Beautiful Reminders: Keeping Bedroom Secrets

In an authentic hadith, the Prophet Muhammad, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, said: 

"Verily, among the worst people before Allah on the day of Qiyama is a man who approaches his wife sexually and she responds and the he spreads her secrets." --related by Muslim. 

In another strong hadith, Asma bint Yazid narrates that she was once in the presence of the Prophet Muhammad, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, with both men and women the sitting and the Prophet said: 

"Perhaps a man might discuss what he does with his wife, or perhaps a woman might inform someone what she did with her husband?" The people were silent. Then Asma said: "O, Yes! O Messenger of Allah, verily both the women and men do that." Then the Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, said: "Do not do that. It is like a male Shaitaan who meets a female Shaitaan along the way, and has sex with her while the people look on!"--related by Ahmad

Beautiful Reminders: The Deeds That Last

It's related in the Sahih of Bukhari that the Prophet Muhammad, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, was reported to have said: 

"When a man dies, his deeds come to an end but three: a recurring charity, a beneficial knowledge, and a pious child who supplicates to Allah for him." 

Beautiful Reminders: Five Before Five

In a sahih hadith recorded by Al-Hakim, the Prophet Muhammad, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, was reported to have said: 

“Take advantage of five before five: your youth before your old age, your health before your illness, your riches before your poverty, your leisure before your work, and your life before your death.”

Beautiful Reminders: The Best of You

In a Sahih Hadith related by Tirmidhi, The Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, was reported to have said: 

"The best of you are those who are best to their families. And I am the best of you to my family." 

Beautiful Reminders: Each of You is a Shepherd

In an authentic hadith narrated in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, The Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, was reported to have said:  

"Each of you is a shepherd and each of you is responsible for his flock. The leader is a shepherd of his people and is responsible for his flock; a man is the shepherd of his family and is responsible for his flock; a woman is the shepherd in the house of her husband and is responsible for her flock; a servant is the shepherd of his master's wealth and is responsible for it. Each of you is a shepherd and is responsible for his flock." 

Beautiful Reminders: Three Veils of Darkness

Allah, subhana wa ta ala, says in the Qur'an (translation):
"He created you from a single person (Adam); then made from him his wife (Eve). And He has sent down for you of cattle eight pairs (of the sheep, two, male and female; of the goats, two, male and female; of the oxen, two, male and female; and of the camels, two, male and female). He creates you in the wombs of your mothers, creation after creation (in stages) in three veils of darkness, such is Allah your Lord. His is the kingdom, La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He). How then are you turned away?" 
--Surah Az-Zumar, 39: 6

The Three Veils of Darkness
In the tafsir of Ibn Kathir, it's stated that Ibn Abbas, radiAllahu anhu, as well as others, held that the three veils of darkness refer to the darkness of the mother's belly, the darkness of her womb, and the darkness of her placenta. 

Modern science has confirmed these three veils and also shows us that each one contains three layers of its own, mashaAllah. The abdominal wall (the belly) is composed of the external oblique, the internal oblique, and the transverse abdominus muscles. The three layers of the womb are the epimetrium, the myometrium, and the endometrium. The three layers of the placenta are the amnion (the innermost layer), the allantois (the middle layer), and the chorion (the outermost layer). --miraclesofthequran.com

In addition, life in utero happens in three distinct stages: the pre-embryonic stage (when cells are dividing and settling themselves into the uterus), the embryonic stage (when the settled cells become the basic organs and systems of the baby's body), and the foetal stage (when the foetus begins to resemble a human until it is born). 

"La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He). How then are you turned away?" 

Beautiful Reminders: Women Are Like a Rib

In an authentic hadith, the Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, advised the men: 
"He who believes in Allah and the Hereafter, if he witnesses any matter should talk in good terms about it or remain quiet. Act kindly towards women, for women was created from a rib, and the most crooked part of the rib is its top. If you attempt to straighten it, you will break it, and if you leave it, its crookedness will remain there. So act kindly towards women." 

In another narration:
"Woman is like a rib. When you attempt to straighten it, you would break it. And if you leave her alone you would benefit by her, and crookedness will remain in her." 

And in another narration: 
"Woman has been created from a rib and will in no way be straightened for you; so if you wish to benefit by her, benefit by her while crookedness remains in her. And if you attempt to straighten her, you will break her, and breaking her is divorcing her." 

