Salam

Assalamu Alaikom brothers,

 

I miss you guys, no joke. Hope all of you are well and have peace of hearts. So, I attended a lecture by Brother Ibrahim Najem on the Purification of the Heart. He related Ibn Qayym's 10 advices on how to purify the heart:

 

1.     Praying Salah with concentration and dedication

2.     Reading the Quarn, seeking to understand and practice it. (also reflect on the Quran)

3.     Constant Dikhr (remembrance of Allah)

4.     Dua

5.     Remembering Death

6.     Seeking righteous company

7.     Learning Islamic Knowledge

8.     Giving Dawah

9.     Being Patient and Steadfast

10.  Being strong willed / staying away from temptations and whims.

 

May Allah grant us all righteous hearts. Ameen. Talk to you all soon, iA.  Be safe and take care of yourselves.

 

Peace,

 

Nabil

 

 

Nurain's Post

Assalamalaikum,

Narrated 'Umar bin Al-Khattab:

I heard Allah's Apostle saying, "The reward of deeds depends upon the intentions and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended. So whoever emigrated for worldly benefits or for a woman to marry, his emigration was for what he emigrated for." (Bukhari 1:1:1)

Prepare for The Afterlife

I am currently listening to the audio lecture set by Sheikh Anwar al-awlaki titled "The Hereafter," so I thought it would be a good to remind ourselves to not delay doing good deeds and to stay focused on building for our afterlife which is eternal rather than the worldly life which is temporary.

"O you who believe! Let not your properties or your children divert you from the remembrance of Allah. And whosoever does that, then they are the losers. And spend (in charity) of that with which We have provided you, before death comes to one of you, and he says: `My Rubb! If only You would give me respite for a little while (i.e., return to the worldly life), then I should give Sadaqah (i.e., Zakat) of my wealth, and be among the righteous' And Allah grants respite to none when his appointed time (death) comes. And Allah is All-Aware of what you do.'' (63:9-11)

May Allah consider us among the righteous and help us to stay focused on doing good and preparing for our afterlife...

-Usman

Fasting 6 days in Shawwal

I know that I am jumping ahead in the order a little bit, but it is already the 10th of Shawwal, and I want to share this hadith while we still have plenty of time to benefit from it.

Abu Ayyub al-Ansari related that Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

Whoever fasts the month of Ramadan and then follows it with six days of fasting in the month of Shawwal, it will be as if he had fasted the year through.

Sahih Muslim (1163)


Your brother,

Ibraheem

On Dreams

Abu Qatada reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying : The good vision are from Allah and the evil dreams are from the satan. If one sees a dream which one does not like, one should spit on one's left side and seek the refuge of Allah from the satan; it will not do one any harm, and one should not disclose it to anyone and if one sees a good vision one should feel pleased but should not disclose it to anyone but whom one loves. (Muslim)

I chose a hadith on this topic b/c some dreams I have just leave a bad feeling inside, so I guess I find comfort in learning how to deal with them. Plus, I wasn't exactly sure when to and when not to share them.

Salaams brothers,
imad

The Qur'an is our guide

Assalamu alaikum everyone!

I hope we all benefited from this past Ramadan, the month of Qur'an!

Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) said;
"The best of you are those who learn the Quran and teach it." (Bukhari, Volume 6, Book 61, Number 545)

Alhamdulillah, as some of you guys may know, I had the blessing of learning tajweed (proper quranic recitation) and memorization of the Qur'an for a few months earlier this year.

The experience opened my eyes to how easy the qur'an is to learn with a little effort!

I feel it is incumbent upon me to both continue to learn AND teach what I learned.

If you think about it, we are reciting qur'an at least 17 times a day...do we know what we are reciting? Do we know if we are reciting it properly?

Allah (SWT) told us that our guide manual for living this life is the Qu'ran (read the first two ayahs of surah baqarah)...by not making a simple effort to understand it, we are in effect ignoring our guide for success!

-----------So here's the deal:

A few people have asked me to teach them Qur'an, my schedule is pretty variable,  so instead...
I came up with this Awsome idea , using  cutting-edge internet technology, to teach the essentials of Quranic recitation in just 10 minutes a week!

I am only letting a few people know about it so they can give me feedback.

If you think it is worth my time and your time then send me and e-mail by this Friday.

If you are already learning qur'an with a teacher, then no problem. :)

May Allah continue to bless us in our work, and May Allah accept our fasts and prayers!

