Benefit for today

Sheikhul Islam Ibn Taymiyyah said in his Fatawa:

Every person must have a deed that is done daily – that is secret between him and Allah alone. This is required because we do not know whether the deeds we do in front of mankind have ikhlas or not nor can we say that we do with any level of certainty. So ask yourself – what deed do you have that is completely secret between you and Allah alone – not even your wife, children – absolutely no one at all knows about it except you and Allah. It could be charity that you give secretly, or a prayer that you pray in the depths of the night whilst your family is asleep, or even a tear that you shed from the fear of Allah the Great. This is the deed that is beloved to Allah and will perhaps be the cause to bring on Allah’s forgiveness on the day of Judgement.

~Tawfique Chowdhury

In the 21st Century, we live in a world where sadly, the essential ingredients of trustworthiness and honesty are no longer a part of the character of many people, Muslim and non-Muslim alike.  Whilst the two qualities are inextricably entwined, for the purposes of this article trustworthiness, particularly fulfilling promises shall be the focus.

Being trustworthy implies being honest, fair in dealings and punctual, as well as honouring trusts and keeping promises and commitments.   This is known as amanah in Arabic. The meaning of amanah is exactly trustworthiness, or, it is something or someone left to another to protect or keep.  The opposite of amanah is betrayal or even treason.  That is, to fail to keep the amanah in the way the person who left it expected  and wanted it to be.

In Islam every believer is a brother or sister to the another; we are one body, one nation.  The right hand must be able to trust the left hand.  The commands and rules from Allah SWT are designed for our benefit and Islam holds people’s rights in high esteem.  Furthermore, Islam encourages its believers to trust each other and to assume that the intentions of others are good. It is important to think positively about others unless proven otherwise because such feelings of certitude give individuals inner peace.  However, sadly nowadays people are increasingly finding it difficult to trust others because broken promises, pledges and vows result in a loss of confidence in one another which is detrimental to society as a whole.

If we sit and ponder over how easy it is to say ‘I promise’ we soon realise that guarding those promises and living up to them is the difficult part of the equation.  This is why a promise should only be made if we are absolutely sure that we can fulfil it. More often than not, we find excuses to explain away why we did not keep that promise, while the party to whom we made the promise awaits impatiently, in the belief and hope that we will fulfil it.  As a result of breaking the promise we hurt our brother or sister beyond words and the fragile walls of trust and confidence begin to break down.

We also forget that a delayed promise is also a denied promise! When we say ‘Insha Allah’s, we drag the Name of Allah in vain, and make Allah a witness, to a promise we really did not intend to keep in the first place. We may also be so irresponsible and forgetful and be oblivious to the fact that fulfilling a promise is indeed a debt on us, which is witnessed by none other than Allah SWT!!  Furthermore, shockingly these days we see more and more individuals who are not only careless about keeping promises but consider treason (betrayal of trust) to be clever and some people may even brag about their actions to others.

Both promises and covenants involve saying something about an issue to confirm that you will uphold the trust.   Allah SWT praises the believers by promising them Paradise:

“Those who are faithfully true to their amanah (all the duties which Allah has ordained, honesty, moral responsibility and trusts, etc.) and to their covenants…these indeed are the inheritors.  Who shall inherit Paradise.  And dwell therein forever” (Quran 23:8, 23:10-11)

Allah SWT orders the believers to fulfil their covenant time and time again in the Quran:

“And fulfill (every) covenant. Verily! The covenant will be questioned about.” (17:34)

“And fulfill the Covenant of Allah (Bai’ah: pledge for Islam) when you have covenanted.” (16:91)

“O you who believe! Fulfill (your) obligations.” (5:1)

“O you who believe! Why do you say that which you do not do? Most hateful it is with Allah that you say that which you do not do.” (61:2,3)

“Whoever fulfills his promise and guards (against evil), Surely Allâh loves those who guard (against evil).” [3:76]

“…Surely every promise shall be questioned about.” (17:39)

Furthermore there are a number of ahadith in which Prophet Muhammad (s) described those who go around breaking promises, as one having a characteristic of a Nifaaq (hypocrisy).

On the authority of Abdullah Ibn ‘Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (s) said:

“Four traits whoever possesses them is a Munaafiq (hypocrite) and whoever possesses some of them has an element of hypocrisy until he leaves it: the one who when he speaks he lies, when he promises he breaks his promise, when he disputes he transgresses and when he makes an agreement he violates it.” [Bukhaari, and Muslim]

Hypocrisy, involves deception, scheming and presenting an outward appearance of good while concealing its opposite.

In the Shari’a, hypocrisy is of two types:

a) Greater (An-Nifaaq Al-Akbar):

To present an outward appearance of belief in Allah, his Angels, his books, his messengers, the last day, etc. while concealing within that which negates all or some of that. This is the hypocrisy, which the Prophet (s) confronted during his life and the ones who Allah said in the Qur’an that they are in “the lowest depth of hell-fire”.

b) Lesser (An-Nifaaq Al-Asghar) or hypocrisy of action:

To present an outward appearance of good and good deeds while concealing within that which negates that. This form of hypocrisy is built on the things mentioned in the above hadith.

