Tree Of Iman

Angel Oak

If someone gives you a plant to take care of..how do you think you will do it? Wouldn't you try your best to not to let that plant die? And of course, to do that you are going to make sure that all the things that plant need, you provide it and keep it away form all the harmful things.

At the same time you will try to find out about the basic elements that plant is consisted of and the basic things those elements need to grow properly.

Believe me or not but all of us have one, very delicate and at the same time very strong tree to take care of given to us by our Lord.

Allah (SWT) has given us this tree that is planted in our hearts, called "shajarat-ul-Iman" (Tree of Iman).

Allah (swt) describes that tree in Quran:

"Have you not seen how Allah coined a similitude (of parable) a good word like a good tree, the root of that tree is firmly established in the ground and the branches reach the heavens."

At another place in Quran Allah (swt) said:

"(this particular tree by the permission of its Lord), gives fruits (all kinds of fruits) anytime Allah (swt) wants it to give fruits.

Allah (swt) also said:

"Allah coin similitude for the human beings (for you and I), so that perhaps we may reflect (we may think)."

Science say there are trees in other plants than earth
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Allah (swt) created seven heavens and earth other than this planet. Some people say that there are trees and some say there are not. There is proof in Quran and Sunnah that there are trees in Jannah (heaven). One of them is called "Toobaa", the tree for the "ghurab'a" (strangers). The shade of that tree is one month journey and this is where the believers will take their clothes from.

Most Important Tree in this World:
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The most important tree in this dunya (world) is the Tree of Iman (shajarat-ul-Iman). The tree that Allah (swt) has planted in our hearts. The tree that we all should be worrying about day and night. We all must know what that tree of Iman is made of so that we can take good care of it.

What Does the Tree of Iman Have:
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Almost all the trees that Allah (swt) has created/originated, almost all of them have three very basic things:

1. Root (O'rooq)

The roots of the most important tree on this earth are:

a) Knowledge (I'lm)

b) Certainty (Yaqeen)

The tree of Iman is the basic belief of Islam

"La ilaha illal lah"
"There is no God worthy of worship except Allah (swt)"

So the root for us of the Tree of Iman, is the KNOWLEDGE of the meaning of "la ilaha illallah". It covers every single aspect of our life. When we know that there is no God other then Allah (swt), we totally surrender to Him alone and we take everything that He gave us through the Quran and the Sunnah of Rasul of Allah (saw).

The other half of the root of this tree is the certainty, meaning the certainty of everything what "la ilaha illallah" brings.

When implementing Islam in our lives, or when accepting a matter which we were not aware of before, we should do it with firm belief and certainty, as long as it is from the Quran and the authentic Sunnah of Rasul and his Companions.

2) Trunk: (Saaq)

The tree of Iman, like the other trees, also has a trunk, which is Purity of Intention: (al-Ikhlas)

We must have the purity of intention for our tree to be firm and unshakable and immovable.

Abdullah Ibn Sahl at-tuzkuri (ra) (scholar from the taba'een) was asked:

"What is al-Iman?", he said:
"Iman is statement, is action, is nyyah (intention) and is Sunnah. If it is a statement without actions then it is Kufr (disbelief), if it is a statement and action with out intention then it is Nifaq (hypocrisy), if it is a statement, action and intention without the Sunnah, then it is Bid'ah (innovation)."

To keep a healthy trunk of our tree, we must have a pure intention of our actions. Our every righteous deed is divided into two parts. The first half of a righteous deed is the purity of intention. The nyyah has to be pure for the pleasure of Allah ONLY!

3) Branches & Fruits:

This tree should also has branches and fruits. And these are:

a) Righteous deeds

b) Honorable/Noble Character

At several places in Quran, Allah (SWT) has distinguished the people of Jannah from the people of Hell as Indeed those who believed and did righteous deeds....

Those people who believed and did righteous deeds have also been given the glad tidings of Jannah at several places in Quran:

Every righteous deed consists of two parts. First part is the purity of intention (for the sake of Allah only!). Second half of the righteous deed is that the action has to be in conformed with Shariah (Quran and Sunnah of Rasul (SAW) and the Companions(May Allah be pleased with them)). If the action is not conformed with Shariah, it is not considered a righteous deed!

When a tree has firm roots and healthy trunk and branches, it automatically produces good fruits. Similarly, when we establish firm roots of Iman in our heart and keep healthy trunk and branches of the tree the fruits will prosper. If we have the knowledge of our deen and certainty of whatever knowledge we have, and we do righteous deeds with pure intentions, we will automatically develop an honorable and noble character.

Things that will Make Our Tree Die:
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1)Kufr:
If we allow kufr to come into our tree, it will destroy the tree.

2) Shirk:
If we allow shirk to come into our tree, it will also destroy the tree.

3) Bid'ah:
If we allow Bid'ah (innovations) of all types to come into our tree, it will demolish our tree. Our tree will become yellow, our tree will become dry and our tree will eventually die!

