- Cultivating Consistency
“Did Allah’s Messenger, use to choose some special days
(for fasting)?” She replied, “No, but he used to be regular (constant)
(in his service of worshipping). Who amongst you can endure what
Allah’s Messenger used to endure?”
- Managing Stress in Your Life
Have you experienced any of the following in the last
six months? Marriage? Loss of a job? Death of a close family member? A
new baby? If you have, you may be dealing with feelings of stress. Do
you have too many things to do and not enough time? Do you often
misplace items?
- Sunnah - renew your efforts
There can be absolutely no Taqwaa - no piety without strict adherence to all
aspects of the Sunnah - Sunnah in business, Sunnah in social life, Sunnah in
political life, Sunnah in way of dress, Sunnah in way of eating, Sunnah in
appearance, Sunnah in all aspects of our daily life, Obedience to the Sunnah is
an absolute requisite for the development of Taqwaa
- Do not Despise the Poor
'Restrain yourself along with those who call their Lord in the morning and
the evening seeking His countenance and let not your eyes overlook them.' Allamah Nawawi has framed another chapter. The subject of this chapter deals
with the virtues of such Muslims as are financially and socially weak.
- Remedy for Masturbation
Youngsters who are not inspired by the fear of Allah Ta'ala and of the
consequences of their actions, are apt to gratify themselves by committing
fornication and other unlawful acts, or by resorting to self-indulgence. These
harm the body, the mind and affect one's psychological health.
- Sabr (Patience)
It implies patience, forbearance, perseverance, determination, fortitude,
constancy and steadfastness. Sabr assumes different dimensions depending upon
which aspect of life is the point of reference:
- Gateways to Eternal Success
The following are some of the virtuous deeds which
would, according to authentic Ahaadeeth of Rasulullah [sallallaahu alayhi
wasallam], wipe out our sins and earn for us tremendous rewards in this world
and the Aakhirah.
- Matters of Grave Concern
Our Beloved Prophet Muhammad r who was 'a Mercy unto
the world' often warned against punishment in the grave and also
explained the various types of punishments in the grave. He also
outlined clearly the many despicable deeds that lead to severe
punishment in the grave.
- When Friends Hurt Each Other
Humans shall differ, that is not the issue. The issue is: How as a Muslim
should one confront these differences of opinions and what should be our
relationship with someone of a different opinion.
- Cigarette Smoking - Unlawful in
Islam
Many Muslims regard smoking as MAKROOH (disliked) by
the Shariah but not HARAAM ( forbidden). Whenever advice is given in
this regard they choose to ignore it.
- Hold that Tongue
If you remember only one thing today, let it be the
following words of RasulAllah: He said, “Whoever believes in Allah and the
last Day, let him say good things or keep quiet!”
- Sabr - the Most Precious Gift
for a Believer
Sabr means
restraining ourselves from complaining about hidden anguish. Sabr produces many
excellent results, among which is the soul's training and discipline. Sabr in
regard to obedience [ta'at] is the source of intimacy with Almighty Allah Jallah
Wa'ala. And Sabr in misfortunes is the source of rida or contentment with Divine
destiny and decrees.
- Suicide by Smoking
Most Muslims are aware of and try to avoid the major sins in Islam - murder, suicide, adultery, alcohol, gambling, usury, etc. Muslims are forbidden to harm themselves or others. Yet millions of Muslims all over the world are doing just that - harming, even killing themselves and their families. Islamic scholars have historically had mixed views on the subject, and the actions of these Muslims have not been unanimously forbidden or even discouraged.
- The Ummah Social Support for new Muslimas
Imagine that you are alone and have few or no people to talk with who really understand you. You have recently made a major change in your life and this has led to disruption in your previously strong social network. Your parents and other family members are completely outraged about the changes that you have made and refuse to talk with you unless you return to your "real self." Some may even call you "crazy" and completely disown you. Your friends call you less often because they just don't understand what you are going through and are confused by the ideas that you have been discussing.
- Zinaa - Illicit Sexual Gratification and its Punishment (6 Articles on Zina)
The Arabic word, 'Zinaa' refers to sexual intercourse between a man and married to each other. It therefore implies both to adultery (which implies that one or both of the parties are married to a person or persons other than the ones concerned) and to fornication, which in its signification, implies that both parties, are unmarried
- Homosexuality in the light of Islam
The aim of natural sexuality is procreation. Lawful and natural sexual relations between man and woman has been designed by Allah to preserve the human race here on earth. Homosexuality is negatory of the natural role and aim of sexual activity.
- Lessons in Divorce
when marriages break-up it is often the woman who carries the stigma of the divorce not the man. This is especially sad since the ending of a marriage is never one person's fault. The old adage is true- "it takes two to tangle." However, for marriages to work, couples must know that each person brings his/her life experiences to the marriage. This includes both the bad and good. A relationship between husband and wife has to be built upon mutual honesty, respect, and the love and fear of Allah. Without these key ingredients, marital ties are often broken.
- Women Issues - a day in the life of a Muslim Woman
Normal, every day activities become acts of worship if they are done for the sake of pleasing Allah. And among these deeds, the regular, consistent deeds are best. Aisha (Radhiallaahu Anha) said that Allah's Messenger, sallallahu alayhe wasallam, said, "The deeds most loved by Allah are those done regularly, even if they are small." This article is aimed at bringing the spiritual side in the everyday life of married Muslim woman:
- Keeping the Right Friends
It was Ahmad ibn Harb, rahimahullaah, who said, "There is nothing more beneficial to a Muslim's heart than to mix with the righteous and to watch their actions, while nothing is more harmful to the heart of the Muslim than mixing with sinners, and watching their actions." No matter who you are, or how strong or independent you may feel, no man, or woman, is an island, and you can't make it through this life alone.
