How to start a day

اعوذ باللہ من الشیطٰن الرجیم بسم اللہ الرحمٰن الرحیم الحمد لله رب العالمين ، أرسل رسوله بالهدى و دين الحق ليظهره على الدين كله و كفي بالله شهيدا ، و أشهد ألا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له ؛ له الملك و له الحمد ، يحيى و يميت و هو على كل شئ قدير و إليه المرجع و المصير ..و أشهد أن محمدا عبده و رسوله ، و صفيه من خلقه و حبيبه.رب اشرح لي صدري و يسر لى أمري و احلل عقدة من لساني يفقهوا قولي…

In the name of Allah, the most beneficent, the most merciful, majestic and all powerful, master of this world and everything that is contained herein. Salutations be upon prophet Mohammad SAW, who was sent as a guide to this mankind.

Dear Respected Brothers, Sisters and Elders in Islam,

Assalam o allaikum Wr. Wb.

Almighty Allah SWT says to us in Quran al Kareem:

اللَّهُ يَتَوَفَّى الْأَنفُسَ حِينَ مَوْتِهَا وَالَّتِي لَمْ تَمُتْ فِي مَنَامِهَا فَيُمْسِكُ الَّتِي قَضَى عَلَيْهَا الْمَوْتَ وَيُرْسِلُ الْأُخْرَى إِلَى أَجَلٍ مُسَمًّى إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ

39:42) It is Allâh Who takes away the souls at the time of their death, and those that die not during their sleep. He keeps those (souls) for which He has ordained death and sends the rest for a term appointed. Verily, in this are signs for a people who think deeply.

The meaning of which is when a person sleeps at night, Allah SWT takes away the souls of the people that are asleep and those people for whom death is decreed, it is not meant for them to live in the future, Allah SWT keeps those souls permanently and those souls for whom an extended life is decreed, Allah SWT releases those souls so that they can go back into the world and continue on with their lives.

So Allah SWT has made us from those people for whom life is decreed. We slept last night, Allah SWT kept our souls by him and when we woke up, Allah SWT released our souls back into our body. For this we should make shukr to Allah SWT. He has given us an opportunity to live our life another day where we could see a day, we could breath, we could see, we could hear and speak. This is why when we wake up in the morning, we make a dua to Allah SWT

الحَمْدُ لِلّھِ الّذي أَحْیانا بَعْدَ ما أَماتَنا وَإلیھ النُّشور.

The meaning of which is that we praise Allah SWT where he has given us life after he has given us death and whilst we are praising Allah SWT for giving us life, we are not unmindful of death. We are still saying ‘Wa Ileyhin Nushur’, and towards Allah SWT will be our return. So we should say shukr to Allah SWT that he has given life to and now it is upto us of what we do with our lives.

Mujahid RA is a great alim of his time and a student of Abdullah bin Umar RA. He says that Abdullah bin Umar RA used to say:

Izaa Amsayta fala tantiziris Sabah,
wa izaa asba7ta fala tantaziril Masa7,
Wa Khuz Min Si7atik Li Mardik,
Wa min Hayaatika Limautiki.

The meaning of which is, when you spend the nigh, when the night comes in, then don’t wait for the morning and when the morning comes in then don’t wait for the evening. It is possible whilst you spending the morning, death could come in, and while you spending the evening before the morning, death could come in.

Abdullah bin Umar RA also said that make use of your good health before sickness overcomes you and make use of your life before death comes.

That is why a wise man says that in the morning when the person wakes up, before he engages himself in the activities of the day, he should make intention of 4 things.

The first thing is that how will be obedient to Allah SWT? What are the orders of Allah SWT regarding my life? What Allah SWT wants me to do today? Make a firm intention before approaching the day, that today to the best of my ability; I will be obedient to Allah SWT in everything I do.

The second intention is that a person should make is that those things that Allah SWT has prohibited me from, I will abstain from them. I will not go close to them.

The third intention is straighten our dealings. How we deal with people? How we conduct our business? How we earn our income? We should make intention to carry all this our according to the shareea’.

And the fourth intention is that we will make sure if there is any wasiyyat to make, or request to make to someone, we will do that by the end of the day.

And when the day ends, and you are preparing to go to sleep, ponder over 4 things. As we know,

النوم اخت الموت

Sleep is the sister of death.

When a person is sleep, there is no control over the body of the person and there is a possibility, death is imminent. So before sleeping at night, think about a few things.

The first is, Did I fulfil all the Huqooq and the rights of Allah SWT? And if one didn’t do it, then one should make firm intention at once that he will fulfil the rights of Allah SWT.

The second is, Did any human being claimed any Haq from me? Did anyone ask his rights from me? And if you didn’t do that then make intention to do that before death overcomes you.

The third thing that a person should think and ponder is, Did I make tawba? What would happen if I die before making tawba to Allah SWT for all my sins.

And lastly, a person should ponder upon that If Allah SWT gives me another opportunity in life, then what am I going to do?

Faqeeh Abul Layth al Samarqani says that when the morning dawns you get 3 kinds of people.

There are those who go out to search Halal income. There is nothing with that and that is the correct thing to do.

The second is that there are some people who go out and search for Haram and Allah’s punishment will befall upon those.

The third group of people are those people who go out in the search to find out, ‘What is the right thing to do in this life for me’; Allah SWT will grant His rahmah for this group of people for their effort to know the truth.

A person should make both intentions, go out to earn Halal and to search for what is it required of him in life.

A person asked Malik bin Dinar RA, a great scholar of his time, that ‘ Kayfa Asba7ta?’ How do you spend your morning? So Malik ibn Dinar answers, ‘How can I be peaceful when I wake up in the morning because I keep pondering about my long journey from Duniya to the Akhira and then when I reach the akhira, I do not know what judgement is going to be made for me? Will I be going to Jannah or the Hellfire? With this thought and frame of mind, how can my morning be peaceful?

Isa AS was once asked that O Nabi of Allah SWT, ‘How do you spend your morning?’

Isa AS said, those things that I aspire for, those things are not in my control. Those things that I am afraid of, they are not in my control to remove them. All khair and all goodness, and all sharr and all evil, everything is in the control of Allah SWT.

And that should be our approach that when we wake up in the morning, we realize that everything is in the control of Allah SWT. We should make commitment to ourself that those things that we want, we will work for it to the best of our ability. Those things that we wish to remove from our life, we will work to remove them to the best of our ability as well. In the end, its Allah SWT who will put the effect in what we do.

When a person approaches his day, he should focus on 10 things.

1) As soon as the person wakes up in the morning, as soon as he opens his eyes he should say the zikr of Allah SWT, tasbeeh of Allah SWT. Allah has given us another day to live, another moment to be in this duniya, another day to be in his obedience, shouldn’t we be thankful to him?

Allah SWT says in the quran:

وَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ حِينَ تَقُومُ

“…and glorify the Praises of your Lord when you get up from sleep.”

2) The second thing a person should do is that he should cover up his body, particularly his private parts, and he should approach the day in a modest way.

Allah SWT says in the Quran:

يَا بَنِي آدَمَ خُذُواْ زِينَتَكُمْ عِندَ كُلِّ مَسْجِدٍ

O Mankind, O Son of Adam. Take your beauty when you go to the masjid.

3) When you wake up, make wudu

Allah SWT says in Quran:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ إِذَا قُمْتُمْ إِلَى الصَّلاةِ فاغْسِلُواْ وُجُوهَكُمْ…

Which means that O you who believe, when you wake up, make your wudu.

4) After you make your wudu, then make your salaah;

Allah SWT says:

إِنَّ الصَّلاَةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ كِتَابًا مَّوْقُوتًا

That there is prescribed times for each salaah

5) After performing the salaah, now the day has dawned and you will go into the duniya and you will go your jobs and for that you must have conviction that Allah is the raziq. It is not the job or business that will provide the rizq but it is Allah that has made your job and your business as the means of getting the rizq.