Note: Muslims nowadays are involved in so many "religious practices" thinking that they are pleasing Allah (swt), though in reality they are getting themselves involved either in bid'ahs or sometimes even to the extant of shirks. Muslims, intentionally or unintentionally, either add or remove stuff from how a certain act was originally practiced by our pious predecessors and hence making it a bid'ah. And since the act was not practiced according to the "Shari'ah", it will not be considered a righteous deed.

To avoid from getting ourselves involved in these dangerous things, it is extremely important to have the "knowledge" of the deen and to refer back to our pious predecessors in every single thing we do or say.

What is AL-Iman:
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Al-Iman is:

1) Belief:
Iman is a belief in our hearts. It is to have a firm belief of "la illah illallah" in our hearts and all the thing that it brings. Every thing that we find from Quran and Sunnah, we must have a sincere and firm belief on that without having any doubts.

2)Statement:
Iman is a statement by our tongue. We must state "la illaha illallah" by our tongues. Meaning what ever believes we have, we cannot just keep them in our hearts, but we must say them out.

3) Actions:
Iman is to carry out our believes and our statements by our bodily limbs. After believing in "la illaha illallah" and stating it, we must imply it in our actions. And the way we imply "la illaha illallah" in our actions is by modifying our every action and deed according to the Quran and

Sunnah of Rasul and our pious predecessors.
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A general example of the above could be wearing hijab. If one has a firm belief in Allah (swt) and whatever He revealed, will definitely believe that wearing hijab is a command of Allah and it is mandatory. Then only believing is not enough, we must have to admit by stating by our tongues the fact that hijab is necessary and inform other people about it in a nice pleasing way (not in a displeasing or complaining manner). But still our Iman is not completed until we start wearing it ourselves.

To think that Iman is in our hearts only, is one of the tricks of Iblis (satan). We shouldn't be fooled by the shaytans (satan) of the Ins wal Jin (Humans and Jinns) by thinking that Iman is in our chests only and as long as we have a firm belief, our Iman is completed Rather we HAVE to show our believes by our statements and by our actions

Highest and Lowest of Iman:
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Rasul of Allah (saw) said:
"Iman has 70 branches. And the highest of al-Iman is the statement "la illaha illallah" (It is the most sublime, the most magnificent and the most superior of all Iman). The lowest of the Iman is to remove some harmful thing from the street. And modesty is a part of al-Iman."

Iman Wears Out:
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We all go through high and low levels of Iman. As Rasul of Allah told us:"al-Iman wears out in each and everyone of you and me like a "thaub" (garment) wears out (like our clothes wears out...and they become shabby eventually. Iman wears out like that "thaub").

So Rasul of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) advised us (since our Iman wears out) "So all of you Muslims, should ask Allah (swt) to RENEW the Iman in our hearts."

-by Umm Abdullah 
from a lecture by Dawud Adib 

Not Losing Hope For Allah's Mercy

In many verses of the Qur’an, Allah mentions that Muslims—even those with the most fear of Allah—– may make mistakes. In one verse, Allah reveals;

Say [from Me]: ‘My servants, you who have transgressed against yourselves, do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Truly Allah forgives all wrong actions. He is the Ever-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.’ ”(Surat az-Zumar; 53)

It surely brings relief to their hearts, for a believer who errs could feel great regret, sorrow and guilt.

Allah has made the scope for error so wide in human beings that He has promised to forgive a person’s errors without exception, if that person is sorry and repents of what he has done.

But despite of the many consolations in the Qur’an that refresh the spirit and give hope, many human beings do not admit that they make mistakes. In spite of the glad tidings announced in the Qur’an, after making a mistake they become wrapped in despair and become anxious and downhearted.

An individual who refuses to acknowledge errors he has committed out of pride and arrogance is greatly saddened by what he has done. He has trouble accepting that he is a creature prone to making mistakes and faulty decisions, and whose actions and words may be wrong.

He does not consider that perfection and freedom from error belong only to Allah. He wants to be perfect himself. But he cannot, and the fact that some of his attitudes are wrong (despite his desire that they not be), draws him into despair.

A believer experiences deep peace by accepting his imperfections and helplessness in relation to Allah and never claims to be free from error.

It should be remembered that the tendency to err and sin—even though one may be a firm believer—makes him more aware of Allah’s perfection. One can conceive of perfection only when he had experienced imperfection.

Consciousness of his own failures and weaknesses lets him better appreciate the absolute perfection of Allah.
~By Harun Yahya
source: http://www.harunyahya.com

Loving For Allah's Sake

A believer devotes his entire life to Allah. He lives for Allah, works for Allah and loves for Allah’s sake. “Loving for Allah’s sake” might be an incomprehensible concept for someone who is not well acquainted with true Islam. One who has remained distant from Allah throughout his life, and who has therefore not known Him, will be unaware of how to love Allah intuitively.

However, a believer who knows Allah and witnesses His mercy to him, who recognises that everything he loves is His blessing and that he owes his existence and life to His mercy, loves Allah and attains the noble spirit of loving for the sake of Allah. In the Qur’an, the great difference between believers and other people in this sense is stated as follows:

Some people set up equals to Allah, loving them as they should love Allah. But those who believe have greater love for Allah… (Surat al-Baqara: 165)

As is stated in the verse above, those who associate partners with Allah and who, in their minds, ascribe all attributes of Allah to other beings, love these beings as they should love Allah. This is the kind of love that is based on idolatry.

