Commentary ~ Is beautiful

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

Words of the Caliph ‘Umar (may Allah grant him His Satisfaction):

Equity (justice) is beautiful, but it is even more so among princes.

Generosity is beautiful, but it is even more so among the rich.

Scrupulous fear (Taqwa) of Allah is beautiful, but it is even more so among scholars.

Patience is beautiful, but it is even more so among the poor.

The return to Allah is beautiful, but it is even more so among the youth.

Modesty is beautiful, but it is even more so among women.

Read Full Post »

Hadith ~ Before he is asked

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

Abu Barzah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (May Allah exalt his mention and protect him from imperfection) said: “Man’s feet will not move on the Day of Resurrection before he is asked about his life, how did he consume it, his knowledge, what did he do with it, his wealth, how did he earn it and how did he dispose of it, and about his body, how did he wear it out.” (At-Tirmidhi)

Commentary:
1. This Hadith first of all highlights the importance and value of this transitory life, every breath of which is invaluable. Not a moment of it should, therefore, be wasted in the disobedience of Allah because one shall also be made to account for it.

2. Man shall also be answerable for his knowledge. Here, we find an inducement for acquiring religious knowledge because that alone is beneficial for him. He should make use of his knowledge for winning the pleasure of Allah. If he does not do that then he must think about the justification for not doing so. He must also think how he would be facing Allah on the Day of Resurrection.

3. The question in respect of wealth raised in this Hadith clearly shows that one should earn wealth by legitimate means only and spend it strictly in a lawful manner. If he takes to unfair means of income or squanders it, he will be sinful and required to account for the violation of the Divine injunctions.

4. One should protect his body from everything that is unlawful and force himself to submit to the Divine injunctions. When he is asked to account for neglecting them, it will be difficult for him to escape the consequences of accountability.

In short, this Hadith makes one conscious of the accountability so that one keeps it all the time in view so that he will be saved from humiliation on the Day of Resurrection. How nice would it really be if one bears the accountability of the day of Resurrection always in mind!

Riyaadiss-Saliheen (The Meadows of the Righteous)
By Imam An Nawawi
Chapiter 50, Page 137, No 407

Read Full Post »

Ayaat 19-26 ~ Ar-Ra’d (The Thunder)

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

19. Shall he then who knows that what has been revealed unto you from your Lord is the truth be like him who is blind? But it is only the men of understanding that pay heed.

20. Those who fulfill the Covenant of Allâh and break not the Mîthâq (bond, treaty, covenant);

21. Those who join that which Allâh has commanded to be joined (i.e. they are good to their relatives and do not sever the bond of kinship), fear their Lord, and dread the terrible reckoning (i.e. abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which Allâh has forbidden and perform all kinds of good deeds which Allâh has ordained).

22. And those who remain patient, seeking their Lord’s Countenance, perform As-Salât (Iqâmat-as-Salât), and spend out of that which We have bestowed on them, secretly and openly, and defend evil with good, for such there is a good end;

23. ‘Adn (Eden) Paradise (everlasting Gardens), which they shall enter and (also) those who acted righteously from among their fathers, and their wives, and their offspring. And angels shall enter unto them from every gate (saying):

24. “Salâmun ‘Alaikum (peace be upon you) for that you persevered in patience! Excellent indeed is the final home!”

25. And those who break the Covenant of Allâh, after its ratification, and sever that which Allâh has commanded to be joined (i.e. they sever the bond of kinship and are not good to their relatives), and work mischief in the land, on them is the curse (i.e. they will be far away from Allâh’s Mercy); And for them is the unhappy (evil) home (i.e. Hell).

26. Allâh increases the provision for whom He wills, and straitens (it for whom He wills), and they rejoice in the life of the world, whereas the life of this world as compared with the Hereafter is but a brief passing enjoyment.

Sura 13. Ar-Ra’d (The Thunder)

Read Full Post »

Commentary ~ Free the slaves

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

Hassan al-Basri was one of the Tabi’en (second generation after the Companions RA). Once, after giving the Friday sermon a group of slaves came to him and said, “Shaykh please, next week, give a speech about freeing the slaves!” Hassan agreed and next week there, waiting anxiously, were the slaves. Hassan ascended the pulpit. His speech moved hearts and brought tears to dry eyes, but he failed to mention anything about freeing slaves? The slaves thought to themselves that the Shaykh must have forgot, thus, once again, the following week they took the 50 yard line seats and waited hoping soon to be free. However, the Shaykh failed to mention anything again? After a number of weeks the slaves were sure that the Shaykh sold them out, gotten cold feet and they began to hold the Shaykh in contempt.

