tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79872880304019103382023-12-12T00:04:06.403+06:00Steps to the Eternal VoyageUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7987288030401910338.post-81855603754031968062015-01-03T10:20:00.000+06:002015-10-22T16:47:53.957+06:00Salah In Focus<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<i style="background-color: white; color: #2f2f2f; line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">the post is collected from <a href="http://muslimmatters.org/2012/01/20/abdul-nasir-jangda-salah-in-focus/" style="color: #d06935; text-decoration: none;">MuslimMatters</a>. <span style="background-color: transparent;">Lecture by Abdul Nasir Jangda | </span><span style="background-color: transparent;">Transcribed by Sameera.</span> My heartiest thanks to them</span></i><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #2f2f2f; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; line-height: 22px;">The title of the lecture is </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #2f2f2f; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22px;">ṣalāh</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #2f2f2f; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; line-height: 22px;"> in focus – creating some focus in regards to </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #2f2f2f; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22px;">ṣalāh</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #2f2f2f; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; line-height: 22px;">. Let's go back to a time in the history of our </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #2f2f2f; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22px;">ummah</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #2f2f2f; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; line-height: 22px;"> when the focus of </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #2f2f2f; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22px;">ṣalāh</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #2f2f2f; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; line-height: 22px;"> was solidified. The most important period in our history is the life of the Prophet </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #2f2f2f; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; line-height: 22px;"><img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #2f2f2f; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; line-height: 22px;">. To understand the focus </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #2f2f2f; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22px;">ṣalāh</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #2f2f2f; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; line-height: 22px;">has in our </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #2f2f2f; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22px;">dīn </i><span style="background-color: white; color: #2f2f2f; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; line-height: 22px;">(religion) and in the life of the Prophet </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #2f2f2f; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; line-height: 22px;"><img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #2f2f2f; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; line-height: 22px;">, we have to go back to the most difficult and tragic time in the life of the Prophet </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #2f2f2f; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; line-height: 22px;"><img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #2f2f2f; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; line-height: 22px;">: a period of his life remembered as The Year of Grief and Sorrow.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7987288030401910338" name="more" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 24px;"></a></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #2f2f2f; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; line-height: 22px;">What happened during this time that makes it The Year of Grief and Sorrow? What events led to the focus on </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #2f2f2f; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22px;">ṣalāh </i><span style="background-color: white; color: #2f2f2f; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; line-height: 22px;">(prayer)? Probably the greatest personal tragedy. There were many difficult events and moments of the life of the Prophet </span><img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; color: #2f2f2f; float: center; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #2f2f2f; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; line-height: 22px;"> but the greatest personal tragedy of the life of the Prophet </span><img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; color: #2f2f2f; float: center; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #2f2f2f; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; line-height: 22px;"> was the passing of his beloved wife Khadījah </span><img alt="raḍyAllāhu 'anha (may Allāh be pleased with her)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/ranha.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; color: #2f2f2f; float: center; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="raḍyAllāhu 'anha (may Allāh be pleased with her)" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #2f2f2f; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; line-height: 22px;">. One common complaint that I have – and I make this complaint often to my students and my own community – is that too often, I find that particularly in regards to the </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #2f2f2f; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22px;">sīrah</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #2f2f2f; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; line-height: 22px;">, we have either a Wikipedia approach to the life of the Prophet </span><img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; color: #2f2f2f; float: center; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #2f2f2f; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; line-height: 22px;"> or an entertainment-like approach to the life of the Prophet </span><img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; color: #2f2f2f; float: center; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #2f2f2f; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; line-height: 22px;">.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">How so? Let me explain. When we typically talk about the life and life experiences of the Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" />, it is either a Wikipedia approach, meaning a bunch of random facts and bullet points and you just keep clicking 'Next' and scroll down the page. You read that in the 11<sup>th</sup>year of prophethood, the wife of the Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /> Khadījah died and then move down the list.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Or, it is an entertainment like approach, which means that if last week a another speaker gave a lecture on the passing of Khadījah <img alt="raḍyAllāhu 'anha (may Allāh be pleased with her)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/ranha.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="raḍyAllāhu 'anha (may Allāh be pleased with her)" /> and I show up this week and say, "Today as your guest speaker I'd like to talk about the death of the beloved wife of the Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" />Khadījah <img alt="raḍyAllāhu 'anha (may Allāh be pleased with her)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/ranha.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="raḍyAllāhu 'anha (may Allāh be pleased with her)" />," right away somebody will say, "Excuse me, brother, we have already covered that and heard about it last week."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Why do I call that an entertainment-like approach? How do we treat entertainment? If you have seen an episode of a sitcom once and then are flipping through the channels and that same episode that you just saw last week is being shown again, are you going to sit there and watch it? No, you will change the channel because you've already seen this episode. Maybe if there was nothing on and you've flipped through all the other channels and there happened to be a pretty good episode of that show, you may watch it for a second time. When it is on for a third time, you are not going to watch it. Let's just say it was a really great episode, you might watch it a third time, but at this point in time you can say the lines before they say the lines and can deliver the punch line before they do on the TV show. When the same episode is coming on for the fourth time, are you going to watch it again? Absolutely not!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">If you have read an issue of a magazine once, you don't read it again. When you are sitting in the waiting room of the doctor's office and pick it up, and it is last month's issue which you have already read completely, you put it down and pick up another magazine. You don't read yesterday's paper again today.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">It is either the grabbing of random information or entertainment. Unfortunately, our approach learning about the life of the Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /> has become very similar to that. "We already read that. We already covered that. We already talked about that."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">My goal here today, which is something we need to institute as a habit and practice, is that we need to really understand and grasp and put ourselves in those shoes. We need to fully comprehend, understand, and grasp what the Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /> was going through.</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: small;">CONTEXT OF THE REVELATION OF PRAYER</span></b></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">In an effort to do that, let me tell you what it means when in the 11<sup>th</sup> year of prophethood, the wife of the Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /> Khadījah <img alt="raḍyAllāhu 'anha (may Allāh be pleased with her)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/ranha.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="raḍyAllāhu 'anha (may Allāh be pleased with her)" /> dies. At this point in time, the Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /> had been married to Khadījah <img alt="raḍyAllāhu 'anha (may Allāh be pleased with her)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/ranha.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="raḍyAllāhu 'anha (may Allāh be pleased with her)" /> for more than 25 years. If you are younger than 25 years old, then the Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /> had been married to Khadījah <img alt="raḍyAllāhu 'anha (may Allāh be pleased with her)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/ranha.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="raḍyAllāhu 'anha (may Allāh be pleased with her)" /> for longer than you have been alive. 25 years is a lifetime. Grasp that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Do you know what happens in 25 years? It is like you become one. You know each other completely. At that point in time, you know what the other person is thinking and what the other person will do before they do it. You know what they are going to say and can complete their sentences. You know everything about that person. You are intimately connected. Imagine 25 years of your most private, intimate, loving moments of your life with one person. Think about how deep that connection was and how profound and deep-rooted that love was. I know this sounds very cliché and to some people uncomfortable, but she was the love of the Prophet's <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /> life. She was his soul mate and partner in life. How do we know that? We understand this when we read and hear about the Prophet's <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" />reaction to the memory of Khadījah <img alt="raḍyAllāhu 'anha (may Allāh be pleased with her)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/ranha.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="raḍyAllāhu 'anha (may Allāh be pleased with her)" /> years after she passed away.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">During the time of the Battle of Badr, which was about four years after Khadījah <img alt="raḍyAllāhu 'anha (may Allāh be pleased with her)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/ranha.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="raḍyAllāhu 'anha (may Allāh be pleased with her)" /> had passed away, he <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /> had remarried and moved to a different city. It's like we say, he had picked up the pieces and moved on with his life. Life had moved on – he lived in a different place and was remarried. So much had happened since then.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">During the Battle of Badr, one of the prisoners of war was his son-in-law, the husband of his eldest daughter Zaynab <img alt="raḍyAllāhu 'anha (may Allāh be pleased with her)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/ranha.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="raḍyAllāhu 'anha (may Allāh be pleased with her)" />. The policy that the Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /> had instituted at that time was that the prisoners would be released if they were literate and taught 10 Muslim children how to read and write or if they couldn't do that, the family could send some amount of money to secure their release, and then they would be released back to their home, family, and people.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">The son-in-law of the Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /> was a prisoner. The daughter of the Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /> sends some jewelry – a necklace – to secure the ransom of her husband. The Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /> had so much going on, he doesn't realize, and the <i>ṣaḥābah </i><img alt="raḍyAllāhu 'anhum (may Allāh be pleased with them)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/ranhum.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="raḍyAllāhu 'anhum (may Allāh be pleased with them)" /> say, "The next prisoner in question is so-and-so. This necklace has been sent to secure his ransom." The moment the Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /> looked at the necklace, tears began to stream from his eyes. He was overcome by sadness. The <i>ṣaḥābah</i> <img alt="raḍyAllāhu 'anhum (may Allāh be pleased with them)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/ranhum.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="raḍyAllāhu 'anhum (may Allāh be pleased with them)" /> asked the Messenger of Allāh, "O Messenger of Allāh <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" />, did we bother you? Did we disturb you? Is everything ok?" The Messenger of Allāh <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /> said, "Everything is fine. This necklace used to belong to my wife Khadījah <img alt="raḍyAllāhu 'anha (may Allāh be pleased with her)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/ranha.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="raḍyAllāhu 'anha (may Allāh be pleased with her)" />. She gave it to our eldest daughter Zaynab, and Zaynab has sent it today as ransom. Just looking at the necklace reminds me of the old days with Khadījah. I can't control myself" The Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /> was so concerned about Zaynab being able to hold on to this lasting memory of her mother that the Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /> requested permission from the <i>ṣaḥābah</i>: "If you don't mind, can we release my son-in-law to go back to his wife, my daughter, with the necklace? I don't want my daughter to lose this memory of her mother." That's how strong the memory of Khadījah was in the heart of the Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" />.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Years later, the year before the passing of the Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /> when convoy after convoy was coming to Madīnah to accept Islam, one of the convoys that came from Yemen had a beautiful, expensive garment like a shawl, which was sent by the leader as a gift for the Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" />. When the Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /> received this very exquisite gift, he took the gift and called one of the young <i>ṣaḥābah</i> in the community who would run his errands and said, "Take this garment to the house of that old woman who lives next to so-and-so." One of the wives of the Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /> doesn't know this woman and is puzzled. She says, "Who is this random old woman that you sent such a nice gift to? I know she is not related to you because I know your family." The Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /> responds by saying, "She is one of the old buddies of Khadījah. Until today, I like to thank and remember and send gifts to Khadījah's friends to thank her for the years of friendship she gave to my late, beloved wife Khadījah." That was the memory of Khadījah in the heart of the Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" />.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">One of the younger <i>ṣaḥābah</i> <img alt="raḍyAllāhu 'anhum (may Allāh be pleased with them)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/ranhum.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="raḍyAllāhu 'anhum (may Allāh be pleased with them)" /> who never saw the era of Khadījah <img alt="raḍyAllāhu 'anha (may Allāh be pleased with her)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/ranha.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="raḍyAllāhu 'anha (may Allāh be pleased with her)" /> and never benefitted from her asked the Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" />, "O Messenger of Allāh, we hear a lot about our mother Khadījah but did not have the pleasure and honor of meeting, seeing, and knowing her. What was she like? Describe her to us." The narration says, "<i>Innaha kānat…wa kānat </i>(She was…)" As an expression, what this means is that he <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /> is saying, "She was…she just was. I don't even know where to start. Where do you want me to begin? I cannot even put into words how amazing she was." That was how strongly the Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /> felt. He had just lost the love of his life – his wife and she was the mother of his children. Can you imagine having to look your children in the eye and telling them that their mother is not coming home? Can you imagine how heartbreaking that would be?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: small;">PERSONAL STORY</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">I was telling this story in the <i>khuṭbah</i> a few years ago. A brother comes up to me afterward. People generally have some feedback for you after a <i>khuṭbah</i>. This brother says, "Brother, you know what you talked about today? It personally really moved me." Sometimes somebody comes up to you and says something and they just have that look in their eyes like they have a story to tell. This brother had that look, so I asked him, "Brother, if you don't mind, can you share with me how the <i>khuṭbah</i> personally relates to you and how it personally hit home for you?" He sits down with me and tells me, "I know was born and raised Muslim, grew up in a good Muslim family – <i>ṣalāh</i>, <i>masjid</i>, Qur'ān, <i>dhikr</i>. It was a part of our lives as a family, but today was the first time I have prayed in almost a year."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"><i>SubḥānAllāh</i>, what happened? He tells me, "About a year ago I was at the point in my life where all of the pieces of the puzzle were coming together. You know what I'm talking about? You've been working for some time towards certain goals and you're at the point in time when it seems like the master plan is coming together. I was about 30 and nearing the end of my medical residency and had a young wife and two little kids. We lived the life of a student and resident in a small little apartment. We had one beat-up, old, used car. Life was tough, but we made it through school and residency. I was nearing the end of my residency and fielding very lucrative offers from doctors, groups, clinics, and hospitals. Things were looking up. We had gone to look at some nice new houses where my kids could run around and have a backyard to play in. We went minivan shopping at the dealership and were looking at nice schools where we could send our kids. The whole nine yards. Everything was looking up.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">"One day I came home a little bit earlier than I normally would from the hospital. I walked in and said <i>salām</i>, and nobody responded. I realized that it was the time when my wife would usually put the babies down for a nap, and she would take a nap herself, so I decided I won't wake them up. I went and ate some food and started reading and passed time. An hour or so went by and I heard the kids from the bedroom. They had woken up. I could hear them being fussy in the room and got excited. I went to the room and opened the door, and the babies were sitting there awake on the bed and crying because they just woke up, but my wife is lying there motionless and not responding. I went in to take a look at her. When I checked, I realized that she was dead. She passed away.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">"At that moment, my world just fell apart. My life unraveled. The first couple of days were a blur during the <i>janāzah</i> and funeral proceedings. Once the funeral was done and reality set in that my wife was gone, the mother of my children was gone, for two weeks I did not come out of my bedroom. I locked myself in my room with the lights off and just laid there. I barely ate; I barely slept. During those two weeks, I didn't even hold my own children in my own hands. I didn't know what to do with myself. My life didn't make sense. What had happened? What am I supposed to do?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">"Finally, I started to recover and get my life back on track and went to work and reconnected with my kids and tried to put the pieces back together. I eventually got back to work and trying to take care of my kids the best that I could. I had some family I could lean on. There was one issue that hadn't been solved: my <i>ī</i><i>mān</i>. I didn't know what I believed in anymore and felt like my heart had a hole in it. I had lost my <i>ī</i><i>mān</i>. I didn't know what I believed in because why did this happen and what am I supposed to do? My brother who has been supportive had been there and taken care of my kids when I was incapable of taking care of them. My brother kept encouraging and motivating and telling me, 'You need to pray. If you pray, things will start to make sense again. You need to talk to Allāh and reconnect with Allāh.' I kept resisting and resisting.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">"Finally today I woke up in the morning and my brother came to me and said, 'I'm not taking no for an answer. You are coming with me to the <i>masjid</i>. You are going to come and listen to the <i>khuṭbah</i> and pray in a large congregation. Today is the day you get back on the horse.' He brought me to the <i>jumu'ah</i>, and I wasn't really hopeful of the outcome or result. From the <i>minbar</i>, when you talked about the Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /> losing his wife and his children losing their mother, I found the answer to my problem. I realized that my Messenger Muḥammad <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /> has gone through what I'm going through. He understands my pain. He felt my pain. I felt connected to him and realized that if he could go on, so can I."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Sometimes when you try to understand the story and can't really grasp it and really truly can't appreciate what the Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /> went through unless you went through that yourself – may Allāh <img alt="subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/swt.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He)" /> protect all of us. Sometimes Allāh <img alt="subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/swt.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He)" /> brings someone to you so that you can get a better understanding. You can look into the eyes of another human being and at least get some idea of what that pain was.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"><i>SubḥānAllāh</i>, two years after this conversation with this brother, when the memory starts to fade and the story starts to become old for you in your mind and heart, Allāh sends somebody else. I was giving this lecture at a community and a brother walks up to me after and said, "Brother, what you talked about, the same thing happened with me five years ago. I came home. My sons were 10 and 12 years old. I said <i>salām</i> and my sons were playing games and doing what boys do. I go into the bedroom and find my wife collapsed on the ground. I check her and she had passed away. Five years later, my boys are now 15 and 17 years old, and I feel that just now we are starting to put our lives back together after losing the most important person in our lives – the glue that held our family together."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">The Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /> lost his wife and the mother of his children. On top of all of that, he lost his firmest and strongest supporter. Who was the first person who accepted Islam? <i>Khadījah</i> <img alt="raḍyAllāhu 'anha (may Allāh be pleased with her)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/ranha.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="raḍyAllāhu 'anha (may Allāh be pleased with her)" />. She was a woman of strength. When the Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /> came home with this message, he is nervous and she puts his concerns to rest and says, "Allāh will never leave you out to dry. Allāh <img alt="subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/swt.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He)" /> will never put you in harm's way because you are such an amazing person." He says, "Fine, <i>Khadījah</i>. I understand that and believe that, but who will accept this message?" She said, "You are worried about somebody accepting this message? I bear witness that there is no one worthy of worship but Allāh and I bear witness that you are the Messenger of Allāh." She was the rock and strength of the Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" />. Imagine the pain and anguish of losing the Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" />.</span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: small;">THE ULTIMATE ROLE MODEL</span></b></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Allāh <img alt="subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/swt.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He)" /> made the Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /> the ultimate role model. About three to six months after the passing of <i>Khadījah <img alt="raḍyAllāhu 'anha (may Allāh be pleased with her)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/ranha.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="raḍyAllāhu 'anha (may Allāh be pleased with her)" /></i>, another tragedy befell the Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" />: the death of his uncle Abu Ṭālib. We need the context to understand what this means. When you hear about the death of an uncle, it is sad and tragic, but does it destroy your life and crush you? It's someone you saw at the most two or three times a year. Even if it is a closer uncle, it's not like losing your mom or dad. This is where it is important for us to understand who was this uncle and what did he really mean to the Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" />? This wasn't the type of uncle that he met twice a year at<i> 'Īd</i>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">The father of the Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /> died before he was born, and his mother died when he was 6 years old. He then went into the care of his grandfather 'Abdul-Muṭṭālib, and when he was 8 years old, his grandfather passed away. Connect the dots and grasp this. By the age of 8, this child never knew his father, had lost his mother and his grandfather, and he had no biological siblings. At the age of 8, this child was basically alone in this world. He didn't have any immediate family. At that point in time, his uncle Abu Ṭālib took care of him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Typically when we hear a story like this, we say he treated him like one of his own. Abu Ṭālib didn't treat him like one of his own, he treated him better than he treated his own children, as impossible as that sounds. I have children and know that sounds impossible. How can you love someone else's child more than your own child? Abu Ṭālib proved that it is possible. The books of <i>sīrah</i> and history said that the people of Quraysh testified that they would see the Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /> in the lap of Abu Ṭālib more than they would see his own children. Abu Ṭālib would never let the Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /> out of his sight. He was always worried about the Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" />. He raised him and was his parent and family. This was the man who raised him from the age of eight until adulthood. All of his family was this one man Abu Ṭālib. He was everything to him growing up.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">The Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /> had just lost him. This is like losing your mom and dad together all at once. Imagine how painful that must have been six months after his wife had passed away. Imagine how emotionally difficult this time must have been for the Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" />.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">There was another tragedy embedded within the death of Abu Ṭālib. There is a <i>ḥadīth</i> that paints the entire picture. Abu Ṭālib was a very old man and had been sick for some time. When the Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /> received the news that it looked like this was it and that it was time to say goodbye, he <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /> rushed to his bedside and fell down by the bed of Abu Ṭālib and held his hand with tears in his eyes. He is losing this man that he loves so much.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">He holds his hand and says, "Uncle, please, you have done so much for me. Please just one time say the <i>kalīmah</i>. Just once." The narration says that Abu Jahl and other leaders of Quraysh were there at the same timeand didn't want him to accept Islam before he passed away. The narration says that Abu Jahl yelled and screamed like a wild animal on the top of his lungs, "Abu Ṭālib, don't leave the religion of your forefathers! Abu Ṭālib, don't leave the religion!" Over and over he is yelling loudly because he is already an old man and sick and ill and in the pangs of death. With somebody screaming at the top of their lungs, Abu Ṭālib couldn't even hear what the Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /> was saying.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Abu Jahl didn't even want Abu Ṭālib to hear the Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" />, so he is yelling and screaming as loud as he can over and over again. Abu Ṭālib looks over at his beloved nephew who he raised as his own and said, "Dear nephew, I can't hear what you are saying." The narration describes that the Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /> touched his mouth to the ear of Abu Ṭālib and whispered into his ear so that he could hear him clearly. He said, "Uncle, please. Just once whisper those words into my ear. Those fools don't have to hear it. Whisper it into my ear. I'll be your witness on the Day of Judgment. Abu Ṭālib looked at his nephew with love in his eyes and said, "Beloved nephew, you know how much I love you, but I can't do what you are asking me to do." He passed away without accepting Islam.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">The <i>ṣaḥābah</i> <img alt="raḍyAllāhu 'anhum (may Allāh be pleased with them)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/ranhum.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="raḍyAllāhu 'anhum (may Allāh be pleased with them)" /> said that when the Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /> walked out of the room, he was crushed and so saddened. His grief was unlike anything they had ever seen. Imagine the anguish of not only losing this man that is your family, but on top of that you are the means of delivering the message, <i>ī</i><i>mān</i>, and guidance to everyone, but the man that raised you and who did so much for you didn't accept Islam. The narration says that the Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /> was questioning himself and wondering what more he could have said or done. That's when Allāh <img alt="subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/swt.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He)" /> revealed the <i>āyah</i> of the Qur'ān from<i> Sūrat'l-Qaṣaṣ</i>: "You most definitely cannot guide those whom you have loved. Rather, Allāh <img alt="subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/swt.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He)" /> guides whomsoever He wills." We always understood this <i>āyah</i> as Allāh rebuking the Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" />. Absolutely not – when you put it into the context, you understand that this is Allāh <img alt="subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/swt.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He)" /> consoling the Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" />. "O beloved, don't doubt yourself. Don't question yourself. You can't give guidance to the people that you love. There was nothing more you could have done because guidance was not yours to give. You can't give guidance to the people that you love, rather Allāh gives guidance to whom He wills. This was Allāh's decision. Don't doubt and question yourself."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Imagine the pain and anguish of the Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" />. A lot of us who are sitting here and whose parents are Muslim can't understand that pain. Talk to somebody who accepted Islam on their own whose parents have not accepted Islam yet and ask them what <i>du'ā' </i>they make every night before sleeping and the first <i>du'ā' </i>they make after waking up. They will tell you it is "O Allāh, let today be the day."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">I have old friends who accepted Islam whose parents had not accepted Islam yet. Whenever they are about to go visit their parents or spend the day with their parents, I always get a text message that morning saying, "Bro, please make <i>du'ā' </i>that today is the day." Imagine the pain and the anguish of the Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" />.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">I told you about that brother who went through one of these tragedies and literally could not get himself to wake up in the morning and could not face the world the next day. He felt like he couldn't move on with his life. He didn't know what to do with himself. Imagine the Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /> went through not just one of these tragedies but two tragedies like this and there were tragedies embedded within these tragedies.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">The question is: how did the Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /> continue? How did he wake up the next day? We talk about getting back to work and going back to our jobs. The Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /> had the biggest job of any human being: "O Messenger of Allāh, you have been sent to all of humanity." He had the most important, pressing, and demanding job of any human being. How did the Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /> continue and work harder? What gave him the energy and healed his wounds? What allowed him to recover? Where did he draw the energy and emotional fortitude from?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">After these two tragedies occurred, Allāh took the Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /> on the miraculous journey that we refer to <i>isrā' wa'l-mi'rāj </i>– the travel by night to Jerusalem and then the ascension to heaven. At that time, Allāh <img alt="subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/swt.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He)" /> granted a gift to the Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" />: the five daily prayers. This was his strength and allowed him to recover and healed his wounds and allowed him to continue on with his life and pick up the pieces. When we look at it from this perspective, this is the historical significance of <i>ṣalāh </i>and the purpose and benefit of the prayer. When you look at it from this perspective, it makes total sense what the Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /> meant when he said, "The coolness of my eyes has been put in the prayer."