Friday Nasiha

Living The Quran

Wants
Al-Kahf (The Cave) - Chapter 18: Verse 108

"They shall abide therein, not wishing ever to be removed."

What people want is something they perceive to be better and different than what they presently have. A child wishes to grow up and a mature person wants to be young again. In the end, it is more accurate to say that people do not really know what they want.

Generally, we perceive of abiding in the same place and state of being for a long time as something bad. Therefore, it is significant the Quran mentions that the denizens of Paradise will not wish for any alternative to remaining where they are. As for their state in Paradise, they will have and behold all that they desire. Whenever a want comes to their minds, it will be realised for them.

Compiled From:
"Whining... That Incessant Habit" - Salman al-Oadah

From Issue: 914 [Read original issue]

Understanding The Prophet's Life

Love in Public

Some people say: “Talk of love is meaningless when the world is suffering from so much war and bloodshed.”

But it is not unlikely that the very same person who is saying that is cradling a child in their arms or taking a cup of something to drink with affection from the hands of the one they love. If they are not doing so, then they should be. Love is not a defect. It is not a deviant feeling. People should not be told to forget about it and bury it.

Prophet Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) home was permeated with pure love, even in the most trying times and during the most severe challenges. Aishah would still say to her husband: “By Allah! I love you and I love to be near you.” He would stay close to her, even in public, like the time the Ethiopian acrobat troop performed in the mosque, and she watched them while leaning against him lovingly. [Bukhari, Muslim] She wanted the people of Madinah to see how close to him she was.

Even when the time of death approached him, he sought permission from the rest of his family to spend those final days with her in her chambers. She said: “The Prophet died resting in my arms.” [Bukhari, Muslim]

The Prophet was not shy to show his love in public. He did not consider it a weakness or a deficiency.

Homes that are bereft of love are emotionally cold places, where relationships are wooden and mercy is in short supply. Harshness and bitterness are the order of the day, and sometimes even violence. They do not show mercy nor do they wish for mercy to descend upon them. They might justify their austerity with false religious zeal. However, the best guidance is that of our Prophet, and his home was full of love and warmth.

Prophet Muhammad used to pray to Allah to bless him to love in a way that pleases Him and that will not distract him from remembering Him. He said: “And I ask You to bless me to love You and to love those whom You love, and to love the deeds that will bring me closer to Your love.” [Musnad Ahmad]

Compiled From:
"Our Societies Should Not Fear Love" - Salman al-Oadah

From Issue: 874 [Read original issue]

Cool Tips!

Here are some tips of things we can do on the Night of Power and the time before and after it.

1. Do Itikaf

It was a practice of the Prophet to spend the last ten days and nights of Ramadan in the masjid for Itikaf.

Those in Itikaf stay in the masjid all this time, performing various forms of zikr (the remembrance of Allah), like doing extra Salat, recitation and study of the Quran. They do not go outside the masjid except in case of emergencies, therefore, they sleep in the masjid. Their families or the masjid administration takes care of their food needs.

Itikaf of a shorter period of time, like one night, a day or a couple of days is encouraged as well.

2. Make this special Dua

Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, said: I asked the Messenger of Allah: 'O Messenger of Allah, if I know what night is the night of Qadr, what should I say during it?' He said: 'Say: O Allah, You are pardoning and You love to pardon, so pardon me.' "(Ahmad, Ibn Majah, and Tirmidhi).

The transliteration of this Dua is "Allahumma innaka `afuwwun tuhibbul `afwa fa`fu `annee"

3. Reflect on the meaning of the Quran

Choose the latest Surah or Surahs you've heard in Tarawih and read their translation and Tafseer. Then think deeply about their meaning and how it affects you on a personal level.

4. Make a personal Dua list.

Ask yourself what you really want from Allah. Make a list of each and everything, no matter how small or how big it is, whether it deals with this world or not. Allah loves to hear from us. Once this list is ready, you can do three things:

• Ask Allah to give you those things
• Think about what actions you have taken to get those things
• Develop a work plan to get those things in future.

5. Evaluate yourself.

Ask yourself those questions that need to be asked. Do an evaluation of where you are and where you are going. Let this evaluation lead you to feel happiness for the good you have done and remorse for the bad you have done. This latter feeling should make it easier to seek Allah's sincere forgiveness when making the Dua mentioned in tip number one above.

6. Have Iftar with the family

If you've spent Iftar time on weekdays in your cubicle at work alone with a couple of dates, now is the last few days you'll have this Ramadan to spend with your family. Use it wisely.

7. Finish reading a book on the Prophet

Read about the Prophet's life, which can increase your love for him and Islam by seeing how much he struggled for Allah's sake. It may inspire you to push yourself even harder during these last ten nights. This community is built on sacrifice.

Compiled From:
"16 things you can do on the Night of Power" - Abdul Malik Mujahid

From Issue: 546 [Read original issue]