"Within the palace of Qaaroon"

Time and time again, life gives us examples of families that produce individuals with completely different objectives in life, rather, polar opposite personalities.

The family of Musa was one such example, for it too produced some of the greatest prophets, Musa and Haaroon, and also produced some of the worst tyrants, Qaaroon being one of them, or “Korah”, as referred to in biblical scripture.

Catch up on the lecture below:

🎥 https://youtu.be/FvHhSMjj4X4

✉️ Share it. May Allah change lives through you
Facebook - goo.gl/ABeULD
Instagram: goo.gl/DUqX0H
Telegram - goo.gl/xCgp4d

Do you know the duʿā they made?

https://www.islam21c.com/islamic-thought/the-story-of-saba/

read | reflect | share

As Muslims, there are any things that we believe in. Why, then, have the *pillars* of faith been confined to six?

Why was the belief in Qadar/Divine Decree listed last in order?

Furthermore, how should one approach the belief in Qadar, particularly when the outcomes are painful?

These are some of the questions which this lecture seeks to answer.

👉🏼 https://youtu.be/BE2rvv5obKk

✉️ Share it. May Allah change lives through you
Facebook - goo.gl/ABeULD
Instagram: goo.gl/DUqX0H
Telegram - goo.gl/xCgp4d

Seven things that you, as a Muslim, will regret when you reach old age:

- Your lack of exercise and unhealthy eating

- Your negligence of the Arabic language

- Your shortcomings towards your parents

- Your lack of family time

- Your abandonment of the Qur'an

- Your few good deeds

- Your vision in life which wasn't dedicated to the Hereafter

What use is the wealth, children and status that you end up accumulating if it will all end in heart-wrenching regret?

Spare yourself of tomorrow's agonies.
Make those changes today.

✉️ Share it. May Allah change lives through you
Facebook - goo.gl/ABeULD
Instagram: goo.gl/DUqX0H
Telegram - goo.gl/xCgp4d

The Pharaoh was guilty of murdering thousands. Yet, when Prophet Musa claimed the life of a single man by accident, the Pharaoh rebuked him for it, saying:

وَفَعَلْتَ فَعْلَتَكَ الَّتِي فَعَلْتَ

"And you did that deed of yours which you did.."
(Al-Qur'an, 26:19)

Holding people accountable for mistakes that you are far guiltier of has always been the ways of tyrants, oppressors and narcissists.

✉️ Share it. May Allah change lives through you
Facebook - goo.gl/ABeULD
Instagram: goo.gl/DUqX0H
Telegram - goo.gl/xCgp4d

There is a secret to it

Imam Ibnul Jawzi said:

والله لقد رأيت من يكثر الصلاة والصوم والصمت ، ويخشع في نفسه ، والقلوب تنبو عنه - أي تبتعد - وقدره في النفوس ليس بذلك ، ورأيت من يلبس فاخر الثياب ، وليس له كبير نفل ولا تخشع ، والقلوب تتهافت على محبته..

“By Allah, I have seen those who pray and fast abundantly, their speech is little and their humility is great, and despite this, hearts are not attracted to them in the least, nor do they occupy any status in people’s eyes. On the other hand, I’ve seen those who wear expensive clothes, their voluntary acts of worship and humility aren’t great, nevertheless, the hearts of people are in absolute love with them....

فتدبرت السبب فوجدته السريرة ، فمن أصلح سريرته فاح عبير فضله ، وعبقت القلوب بنشر طيبه ، فالله الله في السرائر فإنه لا ينفع بفاسدها صلاح الظاهر

...I contemplated the reason for this and came to the conclusion that it all boils down to one thing: the inner secrets of people. Thus whoever purifies their inward state, their virtue will be made widespread and people will rush to speak well of them.

Therefore, I urge everyone to give major attention to their secret relationship with Allah, for if they’re corrupt, external appearances will not be of any use.”

