Poem: Allah Grants Us What We Need, Not Always What We Want

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

💌 Since everything on earth is under Allah's Control,
And Allah has authority over every soul,
Not all humans have their dreams come true nor reach their goals -
What's accessible to some, others cannot afford,
Some plans go well, while others fail even if they're forced.
~•~
You can learn to like some people, but love won't take place
If Allah prevents it and it's not part of your fate.
You can try to maintain friendships and have each bond saved,
But if Allah wants to save you, He may separate
You from souls with bad intent who could weaken your faith.
~•~
Make effort to get richer with businesses you run,
But if Allah knows that in this kind of profession
There's no blessing but distractions from your life mission,
Instant success and satisfaction may not happen,
So Allah trains you to live simply and stay patient.
~•~
If for a long time you've been searching for your "soulmate",
Received no proposals, or 'single' won't fit your age,
Know that Allah wrote your life story. Don't be dismayed.
Perhaps one of your tests involves requiring to wait
Patiently for flawless romance in Jannah someday.
~•~
Always remember that Allah is the One Who grants,
Withholds, provides, decreases, increases, hears, responds,
And gives you what your soul needs - not always what you want,
To check if you'll keep going, if you have strong Imaan,
And to test if you truly deserve Jannah's entrance.
~•~
📖 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

📖 Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "There is no Muslim who calls upon Allah, without sin or cutting family ties, but that Allah will give him one of three answers: He (Allah) will quickly fulfill his supplication, He will store it for him in the Hereafter, or He will divert an evil from him similar to it." They said, “In that case we will ask for more.” The Prophet SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, “Allah has even more." 
Source: Musnad Ahmed 10749 
Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Al-Albani

📖 Abu Huraira RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: The Messenger of Allah SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam mentioned the day of Friday and he said, "In it is an hour in which no Muslim stands to pray and ask Allah for something but that he will be given it," and he SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam indicated with his hand that the time is very short. 
Source: Sahih Al-Bukhari 893 
Sahih Muslim 852 
Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi (Authenticity agreed upon) according to Al-Bukhari and Muslim

Note: Allah Is The Most Forgiving; Don't Doubt His Mercy.

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

💌 Imagine if you were a very wealthy executive who was planning to organize a huge gathering for some friends. You assign five of your housemaids to purchase several items for the next evening's special event, giving each of them a list of things to buy, providing clear instructions and ordering them to return home early before sunset. The first housemaid manages to arrive earlier than the rest, having bought all of the products that you've enlisted. Nothing more, nothing less. 

The second housemaid also arrives on time, and she was able to get all the things you've requested. What makes her different from the first one though is she used some of her own earnings to buy you a vase of your favorite color along with a bundle of roses which you like for decoration. While you appreciate the dedication of those two housemaids, you are more impressed by the second one who did something extra. You're more likely to gift the second maid with additional favors and be more protective towards her than the first one who only did what's mandatory. 

As for the third housemaid who showed up at the same time as the first two, you're somewhat disappointed in some mistakes she has made. Instead of buying you the flour which you asked for, she bought packets of cornstarch, tomatoes instead of apples, and soy sauce instead of salt. However, since you're a lenient and compassionate boss, you readily accept her apology. 

You similarly forgive the fourth housemaid who, despite having purchased all the items you wanted, arrived a bit late, because it took her a while to search for the right products. 

The fifth housemaid slightly angered you when she stubbornly disobeyed your commands. Rather than buying what you requested, she used the money you gave for her own personal convenience. Plus she showed up too late past midnight. Nevertheless she came back to you crying, admitting her guilt, and begging for your forgiveness, then used part of her allowance to buy in the morning what you originally expected her to get, promising she'd try her best to not repeat what she did out of getting carried away by temptation. Being the kindhearted manager that you are, you readily forgive her, willing to give her another chance to rectify instead of instantly dismissing her.

The Mercy of Allah the Almighty is even greater than your ability to pardon others, even bigger than your mother's care and affection for you. Whenever we commit a sin, whether due to forgetfulness, ignorance of its prohibition or weak level of faith/Imaan, it is our duty as Muslims to seek Allah's Forgiveness and do Tawbah/repentance as often as we can.

Even those who appear to be religious and knowledgeable of Islamic jurisprudence aren't exempted from being tempted by shaytan to sin once in a while. 

If you experimented with all sorts of haraam relationships in the past, do Tawbah and still pray to Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala. If you've stolen from somebody, knowingly lied to your mother, disrespectfully argued with your father, tactlessly abused a child when you lost your temper, watched random music videos for entertainment, purposely delayed an obligatory prayer, discreetly broke your fast on purpose when you were supposed to be fasting, jokingly gossiped about another Muslim, or did something that Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala and His noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam warned against, you're still Allah's servant who can return to Him the Most Kind anytime as long as you're alive and aware of your main responsibilities.

Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala doesn't expect completely flawless performance from us but that we should keep trying our utmost to be the best servants whom He wants us to be, standing up to do Tawbah whenever we fall into sin, and never denying the fact that Allah is indeed the Most Forgiving. Sinful Muslims who pray to Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala are many times more fortunate than unbelievers who refuse to even perform one Sajdah for Him.

📖 Abu Huraira RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "By Him in Whose Hand is my soul, if you did not sin, Allah would replace you with people who would sin and they would seek forgiveness from Allah and He would forgive them."

Source: Sahih Muslim 2749

Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Muslim

📖 Anas Ibn Malik RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "All of the children of Adam are sinners, and the best sinners are those who repent."

