Ten Golden Quotes - Islam

1) When you see a person who has been given more than you in money and beauty, look to those, who have been given less.

2) A Muslim who meets with others and shares their burdens is better than one who lives a life of seclusion and contemplation.

3) It is better to sit alone than in company with the bad; and it is, better still to sit with the good than alone. It is better to speak to a seeker of knowledge than to remain silent; but silence is better than idle words.

4) The best richness is the richness of the soul.

5) Do you know what is better than charity and fasting and prayer? It is keeping peace and good relations between people, as quarrels and bad feelings destroy mankind.

6) He is not of us who is not affectionate to the little ones, and does not respect the old; and he is not of us, who does not order which is lawful, and prohibits that which is unlawful.

7) Much silence and a good disposition, there are no two things better than these.

8) Kindness is a mark of faith, and whoever is not kind has no faith.

9) The best of the houses is the house where an orphan gets love and kindness.

10) To overcome evil with good is good, to resist evil by evil is evil.

Related posts:
Update your status with some short Hadiths on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+

Read More

Status and Roles of Women In Islam

As a daughter:

(1) The Qur’an ended the cruel practice of female infanticide, which was before Islam. Allah has said: “And when the female (infant) buried alive (as the pagan Arabs use to do) is questioned: For what sin was she killed.” (Quran 81:8-9)

(2) The Qur’an goes further to rebuke the unwelcoming attitude of some parents upon hearing the news of the birth of a baby girl, instead of a baby boy. Allah has said: “And when the news of (the birth of) a female (child) is brought to any of them, his face becomes dark, and he is filled with inward grief. He hides himself from the people because of the evil whereof he has been informed. Shall he keep her with dishonor or bury her in the earth? Certainly, evil is their decision.” (Qur’an 16:58-59)

(3) Parents are duty-bound to support and show kindness and justice to their daughters. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “Whosoever supports two daughters until they mature, he and I will come on the Day of Judgment as this (and he pointed with his fingers held together).”

(4) A crucial aspect in the upbringing of daughters that greatly influences their future is education. Education is not only a right but a responsibility for all males and females. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “Seeking knowledge is mandatory for every Muslim.” The word “Muslim” here is inclusive of both males and females.

(5) Islam neither requires nor encourages female circumcision. And while it may be practiced by some Muslims in certain parts of Africa, it is also practiced by other peoples, including Christians, in those places, a reflection merely of the local customs and practices there.

As a wife:

(1) Marriage in Islam is based on mutual peace, love, and compassion, and not just the mere satisfying of human sexual desire. Among the most impressive verses in the Qur’an about marriage is the following:

“And among His signs is this, that He created for you wives from among yourselves, that you may find repose in them; and He has put between you affection and mercy. Verily, in that are indeed signs for a people who reflect.”(Qur’a n 30:21, see also 42:11 and 2:228)

(2) A female has the right to accept or reject marriage proposals. According to the Islamic Law, women cannot be forced to marry anyone without their consent.

(3) The husband is responsible for the maintenance, protection, and overall leadership of the family, within the framework of consultation (see the Qur’an 2:233) and kindness (see the Qur’an 4:19). The mutuality and complementary nature of the role of husband and wife does not mean subservience by either party to the other. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) instructed Muslims regarding women: “I command you to be good to women.” And “The best among you are those who are best to their wives.”

The Qur’an urges husbands to be kind and considerate toward their wives, even if a wife falls out of favor with her husband or disinclination for her arises within him:

“…And live with them honorably. If you dislike them, it may be that you dislike a thing and Allah brings through it a great deal of good.” (Qur’an 4:19)

It also outlawed the Arabian practice before Islam whereby the stepson of the deceased father was allowed to take possession of his father’s widow(s) (inherit them) as if they were part of the estate of the deceased (see the Qur’an 4:19).

(4) Should marital disputes arise, the Qur’an encourages couples to resolve them privately in a spirit of fairness and goodness. Indeed, the Qur’an outlines an enlightened step and wise approach for the husband and wife to resolve persistent conflict in their marital life. In the event that dispute cannot be resolved equitably between husband and wife, the Qur’an prescribes mediation between the parties through family intervention on behalf of both spouses (see the Qur’an 4:35).

(5) Divorce is a last resort, permissible but not encouraged, for the Qur’an esteems the preservation of faith and the individual’s right – male and female alike – to felicity. Forms of marriage dissolution include an enactment based upon mutual agreement, the husband’s initiative, the wife’s initiative (if part of her marital contract), the court’s decision on a wife’s initiative (for a legitimate reason), and the wife’s initiative without a cause, provided that she returns her marital gift to her husband. When the continuation of the marriage relationship is impossible for any reason, men are still taught to seek a gracious end for it. The Qur’an states about such cases:

“And when you have divorced women and they have fulfilled the term of their prescribed period, either take them back on reasonable basis or set them free on reasonable basis. But do not take them back to hurt them, and whoever does that, then he has wronged himself.” (Qur’an 2:231, see also 2:229 and 33:49)

(6) Associating polygamy with Islam, as if it was introduced by it or is the norm according to its teachings, is one of the most persistent myths perpetuated in Western literature and media. Polygamy existed in almost all nations and was even sanctioned by Judaism and Christianity until recent centuries. Islam did not outlaw polygamy, as did many peoples and religious communities; rather, it regulated and restricted it. It is not required but simply permitted with conditions (see the Qur’an 4:3). Spirit of law, including timing of revelation, is to deal with individual and collective contingencies that may arise from time to time (e.g. imbalances between the number of males and females created by wars) and to provide a moral, practical, and humane solution for the problems of widows and orphans.

As a mother:

(1) The Qur’an elevates kindness to parents (especially mothers) to a status second to the worship of Allah:

“Your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him. And that you be dutiful to your parents. If one of them or both of them attain old age in your life, say not to them a word of disrespect, nor shout at them but address them in terms of honor. And lower unto them the wing of submission and humility through mercy, and say, ‘My Lord! Bestow on them Your Mercy as they did bring me up when I was young.” (Qur’an 17:23-24, see also 31:14, 46:15, and 29:8)

(2) Naturally, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) specified this behavior for his followers, rendering to mothers an unequaled status in human relationships. A man came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and said,“O Messenger of God! Who among the people is the most worthy of my good companionship?” The Prophet (pbuh) said: “Your mother.” The man said, “Then who?” The Prophet (pbuh) said: “Then your mother.” The man further asked, “Then who?” The Prophet (pbuh) said: “Then your mother.” The man asked again, “Then who?” The Prophet said: “Then your father.”

