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Have we considered allergies and other health concerns (e.g. pregnancy)? Okay, so our child may not ask: "Mom, I want an allergy, can I get one?!" or "Mom, I want a hookworm, can I get one?!" However, the way we build our homes in some parts of the world where snow and cold winters keep us all indoors for long stretches of time, they might as well ask it! Or, with little hands digging in the same garden as our feline friends, they might as well ask it! Without getting too obsessive about it, we should pay attention to see if anyone in our family is allergic to pet saliva, dander or hair, or has asthma. We should also be educated about possible health risks and work to minimize risk to ourselves and our families as much as possible. Allergies Depending on the severity of the allergy or other problems (e.g. asthma), having a cat in the house could pose an undue hardship for family members. That said, allergies can develop anytime and some resolve so be mindful of this before committing to the care and wellbeing of a cat. Also, consider your options should something like this develop in the future and how you will deal with it. As an example: Misty, our short-haired Russian Blue mix, certainly activates my allergies – particularly the kind that make you want to gouge your eyes out! That said, my allergies seem to be activated more-so whenever I hold her, or neglect to wipe surfaces often. Misty’s previous family had her for about 5 years before they had to find her a new home. Unfortunately, their daughter developed allergies as well as asthma which made it necessary for them to not only find a new home for Misty but also to get rid of all the carpeting in their house. Luckily, Misty did not end up at a pet shelter where, due to her age and temperament (bit of a grumpy cat, quick with the sharp claws), she may have been a candidate for euthanization. Some suggestions for allergy sufferers: * keep the cat out of your bedroom * wash your hands and face after you play with or hold the cat * minimize surfaces that hold and trap hair and dander (e.g. carpets) * to remove hair and dander, sweep and wipe surfaces often * air the house as often as possible * consider options for allowing your cat outdoors more often (if at all... see next section) For more information on allergies, click here. Zoonotic Diseases or Zoonoses These are diseases that can be transferred from cats to humans and vice versa and include: * bacterial infections (e.g. cat scratch disease) * parasitic infections (e.g. fleas, roundworms and hookworms) * fungal infections (e.g. ringworm) * protozoan infections (e.g. cryptosporidosis, giardiasis, and toxoplasmosis) * viral infections (e.g. rabies) * allergies (see previous section) Some suggestions to help protect yourself and your family from zoonotic diseases: * wash hands after handling cats * wear gloves while gardening and wash hands afterwards * have your cat vaccinated against rabies * schedule routine annual checkups for your cat * avoid letting your cat lick you or anything you use to eat and drink with * consider keeping your cat indoors to minimize exposure to certain diseases * seek medical attention for cat bites * remove feces from litter boxes daily (***pregnant women, children, and those with suppressed immune systems should avoid any contact with litter ***) * Periodically clean and disinfect litter boxes (***pregnant women, children, and those with suppressed immune systems should avoid any contact with litter ***) * if you have a children's sandbox in the yard, cover it whenever it is not being used (do this even if you don't have a cat) For more information on zoonoses, click here and here.

Is everyone on board? We have to remember the rights of others when deciding on the issue of bringing home a cat. If some are opposed to the idea of having a cat share their space, we need to be mindful of that and not impose it on them. Otherwise, we create hardship for all involved - including ourselves. Are we ready to commit to its long-term care? If we are in a situation where some do not want a cat or we have not considered all things, we could find ourselves in a fresh dilemma: the cat has got to go but... where? This may seem like a silly issue to some but those of us living in areas where feral cats colonies are kept in check (i.e. you hardly ever see a 'street' cat), it does indeed become an issue. The fact of the matter is that in such places, cats are often surrendered to local pet shelters where, despite efforts to keep all animals alive, some are euthanized due to lack of space. Those that are kept (usually younger cats and kittens), are kept in cages awaiting adoption. Therefore, it behooves us to think carefully before we take on the care of any animal - the cat has a right to proper care and treatment, not to have its space limited to a crate or euthanized for our shortsightedness.

“Mom, can we get a cat?!” Recently, a friend asked me what it is like to have a cat in the house. You see, her young daughter has been asking for one and she is hesitating because she is a very busy mom masha'Allah and knows well that she will be the one responsible for its daily care; however, and despite not being much of a cat person herself, she is considering it for her daughter and other children. So, I advised her - not because I am an authority on cats by any stretch of the imagination but because I happen to love cats and alhamdulillah have some experience caring for them. This thread will serve as further assistance for my friend and others facing a similar dilemma: to get a cat - or - not to get a cat. Okay, before we get too deep into this business of cats, we should first answer a few very basic, preliminary questions (click on the short answer to link to detailed answers according to the Hanafi school of jurisprudence insha'Allah): (1) Is it permissible for us to keep cats as pets? Short answer: yes (2) Is it a sunnah of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallem) to keep cats as pets? Short answer: no (3) Can we keep cats as indoor pets? Short answer: yes (4) What about our prayers? What if the cat walks in front of us as we pray. Won’t it be sinful? Short answer: no (5) Are cats pure? Short answer:cat hair and saliva are pure; whereas urine, feces, blood and vomit are impure and are considered major filth. ~~~ Now that we are equipped with these answers and may be warming up to the idea of answering our child in the affirmative, we should take a moment to consider each of the following: * is everyone on board? * Are we ready to commit to its long-term care? * have we considered allergies and other health concerns (e.g. pregnancy)? * how are cats with babies and young children? * what should we look out for to make sure the cat's temperament matches our family? * Where should we go to get a cat? * Are we okay with an older cat or should we insist on a kitten? * What should we feed the cat? * What should we take into consideration in terms of the its medical care? * Are there any legal requirements we need to be aware of? * Will our neighbours mind? * What will we do with the cat when we travel? * Are there any issues with our home and garden environment we should consider? * What types of supplies will we need? Misty (our current cat) and Tiger and Precious (two of our past cats) will serve as examples for the points above.

Assalaamualaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakathu: Insha'Allah follow your locality. Here, in Canada, the hilal sighting committee confirmed the 15th is Friday, June 13th, and the night of Baraat is the night that ties Thursday to Friday insha'Allah - tonight. There may be differences in other areas. For example, South Africa shows June 12th as Shaban 13th which means the 15th will be Saturday for them and the night of Baraat will be tomorrow night (night between Friday and Saturday) insha'Allah.

Insha'Allah lets work to build our rewards in Jannah. Insha'Allah lets keep striving and struggling towards it till our last breath. Insha'Allah lets do it for the sake of Allah Ta'aala. Insha'Allah lets never be satisfied in thinking we have done enough. Insha'Allah lets build our rewards as much as we can so we can attain higher and higher degrees in Jannah. Insha'Allah lets encourage each other to do so and make du'aa for one another and for the beautiful Ummah of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallem) that we have been blessed to be a part of. Even those who were given the good news of their place in Jannah never stopped striving. They strove just as eagerly to gain Allah Ta'aala's pleasure - as if their place in Jannah was not guaranteed or they did not know or as if they could lose it or solely for His pleasure, for His sake... Such humility, such heart, and such knowledge in their actions and example for us, alhamdulillah! In terms of motivation, our scholars say there are 3 types of people: (1) those who are motivated by the rewards of Jannah and so it is helpful to be reminded of such rewards; (2) those who are motivated by fear of the punishment of Jahannam and so it is helpful to be reminded of such punishments; and (3) those who are motivated solely for the sake of Allah Ta'aala and strive and struggle for Him, to earn His pleasure. May Allah Ta'aala grant us entry into Jannah from at least one of the doors and may He make us of those who enter through whichever one we want; may Allah Ta'aala grant us elevated degrees in Jannah and grant us the ability to work and strive in this world towards it; may Allah Ta'aala grant us barakah in our time, barakah in our knowledge, barakah in our efforts and deeds, barakah in our ibaadah, and barakah in all that is good and wholesome and adds to our rewards in Jannah. Ameen.

Imaam Ibn Al-Qayyim's Beautiful Description of Paradise Ibn al-Qayyim said, in regards to the description of the Paradise and the delights that it contains: "And if you ask about its ground and its soil, then it is of musk and saffron. And if you ask about its roof, then it is the Throne of the Most Merciful. And if you ask about its rocks, then they are pearls and jewels. And if you ask about its buildings, then they are made of bricks of gold and silver. And if you ask about its trees, then it does not contain a single tree except that its trunk is made of gold and silver. And if you ask about its fruits, then they are softer than butter and sweeter than honey. And if you ask about its leaves, then they are softer than the softest cloth. And if you ask about its rivers, then there are rivers of milk who's taste does not change, and rivers of wine that is delicious to those who drink it, and rivers of honey that is pure, and rivers of water that is fresh. And if you ask about their food, then it is fruits from whatever they will choose, and the meat of whatever birds they desire. And if you ask about their drink, then it is Tasneem, ginger, and Kaafoor. And if you ask about their drinking cups, then they are crystal-clear and made of gold and silver. And if you ask about its shade, then a fast rider would ride in the shade of one of its trees for a hundred years and not escape it. And if you ask about its vastness, then the lowest of its people would have within his kingdom and walls and palaces and gardens the distance that would be travelled in a thousand years. And if you ask about its tents and encampments, then one tent is like a concealed pearl that is sixty miles long. And if you ask about its towers, then they are rooms above rooms in buildings that have rivers running underneath them. And if you ask about how far it reaches into the sky, then look at the shining star that is visible, as well as those that are far in the heavens that the eyesight cannot possibly reach. And if you ask about the clothing of its inhabitants, then they are of silk and gold. And if you ask about its beds, then its blankets are of the finest silk laid out in the highest of its levels. And if you ask about the faces of its inhabitants and their beauty, then they are like the image of the Moon. And if you ask about their age, then they are young ones of 33 years in the image of Adam, the father of humanity. And if you ask about what they will be hearing, then it is the singing of their wives from among the Hoor al-'Ayn, and better than that are the voices of the Angels and the Prophets, and better than that is the Speech of the Lord of the Worlds. And if you ask about their servants, then they are young boys of everlasting youth who resemble scattered pearls. And if you ask about their brides and wives, then they are young and have had the liquid of youth flow through their limbs; the Sun runs along the beauty of her face if she shows it, light shines from between her teeth if she smiles; if you meet her love, then say whatever you want regarding the joining of two lights; he sees his face in the roundness of her cheek as if he is looking into a polished mirror, and he sees the brightness from behind her muscles and bones; if she were to be unleashed upon the World, she would fill what is between the Heavens and the Earth with a beautiful wind, and the mouths of the creation would glorifiy, praise, and exclaim greatness, and everything between the East and the West would be adorned for her, and every eye would be shut from everthing but her, and the light of the Sun would be outshone just as the light of the Sun outshines the light of the stars, and everyone on the face of the Earth would believe in the Ever-Living, the One who Sustains and Protects all the exists. And the covering on her head is better than the World and all that is in it, and she does not increase with age except in beauty; free from an umbilical cord, childbirth and menses, and pure of mucous, saliva, urine and other filthy things; her youth never fades, her clothing is never worn out, no garment can be created that matches her beauty, and no one who is with her can ever become bored; her attention is restricted to her husband, so she desires none but him, just as his attention is restricted to her so she is the sole object of his desire, and he is with her in utmost safety and security, as none has touched her before of either humans or Jinn. And if you ask about the Day of Increase (in reward) and the visit of the all-Mighty, all-Wise, and the sight of His Face - free from any resemblance or likeness to anything - as you see the Sun in the middle of the day and the full Moon on a cloudless night, then listen on the day that the caller will call: 'O People of Paradise! Your Lord - Blessed and Exalted - requests you to visit Him, so come to visit Him!' So they will say: 'We hear and obey!' Until, when they finally reach the wide valley where they will all meet - and none of them will turn down the request of the caller - the Lord - Blessed and Exalted - will order His Chair to be brought there. Then, pulpits of light will emerge, as well as pulpits of pearls, gemstone, gold, and silver. The lowest of them in rank will sit on sheets of musk, and will not see what those who are on the chairs above them are given. When they are comfortable where they are sitting and are secure in their places, and the caller calls: 'O People of Paradise! You have an appointment with Allaah in which He wishes to reward you!' So they will say: 'And what is that reward? Has He not already made our faces bright, made our scales heavy, entered us into Paradise, and pushed us away from the Fire?' And when they are like that, all of a sudden a light shines that encompasses all of Paradise. So, they raise their heads, and, behold: the Compeller - Exalted is He, and Holy are His Names - has come to them from above them and majestified them and said: 'O People of Paradise! Peace be upon you!' So, this greeting will not be responded to with anything better than: 'O Allaah! You are Peace, and from You is Peace! Blessed are You, O possessor of Majesty and Honor!' So the Lord - Blessed and Exalted - will laugh to them and say: 'O People of Paradise! Where are those who used to obey Me without having ever seen Me? This is the Day of Increase!' So, they will all give the same response: 'We are pleased, so be pleased with us!' So, He will say: 'O People of Paradise! If I were not pleased with you, I would not have made you inhabitants of My Paradise! So, ask of Me!' So, they will all give the same response: 'Show us your Face so that we may look at it!' So, the Lord - Mighty and Majestic - will remove his covering and will majestify them and will cover them with His Light, which, if Allaah - the Exalted - had not Willed not to burn them, would have burned them. And there will not remain a single person in this gathering except that his Lord - the Exalted - will speak to him and say: 'Do you remember the day that you did this and that?' and He will remind him of some of his bad deeds in the Worldy life, so he will say: 'O Lord! Will you not forgive me?' So, He will say: 'Of course! You have not reached this position of yours (in Paradise) except by my forgiveness.' So, how sweet is this speech to the ears, and how cooled are the righteous eyes by the glance at His Noble Face in the Afterlife... {Some faces that Day will be shining and radiant, looking at their Lord...} (al-Qiyaamah:22-3) (Source: www.idealmuslimah.com)

