WHO IS STRONG AMONG US?

The next time you are tempted to say something hurtful to someone just because you’re angry, you might want to stop and remember this story. First let me tell you this hadeeth. Once a man asked the Prophet (pbuh) to give him advice, for which Prophet (pbuh) replied. Don’t get angry. The man asked again twice for which the reply that he received from the prophet(pbuh) was “Don’t get angry”. Similar to the hadith where Prophet(pbuh) said that maximum love and affection is to mother. So one can clearly understand how important is to control our anger.

Now, the story There once was a little boy who had a bad temper. His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the back of the fence.The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next few weeks, as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence.Finally the day came when the boy didn’t lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper. The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone.

The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. He said, “You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one. You can put a knife in a man and draw it out. It won’t matter how many times you say I’m sorry, the wound is still there.”The little boy then understood how powerful his words were. He looked up at his father and said “I hope you can forgive me father for the holes I put in you.”“Of course I can,” said the father.

Anger is an emotional state that varies in intensity from mild irritation to intense fury and rage,” according to Charles Spielberger, PhD, a psychologist who specializes in the study of anger.  It is accompanied by physiological and biological changes; when you get angry, your heart rate and blood pressure go up, as do the levels of your energy hormones: adrenaline and noradrenaline. At the conscious level, there are commonly to be found ideas such as, "She shouldn't have said that to me," or "Who does he think he is ?" or "I can't take anymore of this. Anger can potentially “hijack” the rational thinking part of our brain.  This is often the case when a person states, “I just coudnt control myself!”

Many of us are unable to control ourselves and end up arguing with others, often the ones that we love – our parents, our brothers, our sisters, husband or wives. As humans beings, we have our emotions. We react in either positive or negative emotions. Sometimes we may lose our logic and we cannot control our emotions. So what we supposed to do. Prophet(pbuh) ordered us to say:

 I seek refuge in God from the accursed evil (a`ûdhû billâhi min ash-shaytân ir rajîm).

In another narration Prophet (pbuh) said the following: Anger is a burning coal. Don't you see your eyebrows wide and eyes reddish? So when one of you feels angry, let him sit down if standing, and lie down if sitting.

The Prophet (pbuh) said : "When one of you gets angry, let him make ablution with water as anger arises out of fire."

Also "Anger comes from the devil and the devil is made of fire." 

These are the three Anger Management tips from the Sunnah of Prophet(pbuh) which should be used by us.

Allah says in surah Ashuraa, which is Surah 42 of the Quran, in the 36th and 37th verse: So whatever thing you have been given – it is but [for] enjoyment of the worldly life. But what is with Allah is better and more lasting for those who have believed and upon their Lord rely. And those who avoid the major sins and immoralities, and when they are angry, they forgive.

When you analyse how Allah explains us the importance of not getting angry, you will be more submissive to Him Alone. Firstly, He says that this worldly things are for this life only and think why do we get angry. Is it for the worldly things or some thing else. Definitely it is mostly because of the worldly things. So Allah says what He has for you in the Akhiraah which is firstly better and more lasting. So as a believer in Allah we must place our trust in Him. Further He says.. to avoid the major sins and immoralities and he says to forgive when you are ANGRY.  He did not say  STAY CALM WHEN YOU ARE ANGRY. He says: FORGIVE. So, remember this when you are about to burst out your rage on your mother, brother, sister or your spouse. As this act of forgiveness that you would do for the sake of Allah. Allah is ready to offer you in the above verse which you would lose.

I would like to end by saying a hadith where Prophet(pbuh) said: He is not strong who throws people down, but he is strong among us who controls himself when he is angry." [Bukhari and Muslim]. So who is strong amonst us………

Please leave your comments here or and inbox me @ dawah_thebestcall@yahoo.in

Jazak Allahu Khairan for reading.

HER EXAMPLE FOR US...WHO IS SHE?

We all have known that out of the wives that the prophet (pbuh) had, she enjoys a very important status. Her life is a proof that she was far more knowledgeable, well aware of tenants of Islam. She has been a source of inspiration for many during her times. Many of the learned companions of the Prophet and their followers benefitted from her knowledge.

