السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته.
⚠ The celebration of the festival of the Hindus🚨

It is strictly prohibited to celebrate or part take in their festival or to even attend for a few minutes just to "show your face".

Allah the mighty and majestic says in the Qur'an what translates to mean:

" Say: (O Muhammad Salallahu Alaihi Wassallam) to these Al- Kafirun.
I Worship not that which you worship, Nor will you worship that which I worship And I shall not worship that which you are worshipping. Nor will you worship that which I worship. TO YOU BE YOUR RELIGION AND TO ME MY RELIGION"
- SURAH KAFIRUN (The Disbelievers)
Surah 109.

The words of Allah are crystal clear and it is sufficient for the true believer, only one evidence the true believer needs and then the true believer says:

"...We hear and and we obey..."
SURAH BAQARAH, verse 285

O Muslim hold on to your religion and be firm upon it because if we as Muslims do not stand firm for our Islam which we claim that we love so much, then who will stand firm for Islam?

Allah says in the Qur'an: " There is no compulsion in religion. Verily, the right path has become distinct from the wrong path. Whoever disbelieves in false deities and believes in Allah, then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break. And Allah is the All-Hearer, All-Knower."
SURAH BAQARAH, verse 256

The words of Allah the All-Mighty is true. We are forbidden to go to these festivals that has nothing to do with Islam, Allah says in the Qur'an:
"...Help you one another in virtue, righteousness and piety but do not help one another in sin and transgression. And fear Allah Verily, ALLAH IS SEVERE IN PUNISHMENT."

O Muslim, find an excuse not to go to these things which goes totally opposite to what Allah has commanded us with, come up with some excuse and excuse yourself from this celebration of shirk because Allah is severe in punishment, do not be from among those that reject the words of Allah.

I ask Allah to help us all understand tawheed and to keep us far away from shirk and its celebrations. 🌸Aameen🌸

FORWARD AS A REMINDER TO ALL.

The Eclipse Prayer.

Shaykh ibn ‘Uthaymeen [may Allāh have mercy on him] said:

“No doubt it's sudden occurrence is more severe upon the souls and if the people speak about it before its occurrence and calm the souls and [allow] them to prepare for it, then the affair becomes a natural affair like the ‘Eed prayer wherein the people congregate. Therefore, we do not find a benefit in informing [people] about it, rather it is closer to harm than benefit.”

Sharh Mumti’ 5/179 | Shaykh, al-Allāmah ibn ‘Uthaymeen [may Allāh have mercy on him]

Translation: Authentic Quotes

When You Have Business, Travel Or Marriage Plans Make Sure You Keep It A Secret

The Prophet [ﷺ] said:

❝Help yourself to achieve your plans by being discreet, for everyone who is blessed with something is envied.❞

[As-Silsilah, (3/436) | Translated By Salah Al-Iranee]

-

Translators Note: Let your success do the talking.

Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله said,

If Allaah puts a person under certain tests and trials and the person recognizes that he must resort to Allaah alone seeking His help,

then this is a good sign for him; the trials turn to purification and mercy.

If on the other hand, he rejects, complains, and turns away from Allaah and seeks help from human beings like himself, then this is a bad sign for him;

the trials turn to punishment and misery for him.

[Tareequl Hijratayn, 103, pg. 259]

EXERCISE PARDON HERE, YOU SHALL BE PARDONED HEREAFTER

Mas'ud bn Muhammad al Hamdaanee was of the noblest of people. He always pardon people's misdoings by saying :

"the past is not to be remembered".

After his death, he was seen in the dream being asked, what did you meet with your Lord ?

He said, He (Allaah) made me stand before Him and said to me:

' Oh Mas'uud, the past is not to be remembered; take him to the Jannah. '

📚 - Taareekhul Islam (42/327).

Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله said:

‎"Because Yusuf عليه السلام loved Allah and was sincerely devoted to Him, he did not fall into the trap of (haram) love."

‎مجموعة الفتاوى 10/135

From Abū Ḏarr (may Allāh be pleased with him) who said: My dear friend ﷺ advised me: “Whenever you cook some stew, add extra water to it, then look to some household in your neighbourhood and give it to them in kindness.”

أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ فُورَكٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا يُونُسُ بْنُ حَبِيبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو دَاوُدَ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، أَخْبَرَنِي أَبُو عِمْرَانَ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ عَبْدَ اللهِ بْنَ الصَّامِتِ يُحَدِّثُ، عَنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ، قَالَ: قَالَ لِي رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: " إِذَا صَنَعْتَ مَرَقَةً فَأَكْثِرْ مَاءَهَا، ثُمَّ انْظُرْ أَهْلَ بَيْتٍ مِنْ جِيرَانِكَ فَأَصِبْهُمْ مِنْهَا بِمَعْرُوفٍ "

Reported by Muslim in his Ṣaḥīḥ.

أَخْرَجَهُ مُسْلِمٌ فِي الصَّحِيحِ مِنْ حَدِيثِ شُعْبَةَ

Abū Bakr al-Bayhaqī, Shuʿab al-ʾĪmān 5/109 #3159
أبو بكر البيهقي، شعب الإيمان ٥/١٠٩

‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr b. al-‘As reported God’s Messenger as saying,

“If anyone stands in qiyam and recites 10 verses he will not be recorded among the negligent (Ghafileen) ; and if anyone stands in qiyam recites 100 verses he will be recorded among those who are obedient to God and if anyone makes proper use of a 1000 verses he will be recorded among those who receive huge rewards.”

رسول الله تعالى، عليه الصلاة والسلام، يقول:(من قامَ بعشرِ آياتٍ لم يُكتب منَ الغافلينَ، ومن قامَ بمائةِ آيةٍ كتبَ منَ القانتينَ، ومن قامَ بألفِ آيةٍ كتبَ منَ المقنطرينَ)
الراوي: عبدالله بن عمرو | المصدر: صحيح أبي داود 1398 | خلاصة حكم المحدث: صحيح

Think about it. Just 10 verses means only Surat al Falaq & Surat an Nas.

So if we get up for tajahhud and can manage to read only these 2 surahs, our category in the sight of Allah changes to those who remember him and removed from the negligent ones. May Allah give us tawfeeq for the bare minimum.
والله تعالى هو الموفق والمستعان..

Our closest family members can be our enemies:

The Prophet Ya'qub said to his son Yusuf:
قَالَ یَـٰبُنَیَّ لَا تَقۡصُصۡ رُءۡیَاكَ عَلَىٰۤ إِخۡوَتِكَ
فَیَكِیدُوا۟ لَكَ كَیۡدًاۖ إِنَّ ٱلشَّیۡطَـٰنَ لِلۡإِنسَـٰنِ عَدُوࣱّ مُّبِینࣱ
'𝗠𝘆 𝘀𝗼𝗻, 𝗱𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺, 𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗺 𝘆𝗼𝘂. 𝗦𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗻'𝘀 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗺𝘆.' [Qur'an 12:5].

Ibn al-'Arabi al-Maliki explained:
حكم بالعادة من الحسادة بين الإخوة والقرابة
'𝘐𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘦𝘯𝘷𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴.'
['Ahkam al-Qur'an', 3/38].

----------------------------

We often think that all our family relatives are our well-wishers and that our enemies are distant outsiders.

In reality, our closest family members, who reside within our own homes - may be our direct enemies!

There is often strong competition among brothers and relatives: show-off of wealth, extravagant wedding parties, etc.

Your own father or mother may be your enemy... there are some parents who deliberately keep their children small and insignificant, so that they themselves can remain big and relevant.

They fear that if their children become financially strong, then they themselves will become irrelevant and small. So, they cut the wings of their children, by discouraging them from endeavours that will make them big.

The children are often unaware, because naturally, they expect only good from their parents.

Your spouse may be your enemy: sometimes, some men deliberately prevent their wives from learning and earning and becoming stronger. They want to keep them needy and dependent on themselves.
They want to keep a leverage over them.

Like sheep, they spend our entire lives fearing the big bad wolf - but in the end, they get slaughtered by the shepherd.

I don't intend to create distrust within families, but I'm just highlighting that all human beings are fighting devils within their heads.

Our relatives may be overcome by the plots of the devil and they may envy us and wish us harm.

It is best to remain vigilant.

Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله:

“Whoever abandons habits for the sake of someone or something other than Allāh, will surely suffer hard and difficult times.

However, whoever abandons habits for the sake of Allāh sincerely from his heart, he will not suffer from leaving it except at the beginning so that his credibility will be examined. If he bears this pain it will be turned into pleasure.”

