What do you do when you have no one who shares the same views as you, who wants to make the change like you? Is it better to be alone than with the bad company?
This is a really important question.
Alone with Allah
And I’m glad it was brought up because I would say it absolutely is better to be alone with Allah than with bad company; and sometimes it is in the times when you are alone that you are closest to Allah Almighty.
In fact, even if you have a good company, it does not substitute for the time alone with Allah Subhan Allah.
If you really want to build your relationship with Allah, then you need that time alone with Him. And this sometimes happens in the last third of the night, in Qiyam, in whatever time it is, after fajr, even if it’s after prayer… and you’re just making dua, you have time alone with Him, you’re reading Quran…
That time cannot be replaced even if you have the best of company, even if you’re surrounded with scholars who are teaching you, it still cannot replace that time alone with Allah.
Certainly the lifestyle of a devout Muslim is quite different from that of other people, and it might sound very difficult for someone who is just looking at it out of curiosity. But when one sincerely embraces Islam and tries to please God, God makes the lifestyle changes much easier.
Practicing Islam
The first pillar of Islam is declaring that you believe and bear witness that there is no god but God (Allah) and that Muhammad is the Messenger of God. The second pillar is performing the five daily Prayers.
If you became Muslim, certainly one of the biggest changes would be your obligation to worship five times a day. The Muslim ritual Prayer, called salah, is more than just saying a few words.
It requires you to make a ritual ablution, to face the qiblah (the direction of the Ka`bah in Makkah), and to take various postures—standing, bowing, prostrating, sitting—while praying.
You must turn your whole mind and body to God five times a day. It is best if these Prayers are performed in congregation, but this is not always possible for everyone, especially in non-Muslim countries.
You must also attend the Friday congregational Prayers (Jumu`ah Prayers), while for women the Jumu`ah Prayer is optional.
You would also have to observe the other pillars of Islam: the fast of Ramadan, paying zakah (a portion of your excess income to the needy), and performing Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah) if you are financially and physically able.
Halal Food
Since you mention praying before eating, if you were Muslim you would say a short prayer—“bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim” (In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful)—before eating or drinking anything.
There are also other short supplications that are recommended before you do certain things. These could be learned gradually and added to your daily habits.
Another big lifestyle change for you would stem from the dietary laws. Muslims are forbidden to eat pork or pork products, blood (found in some sausages), carrion, and animals of prey. Many Muslims in non-Muslim countries prefer to eat only meat that is slaughtered by Islamic rite.
If you followed this school it would limit your choices in restaurants to seafood and vegetarian dishes. Halal or dhabihah meat that is slaughtered by Islamic rite is now available in specialty shops in many cities of North America and Europe, so it would not be impossible to follow these laws.
No Alcohol
Muslims are also forbidden to drink alcohol or even to sit with someone who is drinking it. It is a major sin to do so. This leads to a third major lifestyle change because it would probably affect not only your diet but also your social life.
So, if you were Muslim, you could still play sports with your buddies but you couldn’t go out drinking with them afterwards; you could watch a game with them only if they agree not to drink alcohol. Similarly, you could not attend most parties with non-Muslims because alcohol would be served.
The prohibition of alcohol (and any other intoxicant or narcotic) also extends to its manufacture, sale, distribution, serving, and transportation. So if your work involves any of these, you would have to find a different line of work if you were Muslim.
There may be other challenges at work when you as a Muslim do not socialize after hours with colleagues (if they’re drinking) or refuse to wine and dine clients. But Muslims must stand up for what they believe in, and I think that the majority of people actually would respect you if you marched to a different drummer and lived by your convictions.
Other Adjustments
But you would probably find, as do most new Muslims—if they are sincere in their Islam—that you naturally drift away from your non-Muslim friends as you become stronger in your faith and find new Muslim friends.
Another lifestyle change you would probably have to make is learning to limit your use of credit cards. Muslims are forbidden to deal with bank interest, so you would have to learn to save and pay cash, or pay in installments without having a bank loan.
Actually, it is permissible to pay a higher price than cash when paying in installments. Some scholars say that it is permissible to use credit cards if you always pay on time so as to avoid paying the interest.
While Muslim boys are normally circumcised, I’m not qualified to say whether this is absolutely required of converts.
If you should ever really decide to marry a Muslim woman, the decision to convert to Islam should be because you sincerely believe in the religion, and not just for the sake of marriage
Self-confidence is borne from the believer’s intimate knowledge and understanding that Allah is ever ready to assist those who strive and struggle in His way.
Self-confidence comes from depending upon Allah and knowing that He is there to help you, protect you and shower His mercies upon you:
So he who gives (in charity) and fears(Allah) and [in all sincerity] testifies to the best – We will indeed make smooth for him the path to Bliss. (92:5-7)
Self-confidence also emanates from knowing that Allah in His infinite mercy has equipped you with all that you require to undertake the tasks set before you.
