Between your choice and Allah’s choice for you Qatadah ibn al-Nu’man narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said: إِذَا أَحَبَّ اللَّهُ عَبْدًا حَمَاهُ الدُّنْيَا كَمَا يَظَلُّ أَحَدُكُمْ يَحْمِي سَقِيمَهُ الْمَاءَ “When Allah loves a servant, He shields him from worldly things, just as one of you would keep water away from a sick person.” (Tirmidhi) In…
Allah Almighty says towards the end of Surat al-Jumu’ah: فَإِذَا قُضِيَتِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةُ فَٱنتَشِرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَٱبْتَغُوا۟ مِن فَضْلِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱذْكُرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ كَثِيرًا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ “When the prayer has been concluded, disperse through the land and seek the bounty of Allah, and remember Allah often so that you may succeed.”(Surat al-Jumu’ah, 62:10) We see here that…
We often recite Surat al-Masad in our salah. When we hear the name of Abu Lahab we know that he was one of the fiercest opponents of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. What makes his story particularly painful and puzzling is that Abu Lahab was no stranger – he was the Prophet’s ﷺ own uncle! When…
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ advised Abu Dharr al-Ghifari (may Allah be pleased with him) to follow seven commands, and through him taught the Ummah. عن أبي ذَرٍّ الغِفاريِّ رضي الله عنه، قال: أمرَني خليلي ﷺ بسبع: ١-(أمرَني بحبِّ المساكينِ والدُّنوِّ منهُم. ٢-وأمرَني أن أنظرَ إلى مَن هو دُوني ولا أنظرَ إلى مَن هو فوقي. ٣-وأمرَني…
Imaan is beyond five pillars Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: لَا يَسْتَقِيمُ الْإِيمَانُ إِلَّا بِالْقَوْلِ، وَلَا يَسْتَقِيمُ الْإِيمَانُ وَالْقَوْلُ إِلَّا بِالْعَمَلِ، وَلَا يَسْتَقِيمُ الْإِيمَانُ وَالْقَوْلُ وَالْعَمَلُ إِلَّا بِنِيَّةٍ مُوَافِقَةٍ لِلسُّنَّةِ “A servant’s faith will not be upright until his heart is sound, and…
Abu Dharr al-Ghifari (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ gave him seven pieces of advice: 1. He commanded me to love the poor and to keep close to them. 2. He commanded me to look at those who are below me (in worldly matters) and not to look at those…
Seven prophetic instructions for a believer عن أبي ذَرٍّ الغِفاريِّ رضي الله عنه، قال: أمرَني خليلي ﷺ بسبع: ١-(أمرَني بحبِّ المساكينِ والدُّنوِّ منهُم. ٢-وأمرَني أن أنظرَ إلى مَن هو دُوني ولا أنظرَ إلى مَن هو فوقي. ٣-وأمرَني أن أصِلَ الرَّحِمَ وإن أدبَرَتْ. ٤-وأمرَني ألا أسألَ أحدًا شيئًا. ٥-وأمرَني أن أقولَ الحقَّ وإن كان مُرًّا. ٦-وأمرَني…
Our Lord Almighty says in His Noble Book: وَجَعَلْنَا مِنَ الْمَاءِ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ حَيٍّ ۖ أَفَلَا يُؤْمِنُونَ “And We created from water every living thing. Will they not then believe?” Surah al-Anbiya, 21:30 This is a fact that we see and recognise every day. Allah is the One who created water and sends water down…
Allah Almighty says: الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الْإِسْلَامَ دِينًا “Today I have perfected your faith for you, completed My favour upon you, and chosen Islam as your way.”(Surat al-Ma’idah, 5:3) We are all familiar with this verse. It was revealed on the Day of ‘Arafah during the Farewell Hajj of…
One day, Mu‘adh ibn Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) was riding behind the Prophet ﷺ on a donkey. Imagine how blessed he was to share that precious time in the proximity of the Prophet ﷺ! The Prophet ﷺ at the reins and Mu‘adh probably holding on to him, behind him, close enough to…
Muharram is a special month. It is the beginning of the Hijri year, and within it is the tenth of Muharram, the Day of Ashura. Although the Hijrah itself took place in Rabi’ al-Awwal, the Islamic calendar begins with Muharram and counts its years from the Hijrah. So when the new Hijri year begins, it…
Secret righteous deeds: what only Allah knows Allah Almighty says about Prophet Yunus: فَلَوْلَا أَنَّهُ كَانَ مِنَ الْمُسَبِّحِينَ “If he had not been one of those who glorified Allah,” لَلَبِثَ فِي بَطْنِهِ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ “he would have remained in its belly until the Day they are resurrected.” (Surat As-Saffat, 37:143-144) These verses contain a…
The Quranic principle of spending Allah says in the Quran: ويسألونك ماذا ينفقون قل العفو “They ask you what they should spend. Say: what is beyond your needs.” (Surah Baqarah, 2:219) This ayah gives us a clear principle about spending, charity and responsibility. The Companions asked Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) what they should…
The pledge of al-‘Aqabah in the days of Tashriq We are still in the blessed days of Eid al-Adha. These days are known as the Days of Tashriq. When we think about Eid al-Adha, we naturally think about the sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him), the rites of Hajj, and the remembrance of…
Arafah is the heart of Hajj: a day of forgiveness, mercy, unity and preparation for the Hereafter.