Jinn Drinking With You?

“The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) saw a man drinking standing up. He said to him, ‘Hah!’ The man asked, ‘What’s the matter?’ He said, ‘Would you like it if a cat drank with you.’ He said, ‘No.’ He (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said, ‘Someone worse than that was drinking with you – the Shaytaan.’” [Ahmad; Majma al-Zawaa’id]

The Shaytaan drinks with a person if he drinks standing up. Sit down to drink.

Source: dailyhadith.adaptivesolutionsinc.com

Keep Devils Away With Aayat Al-Kursi

Abu Hurayrah (radi Allahu anhu) said: “Allah's Messenger assigned me to keep watch over the Zakah of Ramadaan. A person snuck in and started taking handfuls of foodstuff. I caught him and said, ‘By Allah, I will take you to the Messenger of Allah.’ He said, ‘Release me, for I am meek and have many dependents and am in great need.’ So I let him go. In the morning the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) asked me, ‘What did your prisoner do last night, O Abu Hurayrah!’ I said, ‘O Allah's Messenger! He complained of being needy and of having many dependents, so I pitied him and let him go.’ Allah's Messenger said, ‘Indeed, he told you a lie and will be coming again.’

Deeds and Sin

Abu Umamah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that a man once asked the Prophet (salla Allahu aleihei wa'salaam);

"What is faith?" The Prophet replied: "When your good deeds make you happy and your bad deeds make you sad, you have faith."

And then the man asked him, "What is sin?" And the Prophet (saaw) replied:"When anything pricks your conscience, avoid it."

Eid-Milaad-un-Nabi

This day I have perfected your religion for you and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion. [The Glorious Quran: Chapter 5 - Al-Maa'idah (The Table Spread): Verse3]There is nothing that would bring you closer to Jannah and farther from the Fire but it has been clarified [by me] to you. [Muhammad SalAllaahu Alyhi Wasallam: Reported in Masnad Ahmad]

A very interesting dialogue that reveals the reality of Celebrating the Birthday (Mawlid) of the Prophet SalAllaahu Alyhi Wasallam!

Characters: Two Muslims
Meeladi: Pro Mawlid Celebrations

Muwahhid: True follower of Quran and Sunnah (as interpreted by the early generations of the Salaf-us-Saliheen)

Meeladi: Assalamualaikum.

Muwahhid: Wa’alaikum assalaam. How come you are here so early? Haven’t you gone to the shop today?

Meeladi: Today is Eid-Milaad-un-Nabi. Most shops and markets are closed.

Muwahhid: Ahan! So you are celebrating Eid today!

Serve Your Parents

The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “Let that man be disgraced, and disgraced again and let him be disgraced even more.” The people inquired: “O Prophet of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) who is that man?” The Prophet of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “I refer to the man who finds his parents old in age – both of them or one of them – and yet did not earn entitlement to Jannah by rendering good service to them.” [Muslim]

Take good care of your parents with sincerity and love. If Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) has offered you the opportunity to serve your parents, it is actually a chance to earn a place in Jannah for yourself and win Allah’s Pleasure.

Good service to parents secures blessings for one in both worlds. It also saves from the calamities of this world and the next.
This hadith was sent by dailyhadith

Stir Your Sugar

The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “Offer prayer with the firm conviction of Allah’s favour. Allah does not accept a prayer sent forth by an inattentive heart.” [Tirmidhi]

Ask Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) with concentration and conviction in Allah’s favour. Instead of looking at your insignificance and the enormity of your sins, look towards the unlimited kindness and countless blessings of Allah (subhana wa ta’ala). The prayer of a person whose thoughts aren’t focused on Allah and who is only mumbling half-heartedly, on a whim, without anticipating the favour of Allah, is in vain.

It is as though you put sugar in your cup of tea, but not really believing in its sweetness you didn’t stir it. Till you stir it, it won’t sweeten your tea. So also, conviction in Allah’s powers and favours is what must permeate you in order for your asking Allah to be effective.

Tree in Paradise

Narrated Anas bin Malik: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, 

“There is a tree in Paradise (which is so big and huge that) if a rider travels in its shade for one hundred years, he would not be able to cross it.”

