APRIL FOOL'S DAY THE ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE from The Message For Mankind,March 2010.

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Truthfulness leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise. And a man keeps on telling the truth until he becomes a truthful person. Falsehood leads to Al-Fajur (i.e. wickedness, evildoing), and Al-Fajur (wickedness) leads to the (Hell) Fire, and a man may keep on telling lies till he is written before Allah, a liar!"
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 8.116 Narrated by Abdullah.

One of our brothers has asked this question:
My question today is regarding the issue of April Fool's day. I have read the islamic view on April fool's day. The best of my understanding muslim shouldn't celebrate this day and pull pranks on others. However, some people say that the islamic jurist who have given this explanation are wrong, and that April Fool has nothing to do with Islam?

Can you please shed some light onto this matter via proof from Quran or Al-Hadith? JazakAllah khairun.

Answer:

April Fool's Day
In the name of Allah, we praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them right. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bare witness that Muhammad (SAW) is His slaveservant and the seal of His Messenger.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 4 Surah Nisaa verse 135:

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُونُوا۟ قَوَّٰمِينَ بِٱلْقِسْطِ شُهَدَآءَ لِلَّهِ وَلَوْ عَلَىٰ۞

أَنفُسِكُمْ أَوِ ٱلْوَٰلِدَيْنِ وَٱلْأَقْرَبِينَۚۚإِن يَكُنْ غَنِيًّا أَوْ فَقِيرًۭۭ

فَٱللَّهُ أَوْلَىٰ بِهِمَافَلَا تَتَّبِعُواٱلْهَوَىٰأَن تَعْدِلُوا وَإِن تَلْوُۥٓاأَوْ تُعْرِضُوافَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرًۭا

"O you who believe! be maintainers of justice, bearers of witness of Allah's sake, though it may be against your own selves or (your) parents or near relatives; if he be rich or poor, Allah is nearer to them both in compassion; therefore do not follow (your) low desires, lest you deviate; and if you swerve or turn aside, then surely Allah is aware of what you do."

Allah says in Holy Quran Chapter 5 Surah Maidah verse 8:

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُونُوا۟ قَوَّٰمِينَ لِلَّهِ شُهَدَآءَ بِٱلْقِسْطِۖۖوَلَا يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنَـَٔانُ قَوْمٍ عَلَىٰٓ أَلَّا تَعْدِلُواۚۚٱعْدِلُوا۟ هُوَ أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوَىٰۖۖوَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ
ٱللَّهَ خَبِيرٌۢ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ

"O you who believe! Be upright for Allah, bearers of witness with justice, and let not hatred of a people incite you not to act equitably; act equitably, that is nearer to piety, and he careful of (your duty to) Allah; surely Allah is Aware of what you do."

Respected brother is Islam, Islam guides and commands its followers to always stand on the side of the Truth. Jokes and pranks are almost always based on lies and falsehoods, so that one may have a laugh at the expense of another's mishap or misery from that lie; and the telling of lies is absolutely forbidden in the deen of Truth called Al-Islam.

And when lies are forbidden, it cannot be considered righteousness or piety in the least to allocate a day in the year where something which is forbidden would become permissible!!

Your statement: 'some people say that islamic jurist who have given this explanation are wrong, and that April Fool has nothing to do with Islam'

The people who made the statement that 'that April Fool has nothing to do with Islam' are absolutely right; for indeed the deen of Truth called Al-Islam has absolutely nothing to do with such a celebration or commemoration with the concept of lies and falsehood in the guise of jokes and pranks they play and have laugh at the expense of their friends. The believers who sincerely fear Allah and the Last Day are sincerely well-wishers to their friends and acquaintances alike, and there is absolutely no room for the concept of lies and falsehood in the deen of Truth called Al-Islam, even for a single moment of one day!

Your question: Can you please shed some light onto this matter via proof from Quran or Al-Hadith?

