بسم الله. ربي زدني علما. امين

بسم الله. ربي زدني علما. امين
May Allah the Almighty grant us more beneficial knowledge, accept our good deeds, forgive our mistakes, protect us from fitna, and join us with the righteous believers in Jannatul Ferdaus. Ameen.

Friday, May 22, 2020

Note: Include The Muslim Ummah In Your Du'as.

💐 In The Name Of Allah The Most Gracious The Most Merciful
💌 A first wife praying to Allah that He guides her husband's second wife to Islam... 
A married woman praying that Allah blesses the marriage life of her friend, praying that the hearts of her co-wives are softened so they can welcome her into the family without any hatred and jealousy... 
A Muslim persistently praying to Allah that He grants his/her relatives guidance and Taqwa even if they have prevented means of communication...
A Muslim who was offended by so-and-so, who got mistreated and betrayed by several individuals numerous times, yet chooses to forgive them and prays to Allah to pardon their mistakes...
A Muslim praying to Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala that He alleviates the affairs of other Muslims and praying for the Ummah in spite of going through struggles and challenging trials of his own...
Two souls who are mutually attracted to each other yet they sacrifice the attraction and distance themselves from one another fearing Allah, praying that He Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala protects the both of them from zina and fitna...
Two souls who had a fight or misunderstanding yet they simultaneously pray to Allah the Most Forgiving to forgive them and the other person, realizing we're all humans, and Allah loves those believers who are patiently forgiving...
Muslims who pray that their friends' businesses are halal and successful, even though they themselves are temporarily struggling financially...

These are some examples of scenarios where a Muslim wholeheartedly prays to Allah for another Muslim.
When you're kind and strong enough to pray for other Muslims:
1] Your heart becomes more pure and a lot softer than before.
By letting go of egoistic pride and prideful hurt, you gain inner strength that enables you to pass Allah's tests more successfully with rewarding Sabr/patience.
2] The lives of those whom you pray for will Inn-sha-Allah improve significantly, just as you eventually notice improvements in yourself and your journey towards Jannah.
3] Some of Allah's Angels pray for you likewise or whatever good thing you pray for a Muslim you will also be granted at the most befitting time.
📖 Abu Darda RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "No Muslim servant supplicates for his brother behind his back but that the angel says: 'And for you the same.'"
Source: Sahih Muslim 2732
Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Muslim

Thursday, May 21, 2020

Hadith: Be Among Allah's Loyal Allies.

📖 Abu Huraira RadhiAllahu ‘anhu narrated: Allah’s noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said, “Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala) said: 'Whoever shows hostility to a righteous friend of Mine, I have declared war against him. My servant does not grow closer to Me with anything more beloved to Me than the duties which I have imposed upon him. My servant continues to grow closer to Me with extra good works until I love him. When I love him, I am his hearing with which he hears, his seeing with which he sees, his hand with which he strikes, and his foot with which he walks. Were he to ask something from Me, I would surely give it to him. Were he to ask Me for refuge, I would surely grant it to him. I do not hesitate to do anything as I hesitate to take the soul of the believer, for he hates death and I hate to disappoint him.'”
Source: Sahih Al-Bukhārī 6137
Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Al-Bukhari
📖 Abu Malik Al-Ashari RadhiAllahu ‘anhu narrated: Allah’s noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said, “O people, listen, understand, and know that Allah the Almighty has servants who are neither prophets, nor martyrs, yet the prophets and martyrs admire them for their position and closeness to Allah.” A man among the bedouins of a distant land came and he waved to the Prophet SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam, saying, “O Prophet of Allah, describe them to us.” The Prophet SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam was pleased by the bedouin’s question, and he said, “They are people from faraway lands and different tribes. They have no close familial relationship between them. They sincerely love each other for the sake of Allah. Allah will place them on pulpits of light on the Day of Resurrection and grant them an audience. He will place light on their faces and light on their garments. People will be terrified on the Day of Resurrection, yet they will not be terrified. They are the allies of Allah, upon whom there is no fear or grief.” (The Noble Qur'an 10:62)
Source: Musnad Aḥmad 22307
Grade: Sahih li ghayrihi (Authentic due to external evidence) according to Al-Albani
📖 Sa’d Ibn Abi Waqqas RadhiAllahu ‘anhu narrated: Allah’s noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said, “Verily, Allah loves a servant who is righteous, independent, and obscure (hidden, not well-known or not popular).”
Source: Sahih Muslim 2965
Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Muslim

Note: How To Apologize To People You've Hurt

💐 In The Name Of Allah The Most Gracious The Most Merciful
💌 A sister in Islam asked if it is okay for her to not directly apologize to someone she wronged because she's probably either too shy to approach her or she is afraid that her apology might get rejected.
If you've done something wrong to another Muslim, whether you gossiped about them previously or stolen an item that belonged to them, and you're genuinely sorry for what you did but you don't have the courage to face them, you can:

1] Send a direct message or voice message to that person's inbox, informing them that you are really sorry for hurting them and 
Inn-sha-Allah you promise you'll try your best to avoid repeating the offense.
2] E-mail or write a letter to make sure they read your letter of apology.
3] Talk to several of that person's close friends or trusted relatives, requesting them to speak to the person you want to apologize to. The more they hear news of you being apologetic and remorseful for what you did through reliable individuals, the more they are likely to let go of the grudge and contact you.
4] If you've stolen something from them for whatever reason and you are unable to return it to them because you don't know their exact location or they moved to a different area, you can do charity on their behalf with the amount that you can estimate is equal to the price of the stolen item. For example if you stole one of their abayas, you can buy a new abaya of a similar quality and give it to a Muslimah who needs it. Your intention is to do charity on behalf of that person whose abaya you stole. Do it to compensate for stealing, then try your utmost not to steal from anyone again.
5] A sign that you're truthfully sorry for mistreating a Muslim is positively changing the way you deal with them. If they were offended by a hurtful joke you said, stop making offensive jokes about them. If they got annoyed by you contemptuously copying their manner of speaking, voice or overall personality, then quit being a childish nuisance to them. If you used to spread false rumors about them, inform everybody that the accusations you told weren't true in a public statement on your social media accounts or to the group of friends who listened to your gossip.
6] The next time that person is being badly spoken about by somebody else, take initiative to back them up and defend their honor, not only because it's the proper thing to do, but also as a compensation for backbiting about them in the past.
Positive transformation, regretting what you did, and treating that person much better than before are signs that your apology is sincere, whether or not the hurt person forgives you or chooses to distance themselves because they're not strong enough yet to forgive. What is important is your eagerness to apologize, knowing that all humans will be brought to account for their actions and sayings on the Day of Judgment.
7] Pray to Allah the Most Forgiving to forgive your mistakes and the Muslim whom you formerly mistreated. Beg Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala for Him to soften your heart and theirs, and that Allah blesses you with beautiful character so you avoid deliberately offending other Muslims in the future.
Being blessed with a heart that is free from despising other Muslims and not obsessing over people who can't truly connect with you are among the factors which lead to serenity and having peace of mind.
~*~
📖 Abu Huraira RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "Whoever wrongs his brother in his honor or anything else should resolve the matter today before it cannot be resolved with gold and silver coins. If he has good deeds to his credit, they will be taken from him according to the measure of his injustice. If he has no good deeds left, he will bear the evil deeds of the one he has oppressed."
Source: Sahih Al-Bukhari 2317
Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Al-Bukhari
📖 Abu Huraira RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said:
"Charity does not decrease wealth, no one forgives except that Allah increases his honor, and no one humbles himself for the sake of Allah except that Allah raises his status."
Source: Sahih Muslim 2588, Grade: Sahih
📖 Abdullah Ibn Amr RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam was upon the pulpit and he said:
"Be merciful to others and you will receive mercy. Forgive others and Allah will forgive you."
Source: Musnad Ahmad 7001, Grade: Sahih

Wednesday, May 20, 2020

Note: Advice For Sisters Interested In The Niqab

📜 Question: What advice can you give a Muslimah who is interested in wearing the niqab?
📝 Alhamdulillah as a niqabi since about 12 years old back in Saudi Arabia and still wearing the niqab in my 30s here in the Philippines I advise you to:
1° First purify your niyyah/intention of wearing the niqab. Are you wearing the niqab to join the fabulous team of niqabi sisters worldwide, or are you tired of people staring at your cute face, or are you covering it so your skin doesn't become darkened by the sun's rays? The best reasons to wear the niqab would be to sincerely please Allah the Almighty by leveling up your love for modesty, by keeping your actual beauty reserved for your husband exclusively, and to dress modestly like how the noble wives of the beloved Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu alaihi wa sallam used to have their bodies and faces covered when outdoors.
2° Be patient while wearing the niqab, especially if this is your first time. Expect some ignorant individuals from among Muslims and non-Muslims who may mock or laugh at you for wearing the niqab. The term "ninja" and "molto" or "monster" would become more common, along with questions like "Why do you wear that?" or "Are you seriously acting like you're better than us because you've become more religious?"
When any child or adult makes fun of you for wearing niqab, you have three ways to react to them:
1• Calmly smile and patiently explain what the niqab is, and why you chose to wear it.
2• Jokingly make a ninja move and say something clever like "Hey what about you? Are you a secret ninja too?" or simply laugh at their ignorance while walking away from nonsensical remarks which reflect their bad upbringing or insecurity.
3• Maintain Sabr and silently walk away from rude, insecure and uneducated strangers who probably never traveled abroad or were exposed to different customs. Be kind enough to pray to Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala that He guides them to understanding and embracing Islam someday. 
You will Inn-sha-Allah be rewarded for staying patient when going through any difficult situation.
3° Choose a niqab with the kind of cloth that allows you to breathe easily. Don't make things more difficult by wearing a niqab that is thick enough to be a winter jacket or mini blanket.
4° Try to have at least two niqabs, not just one. Obviously if one niqab hasn't been washed yet, you still have an extra one.
5° If you're among those sisters who go out with some make-up on even underneath the niqab, expect some concealer or foundation markings around the inner part of your niqab. You can easily wash them off with water or wet wipes.
6° Remain steadfast as a niqabi Muslimah. Being the only niqabi among a group of hijabis or women who don't wear hijab shouldn't stop you from sporting the niqab. It is a huge sign that you trust Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala when you refuse to give up wearing the face-veil even if you're the only one in your family, workplace or class wearing the niqab for Allah's sake.
7° The more you spend time with fellow niqabi sisters, the more you become an expert at identifying people by their body size and recognizing different voices or ways of speaking and distinguishing friends by their overall behaviour. One of the beautiful aspects of wearing the niqab is you don't want people judging you by your face, but who you are as a person is based on what's inside your heart, the good deeds you do solely for the sake of Allah the Most Wise, the contributions you generously provide and kindness you give to the Muslim Ummah, your unique personality and your main desire to enter Jannah Paradise without being concerned by the expectations of society and demands of the fashion industry.
May Allah the Most Merciful make you more courageous and patient as you decide to wear the niqab for His sake only. Ameen.
📖 ‘Urwah reported: Aisha RadhiAllahu 'anha said, “May Allah have mercy on the foremost women of the Muhaajirun. When Allah revealed the verse, ‘Let them draw their cloaks over their bodies,’ (The Noble Qur'an 24:31) they cut their sheets and veiled themselves with them.”
Source: Sahih Al-Bukhari 4481
Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Al-Bukhari

