ummtaalib

The First Step to Heaven As Salaamu alaikum. I am Zamiya, eleven years old. I pour love from my heart and soul into everything I write. I never thought I would actually cover my head until, what, eighth grade? To me, it seemed like a tiny, unnecessary part of my life, not an actual purpose. My mother wore the headscarf, and at school, hardly any girl was wearing the Hijab. I thought I would stand out, like neon yellow in a darkened background. I never thought it really was obligatory to wear it at all- until the day I found a special book. Books are important to me. Writing is my heart and soul, and is not a passion, but a mechanism of survival. I needed it in my life- so of course, when I read that particular piece of art, I could not help, but become mesmerized. It told about a seemingly simple girl from the United States of America, who was struggling with keeping her headscarf – covered head high – she was strong, fiery, and fearless in the eyes of Allah Ta'ala. Along the way, she was faced with uncountable challenges – her scarf had been forcibly removed, Fitnah, discrimination, and a lot more. When I realized how indifferent she was, even with the Hijab – and that putting it on after reaching puberty was necessary. I finally went up to my mother one fine day, my thoughts clashing with each other. You don’t need to wear it. You look better with your hair all styled up. Don’t do it for yourself or for others; you must look best in the Eyes of Allah (Subhaanahu WaTa'ala). I went up to her as she typed an article and told her my final decision. “Mom, I have finally decided to wear the Hijab from the first day of school,” I anxiously announced. It turned out that she was overjoyed, gave me a hug, and took the whole family out for lunch the very next day. She styled my Hijab with pretty pins and a cool outfit, and we all went out. Even though my hair fell out quite a bit due to forgetting an under cap, all went well. I did not wear it for the rest of the summer vacation, though. However, I did keep my promise for the first day of school! When I went to school on the first day, my specially-bought blue Hijab wrapped around my head and my eyes sparkling with determination, I felt unbeatable – but also a bit nervous. However, it seemed to be totally okay. Loads of girls complimented me on the style and how well it suited me (even though some were plain snarky); the older girls and teachers congratulated me – and three other girls had worn the wonderful headscarf, too! By the end of the day, the three other Hijabis and I were discussing how we decided on wearing the Hijab. My mother took me out as some kind of celebration after school as well. Now, it has been almost three months since I put on the scarf and strode with pride. I am now encouraging and doing Dawah, representing how a good Muslim girl should behave in public – but at the same time, being the same old silly girl I always was, striving for good grades, crying over anything and being all smiley the next moment, and being just the same person I was. Nothing has changed during this time. I am sure that when I go to non-Muslim countries like the United Kingdom or the States, I will be faced with puzzled looks and fierce remarks. Still, I will never take off my scarf Insha’Allah. Instead, I will show all of them what a Muslim is, and hopefully change the minds of even the most ignorant ones with the help of Allah (Subhaanahu WaTa'ala). My journey has just begun. I have a lot more to do – to influence the world with my talents, give them my earned knowledge, and much, much more. After all, I am still a little girl who has a lot more to learn about this world. I pray that our Ummah improves more and converts into something legendary- something so extraordinary that generations will praise us and we are in good books everywhere. Wearing the Hijab was only the first step of the stairway to Jannah – and I profusely hope, with all my heart, that I step upon each and every one of them, and that I eventually reach the glowing gates of the ineffably beautiful place all Muslims hope to reach one day: heaven. I will keep on climbing up to the next level of my Iman, Hijab on my head and eyes determined – being the same girl I always was. By Zamiya Jay

Duaa Between Azaan and Iqaamah عن أنس بن مالك رضي الله عنه قال : قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم الدعاء لا يرد بين الأذان والإقامة قال أبو عيسى حديث أنس حديث حسن صحيح (ترمذي رقم 212) Hadhrat Anas (Radhiyallahu Anhu) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “The duaa made between azaan and iqaamah is not rejected.” ihyaauddeen.co.za

Duaa before Sleeping – 3 One should recite the following duaa before going to sleep بِاسْمِكَ وَضَعْتُ جَنْبِي فَاغْفِر لِي With Your name (O Allah) have I placed my side down (i.e. I have lay down to sleep), so forgive my sins عن عبد الله بن عمرو أن النبي صلى الله عليه و سلم قال لرجل : ما تقول إذا أويت إلى فراشك ؟ قال : أقول : باسمك وضعت جنبي فاغفر لي ذنبي . فقال النبي صلى الله عليه و سلم :أصبت وفقك الله. رواه الطبراني وفيه رشدين بن سعد وهو ضعيف وقد قبل منه ما حدث به في فضائل الأعمال (مجمع الزوائد رقم 17043) Hadhrat Abdullah bin Amr (Radhiyallahu Anhu) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) once asked a person, “What do you recite when retiring to bed?” The person replied, “I recite بِاسْمِكَ وَضَعْتُ جَنْبِي فَاغْفِر لِي.” Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) approved of this and said: “You have done well, may Allah Ta’ala grant you tawfeeq (to carry out righteous works).”

wa'alaykumus salaam ...I hope so sis : )

The Place of Taqwa is in the Heart Abu Hurayrah (radi Allahu anhu) said: The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “Do not have envy of one another. Do not inflate prices on one another. Do not hate one another. Do not turn your backs on one another. Do not undersell one another; but rather, be worshipers of Allah and brothers. The Muslim is the brother of his fellow Muslim. He does not oppress him, nor does he abandon him, nor does he lie to him, nor does he belittle him. Taqwa is here” and he pointed to his chest three times. “It is a sufficient act of evil that a person belittles his Muslim brother. Every Muslim to another Muslim is sacred, his blood, his wealth, and his honor.” [sahih Muslim] The place of Taqwa (fear of Allah) is the heart. So when the heart has fear of Allah, then the limbs have fear of Allah.

Incident of Imam Shaafi‘ee (rahimahullah) and an Atheist An atheist once asked Imaam Shaafi‘ee (rahimahullah) to prove the existence of the creator, Allah Ta‘ala. Imaam Shaafi‘ee (rahimahullah) answered, “Look at the leaves of the mulberry tree. The colour, taste, smell, composition and properties of every leaf are the same. Despite being exactly the same, when consumed by the silk worm, silk is produced. When visited by the bee, honey is produced. When consumed by the goat, dung is produced and when consumed by the musk deer, musk is produced. Only the design of a creator who is eternal and all powerful could cause so many diverse things to be produced from one substance. Otherwise, logic would demand that the end product of all be the same as the substance which entered all was the same.” (‘Aqaa’id-ul-Islaam page.42)

