Life's but a walking shadow

And so he gazed long at the shifting clouds, creeping slowly across the sky. Stupid are men. When one starts to ponder on the ideology of men, its quite impossible to not see that it has turned out to be outlandish. How is it that clouds so greatly created by God can occur in everyday of everyone's life, yet no one would spend a second to stop, see, smile, and understand. Stupid are men.

He knew, to see the clouds, peacefully floating, not shaking, not falling, on that day was enough as a sign of the greatness of its creator. He stopped. Something shook deep inside his heart. Stupid are men.

Say that the clouds stopped listening, say that they wanted a rule of their own, instead of floating they chose to twist and roll, instead of being amorphous they chose to be solid, instead of carrying rain they chose to carry stone. Wouldn't then planes crash? How then can weather be forcasted? Where would water then come from? Stupid are men. 

And so clouds submit. To the rule and law of their creator, realising and obeying.Never did they complain, never did they ask, not that they ever wanted to, but because they never needed to. It never was a matter of request for them, it was a matter of submission. Total submission. To He who created them and surely would know whats best for them.What was written for them. Stupid are men. 

He stopped. People were staring. He smiled.
Oh yes.
I'm a fool, who speaks alone.
But im not stupid.


Ya Allah.Forgive me for my mistakes.Aid me with what I said.
For You are the Almighty

Like the knife

This anology suddenly fruited out in BTN and it has become one of my favourites now..
You see, the idea of a knife was initially created to replace stones;
for cutting, for cooking, for hunting and you could even do 'amal with it by using it for slaughtering..
but one day, when one person suddenly used it to kill, to hurt, to threaten,
then suddenly knives became a weapon, a hazardous item seen by all people..
Now..where did its so multifunctioned benefit go now??

This is exactly what is happening in Islam..
You see an ustaz giving a preach and you say,

"Yesterday he was late for Jumaat prayers..he's really not that 'alim, i dont wanna hear his preach"

Someone invites you to join a gathering, discussing about how to live as a Muslim and you say,
"My friend has already joined..yet he's still a pervert, what difference should it make if i join?"

What is that you're doing..staying away??
STAYING AWAY from what?? Islam??
NEVER. i repeat, NEVER blame Islam for what a muslim does..
because Islam wasn't taught by any naive human..Islam is from Allah, the Creator and Superior..
so should you be questioning such perfectness??
Those mistakes, weakness, misunderstandings, are all from humans..and aren't we prone to that??

Dear brothers and sisters..i apologise if this has suddenly become emotional, because I've been hearing these phrases so many times that i thought its about time i lined it out..
let whoever speaks and shares knowledge about Islam share it, for what he brings is the truth, for who he is and what he's done doesn't matter
let whoever listens and follows discussions about Islam stay, for what he hears are truth, or how he understands and practices it is between him and Allah

Infact, if you think you see other intentions then why don't you try and do it..
Try and share knowledge about Islam..
Try and join Islamic gatherings, Islamic groups and listen..
And then you'll know that EVEN if there exists the slightest false intentions, it usually comes because you're human and it will always comes..

Like the knife rite?
if you see a murderer, can you blame the knife he holds??
or he who handles it? Even if you gave him a pen, he could still kill rite??
So don't blame Islam for all the misunderstandings you see..
don't blame Islam for every weakness a muslim shows..
don't blame Usrahs just because your friend is still useless..
but blame YOURSELF for seeing whats wrong, but for not being there to make it better..



Ya Allah.Forgive me for my mistakes.Aid me with what I said.
For You are the Almighty

For this Finale

I wanted to share with you a small discovery I made last week: Have you ever noticed that if you spend the first 5 minutes at the beginning of any task on distracting activities then you won't feel like working on the task at hand and being productive? 

 

So let’s say you are about to start working on a big report, but instead you start checking news sites, read a couple of interesting articles, forward them to some friends and tweet about them....before you know it, all your intentions for doing that big report are gone and you don’t feel like doing it anymore.