Our focus in this case is on the ayah of the Quran:

وَمَا مِن دَآبَّةٍ فِي الأَرْضِ إِلاَّ عَلَى اللّهِ رِزْقُهَا وَيَعْلَمُ مُسْتَقَرَّهَا وَمُسْتَوْدَعَهَا كُلٌّ فِي كِتَابٍ مُّبِينٍ

There is not a thing on the face of the earth whose sustenance is not provided by Allah SWT. We adopt the means but the effect is from Allah SWT.

6) The next thing one should do that whatever Allah SWT has blessed us with, we accept it with qanaa’ and satisfaction. Be content, Be Happy. Don’t look at others as to why Allah has given them so much, and why Allah SWT didn’t give us much, No! Be content with what Allah SWT has given you.

Allah SWT says in the Quran:

نَحْنُ قَسَمْنَا بَيْنَهُم مَّعِيشَتَهُمْ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَرَفَعْنَا بَعْضَهُمْ فَوْقَ بَعْضٍ دَرَجَاتٍ

That Allah SWT has distributed with wisdom. To some He has given more to some He has given less. A person should be content with what has been ordained by Allah SWT.

7) The next thing a person should keep in mind when entering the day is that to have complete tawakkul and trust in Allah SWT. Allah SWT says:

وَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى الْحَيِّ الَّذِي لَا يَمُوتُ

Place the trust in the being who is alive from ever and ever and who will never ever die.

8) The person should make Sabr on the orders of Allah SWT. He should be patient for what he will face in the day.

Allah SWT says:

وَاصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ

That make sabr, exercise restraint on the orders of Allah SWT.

9) The next thing a person should keep in mind that he should make thank and shukr to Allah SWT in different moments of the day. Allah SWT says:

وَاشْكُرُواْ نِعْمَتَ اللّهِ

Make shukr upon the favours of Allah SWT.

10) The last thing a person should keep in mind is that we must engage ourself in Halal income and keep ourselves away from the Haram income. This is such an order that Allah SWT has given these to the anbiya AS and the same order applies to all the muslimeen.

If a person approaches his day with these 10 points then inshallah he will be from among the people who are saaleh and obedient to Allah SWT.

May Allah SWT give us the taufeeq to mould our lives according the commandments of Allah SWT so that we become successful in the akhirah.

Wa akhiru daawana anil hamdulillahi rabbilaalimeen.

Special thanks to Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Delivered at Fredericton Islamic Association, Masjid on April 11, 2008

Miracles of Prophet SAW - معجزات الرسول صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم

اعوذ باللہ من الشیطٰن الرجیمبسم اللہ الرحمٰن الرحیمالحمد لله رب العالمين ، أرسل رسوله بالهدى و دين الحق ليظهره على الدين كله و كفي بالله شهيدا ، و أشهد ألا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له ؛ له الملك و له الحمد ، يحيى و يميت و هو على كل شئ قدير و إليه المرجع و المصير ..و أشهد أن محمدا عبده و رسوله ، و صفيه من خلقه و حبيبه.رب اشرح لي صدري و يسر لى أمري و احلل عقدة من لساني يفقهوا قولي…

In the name of Allah, the most beneficent, the most merciful, majestic and all powerful, master of this world and everything that is contained herein. Salutations be upon prophet Mohammad SAW, who was sent as a guide to this mankind.

My Dear Respected Brothers, Sisters and Elders,
Assalam o allaikum Wr. Wb.

Almighty Allah SWT sent approximately 124,000 prophets to this duniya, to guide the people towards the oneness of Allah SWT, to show them the right and correct path. All the prophets of Allah SWT were human beings. They lived among people, they lived among people, they ate and drank like people and many of them married and had wives and children. And, it is a human nature, that when someone makes a claim, they require a proof for that. It is human nature to reject any claim that does not have a proof and any supporting evidence.

When the Prophets of Allah SWT claimed among their people that they are the prophets of Allah SWT and are sent to them with the wahi and revelation directly from the Creator so they can guide the people towards the oneness of Allah SWT, then most people who heard their claim denied them and rejected them. They used to say that how can you be prophet of Allah SWT, when you eat like us, you drink like us, you have family and life like us.

Allah SWT mentions in the Quran:

وَقَالُوا مَالِ هَذَا الرَّسُولِ يَأْكُلُ الطَّعَامَ وَيَمْشِي فِي الْأَسْوَاقِ …

25:7 ) And they say: “What sort of an apostle is this, who eats food, and walk through the streets?”…

… so he cannot be the prophet of Allah SWT.

Almighty Allah SWT strengthened the claim of these prophets but giving them some miracles. As human beings, the more you produce something that is strange and unique and something that is extra-ordinary, the more people will be attracted to you. The greater the miracle, the more the people get attracted. Allah SWT takes this nature of human being in consideration and strengthens the claim of the prophets by giving them these miracles.

The miracle in itself is not purposeful rather these miracles are not an act of worship and ibaadah in itself. They are a means of getting the people to understand a certain message and Allah SWT has given many of his prophets, the miracles and all the prophets who were given these miracles, that were conducive to their times and their era.

At the time of Sulayman AS, witchcraft and performing supernatural acts were very common. Allah SWT gave Sulayman AS such a miracle that no witch of the time could match up with Sulayman AS. Sulayman AS could fly in the air and he could travel at amazing speeds where he would cover a distance of two months in a day.

وَلِسُلَيْمَانَ الرِّيحَ غُدُوُّهَا شَهْرٌ وَرَوَاحُهَا شَهْرٌ

34:12) And to Sulayman AS, we made the wind obedient: Its early morning stride was a months journey, and its evening stride was a months journey.

He was able to converse with the Jinnat, and he was able to talk to animals and birds. No witch of the time could match up with Sulayman AS. It became very clear to the people, that Sulayman AS was a gifted and an extra-ordinary person. He must be indeed the prophet of Allah SWT with all these qualities. These qualities would attract the people and it would become the means for them to be guided to the right path, the oneness of Allah SWT.

At the time of Daud AS, development became very common and popular. People wanted to create great structures. Allah SWT gave such a miracle to Daud AS that with his hand he would hold steel and iron and it would melt. And Allah has mentioned that in the Quran:

وَأَلَنَّا لَهُ الْحَدِيدَ

34:10) And we made iron soft for him.

People looked at this, they got close to Daud AS and they understood the message of Allah SWT through the company of Daud AS.

At the time of Saleh AS, the people asked for a miracle. They demanded that if you are the prophet of Allah SWT, then how come you eat like us, how come you drink like us. You are a normal human being, how do we know that you are the prophet. They were near a mountainous place and they wanted a pony to come out of that place.

Saleh AS made dua to Allah SWT and Allah SWT made beautiful strong pony to come out from within the mountain. People looked at that, but you see, people who are honest and their hearts are clean, they really do not need to see all these miracles to believe in the existence of Allah SWT and people who are not honest no matter how much big miracle you show them, they will still not believe, because their hearts are hardened and nothing penetrates it.

When the time of Ibrahim AS came, when Namrood prepared the fire, the blaze and the flames of the fire were as if they were reaching the sky. Through a catapult he threw Ibrahim AS in the fire and as soon as Ibrahim AS landed in the fire, then Allah SWT showed that fire was in the command of Allah SWT. Allah SWT says:

قُلْنَا يَا نَارُ كُونِي بَرْدًا وَسَلَامًا عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ

21:69) We (Allâh) said: "O fire! Be you coolness and safety for Ibrâhim (Abraham)!"

Ibrahim AS sat in the fire as if he was sitting in a garden.

Likewise, at the time of Isa AS, medicine had reached its heights and pinnacles. People were very good at finding cure to different illnesses. But Allah SWT gave Isa AS such miracles, such cure in his hands, that greatest of doctors at the time were perplexed. If a person was born blind, no doctor could cure that, if a person had leprosy, no doctor could cure that but ISA AS was able to touch his hand to a sick person, and cure the person completely.

