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Monday, 25 September 2023

Collection of Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ about Warning and Cautions

September 25, 2023  Jalal HB  No comments

A few days ago, we shared a post about collection of Hadiths attributed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ on the specific subject of Rewards. Today we share a collection of Hadiths that hinge on an opposite theme, that is Warnings and Cautions. These warnings and cautions are meant to forewarn the believers so that they do not unknowingly fall into trap of the Evil and commit acts that may harm them not only in this world, for such acts are not at all liked by our Creator, what to talk of the society we live in, but also in the life after death.

Many a man object to such notions for they think there is no life after death and such warnings and cautions are gimmicks of religious men to take them away from merrymaking and enjoying a boundless life. But what if there turns out to be a life which will be a haven of happiness for those who did good and an utter misery for those who mocked the prophets and the religions.

Let us see which are the acts from which Prophet Muhammad ﷺ has warned and cautioned us and try not to go near these, lest we have to pay a very heavy price for these in our next life after death:

Hadiths mentioned in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī:
Hadiths mentioned in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim:
Hadiths mentioned in Jami` at-Tirmidhi:
Hadiths mentioned in Sunan Ibn Majah:
Hadiths mentioned in Sunan Abi Dawud:
Hadiths mentioned in Sunan An Nisa'i:
This is the beginning of this page. We will keep adding more Hadiths to it in time.
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.

Photo | 
Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references as given above. 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.

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. You may also refer to our Facebook  Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.

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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Sunday, 24 September 2023

Who are the TWO most rightfully enviable believers (Hadith Prophet Muhammad ﷺ)

September 24, 2023  Jalal HB  1 comment

The man has been created to worship the One and Only One Exalted Creator of the entire universe, we call Allah. At many a place in Qur'an and in many a Hadith attributed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ this aspect has been oft repeated. By worship it doesn't mean that one should keep sitting on the prayer mat the entire day and night and keep exalting the Lord of the World. 

In Islam worship means doing every act that has been asked them to perform to please Allah. Whether it is offering daily five Salat / prayers, giving charity to please Allah and not as a show off or even smiling when seeing another believer so that peace and tranquility prevails in the society. 

However, there are two acts of a believer which makes him a rightfully enviable Muslim in the eyes of Allah. The mention of these two acts have been in a Hadith is mentioned in Bukhārī  (Book 66 - Virtues of the Qur'an /  كتاب   فضائل القرآن / Chapter 20: Wish to be the like of the one who recites the Qur'an / باباغْتِبَاطِ صَاحِبِ الْقُرْآنِ ) as Hadith 5025, given herein under:

Narrated by `Abdullah bin `Umar:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Not to wish to be the like except of two men. A man whom Allah has given the knowledge of the Book and he recites it during the hours of the night, and a man whom Allah has given wealth, and he spends it in charity during the night and the hours of the day."

Arabic Text:
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْيَمَانِ، أَخْبَرَنَا شُعَيْبٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي سَالِمُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، أَنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عُمَرَ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ ‏ "‏ لاَ حَسَدَ إِلاَّ عَلَى اثْنَتَيْنِ، رَجُلٌ آتَاهُ اللَّهُ الْكِتَابَ وَقَامَ بِهِ آنَاءَ اللَّيْلِ، وَرَجُلٌ أَعْطَاهُ اللَّهُ مَالاً فَهْوَ يَتَصَدَّقُ بِهِ آنَاءَ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ ‏"‏‏.‏

The first act is the recitation of Qur'an at night. That is besides offering five obligatory prayers during the entire day, a believer gets up late in the night before the time of the pre-dawn prayer, the Fajr, offers the Tahajjud prayer followed by recitation of the Qur'an as much as he can. Remember, breaking one's sleep at night, offering Tahajjud prayer and then sitting doen reciting Qur'an till the time of Fajr prayer is not an easy thing to do. But those who do it, do it to please Allah and no one else since at this time no one is watching. This is perhaps the best worship a believer can undertake and that is why he is considered an enviable believer. Shouldn't we fall into this category too?

(Readers may read what is Tahajjud prayer and how/when it is offered from our reference page: As Salat / Prayers

The second virtue of an enviable believer is giving our charity day and NIGHT. Charity is one of the most noble things to do after As Salat. Although Zakat is an obligatory charity and has to be paid, it is the non-obligatory charity which makes a believer stand out from the rest. While giving out charity during the day may be observed by others, it is the charity at night which one can give without being seen and being seen as an act of show off.