 

Now here’s the good news: If you inverse the above and ensure that those first 5 minutes are sacred and are spent ONLY on the productive task at hand and nothing else, you’ll continue working on the task for minutes if not hours to come and most probably finish it.

 

Try the above and let me know if it works for you!

 

~tips from ProductiveMuslim

Ya Allah.Forgive me for my mistakes.Aid me with what I said.
For You are the Almighty

Must let it OUT

Ok..I've been keepin this for days...So read carefully.

What makes YOU different from OTHERS??
By saying that you don't go out ALONE together, you don't TOUCH each other, that you're so called ISLAMIC..you THINK what you're doing is RIGHT??
My brother, my sister, so long as you're not married...NEVER claim as if you ARE
A SIN IS A SIN!!

REMEMBER....
You ONCE said, this would never happen...that YOU know it is wrong...so you're just gonna keep this relationship until THE DAY comes..you will never make close relationship, you will never go out, you will never make late night calls!!
BUT WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU DOING NOW!!
Look at yourself..OPEN YOUR EYES MAN!!

Astaghfirullahal Azim..Ya Allah, I may have gone over the border...but let this small effort be a reminder to those that have forgotten..ESPECIALLY FOR ME..may it be reread everytime i fall.

Ya Allah.Forgive me for my mistakes.Aid me with what I said.
For You are the Almighty

Making Choices

Today there was a talk about making choices. And the Ustaz said..
" When one chooses, he must be ready to reflect the effects of his choice. For every inch in life is about choosing. Even the hereafter is a choice."

So then i began thinking, what would i do if there was a time when i chose wrong??
Regret?
Cry for days?
Hope that time rewind?

Thats the problem with us humans, we keep thinking that a decision is done based on our intellects and knowledge, when in fact, we forget that every choice is actually organised and planned by Allah..
And will Allah ever burden a person with what he is unable to bear??
NEVER!!

" On no soul does Allah Place a burden greater than it can bear. It gets every good that it earns, and it suffers every ill that it earns. "

Al -Baqarah 2:286

So why are things so hard?

" So, verily, with every difficulty, there is relief. Verily, with every difficulty there is relief. "

Al-Insyiraah 94:5-6

And in the next 2 verses Allah tells us that then we have to return to Allah, and give full attention. So things could never turn out that easy for us..Allah WILL test our patience in the choice that we made. Believe it or not, choosing isn't about deciding whats best for us, but its about being strong and firm with the choice, pushing aside all obstacles and persevering with  patience. 

"...And for those who fear Allah, He (ever) prepares a way out. And He provides for him from (sources) he never could imagine. And if any one puts his trust in Allah, sufficient is ((Allah)) for him. For Allah will surely accomplish his purpose: verily, for all things has Allah appointed a due proportion."

At-Talaq 65:2-3

But then, keep in mind that sometimes if Allah wills, there is a chance to change your decision..but i apologise because the conditions and situations are never the same. And only one in the dilemma of a choice could understand.
WHATEVER IT IS..
TURN TO ALLAH, HE'S NEVER FAR AWAY..PUT YOUR TRUST IN HIM, RAISE YOUR HANDS AND PRAY..

Ya Allah.Forgive me for my mistakes.Aid me with what I said.For You are the Almighty

Asma Allah

Allahuakbar..some good things to hear in this beautiful month..
Sami Yusuf - Asma Allah

Or just hear it on my blog...
Here are the lyrics..(and translation)..hear and feel..hear and feel..

