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Don’t HATE, But APPRECIATE!
One of the main reasons of people, specifically Youth, not following Islam is that we people (and that includes all of us) are too quick to ridicule a person over the “little” good that he does. Let me explain what I mean.
There are 2 cases:
1st Case:
A person (say X) is following a Sunnah, and another person (say Y) sees him and asks why are you doing this? When person X replies that he’s doing it because it’s Sunnah, instead of saying something like “ma sha Allah may Allah help us all follow more Sunnahs,” the usual reply is “But that (any other example) is also a Sunnah and you’re not following that. Why are you following this and not that?”
I mean seriously? If a person is following Sunnah A and not Sunnah B that does not mean that he should stop following Sunnah A too until he starts following Sunnah B! This doesn’t even make sense logically! 1 good is better than NO good!
2nd Case:
Person X is not doing something obligatory and when there comes a time to do something else that is also obligatory, person Y starts mocking him. An example is that person X does not get up for Fajr regularly, and he’s playing cricket and the Maghrib Azaan starts. Now he tells his teammates to go for prayer and they say no let’s finish the match first. If he insists that brothers it’s Salaah time we shouldn’t be playing cricket, Salaah is more important, they start mocking him that “oh you don’t wake up for Fajr and now you’re so worried about Maghrib?”
AGAIN, a seriously messed up logic. If a person is doing 1 wrong, that does not justify that you tell him to do ANOTHER wrong! That would NOT make things better but would only worsen the situation.
This is present to some extent in all of us. When we’re doing something of OUR OWN interest, and our friend tells us to follow Islam at that time we would immediately start embarrassing him by reminding him of his shortcomings. That oh you don’t do this and you don’t do that why being so righteous right now?
Let’s fear Allah in this regard. What if that person does a sin because of your words? What if he leaves a Sunnah or a FARD at that moment just because it suited YOUR DESIRES?
“And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression. And fear Allah ; indeed, Allah is severe in penalty.”
Surah Al-Maeda, verse 2
May Allah help us all understand and implement this in our lives completely and bless the Messenger (SalAllaahu Alaiyhi Wasallam) who taught us the most beautiful of manners, Ameen.
Levels of Charity (Hadith No. 1223)
Bismillah.
Volume 2, Book 24, Number 524:
Narrated Abu Burda:
from his father from his grandfather that the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam) said, “Every Muslim has to give in charity.” The people asked, “O Allah’s Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam)! If someone has nothing to give, what will he do?” He said, “He should work with his hands and benefit himself and also give in charity (from what he earns).” The people further asked, “If he cannot find even that?” He replied, “He should help the needy who appeal for help.” Then the people asked, “If he cannot do that?” He replied, “Then he should perform good deeds and keep away from evil deeds and this will be regarded as charitable deeds.”
Charity (Zakah) is binding on all Muslims. No matter what condition one is in, he has to give Zakah. If it’s wealth, a share of that. If it’s health, a share of that (by working with his hands and earning). If neither, helping others. If none of these, then staying away from evil deeds. Doing tazkiyah (purification) of one’s self.
If you notice, all these levels require sacrifice. Giving up something or the other for the better. Like it’s a trait that should be found in every Muslim. General behavior. By default. The Muslim is giving and sacrificing for his own benefit as well as the benefit of the society.
Giving wealth earns him reward and regulates money in the society. Giving up sins requires avoiding temptation, but it purifies his nafs and saves the society from bigger evils at the same time.
So we have to train ourselves. Being Muslims, we have to be giving as well. We have to sacrifice. Whatever the need may be. It’s expected of us. Start by doing Sadaqah, by doing healthy physical activities, by helping others and by doing good deeds and staying away from bad ones. Start by denying yourself. Start by self-restraint.
Step-up!
This is the first collaborative work we’ve done, and it turned out to be quite good Alhamdulillah. Tell us what you think about it :) The first two stanzas are mine, addressing the brothers; the last two were written by Sister Mariam, addressing the sisters.
