Excellence of Frequent Remembrance of Allah

Excellence of Frequent Remembrance of Allah

Abdullah bin Busr (ra) reported that one of the Companions said:

"O Messenger of Allah! There are many ordinance of Islam for me. So tell me something by which I may hold tight. He (saw) said, "Your tongue should always be busy remembering Allah" Imam Ahmad 4/188 190 At Tirmidy 3375 Ibm Majah 3793

Allah(swt) enjoined the believers to always remember Him and He praised them for doing so as Allah(swt) said:

O you who believe! Remember Allah with much remembrance. And glorify His Praises morning and afternoon [the early morning (Fajr) and 'Asr prayers]. [Quran Surat Al-'Aĥzāb 33:41, 42]

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The Prophet, The Teacher

Narrated Abu Huraira:
While the Prophet was saying something in a gathering, a Bedouin came and asked him, “When would the Hour (Doomsday) take place?” Allah’s Apostle continued his talk, so some people said that Allah’s Apostle had heard the question, but did not like what that Bedouin had asked. Some of them said that Alllah’s Apostle had not heard it. When the Prophet finished his speech, he said, “Where is the questioner, who enquired about the Hour (Doomsday)?” The Bedouin said, “I am here, O Allah’s Apostle.” Then the Prophet said, “When honesty is lost, then wait for the Hour (Doomsday).” The Bedouin said, “How will that be lost?” The Prophet said, “When the power or authority comes in the hands of unfit persons, then wait for the Hour (Doomsday.)” [Sahih Bukhari]

The above hadith (statement of the prophet (saws)) has been taken from a book called Sahih Bukhari. Sahih Bukhari is the most authentic book for Muslims after the noble Qur’an. It is a collection of authentic narrations from the prophet (saws) and was compiled by the great scholar, imam Bukhari.

In this short article, I intend to derive multiple lessons from the above quoted hadith to emphasize one point in particular: The Prophet (saws) as a teacher.



The first lesson that we derive from this hadith is that our knowledge of the world of the unseen is limited. In particular, one of the matters of the unseen that we have no knowledge of is the time when the final hour would take place.

The hadith also promotes becoming a part of circles of knowledge and to learn from people who are more knowledgeable than us. Observe that the bedouin was questioning prophet (saws) because he was eager to learn from him. This shows that it is our responsibility to seek knowledge and we should request it from people who have authority to speak in religious matters.

This hadith comes in the beginning of Sahih Bukhari in a chapter called ‘The book of knowledge’. The intention of Imam Bukhari behind placing this hadith in the beginning of the book was to show us the etiquettes of seeking knowledge. He wanted to emphasize that we are responsible to seek Islamic knowledge but we must do so by following proper etiquettes, especially while addressing the speaker for questions.

Now, we will talk in detail about prophet (saws)’s teaching method according to this hadith. Prophet (saws) was addressing a gathering when he was interrupted by the bedouin’s question. The prophet (saws) continued talking and ignored the question. Some of the companions thought that the prophet (saws) did not hear the question. While the other companions thought that the prophet (saws) heard the question but he disliked it so decided to ignore it. Both of these claims are not true because the prophet (saws) called the bedouin back and eventually answered his question. The correct reason due to which the prophet (saws) did not answer was because he was in the midst of a gathering and did not want to interrupt his lecture to answer the bedouin. Not answering a question is also a method of teaching a lesson to others. Once the prophet (saws) was finished with his talk, he called the bedouin back to give him an answer. However, note the mannerism of the prophet (saws). He did not get angry at the bedouin, he did not tell him that his question was asked at an inappropriate time or that he was responsible for interrupting a gathering of knowledge etc. This tells us that as a speaker/teacher we need to be gentle with our audience and make them realize their mistakes in a subtle manner.

Finally, prophet (saws) did not give the bedouin the exact time of the final hour since that is from the knowledge of the unseen that we are not supposed to possess. However, he gave him all that he knew about the topic – the signs of the final hour.

A practical application of this lesson: So the next time your (grown-up) child interrupts your conversation with friends, husband, family etc. you pretend as if you did not hear the question but later gently answer them after your conversation is over. (A note of caution: do not try this with toddlers!)

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The Prophet, The Teacher

Narrated Abu Huraira:

While the Prophet was saying something in a gathering, a Bedouin came and asked him, “When would the Hour (Doomsday) take place?” Allah’s Apostle continued his talk, so some people said that Allah’s Apostle had heard the question, but did not like what that Bedouin had asked. Some of them said that Alllah’s Apostle had not heard it. When the Prophet finished his speech, he said, “Where is the questioner, who enquired about the Hour (Doomsday)?” The Bedouin said, “I am here, O Allah’s Apostle.” Then the Prophet said, “When honesty is lost, then wait for the Hour (Doomsday).” The Bedouin said, “How will that be lost?” The Prophet said, “When the power or authority comes in the hands of unfit persons, then wait for the Hour (Doomsday.)” [Sahih Bukhari]

The above hadith (statement of the prophet (saws)) has been taken from a book called Sahih Bukhari. Sahih Bukhari is the most authentic book for Muslims after the noble Qur’an. It is a collection of authentic narrations from the prophet (saws) and was compiled by the great scholar, imam Bukhari.

