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Friday, 22 September 2023

Believers!! Beware of Five Testing Times

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.

Thursday, 21 September 2023

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

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.
PhotoIf 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.

Wednesday, 20 September 2023

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

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'anYou 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.

Tuesday, 19 September 2023

Collection of Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ about As Salat - Prayers

Since we started our exclusive page on Hadith, Sunnah and Supplications attributed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, the pages have over swelled due to a large volume of substance available relevant to the subject. Therefore, we had to create separate reference pages about a specific subject related to the Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

Herein under the links to our Reference Pages on specific subjects already been separately created:
Since daily prayers form part of an important part of all Muslims, being the second important pillar of Islam, we hereby create a new page about the Hadiths attributed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ about daily prayers / As Salat. We hope this would greatly assist our readers in knowing about performing As Salat and related matters.

Note: This page must be read with our specific subject Reference Pages, based on selected verses from Qur'an and viewpoint of eminent Muslim scholars.
This page is exclusive to Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ about As Salat - Prayers:
As Salat al Tahajjad (The night prayer - Qiyam al Lail)
Shortening and Combining of Prayer when travelling
This is only the beginning. We will continue to update this page for helping our sisters and brothers in Islam to know more about As Salat and how best to offer these.
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. 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.

Man Ages, but his Two Desires remain Young (Hadith Prophet Muhammad ﷺ)

Age and desires of a man are two opposite directional forces. While a man ages, his physical energies tend to fade and he often laments how sporty he once was when he was young. Likewise, his desire to be wealthier that yesterday also clings to his mindset, despite having much. In fact, as man ages, his lust or desire for more should diminish for he cannot eat and drink as he once used to or accelerate his car crossing all barriers or teasing the policemen.

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ once talked about two desires of man that remain young even, one physical and one mental. Let us see which ae these two desires:

This Hadith is mentioned Jami` at-Tirmidhi  (36 - Chapters on Chapters on Zuhd) كتاب  المناقب عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم / Chapter # 28 What Has Been Related About: 'The Heart of an Old Man Remains Young Because of Love for Two Things' /  باب   مَا جَاءَ فِي قَلْبُ الشَّيْخِ شَابٌّ عَلَى حُبِّ اثْنَتَيْنِ ) as Hadith number # 2339

Anas bin Malik narrated that the Prophet (s.a.w) said: "The Son of Adan grows old, but two things keep him young: Desire for life and desire for wealth."
Grade: Sahih (Darussalam)

Arabic Text:
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ يَهْرَمُ ابْنُ آدَمَ وَيَشِبُّ مِنْهُ اثْنَتَانِ الْحِرْصُ عَلَى الْعُمُرِ وَالْحِرْصُ عَلَى الْمَالِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ صَحِيحٌ ‏.‏

And how true has been the observation of the revered Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Nothing has changed since his times. If we look around, older people do not want to dies, despite knowing that death would get them even if they live another hundred years. Likewise, they want to remain young with a lot of wealth so that they continue to enjoy their lives till the very end.

Since both wishes, though remain young, are unattainable, as one ages, one should steer his course of life to remembering Allah more, repenting for his weaknesses and sins once committed in the playful youth, and seeking Divine forgiveness, for no one never knows when the angel of death will appear to bring an end to all desires. Instead of longing to amass worldly wealth one should now start to build up his goodly wealth by giving to charities, helping people and being good to everyone around. These acts will open a bank account for life after Resurrection, which will continue to swell if one increases his prayers and help others. Time is now to harness these desires from pricking us and remaining young and instead start preparing for our next life with good deeds and seeking as much forgiveness as we can, for these will add to our real wealth that would to an extent balance out our good deeds in our favour after trading with our sins.
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.

Monday, 18 September 2023

Man laments: It’s too difficult - Allah reassures: With every difficulty there is ease

Many a man when confronted with difficulties, lose heart and give away. It is only a few from the whole lot which never lose heart and continue to strive to achieve their goals and aims. This is true today and has been true in the past since worldly life set in. 

More than others, the arduous mission of the prophets and messengers of Allah has been more than the capacity of the common man and it has been their resilience to continue bearing the physical and mental stress, torture and slanders and continuing with the Divine task entrusted to them. But there has always been a limit to bear. Prophet Yunus (Jonah, peace be upon him) gave away and found him in the belly of a whale where he repented. And when finally forgiven and brought alive on the seashore, he was amazed to find the same hostile people had accepted the Divine will. Likewise, Prophet Musa (Moses, peace be upon him) when came down with tablets Divinely engraved found division in his people and was frustrated. But he too was shown the way to deal with the developing situation.

