Everyday things to think about.

AA guys,

I'm doing well, Alhumdulilah, and I hope you all are, too. I plugging away at school, trying to not let anatomy get the best of me. I'm finding it really tough. For that reason, I have no other updates since I've been relatively one-track minded. Though, I'm continuing to enjoy the Muslim presence here. We all don't hang out (b/c there isn't a lot of time for that), but it's just nice praying together inbetween classes and see each other during the day.

Well, here are the goods...

Narrated AbuUmamah:

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: I guarantee a house in the surroundings of Paradise for a man who avoids quarrelling even if he were in the right, a house in the middle of Paradise for a man who avoids lying even if he were joking, and a house in the upper part of Paradise for a man who made his character good.

{Book 41, Number 4782 : Sunan Abu Dawud}

Take care and salaams,
imad

With difficulty there is goodness

Assalamu alaikum my brothers:

Here is a hadith that has kept me going:

It is narrated that the prophet (SAS) said: "Whoever Allah wishes good for, he afflicts them with trials."
-Narrated in Bukhari and Muslim


Salam,
-Safi

Value of Truthfulness

Assalamu Alaikum everyone, inshallah, you and your families are all doing well. things have been going well for me. as some of you may know, i started working for a lawfirm in baltimore last fall. work has been very busy, and very challenging. my focus is in corporate law, specifically venture capital. because i deal with various types of business tranasactions everyday, i thought i'd share the following Hadith:

Ibn 'Umar, may Allah be pleased with them, said: A man mentioned to the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) that he is often deceived in business transactions, whereupon Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: When you enter into a transaction, say: There should be no attempt to deceive. So whenever he entered into a transaction, he used to say: There should be no attempt to deceive.

No matter what field you practice, i think this Hadith brings up an important point - the value of truthfulness. as a lawyer, i have seen the consequences of not telling the truth. Often, the deception may not even be purposeful, and that is why it is important to ask for Allah's (swt) help.

Seeking forgiveness

Salaams bros,

I hope everyone is doing well these days. My workload is seriously
building up now that I'm coming closer to my boards in the spring so
please keep me in your prayers and dua, and Inshallah I will get
through them okay. My family is good; my niece Lena is nearly 10
months old and doing great, Alhamdulillah. My older brother Saif
(whom some of you might have met) is also expecting a child, so please
pray for him and his wife that all goes well.

I saw this hadith on an online forum and it took me a couple of reads
to really understand it:

"If you did not commit sins and turn to Allah, seeking His
forgiveness, He would have replaced you with another people who would
sin, ask Allah's forgiveness and He would forgive them."
Sahih Muslim, reported by Aboo Ayyoob al-Ansaaree

I think this hadith has two important messages within it. First of
all, it clearly states that none of us are perfect; no matter how much
good we may do and no matter how much bad we may stay away from, we
are bound to sin at some point. But the more important point of the
hadith is the emphasis on asking for Allah's forgiveness. We should
ALWAYS ask for Allah's forgiveness when we sin and we should ALWAYS
expect to be forgiven if we are sincere in our repentance. It should
be part of our nature to ask for Allah's forgiveness from time to
time.

Reward for Sitting after Fajr

Assalamu Alaykum

From Anas bin Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, who said: "The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, said: 'Whoever prays the morning prayer in congregation then sits remembering Allah until the sun rises, then prays two units of prayer has the reward like that of Hajj and `Umrah.'" He said, "Allah's Messenger, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, said: 'Complete, complete, complete (i.e. reward).' [Tirmidhi]

One of the Sheikhs was speaking about this hadith and he was saying basically if we pray Fajr in the masjid and then we just do dhikr or read some Quran sitting in our place of fajr until Duha-time (about twenty minutes post-fajr) and then we pray 2 rakat of Duha (some people call this prayer Ishraq also), then insh'Allah we will have the reward of a full Hajj AND Umrah (though our obligation to perform Hajj is not lifted). Subhan'Allah, we can achieve soooo much reward soooo easily everyday. This is by the bounty that Allah bestows upon us. And Allah is the Owner of great bounty.

insha'Allah everyone is doing well.
wa assalamu alaykum,
bilal

A Reminder

The other day I came across two brothers arguing about some pretty detailed issues of fiqh and I was reminded of the following Hadith:

Ibn Luhay'ah narrates on the authority of 'Abdullaah ibn Ja'far that the Messenger of Allaah (Peace and Blessings be upon him) said:

The one who is most prepared to give fatwa, is the one who is most prepared for the Fire.

-Mabaahith fee Ahkaam al-Fatwa - Page 37

Hopefully this Hadith with give us all a littlle inspiration to be careful about what we say.