Aware that everything belongs to Allah and every being’s existence is consequential upon Allah’s creation, believers love Allah most. The believer grasps the following fact:

- Nothing (be it a human being, a thing or an event, etc.) has a beauty of its own. Allah creates all things and endows them with beauty. Since a person, for example, has not designed and formed his or her face himself, that beauty is a beauty that belongs to Allah.

- Allah gives this beauty to man, whom he created from nothing, for a brief time only (since that person will soon grow old and die). Only Allah possesses the power to recreate that beauty in the hereafter, in an even more perfect form.

This being the case, a believer loves all the things he encounters in this world, aware that they all belong to Allah and that he will encounter the “original” form of their beauty in the hereafter. Consequently, his actual love is for Allah, the One Who provides him with everything he loves: He is the real Owner of every kind of beauty.

Contrary to the concept of love based upon faith in Allah that is enjoyed by believers, disbelievers’ love is based on idolatry. In the Qur’an, this form of love is described in the words of Prophet Ibrahim (as):

He said, “You have adopted idols apart from Allah as tokens of mutual affection in this world. But then on the Day of Rising you will reject one another and curse one another. The Fire will be your shelter. You will have no helpers.” (Surat al-‘Ankabut: 25)

Said Nursi, also known as Bediuzzaman (the Wonder of the Age), one of the greatest Islamic scholars of the twentieth century, likens this form of love to that of a man who looks at the sun through a mirror held in his hand. Once the mirror is broken into pieces and light is no longer reflected from it, the man feels profound distress at having lost a source of light. However, he is not intelligent enough to conceive that the light in the mirror does not actually originate from it. The light comes from the sun; mirrors only reflect it. Believers love only Allah and those who place faith in Him. This being the case, they have no love for anybody who rebels against Allah. This subject is emphasised in the following verses of the Qur’an:

You who believe! Do not take My enemy and your enemy as friends, showing love for them when they have rejected the truth that has come to you, driving the Messenger and yourselves out of your city simply because you believe in Allah your Lord. If you go out to fight in My Way and seeking My pleasure, keeping secret the love you have for them, I know best what you conceal and what you make known. Any of you who do that have strayed from the right way. (Surat al-Mumtahana: 1)

You will not find people who believe in Allah and the Last Day on friendly terms with anyone who opposes Allah and His Messenger, even though they be their fathers, their sons, their brothers or their nearest kindred... (Surat al-Mujadala: 22)

As the verses above make it clear, the love of a believer rests on no criterion other than the “love felt for Allah.” Setting aside all factors such as kinship or material wealth, this love is deeply rooted in faith and noble values. A believer has love for those whose faith is assured rather than for those possessing fame, money or social status, which are only seemingly important.
~By Harun Yahya
source: http://www.harunyahya.com

Dua - The Believer's Weapon

‘Dua' means to ask Allah directly for something. There is nothing that Allah cannot do, therefore Dua is basically the means of asking the creator to do something and Allah is capable of doing each and everything imaginable and the things that are beyond belief for the human mind. Rasullullah  used to turn to Allah for every matter in life, be it small or big. However insignificant a task may be, as Muslims we have been instructed and advised to turn towards Allah in times of happiness and of sadness. If the mind is not connected to Allah, we will result in asking help from the creation of Allah.

Sometimes there are bad conditions in the world; we tend to ask ourselves questions about why the Muslims are being punished? And why we are being oppressed? Why is it happening to us like this? We make so much Dua to Allah very often and in the end we don't see the fruits of our Dua. The question which tends to arise is why are our Dua's not being accepted? We get caught in the clear trap of Shaytaan and start to think, ‘Why isn't Allah doing as we want him to do? We feel that we are making Dua but nothing is happening.

The reason behind this attitude is that as humans we tend to always want to do things in a hurry. We want things to be done overnight and often because of this very reason, we do things with lack of wisdom.

Allah says in the Quran, “And your lord said pray to me, I will respond to your invocations.” (90:60).

This promise demands steadfastness upon the deen of almighty Allah and not following the ways of the Shaytaan. As weak Muslims we don't seem to stay steadfast. We commit sins but don't feel this could be a reason why our Dua's are failing to be answered. We expect them to be accepted before we even finish them! If we look at the lives of the Prophets Alayhis Salaam, we will find that even though they were free from sin, still their Dua's weren't granted straight away. Hazrat Musa  prayed for approximately forty years, only then did Allah answer his Dua's. Not only Prophet Musa  but there are so many prophets whose lives bear witness to Dua's that weren't accepted straight away. The Prophet Ayyub is another example, according to some Ulama, his Dua's were finally accepted after seventy years of calmly waiting. We need to notice the fact that he didn't once lose hope and become disheartened, but remained steadfast. On calling towards Allah, practicing patience and making Dua for their needs to be fulfilled.

