Book Review

If you are looking for an interesting, inspiring, captivating, heart wrenching book that is well written and will make you want to better yourself after you read it then I definitely recommend this one. 

Well actually even if you are not looking for a book with the above qualities or even if you not looking to read at all, I still highly recommend that you get a copy of and read this book. 

Book Title:
Hadhrat Maulana Husain Ahmed Madani (Rahmatullahi’Alayh)
His Life and Mission..

This book captivated me completely.
Once I really started reading it I didn’t want to put it down, it had me amazed and in tears at several places.
Subhaan'Allaah the amount of test and difficulties Hadhrat Moulana endured and went through is astounding, and yet through all of it his Faith in Allaah never once wavered.
He dedicated his entire life for the Deen of Allaah.
His life was a reflection of the Sunnah of Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلم
You have to read the book to realise and understand what a personality Hadhrat Moulana Husain Ahmed رحمة الله عليه was.

The book has 318 pages and consists of 12 chapters.
Each chapter focuses on different aspects of Hadhrats life.
Below are a list of the chapters that are in the book.

Chapter 1:  Birth, Childhood and Family
Chapter 2: Education
Chapter 3: Madinah Munawwarah
Chapter 4: Bay'at and Sulook
Chapter 5: Family and children
Chapter 6: Teaching Career
Chapter 7: Character and attributes
Chapter 8: Differences of Opinion
Chapter 9: Politics
Chapter 10: Partition and India independence
Chapter 11: Demise
Chapter 12: Malfoozat (Advices)

Each chapter comprises of several different headings and goes into detail on the subject.

This book is easy to read and soak in, it doesn’t have words that go over your head and has been excellently compiled, Masha’Allaah.
(And I absolutely love the cover! It is so beautiful)

It has been compiled and published by the Jamiatul Ulama KZN Ta’limi board.

I'm not sure which book shops stock it but it is available from the Jamiatul Ulama KZN Ta’limi board.
I will post a picture of their details below so that you could contact them if you would like to purchase a copy (which I highly suggest you do, Inshaa’Allaah.) 

May Allaah make us amongst those who are close to Him and grant us the Tawfeeq to follow in the footsteps of our Akabireen (Pious Predecessors)… Aameen

Lessons Life Has Taught Me

I have learnt that life is a journey with a lot of twist and turns.
You will experience good , bad ,happy and sad .

I have learnt that you wont always get what you want, no matter how badly you want it.

I have learnt that just because you love a thing or person does not mean it is good for you.

I have learnt that sometimes those who are close to you will hurt you the most.

I have learnt that people will judge you without verifying facts.

I have learnt that you can never please people, they will always seek out
your faults even if you do a hundred good things.

I have learnt that if you attach your heart to the commodities of this Dunya you will have your heart broken.

I have learnt, that no matter how much you love someone and they love you, death will inevitably separate you.

I have learnt, that true friends are few and fake friends are many.

I have learnt that people wont be happy if you have something good.

I have learnt that if you lie you will get caught.

I have learnt that deception destroys opportunities.

I have learnt that  time does not always heal wounds.

I have learnt that happines does not lie in things, but rather it Is found in the Love of Allaah.

I have learnt that even the darkest night gives way for the sun.

I have learnt that the only love that doesn't break you is the Love of Allaah.

I have learnt that the only deed worth doing is the one done for the pleasure for Allaah.

I have learnt that patience is difficult, but the rewards are great.

I have learnt that life is too short to hold on to grudges .

I have learnt that death comes without warning.

I have learnt that the Quraan heals what this world breaks.

I have learnt that if you follow the Sunnah you will be successful.

I have learnt that if I put my Deen first ,I will never be a failure.

I have learnt that this Dunya is not for me, its is but a temporary stop over. It is not forever, so no matter what happens good or bad it wont last.

I have learnt that if I please Allaah I will earn Jannah
And without a doubt Jannah is worth it all.

Written by Binte Ashraf Ali

The Warped Society

Have you ever stopped to think about the society we live in.
About the way they have warped our ideals.
About how they have moulded us into the complete opposite of what a Muslim should be.

Why is it that we feel compelled to wish people a "Happy Birthday" or buy a gift or throw a birthday party or make a birthday cake.

Why is it that a wife might get upset with her husband if he forgets their anniversary...
If he doesn't get her a gift on the day, if he doesn't surprise her with something special.

Why is it that we become unhappy when people do not invite us for their wedding or any function even though the event is un-Islamic.

Why is it that we hope that our spouse will bring us roses or something on valentines day..

Why do mothers feel unappreciated if once a year on mother's day they don't receive anything..
And the list goes on..

Yet if you go back in history to the time of our Rasoolullah ﷺ and the Sahabah رضي الله عنهم, & to the times of our pious predecessors none of these days held any significance whatsoever.