One year passed and the tired slaves entered the Masjid of the Shaykh. They had long since forgotten their request and were taken aback, when suddenly he began to mention the conditions of slaves and the importance of freeing them! Their faces looked like bright lamps as the Shaykh encouraged all to free their slaves in exchange for Allah’s mercy and pleasure.

After the sermon the slaves were freed and they ran to the Shaykh asking why he waited one year to give the speech. Hassan al-Basri responded: “At the time you ask me to give the speech I readily agreed. However, after you left I realised that I had no slave of my own. Being a poor man I had to save some money for around one year’s time in order to purchase a slave. Today, alhumdulillah! I was able to purchase a slave. After I purchased him I went to the market and freed him. Finally, I went to the Masjid and gave my sermon.” Looking baffled the freed men asked, “But why? Why did you go to all this trouble?” The Shaykh responded, “If I gave that speech a year ago I would have been encouraging the people to do something that I had not done. Thus, I decided to wait until I freed a slave so that my actions and words would be equal.”

Read Full Post »

Hadith ~ He who has done a wrong

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

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (May Allah exalt his mention and protect him from imperfection) said: “He who has done a wrong affecting his brother’s honour or anything else, let him ask his forgiveness today before the time (i.e., the Day of Resurrection) when he will have neither a dinar nor a dirham. If he has done some good deeds, a portion equal to his wrong doings will be subtracted from them; but if he has no good deeds, he will be burdened with the evil deeds of the one he had wronged in the same proportion”.(Al-Bukhari)

Commentary: This Hadith tells us that if one does not compensate a person who has been harmed by one and has not been pardoned for it, then it would have a serious consequence in the Hereafter. Its detail is mentioned in this Hadith. Thus, negligence in the case of public rights, which we take very lightly, is in fact ruinous.

Riyaadiss-Saliheen (The Meadows of the Righteous)
By Imam An Nawawi
Chapiter 26, Page 75, No 210

Read Full Post »

Ayaat 76-84 ~ Al-Qasas (The Naration)

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

76. Verily, Qarun (Korah) was of Musa’s (Moses) people, but he behaved arrogantly towards them. And We gave him of the treasures, that of which the keys would have been a burden to a body of strong men. When his people said to him: “Do not be glad (with ungratefulness to Allah’s Favours). Verily! Allah likes not those who are glad (with ungratefulness to Allah’s Favours).

77. But seek, with that (wealth) which Allah has bestowed on you, the home of the Hereafter, and forget not your portion of legal enjoyment in this world, and do good as Allah has been good to you, and seek not mischief in the land. Verily, Allah likes not the Mufsidun (those who commit great crimes and sins, oppressors, tyrants, mischief-makers, corrupts).

78. He said: “This has been given to me only because of knowledge I possess.” Did he not know that Allah had destroyed before him generations, men who were stronger than him in might and greater in the amount (of riches) they had collected. But the Mujrimun (criminals, disbelievers, polytheists, sinners, etc.) will not be questioned of their sins (because Allah knows them well, so they will be punished without account).

79. So he went forth before his people in his pomp. Those who were desirous of the life of the world, said: “Ah, would that we had the like of what Qarun (Korah) has been given? Verily! He is the owner of a great fortune.”

80. But those who had been given (religious) knowledge said: “Woe to you! The Reward of Allah (in the Hereafter) is better for those who believe and do righteous good deeds, and this none shall attain except those who are patient (in following the truth).”

81. So We caused the earth to swallow him and his dwelling place. Then he had no group or party to help him against Allah, nor was he one of those who could save themselves.

82. And those who had desired (for a position like) his position the day before, began to say: “Know you not that it is Allah Who enlarges the provision or restricts it to whomsoever He pleases of His slaves. Had it not been that Allah was Gracious to us, He could have caused the earth to swallow us up (also)! Know you not that the disbelievers will never be successful.

83. That home of the Hereafter (i.e. Paradise), We shall assign to those who rebel not against the truth with pride and oppression in the land nor do mischief by committing crimes. And the good end is for the Muttaqun (the pious and righteous persons who fear Allah much (abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which He has forbidden).

84. Whosoever brings good (Islamic Monotheism along with righteous deeds), he shall have the better thereof, and whosoever brings evil (polytheism along with evil deeds) then, those who do evil deeds will only be requited for what they used to do.