Salam,
-Safi

Azim's Post

The deed which can draw you near to Paradise and take you away from Hell

Assalamu Alaikum Brothers,

It is narrated on the authority of Abu Ayyub Ansari that once during
the journey of the Holy Prophet (may peace of Allah be upon him) a
bedouin appeared before him and caught hold of the nosestring of his
she-camel and then said, Messenger of Allah (or Muhammad), inform me
about that which takes me near to Paradise and draws me away from the
Fire (of Hell). He (the narrator) said: The Prophet (may peace be upon
him) stopped for a while and cast a glance upon his companions and
then said: He was afforded a good opportunity (or he had been guided
well). He (the Holy Prophet) addressing the bedouin said: (Repeat)
whatever you have uttered. He (the bedouin) repeated that. Upon this
the Apostle (may peace be upon him) remarked: The deed which can draw
you near to Paradise and take you away from Hell is, that you worship
Allah and associate none with Him, and you establish prayer and pay
Zakat, and do good to your kin. After having uttered these words, the
Holy Prophet asked the bedouin to release the nosestring of his she-
camel.

[Sahih Muslim]

InshAllah, you all had a joyous Eid.

Allah hafiz,
Azim

Eid Mubarak!

Salaams and Eid Mubarak! I know Eid-ul-Fitr wasn't on the same day
for everyone this year, and don't worry, I'm not even going to touch
on that controversy. Instead, I think I'll just post a verse from the
Quran that I hope we can all reflect on and enjoy:

"And hold fast, all together, by the rope which Allah (stretches out
for you), and be not divided among yourselves; and remember with
gratitude Allah's favor on you; for ye were enemies and He joined your
hearts in love, so that by His Grace, ye became brethren; and ye were
on the brink of the pit of Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus doth
Allah make His Signs clear to you: That ye may be guided." (3:103)

Key words/phrases: "all together", "be not divided", "love", and most
importantly "remember with gratitude Allah's favor on you".
Yeah...thats my commentary. So I'm in the middle of exams right
now...hence the bad commentary...but wanted to wish everyone a happy
Eid!

easy-reap rewards

Abu Huraryrah (ra) narrated that the Prophet (SAW) said, "Allah will write one hundred Hasanat (rewards) for whoever says "Laa ilaaha illallahu wahdahu laa shareeka lahu, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu, wa Huwa 'alaa kulli shay'in Qadeer" (There is no God but Allah alone, He has no partner. To Allah is possession of everything, and to Him all praise is, He is Capable of all things) ten times in the morning and forgive him one hundred misdeeds. He will have the reward of freeing a slave and will be protected from Satan throughout the day unto dusk. Whoever says in the evening will have the same reward (narrated in Ahmad 8/704 with a Hasan (good) chain of transmission).

A similar hadith about the same statement: Laa ilaaha illallahu wahdahu laa shareeka lahu, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu, wa Huwa 'alaa kulli shay'in Qadeer

Whoever recites this in the morning, will have the reward of freeing a slave from the Children of Ismail. Ten Hasanaat (rewards) will be written for him, and he will be forgiven ten misdeeds, raised up ten degrees , and be protected from Satan until evening. Whoever says in the evening will have the same reward until morning. (narrated in Abu Dawud, Ahmed and Ibn Majah with a Sahih (sound) chain of transmission).

Here's the Arabic:
لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٍ

Assalamu alaykum guys,
have the awesomest Eid ever,
Bilal

last days and nights upon us

Assalamu Alaikum. Inshallah everyone's Ramadan is going well. May Allah give us the strength to finish out the month strongly. Below is an ayah I came across while reading the Quran. It is said the last third of the month is being saved from the Hellfire. May all of us be included in this blessing: Ameen. Following the ayah is a beautiful dua to be recited during Salatul Tahajjud. As this is the last time I may be corresponding to you brothers before Eid, an early Eid Mubarak. Enjoy.

