In the pursuit of knowledge

Assalam alaykum waramatullah wabarakatuhu, I pray that you are all in the best of health and eeman. Sorry it has been a while. Alhamdulilah. I attended a programme recently entitled "Are you well fed?" It was about being a well rounded muslimah who strives to achieve a balance in all aspects of her life, physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. While at this programme I discovered that i really was in need of eeman topup (stole that expression from my sister). Following on from this programme I spoke to another sister friend of mine (the first time we met was at an islamic course) and we both chastised ourselves for neglecting our islamic education, sisterhood and eeman topup. Although we all strive to keep up with our 5 daily salah we need reminders which refreshes our knowledge of our Lord, Allah (subhanallah watahalah) and the deen of islam, thereby focusing our minds on the aakirah and make sure we do not get swept away in the sea of the dunya. So if we ...

Assalam alaykum waramatullah wabarakatuhu, I pray this email meets you in the best of health and eeman. I pray Allah (subhanallah watahala) continues to assist us all in our affairs and make our path easy for us. Ameen.  O you who have believed, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones, over which are [appointed] angels, harsh and severe; they do not disobey Allah in what He commands them but do what they are commanded. (Q66vs6). The path to protecting yourself and your family does not always run smoothly but it is a constant struggle. A nd those who strive for Us - We will surely guide them to Our ways. And indeed, Allah is with the doers of good. (Q29vs69) The acts of ibadah which we have been obligated to perform is for our own self as stated in the Quran: ...And whatever good you put forward for yourselves (i.e. salah, sadaqah, zakat, fasting and hajj) - you will find it with Allah . It is better and greater in reward. And se...

Assalam alaykum waramatullah wabarakatuhu, I pray this post meets you in the best of health and eeman. I am reading a book at the moment called " Be Steadfast". In it there are a list of conditions of La ilaaha illa Allah. Inshaallah I will try to summarise oner of the conditions which I think is very important. Al-Yakeen (certainty) Certainty is the absence of doubt or uncertainty. We have to be certain of the shahadah we make as Muslims and any doubt with regards to Islam can be equivalent to disbelief. The believers are only the ones who have believed in Allah and His Messenger and then doubt not but strive with their properties and their lives in the cause of Allah . It is those who are the truthful.  Q49 vs 15 "No one meets Allah with the testimony that there is none worthy of worship but Allah and I am the Messenger of Allah, and he has no doubt about that statement, except that he will enter Paradise." (Muslim) The absence of Yakeen (therefore...

Salam alaykum waramatullah wabarakatuhu, I pray this email meets you in the best of health and eeman. The news recently has been filled with very terrible things, mainly the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. I pray Allah (subhanallah watahala) forgives us our sins and continues to protect us all. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “How wonderful is the situation of the believer, for all his affairs are good. If something good happens to him, he gives thanks for it and that is good for him; if something bad happens to him, he bears it with patience, and that is good for him.” Narrated by Muslim (2999). 

Assalam alaykum waramatullah wabarakatuhu, I hope you are all in the best of eeman and health. Alhamdulilah for all of the gifts which Allah (subhanallah watahala) has bestowed upon us. This morning I was just thinking of some of the books that I haven't read in a while or haven't touched at all since I purchased them. When we are trying to get to know a subject or to know it better we start borrowing or buying the necessary books. After sometime the books become redundant. We don't go back to it to refresh our memories or knowledge. With regards to religious books some of the main reasons we buy them is to improve in our deen or to make sure our children can have a reference point for their deen and answers to the questions which they may ask. If we as parents, aunts and uncles don't read or refresh our memory (or knowledge) from these books how are we to encourage the little ones to pick up the books which would provide them with knowledge of their creator, prop...

As salam alaykum waramatullah wabarakatuhu, I hope you are all doing well. Alhamdulilah we just completed the tafsir of suratul Baqarah and I was going through my notes and came across a little section of patience. Insha’Allah I want to share what I learnt with you. O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with the patient. (Q2vs153) Patience can be divided into two main parts: 1.       Patience of evil A person does evil knowing that it will bring the punishment of Allah (subhanallah watahala) but he still carries on with it. T hose are the ones who have exchanged guidance for error and forgiveness for punishment. How patient they are in pursuit of the Fire! (Q2vs175) 2.       Patience on what is beneficial This can be subcategorised into the following: i)         Patience on al Ma’ruf i.e. being patient on what Allah (subhanallah watahala) has commanded u...

Salam alaykum waramatullah wabarakatuhu, I pray this post meets you in the best of health and eeman. Alhamdulilah there were very good contributions made to the last post. I pray Allah continues to increase us in eeman and knowledge. Ameen. One of the pillars of eeman is to believe in Allah, which requires belief in the Names and attributes of Allah (subhanallah watahala). This requires having a good understanding of the names not just the direct translations. Al Haleem is a Name of Allah (subhanallah watahala) which is usually translated as "the forbearing". It is from the word "Hulum" which means tolerance and al Haleem means "the one who delays the punishment". Perhaps it can be understood with this statement: Allah (subhanallah watahala) gave life to man, nourishes him, gave him all he needs to grow and develop. Man disobeys. Allah (subhanallah watahala) sent messengers and books to guide him and he still denies the existence of God. I...