Source: Sunan At-Tirmidhi 2499

Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Al-Suyuti

📖 Abu Huraira RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "Whoever repents before the sun rises from the west, Allah will forgive him."

Source: Sahih Muslim 2703

Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Muslim

Tips: Signs Of Actual Kibr And Self-Amazement We Must Avoid

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

💌 Some signs and examples of actual arrogance or self-amazement:
1] Uploading multiple photos of yourself while believing you are more physically attractive than others. Getting jealous when you notice another person who is similarly good-looking or who receives more compliments on their looks than you do.
2] Pridefully believing that you are more virtuous, religious, successful, sincere and knowledgeable of Islam than others. Assuming that such-and-such a person can never be guided or as righteous as you.
3] Being stubbornly close-minded, unwilling to understand various opinions, and refusing to give other Muslims an excuse for their actions.
4] Stalking the timelines and social media accounts of people whom you dislike with the intention of counting their imperfections, searching for flaws to measure their ignorance, or to make fun of them while forgetting your own fallibility.
5] Finding it too challenging to say sorry and admit your errors because, from your point of view, you're supposed to be "perfect".
6] Giving yourself the permission to ridicule, tease, bully, betray, annoy, criticize, and gossip about others while disallowing anyone to do the same to you.
7] Thinking only you can be the wealthiest, smartest, prettiest, most educated or highly accomplished in your area, and immediately disliking anybody who displays they're also competent at a certain field. Selfishly refusing to share honest advice, valuable lessons and helpful tips on self-improvement with other Muslims because you're eager to be more superior to everyone.
While confident Muslims are not afraid to take initiative to do what's right, as they trust Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala at all times, arrogant people utilize their false masks to conceal their insecurities, so they deliberately treat most people with blatant disrespect, view those who differ from them with extreme negativity, and act as if they are above everybody.
📖 Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, “Whoever is pleased with Allah as a Lord, with Islam as a religion, and with Muhammad as a Prophet, Paradise becomes obligatory for him.”
Source: Sahih Muslim 1884
Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Muslim
📖 Ibn 'Umar RadhiAllahu 'anhuma narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, “Three deeds are destructive vices, three are salvific virtues (good deeds that lead to salvation), three are expiations, and three are a rise in ranks. As for destructive vices, they are greed that is obeyed, whims that are followed, and man being impressed with himself. As for salvific virtues, they are justice in a time of anger or pleasure, moderation in wealth or poverty, and fear of Allah in public and private. As for expiations, they are waiting for prayer in between prayers, thorough ablution on cold mornings, and walking to the congregations. As for rises in ranks, they are feeding the poor, spreading peace, and prayer at night while people sleep.”
Source: al-Mu’jam al-Awsaṭ 5750
Grade: Hasan (Fair) according to Al-Albani
📖 Abu Huraira RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, “Three deeds are salvific virtues and three are destructive vices. As for salvific virtues, they are fear of Allah in public and private, a word of truth in pleasure or displeasure, and moderation in wealth or poverty. As for destructive vices, they are whims that are followed, greed that is obeyed, and a man being impressed with himself, which is the worst of them.”
Source: Shu’ab al-Imān 6762
Grade: Hasan li ghayrihi (Fair due to external evidence) according to Al-Albani
📖 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

Hadith: Warning Against Suspicion And Falsely Accusing Other Muslims

 📖 Ibn Umar RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, “Whoever argues in favor of falsehood and he knows it, Allah will continue to be displeased with him until he stops. Whoever says something about a believer that is not true, Allah will lodge him in a sinkhole until he recants what he has said.”

Source: Sunan Abī Dāwūd 3597

Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Al-Albani

📖 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

Hadith: Love The Sunnah Of The Prophet Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam To Be Among Those Whom He Intercedes

 📖 Abu Huraira RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said: “The most blessed of people to have my intercession on the Day of Resurrection are those who say 'there is no God but Allah', sincerely from the heart.”

Source: Sahih Al-Bukhari 99
Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Al-Bukhari
📖 Jabir ibn Abdullah RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated  Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, “Whoever hears the call to prayer (Aadhaan) and says, ‘O Allah, Lord of this perfect call and established prayer, give Muhammad the privilege and honor of intercession, and raise him to the praiseworthy status that You have promised him,’ then my intercession will be allowed for him on the Day of Resurrection.”
Source: Sahih Al-Bukhari 589
Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Al-Bukhari
📖 Abdullah ibn Umar RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, “I had a choice between the intercession and only half of my nation entering Paradise, so I chose the intercession, as it is broader and more fulfilling. Do you think it is for the righteous and the pure? No, rather it is for the sinners and the impure.”
Source: Al-Sunnah li-Ibn Abī ‘Āṣim 791
Grade: Jayyid (Very good) according to Al-Haytami al-Makki
📖 Abu Sa’eed RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, “I am the master of the children of Adam, and it is no boast. I will be the first for whom the earth is split on the Day of Resurrection, and it is no boast. I will be the first to intercede and whose intercession will be accepted, and it is no boast. The banner of praise will be placed in my hand, and it is no boast.”
Source: Sunan Ibn Mājah 4308
Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Al-Albani
📖 Abdullah ibn Amr RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, “When you hear the caller to prayer, repeat what he says and then send blessings upon me. Verily, whoever sends blessings upon me, Allah will send blessings upon him ten times. Then, ask Allah to grant me the means of approach, for it is a station in Paradise not befitting but for one servant among the servants of Allah. I hope I am that one servant. Whoever asks Allah to grant me the means of approach, the intercession is permitted for him.”
Source: Sahih Muslim 384
Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Muslim