“Happy New Year!” Pre-Historic Calendar The New Year is one of the oldest festivals of the world, dating back to the pre historic era. The New Year History itself forms an extensive area of study. The history of New Year has undergone a series of changes over the ages to achieve its global form. The urge of celebrating New Year as a vibrant festivity emerged at the dawn of civilization. At present, New Year is celebrated on January 1 and it had been an essential part of the cultural and traditional practices of the different communities inhabiting the world. The wide spread acceptance of January 1 as the New Year is confined only within the past four hundred years. Therefore, this is the principal reason that the New Year traditions vary from country to country. The earliest instance of New Year is found in Mesopotamian culture. It was about 2000 BC, when the people of Babylon used to observe New Year celebrations on the day of the Vernal Equinox that is during the middle of March. It was the Romans, who recognized March 1, 153 B.C as New Year Day in their calendar. Prior to that March 25, the date of the vernal equinox, was celebrated as their New Year's Day. And this was considered to be the beginning of New Year by most Christian European countries during the early medieval era. At that time there were only ten calendar months beginning from March. The relevance of this fact can still be seen in the names of some months, which were set according to their respective sequences in the calendar. As in the calendar of the present time, the months from September to December are placed as the ninth, tenth, eleventh and twelfth months respectively, previously they were positioned as the seventh, eighth, ninth and the tenth months. In Latin, 'Septem' means, seven, 'Octo' means, eight, 'Novem' means, ninth and 'Decem' means ten. New Year The Israeli term for New Year’s night celebrations, “Sylvester,” was the name of the “Saint” and the Roman Pope who reigned during the Council of Nicaea (325 C.E.). The year before the Council of Nicaea convened, Sylvester convinced Constantine to prohibit Jews from living in Jerusalem. At the Council of Nicaea, Sylvester arranged for the passage of a host of viciously anti-Semitic legislation. All Catholic “Saints” are awarded a day on which Christians celebrate and pay tribute to that Saint’s memory. December 31 is Saint Sylvester Day - hence celebrations on the night of December 31 are dedicated to Sylvester’s memory. It was in the Gregorian calendar established by Pope Gregory XII that the New Year was firmly positioned on January 1. It was readily accepted by the Catholics and then by the Protestants and soon became a holiday recognized by the entire world slowly and steadily.[1] Advice: It is apparent from the history of New Year that it is traced back to the beliefs of the pagans and their gods and Christian motivations. A muslim is sensitive to his Iman. He is averse to anything that is contrary to his Iman. Celebrating New Year of the Gregorian calendar has its roots in shirk and Christianity. It is therefore not permissible for a muslim to celebrate New Year or wish others Happy New Year. Furthermore, it is a norm for people to celebrate the end of the year and welcome the New Year through music, dancing wining etc. It does not behold a muslim to be in such an environment especially when celebrating New Year has its roots in kufr and shirk. For us as muslims, we are in the month of Safar, the second month of the lunar calendar 1433H. The 31st of December or the 1st of January is just another day of our lives. We should guard and protect ourselves from the influences of kufr, shirk and sins. And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best Mawlana Abdul Hannan Nizami, Student Darul Iftaa USA Checked and Approved by, Mufti Ebrahim Desai. www.daruliftaa.net [1] http://www.infoplease.com/spot/newyearhistory.html http://www.theholidayspot.com/newyear/history.htm http://www.123newyear.com/history/ http://www.goalsguy.com/events/n_facts.html قَالَ - رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ - (وَالْإِعْطَاءُ بِاسْمِ النَّيْرُوزِ وَالْمِهْرَجَانِ لَا يَجُوزُ) أَيْ الْهَدَايَا بِاسْمِ هَذَيْنِ الْيَوْمَيْنِ حَرَامٌ بَلْ كُفْرٌ، وَقَالَ أَبُو حَفْصٍ الْكَبِيرُ - رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ - لَوْ أَنَّ رَجُلًا عَبَدَ اللَّهَ خَمْسِينَ سَنَةً ثُمَّ جَاءَ يَوْمُ النَّيْرُوزِ، وَأَهْدَى لِبَعْضِ الْمُشْرِكِينَ بَيْضَةً يُرِيدُ بِهِ تَعْظِيمَ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ فَقَدْ كَفَرَ، وَحَبِطَ عَمَلُهُ، وَقَالَ صَاحِبُ الْجَامِعِ الْأَصْغَرِ إذَا أَهْدَى يَوْمَ النَّيْرُوزِ إلَى مُسْلِمٍ آخَرَ، وَلَمْ يُرِدْ بِهِ التَّعْظِيمَ لِذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ، وَلَكِنْ مَا اعْتَادَهُ بَعْضُ النَّاسِ لَا يَكْفُرُ، وَلَكِنْ يَنْبَغِي لَهُ أَنْ لَا يَفْعَلَ ذَلِكَ فِي ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ خَاصَّةً، وَيَفْعَلُهُ قَبْلَهُ أَوْ بَعْدَهُ كَيْ لَا يَكُونَ تَشَبُّهًا بِأُولَئِكَ الْقَوْمِ، وَقَدْ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ - صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - «مَنْ تَشَبَّهَ بِقَوْمٍ فَهُوَ مِنْهُمْ» ، وَقَالَ فِي الْجَامِعِ الْأَصْغَرِ رَجُلٌ اشْتَرَى يَوْمَ النَّيْرُوزِ شَيْئًا لَمْ يَكُنْ يَشْتَرِيهِ قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ إنْ أَرَادَ بِهِ تَعْظِيمَ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ كَمَا يُعَظِّمُهُ الْمُشْرِكُونَ كَفَرَ، وَإِنْ أَرَادَ الْأَكْلَ وَالشُّرْبَ وَالتَّنَعُّمَ لَا يَكْفُرُ. (تبيين الحقائق ج 6 ص 228) askimam

Rabi’ul Awwal has arrived, again… Allah Ta’ala declares, “There certainly is an example in Allah’s Messenger for he who fears Allah and the last day and remembers Allah abundantly” (Surah Al-Ahzab, verse: 21) Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said: “He who holds firm to my sunnah when corruption is rampant in my Ummah will attain the reward of a hundred martyrs.” (Al-Bayhaqi fi-Zuhd; “hasan” –sound- according to Hafiz ibn Hajar; see: HidayaturRuwat, Hadith: 174) Sayyiduna Anas (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam) affectionately advised him: “Whoever cherishes my sunnah, indeed cherishes me and whoever loves me will be with me in Jannah.” (Sunan Tirmizhi, Hadith: 2678. Classified as “hasan” –sound- by Imam Tirmidhi (rahimahullah) Sentimental events The above and other such verses and Ahadith are frequently heard and recited during the month of Rabi’ul-Awwal, the month in which the birth and demise of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam) occurred. Huge gatherings are held, sentiments are elevated and hearts become soft upon hearing the details of these events. Resolutions of adhering to the sunnah are made, and love for Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam) is increased. As muslims, we believe that every sunnah of our beloved Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam) is filled with nur (divine light) and blessing of Allah Ta’ala. Therefore, the illustrious Sahabah (radiyallahu ‘anhum) and Muhaddithun (Scholars of Hadith) took great pains in preserving the noble Ahadith and sunnah of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam). Through their sacrifices Allah Ta’ala has facilitated a huge amount of literature in which the sacred Hadith is preserved up to this day so that it can be adopted even by the Ummati (follower) of the 15th century of Islam. But alas! How pitiful is the condition of that “lover” of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam) who resolved to adopt more sunnats of his beloved the previous year, but failed to do so thus far? One who discards the sunnah is warned severely by Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam) with the words: “I curse him, Allah curses him and so does every Prophet of Allah” (Mustadrak Hakim, vol.1 pg.36; Hidayatur Ruwat, Hadith: 105. Considered “sahih”- authentic- by Imam Hakim rahimahullah) This clearly highlights the cause of most of the social mishaps prevalent in the Muslim community today. How can the blessing and mercy of Allah be found in that home whose inhabitants abandon the sunnah of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam)? Rabi’ul-Awwal has dawned once again, this time for the 1487th time’ since the birth of Rasulullah (sallallahu álaihi wasallam). During this long period, there were many who took such resolutions and stuck by them thereby attaining the virtues promised by Allah and his Messenger (sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam) as well as the success of both the worlds. There is no certainty as to how many more Rabi’ul-Awwals we will witness. Hence let not the procrastination of shaytan dominate us. Lets make an effort and also seek the assistance of Allah sincerely for the strength to adopt every sunnah of our beloved Master (sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam) before it is too late. Comprehensiveness of the sunnah The sunnah of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam) is not restricted to acts or places of worship only. Instead, it is comprehensive and covers all aspects and situations of life such as ones social and moral conduct, business dealings, one’s dressing etc. It also applies to all places whether the Masjid, business place, the home or even while one is on journey. In every situation, one should draw guidance from the lifestyle of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam) thereby turning habits into acts of worship. Not seasonal The study of the seerah (lifestyle of Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam) is not only for Rabi’ul Awwal, rather it should be done throughout the year. Every muslim should endeavour to study the complete seerah at least once in his or her lifetime under the guidance of a qualified ‘alim (scholar) al-miftah

Du'a for Taqwa اللَّهُمَّ آتِ نَفْسِي تَقْوَاهَا ، وَزَكِّها أنْتَ خَيْرُ مَنْ زَكَّاهَا ، أنْتَ وَلِيُّهَا وَمَوْلاَهَا O Allah, grant to my soul the sense of righteousness and purify it, for Thou art the Best Purifier thereof. Thou art the Protecting Friend thereof, and Guardian thereof. ‏ ‏اللهم إني أسألك الهدى، والتقى، والعفاف، والغنى‏ Allaahumma innee as-alukal hudaa, wattuqaa, wal 'afaafa, wal ghinaa "O Allah! I ask You for guidance, piety, safety and well-being, and contentment and sufficiency."