(Saydul Khaatir)

✉️ Share it. May Allah change lives through you
Facebook - goo.gl/ABeULD
Instagram: goo.gl/DUqX0H
Telegram - goo.gl/xCgp4d

💎 *The Night Prayer*

Ali Hammuda

_Recorded at Light Upon Light 9_

🎥 *Watch Now*
https://youtu.be/NI8DL0VSr5g

*Eman Channel | SKY 769*

Don't be sad. Here's why.

https://youtu.be/8_s9Uenh2c4

✉️ Share it. May Allah change lives through you
Facebook - goo.gl/ABeULD
Instagram: goo.gl/DUqX0H
Telegram - goo.gl/xCgp4d

Three messages this Ramadan

Now that the month of Ramadan is finally here, I wish to relay three key messages:

The first: Reviving the Sunnah of offering congratulations for Ramadan’s arrival

This is exactly what the Prophet PBUH would do following the arrival of Ramadan, announcing to the Muslims:

قَدْ جَاءَكُمْ شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ شَهْرٌ مُبَارَكٌ افْتَرَضَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكُمْ صِيَامَهُ يُفْتَحُ فِيهِ أَبْوَابُ الْجَنَّةِ وَيُغْلَقُ فِيهِ أَبْوَابُ الْجَحِيمِ وَتُغَلُّ فِيهِ الشَّيَاطِينُ فِيهِ لَيْلَةٌ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ مَنْ حُرِمَ خَيْرَهَا فَقَدْ حُرِمَ

“The month of Ramadan is here! A blessed month! Allah has made fasting its days an obligation upon you. During this month, the gates of Paradise are opened, and the gates of the hellfire are closed, and the devils are chained …”

Ibnu Rajab said:

قال بعض العلماء : هذا الحديث أصل في تهنئة الناس بعضهم بعضاً بشهر رمضان كيف لا يبشر المؤمن بفتح أبواب الجنان ، كيف لا يبشر المذنب بغلق أبواب النيران ، كيف لا يبشر العاقل بوقت يغل فيه الشياطين ، من أين يشبه هذا الزمان زمانا.

“Some of the scholars said: ‘This Hadith is a key evidence for the practice of congratulating one another for the arrival of Ramadan. Why shouldn’t the believer be congratulated when the gates of Paradise have opened? Why shouldn’t the sinner be congratulated when the gates of the hellfire have closed? Why shouldn’t the intelligent be congratulated for a time when the devils are chained? How can this month be compared to any other time?”

(Lataa’iful Ma’aarif)

Try to recall the sheer number of prayers that you’ve missed or delayed, the number of prohibitions that your eyes have perpetrated, the daily backstabbing, the private conversations that should never have been furthered, the Riyaa/showing off that poisoned us countless times, and so on.

Yes, it’s daunting, but this is precisely why we are so excited for Ramadan’s arrival; because our hearts are desperately ill and our lives are in desperate need of reformation.

The second message: Full-timers is what Allah wants

Cast a quick glance around you during this evening’s night prayer at the Masjid and you’ll quickly come to realise just how packed the building is. It therefore comes as no surprise why Laylatul Qadr/the night of decree hasn’t been placed in the beginning of Ramadan, but during the last nights; because the Masjid scene will be a very different one in a few days’ time, as people slowly fizzle out.

This, on its own, is a treasure of a lesson that Ramadan teaches year in year out:

= Being a consistently practicing Muslim, both in the beginning of Ramadan and during its end, and within Ramadan and after Ramadan, is what Allah wants from us.

As Ibnu Taymiyyah said,

أعظم الكرامة لزوم الاستقامة

“The pinnacle of honour is found in Istiqaama/ remaining steadfast.”

The third message: Say “Allah, forgive me” in a brand new way.

I’m sure you’ve asked yourself in the past, “I love Allah! But how can I ensure Allah’s love of me?” You then flicked through the pages of the Qur’an, searching for an answer, and found the Ayah:

“Allah loves the people of Taqwa/God consciousness.” (Al-Qur’an, 3:76)

But then you thought to yourself: “I am so far away from Taqwa.” So you kept searching.