--All three hadiths are related by Abu Hurayrah and recorded in the collection of Sahih Muslim. 

Beautiful Reminders: Prayer as Purification

Abu Hurayrah, radiAllahu anhu, narrated:

"I heard the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, say: 'What would you think if there were a river running by the door of any one of you, and he bathed in it five times every day, would any trace of dirt be left on him?' And the people said: 'There would be no trace of dirt on him.' He, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, said: 'This is like the five daily prayers, through which Allah, subhana wa ta ala, erases sins.'" 

--Related in Sahih Bukhari

Beautiful Reminders: The Greatest Joy

In a Sahih Hadith recorded by Muslim, the Prophet Muhammad, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, was reported to have said (translation): 

"This world is all temporary conveniences, and the greatest joy in this life is a righteous wife." 

Beautiful Reminders: Inside the Womb

Allah, subhana wa ta ala, says in the Qur'an, the translation of which is: 

"And indeed We created man (Adam) out of an extract of clay. Thereafter We made him (his offspring) as a Nutfah (mixed drops of male and female discharge) in a safe lodging (the mother's womb). Then We made the Nutfah into a clot, then We made the clot into a little lump of flesh, then We made out of that little lump of flesh bones, then We clothed the bones with flesh, and then We brought it forth as another creation. So Blessed is Allah, the Best of Creators. After that, you will surely die. Then, surely you will be resurrected on the Day of Resurrection." 

--Surah Al-Mu'minun, Ayahs 12-16

Beautiful Reminders: Being Good to Our Parents

If there is anything that parenthood teaches us, it’s how to have love and respect towards our own parents for all that they went through in raising us.

Allah, subhana wa ta ala, says in the Qur’an: “And We have enjoined on man to be dutiful and kind to his parents. His mother bears him with hardship and she brings him forth with hardship, and the bearing of him, and the weaning of him is thirty months, till when he attains full strength and reaches forty years, he says: "My Lord! Grant me the power and ability that I may be grateful for Your Favour which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents, and that I may do righteous good deeds, such as please You, and make my off-spring good. Truly, I have turned to You in repentance, and truly, I am one of the Muslims (submitting to Your Will)." –Suratal Ahqaf, 46:15

According to Ibn Kathir in his tafsir, this duty that Allah, subahna wa ta ala, commands us to have towards our parents includes treating them well, having compassion towards them, and obeying them (so long as what they’re asking for is not haram) regardless of whether or not they are Muslim.

Upholding this duty is so important that throughout the Qur’an, Allah, subhana wa ta ala, mentions it right after obeying Him and the Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. Even the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, spoke of good conduct towards our parents as being the next best thing we can do after praying our daily prayers to Allah!

In a hadith found in saheeh Bukhari, a man once asked the Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, “Which action is the most beloved to Allah?” The Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, answered: “Prayer at its correct time.” The man then asked: “Then which action?” The Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam answered: “Birr (good treatment, kindness) towards the parents.” The man said: “Then which?” The Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, answered: “Jihad in the way of Allah.”

In his book Sharh ul-'Aqeedat-il-Waasi tiyyah, Shaykh Uthaymeen says regarding good conduct towards our parents:

“When we reflect upon the state of people today, we find that many of them do not treat their parents kindly rather they openly disobey them and treat them badly. You would find someone being good to his friends and not tiring of sitting with them. However, if he were to sit with his father or mother for just an hour in the day, you would find him restless as though he were on hot coals. So this is not from kind treatment. Rather the one who shows kindness is one who opens his heart to his mother and father and serves them and is devoted to them and who has the utmost eagerness to please them with everything that he is able to do.

And as it is commonly said, "Al-Birr is an investment". For indeed if someone is good [to his parents], then he will receive a great reward in the next life, and he will even be repaid for it in this life. So good or bad treatment of one's parents is like, as is commonly said, "an investment", or a loan. If you had been good to your parents, then your children will be good to you, and if you had been disobedient to your parents, then your children will be disobedient to you.”

So how can we show birr to our parents?

