Note: What To Do When You're Laughed At By Some People

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

💌 When my family and I were waiting for our flight in Heathrow airport in London, I remember my brothers complaining to me about how two older boys who were around my age (I was about twelve years old that time) were supposedly taking over the children's indoor playground and preventing other kids from entering. Being the protective elder sister that I was, I hurriedly marched into the play area and walked past the two British boys, gesturing to my brothers that it's okay they could go inside. The two white kids immediately left the play area when they saw my hijaab. It was the 90s when seeing Muslim females wearing the hijab around Europe wasn't yet common. I also recall how one woman displayed her shock so obviously when I opened a bathroom stall door and another kid in Denmark who looked at me like he was terrified of my headscarf. Those are only a few examples of several instances when some people reacted surprisedly on noticing my hijaab.

A number of years later Alhamdulillah when I became accustomed to wearing the niqab and black abaaya, the level of people getting surprised by my choice of attire intensified. Numerous times here in the Philippines I've overheard some (morally and culturally ignorant) adults and kids describe me as "ninja" or "molto" (monster etc.). Alhamdulillah the more they taunted and laughed at me for my niqab, the more I actually loved wearing it for Allah's sake, since I have this mindset of understanding that people who laugh at you are either insecurely jealous or they're too idiotic to understand your ways. Unlike some individuals who stop doing something when it causes them to be laughed at, Alhamdulillah my stubbornness and persistence to continue wearing the niqab just increase because Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala is the One I'm trying to please, not His creation, specially not those with erroneous beliefs.

A student who firmly believes that one plus one equals two wouldn't change his answer even if all his classmates were taught that the sum is three hundred. Similarly a biologist who knows that frogs are amphibians wouldn't alter their labels or category if some clowns insisted on classifying frogs as vegetables.

The more you believe in the correctness of your decisions, particularly if you are doing a good deed sincerely to please Only Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala, the more you're unlikely to be persuaded by the negative reactions of people whose perceptions conflict with yours.

Furthermore, if a lot of goths and punksters worldwide are confident enough to demonstrate how loyal they are to their groups and how rebellious they can be with their outfit choices, you too should be capable of dressing differently from those who don't yet recognize Allah's Laws.

💭 Whenever some persons laugh at you for doing a good deed like wearing Islamic clothing and praying in public, keep in mind that:

1) People in general naturally laugh at what they do not understand. If something appears to be odd, strange or confusing to them, a lot of them react with laughter because it's their first time to witness something so unusual, or "silly" according to their tiny level of comprehension. You'd probably giggle, even slightly, if you saw a tall astronaut in a spacesuit casually passing by, or be intrigued by the sight of a chubby person wearing a banana costume. Of course if you're a mature adult who is familiar with various styles of clothing or you have friends from diverse backgrounds, observing somebody dress completely different from you is nothing new.

2) The narration of that incident when some Quraysh chiefs were making fun of the noble Prophet Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam while he was praying in front of the Ka'bah is sufficient reminder that being ridiculed for serving Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala is something which all of Allah's Prophets went through. The closer we are to Allah the Most Merciful, the more He sends challenges to strengthen our faith/Imaan, enhance our level of patience, expiate sins, motivate us to prefer Jannah to this temporary world, and elevate our status or station in Paradise.

3) Be grateful to Allah the Most Wise that He didn't make you similar to the people who childishly ridicule and mistreat others. It is better to be the laughing stock who's ridiculed for doing what is right than to side with the unbelievers mocking only to be later laughed at on the Day of Judgment.

~•~

📖 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

Hadith: Virtues Of Sharing A Hadith/Saying Of The Prophet Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam

 📖 Zayd ibn Thabit RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, “May Allah brighten the face of a person who hears a tradition from us and he memorizes it until he can convey it to others. Perhaps he will convey it to one who understands better than him, and perhaps one who conveys knowledge does not understand it himself.”

Source: Sunan Abī Dāwūd 3660
Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Al-Albani
📖 Abdullah ibn Amr RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, “Convey from me, even a single verse. Narrate from the children of Israel (indicating the permissibility to share inspirational stories and motivational lessons from unbelievers), for there is no blame in it. Whoever deliberately lies about me (whoever knowingly fabricates a Hadith), let him take his seat in Hellfire.”
Source: Sahih Al-Bukhari 3274
Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Al-Bukhari

Hadith: Importance Of Sincerity And Doing Good Only For Allah

 📖 Ma’qil ibn Yasar RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: I departed with Abu Bakr RadhiAllahu 'anhu to meet the Prophet SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam and the Prophet SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said “O Abu Bakr, there is idolatry (shirk/polytheism) among you more hidden than the crawling of an ant.” Abu Bakr RadhiAllahu 'anhu said, “Is there idolatry other than to make another god alongside Allah?” The Prophet SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, “By the One (Allah) in Whose hand is my soul, there is idolatry more hidden than the crawling of an ant. Shall I not tell you something to say to rid you of it both minor and major? Say: 'O Allah, I seek refuge in You that I associate partners with You while I know, and I seek Your forgiveness for what I do not know.”

