HOW DO YOU REALLY SPEND YOUR FREE TIME?

How do you really spend your free time?

I have heard all men and pretty women spending their free time enthrallingly. I in fact do not precisely know how you do it in your free space of time.

 You will laugh, maybe, to know that when I feel free, it makes me horribly hungry. I don’t know why? Whenever and wherever I am free, I feel like stuffing my big tummy with rather more of foodstuff. My physician says I am already twice heavy to my body mass ratio. He further scares me to death saying that I must fast one-way or another and cut short my weight to half of what I am now. He further says it is frustration eating. However, I wonder what is there in name; hunger is hunger, what if it is frustration hunger or Philadelphia hunger. I only feel the pinch. I wanna have my belly crammed with loads of junkies when, I sense drastically so. I only shell out from my ass, you are happy, not you.

When I have free time myself, and that too when no one else is home, particularly, my nagging wife Mabel, I call it a heaven-sent day. I am so much proudly independent to try my own experimental cuisines in “her ketshen,” my out of bound and prohibited area. I can enter the kitchen myself; ransack first her fridge without anybody’s fear. Did I tell you that I am very much fond of sweets like Nestle kinda desserts, Strawberry ice creams, and Dark night chocolates? I grab all of the left over stuff and joyously humming some Shakira- sweet -tunes, hop stop and jump to the study, sit sprawled on the cushion and start chatting seductively to my sweet Agnes, my old time girl friend a few houses past  to our last rented villa. All the time munching the snacks frantically.

Do you like almonds? How about the walnuts, pistachio, cashew, and raisins? Don’t you like them? Oh! I just love them all. See my mouth watering. I just feast on them like a hungry wolf... They are like Sandra bullock, Julia Roberts and Anita Egbert and Marilyn Monroe to me on my hot bed. I collect them all from the kitchen storeroom put them all, mix them with milkmaid and sugar and enough ice cream. Now you have my calorie fu***** “fallooda” ready to guzzle.

Do not bother if you do not get your poor hands at any of them; the kitchen should have country jaggery, groundnuts, and coconuts. Enough! Mash the coconut as you like add country jaggery and groundnuts then pour enough of milkmaid. The “payasam” is now ready. These are the things, I am sure, your wife will not prepare for you. Now get your hands boldly at her Blue Ribbons Gin Full, grab them all boy! It is you private party. You are both host and guest. Cheers. Enjoy! You are free. No bl**** any of ya s** a bi***! Boy.

When I feel free, I really try to snatch out myself away from the bonds of imprisoning blocked spaces. I feel I must break the bonds of manmade space consciousness and free myself away from the four walled blocks. My soul, psyche, or atman is imprisoned in my body. My body is imprisoned in masking clothes. I am again closed in the four walls of my house, my working facility, and the entertainment lot. These are all closed four-walled spaces. Our home, our community, our society, and our village and states are all have this four walled space perception. We differ in nations, continents religions, and race; all are four-walled brands.

 We somehow or other fought back and struggled to unfetter ourselves from this painful slavery of the four walls. The man-made space consciousness

. We all tried a lot to open up. We took to karma then to yoga and then to meditation to free ourselves from this attachment. We built prayer houses the temples, churches and the mosques. Then we tried our hands on poetry, scientific research, art, music, and many an obsessions to feel free and unshackle from this slavery of four-walled conception. We also tried then to intoxication, inebriation, and addiction through drugs to liberate ourselves from this bond. We could not succeed.

 Prison is prison even if it is Royal!

 Back home! Now I enter into her reception hall. Remember you are free! INDEPENDENCE DAY AFTER AN ETERNITY!

Tune on the fu***high voltage home theater, get the ultra mod electronic rock, supersonic sound system zoom the whole neighborhood. You are free! Ok? Now enjoy. Throw ya bloody ass out there! Dance your life out to the music in sweet mood of freedom, fully nude. Yes! Complete nude. Dancing nude, inebriated to the melodiousness transforms you to a psychedelic charisma. I call it mystic strip through. I feel as if I soar high up in the vastness and immense galactic limitless space without end. I feel one with the entirety. . Melodious sound seems dissolving in melodious silence. Blissful sound of silence seem enveloping the vastness and immensity. No more hungry and thirsty I swim and swim endlessly ever conscious of the unconscious endless whole.

 “AHAM KARMA ASMI!” “AHAM KARTHA ASMI!”

ANAL HAQ! AHAM BRHMA ASMI!

SATYAM EKAM VIPRAHA BAHUDHA VEDANTHIH!

HIKMAH! WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO YOU?