1. Know that good conduct is for BOTH our parents, not just one.  

From Abu Hurayra who said, "It was said, 'O Messenger of Allaah (Peace be upon him), who is most deserving of my birr?' He replied, 'your mother'. He said, 'then who?' He replied, 'your mother.' He said, 'then who?' He said, 'your mother.' He said, 'then who?' He replied, 'your father'" –Sahih Bukhari

2. Speak gentle words to them.

Taysala bin Mayyaas said, "I was with the Najadaat (a group of the Hururiyyah) and I committed a sin which I regarded to be Major, so I mentioned this to Ibn Umar. He said, 'what sin is it?' I said, 'this and this.' He said, 'this is not from the Major sins, the major sins are nine: "Associating partners with Allaah, killing a soul, fleeing from the advancing army, to accuse a chaste woman, Eating Ribaa, Eating the property of an orphan, to apostasize in the mosque, the one who ridicules/derides others, and making the parents cry due to disobedience to them."

Ibn Umar said to me, 'Do you fear the fire and wish to enter the Paradise?' I said, 'of course, by Allaah!' He said, 'are your parents alive?' I said, 'I have a mother.' He said, 'then by Allaah! If you were to speak gently to her and feed her, you would certainly enter paradise, as long as you stay away from the Major sins.'" –Saheeh Bukhari

3. Try to repay them for all they’ve done.

From Abdullaah bin Umar who said, " A man came to the Prophet (Peace be upon him) to give him the bay'ah for hijrah, and he left his parents crying. So the Prophet said, 'return to your parents and make them laugh as you have made them cry'" –Saheeh Bukhari

From Abu Hurayra from the Prophet (Peace be upon him) that he said, "The son can never repay his parent. Except that he finds him a slave, then buys him and sets him free." --Saheeh Bukhari

4. Serve and care for them as they get old.

From Abu Hurayra, from the Prophet (Peace be upon him) that he said, "May he be disgraced and humiliated, may he be disgraced and humiliated, may he be disgraced and humiliated." They said, "who O Messenger of Allaah?" He said, "the one whose parents attain old age, or one of them, and he enters Hellfire (by not serving them)." –Sahih Bukhari

5. Show them respect and pray for them.

“And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him. And that you be dutiful to your parents. If one of them or both of them attain old age in your life, say not to them a word of disrespect, nor shout at them but address them in terms of honor. And lower unto them the wing of submission and humility through mercy, and say: ‘My Lord! Bestow on them Your Mercy as they did bring me up when I was young.’” –Surah Al-Isra, 23-24. 

Drawing Closer to Allah During Pregnancy

We all want the best for our children. But as Muslims, providing the best isn’t limited to financial, physical or emotional provisions; it includes provisions for the soul as well. And what better way to spiritually provide the best for our children than by our own example? And what better time to improve upon our relationship with Allah than during the nine long months of pregnancy?

In her book, Heaven Under Your Feet: Pregnancy for Muslim Women, Umm Hasan bint Salim writes, “As mothers-to-be we become acutely aware of how our children will learn from us as soon as they meet us. This may not be how we have thought about it, but this is the time for us to embark on a journey of self-rectification as essential preparation for the grave responsibility [of parenting] awaiting us.”

Because our children will watch and learn from everything that we do, improving upon ourselves as servants of Allah is a vital part of laying the foundations for raising righteous children, inshaAllah. If we prepare and do our job well, Allah, subhana wa ta ala, has promised us rewards in the akhira.

Allah says in Surah at-Toor (translation), “And those who believe and whose offspring follow them in Faith – to them We shall join their offspring, and We shall not decrease the reward of their deeds in the least.” –Qur’an: At-Toor, ayah 21

MashaAllah, pregnancy is an ideal time for us to focus inwards. Below are a few ways that we can work to improve ourselves and our closeness to Allah during this time:

1. Purify Our Intention

The Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, said (translation), “The reward of deeds depends upon their intentions and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended.” –Bukhari

Umm Hasan writes, “Every minute of every day with our babies can hold potential rewards for us if we have the best of intentions. If our intention to have babies is one that Allah, subhana wa ta ala, is pleased with then inshaAllah our pregnancy, our babies, and our lives with them, will bear fruit upon fruit.” –Heaven Under Your Feet, Part 1

2. Be Thankful to Allah

Although we may not like to think of it, pregnancy and childbearing is not something guaranteed for everyone.

Allah, subhana wa ta ala, has said in Surah Ash-Shura, ayahs 49-50 (translation), “He gives to whom He wills females, and He gives to whom He wills males. Or He couples them as males and females, and he renders whom He wills childless. Indeed He is Knowing and Capable.”

