Why Should I Read the Quran Daily?

 

You must know that reciting and reflecting over the Quran and devoting time regularly to its study and its’ implementation in one’s life has tremendous benefits here and in the Hereafter.

So, let us see a few of them in order to attach ourselves more firmly to the Quran. Each benefit is an inspiration for us.

Reading and reflecting over the Quran fulfills an Islamic duty

Indeed the Prophet (peace be upon him) summarized this Religion with his statement:

“The Religion is naseehah (loyalty or sincerity)!”

So then Tameem ibn Aws, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “We asked, ‘To whom?’”

He said:

“To Allah, His Book, His Messenger, the leaders of the people, and their common folk.” [Muslim]

The sincerity that is due to the Book of Allah includes its regular recitation, learning the rules of tajweed and reciting it beautifully.

It also includes learning about its tafseer and the reasons for its revelation.

We should also affirm that it is the Truth—the perfect Speech of Allah and not part of the creation—and honor it and defend it.

Last, but most important, we must abide by the orders and prohibitions found in it, teach it, and call others to it. [See Jaami’ul-’Uloom wal-Hikam of Ibn Rajab Al-Hambalee]

So by reading and reflecting over the Quran, one fulfills an obligation and is rewarded for that.

Upon fulfilling this obligation, the Qur’an then becomes a proof for him on the Day of Judgment!

The Quran will be a proof for us on the Day of Judgment

This is due to the Prophet’s statement:

“And the Quran is a proof for you or against you.” [Muslim]

So, if the Quran is in front of you it will lead you to Paradise (Jannah), if it is behind you it will drag you to Hell (Jahannam).

We need to think carefully about our position with the Quran: Are we neglecting it, contradicting it, ignoring its orders and prohibitions, do we deeply reflect over it?

Will it be in our favor on the Day of Judgment?

We ask Allah to make the Quran a proof for us, and not a proof against us, on that Day.

The Prophet said:

The Quran is an intercessor, something given permission to intercede, and it is rightfully believed in. Whoever puts it in front of him, it will lead him to Paradise; whoever puts it behind him, it will steer him to the Hellfire. [An authentic hadith found in At-Tabaraanee, on the authority of ‘Abdullaah ibn Mas’ood]

Your status in this life will be raised

In Saheeh Muslim, we find how ‘Umar ibn Al-Khattaab, understood this principle: Some men came to question him during his khilaafah about the leadership of Makkah.

They asked, “Who do you use to govern Makkah?”

He said, “Ibn Abzaa.” They asked, “And who is Ibn Abzaa?”

Umar replied, “A freed slave from those we freed.”

They remarked, “You left a freed slave in charge of the people of the Valley (the noble tribes of the Quraysh)!?!?”

So he answered them,

Verily he is a reader of the Book of Allah and is knowledgeable about the obligations of the Muslims. Haven’t you heard the statement of your Messenger: “Verily Allah raises some people by this Book and lowers others by it.

You will be from the best of the people in this life, and the Next

‘Uthmaan, may Allah be pleased with him, said that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

The best of you are the ones who learn the Quran and teach it to others. [Al-Bukhari]

‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Amr ibn Al-’Aas heard the Prophet (peace be upon him) saying:

It will be said to the companion of the Quran: Read and elevate (through the levels of the Paradise) and beautify your voice as you used to do when you were in the dunya! For verily, your position in Paradise will be at the last verse you recite! [Abu Daawood and At-Tirmithee, sahih]

In Summary:

It is essential for a Muslim to read the Quran. S/he must understand it. There are added benefits (blessings) in reading the Quran in Arabic.

The best practice is set a time (say, after Fajr) to read the Quran each day, read the Arabic and then, if one doesn’t understand Arabic, read the translation in your own language.

Also, one should try to find a scholar or a study circle to improve his understanding of the Quran.