Everything You Ever Wanted! (2/2) Who Are the People of Paradise? We could go on and on, for the ahadeeth are vast in numbers, about the Prophet's descriptions of Paradise. But a place that has houses built with gold and silver bricks: where its dirt is made of rubies and sapphires and its inhabitants wear only the finest silk garments, sounds like a pretty exclusive neighborhood to me. Who are these people who will be allowed to live in this enchanting place? The Jews say the Jews. The Christians say the Christians. But Allah says, "And they say: 'None shall enter Paradise unless he be a Jew or a Christian.' Those are their (vain) desires. Say, 'Produce your proof if you are truthful.' [2:111] He also says, "(Namely) those whose lives the angels take in a state of purity, saying (to them), 'Peace be on you, enter you the Garden, because of (the good) which you did (in the world)." [16:32] Always in the Qur'an when Allah mentions those who will attain Paradise, He mentions the believers, not the Muslims. He, subhanahu wa ta'ala, says, "Indeed the Muttaqoon will be amongst the Gardens and water-springs." [15:45] He also says, "Verily, the Muttaqoon will be in a place of security, among Gardens and Springs, dressed in fine silk and (also) in thick silk, facing each other. This is how it shall be, and We shall marry them to Houris with wide, lovely eyes. They will request therein for every kind of fruit in peace and security." [44:51-55] So who are the believers and how do we become one of them? Allah says, "They believe in Allah and the Last Day, and they enjoin what is right and forbid the wrong and they strive with one another in hastening to good deeds, and those are among the good." [3:114] He, subhanahu wa ta'ala, also says of the believers, "But the Apostle and those who believe with him strive hard with their property and their persons; and these it is who shall have the good things and these it is who shall be successful." [9:88] He goes on to say, "Allah has purchased of the believers their persons and their goods; for theirs (in return) is the Garden (of Paradise): they fight in His cause, and slay and are slain: a promise binding on Him in truth, through the Law, the Gospel, and the Qur'an: and who is more faithful to his covenant than Allah? Then rejoice in the bargain, which you have concluded: that is the achievement supreme." [9:111] Of the believers, He also says, "But those who have faith and work righteousness, they are companions of the Garden: Therein shall they abide (forever)." [2:82] O slaves of Allah! Know that being among this illustrious group of people who will live in this place of tranquillity and bliss is not something easily attained. Allah says, "Or do you think that you shall enter the Garden (of bliss) without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you? They encountered suffering and adversity, and were so shaken in spirit that even the Apostle and those of faith who were with him cried, 'When (will come) the help of Allah?' Ah! Verily, the help of Allah is (always) near!" [2:214] What Allah and His Messenger, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, convey to us is that the people of Paradise are the God-conscious, and the God-fearing. Not everyone, who says, Lord, Lord, will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, just as not everyone who professes the Shahadah, will enter Paradise. Only those who fear Allah as He ought to be feared, and are motivated by that fear to do acts of righteousness will attain success. The one who is conscious of His Lord, in every aspect of his life, and turns to Him in true submission, will have purchased for himself safety and security on a day when there will be none, except with Allah. He does not cause a soul to suffer fear twice, the fear of Him in this world, and the fear on The Day of Judgment. About this, the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, said, "Allah says, 'I do not combine for my servants two states of fear, or two states of safety. So if he feels safe from Me in this world I will cause him to fear on The Day of Judgment, and if he fears Me in the world, I will cause him to be safe on The Day of Judgment.'" (Sahih al-Jami) It is important, therefore, that Muslims know the characters of those who will be the inheritors of Paradise. But it is unfortunate that many of today's Muslims understand that it is enough for one to pronounce the Shahadah by his tongue for him to be entitled to enter Paradise regardless of whether he lived according to Islam or not! But the Shahadah means and requires more than the mere utterance of it. Actually this fact is one of the most mentioned aspects of Islam in the Qur'an and Sunnah. The essence of Eman is deed. Deeds of the heart and deeds of the tongue and other body parts. Deeds that are to be continued till one leaves this world. That was the reason why the Arabs of Makkah refused to pronounce it. They fully appreciated its implication. They knew it concerned authority and understood that they had to govern their deeds and lives with it. Yet many of those who repeat it today lead life styles that do not resemble those described in the Qur'an and practiced by the Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, and his companions. The Qur'an warns us that deeds are the basis on which we are to be judged, not only the utterance of the Shahadah, "It is not by your wishes nor the wishes of the People of the Book: whoever does wrong shall be punished for it, and he will find none other than Allah as a protector or helper." [4:123] So entering Paradise requires that we live as believers and die as Muslims. That takes knowledge, dedication and determination to see it through to its completion. The fist step is belief in Allah and His Messenger, and the flip side to that is leaving all acts of shirk; this means directing all acts of ibadah to none but Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala, whether it be wearing talismans, supplicating to others than Allah or simply showing off. The next step is obeying Allah and His Messenger, avoiding bid'ah and innovations, and carrying out all compulsory acts of worship that He has prescribed. Once we are steadfast and regular in what we must do, we can then proceed to the next level of eman and worship, by doing the things that we have been encouraged to do. By increasing out acts of worship, and remembrance of Allah we will leave off sin and help safeguard ourselves from a Fire, the fuel of which is men and stones. We Should Also Strive to: Protect our minds from thoughts, which are evil, because evil actions begin with evil thoughts. Protect our eyes by lowering our gazes and not looking at forbidden things. Protect our ears from lewd or evil speech where there is sin. We should also avoid listening to lies, gossip, music, slander, or blasphemy. Protect our tongues by saying always what is correct and true, and keeping it moist with the remembrance of Allah, and keeping away from backbiting and other evil speech. Protect our stomachs by eating the halal and keeping away from the haram. We should beware of eating usury, carrion, and swine or drinking intoxicants or taking drugs. Protect our hands from taking what does not belong to us, or from doing harm to another Muslim. Protect