It is not characteristic of the One that is Most Just and Most Merciful to prepare you for a task without equipping you with the necessary tools.
Self-confidence is borne of total reliance and trust in Allah. It is knowing that at every step of your journey, Allah is there assisting you. If you constantly hold yourself back believing that you are weak and incapable and blame your incompetence on minor inadequacies, then you are bound to fail.
You must never allow yourself to believe or feel that Allah has treated you unfairly or that He has placed upon you a burden you cannot shoulder for:
On no soul does Allah place a burden greater than it can bear. (2:286)
Likewise, having hope is central to your efforts and your success. You must sincerely hope and believe that everything you do to earn the pleasure of Allah will lead you to fulfillment.
A superiority complex negates the task of self development. An inferiority complex is derived from a lack of confidence in Allah and oneself. You should never allow yourself to believe that you cannot fulfill your obligations nor should you despair of the mercy of Allah.
Confidence, hope and determination are all important ingredients for your success:
Those unto whom men said: Lo! The people have gathered against you, therefore fear them. But it only increased them in faith and they cried: Allah is sufficient for us! Most Excellent is He in Whom we trust!. (3:173-74)
You must be wary, however, of the kind of self-confidence that causes a person to proclaim himself self-sufficient. Modern concepts of self-sufficiency are indeed an evil form of shirk or polytheism.
To ascribe self-sufficiency to one’s self is to assume for oneself an attribute reserved only for Allah. For the Muslim, self-confidence is wholly dependent upon the trust one places in Allah; it is not an arrogant proclamation of complete independence from Allah. Allah alone is Self-Sufficient. All else is reliant upon Him for existence.
The Best Use of Time
Time is not money or gold; it is life and it is limited. You must begin to appreciate every moment of your life and always strive to make the best use out of it. With all the demands of worldly life on your time, you will yet need to find time for self development and maximize its potential.
The better route towards self development is, of course, to integrate all your efforts into a structured daily life. Imam Al-Ghazali (may God have mercy on him) in his great work, Ihya Ulum ad-Din (Revival of Islamic Sciences), gives the following advice:
You should structure your time, arrange your regular devotions and assign to each function a set period of time during which it is given first priority but which it does not overstep. For if you abandon yourself to neglect and purposelessness, as cattle do, and just do anything that may occur to you at any time it happens to you, most of your time will be wasted.
Your time is your life, and your life is your capital; it is the basis of your transactions with God, and the means to attain to everlasting felicity, in the proximity of God the Exalted.
Each of your breaths is a priceless jewel, and when it passes away it never returns.
Remember also that:
“The deeds most loved by Allah [are those] done regularly, even if they are few.” (Al-Bukhari)
While you must always strive to make the best use of your time, you must always aim for excellence in everything you undertake, whether at school, at home, at work or at play. Indeed, the Prophet has said:
“Verily Allah has prescribed ihsan (proficiency and excellence) in all things.” (Muslim)
Fasting the day of Ashura expiates the sins of the previous year as the Prophet said, “Fasting the day of Ashura (is of great merits), I hope that Allah will accept it asan expiation for (the sins committed in) the previous year.” (Muslim)
Taking advantage of the blessed occasions
The true Muslim always takes the advantage of the blessed occasions and days of Islam. He spares no efforts in drawing himself nearer to Allah.
In doing so, he concerns himself with knowing the virtuous days and occasions in Islam so as to follow his Prophet’s suit in all spheres of life.
Ibn Abbas said, “I never saw Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) so keen to fast any day and give it priority over any other than this day, the day of Ashura, and this month, meaning Ramadan.” (Al-Bukhari)
Fasting the Day of Ashura
Fasting the Day of Ashura is not to mourn the martyrdom of Imam Al-Husain (may Allah be pleased with him). We deeply respect Imam Husain’s martyrdom, we honor his glorious act of sacrifice for the sake of Islam.
He gave us a great example of truth, courage and piety. But we also feel pain and grief in our hearts for his assassination at the hand of some hypocrites who took Islam as a pretext to commit their crime.
They fought and killed Allah’s Messenger’s beloved and blessed grandson and his family. This was the most heinous and shameful crime that they committed for the sake of political power.
This tragic event took place in the year 61 AH or 680 CE. However, the tradition of Ashura fasting is very ancient and it goes back to a long time before Imam Al-Husian.
What Happened on the Day of Ashura
The Prophet (PBUH) and his Companions used to fast on the 10th day of Muharram while they were in Makkah (before the Hijrah). (Al-Bukhari)
It was a day on which people of Makkah used to change the covering (kiswah) of the Kabah. Quraish also used to fast on this day. (Al-Bukhari)
After the Hijrah when the Prophet (PBUH) came to Madinah, he found that the Jews of Madinah also used to observe this day with fasting. The Prophet asked them the reason of their fasting on this day. They said, “This is a blessed day.