No one "celebrated" the day they were born..
No one celebrated getting older, no one "celebrated" getting closer to death.
Because they were actually preparing for the hereafter, because they would do nothing to anger Allaah. Because they wanted nothing to do with the customs of other religions. Because they realised that Deen is perfect it needs no additions.

Nabi ﷺ never needed to celebrate his wedding anniversaries, and his wives did not get upset about it, because he made them feel special everyday. Not just once a year.
He ﷺ didn't shower them with gifts, they lived in poverty most of the time, but they were happy because they didn't base their happiness and their marriages on material possessions.
Same with the Sahabah (Radi-Allahu-Anhum) and the Awliya Allaah.

Islam is a perfect way of life, we don't need to follow the ways and celebrate the same days that the Kuffar do.
Our success lies in following the Sunnah,
In the pages of our Qur-aan we will find the path to Jannah.
We don't need to go astray nor look for any other way.
Don't be afraid to walk on the path of righteousness, even though you may be mocked.

Live your life to please Allaah and happiness will find you.
Strive to please people, and worry and sadness will never depart from you.

May Allaah guide all of us, our families and our progeny. Aameen

Looking for happiness in Haram is like looking for a bed of Jannah in Jahannam - Hazrat Maulana Muhammad Ilyas Patel (Damat Barakaatuh)

written by Binte Ashraf Ali..

Good and Bad Deeds

The denoter towards good is like its doer and the denoter towards evil is like its doer

This hadeeth is pretty straightforward, but let’s delve a little deeper into it to understand it more. We are encouraged to do good actions and to motivate others to do the same. This is not just what is required of us, behind it is hidden reward written for us as well. The person who encourages another to do a good deed will get double reward, and every time that person practices on that deed, the first person who started it will automatically receive that ajar as well. It’s a chain reaction, all which leads to the very first person who began it.

A few deeds that we can remind others and ourselves about are listed below:

Encourage one another to make miswaak before and after meals, and before Salaah and tilaawat

Remind the family about eating Duaa’s when having meals

Stick Duaa’s up at appropriate places to remind others to read it. e.g. the entering Duaa’s at the doors of the house, the Duaa to be stuck on a mirror when looking in the mirror and Duaa’s for travelling in the car

Purchasing a miswaak, Quraan or kitaab for someone is very beneficialGifting a scarf, topee (or turban) or a tasbeeh will earn great reward as well

These are just a few of the many ways to attain reward. Now that we know what we can do, we also know that whenever these, or similar actions are encouraged, YOU will earn extra reward. Imagine it as commission in a way. Every time you encourage someone to buy something and they purchase it, you get a part of the profit as well. But for amaal-e-saalihat it’s EVEN BETTER. You don’t get a part of their share, but you get the full reward, as if you’ve done it yourself. How can we say no to such a great opportunity?

You get TEN rewards for each LETTER of the Quraan that you recite, now imagine someone reading abundant tilaawat and your reward is doubling and tripling! Isn’t that great? 
The reward of reading la hawla wa la quwwata illah billah is from the treasures of Jannah, and when you gift a tasbeeh to someone, try to imagine how many treasures you’re opening, and in other forms of zikr, how many trees are getting planted for you, how many palaces are being built for you! The mind cannot even fathom the innumerable rewards that it’ll gain! SubhanAllah!

Now on the flipside, just as good comes with good, evil comes with evil as well.
Firstly, we are told not to expose our sins to everyone, because Allah has concealed our sins and saved us from disgrace, but then we announce our sins openly to people without even realizing it. How? When we mention to someone “hey, I just went to the cinemas and watched the latest movie” or “did you hear that new album that got released” these are exposing our sins to people. 
So, if we now encourage someone to do evil, we’re going to get this sin, and when they continue doing it, it’ll be continuous for us too. Instead of telling someone “you’ve got to check the movie out!” rather save yourself from the chain of sin by remaining silent instead. Through not announcing what you did, you’ll protect yourself from continuous evil deeds being written for you.
There is always hope and there is always Allah’s everlasting mercy. So if we have wronged ourselves, and if we have encouraged others to do wrong; let’s stop the action and turn towards taubah, let’s be regretful over our actions, let’s make an intention to never do it again and let’s encourage our fellow Muslims to do the same.
Let’s replace the bad with good. It comes in the Qur;aan “Certainly good deeds remove evil deeds.." so follow up the bad with good and lets turn to our final destination; the aakhirah. The connection has to end, let’s end it before it’s too late. It all begins…right now.