Raheem, Kareemun, ‘Adheem, ‘Aleemun,

(Merciful, Generous, Incomparably Great, All-Knowing)

Haleem, Hakeemun, Mateen

 (Forbearing, Wise, Firm)

Mannaan, Rahmaanun, Fattaah, Ghaffaarun

(Bestower of blessings, Most Compassionate, Opener, Forgiver)

Tawwaab, Razzaaqun, Shaheed

(Accepter of Repentance, Provider, Witness)

Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammad, wa aali Muhammad

(O my Lord send salutations upon Muhammad

And upon the Family of Muhammad)

Ya Muslimeen sallou ‘alayh

(O Muslims, send salutations upon him)

Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammad, wa aali Muhammad

(O my Lord send salutations upon Muhammad

And upon the Family of Muhammad)

Ya Muslimeen sallou ‘alayh

(O Muslims, send salutations upon him)

Lateef, Khabeerun, Samee’, Baseerun

(Gentle, All-Aware, All-Hearing, All-Seeing)

Jaleel, Raqeebun, Mujeeb

(Majestic, Watchful, Responsive)

Ghafur, Shakourun, Wadud, Qayyumun

(Forgiving, Appreciative, Loving, Self-Existing by Whom all subsist)

Ra’uf, Saburun, Majeed

(Most Kind, Patient, Most Glorious)

Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammad, wa aali Muhammad

(O my Lord send salutations upon Muhammad

And upon the Family of Muhammad)

Ya Muslimeen sallou ‘alayh

(O Muslims, send salutations upon him)

Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammad, wa aali Muhammad

(O my Lord send salutations upon Muhammad

And upon the Family of Muhammad)

Ya Muslimeen sallou ‘alayh

(O Muslims, send salutations upon him)

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar,

(God is Great, God is Great)

La Ilaaha Illahu, Al Malikul Quddoos

(There is no god but Him, the King, the Most Holy)

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar,

(God is Great, God is Great)

Ya Rahmanu irham dha’fana

(O Most Compassionate! Have compassion on our weakness)

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar,

(God is Great, God is Great)

Ya Ghaffaaru ighfir thunoubana

(O Forgiver! Forgive our sins)

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar,

(God is Great, God is Great)

Ya Sattaaru ostour ‘ouyoubana

(O Concealer! Conceal our defects)

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar,

(God is Great, God is Great)

Ya Mu’izzu a’izza ummatana

(O Bestower of honour! Bestow honour on our Ummah)

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar,

(God is Great, God is Great)

Ya Mujeebu ajib du’aa’ana

(O Responsive One! Answer our prayers)

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar,

(God is Great, God is Great)

Ya Lateefu oltof binaa (x3)

(O Gentle One! Show gentleness to us)

Oltof binaa

(Show gentleness to us)

Mightier than the sword

today an event really shook me. and now i know what it really meant by 'mightier than the sword'. i will not elaborate more on the incident, but if you are reading this then please swallow in these following messages carefully..

WATCH WHAT YOU SAY

sometimes words can mean more than mere sounds projecting out of your mouth. when heard, it can be manipulated, changed, and misunderstood. which means misunderstanding. though YOU know that it wasn't really meant that way..but do THE OTHER PEOPLE know? though not all of them would get upset with YOUR words..but at least ONE will..then suddenly..BANG..BOOM..and someone hates you.

Rasulullah PBUH once said:

"The best words are those that are short and precise"

learn to stop. learn to shut up.

remember..people have mouth..and most importantly..they have ears..

(this is a story of experience..so believe me it happened..)

La Tahzan

There are some periods in life when you and i will always experience sadness. despair. hopelessness. we think that we could be strong. we think that we would be able to pass everything successfully. we think that we could just be ourselves..but then we were actually wrong. things turn out different. the surroundings change us, the conditions evolve us. so by the end of the day we regret everything we did. crying to ourselves how things have gone out of control. and then we ask ourselves.."what's happened to ME? what am i doing?"..
and then we keep telling ourselves that we mustn't give up..whereas deep in our hearts things are much harder than said...
So what SHOULD we do??
my dear brothers and sisters. la tahzan means don't be sad. because if we believe that everything comes from Allah..then it would really help the acceptance. but what we must really believe is that being who we are means being the person we must be..not because others wan't us to be who we must be..not because we think it appropriate to be who we must be..but because we KNOW that Allah wants us to be who we must be..and that if we achieve His blessings..then it shall be enough..no matter how hard things get...

Get it? Apologies for the jumbled up words..but just try to understand.