Then, you came across: “Allah loves Al-Muhsinoon/those who do good.” (Al-Qur’an, 2:195)

But then you thought to yourself: “My good deeds are so few. It’s not me.” You kept searching.

Then you came across: “Allah loves Al-Mutawakkileen/those who rely upon Him.” (Al-Qur’an, 3:159)

But again, you sighed and said: “My reliance upon Allah is no way near good enough.”

Just when you had almost despaired and given up, you came across:

“Allah loves those who frequently turn to Him in repentance.” (Al-Qur’an, 2:222)

“Yes!” you said, “This is something that I can do! Especially now that Ramadan is here”

So, make your slogan this month “Astaghfirullah” / “I repent to Allah”. Not a temporary Ramadani pause till ‘Eid, but a permanent stop till the day of death.

This is how to “enjoy one’s youth” according to the companions

‘Abdullah Ibnu ‘Amr said,

جَمَعْتُ القرآنَ فقرأْتُ به في كلِّ ليلةٍ، فبَلَغ ذلكَ رسولَ اللهِ ﷺ، فقال: إنِّي أَخشى أنْ يَطولَ عليكَ زَمانٌ أنْ تَمَلَّ، اقرأْهُ في كلِّ شهرٍ. قُلْتُ: يا رسولَ اللهِ، دعْني أَستمتِعْ مِن قوَّتي وشَبابي. قال: اقرأْهُ في كلِّ عِشرينَ. قُلْتُ: يا رسولَ اللهِ دعْني أَستمتِعْ مِن قوَّتي وشَبابي. قال: اقرأْهُ في عَشْرٍ. قُلْتُ: يا رسولَ اللهِ دعْني أَستمتِعْ مِن قوَّتي وشَبابي. قال: اقرأْهُ في كلِّ سَبْعٍ. قُلْتُ: يا رسولَ اللهِ دعْني أَستمتِعْ مِن قوَّتي وشَبابي، فأَبَى

“I memorised the entire Qur’an and so I was reciting it from cover to cover once a night. News of this was conveyed to the Prophet PBUH and he said to me, ‘I worry that you may live a long life causing you to become bored of doing this. So, recite it once a month.’ I said: ‘O messenger of Allah, let me enjoy my strength and youth.’ He said: ‘Then recite it once every twenty days.’ I said: ‘O messenger of Allah, let me enjoy my strength and youth.’ He said: ‘Recite it every ten days’ I said: ‘O messenger of Allah, let me enjoy my strength and youth’ He said: ‘Recite it once every week’ I said: ‘O messenger of Allah, let me enjoy my strength and youth’ but he refused.”

(Musnad Ahmad)

Life is sweeter with Allah.

Will you not try?

✉️ Share it. May Allah change lives through you
Facebook - goo.gl/ABeULD
Instagram: goo.gl/DUqX0H
Telegram - goo.gl/xCgp4d

“The Taraaweeh night prayer? .. Again?!”

This is usually the time of Ramadan where the enthusiasm for the Taraaweeh night prayers, for some, begins to weaken. On one hand, we’ve passed the initial buzz of Ramadan’s arrival, but on the other hand, we haven’t quite reached the last ten nights.

Therefore, just in case you’re feeling that dip in motivation to make your way to the Masjid after breaking your fast, then the following may help in refreshing the purpose of the night prayer:

1) An opportunity to erase those *many* crimes of ours

There shouldn’t be anything that bothers us more in life than the prospect of being reminded by Allah of each and every one of our sins in His Court on the Day of Reckoning. Can you imagine the fear and shame? With that in mind, these night prayers are a means of erasing them. The Prophet PBUH said:

“Whoever stands in prayer at night during Ramadan, all of his previous sins will be erased” (Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim)

2) The enormous quantities of good deeds

The Prophet PBUH said:

“Whoever stands in prayer behind the Imam till he concludes, he will be given the reward of a person whose prayed the *entire* night (!)” (Narrated by AtTirmidhi)

3) To qualify yourself for the title of “Mutaqqi” / God conscious

According to the Qur’an, it is *them* who will be given access to the gardens of pleasure; Jannah. But what are their characteristics?