As a sister:

(1) According to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him): “Women are but shaqa’iq (twin halves or sisters) of men.” This saying is a profound statement that directly relates to the issue of human equality between the genders. If the first meaning of the Arabic word shaqa’iq, “twin halves,” is adopted, it means that the male is worth one half (of society), while the female is worth the other half. If the second meaning, “sisters,” is adopted, it implies the same.

(2) Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) taught kindness, care, and respect toward women in general: “I command you to be good to women.” It is significant that such instruction of the Prophet (pbuh) was among his final instructions and reminders in the farewell pilgrimage address given shortly before his passing away.

(3) Modesty and social interaction: The parameters of proper modesty for males and females (dress and behavior) are based on revelatory sources (the Qur’an and Prophet’s sayings) and, as such, are regarded by believing men and women as divinely-based guidelines with legitimate aims and divine wisdom behind them.They are not male-imposed or socially-impose d restrictions. It is interesting to know that even the Bible encourages women to cover their head: “If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off; and if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut or shaved off, she should cover her head.” (1 Corinthians 11:6).

The legal and political aspect of women in Islam

(1) Equality before the law: Both genders are entitled to equality before the law and courts of law. Justice is genderless (see the Qur’an 5:38, 24:2, and 5:45). Women do possess an independent legal entity in financial and other matters.

(2) Participation in social and political life: The general rule in social and political life is participation and collaboration of males and females in public affairs (see the Qur’an 9:71).There is sufficient historical evidence of participation by Muslim women in the choice of rulers, in public issues, in law-making, in administrative positions, in scholarship and teaching, and even in the battlefield. Such involvement in social and political affairs was conducted without the participants’ losing sight of the complementary priorities of both genders and without violating Islamic guidelines of modesty and virtue.

Conclusion:

The status which non-Muslim women reached during the present era was not achieved due to the kindness of men or due to natural progress. It was rather achieved through a long struggle and sacrifice on woman’s part and only when society needed her contribution and work, more especially during the two World Wars, and due to the escalation of technological change. While in Islam such compassionate and dignified status was decreed, not because it reflects the environment of the seventh century, nor under the threat or pressure of women and their organizations, but rather because of its intrinsic truthfulness.

If this indicates anything, it would demonstrate the Divine origin of the Qur’an and the truthfulness of the message of Islam, which, unlike human philosophies and ideologies, was far from proceeding from its human environment; a message which established such humane principles that neither grew obsolete during the course of time, nor can become obsolete in the future. After all, this is the message of the All-Wise and All-Knowing God whose wisdom and knowledge are far beyond the ultimate in human thought and progress.

--

Related Articles:

• For Women Are Rights over Men Similar to Those of Men over Women
• The Rights and Duties of Women in Islam
• Husband and Wife rights and duties
• Kindness to the Wife brings Joy to Life
• Effects of Islam on Women
• Does Islam Oppress Women?
• Gender Differences and Equality in Islam
• The Business of Marriage
• Forced Marriages and Islam
• Islam on Dowry

Read More

Picture Perfect: When is the end of the WORLD?

How nice it would be if the people keep thinking "the next moment is my end" the world would be a better place to live.

Read More

Hadith Info: Poisoned Arrow

The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “The glance is a poisoned arrow of Shaitaan. Whoever lowers his gaze for Allah, He will bestow upon him a refreshing sweetness which he will find in his heart  on the day that he meets Him.” [Ahmad, Al-Musnad]

The unrestrained glance results in the one who looks becoming attracted to what he sees, and in the imprinting of an image of what he sees in his heart. This can result in several kinds of corruption in the heart of the servant of Allah.

Shaitaan enters with the glance, for he travels with it, faster than the wind blowing through an empty place. He makes what is seen appear more beautiful than it really is, and transforms it into an idol for the heart to worship. Then he promises it false rewards, lights the fire of desires within it, and fuels it with the wood of forbidden actions, which the servant of Allah would not have committed had it not been for this distorted image.

It has been said that between the eye and the heart is an immediate connection; if the eyes are corrupted, then the heart follows. It becomes like a rubbish heap where all the dirt and filth and rottenness collect, and so there is no room for love for Allah, relating all matters to Him, awareness of being in His presence, and feeling joy at His proximity – only the opposite of these things can inhabit such a heart.

Read More

Raising Great Children in Islam

Children are easily influenced by their surroundings. These days, it is extremely difficult to expose our children to an ideal Islamic environment given the influences from media, friends and even other members of the family.

With television, radio, Internet and forms of media mostly touting un-Islamic values, it is up to parents and adults close to the children to set the correct example.

It is impossible to shield our children from all the negative forces that can shape their minds and, ultimately, their behaviour.

However, by our own example and showing them better options, we can set them on the true path, which is to obey the commandments of Allah (swt) and our Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him).

Here are some tips you may want to follow in helping your children grow up with Islamic values.

01-Start by teaching them the importance of Worshipping only Allah: The best thing any Muslim parent could ever teach their children is to emphasize, from the day they can comprehend, that Allah (swt) is One and no one is worthy of worship except Allah (swt). This is the fundamental message of our Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) and it is our key to Paradise.

02-Treat them kindly: Kindness begets kindness. If we were kind to our children, they in turn would show kindness to others. Our Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) was the best example in being kind to children.

03-Teach them examples of Muslim heroes: Instead of Batman or Superman, tell them about real heroes such as Abu Bakr, Umar ibn Khattab, Othman bin Affan, Ali bin Abi Talib and others. Tell them how Muslim leaders brought a real peaceful change in the world and won the hearts of Muslims and non-Muslims alike.

04-Let children sit with adults: It is preferable for children to be among adults, especially when listening to Islamic lectures. The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) would often put children in the front row when he spoke to the people.

05-Make them feel important: Consult them in family matters. Let them feel they are important members of the family and have a part to play in the growth and well being of the family.

06-Go out as a family: Take family trips rather than allowing your children to always go out only with their friends. Let your children be around family and friends from whom you want them to pick up their values. Always remember that your children will become who they are around with most of the time. So, watch their company and above all give them YOUR company.

07-Praise them: Praise is a powerful tool with children, especially in front of others. Children feel a sense of pride when their parents’ praise them and will be keen to perform other good deeds. However, praise must be limited to Islamic deeds and deeds of moral value.

