There is No God ...

The basis of our entire belief starts with a simple statement لَا إِلَّهَ (There is NO إِلَّه). The reason I didn't define that word  إِلَّهَ  is because it doesn't just mean God. إِلَّهَ means someone or something that is loved, adored, worshipped and obeyed.

The reason the true definition is important because we are not muslim until we have completely and utterly testified and denied everything that we love and worship and obey before we come to Islam. If before Islam someone loved alcohol or gambling or any other sins that are against Islam, then they have to deny those desires before accepting Allah. 

We as Muslims cling to our desires, our sins and still claim that we are Muslims. We haven't denied our sinful desires, we haven't left our God that we worship other than Allah. 

How can we call ourselves Muslims while we still worship an إِلَّهَ other than Allah?

Everyone wants to be happy but ...

In Surah Taha (20:124) Allah says:

"And whoever turns away from My remembrance - indeed, he will have a depressed life, and We will gather him on the Day of Resurrection blind."

The word ضَنكًا does not just mean 'depressed'. If we look at different translations and the Tafsir, the better english word used is 'straitened'.

Poverty here is not poverty of material life but poverty of the soul. As a filthy rich person will have restless, sleepless nights. Someone with everything going for them will be depressed. Someone who has all the things majority of people crave (fame, talent, wealth) will die of a drug overdose, Heath Ledger anyone. Not only that but people become obsessed with trivial goals in life like the cliché of gathering more and more wealth or power or something as pathetic as trying to get more and more twitter following and neglect the important things in life. So their life and goals become restricted in scope.

But after mentioning the problem, Allah doesn't leave us hanging like the masjid uncle critics who just point out all the flaws and problem but when the work needs to be done are no where to be found. Several ayahs down, Allah mentions in (20:130)

"So be patient over what they say and glorify with praise/gratitude of your Lord before the rising of the sun and before its setting; and during periods of the night (Glorify Him) and at the ends of the day, that you may be satisfied/content."

The cure given by Allah is Salah. Allah calls the Salah as his remembrance. And if we notice in the ayah, it is not just talking about the five mandatory Salah, without which you can barely even call yourself muslim, but he is also talking about the Salah of Ishraq or Duha which is prayed after sunrise but before Duhur. And most importantly Allah is talking about Qiyam al-Layl.

We barely perform the five mandatory Salah and even when we perform them, we do so with laziness and at the last possible minute. No wonder life feels like it's empty without meaning most of the time. No wonder we rush to meaningless entertainment (soul junkfood).

Just like everyone wants to be fit but no one wants to workout or everyone wants to Jannah but no one wants to die or the kid suffering from a sickness doesn't want to be sick but refuses to take the medication;

We all want to be happy but no one wants to do what needs to be done to be happy. 

Awesomeness of Istighfar!!!

A lady who had to provide for her children and asked the shaykh "Ya shaykh i'm so poor i cannot feed my children properly, what should i do?"

The shaykh responded by saying - Do istighfar, in all of your affairs, all the time, working or resting, sitting or standing. So the lady did istighfar (saying Astaghfirullah, or Astaghfirullah wa atubu ilaih) to the extent it reached 1000s of times a day... the lady comes back literally some time after and told the shaykh she took his advice, and Allah blessed her with wealth from a place she never imagined.

The second was from a business owner the shaykh knew personally in Saudi, he said his business crashed by a few 100,000 saudi riyals. He told the shayhkh

"SubhanAllah I was depressed and looked to the Qur'an and came across the verses of Nuh (AS) enjoining his people to make istighfar! Saying:

"I said (to them): 'Ask forgiveness from your Lord; Verily, He is Oft-Forgiving; He will send [rain from] the sky upon you in abundance. And give you increase in WEALTH and children.." [71:10-12]

So he said "When I read that Allah increases your wealth and children, i started making Istighfar day and night, to the extent it reached 3000 and more per day... he said I swear by Allah i was blessed in my business to have more than a few odd MILLION riyals in profit in 6 months."