And the most notable aspect of this Hadith is that only Allah would know of this enviable act of a believer. So let us follow these two acts, preferably out of sight of others and without boasting about these. And be assured that Allah will accept these two noble acts and will surely bless us. In sha 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.

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.

You may refer to our reference page: Collection of Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ about oftn asked queries and special matters for more answers to queries and some special matters 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.

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

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

Saturday, 23 September 2023

Man laments: I feel dishonoured - Allah replies: We have indeed honoured the children of Adam

September 23, 2023  Jalal HB  No comments

Allah created man as His vicegerent on earth and made him powerful, both physically and mentally. Yet man is always lamenting of being low and dishonoured when he cannot seize authority or power over everything that is beside him on this earth. This happens when man does not use his hidden abilities and capabilities which Allah has embedded in him intrinsically. Those who do so, scale Everest like towering mountains and brace the powerful sea waves. For those, how lag the ability to get hold of their inner powers and who then lament of being not able to face the mighty and powerful, Allah assures them that He hs made them superior to all other beings on earth. He only needs to muster up courage to prevail over others and feel honoured.

This Divine assurance is made is the 70th verse of Surah 17. Al Isra (The Night Journey), also known as Surah Bani Israil (The Children of Israel). Allah tells us how He has honored the sons of Adam and made them noble by creating them in the best and most perfect of forms:

وَلَـقَدۡ كَرَّمۡنَا بَنِىۡۤ اٰدَمَ وَحَمَلۡنٰهُمۡ فِى الۡبَرِّ وَالۡبَحۡرِ وَرَزَقۡنٰهُمۡ مِّنَ الطَّيِّبٰتِ وَفَضَّلۡنٰهُمۡ عَلٰى كَثِيۡرٍ مِّمَّنۡ خَلَقۡنَا تَفۡضِيۡلًا
(17:70) Indeed, We honoured the progeny of Adam, and bore them across land and sea and provided them with good things for their sustenance, and exalted them above many of Our creatures.
That is, "It is an obvious fact that the superiority man enjoys over all other beings on the Earth and all that is in it, has not been bestowed upon him by a jinn or an angel or a prophet. Most surely that is Allah's blessing and favor. Is it not then the height of folly and ignorance that after having achieved such a high rank, man should bow down before any creature of Allah instead of Him?"

Tafsir Ibn-Kathir: 
Allah tells man in a later chapter of Qur'an: (لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الإِنسَـنَ فِى أَحْسَنِ تَقْوِيمٍ  Verily, We created man in the best stature (mould).) (95:4) He walks upright on his two feet and eats with his hand, while other living creatures walk on four feet and eat with their mouths, and He has given him hearing, sight and a heart with which to understand all of that, to benefit from it, and distinguish between things to know which are good for him and which are harmful, in both worldly and religious terms.

(and We have carried them on land) means, on animals such as cattle, horses and mules, and also on the sea in ships and boats, great and small.

(and have provided them with At-Tayyibat,) meaning agricultural produce, fruits, meat, and milk with all kinds of delicious and desirable flavors and colors and beautiful appearance, and fine clothes of all kinds of shapes colors and sizes, which they make for themselves or are brought to them by others from other regions and areas.

(and have preferred them above many of those whom We have created with a marked preferment. ) means, over all living beings and other kinds of creation. This Ayah indicates that humans are also preferred over angels.

Muhammad Asad Explanation:
I.e., by bestowing upon them the faculty of conceptual thinking (cf. 2:31), [(2:31) Then Allah taught Adam the names of all things and presented them to the angels and said: “If you are right (that the appointment of a vicegerent will cause mischief) then tell Me the names of these things.”] which makes them superior in this respect to all other animate beings, and even to the angels. By stressing here this unique distinction of man, the present passage connects with, and continues the theme of, verse {61} of same surah, which says: AND LO! We said unto the angels, "Prostrate yourselves before Adam" - whereupon they all prostrated themselves, save Iblis. Said he: "Shall I prostrate myself before one whom Thou hast created out of clay?".

Yusuf Ali Explanation: 
The distinction and honour conferred by Allah on man are recounted in order to enforce the corresponding duties and responsibilities of man. He is raised to a position of honour above the brute creation: he has been granted talents by which he can transport himself from place to place by land, sea, and now by air: all the means for the sustenance and growth of every part of his nature are provided by Allah; and his spiritual faculties (the greatest gift of Allah) raise him above the greater part of Allah's Creation. Should he not then realize his noble destiny and prepare for his real life in the Hereafter?

