Tag Archive: motivation


Dear Brother’s and Sister’s,

I would like to share with you a hadith about Salat-al-Istikhara. This prayer is an extremely important volunteer prayer and it was a sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad(SAW) to do this when he needed Allah(SWT) to guide him towards an action. As an example, my friend used to do Istikhara when he was choosing between classes for college. He told me that whenever he did Istikhara for certain classes the end result was always blessed because he would find out later about the other class option and find that his class was much more suited for him. SubhanAllah.

Here is a hadith about how to go about his prayer:

Narrated Jabir bin ‘Abdullah : The Prophet (p.b.u.h) used to teach us the way of doing Istikhara (Istikharameans to ask Allah to guide one to the right sort of action concerning any job or a deed), in all matters as he taught us the Suras of the Quran. He said, “If anyone of you thinks of doing any job he should offer a two Rakat prayer other than the compulsory ones and say (after the prayer): — ‘Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi’ilmika, Wa astaqdiruka bi-qudratika, Wa as’alaka min fadlika al-‘azlm Fa-innaka taqdiru Wala aqdiru, Wa ta’lamu Wala a’lamu, Wa anta ‘allamu l-ghuyub. Allahumma, in kunta ta’lam anna hadha-l-amra Khairun li fi dini wa ma’ashi wa’aqibati amri (or ‘ajili amri wa’ajilihi) Faqdirhu wa yas-sirhu li thumma barik li Fihi, Wa in kunta ta’lamu anna hadha-lamra shar-run li fi dini wa ma’ashi wa’aqibati amri (or fi’ajili amri wa ajilihi) Fasrifhu anni was-rifni anhu. Waqdir li al-khaira haithu kana Thumma ardini bihi.’ (O Allah! I ask guidance from Your knowledge, And Power from Your Might and I ask for Your great blessings. You are capable and I am not. You know and I do not and You know the unseen. O Allah! If You know that this job is good for my religion and my subsistence and in my Hereafter–(or said: If it is better for my present and later needs)–Then You ordain it for me and make it easy for me to get, And then bless me in it, and if You know that this job is harmful to me In my religion and subsistence and in the Hereafter–(or said: If it is worse for my present and later needs)–Then keep it away from me and let me be away from it. And ordain for me whatever is good for me, And make me satisfied with it). The Prophet added that then the person should name (mention) his need.  (Sahih Bukhari).

 

We have to realize that there may be options in life that we may want but Allah(SWT) knows that the other option is better for us. So it is better to take council with Allah(SWT) then just take a random choice and mess up something.

As Allah(SWT) says, ” . . .But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allah Knows, while you know not.”( Surah Baqrah 2:216).

Also what should be mentioned is that the Fuqaha(Jurist) say that if the result is not clear it is recommended to do this up to 7 times. Do not just thing you do this once and it is like a magic 8 ball that tells you what to do. The point of this is to get inclination towards an option.

So insh’Allah we all take this knowledge and actually use it to our advantage. Insha’Allah Allah(SWT) will forgive us, guide us, protect us, and give us all Jannah-al-Firdaus.

 

Benefits of Surah Ta Ha

Dear Brother’s and Sister’s,

I want to write about the benefits of reciting and knowing Surah Ta Ha.

First of all just reciting and reading Quran has so much benefit in it.

The Prophet(sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said “Whoever reads a letter from the Book of Allah will receive a hasanah(good deed) from it, and the hasanah is multiplied by ten. I do not say that Alif-Laam-Meem is a letter , rather Alif is a letter, Laam is a letter, and Meem is a letter.” (At-Tirmidhi).

So with this being mentioned everyone should try to incorporate Quran in their lives and learn from it. Just try it at least once and slowly build upon it. The religion of Islam is powerful so don’t overdo it and burn yourself out, rather take a gradual process to do this.