Written by a veiled writer.

taken from missmuslimah9.wordpress.com 

The Rasul Of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم

Alhamdulillah, we are fortunate and blessed to have so many bounties of Allah that are bestowed on us. We have a good home to protect us from the scorching sun and violent storms, we have more than three meals a day to satisfy our every craving, and we have sets upon sets of clothes for each day and every function. SubhanAllah! Let us make Shukr for that! But let us also not forget about the way we were taught to live compared to the way we are actually living. The Ambiyaa alayimus salaam, Sahaba radhiyallahu anhum and the pious never indulged themselves in the luxuries that the world had to offer them. They associated themselves with that which was necessary and abstained from anything that would take their attention away from Allah. May Allah grant us the ability to live according to Sunnah of our Nabi SallAllahu alayhi wa sallam.
As I was working the other day, my mind seemed to wander about, and a thought occurred to me; how amazing would it be if Nabi SallAllahu alayhi wa sallam came to visit if he were alive? Imagine presenting our food to satisfy our Messenger who spent days on end without anything to eat, giving him the softest bed to soothe his body from the bruises he received, tending to his every need and call, imagining him leading the jamaat in Salaah, listening to his recitation of the Quraan. It was a wonderful thought to think about how we could be in his khidmat to attain barakah and reward, to even spend one moment in his presence. But I remembered a poem I read a while back, something which made me think twice about the way I live.

If the Prophet Muhammed visited you
just for a day or two;
If he came unexpectedly
I wonder what you'd do.
Oh! I know you'd give your nicest room
To such an honored guest;
And all the food you'd serve to him
Would be the very best;
And you would keep assuring him,
You’re glad to have him there;
To be in his presence is beyond compare.
But... when you saw him coming,
Would you meet him at the door?
With arms outstretched in welcome
To your visitor?
Or... would you have to change your
Clothes before you let him in?
Or hide some magazines and put
The Quran where they had been?
Would you still watch X-rated Movies?
On your TV set?
Or would you rush to switch off
Before he gets upset?
Would you turn off the radio?
And hope he hadn't heard?
And wish you hadn't uttered
That last loud nasty word?
Would you hide your worldly music?
And instead take Hadith books out?
Could you let him walk right in?
Or would you rush about?
And, I wonder... if the Prophet spent
A day or two with you,
Would you go right on doing the things?
You always do?
Would you go right on saying the things?
You always say?
Would life for you continue?
As it does from day to day?
Would your family conversation
Keep its usual pace
And would you find it hard each meal
To say a table grace?
Would you keep up each and every?
Prayer, without putting a frown?
And would you always jump up early
For prayer at dawn?
Would you sing the songs you always do?
And read the books you read?
And let him know things on which
Your mind and spirit feed?
Would you take the Prophet with you?
Everywhere you plan to go?
Or would you, maybe, change your plan
Just for a day or so?
Would you be glad to have him meet?
Your very closest friends?
Or would you hope they'd stay away
Until his visit ends?
Would you be glad to have him stay?
For ever on and on?
Or would you sigh with great relief
When he at last was gone?
It might be interesting to know
The things you would do
If the Prophet Muhammed, in person,
Came to spend some time with you.
I wonder...

SubhanAllah…this stuck a chord in my thinking. Qiyaamah is close, and we all hope to be raised and in the company of the pious along with our Nabi SallAllahu alayhi wa sallam, but the only way to attain that is to live like how they lived. In hadeeth it comes to the effect a person will be with whom he loves. So if the love of soccer players and t.v stars are more than the love of Allah and His Rasool SallAllahu alayhi wa sallam, then it’s time that we check ourselves and correct our ways before it’s too late.
May Allah grant me the ability to practice on this and may He reform myself first and make this a means of hidaayah for myself, then the rest of the Ummah. Aameen.

Written by a veiled writer.

taken from missmuslimah9.wordpress.com

Virtues of Surah Waaqiah, Mulk and Sajdah

Don't forget to Recite
Surah Waaqiah, Surah Mulk & Surah Sajdah everyday between Maghrib and Esha or after Esha Salaah.

*Do not go to sleep without reading them*

~Virtues of Surah Waaqiah~

Sayyidina Abdullah bin Masood Radi-Allahu-Anhu narrates that I heard  Rasoolullah ﷺ say, "The one who reads Surah Waaqiah every night, poverty will not be fall him. (Baihaqi)

Rasoolullah ﷺ said
Surah Waaqiah is Suratul Ghina (The Surah of Wealth). Therefore read it and teach it to your children.

~Virtues of Surah Mulk~

Rasoolullah ﷺ said
Verily, a surah from the Quraan consisting of thirty Aayah (verses)  intercede for a person until he is pardoned (by Allah), and that was Tabarakal ladhi biyadihil Mulk (Surah Mulk). (Tirmidhi)

Rasoolullah ﷺ said
The Surah of Tabarak is a great protector and deliverer, it protects and frees one from the punishment of the grave. (Tirmidhi)

~Virtues of Surah Sajdah~

Hadhrat Khalid bin Ma'daan reported
"This Surah pleads for its reader in the grave and says, "Oh Allah, if i am in Thy book, then accept my intercession, otherwise write me off from Thy book". This Surah appears in the form of a bird, spreads its wings over the dead and guards him against the punishment of the grave."
(he has also reported all these merits for Surah Mulk as well.)

