Araftuka

Live a life which leads to the recognition of Allah Ta’ala

“Araftuka” literally means “I’ve recognised You (O Allah)”. This unique life-program conglomerates the advices,tips & guidelines offered by the Divine Shariah & pristine Sunnah to enable you to lead the life Allah the Almighty has created you for.

Why live the same year 70 times and call it a life?Why go through life without achieving inner peace & fulfillment? Why do most people today find themselves fighting spiritual,physical,psychological & emotional battles on a daily basis? At the end of your life,will you be able to say “I’ve recognised You (O Allah)” ?

Peace of mind & contentment of the heart are some of the most sought-after treasures in existence. Sadly,many of us will walk the path of life and reach the end only to realise that the purpose of our creation, Divine Recognition, has eluded us.

What if we used the guidelines provided by Allah Ta’ala to better our lives? There is no monopoly on Divine Recognition & inner satisfaction,Allah Ta’ala has clearly outlined the principles which are guaranteed to lead to success in this world & the next.All we need to do is apply these principles in our lives…

This revolutionary program outlines:

* A unique Sunnah eating plan,aimed at blessing you with the Sunnah physique which so many of us lack

* Divine advices which promise to bring about a focused mind,a calm heart & a peaceful soul

* Sunnah practices to arm you with the tools needed to counter depression,stress,anxiety & grief

* Qur’aanic principles guaranteed to enhance the quality of your existence in this world & the next

* Simple steps to eradicate & deal with the doubts,whispers & fears which so often visit our minds & hearts

* Principles from the Qur’aan & Sunnah to enhance & define your self-esteem & identity

* The pathway towards assured mastery of YOUR life,mind,body,soul,marriage & relationship with Allah Ta’ala

Use the principles & advices which the Qur’aan guarantees will lead to peace of mind & contentment of the heart, to live the life you have been created for.You do not need to solve life’s problems on your own,Allah’s help encompasses every single problem imaginable!!!

Details

Date: Sunday 15th May 2011 Insha Allah

Venue: Parktown,Johannesburg (Details on Registration)

Time: 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Fee: R 250.00 p.p.

Conducted by : Ml.Junaid Kajee (Founder – Ar Rihla)

http://twitter.com/JunaidKajee

*This program is also offered online for those unable to attend in-person. Please mail info@rihla.co.za for details.

Register at http://www.rihla.co.za/products-page/ar-rihla-seminars/

A man once asked Imam Ahmad, ‘I sometimes find myself in a gathering where the Sunnah is mentioned, but no-one apart from me has more knowledge of it. Shall I speak up and say something?’

Imam Ahmad then said, ‘State what the Sunnah is, but do not argue over it.’

The man then repeated his statement and so Imam Ahmad said, ‘I only see you to be an argumentative man!’

And this is what Malik (rahimahullah) meant in his saying (after informing people of the Sunnah), ‘And if they don’t accept it from you, then be silent.’

Mu’tamir ibn Sulayman: ‘I heard my father say, ‘You can never get a man to listen to you when you have just angered him.’

- Al-Adab al-Shar'iyyah, by Ibn Muflih al-Maqdisi [pg. 307]

Point of benefit: Advise people of correct actions, the Sunnah, and the proper manner of conduct etc, but don’t push them to the point of anger and arguments because getting advice through to a person in that state is like trying to force back water flowing from a tap… Instead, let the heat die down, let the issue close for a while and then try again when things are calm.

source: http://fajr.wordpress.com/2011/04/12/speak-up-but-dont-argue/

Bismillah

The following is a compilation of narrations from the Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) highlighting different ways we can give sadaqah (charity) with commentary from Riyad as-Saliheen.