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 5 Surah Maidah verse 119:

قَالَ ٱللَّهُ هَٰذَا يَوْمُ يَنفَعُ ٱلصَّٰدِقِينَ صِدْقُهُمْ ۚ لَهُمْ جَنَّٰتٌۭ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَٰرُ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآ أَبَدًۭا ۚ رَّضِىَ ٱللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا۟ عَنْهُ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلْفَوْزُ ٱلْعَظِيمُ

"Allah will say: This is the day when their truth shall benefit the truthful ones; they shall have gardens beneath which rivers flow to abide in them for ever: Allah is well pleased with them and they are well pleased with Allah; this is the mighty achievement."

Beloved brother in Islam, the answer to your question is as simple as this: the party which glorifies the concept of Truth is correct, and the party which strives to glorify the concept of lies and falsehood, is obviously in the wrong!

Whatever written of truth and benefit is only due to Allah's Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

FOUL LANGUAGE IN A MUSLIM'S LIFE? from The Message For Mankind,Feb 2010.

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

"What the -----!" "Hey you, -----, how are you?" "Where in the ----- have you been?"

If you listen to the conversation of the average Muslim youth talking to each other, unfortunately this is what you will hear....expletives, bad words and cusses. In fact, foul language is often heard as part of their everyday life at school, universities and work place.

What's worse is that they use these words without thinking....without remorse and without realizing that these words are obscene, filthy or repulsive....using four letter words in every sentence and in every conversation.

Using the words 'hell' and calling each other 'dog' and 'gay' like it's nothing. And these are some of more 'decent' words. There are other, much more worse word that are totally unmentionable. May Allah protect us.

These people, like their non-Muslim peers, seem to be completely desensitized to the use of fouland offensive words, including many that make other cringe with shame and embarrrassment.

Yet, when you reprimand them for using such language, what do they say? "O come on! This is how I 'express' myself. or "We don't mean it in a bad way, we're just joking around with each other!"

Subhaan Allah! Calling each other names and using foul language!

Since when did that become a 'joke'? Since when did cussing become part of a Muslim's vocabulary?

And, sad to say, not only the youth, but even some of the adults are guilty of the same. And, there are some, who may speak very decently under 'normal' circumstances, but when they are provoke or they get into a fight with someone, nothing come out from their mouths except cusses, bad words and filth.

What a stark contrast between this and what the Prophet (SAW) used to do.

The behavior of the Prophet (SAW)

Anas Bin Malik said: "The Prophet (SAW) was not one who would abuse (others) or say obscene words, or curse (others)...." (Bukhaari)

And Abdullah Bin 'Amr said: "The Prophet (SAW) never used bad language neither a 'Faahish nor a Mutafaahish. He used to say 'The best amongst you are those who have the best manners and character.' (Bukhaari)

And he (SAW) said: "The believer is not a slanderer, one who curses a great deal, one who indulges in obscenity or who in engages in foul talk." (Tirmidhi--saheeh by al-Albaani)

What Allah says about cussing:

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا يَسْخَرْ قَوْمٌۭ مِّن قَوْمٍ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَكُونُوا۟ خَيْرًۭا مِّنْهُمْ وَلَا نِسَآءٌۭ مِّن نِّسَآءٍ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَكُنَّ خَيْرًۭا مِّنْهُنَّ ۖ وَلَا تَلْمِزُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَلَا تَنَابَزُوا۟ بِٱلْأَلْقَٰبِ ۖ بِئْسَ ٱلِٱسْمُ ٱلْفُسُوقُ بَعْدَ ٱلْإِيمَٰنِ ۚ وَمَن لَّمْ يَتُبْ فَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلظَّٰلِمُونَ

"....nor defame one another, nor insult one's brother after having Faith [i.e. to call your Muslim brother as: "O sinner", or "O wicked", etc.]. And whosoever does not repent, then such are indeed Zaalimoon (wrong-doers). (Surah Hujaraat: 11)


Hellfire because of cussing:

Realize, dear brother/sister, that using foul language and cussing is a sin, even in joke and this is a characteristic of the people of Hellfire.