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">What does 'coolness of the eyes' mean? It is in the Qur'ān, <i>du'ā's</i>, supplications and<i>aḥadīth</i>. What does it truly mean? With any figure of speech, to understand what it means and alludes to, you have to put yourself in the mindset and understand it from the perspective of the people who used it, or it won't make sense. The ancient Arabs used this phrase <i>qurrata a'yun</i>. Imagine being in the desert where it is 120+ degrees outside. There is burning, scorching heat. The hot winds blow the hot sand into your eyes. Imagine how dry your eyes get and how much they burn. There are no sunglasses to wear and no Visine drops. The eyes burn, itch and scratch to the point that it feels like they are on fire. While you are walking around and feel like you just want to rip your eyes out, you find some cool, clean water. When you take that cool, clean water and splash it into your eyes, how cool and refreshing does that feel? How good and amazing does that feel? This is what the phrase means. The Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /> says that when he prays, this is how he feels.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Anything can be going on, and the world could be falling down all around you, but when you stand up and say "<i>Allāhu akbar</i>," you feel refreshed and healed and a burst of energy. It takes away your worries, sorrow, grief and pain. It heals your wounds. This is the effect of prayer. This is the effect of prayer we are all looking for and desperately in search of.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">This leads to the question: I pray five times a day and have been for many years, but I have yet to experience what you are talking about. My prayer doesn't feel like that. What is missing? The key missing ingredient to bring about these fruits and benefits of prayer and make the prayer the coolness of your eyes is <i>khushū'</i>. The Qur'ān and the Messenger of Allāh <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /> call it <i>khushū'</i>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">It involves a whole discussion to explain the meaning of <i>khushū'</i>. I'll summarize the meaning of <i>khushū'</i> in one word: quality. You have to have quality in your prayer. Unless and until we have quality in our prayers, we won't be able to achieve and realize the full benefits of the prayer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">That leads to the million-dollar question, and the question that all of us have asked at one point or another: How do we get quality in our <i>ṣalāh</i>? How do we get <i>khushū' </i>within our prayers? We've heard a thousand lectures about the importance of <i>khushū'</i>, but we are here to find out how do we get <i>khushū'</i>? How do we get that quality in our prayers?</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: small;">HOW TO GET QUALITY IN OUR PRAYERS</span></b></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">There are lots of things we can do. Books are written by the scholars which list dozens of things we can do to bring greater quality and implement <i>khushū' </i>in our prayers. To keep the conversation flowing and brief and concise, I would like to group the things that we can implement into three areas of improvement.</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">1. A change of lifestyle.</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">What that refers to is really very simple. We can't expect to live our lives however we want (lying, cheating, backbiting, cussing) and then expect that when we stand up to pray and say "<i>Allāhu akbar</i>", magically we have <i>khushū'</i>. There is no instant <i>khushū'</i>. The way I live my life outside of the prayer and the way I conduct myself normally throughout the day will affect and impact the quality of my prayers. If I want more quality in your <i>ṣalawāt</i>, then I have to lead a better life, a more honest and truthful life. I have to cut some of the sins out of my life in order to improve the quality of my prayers.</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">2. Make <i>ṣalāh</i> an event.</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Treat <i>ṣalāh</i> like an important part of your day. Let me give you an example.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">You have to be at work or school at 8 am, and you live about 10 minutes away from work, so you try to leave your house at 7:45 am so that you can drive there, park your car, and be at your desk at 7:59 ready to roll. If you leave your house at 7:45 am, do you wake up at 7:40 and roll out of bed and get ready? No – don't do that! Typically, if you have to leave your home at 7:45 am, how much earlier would you wake up? The average answer is 45 minutes. Some people take a little bit less and others a little bit longer. Why do you wake up 45 minutes before? You would say it is your job and is important. You have to wake up and brush, shower, clean and comb, eat something, pack your stuff and dress nicely. You have to take it seriously. That is why you invest the time and give it importance and treat it as something important.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">How you prepare for it shows the importance. It is an event and you prepare for it. Compare this to <i>ṣalāt'l-fajr</i>. I realize that is the most drastic comparison. Let me explain to you the proceedings of <i>ṣalāt'l-fajr</i>. First, before you sleep you have the route from your bed to the sink completely mapped out so that you can get do it with your eyes closed. Why? When you wake up for <i>fajr</i>,<i> </i>you don't like to turn on all of the lights because it takes the sleepiness away and you want to pray <i>fajr </i>and go to sleep. You make it to the sink and have perfected the art of the 15 second <i>wuḍū' </i>– it is like a magic trick. You make your way back over to your bed, and you pray next to your bed and then engage in a procedure I like to call: stop, drop and roll over. You would pray on your bed if possible.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">How sad is that? That is the condition of our prayers. I'll give another example from sports. When we watch a game, what is the quality of our prayer? First of all, it's a blessing if somebody actually prays during the game. Even if they do pray during the game, what is the quality of that prayer? We wait for a time-out or a commercial and then hurry. We leave the volume a little bit on so that we can hear if something big happens during the game. That is how we pray, unfortunately.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">I joke just to keep it light, but we have to realize what a tragedy it is we pray like this, especially compared to how we seriously we take everything else. The second area of improvement to gain quality in the <i>ṣalāh</i> is to treat <i>ṣalāh</i> as something important. Make<i>ṣalāh</i> an important part of your day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">What that involves is to prepare and get ready. Make <i>wuḍū'</i> properly – it is an act of worship that leads you into the prayer and puts you in the right mindset. Pray when it is the time of the prayer. Don't keep putting it off. Dress appropriately. Don't pray in your pajamas. Like we have work clothes, the Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /> had clothes for the <i>masjid</i>. When he would come home, he would take them off and hang them up nicely. When it was time for the prayer, he would put them on.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">There is a chapter in the <i>Sunan</i> of Abu Dāwūd which describes the preparation of the Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /> for prayer: The Chapter of the Diligence the Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /> in regards to Prayer. The Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /> was very casual and friendly and loving at home. It describes how when the time for prayer would come and the <i>adhān </i>would be called, the Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" />would become a stranger to his family.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">I'll be honest with you because these types of discussions are meant for that type of honest talk and heart to hearts. When I first read that, I didn't know how to understand it. What does it mean that he became a stranger? It's kind of harsh. Then you realize when you are responsible for something what that means. When you have to go to work in the morning at 7:45 am and you have little kids when they aren't old enough to be at the age when they want you to go to work but at the same time are old enough to know you are going to work and don't want you to go. What do they do when you try to leave? They start to pick up on the signs – the picking up of the briefcase and the keys rattling – and they cut you off at the door. What happens when you try to leave? It's like a scene from an epic movie and the most epic cry of all time. "No, baba, don't leave!" They cry and scream like it's the most tragic moment in the history of humanity. I'm going to ask a very serious question now. What do you do? You put them aside and tell your wife to come and get him and then go out the door. Does that mean you don't love your child? You are doing this for the benefit of your child. He doesn't grasp and understand it, but you are doing it for his benefit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Just like we take work that seriously because we understand the benefit in our jobs and work, the Messenger of Allāh <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /> when it was time for the prayers, he became a stranger to his family. If I don't maintain this, then the same family for whom I would leave that prayer would eventually probably crumble and fall away. I have to take care of my <i>ṣalāh</i>. It is for me and my family. The Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /> would become a stranger to his family. Everything else was secondary. Work has to wait, the phone call has to wait. He <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" src="http://muslimmatters.org/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" height="20px" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; float: center; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /> would make<i>wuḍū'</i> properly and put on nice clothes and go to the <i>masjid</i> early. To bring quality and<i>khushū' </i>into our prayers, we have to treat <i>ṣalāh</i> like an event and important part of our day. We have to learn to do this.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Ibn Kathīr (<i>raḥimahullāh</i>) says, "<i>Khushū'</i> will be achieved by the person who empties his heart for the prayer." One tip and recommendation the scholars that scholars would give and would practice – which is especially important for our times, which is the age of distraction where your one phone has 18 different types of tones to it; a text message alert sounds different from a phone call and an e-mail, Twitter alert, and Facebook update – when you are getting ready to pray <i>ṣalāh</i>, put away all of your distractions. Turn off the television and turn off your computer screen. Put your phone on silent and put it away. Put everything away for 60 seconds or even 30 seconds and sit down and be quiet. When you do this, you feel like your mind is clear and not as cluttered. Then say, "<i>Allāhu akbar</i>" and then see the quality of your prayer. Put everything aside and free up your mind.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">The third area of improvement, and this is the most important and most drastic in terms of change and effect is:</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">3. Understand the basic structure and technicalities of prayer (<i>fiqh</i>), which will give you the outline of the <i>ṣalāh</i>. The most important thing, which is actually the life and spirit of the prayer is when you understand what you are reading and saying in your <i>ṣalāh</i>.</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"><i>Ṣalāh</i> is about reflection and pondering. It is about comprehending and understanding. It is about feeling what you are saying and then delving into it and being absorbed by the experience of the <i>ṣalāh</i>. This can only be done when you truly appreciate and understand what you are saying in the <i>ṣalāh</i>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">I'm going to give you an example. I've been speaking for an hour. Most of you have been listening and paying attention. There's a very simple reason why you have been listening and paying attention and why I have been able to continue speaking with so much energy for an hour. I don't feel tired or exhausted, and you have been listening attentively for an hour. There's a simple explanation of that: I am enjoying talking about this because I understand, feel, and believe what I am saying. It's from my gut and I believe in it. You are listening to what I am saying for an hour because you understand every single word that is coming out of my mouth. You grasp it and understand it and know what I'm saying and are able to comprehend and digest it fully.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Imagine if instead of speaking in a language that I understand and you understand, I had been reading something off a piece of paper or reciting something I memorized in a foreign language, let's say Chinese. Imagine if I had been reciting Chinese poetry to you for an hour, how long before you would stop paying attention? 10, 20, 30, 60 seconds? Only a generous person would even listen for 60 seconds. You wouldn't be able to pay attention or focus, let alone conceptualizing and processing it and reflecting on it and pondering it. You wouldn't even be listening to what I was saying.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">If I was the one reading it to you and had spent months memorizing 30 minutes of Chinese poetry, I would start reading it but if I don't understand it, in about 3-4 minutes I would think it's the most pointless thing I've done in my life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">I apologize if I offend anyone for what I am about to say. This is the part that stings. As silly and ridiculous and preposterous as that example was, how different is our <i>ṣalāh</i> from that example? We stand up in <i>ṣalāh</i> day after day and <i>ṣalāh</i> after <i>ṣalāh</i> and read through our prayers not understanding, not appreciating, not reflecting, and not pondering on a single word. How are we supposed to focus in that type of a <i>ṣalāh</i>? Where is the focus magically going to come from? It won't.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">The most important thing we have to do to grasp some quality in our prayers is to begin to understand what we read and say within our prayers. I don't just mean read translations but reflect and ponder. Fully grasp what we are reading, saying, and reciting in our prayers. When we do that, the entire experience of <i>ṣalāh</i> changes. It's a different game altogether.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: small;"><b>EXAMPLES OF UNDERSTANDING STATEMENTS IN</b><i>ṢALĀH</i></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">I'll end here by giving you at least one example of how that changes.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"><b><i>Allāhu</i></b><b> <i>akbar</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">"<i>Allāhu</i> <i>akbar</i>" is typically translated as "Allāh is the Greatest." We are going to tweak that just a little bit. The word '<i>akbar'</i> is the comparative and not the superlative. Those are technical grammatical terms. Let me break it down simpler than that. For instance if you were to say, "Zayd is faster than Khalid, but Ahmed is the fastest," 'faster' is comparative and 'fastest' is superlative. <i>Akbar</i> is the comparative and not the superlative, so "<i>Allāhu</i><i>akbar</i>" doesn't translate to "Allāh is the greatest," it translates to "Allāh is Greater."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">To fully understand this example: If I was to say, "Zayd is faster than…", you are waiting for me to continue and finish it. When we say, "<i>Allāhu</i> <i>akbar</i>," we are saying, "Allāh is greater than ___." The purpose of the blank is a rhetorical function and part of the <i>balāghah</i> of classical Arabic. It is very commonly found in the Qur'ān where there is a statement that demands an object and that object is intentionally not provided and a blank is left for you. The purpose of that blank is that you are supposed to fill in the blank for yourself with whatever it is that is distracting you from your <i>ṣalāh</i> at that moment.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Allāh is greater than everything and anything, but the reflection and thought process at that time is: Allāh is Greater and more important than whatever is distracting me from my prayer at this very moment. If my phone is ringing, Allāh is Greater than that phone call. If my friend is waiting for me outside in the car, Allāh is Greater and more important than my friend waiting for me in the car. If the restaurant is about to close in 20 minutes, Allāh is Greater and more important than the food in the restaurant. If the game is on the television, Allāh is Greater and more important than the game on the television. Anything and everything that could be distracting me from my prayer at that moment, Allāh is Greater and more important than that thing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">If you ask somebody what the reflection on "<i>Allāhu</i> <i>akbar</i>" is, they may say it is how they start their prayer. We are realizing that even "<i>Allāhu</i> <i>akbar</i>" has a reflection built into it. You are even supposed to think about something when you say "<i>Allāhu</i> <i>akbar</i>". There is a focus and <i>khushū'</i> to "<i>Allāhu</i> <i>akbar</i>." The next time you stand up to pray and say "<i>Allāhu</i><i>akbar</i>" and go through the mental process of thinking that Allāh is Greater andmore important than those things distracting you, then see the quality of saying "<i>Allāhu</i> <i>akbar</i>" and how long it takes you to just say "<i>Allāhu</i> <i>akbar</i>". It will change your life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">Because you guys have been so good to me, I'll share one quick little example for you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><b><i>Subḥāna</i></b><b> <i>Rabbi</i> <i>al-a'la</i></b></span><span style="color: #2f2f2f;"><i></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">What position do we say this in? <i>Suj</i><i>ū</i><i>d</i>. How absolutely perfect is my Lord, my Master, who is <i>al-a'la</i>. <i>Al-a'la</i> is superlative because of the "<i>al</i>"<i> </i>and means "the highest, the most exalted." Reflect on this fact. Typically when we make <i>suj</i><i>ū</i><i>d</i>, we rush the words. What does it mean? How absolutely perfect is my Lord who is the highest and most exalted.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">What is the reflection here? What position do you say this in? <i>Suj</i><i>ū</i><i>d</i>, when you are putting the most respected part of our body (the face) on the ground where somebody was standing with their feet. This is the lowest position possible for a human being. We put ourselves in the lowest position possible and say, "Allāh is the Highest and Most Exalted." The next time you make <i>suj</i><i>ū</i><i>d</i>, reflect on this and see the quality of your <i>sajdah</i>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">This is a small sample of what happens when we appreciate the meaning and understand what we are saying within our prayers.</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: small;">CLOSING NOTE</span></b></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif;">As a closing note, I want to pose one question to everybody. The answer to this question will give you the answer on whether or not you have to make some type of an effort to improve the quality and focus of your prayers. Ask yourself: <b>When is the last time you<i>experienced</i> the<i> ṣalāh</i>? </b>That when you prayed, you felt like it changed your life and solved your problem and gave you the answer to your question. When was the last time that happened? If the answer isn't something that's very good or something that you like, then don't you think it is about time we make some drastic improvement in our prayers?</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7987288030401910338.post-71699816808191783852015-01-01T12:27:00.000+06:002012-07-21T23:32:17.366+06:00Top Ten Islamic Lecture Videos of All Time<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: small;">I have taken this Collection from a post by Junaid ibn Amjad in<a href="http://muslimmatters.org/" target="_blank"> MuslimMatters</a> website. <a href="http://muslimmatters.org/2011/04/28/top-ten-islamic-lectures-of-all-time-videos/">Here goes the link</a> of that post. I haven't watched those lectures all yet. But I have seen few of them like Islam and Ego by Nouman Ali Khan. I am sure this is a must see for all the Muslim individuals to understand many things of inner heart. No doubt, these wonderful lectures are entertaining and amazing that worth far more than watching movies for hours of a Muslim!<br /> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br />May Allah bless us all to know HIS Deen clearly to perform nicely as per HIS satisfaction.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">10. "<b>Taking Back Our Narrative</b>" by Nouman Ali Khan and Amir Abdel Malik</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">09. "<b>Islamic Spirit of the Past</b>" by Shaykh Ahmed Ali</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">08. "<b>How the Bible Led Me to Islam</b>" by Brother Joshua Evans</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">07. "<b style="color: #b45f06;">Islam and Ego</b><span style="color: #b45f06;">" by Brother Nouman Ali Khan</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">06. "<b>Media and Islam: War or Peace?</b>" by Dr. Zakir Naik</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">05. "<b>Global Peace" : Unity Conference 2006</b>" by Imam Suhaib Webb</span></div>
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<b>7 minutes video :</b> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvWygv1Cpvs">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvWygv1Cpvs</a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">04. "<b>The Blessings of Emaan</b>" by Shaykh Yasir Qadhi</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">03. "<b>Understanding Your Condition</b>" by Shaykh Abdullah Hakim Quick</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">02. "<b>The Purpose of Life</b>" by Shaykh Khalid Yasin</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> 01. "<b>My Story</b>" by Imam Siraj Wahhaj</span></div>
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7987288030401910338.post-17438576414247965852012-08-11T12:38:00.000+06:002012-04-22T10:25:45.477+06:00How to Gain Tranquility in Prayer<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This article is written by Sister Jihan Anwar & collected from Productive Muslim website : </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><a href="http://www.productivemuslim.com/how-to-gain-tranquility-in-your-prayer-series-part-1/" target="_blank">Part 1</a> |<a href="http://www.productivemuslim.com/how-to-gain-tranquility-in-prayer-part-2/" target="_blank"> Part 2</a> | </i></span></b><b><span style="color: purple;"><i style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 21px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><a href="http://www.productivemuslim.com/how-to-gain-tranquility-in-prayer-part-3/" target="_blank">Part3 </a> | <a href="http://www.productivemuslim.com/how-to-gain-tranquility-in-prayer-part-4/" target="_blank">Part4</a></i></span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #e69138; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">(Part 1): How to Attain Ultimate Submission
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<h2 style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #c66717; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.25em; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-2314" height="191" src="http://www.productivemuslim.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/cleans_sustainability_clean-home_green_cleaning_spring-cleaning_hazardous-substances-300x191.png" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 1.5em; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="How to Gain Tranquility in Prayer Series (part1 )" width="300" /></h2>
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We are quick to say we’ve submitted to the will of Allah <img alt="subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He)" class="islamic_graphic" height="20px" src="http://www.productivemuslim.com/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/swt.png" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He)" /><span class="islamic_graphic" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> (glorified and exalted be He)</span>, but does our heart completely back our words? Have we submitted ourselves, or found “khushoo” in our prayer, our actions and our daily lives?</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<em style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Successful indeed are the believers, those who offer their salaah (prayers) with all solemnity and full submissiveness (Khushoo).”</em> <a href="http://quran.com/23/1-2" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #c66717; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">[Surah Al-Muminoon 23:1-2]</a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Definition of Khushoo</strong></div>
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The reasons why we obey someone can be broadly traced under the following categories.</div>
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• Fear<br />
• Recognition of superiority or authority<br />
• Acknowledging the orders as just<br />
• Love</div>
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If we comply with the commands of human beings based on the cited reasons, how do you think we should carry out our duties towards Allah – the only One we should fear, far superior to anything we could imagine, the One who is full of kindness in rewarding the righteous though being in no need of them. </div>
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Allah reveals in the Qur’an: <em style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Had We sent down this Qur’an to a mountain, you would surely have seen it humbling itself and rending asunder by the fear of Allah. Such are the parables which We put forward to mankind that they may reflect.”</em> <a href="http://quran.com/59/21" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #c66717; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">[Surah Hashr 59:21]</a></div>
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Linguistically, khushoo connotes a feeling of intense reverence, awe, submission and respect. In Islam it also comprehends that aspect of fear that stems out of deep knowledge of the power of Allah. Imam Ahmed once heard a man mocking another Muslim by mentioning the little amount of Islamic knowledge he had. Ibn Hanbal defended the Muslim by replying that he had the fruit of knowledge: khushoo.</div>
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The Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" height="20px" src="http://www.productivemuslim.com/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /><span class="islamic_graphic" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)</span> used to recite the following supplication:<br />
<em style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“O Allah, I seek refuge with you from the non-beneficial knowledge, from a heart that does not possess khushoo’ from the evil desire which is never satisfied and from supplications which are not accepted.”</em></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
Khushoo and knowledge are deeply related. <em style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allah.”</em> <a href="http://quran.com/35/28" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #c66717; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">[Surah Fatir 35:28]</a>. <strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The interesting point to notice is that usually fear is associated to the unknown and superstition feeds on ignorance, while in Islam, khushoo is a consequence of knowledge.</strong></div>
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Thus khushoo goes beyond fear; the latter would be best rendered in Arabic by the word khawf. The purpose of khawf is to prevent us from falling into sins, to restrain our whims by keeping in mind the punishment for the transgressors. Khushoo, instead, is the means by which our hearts are brought to life, finding tranquility in the remembrance of Allah, seeking His pleasure with every action of ours. Khushoo is often associated with salat, but it shouldn’t be confined to it.</div>
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With the Shahadah we declare we have recognized who our Creator is, but its implication is deeper. By definition, a Muslim is the one that not only acknowledges His presence but that is wholeheartedly willing to submit to His will.</div>
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Salat is to be the manifestation of this submission of the hearts and limbs and, deprived of Khushoo, it becomes a mechanical act. If your heart is not in it, the very objective of Salat (linking you to Allah) has been missed.</div>
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The Messenger <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" height="20px" src="http://www.productivemuslim.com/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /><span class="islamic_graphic" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)</span> said:<em style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“The first matter that the slave will be brought to account for on the Day of Judgment is the prayer. If it is sound, then the rest of his deeds will be sound. And if it is bad, then the rest of his deeds will be bad”.</em></div>
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And how can a prayer be accepted if we take it lightly and our attention is continuously diverted while we are in the midst of it?</div>
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The Qur’an says: “<em style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">So woe to those who pray. But who are heedless of their payer.</em>”<a href="http://quran.com/107/4-5" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #c66717; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">[Surah Al-Ma’oun 107:4-5]</a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What Khushoo is Not</strong></div>
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Khushoo is not a synonym for weeping or lowering one’s gaze. Umar <img alt="raḍyAllāhu 'anhu (may Allāh be pleased with him)" class="islamic_graphic" height="20px" src="http://www.productivemuslim.com/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/ranhu.png" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="raḍyAllāhu 'anhu (may Allāh be pleased with him)" /><span class="islamic_graphic" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> (may Allāh be pleased with him)</span> saw a young man lowering his head, so he said to him: “<em style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What is this? Raise your head, for indeed this (kind of) khushoo does not increase what is in the heart. Whosoever displays a khushoo that does not stem from the heart, then it is hypocrisy added to hypocrisy.“</em></div>
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Muhammad bin Sirin was once consulted about a man who dropped unconscious when the Qur’an was recited to him and it was attributed to his fear of Allah. Bin Sirin asked that an appointment should be arranged with the man, explaining: <em style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“We will sit on a wall, and the Qur’an – from beginning to end – will be recited unto him. If he falls off the wall, he is as he claims.”</em></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
When Aishah <img alt="raḍyAllāhu 'anha (may Allāh be pleased with her)" class="islamic_graphic" height="20px" src="http://www.productivemuslim.com/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/ranha.png" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="raḍyAllāhu 'anha (may Allāh be pleased with her)" /><span class="islamic_graphic" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> (may Allāh be pleased with her)</span> was informed that there were people who fainted on hearing the Qur`an, she replied: <em style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“The Qur’an is nobler than to have people lose their minds from it. Rather, it is as Allah the Mighty and Sublime said: “Those who fear their Lord tremble with fear by it, then their skins and hearts settle to the remembrance of Allah.”</em> <a href="http://quran.com/39/23" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #c66717; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">[Surah Al-Zumar 39:23]</a></div>
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We can derive from the above narrations that the heart is the center of khushoo. The Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" height="20px" src="http://www.productivemuslim.com/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /><span class="islamic_graphic" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)</span> was also reported as saying:<em style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“There is an organ in the body, if it is good, the whole body will be good, and if it is bad the whole body will become bad, verily it is the heart.”</em></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
Stay tuned; up next in this series: <a href="http://www.productivemuslim.com/how-to-gain-tranquility-in-prayer-part-2/" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #c66717; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Obstacles to Attaining the State of Khushoo</a>.</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.2em;"><span style="font-size: large;">(Part 2) Obstacles to Attaining the State of Khushoo</span></span></h1>
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<img alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-2327" height="300" src="http://www.productivemuslim.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/istock_000011932141xsmall-heart-and-mind3-225x300.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; float: right; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 1.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="How to Gain Tranquility in Prayer (Part 2)" width="225" /></h2>
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Before suggesting ways to acquire khushoo we should ask ourselves why we haven’t achieved it yet or why we lost it. Hence let’s examine the factors that hinder us from experiencing khushoo.</div>
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<strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">External</strong></h2>
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These are the outward elements that capture our attention whilst we pray. They are usually related to the environment in which we are praying or our physical posture and motion.</div>
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<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Noisy places</li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Attractive or colorful decorations</li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Physical needs like hunger or thirst</li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Restlessness of limbs</li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Unless we are in a congregational prayer the presence of other people might divert our attention too</li>
</ul>
<h2 style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #c66717; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1.25em; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
</h2>
<div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 10px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span id="more-2326" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></div>
<h2 style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #c66717; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1.25em; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Internal</strong></h2>
<div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 10px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
Internal causes are those associated with our mind-set, beliefs and character.</div>