Blessings of Righteousness (Taqwa) excerpted from The Sermons by Shaykh Zulfiqar Ahmad (db) Oh Mankind! We created you from a single pair of a male and a female and made you into nations and tribes that you may know each other. Verily the most honored of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you, and Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted with all things [49:13] Stars beautify the heavens whereas the obedient beautify the earth. The only purpose of life is the obedience to Allah and the purpose of living is the remembrance of Allah . The Most Honorable Allah says in the Holy Quran: Verily the most honored of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you, and Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted with all things [49:13] The emphasis here is neither on color nor race, and neither is it on being an Arab versus being a non-Arab. In fact, the nearest to Allah are the most righteous. Signs of Being Near to Allah Ta'ala Nearness to Alla hta'ala is directly proportionate to a person’s level of righteousness (taqwa), and thus taqwa becomes a clear indicator in judging the closeness of beings to Allah . This is why the Holy Quran states: No men can be its (the Blessed Ka’bah) guardians except the righteous [8:34] Neither Grief Nor Fear Verily on the Friends of Allah there is no fear nor shall they grieve [10:62] Khauf refers to fear from an outside source whereas huzn is fear from within, and Allah says that His Friends the Auliyaa Allah ta'ala are protected from both of these kinds through His Mercy. This special status is only reserved for these honored people, whom Allah defines as: Those who believe and guard against evil [10:63] Allah ta'ala further specifies the rewards of His Auliyaa: For them are glad tidings in the life of the present and the Hereafter [10:64] Allah ta'ala honors His decisions and promises. Hence, people should practice taqwa in order that they enter into such an honored category of people such as the Auliyaa. Different Degrees There are different stages of wilayah [Friendship of Allah ], the first of which is shared by all who testify to the Testament of Faith (kalimah) and are Muslims. This is the first and simplest stage, where the lowest definition of wilayah is widely spread among all Muslims, since no one is actually an enemy of Allah . Wilayat-e-‘Aammah and Wilayat-e-Khasah This first stage, which is accessible to all Muslims who recite the kalimah is called Wilayat-e-‘Aammah, the lowest stage without which Allah does not even accept deeds. The next and special stage of wilayah is Wilayat-e-Khasah that is only accessible to people who attain taqwa. Surely Allah does accept of those who are righteous. [5:67] Decorated with Taqwa Just as a vendor painstakingly arranges his food stall by placing the best fruits and nuts at the top, Allah ta'ala has adorned His Holy Book with references to taqwa after every three to four verses. Such references shine throughout the Holy Quran like dancing stars, even as the command to acquire taqwa may occur three or more times in one verse alone. For Allah to issue a command even once is no small matter, and so the numerous times that this command occurs should serve as an important message indicating its importance. Oh Mankind! Fear your Guardian Lord! [4:1] This verse is structured in a command form, exhorting all those addressed to acquire taqwa and fear their Creator. Oh Mankind! Fear your Guardian Lord Who created you from a single person created of like nature his mate and from them twain scattered countless men and women: fear Allah through Whom you demand you mutual rights and revere the wombs that bore you, for Allah ever watches over you [4:1] This verse serves as another beautiful illustration wherein taqwa is mentioned at the beginning and at the end of the verse. Yet another verse with this command is: O you who believe! Fear Allah and let every soul look to what it has sent forth for the morrow [59:18] No Limit to Taqwa The shariah has prescribed limits for everything except taqwa. Allah ta'ala says in the Holy Quran: So fear Allah as much as you can [64:16] O you who believe! Fear Allah as He should be feared [3:102] Indeed, taqwa has a special station with Allah to have been given such importance and the honor of being the one thing without limitation. Benefits of Taqwa Taqwa is a tremendous blessing that itself provides a doorway to other blessings. It provides means for forgiveness from sin and gives the believer extraordinary insight. Allah states in the Holy Quran: If anyone fears Allah He will remove his ills and enlarge his reward [65:5] Elsewhere in the Holy Quran Allah ta'ala says: O you who believe! If you fear Allah, He will grant you a criterion [8:29] Here, Allah ta'ala says that He will bestow the insight of Furqan upon the righteous, such insight and brilliance that leaves no doubt of the difference between truth and falsehood. One no longer needs to debate the taqwa behind an action or wander in doubt because everything becomes clear. Sustenance of the Flesh Allah ta'ala says in the Holy Quran that He would shower blessings from above and below if only the people accept faith and acquire taqwa. If the people of the towns had but believed and feared Allah, We would indeed have opened to them blessings from heaven and earth [7:96] Elsewhere, Allah ta'ala says: If only they had stood fast by the Law and all the revelation sent to them, they would have enjoyed happiness from every side [5:66] Man is composed of two things, flesh and the soul (ruh). Whatever is from the earth receives sustenance from the same, which in this case means that the body receives its nourishment from the earth, because this is what it was created from. For example, bread is made from wheat that grows out of the ground and water springs forth from the oceans and mountains. Similarly, the clothes that man uses to cover his body are made from cotton that also grows out of the ground. Hence, since Allah ta'ala created the body from the earth, so did He assign all its sustenance to come from the same. Sustenance of the Ruh The origin of the ruh is ‘Aalam-e-Amr[1]. Consequently the ruh derives its sustenance from the countless blessings and mercy that continuously flow from Allah’s ta'ala Throne. They ask you concerning the Ruh. Say it comes by command of my Creator [17:85] While the body derives all its needs from the earth from which it was made, the ruh in turn derives its nourishment from the heavens from where it was created. Allah ta'ala says that He will give both the ruh and the body its due sustenance from where He designed it. taqwa is such a blessing that it opens not only the doors of sustenance, but all blessings, and Allah will always provide amply if people are grateful. However, ingratitude and rebellion will only result in this abundance being withdrawn to the point that Allah ta'ala may even stop their flow. If you are grateful, I will add more favors unto you, but if you are thankless, truly My punishment is dire! [14:7] In the Holy Quran, Allah ta'ala cites the example of a nation thriving in abundance and blessing, that was consequently in no grief or fear from anyone. Their pride in their abundance eventually translated into ingratitude and rebellion to Allah ta'ala, and hence, Allah ta'ala withdrew all His blessings from them so that they were left in dire poverty and hunger. A city enjoying security and quiet, abundantly supplied with sustenance from every place; yet was it ungrateful for the favors of Allah, so Allah made it taste of hunger and terror, (closing on it) like a garment because of the evil which its people wrought [16:112] If man is ungrateful, Allah ta'ala will cease showering His blessings, and instead of having plenty, man will be reduced to having naught. On the other hand, if man is grateful and righteous, then Allah ta'ala will open the gates of His mercy, and blessings will rain down heavier than ever before, such that sustenance comes from places and by means that man could not possibly have imagined. For those who fear Allah He prepares a way out [65:2] Hadrat Thanvi (May the mercy of Allah be upon him) wrote a fascinating story regarding the blessings of Allah ta'ala. A young man said to his brothers that he would readily forsake his share of the inheritance to them if he could solely be left with the responsibility of caring for his parents. The brothers readily agreed to this and this young man served and tended to his parents very devoutly until the day they passed away. One night, he saw a dream in which a voice told him that he would find one hundred dinars under a particular stone because of his service to his parents. He asked if the money would have Allah’s ta'ala blessings, but the voice said no, and so he declined to accept. The next morning, he told his wife about his dream, and she advised him to check for the money even if he was not going to take it. However he refused, since he was firmly against the idea. The next night, he heard a voice in his dream telling him of ten dinars under a particular stone that he still had the chance to take as a reward for his service to his parents. Again, he asked the same question, and declined after receiving the same reply. The third night, the voice said that there was one dinar under the stone and this was his final chance to take it. The young man again asked if the dinar would have Allah’st ta'ala blessing, and this time the voice said yes. Hence, the next morning he eagerly took the dinar from under the stone. Walking home, he decided to buy something in the market for his wife to cook, and thus brought a fish home with him. As his wife was cleaning the fish, she found a precious jewel inside that they were able to sell and live comfortably for the rest of their life. Such are the blessings of Allah ta'ala, that He grants sustenance through avenues that people cannot possibly conceive. Sustenance of the People of Allah The People of Allah ta'ala find sustenance from the same source as prophets, and receive lovingly from Allah ta'ala, just as a devoted father cares for his child. Allah opens His vast treasures for them and the Holy Quran says: He prepares a way out and provides for him from sources he could never imagine [65: 2-3] Definition of Sustenance The closest translation for the Arabic word rizq is sustenance and means. Collectively, this includes the livelihood and honor of the whole family, food and earning, and the tranquility that accompanies a satisfied life. It is unfortunate that this is exactly the kind of fruitful life people struggle for all their lives but somehow feel that it is always beyond their grasp. Working more than one job also does not seem to solve their problems and this is because Allah ta'ala withdraws His blessings because of something that is gravely wrong or missing from daily life. The Paradigm Reversed People today pursue careers in engineering and medicine because they feel that they cannot possibly sustain themselves if they pursue a lifetime of pleasing Allah ta'ala as a scholar (‘aalim) or someone who has memorized the Holy Quran (hafiz). This is an unfortunate delusion because one cannot possibly find even one example where a true practicing ‘aalim or hafiz ever died from hunger or poverty. Sustenance comes from Allah ta'ala who will never fail those who serve and obey Him. So this way of thinking is ridiculous and a delusion from Shaitan. It is frequently the other way around, where one often hears of others who have completed high degrees, but have ended their lives in dire poverty and hunger. Hadrat Imam Abu Yusuf Imam Abu Yusuf (May the mercy of Allah be upon him) lost his father as a young child and so his mother sent him to the local launderer to be an apprentice so he could learn the trade and begin earning. On his way, the young Abu Yusuf encountered Imam Abu Hanifa (May the mercy of Allah be upon him) and began sitting in his company. Abu Yusuf subsequently became Hadrat Imam Abu Hanifa’s student and told him about his mother’s concerns. Imam Abu Hanifa advised him to console his mother by telling her that he had high hopes of a great career from what he was learning instead of being apprenticed to a launderer. The mother was not satisfied by this, and came to Imam Abu Hanifa to complain, saying that she had not sent her son to seek knowledge but to learn a trade so that the family could generate some immediate revenue. Imam Abu Hanifa tried to reassure the mother and said, “You will see that your son will prosper and eat sweet dishes and delicacies meant only for rulers.” The mother finally acquiesced and left her son in Imam Abu Hanifa’s tutelage. This son would later become an exemplary student and scholar of the Islamic world. Later in his lifetime, Imam Abu Yusuf served as Chief Justice and the Caliph Harun Rashid (May the mercy of Allah be upon him) would sit in his company. Once the caliph said to Imam Abu Yusuf, “Hadrat, I have had a dish prepared for you and would like it brought to you everyday.” Hadrat Imam Abu Yusuf liked the sweet dish very much and asked what it was. Harun Rashid replied, “This dish is so special that it is prepared for me only seldom but from now on, it will be prepared for you daily because of your exemplary status in knowledge.” Imam Abu Yusuf was grateful but again asked what it was, and the king replied, “This is a sweet dish made from pistachios.” Hadrat Imam Yusuf was at once reminded of the words his great teacher Imam Abu Hanifa had spoken to his mother that her son would be dining on dishes reserved for rulers, for in those times pistachios were considered a rich delicacy. Hadrat Salim Hadrat Salim (May the mercy of Allah be upon him) had originally been sold as a slave for three hundred dirhams, but afterwards, his pursuit of religious learning reached such an honored status that the king of the time used to come to his door seeking advice. It also happened once that the king was even refused an audience with Hadrat Salim and had to return empty handed, because Hadrat Salim had been so preoccupied with his religious duties. Hadrat Salim had once been a slave sold for merely three hundred dirhams, but his intense desire for knowledge and a connection with Allah ta'ala increased his worth a hundred fold. Unknown we remained until we were sold, Your buying made us priceless. The Responsibility of Sustenance Allah ta'ala delivers sustenance to all humankind from His vast treasures, but showers it especially on the righteous. Allah ta'ala takes responsibility for sustaining all of creation in the Holy Quran, but yet man is the only creature that hoards, as if this will somehow subside or be insufficient. And there is not a thing but its (sources and) treasures are with Us …We only send down thereof in due and ascertainable measures [15:21] There is no moving creature on earth but its sustenance depends on Allah [11:6] It is Allah who feeds (both) them and you [29:60] Someone