The simple fact that Allah, subhana wa ta ala, has allowed some of us to be pregnant while many others are not able, is a gift and a blessing. And when we show gratitude to Allah for the blessings he gives us, He promises to give us even more, mashaAllah! 

Allah tells us in Surah Ibrahim, ayah 7 (translation), “And remember when your Lord made [His promise] known: If you are grateful to Me, I shall most certainly give you more and more, but if you show ingratitude, truly My punishment is severe.”

One way of showing our gratitude to Allah is to perform a prostration of thankfulness, known in Arabic as Sujood ush-Shukr.

It’s narrated in Abu Dawood that whenever something would befall the Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, that made him happy, he would fall to the ground in prostration to give thanks to Allah. –Also reported by Ibn Majah and at-Tirmidhi

A second way to show gratitude to Allah is to constantly say “Alhamdulilah” (Praise be to Allah).

In an authentic hadith found in Ibn As-Sunni, when something happened that pleased the Prophet, he would say, ‘Alhamdulilaahi lathe bini’matihi tatimmus-saalihaat’ (Praise is to Allah Who by His blessings all good things are perfected). And if something happened that displeased him, he would say, ‘Alhamdulilaahi ‘alaa kulli haal’ (Praise is to Allah in all circumstances).” –taken from Fortress of a Muslim: Invocations from the Qur’an and Sunnah

A third way to show thankfulness to Allah is show thankfulness to the people.

In a hadith narrated in Abu Dawood, the Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, said (translation), “Those who do not thank people do not thank Allah.”

3. Improve Our Salah

MashaAllah, pregnancy is the only time that women are able to pray non-stop which, by the Mercy of Allah, leaves us with ample time to perfect whatever may be lacking in our prayers. Over and over again we see both the Qur’an and hadith emphasize the importance of praying all of our prayers and praying them with khushoo’.

In Surah Al Baqarah (2:238) Allah says (translation), “Guard strictly your prayers, especially the Middle prayer; and stand before Allah in a devout frame of mind (i.e. with khushoo’).”

The prophet, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, even warned us what could happen if we don’t do this.

In a hadith recorded by Abu Dawood, the Prophet said, “A slave may pray and have nothing recorded for it except a tenth of it, or a ninth, or an eighth, or a seventh, or a sixth, or a fifth, or a quarter, or a third, or a half.”

4. Make Du’a

No matter how much we prepare and plan the best for our children, our efforts can never be successful without the help and mercy of Allah, subhanAllah. The importance of du’a in the life of a Muslim can never be overemphasized. And when we reach those points of our pregnancy where we feel like we’re facing an uphill battle that no one in the world could possibly understand, du’a can bring us closer to the One who is All-Knowing, All-Hearing, and Most Merciful.

In Surah Al Baqarah, ayah 186, Allah says (translation), “And when my slave asks you concerning Me, then answer I am indeed near. I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me.”

One of the best times for us to make du’a and ask of Allah is while we are in sujood.

In Saheeh Muslim, it’s recorded that the Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, said, “The closest that the slave can be to his Lord is when he is prostrating, so increase your du’a [at that time].”

In another hadith, the Prophet said, “As for sujood, strive hard to make du’a in it, for it is bound to be answered for you.” –Sahih Muslim

Some of the du’as we can make include asking Allah for healthy pregnancies and deliveries, righteous children, patience and gratitude for His endless favors, courage and strength to face the large task of motherhood ahead of us, protection from Shaytan, and purification from any sin we commit.

Fortress of a Muslim is an excellent book for specific du’as from the Qur’an and Sunnah.

5. Exercise Patience

With pregnancy comes enormous change, both physically and emotionally. It’s beneficial not only to our own health but to our family’s sanity as well that we try to take things easy and do our best to maintain our composure even under the most stressful of times.

Allah spoke of having patience in the Qur’an when he said (translation), “By Time! Surely the human being is at loss. Except for those who have faith and do righteous deeds and exhort one another to truth and exhort one another to patience,” –Surah Al Asr, ayahs 1-3

To help us be patient, let us remember that every ounce of discomfort we face during pregnancy, or at any other time for that matter, is actually to our benefit because it is designed to help purify our souls.

In Sahih Bukhari it’s recorded that the Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said (translation), “No fatigue, nor disease, nor sorrow, nor sadness, nor hurt, nor distress befalls a Muslim, even if it were the prick he receives from a thorn, but that Allah expiates some of his sins for that.”  