In another tradition Prophet Muhamed (s) has said:

“There are three signs of a hypocrite: when he talks he speaks untruth, when he makes a promise he does not keep it, and when he makes a contract he deceives, although he may be offering prayers, observing fast and calling himself a Mus1im.”

Fulfilling promises is essential for a person who wishes to live a social life; it is the basis for social happiness, development, and success. Islam so greatly condemns the violation of promises that it has made it illegal and unethical for its followers to violate their oaths even if they were made with tyrants and desolates.

Promises can be intentionally and unintentionally broken.

Intentional promises are those that are made by an individual knowing full well that he/she intends to break it. They are lies and lying is a punishable sin in Islam. Making promises to children, for example, and then not fulfilling them falls under this category. To no other group of individuals are broken promises more devastating, than to children. Children are like elephants, they almost never forget. If you promise a child something, they will remember that promise, even though they may not verbalise it to you. The promises themselves may seem silly or unimportant at the time but they do count on our record of evil deeds.  Extreme caution should be taken when uttering a promise whether it is to an adult or a child. As the above verse says a liar falls under the pale of hypocrisy.

Therefore, the Messenger of Allah (s) prohibited men from breaking promises to their children. He said:

“And a man shall not make a promise to his child and not fulfill it.”

Abdullah said:

“Lies are of no use in either seriousness or jest. Also, it is not right for someone to promise something to his/her child/children and then fail to fulfil that promise.” (Related by Abu Dawood.)

Below is an extract by a Doctor illustrating the tragic events, which can occur if promises are broken:

“A sixteen year old boy who robbed every day was brought to me for treatment. I discovered that when the boy was seven or eight years old, his father had forced him to give his toy to an aristocrat’s daughter, for whom his father worked. That toy, to the boy, represented an ultimate dream for he had worked hard to get it. The boy’s father promised to buy a substitute toy but had unintentionally forgot. The hopeless boy sought revenge by stealing a piece of candy from his father’s pocket. A day later the boy broke into a house and stole some item.    It was not difficult to treat the boy when he was brought to me. It is possible that the boy would have come to be a dangerous criminal if he was not properly treated. But now his chances of becoming a reasonable and self-confident individual are much greater.” (Dr. Alindi)

This illustrates that by keeping our promises to our children, we are also teaching them the importance of honour and commitment. By keeping our word to them, they will in turn learn to keep promises made to us and to their peers, inshaa Allah.

Unintentional promises are ones that you make in good faith. You plan to fulfil them but then you either forget to do it or lack the means to follow through with it. In this event, breaking these promises is not punishable as Allah SWT judges us by the intention we carry in our hearts. For example, you promise your sister you will buy her new clothing for doing well in exams but find that you cannot afford to do so when the time comes around to doing so. You have no choice but to break the promise.  It is still, however, best to try your hardest to fulfil these promises because breaking one’s promise is despicable and contrary to the spirit of Islam.

Allah SWT says in the Quran: “And keep the promise; the promise is a responsibility.” (17:34)

Oaths to Allah – these are vows or oaths that you make directly to Allah Almighty. There are two types of these as well. The first being a ‘conditional oath’, which means that in times of distress or fear you make an oath to Allah. For example, you swear to Allah that if He heals you of a malady that you will fast every Monday for the rest of your life. And once the malady passes you might fulfil the oath or neglect it. The second is an ‘unconditional oath’ which means that you simply decide to do something for the sake of Allah. For example, you promise Allah to give a certain percentage of your salary each month to a special charity for two complete years. Again it is up to you whether or not you keep the oath. No one knows you made the oath but Allah right? Both of these types of oaths are obligations and must be fulfilled as they are considered to be acts of worship. Breaking a covenant made to Allah Almighty is very grave indeed.

In a narration, a group of Khawarij were captured during the time of Hajjaj, who reviewed their cases and sentenced them as he wished. When the last man was standing in front of Hajjaj waiting for his sentence, time for prayer arrived. Hajjaj heard the call for prayer and turned the prisoner over to a noble man and told him to bring him back in the morning. The noble man left the palace with the prisoner. As they were walking the prisoner said: “I am not one of the Khawarij. I ask Allah by His Mercy to prove my innocence, for I am an innocent hostage in their hands. I ask you to let me spend the night with my wife and children so I can leave my will with them. I promise that I will return before the roaster crows in the morning. After a moment of silence, the noble man agreed to the man’s insistence and permitted him to go home for the night. A short time later the noble man fell victim to his fear and imagined that he would be the subject of Hajjaj’s fury.

That night the man woke up terrified and was astonished to hear the prisoner, who he had given permission to go home, knocking at his door as he had promised. This noble man was overwhelmed with surprise and could not help but exclaim:

“Why have you come to my door’?

The prisoner replied: “He who recognizes Allah’s greatness and power, and makes Him a witness to his oath, must fulfil his promise.

The noble man proceeded with the prisoner to the palace of Hajjaj, and narrated to him the complete story. Hajjaj, who is known for his ruthlessness, was so moved by the man’s honesty that he allowed him to go free.

