Make this Earth a Paradise!


Quran

Quran (Photo credit: manitoon)

-Rayhaanah Omar, founder of Fee Qalbee

Alhamdulillah!

This post is a reminder of the many moral standards & values which al Qur’aan equips us with.

[The relevant Qur’aan chapter and verse(s) are given respectively in brackets at the end.]

  • 01 – Respect and honour all human beings irrespective of their religion, colour, race, gender, language, status, property, birth, profession/job and so on [17/70]
  • 02 – Talk straight, to the point, without any ambiguity or deception [33/70]
  • 03 – Choose the best of words to speak and say them in the best possible way [17/53, 2/83]
  • 04 – Do not shout. Speak politely keeping your voice low. [31/19]
  • 05 – Always speak the truth. Shun words that are deceitful and ostentatious [22/30]
  • 06 – Do not confound truth with falsehood [2/42]
  • 07 – Say with your mouth what is in your heart [3/167]
  • 08 – Speak in a civilised manner in a language that is recognised by the society and is commonly used [4/5]
  • 09 – When you voice an opinion, be just, even if it is against a relative [6/152]
  • 10 – Do not be a bragging boaster [31/18]
  • 11 – Do not talk, listen or do anything vain [23/3, 28/55]
  • 12 – Do not participate in any paltry. If you pass near a futile play, then pass by with dignity [25/72]
  • 13 – Do not verge upon any immodesty or lewdness whether surreptitious or overt [6/151].
  • 14 – If, unintentionally, any misconduct occurs by you, then correct yourself expeditiously [3/134].
  • 15 – Do not be contemptuous or arrogant with people [31/18]
  • 16 – Do not walk haughtily or with conceit [17/37, 31/18]
  • 17 – Be moderate in thy pace [31/19]
  • 18 – Walk with humility and sedateness [25/63]
  • 19 – Keep your gazes lowered [24/30-31, 40/19].
  • 20 – If you do not have complete knowledge about anything, it is better to maintain silence. You might think that speaking about something without full knowledge is a trivial matter. But it might have grave consequences [24/15-16]
  • 21 – When you hear something malicious about someone, keep a favourable view about him/her until you attain full knowledge about the matter. Consider others innocent until they are proven guilty with solid and truthful evidence [24/12-13]
  • 22 – Ascertain the truth of any news, lest you smite someone in ignorance and afterward repent of what you did [49/6]
  • 23 – Do not follow blindly any information of which you have no direct knowledge. (Using your faculties of perception and conception) you must verify it for yourself. In the Court of your Lord subhaanahu wa Ta’ala, you will be held accountable for your hearing, sight, and the faculty of reasoning [17/36].
  • 24 – Never think that you have reached the final stage of knowledge and nobody knows more than yourself. Remember! Above everyone endowed with knowledge is another endowed with more knowledge [12/76]. Even the Prophet [sallalaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam] was asked to keep praying, “O My Sustainer! Advance me in knowledge.” [20:114]
  • 25 – The believers are but a single Brotherhood. Live like members of one family, brothers and sisters unto one another [49/10].
  • 26 – Do not make a mockery of others or ridicule others [49/11]
  • 27 – Do not defame others [49/11]
  • 28 – Do not insult others by nicknames [49/11]
  • 29 – Avoid suspicion and guesswork. Suspicion and guesswork might deplete your communal energy [49/12]
  • 30 – Spy not upon one another [49/12]
  • 31 – Do not backbite one another [49/12]
  • 32 – When you meet each other, offer good wishes and blessings for safety. One who conveys to you a message of safety and security and also when a courteous greeting is offered to you, meet it with a greeting still more courteous or (at least) of equal courtesy [4/86]
  • 33 – When you enter your own home or the home of somebody else, compliment the inhabitants [24/61]
  • 34 – Do not enter houses other than your own until you have sought permission; and then greet the inhabitants and wish them a life of blessing, purity and pleasure [24/27]
  • 35 – Treat kindly” Your parents, Relatives, The orphans, And those who have been left alone in the society [4/36]
  • 36 – Take care of The needy, The disabled, Those whose hard earned income is insufficient to meet their needs, And those whose businesses have stalled, And those who have lost their jobs. [4/36]
  • 37 – Treat kindly ” Your related neighbours, and unrelated neighbours ” Companions by your side in public gatherings, or public transportation. [4/36]
  • 38 – Be generous to the needy wayfarer, the homeless son of the street, and the one who reaches you in a destitute condition [4/36]
  • 39 – Be nice to people who work under your care. [4/36]
  • 40 – Do not follow up what you have given to others to afflict them with reminders of your generosity [2/262].
  • 41 – Do not expect a return for your good behaviour, not even thanks [76/9]
  • 42 – Cooperate with one another in good deeds and do not cooperate with others in evil and bad matters [5/2]
  • 43 – Do no try to impress people on account of self-proclaimed virtues [53/32]
  • 44 – You should enjoin right conduct on others but mend your own ways first. Actions speak louder than words. You must first practice good deeds yourself, then preach [2/44]
  • 45 – Correct yourself and your families first [before trying to correct others] [66/6]
  • 46 – Pardon gracefully if anyone among you who commits a bad deed out of ignorance, and then repents and amends[6/54, 3/134]
  • 47 – Divert and sublimate your anger and potentially virulent emotions to creative energy, and become a source of tranquillity and comfort to people [3/134]
  • 48 – Call people to the Way of your Lord with wisdom and beautiful exhortation. Reason with them most decently [16/125]
  • 49 – Leave to themselves those who do not give any importance to the Divine code and have adopted and consider it as mere play and amusement [6/70]
  • 50 – Sit not in the company of those who ridicule Divine Law unless they engage in some other conversation[4/140]
  • 51 – Do not be jealous of those who are blessed [4/54]
  • 52 – In your collective life, make rooms for others [58/11]
  • 53 – When invited to dine, Go at the appointed time. Do not arrive too early to wait for the preparation of meal or linger after eating. Such things may cause inconvenience to the host [33/53]
  • 54 – Eat and drink [what is lawful] in moderation [7/31].
  • 55 – Do not squander your wealth senselessly [17/26]
  • 56 – Fulfil your promises and commitments [17/34]
  • 57 – Keep yourself clean, pure [9/108, 4/43, 5/6].
  • 58 – Dress-up in agreeable attire and adorn yourself with exquisite character from inside out[7/26]
  • 59 – Seek your provision only by fair endeavour [29/17, 2/188]
  • 60 – Do not devour the wealth and property of others unjustly, nor bribe the officials or the judges to deprive others of their possessions [2/188]