The Prophet (SAW) said: "The inmates of Hell are of types...."And among them he mentioned"....the miser, the liar and those who are in the habit of abusing people using obscene and foul language." (Muslim)

And while advising Mu'aadh (RA), the Prophet (SAW) said: "Restrain this," i.e. your tongue. I (Mu'aadh) said: O Messenger of Allah, will we be called to account for what we say? He said: "May your mother be bereft of you, O Mu'aadh! Will people be thrown in hell on their faces or their noses for anything other than the harvest of their tongues?" (al-Tirmidhi--Saheeh by al-Albaani)

The worst people on the Day of Judgment.

Know that people who used bad words and have dirty mouths will be one of the worst people on the Day of Judgment.

The Prophet (SAW) said: "O 'Aaishah! Have you ever seen me speaking a bad and dirty language? (Remember) that the worst people in Allah's sight on the Day of Resurrection will be those whom the people desert or leave in order to save themselves from their dirty language or from their transgression." (Bukhaari)

Cussing is evil

Cussing and swearing is so bad that even the angels cannot tolerate.

Ibn 'Abbas said, "Two men defamed one another in the time of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. One of them reviled the other who remained silent. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, remained seated. Then the other man answered him back and the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, got up. He was asked, "You got up?" He said, "The angels left, so I left with them. While this man was silent, the angels were answering the one who cursed him. When he answered, the angels left." (Adab al-Mufrad)

It is a sin

Someone asked:
"What should be done with a person who calls a Muslim a dog, pig, or other offensive words? Is it a sin?"

Imaam an-Nawawi said: "It is a sin and he should be punished (ta'zeer--punishment to be specified by the qaadi/Muslim judge). He also has to be repent." (Fataawa al-Imaam al-Nawawi)

Subhaan Allaah! Being punished for calling your Muslim brother 'dog'! And yet, we hear our youth calling each other 'dog' and 'nigga' and much worse, in every sentence, while they think nothing, absolutely nothing of it!

What would Imaam an-Nawani say if he heard some of the Muslims talking today?!!!

What to do?

The Prophet (SAW) said: "Whoever believes in God the Last Day must speak good or keep silent." (Bukhaari)

1. Remember these beautiful words of the Prophet (SAW) and either speak good or keep silent.
2. Stay away from foul language, cussing and evil words, because you are Mu'min and a Mumin does not utter filthy words or cuss at anyone.
3. Equally important is to stay away from people who speak such bad language. Because the more you hear it, the more desensitized one becomes to its evil, until a time comes when its not bad anymore.

In the end:

Bad words show disrespectful to those being spoken and a total lack of self-respect. The one who stays away from filthy language is not being a prude or old-fashioned; rather he/she is a Mu'min and a follower of the one with the best manners ever....that is, the Prophet (SAW). Use such evil word is disrespectful, plain and simple. It is not to be tolerated nor is it an acceptable behavior in Islam.

"Truly a man utter words he attaches no importance, and by them he falls into the Fire of Jahannam, and truly a man utters words to which he attaches no importance, and by them Allah raises him into the Garden." (Bukhaari)

مَّا يَلْفِظُ مِن قَوْلٍ إِلَّا لَدَيْهِ رَقِيبٌ عَتِيدٌۭ

'Not a word does he (or she) utter but there is a watcher by him ready (to record it)' (Surah Qaaf: 18)

BARAKAH from The Message For Mankind,Jan 2010

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

Throughout our life lives and even in the course of our day, we supplicate to Allah for 'barakah' for ourselves as well as others. In the supplication we make every morning and evening, we say: "O Allah I ask You for the good of this day/night, for its victory and its help, for its light and its barakah, and its guidance...." Before eating we say: "O Allah, give barakah in it for us and give us more of it." A guest supplication for hist host: "O Allah, give them barakah in that which you have provided them, forgive them and have mercy on them." When we congratulate someone on their acquisitions or successes, we say: "May Allah give you barakah in it." We even congratulate newly wed couple with this supplication: "May Allah give barakah (in your spouse) and give you barakah and may He unite both of you in goodness."

