Nov 29, 2010

Hadith of the week - Glorifying Allah

عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ رَضِيَ الله عَنْهُ ‏قَالَ: جَاءَتْ أُمُّ سُلَيْمٍ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَتْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ عَلِّمْنِي كَلِمَاتٍ أَدْعُو بِهِنَّ قَالَ: "تُسَبِّحِينَ اللَّهَ عَشْرًا وَتَحْمَدِينَهُ عَشْرًا وَتُكَبِّرِينَهُ عَشْرًا ثُمَّ سَلِي حَاجَتَكِ فَإِنَّهُ يَقُولُ قَدْ فَعَلْتُ قَدْ فَعَلْتُ". 
أخرجه أحمد  وحسنه الألباني

On the authority of Anas ibn Malik [Radi Allahu anhu] who said, Umm Sulaim came to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and said, O Messenger of Allah, teach me some words that I can supplicate with. He responded, “Glorify Allah ten times, and praise Allah ten times, and magnify Allah ten times then ask for your need, surely Allah will say, “Verily, I have done it.Verily, I have done it.”
[Narrated by Ahmad and declared ‘Good’ by Al-Albani]


Vocabulary from the Hadtih
تُسَبِّحِينَ – glorify Allah, meaning say, “subhan Allah”
تَحْمَدِينَهُ – praise Allah, meaning say, “Alhamdlillah”
تُكَبِّرِينَهُ – magnify Allah, meaning say, “Allahu Akbar
حَاجَتَكِ – your need 

Lessons from the Hadith
 When we supplicate to Allah, we should begin by praising Him, glorifying Him and magnifying His Greatness

SubhanAllah means: Allah is removed from any imperfection or impurity or from anything derogatory from His glory

Alhamdulillah means: The most perfect praise is only for Allah

Allahu Akbar means: Allah is Greater, and He is Greater than everything else
read more "Hadith of the week - Glorifying Allah"

Nov 28, 2010

15 Ways to Increase Earnings with Proofs from Qur'an and Sunnah

1. The Taqwa of Allah

And whosoever fears Allâh and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). (2) And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine. And whosoever puts his trust in Allâh, then He will suffice him. Verily, Allâh will accomplish his purpose. Indeed Allâh has set a measure for all things.
[Surah Al-Talq, Verse 2-3]

And if the people of the towns had believed and had the Taqwâ (piety), certainly, We should have opened for them blessings from the heaven and the earth, but they belied (the Messengers). So We took them (with punishment) for what they used to earn (polytheism and crimes).
[ Surah Al-Araf, Verse 96]

2. Seeking forgiveness and repentance

"I said (to them): 'Ask forgiveness from your Lord; Verily, He is Oft-Forgiving; (10) 'He will send rain to you in abundance; (11) 'And give you increase in wealth and children, and bestow on you gardens and bestow on you rivers.' "
[Surah Nooh, Verses 10-12]

"And O my people! Ask forgiveness of your Lord and then repent to Him, He will send you (from the sky) abundant rain, and add strength to your strength, so do not turn away as Mujrimûn (criminals, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allâh)."
[Surah Hood, Verse 52]

And (commanding you): "Seek the forgiveness of your Lord, and turn to Him in repentance, that He may grant you good enjoyment, for a term appointed, and bestow His abounding Grace to every owner of grace (i.e. the one who helps and serves needy and deserving, physically and with his wealth, and even with good words). But if you turn away, then I fear for you the torment of a Great Day (i.e. the Day of Resurrection).
[Surah Hood, Verse 3]

3. Tawakkul

Umar Ibn Al-Khattab reported that Prophet (peace be upon him) said,

"If you were to put trust in Allah (Tawakkul) the way that Allah deserves, then you would be provided for as birds are; they leave (in search of food) at the beginning of the day famished, and return at the end of the day full"
[Shaykah Al-Abani’s Silsilat Al-Sahihah, # 310]

And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine. And whosoever puts his trust in Allâh, then He will suffice him. Verily, Allâh will accomplish his purpose. Indeed Allâh has set a measure for all things.
[Surah Al-Talq, Verse 2-3]

Would that they were contented with what Allâh and His Messenger (peace be upon him) gave them and had said: "Allâh is Sufficient for us. Allâh will give us of His Bounty, and so will His Messenger (from alms, etc.). We implore Allâh (to enrich us)."
[Surah Al-Tawba, Verse 59]

4. Constantly worshiping Allah

Abu Hurayrah stated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said,
"Allah says, ‘O son of Adam! Take time out to constantly worship me, I will fill your chest with richness , and remove your poverty. And if you do not do so. I will make your hands filled with occupation, and will not remove your poverty”
[Shaykh Al-Albani declared it to authentic in his Sunan Al-Tirmidhi]

