The Conscience of the Faithful

From the day we are born, a voice that always perpetually whispers evil accompanies us. This whisper belongs to our lower self. Next to this voice, however, there exists an infallible voice that forbids evil and guides us to the right path. This voice is called “conscience”. Almighty Allah introduces to us these two aspects of the self as follows:

{By the soul and the One Who proportioned it and inspired it [with conscience of] what is wrong for it and (what is) right for it. Truly he succeeds who purifies it; and he fails who corrupts it!} (Ash-Shams 91:7–10)

True believers unceasingly give ear to this voice. They have a quite different understanding of conscience from that prevalent in society. Helping the needy and old people or making contributions to aid organizations is generally regarded as a sign of a good conscience.As stated in the above verse, Almighty Allah also inspires human beings to avoid the evil of their own selves. This inspiration is provided through the conscience. Therefore, conscience can be deemed, in a sense, the voice of Almighty Allah that summons believers to what is good and right. For this reason, the conscience is a key to true faith.

Apart from such few examples, however, conscience is excluded from almost all other fields of life. People generally do not feel the need to employ their conscience, and they lead their lives in compliance with their own lower selves.

Those who heed their conscience as commanded in the Noble Qur’an are only those who are truly faithful. Throughout their lives, they listen to their conscience on every issue. Drawing near to Allah and earning His approval being their sole goal in life, they unceasingly bow to their conscience, whatever the conditions or circumstances may be.

Neither exhaustion, nor sleeplessness, or the rush of daily life distracts them from following this voice. Their busiest moments or hard times are no exception. Indeed, a single warning from their conscience suffices to make them immediately see the good and turn to it.

Conscience in Practice

The following example will help clarify this issue:

This believer feels no hesitation in setting aside all his personal needs and rushes to his assistance. If he is physically too weak to help by himself, he will find someone else to assist on his behalf.Think of a believer who has just returned from a long, tiresome journey. Having had only a few hours sleep, he is exhausted and hungry. Just at the time he is about to rest to regain his strength, he meets a person in a desperate situation, asking for help.

Moreover, in return for all this help, he avoids any such attitude as would arouse feelings of indebtedness in the other person. He does not stoop to the low level of mentioning that person’s needs or the favors he has done for him. That is because he has performed all these services just to earn Allah’s Approval. He does not expect anything in return. The attitude of such people is stated in the Qur’an as follows:

{We feed you for the sake of Allah alone; no reward do we desire from you, nor thanks. We only fear a Day of distressful Wrath from the side of our Lord.} (Al-Insan 76:9–10)

No matter how dire the circumstances may be, a true believer does not swerve from following his conscience and never does a good deed in expectation of a reward from others. The belief that Almighty Allah is aware of that deed is sufficient for him.

At such times, let alone helping someone, he may even become rude to the people trying to help him. And if he agrees to help someone in need — which is often an exceptional situation — he definitely grumbles about it, reproaches the person, and does much to make him feel obliged.In the case of one who lacks the morality conferred by faith, every inconvenience becomes a legitimate excuse for him to ignore the right option to which his conscience guides him. Physical needs such as sleeplessness, exhaustion, or hunger may well change his attitude, turning him into an intolerant, nervous, and bad-tempered person.

As is evident, there is a wide gulf between true believers, who possess good morality and refined attitudes, and those bereft of such noble character traits. This distinction is obvious at every moment of their lives, and it will also make a considerable difference in the rewards they will receive in the hereafter. -onislam.net

Even a Smile is Charity: A Life Example

I recall that a catalyst for my interest in Islam 11-years ago happened to be the manners of a Somali taxi driver who was always smiling.

How many times have you passed someone walking through a mall, in a hallway at school, on the bus, a train, or in the office where you work, and noticed that no one was smiling?

It is particularly interesting that this is oftentimes also the case amongst Muslims, which is a contributing factor to the misconception that to be Muslim means being serious all the time; never laughing or having fun.

Ironically, this is quite contrary to the Sunnah (the Prophet’s tradition), as Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), was well-known for his congenial nature and smile.

One such hadith, narrated by Jarir ibn Abdullah Al-Bajali states:

“The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) never refused to see me from the time I became Muslim, and whenever he saw me he would smile at me…” (Ibn Majah, 159)

Smiling as CharityIn fact, when I ran a search on the phrase “Prophet smiled” through ahadith search engine online, there were 3,177 results!

Among the five pillars of Islam, Muslims are also commanded to be charitable.

