids what is evil.

- He is aware of his duties toward himself. He is aware that man consists of mind, spirit, and body and that each has a structure and needs peculiar to them. He is careful about the balance among them; he does not give one too much importance by ignoring the others. He regards the Book of Allah, the Sunnah of the Prophet and the lives of great personalities as a guide regarding the issue.

- He gives importance to his clothes without waste, extremism, and conceit. He shows the care that fits man, whom Allah made honorable, ordered His angels to prostrate and put what is in the skies and earth under his service, in his inner world.

- He treats his parents well and does them favors. He appreciates them. He tries not to be a disobedient child.  

- He becomes mature, loving and friendly toward his spouse; he tries to attain her consent; he tries to show respect to her, do her favors, keeps her secrets, helps her do favors act piously and do righteous deeds; he fills her with happiness and peace.  

- She is a very compassionate mother toward her children. She is aware of her responsibility for their education. She makes her children feel her love, compassion, and mercy toward them. When it is necessary, she warns her children and corrects their mistakes. Thus, she makes high ethics settle in their hearts; she tries to give them a good education by directing them to good and honorable works.

- He continues the bond of love between him and his relatives. He does his neighbor's favors and helps them. He takes care of them. He knows the rights of neighbors and observes them.

His relationship with his brothers and friends are based on “loving for Allah”. It is the loftiest and cleanest love in human life. For, it is a love that is free from all kinds of material interests and doubts. A relationship based on this principle takes its cleanliness and purity from the light of the Quran and the Sunnah.

Therefore, a Muslim is honest, sincere and tolerant in his relationships with his brothers. He does not break off his relationship with them; he does not hurt their feelings by arguing and quarreling with them. He does them favors whenever he can. He always welcomes them by smiling. His social relationships are at a very high level. He takes his socialness from the principles of his religion and the decrees about high ethics of the fiqh of mutual relationships.

In addition, every Muslim, man-woman, has the following characteristics:

- He has high ethics. He tells the truth to everybody and is honest.

- He does not trick, deceive or betray people. He does not perjure.

- He gives advice. He leads people to good deeds. He keep his promise. He is modest and chaste.

- He does not interfere in the things that do not interest him. He does not search for people’s private issues.

- He keeps away from showing off. He acts justly in all cases. He does not oppress. He acts justly toward the people that he does not like. He does not become happy for the bad things that happen to anybody.

- He does not have negative thoughts about others. He does not backbite or commit talebearing. He does not swear and utter bad words. He does not mock anybody.

- He is lenient and merciful toward people. He helps those who are in need. He is generous. He does not run anybody’s nose in it. He makes things easy, not difficult.  

- He does not act jealously. He avoids fictitious words and deeds. He is good-humored. He does not act arrogantly; he is humble. He is not engaged in useless things.

- He visits ill people. He cares about the problems of others. He prefers others to himself. He appreciates the favors done to him and thanks people.

- She adapts her customs and traditions to Islamic criteria. She shows respect to the elderly and virtuous people.  She does not try to resemble men.

- She calls to Allah. She calls people kindly and wisely. She stays together with righteous women.

- She is chaste and modest; she protects her awrah places. She protects not only her body, eyes, and ears but also her mind, heart, and intention from all kinds of haram deeds.

- She is patient and hopeful. She never abandons hope of Allah’s mercy.

- She is knowledgeable about religion and ilm. She learns what is useful and harmful for her and acts accordingly.

- She is solemn and respectful.

- She is natural; she appears as she is and she is as she appears.

He never falters and acts lazily in important and dangerous duties. He relies on Allah.

- He gives importance to bodily and spiritual cleanliness and acts accordingly.

- He is not a gambler, drunkard, trickster, fraud, cheater, sycophant and twister.

- He does not judge about something that he does not know.

- He never leaves the truth and justice anywhere even if it is against him.

- He never leaves justice related to his enemies; he does not obstruct justice due to his enmity toward them.

- He avoids extravagance and stinginess.

- He does not harm anybody with his hand or tongue.

- He helps others at times of both welfare and hardship.

- If he wants to commit a bad deed or wrong somebody, he remembers Allah at once, asks forgiveness from Him and repents.

- He accepts the truth no matter who tells it; he accepts and takes knowledge, skill, wisdom, and truth wherever he finds them; he does not act bigotedly about them.

