Successful are those who are true to their trusts and covenants

In our ongoing series of posts on "Traits of believers who attain success" as spelt out in the initial nine verses of Surah 23. Al-Muminun الۡمُؤۡمِنُوۡنَۙ (The Believers), we share today the 8th verse which is about one of the outstanding traits of a believer. This is about being true to one's trusts and covenants. In fact, whatever a true believer says and exhibits is the display of his character, honesty and truthfulness. Once a covenant has been agreed upon, a true believer never goes back to his undertakings.

وَالَّذِيۡنَ هُمۡ لِاَمٰنٰتِهِمۡ وَعَهۡدِهِمۡ رَاعُوۡنَ ۙ‏ 

(23:8) who are true to their trusts and their covenants,

The Believers fulfill the terms of the trusts which are placed in their charge. In this connection it should be noted that the Arabic word amanat is very comprehensive and includes all those trusts which are placed in their charge by Allah or society or individuals. Likewise, `ahd includes all those compacts, pledges, and promises which are made between Allah and man, and man and man. 

The Holy Prophet himself used to impress the importance of the fulfillment of pledges in his addresses: "The one, who does not fulfil the terms of his trust, has no Faith, and the one, who does not keep promises and pledges has no Islam. " (Baihaqi) According to a Tradition reported both by Bukhari and Muslim, he said: Four characteristics are such that if a person has all the four in him, he is beyond any doubt a hypocrite, and the one who has one of these, is a hypocrite to that extent till he gives it up:

• when something is placed in his trust, he commits breach of the trust,
• when he speaks, he tells a lie,
• when he makes a promise, he breaks it, and
• when he has a quarrel with somebody, he exceeds all limits (of decency and morality)"

Yusuf Ali Explanation: 

Trusts may be express or implied. Express trusts are those where property is entrusted or duties are assigned by someone to some other whom he trusts, to carry out either immediately or in specified contingencies, such as death. Implied trusts arise out of power, or position, or opportunity; e.g., a king holds his kingdom on trust from Allah for his subjects. The subject of covenants, express and implied, has been discussed in the very first verse of Surah 5. Al-Maida, wherein it is said: 

Believers! Honour your bonds! (This line has been justly admired for its terseness and comprehensiveness. Obligations: 'uqud the Arabic word implies so many things that a whole chapter of Commentary can be written on it. First, there are the divine obligations that arise from our spiritual nature and our relation to Allah. He created us and implanted in us the faculty of knowledge and foresight: besides the intuition and reason which He gave us. He made Nature responsive to our needs, and His Signs in Nature are so many lessons to us in our own inner life; He further sent Messengers and Teachers, for the guidance of our conduct in individual, social, and public life. All these gifts create corresponding obligations which we must fulfil. But in our own human and material life we undertake mutual obligations express and implied. We make a promise: we enter into a commercial or social contract; we enter into a contract of marriage: we must faithfully fulfil all obligations in all these relationships. Our group or our State enters into a treaty; every individual in that group or State is bound to see that as far as lies in his power, such obligations are faithfully discharged. There are tacit obligations; living in civil society, we must respect its tacit conventions unless they are morally wrong, and in that case, we must get out of such society. There are tacit obligations in the characters of host and guest, wayfarer of companion, employer or employed, etc., etc., which every man of Faith must discharge conscientiously. The man who deserts those who need him and goes to pray in a desert is a coward who disregards his obligations. All these obligations are interconnected. Truth and fidelity are parts of religion in all relations of life. This verse is numbered separately from the succeeding verses.)

Javed Ahmad Ghamidi Explanation:

This is a very comprehensive expression for all moral directives in religion. 

Imām Amīn Aḥsan Iṣlāḥī writes: اَمٰنٰت  refers to all trusts which our Lord has blessed us with in the form of strengths, abilities, obligations and responsibilities or in the shape of favours, blessings, riches and offspring. Also included in them are things people have been entrusted with or those discharging, which is our responsibility according to the norms. In a similar way, also included in it are the covenants and promises our Lord has taken from our nature in the unseen world or taken in this world in the form of the sharī‘ah through His messengers. Moreover, it also comprises all those promises and covenants which we made with God through our nature or through His prophets. Similarly, it also consists of promises made with a group or an individual in this world, whether they are written or oral or are thought to be understood in a civilized society even if they are not made orally or in writing. It is stated by the Almighty that it is these servants of His who abide by all these trusts and promises. They are neither dishonest and rebellious in the matter of their Lord nor are ones who are unfaithful to His creatures or go back on their word with them. (Amīn Aḥsan Iṣlāḥī, Tadabbur-i Qur’ān, vol. 5, 299)

Tafsir Qur'an Wiki:

That is, They (Believers), individuals and community alike, honour their pledges and discharge their trust. Both the individual and the community have many types of trust to maintain, the first of which is the trust encapsulated in their own nature, i.e. they are created by God in an upright fashion so as to be in harmony with the rest of the universe to which they belong. This testifies to God’s oneness by the natural feeling of unity that governs the universe. Believers are faithful to this great trust, and they protect their nature from deviation so that it continues to testify to God’s oneness. Other trusts are derived from this basic element.

