Islamic Information Blog Issue 10

Assalamu Alaikum brothers and sisters

I hope you are all well and that your families are well too.

Time and time again I will say this and I really do respect the sisters of Islam, why? Because theses sisters are at the front line and covering up for the sake of Allah, and the amount of abuse, name calling they may get, they still cover up their beauty, MashAllah! May Allah reward you all. Don't get me wrong I respect the brothers as well, but if you look at us brothers we could easily take off our thobe, wear normal clothes, change our names from Ali to Alex and no one would ever know we were a Muslim, whereas we look at our sisters and they continue to cover their beauty, no matter what happens! I remember reading a story about a Muslim girl who wasn't wearing hijab before, but the day after 9/11 she was scared that people would attack her cause she was a Muslim, she went to the underground to catch a train and she saw fellow sisters, wearing hijab, niqab, enjoying their day, like nothing happened yesterday, they were STILL covered up and practicing their religion, that image brought tears to the girl's eyes and she went home, and started wearing hijab. SubhanAllah. When I read that story it got to me a lot because theses sisters have a lot of guts, you might say its not guts or confidents or anything like that, it is! of course they are just praciticing Islam but in this world, it isn't getting better, and nowadays the generations that are growing up are getting more violence so it can be easy for a sister to uncover nowadays because of the threats and abuse they may get, but MashAllah its so wonderful to see the sisters fearing Allah more than the people that is on this planet. Brothers we should be more fearing of Allah as well, its nice to have emaan, but we still need to do many other things like support our sisters, wives and daughters, everyone whether married or not should lower their gaze for it is easy to sin, we look to our left and we look to our right and we can sin.

"Tell the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that will make for greater purity for them; And Allah is well acquainted with all that they do. And tell the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty…"
[Surah an-Nur [24:30-31]].

Allah tells us:
"O you who believe! Do not follow Satan's footsteps: if any will follow the footsteps of Satan, he will command what is shameful and wrong..."
[Surah an-Nur [24:21]].

On the authority of Jurayr who said, "I asked the Messenger of Allah about accidentally looking at something that is not allowed and he said, 'Turn your eyes away.'"
(Muslim).

Every single one of us want to go to paradise, there are many things we should follow in this beautiful religion to get there, but sadly many of us do not follow what is needed to be followed, again and again I will point out that calling yourself a Muslim isn't going to get you there,
brothers and sisters there is a reason to why Allah sent the Quran down for us, Allah didn't have to, but He is Al Rahman (The Merciful) He is Al Shakur (The Most Grateful) and most of all He is Al Khaliq (The Creator) and The Creator wanted us to follow Islam because it is the ONLY perfect way of life, the Quran has no mistakes, it has never been changed since revealed. Allah is Al Muhaimin (The Protector) and He will always protect the Quran.

The beautiful thing about Islam is that if every Quran was destroyed, you could find brothers and sisters all around the world who would be able to create the Arabic Quran again (Arabic is the true version of the Quran whereas every other langauge is a translation for those who can't
speak Arabic), because there are brothers and sisters who have memorised the whole Quran. The Quran can teach you many things about how to live life, how to be a good Muslim, what we should be doing (i.e worship Allah) The Quran can give you so much information about this religion has well as the teachings of the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) give yourself time to read the quran and hadiths, do something that will increase your emaan because time is short, look how fast time has been since you were born to now,

"It is He who created you from dust, then from a sperm-drop, then from a clinging clot; then He brings you out as a child; then [He develops you] that you reach your [time of] maturity, then [further] that you become elders. And among you is he who is taken in death before [that], so that you reach a specified term (The time decreed for your death)."
[Surah Ghafir [40:67]]

"He it is who gives life and causes death; and when He decrees a matter, He but says to it "Be" and it is" [Surah Ghafir [40:68]]

Abu Hurairah (ra) reported that he heard the Prophet Peace be upon him asking: "Let someone imagine he had a river flowing in front of his house where he washes himself five times a day,
would this leave any dirt on him?" He companions replied: "Nothing of his dirt will remain"
The prophet Peace be upon him then said: "This is exactly like the five daily prayers by which Allah wipes out one's sins"
[Taken from Sahih Bukhari]

My point for this Hadith is simple, look at what it has been saying, and why its an easy way for Allah to forgive your sins! praying all 5 daily prayers on time could mean that Allah may forgive your sins, it is that easy! That is why we worship Allah, for the reward and forgiveness of our Lord, and inshallah we do what is asked from Allah, what reason is there for us not to go to paradise? (Allah knows best)

Writing to your ummah that are held in prison

There are so many that are now in prison for wrong reasons, many have read the story about brother Babar Ahmed, but there are so many others that are in prison for stupid reasons for example this brother

The masjid I usually go to, the Imam was reading this to us and he started to cry, its showed us that he cares about theses brothers and sisters that are treated badly, it was very emotional especially to the reason why this brother was arrested...for playing paintball.