Tafsir Qur'an Wiki:
God has honoured mankind, favouring the human race over many of His creatures. He honoured man when He created him in this particular fashion, giving him a nature that combines the characteristics of clay, from which he was made, and the spirit that was breathed into him. Thus, he combines elements of heaven and earth in his constitution. God has also honoured man by placing in Op his nature such faculties that make him able to take charge of the earth, able to be active and make changes in it. Thus, human beings initiate and produce new things, combine things together and analyse complex matters in order to elevate life to the highest standard attainable.

God has also honoured man by making natural forces on earth subservient to his will and endeavour, and by making other natural forces operating in the universe helpful to him. A further aspect of the honour God has given man is seen in the reception given him when he was first created. It was a reception in which the angels prostrated themselves in a gesture of respect, because God Himself declared that man is to be honoured. Then there comes the additional honour when God states in His book, sent down from on high and which He guaranteed to remain intact for the rest of time, that man is given a position of honour.

We have indeed honoured the children of Adam, and borne them over land and sea, and provided for them sustenance out of the good things of life, and favoured them far above many of Our creatures. (Verse 70)

“And borne them over land and sea.” This is accomplished by making natural laws fit with human nature and its abilities. Had these laws been at odds with human nature, life would have been impossible to sustain on earth. Indeed, man is weak when his strength is measured against the natural forces that operate on land and sea, but man is given the ability to live on earth and to make use of its resources and treasures. This is all an aspect of God’s grace.

“And provided for them sustenance out of the good things of life.” (Verse 70) Man tends to forget that whatever sustenance is given to him is indeed granted by God, because its different aspects become familiar to him. He only remembers the different forms of sustenance he is given when he loses access to them. It is then that he realizes the value of what he was given. But man’s memory is short. He soon forgets again all God’s blessings. He forgets what role the sun, air, and water play in sustaining human life. He forgets how important health is to him, and how he is given mobility, senses and reason, in addition to different types of food and drink. Indeed, he is placed in charge of a complete world which includes countless blessings.

“And favoured them far above many of Our creatures.” (Verse 70) Indeed God has favoured human beings by giving them mastery of this wide planet. Furthermore, He placed in their nature such abilities that make them unique among God’s creatures.

So, my dear brothers and sisters in Islam, never feel ashamed of yourself and know your strengths and weakness. Make use of your strengths to the utmost and find ways and means to overcome your weaknesses so that you feel composed and confident of the abilities bestowed upon you by 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 read more posts on similar theme in our series of posts related to: Al Qur'an guides and helps those who sincerely seek Divine Guidance and Help.

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 | 

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.

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references given above. 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.

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

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

Friday, 22 September 2023

What is patience in Good Grace (صَبۡرٌ جَمِيۡلٌ)

September 22, 2023  Jalal HB  1 comment

Patiance is the hallmark of a believer. When confronted with a setback, a loss or being devastated by a calamity, Allah advises His servants to be patient. Although, man by nature is too weak and meek, exercising patience more often than not becomes too difficult to exercise. Therefore, at number of places in Qur'an, man has been continuously advised to be patient for Allah has something better in store against what has been lost.
"And resort to patience and As Salat (Prayer) for help.  Truly Prayer is burdensome for all except the devout," (Surah 2 Al Baqarah: 45)

Above shared verse is one of so many verses from Qur'an which encourages man to resort to patience and when it becomes difficult to bear, resort to As Salat for Divine help.

But how do we exercise patience in good grace?  Can patience be in good grace, that is one is laden with the enormous grief of one's loss, yet he should be patient in good grace? And when it comes to losing something very precious, like one's beloved son, can a man be still be patient is good grace? Well, one can, provided one has complete faith in Allah and when one knows that the loss has come to him as a test and one must bear the loss gracefully and then leave rest to Allah.

This is the theme of our selected verse from 12th Chapter of Qur'an, that is Surah Yusuf (Prophet Joseph, peace be upon him) which is related to the time when young Yusuf was taken by his envious brothers, thrown in a dead well and came back with his shirt with blood stains on it and lamented to their father Prophet Yaqoob (Jacob, may peace be upon him).

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.