Ma’qal Ibn Yasaar reported that Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
“Your Lord, all glory and honor be to Him says, ‘O Son of Adam! Take the time out to constantly worship Me, I will fill your chest with richness! O Son of Adam! Do not distance yourself from Me, or I will fill your chest with poverty, and fill your hands with work ”
[Shaykah Al-Abani’s Silsilat Al-Sahihah, # 1359]

5.Thanking Allah

And (remember) when your Lord proclaimed: "If you give thanks (by accepting Faith and worshiping none but Allâh), I will give you more (of My Blessings), but if you are thankless (i.e. disbelievers), verily! My Punishment is indeed severe."
[Surah Ibrahim, Verse 7]

6. Frequently performing Hajj and ‘Umrah

It has been reported by ‘abdullah Ibn Mas’ud that the Prophet of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
"Follow up between Hajj and ‘Umrah (i.e. continuously repeat the performance of Hajj and ‘Umrah) because they both eliminate poverty and sins just like a furnace eliminates the dirty impurities of iron, gold and silver. And an accepted Hajj has no reward less than paradise"
[ Shaykh Al-Albani in Sahih Sunan Al-Tirmidhi (1/245)]

7. Establishing the ties of kinship

Abu Hurayrah reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
“Whoever is pleased with the fact that his Rizq be increased, and his life-span be extended, then let him establish the ties of kinship”
[Al-Bukari, # 5985]

Anas Ibn Malik reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
“Whoever wishes to have his Rizq increased, and his life-span be extended, then let him establish the ties of kinship”
[Al-Bukari, # 5986]

Abu Hurayrah reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
“Learn enough of your lineage, so that you can establish the ties of kinship, for establish the ties of kinship increases the love amongst families and multiplies wealth and extends age”
[Shaykh Al-Albani in Sahih Sunan Al-Tirmidhi (2/190)]

8. Spending in the Way of Allah

Say: "Truly, my Lord enlarges the provision for whom He wills of His slaves, and (also) restricts (it) for him, and whatsoever you spend of anything (in Allâh's Cause), He will replace it. And He is the Best of providers."
[Surah Saba, Verse 39]

Abu Hurayrah said that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
“ Allah has said: ‘O Son of Adam! Spend I will spend on you!”
[Sahih Muslim (2/690)]

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
“There is not a single day in which a servant wakes that two angels come down (from the Heavens). One of them says, O’ Allah! Give to the one that spends a substitute (for what he has spent). And the other one says, ‘O Allah! Give to the one that withhold some (his money) destruction!”
[Al-Bukhari #1442]

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said,
“While a person was in an open area of land, he heard voice in a cloud above him say. "water the garden of so-and-so!" So the cloud immediately departed, and started pouring its rain out on a rocky plain. A large crevice in the rocks collected all of this water. So the man followed the water (in its course), and he found a man standing in his garden, using an instrument to direct this water in different directions *(to irrigate his garden). He said to him, ‘O servant of Allah! What is your name?’ The man said ‘So-an-so,’ the same name that he had heard in the clouds! Then the man asked him, ‘O servant of Allah! Why are you asking me my name?’ So he responded. ‘I heard a voice in the clouds- the same clouds that this water came from- saying, “water the garden of so-and-so” with your name. What do you interpret this as (i.e. why do you think this happened )?’ So he said, ‘If you say this (i.e. if what you say occurred), then (the reason for this is that) I see what (crops) come out of it (this garden), and I give one third in charity, and I eat with my family one third of it, and I return one third of it (to cultivate more crops)”” and in another narration, it is reported that he said, …and I give one third of it to the poor, and the beggars, and the wayfarers.’
[Muslim (4/2288)]

9. Hijrah, Emigrating for the sake of Allah

He who emigrates (from his home) in the Cause of Allâh, will find on earth many dwelling places and plenty to live by. And whosoever leaves his home as an emigrant unto Allâh and His Messenger, and death overtakes him, his reward is then surely incumbent upon Allâh. And Allâh is Ever Oft¬Forgiving, Most Merciful.
[Surah Al-Nisa, Verse 100]

10. Marriage

And marry those among you who are single (i.e. a man who has no wife and the woman who has no husband) and (also marry) the Sâlihûn (pious, fit and capable ones) of your (male) slaves and maid-servants (female slaves). If they be poor, Allâh will enrich them out of His Bounty. And Allâh is All-Sufficent for His creatures' needs, All-Knowing (about the state of the people).
[Surah Al-Nur, Verse 32]

