We Need To Strike A Balance. A Balance Between What’s Happening On The Ground, Understanding It, Doing Something About It, Living Your Life, Fulfilling Your Responsibilities To Allah And To Your Family And At The Same Time Trying To Make Sure That When You Die You Go To A Good Place And Those Whom You Leave Behind Will Be Left Behind In A Good Place As Well. What A Big Challenge!
A Big Challenge! Subhanallah, May Allah Make It Easy For Us.
The Christians also asked this question that if Jesus is the word of Allah and Allah says this in the Quran then why are we being condemned for worshiping the word of god which is eternal, which is Jesus.. So, you guys also believe in the Quran which is the word of god?
They have to understand what is the aqidah /creed of the Muslim. and one of the important things; people get confused is that the attribute of allah Azzawajal and the difference between the essence and attributes of Allah Azzawajal, and the action attributes of Allah Azzawajal.
They do not distinguish or do not differentiate is the fact, that the Quran is is an expression of Allah. Yes, but the Quran is not something which has his own mind or it has its own will, for example, both of which was true in the case of Jesus Christ.
So, we need to distinguish this. The Christians normally ask this question. Why do you condemn us for worshiping and saying that we are committing shirk, when you guys are doing the same thing with the Quran?
A very clear distinction between who Allah is, what His Essence are, which essence of His are Eternal and which essence of His, He will it to happen or manifest those Essence in time as temporal, like when Allah wishes for His Mercy to descend on Earth or on a particular person, Yes, He wills it and this happens in time obviously.
So, we need to clearly distinguish between what is it Eternal in terms of essences and what is temporal in terms of his manifestation of those Essence.
So, anyone who says that the the word of Allah, which is the Quran is Allah in the sense that the Christians they believe that the word of God is God in the sense of Jesus Christ.
So, they are making a false equivalence and incorrect or illogical comparisons. So let’s distinguish between the essence and the attribute; is very very important, the actions as well.
The manifestation of that essence in time, which is action attributes that also we should distinguish.
Do you know that when we have to choose a spouse;
Who have not yet chosen the spouse and even if you have try and go back and see the qualities that you have looked at and develop on them, develop them…
When you choose a spouse, the Hadith says: there are several things that people look at; some people look at wealth, some people look at Beauty, some people look at the status of the person and some people look at the lineage of the person and some people look at the deen and the religion of the person.
The Hadith says become successful by selecting the the one with religion, with character and conduct, coupled with Deen / religion.
From the hadith, when a proposal comes from someone; whom you are satisfied with their level of character and conduct or in fact starting with the level of Deen and character then allow them to get married, allow them to marry.
Two things: character and deen
If someone comes and they good-looking okay, they have a better deen in them. It is better for you to compromise the looks to a certain extent And make sure that the religion is intact then to go only for looks because the plan of Allah is there will come a stage when that blemish less face will develop wrinkles; If you have loved the outward face, you will not be able to get along with that woman.
Because if you have loved the interior, it only blossoms as time passes. with the wrinkles of the face the wrinkles of the heart disappear.
Have you ever thought of that with the wrinkles of the face, the wrinkles of the heart disappear?
The beauty of Islam is such that from the beginning whether it is the upbringing of the child or how to select a spouse, Allah subhanahu wa’ta’ala has laws in place that will help you from the family fragmenting, breaking up.
So, if we follow the rules from the very beginning then we will find that the family unit will not break.
Reading is an essential part of attaining knowledge. The knowledge that will make us more humble as we rediscover our true selves.
On the other hand, we do not seek knowledge that will make us neglect the Hereafter and only Fulfil our worldly pleasures. We do not seek knowledge that will make us intellectually arrogant.
So, fix your intention and start with Bismillah (in the name of Allah).
Make Dua in front of Allah with sincerity. we should make to us in whatever language we are the most comfortable in and feel a stronger connection with Allah.
Here are a few of those golden duas for exams, studies, interviews, vivas or any other sort of trial you are going through.