our legs from taking us to evil and corruption and an ultimate doom. Protect our private parts from unlawful sexual intercourse. Protect our wealth by not squandering it or holding on to it too tightly. Protect our oaths, witnesses and trusts by not breaching or breaking a contract or pledge knowingly. We should not exceed our agreements, testify to falsehood or break our trusts. Protect our families and children by keeping them away from the things that may be harmful and that may corrupt their minds and their souls. Now, it is true that only Allah knows who the believers are, but that should not stop us from striving to be among their numbers. For the believers will have eternal bliss and complete success, because of the things that they did in this life. Allah says, "So no soul knows the delight of the eyes which is hidden for them; a reward for what they did." [32:17] We now stand at the start of the race, so let us run forward quickly to the finish line, where the gates of Paradise will be open for those who strive as they should. The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, who said, "Paradise is surrounded by hardship and the Hellfire is surround by wishes and desires," has described the road to eternal bliss. (Sahih al-Jami) Despite this, Allah and His Messenger have left breadcrumbs along the path, for us to follow to make our journey easier. All roads may lead to Rome, but not all paths lead to Allah and His Paradise. We must plan our journey by using only the road map given to us by Allah and His Messenger, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam. Ways That Lead To Paradise: Belief and Righteous Deeds are two of the best routes to Jannah (Paradise). The door of righteous deeds is wide and the ways of obtaining rewards are vast, as Allah says, "And those who believe and do good deeds they are the inhabitants of Paradise, in it they shall abide." [2:82] Taqwa is the fear of the Most Merciful, and acting in accordance with the Qur'an and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam. That is, hoping for the reward of Allah and avoiding disobedience of His Guidance and fearing His Punishment. For Allah says, "Surely those of taqwa shall be in the midst of Gardens and fountains." [15:45] The Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, also 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) Obedience of Allah and His Messenger is a sure way to Paradise. Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala, says, "And whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger, He will cause him to enter Gardens beneath which rivers flow, and whoever turns back, He will chastise him with a painful chastisement." [48:17] Allah's Messenger, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, also said, "All of my followers will enter Paradise except those who refuse." It was asked, "O Messenger of Allah, who would refuse?" He said, "He who obeys me enters Paradise and he who disobeys me has refused." (Bukhari) Fighting in the Path of Allah with one's goods and soul. For Allah says, "O you who believe, shall I lead you to a merchandise which may deliver you from a painful chastisement? You shall believe in Allah and His Messenger, and struggle hard in Allah's Cause with your property and your lives; that is better for you, if you but knew! He will forgive you your sins and cause you to enter Gardens beneath which rivers flow, and goodly dwellings in Gardens of perpetuity; that is the mighty achievement." [61:10-12] Repentance erases what came before it as the Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, said, "The one who repents form sin is like the one who never sinned." (Sahih Al-Jami) And Allah says, "Except such as repent and believe and do good, these shall enter the Garden, and they shall not be dealt with unjustly in any way." [19:60] There are countless other means, from building a mosque to seeking Islamic knowledge to obeying our husbands and raising righteous children. All it takes is our time and sincere efforts. With all that Allah has described, it may seem daunting to us at time,, that we will ever make it. Eman rises and falls, and with it our good deeds. But we should never lose hope in Allah, for the only one who loses hope in Allah is the one who disbelieves. So even though we may feel that we are at the bottom of the pile, the Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, gives us hope. He said, "Mousa, alayhes salam, asked his Lord, 'Who amongst the inhabitants of Paradise will be the lowest in rank?' He, subhanahu wa ta'ala, said, 'He is a man who will come after the people have entered Paradise and it will be said to him: Enter Paradise.' He will say, 'How my Lord? Indeed, the people have settled in their apartments and taken their shares.' It will be asked of him, 'Would you be pleased if there was a kingdom for you like the kingdoms of the earth?' He will say, 'I would be pleased, my Lord.' He will say, 'And for you is the like of that, and the like of it, and the like of it.' He will say at the fifth time, 'I am pleased, my Lord.' He will say, 'This is for you and ten times like it, and for you is what you desire for yourself and what is pleasurable to your eye.' He will say, "I am pleased my Lord." (Muslim) This is what Allah has for the least among us. But despite all the glorious castles, the beautiful clothes and mates we will posses, inshaa'Allah, He still has in store for the believers the greatest honor awaiting them in Paradise. Suhaib ibn Sinan narrated that the Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, said, "When the inmates of Paradise enter Paradise and the inmates of Hellfire will enter Hell, the announcer will say, 'O people of Paradise, verily you have a promise with Allah and He wishes to fulfill His promise to you.' They will ask, 'What is His promise? Has He not made our balances heavy (with good deed), whitened our faces, admitted us into Paradise, and delivered us from the Hellfire?' Then the screen will be removed and they will look towards Him. By Allah He will not give them a thing more beloved to them and more comforting to their eyes, than the gaze of Himself." (Sahih al-Jami) We were created in Paradise, we came out of it and we will inshaa'Allah go back to it. It is our destination and we shall reach it. But we have to do what Allah has asked us to do, for Paradise is not cheap. The price is true eman that is shown in obedience to Allah according to the sunnah of his Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam. The companions understood that. Their efforts were all for the life of the Hereafter and they gave only what was necessary to this worldly life. As Muslims, everything we do, can be, and should be worship of Allah. Whether we're working at the office to provide for our families; cooking a meal; raising our children, or simply resting, through remembrance of Allah and supplication, we can transform these earthly necessities into fruits that will bear for us in the life of the Hereafter. So let us keep our eyes on the prize, and strive hard for it, for Allah says, "And (as for) those who strive hard for Us, We will most certainly guide them in Our ways; and Allah is most surely with the doers of good." [29:69] (Source: www.idealmuslimah.com)