Sometimes the wish we ask Allah for, may not always be what is best for us, and Allah through his infinite wisdom, decides what is best for us at the time, then later we find out that it was better that the wish we asked for wasn't granted. We should never feel that our asking from Allah or our time spent is being wasted because if our Dua is not answered in this world then it is being stored and will be answered in the form of numerous rewards in the hereafter. Allah loves to see his servants remembering him, begging and crying before him and often the case is that if Allah gives his servants what he wants and removes the difficulty he is going through, he stops begging before Allah, so this way Allah rewards him for his patience too.

Keeping this in mind we should not become disheartened when we don't see our prayers being answered, but instead we should ask even more from Allah and the result in us becoming closer to Allah. Rasullullah  is reported to have said, “Dua is the weapon of a Muslim”.

May Allah give us all the ability to remember him at all times.  

 by Mohammed Ilyas Adam
source: http://www.inter-islam.org

10 Things That Bring The Love of Allah

Ibn Qayyim RA said that there are ten things that bring about the love of Allah SWT.

1) Recitation of the Qur’ an with reflection and with understanding of its meanings.

2) Seeking closeness to Allah by performing voluntary deeds after having performed obligatory ones, for that leads one to the highest levels of love.

3) Remembering Allah during every situation - with one’s time, heart and deeds, one’s share of that love is to the degree of one’s share in that remembrance.

4) Preferring what He loves to what you love when your desires are strong.

5) Allowing your heart to reflect on His Names and Attributes.

6) Reflecting on His many favors and blessings, both the apparent ones and hidden ones, for that leads to His love.

7) Having your heart softened as it is worshipping Allah.

8) Being alone with Him in worship when He descends during the last third of the night. And this means to invoke Him, to recite His Speech, to stand with all sincerity and with good manners and with good submission, and then to end that with repentance and with seeking His forgiveness.

9) Sitting with those who are truthful in their love of Allah.

10) Staying away from all that creates barriers between the heart and Allah.

The Relief of the Heart and Body Lies in Obedience to Allah

In this lies a great secret from the secrets of Tawheed. This is that the heart cannot become firm, it cannot find satisfaction and it cannot find tranquillity except by reaching out to Him. Everything that is loved and desired besides Him then it must be desired for other than His sake. The One Who is desired, the One Who is beloved in and of Himself, with Whom all matters find their final goal is only one. It is impossible that the final goal be to two destinations just as it is impossible that the beginning of the creation be from two sources.

So the one whose love, desire, will and obedience ends at other than Him then it will be rendered null and void, it will disappear and split off from him no matter how great his need be of it. However the one whose love, desire, will, obedience, awe and reverential fear ends at Him, far removed is He from imperfection, will find himself winning His favours, bliss and rapture, magnificence and splendour, and felicity for eternity.

The servant continuously finds himself altering between the laws of commandments and the laws of decree. Therefore he is perpetually in need of aid to fulfil the commandments and in need of kindness and leniency at the onset of the calamity. It is the extent to which he establishes the obligations that determine how much kindness the servant will receive at the onset of the calamity. Therefore if he completes his obligations both inwardly and outwardly then he will attain kindness and leniency both inwardly and outwardly. If, however, he merely establishes the outward form [of the commandments] without establishing their reality [inwardly] then he will receive an outward kindness and his portion of inward kindness will [greatly] diminish.

So if it is asked: what is this inward kindness?

[I say in reply:] It is what the heart attains of tranquillity and satisfaction at the onset of the calamity and the removal of unrest, confusion and despair. Therefore the servant surrenders and submits himself before his Lord and Master and he emerges in a state of complete rest and tranquillity - looking on at Him with his heart, and his soul at peace. His witnessing His Kindness has distracted him from the severity of the situation. His knowledge of Allah’s excellent choice and decision for him diverts him from feeling the calamity just as does his knowledge that he is nothing but a mere servant upon whom the decrees of his Master take effect, and he can either be pleased with them or angry with them. So if he is pleased then he will attain Pleasure and if he is displeased then his portion is nothing save Displeasure. Therefore this inward kindness is the fruit of this inward action [of being pleased with the decree of Allah], it increases with its increase and decreases with its decrease.

~By Ibn al-Qayyim

Taken from Al-Fawaa’id; translated by Abu Rumaysah

Ways To Dispel Worries

Ibn al-Qayyim summed fifteen ways through which Allaah may dispel worries and regret. These are as follows:
1-Tawheed al-Ruboobiyyah (belief in the Oneness of Divine Lordship)
2-Tawheed al-Uloohiyyah (belief in the Oneness of the Divine nature)
3-Tawheed of knowledge and belief (i.e., Tawheed al-Asma’ wa’l_Sifaat, belief in the Oneness of the Divine names and attributes)
4-Thinking of Allaah as being above doing any injustice to His slaves, and above punishing anyone for no cause on the part of the slave that would require such punishment.
5-The person’s acknowledging that he is the one who has done wrong.
6-Beseeching Allaah by means of the things that are most beloved to Him, which are His names and attributes. Two of His names that encompass the meanings of all other names and attributes are al-Hayy (the Ever-Living) and al-Qayyoom (the Eternal).
7-Seeking the help of Allaah Alone.

