The Month of Ramadan is Near

Ramadan is near! ... Cleanse your heart in the month of Shabaan, Let the month of Shaban be the means to purify your heart, so You can POLISH your heart in the month of Ramadan. You can avail the maximum barkah of Ramadan if you don't waste the month of Shaban.

For Formula 1 lovers, you can consider the importance of Shabaan as the qualifying session prior to race day. :-)

'The issue of our Heart'

The issue of people’s hearts is an important and sensitive issue. The heart is called al-qalb in Arabic because it changes so quickly and frequently(taqallub – alteration, variation, ups and downs).

The Prophet (peace beupon him) said:
"The heart (qalb) takes its name from its constant changes (taqallub). The likeness of the heart is that of a feather at the root of a tree, being turned over and over by the wind." [Reported by Ahmad 4/408].

Man’s heart changes constantly, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) described: “The heart of the son of Adam changes more quickly than a pan of rapidly boiling water.” [Kitab al-Sunnah, no. 226]. 

 
Allah is the One Who turns hearts around and controls them.
Abd-Allah ibn Amr ibn al-As reported that he heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) say: “The hearts of the children of Adam are as one between the fingers of the Most Merciful, and He turns them in whatever way He wills.” Then he said: “O Allah, Controller of the hearts, direct our hearts to obey You.” [Reported by Muslim, no. 2654].

Via: https://www.facebook.com/ZaynabAcademyOnlineForWomen

Etiquettes of the Masjid

The illustrious Tabi’ee; Sa’eed ibnul Musayyab (rahimahullah) said:

One who is seated in the Masjid, is actually seated in the company of Allah Ta’ala.

(Tafsir Qurtubi, vol.6 pg.560)

The renowned Mufassir (commentator of Quran) Imam Abu ‘Abdillah Al-Qurtubi (rahimahullah) has listed the following etiquettes of the Masjid:

DO’S in Masjid:

1.1. Upon entering the Masjid, one should greet the people with Salam. (This only applies when those present are not offering salah, or reciting Quran. If they are occupied in the above, one should not greet them)

1.2. If there is no one present, one should say:

Assalamu’alaini wa’ala ‘ibadillahis salihin

2. Before being seated one should offer two rak’ats of Tahiyyatul Masjid. (The makruh-forbidden- times of salah are excluded in this etiquette)

The Makruh times of salah are:

a)        After Fajr till 15 minutes after sunrise, (Sahih Bukhari, hadith: 586 & Sahih Muslim, vol.1 pg.275)

b)       At mid-day. (Sahih Muslim, vol.1 pg.276)

c)        After ‘Asr till sunset. (Sahih Bukhari, hadith: 586)

d)       During the Friday khutbah (sermon) (Nasbur rayah, vol.2 pgs.201-201)

3. One should keep the Masjid free of filth, children and insane people (as they do not understand the sanctity of the Masjid)

4. One should remain engaged in the dhikr (remembrance) of Allah as much as possible.

DONT’S  of the Masjid:

1. One should not carry out any business transaction in the Masjid. (even by means of the cellphone)

2. One should not draw a weapon in the Masjid.

3. One should not make an announcement for the search of lost items.

4. One should not raise his voice. (This includes cellphone rings, beepers, pagers etc)

5. One should not discuss worldly affairs. (even via a phone call or sms!)

6. One should not climb over the shoulders of those already seated in the rows. (to get to the front. This disrupts the congregation)

7. One should not force his way into a row wherein there isn’t enough space.

8. One should not cross in front of someone offering salah.

9. One should avoid spitting or blowing his nose in the Masjid.

10. One should not crack the fingers. (as this is a futile act and it causes disturbance)

11. One should not play/fiddle with any part of the body.

After enlisting these 15 etiquettes, ‘Allamah Qurtubi (rahimahullah) writes:

“Whoever abides by these has fulfilled the right of the Masjid, and it will be a place of security and protection for him against Shaytan.

(Tafsir, Qurtubi, vol.6 pg.560; Darul Hadith, Cairo)

Note: Take notice of the fact that there are more DON’TS than DO’S in the masjid. This is so its sanctity be maintained….