وَجَآءُوۡ عَلٰى قَمِيـۡصِهٖ بِدَمٍ كَذِبٍ​ؕ قَالَ بَلۡ سَوَّلَتۡ لَـكُمۡ اَنۡفُسُكُمۡ اَمۡرًا​ؕ فَصَبۡرٌ جَمِيۡلٌ​ؕ وَاللّٰهُ الۡمُسۡتَعَانُ عَلٰى مَا تَصِفُوۡنَ‏  

(12:18) And they brought Joseph's shirt, stained with false blood. Seeing this their father exclaimed: "Nay (this is not true); rather your evil souls have made it easy for you to commit a heinous act. So, I will bear this patiently, and in good grace. It is Allah's help alone that I seek against your fabrication.

In Quran the term "sabr e jamil" (صبر جميل) translates to "beautiful patience." This phrase embodies a form of patience that is characterized by:

  • Calm Acceptance: It reflects a serene and dignified acceptance of hardship without complaint.
  • Faith and Trust in Allah: Beautiful patience involves placing trust in Allah's wisdom and timing, believing that He will provide relief or justice in due course.
  • Avoidance of Grievance: It indicates refraining from expressing anger or frustration, and instead maintaining a positive attitude despite the adversity faced.

Overall, "sabr e jamil" highlights the virtue of enduring challenges with grace, dignity, and unwavering faith in God's plan.

The verse is explained as under by one of the famous Muslim scholars and exegete Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi:

The literal meaning of "good patience صَبۡرٌ جَمِيۡلٌ" implies patience that enables one to endure all kinds of troubles and afflictions in a calm, self-possessed and unemotional manner, without complaining or crying or weeping, as is worthy of great minds. 

(And this how Prophet Jacob maintained himself, knowing the foul play and said: I will bear this patiently, and in good grace. It is Allah's help alone that I seek against your fabrication. He said that he would hold his heart in patience and implore Allah's assistance, for he had faith, and knew that all that Allah does is for the best!)

Prophet Jacob's reaction to the news of Joseph's death, as depicted in the Qur'an, is different from that given in the Bible and the Talmud. According to them he was upset by the sad news and behaved like an ordinary father. The Bible says, "And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins. And mourned for his son for many days." (Gen. 37: 34). And the Talmud says that at the sad news Jacob gave himself up to the abandonment of grief, and lay with his face to the ground.... and refused to be comforted, and cried, 'Some wild beast has devoured Joseph and I shall never see him more'; and he mourned for Joseph for many years. (The Talmud, H. Polano, pp. 78, 79).

When we contrast this picture with the one depicted in the Qur'an, we clearly see that the Qur'anic picture is that of a dignified and great personality. He is not upset in the least at hearing the sad news of his beloved son but at once gets to the bottom of the matter, and tells the envious brothers, "Your tale is false and fabricated." Then he shows "good patience" as a Prophet should and puts his trust in the help of God.  "

Now my brothers and sisters in Islam, let us review our state in state of grief and loss. Many of us, especially women, weep and cry, beat their chests and openly ask Allah the why of such calamity that befall on them and words to that effect. Whereas, the above quoted verse and its explanation teaches us to be fully composed and bear the loss with patience in good grace. 

Although it is very difficult to be calm and composed, a true believer should neither panic nor complain. Rather he would seek only God’s support against by repeatedly saying: وَاللّٰهُ الۡمُسۡتَعَانُ. This phrase وَاللّٰهُ الۡمُسۡتَعَانُ (Wallahul Musta'an) is used to call for Allah's help when one finds oneself in impossible situations and when one is confronted with teamed up people who by their lies want to defame you and tarnish your image, or when you feel sidelined and alone or devastated by a calamity or huge loss. he is said to have settled down for It should be repeatedly said when one realizes that there is no way out for him and it is Allah alone Who can render a helping hand.

When one reaches this state of peaceful mind despite the loss, he is deemed to have settled down with patience in good grace. Please share this post with people under distress and try to explain to them what is patience in Good Grace (صَبۡرٌ جَمِيۡلٌ) and why it is to be exercised despite one's difficult times. May Allah be always there to help us out of our difficult times. Ameen

Please listen to a short video clip on patience in good grace by eminent Muslim scholar Nouman Ali Khan:

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 read more posts on similar theme in our series of posts related to: Selected verses from Al-Qurʾān about Sabr   "صبر "   / Patience

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.
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.  

Photo | Tafsir References: | 1 | 2 | 

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references as given above. 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.