Allah says in the Qura’n:
رَبِّ اشْرَحْ لِي صَدْرِي وَيَسِّرْ لِي أَمْرِي وَاحْلُلْ عُقْدَةً مِّن لِّسَانِي يَفْقَهُوا قَوْلِي
Rabbishrah lee sadree Wayassir lee amree Wahlul ‘uqdatan min lisanee Yafqahoo qawlee
“O my Sustainer! Open up my heart and make my task easy for me, and loosen the knot from my tongue so that they might fully understand my speech.” [ Surah Taaha -20: Ayahs 25-28 ]
Allah teaches us in the Qura’n:
رَّبِّ زِدْنِي عِلْمًا
Rabbi zidnee ‘ilman
“My Lord Increase me, and increase me in knowledge.” [ Surah 20: Ayah 114 ]
رَبِّ هَبْ لِي حُكْمًا وَأَلْحِقْنِي بِالصَّالِحِينَ وَاجْعَل لِّي لِسَانَ صِدْقٍ فِي الْآخِرِينَ وَاجْعَلْنِي مِن وَرَثَةِ جَنَّةِ النَّعِيمِ
Rabbi hab lee hukman waalhiqnee bialssaliheena Waj’al lee lisana sidqin fee alakhireena Waj’alnee min warathati jannati anna’eem
“My Lord, grant me wisdom, join me with the righteous; give me a good name among later generations; make me one of those given the Garden of Bliss.” [ Surah Ash-Shu’ara- 26, Ayahs: 83-85. ]
قَالُوا سُبْحَانَكَ لَا عِلْمَ لَنَا إِلَّا مَا عَلَّمْتَنَا ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْعَلِيمُ الْحَكِيمُ
Qaloo subhanaka la AAilma lana illa ma AAallamtana innaka anta alAAaleemu alhakeemu
“Glory be to you, we have no knowledge except what you have taught us. Verily, it is You, the All-Knower, the All-Wise.”[Surah Baqarah- 2: Ayah: 32]
The fourth and final Book of Revelation, We say is our Quran revealed to the prophet Muhammad Peace Be upon him who you say is the last of all the prophets.
In our Quran, we have 114 surahs chapters, All right, 86 of these Surahs / chapters were revealed in Makkah when the prophet Muhammad peace be upon him was in Mecca and then the 28 surahs / chapterswere revealed when the prophet Muhammad peace be upon him was in Medina.
As a Muslim …..another thing I must emphasize as a Muslim, We have to respect each and every Prophet.
Prophet Mohammed (saw) is a prophet for the whole world and our Quran, which is the final Book of Revelation, is for everyone as well.
Teachings of Islam, our Quran tells us that we cannot force people to become Muslim, how? I’ll give you one example, in our Quran in Surah, chapter number 2, al-baqarah, which is the cow (translation), Surah chapter number 2, Verse number 256, Allah said when the Quran was being revealed more than 1400 years ago, Allah (swt) said There is no compulsion in religion. What is truth will stand out clear from what is falsehood.
to reach Jennah/ Paradise the proper channel is this that you believe in the Creator in a proper way. [Understand] you believe in the right creator….
Consider it my friend, think about it, our Quran same everywhere, in the Quran, Allah subhanaw Taala said, Allah says in our Quran in Surah al-kahf / the cave Surah chapter number 18, Allah says Allah said no one, no one will be able to change my word. This Quran’ is the only book in the world, which is known by millions of Muslims by heart.
My friend, all these creations, this world hasn’t come by accident, this hasn’t created itself, There is a creator. And he has created the world… in our Quran there are so many good things in it.
Islam is for everyone, in Islam black lives matter, in Islam White lives matter, in Islam.. Everybody matters, why? We are all creation. We are all beautiful creations of a beautiful Creator.
people are aware, they know what your God exists but for whatever reasons… their own desires overcome them and they don’t want to submit them because submitting God means you have to control your ego, your passions, your desires, your whole lifestyle will change and some people don’t want to..
There can be various sociological, you know, intellectual or emotional, psychological reasons, people may have not to submit to God. it doesn’t mean that They don’t believe in God.
Knowing something doesn’t mean that you will act upon it, another prime example is smoking.
So, awareness or knowledge of things doesn’t necessarily make people just act on the message.
likewise when it is applied to religion and believe in God, It is not that people don’t know that the arguments for the existence of God or even their own self, [yeah] the experiences they have about the reality and about God and the message which this God wants, how to live this life of submission, and surrender And of course, in a good life which then gives you the lead to relax life, which is going to be a Life of happiness and Bliss and joy.
We can’t force on people no, we can’t convince people. I mean, this is a false notion that I can convince you. We can’t…. you have to convince yourself. [Yes] from the information or whatever other means Is that is presented to you or come by you that you take in yourself.
so I can give you all rational reasons why Islam is true, but it might not convince you Because what convinces you is what you make that as a convincing for you.
this life has been created as a test as Muslims We believe in which we have to demonstrate to ourselves whether we’re worthy of going to a place of happiness or misery and suffering and we will be in front of the judge, God who will judge based on what we believed and what we did, our belief and actions.
This life is not the end goal; this is an area where we can test ourselves to go to an eternal destination.
The main purpose of this supplication is a way for a believer to testify the greatness of Allah, to praise him, to worship him.
In Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 19, it mentions that the apostle of Allah used to remember Allah at all moments.
It is through Allah’s will that things happen. Abu Hurairah reported in Al-Bukhari and in Muslim that Allah is with those who are with him.
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “Allah the Exalted says: ‘I am as my slave expects me to be, and I am with him when he remembers Me. If he remembers Me inwardly, I will remember him inwardly, and if he remembers Me in an assembly, I will remember him in a better assembly (i.e., in the assembly of angels).”
This sentiment is repeated in Surah Baqarah, ayat 152-153:
“So remember Me; I will remember you. And be grateful to Me and do not deny Me. O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with the patient.”
The third kalima (also referred to as kalima tamjeed) is a perfect way to exalt Allah and remember him. Dhikr consists of two main ideas, the conscious effort required to move your tongue and the second is the niyyah or it’s effect in your heart.