- He is not lazy. He works for the world as if he will never die and gets ready for the hereafter as if he will die tomorrow; he fulfills his duties about both of them fully.

- He regards the love of Allah and the Prophet superior to everything. Love and fear of Allah cover all of his body.

- He avoids doubtful things by all means.

- His biggest aim is to try to be a real Muslim, to practice and make others practice the virtues that Islam determines and suggests, and to serve as a model to everybody.

Those are some examples from the personality of a Muslim, whom Islam forms with guidance, whose heart Islam forms with wisdom and whose prudence Islam enlightens.

[lifeofresulullah]

The Life of The Prophet Muhammad(pbuh): The Assignment of the Duty of the Prophethood and First Muslims

Hazrat Abu Bakr is in the Rank of Muslims

Hazrat Abu Bakr had been one of our Holy Prophet’s (PBUH) closest friends for a very long time. They would get together and meet with one another in a very sincere fashion.

His most striking feature was that the ugly customs, bad manners, and lifestyle of the Age of Ignorance had not corrupted his disposition and that disbelief had not contaminated his mind, heart, and soul. He was a renowned merchant. The tribe’s leading figures always benefited from his ideas. He was the one who had solved the blood feuds of the Quraysh. Another one of his important characteristics was that he knew the ancestries, pedigrees, strengths, and flaws of the families of Quraysh very well.

Our Master (PBUH) had just begun to openly deliver his invitation. However, his cause had spread from ear to ear and it was heard by the leading figures of the Quraysh.

Hazrat Abu Bakr had just returned from his journey to Yemen. Abu Jahl, Ukba bin Abi Muayt, and some of the Quraysh’s leading figures went to his home to welcome him. Hazrat Abu Bakr asked, “What happened while I was away from Mecca? Is there any important news?”

They answered, “Oh Abu Bakr, there is a huge affair! Abu Talib’s orphan, Muhammad, has claimed to be a prophet. We deemed it suitable to wait until you returned from Yemen. Go to your friend and do whatever is necessary.”

Hazrat Abu Bakr immediately went to the home of the Master of the Universe (PBUH):  “Oh, Aba’l Qasim! Is it true that you claim to be a prophet, and that you have separated from the tribe, and have rejected and have reviled the religion of your forefathers?”

At first, our Holy Prophet (PBUH) smiled at the words of Abu Bakr, who he had been friends with since childhood. He said, “Oh Abu Bakr, I am Allah’s Messenger who has been sent to you and all humanity. I invite humanity to the one true God (Allah). You should testify as well.”

At one moment, lightning flashed in the realms of Abu Bakr’s mind and heart. He was hearing these words from the Muhammad the Trustworthy (PBUH), his friend whom he had known very well since childhood, the person whom he sincerely loved and respected, and the one from whose lips he never heard a word that contradicted truth. Without hesitating, he immediately embraced Islam and became a Muslim. 

Our Master (PBUH) considered Abu Bakr’s not showing any sign of hesitation in the face of this invitation as a huge virtue by saying:

“Everyone whom I invited to Islam, with the exception of Abu Bakr, paused, hesitated, or was astonished. However, when I explained Islam to him, he neither paused nor hesitated.” 

Our Holy Prophet (PBUH) was extremely happy that his esteemed friend had become a Muslim. In regards to this matter, our mother, Hazrat Aisha, related the following:

“No event has made our Holy Prophet (PBUH) happier than Hazrat Abu Bakr converting to Islam in the world.”

A dream that Hazrat Abu Bakr had seen beforehand at a much earlier point in time came true in the following way: In his dream, he saw that a moon had descended to Mecca. It then split into segments and spread to the homes in the city. Afterwards, he saw the reassembling of the pieces and the entering of the moon into its own home.

At that time, some scholars among the people of the book interpreted the dream. They said the awaited prophet would arise from Mecca very soon and that Abu Bakr would follow him and take his place among the fortunate. 

Hazrat Abu Bakr did not hesitate to openly disclose that he had become a Muslim.

His conversion to Islam caused a great echo among the Quraysh since he was an esteemed, reliable, sound individual who was always true to his word. His amiability and sweet nature had made him beloved to the tribe.

