Be Confident – Hold Your Head Up High

 

Reliance on Allah

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)

- aboutislam.net

Significance of Fasting the Day of Ashura

 

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 as an 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.

Allah Almighty knows best.

- aboutislam.net

About Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi

Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi is the Chairman of the Fiqh Council of North America

Why Did Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) Fast on Day of Ashura?

 

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.

- aboutislam.net

About AElfwine Mischler

AElfwine Mischler is an American convert to Islam. She has undergraduate degrees in physics and English, and a master's degree in linguistics and teaching English as a foreign language.

What is the Reward of Fasting the Day of Ashura?

 

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

Asiyah, Wife of Pharaoh – The Change Maker

 

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]

- aboutislam.net

About Zainab bint Younus

Zainab bint Younus is a young woman who finds constant inspiration in the lives of the Sahabiyaat and other great women in Islamic history. She hopes that every Muslimah is able to identify with the struggles of these inspirational women and follow in their footsteps to become a part of a new generation of powerful Muslim women. She blogs at http://www.thesalafifeminist.blogspot.com

Hijrah: Powerful Woman Who Helped the Prophet (PBUH)

 

The Prophetic hijrah was a perilous journey, but it was one that had to be taken. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) had so many people who stood by him and helped him during that period, one of whom is the daughter of one of his Companions. Who was she? Click this video to find out! - aboutislam.net

Migrating Without Moving: Performing Hijrah in Your Daily Life

 

As a Muslim at any stage in your spiritual development, you will almost certainly come across the most-cited hadith ever:

Indeed actions are [judged] by their intentions, and to every person [the reward for] which he intends.

Narrated through what Hadith scholars refer to as the “Golden Chain,” the hadith of intentions is one of the most authentic hadiths around.

What many of us miss, however, is the not-so-often-cited second half:

Whoever migrates with an intention for Allah and His messenger, the migration will be for the sake of Allah and His messenger. And who ever migrates for worldly gain or to marry a woman, then his migration will be for the sake of whatever he migrated for.

Migration here is the translation of the Arabic term “hijrah,” often referred to the events when the Prophet Muhammad left Makkah to establish the first Muslim community in Yathrib, renamed Madinah or the “City of the Prophet.”

Some movements have taken this meaning to heart, suggesting that Muslims must physically leave non-Muslim majority societies and move to majority-Muslim countries.

However, most scholars believe that leaving your society is not a requirement as long as you are not in physical danger and are able to comfortably practice your faith.

But the meaning of hijrah goes much deeper than this; and there are several things that you can do that will both improve your faith and make you a better Muslim. These are what I like to call the “mini-hijrahs:” removing yourself from negative and detrimental non-Muslim influences and surrounding yourself with true submission (Islam) in as many aspects of life as possible.

Hijrah of the Eyes

The first and most obvious of these is to work towards the perfection of that which you see around you. In typical discussions, this means diverting your gaze from things that are forbidden. Not staring at the opposite sex, changing the channel when inappropriate content comes on the television, and avoiding reading material that drives you away from your faith are all parts of this.

There are also positive changes that you can make. Clean up your home, neighborhood, mosque, and work-space. Remember that hadith: “Cleanliness is half of faith.”?

It doesn’t just mean having wudu’ but can also be achieved by not littering, cleaning up trash in your neighborhood, or having an organized home and office space.

Another positive hijrah for the eyes is to remember to take time to step away from your daily grind. Take your family to the park or re-connect with nature. Plant a garden, paint, and surround yourself with the beauty of God’s creation.

Hijrah of the Ears

We often pass-off the terrible things we hear every day. Swearing, explicit music, and just overall annoying sounds are things we have become accustomed to.

What we don’t realize, however, is that no matter how much we try, these sounds shape our mood. Do what you can to be aware of these negative sounds and try to avoid them as much as possible.

Take a step back from that friend who swears too much or talks about coworkers behind their backs. Turn down the music at work and avoid areas of town that are known for heavy street noise.

Surround yourself with positive sounds. Listening to the Quran and religious lessons throughout the day are a good start but be careful as even these typically beautiful and beneficial sounds can turn negative.

Anyone who has suffered through a crushingly-loud Quranic recitation or call to prayer can relate, and even the best of us can be turned away from God’s words when they are delivered through a nasty sound system or a lesson given by someone not properly trained.

Combine this hijrah with connecting to nature and listen to the birds or the calming sounds of the ocean. Sometimes, however, the most positive sounds you can hear are nothing, isolating yourself from the sensory overload of our daily lives to reflect in silence.

Hijrah of the Tongue

We’ve all let our tongues get away from us. Gossiping about a co-worker, spreading rumors about extended family members, or even just speaking your feelings when you should have kept your mouth shut. These are problems of the tongue and, as Muslims, we have a responsibility and duty to watch what we say to others as it affects both our well-being and that of others. Remember the Prophet’s words here:

He who believes in Allah and the Last Day must either speak good or remain silent.

Think before you say something the next time you feel you just have to say something and hold in those feelings to speak out no matter how honest it really is. This doesn’t mean that you should lie, but silence is often better than brutal honesty.

These days, the hijrah of the tongue could be extended to that of our fingers as well, as negative social media posts are just as dangerous as strong words.

On the other side of the equation, utilize the positive meaning of the Hadith and speak “good” to others. A good word can really go a long way and positive statements, even those that are sometimes hard to make, can change lives.

Hijrah of the Mind

By combining these “mini-hijrahs,” you will find that it is not just your eyes, ears, and tongue that benefit, but also your mind and heart. Your mind is at the core of all these systems, and training it to be in better submission to its Lord is the first and most important step to being a better Muslim.

Likewise, by being a better member of your community, you can fulfill the deeper meaning of the hijrah as explained by the Prophet Muhammad without taking one step outside your home.

- aboutislam.net

About Brian Wright

Brian Wright is an Assistant Professor of Islamic Studies at Zayed University, Abu Dhabi. He holds a PhD from the Institute of Islamic Studies at McGill University. His dissertation was on Islamic criminal law in Egypt, India, and Ottoman Turkey during the 19th century. He has studied fiqh with a number of traditional scholars in Egypt and India.