Are you awake?

Whosoever is awake (to the material world) is the more asleep (to the spiritual world); his wakefulness is worse than his sleep.
[Mathnavi of Rumi]

What will you do?

What will you do if Izraael calls for you
And comes to take away your soul?
All those broken promises to be a better Muslim
Each day you stayed the same

Whiling away your days of youth
Sending to the back of your mind the truth
Putting off the order to pray
Instead your console games you play

Rather you should have come to pray
Offered your prayer in a beautiful way
Improved your character like the Prophet (pbuh) demonstrated
Rather than walking around all inflated

The day when Izraael comes you will realise
your times was wasted, spent most unwise
So change yourself now for the good
While you have time to do as you should

Learn more about the wonderful deen before your death
Put into practise all we can before your last breath!

Do not Delay

Never delay in making the changes we need to in our lives. To begin with we must identify what needs to change & then plan how this change should be made in the most effective way. Finally we should execute this plan as soon as we can! At some stage in our lives we will all feel the need to change certain things for the better. Never let such feelings fade without doing something about it!

Mufti Ismail Menk

A Cure for Music

By MI. Muhammad Karolia

Rasulullah (s.a.w.) said: “He who does not read the Qur’aan in a melodious voice is not from us.” (Bukhari Vol. 2 Pg 1123. Abu Da’ud Vol. 1 Pg 207)

To recite the Qu’raan in a melodious voice is mustahab and has been encouraged in many ahaadith. Thus Rasulullah (s.a.w.) said: “Adorn the Qur’aan with your voices.” (Bukhari Vol. 2 Pg 1126)

The narration of Haakim’s Mustadrak and Daarimi’s Sunan have the following addition: “… because a beautiful voice increases the beauty of the Qur’aan.”

Rasulullah (s.a.w.) said: “Allah does not listen as attentively to anything as He listens to a Nabi reciting the Qur’aan in a melodious voice.” (Bukhari Vol. 2 Pg 1115)

Hadhrat Abu Moosa Ash’ari (r.a.) a famous Sahabi, used to recite the Qur’aan in a very beautiful tone. Rasulullah (s.a.w.) praised him saying that he had been blessed with “a flute from the flutes of Dawood.” (Bukhari Vol. 2 Pg 755)

Note: The word ‘mizmar’ (flute) has not been used in its literal meaning. Hadhrat Dawood (a.s.) used to recite the Zabur in an extremely beautiful voice. Thus his voice has been described as a flute in the Hadith.

The question however is that the word used in the Hadith for ‘reading in a melodious voice’ is that of ‘taghanni’. The literal translation of this word is ‘to sing’. On the contrary we have been prohibited in the Hadith to sing and read the Qur’aan. Although it is understandable that the word ‘taghanni’ has been used figuratively, why has a simpler or more clearer word not been used?

A similar question was posed to the famous Muhaddith, Ibn al-Arabi (r.a.) to which he replied: “The Arabs used to sing when they mounted their camels, when they sat in their assemblies and in most of their conditions. Thus when the Qur’aan was revealed, Rasulullah (s.a.w.) desired that the Qur’aan should be their habit rather than singing.” (Sharh-us-Sunnah Vol. 4 Pg 486)

In other words, the Arabs were so infatuated with singing that singing and music was found in basically every aspect of their lives. Thus when the Qur’aan was revealed, Rasulullah (s.a.w.) desired that their habit of singing be substituted by the recitation of the Qur’aan. This explanation may be substantiated by the following Hadith narrated by Hadhrat Zaid Ibn Arqam (r.a.): “While Nabi (s.a.w.) was walking through an alley in Medina, he passed a youth that was singing. Nabi (s.a.w.) said to him: ‘Woe to you, O youth. Why do you not recite the Qur’aan in a melodious voice?” (Ahkaam-ul-Qur’aan of Mufti Muhammad Shafe).

Note: The word ‘taghanni’ has been used in this Hadith as well. Hafiz Ibn Hajr (r.a.) quotes from Ibn-Ambari that it means to take pleasure and delight just as the singers take pleasure in music. Thus the word music (taghanni) has been used because the same pleasure is experienced (i.e. when reciting the Qur’aan) as is experienced when listening to music. (Fath-ul-Bari Vol. 9 Pg 62)

It is for this reason that Hafiz Ibn Qayyim (r.a.) and Allamah Anwar Shah Kashmir (r.a.) have regarded excessive recitation of the Qur’aan as an excellent cure for music.

Hadhrat Shah Saheb explains: “When a man forms a habit of music it overpowers him until he is unable to refrain from it. That is why you will see the singer always humming to himself. Thus Nabi (s.a.w.) has taught him that the means for refraining from music is that he make the Qur’aan his hum and music until the Qur’aan overpowers him just as music had overpowered him.” (Faiz-ul-Bari Vol. 4 Pg 269)

CONCLUSION
Let alone Muslims, even non-Muslims often marvel at the sweetness and beauty of the Qur’aan, its rhythm, choice of words etc. This sweetness is further enhanced by reciting the Qur’aan in a sweet voice as mentioned in the Hadith. In the light of the above, it may be concluded that excessive reading and listening to the Qur’aan is an excellent cure for the ailment of music.