once came to Hadrat Bayazid Bustami (May the mercy of Allah be upon him) seeking advice because he was very troubled. He said that he had a large family and was struggling to make ends meet. Hadrat Bayazid replied, “I want you to return home and evict all the people whose sustenance you are responsible for providing and only let those stay whose sustenance is the responsibility of Allah ta'ala.” Family Planning In the 1800s, a man named Malthus urged the importance of population control, claiming that the earth’s resources would become insufficient to sustain mankind if population growth was not curbed. This concept was revisited in the 1960s when governments urged family planning so that there would be enough for the 1970s generation to live comfortably. The 1970s came and passed and so did the 1980s with populations living in the same condition as before if not better. Decade after decade, governments issued these warnings that people would be reduced to cannibalism by the 1990s if population growth was not curbed with efficient family planning. However, even the 1990s came and passed with people living and eating even better. The simple and beautiful truth is that people in the 1990s were being sustained even better than their counterparts in the 1960s because Allah ta'ala was increasing means and sustenance as the world population increased. This was and is in conjunction with Allah’s ta'ala promise that sustenance is His responsibility. When Hadrat Adam e was the only human being on earth, Allah ta'ala just sent down sustenance for one, and subsequently allowed for more as the world’s population increased. Furthermore, the earth did not produce nearly as much as it does today in modern times when Hadrat Ibrahim e was alive, because Allah ta'ala made the earth produce only what was necessary at that time for what the population numbered then. Doors of Taqwa and Sustenance The provision of sustenance is Allah’s ta'ala responsibility. This by no means implies that man should not work or make effort to support himself, but rather than he should keep focused on that fact that Allah ta'ala is the Source of all. Difficulties and financial strains arise only when people neglect to focus on Allah ta'ala as the primary source of sustenance and thus resort to illegal means of acquiring income. On the other hand, the righteous never have the opportunity to complain because Allah ta'ala opens the vast treasures of His u sustenance for them. Taqwa in All Phases of Life Taqwa benefits man in all circumstances and in all phases of existence – in the temporal world; the grave; barzakh (the intermediary world), and the Hereafter. Allah ta'ala says in the Holy Quran: Said Moses to his people, “Pray for help from Allah and (wait) in patience and constancy…and the end is (best) for the righteous [7:128] The Holy Quran stresses taqwa and further guarantees success in this world and the Hereafter because of taqwa. Taqwa and the Bridge of Sirat Family, relatives, friends and all except the righteous will become bitter enemies on the Day of Judgment. Taqwa will prove useful even after death, and everyone will have to cross the Bridge of Sirat. Not one of you but (the righteous) will pass over it [19:71] Allah ta'ala says that all will cross, in order to separate righteousness from evil. This is by your Lord, a Decree that must be accomplished [19:71] Only the righteous will be able to cross and thus be saved, whereas the evil and rebellious shall fall into Hellfire. But We shall save those who guarded against evil [19:72] Having successfully crossed the Bridge, the righteous shall be escorted to the gardens of Paradise awaiting them. Those who feared their Creator will be led to Paradise in crowds [39:73] Inhabitants of Paradise Angels will welcome the righteous into Paradise at every gate, praising their patience and wishing them peace. Angels shall enter unto them from every gate [13:23] Allah ta'ala says that the righteous shall inherit Paradise, and at one place in the Holy Quran, an entire ruku’ is dedicated to the good tidings of Paradise. Such is the Garden that We give to those who guard against evil [19:63] All that is in Paradise is for the righteous, and the Holy Quran is filled with the beauty that lies within. Verily for the righteous will be a fulfillment of desires; Gardens enclosed and grapevines; companions of equal age; and a cup full to the brim. No vanity shall they hear therein, nor untruth. Recompense from your Lord, a gift, sufficient. [78:31-36] Four streams shall flow through the Paradise of the righteous for their drink and pleasure. A parable of the garden which the righteous are promised; in it are rivers of water incorruptible; rivers of milk of which the taste never changes; rivers of wine, a joy to those who drink; and rivers of honey pure and clear [47:15] Success and honor in both the temporal world and the Hereafter is based on taqwa. Hence, people should abandon all their worthless pursuits in this life and put all their efforts into practicing taqwa. Hadrat Yusuf AS Allah ta'ala says in the Holy Quran that Surah Yusuf is one that carries important and essential lessons for mankind. We relate unto you the most beautiful of stories [12:3] Herein is the story of two fellowships – that of Hadrat Yusuf and that of his brothers. Indeed, Hadrat Yusuf was only one man, but sometimes even one man can outweigh a company of many men because of his strength and fortitude as proved to be the case here. Hadrat Ibrahim e was only one man, but the Holy Quran says: Ibrahim was indeed a nation [16:120] Allah ta'ala tested Hadrat Yusuf’s brothers who resolved to kill their brother as a possible solution to their problem and consoled themselves by saying that they would repent later. Slay Yusuf or cast him out to some (unknown) land [12:9] Hence, the brothers committed a grave sin through which Hadrat Yusuf ewas tested severely, but he emerged successful through Allah’s grace and mercy. But she in whose house he was, sought to seduce him from his (true) self [12:23] Allah ta'ala further tested him through a woman’s charms, but Hadrat Yusuf also proved successful in this and the master was compelled to proclaim Hadrat Yusuf’s e sincerity. Yusuf! O man of truth! [12:46] The events that follow show that Hadrat Yusuf was not only freed from jail but also promoted to the post of Finance Minister over all of Egypt. By the wisdom Allah had bestowed upon him, he successfully steered Egypt through the years of abundance and then the years of famine, as had been foreshadowed in the king’s dream. The events that follow this are even more fascinating in the contrast that they present. The famine had been very severe on Hadrat Yusuf’s family, and so his brothers came to barter most of the family’s belongings for food. The money and other belongings that they brought were by no means enough to buy all the food that they wanted, and knowing this, they requested Hadrat Yusuf to be charitable in their time of need. Both the brothers and Hadrat Yusuf were sons of the same prophet, but the brothers had failed Allah’s ta'ala tests whereas Hadrat Yusuf had passed the tests. Now, Hadrat Yusuf was seated on a pedestal whilst his brothers were at his feet on the ground. Presenting themselves in this fashion, the brothers put their case of suffering and their request for charity to Hadrat Yusuf e. The Holy Quran records their conversation for posterity: O exalted one! [12:78] Distress has seized us and our family. We have brought but scanty capital, so pay us full measure and treat it as charity to us; Allah rewards the charitable [12:88] Upon hearing that their situation had become so dire, Hadrat Yusuf e asked: Know you how you dealt with Yusuf? [12:89] Are you indeed Yusuf? [12:90] Taken aback, the brothers asked if he was really the brother they had tried to kill. Hadrat Yusuf e revealed himself to them and also emphasized his relationship to his brother Binyamin. I am Yusuf and this is my brother [12:90] Hadrat Yusuf e said that Allah ta'ala rewards the patient and righteous. Allah ta'ala guarantees that the sacrifices and deeds of the righteous are never in vain. Never will Allah suffer the reward to be lost of those who do right and are patient [12:90] Taqwa and Nearness to Allah ta'ala The previous scholars and venerable sages (mashaikh) understood the importance of inculcating taqwa into their lives and endured tremendous hardship and sacrifice to do so and were thus successful. Today the Muslims have forgotten this important lesson and hence, are in a state of dishonor and disgrace. Hadrat Qasim Nanotvi, Hadrat Rashid Ahmed Gangohi, Hadrat Shaykh ul-Hind (May the mercy of Allah be upon them) and countless mashaikh of the past embodied taqwa and left magnificent examples that shine throughout time for the whole world. Yet, they studied from the same texts that students study from today, but the students of today are certainly not the caliber of the likes of Hadrat Nanotvi. The elders of the past were able to partake of the mercy of Allah ta'ala by deciphering the jewels and pearls of taqwa from within the holy texts, something which people have unfortunately forgotten today. Such great personalities would not even fill their stomachs with lawful earnings but yet, their progeny is satisfied from filling its belly with the unlawful. The progeny of great people who would not sleep but worship all night is satisfied with sleeping soundly all night in warm beds. It is indeed unfortunate that Muslims have forgotten so much. All the more reason to reflect and practice now before it is too late. Knowledge is a Thing Most Delicate Indeed, knowledge is a blessing to be treated delicately and with respect. None is to be pitied more than one who has acquired the knowledge and speech of an ‘aalim but his heart remains hard and ignorant. Hadrat Luqman e said that he had lifted the heaviest weights but found nothing to be heavier than knowledge. He also said that he had partaken of the sweetest dishes but found nothing as sweet as the remembrance of Allah ta'ala . Today, most Muslims wear some of the softest and richest clothing and eat the most exotic dishes and so, their hearts remain harder than stone. The Heart: A Place of Filth? RasulAllah a said that the heart is the seat of taqwa. Today, the heart of the common Muslim is filled with filthy desires that always put the nafs above Allah’s ta'ala wishes; The heart has truly become a wicked and filthy place. Purification of such a heart requires a sincere will and struggle to change the heart to the obedience and remembrance of Allah ta'ala. What are these images to which you are so devoted? [21:52] Angels of mercy do not enter a house in which there are pictures. Today Muslims have pictures and idols of lust and greed littering their hearts, so how can the Mercy of Allah be expected to descend onto such a filthy place that is already filled with others? Struggle and perseverance against the nafs is required to rectify such hearts and only then will taqwa take root therein. Muslims must sincerely practice what the Holy Quran says and hold themselves accountable before they are held accountable. Putting the Holy Quran into action in our daily lives is the only way to inculcate taqwa, and others will only listen when the speaker himself is a living and breathing example of what he is preaching. I advise myself first and then you [Hadith] If words fail to impact one’s own ears, how can they be expected to impact others? It should be that we listen to our own advice to others and reflect on the same. Along those same lines, we should ponder upon and implement what we read in the texts. Hadrat Maulana Anwar Shah Kashmiri A group of Hindus once accepted Islam at the hand of Hadrat Anwar Shah Kashmiri (May the mercy of Allah be upon him) and so someone asked them why they had done so. Pointing to their benefactor, Hadrat Kashmiri, they said that Hadrat’s face could not be that of a liar. These were the great personalities from Islam’s past, whose faces would glow with taqwa and shimmer from their acts of worship. Alas where are such people today? Definition of Taqwa Hadrat Umar ibn Khattab RA once asked Hadrat Ibn Ka’ab RA the definition of taqwa. In reply Hadrat Ibn Ka’ab RA asked, “Have you ever had to traverse a thorny path?” Hadrat Umar RA replied in the affirmative and Hadrat Ka’ab continued, “How do you do so?” Hadrat Uma rRA said that he would carefully walk through after first having collected all loose and flowing clothing in his hands so nothing gets caught in the thorns hence injuring him. Hadrat Ka’ab RA said, “This is the definition of taqwa, to protect oneself from sin through life’s dangerous journey so that one can successfully complete the journey unscathed by sin.” And your garments keep free from stain [74:4] Taqwa is the best protector and life companion, for it shall always guard against sin and evil. But the raiment of taqwa is best [7:26] Take a provision with you for the journey, but the best provision is taqwa [2:197] Being the ultimate guide to married life, Surah al-Nisa is decorated with references to taqwa every third to fourth verse, because the nurturing of taqwa is the key ingredient to the success of any marriage. Allah ta'ala warns us in the Holy Quran: And fear Allah and know that you are to meet Him [2:223] Hadrat Maulana Hafiz Ghulam Habib (May the mercy of Allah be upon him) used to define taqwa as the shunning of everything and anything that causes a deficiency in one’s relationship with Allah ta'ala. Taqwa is not merely a word or something associated with just a single act, but needs to be implemented from head to toe and throughout a person’s life. Whatever the human definition, Allah ta'ala provides a clear explanation of taqwa in the Holy Quran. Let Muslims turn to the Holy Quran for its divine guidance and explanation. It is not taqwa that you turn your faces toward East or West, but it is taqwa to believe in Allah and the Last Day, and the Angels, and the Book and the Messengers, to spend of your substance out of love for Him, for your kin, for orphans, for the needy, for the wayfarer, for those who ask, and for the ransom of slaves; to be steadfast in prayer and practice regular charity; to fulfill the contracts you have made; to be firm and patient, in pain and adversity. Those are the truthful and those are the righteous [2:177] Those who practice the divine words above are truly worthy of being called the truthful and the righteous. Those are the truthful [2:177] Those are the righteous [2:177] May Allah ta'ala give us all the ability to adhere to the Holy Quran and inculcate taqwa within ourselves. Ameen. [1] The heavenly part of Allah’s ta'ala creation that is created spontaneously and immediately by the Divine Command Be, and it is, including but not limited to the Throne and the Angels. This is in contrast to ‘Aalam-e-Khalq, the worldly creation that was created gradually over a period of time. tasawwuf.org