- Cultivating One's Character
"It is to be full of modesty, and to be harmless too. To be full of goodness and not to be corrupt. For the tongue to be truthful, for the words to be little and to be plentiful in good actions. To have little slip-ups and not be excessive. To be good to one's relatives, building closeness between them. To be dignified and grateful, and to be full of contentment if Allah restricted some provision....
- Turn Off the Television
Even by Western standard, what was unacceptable twenty years ago has become a common place on prime time television today. Whether it is the evening news or other programs, the stories and images of shirk, immoral behavior and violence, to name a few, are some of the non-Islamic influences taught to be acceptable on television and...
- sTOp - Forbidden Limits
By abandoning what is forbidden, the obedient believer tastes a certain sweetness: Whoever abstains from a thing for the sake of Allah, then Allah will compensate him with what is better, and he will experience the sweetness of belief in his heart. This article deals with prohibitions that pertain to the aqeedah, and worship, some of which might take one out of the fold of Islam. These prohibitions are widely ignored in many Muslim societies today and the purpose of mentioning them here is to give explanation and advice, ...
- Good Speech
Among the many important life lessons that I learned from my mother, the one that I have benefited the most from since my reversion to Islam is, "If you don't have anything good to say, then don't say anything at all."
- Knowledge Cannot be Gained by Resting
Knowledge is a vast sea with spaced out boundaries and deep bottoms. Only the powerful can sail through it. A person will not reach its concealed pearls and hidden treasures before, first, standing on its nearby shore. Yehya ibn Abi Katheer was right in saying, "Knowledge cannot be gained by resting."
- Cleanliness is a Part of your Faith
Keeping our persons clean is very important in this deen, but our level of cleanliness should not be skin deep. Our level of cleanliness needs to go beyond the outer self to touch our minds, our hearts and our souls.
- Solo Sex (Male and Female Masturbation)
Those who achieve insufficient satisfaction from sexual intercourse and return to masturbation, or never give it up, the torments are great. Everywhere they look, their friends are unashamedly enjoying the pleasures of normal sexual relationship. No part of society caters for them and they are even cowardly shy to campaign for "Masturbators Liberation." Sex life for most of them is fairly empty.
- Higher Aims - a Kaafir has no higher aims
How can a Muslim describe the aims of a Kaafir as high when a Kaafir has no ambition but to indulge in this worldly life? For it, he toils and for it, he fights, while turning his back to the Hereafter. Allah Ta’ala says, ‘Verily, those who hope not for their meeting with Us, but are pleased and satisfied with the life of the present world, and those who are heedless of Our signs. Those their abode will be the Fire, because of what they used to earn.’ (10:7 - 8). Allah has made clear to us that the real life is in the Hereafter, that is the life indeed, if they but knew.’ (29:64)
- Sabr or Shukr - the worry stops here
As you and I travel though life we find ourselves in one of two situations. Either something good is happening in our lives and in which case - as Muslims- our role is to thank Allah for the blessing. Or something bad is happening to us, something we dislike and our role here is to be patient (Sabr). This is the formula for a happy life, a life cruising towards the pleasure of Allah. Sabr or Shukr, the worry stops here.
- Seize the day - tomorrow is not Yours
Death is the reality from which none of us can escape. It draws nearer every day, every hour, every minute. So I had to ask myself, if I were to die today, would I have done all that I could to ensure Allah's Favor, and to evade His Wrath? Unfortunately for me, the answer was a resounding NOOO.
- Being thankful to Allah
The problem that most of us face is what I call the, "if I only ..." syndrome. If I only had a better wife, I would be grateful. If I only had sons instead of daughters, I would be grateful. If I only had a bigger house, a better car, more money, a better job, and the list goes on and on. We are constantly focused on the things we don't have, instead of being grateful to Allah for the things we do have.
- Why Do I Wear Hijaab
I probably do not fit into the preconceived notion of a ‘rebel’. I have no visible tattoos and minimal piercings. I do not possess a leather jacket. In fact, when most people look at me, their first thought usually is something along the lines of ‘oppressed female’.
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- Looking Back to Madeenah - by Shaykh Aadil Davids
Looking back to Madeenah is our attempt to turn back the pages of history, and explore the life of Muhammad (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam). We will draw only from the authentically transmitted documentation to compile this series. The Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) urged us to visit three mosques including his mosque in Madeenah. In response to this invitation, we conduct this series, with the intention of contributing to a functional Islamic experience at a time when we are suffering a terrible paralysis. Muslims are involved in superficial arguments among themselves, which cause us to waste vital energy for the reconstruction and growth of the ummah. As a result, we have lost focus.
- Islamic Manners - by Shaykh Abdul-Fattaah Abu Ghuddah
The examples of Shaykh Abu Ghuddah are rare to come by. He was one of the most prominent scholars of Hadith in the 20th century and a leader of the Islamic Movement in Syria; striving not only in narrating Prophetic traditions but also making them a living reality.
- Laws of the Beard and Hair by Ml. Fadhlu-Rahmaan
Islaam is a complete way of life. Just as all other aspects of Islaam, Mua'asharaat (social dealings) also play a vital role in Islaam. Guidelines regarding a person's outer appearance, form and clothing are contained in the teachings of Islaam. A true and complete Muslim is he who adheres to these Islaamic teachings and practices upon them. While Allaah Ta'aala is aware of our inner qualities, there is a social need for our outer condition to be correct. Therefore, the claim of having complete Islaam without one's outer condition being proper is false.
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