The first pledge is that God has taken from, and made ingrained in human nature, committing it to believe in His existence and His oneness. All other pledges, covenants and treaties derive from this first one. When a believer commits himself to something, he makes God his witness. Honouring his commitments is, to a believer, part of being God-fearing, of taqwā.

The Muslim community is also responsible for honouring its public trust, and for the fulfilment of its pledges to God and the duties that result from these pledges. The sūrah gives its statement in very general terms so as to include every type of trust and pledge. Believers are faithful to all these, at all times. Being faithful is part of their character. No community can hope to have a straightforward life unless pledges and trusts are fulfilled, so that every individual and group are certain of this basic rule of community life. It is a rule that gives everyone a sense of trust and security.

Remember, my brothers and sisters in Islam, that covenants create obligations, and express and implied trusts and covenants taken together cover the whole field of obligations. So, whenever you make a covenant or undertake a bond with someone or when someone entrusts you with someone and you undertake to keep it in your safe custody, then do not turn your back on your covenant or bonds for a true beleiver is not expected to do so.  Verily, successful are those who are true to their trusts and covenants

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

Please refer to our page "Traits of beleivers who attain success" to access all eight attributes of such believers as mentioned in Surah 23. Al-Muminun (The Believers).

For more Selected Verses, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'an. You may also refer to our Reference Pages  and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Photo | Tafsir References: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |

An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs of the Qur'ān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi.  

In order to augment and add more explanation as already provided, additional input has been interjected from the following sources: 

• Tafsir Ibn Khatir
• Muhammad Asad Translation
• Yusuf Ali Translation
• Translation Javed Ahmad Ghamidi / Al Mawrid
• Qur'an Wiki
• Verse by Verse Qur'an Study Circle
• Towards Understanding the Quran

In addition, references of other sources which have been explored have also been given above. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook

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Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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Do Not spread gossip, for in the sight of Allah it is a serious matter

Gossip is casual or unconstrained conversation or reports about other people, typically involving details that are not confirmed as being true. Unfortunately, we, especially women folk, indulge in spreading gossip without ascertaining the truth behind the gossip. Such unconfirmed utterance more often than not have serious repercussions, especially when these aim at character assignation of a pious and respected person.

The theme of the 15th verse of Surah 24. An Noor (The Women) hinges on the effects of gossip that can harm a respected, pious and reputed person. And once such a gossip took place involving the very personality of Aisha, the revered wife of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, the Divine response came strictly condemning such act. The purpose of sharing this verse is that spreading an unconfirmed report from person to another without critically investigating it, the outcome could be fatal. 

اِذۡ تَلَـقَّوۡنَهٗ بِاَ لۡسِنَتِكُمۡ وَتَقُوۡلُوۡنَ بِاَ فۡوَاهِكُمۡ مَّا لَـيۡسَ لَـكُمۡ بِهٖ عِلۡمٌ وَّتَحۡسَبُوۡنَهٗ هَيِّنًا ​ ۖ  وَّهُوَ عِنۡدَ اللّٰهِ عَظِيۡمٌ‏ 

(24:15) (Just think, how wrong you were) when one tongue received it from another and you uttered with your mouth something you knew nothing about. You deemed it to be a trifle while in the sight of Allah it was a serious matter.

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ of Allah has also forbidden to spread gossip in one of the hadiths attributed to him. Please read details from one of earlier posts: A Qattat will not enter paradise.

In this verse, God mentions the evil incident regarding the slander against Aisha, the wife of Prophet Muhammad.  It contains a lesson for humankind; and all who took part in it will be punished accordingly, some will receive a severe punishment.  Nobody gave Aisha the benefit of the doubt and nobody produced witnesses.  Still many people passed on the gossip.  God asks why they did not hesitate to repeat a monstrous slander and warns the believers never to do this again.  This unthinking behaviour causes pain, doubt and worry.  And once again God leaves us to finish the sentence, if it were not for God’s Mercy and His favour, humankind might be severely punished.

As mentioned in the premise, this verse was revealed when a sever character assassination of Aisha, the revered wife of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ took place during a journey. It so happened that during a resting stay of the caravan, Aisha missed the caravan and when a believer brought her back to the main caravan, a lot of gossip was whispered. As a matter of fact, none of the accusers had actually witnessed the thing which they were uttering with their tongues. The only basis of their accusation was that Aishah had been left behind by the caravan and afterwards Safwan had brought her to the camp on his camel. From this nobody with a little common sense could conclude that Aishah’s being left behind was intentional. These are not the ways of those who do these things. It cannot happen that the wife of the army commander quietly stays back with a man, and then the same man makes her ride on his camel and makes haste to catch up with the army at the next halting place in the open daylight at noon. The situation itself warranted that they were innocent. There could, however, be some justification in the charge if the accusers had seen something with their own eyes, otherwise the circumstances on which the accusers had based their accusation did not contain any ground for doubt and suspicion.