Brother Hammad Abdur-Raheem was born in Washington, USA and arrested in Virginia and sentenced for 9 years from 2001.

Hammad came from a loving middle-class family. After high school he joined the US Army participating in the first Gulf War. While stationed in Arizona he accepted Islam. Returning to the DC area, where there is a large Muslim population, Hammad re-educated himself to become an engineer for a major US telecoms company. Along with a group of Muslims, he would go paintballing on weekends in order to have 'fun' and stay in good physical condition. Because of the 'fun' activity they all fell victim to a federal 'witch-hunt' that claimed that they were training for jihad and supporting Laskar al-Taiba in Kashmir. Hammad, who was a leader in paintball training, had never travelled to Pakistan or Kashmir. When he was indicted he asked 'what is Laskar al-Talba!' He had never heard of the group he was puportedly supporting. Hammad stood strong during the ordeal and never pleaded gulity despite the undeus pressure applied to him by the US government. Hammad was sentenced to 9 years and will not be released until 2010. Hammad spends his time praying, reading, playing basketball and working in the prison library.

You have just read, it doesnt matter if you are a born Muslim or even a revert, this can happen to us, there are so many more stories like this from Cage Prisoners at www.cageprisoners.com
please find the time to look and inshallah look for more information on how to help.

Until the next issue inshallah, place your trust in Allah and always make Dua for your brothers and sisters

Your Brother in Islam

WaSalaam

Islamic Information Blog Issue 9

Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim

Assalamu Alaikum brothers and sisters,

I hope you are all well and so is your families too.
We can all forget the good deeds or even to give thanks to Allah, inshallah in this issue I would like to remind my brothers and sisters of the many good deeds we can do, but like the end of this issue its no good just doing good deeds, we must still follow our religion, for that will help us more
to enter Paradise.

How do we make good deeds?

Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said: "Seek knowledge, it is a good deed. Teach others, it is a reward. Educate the ignorant, it is sadaqah." He further says: "There is no better sadaqah then to spread knowledge."

What does the Quran say about Deeds?

"So whoever does an atom's weight (or the weight of a small ant) of good will see it, And whoever does an atom's weight (or the weight of a small ant) of bad will see it"
(Surah az-Zalzalah (99:7-8))

"And indeed, each [of the believers and disbelievers] - your Lord will fully compensate them for their good deeds, Indeed, He is Acquainted with what they do."
(Surah Hud (11:111))

"Whoever comes to his Lord as a criminal - indeed, for him is Hell; he will neither die therein nor live. But whoever comes to Him as a believer having done righteous deeds - for those will be the highest degrees [in position]"
(Surah Ta Ha (20:74-75))

What good deeds could we do?

"Righteousness is not that you turn your faces towards the east or west, but [true] righteousness is [in] one who believes in Allah, the Last Day, the angels, the Book, and the prophets and gives wealth, in spite of love for it, to relatives, orphans, the needy, the traveler, those who ask [for help], and for freeing slaves; [and who] establishes prayer and gives zakah; [those who] fulfill their promise when they promise; and [those who] are patient in poverty and hardship and during battle. Those are the ones who have been true, and it is those who are the righteous.
(Surah al-Baqarah (2:177))

Praying:
Making sure that we pray 5 times a day as well as on time, this is very important and one difference between a Muslim and a Non-Muslim, many Non-Muslims as well as "Muslims by name" will say that they haven't got the time to pray 5 times a day, or maybe because we have an late prayer (Ishaa) and early morning prayer (Fajr) that they are too tired to do theses, sometimes I feel like I haven't got the strength to do theses prayers, because it can be a long day for many of us and all we want to do is sleep, but the difference between the believer and the disbeliever is that you will pray no matter what for the sake of Allah, we think that the prayer we are about to do could be our last, we think about Allah and how much we want to please Him.

