The 5-A Day Challenge WEEK 1

Assalam Alaykum to all who are participating in the challenge this week :) It's never too late to join, so hop on if you haven't already.

InshaAllah this week I plan on doing the following 5 with my 3 year old:

- Dua before and after going to the toilet
- Surah Ikhlaas, she has memorised it already but I'm going to work on better pronunciation
- Dua before bedtime
- Arabic Alphabets (flash cards)
- 3 names of Allah

List your 5 (or whatever number you choose) and lets track our progress. As mentioned in my previous post, it can be less than 5, it can be over 2 weeks if 1 week isn't enough. Work it around your child's ability and task at hand.

Renew your intention, make it for the sake of Allah alone, and to gain His acceptance and pleasure and to raise a righteous child, InshaAllah!

Let the challenge begin! :)

The 5 A Day Challenge

Whilst browsing the internet for some inspiration, I came across this post on a blog I frequent. (It's a really good resource for play based learning for kids and a lot of fun DIY projects! I would love to give them a go in the future when I have the time inshaAllah ;P)

Here's the link:

http://www.theimaginationtree.com/2011/04/5-day-books-week-1.html

Now what I want to do is add a Islamic perspective to this challenge. Some of the stuff she mentions in her post are:

They suggest choosing short picture books which feature strong rhythm and/ or repeated refrain so that the children can quickly memorise the words and join in with the story-telling. This empowers them to be able to "read" and re-tell stories from a young age, and also makes them very fluent in a range of text types and literature styles. 

Why not use this to teach our children their deen? Repeatedly read to them stories from the Quran, short hadiths and introduce them to Arabic as a language.

She goes on to say:

after a term of switching the 5-a-day books each week, they had memorised a huge number of books and developed a real love for the pictures and characters within them. 

How would you like to see the results of your efforts when your child has memorised verses from the Qur'an, daily duas, hadith and duas for dhikr?

studies show that children exposed to plenty of strong, rhythmic text/ song from a young age become more literate. 

Bang! Right on. Are you thinking what I'm thinking B1? I think I am B2? It's Quran qirat time! ;) (sorry couldn't resist hehe)

So, now here's my proposal. Would you like to join me in the 5 a day challenge? We could pick short duas, hadith, ayahs from the Quran or even stories of Prophets, Sahabas, great Muslim men/women and read it to our children every-day for a week. And then report back with progress. Hopefully they would've memorised parts of it or better still most of it, inshaAllah. We can pick a theme each week, and depending on the topic allocate either 1 week or more for each set of 5 items.

So who's in? Drop in a line with comments, suggestions, ideas, tips and advice! Let's get the ball rolling ;)

Of all the Rights of Women, the Greatest is to be a Mother

Men are in charge of women by [right of] what Allah has given one over the other and what they spend [for maintenance] from their wealth. So righteous women are devoutly obedient, guarding in [the husband's] absence what Allah would have them guard... [Quran 4:34]

Historically men have taken upon the role of being providers of the home and leaders of their families, whilst the women are responsible for raising the children. Though some might look down upon these gender specific roles and raise doubts of non equality and oppression it is important to note that the role of a woman is by far the most honourable. She is the one who will be actively partaking the upbringing of the next generation of Muslims on true beliefs and sound morals. This differentiation of roles is essential for effective functioning of the family and All praise be to Allah (swt) who has created all systems with balance and order.

Motherhood is a means of gaining endless spiritual rewards. It is an opportunity for us to mould and guide the leaders of tomorrow, the pioneers of change who will interact with and bring forth good reform into the society at large. They will together strengthen the foundations of the community steering them towards success and enlightenment.

Being a mother brings with it the enormous responsibility of disciplining, instructing and guiding. For this reason we have been given the respect and honour that we rightly deserve.

It is reported that once a man went to the Prophet (pbuh) and asked: O Messenger of Allah who, of all people, is most entitled to my kindness and good company? The Prophet answered, Your mother. Then the man asked: Who comes  next? The Prophet replied, Your mother. The man again asked: Who comes next? and again the Prophet (pbuh) answered, Your mother. The man asked one more time, Who comes next? And the Prophet replied: Your father. [Bukhari & Muslim]

Motherhood in itself is a full time career, employed by our Creator, equipped with His Guidance and Mercy where we embark on this miraculous journey, by His command, from conception through birth, breastfeeding and many more years of child-rearing.

Being bestowed with the bounty of motherhood is a part of the  Mercy of Allah (swt). Allah's Messenger (pbuh) said, " Allah created, on the same day when He created the heavens and the earth, one hundred parts of mercy. Every part of mercy is analogous to the space between the heavens and the earth, and He out of His Mercy, endowed one part to the earth, and it is because of this that the mother shows affection to her child. [Muslim]

It is as a result of this Mercy that a woman exhibits the exceptional qualities of nurturing, compassion, sensitivity and patience which are all crucial for the efficient fulfilment of this role.  These in turn lay the foundation for a warm, loving and peaceful home.