Sahih Al-Bukhari – Book 54 Hadith 474

Hadith on Forgiveness

O Son of Adam, I will forgive you without reservation:

Anas ibn Malik رضي الله عنه narrated: I heard the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم say: Allah, Blessed and Exalted, says, “O son of Adam! However much you call upon Me and place your hopes in Me, I will forgive you without any reservation. O son of Adam! If you have sins piling up to the clouds and then ask My forgiveness, I will forgive you without any reservation. O son of Adam! If you come to me with enough mistakes to fill the Earth, and meet Me without associating anything as a partner with Me, I will come to you with enough forgiveness to fill the Earth.”
[Tirmidhi]

Dua

Narrated by Mu`adh: The Messenger of Allah (Peace Be Upon Him) took hold of my hand and said, "O Mu`adh! By Allah I love you, so I advise you to never forget to recite after every prayer: 

"Allahumma a`inni ala zikrika, wa shukrika, wa husni `ibadatika" 

(O Allah, help me remember You, to be grateful to You, 

and to worship You in an excellent manner).

The Five Inhabitants of Hell

It is narrated: “The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, 

‘The inhabitants of Hell are five: 
1) the weak who lack self-restraint, who follow blindly and do not care for family or property (i.e. they care neither for the benefits of the Hereafter nor of this world); 
2) the treacherous who does not show himself but his greed is such that he is deceitful even in small things; 
3) a person who would betray you morning and evening regarding your family and your property.’ 
He also made mention of 4) the miser or the liar and 
5) one who is in the habit of abusing people and using obscene and foul language.”
[Muslim]

Hadith on Saying Salam

It has been narrated by Anas (r.a.) that the companions of the Holy Prophet (saw) would walk together and when a tree would come in their way they would separate towards the left and right. Then on meeting each other, one of them would greet the other with salaam. 


I recently heard the above hadith and thought of sharing something about the greeting in Islam. How many times we have wished our fellow Muslim brother or sister with something like hey and bye instead of saying salaam?  For most of us it happens many times.


When Islam came, Allah (SWT) prescribed Salaam for us, and it was only to be used among Muslims.  Salaam is better than all other greetings because it has such a deep meaning to it.  Assalamu-alaikum means may peace and blessings of Allah descend upon you.  Where can you find a better greeting than this??  NOWHERE!!!  Also, our greeting is one of the best things in Islam.  The Prophet  (SAW) made spreading salaam a part of faith.  Narrated from 'Abd-Allaah ibn 'Umar that a man asked the Messenger of Allah  (SAW): "What is the best thing in Islam?" He said, "Feeding others and giving the greeting of salaam to those whom you know and those whom you do not know"(Bukhari 12).
          So you ask yourself, "Why is it such a big deal to say salaam to some other Muslim?  I don't even know them"!  Well, to answer this question, saying salaam to another Muslim is Sunnah and it is FARD to reply.  Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said that the Prophet (SAW) said: "The Muslim has five rights over his fellow-Muslim: he should return his salaams, visit him when he is sick, attend his funeral, accept his invitation, and pray for mercy for him when he sneezes"(Bukhari 1240).  If you don't say salaam or reply, you're losing your hasanats.  Abu Huraira reported that a man passed by the Messenger of Allah (SAW) while he was sitting with some others, and said "Salaam Alaikum". The Prophet (SAW) said "He will have 10 hasanats".  Another man passed by and said "Salaam Alaikum wa rahmat-Allah".  The Prophet (SAW) said he will have 20 hasanats".  Another man passed and said "Assalamu-alaikum wa rahmat -Allaahi wa barakaatuh".  The Prophet (SAW) said he will have 30 hasanats"(Bukhari 586).  From this Hadith, we can see one reason of many as to why saying Salaam is soo important.  Many of us just say "Assalamu-Alaikum".  But just for adding a few more words, you get 10 more hasanats!!!  How merciful can Allah (SWA) get???  Who would want to miss out on these rewards?
           Who should greet who?  Allah's Apostle said, "The younger person should greet the older one, and the walking person should greet the sitting one, and the small number of persons should greet the large number of persons"(Bukhari 8.251).  It also should be said when you are entering or leaving your home.
Allah gave us a greeting of our own, use it!!  Don't be shy to say it at school or anywhere else.  Who cares what people think??  Every time you say it you get hasanats, so take advantage of it.
           I must also address the issue of the way of saying it.  It's not slalaikum, like many of us say.  It is Assalamu-alaikum.
           You can see how important saying salaam is from all the evidence I have given.  Allah is sooo merciful to us, and gives us many chances for rewards, yet we don't go for those chances.  Salaam increases love amongst Muslims.  It bonds us together.  No matter what nationality we are, we still have the same greeting.  Go out there and greet those whom you don't know.  Say "assalamu-alaikum" to your friends at school.  Be proud of who you are.  I will end with this hadith: The Prophet (SAW) said: "You will not enter Paradise until you believe, and you will not believe until you love one another. Shall I not tell you about something which, if you do it, you will love one another? Spread salaam amongst yourselves"(Sahih Muslim 96).