Sayyidina Jaabir Radi-Allahu-Anhu says that Rasoolullah ﷺ  would not sleep until he would read Alif lam meem tanzil-as-sajdah and Tabarakal ladhi biyadihil Mulk.  (Bukhari & Tirmidhi)

Rasoolullah ﷺ said
The person who reads Alif lam meem tanzil-as-sajdah and Tabarakal ladhi biyadihil Mulk between Maghrib and Esha. The reward (for reading these two Surahs) will be as though he (the reader) had stood awake during Laylatul Qadr. (Ruhul Ma'aani)

Marriage and Waleema according to the Sunnah

When the groom is hosting a Waleema, it is not necessary for him to serve meat dishes. Even something as simple as dates an juice will suffice because the purpose of the Waleema is to express one's gratitude to Allaah. The Ahadeeth make it clear that a marriage should be as simple as possible and according to what a person can afford. This is necessary because marriage signifies the building of a home and not the destruction of a home (which is the case when people are forced to cater beyond their means).

The manner in which Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلم married the queen of Jannah Hadhrat Faatima رضي الله عنها is a lesson for the world. Ummu Salma رضي الله عنها and Aaisha رضي الله عنها both report that Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلم asked the two of them to prepare Hadhrat Faatima رضي الله عنها and take her to her  Husband Sayyidina Ali رضي الله عنه. Consequently, the two of them went to the house where Faatima رضي الله عنها was to reside and spread the soft sand of “Bat'haa" on the ground so that their bedding may be spread on soft ground. They also placed two pillows there, which they personally filled with the bark of a date palm.
For the Waleema, they served dates, water and a sweet drink prepared from dates to the people present. When this was over, they placed a stick in the couples room so that they could hang their clothing or a water bag on it. After narrating this, they added that they never saw a marriage better than that of Faatima رضي الله عنها .(ibn Majah pg.616)

This was the home and marriage of the woman whom Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلم described as the queen of Jannah. It was strikingly simple and without stress. However, we have burdened ourselves with the difficulty of hosting elaborate functions, making life difficult for everyone else. Because marriage is one of the necessities of life, it ought to be kept extremely simple so that every person may find it easy.

It is therefore quite obvious that the marriage of Faatima رضي الله عنها did not feature any elaborate feasts coupled with an expensive bridal suite in silk and velvet. The food and the preparation were most simple so that every member of the Ummah until Qiyamah may find it easy to emulate.

However, one will scarcely find people today who are prepared to emulate the simplicity of Rasoolullah صلي الله عليه وسلم 's life. Instead of being proud to emulate his lifestyle, many wretched people actually feel ashamed to do so. One should bear in mind that if Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلم wanted to host an elaborate wedding ceremony for his youngest daughter, he could have easily done so. However, he chose the simplest route for the convenience of the Ummah; so that they do not have to tire themselves in this effort and rather concentrate their wealth and efforts in the propagation of the Deen. It is rather foolish of Muslims to opt for the difficult ways of the kuffaar instead of the easy way of life that Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلم lived.

It is obvious that the pomp and extravagance with which many Muslims host wedding functions is all done for name and show. Allaah and his Rasool صلى الله عليه وسلم despise any action done for the purpose of show. Concerning those who behave extravagantly (obviously for show), Allaah says in the Quraan Kareem “Without doubt, the extravagant ones are brothers of the shayateen.”

When Allaah grants a person wealth, this wealth is a test for him and on the day of Qiyaamah, Allaah will question him about the avenues in which he spent this wealth. One's wealth should be spend only as the Shari'ah prescribes.

Squandering money on elaborate wedding ceremonies is not condemned only in the eyes of the Shari’ah, but even common society realises that this is an evil and a great wastage. Muslims should realize that it is futile to destroy the lives of people for a day's frolicking. It is like someone burning the home of another to ashes merely to build a house of his own. He may enjoy the house very much, but will soon have to wake up to reality and find that someone else is burning down his house to build  one of his own.

It is therefore the responsibility of every Muslim to follow the lifestyle of Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلم and to encourage the world to do the same so that the rot and evils invading society are quickly weeded out. In fact, it has always been the Muslims who have been responsible for bringing the world out of darkness and into light. The purpose of a Muslim in this world is not to frolic in its pleasures and vanities. What the world needs is for the Muslim Ummah to rise to the occasion and wage Jihad against the foolish customs and traditions that are plaguing people and making their lives a misery.

