Five Before Five

 

Is it just me or does the time seem to be passing more quickly lately.  One minute it is 2010 the next we are in the final half of 2012.  No matter how badly we want the time to slow down it just moves forward, one second, one minute, and one hour at a time.  Days go by and it feels like minutes.  Before the day’s work even starts it is night time.  God mentions this phenomenon in various places throughout the Quran.

They will say: “We stayed a day or part of a day. Ask of those who keep account.” (Quran 23:113)

…A speaker from among them said, “How long have you stayed (here)?” They said, “We have stayed (perhaps) a day or part of a day.” They said, “Your Lord (alone) knows best how long you have stayed (here)…  (Quran 18:19)

Time passes swiftly, and when we stand before God on the Day of Judgement it will seem as if we have lived, dreamed and hoped for less than a day.  It will seem as if we have worshipped our Creator for only the briefest of time and in only the most lackadaisical way.  We know that many of us will beg God for more time, time to correct our actions and time to worship in a better way.

Until, when death comes to one of them (those who join partners with God), he says: “My Lord! send me back, (Quran 23:99)

Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, reiterated this for us. Time will not slow down and we cannot go back to fix the mistakes we make therefore he advised us to take advantage of five, before five.

“Take advantage of five matters before five other matters: your youth, before you become old; your health, before you fall sick; your wealth, before you become poor; your free time before you become busy; and your life, before your death.”[1]

We are advised to take advantage of what time we have.  When we are young we take our youth and energy for granted. We feel as if we have all the time in the world, tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow.  But tomorrow creeps up on us slowly and one of the first things we lose is our youth.  A grey hair appears, there is a niggling pain in our back, or our shoulder or a knee.  As old age approaches people find it harder to fulfil even their obligatory acts of worship.  When it is impossible to bend our knees and put our head on the ground in submission, we want only to be able to go back and pray one extra prayer, fast one extra day the way we did when we were young and full of energy.  The young must take advantage of their youth before old age strips it away. Boundless energy should be used to help others, and to collect as many rewards as possible.

A believer must also take advantage of health before being overcome by sickness, with or without old age. Even young people are affected by ill health and injuries that make it impossible to worship in the way that they would like. Both God and Prophet Muhammad have emphasised the benefits and rewards that come from a believer experiencing pain and suffering. However when a person suffers ill health, he realises just how fragile human beings are. Prophet Muhammad reminds us that we do not know when our health will be taken from us. One day we have all our strength and mental faculties, the next we might be relying on others for even the simplest things.

Wealth is another blessing that comes to us from God.  A believer should give as much as possible in charity while there is still something to give.  We tend to think of charity as money but it is not confined to monetary matters. We give with our hands, our time, our knowledge and our money.  We even give with our smile. However, we should use our monetary wealth to worship and please God before it is taken from us. We have no way of knowing when God will see fit to remove our wealth from us. People are rich one day and homeless the next.  We must spend our wealth for the sake of God before we do not have the means to do so.  And this will not go unrewarded.

The likeness of those who spend their money for God’s sake, is as the likeness of a grain (of corn), it grows seven ears, every single ear has a hundred grains, and God multiplies (increases the reward) for whom He wills, and God is All-Sufficient for His creatures needs, All Knower. (Quran 2:261)

Free time is another great blessing from God that each of us possesses, regardless of how busy we think we are. Spending this time wisely means not wasting it in fruitless activities that have no benefit.  Even the simplest of acts can become worthwhile by simply doing them for the sake of God. If we free ourselves from fruitless time wasting activities it is possible the time to increase our religious deeds.  When a person chooses wisely, worldly deeds can also be done for the sake of God.  Remember that time moves inexorably forward.  Do it today because you may not have a tomorrow.  Use your free time wisely today before life is filled with worldly obligations that contain no benefit whatsoever unless you live every moment to please God.

The final thing we have been advised to take advantage of is, life before death overtakes us. Every morning we should thank God for another day. Each day is a chance to do well; to spend in charity, to worship longer, harder, or in a better way.  It is a chance to spread good cheer, smile, and pay that extra dollar or two in charity. It is a chance to perform countless random acts of kindness.  We have become relaxed about the reality of death.  At some point, perhaps in a matter of hours, minutes, or even seconds, our life will be taken away from us.  Prophet Muhammad advises us to take advantage of the time we have.  Do what you can now, not tomorrow, for tomorrow may never come.