Strength of Charity

In a sermon to his Companions the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saws) had narrated: “When Allah (swt) made the earth, he created mountains on it to keep it from shaking. Then the angels asked, “O’ Allah is there anything in your creation that is stronger than these mountains?
And, Allah (swt) replied, “Iron is stronger than the mountains for it breaks them.”
And, is there anything stronger in your creation than iron?
“Yes, fire is stronger than iron for it melts it.”

“Is anything stronger than fire? 
“Yes, water, for it quenches fire.”
“Is there anything stronger than water?”
“Yes, the wind, which puts water in motion.”
“O’, our Sustainer, is there anything stronger than wind?”
“Yes, a good man giving alms. If he gives it with his right hand and conceals it with his left he overcomes all things.”

Every good act is charity. Your putting a wanderer on the right road, your giving water to the thirsty, is charity. A man’s true wealth hereafter is the good that he has done to his fellowmen. When he dies people will ask, “What property has he left behind him?” But, the angels will ask, “What good deeds has he sent before him?” (Tirmizi)

Source: http://www.islamicvoice.com/September2011/PRISMOFLIFE/index.php#StrengthofCharity

Characteristics of a Muslim Husband

I received the following from a dear friend, and I thought it was an interesting read to share it on my blog. Found the same article on http://annoor.wordpress.com/2009/12/10/characteristics-of-a-muslim-husband/ so took from the same. 


I received the following from a dear friend, Mufti Nawaz Ahmed Khan Sahib (DB), and I thought it was an interesting read.  Towards the end of the email, it said in all caps, “NOW BE BRAVE AND SEND THIS TO ALL YOUR MALE FRIENDS!”  So, I thought, forget my male friends, I’ll just let everyone read it.  Those who would like to benefit from it may do so.  For the women who read, please do not rub this into your husbands’ faces because it won’t work to fix the situation.  In fact I believe many things here are applicable to women also respectively.  This should be read with the intention to rectify ourselves and not knit-pick and find faults in others.


No one ever thinks about the characteristics of a Muslim husband. It is always what a wife should do for the husband…and the list never ends; home management, tutoring, ferrying the kids, caring, cooking, cleaning, washing, working, you name it, she is doing it. So what about the brothers?

Our beloved Prophet SAW was not like this. So, why should the men of this Ummah? It is quite interesting. So I thought I’d share it with you!!!  What a Muslim husband should be like…


1. Dress up for your wife, look clean and smell good. When was the last time you went shopping for the best clothing? Just like the husband wants his wife to look nice for him, she also wants her husband to dress up for her too. Remember that the Prophet (PBUH) would always start with Miswak when returning home and always loved the sweetest smells.


2. Use the best names for your wife. Call your wife by the most beloved names to her, and avoid using names that hurt their feelings.


3. Don’t treat her like a fly. We never think about a fly in our daily lives until it ‘bugs’ us. Similarly, a wife will do well all day – which brings no attention from the husband – until she does something to ‘bug’ him. Don’t treat her like this; recognize all the good that she does and focus on that.


4. If you see wrong from your wife, try being silent and do not comment! This is one of the ways the Prophet (PBUH) used when he would see something inappropriate from his wives (R.A). It’s a technique that few Muslim men have mastered.


5. Smile at your wife whenever you see her and embrace her often. Smiling is Sadaqah and your wife is not exempt from the Muslim Ummah. Imagine life with her constantly seeing you smiling. Remember also those Hadeeth when the Prophet (PBUH) would kiss his wife before leaving for Salah, even when he was fasting.


6. Thank her for all that she does for you. Then thank her again! Take for example a dinner at your house. She makes the food, cleans the home, and a dozen other tasks to prepare. And sometimes the only acknowledgment she receives is that there needed to be more salt in the soup. Don’t let that be; thank her!