Just 4 ladies..(19 above only)

Ok. Frankly speaking (writing)..this is being more of a counterpost to the gender-biased post before this. So when I finally decided on the topic.. I actually realised that I'm not that much expert in advising the opposite gender..
So here's what i've to say..
Have you ever been to a shopping mall..ok lets say SOGO..and it was a big sale day. Say that you arrive at the purse department. So there would be discounts..30%..50%..and even 70% off!! Okay..in your mind at that time..which would be more valuable? A purse on discount or the one under the NEW ARRIVALS?
Think about it..if you girls keep selling yourselves..promoting yourselves..with LOW PRICES, and even discounts..believe me..you will be the center of attraction. For a while. But the real demand would be for the new and clean. It would be everyone's dream..and the one's on discounts would be a temporary possession..depending on its attractiveness and up-to-dateness. Maybe a week..maybe two..
So think about it..
Think about your outfit before going out..AM I THAT CHEAP?
Think about your attitude before mingling with others..AM I THAT DESPERATE?
THINK..

My dear sisters, that is why Allah taught us..no I'm sorry..taught you all to watch your eyes and protect your'selves' (an-Nur:31), what you wear (an-Nur:59), how you speak (al-ahzab:32)..not because Allah envies your beauty (for He is al-Jameel), but because he wants you to be honored, to be respected..to be properly loved..


P/S: I'm not quite sure the proper message is clearly conveyed here..but believe me, if you think I'm wrong..then try it out..sell yourself..go 'showoff'..
But then be readily acknowledged that even I would never want you!! Haha..

The heart

Hardening of the Heart 4/5

Dr. Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips
Methods of Cure: (3) the Qur'an
Transcript of a lecture
Darul Arqam, Singapore, 26th November 1998