She was one of three wives who memorized the Revelation. Like Hafsah (R.A), she had her own script of the Quran written after the Prophet had died. So far as the Ahadith or sayings of the Prophet is concerned, she is one of four persons (the others being Abu Hurayrah, Abdullah ibn Umar, and Anas ibn Malik) who transmitted more than two thousand sayings. Have you all guessed? Who is she? It is none other than Aisha (Radhiallahu anha).

The Prophet entered into marriage with Aisha (R.A) when she was six … and at the time [of joining his household] she was a girl of nine years of age. She died at the age of 67 and she was 18 when prophet (pbuh) died. She had lived with the prophet (pbuh) for not more than a decade. In her youth, already known for her formidable memory, she came under the care and attention of the Prophet (pbuh). As his wife and close companion, she acquired from him knowledge and insight such as no woman has ever acquired.

Men and women came from far of places to benefit from her knowledge. The number of women is said to have been greater than that of men. Some of her students were outstanding. Abu Musa al-Ashari once said: "If we companions of the Messenger of Allah had any difficulty on a matter, we asked Aisha about it."Many of the traits pertaining to personal behavior which only someone in Aisha (R.A) position could have learnt from Prophet (pbuh). What is most important is that her knowledge of hadith was passed on in written form by at least three persons including her nephew Urwah who became one of the greatest scholars among the generation after the Companions. “Musa ibn Talha said: I never saw anyone more eloquent than Aisha.”

Her nephew Urwah asserts that Aisha (R.A) was proficient in her extensive understanding of Qur'an, Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh), Islamic teachings and traditions (Sunnah), medicine (tibb) and poetry. Many of the senior companions of the Prophet came to her to ask for advice concerning questions of inheritance which required a highly skilled mathematical mind. Scholars regard her as one of the earliest fuqaha of Islam along with persons like Umar ibn al-Khattab, Ali and Abdullah ibn Abbas. The Prophet referring to her extensive knowledge of Islam is reported to have said: "Learn a portion of your religion (din) from this red colored lady." "Humayra" meaning "Red-coloured" was an epithet given to Aisha (R.A) by the Prophet.

Youth girls of today have their ideal as famous personalities from Glamour field including actor, actresses, sports personalities and others from different field. But one of the best ideal for all of us is definitely this sahaabiya and wife of our prophet (pbuh).

"The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) would say to `Aisha, (may Allah be pleased with her): "I know when you become angry or pleased of me" She said, "I asked, how could you know that?" He said, "When you are pleased, you say, "No, by the Lord of Muhammad and when you are angry, you say, "No, by the lord of Ibrahim"(Reported by Bukhari).

What is the reason for this behaviour to be included in bukhari? This behaviour of Aisha (R.A) was approved by prophet (pbuh) that is the reason why this hadith has been reported in the bukhari. The personality of Aisha (R.A) is an example for many of us. It teaches us several practices and how to deal with any situation. When we relate our lives and think for a while as to what the companions would do if they had been in our place... we would definitely get the answer. But the greatest concern is that we don’t relate it to them, nor do we relate it to Aakhiraah. May Allah help us achieve the qualities that this Mother of believer’s had. Ameen.

SHE LOVES ME, SHE LOVES ME NOT....

Imagine a brother attending a talk, supposed to be a Halal environment. After the talk when all the people gathered start to leave, on the way the brother happens to glance upon a sister. Shaytan makes the brother think  “ Oh Masha Allah, this sister is very active. She would become a good wife”. Shaytan also puts into the mind of the brother ”DO IT THE HALAL WAY”. The brother approaches the sister and asks her for her father’s number. The sister gives her father’s number. This is how brothers and sisters fall into the trap of shaytan. Shaytan plans to stop the brother to call that sister’s father, makes him think I don’t know much about her, her family... then how should I call her father and create a big confusion. Let me know about the sister then things will be easy. After few days, in another talk (HALAL) they also xchange their personal mail id’s. The sister thinks that this brother is really very nice..so she says “Insha Allah I will pray Salaat Ul Istikhara..they start conversing with each other more... and we know how things progress from there. This is how Shaytan makes us feel that we are doing the right thing and HALAL way. From a point where there was no conversation at all, he created a situation where the brother, sister and he (shaytan) are alone. Slowly and steadily shaytan makes them win his race and they become the loser.

