Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Advice On How To Be Good

Counsels and maxims, from Reliance of the Traveller

t3.1 (Muhammad Sa`id Burhani:) Do not limit yourself to deep words and profound spiritual allusions but make provision for the afterlife before death comes, when fine words will be lost and the rak`as you prayed by night or day will remain..

t3.2 Give voluntary charity as much as possible, for you owe more than merely the zakat obligatory. Make provision for the afterlife by giving while you have health and want to cling to your money out of fear of poverty, seeing life before you. Allah Most High says, "Whoever is watchful against the stinginess of his own soul, those shall be the successful'' (Koran 59:9), meaning they shall be saved.

t3.3 Never obey anyone of Allah's servants, even father or mother, in an act of disobedience to Allah, for there is no obedience to a creature in disobedience to the Creator.

t3.4 Do not wrong another person, for wrongs done to others are clouds of darkness on the Day of Judgement. Wronging others includes not doing what Allah has obliged you to do for them.

t3.5 Beware of enmity against anyone who has said, "La ilaha ill Allah' (There is no god but Allah), for Allah has honored them with faith, and particularly the righteous of them, for Allah Most High says in a rigorously authenticated (sahih) hadith, "He who makes an enemy of a friend of Mine, I declare war against,''

t3.6 Tell the truth when you speak. It is one of the worst betrayals to tell your brother something he thinks you are being honest about when the matter is otherwise.

t3.7 Be honest in your clothes and dress. It is an outrage against Allah to appear to His servants in the guise of the righteous while secretly contradicting it with the works of the wicked.

t3.8 Recite the Koran and contemplate its meanings. Reflect while reading it on the qualities Allah has praised, with which He describes the people He loves. Acquire these qualities yourself and shun those Allah has condemned. Do your utmost of memorize the Holy Koran by acts as you do by words.

t3.9 Never explain a verse of Holy Koran by your own opinion, but check as to how it has been understood by the scholars of Sacred Law and men of wisdom who came before you. If you comprehend something else by it and what you have understood contradicts the Sacred Law, forsake your wretched opinion and fling it against the wall.

t3.10 Beware lest you ever say anything that does not conform to the Sacred Law. Know that the highest stage of the perfected ones (rijal) is the Sacred Law of Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace). And know that the exoteric that contravenes the exoteric is a fraud.

t3.11 Take care to eat lawful food bought with a lawful income, for the entire body of someone who eats what is lawful, his hearing, eyesight, hands, and feet, are disposed to obey Allah whether he wishes to or not; while the whole body of someone who eats the unlawful is disposed to do wrong whether he wants to or not.

t3.12 Keep the thought of Allah Mighty and Majestic ever before you with respect to what He takes from you and what He gives. He takes away nothing except that you may show patience and win His love, for He loves the patient, and when He loves you, He will treat you as a lover does his beloved. And so too, when He gives to you, He bestows blessings upon you that you may give thanks, for He loves the thankful.

t3.13 Do not walk a step, take a bite, or make a move without intending thereby to draw nearer to Allah.

t3.14 Perform the remembrance of Allah (dhikr) silently and aloud, in a group and when alone, for Allah Most High says, "Remember Me: I will remember you'' (Koran 2:152). It is sufficient as to its worth that Allah is remembering you as long as you are remembering Him.

t3.15 Give frequent utterance to the axiom of Islam "La ilaha ill Allah'' (There is no god but Allah), for it is the greatest invocation (dhikr), as is mentioned in the hadith, "The best things I or any of the prophets before me have said is 'La ilaha ill Allah.'''

And in a hadith qudsi, "Were the seven heavens and seven earths placed on one side of a balance scale and'`La ilaha ill Allah' placed on the other, the latter would outweigh them all.''

t3.16 Train you children in points of Islamic behavior so they grow up to be Muslims who love Islam and respect the religion of Islam.

t3.17 Do not seek exaltation on earth, but have humility in whatever degree Allah has raised you to. For Allah has brought you forth from the earth, you mother, and it is unseemly to exalt yourself above her. As a hadith says, "Allah has charged Himself to raise nothing in this world, save that He will lower it again.''
So if you are such a thing, you may expect to be lowered by Allah.

t3.18 Always visit those who are ill, as it helps one reflect and take admonition, for someone ill is close to Allah. One has only to consider that the sick person has no one to call upon but Allah, nothing to reflect on but Allah, and his condition reminds one of the blessing of health (al-Hall al-sadid li ma astashkalahu al-murid (y46), 29-32).

Shaykh Muhammad Sa'id Burhani was a major Damascene Hanafi faqih and Sufi.

May Allah Bless the author, the translator and Ayesha and all those who made the site "Islam The Modern Religion" what it is.

90 comments:

Anonymous said...

Allah bless Thakuru who posted earlier…. Monday, March 08, 2010

Narrated Abu Huraira(radhiallahu anhu) Allah's messenger(saw) said "People will not sit in assembly in which they remember Allah without the angels surrounding them, mercy covering them, and Allah mentioning them among those who are with Him"(Muslim reported it)

Allah bless Anon who posted earlier ….. Tuesday, March 09, 2010

Narrated Anas(radhiallahu anhu) Allah messenger(saw) used to say:"O Allah, grant me benefit from what you have taught me, teach me what will benefit me, and provide me with knowledge which will benefit me"(Reported An-Nasa'i and Al-hakim).

May Allah Bless you sisters in Islam for following these. Amin

Anonymous said...

You dont have anything better than cut and paste. Very hollow.

Anonymous said...

Thank you. Enoy very much

Island Kido said...

• Advice on how to be Good! Please see that there is more than 1 way how to be good. Its glaring that you dish out little thought out material, whenever you update. Can I say very superficial stuff, that kind of give you a feel good feeling but in fact you have added nothing new of substance. I hate to do it, but I must! You have not even defined what in heaven “GOOD” is. What is Good for instance a farmer – a rainy day will certainly be a horrible day for the person who is on holiday yearning for a tan. I suspect you felt good heh!. Ha! Ha! Ha! OPIUM! ZONKED!