So in conclusion, we should commit ourselves to the noble character and behaviour of our Rasool (s) and his companions in every way in every aspect of our lives.  This includes good conduct, remembrance, recitation of the Quran, honesty and truthfulness, being humble towards others, enjoining good and forbidding evil, feeling bad for one’s sins, giving sadaqah and seeking Allah SWTs forgiveness all the time.  We must be aware that we cannot just take one part and abandon another part of the religion.  As a final remark in relation to this article is that people should always remember that quite simply, broken promises hurt individuals and can erode relationships. Trustworthiness is too valuable of a characteristic to own. DON’T GIVE IT AWAY AND DON’T FORGET that keeping a promise, even if it seems SMALL, as the verses of the Quran show, is an adequate reason to gain the most bejewelled of all things; the love of Allah, Almighty.

May Allah SWT guide us all to the truth, help us to be just with one another, to be mindful of the vows and promises we make to one another and keep us on the Straight path.   May Allah’s peace and blessing be upon our beloved Prophet Muhammad (s) and upon his family and companions and all those that follow him, and all praise is due to Allah. AMEEN.

By Sister S

All praise is due to Allah.  We praise Him and seek His help and forgiveness and we seek refuge in Allah from the evil of ourselves and our wicked deeds.  Whomsoever has been guided by Allah none can misguide him and whosoever has been misguided by Allah can find none to guide him.  I bear witness there is no god except Allah and that Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) is His servant and Messenger. May peace and blessings be upon Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam), his family, companions and all those who follow him. Ameen

There is no doubt that the woman is the object of beauty.  But this beauty must be used for good and not be used in such a way that it becomes a source of destruction.  The vital issue of Muslim women’s modesty and dress has been and is a controversial issue, especially in our modern times.  Sadly, we are living in a world of un-ending problems of sexual crimes; perversion, fornication, adultery and constant bombardment of lewd images.  Unfortunately, it appears that Muslims have become extremely lax in observing modesty and have become influenced by the careless immodesty of the non believers.  In order to prevent the moral breakdown of Islam, it is important that we adopt the principles of modesty and decorum by following the laws of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’aala (SWT) in wearing the proper acceptable dress for the believers and follow the Islamic regulations between the sexes in their social relationships.

Hijab means a “veil”, “curtain”, “partition” or “separation”.  In Islam hijab is given the wider meaning of modesty, privacy, and morality. Hijab includes not only the covering of body, but methods of behaviour before members of the same or opposite sex, promoting privacy for females to ensure modesty, decency, chastity and above all, respect and worship of Allah.

The Islamic ruling regarding women’s dress is stipulated in various verses of the Quran. The very first block on the road to sin has been mentioned in Surah Ahzab (Chapter 33) which commands the Muslim woman to remain in her home:

“…and stay in your houses and do not display yourselves like that of the former times of ignorance”

This method of veiling nowadays is observed as a very small matter and ‘modern’ people consider it a disgrace and inequality between the sexes.  However, Islam observes the rights of all and does not deal with anyone unjustly.  If a woman gets a happy honoured life in the house there is nothing wrong with that.  Although equal, Allah SWT has enjoined different responsibilities upon man and woman as to maintain a check and balance in society. If a woman on the other hand, due to necessity must leave the house to work, for example, if she has become widowed, then there is nothing wrong with that, so long as she dresses modestly.

Further Allah says in Surah An-Noor (24:30-31):

“… to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; and that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husband’s fathers, their sons, their husband’s sons, their brothers or their brothers sons or their sisters sons or their women, or the slaves whom their right hands possess, or male servants free of physical needs, or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex; and that they should not strike their feet in oder to draw attention to their hidden ornaments…”

From the above verse, we can understand that Muslim women are enjoined to “draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty” except in the presence of their husbands, other women, children, and those men who are so closely related to them that they are not allowed to marry them.

Following onwards, Allah further says in Surah al-Ahzab (Chapter 33:59):

“O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers, that they should cast their outer garments over their persons that are most convenient, that they should be known (as such) and not molested.”

Allah SWT here is clearly commanding the Muslimah (female Muslim) to wear the over garment, be it a coat or a cloak and draw it round her body.  As this verse was revealed, there was an instantaneous response among the women of the time of the Prophet Muhammad (sa), as stated in Hadith Bukhari:

‘Aisha, the wife of the Prophet (sa) used to say: “When (the Verse of Quran): ‘They should draw their veils over their necks/bosoms’ was revealed, (the ladies) cut their waist sheets at the edges and covered their faces with the cut pieces.”

Furthermore, we learn that if such a revelation was related to the blessed wives (ra) of the Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, then we, the unworthy must also consider the matter and follow in accordance. There is also reference to the ‘believing women’, hence applying to all Muslim women.

Although this article discusses hijab in the context of women only it is important to note however, in the Glorious Qur’an, Allah (SWT) first mentions ‘hijab’ for men before ‘hijab’ for the women.