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

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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Believers!! Beware of Five Testing Times

September 22, 2023  Jalal HB  1 comment

Every now and then we hear news of natural calamities hitting some part of the world, devastating lives and properties and leaving behind sorry tales in the form of disastrous effects. Ever wondered why men face such bad times? Read on!

We have been sharing Hadiths attributed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ about warnings and cautions to the believers so that they do not face the Divine wrath. But when I read this Hadith today, I really shuddered for Prophet Muhammad ﷺ warned the believers of five things with which they will be tested, and then prayed that, "I seek refuge with Allah lest you live to see them."

This Hadith is mentioned in Sunan Ibn Majah / Book (36) of Tribulations كتاب الفتن / Chapter # 22 Punishments /باب الْعُقُوبَاتِ) as Hadith number # 4019 as under:

It was narrated that ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar said:
“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) turned to us and said: ‘O Muhajirun, there are five things with which you will be tested, and I seek refuge with Allah lest you live to see them: Immorality never appears among a people to such an extent that they commit it openly, but plagues and diseases that were never known among the predecessors will spread among them. They do not cheat in weights and measures but they will be stricken with famine, severe calamity and the oppression of their rulers. They do not withhold the Zakah of their wealth, but rain will be withheld from the sky, and were it not for the animals, no rain would fall on them. They do not break their covenant with Allah and His Messenger, but Allah will enable their enemies to overpower them and take some of what is in their hands. Unless their leaders rule according to the Book of Allah and seek all good from that which Allah has revealed, Allah will cause them to fight one another.’”

Arabic Text:
حَدَّثَنَا مَحْمُودُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ الدِّمَشْقِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ أَبُو أَيُّوبَ، عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي مَالِكٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَطَاءِ بْنِ أَبِي رَبَاحٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ أَقْبَلَ عَلَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ فَقَالَ ‏ "‏ يَا مَعْشَرَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ خَمْسٌ إِذَا ابْتُلِيتُمْ بِهِنَّ وَأَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ أَنْ تُدْرِكُوهُنَّ لَمْ تَظْهَرِ الْفَاحِشَةُ فِي قَوْمٍ قَطُّ حَتَّى يُعْلِنُوا بِهَا إِلاَّ فَشَا فِيهِمُ الطَّاعُونُ وَالأَوْجَاعُ الَّتِي لَمْ تَكُنْ مَضَتْ فِي أَسْلاَفِهِمُ الَّذِينَ مَضَوْا ‏.‏ وَلَمْ يَنْقُصُوا الْمِكْيَالَ وَالْمِيزَانَ إِلاَّ أُخِذُوا بِالسِّنِينَ وَشِدَّةِ الْمَؤُنَةِ وَجَوْرِ السُّلْطَانِ عَلَيْهِمْ ‏.‏ وَلَمْ يَمْنَعُوا زَكَاةَ أَمْوَالِهِمْ إِلاَّ مُنِعُوا الْقَطْرَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ وَلَوْلاَ الْبَهَائِمُ لَمْ يُمْطَرُوا وَلَمْ يَنْقُضُوا عَهْدَ اللَّهِ وَعَهْدَ رَسُولِهِ إِلاَّ سَلَّطَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ عَدُوًّا مِنْ غَيْرِهِمْ فَأَخَذُوا بَعْضَ مَا فِي أَيْدِيهِمْ ‏.‏ وَمَا لَمْ تَحْكُمْ أَئِمَّتُهُمْ بِكِتَابِ اللَّهِ وَيَتَخَيَّرُوا مِمَّا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ إِلاَّ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ بَأْسَهُمْ بَيْنَهُمْ ‏"‏ ‏.‏
Grade: Sahih (Darussalam)

This is really some warning that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ gave out in such details. Man, generally tends to do good, yet if they do not shape their lives as per tenets of Islam as spelt out in the Qur'an and Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, he is most likely to confront with the wrath of his Creator. No matter how good people may be, if they are ruled by rulers who do not rule according to the Book of Allah, they are most likely to ruin their lands and people with disasters and enemy onslaughts. This Hadith thus warns of not supporting a ruler who does not obey Allah's laws and if we do not change him, we are asking for disasters, famines, droughts and plagues as punishment for not living a life as Divinely dictated.
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.