The third way by which we can soften our hearts is the Quran itself. Allah states in the Quran, Al-Hadid, 57:16, "Has not the time come for those who believe for their hearts to fear Allah when they hear the Quran (dhikrullah here is in reference to the Quran) and what truth there is in it, so that they not be like those who received the Scripture before, but in the passage of time, their hearts became hard. And most of them are corrupt."
If we reflect on the Quran, it has the power to soften our hearts. Allah said, about the jinn who heard the Quran, "Indeed we heard an amazing Quran; it guides us to Allah and we believe in it and we will set not partners besides Allah." [See Quran, Surah al-Ahqaf 46:29-32]
Allah goes on to describe the righteous, "And if they (this is amongst the Christians) hear what was revealed to the Messenger, you will see their eyes welling up with tears because of what they know of the truth of what has been brought." This was the case of the ruler of Ethiopia. When Muslims sought refuge there and they recited a portion of the Quran, they saw his eyes fill with tears.
This is how we should be. When we hear the Quran, we should reflect on the meanings. The Quran should not become for us a replacement for pop songs that we used to hear before. People buy recordings of their favourite reciters for the beauty of their voice… The listening of the Quran has become more of a musical thing. We are entertained by that music, so much so that when the reciter is reading, we hear people in the background going, "Allah! Allah! Allah!" People making statements in the background as thought it were a pop show! This is not the Quran… Allah tells us, "Will they not reflect on the meanings?"
The Quran is a Book of Guidance and it is in the reflection on the meaning of the Quran that we benefit, for it is very important for us to re-assess how we are dealing with the Quran. We should be reading it regularly, not only leaving it until Ramadhan. We reflect on it… not reading it Ramadhan so we can finish the whole Book and say we finished the Quran in Ramadhan. It really does not matter if we don’t finish the Quran in Ramadhan. For most of the Prophet’s Sallallahu ‘Alayhi wa sallam life, he did not finish the whole Quran in Ramadhan. Most of the companions did not finish the reading of the Quran in Ramadhan. Today, for us, Ramadhan is not complete unless we read the whole Quran in Ramadhan. We hire reciters to recite the Quran at 99 miles an hour so much so that even Arabic-speaking people cannot figure out where in the Quran the reciter is!
This has become the precedence — finishing the Quran in Ramadhan and if you can finish it twice, even better! But this is not what the Quran is for. The Quran is for reflection, so that when we hear it, as Allah says of the believers who hear the Quran recited, goose bumps come over their skins. It touches them and causes their heart to tremble.
[Quran Az-Zumar 39:23 : Allah has revealed (from time to time) the most beautiful Message in the form of a Book, consistent with itself, yet repeating (its teaching in various aspects): the skins of those who fear their Lord tremble threat; then their skins and hearts do soften to the remembrance of Allah.] If when we listen to the Quran, we don’t find this reaction of tears coming to our eyes, then we should make ourselves cry. Force ourselves to cry because we need to respond to the Quran in this way. If we don’t, we are lost! This is the Word of Allah, the only preserved Word of all the revelations that were given from Adam till now. This is the word of God preserved.
We should read the Quran believing this is Allah speaking to us, because that is what it is. It is Allah talking to us directly. Every time he tells us something about the Jews, we should not (merely) take it as a piece of information, that the Jews are this and that the Jews are that. No! Whenever Allah tells us something about the Jews, we should see in it as a warning to ourselves — that we don’t become like them. When Allah said, "… ghairil maghdoobi ‘alayhim wa la-ddaalleen…" in Surah Al-Fatiha, the Prophet Sallallahu ‘Alayhi wa sallam explained that al-maghdoob ‘alayhim are the Jews and that ad-daalleen are the Christians. Those with whom Allah is angry are the Jews and those who have gone astray are the Christians. Allah is angry with the Jews because they KNOW the truth and they don’t act on it. "Call people to righteousness and you forget yourselves." They changed the Book. The Christians are without knowledge; they are lost. They think that God is a man!
This is a warning to us. Every time we recite these verses, Allah is warning us not to be like them — we have the truth, we have the Scripture, but we are not acting according to them. If we do not seek knowledge, if we do not find out what it is Allah wants from us, then we are lost. Every time we read the "… ghairil maghdoobi ‘alayhim wa la-ddaalleen…", it should touch us. We should reflect on it and it should touch us.
There are so many verses throughout the Quran which remind us of the Hereafter, that remind us of the signs of the Day of Judgement. It is enough for us to open any part of the Quran to read about them. In virtually every chapter of the Quran Allah addresses the next life. It is linked to our second point of visiting the graves and remembering the Hereafter. The Quran speaks about the life to come and to reflect on it.

So keep reading the Quran..understand it..for it is The Guidance..

Say what you do? Do what you say?

Today I shared a hadith, something about the 4 things that could guarantee Jannah.
1. Good words
2. Spreading the Salam
3. Maintaining good relationships
4. Praying when others sleep. (qiamullail)

So as I ended the sharing session, i began pondering..have i myself achieved in practicing these things that i say? So do i have the right to speak? To preach? Is it true that one must not say what he is incapable of doing? Should we just only speak of deeds that we have done and never advice others of sins that we are still doing? So as I thought about it the whole night, I came across this hadith..

On the authority of Anas RA; He said that they (the companions) once asked Rasulullah SAW:
" Ya Rasulullah, is it true that we should not preach others to do good, until ourselves have done it,
and that we should not prevent them from certain sins, until ourselves have succeeded in preventing all? "
And in answering, he (Rasulullah) said:
" It's not like that. Preach others of deeds, though you haven't done them and prevent others from sins, though you haven't avoided all of them."
( at-Tabrani - assogheer wal awsot )

If any of you have proof that this hadith is dha'if, please state, because i just read it in a book.

Khamsan Qabla Khamsin

Praying Isya' at the Datuk Keramat Musholla made me realise two things.

1. That the majority of the makmum..and of course plus the imam were elders. I mean really elders. So I started thinking..is the population by age an inverse triangle? I mean, are there more fifty plus2 aged men in this country than twenty plus2? Answer yourself, because the musholla seemed to prove that.