Here nobody should have the misunderstanding that failure to bring witnesses is being regarded as the basis and argument to prove that the accusation was false, and that the Muslims are also being told to regard it as a manifest calumny only because the accusers did not bring four witnesses. This misunderstanding can arise if one does not keep in view the background of the actual incident.

Tafsir Ibn-Kathir:

(إِذْ تَلَقَّوْنَهُ بِأَلْسِنَتِكُمْ When you were propagating it with your tongues,) Mujahid and Sa`id bin Jubayr said, "Some of you were relating it to others,'' where one says, `I heard this from so-and-so, and so-and-so said such and such, and some of them mentioned such and such.' Others recited the Ayah: (إِذْ تَلِقُونَهُ بِأَلْسِنَتِكُمْ) ("When you were inventing a lie with your tongues...'') In Sahih Al-Bukhari, it is recorded that `A'ishah recited it like that. According to her, the meaning refers to lies which a person persists in telling. The first recitation is preferred and more popular, and the majority recite it that way, but the second is reported from `A'ishah, the Mother of the believers.

(وَتَقُولُونَ بِأَفْوَهِكُمْ مَّا لَّيْسَ لَكُمْ بِهِ عِلْمٌ and uttering with your mouths that whereof you had no knowledge,) means, you were speaking about something which you knew nothing about. 

Then Allah says: (وَتَحْسَبُونَهُ هَيِّناً وَهُوَ عِندَ اللَّهِ عَظِيمٌ you counted it a little thing, while with Allah it was very great.) means, `you said what you said about the Mother of the believers and you thought that it was a trifling and insignificant matter, but even if she was not the wife of the Prophet , it still would not be an insignificant matter -- so how about when she is the wife of the Unlettered Prophet, the Seal of the Prophets and Leader of the Messengers ' It is a very serious matter with Allah that such a thing should be said about the wife of His Messenger! For Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, feels great fury and anger over such matters, and He would never decree such a thing for the wife of any of His Prophets. 

If that is the case, then how about the best of the wives of any Prophet, the wife of the best of the sons of Adam in this world and the next Allah says: (وَتَحْسَبُونَهُ هَيِّناً وَهُوَ عِندَ اللَّهِ عَظِيمٌ you counted it a little thing, while with Allah it was very great.) 

In the Two Sahihs it is reported that: (إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لَيَتَكَلَّمُ بِالْكَلِمَةِ مِنْ سَخَطِ اللهِ، لَا يَدْرِي مَا تَبْلُغُ، يَهْوِي بِهَا فِي النَّارِ أَبْعَدَ مَا بَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ A man may say a word that angers Allah without realizing how far it will go, and because of that he will be thrown into Hell a distance greater than that between heaven and earth.) 

According to another report: (لَا يُلْقِي لَهَا بَالًا (And he may not pay any attention to it.)

Tafsir Qur'an Wiki:

God wanted this to be a very hard lesson for the fledgling Muslim community, but in His compassion, He did not inflict any punishment on them. The offence itself merited stiff punishment because of the pain it caused the Prophet, his wife, close friend and his other Companion of whom he knew nothing but good. It also merited a punishment equal to the evil that circulated within the Muslim community, violating all its sacred values, and equal to the hypocrites’ wickedness whose scheme aimed to undermine Islam by raising doubts about God, the Prophet and the Muslim community itself. This continued for a whole month, which was a time of doubt, worry and confusion. But God’s grace was forthcoming, and He bestowed His mercy on those who were in error after having learnt their bitter lesson.

The sūrah gives us a picture of the period, when standards and values were placed on the wrong footing, and the community lost sight of its principles: “You took it up with your tongues and uttered with your mouths something of which you have no knowledge, thinking it a light matter whereas in God’s sight it is grave indeed.” The picture painted here is one of recklessness and irresponsibility, showing little care for even the most serious of matters.

“You took it up with your tongues.” One tongue picks it up from another paying little heed to what is being said. There was an utter lack of proper examination of the report, as though people repeated it without ever thinking of its significance. You “uttered with your mouths something of which you have no knowledge.” It is just like that: a mouth utterance without thought or consideration. Mere idle talk uttered and circulated even before it is understood. They thought it a light matter, although it was an accusation against God’s Messenger’s personal honour, causing him, his wife and household great pain. It was an accusation against Abū Bakr’s family which suffered no similar trouble even in pre-Islamic days when moral values were of little importance. This false story also accused another Companion of the Prophet who laid his life down for the defence of Islam. It further had negative implications concerning the care God took of His Messenger. Yet, still they circulated the false rumour “thinking it a light matter whereas in God’s sight it is grave indeed.” Nothing could be described as grave in God’s sight unless it is so serious that it shakes firm mountains and disturbs the heavens and earth.

So, let us my brothers and sisters in Islam, reign in our tongue and do not spread gossips or share information for which we do not have credible evidence for its authenticity. More than men, it is for women for they are in the habit of sharing unconfirmed information with such juicy details that the listener is most likely to be misled and take it to be true, and then spread the same gossip to others. Remember such things are a serious matter in the sight of Allah.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

You may refer to our reference page: Important DOs and Don'ts from Qur'an to read more directives on the subject.