I know what you do when you hang out after school;
Showing off with your friends thinking you’re so cool;
“Check out that girl”, to your friend you say;
Making sure your sister always in hijab does stay!
This hypocrisy, I can’t really seem to comprehend;
At someone’s sister you stare, while your own you defend?!
O Muslim! You’re astounding; you continue to amaze!
Pretending you don’t know we’re supposed to lower our gaze?!
But to me, my friend, you’re just a fool!
You don’t control yourself; your desires rule!
Your Nafs for Shaytaan is an excellent tool!
Your body is satisfied, but your soul does pule;
Cuz if you only knew what’s really cool…
Beauty; the likes of which you’ve never seen;
Untouched by the Jinn or any human being;
Reclining on cushions of silver and gold;
A sight so beautiful, it would make you drool;
Respectful, joyful, youthful and beautiful;
The promise of the truthful; most gracious and Merciful;
There is still time, if you be a bit mindful;
Heedful, watchful, thoughtful and careful.
The ultimate goal if you wish to achieve;
You better start acting on what you believe;
If you truly want Jannah as your final abode;
Make Siraat-ul-Mustaqeem your only road!
Sisters, the rest of this message is for you!
Protecting your chastity is your duty too!
Your beauty is sacred, not anybody’s tool;
Refuse to bow down to their rules!
Now is the time to wake up, step up;
Your beauty’s not limited to this superficial make-up;
This world you run after, it’s not gonna last;
Whatever you do, YOU need to act fast;
No, no, no, a man is NOT your goal;
No matter what he does, he can NEVER make your world whole!
By the One in Whose Hands is my soul,
Gaining HIS pleasure is your ONLY role!
Controlling Desires (Hadith No. 299)
Salam,
Bismillah.
Today’s Hadith is very much relevant to Kitaab-ul-Haydh, but my discussion will be a bit off-topic..
Narrated ‘Abdur-Rahman bin Al-Aswad:
(on the authority of his father) ‘Aisha said: “Whenever Allah’s Apostle wanted to fondle anyone of us during her periods (menses), he used to order her to put on an Izar and start fondling her.” ‘Aisha added, “None of you could control his sexual desires as the Prophet could.”
Prophet (SAW) had nine wives at once. He didn’t have to control his desires. Yet, we find that his own wives testify to his amazing hold on himself. It’s a Sunnah that we need to follow. We need to control all sorts of desires, from food to sex. Even when we’re leading a Halal lifestyle, we can’t have everything we want, as much as we want and whenever we want. It’s a great quality to possess: control.
Don’t like what you read? Tell me, what’s the main purpose of the month of Ramadaan? What does being deprived of food, drink and sex teach you? Even though the food you eat is Halal, the stuff you drink is very much Halal as well, and you fulfill your desire with your very own spouse: totally Halal! Why are you then asked to restrain yourself from all these Halal things for a specific time period everyday for a month each year? Simple: to teach you self-control. That 30-day training is enough to last you the whole year. YES! You have to practice it outside Ramadaan as well. :)
As to the question ‘How?‘, it’s very simple.
- Start denying yourself your favorite food, hobby, pastime etc. You don’t have to do it all the time and every time. It could be a punishment you give yourself for not waking up for Fajr on time, for example. Personal experience: I deny myself breakfast (which I can’t live without) if I wake up late for Fajr. So I don’t have that habit Alhamdulillah.
- Voluntary Salah (prayer) and Sawm (fast). A very good way to achieve self-restraint! You’re so caught up in ‘Ibadah (worship), that you don’t really get time to think about other stuff. Or better, you don’t feel right when you think about other stuff. ;)
- Make du’a (invocation). Indeed a very useful tool for a believer. When nothing else works, du’a shows it’s miracles.
- Be firm with yourself. No excuses, no ‘going easy’. Tit for tat. And that’s it!
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