This reminder from the Prophet Muhammad deals with responsibility, wisdom, foresight and time management, but it is not the only time he reminded us of the importance of being aware of our blessings and using them to our own advantage.  We are constantly reminded, throughout the Quran and the traditions of the Prophet, that time is fleeting and that every little thing we do is able to become a source of great reward.  Prophet Muhammad also said, “Three things follow the deceased [to his grave], two of them return and one remains with him. His family, wealth and deeds follow him, while his family and wealth return, his deeds remain with him.”[2]

- islamreligion.com

Footnotes:

[1]Al Hakim

[2]Saheeh Al-Bukhari

3 Meanings of Sunnah

 

The word sunnah has three separate meanings that are often mixed up by Muslims when the term arises in discussions.

Sunnah as a ruling

The first sense of sunnah is in the context of shari`ah rulings. Here, sunnah is synonymous with the mandub or “recommended”, meaning something that one deserves a reward in the next life for doing–such as using the miswak to clean one’s teeth before prayer–but is not punished for not doing.

It can be contrasted in this context with the “wajib” or obligatory, meaning something that one is rewarded in the next life for doing– such as performing the prescribed prayers–and deserves punishment in the next life for not doing.

The sunnah in this sense is at the second level of things Allah has asked of us, after the wajib or obligatory.

A source of Islam

A second sense of sunnah is in the context of identifying textual sources, as when the Kitab, meaning the Qur’an, is contrasted with the sunnah, meaning the Hadith. In this sense, sunnah is strictly synonymous with Hadith, and is used to distinguish one’s evidence from that of the Qur’an.

One should note that this is quite a different sense from the above-mentioned meaning of the word sunnah, though sometimes people confuse the two, believing that the Qur’an determines the obligatory, while the Hadith determines what is merely sunnah or recommended–but in fact, rulings of both types are found in the Qur’an, just as they are in the Hadith.

A way of Life

A third sense of sunnah is the way of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). This is embodied in:

– The things he said, did, and in his noble states of heart; together with the things he approved of in others (whether by explicit confirmation, or by allowing them to be done in his presence without condemning them),

– and the things that he intended to do but did not get the chance, such as fasting on the ninth of Muharram (Tasu`a’).

Here, sunnah simply means the Prophet’s way. It should not to be confused with either of the two senses mentioned above.

In contrast to the first sense, his sunnah or way (peace and blessings be upon him) includes not just the recommended, but rather the whole shari`ah, the entire spectrum of its rulings, whether obligatory (wajib), recommended (sunnah), permissible (mubah), or avoiding the offensive (makruh) or unlawful (haram).

And in contrast with the second sense, his sunnah or way (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is preserved not only in the Hadith, but first and foremost in the Qur’an, for as `A’ishah (Allah be well pleased with her) notes in the hadith “His character was the Qur’an” (Al-Bukhari).

The confusion and non sequiturs that often result when Muslims discuss the sunnah could perhaps be better avoided if these distinctions were kept in mind.

- aboutislam.net

---

References

Taken with slight editorial moderation from: www.lastprophet.info

The Concept Of Sin And Atonement In Islam

 

Human Weakness and Allah’s Mercy

First and foremost, Allah has said in the Quran that humans have within them weaknesses. It is out of this trait of ours that we humans end up committing sins. Even the best of humans to walk the earth had made errors. Then what about simple laymen?

We may make mistakes left and right, openly and silently. Sister your concern and worry show us that you have much goodness inside of you. Keep seeking Allah and give it your best. It is by God’s infinite mercy that He pardons us over and again. Allah loves His slaves who commit wrong and then turn back to Him. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

“By the One in Whose hand is my soul, if you did not commit sin Allah would do away with you and bring people who would commit sin then pray for forgiveness.”

Narrated by Muslim, 2749.

Allah’s forgiveness is vast. At the end of the tunnel, there is still a flicker of hope for a believer, and nothing can extinguish it. Don’t lose confidence in God’s mercy. Anas narrated that Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) said:

“All the sons of Adam are sinners, but the best of sinners are those who repent often.”

Related by At -Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah.

Concept of Sin

Many religions have different aspects and thoughts about sin and forgiveness. Such as in Christianity. The Concept that every Christian is born into sin makes it difficult for that certain individual to do good and be a positive person. From early childhood, Christians believe that they are sinners and that Prophet Jesus died on the cross to compensate for their sins.