Kudos to all the mothers out there, who are sharing many moments of unconditional love, laughter and togetherness and building memories that they will cherish for the rest of their lives. It is truly a job where there is no dry moment, no bonuses or perks necessary to keep us grounded and definitely one with complete job satisfaction!

Learning to Teach from the Greatest Teacher

Certainly did Allah confer [great] favor upon the believers when He sent among them a Messenger from themselves, reciting to them His verses and purifying them and teaching them the Book and wisdom, although they had been before in manifest error. [Quran 3:164]


Every good teacher knows how to reach out to his students, how to bring out from them their full potential. In this regard - as in all other regards - none was, or ever will be, better than the Messenger of Allah (swt). 

• In teaching others, he was gentle, and he exhorted others to be gentle as well. His gentleness wasn't restricted with the rich and the strong, but also the poor and weak; and he was especially gentle with children.

"Verily Allah is Rafeeq (Kind, merciful, gentle) , and He loves gentleness. And Allah gives for gentleness that which He does not give for harshness." Bukhari (6927) & Muslim (2593)

• He possessed noble manners to which others were drawn, and wished that they could remain in his company all the time. He was always truthful and sincere.

So by mercy from Allah, [O Muhammad], you were lenient with them. And if you had been rude [in speech] and harsh in heart, they would have disbanded from about you. So pardon them and ask forgiveness for them and consult them in the matter. And when you have decided, then rely upon Allah. Indeed, Allah loves those who rely [upon Him]. Quran 3:159

• He did not overload his Companions with information; he did not force them to listen to lectures a few times a day or even once a day. The Prophet (pbuh) was afraid that his Companions would become bored with daily, lengthy lectures, so he would leave a sufficient gap between one lecture or sermon and the next. Such a gap allowed the companions to regain a sense of enthusiasm, so that they would yearn for another sermon, one that would give them the spiritual fuel they needed until the sermon that came after it.
• He did not teach them about matters all at once, but in stages a little at a time.

And [it is] a Qur'an which We have separated [by intervals] that you might recite it to the people over a prolonged period. And We have sent it down progressively. Quran 17:106

• He would be economical with his words, giving a sermon that was at once meaningful and brief. 
• His sermons were full of guidance and wisdom, such that they had the effect of increasing the Faith of the Companions.

"Verily, the prolongation of a man's prayer and the brevity of his sermon are signs of his understanding (fiqh)." Muslim 869

• He encouraged the use of lawful entertainment as a means of diversion that rejuvenates the soul and provides a healthy break from serious affairs and hard work. 
• He prioritised his lessons, teaching his Companions in order of what was most important. 
• He repeated what he said three times, giving commands that were at once brief and easy to memorise and changing the pitch of his tone depending on the importance of what he was saying.
• He used parables, analogies and metaphors which were palpable, easy to understand examples to make matters clear to his Companions.
• He related stories of past Nations and captivated hearts with beautiful stories and imparting to them important lessons.
• He exhorted his Companions to spread the knowledge he conveyed to them. 
• By far, the best method of teaching that the Prophet (pbuh) employed was that of being a good role model. Every religious teaching that the Prophet (pbuh) commanded others to follow, he followed it himself.

The  Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said: "Whoever takes a path seeking knowledge, then, because of that, Allah makes easy for him a path to Paradise." Muslim 2699

[Summarised by yours truly from various parts from the book "Muhammad, As if You Can See Him by A'id Al-Qarni]

Treat the Young Girl According to Her Age...

According to an authentic narration:

<< It is narrated by A'ishah (RA) that Abu Bakr (RA) entered upon her whilst she was with two of her friends on the day of Mina. They were playing the tambourine and singing songs, whilst the Prophet (pbuh) was lying down with his face covered with his cloth. Abu Bakr rebuked them, so the Prophet (pbuh) uncovered his face and said: Let her be, O Abu Bakr, it's Eid. (Aishah added:) I have seen the Prophet (pbuh) screen me with his cloth, allowing me to see the Abyssinians play, and I was a young girl; so treat the young girl according to her age, as she is playful, spirited and youthful.>>
Muslim, Hadith no.892

Her words, "so treat the young girl according to her age" mean that young girls like to look and enjoy activities of leisure and entertainment, and hence, their husbands (or fathers) should take care of this desire of theirs and allow them to enjoy it until they are satisfied.  [Sharh Muslim by An-Nawawi (6/490)]

This hadith shows how kind, merciful and indulgent the Prophet (pbuh) was with his wives in his social interactions with them.

This marvellous religion of Islam is characterised by its ease and leniency, as it caters to the needs of a human being, whatever his or her circumstances or situation. Despite the fact that the reason for our existence on this planet is to worship Allah, there is nothing wrong with having fun and being merry, as long as it does not go against the limits set by Islam.