A Wounded Heart Maria Karim The sudden dreadful crying and screaming woke Zainab up. She lay on her bed, burying her face into the pillow, trying hard to block out the growing noise coming from the other room. It had hardly been two hours since she had cried herself to sleep. Her tender heart started pounding against her chest at the thought of what would follow this pattern. It was the norm; after her father came home, her mother would scream at him, he would yell back, and then it would get worse until she, being the eldest child, would intervene, crying and begging her parents to stop the awful fight, the reason for which those little children could never understand. Zainab had secretly prayed to Allah, subhanahu wa ta`ala (exalted is He), many times to take her back to Him. She somehow felt responsible for what was happening between her parents. Often, she felt that even Allah (swt) was not happy with her for her du`a’s (supplications) were not being accepted. The only thing she ever wanted was to see her parents happy and together. Whenever they were happy, she would hope time would freeze so she could preserve every bit of it, but unfortunately, the happy moments would not last for long before a simple disagreement would turn into a heated argument leading towards a terrible dispute. What really wounded her heart was when her parents held grudges against each other and complained to others about each other or when other people would gossip about her parents while disregarding her presence as she was a mere child, supposedly devoid of feelings or a sense of understanding. This infuriated her, and she started to accumulate hatred and resentment within herself. Her fear and anxiety grew as she could overhear the increasingly enraged arguments coming from the other room. “Stop! Please stop!” Zainab screamed in her mind, tightly clamping her hands around her throbbing head which felt like it would burst. Despite being huddled up in a warm and soft quilt she could feel her feet getting cold. Tears of anger, rage and distress were rolling down from the sides of her eyes fading away in the darkness while she lay there in the emptiness of her room hoping that the yelling from outside too would soon fade away. Sound Familiar? Does this sound familiar? Have you, as a child, felt the way Zainab was feeling? Or even worse, could your children be going through what Zainab was experiencing? Catastrophically, the innocent victim of such a battle is always a child, who has no role to play in a conflict between adults except to helplessly watch and get destroyed. Any Excuses? Whatever excuses parents might have to justify their perpetual conflicts, ill temper or regular tantrums, whether towards each other or directed towards their children as a result of being frustrated in a mutual relationship, are completely unacceptable and unjustifiable. Since they are the adults and they have been given the responsibility of raising a human being, they are liable for and therefore must be mindful of, not only the physical upbringing of their child, but also the psychological development including the spiritual growth and emotional enrichment of this little individual. Consequences! A child witnessing relentless unkind behavior, intolerance, exchange of harsh words, sarcasm, mistrust, offensive gestures, unpleasant treatment and/or indifference between his/her parents will most likely deal with multiple problems, such as: Lack of Religious Growth: Children from a disturbed household hardly become religious unless someone consciously channels them. Since they rarely see their parents ever turn to their Rabb (Sustainer) and exercise patience in times of distress, they cannot relate to this concept. Absence of Spiritual Connection: When children witness their parents trying to find peace through other means and relying on those means besides Allah (swt), they automatically relate to seeking peace and relying on ways and means other than the true source of khayr (goodness), their Creator. Loss of Self Confidence: Such children lose their confidence because they have been devoid of the kind of emotional support required to boost their ego and individuality. Low Self Esteem: The loss of dignity between parents or such a behavior pattern established by one of the parents gives birth to low self esteem in their child’s character, resulting in a feeling of worthlessness. Insecurity: When children witness ill treatment between their parents or by any one parent towards the other they feel insecure about their relationship with them and dread being the victim either directly or indirectly. They also feel worried about their parents or their siblings and feel powerless. Anxiety: A child observing domestic disorder whether emotional, verbal or physical is always on guard, watching and waiting for the next event to occur. He/she never knows what will trigger the abuse and therefore they never feel safe. Self doubt: When a child’s tender mind is not able to explain why his/her parents hardly get along, they sometimes start blaming themselves; that if they hadn’t done such and such the argument would not have started, or if they are unable to explain the reason for a fight they remain doubtful about the occurrence of it which leaves them confused and frustrated. The feeling of self doubt makes them feel humiliated and embarrassed. Resentment: Children experiencing a chaotic household become resentful towards either their siblings or one of the parents who they think are responsible for triggering an argument. They can possibly become enraged, short tempered and abusive as adults themselves. Suppression: Children experiencing domestic issues are always engrossed in coping with the stress at home. They are expected to keep the conflicts at home a secret. Consequently, this can turn them into inexpressive and suppressed beings. Intimidation: On the other hand, sometimes children who witness one of their parents as the victim at home, learn to grow up to be intimidating individuals themselves to get their way in an intimate relationship because children have a natural tendency to identify with strength. Controlling Behaviour: Knowing their strength, children from disturbed homes are prone to becoming controlling with their spouse. They have been brought up to feel anxious about relationships and therefore are desperate to take charge in order to preserve a relationship from disintegration. They feel that their controlling would help keep it intact. Vulnerability: These children feel isolated and vulnerable. They crave attention, validation and company. As both parents are consumed in their own survival, they are hardly emotionally available for the child. Therefore, the child is most likely to look for emotional dependency elsewhere. The above are only few of the many setbacks that a child from a disordered home goes through. The question is: do we want our children to experience this? The expected answer in all cases would be no. Then what are we, as parents, doing to prevent them from such experiences? Having said this, I do not intend to include the unique situation in which a spouse has a psychological disorder and the other spouse is expected to put up with them. Realistically speaking, how many of us face the above mentioned condition where we have zero control over our respective relationship? Truthfully, the genuine reason isn’t that we can’t avoid drastically damaging scenarios, but usually we choose not to prevent them as every dispute has a history of negative, unresolved events trailing behind it accompanied by insensitive, tactless and careless actions between the parents. Generally speaking, we are selfish individuals that are primarily concerned with catering first to our personal emotional and psychological needs. While in a conflict, we are either immersed in self-pity and depression or are trapped amidst the battle of egos, so we neglect the little hearts from being repeatedly aggrieved and wounded. Emotionally and physically drained, frustrated and exhausted from having to keep up with the relationship with our spouse, we become oblivious to the damaging impact our indifference towards each other might have on our child’s well-being. However, we must remind ourselves that our children are dependent on us in every single way for each little thing and realize the gravity and responsibility that parenthood holds. We cannot help the reaction of our spouse but what we can control is our attitude towards them or towards an unpleasant situation or experience. Obviously, it is not as simple as this statement and requires counseling and perhaps a series of articles to get into the intricacies of a relationship and its do’s and don’t’s. Nonetheless, the focus of this article is to highlight the traumatic conditions that children who experience domestic violence go through and its consequences. A child is similar to a soft lump of dough and just as we can mold it how we wish, it goes through what we make it go through. A lump of dough, when handled with love, care and wisdom can be beneficial, but if it is mishandled roughly and carelessly, it can prove to be just the opposite. Our children are an amanah (trust) from Allah (swt). They have been sent to us so that we can nurture them with love, respect, care and concern. We leave our impressions on them. We either leave our child with a well-nurtured body and soul, or we leave that child with a scarred soul and a wounded heart. The choice, of course, is ours.