Ahad Ahad!

Why shed these tears of sorrow?
Why shed these tears of grief?
Ya nafsy how soon you forget,
After trials come sweet relief

Why turn you from Ar-Rahman?
Why yearn for a listening friend?
Ya nafsy, do you not remember,
On ALLAH, you must depend?

Read you not those stories,
of the trials in days gone by,
Of the Sahabi beloved by Allah,
Who for Allah’s cause did strive?

Why loosen your hold upon him?
Why fling away, His outstretched Hand?
Ya nafsy, do you not remember,
Bilal’s sabr on the blazing sand?

“Ahad! Ahad!” He cried,
While his flesh did drip and burn.
“Ahad! Ahad!” He cried,
To Allah alone he turned.

Forget you the firmness of Hamza,
As the gleaming swords did fall?
With Sabr he turned to Allah,
as the qureish did slice and maul.

Why drown in salty teardrops?
How can you dare compare your pain?
To that of Yasir and Summayah,
As the lay tortured on the scorching plain?

Forget you the charring of Khabbab,
As on burning coals he lay?
Ya nafsy how meager your suffering,
Wherefore do you lose your way?

Why befriend you not Al-Wali?
Why not in Salat to Him complain?
Like Job who only to Allah,
Turned in all his grief and pain?

Forget you those trials in this life,
Cleanse your heart and make it clean?
Ya nafsy, why all this sadness?
Do you not wish your heart to gleam?

Be patient in all your hardships,
Allah hears your cries of woe.
So trust Him and His hikma,
For He knows best and you don’t know.

So tighten your hold upon him,
Lest He withdraw His outstretched Hand!
And remember the example of Bilal,
As he lay anchored on the blazing sand.

“Ahad! Ahad!” he cried,
While his flesh did drip and burn.
“Ahad! Ahad!” he cried,
To Allah alone he turned.

Author unknown

Keeping Secrets

Keeping secrets others have entrusted us with is part of our duty. We would be committing grave injustice by “leaking” what we held in confidence. Many take this for granted, thinking that the password is “don’t tell anybody but…” yet even that is a sin. It destroys good relations & wreaks havoc in society.

It is also advised NOT to share secrets unnecessarily in the first place. Many people have regretted this.

Mufti Ismail Menk

Corrosion of the Heart

Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (رضى الله تعالى عنه) narrates that Rasulullah (sallallahu صلى الله عليه وسلم) said:

When the Mu’min sins, a black spot forms on his heart. If he makes istighfaar and taubah, the black mark is removed and his heart is purified. If he increases his sin, the black mark increases. This is the corrosion of the heart spoken of by Allah Ta’ala (in the Qur’an)
[Ahmad, Tirmizi, Ibn Majah]
Source: Hayatul Muslimeen

Mufti Siraj Saleh

Hazrat Mufti Siraj Saleh sahib was born in Surat Lohara, India in 1970. At the age of 15, he completed hifz of the Holy Qur’an. He then went on to study Qiraat, and qualified as an Alim from Randair Jamia Husainia in the year 1993. After receiving authorisation in various books, including the six major books of Ahadith. He went on to teach at Jamiah Qasimiya Khorooq where he taught many Kutub (books) of Fiqh and Hadith.

In 1994, he moved to Durban, South Africa where he got married, and stayed under the auspicious company of Hakeem Akhtar sahib (d.b.) for 11 years. He was the Imam and Khateeb at Mahbubiya Masjid. He carried on teaching Hadith and Tafseer in Durban.

In 2005, Mufti Siraj sahib moved to Bradford, England under the instruction of his ustad. He has since been here. Currently, he?s an Imam and Khateeb of Masjid-e-Quba, and a teacher of Tafseer and Hadith at Jamiah Khatamun Nabiyeen, Bradford.

Currently, Mufti sahib is holding Dhikr majlis every Friday and Qur?an Tafseer majlis every Sunday at Masjid-e-Quba. Alhamdullilah, he has finished the tafseer of four parahs/juz in a period of 4 years (audio of the tafseer is available on the website).

Hazrat Mufti Siraj sahib is the Khalifah of Mufti Abdur-Razzaq Boupali and of Qari Ramzaan sahib. He’s the younger brother of Shaikh-ul-Hadith Hazrat Maulana Hanif Luharvi sahib (d.b.), who is a well renowned scholar in the sub-continent.

Hazrat Mufti Siraj sahib is the author of two books; Safwatul Masadir and Rawda-al-adab (translated into English).

Please remember Hazrat in your duas. May Allah grant Hazrat Mufti Siraj sahib more knowledge and a long and prosperous life. May Allah also give us the ability to benefit from his enlightened company. Ameen.

Source: http://tafseersaleh.com/
Mufti Siraj Saleh’s speeches and lectures can be heard on the above website.