Source: Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 715
Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Al-Albani
📖 Ka’b ibn Malik RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, “Whoever seeks knowledge to impress the scholars, to argue with the foolish, or to attract the attention of people, Allah will admit him into Hellfire.”
Source: Sunan At-Tirmidhī 2654
Grade: Hasan (Fair) according to Al-Albani
📖 Abu Huraira RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, “Verily, the first people to be judged on the Day of Resurrection will be a man who was martyred. He will be brought, the blessings of Allah will be made known and he will acknowledge them. Allah will say: 'What did you do about them?' The man will say: 'I fought in Your cause until I was martyred.' Allah will say: 'You have lied, for you fought only so that it would be said you were brave, and thus it was said.' Then, Allah will order him to be dragged upon his face until he is cast into Hellfire. Another man studied religious knowledge, taught others, and recited the Qur'an. He will be brought, the blessings of Allah will be made known and he will acknowledge them. Allah will say: 'What did you do about them?' The man will say: 'I learned religious knowledge, taught others, and I recited the Qur'an for Your Sake.' Allah will say: 'You have lied, for you studied only so that it would be said you are a scholar and you recited the Qur'an only so that it would be said you are a reciter, and thus it was said.' Then, Allah will order him to be dragged upon his face until he is cast into Hellfire. Another man was given an abundance of blessings from Allah and every kind of wealth. He will be brought, the blessings of Allah will be made known and he will acknowledge them. Allah will say: 'What did you do about them?' The man will say: 'I did not leave any good cause beloved to You but that I spent on it for Your Sake.' Allah will say: 'You have lied, for you spent only so that it would be said you are generous, and thus it was said.' Then, Allah will order him to be dragged upon his face until he is cast into Hellfire.”
Source: Sahih Muslim 1905
Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Muslim

Note: Allah Is Our Only True Friend Whom We Trust

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

💌 Genuine friends, although they are very rare to find, all have some common qualities:
1] Reciprocity: They return your favors, they mutually like you just as you respect them, and the friendship produces pleasant vibes because it is not one-sided.
2] Sincerity or truthfulness: They try their best to stay honest with you. They avoid purposely telling lies and being deceitful. If ever they break a promise or they've offended you, they're quick to apologize or do something good to compensate for their wrongs.
3] Eagerness to see you improve: Befriending them for Allah's sake motivates you to become a better version of yourself. They generously share their Islamic knowledge with you, correct you when you're wrong, and give sincere advice when you ask for consultation. They can't envy you, and they don't view you as a threat or competition.
4] Willingness to listen and readiness to protect your secrets:
You can Inn-sha-Allah trust them as they're not into gossiping, betraying and making fun of others. They don't force you to unwillingly give them all the details when you confide in them, since they readily understand your need for privacy at times. Even if you haven't spoken to each other for several days, once you reach out to them, you resume talking and discussing issues comfortably as though you're best friends whose level of care doesn't reduce by distance.
5] Sincerely loving you for your heart, piety and faith/Imaan instead of your looks, money or status in society: They do not criticize you for your outward appearance, income and accomodation. What they are more interested in is your connection with Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala and how you can assist one another become more successful Muslims.
Allah the Most Merciful is the Only True Friend Whom we can always depend on since He has the above traits:
1) When we do Tawbah and return to Allah the Almighty, He Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala guides us more to what brings us closer to Him and Jannah Paradise.
2) Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala never breaks any promises as He stated in Surah Aal-'Imraan verse nine. When Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala guarantees to have a Du'a responded, He knows when to answer His servants' supplications at the most ideal time.
3) Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala expects us to be the best Muslim servants as we can be, always guiding us to do what is right and preventing us from what He knows is more harmful than beneficial.
4) Allah the All-Hearing is at all times ready to listen to our prayers, especially late at night when most people are asleep. Unlike humans who generally get annoyed if we continuously request them to do favors for us, Allah the Most Kind loves it when He hears our Du'as, emphasizing He Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala is the Only One Whom we can rely on to survive in both worlds.
5) Another quality that proves how Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala is the Only One deserving of our love and attention is His focus on how our hearts are instead of how we appear on the outside. Some people befriend you only to boost their influence in their community or to upgrade their reputation, while Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala judges us by our good actions accompanied by our niyyah/intention. Regardless of how many friends on earth a person has, if they haven't earned Allah's Love and Guidance, they didn't gain anything of significance.
Reminder to include the Muslim Ummah in your Du'as today Jumuah Friday before Maghreb prayer.
📖 Abu Dharr RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, “Allah the Almighty says: 'Whoever comes with a good deed will have the reward of ten like it and even more. Whoever comes with an evil deed will be recompensed for one evil deed like it or he will be forgiven. Whoever draws close to Me by the length of a hand, I will draw close to him by the length of an arm. Whoever draws close to Me the by length of an arm, I will draw close to him by the length of a fathom. Whoever comes to Me walking, I will come to him running. Whoever meets Me with enough sins to fill the earth, not associating any idols with Me, I will meet him with as much forgiveness.”
Source: Sahih Muslim 2687
Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Muslim
📖 ‘Amr ibn ‘Abasah RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, “Allah the Almighty said: 'My love is a right upon those who befriend each other for My Sake. My love is a right upon those who defend each other for My Sake.”
Source: Al-Mu’jam Al-Ṣaghīr 1092
Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Al-Albani
📖 Abu Huraira RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, “Allah the Almighty says: 'I am as My servant expects Me and I am with him as he remembers Me. If he remembers Me in himself, I will remember him in Myself. If he mentions Me in a gathering, I will mention him in a greater gathering. When he draws near Me by the span of his hand, I draw near him by the length of a cubit. When he draws near Me by the length of a cubit, I draw near him by the length of a fathom. When he comes to Me walking, I come to him running.'”
Source: Sahih Al-Bukhari 6970, Sahih Muslim 2675
Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi (Authenticity agreed upon) according to Al-Bukhari and Muslim