Hazrat Abu Bakr represented the first link on the chain of Muslim men that were free. Due to his conversion to Islam, this chain of faith slightly widened, the roads expanded further, and the fortunate that walked on the straightforward streets increased. Including Hazrat Bilal-Habashi, the following were the first representatives in the various classes to have become Muslims:

From the women, it was Hazrat Khadija,

From the children, it was Hazrat Ali,

From the free men, it was Hazrat Abu Bakr,

From the freed slaves it was Zayd bin Kharisa,

From the slaves it was Hazrat Bilal-Habashi (Radiyallahu Anhum).

[sahihmuslim]

The Book of Paradise, its Description, its Bounties and its Inhabitants Book 53, Hadith 5

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said that Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, said:

I have prepared for My pious servants which the eye has seen not, and the ear has heard not and no human heart has ever perceived such bounties leaving aside those about which Allah has informed you. He then recited:" No soul knows what comfort has been hidden for thein".

The Book of Paradise, its Description, its Bounties and its Inhabitants Book 53, Hadith 5

[sunanannasai]

Sunan an Nasa’i: The Book of Zakah, Book 23, Hadith 2480

'Amr bin Shu 'aib said:

"A woman came to the Messenger of Allah with a daughter of hers, and on her daughter's arm were two bangles" - a similar report, in Mursal form.

[tawakkull]

SPIRITUALITY IN ISLAM: PART 17: WARA’ (ABSTINENCE)

Wara’ is defined as holding oneself back from unbecoming, unnecessary things; as strictly refraining from what is unlawful and forbidden; or abstaining from all doubtful things lest one should commit a forbidden act. The Islamic principle: Abandon what you doubt and prefer what you have no doubt about, and the Prophetic saying: What is lawful is evident and what is forbidden is also evident, explain the basis of wara’.

Some Sufis define wara’ as the conviction of the truth of Islamic tenets, being straightforward in one’s beliefs and acts, being steadfast in observing Islamic commandments, and being very careful in one’s relations with God Almighty. Others define it as not being heedless of God even for the period of the twinkling of an eye, and others as permanently closing them-selves to all that is not Him, as not lowering oneself before anyone except Him (for the fulfillment of one’s needs or other reasons), and as advancing until reaching God without getting stuck with one’s ego, carnal self and desires, and the world.

Always refrain from begging from people,

Beg only from your Lord Who is the All-Munificent.

Renounce the pomp and luxuries of the world

Which will certainly go as they have come.

We can also interpret wara’ as basing one’s life on engaging in what is necessary and useful, as acting in consciousness of the real nature of useless, fleeting, and transient things. This is stated in the Tradition: It is the beauty of a man’s being a good Muslim that he abandons what is of no use to him.

The writer of the Pandname, Farid al-Din al-Attar, explains this principle in a very beautiful way:

Wara’ gives rise to fear of God,

One without wara’ is subject to humiliation.

Whoever uprightly follows the way of wara’,

Whatever he does is for the sake of God.

One who desires love and friendship of God,

Without wara’, he is false in his claim of love.

Wara’ relates to both the inner and outer aspects of a believer’s life and conduct. A traveler on the path of wara’ must have reached the peaks of taqwa; his or her life must reflect a strict observance of the Shari'a’s commands and prohibitions; his or her actions must be for the sake of God; his or her heart and feelings must be purged of whatever is other than God; and he or she always must feel the company of the “Hidden Treasure.”

In other words, the traveler abandons those thoughts and conceptions that do not lead to Him, keeps aloof from those scenes that do not remind one of Him, does not listen to speeches that are not about Him, and is not occupied with that which does not please Him. Such degree of wara’ leads one directly and quickly to God Almighty, Who declared to Prophet Moses: Those who desire to get near to Me have not been able to find a way better than wara’ and zuhd (asceticism).

The abstinence known by humanity during the Age of Happiness was perfectly observed by the blessed generations following the Companions, and became an objective to reach for almost every believer. It was during this period that Bishr al-Khafi’s sister asked Ahmad ibn Hanbal:

O Imam, I usually spin (wool) on the roof of my house at night. At that time, some officials pass by with torches in their hands, and I happen to benefit, even unwillingly, from the light of their torches. Does this mean that I mix into my earnings something gained through a religiously unlawful way? The great Imam wept bitterly at this question and replied: Something doubtful even to such a minute degree must not find a way into the house of Bishr al-Khafi.

