#supermuslims

SuperMuslims

When I reflect upon these past few years, the things I used to do, the way I used to act, the people I used to hang out with, I realize that I’ve changed a lot. I always thought that I can correctly judge a situation. I can decide what is “Ok” to be said or done. I can decide whom I want to hang out with. I can pretty much decide everything on my own.

But looking back, I realize that there were times when I really messed things up. It’s ok as long as I learn from my mistakes. But then I thought that I needed some kind of guidance. Things can’t be this random all the time. I know I must be missing something. And then it hit me, I am missing the most important thing. I’m missing a relationship with Allah.

 I’ve totally been ignoring the role of religion in my life. Religion for me meant praying, fasting in Ramadan, and occasionally reading Quran without understanding most of it, and I think that’s the case with most of the Muslims today. They set their own standards and they follow them. But the thing that we don’t realize is that our standards get affected by the things and the people around us. Even though we try to set some sort of rules for ourselves, these change too with time.

What is fascinating about Islam is that it gave us guiding lines to everything in life. There’s not a thing or a situation you’ll find yourself in that is not addressed directly or indirectly in the Quran or Sunnah. Whether it’s the way we should dress or talk, or the way we should treat others, or the way we should act during war, whatever comes to your mind, you’ll find it in the Quran and Sunnah.

People spend most of their lives feeling lost, not knowing what this life is about. Some live and die without knowing the answer. Some just live on and try to persuade themselves that there’s no bigger purpose for living, it’s just one life to live and when it’s over it’s over.

We were given everything we need to live a peaceful and a happy life and what do we do with all that? We just live like we don’t have a clue about anything. We throw away all these blessings that we have as Muslims; we pretend that all these guidelines we’re given are not applicable in the situations we face every day even though that’s not true at all.

We have to realize that we’re blessed and we can lead happy lives even extraordinary lives if we hold on tight to the Quran and Sunnah.

Allah says in Surat Taha “And whoever turns away from My remembrance - indeed, he will have a depressed life, and We will gather him on the Day of Resurrection blind - He will say, “My Lord, why have you raised me blind while I was [once] seeing?” - [Allah] will say, “Thus did Our signs come to you, and you forgot them; and thus will you this Day be forgotten.” (1)

For us to be true Muslims, we must realize and fully understand that Islam is not limited to a certain aspect of our lives, on the contrary Islam is a way of life. It’s part of our daily lives and our decisions.

So starting today promise yourself that you won’t be blind and remember Allah only when you’re praying. Remember him when you’re eating, working and travelling. Remember him in everything you do or say. Hold on tight to the Quran and Sunnah. Make Islam a way of life.

Salam’alaikum dear brothers and sisters,

Today I would like to speak to you about a very important topic that will help you all deal with some difficult times, inshaAllah.

We live in a world where there are wars, killings, and unexpected deaths. We also live in a world of fantasy, where what we see on the television, or hear in stories, we want. We attach ourselves to material things, only to have us be bored with it, or even worse, make us obsessed with it. We attach ourselves to people we wish to have in our lives when they are no one but a stranger to us, according to the view, and laws of Allah.

We live in a world where our heart, one of the most beautiful aspects of humans, gets attached to things it should not. When our heart is attached to something, we tend to go above and beyond our means to achieve that thing. When we do not get it, Allah serves us a lesson. He strikes us with grief, and with pain to show us that our heart should not have been overly attached to that material thing, to that person who was a stranger, or that wealth that is not ours anyway. I would like to relay to you a very beautiful piece by Imam Ibn Taymiyyah (May Allah be pleased with him). 

He said:“Anyone whose heart is attached to the creation, hoping for someone from the creation to help him or provide for him or guide him, then his heart submits to them and to the degree that his heart submits to them, he becomes their slave. This holds true, even if he is outwardly a ruler or guardian over those whom he treats as masters. The wise one looks at realities and not at appearances. So if a man’s heart is attached to his wife, even though that is permissible, his heart remains a prisoner to her and she may rule over him as she pleases - though outwardly he is her master and her husband. In reality, he is her prisoner and her slave, especially if she knows how much he is in need of her and how much he is in love with her and how much he feels she cannot be replaced by anyone else. At that point, she rules over him as the tyrant master rules over his subjugated slave, who cannot escape of go free. Indeed for the heart to be taken as a prisoner is a much greater matter than for the body to be taken as a slave or prisoner. Even a body that is a slave can have in it a serene and peaceful and happy heart. As for the heart that is a slave to other than Allah (the Exalted), then that is true humiliation, imprisonment and slavery.”

