Is the Original Quran Preserved?

 

Editor’s note: The following text is a non-verbatim transcription of the video. Some editorial modification were made to make the text publishable as an article.

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There have been some criticisms and speculations regarding the compilation of the Quran within Western scholarship. Some scholars argue that the Quran actually began earlier than the Muslims say it began. Some others would say that the history of the Quran went another 200 years after the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).

Recent Scientific Studies

None of those arguments is grounded in recent studies of the available manuscripts. The discovery of new manuscripts helped us to confirm, scientifically, that the Muslims’ story about the compilation of the Quran is, for the most part, accurate.

As Carl Ernst has said, it is a better explanation of the data that we have available to us than any other theory that anyone has proposed

The most recent manuscript that was found and the earliest manuscript of the Quran ever to be found are the ones that were found in the old mosque in Sanaa in Yemen.

There was a lot of speculation when those manuscripts were first found. There was an article in the Atlantic Monthly about how this was going to tell us new things about the history of the Quran.

Well, nobody had studied them. At that point, this was just speculation. Now, they’ve been studied, not all of them, but at least one folio has undergone rigorous analysis.

That rigorous analysis has demonstrated through carbon dating that the manuscript does come at about the time when Muslims say the Quran was compiled.

Further Evidence

But then, there’s even an under script of the Quran that has shown more about the parchment. In the old days, if you wanted to write something new on a used parchment, you didn’t throw it out because it was so expensive; you would erase what was on there and then you would write something new.

Now the scribes used metal-based inks. So, through infrared photography, we can actually get an image of what that Arabic script was on that parchment. That infrared photography has shown us that the surahs as we know them were there and intact.

Furthermore, they even show that the slight variations that are in the text are once that Muslims have attested. There wasn’t anything that one could call a variant that Muslims have not attested was a variant of the Quran.

Now, if somebody were to make up a history of the text, you wouldn’t have made it up the way that Muslims have the history written down.

You would have said well, it was written at this time and then it was put down under the time of the Prophet Muhammad.

You wouldn’t say, well first after the Prophet died, they didn’t have it written down. Then under the Caliphate of Abu Bakr, it was written in one form. Few years later, around the year 650, it was put down in another compilation. This was the final compilation.

Nobody would make up that story.

So, it is really an act of distrust on the part of the Orientalists to try to find histories that are:

A. different than what the Muslims first accounted for, and

B. not compatible with what the main scripts actually tell us.

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Source: Professor Joseph Lumbard Channel

About Joseph Lumbard

Joseph E.B. Lumbard is currently a professor at The American University of Sharjah in the Department of Arabic and Translation Studies. He is also a translator, commentary author and general editor for the Study Quran.

Are Braces Haram?

 

The use of braces due to need, such as setting right a defect or straightening crooked and unaligned teeth, is permitted. However, using braces purely for beautification purposes is to be avoided.

Moreover, one should keep in mind that if an area of the body required to be washed in either a ritual bath (ghusl) or ritual ablution (wudu) is covered, and as a result, water fails to reach it, then one’s ghusl or wudu will be valid if it has been covered due to “reasonable need”. However, if water is prevented from reaching the area without a need, then one’s ghusl or wudu will not be valid. (Radd al-Muhtar, 1:104)

As such, even though water may not reach the covered portion of the teeth, one’s ghusl is valid with braces when using them out of need, and as mentioned, wanting to straighten crooked teeth is considered reasonable need.

 Almighty Allah knows best.

- aboutislam.net

About Muhammad Ibn Adam Al-Kawthari

Director and researcher at the Institute of Islamic Jurisprudence (Darul Iftaa, www.daruliftaa.com), Member of the Al-Qalam Shari`ah Scholars Panel, and advisor on Islamic Banking

Can I Be Modest If My Body Attracts Attention?

 

You have recently been struggling with modest clothing. You are exploring different ways of dressing modestly—wearing jilbabs, modest skirts, and even niqab—but you still feel that your body itself is immodest because your backside is larger and always seems noticeable. 

You know this is not the Islamic view of a woman’s body, yet you still feel that you attract attention, which you don’t want. You feel uncomfortable, as if your figure itself causes immodesty, and you are tired of fighting with your body every day.

Let me begin by saying that I truly understand your struggle. What I’m sharing here is a counseling perspective, not a scholarly one. However, we do know from authentic hadiths and basic Islamic rulings what is required for a woman’s public dress.

Guidelines of Modesty

For women, clothing should:

• Not be tight or reveal the shape of the body
  
• Not be transparent
  
• Not resemble men’s clothing
  
• Not be overly decorative or designed to attract attention
  
• Cover everything except the face, hands, and feet
  

Also, keep in mind that there are cultural differences in modesty. Even within the clear Islamic boundaries, expressions of modest dress can vary by region and culture.