08-Avoid humiliation: Similarly, do not humiliate them in front of others. Children make mistakes. Sometimes, these mistakes occur in their efforts to please the parents. If you are unhappy with your children, tell them in private.

09-Sports: The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) encouraged sports such as swimming, running and horse riding. Other sports that build character and physical strength are also recommended, as long as the children maintain their Islamic identity, wear appropriate clothes and do not engage in unnecessary mixing.

10-Responsibility: Have faith in their abilities to perform tasks. Give them chores to do in line with their age. Convince them that they are performing an important function and you will find them eager to help you out again.

11-Don’t spoil them: Children are easily spoiled. If they receive everything they ask for, they will expect you to oblige on every occasion. Be wise in what you buy for them. Avoid extravagance and unnecessary luxuries. Take them to an orphanage or poor area of your city once in a while so they can see how privileged they are.

12-Don’t be friends: It is common in the West for parents to consider their children as friends. In Islam, it doesn’t work that way. If you have ever heard how friends talk to each other, then you will know that this is not how a parent-child relationship should be. You are the parents, and they should respect you, and this is what you should be teaching them. The friendship part should be limited to you and them keeping an open dialog so they can share their concerns with you and ask you questions when they have any.

13-Pray with them: Involve them in acts of worship. When they are young, let them see you in act of salaah (salat). Soon, they would be trying to imitate you. Wake them up for Fajr and pray as a family. Talk to them about the rewards of salaah so that it doesn’t feel like a burden to them.

14-Emphasize halaal: It is not always good to say “this is haraam, that is haraam”. While you must educate them on haraam things, Islam is full of halaal and tell your children to thank Allah (swt) for the bounties He has bestowed on them- not just for food and clothes. Tell them to be thankful for having eyes that see, ears that hear, arms and legs and, the ultimate blessing, Islam in their hearts.

15-Set an example: As parents, you are the best example the children can have. If you talk to your parents rudely, expect your children to do the same to you. If you are disrespectful to others, your children will follow too. Islam is filled with Divine advice on the best ways to bring up your children. That makes it an obligation upon parents to be good Muslims so their children will try to emulate them. If you don’t take Islam seriously, neither will your children. It goes back to our third point, which is to give them Islamic heroes. As a parent, you should be their number one hero.

Read More

Picture Perfect: Question on the Day of Judgement

When we see the beautiful monuments man made of bricks and stones, we love to see take pictures and make memories! Nevertheless, nobody cares to turn back and look the alive man begging struggling for life! Moreover, never think that we will be questioned on Day of Judgement for his pain.

Read More

Power of Prayer

Prayer, which is an important connection with Almighty Allah, is demanding in the sense that we demonstrate  our weakness in front of Almighty Allah. Our Lord reveals that prayer is an important act of worship with the verse, "Say: ‘What has My Lord to do with you if you do not call on Him?..."(Surat al-Furqan, 77)

Actually the need to form a connection with Allah exists in every man’s character, entailed in  creation. However, while praying is an inseparable part of their lives for believers, for some people it is an act of worship to be remembered only when they face with difficulties or life-threatening situations. However, this is a big mistake because what is truly good is to ask for Almighty Allah’s help both in difficulty and ease and to take refuge in His mercy.

Being Determined in Prayer

Allah has made it possible for His servants to reach anything that He sees as good and beautiful. However, being determined in the prayer being made is just as important as the prayer itself.  Praying with patience is an indication of the need for the desires prayed for, of the inconvenience about this matter and most importantly an indication that one's  closeness to Allah has increased. Being determined in prayer makes the believer more mature and bestows on  him a strong will and character. A believer who shows determination in prayer gets much in return by earning a deep faith, which is more valuable than most of the things he asked for. It is revealed in the Qur’an that one needs to be determined in prayer as such:

"Seek help in steadfastness and prayer. But that is a very hard thing, except for the humble:"(Surat al-Baqara, 45)

Our valuable Prophet (saas) has stated how much he needs Allah sometimes by praying for years on  and our Lord, the All-Merciful, has given what he asked for at the best time. The fact that Allah accepts every prayer, both open and hidden, is due to His Mightiness and Grace. Allah never leaves any thought which crosses one’s mind without a return. However, “accepting a prayer” does not mean something happening as it was asked for because sometimes a person may be demanding something harmful to himself. Almighty Allah reveals as such about this matter:

"Man prays for evil just as he prays for good. Man is prone to be impetuous."(Surat al-Isra’, 11)

Allah knows best what is good and what is bad for a person because He is the One Who appreciates everything. As with His every work, there are many wonders hidden in the way He accepts prayers. For example, the Prophet Jacob (pbuh) rejoining his son the Prophet Joseph (pbuh) after many long years, the Prophet Joseph (pbuh) gaining power and rulership after staying in prison for a long time, the Prophet Ayoob (pbuh) being saved from the pain caused by satan; all of these occurred after showing great patience and continuous prayers. Almighty Allah has accepted the prayers of these sincere servants of His at the best time for them and has made them mature, educated them, increased their loyalty and sincerity and turned them into servants worthy of high degrees in Paradise.

How Does Allah Accept Prayer?

When a believer prays, he knows that Allah hears him and will always accept his prayer in any way. This is because he realizes that events do not take place in a coincidental way, but according to the destiny determined by Allah and in the way He wills. Therefore, he has no doubt that he will not have any return for his prayer. Praying with this sincere spirit causes great goodness by Allah’s leave. In one verse, it is revealed that our Lord will always accept a prayer as a manifestation of His name “Al-Mujib” (One Who accepts the demands of those who beg to Him).

“If My slaves ask you about Me, I am near. I answer the call of the caller when he calls on Me. They should therefore respond to Me and believe in Me so that hopefully they will be rightly guided.”(Surat al-Baqara, 186)

The reason that something asked for in a prayer is given with delay, or accepted in a completely different way, could also be that our Lord tests His servants. Allah may grant His blessings after certain periods of time in order to test the patience of His servants and to make them mature according to a certain reason.

Due to this and similar reasons, it cannot be expected that every prayer is realized as it is asked for and as soon as possible. As it is stated by the great Islamic scholar Bediuzzaman, Allah may give less of something asked for in prayer or sometimes more of it as a reward or because of the reasons we mentioned above He may not grant them at all. However, in every condition, Allah accepts the prayer of the one who prays to Him.

How Did Our Prophets Pray?