The Qur’an mentions in Surah An-Noor (Chapter 24:30):
“Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty: that will make for greater purity for them: and Allah is well acquainted with all that they do.”

There are several requirements for how the Hijab must be worn. As mentioned earlier, first and foremost the Hijab is Fard (obligatory) for every Muslim woman.  We know that the whole body must be covered.  However, the views of the scholars of the four famous schools of jurisprudence regarding which part of the woman’s body must be covered are divided into 2 camps.  Briefly, one position is that women may expose their face and hands.  On the other hand the other view is that the whole body including face and hands should be covered.  They argue that it goes without saying that the face is the focal-point of a woman’s beauty, and the main source of attraction. Hence, the face of a woman cannot be displayed or shown to a stranger in normal circumstances whether in public or private according to the general principle fixed by the verse 30-31 of Surah An-Noor as stated above.

In support of their view they bring forth the following evidences (there are many others also):

“and when you ask them for anything you want, ask them from behind a screen.”  (Surah Ahzab:54)

Aishah (the wife of the Prophet (sa) said: “Male riders would pass by us while we were in the state of ihram with the Messenger of Allah. When they would approach us, each one of us would let her jilbaab fall down from the top of her head over her face. When they would pass by we would move our face veils.” (Abu Dawood)

Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) said “All of a woman is ‘awrah.” (Shaikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid quotes this hadith narrated by Tirmidhi with a sahih isnaad.)

So in brief, we can see there are two valid view points on the hijab. One view held by the Ullima is that the niqaab (covering the face) is wajib (compulsory) and other Ullima hold the view it is Mustahab (recommended and the best thing to do but not compulsory).

According to Muhammad Nasiruddin al-Albaani’s findings the following rules of hijab are applicable:

1. The whole body, except for the exempted parts should be covered.
2. But any veil, which in itself becomes an attraction, is to be avoided.
3. Garments should not be semi-transparent.
4. Dress should not be tight fitting.
5. Garments should not be perfumed.
6. The form of dress should not in any way resemble that of men.
7. Garments should not reflect worldly honour.

There is also an indivisible part of a Muslim woman’s hijab:

1. Lowering the gaze.

According Sheikh Yusuf Qaradawi the most precious ornament of a woman is modesty and the best expression of modesty is in the lowering of the gaze. This is a Quranic injunction for both men and women as mentioned above. See Surat An-Noor 24:30-31.

2. Not intermingling with men in such a way that their bodies come in contact or that men touch women.

Ma’qal ibn Yasar narrated that the Messenger (sa) of Allah (SWT) said:

“It is better for one of you to be pricked in the head with an iron pick than to touch a woman whom it is unlawful to touch”. (At-Tabarani with and authentic chain)

3. The Muslim woman walks and talks in a dignified and business-like manner, avoiding flirtatiousness in her facial expressions and movements.

Flirtatious and seductive behaviour are not the characteristics of a believer. Allah (SWT) says in Surat Al-Ahzab, verse 32:

“Then do not be too pleasant of speech, lest one in whose heart there is a disease should feel desire (for you)…”

4. A believing woman does not draw men’s attention to her concealed adornment by the use of perfume or by jingling or toying with her ornaments/jewellery.

Allah (SWT) says in Surat An-Noor, verse 31:

“They should not strike their feet in order to make known what they hide of their adornment…”

From the evidence that has been presented, it is clear what the minimum requirements of hijab are. It is also clear that the hijab is an order from Allah (SWT) and not something which has been ordained by man or specific cultures. Not only is hijab the outer covering of a woman, but it is also the manner in which the believing woman behaves and conducts herself. Let us be of those whom Allah (SWT) mentions in the Quran thus:

“The Messenger believes in what has been sent down to him from his Lord, and (so do) the believers… and they say, ‘We hear and we obey.’” (Al-Baqarah,2:285).

Today, Western society claims to have ‘uplifted’ women. On the contrary it has actually degraded them to the status of concubines, mistresses and society butterflies
who are mere tools in the hands of pleasure seekers and sex marketers, hidden behind the colourful screen of ‘art’ and ‘culture’. Western society says women who loose their virginity, or wear clothes that are revealing/semi naked should be exalted and classed as the ‘free’ woman. There has been a proliferation of sexualised images of girls that are teaching our children, our daughters, our sisters to turn to vast uncovering and exposing of their body parts. The TV, papers and magazines condition our children and to imitate the kuffar, to dress immodestly, indecently expose themselves, to indulge in free mixing and to commit much haraam activity.  No doubt, the consequences of this are dangerous and its corruption is tremendous.

The veil is not a uniquely Islamic convention; the practice has a long history in the Judeo-Christian tradition. Catholic nuns engage in the practice and there are several references to the practice in both the Old and New Testaments. Ironically, the representation of veiling in the Bible is much more problematic than those in the Qur’an or the Hadith, because the Judeo-Christian sources imply that women should be covered because of their inherent inferiority. So then why is it that today Western Women who wear veils are not considered oppressed? If we look at the example of how Virgin Mary is portrayed or Mother Teresa and other nuns.  When a nun wears a traditional head covering, which is essentially the same as hijab, she is identified as a pious woman whose life is devoted to her faith whereas the Muslim woman who wears hijab is all of a sudden oppressed and that Islam has restricted her ‘Freedom’.