<ol style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 1.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><ol style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 1.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Ignorance</strong><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />When we descend to our graves we will be asked: “Who is your lord? Who is the man that was sent to you? What is your religion?”. If this basic knowledge is not engraved in our minds while we are alive, if we are not reminiscent about this and live upon it, what are the chances we will do anything but stutter when questioned.<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Do you know whom you have submitted to? Are you aware of the sacrifices that our Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" height="20px" src="http://www.productivemuslim.com/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /><span class="islamic_graphic" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)</span> made to convey this religion? Can you discern the absolute beauty and perfection of this way of life – the freedom and elevation gained from stopping to fear the creation to submit and revere no one but the Creator?<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Increase your awareness of these facts so as to humble yourself in your ibadah (acts of worship).</li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Pride/arrogance</strong><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Too great to offer a sujood for the sake of Allah, too accomplished to supplicate to Him to grant you al-Firdous, too self sufficient to realize how weak and feeble we are as human beings, never mind our status or achievements in this dunya? We are all in need of Allah’s <img alt="subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He)" class="islamic_graphic" height="20px" src="http://www.productivemuslim.com/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/swt.png" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He)" /><span class="islamic_graphic" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> (glorified and exalted be He)</span> mercy though we don’t deserve it.<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Pride can even stem from one’s own worship. Admiring one’s own recitation and supplications, feeling content of the charity we give, being self-satisfied with our knowledge. Hasan al Basri said regarding the Sahaba that they used to perform every obligatory and voluntary act with the outmost care and sincerity and yet they were afraid lest it wouldn’t be accepted.S<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />hun pride and arrogance so as to taste the sweetness of khushoo!</li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Sins</strong><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Sometimes sins can become a barrier to developing a sincere connection to Allah <img alt="subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He)" class="islamic_graphic" height="20px" src="http://www.productivemuslim.com/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/swt.png" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He)" /><span class="islamic_graphic" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> (glorified and exalted be He)</span> or, even worse, they may lead us to abandoning it. Don’t let this be your case. Sins shouldn’t be a reason to cut our relationship with God, or a reason to lose khushoo. Instead we can make it become the factor that prompts us to seek forgiveness and guidance from Allah with earnestness.<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />As humans we all commit mistakes, but we should not lose hope of being forgiven.<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><em style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“And those who disbelieve in the ayah of Allah and the Meeting with Him, it is they who have no hope of My Mercy, and it is they who will (have) a painful torment.”</em> <a href="http://quran.com/29/23" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #c66717; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">[Surah Al-Ankabut 29:23]</a></li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Riya’a</strong><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />One may be doing all the outward deeds perfectly and have the basis of his creed messed up.<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Consider an extremely skilled archer at a competition. He inevitably catches every bird he sees, the only problem is that the targets were blue balloons. No matter how talented he is at hunting birds, he’ll never win the competition. So who is the target of your actions? Who do you want to please and think well of you? People may be deceived but would we escape from the scrutiny of the One who knows what’s in our chests, the All Hearer and All Seeing? Ultimately we would be just deceiving ourselves.<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><em style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Verily, the hypocrites seek to deceive Allah, but it is He who deceives them; When they stand up for Salah, they stand with laziness, only to be seen by men; and they do not remember Allah but a little.”</em> <a href="http://quran.com/4/142" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #c66717; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">[Surah Al-Nisaa 4:142]</a><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Dua for purity of heart and action</strong>: <em style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Allahumma tahhir qalbiy minan-nifaaqi wa ‘amali minar-riyaa’i wa lisaany minal-kadhibi wa ‘ainy minal-khiyaanati fainnaka ta’lamu khaa’inatal-a’yuni wa ma tukhfil-sudur.</em> (Oh Allah, purify my heart from hypocrisy and my actions from dissimulation and my tongue from lies and my eyes from stealthy looks, indeed You know stealthy looks of eyes and that which the breasts conceal.)</li>
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Attachment to this world</strong><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />How many times did it occur that your mind was filled with everything except the remembrance of Allah? We shouldn’t be so busy with this life that we forget to prepare our provision for the hereafter. Don’t let keep delaying your salat in order to finish whatever you’re working on? Pay attention and observe every step with due care, instead of rushing through it in order to catch an appointment?</li>
</ol>
</ol>
<h2 style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #c66717; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1.25em; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Time to Review our Priorities?</strong></h2>
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<strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></em></strong><br />
Abu Qutaadah <img alt="raḍyAllāhu 'anhu (may Allāh be pleased with him)" class="islamic_graphic" height="20px" src="http://www.productivemuslim.com/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/ranhu.png" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="raḍyAllāhu 'anhu (may Allāh be pleased with him)" /><span class="islamic_graphic" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> (may Allāh be pleased with him)</span> said: <em style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“The Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" height="20px" src="http://www.productivemuslim.com/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /><span class="islamic_graphic" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)</span>: “The worst type of thief is the one who steals from his prayer.” He said, “O Messenger of Allah, how can a person steal from his prayer?’ He said, ‘By not doing rukoo’ and sujood properly.”</em></div>
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One of the Tabieen, Amr Ibn Abd Al Qais, remarked: “I would prefer to be stabbed by spears in my body than think about the dunya during Salah.”</div>
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What do you think about before falling asleep? A scholar warned that if all we could think about was attached to this perishing world, it was a sign we needed to improve our connection with God. Your worries may outlive you as there’s no guarantee you will see a new day but certainly you will meet your Lord.</div>
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In the next post, we will look at ideas on how to practically obtain khushoo in our prayer and outside. In the mean time, try to answer the questions asked in this article and <a href="http://www.productivemuslim.com/how-to-gain-tranquility-in-your-prayer-series-part-1/" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #c66717; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Part 1</a>. Take the time to ponder them over without dismissing any. How sincere can you be to yourself? (Oops another question)</div>
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(Part 3) Practical Steps to Gain Khushoo</h2>
<div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Khushoo is a means and a consequence.</strong></div>
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Khushoo is a consequence of true faith and yaqeen (certainity) upon the words of Allah [SWT] and on the accountability of our actions. It is a means to gain tranquility in this racing, tempting world and to make us worthy of entering Jannah.<img alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-2339" height="300" src="http://www.productivemuslim.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/istock_000004009728xsmall-225x300.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; float: right; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 1.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="How to Gain Tranquility in Prayer (part 3)" width="225" /></div>
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<strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Practical Steps to Gain Khushoo Outside Salah</em></strong></h2>
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• <strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Constant Dua and Remembrance of Allah</strong></div>
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Khushoo is, in its essential point, constant remembrance of Allah [SWT] and His Greatness. It’s not a garment you hop into for salah. It should exist 24/7. What is your first thought when you wake up? When you close your eyes can you be sure you’ll ever reopen them? Ask Allah [SWT] to bless you with khushoo.</div>
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Keep an adhkaar book with you wherever you go. Even before reading the Qur’an, you will need something to soften your heart. That is what adhkaar are for.</div>
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• <strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Learn Arabic</strong></div>
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Make effort to learn Arabic and, if you already know it, aim for a detailed understanding of the Qur’an and hadith. To illustrate the importance of making an effort to comprehend what you read allow me to draw a parallel.</div>
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Let’s say you have a wonderful painting; the colors are rendered with a mastery close to genius, the prospective is breath taking and the skillfulness used to depict the subject is revolutionary under every aspect. A critic offers to evaluate it. With closed eyes, he runs his fingers over the drawing, mentally calculates the weight and size of the painting, going so far as to smell the acrylic chromes you have used. He declares your piece to be quite interesting but refuses to open his eyes. Your talent is wasted on him: though it is in his ability to appreciate the art, he refuses to do so.</div>
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Now, how many times have you heard people enlisting the miracle the Qur’an? How many times have you been fascinated by the recitation of a Qari? And yet you cannot fully value its beauty until you commit to study the language it was written in.</div>
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• <strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Read about the Companions</strong></div>
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If you seek motivation from inspirational people, the Sahaba are the ones you will need to know about.</div>
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Bilal (may Allah [SWT] be pleased with him) was steadfast while enduring extreme torture. He was asked several years later why did kept repeating “Ahd, Ahd”. He replied that he would see that the Quraish would become furious when hearing him testify once more the oneness of God, punishing him even more severely. The harsher he was persecuted the more he would become conscious of the underlying fear of his master for the power of his beliefs which in turn motivated the slave to declared them ever vigorously. Suhayb Al Rumi gave up all of his health to the Mushrikeen in Mecca in exchange to being allowed to reach the Prophet [SAW] in Medina.</div>
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How could they bear these experiences? Weren’t they human? Weren’t they made of flesh and bones, subject to weaknesses and desires? Indeed, but their hearts were alive; khashioon to the Lord of the Worlds instead of human beings.</div>
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They found the truth and they would give up everything and sacrifice their own lives for it. And it’s this same sacrifice that granted them victory. In fact when Suhayb approached the outskirts of Medina, the Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" height="20px" src="http://www.productivemuslim.com/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /><span class="islamic_graphic" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)</span> greeted him by announcing: <em style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Your transaction has been fruitful, O Abu Yahya. Your transaction has been fruitful”.</em></div>
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In addition, surround yourself with people that have a beneficial impact on you and remind you of Allah and encourage you to do good deeds</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
• <strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Study and ponder the world around you</strong></div>
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We often forget that our existence is a miracle, taking everything for granted and not seeing and reflecting. Think about children, for example. They have the most powerful capacity to marvel upon things. They explore, observe and listen. They are totally fascinated by what they are exposed to.</div>
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Growing up, most of us just grow dull. We miss out on what happens around us. If by looking at a full moon, a sunset, the variety of colors in the flowers or the order in the animal kingdom, we are not filled with awe, if we are unable to humble ourselves and whisper a sincere SubhanAllah, then we have forgotten that they are but signs of the mercy from Allah [SAW] reminding us of His supremacy.</div>
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There was a quote in my math book by Albert Einstein:<br />
<em style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“God does not care about our mathematical difficulties, he integrates empirically”.</em></div>
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For quite some time I’ve thought about it with diffidence. Eventually though, I derived an interpretation, which might be completely biased, yet it allows me to appreciate the implications of the sentence. Look at the history of human kind: physiologist, mathematicians, astrologists, biologists, chemists – everyone busy in conjecturing, speculating and researching for centuries about the mechanism by which this universe is sustained. The more in depth you study a science, the easier it is for you to realize the ordered complex perfection that rules it, thus increasing your reverence towards the Creator. Had the sun been slightly closer or further from the Earth, life would have been impossible on it either because of extremely low or high temperature. The amount of rain that falls upon a soil makes a difference between a fertile terrain or a barren one. The percentage of nitrogen in the air, the ratio of hemoglobin to water in the blood – everything has a prearranged equilibrium.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<em style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Glorify the name of thy lord, the Most High, Who creates, then makes complete, and Who measures (in due proportion), then guides”</em> <a href="http://quran.com/87/1-3" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #c66717; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">[Surah Al-A’ala, 87:1-3]</a></div>
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Reflect about the meanings and implication of the 99 attributes and names of Allah Azz wa Jall.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
• <strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Set yourself a regular routine to read or memorize the Qur’an.</strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<em style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“We have not sent down to you the Qur’an to cause you distress but only as a reminder for those who fear (have kashya of Allah)”</em> <a href="http://quran.com/20/2-3" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #c66717; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">[Surah Taha 20:2-3]</a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
• <strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Regular fasting</strong></div>
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Consider it as a preparation for Ramadan, or more practically as a cleansing of the soul that will facilitate us to be more receptive to the commandment of Allah.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<em style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Do you have a few tips for us on how to improve Khusoo, or achieve greater submission? Share with us in the comments below and let us help each other rise above absentminded submission.</em><br />
<em style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></em></div>
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<h2 style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #c66717; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.25em; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">(Part 4) </strong>Practical Steps to Gain Khushoo</h2>
<div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A Practical Guide to Gaining Khushoo Within Salah</em></strong></div>
<ul style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 1.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Repeat the words of the Adhan</strong></li>
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This is a subtle method to signal to your body and mind to draw away from any worldly affair you were engaged in. It’s an <img alt="" class="alignright wp-image-2350" height="242" src="http://www.productivemuslim.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Creative_Wallpaper_The_stones_on_the_sand_015970_2.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; float: right; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 1.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="How to Gain Tranquility in Prayer (Part 4)" width="387" />invitation to stop feeding your thoughts on the daily anxieties and temporary highs. This is the first step by which you acknowledge the call to prayer, where you are about to meet your Lord.</div>
<ul style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 1.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Salah your opportunity</strong></li>
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You have been granted another opportunity to pray and give thanks. But have you ever realized the different functions Salah can be used for? How can you make it your joy? It is a way to overcome distress, sadness, fear and weakness. Furthermore, numerous are the hadith that portray the prayer as a mean for effacing sins and even avoiding them.</div>
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It’s your chance to seek forgiveness, to ask Allah <img alt="subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He)" class="islamic_graphic" height="20px" src="http://www.productivemuslim.com/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/swt.png" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He)" /><span class="islamic_graphic" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> (glorified and exalted be He)</span> to grant you health, knowledge, Baraka or increase your Iman. You can use it as Istikara, in which you directly ask Allah <img alt="subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He)" class="islamic_graphic" height="20px" src="http://www.productivemuslim.com/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/swt.png" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He)" /><span class="islamic_graphic" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> (glorified and exalted be He)</span> to guide you to choose the best option in a specific situation.</div>
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The Messenger <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" height="20px" src="http://www.productivemuslim.com/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /><span class="islamic_graphic" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)</span> even suggested we pray two raka’at in order to remember what we forgot or find an item we lost. Every salah might be the last one you’ll be able to perform; take advantage of it. Next time you approach Salah, have a specific reason. This should aid you right away in preserving khushoo throughout salah.</div>
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<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Stay still for a moment</strong></li>
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Simply stand a few moments before praying, be conscious of everything that is running in your head. You will find out that there is nothing, absolutely nothing more important than this very Salah. Take a deep breath and exhale, expelling all worries and distracting thoughts as you exhale. Leave the dunya behind. You are about to step in the presence of Allah <img alt="subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He)" class="islamic_graphic" height="20px" src="http://www.productivemuslim.com/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/swt.png" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He)" /><span class="islamic_graphic" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> (glorified and exalted be He)</span> and have a dialogue with Him.</div>
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<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Keep your gaze fixed</strong></li>
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Focus your eyes on the spot in which you will perform sajda. Don’t worry if you find it difficult at first. Calmly reset your eyes on the point every time you notice that it is deviating.</div>
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As a side note, the movement of the eyes has been found to be directly related to one’s thoughts. This implies that it is not only your eyes that are wandering, your mind is too. When you notice this happening, simply re-direct your attention to the words you are saying. Be deliberately slow in performing every action.</div>
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<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Start the prayer by reciting a supplication</strong></li>
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There are various dua (Dua’a Al Istiftah – Opening Supplications) the Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" height="20px" src="http://www.productivemuslim.com/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /><span class="islamic_graphic" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">(peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)</span> used before reciting surat Al Fatiha. An example is: <em style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Subhaanak-Allaahumma, wa biham-dika, wa tabaarakasmuka, wa ta’aalaa jadduka, wa laa ilaaha ghayruka”</em></div>
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(I declare You free and far removed from all imperfections, O Allaah, and all praise is for You. Blessed is Your Name. Great and Exalted is Your Kingdom. None has the right to be worshiped besides You).</div>
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Remember to include it in yours so as to increase attentiveness. Try learning new supplications so that it doesn’t become a mechanical thing leading you to stop paying attention to what you are saying. Stand in prayer as if the Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" height="20px" src="http://www.productivemuslim.com/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /><span class="islamic_graphic" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)</span> is leading you.</div>
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<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The power of visualization</strong></li>
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One technique that instantly helps me focusing on the salah is a simple one based on a hadith about the siraat. The siraat is a narrow bridge suspended over Hell which everyone has to traverse to be admitted in Paradise.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<em style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Abu Sa’id Al-Khudri reported: “We, the companions of the Prophet said, “O Allah’s Apostle! What is the bridge?’ He said, “It is a slippery (bridge) on which there are clamps and (hooks like) a thorny seed that is wide at one side and narrow at the other and has thorns with bent ends. Such a thorny seed is found in Najd and is called As-Sa’dan. Some of the believers will cross the bridge as quickly as the wink of an eye, some others as quick as lightning, a strong wind, a fast horse or she-camel. Some will be safe without any harm; some will be safe after receiving some scratches, and some will fall down into Hell. The last person will cross by being dragged over the bridge.”</em>(Sahih Bukhari- Volume 9, Book 93, Number 532).</div>
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Now imagine yourself on this bridge. You still don’t know which your final abode will be. In front of you there is Paradise, you can smell its scent and are yearning to reach it. Let the carpet you are standing on to perform salah represent the fine, thorny bridge that you need to cross. Below you, you can see a sea of blazing lava, you hear the cries of those who have fallen and your knees tremble at the only thought of being touched by it: the swiftest of movements could make you fall at any time.</div>
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The firmness of the person on the bridge will depend on their deeds and compliance to the deen in the dunya.<br />
Some scholars argue that khushoo is a required element in salah, missing it would equal to having not satisfied the pre-requisites for sound worship.</div>
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Consider every salah as your attempt to cross the bridge, khushoo is your safety measure to reach the end of it.</div>
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<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A dialogue with Allah <img alt="subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He)" class="islamic_graphic" height="20px" src="http://www.productivemuslim.com/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/swt.png" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He)" /><span class="islamic_graphic" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> (glorified and exalted be He)</span></strong></li>
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Have you ever asked yourself why Surat Al Fatiha is recited in every single raka’a?</div>
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The Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" height="20px" src="http://www.productivemuslim.com/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /><span class="islamic_graphic" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)</span>, said in a Hadith Al Qudsi:</div>
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<code style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #eeeeee; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #111111; font-family: Consolas, 'Andale Mono', Monaco, Courier, 'Courier New', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 0.938em; font-style: inherit; line-height: 1em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">"Allah, the Exalted, said, `I have divided the prayer into two halves between Myself and My servant, and My Servant shall have what he asks for.' If he says, `Praise be to Allah, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the worlds' Allah says, `My servant has praised Me.' When the servant says, `Most Gracious, Most Merciful'. Allah says, `My servant has glorified Me.' When he says, `Master of the Day of Judgment.' Allah says, `My servant has related all matters to Me.' When he says, `You do we worship, and your aid we seek.' Allah says, `This is between Me and My servant, and My servant shall acquire what he sought.' When he says, `Show us the straight path. The path of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace, those whose (portion) is not wrath, and who go not astray.' Allah says, `This is for My servant, and My servant shall acquire what he asked for.'"</em> (Muslim 1:296, and An-Nasai in Al-Kubra 5:11, 12).</code></div>
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Allah <img alt="subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He)" class="islamic_graphic" height="20px" src="http://www.productivemuslim.com/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/swt.png" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He)" /><span class="islamic_graphic" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> (glorified and exalted be He)</span> is not only listening to your prayer, but replying and rewarding you for every verse you utter.</div>
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<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Memorize ayats or suras and be eager to recite them during your salat</strong></li>
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If you read a passage in the Qur’an which particularly clicked with you or brought you to tears, do your best to learn it and recite it after Al Fatiha. Frequently change the suras you recite. Make it a point to know their meaning, check the commentaries, the lexicon used, be critical about what you read, make it a dynamic activity by reflecting on what you recite as every verse is supposed to be stimulating your mind and heart.</div>
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<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Make at least one different dua’a in each sujood</strong></li>
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Earlier we mentioned the need to reflect about the names and qualities that Allah <img alt="subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He)" class="islamic_graphic" height="20px" src="http://www.productivemuslim.com/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/swt.png" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He)" /><span class="islamic_graphic" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">(glorified and exalted be He)</span> attributed to Himself and revealed to us. Now it’s the time to use these names: when you make dua use the appropriate name depending on what you are asking for.</div>
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For example: when you are seeking for relief you may call upon Him by Al-Bâri’- The Maker of Perfect Harmony or Al-Salâm- The Flawless and the giver of peace. While appealing to His power to allow things to happen remember that He is Al-Mu’min- The Giver of Faith or Al-Haadi -The Guide. Ask Him to grant you and your family protection by calling Him Al-Muhaymin – The Guardian, Al-Raqîb- The Vigilant.</div>
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<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Get acquainted with the biography of the Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" height="20px" src="http://www.productivemuslim.com/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /><span class="islamic_graphic" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)</span></strong></li>
</ul>
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Read the seera of the Prophet <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" height="20px" src="http://www.productivemuslim.com/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /><span class="islamic_graphic" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)</span> in detail, so that when you send blessing upon him you do it with sincerity.</div>
<ul style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-left: 1.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Cultivate a feeling of gratitude and veneration</strong></li>
</ul>
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When you complete the prayer and say “Alhamdulillah, AllahuAkbar, Subhanallah” actually think about instances that would make you utter these words. For example if you have escaped an accident think about that when you say Alhamdullilah, when you say Allahu Akbar remember that us and all what this universe comprehends are compared to the throne of Allah as a ring in the desert.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<h2 style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #c66717; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.25em; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The effect of Khushoo on productivity</strong></h2>
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Acquiring khushoo positively affects your productivity.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1.</strong> <strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Quicker decision making</strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
Having khushoo will make you see everything in a different prospective, what you do or don’t do is based on a specific evaluation: will Allah <img alt="subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He)" class="islamic_graphic" height="20px" src="http://www.productivemuslim.com/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/swt.png" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He)" /><span class="islamic_graphic" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> (glorified and exalted be He)</span>be pleased if I do this? Does this take me closer to Jannah or to Hellfire? You then save the time worrying or dragging yourself in doubtful activities</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2.</strong> <strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">You’ll have a forward-looking attitude</strong></div>
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No regrets, fear nor desperation will take hold of you since you have certainty that everything happening is exactly as it should be. You trust in the mercy and justice of Allah <img alt="subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He)" class="islamic_graphic" height="20px" src="http://www.productivemuslim.com/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/swt.png" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He)" /><span class="islamic_graphic" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> (glorified and exalted be He)</span>, as long as you follow His commandments nothing can harm you.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">3.</strong> You’ ll stay away and be afraid of even coming close to commit a sin, hastening instead to perform good purposeful deeds.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">4.</strong> <strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Greater awareness in your day-to-day dealings.</strong><br />
By being constantly mindful of Allah <img alt="subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He)" class="islamic_graphic" height="20px" src="http://www.productivemuslim.com/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/swt.png" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He)" /><span class="islamic_graphic" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> (glorified and exalted be He)</span>, you become more careful of how you treat people or use your resources, including time.</div>
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I hope these points may serve as a reminder to both you and me, and help us in attaining or increasing Khushoo.</div>
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<div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #bf9000;">About the Author</span></strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; vertical-align: baseline;">
<em style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sister Jihan Anwar is an MIS student sharing her musings with the team at MuslimYouthMusings and working as a journalist at the National Yemen Newspaper.</em></div>
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7987288030401910338.post-17073826898482254052012-07-07T18:04:00.000+06:002012-04-22T10:08:13.386+06:00Video On The Last Sermon of Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A wonderful video is prepared on the collection of the speech about Last Sermon of Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him). Eyes becomes watery after watching this one... May Allah bless us to be a good follower of the greatest man in the history of the universe -- Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam).</span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/arsT2yOzWMg?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7987288030401910338.post-59333716879375026162012-07-04T19:40:00.001+06:002012-07-04T20:11:32.024+06:00The Ramadan Early Bird Series!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i>by</i> Yacoob Manjoo, Collected from <a href="http://www.productivemuslim.com/the-ramadan-early-bird-series-part-4/" target="_blank">Productive Muslim</a> website. May Allah grant their effort</div>
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<b>Ramadan is quickly approaching.