So what does this word 'barakah' for which we supplicate to Allah for ourselves and others so often mean? The word 'barakah' has a variety of meaning: blessing, benefit, abundance, plentitude, something that gives you contentment or joy etc. Essentially, in terms of our everyday life activities, it means that if you have barakah, a little suffices and gives you far more satisfaction and happiness and it comes trouble-free or with minimum problems related to it. We so often used the terms like, "It's what you save that matters." "it's about quality rather than just quantity" etc. and these helps to explain the concept of barakah which is really about value addition.

Barakah is an intangible thing and because we cannot really see it or measure it, we are not really conscious of its significance and true impact on our lives. Yet barakah it the real end-result required as the things we supplicate for and congratulate others for are merely the end to an end. If something that you have or acquire cannot give you the required results which may range from a healthy life, effective use of available resources, rest, satisfaction, contentment, peace of mind, happiness, etc. then despite having acquired the means, the desired end-results of barakah in life range from little food or sleep sufficing for one's needs, freedom from stress, bad health or wrong choices which deplete our savings, energy and happiness, the wisdom and ability to work smart and not just hard, and being saved from time wasters in our life lives.

For example, if u get an increment at work but most of it ends up being spent in say, unforseen expenses like medical bills, extravagance and expenditures which do not bring real value addition to your life, then the gain lacked barakah. Similarly if you have spent your life toiling hard to educate your children in the 'best' schools, only to find them to be lacking in the values you expect from them, your efforts were without barakah. A laborer on daily wages who enjoys his simple fare due to healthy appetite and a good night sleep and has a family who appreciate how hard he works for them may have more barakah than a rich man whose family is never satiated and whose stress makes him unable to relax, eat or sleep despite having all the material means or luxury available to him. Also within the definition of barakah is the element of continuity rather than a limited enjoyment as would be the case of someone who enjoys himself on ill-gotten means for a while, only to have the law catching up on him.

Yet another important aspect of barakah is that the end result should also be productive for a person not only in this world, but also hold benefit for him in the Hereafter. Therefor, short term gains that result in disasters in the Hereafter, even if they appear profitable in this world definitely lack of barakah.

Another thing that is important to know about barakah is that while two people can possess the same thing, the same time, money or other resources, yet the amount of barakah that the two may have vary. While the resources we have or acquire may be within our control, the barakah result from them is a bestowal from Allah as is clear from all the supplications for barakah that we have been taught.

It is actually the barakah in the means which provide us with abundance and peace of mind, contentment and happiness which is the desired end-result of all acquisition. But barakah is lacking in ourselves in pursuing the means. We are busy acquiring and spending our resources without giving a second thought where they are coming from, at what cost they are acquired, whether they are Islamically permissible and for what purpose they are used. Unable to understand our own goals and motivation, we therefore find ourselves deprived of the wisdom to make the right choices. Hence we need to constantly remind ourselves that it is the barakah taht really matter for that is what adds true value to our efforts and should never forget to supplicate continuously to Allah for it in the many areas in our lives.

DUA: "O Allah! Put affections among our hearts, set right our matters between ourselves, guide us to the way of peace, save us from the darkness towards the light, save us from all kinds of indecency; the apparent as well as the hidden, and give us barakah in our hearing, our seeing, our hearts, our spouses, our children, and turn in mercy upon us. Indeed You are the One who greatly accept repentance, One who is repeatedly Merciful." (Al-Hakim)

HOW BRIGHT IS YOUR LIGHT? from The Message For Mankind,Nov 2009

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

You are sitting comfortably in your room when all of the sudden, the electricity goes off. It becomes completely dark. You can't see a thing. Although it is your own house, life comes to an inconvenient, complete halt.

