Poem: Maintain Inner Beauty Even When Some Show Ugly Manners

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

💌 Aspire to learn good manners and keep them even when
Some treat you badly or suspect you're just pretending.
Seem cheerful or at least respond to Muslims' greetings,
Although your smiles may inspire someone's dismal frowning.
~•~
No matter how loud cowards guilty of self-loathing
Slam doors, criticize you or resort to backbiting,
Rise above them in terms of morals and be patient.
Small puppies tend to bark at lions when they're threatened.
~•~
If most of your acquaintances favor gossiping,
Telling lies, fault-finding or sizing up your presence,
Don't bother getting even. Aim to be different.
Be Allah's loyal servant, striving, and resilient.
~•~
Those who unfriend you, start ghosting, or grant rejection
Mustn't cause you to be unfriendly to all humans.
Their chapter in your life story is done. Make new friends
And keep trusting Allah, not enslaved by His servants.
~•~
Don't let critics' ugliness cause your heart to darken.
Let your inner glow repulse them with faith and patience.
When jealous trolls want to dim your light through mistreatment,
Thank Allah we're not the ones collecting people's sins.
~•~
📖 Aisha RadhiAllahu 'anha narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, “Verily, gentleness is not found in anything but that it beautifies it, and it is not removed from anything but that it disgraces it.”
Source: Sahih Muslim 2594
Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Muslim
📖 Abu Huraira RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "Verily, Allah does not look at your appearance or wealth, but rather He looks at your hearts and actions."
Source: Sahih Muslim 2564
Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Muslim
📖 'Ali Ibn Abi Talib RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah’s noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, “A Muslim has six rights over another Muslim in good conduct: To greet him with peace when he meets him, to respond to his invitation, to respond to his sneeze, to visit him when he is sick, to follow his funeral prayer when he dies, and to love for him what he loves for himself.”
Source: Sunan At-Tirmidhi 2736
Grade: Hasan (Fair) according to Al-Suyuti

Poem: For Allah's Sake Avoid Fitna And Zina

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

💌 They think I'm an arrogant snob when I ignore them,

Lower my gaze as though I deny their existence,

Looking away as if their face is unappealing,

When in reality I'm hiding deep attraction.

~•~

I'm mesmerized by their inner glow, good intentions,

Their passion for learning Islam and self-improvement,

And their beautiful heart attracts me with amazement, 

But my loving them for Allah gifts them with distance.

~•~

Refusal to deal with daily communication 

And resisting the urge to admire their appearance 

Are tactics I utilize to shield our well-being.

My faith/Imaan and theirs are worthy of protection.

~•~

The nafs desires to engage in flirtatious chatting 

And adoring those who captured my heart's attention,

But I refrain as I know Allah and my conscience 

Won't want me surrendering to evil temptation.

~•~

Zina/fornication and its paths are forbidden, 

Whether it's between same genders or man and woman.

Not everything the heart wants deserve swift engagement,

As it's the spot where shaytan plants his vile suggestions.

~•~

Thus strange feelings we often have for some non-mahrams 

Are but delusions from shaytan - our worst opponent.

With Taqwa, awareness of the truth, constant striving,

And consistent Tawbah, we shun shaytan's entrapment.

~•~

To chosen yet unwanted souls I find alluring:

"Let's do this, pass heart-related examinations 

With trust in Allah and ample amounts of patience.

Flee from each other so we both gain Jannah's entrance."

~•~

📖 Abu Qatadah RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "Verily, you will never leave anything for the sake of Allah the Almighty but that Allah will replace it with something better."

Source: Musnad Ahmed 22565

Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Al-Albani

📖 “The eye is the mirror of the heart, so if the slave lowers his gaze, the heart will lower its desires and whims, and if he lets his gaze wander, the desire in his heart will be released.”

Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim [May Allah have mercy on him. Ameen.]

[Rawdat Al-Muhibbīn, (p. 109)]

📖 Anas Ibn Malik RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "Guarantee six deeds from me and I assure your acceptance into Paradise. When one of you speaks, let him not lie. When one of you promises, let him not break it. When one of you is trusted, let him not betray it. Lower your gaze, restrain your hands from harming others, and guard your chastity."