7. Ask her to write down the last ten things you did for her that made her happy. Then go and do them again. It may be hard to recognize what gives your wife pleasure. You don’t have to play a guessing game, ask her and work on repeating those times in your life.


8. Don’t belittle her desires. Comfort her. Sometimes the men may look down upon the requests of their wives. The Prophet (PBUH) set the example for us in an incident when Safiyyah (R.A) was crying because, as she said, he had put her on a slow camel. He wiped her tears, comforted her, and brought her the camel.


9. Be humorous and play games with your wife. Look at how the Prophet (PBUH) would race with his wife Aisha (R.A) in the desert. When was the last time we did something like that?


10. Always remember the words of Allah’s Messenger (PBUH): ‘The best of you are those who treat their families the best. And I am the best amongst you to my family.’ Try to be the best!


In conclusion: Never forget to make Dua to Allah Ta’ala to make your marriage successful.

Sadqa-e-Jariya

"Whoever builds a mosque desiring thereby God's pleasure, 

God builds for them the like of it in paradise" 

The Prophet Muhammad - Peace be upon him

Charity is a way of bringing justice to society, and justice is the essence of Islam. It is therefore no surprise that in Islam there is a great of emphasis on the support of needy and disabled members of society.  It is in fact a sacred duty of the wealthy Muslims to give part of their possessions to fulfil the needs of the deprived sections of the community.

There are two categories of charity in Islam:

Obligatory charity known as Zakat.

Voluntary charity known as Sadaqa.

Did you know that the Qur'an advises Muslims "...to perform the worship and give charity (Zakat)..." (chapter 2: verse 43) and warns us of the need for material sacrifice if we wish to attain God's pleasure: "By no means shall you attain righteousness, unless you give of that which you love." (Chapter 3: verse 92)

Zakat

Each adult Muslims who is gainfully employed must give two and a half percent or more of their savings to the needy on an annual basis.

Sadqa-e-Jariya - continous charity

The best form of voluntary charity is Sadqa-e-Jariya (continous charity). Examples of this includes:

Teaching a skill to a person so he/she can make a living

Educating people about Islam

Building a School or Mosque

Or simply planting a fruit or shade tree so that other people can benefit from it. 

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said "When a person dies his/her actions come to an end except three that he/she leaves behind:

Sadqa-e-Jariya (continous charity)

Knowledge (e.g book, blogs, videos) from which other people derive benefit

and a righteous offsprings who prays for his/her forgiveness"

Did you know charity can also be performed in other forms which are non-monetary such as voluntary work, helping others, or using one's talents and skills for good causes. In Islam any good work or deed is regarded as an act of charity. 

The Prophet (peace be upon him ) said: "And your smiling  is charity; your removing of stones and thorns from people's paths is charity, (to avoid potential threat from their way) and your guiding a person gone astray in the world is charity".


Courtesy: http://www.swanseamosque.org/newmosque/donate/sadqa

The Prophet's Expressions And Sayings

In the name of Allah most Gracious most Merciful.


Say "Bismillah" (in the name of Allah) when doing something.
Say "Assalamu Alaikum" (peace be on you) when meeting a Muslim.
Say "Wa'alaikum Assalam" (peace be on you too) in reply.
Say "Insha Allah" (if Allah wills) when hoping to do something.
Say "Subhan Allah" (glory to Allah) when praising something.
Say "Ma'sha Allah" (what Allah likes) in appreciation.
Say "Fi Aman Allah" (in protection of Allah) when seeing someone off.
Say "Jazak Allah Khairan" (may Allah give you the best reward) to thank someone.
Say "Tawakkal-tu-Allah" (rely on Allah) to solve a problem.
Say "Tawkkalna-Alai-Allah" (we have put our trust in Allah) when you wait for a problem to be solved.
Say "La Ilaha Ill-Allah" (there is no god but Allah) when getting up in the morning.
Say "Al-Hamdu Lillah" (praise be to Allah) when you sneeze.
Say "Yarhamuk Allah" (may Allah bless you) when you hear someone sneeze.
Say "Aameen" (accept our prayer) when joining a duaa.
Say "Ya Allah" (O Allah) when in pain or distress.
Say "Rahmah Allah" (Allah have Mercy on him) when you see someone in distress.
Say "Astagh-firu-Allah" (O Allah forgive me) to be sorry for a bad action.
Say "Na'uzhu-bi-Allah" (when we seek refuge in Allah) to show your dislike.
Say "Inna Lillah" (we are for Allah) when you hear about the death of a Muslim.
Say "Fe Sabeel Allah" (in/for Allah's cause/way) when you give charity/help people.