An important part of being able to have patience with what Allah decrees for us is to know and trust that whatever happens to us is from Allah, therefore everything that happens is exactly as it should be.

In Sahih Muslim, it’s recorded that the Prophet said (translation), “The strong believer is better and more beloved to Allah than the weak believer, and both are good. Pay attention to that which could benefit you, seek the help of Allah and do not feel incapacitated. If anything befalls you, do not say, ‘If only I had done such-and-such, such a thing would have happened.’ Say instead, ‘It is the decree of Allah, and what He wills, He does,’ for saying ‘if only…’ opens the way for Shaytan.”

In Surah Al Baqarah, ayahs 155-157, Allah says (translation), “And give good news to the patient, who, when struck with disaster say, ‘Indeed we belong to Allah and to Him we will return.’ Upon them be blessings from their Lord, and Mercy, and they are the rightly guided.” 

Beautiful Reminders: Paradise by Any Gate You Wish

The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him said: "When a woman observes the five times of prayer, fasts during Ramadan, preserves her chastity, and obeys her husband, she may enter by any of the gates of Paradise that she wishes." --Narrated by Anas ibn Malik, related in Tirmidhi

Eid Mubarak!

Ramadan Mubarak!

Beautiful Reminder: Raising Daughters in Islam

Although widely spread, it's a false notion that a Muslim mother's value is in bearing and raising boys. This notion is not from Islam, but is rooted in pre-Islamic cultural practices where female children were seen as a disgrace and buried alive. In fact, Allah, the Most High, condemns such ignorant practices in the Qur'an.

Allah says in Surah An-Nahl, verses 58-59: "And when one of them is given the news of (the birth of) a female (daughter), his face becomes dark while he is filled with inward grief! He hides himself from the people because of the bad news he has received. Shall he keep her with dishonor or bury her (alive) in the ground? Certainly, evil is their decision!"

For Muslim parents, raising daughters is a way to Paradise.

The Prophet Muhammad, sallallahu 'ayahi wa sallam, said: "Whoever has three daughters whom he provides shelter for, supports and marries off, Paradise becomes absolutely binding for him." It was said, 'What if they are two (daughters)?' The Prophet said, "Even if it's two." (Ahmad, Bukhari)

In Muslim and Tirmidhee, it's reported that the Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, said: "Whoever supports (i.e. raises) two girls until they reach adolescence (and get married), he will come on the Day of Judgment (like this) - him and I," and he interlaced his fingers.

The Prophet Muhammad, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said, was also reported to have said: "Whoever has a female (daughter) and doesn't bury her alive nor scorn her nor give preference to his male child over her, Allah will admit him to Paradise." (Abu Dawood)

In the book, Raising Children in Light of the Qur'an and Sunnah, the story is told of an Arab man who went by the kunya Abu Hamzah Ad-Dubbee. The man married and hoped his wife would give birth to a boy. When she delivered a girl, the man deserted her tent out of anger and went to live in another place. One day he passed by her tent and overheard his wife playing with their daughter, saying:

"Why doesn't Abu Hamzah come to us? He stays in the house next door to us, angry that we don't deliver sons for him. By Allah, this is not in our hands. Rather, we only accept what is given to us. We, much like the earth, are farmland, we simply produce what they plant in us."

When Abu Hamzah heard this, he was overcome with compassion, entered the home, and kissed the heads of his wife and daughter.

Beautiful Reminder: Luqman's Advice to His Son, Part 3

Lessons to Take, cont. 
5. Being Patient
Towards the end of his advice, Luqman tells his son to be patient.
"...And bear with patience whatever befalls you. Verily, these are some of the important commandments." (Qur'an: Luqman, Verse 17)

Commenting on this, Ibn Kathir says in his tafsir, "Luqman knew that whoever enjoins what is good and forbids what is evil, will inevitably encounter harm and annoyance from people, so he told him to be patient...Being patient when people cause harm or annoyance is one of the most important commandments."

In the Sahih collections of Bukhari and Muslim, it's narrated that the Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, said, "No one has been given anything more excellent and more comprehensive than sabr (patience)."