On this day Allah saved the Children of Israel from their enemy (in Egypt) and so Prophet Musa fasted on this day giving thanks to Allah. The Prophet said, “We have more claim to Musa than you.” He fasted on that day and commanded Muslims to fast on this day. (Al-Bukhari)
In another report, we read that the Jews of Madinah used to hold a feast on this day. The Prophet (PBUH) told his Companions to fast instead. (Al-Bukhari)
Ashura fasting was obligatory (fard) in the beginning. In the second year of Hijrah(624 CE) when Allah’s command came that Muslims should fast the whole month of Ramadan, the Prophet then sent someone to announce to people that fasting of Ashura had become voluntary (nafl).
This indicates that whosoever wishes to fast, may fast and whosoever does not want to fast, there will be no blame on him/her.
Imam At-Tirmidhi mentioned that Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) used to say that we should fast on two days: the 9th and 10th of Muharram to distinguish ourselves from the Jewish community. (At-Tirmidhi)
Ibn Abbas also quoted the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) as saying,“If I live next year, I shall also fast on the 9th day.” (Ahmad)
There is a great reward in fasting the day of Ashura. There are many hadiths that mention its blessings and virtues. It is good to fast on this day, although it is not obligatory.
Fasting on Muharram 10, known as the Day of Ashura expiates for the sins of the past year. When the Prophet (peace be upon him) arrived Madinah in 622 CE, he found that the Jews there fasted on Muharram 10 and asked them the reason for their fasting on this day.
They said:
“This is a blessed day.”
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
We are closer to Moses than you are.
He fasted on that day and commanded Muslims to fast on this day. (Al-Bukhari).
The following year, Allah commanded the Muslims to fast the month of Ramadan, and the fasting of Ashura became optional.
It is also reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) intended to fast on the ninth and tenth. Ibn ‘Abbas reported: The Messenger of Allah fasted on the day of Ashura and ordered the people to fast on it.
The people said:
“O Messenger of Allah, it is a day that the Jews and Christians honor.”
The Prophet said:
When the following year comes, Allah willing, we shall fast on the ninth.
The death of the Prophet came before the following year. (Muslim)
Thus, according to scholars, you may choose to fast Ashura on three days (ninth, tenth, and eleventh); two days (ninth and tenth); or one day only (the tenth).
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
Fasting the day of Ashura (is of great merits), I hope that Allah will accept it as an expiation for (the sins committed in) the previous year. (Muslim)
But this expiation of minor sins comes only if you avoid major sins. It is a big mistake to rely on fasting a single day to “wipe your slate clean.” If you neglect your daily Prayers or the fast of Ramadan, or if you backbite, lie, commit adultery or other major sins, fasting on Ashura alone will not atone for your sins.
The great scholar Ibn Al-Qayyim Al-Jawziyya (b. 691 AH/1292 CE) wrote:
“This misguided person does not know that fasting in Ramadan and praying five times a day are much more important than fasting on the Day of Arafah and the Day of Ashura, and that they expiate for the sins between one Ramadan and the next, or between one Friday and the next, so long as one avoids major sins.
But they cannot expiate for minor sins unless one also avoids major sins; when the two things are put together, they have the strength to expiate for minor sins.
Among those deceived people may be one who thinks that his good deeds are more than his sins, because he does not pay attention to his bad deeds or check on his sins, but if he does a good deed he remembers it and relies on it.
This is like the one who seeks Allah’s forgiveness with his tongue (that is, by words only), and glorifies Allah by saying “subhan Allah” one hundred times a day, then he backbites about the Muslims and slanders their honor, and speaks all day long about things that are not pleasing to Allah.
This person is always thinking about the virtues of his saying “subhan Allah” and saying “la ilaha illa Allah” but he pays no attention to what has been reported concerning those who backbite, tell lies, and slander others, or commit other sins of the tongue. They are completely deceived.” (Al-Mawsu’ah Al-Fiqhiyyah, part 31, Ghuroor)
You may hear of some customs associated with `Ashura such as cooking and eating certain foods on that day, wearing kohl or henna, or even merrymaking.
Others consider this a day of mourning and wailing in honor of the Prophet’s grandson Al-Hussein, who was killed in battle on that day.
The scholar Ibn Taymiyah (b. 661 AH/1263 CE) stated that all of these are bid’ahs (reprehensible innovations) that should be avoided.
Take advantage of this opportunity to bring yourself closer to Allah on Ashura by fasting and praying for forgiveness.
Fasting the day of Ashura is a Sunnah of the Prophet (PBUH), and it’s observed during the month of Muharram. But what are the reward of fasting on this day? Click this video to find out! - aboutislam.net
A tyrant rises to power, ruling his nation with cruelty and hatred.
