Tawheed is the key

“Life is a book with many chapters. Some tell of tragedy, others tell of
triumph. Some are dull and ordinary, others intense and exciting. The key to success in life is to never stop on a difficult page, to never quit on a tough chapter. Champions have the courage to keep turning the pages because they know that a better chapter always lies ahead, because with Allah all things are possible.”

Abdullaah Ibn Abbas (radiallahu anhu) said: “You who commit a sin, do not feel secure about the results, for what goes along with the sin is more serious than the sin itself.Your lack of shame before the angels, who witness you when you commit the sin, is more serious than the sin itself.Your laughter when you sin, as you forget the punishment of Allah is more serious than the sin itself. Your delight if you get a chance to sin, is more serious than the sin itself. Even your disappointment, if you miss a chance to sin is more serious than the sin itself.”

Sincerity

Umar bin al-Khattaab relates that: ‘I heard the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, saying, “Verily actions are by intentions, and for every person is what he intended. So the one whose hijra was to Allaah and His Messenger, then his hijrah was to Allaah and His Messenger. And the one whose hijrah was for the world to gain from it, or a woman to marry her, then his hijrah was to what he made hijrah for.” [Related by Bukhaaree and Muslim.]

This hadeeth is one of the hadeeth around which the whole religion revolves, and it is related from Imaam ash-Shaafi’ee that he said, “This hadeeth constitutes a third of all knowledge.”

Imaam Ahmad said, “The foundations of Islaam are upon three ahaadeeth:· The hadeeth of Umar, ‘Verily actions are by intention’
· The hadeeth of Aa`ishah, ‘Whoseover introduces into this affair of ours that which is not part it, then it is rejected.’
· The hadeeth of Nu`maan bin Bashir, ‘The halaal is clear and the haraam is clear.’”

Ishaaq bin Raahawayah said, “the foundations of the religion are upon four hadeeth:· The hadeeth of Umar, ‘Verily actions are by intention.’
· The hadeeth, ‘The halaal is clear, and the haraam is clear.’
· The hadeeth, ‘Verily the creation of one of you comes together in the stomach of his mother for 40 days.’
· The hadeeth, ‘Whosoever invents into this affair of ours anything which is not part of it, then it is rejected.’”

Abu Ubayd said, “The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, collected all the affairs of the Hereafter in one statement, ‘Whosoever introduces into this affair of ours that which is not part of it, then it is rejected.’ And all the affairs of this world in one statement, ‘Verily actions are by intentions.‘ Place them in every chapter.”

Abu Daawood said, “I looked into the hadeeth of the Musnad (i.e. of Ahmad) and it consisted of 40 000 ahaadeeth. The I looked again and (found that) the 40 000 ahaadeeth revolved around 4 ahaadeeth:

· The hadeeth of Nu’maan bin Bashir, ‘The halaal is clear and the haraam is clear.’ · The hadeeth of Umar, ‘Verily actions are by intentions’
· The hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah, ‘Verily Allaah is pure, and does not accept except that which is pure. And indeed Allaah ordered the Muslims with that which He ordered the Messengers.’
· The hadeeth, ‘From the excellence of ones Islam is his leaving that which does not concern him.’”

From: The Hadeeth of Intention
Imaam Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali rahimahullah
Jaami ul-Uloom wal-Hikam

Allah Ta’ala Swaer by Himself with his attributes, or His verses and His creations that shows that its a Big sign from the signs of Allah.

And Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala swear by Himself 7 times in the Qur’an:

1-”The Unbelievers think that they will not be raised up (for Judgment). Say: “Yea, By my Lord, Ye shall surely be raised up: then shall ye be told (the truth) of all that ye did. And that is easy for Allah.” [64:7]

2-”The Unbelievers say, “Never to us will come the Hour”: Say, “Nay! but most surely, by my Lord, it will come upon you;- by Him Who knows the unseen,- from Whom is not hidden the least little atom in the heavens or on earth: Nor is there anything less than that, or greater, but is in the Record Perspicuous” [34:3]

3-”They seek to be informed by thee: “Is that true?” Say: “Aye! by my Lord! it is the very truth! and ye cannot frustrate it!”[10:53]

4-”So, by thy Lord, without doubt, We shall gather them together, and (also) the Evil Ones (with them); then shall We bring them forth on their knees round about Hell” [19:68]