For more Selected Verses, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'an. You may also refer to our Reference Pages  and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Photo | Tafsir References: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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Every child is born in a state of Fitrah (Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ)

A Hadith attributed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ narrated by Abu Huraira states:

"No child is born but upon Fitrah. It is his parents who make him a Jew or a Christian or a Polytheist." A person said: Allah's Messenger, what is your opinion if they were to die before that (before reaching the age of adolescence when they can distinguish between right and wrong)? He said: It is Allah alone Who knows what they would be doing.

In order to understand the above quoted Hadith, let us explain what Fitrah means. "Fitra or fitrah (Arabic: فطرة) is an Arabic word that means 'original disposition', 'natural constitution' or 'innate nature'. In Islam, fitrah is the innate human nature that recognizes the oneness of God (tawhid). It may entail either the state of purity and innocence in which Muslims believe all humans to be born, or the ability to choose or reject God's guidance." [1]

That is: When a child is born, external factors do come into play e.g. a different religion or even a lack of religion around the child has an impact. The child remains in a natural state until they make a decision and conscience choice with regard to religion.

The Hadith is best explained by Shaykh Abu Yusuf Riyadh ul Haq as it appears in Islam Reigns as under: [2]

What is the meaning of fitrah in this case if it doesn’t mean Islam? The Shaykh explained that it means ‘natural state’ which is one of purity and cleanliness unaffected by external factors. If one was left in this natural, uncorrupted and pristine state then they would surely be guided to the beauty and truth of Islam. The natural state is such that it brings a person close to Islam and that person is more receptive and inclined towards religion. There is a primordial instinct and recollection of Allah and the truth of Islam. However, the Shaykh explained that it is not Islam itself.

There is a hadith of Sahee Muslim that can help one understand this issue more. Once the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) was on a journey and they heard a shepherd calling out and they heard him calling out ‘Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar’. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said ‘He is upon Fitrah’. The man then said the shahadah (testimony of faith). The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said ‘Now he has saved himself from the fire’.  

The first statement did not make him a Muslim it was the natural instinct which stirred within him and he said ‘Allah is the Greatest’. The latter statement made him a Muslim.

When a child is born, external factors do come into play e.g., a different religion or even a lack of religion around the child has an impact. The child remains in a natural state until they make a decision and conscience choice with regard to religion.

According to William Chittick, the Koran and the Hadith suggest that humans possess an innate capacity to understand reality as it is, but their environment obscures this ability. The prophets' role is to remind people of the knowledge they already have, while humans just need to remember it. Once they recall this knowledge, they return to their innate capacity, which has always been a part of them and never truly separate. [1]

So let us, dear brothers and sisters in Islam, provide our children a space to understand Islam right from their initial grooming so that instead of being born Muslims notion, they grow up in an environment which teaches them how to be a good human being by believing the Oneses of Allah, Qur'an and the very life of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ so as to make them a Muslim of understanding and firm beleif.

This Hadith is quoted in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: Book (#46) of Destiny - كتاب  القدر   / Chapter # 6 The Meaning Of "Every Child Is Born in a State of Fitrah" And the Ruling on The Dead Children of The Disbelievers and of the Muslims. / (11)باب مَعْنَى كُلِّ مَوْلُودٍ يُولَدُ عَلَى الْفِطْرَةِ وَحُكْمِ مَوْتِ أَطْفَالِ الْكُفَّارِ وَأَطْفَالِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ) as Hadith number # 2658 e.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

Please refer to our reference page: Sunnah and Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to know more about sunnah of Prophet of Allah. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references as given below. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

Photo | Source of Hadith | Resource References: | 1. Wikipedia | 2. Islam Reigns |

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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Traits of Believers who attain true success are those who Guard their Chastity

The inter personal intimate relation between man and woman are strictly prohibited unless they are married. For Islam views the personal relationship between a husband and wife as the foundation stone for establishment of a family. However, the general practice around the world does not care for the legality of intimate relation between man and wife and relations exist extensively outside the bond of wedlock and resultant birth of illegitimate children. There are a large number of single mothers around the world who have to bear the consequence of casual and illegal sex.

Marital bond in Islam between man and woman is based on purity, honesty and responsibility to establish a family. This concept outrightly rejects the man and wife love affairs which soon culminate for their basis was mere satisfaction of animal desires and not bonding together as husband and wife. The illegal sex, though made legal in many countries, also include the sex between man and man, and woman and woman. Islam strictly curbs such lewdness as was found in the people of Prophet Lut (Lot, may peace be upon him) due to which the Divine wrath befall on them in the form of rain of fiery rocks, which destroyed the entire community, save Prophet Lot and his family, less his wife who too perished being a sinner and confidant of the sinner community.