This scenario could have stopped at any point before things go worse. Yes, it could have ended at the point where the brother after looking at that sister for the first time, could have lowered his gaze. And it could have also stopped at a point where the sister should have not given her mail id. After these things have happened, there is very little chance of escaping from shaytan.

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (PBUH) said, "Allah has written the very portion of Zina which a man will indulge in. There will be no escape from it. The Zina of the eye is the (lustful) look, the Zina of the ears is the listening (to voluptuous songs or talk), the Zina of the tongue is (the licentious) speech, the Zina of the hand is the (lustful) grip, the Zina of the feet is the walking (to the place where he intends to commit Zina), the heart yearns and desires and the private parts approve all that or disapprove it.''
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

But sad to say that it is this culture which has harmed many youths life. Every deen has its distignuished feature and our feature as muslims is “HAYA”. This is what differentiate us from others. During prophet(pbuh), in the market places, men and women use to walk freely. Prophet(pbuh) use to say Itlaa Itlaa for the women to make way for men. After free mixing of male and female was prohibited, he made it very clear that females should walk through the market close to the edges and men to walk through the middle. The messenger of Allah had made it very clear, in fact categorically clear to the extent that there is a massive punishment for a man who touch a foreign female. Here are the words from the hadeeth: ‘It is better for you that a metal rod be plunged into your head than that you should touch a female who is not lawful for you’.

Can you imagine this, on the day of judgement..a metal rod plunged into your head....how would you feel…and can you imagine it here in this duniya..it is better for you to take a metal rod and plunge it into your head than to touch or look at a foreign female. If you walk down the streets now a days, you can find many Laila – Majnu, Heer – Ranjha & Romeo-Juliet. Sad to see our muslim brothers and sisters also amongst them. Is this what Islam tells us?

‘O youth, who ever amongst you has the means of getting married,should do so because it lowers the gaze and protects the private parts;and whosoever does not have the ability, should fast, for indeed, it is a protection for him.'(Bukhari). This hadeeth specifically refers to the youth..as youth your desires are more strong. To avoid getting into something Haram, it is better that you get married. How many out of the youth today are getting married when they reach the age of marriage. Youth is busy with careers, getting settled and few also think that they cant afford it. I heard one of the Guy saying this: “Being single is like cool..you can do what you want, you don’t have to cry, no need to worry about your partner. you can live your life”.

If you see the school girls who are barely 12-16, when you observe them they think and behave as if they are ready for marriage, straight away. The way they dress up as if they are married women, the way they talk sometimes,even. But due to the trend of late marriage nowadays, getting married at the right age is definitely not “IN”. But we need to think about this  as an issue which is harming our deen, our society might not accept it but we need to do things which our deen allows and stay away from those things which our deen does not allow.

I am sure those brothers who are reading this there will be some who need to get marriage, and also who are married. If you are not married then get married. And if you are married, then get married again if you can do justice, Insha Allah.Next time you look at a sister, then think about a metal rod being plunged into your head. And refrain from things which are shameful. Get married and say that : I LOVE YOU rather than having a Haram relationship to opt for a chance to say: SHE LOVES ME, SHE LOVES ME NOT….

GOING FOR SALAAH, UNLOCK YOUR HEARTS…PLEASE

The Muslims once head out with the Prophet (peace be upon him) on way to

battle. During the trip the Prophet ordered two companions, one of the Ansaar and

one of the Muhaajireen, to stand guard over them. As they did the Muhaajer

decided to rest while the Ansaari chose to stand in prayer. Along came a nonbeliever

and cast an arrow striking the Ansari in the chest. The Ansari pulled out

the arrow and continued in prayer. The non-believer struck him with a second

arrow. Again the Ansari removed it and continued his prayer. A third arrow was

cast but now the Ansari could no longer stand and finally fell bleeding into his

Rukuu and Sujood. The aggressor fled as the Muhaajer rushed to his brother’s

aid, Why didn’t you alert me from the first arrow??” The Ansari

replied, “I was in the middle of a (beautiful) Sura and didn’t wish to interrupt my

recitation of it.” “Subhanallah!

