Do Not Be Diverted

This world is full of diversions and distractions, but we must stay on the straight path as guided by Allah.

" O believers! Let neither your riches nor your children divert you from the remembrance of Allah.  Those who do so, it is they who shall be the real losers.  Spend in charity and in the cause of Allah, out of the sustenance which We have bestowed on you before that time when death will come to anyone of you, and he shall say, "O my Rabb! If only you would give me respite for a  little while then I would give out everything in charity , and be among the righteous."  But Allah grants respite to no soul when its term comes to an end.  Allah is aware of all your actions.  Qu'ran 63: 9-11

Allah's Bargain!

Who is smart enough to accept Allah's Bargain?  I accept it thankfully.   I hope you will too.

The Qu'ran says, "O' Believers should I tell you of a bargain that will save you from a painful punishment.  It is to believe in Allah and His Rasool and strive in the cause of Allah with your wealth and your persons.  That is best for you, if you but knew it.  He will forgive you your sins and admit you to gardens beneath which rivers flow , and will lodge you in beautiful gardens of Eden, which will be a supreme achievement.  And yet another blessing which you love, help from Allah and a speedy recovery.  So, O' Prophet give this good news to the believers."  Qu'ran 61: 10-13

Fear Allah!

Nobody loves us better than our mothers.  Allah, our Creator, loves us seventy times more!  However, if we do not obey Allah, His anger is severe too.  The Qu'ran says:

"O' believers!  Fear Allah and let each soul see what it is sending for the morrow (Hereafter).  Fear Allah, surely, Allah is aware of all you actions.  Be not like those who forget Allah, as a result Allah caused them ( the unbelievers) to forget themselves, it is they who are the transgressors.  The companions of hell and the companions of paradise are not equal, of course the companions of paradise are far superior". Qu'ran 59: 18-20

Picture: by Shahnaz from airplane.

Give Charity

Allah has repeatedly asked us to spend in charity.  We should realize that all wealth belongs to Allah and we have been given proprietary right only, while it is in our possession. Yesterday this wealth was in other people's possession, today it is in our's, and tomorrow it will pass on to someone else.  Ultimately, it will go back to Allah, who is the creator and owner of everything in this universe.  Only that portion of this wealth will be of any use to us that we spend in the cause of Allah while we have it.

The Qu'ran says, "What is the matter with you that you do not spend in the way of Allah, whereas to Allah belongs the inheritance of the heavens and the earth?  57: 10

"Who will give Allah a goodly loan, so that He may increase it many fold to his credit and give him a liberal reward besides it."  57: 11

"Surely, the charitable men and charitable women, and those who give a goodly loan to Allah, shall be repaid many fold, and also be given a liberal reward besides it."  57: 18

Doubts about Allah!!

 

How can one doubt Allah's being?  I agree, we cannot see Him but if we look around, there are signs of His being every where.  We have only to observe and understand.  In the Qu'ran, Allah says:

"Have you ever considered the seed that you sow in the ground.  Is it you who cause it to grow or are We the grower?  If it be Our Will, We could crumble your harvest into chaff and you would then be left lamenting, "We are indeed laden with debts, indeed we have been deprived of our labor!"

Have you ever considered the water that you drink?  Is it you who send it from the clouds or are We the sender?  If it be Our Will, We could turn it salty.  Why then do you not give thanks?

Have you ever considered the fire that you kindle?  Is it you that made the tree to grow that feeds the fire or are We the grower?  We have made it a reminder for man (as to what would be the life without it), and a provision of life for the travellers in the desert.  So glorify the name of your Rabb, Who is the Greatest."  Qu'ran 56: 63-74

Moral Behaviour

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From time to time we all need guidance on how to act in a particular situation.  The Qu'ran says:

"O believers! Let no man laugh at other men who may perhaps be better than themselves, and let no woman laugh at another woman, who may perhaps be better than herself.  Do not defame through sarcastic remarks about one another, nor call one another by offensive nicknames. It is an evil thing to be called by an evil name after being a believer, and those who do not repent are the wrongdoers.

O believers! Avoid immoderate suspicions, for in some cases suspicion is a sin. Do not spy on one another nor backbite one another (to say something about another behind ones back, that if one hears it, dislikes it).  Would any of you like to eat the flesh of your dead brother?  Surely you would abhor it.  Fear Allah for Allah is the Acceptor of repentance, Merciful".

O mankind! We created you from a single pair of male and female, and made you into nations and tribes that you make get to know one another.  Surely the noblest of you in the sight of Allah, is he who is the most righteous.  Allah is All-Knowledgeable, All-Aware".                          Qu'ran 49: 11-12.

Paradise

All our efforts in this world should be to do good things so that we may be granted Jannat (Paradise) after our death.