In this short article, I intend to derive multiple lessons from the above quoted hadith to emphasize one point in particular: The Prophet (saws) as a teacher.

The first lesson that we derive from this hadith is that our knowledge of the world of the unseen is limited. In particular, one of the matters of the unseen that we have no knowledge of is the time when the final hour would take place.

The hadith also promotes becoming a part of circles of knowledge and to learn from people who are more knowledgeable than us. Observe that the bedouin was questioning prophet (saws) because he was eager to learn from him. This shows that it is our responsibility to seek knowledge and we should request it from people who have authority to speak in religious matters.

This hadith comes in the beginning of Sahih Bukhari in a chapter called ‘The book of knowledge’. The intention of Imam Bukhari behind placing this hadith in the beginning of the book was to show us the etiquettes of seeking knowledge. He wanted to emphasize that we are responsible to seek Islamic knowledge but we must do so by following proper etiquettes, especially while addressing the speaker for questions.

Now, we will talk in detail about prophet (saws)’s teaching method according to this hadith. Prophet (saws) was addressing a gathering when he was interrupted by the bedouin’s question. The prophet (saws) continued talking and ignored the question. Some of the companions thought that the prophet (saws) did not hear the question. While the other companions thought that the prophet (saws) heard the question but he disliked it so decided to ignore it. Both of these claims are not true because the prophet (saws) called the bedouin back and eventually answered his question. The correct reason due to which the prophet (saws) did not answer was because he was in the midst of a gathering and did not want to interrupt his lecture to answer the bedouin. Not answering a question is also a method of teaching a lesson to others. Once the prophet (saws) was finished with his talk, he called the bedouin back to give him an answer. However, note the mannerism of the prophet (saws). He did not get angry at the bedouin, he did not tell him that his question was asked at an inappropriate time or that he was responsible for interrupting a gathering of knowledge etc. This tells us that as a speaker/teacher we need to be gentle with our audience and make them realize their mistakes in a subtle manner.

Finally, prophet (saws) did not give the bedouin the exact time of the final hour since that is from the knowledge of the unseen that we are not supposed to possess. However, he gave him all that he knew about the topic – the signs of the final hour.

A practical application of this lesson: So the next time your (grown-up) child interrupts your conversation with friends, husband, family etc. you pretend as if you did not hear the question but later gently answer them after your conversation is over. (A note of caution: do not try this with toddlers!)

Read More

Blessings of Seeking Knowledge

‘Knowledge is power’. How many times in our lives have we heard this phrase ? How many times have our parents, teachers, elders stated this same thing over and over again. This quote by Sir Francis Bacon emphasizes that when you have knowledge you have authority. It alludes to the fact that there is something about acquiring knowledge that gives you possession of controlling influence. But more importantly, I would like you to note that this is a non-Muslim phrase (not said by some Muslim scholar) which has only been around since 1597.

The teachings of religion of Islam came to us well over 1400 years ago. From the beginning of revelation there was an emphasis on seeking and acquiring knowledge. I remind you that the first words of revelation were “Read!”

“Read! In the Name of your Lord, Who has created (all that exists)” [Alaq, 96:1]

The intention of this article is not so much to remind you the importance of seeking knowledge. It is assumed that the readers understand that as Muslims we have been commanded to seek knowledge.

The quest for knowledge is a compulsion on every Muslim. [Hadeeth Hassan]

Note: The knowledge referred to above is knowledge in deen because that is the only knowledge that is Waajib (compulsory)

The main goal of this article is to provide you with the motivation to continue to seek Islamic and take joy and pride in doing this act of worship because we can understand from various Quranic statements and ahadith (statements of the prophet (saws)) that , there are definite returns for these efforts in form of reward and blessings from Allah (subhana wa ta’ala).


Raised Status and Rank

“Allah will exalt those who believe among you, and those who have knowledge, to high ranks.” [Al-Mujaadilah, 58:11]

Let us take a hypothetical scenario where YOU work for a reputable company and one fine day your boss entices you with a promotion upon completion of a certain project under your lead. I can guarantee you that you would put your heart and soul into it to get that promotion. Well! Allah wants to give you promotion, not just in this duniya but in jannah! Scholars agree that the term “high ranks” in this statement refer to bounties in this world and the hereafter. Just because the promises of jannah are intangible at the moment should not let us ignore such a huge blessing of seeking knowledge. We have to believe in the ayats (verses, signs) of our Lord.

Superiority over all beings

“And He taught Adam all the names, and then showed them to the angels, saying: Inform Me of the names of these, if you are truthful. They said: Glory is to You! We have no knowledge but that which You have taught us; surely You are the Knowing, the Wise. He said: “Oh, Adam! Tell them their names.” When he had told them, Allah said: “Did I not tell you that I know the secrets of heaven and earth, and I know what you reveal and what you conceal?” And behold, We said to the angels: “Bow down to Adam” and they bowed down…” [Al-Baqarah, 2:31-34]

When Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) taught Adam (as) the names of all things, He asked the angels and Iblis (who had reached the level of angels) to prostrate to Adam (as). I remind you that angels are pure creations of Allah (subhana wa ta’ala). They are made of light, in complete obedience to Him and are doing tasbih (saying subhan Allah) at all times. Such a pure creation of Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) was commanded to show respect to our great great great … grandfather, Adam (as) who was made of clay and was prone to sinning. This prostration as a form of respect took place based on one and only one factor i.e. knowledge.