So here is a hadith on the benefits of Surah Ta Ha:

Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) reported that Allah’s messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, A thousand years before creating the heavens and the Earth, Allah recited Ta-Ha and Ya-Sin, and when the angels heard the recitation they said, ‘Happy are the people to whom this comes down, happy are the minds which carry this, and happy are the tongues which utter this. [Darami transmitted it, at-Tirmidhi]

Abu Umamah (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, “The greatest name of Allah, which if He is called by it, He responds, is in three surahs: Al-Baqarah, ‘al ‘Imran and Ta-Ha.” Hisham ibn Ammar, the khateeb of Damascus, said: “In Al-Baqarah, it is ‘Allah! There is no god but He, the Ever-Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exist’ [Al-Baraqah, 2: 255]. In ‘al ‘Imran it is ‘Alif. Laam. Meem. Allah! There is no god but He, the Ever-Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists’ [‘al ‘Imran, 3: 1-2]. And in Ta-Ha it is ‘And (all) faces shall be humbled before (Allah), the Ever- Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists’ [Ta-Ha, 20: 111].” [narrated in a marfu’ report (one that is traced all the way back to the Prophet [salAllahu alayhi wasalam], Tafsir of Imam Ibn Kathir)]

As you can see that there are many benefits to reciting and knowing this Surah. So to protect ourselves and to prepare ourselves let us try to learn more about Islam and pick up the Quran more often. Below is a link for you to purchase your own Quran, and please explore our shopping page.

The Holy Qur’an: English Translation, Commentary and Notes with Full Arabic Text (English and Arabic Edition)

Dear Brother’s and Sister’s,

Due to our indoctrinated lifestyle of constant work and sleep with barely or no cathartic release it is extremely difficult to truly search and understand our spiritual side.  As a fellow human being I am as well guilty of not trying hard enough, as I would like to, to really find the truth in myself and the Divine.  However, Allah(SWT) ordains us to remember him. The beauty of this is that the mercy and love of Allah(SWT) is unfathomable to the so-called “comprehensive” and “extensive” mind of ordinary human beings.

In the Quran Allah(SWT) states, “O you who have believed, remember Allah with much remembrance. And exalt Him morning and afternoon. It is He who confers blessing upon you, and His angels [ask Him to do so] that He may bring you out from darknesses into the light. And ever is He, to the believers, Merciful. Their greeting the Day they meet Him will be, “Peace.” And He has prepared for them a noble reward.” ( Surah Al-Azhab, 33: 41-44).

Even the Prophet(SAW) has explained to us how much love and mercy Allah(SWT) has for us if we just think about him.

The hadith states: ““Allah says: ‘I am just as My slave thinks I am, (i.e. I am able to do for him what he thinks I can do for him) and I am with him if He remembers Me. If he remembers Me in himself, I too, remember him in Myself; and if he remembers Me in a group of people, I remember him in a group that is better than they; and if he comes one span nearer to Me, I go one cubit nearer to him; and if he comes one cubit nearer to Me, I go a distance of two outstretched arms nearer to him; and if he comes to Me walking, I go to him running.”[Sahih Bukhari]

Insha’Allah we will try everyday to keep Allah(SWT) in our hearts and thoughts so that we will be in the thoughts of Allah(SWT) to a degree unimaginable because we truly need guidance, protection, and forgiveness. Insha’Allah we will all reach Junnah-al-Firdaus.

Dear Brother’s and Sister’s,

I would like to share with you some narrations and even an ayat from the Quran to talk to you about the blessings, importance, and benefits of tahajjud prayer( the night prayer). Even though this is not a mandatory prayer, this is the prayer, after the fard(mandatory), as regarded with the highest standard. I know it is hard to wake up for tahajjud and I am guilty of myself for not trying to wake up for tahajjud as much as I should. This prayer is so special and so magnificent that once you read the Quran ayat and all the hadiths that Insha’Allah we will all try to incorporate this prayer in our lives.