In one fell swoop, he creates a giant chasm between two segments of society: those to whom he belongs and those whom he has declared outsiders.
For years, he considered himself successful in enforcing his agenda of prejudice and discrimination… until revolution arises from the very heart of his land, kindled in the heart of the person he least suspects.
Some three thousand years ago, the Pharaoh of Egypt was one of the most notable individuals to implement hatred and murder as public policy.
{Ta, Sin, Mim. These are Verses of the Book that makes (things) clear. We recite to you from the account of Moses and Pharaoh with truth for people who believe. Indeed, Pharaoh exalted himself in the earth and made its people castes. A tribe among them he oppressed, killing their sons and sparing their women. Indeed, he was of the corrupters.} [Surat Al-Qasas, 28:1-]
Even as he sent his soldiers throughout Egypt to massacre infants, considering himself safe for as long as babies’ blood flowed as regularly as the Nile, a woman of Bani Isra’il cradled her son and then cast him into the river.
{And We inspired to the mother of Moses, “Suckle him; but when you fear for him, cast him into the river and do not fear and do not grieve. Indeed, We will return him to you and will make him [one] of the messengers.”} [Surat Al-Qasas, 28:7]
From the cradle of one mother into the embrace of another, Allah caused the Nile to carry young Musa straight into the arms of ‘Asiyah, the wife of Pharaoh.
{And the wife of Pharaoh said, “A comfort of the eye for me and for you! Do not kill him; perhaps he may benefit us, or we may adopt him as a son.” And they perceived not.} [Surat Al-Qasas, 28:8-9]
In these moments, Musa gained his second mother, who did not birth him but who raised him from infancy to become the man he was to be—a man of nobility and ethics with a keen sense of justice.
In the heart of Pharaoh’s palace, ‘Asiyah, the queen of Egypt, held her adopted son close and gave him the spiritual and intellectual education he needed to bring forth a revolution unlike any other.
Surrounded by wealth and luxury, protected by the privilege of his adopted parents’ power, Musa could have grown up to be spoiled and arrogant, entitled and apathetic to the plight of those who shared his blood.
Undoubtedly, it was ‘Asiyah’s wisdom and compassion that guided him to be aware of himself as far more than just a pampered prince of Egypt.
Perhaps she sat at his bedside when he was a child and murmured to him the tale of how he was brought into her arms, the Nile River depositing the basket carrying its unexpected gift of a son.
Perhaps it was she who answered his questions about why he didn’t look like the other children, why he carried the stamp of Bani Isra’il on his features, and why he was still alive and safe in the Pharaoh’s palace while every other year, the land was witness to a massacre of infant boys and the rivers flooded with the tears of their mothers.
Perhaps her heart broke every time she gazed upon the young boy who was the coolness of her eyes, remembering that her beloved almost-son had very nearly been one of those slaughtered children.
Perhaps she told him, her voice wavering with emotion, that the only power she had to stop the bloodlust of her husband lay in that moment when she held baby Musa in her arms and beseeched Pharaoh to, just once, save an innocent life.
No doubt that she treasured him all the more for it.
No doubt that in that one moment of unimaginable courage in the face of a murder, ‘Asiyah taught Musa what it meant to stand up against injustice.
It was ‘Asiyah, more than anyone else, who knew that silence and inaction from those in positions of influence would only lead to more horror.
It was ‘Asiyah who raised Musa: a queen who raised a Prophet; a woman who raised one of the greatest revolutionaries the world has ever known.
Today, we must be ‘Asiyah
Today, as we witness murderers and madmen ruling our lands, we must be the ‘Asiyahs.
We must be the parents who raise our children to be aware of the injustice around them.
We have to teach them that the privileges we enjoy are a responsibility to do more, to fight against the horrors surrounding us, to dedicate ourselves to changing the world for the better, to speak against the pharaohs of our nations.
We have to be determined to do everything possible—even the impossible—for the sake of Divine Justice.
The likes of ‘Asiyah are the ones who will raise the likes of Musa.
So we are to live like ‘Asiyah, that we may die like ‘Asiyah, with absolute conviction in our beliefs, with love for our Creator burning so strongly in our hearts that no human injustice can break us.
Knowing that even when we pass away, our legacy of faith, justice, and revolution will live on in our children and our children’s children.
It is ‘Asiyah who teaches us, just as she taught Musa the meaning of courage and conviction, in her life and even in her deat.
She was killed by Pharaoh for her belief in Allah, Allah elevated her amongst all of humankind and immortalized her final prayer in the Quran:
{And Allah presents an example of those who believed: the wife of Pharaoh, when she said, “My Lord, build for me near You a house in Paradise and save me from Pharaoh and his deeds and save me from the wrongdoing people.”} [Surat Al-Tahrim, 66:11]