- aboutislam.net

How to Guard Your Tongue and Make it Work For Good

 

The tongue is a blessing from Allah and a great tool of communication. Animals are unable to speak, we are!
How can you show gratefulness for your tongue? That’s right, by using it in the right way.

Sahl ibn Sa’ad reported that the Messenger of Allah said:

Whoever guards what is between his jaws and legs, I shall guarantee him paradise. (Al-Bukhari)

Let’s first look at some don’t’s of the tongue so we can recognize them in our lives and break our bad habits. Then we’ll look at how we can use our tongues in the right way so we can make this tiger work for good!

One of the Greatest Productivity Killers: Backbiting

The Prophet Muhammad once asked his Companions:

Do you know what is backbiting?

They said:

‘Allah and His Messenger know best.’

He said:

To mention about your brother that which he hates.

They said:

‘What if that which we say about our brother is true?’

He said:

If there is in him what you say about him then that is backbiting, and if you say of him that which is not true then you have slandered him. (Muslim)

Allah says in the Quran:

Do not backbite each other, would any of you wish to eat the flesh of your dead brother, no rather you hate it! (49:12)

Four Tips on How to Overcome the Evil Habit of Backbiting

1. Remember the punishment of Allah and reflect on the verses of the Quran that talk about bad speech.

2. Fear that your own faults might be revealed. The Prophet said:

O you who believe with your tongues, yet eeman has not entered your hearts. Do not backbite the Muslims, nor follow their faults. For he who follows others faults then Allah will declare (disclose) his faults and he whom Allah reveals his faults, then Allah disgraces him in his own house. (Sunan Abu Dawood)

3. Know that you give your rewards to someone else if you backbite them.

A man came to al-Hasan al-Basri and said that he had heard that al-Hasan al-Basri had backbitten him. Upon this he said:

“Who are you that I may give you my rewards?”

It is also said:

“If I would backbite, I would backbite my parents, because they deserve my rewards the most!”

4. The most important thing is that there is a great reward in staying away from backbiting. The Prophet said:

Whoever protects the honor of his brother in his absence, Allah will protect his face from the Fire on the Day of Judgment. (Sunan at-Tirmidhi)

Don’t’s of the Tongue

– Lying (How often do you hear: “I’m not lying, I’m only joking”? This is what the Prophet said about this:

 A believer does not become a perfect believer until he abandons lying, even as a joke. Until he gives up arguing and debating even if he may be upon the truth and he may be right. (Sunan Abi Dawud)

– Verbal abuse

– Foul language

– Backbiting and slander

How Silence is Golden

To conclude, we can do either of two things with our speech to become successful: 1. use it to encourage to good, or 2. keep silent.

Your speech can be khayr (good), sharr (evil), or laghw (vain).

Next to good speech, silence can be a great productivity booster too! Silence can be worship; it’s an adornment without jewels and a fortress without walls.  It frees us from having to apologize to anyone, the recording angels having nothing to record when we are silent, and our faults are concealed.

Three Ways You Can Control Your Tongue

1. Think

Imam Ash-Shafi’i said:

“If you wish to speak then it is upon you to think before you speak. If you think there is good in it then speak and if not then do not speak. Before you talk, ask yourself: Will this saying of mine please Allah? Will this saying of mine bring me closer to Allah? Does this saying earn with it obedience to Allah? If yes, speak, if not, remain silent.”

2. Surround yourself with good company and remind yourself and others to good speech.

It takes two to gossip. Research and learn the punishment for bad speech. Imagine how the punishment in the grave would feel. If the angel of death were to take your soul in would you want bad words to be your last?

3. Use the money jar.

The idea is to keep a jar in your house in which you put a certain amount of money whenever you use bad language, for example each time you swear or gossip. The amount you put in should be big enough to make you feel regret and remember how much this bad language will cost you in the Hereafter! You can give the money to charity.

Do’s of the Tongue:

• Read the Quran!
• Teach someone beneficial knowledge.
• Enjoin good and forbid evil.
• Tell others you love them for the sake of Allah.
• Don’t talk too much (excessive speech hardens the heart even if it’s not bad speech).
• Practice keeping silent more!