How to Supplicate to Allah

Shaykh Ibrahim Memon Madani gives some nasihah (advice) of the etiquette of how to make our duas to Allah Almighty.

Sammy’s big Catch

Sammy was a good-looking young boy who lived in the deep south. His summer days were filled with times of walking through the woods, playing with friends, and fishing in the pond down the dirt road. Fishing was by far his favorite thing to do. Just about every day during his summer vacation, he would dig up some worms and head off, pole in hand, for a day of fishing.

This steamy hot day was like most others during Sammy’s summer break. Waking early, he could hear as though the pond was calling him to come fish. Sammy quietly walked out the front door, grabbed his pitchfork and worm pail from the porch,and walked into the woods to search for bait. He turned over old stumps and dug under leaves hoping to find worms. Under one old stump he hit the jackpot. The ground was writhing. In two minutes he had all the bait he needed, and in 15 minutes he was at the pond.

Reaching into his bait bucket, Sammy pulled out a big worm. He double hooked it and tossed it into the water. He noticed a stinging in his hand, but filled with the excitement of the moment, he paid no attention to it. Within 30 seconds, Sammy had a strike and pulled in a nice catfish. Wow, he thought, a fish in the first minute. This is unbelievable!

He put the catch on his stringer, hurried to re-bait his hook, and tried his luck again. Once again he felt a stinging sensation in his hand as he threw his hook into the pond. He didn’t have time to worry about it. Within just a few seconds, he had another huge fish. He fumbled the next time he baited his hook–his hand felt numb and stiff. But Sammy was too excited about catching another fish to give it much thought.

At the end of only an hour of fishing, Sammy had caught eight large fish. This was definitely his best fishing day ever. He was so proud of his accomplishment that, even though there was plenty of day left to fish, he threw the heavy stringer of fish over his shoulder and dashed down the dirt road toward home to show off his catch to his mom and dad.

The local sheriff happened to drive up alongside Sammy and started to congratulate him on his catch of fish. With a smile and a victory whoop, Sammy held up the stringer. The sheriff gasped, parked his car and strode over to Sammy.

His eyes hadn’t deceived him–Sammy’s arms really were red and swollen to about twice their normal size. Exactly where have you been and what bait did you use to catch all those fish?” the sheriff asked Sammy, already guessing the answer.

I found some special bait under an old stump,” Sammy boasted. “These worms really wiggle good,” he commented, handing up the bait bucket for inspection. After a close look at the worms, the sheriff went into fast-forward. Securing the bucket in his truck, he then scooped Sammy and his stringer of fish into the back seat of his patrol car. Spinning a U-turn on the gravel road, he sped off to the hospital, but Sammy was already dead.

What the sheriff had discovered was that Sammy had been fishing with baby rattlesnakes. Sammy’s deadly bait brought him a good morning’s fishing but cost him his life. Had Sammy stopped fishing after that first sting, he could have been saved. One bite from a baby rattler won’t kill a person who gets treatment in time. But Sammy was having fun and didn’t bother himself with the “small voice of pain” in his hand. Then, as his hand grew numb, even that small voice was silenced.

Playing around with sin is like using baby rattlesnakes for bait. Sinning seems harmless to people who don’t recognize sin and are unaware of its deadly consequences. The more sin you get into, however, the more numb you become to its sting. In the excitement of the moment, you ignore the still small “voice of the Creator” warning you of danger and encouraging you to choose good rather than that which is evil.
***************************
Hadhrat Abu Hurairah(R.A.) narrates that the Prophet(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) has said: When a mu’min(believer) sins, a black spot appears in his heart and then when he does taubah(repentance) and istighfaar(forgiveness) his heart is cleansed (of the black spot). And when he sins more, the spot enlarges till it covers the entire heart. Hence this is the rust which Allah has mentioned in the Glorious Qur’an thus: “Kaallaa barRaana ‘Alaa quloobihim maa kaanoo yaksiboon” Translation:” By no means! But what they have earned is rust upon their hearts”.(Surah 83 Ayah14). (Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah)-Masnad Imaam Ahmad bin Hanbal.
When the heart has a strong attachment to the life of this world, and the bearer of this heart is immersed in sin, “Raan” (a black covering) overcomes the heart. Because, every sin is a black stain on the heart. These black stains accumulate until the “Raan” is total and prevents the penetration of light to the heart.

When the heart is darkened, things no longer appear as they truly are, for Truth is confused and its face no longer apparent. The heart is inverted and sees Truth as falsehood and falsehood as Truth.
Hadrat ‘Auf bin Maalik(R.A.) used to say: I know the taubah(repentance) of every sin. He was asked: What is the taubah(repentance) of this sin? He said : The sin which one abandons and never goes back to it.
Hadhrat Abdullah Ibn Mas’ood (R.A.) narrates that the Prophet(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) has said: “A sincere repenter of sins is like one who has not committed sins.” (Baihaqi).

Source: Al Islaah publications

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