The following are notes from a class on hikmah, may Allah (SWT) reward the student (who wishes to be anonymous) for providing us with these notes. Ameen! * Umar bin Khattab (ra) left to people 18 statements of wisdom:

1- When someone transgresses upon your rights (and in doing so disobeys Allah) the way to 'revenge' is to obey Allah in dealing with him. (use reason/rules instead of anger

)2- When something comes to you from your brother, accept it as something good, unless you have overwhelming evidence against it. (hush dhann- thinking good of people)

3- Don't take the word of a Muslim as ill. When there is a way of seeing it positively, take it that way. Find one good interpretation out of 10

. 4- Avoid positions that will make others doubt you. (ie disobey Allah publicly, hang out with ppl who don't care, at all time and places) 5- Do not blame others. When you have a secret, its under your control, but when you tell someone else, that control is not yours anymore. People fall under different factors and pressures, so do not blame others

. 6- Always take care of the brothers and sisters of truth. Be with them always. They will protect you. They are always a beautiful ornament. In good times you will have ease, and in time of difficulty, you will have protection and support.

7- Be strict and careful in choosing your friends.

8- Always be with the truth even against your own life.

9- Don't indulge in that which is meaningless. Every moment of our life is meaningful- use it to worship Allah subhanawat'ala

10- Don't ask about that which didn't happen. You already have enough to deal with, be practical, deal with immediate problems not the future of ghayb

. 11- Don't ask for your need to be fulfilled from someone who wouldn't like your need to be fulfilled. Try to be self-sufficient as individuals and as an ummah, muslims of early generation were poor but didn't lower themselves. Always be with dignity

. 12- Don't be neglectful or careless in swearing by the name of Allah. Otherwise, Allah will bring punishment for you.

13- Don't be in the company of fajaar (those who commit major sins openly and don't care) You WILL be affected. Your own behavior changes little by little. Be in the company of people who remind you of Allah.

14- Be aware of your enemy. Be careful, alert, and prepared

. 15- Remember death. Visit the graveyards, try to be in kushuu'. If you can't cry, force yourself to. Try to be humble in front of the Creator, the One who gives life and takes it away

. 16- Be HUMBLE in acts of obedience to Allah. No one will protect us but Allah. Seek protection from Allah in Allah

. 17- Seek tawbaah. Immediately, be determined, have resolve.

18- Consult in your matters those who have kashiyaah (fear of Allah and always conscious of Him), because those who have kashiyaah are the ones that truly have ilm. * Ibraheen ibn Adham was approached by a man who wanted to stop his sins. He asked for advice that will help him realize the consequences of his actions. He was told: If you want to disobey Allah, you can, in 5 case

s: 1- If you want to disobey Allah, then don't eat from His rizq (provision.) The man said: Then where am I to eat when every provision is from Allah? Ibraheem said: O such a person! Is it honorable and good to disobey Allah, and eat from His provision? The man said: give me the second one

. 2- If you want to disobey Allah, then do not live on Allah's property. The man said: Then where am I to live if not on Allah's property? Ibraheem said: Is it good then, to eat from His provision, live on His property, and disobey Him? The man said: Give me the third one.

3- If you want to disobey Allah, then disobey Him in a place where He will not see you. The man said: How am I to do this when He not only sees what others see, but what is in the hearts? Ibraheem said: o you such a person, how do you eat from His provision, live on His property, and disobey Him openly? The man said: Give me the fourth one.

4- If you want to disobey Allah, when the Angel of Death comes to you, tell him to come back later, after you repent. The man said: He will not accept this from me! Ibraheem said: O you such a person, when you cannot delay death, how do you expect a savior? The man said: Give me the fifth.

5- If you want to disobey Allah, then after death comes to you, on the Day of Judgement, when the Angels of Hell come to drag you into Hell, refuse to go with them. The man said: They will not accept that from me! Ibraheem said: Then how do you expect to be saved? The man said: Enough! Enough! I seek forgiveness in Allah and make tawbaah! AstaghfirAllah wa i'tubuu ilayk! He made sincere tawbaah, and left all his acts of disobedience, and he died in such a state.

Courtesy: JANNAH COM

SINCERITY THE FOUNDATION OF A MUSLIM.

SINCERITY IS THE FOUNDATION OF A MUSLIM.

Sincerity is the freeing of one's intentions from all impurities in order to come nearer to Allah. It is to ensure that the intentions behind all acts of worship and obedience to Allah are exclusively for His pleasure. It is the perpetual contemplation of the Creator, to the extent that one forgets the creation.

Sincerity is a condition for Allah's acceptance of good deeds performed in accordance with the sunnah of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. Allah has commanded this in the Qur'an: "And they have been commanded to worship only Allah, being sincere towards Him in their deen and true. (98:5)" Abu Umama has related that a man once came to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and said, "What of a man who joined us in the fighting, his intention being for fame and booty?" The Prophet said, "He recieves nothing." The man repeated the question three times and each time the Prophet said, "He receives nothing". Then he said, "Allah only accepts actions that are intended purely for His pleasure."