Since you live in the West, it’s natural that your choices may be influenced by your surroundings, and that’s okay. Islam does not require us to dress in ways that are culturally inappropriate, as long as we stay within the guidelines.

So, these are the basic guidelines. Beyond that, women have a great deal of freedom in how they dress. When you combine this with sincere intention—seeking Allah’s pleasure and maintaining modesty—you have fulfilled your responsibility.

What You Won’t Control

Once you’ve followed these guidelines, what others notice, how they react, or whether they find it attractive is not your concern. You cannot control how others perceive you, nor are you responsible for their gaze or their thoughts. That is their test, not yours.

Now, remember that Allah created you exactly as you are—with your shape, your body, and your features. If your figure or curves were in any way a hindrance to fulfilling your religious duties, that would be unjust—and Allah is never unjust. 

It’s understandable that social media, cultural pressures, or people’s comments might make you more self-conscious about your body. But this is not the expectation of Allah (subḥānahu wa taʿālā). This comes from society, not from our religion. 

Accept Yourself

Try to accept yourself as you are, knowing that Allah created you for a reason, with beauty and dignity. Feeling ashamed of your natural form is, in a way, questioning His wisdom, and we know that He is All-Wise.

Instead of seeing your body as something you must “fight,” try to view it as part of the trust (amānah) Allah has given you. Your body serves you in your worship, your work, your relationships — it’s not an enemy to suppress, but a companion to care for. Change the energy from frustration to gratitude, for ex. by reminding yourself: “This body helps me make sujood to Allah.”

So, focus on your character, your conduct, and your sincerity. The rest—how people see you or what they say—is their responsibility. Those who judge your modesty are being tested themselves.

Being comfortable with yourself means accepting how Allah created you. Yes, people may notice your shape or make comments, but that is their issue, not yours. 

May Allah make grant you peace and confidence in who you are.

- aboutilam.net

About O. Ilham

Orsolya Ilham has a BA in Communication and Manager in Public Relations, MA, BSC in Psychology. She studied Islamic sciences and obtained certificates in Islamic counseling, Islamic marriage counseling, and in the jurisprudence (fiqh) of counseling and psychology. Previously she worked in a client-centered atmosphere; currently, as a translator, counselor, and content creator related to Islam, counseling, and psychology. https://orsolyailham.com/

A Roadmap to Paradise: Where to Start?

 

Purifying our hearts and fighting against the desires of the nafs (self) has been described by scholars as akin to climbing a mountain.

Recently, on a trip to the mountains, I understood just how true this was.

I remember looking ahead as our car drove up the narrow highway; the mountains loomed large in front of us. Signs warned of steep inclines and increases in elevation. We looked ahead as the highway disappeared around the bend. In the distance we could see a bridge high above us showing where the road would eventually lead.

We began driving along the road back and forth along the sides of the mountain. Looking out the window, I noticed how few trees there were. The ground was covered with jagged rocks and small shrubs with leathery leaves.

For a moment I imagined centuries before me, the hundreds of people who had probably climbed these mountains. The climb would have taken days and would have been very strenuous in the direct heat of the sun, with little in the way of shelter.

What must they have been feeling as they journeyed?

How would they have stayed motivated to carry on?

Mountains and Hearts

After a while, I noticed the road began to flatten. We were nearing our destination. From the top, the view of the valley below reminded me of just how high we had come.

I looked around and noticed something amazing. Here, at the top of the mountain, we were suddenly in the middle of a beautiful forest. Again I imagined what it would have felt like to undertake this journey on foot. How happy would the climbers have been to finally reach the top, and to be able to sit in the shade of such a beautiful forest!

Like climbing a mountain, the journey to purify our hearts is not easy. Sometimes we may feel weak as we try to scale the tests and trials that we face in our lives. Sometimes we may get discouraged. But Allah has not left us in the dark. He has given us the perfect guidance for our journey, a roadmap, so to speak, to help us along the way. If followed correctly, this roadmap leads us to the most beautiful of destinations. One well worth the effort of the climb.

This article lays out that roadmap, as it is described in the Quran, the Hadith and by scholars that we can use on the journey our hearts take to Allah.

The Journey Begins

The journey begins with our intention. Allah tells us:

And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me. (51:56)

Realizing that everything we do in our lives is a part of our worship of Allah helps us maintain focus. It helps us put one foot in front of the other as we continue upwards in our climb.

When our hearts are oriented towards Allah and doing what pleases Him, then whatever hardships we face, whatever effort we must exert, is done as a part of that worship. And remembering to renew our intention in everything we do helps turn otherwise mundane acts—like sleeping, eating, studying, and working—into acts for which we will earn Allah’s pleasure and reward.