All these miracles were a way to guide them to convey a message to people that every power lies in the hands of Allah SWT and when people accepted them, it became a means for them to get closer to Allah SWT.

Rasulallah SAW was also given miracles. The miracle that was more conducive to his time was that people were very eloquent in their speech. Arabs of the times regarded non-arabs to be Ajams. Ajam means an animal, somebody who could not talk and because arabs were good in speech, they regarded non-arabs as ajam because they could not talk as eloquent as them.

At the time of Nabi SAW, people used to compete with each other in speech. Inspite of all that, Nabi SAW was unlettered, he did not know how to read, how to write, and the educated people of the time were so eloquent in their speech that not only competed eachother in literature but also in poetry. With all that eloquence in the society, a person who did not know how to read or write, suddenly at the age of 40 he started saying such words from his mouth that even the poets of the time could not completely understand and comprehend.

Nabi SAW used recite the ayaat of the Quran Kareem and the poets of the time were puzzled that where did this person come up with such words. He cannot even read and write and yet he produces something that we with all our skill and qualities cannot come close to even one verse that he is uttering. This was the miracle of Rasulallah SAW. Apart from that, there were many other miracles performed by Rasulallah SAW and the purpose of these miracles.

Allah mentions these miracles in Quran al Kareem, so that the reader of Quran, the listener of Quran is convinced, that these are true prophets of Allah SWT and they become means of strengthening the iman of a person and knowing that the order of everything rests with Allah SWT.

Rasulallah SAW performed many many more miracles. It is mentioned that once a villager came up to Rasulallah SAW and said that how do I know that you are the Prophet of Allah SWT was standing next to a tree so Nabi SAW pointed towards the tree and said that this tree will bear testimony that I am the Prophet of Allah SWT. The villager goes near the tree and says to the tree, that ‘ Do you believe in Mohammad as the nabi of Allah SWT’?

It is mentioned in the book of hadeeth, that tree started speaking from the trunk and the branches and the leaves and the words came out ‘ La ilaha ilallahu Mohammadur Rasulallah’. The villager heard it as well as all those who were witnessing the incident.

In Mishkaat Masaabeeh, it’s mentioned that there was once a Jew who was a shepherd who was grazing sheep. Suddenly a wolf came and took one sheep away. The shepherd ran behind the wolf. The shepherd is able to pull that sheep out of the wolf’s mouth. The wolf goes nearby and looks at the shepherd and says to the shepherd that Allah SWT has ordered me to look for my sustenance and rizq. When I got my rizq and the sustenance in the form of the sheep, then you came and deprived me of it. The shepherd is surprised that an animal is speaking to me, how that can happen. He expressed his surprise to one of his companion that a wolf spoke to me, an animal spoke. His companion said that more surprising than this is that nearby hear in madinah there is a man who claims to be the prophet of Allah SWT and he can tell you things of past and the future. Jew was even more surprised. That jew goes to madinah al munawwarah and he meets Rasuallalh SAW and it became the means for him to become accept islam and become muslim. When Nabi SAW was informed about this incident, he told him that even more surprising thing than a wolf speaking would be near the time of Qayyamah before the final hour comes. In that time when a person would leave his home and when he will return, his shoes and the stick he is carrying will inform him of those things that his wife and children have done in his absence.

It is mentioned in one hadeeth, Rasulallah SAW has stated an incident that took place that the sahabah, they were out on a journey and they were in shortage of water. They needed water for their personal need and wudu and they could not find water. They complained to Nabi SAW for the shortage of water. So Nabi SAW told them to take a container and put little water in it and bring it to me. That container was brought to Nabi SAW and he dipped his finger in the water. The container started to fill with water and sahabah say that they saw water coming out of the mubarak finger of Rasulallah SAW like the water is flowing in a stream and there were approximately 300 people that were there who were able to fulfil their needs.

One sahabi, Ya’la ibn Murrah RA, said that he was traveling with Rasulallah SAW and he saw some strange things. They passed by a camel and some people were loading the back of the camel. The camel gave out a sign. Nabi SAW asked for the owner of the camel. When the owner of the camel came, Nabi SAW said that sell this camel to me. The owner said why do I have to sell it to you, this camel is for you. Nabi SAW said, since you are sincere to me, the thing is that this camel is complaining to me that you are overworking him and he is saying that this is zulm and oppression on him. Ya’lah bin Murrah RA said that this was my first encounter. The second encounter happened when on the same journey Rasulallah SAW was resting at a place. It was even more surprising. He saw with his own eyes that a tree walked from his own place and came beside Nabi SAW and gave shade to Rasuallah SAW while he was resting. When Nabi SAW woke up, he informed Nabi SAW about this. Nabi SAW said that I am aware of it. This tree took permission from Allah SWT to walk over to me and provide me shade. The third incident happened on the same journey, when we happened to passed by a woman who had a child that was possessed by a jinn and the mother complained to Nabi SAW. Rasulallah SAW took the child and he addressed the jinn inside the child that I am the Prophet of Allah SWT and I instruct you to leave the body of the child. On returning from that journey Rasulallah SAW asked that woman, how is the child and she said that Alhamdulillah that jinn has not come back to the child.

Another incident is about Imam Abu Hurairah RA. Imam Abu Hurairah used to invite is mother to Islam at every opportunity that he used to get. Whenever he made daawah to his mother, she would say something foul about Rasulallah SAW. So one day he became frustrated and he came to Rasulallah SAW and asked him , O Prophet of Allah, make dua for my mother. Nabi SAW made dua, Allahumahdi Umma Abi Hurraira. ‘O Allah give hidayah to the mother of Abu Hurrairah’. Abu Hurairah knew that if Rasulallah SAW has made the dua, it will surely be accepted but when, that he didn’t know. He goes home. His mother was in the bath. Before that day, whenever he went home, she would be waiting to condemn him, to swear at him and swear at Rasullalah SAW.After a little while she came from the bath and she said that in your absence I could feel iman settling in my heart and I read the shahadah, Ashahadu An La ilaha ilallah wa ashhadu anna Mohammadur Rasulallah.

During Sulah Hudaibiyya incident:

-Nabi SAW went in a particular place

-Nabi SAW and sahabah go to a certain place

-Abu Talha is among them

-When he returns home he tells his wife that, Nabi SAW is very hungry because I could hardly hear his voice out of weakness

-Wife prepared some food for 2,3 people

-He went and invited Rasuallah SAW for food

-Rasulallah SAW didn’t accept it instead he made announcement that whoever is present here come with me to Abu Talha house to share the food

-When Abu Talha heard, he was very worried that his wife made small food and that when his wife will find out that I brought so many people, she will be angry.

-So before anything else, he walked quickly ahead of others and reached his home and told his wife that he only wanted to invited Rasulallah SAW, but now a lot many people are coming on the invitation of Rasulallah SAW.

-The woman’s iman was so strong, she said, that if Rasulallah SAW did that, then it’s the matter between him and Allah SWT.

-Nabi SAW comes in his house and goes near the fireplace and he reads and blows in the area and he tells the woman that you prepare the food now and bring another woman to help you as well.

-The food just kept on coming out of the pot and sahabah were fed. The food that was sufficient for 2,3 people, 80 people were fed.

These miracles, these incidents are all there in Kitab and Sunnah for us to strengthen our iman. The sahabah who witnessed these miracles increased their iman many folds and for us when we ponder about these things it helps us to make our iman strong. Apart form all these miracles, we know the greatest miracle of Nabi SAW was the Quran Kareem itself. A book that is free of corruption and is kept in its true and pure state for more than 1400 years. A book that is the source of guidance for each and every human being.

May Allah SWT give us the taufeeq to understand the underlying message of all these miracles, that the ultimate power belongs to Allah SWT and the true guidance lies in following the injunctions of Quran and Sunnah of Rasulallah SAW.