We must remember Islam is not a religion restricted to the masaajid, it is a complete way of life.  Islam is the religion that determines every aspect of a Muslims life; what you can eat, what you cannot eat, what you can wear, what you cannot wear, what you can and cannot say etc.  This is the beauty of Islam that it determines every aspect of a human’s life from the day he is born till the day he dies.  Everything Allah Azzawajjal has ordained for us carries benefit.  Hijab opens so many more doors than it closes, spiritually and socially. It is unfortunate that there are so many obstacles to our finding this joy and fulfilment, but our best course of actions is to be aware of them, deal with them, and continue this form of jihad (struggle) in the way of Allah. Insha’Allah we will all receive great blessings and heightened spiritual benefits from our efforts to obey His wise commands, and never forget, no matter how difficult it is, that Allah never puts a burden upon us more than we can bear, and the more we persevere, the more blessings we receive, insha’Allah.

Some women argue they are not ready to wear the Hijab.  What they really mean is ‘I am worried what people will say.’ But what does this mean? They are more concerned about the people and do not fear Allah’s punishment.   A large number of Muslim girls use the excuse that they will wear Hijab after marriage, because they think that not wearing Hijab will help them to get married more easily!! SubhanAllah, do these girls think that they will get a good husband if they disobey Allah? In fact, Allah may punish them by giving them a bad husband!! Allahu ‘Alam.

If all the people are pleased with you but Allah is not, what have you gained? If Allah is pleased with you but none of the people are, what have you lost?

We all know applying Islam selectively in our lives is tantamount to burning the pages of the Qur’an. Although the haram path can be tempting because it is easy, we should remember that wherever Muslims live and whatever we do in life we should live according to the Shariah.

Allah (SWT) says:

“The good and the evil are not alike even if the evil looks like the good and is followed by the majority. So fear Allah, O you that understand; that (so) you may prosper” (Surah Al-Ma’idah: 100)

Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’aala has warned us in the Quran of the consequences of compromising our Deen (religion/way of life):

“So do you believe in some part of the Book and disbelieve in some. The penalty awaiting those who do this is nothing but humiliation in this life and the severest of punishment on the Day of Judgment” (Surah Al-Baqarah: 85)

Furthermore, is it not a great honour that we have been chosen to be Muslim women. Allah (SWT) has chosen US to follow the Prophet Muhammad (sa) and the Mothers of the beleivers.  He (SWT) has made matters easy for US by choosing us to be Muslim whereas other women are upon another religion other than Islam.  So we should be in good cheer and rejoice in the blessings of Allah (SWT) for we are blessed with this beautiful religion and perfect guidance.

One woman says: “I wear the Hijab, Niqab, and overhead Abaya because the Qur’an commands me to cover my hair, neck and chest in the Hijab (Surah 24 & Surah 33) and I wear the Niqab and overhead Abaya because the strong Hadiths order me to do so (See Bukhari). I cover my entire body to protect my modesty and because my beauty is only for my husband’s eyes, not for anyone else in this life. I cover like a crow to be like the wives of Muhammad (sa) and because the Prophet (sa) ordered his followers to follow the strong Hadiths and the Qur’an. I fear Allah (Subhanna Wa Ta’aala) and the fires of Jahannam, which is why I cover. I want to be known as a righteous woman and a human being, not a sex toy for men who can’t lower their gaze who don’t fear Allah (Subhanna Wa Ta’aala). Remember that Bukhari is the most authentic collection of Hadith and that if we don’t follow the strong Hadiths then we are disobeying the Prophet (sa) and disobeying Allah (Subhanna Wa Ta’aala). I follow the strong Hadith and the Qur’an. They are my guidance and Jannah is my goal.”

TabarakAllah!! What an example, this Muslim woman surely fears no one but Allah SWT and is wearing the Hijab with pride.

So hasn’t the time come for us sisters to show our love for Allah and His Rasool (sa) by obeying their commands, to educate the world that we are not being oppressed? Should we not prepare ourselves for That Day when we will be asked: Who is your Lord? Who is your Prophet?  What is your religion? Once our time is up and our account is closed, all that will remain with us will be our righteous deeds. Nothing of this world will go with us, not our wealth, our cars, our gold or our silver, ….nothing!  We will be stripped of even our clothing and placed in the grave just like the generations before us.  How can we die upon not fulfilling one of the basic obligations upon, that being the Hijab?  You Can Do It… Give Your Excuses A Black Eye! We should do it to please Allah and set an example and be a beacon for the children of the Ummah.

This source of purity and means of success shows Muslim women who wear Hijab are more liberated than any other woman and what she has no woman will ever have!  May Allah (SWT) guide the Ummah to abide by this important aspect of the Sunnah which the Prophets wives used to characterise themselves with and may Allah help us spread and convey this message to the darkest corners of the world.  Ameen

By Sister S

The BEST in life!!!!!