8-Affirming one’s hope in Him.
9-Truly putting one’s trust in Him and leaving matters to Him, acknowledging that one’s forelock is in His hand and that He does as He wills, that His will is forever executed and that He is just in all that He decrees.
10-Letting one’s heart wander in the garden of the Qur’aan, seeking consolation in it from every calamity, seeking healing in it from all diseases of the heart, so that it will bring comfort to his grief and healing for his worries and distress.
11-Seeking forgiveness.
12-Repentance.
13-Jihad.
14-Salaah (prayer).

15-Declaring that he has no power and no strength, and leaving matters to the One in Whose hand they are.

The Wisdom Behind Delaying The Answer For a Supplication

 It is puzzling your insistence on asking for your desires and when ever they were delayed your insistence increase without thinking that your are not granted what you ask for because of:

1. Your benefit (for what you have asked could be a harm to you in a way)
2. Your sins (for the sinner's prayers are not answered).

If it was the second reason, you will have to clear the path of answering from the stains of sins.If it was the first reason then look at what you ask for:

Is it to strengthen your religion, or just a plain earthly desire?  If it was only an earthly desire, then know that it is the kindness and the mercy of Allah that delayed it for you, and by your insistence, you are like a child that asks for what harms him and he is denied that for his own good. And if you think that what you asked for is for the benefit of your religion then your benefit could be in delaying it, or the well-being of your faith is by the nonexistence of it.

In other words, the planning of the Truth the Almighty (Allah) is better for you than your own planing, and He could deprive you from what you ask to test your patience.  So let Him see from you a determined patience and you will soon see from Him what will give you joy.   And when you have cleaned the paths of answering (of supplication) from the stains of sin and was patient about what He has chosen for you, then every thing that happens to you is better for you weather you were given or deprived of what you have requested.
Source: The Hunt Of Thought (Sayd Al-Khatir) 
by Ibn Al-Jawzi

Strive To Make The Most Of Each Minute

One minute to sunset

In one minute you can do a lot of good and earn much reward. In just one minute, by giving in charity, studying, memorizing, or striving to do good deeds, you can make sure that this minute of your life is not wasted.  One minute may be recorded in your book of good deeds if you know how to make the most of it and take care of it:

  Strive to make the most of each minute

 If you forget it, you forget the most important thing, the truth.

  There follows a list of things that can be done in one minute, by the permission of Allaah:

1.     In one minute you can recite Soorat al-Faatihah 3 times, reciting rapidly and silently. Some scholars said that the reward for reading al-Faatihah is more than 600 hasanahs, so if you read it 3 times you will, by the permission of Allaah, gain more than 1800 hasanahs – all of that in one minute.

 2.     In one minute you can recite Soorat al-Ikhlaas (Qul Huwa Allaahu Ahad) 20 times, reciting rapidly and silently. Reciting it once is equivalent to one-third of the Qur’aan. If you read it 20 times it is equivalent to reading the Qur’aan 7 times. If you read it 20 times in one minute each day, you will have read it 600 times in one month, and 7200 times in one year, which will be equal in reward to reading the  Qur’aan 2400 times.

 3.     You can read one page of the Book of Allaah in one minute.

 4.     You can memorize a short aayah of the Book of Allaah in one minute.

 5.     In one minute you can say Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah wahdahu laa shareeka lah, lahu’l-mulk wa lahu’l-hamd wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in qadeer (There is no god except Allaah alone with no partner; to Him be dominion and praise, and He is Able to do all things) – 20 times. The reward for saying this is like freeing 8 slaves for the sake of Allaah from among the sons of Ismaa’eel.

 6.     In one minute you can say Subhaan Allaahi wa bi hamdihi (Glory and praise be to Allaah) 100 times. Whoever says that in one day will be forgiven for his sins even if they are like the foam of the sea.

 7.     In one minute you can say Subhaan Allaahi wa bi hamdihi Subhaan Allaah il-‘Azeem (Glory and praise be to Allaah, glory be to Allaah the Almighty) 50 times. These are two phrases which are light on the lips, heavy in the balance and beloved to the Most Merciful, as was narrated by al-Bukhaari and Muslim.

 8.     The Prophet  (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “When I say ‘Subhaan Allaah, wa’l-hamdu Lillah, wa laa ilaah ill-Allaah, wa Allaahu akbar (Glory be to Allaah, praise be to Allaah, there is no god except Allaah, and Allaah is Most Great)’, this is more beloved to me than all that the sun rises upon.” (Narrated by Muslim). In one minute, you can say all of these words more than 18 times. These words are the most beloved words to Allaah, the best of words, and they weigh heavily in the balance of good deeds, as was narrated in the saheeh ahaadeeth.

 9.     In one minute you can say, Laa hawla wa laa quwwata illa Billaah (there is no strength and no power except with Allaah) more than 40 times. This is one of the treasures of Paradise, as was narrated by al-Bukhaari and Muslim. They are a means of putting up with difficulties and of aiming to achieve great things.