How did the companions attain that level of inner peace, that level of Khushu.. Allah says in the Glorious Quran in the following verses of Surah Al Muminun : 1,2

Qad 'Aflaĥa Al-Mu'uminūna(Certainly will the believers have succeeded:)

Al-Ladhīna Hum Fī Şalātihim Khāshi`ūna (They who are during their prayer humbly submissive)

The word Khashiuna comes from the word khushu which means calmness, tranquility of the body and attentiveness of the mind during Salaah. So when we offer salaah - duniya jokes, friends, family, job, business etc all things pop up the moment you say “Allahu Akbar” and fold your hands. When you announce “Allahu Akbar”, imagine that you are before the cameras and the red “ON THE AIR” button has now been switched on. There is a veil from between You and Allah being raised up. In His hands is everything you are and everything you will ever be. But it is we who turn away from Allah and move away from him.

The designs on the prayer rug start to tell all sorts of entertaining stories! You try to fight this thought off and refocus. And then suddenly a fly comes upon the rug and then it comes upon you.. and you hear that a child is crying out loud. All these kind of things that you are engaged with during your Salaah spoils your Salaah and negates it to just merely a form of exercise activity. That is not what Allah means when he says : They who are during their prayer humbly submissive.

It was said that when Ali(R.A) washed in preparation for prayer(wudhu), he always went pale

and trembled with anxiety as he thought of himself about to stand before his Lord. How does that sound to us? Imam Bukhari was once stung by a wasp 17 times while standing in prayer. When

he finished, he felt some discomfort and asked if anyone was aware of what caused it and here we are day dreaming while offering salaah, making all sorts of stories looking at the prayer rug.

The way you can improve on your experience while salaah is to understand the meaning of what you are reciting or saying while you are offering salaah. Allahu Akbar, Subhana Rabee al Adheem, Samee’Allahu liman hamida, Subhaana Rabeeal A’la, Attahiyaathu lillaahi…, Allahumma Salli Ala, etc.. Try to read the meanings of the Surah’s that you recite, and when you stand in Salaah, when the Imam Recites the Surah relate it to what you have read.. this makes you busy with the understanding what is being recited during salaah.

Imam not necessarily will recite the surah’s that you know the meaning of, but you can do it for surah’s that you know off.. and if you don’t know what is being recited then pay attention to what is being recited, and fear Him before you bring up any matters associated to this Duniya, fear Him as if you are standing in front of Him and He is watching you. Our relationship with the book of Allah also has to improve to gain the khushu that the sahabas gained.

I was offering Fajr Salaah at Masjid Al Haram and the imam was Shaykh Khalid Al Ghamdi, he was reciting Surah At-Taghabun, he reached this verse where Allah says Yawma Yajma`ukum Liyawmi Al-Jam`i Dhālika Yawmu At-Taghābun..the shaykh started reciting this verse and he stopped at yawm and was crying and he had no control over his cry untill he recited it 6th time to complete the verse. Its because of the words Yawmu At-Taghābun which means  Day of Deprivation.

The complete translation of that verse is: The Day He will assemble you for the Day of Assembly – that is the Day of Deprivation. The Day of Deprivation Especially, non arabs should make it a point to learn Arabic to enjoy the sweetness that is derived from the Salaah. The inner peace that you experience during Salaah when you understand what is being recited. Here is what Allah calls us and questions us in the Quran:

Will they not ponder upon the Quran, or are their hearts locked up. (Surah Muhammad: 24)

RAMADHAN IS GONE… HAVE WE CHANGED OURSELVES? By ARIF MOHAMMED

It is with the mercy of Allah that we have passed by sacred month of Ramadhan, wherein we have refrained ourselves from eating, drinking days which is not a usual habit of ours during the other days of the year. Apart from that we have strived to refrain ourselves from other things which nullifies our fast. We adhered to the most unsual times of eating and drinking i.e Sahoor and Ifthaar.

 If we think for a moment why did we do choose this unusual times of doing things-

was it because all of the muslims were doing it;

was it that our families and friends were doing it;

was it to please Allah(swt) and attain Taqwah;

was it that what will people say if I don’t fast.

The following verse from the Quran says : O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you that you may achieve Taqwah.

(Al –Baqarah: Verse 183).