The shaykh mentioned that this is directly from from the hadith of the Prophet (salAllahu 'aliahi wa sallam)

عن عبد الله بن عباس رضي الله عنهما قَال : قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : ( مَنْ لَزِمَ الِاسْتِغْفَارَ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لَهُ مِنْ كُلِّ ضِيقٍ مَخْرَجًا ، وَمِنْ كُلِّ هَمٍّ فَرَجًا ، وَرَزَقَهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُ ) رواه أبو داود (1518) وابن ماجه (3819) ، وأحمد في "المسند" (1/248)

"Whomever instills upon himself to do istighfar continuously, Allah will make for him a relief out of every anxiety, and an outlet from any one of his constraints/difficulty, and He will provide for him from places that he never expected." (Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, Ahmad and others)


"And [saying], 'Seek forgiveness of your Lord and repent to Him, (and) HE WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH A GOODLY PROVISION for a specified term and give every doer of favor his favor. But if you turn away, then indeed, I fear for you the punishment of a great Day ..." [11:3]

To the extent ibn Qayyim (rahimahullah) said that Istighfar is among the ways to increase wealth and means to relieve difficulty and hardships. (Wabil al-Sayyib)"


-Posted by brother Hasib Noor

Prophet's Smile

"Better than you my eyes have never laid upon

and more beautiful than you no woman has ever given birth to

it is as if you were born free from every deficiency

or it is as if you were created as you yourself had pleased"

INTRODUCTION TO HIS CHARACTER

• He was always seen to be smiling.
• He never got angry for himself nor did he avenge himself, only when Allah's laws were being violated. Even then it was never followed with physical violence or lude or hurtful language.
• Even though he would get upset at people sometimes, he would never hold grudges

Abu Hurairah, reported that a man said to the Prophet: "Advise me! "The Prophet said, "Do not become angry and furious." The man asked (the same) again and again, and the Prophet said in each case, "Do not become angry and furious." [Al-Bukhari; Vol. 8 No. 137]

Abu Hurairah related that the Messenger of Allah, said: "A strong person is not the person who throws his adversaries to the ground. A strong person is the person who contains himself when he is angry." [Al-Bukhari; Book 47, No. 47.3.12]

The Prophet once said: "How eager am I to meet my brothers." So Abu Bakr and Umar said: "Are we not your brothers? We have believed in you, and migrated with you." The Prophet said: "No doubt, you have believed and migrated, yet I am eager to meet my brothers." Then he repeated the statement. Then he said: "You are my companions. But my brothers are those who will come after you have gone. They will believe in me, love me, help me, and confirm me - without ever having seen me. How I wish to meet my brothers!"

DIFFERENT TYPES OF LOVE

Say, "If your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your wives, your relatives, wealth which you have obtained, commerce wherein you fear decline, and dwellings with which you are pleased are more beloved to you than Allah and His Messenger and jihad in His cause, then wait until Allah executes His command. And Allah does not guide the defiantly disobedient people." [9:24]

Allah describes different types of love in the ayah above:

• Fathers (Parents) – Obligatory love
• Sons (you children) – Natural love
• Brothers (Siblings) – Familial love
• Spouses – Feelings, sentimental love
• Clan – Tribal Love
• Wealth – Love of Money
• Business & Trade(Fear of economical decline) – Love of Power
• Lands (Patriotism) – National Love

The love of Allah and His messenger needs to be above all the above.

“None of you truly believes until I am more beloved to himself than his parents, his children and all of mankind.” [Bukhari & Muslim]

Anas bin Malik reported: The Prophet (PBUH) said, "There are three qualities whoever has them, will taste the sweetness of Iman:

• To love Allah and His Messenger (PBUH) more than anyone else;
• To love a slave (of Allah) only for (the sake of) Allah;
• To abhor returning to infidelity after Allah has saved him from it as he would abhor to be thrown into the fire (of Hell)". [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

The declaration of love has to be followed by actions in accordance to it. Obedience is an evidence of Love.

There has certainly come to you a Messenger from among yourselves. Grievous to him is what you suffer; [he is] concerned over you and to the believers is kind and merciful. [9:128]

NAMES OF THE PROPHET

The word Muhammad comes from the root verb حمد means to praise exceedingly, therefore he is the one who is praised exceedingly

Another name of Rasool-Allah was ‘Ahmed’ which means the one who praises the most and Prophet (SAS) praised Allah the most.

His Kunya was Abul-Qasim, his first born son was named Qasim.