Islam, on the contrary, teaches mankind that every individual shall carry their own burden. Which means that all of humanity will be judged upon their own deeds. God is just and it is out of His Justice and Mercy that every single individual will be judged upon his/her own deeds. This concept will help an individual take ownership of his/her actions. A person will have to work hard towards his own salvation.

Having said that, Allah has stressed the importance of staying away from sins.  Evil doings such as killing, being disrespectful towards one’s parents, and above all taking partners with Allah are among major sins. One must stay clear of this evil at all times. Allah says,

“if you avoid the major sins which you are forbidden from committing, We will forgive and wipe away from you your [lesser] sins and make you enter a noble entrance Paradise.” (Quran 4:31)

Infinite Forgiveness

Have you ever observed how the moon passes through 28 different phases? Have you noticed the way it waxes and wanes? If you pay particular attention to the new moon stage, the moon disappears and you cannot even see a speck of it. However, is it really gone? No- it’s still there but is hard to see with the naked eye.

Allah is teaching us that nothing in life is constant. Faith will never stay constant. It wavers from time to time. At times one has a very strong faith and sometimes our desires get the best of us. Hence, sister, there is no need to feel guilt or even grieve when you make that sin, then stop everything and make a u-turn towards Allah.

On the authority of Anas (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah say: Allah the Almighty said:

O son of Adam, so long as you call upon Me and ask of Me, I shall forgive you for what you have done, and I shall not mind. O son of Adam, were your sins to reach the clouds of the sky and were you then to ask forgiveness of Me, I would forgive you. O son of Adam, were you to come to Me with sins nearly as great as the earth and were you then to face Me, ascribing no partner to Me, I would bring you forgiveness nearly as great as it.

It was related by at-Tirmidhi (also by Ahmad ibn Hanbal). Its chain of authorities is sound.

Seeking Pardon

As a parent or a person who has subordinates, when that subordinate or child under your care errors, and comes to ask your pardon, don’t you forgive him/her? Most likely, you will forgive a sincere apology.

Allah is our Creator and His love for us, His creation, is ten folds of a mother’s love. How can you not turn to Him? How can you despair of His mercy? Never, don’t let go. Allah is there to accept all your mistakes and forgive you. On the condition of your sincerity.

There are three conditions for repentance a person must meet. A fourth condition steps in when the sin committed is in regards to another human being. Firstly, when you realize it’s a sin, give it up.

Second, a person must feel remorse within the heart. Third is to make a genuine promise to Allah that he will not repeat the sin.

Fourth, to repay the other person. For instance, if you stole money, then you shall return it back, if you spoke ill of him you should ask pardon from the person.

Acceptance of Repentance

When these conditions are fulfilled by the person who is repenting, then there is hope that his repentance will be accepted, by Allah’s leave. After that, he should not worry about whispers suggesting that his repentance is not accepted. That doubt is from the Shaytaan and is contrary to what Allah and His Messenger have told us. Which is that repentance is accepted if it is sincere.

“Will they not turn with repentance to Allah and ask His forgiveness? For Allah is Oft‑Forgiving, Most Merciful” (Quran 5:74)

As long as you seek the truth with sincerity Allah will guide and protect you. Don’t let the whispers of shaytan hinder you from the correct path.

Life is a struggle for a believer. Somewhere on the path you will fall and have to pick yourself up. You will break down so have the courage to put yourself together. This is the test of a believer. Allah says,

“And certainly, We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to As-Saabiroon (the patient).” (Quran 2:155)

And Allah knows best.

- aboutislam.net

About Umm Muadh

Umm Muadh is a student at AOU university studying Islamic studies and currently resides in Texas, USA with her husband and four beautiful children!

Understanding Meaning of God’s Mercy

 

In the Quran when Allah first introduces Himself, He calls Himself “Rabb-ul aalameen”— The Master of the Universe. The Master is the one who owns us, nourishes us, and cherishes us, and He does so for the rest of the universe as well.

But who is this Master? The first description given of Allah by Allah Himself is  Ar-Rahman ar-Raheem.

Translations range from “Most Gracious Most Merciful” to “Most Beneficent Most Kind” and many others.

Both these words mean “merciful” in various ways. Rahman and Raheem both contain the word “rahmah” as part of their roots. Rahmah is commonly translated as “mercy.” However, the English usage of the word “mercy” is a bit negative in its connotation

What is Mercy?

The Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary defines “mercy” as one of  two things:

1. A kind and forgiving attitude toward someone over whom you have the power to harm or right to punish.
2. An event or a situation to be grateful for, usually because it stops something unpleasant.

And these are included in the term “rahmah.” Allah is indeed kind and forgiving towards those He has a right to punish. Moreover, He stops many unpleasant things for people, a good reason for us to be eternally grateful to Allah. “Mercy” is usually used in modern English to mean relief from difficulty. However, “rahmah” is more than just that.

For example, most people would describe their mothers as “loving and caring” more than just “merciful.” That is because love and care come more directly and are positive ways of expressing a mother’s emotions for a child.

“Rahman”— More Than Mercy

To understand better, let us look at a hadith Qudsi. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said that Allah said:

I am ar-Raḥman and created the rahm (womb) – And I named it after Me. (Ahmad)

Moreover, ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab relates once being with the Prophet with a group of women and children detained after battle. One woman among them was searching for her child. Whenever she saw any child, she took the child to her bosom and began breastfeeding it. The Prophet asked his companions:

Do you think this woman would throw her child into fire?

They said:

“No, by Allah, unless she has no power otherwise.”

He replied:

Allah is more merciful for His servants than this woman for her child. (Muslim)

It is interesting that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) while explaining the mercy of Allah used the example of a mother. Let us look into it in a bit more detail.

What Does a Womb Do?

A womb contains an unborn child, child unable to take care of itself. It is taken care of by someone else. It is completely dependent upon the mother for its care.

The womb completely encompasses the child from all sides, surrounding it. Moreover, even if the child is hurting the mother, causing her to become ill, the mother is still taking care of the child regardless of what the child does inside. That is where the Arabic definition of mercy comes from. It entails love and care.

Allah takes care of us when we cannot take care of ourselves. He is making our hearts beat without us having any control of it. He is making sure that blood reaches all parts of our body every single second to ensure that the food we eat is distributed to the different parts of our body. And He is ensuring that the act of breathing is natural to us. He wakes us up every morning after we sleep instead of making us die.

Allah is taking care of us constantly in ways that we cannot number. In spite of the fact that we sin, we transgress, we do all the things that Allah has asked us not to do, we still are encompassed by His mercy, from all sides, just like the child is encompassed by a mother’s womb.

Linguistically Rahman is someone whose rahmah is excessive and vast but has a point where it will stop. Imam at-Tabari said that ar-Rahman is the universal rahmah that Allah has for all of His creation.

Ibn Abbas said that it will end on the Day of Judgment when He will bring justice. Ar-Raheem on the other hand is one whose rahmah is vast and yet continuous.

Imam at-Tabari says that ar-Raheem is the mercy specifically for the believers— a special love, care, and affection for those who believe and submit to Allah.

For Believers— Both Ar-Rahman and Ar-Raheem

Rahman makes clear the immense love, care, and mercy that Allah has towards His slaves, both believing and disbelieving. However, that is only for this world. For believers, He is ar-Rahman as well as ar-Raheem, the one who will show special love, care, and mercy to them in this world and in the hereafter in their greatest hour of need.

Allah has tied rahmah specifically to the womb. To attain His rahmah, let us turn back to our “rahm.” The best door we have to His rahmah is in the service of our mother. Truly, Allah is ar-Rahman ar-Raheem.

From https://understandquran.com.

About Raiiq Ridwan

Raiiq Ridwan is a Bangladeshi medical student at the University of Bristol, UK. He has a Bachelors In Arts in Islamic Studies at the Islamic Online University. He is founder of "The One Message". He’s certified life coach. He can write on topics related to Quran, dawah, depression, anxiety, achieving goals, productivity etc.

Having Hope in a Better Tomorrow

 

One of the things that has always given me the most peace through Islam is knowing that the past is just that; it stays where it is in God’s eyes, and the future is another day.

We can make every day a new day through Du’a (supplication), through Tawbah (repentance) and by looking positively towards the future and working towards it.

This awesome combination ensures that we can always have hope in a better tomorrow, either this world or in the next.

So no matter how tough life gets, how many challenges Satan throws in our path, how many tests God sends us to get us to turn to Him, we have all the tools we need to be able to get through the rough spots, if we open our eyes and look for them in the right places.

Revert Challenges

I have been terribly saddened recently to see some sisters who converted to Islam, apparently full of hope that they had found the right path for themselves, a path that would give them a better future both in this world and the Hereafter, fall by the wayside and revert back to their old life and ways.