In his work, Patience and Gratitude, Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah says, "Every person has to exercise patience in order to face difficulties, whether he does so willingly or unwillingly. The noble person exercises patience willingly, because he realizes the benefits of patience, and he knows that he will be rewarded for his patience and will be criticized if he panics. He is aware that if he does not have patience, panicking and impatience will not help him to regain missed opportunities, and will not take away things he dislikes. Whatever is decreed and is qada’ wa qadr cannot be prevented from happening, and whatever is decreed not to happen cannot be made to happen. So an attitude of impatience and panic actually causes harm...The ignoble man exercises patience only when he realizes he has no choice. After wasting a lot of time and energy and panicking and struggling, he realizes that his impatience will not help him. Then he exercises patience in the same way that a person who has been tied up to be whipped exercises patience."

It's narrated in Bukhari that 'Umar ibn Al-Khattab, radiallahu anhu, said, "We considered the best part of our lives to be that in which there was sabr (patience)."

6. Humility
Luqman ends his advice to his son urging him to be humble and moderate, and to refrain from being prideful and arrogant. Luqman says, "And turn not your face away from men with pride, nor walk in insolence through the earth. Verily, Allah likes not any arrogant boaster. And be moderate in your walking, and lower your voice. Verily, the harshest of all voices is the braying of the asses." (Qur'an, Luqman: 18-19)

In Sahih Muslim, it's related that the Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, said, "Whoever has an atoms worth of kibr (pride) in his heart will not enter Paradise." So a man said: What about a person who loves (i.e. takes pride in) wearing beautiful clothes and beautiful shoes? So he replied: "Indeed Allah is beautiful and loves beauty. Kibr (pride) is to reject the truth, and to despise the people."

In his work, Pride: A Barrier to Paradise, Shaykh 'AbdurRahman Ibn Naasir as-Sa'dee explains that to completely reject the truth of Allah, the Most High, and His Messenger, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, out of pride is equal to disbelief (kufr) and to reject parts of the truth out of pride or preference for personal opinion is not disbelief, but still an act that is punishable by Allah.

Shaykh as-Sa'dee says in regards to this, "So it is obligatory upon the seeker of knowledge to give complete and absolute precedence to the saying of Allaah and the saying of His Messenger sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam over and above the saying of anyone else, and that he should make that the basis to which he returns, and the foundation upon which he builds; following the guidance of the Prophet sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam, striving hard to understand what is intended from it, and following this, both inwardly and outwardly."

The Shaykh goes on to explain the second type of pride mentioned in the hadith, saying that to despise the people is to look down upon them due to some amazement a person may have with himself, thinking himself to be better or higher than others.

In Sahih Muslim, it's narrated that the Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, said, "It is enough evil for a person to despise his brother Muslim."

Ibn Taymiyyah said about the worshipper, "the more humble, needy, and subdued he is before Allah – the closer he will be to Him, and the dearer he will be to Him, and the greater in status he will be to Him. So, the happiest of the Creation is the one who is greatest in servitude to Allah," (Majmu' al-Fatawa' 1/67).

Beautiful Reminder: Luqman's Advice to His Son, Part 2

Lessons to Take, cont.
3. Having Taqwa
How often do we commit small sins, thinking that they're no big deal or that no one will know? As Luqman points out so beautifully, Allah knows EVERYTHING that we do and He will hold us to account.

Explaining verse 16, Ibn Kathir says in his tafsir, "If a wrong action or sin be equal to the size of a grain of mustard seed, He [Allah] will bring it forth on the Day of Resurrection, when it is placed in the Scales of Justice and everyone is rewarded or punished for his actions -- if they are good, he will be rewarded, and if they are bad he will be punished. This is like the ayat...'So, whoever does good equal to the weight of a speck of dust shall see it. And whosoever does evil equal to the weight of a speck of dust shall see it (Qur'an, Al-Zalzalah: 7-8).'"

Because of this, we should have taqwa, fear of Allah. To have proper fear of Allah is to leave all acts of disobedience to Him for those acts that are in obedience to Him, all while hoping for Allah's mercy.

In his book, The Fruits of Taqwa, Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih Al-'Uthaymeen mentions the advice a righteous person once gave regarding taqwa: "One of the righteous, wrote to his believing brother: 'I advise you with taqwaa (fear) of Allaah who knows your secrets and sees your open actions, so remember Allaah at every time of the night and day, and fear Allaah according to His nearness, and the power He has over you. And know that He always sees you. And do not leave His Rule for another rule, nor His Dominion, for another dominion, So glorify Him, by fearing Him immensely.'"