2. That actually being old is not that easy. I mean yeah, i know its hard...with the health problems and everything. But as I prayed ba'adiah, i couldn't help notice the man in front of me lethargically rising for his second rakaat. I apologise if this is considered as an insult, but generally speaking he was old and cranky. And in seeing this, I finally realised what Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam meant by your youth before your old age in this hadith:

"Ightanim khamsan qabla khamsin: hayaataka qabla mautika, wa sihhataka qabla saqamika, wa faraaghaka qabla shughulika, wa shabaabaka qabla haramika wa ghinaaka qabla faqrika.""Take advantage of five before five: your life before your death, your health before your illness, your free time before becoming busy, your youth before your old age and your wealth before your poverty."

All this while  i didn't realise the fact that if by His means, each and everyone of us will individually grow old. And by that time everything we have now would be gone. Our strength, our spirits, our dreams, our abilities..all gone..engulfed by age. So would we wait. Wait till the age comes, when at that time we are sure of death around the corner. And only then we would struggle to repent, to do 'amal, to seek jannah..and without strength, without dreams, without energy..would it be that easy? Think for yourself while you still can.

So ightanim!!
Ightanim shabaabaka qabla haramik!!

Just redha. Its a process.

Death, pain, despair, failure.

These are a just a few out of many things that shake our lives. That open our eyes. However, failing to understand the hikmah (reasons) for these tests will bring up something much unwanted ie. depress, hopeless and may even end up to suicide.

No i'm not telling you that you MUST understand why each and every thing happens, because it would be impossible to do so...

but what i am telling you that if you could consider these things as tests, not just for you, but for each and everyone in this world, and realise that the One spinning the wheel is Allah...then sometimes you could see that behind dark clouds are actually rain. Beautiful molecules of hydrogen and oxygen, so detailly combined, so complexly oriented, that no one could explain except Him. And only Him. 

155. And certainly, We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to As-Sabirin (the patient ones, etc.).
156. Who, when afflicted with calamity, say: "Truly! To Allah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return."
157. They are those on whom are the Salawat (i.e. blessings, etc.) (i.e. who are blessed and will be forgiven) from their Lord, and (they are those who) receive His Mercy, and it is they who are the guided-ones.
 (Surah Al-Baqarah 2)

214. Or think you that you will enter Paradise without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you? They were afflicted with severe poverty and ailments and were so shaken that even the Messenger and those who believed along with him said, "When (will come) the Help of Allah?" Yes! Certainly, the Help of Allah is near!
 (Surah Al-Baqarah 2)

82. Verily, His Command, when He intends a thing, is only that He says to it, "Be!" and it is!
83. So Glorified is He and Exalted above all that they associate with Him, and in Whose Hands is the dominion of all things, and to Him you shall be returned.
 (Surah Yaasin 36)

Simply said, there are some incidents in life that we really can't plan.

No I'm sorry, there are MANY things in life that we can't plan. But by believing that things happen in our way made us become humans that deny the fact of how things should be and should not. And we start blaming condition, blaming ourselves, blaming others. The truth is, even I don't know what i'm babbling about...haha..

The truth is, learn to accept

No not just accept that it HAS HAPPENED..

but to also accept that is HAS TO HAPPEN..

and there you'll find REDHA..and there you'll see that its a process in life

Jannah

When questioning the cost to buy a ticket to heaven..I was given this answer..

Since when could we pay for Jannah? If the 'ibadah of an 'abid who prays night and day for each second he has in life for 500 years could only weigh one of his eyes, then how much would our 'ibadah cost? 

Obtaining Jannah is about gaining His Blessings. So the value needed to get Jannah?

It is the value that is seen only in His eyes.. but who are we to judge it?

And if it takes every penny we have, then spend it. If it takes every tear we have, then spill it. If it takes every strength we have, then use it. If it takes every second we have, then sacrifice it. Bcoz this life, is the only shot we have in achieving it.