Therefore, one of the major factors that help believers attain success (as we have already explained in our reference page: Traits of Believers who attain true success) is guarding of their chastity and abstaining from every act that lets the evil jump in and entice them to commit the sin of fornication. Thus, the successful believers exercise control over their sexual desires and do not transgress limits imposed, reminded time and again in Qur'an, by their Lord, the one and only one Master of the entire universe.  This is what is being said in the 5th verse of Surah 23. Al-Muminun الۡمُؤۡمِنُوۡنَۙ (The Believers) as under:

وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ لِفُرُوجِهِمْ حَـٰفِظُونَ

(23:5) and who guard their chastity

That is, they are modest in every sense of the word. They are free from sex abuse and sex perversion. They are so modest that they even conceal those parts of their bodies which the Law forbids to be exposed before others. 

The same is the theme of verse 44 of Surah 24. An Noor. It is said:

قُلْ لِّـلۡمُؤۡمِنِيۡنَ يَغُـضُّوۡا مِنۡ اَبۡصَارِهِمۡ وَيَحۡفَظُوۡا فُرُوۡجَهُمۡ​ ؕ ذٰ لِكَ اَزۡكٰى لَهُمۡ​ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ خَبِيۡرٌۢ بِمَا يَصۡنَـعُوۡنَ‏ 

(24:30) (O Prophet), enjoin believing men to cast down their looks and guard their private parts. That is purer for them. Surely Allah is well aware of all what they do.

Guard their private parts: Abstain from illicit sexual gratification and from exposing their satar before others. 

The intimate parts (Arabic: عورة 'awrah, Arabic: ستر, satr) of the human body must, according to Islam, be covered by clothing. Exposing the intimate parts of the body is unlawful in Islam as the Quran instructs the covering of male and female genitals, and for adult females the breasts.

For males, the satar is the part of the body from the navel to the knee, and it is not permissible to expose that part of the body intentionally before anybody except one’s own wife. (Daraqutni, Baihaqi). Jarhad Aslami states that once he was sitting in the company of the Prophet (peace be upon him) with his thigh exposed. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Do you not know that the thigh has to be kept concealed. (Tirmizi, Abu Daud, Muatta). AIi reports that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Do not expose your thigh. (Abu Daud, Ibn Majah). Not only is the satar to be kept concealed before others but even when alone. The Prophet has warned: Beware, never remain naked, for with you are those (that is, the angels of goodness and mercy), who never leave you alone except when you ease yourself or you go to your wives. So, feel shy of them and give them due respect. (Tirmizi). According to another tradition, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Guard your satar from everybody except your wife and your slave-girl. The questioner asked: Even when we are alone? The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied: Yes, even when alone, for Allah has a greater right that you should feel shy of Him. (Abu Daud, Tirmizi, Ibn Majah).

Tafsir Ibn-Kathir: 

(And those who guard their private parts) means, those who protect their private parts from unlawful actions and do not do that which Allah has forbidden; fornication and homosexuality, and do not approach anyone except the wives whom Allah has made permissible for them. One who seeks what Allah has made permissible for him is not to be blamed and there is no sin on him. 

Yusuf Ali Explanation: 

The Muslim must guard himself against every kind of sex abuse or sex perversion. The new psychology associated with the name of Freud traces many of our hidden motives to sex, and it is common knowledge that our refinement or degradation may be measured by the hidden workings of our sex instincts. But even the natural and lawful exercise of sex is restricted to the marriage bond, under which the rights of both parties are duly regulated and maintained.

Tafsir Qur'an Wiki:

This is a pointer to the purity of the human soul, the home and the community, and to the way of protecting oneself, family and society. It is all the result of refraining from indulgence in sin and turning people’s hearts only to what is permissible. Thus, the Muslim community is protected from the unrestrained promiscuity that undermines the family and allows dubious parenthood to increase and become acceptable.

A community with no restraint on desire is wont to find its very social fabric corrupted, because it deprives itself of the sanctity for the family. The family home is the basic unit in the structure of the community. It is the cradle where children grow up. To serve as a healthy cradle, it needs purity and security, both of which give reassurance to the husband and wife so that each has full trust in the other. Thus, they cooperate to safeguard their home and ensure the healthy upbringing of their young ones.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

Please refer to our page "Traits of beleivers who attain success" to access all eight attributes of such believers as mentioned in Surah 23. Al-Muminun (The Believers).

For more Selected Verses, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'an. You may also refer to our Reference Pages  and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Photo | Tafsir References: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |

An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs of the Qur'ān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi.  

In order to augment and add more explanation as already provided, additional input has been interjected from the following sources: 

• Tafsir Ibn Khatir
• Muhammad Asad Translation
• Yusuf Ali Translation
• Translation Javed Ahmad Ghamidi / Al Mawrid
• Qur'an Wiki
• Verse by Verse Qur'an Study Circle
• Towards Understanding the Quran

In addition, references of other sources which have been explored have also been given above. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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Prophetic Supplication Seeking Refuge from a Bad End and Misery

Evil is around us all the time and is always on the lookout to find a weaker soul to entice it into his evilness and make him succumb to sin and worldly desires. Sometimes the enticement of evil is so strong that even men with strong beliefs get disarrayed, though they hurriedly repent and seek Divine forgiveness as early as possible. 