The only story about how he was named Muhammad was that his grandfather named him Muhammad so he would become someone special when he grows up. All other narrations and stories are fabricated.

It is related that Jubayr bin Mut’im said: that the Messenger said, “I have five names; I am Muhammad and Ahmad. I am al-Mahi, the Effacer by whom Allah will efface disbelief. I am al-Hashir, the gatherer, after whome people will be gathered, and I am al-‘Aqib, there will be no Prophet after me.” [Bukhari]

PROPHET'S MENTION IN THE SCRIPTURES

Yasin or Taha are NOT the names or even description of the Prophet.

Prophet (SAS) is mentioned in the Qur’an;

• Muhammad [3:144, 33:40, 47:2, 48:29]
• Ahmad [61:6]

"Muhammad is not the father of [any] one of your men, but [he is] the Messenger of Allah and last of the prophets. And ever is Allah , of all things, Knowing" [33:40]

• The reason for Him not having sons was so no one could claim the throne after his death.

Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah ; and those with him are forceful against the disbelievers, merciful among themselves. You see them bowing and prostrating [in prayer], seeking bounty from Allah and [His] pleasure. Their mark is on their faces from the trace of prostration. That is their description in the Torah. And their description in the Gospel is as a plant which produces its offshoots and strengthens them so they grow firm and stand upon their stalks, delighting the sowers - so that Allah may enrage by them the disbelievers. Allah has promised those who believe and do righteous deeds among them forgiveness and a great reward. [48:29]

• Allah tells us that the people of Torah and Gospel were told about the description of Rasool-Allah.

And the Lord said unto me, “ They have well spoken that which they have spoken. I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren like unto thee (Prophet was like Musa and Jesus was nothing like Musa), and will put My words in His mouth (Description of Quran; revealed as a spoken word); and He shall speak unto them all that I shall commanded Him. And it shall come to pass that whosoever will not hearken unto My words which He shall speak in My name, I will require it of him.” [Deuteronomy 18:17-19]

 And when they give the book to one who cannot read, saying, “Read this,” he says, “I cannot read.” [Isaiah 29:12] 

"But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because people do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned." [John 16:7-11]

• For the complete story read the entire passage  John 16:7-26

Mohammed in the Torah - Video 1, Video 2

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For the rest of the notes and more details please download the PDF file prepared by Qabeelat Noor

Allah is Greater than ____ الله اگبر

*These Notes are based on the Meaningful Salah class taught by Sheikh Abdul Nasir Jangda*


الله [Allah] - Not derived from any root but a unique name of divinity.
اگبر [Akbar] - Great or Greatest.


الله اگبر - Put together, it means: Allah is Greater than ____?


The common misconception is that it means 'Allah is Great'.  But the actual meaning as given above leaves the listener with the obvious question, Allah is greater that What?  The simplistic answer to this would be, Allah is Greater than Everything.  But it also holds more meaning to every individual reciting it.  If your work is distracting you from the remembrance of Allah then for you Allah is Greater than your work at that moment.

For someone who has lost there job and emotion of hopelessness takes over, for them Allah is greater than their problem because who can ultimately help the helpless.  So this simple remembrance has a powerful individual aspect to it.

Particularly in Salah we become distracted by many things at different times, and everytime we hear the Imam say الله اگبر it is a reminder for us to return to focus and realize, what ever is distracting us, Allah is greater than it.

Description of Salah

*These Notes are based on the Meaningful Salah class taught by Sheikh Abdul Nasir Jangda*

وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيُضِيعَ إِيمَانَكُمْ

 And thus we have made you just a community that you will be witnessed over the people and the Messenger will be witness over you. And we did not make the Qiblah which you used to face except that We might make evident who would follow the Messenger and who would turn back on his heels. And indeed it is difficult except for those whom Allah has guided. And never would have Allah caused you to lose your eeman. Indeed Allah is, to the people, kind and Merciful. [2:143]

• The Qiblah (direction of prayer) was changed from Jerusalem towards Meccah (the Ka'ba).  This change made the muslims nervous.  They were wondering if this change means that their previous prayers were now nullified and not counted.  Also the people of the book made fun of them that prayers and worship were now all a waste.  They also wondered, what would happen to the prayers of the muslims who died before the change.  Allah consoled them and said their prayers will not go to waste.  Allah will not let their Salah (replaced by the word eeman) go to waste because of this change.
• Also the change in the Qiblah sent subtle but a very powerful political message to the Quraish.  The meccah is the direction to which all muslims face to pray.  It raised the question in the minds of the Quraish, "How long before the muslims come for the city which holds the Ka'ba?"

