Poem: Avoid Nifaaq/Hypocrisy

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

💌 Among Muslim communities are deceitful souls 

Who disbelieve in Allah, His Laws they don't uphold, 

Whose pious acts and modest clothes are only for show,

And whose deeds, with their goals, seldom align with their words.

~•~

What's their purpose in pretending? Only Allah knows.

Allah sees their intent in telling lies to and fro, 

How most hypocrites' names are fake and their smiles are forced.

A hypocrite's wicked plots simply tarnish their soul.

~•~

From the signs of hypocrites: They do not pray at all 

Or they get annoyed whenever the Adhaan is called, 

They act as though they're praying, but they don't in their homes,

Discarding false identities when they're on their own.

~•~

They say Dhikr with a dubious and reluctant tone, 

Stating righteous phrases so their "Muslimness" is shown.

Gossiping, lying and betraying are from their norms.

Failure in good manners, to them, is like counting gold.

~•~

For Allah's sake don't get close to them, to wisely cope.

Take their pretense and promises with a grain of salt.

Avoid copying their folly and self-imposed faults.

Know on Judgment Day their true selves can be told or known.

~•~

📖 Abu Huraira RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "Among the signs of a hypocrite are three, even if he fasts and prays and claims to be a Muslim: When he speaks, he lies; when he makes a promise, he breaks it; and when he is trusted, he betrays."

Source: Sahih Al-Bukhari 33, Sahih Muslim 59

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

📖 Al-Bara’ RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "None loves the Ansaar but a believer, and none hates them but a hypocrite. Whoever loves them, Allah will love him. Whoever hates them, Allah will hate him."

Source: Sahih Al-Bukhari 3572

Sahih Muslim 75

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

📖 Abdullah ibn Amr RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "There are four signs that make someone a pure hypocrite and whoever has them has a characteristic of hypocrisy until he abandons it: When he speaks, he lies; when he makes a covenant, he is treacherous; when he makes a promise, he breaks it; and when he argues, he is wicked."

Source: Sahih Al-Bukhari 34, Sahih Muslim 58

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

📖 Abu Huraira RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "Faith and envy do not combine within a believing servant."

In another narration, the Prophet SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "Greed and faith are never combined in the heart of a (believing Muslim) servant."

Source: Sunan Al-Nasā’ī 3109

Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Al-Albani

Poem: Avoid Constant Fault-finding

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

💌 There's a fine line between prohibiting evil deeds 

And fault-finding like it's one's addiction or hobby.

Some correct your wrongs for your safety and well-being, 

While others search for your flaws so they're less unhappy.

~•~

The latter group consists of lurkers who spitefully

Stalk your social media accounts and posts frequently.

They lurk not to learn nor get inspired by what they read, 

But aspire to count your errors for insecure needs.

~•~

"What wrongs have they done today?", "Of what are they guilty?",

"How many ways can I prove they're not better than me?",

"What thoughts have they shared so I can refute them swiftly?",

"They made a mistake!" are from their sad mentality.

~•~

Why be a pro at spotting people's slips and misdeeds, 

When you can avoid folly by not being nosy?

Even if you were paid to find faults obsessively, 

It doesn't cancel the fact you too can be faulty.

~•~

Constant critics construct their own stress and misery 

When they seek others' faults to feed their low self-esteem.

To those who deal with haters: Move on confidently.

Trust Allah Who sees the "paparazzi-wannabes".

~•~

📖 Abu Barzah Al-Aslami RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, “O you who have faith with their tongues but faith has not entered their hearts! Do not backbite the Muslims or seek their faults. Whoever seeks their faults, Allah will seek his faults. And if Allah seeks his faults, He will expose him even in the privacy of his own house.”

Source: Sunan Abī Dāwūd 4880

Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Al-Albani

📖 Abu Huraira RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "Verily, the most beloved to me are those of you with the best character, soft in nature, friendly and befriended. The most hateful of you to Allah are those who spread gossip, who cause disharmony between loved ones and seek misery for the innocent."

In another narration, the Prophet SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "Seeking misery and finding faults with the innocent."

Source: Al-Mu’jam Al-Awsaṭ 7693

Grade: Hasan li ghayrihi according to Al-Albani

Poem: Allah Knows You Have The Strength To Pass His Tests

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

💌 Allah the Almighty knows exactly how you feel,

Just as He sees every leaf that falls from every tree,

Every creature that crawls on the ground when evening greets,

And each food which mother birds feed their young chicks' bellies.

~*~

Allah knows how you try to smile at kind souls you meet,

Yet inside oftentimes fear and sorrow are concealed,

Fearful of misjudgment, careful to never mistreat

Anyone to shield the light of your faith and belief.

~*~

Allah knows you often crave the love of somebody

Special who has the free time to listen to you speak,

Who'd sympathize when you worry and hear your stories,

Yet you merely cry to Allah Who knows all your needs.

~*~

Allah knows how some people talk about you badly

When you're not around to view them gossip cowardly.

And though the rumors hurt, you forgive your enemies,

Pitying their envy yet grateful they sent good deeds.

~*~

Allah knows how you're eager to pray Fajr early

Every day you breathe and how sometimes you'd oversleep.

Various feelings engulf you from angry to guilty,

So you'd pray more Sunnah prayers hoping for mercy.