(1) Abu Sa'id al-Khudri related that the Prophet (saw) said in his khutba during the farewell pilgrimage, "Allah will bless whoever hears these words and whoever understands them, for it may be that those who pass on this knowledge are not those who will understand it the best. There are three things concerning which the heart of a believer should feel no enmity or malice: devoting one's actions to Allah, giving counsel to the Imams of the Muslims, and being loyal to the majority.

"(2) What is meant here is that these three things strengthen the heart, and whoever distinguishes himself in them will have a heart purified from all manner of deceit, corruption and evil. A servant can only free himself from shaytan through sincere devotion, for Allah tells us in the Quran that Iblis said to Him: "Except those of Your servants who are sincere. (38:83)" It has been related that a rigtheous man used to say, "O self, be devout and you will be pure." When any wordly fortune, in which the self finds comfort and towards which the heart inclines, intrudes upon our worship, then it impairs the purity of our efforts and ruins our sincerity.

Man is preoccupied with his good fortune and immersed in his desires and appetites; rarely are his actions or acts of worship free of temporary objectives and desires of this kind. For this reason it has been said that whoever secures a single moment of pure devotion to Allah in his life will survive, for devotion is rare and precious, and cleansing the heart of its impurities is an exacting undertaking. In fact, devotion is the purifying of the heart from all impurities, whether few or many, so that the intention of drawing nearer to Allah is freed from all other motives, except that of seeking His pleasure. This can only come from a lover of Allah, who is so absorbed in contemplation of the next world that there remains in his heart no place for the love of this world. Such a person must be devote and pure in all his actions, even in eating, drinking and answering the calls of nature. With rare exceptions, anyone who is not like this will find the door of devotion closed in his face.

The everyday actions of a person who is overwhelmed by his or her love for Allah and the akhira are characterised by his love and they are, in fact, pure devotion. In the same way, anyone whose soul is overwhelmed by love for and preoccupation with this world, or status and authority, will be so overwhelmed by these things that no act of worship, be it prayer or fasting, will be acceptable, except in very rare cases. The remedy for love of this world is to break the worldly desires of the self, ending its greed for this world and purifying it in preparation for the next world. This will then become the state of the heart and sincere devotion will become easier to attain.

There are a great many actions where a man acts, thinking they are purely intended for Allah's pleasure, but he is deluded, for he fails to see the defects in them. It has been related that a man was used to praying in the first row in the mosque. One day he was late for the prayer, so he prayed in the second row. Feeling embarrassment when people saw him in the second row, he realised that the pleasure and satisfaction of the heart that he used to gain from praying in the first row were due to his seeing people seeing him there and admiring him for it. This is a subtle and intangible condition and actions are rarely safe from it. Apart from those whom Allah has assisted, few are aware of such delicate matters

. Those who do not realise it only come to see their good deeds appearing as bad ones on the Day of Resurrection; they are the ones referred to in Allah's words: "And something will come to them from Allah which they had never anticipated, for the evil of their deeds will become apparent to them. (39:47-48)" And also: "Say: Shall We tell you who will lose most in respect of their deeds? Those whose efforts were astray in the life of this world, while they thought that they were doing good works.

(18:103-104)" Yaqub said: "A devout person is someone who conceals things that are good, in the same way that he conceals things that are bad." As-Sousi said: "True devotion is to lose the faculty of being conscious of your devotion; for someone who identifies devotion in his devotion is a person whose devotion is in need of devotion." To contemplate devotion is to admire it, and admiration is an afflication; and that which is pure is whatever is free of all afflictions. This means that one's deeds should be purified from any self-admiration concerning the actions they entail.

Ayyub said: "It is much harder for the people of action to purify their intentions than it is to execute any of their actions." Some people have said: "To be devout for a short while is to survive for ever, but devotion is rare." Suhail was asked: "What is the most difficult thing for the self? He said: "Devotion, when the self does not have the good fortunre of being endowed with it."

Al-Fudayl said: "Forsaking action for the sake of other people is to seek their admiration. To act for the sake of their admiration is to associate others with Allah. Devotion is when Allah frees you from both of these states.

Notes: 1. Sahih, an-Nisa'i, Kitab al-Jihad, 6/25; al Hafidh ibn Hajar, Fath al-Qadir, 6/28. 2. Sahih, Ibn Ma'jah; also Ibn Hibban, Marwarid adh-Dham'an, p.47, on the authority of Zaid ibn Thabit.

COURTESY: JANNAH COM

WHY WORSHIP RITES ARE INEFFECTIVE?

WHY WORSHIP RITES ARE INEFFECTIVE?

Why Worship Rites Are Ineffective This state of affairs is the real reason why your Salah, Sawm, Zakah and Hajj make no impact upon your lives. First, there are so few among you who perform these acts of worship. Due to the dissolution of Islamic Jama'ah everybody has become autonomous. Whether you fulfil your obligations or not, there is nobody to care. Nor do those who do apparently carry out their obligations do so in a proper manner.