Sura 28. Al-Qasas (The Naration)

Read Full Post »

Commentary ~ The moment of death had arrived

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

It was 4 in the morning when the moment of death had arrived.
What is this? The man in a state of shock cried.
The man started to tremble suddenly shaken,
To his sleeping wife he cried out don’t let my soul be taken.

I want to live; I am not yet ready to leave,
My family is dependent on me, can there be no reprieve?

With the order of Allah there is no delay,
Prepare yourself for the grave there is nothing to say.
Why do you fear to die by the Will of Allah?
Come; be content to return to your Lord Allah.

I am ashamed that I never had the time to remember my Lord,
Forgetting this moment, I preferred piling riches into a hoard.
The orders of Allah, I did not obey,
Five times a day I never did pray.
Every year, Ramadan came and Ramadan went,
I never had the time or the will to repent.
The Hajj on me had become an obligation,
But spending of my money was too much of a tribulation.
I ignored giving Zakat and charity taken from my possessions,
But loved giving and taking forbidden interest it was an obsession.
I forgot all my religious duties and obligations,
Being fearful of my company’s managers, bosses and administration.
Of my Faith I felt a hidden shame,
At all times fearful of the disbelievers blame.
The distress of the Muslims always bored me a lot,
Instead the artifices of this world were all that I sought.
I imitated the disbelievers in all of their actions,
Drinking wine and champagne was just one of my distractions,
Not to mention the women, those were always an attraction.
O woe on to me I was really astray,
Can there not be even a little delay?

As you well know, this is your last moment of life,
Every soul will taste death even if you cry, plead or feel strife.
Your parents you neglected time and time again,
You pushed away the hungry and the weak who never were your friends.
Your daughters sang and danced in clubs of the night,
While your sons got lost and trapped with women of vice.
Instead of procreating righteous children as Muslim believers,
You have raised your children instead as ignoble disbelievers,
So rich with wealth and material goods,
But oh so poor with what really would do them some good.
You always ignored the call to the Prayer,
The Koran to you was unknown, a complete stranger.
You never kept your promises, at all times fighting,
Your favourite weapon was defamation and back-biting.
You under-paid your employees whom you targeted,
While from the fruits of their labour you harvested.
Never shared of your wealth with the poor and the orphan,
While running away from the sick with great aversion.

I know, I know, I feel very ashamed.
I have a deep regret and feel very pained.
If I had signs of this imminent death,
I would have changed before my last breath.

O miserable soul, your Creator has provided all the signs that you need,
To believe in Allah, His Angels, His Books, and His Messengers and to do good deeds.
But to Allah’s Signs you were blind and you were deaf.
The signs there were many for those who reflect,
Your only concern was confined to this passing life.
Since the Koran you have ignored,
Know that it was said by your Lord,
The life of this world is but play and a pastime,
That is nothing compared to what lies in the Hereafter.
You ignored the warnings in the Koran as a traitor,
You will now be returned to your Creator.

The man’s face was now frozen in its deathly slumber.
His body couldn’t express the pain of the soul, leaving the body in a tumble.
Life, at times, does have its surprises, but never death. Why?
Because everybody knows that we are born and that one day we will die.

Read Full Post »

Hadith ~ If he dislikes one of her characteristics

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

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (May Allah exalt his mention and protect him from imperfection) said: “A believer must not hate (his wife) believing woman; if he dislikes one of her characteristics he will be pleased with another”. (Muslim).

Commentary: This Hadith also contains a very wise counsel for a happy married life. It tells us that every person has certain good qualities as well as some shortcomings. Man has been advised here to overlook the shortcomings that he does not like in his wife and appreciate her good qualities. Similarly, a woman is advised to ignore the shortcomings of her husband and admire his good qualities.

Riyaadiss-Saliheen (The Meadows of the Righteous)
By Imam An Nawawi
Chapiter 34, Page 95, No 275

Read Full Post »

Ayaat 73-78 ~ Al-Hajj (The Pilgrimage)

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

73. O mankind! A similitude has been coined, so listen to it (carefully): Verily! Those on whom you call besides Allâh, cannot create (even) a fly, even though they combine together for the purpose. And if the fly snatched away a thing from them, they would have no power to release it from the fly. So weak are (both) the seeker and the sought.

74. They have not estimated Allâh His Rightful Estimate; Verily, Allâh is All-Strong, All-Mighty.

75. Allâh chooses Messengers from angels and from men. Verily, Allâh is All-Hearer, All-Seer.

76. He knows what is before them, and what is behind them. And to Allâh return all matters (for decision).

77. O you who believe! Bow down, and prostrate yourselves[1], and worship your Lord and do good that you may be successful.