5-”Therefore, by the Lord, We will, of a surety, call them to account” [15:92]

6-”But no, by the Lord, they can have no (real) Faith, until they make thee judge in all disputes between them, and find in their souls no resistance against Thy decisions, but accept them with the fullest conviction.” [4:65]

7-”Now I do call to witness the Lord of all points in the East and the West that We can certainly” [70:40]

And what Allah swears with in the rest of the Qur’an is by His creations, as in the verse:

“And by the sun and its brightness, And by the moon as it follows it (the sun)…..” [surat ash-shams from verse 1-7]

and His Saying:

“By the night as it envelops, And by the day as it appears in brightness, And by Him Who created male and female” [92:1-3]

and there are many of such examples in the qur’an, and Allah can swear by what He wants, but if the creations swear by other than Allah then thats shirk. theres a hadeeth that says:

“Whoever swears by anyone other than Allaah, has associated partners with Allaah“[Transmitted by Ahmad]

and the hadeeth narrated by Umar:

“Whoever swears by other than Allah has committed an act of kufr or Shirk.”

(Narrated by At-Tirmizi, who graded it as Hasan and by Al-Hakim, who graded it as Saheeh)

And when Allah swear by His creations, it leads to their Creator and that is Allaah Ta’ala, and its to show its virtues and benefits and for the people to learn from.

May Allah allow us to benefit from the Qur’an and its many blessings..

[Taken from the same book as the one i posted the example of the munafiqeen from]

Assalaamu ‘Aleykum Warahmatullaahi Wabarakaatuhu
I write this because i wanna let something out of my heart, and i ask Allaah to assist me..

Wallaahi that Allaah guided us to this deen, and gave us this understanding is such a huge blessing that you cannot throw away, and we should all fear loosing this guidance that Allaah blessed us with.

subhanAllaah how many people start practicing, and end up with ahlul bid’ah..? and how many turn to the “modern” islam?

Wallaah this deen is so precious and it need brothers and sisters who are willing to sacrifice for the victory of this deen..and Allaah Subhanahu Wa Ta’aala gave us this guidance, He showed us this way and made us realize the state of the ummah and how low we have gotten..so how do we thank Allaah for this huge blessing? it is only by actions! we need to act upon what we know, and if we dont we would be as everyone else, there would be no difference..the only difference between us and them is that we knew, and did nothing..while they didnt know..so the burden on us is bigger..

And the reason why i wanted to write this is, if we dont act upon this guidance, we would lose it.. we would get into the dunya and live a “normal” life like everyone else.. we would forget about the sufferings of our brothers and sisters..and what can we say on judgement day?
Allaah will ask us about our ilm and He will ask us about our deen, what did we do for it?

How many people have we seen that was once guided, but started defending baatil ideas and finding excuses? they once knew-just like us…but they didnt do anything about it..!

So, we gotta do something for our deen, and maybe some of us cant bcuz of different reasons, and everyone will be asked alone and Allaah is the All-Knowing..but when the opportunity comes, dont throw it away..and we should always ask Allaah to keep us guided, and to use us in defending this precious deen of ours..and beware of falling into dunya and leading a normal life..cuz its all temporary enjoyments..

May Allaah always keep us guided on the straight path, and let us live and die for this precious deen…Ameeen

Assalaamu ‘aleykum
i just read something beautiful that i wanna share.

we know there are many examples in the Qur’an and one of them talks about the hypocrites in surat al baqarah vers 17-20 where Allah says:”their likeness is as the likeness of one who kindled a fire, then when it lighted all around him Allah took away their light and left them in darkness. (so)they could not see. They are deaf,dumb and blind,so they return not (to the right path). Or like a rainstorm from the sky,wherein is darkness,thunder and lightening- to His saying-Allah have power over all things.”

Allah mentioned 2 things about the hypocrites. They kindled a fire for light and benefit so they benefited in material things from entering islam. But it had no noor-effect on their hearts, so Allah took away the light from the fire and left what was burning in it. and that is the example with the fire.

About their example with the water then He Ta’aala described them like those who got touched by rain with darkness,thunder and lightening. so he lost his power and he put his fingers in his ears and closed his eyes in fear that it would hit him, because the Qur’an with its commands, prohibitons etc came down upon them as the stunning thunder-claps.