Anonymous said...

@ island kid
You cannot stay away? You seem to be hooked. 
:-)

Anonymous said...

island kid has a point .

Anonymous said...

@3.1
t3.1 (Muhammad Sa`id Burhani:) Do not limit yourself to deep words and profound spiritual allusions but make provision for the afterlife before death comes, when fine words will be lost and the rak`as you prayed by night or day will remain..

“ After life before death comes”. You are taking us into a fictitious world not unlike all the mythologies of the Greeks, hindoos, Ancient Egypt etc. Interesting stories - With an aim of coaxing people doing things that otherwise they wouldn’t do. It is intended for relatively primitive people that need visuals to comprehend and deal with social realities; for their own good. In modern terms this translates into parents using canes or belts on the rose pink bottom of an errant child.

You talk about “deep words”, “fine words”, “profound spiritual allusions” … right?

Have you listened to the sermons of your “scholars”. These typos come in all shapes and sizes. The common denominator is piercing eyes, shrieking voices, wagging appendages, mascara lined eyes, rabbinic beards and tinted beards using - DEEP WORDS, FINE WORDS, PROFOUND SPIRITUAL ALLUSIONS.

Their words do not match what they preach. Their lives are devoid of love, compassion, understanding and humility. They want girls to be turned into cloistered nuns cum sex slaves and boys into louts and bullies. In short everything they do makes a nockery of what the say.

As an exercise next time you see this typo open his gab, have him in your sights for a few days ( possible in these islands we call home) and watch how he behaves.

How does he treats his parents? how does he interact with his wife? how he treats his sons and daughters? how does he share his meals with his family and the traveler? how sweet he is to his neighbour? How many childrens head had he stroked moved by compassion? how many stones had he removed from the pathway - ever? how many sick people he had visited that day? how many kind words came out of his mouth that day? how many smiles he dished out that day? how many times he went to sujood that day? how many "raka's he prayed whilst the city was sleeping? Now, watch his knees - are they scarred? watch his forehead - is it scared? watch him speak, do you feel that he is in the presence of an immense king? Then finally watch the aura he has when on his lecturing best.

With that yardstick, more often than no …… you will learn that your pious corner Mullah; they are all frauds. I say this because I HAVE DONE WHAT I ASK YOU TO DO.

Sister Aisha, Sister Jasmine or Sister X, let me ask of you……… ARE YOU YONI'S FRAUDS?

Anonymous said...

@3.1
t3.1 (Muhammad Sa`id Burhani:) Do not limit yourself to deep words and profound spiritual allusions but make provision for the afterlife before death comes, when fine words will be lost and the rak`as you prayed by night or day will remain..

“ After life before death comes”. You are taking us into a fictitious world not unlike all the mythologies of the Greeks, hindoos, Ancient Egypt etc. Interesting stories - With an aim of coaxing people doing things that otherwise they wouldn’t do. It is intended for relatively primitive people that need visuals to comprehend and deal with social realities; for their own good. In modern terms this translates into parents using canes or belts on the rose pink bottom of an errant child.

You talk about “deep words”, “fine words”, “profound spiritual allusions” … right?

Have you listened to the sermons of your “scholars”. These typos come in all shapes and sizes. The common denominator is piercing eyes, shrieking voices, wagging appendages, mascara lined eyes, rabbinic beards and tinted beards using - DEEP WORDS, FINE WORDS, PROFOUND SPIRITUAL ALLUSIONS.

Their words do not match what they preach. Their lives are devoid of love, compassion, understanding and humility. They want girls to be turned into cloistered nuns cum sex slaves and boys into louts and bullies. In short everything they do makes a nockery of what the say.

As an exercise next time you see this typo open his gab, have him in your sights for a few days ( possible in these islands we call home) and watch how he behaves.

How does he treats his parents? how does he interact with his wife? how he treats his sons and daughters? how does he share his meals with his family and the traveler? how sweet he is to his neighbour? How many childrens head had he stroked moved by compassion? how many stones had he removed from the pathway - ever? how many sick people he had visited that day? how many kind words came out of his mouth that day? how many smiles he dished out that day? how many times he went to sujood that day? how many "raka's he prayed whilst the city was sleeping? Now, watch his knees - are they scarred? watch his forehead - is it scared? watch him speak, do you feel that he is in the presence of an immense king? Then finally watch the aura he has when on his lecturing best.

With that yardstick, more often than no …… you will learn that your pious corner Mullah; they are all frauds. I say this because I HAVE DONE WHAT I ASK YOU TO DO.

Sister Aisha, Sister Jasmine or Sister X, let me ask of you……… ARE YOU YONI'S FRAUDS?

Anonymous said...

@3.1
t3.1 (Muhammad Sa`id Burhani:) Do not limit yourself to deep words and profound spiritual allusions but make provision for the afterlife before death comes, when fine words will be lost and the rak`as you prayed by night or day will remain..

“ After life before death comes”. You are taking us into a fictitious world not unlike all the mythologies of the Greeks, hindoos, Ancient Egypt etc. Interesting stories - With an aim of coaxing people doing things that otherwise they wouldn’t do. It is intended for relatively primitive people that need visuals to comprehend and deal with social realities; for their own good. In modern terms this translates into parents using canes or belts on the rose pink bottom of an errant child.

You talk about “deep words”, “fine words”, “profound spiritual allusions” … right?

Have you listened to the sermons of your “scholars”. These typos come in all shapes and sizes. The common denominator is piercing eyes, shrieking voices, wagging appendages, mascara lined eyes, rabbinic beards and tinted beards using - DEEP WORDS, FINE WORDS, PROFOUND SPIRITUAL ALLUSIONS.

Their words do not match what they preach. Their lives are devoid of love, compassion, understanding and humility. They want girls to be turned into cloistered nuns cum sex slaves and boys into louts and bullies. In short everything they do makes a nockery of what the say.

As an exercise next time you see this typo open his gab, have him in your sights for a few days ( possible in these islands we call home) and watch how he behaves.