78. And strive hard in Allâh’s Cause as you ought to strive (with sincerity and with all your efforts that His Name should be superior). He has chosen you (to convey His Message of Islâmic Monotheism to mankind by inviting them to His religion, Islâm), and has not laid upon you in religion any hardship, it is the religion of your father Ibrahim (Abraham) (Islâmic Monotheism). It is He (Allâh) Who has named you Muslims both before and in this (the Qur’ân), that the Messenger (Muhammad ) may be a witness over you and you be witnesses over mankind! So perform As­Salât (Iqamat-as-Salât), give Zakât and hold fast to Allâh [i.e. have confidence in Allâh, and depend upon Him in all your affairs] He is your Maula (Patron, Lord, etc.), what an Excellent Maula (Patron, Lord, etc.) and what an Excellent Helper!

Sura 22. Al-Hajj (The Pilgrimage)

[1]: At this verse we prostrate.

Read Full Post »

Commentary ~ Maintaining a Balanced Lifestyle

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

Ali bin Fudail related that he heard his father say to Ibn Mubarak, “You order us to seek little from this world, yet we see you trading in merchandise. Please explain how you reconcile one with the other?” He said, “O Abu ‘Ali, I do so only to protect myself (from begging), to be generous to my family, and to use wealth to help me in obedience to my Lord.” ‘Ali said, “O Ibn Mubarak, if you achieve all of that, then your way of earning and spending are both noble indeed!”

Gems and Jewels
Compiled by: Abdul-Malik Mujahid
Publisher: Maktaba Dar-us-Salam
ISBN: 9960-897-59-1
Page 115

Read Full Post »

Hadith ~ Irrigate the garden

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

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (May Allah exalt his mention and protect him from imperfection) said, “While a man was walking through a barren land, he heard a voice coming out of a cloud saying: ‘Irrigate the garden of so-and-so.’ Thereupon the cloud drifted in a certain direction and discharged its water over a rocky plain. The streamlets flowed into a channel. This man followed the channel until it reached a garden and he saw the owner of the garden standing in its center, working with his spade spreading the water (changing the course of the water). He asked him: “O slave of Allah, what is your name?” He told his name, which was the same that he heard from the cloud. The owner of the garden then asked him: “O slave of Allah, why did you ask my name?” He replied: “I heard a voice from a cloud which poured down this water saying: ‘Irrigate the garden of so-and-so.’ I would like to know what do you do with it.” He said: “Now that you asked me, I will tell you. I estimate the produce of the garden and distribute one-third of it in charity, I spend one-third on myself and my family and invest one third back into the garden.” [Muslim]

Riyaadiss-Saliheen (The Meadows of the Righteous)
By Imam An Nawawi
Chapiter 60, Page 182, No 562

Read Full Post »

Ayaat 33-34 ~ Luqman

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

33. O mankind! Be afraid of your Lord (by keeping your duty to Him and avoiding all evil), and fear a Day when no father can avail aught for his son, nor a son avail aught for his father. Verily, the Promise of Allâh is true, let not then this (worldly) present life deceive you, nor let the chief deceiver (Satan) deceive you about Allâh.

34. Verily, Allâh! With Him (Alone) is the knowledge of the Hour, He sends down the rain, and knows that which is in the wombs. No person knows what he will earn tomorrow, and no person knows in what land he will die. Verily, Allâh is All­Knower, All­Aware (of things).

Sura 31. Luqman

Read Full Post »

Commentary ~ A Good Deed that is not accepted

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

Asma’i related: “I was with a man from the inhabitants of Sham (Modern day Syria, Lebanon, Palestine and Jordan regions combined) and was attempting to appease him in a certain manner when a vendor with a bucketful of pomegranates passed by. To my surprise, my companion who was of the noble aristocrats of Sham quickly snatched a pomegranate and slipped it into his sleeve. I could not believe what my eyes had witnessed until we happened upon a beggar. This man from Sham retrieved the hidden pomegranate from his sleeve and handed it to the beggar. I questioned him about this strange action.” He replied, “Do you not understand that taking the pomegranate was one evil deed and giving it to the beggar equated to ten good deeds?” Asma’i responded, “Do you not know that the taking of it was an evil action and the good of giving it was not accepted of you because it was Haram (forbidden).”

Additional commentary: Allah is Good and only accepts that which is good.

Gems and Jewels
Compiled by: Abdul-Malik Mujahid
Publisher: Maktaba Dar-us-Salam
ISBN: 9960-897-59-1
Page 83

Read Full Post »