I don’t know about you, but I want to be the best! I want the best education, I want the best car, I want to go on the best holidays, I want the best looking children, I want the best house, the best job. My aim is to simply be the BEST in life!!

Nowadays most people aim for most if not all the things above and often even more. No matter where we turn we see people seeking wealth and striving to attain rank and position in relation to worldly things to such an extent that the people’s visions have become blurred and priorities mixed up. We live in a time where we are under enormous pressure to do well in all aspects of our lives. It begins from childhood, where children are pressured to do well academically, to compete and get top marks to become professionals, doctors, lawyers, etc and then to get the best jobs and are further encouraged to live luxurious lifestyles. This is all ok and great for the life of this world but what about preparation for the hereafter? Did our beloved Prophet (PBUH) not say, “He who loves his worldly life will harm his hereafter, and he who loves his hereafter will harm his worldly life. Give preference to that which is eternal over that which is temporary”. Hadith of Ahmed Ibn Hambal on the authority of Abu Musa Al Ash’Ari.

So whilst we should aim for success in this life we should also think about what can we do to please our Magnificent Creator. How can we be the BEST in the eyes of Almighty Allah? What can we do to gain a high rank in Paradise where there will be everlasting bliss? Our beloved Prophet’s (may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) teachings constitute the most comprehensive, practical, sensible and truthful guidance to all people in all walks of life and in all conditions of human endeavour. The narrations (Hadith) of our Prophet (PBUH) combined with the Laws of Allah SWT give proper guidance to mans physical, economic, political, socio-cultural, educational, moral and spiritual being. Below are only 50 of hundreds of authentic ahadith by the very best of Allah’s creation, Prophet Muhammad (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), which if followed will help us work towards being the BEST in both this life and the hereafter.

So go on, be remarkable, be extraordinary, be phenomenal, be the BEST!!!!

1. “The best of you are those who learn the Qur’an and teach it.” (Bukhari, Sahih)
2. The best of the prayer lines for men are the first rows, the worst being the final rows. The best of the prayer lines for women are the final rows and the worst are the first rows.” (Muslim)
3. “The best of which man can leave behind for himself are three: a righteous child who supplicates for him, an ongoing charity whose reward continues to reach him and knowledge which others benefit from after him.” (Ibn Hibban, Hasan)
4. “The best of you are the best of you in fulfilling (rights).” (Ahmad, Sahih)
5. “The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best of you to my family.” (Tirmidhi, Sahih)
6. “The best prayers for women are those performed in the most secluded parts of their houses.” (Ibn Khuzaymah, Sahih)
7. “The best of people are those who are best in fulfilling (rights).” (Ibn Majah, Sahih)
8. “The best of the world’s women are four: Maryum bint Imran, Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, Fatimah bint Muhammad and Asiyah the wife of Fir’awn.” (Ahmad, Sahih)
9. The best day on which the Sun has risen is Friday; on it Adam was created, on it Adam was made to enter Paradise and on it he was expelled. The Hour will not be established except on Friday.” (Muslim)
10. The best of people in recitation are those who when they recite, you see that they fear Allah.” (Bayhaqi, Sahih)
11. “The best of your leaders are those that you love and they love you, you supplicate for them and they supplicate for you. The worst of your leaders are those that you hate and they hate you, you curse them and they curse you.” (Muslim)
12. “The best of you are those who are best in paying off their debts.” (Tahawi, Sahih)
13. “The best of you are those with the longest lives and most excellent character.” (Bazzar, Sahih)
14. “The best of you are those with the longest lives and best in action.” (Hakim, Sahih)
15. “The most beloved of deeds according to Allah is that you die and yet your tongue is still moist from the remembrance of Allah.” (Ibn Hibban, Hasan)
16. “The best of you are those who are best to their wives.” (Tirmidhi, Sahih)
17. Narated By ‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr : That Allah’s Apostle said, “There are forty virtuous deeds and the best of them is the Maniha of a she-goat, and anyone who does one of these virtuous deeds hoping for Allah’s reward with firm confidence that he will get it, then Allah will make him enter Paradise because of it “(Bukhari)
18. Narated By Abu Huraira : A man asked the Prophet, “O Allah’s Apostle! What kind of charity is the best?” He replied. “To give in charity when you are healthy and greedy hoping to be wealthy and afraid of becoming poor. Don’t delay giving in charity till the time when you are on the death bed when you say, ‘Give so much to so-and-so and so much to so-and so,’ and at that time the property is not yours but it belongs to so-and-so (i.e. your inheritors).” (Bukhari)
19. “The best of companions according to Allah are those who are best to their companion and the best of neighbours according to Allah are those that are best to their neighbour.” (Tirmidhi, Sahih)
20. “The best of places are the Mosques and the worst of places are the markets.” (Tabarani, Hasan)
21. “The best supplication on the Day of Arafah and the best thing that I and the Prophets before me ever said was, “La ilaha illallah wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahul-mulk wa lahul-hamd wa huwa ala kulli shayin Qadir.”" (Tirmidhi, Hasan)
22. “The most beloved words according to Allah the Most High are four: Subhanallah, Alhamdulillah, La ilaha illallah and Allahu Akbar; (Muslim)
23. “The best testimony is when one gives it before he is asked to do so.” (Tabarani, Sahih)
24. “The best of dowries are the easiest.” (Hakim, Sahih)
25. “The most beloved dish according to Allah is that which most hands feed from.” (Ibn Hibban, Hasan)
26. “The most beloved servant of Allah is he who is most beneficial to his dependents.” (Zawaid al-Zuhd, Hasan)
27. “The best of earnings is that of the labourer as long as he tries his best.” (Ahmad, Hasan)
28. “The best of all deeds is the Prayer in its right time, to treat the Parents honourably and Jihad in the path of Allah.” (al-Khatib, Sahih)
29. “The best of all deeds is that you bring happiness to your Muslim brother, pay off his debt or feed him bread.” (Ibn Adiyy, Hasan)
30. “The best of faith is patience and magnanimity.” (Ahmad, Sahih)
31. The best word of remembrance is: La ilaha illallah and the best supplication is: Al-hamdu lillah. (Tirmidhi, Hasan)
32. Narrated Abu Sa’id Al-Khudri: Someone asked Allah’s Messenger: “Who is the best man?” He answered, “A believer who strives in th
33. Cause of Allah with his life and his wealth.” The man asked: “Who is the next?” He said, “One who retires into a narrow valley and worship his Lord.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
34. “The best of hours are those deep in the latter part of the night.” (Tabarani, Sahih)
35. “The most beloved of speech according to Allah is when the servant says, Subhanallahi wa bihamdihi (How Transcendent is Allah and we praise him!).” (Muslim)
36. “The best prayer after the obligatory ones is the prayer in the depth of the night, and the best fast after the month of Ramadhan is the month of Allah, Muharram.” (Muslim)
37. “The best prayer is the prayer of the man in his home except for the obligatory prayer.”(Nasai, Sahih)
38. “The best prayer is that with the longest standing.” (Muslim)
39. “The best of all prayers according to Allah is the Friday morning prayer in congregation.” (Ibn Nuaym, Sahih)
40. “The best fast is the fast of my brother Dawud; he would fast every alternate day and he would never flee (the battlefront) when the armies would meet.” (Tirmidhi, Sahih)
41. “The best of all fasts after Ramadhan is in the month that you call Muharram.” (Nasai, Sahih)
42. “The world is but a provision and the best provision of the world is a pious and virtuous woman “. (Muslim)
43. The best of all deeds is the Prayer at its earliest time.” (Tirmidhi, Sahih)
44. The best of all charity is when the one with little strives to give; start with those you are responsible for.” (Hakim, Sahih)
45. “The best of days according to Allah is Friday.” (Bayhaqi, Sahih)
46. “The best of women are those that please him (her husband) when he sees her, obeys him when she is commanded, and who does not secretly betray him with regards to herself and her money in that which he dislikes.” (Ahmad, Sahih)
47. The best companion with Allah swt is he who behaves best to his companion, and the best neighbour with Allah swt is he who behaves best to his neighbour ” (Tirmidhi)