Fulfilling our worship of Allah requires that we strive, not only with our physical limbs, but with our hearts. We must cleanse our hearts and purify them so that they are sound and healthy.

As mentioned in a previous article, ensuring that our hearts are sound and healthy is of paramount importance, for Allah tells us that only those who arrive on the Day of Judgment with such hearts will be successful.

The heart was created to know Allah, to love Him, and to carry out the best and most perfect worship of Him. However, if left to the influence of the nafs, the heart will never be able to fulfill the purpose for which it was created. Its journey to Allah will be stunted, and it may harden and even die.

Navigating Our Nafs

Consequently, the next step in the journey toward Allah after having the correct intention is realizing that our hearts can only be sound and healthy if we discipline our nafs, when we learn about it and learn how to navigate it.

An undisciplined nafs can wreak havoc upon the state of the heart. It will surely cause it to lose its way because it gravitates towards base, worldly desires: the desire for wealth, food, and entertainment; the desire to be seen, heard and praised by others; the desire for leadership and power, even if through corrupt means.

Allah swears by the very nafs which He created and tells us that whoever purifies and trains it will be successful. Conversely, whoever leaves his or her nafs to do whatever it wants will be ruined.

And although, as we will cover insha’Allah (God-willing) in future articles, there may be different types of nafs, in general, the undisciplined nafs will always pull a person towards evil.

And so our roadmap on the journey towards Allah must outline the process by which we navigate our nufoos.

Knowledge, Repentance and Perseverance

Drawing on the work of scholars before him, contemporary scholar Sheikh Mokhtar Maghraoui, identifies the first and most key element of navigating or disciplining the nafs is equipping oneself with the right kind of knowledge. He states the believer must have, “a regular diet of knowledge.”

Regular, that is, meaning it is consistent, not just once-in-a-while, or occasional. “Diet” here referring to that kind of knowledge that is healthy for the heart, just like a good diet of food is healthy for the body. The right diet of knowledge would allow the heart to know and worship Allah better.

As we grow in knowledge about our hearts and about how to navigate our nufoos, we appreciate the difficulty of the task at hand. That is, we realize that achieving a sound heart is not easy and that we cannot do it alone. We are reminded of our absolute need for Allah’s help and guidance. Thus, the natural consequence of gaining this type of knowledge is that we turn to Allah.

We repent.

We repent, not only for our sins but for previous states of unawareness. And we call upon Allah, admit our reliance upon Him and ask for His aide as we continue our struggle.

Allah is Al-Hakeem, the Most-Wise; as such, He answers our call for help in the way that is most perfect for us. And as wonderful as it might be to just wake up one day with a pure, sound and healthy heart, the change in our hearts will not necessarily be like the flip of a switch or the push of a button.

Allah tells us that a pure heart requires perseverance. We must be patient as we struggle to have sincerity in our actions, to fight against the desires of the nafs, and to purify our hearts so they are sound and healthy.

Learning From Life’s Tests

Allah also tells us that as we grow in our faith and get closer to Him, we will be tested.  And indeed Allah tries the believer with both hardship and ease.

Life’s tests are not meant to discourage us. They are just as their name suggests they are, tests. They are meant to help teach us lessons so that we may achieve our ultimate success.

And as a dear friend once shared with me: “The test will keep repeating itself until we get the right answer”. Thus we must try with each test to extract lessons that will help us in our journey toward Allah.

Allah’s Promise for Those Who Strive in His Way

As with any map, our roadmap will only help us if we choose to follow it. We must choose to start with the right intention and ask Allah for help along the journey. We should be prepared to guide and discipline our nufoos with beneficial knowledge, repentance and perseverance. And we must also be patient in the face of life’s ups and downs and realize that there is in everything we experience a lesson for us.

Although the journey sometimes seems long when we look up at the mountain in front of us, if we patiently continue our climb and strive in the way of Allah, we can rest assured that Allah will be with us.

- aboutislam.net

About Marwa Abdalla

Marwa Abdalla received her B.A. in political science from Southwestern University, in Georgetown, Texas, and is currently working toward a degree in Islamic Studies with the American Open University. She is interested in writing about Islam, marriage and family. Her writing has been published in a book entitled Toward the Well Being of Humanity as well as on numerous websites. She lives with her husband and three daughters in San Diego, CA.

What No One Told You about Spiritual Abuse in Islam

 

Abuse in relationships is not only black eyes, bruises, and broken bones. With the exception of traumatic brain injury in Muslim victims, it’s often the abuse hidden from plain view – like financial, verbal, and spiritual abuse – that does the most damage to victims long-term.

However, it’s the spiritual abuse we experience in a relationship that can leave us doubting ourselves, our goals, and even our belief systems – changing us for the worse and leaving lingering invisible scars over time.

What is spiritual abuse?