I remember hearing in one of Michelle Obama’s speeches which she delivered at an all girls high school, she told the students that she was where she was only because of education. Even in this duniya the way to gain superiority over other human beings is through knowledge – you get a better income, you enjoy a more luxurious lifestyle, you have a higher reputation in the society. But to be higher in the Eyes of Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) you have to be knowledgeable in your deen and this is how you truly will become superior to all other creations of Allah.

Scholars truly understand the Qur’an

“And such are the Parables We set forth for mankind, but only those who have knowledge understand them.” (Al-‘Ankaboot, 29:43)

Scholars agree that this ayah is actually referring to all people of knowledge (and not just the scholars). People of knowledge who read/learn/understand the Quran are the ones who truly understand the parables mentioned in the Quran. The parables mentioned in the Quran are important in telling us which actions are harmful to our aakhira and hence, they should be avoided. They also guide us in which actions are more rewarding than others and hence, we should strive to do them.

Sign of Allah’s love for a person

“Whosoever Allah wishes good for, He gives him understanding (fiqh) of the Religion.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

As children we are always looking for signs of love for ourselves from our parents. If a parent buys gifts for their child the child is assured that his/her parents love him/her. Love and compassion from parents makes a child feel ecstatic and special. Allah tells us through the prophet (saws) that if He loves us He gives us understanding of the religion of Islam. The difference is that love of Allah is far greater than anybody’s love. Love of Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) is the ultimate goal of this life.

However, this love does not come without striving, trying hard and putting in a lot of effort. You have to earn the love of Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) by striving to gain Islamic knowledge – even if there are not many resources around you, even if the knowledge seems hard to retain, even if there are many distractions around you.

Statement of Imam Shaafie’

“After the obligatory deeds, nothing is more beloved to Allah than studying knowledge”

This statement holds the obvious meanings of how much Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) loves for a person to seek Islamic knowledge but it also a much deeper implication. The process starts off by gaining knowledge that is absolutely essential for a Muslim to perform their obligatory deeds. Once a person gets accustomed to performing obligatory deeds and do not find them burdensome anymore then because of the impact of knowledge they will automatically do acts that are more than obligatory.

Let us take an example of a sister who finds is hard to pray two sunnah raka’hs (units of prayer) at the time of fajr. She skips sunnah raka’hs and prays the obligatory units quickly and jumps back into bed. She takes a class where she learns of the great blessings of praying the sunnah units of fajr prayer. After gaining knowledge she made it a point not to miss her sunnah units of prayer.

Hadith of Abu Darda

“If anyone travels on a road in search of knowledge, Allah will cause him to travel on one of the roads of Paradise. The angels will lower their wings in their great pleasure with one who seeks knowledge, the inhabitants of the heavens and the Earth and the fish in the deep waters will ask forgiveness for the learned man.

(cont’d) The superiority of the learned man over the worshipper is like that of the moon, on the night when it is full, over the rest of the stars. The learned are the heirs of the Prophets, and the Prophets leave neither dinar nor dirham, leaving only knowledge, and he who takes it takes a big fortune.” [Abu-Dawud]

This hadith outlines multiple blessings of seeking knowledge but we will concentrate on two main benefits. The two main benefits of treading on the path of knowledge are the protection of angels and the du’a of the creatures.

Angels provide protection in two ways: they lower their wings for a student of knowledge i.e. they allow the student of knowledge to walk over their wings (much like a red carpet!). Also, the angels out of respect for the student of knowledge stop flying until the student has passed them. Allahu Akbar! Once again I would like to remind you the purity of the creation of angels but knowledge allows us to gain a higher rank in the eyes of Allah (subhana wa ta’ala).

The inhabitants of the heavens and the earth make du’a for the student of knowledge. This includes the du’a of the angels and all creatures on this earth including ants and all the fish in the sea. This is a great honor for children of Adam !

Striving for knowledge is one of the best deeds you can do to attain mercy of Allah (subhana wa ta’ala).

Statement of Ibn Hazm (ra)

“If the learned ponders how the hours he spent learning saved him from the humiliation of being dominated by the ignorant and from the distress of having no access to the facts, and how those hours provided him with the joy of discovering that which is hidden from others, he would excel in praising Allah, the exalted, full of majesty, and would be more pleased with the knowledge he has and would deepen his desire to increase his knowledge.”

This is a beautiful statement by Ibn Hazm (ra). The direct implications of his statement are obvious. Possession of knowledge will save us from humiliation of being dominated by the commands of ignorant people. Moreover, possession of knowledge will save us from much distress of having no access to reliable and authentic information. Furthermore, possession of knowledge will give us joy of knowing that which others do not know. Correct knowledge allows us to worship our Lord in a better manner, a manner which pleases Him. Once we have the knowledge, we will become even more pleased with its advantages and benefits in our lives. This would deepen our desire to increase in knowledge. It is a sweet vicious cycle which takes initial effort and indulgence and once we taste the sweetness of knowledge we will get addicted to it.

Are you satisfied ?

“Two persons are never satisfied, one who is seeking knowledge, and the other who is seeking the world”

There is a disagreement about the above statement. Some say this is a hadith and some say it is a statement of Ali (ra). Either way, we concern ourselves with the beneficial message of this statement.