[Al-Fawā’id | Pg. 174]

‏[فضيلةُ العَفوِ]
قال الحافظُ ابنُ حِبّان:
"أجلُّ النَّاسِ مَرتبةً مَنْ صَدَّ الجَهلَ بالحِلْمِ، وما الفَضلُ إلّا لِمَنْ يُحسِنُ إلى مَن أساءَ إليه،فأمّا مُجازاةُ الإحسانِ إحساناً؛ فهو المُسَاواةُ في الأخلاقِ"
(روضة العقلاء)(ص١٦٩)

THE VIRTUE OF PARDONING

Al-Haafith Ibn Hibbaan said:

"The person most noble in rank is he who wards off ignorant treatment with good manners. Virtue is just a man being kind to one who treats him poorly. Responding to kindness with kindness is [merely] being equal in manners."

Source: Rowdhat al-'Uqalaa' (p.169)

May Allah reward Shaykh 'Abdullah al-Bukhari for sharing this important reminder; and may He ta'aalaa make us the best in implementing it.

"Leave behind the traces (of your good deeds) after your death. Perhaps your good deeds, after your death, will (multiply )more than the good deeds (you could earn) in your lifetime."

Allaah تعالى said:

إِنَّا نَحْنُ نُحْيِي الْمَوْتَىٰ وَنَكْتُبُ مَا قَدَّمُوا وَآثَارَهُمْ

{It is We indeed who bring back the dead to life, and write down what they send ahead (of their deeds), and traces that they leave behind...}
📚[Surah Yaaseen (36): 12]

📑 Note:
{and their traces} meaning: their footsteps and walking on the earth with their legs to the Massajid for the five obligatory congregational prayers, and all other good and evil they did, and the legacy they left behind. So, Allaah will requite them for that: if it is good, then Allaah will reward them, and if it is evil, then Allaah will punish them.'

The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
(Whoever starts (or sets an example of) something good in Islaam, will have a reward for it, and a reward equal to that of everyone who does it after him, without that detracting from their reward in the slightest. Whoever starts (or sets an example of) something evil in Islaam, will bear the burden for that, and a burden equal to that of everyone who does it after him, without that detracting from their burden in the slightest.)
📚[Saheeh Muslim]

The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said:

‎ “If the servant (of Allāh) says: 'Alḥamdulillaahi Katheeran' (all praises and thanks be to Allāh a lot) Allāh, the Most High, says: 'Write for my servant My Mercy a lot'.”

‎● [صحيح الترغيب والترهيب ١٥٧٨، حسنه الألباني]

15 Advices I would give my 18 year old self!

1. Don't care about what people think. Don't think they care.
2. Family is everything. Friends change every year.
3. Time is the biggest wealth. Invest wisely.
4. Seek Islamic knowledge. It's easier when responsibilities are at the bare minimum.
5. Education is important. Skills are more important. Master One.
6. Health is crucial. Don't do anything that you will regret in your old age.
7. Get married but do it wisely. Haram relationships kill your heart.
8. Network but give more than taking.
9. Do what needs to be done so that later on you can do what you want to do.
10. Only spend what you can afford.
11. No true contentment exists without Tawheed
12. Don't talk about your goals.
13. No one owes you anything in this world. Stop behaving like a victim.
14. Cut off toxic people. Don't delay.
15. Know when to say No. Do so more often.

Don’t complain about the days we are living in now, even if they are dark difficult day.

These hours and minutes that are going by, are the same hours and minutes many people on the Day of Judgment would beg to come back to in order to correct their relationship with Allah ﷻ.

Allah ﷻ mentioned to us the regret and the wish the disbelievers will have on the Day of Judgment:

‎وَلَو تَرى إِذ وُقِفوا عَلَى النّارِ فَقالوا يا لَيتَنا نُرَدُّ وَلا نُكَذِّبَ بِآياتِ رَبِّنا وَنَكونَ مِنَ المُؤمِنينَ

“If you (O Messenger) could only see them when they stand before the fire of Hell, and they will (regretfully) say, ‘If only we could be sent back (to the world), and not deny Allah’s signs and be from those who had faith in Allah’.” (Surat Al Anaam: 27).