While I was walking down the street a couple of days ago, I witnessed 3 different fights between different people for the most insignificant reasons anyone can think of. I wondered how can Muslim brothers who are supposed to be fasting in Ramadan behave in such ways. I kept watching how people behave and I realized that somehow a huge gap was created between worshipping Allah through fasting, praying….etc and understanding how this should reflect upon our behavior.

What most of us don’t realize nowadays is that having good manners in not a secondary issue in Islam. It’s one of the most primary and essential issues. Our beloved prophet (Peace be upon him) said: “I have only been sent to perfect good manners.” (1). So the prophet (Peace be upon him) basically summarized his whole message in perfecting good manners. Therefore not acknowledging this fact is a major defect in our understanding of Islam and what it’s all about.

Thinking about the most basic act of worship that we do everyday like praying for example, you’ll realize that one of the main purposes of praying is prohibiting immorality and wrong doing as Allah says in Surat Al-`Ankabūt “ Recite, [O Muhammad], what has been revealed to you of the Book and establish prayer. Indeed, prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing, and the remembrance of Allah is greater. And Allah knows that which you do.” (2)

Another example is fasting,  the prophet (peace be upon him ) said, "Whoever does not abandon falsehood in word and action, then Allah (SWT) has no need that he should heave his food and drink" (3). Fasting is supposed to bring discipline and peace to our lives. It is not about abandoning food and drink; it’s about abandoning bad habits and wrong doings.

The same goes for all acts of worship like Hajj and Zakah. All acts of worship have a common purpose whih is to perfect one’s manners and help a person be better inside out. Allah says in Surat Al-Baqarah “Righteousness is not that you turn your faces toward the east or the west, but [true] righteousness is [in] one who believes in Allah , the Last Day, the angels, the Book, and the prophets and gives wealth, in spite of love for it, to relatives, orphans, the needy, the traveler, those who ask [for help], and for freeing slaves; [and who] establishes prayer and gives zakah; [those who] fulfill their promise when they promise; and [those who] are patient in poverty and hardship and during battle. Those are the ones who have been true, and it is those who are the righteous.” (4). Therefore true righteousness is reached through being patient, helping those in need, keeping your promises and having good manners.

It’s very important to recognize the purpose behind every act of worship that you do and to understand the tight link between worshipping Allah and having good manners and a pure heart. This is what Islam is about; perfecting one’s manners so that all of us can live peacefully together. So focus on how you behave, on how you treat other people. Focus on the way you react when faced with a difficult situation. Think about the way Allah would want you to act. Think about the way our beloved prophet (peace be upon him) would have acted. Try to set a good example for everyone around you on how a true Muslim behaves.

 May Allah bless us to love our Prophet and follow his example in both outward and inward matters. May Allah gather us together with him along with the prophets, the righteous, and the foremost in faith. Indeed they are the best of company. 

 Al –Bukhari

 Holy Quran, Surat Al-`Ankabūt (The spider), Verse 45

 Al- Bukhari

Oh Allah, I can see the clouds floating like the many thoughts inside this head. My thoughts are amazed by the wind which gathered them together. Allah, I am amazed by your existence and encompassment. No wonder you are Al-Muheet. The happy eyes of my aching heart can't help to see the big hug You've put me in. It looks like the Earth is hugging the ground, the seas and the greens. Then, us within… The planets are hugging the sun so then we feel its warmth daily. The galaxies are in great harmony surrounding the galaxy our planet is in. All are in Your hands: the safest hug I would ever wish to be within. You perfectly know. You are the only powerful, the All-loving, and your Mercy encompasses every single thing, all within your extent.

I can't help that the universe around me reminds me of You. I wish my brothers and sisters can see the beautiful harmony that you've bestowed on me, and to read your verses of love and mercy.