As bearers of al Qur’aan, may we continuously strive to perfect our manners & morals, following the best of all role models, Sayyidinaa Muhammad (sallalaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) – ameen.

Stay inspired!

Rayhaanah

The Pleasures of Paradise in Brief


 The Pleasures of Paradise in Brief

 

Paradise

Jannah

God has said in the Quran:

“And give good news (O Muhammad) to those who believe and do good deeds, that they will have gardens (Paradise) in which rivers flow….” (Quran 2:25)

God has also said:

“Race one with another for forgiveness from your Lord and for Paradise, whose width is as the width of the heavens and the earth, which has been prepared for those who believe in God and His messengers….” (Quran 57:21)

The Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, told us that the lowest in rank among the dwellers of Paradise will have ten times the like of this world,[1] and he or she will have whatever he or she desires and ten times like it.[2] Also, the Prophet Muhammad said: “A space in Paradise equivalent to the size of a foot would be better than the world and what is in it.”[3] He also said: “In Paradise there are things which no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human mind has thought of.”[4]  He also said: “The most miserable man in the world of those meant for Paradise will be dipped once in Paradise. Then he will be asked, ‘Son of Adam, did you ever face any misery?  Did you ever experience any hardship?’ So he will say, ‘No, by God, O Lord!  I never faced any misery, and I never experienced any hardship.’”[5]

If you enter Paradise, you will live a very happy life without sickness, pain, sadness, or death; God will be pleased with you; and you will live there forever. God has said in the Quran:

“But those who believe and do good deeds, We will admit them to gardens (Paradise) in which rivers flow, lasting in them forever….” (Quran 4:57)


[1] Narrated in Saheeh Muslim, #186, and Saheeh Al-Bukhari, #6571.

[2] Narrated in Saheeh Muslim, #188, and Mosnad Ahmad, #10832.

[3] Narrated in Saheeh Al-Bukhari, #6568, and Mosnad Ahmad, #13368.

[4] Narrated in Saheeh Muslim, #2825, and Mosnad Ahmad, #8609.

[5] Narrated in Saheeh Muslim, #2807, and Mosnad Ahmad, #12699.

Be conscious of Allah


Be conscious of Allah wherever you go.