That's because you can't see a thing! You dare not move, in the fear that you may knock something over or worse still, you may stumble and hurt yourself. Uncomfortable and unnerving, isn't it?

Now fast forward to an unknown time in the future....when it will be dark like this and even worse....

When you....and I....and all of mankind....will be gathered in the dark, in front of a bridge....

a bridge that is sharper than a sword and thinner than a hair....

a bridge call as-Siraat....the bridge over Hellfire.

When the companion asked about the bridge, he (SAW) said: "It is a slippery (bridge) on which there are clamps and (hooks like) thorns which are wide at one side and narrow at the other and have bent ends....Some of the believers will cross the bridge as quickly as the wink of an eye, some others as quick as lightning, a strong wind, or fast horses or she-camels. So some will be safe without any harm; some will be save after receiving some scratches, and some will fall down into Hellfire. The last person will cross by being dragged (over the bridge)." Bukhaari

And then, it will be ordered that we all pass over this bridge. And we will have no choice but to comply to the order of the Lord of the World. But it will be dark, darker than any darkness can ever imagine....

and in this horrific Day, mankind will be desperate. Desperate to do anything, anything, to have some kind of light that will help them see the way and guide them to cross over the Siraat.

And then....there will be light.

But,you know what? This light will only be according to the light of Imaan that you had in your heart during Dunya.

If your Imaan was strong, so will be this light....strong and bright and illuminating. And if your Imaan was weak, this light will be weak too, dim and faltering and feeble.

Ibn Khatir reported in his Tafseer: "They will pass over the Siraat according to their deeds. Some of them will have a light as large a mountain, some as a date tree, some as big as a man in the standing position. The least among them has a light as big as his index finger, it is lit at times and extinguished at other times." (Ibn Abi Hatim and Ibn Jarir).

Ibn al-Qayyim says: "For one person, it (the light) will be like the sun, for another like the moon, the stars or the lamp. For yet another, this light will be only at the tips of his toes; it will shine,then go out [then shine, then go out]. For just as his light had been in this world, so he shall be given when crossing the bridge. In fact, it is the same light that had appeared to him before. However, just as the hypocrite has no real light in this world, or has only an outward light but none within, so shall he be given [on that Day] an outward light which will vanish in the darkness and be lost."

If you lived a life of righteousness and Taqwa, a life according to Islaam, submitting to Allah and repenting to Him, obeying His commandments, hoping for His Mercy yet fearing His Wrath, taking care not to disobey Him to the best of your ability, then good news for you, O Muslim. Allah will illuminate your path over the Siraat just like He illuminate your heart in the Dunya with guidance and righteousness.

يَوْمَ تَرَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنَٰتِ يَسْعَىٰ نُورُهُم بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَبِأَيْمَٰنِهِم بُشْرَىٰكُمُ ٱلْيَوْمَ جَنَّٰتٌۭ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَٰرُ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا

ۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ ٱلْفَوْزُ ٱلْعَظِيمُ

"The Day (will surely come) when you shall see believing men and women with their light running before them and on their right hands, (it will be said to them): 'Glad tidings for you this Day. You shall live forever in gardens underneath which rivers flow! That is indeed the mighty triumph." (Surah Hadeed: 12)


If you dared to disobey the Lord of the World, following your whims and desires, earning haraam,lying, cheating and backbitting, involved in all sort of sins and forgetting the Aakhirah, then dim and feeble will be your light in accordance with the deeds that YOU choose to commit.

Imagine the desperation, despair and hopelessness of a person in such a situation!

Complete darkness....and a bridge,that he has to cross....a bridge so sharp and so slippery and so thin, with hooks....stretching over Hellfire....and he can't see a thing! May Allah saves us.

Wouldn't he give anything, anything, to have a light that is strong and bright....

A light that can illuminate his way across the Siraat....

A light that can take him to Jannah???!!

Alas....for him, it will be too late....