Quotes on Taqwa Hadrat Hasan Basri said, Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi (RA) said, Hadrat Maulana Hafiz Ghulam Habib (r.a.) used to define taqwa as Shaykh Muhammad Saleem Dhorat

Levels of Taqwaa

Sayyiduna Ali (R.A) defined Taqwa as being the "Fear of Jaleel (Allah), Acting upon the tanzeel (Quran), Being content with qaleel (little), And preparing for the day of raheel (journeying from this world)." Hadrat Umar ibn Khattab (R.A) once asked Hadrat Ibn Ka’ab (R.A) the definition of taqwa. In reply Hadrat Ibn Ka’ab asked, “Have you ever had to traverse a thorny path?” Hadrat Umar replied in the affirmative and Hadrat Ka’ab continued, “How do you do so?” Hadrat Umar said that he would carefully walk through after first having collected all loose and flowing clothing in his hands so nothing gets caught in the thorns hence injuring him. Hadrat Ka’ab said, “This is the definition of taqwa, to protect oneself from sin through life’s dangerous journey so that one can successfully complete the journey unscathed by sin.” The renowned Companion Abdullah Ibn Abbas radiallahu anhu would say that; "The reality of Taqwaa is that one obeys Allah and does not disobey Him. He remembers Allah and does not forget Him, and he thanks Allah and is not ungrateful to Him"