Importance of Giving Sadaqah

Abu Musa Al-Ash`ari (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “Giving in charity is an obligation upon every Muslim. It was said (to him): “What about one who does not find (the means) to do so?” He said, “Let him work with his hands, thus doing benefit to himself, and give in charity.” It was said to him: “What if he does not have (the means) to do so?” He said, “Then let him assist the needy, the aggrieved.” It was said: “What about if he cannot even do this?” He said, “Then he should enjoin good.” He was asked: “What if he cannot do that?” He said, “He should then abstain from evil, for verily, that is a charity from him.” [Bukhari and Muslim]

Explanation: “This Hadith emphasizes two things. Firstly, it induces one to work hard so that he can fulfill his own needs and also spend in the way of Allah. Secondly, it points out a great variety of virtues and good deeds so much so that even to abstain from sin also comes in the category of sadaqah.”

Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “When you get up in the morning, charity is due from every one of your joints. There is charity in every ascription of glory to Allah; there is charity in every declaration of His Greatness; there is charity in every utterance of praise of Him; there is charity in every declaration that He is the only true God (worthy of worship); there is charity in enjoining good; there is charity in forbidding evil. Two rak’ah of duha (forenoon prayer) is equal to all this (in reward).” [Muslim]

Explanation: “There are three hundred sixty joints in a human body. It is these joints which enable him to work and make all kinds of movements. If man’s body did not have these joints, it would have been impossible for him to sit, stand, lie, move, and make use of the different organs of his body. Thus every joint is a blessing for which one must express gratitude to Allah. It is yet another blessing of Allah that He has also told man a very easy way of thanksgiving which can be practiced even by the poorest man in the world. This means of thanksgiving is recitation of tasbih (subhaan Allah), tahmid (alhamdulillah), takbir (Allahu Akbar), tahlil (la ilaha illallah), and to preach virtue and forbid wrong or unlawful conduct, etc. If one is unable to do even this, then he should perform two rak’ah prayer. If one wants to enlarge the number of rak’ah, he can increase them to eight with the condition that the eight are divided into four couplets.”

Ways You Can Give Sadaqah

• Any good deed. ”Every good deed (ma’ruf) is charity.” [Bukhari]

We learn from this hadith that whatever good action and deed is done by a Muslim, he gets a reward of sadaqah on it. The word ma’ruf stands here for every virtue and noble deed. Renunciation of evils is also a virtue (mar’uf).

• Dhikr/Remembrance of Allah. Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: Some people said to Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam): “O Messenger of Allah, the rich have taken away (all the) reward. They observe salat (prayers) as we do; and give sadaqah (charity) out of their surplus wealth.” Upon this he said, “Has Allah not prescribed for you (a course) following which you can (also) give sadaqah? In every declaration of the glorification of Allah (i.e., saying subhaan Allah) there is a sadaqah, and in every takbir (i.e., saying Allahu Akbar) is a sadaqah, and in every celebration of praise (saying alhamdulillah) is a sadaqah, and in every declaration that He is One (la ilaha illallah) is a sadaqah.” [Muslim]

Explanation: “This hadith highlights two important points. Firstly, the enthusiasm of the companions of the Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) for surpassing each other in good actions. Secondly, it tells that virtue has a vast meaning in Islam and it includes every action which is done with good intention, provided it does not involve disobedience of Allah. So much so that it covers even natural activities of man which fall in the category of mubah (that which is permissible and may be omitted without fear of sin) and one is rewarded for them. Not only that, one is rewarded even for abstaining from a sin on the condition that the abstention is for the obedience of Allah. Then abstention rises to the level of an act of obedience and is rewarded likewise.”

• Good Speech. ”A good word is a charity.” [Bukhari and Muslim]

• Walking to the masjid for prayer. ”Every step that you take (towards the masjid) for prayer is a charity.” [Bukhari and Muslim]

• Removing something harmful from the road. ”Removing harmful things from the road is a charity.” [Bukhari and Muslim]

• Being just. ”Administering justice between two men is a charity.” [Bukhari and Muslim]

• Helping someone with their luggage. ”Assisting a man to mount his beast, or helping him load his luggage on it is a charity.” [Bukhari and Muslim]