I make dua that Allah protect us all from speaking without knowledge, and that he places humility in our hearts, and that he makes us from amongst those that value the position of the scholars of Al Islaam...Ameen

Your Brother,
Ibraheem

Sins of the Heart

Assalamu Alaikum brothers. Inshallah I'd like to share with you some things I learned from the halaqa I attended last week in my local masjid. Unfortunately I didn't start taking notes until halfway through, so my recollection is incomplete. The Ustadh (professor?) is a member of the Zaytuna Institute and creater of LampPost Publications. Not everything is directly from Quran or Sunnah, but has been collected by the shuyuk for our benefit. May we all guard against these sins. Ameen.

1/11/08

Ma’siatal Qalb (Sins of the Heart) by Ustadh Abdullah bin Hamid Ali

• Can be punished for impulse.
• Ex. Pride: One w/pride will not enter paradise. Pride is rejection of truth & looking down on others (hadith)

• Sheikh Ahmad Zurook (Morrocan) all rounder listed 4 sins of the heart

1) Riya (ostentation). Cure is to think who has given characteristic

2) Self-Amazement/narcissism caused by kibr (pride)

3) Stinginess caused by fear of poverty

4) Ghadab (anger) caused by thinking of self. Cure is to think of bad characteristics or what others say of you.

• Sins of Seekers of Knowledge according to Gazzali in Bida-tul-Hidayah (Beginning of Guidance)

1) Hasad (envy): in state of torment which is greater in the Hereafter. Love for

your brother what you love for yourself. (More important than details of fiqh)

2) Riya: 1 of 2 types of shirk (subtle/asghar). Love of status or to be followed.

No one destroys the people, but the people. Invalidates deeds, not accepted.

God is good, only accepts good.

3) Self-Amazement/Pride: Chronic illness. Arrogant one has distaste for being

Rebuked, but not gentle when rebuking. Best of people are those who are best

In Hereafter. Ignorance not knowing this. Think of child as sinless, an old

Person has worshipped more so better. Less knowledgeable sinned out of

Ignorance. Unbeliever may become Muslim.

• Kibr will not leave until acknowledging greatness in sight of Allah (on deathbed)
• Cause of all is Hub ud Dunna (Love of the world)

You knocked a glass of water over

Assalamualaikum brothers, InshaAllah you are all doing well. I recently started my surgery rotation at a county hospital in Torrance, which is about a 25 minute drive from my apt. Alhamdulillah, it's really interesting and my team has involved me in many aspects of patient care so I'm trying to learn as much as I can. Also, the senior resident on our team is Muslim and that's been really cool. I'm still trying to get adjusted to the surgery hours, but I think it's possible as long as I get to bed early (inshaAllah). I hope the Florida brothers had a great time on the trip, and inshaAllah, I'll be able to join you all on the next trip.

Also, I'm sorry that I haven't been posting as regularly as we initially wanted for the Islamic Reminder email rotation. But, inshaAllah I hope the following benefits you.

In Surah al-An'am, Ayah 59 Allah (swt) says: "And with Him are the keys of the unseen; none knows them except Him. And He knows what is on the land and in the sea. Not a leaf falls but that He knows it. And no grain is there within the darkness of the earth and no moist or dry [thing] but that it is [written] in a clear record."

Subhanallah guys, I thought this ayah was incredible. Allah's (swt) knowledge is so complete and wide ranging that even if I knocked over a glass of water, that was close to being empty, in the middle of the night, and only a few leftover droplets fell out of the glass and moistened the top fibers of the carpet, Allah (swt) would know all of this and to much greater detail than I am describing here. Subhanallah! I miss you guys and I hope I can hang out with you all in the near future, inshaAllah.

Take care and have a great week (inshaAllah),

Sameer

On Brotherhood

Assalaamu alaykum wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuh, my dear brothers,

Yesterday, I was trying to think of a good hadeeth to send out to our list; that night I went to Isha at the masjid, and I found an amazing hadeeth (which I never heard before) written up on the dry-erase board, and so I copied it down so we can all benefit from it, insha Allah.

On the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: The Messenger of Allah (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

"Do not evny one another, do not inflate prices to one another, do not hate one another, do not turn away from one another, and do not undercut one another, but be you - O servants of Allah - brothers. A Muslim is the brother of a Muslim: he neither oppresses him nor does he fail him; he neither lies to him nor does he hold him in contempt. Piety is right here (and he pointed to his breast three times). It is evil enough for a man to hold his Muslim brother in contempt. The whole of a Muslim for another Muslim is inviolable: his blood, his property, and his honor."