[taken from a book on Uloom Al-Qur'aan]

SubhanAllaah we have so much to learn from the Qur’an..

From Umm Ahmad Bint ‘A´ishah that she said: My mother, may Allaah have mercy on her said to me:

“O Daughter, dont be happy about something that will vanish (i.e, enjoyments of the dunya)! and dont be depressed over someone leaving. Be happy for the sake of Allaah Azza wa jall (i.e, by worshipping Him, calling Him etc). be only depressed about falling from the eyes of Allaah azza wa jall (i.e by disobeying him with sins).”

A´ishah said: and i heard her saying: “stick to manners with Allaah azza wa jall inwardly and outwardly! for no one is bad in manners outwardly, but will be punished outwardly! and no one is bad in his manners inwardly but will be punished inwardly! and he who feels lonely alone, is because of he dont feel the good time with Allaah Ta’ala”

[from sifat as-Safwah, by Ibnul Jawzee]

Assalaamu aleykum Warahmatullaahi Wabarakaatuhu

I was listening to a very beautiful lecture by Shaykh Abu Qatadah Al-Filasteeni Fakkalaahu asrahu..i love his lectures they are so beneficial..

it was about the controlling the hearts..and how to keep it clean..

ill write some of my notes inshaAllaah..

1-we gotta take as much care of our hearts as we take care of the rest of our body,appearance etc..

2-the heart is the center of all the actions, feelings like pride, arrogance, envy, love, goodness, etc..and when theres goodness in the heart the actions would come out good aswel. bcuz whats in the heart reflects on the actions n outer appearance.

how do we want to act upon the obligations of Allaah with a black heart filled with sins, envy and hatred?

3-the more a person account him/herself, he/she would realize the qadr of Allah for him in different matters and hes prepared for it. so how would a person be that, if everything hes occupied with is the faults and mistakes of others, and he is blinded about whats in his heart!

so if we want the knowledge of the shar3 of Allaah, we must be aware of our own mistakes and take care of our hearts. We need to check up on ourselves and what goes thru our hearts from sins, desires, feelings. and if you do that and you question your nafs and account it, thats what brings hikmah.

Secong thing is: what will give the heart its light and food? Its the thikr of Allaah and contemplation. And thats what the ulama did. He mentioned how imam ahmad would sit for hours and contemplate. And how Shaykhul Islam Ibnu Taymiyyah would sit after the fajr pray til duha remembering Allaah, and he said that was his meal. And if he didnt remember Allah in the morning it would destroy his body..SubhanAllaah!

Now what will strengthen the believer to do good and to be able to handle worship, difficulties and trials?

Its in praying qiyamul-Layl. Thats what helped the prophet saws to deliver his message, and its what helped the sahaba and their righteous followers. Qiyamul layl is the provision of the believer in our time, so no sane person would leave the qiyamul layl.

Next he goes to al istighfaar- seeking forgiveness from Allaah.

Its what saves the believer from the burden of sins. The sins weigh heavily on the human, and its a heavy burden on the hearts, its burdening your rizq, your relationship with your spouse, your children and everything. And some of the salaf said he could feel his sins on his camel.

The Scholars used to account themselves and purify their hearts with istighfaar. And its istighfaar that relieves you from the heavy weight of sins.

Istighfaar gives you humbleness because it makes you ask people for forgiveness, and ask Allah to forgive you. It makes you realize how much your in need of Allaah and you admit your sins.

Worshipping Allaah without making istighfaar is like building on a undermined sand-cliff ready to crumble to pieces, i.e unstable!

You build up with ibadah, thikr and sending salaam on the prophet saws. Sending salam on the prophet saws is how you get closer to the prophet saws and make you realize how much he did for Islaam.

No day should pass you, without you having your share of these righteous deed: al-Istighfaar, remembering Allaah and to end it with sending salaam on the prophet saws.

And then he goes to mention some great books on the subject of hearts and remembering Allaah. And that great Ulama wrote book on this issue bcuz of its importance.

He mentions al-athkaar and riyadus-Saliheen by Imaam An-Nawawi.
Al wabil as-sayib by ibnul Qayyim.
Al kalimut-tayyib by ibnu taymiyyah.

And he says that those who have families should read these ahadeeth with their families even if its for 10 mins. And how Ulamaa would gather their wives and kids and read ahadeeth for them.