• Spending on your family. ”O son of Adam, if you spend the surplus, it will be better for you; and if you retain it, it will be bad for you. You will not be reprimanded for keeping what is enough for your need. Begin with those who are your dependents, and the upper hand (i.e., the one that spends in the way of Allah) is better than the lower hand (i.e., the one that receives charity).” [Muslim]

• Assisting the needy. ”Then let him assist the needy, the aggrieved.” [Bukhari and Muslim]

• Enjoining good. ”Then he should enjoin good.” [Bukhari and Muslim]

• Abstaining from evil. ”"He should then abstain from evil, for verily, that is a charity from him.” [Bukhari and Muslim]

• Planting a tree. ”When a Muslim plants a tree, whatever is eaten from it is charity from him and whatever is stolen is charity and whatever is subtracted from it is charity.” [Muslim]

• Feeding others. A man asked Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam), “Which act in Islam is the best?” He (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) replied, “To feed (the poor and the needy) and to greet those whom you know and those you do not know.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

• Using any resource (time, food, knowledge) to spend on others. ”And whatsoever you spend of anything (in Allah’s Cause), He will replace it.” (34:39)

Although the economy has put many Muslims in financial hardship, we should remember the saying of the scholars: “The reward is according to effort of the deed.” If a person only has $5 in their pocket and gives $3 in sadaqah or all $5, then his reward is greater than a millionaire who gives $1000 in charity. The above list is only meant as motivation for us to race to do all types of good deeds because the Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said:

“Allah will surely speak with everyone of you without an interpreter. He (the slave) will look at his right side and will see nothing but (the deeds) which he had done before, and he will look to his left side and will see nothing but (the deeds) which he had done before. Then he will look in front of him and will find nothing but Hell-fire facing him. So protect (yourselves) from (Hell) Fire, by giving in charity even half a date; and if he does not finds it, then with a kind word.” [Bukhari and Muslim]

source: http://www.tayyibaat.com/2011/03/24/ways-to-give-sadaqah/

1.   Use one’s courage to say no to sin. No sin, you win. If one shows cowardice, Shaytaan shall sit on his head. If one were attacked by a knife-yielding rogue, ready to slit one’s throat, would one just sit back and let him do so? Would one not fight for his life? Just as one fears cancer, and one fears his life being taken by murderers, and one fears stones forming in his bladder, the fear of displeasing Allah should be even more, since this could lead to the destruction of one’s Imaan. To save one’s life, the first thing one does is to flee to safety. Similarly, one should flee whenever one’s Imaan is in danger! If a beautiful face approaches, change one’s course.  Never look at women unveiled! Our elders have even warned against staring at the form of veiled women, for this too is not free from harm.

2.  Regularly perform two rakaats of Salatul-Haajat (Salaah at the time of need). Thereafter, with enthusiasm and great hope in the mercy of Allah, together with the shedding of some tears, beg for His help and mercy. When one is diagnosed of cancer, the fervor with which he makes dua is well known. With that very same fervor, implore Allah to save you and your family from His anger and punishment and from those actions which invite His wrath. Say, “O Allah, it is Haraam for me to spend even a moment in Your displeasure! It is against the etiquettes of a slave to displease his master. O Allah, after receiving such bounties from You, how could I then ever utilize these favours in Your disobedience? If the opportunity to perform Salaatul-Haajat does not arise, make these duas after any fardh salaat.

3.   Request duas from the selected servants of Allah.

4.  After consulting with the friends of Allah and receiving some prescribed azkaar (forms of remembering Allah), complete it with punctuality. By taking Allah’s name, light is created within the heart. Thereafter, if ever this light were to be extinguished, one would naturally become perplexed and not rest until his light comes on again. Only those are disturbed by the darkness, which had previously enjoyed light. Thus, a course of Zikrullah is of vital importance.

5.  Endeavour to come into the company of the friends of Allah, as much as possible. Just as how desi (natural) mangoes when tied together with langra (hybrid) mangoes, also becomes langra (hybrid), similarly, whosoever spends time in the company of the friends of Allah, there is great hope that he too shall one day, Insha Allah, become the friend of Allah.