Importance of Salah

*These Notes are based on the Meaningful Salah class taught by Sheikh Abdul Nasir Jangda*

حدبث: أول ما يحاسب عليه العبد يوم القيامة الصلاة، فان صلحت صلح سائر عمله إن فسدت فسد سائر عمله'رواه الطبر اني 

Rasulullah (SAW) said, “The first matter that the slave will be brought to account for on the Day of Judgment is the prayer. If it is sound, then the rest of his deeds will be sound. And if it is corrupted, then the rest of his deeds will be corrupted." (Recorded by al‐Tabarani)

Repentance [Imam ash-Shaafi`ee]

Al-Muzni who is Abu lbraaheem Isma`eel ibn Yahya said:

"I entered upon ash-Shaafi'ee during his illness which resulted in his death, so I said to him: 'What is your condition?' He replied: "I am journeying from this world, and departing from my brothers, drinking from the cup of death, and upon Allaah - Exalted is His remembrance - arriving. And no! By Allaah, I do not know if my soul is travelling towards Paradise or the Fire!" Then he started to weep, and he said:

Definition of Salah

*These Notes are based on the Meaningful Salah class taught by Sheikh Abdul Nasir Jangda*

Linguistic Definition of Salah:

• صئلا - Connection
•  Root of the word Salah
• الصلوان - Hips 
• The hips are the most important part of movement.  Just like in any sports, the most important part of the body to strengthen is the core.  For a muslim Salah is the core of our deen.
• الصلي - To burn
• When metal is heated and can be bent and shaped as if it were humbled.  A human should be humbled in salah so his personality is moulded into that of a slave of Allah.

Technical Definition of Salah: To worship Allah by means of certain known and prescribed sayings and actions at specified times.

• من الله - If the doer is Allah then it means to have mercy and grant blessings.

It is He who confers blessing upon you, and His angels [ask Him to do so] that He may bring you out from darknesses into the light. And ever is He, to the believers, Merciful. [33:43]

Those are the ones upon whom are blessings from their Lord and mercy. And it is those who are the [rightly] guided. [2:157]

• من الملائكة - If the doers are the angels then it means to seek forgiveness.

Indeed, Allah confers blessing upon the Prophet, and His angels [ask Him to do so]. O you who have believed, ask [ Allah to confer] blessing upon him and ask [ Allah to grant him] peace. [33:56]

Those (angels) who carry the Throne and those around it exalt (Allah) with praise of their Lord and believe in Him and ask forgiveness for those who have believed, (saying), "Our Lord, You have encompassed all things in mercy and knowledge, so forgive those who have repented and followed Your way and protect them from the punishment of Hellfire. [40:7] 

• من الانسان - If the doer is a human being, it means to worship Whether or not it is done for the sake of Allah

O you who have believed, when called for the prayer (للصلوة) on the day of Jumu'ah, then hasten to the remembrance of Allah and leave trade. That is better for you, if you only knew. [62:9]

And their prayer (صلاتحم) at the House was not except whistling and handclapping. So taste the punishment for what you disbelieved. [8:35] 

• In this ayah Allah calls it Salah even though he is referring to the prayers of the disbelievers and even though it is not the Islamically prescribed salah.

Tools of the Shaitan [Wisam Sharieff]

These notes are based on a lecture by Wisam Sharieff - [Youtube] 

وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَاكُمْ ثُمَّ صَوَّرْنَاكُمْ ثُمَّ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ اسْجُدُوا لِآدَمَ فَسَجَدُواإِلَّا إِبْلِيسَ لَمْ يَكُن مِّنَ السَّاجِدِينَ 

And We have certainly created you, [O Mankind], and given you form. Then We said to the angels, "Prostrate to Adam"; so they prostrated, except for Iblees. He was not of those who prostrated. [7:11]