Everything You Ever Wanted! (1/2) "And whoever desires the Hereafter and strives for it as he ought to strive and he is a believer; (as for) these, their striving shall surely be accepted." [17:19] Recently I took a trip to see my Dad, who happens to be a non-Muslim, in order for him to meet the latest addition to our family, and in order for me to yet again try to convince him that he should accept Islam. While I was there, however, I found out something about him that I never knew before. My father is a workaholic. This man works seven days a week, sometimes 10-to-12 hours a day. The saddest part being, that his labour is all for nothing, for Allah says, "(These are) they whose labour is lost in this world's life and they think that they are well-versed in skill of the work of hands." [18:104] Now, even though the situation with my Dad threw me for a loop, it really got me thinking. How many of us, Muslims, are in the very same predicament as my father? How many of us are working hard for the life of this world, at the cost of the Hereafter? How many of us are putting in 40-plus hours a week at our jobs, and other recreational activities, while putting in only the smallest amounts of time when it comes to our Deen? Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala, says that truly Man shall earn what he strives for. The question now is what are we truly striving and working for? Maybe it's because at the end of the week, we are rewarded with something tangible for our efforts, a check we can see and touch. The Hereafter, although being equally as real, is at the same time, mystifying and ethereal in its nature. It's a delayed gratification, which makes it harder to earn. Our wages for our efforts in the deen will not be paid in full until we exit the life of this world. For Allah says, "Every soul shall have a taste of death: And only on the Day of Judgment shall you be paid your full recompense. Only he who is saved far from the Fire and admitted to the Garden will have attained the object (of Life). For the life of this world is but goods and chattels of deception." [3:185] Our final destination is the life of the Hereafter. Where we end up, Jannah (Paradise) or Jahannam (Hell-fire) depends on what we worked towards in this life. Paradise is the aim and the hope of every Muslim. But like trying to attain any goal, in order to achieve success, one must have a well-defined plan, and it must be implemented to be successful. Allah says, "O you who believe! Be careful of (your duty to) Allah and seek means of nearness to Him and strive hard in His way that you may be successful." [5:35] To prepare for our journey, we need to find out what our destination is like; who are its people, and most importantly, how to get there. The Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, told us that within Paradise are things that no eyes have ever seen, nor ears have ever heard, and that things in it are beyond our imagination and comprehension, but we all have our own personal ideas of what eternal bliss would probably be like. I remember a few years ago, I overheard my niece and my nephew discussing the landscape, and the privileges of living in Jannah. My nephew was telling my niece that in Jannah, they would be able to eat all the candy that they wanted and that there would be streams of chocolate and trees of ice cream. I always tell people that Paradise for me would be being able to eat all the cheesecake and chocolate that I wanted, without gaining a pound. But what Allah has in store for the believers is so much more than this. He, in His Book, and through His Messenger, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, has given us a clear picture of our goal, so that we can keep it in front of us at all times. By keeping our eyes on the prize, no matter our hardships in this worldly life, we can strive that much harder to attain it. Allah says, "And whoever desires the Hereafter and strives for it as he ought to strive and he is a believer; (as for) these, their striving shall surely be accepted." [17:19] Allah has also described Paradise in many places in the Qur'an, so let us now take a look at what He has in store for the believers. Description in the Qur'an of Paradise "The description of Paradise which the Muttaqoon have been promised is that in it are rivers of water, the taste and smell of which are never changed. Rivers of milk the taste of which will remain unchanged. Rivers of wine that will be delicious to those who drink from it and rivers of clear, pure honey. For them will be every kind of fruit and forgiveness form their Lord." [47:15] "And their recompense shall be Paradise, and silken garments, because they were patient. Reclining on raised thrones, they will see there neither the excessive heat of the sun, nor the excessive bitter cold, (as in Paradise there is no sun and no moon). The shade will be close upon them, and bunches of fruit will hang low within their reach. Vessels of silver and cups of crystal will be passed around amongst them, crystal-clear, made of silver. They will determine the measure of them according to their wishes. They will be given a cup (of wine) mixed with Zanjabeel, and a fountain called Salsabeel. Around them will (serve) boys of perpetual youth. If you see them, you would think they are scattered pearls. When you look there (in Paradise) you will see a delight (that cannot be imagined), and a Great Dominion. Their garments will be of fine green silk and gold embroidery. They will be adorned with bracelets of silver, and their Lord will give them a pure drink." [76:12-21] "And those foremost (In Tawheed and obedience to Allah and His Messenger in this life) will be foremost (in Paradise). They will be those nearest to Allah in the Gardens of Delight. A multitude of those (the foremost) will be from the first generation (who embraced Islam) and a few of those (the foremost) will be from the later (generations). They will be reclining, face to face, on thrones woven with gold and precious stones. They will be served by immortal boys, with cups and jugs, and a glass from the flowing wine, from which they will have neither any headache, nor any intoxication. They will have fruit from which they may choose, and the flesh of fowls that they desire. There will be Houris with wide, lovely eyes (as wives for the pious), like preserved