Some words to think about

When once asked by a journalist to introduce himself, he said:


I am a traveller seeking the Truth, a human searching for the meaning of humanity, and a citizen seeking dignity, freedom, stability and welfare under the shade of Islam. I am a free man who is aware of the purpose of his existence and who proclaims;"Truly, my prayer and my sacrifice, my life and my death, are all for Allah, the Cherisher of the worlds; no partner has He. This I am commanded and I am among those who submit to His Will."This is who I am. Who are you?

Hassan Al-Banna

Yeah, I know. I posted this on my wall, yet again I posted it here.
But seriously, who cares? The more I read it, the more I realise my purpose..

Some Last Words to think about

This is the Last Speech made by the Beloved Rasulullah PBUH, Ninth Day of Zulhijjah 10 AH at the Uranah Valley of Mount Arafah;
After praising & thanking GOD he said:
 
"O People, lend me an attentive ear, for I know not whether, after this year, I shall ever be amongst you again. Therefor listen to what I am saying to you very carefully & TAKE THESE WORDS TO THOSE WHO COULD NOT BE PRESENT HERE TODAY.
O people, just as you regard this month, this city as sacred, so regard the life & property of every Muslim as a sacred trust. Return the goods entrusted to you to their rightful owners. Hurt no one so that no one may hurt you. Remember that you will indeed meet your LORD, and that HE will indeed reckon your deeds. ALLAH has forbidden you to take usury(Interest), therefor all Interest obligation shall henceforth be waived. Your capital, however, is yours to keep. You will neither inflict nor suffer inequity.
 
Beware of Satan, for the safety of your religion. He has lost all hope that he will ever be able to lead you astray in big things, so beware of following him in small things.
 
O people it is true that you have certain rights with regard to your women, but they also have rights over you. Remember that you have taken them as your wives only under ALLAH's trust & with His permission. If they abide by your right then to them belongs the right to be fed & clothed in kindness. Do treat your women well & be kind to them for they are your partners & committed helpers. And it is your right that they do not make friendship with any one of whom you do not approve, as well as never to be unchaste.
 
O people, listen to me earnest, worship your LORD, say your five daily prayers, fast during the month of Ramadan, & give your wealth to Zakat(Charity). Perform Hajj if you can afford to.
All mankind are from Adam & Eve, an Arab has no Superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has superiority over an Arab;ALSO a white has no superiority over a black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety & good action. Learn that every Muslim is a brother to another Muslim & that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood.Nothing shall be legitimate to a Muslim which belongs to a fellow muslim unless it was given freely & willingly. Do not therefor, do unjustice to yourselves.
 
Remember, one day you will appear before the GOD & answer for your deeds. So beware, do not stray from the path of righteousness after I am gone.
 
O people, NO PROPHET OR APOSTLE WILL COME AFTER ME & NO FAITH WILL BE BORN. Reason well, therefor, O people, understand words which I convey to you. I leave behind me two things, The QURAN & my examples the Sunnah & if you follow these you will never go astray."

Take time to understand, read again if you must, bcoz everytime I read it, it would touch my heart.

Just strive for it..

I was actually planning to comment this one on someones post..but it seems appropriate to be shared coz I know..even I go through hardships in life.

 Those who will strive in Our cause, We shall guide them to Our own paths, and surely Allah is with the righteous.

Al-Ankabuut 29:69

There, it is said that a person who exerts will exert for his own good. Here it is being reassured that Allah does not leave alone those who strive in His cause sincerely, even at the risk of a conflict with the entire world, but He helps and guides them and opens for them ways towards Himself. He teaches them at every step the way of winning His approval and good-will and He shows them the light at every turning point to discriminate between the Right Way and the wrong ways of life. In short, Allah helps and succors and guides them according to their sincerity and intensity of desire for goodness.

Reviving the deceased

When discussing a matter of our hearts, I really think we should look deeply and carefully, because anyone could loose sight of creeping shadows while basking in bright light.