They are not constant in attending the congrega- tional Prayer. People are selected to lead the Prayers in the mosques simply because they are fit for no other work: people who exist on the free bread doled out to mosques, who are uneducated, who lack moral calibre. How can congregations led by them turn you into the leaders of mankind? Similar is the situation regarding your Fasting, Almsgiving and Pilgrimages.

Despite all these facts, you may argue, there are nonetheless many Muslims who do discharge their religious duties conscientiously. Why does that make no difference? But, as I have said, when the parts of the clock have become unhinged and numerous foreign bodies have been inserted in it, it makes no difference if you wind it or not, clean it or not, lubricate it or not. From a distance it does look like a clock. An outside observer may say: This is Islam and you are Muslims. But what he cannot see is how badly its inside machinery has been tampered with.

. Our Deplorable Condition Brothers! You understand why it is so that you pray and fast and yet remain trampled under the heel of cruel tyrants. But, should I tell you something even more distressing? Although most of you no doubt regret this situation but, I would say, 999 people out of 1000 are not prepared to change their situation. They have no urge in their hearts to assemble the clock of Islam again properly. They are afraid that any such reconstruction would mean that their own favourite im- ported parts would be thrown out, and this they are not prepared to accept.

They are afraid that any tightening of various parts would mean that they will have to discipline themselves, and this they are not willing to undertake. Instead, they prefer that the clock remains a piece of decoration on the wall for people to be shown and told how wonderful Islam is, what miracles it can perform. Those who are supposed to love this clock more than others would like to wind it repeatedly and zealously and to clean it most laboriously; but they want to do nothing to reset its parts properly or tighten them, nor will they seek to get rid of the extraneous parts.

. I wish I could endorse your attitudes and behaviour, but I cannot say anything which I believe is wrong. I assure you that if, in addition to praying five times a day, you were to offer Tahadjud (pre-dawn), Ishraq (post-sunset) and Chasht (mid-morning) Prayers, read the Qur'an for hours every day, and observe, over and above Ramadan, extra fasts for five and a half months in the remaining eleven months, you would still achieve nothing. What is needed is to restore the original parts to the clock and fix them firmly. Then even the little necessary winding will make it work smoothly; and the minimal amount of required cleaning and lubrication will be needed

. Wa ma 'alayna illa 'l-balagh

There is no responsibility on us except conveying the truth

COURTESY: ABUL ALA MOUDOODI..

MAY I TALK TO YOU, DEAR PARENTS !

Assalaam alaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuhu,

, Parents, teachers, students, administrators I welcome you on this happy occasion and congratulate all those who have and will graduate today. As a student of this mosque for almost my whole life and a teacher now for the last 4 years it is so wonderful to see how much this community tries to do for these students.

Today, I wanted to speak to everyone about the state of these students and our young generation. This is especially addressed to parents. The subject of my speech is about the need to bring up your child Islamically, to prioritize this and do everything in your power as a parent and community member to inculcate true Islamic understanding and faith in our young people

. I would like to give some examples of what is happenning today that highlights the extreme immediacy of this need and how important it is for all of us to begin making changes. Lastly, I would like to give some practical suggestions on how to do this. At one time I thought that every parent would have the goal of raising his or her child Islamically, but now, through experience, I really have to wonder. I don't think some parents WANT to raise their child Islamically.

They believe that if their child has basic knowledge and practice, that's enough. That Islam should be in the background while other things, such as being a doctor, going to an Ivy League school, enjoying the good life with a big house, car, good job is more important for their child in the future. They kill themselves so that their kids can have everything in this life.

There is something extremely wrong with this. I'll tell you why. How narrow-minded is it if a parent prepares their child for this life and does nothing for their child's Hereafter. If a parent really, really loves their child and wants the best for them, their goal first and foremost will be to raise the best Muslim they can. This is the best you can ever do for your child, in this life AND in the Hereafter, which is eternal. If your child is a good Muslim, they will want to do well in everything they do. They will want to attain knowledge, security, help those around them and become good people

. They will avoid so many harms and difficulties in this society. Islam will NEVER, NEVER hinder your child from anything good. It will only enhance whatever they do. Let me give some examples of what happens when Islam is NOT the first priority in families. In college, where I attend graduate school right now, you find the most amazing things. I have met Muslims raised their whole lives in Muslim families who don't pray, who date, who attend MSA meetings but go out to parties and clubs and drink, who take drugs. I had a brother come to me and say how he thought he was homosexual. I visited a sister just a few weeks ago, who had tried to commit suicide. EVERY single thing you can think of that is the opposite, antithisis of Islam, our young people are doing them. It is to the point where you can't tell the difference between them and a non-Muslim.