Wama Taufiqi Ilallah Billah

Special thanks to Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Delivered at Fredericton Islamic Association, Masjid on March 28, 2008

Love Prophet as he demands it - حب الرّسول صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم

اعوذ باللہ من الشیطٰن الرجیمبسم اللہ الرحمٰن الرحیمالحمد لله رب العالمين ، أرسل رسوله بالهدى و دين الحق ليظهره على الدين كله و كفي بالله شهيدا ، و أشهد ألا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له ؛ له الملك و له الحمد ، يحيى و يميت و هو على كل شئ قدير و إليه المرجع و المصير ..و أشهد أن محمدا عبده و رسوله ، و صفيه من خلقه و حبيبه.رب اشرح لي صدري و يسر لى أمري و احلل عقدة من لساني يفقهوا قولي ..

My Dear respected Brothers Sisters and Elders,

Assalam o allaikum Wr. Wb.

Qalallahu Azza Wajal:

لَقَدْ جَاءكُمْ رَسُولٌ مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ عَزِيزٌ عَلَيْهِ مَا عَنِتُّمْ حَرِيصٌ عَلَيْكُم بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَؤُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ

128. Verily, there has come unto you a Messenger (Muhammad SAW) from amongst yourselves (i.e. whom you know well). It grieves him that you should receive any injury or difficulty. He (Muhammad SAW) is anxious over you (to be rightly guided, to repent to Allâh, and beg Him to pardon and forgive your sins, in order that you may enter Paradise and be saved from the punishment of the Hell-fire), for the believers (he SAW is) full of pity, kind, and merciful.

I have recited before you a verse of Suratu Tauba. This Surah commences in the last part of Juz 10 and it continues and concludes in Juz 11. It is the last complete Surah of the Quran to be revealed on Rasulallah SAW. It is a surah that is a very comprehensive Surah of the Quran and it deals with many aspects of the life of Rasulallah SAW. It deals with the Makki life of the Rasulallah SAW, the life before making Hijrah and it deals with the life after the Hijrah in Madinah. It covers up almost every aspect of Rasulallah SAW in a brief manner.

The verse recited before you is the second last verse of Suratut Tauba. Abduallah Ibn Abbas RA narrates that this verse was the very last verse to be revealed to Rasulallah SAW and after this verse, he SAW passed away.

In this verse, Allah SWT tells the mankind about the coming of Rasulallah SAW to this world. Indeed, his coming to this world was a great event and every Nabi and every prophet had informed their followers about the coming of Rasulallah SAW. From the time of Adam AS right until Isa AS, every nabi has informed their ummats the coming of the final prophet and messenger, Rasulallah SAW. If one studies, once can find that the Old Testament and the New Testament ( Taurat and Injil), have enough verses about the coming of Rasulallah SAW. It is a different issue whether the adherence of the Old Testament and the New Testament interpreted the correct way or the incorrect way. A very clear indication in the Old Testament about the coming of Rasulallah SAW is in Deutronomy 18:18. If you see it is a very clear verse that if its interpreted and understood in a proper way, then no Christian and no Jew can deny that it refers to none other than Rasulallah SAW.

Once a Jinn came to Rasulallah SAW. Rasulallah SAW was a prophet of Insan as well as Jinnats. He was the greatest of all prophets and he was the seal and Khatim of all the prophets. There is no Nabi to come after Rasulallah SAW. If anyone claims that another Nabi will come after Nabi SAW is deviated from the correct path of Islam. It is our aqeedah and the aqeedah of the Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaah that every nabi preceded Rasulallah SAW and no Nabi will come after Rasulallah SAW.

So one Jinn came to Rasulallah SAW and said that I have a very long life and a I have a history to my life. He said that I have sat in the gathering of Nuh AS. When all the creation of Allah SWT who were obedient and went into the boat of Nuh AS, I was among them. I was also in the gathering of Idris AS, I was very close to Musa AS and I also used to sit often in majlis of Isa AS and O Prophet of Allah, I have an amanah and a trust to convey to you. Rasulallah SAW asked what is that amanah?
He replies, that once I was greeted by Isa AS and he told me that if you have to outlive me and if you live until the time of the final Messenger Mohammad SAW, then convey my salaam unto him. He said, O Prophet of Allah, I hereby convey to you the salaam of Isa AS. Nabi SAW responds with tears in his eyes and he tells to this Jinn, that O Jinn, If you are to outlive me and a time comes when Isa AS returns to this duniya, then you in turn convey my salams to Isa AS.

Nabi SAW is the final prophet and final messenger. Just as his coming was great, his departing was equally a sad event for this Ummah. Allah SAW knew that Rasullah SAW would leave the world and it would a very painful experience for the Ummat of Rasulallah SAW to witness his demise, so Allah SWT tells us in the verse of the Quran:

لَقَدْ جَاءكُمْ رَسُولٌ مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ

Till the end of the verse…that the very Nabi SAW that you used to see his presence among you, that you used to see his humbleness, that you used to see his humility, that you used to see his noble character, soon he is going to be taken away. But if you were to see the final Nabi and Rasul after his demise you would see it in this verse. In this verse, Allah SWT very briefly explains the character of Rasulallah SAW.

لَقَدْ جَاءكُمْ رَسُولٌ مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ

Verily, there has come unto you a Messenger (Muhammad SAW) from amongst yourselves.. He is no stranger to you. You are an arab, he is also an arab.

عَزِيزٌ عَلَيْهِ مَا عَنِتُّمْ

When you experience any hardship and any difficulty, that is also very burdensome on him. He feels for your pain. Your discomfort is his discomfort.

حَرِيصٌ عَلَيْكُم

And he is very exited upon your success and your progress.

بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَؤُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ

And he is very loving and compassionate and upon the believers.

In this verse, Allah SWT very briefly and yet very deeply explains the great Akhlaq and the great character of Rasulallah SAW. Rasulallah SAW’s greatest concern and the greatest attention and the focus was the success of the Momineen and the believers.

Rasulallah SAW was once seated in the masjid. He was grieved and was sad. Jibraeel AS comes up to him and asks him, O Prophet of Allah SAW, what is the matter? He SAW replies, I am concerned about my Ummat that what is going to happen to them on the day of Qayamah. What will happen to them?

Jibraeel AS goes up to Allah SAW and tells , O Allah SAW, your Habib and beloved Mohammad SAW is concerned about his ummat, that what will happen to them on the day of Qayyamah? Allah SAW then revealed the verse:

وَلَسَوْفَ يُعْطِيكَ رَبُّكَ فَتَرْضَى

93:5. And verily, your Lord will give you (all i.e. good) so that you shall be well-pleased.

When this verse was revealed, Imam Jalaluddin Suyuti Rahimahullah, a great commentator of Quran, explains that when this verse was revealed, Rasulallah SAW replied that Mohammad SAW will never be happy, until each and every ummati of his goes to paradise and Jannah.

It is mentioned in a hadeeth that Aishah RA said to Rasulallah SAW that, O Prophet of Allah, when you make salaat and when you make Dua do you make dua for me? Nabi SAW replied that yes I pray for you, but I pray for my Ummat more than what I pray for you. This was the love and the concern that Rasullalah SAW had for each and everyone of us.


Then in return it is our duty and responsibility to respond to this love and concern of Nabi Mohammad SAW with the love for Rasulallah SAW. The love of Rasulallah SAW is an integral part of our deen and an important aspect of our life.

It is mentioned in one hadeeth:

You cannot be a true Momin, until I am not more beloved to you than your father, than your child and all of mankind.

There are two types of love.

One is the natural love like the mother’s love for a child. If you ask the mother why does she love her child, she cannot answer you because it is a love beyond any reason. And the other is the inculcative love, the love that you may have for someone because of some reason. The kind of love we are expected to have for Rasuallah SAW is the natural love. A love that is similar that we have for our mothers, that we have for our fathers and children. This is the love that is demanded of us.