I hope you have benefitted from these few notes.
And i recommend those who understand arabic to listen to the lecture:

Muraqabat al-quloob part 1
http://ia331337.us.archive.org/1/items/abu__Quatada3/Q1/Control_hearts1.rm

Muraqabat al-quloob part 2
http://ia331337.us.archive.org/1/items/abu__Quatada3/Q1/Control_hearts2.rm

Reflecting on Death
As we know we should remember death often and reflect about it and prepare for the next life.
We know that death is certain and it will come for each and everyone of us. But the question is, in what state? Have we prepared for the long journey?

Whenever we travel somewhere we pack a huge bag, your mom gives you food enough for a big family, your stressed and the only thing on your mind is your trip.

But how much have we prepared for our final journey? Are we really prepeared? Did we pack a whole bag of good deeds, and did we make a lot of food for the heart [thikr] to be ready for our trip?

We all know people who have left this dunya, some closer than others. Your heart longs after meeting them again. But have you ever thought about how you will meet that person, and where?

Think about one person you know who have left this dunya and know for sure that you will meet this person again either in:

1-Jannah: where those who love eachother will meet “In the Gardens of delight (Paradise), Facing one another on thrones” [As-saffat,44-45]. You will enter with what you have earned and raced to reach. You will run for the meeting while your still in dunya you long after following this righteous brother/sister and wish to meet them. This meeting will take place on pulpits of light made for them only. The prophets and shuhadaa’ would wish the same as it was mentioned in a hadeeth.

2-Jahannam: what an evil abode! Regret, sorrow and punishment. The day when you will regret but for no good, it would be too late to regret and wish you never knew that person.

“And (remember) the Day when the Zalim (wrong-doer, oppressor, polytheist, etc.) will bite at his hands, he will say: “Oh! Would that I had taken a path with the Messenger ( Muhammad SAW). “Ah! Woe to me! Would that I had never taken so-and-so as a friend!” [Al-Furqaan, 27-29]

“It will profit you not this Day (O you who turn away from Allah’s remembrance and His worship, etc.) as you did wrong, (and) that you will be sharers (you and your Qarin) in the punishment.” [Az-Zukhruf, 39]

3-That you would be in jannah and he/she would be in jahannam! You will look at him and feel sorry for what hes going through. The cover is lifted between you and if it wasnt that Allaah made you recognize him, you wouldnt because of the colour and the changes that happened to him.

You would call him: “And the dwellers of Paradise will call out to the dwellers of the Fire (saying): “We have indeed found true what our Lord had promised us; have you also found true, what your Lord promised (warnings, etc.)?” They shall say: “Yes.” Then a crier will proclaim between them: “The Curse of Allah is on the Zalimun (polytheists and wrongdoers, etc.),”[al-A'raaf.44]

What a vision that would burn you heart from pain, sorrow and regret.

“And those in the Fire will say to the keepers (angels) of Hell: “Call upon your Lord to lighten for us the torment for a day!” They will say: “Did there not come to you, your Messengers with (clear) evidences and signs? They will say: “Yes.” They will reply: “Then call (as you like)! And the invocation of the disbelievers is nothing but in error!”[Ghaafir 49-50]

4-That you are in jahannam while they are in jannah: you look at them and what blessings they received. You would ask him and beg from him whole you feel the fire on your back. You call him and those with him in jannah, “And the dwellers of the Fire will call to the dwellers of Paradise: “Pour on us some water or anything that Allah has provided you with.” They will say: “Both (water and provision) Allah has forbidden to the disbelievers.” [al-A'raaf.50]

but

“Or do those who earn evil deeds think that We shall hold them equal with those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah Islamic Monotheism) and do righteous good deeds, in their present life and after their death? Worst is the judgement that they make.”[al-Jaathiyah,21]

SubhanAllah have you ever thought about that? Have you thought about how few deeds you have, and your sins, how many they are? What if you stand on judgement day, and you realize “i will end in jahannam”, is there anyone who would help you? Share some of their deeds with you? Feel sorry for you? Or will everyone be nafsy nafsy?

Imagine this in front of you! How much would you regret that day? And how many people would you run to and scream”forgive me for backbiting you i dont have enough hasanat”?? forgive me for this and that, who would help you on that day? The day where even the prophets would say nafsy nafsy! would your tears help you? Your regret? What would help you?