“They used to sleep but little of the night. And in the hours before dawn they would ask for forgiveness” (Al-Qur’an, 51:17-18)

This is what you’re doing every night in Ramadan, right?

4) Not any level in Paradise, but its highest!

In description of Allah’s *true* servants, the Qur’an mentions:

“And those who spend the night to their Lord prostrating and standing” (Al-Qur’an, 25:64)

Yes, that’s you in Ramadan! So, what is their reward?

“Those will be rewarded with the *highest* place because of their patience, and there, they will be received with greetings and words of peace.” (Al-Qur’an, 25:75)

5) An entirely unknown surprise

Yes, those who make a habit of praying at night, Ramadan and beyond, are to expect a surprise on the Day of Reckoning. After speaking about those whose “sides forsake their beds”, Allah then said:

“And so *no soul knows* of the delights of the eyes that have been hidden for them, as reward for what they used to do.” (Al-Qur’an, 32:17)

The same way that they were so keen to hide their good deeds from the eyes of people, in thanks, Allah has hidden their reward from our eyes today.

6) An essential component in the lives of the great

Speaking about ‘Abdullah, the son of ‘Umar Ibnul Khattab, the Prophet PBUH said:
“What a great man ‘Abdullah is. *If only* he prayed at night.” After this incident, ‘Abdullah would only be seen sleeping little at night. (Bukhari and Muslim)

Righteousness and ‘imani greatness really are capped without the night prayer.

7) This is where honour is found!

Foolish is he who assumes that honour is found in clothes, watches, cars, property, savings, academia or their likes. These aren’t our standards. Rather, it’s in your consistency of praying at night.

Angel Jibreel once came to the Prophet PBUH and said: ‘O Muhammad, live as long as you wish, you shall die in the end. Love whom you wish, you will be separated from them in the end. Do whatever you wish, you shall be held accountable in the end, and realise that the *honour of a believer* is in his night prayer, and that his dignity is when he isn’t reliant on others.” (Al-Haakim)

8) Smiles, love and acceptance

Did you know that Allah *smiles* at some of His Servants? And did you know that your night prayer can bring this about?!

The Prophet PBUH said:

“There are three categories of people whom Allah loves, smiles at them and is happy with them” One of which was “a person who has a beautiful spouse and a soft bedding, but nevertheless arises to pray at night. Thus Allah says, ‘Such and such has left his desire in order to remember me, and if he’d willed, he could have continued sleeping.’” (Al-Haythami)

One may then ask: What does it mean if Allah smiles at me? The Prophet PBUH said:

“And if Allah smiles at a servant of His in this world, then such a person will have *no accountability* on the day of judgement.” (Ahmad)

Clearly, we weren’t in our right minds when we harboured second thoughts of praying the Taraaweeh prayer.

What’s for Iftaar?

The same way that the sighs of a person during a conversation indicates lack of interest, and the same way that the raising of voices and puffing of veins indicate anger, according to our predecessors, overeating was an obvious indication of a lack of interest in the night prayer.

Ma’qil Ibnu Habib saw a group who were overeating. He said:

ما نرى أصحابنا يريدون أن يصلوا الليلة

“I don’t think that they intend on praying at night this evening.”

A statement to keep in mind as you break your fast tonight.

✉️ Share it. May Allah change lives through you
Facebook - goo.gl/ABeULD
Instagram: goo.gl/DUqX0H
Telegram - goo.gl/xCgp4d

Five milestones for your last 10 nights of Ramadan

The first:

Begin by confessing to yourself your absolute weakness and helplessness, having realised that you’re unable to pray a single unit, recite a single letter of the Qur’an or engage in *any* act of worship without Allah’s assistance.

It’s no accident that we’re taught to say “إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِين” / “You alone we worship, and you alone we seek assistance from” (Al-Qur’an, 1:5) in *every* unit of prayer - i.e. at least 17 times a day - as we’re utterly powerless without His support. During nights where so much is up for grabs, beg Him to keep you inspired and eager.

