Love according to Islam

Sometimes it is so easy to take those we love for granted.  We forget that our parents, siblings, spouse, children are our brothers and sisters in Islam.  We push them away, damage these most important relationships.  If only we could love everyone around us for his sake, we wouldn't be the cause of other's suffering.  They are Allah (swt)'s gift to us.  If only we could rise above our limitations, our weaknesses, ourselves and show the LOVE we truly feel deep inside for those around us.  May Allah (swt) help us SHOW the love we already feel for those around us, help us love everyone for his sake, and fulfill everyone's rights over us.

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"Where are those who loved each other for the sake of My glory?"

Abu Hurayrah relates that the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) said: Allah will say on the Day of Judgment: 'Where are those who loved each other for the sake of My glory? Today, - on a day when there is no shade but mine I shall shade them with My shade.‌ (Sahih Muslim - 2566)

Love is among the most exalted of human feelings. When this love is focused on Allah and forms the basis for our interpersonal relationships, many problems are transcended, and great fruits are harvested for society as a whole. The Quran and Sunnah often speak about the noble status of those whom Allah graces to possess such love.

We have the famous Hadeeth that enumerates the seven people who will enjoy Allah's shade on a day when there is no shade but His. One of those mentioned are: two men who love each other for the sake of Allah alone, meeting for that reason and parting for that reason. (Sahih al-Bukhari - 660 and Sahih Muslim - 1031)

Love for Allah's sake transcends the limits of our worldly existence, enduring into the life to come. Allah says:

"Close friends on that Day will be foes to one another "except for the righteous."

Loving one another for the sake of Allah and brotherhood in faith are among the most excellent acts of worship. This worship comes with conditions upon those who would love for the sake of Allah. This love has its duties that must be fulfilled so that the relationship will be pure and free of base undercurrents. Upholding these duties brings a servant nearer to Allah and to His pleasure and, over time, it can bring about a greater nobility of person.

Among the duties of this love are the following:

1. They must truly love to extend support and assistance to each other and must love good for one another. The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) said: None of you believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.  (Sahih al-Bukhari - 13 and Sahih Muslim - 45)

2. They must enjoin each another to truth and patience and give each other sincere advice. They must enjoin what is right and the forbid what is wrong and guide each other. They must help one another in carrying out works of righteousness.

Allah says:

"By time! Surely the human being is at loss. Except for those who have faith and do righteous deeds and exhort one another to truth and exhort one another to patience."

Allah also says:
"The believing men and women are protecting friends of one another. They enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong."

3. They must engage in the things that cultivate this love, strengthen interpersonal relationships, and facilitate the fulfilling of their duties to one another.

The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) said: A Muslim has six rights over another Muslim.

They asked: "What are they, O Messenger of Allah?"

He said:

When you meet him, greet him with peace.
When he invites you, accept his invitation.
When he seeks your advice, advise him.
When he sneezes and them praises Allah, invoke Allah's blessings upon him.
When he falls ill, visit him.
When he dies, follow his funeral.

(Sahih Muslim - 2162)

4. A Muslim has the right to kind treatment from his fellow Muslim. He should be greeted with a smile and given a pleasant reception.

The Prophet (V) said: Do not view any good act as insignificant, even the act of greeting your brother with a smile on your face.  (Sahih Muslim - 2626)

Discord and division should be avoided. Ibn Taymiyah said: If every time two Muslims disagreed they shunned each another, then there would be no cooperation or brotherhood among Muslims.‌

5. They must guide each other to what is good and help each other in acts of obedience. Likewise, they must prevent and discourage one another from falling into sin and iniquity.

The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) said: One should help his brother whether he is an oppressor or the one being oppressed. If he is an oppressor, forbid him from his oppression. If he is being oppressed, then come to his aid. ‌(Sahih Muslim - 2584)

6. The love between believers completes itself in a most wonderful and genuine manner when the two are away from each other, they pray to Allah for to bless each other. This continues for the living one even after the other has departed from the Earth.

The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) said: A Muslim's supplication for his brother/sister in secret is answered. At his/her head an angel is appointed, and whenever he supplicates for his brother/sister with something good, the angel appointed to him says: Ameen, and likewise for you ‌(Sahih Muslim - 2733)

7. They must excuse one another mistakes and defend each other's honor, never speaking ill of or deriding one another. They should keep each other's secrets, advise one another sincerely, and never abuse each other.

The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) said: It is not permissible for one Muslim to distress a another. ‌ (Sunan Abu Dawud - 5004 and Musnad Ahmad  23064)

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Collected and Revised
By
Hamadi Al-Aslani

Source: JeddahDawahCenter

After hardship comes ease - 2

Once you hit rock bottom, there is no other way but to rise up.  Alhamdulillah, the day after I got a call.  I got the job I had interviewed for.  SubhanAllah.  Allah (swt) is most merciful.  He gave it to me when I was in most need of it.

As I told my family, the whole family was overjoyed.  SubhanAllah.  This job meant more to us than it does to other regular families.  A lot of things depended on this job.  Unlike others, our life could have drastically changed if I hadn't gotten a job within this limited period of time.

I saw my mother crying tears of joy, after a long time.  I saw the open and free smile in my father's face after a long time.

That was also the day I decided to finally draw a conclusion with the guy.  He was a good guy mashaAllah, but not for me.  We were similar, and yet too different from ways that mattered the most.  I found it difficult to draw a middle ground between him and my family.  I was doubtful from the beginning, but those doubts never cleared up.  Instead he also became doubtful.  The more days went by, the more incompatible we seemed.  I took it to be the answer to my istekhara.

Surely everything happens for a reason.  Allah (swt) knows best.  Who knows, maybe the right guy is around the corner.

After hardship comes ease - 1

Bismillah.