It was also during this period that people shed tears for the rest of their lives because they had cast a single glance at something forbidden, and people who vomited a piece of unlawful food that they had swallowed in ignorance wept for days. As related by ‘Abd Allah ibn Mubarak, a great traditionist and ascetic, a man traveled from Merv (Afghanistan) to Makka in order to return to its owner an item that he had put in his pocket by mistake. There were many who gave life-long service to those to whom they thought they owed something, such as Fudayl ibn ‘Iyad. Biographies of saints, such as Hilyat al-Awliya’ (The Necklace of Saints) by Abu Nu'aym al-Isfahani, and al-Tabaqat al-Kubra (The Greatest Compendium) by Imam al-Sharani, are full of the accounts of such heroes of abstinence.

[jami-attirmidhi]

JAMI'at-TIRMIDHI: The Book on Sacrifices: Hadith 1897

Narrated Al-Bara' bin 'Azib:

A Marfu' narration (from the Prophet (ﷺ)), saying: "A crippled animal whose limp is obvious is not to be slaughtered as sacrifice, nor an animal with a bad eye whose blindness is obvious, nor a sick animal whose sickness is obvious, nor an emaciated animal that has no marrow (in its bones)."

Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1497

In-book reference : Book 19, Hadith 5

English translation : Vol. 3, Book 17, Hadith 1497

[everydaydua]

DAILY DUA

Dua after the last tashahhud and before salaam #4

اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي مَا قَدَّمْتُ وَمَا أَخَّرْتُ ،

وَمَا أَسْرَرْتُ وَمَا أَعْلَنْتُ ، وَمَا أَسْرَفْتُ ،

وَمَا أَنْتَ أَعْلَمُ بِهِ مِنِّي

أَنْتَ الْمُقَدِّمُ وَأَنْتَ الْمُؤَخِّرُ ،

لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ

Translation

O Allah, forgive me for [sins] I committed beforehand as well as those which shall come to pass,

and those I have committed in secret as well as those I have committed in public,

and where I have exceeded all bounds as well as those things about which You are more knowledgeable.

You are Al-Muqaddim (the Expediter) and Al-Muakh-khir (the Delayer).

None has the right to be worshipped except You.

Note: Al-Muqaddim and Al-Muakh-khir means that Allah puts forward and favours whom He wills from amongst His creation just as He defers and holds back whom He wills in accordance to His wisdom.

E.g. Favouring man over the rest of creation, favouring the Prophets over the rest of mankind, favouring Muhammad (peace be upon him) over all the Prophets and Messengers…etc.

Transliteration

allaahum-magh-fir lee maa qaddamtu wa maa akh-khart,

wa maa asrartu wa maa a‛lantu wa maa asraft,

wa maa anta a‛lamu bihi minnee,

’antal-muqad-dimu wa antal-mu’akh-khir,

laa ilaaha il-laa ant.

Sources: Muslim No# 771; Abu Dawud No# 760, 1509; At-Tirmidhi No# 3422

[asma-al-husna]

Allah calls Himself Al-Wahhaab— The Giver of gifts, The Most Liberal Bestower— three times in the Quran. He is the All-Giver who bestows gifts, favors, and blessings upon the whole creation. Al-Wahhaab gives gifts constantly, generously, endlessly, and without expecting anything in return!

The Great Giver, the One who constantly bestows

Wahhaab comes from the root waw-haa-baa, which points to three main meanings. The first meaning is to give for no compensation, to offer as a present, or to bestow and the second is to grant or endow. The third main meaning is to cause something to be.

This root appears 25 times in the Quran in two derived forms. Examples of these forms are:  hab (“grant”) and yahabu (“he grants”).

Linguistically, wahhaab has the structure of intensification and is the intense form of Al-Wahib, the giver. The word hiba means gift. Al-Wahhaab is the source of all gifts, bestowing favors with the most detailed wisdom. His gifts come in the form of moments you experience, scenes you see, things you hear, and as material blessings.

Al-Wahhaab Himself says: Or do they have the depositories of the mercy of your Lord, the Exalted in Might, the Bestower? [Quran, 38:9] He said, My Lord, forgive me and grant me a kingdom such as will not belong to anyone after me. Indeed, You are the Bestower. [Quran, 38:35]

How can you recognize a gift?

