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Ibn Taymiyyah: Best Moisturiser for Dry Hearts In the 1970s, there was an advert on TV for a popular brand of moisturising cream. The advert sought to show how great the cream was by first showing us a dry autumn leaf which, upon being scrunched in the palm of the hand, crumbled into pieces. Next came another dry leaf, this time the moisturising cream was applied to it. After it was squeezed, one saw the dry leaf gently unfolding back to its original shape. Themessage: If this is what the cream can do to a dry leaf, imagine what it could do for your dry or crinkled skin. I suspect many were sold on this moisturiser … including a young, teenage me! The idea of moistening or revitalising faces and hands also applies to spiritual hearts. For the remembrance of Allah – dhikru’Llah– nourishes and revitalises the heart like nothing else. Indeed, it is its very lifeline. So much so, that Ibn Taymiyyah once made this following comparison: .الذِكْرُ لِلْقَلْبِ كَالمَاءِ لِلسَّمَك فَكَيفَ يَكُونُ حَالَ السَّمَك اِذَا فَارَقَ المَاء ‘Dhikr is to the heart as water is to a fish. Don’t you see what happens to a fish when it is taken out of water?’* Islam’s masters of the heart teach us, then, to be constant in remembering Allah and in invoking Him. Consistent dhikr, with the required courtesy or adab towards the One being invoked, is key. As commitment to dhikr grows and deepens, and as souls begin to be illumined by the mention of His holy Name, Allah will cover our weaknesses with His might, cloth our lowliness in His glory, conceal our ignorance with His knowledge, heal the anger of our ego with His clemency, and calm the agitations of our heart with His assurance and serenity; such that one will be given to taste the bliss of the eternal realm whilst still living in this earthly abode. ≈ *Cited in Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah, al-Wabil al-Sayyib (Damascus: Maktabah Dar al-Bayyan, 2006), 93. Source: The Humble I

Life at home ? A woman shared an exemplary point about her life at home: ? I have allotted a name to each room in my house. ? My living room has been named "Tahleel Room", so whenever I am in that room I continue to recite/read 'La Ilaha Illalah' ? I have named my Master Bedroom "Hamd Room". My Zikr is this room is 'Alhamdulillah' ? My children's bedroom is named "Tasbeeh Room" and I recite 'SubhanAllah' in that room ? My kitchen's name is "Astagfaar Room" so while cooking food I remember to read 'Astagfirullah'. Normally while cutting vegetables I continue to do Zikr which I believe adds to the taste and pleasure in my food. ? My drawing room is named "Salawaat Room". ? I read "Takbir" while watering plants and pots. ? To summarize, I am involved in Zikr in each corner of my house and this saves me from getting lethargic. ? This way I stay entertained at home and I don't feel tired. At the same time, my home is blessed and my heart is satisfied! ?? Let us all follow her example and make the air in our homes fresh and beautiful. Via Shaykh Abdul Raheem source

What can we do in one minute? سُبْحَانَ اللهِ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ وَلَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَاللهُ أَكْبَرُ Subhaa-nallaah, wal-hamdu Lillah, wa laa ilaaha illallaah, wallaahu Akbar Glory be to Allaah, praise be to Allaah, there is no god except Allaah, and Allaah is the Greatest Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam said,” To say this is more beloved to me than all that the sun rises upon.” (Sahih Muslim) In one minute, you can say the above words more than 18 times. These words are the most beloved words to Allaah, the best of words, and they weigh heavily in the balance of good deeds. _______________________________________________________ سُبْحَانَ اللهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ، سُبْحَانَ اللهِ العَظِيمِ Subhaa-nallaahi wa bi hamdi-hi, Subhaa nallaa hil Azeem Glory and praise be to Allaah, glory be to Allaah, the Almighty In one minute you can say it 50 times. These are two phrases which are light on the lips, heavy in the balance and beloved to the Most Merciful. _______________________________________________________ سُبْحَانَ اللهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ Subhaa-nallaahi wa bi hamdi-hi Glory and praise be to Allaah In one minute you can say it 100 times. Whoever says that in one day will be forgiven for his sins even if they are like the foam of the sea. _______________________________________________________ لاَ حَوْلَ وَلاَ قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ Laa hawla wa laa quwwata illa Billaah There is no strength and no power except with Allaah In one minute you can say it more than 40 times. This is one of the treasures of Paradise. _______________________________________________________ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ Laa ilaaha illallaah There is no Deity besides Allaah In one minute you can say it approximately 50 times. This is the greatest word, for it is the word of Tawheed, the good word, the word that stands firm. If these are the last words of a person, he will enter Paradise. _______________________________________________________ أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ Astaghfirullaah I seek the forgiveness of Allaah In one minute you can seek the forgiveness of Allaah more than 100 times. The virtues of seeking forgiveness are a means of attaining forgiveness and entering Paradise, and it is the means of being granted a good life, increasing one’s strength, warding off disasters, making things easier and increasing one’s wealth and children. _______________________________________________________ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ Salallahu alayhi wa sallam May Allaah bless him and grant him peace In one minute you can send blessings on Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam 50 times by saying the above. In return, Allaah will send blessings upon you 500 hundred times because one blessing brings ten like it. The above actions are among the greatest means of attaining happiness, expanding the chest (i.e., bringing relief and joy) and removing stress and anxiety. May Allaah help us to do that which He loves and which pleases Him. Jamiatul Ulama (KZN) Council of Muslim Theologians