Homework:

It’s not difficult to break the habit of foul language. Replace it with dhikr. Whenever you can, begin to replace your swear words with Alhamdulillah, or Subhanallah or other words of remembrance. This way you get the reward of remembering Allah and you cleanse your heart and tongue of foul language, because Allah hates foul speech!

Finally, please make dua’ with me that we will be of these people:

Indeed, Allah will admit those who believe and do righteous deeds to gardens beneath which rivers flow. They will be adorned therein with bracelets of gold and pearl, and their garments therein will be silk.  And they had been guided [in worldly life] to good speech, and they were guided to the path of the Praiseworthy. (Quran, 22:23-24)

From Understand Quran.

About Khawlah bint Yahya

Khawlah b. Yahya founded SISTERS' PROJECT in 2008, a United Kingdom women's support organization and is a writer for different Islamic organizations and academies. She authored the renown How to Live by the Names of Allah Series, published by the Understand Qur'an Academy, as well as the internationally shared Revive a Sunnah Series. She focuses most of her work on how to translate classic Islamic Knowledge to daily life action. She recently released Personal Lessons from the Qur'an, in which daily life action points are based on Qur’anic ayaat in a way that’s never seen before. You can now purchase the E-book on: dailylifeknowledge.co.uk

Perfecting The Prayer

 

 

Do you find that you use the same surah every time you pray? Well, this is a video that teaches us how to get out of the robotic nature of our salaat and pray as we have seen the Prophet (SAW) used to pray. There are many ways we can improve and perfect our prayers. Check these tips! - aboutislam.net

What Does Belief in Allah Mean?

Some people have erroneous belief that once you have pronounced the words of shahada indicating belief in Allah (SWT) that is all. But is that always the case? In this video, Imam Tom Facchine reflects on a hadith related to the concept of “Belief”. He discusses how genuine belief in Allah, the Creator, is reflected through our actions rather than just mere words. - aboutislam.net

What Makes Islam Unique?

 

Islam is unlike any other religion because it is not merely a belief to which one adheres, but rather Islam is a complete way of life.

Muslims put their beliefs into practice on a daily basis. Islam provides guidance in all the spheres and activities of life.

Furthermore, it is unique in that it is not named after any person, tribe, region, or culture.

Islam is named after a belief in one God, Allah, and submission to His will. In other words, Muslims put Allah’s Will before their own.

The message of Muhammad (peace be upon him) is not new; his message of absolute monotheism is a reaffirmation of what came before it.

We as humans constantly stray from guidance if we are left on our own without a divine reminder, thus Allah the Merciful has sent us prophets to remind us.

Islam preaches the same message of all previous prophets. That message is: Allah is One, worship Him alone.

Additionally, human society changes and develops with time, and so Allah has adjusted His Laws slightly over the centuries to correspond accordingly.

Thus, while Allah’s message of divine oneness has been the same since the beginning of time, His Sacred Law has been abrogated and amended with the advent of each new prophet.

The Sacred Law of Muhammad (peace be upon him) represents the final version of Allah’s commandments applicable to all of humankind until the Last Day.

Benefits of Islam

Islam invites us to what benefits us and all of humanity.

It commands goodness towards all people and does not promote preferential treatment for a certain group, be they believers or not.

No one is immune from Allah’s commands and laws in Islam.

Islam offers us eternity in Paradise if we obey Allah’s commands.

Whether we believe in Him, follow His Guidance, practice good and forbid evil, Allah does not benefit anything from it. We are the ones who benefit from submitting to His Will.

Likewise, if we refuse to believe, practice evil, and prevent good; Allah is not harmed one bit by our behavior. Rather, it is only we who suffer from our own misdeeds.

Ultimately, the only real guarantee of salvation from Allah’s displeasure and wrath is from Allah Himself.