Taken from the book: The Prophet Muhammad, The Best of All Husbands by Dr. Ghazi al-Shammari

'In Allah Let the Believers Put Their Trust'

The Prophet (pbuh) advised a person who is touched by something from Satan to mention Allah and to recite His Name and seek refuge with Him from Satan, for that is more beneficial for him and more exasperating for Satan. The Prophet (pbuh) said, "Verily, when the slave curses Satan, he says, 'Verily, you are cursing one who is (already) cursed.' All such statements make Satan happy and he says "The son of Adam knows that I have defeated him by my power". And this lends support to him in his misguidance.

If calamity befalls you, refrain from saying "If only I had done such-and-such", as this implies in it that if the matter had been planned by you, then the outcome would have been other than what Allah has decreed; and the occurrence of something other than what has been decreed is impossible, so this speech includes untruth, ignorance and impossibility.

The Prophet (pbuh) said: "Verily, it opens up (the door to) the deeds of Satan". (Narrated by Muslim and Ibn Majah). Instead it is more befitting of a Muslim to say, "Qaddarallahu Wa Ma Shaá Fa'ala" which means, "Allah has ordained and as He willed, He has done."

This is because lamenting over what has been lost does not benefit the believer nor does it change what has already occurred, and the word 'if' doesn't solve his problem either. By wishing for something whose occurrence is not to be hoped for, is simply helplessness and Allah censures helplessness, because it opens the door to Satan. But He loves intelligence and resourcefulness, which is to undertake the means (of achieving one's aims) and this opens the doors to goodness, and after you do this, if something gets the better of you, you should say: "Hasbiyallahu Wa Ni'mal-Wakeel".  [Narrated by Abu Dawud and Ahmad]

The Prophet (pbuh) sought refuge with Allah from helplessness and laziness, for they are the key to every evil - and anxiety, depression, cowardice, miserliness, the burdensome debt and the oppression of men result from them. And the sign of this is lauw (if), for the one who wishes that Allah's Qadar were different is among the most helpless of people and the most bankrupt. The root of all sins is weakness or helplessness, because the slave is unable to undertake the means of achieving obedience and the means which keep him far away from acts of disobedience, and that form a barrier between him and them.

If a slave delays performing righteous deeds or performed them imperfectly, it would be either due to inability on his part - and this is helplessness, or it would be that he was able to do it, but he did not want to do it - and this is laziness.And the result of these two characteristics is that he would miss every good thing and attain every evil.

The Prophet (pbuh) said, "I seek refuge with you from "Al-Hamm" (anxiety) and "Al-Hazn" (sorrow)."
Anxiety and sorrow weaken the will and enfeeble the heart and form a barrier between the slave and striving to achieve what is beneficial for him. When something which is disliked afflicts the heart, the cause of it is either something which has already occurred, in which case, it results in sorrow, or else it is expected to occur in the future, in which case, it gives rise to anxiety - and both of them are from helplessness, because that which has already occurred cannot be dispelled by sorrow, but rather by acceptance, praise and thanks (to Allah), patience, perseverance and belief in Allah's Qadar. And that which is yet to happen cannot be repelled by anxiety for either there is a solution for it, in which case, he is able to do it, or there is no solution, in which case, he is unable to do it. And he should take on the garments of Tawheed and Tawakkul and display acceptance of Allah as his Lord.

Tawakkul (dependence on Allah) and Al-Hasb (declaring that Allah is Sufficient) without undertaking the measures which have been commanded is pure weakness and helplessness, even though there may be an element of Tawakkul in it. It is not fitting that the slave should let his tawakkul be in the form of helplessness, nor that he should claim that his helplessness was in fact tawakkul; instead he should make his tawakkul one of the necessary measures, without which one's aim will not be achieved.

Whatever situation a slave finds himself in, it is Allah who places him in it and it is thanks to Him and His Wisdom and He does not forbid the slave from any right which is his, rather He prevents it in order that he may implore Allah through the deeds which He loves and then He gives him. It is a means for the slave to return to Him and strengthen him through humility towards Him, to make him independent (of people) through his need for Allah, to restore him by submission before Allah, to raise him to the noblest position and to show him the Wisdom in His ability and the Mercy in His Might. Truly, His forbiddance is in fact giving and His Punishment is in fact discipline. When a person is prevented from something, it becomes a gift bestowed on him, while whoever busies himself with what was bestowed upon him, it becomes a prevention for him from the reward of the Hereafter.

Allah the Most High says:

"And whosoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine. And whosoever put his trust in Allah, then he will suffice him." [Qurán 65:2-3]

"So fear Allah. And in Allah let the believers put their trust." [Qurán 5:11]

[Taken from: Provisions for the Hereafter, by Imam Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyyah]

The Greatest Form of Dhikr

The angels remember Allah (dhikr) and the bearers of the Throne glorify Him, may He be exalted. They glorify Allah constantly, without ceasing, either at night or during the day. Because they glorify Allah so much, they are indeed those who truly glorify Allah's praises, and they have the right to be proud of that.