Shaykh 'Uthaymeen also quotes Umar ibn Al-Khattab as having wrote to his son, "To proceed: Verily 1 advise you to have taqwaa (fear) of Allaah the Mighty and Majestic, for whoever fears Him, Allaah will protect him, and whoever gives a loan to Him, Allaah will reward him, and whoever thanks Him, Allaah will increase him."

Some of the benefits of having taqwa as outlined in 'Uthaymeen's book include: protecting oneself from the Shaytan, increasing in blessings and good actions, easing difficulty, increasing in Allah's love, attaining knowledge, attaining Allah's mercy, and being amongst those who enter Paradise. May Allah make us among those who have taqwa, ameen!


4. Encouraging Good and Forbidding Wrong
After speaking of Allah, Luqman goes into the next portion of his advice, telling his son to pray, enjoin Al-Maruf and forbid Al-Munkar.

In his work, Enjoining Right and Forbidding Wrong, Shaykh Ibn Taymiyyah, defines Al-Maruf as including everything internally and externally that has been allowed by Allah, the Most High, and the Prophet Muhammad, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. Al-Munkar, by default then, is everything that Allah and his Prophet have forbidden.

According to Ibn Taymiyyah, enjoining right and forbidding wrong is an obligation to be fulfilled to the best of one's ability, sometimes by the tongue, sometimes by the hand, and other times by the heart.

In a hadith narrated in Sahih Muslim, the Prophet, sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam, said, "Whoever of you sees wrong being committed, let him rectify it with his hand, if he is unable, then with his tongue, and if he us unable, then with his heart, and this is the weakest of faith."

Ibn Taymiyyah quotes a saying from Ibn Masood, radiAllahu anhu, where he was once asked, "Who are the living dead?" His response was, "He who does not acknowledge the right as such, and does not reject the wrong."

An important concept to note is that in our efforts to enjoin good and forbid evil, we must ensure to the best of our ability that what we allow and what we forbid is in accordance with what Allah and His Messenger have set down for us.

Ibn Taymiyyah says, "...the love of a believer for what is good, and his hatred for what is evil, and his desire for the accomplishment of the good and his desire for the avoidance and prevention of evil should be in harmony with what Allah loves and hates.

It is also imperative that in doing these actions, we do them purely for the sake of Allah, to seek His pleasure.

Ibn Taymiyyah says, "It is a requirement of righteous deeds that they be done solely for the Face of Allah ta'ala, for Allah does not accept any actions except for those with which His Face alone was sought. This is as in the sahih hadith narrated by Abu Huraira that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: 'Allah ta'ala says: I am the partner least in need of any partner. Whenever someone does an act, partly for me and partly for an imagined partner, I am completely free of that action, and it is wholly for the partner which was associated with me.'"

None of this can be done without proper knowledge, compassion, and patience.

To be continued...

Beautiful Reminder: Luqman's Advice to His Son, Part 1

One of the beautiful reminders that Allah sets for us in the Qur'an is the story of Luqman and the advice he gave to his son. This story can be found in Surah Luqman, Chapter 31.

Who was Luqman?
According to the tafsir of Ibn Kathir (taken from tafsir.com), his full name was Luqman bin 'Anqa' bin Sadun and his son's name was Tharun. The majority of the salaf considered Luqman to be a righteous servant of Allah, but not a Prophet. Sufyan Ath-Thawri was quoted as having said, "Luqman was an Ethiopian slave who was a carpenter." It was also narrated from Mujahid that "Luqman was a righteous servant but he was not a Prophet."

Allah, the Most High, speaks of the virtue of Luqman in the Qur'an. In verse 12 of Surah Luqman, it says, "And indeed we bestowed upon Luqman Al-Hikmah (wisdom and religious understanding) saying: 'Give thanks to Allah.' And whoever gives thanks, he gives thanks for the (good of) his own self. And whoever is thankful, then verily, Allah is All-Rich (free of need), Worthy of all praise."

What was Luqman's Advice to His Son? 
In verse 13, Luqman began his advice: "And remember when Luqman said to his son when he was advising him, 'O my son! Join not in worship others with Allah. Verily, joining others in worship with Allah is a great Zulm (wrong) indeed.'"

After this, Allah says in verses 14 and 15, "And We have enjoined on man (to be dutiful and good) to his parents. His mother bore him in weakness and hardship upon weakness and hardship, and his weaning is in two years - give thanks to Me and to your parents. Unto Me is the final destination."

