Financial hardship can affect every part of our lives. As businesses come under financial strain, inflation, unemployment and unexpected bills can leave us worried about how we will provide for our families. That pressure can affect our sleep, our relationships and our ability to think clearly. Financial hardship is one of the tests of life…
The danger of cheating, withholding people’s rights and losing barakah Allah Almighty says in Surah al-Mutaffifin: وَيْلٌ لِّلْمُطَفِّفِينَ الَّذِينَ إِذَا اكْتَالُوا عَلَى النَّاسِ يَسْتَوْفُونَ وَإِذَا كَالُوهُمْ أَو وَّزَنُوهُمْ يُخْسِرُونَ أَلَا يَظُنُّ أُولَٰئِكَ أَنَّهُم مَّبْعُوثُونَ لِيَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ النَّاسُ لِرَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ “Woe to those who give less than due! Those…
Three things that lead to Jannah Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: «يَا أَبَا سَعِيدٍ، مَنْ رَضِيَ بِاللَّهِ رَبًّا، وَبِالْإِسْلَامِ دِينًا، وَبِمُحَمَّدٍ نَبِيًّا، وَجَبَتْ لَهُ الْجَنَّةُ». فَعَجِبَ لَهَا أَبُو سَعِيدٍ، فَقَالَ: أَعِدْهَا عَلَيَّ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، فَفَعَلَ. “O Abu Sa‘id, whoever is pleased with…
One of the beautiful qualities of Allah Almighty is that He conceals the faults and sins of His servants. Even when we disobey Him, He does not immediately expose us. Instead, He gives us the opportunity to recognise our mistakes, repent and return to Him. In Islam, concealment (satr) is an important principle. We are…
Allah gives us many descriptions in the Quran of the people who will enter Jannah. He doesn’t just tell us what Paradise is like; He also tells us what kind of people reach it. He describes their actions, their relationship with Him, and most importantly, the state of their hearts. Towards the end of Surat…
What have you prepared for the Hour? Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that a man asked the Prophet ﷺ about the Hour: مَتَى السَّاعَةُ؟ “When is the Hour?” The Prophet ﷺ replied: وَمَاذَا أَعْدَدْتَ لَهَا؟ “What have you prepared for it?” The man said that he had not prepared a…
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…