In a spiritually abusive relationship, the abuser uses so-called religions principles to exert power and control over their victim.

In Muslim relationships, this was concisely explained by the late Dr. Sharifa Alkhateeb in her powerful Muslim Wheel of Domestic Violence. Dr. Alkhateeb is no longer with us, but her research and contributions towards illuminating these abusive dynamics live on.

The spiritual abuse wheel is an Islamic adaptation of the very similar Power and Control Wheel developed by the Domestic Abuse Project of Duluth, Minnesota. It shows some of the ways that religion is often distorted by abusers to justify and support the abuse of both women and children. It’s also a useful tool for understanding what spiritual abuse looks like in Muslim relationships.

Know the signs

Spiritual abuse entails exerting power and control over a victim using religion as an excuse or explanation to abuse. It can be exhibited in many ways:

Using isolation

Isolation is typical emotional abuse technique used on Muslim victims, and all victims, of domestic abuse. It works well because it prevents victims from reaching out to others to get the help and support them need to end or escape their abusive relationships.

In the case of Islamic spiritual abuse, a husband may use his status as the “qawwam” (protector and maintainer) of his family unit to argue that he has a right, given by Allah, to dictate what his wife does with her time. This may include where she goes, who she interacts with, and even what she reads or thinks.

In spiritually abusive relationships, the woman may have to ask permission any time she wants to leave the house – even if it is to go grocery shopping, attend a doctor’s appointment, or visit her own family.

It’s also possible that even if a woman’s marriage contract explicitly states that she is to have full autonomy and freedom of movement; a spiritually abusive husband will ignore the stipulation.

Minimizing and denying abuse

Abusers will do everything in their power to pretend that the abuse just isn’t happening. They also work to convince the victims that they’re making a big deal out of nothing.

This trivializing, denying, and minimizing of abusive behavior can also include bringing children onboard to lie about the abuse, or denying the abuse by calling it by another name, like “discipline,” when it’s still just abuse of adults and children in the home.

Blaming abuse on the victim

In a spiritually abusive relationship, the abuser may blame the victim. He may claim that the victim “caused” the abuse or invited it by her behavior. This can leave the victim to doubt her actions and intentions in their relationship.

Over time, a victim can start to believe that the abuse is her fault entirely. She may try desperately to change herself to fit what their abuser wants her to say, do, think, or feel – losing herself in the process.

Deliberate misinterpretation of Islamic teachings

In a spiritually abusive relationship, the victim may be told that to speak up about the abuse is a breach of a victim’s Islamic responsibility to respect her husband’s privacy.

According to her abuser, or those supporting him, if she tells anyone about the abuse she’ll be condemned by God for her insolence. This is a wholly incorrect understanding of the concept of “covering one another’s sins” in Islam.

Unfortunately, using religion to justify ongoing domestic abuse is spiritual abuse – and it should be labeled as such.

Speaking up about oppression and abuse is not only allowed, but encouraged in Islam.

Allah has mentioned, in chapter Surat l-nisaa (The Women) that He does not like the public mention of an evil “[…] except by those that have been wronged […]” [Quran 4:148].

Allah makes it clear that He likes the public mention of evil by those who are being oppressed and abused. This makes having a voice perfectly allowed Islamically – despite how strongly those in power would prefer to keep their abuses in the dark.

Speaking out about oppression and abuse is absolutely necessary to keep our communities safe, sane, and on the straight path.

It’s crucially important for victims of abuse to reach out and share about what they are experiencing, or have experienced in the past, to call attention to domestic violence in Muslim communities. By sharing their experiences, victims can help each other learn and heal. They also can get the assistance and support they need to move forward.

Using children

Sometimes abusers will use threats and intimidation surrounding any children in the relationship to further their abuse. They may threaten to kidnap the children or send the children overseas to an Islamic country.

Abusers may threaten to marry the child off young or against their will. They may even threaten to use the Islamic legal system to gain custody of the children.

Using the children as a pawn in abusive mind games is a powerful tactic that keeps many victims in abusive relationships much longer than they would like.

Religious authority figures as part of threats and intimidation

In some cases, abusers will use local imams and other religious figures to further the abuse. “Experts” may be brought in to intimidate the victim into submission and encourage her to stay in the relationship.

There are dozens of other ways that spiritual abuse occurs in relationships. If you want to learn more, I encourage you to read the Muslim Wheel of Domestic Violence by Dr. Sharifa Alkhateeb for more examples.

How spiritual abuse affects our relationships

Spiritual abuse can leave victims feeling alone, isolated, and confused about not only their self-worth, but their close companions and even their relationship with their creator.

With Allah and Islam

When spiritual abuse is used as a control tactic in a domestic relationship it comes in the form of twisted and incorrect understandings of religion to achieve an abusers goals and aims.