Yes, remembering Allah will be rewarded as hadith 2910 Jami Tirmidhi “[Whoever recites a letter] from Allah’s Book, then he receives the reward from it, and the reward of ten the like of it.”
سُبْحَان اللهِ وَالْحَمْدُلِلّهِ وَلا إِلهَ إِلّااللّهُ وَاللّهُ أكْبَرُ وَلا حَوْلَ وَلاَ قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللّهِ الْعَلِيِّ الْعَظِيْم
Transliteration: subhanallah walhamdulillah wala ilaha illallah wallahu akbar wala hawla wala quwwata illa billah aliyyil azeem
The English translation of the third kalima is,
“Glory be to Allah and all praise be to Allah, there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and Allah is the Greatest. There is no might or power except from Allah, the Exalted, the Great One.“
Do you do believe there is a God or you’re not sure yet?
I can’t deny it but I don’t like….. He doesn’t come Hey, I exist. Then I don’t believe anyone until I don’t see Okay, so you only believe what you see.
Do you believe you possess or have or acknowledge that you have Consciousness?
We can actually…we roughly we can… so if you’re aware and your environments then you know, you’re conscious.
I’m going by your principal, because your principle is that if you don’t see God you won’t believe it. But in the case of your Consciousness you don’t see it but you still believe it. So you are failing your current your principal.
Have you noticed that you said I believe, I believe, I believe? This is Faith. What you believe without seeing..
If you can believe that you have Consciousness without any empirical evidence. So why don’t you believe God without empirical evidence?
When you see a truth you acknowledge it.
So for example, Consciousness is the one that enables you to ask me questions to use your faculties of reasoning and also to use your senses. This is the key.
There are places where science fails, there are limits to science. Science cannot measure in material things. It analyzes the material world.
So if anybody comes and tells me show me empirical evidence of God. You cannot even show empirical evidence of within your own self and let alone God.
Why do you believe it? Is it because I was born in a Muslim family? Maybe that’s the reason but also use my own faculties that God has given me to reason and come to the conclusion that all this, the universe did not create itself. It did not come from nothing. So what is the other alternative?
The question you asked…
if something created the universe what created that something?
So in both cases, the universe cannot be from nothing and it cannot be from itself.
Islam makes sense to us. it goes with our mind. It doesn’t contradict the mind. ..We don’t have a blind faith. We have the faith in Allah and in Islam on a base of clear Clarity and understanding.
Do believe in the reality of the universe? So if I were to ask you where did this reality come from?
For so long a human being who is by nature curious. They will somehow ask questions and come to certain understanding. So in all your years of your life when you answer this question, what have you so far gathered from the research that you have done?
Let me ask you possible scenarios. Do you think it could have come from nothing, the universe?
But I would say no, you know, why? [Why] because nothing doesn’t even exist. If something doesn’t exist, how can it bring about something that does exist?
If you studied logic, then you will come to the conclusion that nothing doesn’t exist. Hence, it cannot bring about something.
In our universe which is real…how you perceive them, how do you understand their origin…
The Most basic understanding of our reality.
Basic understanding of our reality is that it didn’t exist by itself. The universe did not come by itself.
So any person and this goes for any atheist / any agnostic when they say I don’t know they are in no position to say somebody is right or something is wrong.
You cannot have something that is contradictory and you say I accept that without questioning it. That’s a reason as a Believer, you know, our book the Quran tells us to ponder over….
As a person who My Quran tells me to ponder on the signs, By the way, you know, the Quran doesn’t tell you not to use your intellect. In fact, it encourages you to use it. So my Quran, my basis is quite logical and rational in that sense.
How will you understand the universe without rationality / without logic / without even thinking about it that God has given you intellect for you to think?
If you’re going to be a hyper skeptical about everything then even your existence, you have to question.
If the universe is not even sentient, it cannot create itself.
So if I were to ask you did you create yourself? Now I’m asking you the same concept apply to the universe. Can the universe create itself?
So first try to understand do I acknowledge and accept the reality in this world? Your purpose of the life is to acknowledge and to worship the one true God.
the topic of sabr which the well-known thing but I think there are sometimes there are some misunderstandings in our community about the concept, the nature of sabr what it actually means and what it doesn’t mean as well.
What constitutes bear righteousness that the patience, those who are patient in Misfortune and hardship and a times of peril or danger.
To stay away from things which are prohibited, forbidden and to avoid temptations that also requires sabr. So much more widespread meaning also one thing sabr isn’t but in English the word patience implies it is the sort of passive acceptance. That’s not sabr, not passively accepting something.
We can’t use sabr as an excuse for bad behavior. It’s not a virtue to be a patient victim or a passive victim.
In Islam, We don’t have a victim mentality. We’re not victims, whatever the situation is…
We should be people who actually speak out … against oppression or Injustice or wrongdoing. It’s not a virtue to be patient about it in a passively accepting way.
The All-Loving 