Being a Muslim

[winnie]

jazak Allah kheyr.

this is impressive.

[N.O.R.F]

Respected scholar, As-salamu `alaykum. How can one prepare oneself for Ramadan?

Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

 

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

 

All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

 

Thanks for your important question, and we earnestly implore Allah from the depth of our hearts to give us the chance to complete the month of Sha`ban and reach the month of Ramadan, in order to receive Allah's blessings and rewards.

 

With the approach of the month of Ramadan, the Muslim is supposed to start a new leaf with Allah, his fellow human beings as well as all his surroundings. On this new leaf, he should first declare sincere repentance from all sins committed in order for him to be eligible for Allah's reward in the blessed month of Ramadan.

 

Responding to the question, Dr. Sano Koutoub Moustapha, Professor of Jurisprudence and its Principles at the International Islamic University, Malaysia, states the following:

 

Let us keep praying Almighty Allah to bless us in the month of Sha`ban and give us the chance to fast the month of Ramadan. For better preparation for the holy month of Ramadan, I propose the following:

 

1. Keep praying daily that Allah gives us the chance and grants us good health that will enable us to fast the holy month.

 

2. Start repenting and seeking the forgiveness of the Almighty for all our wrongdoings before Ramadan.

 

3. Seek the strength from Allah to fast in the way that He likes and wants.

 

4. Seek forgiveness from all members of your family, workmates, neighbors, and relatives for any wrongdoing against them.

 

5. Refrain from backbiting, slandering, and unlawful mixing with people.

 

6. Clean your heart and soul from envy, jealousy, hypocrisy, arrogance, and all heart diseases.

 

7. Seek the blessings of your parents, if they are alive, and their forgiveness for your shortcomings towards them.

 

8. Increase your du`aa' and commitment to your daily duties and obligations.

 

With this, I think, we will be able to achieve the main goals of fasting.

 

http://www.somaliaonline.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi

[N.O.R.F]

Dear Scholar, as-salamu `alaykum.

 

Thank you for your time and the efforts you devote to Allah's Cause and spreading His Word everywhere.

 

I would like to know the best way by which one should welcome Ramadan and get its blessed rewards.

Jazakum Allah Khayran.

Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

 

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

 

All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

 

Dear questioner, thanks a lot for your words and may Allah reward you generously, Amen.

 

Surely, the month of Ramadan is the best season for offering good deeds and gaining reward. It is the duty of every Muslim to prepare him/herself for that blssed month.

 

In his answer to the question, Dr. Muhammad M. Abu Laylah, professor of Islamic studies and head of the English Department, Faculty of Languages and Translation atAl-Azhar University, states the following:

 

The month of Ramadan is highly honored by Allah, His Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) as well as Muslims throughout generations.

 

In the Qur’an, Allah mentions Ramadan by name and refers to it in different verses. Allah Almighty says:

 

(The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for mankind, and clear proofs of the guidance, and the Criterion (of right and wrong). And whosoever of you is present, let him fast the month, and whosoever of you is sick or on a journey, (let him fast the same) number of other days. Allah desireth for you ease; He desireth not hardship for you; and (He desireth) that ye should complete the period, and that ye should magnify Allah for having guided you, and that peradventure ye may be thankful.) (Al-Baqarah 2: 185)

 

So, the month of Ramadan is the month of Qur’an, fasting, Remembrance of Allah, `Itikaf, visiting Muslims, getting your heart ready to receive the light of this month.

 

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to say these words when the month of Sha`ban draws to a close: "O Muslims! A noble and generous month has come to you. A month in which a night is better than one thousand months, and this month is the month of charity, patience, and mercy. In this month the gates of Paradise become wide open and the gates of Hell are shut, and the devils are chained…” (Reported by An-Nasa'i)

 

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) urged us to fast, not only from food and drink, but also to refrain from any bad behavior, whether it is against one’s self, the society or the humanity at large.

 

Had the Muslims really know the status of Ramadan in Allah's Sight, they would wish if the whole year is Ramadan.