pearls, a reward for deeds that they used to do. They will hear no vain or sinful speech (like backbiting, etc.) but only the saying of: Salam, Salam, (greetings of peace). And those on the Right Hand, who will be those on the Right Hand? They will be among thorn-less lote-trees among Talh (banana trees) with fruits piled one above another, in long-extended shade, by constantly flowing water, and fruit in plenty, whose season is not limited, and their supply will not be cut off. They will be on couches or thrones raised high. Verily, We have created for them (maidens) of equal age, loving (their husbands only). For those on the Right Hand." [56:10-38] "Verily, the dwellers of Paradise that Day, will be busy in joyful things. They and their wives will be in pleasant shade, reclining on thrones. They will have therein fruits (of all kinds), and all that they will ask for. (It will be said to them): "Salamun" (Peace be on you), a Word from the Lord, Most Merciful." [36:55-58] Can you imagine? Wearing the finest silk clothing and sitting on chairs made of gold and precious stones? Those who disbelieve in the words of Allah, say that this is all a fairy-tale, made up by a would-be prophet. But we know, that Allah is the Truthful and that His Messenger, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, spoke only what was revealed to from the Most Truthful. And even though Allah describes Paradise for us in the Qur'an, He still says, "So no soul knows the delights of the eyes which is hidden for them; a reward for what they did." [32:17] Apart from the Qur'anic descriptions of Paradise, the Prophet Muhammad, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, would often describe Paradise to his companions. His descriptions were often so vivid and moving, that many-a-companion would hurriedly rush towards it. This was the case, as Anas narrated that the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, and his companions proceeded towards Badr and arrived there before the disbelievers (of Makkah). When the disbelievers arrived, the Messenger of Allah said, "None of you should step forward ahead of me to do anything." Then the disbelievers advanced (towards us), and the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, said, "Rise to enter Paradise whose width is equal to the Heavens and the Earth." Umayr Ibnul Humam al-Ansari asked, "O Messenger of Allah, is Paradise equal in width to the heavens and the earth?" He, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, said, "Yes." Umayr said, "Bak'hin! Bak'hin!" (An Arabic word denoting excitement and astonishment) The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, asked him, "What made you say these words: Bak'hin, Bak'hin?" He said, "Messenger of Allah, nothing but the desire to be amongst its residents." He, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, said, "You are surely among its residents." He then took some dates form his bag and began to eat them. Then he said, "If I were to live until I had eaten all of the dates, indeed this life would be too long." Anas then said, "He threw away the remaining dates he had with him. He then fought (the disbelievers) until he was killed." (Muslim) What words could have inspired Umair and others like him to long for, and to pay the ultimate price for a place in Paradise? Let's now take a look at what the Messenger of Allah, had to say about Paradise. Description of Paradise in the Hadeeth Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudri narrated that the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, said, "The people of Paradise will look at the dwellers of lofty mansions (i.e. a superior place in Paradise) in the same way as one looks at a brilliant star, far away in the East or in the West of the horizon. This is because of their superiority over one another (in reward)." One of the people asked, "O Allah's Messenger, are these lofty mansions for the Prophets which no one else can reach?" The Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, replied, "No! By Allah, in whose Hands is my life, these are for men who believe in Allah and also believe in the Messenger." (Bukhari and Muslim) Abu Musa al-Ash'ari narrated that the Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, said, "Verily, for the believers in Paradise, are tents made of a single hollow pear. The length of which would be sixty miles long from all sides, their wives being therein. The believer will go around them (i.e., visit them) and they will not be able to see each other." (Sahih al-Jami) Abu Hurairah said that the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, said, "There is not a tree in Paradise, except that its trunk is made of gold." (Sahih al-Jami) Anas ibn Malik narrated that the Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, said, "Verily in Paradise there is a market in which (the inhabitants of Paradise) will come to every Friday. The North wind will blow and scatter fragrances on their faces and on their clothes. This will add to their beauty and their attractiveness. They will then go back to their families after having an added luster to their beauty and their attractiveness. Their families will say to them, 'By Allah you have been increased in beauty and loveliness after leaving us,' and they will say, 'By Allah you too have increased in beauty and attractiveness after us.'" (Muslim) Jabir ibn Abdullah narrated that the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, said, "(I saw in a dream that) I entered Paradise, and behold, there was a palace built of gold. I asked, 'Whose is this palace?' They (the angels) replied, 'For a man from the Quraysh.' So I thought it might be I, so I asked, 'And who is he?' They said, 'Umar Ibnul Khattab.' Nothing stopped me form entering it except your Ghirah (sense of honor)." Umar said, "My Ghirah would never be offended by you, O Messenger of Allah." (Bukhari and Muslim) Anas ibn Malik said that Allah's Apostle sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, said, "I entered Paradise and found myself by a river, by its edges were tents of pearls. Then I tapped with my hands where the water was running, and there was then a beautiful smell of Musk. I asked, 'What is this O Gabriel?' He said, 'This is Kawthar (river in Paradise) which Allah has given to you.'" (Sahih al-Jami) (Source: www.idealmuslimah.com)

Assalaamualaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu: SubhanAllah, I know it has been a while but... I couldn't leave this thread without posting. Ameen to all the du'aas. I just happened upon this thread while searching threads about Jannah. With the date in mind, and my own father in mind too subhanAllah, I just wanted to send a du'aa for all those who have lost their loved ones insha'Allah. Sister Safah, may Allah Ta'aala put barakah in this thread and allow good du'aas to keep flowing, ameen. Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi rajioon. May Allah Ta'aala grant ease and patience, and accept this effort (this thread and all the du'aas) as part of the good deeds of our deceased loved ones - through the efforts of their righteous children and as charity. Ameen. May Allah Ta'aala forgive their sins and grant them peace and beauty in their graves; may He eleveate them in Jannah and allow them views and scents of Jannah. Ameen. JazakAllah khayran.

It is the 10th of Sha'baan now so insha'Allah here is a reminder for the night of the 15th: A poster of this information is available here: Jamiatul Ulema (KZN)

Ameen. And may He make her the coolness of her family's eyes - including her aunt. Ameen. Masha'Allah sis, your little niece has been blessed with a caring family to help soothe her pain and look out for her. May Allah Ta'aala bless your family with all that is good and put barakah in all your kindness, humility, strength and imaan. Ameen.

Insha'Allah, we can all benefit from the Essentials of Fiqh: Salah (FQ103) courses offered by Abu Haneefa College of Fiqh on Ilm Hub, presented by Mufti Faisal bin Abdul Hameed al-Mahmudi. Masha'Allah, the salah courses are in 11 sections and access to presentations and handouts are included. Start with section 1 (Introduction to Salah) and work your way up insha'Allah. For details and access to the sections and other excellent courses, masha'Allah, please visit: ILM HUB

Boko Haram – Devilish Actions The Jamiatul Ulama (Council of Muslim Theologians) KZN categorically condemns the senseless and horrific abduction of several hundred Nigerian schoolgirls - both Christian and Muslim - by the armed terror group Boko Haram. Their activities have been condemned by Nigeria's Muslim communities themselves who, in turn, have been the target of this group. Boko Haram’s actions are in direct conflict with Islamic teachings and basic human rights. Forcing girls who are not Muslim to don the Islamic garb and pray as Muslims do, opposes the directive of the Holy Quran which clearly states: “Let there be no compulsion in faith.” (Quran Ch.2; V. 256). Their actions are therefore born of a mental illness or they are serving an ulterior political agenda. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) has emphatically stated, “He who is not merciful to mankind will receive no mercy from the Almighty.” We urge the authorities in Nigeria to do everything within their power to return the girls to their families and administer justice to the perpetrators of this evil crime. Furthermore, we urge a complete investigation into revealing who these Boko Haram devils masquerading as Muslims really are. Moulana Rafiek Mohamed Secretary-General Jamiatul Ulama KZN (Source: Jamiat Newsletter)

FRIENDS ARE LIKE TREES I have this tree analogy when I think of people in my life, be it friends, family, acquaintances, employees, co-workers, whomever... They are all placed inside what I call my tree test. I goes like this: LEAF PEOPLE Some people come into your life and they are like leaves on a tree. They are only there for a season. You can’t depend on them or count on them because they are weak and only there to give you shade. Like leaves, they are there to take what they need and as soon as it gets cold or a wind blows in your life they are gone. You can’t be angry at them, it’s just who they are. BRANCH PEOPLE There are some people who come into your life and they are like branches on a tree. They are stronger than leaves, but you have to be careful with them. They will stick around through most seasons, but if you go through a storm or two in your life it’s possible that you could lose them. Most times they break away when it’s tough. Although they are stronger than leaves, you have to test them out before you run out there and put all your weight on them. In most cases they can’t handle too much weight. But again, you can’t be mad with them, it’s just who they are. ROOT PEOPLE If you can find some people in your life who are like the roots of a tree then you have found something special. Like the roots of a tree, they are hard to find because they are not trying to be seen. Their only job is to hold you up and help you live a strong and healthy life. If you thrive, they are happy. They stay low key and don’t let the world know that they are there. And if you go through an awful storm they will hold you up. Their job is to hold you up, come what may, and to nourish you, feed you and water you. Just as a tree has many limbs and many leaves, there are few roots. Look at your own life. How many leaves, branches and roots do you have? What are you in other people’s lives? THANK ALLAAH FOR THE ROOTS! (Source: Jamiatul Ulama (KZN) blog)