Source: Musnad Abī Ya’lá 4195

Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Al-Albani

Poem: Always Be Grateful For The Gifts Allah Chose To Give

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

💌 If you can read this, to Allah be thankful.

If the scent of rain and coffee you can smell,

Myriad colors and taste of food you can tell,

Then you have many reasons to be grateful.

~•~

If you can write, memorize or multitask,

If you can read or move about pretty fast,

Or if you can smile, know what it's like to laugh,

And you are Muslim - you have more than enough.

~•~

If you have intuition to sense what's right,

In learning about Islam you take delight,

And on various behaviours you have insight,

Allah's gift of wisdom to you recognize.

~•~

If you can stand to pray or say Allah's Name,

Wear your Muslim identity without shame,

Or recall what makes us unique and the same,

Thank Allah for guiding you to the Straight Way.

~•~

If you know what's sweet, spicy, sour, hot and cold,

If you count your blessings and signs in this world,

You may not list them all - most proofs are untold.

Of your greatest gift Islam always take hold.

~•~

Keep thanking Allah through remembrance and faith,

Through obeying Allah for blessings He gave

To your best ability each night and day.

Be grateful for lessons taught in many ways.

~•~

Thank Allah and join the few who support Him.

Don't mind your haters, they're there to earn your sins.

May Allah forgive us and make us destined

To join the grateful in Jannah next to Him. Ameen.

~•~

📖 Abu Dharr RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "O Abu Dharr, do you say an abundance of possessions is wealth?" I said "yes." The Prophet SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "Do you say a lack of possessions is poverty?" I said "yes." The Prophet Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam repeated this three times, then he said, "Wealth is in the heart and poverty is in the heart. Whoever is wealthy in his heart will not be harmed no matter what happens in the world. Whoever is poor in his heart will not be satisfied no matter how much he has in the world. Verily, he will only be harmed by the greed of his own soul."

Source: Al-Mu’jam Al-Kabīr 1618

Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Al-Albani

Tips: Advise Loved Ones In A One-on-one Manner Instead Of Gossiping About Them

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

💌 If one day you and a group of friends are chatting then suddenly someone jokes about a mutual friend who isn't around to defend themselves, and their description of the subject is actually true, what would your immediate reaction be? Supposing somebody says "So-and-so reeks, they should have a warning sign that states "toxic smell - do not come close" and another one agrees laughing "Yeah their BO totally reminds me of dead fish. They ought to shower more often, seriously." will you join in the conversation and add a hilarious comment only to earn that Muslim's sins, walk away, or defend the absentee saying something like "Maybe they did bathe in the morning but they're all sweaty because they get stressed out easily, or they have internal health issues." or "What do you gain from talking about someone's stench? I'm sure all of us humans have smelt ike perspiration at one point or another. Why talk like experts at sniffing and identifying fragrances? Are you training yourselves to be canines? Be quiet, if you can't afford to be nice." Then if the mutual friend casually walks in during the discussion, would you tell them "Hey can you do something about your smell? Your disturbing odor is inspiring these clowns to gossip and I'm tired of tolerating their complaints. Like put on perfume, change your shirt or take a bath ASAP or we'll stink together." or will you take your friend aside, go to a more secluded area and kindly advise them stating "You know I love you for Allah's sake and care about you, right? And you understand that, as your friend, I would never want to do or say anything to purposely hurt you? Well, I notice that sometimes you emit bodily smells which can offend some people. Don't get me wrong, I also sweat a lot especially on hot days. But have you considered trying a different deodorant like the one I use or lime/calamansi juice, changing your garments more frequently, and avoiding wearing clothes that are soaking wet? If you take my advice, I guarantee you'll feel so much better when you keep yourself smelling fresh."
There is a positive impact in being advised by a loved one privately instead of receiving advice while several spectators are hearing you being criticized. The chances of a loved one taking your advice willingly if you admonish them in a one-on-one manner is much greater than if you were to point out their flaws and scolded them in public.
Naturally most people would avoid and no longer trust an individual who deliberately embarrassed them or gossiped about them. So next time you see a friend who decided to stop wearing the hijab for some personal reason, rather than gossiping to your other friends about them, arrogantly looking down on how she has become "lost, trashy, ignorant, deviant, and misguided", you can approach her directly, speak where no bystanders are nearby to gather information for their childish gossip, and educate her lovingly about the importance of wearing the hijab for Allah's sake until Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala softens her heart and she displays significant improvement, appreciating the virtues of modesty. Another alternative is to share articles about why Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala legislated Muslim women to wear the hijab and include her in your Du'as, praying that Allah the Most Merciful guides her someday, instead of gossiping with those who act as though they're flawless and who forget that they too are humanly capable of making mistakes.
~•~
📖 Abdullah ibn Amr RadhiAllahu 'anhu reported that 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 ‘Abdullah ibn al-Mubārak 2
Grade: Hasan (Fair) according to Al-Mundhiri
📖 Al-Muzanni reported: Al-Shafi’i, may Allah have mercy on him, said, “Whoever admonishes his brother in private has been sincere to him and protected his reputation. Whoever admonishes him in public has humiliated him and betrayed him.”
Source: Ḥilyat Al-Awliyā’ 13854