 

http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?cid=1119503544602&pagename=IslamOnline-English-Ask_Scho lar%2FFatwaE%2FFatwaEAskTheScholar

[N.O.R.F]

8 min Lecture on perfecting your prayer.

 

Here

 

What is 8min?

[N.O.R.F]

A quiet morning? Why not listen to a beautiful recitation or two

 

 

 

 

With translation

 

[N.O.R.F]

Ahmad Ali Al Ajmi

 

[Rose]

JazakAllahu khayran for the beneficial reminders.

[Muriidi]

being a muslim is easy ,it's the opposite of criminal!

[N.O.R.F]

The First Step to Paradise

 

This series is a collection of inspirational advice in an attempt to set out the goal of the believer: paradise, and the way to reach that ultimate goal. To read Part 1, click here.

The first step in self development is to concentrate single-mindedly on paradise. Indeed, the one who is unsure of his destiny in life, torn between this world and the next, like one standing with his feet in two separate boats, will be thrown off balance.

 

Many of the difficulties that we face are due to this lack of commitment and inability to focus on the real and ultimate goal. If you can keep your focus on paradise, then everything else will be possible.

 

Beginning a New Journey

 

The selection of the ultimate goal of paradise must be made consciously and may involve an absolute break with the past. To choose this new goal as the ultimate goal in one's life is in fact to choose a new life, to begin a new journey.

 

Embark on this new journey by refreshing your ablution and offering two rakahs (units) of Salah (prayer) reminding yourself of all the punishment of Hell-fire you have just resolved to avoid at all costs and all the rewards of paradise that you will strive to achieve.

 

Remind yourself also of the important stations and landmarks on the journey: imagine death as near; imagine the moment when the Angel of Death will declare, "your time is over, now you must follow me", imagine that moment when you will be made to stand in the presence of Allah, Most High, so that the final judgment of life may be passed on you and imagine the consequences of that judgment.

 

When you have completed the two rakahs then resolve once more that all efforts will be directed towards achieving paradise, beseech Allah and pray with humility:

 

"O Allah, I ask for Your mercy and whatever brings me closer to it, in word and deed. O Allah, I ask for a faith that will never vanish, a blessing that will never diminish, a pleasure that will never abate, and the most elevated position in paradise distinguished by the companionship of Your Messenger, Muhammad."

 

While improvement in your habits and actions is a life-long process, the desire to achieve it can thus be sparked in a moment. This desire will provide the momentum for attaining your goal -- the good pleasure of Allah and paradise.

 

Your Mission

 

Having taken the first step and resolved to attain Paradise, you may ask yourself, what does Allah require from me in order for me to succeed?

 

What Allah requires of you, in Quranic vocabulary, is for you to be a mumin and mujahid.A mumin is one who is true and firm in his faith in God.

 

You must not allow feelings of personal shortcomings to undermine your efforts to practice Islam. A mujahid is one who strives his utmost, with all the means at his disposal, to gain God's pleasure. If you are a mumin and a mujahid,Allah, the Most Exalted in Power and yet the Most Compassionate, will assist you to rise to higher stations both in this world and in the Hereafter. Allah has promised this to those who possess the qualities of iman (faith) and the active resolve forjihad, or struggle. The Quran states:

 

[The Believers are only those who have attained to faith in God and His Messenger and have left all doubt behind, and who strive hard in God’s cause with their possessions and their lives: it is they, they who are true to their word.] (Al-Hujurat 49:15)

 

You now have a mission: to become a mumin and mujahid. As you embark upon this mission you may come to feel that your knowledge of Islam is somewhat limited or perhaps that you are unable to attain those heights of submission and purification that you desire or others expect of you.

 

This is only natural. You must not, however, allow these feelings of personal shortcomings to undermine your efforts to practice Islam.

 

A State of Becoming

 

You cannot expect to change all at once. This is against the laws of nature. Remember that Islam is a state of becoming not a state of being. Each day you must strive to improve and better yourself -- and you will improve.

 

Tazkiya or this new program for self-improvement that you now find yourself in, is a process that unfolds itself step by step.