الَّذِينَ يَحْمِلُونَ الْعَرْشَ وَمَنْ حَوْلَهُ يُسَبِّحُونَ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّهِمْ وَيُؤْمِنُونَ بِهِ وَيَسْتَغْفِرُونَ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا رَبَّنَا وَسِعْتَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ رَحْمَةً وَعِلْمًا فَاغْفِرْ لِلَّذِينَ تَابُوا وَاتَّبَعُوا سَبِيلَكَ وَقِهِمْ عَذَابَ الْجَحِيمِ

Those angels who bear the Throne of Allah and those who stand around it glorify their Rabb with His praises, believe in Him and implore forgiveness for the believers, saying: "Our Rabb! You embrace all things with your mercy and knowledge. Forgive those who repent and follow Your Way, and save them from the punishment of the blazing fire.(Qur'an 40:7)

They glorify Allah so much because Tasbeeh is the greatest form of dhikr. 

Muslim narrated in his Saheeh that Abu Dharr said: "The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) was asked what kind of dhikr is the best. He said: "That which Allah has chosen for His angels or His slaves:

سُبْحَانَ اللّهِ وَ بِحَمْدِهِ 

(Subhaan Allaahi wa bi hamdihi)

Glory and praise be to Allah."

Muslim, 4/2093 hadith no. 2731.

(Taken from: The World of the Noble Angels, by Dr. Úmar S al-Ashqar - Islamic Creed Series book 2)

The Dispute of the Hosts on High

The angels discuss amongst themselves matters of the revelation of their Lord which are not clear to them. In Sunan at-Tirmidhi and Musnad Ahmad, it is narrated from Ibn Ábbas that the Messenger (pbuh) said:

"Last night my Lord - may He be blessed and exalted - came to me in the most beautiful form - he (the narrator) said: I think he said in a dream - and He said: " O Muhammad, do you know what the hosts on high dispute about?" I said, "No". He put His hand on my back, between my shoulders, until I could feel its coolness on my chest, and I knew what was in the heavens and what was on earth.

Then He said, "O Muhammad, do you know what the hosts on high dispute about?" I said, "Yes, about expiations and actions that raise a person's status. The expiations are staying int he mosque after the prayer, walking on foot to join the congregational prayers and doing wudoo' properly at the time of hardship; and the actions that raise a persons's status are spreading salaam, feeding people, and praying at night when people are asleep."

He said, "You have spoken the truth, Whoever does that will live in goodness and die in peace, and he will be free from any sin, as pure as a newborn baby."

He said, "O Muhammad, when you pray, say, Allahumma inni as’aluka fi’lal khairat wa tarkal munkarat wa hubbal masakin wa an taghfarali wa tarhamani wa idha aradata fitnatan fi qaumi fatawafani ghaira maftunin wa as’aluka hubbaka wa hubba man yuhibbuka wa hubba ‘amalin yuqaribu ila hubbika

“O Allah! I ask You for the means to do good, to avoid evil, and to love the poor, and I beseech You to forgive me and have mercy on me. When You subject my people to a trial, cause me to die without being affected by it. O Allah! I ask Your love, the love of those who love You, and the love of all such actions that bring one closer to Your Love.”

- Saheeh Sunan at-Tirmidhi, 3/9, no.2580, 2581.

Remember Allah in times of ease, and Allah will remember you in times of distress

Remember that with Allah are the keys of the unseen, and He, the Almighty, All-Merciful, is the One Who brings relief from worry and distress. So turn to Him and call upon Him, and always repeat this duá:

اللَّهُمَّ إنِّي أعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْهَمِّ وَ الْحَزَنِ ، وَ الْعَجْزِ وَ الْكَسَلِ ، وَ الْبُخْلِ وَ الْجُبْنِ ، وَ ضَلَعِ الدِّيْنِ وَ غَلَبَةِ الرِّجَالِ

O' Allah, I seek refuge with You from distress and grief, and I seek refuge with you from incapacity and laziness, and I seek refuge with You from miserliness and cowardice, and I seek refuge in You from the burden of debt and from being over-powered by men.

Beware of despair and frustration, recite:

لا حول ولاقوة إلا بالله

There is no power and no strength except with Allah.

These great words are the secret of happiness and success. Recite them a great deal, chase away the specters of grief and distress with them, and recive the glad tidings that Allah will soon grant you happiness and a way out.