Note: Gossip Is Done By The Insecure And Morally Incompetent

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

💌 There is a difference between warning others about someone's wrongdoings which they carry out openly and describing their negative qualities unnecessarily just because of one bad experience you've had with them. It is irrational to criticize a person, organization or group of individuals when you lack sufficient information regarding their actual conditions and circumstances, which are entirely known by Allah the All-Knowing.
Some women appear to be uncomfortably shy and soft-spoken, complacent about their own sense of humility, yet when they're surrounded by their close friends or families, they readily open their mouths to childishly rant on how awful such-and-such a person or institute is. They wrongfully assume they're being helpful when in reality they are projecting their insecurities onto those they fail to understand, emphasizing how much they ignorantly don't know what or whom they're criticizing.
A gossiper doesn't gain anything significant except for the sins of the Muslims whom they backbite, ridicule or falsely accuse. An unresolved misunderstanding, a grudge that is formed from bigotry or prejudice, and an innocent mistake do not make it legitimate for any decent person to constantly whine about another Muslim, especially if they're not around to defend themselves and provide an explanation.
As much as possible, be mature enough to avoid gossiping if doing so:
1] ...would offend the subject being badly spoken about, and if they were present they would most likely clarify that your opinion of them is unfair, untrue or invalid.
2] ...is intended to make you feel better about your emotionally wounded self or your so-called warnings do not make a positive impact on other Muslims who eagerly seek the truth.
3] ...is meant to make your audience laugh because gossiping, fault-finding and forgetting your own flaws are possibly activities you enjoy to lessen feelings of moral incompetence.
Confident adults have no desire to indulge in childish backbiting and talking trash about specific people whom they conflict with. Unless you're seeking advice from a concerned parent, professional judge at a court or guidance counselor, it is wiser to keep your unpleasant thoughts to yourself than allow the rewards of your good deeds to be affected through sinful gossiping.
A striving Muslim ought to seek guidance and help from Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala by way of Du'as/supplications rather than crying about His servants to His other creation.
~•~
📖 Abdullah ibn Amr RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: They mentioned a man in front of the Messenger of Allah SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam and they said, “He only eats if he is fed! He only moves if he is made to move!” The Prophet SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, “You have backbitten him.” They said, “We only said what is true about him.” The Prophet SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, “It is enough sin to mention bad things about your brother.”
In another narration, the Prophet SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, “If what you said about him were not true, you would have slandered him.”
Source: Musnad ‘Abd Allāh ibn al-Mubārak 2
Grade: Hasan (Fair) according to Al-Mundhiri

📖 Abu Huraira RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "Verily, among the worst of people is one with two faces, he who comes with one face to these and another to those."

Source: Sahih Al-Bukhari 6757

Sahih Muslim 2526

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