“Answer the Call of your Lord (i.e. accept the Islamic Monotheism, O mankind, and jinns) before there comes from Allah a Day which cannot be averted. You will have no refuge on that Day nor there will be for you any denying (of your crimes as they are all recorded in the Book of your deeds).“[ash-shua'raa', 47]

That day you would know your results!

Imagine yourself runnng to the gates of paradise and they’d be closed right at your face! (if you would get that far)

May Allaah save us from the punishments of jahannam and enter us the gardens of jannah..Ameen!

.: 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 pearl. 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)
“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.” (Tirmithi)

“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)

 The Prophet (saw) saw Sidrat al-Muntahaa, a tree in Heaven, and near it, Paradise, as is mention in al-Bukhaari, and Muslim in the hadith of Anas (ra). At the end of this narrative of al-Israa, the Prophet (saw) said, “Then Jibreel brought me to Sidrat al-Muntahaa which was veiled in colours indescribable. Then I entered Paradise, and its lights were of pearls and its soil was musk”.

Muslim, Abu Dawud and Imaam Ahmad report from Abu Hurayrah (ra) that the Messenger (saw) said, “When Allaah (swt) created Paradise and Hell, He sent Jibreel to Paradise, saying “Go and look at it and at what I have prepared therein for its inhabitants”. So he went and looked at it and at what Allaah had prepared therein for its inhabitants…. then He sent him to Hellfire saying, “Go and look at it and what I have prepared therein for its inhabitants” So he looked at it and saw that it was in layers, one above the other….”

Muslim reports from Aishah (ra) that there was a solar eclipse in the time of the Messenger (saw) and he said, “Whilst I was standing here I saw everything that you have been promised, I even saw myself picking some of the fruits of Paradise, when you saw me stepping forward. And I saw Hellfire, parts of it consuming other parts, when you saw me stepping backward”.

al-Bukhaari and Muslim report from Ibn ‘Abbas the same incident, “I saw Paradise and I tried to take a bunch of its fruit. If I had managed to do so, you would have eaten from it until the end of time. And I saw the Fire of Hell, and I have never seen anything so horrific or terrifying. I saw that the majority of its inhabitants are women.” (Nas’al Allaah al ‘afiyah)

Muslim also reports from Anas that the Prophet (Saw) said, “By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, if you had seen what I saw, you would laugh little and cry much.” They said, “What did you see, O Messenger of Allaah?”, He said, “I saw Paradise and Hell”.

al-Bukhaari and Muslim report from Jaabir that the Messenger of Allaah said, “I entered Paradise where I saw ar-Rumaysa, the wife of Abu Talhah. And I heard footsteps and asked, “Who is that?” He (Jibreel) said, “That is Bilaal”. And I saw a palace with women in its courtyard. I asked, “Whose is this?” They said, It is for ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab” (Mishkaat al-Masaabih, 3/226)

 al-Bukhaari and Muslim report that Abu Hurayrah (ra) said, “Jibreel came to the Prophet (saw) said, “O Messenger of Allaah, Khadeejah is coming, carrying a container of food. When she comes to you, convey to her greetings of peace from her Rabb and from me, and give her the glad tidings of a house in Paradise made of brocade, in which there is no noise or exhaustion.”" [Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh, 3/266]

Muslim, Abu Dawud, Ahmad, an-Nasaa’ee, and Ibn Maajah report from Umm Habeebah that the Messenger of Allaah (saw) said, “Whoever prays twelve extra [supererogatory] rak’ahs every day, Allaah (swt) will build for him a house in Paradise.” [Saheeh al-Jaami', 5/316, no. 6234]

The Light of Paradise

Ibn Katheer in his commentary on the aayah: “And they will have therein their sustenance, morning and evening. Such is the Paradise, which We shall give as an inheritance to those of Our slave who have been al-Muttaqoon [pious and righteous]” [19:62-63] said, “This means something approximate to the times of day and night, it does not mean that there will be a day and night there. They will know the passing of time by the changes in the light” [Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 4/471]

Ibn Taymiyyah said, “There is no sun and moon in Paradise, and no day or night, but they will know morning and evening from a light that shines from the direction of the Throne” [Majmu' Fataawa Shaikh al-Islaam, 4/312]

Allaahumma Innaa Nas’alukal Jannah Wa na’oothu Bika Min An-Naar