One thing that echoes in my mind is the words of one of the sisters before she broke off contact; she said that she thought by saying her Shahadah that her life would get easier and the difficulties that she was facing would reduce. And maybe others had some of the same thoughts.

Many of us have felt that after we became Muslims that the tests got harder. Maybe it was Satan trying to pull us back, maybe it was God testing us to give us chance to strengthen our faith and realize that we need to turn to Him or maybe it was because we were having to learn a new way to react to life’s challenges by working out how to respond to them in a way that would please God, rather than our own desires.

So what tools can we use to develop hope in the future?

Developing Links with God

The main tool is to develop a closer relationship with God; to learn more about Him, develop and strengthen links with Him and turn to Him for support and guidance. This can be done through reading the Quran and reading good books about Aqeedah (the Creed). It can be done through listening to talks, attending Friday Prayers, and being in touch with people who will remind us of God and help us to get closer to Him.

But the main way to get closer to God is to develop a personal relationship with Him through Du’a and following His guidance.

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:

“Any Muslim who makes a supplication containing nothing which is sinful, or which involves breaking ties of relationship, will be given for it by Allah one of three things: He will give him swift answer, or store it up for him in the next world, or turn away from him an equivalent amount of evil.”  (At-Tirmidhi)

How amazing is that! So all we have to do is ask, and God will grant it to us at the time He sees fit. All we have to do is to open our hearts to the possibility of what may be; what we could have in our life (or that of others), ask God for it and then put our best efforts towards getting it.

{And that there is not for man except that [good] for which he strives, and that his effort is going to be seen – then he will be recompensed for it with the fullest recompense.} (Quran 53:39-40)

It’s simple, isn’t it? As long as we put the effort in and put our trust in God, He will grant us the best result. We just need to turn to Him. This doesn’t mean that God will grant us exactly what we ask for when we think we want it, but that He will answer our prayers in the best way for us:

{But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allah Knows, while you know not.} (Quran 2: 216)

So we know that whatever the result of our efforts – if they were done sincerely for the sake of Allah – it will be what was meant to be and it will serve us well for the future if we take the lessons from it.

Seeking Sincere Forgiveness

For reverts who are finding the tests difficult, try to hold onto your faith and be patient for a while longer. God promises that He will test us, but He also says that He does so because He wants us to turn to Him:

{And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient, who, when disaster strikes them, say, “Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return.} (Quran 2: 155-156)

In fact the tests that God sends us are blessings and His way of removing our past sins. Prophet Muhammad said:

“No calamity befalls a Muslim but that Allah expiates some of his sins because of it, even though it were the prick he receives from a thorn.” (Al-Bukhari)

So instead of complaining about the tests, we should welcome them, as not only are they giving us the opportunity to learn from them and become better, and they are another reason for us to turn to God, they are also erasing some of the sins we have committed!

God knows how much we can bear and He promises over and over again in the Quran that He will not burden us with more that we can bear. So we can take heart in this and know that we can get through any test that is sent to us, as long as we turn to God and hold onto our faith.

{Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity.} (Quran 2: 286)

But if we do slip and make a mistake, it’s not the end of the world; again all we have to do is to turn to God sincerely and to ask His forgiveness:

{Say, “O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.} (Quran 39: 53)

Islam gives us the tools to get through difficulties and hardships. It promises us that God is Merciful and wants the best for us. All we have to do is believe in this and we can get through anything and this gives us the hope that tomorrow will be a better day.

- aboutislam.net

About Amal Stapley

Amal Stapley After accepting Islam in 1992, Amal graduated from the International Islamic University of Malaysia with a degree in Psychology and Islamic studies. She then went on to work with several Islamic organizations in the USA, Egypt and more recently in her home country, the UK.

Does Touching Penis Break Wudu?

 

If a woman touches her husband’s penis with desire, it invalidates her Wudu, but if it is without desire, then it does not invalidate it.

Imam Ulaysh said in Minah al-Jaleel Sharh Mukhtasar Khaleel (1/113):

“The ruling on touching the penis of another person depends on whether it was done deliberately or whether accompanied by desire.”

If we say that it does invalidate wudu, that is on condition that there is no barrier. This is the view of the majority.