To Summarize
The blessed lifestyle of Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلم is long calling to the Muslims, telling them to forsake their false vanities and to adopt the pure practices of Rasoolullah صلى الله عليه وسلم because this will ensure their success in both worlds. However, if they insist on following the customs of others, they should understand that nothing will be able to check their downfall. One can either be the slave of Allaah or the slave of the ignorant customs. If women take the initiative of eradicating these customs from their lives, they can do so quite effectively and will earn tremendous rewards from Allaah.

The above is an Excerpt from the book 'A Gift to the Bride'  (Tohfa-e-Dulhan)
Compiled by Moulana Muhammed Haneef Abdul Majeed.

Bridal and Baby Showers ~ Advices Of Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel (رحمه لله)

Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem

There are many customs and trends which have their affiliation with the non-Muslim culture and lifestyle. Many Muslims, due to being afflicted with what appears to be a truly insecure and inferior complex, look towards and choose the customs and trends of the non-Muslims over that of the beautiful Sunnah. It seems as if the need is to secure a kind of acceptance in a non-Muslim society and just blend in with them – so that we are not recognized as Muslims.

Bridal Showers and Baby Showers have become synonymous with the Muslim lifestyle as it is with the rest of the non-Muslim lifestyle. Many may ask: What’s wrong with giving gifts, congratulating the bride-to-be or the new mother, or having a get together with friends?

There is nothing wrong with giving the bride or the new mother, a gift, or congratulating the person. To give a gift and congratulate are from the teachings of Islam – and would draw rewards … but there are conditions to be met in even these noble deeds

What is extremely wrong and objectionable is the background to these good deeds. They are not within the parameters of Shari’ah.

The picture of a typical bridal shower and baby shower is not typical with the Sunnah. It is typical of the non-Muslim way of life. By following suit, we fall into the sin of “Tashabbu bil Kuffaar” (emulating the disbelievers). It is aligning oneself with those who have rejected Allah Ta’ala, who live their lives in immorality and disobedience.

Nikah is a great Ibaadah. Pregnancy and the birth of a child also have their requisites in Islam. However, the west has commercialized all of these noble occasions, and made them into money-making events. The sacredness of these occasions is forgotten.

…Today, Nikahs have taken on a distinct mould of a Hollywood or Bollywood style wedding – where the bride is dressed to look like a Christian bride or a Bollywood actress – with no sign of Islam on her; and the groom is dressed in a suit and tie, looking like a typical Christian groom.  
Adding insult to injury is the extravagance and open sin at the time of the wedding and Walimah. One’s mind moves in the direction of the millions and millions who are suffering famine and starvation, who have no home, no water, no food, no clothing – but the Muslim ignores all that suffering just for some fleeting attention and praise.
All those hundreds of thousands of Rands wasted on draping a hall, on dressing the chairs, on wine glasses, on musicians, photography, on wedding cards that are thrown away, etc.  is money, which could have been the means of alleviating the plight of so many suffering people.

One brother handed me an elaborate invitation card for his daughter’s wedding. I enquired as to the cost of the wedding card, and was told that each card cost R50. Advising him, I told him that almost all people throw away wedding cards. People generally dispose of them. So he should regard that as people throwing away hundreds of his R50 notes. Would he throw R50 notes into a bin? No. However, the throwing away of those cards is equal to throwing away R50 notes. That same money could have been used in making the Aakhirah. 

Even those who are known to be religious will waste thousands on halls, on décor, etc. sacrificing the pleasure of Allah Ta’ala and Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam). Those who were meant to set the noble example of the Sunnah, who we expect are living the Sunnah – knowingly choose to forsake the Sunnah.  Simplicity, which is part of Imaan, is a rare sight in these times.  

Hazrat ‘Ayesha (Radhiyallahu ‘anha) related that Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said:‘Verily, the most blessed Nikah is that which involves the least difficulty (expenditure).'

We have a perfect Sunnah – a perfect way of life in the life of our Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa-Sallam) and in the lives of his companions, men and women. We have what is superior to all other cultures yet we consider everything else. It shows great weakness if we give preference to the culture of the Christians, Jews and Idolators over the noble Sunnah of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa-Sallam). We are exchanging diamonds for stones… and what an unprofitable exchange this is! What a great loss!

Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa-Sallam) said: “Whoever emulates a nation is from amongst them.”
In another Hadith, it is stated: “A person is with whom he loves.”
Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa-Sallam) also said that we will be raised on the Day of Judgment with those whom we imitate in this worldly life. (May Allah Ta’ala save us from such disgrace and humiliation.)

Emulating the non-Muslim culture is one downfall but there are many more that are found in the Bridal and Baby Showers.
The non-Muslims have coined a novel concept of begging – especially amongst the upper-class.  It seems as if some, from amongst the wealthy, have developed an art to begging. They even have a name for it. In the name of Bridal Showers, Baby Showers, Registries, people gracefully and politely extend their hands, and they ask and take from others.