039.053 YUSUFALI: Say: "O my Servants who have transgressed against their souls! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah: for Allah forgives all sins: for He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Bukhari Volume 2, Book 21, Number 221: Narrated Ibn Abbas: When the Prophet got up at night to offer the Tahajjud prayer, he used to say: Allahumma lakal-hamd. Anta qaiyimus-samawati wal-ard wa manfihinna. Walakal-hamd, Laka mulkus-samawati wal-ard wa man fihinna.Walakal-hamd, anta nurus-samawati wal-ard. Walakalhamd, anta-l-haq wawa'duka-l-haq, wa liqa'uka Haq, wa qualuka Haq, wal-jannatu Hanwan-naru Haq wannabiyuna Haq. Wa Muhammadun, sallal-lahu'alaihiwasallam, Haq, was-sa'atu Haq. Allahumma aslamtu Laka wabika amantu,wa 'Alaika tawakkaltu, wa ilaika anabtu wa bika khasamtu, wa ilaikahakamtu faghfir li ma qaddamtu wama akh-khartu wama as-rartu wama'alantu, anta-l-muqaddim wa anta-l-mu akh-khir, la ilaha illa anta (orla ilaha ghairuka). (O Allah! All the praises are for you, You are the Holder of the Heavens and the Earth, And whatever is in them. All the praises are for You; You have the possession of the Heavens and the Earth And whatever is in them. All the praises are for You; You are the Light of the Heavens and the Earth And all the praises are for You; You are the King of the Heavens and the Earth; And all the praises are for You; You are the Truth and Your Promise is the truth, And to meet You is true, Your Word is the truth And Paradise is true And Hell is true And all the Prophets (Peace be upon them) are true; And Muhammad is true, And the Day of Resurrection is true. O Allah ! I surrender (my will) to You; I believe in You and depend on You. And repent to You, And with Your help I argue (with my opponents, the non-believers) And I take You as a judge (to judge between us). Please forgive me my previous And future sins; And whatever I concealed or revealed And You are the One who make (some people) forward And (some) backward. There is none to be worshipped but you . Sufyan said that'Abdul Karim Abu Umaiya added to the above, 'Wala haula Wala quwatailla billah' (There is neither might nor power except with Allah).

-Shamim

Qiyaam al Layl

Assalamualaikum brothers,

InshaAllah you are all doing well.  Alhamdulillah, my family and I are doing alright.  Tomorrow is my last day on my psychiatry rotation.  On Monday, I start neurology inshaAllah.  I hope the following ahadeeth on Qiyaam al-Layl (the voluntary night prayer between Isha and Fajr) are helpful to you all.

The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: "You should pray Qiyaam al-Layl, for it is the habit of the righteous people who came before you, and it will bring you closer to your Lord, expiate for bad deeds, prevent sin, and expel disease from the body." [At-Tirmidhee and Musnad Ahmad]

Abu Hurayrah (radhi allahu anhu) reported that Allah's Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: "The best of prayer after those prescribed ( i.e. obligatory prayer) is that in the depth of night." [Saheeh Muslims] 

Abu Hurayrah (radhi allahu anhu) reported: "Allah's Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) encouraged the people, without making it an absolute command, to perform Qiyaam during Ramadan . He (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) used to say: "Whoever stands (in Qiyaam) in Ramadan out of faith and expectation (of Allah's reward), all his previous sins will be forgiven." [Saheeh Muslim]

InshaAllah, we can try hard to make the most of these last 10 nights of Ramadan and please keep my family and me in your duas.

Take care,

Sameer

The Last 10 nights are upon us...

Assalaamu alaykum wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuh,

MashaAllah, the last 10 nights of Ramadhan are finally upon us. May Allah grant us tawfeeq and strength to be able to maximize our worship in these nights. Aameen. Everything is going well from my end... baby Maryam is growing fast, mashaAllah, and is already 6 and 1/2 weeks old. Please keep her, and all of us, in your duas.

The following hadeeth describes the practice of the Prophet (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) on the last 10 nights of Ramadhan:

'Aa'ishah, radhiallaahu 'anha, reported: "When the last ten days of Ramadhaan came, the Prophet sall Allaahu 'alayhi wa sallam would stay up all night, wake his family and gird his loins". [Al-Bukhaari & Muslim]. In the book of Imaam Muslim the narration read: "He strove hard and girded his loins". Imaam Ibn Hajar, rahimahullaah, said: "His staying all night was in worship and acts of obedience, and the reason he woke his family was for them to pray the optional night prayers, and girding his loins referred to him abstaining from sleeping with his wives".

Also, I wanted to share some very nice advice on how to take advantage of the last 10 nights from Sh. Muhammad AlShareef, copy and pasted below:

The last ten nights of Ramadan are upon us. And soon after this
you the journey for Hajj will begin for Muslims around the world.

If you make the same dua, each day, for the last ten nights of
Ramadan, it's guaranteed that you would have made that dua during
Laylatul-Qadr. (A night worth 1000 months of reward in the sight
of Allah).


********************************

So, prepare your dua from now!
********************************

Step 1: Ask yourself, "If Allah said to me, I'll give you
anything you wish, just ask!" What would you ask for? Make a
list. (Try to fill 2 pages worth of dua, from the goodness of
this life and the next.

Step 2: Pick about 6 of those things

Step 3: Make dua for those 6 things consistently every night for
the last ten nights of Ramadan.

Of course, make as much dua as you want, but make sure these 6
things are consistent.

With best wishes to see you succeed at the highest level!
- Muhammad Alshareef