BUT, it's not too late for YOU. You still have time. You still have a chance to make your light big and strong. All you have to do is to submit to Allah and repent sincerely. Obey whatever He Commands you to and stay away from whatever He forbids you from. Have Taqwa of Allah in all you say and do and Wallaahi, He will brighten your heart with Imaan,lighten your life in this Dunya and illuminate your way over the Siraat on to Jannah.

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ تُوبُوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ تَوْبَةًۭ نَّصُوحًا عَسَىٰ رَبُّكُمْ أَن يُكَفِّرَ عَنكُمْ سَيِّـَٔاتِكُمْ وَيُدْخِلَكُمْ جَنَّٰتٍۢ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَٰرُ يَوْمَ لَا يُخْزِى ٱللَّهُ ٱلنَّبِىَّ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مَعَهُۥ ۖ نُورُهُمْ يَسْعَىٰ بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَبِأَيْمَٰنِهِمْ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَآ أَتْمِمْ لَنَا نُورَنَا وَٱغْفِرْ لَنَآ ۖ إِنَّكَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ قَدِيرٌۭ

"O you who believe! Turn to Allah with sincere repentance! It may that your Lord will remit from you your sin, and admit you into Gardens under which rivers flow. The Day that Allah will not disgrace the Prophet (Muhammad) and those who believe with him, their Light will run forward before them and with (their Records Books of deeds) in their right hands they will say: "Our Lord! Keep perfect our Light for us [and do not put it off till we cross over the Siraat safely] and grant us forgiveness. Verily, You are Able to do all things."

NEVER FORGET from The Message For Mankind,Feb 2010

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

Never forget that Allah is forever watching you.
Always remember that Allah is watching whatever you do. He sees what you do in the middle of the day and He sees what you do in the deepest part of the night.. He sees all. He hears all. That is nothing that escapes Him. If you are alone, He is the second and if you are two, He is the third.

وَهُوَ مَعَكُمْ أَيْنَ مَا كُنتُمْ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ ....

....And He is with you ( by His Knowledge ) where soever you may be. And Allah is the All-Seer of what you do." (al-Hadeed : 4)

مَّا يَلْفِظُ مِن قَوْلٍ إِلَّا لَدَيْهِ رَقِيبٌ عَتِيدٌۭۭ

"Not a word does he utter, but there is a watcher by him ready (to record it)." (Qaf : 18)


Remind yourself of this as often as you can and throughout the day and before you sleep....every time you do something....and every time you speak. In fact, aim to make it your thought with every breath you breathe.

Never forget that is Allah Who ha given you everything.

Take a look around you; everything you see, all that you have and all that there is....in you....on you....

and around you....comes from Allah, alone. Remember it is Allah Who has given you all the possessions and everything you own, and that He is the true owner of them all. He allots what He wills tho whomever He wills, however He wills.

لِلَّهِ مُلْكُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا فِيهِنَّ ۚ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ قَدِيرٌۢۢ

"The kingdom of the heavens and the earth and everything in them belongs to Allah. He has power over all things." (al-Ma'ida : 120)


So reflect on the uncountable blessing He has given you and thank Him for His favors upon you. If nothing else, thank Him for the blessing of Islam that He gave you. Praise Him and thank Him....in the morning and at the end of the day, in good times and bad times....in all times. Praise Him and thank Him until He is truly pleased with you. For, by Allah, no matter how much you thank Him and how much you praise Him, it will never be enough.

Never forget that nothing happens except by His Command and Permission.

Everything lies in the Hands of Allah. No harm can befall you and no benefit can reach you except by the Will of Allah and know that it is surely ordained for a purposed. Even though you may carefully plan your day, your week, your life....you can never know what awaits you later on. Surrounded by such uncertainty, you will only find relief through the acknowledgement that every incident you come upon is ordained by Allah especially for you, and for your betterment. You have no recourse other than taking refuge in Him, trusting in Him, and submitting to Him.

In fact, it is not just you; rather, there is no place or moment in the universe that is independent of Allah. Nothing can remain out of His Sovereignty.