قُلْ إِن كَانَ آبَاؤُكُمْ وَأَبْنَآؤُكُمْ وَإِخْوَانُكُمْ وَأَزْوَاجُكُمْ وَعَشِيرَتُكُمْ وَأَمْوَالٌ اقْتَرَفْتُمُوهَا وَتِجَارَةٌ تَخْشَوْنَ كَسَادَهَا وَمَسَاكِنُ تَرْضَوْنَهَا أَحَبَّ إِلَيْكُم مِّنَ اللّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ

9:24 Say: If your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your wives, your kindred, the wealth that you have gained, the commerce in which you fear a decline, and the dwellings in which you delight … are dearer to you than Allâh and His Messenger… then wait for the azaab and the punishment of Allah SWT.

This was the kind of love that Sahabah had for Rasulallah SAW.

There was a sahabi who was taken as a captive by the enemy and they said to him that we are going to kill you. One of them said, that don’t you wish, that today instead of your life be taken away, the life of Mohammad SAW be taken away because he is the reason you are here in this condition. The sahabi turned around and said that I know very well that I will be killed today. If my life is taken away, my wife is going to be a widow, If my life is taken away, my children will become orphans, If my life is taken away, my friends and associates will miss me. But inspite of all that if my life is taken away and spears and arrows are put in my body even in this condition I cannot bear that even a thorn pricks into the foot of Rasulallah SAW. The pain of the thorn pricking into his feet is more painful to me than anyother pain. This was the love that sahabah had for Rasulallah SAW.

A woman, who was on an expedition with Rasulallah SAW and she was informed that her husband was martyred and you have become a widow. She said Inna Lillahi Wa inna Ileyhi Raajion. She asked the news bearer, How is the messenger of Allah SWT? He informed that he is fine by the grace of Allah SWT. A little later she gets the news that one of children has been martyred? She says Inna lillah…. How is the messenger of Allah SWT? She is informed that he is fine by the grace of Allah. Again a little while later, she is informed that another of her son is martyred. She says Inna Lillah…. And inquires, how is Rasulallah SAW? She is informed that he is fine by the grace of Allah SWT. She says that I will not be satisfied until I see him alive with my own eyes. Finally when she says Rasulallah SAW she says:

Ya Rasulallah! I have become a widow, I have lost my children but you are alive and
After seeing you no Museebah is a museebah , nor difficulty is any difficulty. This is the love that sahabah AS used to have for Rasulallah SAW.

A person may love someone because of an inculcative reason as well, such as because of the physical appearance. We all know very well the story of Yusuf AS to whom Allah SWT gave a lot of beauty and the women of Misr cut their hands when they saw his face. One may love someone because of some favors they may have bestowed upon us, but our Nabi SAW was Kamil in each and every aspect.

Inallaha Ala Khuluqin Azeem – O Mohammad! You are created on perfect and sublime character.

Story of Jew:

- A jew came to rasuallah
- Rasulallah had dealing with him and he wanted his money back
- He came before the date that was settled for the return of the loan
- Rasulallah said that its not the time yet
- He said that he wants the money now
- Sahabah got a bit angry to his behaviour
- Rasulallah did not have the money , neither did the sahabah
- Jew said he will not leave until he gets the money
- He came at around Dhohr time – asr time – maghrib – until next day fajr
- He came before Rasulallah and said shahadah –
- Rasulallah asked him what happened, just in the last few hours you were demanding me the money and now you accepted islam, what changed you.
- He said that he is a wealthy person and he is a scholar of taurat as well.
- I have read in there about the final messenger. I have been observing you for a very very long time and every description that is mentioned in Taurat about the last messenger befits you. There was one aspect that Taurat talks about and that is the last messenger will be a very tolerant person. To check this, I decided to come myself and see if you befit this description and after spending these few hours, I can say that there is no other person that I have met in my life that has more tolerance than you.

Rasullah SAW and his life was the perfect example for the muslims and non-muslims alike.
My dear Brothers and Sisters, we being the momins and true believers in Allah SWT claim that we love Rasullalah SAW. However, with any claim, there must be a proof.

There must be an evidence that shows that we really love Rasulallah SAW. If a husband tells his wife that he loves her but he does not show that in action, he does not take care of the children, he does not provide the requirements of the household but in the end still professes to his wife that he loves her. Then, it will be termed as the lipservice and the real love.

The way to substantiate our love of Rasulallah SAW is to inculcate in our life the ways and sunnah of Rasulallah.

لَقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ لِّمَن كَانَ يَرْجُو اللَّهَ وَالْيَوْمَ الْآخِرَ وَذَكَرَ اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا

21. Indeed in the Messenger of Allâh (Muhammad SAW) you have a good example to follow for him who hopes in (the Meeting with) Allâh and the Last Day and remembers Allâh much.

May Allah SWt give us the taufeeq to bring into our lives the Uswa and example of Rasulallah SAW and give us the natural love for our nabi Mohammad SAW.

Wama Taufiqi Ilallah Billah…

Special thanks to Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Delivered at Fredericton Islamic Association, Masjid on February 8, 2008

World and Hereafter - الدنیا و الآخرۃ

اعوذ باللہ من الشیطٰن الرجیم بسم اللہ الرحمٰن الرحیم الحمد لله رب العالمين ، أرسل رسوله بالهدى و دين الحق ليظهره على الدين كله و كفي بالله شهيدا ، و أشهد ألا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له ؛ له الملك و له الحمد ، يحيى و يميت و هو على كل شئ قدير
In the name of Allah, the most beneficient, the most merciful, Master of the day of Judgement. Peace and blessings be upon the noble Prophet Mohammad SAW, his family and his companions who conveyed the message of Islam through their words, deeds and actions.

My dear respected Brothers, Sisters and Elders in Islam, Assalam o allaikum Wr Wb…..

Allah SWT says in the Holy Quran:

الَر كِتَابٌ أَنزَلْنَاهُ إِلَيْكَ لِتُخْرِجَ النَّاسَ مِنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِمْ إِلَى صِرَاطِ الْعَزِيزِ الْحَمِيدِ

14:1 - (This is) a Book which We have revealed unto you (O Muhammad SAW) in order that you might lead mankind out of darkness (of disbelief and polytheism) into light (of belief in the Oneness of Allâh and Islâmic Monotheism) by their Lord's Leave to the Path of the All-Mighty, the Owner of all Praise.
Allah SWT has revealed this book so we can be guided from the darkness towards the light of truth. A human being has been struggling since the beginning of its creation to find a path that is peace and solace and that can bring one to the internal peace and tranquility. Allah SWT like many other needs of a human beings, sent anbiya kiram aleyhimus salam to fulfil this need. Each messenger was sent to guide his nation out of the darkness and towards the light of Allah SWT. With the final message of Rasulallah SAW, this guidance has been preserved in the Kalaam of Allah SWT – the Quran.

Quran is the source that brings peace and tranquility in the hearts of the those who are truly seeking for truth. Allah SWT says:

وَإِذَا قُرِىءَ الْقُرْآنُ فَاسْتَمِعُواْ لَهُ وَأَنصِتُواْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ (7:204
204. So, when the Qur'ân is recited, listen to it, and be silent that you may receive mercy.

There is no book in existance whose followers have committed themselves to memorizing it as much as the huffaz of the Holy Quran. Also, there is no other book on the face of the earth that is read as beautifully as the Quran. It is not the miracle of the recitors but it’s a miracle of the book whose reading has been made to vary in such a manner. If this was the miracle of the recitors, then they could memorize any other book and recite it like Quran. The tonal reading with varying intonations is indeed the speciality of Quran only.

If we see the lives of the sahaba we will find that they had extreme love towards Holy Quran.

Ibn Ka'ab RA was a Sahabi who held a high rank among the Sahabah as a teacher. One day he was reading the Holy Quran and the Messenger of Allah passed. Ibn Ka'ab RA fell silent upon seeing him, but the Messenger of Allah told him to keep reading. Ibn Ka'ab RA said, "How can I read in front of the one upon whom this Quran was revealed?" The Prophet replied, "This is so, but this is how I have been commanded."