When abuse goes further, and involves other members of the community who condone or amplify the abuse, this can cause a victim to question not only their relationship, but their faith as well.

In my talks with abuse survivors, especially converts to Islam who are either in, or have recently left abusive relationships, I’ve learned that many are very frustrated and confused by their choice to convert to Islam because of these abusive experiences.

It can be incredibly hard to understand the abusive behaviors of some, process the abuse, and heal oneself, when one also feels the whole community was (or is) condoning and supporting the ongoing abuse.

If spiritual abuse was part of the relationship dynamic, there is usually a long process of relearning religious principles and reconnecting to faith that must occur before a survivor can overcome the negative perceptions and understandings they’ve associated with Islam.

Other interpersonal relationships

Ongoing spiritual abuse may affect other relationships as well, including those with family, friends, co-workers, and our greater community.

When victims are manipulated by their abuser using spiritually abusive techniques, they may erroneously believe that they need to cut ties with family and friends. Some victims may also no longer feel comfortable interacting with others at school, work, and in the community due in part to the shame, embarrassment, and self-loathing they’ve been taught to experience.

This pulling away from friends, allies, and the local community can lead to breakdowns in a victim’s support system.

It can also prevent these helpers from understanding what’s really going on in the relationship. Victims end up slowly hiding their abuse – retreating into isolation inside their homes and apart from the greater Muslim community.

How to help victims

It’s crucially important that Muslims recognize when spiritual abuse is occurring in their own relationships and in the relationships of those around them.

While it may be harder to spot than physical, verbal, or financial abuse, it usually goes hand in hand with the other types of controlling behavior.

Make yourself available to victims by routinely speaking up about abuse and letting people in your circle know that you are available to listen – you may be surprised who will step forward or reach out.

Read domestic abuse survival stories and learn what it was like for those who have lives through abusive relationships. I also encourage readers to inform themselves on the techniques that abusers use so that we can better identify abusive behavior and help members of our communities in need of support.

The best way to help abuse victims is to understand what they are going through, and then give them the support they need on their terms in order to make changes in their lives and relationships. There is no quick fix for spiritual abuse in Muslim relationships, but education is the best defense.

- aboutislam.net

About Janet Kozak

Janet Kozak is a content strategist who helps businesses grow their brand with creative copywriting and content marketing. When she’s not writing and designing, you can find her indulging in masala fries or elbow deep in scraps of paper creating her one-of-a-kind art collages. Meet Janet and get ready to grow your business at http://janetkozak.com/

Punishment for Having Sex during Periods

 

Sex during Menses

During her menses you may have all forms of sex with your wife except intercourse, for Almighty Allah says:

{They ask you concerning women’s courses. Say: it is harm: So keep away from women in their courses, and do not approach them until they are clean. But when they have purified themselves, you may approach them in any manner, time, or place ordained for you by Allah. For, Allah loves those who turn to Him constantly and He loves those who keep themselves pure and clean.} (Al-Baqarah 2:222)

The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) explained what is meant by ‘keeping away from women’, by saying, “Do everything except for intercourse.” (Muslim)

Why can’t you have sex with your wife during menses?

This is allowed because both the woman and the man still need to be emotionally nurtured during those days.

Islam provides the path of moderation regarding this issue, by protecting the well-being of both parties. Intercourse at this time would be unhealthy. At the same time, Islam recognized their need of the husband and wife to continue their affectionate relationship. It also emphasizes that the woman is not spiritually unclean.

Punishment for having sex during periods in Islam

Having intercourse with a menstruating woman is an enormity. However, if you do this, you must repent, and the doors of repentance are always open. The need to expiate is a controversial matter, but I believe it is mandatory to give the value of a dinar or half a dinar of gold in charity. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said concerning one who had intercourse with his wife when she was menstruating: “Let him give a dinar or half a dinar in charity.” (Abu Dawud)

Allah Almighty knows best.

- aboutislam.net

About Dr. Hatem Al-Haj

Dean of the College of Islamic Studies at Mishkah University and a member of the Permanent Fatwa Committee for the Assembly of Muslim Jurists in America (AMJA)

Stay Afloat in the Ocean of Life

 If you think about the two emotions in this life which torture people most; fear and sadness, depression and anxiety, some form of it. Allah again and again in the Qur’an explains that there’s none of those two emotions in Jannah, those two specifically; fear and sadness.

A third aspect of dunya (this worldly life) – to understand dunya in order to master it – is to know that this life is a test. You cannot succeed if you don’t know it’s a test.

Your professor might give you a piece of paper, and if you think that you are just supposed to doodle on there, that’s one thing, right? But if he tells you this is your test, in fact this is your final exam, you are going to perform a lot differently than if it is just a scrap piece of paper.