 

You cannot expect to change all at once. This is against the laws of nature. The Prophet was always aware of this when he was dealing with his Companions.

 

Whenever someone embraced Islam, the Prophet would not ask that person to do

everything immediately. Instead, he would teach and expect that person to start fulfilling his obligations only as much as he could bear at a time.

 

This gradual process of change is also clearly reflected in the manner in which the Quran was revealed over a period of 23 years. In all your efforts towards becoming a better believer, you must bear in mind this principle of gradualism, otherwise you may try to attain the impossible, and when you do not achieve it, you may become frustrated.

 

A Bargain With the Divine

 

At this stage, what matters most is that your bargain with Allah,iman, remains sound and firm. This definition of iman is perhaps a little different from the definition you usually hear. It is, however, a definition that we find in the Quran.

 

Once you have committed yourself to Allah, all that you have must be spent in His way. Furthermore, attainment of such iman,allows you to be counted among the true and sincere servants in the eyes of your Lord. The Quran states:

 

[behold, God has bought of the Believers their lives and their possessions, promising them Paradise in return, they fight in God’s cause, and slay, and are slain: a promise which in truth He has willed upon Himself in the Torah, and the Gospel, and the Quran. And who could be more faithful to his covenant than God?](At-Tawbah 9:111)

 

Once you have committed yourself to Allah, all that you have must be spent in His way. This is the ideal. Ideals, however, are always difficult to achieve -- and this you must understand and accept.

 

Ideals are always to be pursued; if they are easily and always achievable, they can hardly remain as ideals. Keeping to your side of the bargain then, is an ideal that you must always seek to maintain.

 

It is this seeking and this striving to spend all that we have in the way of Allah that is known as jihad and alternatively, in this instance, as tazkiya.

* This article is excerpted from the author's book, In the Early Hours, first published by Islamic Foundation. It is republished here with kind permission.

Khurram Murad (1932-1996) studied civil engineering at the universities of Karachi, Pakistan and Minnesota, USA, and was actively involved in the Islamic movement and in the training of Islamic workers. Many of his books, both in English and in Urdu, are being published posthumously.

Reading Islam

[N.O.R.F]

Tests for the Believers: Fluctuations of Life *

By Sheikh. Salim Al-Hilali

A Scholar of Hadith

 

 

 

 

A person’s life in this world is not stable. One passes through alternating periods of happiness and dismay, strength and weakness, wealth and poverty, health and sickness, etc. A true believer is one who maintains a clear level of faith throughout the worldly fluctuations. He continues to remember Allah and ascribe the bounties to Him, and he turns to Him in submission, asking for relief from his affliction. This is described by the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), who said:

“Indeed amazing are the affairs of a believer! They are all for his benefit. If he is granted ease of living he is thankful; and this is best for him. And if he is afflicted with a hardship, he perseveres; and this is best or him.” (Muslim)

 

And Allah said:

 

[Certainly, We shall test you with fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits; but give glad tidings to the patient—those who, when afflicted with calamity say, “Truly to Allah we belong, and truly to Him shall we return.” It is those who will be awarded blessings and mercy from their Lord; and it is those who are the guided ones.] (Al-Baqarah 2:155–157)

 

Thus, a believer shows gratitude and thankfulness for all the wonderful blessings that Allah grants him. And he displays patience and submission during sickness and hardships, hunger, or other afflictions.

 

Hardships Benefit the Believer

 

Allah has decreed that, in this life, hardships and disasters strike both believers and non-believers. For a non-believer, they are inconveniences that hinder him from proceeding with his normal involvement in the worldly life. For a believer, on the other hand, they are instances of rest and remembrance, tests that promise great rewards, and indications of atonement and expiation of sins. Regardless of how little is the harm that strikes a believer, it carries with it good news of forgiveness and elevated rank in Paradise. The Righteous Predecessors used to be pleased when a hardship afflicted them, seeing it as a token of Allah’s forgiveness and benevolence.

 

Expiations of Sins

 

Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet said, ”Hardships continue to befall a believing man and woman in their body, family, and property, until they meet Allah burdened with no sins” (At-Tirmidhi).