Instead of waiting for the last minute to prepare, begin today for a
fruitful month of blessings and barakah from Allah [SWT]<i>.</i></b></div>
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<br />
To fully benefit from a great
opportunity, you need to prepare for it – and the more thorough the
preparation, the better. As Muslims, we have an annual event that serves
as a tremendous opportunity to gather rewards and effect permanent,
positive changes in our lives that will help us draw closer and closer
to the Almighty. That opportunity is Ramadan.</div>
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Usually, it’s only in the two months
before Ramadan that we start hearing about how important it is to
prepare so that by the time the month arrives, we’re already in the
spirit of striving, and we have the momentum to make the most of
Ramadan.</div>
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But we also hear how the Prophet’s <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" height="20px" src="http://www.productivemuslim.com/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /><span class="islamic_graphic"> (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)</span> companions <img alt="raḍyAllāhu 'anhum (may Allāh be pleased with them)" class="islamic_graphic" height="20px" src="http://www.productivemuslim.com/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/ranhum.png" title="raḍyAllāhu 'anhum (may Allāh be pleased with them)" /><span class="islamic_graphic"> (may Allāh be pleased with them)</span> used to look forward to Ramadan a full <b>six months</b> before
it came. And because they are the best generation in our history, we
should take them as our role models and try to emulate their attitude
towards this great opportunity.</div>
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We have, insha Allah, about five months
left until Ramadan begins – so if we want to take full benefit from
Ramadan, and take advantage of those ‘early bird’ benefits, now is the
time to start preparing (if we haven’t already started, that is).</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
You may be thinking it’s too soon, but
time flies and we get wrapped up in so many things – so it would be
foolish to let this reminder – and this early opportunity – pass you by.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span id="more-2317"></span></div>
<h2 style="color: #b45f06; text-align: justify;">
<b>The Early Bird Plan</b></h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It’s a well-established principle that
the way to success is gradualism: doing things little by little, stage
by stage, but being <b>consistent</b> in it. So with this
series, what I hope to do is take one aspect of development at a time,
and make that the focus for the month – for the next five months. And
when Ramadan hits, insha Allah, we would have covered five important
elements of our spiritual lives, and be better prepared to step up in
those areas to new and amazing heights.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The system being proposed here is open
to your suggestions, so please do give feedback if you can contribute
anything positive. With regard to topics on a monthly basis, you can
choose to go along with what’s suggested, or you can choose your own
area to focus on. Each person knows him/herself best, and knows what’s
most important for their lives – so focus on what you need to, adopting a
structured framework within which to focus your efforts.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The general framework for the project:</div>
<ol>
<li>Pick an area you’d like to work on for this month (e.g. character,
speech, fasting, charity); or use the one prescribed in this article</li>
<li>Analyse what your current condition is in the area (quality, frequency, etc)</li>
<li>Look at what your weaknesses / problems are, and their root causes</li>
<li>Think of practical methods to overcome those root causes</li>
<li>Set up a realistic plan of action to implement those solutions gradually in the coming months, then at a higher pace in Ramadan</li>
</ol>
<h2 style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.productivemuslim.com/the-ramadan-early-bird-series/" target="_blank"><b>Stage 1: Salaah</b></a></span></h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We know the importance of salaah in
Islam: it’s the first thing we’ll be asked about on the Day of
Judgement, and according to another hadeeth, it’s a founding pillar of
Islam – whoever has established it has uplifted the pillar, and whoever
has disregarded it has dropped the founding pillar.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So with that in mind, this first month’s preparation consists of the following:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Diagnosis</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Ask yourself:<br />
• Do I understand how important salaah really is, for both my current life and my time in the grave and Hereafter?<br />
• Am I making my compulsory salaahs every day?<br />
• Am I generally making them on time, or do I let other things delay me too often?<br />
• Am I striving to make them in congregation?<br />
• Do I have good concentration in salaah, or do other things often distract me?</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
There are many other points we could
ponder on regarding salaah, but for now, we’ll limit the discussion to
these alone. Think through each question, and record your answers. Be
honest with yourself – and do this either completely in private, without
sharing it with anyone (if you prefer it that way), or with someone
else (if you think that’s more beneficial).</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Root Cause Analysis</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Now go through each of these points and
look at what the problems / weaknesses are. List each of the problems,
along with its outward symptoms that you notice (e.g. losing focus
during salaah – what is my mind drifting to?). Then try to find what the
root causes of those problems are by interrogating each symptom. Ask
yourself “why?” that symptom persists, and keep asking “why?” of each
answer until you get to the root cause.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Solutions</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
With the problems diagnosed, the
symptoms identified, and root causes found, now think of practical ways
to solve those problems from the root. For example, if your mind drifts
to your daily activities during salaah, is it because you spend so much
time wrapped up in those activities, and then ‘quickly’ go to make
salaah for a short time before you can get back to it?</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
If so, one solution is to give yourself a
buffer of a few minutes before each salaah – a short period where you
disconnect from all those activities, sit quietly and alone and try to
let all those thoughts dissipate while you mentally prepare for your
meeting with Allah. And after the salaah, take another few minutes to
just stay in that moment – before you return to your life’s activities.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Planning</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
With solutions identified, now analyse
what your schedule and life is like at this moment, and come up with a
realistic plan of how you can implement the solution. Remember that a
solution is far more effective if you implement it gradually – in small,
manageable pieces, and consistently – rather than trying to make a big
change in one go, and burning yourself out. Set up your plan to take
baby steps in this month, knowing that you’ll only be starting small for
now – and increasing the pace when Ramadan comes.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
If, after a while, you find that you’ve
incorrectly estimated your ability to follow the plan, simply make
adjustments as needed. The goal for this month, and the four that
follow, is to implement steps that are realistic for you – what you can
manage, and not what will overburden you.</div>
<b>Worksheet</b><br />
To help with this month’s exercise, you can download and use the following document: <a href="http://dreamlife.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/ramadan_earlybird_worskheet1.doc" target="_blank">Ramadan Early Bird worksheet (1<sup>st</sup> edition)</a>.<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Resources</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
To help you with this month’s focus,
check out this very unique talk about salaah (External Resource 1) by
Abdul Nasir Jangda. If you’re not able to watch or download, a
transcript is available here (External Resource 2). You may also want to
read the short e-book “TASTE IT! How to Taste the True Beauty of
Salah”, (External Resource 3) which approaches the topic of salaah
quality in a short, piece by piece approach.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
And the most important resources of all
are the right intentions, sincere dua asking for success in this
venture, and then consistent effort to do your best.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
External Resources:<br />
1. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBA0nmxwRMQ" target="_blank">Salah in Focus – by Sheikh Abdul Nasir Jangda : Video</a><br />
2.<a href="http://muslimmatters.org/2012/01/20/abdul-nasir-jangda-salah-in-focus/" target="_blank">Salah in Focus – by Sheikh Abdul Nasir Jangda:Text</a><br />
3. <a href="http://www.kitaabun.com/loaded/pdf/Salah.pdf" target="_blank">Taste it! </a></div>
<br />
<b><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: large;">Part 2 - Unhealthy Habits</span></b><br />
<br />
While last month’s <a href="http://www.productivemuslim.com/the-ramadan-early-bird-series/" target="_blank">Early Bird Series post focused on salaah</a>
– which is spiritual – this month’s post focuses on something worldly,
yet still extremely important. This month, we’ll be tackling our
unhealthy, time-consuming habits – you know: Facebook, Twitter, BB
addiction, and the like.<br />
<br />
It
may be painful to face up to, and the exercise may take a while to do,
but if you succeed, insha-Allah you’ll make giant strides in bettering
your own self and your relationship with Allah <img alt="subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He)" class="islamic_graphic" height="20px" src="http://www.productivemuslim.com/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/swt.png" title="subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He)" /><span class="islamic_graphic"> (glorified and exalted be He)</span>.<br />
<h2 style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: normal;">
<b>Progress = Happiness?</b></h2>
Compared to the previous eras, modern technology makes our lives
easier and saves us great amounts of time. For example, whereas laundry
was a whole day job 200 years ago, today you can get it done and dried
in a couple of hours – with minimal effort on your part.<br />
But with so much time freed up, shouldn’t we be happier – since we have more time to do what we want?<br />
Compare the level of happiness and contentment in previous
generations to ours, and you’ll most likely find the answer to be a
resounding “no”.<br />
The paradox of today’s world is that even with all our time-saving
gadgets and convenience, more than ever, we feel like we don’t have free
time. We’re under more pressure and we always seem to need more hours
in the day (or night) to finish our tasks. Add to that the entertainment
we consume to ‘relax’ and ‘unwind’ from the stresses of life, and then
the relatively new phenomenon of always being ‘connected’ to the world
and your friends via technology, and you can see how we’re busier than
ever before.<br />
For many people, today’s life is filled with e-mail, Facebook,
Twitter, mobile phone messages, and a never-ending stream of
information: breaking news, alerts, updates, and other bits of
information we think we need. The information flood is so rampant that
some people seem to spend more time in the virtual world than they do in
the real, physical world (shades of ‘The Matrix’, perhaps?).<br />
Whether we pursue these things or they pursue us, it seems that many
of us have become slaves to the technology and leisure-time activities
we love so much.<br />
<h2 style="color: #cc0000;">
<b>The Vessel</b></h2>
But we know that any extreme is unhealthy. So by consuming and being
involved in this much information, communication, and entertainment,
we’re bound to suffer negative consequences at some point – whether it’s
mental, emotional, physical, or spiritual.<br />
<span id="more-2431"></span><br />
American scholar Shaykh Abdullah Adhami sums up the danger in this beautifully simple yet profound quote:<br />
<i>“Every vessel – every container – will only pour out what is
contained in it, and that’s very obvious…Your tongue is your ability to
express what lies in your spirit: television, the movies, the friends
you hang out with, the music you listen to. Everything around you is
environmental forces that shape how your being is and how your heart is.
And when you open your mouth to speak it’s like your heart is a sponge
that absorbs all of this material from around you. Essentially what
you’re doing is squeezing what is in you and what comes out is going to
be what has been compiled in your mind and in your memory. Obviously you
can only express in your heart what has been placed in it. And so in
order for the outcome and the output from the tongue to be positive, the
input in that needs to be positive: in spirit, in silence, in
talking…and throughout our lives.”</i><br />
Basically, what we consume (other than just food and drink) is what
will fill our hearts, and ultimately that’s what we’ll express. So if we
fill our time with habits that are poisonous – or not beneficial –
those poisons will corrupt our inner beings.<br />
As others have pointed out, the human brain only has a limited
capacity – it can only hold so much information. And if we keep filling
it with things that aren’t actually important, there won’t be much space
left for the things that really are important.<br />
<h2 style="color: #cc0000;">
<b>Kicking the Habit – the Early Bird Way</b></h2>
You may already know that you have a Facebook problem, or a Twitter
addiction, or that you obsessively check your email every few minutes.
Whatever your habits, if you’ve gone to an extreme, you already know you
should take some kind of action to bring back the balance. But living
in the environment you live in, it’s not easy to disconnect completely
and be free of your poisons.<br />
So, as explained in <a href="http://www.productivemuslim.com/the-ramadan-early-bird-series/" target="_blank" title="title tooltip">Part 1</a>, our approach in this series is to follow a five-step process to gradually solve the problem:<br />
<b>1. Selection of an area</b><br />
<b></b> For this month, the topic is ‘Unhealthy habits’.<br />
<b>2. Diagnosis</b><br />
<b></b> Analyse your current condition and list your weaknesses.<br />
<a href="http://www.productivemuslim.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/RamadanEarlyBirdworksheet_2.pdf" target="_blank">Using the accompanying worksheet</a>, ask yourself:<br />
<ul>
<li>What technologies and websites do I use most in my personal life?</li>
<li>How do I entertain myself?</li>
<li>What communication habits fill my time?</li>
<li>How many times do I use it per day?</li>
<li>On average, how long do I spend on it per day?</li>
</ul>
Now for each item on your list, ask yourself the following questions:<br />
<ol>
<li>Whose resources do I use for this? If it’s someone else’s, am I allowed to be using their resources for this?</li>
<li> Why do I do it as often as I do?</li>
<li>When I use it, why do I spend this amount of time on it?</li>
<li>How does using it make me feel? And how long does that feeling last?</li>
<li>Do I neglect loved ones / people that are right in front of me while
I do this? Do these things cause me to spend less quality time with
them?</li>
<li>What time do I switch these things off for the day?</li>
<li> For the entertainment-related items, what is the main message of
the music / movies / games? And is this something admirable or
meaningful?</li>
<li> What are the benefits of this thing? (Break this up into worldly and Hereafter categories)</li>
<li> What are the risks / dangers of this thing? (Break this up into worldly and Hereafter categories)</li>
<li> Does this harm my acts of worship and relationship with Allah <img alt="subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He)" class="islamic_graphic" height="20px" src="http://www.productivemuslim.com/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/swt.png" title="subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He)" /><span class="islamic_graphic"> (glorified and exalted be He)</span>?</li>
</ol>
<a href="http://www.productivemuslim.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/RamadanEarlyBirdworksheet_2.pdf" target="_blank">Use the worksheet</a>
to think through each question and record your answers. Be honest with
yourself – and do this either completely in private, without sharing it
with anyone (if you prefer it that way), or with someone else (if you
think that’s more beneficial).<br />
<b>3. Root cause analysis</b><br />
<b></b> Get to the root of your weaknesses / problems.<br />
First, consider your answers and then identify and list your weaknesses or problems you feel you need to address.<br />
Next, write down each issue’s outward symptoms that you notice, and try
to find the root causes of the issue by interrogating it. Look at the
issue or the symptoms and ask yourself “why?” Keep asking “why?” of each
answer until you get to the root cause.<br />
<b>4. Solutions</b><br />
<b></b> Come up with practical methods to overcome those root causes.<br />
With the problems diagnosed, the symptoms identified, and root causes
found, now think of practical ways to solve those problems from the
root. Brainstorm and list practical ways to solve the issues from the
root. While doing this, consider the following questions to help you
come up with solutions:<br />
<ol>
<li> If I give up / reduce my usage, what benefits could I gain?</li>
<li>What would I like to achieve in life that I haven’t / haven’t tried – because I feel I don’t have the time?</li>
<li>What small steps could I take towards fulfilling those ambitions, if I were to have more free time?</li>
<li>What safety mechanisms and physical steps can I take to cut down on my habits?</li>
<li>Can I arrange my time to be more self-disciplined in these habits?</li>
<li>Can I use any technology applications to block my usage of websites I’d like to leave?</li>
<li>Can I set aside a day or two per month to live completely without these things?</li>
</ol>
For example, in question 4 (safety mechanisms / physical steps), when
you need to do something important, you could move your computer /
other distractions to somewhere not so accessible. And in step 5 (time
management), you could set specific times in the day when you’ll check
email – and stick to it. Or set times each day where you ban yourself
from using the Internet / the medium of distraction.<br />
<b>5. Planning and implementation</b><br />
<b></b> Set up a realistic plan of action to implement
those solutions gradually in the coming months, then at a higher pace in
Ramadan.<br />
With solutions identified, now analyse what your life is like at this
moment, and come up with a realistic plan of how you can implement the
solutions over a period of time. Remember to keep the plans realistic
and achievable – what you can manage, even if it means baby steps over a
long period. Doing things gradually – in small and consistent steps –
is the best way to achieve sustainable, permanent solutions.<br />
Also include, in your plan, the ways you’d like to intensify your efforts when Ramadan comes.<br />
If, after a while, you find that you’ve incorrectly estimated your
ability to follow the plan, simply make adjustments as needed. The goal
for this month, and the four that follow, is to implement steps that are
realistic for you – what you can manage, and not what will overburden
you.<br />
<b>Worksheet</b><br />
To help with this month’s exercise, you can download and use the following document: <a href="http://www.productivemuslim.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/RamadanEarlyBirdworksheet_2.pdf" target="_blank">RamadanEarlyBirdworksheet</a>.<br />
<b>Resources</b><br />
To help you with this month’s focus, check out the following:<br />
• Article: <a href="http://www.suhaibwebb.com/relationships/withthedivine/from-facebook-to-gods-book/" title="title tooltip">From Facebook to God’s book</a><br />
• Technology blockers: To block sites you want to avoid, use <a href="https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/leechblock/" target="_blank">LeechBlock</a> for FireFox; <a href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/laankejkbhbdhmipfmgcngdelahlfoji" target="_blank">StayFocusd</a> for Google Chrome; or in Internet Explorer just add the in your blocking-settings.<br />
And remember that the most important resources of all are the right
intentions, sincere dua asking for success in this venture, and then
consistent effort to do your best.<br />
<b>Your contribution</b><br />
If you know of any good Islamic resources (e.g. lectures,
applications) that are freely available online, please suggest them in
the comments section.<br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong><span style="color: #b45f06;">the Holy Quran (Part 4)</span> </strong></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong> </strong></span></div>
With Ramadan almost here, insha’Allah you’re well on-track with
preparing to make the most of the coming month of mercy. Previous posts
in this series covered <a href="http://www.productivemuslim.com/the-ramadan-early-bird-series/">salaah</a>, <a href="http://www.productivemuslim.com/the-ramadan-early-bird-series-part-2/">unhealthy habits</a>, and <a href="http://www.productivemuslim.com/the-ramadan-early-bird-series-part-3/">dua</a> – and to wrap up, we shall focus on the greatest source of guidance to come to us – <b>the Holy Quran</b>.<br />
This post can’t come close to being comprehensive enough, or fitting
of the subject matter – but it’s an attempt to help in this most immense
of areas.<br />
<h2>
<b style="color: #b45f06;">A light in our dark days</b></h2>
Like Prophets before him, Muhammad <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" height="20px" src="http://www.productivemuslim.com/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /><span class="islamic_graphic"> (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)</span>
(peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) came with numerous physical
miracles. But the cardinal miracle he was sent with was our Holy Text –
Al-Quran. The purpose of this Book is clearly stated very early – in the
opening verses of Surah Baqarah (translation of the meaning):<br />
<div class="note" style="padding-left: 30px; text-align: justify;">
“This is the Book whereof there is no doubt; a guidance to those who are conscious of Allah.”<a href="http://quran.com/2/2" target="_blank"> [2: 2]</a></div>
In a world that has become so confusing and morally corrupt – and is
degenerating further and further – who can say that they aren’t in need
of guidance? Humanity has tried to put forward various ideologies as the
ways to curing our world, and to achieve success – but which of these
has truly proven successful?<br />
The answer is: none. And it’s easy to know why. Despite how
intelligent we are as humans, and how much we’ve achieved in this world –
we <i>cannot </i>know everything there is to know about this world.
