Poem: Special Souls Whom We Connect With Easily

💐 In The Name Of Allah The Most Gracious The Most Merciful
💌 Among the hundreds of souls whom Allah lets me meet
Are few special souls I gravitate to easily,
With pure hearts which don't carry deceit and jealousy,
Who radiate good vibes which bring about harmony.
~*~
I can talk to them for hours or welcome their silence,
Accept moments when they act clingy or they're distant,
Forgive them readily without their explanation,
As our love for Allah is what glues our connection.
~*~
They can live in another country and things won't change;
The peaceful feeling of liking them remain the same.
Though not neighbors here we didn't go separate ways,
Praying Jannah is where we could reunite someday.
~*~
What attract me to these souls are their love for Allah,
Their eagerness to learn Islam and perform Salah,
Awareness they're not perfect, they're people of Tawbah,
And their faith moves me to mention them in my Du'as.
~*~
There's a unique kind of comfort when around these souls.
When I'm with them, I recall that Jannah is our goal.
They're not the type to seek out the pleasures of this world,
Not the sort to backbite, tell lies, and have rumors told.
~*~
Their presence doesn't invite doubts nor agitation,
Since they never judge people based on their appearance.
Their preference to dress simply makes me admire them,
Along with their patience with what Allah has destined.
~*~
Such souls whom I get along with are rare to be found,
Yet when spotted, they're cherished and I want them around.
So I pray that Allah keeps their Imaan strong and sound,
And our place of reunion is Jannatul Ferdaus. (Ameen.)
~*~
📖 Abu Huraira RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "The souls are troops collected together. They come close upon what they recognize, and they differ upon what they reject."
Source: Sahih Al-Bukhari 3109, Sahih Muslim 2638
Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi (Authenticity agreed upon) according to Al-Bukhari and Muslim

Al-Nawawi said, “When bodies meet in the world, they come together or differ according to how they were created. The righteous will incline to the righteous, and the evil will incline to the evil.”

Source: Sharh Al-Nawawī ‘alá Sahih Muslim 2638

Poem: Take Care Of Your Thoughts

💐 In The Name Of Allah The Most Gracious The Most Merciful
💌 Allah the Almighty gave you a mind to be used
To carry good thoughts that please Him, not to be misused.
Find rest in saying Dhikr, expressing gratitude,
Accepting destiny with patience and fortitude.
~*~
Train yourself to think of thoughts which can help you improve,
From pondering what Allah made to what He gave you,
To reflecting on the Qur'an and deeds you can do
Like studying Islam and increasing your Sujood.
~*~
Avoid negative self-talk and haters' points of view.
Dismiss harmful notions that lead to ingratitude.
Brush off dismal thoughts which include "If only I knew...",
"If only I didn't...", "Why am I misunderstood?".
~*~
Don't stress over worries which can mentally abuse
You, feeling heartbroken, overwhelmed, lost and confused.
Forget thinking why certain souls seem better than you.
Focus on serving Allah with faith that's firm and true.
~*~
Let go of overthinking people's conduct and cues.
Don't be too quick to assume. Try to give them excuse.
Concentrate on honoring Allah's Rights upon you.
Do what Allah loves, not concerned if His slaves approve.
~*~
Choose thoughts that guide you to understand, not misconstrue.
Ideas which spark off suspicion should be eschewed.
Recall Allah's favors on you even if they're few,
Especially being Muslim guided to the Truth.
~*~
Instead of fantasizing about a crush who's cute
Or obsessing over things which don't hold good value,
Remind yourself of Allah, Jannah, Islam's virtues,
The beauty in Sabr and that "YOLO" isn't true.
~*~
📖 It was narrated that Abu Hurairah RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said: "The strong believer is better and more beloved to Allah than the weak believer, although both are good. Strive for that which will benefit you, seek the help of Allah, and do not feel helpless. If anything befalls you, do not say, "If only I had done such and such" rather say "Qaddara Allahu wa ma sha'a fa'al (Allah has decreed and whatever He wills, He does)." For (saying) 'If only' opens (the door) to the deeds of shaytan.'"
Grade: Sahih (Darussalam)
English reference: Vol. 1, Book 1, Hadith 79
Arabic reference: Book 1, Hadith 83
📖 Abu Huraira RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "Verily, Allah has pardoned my nation for what occurs within themselves, as long as they do not speak of it or act upon it."
Source: Sahih Al-Bukhari 6287, Sahih Muslim 127
Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi (Authenticity agreed upon) according to Al-Bukhari and Muslim
Ibn Al-Qayyim, May Allah have mercy on him (Ameen.), said, “Know that passing thoughts are not harmful. Indeed, they are only harmful if they are sought after and engaged. For a thought is like a passerby on the road; if you ignore him, he will depart from you.”
Source: Al-Jawāb Al-Kāfī 1/157
📖 Anas RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "Beloved to me in the world are women and perfume, yet the delight of my eyes is in prayer."
Source: Sunan Al-Nasā’ī 3939
Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Al-Albani