So if a woman touches her husband’s penis with a barrier, her wudu is not invalidated, even if it is with desire, because of the report narrated by Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him), according to which the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “If one of you touches his private parts, with no barrier in between, then let him do wudu.” (Narrated by Ash-Shaafa‘i in his Musnad, 1/12; classed as authentic by Al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami)

If a man shakes hands with his wife or kisses her, or she kisses him, that does not invalidate the wudu of either of them, even if it is done with desire, so long as nothing is emitted.

That is because of the report narrated by Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her), according to which the Prophet (peace be upon him) kissed one of his wives, then went out to pray and did not do wudu. (At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasai, and Ibn Majah)

Sheikh Abd Al-Azeez ibn Baz (may Allah have mercy on him) said:

“The correct scholarly view is that it does not invalidate wudu at all. If man touches his wife or kisses her, it does not invalidate his wudu according to the most correct opinion, because the Messenger kissed one of his wives, then he prayed and did not do wudu. Also, the basic principle is that wudu and purity remain intact, and it is not permissible to say that it has been invalidated by something unless there is proof to that effect, with no counterproof. In this case, there is no proof to indicate that wudu is invalidated by touching one’s wife at all.” (Majmu al-Fatawa, 17:219)

Almighty Allah knows best.

Source: www.islamqa.info

How Do I Meet Allah with a Clean Heart?

 

Will begin with mentioning two rules:

The first rule is that Allah (SWT) did not legislate punishments just to torture His servants.

In fact, He did that in order to warn and protect His servants from sinning in the first place.

However, in case of their obedience and avoidance of sins, He says:

{What can God gain by your punishment, if ye are grateful and ye believe? Nay, it is God that recogniseth (all good), and knoweth all things.} (4:147)

The second rule is that Allah (SWT) created us as humans, not angels.

Our humanity leads us to err and make mistakes.

If Allah (SWT) did not destine us to err and make mistakes, then He would have created us as angels.

Angels are a creation which cannot make mistakes in the first place:

{… Angels …, who flinch not (from executing) the Commands they receive from God, but do (precisely) what they are commanded.} (6:66)

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

“By Him in Whose Hand is my life, if you were not to commit sin, Allah would sweep you out of existence and He would replace [you by] those people who would commit sin and seek forgiveness from Allah, and He would have pardoned them.” (Sahih Muslim)

Nevertheless, this doesn’t mean that the Muslim should be led by his sins and surrender to his desires and whims. This only means if the Muslim sins, one should not feel despair after that.

Thus, the punishment is never there to torture the servant, but to protect him or her from his capacity to sin.

Allah’s Door is Open

After realizing these two points, we need to know that Allah (SWT) kept His door open for repentance.

It is a door that God will never close until the Muslim dies!

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

“Allah accepts a slave’s repentance as long as the latter is not on his death-bed [that is, before the soul of the dying person reaches the throat].” (Sunan At-Tirmidhi)

Also Allah Almighty says:

{He is the One that accepts repentance from His Servants and forgives sins: and He knows all that ye do.}  (42:45)

{Know they not that God doth accept repentance from His votaries …}  (9:104)

{But, without doubt, I am (also) He that forgives again and again, to those who repent, believe, and do right, who, in fine, are ready to receive true guidance.}  (20:82)

In this, there is no difference between sins, whether a few or many, for Allah Almighty says:

{Say: “O my Servants who have transgressed against their souls! Despair not of the Mercy of God: for God forgives all sins: for He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.}  (39:53)

{God accepts the repentance of those who do evil in ignorance and repent soon afterwards; to them will God turn in mercy: For God is full of knowledge and wisdom.}  (4:17)

{When those come to thee who believe in Our signs, Say: “Peace be on you: Your Lord hath inscribed for Himself (the rule of) mercy: verily, if any of you did evil in ignorance, and thereafter repented, and amend (his conduct), lo! He is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.} (6:54)

The only persons whom Allah (SWT) does not accept their repentance are those whom He mentioned in this verse:

{Of no effect is the repentance of those who continue to do evil, until death faces one of them, and he says, “Now have I repented indeed;” …}  (4:18)

Conditions for Repentance

So, when is it that Allah (SWT) accepts repentance?

He accepts it if it meets the following conditions:

1- You must admit the guilt, knowing the prohibition of the act you have done.

2- You ought to feel remorseful for your sinful deeds. This indicates that, from the bottom of your heart, you feel sorry for that mistake.

3- If a person happens to be the victim of wrong actions, compensation must be made, i.e., a person robbed of his property, for instance, must be indemnified, either through restitution in integral or by paying back for damages. Thus, to prevent dissension and dispute, people’s rights huquq-l-`ibaad (rights of God’s servants) must be settled.