 10. In one minute you can say Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah approximately 50 times. This is the greatest word, for it is the word of Tawheed, the good word, the word that stands firm. If these are the last words of a person, he will enter Paradise, and there are other reports which indicate how great these words are.

 11. In one minute you can say Subhaan Allaah wa bi hamdih, ‘adada khalqihi, wa ridaa nafsihi, wazinata ‘arshihi, wa midaada kalimaatihi (Glory and praise be to Allaah, as much as the number of His creation, as much as pleases Him, as much as the weight of His Throne and as much as the ink of His words) more than 15 times. This words bring many more times the reward for other forms of tasbeeh and dhikr, as was reported in saheeh ahaadeeth from the Prophet  (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).

 12. In one minute you can seek the forgiveness of Allaah more than 100 times by saying “Astaghfir-Allaah (I seek the forgiveness of Allaah). The virtues of seeking forgiveness are no secret, for it is the means of attaining forgiveness and entering Paradise, and it is the means of being granted a good life, increasing one’s strength, warding off disasters, making things easier, bringing rain and increasing one’s wealth and children.

 13. You can say a few brief and concise words in one minute, and Allaah may bring about some good through them that you could never imagine.

 14. In one minute you can send blessings on the Prophet  (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) 50 times by saying Sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam (May Allaah bless him and grant him peace). In return Allaah will send blessings upon you 500 hundred times because one blessing brings ten like it.

 15. In one minute you can motivate your heart to give thanks to Allaah, to love Him, to fear Him, to put hope in Him, to long for Him, and thus travel through the stages of ‘uboodiyyah (total enslavement to Allaah). You could do this when you are lying on your bed or walking in the street.

 16. In one minute you can read more than two pages of a useful book that is easy to understand.

 17. In one minute you can uphold the ties of kinship by calling a relative on the phone.

 18. You can raise your hands and recite any du’aa’ you wish from the books of du’aa’, in one minute.

 19. You can say salaams to and shake hands with a number of people in one minute.

 20. You can forbid an evil action in one minute.

 21. You can enjoin something good in one minute.

 22. You can offer sincere advice to a brother in one minute.

 23. You can console someone who is depressed in one minute.

 24. You can remove something harmful from the road in one minute.

 25. Making the most of one minute motivates you to make the most of  other periods that would otherwise be wasted.

  Al-Shaafa’i (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

  When people go to sleep, I let my tears flow, and I recite a verse of the  most eloquent poetry

 Is it not a waste that nights go by and I do not increase in knowledge, yet  this time is counted as part of my life?

  Finally, the more sincere you are towards Allaah and the more aware you  are of Him, the greater will be your reward and the more your hasanaat will  increase.

 Note that most of these actions will not cost you anything; they do not  require tahaarah (purity) and they will not tire you out or take much effort.  On the contrary, you can do them whilst you are walking, or in your car, or  lying down, or standing, or sitting, or waiting for somebody.

These actions are also among the greatest means of attaining happiness,  expanding the chest (i.e., bringing relief and joy) and removing stress and  anxiety. May Allaah help us and you to do that which He loves and which  pleases Him. May Allaah bless our Prophet Muhammad pbuh.

~Source: Islamartcl.html

Giving Thanks To Allah Is A Blessing

The blessings of Allah upon us are countless. There are so many blessings of Allah that we can’t even write them down. If we start writing them all, our life would come to end but Allah’s blessing will never finish. Even if we think of this Human Body of ours, from the time we came to this world we were not even able to move on our own. Alhumdulillah, now we can walk with the help of these feet, we are able to eat, we are able to breath. Every breath we take is a blessing of Allah. Every step we take is a blessing of Allah. The food we eat is a blessing of Allah. So, we should thank Allah for all these blessings, say Alhumdulillah every time and in every situation. 

Allah says:

“Say (O Muhammad PBUH): “Praise and thanks be to Allah, and peace be on His slaves whom He has chosen (for His Message)….” [Surah An-Naml 27: 59]

and Allah said:

“…And If you would count the blessings of Allah you would not be able to count them…” [Surah Ibrahim 14:34]

In another Verse, Allah commands us to thank Him:

“Therefore remember Me (by praying, glorifying), I will remember you, and be grateful to Me (for My countless Favors on you) and never be ungrateful to Me.” [Surah al-Baqarah 2: 152]

In Surah Rahman (The Most Gracious), This Verse is repeated many times:

“Then which of the Blessings of your Lord will you both (jinn and men) deny?”

Al-Junayd said: “I once heard al-Sari saying, ‘Because to give thanks for blessings is itself a blessing, one can never cease to give thanks.”