We have a choice in this world. We can either get addicted to duniya (Reminder: We will leave duniya after 60-80 years of life and leave everything of duniya behind ourselves). The other option is that we could get addicted to seeking knowledge (The benefits and blessings of seeking knowledge will reap heavy rewards on the Day of Judgment). The path of this duniya leads us away from Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) and the path of knowledge leads us towards Allah (subhana wa ta’ala). Likewise, the path of this duniya destroys our hereafter and the path of knowledge secures our hereafter. The choice is entirely ours.

When should you be jealous of others ?

“No one should be jealous of anything except two people – a man whom Allah has blessed with wisdom/ilm/Qur’an and he teaches it; and a man who has money and he spends it in the sake of Allah.” (Bukhari)

This hadith alludes to the etiquettes of seeking knowledge (a topic we will discuss in later articles in much greater detail in sha Allah). Prophet (saws) said in this hadith that you should not get envious of others for anything other than two things – one of them is knowledge. Observing other people with the knowledge of Quran and sunnah should make you feel envious and the idea is to use this feeling of jealousy to create avenues to gain knowledge. This hadith does not imply that we question Allah why He made the other person knowledgeable and why we weren’t given similar knowledge. Instead, we should ask Allah to make us learned in our deen.

“My Lord! Increase me in knowledge.” [Taha, 20:114]

Conclusion


I hope this article has served as a motivation to continue to keep seeking knowledge because of the numerous benefits and blessings associated with it. Seeking knowledge will help us appreciate our deen, make better our connection with Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) and allow us to find solutions to our problems from the Qur’an and sunnah to simplify our lives.

Our next article will address the role of women in seeking knowledge and some practical ways by which we can seek knowledge in North America bi’ithnillah.

Read More

Blessings of Seeking Knowledge

‘Knowledge is power’. How many times in our lives have we heard this phrase ? How many times have our parents, teachers, elders stated this same thing over and over again. This quote by Sir Francis Bacon emphasizes that when you have knowledge you have authority. It alludes to the fact that there is something about acquiring knowledge that gives you possession of controlling influence. But more importantly, I would like you to note that this is a non-Muslim phrase (not said by some Muslim scholar) which has only been around since 1597.

The teachings of religion of Islam came to us well over 1400 years ago. From the beginning of revelation there was an emphasis on seeking and acquiring knowledge. I remind you that the first words of revelation were “Read!”

“Read! In the Name of your Lord, Who has created (all that exists)” [Alaq, 96:1]

The intention of this article is not so much to remind you the importance of seeking knowledge. It is assumed that the readers understand that as Muslims we have been commanded to seek knowledge.

The quest for knowledge is a compulsion on every Muslim. [Hadeeth Hassan]

Note: The knowledge referred to above is knowledge in deen because that is the only knowledge that is Waajib (compulsory)

The main goal of this article is to provide you with the motivation to continue to seek Islamic and take joy and pride in doing this act of worship because we can understand from various Quranic statements and ahadith (statements of the prophet (saws)) that , there are definite returns for these efforts in form of reward and blessings from Allah (subhana wa ta’ala).

Raised Status and Rank

“Allah will exalt those who believe among you, and those who have knowledge, to high ranks.” [Al-Mujaadilah, 58:11]

Let us take a hypothetical scenario where YOU work for a reputable company and one fine day your boss entices you with a promotion upon completion of a certain project under your lead. I can guarantee you that you would put your heart and soul into it to get that promotion. Well! Allah wants to give you promotion, not just in this duniya but in jannah! Scholars agree that the term “high ranks” in this statement refer to bounties in this world and the hereafter. Just because the promises of jannah are intangible at the moment should not let us ignore such a huge blessing of seeking knowledge. We have to believe in the ayats (verses, signs) of our Lord.

Superiority over all beings

“And He taught Adam all the names, and then showed them to the angels, saying: Inform Me of the names of these, if you are truthful. They said: Glory is to You! We have no knowledge but that which You have taught us; surely You are the Knowing, the Wise. He said: “Oh, Adam! Tell them their names.” When he had told them, Allah said: “Did I not tell you that I know the secrets of heaven and earth, and I know what you reveal and what you conceal?” And behold, We said to the angels: “Bow down to Adam” and they bowed down…” [Al-Baqarah, 2:31-34]

When Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) taught Adam (as) the names of all things, He asked the angels and Iblis (who had reached the level of angels) to prostrate to Adam (as). I remind you that angels are pure creations of Allah (subhana wa ta’ala). They are made of light, in complete obedience to Him and are doing tasbih (saying subhan Allah) at all times. Such a pure creation of Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) was commanded to show respect to our great great great … grandfather, Adam (as) who was made of clay and was prone to sinning. This prostration as a form of respect took place based on one and only one factor i.e. knowledge.

I remember hearing in one of Michelle Obama’s speeches which she delivered at an all girls high school, she told the students that she was where she was only because of education. Even in this duniya the way to gain superiority over other human beings is through knowledge – you get a better income, you enjoy a more luxurious lifestyle, you have a higher reputation in the society. But to be higher in the Eyes of Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) you have to be knowledgeable in your deen and this is how you truly will become superior to all other creations of Allah.