Praying is a way of submitting to Allah and all people need prayer. The most erudite examples of this is that all Prophets pray to Allah by submitting to Him in every matter as revealed in the Qur’an. In the prayers of our Prophet (saas) and all other prophets, we see both their submission to Allah, the fact that they see Allah as their sole friend and helper and that they praise our Lord’s glory with His most beautiful names.

The Prayer of Our Prophet (saas)

In the prayers of our Prophet Mohammad (saas), the most beautiful examples of citing Allah with His names are revealed. One of the verses in which our Prophet (saas)’s prayers are mentioned is as follows:

“Say, ‘O Allah! Master of the Kingdom! You give sovereignty to whoever You will You take sovereignty from whoever You will. You exalt whoever You will You abase whoever You will. All good is in Your hands. You have power over all things.”(Surah Al ‘Imran, 26)

In the narrations, it is noted that our Prophet (saas) prayed to our Lord to give him a good morality and good nature.

“O Allah! Enhance goodness and ethics! O Divine! Remove from me bad morals! .” (Tirmidhi, Imam Ahmad and Haqim; Hujjat al-Islam Imam Gadhali, Ihyau Ulum id-din, volume 2, Translation: Dr. Sitki Gulle, Huzur Publishing, Istanbul 1998, p.789)

The Prayer of the Prophet Noah (pbuh)

The patience of the Prophet Noah (pbuh), who called his society to the true religion for years with an exemplary determination, was praised in the Qur’an. The Prophet Noah (pbuh) struggled against his society that acted with enmity towards him and the believers who were with him. The fact that the Prophet Noah (pbuh) turned to Allah in every situation, and prayed by hoping for his help sincerely is a great example for believers. In one verse, it is revealed that Allah knew the condition the Prophet Noah (pbuh) was in and that he prayed as follows:

“He called upon his Lord: ‘I am overwhelmed, so help me!’”(Surat al-Qamar, 10)

Allah accepted the Prophet Noah (pbuh)’s prayer and commanded him to prepare for the Flood, which was going to take place in future. The Prophet Noah (pbuh) began to build a massive  ship by the command of Allah, even though there was no sea or lake nearby. During the construction of the ship, he was continuously subject to spiritual pressure  by his society. When the time came Allah’s promise was realized and the flood disaster took place.

The Prayer of the Prophet Jonah (pbuh)

In the Qur’an, it is revealed that this valuable prophet of ours separated himself from his people, as they did not respond to his calls. (Surat as-Saffat, 139–142) As it is revealed in the verses, following this, there was a draw in the ship that the Prophet Jonah (pbuh) was traveling on and as a result of the draw it was decided that the Prophet Jonah (pbuh) was to be thrown into the sea. On top of these events, the Prophet Jonah (pbuh) submitted to Allah and prayed to Him. Allah revealed this event as such in the Qur’an:

“And Jonah  when he left in anger and thought We would not punish him. He called out in the pitch darkness: ‘There is no god but You! Glory be to You! Truly I have been one of the wrongdoers.’ We responded to him and rescued him from his grief. That is how We rescue the belivers .”(Surat al-Anbiya’, 87–88)

As it is revealed in the verses the Prophet Jonah (pbuh) confessed his condition sincerely in his prayer.  He prayed to Allah and waited for His help. Our Lord, Who has infinite mercy, accepted the Prophet Jonah (pbuh)’s redemption and saved him from the stomach of the fish by accepting his prayer.

The Prayer of the Prophet Job (pbuh)

In the Qur’an, the Prophet Job (pbuh)’s patience was mentioned as an example to believers. The Prophet Job (pbuh) who received  revelations from Allah and who was a selected servant (Surat an-Nisa, 163) experienced  serious trouble and went through a difficult period. However, despite all of the heavy tribulations  he was in, he always set an example for believers with his patience and submission to Allah. (Surah Sad, 44) The sincere prayer of this holy prophet of ours was revealed in one verse as follows:

“And Job when he called out to his Lord, ‘Great harm has afflicted me and You are the Most Merciful of the merciful,’”(Surat al-Anbiya’, 83)

It is revealed in the Qur’an that Almighty Allah accepted the prayer of the Prophet Job (pbuh) who was one of His sincere servants:

“We responded to him and removed from him the harm which was afflicting him and restored his family to him, and the same again with them, as a mercy direct from Us and a Reminder to all worshippers.”(Surat al-Anbiya’, 84)

Prayer, which is an important means to reach Almighty Allah, the All-Knowing and the All-Hearing, Who is nearer to man than his jugular vein (Surah Qaf, 16), is an act of worship believers carry out in every occasion and condition. However, when believers do this, as it is revealed in the verse “But you will not will unless Allah wills...”(Surat al-Insan, 30) they behave in a manner conscious of the fact that everything is always under the control of our Lord and that everything is realized by His will.

There is a Response to Sincere Prayers in Both the World and the Hereafter

Prayer leads the person towards what is going to happen in his destiny;Allah is the One Who determines destiny and creates prayer. However, the blessing that comes following a prayer contains  prosperity in this world and a good return in the Hereafter. A person’s whole life is a result of the active or verbal prayers previously made, whether he realizes it or not. Active prayer is our actions and efforts put forth on the subject of prayer by Allah’s leave. When this effort is not for the good pleasure of Allah –as is the case  with  some people- it could still be a means for an individual to reach his or her wishes, by Allah’s leave. People who do not have faith but carry out their active prayers with great ambition, for example, those who work and earn a lot, becomes rich or becomes expert about a subject and becomes famous, have reached that degree through their active struggle by holding onto causes, and again by Allah’s leave. However, active prayers that are not made for the good pleasure of Allah will bring no benefit to the individual in the Hereafter even if a person reaches  his or her objectives  from time to time in this world.