Here is the Quran ayat about praying in the night:

“Establish prayer at the decline of the sun [from its meridian] until the darkness of the night and [also] the Qur’an of dawn. Indeed, the recitation of dawn is ever witnessed.And from [part of] the night, pray with it as additional [worship] for you; it is expected that your Lord will resurrect you to a praised station.” (Surah Isra, 17:78-79).

Here are some hadiths about tahajjud:

Abu Hurairah reports that the Messenger of Allah (saws) said: “Our Lord Descends to the lowest heaven during the last third of the night, inquiring: `Who will call on Me so that I may respond to him? Who is asking something of Me so I may give it to him? Who is asking for My forgiveness so I may forgive him?”[ Bukhari and Muslim.]

Abdullah ibn `Amr reports that the Prophet (saws) said: “The most beloved fast to Allah is the fast of (Prophet) Dawood (a.s.). And the most beloved prayer to Allah is the prayer of (Prophet) Dawood (a.s.). He (Prophet Dawood (a.s.)) would sleep half of the night and then pray during the next third of the night and then sleep during the last sixth of the night.And he would fast one day and not fast the next.”[ Bukhari and Muslim.]

Abu Hurayra (Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him, his family, and companions) said, “The best prayer after the obligatory prayers is the night prayer.”[Muslim]

Abd Allah ibn Salam (Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him, his family, and companions) said, “O people! Spread the salams, feed others, maintain family ties, and pray at night when others sleep and you will enter Heaven safely.”[Tirmidhi, Hakim]

Narrated Al-Mughira: The Prophet(SAW) used to stand (in the prayer) or pray till both his feet or legs swelled. He was asked why (he offered such an unbearable prayer) and he said, “should I not be a thankful slave.” [Bukahri]

Narrated Salim’s father: In the life-time of the Prophet(SAW) whosoever saw a dream would narrate it to Allah’s Apostle(SAW). I had a wish of seeing a dream to narrate it to Allah’s Apostle (p.b.u.h) I was a grown up boy and used to sleep in the Mosque in the life-time of the Prophet. I saw in the dream that two angels caught hold of me and took me to the Fire which was built all round like a built well and had two poles in it and the people in it were known to me. I started saying, “I seek refuge with Allah from the Fire.” Then I met another angel who told me not to be afraid. I narrated the dream to Hafsa who told it to Allah’s Apostle(SAW). The Prophet(SAW) said, “Abdullah is a good man. I wish he prayed Tahajjud.” After that ‘Abdullah (i.e. Salim’s father) used to sleep but a little at night.  [Bukhari]

Narrated ‘Aisha: Allah’s Apostle(SAW) used to offer eleven Rakat and that was his prayer. He used to prolong the prostration to such an extent that one could recite fifty verses (of the Quran) before he would lift his head. He used to pray two Rakat (Sunna) before the Fajr prayer and then used to lie down on his right side till the call-maker came and informed him about the prayer.  [Bukhari]

As you can see there are an enormous amount of blessings and the great importance to this prayer. Insha’Allah we all turn back to Allah(SWT) and ask for forgiveness, guidance, protection, and Junnah-al-Firdaus.

Dear Brother’s and Sister’s,

I would like to share with you the importance of one of the most fundamental concepts of Islam: Salah(Prayer).

Salah is extremely important when it comes to being a true Muslim. It provides a gateway towards spiritual enlightenment, contentedness, and peace.

In the Quran it states, “Guard strictly your (habit of) prayers, especially the Middle Prayer; and stand before Allah in a devout (frame of mind).”(Surah Baqarah, 2:238).

Allah(SWT) commands us to guard strictly to our prayers, and the Prophet(SAW) clarifies the reasoning behind it by stating how it will be the first thing that will be asked of us on the Day of Judgement.

Rasoolullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “The first thing the people will be accountable for on the Day of Judgment is prayer, Allah will say to His angels (even though he already knows) : “Look at my servants prayers. Were they complete or not?” If they were complete It will be written as complete. If they were not fully complete Allah will say: “See if my servant has voluntary prayers, If he has them Allah will say: Complete his obligatory prayers shortage with his voluntary prayers.” Then the rest of his deeds will be dealt with in the same manner.” (Reported by Imams Ahmad, Abu Dawood, An-Nisa’i, and Al-Hakim)

Insha’Allah we all turn back to Allah(SWT) and hold tight to our prayers and perform them with true conviction. Do not let this world trap you from something that is a great blessing to have. Insha’Allah we all ask for Allah(SWT) to guide us, protect us, forgive us, and grant us Junnah-al-Firdaus.

Dear Brother’s and Sister’s,

I would like to share with you a wonderful hadith that tells us how we can recite the entire Quran in less than 3 minutes. Some of you may say that is impossible, but it is not because our beloved Prophet(SAW) has narrated to us a method.

‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (radhiallahu anho) narrates that the Prophet Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said: The Surah Al-Zilzal is equal to the half of the Holy Qur’an, the Surah Al-Ikhlas is equal to the one third of the Holy Qur’an and the Surah Al-Kafiroon is equal to the one fourth of the Holy Qur’an. (Tirmidhi: 2894)

Now if we do the math: 1/2 + 1/3 + 1/4 = 1.0833333

Technically it is a little more than the entire Quran.

These three surahs are very short and can be easily recited in 3 minutes or less.

Also do not forget that there is extra blessings and reward in just reciting a letter of the Quran:

The Prophet(sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said “Whoever reads a letter from the Book of Allah will receive a hasanah(good deed) from it, and the hasanah is multiplied by ten. I do not say that Alif-Laam-Meem is a letter , rather Alif is a letter, Laam is a letter, and Meem is a letter.” (At-Tirmidhi).

So lets strive to read the entire Quran everyday and Insha’Allah we turn back to Allah(SWT) and ask for forgiveness, guidance, protection, and Junnh-al-Firdaus.

Dear Brother’s and Sister’s,

I would like to share with you some hadiths that talk about a sign of the Day of Judgement will be people constructing tall buildings. It is interesting enough that in the world we live in presently this sign has come to truth, as has other signs have.

The hadiths are:

Narrated Abu Hurairah (radi Allahu anhu): Allah’s Messenger (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said, “The Hour will not be established till …the people compete with one another in constructing high buildings…” [Sahih Bukhari]

Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) told us that “you shall see barefoot, naked, penniless shepherds vying in constructing high buildings.”(Sahih Muslim) This hadith describes people who become rich all of a sudden and then build not for need but only in competition.

As you can see when looking around the world is that every country has huge towering buildings now.

Insha’Allah we all come to our senses and expand our eyes and hearts to turn back to Allah(SWT). We all need to ask for guidance, protection, forgiveness, and to enter us into Junnah-al-Firdaus. The end times are coming sooner than we think and we need Allah(SWT) no matter what.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_and_structures_in_the_world

 

Benefits of Surah Al-Fatihah

Dear Brother’s and Sister’s,

I want to write about the benefits of reciting and knowing Surah Al-Fatihah.

First of all just reciting and reading quran has so much benefit in it.

The Prophet(sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said “Whoever reads a letter from the Book of Allah will receive a hasanah(good deed) from it, and the hasanah is multiplied by ten. I do not say that Alif-Laam-Meem is a letter , rather Alif is a letter, Laam is a letter, and Meem is a letter.” (At-Tirmidhi).

So with this being mentioned everyone should try to incorporate Quran in their lives and learn from it. Just try it at least once and slowly build upon it. The religion of Islam is powerful so don’t overdo it and burn yourself out, rather take a gradual process to do this.