The bride-to-be chooses her gifts from exclusive stores that offer a “registry” or she unashamedly hands out a list of those items she wants gifted to her. In the process, she places pressure and financial difficulty and sometimes a great burden on others - to purchase those gifts that she has chosen.
At the get-together, these gifts and other gifts are presented to the bride-to-be, who opens them and shows them to all present – and each person can assess the kind of money that was spent on the gift given. Let us now consider the various wrongs in this act:

·      A person is forced to purchase gifts that the bride has chosen – which may be beyond her budget in spending.

·     A person who gives something simple or inexpensive will feel ashamed and embarrassed, considering the manner in which gifts are being received and shown to others. 

The Hadith encourages giving gifts because giving gifts creates Muhabbah (love). If Muhabbah is not created then this proves that either the giver or receiver in insincere. Sometimes, people give with intentions other than expressing their Muhabbah. However, there are many who request or are desirous of receiving and there is a kind of greed from the receiving side. This request or expectation (Ishraaf) reveals insincerity from the one who is receiving.

A gift must be given happily and willingly – and should be received graciously and thankfully. This is the Sunnah. However, when we ask of people, as in the case of registries, etc. – people will give, but they give unhappily and unwillingly. And if some gift is given, which is not to our liking, then we receive it without any appreciation and thanks. This is our lamentable condition.

Another aspect that has also been brought to attention is the immorality and shamelessness at such gatherings – with indecent talk, shameless dressing by Muslim women, inappropriate games, music, dancing and such filthy entertainment, that we would not want to bring on to our tongues. It is not permissible for a person to attend such gatherings. The Shari'ah instructs us:

"IT IS NOT PERMISSIBLE TO BE PRESENT IN A GATHERING WHERE ALLAH TA'ALA IS BEING DISOBEYED."

Moreover, a person's presence is aiding in promoting and glorifying what is not permissible. We are told not to assist each other in sin; rather to assist in what is righteous:

"Help each other in righteousness and piety, and do not help each other in sin and aggression."
[Surah Al-Maa'idah 5 : 2]

A bride-to-be is known for her modesty and shyness – but all of this is lost in adopting the culture of the non-Muslims. Their dressing and their fashion nurtures immodesty. Added to this, these sins are publicized and photographs are taken and uploaded on social media – for all and sundry to view the level of our degeneration.

The heart bleeds at this miscarriage of the Sunnah. …Nay, this abortion of the Sunnah. How will we meet our Beloved Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) on the Day of Judgment? How will we show our faces to the one whose entire life was sacrificed so that today we be the reciters of the Kalimah?

May Allah Ta’ala have mercy upon us since we stand to lose by adopting this culture. If we continue in this line and direction, we will lose the pleasure of Allah Ta’ala and we will lose the great rewards for enlivening and practising the Sunnah. 

We also stand to lose the companionship of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayh wasallam) at the fountain of Kauthar on the Day of Judgment and even stand to lose the success of our marriages due to having sacrificed the beautiful, noble Sunnah by means of our emulation of the Hollywood and Bollywood culture.

If our allegiance is to Allah Ta’ala and His Rasul (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam), then there should be no delay in repentance and mending our ways and coming back to what is pure and beautiful – Islam and the Sunnah. In this, is the success of both worlds. 

May Allah Ta’ala grant us the understanding, the concern and the Taufeeq of Aml. 

by Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Saheb (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh)

Taken From
http://fragrance-of-a-rose.blogspot.co.za

My Habib ❤ My Nabi صلى الله عليه وسلم ❤

Jaabir (Radi Allahu Anhu ) said:
I was once with Muhammad صلي الله عليه وسلم on a night of the full moon. I would look at the moon and then at Rasoolullah صلي الله عليه وسلم trying to decide which was more radiant. Finally, I came to the conclusion that Muhammed was more radiant, handsome an beautiful than the full moon. (Shamaa'il Tirmidhi)

Looking at the moon today, I find myself contemplating about the beauty of My Nabi صلى الله علىه وسلم. How would it be to set eyes on his blessed countenance. Would these eyes of mine be able to behold such beauty, or would they go blind were they to witness such splendour.
Then I think, are my eyes even worthy of such an honour, are they worthy of gazing upon such a Mubarak face. The truth is, they are not. Yet my heart still yearns to see him صلى عليه وسلم to look at him صلى الله علىه وسلم , even if it is just once.
How blessed are those who got to be in his صلى الله علىه وسلم Mubarak gatherings. To sit with him, to eat with him, to learn from him صلى الله علىه وسلم.
I wish I could travel back in time so that I too could have had the good fortune of sitting in his صلى الله علىه وسلم presence.
So that I too could witness his impeccable character and unparalleled kindness.
So that I could hear for myself his eloquent speech.