When the Prophet (Peace be upon Him) went to bed, He Would say this Dua:

“O Allah, in Your name I live and die”. (Narrated by al-Bukhari, 7394)

and when He (PBUH) woke up, He would say:

“Praise be to Allaah Who has brought us back to life after causing us to die, and unto Him is the resurrection.” (Narrated by al-Bukhari, 6312)

Suhaib (R.A) reported that Allah’s Messenger (Peace be upon Him) said: “Strange are the ways of a believer for there is good in every affair of his and this is not the case with anyone else except in the case of a believer for if he has an occasion to feel delight, he thanks (Allah), thus there is a good for him in it, and if he gets into trouble and shows resignation (and endures it patiently), there is a good for him in it.” [Muslim Chapter 14, Book 042, Number 7138]

Imam al-Shafi said: “Praised be Allah, Who, whenever He is thanked for one of His blessings, provides another blessing which in turn obliges one to thank Him again!”

So, to give thanks to Allah for His blessings is itself a Blessing which is bestowed upon a believer only. A believer will thank Allah for everything and in every situation, so thanking Allah will become a blessing itself. Let’s Say Alhumdulillah in every situation. Insha'Allah.

~Source: www.alquranclasses.com

The World Is Three Days

  The world is three days: As for yesterday, it has vanished, along with all that was in it.As for tomorrow, you may never see it. As for today, it is yours, so work in it.

~Imam Hassan al-Basri Rahmatallahi ta'ala alaih

Truth Has Been Planted In The Heart

"Truth has been planted in the center of your heart, entrusted to you by Allah for safekeeping. It becomes manifest with true repentance and with true effort. Its beauty shines on the surface when you remember Allah and do the dhikr [recitation of Divine Names]. At the first stage you recite the name of Allah with your tongue; then, when your heart becomes alive, you recite inwardly with the heart."~Ghawth al A'zam

Ease & Hardship Are The Feathers

“Ease  & hardship  are the feathers that give strength to the wings of your faith , so that your heart and your innermost being can use them to fly to the door of your Lord (Almighty and Glorious is He)”

~Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani

Complete Trust in Allah

"To completely trust in Allah is to be like a child who knows deeply that even if he does not call for the mother, the mother is totally aware of his condition and is looking after him."~ Imam al-Ghazzali

Truly Amazing Is The Believer's Affair

                                                                                                            

"Truly amazing is the believer's affair. Everything transpiring in his life is good for him. This is something that only occurs for the believer. If a blessing is his lot, he gives thanks for it, and this is good for him. And if he is afflicted with hardship, he patiently endures it, and this is good for him."
– The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him

The Pleasures of Paradise

The delights of Paradise surpass the imagination and defy description.  They are like nothing known to the people of this world; no matter how advanced we may become, what we achieve is as nothing in comparison with the joys of the Hereafter.  As is mentioned in several reports, there is nothing like Paradise:   

  “It is sparkling light, aromatic plants, a lofty palace, a flowing river, ripe fruit, a beautiful wife and abundant clothing, in an eternal abode of radiant joy, in beautiful soundly-constructed high houses”. [Ibn Maajah, Ibn Hibbaan]  

The Sahabah asked the Prophet PBUH about the   buildings of Paradise and he replied with a wonderful description: 

“Bricks of gold and silver, and mortar of fragrant musk, pebbles of pearl and sapphire, and soil of saffron.  Whoever enters it is filled with joy and will never feel miserable; he will live there forever and never die; their clothes will never wear out and their youth will never fade.” [Ahmad, at-Tirmidhi, ad-Daarimee]  

Allah says: “And when you look there (in Paradise) you will see a delight (that cannot be imagined), and a great dominion.” [Quran 76:20]  

What Allah has kept hidden from us the delights of Paradise is beyond our ability to comprehend.  The Prophet said that Allah said: “I have prepared for My slaves what no eye has seen, no ear has heard and no human heart can imagine.”  Recite if you wish:  

“No person knows what is kept hidden for them of joy as a reward for what they used to do.” [Quran 32:17] 

In another report: “Never mind what Allah has told you; what He has not told you is even greater.” [Saheeh Muslim] 

~Source: The Religion of Islam

Fear And Hope Are Two Pillars Of Faith

Fear and hope are two pillars of faith. By practicing either one of them a person will not fall into error, because both fear and hope lead to union. Those who fear devote themselves to God through fear of separation from Him, and those who hope worship in hope of realizing the ultimate union. 

-Al-Razi, "The Kashf al-Mahjub"       

True Happiness and Inner Peace

 

Islam is the religion that is more than a religion; it is the religion that is a complete way of life.  Nothing is too small or too big to be covered by the teachings of Islam.  Rejoice and be happy, remain positive and be at peace.[1] This is what Islam teaches us, through the Quran and the authentic teachings of Prophet Muhammad, may Allah praise him.  Every single one of Allah’s commandments aims to bring happiness to the individual.  This applies in all aspects of life, worship, economics, and society.

“Whoever works righteousness - whether male or female - while he (or she) is a true believer verily, to him We will give a good life (in this world with respect, contentment and lawful provision), and We shall pay them certainly a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to do (i.e.  Paradise in the Hereafter).” [Noble Quran 16:97] 

 The Prophet Muhammad PBUH said, “Indeed amazing are the affairs of a believer!  They are all for his benefit. If he is granted ease then he is thankful, and this is good for him.   And if he is afflicted with a hardship, he perseveres, and this is good for him.”[2]  The nature of the human condition means that amongst the happiness there may be great sorrow and within the pain and despair there may be great joy.  A believer will accept Allah’s decree for him and lead a happy life free from total despair or unbearable pain. 
  