It is reported that the second Caliph, Umar ibn Al-Khattab said:

“I heard the Messenger of Allah say, ‘Islam has been built upon five things – on testifying that there is no god save Allah, and that Muhammad is His Messenger; on performing salah (prayer); on giving the zakah (charity); on Hajj(pilgrimage to Makkah); and on fasting during Ramadan.’” (Al-Bukhari & Muslim)

In addition to the mandatory charity of zakah, Muslims are also enjoined toward voluntary charity (sadaqah), and incidentally, a smile is counted as an act of voluntary charity.

Abu Dharr reported that the Prophet Muhammad said,

“Charity is prescribed for each descendant of Adam every day the sun rises.”

He was then asked:

“From what do we give charity every day?”

The Prophet answered:

“The doors of goodness are many…enjoining good, forbidding evil, removing harm from the road, listening to the deaf, leading the blind, guiding one to the object of his need, hurrying with the strength of one’s legs to one in sorrow who is asking for help, and supporting the feeble with the strength of one’s arms -all of these are charity prescribed for you.”

He also said:

“Your smile for your brother is charity.” (At-Tirmidhi, 1879)

Imagine that one of the greatest achievements you could make in this life were to be realized simply through a smile

Oftentimes we think of charity as being monetary in nature. The simplicity of Islam teaches us otherwise, isn’t that great?

Smiling as Dawah

Muslims are also commanded to perform dawah(calling others to Islam). I recall very well that a catalyst for my interest in Islam 11-years ago happened to be the adab (good manners) of a Somali taxi driver who, incidentally, was always smiling. Obviously he had a clear understanding of thehadith that says:

“If Allah would guide one person through you to Islam, it is better than the whole world and whatever that’s in it.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim, 1379)

Imagine that one of the greatest achievements you could make in this life were to be realized simply through a smile.

Smiling for Health

Furthermore, psychologists say that smiling is a great way to improve our health! It affects our brains, bodies and those around us.

Through our brains, smiling activates neuropeptides that combats stress, which lowers your heart rate and blood pressure. Endorphins released by the brain when you smile act as a 100% natural pain reliever, and the serotonin released by your brain through your smile serves as an anti-depressant/mood lifter.

And according to the 2011 findings by researchers at the Face Research Laboratoryat the University of Aberdeen, Scotland, our bodies are affected by smiling in that we actually look better with a smile, which, in turn, positively affects the way people respond to us. Now, I’m not quite sure why it took a research study to inform us of this, but there you have it. *smile*

Subhan’Allah, smiling affects those around us in that it is actually contagious! Each time you smile at a person, their brain coaxes them to return the favor. Hasn’t this happened to you before?

Smiling in Motion

On a recent Saturday evening I was sitting at a table on the deck in front of a local coffee shop when an elderly man dressed in a traditional Egyptianthawb, wearing a holiday cap with flashing lights across the front of it,masha’Allah, happened to pass through the tables selling roses.

I was pounding away on my keyboard in a lively Viber chat (yes, there is a desktop version), with my heart-adopted daughter in Colorado, Hanane. As the man passed by, in the same instant that I happened to glance up, he looked back over his shoulder.

In that brief moment that our eyes met, instantly seeing the smile I was wearing from the conversation I had been engaged in, subhan’Allah, he smiled in return as if he had just seen the moon.

The Messenger of Allah, upon whom be peace, said:

“Every good deed is sadaqah (charity). To meet your brother with a smiling face and to pour out from your bucket into his container are sadaqah.” (At-Tirmidhi,1956)

A charity for a charity, I remember thinking to myself.

The moment passed and I returned to my chat with Hanane. Head-bowed in concentration, I did not even notice that the man selling roses had turned around a few minutes later as he was headed back in the direction from which he had originally arrived.

Cue Surprise

As the man passed by my table – without stopping or saying a word – he silently deposited beside my laptop, a bountiful handful of rose petals. Masha’Allah.

I had given him a smile, and in return he offered me what he could that would not take away from the source of his own meager sustenance; the petals of the roses that no one else would have appreciated the way I did that night.

Al-hamdu lillahi rabbil ‘alamin.

This is Islam. -onislam.net

How to Manage Anger and Maintain Peace at Home

The husband-wife relationship is very delicate and precious at the same time. It is important for both spouses to avoid angering each other.

Have you ever made tea or some other concoction by boiling milk in an open faced pan?

If so, you must know what happens when you leave the pot on high heat. If the milk is left untempered after it reaches boiling point, it spills over the edge of the pan on to the stove, going to waste and causing a mess that needs to be cleaned up with much effort.

Anyone would admit that, in such a scenario, it is advisable not to boil the milk on high heat. If the heat is kept at a minimum or turned off at the right time, a lot of spillage, chagrin and cleanup efforts can be successfully avoided.