Life is a Test

If people go through this life and think it’s just a scrap piece of paper, they don’t do very well. They think that everything has no purpose, nobody is watching them, you just do whatever you want; you just doodle on that paper. So then they don’t perform very well.

But if you know that this life is a test, you will handle that final exam and your professor is going to grade it, you are going to do a lot differently. You are going to act a lot differently. You are going to do a little better.

So if Allah has told us that {He (Who) created death and life that He may try you – which of you is best in deeds.} (Al-Mulk 67: 2), then we will have to act differently.

So if you thought there was any other reason why He created life and death; there’s not! This is the reason, this is the reason why we are on this earth, the reason God created life and death is to test us which of us are best in deeds. So if we know that, we are going to respond much differently, as we know we are being watched. You know you are being judged.

You are in a competition really. Allah says: {And vie one with another for forgiveness from your Lord, and for a paradise as wide as are the heavens and the earth, prepared for those who ward off (evil)} (Al-Imran 3: 133)

So here, Allah asks us to compete, to race so we are in a competition. And there is a Judge, and that Judge is always watching. Allah is always watching. judging how we respond, how we react to everything coming our way as everything is a test. Everything that happens is a test and everything that doesn’t happen is a test. The whole thing is a test.

Lastly and the fourth thing for understanding dunya is knowing how to succeed in this life; how to stay afloat in the ocean of dunya.

Now if you think about dunya as an ocean, if you go to that ocean with a boat, what happens if the boat lets the water in? You start to sink, right?

Now if you think about this life as an ocean, and think about the boat as your heart: as long as that boat stays on top of the water, on top of the ocean (the dunya) and doesn’t let the water in, it’s fine. It stays floating and it is ok. But as soon as that boat allows water into it, that’s when it sinks.

And this is the same way with dunya; as soon as we let dunya into our hearts and we start to become attached to it, we start to love it. When dunya no longer is a means, and instead you make it your end, you will sink.

It is just like a person who says ‘the ocean is my end’. What’s going to happen to you then when asked ‘where are you going?’ and you say: ‘the ocean. That’s where I’m going. That’s my goal.’?

If that’s your end you’re going to sink.

But if you use the ocean as a means you are just passing through: ‘I’m just passing through the ocean in order that I get to the next continent, we will manage to get to the next place.’ This is how dunya is.

Live Up to It

Number four in our recipe or plan for success in this life and the next is to plan for tomorrow.

So, as students, you guys think a lot about your future. It’s natural. You think about what I’m going to do next year, what I’m going to do after I graduate, what I’m going to do with my career. These are all things that you think about. Allah tells us in the Qur’an:  

{O you who believe! Fear Allah, and let every soul look to what (provision) He has sent forth for tomorrow. Yea, fear Allah: for Allah is well-acquainted with (all) that you do.} (Al-Hashr 59: 18)

Here Allah begins the ayah by telling us to have fear of Him. So, Allah here is addressing those who believe. Allah addresses different people in the Qur’an and in this case, He addresses the believers: have taqwa (fear) of Allah. This was the first advice. The second advice is: let every human being, every soul, know what it has set forth for Tomorrow.

Tomorrow here is capital T. We spend so much time planning for tomorrow as Tuesday, Wednesday, next year, after I graduate etc. But Allah here is telling us and reminding us plan for the other tomorrow; the tomorrow after this life, and see what you’re putting forth.

As in the example of the furniture we talked about: when you know you are going to this house, you know you are going to this house and nobody can deny this, so furnish it. You know you are going to live there. So send provision so that when you get there you are not starving.

Then you’ll want to furnish that place, stock up the fridge because you know you will go there. You know it’s a certainty. Nobody can deny it. We all are going to die. We all are going to go there. So set it up so that when you get there you have something to live with

So here Allah is saying, out of His mercy, reminding us to look at what we have put forth for tomorrow. And again in the end of the ayah Allah is advising us to have taqwa of Him. This is how Allah begins the ayah (with taqwa), ends it (with taqwa) and in the middle He talks about what we are putting forth for tomorrow.

Keep It Up

The fifth thing in this recipe is to remember Allah. Here is what happens with human beings: we come to a lecture, we go to a khutbah (sermon), we go to a retreat and feel that spiritual height – an Iman rush – as we hope. But what happens a week later, two weeks later or a month later?

We back down.

This is the nature of human beings; our Iman goes up and down.

And here is the problem. If you come and tell me that you want to get in shape, you want to have a healthy body, a nice-looking body. Then would I come and advice you just go workout for a good three hours and then you’ll look good for the year? Are you going to get in shape that way? If you workout once a month even or once every two or six months is this going to do anything for you?

It will not do anything for your body.

Similarly, if you remember Allah once in a while, once a month, once a week or whatever, it’s not consistent, it’s not going to do anything for your heart. The same rule that applies to the physical body also applies to the spiritual self.