The second:

Behave in these 10 nights as if you shall never witness their likes again. The moment you feel a dip in enthusiasm, remember that a single hour of one of these nights is equivalent to 3000 days’ worth of actions. In other words, more than 8 years, and that a single minute during that night is equivalent to 50 days’ worth of actions!

However, such calculations are only to bring the meaning closer, but the reality of Laylatul Qadr cannot be calculated, as Allah said that it's “greater” than 1000 months, and not “equivalent” to it. How much “greater”? Only Allah knows!

Therefore, contrary to common assumption, losing out on these 10 nights cannot be compensated for next Ramadan.

The third:

Keep yourself distant from the people, gatherings and sources of distraction. Be keen to spend the majority of your time in privacy with Allah, whether in the Masjid or at home, and each one of us knows where best to find his heart. Whoever is able to participate in I’tikaaf, then congratulations, otherwise make the best use of your private moments and disconnect every possible distraction.

The fourth:

Vary your acts of worship. Move from the recitation of Qur’an, to prayer, to Du’aah, to remembrance, to deep contemplation, and their likes. Such alternation is a key way of dispelling boredom and laziness.

The fifth:

If Allah assists you to excel in worship, then beware of allowing even an atom’s weight worth of pride or self-admiration to creep into your heart, for it causes good deeds to come crashing down.

Planet earth is filled with people who are far greater than you and me in sincerity, righteousness and hard work. It’s not all about the size and quantity of deeds, it’s about Allah accepting them. Perhaps this is one of the secrets why the Du’aah of Laylatul Qadr/the night of Decree happens to be:

اللَّهُمَّ إنَّكَ عَفُوٌ تُحِبُّ العَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنّي

“Say, ‘O Allah, you are pardoning, you love pardoning, so pardon me.”

✉️ Share it. May Allah change lives through you
Facebook - goo.gl/ABeULD
Instagram: goo.gl/DUqX0H
Telegram - goo.gl/xCgp4d

If the businessman isn’t planning on trading when markets are open, then how can he hope to ever make money?

If the bedridden isn’t planning on changing his diet despite his illness, then how can he expect to ever recover?

And if the Muslim who’s witnessing the last ten nights of Ramadan isn’t racing to Allah in desperation, then when will he ever race?

When will he ever reform his life?

When will he ever change?

With that said, how relevant are the words of angel Jibreel to Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) -

يا محمد! من أدرك رمضان فلم يغفر له فأبعده الله

“O Mohammad! Whoever experiences the month of Ramadan but still doesn’t have his sins forgiven, then may Allah distance him!”

What’s worrying is the response of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) to this. He said:

“Ameen”

That's right.

It's a Du'aah made by the greatest of all angels and by the greatest of all prophets against those who reject the opportunity of Ramadan.

So, what’s the plan?

✉️ Share it. May Allah change lives through you
Facebook - goo.gl/ABeULD
Instagram: goo.gl/DUqX0H
Telegram - goo.gl/xCgp4d

Is tonight Laylatul Qadr?

This evening will be the 23rd night of Ramadan, an odd night, and happens to be the night of Friday.

Ibnu Hubaira said:

إذا وافقت ليلة الجمعة ليلة وتر فهي أرجى من غيرها في ان تكون ليلة القدر

“If the night of Friday coincides with an odd night of (the last ten nights of) Ramadan, then it is more hopeful than other nights in being Laylatul Qadr/the night of decree”

(Lataa’iful Ma’aarif)

✉️ Share it. May Allah change lives through you
Facebook - goo.gl/ABeULD
Instagram: goo.gl/DUqX0H
Telegram - goo.gl/xCgp4d

Who should we congratulate this Ramadan?

How wasted have our efforts been this month if Allah does not accept them, and how privileged are the doers of good, even if their good was little, if Allah accepts from them.