Each one of us has a different anger threshold: that point which, when crossed, results in them ‘blowing their lid’, so to speak. When someone is about to lose his/her temper, it is best not to provoke them with “high heat”. Instead, they should be left alone for a while to “cool down”.The same analogy can be applied to tempers of family members at home: be they grandparents, parents, or children.

The Natural vs. Circumstantial Causes of Anger

How quickly someone loses his/her temper and how angry they get depends upon many different factors, such as the individual’s unique genetic makeup, natural personality disposition, and particular real-time life circumstances. At times of illness, financial straitness, school exams, or relocation, family members might get angry at each other more often.

An example of naturally-triggered anger is that of a child in the age-range of 2 to 5 years. At this time, a little child goes through a very rebellious phase that is colloquially termed as “the terrible two’s”. Such children are prone to outbursts, mood swings, temper tantrums and rebellious behavior. Some experts even call this phase the “first teenage”, because when a child enters adolescence, he or she once again goes through such a tumultuous phase, because of the hormonal changes going on inside their body.

During pregnancy and postnatal bleeding, too, women can be extremely emotional and volatile

Women regularly experience ‘premenstrual syndrome’ related to the fluctuating hormonal levels in their bodies every month, which causes them to become extra irritable, cranky and moody. During pregnancy and postnatal bleeding, too, women can be extremely emotional and volatile, losing their patience at seemingly trivial matters.

On the same token, men also go through phases of aggression and anger, especially when provoked in a negative manner. Though their anger is dependent less upon natural, bodily causes and more related to life circumstances, men who feel disrespected or undervalued by their colleagues at work or family members at home get angry more often.A problem understood is a problem half solved. Instead of focusing on the “sinful” behavior of an angry person, and instead of just asking them to fear Allah, not get angry, and refrain from outbursts, being empathetic and understanding of their situation cannot just enable other family members to sympathize with them, but also allow them to alter their own behavior towards the angry person. This can lead to successful avoidance of the triggers that cause adverse reactions from an angry family member.

Therefore, if a loved one of ours at home is going through such a naturally-triggered or event-based phase of frustration and anger, it is advisable for us and all of our other family members to avoid doing or saying things that can cause an outburst or angry reaction from that person, even if it is a small child who has been recently ridiculed by bullies at school, or an elderly grandparent who is irritable because of the unrelenting ache in their bones.

Even the Best of Muslims Got Angry

Aisha reported: “Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said to me:

“I can well discern when you are pleased with me and when you are annoyed with me.”

I said: “How do you discern it?” Thereupon be said:

“When you are pleased with me you say: “No, by the Lord of Muhammad,” and when you are annoyed with me, you say: “No, by the Lord of Ibrahim.””

I said:

“Allah’s Messenger, by Allah, I in fact leave only your name (when I am annoyed with you)”. (Al-Bukhari, 5228)

Prophet Muhammad was the best husband, who never did anything wrong or oppressive towards his wives. Then why would his wife be annoyed or angry with him?

The answer lies in the natural causes of anger, especially in young females of child-bearing age, which I’ve mentioned above. No matter how much she might try, a woman can lose control over her moods or emotions when her body is experiencing hormonal changes. More often than not, the scapegoat of her moodiness is her poor husband.

At such times, it is best for the wise husband to avoid angering his wife as much as possible, so that an aura of peace can be maintained at home.

The example of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is before us: instead of getting angry or feeling offended at the fact that his wife would swear by Allah by taking the name of Prophet Ibrahim and not his (her husband’s) name, he mentioned this habit of hers in an easygoing, affable and loving manner.

This gives us a poignant lesson in dealing with the behavior of an angry family member: to not add fuel to the fire, and to let bygones be bygones in order to maintain peace and tranquility.

please grow up and become the mature, easygoing husband that Prophet Muhammad was!

It also sends a clear message out to those insecure husbands who get jealous if their wives so much as mention another man’s name instead of theirs in their presence: please grow up and become the mature, easygoing husband that Prophet Muhammad was!

Temporarily Avoiding the Angry Spouse

Narrated Sahl ibn Sa`d:

“The most beloved names to `Ali was ‘Abu Turab’, and he used to be pleased when we called him by it, for none named him Abu Turab (for the first time), but the Prophet. Once `Ali got angry with (his wife) Fatima, and went out (of his house) and slept near a wall in the mosque. The Prophet came searching for him, and someone said: “He is there, lying near the wall.”

The Prophet came to him while his (`Ali’s) back was covered with dust. The Prophet started removing the dust from his back, saying:

“Get up, O Abu Turab!” (Al-Bukhari, 6204)

The above hadith makes clear how, even the most pious of Muslim couples, in this case, the Prophet’s own daughter and son-in-law, had phases of disagreement and distancing in their marital relationship, in which one felt angry at the other.

