Make loads of Dua on Friday

Minding Our Own Business and Not Busying Oneself With Things Other Than That

Ibn al-Qayyim (rahimahullah) writes:

The most beneficial remedy is that you preoccupy yourself with thoughts of what should concern you and not those that should not concern you!

Thinking about what does not matter to you is the door of every evil!

Whoever reflects upon what does not concern him, then he will miss what does concern him!

[al-Fawa’id, 1/175, Ibn al-Qayyim (rahimahullah)]

Mental health crisis

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“Strive to do that which benefits you…” Muslim

احرص على ما ينفعك

Focus on beneficial things in both religious and worldly affairs.

Stay away from that which is harmful, so that you can truly enjoy your life.

https://twitter.com/hikmahpubs/status/1662128113709457408?t=HrCSG-DnNDC8tFnGz0rMNg&s=19

The problem in our Ummah is that Muslims set wrong priorities. We pay more attention to visible rituals and neglect the real purpose of Islam. It's the most important, it's Al-Akhlaq [manners, character]. When we visit the masjid, pray, fast and more, these are rituals. But what is with your ego, your nafs, what we should control also?

Many of us have tongues like knives, are notorious, are not on time, lie without shame, abuse the trust [amanah], judge above others without any right, can't control their sexual instincts, jealousy, greed, anger, are racist, are not merciful to each other and intolerant.

The rituals are coherent with your Al-Akhlaq [manners]. We should start to overthink about our nafs. Surely nobody is perfect and or without of flaws, but we should strive for knowledge for being a better human in future, in sha Allah.

Deen and Akhlaq should be our first priority ❣️.

I feel like a lot of Muslims underestimate the power of God. Allah can do anything. He parted the Red Sea, cooled fire, and split the moon in half. What makes you think that He cannot deal with your relatively small problems? Make duaa, wallah He's there.

Being an employee is not bad, don't quit your 9-5 job:

God says:
ورفعنا بعضهم فوق بعض درجات
ليّتخذ بعضهم بعضاً سخريّاً!
'𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘞𝘦 𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴,
𝘀𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸.'
[Qur’an 43:32].

The Prophet himself was once an employee, as he said about himself:
كنت أرعاها على قراريط لأهل مكة!
"𝗜 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗮 𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗽𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗲𝗰𝗰𝗮 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗾𝗶𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘀.”
['Mishkat al-Masabih', 2983 - صَحِيح].
https://sunnah.com/mishkat:2983

There are some people who tell the youth: quit your 9-5 jobs, employees are slaves, be your own boss, etc.

That’s rubbish advise!

There is no shame in being employed and working for someone else, if the job itself is halal and one is paid and treated respectfully.

The Prophet Moses was employed for many years by his father-in-law. This has been the Sunnah of Allah in the creation for thousands of years.

There is no shame in working for an employer.

As for 9-5s:

It may be a good idea to start off with a 9-5 job, and then do some side-hustles on the side.

Don't be stupid to drop your 9-5!

Don't fall for these motivational speeches, google 'Survivorship bias', and read about it. Almost all (90%) of start-up businesses fail, while with 9-5s, you know exactly what your salary will be every month, no matter the business performance.

If you say: the employer takes the profits, I just get my salary! Yes, but the employer also takes the hits, if things go wrong!

And if you say: I want to be my own boss!

Nobody is his own boss, there is a joke about this taxi driver, who was previously employed, and now does taxis. He was explaining: 'Now I can start when I want, I can finish when I want, Nobody checks on me, I'm my own boss...', as he was saying this, a passenger from the back shouted: 'TAKE A LEFT HERE...'

So, there is always an element of listening to others.

Nobody is fully his own boss.

To be rich, you do need to do something for yourself.

So, stick to your 9-5, but start something on the side... once that is successful, then leave your job. The 9-5 can be your safety net, in case your side-hustle fails.

When A Thing Overpowers You

Sh. Ibn al-‘Uthaymīn Raḥimahullāh: “When something tires and overpowers you say: ‘Laa Ḥawla Walaa Quwwata Illaa Billaah’, then Allāh will make it easy for you.”

● [شرح رياض الصالحين ٥\٥٢٢]

‎Hasan al-Basri رحمه الله said:

‎“The Qurʿān was meant to be acted upon, but people took reciting it as the required deed.”

‎[تلبيس إبليس]

Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said that on the day of judgment, the arrogant will be assembled on the day of judgment in the forms of men, but in the sizes of ants; humiliation will come to them from every direction. Dharr are the ants that are very small. They will be stepped on by everyone. People will be running on the Day of Judgment and stepping on it.