~*~

Allah sees how your faith levels occasionally

Increase and decrease depending on your mood and feats,

Yet despite being tempted to sin regularly,

You seek Allah's Forgiveness and repent frequently.

~*~

Allah knows those moments when you want to quit quickly,

When certain difficulties bring severe misery,

Yet you push yourself to rise and trust Allah bravely,

Knowing Allah loves those who strive for Jannah's entry.

~*~

📖 Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Some people from the Ansar asked the Messenger of Allah SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam and he gave them. Then they asked for charity again and he SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam gave them. Then they asked again and he SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam gave them until all that he had was gone. The Prophet SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, “If I had anything, I would not withhold it. Whoever refrains from asking others, then Allah will make him content. Whoever would be independent, then Allah will make him independent. Whoever would be patient, then Allah will make him patient. There is no gift that is better and more comprehensive than patience.”

Source: Sahih Al-Bukhari 6105, Sahih Muslim 1053

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

Hadith: The Importance Of Seeking Islamic Knowledge With Ikhlaas/Sincerity

 📖 Anas ibn Malik RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said: "Seeking knowledge is an obligation upon every Muslim." 

Source: Sunan Ibn Mājah 224

Grade: Sahih

📖 Mu’awiyah RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said: "If Allah intends goodness for someone, He gives him understanding of the religion."

Source: Sahih Al-Bukhari 71

Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi

📖 Abu Huraira RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said: "Whoever travels a path in search of knowledge, Allah will make easy for him a path to Paradise. People do not gather in the Houses of Allah, reciting the Book of Allah and studying It together, but that tranquility will descend upon them, Mercy will cover them, Angels will surround them, and Allah will mention them to those near Him."

Source: Sahih Muslim 2699, Grade: Sahih

📖 Abu Huraira RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said: "Whoever calls to guidance will have a reward similar to those who follow him, without detracting from their rewards at all.

Whoever calls to misguidance will have sin upon him similar to those who follow him, without detracting from their sins at all."

Source: Sahih Muslim 2674, Grade: Sahih

📖 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-Tirmidhi 2654

Grade: Hasan (Fair) according to Al-Albani

Poem: Some Lessons Learned From The Life Of Prophet Yusuf 'Alaihis-Salaam

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

💌 Eleven lessons learned from Prophet Yusuf's story -

Son of Ya'qoob, son of Ishaaq, son of Ibrahim,

May Allah's Peace and Mercy be upon them. Ameen.

Some lessons to apply so we thrive in our journey:

~•~

One: From Prophet Jacob's way of treating his children, 

We learn to shun unfairness or favoritism, 

Or if someone's kids require preferential treatment, 

Clarifying one's actions can prevent bad outcomes.

~•~

Two: From the jealousy of Prophet Yusuf's siblings, 

We learn it's part of human nature to feel threatened 

By those with potential or who get more attention.

Your value isn't reduced by people's maltreatment.

~•~

Three: From the special dream of Prophet Yusuf, we learn 

That dreams are from Allah's gifts which guide, comfort and warn.

They're not to be shared with those who envy your blessings.

Flaunting one's joys to the jealous compels them to harm.

~•~

Four: From the incident when Prophet Yusuf was thrown 

Into a well and left there for some time on his own, 

We learn that oppression often happens to good souls.

When Allah tests some, He knows they're strong enough to cope.

~•~

Five: From the strangers who sold Yusuf at a small price, 

We learn that, though you're valuable, some won't recognize 

How much Allah loves you, who you are on the inside, 

And what you can provide. Let them be. Stay true and kind.

~•~

Six: No matter how pious you are, there'll be some tests 

To examine the strength of your faith, if you'll resist, 

Or if your weakness can push you to getting tempted. 

Taqwa and trust in Allah can keep you protected.

~•~

Seven: From Yusuf's confinement for several years, 

We learn there's always wisdom in meeting those we meet.

Either they motivate us or we're the ones to teach, 

While the confined, with Allah's Will, someday get released.

~•~

Eight: From Yusuf's rising and permission to manage, 

We learn that ease almost always comes after hardship.

As long as you're patient through trials, not discouraged, 

You, with Allah's Mercy, can have your goals accomplished.

~•~

Nine: From the discovery of what Zulaykha did, 

We learn that liars eventually get detected.

Despite injustice, Prophet Yusuf chose to forgive.

No merit can be gained from holding on to grudges.

~•~

Ten: From the crisis through which the brothers reconciled, 

We learn that trying times can be blessings in disguise.

Challenges are chances for loved ones to reconcile.

The ill, with Allah's Will, too get healed after some time.

~•~

Eleven: From Yusuf's reunion with his loved ones,

We learn the virtues of trusting Allah and patience, 

Predicaments in this dunya aren't permanent, 

And certain dreams do come true if Allah decrees them.

~•~

Make effort to reflect on your life story and deeds.

Question yourself, "Am I whom Allah wants me to be?

Have I done enough good works so my soul is worthy 

Of Allah's Love and Jannatul Ferdaus' grand entry?"

~•~

📖 Ibn Umar RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "The nobleman, son of the nobleman, son of the nobleman, son of the nobleman. That was Joseph, son of Jacob, son of Isaac, son of Abraham, upon them be peace ('alaihim as-salaam)."

Source: Sahih Al-Bukhari 3202

Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Al-Bukhari