Why is this happenning? These are not extreme cases. These are ordinary Muslims who were raised without Islam as their priority. They were taught, consciously or unconsciously, that Islam was cultural and secondary. They were taught Islam blindly and do not understand it and are lost. We should be concerned, if not alarmed. Do not shrug this off and say, "It won't happen to me, It won't happen to my kids." Do not live in a fool's paradise and say "Oh ma'shallah my son or daughter is an honors student, they would never do anything bad." It can and it will and is happening now.

We are too late to save Muslim college students. I say this even being an MSA worker for the last 5 years. I even would say it is too late for high school students. How many of them will ever come back to Islam? Very few. It's too late for them. But it's not too late for your kids, the young generation we have today. We need to raise them with Islam and with being good Muslims as the priority, the #1 goal as a parent and community. So, how can we do this? I would like to give just 10 simple, positive, proactive things we should all be doing. #1 Be consistent

. Bring your child consistently to attend mosque activities. That doesn't mean every so often, for jumah, or every Sunday. I mean EVERY Friday, Sunday class. It is extremely frustrating for us as teachers to have students who come only Fridays or students who only come Sundays, or maybe every other week. It is unfair to the whole class and unfair to your child. It sends a message to your child of how important you think Islam really is. I really do see the difference (even between test scores) of students who come eratically or just one day a week with students who come consistently. This also cannot drop off when they are 12 or 15, it needs to continue.

#2 Get involved as a parent or community member. Take an interest in what goes on at mosque, in their class, help with homework, help them memorize, discuss Islamic issues with them, ask questions, answer their questions. Do not expect us, the teachers to do everything. YOU, as parents, have the responsibility to give your child an Islamic education. How much can we teach 2 hours a week? We can only help. How many parents have volunteered at the Islamic school? Have said, "How can I help my child's Islamic education at the mosque?" How many single people have volunteered to teach or help out at the mosque? Help bui

ld the so badly needed school building, the playground?

#3 Create Islamic alternatives. Your kids should never think Islam is boring or dogmatic. It is a complete way of life, which is good and fun. Parents should help organize camps, festivals, sleepovers, fun days, sports, and Islamic movie days for them.

#4 Buy Islamic books. How many of us have Islamic kid's books, tapes, games or videos at home? If you don't, buy some. IQRA, Soundvision, Astrolabe all produce excellent quality fun educational materials for Muslim kids. Why buy your kids Home Alone when you can buy Salam's Journey or Adam's World? Why buy a Barbie coloring book when you can buy an Islamic coloring book. We should take advantage of this to create more of an Islamic culture for our kids

. #5 Send your kids to Islamic camps, conferences and conventions. How many of you take vacations to Disney World or somewhere? How many of you send your kids to those 4-H or basketball camps? Why not go to ISNA together as a family or send your kids to MYNA where they can meet other Muslim kids from all over? Have a problem sending them somewhere alone? Go with them. I guarantee anything in public schools is 1000% worse. Which brings me to #

6 Be aware. I don't know if some parents are deliberately oblivious or just don't care. What is your child's public school environment like? Do you know? Do you know what they watch on TV, sitcoms, MTV, that just about everything there is 90% sexual and inappropriate in content? Do you know who their friends are? This is not to say go overboard. The best type of parent is flexible and not rigid over things that are not worth fighting over. Give alternatives. You can't forbid them from having any friends but must facilitate them having Muslim friends. Establish limits. Start with limiting TV to 3 hours a day maximum and watch WITH them

. #7 Eliminate the cultural baggage. Cultural baggage are all those things that parents have been raised with which are not part of Islam but are part of their culture. Separate what is your culture from what is Islam. Cultural aspects only seem confusing, hypocritical and unreasonable to young people. Get rid of them now or else your children will equate them with Islam

. #8 Use the resources of this community. There are many experienced parents, teachers, and Imams in this community that can help you if you are having problems with your child. They can help you if you are not sure how to incorporate Islamic education for your kids or don't understand its importance. You know how your child says "But everyone else's parents are letting them do it". Now you can ask other parents if they are. :) Work with them to help solve any problems now. Do not wait untill it gets out of control, when the child is 15 and refuses to listen to anyone.

#9 Teach understanding, not blind ritual. We can't keep teaching our children things without explaining why they should do them or what they mean. How many of your kids say Surah Fatiha in prayer and have no idea what it means. Has no idea what they are saying in prayer at all? This is so wrong. Saying you have to pray and here is how to is not enough. Islam turns into blind ritual for them and they won't be able to transfer Islamic principles or practice to their daily lives. Lastly and maybe most importantly,

#10 be a good Muslim. You must be a good, practicing, active Muslim for your child to be one. If you have little knowledge about Islam your child will have less. If Islam isn't a priority for you, it will not be for your child. If you are not continuously learning about Islam, your child will not be either. Inshallah I pray I have conveyed the present need for making Islam a priority for young Muslims. I hope parents heed the true-life examples of the prevalent situation, which can only get worse. Inshallah, let's make the intention now to try to do some of these simple things to help our kids understand and practice Islam. Let's not leave this need unfulfilled for another generation. Ashadu anna la ilaaha antastaghfiruka wa itubu ilaik. Please forgive me for any mistakes I have made. Anything good I have said is from Allah, the mistakes are mine. Jazakamullahu khairan, walaikum salaamsalaam

COURTESY:Sr. HUMA AHMED.