Scholars truly understand the Qur’an

“And such are the Parables We set forth for mankind, but only those who have knowledge understand them.” (Al-‘Ankaboot, 29:43)

Scholars agree that this ayah is actually referring to all people of knowledge (and not just the scholars). People of knowledge who read/learn/understand the Quran are the ones who truly understand the parables mentioned in the Quran. The parables mentioned in the Quran are important in telling us which actions are harmful to our aakhira and hence, they should be avoided. They also guide us in which actions are more rewarding than others and hence, we should strive to do them.

Sign of Allah’s love for a person

“Whosoever Allah wishes good for, He gives him understanding (fiqh) of the Religion.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

As children we are always looking for signs of love for ourselves from our parents. If a parent buys gifts for their child the child is assured that his/her parents love him/her. Love and compassion from parents makes a child feel ecstatic and special. Allah tells us through the prophet (saws) that if He loves us He gives us understanding of the religion of Islam. The difference is that love of Allah is far greater than anybody’s love. Love of Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) is the ultimate goal of this life.

However, this love does not come without striving, trying hard and putting in a lot of effort. You have to earn the love of Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) by striving to gain Islamic knowledge – even if there are not many resources around you, even if the knowledge seems hard to retain, even if there are many distractions around you.

Statement of Imam Shaafie’

“After the obligatory deeds, nothing is more beloved to Allah than studying knowledge”

This statement holds the obvious meanings of how much Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) loves for a person to seek Islamic knowledge but it also a much deeper implication. The process starts off by gaining knowledge that is absolutely essential for a Muslim to perform their obligatory deeds. Once a person gets accustomed to performing obligatory deeds and do not find them burdensome anymore then because of the impact of knowledge they will automatically do acts that are more than obligatory.

Let us take an example of a sister who finds is hard to pray two sunnah raka’hs (units of prayer) at the time of fajr. She skips sunnah raka’hs and prays the obligatory units quickly and jumps back into bed. She takes a class where she learns of the great blessings of praying the sunnah units of fajr prayer. After gaining knowledge she made it a point not to miss her sunnah units of prayer.

Hadith of Abu Darda

“If anyone travels on a road in search of knowledge, Allah will cause him to travel on one of the roads of Paradise. The angels will lower their wings in their great pleasure with one who seeks knowledge, the inhabitants of the heavens and the Earth and the fish in the deep waters will ask forgiveness for the learned man.

(cont’d) The superiority of the learned man over the worshipper is like that of the moon, on the night when it is full, over the rest of the stars. The learned are the heirs of the Prophets, and the Prophets leave neither dinar nor dirham, leaving only knowledge, and he who takes it takes a big fortune.” [Abu-Dawud]

This hadith outlines multiple blessings of seeking knowledge but we will concentrate on two main benefits. The two main benefits of treading on the path of knowledge are the protection of angels and the du’a of the creatures.

Angels provide protection in two ways: they lower their wings for a student of knowledge i.e. they allow the student of knowledge to walk over their wings (much like a red carpet!). Also, the angels out of respect for the student of knowledge stop flying until the student has passed them. Allahu Akbar! Once again I would like to remind you the purity of the creation of angels but knowledge allows us to gain a higher rank in the eyes of Allah (subhana wa ta’ala).

The inhabitants of the heavens and the earth make du’a for the student of knowledge. This includes the du’a of the angels and all creatures on this earth including ants and all the fish in the sea. This is a great honor for children of Adam !

Striving for knowledge is one of the best deeds you can do to attain mercy of Allah (subhana wa ta’ala).

Statement of Ibn Hazm (ra)

“If the learned ponders how the hours he spent learning saved him from the humiliation of being dominated by the ignorant and from the distress of having no access to the facts, and how those hours provided him with the joy of discovering that which is hidden from others, he would excel in praising Allah, the exalted, full of majesty, and would be more pleased with the knowledge he has and would deepen his desire to increase his knowledge.”

This is a beautiful statement by Ibn Hazm (ra). The direct implications of his statement are obvious. Possession of knowledge will save us from humiliation of being dominated by the commands of ignorant people. Moreover, possession of knowledge will save us from much distress of having no access to reliable and authentic information. Furthermore, possession of knowledge will give us joy of knowing that which others do not know. Correct knowledge allows us to worship our Lord in a better manner, a manner which pleases Him. Once we have the knowledge, we will become even more pleased with its advantages and benefits in our lives. This would deepen our desire to increase in knowledge. It is a sweet vicious cycle which takes initial effort and indulgence and once we taste the sweetness of knowledge we will get addicted to it.

Are you satisfied ?

“Two persons are never satisfied, one who is seeking knowledge, and the other who is seeking the world”

There is a disagreement about the above statement. Some say this is a hadith and some say it is a statement of Ali (ra). Either way, we concern ourselves with the beneficial message of this statement.

We have a choice in this world. We can either get addicted to duniya (Reminder: We will leave duniya after 60-80 years of life and leave everything of duniya behind ourselves). The other option is that we could get addicted to seeking knowledge (The benefits and blessings of seeking knowledge will reap heavy rewards on the Day of Judgment). The path of this duniya leads us away from Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) and the path of knowledge leads us towards Allah (subhana wa ta’ala). Likewise, the path of this duniya destroys our hereafter and the path of knowledge secures our hereafter. The choice is entirely ours.