The husband-wife relationship is very delicate and precious at the same time. It is important for both spouses to avoid, as much as possible, angering their other half. Over time, it gets easier to do this as each partner discovers, recognizes and adjusts to the other’s habits, moods, likes and dislikes. After many years pass, each spouse has more or less completely adapted themselves to their other half, in order to successfully avoid friction and fights.

Despite the peace that descends upon a marital home over the years, however, one of the most effective means of ensuring that a husband and wife do not become cold and emotionally distant from each other when one or both of them gets angry, is for the emotionally calmer spouse to temporarily avoid the angry one in conversation and physical proximity, allowing the latter to cool down, introspect and let off steam by themselves.

The actions of Ali ibn Abi Talib in the hadith above endorse this anger management strategy. Because he was angry at his wife, he left his home and came to the mosque to take a nap.

A change of subject works wonders at dissipating anger!

The Prophet, far from questioning his actions or reprimanding him, addressed his angry son-in-law jokingly and lovingly instead, which indicates his tacit approval. It also indicates that when and if one member of the household becomes angry and goes away from the one he or she is angry at, another (third) family member can go to them a while later and try to calm them down using mirth and affection. A change of subject works wonders at dissipating anger!Some of the pious predecessors used the same ‘formula’ to maintain peace with their wives:

Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal, after the condolence of his wife, explained to the people regarding their caring relationship and the secret of their strong relation in a very short statement.

After his wife passed away from this world he used to praise her, he said, “By Allah, I lived with her for 30 years and we did not argue (or had an argument) not even once”.

They asked him: “How is this possible, or we can say, what was the secret of your strong relation and bond?”

He replied in a very beautiful manner: “Whenever she used to get upset with me and tried to argue with me, I used to stay quiet, and whenever I used to get upset with her and tried to argue with her, she used to stay quiet.” (Al-Khateeb Al-Baghdadi, Tarikh Baghdad, 16: 626)

So let us now conclude with yet another analogy: try lighting a flame and bringing it into contact with water or dust without letting it go out. No matter how hard you try, pouring water or dust on a flame will extinguish it instantly.

In light of this article, therefore, one of the best ways of extinguishing the anger felt by a close family member, and thus maintaining a peaceful atmosphere at home, is for the loved ones around that person to scrupulously avoid getting “lighted up” by their anger. Instead, their cool and calm refusal to argue or answer them back will result in an instant annihilation of the anger welling up inside them. -onislam.net

Why Do You Want to Do Hajj?

What will your intention be when you get the chance?

Abdullah Ibn Al-Mubarak was seen standing before the Kaaba and was overheard saying, “O Allah! Ibn Abu Al-Muwali told us on the authority of Muhammad Ibn Al-Munkadir who reported Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) as narrating that Your Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said, ‘The water of Zamzam is for whatever it’s drunk for.’ I’m drinking it to prevent the thirst of the Day of Judgment.” Then, Ibn Al-Mubarak drank it.

Life coaches everywhere know the power of good intentions, and Muslims everywhere should recognize the POWER of the RIGHT intentions. What is important is that any actions we take should be directly related to the intent behind them. But sometimes things happen, we get busy with our lives, and we don’t really reflect on our intentions enough. Our actions, and even our deeds, become the “norm,” doing them becomes mindless, and reaping the benefits is not even in the picture.

Yet, when it comes to leading our best lives, to living with purpose and clarity, and to excellence in all that we do, the act of going back to our intentions and giving them their due importance becomes obligatory. For the seeker of excellence, continually reviewing, expanding, and renewing your intention becomes as essential as oxygen is to your physical sustenance.

Muna (not her real name) has had a tough year. She became a mother for the third time, and her mother passed away. Her husband works for long hours in a city they had just moved to.Meaningful Stories

She feels isolated not knowing many people and uprooted from her past life, her home, and her friends. She spends most of her time cooking, cleaning, and tending her children. She’s busy, yes, but in a “this is just filling my time” sort of way. Her actions are mechanical and her state of mind stolid (at best), and even her two-year-old sees it. One day, the child asked her mother why she never plays with her.

Mustafa (not his real name) is trying to be the patient and understanding husband, but he says that everything he does to try to help Muna reclaim the essence of her lively life (the one before this year) is met with indifference from her. Frankly, he thinks that he’s absorbing her impassiveness upon himself. And this worries him. The drive he had at his work, the rapport he enjoyed with his friends, the excitement he first felt at the prospect of getting involved with the Muslim community in his area, all are beginning to fade away. He wants to reverse the situation, but he doesn’t know where to begin.

Where he is to begin is where we should all begin at times, at the start of every morning, but especially more so when we’re trying to get out of a destructive rut or looking to accomplishing a worthy goal: We should all begin with our intentions. Purposely intending to do something that will color your life lively is the place to start. That’s fine for him, argues Mustafa, but how can he “intend” to influence someone else’s life, namely, his wife.