Rizq (provision) is something that’s written for you, but you have to work for it; it depends in part on your efforts. A gift (hiba) isn’t something directly related to your efforts. A person you missed suddenly calling you or getting something just at the right moment are gifts. Sometimes you give gifts to someone you love and sometimes you give gifts to draw someone closer to you. What does it mean when Al-Wahhaab gives you a gift? It might mean that He gives you a gift so that you can come closer to Him, even though you were going astray.

How Can You Live by This Name?

1. Remember Al-Wahhaab.
When someone gives you a gift, you thank him or her. So what about the Giver of all gifts? The difference between a believer and disbeliever is that the latter lives with the gifts of Allah ‘azza wajal but doesn’t remember Him, while a true believer knows the giver through the gifts. Always be thankful to your maker for everything you get. If you contemplate the universe you get to know Allah; if you realize His gifts, your heart will melt out of love for Him.

2. Be a true giver.
Al-Ghazali said: Whoever bestows gifts with an eye to some interest to be realized by it sooner or later, either appreciation, affection or release from blame, or acquiring distinction of mention— he is neither a giver nor generous, but rather engaged in transaction and recompense . . . But the one who sacrifices all he owns, even his life, for the sake of Allah alone— such a one is worthy of being named giver and generous. Make your way of giving an act of ‘ibaadah (worship). How? Give gifts or favors for the sake of Allah ‘azza wa jall and not to get something in return.

3. Use the gifts of Al-Wahhaab in the right way.
Thank Al-Wahhaab by using His gifts to please Him. An example is the mobile phone; Al-Wahhaab gave you this technology, so use it for sharing knowledge and not for wasting time. If He gives you a nice afternoon with friends, don’t use it for backbiting or spending time in places of immoral behaviour.

4. Learn from the love of the companions.
Ja’far’s right hand, may Allah be pleased with him, was chopped off in battle, so he held the Islamic flag with his left hand. Another blow chopped off his left hand, so he held the flag up with his upper arms and held it there until he died. What love could drive him to sacrifice his life? Read about and learn from this and other great role models and sacrifice for Al-Wahhaab out of deep love.

5. Ask al-Wahhaab.
Amazingly, using this ism (name), there are more than one Quranic invocations; you will find the prophets, peace upon them, asking Al-Wahhaab for mercy, offspring, etcetera, ending with innaka anta al-Wahhaab– verily You are Al-Wahhaab. Look for these ayaat, memorize them, and use them in your daily life.

5. Don’t praise yourself.
Sometimes we say, I got married, worked hard, and got a beautiful house. Or we say, I gave my child a good upbringing, that’s why he is so good-mannered— I made my son like that! Don’t forget it was Al-Wahhaab who bestowed these favors on you. Your child is given to you as a gift from Al-Wahhaab. And We granted him (Abraham) Isaac and Jacob, each of whom did We guide; and before him, We did guide Noah, and among his progeny, David, Solomon, Job, Joseph, Moses and Aaron. Thus do We reward the good-doers. [Quran, 6:84]

6. Ponder what Al-Wahhaab has given you.
First of all, He gave you your existence. Then think of the greatest gift Al-Wahhaab gave you: guidance. Think about water, which is scentless and colourless. Imagine if water were sticky— how could you wash yourself? Look at your memory and how Allah gave foods a nice smell. All of these are gifts of Al-Wahhaab; ponder them.

7. Give gifts to others.
The Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said, Give gifts, for this will increase your mutual love [Muslim]. No human being gives anything for nothing, even if it’s that we give to gain the reward of Allah ‘azza wa jall by it. The only One Who gives asking for nothing in return is Al-Wahhaab. If a human being gives you a gift, It is Al-Wahhaab who inspired him to give you what he has given you! So first thank Allah ‘azza wa jall for inspiring people to help you, and then be grateful to the people by doing a favor for them, or, if you can’t, by saying jazakAllahu khayran or barakAllahu feek(i).

O Allah, Al-Wahhaab, we know You are the Giver of all gifts. Make us of those who are grateful for Your gifts and use them to please You, and adorn us with love for You. Make us ponder Your gifts, inspire us to give gifts to others, and give us from Your mercy that overwhelms us in this present world and the world to come. Verily, You are the best giver of gifts, ameen!