When should you be jealous of others ?

“No one should be jealous of anything except two people – a man whom Allah has blessed with wisdom/ilm/Qur’an and he teaches it; and a man who has money and he spends it in the sake of Allah.” (Bukhari)

This hadith alludes to the etiquettes of seeking knowledge (a topic we will discuss in later articles in much greater detail in sha Allah). Prophet (saws) said in this hadith that you should not get envious of others for anything other than two things – one of them is knowledge. Observing other people with the knowledge of Quran and sunnah should make you feel envious and the idea is to use this feeling of jealousy to create avenues to gain knowledge. This hadith does not imply that we question Allah why He made the other person knowledgeable and why we weren’t given similar knowledge. Instead, we should ask Allah to make us learned in our deen.

“My Lord! Increase me in knowledge.” [Taha, 20:114]

Conclusion


I hope this article has served as a motivation to continue to keep seeking knowledge because of the numerous benefits and blessings associated with it. Seeking knowledge will help us appreciate our deen, make better our connection with Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) and allow us to find solutions to our problems from the Qur’an and sunnah to simplify our lives.

Our next article will address the role of women in seeking knowledge and some practical ways by which we can seek knowledge in North America bi’ithnillah.

Read More

Last 10 Nights and the Big "M"

Last 10 nights of Ramadan are upon us and I am sure all of us are aware of the virtues of these blessed nights. But I am listing some virtues as a reminder to all of us because Allah (swt) says in the Quran: Surah Dhariyat, verse 55: “And remind for verily, the reminding benefits the believers.”

• Etiquette of the prophet (salAllahu alayhi wa salam) in the last 10 nights: abstain from sexual desires, practice itikaaf and even seclude himself from his wives.
• Al-Bukhari and Muslim record from 'Aishah that during the last ten days of Ramadan, the messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wa salam) would wake his wives up during the night and then remain apart from them (that is, being busy in acts of worship).
• A version in Muslim states: "He would strive [to do acts of worship] during the last ten days of Ramadan more than he would at any other time."
• The prophet (salAllahu alayhi wa salam) would fasten his loin cloth (like rolling sleeves up; meaning he would abstain from approaching his wives even at nights) in these last 10 nights.

During this time we are constantly reminded to engage in nafl salaat comprising of long standing at night and increase our recitation of the Quran. But for some of us, this might be a time when we are going through our menstrual cycle (or post-natal bleeding).

Naturally, it is not easy to stay positive at times, especially when we see the world around us rushing to masajids for taraweeh prayers, indulging in ‘itikaaf and reciting the Quran. This might lead us to feeling deprived of the reward of these blessed nights and decrease our spirituality rather than increasing it.

In this article, I hope to highlight some practical ways in which you can make the best of last 10 nights of Ramadan while going through your menstrual cycle (or post-natal bleeding), without feeling “left out”.


First and foremost, realize that our menstrual cycle is part of Allah (swt)’s creation and something that is ordained by Him (swt).

Allah (swt) tells us in the Quran that He has created us in the best of molds (Surah at-Teen, verse 4). We are also told in the Quran that for everything Allah has "appointed a due proportion” (Surah at-Talaq, verse 2-3) and that "for every matter there is an appointed time given" (Surat ar-Rad, ayah 38).

Thus, to complain about it would be to question the Wisdom of Allah (swt), a’uoodubillah.

Some women think it is more virtuous to fast even though they are on their menses. In their ignorance they make this exception in the month of Ramadan. But rather, they need to realize that it is more virtuous for them to comply with the Command of Allah (swt). It is more rewarding for them to do as they are told by Allah (swt) i.e. not pray or fast while they are on their menses.

Also realize that there are many other ways of achieving spirituality while we are on our menses besides salaah, siyaam and itikaaf.

The prophet (salAllahu alayhi wa salam) is reported to have said that, "Dua is the very essence of 'ibadah.” The prophet (salAllahu alayhi wa salam) said, "Allah is in the assistance of [His] servant, as long as the servant aids his brother." He (salAllahu alayhi wa salam) also said, "Whoever feeds a fasting person will have a reward like that of the fasting person, without any reduction in his reward."

Listed below are few suggestions that a muslimah can do while she is not fasting due to menstruation or post-natal bleeding.


Wake up at Fajr time

• Repeat after the fajr adhan
• Make dua between adhan and iqaama
• Make dua for intercession of prophet (salAllahu alayhi wa salam) after the adhan
• Make fajr adhkar:

10 times: “la ilaha ilAllah wahdahu la shareekah la, lahul mulk wa lahul hamd wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in qadeer.”

Recite ayat al kursi

Recite surah Ikhlaas, surah Falaq, surah Nas – 3 times

Other adhkar found in Fortress of the Muslim

• Say the morning adkhar
• Read an English translation of half-juz of the Quran

Enjoining good: encourage your family to pray Salaat al Duha
The Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) called it the salah of the obedient. Reported by Imam Ahmad in his musnad: Abu Hurayrah (radhi Allahu ‘anhu) narrated that the prophet (salAllahu alayhi wa salam) would never miss the salat al-awabeen, which was Salat al Duha.