How does he treats his parents? how does he interact with his wife? how he treats his sons and daughters? how does he share his meals with his family and the traveler? how sweet he is to his neighbour? How many childrens head had he stroked moved by compassion? how many stones had he removed from the pathway - ever? how many sick people he had visited that day? how many kind words came out of his mouth that day? how many smiles he dished out that day? how many times he went to sujood that day? how many "raka's he prayed whilst the city was sleeping? Now, watch his knees - are they scarred? watch his forehead - is it scared? watch him speak, do you feel that he is in the presence of an immense king? Then finally watch the aura he has when on his lecturing best.

With that yardstick, more often than no …… you will learn that your pious corner Mullah; they are all frauds. I say this because I HAVE DONE WHAT I ASK YOU TO DO.

Sister Aisha, Sister Jasmine or Sister X, let me ask of you……… ARE YOU YONI'S FRAUDS?

Anonymous said...

@ anonymous

We dont see that you have good manners. Shame.

Anonymous said...

Mayhap a funeral among men is a wedding feast among the angels. - Kahlil Gibran

Anonymous said...

why repeating? when repeat it become true? :-)))

Ran said...

@ Anonymous
“make provision for the afterlife before death comes” – That was the exact words used. You quoting as ““ After life before death comes”” paints a very different picture with the supposition having a mere speculative value. You have dropped – “MAKE PROVISION FOR THE” bit.

The real quote is ““make provision for the afterlife before death comes”” giving it an urgent imperative tinge.

Here there is no question of speculation. Afterlife IS AN INCONTESTABLE FACT. As real as seeing the sun will rise in the East. It follows from this view, that its imperative to prepare for that afterlife – NOW! Because how you spend your life in the hereafter DEPENDS on how you spend your life HERE AND NOW.

So this is the equation…….. HOW YOU LIVE TOMORROW DEPENDS ON (=) HOW YOU LIVE TODAY.

Pedro said...

@ Ran

Alternative way of looking at this is that any issue could be looked at, in different angles. After life can be looked in many ways.

1. Like the Athiests - That there is no afterlife.
2. Like the Jews, Christians, Muslims - There is a an afterlife involving answering for ones life and where a final judgement is given.
3. Like ancient Egyptians, Magians, Mitrians that afterlife is passing into the etherworld.
4. Like the Buddhists - Afterlife involves in rebirths.
5. The Hindoos Afterlife involves rebirths and abuts on the universe.
so on and on.

Basis for all these points of views are very diverse. As for Jews, Chritians & Muslims involving answering for a persons actions, and a final judgement is based on revelation by the Judge of that final judgement.

Given that life is a certainity, Life afterdeath is also a certainity. Eventhough in the mist of this life, afterlife is somewhat blurred, I see as Pascal saw the logic of taking life after death seriously.

The risk of exchanging 100 years for eternity is stupid.

Anonymous said...

"Righteous is he who believes in Allah and the Last Day and the Angels and the Scriptures and the Prophets."

-- Qur'an 2:177

In Love said...

@ Ran
Hey man! Ran babe that’s coooooooooooooooool

regular said...

@ Anon
I looked up the verse. 2:177. The whole verse reads .. "It is not righteousness that you turn your faces to the East and the West; but righteous is he who believes in Allah and the last Day and the angels and the Scriptures and the Prophets; and gives his wealth for the love of Him, to kinsfolk and to the orphans and the needy and the wayfarer and those who ask, and to set slaves free; and observes proper worship and pays the poor-due. And those who keep their treaty when they make one, and the patient in tribulation and adversity and time of stress. Such are they who are sincere. Such are the God-fearing." (2 : 177)

Oh my God, its such a beautiful verse. Its so encompassing in its details. Thank you whoever you are. I am moved to tears.

Anonymous said...

Here is another verse about the afterlife.

"Alif. Lam. Mim. This is the book wherein there is no doubt; a guidance unto those who ward off (evil): who believe in the unseen, and establish worship, and spend of that we have bestowed upon them: and who believe in that which is revealed unto thee (Muhammad) and that which was revealed before thee, and are certain of the Hereafter." (2 : 1-4)

Anonymous said...

Why do you people get straight jackets made for you?

Anonymous said...

(3 : 133-135)

"And vie one with another for forgiveness from your Lord, and for a paradise as wide as are the heavens and the earth prepared for those who ward off (evil); those who spend (of that which Allah has given them) in ease and in adversity, those who control their wrath and are forgiving toward mankind; Allah loves the good; and those who, when they do an evil thing or wrong themselves, remember Allah and implore forgiveness for their sins - who forgives sins save Allah only? And will not knowingly repeat (the wrong) they did."

Rumi said...

Thanks sisters and brothers who answered the main post and I reading them got to read about Allah, His Day of judgement, and attaining Allah swt pleasure. The key I think is TAQWA. Here is an interesting reading I came on the net. I hoped you will benefit Innsha Allahu.

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

Taqwa - What is it?
The word “taqwa” is mentioned many times in the Quran (251 times). It is not a word that can be easily described in one word.
- Protecting oneself from the anger of Allah by obedience to His commands and avoiding the haram and not indulging in things that Allah forbids or frowns upon or are questionable in their nature.
- An awareness of Allah at ALL times through our actions and senses and thoughts
- The shunning of everything and anything that causes a deficiency in one’s relationship with Allah.

Why do we care?

Taqwa is the medium through which we gain Allah’s mercy, victory and provisions in this life and the hereafter. It is the medium by which to protect ourselves from sin through life’s dangerous journey so that we can successfully complete the journey unscathed by sin. It is the most honored thing in Allah’s eyes.

49:13 - the most honorable of you with Allah is that (believer) who has Taqwa.

An example of taqwá – - - -
If one is walking through a forest where there are many thorns, one walks carefully so as not to get pricked or get one's clothes torn.

The Prophet (pbuh) 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]

Having taqwá allows a person to be constantly aware of both Allah's all-encompassing knowledge and attributes and a reminder of their relationship and responsibility to Allah as His creation and servant. Ultimately, we are Allah’s creation and His servant and our purpose in life is to serve our Master and be as obedient to Him as possible so as to get His rewards!