Say "Atqaa Allah" (fear Allah) when you see someone doing a bad deed.
Say "Allahu Yahdika" (may Allah guide you) to forbid sombody to do something indecent.
Say "Hayyak Allah" (Allah maintain your life) when you greet someone.
Say "Allah Aalam" (Allah knows best) when you say something you are not sure of.
Say "Tabarak Allah" (blessed is Allah) when you hear a good news.
Say "Hasbi Allah" (Allah will suffice me) when you are in a difficult situation.
Say "Azhak Allah Sinnaka" (May Allah keep you cheerful) when you seek another Muslim with cheerful countenance.

Wise Sayings

Following are some wise sayings of the Holy Prophet Mohammed:-
A bedouin came to the holy prophet Muhammad (s) and asked him some questions.
Bedouin: I wish to be the richest person in the world.
Prophet: Be content and you will be the richest person in the world.


Bedouin: I would like to be the most learned of people.
Prophet: Fear Allah and you will be the most learned of people.

Hadith on Signs of Hypocrite

From Abû Hurayrah who said that Allâh's Messenger said:

"Three things are the sign of the hypocrite: 
when he speaks he tells lies, 
when he promises he breaks it and 
when he is trusted he proves to be dishonest."

So he is truthful and honest in his speech, faithful to his promise, trustworthy in carrying out that which he has been entrusted with. He does not deceive or defraud, he does not tell lies and is not guilty of hypocrisy. So truthfulness and honesty is one of the chief good qualities, whereas falsehood is the head of corruption and evil. So his honesty keeps him far away from evil and foul deeds and sickness of the heart. Therefore whatever action he does, he does it for Allâh, the One free and far removed from all defects, not to attain some worldly position, fame or repute.

Reported by al-Bukharee (Eng. Trans. 1/31/no.32) and Muslim (Eng. Trans. 1/40/no.112)

Salah

Assalamualaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakaatuh

Sayings of Prophet Muhammad
May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him

Salah

The Salah of the Prophet (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) Hadrat Mughira (may Allah be pleased with him) said that the Prophet (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) prayed for so long in the night in standing posture that his feet got swollen up. His companions said to him, "O Prophet of Allah! Why do you exert so much when Allah (The Glorified and the Exalted) has forgiven you all sins." The Prophet (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) replied, "Should I not be a grateful servant of Allah?" (Bukhari, Muslim)

Istekhara

It is narrated from Hazrat Jaabir (ra) that Rasulullah (saw) used to teach us the dua of istikharah for important matters in the same manner as he used to teach us the Surahs of the Qur’aan.

He (saw) used to say, ”When you intend doing any important work, then read two rakaats nafl salaat and thereafter read this dua.” (which is mentioned below) (Bukhari-pg. 944)

Rasulullah (saw) once remarked to Anas (ra) “O Anas! When you are undecided with regards to any matter, then seek counsel from your Rabb and do this seven times. Thereafter, whatever decision prevails in your heart regard it to be beneficial.” (Shaami-Vol.1, pg. 507)

Note: It is not necessary that one sees a dream or hears a voice. Asking another person to make Istikhaarah on one’s behalf is not substantiated from any hadith. To make Mashwarah (consultation) with someone else is Sunnat.

It has been mentioned in the hadith that whomsoever makes Mashwarah will never regret and whomsoever makes Istikhaarah will never be unsuccessful.

If one does not get the opportunity to perform Salaatul Istikhaarah and needs to make Istikhaarah urgently, then reciting the dua of Istikhaarah only will suffice. If one has not learnt the dua of Istikhaarah then one should recite this concise dua:

(Allahumma-khirlee-wakhtarlee)

(Oh Allah give me the good things & pick up the best for me)

Hadith on seeking forgiveness

Narrated Salman-Al-Farsi: The Prophet (p.b.u.h) said, "Whoever takes a bath on Friday, purifies himself as much as he can, then uses his (hair) oil or perfumes himself with the scent of his house, then proceeds (for the Juma prayer) and does not separate two persons sitting together (in the mosque), then prays as much as (Allah has) written for him and then remains silent while the Imam is delivering the Khutba, his sins in-between the present and the last Friday would be forgiven." ( Bukhari )