Likewise, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was in no different situation as his predecessors. And when the hostilities towards him by pagans of Makkah increased beyond his bearing limits, he too lamented for the difficulties he was being confronted with. It was then that the 94th chapter of Qur'an, Al Inshirah (The Opening Up) was revealed unto him and reassured him of Allah's help and that with every difficulty there is ease.

Herein under we pick up the 5th and 6th verses in which Allah reassures His prophet of there being ease after the difficulties he was facing:

فَاِنَّ مَعَ الۡعُسۡرِ يُسۡرًا ۙ - اِنَّ مَعَ الۡعُسۡرِ يُسۡرًا ؕ‏ 
(94:5) Indeed, there is ease with hardship - (94:6) Most certainly, there is ease with hardship
This has been repeated twice so as to reassure the Holy Prophet that the bad times hp was passing through at that time would not last forever, but were going to be replaced by good times in the near future. On the surface this appears to be a contradiction that hardship should be accompanied by ease, for these two things do not co-exist. But the words "hardship with ease" instead of "ease after hardship" have been used in the sense that the period of ease is so close to it as if it were a concomitant of it.

Qur'an Wiki Explanation:
Hardship is never absolute, for ease always accompanies it. When your burden became too heavy, We lifted up your heart and relieved you. The repetition suggests that the Prophet had endured serious hardship and much affliction. This reminder recalls the various aspects of care and concern shown to the Prophet and then reassures him emphatically. A matter which afflicts Muhammad’s soul so much must be very serious indeed. Then follows a statement pointing out the aspects of comfort and the factors contributing to the lifting up of hearts and spirits, which is of great help to Muslims as they travel along their hard and long way.

Yusuf Ali Explanation
This verse is repeated for extra emphasis. Whatever difficulties or troubles are encountered by men, Allah always provides a solution, a way out, a relief, a way to lead to ease and happiness, if we only follow His Path and show our Faith by patience and well-doing. The solution or relief does not merely come after the Difficulty: it is provided with it. I understand the definite article in al-'usr in a generic sense, and translate: "every difficulty". In xcii. 7, I have translated Yusr as Bliss, and in xcii. 10 'Usr as Misery.

Javed Ahmad Ghamidi Explanation:
(Therefore, [rest assured,] with this difficulty) Ie., so close is this ease to the difficult time he is facing that it is almost adjacent.

([you are now facing], a great ease awaits.)  The ease referred to in the verse is that which was afforded to the Prophet (sws) in Madīnah after migration. As a result, not only did his preaching endeavours lead to political authority, but also with this authority the whole of Arab became subservient to him.

(With this difficulty, a great ease awaits) The repetition emphasizes the glad tidings. The period in which this sūrah was revealed was apparently a very testing one. The Almighty presented various incidents of the Prophet’s life to assure him. He was told that the God Who endowed him with all these blessings was there to help him; very soon, these difficult times would give way to ease; the hindrances in his way would be removed and he and his companions would finally reach the destination the Almighty had appointed as an established practice for His messengers. The words are rather precise here. But in Sūrah al-Naṣr, details are cited. It is stated that God’s help and victory would come and the Prophet (sws) would see people entering the folds of Islam in multitudes.

So, my dear sisters and brothers in Islam, we must remember and should have firm faith that hardship is never absolute, for ease always accompanies it. Difficulties do go away and pave the way for ease provided one has faith in Allah and does not lose heart in the face of times, no matter how adverse and challenging. Floods wash away lands and houses, yet men rebuild what has been lost and continue living another life. In fact, losing heart and being scared of difficult times is something that Satan injects into us to break our will to carry one. So let us not have someone break our will and turn us into a failure. There is always light at the end of the tunnel that suddenly scares away the darkness we have been travelling in.
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 this post 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'anYou 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 |

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.

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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.

Sunday, 17 September 2023

Let the mark of Allah’s favour and honour to you BE SEEN (Hadith Prophet Muhammad ﷺ)

Islam forbids extravagance and lavish living and life style, for such display of wealth leaves negative impression on others who can hardly make their ends meet. But at the same time, it is not desired that a person who has been adequately blessed should appear in rag tags or dirty clothes, even if as a mark of humility. Although wearing gold studded shirts and watches is not desired, for these give an impression of arrogance and pride, yet a well-to-do person should ensure to wear clean and washed clothes and not necessarily new clothes. 