Taqwa in the Qur’an Taqwa is mentioned in the Qur’an many times. لَيْسَ الْبِرَّ أَنْ تُوَلُّوا وُجُوهَكُمْ قِبَلَ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ وَلَٰكِنَّ الْبِرَّ مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَالْمَلَائِكَةِ وَالْكِتَابِ وَالنَّبِيِّينَ وَآتَى الْمَالَ عَلَىٰ حُبِّهِ ذَوِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَالْيَتَامَىٰ وَالْمَسَاكِينَ وَابْنَ السَّبِيلِ وَالسَّائِلِينَ وَفِي الرِّقَابِ وَأَقَامَ الصَّلَاةَ وَآتَى الزَّكَاةَ وَالْمُوفُونَ بِعَهْدِهِمْ إِذَا عَاهَدُوا ۖ وَالصَّابِرِينَ فِي الْبَأْسَاءِ وَالضَّرَّاءِ وَحِينَ الْبَأْسِ ۗ أُولَٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا ۖ وَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُتَّقُونَ “It is not taqwa that you turn your faces toward East or West, but it is taqwa to believe in Allah and the Last Day, and the Angels, and the Book and the Messengers, to spend of your substance out of love for Him, for your kin, for orphans, for the needy, for the wayfarer, for those who ask, and for the ransom of slaves; to be steadfast in prayer and practice regular charity; to fulfill the contracts you have made; to be firm and patient, in pain and adversity. Those are the truthful and those are the muttaqun.” [Qur’an 2:177] يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَاكُمْ مِنْ ذَكَرٍ وَأُنْثَىٰ وَجَعَلْنَاكُمْ شُعُوبًا وَقَبَائِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوا ۚ إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ أَتْقَاكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ “O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily, the most honourable of you with Allah is that (believer) who has Taqwa. Verily, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware.” [Qur’an 49:13] يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَلْتَنْظُرْ نَفْسٌ مَا قَدَّمَتْ لِغَدٍ ۖ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ "O ye who believe! Observe your duty to Allah. And let every soul look to that which it sendeth on before for the morrow. And observe your duty to Allah! Lo! Allah is informed of what ye do." [Qur'an 59:18] وَسَارِعُوا إِلَىٰ مَغْفِرَةٍ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا السَّمَاوَاتُ وَالْأَرْضُ أُعِدَّتْ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ "And vie one with another for forgiveness from your Lord, and for a Paradise as wide as are the heavens and the earth, prepared for those who ward off (evil);" [Qur'an 3:133] وَاتَّقُواْ اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ (...and have Taqwa of Allah that you may be successful.) [part of 2:189] Have Taqwa of Allah, means to do what He has commanded you and refrain from what He has forbidden for you [ibn Katheer] Taqwa in Ahadith عـن أبي ذر جـنـدب بـن جـنـادة ، وأبي عـبد الـرحـمـن معـاذ بـن جـبـل رضي الله عـنهما ، عـن الرسول صلي الله عـليه وسلم ، قـال : ( اتـق الله حيثما كنت ، وأتبع السيئة الحسنة تمحها ، وخالق الناس بخـلـق حـسـن . On the authority of Abu Dharr Jundub ibn Junaadah, and Abu ‘Abd-ir-Rahmaan Mu’aadh bin Jabal (radi allahu anhuma) that the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said : Have Taqwaa (Fear) of Allah [be pious] wherever you may be, and follow up a bad deed with a good deed which will wipe it out, and behave well towards the people. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, “The most common thing which leads people to Paradise is taqwa of Allah and good conduct, and the most common thing which leads people to the Hell Fire is the mouth and the private parts.” [Tirmidhi] Tafseer ibn Kathir mentions that Atiyah As-Sa’di said the Propeht (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, “The servant will not acquire the status of those with taqwa until he abandons what is harmless out of fear of falling into that which is harmful.” [ibn Majah, Tirmizi]

At-Taqwa Piety / Righteousness / Fear of Allah / God Consciousness

Historic Al-Hudaibiya mosque to be rebuilt JEDDAH: The historic Al-Hudaibiya mosque will be demolished and rebuilt by the Islamic Affairs Ministry and the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTNH) to reflect its significance in Islam. The mosque was built on the site where the Prophet (peace be upon him) signed a peace agreement in 628 CE with the pagans of Makkah, which was called the Treaty of Hudaibiya. The area is on the western side of Makkah. Mohammad Al-Reemi, supervisor at the ministry’s branch in Makkah, told the newspaper that there was an agreement with the SCTNH to preserve all ancient mosques and buildings in Makkah and Madinah. A study on the reconstruction has been completed, he was quoted as saying by an online publication recently. Faisal Al-Shareef, director general of the SCTNH in Makkah, said an experienced engineering firm would be brought in to oversee the project using the latest scientific techniques and materials. The SCTNH and the Al-Turath Heritage Foundation has completed the restoration of 21 mosques around the country. The SCTNH, at its 39th meeting recently, has also set up a project to restore other mosques in cooperation with the Islamic Affairs Ministry, to highlight their religious importance. A study to revamp eight mosques has been completed. They are the Al-Baiah mosque in Makkah, and five mosques in the Sabaa Masajid area, which would be completed by the secretariat of Madinah. The Al-Memar and Al-Hanafi mosques in the old part of Jeddah would be restored with support from Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman. Eighty-seven historic mosques in the Kingdom have been identified for restoration including four in Makkah, eight in Madinah, 14 in Riyadh, five in Qassim, 36 in Asir, six in Tabuk, six in Jazan, four in Najran and four in Baha. arabnews

Words of Wisdom "Utilising means other than the dhikr of Allāh ta'ālā to acquire peace of heart is akin to brushing your difficulties under the carpet. The unease, despite being masked, is still there. It is just like being under anaesthetic; as soon as you ‘wake up’ you will realise that the pain has not gone away." Shaykh Mawlānā Muhammad Saleem Dhorat hafizahullāh (at-tazkiyah) *Remember that "Dhikr" - Remembrance of Allah, includes many forms of worship including Salaah as well as explained in this post

Another sign of a Stroke Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke. Remember the '3' steps, STR Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions: S *Ask the individual to SMILE. T *Ask the person to TALK and SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently) (i.e. Chicken Soup) R *Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS. If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call emergency number immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher. New Sign of a Stroke Stick out Your Tongue! NOTE: Another 'sign' of a stroke is this: Ask the person to 'stick' out his tongue. If the tongue is 'crooked', if it goes to one side or the other that is also an indication of a stroke.

Recognising the signs of a stroke NHS UK The signs and symptoms of a stroke vary from person to person but usually begin suddenly. As different parts of your brain control different parts of your body, your symptoms will depend on the part of your brain affected and the extent of the damage. The main stroke symptoms can be remembered with the word FAST - Face-Arms-Speech-Time. Face – the face may have dropped on one side, the person may not be able to smile or their mouth or eye may have drooped. Arms – the person with suspected stroke may not be able to lift both arms and keep them there because of arm weakness or numbness in one arm. Speech – their speech may be slurred or garbled, or the person may not be able to talk at all despite appearing to be awake. Time – it is time to dial 999 immediately if you notice any of these signs or symptoms. It is important for everyone to be aware of these signs and symptoms. If you live with or care for somebody in a high-risk group, such as someone who is elderly or has diabetes or high blood pressure, being aware of the symptoms is even more important. Other possible symptoms Symptoms in the FAST test identify most strokes, but occasionally a stroke can cause different symptoms. Other symptoms and signs may include: complete paralysis of one side of the body sudden loss or blurring of vision dizziness confusion difficulty understanding what others are saying problems with balance and co-ordination difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) a sudden and very severe headache resulting in a blinding pain unlike anything experienced before loss of consciousness However, there are usually other causes for these symptoms.