The truth is, you can’t. But that’s part of making intentions too. By the very nature of the act, you are stating your objectives to Allah, Exalted be He, aiming to do the work necessary to achieve them and then absolving yourself from the result, which may or may not be in your control. The results are in the Hands of Allah, the Almighty, and there is liberty in knowing that so long as your intention was in the right place, you can’t go wrong.

Here are four tips enabling you to ensure you’re making the most of your intentions:

1. Speak them out loud and use meaningful adjectives

The act of verbalizing an intention is the first step in transforming it from some random “I should do this” type of thought that roams around the wasteland of our minds to an “I will do this” action plan. What do you intend? Articulate it. Make it thrive with vibrancy. Have it be so colorful that you jump out of bed as the thought of it crosses your mind.

After much soul searching, Mustafa found his voice. He spoke his intention to his wife one morning. “Insha’ Allah, I’m making the intention to go for Hajj with you this year. We’ll have the most spiritual, wonderful time of our lives, and I can barely wait until I clear a path for you to kiss the black stone!” This last part made Muna laugh out loud, catching her husband’s enthusiasm.

2. Give them a fighting chance to see daylight

What are the actions that will help along your intentions? What do you need to do so that your spoken intentions aren’t just a bunch of words that you speak nonchalantly because you think that you “should” be doing them? Once you’ve determined what needs to be done, do it. When Mustafa intended to work on bringing the “life” back into his marriage and into his entire life, he decided that a Hajj trip for him and Muna would be what they needed. He started working on a plan, budgeting for the costs associated, and looking for someone to watch the children when they are away.

3. Visit them often

Connect with your intentions in your Du`a’s to Allah, Glorified be He. Ask Him to accept them, to make them happen. Reflect on them before doing an act and while thinking about doing an act. See them in your mind’s eye during times of reflection. Allow them to present themselves when you least expect them to. One time on his commute home, Mustafa was daydreaming so vividly about embarking on the Hajj rites with Muna, that he nearly missed his stop.

4. Treat them tenderly with loving care

Knowing that they will serve you well, no matter if you attain them or not. Allah, Exalted be He, will look at your intentions, not just accordingly, but abundantly. Narrated Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that our Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “Allah says, ‘If my slave intends to do a bad deed, then (O Angels) do not write it unless he does it; if he does it, then write it as it is. But if he refrains from doing it for My Sake, then write it as a good deed (in his account). (On the other hand,) if he intends to do a good deed but does not do it, then write it as a good deed (in his account), and if he does it, then write it for him (in his account) as ten good deeds up to seven-hundred times'” [Al-Bukhari].

In the end, it’s an interesting thing about intentions. You never really comprehend how far they’ll go or what a lasting impression and legacy they can result in. Hajar (may Allah be pleased with her) had the intention to take care of her infant. Left in a barren land, she walked repeatedly between the mounts of Al-Safa and Al-Marwa looking for sustenance. As she came down and saw the gushing water, she proclaimed, “Zimmi Zimmi (i.e., ‘Keep the water. Keep the water’),” and cupped her hands to catch it. And it flowed and flowed. Her son drank, and she drank. Ibn Al-Mubarak drank. Generations of Muslims drank and will continue to drink from it insha’ Allah.

What will your intention be when you get the chance? Mustafa knows what his will be.

 This article was originally  written for Distinction Magazine.

Will Everyone Be Treated Fairly?

Yes, absolutely. Allah always treats everyone with justice and fairness.

But read these verses of the Quran carefully, especially about the "People of the Book" (Jews & Christians): 

These are the Verses of Allah: We recite them to you(O Muhammad peace be upon him) in truth, and Allah wills no injustice to the 'Alamin (mankind and Jinns).

And to Allah belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth. And all matters go back (for decision) to Allah.

You [true believers in Islamic Monotheism, and real followers of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him and commandments with him] are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind; you enjoin Al-Ma'ruf (i.e. Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam has ordained) and forbid Al-Munkar (polytheism, disbelief and all that Islam has forbidden), and you believe in Allah. And had the people of the Book (Jews and Christians) believed, it would have been better for them; among them are some who have faith, but most of them are Al-Fasiqun (disobedient to Allah - and rebellious against Allah's Command).
[Noble Quran 3:108-110]

Whoever believes in Allah, as One God and is working righteousness as much as they can - and follows the most recent prophet sent by Allah, peace be upon them all, could well be a Muslim (submitter to the Will of Allah) and as such, it is up to Allah to be their Judge, just as He is the Judge in all matters.