And despite the progress made via scientific discoveries and
technological advances, still no (sane) human can claim to know it all.<br />
Conversely, the One who created us does know everything. <b><i>Absolutely</i></b> everything. Both of this world <i>and</i> the realms we cannot perceive through our senses. So it’s only logical that we follow the <b>One with more knowledge</b> – the One that knows what’s best for us – not only because of that knowledge, but because He created us.<br />
<span id="more-2632"></span><br />
And this Quran, coupled with the Sunnah (since the Prophet’s <img alt="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" class="islamic_graphic" height="20px" src="http://www.productivemuslim.com/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/saw.png" title="ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)" /><span class="islamic_graphic"> (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him)</span> (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) ‘character <i>was </i>the Quran’ – as per Aisha’s <img alt="raḍyAllāhu 'anha (may Allāh be pleased with her)" class="islamic_graphic" height="20px" src="http://www.productivemuslim.com/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/ranha.png" title="raḍyAllāhu 'anha (may Allāh be pleased with her)" /><span class="islamic_graphic"> (may Allāh be pleased with her)</span> statement) is our roadmap to success – both in this life and the next.<br />
<span style="text-decoration: underline;">The religion of Islam
(which is based on these two primary sources) teaches us exactly what’s
best for us – and explains where we came from, who we are, and what our
purpose in life is</span>.<br />
As Muslims, the Quran is our <i>primary</i> source of spiritual
fulfilment and our greatest means towards spiritual progress. So no
matter where we are in terms of our spirituality, the Quran is our means
to advance. And with Ramadan being <b>the month of the Quran</b>, it’s only to strengthen our relationship with the Quran in preparation for it.<br />
<div style="color: #b45f06;">
<br /></div>
<h2 style="color: #b45f06;">
<b>Strengthening the link</b>–<b> the Early Bird way</b></h2>
How many times have you heard speakers criticize those who make the
Quran an ‘ornament’? Something that sits on the highest shelf of our
homes – collecting dust; and only being picked up and read on certain
occasions.<br />
Maybe that description doesn’t fit you. Maybe you read the important
surahs – such as Surah Yaseen and Surah Mulk regularly, or Surah Kahf on
a Friday – because you know about the virtues and rewards of reading
them. But is that all you read? Aren’t there 111 <i>other </i>surahs worthy of your attention?<br />
Maybe you <i>do </i>read a lot more of the Quran regularly. But do you understand what you’re reading? Allah is speaking to <b>you </b>directly – do you know what He’s saying?<br />
And are you giving the Quran its proper rights in terms of
etiquettes? Do you recite with proper tajweed? Or are you assuming that
the way you learnt to recite as a child is correct?<br />
Maybe you’re a hafidh, and you know what the reward of that is – for
both you and your parents on the Day of Judgement. But do you actually <i>live </i>the teachings of the Quran? Memorising is one thing, and understanding is another. But actually <i>following</i> is a much, much higher level.<br />
Maybe you can’t even <i>read </i>Arabic at all – due to whatever circumstance in your history. Don’t you feel it’s worth <i>trying </i>to learn? Are you “too old” to start learning now?<br />
No matter what stage we’re at, each of us has a relationship with the
Quran. And if we want to improve that relationship, we need to start
with sincere intentions, then follow that up with regular and consistent
effort.<br />
As explained in previous posts, our approach in this series is to follow a five-step process to gradually solve the problem:<br />
<ol start="1">
<li><b>Selection of an area:</b> For this month, the topic is Quran</li>
<li><b>Diagnosis: </b>Analyse what your current condition is in the area and list your weaknesses</li>
<li><b>Root cause analysis:</b> Get to the root of your weaknesses / problems</li>
<li><b>Solutions:</b> Come up with practical methods to overcome those root causes</li>
<li><b>Planning and implementation: </b>Set up a realistic
plan of action to implement those solutions step by step in the coming
weeks, then at a higher pace in Ramadan</li>
</ol>
<h2 style="color: #b45f06;">
<b>Diagnosis:</b></h2>
Ask yourself:<br />
<ul>
<li>Do I understand the importance of the Quran in this life?</li>
<li>Do I understand its importance when I die, and in my Hereafter?</li>
<li>Can I read the Quran in Arabic? Or do I just rely on translations of the meaning in my own home language?</li>
<li>If I read in Arabic, is my tajweed correct?</li>
<li>How often do I read Quran? (in Arabic <i>and</i> in your own language, if you don’t speak Arabic)</li>
<li>When I read, how much time do I spend per reading?</li>
<li>Am I reading only certain surahs or sections? Or do I read widely?</li>
<li>What are the correct reasons to be reading Quran?</li>
<li>Why do <i>I</i> read it?</li>
<li>If I don’t understand what I read (either in Arabic or translation),
do I make an effort to find out and get a deeper understanding? (e.g.
via asking scholars, reading tafseer)</li>
<li>When I understand, do I try to implement this understanding in my life?</li>
<li>Do I teach others what I learn of the Quran?</li>
</ul>
Using this month’s worksheet, think through each question and record
your answers. Be honest with yourself – and do this either completely in
private, without sharing it with anyone (if you prefer it that way), or
with someone else (if you think that’s more beneficial).<br />
<br />
<h2 style="color: #b45f06;">
<b>Analysis:</b></h2>
First, consider your answers, then identify and list your weaknesses or problems you feel you need to address.<br />
Next, write down each issue’s outward symptoms that you notice, and
try to find the root causes of the issue by interrogating it. Look at
the issue or the symptoms and ask yourself “why?” Keep asking “why?” of
each answer until you get to the root cause.<br />
For example, if you don’t recite Quran regularly, ask yourself why.
Maybe your answer is simple: “I don’t have time” or “I’m too busy”. Go
beyond that – ask why. What <i>do </i>you spend time on? Do you really
not have even 10 minutes per day to give to Quran? Can you not cut down
on another, less important activity to give Quran <i>some </i>time at
least? For example, do you really need to read the news every day? Or
do you really have to watch every TV show you like when it airs? (You
can use the <a href="http://www.productivemuslim.com/the-ramadan-early-bird-series-part-2/">post on unhealthy habits</a> to help with such time management issues.)<br />
<br />
<h2>
<b>Solutions:</b></h2>
With the problems diagnosed, the symptoms identified, and root causes
found, now think of practical ways to solve those problems. Brainstorm
and list practical ways to solve the issues from the root – meaning that
your solution doesn’t only address the outward symptoms, but the root
causes too.<br />
While doing this, remember to apply <i>realistic expectations</i> for
yourself. Don’t aim for a solution you know will be impossible. Aim for
what’s within your grasp, and know that as you successfully implement
one solution, insha-Allah you’ll be better equipped to aim higher and go
even further after that.<br />
<br />
<h2 style="color: #b45f06;">
<b>Planning and implementation:</b></h2>
With solutions identified, now analyse what your life is like at this
moment, and come up with a realistic plan of how you can implement the
solutions over a period of time. Remember to plan this in ways that are
realistic – achievable – for <i>you</i>, even if it means you’ll be <span style="text-decoration: underline;">taking
tiny steps over a long period of time. Doing things gradually – in
small and consistent steps – is the best way to achieve sustainable,
permanent solutions.</span><br />
For example, if you struggle to read Arabic, don’t set yourself an
initial target of reciting 10 pages of Quran per day (unless you have
the time). It’s not about quantity. And the person who struggles to
recite, according to hadith, gets more reward than the one who recites
fluently. So start with one page. Or even just a few verses per day. You
may think that’s too little, <b>but the deeds most beloved to Allah are those that are consistent, even if they be small</b> –
so it’s better to read a small amount, which you can keep up with,
rather than start big and then quit when you can’t sustain the pace.<br />
Also apply wisdom. Don’t just dogmatically follow a path set down by others. Do what’s right for <b><i>you</i></b> – what you think will be <b><i>most beneficial</i></b> for
you personally. For example, some people are rigid about quantity –
they say you “have to” read a whole khattam in a certain number of days /
weeks (e.g. ‘You must finish the whole Quran at least once in
Ramadan’).<br />
To meet that target, are you going to read like a bullet train (or speedy rapper)? Does Allah want <i>quantity</i>, or <i>quality</i>? Is it better to read the Quran three whole times in a month – without understanding, or read it once – with understanding?<br />
<b>Make your plans realistic and wise</b>. Your
relationship with the Quran is your own – it’s personal. And in your
grave, and on the Day of Judgement, it’s that relationship which will
either benefit or harm you. So keep that in mind and aim for solutions
that will stick and will benefit you most in this life and in the next.<br />
Also include, in your plan, the ways you’d like to intensify your efforts when Ramadan comes.<br />
If, after a while, you find that you’ve incorrectly estimated your
ability to follow the plan, simply make adjustments as needed. The goal
for this month is to implement steps that are <i>realistic</i> for you – what you can manage, and not what will overburden you.<br />
<br />
<h2>
<b><a href="http://www.productivemuslim.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/ramadan_earlybird_worskheet4.doc" target="_blank">Worksheet</a></b></h2>
To help with this month’s exercise, you can download and use the following document: <a href="http://www.productivemuslim.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/ramadan_earlybird_worskheet4.doc" target="_blank">RamadanEarlyBird worksheet (4th edition).</a><br />
<br />
<h2>
<b>Resources</b></h2>
To help you with this month’s focus, check out the following:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Audio lecture: <a href="http://www.sacredlearning.org/audio/general/2004/belief_quran.mp3">“Our Belief in the Quran”</a> by Shaykh Hussain Abdul Sattar – a very short lecture on the key ingredient in benefiting from the Quran</li>
<li>Audio lecture series: <a href="http://www.nazirakoob.com/menk/Tafseer2005.html">“Reasons for revelation”</a> by
Mufti Ismail Menk – Ramadan tafseer series in which the speaker
explains the context around the revelation of specific verses of Quran</li>
<li>Institutes specialising in Quran: <a href="http://www.darun-naim.co.za/">Darun Na’im</a> (Cape Town), <a href="http://bayyinah.com/">Bayyinah Institute</a> (USA, and online after this Ramadan insha-Allah) – includes free audios of tafseer</li>
<li>Website: Islam 101’s <a href="http://www.islam101.com/quran/QTP/index.htm">Quran resources page</a> – includes Pickthall translation of meanings, recitations, and more.</li>
<li>Video: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifllgTA2pmY">“The purpose of life”</a> by
Dr Jeffrey Lang – the story of how an atheist Maths professor came to
realise the truth and purpose of life via his reading of the Quran and
the use of logic.</li>
</ul>
And remember that the most important resources of all are the <b>right intentions</b>, <b>sincere dua</b> asking for success in this venture, and then <b>consistent effort</b> to do your best.<br />
Lastly, jazakAllah for being a part of this series on
ProductiveMuslim. I hope it’s been beneficial, and I ask that you make
dua for me, my family, everyone at ProductiveMuslim, all those who
helped promote the series, and everyone who participated in it. I wish
you the very best for the coming Ramadan. May Allah <img alt="subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He)" class="islamic_graphic" height="20px" src="http://www.productivemuslim.com/wp-content/plugins/islamic-graphics/img/black/20/swt.png" title="subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He)" /><span class="islamic_graphic"> (glorified and exalted be He)</span>
accept all your preparations and enable you to enter the month in a
high state of spirituality, then help you build to greater and greater
levels throughout it, and enable you to maintain your commitment on Eid
day and beyond.<b> </b><br />
<b> </b><br />
<div style="color: #351c75;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #351c75;">
<u><b>About the Author</b></u></div>
<div>
<i>Yacoob is a writer, blogger, husband, and father of a very busy
toddler. Writing is his passion, and sharing beneficial knowledge and
insights has been a pillar of his life for the last decade. He blogs
regularly at <a href="http://dreamlife.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">dreamlife.wordpress.com</a> and <a href="http://www.ramadan.co.za/" target="_blank">Ramadan.co.za </a>during Ramadan.</i></div>
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7987288030401910338.post-83969991112454574222012-07-01T14:48:00.000+06:002012-06-28T08:21:38.072+06:00Yet You Despair?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
Being despair is one of the most common occurrence to our lives. Today I have watched a wonderful slide show in Islamic Tube, which has just told about what goes on with us, how and why. What can we do in such situations and what are the best thinking to get rid of this situation.</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">We all go through the tough times, but thing is important, how to get rid of them and how to deal them. May Allah bless us all.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://0.gvt0.com/vi/kVj_zRqVaOQ/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/kVj_zRqVaOQ&fs=1&source=uds" />
<param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" />
<embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/kVj_zRqVaOQ&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/eoJcnv4d7es?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.islamictube.com/watch/e2246df6c57b3797f2b4/-Do-Not-Despair-Sh-Muhammad-Al-Mukhtar-Ash-Shinqitee"> The video of Part1 on Islamic Tube</a></span></li>
</ul>
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7987288030401910338.post-14064253502982317952012-05-22T10:44:00.001+06:002012-05-22T20:19:36.486+06:00Despair Not<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="color: #b45f06;">A nice reminder collected from sister <a href="http://diffrntstrokes.wordpress.com/2012/05/20/despair-not/" target="_blank">Nasmira's</a> blog...</span></i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">“When you are hurt by the people who share blood relations with you, recall Prophet Joseph (Yusuf) [alayhi salaam] who was also betrayed by his brothers.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">When you find your parents opposing you (in religion) recall Prophet Abraham (Ibraheem) [alayhi salaam] who was made to jump into a blazing fire by his father.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">When you are mocked and abused by your own relatives just because you adopted Islam over duniya, recall Prophet Mohammad [sallalhu alaihi wa sallam] who faced the same.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: small; line-height: 24px;">When you are mocked and abused by your own relatives just because you adopted Islam over duniya, recall Prophet Mohammad [sallalhu alaihi wa sallam] who faced the same.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: small; line-height: 24px;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjchLE7ny4NKKptovmaPUPieWlBcnROsbGryr6qhANwIOpi2qfJbYNPZhXDJs7tL7UcsOzAc5aAUn7L5Wl3iK0ap51CRejh2xFuseR6Ih6XD8AQgCEb5jmnLOw2zoevKxy3L_jXiK3lDQnz/s1600/allahs-help-is-near.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjchLE7ny4NKKptovmaPUPieWlBcnROsbGryr6qhANwIOpi2qfJbYNPZhXDJs7tL7UcsOzAc5aAUn7L5Wl3iK0ap51CRejh2xFuseR6Ih6XD8AQgCEb5jmnLOw2zoevKxy3L_jXiK3lDQnz/s400/allahs-help-is-near.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: small; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">When you are stuck into some problem and find no way out recall Prophet Jonah (Yunus) [alayhi salaam] who was stuck inside the belly of a whale.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">When you fall ill and your whole body cries in pain, recall Prophet Job (Ayoob) [alayhi salaam] who was more ill than you.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">When you see some physical fault in yourself, recall Prophet Moses (Musa) [alayhi salam] who could not properly speak.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">When someone slanders you, recall Ay’esha [radiallahu anha] who was also slandered throughout the city.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">When you can’t see any logic in what’s going on and your heart asks why this is happening, recall Prophet Noah (Nuh) [alayhi salaam] who built the Ark without questioning.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="color: #783f04;">Subhan’Allah! Allah put all those great personalities in trial so that the generations to follow may learn a lesson in patience and perseverance.”</span></i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="color: #783f04;">Beautiful..ain’t it?! :)</span></i></span></div>
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7987288030401910338.post-40919857454000014752012-05-17T19:20:00.000+06:002012-05-17T13:23:59.168+06:00Sweetest Audios -- Al- Quran Recitation<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I have gathered here few sweetest audios I have ever heard in my life. I only know, these are the sweetest sounds my ears ever heard in my life. I often could not hold my tears listening to these recitations. </span>The audio clips are collected and recited by Sheikh Mishary Al Afasy and Khalid Al Juhaym. Allah Subnahu Wa Ta'ala has blessed him with the sweetest voice...</div>
<div style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div>
<span style="color: red; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><u>Khalid Al Juhaym Quran Recitation:</u></b></span><br />
<ul style="color: #274e13; text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.box.net/ramadan/1/48346104/508545183">Surah Yusuf by Khalid Al Juhaym</a> Part 1<br />
</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.box.com/ramadan#/ramadan/1/48346104/508545183/1" target="_blank">Surah Yusuf by Khalid Al Juhaym</a> Part 2</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<b style="color: red;"><u><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Mishary Al Afasy Quran Recitation:</span></u></b></div>
</div>
<ul style="color: #274e13;">
<li style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.box.net/ramadan/1/48346104/479987982">Recitation of ayahs from Surah Ibrahim</a> </span></li>
<li style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.box.net/ramadan/1/48346104/479978204">Recitation of ayahs from Surah Fussilat</a></span></li>
<li style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.box.net/ramadan/1/48346104/475290916">Recitation of ayahs from Surah Namal</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.box.net/ramadan/1/48346104/475288838" style="color: #0c343d;">Recitation of ayahs from Surah Qiyamah </a></span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">* * * * * * </span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: georgia, serif;">I found amazing collection of Quran Recitations. Many Qari's recitations are accumulated there. I was so enchanted. I am sharing the links here. You can download them all and listen.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><a href="http://quranicaudio.com/index">Quranic Audio.com</a></b></span><br />
<ul style="font-family: Kalpurush; margin-left: 80px;"></ul>
<ol style="font-family: Kalpurush;">
<li><span style="font-family: georgia, serif;"><a href="http://quranicaudio.com/quran/7">Abdur Rahman as Sudais</a> (I love his tilawat most)</span></li>
<li><a href="http://quranicaudio.com/quran/5"><span style="font-family: georgia, serif;">Mishary al Afasy</span></a><span style="font-family: georgia, serif;"></span></li>
</ol>
<ul style="font-family: Kalpurush; margin-left: 80px;"></ul>
<ul style="font-family: Kalpurush;">
<li><span style="font-family: georgia, serif;"><a href="http://www.muslimtents.com/alafasy/">Collection</a> of Mishary Al Afasy (audio & video) </span><span style="font-family: georgia, serif;"></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: georgia, serif;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/%20http://www.sunnipath.com/Library/Quran/Q0001R0000.aspx%20%20">For iPod and mp3</a></span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="color: #274e13;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"> </span></ul>
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7987288030401910338.post-69090798197670594492012-05-16T17:30:00.000+06:002012-05-16T17:30:10.692+06:007 Daily Spiritual Productive Habits to Develop<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<i><span style="color: blue;">the article was published in <a href="http://www.productivemuslim.com/7-daily-spiritual-productive-habits-to-develop/" target="_blank">ProductiveMuslim</a> website, written by Abu Productive </span></i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
You should aim to develop the following 7 Spiritually Productive activities into habits so that you can hopefully continue benefitting from them throughout your life. I consider these activities as the spiritual ‘bread and butter’ of any ProductiveMuslim. To develop them as habits is the essence of embarking on your journey towards the love of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) and constantly increasing in your eman, inshaAllah: </div>
<h2 style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #c66717; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.25em; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1) Pray the Sunnah Prayers before and/or after Prayer:</strong></h2>
<div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
I know it’s easier to just pray the obligatory prayers and rush out of the mosque! However, when we realise the rewards we’re missing from not praying these Sunnah prayers we won’t leave them. Over the years I have learnt there’s only <span class="caps" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">ONE</span> way of getting yourself to pray these Sunnah prayers constantly: Get into the habit of praying them! They’ll soon become part and parcel of your <a href="http://www.productivemuslim.com/salah-your-focus-in-the-age-of-distraction/" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #c66717; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_self" title="Salah: Your FOCUS in the Age of Distraction">Salah</a> and your Salah will feel incomplete without performing these acts. </div>
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<div style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<h2 style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #c66717; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.25em; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2) Remembrance of Allah after Salah:</strong></h2>
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Again, it’s easy to rush out after Salah due to our busy lives, though if we are honest, how long does it take to recite the supplications after Salah? (The Answer: 5-7 minutes!). If you’re not sure what I’m referring to, you may find the supplications at<a href="http://www.makedua.com/display_dua.php?sectionid=25" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #c66717; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank" title="Dua/Remembrance said in the morning and evening">MakeDua.com</a>. Nowadays you’ll find pocket notebooks/or phone applications with these supplications. Get into the habit of reciting them daily after each Salah to enrich your Salah experience.</div>
<h2 style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #c66717; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.25em; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">3) Morning/Evening Remembrance of Allah:</strong></h2>
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Step 2 is also included in this habit. There exists a beautiful set of duas/remembrances from the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) which he used to say before sunrise and after sunset. They are true stress relievers and energy boosters which never fail to make my days and evenings feel blessed. [You can find the duas at<a href="http://www.makedua.com/display_dua.php?sectionid=25" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #c66717; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank" title="Dua/Remembrance said in the morning and evening">MakeDua.com</a>]</div>
<h2 style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #c66717; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.25em; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">4) Night Prayer:</strong></h2>
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Hamdulillah, during <a href="http://www.productiveramadan.com/" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #c66717; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank" title="ProductiveRamadan.com - A ProductiveMuslim.com Project">Ramadan</a> we have the wonderful Taraweeh prayers to attend. However, outside of Ramadan there are many opportunities to still obtain the reward of the night prayer. If you’re new to night prayer or you don’t pray it constantly during the year, make sure you try to attend prayers each and every night in congregation at the mosque (particularly brothers), and give yourself a ‘no-excuse’ policy. Develop a habit of praying <strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Tahajjud </strong>and continuing to pray them for an entire 30 days; this will set you on better footing to continue with the Night Prayer for the rest of the year inshaAllah.</div>
<h2 style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #c66717; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.25em; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">5) Duha Prayer:</strong></h2>
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Here’s a Productive Muslim’s top secret to a productive day: 2 rak’ahs known as the Duha prayer which you may pray at anytime after sunrise till before the sun reaches it’s zenith (around 30 minutes before Dhuhr). The reward of this prayer is similar to giving charity on behalf of every bone in your body, and the energy and buzz you feel during the day is amazing.</div>
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<strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">6) Supplications before you Sleep:</strong></h2>
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You’ve just had a long day and you’re super tired. You climb into bed and you want to hit the sack… but wait! Before you do, can you give yourself just 10 more minutes to recite the <a href="http://www.makedua.com/display_dua.php?sectionid=28" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #c66717; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank" title="Du'a - Remembrance before sleeping">supplications before sleeping</a>? That’s all. Try them and find yourself experiencing <a href="http://www.productivemuslim.com/productivemuslim-sleep-routine/" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #c66717; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_self" title="ProductiveMuslim Sleep Routine">the most beautiful sleep ever</a> and <a href="http://www.productivemuslim.com/whats-your-morning-routine/" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #c66717; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_self" title="What’s Your Morning Routine?">waking up</a> for Fajr easily, inshaAllah. For more information on waking up for fajr, constantly, everyday, without fail Read <a href="http://www.productivemuslim.com/waking-up-for-fajr-how-to-part-1/" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #c66717; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_self" title="How to Wake up for Fajr?">How to Wake up for Fajr</a>.</div>
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<strong style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">7) Reciting one hour of Quran each day:</strong></h2>
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Notice: I said here recite one hour of Quran each day and not one juz’ or one Surah. The amount of Quran you read is not as important as the quality of your understanding. If you spend one hour reciting one verse but understand it fully, that’s more important and beneficial then reciting lots of Quran at break-neck speed yet not understanding a word.</div>
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So there you go, 7 spiritually productive habits you can develop throughout the year starting from <span class="caps" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">TODAY</span>!</div>
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Note: The below <a href="http://www.productivemuslim.com/worksheets-wallpapers/" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #c66717; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_self" title="Worksheets & Wallpapers">worksheets</a> can help you in developing the above habits;</div>
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7987288030401910338.post-38806822670084754292012-05-12T08:37:00.000+06:002012-04-22T10:09:30.430+06:00Double Up on Good Deeds Before Ramadan<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i>the following write up is collected from <a href="http://www.tayyibaat.com/2011/07/06/double-up-on-good-deeds-before-ramadan/">Tayyibaat blog</a></i></div>
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<u>Bismillah</u></div>
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We now have the chance to take advantage of two sunnahs of the Prophet (alayhi salaatu wa salaam):</div>
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1- <strong>Fasting in Sha'ban</strong></div>