"Here is the parable of paradise which the righteous have been promised: it has rivers, the waters of which will never be stagnant, rivers of milk whose taste never changes, rivers of wine delicious to those who drink, and rivers of honey, pure and clear.  In it they will have all kinds of fruits, as well as forgiveness from their Rabb." Qu'ran 47:15                             

What a glorious achievement that will be.  May Allah guide us all.

Respect for Parents

Our parents bring us up when we are not even aware that we exist.  We need to be fed, cleaned, coddled, put to sleep and every thing else.  We owe our existence first to Allah and then to our parents.

Allah says, "We have enjoined upon man to treat his parents with kindness.  With much trouble did his mother bore him, and with much pain did she give him birth.  His bearing and his weaning took thirty months.  When he reaches the age of full strength and becomes forth year old he says, " My Rabb! Grant me the the grace that I may thank You for the favors you have bestowed on me and on my parents, and that I may do good deeds that may please You, and grant me good children.  Surely I turn to You in repentance and surely and I am one of the Muslims."  Such are the people from whom We accept the best of their deeds and overlook their misdeeds.  They shall be among the residents of paradise; true is the promise that has been made to them in this life."           Qu'ran 46: 15

Prophet Isa ( Jesus)

In the Quran Allah says, "He (Jesus) was no more than a mortal, whom We favored and made an example for the children of Israel.  Had it been Our will We would have made angels to replace you on  the Earth.  He (Jesus) is in fact a sign for the coming of the hour of Doom.  Therefore, have no fear about its coming, follow me, this is the right way. Let not shaitan restrain you, for he is an open enemy."

When Isa came with clear signs, he stated, "I have brought to you wisdom, and to clarify some of those things about which you have disputes, so fear Allah and obey me.  Surely, He it is Allah, who is my Rabb and your Rabb, so worship Him.  This is the right way."   Qu'ran 43: 59-64

Photo by Shahnaz at home.

Rewards

We may not realize it, but all that we have is from Allah, however,

"Whatever you are given is nothing but a provision for the transitory life of this world, better and everlasting is the reward which Allah has for those who believe, put their trust in their Rabb, avoid major sins and shameful deeds, forgive even when they are angry, answer the call of their Rabb, establish Salah, conduct their affairs with mutual consultation, spend out of the sustenance which We have given them, Picture by Shahnaz in Seattle

and when they are oppressed, help and defend themselves.  The recompense for an injure is an injury proportionate to it, but if a person forgives and makes reconciliation, he shall be rewarded by Allah, He does not like the wrongdoers.                                                                        Quran 42: 36-40

Day of Judgement

Muslims believe that we will have to answer for our deeds in this world to Allah on the Day of Judgement.

"On the Day of Resurrection the whole earth shall be in His (Allah) grasp and all the heavens shall be rolled up in His right hand.  Glory be to Him!  Exalted be He above what they associate with Him.  The Trumpet shall be blown, and all that is in the heavens and the earth shall swoon except those whom Allah will please to exempt.

Photo's by Shahnaz in Seattle

Then the trumpet will be blown for a second time and behold! they shall all stand up looking around.  The earth will be shining with the light of her Rabb, the Book of Records will be laid open, the Prophets and other witnesses will be brought in and justice will be done between people with all fairness, none shall be wronged.  Every soul will be paid in full according to its deeds, for He knows fully well what they did.

After the Judgement,  the unbelievers will be driven to Hell in groups.  When they reach there, its gates will be opened, and its keeper will say, "Did there not come to you Rasools from among yourself, who recited to you the revelations of your Rabb and forewarned you about the meeting of this Day?  "Yes", they will answer.  But at that time the sentence of punishment would have already been announced against the unbelievers.  They will be told, "enter the gates of hell and live therein forever."  Evil be be the abode of the arrogant.

As for those who fear their Rabb, they be led towards paradise in groups.  When they reach there its gates will be opened and the keeper will say, " Peace be upon you! You have done well, now enter to live therein forever."  They will say, " Praise be to Allah who has fulfilled His promise and has given us this land to  inherit, now we can live in paradise wherever we like."  How excellent will be the reward of the righteous."  Qu'ran 39: 67-74

May Allah guide us to be the inheritors of heaven.  Ameen.

Allah

It is impossible to describe all the attributes of Allah in a few sentences.  He is Great!!!

"He is Allah, the One, the Irresistible.  He created the heavens and the earth to manifest the truth.  He causes the night to succeed the day and the day to overtake the night.  He has subjected the sun and the moon to His law, each one following a course for an appointed term. Beware! He is the All-Mighty, the All-Forgiving.

He created you from a single person, then from that person He created his mate.  He also created for you eight heads of cattle in pairs.  He created you in the wombs of your mothers in stages, one after another, in three 

Photo by Shahnaz at home

layers of darkness.  This is Allah, your Rabb.  To Him belongs the sovereignty.  There is no god but He.  How can you then turn away from Him".                                                                 Qu'ran 39: 4-6