The days and the nights are passing by very quickly. The intelligent believer is the one who uses his time on Earth to prepare for the meeting between him and Allah ﷻ.

📜 Work on rectifying on present day, and grieve not over what has passed or yet to.

Different strokes for different folks.

* PROPHETIC MEDICINE FOR THE HEART *⠀

Prophetic medicines that are good for the heart are:⠀

• Talbina (Barleyflour) - The Prophet ﷺ said: “Talbina gives rest to the patient's heart and makes it active and helps relieve your pain and sorrow.” (Bukhari) In a study Barley was said to ‘significantly lowers bad cholesterol, reducing risk of heart attack and stroke' ⠀

• Ajwa Dates - Regular consumption of Ajwa dates prevents constriction of the blood vessels, strengthens the heart and improves cardiac functioning.⠀

• Olive Leaf helps reduce cardiovascular functioning by lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels.⠀

• Olive Oil prevents strokes and heart disease.⠀

• Black Seed reduces blood pressure and cholesterol boosting heart health. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Black Seed is a cure for every disease.” (Bukhari) ⠀

• Ginger is an anti-inflammatory blood thinner, lowers blood pressure and cholesterol and prevents coronary heart disease.⠀

• Aloe Vera can lower LDL cholesterol, increase HDL cholesterol, reduce triglycerides, lower blood pressure, and stabilize heart rhythm.⠀

• Honey lowered LDL cholesterol, blood triglycerides and raised HDL cholesterol. Honey also lowered Homocysteine, another blood marker associated with disease.⠀

'Umar Ibn al-Khattaab (RaḍiyAllāhu ʿanhu) once said to al-Ahnaf Ibn Qais (RaḍiyAllāhu ʿanhu),

“O Ahnaf, the more one laughs, the less dignity will he posses.

Whoever jokes (excessively or indecently) is a person who will be taken lightly.

Whoever does something frequently will become known by that thing.

Whoever speaks often, errs often; the more often one errs, the less modesty will he possess;

whoever has a low level of modesty will also have a low level of piety; and when one has a low level of piety, then his heart dies.”

[Sifat-us-Safwah, 1/1449]

In the age of fitan, generally, where ever allowed, even if it gets or looks or feels selective, I feel that those who have permission to preach within limits , should not let go of this opportunity and stop forbiddance of munkar because of the saying of Allah ﷻ :
{ فاتقوا الله ما استطعتم ...(الخ) }

[So keep your duty to Allah and fear Him as much as you can....] (till the end of the verse)

Surah At-Taghabun, Verse 16

Some people would mock it as hypocritical, but it is not. There could be a place where forbiddance of munkar could land you in jail for years and even if you were allowed to do that, it would not be so beneficial. It is allowed to do muwazanah (cost-benefit analysis) here and be silent in such a place.

On the other hand, a da'ee could be given a free pass to preach in a certain region which might be a sanctity and here the da'ee must make full use of it and do his da'wah with wisdom and politeness to whoever he can.

If he feels hypocrital inside for "not being consistent" , then, this is beyond his capability and it is just a whisper of shaytan to demotivate the da'ee further and this whisper must not be payed heed.

A person of low moral character

It is attributed to Abdullah bin Amr radhiAllahanho that he said about a bad neighbor:

وجار سوء إن رأى حسنة غطاها وإن رأى سيئة أفشاها
A bad neighbor, if he sees a good thing he covers it, and if he sees a bad thing he discloses it.

المصنف - ابن أبي شيبة الكوفي - ج ٣ - الصفحة ٤٠٠

Ibn Qayyim said:
وهكذا كثير من النّاس يسمعُ منك ويرى من المحاسن أضعافَ المساوئِ فلا يحفَظُها، ولا يَنْقُلُهَا، ولا تُنَاسِبُهُ،*

Most of them hear from you. They see your good qualities which are far more than mistakes, but they will not remember them neither they will tell others..

Then he said:

فإذا رأى سَقْطَةً، أو كَلِمَةً عَوْرَاءَ، وجد بُغيتَهُ وما يُناسبُها، فجعلها فَاكِهَتَهُ وَنُقْلَهُ.‘‘*
But when they see a mistake or wrong thing in you, its like this is what they were looking for, they will take it and forward it to others as well.

[ مدارج السالکین : ٤٠٦/١ ]