The Kids would have Known the Difference! It was a sunny Saturday afternoon. My friend was taking his two little boys to play miniature golf. He walked up to the fellow at the ticket counter and said, “How much is the ticket to get in?” The young man replied, “$3.00 for adults and $3.00 for any kid who is older than six years. We let them in free if they are six years or younger. How old are they?” My friend replied, “One is three years and the other is seven, so I guess I owe you $6.00.” The man at the ticket counter said, “Hey, Mister, did you just win the lottery or something? You could have saved yourself three bucks. You could have told me that the older one was six; I wouldn’t have known the difference.” My friend replied, “Yes, that may be true, but the kids would have known the difference.” In challenging times when ethics are more important than ever before, make sure we set a good example for everyone we work and live with, especially our young eyes and ears. The Prophet (Sallallaahu Alahi Wasalaam) said: “Four traits whoever possesses them is a hypocrite and whoever possesses some of them has an element of hypocrisy until he leaves it: 1) The one who when he speaks he lies, 2) When he promises he breaks his promise, 3) When he disputes he transgresses and 4) When he makes an agreement he violates it. The Messenger of Allah (Sallallaahu Alahi Wasalaam) also said: ‘Whoever says to a child, ‘Come here and take this,’ then does not give him something, this is counted as a lie.’ (Narrated by Abu Dawood, 4991) (Source: Jamiatul Ulama (KZN) blog)

Rajab Rajab, being the seventh month of the Islamic calendar is a stepping stone to the auspicious months of Sha’baan and Ramadaan. Rajab is from the Ash'hurul Hurum (Sacred months), where the rewards of virtuous deeds are increased. On the commencement of the month of Rajab, Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallamwould recite the following Dua: اَللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ لَنَا فِي رَجَبٍ وَشَعْبَانَ وَبَلِّغْنَا رَمَضَانَ “Allahumma baarik lanaa fee Rajabin wa Sha'baana wa ballighnaa Ramadaan.” “Oh Allah! grant us blessings in the month of Rajab and Shabaan, and make us reach the month of Ramadaan.” (Shu'abul-Imaan) This Dua should be recited regularly at the advent of the month of Rajab. In preparation for Ramadhaan, the relevance of Rajab maybe understood as the month to sow seeds (good actions), Sha’baan is the month in which we should water those seeds (with tears of repentance) and Ramadaan is the month in which we reap the harvest. May Allah Ta’ala bless us with witnessing Ramadaan and grant us the ability to spend it in a manner that is most pleasing to Him, Ameen. Masjid Poster can be downloaded here. (source: Jamiatul Ulama (KZN) newsletter)

Alhamdulillah, Islam has the solution for all these issues and insha'Allah our communities, led by qualified and reliable scholars, can help steer us to a much better reality - one that is good, fair and just. For now, we just need to know that these systems are far from fair/just/good - recognize it, strive to be the best we can be despite it, be the best ambassadors of Islam that we can be, and work hard to end such injustices. And... help each other in the struggle against the current, the struggle towards Falah.

Well my dear sis, as you struggle and work hard to attain what you want, you must know that there are many who don't and yet they get to where they want to go... that is not 'fair' nor is it an efficient or effective way to weed out the "best" from the rest.

Another example I can think of is low-income single-mothers in North America. They are put through so many bureaucratic wringers that it becomes a matter of survival in a sense and pushes some women to lie to officials. Is it cheating? You bet... but why are they cheating and why is the system so messed up that a woman who can't afford food must do so in order to get food stamps? The system may not do it purposely but the way it is set up and built on (rather than re-vamped altogether) makes it so that those who learn how to get around it, do.

Oh but it is dear sis, unfortunately it is. But we really have to look at it with a critical eye or else it isn't easy to see... Take higher education in countries like Turkiye for instance. There was a time when people attended state universities until the number of students balooned and so many found it difficult to get into careers they wanted so, for those with money, a new system was born - private institutions. Now, there may be grants and bursaries etc. available for lower income students but still, a student from a low income background has to work really hard to get into university based on their grades and exam scores whereas others with money can afford to do things differently. Also, students from lower income backgrounds may have to do without additional things like private tutors and a network of people to rely on etc. that presumably help those who can afford them or are connected. The playing field is far from fair and to me, this is a type of cheating too.

Waalaikumussalaam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu dear sister Marryam: Masha'Allah on your exams and the way you handled the test within a test :) and insha'Allah you will be successful in both worlds!

Hey, maybe the sister likes soup :) About cheating - now, lets try to think about this from another angle but before we do lets agree and make it clear - CRYSTAL CLEAR - that cheating is a big no-no. I have a huge problem with people who go after cheaters alone. Cheating is one thing but to rig a system to make it conducive to cheating and in some instances really make cheating the only option, then I would say that if cheating is a problem we need to look at the system in which it is happening. That system may be school or work or even social services or family or something else. Lets not jump to lynch people but think: "why are these people cheating... what is pushing them to cheat?" When it comes to school and exams... it is NOT always the ones who study hard who get into certain schools etc... we have to look back to a time before that exam and ask questions like - how many resources did the student have access to? Is the student's access to resources the same as other students? If the second question is answered negatively - that difference can very well be one reason why some are able to move ahead easier than others in a system that can be argued to favour the ones with the upper hand in such circumstances. In other words, we need to be able to see that the system (in this case education) is not a fair playing field - at least that is the case when it comes to dunyawi things like career advancement and prestige.

Repentance The Ulama have stated: “It is necessary to repent from every sin. If the offense involves the Rights of Allah, not a human, then there are three conditions to be met in order that the repentance be accepted by Allah: 1. To desist from committing it. 2. To feel sorry for committing it. 3. To make firm intention not to recommit the sin Any repentance failing to meet any of these three conditions would not be sincere. However, if the sin involves a human's right, it requires a fourth condition, i.e., to absolve oneself from such right. If it is a property, it should be returned it to its rightful owner. If it is slandering or backbiting, one should ask the pardon of the offended.” Allah, the, Exalted says: § “And beg Allah to forgive you, O believers, that you may be successful.” (24:31) § “Seek the forgiveness of your Rabb, and turn to Him in repentance.” (11:3) § “O you who believe! Turn to Allah with sincere repentance!” (66:8) Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam has stated: “Turn in repentance to Allah and beg pardon of Him. I turn to Him in repentance a hundred times a day!” (Muslim) Compiled from: Riyaadus-Saaliheen (Source: Jamiatul Ulama (KZN) newsletter)