Another example is this: if I were to ask you: ‘did you eat today?’ Nobody will come and tell me ‘no, I didn’t eat today because I ate last week. I’m good’. We don’t say this because we know our body needs food on a regular basis. Are you guys feeling what I’m saying here? If our body isn’t fed regularly, it dies. If the heart isn’t fed regularly, it dies. And what is the food for the heart? It is the remembrance of Allah. So it needs to be consistent in the same way that you consistently have to feed your body.

To take the remembrance away from the self is like taking a fish out of water. That fish will suffocate and then die. The heart will suffocate and die without the remembrance of Allah.

And what I really want to emphasize is it has to be consistent. It cannot be one lecture and then you don’t remember Allah for another three or four weeks until going to another lecture. It doesn’t work like that. You don’t eat once and don’t eat for two weeks, and still expect you are going to be ok.

So you have to find a way to make it consistent. This is the reason why we pray five times a day. We don’t pray once a day. We don’t pray once a week on Friday. We pray five times a day because Allah knows that this is our food. We need to remember Him regularly, and if we are not praying five times a day, on time, know for sure that our heart is dying or is dead.  It’s for sure just the same way I can tell you for sure if you only eat once a week you’re dead. I can say that without any hesitation.

Similarly if we are not praying and praying on time, our heart is dead or is dying. It’s our food.

- aboutislam.net

About Yasmin Mogahed

Yasmin Mogahed received her B.S. Degree in Psychology and her Masters in Journalism and Mass Communications from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. After completing her graduate work, she taught Islamic Studies and served as a youth coordinator. She also worked as a writing instructor at Cardinal Stritch University and a staff columnist for the Islam section of InFocus News. Currently she’s an instructor for  AlMaghrib Institute, a writer for the Huffington Post, an international speaker, and author, where she focuses most of her work on spiritual and personal development. Yasmin recently released her new book, Reclaim Your Heart, which is now available worldwide. Visit her website, yasminmogahed.com , where you can find a collection of her articles, poetry, and lectures. 

Sarah – Wife of Prophet Ibrahim (AS)

 This is a beautiful story about the wife of Prophet Ibrahim (AS), Sarah. What happens when she is made to have dinner with the Egyptian king! Check this out!

- aboutislam.net

People Are Put in Our Lives For a Purpose

 

Have you ever had someone enter your life in one form or another that served a purpose that you may not have known until later on in life?

When contemplating life events you go through, you will discover that people served purposes that you didn’t realize at that time.

Sometimes the person was placed there to be a friend in a time of trouble, or a teacher when you needed guidance, or even an enemy to teach you a lesson.

We never really know do we, until later on, right?

Allah places people in our lives at specific times to suit a specific reason, and removes them from our lives at specific times. The lesson to take from this is that we should always be grateful for everyone that crosses our path, because we never know what we will gain, learn, or benefit from that person… even the bad ones.

Say “alhamdulilah” because each person was sent for a purpose.

We just have to learn to understand the roles they played in our lives at those times to grow intellectually, emotionally, socially, and even spiritually. I’m sure if you contemplate about people you have encountered in the past and present, you may awaken your mind and spirit to their purpose and make use of it!

Let’s look at some examples I’ve experienced, and experiences of some other people, and maybe you can relate to some of them.

A Hindu Room-mate

At one point in my life, I needed a place to stay, and a friend that was a Hindu from India, offered to let me stay with them until I was able to get my own place.

During my stay with them, I was always asking questions about things that they did in regards to their faith, and one day they asked me what I believed in.

I explained that I didn’t have a religion, but explained my beliefs, and that person told me that I was a Muslim. Subhanallah. I had never heard of Islam, or Muslims before having this room-mate.

This conversation led me to meet some Muslims and eventually learn more about Islam, and take my shahadah….so, alhamdulilah for this person entering my life!

It truly shows me that you can never know who or how a person can be led to Islam.

A Generous Customer

Through experiences I had working as a waitress during university, I was able to teach my colleagues that honesty is the best policy when dealing with people to gain their trust and respect.  It not only taught them, but reassured myself of this life lesson as well.

On occasions there were opportunities that would arise where staff could “cheat” a customer to make more money. It was a common misconception that “cheating” customers equaled making more money.

Well, once there was a business owner that had brought all his employees to our establishment, and I was their waitress. This customer was known for not paying attention and could easily be scammed by my colleagues and they were jealous that they didn’t get to serve him that day. I refused to deceive him like they always did, and that particular day, it just happened that he dropped $200 from his wallet and didn’t know it.

I picked it up and returned it to him and he was astonished that I was honest about it. He then turned around and told me to keep it… all of it! I refused it, but he insisted and stated that he had never met anyone that honest in his life. From that day forward, he always requested me to be his waitress and always gave me a $100 tip, even if his bill was only $10.00!!!