‘Ali Ibnu Abi Taalib said:

كُونُوا لِقُبُولِ الْعَمَلِ أَشَدَّ هَمًّا مِنْكُمْ بِالْعَمَلِ ، أَلَمْ تَسْمَعُوا اللَّهَ يَقُولُ : إِنَّمَا يَتَقَبَّلُ اللَّهُ مِنَ الْمُتَّقِينَ

“Be more concerned with Allah’s acceptance of a good deed than with your concern in the doing of that deed. Have you not heard Allah saying: “Allah *only* accepts from the people of Taqwa/piety”?

(Ibnu Abid Dunya's book, Al-Ikhlaas)

A sign that Allah has accepted your worship this Ramadan is in your plans for post-Ramadan.

✉️ Share it. May Allah change lives through you
Facebook - goo.gl/ABeULD
Instagram: goo.gl/DUqX0H
Telegram - goo.gl/xCgp4d

What does it mean to “stand Laylatul Qadr” in prayer?

During these last 10 nights, we’re receiving many reminders of the Hadith: “Whoever stands Laylatul Qadr/the night of decree in prayer out of belief and anticipation of the reward, all of his previous sins will be forgiven”

But what does it mean to “stand the night of decree” in prayer?

Am I required to spend the entire night in prayer?

Which if I’ve got work the next day?

Ibnu Rajab said:

" ونقل بعض أصحابهم عن ابن عباس أن إحياءها يحصل بأن يصلي العشاء في جماعة ويعزم على أن يصلي الصبح في جماعة وقال مالك في الموطأ بلغني أن ابن المسيب قال: من شهد ليلة القدر ـ يعني في جماعة ـ فقد أخذ بحظه منها وكذا قال الشافعي في القديم: من شهد العشاء والصبح ليلة القدر فقد أخذ بحظه منها " .

“Some have narrated that Ibnu ‘Abbas said: ‘Spending the night in prayer is when one prays the ‘Isha prayer in congregation and makes the intention of praying the Fajr prayer in congregation as well.’

Malik also said in his ‘Muwatta’: ‘It was conveyed to me that Ibnul Musayyib said: ‘Whoever witnesses the night of decree – i.e. by carrying out the obligatory prayer in congregation – then such a person has taken his portion from it.’

This is what Ash-Shaafi’i said (in his old opinion): ‘Whoever prays the ‘Isha and Fajr prayers during Laylatul Qadr then such a person has taken his portion from it.’”

(Lataa’iful Ma’aarif)

Should you be able to pray more, then you are to be congratulated, for this is the spirit of the last ten nights, but should something come up, keep the above in mind, for *nothing* equates to the five obligatory prayers.

✉️ Share it. May Allah change lives through you
Facebook - goo.gl/ABeULD
Instagram: goo.gl/DUqX0H
Telegram - goo.gl/xCgp4d

"I'd love to do I'tikaaf (devoting one's entire time to the staying within the Masjid for worship), especially in these last ten nights, but .."

Has such a statement crossed your mind?

Perhaps work commitments has been a limiting factor?

Or is it family demands that has required your attention?

In any case, Imam An-Nawawi offers his consolation, saying:

فإنه ​ينبغي ​لكل ​جالس ​في ​المسجد ​الإعتكاف ​سواء ​أكثر ​في ​جلوسه أو ​أقل ​بل ​ينبغي ​أول ​دخوله ​المسجد ​أن ​ينوي ​الإعتكاف ​وهذا ​الأدب ​ينبغي ​أن ​يعتنى ​به ​ويشاع ​ذكره ​ويعرفه ​الصغار ​والعوام ​فإنه ​مما ​يغفل ​عنه ​

"It is important for *every* person who sits within the Masjid to engage in I'tikaaf, regardless of whether such a sitting is long or short. Rather, it is important to make the intention of I'tikaaf upon entering the Masjid. This etiquette should be given due attention and should be promoted, as well as nurturing it amidst the youth and laymen, for it is a matter that is largely neglected."

(At-Tibyaan)

✉️ Share it. May Allah change lives through you
Facebook - goo.gl/ABeULD
Instagram: goo.gl/DUqX0H
Telegram - goo.gl/xCgp4d