We see this through the example of His Noble Messenger Muhammad (peace be upon him) and Allah’s unfaltering promise in the Holy Quran, the final unaltered scripture of Allah.

No one will be wronged by Allah an atom’s weight in this life or the next.

Allah’s promise is reiterated many times in the Holy Quran: If we believe and do good deeds, we will be rewarded, while if we deny the message and do evil, we will be punished.

Islam offers guidance to all humankind, regardless of race, culture, education level, sex, and socioeconomic status.

Through Islam, we achieve peace with ourselves, with Allah, with our fellow man, and even with the environment so that we can live in harmony with the entire universe as Allah intended.

The Final Message

Then why Islam and not Judaism or Christianity?

First of all, Islam is the message of the final Prophet to mankind, Muhammad (peace be upon him) and no other prophet has come with true guidance or a new message from Allah since his time.

While all previous prophets of Allah (such as Abraham, Moses, and Jesus) were followed by a subsequent prophet and a new Sacred Law that abrogated that which was before it, the prophethood of Muhammad is final and complete – no messenger will come after him.

The example of Prophet Muhammad offers solid guidance for all times and places.

Islam is the only true universal religion – it is open to people of all cultural backgrounds, man, and woman alike.

Islam preaches the Oneness of humanity more than any other religious tradition.

We are all sons and daughters of Adam and Eve (peace be upon them), and the most beloved human before Allah is the most god-fearing.

We are all brothers and sisters from a common ancestor, and we will all return to our Creator in the end.

- aboutislam.net

About Waleed Najmeddine

Waleed Ahmed Najmeddine is a Canadian born Muslim and public school administrator. He is an active member of the Muslim community and enjoys educating Muslims and non-Muslims about Islam. He currently holds a Master of Education degree in leadership and school improvement.

9 Important Dhikr and Their Benefits

Dhikr is the remembrance of Allah, and it’s something Allah (SWT) loves very much. Watch this video to find out about 9 important types of Dhikr, as well as their benefits! - aboutislam.net

What is More Important: Being Kind or Being Right?

 

Bang! Tears were rolling down her cheeks as she slammed the door of communication and walked out of the room.

“Don’t they see this is wrong?” Amelia thought. After an argument with her dad, she felt so guilty. All she wanted was to bring him closer to God, instead, she had pushed him farther away.

As reverts and born Muslims alike, we are tested daily in our relationships with others. How can we find a way to communicate that is directly linked to our bond with Allah, the Most High?

Oftentimes, we seem to know better and forget even the simplest etiquette of communicating with others. Was Amelia winning the point? Had she failed at getting her point across?

For a good reason, it is said: “If you try to win the battle, you might lose the war.”

One of Allah the Almighty’s beautiful instructions to Muslims is to:

Invite (all) to the way of your Lord with wisdom and kind advice, and only debate with them in ways that are best and most gracious. (Quran, 16:125)

What are we doing when we argue? Each person is trying to change the opinion of the other, but in reality, the only individual we can change is ourselves.

Reflect for a moment. How many times have you expected others to see the world through your eyes? And how many times were they able to do so?

More often than not, people just don’t see things from our perspective, and we end up hurt by our expectations.

Another question: Did you really ‘win’ if your victory depends on the other person’s defeat?

What is the ideal way to communicate that would, in turn, please our Creator and better serve our relationships?

What’s More Important: Being Kind or Being Right?

Here is an action plan based on the advice of Allah, the Most High, on how to invite others and how to ‘argue’.

1. Be Wise (Use Hikmah)

Count to ten and ask yourself: What is my goal? Whatever I am going to say, will it draw that person closer to the truth?

2. Avoid Being Harsh and Speak Gently

We all know how gentle the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was with others, and how even his enemies could not deny this. Did you ever beg Allah, the Most High, to have such manners? Supplicate to Allah, the Almighty daily to help you to be a good communicator.