And Allah knows best.

[qahwahthoughts]

How long have you been Muslim? What lead you to Islam?

6 years, الحمدلله 🤍 I was raised Christian but struggled with the Trinity from a young age. Can’t really explain it besides fitrah & and an innate inclination towards Tawhid. I met a muslim for the first time in 2016 when I was 16, and initially asked questions and talked about faith out of curiosity. I ended up going out of my way to learn more on my own though, and eventually after a couple of years, I said the shahada in 2018. I didn’t tell anyone I wanted to convert, not friends or family or even the muslim I knew. I was scared of backlash- and caving to backlash… I’m a chronic people pleaser 🥲

Alhamdulilah for everything. Despite my hardships after converting, there was still goodness that came from it. I learned how to set boundaries & how to speak up for myself. And the muslim I knew then? Yeah, we eventually got married❤️ together we now have a 3 year old son and are expecting a little girl in just a few weeks inshallah!

[daily-hadith]

Daily Hadith

Bismillah Walhamdulillah Was Salaatu Was Salaam 'ala Rasulillah

Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Amr (Radi-Allahu 'anhu):

A man asked the Prophet (Sallallahu 'Alaihi Wa Sallam), "What Islamic  traits are the best?" The Prophet (Sallallahu 'Alaihi Wa Sallam) said,  "Feeding the people, and greeting those whom you know and those whom you  do not know."

Bukhari Vol. 8 : No. 253

[questionsonislam]

Why Perform Prayers?

A child in the womb of his mother has a mouth, eyes, ears, hands and feet. All of his organs and equipments are bestowed completely. However, none of them is needed in that womb. The baby is fed by means of a funiculus him to his mother.

Now if that child said:

O my Lord! This funiculus is enough for me. There is no need for this mouth, these eyes, ears, hands and feet. They do not serve any purpose.,

Doubtless, he would be replied by Allah as follows:

Do not rush my servant and do not interfere with what you do not comprehend. After a short while, you are going to enter such a world that this hose which you define as everything for me is going to fit nothing and so it is going to be cut off. The mouth, eyes, ears and similar organs which you consider as useless are going to be the most important equipments for you.

If that child did not believe those truths and came into this world as a denier and saw that the midwife cut off his funiculus and threw it into the trash box and realized that the mouth, eyes and similar organs, which he assumed to be useless, started to function and that he could not exist without them, would that child be ashamed or not; would he feel very sorry because he did not believe what Allah said or not?

Currently, we are in the womb of a mother just like that child and are going to enter another world in 9 months, 9 years or in 90 years. The name of that world is the Hereafter. Now, we are connected to our world mother with material hoses and with our stomachs.

If we said:

O our Lord! We spend our lives well. What is the use of Prayers, fasting, pilgrimage, zakat (alms), religion, belief and Islam?,

We would definitely be replied by our Sustainer as follows:

O my servants! You are going to leave this world in a short while. You are going to be taken to such a world that these material hoses which you define as everything for us is going to fit nothing. Prayers like worship, alms (zakat) and pilgrimage which you consider as useless are going to be the most important assets for you. People are not going to be respected in accordance with their cars, money or properties but with their hearts, deeds and prayers.

That is to say, your performed prayers, zakats, fasting, prayers, pilgrimage, good deeds will be everything for you in the Hereafter. They are going to become hands, feet, tongues, lips, villas, pools, bonds and patents, planes, limitless wealth, felicity and briefly, they will become Paradise.

If we behaved arrogantly, spoiled on account of being in the age of science and technology, did not affirm the truths which our Lord commanded by the tongue of wisdom and then went to Hereafter as being worshipless lazy people or deniers and if we witnessed the truth as our Lord informed before, would we not become ashamed? Verily, would we not feel embarrassed like that child, who considered the mouth as useless in his mothers womb when we witnessed our funiculi which we regarded as everything; that is to say, our cars, apartments, money and assets had no importance; contrarily, prayers meant everything in that world?

Would we not feel very sorry? Would we not say If only we had believed, performed our prayers, fasted, given religious taxes completely, lived for the sake of Allah, spent our lives on the path of that unique glorious Prophet Muhammad (Peace and blessing be upon him)?

Come to your senses before that day on which you would feel deeply sorry