When anxiety rears its head, worries come along and a crisis overwhelms man, making him feel that there is no way out and he is helpless, he cries out:

لَآ إِلَهَ اِ لَّا اللهُ الْعَظِيمُ الْحَلِيمُ ، لَآ إِلَهَ إ لَّا اللهُ رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ لَآ إِلَه ا لَّا اللهُ رَبُّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَرَبُّ الْأَرْضِ وَرَبَّ الْعَرْشِ الْكَرِيمِ

There is no god but Allah, the Mighty, the Forbearing, there is no god but Allah, the Lord of the mighty throne, there is no god but Allah, the Lord of the heavens and the earth, and the Lord of the throne of honor.

Then his worry is dispelled and he is relieved of distress.

Saddness, grief and worry are punishments for sins that you have committed, by falling short in your prayers, or backbiting about a Muslim, or taking the matter of Hijab lightly, or committing a haraam action. Turning to Allah requires a person to renew himself, reorganize his life, develop a better relationship with his Lord and do better deeds. It is the start of a new convenant that is summed up in the following duá:

اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِّي لا إِلَهَ إِلا أَنْتَ خَلَقْتَنِي وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ وَأَنَا عَلَى عَهْدِكَ وَوَعْدِكَمَا اسْتَطَعْتُ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا صَنَعْتُ أَبُوءُ لَكَ بِنِعْمَتِكَ عَلَيَّ وَأَبُوءُ لَكَ بِذَنْبِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي فَإِنَّهُ لا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلا أَنْتَ
O Allah! You are my Lord! None has the right to be worshipped but You. You created me and I am Your slave, and I am faithful to my covenant and my promise as much as I can. I seek refuge with You from all the evil I have done. I acknowledge before You all the blessings You have bestowed upon me, and I confess to You all my sins. So I entreat You to forgive my sins, for nobody can forgive sins except You.

And Allah tells us that Dhu an-Nun (Jonah) called out:

لَّا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ 

None has the right to be worshipped but You, O' Allah, glorified and exalted be You. Truly, I have been of the wrongdoers. (Qurán 21:87)

Allah says in the Qurán:

فَاذْكُرُونِي أَذْكُرْكُمْ وَاشْكُرُواْ لِي وَلاَ تَكْفُرُونِ
So remember ' Me and I will remember you, and give thanks to Me and be not ungrateful.  (Qurán 2:152)

Remember Allah in times of ease, and He will remember you in times of distress. What hit you could not have missed you, what missed you could not have hit you. Remember that victory comes with patience, relief comes with affliction and ease comes with hardship.

(Taken from: "You can be the happiest woman in the world" by Dr. Áid al-Qarni)

Rambling...

It's pretty much a daily ritual in our house lately. After a tiring few hours in the morning of hurriedly finishing off my chores, I sit down for some quiet time but instead I'm flooded with a pile of books and plenty of chitter-chatter to drown the peace. Story time comes and goes and when I'm still yearning for that me time, I'm expected to turn all the recyclable junk, that has been painstakingly collected and looked after, into something splendid. Yes, you guess it right – it's craft time!

I automatically find myself hopping on to the computer and without thinking twice typing in to the google search bar for some 'inspiration'.... Heck, I just look for a quick fix I can get over and done with to keep those little fingers busy. Yes I do have my days when I'm enthusiastic and participate, but those are as rare as a blue moon, so we won't dwell on it too much.

While I was at the library this morning, browsing through the art and craft section while my 4 year old enjoyed her weekly story time session, it dawned upon me...and now it's official – google is stripping me of my imagination.

I had flashbacks of the time before I had my children. There I was sitting with a swollen belly yearning to hold the child in my arms and do all the wonderful things I had planned for us. Keeping them busy and stimulated and to make their childhood magical and exciting. Those day dreaming sessions of sitting down with her cuddling on the couch reading a story book and then creating masterpieces from scrap was something I was looking forward to. And now, here I am 4 years on, painting a completely different picture.

In the past, mums would sit down with their children and brainstorm about what they can create, and the process of deciding what to make in itself was a nurturing learning experience. I've realized that I am meant to savor and cherish these moments and make them last rather than treating them as chores that I want to tick off my list.

So this time forth, I would like to at least make an effort to change the way I do things, and put more 'life' into them. And yes me blaming google for something I am lacking is a bit far fetched, but I'll treat it as my consolation for now.

Quotes...

Ataa al Khurasani said: "I don't advise you to mind your life's affairs because I know that you are covetous to do so, but I advise you to mind the affairs of the Hereafter. Take from this temporary home to the eternal one. Consider this life as something that you have left, I swear by Allah you will leave it. Consider death as something that you have tasted, I swear by Allah you will taste it. And consider the Hereafter as a home that you have visited, I swear by Allah you will be there."

Dhu'n-Noon al-Misri said: "The ailment of the body is in sickness and that of the heart is in sins. A delicious meal cannot benefit the body when the person is sick and likewise, the heart cannot taste the sweetness of worship if it is full of sins."

`Ali ibn Abi Talib said: "Whoever has the following six characteristics does all that is required to make him enter Paradise and avoid Hell: to know Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala and obey him, to know Satan and disobey him, to know the truth and follow it, to know the falsehood and avoid it, to know the life of this world and renounce it, and to know the Hereafter and seek it."