On the same subject, a Hadith attributed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is mentioned in Sunan Abi Dawud (Book # 34 Clothing (Kitab Al-Libas): كتاب اللباس / Chapter # 1518 Regarding Worn Out Clothes, And Washing Clothes / باب فِي غَسْلِ الثَّوْبِ وَفِي الْخُلْقَانِ ) as Hadith number # 4063, quoted herein under:

Abu al-Ahwas quoted his father saying: I came to the Prophet (ﷺ) wearing a poor garment and he said (to me): Have you any property? He replied: Yes. He asked: What kind is it? He said: Allah has given me camels. Sheep, horses and slaves. He then said: When Allah gives you property, let the mark of Allah's favour and honour to you be seen.
Grade: Sahih (Al-Albani)

Arabic Text:
حَدَّثَنَا النُّفَيْلِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرٌ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ أَبِي الأَحْوَصِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ أَتَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي ثَوْبٍ دُونٍ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ أَلَكَ مَالٌ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ نَعَمْ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ مِنْ أَىِّ الْمَالِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ قَدْ أَتَانِيَ اللَّهُ مِنَ الإِبِلِ وَالْغَنَمِ وَالْخَيْلِ وَالرَّقِيقِ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ فَإِذَا أَتَاكَ اللَّهُ مَالاً فَلْيُرَ أَثَرُ نِعْمَةِ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكَ وَكَرَامَتِهِ ‏"‏ ‏.

Sometimes well-to-do believers are found wearing dirty and even torn clothes and shoes, which in fact is a display of thanklessness to Allah for not wearing good clothes which they he can easily afford. At the same time, they live an extravagant way of life, moving about in flashy and expensive cars, partying in luxury hotels and displaying wealth as a show off, which is tangent to living a life of piety, humility, humbleness and thankfulness. So, let us live a life as per the honour, favours and blessings upon us by Allah and as directed by the revered Prophet (ﷺ) of Allah mentioned in the Hadith shared above. 

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.

Saturday, 16 September 2023

Seven Destroyers of Faith (Hadith Prophet Muhammad ﷺ)

Faith in Allah is the hallmark of believing Muslims. However, while we are contended with being Muslims, we usually do many ats that are tangent to the very essence of our Islamic Faith. And when we act upon some of the well-defined guidelines, we endanger our faith and are guilty of grave sin.

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ has listed seven actions and warn the believers to avoid these destroyers of faith. This Hadith is quoted in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: Book (#1) of Faith - كتاب الإيمان  as Hadith number # 262 as under:

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Avoid the seven destroyers." He was asked: "What are they, O Messenger of Allah?" He ﷺ said: "Associating others with Allah (Shirk); witchcraft; killing a soul whom Allah has forbidden us to kill, except for a right that is due; consuming orphans' wealth; consuming Riba; fleeing from the battlefield; and slandering chaste, innocent women."

Arabic Text:
حَدَّثَنِي هَارُونُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ الْأَيْلِيُّ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ بِلَالٍ عَنْ ثَوْرِ بْنِ زَيْدٍ عَنْ أَبِي الْغَيْثِ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ اجْتَنِبُوا السَّبْعَ الْمُوبِقَاتِ قِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَمَا هُنَّ قَالَ الشِّرْكُ بِاللَّهِ وَالسِّحْرُ وَقَتْلُ النَّفْسِ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ وَأَكْلُ مَالِ الْيَتِيمِ وَأَكْلُ الرِّبَا وَالتَّوَلِّي يَوْمَ الزَّحْفِ وَقَذْفُ الْمُحْصِنَاتِ الْغَافِلَاتِ الْمُؤْمِنَاتِ.