4- You must make resolution that you will never look back, i.e. you must enter into a sincere covenant with God that you have completely closed those dark pages, and that you will never open them again.

5- And, of course, you must pray to Allah for forgiveness

If the Muslim achieves all these conditions, then repentance will be accepted insha’Allah, without punishment on the Day of Judgment.

Good Friends

A good advice, to help you maintain your tawbah (repentance) firmly, is to spend time with good people.

This will help you act properly, according to ethics that pleases God, as well as maintaining His obedience.

Any Muslim should choose good Muslim friends and good people to socialize with. So try to focus on going to the masjid (mosque), reading Quran every day, attending Islamic classes and be away from any company that does not remind you of Allah. Increase your optional salat (prayer), siyam (fasting) and paying sadaqah (charity) as much as you can.

It is never too late for a true Muslim to repent and go back to Allah. It is never too late to shed tears for the wrongs one has committed.

Always keep in mind that Allah (SWT) is more merciful than we expect.

Whatever sins a Muslim might have done, are really nothing if compared to Allah’s encompassing mercy.

So, all previous mistakes will not be recorded as long as repentance meets the conditions of sincerity.

Hajj & Forgiveness of Sins

Finally, regarding your question about hajj and erasing sins, I would tell you that hajj, in itself, can be regarded as a declaration of your repentance.

Simply, performing it erases all the past!

Abu Huraira reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

‘He who came to this House [the Ka’ba] [with the intention of performing pilgrimage], and neither spoke indecently nor did he act wickedly, would return [free from sin] as on the [very first day] his mother bore him. (Sahih Muslim)

May Allah guide us to the straight path, which pleases Him- Ameen.

- aboutislam.net

How To Overcome a Painful Past

 

Your past is meant to be a place of reference, not a place of residence. It has given you the strength and wisdom you have, so you need to celebrate it and not let it hunt you. When the pain overtakes you, all you need to do is to hand them over to Allah (SWT). This is an excerpt from the words of Ustadha Yesmin Mogahed in this video, as she urges us to learn from our past. Watch this video to learn more! - aboutislam.net

New Muslims – How to Perfect Prayers

 

The One who created you is profoundly in touch with you; so extremely close, that He knows your most hidden thoughts and innermost feelings.

He knows, intimately, your dreams and hopes, and how your heart hurts sometimes.

When your whole world seems to be crashing down around you, He is there.

In your moments of greatest joy or accomplishment, He is more attentive and understanding of your happiness than your closest companion.

He wants you to succeed. He wants you to step easily into Jannah; and He wants you can see and feel the wonderful accolades and pleasures He has prepared just for you.

Salah: The GPS of Life

To help you stay focused, He has provided you with many tools and methods to stay connected to your purpose. Think of them like the GPS of life. They help you find your way, and get you out of tough situations, so you can return to the right road, even in the darkest moments.

The single most important of these tools is the Salah: the daily prayers.

The Prophet Muhammad said:

The first matter that the slave (‘abd) will be brought to account for on the Day of Judgment is the prayer. If it is sound, then the rest of his deeds will be sound. And if it is bad, then the rest of his deeds will be bad. (At-Tirmidhi)

From this hadith, we learn that the prayers are a metric by which we can assess the rest of our actions. By working to perfect our prayers, as a natural progression the rest of our lives will likewise improve.

If we find ourselves faltering, and feeling generally weak willed when it comes to doing good, it is a clear indication that our prayers need repairs. Allah Himself confirmed this when He said:

Verily, the prayer keeps one from the great sins and evil deeds (Quran 29:45).

He described the prayer as shielding us from being impatient and greedy:

Indeed, man was created anxious: When evil touches him, impatient, and when good touches him, withholding [of it], Except for those devoted to prayer those who remain constant in their prayers… (70:19-23).

In addition to the greater level of self-awareness and control we can attain by guarding and sharpening our prayers, they also may wipe away our sins like water washes away impurities. Due to this great importance, it is imperative to approach and learn them in a way that is effective, not overwhelming.

The prayers can be learned at your own pace. The quality of your prayers will develop over time, as long as you put in the necessary effort.

My Own Experience

As you learn the prayers, be sure you are performing them in the same manner as the way the Prophet Muhammad did. In order to do this, it is crucial to check any sources you are learning from and make sure that they are teaching according to the way the Prophet Muhammad prayed.