THE 99 NAMES OF ALLAH (Also known as 'Your Ticket to Jannah') The first name: Ar-Rahman الرحمن الرحيم من صيغ المبالغة , الرحمن خاص الاسم عام الفعل، والرحيم عكسه أي عام الاسم خاص الفعل، والمعنى أن صفة الرحمة في الرحمن تعني صاحب الرحمة الذي تشمل رحمته جميع المخلوقات. أما الرحيم، فإن الرحمة تكون فيه خاصة بالمؤمنين. الرحمة هى عطف يقتضي احسان على المخلوق بم يسعده ويُصلحه، أقرب قول للعلماء هو: شئ بسيط أن الرحمن ذو الرحمة العامة والشاملة لكل ما هو مخلوق في هذا الكون " قُلْ مَن يَكْلَؤُكُم بِاللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ مِنَ الرَّحْمَنِ..."(الأنبياء: 42). لكن الرحيم رحمه خاصة للمؤمنين "... وَكَانَ بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَحِيماً" (الأحزاب: 43). أهل الجنة بعد أن يدخلوها يُقال لهم "سَلَامٌ قَوْلاً مِن رَّبٍّ رَّحِيمٍ" (يس: 58). التوبة رحمة خاصة؛ لأنها عودة إلى الله تبارك وتعالى ولذلك تجد كثيراً في القرآن الكريم "...إِنَّهُ هُوَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ"(التوبة: 104). أن تأكل وتشرب وتتمتع بحياتك هذه رحمة من الله تبارك وتعالى وأن تعبد الله في رمضان هذه رحمة خاصة من الله.. نحن نتكلم عن رحمتين رحمة عامة ورحمة خاصة: انظر إلى هذه الآية "... وَرَحْمَتِي وَسِعَتْ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ فَسَأَكْتُبُهَا لِلَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَ..." (الأعراف: 156)، فلقد جمعت بين الرحمن "وَرَحْمَتِي وَسِعَتْ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ" رحمة عامة.. وبين الرحيم " فَسَأَكْتُبُهَا لِلَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَ" رحمة خاصة. يقول النبي صل الله عليه وسلم: "إن الله خلق يوم خلق السماوات والأرض مائة رحمة، كل رحمة كطِباق ما بين السماء والأرض، أنزل منها إلى الأرض رحمه واحدة فبها يتراحم الخلائق حتى ترفع الدابة حافرها عن ولدها خشية أن تصيبه من هذه الرحمة- فكيف تكون إذاً الـ 99 رحمة؟؟- فإذا كان يوم القيامة ضم الله هذه الرحمة إلى الـ 99 ثم بسطها على خلقه، فلا يهلك يومها إلا هالك، حتى أن إبليس ليتطاول أن تدركه رحمة الله عز وجل". الله تعالى افتتح الكون بالرحمة، وافتتح خلق آدم بالرحمة، وافتتح القرآن بالرحمة، وافتتح كل سور القرآن بالرحمة.. ونَهى الخلق بالرحمة ! النبي صل الله عليه وسلم يقول: " ليس منكم من أحد يدخل الجنة بعمله. قالوا: ولا أنت يا رسول الله؟ قال: ولا أنا إلا أن يتغمدني الله برحمته ". فلنكن رحماء بيننا رحيمين بغيرنا ...هكذا علمنا ديننا 

  Today I’d like to inform you all about the ayah in surah At-Tur.

52:47

Muhsin Khan Translation:

And verily, for those who do wrong, there is another punishment (i.e. the torment in this world and their graves) before this, but most of them know not.

  I will state a few theoretical examples of how this ayah can relate to us being punished in this world. The easiest of this type of action and reaction can be seen as a man killing another, and being sentenced to death for it. Or a man stealing from someone and paying the price for it. Those are obvious examples, and they have shariah law and its enforcers to put it in place.

  What about the rest of the time though?

According to Ibn Kathir’s Tafsir about this ayah, he says that Allah is basically saying: “We will torment them in the life of the world and test them with various hardships, so that they might go back and repent. However, they do not understand what is happening to them or why, because when the torment is removed, they revert to committing the worst of what they used to do before.”

  Let us take for example our problems in this world. We all know that Allah tells us to lower our gaze, and guard our chastity. We know that Allah has also told us to remain patient. Our prophet Muhammad (S) has also recommended that we marry when we are able to. You see a lot of people in the west (I speak of the west because they are the prime example) encountering a great deal of ‘relationship problems’.  We see these examples yet even as Muslims we do not learn.

  We speak to the opposite gender, we get attached, and when we face problems, we are unable to let go, and fall in a downward spiral that only Allah can save us from. For example, I know someone whose parents disapprove of a marriage because they feel the other is not a good fit, simply, and the man is unable to let go of her due to some sort of attachment they both have because of them starting on the right foot. Now there is a slight blame to the family, as they cannot force this upon them (again another example of how not following the commandments of Allah can harm those around us). These two have had nothing but problems in their struggles. Is it not possible that Allah has put this upon them to show them to break a cycle, and to come back and repent to Him?

  I see this as something that is common in the west, especially because I live here and I have seen the examples, and I have been told of examples.