Honesty paid off, and my colleagues learned that honesty pays off in the long run, but deception only benefits you at that moment, and gains the punishment of Allah, because they never had the opportunity again to cheat this man.

A Complete Stranger

I had lost my job, couldn’t pay my rent, and was trying to figure out how to go to Egypt to get married to my fiancé who I was planning to marry for almost a year.

I was struggling to make ends meet, and wasn’t able to save anything, and then lost my job. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do, because I was about to become homeless.

One day, a man from another State whom I had never met contacted me and told me that “someone” told him that I was facing hard times and needed some help. This person offered to help me in whatever way I needed, not knowing anything about me.

In our first conversation he offered to pay for my ticket to Egypt and to cover the costs of my luggage fees. I was in total shock that a complete stranger was offering this to me! He was a man of his word, and sent me the funds and so I booked my ticket and left! Without his help, I’m not sure I would be married and have my son.

Allah really blessed me with this person’s kindness. I feel Allah sent me this man, to give me an opportunity that would have otherwise been impossible. Alhamdulilah! I will forever be grateful to Allah and this man for such a blessing!

Three Truck Drivers

Lynne was hitch-hiking and got a ride with a truck driver.

When they stopped the truck for a pit stop, he sent her to get them some coffee. When she returned the driver had ran off and left her, stealing everything she owned that was in her bags.  All she had left were the clothes on her back.

With no money, or phone, etc. she began to panic and she sat down and cried. As the day went on, another truck driver stopped and he was carrying chickens. The chickens were escaping from the truck and he saw she was down on her luck and told her that she could earn some money by helping him catch them. Desperate with no other options, she helped out.

Later a third driver stopped and offered her a lift. She took his offer and while traveling over a few days, she became really sick, and the man cared for her. By the time she reached Chicago, she felt like she wanted to just die and her misery be over with. The driver asked her for her clothes, so she gave them to him so that he could wash them. He returned with a bag full of new clothes that he bought her. He gave her the clothes and some cash. She told him that she couldn’t repay him, and he just told her to “pay it forward” when she was able to, by helping another needy person later on as repayment.

In her words, she explained that she believes that the first driver was put in her life to teach her not to trust people blindly, and the second was a sign to her that her prayers would be answered, and the third gave her a sense of hope in mankind, and that there were still good people out there and to never lose hope.

A Spouse

Katherine had married a Muslim man while she was a Christian.

A few months after marriage, she met his family, and they were talking to her about Islam. It triggered her to learn more about it, because her husband never talked to her about religion.

After contemplating Islam, she later converted, and intensely studied over the next 6 months.  The more she learned and implemented Islam in her life, her husband became more and more distant, and even started having arguments. She began to realize that her husband was not a practicing Muslim, although she considered him a good man, but he was not even upholding the basic 5 pillars of Islam.

She looked to him for support in her learning but was faced with opposition instead. He was encouraging her to not implement Islam into her life to remain at his level which he was comfortable with. She refused and eventually they ended in a divorce because as she learned about her rights as a wife, she realized that her husband was not giving her rights to her.

When Katherine looked to remarry, she was armed with the knowledge of marriage in Islam, and her rights, and knew what kind of man to look for that would help her grow in her Islam.

Looking back she realizes that maybe her first husband was put in her life to have Islam introduced to her to expose what Islam really was, and wasn’t, and what a good Muslim husband was and wasn’t. It made her strong, and knowledgeable knowing what to look for in a new spouse.

She remarried, and has been happily married to a practicing Muslim for over 10 years now.  Alhamdulilah for the first husband, because even though he wasn’t meant for her, if it were not for him, she wouldn’t have learned about Islam, and resulted in her finding her soul mate! 

What about Those You Don’t Know the Purpose?

Did you ever consider that you have been sent to someone else for a purpose, and not them being placed in your life for your benefit?

It happens.

Maybe you benefited a person by teaching them something, or introducing them to someone that did, or even to be a test or trial for them! Allah has ways of putting people in our lives, and putting us in the lives of others because He is the master of planners.

Even when He removes a person from our live, we must say “alhamdulilah” because there is most definitely a reason for it that we can’t comprehend at that moment. We will never really know for sure what roles people play in our lives, but Allah knows. Nothing on this Earth happens without His will.

{Say: “Nothing will happen to us except what Allah has decreed for us: He is our protector”: and on Allah let the Believers put their trust.} (9:51)

-aboutislam.net

About Shannon Abulnasr

Shannon Abulnasr: An American convert sister who accepted Islam in 2006, and since has dedicated her efforts as an advocate supporting new Muslims after their shahadah. You can read her reversion story here and visit her website created for new Muslims and non-Muslims.