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

Stop Striving for Perfection – That’s for Paradise

Has your life been a series of ups and downs? Have you ever found yourself going around living your best life then POW, a serious problem hits you? Perhaps you lose a job or the car breaks down. Maybe you made a mistake, even the same mistake over again.

Every single one of us have faced hardships and have made mistakes. Guess what? We are supposed to. Allah the Almighty tells us in the Quran: 

{Do people think they will be left alone after saying ‘We believe’ without being put to the test?} (Al-`Ankabut 29:2)

All of us are being tested. This life we are living is a test. Life is incomplete without mistakes and hardships! 

Striving for Perfection

Perfection only comes in Paradise. No tests, no hardships, no anxiety or stress….this is reserved for Paradise.

We struggle so much with hardships because we want to live a ‘perfect’ life. We want to have the perfect marriage, the most perfect child, be a perfect parent and have the perfect career. 

When we don’t achieve perfection, we are left despondent and depressed. But this hardship you’re facing is from Allah. We are vulnerable humans who make mistakes.

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “Every son of Adam makes mistakes, and the best of those who make mistakes are those who repent.” (At-Tirmidhi)

Be perfect in what you do after you make a mistake, turn back to Allah. He knows about your mistake and He wants you to turn to Him in repentance.

Take a few moments to listen to Sheikh Yaser Birjas. He shares how recognizing the hardships in our life as tests from Allah Almighty, can help us reduce stress when they inevitably come. 

Source: MASICNAConvention

HOW AL-FATIHAH SHOULD BE RECITED?

In Islam, Al-Fatihah should be recited clearly and with proper pronunciation (tajwid) in every rakaat of prayer, meaning it is mandatory to recite it in each unit of prayer, and it is considered invalid if left out; it should be recited aloud when praying alone, but silently behind the Imam in congregational prayer, ensuring correct pronunciation of each letter and observing the rules of tajwid; it is considered the essence of the Quran and should be recited with full attention and understanding of its meaning. 

Video on how it is recited:

Helping Hijabis Understand Hijab

 

Understanding hijab is not always easy. We have to understand the purpose behind it in order not to be judgemental of a woman is not wearing Hijab properly. And at the same time, we should avoid going to the other extreme, which is behaving as if Hijab does not exist. Check this video for more insights from Ustadh Omar Suleiman! - aboutislam.net

Qur’an: The Guardian of Faith

 

How does our faith increase through reading the Qur’an? The connection with the Qur’an allows us to grow our faith, because the Qur’an is the guardian of our faith. In this video, Sheikh Omar Suleiman urges us to make this a habit in order that we might keep our faith strong! - aboutislam.net

Healing Power of Prayer Beads

 

Yahya related to me from Malik that Ziyad ibn Abi Ziyad quoted Abu’d-Darda as saying, “Shall I not tell you the best of your deeds, and those that give you the highest rank, and those that are the purest with your King, and are better for you than giving gold and silver, and better for you than meeting your enemy and striking their necks?“

They said, “Of course.” He said, “Remembrance (dhikr) of Allah, the Almighty” (Hadith Bukhari Book 15:7.24).

Towards this goal many Muslims carry a sibhah, or prayer beads. Traditionally, prayer beads are used to keep track of how many times one has recited Subhan Allah, Alhamdulliah and Allahu Akbar. The most popular way is using them after the obligatory prayer to recite the dhikr [remembrance of] Allah:

Narrated Abu Ma’bad: (the freed slave of Ibn ‘Abbas) Ibn ‘Abbas told me, “In the lifetime of the Prophet it was the custom to celebrate Allah’s praises aloud after the compulsory congregational prayers.” Ibn ‘Abbas further said, “When I heard the Dhikr, I would learn that the compulsory congregational prayer had ended” (Bukhari Vol.1: Book 12: 802).

However, although the dhikr of Allah has been recited from the time of the Prophet, the sibhah as we now know it today has not been recorded as being in existence at that time.

