Today's Reminder
June 10, 2023 | Dhuʻl-Qiʻdah 21, 1444
Living The Quran
Encourage Feeding the Needy
Al Haqqah (The Inevitable Truth) - Chapter 69: Verses 33-34
"He did not believe in God Almighty, and he never encouraged feeding the needy."
This is a person whose heart is devoid of faith and compassion. Thus, the only place fit for him is the fire. With a heart that has no trace of faith, he is ruined, like a barren land engulfed in darkness. He is below the level of animals, and indeed below the level of inanimate objects. Everything in the universe believes in God and glorifies Him, and as such they maintain their bond with their source of existence. This person, on the other hand, severed his ties with God, and therefore has no tie with the universe.
Likewise, his heart is devoid of compassion. A needy person is one who desperately needs compassion, but this one does not feel for his fellow humans in need. He does not encourage feeding them, which is a step further than simply providing the needy with food. It is a step that suggests a social duty that requires believers to encourage one another to undertake. It is closely related to faith, mentioned here after faith and given its value in God's measure.
Compiled From:
"In The Shade of The Quran" - Sayyid Qutb, Vol. 17, 228
From Issue: 645 [Read original issue]
Understanding The Prophet's Life
Distinct Personality
The Muslim personality is a distinct one due to its unique code of behavior, as well as its manners and appearance. Our appearance, tastes, manners, and character reflect our personality. Our Master, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) directed his companions by saying, "You are on your way to meet your brothers, so put on a nice dress and fix your saddles (place where a rider sits on the back of an animal), so that you appear distinct among people as a mole (on a face). Allah likes neither roughness, nor rough manners." [Muslim] This Hadith indicates that the distinct look of Muslims in their beauty, their cleanliness, and their pleasant smell, coupled with excellent character, enhances their personality, just as a black mole enhances the beauty of an already nice face!
Once the Prophet said, "He will not enter Paradise who has a grain of arrogance in his heart." Upon hearing this a man asked, "(What about) a person who may like his dress to be nice and his shoes to be nice?" The Prophet (pbuh) replied, "Allah is beautiful and likes beauty. Arrogance is to deny the rights and look down upon people." [Abu Dawud, Ahmad & Al-Hakim]
Shaykh Ibn Taymiyyah (Rahimahullah) said that beauty that Allah likes includes nice clothes! Hence it could be said that Allah likes all nice things. Therefore, a Muslim ought to be recognized by neat dress, cleanliness and graceful manners. Unfortunately, today many Muslims have lost sight of this distinction and commit errors that blemish their 'Muslim personality' that is meant to be unique in its gracefulness and perfection.
Compiled From:
"Islamic Manners"- Abdul Fattah Abu Ghudda
From Issue: 717 [Read original issue]
Blindspot!
The Worst Fitnah
Ibn Abd al-Barr reported that Hudhayfah was asked: "What is the worst fitnah?" So, he replied: "That you are presented with the good and the bad, and you are confused as to which path to take."
Ibn Abi Shaybah in his 'Musannaf' reported that Khalid bin al-Walid said: "Fitnah is that you are in a land in which sins are rampant, and when you seek to leave it for a land in which sins are not rampant, you are unable to find such a place."
Ibn Abi Shaybah also reported that Abu Hurayrah said: "There will be a fitnah such that nothing can rescue you from it except to supplicate as if you are drowning."
Source:
"Ithaf al-Jama'ah" - Hamud at-Tuwayjri
From Issue: 498 [Read original issue]