It used to be said:
‎صحبة الأشرار
توجب سوء الظن بالأخيار
“𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗹 (ashraar)
𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀
𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗼𝘂𝘀.” (akhyaar)

Like a cat which has been tortured, when you then try to stroke its head, it thinks you’re trying to hurt her!

Those who hang out with thieves and cheaters, think everyone is a thief and a cheat.

Similarly, hanging out with the righteous will have the opposite positive effect.

This is why God says:
‎وَكُونُواْ مَعَ ٱلصَّٰدِقِينَ
"𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘧𝘶𝘭." [9:119].

“They delay the prayer to the last possible time: Fajr at sunrise and `Asr at sunset at which time they quickly peck the ground as does a crow. This is because their prayer is prayer in body but not of heart.”

📚 Characteristics of The Hypocrites, p.36

The Reward for Bearing the Loss of a Loved One with Hope & Patience

Narrated Abu Huraira رضي الله عنه,

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said:

يَقُولُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى مَا لِعَبْدِي الْمُؤْمِنِ عِنْدِي جَزَاءٌ، إِذَا قَبَضْتُ صَفِيَّهُ مِنْ أَهْلِ الدُّنْيَا، ثُمَّ احْتَسَبَهُ إِلاَّ الْجَنَّةُ

"Allah says, 'I have nothing to give but Paradise as a reward to my believer slave, who, if I cause his dear friend (or relative) to die, remains patient (and hopes for Allah's Reward')."

Sahih al-Bukhari, 6424. Translation via Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan رحمه الله.

Don't hold on to toxic moments. Let go for your own sake.

Every single person we have in our life, has at some point hurt us. It’s natural, misunderstandings occur, fights occur, sometimes people don’t realize they’re being hurtful and sometimes they do it on purpose. One way or another, people scar us. And sometimes its the people closest to us that deliver the deepest wounds.

Although I know how hard it can be to let go, to forgive, and most importantly to forget, I feel like its most toxic to yourself if you keep probing your wounds.

Instead of trying to hold close the memory of how a particular person hurt you,betrayed you or caused you pain, try and hold close a memory of them where they helped you, or made you smile, or showed their love for you. It could be the simplest of memories, a moment where you laughed together, a smile, a hug, tears shared together, anything. But hold that good moment close,and use it as your mask to cover up the painful moments. Use those good moments to remind yourself that people aren’t all bad, they just have certain negative qualities. Use those good moments to slowly be able to let go of the bad ones, so the pain feels less intense.

I’m not going to lie, although doing this makes it easier to forgive, it does not make it easy to forget. I think that’s something no one can do really, forget the pain. But it will majorly help you to remember the pain less often, it will numb down the intensity of the hurt and it will grant peace to your own heart.

Whenever you do find yourself drifting back to aching memories of a certain person, pull out a good memory and make a heartfelt, good Dua for the person. I promise you, making Dua for someone is the best cure for your own heart.

May Allah ease all our pains and make us those of His slaves, who are able to forgive and let go of grudges.
Ameen

🗣 Advising And Mistakes ‼️

The senior scholar Rabee Bin Hadi al-Madkhali [حفظه الله] said:

‏«وإذا أخطأ أخوك فانصحه باللين وقدم له الحجة والبرهان ينفعه الله بذلك أما أن تجلس وتتربص أن يخطئ فلان وتقوم تشنع هنا وهناك أن فلاناً فعل كذا وكذا، فهذه طرق الشياطين وليست طرق أهل الحق.»

❝If your brother makes a mistake, advise him with gentleness and present him proofs and evidences through which Allaah will benefit him.

As for sitting waiting in ambush for someone to make a mistake and to rouse up hatred here and there that so-and-so did such-and-such. These are the ways of the Shayateen not the way of the people of the truth.❞

[Bahjatul Qaaree, (Page: 107) | Translated By Abbas Abu Yahya Miraath al-Anbiyya]

Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله said:

‎”I once attended fajr prayer with Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله; he then sat and remembered Allāh until it was nearly midday. He then turned around and said to me,

‎This is my early morning meal, if I do not take this breakfast, my strength will drop.”

[Al-Wābil as-Sayyib | Pg. 60]

Whenever you’re oppressed, thank Allah that you were not the oppressor, because Allah says:

‎أَلا لَعنَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَى الظّالِمين

Indeed the curse of Allah is upon the wrongdoers. (Surat Hud:18)

The 4 categories of people during the congregational prayers:

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

During the congregational prayers, in regards to following the Imaam, people are divided into four groups:

🚫 The “Forerunners”: Those who precede the Imaam in their bowing and prostration and getting up from them. It is like some race or competition as to who will do it first, the Imaam or those who are praying behind him. They do their action even before the Imaam says the Takbeer (Allaahu Akbar).