May Allah Ta’ala inspire us all to uphold the respect for his House. Ameen.

Taken From: http://www.al-miftah.com/2014/03/14/etiquettes-of-the-masjid/

'10 Dangerous Mistakes that husbands make'

1. To ignore your wife
2. Threat for divorce
3. Threat for Second Marriage
4. To humiliate your wife
5. To not give proper time to your wife
6. To put restrictions on your wife but not on your own self
7. To make criticisms
8. To fight with your wife because of some third person
9. To blame your wife
10. To ignore wife’s relatives (In-laws)

'Controlling your gaze'

"A young man came to a shaykh and said, “I am a young man with strong desires. I cannot help looking at people when I am in the market. What do I do?”
 

The shaykh handed him a cup of milk that was full to the brim, and told him to deliver it to an address that would take the young man directly through the market

He then instructed the young man that the milk should not spill, and the man said that it would not.

The shaykh then summoned one of his students and told him to accompany the man through the market to the destination, and to severely beat him if any milk were to spill.

This man successfully took the milk to the destination and returned to give the good news to the shaykh. The shaykh asked, “Tell me, how many sights and faces did you see in the market?”

The man replied incredulously, “Sheik, I didn’t even realize what was going on around me. I was only fearful of the beating and disgrace that I would have to endure in public if a drop of milk were to spill.”

The shaykh smiled and said, “It is the same with a believer. The believer fears that Allah (swt) may disgrace him in front of the entire creation on the Day of Judgment if his faith were to spill over from his heart.”

A King Who Didn't Have Finger

A king who didn't believe in God had a slave who, in all circumstances said:

"My king, do not be discouraged because everything God does is perfect, no mistakes..."

One day, they went hunting and a wild animal attacked the king, the slave managed to kill the animal but couldn't prevent his majesty losing a finger.

Furious and without showing gratitude, the King said;

"if God was good, I would not have been attacked and lost one finger!"

The slave replied:

"Despite all these things,I can only tell you that God is good and everything he does is perfect, He is never wrong!"

Outraged by the response, the king ordered the arrest of his slave.

Later, he left for another hunt and was captured by savages who made human sacrifices.

In the altar, the savages found out that the king didn't have one finger in place so he was released because he was considered not "complete" to be offered to the gods...
On his return to the palace, he authorized the release of his slave saying;

"My dear,God was really good to me! I was almost killed but for lack of a single finger I was let go!
But I have a question: if God is so good, why did He allow me put you in jail?"

His reply: "My king, if I had gone with you, I would have been sacrificed for you because I have no missing finger."
Remember, everything God does is perfect, He is never wrong...

Often we complain about life, and the negative things that happen to us, forgetting that nothing is random, and that everything has a purpose.

Don’t let the past freeze you in place, and don’t punish yourself for things you cannot change.

Everything you have experienced: the happy times, loneliness, laughter and tears, all have meaning, and have all gone into making you who you are. If you have any wisdom or insight, it is probably a result of hardship you have experienced in the past.

Everything that you do today has meaning. The caress you give a child, the help you give a stranger, the quiet charity, all matter and make a difference, even when you don’t see it. It’s all worth it. Your love matters, your work matters, your life matters.

Keep your head up, and forge forward fee-sabeel-illah. Accept yourself and be at peace. Look ahead and smile. Stand up straight, and don’t bow your head except in prayer. Keep praying, learning, thinking, following your dreams, and loving the people in your life. You are my brothers, my sisters, my heroes.

[Food for thought] “People will love you for a short time but Allah (swt) will love you forever. People will listen to you sometimes, but Allah will listen to you all the time. People will forgive you sometimes, but Allah (swt) forgives every time. Allah Hu Akbar Kabeera!”

[Take 60 seconds…] and make someone special [parents, wife, siblings, friends, colleagues, a complete stranger] in your life smile today only to attain the love of Allah (swt)!

May Allah (swt) grant us the best in this life and the next. Ameen