Seeking Knowledge - The Way to Paradise

"Allah will exalt those who believe among you, and those who have been granted knowledge to high ranks."(Qur'an)"Seeking knowledge is obligatory upon every Muslim (male and female)." (Hadith)THE VIRTUES OF KNOWLEDGEAllah (Most Exalted is He), Who created us and gave us sustenance, has also given us guidance. He said:"Verily We have created man into toil and struggle… Have We not made for him a pair of eyes; and a tongue, and a pair of lips; and shown him the two ways (obedience and disobedience)?"(Qur'an,...

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THE GREAT VIRTUE OF LOWERING THE GAZE

Allaah, the Exalted said, ‘’Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their private parts; that will make for greater purity for them. Indeed Allaah is well acquainted with all that they do.’’ [an-Nur (24):30] So Allaah made purification and spiritual growth to be the outcome of lowering the gaze and guarding the private parts. It is for this reason that lowrering ones gaze from (seeing) the prohibited things necessarily leads to three benefits that carry tremendous value...

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The upbringing of Muslim children (4)

EMOTIONAL CAREOne should be kind and merciful to his childrenAbu Hurairah reported that Al-Aqra’ bin Habis saw Allah’s Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, kissing Hasan. He said: “I have 10 children but I have never kissed anyone of them,” whereupon Allah’s Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: “He who does not show mercy, no mercy will be shown to him.” [Muslim, Kitab al-Fadail.]Abdullah ibn abi Qatadah narrated: “My father said: The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said: “When...

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The upbringing of Muslim children (3)

AFTER BIRTHPHYSICAL CAREBreastfeedingIt is best that the mother nurses her child as her milk is the most beneficent nutrient for him and she is more merciful to him than any other woman. Allah said: “The mothers shall give suck to their children for two whole years, that is for those who desire to complete the term of suckling.” (Qur’an 2:233)Modern research proved that the mother’s milk strengthens the child’s immune system at a time when the child is most vulnerable.Ibn ‘Umar, radiallahu ‘anhu,...

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The upbringing of Muslim children (2)

AT BIRTHMaking Athan and Iqamah in the ear of the newborn baby.Abu Rafi, radiallahu ‘anhu, reported that he saw the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, making athan in Hasan’s ear when Fatima gave birth to him. (Related by Abu Dawud and At-Tirmithi who said it is an authentic hadith). This is to make the words that glorify Allah the first ones to reach a child’s ear and affect his heart.The second wisdom is to prevent the Shaitan from getting close to the unborn child. Abu Hurairrah, radiallahu...

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The upbringing of Muslim children (1)

BEFORE BIRTHChoosing the right spouseReligion is the most important criterion in choosing the right spouse. Abu Hurairah, radiallahu ‘anhu, narrated that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: “A woman is married for four things: her wealth, her family status, her beauty and her religion. So marry the religious woman if you do not want to be a loser.” [Bukhari and Muslim.] Choosing a spouse who is observing the correct Islamic behaviour in life will establish the Muslim home on sound...

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How Muslims Should Treat Each Other

It is very easy to say how Muslims should treat each other. Muslims should treat each other as brothers and sisters. Every Muslim has a right to be taken care of, protected and respected by the other Muslims. Allah Ta'ala is merciful and compassionate. Allah Ta'ala is loving and kind. He wants us to be like Him. And so we should be loving and kind, merciful and compassionate to each other. Being a Muslim makes you a brother and sister of all other Muslims every where. The believers are but a single...

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I ASKED FOR STRENGTH

I asked for Strength......... And God gave me Difficulties to make me strong. I asked for Wisdom......... And God gave me Problems to solve. I asked for Prosperity......... And God gave me Brain and Brawn to work. I asked for Courage......... And God gave me Danger to overcome. I asked for Love......... And God gave me Troubled people to help. I asked for Favours......... And God gave me Opportunities....