REMEMBER:
There is NO distinction between Muslims except for their level of taqwa.

In other religions a man of scripture (the priest, the budha, the brahmins as opposed to the untouchables) is different from the ordinary layman. NOT in Islam! In Islam, the ordinary “layman” can have more taqwa than an imam and Allah may grant him more in this life and in the hereafter than someone who claims to have Islam in them.

In Islam there is only one Shariah and one scale for righteousness for all believers. That scale is the level of taqwa one has achieved through one’s actions, thoughts and desires. There is no compulsion in religion but one’s desire for Allah’s mercy and forgiveness should be the compulsion to want to better one’s religion.

We are all in it together. The rich and the poor, the educated and the un-educated, the leader and the follower, the writer and the reader, the preacher and the listener, the ruler and the ruled, the old and the young, the man and the woman, all must develop taqwa. We should always remember that the most honored person, in the sight of Allah, is the believer with the most taqwa.

We must all try to have and increase our levels of taqwa.

For women, it’s even more important to build our taqwa because we are the driving force in building and preserving our families. WE are responsible for our children, our husbands and are caretakers for our relationships and interactions with our relatives and friends. IF we don’t have the taqwa that will guide us to do/say and be the right thing, then how can our community grow to have taqwa as well?

Rumi said...

Thanks sisters and brothers who answered the main post and I reading them got to read about Allah, His Day of judgement, and attaining Allah swt pleasure. The key I think is TAQWA. Here is an interesting reading I came on the net. I hoped you will benefit Innsha Allahu.

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

Taqwa - What is it?
The word “taqwa” is mentioned many times in the Quran (251 times). It is not a word that can be easily described in one word.
- Protecting oneself from the anger of Allah by obedience to His commands and avoiding the haram and not indulging in things that Allah forbids or frowns upon or are questionable in their nature.
- An awareness of Allah at ALL times through our actions and senses and thoughts
- The shunning of everything and anything that causes a deficiency in one’s relationship with Allah.

Why do we care?

Taqwa is the medium through which we gain Allah’s mercy, victory and provisions in this life and the hereafter. It is the medium by which to protect ourselves from sin through life’s dangerous journey so that we can successfully complete the journey unscathed by sin. It is the most honored thing in Allah’s eyes.

49:13 - the most honorable of you with Allah is that (believer) who has Taqwa.

An example of taqwá – - - -
If one is walking through a forest where there are many thorns, one walks carefully so as not to get pricked or get one's clothes torn.

The Prophet (pbuh) 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]

Having taqwá allows a person to be constantly aware of both Allah's all-encompassing knowledge and attributes and a reminder of their relationship and responsibility to Allah as His creation and servant. Ultimately, we are Allah’s creation and His servant and our purpose in life is to serve our Master and be as obedient to Him as possible so as to get His rewards!

REMEMBER:
There is NO distinction between Muslims except for their level of taqwa.

In other religions a man of scripture (the priest, the budha, the brahmins as opposed to the untouchables) is different from the ordinary layman. NOT in Islam! In Islam, the ordinary “layman” can have more taqwa than an imam and Allah may grant him more in this life and in the hereafter than someone who claims to have Islam in them.

In Islam there is only one Shariah and one scale for righteousness for all believers. That scale is the level of taqwa one has achieved through one’s actions, thoughts and desires. There is no compulsion in religion but one’s desire for Allah’s mercy and forgiveness should be the compulsion to want to better one’s religion.

We are all in it together. The rich and the poor, the educated and the un-educated, the leader and the follower, the writer and the reader, the preacher and the listener, the ruler and the ruled, the old and the young, the man and the woman, all must develop taqwa. We should always remember that the most honored person, in the sight of Allah, is the believer with the most taqwa.

We must all try to have and increase our levels of taqwa.

For women, it’s even more important to build our taqwa because we are the driving force in building and preserving our families. WE are responsible for our children, our husbands and are caretakers for our relationships and interactions with our relatives and friends. IF we don’t have the taqwa that will guide us to do/say and be the right thing, then how can our community grow to have taqwa as well?

Anonymous said...

"Friends on the Day will be foes one to another, save those who kept their duty (to Allah)." (43 : 67)

Anonymous said...

Patience ie. "sabr" comes from a root meaning to detain, refrain and stop. patience means to stop ourselves from despairing and panicking, to stop our tongues from complaining, and to stop our hands from striking our faces and tearing our clothes at times of grief and stress.

Allah says:
And seek help in patience and As-Salat (the prayer) and truly it is extremely heavy and hard except for Al-Khashioon (i.e. the true believers in Allah - those who obey Allah with full submission, fear much from His Punishment, and believe in His Promise (Paradise, etc.) and in His Warnings (Hell, etc.)). ( Al-Baqara, Chapter #2, Verse #45)

Except those who show patience and do righteous good deeds, those: theirs will be forgiveness and a great reward (Paradise).
( Hud, Chapter #11, Verse #11)

"Salamun Alaikum (peace be upon you) for that you persevered in patience! Excellent indeed is the final home!" ( Ar-Rad, Chapter #13, Verse #24)

Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam said:
"(Remember) Whoever abstains from asking others, Allah will make him contented, and whoever tries to make himself self-sufficient, Allah will make him self-sufficient. And whoever remains patient, Allah will make him patient. Nobody can be given a blessing better and greater than patience." (Book #24, Hadith #548)

Narrated Anas: The Prophet said, "The real patience is at the first stroke of a calamity." (Book #23, Hadith #389)

Anonymous said...

2:143] Thus We have appointed you a middle nation'

Anonymous said...

Say: (O Muhammad) If you love Allah, then follow me, Allah will love you and forgive you your faults, and Allah is Forgiving, MercifuL

Anonymous said...

This theme life hereafter, many things crop to mind. You mention taqwa. So nicely discussed. May Allah Bless you sis/bro.

So tied is also patience. I like specially to share this following..