Ibrahim al-Ash`ath said: I heard al-Fudayl saying: "Man's fear of Allah is equal to his knowledge of Him, and his renunciation of the life of this world is equal to his desire of the Hereafter. Whoever acts according to what he knows, Allah will make him successful in what he doesn't know. And whoever is ill-tempered disgraces his honour, religion and generosity."

Want all your past sins forgiven?

Recently I was listening to a lecture by Sheikh Kamal El Mekki (May Allah preserve Him) in which he spoke about how us Muslims tend to be very inconsistent with our Ibadah and always set high goals which we usually never complete. For example, fasting every Monday and Thursday, finishing the Qur'an once every month throughout the year, walking to the mosque for every salah etc. Yes, no doubt they're all good deeds, and should be done, but how many of us start off on such things in top gear and then burn out within a few weeks or even days? How many of us actually do this on a regular basis?

What we overlook is, apart from all these acts of worship, the Prophet Muhammad sallahu alaihi wa sallam has taught us different forms of ibadah which we can do in our daily life, and won't take much time or effort but will weigh heavy on our scales on the Day of Judgement, insha Allah.

Sheikh Kamal El Mekki gave the example of the dua that we recite after finishing our meal. Did you know that a person who completes his meal and recites this dua with true ikhlaas (sincerity), will have all his past sins forgiven? How many times do we eat in a day? Imagine reciting this dua a minimum of 3 times a day, think of the rewards you will accumulate. It only takes a few seconds to recite, and yet can have such powerful results, insha Allah.

So from this day forward, why not try to incorporate this into our daily routine and make an effort to recite this dua after every meal, insha Allah.

 الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَطْعَمَنِي هَذَا الطَّعَامَ وَرَزَقَنِيهِ مِنْ غَيْرِ حَوْلٍ مِنِّي وَلَا قُوَّةٍ
"
All Praise belongs to Allah who granted this meal, (which I received) without my power or effort".

All previous sins are forgiven if this dua is recited after meals.(Mishkat, Kitabul-li-baas)

Hide the faults of others and Allah will hide yours

'Abdullaah ibn 'Umar rad iallaahu 'anhu relates that the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam mounted the pulpit and said in a loud voice: "O You who have accepted Islaam with your tongues, but in whose heart eemaan (faith) has not yet entered! Do not annoy the Muslims' nor revile them, nor seek out their faults. For whosoever seeks out the fault of his Muslim brother, Allaah will seek out his faults. He whose faults are sought out by Allaah, then Allaah will expose him, even if he is inside his house." Related by Muslim.

'Ubaadah ibn as-Saamit radiallaahu `anhu related that the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam said: "Whosoever seeks forgiveness for the believing men and the believing women, Allaah will record for that person - equivalent to every believing man and believing woman -a good deed."
Hasan: Related by al-Haythamee in Majma'az-Zawaa'id (1/210) where he said: "The isnaad is jayyid."

Allah `azza wa jall says: “O you who have believed, avoid much [negative] assumption. Indeed, some assumption is sin. And do not spy or backbite each other. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his brother when dead? You would detest it. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is Accepting of repentance and Merciful.” [Al-Hujurat 49:12]

Allah `azza wa jall ordered avoiding much of the suspicion because some of it is sin, and He followed this order with the prohibition of spying, pointing out that spying in most cases does not occur except due to bad assumptions.

The way of the Muslim – the general rule - is hiding others' faults and having a good opinion of others. This is why Allah `azza wa jall ordered believers to have a good opinion of people when they hear slanders of their Muslim brothers.

Allah `azza wa jall clarified the true position which every Muslim must understand. He said subhanahu wa ta`ala:

“Why, when you heard it, did not the believing men and believing women think good of themselves [i.e. one another] and say, 'This is an obvious falsehood'?” [An-Noor 24:12]” [Hisham Ismail As-Sini, Manhaj Ahl As-Sunnah wal Jama`ah fin Naqd wal Hukm `ala al Akhirin, Al Muntada, London, 1992, p. 21]

Dr. Mustafa as-Siba'i said, “Because having a good opinion and then regretting is better than having a bad opinion and then regretting.” [as-Sibai, Hakadha `allamatni al Hayat, al Maktab al Islami, Beirut, 1984, vol. 1, p. 42]

Taken from: www.islaam.com

Valuable Prophetic Advice

Ibn Abbas may Allah be pleased with him and his father, reported:

I was riding behind the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam (on a beast) one day when he said to me, "O son, I am going to teach you some advice:


1. "Observe Allah, He guards you."
Obey his commands and avoid his prohibitions, He protects you in this world and in the world to come.

2. "Observe Allah, you will find Him ahead of you."
Observe the limits set by Allah and His Rights, He brings you to success and supports you.