Then your hearts hardened after that, so that they were like rocks, rather worse in hardness; and surely there are some rocks from which streams burst forth, and surely there are some of them which split asunder so water issues out of them, and surely there are some of them which fall down for fear of Allah, and Allah is not at all heedless of what you do.

[Al-Baqarah 2:74]

Syeikh Ibrahim Adham stated, that symptoms of a dead heart is:
1. Admits one knows Allah, but neglects His orders.
2. Admits one loves Rasulullah PBUH, but abandons his sunnah.
3. Reads the Quran, but fails to apply the rules stated clearly in it.
4. Consumes each and every one of Allah's nikmah, but forgets to be grateful.
5. Admits that Syaitan are the arch-enemies, but fails to fend their temptations.
6. Admits there is Jannah, but never does 'amal for its sake.
7. Admits there is Naar, but never struggles to avoid it.
8. Admits that death is unpredictable and inevitable, but keeps saying 'I'm not ready'.
9. Absorbed in seeking other's 'aib, that forgets one's own.
10. Accompanies and buries a Muslim corpse, but could never contemplate the hikmah behind it.

According to Sheikh Ibni Athoillah Iskandari in his hikmah;
Other signs of a dead heart is that when one doesn't anguish for missing out in doing 'amal and doesn't regret when sins.

A heart dies because of three;
* Hubbul dunnia (love to the world)
* Neglects zikirullah (remembering Allah)
* Overeating and enslaving the body in doing maksiyyah to Allah

A heart lives because of three;
* Zuhud with the dunnia
* Zikrullah
* Befriend and be close to aulia Allah ('friends' of Allah)

So please take a close look at your heart..

Has it become that hard?

Has it become that dark?

Is it already dead?

Watch and Learn

Okay..is this one familiar??

So everyday..at 7.30 sharp..I would be staring at the TV...NTV7 to be exact, and watching these teenage guys and girls jumping, singing, and prancing around the stage, telling stories, and many other interesting things that would make a 3-year-old kid such as my little sister mesmerized.

Now, I wouldn't be this interested in telling you about this TV program if it wasn't for the shocking story of how my three-year-old sister began dancing and singing and talking in English..

I wouldn't call it English actually..because no one could understand..but it did kinda sound English..
So the thing is..how is it that a 2D, RGB screen succeeded in influencing such a small kid?

Brothers and sisters..this is called 'tarbiyyah'.
It is a process that every human will undergo either conscious or not. When we read, when we watch, when we listen, when we feel..we learn. But another fact is that we humans tend to get influenced by many things..and if we are incapable to control ourselves in choosing between what is good and bad..we will follow everything. So to learn control..is by understanding. To understand is by tarbiyyah.
So lets take some time to tarbiyyah our hearts by attaching ourselves to things that remind us of Allah, of things that bring us closer to Him.
Here's a book that I recommend:
"Maza Yakni fil Intimmail Islam"
-To Be A Muslim- Dr. Fathi Yakan

To What Extent?

Humans..are born with nafs..and this nafs is a creation of Allah that has an unbelievable level of pride.
It was told that on the day it was created, Allah asked it:
"Who am I?"
And it said;
"You are You, and I am I"
So Allah burned it in the Hellfire, and repeated the same question:
"Who am I?"
And it said;
"You are You, and I am I"
So Allah burned it again in the Hellfire, and repeated the same question:
"Who am I?"
And it said;
"You are You, and I am I"
And after again being burnt..it finally said:

You are my God, and I am Your servant

Brothers and sisters, this story is a reminder to you and I, that our nafs was once so ignorant that it needed three hell-of-a-punishment to really realise that it actually was created.
So to what extent do WE need to be punished to realise that we are no more than His Creations? Will it be The Hellfire? Or will it be on this world?

or why not we just take the easiest solution..
Whoever we are; A king, a minister, an engineer, or even if we're just a man,
Lets throw away all ignorance and ego, remove our arrogance and pride,
and
Lets drop down, bowing and prostrating ourselves to The One, The Creator, The Ruler.
And set it in our hearts..that You and I, we're no one. So lets stop pretending that we are.