Duhr time

• Repeat after the duhr adhan
• Make dua between adhan and iqaama
• Make dua for intercession of prophet (salAllahu alayhi wa salam) after the adhan
• Engage in more dhikr and dua

Asr time

• Repeat after the asr adhan
• Make dua between adhan and iqaama
• Make dua for intercession of prophet (salAllahu alayhi wa salam) after the adhan
• Engage in more dhikr and dua
• Read an English translation of half-juz of the Quran

Maghrib time

• Repeat after the maghrib adhan
• Help people break their fast by passing out dates and water
• Make dua between adhan and iqaama
• Make dua for intercession of prophet (salAllahu alayhi wa salam) after the adhan
• Engage in more dhikr and dua

Isha time

• Repeat after the isha adhan
• Make dua between adhan and iqaama
• Make dua for intercession of prophet (salAllahu alayhi wa salam) after the adhan
• Engage in more dhikr and dua
• Have family circle time at home
• Have a male member of the house recite the Quran to the rest of the family followed by tafsir of those ayat

Before sleeping

• Make wudu (this even applies to women with menses)
• Recite surah Mulk
• Ask your spouse for forgiveness before sleeping
• Recite ayat al kursi
• Make dua and dhikr

Other acts that can be done

At the masjids

• Spread salaams at the masjid
• Sponsor iftaars at various masajids if possible
• Volunteer for masjid clean up afterwards
• Babysit during Taraweeh so that the mothers (and everyone else!) can pray with khushu' and concentration
• Make a CD of beautiful Quran recitation and duaas in mp3 and distribute it to people at the masjid

At home

• Have a qiyaam program for other sisters at your house – prepare iftar and suhoor for them
• Look for new converts, those who are newly practicing or people who have lost touch with the community and invite them over for iftar and eid
• Think of eid party ideas/gifts for family, spouse, children, neighbors

In your own time

• Memorize ayat of the Quran – use online resources
• Donate everyday – clothes, money
• Make tawbah and shukr
• Memorize Allah's names and their meanings
• Find out who is sick in your area or in the hospital and go visit them
• Always keep your tongue moist with the dhikr and remembrance of Allah (swt). Say subhanAllah, alhumdulilah, la ilaaha illalha, Allahu akbar and say salaams on the prophet (salAllahu alayhi wa salam) while cooking, cleaning, driving etc. and may Allah make these words heavy on your scaled on the day of judgment.

Some information has been taken from the following sources:
1. Closed Doors and Opened Eyes: Spirituality for the Non-Fasting by Shazia Ahmad
2. A Muslim Day in Ramadan - Morning till Evening; Ilminar by Sh. Riad Quarzazi

Read More

Last 10 Nights and the Big "M"

Last 10 nights of Ramadan are upon us and I am sure all of us are aware of the virtues of these blessed nights. But I am listing some virtues as a reminder to all of us because Allah (swt) says in the Quran: Surah Dhariyat, verse 55: “And remind for verily, the reminding benefits the believers.”

• Etiquette of the prophet (salAllahu alayhi wa salam) in the last 10 nights: abstain from sexual desires, practice itikaaf and even seclude himself from his wives.
• Al-Bukhari and Muslim record from 'Aishah that during the last ten days of Ramadan, the messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wa salam) would wake his wives up during the night and then remain apart from them (that is, being busy in acts of worship).
• A version in Muslim states: "He would strive [to do acts of worship] during the last ten days of Ramadan more than he would at any other time."
• The prophet (salAllahu alayhi wa salam) would fasten his loin cloth (like rolling sleeves up; meaning he would abstain from approaching his wives even at nights) in these last 10 nights.

During this time we are constantly reminded to engage in nafl salaat comprising of long standing at night and increase our recitation of the Quran. But for some of us, this might be a time when we are going through our menstrual cycle (or post-natal bleeding).

Naturally, it is not easy to stay positive at times, especially when we see the world around us rushing to masajids for taraweeh prayers, indulging in ‘itikaaf and reciting the Quran. This might lead us to feeling deprived of the reward of these blessed nights and decrease our spirituality rather than increasing it.

In this article, I hope to highlight some practical ways in which you can make the best of last 10 nights of Ramadan while going through your menstrual cycle (or post-natal bleeding), without feeling “left out”.

First and foremost, realize that our menstrual cycle is part of Allah (swt)’s creation and something that is ordained by Him (swt).

Allah (swt) tells us in the Quran that He has created us in the best of molds (Surah at-Teen, verse 4). We are also told in the Quran that for everything Allah has "appointed a due proportion” (Surah at-Talaq, verse 2-3) and that "for every matter there is an appointed time given" (Surat ar-Rad, ayah 38).

Thus, to complain about it would be to question the Wisdom of Allah (swt), a’uoodubillah.

Some women think it is more virtuous to fast even though they are on their menses. In their ignorance they make this exception in the month of Ramadan. But rather, they need to realize that it is more virtuous for them to comply with the Command of Allah (swt). It is more rewarding for them to do as they are told by Allah (swt) i.e. not pray or fast while they are on their menses.

Also realize that there are many other ways of achieving spirituality while we are on our menses besides salaah, siyaam and itikaaf.

The prophet (salAllahu alayhi wa salam) is reported to have said that, "Dua is the very essence of 'ibadah.” The prophet (salAllahu alayhi wa salam) said, "Allah is in the assistance of [His] servant, as long as the servant aids his brother." He (salAllahu alayhi wa salam) also said, "Whoever feeds a fasting person will have a reward like that of the fasting person, without any reduction in his reward."