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It was narrated from Abu Salamah that A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) did not fast in any month more than Sha'ban, and he used to fast all of Sha'ban and he used to say: "Do as much of good deeds as you can, for Allah does not get tired (of giving reward) until you get tired." And the most beloved of prayers to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was that in which one persists even if it is little. When he offered a prayer he would persist in doing so. [Bukhari and Muslim]</div>
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The Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) also said about Sha'ban: "It is a month that<br /> people neglect, between Rajab and Ramadan. It is a month in which actions are raised to the Lord of the Worlds and I love for my actions to be raised while I am fasting." [Tirmidhi and Al-Nasa'i]</div>
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2- <strong>Fasting in the Summer</strong></div>
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al-Qasim bin Muhammad said that A'ishah (radi Allahu anha) would fast in the intense heat, and he was asked: "What drove her to do this?" He replied: "She would take advantage of the days before death." And some of the righteous women would choose the hottest days and fast them, saying: "If the price is low, everyone will buy," meaning that she wanted to do those actions that only a few were capable of due to how hard it was to do them, and this is indicative of the high aspirations these women had. [ibn Rajab hafidhahullah]</div>
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Abu ad-Darda' (radi Allahu anhu) would say: "Fast the very hot days in anticipation of the Day of Resurrection, and pray two rak'at in the darkness of night in anticipation of the darkness of the grave." And it's reported in the two ' Sahih's that he said: "You have seen us with the Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) on some of his journeys on very hot days, and a man would hold his hand against his head due to the intensity of the heat, and none of them would be fasting except the Messenger of Allah and 'Abdullah bin Rawahah." [Bukhari]</div>
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7987288030401910338.post-26221522048512457422012-05-10T12:20:00.001+06:002011-10-17T10:33:38.792+06:00Nicely explained! "Tawakkul (Reliance on Allah)" by Umm Yusuf<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="font-family: georgia,serif;"></div><div style="font-family: georgia,serif;">I used to think that tawakkul was just making dua for good to happen in your life and expecting good to happen with certainty (no matter how uncertain the situation may be). I realize now that tawakkul is also a belief in the Grand Plan of Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala) and that, in the worst times of your life when you think you have been abandoned, when you are tested, tawakkul is to also believe there is good in the test that you are going through…and even that test is a mercy of Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala). Remember Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala) loves you more than your mother does and, although you cannot imagine doing this, one day you will thank Him for giving you that test because through it you gained so many blessings.</div><div style="font-family: georgia,serif;"><b><i>"And Allah is predominant over His affair, but most of the people do not know." Qur'an(12:20)</i></b></div><div style="font-family: georgia,serif;"><b><i></i></b></div><a name='more'></a><br />
<div style="font-family: georgia,serif;">Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala) mentions this ayat to us in Surah Yusuf after Yusuf ('alayhisalaam) is thrown down a well by his own brothers, separated from his beloved father by their envy and sold as a slave, and this is BEFORE the test of the women and prison…why? Whereas the majority of people when placed in difficult times would lose hope in the mercy of Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala) and despair and give up on making du'a we musn't be fooled by the difficult times in our life – that things may get worse and continue to, but we have to remember Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala) is completely in control of our affairs and that with this difficulty there is some ultimate benefit for us both on the day of Judgement and also in this world.<br />
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"…and it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you and that you like a thing which is bad for you. Allah knows but you do not know." (2:216) </i></b></div><div style="font-family: georgia,serif;">Since He (subhanahu wa ta'ala) has placed us in this difficulty, He, too, will remove us from this difficulty just as in the same way as with Yusuf ('alayhisalaam). Had Yusuf ('alayhisalaam) not been thrown down the well by his brothers, he would not have become the financial minister of Egypt. The day he was thrown in the well was the day that his path to blessings was made easy for him. The blessing of becoming financial minister of Egypt, the blessing of wealth and honour and provision. The blessing of prophethood and the blessing of Jannah. Yusuf ('alayhisalaam) eventually saw the fruits of his patience. Similarly, we have to have patience because the day our test began is the day our path to honour, blessings and ease had also similarly begun.</div><div style="font-family: georgia,serif;"><b><i>The Prophet (sallalaahu 'alayhi wasallam) said "…"Be mindful of Allah, you will find Him in front of you. Become beloved to Allah during times of prosperity, He will know you in times of adversity. </i></b><b><i>Know that what has passed you by was never to befall you. And (know that) what has befallen you was never to have passed you by. And know that victory accompanies perseverance, relief accompanies affliction and ease accompanies hardship". (At-Tirmidhi Hadith #19 in An-Nawawi's 40 Hadith)</i></b></div><div style="font-family: georgia,serif;">The Arabic word "ma'" means "with" and when this word connects victory with perseverance, relief with affliction and so forth, then this means (according to explanations from scholars as explained in Zarabozo's explanation of An-Nawawi's 40 Hadith) is not that one follows the other after some time but that one thing follows the other very closely as if they are coming together. So as the trial starts, so does the relief - giving us comfort that whatever problems we may face, we have to be patient for a little while because the relief is also on its way.</div><div style="font-family: georgia,serif;">One of the most painful experiences in life is to lose someone you love. When this happens, sometimes the thought may enter our mind - who could be better than this person? This was the exact thought that entered the mind of the companion of the Prophet Muhammad (sallalaahu 'alayhi wasallam), Umm Salamah when her husband Abu Salamah died. She had shared so much with him and she couldn't imagine who could be better than this man.</div><div style="font-family: georgia,serif;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></div><div style="font-family: georgia,serif;"><b><i>Umm Salamah narrated that the Prophet (sallalaahu 'alayhi wasallam) said: "There is no Muslim that is afflicted with a calamity, and he says what Allah has commanded him to say: "To Allah we belong and to him we will return! O Allah! Give me the rewards (of being patient over) this calamity, and grant me something better than it to replace it," except that Allah will give him something better to replace it."</i></b><b><i> </i></b></div><span style="font-family: georgia,serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="font-family: georgia,serif;"><b><i> </i></b><b><i>Umm Salamah said "So when (my husband) Abu Salamah died, I said this du'a, but could not help thinking, "Who is better than Abu Salamah (i.e. no one can replace Abu Salamah)?" Then the Prophet (sallalaahu 'alayhi wasallam) himself sent me a messenger proposing to me, so Allah blessed me with someone better than Abu Salamah" (Muslim, Abu Dawud, At-Tirmidhi).</i></b></div><div style="font-family: georgia,serif;"><br />
<b><i></i></b></div><div style="font-family: georgia,serif;">And who did Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala) replace Abu Salamah with? Someone who was so much better than him in worldly status and in the status of the akhirah – Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah (sallalaahu 'alayhi wasallam). Prophet Muhammad (sallalaahu 'alayhi wasallam) approached her. She didn't have to get his attention or compromise her faith or herself for him. He came to her even though she was old, widowed with children and he accepted her even though she admitted to having character deficiencies. And had Umm Salamah not gone through the pain of losing Abu Salamah, she would never have had the honour of being the wife of the final Messenger of Allah (sallalaahu 'alayhi wasallam) in this world or the next.</div><div style="font-family: georgia,serif;">When we face difficulties or we lose something, and we equally say the above mentioned du'a and have patience, insha'Allah, whatever we have lost, Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala) will compensate us in this world and the next with that which is abundantly better. When we experience that blessing we will thank Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala) for taking us through that test and we will understand that we were never abandoned, our dua's were heard (every single one of them) and Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala) was always in control of our affairs.</div><div style="font-family: georgia,serif;"><b><i>------------<br />
</i></b></div><div style="font-family: georgia,serif;"><b><i>Written by guest writer, Umm Yusuf. Taken from <a href="http://muslimmatters.org/2011/05/10/tawakkul-reliance-on-allah/">MuslimMatters.org</a></i></b></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7987288030401910338.post-16696603993338107662011-11-29T16:45:00.005+06:002011-11-30T10:42:55.922+06:00Tawbah: treading the path of paradise -- by Yasmin Mogahed<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="post-thumbnail" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i>The writing is taken from the website of sister <a href="http://www.yasminmogahed.com/2011/11/29/tawbah-treading-the-path-of-paradise/">Yasmin Mogahed </a></i><br />
<br />
<img alt="Tawbah: treading the path of paradise" class="post-thumb" height="147" src="http://www.yasminmogahed.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/1235908027k9EamTa-186x186.jpg" title="Tawbah: treading the path of paradise" width="147" /> <span class="post-overlay"></span> </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The man knew he was nearing his death. Because he had committed innumerable sins, he was terrified to meet his Lord. Upon his death, the man said to his children: "If my Lord takes possession of me, He will punish me in a manner in which He has punished no one else." In his fear, the man asked his children to burn his body after his death and scatter his remains.</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And so after his death, the man was cremated. But then God said to the earth: "Produce what you have taken." When the man came before God, God said to him: "What induced you to do what you did?" The man replied, "It was out of fear of you, oh my Lord." And because of that, he was forgiven [from Hadith Qudsi 32, Bukhari & Muslim].</span></div><a name='more'></a><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">In this man's overwhelming fear of God, he had forgotten God's mercy. Consider a person so sinful that he might receive the greatest punishment ever given. But imagine such a sinner being forgiven still, by no merit of his own—but only by the mercy of his creator. That creator, when describing Himself in the Hadith Qudsi, says: "My mercy prevails over my wrath" [Bukhari & Muslim].</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This mercy—which is infinite—defines one of the most emphasized attributes of God. And every moment is a priceless opportunity to come back to Allah, and start over. This process of tawbah, turning back to Allah and seeking His forgiveness, is one of the most vital acts of worship. In fact, it is this act alone, which distinguished Prophet Adam from Iblees (Satan). And it is by this act alone, that some will enter Paradise.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">See, we all make mistakes. Prophet Adam made a mistake. And so did Iblees. Prophet Adam worshiped Allah—but so did Iblees. The difference between the two was that when Adam made his mistake, he realized his desperate need for Allah's forgiveness, while Iblees showed arrogance and did not repent.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Prophet Muhammad said: "Every descendant of Adam is oft to err, and the best of those who err are those who are oft to repent" [Al-Tirmidhi (2499) & Ibn Mijah (4251)]. And so, Iblees's mistake wasn't that he disobeyed Allah—Adam also disobeyed Allah. Iblees's mistake was that he disobeyed Allah and then refused to repent for it. Not only did he refuse to make tawbah, Iblees even blamed Allah for his own mistake: "<i>(Iblees) said: "O my Lord! Because Thou hast put me in the wrong, I will make (wrong) fair-seeming to them on the earth, and I will put them all in the wrong</i>" (Quran 15:39).</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">In contrast to this, by turning to Allah and realizing our need for His forgiveness and mercy, we actually become more beloved to Him. It was actually after he had made a mistake, realized his need for Allah, and repented, that Adam was sent to earth as a prophet.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">In fact Allah, in His infinite mercy, does not just accept our repentance—He loves to forgive. The Prophet says: "<i>If you were not to commit sins, Allah would remove you and replace you with a people who would commit sins and then seek Allah's forgiveness, so Allah could forgive them</i>" [Sahih Muslim (2749)].</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And when we do repent to Allah, He does not just erase our evil deeds, he even transforms them into good deeds: Allah says, "<i>Except those who repent and believe and work righteous deeds, for them Allah will change their evil deeds to good deeds, and Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful</i>" (Quran 25: 70).</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Even more, that forgiveness of Allah has no limit and no bounds. Allah says in the hadith Qudsi: "<i>Oh son of Adam, were your sins to reach the clouds of the sky and were you then to ask forgiveness of Me, I would forgive you</i>" [Al-Tirmithi].</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">We all will sin. That is a certainty. But the choice is ours. Will we follow the footsteps of the one who repented and became a prophet, or will we follow the one who refused…and became forever cursed?</span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7987288030401910338.post-62999030321484826122011-11-16T21:53:00.002+06:002012-04-11T10:21:45.604+06:00Shaitan's Speech in the Day of Judgement<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="aya selected" id="t-14-22"><span class="aya-wrapper" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="ayaText">And Satan will say when the matter has been concluded,</span></span></span> </span></b></blockquote>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="aya selected" id="t-14-22"><span class="aya-wrapper" style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="ayaText"> "Indeed, Allah had promised you the promise of truth.</span></span></span> And I promised you, but I betrayed you. </span></b></blockquote>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But I had no authority over you except that I invited you, and you responded to me. </span></b></blockquote>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So do not blame me; but blame yourselves. I cannot be called to your aid, nor can you be called to my aid. </span></b></blockquote>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Indeed, I deny your association of me [with Allah] before.</span></b></blockquote>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Indeed, for the wrongdoers is a painful punishment."</span></b></blockquote>
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[Al Quran, Surah Al Ibrahim, 14:22] </span><span class="ayaNumber"></span></span></span></span> </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7987288030401910338.post-38917949888433860152011-10-27T15:19:00.001+06:002015-10-19T19:29:09.368+06:00Why do people have to leave each other by Yasmin Mogahed<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I have collected the following post from <a href="http://www.suhaibwebb.com/personaldvlpt/character/why-do-people-have-to-leave-each-other/">Suhaibwebb.com</a><span id="goog_1613974069"></span><span id="goog_1613974070"></span> which is written by sister Yasmin Mogahed. One of the wonderful post I have ever read. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">When I was 17 years old, I had a dream. I dreamt that I was sitting inside a </span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">masjid </i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">and a little girl walked up to ask me a question. She asked me: “Why do people have to leave each other?” The question was a personal one, but it seemed clear to me why the question was chosen for me. I was one to get attached.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Ever since I was a child, this temperament was clear. While other children in preschool could easily recover once their parents left, I could not. My tears, once set in motion, did not stop easily. As I grew up, I learned to become attached to everything around me. From the time I was in first grade, I <i>needed </i>a best friend. As I got older, any fall-out with a friend shattered me. I couldn’t let go of anything. People, places, events, photographs, moments—even outcomes became objects of strong attachment. If things didn’t work out the way I wanted or imagined they should, I was devastated. And disappointment for me wasn’t an ordinary emotion. It was catastrophic. Once let down, I never fully recovered. I could never forget, and the break never mended. Like a glass vase that you place on the edge of a table, once broken, the pieces never quite fit again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">But the problem wasn’t with the vase. Or even that the vases kept breaking. The problem was that I kept putting them on the edge of tables. Through my attachments, I was dependent on my relationships to fulfill my needs. I allowed those relationships to define my happiness or my sadness, my fulfillment or my emptiness, my security, and even my self-worth. And so, like the vase placed where it will inevitably fall, through those dependencies I set myself up for disappointment. I set myself up to be broken. And that’s exactly what I found: one disappointment, one break after another.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">But the people who broke me were not to blame any more than gravity can be blamed for breaking the vase. We can’t blame the laws of physics when a twig snaps because we leaned on it for support. The twig was never created to carry us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Our weight was only meant to be carried by God. We are told in the Quran: “…whoever rejects evil and believes in God hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold, that never breaks. And God hears and knows all things.” (Qur’an <a href="http://www.quran.com/2/256">2: 256</a>)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">There is a crucial lesson in this verse: that there is only one handhold that never breaks. There is only one place where we can lay our dependencies. There is only one relationship that should define our self-worth and only one source from which to seek our ultimate happiness, fulfillment, and security. That place is God.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">But this world is all about seeking those things everywhere else. Some of us seek it in our careers, some seek it in wealth, some in status. Some, like me, seek it in our relationships. In her book, <i>Eat, Pray, Love</i>, Elizabeth Gilbert describes her own quest for happiness. She describes moving in and out of relationships, and even traveling the globe in search of this fulfillment. She seeks that fulfillment—unsuccessfully—in her relationships, in meditation, even in food.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">And that’s exactly where I spent much of my own life: seeking a way to fill my inner void. So it was no wonder that the little girl in my dream asked me this question. It was a question about loss, about disappointment. It was a question about being let down. A question about seeking something and coming back empty handed. It was about what happens when you try to dig in concrete with your bare hands: not only do you come back with nothing—you break your fingers in the process. And I learned this not by reading it, not by hearing it from a wise sage. I learned it by trying it again, and again, and again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">And so, the little girl’s question was essentially my own question…being asked to myself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Ultimately, the question was about the nature of the <i>dunya</i> as a place of fleeting moments and temporary attachments. As a place where people are with you today, and leave or die tomorrow. But this reality hurts our very being because it goes against our nature. We, as humans, are made to seek, love, and strive for what is perfect and what is permanent. We are made to seek what’s eternal. We seek this because we were not made for this life. Our first and true home was Paradise: a land that is both perfect and eternal. So the yearning for that type of life is a part of our being. The problem is that we try to find that here. And so we create ageless creams and cosmetic surgery in a desperate attempt to hold on—in an attempt to mold this world into what it is not, and will never be.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">And that’s why if we live in <i>dunya</i> with our hearts, it breaks us. That’s why this <i>dunya</i> hurts. It is because the definition of <i>dunya</i>, as something temporary and imperfect, goes against everything we are made to yearn for. Allah put a yearning in us that can only be fulfilled by what is eternal and perfect. By trying to find fulfillment in what is fleeting, we are running after a hologram…a mirage. We are digging into concrete with our bare hands. Seeking to turn what is by its very nature temporary into something eternal is like trying to extract from fire, water. You just get burned. Only when we stop putting our hopes in <i>dunya</i>, only when we stop trying to make the <i>dunya</i> into what it is not—and was never meant to be (<i>jannah</i>)—will this life finally stop breaking our hearts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">We must also realize that nothing happens without a purpose. Nothing. Not even broken hearts. Not even pain. That broken heart and that pain are lessons and signs for us. They are warnings that something is wrong. They are warnings that we need to make a change. Just like the pain of being burned is what warns us to remove our hand from the fire, emotional pain warns us that we need to make an internal change. That we need to detach. Pain is a form of forced detachment. Like the loved one who hurts you again and again and again, the more <i>dunya</i> hurts us, the more we inevitably detach from it. The more we inevitably stop loving it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">And pain is a pointer to our attachments. That which makes us cry, that which causes us most pain is where our false attachments lie. And it is those things which we are attached to as we should only be attached to Allah which become barriers on our path to God. But the pain itself is what makes the false attachment evident. The pain creates a condition in our life that we seek to change, and if there is anything about our condition that we don’t like, there is a divine formula to change it. God says: “Verily never will God change the condition of a people until they change what is within themselves.” (Qur’an, <a href="http://www.quran.com/13/11">13:11</a>)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">After years of falling into the same pattern of disappointments and heartbreak, I finally began to realize something profound. I had always thought that love of <i>dunya</i> meant being attached to material things. And I was not attached to material things. I was attached to people. I was attached to moments. I was attached to emotions. So I thought that the love of <i>dunya</i> just did not apply to me. What I didn’t realize was that people, moments, emotions are all a part of <i>dunya</i>. What I didn’t realize is that all the pain I had experienced in life was due to one thing, and one thing only: love of <i>dunya</i>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">As soon as I began to have that realization, a veil was lifted from my eyes. I started to see what my problem was. I was expecting this life to be what it is not, and was never meant to be: perfect. And being the idealist that I am, I was struggling with every cell in my body to make it so. It had to be perfect. And I would not stop until it was. I gave my blood, sweat, and tears to this endeavor: making the <i>dunya</i> into <i>jannah</i>. This meant expecting people around me to be perfect. Expecting my relationships to be perfect. Expecting so much from those around me and from this life. Expectations. Expectations. Expectations. And if there is one recipe for unhappiness it is that: expectations. But herein lay my fatal mistake. My mistake was not in having expectations; as humans, we should never lose hope. The problem was in *where* I was placing those expectations and that hope. At the end of the day, my hope and expectations were not being placed in God. My hope and expectations were in people, relationships, means. Ultimately, my hope was in this <i>dunya</i> rather than Allah.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">And so I came to realize a very deep Truth. An ayah began to cross my mind. It was an ayah I had heard before, but for the first time I realized that it was actually describing me: “Those who rest not their hope on their meeting with Us, but are pleased and satisfied with the life of the present, and those who heed not Our Signs.” (Qur’an, <a href="http://www.quran.com/10/7">10:7</a>)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">By thinking that I can have everything here, my hope was not in my meeting with God. My hope was in <i>dunya</i>. But what does it mean to place your hope in <i>dunya</i>? How can this be avoided? It means when you have friends, don’t expect your friends to fill your emptiness. When you get married, don’t expect your spouse to fulfill your every need. When you’re an activist, don’t put your hope in the results. When you’re in trouble don’t depend on yourself. Don’t depend on people. Depend on God.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Seek the help of people—but realize that it is not the people (or even your own self) that can save you. Only Allah can do these things. The people are only tools, a means used by God. But they are not the source of help, aid, or salvation of any kind. Only God is. The people cannot even create the wing of a fly (<a href="http://www.quran.com/22/73">22:73</a>). And so, even while you interact with people externally, turn your heart towards God. Face Him alone, as Prophet Ibrahim (as) said so beautifully: “For me, I have set my face, firmly and truly, towards Him Who created the heavens and the earth, and never shall I give partners to Allah.” (Qur’an, <a href="http://www.quran.com/6/79">6:79</a>)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">But how does Prophet Ibrahim (as) describe his journey to that point? He studies the moon, the sun and the stars and realizes that they are not perfect. They set.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">So Prophet Ibrahim (as) was thereby led to face Allah alone. Like him, we need to put our full hope, trust, and dependency on God. And God alone. And if we do that, we will learn what it means to finally find peace and stability of heart. Only then will the roller coaster that once defined our lives finally come to an end. That is because if our inner state is dependent on something that is by definition inconstant, that inner state will also be inconstant. If our inner state is dependent on something changing and temporary, that inner state will be in a constant state of instability, agitation, and unrest. This means that one moment we’re happy, but as soon as that which our happiness depended upon changes, our happiness also changes. And we become sad. We remain always swinging from one extreme to another and not realizing why.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">We experience this emotional roller coaster because we can never find stability and lasting peace until our attachment and dependency is on what is stable and lasting. How can we hope to find constancy if what we hold on to is inconstant and perishing? In the statement of Abu Bakr is a deep illustration of this truth. After the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ died, the people went into shock and could not handle the news. But although no one loved the Prophet ﷺ like Abu Bakr, Abu Bakr understood well the only place where one’s dependency should lie. He said: “If you worshipped Muhammad, know that Muhammad is dead. But if you worshipped Allah, know that Allah never dies.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">To attain that state, don’t let your source of fulfillment be anything other than your relationship with God. Don’t let your definition of success, failure, or self-worth be anything other than your position with Him (Qur’an, <a href="http://www.quran.com/49/13">49:13</a>). And if you do this, you become unbreakable, because your handhold is unbreakable. You become unconquerable, because your supporter can never be conquered. And you will never become empty, because your source of fulfillment is unending and never diminishes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"> Looking back at the dream I had when I was 17, I wonder if that little girl was me. I wonder this because the answer I gave her was a lesson I would need to spend the next painful years of my life learning. My answer to her question of why people have to leave each other was: “because this life isn’t perfect; for if it was, what would the next be called?</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7987288030401910338.post-45670147255541828772011-10-19T10:48:00.000+06:002011-10-19T10:48:03.778+06:00Modesty : The Missing Element<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">An important lecture by brother Nouman Ali Khan. The wonderful and very important human behavior is Modesty. And it is a major characteristics for the Muslims. </span><br />