 

Sign of Allah’s Love

 

Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Whenever Allah wills good for a person, He subjects him to adversity” (Al-Bukhari and others).

 

Sign of Faith

 

Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) and Ka`b ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

 

“The parable of a believer is that of a fresh and moist plant; the wind tilts it this way and that way; and so is the believer; he continues to be subject to affliction. And the parable of a hypocrite is that of a firm cedar tree; it does not shake—until it is uprooted all at once.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

 

Sign of Righteousness

 

The prophets and righteous people are afflicted the most, and their rewards are the highest. Sa`d (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

 

“The most in their suffering among the people are the prophets, then the best, then the (next) best. One is afflicted in accordance with his faith. If his faith is firm, his affliction is hard, and if his faith is weak, his affliction is light. Indeed, one would be so much subjected to adversity until he walks among the people without any sins.” (Ahmad and At-Tirmidhi)

 

Early Punishment

 

Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

 

“When Allah wills good for a servant of His, He expedites his punishment in this life; and when He wills retribution for a servant of His, He holds his sins for Him to judge him by them on the Day of Resurrection.” (At-Tirmidhi)

 

Multiplication of Rewards

 

Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

 

“The amount of reward is in accordance with the amount of suffering. When Allah loves some people, He tries them (with affliction). He who then is content (with Allah’s decree) has achieved the acceptance (of Allah), and he who is dissatisfied (with Allah’s decree) will attain the anger (of Allah).” (At-Tirmidhi)

 

Rewards for Sickness

 

One should not look to sickness as a gloomy episode, but should remember the great good in it. It is one form of affliction with which Allah tests His servants, giving them a chance to acquire rewards, as was explained above, as is further emphasized below.

 

Removal of Sins and Elevation in Ranks

 

Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Whenever a Muslim is afflicted by harm from sickness or other matters, Allah will drop his sins because of that, like a tree drops its leaves” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim).

 

Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “A Muslim is not afflicted by hardship, sickness, sadness, worry, harm, or depression—even if pricked by a thorn—but Allah expiates his sins because of that” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim).

 

Sa`id said, “I was with Salman (may Allah be pleased with him) when he visited a sick man in Kindah (in Persia), and he said to him, “Expect good because Allah makes a believer’s sickness an expiation (for his sins) and a period of rest. However, when a disbeliever falls sick, he is like a camel whose owner ties it then lets it loose—it does not understand why it was tied nor why it was freed.” (Al-Bukhari)

 

`A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated that once some pain afflicted the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) causing him to suffer and turn about in his bed. She said, “Had one of us done this, you would have blamed him.” He (peace and blessings be upon him) replied:

 

“An ailment is intensified for the righteous. Whenever a believer is afflicted by a hardship, whether it is a thorn or more, a sin is taken off from him because of it, and he is elevated by one rank (in Paradise).” (Ahmad)

 

Retaining Rewards for Deeds Before Sickness

 

Usually, when a believer falls sick, he would not be able to do the same amount of good (prayer, fasting, helping Muslims, etc.) that he used to do when he was well. But Allah, out of His great mercy, continues to record for him the good deeds that he was forced to stop because of his sickness. Abu Musa Al-Ash`ari narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “For a traveling or sick person, his deeds will be recorded in accordance with what he used to do when he was resident or well.” (Al-Bukhari)

 

`Abdullah ibn `Amr reported that the Prophet said, “No (believing) person gets sick, but (his deeds) will be recorded for him in accordance with what he used to do when he was well.” (Al-Bukhari)

 

Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

 

“No Muslim body is afflicted by Allah, but He will record (his deeds) for him in accordance with what he used to do when he was well—as long as he is sick. Thus, if He takes his life, He forgives him; and if He cures him, He washes him (from sins).” (Al-Bukhari)

 

Reason for the Reward

 