EVERYDAY GOOD DEEDS FOR ALL MUSLIMS ! ! !

   EVERY DAY GOOD DEED FOR ALL MUSLIMS.   

                              36546: Examples of good deeds we can do every day to increase our hasanaat I hope you can give me some examples of good deeds that we can do every day to increase our hasanaat.

Praise be to Allaah. If Allaah helps him to do righteous deeds, the Muslim can earn a great deal of reward. There are many different kinds of righteous deeds that can be done by rich and poor, old and young, male and female, depending on each person’s circumstances, ambition and energy, after the help of Allaah.

Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “Whoever works righteousness — whether male or female — while he (or she) is a true believer (of Islamic Monotheism) verily, to him We will give a good life (in this world with respect, contentment and lawful provision), and We shall pay them certainly a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to do (i.e. Paradise in the Hereafter)” [al-Nahl 16:97] It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Hasten to do good deeds before there come tribulations like pieces of a dark night, when a man will be a believer in the morning and a kaafir by evening, or he will be a believer in the evening and a kaafir by morning, selling his religious commitment for worldly gain.” Narrated by Muslim, 118. The kinds of good deeds that a person can do every day include the following:

1 – Praying in congregation in the mosque It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever goes to the mosque in the morning and evening, Allaah will prepare for him an honourable place in Paradise every time he goes and comes.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 631; Muslim, 669

. 2 – Attending funerals and offering the funeral prayer It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever attends a funeral until he offers the (funeral) prayer will have one qiraat (of reward) and whoever attends until the burial is done will have two qiraats.” It was said: “What are the two qiraats?” He said: “Like two great mountains.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1261; Muslim, 945

3 – Saying “Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah wahdahu laa shareeka lah, lahu’l-mulk wa lahu’l-hamd wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in qadeer (There is no god but Allaah alone, with no partner or associate; His is the Dominion, to Him be all praise, and He is able to do all things)” one hundred times each day. It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever says Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah wahdahu laa shareeka lah, lahu’l-mulk wa lahu’l-hamd wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in qadeer one hundred times in a day, it will be as if he freed ten slaves, and one hundred hasanaat (good deeds) will be recorded for him, and one hundred sayi’aat (bad deeds) will be erased from him, and it will be a protection for him against the Shaytaan all that day until evening comes. No one can do anything better than that except one who does more.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 3119; Muslim, 2691.

4 – Upholding the ties of kinship It was narrated that Anas (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: I heard the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) say: “Whoever would like his provision to be increased and his lifespan extended, let him uphold his ties of kinship.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 5639; Muslim, 2557

. 5 – Observing voluntary fasts, visiting the sick and giving charity. It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Who among you is fasting today?” Abu Bakr (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “I am.” He said: “Who among you has attended a funeral today?” Abu Bakr (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “I have.” He said: “Who among you has fed a poor person today?’ Abu Bakr (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “I have.” He said: “Who among you has visited a sick person today?” Abu Bakr (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “I have.” The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “These (traits) are not combined in a person but he will enter Paradise.” Narrated by Muslim, 1028.

6 – Saying Subhaan Allaah wa bi hamdih (Praise and glory be to Allaah) one hundred times. It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever says Subhaan Allaah wa bi hamdih (Praise and glory be to Allaah) one hundred times, morning and evening, his sins will be erased even if they are like the foam of the sea.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 6042; Muslim, 2691

. 7 – Tasbeeh, tahmeed and takbeer, and enjoining what is good and forbidding what is evil, and praying Duha. It was narrated from Abu Dharr that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “For every bone of the son of Adam a charity must be given each day. Every tasbeehah [saying Subhaan Allaah (Glory be to Allaah)] is a charity, every tahmeedah [saying al-hamdu Lillaah (praise be to Allaah)] is a charity, every tahleelah [saying Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah (There is no god but Allaah)] is a charity, every takbeerah [saying Allaahu akbar [Allaah is Most Great]) is a charity, enjoining what is good is a charity, forbidding what is evil is a charity, and two rak’ahs offered in the mid-morning (Duha) is sufficient.” Narrated by Muslim, 720

. 8 – Reading Qur’aan. It was narrated that ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Mas’ood said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever reads a letter of the Book of Allaah will be credited with a good deed, and a good deed gets a tenfold reward. I do not say that Alif-Laam-Meem is a letter, rather alif is a letter, laam is a letter and meem is a letter.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 2910; he said it is hasan saheeh. Also classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi.
And there are many other good deeds. The Muslim should seek the help of his Lord to do good deeds, and do his best to do them. He should persist in doing these good deeds even if they are little, for that is better than doing a lot of good deeds then stopping. It was narrated that ‘Aa’ishah said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “O people, you should do whatever good deeds you can, for Allaah does not get tired (of giving reward) until you get tired. And the most beloved of good deeds to Allaah is that in which a person persists, even if it is little. If the family of Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) started to do something, they would persist in it.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 43; Muslim, 782. And Allaah knows best.