Note: Loving The Noble Prophet Muhammad SallAllahu'alaihi wa sallam Is In Loving His Sunnah, Not In Committing Acts Of Bid'ah

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

💌 The Sahabas RadhiAllahu 'anhum and salaf (pious predecessors) loved the noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam more than us yet there is no evidence of them having celebrated the Prophet Muhammad's "birthday". Our love for Allah's Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam is proven by striving to follow his Sunnah, not by committing bid'ah and doing things which he SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam never ordered.
The similitude of somebody participating in festivities to celebrate the so-called "mawlid an-nabi" is that of a person who scribbles "I love you" messages around your face with a permanent marker of your most hated color. It simply doesn't make sense for a lover to admire their loved one while carrying out acts which the latter finds offensive, disrespectful or disagreeable.
To prove that we truly love the Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam, we should try our best for Allah's sake to do as many Sunnah good deeds as we can, such as: Praying two Sunnah Rak'ahs of Tahiyyat Al-Masjid before sitting in the Masjid, fasting regularly every other Monday and Thursday, fasting on the 13th, 14th and 15th of each month if one has the capability to do so, brushing our teeth before praying, sitting while drinking, ensuring that we eat and drink only with the right hand, saying "Alhamdulillah" when we sneeze, patting the heads of orphans and being compassionate with children, giving and receiving things with the right hand, distributing items and beginning actions from the right side, frequently praying Tahajjud Qiyaam Al-Layl and Salat Ad-Duha, reciting Surah Al-Kahf every Friday etc.
📖 Anas ibn Malik RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, “None of you will have faith until I am more beloved to him than his children, his father, and all of the people.”
Source: Sahih Al-Bukhari 15
Sahih Muslim 44
Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi (Authenticity agreed upon) according to Al-Bukhari and Muslim
📖 Malik RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, “I have left you with two matters which will never lead you astray, as long as you hold on to them: The Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Prophet (Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam) .”
Source: Al-Muwaṭṭa’ 1661
Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Ibn Abdul Barr
📖 ‘Amr Ibn ‘Awf RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "Know that whoever revives a tradition from my Sunnah if it has died out after me, he will have a reward like those who act upon it without diminishing any of their rewards. Whoever innovates a misguided heresy (bid'ah) not pleasing to Allah and His Messenger, he will have a sin like those who act upon it without diminishing any of the people’s burdens."
Source: Sunan At-Tirmidhi 2677
Grade: Hasan (Fair) according to At-Tirmidhi
📖 Al-‘Irbad ibn Sariyah RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: The Messenger of Allah SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam prayed with us one day. Then, he SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam faced us and delivered an eloquent sermon that brought tears to our eyes and by it shook our hearts. It was said, “O Messenger of Allah, it is as if this is a farewell address. What do you instruct for us?” The Prophet SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, “I advise you to fear Allah, listen, and obey, even if an Abyssinian slave is put in charge of you. Whoever lives after me will see many conflicts. You must adhere to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the righteous, guided successors. Hold firmly to it as if biting with your molar teeth. Beware of (bid'ah) newly invented matters, for every newly invented matter is an innovation and every innovation is misguidance.”
Source: Sunan Abī Dāwūd 4607
Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Al-Arna’ut