Surely after hardship comes ease.  This week has been a proof of that.

The melt down happened couple of days ago as I heard them speaking to me.

"I can see you are trying so hard to make everything seem normal, but it is not.  I can see it.  I have known you for three years and I have never seen you like this.  It is like you are not you anymore, I feel like I am losing my friend.  Something else has been going on and I see you sinking deeper and deeper.  Why won't you tell me what it is?"

I didn't know what to tell her.  Some things shouldn't be said.  Some things no one understands, and you don't want anyone to understand either.

"This doesn't have to be your life.  You WILL get out of it.  Just put your trust in Allah (swt).  He loves you.  He wants best for you.  So why are you losing hope?  Make dua to Allah (swt) to solve what it is that has been bothering you."

Then my sister came into the room and saw my red eyes.  A few more tears escaped as she spoke to me gently.

"Don't worry.  Everything will be okay.  Allah (swt) has always watched over you, he has always looked after you, and he always will."

And last but not least, my mother walked in on me at the end of the day and saw the traces of tears in my face.  She took me with her and tried to understand what it is that I seemed so broken about.  After a while when I couldn't explain what it is, she started crying.

"I don't know what it is that is bothering you.  I just want to see you happy.  And it hurts me when I see you so broken but I don't know what it is, and can't do anything about it.  Whatever it is that is making you depressed, get out of it."

Finally I was forced to tell her, "Mom, it's okay.  I am probably just PMSing."

My mom was startled.  I do that sometimes.  When I don't want to speak about what it is that is bothering me, or I think that others won't understand, I blame it on PMS.  It is much easier to do so than to attempt to explain the things that are going inside my head.

Some battles are my own.  I must walk through those paths alone.  The world must not know about those, specially my family.  These are the roads I don't want to walk alone, but I also don't want others to know.  It's okay.  I am not alone.  Allah (swt) is always with me.

Allah (swt) is most merciful.  He has put so much love in these people for me.  He surrounded me with love when I was in most need of it.  The concerned friend, understanding sister, and loving and caring mother.  They all cared for me, and wanted me to be happy.  All of them told me words I needed to hear.  

Making the changes

A lot has happened within this week.  InshaAllah I will soon write all about it.  In the mean time, a great lecture by nouman ali khan. 

Trials in Islam

Alhamdulillah, alhamdulillah, alhamdulillah.  Allah (swt) is most merciful.  It is amazing how he does things.  How he makes the end meet at the end of the day.  A great lecture on "Trials in Islam".  MashaAllah.

Trust!

Bismillah.

Dear friend.  Why do you stress out because of the tests life throws at you?  Why do you fear you will not pass?  Why do you fear you would fall?  When your fate has already been written.  Allah (swt) knows exactly what is going to happen.  It has already been determined for you.  So why worry about the results?  You may not get the thing you are aiming for.  To the world you may seem like a failure.  But does it really matter what the world thinks of you?  As long as to Allah (swt) is pleased with you, that's all that matters, doesn't it?

Allah (swt) does everything for the best.  So what if you fail?  So what if things don't turn out the way you wanted them to be?  If you get the things you hope to get, alhamdulillah.  If you don't, alhamdulillah.  Know that Allah (swt) is the best of planners, and he has planned something better for you.  So what if to the world you seem like a failure?  If those aunties talk about you?  If your parents are disappointed?  If you fail to make the ends meet?  As long as you try your best, and remain thankful to Allah (swt), he will reward you.  Victory will be yours in the end.  You will have a good ending.  these things in the middle, these mishaps in the middle are your tests.  Tests may be painful, but it is those painful times when we learn the most, when we learn to become stronger.  These tests are your blessings.  They make you realize how weak you are, and how powerful Allah (swt).  They may be painful, but know they are happening for the best.  Use them to your advantage.  Hold on to the rope of Allah (swt), use your tests to get closer to him, and in the end you will be a winner.

Dear friend.  Your job is not to win.  Your job is not to succeed.  For that only comes from Allah (swt).  Your job is to strive, to try your best.  Put YOUR best effort, tie your camel, then whatever that happens, be content because it is from Allah (swt).  Why stress yourself out and make things more difficult for yourself?  Just try your best and leave the results up to Allah (swt).  Have a mindset, that regardless of what happens, you will say alhamdulillah.  

Remember the story of Maryam (as).  When she was pregnant, and she was sitting under a date tree?  She was weak and alone.  Allah (swt) asked her to shake that date tree.  Now realistically speaking, can a weak and vulnerable pregnant lady really shake a tree?  Even a strong man can't do that by himself.  Allah (swt) is most wise.  He knew that she could not do that.  But he asked her to do so because he wanted to show us that regardless of our condition, we must try.  Alone we can never achieve anything.  We are weak human beings ourselves.  But if we try for his sake, he will take that little effort that we are putting, he will put barakah into it and he will give us big results like he did for Maryam (as).  Our job is not to achieve, and not to make things happen.  Our job is to put effort.  Result comes from him.

So whatever is meant to happen will happen.  There is NOTHING you can do to stop it.  You are just a weak human being.  So have faith.  Go there and fight.  This is your jihad.  Fight for his sake.  Everyday wake up and do your best to be the best servant of his that you can.  Trust him, turn to him, and praise him for everything.  Even if everything falls apart, know that at the end Allah (swt) will grant you victory.  Whether you see it in this life immediately, couple of years down the line, or even in the day of the judgement.  So smile and say alhamdulillah :)

Faith means, no worrying. Faith is passionate intuition. Every tomorrow has two handles -- we can take hold of it with the handle of anxiety or the handle of faith. He who has faith has an inward reservoir of courage, hope, confidence, calmness, and assuring trust that all will come out well, even though to the world it may appear to come out badly. - lessonsoftheday.blogspot.com