3. "When you ask, ask Allah, and when you seek help, seek the help of Allah."
When you need a thing, ask Allah for it, and when you need help to accomplish any of your affairs, then seek the help of Allah, particularly in the things that only Allah can provide such as curing sickness, providing sustenance etc.

4. "And be certain that were the whole Ummah to collaborate to benefit you, they would never benefit you except in a thing which Allah has already foreordained for you, and if they were to collaborate to harm you, they would never harm you except in a thing which Allah has already foreordained against you."
This reflects deep faith in the Qada' and Qadar, it's good and evil consequences.

5. "The pens are lifted and the sheets have become dry."

6. "Recognize Allah at times of ease, He recognizes you at times of difficulty."
Fulfill the Rights of Allah and the rights of people at times of ease, He helps and relieves you at the time of your difficulties.

7. "And rest assured that whatever misses you, it would never befall you, and whatever befalls you, it would never miss you."
If Allah withholds a thing from you, it will never reach you. And if Allah grants you a thing, there is none to withhold it from you.

8. "And you should know that victory comes with endurance."
Victory against the enemy and the ego depends on perseverance and endurance. Patience is one of the greatest means to victory.

9. "And the relief comes through distress."
Distress that afflicts a believer, comes along with it's relief.

10. "And along with difficulty comes ease."

Source: Pg 40, Guidelines to Raising Children, Darussalam.

Stern Warning

Backbiting is speaking slanderously about an absent person. The Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam said:

"Do you know what is Gheebah?" They said: "Allah and His Messenger know best." He said: "It is to attribute to your brother what he dislikes." He was asked: "What do you think if what I say about my brother is true?" He said: "If what you attribute to him is true, then you have backbitten him, and if it is not true, then you have lied about him."

What is Nameemah?

Nameemah is to circulate slanderous rumours between two persons to damage or sever the ties between them. The Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam said:

"No Nammam will be admitted to Jannah".

Source: Pg: 22 Guidelines for Raising Children, Darussalam

Moderation is the Key

The Prophet (salAllahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said, "Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'aala) has not created a sickness, but that He (Subhanahu wa Ta'aala) has created a cure for it - except for old age. So drink the milk of cows, because they eat from all sorts of plants"
[Recorded by an-Nasa'i, al-Hakim and others. Verified to be authentic by al-Albani, may Allah have mercy on him, in as-Sahihah and Sahih ul-Jaami]

In another hadith, the Prophet (salAllahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said, "Raise cows, because their milk is a cure (from disease) and their butter is a medication. Their meat, however, is (a cause of) illness"
[Recorded by Ibn us-Sunni, Abu Nu'aym and al-Hakim. Verified to be authentic by al-Albani, may Allah have mercy on him, in as-Sahihah]

I came across these ahadith a few days back and I decided to do some research to see whether what the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) told us so long ago, has been 'scientifically proven' by the medical professionals. Subhan Allah the wisdom and knowledge of our beloved Prophet (PBUH) was well ahead of that of the learned of our times.

I'd like to point out that the hadith doesn't necessarily say that red meat is haraam but instead reminds us to be cautious of our consumption of this type of meat. We all know the health benefits of red meat, especially now since it's been stressed on so much but what we tend to overlook is - moderation!

Excessive consumption of red meat can result in clogged arteries, boost blood pressure, and allow cancer cells to sneak past the bodies own self defense mechanism. Diets high in red meat are known to shorten life span & lead to diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, ulcers, pneumonia, influenza, liver disease, tuberculosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and more.

Look after yourselves, follow a nutritious diet and a healthy lifestyle and make the most of what you've been blessed with. Good health is a blessing from Allah, don't take it for granted.

Reflections...

At one of the Al-Kauthar courses I recently attended the Sheikh mentioned that Allah has given us knowledge about the lives of the Prophets and Messengers of the past for a reason. We're not meant to just read it as a bedtime story to entertain ourselves but instead need to extract possible wisdoms and lessons from it. We need to use their life experiences to enhance our own. The more you read and ponder the more you will learn. Knowledge is a bottomless pit, you can never fill it to the brim.

We all know that Allah created mankind from clay. Ibn Katheer in his book (Stories of the Prophets) says:

"Allah choose clay which has the qualities of calmness, clemency, perseverance and growth."

The possible wisdom I extract from this piece of information is pretty apparent. Allah gave us freedom of will to the extent that we can refuse Allah's command. He grants us the freedom of denial, disobedience, and even disagreement with Him. His Kindgom will not diminish if the disbelievers do not believe in Him nor will it be extended if many people believe in Him. The disbelievers will lose and the believers will gain but Allah is above all of that. By choosing to reflect the qualities of clay in our demeanor we will be able to attain success both in worldly affairs and in matters concerning our deen.