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Parent-Child Relationship in Islam

(1) Rights of Parents (and Duties of children)Islam recognises family as a basic social unit. Along with the husband-wife relationship the Parent-child relationship is the most important one. To maintain any social relationship both parties must have some clear-cut Rights as well as obligations. The relationships are reciprocal. Duties of one side are the Rights of the other side. So in Parent-child relationship the Rights of parents are the obligations (duties) of the children and vice versa, the...

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Avoiding Nightmares and Sleep Disturbances

Most nightmares have their basis in our waking lives. They can stem from something we have seen or from what had been preoccupying our thoughts during the day. They can be the consequence of stressful or frightening experiences.Nightmares are most common among small children. Their frequency generally decreases with age up to the time of puberty. Among adults, nightmares are more common among women than among men.Someone who has a nightmare should not become worried. A major cause of nightmares...

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TO REMOVE AN ANNOYING OBJECT FROM THE ROAD

Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (r.a) narrates that the Prophet (pbuh) stated:"I saw a person enjoying the delectabilities of paradise simply because he had chopped from the road a tree that was annoying the Muslims." [Muslim]Mustaneer bin Akhdar bin Muaawiyah bin Qurrah narrates from his grandfather Muaawiyah,"I was once walking with Hadhrat Ma'qil bin Yasaar (r.a) on a road when we passed by a vexatious object which he then removed. A little while later, I noticed a similar object and removed it from the...

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Allah knows, sees and hears everything

(surah Al-An'aam ayah 59)Allah is aware of everything that happens on earth-every single falling leaf and every private thought people have. This is what Allah says in one of the verses of the Qur'an:The keys of the Unseen are in His possession. No one knows them but Him. He knows everything in the land and sea. No leaf falls without His knowing it. There is no seed in the darkness of the earth, and nothing moist or dry which is not in a Clear Book. (Surat al-An'am: 59)For instance, two people having...

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Idul Fitri

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar! La ilaha ilallah, Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar, Walillahilhamdu! a harmonious, joyous voice echo all around earth, sea, and sky everybody cheer up, everything shine a victorious, amorous sound soar so beautifully, proudly and confidently human and nature join in gorgeous celebration all hearts bow to Allah all eyes cries in faithfully pray all families smile to face a new day only to God, only to Allah all thanks dedicate, all best wishes go all praises...

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FAMILY TIES IN RAMADHAN

Ramadān provides us with many unique opportunities to bring the family together and strengthen the fabric of our family ties. Ramadan fortifies our religious faith in ways that brings people’s hearts together as one. Reading the Qur’ān When family members, young and old, male and female, all spend time at home reading the Qur’ān, it provides a special pleasure and brings a renewed commitment to adopt its noble manners in our lives. Parents should therefore encourage their children to read...

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Companionship and Friendship in Islam

There are friends who remain true and trustful under all circumstances and there are friends who remain with you only desiring the good. Islam urges to have cordial relations with others and to avoid corruption and the harmful effects of the company of the wicked and the mischievous, strictly forbidding every kind of contact and intimacy with them. The first kind of friend are very few, and their friendship is like a mirror to you. In deed, we must be fair to our friends, and must want for...

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Moderation in JOY and GRIEF

Muslims’ commitment to Allah and His religion entails an unconditional loyalty.For this reason, fluctuating conditions and circumstances never change believers’ zeal, enthusiasm and determination to live by the Qur’an.Allah mentions two basic reactions shown by a believer.First, hardship or severe conditions never daunt him.Second, he never exults or feels pride because of what he obtains in this world. Allah reveals this in the Qur’an as:That is so that you will not be grieved about the things...

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'Grumbling' is a repugnant habit of ignorance

But there are some people who trade in distracting tales to misguide people from Allah’s Way knowing nothing about it and to make a mockery of it. Such people will have a humiliating punishment. (Surah Luqman: 6) Some people voice their ideas about the things they live through all day long by continuously muttering to themselves. Sometimes something that bothers them, sometimes a subject they think is faulty, sometimes a flawed attitude they observe, sometimes a word they hear uttered may cause...

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