Ibn Ka'ab RA realized that Allah Himself had issued a command. He asked, "O Messenger of Allah, did Allah specify me by name?" The Prophet replied, "Yes, Allah inspired me to tell you to read so that He may listen." These were the people who would read the Holy Quran with such love and sincerity that Allah Himself would request them to read the Holy Quran.


Fatima RA would become so absorbed in her reading of the Holy Quran and read with such desire that the whole night would pass unawares. Upon noticing the dawn, she would raise her hands and complain to Allah, "O Allah, I made intention for just two rakats, and Your whole night passed away." These were people who would complain that nights were too short for worship.

Returning from an engagement with the enemy, the Messenger of Allah set up camp along the way and ordered two Sahabah to keep watch during the night while the rest of the army slept. The two Sahabah divided the night into shifts, and one would keep watch while the other slept; this way they would both could get equal sleep. The Sahabi who opted to stay awake for the first part of the night decided to stand up and offer prayer, and in the prayer he started reciting Surah al-Kahf[6].

Enemy scouts approached and saw that the Muslim camp was asleep. Scanning the surrounding hills, they noticed a lone figure standing atop a cliff edge. They shot an arrow that struck the Sahabi in the chest, and he started bleeding. However, the Sahabi did not move from his position. Two more arrows hit him in the chest, but he kept reciting. When a fourth arrow struck him, he awoke his companion because of fear that he might lose consciousness.

According to some different sources of this hadith, the Sahabi's streaming blood fell upon his companion's face and thus he awoke. This Sahabi said to his now awakened companion, "Had I not had to wake you for the safety of the others, I would have taken arrow after arrow but would not have interrupted Surah al-Kahf for the pleasure it was bringing me."
The love of this Holy Book was immense in the hearts of these people whose lives revolved around this one Book. They took every benefit out of it and that guarantee their success. They considered their lives to be elevated because of Islam.
Umar RA was leading an army back to Madinah after an expedition when he stopped at a valley in the height of noonday. He dismounted and appeared lost in thought for a very long time. The soldiers starting sweating, but dared not move for their leader appeared to be contemplating something in the valley.

Someone worked up the courage to ask Umar RA what he was doing, since the army behind him was waiting. Umar RA sighed and said, "There was a time before accepting Islam that I used to herd camels in this very valley. I did not know how to herd them properly. My father used to beat me and say that I wouldn't amount to anything because I don't even know how to herd camels. Now Allah has made Umar the Amir-ul-Mumineen through the glory of Islam and the Holy Quran." Umar RA used to say, "The Holy Quran has come to give us honor."

Dear Brothers and Sisters! We need to establish a connection with this Glorious Quran, and read it constantly so that we become lovers of this Holy Book. We need to enlighten our hearts with the light of this Glorious Book and then we will be successful both in this life and the next.

A guest came to Husain RA’shouse, so he sent his slave girl out for some food, because there was limited supply in the house. Upon reentering the house, she tripped and hot gravy burned through Husain RA’s clothing. Husain RA grew intensely angry and glared at the girl. However scared the slave girl became at seeing this in her master, she knew his character and the strong principles by which he lived.

The frightened girl immediately quoted a verse from the Noble Quran:

الَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ فِي السَّرَّاء وَالضَّرَّاء وَالْكَاظِمِينَ الْغَيْظَ
(The believers are) those who spend in the path of Allah when they are blessed with more and when they are in hardship and those who restrain anger (3:134)

Husain RA’s expression changed and he said to her, "I have absorbed my anger." The girl continued:

وَالْعَافِينَ عَنِ النَّاسِ
And pardon all men (3:134)

Husain RA said, "I forgive you for your mistake." The slave girl then said:

وَاللّهُ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ
Allah loves those who do good (3:134)

Hadrat Husain then replied, "Go, I have freed you for the sake of Allah."

These were people who used to change their lives while listening to the Holy Quran. One moment Hadrat Husain was glaring at his slave girl in anger, and the next moment he freed her for the sake of Allah.

Today our copies of the Glorious Quran are sitting on shelves in silk coverings but we do not find the time to read them. We waste our time in useless television and drama shows. We watch television and read the newspaper for hours without realizing the time, and months go by like this, but nobody has the time to pick up the Glorious Revelation of Allah.

وَاذْكُرُواْ إِذْ أَنتُمْ قَلِيلٌ مُّسْتَضْعَفُونَ فِي الأَرْضِ تَخَافُونَ أَن يَتَخَطَّفَكُمُ النَّاسُ فَآوَاكُمْ وَأَيَّدَكُم بِنَصْرِهِ وَرَزَقَكُم مِّنَ الطَّيِّبَاتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
26. And remember when you were few and were reckoned weak in the land, and were afraid that men might kidnap you, but He provided a safe place for you, strengthened you with His Help, and provided you with good things so that you might be grateful.

My dear Brothers and Sisters,

When we see the lives of our predecessors, we see that they were few in number but they became successful, because they held fast to Quran. They understood its message in completeness and they implemented that message in their daily lives. We have to wake ourselves up and return to the teachings of Quran, the only true message on Allah SWT.

May Allah make us lovers of the Holy Quran, writers of the Holy Quran, huffaz of the Holy Quran, and give us taufeeq to act upon the Holy Quran. May Allah spread the light of the Glorious Quran throughout the world and enlighten our hearts with it.

Wa akhiru dawaana anil hamdulillahi rabbilaalimeen

Delivered at Fredericton Islamic Association, Masjid on November 21, 2007

Love for Quran

اعوذ باللہ من الشیطٰن الرجیم بسم اللہ الرحمٰن الرحیم الحمد لله رب العالمين ، أرسل رسوله بالهدى و دين الحق ليظهره على الدين كله و كفي بالله شهيدا ، و أشهد ألا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له ؛ له الملك و له الحمد ، يحيى و يميت و هو على كل شئ قدير

In the name of Allah, the most beneficient, the most merciful, Master of the day of Judgement. Peace and blessings be upon the noble Prophet Mohammad SAW, his family and his companions who conveyed the message of Islam through their words, deeds and actions.

My dear respected Brothers, Sisters and Elders in Islam, Assalam o allaikum Wr Wb…..

Allah SWT says in the Holy Quran:

الَر كِتَابٌ أَنزَلْنَاهُ إِلَيْكَ لِتُخْرِجَ النَّاسَ مِنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِمْ إِلَى صِرَاطِ الْعَزِيزِ الْحَمِيدِ

14:1 - (This is) a Book which We have revealed unto you (O Muhammad SAW) in order that you might lead mankind out of darkness (of disbelief and polytheism) into light (of belief in the Oneness of Allâh and Islâmic Monotheism) by their Lord's Leave to the Path of the All-Mighty, the Owner of all Praise.
Allah SWT has revealed this book so we can be guided from the darkness towards the light of truth. A human being has been struggling since the beginning of its creation to find a path that is peace and solace and that can bring one to the internal peace and tranquility. Allah SWT like many other needs of a human beings, sent anbiya kiram aleyhimus salam to fulfil this need. Each messenger was sent to guide his nation out of the darkness and towards the light of Allah SWT. With the final message of Rasulallah SAW, this guidance has been preserved in the Kalaam of Allah SWT – the Quran.

Quran is the source that brings peace and tranquility in the hearts of the those who are truly seeking for truth. Allah SWT says:

وَإِذَا قُرِىءَ الْقُرْآنُ فَاسْتَمِعُواْ لَهُ وَأَنصِتُواْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ (7:204
204. So, when the Qur'ân is recited, listen to it, and be silent that you may receive mercy.