Volume 7, Book 70, Number 545:
Narrated Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri and Abu Huraira:
The Prophet said, "No fatigue, nor disease, nor sorrow, nor sadness, nor hurt, nor distress befalls a Muslim, even if it were the prick he receives from a thorn, but that Allah expiates some of his sins for that."

Volume 7, Book 70, Number 547: Narrated Abu Huraira:
Allah's Apostle said, "The example of a believer is that of a fresh tender plant; from whatever direction the wind comes, it bends it, but when the wind becomes quiet, it becomes straight again. Similarly, a believer is afflicted with calamities (but he remains patient till Allah removes his difficulties.) And an impious wicked person is like a pine tree which keeps hard and straight till Allah cuts (breaks) it down when He wishes." (See Hadith No. 558, Vol. 9.)

Volume 3, Book 43, Number 624: Narrated Anas:
Allah's Apostle said, "Help your brother, whether he is an oppressor or he is an oppressed one. People asked, "O Allah's Apostle! It is all right to help him if he is oppressed, but how should we help him if he is an oppressor?" The Prophet said, "By preventing him from oppressing others."

Anonymous said...

“Nay, seek (Allah’s) help with patient perseverance and prayer…” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:45)

Anonymous said...

kewl

Anonymous said...

what is cool here? Attempts to muzzle you is cool? Ask the donkey!

Reema said...

This belief defines Judeo Christians and Moslems. The idea of answering a persons actions, going to the finest detail is a very powerful insentive to think before doing anything. I cannot think of any objective to this belief. Most of human beings I know just forget the belief in a hereafter where accountabilty is the order of the day.

Anonymous said...

incentive it is. :-0

Anonymous said...

.... when fine words will be lost and the rak`as you prayed by night or day will remain..

It is better to say .... when fine words not supported by actions will be lost and only good actions will remain ....

Anonymous said...

Islam views life as a test of deciding between good and evil.

Doubting Thomas said...

Islam view of life?>

God created mankind to worship him. This makes God a being who needs mankind. Dilemna is this makes God deffective. How does a being who needs another beings worship make him Greater than the person who fulfils his requirement?

Anonymous said...

We are what we are because God created us so. If God really needs our worship then he could easily creat us without the free will, we could have been programmed to worship him like robots. So the the question is if God really is in need of our worshiping and since He is the creator of everything why are we given this free will to disobey and not worship him?

La ilaha ill Allah said...

Quote:"t3.5 Beware of enmity against anyone who has said, "La ilaha ill Allah' (There is no god but Allah), for Allah has honored them with faith, and particularly the righteous of them, for Allah Most High says in a rigorously authenticated (sahih) hadith, "He who makes an enemy of a friend of Mine, I declare war against,"

I find this very relevant. We need to think about this.

Doubting Thomas said...

@ Anonymous

"So the the question is if God really is in need of our worshiping and since He is the creator of everything why are we given this free will to disobey and not worship him?"

I am sorry, sir/ madam, This question does not arise at all (if God really is in need of our worshiping) BECAUSE Your Mullah’s say that God created man only to worship Him.

This implies that God needs Man’s worship. If this be it, then this God is needy. That is absurd, because by definition God is free of His creation.

To help you understand I make a bread to eat. This implies that I’m in NEED of things to eat.

If I make bread just enough for myself then I’m frugal or efficient. If I make the bread that I’m not in need of I am wasteful and inefficient. If I make bread in excess of my needs but distribute it to the needy I’m a altruist, etc. So it goes on and on……

Surfing Jack- Ass said...

Interesting stuff out there on the subject.... another view, or is it?

Was man made to worship God?

So I was surfing around the net looking at various things and came across some Christian sites that say that man was made to worship God. If I understand that assertion correctly then they are saying that man has no other real purpose than to worship God.

So what picture am I getting here?

God setting alone in his mighty throne in heaven gets so lonely that he builds these little windup toys and programs them to say “Hallelujah, Hallelujah, you are the greatest …”, on and on forever.

What do many Christians think Heaven will be like? I have had some describe it as setting around praising God, singing songs to God, and basically just not doing much of anything else, forever and ever.

Now does that really sound like a lot of fun to you?

Does that sound like your creator is all that imaginative? Somehow I just don’t get that picture.

Anonymous said...

Yit goes on and ONNNNNNNNN :-)

fri - dom said...

This place is short on many things. One thing attracting me here is free discussion. I observe a free for all, no holds barred kinda combat. A baby can take on 3 dan specialists and get satisfaction from that, however stupid and rabid either or both are. Everyone is free to read the sublime or the profane, the wisdom or the folly. I like that there is no interference by the administrators. Rather than interfere and censor, I note Jasmine when she could not deal with her critics just withered away. No wonder that I keep coming here even if it is not undated for months. Hurrah! For “Maldinians for Islam” rig. Hurrah! For freedom of expression!

Disturbed said...

@ Quote:"t3.5

La ilaha ill Allah! Muhammadan Rasoolullahi!

I agree with you. Extremely relevant and very much to reflect on.

The post included …….. Allah Most High says in a rigorously authenticated (sahih) hadith, "He who makes an enemy of a friend of Mine, I declare war against,"

I find it interesting the author takes on himself to define “A FRIEND OF MINE”.

In what basis I ask you did the author equate “friends of mine”, to a person who says La ilaha ill Allah?
This is the weakness in religion. Religionists take a text, and give meaning, then interpretation and finally application. All in the aim of doing good?

How much of this “giving meaning to a text” is tainted by the baggage one carries – like his culture, education, personal likes and dislikes? The author in my opinion after reading what he has written intends good. But his use of Hadis in this instance is in my opinion greatly followed.

The question is HOW CAN THE END JUSTIFY THE MEANS?

In this case going beyond the HADIS ITSELF........ To do Good?

Is this correct?

Anonymous said...

Was Man made to Worship God?

Of course not! We are here to be like God.
Love and God Bless

Anonymous said...

@ Disturbed

You are wrong. Certainly disturbed. Pokes his tongue at you. he hee hee

Anonymous said...