This is a useful link to a great video that explains and demonstrates the prayer according to the authentic reports, made by the Foundation For Knowledge and Development, an organization dedicated to educating and developing Muslims with authentic knowledge.

When I began to learn to pray, I recorded everything and I would listen to it repeatedly while practicing the positions. I learned a little at a time: first I memorized the takbir: Allahu Akbar, then I began memorizing chapter Al-Fatihah, then gradually, over several weeks I memorized the entirety of the prayer.

It is essential to memorize the translation of all the words in a language that is natural to you, so that you can focus on the meaning of every part of the prayer as you say it.

I do not recommend learning the whole prayer in Arabic, without knowing the meanings, because prayer is a communication; and if you don’t know what you are saying, you are only regurgitating words. It may be even easier for you to learn initially in a language you understand and then superimpose the Arabic words as you progress.

To this day, almost 14 years since I entered Islam, I still repeat the meanings of every saying in English in my head after the Arabic, because my Arabic is not yet fluent enough such that it is my internal language. Thus, I feel more secure repeating everything in English to be sure I truly mean what I am saying.

Don’t be deterred if you find the prayer difficult at first. Many people learn how to do it, and you will too, by Allah’s will and with His help. One of the important parts of chapter Al-Fatihah is where we say:

You alone we worship, You alone we ask for help. Show us the straight way. (1:6)

Abundantly seeking Allah’s help will draw you nearer to your Lord; it will increase your gratitude to Him as you grow and progress. It’s okay if your pace is slower than others; remember Allah recognizes the effort you are putting in. If you are trying your best, He is fully aware and appreciative.

Know the Prayer Timings

In addition to learning the prayer itself we must also learn the timings. The spacing of the prayers throughout the day serves to reorient our souls; and it helps prevent us from becoming wholly distracted and enamored by our material lives.

The prayers are meditation; during them we work to constantly pull our hearts and minds back to the remembrance of the source and destination of life, Allah. Doing this throughout the day is like training, keeping our spirits fit and nimble; ready to face whatever life throws at us.

The timings have been prescribed and they are not something we can alter. We have to try to find a way to do our prayers at the times prescribed except in extenuating circumstances such as travel. This brings us to the issue of praying in public, or in front of our families who are not Muslim.

At first, it might seem embarrassing to tell your family in the middle of a gathering or while out on an excursion together, that you need to stop and pray. This can be especially difficult for those of us that come from backgrounds that scoff at religion, or those that are very strong in a particular religion, and strongly opposed to (what they believe is) Islam.

Unless your life is threatened, you should try to find a way to make your prayers on time. Initially there may be discomfort but, with Allah’s help, as you grow in faith, you will feel more confident to pray wherever, whenever. As you grow and begin to understand the value of the prayer, your worries will pale in comparison.

To help you feel more confident in this regard, please know that many people have come to Islam, due to witnessing the prayer; and many others find it touchingly beautiful.

An Inspirational Story

I read an account written by a non-Muslim woman. She and her husband were being driven by taxi, when their driver began looking at the sky anxiously. Finally, he apologized and told them he had to stop and pray- he was about to miss the Asr prayer.

They watched as he pulled out a rug and performed his prayer on the side of the road. The woman was deeply moved by that moment. That captivating experience instilled respect in her for both the driver and Islam.

Of course not everyone will feel this way. A friend of mine told me that in the early days of her Islam, her mother used to kick her when she would bow in prayer. I have another friend who is keeping her Islam a secret at the moment, so finding the ability to pray all the prayers on time has been a struggle.

This life is fleeting. Guarding the thing that brings us closer to our Lord and the quality of which will determine whether our outcome is good or bad, is worth the struggle.

The best things don’t often come easy, so garner up whatever strength you have and put it into your prayers!

- aboutislam.net

About Danielle LoDuca

Danielle LoDuca is a third generation American artist and author. Drawing inspiration from personal life experiences, her writings highlight the familiarity of Islam in a climate that increasingly portrays the Islamic faith as strange. She holds a BFA from Pratt Institute and has pursued postgraduate studies in Arabic and Islamic Studies at the Foundation for Knowledge and Development. LoDuca’s work has been featured in media publications in the US and abroad and she is currently working on a book that offers a thought-provoking American Muslim perspective, in contrast to the negative narratives regarding Islam and Muslims prevalent in the media today