There is no book in existance whose followers have committed themselves to memorizing it as much as the huffaz of the Holy Quran. Also, there is no other book on the face of the earth that is read as beautifully as the Quran. It is not the miracle of the recitors but it’s a miracle of the book whose reading has been made to vary in such a manner. If this was the miracle of the recitors, then they could memorize any other book and recite it like Quran. The tonal reading with varying intonations is indeed the speciality of Quran only.

If we see the lives of the sahaba we will find that they had extreme love towards Holy Quran.

Ibn Ka'ab RA was a Sahabi who held a high rank among the Sahabah as a teacher. One day he was reading the Holy Quran and the Messenger of Allah passed. Ibn Ka'ab RA fell silent upon seeing him, but the Messenger of Allah told him to keep reading. Ibn Ka'ab RA said, "How can I read in front of the one upon whom this Quran was revealed?" The Prophet replied, "This is so, but this is how I have been commanded."

Ibn Ka'ab RA realized that Allah Himself had issued a command. He asked, "O Messenger of Allah, did Allah specify me by name?" The Prophet replied, "Yes, Allah inspired me to tell you to read so that He may listen." These were the people who would read the Holy Quran with such love and sincerity that Allah Himself would request them to read the Holy Quran.


Fatima RA would become so absorbed in her reading of the Holy Quran and read with such desire that the whole night would pass unawares. Upon noticing the dawn, she would raise her hands and complain to Allah, "O Allah, I made intention for just two rakats, and Your whole night passed away." These were people who would complain that nights were too short for worship.

Returning from an engagement with the enemy, the Messenger of Allah set up camp along the way and ordered two Sahabah to keep watch during the night while the rest of the army slept. The two Sahabah divided the night into shifts, and one would keep watch while the other slept; this way they would both could get equal sleep. The Sahabi who opted to stay awake for the first part of the night decided to stand up and offer prayer, and in the prayer he started reciting Surah al-Kahf.
Enemy scouts approached and saw that the Muslim camp was asleep. Scanning the surrounding hills, they noticed a lone figure standing atop a cliff edge. They shot an arrow that struck the Sahabi in the chest, and he started bleeding. However, the Sahabi did not move from his position. Two more arrows hit him in the chest, but he kept reciting. When a fourth arrow struck him, he awoke his companion because of fear that he might lose consciousness.

According to some different sources of this hadith, the Sahabi's streaming blood fell upon his companion's face and thus he awoke. This Sahabi said to his now awakened companion, "Had I not had to wake you for the safety of the others, I would have taken arrow after arrow but would not have interrupted Surah al-Kahf for the pleasure it was bringing me."
The love of this Holy Book was immense in the hearts of these people whose lives revolved around this one Book. They took every benefit out of it and that guarantee their success. They considered their lives to be elevated because of Islam.
Umar RA was leading an army back to Madinah after an expedition when he stopped at a valley in the height of noonday. He dismounted and appeared lost in thought for a very long time. The soldiers starting sweating, but dared not move for their leader appeared to be contemplating something in the valley.

Someone worked up the courage to ask Umar RA what he was doing, since the army behind him was waiting. Umar RA sighed and said, "There was a time before accepting Islam that I used to herd camels in this very valley. I did not know how to herd them properly. My father used to beat me and say that I wouldn't amount to anything because I don't even know how to herd camels. Now Allah has made Umar the Amir-ul-Mumineen through the glory of Islam and the Holy Quran." Umar RA used to say, "The Holy Quran has come to give us honor."

Dear Brothers and Sisters! We need to establish a connection with this Glorious Quran, and read it constantly so that we become lovers of this Holy Book. We need to enlighten our hearts with the light of this Glorious Book and then we will be successful both in this life and the next.

A guest came to Husain RA’shouse, so he sent his slave girl out for some food, because there was limited supply in the house. Upon reentering the house, she tripped and hot gravy burned through Husain RA’s clothing. Husain RA grew intensely angry and glared at the girl. However scared the slave girl became at seeing this in her master, she knew his character and the strong principles by which he lived.

The frightened girl immediately quoted a verse from the Noble Quran:

الَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ فِي السَّرَّاء وَالضَّرَّاء وَالْكَاظِمِينَ الْغَيْظَ
(The believers are) those who spend in the path of Allah when they are blessed with more and when they are in hardship and those who restrain anger (3:134)

Husain RA’s expression changed and he said to her, "I have absorbed my anger." The girl continued:

وَالْعَافِينَ عَنِ النَّاسِ
And pardon all men (3:134)

Husain RA said, "I forgive you for your mistake." The slave girl then said:

وَاللّهُ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ
Allah loves those who do good (3:134)

Hadrat Husain then replied, "Go, I have freed you for the sake of Allah."

These were people who used to change their lives while listening to the Holy Quran. One moment Hadrat Husain was glaring at his slave girl in anger, and the next moment he freed her for the sake of Allah.

Today our copies of the Glorious Quran are sitting on shelves in silk coverings but we do not find the time to read them. We waste our time in useless television and drama shows. We watch television and read the newspaper for hours without realizing the time, and months go by like this, but nobody has the time to pick up the Glorious Revelation of Allah.

وَاذْكُرُواْ إِذْ أَنتُمْ قَلِيلٌ مُّسْتَضْعَفُونَ فِي الأَرْضِ تَخَافُونَ أَن يَتَخَطَّفَكُمُ النَّاسُ فَآوَاكُمْ وَأَيَّدَكُم بِنَصْرِهِ وَرَزَقَكُم مِّنَ الطَّيِّبَاتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
26. And remember when you were few and were reckoned weak in the land, and were afraid that men might kidnap you, but He provided a safe place for you, strengthened you with His Help, and provided you with good things so that you might be grateful.

My dear Brothers and Sisters,

When we see the lives of our predecessors, we see that they were few in number but they became successful, because they held fast to Quran. They understood its message in completeness and they implemented that message in their daily lives. We have to wake ourselves up and return to the teachings of Quran, the only true message on Allah SWT.

May Allah make us lovers of the Holy Quran, writers of the Holy Quran, huffaz of the Holy Quran, and give us taufeeq to act upon the Holy Quran. May Allah spread the light of the Glorious Quran throughout the world and enlighten our hearts with it.

Wa akhiru dawaana anil hamdulillahi rabbilaalimeen

Special thanks to Shaykh Zulfiqar Ahmad
Delivered at Fredericton Islamic Association, Masjid on November 9, 2007

Ramadan - رمضان

اعوذ باللہ من الشیطٰن الرجیمبسم اللہ الرحمٰن الرحیمالحمد لله رب العالمين ، أرسل رسوله بالهدى و دين الحق ليظهره على الدين كله و كفي بالله شهيدا ، و أشهد ألا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له ؛ له الملك و له الحمد ، يحيى و يميت و هو على كل شئ قدير

In the name of Allah, the most beneficient, the most merciful, Master of the day of Judgement. Peace and blessings be upon the noble Prophet Mohammad SAW, his family and his companions who conveyed the message of Islam through their words, deeds and actions.

My dear respected brothers, sisters and elders in Islam…
Assalam o allaikum Wr. Wb.

Ramadan has approached us, once again. We have been given a chance once again to correct ourselves and make ourselves obedient to the commandments of Allah SWT. We have been given a chance once again to tame our nafs according to the teachings of Islam. It is a golden opportunity for us to mould our way of life to the life of Rasulallah SAW.

It is a time for struggle and not to sit back and relax. Just like we spend all nights preparing for exams because we care about the result our test is going to bring, similarly, we should prepare ourselves by spending most of the nights making ibadah to Allah SWT so that our results are in our favour on the day of Qayamah.

Allah SWT has declared this month to be a blessed month for us. It is a month in which Al-Quran, the word of Allah was revealed to mankind. It is a month where rahmah of Allah SWT is showered, the gates of paradise are opened for those who are fasting, the shayateen are chained so that we can be even more closer to Allah SWT.