11.Supporting students of Islamic knowledge

Anas Ibn Malik said,
"There were two brothers (that lived) at the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him). One of them would come to Prophet (peace be upon him), whereas the other one would seek his sustenance (by working). So the the one who used to seek his sustenance complained to the Prophet (peace be upon him) about his brother. The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied,
‘It is possible that you are provided your rizq because of him’"
[Shaykh Al-Albani agreed it to be authentic, Saheeh Sunan Al-Tirmidhi(2/274)]

12. Showing kindness to the Poor

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said,
"The only reason that you are aided in victory (against your enemies) and provided with sustainance due to your weak?"
[Al-Bukahri (14/179)]

13. Being honest in ones dealings

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
"The two parties of a transaction have the right (to annul the contract) as long as they don't separate (from each other). So, if they were truthful (to one another), and honest in explaining (the defects of an item), then they will be blessed in their transaction. But, if they lied, and hid (the defects of an item) then the blessings of their transaction are destroyed"
[Muslim, # 3836]

14.Making the Hereafter One’s main Concern

Once Zayd Bin Thabit wa with Marwan, the leader of the City, when he went to visit 'Abd Al-Rahman Ibn 'Uthman Bin 'Affan, Abd Al-Rahman said, "Nothing caused him to come here, at this hour except a question that he wants to ask." So he asked him (what the matter was). He replied, "He (meaning Marwan) asked us about matters that we heard the Prophet :saws: say". I heard the Prophet (peace be upon him) say
"Whoever puts this world as his only (and primary) goal, them Allah will divide his affairs for him, and He will place poverty before his eyes, and nothing will come to him of this world except that which was already written (i.e. pre-destined) for him. But whoever made the Hereafter his goal, the Allah will gather his affairs for him, and he will place richness in his heart, and the world will come to him conquered and submissive"
[Al-Albani Silsila As-Saheehah, #950 ]

15. Striving to achieve the goal (for sustainance)

He knows that there will be some among you sick, others traveling through the land, seeking of Allâh's Bounty; yet others fighting in Allâh's Cause. So recite as much of the Qur'ân as may be easy (for you), and perform As-Salât (Iqâmat-as-Salât) and give Zakât, and lend to Allâh a goodly loan, And whatever good you send before you for yourselves, (i.e. Nawâfil non-obligatory acts of worship: prayers, charity, fasting, Hajj and 'Umrah), you will certainly find it with Allâh, better and greater in reward. And seek Forgiveness of Allâh. Verily, Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most-Merciful
[Surah Al-Muzammil, Verse 20]

And We have appointed the night and the day as two Ayât (signs etc.). Then, We have obliterated the sign of the night (with darkness) while We have made the sign of the day illuminating, that you may seek bounty from your Lord, and that you may know the number of the years and the reckoning. And We have explained everything (in detail) with full explanation.[Surah Al-Isra, Verse 20]






Taken from Yasir Qadhi's book "15 Ways to increase your earnings from Quran and Sunnah"
Shared By: Nighat Asma, Alhuda


.
read more "15 Ways to Increase Earnings with Proofs from Qur'an and Sunnah"

Nov 19, 2010

A Hindu priest’s journey to Islam.

Sushil Kumar Sharma, Ex-Hindu Priest, India


Description: A Hindu priest’s journey to Islam.
By Sikandar Zulqarnine (Saudi Gazette)Published on 15 Nov 2010 - Last modified on 15 Nov 2010
Viewed: 196 (daily average: 58) - Rating: 4.8 out of 5 - Rated by: 4
Printed: 7 - Emailed: 1 - Commented on: 0