قُل لَّن يُصِيبَنَآ إِلَّا مَا كَتَبَ ٱللَّهُ لَنَا هُوَ مَوْلَىٰنَا ۚ وَعَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ

Say : "Nothing can happen to us except what Allah has ordained for us. He is Our Master. It is Allah that the believers should put their trust." (Surah at-tawbah: 51)


Keep the prayer of the Prophet (SAW) fresh in your heart;
"O Allah no one can prevent anyone from whatever You have granted and no one can grant what You have prevented." (Tabaarani)

Never forget that any good that you do is only 'Taufeeq' from Allah, alone.

Know that any act of kindness, any good that you do is from Him alone. It is Allah that sent guidance from above the seven heavens into your heart. And didn't allow anyone to remove that guidance from your heart. It is He that enabled you to do that goodness, and you have to be humble and remember that.

Don't let the shaytaan bloat your head and think that it is from you, make you arrogant and ruin the rewards for you. A person has to be aware of this, otherwise for days, weeks or even years, a person could be doing actions,thinking that he is righteous, whereas is fact he is not getting any ounce of rewards.

....وَقَالُوا۟ ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِى هَدَىٰنَا لِهَٰذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لِنَهْتَدِىَ لَوْلَآ أَنْ هَدَىٰنَا ٱللَّهُ

"....and they (people of Jannah) shall say: All praise is due to Allah Who guided us to his, and we would not have found the way had it not been that Allah had guided us..." (Surah al-'Aaraaf: 43)


Remember that the heart of the believer is in between the fingers of Allah and He can flip it whatever He pleases. So make due to Allah to keep you steadfast on His Religion and bear in mind that no matter how much you try, it is Allah who gives you the ultimate will. Therefore with every good action, your love for Allah should increase because you have now witnessed Allah's Grace upon you.

Never forget that you are going to return to Allah one day and that day could be....no, not tomorrow, but today.

Remember that you are destined to meet Him. The invitation for that may come any time....today, tomorrow, any day....any moment. Your whole life is nothing but a preparation for that Meeting that day....when no one will avail anyone.

وَٱتَّقُوا۟ يَوْمًۭاۭ تُرْجَعُونَ فِيهِ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ ۖ ثُمَّ تُوَفَّىٰ كُلُّ نَفْسٍۢ مَّا كَسَبَتْ وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ

"Fear the Day when you shall be returned to Allah. and every soul shall be paid in full what it has earned; and they shall not be harmed." (Surah al-Baqarah: 281)


Never forget that each act of yours will be presented before Allah for His Judgment one day. Also bear in mind that you will have to stand in front of the Lord Almighty that day ALL ALONE and give account for each and every single thing you said or did.

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَلْتَنظُرْ نَفْسٌۭ مَّا قَدَّمَتْ لِغَدٍۢ ۖ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ خَبِيرٌۢ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ

"O you believe! Fear Allah and keep your duty to Him. And let every person look to what he has sent forth for the morrow, and fear Allah. Verily, Allah is All-Aware of what you do." (Surah Hashr: 18)


So keep this meeting in mind, and spend every remaining moment of your life in the devotion and submission to Allah. Remember it is a gift from Him. So used it to your advantage, spend it in His obedience....before its too late and the invitation is issued for you.

أَلَمْ يَأْنِ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَن تَخْشَعَ قُلُوبُهُمْ لِذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ وَمَا نَزَلَ مِنَ ٱلْحَقِّ وَلَا يَكُونُوا۟ كَٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ مِن قَبْلُ فَطَالَ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْأَمَدُ فَقَسَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ ۖ وَكَثِيرٌۭ مِّنْهُمْ فَٰسِقُونَ

"Has not the time yet come for those who believe that their hearts should be humble for the remembrance of Allah and what has come down of the truth? And~that) they should not be like those who were given the Book before, but the time become prolonged to them, so their hearts hardened, and most of them are transgressors." (Surah al-Hadeed: 16)