No Other Than Allah is Prayed To

By the verse revealed in the Qur’an, "O Prophet! Allah is enough for you, and for the faithful who follow you."(Surat al-Anfal, 64), believers know that Allah is the only One Whom to ask help. He is the most superior, the most powerful and the One Who sees and hears everything. Allah is the One Who is excluded from all deficient features, and Who is the Owner of eternal power. All power in the universe is in His hands. So help and forgiveness should be asked for only and only from Allah, Whom everyone is need for and Who Himself does not need anyone. In the Qur’an it is revealed that it is wrong to pray to others than Allah and that Allah is the sole authority of prayer:

 “So do not call on any other god along with Allah or you will be among those who will be punished.”(Surat  ash-Shu‘ara’, 213)

Conclusion

Prayer is an example of Allah’s mercy and compassion for His servants. Believers can pray to Allah at every moment and under  every condition and they are peaceful that Allah will accept these prayers in the best ways. In this way, they can tell their deepest secrets and the most hidden desires to Allah, and live the goodness, prosperity and beauty that comes from the knowledge that Allah is the only friend , guide and helper. We can see the biggest secret in Allah accepting prayers in the lives of prophets as we have mentioned in some examples. There is a relation in praying and carrying out the actions Allah commands. The physical effort shown for Allah’s good pleasure, mercy and Paradise is an act of worship as important as prayer. Allah revealed in the Qur’an about the importance of effort:

“But as for anyone who desires the akhira, and strives for it with the striving it deserves, being a believer, the striving of such people will be gratefully acknowledged.”(Surat al-Isra’, 19)

Related Posts:

• Picture Perfect : My Prayer and my sacrifice
• A nice prayer...to begin a day with
• Don't delay your prayers
• Do You Pray?

Read More

Maintain Good Relations with People Around You

No matter how productive or positive a person is, they can face a temporary “inability-to-be-productive-error” which makes us indulge in many common social mistakes such as not wanting to maintain good relations with people around us.

It was narrated that Abu Hanifa said to Dawud al-Taa’i, “Why do you prefer seclusion?” Dawud replied, “To struggle against myself to leave disputing.” Abu Hanifah said, “Attend meetings, listen to what is said, and remain silent.” Dawud said, “I have done so, but I have found nothing heavier than this.”

Man is undoubtedly a social creature – no matter how hard you try to draw a safe circle, you have to socialize and progress in society. While you can’t always choose who crosses your path, let’s look at 5 ways you can maintain good relationships with the people around you.

Tip #1 Positivism never fails:

The first most important tip is to be kind to your own self, be merciful to your soul, let it breathe full, nourish it with positive thoughts and let that shine out to the whole world. This will make people around you get immersed within your positive vibes. Throw yourself in the sea of negativity about everything and everyone and nothing will reach you back except the echoes of people who will be too afraid to communicate with you or either reluctant to be around you for any good reason. So be positive; a positivist never fails.

Tip #2 Control your tantrums:

How easily we get annoyed by even the slightest of things! And how hard it becomes to overcome this tantrum behavior. But without self control, you cannot achieve excellence. So give your best to all people – family, friends, and strangers – for the sake of your own soul and don’t throw your tantrums over people. Those who have done you no harm do not deserve it, and those who have made you angry don’t care of your anger; so why the fuss to exhaust yourself? Think about it.

“And speak nicely to people” #Quran2:83

Tip #3 Bring kindness in your speech and actions/be wise: It liberates.

When was the last time you did something embarrassing like raise your voice in an argument, only to regret your decision? The damage it brings is more to our own selves. We hurt ourselves and we hurt others. Secondly, we disappoint even the loved ones around us with such intense low-to-the-ground behavior. Th result? Jeopardized relations. If you’re a victim of it, you just need to spend 2 quality minutes working it out. This exercise is called Recall and Heal. Think of a situation which had been harmful for you in the past, perhaps where you think you could have practiced self-discipline but didn’t. Now recall your response made to it when it occurred. Was it too controlled or foolish and avoidable? Learn a lesson from this embarrassment and make a note to yourself to go wise next time with people. It makes you a wise person and liberates.

“If they pass by some vain speech or play, they pass by it with dignity.” #Quran 25:72

Tip #4 Don’t mind the strangers:

There are people with whom we interact on a daily basis and people who we see occasionally (and perhaps do not even interact with), but our reputations do. These strangers can be our far off relatives or colleagues or very old friends. Please do not forget, it’s equally important to keep good relations even with those strangers that we hardly know. Treat them well. If you happen to be in the same environment as they are, be soft with your eyes when passing by them. Use your body language to interact positively without using words. If angered by them, keep silent. This keeps our contacts tied to us in good shape and also makes our stranger enemies still respect us.

Tip #5 Moment for reflection:

Your reward is with Allah and not with people, so take a moment to reflect. Once you realise this life is a test and your actions are observed by Allah Almighty, you’ll begin to absorb the bigger picture – and then the affairs of this world seem to look so small. Forgiving people becomes easy. Ignoring the mistakes of people and going smooth with them becomes your nature. Why? You have finally given up the malice of your heart for the happiness of Allah!

If you give your best to the people and then wait for your reward from your Lord, you become abundant with blessings without you even knowing it. SubhanAllah. That’s the beauty of practicing good manners like the Prophets and Pious people of Muslim Ummah.

And now to raise your spirits high, let me end on a positive note:

“Peace be upon you, because you persevered in patience! Excellent indeed is the final home!” #Quran 13:24 

Read More

Picture Perfect: FREE GAZA

Paris Square covered by Muslims and non-Muslims who have chosen this way to protest Israel holocaust in Gaza.

Related posts:

• Story of Jerusalem
• 30 Little Known Facts About Israel

Read More

Hadith Info: Price also Forbidden

The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “When Allah forbids a thing, He also forbids its price.” [Abu Dawud]

Some people who lived outside Madina did not know about the absolute prohibition of alcohol. One day Amir bin Rabi’ah (radi Allahu anhu) returned from a journey and presented a bottle of alcohol to the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) – a bottle full of alcohol!

The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) never drank alcohol, neither in the pre-Islamic days of ignorance, nor in Islam. However, people still used to offer him gifts some of which he wouldn’t use himself but give to others or sell. People would sometimes give him gold or silver which he would not wear but give to his wives or others.

The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) looked at the alcohol in surprise and said, “Don’t you know that this has been forbidden?”

Amir bin Rabi’ah (radi Allahu anhu) replied, “Forbidden? No! I didn’t know about it, O Messenger of Allah!”

The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said, “Yes. It has been forbidden.”

Amir (radi Allahu anhu) then took the bottle away. Some people suggested that he should sell it. When the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) heard about it he said, “No. When Allah forbids something, he also forbids its value.” Upon hearing this Amir poured the alcohol on the ground.

Notice how the Sahabah immediately acted upon the teachings of Islam, putting aside all other considerations!

Notice how briefly and to the point the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) gave instructions and made corrections. He didn’t go on and on about it.

Notice that the Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) did not question the Sahabi’s integrity by saying such things as, “How could you not have known that alcohol is now forbidden!” He never doubted the intentions of the people around him, nor abused them.