Allah SWT says in Quran:
شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِيَ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِّنَ الْهُدَى وَالْفُرْقَانِ فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ يُرِيدُ اللّهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلاَ يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُواْ الْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُواْ اللّهَ عَلَى مَا هَدَاكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَo
وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِي عَنِّي فَإِنِّي قَرِيبٌ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ الدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُواْ لِي وَلْيُؤْمِنُواْ بِي لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْشُدُونَ (2:186



185. The month of Ramadân in which was revealed the Qur'ân, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong). So whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first night of) the month (of Ramadân i.e. is present at his home), he must observe Saum (fasts) that month, and whoever is ill or on a journey, the same number [of days which one did not observe Saum (fasts) must be made up] from other days. Allâh intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you. (He wants that you) must complete the same number (of days), and that you must magnify Allâh [i.e. to say Takbîr (Allâhu-Akbar; Allâh is the Most Great) on seeing the crescent of the months of Ramadân and Shawwâl] for having guided you so that you may be grateful to Him.[]
186. And when My slaves ask you (O Muhammad SAW) concerning Me, then (answer them), I am indeed near (to them by My Knowledge). I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me (without any mediator or intercessor). So let them obey Me and believe in Me, so that they may be led aright.[]
Allah SWT has blessed us with all the conveniences but at the same time He has made it clear that fasting in the month of Ramadan is a duty that is obligatory upon each one of us.

Rasulallah SAW said in a hadeeth:
The Prophet –peace be upon him- said, "When the first night of Ramadan comes, the devils and rebellious jinns are put in chains and the door of hell are closed, none of them remains open. The door of heaven are open and none of them remains closed. And a caller calls, 'O seeker of goodness, come forward, and O seeker of evil, desist. And Allah has many (in this month) who will be freed from Hell.' This announcement is made every night. (Tirmidhi).

Pray to Allah SWT that we are from among those who will be freed from Hell in this month. Pray to Allah SWT for the taufeeq that we may do righteous deeds in this month. Pray to Allah SWT that we do not just let this month pass by like other days of the year.

As individuals, as families, we must understand the importance of this month for ourselves and our children. We must try to bring the complete conviction in ourselves that the only being that can alleviate ourselves from our pains is Allah SWT. We must teach our children that if they ask Allah SWT, their needs will be fulfilled. We should make special preparation at our homes to break our fasts and to keep the fasts so that this new generation of ours can see the importance of keeping fasts in Ramadan. Let them learn and let them compete with eachother in performing good deeds. Make this Ramadan a milestone the life of your children. Pray that Allah give us the taufeeq to achieve this.

My dear Brothers and Sisters,

The month of Ramadan has many rituals for us that can keep us busy. Starting our day with Suhoor and keeping the fast whole day and then breaking the fast at sunset, reciting quran and adhkar during the day, praying salaat taraweeh at night and qiyamul layl requires not only physical struggle but also a mental resolve.

Besides all the physical ibadaah, Ramadan is also meant for our moral and spiritual training and for the purification of our bodies, minds and souls. This is an annual training program for all believers. It is a special time to get closer to Allah and to seek His blessings and bounties. It is a time to learn Taqwa, piety, self-discipline and patience. It is a time to give more charity and become more generous. It is a time to seek Allah's forgiveness and to forgive each other. It is a time to be thankful to Allah for His gifts and bounties and especially His gift of Iman.

Rasulallah SAW is reported to have been said:Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Apostle said, "When the month of Ramadan starts, the gates of the heaven are opened and the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained."

Brothers and Sisters, lets keep some important things in our minds when we keep our fasts in Ramadan.

1. Niyyah (Intention): Remind yourself again and again that you are fasting in obedience to Allah. Be sincere in your intention. You want Allah to accept your fasting. The Prophet –peace be upon him- said:
"Whosoever fasts in Ramadan with faith and seeking Allah's reward, all his past sins are forgiven." (Al-Bukhari, Hadith no. 37)

2. Sunnah : Observe the Sunnah in fasting. Take the Sahur meal a little before dawn and end your fast at Sunset. Observe all the rules of fasting.

3. Wara' (Avoiding everything Haram or Makruh): Keep your body and mind very clean. Fasting is not just avoiding food and drink. Fasting is to learn how to avoid bad words and bad deeds. The Prophet –peace be upon him said:
"Whosoever does not leave bad words and bad actions, Allah does not care if he leaves his food and drink." (Al-Tirmidhi 641)

4. Qur'an : Spend more time with the Qur'an. Read Qur'an every day. Try to finish at least one time the whole Qur'an during this month in your own personal reading. Read some Ahadith and the books of Seerah also .

5. Salat, Du'a and Dhikr of Allah : Pray on time and observe all prayers. Do not ignore the Tarawih prayers. Make more Nawafil. Do as much 'Ibadah as you can. Do more Zikr and Du'a for yourself and for others. Make Tawbah and Istighfar as much as you can. This is the best time for devotion and seeking Allah's forgiveness. Seek the Night of Qadr by special devotion during the last ten nights of this month.
Rasulallah SAW said:Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, "Whoever established prayers on the night of Qadr out of sincere faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven; and whoever fasts in the month of Ramadan out of sincere faith, and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven."

6. Zakat, Sadaqah and Generosity : Be very charitable and generous. Give more to help the poor and needy. Contribute generously for useful social and community projects.

7. Family: Be very good to your family, immediate family and the extended family. Spend more time and quality time with your family members.

8. Husn al-Suluk : Try to be extra kind and courteous during this month. Forget your quarrels and disputes. Reconcile and forgive. Do not get involved in backbiting, lying, cheating and any thing that is wrong. Be very good to Muslims and to all human beings. Be good to your friends and neighbors. Let your non-Muslim neighbors and co-workers know that this is your blessed and sacred time. Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Apostle said, "Allah said, 'All the deeds of Adam's sons (people) are for them, except fasting which is for Me, and I will give the reward for it.' Fasting is a shield or protection from the fire and from committing sins. If one of you is fasting, he should avoid sexual relation with his wife and quarreling, and if somebody should fight or quarrel with him, he should say, 'I am fasting.' By Him in Whose Hands my soul is' The unpleasant smell coming out from the mouth of a fasting person is better in the sight of Allah than the smell of musk. There are two pleasures for the fasting person, one at the time of breaking his fast, and the other at the time when he will meet his Lord; then he will be pleased because of his fasting."

9. Tafakkur : Think, reflect and plan to improve the moral and spiritual condition of your own self and your family. Think about any wrong things and sins you might be doing and decide to correct your self. Think about any deficiencies you have in your Islamic observances. Plan to change yourself. Think what you can do for the Ummah and for humanity to make this world a better place for every one. Think about the Akhirah and the Day of Judgment.

10. Be cheerful and happy: Ramadan is not a time of mourning or sadness. It is a time of thankfulness to Allah. Give the greetings of Ramadan to each other and enjoy this beautiful time.
It is reported in a Hadith that the Prophet –peace be upon him- gave a sermon about Ramadan to a gathering that met towards the end of Sha'ban. He said:
“O People, a great and a blessed month is approaching you. In this month there is a night that is better than one thousand months. Allah has made fasting obligatory and prayers at night commendable during this month. Whosoever will do a voluntary good deed during this month, it is as if he performed an obligatory good deed at another time and whosoever will perform an obligatory good deed, it is as if he performed seventy obligatory good deeds at another time. This is the month of patience and the reward of patience is Paradise. This is the month of kindness. In this month the believers provision is increased. Whosoever will give food to a fasting person in this month, it will bring forgiveness for his sins, will save him from the hellfire and he shall have his reward while the fasting person will not lose any of his reward.”
May Allah give us the taufeeq to spend this Ramadan as His obedient servants so we can enjoy benefits from Him in this word and hereafter.

Wa akhiruhu dawanaa anilhamdulillahi rabbil aalimeen.

Special thanks to Dr. Muzammil Siddiqui
Delivered at Fredericton Islamic Association, Masjid on September 14, 2007