“If she didn’t like it, she could have talked to me about it! Why go complain to someone else about something I said to her???”
Yes, I was angry sometime ago because of what happened. Later on when I reflected upon myself, I felt I had lost all my manners back then. It made me sad…
And yet again the heart didn’t tremble while reading the Quran.
Still the thoughts are running during the prayer.
Still the eye is dry after a dua. Not a single drop. Not even today.
Ever experienced this?
Many Muslims complain how they cant concentrate and have khusho in prayer, how the description of Allah’s anger doesn’t have an effect on them anymore, how they stand numb while everyone is crying at the mention of Paradise.
These are some of the symptoms of the hard heart (قسوة القلب).
The scholars have mentioned the reasons of a hard heart:
1. Turning away from the rememberance of Allah swt.
He SWT says:
[ومن أعرض عن ذكري فإن له معيشة ضنكا]
And whoever turns away from My remembrance – indeed, he will have a depressed life [20:124]
2. Neglecting the obligatory commands ( Prayer, Fasting etc)
Allah SWT says:
[ فبما نقضهم ميثاقهم لعناهم وجعلنا قلوبهم قاسية]
So for their breaking of the covenant We cursed them and made their hearts hard.[5:13]
3. Consuming Haram food/drink.
4. Committing sins.
Allah SWT says:
[كلا بل ران على قلوبهم ما كانوا يكسبون]
No! Rather, the stain has covered their hearts of that which they were earning. [83:14]
5. Publicizing sins openly.
The Prophet PBUH have said:
“كل أمتي معافًى إلا المجاهرين، وإن من المجاهرة أن يعمل الرجل بالليل عملاً، ثم يصبح وقد ستره الله عليه فيقول: يا فلان عملت البارحة كذا وكذا، وقد بات يستره ربه، ويصبح يكشف ستر الله عنه” ((متفق عليه)) .
“Every one of my followers will be forgiven except those who expose (openly) their wrongdoings. An example of this is that of a man who commits a sin at night which Allah has covered for him, and in the morning, he would say (to people): “I committed such and such sin last night,’ while Allah had kept it a secret. During the night Allah has covered it up but in the morning he tears up the cover provided by Allah Himself.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
6. Being satisfied with ignorance and wrong practices and leaving the understanding of Islam.
Allah swt says:
[ إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى اللَّهَ مِنْ عِبَاده الْعُلَمَاءُ]
Only those fear Allah , from among His servants, who have knowledge.[35:28]
7. Following one’s desires and denying the truth or following it.
Allah SWT says:
[فلما زاغوا أزاغ الله قلوبهم]
And when they deviated, Allah caused their hearts to deviate
8. Pride and bad behavior.
The Prophet PBUH said:
ألا أخبركم بأهل النار؟: كل عتل جواظ مستكبر” ((متفق عليه)).
“Shall I not inform you about the inmates of Hell? It is every violent, impertinent and proud person.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
9. Useless talk and actions and excess laughter.
The Prophet PBUH have said:
أَقِلَّ الضَّحِكَ، فَإِنَّ كَثْرَةَ الضَّحِكِ تُمِيتُ الْقَلْبَ.
“Laugh little. Much laughter kills the heart.”
The scholars have mentioned the cure of a heart hard:
1. Increasing in the remembrance of Allah SWT.
Allah SWT says:
[ ألا بذكر الله تطمئن القلوب]
Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allah hearts are assured.” [13:28]
2. Ask Allah SWT for guidance.
The Prophet PBUH said:
[ قُلِ اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِنِي وَسَدِّدْنِي]
Say,” O Allah, direct me to the right path and make me adhere to the straight path”
3. Regularity on the obligations.
Allah SWT says:
[إن الصلاة تنهى عن الفحشاء والمنكر ولذكر الله أكبر والله يعلم ما تصنعون]
Indeed, prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing, and the remembrance of Allah is greater. And Allah knows that which you do.
4. Eating and earning from Halal sources.
5. Increasing in volunteer acts of worships.
Allah SWT has said in Hadith Qudsi:
[ما يزال عبدي يتقرب إلي بالنوافل حتى أحبه]
My slave keeps on coming closer to Me through performing Nawafil (prayer or doing extra deeds besides what is obligatory) till I love him.
6. Remembering death more often.
7. Gaining knowledge.
8. Increasing in repentance and not justifying the sin.
9. Reading about the lives of the Prophets and the companions.
May Allah SWT guide us and fill our hearts with iman. Ameen.
Abeer Nouman.
The Prophet PBUH didn’t use cars in his time, then why don’t we use camels also? There were no microphones in his time, it means giving athan through microphone is also bidah then!
Sounds familiar?
Yep! That’s exactly the response I’ve heard a zillion times when I inform people about some of the most common practices are actually bi’dah since the Prophet PBUH didn’t do them.
In sha Allah the topic of bi’dah would be addressed in a separate post soon but for now I would like to reply to all those who say this:
The knowledge given to man is divided into 2 parts: Acquired Knowledge and Revealed Knowledge.
The acquired knowledge is the knowledge of the Physical World which is acquired through our 5 senses.
When we see, hear, smell, taste or touch the new information is passed to our brain which process it, generates an output and stores it. As the new pieces of information further increases, it is stored too and the brain reconciles it with the previous information stored thus generating new outputs further. Slowly and gradually this information increases and thats how man is continuously inventing and discovering new things.
This knowledge is completely different from the Revealed knowledge.