May Allah (Subhana wa ta ‘ala) help us to practice these teachings in our private and public life and may He guide us to the right path. Ameen

Compiled By Sister S

The Muslim must continuously be in the state of obedience of Allah, firm upon His Sharee`ah, steadfast upon His Deen, so that he or she is not of those who worship Allah only during one month or only in one place. Rather, the believer knows that the Lord of Ramadan is also the Lord of other months, and that He is the Lord of all times and places, so he is steadfast upon the Sharee`ah of Allah until he meets Him while He is pleased with him.

Allah ta`ala said, “So remain on a right course as you have been commanded, [you] and those who have turned back with you [to Allah].” [Hud, 112] And, “So take a straight course to Him and seek His forgiveness.” [Fussilat, 6]

And the Prophet, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, said, “Say ‘I believe in Allah’, then be steadfast.” [Muslim]

– If the fasting in Ramadan has ended, then there remains voluntary fasting, such as fasting six days in Shawwal, on Mondays and Thursdays, the three days in the middle of the month, the days of `Aashoora and `Arafat, and others.

– If standing in prayer at night during Ramadan has ended, then there remains voluntary night prayer throughout the year. “They used to sleep but little of the night.” [Adh-Dhaariyaat, 17]

– If the charity in Ramadan and zakat ul-fitr have ended, then there is the obligatory Zakat, and also there are many other open doors to charity, voluntary actions and jihad.

– Reading of the Qur’an and contemplating it is not only for Ramadan, rather it is for all times.

Righteous actions are for all times and all places, so strive - O my brother and sister – and beware of laziness. And remember that it is not allowed for us to leave the obligatory actions or delay them, such as the five daily prayers on time, in congregation etc.

And do not fall into forbidden actions, such as forbidden sayings, food and drinks, or by looking at or listening to what is forbidden.

Be steadfast and upright upon the Deen of Allah at all times, for you do not know when you’ll meet the Angel of Death. Beware of him taking you while you are in a state of sin.