Now let us take a self-appraisal of ourselves and see how many times we have been guilty of losing our faith. Let us take a rundown of each:
  • Associating others with Allah (Shirk): Although, most of the believers think that they believe in Oneness of Allah, yet they visit graves of the dead, though very pious in their lives, and move them to be intercessors between them and Allah and pray for forgiveness. There are umpteen number of anecdotes on social media in which graves of once worldly saints are visited and prostrated as an act of bowing, while it is strictly forbidden to prostrate anyone other than Allah, the One and Only Sustainer and Giver. Remember wishing Merry Christmas to Christians also falls under the category of shirk because as per Christian belief on this day Jesus Christ, the son of God and even later God as part of the Trinity concept, was born. So, by wishing them merry Christmas we may inadvertently be committing shirk.
  • Practicing witchcraft: Witchcraft is often taken as a means to fulfill one's wishes and cast overshadow and evil spell on others. Surah 113. Al Falak mentions women and witches casting spells and even the very personality of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was many a time targeted by the witches to have him refrained from his mission of spreading Islam. It is therefore strictly forbidden to learn and practice the art of witchcraft.
  • Killing a soul whom Allah has forbidden us to kill: "This is a statement of the sanctity of life which is found in every religion and moral code." Killing of a human is one of the biggest destroyers of faith, for giving and taking life is the exclusive domain of Allah, the Almighty. We, more often than not, read news of Muslims killing others on family disputes and petty things. One who kills a soul, whether Muslim or otherwise, is this liable to destroy his faith as he commits a crime so strictly forbidden. This means that human life, which has been declared inviolable by God, can only be destroyed for just cause. As for what is meant by 'just cause', we ought to remember that three cases are embodied in the Qur'an whereas two additional cases have been stated by the Prophet (peace be on him). The cases mentioned by the Qur'an are the following:
  • (1) That a man is convicted of deliberate homicide and thus the claim of retaliation is established against him.
  • (2) That someone resists the establishment of the true faith so that fighting against him might become necessary.
  • (3) That someone is guilty of spreading disorder in the Domain of Islam and strives to overthrow the Islamic order of government.
  • The two cases mentioned in the Hadith are:
  • (1) That a person commits illegitimate sexual intercourse even after marriage.
  • (2) That a Muslim is guilty of apostasy and rebellion against the Muslim body-politic.
  • Except for these five reasons, slaying a human being is not permissible, regardless of whether he is a believer, a protected non-Muslim (dhimmi) or an ordinary unbeliever. 

  • Consuming orphans' wealth: The wealth of orphans kept in the custody of someone, till the orphans attain adulthood, is a very sacred responsibility. Yet we see guardians depriving the orphans of their due share or even not giving a penny at all on flimsy excuses. Do you think such a deceitful person reserves any right to retain his faith?
  • Consuming Riba: Consummation of Riba or interest is one of the major evils mentioned in Qur'an. People have been robbed of their possessions for paying intertest over interest on a loan they have obtained. Men engaged in this business are heartless and do not care to deprive a person of his possessions in the name of payment of interest. There are many studies going on consummation of riba by banks. Even the Islamic banking still falls short of laying down practical steps to abolish riba.
  • Fleeing from the battlefield: Fighting in the name of Allah has been ordained for all Muslims so as to preserve the religion of Islam. So, when an enemy threatens Muslims, it is the sacred duty of all able-bodied Muslims to defend against the enemy and face martyrdom, rather than turning back and fleeing the battlefield. Those who do so endanger their faith.
  • Slandering chaste, innocent women: Islam places a lot of emphasis on the women, for dignity and honour of chaste women once tarnished cannot be easily restored. Therefore, Muslims should be very careful in passing any derogatory remark about a sister in Islam in particular or for that matter any woman in general.
  • Slander indicates mentioning hidden weak points and faults of the others so that if they hear, they will be disturbed. These points are either concerned with religious, moral, spiritual and social aspects, or with corporeal aspects, including face, body's limbs, corporal powers, and actions and behaviours, or his attachments, such as wife, child, and or his clothing, house, etc.
  • Thus, be respectful to women and let us not commit sin by saying even a passing remark about a sister in Islam which may disturb her or portray her as a bad woman in the society. Slander lowers the reputation of a Muslim sister and damages her honour. 

Remember what Qur'an mentions about slandering: "O ye who believe! Shun much suspicion; for lo! some suspicion is a crime. And spy not, neither backbite one another. Would one of you love to eat the flesh of his dead brother? Ye abhor that (so abhor the other)! And keep your duty (to Allah). Lo! Allah is Relenting, Merciful." (49:12)

Let us then, my brothers and sisters in Islam, be weary of these seven destroyers of faith and refrain from committing any of these in any degree or magnitude, lest we endanger our Eeman and faith.
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.

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