"And establish prayer at the two ends of the day and at the approach of the night. (5 Daily prayers) Indeed, good deeds do away with misdeeds. That is a reminder for those who remember" (Surah Hud (11:114))

Do not forget the voluntary prayers too brothers and sisters. This is beneficial mostly during the
last third of the night in which the gates of the heavens are opened and the supplications are responded to. The prophet peace be upon him said, "Allah waits until one half or two-thirds of the night has passed and He says, 'My slaves, shall ask from no one except Me. Whoever asks from Me, I shall respond to him. Whoever asks Me for something, I will give it to him. Whoever asks for my forgiveness, I shall forgive him. And this continues until the dawn"

Allah's Apostle said, "If the people knew the reward for pronouncing the Adhan and for standing in the first row (in congregational prayers) and found no other way to get that except by drawing lots they would draw lots, and if they knew the reward of the Zuhr prayer (in the early moments of its stated time) they would race for it (go early) and if they knew the reward of 'Isha' and Fajr (morning) prayers in congregation, they would come to offer them even if they had to crawl."
Sahih Bukhari - Volume 1, Book 11, Number 589.

Friday Jummah:
We should all be reading Surah Al-Kahf (Surah 18)

Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said: "Whoever recites Surah Al-Kahf on a Friday will
have a light (i.e will be guided) between it and the next Friday" (Nasaa'i)

Forgiveness:
Imam Muslim reported that the prophet (S.A.W.) said,
"If anyone repents before the sun rises from the west, Allah will forgive him."

Charity:
In an authentic Hadith reported by Imam At-Tirmithi that the prophet (S.A.W.) said:
"The charity puts out the bad deed like the water puts out the fire."

Allah says in the Quran,
"Those who spend their wealth by night and day, privately and publicity, verily their reward is with their Lord, and there shall no fear come upon them neither shall they grieve"
(Surah al-Baqarah (2:274)).

And Allah also says,
"And spend of that which We have provided you before death comes to one of you and he says, 'My Lord if only You would reprieve me for a little while, then I would give alms and be among the righteous.' But Allah reprieves no soul when its term comes, and Allah is aware of what you do" (Surah al-Munafiqun (63:10)).

Reading the Quran

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, "Whoever recites one word from the Book of Allah will be rewarded for a good deed and ten more like it; and I don't say that Alif Lam Mim is a word but Alif is a word and Lam is a word and Mim is a word" (Alif Lam Mim is 3 Arabic Characters.)

Reading Certain Surahs:

The Prophet said to his companions, "Is it difficult for any of you to recite one third of the Qur'an in one night?" This suggestion was difficult for them so they said, "Who among us has the power to do so, O Allah's Apostle?" Allah Apostle replied: " Allah (the) One, the Self-Sufficient Master Whom all creatures need.' (Surat Al-Ikhlas 112.1--to the End) is equal to one third of the Qur'an."
Sahih Bukhari, Volume 6, Book 61, Number 534

For the one who preserves the reading of aayah al-kursee (Surah al-Baqarah 2:255) after every salah, there is nothing between him and entering Paradise, except death

The Benefits are whoever says it in the morning will be protected from the jinn until evening, and whoever says it in the evening will be protected from them till the morning.

Duas:

Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) passed by Aboo Hurayrah while he was planting
something and said:

"O Aboo Hurayrah shall I not show you a planting better than this?" He said: "Of course O
Messenger of Allah" He (Peace be upon him) said: "Say … SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, Laa ilaha Allahu Akbar… and a tree will be planted for you in Paradise for every one you say."

Passing Salaams:

It was narrated by Saalim that Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) said
"He who says Assalamu Alaikum (Peace be upon you) ten rewards are written down for him, and he who says Assalamu Alaikum wa rahmatullah (Peace be upon you and Allah's mercy) for him twenty rewards are written down and he who says Assalamu Alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh (Peace be upon you and Allah's mercy and blessing) thirty rewards are written down (for him)"

Final reminder to you all brothers and sisters:

Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) said "The good deeds of any person will not make him enter Paradise." (i.e., None can enter Paradise only through his good deeds.) They (the
Prophet's companions) said, 'Not even you, O Allah's Apostle?' He said, "Not even myself, unless
Allah bestows His favor and mercy on me. So be moderate in your religious deeds and do the
deeds that are within your ability: and none of you should wish for death, for if he is a good doer,
he may increase his good deeds, and if he is an evil doer, he may repent to Allah."
Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 7, Hadith 577

Brothers and sisters, I hope this will help you in many ways, if you know theses then please act upon them, if you do not know theses, then inshallah learn them and act upon them too.