Taqwa:

Taqwa can be compared to walking through a narrow path with thorny bushes on both sides and a person passing through it tries his level best to save his clothes from being torn. The thorns are the sins and the clothes is one’s Eeman.
Linguistically Taqwa means forbearance, fear and abstinence, but in the Islamic terminology, Taqwa has a distinct meaning. Taqwa is a high state of heart, which keeps one conscious of Allah’s presence and His Knowledge, and it motivates him to perform righteous deeds and avoid those, which are forbidden.
The essence of Taqwa is to make a shield (which guards) against Allah’s anger and punishment. That shield is to obey His commandments and abstain from His punishment. [as explained by Ibn Rajab (rahimahullah) in Jami al-Uloom wal-Hikam (190/191)]
Allah says:
O you who believe! Have Taqwa of Allah, as you should have of Him and do not die except as Muslims.” [Soorah aal-Imraan (3): 102]
Ibn Mas’oud (radhiallahu anhu) said speaking about this verse, Allah is meant to be obeyed, and not disobeyed; remembered at all times, and not forgotten; and to be thanked; and we are not to be ungrateful to Him.”
The advice from Allaah to the first and the last is to command with taqwaa; Allaah mentions:

{…And verily, We have recommended to the people of the Scripture before you, and to you (O Muslims) that you (all) fear Allâh…} [An Nisaa 4:131]

Likewise, this was the advice of the Messenger of Allaah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) to Mu’aadh ibn Jabal when he sent him to Yemen. He said to him: 

Have taqwaa of Allaah wherever you are and follow a bad deed up with a good one and it shall wipe it out and have good character in dealing with the people.”

Talq Ibn Habeed (a tabi’e) said: “Taqwa (piety) is that you act in obedience to Allah, and hope in His Mercy, upon a light from Him; and Taqwa is leaving acts of disobedience to Allah out of fear of Him, upon a light from Him.” [(Saheeh) by Shaikh al-Albanee. Related by Ibn Abee Shaybah in Kitaabul-Emaan (no: 99)]
Taqwa alone is the criterion of greatness in the Sight of Allah
Allah says:
O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily, the most honorable of you with Allah is that (believer) who has Taqwa (God-consciousness, fearing Allah). Verily, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware.” [Soorah al-Hujurat (49): 13]

The most honorable of you with Allah is that (believer) who has Taqwa (God-consciousness, fearing Allah).

Allah has erased all distinctions of racism, cast and color and made all human beings equal. He has established a unique criterion for greatness and that is Taqwa. Taqwa is the essence of the teachings of Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him).
Whenever Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) sent his Sahabah (companions) on a military expedition, he would advice them to have deep-rooted Taqwa of Allah and he would also advise the rest of his military party likewise.
The Pious Predecessors (salaf as-Saalih) continued this practice of giving mutual advice of Taqwa after Allah’s Messenger r passed away. Umar Ibn Khattab (radhiallahu anhu) wrote to his son, Abdullah: “To proceed: ‘Verily I advise you to have taqwa (fear) of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, for whoever fears Him, Allah will protect him, and whoever gives a loan to Him, Allah will reward him, and whoever thanks Him, Allah will increase Him.”
In one verse of the Qur’aan Allaah says:
{Verily, the Muttaqûn (the pious) will be in place of Security (Paradise). Among Gardens and Springs} [ Ad-Dukhan 44:51-52]

Allaah mentions:
{Verily, for the Muttaqûn, there will be a success (Paradise); Gardens and vineyards} [ An-Nabaa 78:31-32]

Allaah says:

{Verily, the Muttaqûn (the pious. See V.2:2), will be in the midst of Gardens and Rivers (Paradise). In a seat of truth (i.e. Paradise), near the Omnipotent King (Allâh, the One, the All-Blessed, the Most High, the Owner of Majesty and Honour).} [ Al-Qamar 54:54-55]

And Allaah says:

{…And whosoever fears Allâh and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine…} [At-Talaaq 65:2-3]

Some benefits of Taqwa:

1. Taqwa is a means by which a believer performs righteous deeds and Taqwa causes the righteous deed to be accepted by Allah.
Allah says:
O you who believe! Have Taqwa (fear) of Allah and always speak the truth. He will direct you to do righteous and correct actions and will forgive you your sins and whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger has indeed attained a great achievement.” [Soorah al-Ahzaab (33): 70]
and: Verily Allah accepts only from those who are the muttaqoon (those who posses Taqwa).” [Soorah al-Maaidah (19): 71-72]
2. Taqwa makes one deserving of Allah’s Pleasure and Love. Allah says:
Verily, the most honorable of you in the Sight of Allah is that (believer) who has Taqwa.” [Soorah al-Hujurat (49): 13]
and: Whoever fulfills his pledge and has Taqwa of Allah much, then indeed, Allah loves those who are muttaqoon (those who posses Taqwa).” [Soorah Aal-Imraan (3): 76]
3. Taqwa causes sins to be forgiven and increases rewards. Allah says:
And whoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him. He will remit his sins from him, and will enlarge his rewards.” [Soorah at-Talaaq (65): 5]

Allah will forgive sins.