Poem: 13 Life Lessons Learned From 33 Years

💐 In The Name Of Allah The Most Gracious The Most Merciful
💌 Thirteen lessons learned from thirty-three years of living,
From our stay in Saudi Arabia to Philippines,
To remind myself and for others' self-improvement,
Another way to express thanks for Allah's blessings.
~*~
One: Childhood memories - some bring smiles, others sorrow,
But tough experiences I went through has helped me grow.
Moments where to verbal bullying I was exposed
Taught me some words can hurt, but not if they make you strong.
~*~
Two: Teenage years are some of the toughest adventures,
Where your faith is tested along with your character.
Ensure when you befriend, you choose those with right manners,
As your circle can make you a winner or loser.
~*~
Three: Even when you've reached twenty, you still haven't grown.
You're not mature yet. There are tons of things to be known.
Throughout your twenties you'll commit some mistakes and wrongs,
But they're worthwhile if they inspire wisdom to divulge.
~*~
Four: Recall you're human. You're bound to slip now and then.
Expect to forget promises or form misjudgments.
Whenever you've erred, rush to Tawbah as a Muslim,
Learn from each loss and error. Try not to repeat them.
~*~
Five: Getting married doesn't guarantee "perfect life".
Anticipate frequent fights between husband and wife.
When shaytan interferes and wants you both to divide,
Defeat his desires and be brave enough to ditch pride.
~*~
Six: Oftentimes we may have incorrect opinions,
Misjudging some souls only to know they're different
From our initial assumptions based on experience.
Suspicion in some cases are shaytan's suggestions.
~*~
Seven: We gravitate to souls who resemble us 
Or who share our love for Allah so they've earned our trust.
Regardless of the bond, many good friends must depart.
Your heart remains whole if to people you're not attached.
~*~
Eight: It's not easy to move on from something you like.
From serving Allah is willingness to sacrifice,
To abandon bad habits and what Allah dislikes,
To forsake dunya because you prefer Paradise.
~*~
Nine: Life is a series of ups and downs, highs and lows.
Sometimes you're in a good mood, other times you feel low.
Survive by thanking Allah for the gifts He bestowed,
And be patient when trials or challenges are thrown.
~*~
Ten: No matter how many achievements you've attained 
With Allah's Will, there's always someone whose gains outweigh
Your accomplishments, so arrogance is not portrayed.
You're trained to not be too proud for rizq that Allah gave.
~*~
Eleven: When you're grateful to Allah, with Shukr,
You'll realize you can't envy the lives of others.
With sweet contentment you can focus on what matters.
A person's triumphs don't signify you're a failure.
~*~
Twelve: Part of Allah's tests is sending troublemakers,
Liars, scammers, traitors, trolls who are not well-mannered,
And foes disguised as "friends" who undermine your efforts.
To deal with them, grant distance and enhance your Sabr.
~*~
Thirteen: Every soul whom Allah decrees you would meet
Has a gift to offer you or a lesson to teach.
Either you benefit them or they gain your misdeeds
Each time they backbite about you, depress or mistreat.
~*~
Allah's Prophets too had enemies who caused much strife,
Who rejected their calls, who assumed their truths were lies,
Yet with Allah's Love and Guidance those Prophets survived.
People's hatred doesn't mean by Allah we're disliked.
~*~
Push yourself to remember our main purpose in life -
To worship Allah Only, to deserve Paradise.
Steadfastly speak the truth though many let themselves lie.
Though some find you "insincere", Allah sees what hearts hide.
~*~
Do your best to be whom Allah commands you to be -
Allah's striving servant who worships Him to succeed 
In this world and the next, be granted Jannah's entry,
For trusting Allah, not fearing His slaves' enmity.
~*~
📖 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