"But if they both strive with you to make you join in worship with Me others that of which you have no knowledge, then obey them not; but behave with them in the world kindly, and follow the path of him who turns to Me in repentance and in obedience. Then to Me will be your return, and I shall tell you what you used to do."

Starting with verse 16, Luqman's advice continues:

"O my son! If it be (anything) equal to the weight of a grain of a mustard seen, and though it be in a rock, or in the heavens or in the earth, Allah will bring it forth. Verily, Allah is Subtle (in bringing out that grain), Well-Aware (of its place)."

"O My son! Aqim-As-Salat (perform As-Salat), enjoin Al-Maruf (Islamic monotheism and all that is good), and forbid from Al-Munkar (polytheism and all that is evil), and bear with patience whatever befalls you. Verily, these are some of the important commandments (ordered by Allah)."

"And turn not your face away from men with pride, nor walk in insolence through the earth. Verily, Allah likes not any arrogant boaster. And be moderate in your walking, and lower you voice. Verily, the harshest of all voices is the braying of the asses, (Qur'an: Surah Luqman, verses 13-19)."

Lessons to Take
1. The Importance of Calling to Tawhid
The first thing that Luqman began his advice with was a reminder to believe in Allah, alone, without partners.

Providing an explanation of this, Shaykh Rabee Al-Madhkhali writes in his article, Luqman's (the wise) Advise to his Son, "Wisdom is to put something in its place and this is from the wisdom of Luqman and every caller who is wise...From the aspects of wisdom is that you start with the most important of affairs just as in the hadith of Muadh ibn Jabil which is a clarification from the Messenger (Sallaahu alayhi wa Sallam) concerning the methodology of this call to Allaah, the exalted. The Messenger (Sallaahu alayhi wa Sallam) said, "You will come to the people from the Book (Jews and Christians), so let the first thing you call them to be to testify that none has the right to worshipped except Allaah" then he mentioned Salat (prayer) and Zakat (obligatory charity)," (Ahmed, Bukhari and Muslim)."

The Shaykh continues saying, "Likewise, Luqman called his son to be upon Tawheed (maintaining the Oneness of Allaah) and forbade him from Shirk (to associate partners with Allaah) then after that he ordered him with prayer and to enjoin good and forbid the evil. This clearly shows his wisdom."

2. Being Mindful of Our Duties Towards Our Parents
In verses 14 and 15, Allah tells us of the duties owed to our parents, reminds us of the hardship our mothers bear in raising us, and commands us to be thankful.

Ibn Kathir comments on these verses, saying, "Allah mentions how the mother brings the child up, and how she gets tired, and suffers stress from staying up with the child night and day, to remind the son of her previous kind treatment to him."

Shaykh Madhkhali comments, "His statement 'unto Me is the final destination' is a warning from Allah that He will call you to account with what you have put forward in this life. Were you grateful to Allah? Have you established the obligations upon you that Allah has legislated?"

Commenting on verse 15, Shaykh Madhkhali says, "If they help you in the obedience to Allah and guide and cultivate you with a correct upbringing then they deserve to be obeyed. If, however, they both deviate and strive with much effort with you to fall into Shirk with Allah then there is no obedience to them (in that). However, the general righteousness that you should have towards them does not become void even if they try and strive against you and harm you to disbelieve in Allah, it is upon you not to forget their rights.

His statement "but behave with them in this world kindly" means that you have good conduct towards them, be righteous to them, spend on them even if they be disbelievers. You obey them in other than the disobedience to Allaah. You serve them and fulfil their needs. All of this is considered to be kindness to them."

Ibn Kathir mentions a narration recorded in At-Tabarani where Sa'd ibn Malik said that ayah 15 was revealed concerning him: "I was a man who honored his mother, but when I became Muslim, she said: `O Sa`d! What is this new thing I see you doing? Leave this religion of yours, or I will not eat or drink until I die, and people will say: Shame on you, for what you have done to me, and they will say that you have killed your mother.' I said, `Do not do that, O mother, for I will not give up this religion of mine for anything.' She stayed without eating for one day and one night, and she became exhausted; then she stayed for another day and night without eating, and she became utterly exhausted. When I saw that, I said: `O my mother, by Allah, even if you had one hundred souls and they were to depart one by one, I would not give up this religion of mine for anything, so if you want to, eat, and if you want to, do not eat.' So she ate.''

To be continued...