Ibn Katheer also says:

"Allah created Iblis from fire which has the qualities of heedlessness, insignificance, haste and incineration. "

Iblis is arrogant, vain, disobedient and an outcast. He has been humiliated and disgraced and yet he is cunning and shows ingratitude. He is our eternal enemy. Man is hasty. When Allah blew the soul into Adam (AS) and he felt the pangs of hunger in his abdomen, he sprinted towards the fruits of paradise even before the soul had reached his legs. This is how we have been created. But that doesn't mean we do not have the will to persevere to change this within us. By succumbing to the whispering of Iblis we become nothing but reflections of him.

Everyone bears the consequences of their deeds. Allah knows the outcome of events before it happens but he does not force things to happen. He has granted free will to mankind and it's up to us whether we want to obey Allah and work towards attaining paradise or disobey Allah and become dwellers of the hellfire, like Shaitaan.

The choice is ours.

Answer to Your Supplication is Delayed for a Reason‏

There is an interesting situation that confuses many: the believer who is affliced with a calamity, and who then invokes Allah constantly, yet sees no signs of an answer to his prayers. Then when he comes near to the point of hopelessness, the true worth of his heart is found out. If he is pleased with what Allah (swt) has decreed for him, without losing hope of Allah's Favor, then in most situations it is at this point that such a person's supplications are answered, answered because his test is over: his faith has shined through and the Devil has been defeated. So it is at the time of near hopelessness that the worth of man is judged. This meaning is alluded to in the saying of Allah:

"Or think that you will enter Paradise without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you? They were afflicted with severe poverty and ailments and were so shaken that even the Messenger (pbuh) and those who believed along with him said:"When (will come) the Help of Allah?" Yes! Certainly, the Help of Allah is near!" (Qur'an 2:214)

After Ya'qub (as) lost his son, much time elapsed, yet he never lost hope of relief. Instead of relief, another of his sons was then taken away, and even then he did not lose hope of Allah's Favor and Mercy:

"So patience is most fitting (for me). It may be that Allah will bring them all (back) to me, Truly He! Only He is All-Knowing All Wise". (Qur'an 12:83)

And similar were the words and sentiments of Zakariyyah (as):

"And I have never been unblest in my invocation to You, O my Lord!" (Qur'an 19:4)

Never, therefore, should one feel that too much time has passed by without his supplication being answered. One should realize that, whenever one is tested with hardship, one's mettle and faith are being tested. To pass such a test, one muct drive away the whispers of the Devil and then turn for help to the Most-Merciful, the Most-Generous the Most-Wise.

- Gems and Jewels, by Abdul Malik Mujahid.

Dealing with 'Attention Seeking Behavior'

Attention seeking behavior is often also about power. When your child engages in such kind of behavior, they are also implying that they, in that particular situation, have power in their hands, and there is little you can do about it.

Simply changing your reaction to such behavior can help nip it in the bud and also show them that you are in charge. Instead of giving them what they want, i.e. attention, minimising your reaction will get results.

Whenever possible, distract yourself and your child with another activity or simply walk away and let them deal with the consequences of their behavior.

In some situations, not intervening and letting the third party involved (in cases where they are in someone else's territory or comfort zone) deal with the situation themselves can work. Most of us often believe that we are always responsible for our childrens behavior and it is a reflection of our parenting. When your child is old enough to understand the consequences of his/her actions, it often doesn't require any intervention. The lesser attention you give, the easier it is to get them back on track.

For more tips go to http://parentingideas.com.au/

Profound Saying of Ibn Qayyim (r)

Ibn Qayyim (r) said: "When the slave wakes up as the night encloses upon him and his only concern is Allah and how to please and obey Him, then Allah takes upon Him to fulfill all of his needs and remove from him all that causes him anxiety. Allah also makes his heart free to love Him only, his tongue free to remember Him only and his body free to serve Him only.

However, when a slave of Allah wakes up when the night encloses upon him and his main concern is the world, Allah will make him bear the burdens of it's anxiety, grief and hardships. Allah will entrust him to his own self and He will make his heart busy, stealing from it His love since it will be preoccupied with love for creation. Allah will keep his tongue from His remembrance because it will be engaged with His creation; his body will be kept from obedience since it will be enslaved by its desires and services. And he will toil like a beast of burden toils in the service of another. And all who turn away from the worship, obedience and love of Allah, will be put into trial with the worship, service and love for creation."

Allah (the Exalted) says:

"And whosoever turns away (blinds himself) fromt he remembrance of the Most Gracious (Allah) (i.e. this Qur'an and worship of Allah), we appoint for him Shaitan to be a Qarin (an intimate companion) to him. (Qur'an 43:36)

Ibn Qayyim continues to say: "Seek out your heart in three situations:
-When you are listening to the Qur'an
-When you are part of a gathering of remembrance
-When you are alone and away from the world and it's distractions.

If you cannot find your heart in these three situations, then ask Allah to bestow upon you a heart, for indeed you are bereft of one."