How to Benefit from the Quran
If you truly want to benefit from the Qur’an, your heart must be attentive and alert when reciting it or listening to it. Listen to it carefully with presence of mind, paying attention to it as if Allah Himself was speaking to you directly. Understand that this Qur’an is an address directed to you from Allah, Most High, upon the tongue of His Messenger (SAW). Allah, Most High, says, “Truly there is a reminder in this for anyone who has a heart, or who listens attentively with presence of mind.” A deep and lasting impression is dependant upon something that…
Ramadan: The Month of the Qur’an
The Qur’an begins the description of this blessed month with, ‘Ramadan is the month in which was revealed the Qur'an - a guidance for mankind, and clear proofs of the guidance, and the criterion (between right and wrong)’1. Ever since divine revelation was inspired to Muhammad (peace be upon him), people (Muslims as well as non-Muslims) have marvelled at the Qur’an’s inimitability, both in reference to its content and language. Great scholars such as Imam al-Shafi’i have stated that if no other chapter were to be revealed except al-'Asr, it would be sufficient for mankind. This is due to the…
The True Muslim
Normal 0 false false false EN-GB X-NONE X-NONE `Abdullah ibn `Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “The Muslim is one from whose tongue and hand the Muslims are safe. The Muhajir is one who migrates from what Allah has prohibited.” Agreed upon. Tirmidhi and Nasa’i add, “The believer is one in whom the people would entrust their blood and wealth.” Bayhaqi adds, “The Mujahid is one who strives his utmost in obeying Allah.” This hadith mentions the pinnacles that can be reached in each of these noble titles,…
The Prayer (Salah)
Normal 0 false false false EN-GB X-NONE X-NONE The Companion and fourth Caliph, Ali states, 'Allah gives this world to those whom He loves and to those whom He hates, but He only bestows faith upon those whom He loves'. It is an incredible honour that, from among all His creation, our Lord chose us to be His servants. He granted us favour upon favour: He blessed us with a perfect and complete religion, and guided us to it, "However, Allah has given you love of faith and made it pleasing to your hearts, and has made disbelief, deviance and…
True Patience
Patience is a noble mannerism of the soul that prevents it from doing that which is not good or pleasing; it is a quality of the soul which leads to its correction and rectification. al-Junayd ibn Muhammad was asked about it to which he replied, ‘It means swallowing gall without a frown.’ Dhu-n-Nun said, ‘Patience is to keep your distance from opposing (the commands of Allah), to remain silent and composed while swallowing hefty portions of tribulation, and to show independence although poverty strikes you in every field of life.’ It is also said, ‘Patience is to meet tribulation with…
The Warning from the Fire
Allāh, Most High, says, “Fear a Fire whose fuel is men and stones made ready for the disbelievers." “Have fear of the Fire which has been prepared for the disbelievers.” “I have warned you of a raging Fire.” “They will have awnings of Fire above them and awnings below them. By that Allāh strikes fear into His slaves: ‘So have taqwa, My slaves, of Me!’” “…this is nothing but a reminder to man. No indeed! By the moon and the night when it withdraws and the dawn when it grows bright, it truly is one of the greatest of all…
Islamic Manners: Fulfilling the Trusts
Allāh, Exalted is He says, "Allāh commands you to return the things you hold on trust to their owners"; "If you leave things on trust with one another the one who is trusted must deliver up his trust." "You who have faith! Do not betray Allāh and His Messenger and do not knowingly betray your trusts." "It is the believers who are successful, …., those who honour their trusts and their contracts… such people are the inheritors, who will inherit Firdaws, remaining in it timelessly, forever." "We offered the Trust to the heavens, the earth, and the mountains but they…
The Right Deed
ʿUmar b. al-Khaṭṭāb (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhu) reports that he heard the Messenger of Allāh (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) saying, “All actions are only by their intentions and every person shall have only what he intended. Therefore, whoever’s migration was to Allāh and His Messenger, his migration was indeed to Allāh and His Messenger; and whoever’s migration was to attain some worldly lot or to marry a woman, his migration was to what he migrated to.” ʿĀ’ishah (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanha) reports that the Messenger of Allāh (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) said, “Whoever introduces into this affair of ours what…
Strangeness
With the Name of Allāh, the All-Merciful, the Most Merciful My Lord, facilitate matters through Your mercy. On the authority of Ibn Masʿūd, the Messenger of Allāh (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) said, “Islām began as something strange and it will return to being something strange, so Tuba to the strangers.” It was asked of him, ‘Messenger of Allāh, who are they?’ He replied, “Those who correct the affairs at a time when the people become corrupt.” On the authority of Abū’l-Ahwas; on the authority of ʿAbdullāh who said that the Messenger of Allāh (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) said, “Islām began…
The Reality of Taking Refuge with Allah
The word ʿadha and its derivatives carry the meaning of being careful and wary, guarding and fortifying, being rescued and victorious. Its essential meaning is to flee from something you fear will harm you to something that will save you from it. This is why the one you seek refuge with is called maʿadh and malja’ (the source of refuge and recourse). The hadīth mentions that ‘when al-Jawn’s daughter entered upon the Prophet (sall Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) he moved his hand and she said, ‘I take refuge with Allāh from you.’ He said, “You have sought refuge with the Maʿadh, return and rejoin your family.”’ Therefore,…