Likewise, the dangerous animals and insects and crawlers too are one of the forms of evil. These overpower us or sting us to cause us harm and pain. But if we constantly supplicate prophetic supplications, attributed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, we are most like to protect us from the evil spell and its forces in the form of deadly animals and crawlers.

This prophetic supplication is quoted in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: Book (#48) Pertaining to the Remembrance of Allah, Supplication, Repentance and Seeking Forgiveness - كتاب  الذكر والدعاء والتوبة والاستغفار   / Chapter # 16 Seeking Refuge from a Bad End, And Misery Etc / (11)باب  فِي التَّعَوُّذِ مِنْ سُوءِ الْقَضَاءِ وَدَرَكِ الشَّقَاءِ وَغَيْرِهِ‏‏‏) as Hadith number # 2708 b / 2709 a as under:

وَحَدَّثَنَا هَارُونُ بْنُ مَعْرُوفٍ، وَأَبُو الطَّاهِرِ، كِلاَهُمَا عَنِ ابْنِ وَهْبٍ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لِهَارُونَ - حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ وَهْبٍ، قَالَ وَأَخْبَرَنَا عَمْرٌو، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ الْحَارِثِ - أَنَّ يَزِيدَ بْنَ أَبِي، حَبِيبٍ وَالْحَارِثَ بْنَ يَعْقُوبَ حَدَّثَاهُ عَنْ يَعْقُوبَ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الأَشَجِّ، عَنْ بُسْرِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ أَبِي وَقَّاصٍ، عَنْ خَوْلَةَ بِنْتِ حَكِيمٍ السُّلَمِيَّةِ، أَنَّهَا سَمِعَتْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ ‏"‏ إِذَا نَزَلَ أَحَدُكُمْ مَنْزِلاً فَلْيَقُلْ أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّاتِ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ ‏.‏ فَإِنَّهُ لاَ يَضُرُّهُ شَىْءٌ حَتَّى يَرْتَحِلَ مِنْهُ ‏"‏ ‏.

قَالَ يَعْقُوبُ وَقَالَ الْقَعْقَاعُ بْنُ حَكِيمٍ عَنْ ذَكْوَانَ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّهُ قَالَ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا لَقِيتُ مِنْ عَقْرَبٍ لَدَغَتْنِي الْبَارِحَةَ قَالَ ‏"‏ أَمَا لَوْ قُلْتَ حِينَ أَمْسَيْتَ أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّاتِ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ لَمْ تَضُرُّكَ ‏"‏‏.‏

Khaula bint Hakim Sulamiyya reported: I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: When any one of you stays at a place, he should say:" I seek refuge in the Perfect Word of Allah from the evil of that He created." Nothing would then do him any harm until he moves from that place. 

Abu Huraira reported that a person came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and said:" Allah's Messenger, I was stung by a scorpion during the night. Thereupon he said: Had you recited these words in the evening:" I seek refuge in the Perfect Word of Allah from the evil of what He created," it would not have done any harm to you.

As can be seen from the two portions of the Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, there is a need to supplicate and ask protection of Allah from evil when going to a new place or to avert the danger of evil agents in the form of animals, reptiles and crawlers. Remember the supplication: 

أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّاتِ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ

and recite it much too often to continuously seek refuge of Allah from evil and be safe always.

This supplication is meant to be recited when a person stays in a place, seeking Allah's protection from the potential harms that may arise from the evil of His creation. The hadith emphasizes that if this supplication is recited, the person will be protected from harm while in that place.

Key Elements of the Hadith:

• Seeking Refuge in Allah’s Words: The "Perfect Word of Allah" refers to the divine words of Allah, which are flawless, comprehensive, and powerful. It could be understood to refer to the Qur'an or the names and attributes of Allah, or even to Allah's will and decree. By seeking refuge in Allah's words, the person is invoking His protection from harm.
• Protection from the Evil of Allah’s Creation: This part of the supplication acknowledges the reality that harm or evil can come from the creatures and forces that Allah has created, including things like harmful creatures, jinn, sicknesses, and negative influences. By invoking Allah’s protection, the believer asks to be shielded from such harms.
• Effect of the Supplication: The Prophet (ﷺ) assures that if this supplication is recited, nothing will harm the person until they move from that place. This indicates the effectiveness and power of the prayer, providing a spiritual shield that protects the individual from any negative influences while they are in that specific location.

Practical Application:

This hadith serves as a reminder for Muslims to seek Allah's protection regularly, especially when they are in unfamiliar or potentially dangerous situations, or when they enter new places. Reciting such supplications strengthens one’s faith and trust in Allah's power and mercy.

The Wisdom Behind This Hadith:

It encourages mindfulness of Allah and recognition that, while humans may take physical precautions, it is ultimately Allah’s protection that ensures safety from all harm, whether physical or spiritual. It also highlights the importance of using the words of Allah as a means of protection, reinforcing the central role of divine guidance and supplication in a Muslim’s life.