3. In Times of Disagreement, Try Your Best to Be Kind

Allah, the Most High, says: “Debate with them in ways that are ‘ahsan’”, which is the superlative of ‘hasan’ which means good. Supplicate for ‘ihsan’ (excellence) in dealing with your daily debates or arguments.

Instead of always trying to ‘win’ arguments, ask yourself, would you want people to feel judged, or that you care for them?

If you choose to be addressed as “Mr.” or “Mrs.”, rather than by your given name, know that it is likely to make people feel uneasy or tense when they’re around you. Is it worth it?

Focus – it is your responsibility as a believer when inviting others to the way of Allah the Almighty. It will be hard to fulfill if those you are addressing have closed themselves off to you.

Being kind is more important than being right.

Who is the Person in the Mirror?

In another verse, Allah the Most High, says:

Let there arise out of you a group of people inviting to all that is good (Islam), enjoining Al-Ma’ruf (monotheism and all that Islam orders one to do) and forbidding Al-Munkar (polytheism and disbelief and all that Islam has forbidden). And it is they who are the successful. (Quran, 3:104)

Firstly, internalize that inviting those who don’t believe in the way of Allah the Almighty, is a personal duty, instructed by your Lord. This means it should be a part of your daily life, one way or another. Remember, kindness is the key.

Secondly, internalize that another duty incumbent upon us as Muslims is to inspire those who already believe to continue on the straight path. And there are actual etiquettes for doing so. Shouting at someone that something is haram is not proper etiquette in communication.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) used a beautiful metaphor to advise us:

A believer is the mirror of his brother. When he sees a fault in it, he should correct it. (Al Adab Al Mufrad)

Each one of us is like a mirror to one another and we should protect one another’s rights, whether they are present or absent.

So How Can You be Like a Mirror to Others?

1. Don’t Point Out and Look for the Weaknesses of Others

A mirror reflects the truth and doesn’t seek defects. A mirror doesn’t magnify or diminish any features. Sometimes we feel better by bringing others down. Ask Allah, the Most High, to protect you from disparaging actions.

2. Don’t Criticize Someone in Their Absence

Can a mirror reflect someone who isn’t there? No. It’s not upon a believer to criticize others while they are not present to defend themselves or explain their side.

Tip: Do you know there is an actual dua’ to make for someone you insulted? The Prophet (peace and blessings upon him) said:

Allahumma fa-ayyuhuma mu’min sababtuhu, fa-j’al dhâlika lahu qurbatan ilayka yawma-l-qiyâmati. (O Allah, to any believer whom I have insulted, let that be a cause to draw him near You on the Day of Resurrection.) (Al Bukhari, Muslim)

3. If You Do Criticize, Do it for the Sake of Allah

Before criticizing something or someone, ask yourself: what is my motive? Is it to make myself or someone else look better? Is it for worldly gain? Beware of ulterior motives (it’s so easy to fall into Shaytan’s trap, justifying the way we criticize others).

Remember, a mirror does not entertain any revenge or grudge.

4. Criticize Sincerely, From Genuine Concern and Love

When you only advise someone because you are concerned about their ultimate accountability in the Hereafter, most bitterness caused by criticism is removed. Ask Allah, the Most High, to help you use wisdom and kindness to balance when criticism is needed and how to convey it.

O Allah, make us of those who call others to and advise others on Your way and aid us with communication skills that are most pleasing to You.

Ameen!

- aboutislam.net

About Khawlah bint Yahya

Khawlah b. Yahya founded SISTERS' PROJECT in 2008, a United Kingdom women's support organization and is a writer for different Islamic organizations and academies. She authored the renown How to Live by the Names of Allah Series, published by the Understand Qur'an Academy, as well as the internationally shared Revive a Sunnah Series. She focuses most of her work on how to translate classic Islamic Knowledge to daily life action. She recently released Personal Lessons from the Qur'an, in which daily life action points are based on Qur’anic ayaat in a way that’s never seen before. You can now purchase the E-book on: dailylifeknowledge.co.uk