So here are some hadiths on the benefits of Surah Al-Fatihah:

Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) reported that when Allah’s Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) asked Ubayy ibn Ka’ab (radiAllahu anhu), “Do you want me to teach you a Surah the like of which has not been revealed in the Torah, the Injeel, the Zabur, nor the Qur’an?”, and also asked what he recited in his prayers. He replied Umm-ul Qur’an (Surah Fatihah) the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) proclaimed, ‘By Him in whose dominion my soul is, nothing like it has been revealed in the Torah, the Gospel, the Psalms, or the Qur’an and it is seven of the oft-repeated verses in the Mighty Qur’an which I have been given’ [at-Tirmidhi, Al-Hakim says that this hadith is Sahih on the conditions established by Imam Muslim (Tafseer Mazhari 1:30)]

Abu Saeed al-Khudr’i narrates that while on a journey we halted at a place. A girl came to us and said: “The chief of this tribe has been stung by a scorpion and our men are not present, is there anybody amongst you who can recite something upon him to treat him?” Then, one of our men went along with her although we did not think that he knew any such treatment. However, our friend went to the chief and recited something upon him and the chief was cured. Thereupon, the chief gave him thirty sheep and gave us all milk to drink. When he returned, we asked our friend: “Did you know anything to recite upon him to cure him?” He said: “No, I only recited Umm al-Kitab (i.e. Surah al-Fatihah) upon him.” We said that do not do anything until we reach Madinah and ask the Prophet regarding this (practice and reward-whether the sheep were lawful or not for us). Upon reaching Madinah, we narrated this to the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam), whereupon he remarked: “How did he come to know that Al-Fatihah can be used as a cure? (Rasulullah said this in astonishment) Distribute your reward amongst yourselves and allot a share for me as well. [Sahih al-Bukhari]

Abu Sulaiman says that once a group of Companions were in an expedition (ghazwa) when they happened to come across an epileptic person, who was unconscious. One of the Companions recited Surah Al-Fatiha and blew in his ear. The epileptic person immediately cured. When Sayyidana Muhammad (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) was informed of this, he said: “It (Surah Al-Fatiha) is “The Mother of the Qur’an” (Umm al-Qur’an) and is a cure for every disease.” [This narration has been recorded by Ath-Thua’lbi from Abu Sulaiman, who narrated it from Muawiya bin Saleh (radhi Allah anhu), Tafseer Mazhari 1:31]

Anas (radhi Allah anhu) said: “When you recite Surah Al-Fatihah and Surah Al-Ikhlas upon lying on your bed, you will be safeguarded and should become fearless of every thing except death.”[Narrated by Baraa’, Tafseer Mazhari 1:31]

A man came to the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam), embraced Islam then returned to his people. On his way there were a group of men who had with them a mad man in iron manacles. The group said, that they heard that the travelers friend (i.e. Prophet Muhammad) had something good with him and so he exorcised the mad man with Surah al Fatiha, and he was cured. As reward they gave the traveler 100 sheep. He then returned to the Prophet and narrated the story. The Prophet asked if he did anything other than recite al-Fatiha, he said no. So the Prophet said that while these people make their livelihoods out of false incantations (i.e. worshipping false idols) the traveler earned the 100 sheep through something lawful; so he could keep the sheep.
[Abu Dawud 3398/a]

As you can see that there are many benefits to reciting and knowing this Surah. So to protect ourselves and to prepare ourselves let us try to learn more about Islam and pick up the Quran more often. Below is a link for you to purchase your own Quran and please check out our shopping page.

The Holy Qur’an: English Translation, Commentary and Notes with Full Arabic Text (English and Arabic Edition)

Benefits of Surah Ikhlas

Dear Brother’s and Sister’s,

I want to write about the benefits of reciting and knowing surah Ikhlas.

First of all just reciting and reading quran has so much benefit in it.

The Prophet(sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said “Whoever reads a letter from the Book of Allah will receive a hasanah(good deed) from it, and the hasanah is multiplied by ten. I do not say that Alif-Laam-Meem is a letter , rather Alif is a letter, Laam is a letter, and Meem is a letter.” (At-Tirmidhi).