Hazrat Moulana Muhammad Ilyaas (rahmatullahi ‘alaih) once mentioned the following: The actual meaning of zikr is for a person to fulfil the command of Allah Ta‘ala that relates to him in every given situation. Allah Ta‘ala commands us in the Qur’aan Majeed saying: یٰۤاَیُّهَا الَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوْا لَا تُلْهِکُمْ اَمْوَالُکُمْ وَلَاۤ اَوْلَادُکُمْ عَنْ ذِکْرِ اللّٰه O you who believe! Do not let your wealth or children turn you away from the remembrance (command) of Allah Ta‘ala. (Surah Munaafiqoon v. 9) Hence, while one is at home interacting with his family and children, or while one is engaged in trade and commerce, if he ensures that he remains obedient to Allah Ta‘ala and does not break His commands while fulfilling these worldly needs, then even though he is engaged in these occupations, he will be regarded as a person engaged in the remembrance of Allah Ta‘ala. (Malfoozaat Hazrat Moulana Muhammad Ilyaas (rahmatullahi ‘alaih) pg. 57) Ihyauddeen.co.za

Perpetual Zikr (English with Urdu Translation) Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said: “Your tongue should remain ever fresh with Thikrullah.” The Name of Allah Ta’ala has to be compulsorily on the tongue of the Mu’min throughout the day. When retiring for the night, fall asleep with Allah’s Thikr. Then every breath will be recorded as a Tasbeeh, and an Angel will guard you throughout the night. Perpetual Thikr is not the customary, bid’ah forms of ‘halqah’ (circle) thikr sessions which some miscreant fake ‘sufis’ conduct in the public in Musaajid to lure and impress the public. Perpetual Thikr is to constantly keep the tongue moving with Thikr – any form – preferably Laa ilaha il lallaah. Ultimately, such thikr of the tongue will become embedded and entrenched in the heart. The heart will then become alert and remain wakeful in Allah’s remembrance. The heart will then be adorned with Noor. Be constant with Thikr whilst walking, sitting, working and in all walks of life. Such Thikrullah will create an aversion for futile talk, leave alone sinful conversation. Do not be concerned if you do not perceive any emotional effect of the Thikr on your heart. Your obligation is to engage in Thikrullah. The effects of spiritual sweetness, pleasure and tenderness of the heart are beyond one’s power of acquisition. Such effects are bounties which Allah Ta’ala awards according to His Will and Wisdom. Be concerned with issues within your volitional control. The emotional effect is also largely reliant on the manner in which one conducts one’s daily life. A person who soils his eyes, ears, mind, etc. with whatsapp, facebook, television, staring at ghair mahaareem, etc., etc., should not expect any emotional state for his Thikr. Nevertheless, despite his indulgence in these evils, he should not abandon Thikrullaah. Constancy in Thikrullaah will, Insha-Allah, ultimately create an aversion for these activities of sin. The Qur’aan Majeed says: “I have not created jinn and man except that they worship Me.” Thus Thikrullaah is the primary objective for which Allah Ta’ala has created us. All other activities such as Jihad, Tableegh, Knowledge, and every other laudable deed are all secondary in relation to Thikrullaah. [By Hazrat Maulana Ahmad Sadeq Desai] Taken from Reliable fatwas