This acquired knowledge is actually related to the knowledge which was given to Adam (AS) which Allah swt mentions in Surah Baqarah:
وَعَلَّمَ آدَمَ الْأَسْمَاءَ كُلَّهَا
And He taught Adam the names – all of them. [2:31]
You know how the mango seed has actually the potential mango tree in it, once its in the soil and receives water, slowly a few leaves starts to grow then eventually in the span of 2-3 years it has grown into a mango tree, the same way the scholars have a consensus (ijma) that Adam AS was taught the potential knowledge of everything and now its being exfoliated and growing rapidly and we cant say how far this knowledge will go. Its like a self grown plant which is increasing as time is passing.
This is the Human Knowledge of the Physical World.
We are actually urged to learn and excel in the field of Technology, Human Sciences, Astronomy, Mathematics etc to use it in the service of our deen.
As for the Revealed Knowledge, it is the guidance which Allah SWT has sent. Allah SWT said to Adam AS when he and Hawa AS were sent to the Earth:
فَإِمَّا يَأْتِيَنَّكُم مِّنِّي هُدًى
And when guidance comes to you from Me.[2:38]
Previously Allah swt had sent other Holy books to the previous nations, there were also for guidance as Allah swt says:
إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَا التَّوْرَاةَ فِيهَا هُدًى وَنُورٌ
Indeed, We sent down the Torah, in which was guidance and light.
But gradually as time flew, nations came, prophets were sent, this guidance was completed in the Holy Quran.
To sum it up, the practices of Islam has nothing to do with technology or any other worldly advancement.
In fact, we are urged to follow and be up-to-date with the latest and advanced discoveries in the field of the Physical Science and as for the Religious practices we are given the complete guidance in the Book of Allah and the teachings of His beloved Prophet PBUH.
* Taken from the works of Dr Israr Ahmed ( May Allah have mercy on him)
Abeer Nouman.
While eating Biryani for lunch yesterday, how many of us felt weird. Although, Allah has forbidden us to fast on the day of Eid, after twenty nine long, beautiful days of keeping away from food from dawn to dusk, having lunch yesterday did feel weird, didn’t it? Continue reading
The month of Ramadan is at its end. Everybody must be looking forward to Eid-ul-Fitr. It is a celebration for Muslims from all over the world who have fasted and obeyed Allah (SWT) and the time when the whole Muslim community comes together to share each other’s joy. However, no matter what the occasion, Muslims are required to help and lessen the burden of those suffering.
One of the most beautiful ayas in the Quran is in Surah Zumar Verse 53 where Allah swt says:
( قل ياعبادي الذين أسرفوا على أنفسهم لا تقنطوا من رحمة الله إن الله يغفر الذنوب جميعا إنه هو الغفور الرحيم )
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.” (39:53)
This Ayah is a call to all sinners, be they disbelievers or others, to repent and turn to Allah. This Ayah tells us that Allah swt will forgive all the sins of those who repent to Him and turn back to Him, no matter what or how many his sins are, even if they are like the foam of the sea.
(Tafseer Ibn Kathir)
We’ve all sinned, we all made mistakes, but never think Allah wont accept you, that He wont accept your repentence, that He’s left you.
Allah swt is the Most Forgiving, He loves when His servent comes to Him, repents and ask Him for His Mercy and Forgiveness.
This beautiful month of Ramadan is coming to an end, the gates of Paradise are still open, He is ready to forgive and bless. Turn to Him, for its never to late to return.
He has always been there and always will be there, its you who have to take the first step!
No matter how big is your sin is.
Ask Allah swt sincerely to forgive all your sins.
First and last.
Big or small.
The one who are aware of the one who arent aware of.
The one you did publicly and the one you did while no one but He was watching you.
Beg in the last part of the night. Cry your heart out. No one needs to know, its just between you and the Lord of the Worlds.
You dont know when is your last moment in this Earth, please your Lord before its too late.
Allah سبحان تعالى says:
( وأنيبوا إلى ربكم وأسلموا له من قبل أن يأتيكم العذاب ثم لا تنصرون)
And return [in repentance] to your Lord and submit to Him before the
punishment comes upon you; then you will not be helped. (39:54)
The scholars have said there are 3 conditions of repentence:
1- You should give up the sin.
2- You should regret having done it.
3- You should resolve never to go back to it.
May Allah سبحان تعالى forgive all our sins, bless us with His countless Mercy in this world and the next. Ameen
Abeer Nouman.
Freedom, ignorance, Islam… are three highly interrelated elements in the present Muslim society. I would like to bring this relation in the lime light before I get to the main topic.
Islam means submission, submitting your will to the Creator and living by His commandments in this life to lead a prosperous life in the hereafter. This leads to the fact that a Muslim lives like a slave in this world, a slave of Allah سبحانه وتعالى . His life is confined by the rules set down by Islam. Following the rules set down by Islam restores happiness, justice, moral and ethical values of our society. With time gaining the knowledge of world has taken the shape of a primary obligation upon Muslims which is rather good but what was supposed to be learned has been kept aside and forgotten. 95% Muslims in the world don’t even understand the Fiqh of prayer, their greatest identification! This has led to an ignorant society of Muslims who believe in the freedom of speech and freedom of choice.
Half of it has already passed.
As I was lying under the night sky with a couple of friends, I spotted the moon. I was saddened. It was already the 17th night of the blessed month, and so was the time nearing for the month to bid goodbye.
The Hidden Prestige 