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatu!

A wonderful, thought-provoking piece of writing…

click here

Wassalam

Khadija

Whatever good deeds you do make sure they are for Allāh’s sake, and do some of them in secret, such that nobody knows about them except you and your Lord. Make this investment, a treasure with Allāh which you will find [and be rewarded] for on The Judgement Day.

May Allah accept, ameen.

By Huma Iman

Have you ever stood by a pond and thrown a pebble into it? Didn’t it create an infinite number of ripples? Similarly, over the span of our lives, every one of us is constantly creating a series of unending ripples by our words, actions, presence and personality. This ripple-effect stays long after we are gone or our action is over, in the form of traces and impressions, and continues to influence and inspire others. Thus, the chain continues.

Allah (SWT) states:“… We record whatever deeds they have sent ahead, and the traces (aathaarahum) which they left behind; for of all things do we take account in a clear record.” (Surah Ya-sin 36:12)

We know that Allah (SWT) is meticulous in His Accountability and fair in His Judgment. Thus, He informs us that His recording includes everything big and small, exposed or concealed, good and bad with numerical clarity. He (SWT) records not just deeds but also the traces, impact and impressions of those deeds, with precision.

“Whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it. Whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it.” (Surah az-Zalzalah 99: 7-8 )

Everyday, whatever we do is presented to Allah (SWT). What remains are the impressions, and these we will find in our Book on the Day of Accountability. Therefore, with the right intention, knowledge and actions we can strive to leave impressions that just might play an important role in tipping the scale in our favour. The Arabic word, ‘Aathaar’ cannot be translated into one word in English as it encompasses various sublime concepts depending on the context in which it is used:

Impression of a deed on one’s body – for example, tasbeeh on fingers. The Prophet (SAW) said, “Count on your fingers, for they will be asked, and will be made to speak.”

Impression of our body on the environment - for example, footsteps on the way to the masjid. The Prophet (SAW) said, “…And your footsteps will be recorded.” [Bukhari]

Effects of direct instruction or imparting knowledge – “When the son of Adam dies, all his deeds come to an end except three: knowledge which is beneficial to others, a righteous child who prays for him, or an ongoing charity which he leaves behind.” (Muslim)

Effects of setting an example or through inspiring others – “Whoever starts (or sets an example of) something good in Islam, will have a reward for it. And a reward equal to that of everyone who does it after him, without that detracting from their reward in the slightest…” [Muslim]

Direct impact of a deed performed and its continuation – “…An ongoing charity which he leaves behind.” [Muslim] In the light of the above, let us take a look at examples of things that we can do that will leave beautiful, lasting impressions, insha Allah.

Adopt good Islamic manners – Our personality leaves an impression on others and plays a crucial part in attracting them towards Islam. This includes our temperament, speech, character, behaviour and interaction with others.“Forbidden upon the Hell Fire is every easygoing, flexible, easy-to-deal-with, and easy-to-be-sociable-with person.” [Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Musnad (hasan)]

Spread knowledge – Record or print books, CDs or pamphlets for distribution in your community.“The one who tells another about something good is like the one who does it.” [Muslim]

Learn, adopt or revive a forgotten Sunnah – for example learn cupping (hijamah) for treatment. “Whoever revives one of my Sunnahs that has died out after I am gone, will have a reward like that of everyone who does it, without that detracting from their reward in the slightest.” [Tirmidhi]

Teach or help someone memorise the Quran – “The best of you is the one who learns the Quran and teaches it.” [Bukhari]

Write a good book, a beneficial article or launch a useful website – Your work will remain long after you are gone and you will continue to reap the benefits.

Meet your family and sisters in Islam with a smile – Nothing warms people up more than this easy (and infectious!) form of sadaqah.“Every good deed is charity, and indeed, it is a good deed to meet your brother with a cheerful face…” [Ahmad] .

Begin a phone call with a quick dua – Seek protection for your tongue from gossiping, lying or backbiting before picking up the phone.“On the Day when their tongues, their hands, and their feet will bear witness against them as to their actions.” [Surah Noor 24:24]

Give charity from your excess food – When eating out, parcel up the surplus food you ordered and give it to a hungry homeless person outside the restaurant.

Give a unique gift that encourages a sunnah – for example, a bottle of original kohl with a card describing how the Prophet (SAW) used it.

Clean the masjid – Pick up litter after the prayer is over & people have left.“The Messenger of Allah (SAW) commanded us to set up mosques among our houses and commanded us to clean them.” [Musnad Ahmad]

Quench someone’s thirst – Take bottle of water or juice when you go out and offer it to someone working in the hot sun.

Make dua for your sister – Look at the needs and problems of your sisters and supplicate for them without even being asked.“The supplication of a Muslim for his brother in his absence will certainly be answered. Every time he makes a supplication for good for his brother, the angels appointed for this particular task says: “Ameen! May it be for you, too.” (Muslim)There are infinite opportunities to do good, and myriad examples to draw on for inspiration. Let us start exploring those prospects and create the ripples of our own athaar.

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