If only, if only, I could get the opportunity to gaze at his Mubarak countenance even just once.
My heart yearns to see my beloved صلى الله علىه وسلم.
The one who cried for you and I. Made du’aa for you and I.
Worried about you and I, even though he never saw us.
Ya Rabbi Ummati!
That was his cry, repeatedly.
Even on the day of resurrection, when every soul will be worried only about themselves, Ya Rabbi Nafsi Nafsi will be the cry of everyone, including the Ambiya عليه السلام… Except my beloved Nabi صلى الله علىه وسلم.
His cry will be Ya Rabbi Ummati Ummati.

How can I not yearn to meet him, how can I not wish to gaze upon his blessed face.
I wish I had been a branch on a tree in the time of Nabi صلى الله علىه وسلم  so that I could've had the honour of granting him shade.
Or a camel so that I could've been the one to be his mode of transport, moving from place to place.
Even if I had been a grain of sand and I was trampled upon by his mubarak feet. That too, would have indeed been an honour.
But, I remind myself that I am honoured to be chosen by Allaah Ta’aala as an Ummati. Whilst all the above inanimate creation will not be with Nabi صلى الله علىه وسلم   in the hereafter, I have great hope that, Inshaa Allaah, through the grace and mercy of Allaah Ta'aala I will be with him in Jannah.
I may not have been blessed with the honour of being among those who saw or served him in this world.
But, if I live my life according to his beloved sunnah and teachings, through Allaah's mercy I will be with him Jannah.
And in Jannah, If I wish, I can gaze at him forever.

Oh Allaah grant me the ability to live according to Nabi صلى الله علىه وسلم's Sunnah and reunite me with him in Jannatul Firdows. Aameen

Photography and Picture-Making - Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Saheb (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh)

Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem 

Nowadays, we find that photography and videoing have become accepted in all circles, yet Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said: “Those involved in picture-making will be subjected to the worst forms of punishment on the day of Qiyamah.”[1] ...In another Hadith, Hazrat Abdullah Ibn Umar (Radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reported that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said: “Those involved in picture making will be severely punished on the Day of Qiyamah and Allah Ta’ala will say to them, ‘Give life to what you have created!’.”[2] We also know the Fatwa of our respected Imams of Fiqh and the majority of past and present Scholars. They prohibited pictures of anything animate. 

Photography carries within it so much of evil and it erupts into so many more sins. …Like a volcano erupts and spews out rocks, gases, ash and lava, which cause great harm and destruction, photography has led to an eruption of Fitan and spews out immodesty, obscenity and a host of other evils. There is no doubt that photography plays a key role in the destruction of man’s spirituality, modesty and morality. I receive so many emails and letters, and from the correspondence, it is clear that many, many people – young and old – are caught up in pornography and other sins, stemming from photography. …I have mentioned previously that the porn- industry and filthy films are all based on pictures. This gives rise to rape, incest, child porn and other vices. Islam cuts at the root of the evil by prohibiting picture-making and photography[3].  …Whatever we see today, of various Fitan, is due to the Shar’i prohibitions being flouted and disregarded.

Our Shaykh, Hazrat Maulana Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar Saheb (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh) had said that despite the deep love that the Sahaba-e-Kiraam (Radhiyallahu ‘Anhum) had for Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam), not one of them drew any image of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam). 

…From amongst the Sahaba-e-Kiraam (Radhiyallahu ‘Anhum), some could have sketched images of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) … when he was at Badr, at Uhud … in his armour; when digging the trench at Khandaq, when Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) was entering Makkatul Mukarramah at the time of its conquest; when Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) was on the plains of Arafah, hands raised, imploring and begging of Allah Ta’ala … So many pictures could have been drawn, to "capture the moment", to keep those "memories alive" and so that we, the latter of the Ummah, may also see a picture or pictures of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam), but not one Sahabi (Radhiyallahu ‘Anhum) drew such pictures. 

Since picture-making, in any form, is prohibited, they did not compromise on obedience to Allah Ta'ala and His Rasul (Sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam). Their condition was: "We hear and we obey." This is what we have to learn to nurture and imbibe within ourselves: When we hear the Command of Allah Ta'ala; when we hear the Command of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam), we should willingly submit and obey. 

We are told to follow the Sahaba-e-Kiraam (Radhiyallahu ‘Anhum) for guidance. Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam said: “My Companions are like the stars, whichever of them you follow you will be rightly guided.”[4] ...The Sahaba-e-Kiraam (Radhiyallahu anhum) set a precedent and a beautiful example for us. We need to follow in their noble footsteps. 

May Allah Ta’ala grant us the concern, and grant us obedience to Him and His Rasul (Sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam). May Allah Ta'ala grant us Istiqaamah on Siraatul Mustaqeem. 