I. COURTESY:slam Q&A

THE INNER SECRETS OF FASTING IN ISLAM

THE INNER SECRETS OF FASTING

 : Imam Ibn Qudamaah Al-Maqdisee January 29, 2014.

 Imam Muwaffaq-ud-Deen Ibn Qudamaah Al-Maqdisee This article is taken from the book Mukhtasar Minhaajul-Qaasideen (p. 38-41), This article was translated by Isma’eel Ibn al-Arkaan. Know, that in the fast (Sawm) is a special quality that is not found in anything else. And that is its close connection to Allaah, such that He says: ‘‘The Fast (Sawm) is for Me and I will reward it.’’ [2] This connection is enough to show the high status of fasting. Similarly, the Ka’bah is highly dignified due to its close connection to Him, as occurs in His statement: ‘‘And sanctify My House.’’ [3] Indeed, the fast is only virtuous due to two significant concepts: THE FIRST: It is a secret and hidden action, thus, no one from the creation is able to see it Therefore riyaa‘ (showing off) cannot enter into it. THE SECOND: It is a means of subjugating the enemies of Allaah. This is because the road that the enemies (of Allaah) embark upon (in order to misguide the Son of Aadam) is that of desires. And eating and drinking strengthens the desires.

 There are many reports that indicate the merits of fasting, and they are well known THE RECOMMENDED ACTS OF FASTING: The pre-dawn meal (suhoor) and delaying in taking it are preferable, as well as hastening to break the fast and doing so with dates. Generosity in giving is also recommended during Ramadhaan, as well as doing good deeds and increasing in charity. This is in accordance with the way of the Messenger of Allaah.

 It is also recommended to study the Qur‘aan and perform I‘tikaaf (seclusion for worship) during Ramadhaan, especially in its last ten days, as well as increasing upon the exertion (towards doing good deeds) in it. In the two Saheehs, ’Aa‘ishah said: ‘‘When the last ten days (of Ramadhaan) would come, the Prophet would tighten his waist wrapper (izaar)’’ [4] The scholars have mentioned two views concerning the meaning of ‘tighten his wrapper (izaar)’ The first is that it means the turning away from women. The second is that it is an expression denoting his eagerness and diligence in doing good deed. They also say that the reason for: the last ten days of Ramadhaan was due to his seeking of the Night of al-Qadr (Laylatul-Qadr). AN EXPLANATION OF THE INNER SECRETS OF FASTING AND ITS CHARACTERISITCS:

 There are three levels of fasting, the general fast, the specific fast and the more specific fast. As for the general fast, then it is the refraining of ones stomach and their private parts from fulfilling their desires. The specific fast is the refraining of ones gaze, tongue, hands, feet, hearing and eyes, as well as the rest of his body parts from committing sinful acts. As for the more specific fast, then it is the heart’s abstention from its yearning after the worldly affairs and the thoughts which distance one away from Allaah, as well as its (the heart’s) abstention. From all the things that Allaah has placed on the same level. [5] From the characteristics of the specific fast is that one lower

s his gaze and safeguards his tongue from the repulsive speech that is forbidden, disliked, or which has no benefit, as well as controlling the rest of his body parts. . In a hadeeth by al-Bukhaaree: ‘‘Whosoever does not abandon false speech and the acting upon it, Allaah is not in need off his food and drink.’’ [6] Another characteristic of the specific fast is that one does not overfill himself with food during the night. Instead, he eats in due measure, for indeed, the son of Aadam does not fill a vessel more evil than his stomach. If he were to eat his fill during the first part of the night, he would not make good use of himself for the remainder of the night. In the same way, if he eats to his fill for suhoor, he does make good use of himself until the afternoon. This is because excessive eating breads laziness and lethargy therefore, the objective of fasting disappears due to one’s excessiveness in eating, for what is indeed intended by the fast, is that one savours the taste of hunger and becomes an abandoner of desires.

 RECOMMENDED FASTS: As for the recommended fasts, then know that preference for fasting is established in certain virtuous days. Some of these virtuous days happen every year, such as fasting the first six days of Shawwaal after Ramadhaan, fasting the day of ’Arafah, the day of ’Ashooraa, and the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah and Muharram. Some of them occur every month, such as the first part of the month, the middle part of it, and the last part of it. So whoever fasts the first part of it, the middle part of it and the last part of it, then he has done well. Some fasts occur every week, and they are every Monday and Thursday.