Good - is subjective. So is Peace-subjective. Religion is also subjective. Attempts to make religion homogenous and objective leads to chaos. Middle ages shows you that. All that blood and glory in the name of religion.

Anonymous said...

Rubbish! and I dont expect this comment to remain here too.

Anonymous said...

happy Ramzan

Anonymous said...

fresh post needd

Anonymous said...

RIP

Anonymous said...

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come...

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

Excerpts from Paul Craig Roberts said...

The "war on terror" is now in its tenth year. What is it really all about?

The bottom line answer is that the "war on terror" is about creating real terrorists. The US government desperately needs real terrorists in order to justify its expansion of its wars against Muslim countries and to keep the American people sufficiently fearful that they continue to accept the police state that provides "security from terrorists," but not from the government that has discarded civil liberties.

The US government creates terrorists by invading Muslim countries, wrecking infrastructure and killing vast numbers of civilians. The US also creates terrorists by installing puppet governments to rule over Muslims and by using the puppet governments to murder and persecute citizens as is occurring on a vast scale in Pakistan today.

Neoconservatives used 9/11 to launch their plan for US world hegemony. Their plan fit with the interests of America’s ruling oligarchies. Wars are good for the profits of the military/security complex, about which President Eisenhower warned us in vain a half century ago. American hegemony is good for the oil industry’s control over resources and resource flows. The transformation of the Middle East into a vast American puppet state serves well the Israel Lobby’s Zionist aspirations for Israeli territorial expansion.

Anonymous said...

"Iran only recognizes citizenship by paternal blood, meaning that the father has to be Iranian for a child to be an Iranian citizen."

Anonymous said...

@ U Muslims.
What is the use of your religion?
What can a religion as yours can do?

Anonymous said...

“Every government is run by liars,” independent journalist I.F. Stone observed, “and nothing they say should be believed.” The extent and gravity of the lying varies from one government to another – but no pronouncements from world capitals should be taken on faith.

Anonymous 2 said...

@Anonymous:

What do u want, an answer or a fight?

If its a fight then ur in the wrong blog, everybody in here is too bizy being lazy. If its an answer then u need to be more specific and mayb 1day som1 in here will wake up and give u one.

Thakuru said...

t3.19::Know that not everyone is suitable to be your friend...

1.Allah Said:

"Ah! Woe to me! If only I had never taken so-and-so as a friend! He indeed led me astray from the Reminder after it had come to me!"(28-29]


2.The Messenger(saw) of Allah said:

"A person is upon the way of his friend. So, let one of you look to whom he keeps as a friend."
['Sahih al-Jami'' (3545) and 'as-Silsilah as-Sahihah' (927)]


Advice from - Ibn al-Qayyim:

"Know that the greatest of losses is for you to be preoccupied with one who will bring you nothing but a loss in your time with Allah - the Mighty and Majestic - and being cut off from Him, a wasting your time with the person, a weakening of your energy, and the dispersing of your resolve. So, if you are tested with this - and you must be tested with this - deal with him according to how Allah would wish, and be patient with him as much as possible. Get closer to Allah and His Pleasure by way of this person, and make your getting together with him something to benefit from, not something to incur a loss from. Be with him as if you are a man who is on a road who was stopped by another man, who then asks you to take him on your journey. Make sure that you are the one who gives him a ride, and that he is not the one giving you the ride. If he refuses, and there is nothing to gain from travelling with him, do not stop for him, bid him farewell, and do not even turn back to look at him, as he is a highway robber, regardless of who he really is.

So, save your heart, be wary of how you spend your days and nights, and do not let the Sun set before you arrive at your destination."

['al-Wabil as-Sayyib'; p. 45]

Anonymous said...

"When the earth is shaken with a mighty shaking, and earth brings forth her burdens, and man says, 'What ails her?' Upon that day she shall tell her tidings for that her Lord has inspired her." (99: 1‑5)

Anonymous said...

SO WROTE LAUREN BOOTH.......

The sheikh who finally converted me at a mosque in London a few weeks ago told me:

"Don't hurry, Lauren. Just take it easy. Allah is waiting for you. Ignore those who tell you: you must do this, wear that, have your hair like this. Follow your instincts, follow the Holy Qur'an- and let Allah guide you."

Anonymous said...

You have moved me to tears. Allah Bless you all

Stone said...

from "Muhammad: A Biography of the Prophet" by Karen Armstrong:

The Qur'an began to urge the Muslims of Medina to participate in a jihad. This would involve fighting and bloodshed, but the root JHD implies more than a 'holy war'. It signifies a physical, moral, spiritual and intellectual effort. There are plenty of Arabic words denoting armed combat, such as harb (war), sira'a (combat), ma'araka (battle) or qital (killing), which the Qur'an could easily have used if war had been the Muslims' principal way of engaging in this effort. Instead it chooses a vaguer, richer word with a wide range of connotations. The jihad is not one of the five pillars of Islam. It is not a central prop of the religion, despite the common Western view. But it was and remains a duty for Muslims to commit themselves to a struggle on all fronts-- moral, spiritual and political-- to create a just and decent society, where the poor and vulnerable are not exploited, in the way that God had intended man to live. Fighting and warfare might sometimes be necessary, but it was only a minor part of the whole jihad or struggle. A well-known tradition (hadith) has Muhammad say on returning from a battle, "We return from the little jihad to the greater jihad," the more difficult and crucial effort to conquer the forces of evil in oneself and in one's own society in all the details of daily life.

Anonymous said...

Alhamd'uli'llaah

Anonymous said...

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "If you are pleased with what God has (given you), you will be the richest of men. If you are kind to your neighbor, you will be a believer. If you like others to have what you want for yourself, you will be a Muslim."

Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1334

Anonymous said...

We know more about Muhammad than any other founder of a major religion...... FACT


I dare you to ask teeeee heeee he

' sef said...

@ teeeee heeeee he.