In essence, this hadith serves to cultivate a sense of spiritual awareness, guiding Muslims to seek refuge in Allah whenever they feel vulnerable or exposed to any form of harm.

we should also teach this supplication to our children and encourage them to recite it much too often, especially if they feel an urge to commit a sin or a wrongdoing, or if they feel they are being led to something evil or falling prey to a deadly being.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

Please refer to our reference page: Sunnah and Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to know more about sunnah of Prophet of Allah. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references as given below. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

Photo | Source of Hadith

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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The best among you are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it (Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ)

Qur'an, the Divine Book of Islam, was revealed unto Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, a person who himself was illiterate. So, whenever a revelation was received by him, he would himself first memorize it and then share it with his companions who did the same. Since most of the Arabs at that time were illiterate, the revered Prophet of Allah (ﷺ) urged upon his people to learn Qur'an and then teach it to others who were illiterate. 

This Hadith is Hadith is mentioned in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī  (Book 66 - Virtues of the Qur'an /  كتاب   فضائل القرآن / Chapter 21: The best among you is those who learn the Qur'an and teach it / باب خَيْرُكُمْ مَنْ تَعَلَّمَ الْقُرْآنَ وَعَلَّمَهُ ) as Hadith 5027, given herein under:

حَدَّثَنَا حَجَّاجُ بْنُ مِنْهَالٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي عَلْقَمَةُ بْنُ مَرْثَدٍ، سَمِعْتُ سَعْدَ بْنَ عُبَيْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ السُّلَمِيِّ، عَنْ عُثْمَانَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ خَيْرُكُمْ مَنْ تَعَلَّمَ الْقُرْآنَ وَعَلَّمَهُ ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالَ وَأَقْرَأَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ فِي إِمْرَةِ عُثْمَانَ حَتَّى كَانَ الْحَجَّاجُ، قَالَ وَذَاكَ الَّذِي أَقْعَدَنِي مَقْعَدِي هَذَا‏.‏

Narrated by `Uthman: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The best among you are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it."

It is this directive due to which Arabs started to memorize the whole Qur'an by heart and spread it to far flung places as Islam spread beyond the Arab lands. Alhamdolillah, today millions of Muslims across the globe have not only memorized the Qur'an by heart, the chain of its teaching to others continues in every nook and corner of the world.

Those who memorize the complete Qur'an are known as Hafiz (/ˈhɑːfɪz/; Arabic: حافظ, romanized: ḥāfiẓ, pl. ḥuffāẓ حُفَّاظ, f. ḥāfiẓa حافظة), literally meaning "memorizer", depending on the context, is a term used by Muslims for someone who has completely memorized the Quran. Hafiza is the female equivalent.

Hifz is the memorization of the Quran. Muslims believe that whoever memorizes the Quran and acts upon it will be rewarded and honoured greatly by Allah, as Abdullah ibn Amr narrated that the Messenger of Allah said: “It shall be said — meaning to the one who memorized the Qur'an — 'Recite, and rise up, recite (melodiously) as you would recite in the world. Indeed, your rank shall be at the last Ayah you recited” (Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2914).

Indeed, The One Who Does Not Have Qur'an Inside Him (His Heart), Is Like the Ruined House. Since Qur'an is in the Arabic text, it is difficult for non-Arabs to recite it in Arabic. But it is the beauty of Qur'an that despite being in Arabic, it is memorized by Muslims across the globe even in China and Russia where learning to read Arabic is far difficult as compared to other languages. It is due to the presence of Huffaz everywhere in the World who have made it possible for people not knowing Arabic, and yet recite Qur'an in Arabic as fluently as any Arab can.

Since children can learn anything better than the adults, many Muslims start their kids on this journey from a very young age, sometimes completing the entire memorization by the age of 12 or even younger. There are instances wherein it has been reported that a child of three years memorized the Qur'an by heart. Please read our post: World's youngest Hafiz e Qur'an. It has been reported that a girl in Kashmir memorized the whole Qur'an in just about 25 days.

So, my brothers and sisters in Islam, take it as an obligation upon yourself to learn as much Qur'an as you can, preferably the whole of it, understand it and act upon it. And once Qur'an has become a part of you, spread out what you know and teach it to others so that every Muslim is laced with the wealth that has gains both in this world and in the life of Hereafter.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

This post is part of series of posts on the subject of: Are you among the best Muslims, as mentioned by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ?

Please refer to our reference page: Sunnah and Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to know more about sunnah of Prophet of Allah. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references as given below. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

Photo | Source of Hadith | Hafiz (Qur'an) |

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

Read More

Are you among the best Muslims, as mentioned by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ?

Everyone wants to be among the best, be a manager in a company, a student in the class, a writer, a preacher, a blogger or an anchor. There is nothing wrong with striving to be the best, for such inner drives make people prosper, rise and do wonders in their field.

When being best in all other worldly pursuits is given so much attention, why do we generally ignore religion, so as to be guided Divinely to be a better Muslim and a human being. This is only because of the fact that we, more often than not, do not follow Qur'an and Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ which provide us with the conditions and qualities of character that make us better Muslims. 