Does Allah Treat Jews and Christians the same as Muslims ?

Some may question whether or no the "People of the Book" (Jews and Christians) living today might be considered as being "saved".

Actually, the Jews and Christians who believed in Allah as One God - and they tried to obey the commandments of Allah and follow the message which Allah sent with their particular messenger (such as Abraham, Moses, Jesus, etc.) are mentioned many times in Quran:

They are not all are the same; among the People of the Scripture is a community standing [in obedience], reciting the verses of Allah during periods of the night and prostrating [in prayer].

They believe in Allah and the Last Day, and they enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and hasten to good deeds.

And those are among the righteous. And whatever good they do - never will it be removed from them. And Allah is Knowing of the righteous.

[Noble Quran 3:113-115]

Let's further consider what Allah tells us in the Quran about them:

Verily, those who disbelieved, and died while they were disbelievers, the (whole) earth full of gold will not be accepted from anyone of them even if they offered it as a ransom. [Noble Quran 3:91]

Those who die while disbelievers, will only receive payment of their good deeds here on earth, in this life.

But their deeds will not be accepted from them on Judgment Day, even if they spent the earth's fill of gold in what was perceived to be an act of obedience.

The Prophet was asked about 'Abdullah bin Jud'an, who used to be generous to guests, helpful to the indebted and who gave food (to the poor); will all that benefit him The Prophet said,

No, for not even one day during his life did he pronounce, 'O my Lord! Forgive my sins on the Day of Judgment'.

The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, told us;

"If anyone of the People of the Book hears about me and the message with which I have been sent, and does not accept to surrender and submit to Almighty Allah in peace (Islam), then he will be in the Fire."

Allah tells us in the Quran, that He is the "Best of Judges" and certainly the final Judgment of us all rests with Him. -godallah.com

How Can One Enter Paradise?

The hadith focused on four important issues which make one enter Paradise in peace

Apart from outlining the political foundations, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) laid down the social foundations of the new Muslim community in Madinah.

These were his first words which he uttered upon his arrival to Madinah. Imam al-Tirmidhi reported that the Prophet said:

“O people! Spread the greeting of peace, feed (the poor and needy), behave kindly to your relatives, offer prayer when others are asleep, and (thus) enter Paradise in peace.”

The Prophet started this hadith with drawing peoples’ attention to what he was going to tell them. This implies that what he told them about should be taken into consideration and followed as much as they could.

Entering Paradise in peace means that these things lead Muslims to enter Paradise without being punished in Hell.The hadith focused on four important issues which make one enter Paradisein peace. Muslims believe that after death there is another life (the Hereafter) in which they will receive God’s reward for doing good deeds and His punishment for doing bad deeds. The timing of the Hereafter is known only to God. No one on the face of this earth knows about it even Prophet Muhammad himself.

Spreading the Greeting of Peace

This is the first step in a Muslim’s journey to Paradise. The official greeting in Islam is as-salamu `alaykum(peace be unto you). This is a call for peace that Muslims remind themselves of all day when they meet each other.

There are many Quranic verses that promote the idea of spreading the greeting of peace in different situations. For example: {O you who believe, do not enter houses other than your houses until you have [first] asked permission and greeted their occupants.} (Al-Nur 24: 27)

{But when you enter houses, bid peace to yourselves with a salutation from God, blessed and good.}(Al-Nur 24: 61)

it generates mutual love and removes hatred from peoples’ hearts

{And when you are greeted with a greeting, greet with better than it, or return it. Surely God keeps count of all things.} (Al-Nisa’ 4: 86).

Why all this emphasis on spreading the greeting of peace?

Because it generates mutual love and removes hatred from peoples’ hearts. It is the same as introducing yourself to others or starting a conversion with someone you do not know. In western cultures, it is improper to start talking to someone without greeting him by “Hi” or “Hello”. It is the same in the Muslim culture. This greeting is a sign of respect to one another.

`Abd Allah ibn `Amr ibn Al-`As, one of the companions, reported: A man asked the Messenger of God: “Which act in Islam is the best?” The Prophet replied: “To give food and to greet everyone, whether you know or you do not.” (Al-Bukhari & Muslim)

In Riyad al-Salihin, Imam al-Nawawi says commenting on this hadith:

“Feeding poor and destitute is an act of goodness, and so is fulfilling the needs of the indigent. Greeting everybody (saying “as-Salamu `alaikum”), whether an acquaintance or a stranger, is a good manner too. Both of these acts generate mutual love and remove hatred and ill will from hearts.”

In his al-Adab al-Mufrad, Imam al-Bukhari reports that the Prophet said: “Peace is one of the names of God which He has placed on the earth. Extend it among you. When a man greets people and they answer him, then he has a higher degree than them because he reminds them of peace. If no one answers him, he will be answered by one who is better and more excellent.'”