"A man sinned greatly against himself, and when death came to him he charged his sons, saying: 'When I have died, burn me, then crush me and scatter my ashes into the sea, for, by Allah, if my Lord takes possession of me, He will punish me in a manner in which He has punished no one else.' So they did that to him. Then God said to the earth: 'Produce what you have taken'--and there he was! And God said to him: 'What induced you to do what you did?' The man said: "Being frightened of You' and because of that Allah forgave him."

Anonymous said...

By Time, Indeed, mankind is in loss, Except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience(Quran 103:1,2,3)

Thakuru said...

Mohamed, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, used to say,

Allaahumma innee a`oodhubika minal arba`i, min `ilmin laa yanfa`u, wa min qalbin laa yakhsha`u, wa min nafsin laa tashba`u, wa min du`aain laa yusma`u

“O Allaah, I seek Your refuge from knowledge which does not benefit; from a heart which does not fear; from a soul which is never satisfied; and from a supplication which is not heard.” [Reported by Ahmad, Aboo Daawood (transl. vol. 1/p.401/no. 1543) and others, all with the wording, "O Allaah I seek Your refuge from four: from knowledge which does not benefit…" The hadeeth was declared saheeh by al-Haakim and adh-Dhahabee agreed, and it has supports from a number of the Companions.

And he, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, used to say,

Allahumma innee as’aluka `ilman naafi`an, wa a`oodhubika min `ilmin laa yanfa`u

“O Allaah, I ask you for beneficial knowledge, and I seek Your refuge from knowledge which does not benefit.” [Reported with this wording by Al-Aajurree (p.134) and Ibn Hibbaan (no.2426). It is also reported by Ibn Maajah (no.3483) and Ibn `Abdul-Barr (1/162) with the wording, "Ask Allaah for beneficial knowledge and seek Allaah's refuge from knowledge which does not benefit." Its chain of narration is hasan (good) and there is a similar narration from Umm Salamah reported by Ibn Maajah and others.

Thak Hu Sin said...

God tells us in the Qur'an:

"I made you into different groups, and in different colours, so that you might get to know each other."

Anonymous said...

Alhamdulillahi. God bless

Thakuru said...

"O Mankind, We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know each other. Verily the most honored of you in the sight of God is he who is the most righteous of you" (Quran 49:13).

Explanation:

1. This message is not just for Muslims only because God is addressing all of humanity "O Mankind". While Muslims are one brotherhood, this is part of a larger brotherhood of humanity.

2. God is telling us that He has created us. Therefore He knows the best about us.

3. He says that He created us from one man and one woman meaning then that we are all the same.

4. It also means that all human beings are created through the same process, not in a manner in which some are created better and above others.

5. God is the One who made human beings into different groups and people.

6. These differences are not wrong, rather a sign from God ("And among His Signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the difference of your languages and colors. Verily, in that are indeed signs for those who know" [Quran 30:22]).

7. Note that no word equivalent to race is used in this ayah or any other verse of the Quran.

8. Islam, however, limits the purpose of these distinctions to differentiation and knowing each other. This is not meant to be a source of beating each other down with an attitude of ‘my group is better than your group' or false pride as is the case with tribalism, nationalism, colonialism, and racism.

9. The only source of preference or greatness among human beings is not on a national or group level, but it is at the individual level.

10. One individual who is (higher in Taqwa), more conscious of his Creator and is staying away from the bad and doing the good is better, no matter what nation, country or caste he is part of. Individual piety is the only thing that makes a person better and greater than the other one.

11. However, the only criterion of preference, ie:Taqwa, is not measurable by human beings, indeed God is the One Who knows and is aware of everything so we should leave even this criterion to God to decide instead of human beings judging each other.

Anonymous said...

@ Takuru

What is taqwa?

Anonymous said...

Do they seek other than the religion of Allah (the true Islamic Monotheism - worshipping none but Allah Alone), while to Him submitted all creatures in the heavens and the earth, willingly or unwillingly. And to Him shall they all be returned.[Quran Surah 3 Aal e Imran ;83]

Thakuru said...

@Anonymous;

If I am to translate Taqwa to english I would translate it as 'God conscious'. Knowing that Allah sees you and hears you even though you dont. Taqwa is always linked to ibaadha or to be more precise taqwa always lead to ibaada ie: to do what Allah has commanded and to avoid what He has prohibited.

Omar ibn Al-Khattab once asked Ubay ibn Ka’ab: How would you describe Taqwa? In reply Ubay asked, “Have you ever had to traverse a thorny path?” Omar replied in the affirmative and Ubay then continued, “How do you do so?” Omar said that he would carefully walk through after first having collected all loose and flowing clothing in his hands so nothing gets caught in the thorn. Ubay said: “This is the definition of Taqwa.”

Taqwa / God consciousness make you to be more careful just like the example above. Careful to do what Allah prescribed and to avoid what Allah forbids.

May Allah guide us all -Amin-

Anonymous said...

Poll: Vast Majority of Americans Oppose Attacking Iran
Most Buy Nuke Allegations, But Not as Justification for War
by Jason Ditz, December 29, 2010


Thats it! You can be guaranteed that USA is getting ready to Attack Iran. Thats Democracy. Its of the people, by the people for the people.


What hypocrisy!

A thought said...

You're an employer. You employ Jack. If Jack came to you at the end of the week, and despite his late start, early finish, sick leave, grandma died leave, grandma died again leave and a catalogue of rude behavior, he then requested his full wages, would you be paying him as requested?

Thakuru said...

Not alike are the blind (disbelievers in Islamic Monotheism) and the seeing (believers in Islamic Monotheism). Nor are (alike) the darkness (disbelief) and the Light (Belief in Islamic Monotheism). Nor are (alike) the shade and the sun's heat. Nor are (alike) the living (believers) and the dead (disbelievers). Verily, Allah makes whom He will hear, but you cannot make hear those who are in graves.(Qur'an 35:19-22)

O you who believe! Take not as (your) Bitanah (advisors, consultants, protectors, helpers, friends, etc.) those outside your religion since they will not fail to do their best to corrupt you. They desire to harm you severely. Hatred has already appeared from their mouths, but what their breasts conceal is far worse. Indeed We have made plain to you the ayat (proofs, evidences, verses) if you understand.