🚫 The “Coinciders”: Those who do the actions simultaneously with the Imaam. They don't want to precede the Imaam but they also don’t want to be left behind. They will bow and prostrate with the Imaam. They do their actions while the Imaam is still saying the Takbeer. (Many people come under this category).

✔ The “Followers”: Those who follow the Imaam in his actions. They do not precede him, nor do it simultaneously with him. They wait for the Imaam to complete the Takbeer before doing the required action.

🚫 The “Delayers”: They do not precede the Imaam, nor do they coincide with him, but they also don't follow him in the true sense. They do not follow the Imaam even after he has said the Takbeer. They will keep doing the Adhkaar and wait for a little longer before joining the Imaam.

۩•۞•۩

Narrated Anas bin Maalik رضي الله عنه: Allaah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم fell from a horse and got injured so he led the prayer sitting and we also prayed sitting. When he completed the prayer he صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “The Imaam is appointed so that he should be followed; if he says the Takbeer then say Takbeer, bow if he bows; raise your heads when he raises his head, when he says: ‘Samia-llaahu liman hamidah’, say: ‘Rabbanaa lakal-hamd’, and prostrate when he prostrates.”

[Saheeh al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim. This has also been reported from Aaishah, Abu Hurairah and others رضي الله عنهم. In other narration it is also mentioned: “And when he prays, standing, you should pray standing. And when he prays sitting, all of you should pray sitting. and straighten the rows for the prayer, as the straightening of the rows is amongst those things which make your prayer a correct and perfect one.”]

Muslims undertake a profound spiritual journey: the Hajj pilgrimage to Makkah.

It's more than a mere journey; it's an act of sincerity, devotion, purification, and unity that takes place over several days.

It's that time of the year to start preparing, both mentally and physically!

#Hajj #Pilgrimage #Makkah #Unity #Spirituality #UnderstandingIslam

Every time someone dies, it drives me into thinking, how many more news of death do we have to hear before we start obeying Allāh? Wallahi, we will be forgotten as if we’ve never existed. I remember the words of the messenger, صلى الله عليه وسلم, as reported by Imaam Ahmad, “The dunya (life of this world) is the residence of those who have no residence, the wealth of those who have no wealth, and it is harvested by those who have no sense of reason.” The great mufassir, Ibn Kathir quotes this in his tafseer of Surah Al-Baqarah. And the words of ‘Ali, radiyallahu anhu, “The people are asleep, and when they die they wake up.” We face trials everyday, we make mistakes, and we sin, but that shouldn't hinder us from fixing ourselves. Maybe our time to leave this world is just around the corner. But you know what, it’s never too late for us to come back to our senses. الله المستعان

EEMAAN & YAQEEN.

From Abu Faras -a man who was from the Asslami tribe - who said:

‘A man called out and said:
يا رسول الله! ما الإيمان؟
‘O Messenger of Allaah! What is Eemaan?’
The Messenger said:
"الإخلاص".
‘Al-Ikhlaas (sincerity).’

In another wording: the Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) said:
"سلوني عما شئتم".
‘Ask me whatever you wish.’
A man called out: O Messenger of Allaah! What is Islaam?’ The Messenger said:
"إقامُ الصلاةِ، وإيتاء الزكاة".
‘Establishing the prayer and giving Zakat.’
The man said: ‘Then what is al-Eemaan?’ The Messenger (salallaahu alaihiwa-salaam) said:
"الإخلاصُ".
‘Al-Ikhlaas (Sincerity).’
The man said then what is al-Yaqeen
(certainty)?
The Messenger (salallaahu alaihiwa-salaam) said:
"التصديقُ".
‘Affirmation and belief.’

[Collected by al-Bayhaqi and he said it was Mursal, Al-Albaani graded it Saheeh in
Saheeh Targheeb no. 3]

Al-Imam Ibn al-Qayyim, [may Allāh have mercy on him], said:

“Whosoever persists in glorifying Allāh, uttering ‘Subhān Allāh’, his difficulties will be eased. Whosoever persists in praising Allāh, uttering ‘Alhamdulillāh’, blessings will continue to be bestowed upon him and whosoever persists in seeking forgiveness, uttering ‘Astagfir-Allāh’, previously locked doors will be opened for him.”

Ad-Dā’a wad-Dawā’a | Page 187-188 | Al-Imām ibn al-Qayyim [may Allāh have mercy on him]

Translation: Authentic Quotes