Poem: The Importance Of Lowering Your Gaze When Necessary

💐 In The Name Of Allah The Most Gracious The Most Merciful

💌 Developing feelings or crushes starts with a look, 

An intent stare at a person whom you think looks good, 

Whose captivating qualities got your heart all hooked.

Infatuation wouldn't rise if you never looked, 

Or if you lowered your gaze, like every Muslim should.

~•~

The first glance is allowed. Notice there's a non-mahram. 

Talk to them briefly and only if it's important.

Look the other way. Don't examine their appearance. 

Avoid staring so you're unable to imagine  

What it would be like if you were smooching or dating.

~•~

Lower your gaze even if they aren't good-looking,

To evade heartbreaks and prevent zina from rising, 

Whether single or married, whether man or woman.

Lowering one's gaze - one signature of tough Muslims  

Who yearn for Allah's Love and have strength to leave passions.

~•~

Note: Reminder to recite Surah Al-Kahf every Jumuah Friday and include the Muslim Ummah in your Du'as.

📖 Mu’awiyah ibn Haydah RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said: "Three eyes will not see the Hellfire: An eye standing guard in the Way of Allah, an eye weeping from fear of Allah, and an eye lowering its gaze from what Allah has forbidden."

Source: Al-Mu’jam Al-Kabīr 16375

Grade: Sahih li ghayrihi according to Al-Albani

📖 Buraydah RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "Do not follow one glance at a woman with another. Verily, you have the first one and not the second."

Source: Sunan At-Tirmidhi 2777

Grade: Hasan (Fair) according to Al-Albani

📖 Ibn 'Abbas RadhiAllahu 'anhuma narrated: Al-Fadl was riding with the Messenger of Allah SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam and a woman from Khash’am came. Al-Fadl began to stare at her and she stared at him. The Prophet SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam made Al-Fadl turn his face in the other direction.

Source: Sahih Al-Bukhari 1442

Sahih Muslim 1334

Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi (Authenticity agreed upon) according to Al-Bukhari and Muslim

📖 Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudri RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "Beware of loitering in the roads." They said, “O Messenger of Allah, we have nowhere else to sit and talk.” The Prophet SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "If you insist, then give the road its rights." They said, “What are its rights, O Messenger of Allah?” The Prophet SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "Lower the gaze, refrain from harm, return greetings of peace, enjoin good, and forbid evil."

Source: Sahih Al-Bukhari 2333

Sahih Muslim 2121

Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi (Authenticity agreed upon) according to Al-Bukhari and Muslim

📖 Jarir RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: I asked the Messenger of Allah SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam about accidentally glancing at a woman. The Prophet SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam ordered me to look the other way.

Source: Sahih Muslim 2159

Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Muslim

📖 Abdullah ibn Mas’ud RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "O young men, if you are able to support a wife, get married. Verily, it lowers the gaze and guards chastity. Whoever is not able to do so, he must fast as it will discipline his desires."

Source: Sahih Al-Bukhari 1806

Sahih Muslim 1400

Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi (Authenticity agreed upon) according to Al-Bukhari and Muslim

Poem: Three Life Lessons Learned From Year 2020

💐 In The Name Of Allah The Most Gracious The Most Merciful

💌 Three lessons learned from the stressful year 2020

To remind myself and others, with Allah's Mercy: 

One: From noticing how most care for themselves mostly, 

Concerned for their well-being and overall safety, 

I recall how most may react with "Nafsee, nafsee",

~•~

"Myself, myself" when the Day of Judgment is revealed, 

When humans worry about the outcome of their deeds.

So whatever you do, do it for Allah Only, 

Unaffected by people's insults and mockery.

Every human deals with their own insecurities.

~•~

Two: From being enforced for some time to stay indoors, 

To "social distance" and minimize going outdoors, 

I recall the state of those buried under earth's floors. 

Allah knows best. Good souls may be resting with rewards,

While others are chastised for the wrongs they did before.

~•~

Some from their houses busied themselves with wrongdoings 

That ruined them like sexting, scamming and gossiping.

Others benefited from quarantine by learning, 

Studying Islam and attending online meetings.

All humans have freewill. Goals and works are different.

~•~

Three: I've learned that the more you strive to be with Allah, 

The more He guides you and you're resistant to fitna.

The more often you read the Qur'an, perform Salah, 

Share something for Allah's sake, say Dhikr and Du'a, 

The more you forget earth's chaos, preferring Jannah.

~•~

Despite the many protests and rants around the globe, 

Avoidance and grudges from incompatible souls, 

Foes slandering you, some loved ones leaving you ignored, 

And the battles with toxic moods like "bored" or "alone", 

You calm yourself knowing that Jannah is our real home.

~•~

So relax and trust Allah. As days and nights go by, 

With more trials piling up, remember: Paradise. 

Allah grants wealth to whom He chooses from humankind, 

While Allah sends challenges to those He truly likes, 

So we're fit for Jannah after we've been purified.

~•~

📖 Abu Huraira RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: The Messenger of Allah SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam recited this verse, "On that day, the earth will tell its stories," (Surah Az-Zalzalah 99:4) and he said, "Do you know what are its stories?" They said, "Allah and His Messenger know best." The Prophet SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "Verily, its stories are that it will bear witness (testify) against every male servant and female servant to what they did on its surface, saying this person did such on such a day. These are its stories."

Source: Sunan At-Tirmidhi 3353

Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Al-Tirmidhi

📖 Ibn 'Abbas RadhiAllahu 'anhuma narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "Take advantage of five before five: Your youth before your old age, your health before your illness, your riches before your poverty, your free time before your work, and your life before your death."

Source: Shu’ab Al-Imān 9575

Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Al-Albani

📖 Abu Huraira RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah’s noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "The strong believer is more beloved to Allah than the weak believer, but there is goodness in both of them. Be eager for what benefits you, seek help from Allah, and do not be frustrated. If something befalls you, then do not say: 'If only I had done something else.’ Rather say: "Allah has decreed what He wills." Verily, the phrase ‘if only’ opens the way for the work of shaytan."

Source: Sahih Muslim 2664

Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Muslim