Based on this hadith and other hadiths and Quranic verses that recommend spreading the greeting of peace without restriction, the contemporary scholar Faysal Mawlawi views that:

“It is permissible for a Muslim to greet a non-Muslim using the word salam(Arabic for: peace). This view has been attributed to Ibn `Abbas, Ibn Mas`ud, Ibn Muhayriz, `Umar ibn `Abd Al-`Aziz, Sufyan ibn `Uyaynah, Al-Shu`abi, Al-Awza`i, and At-Tabari. Moreover, this opinion was chosen by Rashid Rida in hisTafsir al-Manar and al-Shanqiti in his Adwa‘ Al-Bayan. As for the hadith which reads: “Do not initiate (greeting) Jews and Christians with salam” (Muslim), it was connected to an existing state of war at the time.”

Feeding the Poor and the Needy

The second step in a Muslim’s journey to Paradise is feeding the poor and the needy. When you help others, you are fostering the social ties with them. You let them know that you are part of them. You are sharing their feelings. Knock on the door of the people next door. Always ask about them to see if they need any help. Visit charitable associations that care about the poor and the needy.

The word “feed” should not be limited to the actual feeding by making meals for the poor and the needy. The scope of feeding is much wider.

Prayer at night is a sign of sincere devotion to God. It purifies your heart and gets you closer to God.

Make it a daily habit to give something in charity. Spending on the poor gets you closer to God. Do not forget that spending on your family is more important than spending on others. The former is obligatory while the latter is supererogatory. Abu Hurairah narrated that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “You spent one Dinar for the fight for the sake of God, one Dinar to liberate a slave, one Dinar to a poor person, and one Dinar to support your family. The most rewarded Dinar is the one that you spent on your family.” (Muslim)Look for those who are unable to pay school fees and help them out.

There are many orphans who want to get married or complete their studies. Go to them and support them with your money.

God enumerates the rewards awaiting those who feed the poor and the needy in about 16 verses (Al-Insan 76: 7-22).

The Prophet is reported to have said: “In Paradise there are rooms which can be seen from the inside and the outside”. The Prophet was asked: ‘O Messenger of God for whom?’ He said: “For people who utter good, feed the poor, spend the night in prayer while the people are asleep.” (Al-Tabarani)

Behaving Kindly to Relatives

A true Muslim cares for others as much as he cares for himself.

This is the third stop in a Muslim’s journey to Paradise. The Prophet draws our attention to a very important social value which is that of strengthening our family relations. One cannot live in isolation. Everyone is in need of others and others are in need of him. A true Muslim cares for others as much as he cares for himself.

Being kind to one’s relatives is part of one’s belief. The Prophet said: “Those of you who believe in God and the Hereafter should be kind to their relatives.” (Al-Bukhari)

About the reward of being kind to relatives, the Prophet said: “Those of you who would like to have more providence and longer lives should be kind to their relatives.” (Muslim)

One’s parents come first in the relatives’ list. Do not forget your parents. Try to visit them every now and then. Always attend to their needs. After your parents come your relatives. They have the same right on you.

Islam’s care for relatives extends to those who even have a different religion. Islam made no distinction between a Muslim or a non-Muslim relative, a Muslim or a non-Muslim parent. This represents the universal aspect of Islam. It is reported that Asma’, daughter of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, asked the Prophet’s permission to visit and help her non-Muslim mother and the Prophet told her: “Yes, keep a good relation with her.” (Muslim)

Offering Prayer When Others Are Asleep

This is the fourth and final stop in a Muslim’s journey to Paradise. The Prophet’s words ‘offering prayer while others are asleep’ signify uniqueness. You are doing something that not everybody is doing. Very few people share you this unique value. When darkness prevails and everyone goes to bed, you are awake and worshipping God. You will feel it when you try it. It is all about closeness to God.

The Prophet said: “The best prayer after the obligatory prayer is the night prayer.” (Muslim)

The best time for offering the tahajjud or qiyam al-layl is the last third of the night. `Aisha reported that the Prophet used to sleep in the first part of the night and stand in prayer in the last part of it.” (Muslim)

Prayer at night is a sign of sincere devotion to God. It purifies your heart and gets you closer to God.

Having done these four things, one gets a ticket to Paradise where he enjoys the pleasure of seeing God for whose sake he did these things in this life hoping for His mercy in the life to come.