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<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/4p1LpwXBDP8?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7987288030401910338.post-76517364894252736242011-10-19T10:44:00.000+06:002011-10-19T10:44:16.724+06:00The Youth Dilemma<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">A wonderful speech by Omar Suleiman on Youth dilemma. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/-UsDvaLRKkg?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7987288030401910338.post-16527636229259643532011-10-15T01:41:00.003+06:002011-10-15T01:50:10.473+06:00Hardship in the path of Allah<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><div><span style="font-size: small;">I have watched a lecture by sister Yasmin Mogahed in a conference by MSA west. It was wondeful and described some amazing point of view to understand the hardships of life. here is the link from <a href="http://www.suhaibwebb.com/personaldvlpt/purification-heart/hardships-and-the-path-to-god/">Suhaibwebb</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">The Prophet ﷺ (peace be upon him) said: "If Allah wills good for someone, He subjects them to hardship." How could that be? How can hardship ever be good for us? What is the purpose of trials and why does Allah promise that we will face trials and tribulation? In what way does hardship purify and develop us? When is tribulation a punishment? When is it a blessing? </span></div></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Yasmin Mogahed discusses these issues in a speech titled "Hardships and the Path to God" at the 2011 MSA West Conference.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/Z9xxInnDPs0?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span> </div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7987288030401910338.post-28661297235433684482011-10-11T23:29:00.000+06:002011-10-19T10:50:12.593+06:00An Inspiring Writer : Yasmin Mogahed<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I </span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">came to know her by a piece named <a href="http://www.suhaibwebb.com/personaldvlpt/purification-heart/the-dream-of-life/">The Dream of Life</a> which was really a wonderful one. Then I found another write-ups titled <a href="http://www.suhaibwebb.com/personaldvlpt/attachments-emptying-the-vessel/">Emptying The Vessel</a> which I liked a lot. After that, I watched her to deliver a speech on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZuo8B-0aA4">Manhood and Womanhood in Islam</a> which was educative, thought-provoking and enchanting. After all these, I found many more thoughtful, amazing writings and still counting. The most interesting part of her writings to me is the philosophical essence of our beliefs which adds a new dimension in the heart of readers. Like other Dayees (preachers) of Islaam, who presents the message of 'Deen' to people, she is a devoted intellect who writes and speaks for ummah. She writes </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">in <a href="http://www.suhaibwebb.com/author/yasmin-mogahed/">Suhaibwebb.com</a>, which is a wonderful website</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">. She has a <a href="http://www.yasminmogahed.com/">website</a> where all her activities are found altogether. Her contribution for Deen is inspiring </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">the Muslim ummah, especially for our Muslimah sisters. </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><u style="color: black;"><b>Biography of Sister Yasmin Mogahed</b></u></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivI9F9qcA3mC3TD7Lljm1rfNHSbBJ4U1QbztpX-b1iRZ-8UbmFyiTnV6TWK72Up3YkyfFawNzbA3ZJzX6HbdaX-1IZwcHndhfnPUajuUzdmOYKHY-Z10O8JQ4M0nxXxnif7JUD2UbH0dhF/s1600/YasminMogahed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivI9F9qcA3mC3TD7Lljm1rfNHSbBJ4U1QbztpX-b1iRZ-8UbmFyiTnV6TWK72Up3YkyfFawNzbA3ZJzX6HbdaX-1IZwcHndhfnPUajuUzdmOYKHY-Z10O8JQ4M0nxXxnif7JUD2UbH0dhF/s1600/YasminMogahed.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">Yasmin Mogahed, who holds a B.S. in Psychology and a Masters in Journalism and Mass Communications, is an internationally published journalist. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">She is also a writing instructor at Cardinal Stritch University, a staff columnist for the Islam section of InFocus News, and an independent media consultant based in North Carolina. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">She has lectured extensively around the country on Muslim affairs, and her written works, including a book chapter on the portrayal of Islam post-9/11, have appeared in print and online publications worldwide.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><u><b>Related Links:</b></u></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></div><ul style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.yasminmogahed.com/">Yasmin Mogahed Website:</a> Website which is taglined: '<i>A life of Submission, A piece of Serenity'! </i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.suhaibwebb.com/author/yasmin-mogahed/">Suhaibwebb:</a> Sister Yasmin is a regular contributor in Suhaibwebb. All her beautiful writings are available in this website. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://onelegacyradio.com/programs/serenity.html">One Legacy Radio</a>: Yasmin Mogahed hosts a program named "Serenity" which is broadcasted live on Wednesday at 3:30 PM (PST). It is repeated on Wednesday 7:00 PM (PST) and Thursday 3:00 AM (PST)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://yasmin-mogahed.blogspot.com/">Personal Blog -- A Soul's Journey:</a> Collection of poetries by Yasmin Mogahed.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/yasmin-mogahed">Huffington Post</a>: Yasmin Mogahed writes in the popular Magazine Huffington Post.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Yasmin-Mogahed/228598547167475">Facebook Page</a>: She updates her views and new writings for the readers </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/YasminMogahed">Twitter</a>: Yasmin Mogahed on twitter.</span></li>
</ul></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7987288030401910338.post-849859024925057852011-10-01T09:50:00.000+06:002011-10-19T10:50:31.786+06:00Biography of Sheikh Yassir Fazaga<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIB36v6vPTx2f7xWmf01lGX5bBLOxH5PBT1RI9DMetqhJDNHsimhPpgcsv596Sn_I-FJHD_NPy2aH9TEv7PiepGRC0nA7Y7H8DZ2S9NVsmwYrVo3Pab_7-nvDTYrQisF9mUGsur1LmQgnh/s1600/yassir_fazaga.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIB36v6vPTx2f7xWmf01lGX5bBLOxH5PBT1RI9DMetqhJDNHsimhPpgcsv596Sn_I-FJHD_NPy2aH9TEv7PiepGRC0nA7Y7H8DZ2S9NVsmwYrVo3Pab_7-nvDTYrQisF9mUGsur1LmQgnh/s200/yassir_fazaga.JPG" width="200" /></a></div> "Yassir Fazaga is an inspiring, multi-lingual speaker sought-after from USA through Canada to the Middle and Far East. He was born in Eritrea and moved to the United States at the age of 15; has a Bachelors in Islamic Studies from the Institute of Islamic and Arabic Sciences in Virginia; has completed all coursework for his Masters Degree in Marriage and Family Counselling from the California State University of Long Beach; is currently undertaking his Masters in Theology at Loyola Marymount University. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></div><a name='more'></a><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">He serves as the Religious Leader of the Orange County Islamic Foundation in California. He is involved as a therapist, where he helps families with different challenges in life which include: domestic violence issues, communication problems, marital matters, generational gap, difficult teens, some mental and personality disorders, divorce, grief, and single parenting, among others.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Yassir Fazaga has taught the Arabic language and Islamic Sciences for the past 8 years and has taught Islamic courses on Scriptural Exegesis, and Islamic financial contracts for American Open University. Yassir leads the OCIF youth group in many of their educational, spiritual and recreational activities and participates on behalf of the Orange County Islamic Foundation in many outreach and interfaith events.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Sheikh Yassir Fazaga has done numerous interviews about Islam on television news stations and radio stations around the globe. He speaks on Islam and related topics for conferences, churches, high schools, colleges and universities.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Sheikh Yassir Fazaga has this charismatic ability to instantly connect with audiences and AlKauthar Institute is delighted to have him join our team of instructors."<br />
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<ul style="text-align: left;"><li><i>The biography was written on August 2008 and taken from <a href="http://forums.alkauthar.org/showthread.php?t=4244">this link, </a></i> </li>
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<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><img border="0" src="http://www.ocif.org/images/stories/sheikh_yassir1.gif" /></div><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Sheikh Yassir Fazaga is an inspiring, multi-lingual speaker sought-after from USA through Canada to the Middle and Far East. He was born in Eritrea in Northeast Africa and moved to the United States at the age of 15; has a Bachelors Degree in Islamic Studies from the Institute of Islamic and Arabic Sciences in Virginia; and received a Masters Degree in Marriage and Family Counseling from the California State University of Long Beach.</div><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Sheikh Yassir serves as the Religious Leader of Orange County Islamic Foundation (OCIF) in Mission Viejo, California. He is the Director of Mental Health Department at Access California Social Services Agency in Anaheim, where he helps families with different challenges in life which include: domestic violence issues, communication problems, marital matters, generational gap, difficult teens, some mental and personality disorders, divorce, grief, and single parenting, among others.</div><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Sheikh Yassir has been teaching the Arabic language and Islamic Sciences and offering Islamic courses on Scriptural Exegesis, and Islamic financial contracts for American Open University. He oversees the OCIF youth group in many of their educational, spiritual and recreational activities and participates on behalf of the OCIF in many outreach and interfaith events.</div><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Sheikh Yassir has done numerous interviews about Islam on television and radio stations around the globe. He speaks on Islam and related topics for conferences, churches, high schools, colleges and universities. He serves on the advisory board of the Islamic Studies program at Claremont Graduate School; is listed on the "Who is Who among America's Teachers" where the best students choose their best teachers and was recently featured on the Today Show on "Spirituality in America". He was one of the co-hosts of weekly “WiseLiving” TV program and a regular guest speaker on Peace TV.</div><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Sheikh Yassir has co-translated the Risalah al-Mustarshidin, The Message for the Seekers of Guidance, a constructive and instructional manual of ethical empowerment originally authored by renowned ninth century (165AH – 243AH) scholar Abdullah bin Harith al-Muhasibi who was known for his spirituality. This book is for those who wish to:</div><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span><br />
<ul style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><li>Live ethically</li>
<li>Cultivate emotional wisdom</li>
<li>Awaken spiritual vision</li>
<li>Enhance moral intelligence</li>
<li>Manifest purposeful living</li>
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<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Sheikh Yassir currently lives in Mission Viejo, CA with his wife and twin boys – Ibrahim and Zayed. He enjoys playing volleyball on Sundays and riding his bike.</div><ul style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><li><i>The biography was taken from <a href="http://www.ocif.org/about-ocif/sheikh-yassir-fazaga">this link</a> <a href="http://forums.alkauthar.org/showthread.php?t=4244"></a></i></li>
</ul></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7987288030401910338.post-76818676366489423932011-08-25T16:00:00.003+06:002011-08-25T16:05:22.576+06:00Emptying the Vessel by Yasmin Mogahed<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i style="font-family: georgia,serif;"><b>Note:</b> This article is taken from <a href="http://www.suhaibwebb.com/personaldvlpt/attachments-emptying-the-vessel/">Suhaibwebb</a> and it is written by sister Yasmin Mogahed.</i><br />
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Before you can fill any vessel, you must first empty it. The heart is a vessel. And like any vessel, the heart too must be emptied—before it can be filled. One can never hope to fill the heart with God, so long as that vessel is full of other than Him <i>subhanahu wa ta`ala</i> (exalted is He). </span><br />
<div style="font-family: trebuchet ms,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">To empty the heart does not mean to not love. On the contrary, true love, as God intended it, is purest when it is not based on a false attachment. The process of first emptying the heart can be found in the beginning half of the <i>shahada</i> (declaration of faith). Notice that the declaration of faith begins with a critical negation, a crucial emptying. Before we hope to reach true <i>tawheed </i>(true monotheism), before we can assert our belief in the one Lord, we first assert: "<i>la illaha"</i> (there is no <i>illah</i>). An <i>illah</i> is an object of worship. But it is imperative to understand that an <i>illah</i> is not just something we pray to. An<i> illah</i> is what we revolve our life around, what we obey and what is of utmost importance to us—above all else.</span></div><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It is something that we live for—and cannot live without.</span></div><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></div><a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="font-family: trebuchet ms,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So every person – atheist, agnostic, Muslim, Christian, Jew – has an <i>illah</i>. Everyone worships something. For most people, that object of worship is something from this worldy life, <i>dunya</i>. Some people worship wealth, some worship status. Some worship fame, some worship their own intellect. Some people worship other people. And many, as the Qur'an describes, worship their own selves, their own desires and whims. Allah (swt) says:</span></div><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img alt="45:23" height="88" src="http://c0022506.cdn1.cloudfiles.rackspacecloud.com/45_23.png" width="486" /></span></div><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Then seest thou such a one as takes as his god his own vain desire? Allah has, knowing (him as such), left him astray, and sealed his hearing and his heart (and understanding), and put a cover on his sight. Who, then, will guide him after Allah (has withdrawn Guidance)? Will ye not then receive admonition?" (Qur'an, <a href="http://www.quran.com/45/23" target="_blank">45:23</a>)</span></div><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">These objects of worship are things to which we become attached. But an object of attachment is not just something that we love. It is something that we <i>need</i>, in the deepest sense of the word. It is something that if lost, causes absolute devastation. If there is anything—or anyone—other than God, that we could never give up, then we have a false attachment. Why was Prophet Ibrahim told to sacrifice his son? It was to free him. It was to free him from a false attachment. Once he was free, his object of love (not attachment) was given back to him.</span></div><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">If there is anything—or anyone—that losing would absolutely break us, we have a false attachment. False attachments are things that we fear losing almost to a pathological extent. It is something that if we even <i>sense </i>is drifting away, we will desperately pursue. We chase it because losing an object of attachment causes complete devastation, and the severity of that devastation is proportional to the degree of attachment. These attachments can be to money, our belongings, other people, an idea, physical pleasure, a drug, status symbols, our careers, our image, how others view us, our physical appearance or beauty, the way we dress or appear to others, our degrees, our job titles, our sense of control, or our own intelligence and rationality. But until we can break these false attachments, we cannot empty the vessel of our heart. And if we do not empty that vessel, we cannot truly fill it with Allah.</span></div><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This struggle to free one's heart from all false attachments, the struggle to empty the vessel of the heart, is the greatest struggle of earthly life. That struggle is the essence of <i>tawheed</i> (true monotheism). And so you will see that, if examined deeply, all five pillars of Islam are essentially about and enable detachment:</span></div><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><i>Shahada</i></b> (Declaration of faith): The declaration of faith is the verbal profession of the very detachment we seek to achieve: that the only object of our worship, ultimate devotion, love, fear, and hope is God. And God alone. To succeed at freeing oneself from all other attachments, except the attachment to the Creator, is the truest manifestation of <i>tawheed</i>.</span></div><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><i>Salah</i></b> (5 Daily Prayers): Five times a day we must pull away from the <i>dunya</i> to focus on our Creator and ultimate purpose. Five times a day, we detach ourselves from whatever we are doing of worldly life, and turn to God. Prayer could have been prescribed only once a day or week or all five prayers could have been done at one time each day. But it is not. The prayers are spread throughout the day. If one keeps to their prayers at their specified times, there is no <i>opportunity</i> to get attached. As soon as we begin to become engrossed in whatever <i>dunya</i> matter we're involved in (the job we're doing, the show we're watching, the test we're studying for, the person we can't get off our mind), we are <i>forced</i> to detach from it and turn our focus to the only true object of attachment.</span></div><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><i>Siyam</i></b> (Fasting): Fasting is all about detachment. It is the detachment from food, drink, sexual intimacy, vain speech. By restraining our physical self, we ennoble, purify and exalt our spiritual self. Through fasting we are forced to detach ourselves from our physical needs, desires, and pleasures.</span></div><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><i>Zakat</i></b> (Charity): Zakat is about detaching ourselves from our money and giving it for the sake of God. By giving it away, we are forced to break our attachment to wealth.</span></div><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><i>Hajj</i></b> (Pilgrimage): Hajj is one of the most comprehensive and profound acts of detachment. A pilgrim leaves behind everything in his life. He gives up his family, his home, his six figure salary, his warm bed, his comfortable shoes and brand name clothes, all in exchange for sleeping on the ground or in a crowded tent and wearing only two simple pieces of cloth. There are no status symbols at hajj. No Tommy Hilfiger ihram, no five star tents. (Hajj packages that advertise 5 star hotels, are talking about <i>before </i>or <i>after </i>the hajj. During hajj you sleep in a tent in Mena, and on the ground, under only sky, in Muzdalifah).</span></div><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Realize that God, in His infinite wisdom and mercy, does not just ask us to be detached from the <i>dunya</i>—He tells us exactly how. Beyond the five pillars, even our dress breeds detachment. The Prophet ﷺ tell us to distinguish ourselves, to be different from the crowd, even in how we appear. By wearing your <i>hijab</i>, <i>kufi </i>or beard, you can't just blend in—even if you wanted to. The Prophet ﷺ said: <b>"Islam began as something strange, and it shall return to being something strange as it began, so give glad tidings to the strangers." [Sahih Muslim]</b><b> </b></span></div><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">By being 'strange' to this <i>dunya</i>, we can live in it, without being of it. And it is through that detachment that we can empty the vessel of our heart in preparation for that which nourishes it and gives it life. By emptying our heart, we prepare it for its true nourishment:</span></div><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">God.</span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7987288030401910338.post-13211330617855501482011-08-08T11:05:00.002+06:002011-10-20T10:24:14.101+06:005 Short & Sweet Ways to Make Dua<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>the writing was originally posted in <a href="http://www.productiveramadan.com/5-short-sweet-ways-to-make-dua/">Productive Ramadan website</a></i><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">.....</div><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">As we all know, Ramadan is a great time to spiritually recharge! It's also a great time to make Dua.</span></div><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Every year for the past 3 years I've made a Dua list. At the start of Ramadan I write down a list of 7 to 8 things that I want the most and I memorize them. I make dua for each item on the list every day of Ramadan at the times that dua are more likely to be accepted. I can personally tell you all that it does wonders. Honestly, things I've asked for persistently and I did not think would, have come true.<br />
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It's incredible. I look back and can't believe I've gotten so many of things I asked so desperately for, Allah truly does not leave the hands of a believer empty when raised to Him. I get excited every year around this time because I get to make that wish list again.</span></div><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">I would highly recommend making a personal dua list of your own! As an incentive, our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Allah is angry with those who do not ask Him for anything" (Tirmidhi). Why incur His wrath?</span></div><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Some things to consider when writing your dua list:</span></div><h2 style="font-family: trebuchet ms,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">1. <b>Write it all down</b></span></h2><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Put down what you want to ask for on paper or on your phone so for the first few weeks you don't miss a single item. It can be as long as you want! It can be private and you don't need to share it with others so feel free to only make a list of keywords to remind you of each item.</span></div><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span id="more-411"></span></span></div><h2 style="font-family: trebuchet ms,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">2. <b>Ask anything & everything that is good</b></span></h2><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">When choosing your items, imagine that Allah is asking you to ask Him for anything and everything you've ever wanted! Imagine the possibilities. Write down everything you want to ask Allah with no limitations (but keep it halal!). Remember folks, you're asking Al Mujeeb – the One Who Responds and is the Supreme Answerer.</span></div><h2 style="font-family: trebuchet ms,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">3. <b>Organize</b></span></h2><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Try separating your duas into categories so you know that you've properly hit each one. I would recommend: dunya, akhirah, ibadah, the ummah, and<br />
relationships. For each category, think about what you would like the most and start listing them.</span></div><h2 style="font-family: trebuchet ms,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></h2><h2 style="font-family: trebuchet ms,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">4. <b>Make the dua when duas are most likely answered</b></span></h2><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b></b>These times include right before breaking the fast, during your salah in sujood and after the obligatory prayers, Qiyam ul layl, the last 10 nights etc. I personally make mine right before breaking my fast during iftaar.</span></div><h2 style="font-family: trebuchet ms,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">5. <b>Remember the etiquettes of dua</b></span></h2><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">There is a right and proper way to make dua. Remember that we must praise Allah first, ask for peace and blessings upon our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and then make our dua.</span></div><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>I pray you all have a meaningful and successful Ramadan full of barakah. May Allah preserve you all to reap the benefits of such a Holy month and bring you closer to Him. May He give you all strength, knowledge, patience and humility. Ameen!</b></i></span></div><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Note from the Author:<br />
</b><i>Most of this article was inspired by: </i><i><a href="http://ummihomeschoolsme.wordpress.com/2010/07/28/my-ramadan-preparation/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">M</a></i><i><a href="http://ummihomeschoolsme.wordpress.com/2010/07/28/my-ramadan-preparation/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">y-Ramadan-Preparation</a></i></span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7987288030401910338.post-72651244084668667992011-08-06T22:56:00.002+06:002011-08-19T15:33:43.861+06:00The Dream Of Life by Yasmin Mogahed<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div id="menu" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><div id="menu-wrap"><div id="search"><form action="http://www.suhaibwebb.com/" id="searchform" method="get"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> the post was published in <a href="http://www.suhaibwebb.com/personaldvlpt/purification-heart/the-dream-of-life/">Suhaibwebb.</a> I liked this one! <br />
</i></span></form></div></div></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.suhaibwebb.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/delete6.jpg"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-13189" height="174" src="http://www.suhaibwebb.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/delete6-300x300.jpg" title="delete" width="174" /></a><br />