Taken From
http://fragrance-of-a-rose.blogspot.co.za

5 Reasons to leave Social Media

1. Intermingling and Zina of the Eyes
As Muslims we know what’s wrong and what’s right.
We know that intermingling of genders is prohibited.
We know that in the Quraan Allaah as ordered both males and females to lower their gazes (verse 30 & 31 of surah noor).
So why is it that on social media we forget this?
We think we exempt from these thing online.
We think to do these things from behind a screen is ok, its not crossing any boundaries.
Well, its not okay.
You supposed to lower your gaze even online, looking at the opposite gender online is a sin just as it is a sin offline.

Talking to the opposite gender online is not ok either even if it is only a few words, Shaytaan tricks us into believing that its ok, that we not friends with the person or its just a once off, or its just a comment etc.
Don’t fall for this trap, avoid interaction with the opposite gender at all costs.
And if you do / did get caught up then stop, its not to late, make taubah, Allaah is most forgiving.
Be sure not to go back to it and be extra careful in future.

2. Photography and Selfies
You can say what you want, but the bottom line is that pictures of yourself or animate objects is haraam.

Abdullah ibn Masood reported that the Prophet pbuh said:
“Those who will be most severely punished by Allaah on the day of Qiyaamah will be the picture makers. (Bukhari)”

Our primary objective in life is to attain the pleasure of Allaah, our ultimate goal is Jannah.
So why would we want to take pictures and attain His displeasure and punishment? Why take the risk?
Everyone is doing it online, so we too get caught up and we think its ok.
But, remember, haraam will always be haraam even if everyone is doing it.

Firstly it’s a sin to take the picture and then when you post it online and any non mahram see it then its another sin, sin on top of sin (Allaah forgive and protect us).
Even if you have on your Hijab and / or Niqab, even if your awrah is covered its still not permissible.
We need to ask ourselves, is it really worth it?
Earning the displeasure of our Allaah just for a few likes online, by people we don’t even know?
I don’t think so…

(For a detailed article on the harm and impermissibility of photography go to missmuslimah9.wordpress.com and read the article titled Photography & Selfies)

3. Evil eye and Jealousy
By sharing everything online you expose yourself to the harms of evil eye and jealousy.
Not everyone is going to be happy for you when you get something. You get those with pure hearts who will be truly happy for you, and the you get some people who might pretend to be happy for you but actually in their heart they are bitter because they don’t have what you have (or portray that you have).
Or they not as “famous" or they don’t have the same talent.
It could be anything.
It could even happen that someone unintentionally ends up casting an evil eye.

By sharing everything online you are actually harming yourself. When things go wrong in our life we quick to blame others but maybe its because of our own doings. We choose to share everything, we forget that evil eye and jealousy are real things. So be careful.
Yes if occasionally you did something or went somewhere or ate something and you want to share it its ok.
But don’t make it a habit.

The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said “Be discreet in order to achieve what you want, for everyone who is blessed is envied.” (Tabrani)

4. Comparing your life to others - ungratefulness
Online we are exposed to what everyone has, we see things we can't afford or can't / don’t have
And then we become sad or depressed, often we don't realise the reason behind it.

If you think about it, your heart can't yearn for something you've never seen. So if you don't have social media and you not constantly exposed to these things you'll be more content…

Rasoolullah  صلى الله علىه وسلمsaid : look at those who are below you, not those who are above. For this way you will not belittle Allaah's bounty on you. (Bukhari and Muslim)

5. Waste of Time
We can sit hours on social media, the time just flies by and you don’t even realise it.
Its quiet a waste of time (and data ) if you actually think about it.
After all those hours what have we gained? Most of the time, nothing. Or perhaps a bit of depression and longing for things we don’t have.
In the same time we could perhaps read few pages of Quraan, do some Dhikr or even read a beneficial book.
Or sit and talk to someone instead of sitting with your phone, or play with your kids (if you have kids).
Time is precious lets not waste it behind a screen.

The Prophet  صلى الله على وسلم said: ”Take advantage of five matters before five other matters: your youth before you become old; your health, before you fall sick; your wealth, before you become poor; your free time before you become preoccupied, and your life, before your death.” (Narrated by Ibn Abbas in the Mustadrak of Hakim & Musnad Imam Ahmad. Sahih)

Theses are just a handful of the cons of social media, there are so many more.
Each of us need to do introspection, and see if social media is doing us any good or causing more harm...
Is it bringing us closer or distancing us from Allaah?
If you can give up social media completely, Alhamdulillah.

If not then at least limit yourself, cut down on your usage.
Or cut it out slowly, Only go on once a day for a minimal amount of time, then only every second day and then only once a week, once every second week, once a month.
Its possible, its very very possible.

There are pros to it too, but that’s an article for another time, Insha'Allaah.

May Allaah grant me and all of us the tawfeeq to give up sins and live our lives in a way that is pleasing to him. Aameen.