~Source: The Religion  of Islam

Remain Patient In Adversity To Attain Peace

 

Do not be ruled by lust; seek freedom by following the righteous. Mere claims of piety will not earn you inner freedom. Remain patient in adversity to attain peace, for adversity is the threshold to freedom. Those who cannot persevere are held back from the doors of Mercy. -Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jillani

When You Forgive You Live

 

Forgiveness is not for the weak. Being able to forgive those who have wronged you is a mark of spiritual strength and confidence. When you forgive, you grow, your heart begins to heal, your back straightens up, your eyes clear so that you can see the road ahead. Anger is a spiritual sickness; but when you forgive you live.-Wael Abdelgawad 

Confidence,Trust and Hope

Confidence: Once upon a time in a certain village people decided to pray for rain. On the day of prayer all people gathered and only one boy came with an umbrella. That is Confidence, the boy was optimistic and confident that the prayers will be answered and definitely it was going to rain! That is why he carried the umbrella. 

Trust: Trust should be like the feeling of a one year old child, when you throw him up in the air, he just laughs. He is happy; he wants you to do it again and again! Do you know why? It's because he knows and trusts in you and has confidence that you will catch him and that you will never let him/her fall. That is Trust. 

Hope: Every night we go to bed, we have no assurance to get up alive in the next morning, but still we have plans for the coming day. That is Hope.

Hope is a wonderful thing, something to be cherished and nurtured and something that will refresh us in return. And it can be found in each of us and it can bring light into the darkest of places. 

Well-mannered model of good life: Be Confidence; Trust Others; and never lose Hope. ~Unknown

Then Which Of The Blessings Of Your Lord Will You Deny?

 

You ask; He (Allah) gives. You cry; He listens. You call; He runs. You sin; He forgives. You knock; He opens. You attend; He welcomes. You nag; He hears. You request; He accepts. You question; He solves. You plea; He resolves. You take; He provides. You insist; He grants. Everything you do, is about you, & everything He does, is about you. “Then which of the Blessings of your Lord will you deny?”

The Blessing Of The Hearts

 

For everything there is a blessing; the blessing of the hearts is being pleased with Allah, the Almighty, the All-powerful.

Learn Patience From The Seeds In The Desert

Desert flowers don't bloom for very long, but they're beautiful.

When Allah wills a burdon on you, He also puts His arms around you to help you. Don't despair if the road is uphill, the view from the top is breathtaking. learn patience from the seeds in the desert. They wait a lifetime for a drop of rain, then burst into flowers that last a few days. ~ Unknown

Do Not Lose Hope In Allah swt

Do not lose hope in Allah, for He is the Creator. He will create another way for you. Do not flee from your trials; patience in adversity is the foundation of all virtue, of compassion and sainthood. Patience is the foundation, and without a sound foundation you cannot build a monument.

-Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jillani, "Fayuz E Yazdani"  

The planning of the almighty is better for you than you own planning and he could deprive you from what you ask to test your patience.So let him see from you a determined patience and you will soon see from him what will give yo joy.And when you have cleaned the paths of answering (of supplication), from the stains of sin ( have repented) and were patient about what he has chosen for you, then everything that happens to you is better for you whether you were given or deprived of what you have requested. 
 -Ibn Jawzee

All Despair Is Followed By Hope

Tulip Heaven

Hardship may dishearten at first, but every hardship passes away. All despair is followed by hope; all darkness is followed by sunshine.

-Rumi

Life Blossoms Wherever Water Flows

Water Beauties

Sometimes in order to help He makes us cry. Happy the eye that sheds tears for His sake. Fortunate the heart that burns for His sake. Laughter always follows tears. Blessed are those who understand. Life blossoms wherever water flows. Where tears are shed divine mercy is shown.
~ Rumi, "Mathnawi"

Move In The Direction That You Know You Need To Go

An amazing road in Argentinian Patagonia..

 “Prepare yourself for greatness, don’t ever settle for less than what’s good, right, sound. Believe in the power of your prayers. Move in the direction that you know you need to go, not the direction that you want to go. Don’t ever settle for less than what’s good, right, and sound – if we do, we will only be cheating ourselves. Allah has great things in store for you… patiently work towards making them happen!” – Hanan K. Bilal

Allah swt is The Best Planner

A survivor of the Oodnadatta Track, outback South Australia.

"No amount of guilt can change the past and no amount of worrying can change the future.Go easy on yourself, for the outcome of all affairs is determined by Allah's decree. If something is meant to go elsewhere,it will never come your way but if it is yours by destiny,then it cannot flee from you" [Quoted by Umar Ibn al-Khattab]

Put Your Whole Trust in Allah swt

“If we put our whole trust in Allah as we ought, He most certainly will satisfy our needs, as He satisfies those of the birds. They come out hungry in the morning, but return FULL to their nests.”

- Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), related in At-Tirmidhi