Hadith: Patience While Saying Du'a

📖 ‘Ubadah Ibn As-Samit RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "There is no Muslim on earth who calls upon Allah in supplication but that Allah will grant it to him or divert some evil away from him, so long as he does not ask for something sinful or to cut off family ties.” A man said, "In that case we will ask for more." The Prophet SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "Allah has even more."
Source: Sunan Al-Tirmidhī 3573
Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Al-Tirmidhi

📖 Abu Huraira RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "Every one of you will have his supplications answered, as long as he is not impatient and says: 'I have supplicated but I was not answered.'"
In another narration, the Prophet SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "The servant will continue to have his supplications answered as long as he does not ask for sin or cutting family ties and he is not impatient." They said, "O Messenger of Allah, what is its impatience?" The Prophet SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "He says: 'I have supplicated again and again, but I have not seen an answer.' He becomes frustrated with that and gives up supplicating."
Source: Sahih Al-Bukhari 5981, Sahih Muslim 2735
Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi (Authenticity agreed upon) according to Al-Bukhari and Muslim

Poem: Avoid Kibr/Arrogance

💐 In The Name Of Allah The Most Gracious The Most Merciful
💌 Some signs of arrogance to avoid for Allah's sake,
To clarify "confident" and "proud" are not the same,
So we don't misjudge anyone in an unfair way,
Aware Allah can tell what lies beneath our displays:
~*~
To be arrogant is to act like you are the best,
Behaving as though you're far superior to the rest,
Jealous when you find someone else achieving success,
Believing you're flawless, unable to make a mess.
~*~
Arrogant souls reject the truth, deny what is right,
The kind that won't accept men having up to four wives,
Who befriend only those who live luxurious lifestyles,
Who refuse to forgive, and who can't apologize.
~*~
Confident people help others, uplift, and inspire,
While arrogant folks want people's comfort to expire.
The confident can afford to wear simple attire,
While the proud prefer to be in style to be admired.
~*~
Choosing friends wisely isn't a sign of arrogance.
It shows wisdom and ensures one's faith isn't threatened.
What's arrogant is to expect VIP treatment,
Ignoring salaams and those with low job positions.
~*~
What seem appealing to arrogant hearts would include:
Judging others by their appearance, income and shoes,
Backbiting, spreading rumors, making jokes that are rude,
Refusing to defend those who are mocked or abused.
~*~
Those who are arrogant can't be described as helpful,
Since being better than everyone is from their goals.
Before accusing a Muslim of being prideful,
Recall: Only Allah sees our hearts and He knows all.
~*~
📖 Abdullah Ibn Mas’ud RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "No one who has the weight of a seed of arrogance in his heart will enter Paradise." Someone said, "But a man loves to have beautiful clothes and shoes." The Prophet SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "Verily, Allah is Beautiful and He loves beauty. Arrogance means rejecting the truth and looking down on people."
In another narration, the Prophet SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "No one who has the weight of a seed of faith in his heart will enter Hellfire."
Source: Sahih Muslim 91
Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Muslim

Poem: When Level Of Faith/Imaan Goes Up And Down

💐 In The Name Of Allah The Most Gracious The Most Merciful
💌 Often our level of faith/Imaan can fluctuate.
Sometimes it's up and we're in a motivated state,
Energized to do many good deeds for Allah's sake.
Other times it goes down, and we feel lost and dismayed.
~*~
When our faith/Imaan level would reach the lowest point,
When it reaches rock bottom and life just disappoints,
We get depressed or dependent on money and coins,
Eager to amass worldly joys, easily annoyed.
~*~
What cause our level of faith/Imaan to drop include:
Forgetting Allah, delaying Salah, less Sujood,
Gossiping with friends who tell lies and lack good virtues,
Impatience, and wasting time on things without value.
~*~
The following, when done a lot, can strengthen our faith:
Striving for Allah's Love, saying Dhikr night and day,
Reciting from the Qur'an daily at least one page,
Praying Tahajjud at night when most are not awake,
Being grateful to Allah for blessings that He gave,
~*~
Having worthwhile talks with Muslims who enjoy learning,
Reading about Islam and notes on self-improvement,
Showing kindness to animals, orphans and children,
Working hard for good results on the Day of Judgment,
~*~
Staying content with what Allah chose and predestined,
Not comparing our tests to friends' examinations,
Refusing to carry envy, pride and suspicion,
Reminding ourselves we can die at any moment.
~*~
May Allah the Most Kind keep our faith/Imaan strengthened,
Forgive us and take us when we're ready to meet Him,
Smiling and deserving of Jannah's entrance. Ameen.
Maintain these for strong Imaan: Gratitude and patience.
~*~
📖 Anas Ibn Malik RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "The faith of a servant is not upright until his heart is upright, and his heart is not upright until his tongue is upright. A man will not enter Paradise if his neighbor is not secure from his evil."
Source: Musnad Ahmed 12636
Grade: Hasan (Fair) according to Al-Albani
📖 Abu Ja’far RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: ‘Umayr Ibn Habib RadhiAllahu 'anhu said, “Faith increases and decreases.” It was said, “How does it increase and decrease?” ‘Umayr said, “If we remember our Rabb (Allah) and fear Him, it will increase. If we are heedless and we forget, and we waste our time,  it will decrease.”
Source: Shu’ab Al-Imaan 55