This Hadith makes clear that when something is forbidden to consume (such as alcohol), then it is also forbidden to sell it and use the money. Notice that the Sahabi did not gift the bottle on to one of the non-Muslims around either.

Read More

The Red River in your Body - (Blood Circulatory System)

Did You Know...?

• The heart beats 2 1/2 billion times during a person's life?
• Arteries, vessels & capillaries would reach 100 thousand miles if stretched out end to end?
• On average, the heart pumps 75 gallons of blood an hour for a lifetime of 70 plus years?
• One person's red blood cells, if stacked, would reach 31,000 miles high?
• The heart is the body's strongest muscle?
• Even rigid metal pipes would soon burst from the pounding force of the heart?
• The heart rarely fails of its own accord?
• New arteries can be formed to bypass blocked arteries?
• Death would soon result if our body temperature rose only 9° F above normal?
• In the time it takes to turn this page, your body will lose about 3 million red cells… and your bone marrow will make as many more?
• Every red blood cell contains 1,080,000 oxygen atoms?
• During exercise the body can require more than 75 gallons of oxygen per hour?

"There are signs for the believing nation in the creation of their (own) selves, and the creation of the animals He has scattered (across the world)." [Quran 45:4]

Red River of Life

Day and night, non-stop  mechanics rush to numerous sites to repair and replace damaged parts, supply vehicles deliver fuel, plumbers are busy repairing leaks and breaks. A cleanup crew continually traverses the ways removing debris, and a police force keeps the peace while an army repels attacks and destroys the enemy.

All this—and more—is part of an elaborate network, which is centrally controlled by an electronic system receiving commands from a super computer beyond description.

Does it sound like an advanced nation in a science fiction movie? No, it is a mechanism right within our bodies. It all belongs to a complex river of life. We call it our circulatory system. But it is far more than that. It is a marvellous feat of engineering, the work of our all-wise Creator.

The Circulatory System

Seventy times a minute, two ounces of blood bursts forth from the left side of the heart to begin its journey through the body. The heart, the body's strongest muscle, delivers a pounding force against the artery walls 70 times a minute, more than 100,000 times every day—some 2-1/2 billion times during a person's life. Not even rigid metal pipes could stand this pounding for long! But the God of creation designed the arteries especially for the purpose.

With each impact, the arteries stretch and the strong muscles coiling around them recoil, sending the intermittent waves of blood through a never-ending river of arteries, vessels and capillaries. Stretched out, they would reach 100 thousand miles, long enough to reach around the earth 4 times. So dense is this network of capillaries that no cell in the body is more than a millionth of an inch away from the blood supply. The capillaries are so thin that the tiny red cells must line up in single file and bend and twist to get through.

The farther away from the pumping station, the greater the surrounding muscle, which may wrap two or three times around the smallest arteries. Rhythmically squeezing and relaxing, they force blood to the 10 billion capillaries that fan throughout the body while one-way valves prevent the blood from flowing backwards.

In the outermost branches of this system, blood flow slows to less than a fraction of an inch a second as the blood drops off its load of nutrients and oxygen and picks up a load of waste for its return trip. Finally the blood arrives in the right side of the heart and is immediately pumped to the lungs with the nearly toxic waste. Here it exchanges carbon dioxide for another load of oxygen. (In order to maintain a delicate pH balance, less than 10% of the carbon dioxide is exhaled as another load of oxygen is grasped. And remember, blood is being delivered to the lungs at the rate of about two ounces 70 times a minute at rest. That is an incredible 75 gallons (or more) per hour for a lifetime of perhaps 70 plus years!)

Surely, an all-wise Creator had to be the designer!

The Lungs

The food we eat provides the fuel to keep the cells of our bodies alive and functioning. But for the fuel to burn there must also be a continuous supply of pure oxygen at the incredible rate of about 4 gallons per hour. (And this is when the body is at rest! It can suddenly require more than 75 gallons of oxygen per hour during exercise.)

How did the Creator manage this miracle? Our lungs consist of some 300 million air-filled sacs laced with tiny capillaries that would cover 750 square feet if spread flat. Through walls only 10 millionths of an inch thick, the exchange of carbon dioxide for oxygen takes place. While passing through a tiny capillary in the lungs, less than 1/50th inch long, it drops off carbon dioxide and picks up another load of oxygen before it returns to the heart to be launched into the arteries leading to every cell in the body. Renewed, the blood returns to the left side of the heart, where the heart again propels it into another journey.

But the exchange in the lungs is not so simple. The red blood cell consists primarily of water and a red protein, hemoglobin, its source of power to carry oxygen. In the centre of each molecule of haemoglobin (a construction of more than 10,000 atoms), are four iron atoms that act as a magnet holding fast to oxygen that has been absorbed as the red cell passes through a lung capillary. While one haemoglobin molecule can carry only 4 oxygen molecules, every red blood cell has about 270 million of these complex proteins. The iron atoms latch onto the oxygen as the red blood cells pass through the lungs. The haemoglobin is actually about 95% saturated with oxygen.

As a red blood cell passes by a cell of tissue needing oxygen, the red blood cell releases its cargo and at the same time removes deadly carbon dioxide given off by the cell's burning of fuel. But before the carbon dioxide can be removed, the red blood cell converts it into carbonic acid. The red blood cell then converts the acid to a bicarbonate plus hydrogen, which the blood plasma carries through the veins to the lungs.

But the lungs cannot exhale the bicarbonate. So the red blood cells break down the carbonate to carbon dioxide, which the lungs exhale.

Exchange of Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide Between the Lungs and the Red Blood Cells 

How could this complex process be the result of any senseless cause-and-effect random selection? The credit must be given to a higher Intelligence far surpassing human understanding.

Red Blood Cells by Design?

Capillaries are so thin that
 the tiny red cells must line up,
single file, and bend and
 twist to get through

Even the physical properties of the blood cell show very special design which could never have come about by evolution. Look at the physical shape of the red blood cell, for example. The red blood cell must be designed so that it can provide maximum volume with maximum speed in absorbing gases. And it must be flexible and strong enough to pass many times through canals narrower than itself without being damaged. If you were the designer, how would you design it?