So with this being mentioned everyone should try to incorporate Quran in their lives and learn from it. Just try it at least once and slowly build upon it. The religion of Islam is powerful so don’t overdo it and burn yourself out, rather take a gradual process to do this.

So here are some hadiths on the benefits of Surah Ikhlas:

Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said to his Companions: ‘Could any one of you not recite one third of the Qur’aan in one night?’ They found the idea too difficult, and said, ‘Who among us could do that, O Messenger of Allaah?’ He said, ‘Allaahu’l-ahad, al- samad [i.e., Soorat al-Ikhlaas] is one third of the Qur’aan.’” (Reported by al-Bukhaari, 4628)

‘Aa’ishah also reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) sent a man in charge of a small military campaign, and when he recited Qur’aan whilst leading his companions in prayer, he would always end with Qul huwa Allaahu ahad. When they came back, (his companions) mentioned that to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), who told them to ask him why he did that. So they asked him, and he said, “Because it is a description of the Most Merciful, and I love to recite it.” The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Tell him that Allaah loves him.” (Reported by al-Bukhaari, 6827)

Abu Hurayrah reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) heard a man reciting Qul huwa Allaahu ahad, and said, “It is his right.’ They asked, ‘O Messenger of Allaah, what is his right?’ He said, ‘Paradise is his right.’ (Reported by Imaam Ahmad, 7669)

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever recites Qul huwa Allaahu ahad ten times, Allaah will build for him a house in Paradise.” (Saheeh al-Jaami’ al-Sagheer, 6472).

As you can see that there are many benefits to reciting and knowing this surah. So to protect ourselves and to prepare ourselves let us try to learn more about Islam and pick up the Quran more often. Below is a link for you to purchase your own Quran and please check out our shopping page.

The Holy Qur’an: English Translation, Commentary and Notes with Full Arabic Text (English and Arabic Edition)

Dear Brother’s and Sister’s,

I would like to say that if you have done terrible things in your life that you should be patient and turn to Allah(SWT) because it is unfathomable how merciful Allah(SWT) is.  Below are two hadiths that explain the mercy of Allah(SWT).

Abu Huraira (radi allahu anhu) reported: I heard Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) as saying: Allah created mercy in one hundred parts and He retained with Him ninety-nine parts, and He has sent down upon the earth one part, and it is because of this one part that there is mutual love among the creation so much so that the animal lifts up its hoof from its young, one, fearing that it might harm it.  (Muslim)

Narrated Abu Said Al-Khudri (radi allahu anhu): The Prophet(sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said, “Amongst the men of Bani Israel there was a man who had murdered ninety-nine persons. Then he set out asking (whether his repentance could be accepted or not). He came upon a monk and asked him if his repentance could be accepted. The monk replied in the negative and so the man killed him. He kept on asking till a man advised to go to such and such village.(So he left for it) but death overtook him on the way. While dying, he turned his chest towards that village (where he had hoped his repentance would be accepted), and so the angels of mercy and the angels of punishment quarreled amongst themselves regarding him. Allah ordered the village (towards which he was going) to come closer to him, and ordered the village (whence he had come), to go far away, and then He ordered the angels to measure the distances between his body and the two villages. So he was found to be one span closer to the village (he was going to). So he was forgiven.” (Bukari)

Now imagine how merciful and forgiving Allah(SWT) is. A man killed 100 people and he pushed away and brought closer certain towns to fill the requirements for this man to be forgiving. Allah(SWT) wants to forgive mankind. He wants to send mankind to paradise. That’s why he divided his mercy into 100 parts, in which he held 99 for himself to be merciful for mankind. This why as we must always turn back to Allah(SWT) for repentance, forgiveness, guidance, and strength.

Quran: “Say, “O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah . Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.”” (Surah Az-Zumar, 39:53).