Returning to his room after praying Isha Salah, Abdur Rahman, 42, an Indian national, sits down with a pen and a mind full of thoughts. He is writing the story of his life, “Pandit bane Musalmaan” (Hindu priest becomes Muslim) in his mother tongue, Hindi.
He works as a storekeeper in Saudi Binladin BTAT Construction Company at the King Abdul Aziz Endowment Project opposite to the Grand Mosque.
Sushil Kumar Sharma, he was known as when he first came to Jeddah on May 12, 2002. His hometown is Amadalpur, a small village in the north Indian state of Haryana. He was born in an orthodox Hindu family who were privileged with conducting religious rituals in the village’s temple.
While staying in the company’s accommodation in Jeddah, a colleague of his gave him some Islamic books in Hindi. He was then transferred to Riyadh to work for a project at Princess Noura University for Women.
“It was at the company’s housing camp that I met a number of Muslims from India and Pakistan who explained me the religion of Islam,” said Abdur Rahman.
“Among them was one of my closest friends, Saleem who hailed from Rajasthan (a northwestern state of India). Both of us shared the same room. During leisure time he narrated the stories of Prophets of Islam and read out Hadeeth (sayings of Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him).
“My heart trembled. I began to question myself. What would happen to me after death? Will my sins put me in the hellfire forever? I was afraid of punishment in the grave for the sinners and non-believers,” he recalled.
“I began to spend sleepless nights. I knew it was time for me to embrace Islam and become a true follower of Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him. At last my lifelong search for truth ended here.
“The next day morning I revealed my intention to embrace Islam to my friend Saleem and other colleagues in the camp. There was jubilation in the company. Everyone was happy, they congratulated and hugged me.
“It was also the system of universal brotherhood with no difference of caste, color, creed or race that attracted me towards Islam,” Abdur Rahman said.
The following day a meeting with the members of the Cooperative Office for Call and Guidance in Al-Batha, Riyadh, was arranged. The Imam of the camp’s mosque asked him to say the Shahada.
“I recited La ilaha illAllah Muhammad-ur-Rasool Allah wholeheartedly, accepting Allah as my Lord and Muhammad as His Messenger. The Imam suggested me to change my name to Abdur Rahman, which I readily accepted.”
Soon, Abdur Rahman was transferred to Bahra, a town located near the Makkah-Jeddah highway. “The project engineer there was very pleased to know I had embraced Islam. He was very kind towards me and extended all help and cooperation,” Abdur Rahman said.
“But I wanted to be closer to God. I prayed to God to transfer me to Makkah. My prayers were answered and I was transferred to the project I’m working on currently which is located in close proximity of the Grand Mosque.”
His main concern now is his family back home.
“I now have a big task before me: To take the message of Islam to my family members.” Abdur Rahman has a wife and two sons – 16- and 7-years-old.
“I have told them on phone that I have accepted the religion of Islam and have become a Muslim. At first they did not believe me. My wife told me she would decide only when I return to India on vacation. Everyday I am making Du’a and pleading God to guide them to the right path and soften their hearts to accept Islam,” said Abdur Rahman with tears in his eyes.
“I may also face lots of opposition from relatives, friends and co-villagers. But I am determined to face them. I am confident that God will help me,” he added.
Abdur Rahman also had some words of advice for everyone else.
“I would like to convey the message to all non-Muslims of the world to accept Islam and be successful in this life and in the hereafter. It also saddens me to see so many Muslims not following the religion of Islam as preached by Prophet of God. I appeal to them to stop imitating other people.”


The web address of this article:
http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/3987/
Copyright © 2006-2010 IslamReligion.com. All rights reserved.
read more "A Hindu priest’s journey to Islam."

Nov 18, 2010

Obedience ... inherited from the father...!!

Where did Ismā'īl (a.s.) learn obedience from?
From his father, Ibrāhīm (a.s.)!
Whenever Allah (s.w.t.) commanded Ibrāhīm (a.s.) to do anything, he obeyed. He succeeded in all his tests. When he was granted a child in his old age and Allah (s.w.t.) commanded him to leave his wife and son in the desert, he obeyed immediately. He did not say that I got him after so many years, or that he is a support for my old age or I want to play with him and talk to him, even how my wife will take care of him all by herself, or anything of this sort. Let’s think: what do we do? Do we obey Allah?

When the husband of Hājar (a.s.) left her and their little baby in the desert and told her that this is a command from Allah, she immediately said ‘Allah will not waste us’, she put her trust in Allah and obeyed his command. She was patient and relied upon Allah without any complaints, taunts or blames towards her husband. What do we do? Do we obey Allah and our husbands?

And then who raised and nurtured Ismā'īl (as)?, his mother alone. Where? In the desert! How much food did she have? An obedient woman and a dutiful wife who trained her son, Ismā'īl (a.s.), in the desert all by herself. With her own actions, she taught her son to obey Allah and be content with the decree of Allah. In the absence of the father, she did not speak ill of him to her son. And this was the reason, when the father returned and told Ismā'īl (a.s.) about his dream, he accepted right away without any objection. 


What a good saying! “If you want your children to obey you, you should obey Allah and His Messenger (s.a.w.) your children will consequently obey you by themselves.”

Do we obey Allah and His Messenger (s.a.w.)? Are we doing more dhikr (remembrance) of Allah during these blessed ten days of Dhul Hijjah? Are we seeking forgiveness for our sins? Maybe we are praying, but are we controlling our desires? Are we avoiding cutting hair and nails or are we planning to go to a beauty salon on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah? Are we leaving behind our ego to amend our relationships? Or is it a matter of ‘why should I bend down’?

Sacrifice is a means of closeness to Allah, which a person attains by sacrificing not just a cow or a goat, but also his emotions and desires. We pray to Allah that He makes all of us obedient to Him and facilitates for us acting on our deen. Ameen
read more "Obedience ... inherited from the father...!!"