The hadith under discussion is one of the Prophet’s legacies which he left behind. It is all about generating love among people, being kind to people, helping people, and getting closer to God. -onislam.net

Modesty as a Main Aspect of Islamic Faith

Along with fear and love of Allah, modesty is a requisite of faith. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) made it clear that modesty is part of faith (Muslim). The reference is not to natural bashfulness, which we profess and practice in our mutual relations, but to the modesty that man must practice in his relationship with Allah. If we are not modest in our relationship with Allah, it will undermine modesty in other relationships, resulting in a loss of aesthetic beauty.

Modesty has a bearing on human life in a variety of ways and defends man against Satan’s snares. In the following hadith, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) brings out its comprehensive function: It is reported on the authority of `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) observed,“Be of true shyness of Allah.” When those present affirmed that they were modest, he guided them to the real meaning of modesty. According to the hadith, true modesty is to be watchful of one’s mental faculties and the ideas which one entertains; to keep an eye on one’s stomach and what it consumes; to be constantly mindful of one’s death and the disintegration of one’s body in the grave. Besides, one who looks forward to the Hereafter does not run after the joys of this life. And meeting these qualities makes one truly modest towards Allah. (At-Tirmidhi)

Main Elements of Modesty

Let us illustrate the above point of how a correct perception of certain attributes infuses into one the virtue of modesty and its impact upon conduct. Of all the divine attributes, the idea of His perfect knowledge makes one really conscious of one’s own conduct.The believer should be always mindful that Allah watches each and every act (An-Nisaa’ 4:1).Divine attributes infuse into one the consciousness of the need to maintain modesty. Those who possess true knowledge of these attributes have strong belief in them and feel genuinely shy of Allah. By contrast, those ignorant of divine attributes, or those who are not careful about them, are not shy of Allah or fellow human beings. They are little better than animals who do not have any perception of modesty.

Likewise, one should have the conviction that He is aware of the treachery committed by the eyes and of the secrets within the breast (Ghafir 40:19). It is also important to realize that we are always accompanied by Allah.

{There is no whispering among three but He is their fourth, nor among five but He is their sixth, nor fewer nor more, but He is with them wheresoever they may be} (Al-Mujadilah 58:7)

Evidently, those who believe in the import of that verse cannot commit any misdeed, even in privacy, which may embarrass them in the sight of Allah, for they cannot conceive of any place where they are not seen by Allah. This persuades them that any sin they commit is being observed by Allah. Only a pervert or fearless person could commit a crime while conscious of that reality.

Day and night we observe numerous manifestations of Allah’s glory and power. In the face of these, we should not entertain any false notion about our own supremacy and greatness. Man is no more than a fly or an ant in this vast universe. The mountains around us are high in comparison to us. Compared to the oceans, we scarcely weigh a drop.

Given this, if we think highly of ourselves and walk around arrogantly, it is a sort of self-mockery. A parable tells of a fly that sat on a bull’s horn. After some time, the fly asked the bull whether it should move away lest its weight burden the bull. The bull replied that it was unaware of the fly’s existence and it was immaterial to it whether the fly sat there or not. The same is true, in a measure, for certain arrogant people who attach too much importance to themselves. They walk arrogantly on earth and always speak in harsh tones. While admonishing them, Allah tells them,

{And do not strut on the earth insolently. You will not by any means rend the earth. Nor can you match the mountains in stature.}(Al-Israa’ 17:37)

Human beings stand nowhere in comparison to the numerous manifestations of Allah’s power and glory. Therefore, we should be all the more modest and humble.

We should take to heart the truth that all our faculties and resources are granted to us only by Allah. We are not the creators of any of these and we do not possess them except by His leave. If we realize this, we are less liable to commit ingratitude or disobedience or rebellion. We cannot do anything without drawing upon the very resources granted by Allah.

Human beings are favored with these resources so that we may lead our lives as grateful and obedient servants of Allah. However, if we abuse these in favor of treachery and rebellion, it constitutes a heinous crime. So, we should be constantly and profoundly aware that it is Allah Who has blessed us with these favors. The Qur’an reiterates this truth many times.

Some persons think very highly of their contribution to the faith. They mistakenly consider themselves as the ones who have done good for Allah and His Messenger. However, even the greatest sacrifice offered by them does not really belong to them. If they donate money in His cause, money was granted in the first place to them by Allah. If they suffer the delusion that they earned their wealth by dint of their talents and skills, they should not forget that those same talents and skills were granted by Allah. Even if people sacrifice their lives for the sake of Allah, they should think more of their failings than of the sacrifice they are making.

This acknowledgement of our inability to do anything worthwhile in Allah’s cause and this repentance are the very essence of all acts of worship and obedience. The Qur’an identifies it as the spirit of humanness. The Qur’an reproaches some people for their mistaken belief that they did a favor for Allah and His Messenger by embracing Islam. They are told that they have not made any favor. Rather, they should be grateful to Allah that He guided them to Islam. -onislam.net