 The most virtuous of the recommended fasts is the fast of Daawood. He would fast one day and break his fast the next day. This achieves the following three objectives, the soul is given its share on the day the fast is broken. And on the day of fasting, it completes its share in full. The day of eating is the day of giving thanks and the day of fasting is the day of having patience. And Faith (eemaan) is divided into two halves- that of thankfulness and that of patience

. [7] It is the most difficult struggle for the soul. This is because every time the soul gets accustomed to a certain condition, it transfers itself that. As for fasting every day, then it has been reported by Muslim, from the hadeeth of Aboo Qataadah that ’Umar (radiyallaahu ’anhu) asked the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam): What is the case if one were to fast everyday? So he (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘‘He did not fast nor did he break his fast or, he did not fast and he did not break his fast.’

’ [8] This is concerning the one who fasts continuously, even

ing the days in which fasting is forbidden. CHARACTERISITCS OF THE MORE SPECIFIC FASTS: Know that the one who has been given intellect, knows the objective behind fasting. Therefore, he burdens himself to the extent that he will not be unable to do that which is more beneficial than it. Ibn Mas’ood would fast very little and it is reported that he used to say: ‘‘When I fast, I grow weak in my prayer. And I prefer the prayer over the (optional) fast.’’ Some of the Companions would weaken in their recitation of the Qur‘aan when fasting. Thus, they would exceed in breaking their fast (i.e.. by observing less optional fasts), until they were able to balance their recitation. Every individual is knowledgeable of his condition and of what will rectify it. Footnotes: [1] This article is taken from the book Mukhtasar Minhaajul-Qaasideen (p. 38-41) of the illustrious scholar and righteous Imaam, Ibn Qudaamah al-Maqdisee (d.529H). This article was translated by Isma’eel Ibn al-Arkaan and edited by Abu Khaliyl. There were also slight adaptions made to it, such as the exclusion of a couple of statements. [2] Related by al-Bukhaaree (4/118) and Muslim (no. 1151).[3] Sooratul-Hajj: 26 [4] Related by al-Bukhaaree (4/322) and Muslim (no. 1147).[5] (Editors note: Additional comment is required here, The levels mentioned are levels of abstinence. The first of these three levels entails the abstinence which is fulfilled, the fast is considered complete in view of the one having met the legislated requirements [i.e. It does not have to be repeated or made up, the servant has indeed fasted.] The remaining levels deal with the value of the Fast.

If the second is level is not met, the fast will be of less value to the servant, than if it were met and likewise for the third. Thus it is said that intentional eating and intercourse render the fast null and void, whereas committing other unlawful acts such, likes speaking falsely, placing the unlawful look to the opposite sex. And so on will constitute a sin of one degree or another, but not nullify the fast. [6] Related by al-Bukhaaree (4/99)[7] {Editors note: This statement is based upon an unauthentic Hadeeth, which has been reported by al-Kharaa‘itee and ad-Daylamee. One of its narrators was graded ‘‘abandoned’’ by an-Nisaa‘ee and adh-Dhahabee. Al-Manawee and al-Albaanee approved of its grading. See ad-Da’eefah (no. 625). [8] Related by Muslim

ADOLF MODI AND NARENDRA HITLER

 INTERNATIONAL Home » International » India Mumbai mayor compares Modi with Hitler IANS Last updated on July 20, 2015 at 11.3 am SHARE VOTE 14  Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Mumbai Mayor and Shiv Sena leader Snehal Ambekar has compared Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the late German dictator Adolf Hitler. In an interview with the Afternoon Despatch & Courier, 43-year-old Ambekar also fancied herself akin to a chief minister and desired a red-beacon vehicle which bestows status on the position she occupies. In the interview titled 'Modi's rule is quite Hitler-esque', she said: "I even admire Narendra Modi for his self-reliant way of working. But at some level, I feel his rule is quite like Hitler..." "This is bound to happen when power is concentrated in the hands of one man," Ambekar, a first-time municipal corporator, said. Elected as the city's seventh woman and first Dalit woman mayor in September 2014, Ambekar has been in the limelight for some time for seeking a red beacon for her vehicle. Now, the former LIC officer claimed that her position in the city was akin to the chief minister. "The mayor has constant emergencies, as well as we go to receive VVIPs as representatives of the masses. If a chief minister has red beacon, a mayor's status is pretty similar in terms of a city," she said. "I believe there is nothing wrong for a mayor in using a red beacon fitted car," she said in the interview. Ambekar's comments were the latest in a series of the barbs the Shiv Sena has fired at the BJP. Both the parties are allies in the centre and Maharashtra.