Lo! You are the ones who love them but they love you not, and you believe in all the Scriptures (i.e you believe in the Taurah and the Injeel, while they disbelieve in your Book, the Qur'an). And when they meet you, they say, "We believe". But when they are alone, they bite the tips of their fingers at you in rage. Say: "Perish in your rage. Certainly, Allah knows what is in the breasts (all the secrets)".

If a good befalls you, it grieves them, but if some evil overtakes you, they rejoice at it. But if you remain patient and become Al Muttaqun (the pious), not the least harm will their cunning do to you. Surely, Allah surrounds all that they do.
(Qur'an 3:118-120)

Anonymous said...

@ a thought

I would, wouldn't you?

A thought said...

For most of us, the answer will be a massive 'No'. We would not be comfortable with paying Jack to essentially take a ride on the corporate train.

So how about ourselves?

We can breathe, read, write, work, travel and enjoy the company of fine people, so how is it we forget the One who gave us all these many blessings?

This is compounded by the fact that most of us, even though we forget these blessings or more importantly the One who gave them to us, it is Him to whom we turn to when in most need.

When a loved one becomes sick, we turn in prayer. When a loved one dies, we turn in prayer. And that is our natural disposition,

as God says what is translated as:

...Truly, it is in the remembrance of God that hearts find rest. (Quran 13:28)

And this I believe was once the purpose of this blog according to its author. Many of us did find rest and comfort in the many ayaths and ahadhith that was shared in here. Many did benefit.

May Allah bless and reward all of you who shared in here -Amin-

Dr. S. A said...

Oppressors and the Oppressed

Hazrat Ali said two parties are required in order to bring about oppression. One is the oppressor and the other is the one who accepts the oppression. It is the co‑opera­tion of these two which brings about oppression. Oppres­sion cannot be one‑sided. An oppressor cannot perform oppression in the air. Oppression is like a piece of iron which is formed by the striking of the hammer of the oppressor upon the anvil of the oppressed.

Not only is oppression a result of corruption, devia­tion and misery, but it requires two sides working together to come, into being. In the defeat of a society, it is not just the victor who breaks it; society must also be broken. For instance, in the 7th century A.H., it was not Chengis Khan who defeated us. It was we ourselves who were cor­rupted from within. From the 5th to the 6th century, we were preparing ourselves to be defeated. It was because of this that Chengis defeated us. He only kicked the corrupted states once and we fell down and were defeated. The termites who had built their homes inside our tree and had begun eating away the body from the inside, left it empty, dry and without roots. These termites caused the tree to fall to the earth and not the strong wind which blew upon the tree. Strong winds always blow in the forest. Why is it that just this tree or that one falls down?

Anonymous said...

?

Anonymous said...

"When the earth is shaken with a mighty shaking, and earth brings forth her burdens, and man says, 'What ails her?' Upon that day she shall tell her tidings for that her Lord has inspired her." (99: 1‑5)

Anonymous said...

The Abandoning Of Rancour & Envy
-------------------------------------
Allah Most High has said: From the evil of the envier when he envies, [113:5] and: Are they jealous of people because of what Allah in His bounty has given them? [4:54]

Bukhari relates on the authority of Anas that the Prophet, sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam, said, "Do not hate one another, or envy one another, or turn your backs on one another; rather be brethren as Allah’s slaves. It is not lawful for a Muslim to break off relations with his brother for more than three consecutive nights so that they both turn from each other: the better of them is he who gives the first greeting."

Al-Hasan Al-Basri said with regard to Allah’s statement From the evil of the envier when he envies, "This was the first sin to have been committed in heaven." [A reference to Satan’s jealousy of Adam, `alaihis salam].

Al-Ahnaf ibn Qays said, "Mark these five truths: an envious man finds no peace, a liar has no manly virtue, a greedy man is not to be trusted, a miser has no power, and a man of bad character has no glory."

Khalil ibn Ahmad said, "A man who does wrong through envy is very similar to one who is wronged: he has no peace of mind, and he is always grieved."

Muslim said...

Umar ibn Al-Khattaab (radhiallahu `anhu) said: "We were lowly and weak then Allah made us mighty with Islaam. So when we seek mightiness in other than Islaam, Allah humiliates us and brings us low."

Anonymous said...

sister jasmime is apuerile in and out, she makes a post, then i suspect she ytkes pleasure in reading the comments making no case of questions reaised.hen she coinys thr number of comments, unless hcomments hit 200 she qoes nopt post again. Thats in my view unetical, and weong.

Anonymous said...

I agree.She is a cowardly. also waits for comments to reach 200 to post. Does not realise no substance

Anonymous said...

from dust to dust
from ashes to ashes

Anonymous said...

Who has any advice on how to be bad?
:-)

Anonymous said...

Long time ago on the advent of Holy Month Ramadan, a western journalist wrote in a prestigious International Weekly (Time or Newsweek) that during the month of Fasting Muslims refrain from eating, drinking and sex from dawn to dusk and indulge excessively afterwards. It is difficult to disagree with this observation, though it applies to only well-t-do-section of the Muslim community. This behavior is against the spirit of fasting (Siam). I am not suggesting them to change their behaviour. My only appeal to those who can afford is please arrange two daily meals for the poor at least during the month of Ramzan. I know this is being done in some places, but its coverage should be expanded.

One of the lessons of fasting is sharing, which has many forms. in the form of payment of Zakath. Some Muslims wait for the Eid Day to pay Zakath. I think it is against the spirit of Zakath; it should be made much before EID day so that the needy may prepare to celebrate EID with others. Those who are sending "Happy Ramazan" messages on Cell Phones, please feed a deserving family instead. Many recipients do not read these good messages.

free thinker said...

yawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwn

Thakuru said...

@free thinker:
u r the only 1? wat hapend to da others?

Unknown said...

To have a higher hype for your facebook account, People expend funds to Buy Facebook Followers to conveniently get hype on world-wide-web. paid facebook followers