4. Taqwa keeps one steadfast on the Straight Path and protects him from deviation.
Allah says:
O you who believe! Have Taqwa of Allah. He will give you a Furqaan (criterion to judge between right and wrong).” [Soorah al-Anfaal (8): 29]
Imaam Ibn al-Katheer (rahimahulla) said in his Tafseer, ‘Ibn Abbas, as-Sudde, Ikrimah, adh-Dahhak, Qataadah and Muqaatil, Ibn Huyyan, all said about ‘Furqaan’ that it means a way out (from difficulty).
Mujaahid added: ‘A way out from difficulty both in this world and in the Hereafter.’ In a narration from Ibn Abbas, he said: “It means, ‘Salvation’ and in another narration from him ‘being helped.’ Muhammad Ishaaq said that it means: ‘A criterion to judge between truth and falsehood.’ This explanation from Ibn Ishaaq is the most general of what has proceeded and it is a necessary consequence of it. Since whoever has Taqwa of Allah by obeying His commands and abandoning what He has prohibited, will be given the ability to recognize truth from falsehood.
This will be the cause for his salvation, his being helped; and the cause for his worldly affairs being made easier and his happiness on the Day of Judgment. It will be the cause for his sins to be expiated by Allah, and his being granted forgiveness and Allah shielding him from the people. It will likewise be the cause of him being the recipient of a great reward from Allah, as He the Most High says:
O you who believe! Have Taqwa (fear) of Allah and believe in His Messenger; and He will provide you with a light by which you will walk.” [Soorah al-Hdeed (57): 28]

How to achieve Taqwa?

Allah says:
O mankind! Worship your Lord, Who created you and those who were before you so that you may become al-Muttaqoon.” [Soorah al-Baqarah (2): 21]
Thus, Taqwa is the fruit of Eebadah (worship) and and can only be achieved by performing acts of Eebadah. Therefore we often find Allah mentioning Taqwa with Eebadah, he said regarding the fasts of Ramadaan:
O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become muttaqoon (those who posses Taqwa).” [Soorah al-Baqarah (2): 183] 

Who is the most righteous?

Allah says:
And whosoever honors the symbols of Allah, then it is truly from the piety of the heart.” [Soorah al-Hajj (22): 32] 
Thus, Taqwa inhabits the heart and it is only within the capability of Allah to know what the hearts conceal. Therefore, judging people’s righteousness and spirituality is beyond the ability of a human, Allah pointed out to this fact when he said:
There is among people, he whose speech will dazzle you in this life and he will claim that Allah is witness (to the sincerity of) what is in his heart, yet he will be among the most vicious enemies (of mankind).” [Soorah al-Baqarah (2): 204]
It is mentioned in the Qur’aan that Allah chooses His Awliya (singular ‘wali’ ling. meaning Friend) from His creations based upon their righteousness.
Allah mentioned the characteristics of His Walee saying:
Verily, Awliya of Allah are those who are not overcome by fear of grief; they are those who believe and have Taqwa.” [Soorah Yoonus (10): 62-63]
and:
Verily, His close friends (Awliya) are only those with Taqwa but most of them do not realize it.” [Soorah al-Anfaal (8): 34]
Thus, a Walee of Allah is he, who has Eeman, Taqwa and fear of Allah.
Unfortunately, many Muslims have exaggerated in this matter and specified some individuals to be ‘Awliya of Allah’, while assuming piety and righteousness for them. This practice is incorrect because the characteristics, which Allah mentions about His Awliya (Eeman and Taqwa) are matters of the heart and knowing them is beyond the capability of a human. Also, because these characteristics are present in every believer in varying degree, therefore, to specify some individuals to these qualities is unjust.
This practice of elevating people to specific ranks of piety and giving them certain status is a practice imported from Christianity and Hinduism. It was the practice of the Christians that they would elevate some individuals to great ranks for whom they assumed spirituality. And this was the main cause, which destroyed their religion.
It is also seen that tombs are built at the graves of these so-called ‘Awliya of Allah’ and prayers are directed to them, either believing them to be intercessors or benefactors. This practice is in complete contradiction to the teachings of Islam. Islam teaches worship of One True Lord and fearing Him alone.

Taqwa and manners