We have shared a number of qualities of Muslims, both from Qur'an and Sunnah, in many of our previous posts. Even at this time, we are sharing a list of traits of Muslims whom Allah has promised success based on initial verses of Surah 23. Al-Muminun الۡمُؤۡمِنُوۡنَۙ (The Believers).

And now continuing with our effort to publish qualities, attributes and traits as guideline to be better Muslims, we share today selected hadiths attributed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Here in the post, we are only giving the reference. While some of these have already been shared/published with explanation shown with highlighted text, we will in due course share remaining hadiths as well. We may even add more too so as to educate believers how can we be better Muslims by following and acting on these Hadiths:

The Best of the Muslims is he who:

• Learns and teaches the Quran. (Bukhari-5027)
• Attends a funeral (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: Hadith 47)
• Repays debt swiftly (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: Hadith: 2305)
• Looks after a widow or a poor (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: Hadith 5353)
• Has a strong character and good manners. (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: Hadith: 6035)
• Is good with his spouse (and family) (Jami` at-Tirmidhi  Hadith: 1162)
• Backs and helps another believer (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: Hadith 2699a)
• Merciful to others (Jami` at-Tirmidhi as Hadith: 1424)
• Provides food for a fasting person to break his fast (Jami` at-Tirmidhi  Hadith: 807)
• Covers (the Faults of) the Muslims (Jami` at-Tirmidhi as Hadith: 1425)
• Gives the worker his wages before his sweat dries (Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 2443)
• Is Pure at heart and sincere in speech (Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 4216)

You may also like to read Seven people who will be shaded by Allah on the Day of Resurrection (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: Hadith6806)

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

Please refer to our reference page: Sunnah and Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to know more about sunnah of Prophet of Allah. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references as given below. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

Photo | 

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A man's lust for wealth and honor over religion is more destructive than two wolves among sheep

Today we share a Hadith attributed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ which is as applicable to men today as it was more than fourteen centuries ago when Prophet Muhammad ﷺ cautioned his companions that wealth will be the FITNA of my Ummat. There are many a hadith attributed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, already shared which mention this prophetic warning. 

This Hadith is mentioned Jami` at-Tirmidhi  (Book # 36 Chapters on Zuhd /  كتاب الزهد عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم / Chapter # 43 The Hadith: "Two Wolves Free Among Sheep") as Hadith number # 2376

حَدَّثَنَا سُوَيْدُ بْنُ نَصْرٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْمُبَارَكِ، عَنْ زَكَرِيَّا بْنِ أَبِي زَائِدَةَ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ سَعْدِ بْنِ زُرَارَةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ كَعْبِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ الأَنْصَارِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ مَا ذِئْبَانِ جَائِعَانِ أُرْسِلاَ فِي غَنَمٍ بِأَفْسَدَ لَهَا مِنْ حِرْصِ الْمَرْءِ عَلَى الْمَالِ وَالشَّرَفِ لِدِينِهِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ ‏.‏ وَيُرْوَى فِي هَذَا الْبَابِ عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَلاَ يَصِحُّ إِسْنَادُهُ ‏.‏

Ibn Ka'b bin Malik Al-Ansari narrated from his father, that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Two wolves free among sheep are no more destructive to them than a man's desire for wealth and honor is to his religion." Grade: Sahih (Al-Albani)

In the Hadith reference above, word Zuhd is used. Let me share what this Arabic word means:

Zuhd, (Arabic: “detachment”), in Islam, asceticism. Even though a Muslim is permitted to enjoy fully whatever unforbidden pleasure God bestows on him, Islam nevertheless encourages and praises those who shun luxury in favour of a simple and pious life.

There is no bar in Islam to earn money from lawful means and thereby attain a position in the society, provided this wealth and position of honour is not misused for sinful deeds or activities that take one away from remembrance of ALLAH, for it is Allah Who has blessed upon him this honour and not due to personal endevours of the man.

Unfortunately, the opposite is true for many an influential and wealth Muslims who are more prone to lust for money and position and in attainment of such worldly goals, one sets aside the teachings of Islam by forcibly outstretching their desires. In the process, they harm the interests of other believers who try to earn their livelihood with dignity and honour. We see anchors on media selling away their honour and dignity by supporting the cause of the demagogues and the tyrants and portraying them as innocents for they are paid handsomely for such efforts. Thus, by doing so, they sell their honour and lose moral grounds to be called true believers. That is why Prophet Muhammad ﷺ warned such sellable men to be more destructive to the cause of Islam than the harm wolves make when attacking a herd of sheep.

So, my dear brothers and sisters in Islam, remember that the weighing scale to judge a person by Allah is Taqwa and not worldly gains. We must educate our future generations by abiding by the tenets of Islam by first implanting these on ourselves so that they see us practically implementing and following Divine commandments. This would encourage them to live a life in honesty and Taqwa. May Allah give us strength to inculcate humility to earn Halal money and attain positions which are devoid of lust and show off and do not take us away from our religion. Ameen

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

Please refer to our reference page: Sunnah and Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to know more about sunnah of Prophet of Allah. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references as given below. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

Photo | Source of Hadith

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

Read More