Now, we can very well understand which of the above mentioned options does Allah wants from us.

If we closely analyse ourselves, we must be having a very small habit which is wrong  - mite be a word that you utter often – a commonly used words like Teri Jaath ka….., Zyada Samajhme aa raha hain kya.. etc ; a way of doing thing- could be the way you perform Wudhu(ablution), actions during your salaah. It may or may not be known to your closed ones. But you know that I am doing a certain thing not the right manner. These might be one of the things or there possibly could be other things which one might have, which has become a normal thing and we have got habituated to it.

We come to know that we have become a slave to the habit of ours only during Ramadhan. This course of changing our habits and doing things which we are commanded by Allah(swt) makes us more Allah fearing. Just before uttering those words or just after we utter those words we come to know that we are fasting and we ask Allah to forgive us. Similarly any actions that we did while we were fasting and we ask Allah to forgive us. Why did we not eat even when we were hungry, why did we not drink even when we were thirsty. It should be because Allah has commanded to do so. This intention should be there with us not only during Ramadhan but also during the other days of the year. Whenever we do anything, we must analyse who are we doing it for.. think for a while and do it not to please anyone but please Allah(swt). It could be a simple thing of giving Sadaqah, or it could be you praying Withr Salaah. Think who are you doing it for are doing to please someone praying with us or to please Allah(swt).

In one of the narrations of Prophet(pbuh), where Jibreel (A.S) asks prophet (pbuh) what is Ihsan and the reply Prophet(pbuh) gives is : Ihsan means to worship Allah as if you see him, if you cant see Him, surely He sees you.

After Ramadhan you have the chance to change your personality completely. To take out the love of the world from our hearts and prepare for the aakhirah, we should take the advice of Prophet(pbuh) seriously.

Prophet(pbuh) is reported to have said: "Remember very often the cutter-off of all pleasures, that is death."{Imam al-Tirmidhi, al-Nasa'i, Ibn Majah and the Ahmad}.

Hazrat Bilal bin Masood and Umar bin Abdul Aziz Radiallaho Anho said, “O People! You are not created for being destroyed”.

Hazrat ibn Umar Radiallaho Anho says, “This world is paradise for the non-believers (they are engaged in their worldly desires and aspirations). This world is a jail or prison for the faithful (momins). They are bound by the laws of Shari at in every matter. Therefore, when the soul of a momin leaves his body (at the time of death), it is as if a captive has been freed from the cell. He cleans himself by turning in the dust.

In another narration The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "You should visit graves, because they will remind you of the reality of death."(Muslim)

There are several other narrations of our prophet(pbuh) where he showed us the way to achieve the best of this Life and Aakhirah.

Find out ways to improve your relationship with Allah, offer your Salaah on time.

 Narrated Jabir ibn Abdullah (RAA) Rasulullah  said: The similitude of five prayers is like an overflowing river passing by the gate of one of you in which he washes five times daily. Hasan said: No filthiness can remain on him. (Sahih Muslim Book 4, Hadith # 1411).

 Find time to read Quran with Understanding..

Hazrat Abdullah bin Masud radhiyallahu anhu narrates that The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alaihi wasallam said: "Whoever reads one letter of the Quran receives the reward of one good deed. And one good deed is multiplied ten times.

 Listen to Authors like Farhat Hashmi, Nouman Ali Khan, Muhammed Salaah, Salem Al Amry, Asim Al Hakem and several others who have so much to offer for us from Quran, Saheeh Hadeeth’s, Fiqh etc..   Spend your time in something which would benefit you in the Aakhirah. Leave  habits that are of no benefit to you in Aaskhirah, habits like watching movies, Listening to music etc. Just leave it. Get closer to Allah as much as you can, make your way to improve your Aakhirah.

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah [S.A.W.W](P.B.U.H) said, "Allah says: `I am just as My slave thinks of Me when he remembers Me.' By Allah! Allah is more pleased with the repentance of His slave than one of you who unexpectedly finds in the desert his lost camel. `He who comes closer to Me one span, I come closer to him a cubit; and he who comes closer to Me a cubit, I come closer to him a fathom; and if he comes to Me walking, I come to him running".

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Change, Change, Change for the sake of Allah. Allah will open up the pathways for you.