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

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

Thursday, 21 September 2023

Collection of Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ about Oft asked Queries / Special Matters

September 21, 2023  Jalal HB  No comments

This reference page is yet another one in our series of posts on Collection of Hadiths on a specific subject. And this about special matters or answers to some of the oft asked queries from Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Many questions have been answered or directives given to address day-to-day dealing related to our social life. Can you beat it that the revered Prophet ﷺ directed to pay the wages of a labourer fourteen centuries ago, something that only recently been advocated through celebrating the 1 May as the day to ensure protection of rights of the labourers? And what are the grave consequences of committing suicide or how to ensure effective Anger Management, a subject that has only recently been given due attention. Or for that matter the rights of neigbours and that of one believer over the other!

Let us get started then: The links to Hadiths on oft asked queries / special matters are given herein under:

Miscellaneous Queries - answers also found in Qur'an

We hope that our readers will like this reference page useful and informative. We will continue to add more Hadiths on the subject in our future posts to keep our readers updated.

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 | 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

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

Wednesday, 20 September 2023

Man laments: I'm unappreciated - Allah reassures: Your efforts will be appreciated and rewarded

September 20, 2023  Jalal HB  No comments

It is human nature that a man expects his work to be appreciated and rewarded accordingly. When men's work is lauded, appreciated and rewarded whether monetarily or a fillip on one's shoulder by the company head. Such demonstrated acts of appreciation motivate men to work more and remain focused to further improve their output. That is appreciation and rewards increase one's ability to work diligently to be in the category of good workers.

Likewise, believers also expect some sort of Divine appreciation and rewards for their sincerity, remaining focused on the right path, beating back evil. And like workers of a company, they feel morose and let down when they compare their sincerity accruing no rewards, as compared to those who are not following the Divine path and yet being living a promising life.

To ward off such a tendency, Allah reassures such men, who lament that they are not being Divinely appreciated, that their sincerity is being appreciated, sometimes visible and sometimes backstage. This Divine reassurance is mentioned in the 22nd verse of Surah 76 Al Insan (The Man), also called Surah Ad Dahr (Time). In fact, the shared reassurance is part of the continuation of previous many verses in which a beautiful picture is painted of Jannah / Paradise which tells the believers that they may not see any worldly rewards forthcoming always, yet their final reward is with Allah, who is always watching His servants, appreciating their sincerity to Him and to His favoured religion Islam, and building up a great reward for them

اِنَّ هٰذَا كَانَ لَـكُمۡ جَزَآءً وَّكَانَ سَعۡيُكُمۡ مَّشۡكُوۡرًا‏ 
(76:22) Behold, this is your recompense and your endeavour has been appreciated
In the original, " كَانَ سَعۡيُكُمۡ مَّشۡكُوۡرًا " kana sa yu kum mashkura: "your endeavors have been accepted and recognized." Sa`i implies the entire lifework that a person accomplished in the world, the works and objectives to which he applied his energies and abilities; and its being mashkur means that Allah has appreciated it. Shukr when expressed by the servant to God implies his gratefulness to Him for His blessings, and when it is expressed by God for the servant, it means that He has appreciated his services. It is indeed highly kind of the Master that He should appreciate the endeavors of the servant when the servant has only carried out his duties according to the Master's will.

Tafsir Ibn-Kathir: 
(Verily, this is a reward for you, and your endeavor has been accepted.) meaning, this will be said to them in honor of them and as goodness towards them. 

    This is as Allah says, (Eat and drink at ease for that which you have sent forth before you in days past!) (69:24) 

    Allah also says, (And it will be cried out to them: "This is the Paradise which you have inherited for what you used to do.') (7:43) 

Then Allah says, (and your endeavor has been accepted) meaning, `Allah the Exalted will reward you for a small amount (of deeds) with a large amount (of reward).'

Tafsir Qur'an Wiki:
In fact, this verse gives us an inspiring and detailed picture of the bliss and luxury enjoyed by the dwellers of heaven. All this is given in contrast with the chains, shackles and blazing fire the unbelievers suffer. We, thus, see the two widely different ends to the two widely divergent ways.

So let us have faith in Allah and be assured that Allah never goes His promises and all believers who wholeheartedly support Islam and Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, that is Allah's favoured religion and prophet, will be rewarded in abundance. Though a part of it will be given to them in this life too, wholesome rewards will be given to them when many will be dragged towards the burning hell.
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 read more posts on similar theme in our series of posts related to: Al Qur'an guides and helps those who sincerely seek Divine Guidance and Help.

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 | 

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

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
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