Listed below are few suggestions that a muslimah can do while she is not fasting due to menstruation or post-natal bleeding.

Wake up at Fajr time

• Repeat after the fajr adhan
• Make dua between adhan and iqaama
• Make dua for intercession of prophet (salAllahu alayhi wa salam) after the adhan
• Make fajr adhkar:

10 times: “la ilaha ilAllah wahdahu la shareekah la, lahul mulk wa lahul hamd wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in qadeer.”

Recite ayat al kursi

Recite surah Ikhlaas, surah Falaq, surah Nas – 3 times

Other adhkar found in Fortress of the Muslim

• Say the morning adkhar
• Read an English translation of half-juz of the Quran

Enjoining good: encourage your family to pray Salaat al Duha
The Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) called it the salah of the obedient. Reported by Imam Ahmad in his musnad: Abu Hurayrah (radhi Allahu ‘anhu) narrated that the prophet (salAllahu alayhi wa salam) would never miss the salat al-awabeen, which was Salat al Duha.

Duhr time

• Repeat after the duhr adhan
• Make dua between adhan and iqaama
• Make dua for intercession of prophet (salAllahu alayhi wa salam) after the adhan
• Engage in more dhikr and dua

Asr time

• Repeat after the asr adhan
• Make dua between adhan and iqaama
• Make dua for intercession of prophet (salAllahu alayhi wa salam) after the adhan
• Engage in more dhikr and dua
• Read an English translation of half-juz of the Quran

Maghrib time

• Repeat after the maghrib adhan
• Help people break their fast by passing out dates and water
• Make dua between adhan and iqaama
• Make dua for intercession of prophet (salAllahu alayhi wa salam) after the adhan
• Engage in more dhikr and dua

Isha time

• Repeat after the isha adhan
• Make dua between adhan and iqaama
• Make dua for intercession of prophet (salAllahu alayhi wa salam) after the adhan
• Engage in more dhikr and dua
• Have family circle time at home
• Have a male member of the house recite the Quran to the rest of the family followed by tafsir of those ayat

Before sleeping

• Make wudu (this even applies to women with menses)
• Recite surah Mulk
• Ask your spouse for forgiveness before sleeping
• Recite ayat al kursi
• Make dua and dhikr

Other acts that can be done

At the masjids

• Spread salaams at the masjid
• Sponsor iftaars at various masajids if possible
• Volunteer for masjid clean up afterwards
• Babysit during Taraweeh so that the mothers (and everyone else!) can pray with khushu' and concentration
• Make a CD of beautiful Quran recitation and duaas in mp3 and distribute it to people at the masjid

At home

• Have a qiyaam program for other sisters at your house – prepare iftar and suhoor for them
• Look for new converts, those who are newly practicing or people who have lost touch with the community and invite them over for iftar and eid
• Think of eid party ideas/gifts for family, spouse, children, neighbors

In your own time

• Memorize ayat of the Quran – use online resources
• Donate everyday – clothes, money
• Make tawbah and shukr
• Memorize Allah's names and their meanings
• Find out who is sick in your area or in the hospital and go visit them
• Always keep your tongue moist with the dhikr and remembrance of Allah (swt). Say subhanAllah, alhumdulilah, la ilaaha illalha, Allahu akbar and say salaams on the prophet (salAllahu alayhi wa salam) while cooking, cleaning, driving etc. and may Allah make these words heavy on your scaled on the day of judgment.

Some information has been taken from the following sources:
1. Closed Doors and Opened Eyes: Spirituality for the Non-Fasting by Shazia Ahmad
2. A Muslim Day in Ramadan - Morning till Evening; Ilminar by Sh. Riad Quarzazi

Read More

~* Ramadhan Advice *~

Ramadhan is almost upon us inshAllah ! ... We will not be having our regular sessions on Mondays but I wanted to share some resources that will help you prepare for this month inshAllah.

• Crash course on Fiqh of Fasting, 4 days, 1 hour each - starts TODAY: http://ilmsummit.blogspot.com
• Muhammad Alshareef Fasting and Furious Ilminar, download HERE
• Preparing for Ramadhan, many online lectures can be found HERE
• Keep a track of your everyday progress through Heart Wheel Journal. Download the journal here and the YouTube videos that go with the journal.

I pray that you have a successful ramadhan. Time is very precious in this month so I advice myself and all of you to keep reminding ourselves of this fact and make the most of it inshAllah !

Read More

~* Ramadhan Advice *~

Ramadhan is almost upon us inshAllah ! ... We will not be having our regular sessions on Mondays but I wanted to share some resources that will help you prepare for this month inshAllah.

• Crash course on Fiqh of Fasting, 4 days, 1 hour each - starts TODAY: http://ilmsummit.blogspot.com
• Muhammad Alshareef Fasting and Furious Ilminar, download HERE
• Preparing for Ramadhan, many online lectures can be found HERE
• Keep a track of your everyday progress through Heart Wheel Journal. Download the journal here and the YouTube videos that go with the journal.

I pray that you have a successful ramadhan. Time is very precious in this month so I advice myself and all of you to keep reminding ourselves of this fact and make the most of it inshAllah !

Read More