Five Ways to Achieve Inner Peace Summarized by Samah Syed from the ‘Gateways of Relief and Assistance’ webinar by Shaykh Tameem Ahmadi. It is in the nature of this worldly life that it will be filled with trials and tribulations for every individual, old or young, rich or poor. Allah Most High states in the Qur’an: “And whatever of misfortune befalls you, it is because of what your hands have earned” (Qur’an, 42:30) Thus, we should understand that any calamity that befalls us is often a consequence of our wrongdoings and ultimately this is a calling for us from Allah Most High to turn back to Him. Although we must turn to Allah in both good times and bad, it is especially natural for the human in his desperate and broken state to wholly and completely turn to His Lord in need. Here are five ways through which we can attain nearness to our Lord and thereby attain ultimate peace of heart in times of trial and tribulation: #1 Du’a Allah Most High says in the Qur’an: “And your Lord says: ‘Call on me; I will answer your prayer’ (Quran, 40:60)” Du’a is a direct link to our Creator and is an act of worship that can be done at anytime and anywhere. It is a means by which we can pour our hearts out and rest assured that our affairs will be taken care of by the King of kings. It is stated in a hadith that when Allah Most High sees the hands of the slave lifted up to him He feels shame that He should leave that person’s hands unfilled (Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi). We should therefore keep making du’a with a firm conviction that Allah Most High will most definitely answer it. We must never be despondent and complain that Allah is not answering our du’as. When we ask Him, either Allah gives us exactly what we want, or He doesn’t and instead stores something better for us in the hereafter or He removes some calamity of this life by means of that du’a. Thus, making du’a is a “win-win-win” situation. #2 Reciting Qur’an In the Qur’an there is an invitation of Allah, therefore we should accept the invitation, the way a guest honors the invitation given to him by his host. Abundant recitation of the blessed Book of Allah brings about nur (light) and barakah (blessings) within a person and allows one to attain peace of heart and mind. For every letter we recite, Allah Most High grants us ten hasanat (rewards). The Qur’an is said to be the rope of Allah, and just as a rope is used to pull a fallen individual out of a dark well, the Qur’an is a means of pulling us out from the darkness of all our worries and difficulties. #3 Dhikr Allah Most High says in the Qur’an: “Those who believe, and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allah, Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest (Qur’an, 13:28).” Allah Most High states that He is with us whenever we remember Him. Thus, what better method of dealing with our sorrows and anxieties than being in the company of our Creator? When we engage in abundant dhikr (remembrance), depression and worry is taken away from the heart and happiness is brought into the heart. We drive away Satan and attain Allah’s pleasure. Our bodies and hearts are strengthened and a nur (light) develops in our hearts and faces. Dependent upon how much dhikr we make, we develop a proximity or closeness to Allah and a mahabbah or love for Allah also forms in our hearts. Dhikr can take many forms, the most common of which are tasbih (SubhanAllah), tahlil (La ilaha il Allah), tahmid (Alhamdullilah), takbir (Allahu Akbar) and istighfar (Astaghfirullah). It is stated in a hadith that just as iron rusts, so too do our hearts and therefore just as iron needs polish, the polish for our rusted hearts is abundant dhikr. Thus we should make use of these “polishes” so that our hearts are constantly renewed and refreshed. #4 Salah Allah Most High says in the Qur’an: “And seek help in patience and As-Salat (Qur’an, 2:45).” Salah or prayer is our daily connection with Allah and has been referred to as the mi’raj or ascension of the believer. Whenever Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) had any trouble or concern he would quickly resort to salah to gain comfort and clarity. Our daily prayers are our links to Allah and it is in salah where we are the closest to Him. Our prayers (salahs) attract rizq (provisions) and serve as protection for our wealth and material well-being. #5 Salutations upon the Prophet (ﷺ) Allah Most High says in the Qur’an: “Allah and His angels send blessings on the Prophet. Oh you who believe! Send blessings on him, and salute him with all respect (Qur’an, 33:56).” Ubayy ibn Ka’b (may Allah be pleased with him) once came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and asked him how much of his du’a should include salutations upon the Prophet (ﷺ). The Prophet (ﷺ) told him he could include as much as he pleased and if he did more then it would be better for him. Ubayy ibn Kaab (may Allah be pleased with him) then asked him about dedicating a quarter of his du’a to salawat (salutations upon the Prophetﷺ). Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) gave him the same reply again. He then asked him about half and then two-thirds until he finally asked if he should make his entire du’a dedicated to sending salawat. Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) told him if he did this then all his worries would be taken care of and all of his sins would be forgiven (Ahmad, Tirmidhi). Thus, we should make it a habit to send abundant salutations on Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) every day, especially on Fridays. By doing so we would have opened yet another gateway of bringing tranquility and contentment to our hearts. About the Author: Samah Syed Samah is a volunteer and student at Rayyan Institute based in Toronto, Canada. rayyaninstitute

The Fly and Antibiotics What’s in a wing of a fly that led our Noble Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) to say: “If a fly falls in the vessel of any of you, let him dip all of it (into the vessel) and then throw it away, for in one of its wings there is a disease and in the other there is healing (antidote for it)." (Sahih Bukhari, Volume 7, Book 71, Number 673) Well, look at this short article. The New Buzz on Antibiotics Danny Kingsley - ABC Science Online The surface of flies is the last place you would expect to find antibiotics, yet that is exactly where a team of Australian researchers is concentrating their efforts. Working on the theory that flies must have remarkable antimicrobial defences to survive rotting dung, meat and fruit, the team at the Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, set out to identify those antibacterial properties manifesting at different stages of a fly's development. "Our research is a small part of a global research effort for new antibiotics, but we are looking where we believe no-one has looked before," said Ms Joanne Clarke, who presented the group's findings at the Australian Society for Microbiology Conference in Melbourne this week. The project is part of her PhD thesis. The scientists tested four different species of fly: a house fly, a sheep blowfly, a vinegar fruit fly and the control, a Queensland fruit fly which lays its eggs in fresh fruit. These larvae do not need as much antibacterial compound because they do not come into contact with as much bacteria. Flies go through the life stages of larvae and pupae before becoming adults. In the pupae stage, the fly is encased in a protective casing and does not feed. "We predicted they would not produce many antibiotics," said Ms Clarke. They did not. However the larvae all showed antibacterial properties (except that of the Queensland fruit fly control). As did all the adult fly species, including the Queensland fruit fly (which at this point requires antibacterial protection because it has contact with other flies and is mobile). Such properties were present on the fly surface in all four species, although antibacterial properties occur in the gut as well. "You find activity in both places," said Ms Clarke. "The reason we concentrated on the surface is because it is a simpler extraction." The antibiotic material is extracted by drowning the flies in ethanol, then running the mixture through a filter to obtain the crude extract.When this was placed in a solution with various bacteria including E.coli, Golden Staph, Candida (a yeast) and a common hospital pathogen, antibiotic action was observed every time. "We are now trying to identify the specific antibacterial compounds," said Ms Clarke. Ultimately these will be chemically synthesised. Because the compounds are not from bacteria, any genes conferring resistance to them may not be as easily transferred into pathogens. It is hoped this new form of antibiotics will have a longer effective therapeutic life. (End) Fa Tabarakallahu Ahsanul Khaliqeen (So Glory be to Allah, the best of Creators) Jamiatul Ulama (KZN) Council of Muslim Theologians

Deeds which equal the Reward of Haj

Allah ta'ala accept and make it a means of comfort for those seeking peace

حَسْبُنَا اللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ (Allah (alone) is sufficient for us) - Qur'an 3:173 Taken from HERE By leaving your affairs to Allah, by depending upon Him, by trusting in His promise, by being pleased with His decree, by thinking favourably of Him, and by waiting patiently for His help, you reap some of the greater fruits of faith and display the more promonent characteristics of the believer. When you incorporate these qualities into your character, you will be at peace concerning the future, because you will depend on your Lord for everything. As a result, you will find care, help, protection, and victory. When Prophet Ibrahim (as) was placed in the fire, he said, "Allah (Alone) is sufficient for us, and he is the best disposer of affairs (for us)." Thereupon, Allah made the fire to be cool, safe, and peaceful for Prophet Ibrahim (as). When the prophet Muhammad (saw) and his companions were threatened by the impending attack of the enemy, they said words that are related in the first part of this verse: "Allah (Alone) is sufficient for us, and He is the best disposer of affairs (for us).".............................And Allah is the owner of Great Bounty (Qur'an 3:173-74) No person by himself is capable of fighting against the current of misfortune, nor can he fend off the blows of disaster when they strike. This is because man was created weak and fragile. However, when in times of difficulty, the believer places his dependency and trust with his Lord; he knows that all difficulties can be overcome. "And put your trust in Allah if you are believers indeed" (Qur'an 5:23)