A sphere? Let's test it in a coloured liquid. At first it begins to soak up liquid very rapidly, only to be bogged down as the liquid approaches the centre  Obviously not a good choice. Perhaps a disk would be a better shape? Well, it soaks up the liquid all right, but will it hold up? Extraordinary distortion of the red cell occurs as it passes through minute blood vessels with diameters less than itself. Then it must spring back to its original shape. It must make about 75,000 trips through these narrow passages and back to the heart. A simple disk would not meet these requirements. It would probably tear very soon, or-worse-clog the system.

What would be an ideal shape for the red blood cell? A computer-generated design, from a complex equation formulated by science engineers, produced a graphical discoid image. It was dimpled on both sides with rounded edges, the exact shape of the red blood cell. Doesn't this show that an intelligent Mind designed it? Who, but God?

Blood

Earlier, we compared our circulatory system to an advanced nation with military, police and civilian components working around the clock. The red blood cell is only one part of this complex system. Let's look briefly at several other components at work.

The life of every cell in the body is dependent on its receiving an uninterrupted supply of nutrients—carbohydrates, proteins, fats, minerals, salts and vitamins, the balance being carefully regulated (improper regulating could lead to death). To supply this never-ending demand is the task of the continuously flowing red river, the blood.

About 55% of the blood is plasma. Plasma carries the many delicately balanced nutrients, repair mechanisms, a means to clean up dead cells, and an army of cells to combat disease and other foreign materials that may enter the body. It also provides a mechanism to dissolve blood clots.

Plasma, which is 90% water, is the substance which makes it possible for the other constituents to reach to all parts of the body. Dissolving and distributing the food we eat, it carries minerals, salts, proteins and fats to every cell.

Blood consists of a diverse society of living, thriving cells which perform specific tasks and co-exist in strict proportions. This balance of these cells to each other is even more critical than the balance of nutrients. A decline in any one of the cells can endanger life.

For the elaborate community to function harmoniously, maintenance is necessary.

The Maintenance Crew

Principal Varieties of
Blood Cells

Platelets are the maintenance crew for the banks of the river traversing through our body. When a blood vessel is cut or ruptures, blood platelets stick to fibers in the damaged area of the vessel, swelling and shooting out tiny spikes to plug the hole. At the same time they signal for help, and other platelets respond by rushing to the site. If the tear is too large to be sealed with platelets, the damaged tissue sends for reinforcements and a liquid protein begins to congeal into long, tough fibers, trapping more platelets in the tangled web until the rent is plugged.

What has prevented some people with more serious injuries from bleeding to death? If all else fails, the arteries shrink, reducing the blood supply to the injured area until sufficient clotting can plug the leak. This process is associated with shock.

Did so elaborate a system of repair and maintenance come about by chance?

Warriors Fight a Never-Ending Battle

The white blood cells consist of three classes of cells and several sub-classes, each with their unique responsibilities. Collectively they fight infections, defend against parasites, take part in hypersensitivity and inflammatory reactions, digest many types of foreign cellular materials and build immunities.

White blood cells, the largest and most numerous of all the blood's cells yet less than 1% of the blood's volume, perhaps lead the most active lives. They wind their way through the blood stream, stalking and devouring bacteria, viruses and other tiny invaders-truly, a well-equipped military force against attack.

How are these many cells which make up the blood produced?

An Unprecedented Manufacturing Facility

The centralized computer, the brain, regulates the manufacturing plant which operates 24 hours a day 7 days a week. As the need rises and falls production increases and decreases to keep a delicate balance of the various cells making up the blood. Let us look at the red blood cell again.

There is an ever-changing need for oxygen as we sleep or exercise, rest or think. The bone marrow will slow or speed production of these red cells to meet the oxygen demand. However, red cells die after about 120 days and must be replaced.

In the time it takes to turn this page, your body will lose about 3 million red cells and your bone marrow will produce the same number. Red blood cell production can be increased up to eight times if the need arises. Greater production of cells means greater demand for oxygen. So great is the demand for oxygen (about 4 gallons per hour) that there are almost countless red blood cells in the body. If stacked, they would reach 31,000 miles high. Yet they are so tiny, it would require 12,500 to measure only one inch high.

There is even a recycling crew.

As red cells age and wear out they are broken down. Nearly all the protein and iron is reused & emdash;a very efficient recycling procedure.

But none of these vehicles could travel on the red river without a pumping station.

Central Pumping Station

Blood circulation depends on a central pumping station that must work 24 hours a day, non-stop  Other muscles soon give out but the heart must keep on working for a lifetime.

A single pause for no more than five minutes would result in death.

The heart, no larger than a fist, is divided into four chambers. The left side receives blood into the top from the lungs and the bottom pumps it to all parts of the body. The right side receives blood into the top and the bottom very gently pumps it into the lungs.

Though its workload is tremendous, rarely does it fail except for some reason other than itself. But if the heart is damaged, by an almost miraculous cooperation many components immediately join forces, converging on the site. If the injury is not too great, white blood cells clear away debris. Within weeks, scar tissue has replaced dead muscle and the heart is patched with stiff, electrically inert fibres  Though the patch cannot contract, the remainder of the heart goes on working, providing life to the body's cells.

If an artery becomes blocked, alternate routes are established. Small new arteries, or collaterals, grow from branches above the blocked artery and connect to small arteries below the blockage. While this level of protection varies, tests have shown that in some instances normal blood flow to the heart is restored.

Controlled by the brain, the heart rate rises to meet our needs. When we sleep the heart is working at its slowest pace. During exercise it speeds up to supply more blood to the muscles as they burn more fuel. In extreme cases like responding to a sudden threat of death, the heart may speed to a soaring 200 beats per minute, pumping blood with its nutrients so the body and mind can spring into action.

A Thermostat in the Brain

The red river of life plays a vital role in maintaining body temperature within very close tolerances. We would soon die if it rose only 90F above normal. Body temperature is constantly monitored by a thermostat in the brain. Every cell is like a tiny motor burning fuel and giving off heat, which increases with exercise. Infection or exposure to excessive ambient temperature also increases body heat. When our body temperature has raised only a fraction of a degree, our cooling mechanisms turn on-valves open and more blood is directed to the skin, where the heat is rapidly dissipated, aided by the evaporation of sweat.

On the other hand, if body temperature drops, the heart slows, vessels in the skin are constricted and blood is rerouted to deeper paths away from the cold.

Were we to travel from sea level to the top of the highest mountain we would be breathless and dizzy at first because of the lack of oxygen in the thinner air. But our heartbeat would quicken and our bone marrow would increase its production of red blood cells by as much as 50%. Soon we would have adapted to the new environment.