JazakAllah for the support and until the next issue.
My love goes out to the whole Ummah, Your Brother in Islam

Was Salaam

Hadiths & Duas used in Issue 10

Hadith Section - Sahih Bukhari

Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Amr:
Once the Prophet remained behind us in a journey. He joined us while we were performing ablution for the prayer which was over-due. We were just passing wet hands over our feet (and not washing them properly) so the Prophet addressed us in a loud voice and said twice or thrice: "Save your heels from the fire."
Volume 1, Book 3, Number 57

Narrated Abu Huraira:
Allah's Apostle said, "When anyone of you stands for the prayers, Satan comes and puts him in doubts till he forgets how many Rakat he has prayed. So if this happens to anyone of you, he should perform two prostrations of Sahu while sitting.
Volume 2, Book 22, Number 324

Narrated Abu Said Al-Khudri:
The Prophet said, "Ghusl (taking a bath) on Friday is compulsory for every Muslim reaching the age of puberty."
Volume 1, Book 12, Number 817

Narrated Abu Huraira:
The Prophet said, "The Imam is to be followed. Say the Takbir when he says it; bow if he bows; if he says 'Sami a-l-lahu Liman hamida', say, ' Rabbana wa-laka-l-hamd', prostrate if he prostrates and pray sitting altogether if he prays sitting."
Volume 1, Book 12, Number 701

Narrated Salim bin 'Abdullah:
My father said, "The Prophet said, 'If the wife of any one of you asks permission (to go to the mosque) do not forbid her."
Volume 1, Book 12, Number 832


Hadith Section - Sahih Muslim

It is reported on the authority of 'Abdullah that the Apostle of Allah observed: The best of' the deeds or deed is the (observance of) prayer at its proper time and kindness to the parents.
Book 1, Number 0155

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: There are ninety-nine names of Allah; he who commits them to memory would get into Paradise. Verily, Allah is Odd (He is one, and it is an odd number) and He loves odd number. And in the narration of Ibn 'Umar (the words are) : "He who enumerated them."
Book 35, Number 6475

Ubida b. Samit reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: He who loves to meet Allah, Allah also loves to meet him, and he who dislikes to meet Allah, Allah also abhors to meet him.
Book 35, Number 6486

Al-Bara' reported that whenever Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) went to bed, he said: "O Allah, it is with Thine Name that I live and it is with Thine Name that I die." And when he got up he used to say: "Praise is due to Allah, Who gave us life after our death (sleep) and unto Thee is resurrection."
Book 35, Number 6549

Ibn 'Abbas reported that Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) used to supplicate during the time of trouble (in these words): "There is no god but Allah, the Great, the Tolerant, there is no god but Allah, the Lord of the Magnificent Throne There is no god but Allah, the Lord of the Heaven and the earth, the Lord of the Edifying Throne."
Book 35, Number 6582


Duas

Allahumma ansur al-Islamu wal-muslimeen
O Allah! Help Islam and the Muslims

Allahumma aizzal-Islama wal-Muslimeen, Allahumma aizzal-Islama wal-Muslimeen, wa adhillash-shirka wal-Mushrikeen, wa dammir adaa'ad-deen, wahmi hawzatal-Islami Ya rabbal Alameen.
O Allah! Raise the standing of Islam and the Muslims, O Allah raise the standing and the Muslims, and degrade the standing of Kufr and the Kaafireen, and Shirk and the Mushrikeen.
Destroy the enemies of the Deen, and protect the lands of Islam, O Lord of the Worlds.

Allahumma ahyini Musliman wa amitini Musliman
O Allah! Let me live as a true Muslim, and cause me to die as a true Muslim.

Allahummaj'al wasawisa qalbi khashyatika wa dhikrika waj'alhammi wa hawaya fima tuhibbu wa tarda.
O Allah! Render the thoughts and inclinations within my heart, to be Your fear and remembrance, and let my endeavour and desire be devoted to what You love and appreciate.

Alhamdu lillahil-ladhi aafaani fi jasadi, wa radda 'alaiyya ruhee, wa 'adhina li bidhikriki
Praise be to Allah Who gave Strength to my body and returned my soul to me and permitted me to remember Him.

BarakAllahu laka wa baaraka 'alaiyka, wa jazakAllahu khairan, wa razaqakal-Llahu mithlahu, wa ajzala thawaabaka
May Allah Bless you, and shower His Blessings upon you, and May Allah reward you and bestow upon you its like, and Reward you abundantly

Yarhamukallah
May Allah have Mercy upon you