كتاب البر والصلة والآداب
10 - باب تَحْرِيمِ ظُلْمِ الْمُسْلِمِ وَخَذْلِهِ وَاحْتِقَارِهِ وَدَمِهِ وَعِرْضِهِ وَمَالِهِ
6706#
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ بْنِ قَعْنَبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا دَاوُدُ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ قَيْسٍ - عَنْ أَبِي، سَعِيدٍ مَوْلَى عَامِرِ بْنِ كُرَيْزٍ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ لاَ تَحَاسَدُوا وَلاَ تَنَاجَشُوا وَلاَ تَبَاغَضُوا وَلاَ تَدَابَرُوا وَلاَ يَبِعْ بَعْضُكُمْ عَلَى بَيْعِ بَعْضٍ وَكُونُوا عِبَادَ اللَّهِ إِخْوَانًا ‏.‏ الْمُسْلِمُ أَخُو الْمُسْلِمِ لاَ يَظْلِمُهُ وَلاَ يَخْذُلُهُ وَلاَ يَحْقِرُهُ ‏.‏ التَّقْوَى هَا هُنَا ‏"‏ ‏.‏ وَيُشِيرُ إِلَى صَدْرِهِ ثَلاَثَ مَرَّاتٍ ‏"‏ بِحَسْبِ امْرِئٍ مِنَ الشَّرِّ أَنْ يَحْقِرَ أَخَاهُ الْمُسْلِمَ كُلُّ الْمُسْلِمِ عَلَى الْمُسْلِمِ حَرَامٌ دَمُهُ وَمَالُهُ وَعِرْضُهُ ‏"‏ ‏.

رواه مسلم

(I don't think this went out Thursday)

Asalaamu Alaikum Sorry this is getting to you all so late and thanks for all of your concern about my tooth. I currently have a temporary tooth in and will be waiting a few weeks for the permanent to be finished. Insha' Allah it will fit better than the last two temporary ones have. This experience has been a quite a strain on my patience but nothing I can't handle. I hope this reaches you all in good health and spirits and i can't wait to meet up with you all again. Take care and enjoy this: Narrated Abu Huraira:Allah's Apostle (p.b.u.h) said, "Any person who takes a bath on Friday like the bath of Janaba and then goes for the prayer (in the first hour i.e. early), it is as if he had sacrificed a camel (in Allah's cause); and whoever goes in the second hour it is as if he had sacrificed a cow; and whoever goes in the third hour, then it is as if he had sacrificed a horned ram; and if one goes in the fourth hour, then it is as if he had sacrificed a hen; and whoever goes in the fifth hour then it is as if he had offered an egg. When the Imam comes out ( i.e. starts delivering the Khutba), the angels present themselves to listen to the Khutba."

Salam from Nabil

Assalamu Alaikom brothers,

 

Florida was wonderful. Missed a bunch of you there, though. Anyhow, things are cool. I'm still on the project in Maine and finished the first semester of the part-time MBA, alhamdullilah. There was a bit more reading than I expected, but the different prespective was refreshing.

 

Anyhow, I'm looking forward to seeing you all as a group in our summer trip, iA and hopefully, will see you indiviually intermittently throughout the spring.

 

I wanted to share couple of  hadith with you all.

 

The Prophet (S) said to his companions:

"Allah the Most High says, 'I am with my slave when he thinks of Me and I am with him when he mentions Me. For if he mentions Me to himself, I mention him to Myself; and if he mentions Me in a gathering, I mention him in superior gathering. If he approaches Me by a hand's width, I approach him by an arm's length, I approach him by two arms length. And if he comes to me walking, I hasten to him swiftly.'" - 
Al Bukhari and Muslim

 

Allah's Messenger (S) said: Whoever says:

Subhaanallaahi wa bihamdihi. (Glorified is Allah and praised is He) one hundred times a day, will have his sins forgiven even if they are like the foam of the sea.

Al-Bukhari and Muslim

 

Peace,

Nabil

Summary Of Our Focus as Muslims

Asalamu'alikum,

Alhumdulilah, it was nice seeing those of you that made it out to Florida. Inshallah, I am looking forward to our next gathering sometime in the near future...Florida was nice and warm. It is zero degrees in Vermont right now (-12 with windchill), but I think I am getting used to it, alhumdulilah...


I would like to share one ayah that sumarizes what we should focus on as Muslims:

"It is not righteousness that you turn your faces towards East or West.But it is righteousness to believe in Allah and the Last Day, And the Angels, and the Book, and the Messengers;To spend of your substance, out of love for Him,For your kin, for orphans, for the needy,for the wayfarer, for those who ask, and for the ransom of slaves;To be steadfast in prayerAnd give in charity;To fulfill the contracts which you have made;And to be firm and patient, in pain and adversityAnd throughout all periods of panic.Such are the people of truth, the God-fearing.Qur'an 2:177

Imad's post

Springboard from encouragement

1. By the Glorious Morning Light,

2. And by the Night when it is still,-

3. Thy Guardian-Lord hath not forsaken thee, nor is He displeased.

4. And verily the Hereafter will be better for thee than the present.

5. And soon will thy Guardian-Lord give thee (that wherewith) thou shalt be well-pleased.

AA guys,

I chose these verses from Surah Ad-Dhuha as an extension of Safi's post. I see these verses as a good source for refocusing oneself when things aren't immediately going one's way and hopefully a good source for encouraging one another. Hopefully, I wasn't way off of what Safi was getting at. Take care gentlemen.

imad