It was only a dream. For a moment, it overtakes me. Yet the suffering I feel in my nightmare is only an illusion. Temporary. Like the blink of an eye. Why do I dream? Why do I have to feel that loss, fear, and sadness in my sleep?</span> </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">On a greater scale, it's a question that has been asked throughout time. And for many people, the answer to that question has determined their path to—or away from—faith. Faith in God, faith in life's purpose, faith in a higher order or a final destination has often all rested upon how this singular question has been answered. And so, to ask this question is to ask about life, in the most ultimate way.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Why do we suffer? Why do 'bad' things happen to 'good' people? How could there be a God if innocent children starve and criminals run free? How can there be an all-loving, all-powerful deity who would allow such misfortunes to happen?</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And if God is indeed Just and Good, shouldn't only <i>good</i> things happen to good people and only <i>bad</i> things happen to bad people?</span></div><a name='more'></a><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Well, the answer is: yes. Absolutely. Only good things <i>do</i> happen to good people. And only bad things happen to bad people. Why? Because God IS the Most Just and the Most Loving. And He has no deficiency in His knowledge or understanding.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span id="more-13188"></span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The problem is that <i>we</i> do have deficiencies in knowledge and understanding.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">See, to understand the statement "only good things happen to good people and only bad things happen to bad people", we must first define 'good' and 'bad'. And although there are as many definitions of good and bad as there are people, a comprehensive understanding exists. For example, most people would agree that to succeed in achieving my desired purpose or goal in a particular matter would be 'good'. While on the other hand, failing to achieve my intended purpose or aim would be bad. If my aim is to gain weight because I am dangerously underweight, becoming heavier would be good. If, on the other hand, my aim is to lose weight because I am harmfully overweight, becoming heavier would be <i>bad</i>. The same event could be good or bad, depending on my intended purpose. So 'good' in my eyes rests on the achievement of my personal aim. And ultimate 'Good' rests on the achievement of my ultimate aim.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">But what is my aim?</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">That brings us to the fundamental question of purpose as it relates to the greater Reality of existence. There are essentially two distinct worldviews when it comes to purpose in life. The first worldview holds that this life is the Reality, the final destination and ultimate goal of our endeavors. The second worldview holds that this life is only a bridge, a <i>means</i> that stands as nothing more than a glimpse in the context of God's infinite Reality.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">For those in the first group, this life is everything. It is the End to which all actions strive. For those in the second group, this life tends towards zero. Why? Because, in comparison to infinity, even the largest number becomes zero. Nothing. Like a fleeting dream.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">These distinct worldviews directly affect the question of purpose. See, if one believes that this life is the Reality, the final destination, the goal of all endeavors, the purpose of life would be to maximize pleasure and gain in <i>this</i> life. In that paradigm, 'bad' things ARE in fact happening to 'good' people every single second. Within that paradigm, people reach the conclusion that there is no justice and therefore either there is no God or God is not Just (<i>wa athu billah</i>, I seek refuge in God). It's like a person who concludes that there must be no God because they had a bad dream. But why don't we give the experiences of our dreams much weight? After all, some dreams <i>are</i> horrifying to live through—and very often do happen to 'good' people. In our dreams, do we not experience extreme terror or bliss? Yes. But why doesn't it matter?</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Because put in context of our <i>real </i>life, it is nothing.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">In the second world view (the Islamic paradigm) the purpose of creation is *not* maximizing pleasure and gain in a life that is nothing more than a dream. In that world view, life's purpose is defined by God who tells us: "I have not created jinn and humans (for any purpose) except to worship me," (Qur'an, <a href="http://quran.com/51/56">51:56</a>).</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It is important to note the special construction of this statement. It begins with a negation: 'I have not created jinn and humans (for any purpose) […]'. First Allah <i>subhanahu wa ta'ala </i>(exalted is He) negates ALL other purposes before He states the one and only, singular purpose: 'except to worship Me.' This means that as a believer I know that there is <i>no other</i> purpose of my existence except to know, love and get closer to God. This is the one and only reason why I was created. And this is the most essential realization, as it defines everything else I do or believe. It defines all things around me, and everything I experience in life.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So returning to the meaning of 'good' and 'bad', we find that anything that brings us closer to our ultimate purpose is Good and anything that takes us away from our ultimate purpose is Bad, in an ultimate sense. In a relative sense, for those whose goal is this material world, worldly things define their 'good' and 'bad'. For them, things like gaining wealth, status, fame, or property is necessarily 'good'. Losing wealth, status, fame, or property is necessarily 'bad'. So in that paradigm, when an innocent person loses every material possession they own, this is a 'bad' thing happening to a 'good' person. But that is the illusion that comes as a result of a flawed worldview. When the lens itself is distorted, so too is the image seen through it.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">For those of the second worldview, anything that brings us closer to our purpose of nearness to God's love is good; and anything that takes us away from that purpose is bad. Therefore, winning a billion dollars may be the greatest calamity ever to happen to me if it takes me away from God—my ultimate purpose. On the other hand, losing my job, all my wealth, and even falling ill, may in fact be the greatest blessing ever given to me if it brings me closer to God—my ultimate purpose. This is the Reality that is spoken about in the Qur'an when Allah (swt) says:</span></div><div dir="rtl" id="verse_223_language_1" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img alt="2:216" class="aligncenter" height="135" src="http://c0022506.cdn1.cloudfiles.rackspacecloud.com/2_216.png" width="532" /></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">"It may happen that you hate a thing which is good for you, and it may happen that you love a thing which is bad for you. Allah knows, you know not," (<a href="http://quran.com/2/216">2:216</a>).</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">As a believer, my criterion is no longer gain or loss in a material sense. My criterion is something higher. What I have or do not have in a worldly sense is only relevant in as much as it brings me closer or farther from my Aim: God. This <i>dunya</i> (life) becomes nothing more than that dream that I experience for a moment and then awaken from. Whether that dream was good or bad for me, depends only on my state once I awaken.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And so on the ultimate scale there is perfect justice. God only gives good (nearness to Him) to good people, and bad (distance from Him) to bad people. The greatest good is nearness to God, in this life and the next. And it is only 'good' people who are blessed with this. That is why the Prophet ﷺ<i> </i>has said: "Strange is the case of a believer, there is good for him in everything—and this is only for the believer. If a blessing reaches him, he is grateful to God, which is good for him, and if an adversity reaches him, he is patient which is good for him," (Muslim).</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">As this <i>hadith</i> (record of the sayings or actions of the Prophet ﷺ) explains, whether something is good or bad is not defined by how it appears externally. "Goodness", as explained by this <i>hadith</i>, is defined by the good <i>internal </i>state that it produces: patience and gratitude—both manifestations of peace with and nearness to God.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">On the other hand, the greatest calamity is distance from God—in this life and the next. And it is only 'bad' people who are punished with this. What such 'distanced' people have, or do not have of wealth or status or property or fame is only an illusion—no more real or important than having, or not having, these things in the greatest dream, or the worst nightmare.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Of these illusions Allah (swt) says: <b>"</b>Nor strain your eyes in longing for the things We have given for enjoyment to parties of them, the splendor of the life of this world, through which We test them: but the provision of thy Lord is better and more enduring,<b>" </b>(Qur'an, <a href="http://quran.com/20/131">20:131</a>).</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The enduring life is the one that begins once we awaken from this world. And it is in that awakening that we realize…</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It was only a dream.</span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7987288030401910338.post-62151671766849568872011-07-11T16:26:00.002+06:002011-07-11T16:33:57.595+06:00How to Taste the Sweetness of Prayer (Salah)<div style="font-family: georgia,serif;"><i>The post is taken from <a href="http://www.suhaibwebb.com/personaldvlpt/how-to-taste-the-sweetness-of-prayer/">Suhaibwebb.com</a></i>, written by brother Jinan Bastaki.</div><div style="font-family: georgia,serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: georgia,serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: georgia,serif;"><u>In the name of God, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate<br />
All praise and thanks be to God, and may peace and blessings be upon the most noble of Prophets and Messengers.</u></div><div style="font-family: georgia,serif; text-align: left;"><img alt="2687377398_326de2019c_b" class="alignright size-full wp-image-7556" height="334" src="http://www.suhaibwebb.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2687377398_326de2019c_b.jpg" title="2687377398_326de2019c_b" width="223" /></div><div style="font-family: georgia,serif; text-align: left;">A while ago, a show aired in Arabic called "كيف تتلذذ بالصلاة؟" which means "How can you taste the sweetness of prayer?" by a young Kuwaiti <i>da'iya</i> named Mishary Al-Kharaz. For many of us, our <i>khushoo'</i> in our prayer fluctuates. What is <i>khushoo'</i>? It is a state of mind that contains serenity, tranquility, dignity and humility during prayer, which springs from one's heart standing in front of Allah in humility and submission. Sometimes in prayer we have so much devotion and can feel every word; yet at other times it's all about the ritual movements and nothing more. <i>Insha'Allah </i>(God willing), I will try to summarize the main points of this show every week.</div><div style="font-family: georgia,serif; text-align: left;"></div><a name='more'></a><br />
<div style="font-family: georgia,serif; text-align: left;"><u><b>The Story of the <i>Ansari</i> and the <i>Muhajir</i></b></u></div><div style="font-family: georgia,serif;"><b> </b></div><div style="font-family: georgia,serif;">In the <i><a href="http://www.usc.edu/schools/college/crcc/engagement/resources/texts/muslim/hadith/abudawud/">sunan of Abu Dawud</a></i>, it is narrated with a <i>hasan</i> (good) chain that in one of the battles, the Prophet ﷺ appointed two guards, one from the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhajirun">Muhajiroon</a> and one from the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ansar_%28Islam%29">Ansar</a>. At one point, the Ansari got up to pray while the man from the Muhajiroon reclined in order to have a nap. A man from the <i>mushrikeen</i> (disbelievers) who was close by saw this, and fired a small arrow at the Ansari who was praying. It hit him, but the Ansari, with some difficulty, removed the arrow and continued praying as the blood seeped from him. The <i>mushrik</i>, upon seeing this, fired another arrow. The Ansari was able to remove it also and continued praying. However, the Ansari could not stand the pain of the third arrow and fell into <i>rukoo'</i> (bowing) and <i>sujood </i>(prostration), and this is when the man of the Muhajiroon woke up, seeing his friend seeping with blood. Upon seeing this, the mushrik fled. "<i>SubhanAllah</i>! (Glory be to Allah!) Why didn't you alert me when he first hit you?!" the Muhajir exclaimed. The reply of the Ansari was, "I was reciting a <i>surah</i> (chapter of the Qur'an) that I love, and I did not like to cut it off." <i>Allahu Akbar </i>(Allah is great!) Imagine this person's state in the <i>salah </i>(prayer).</div><div style="font-family: georgia,serif;"><u><b>The Sweetness of Prayer</b></u></div><div style="font-family: georgia,serif;">The prayer is one of the most beautiful acts of worship. When one does his <i>tasleem* </i>to end the prayer, there is a certain sense of serenity. Ibn Al-Jawzi said about the prayer:</div><div style="font-family: georgia,serif;"><i><span style="font-style: normal;"> </span></i></div><div class="arabic-center" style="font-family: georgia,serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">إنا في روضة طعامنا فيها الخشوع و شرابنا فيها الدموع</span></div><div style="font-family: georgia,serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: normal;">"We are in a garden, where our food is <i>khushoo' </i>(devotion), and our drink is the tears that flow."</span></div><div style="font-family: georgia,serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">For a person who has true devotion in his <i>salah</i>, his soul is not even with him; as Ibn Taymiyya said, his soul is actually circling the Throne of Allah.</span></div><div style="font-family: georgia,serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">One could say that those were the people of old. No one feels this way anymore. But this isn't true; one only has to realize the importance of prayer, and unlock the secrets of <i>khushoo'</i> to taste this unique sweetness. Then the prayer becomes your refuge; the remover of your distress; something that you look forward to; and something that you wish would never end.</span></div><div style="font-family: georgia,serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Let us begin to unlock these secrets and truly connect to our Lord when we pray.</span></div><div style="font-family: georgia,serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span id="more-7552"></span><u><b>Step One</b></u></span></div><div style="font-family: georgia,serif;"><b> </b></div><div style="font-family: georgia,serif;">The first step is that we have to change our understanding of <i>khushoo'</i>. Having <i>khushoo'</i> doesn't just mean that you are concentrating and you are not distracted. Having a present heart is only the first level of <i>khushoo'</i>. It is as though you have just entered through the door, and now you have the whole house to explore. There are depths and depths to <i>khushoo'</i>.</div><div style="font-family: georgia,serif;">Some may say that having a present heart is hard enough. Before coming to the prayer, we need to put it into perspective. Say we spend ten minutes in each prayer. That equals fifty minutes a day, so not even one hour. The rest of the twenty-three hours are for our <i>dunya </i>(this world). Can we give these fifty minutes solely for Allah, or do we have to turn them into <i>dunya</i> as well?</div><div style="font-family: georgia,serif;">Think of this before you start your prayer, so that your <i>nafs</i> (self) doesn't tell you that it is too hard to concentrate—because you can do it. Remember that the sweetness of being in front of Allah far supersedes the sweetness of whatever <i>dunya</i> distracts you.</div><div style="font-family: georgia,serif;"><u><b>Greater Depth</b></u></div><div style="font-family: georgia,serif;">There is a greater depth, and that is <b>understanding. </b>Truly understanding what you are reciting, and contemplating it. On the show, Mishary Al-Kharaz stated: "Let me introduce you to one of your biggest competitors in the <i>salah</i>." Do you know who he introduced?</div><div style="font-family: georgia,serif;">One of the pillars in the <i>masjid</i>. Yes, the actual physical pillar. Any pillar, whether you are at home, work, or the <i>masjid</i>, is your competition. Why?</div><div style="font-family: georgia,serif;">Because if you stand in prayer, it stands longer. When you are in your <i>sujood</i>, it is in <i>sujood</i> longer. You do your <i>tasbeeh</i>, it does its <i>tasbeeh</i> for longer. How? Allah says in the Qur'an:</div><div class="arabic-center" style="font-family: georgia,serif;">وَإِنْ مِنْ شَيْءٍ إِلَّا يُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِهِ وَلَكِنْ لَا تَفْقَهُونَ تَسْبِيحَهُمْ</div><div style="font-family: georgia,serif; text-align: center;">"…And there is not a thing except that it exalts [Allah] by His praise, but you do not understand their [way of ] exalting," (Qur'an, <a href="http://quran.com/17/44">17:44</a>).</div><div style="font-family: georgia,serif;">And:</div><div class="arabic-center" style="font-family: georgia,serif;">أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَسْجُدُ لَهُۥ مَن فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَن فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَٱلشَّمْسُ وَٱلْقَمَرُ وَٱلنُّجُومُ وَٱلْجِبَالُ وَٱلشَّجَرُ وَٱلدَّوَآبُّ وَكَثِيرٌۭ مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ ۖ وَكَثِيرٌ حَقَّ عَلَيْهِ ٱلْعَذَابُ</div><div style="font-family: georgia,serif; text-align: center;">"Do you not see that to Allah prostrates whoever is in the heavens and whoever is on the earth and the sun, the moon, the stars, the mountains, the trees, the moving creatures and many of the people? But upon many the punishment has been justified." (Qur'an, <a href="http://quran.com/22/18">22:18</a>).</div><div style="font-family: georgia,serif; text-align: left;">"But I read the Qur'an!" we say. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzGNqDJO1Aw" target="_blank">You are not the only one that reads Qur'an</a>.</div><div style="font-family: georgia,serif;">Yet, if you ask the pillar, or the parrot, what they understood, they would not be able to respond. So we need to ask ourselves—are we any better? What does it mean when we say "<i>sami'a Allahu liman hamida</i>"? What about the <i>tahiyyat*</i>? Not the generic meaning, but the specific meaning. <i>Insha'Allah</i> throughout this series we will understand these meanings so that we can attain this level of <i>khushoo'</i>.</div><div style="font-family: georgia,serif;"><u><b>One last thing…</b></u></div><div style="font-family: georgia,serif;">Do not say, "But I can't!" How can Allah ask you to have <i>khushoo'</i> in <i>salah</i> and then make it impossible for you? Even if Arabic isn't your first language—did Allah not know that Islam would spread far and wide? <i>A'udhubillah</i> (I seek refuge in Allah) from any such thought.</div><div style="font-family: georgia,serif;">So remember that you <i>can</i>. Strive, and you will achieve it <i>insha'Allah</i> (Allah willing). Remember that Allah is Generous, more Generous than we can even imagine. If you take one step towards Him, He is the One that comes to you at speed. Allah says:</div><div class="arabic-center" style="font-family: georgia,serif;">وَٱلَّذِينَ جَٰهَدُوا فِينَا لَنَهْدِيَنَّهُمْ سُبُلَنَا ۚ وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَمَعَ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ</div><div style="font-family: georgia,serif; text-align: center;">"And those who strive for Us— We will surely guide them to Our ways." (Qur'an, <a href="http://quran.com/29/69">29:69</a>).</div><div style="font-family: georgia,serif;">So <i>bismillah</i> (in the name of Allah), and <i>insha'Allah</i> let us pray that by the end of it, we all have much more <i>khushoo'</i> than we used to.</div><div style="font-family: georgia,serif;">—</div><div style="font-family: georgia,serif;">*"<i>Tasleem</i>" is saying "<i>assalamu alaykum wa rahtmatullah</i>" (may peace and mercy be upon you) signifying the end of the prayer.</div><div style="font-family: georgia,serif;">*"<i>Tahiyyat</i>" are the salutations which we say after the two prostrations in the second and last <i>rak`ah</i>.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7987288030401910338.post-4794974069459904292011-07-02T11:06:00.002+06:002011-07-11T16:35:08.080+06:00How can we prepare for Ramadaan? What are the best deeds in this blessed month?.<span class="question" style="font-family: georgia,serif;">This writing is taken from the website <a href="http://islamqa.com/en/ref/92748/">ISLAM-QA.</a><br />
</span><span style="font-family: georgia,serif;"> Praise be to Allaah.<br />
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</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia,serif; text-align: justify;"><b>Firstly: </b></div><span style="font-family: georgia,serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia,serif; text-align: justify;">You have done well to ask this question, because you have asked how to prepare for the month of Ramadaan. Many people misunderstand the true nature of fasting, and they make it an occasion for eating and drinking, making special sweets and staying up late at night and watching shows on satellite TV. They make preparations for that long before Ramadaan, lest they miss out on some food or prices go up. They prepare by buying food, preparing drinks and looking at the satellite TV guide so they can choose which shows to follow and which to ignore. They are truly unaware of the real nature of fasting in Ramadaan; they take worship and piety out of the month and make it just for their bellies and their eyes. <br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia,serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia,serif; text-align: justify;"><b>Secondly: </b></div><span style="font-family: georgia,serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia,serif; text-align: justify;">Others are aware of the real nature of fasting in the month of Ramadaan, so they start to prepare from Sha'baan, and some of them even start before that. Among the best ways of preparing for the month of Ramadaan are: <br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia,serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: georgia,serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia,serif; text-align: justify;"><u>1 –Sincere repentance <br />
</u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia,serif; text-align: justify;"><u><br />
</u></div><span style="font-family: georgia,serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia,serif; text-align: justify;">This is obligatory at all times, but because of the approach of a great and blessed month, it is even more important to hasten to repent from sins between you and your Lord, and between you and other people by giving them their rights, so that when the blessed month begins you may busy yourself with acts of worship with a clean heart and peace of mind. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): <br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia,serif; text-align: justify;"><i><b><br />
</b></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia,serif; text-align: justify;"><i><b> "And all of you beg Allaah to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful"</b></i></div><span style="font-family: georgia,serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia,serif; text-align: justify;"><i><b> [al-Noor 24:31] </b></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia,serif; text-align: justify;"><i><b><br />
</b></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia,serif; text-align: justify;"><i><b></b></i></div><a name='more'></a><i><b><br />
</b></i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia,serif; text-align: justify;"><i><b><br />
</b></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia,serif; text-align: justify;">It was narrated from al-Agharr ibn Yasaar (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "O people, repent to Allaah for I repent to Him one hundred times each day." Narrated by Muslim (2702). </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia,serif; text-align: justify;">2 –Du'aa' (supplication) </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia,serif; text-align: justify;">It was narrated from some of the salaf that they used to pray to Allaah for six months that they would live until Ramadaan, then they would pray for five months afterwards that He would accept it from them. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia,serif; text-align: justify;">The Muslim should ask his Lord to let him live until Ramadaan with a strong religious commitment and good physical health, and he should ask Him to help him obey Him during the month, and ask Him to accept his good deeds from Him. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia,serif; text-align: justify;">3 – Rejoicing at the approach of the blessed month </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia,serif; text-align: justify;">The arrival of Ramadaan is one of the great blessings that Allaah bestows upon His Muslim slave, because Ramadaan is one of the occasions of good in which the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hell are closed. It is the month of the Qur'aan and of decisive battles in the history of our religion. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia,serif; text-align: justify;">Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia,serif; text-align: justify;"><i><b>"Say: 'In the Bounty of Allaah, and in His Mercy (i.e. Islam and the Qur'aan); —therein let them rejoice.' That is better than what (the wealth) they amass"</b></i></div><span style="font-family: georgia,serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia,serif; text-align: justify;"><i><b> [Yoonus 10:58] <br />
</b></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia,serif; text-align: justify;"><i><b><br />
</b></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia,serif; text-align: justify;">4 – Discharging the duty of any outstanding obligatory fasts </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia,serif; text-align: justify;">It was narrated that Abu Salamah said: I heard 'Aa'ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) say: I would owe fasts from the previous Ramadaan and I would not be able to make them up except in Sha'baan. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia,serif; text-align: justify;">Narrated by al-Bukhaari (1849) and Muslim (1146). </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia,serif; text-align: justify;">Al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia,serif; text-align: justify;">From her keenness to do that in Sha'baan it may be understood that it is not permissible to delay making them up until another Ramadaan begins. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia,serif; text-align: justify;">Fath al-Baari (4/191). </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia,serif; text-align: justify;">5 – Seeking knowledge in order to be able to follow the rulings on fasting and to understand the virtues of Ramadaan. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia,serif; text-align: justify;">6 – Hastening to complete any tasks that may distract the Muslim from doing acts of worship. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia,serif; text-align: justify;">7 – Sitting with one's family members – wife and children – to tell them of the rulings on fasting and encourage the young ones to fast. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia,serif; text-align: justify;">8 – Preparing some books which can be read at home or given to the imam of the mosque to read to the people during Ramadaan. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia,serif; text-align: justify;">9 – Fasting some of the month of Sha'baan in preparation for fasting Ramadaan. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia,serif; text-align: justify;">It was narrated that 'Aa'ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to fast until we said: He will not break his fast, and he used not to fast until we said: He will not fast. And I never saw the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) complete a month of fasting except Ramadaan, and I never saw him fast more in any month than in Sha'baan. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia,serif; text-align: justify;">Narrated by al-Bukhaari (1868) and Muslim (1156). </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia,serif; text-align: justify;">It was narrated that Usaamah ibn Zayd said: I said: O Messenger of Allaah, I do not see you fasting in any month as you fast in Sha'baan? He said: "That is a month that people neglect between Rajab and Ramadaan, but it is a month in which people's deeds are taken up to the Lord of the Worlds and I would like my deeds to be taken up when I am fasting." </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia,serif; text-align: justify;">Narrated by al-Nasaa'i (2357); classed as hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Nasaa'i. </div><span style="font-family: georgia,serif;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia,serif; text-align: justify;">This hadeeth explains the wisdom behind fasting in Sha'baan, which is that it is a month in which deeds are taken up (to Allaah). Some of the scholars mentioned another reason, which is that this fasting is like Sunnah prayers offered beforehand in relation to the obligatory prayer; they prepare the soul for performing the obligatory action, and the same may be said of fasting Sha'baan before Ramadaan. <br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia,serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia,serif; text-align: justify;">10 – Reading Qur'aan </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia,serif; text-align: justify;">Salamah ibn Kuhayl said: It was said that Sha'baan was the month of the Qur'aan readers. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia,serif; text-align: justify;">When Sha'baan began, 'Amr ibn Qays would close his shop and free his time for reading Qur'aan. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia,serif; text-align: justify;">Abu Bakr al-Balkhi said: The month of Rajab is the month for planting, the month of Sha'baan is the month of irrigating the crops, and the month of Ramadaan is the month of harvesting the crops. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia,serif; text-align: justify;">He also said: The likeness of the month of Rajab is that of the wind, the likeness of Sha'baan is that of the clouds and the likeness of Ramadaan is that of the rain; whoever does not plant and sow in Rajab, and does not irrigate in Sha'baan, how can he reap in Ramadaan? Now Rajab has passed, so what will you do in Sha'baan if you are seeking Ramadaan? This is how your Prophet and the early generations of the ummah were in this blessed month, so what will you do? <br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7987288030401910338.post-72490963647028430542011-06-19T09:16:00.000+06:002011-06-19T09:17:57.316+06:00Learning About Namaz (The Prayer)<span style="font-family: georgia,serif;">Here goes few youtube videos about Salah, and all these are by Brother Nouman Ali Khan. MashaAllah nicely said. As a Muslim, this is really important to learn how to be concentrated to Salah which keeps us to be in connection to our Lord, Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala.. At the same time, it is very important to know the meaning of what we recite, why should we keep concentration in Namaz, what are the benefits of it...<br> May Allah forgive us and bless us.<br style="font-family: georgia,serif;"></span><br><ul><li><font face="georgia,serif"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzDqCXS53KY">The Salah</a></font></li></ul><ul><li><font face="georgia,serif"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zh12NhDGv48">What is Khushoo in the Salah?</a></font></li> </ul><ul><li><font face="georgia,serif"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HyR3FeWv8w">When Will We Submit? </a></font></li></ul> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0