`Atta ibn Rabaah reported that Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) told him, “Do you want to see a woman from the people of Paradise?” He said, “Yes.” He said, “It is this black woman. She came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) saying, ‘I have (epileptic) seizures, and I get exposed, so supplicate to Allah for me.’ He (peace and blessings be upon him) said, ‘If you wish, be patient and you will attain Paradise; or if you wish, I will ask Allah to cure you.’ She replied, ‘I will be patient! But my body gets exposed (because of the fall), so supplicate to Allah for me that I do not become exposed.’ And he (peace and blessings be upon him) did.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

 

The scholars have differed in opinion as to whether a sick person will be rewarded for the sickness itself or for being patient during it. The correct opinion is that if he is patient and submits to Allah’s will, as in the above hadith, he would be rewarded for both the submission and the sickness; otherwise, he would not be rewarded at all because he resented Allah’s decree. This is what should be understood from Ibn Hajar Al-`Asqalani’s words: “The authentic hadiths are clear in that the rewards are recorded once affliction strikes a Muslim. As for patience and acceptance, they are virtues for which a person may get additional rewards over those for the affliction.”

 

`Abdullah ibn `Amr reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “If a Muslim is pricked by (as little as) a thorn in the worldly life, and he seeks its reward from Allah, some of his sins will be removed, because of it, on the Day of Judgment.” (Al-Bukhari)

source

[N.O.R.F]

Originally posted by Norf 2:

A quiet morning? Why not listen to a beautiful recitation or two

 

 

 

 

With translation

 

[N.O.R.F]

^BUMP

[BOB]

I'm saddened for the fact that I didn't see and read this great thread before now! :mad:

 

 

Brother Obbo...thanks very much for sharing these amazing articles...Maasha Allah.

 

 

Peace, Love & Unity.

[Peace Action]

If the Prophet visited you

(peace and blessings be upon him)

I wonder........................

 

 

 

If Prophet Muhammad visited you

 

Just for a day or two,

 

If he came unexpectedly,

 

I wonder what you would do?

 

Oh I know you would give your nicest room,

 

To such an honored guest,

 

And you would serve him your very best.

 

 

 

You would be the very best,

 

Cause you're glad to have him there,

 

That serving him in your home

 

Would be a joy without compare.

 

 

 

But...when you see him coming,

 

Would you meet him at the door

 

With your arms outstretched in welcome,

 

To your visitor?

 

 

 

Or...would you have to change your clothes

 

before you let him in?

 

Or hide some magazines and put

 

The Quran where they had been?

 

 

 

Would you still watch those movies,

 

Or your T.V. set?

 

Or would you switch it off,

 

Before he gets upset.

 

 

 

Would you turn off the radio,

 

And hope he had not heard?

 

And wish that you did not utter

 

your last loud hasty word?

 

 

 

Would you hide your wordly music,

 

And instead take out Hadith books?

 

Could you let him walk right in,

 

Or would you rush about?

 

 

 

And I wonder...if the Prophet spent, a day or two with you,

 

Would you go on doing the things you always do?

 

Would you go right on and say the things You always say?

 

Would life for you continue

 

As it does from day to day?

 

 

 

Would your family conversations,

 

Keep up their ususal pace?

 

And would you find it hard each meal,

 

To say a table grace?

 

 

 

Would you keep up each and every prayer?

 

Without putting on a frown?

 

And would you always jump up early,

 

For Fajr at dawn?

 

 

 

Would you sing the songs you always sing?

 

And read the book you read?

 

And let him know the things on which,

 

Your mind and spirit feed?

 

 

 

Would you take the Prophet with you,

 

Everywhere you plan to go?

 

Or, would you maybe change your plans,

 

Just for a day or so?

 

 

 

Would you be glad to have him meet,

 

Your very closest friends?

 

Or, would you hope they stay away,

 

Until his visit ends?

 

 

 

Would you be glad to have him stay,

 

Forever on and on?

 

Or would you sigh with great relief,

 

When he at last was gone?

 

 

 

It might be intresting to know,

 

The things that you would do.

 

If Prophet Muhammad, came,

 

To spend some time with you.

 

 

 

- Author Unknown

[Peace Action]

The above is one of the best english poems I ever read, too bad the auther is unknown, May Allah reward him/her.