After having seen how the blood works to supply nutrients and to clean and purify, can't we better understand the use of it as a symbol of purification by the magnificent creator.

"He created the heavens and the earth for a specific purpose, designed you and perfected your design, then to Him is the final destiny." [Quran 64:3]

References:

• Moody Video, “Red River of Life,” ©1957, 1986 and 1998. 
• The Incredible Machine by National Geographic Society.
• Encyclopedia Britannica, 1999 CD 
• North Carolina State University Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering
• The Franklin Institute On-Line, on: The Heart, Vessels and Blood
• University of Tasmania, Faculty of Health and Science

--

Related Posts:

• Journey of the blood
• Discovery of Blood Circulation by Ibn Al-Nafis
• The powerful machine inside you
• Health Benefits 

Read More

Picture Perfect: Earth Without Borders

Islam calls to LA ILLAHA ILLALLAH (There is no deity but God)

It doesn't call to Nationalism.

Yes we have tribes and Allah, Almighty has beautifully described the reason for tribes and groups of people -

"O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise each other). Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of God is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And God has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things)." [Quran 49:13]

Read More

Generosity in Islam: The Power of Giving

As human beings, we have an innate sense of morality. No matter what religion, race or colour we are, certain qualities serve as the moral standard.

We admire justice, bravery, honesty and compassion. Also, we abhor those who demonstrate treachery, cruelty or corruption. Moral standards are universal, and one of the most important aspects of Islam is adherence to high moral standards and good manners in society.

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught Muslims to have the best manners and distinguished characteristics. The Prophet’s own high standard of morals and manners made him the best example for Muslims to follow. God said in the Quran:

"And verily you, O Muhammad, are on an exalted standard of character." #Quran 68: 4

Generosity was among the countless good qualities of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) . He was the most generous of people and he used to be most generous in Ramadan.

One day Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)  offered prayer in the mosque and then hurriedly went to his house and returned immediately. A companion asked why he left and he replied:

“I left a piece of gold at home which was given for charity and I disliked letting it remain a night in my house, so I brought it to the mosque to distribute.” (Al-Bukhari)

Our worldly possessions are bounties from God, who is the Most Generous. Muslims believe that everything originates from God and everything will return to Him. Thus, it is logical to behave as if that which we possess is merely a loan, something we are obligated to preserve, protect and ultimately share.

Whenever Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) met a miserly person, he advised him to be more generous and charitable. Ibn `Abbas said that he heard Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) saying: “The believer is not the one who eats when his neighbour beside him is hungry” (Al-Bayhaqi). Another companion heard the Prophet saying: “The believer is simple and generous, but the wicked person is deceitful and ignoble.” (Abu-Dawud)

Definition of Generosity

Princeton University wordnet defines generosity as the willingness to give freely. Islam encourages this concept of generosity so much so that it is embedded in one of the five pillars of Islam, the obligatory charity known as Zakat. In Arabic, the termzakat literally means purification of the heart however; it is also the payment, from surplus money, of an obligatory charity designed by God to provide for all the needy members of the community. It is a fixed calculable amount.

There is also another form of generosity in Islam called sadaqah (optional charity). Linguistically, sadaqah means truthfulness, and some scholars have described it as the heart being truthful to its Creator. Anything given generously - freely to others - with the intention of pleasing God is sadaqah. Sadaqah can be as simple as a smile, helping an elderly person with their groceries or removing objects from the road or path.

Even in the direst of circumstances, a true believer is the one who gives generously.

Generosity can be viewed as a wise investment in the future. Generosity or sadaqah may pave the way to Paradise because with every generous act comes great reward from God. However, being generous does not only mean giving freely from what you have in abundance. Generosity does not lie in giving away something that is no longer useful but in giving freely from the things we love or need.

Aisha (the wife of the Prophet) said: “A lady, along with her two daughters came to me asking for some alms, but she found nothing with me except one date which I gave to her and she divided it between her two daughters.” (Al-Bukhari)

God tells us in the Quran that whatever we give away generously, with the intention of pleasing Him, He will replace and multiply. God knows what is in the hearts of men.

God says: "Say: Truly, my Lord enlarges the provision for whom He wills of His slaves, and also restricts it) for him, and whatsoever you spend of anything (in God’s Cause), He will replace it. And He is the Best of providers." #Quran 34: 39

The Value of Generosity

The companions understood the value of being generous. Abdullah ibn Umar was seen in the market buying fodder for his camel on credit. One of the men queried this knowing that Abdullah had received 4,000 dirhams and a blanket the previous day. It was explained that before nightfall Abdullah had distributed the money amongst the needy. He then took the blanket, threw it over his shoulder and headed home, but by the time he arrived even the blanket was gone, he had given it to a needy person.

After the death of the Prophet, the people faced great hardship due to drought. They came to Abu Bakr asking him to provide them with enough to sustain them, but he was unable to help, the treasury was empty. Just at that time, the camel caravan belonging to Uthman arrived from Damascus. It was filled with foodstuffs and other goods. The merchants gathered at Uthman’s house offering him large amounts of money for the goods; however, he turned them down saying he was prepared only to give the goods to the one from whom he would receive the greatest reward. Uthman gave all the goods to the starving people of Madinah and did not charge them. He knew that God would reward him with something far greater than money.

Even in the direst of circumstances, a true believer is the one who gives generously.

The people came to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)  and asked: “If someone has nothing to give, what should he do?” He said: “He should work with his hands and benefit himself and also give in charity (from what he earns).” The people further asked: “If he cannot find even that?” He replied: “He should help the needy who appeal for help.” Then the people asked: “If he cannot do that?” He replied: “Then he should perform good deeds and keep away from evil deeds and this will be regarded as charitable deeds.” (Al-Bukhari)

And God says in the Quran that He will repay the generosity of a believer.

"And whatever you spend in good, it will be repaid to you in full, and you shall not be wronged."#Quran 2: 272

God is the one who provides for us and He expects us to share generously. We are encouraged to be benevolent and unselfish with our possessions, with our time and with our exemplary behaviour towards others.

By Aisha Stacey

--

Related posts:

• Sadaqa
• Help and Feed the Poor & Needy
• Zakat-ul-Fitr (Ramadan obligatory charity)
• Keep Smiling, It’s Charity
• Picture Perfect: 1 person dies and 100 million cry
• The loaf of Bread that took him to Paradise
• Does the world produce enough food to feed everyone?

Read More