Some accounts of history show that Muslims adopted the sibhah from India in the 2nd Islamic century and through them, in 1214, that the Christians adopted the idea and started using the rosary (Gulik).

Even though, methods of assistance have always been employed in religious devotion even before the sibhah.

Tradition states that before the sibhah, stones were sometimes used to recite. Other religions used knotted cords or woven shawls to keep track of recitations.

Modern technology, however, has added a new dimension to prayer beads when electronic sibhah were invented. Many people even prefer not to use a sibhah at all.

Even though, using a sibhah is not only helpful in keeping track of remembrances, but can be healing as well, depending on which wood or stone has been used to make the beads.

At the Islamic Shopping Network many kinds of prayer beads are available from Turquoise and Tiger Eye stone to Sandalwood and Rosewood beads.

A search of other sites reveals a number of sites dedicated to making custom stone beads for all religions. A search of the local markets of the Middle East reveal an even larger selection of sibhah.

And just as using beads for prayer is a long-standing tradition, so is healing with beads. Throughout history cultures have used gemstones and wood for healing.

Dr. Robert Frost, a physician in Basel, Switzerland, recently studied the scientific properties of these gems and woods and created a method of testing woods and gemstones that reveals their healing properties in scientific terms (Frost).

In his clinical work, Dr. Frost discovered that using the correct gemstone or wood could reduce pain, prevent allergic reactions, improve coordination and even increase muscle strength.

To give some examples; Tiger-eye is traditionally used to enhance understanding and strengthen belief. It is healing to the stomach area and is often used to assist with problems of the kidney, pancreas, liver, small intestine or stomach. It has also been found to have a calming effect on people who hold it.

Turquoise keeps the feeling of unconditional love in one’s heart and helps one feel more connected with Allah. It also assists in the digestion of proteins and thus aids digestion.

Turquoise also helps draw out negative feelings such as envy or anger from a person. It assists in healing ailments of the thyroid, throat, ears, neck and respiratory system. It can also help to combat allergies or heart problems.

Beads of amber can help lift the heaviness of burdens, amethyst can be spiritually uplifting or heal the stomach or liver, and black onyx helps one to change bad habits. There are many books and websites that speak about the healing power of gems.

Beware in your search, as some sites are mystical and foreboding. But there are an equal number of scientific books and websites that offer information on gems to the general public.

The healing power of wooden prayer beads is often in their scent, which is released and revived with usage. The scent of rosewood is traditionally used for nervous tension, frigidity, and headaches.

It also assists the immune system, helps to fight viruses and regenerate cells. It is good for jet lag and skin inflammations and has the ability to relax a person without making them drowsy.

Beads made of sandalwood emit a scent that has been used for healing since the time of the prophet. Sandalwood is an antidepressant, antiseptic, insecticidal, and sedative wood.

It can assist in the healing of cells and is used to assist the immune system in any healing process or to prevent illness.

In the Tafseer of Ibn Juzayy, it is said that the Prophet Mohammad said in a message from Allah, “I am in my slaves opinion of Me and I am with him when he remembers Me. If he remembers Me in himself, I remember him in Myself.”

For this reason and the reason of easy transport, prayer beads are a popular gift from one Muslim to another. With a little more thought, this gift can be physically uplifting as well as spiritually.

References:

• Gottleib, Bill. “New Choices in Natural Healing.” Emmaus, Pennsylvania: Rodale Press.1995.
• Gulick, Robert Jr. “Muhammad the Educator.” Lahore: Institute of Islamic Cultures. 1953. p.61.
• Frost, Robert. “Gems and Woods.” Robertfrost.net. 2001.
• Hadith Bukhari
• Tafseer Ibn Juzayy
• Woodward, Valerie Ann. “The Fragrant Mind.” Novato, California: New World Library. 1996.

- aboutislam.net