6.  Avoid all avenues which could result in sin, with the eyes, the heart and the body. Do not look at those places, nor allow those thoughts to enter one’s heart. Strive to keep the heart clean of all filthy thoughts. Move away from wherever there is a possibility of one being attracted to evil. Avoiding the avenues of evil must be done collectively, with the body, the eyes, and the heart. One may be seated far from the evil, but by merely looking at it, its effects shall fall upon the heart, no matter how far away it may be. Whether one physically enters the area of evil, or glances towards it from far, or merely takes enjoyment in its thoughts, in all three instances, its poison shall dampen his spirits and create cowardice within him. After taking poison, even the company of one’s Shaikh shall have little effect. This poison shall then draw one towards places more advanced in evil.

Source: http://annoor.wordpress.com/2011/03/19/six-advices-for-performing-good-deed-and-avoiding-sins/

For anyone who ever thought of growing a full fist-length beard, observing proper hijab and/or niqab, or dressing in an Islamic manner but have not been able to do so, this is a must read for you.  Insha Allah, it may serve to be a source of inspiration for those who wish to pursue Islamic education.  But most importantly, it serves to be a reminder for me and Insha Allah, a means of earning Allah’s pleasure by getting people to practice the Deen in its entirety.

Unfortunately, just before you take your first step on the righteous journey to pursue your Deen, your nafs and shaytaan be it your own shaytaan or people around you, even the ones who deeply care for you, will give you awful “advice” and sincere “nasihah”.  Perhaps it may not be because they have evil intentions.  It is because they do not understand the big picture—what your Deen means to you. They do not understand that, to you, the reward is worth the risk. In other words, a life of hell in this world or a jail as the hadith says is worth more than a temporal “paradise” for an unknown amount of torment the actual hellfire.

So they try to protect you by shielding you from the possibility of failure, which, as a result, also shields you from the possibility of making a Deeni life for yourself a reality.

Our time here in this world is limited, so let us not waste it trying to live someone else’s life.  Do not be trapped by lack of faith and Iman others have regarding themselves and you.  Do not let the noise of other people’s opinions drown out the sound of your soul yearning to live a righteous and pious life.

Here are ten tips (lies) people will likely tell you when you decide to pursue your Deen and the reasons why they are dreadfully mistaken:

1. You can follow your Deen someday, but right now you need to calm down and be responsible.

Someday?! When is “someday”?  “Someday” is not a day at all. “Someday” never comes.  It is not even on the calendar.  It is not on the lunar calendar, the Islamic calendar, and ISNA does not even know when “Someday” is going to be based off calculations because it cannot be calculated! It is a foggy generalization of a time that will likely never come. Today is the only day guaranteed to you. Today is the only day you can begin to make a difference in your life. And pursuing your Deen is what life is all about. So do not be irresponsible. Do not wait until “someday.” Make today the first day of the rest of your new life, and fulfill the purpose of your life.

2. You are totally at a loss if it does not work out.

Wrong! This is a giant, lame load of whispers and snares in the form of wasawis. You are not even close to being at a loss. In fact, the worst case scenario is that things do not work out and you go back to doing exactly what you are doing right now.  Well you can always make Tawbah, and return to Allah.  If the sun has risen from the west for these pessimists, then let them have their judgment, but in reality, this event has not yet occurred.  So make use of the time at hand.  The door for returning to Allah is still open and everyone has a free pass to go in, even those who were in and went out can return back in. Remember that the Qur’an says mankind is in loss and those who practice the Deen are an exception to that.

3. It is safer to maintain your job.

Sure, I suppose. But you know what is even safer than that? Going home, locking yourself in your bedroom, and never, ever coming out. And just like that,  your entire life and your Deen would go down the drain. Remember, safer doesn’t always mean better.  Allah is our Provider, and our Sustainer.  Allah provides so much sustenance to those who reject Him, to those who associate partners and ascribe children to Him, and to those who have unusual beliefs about Him. Yet, He never abandons them!  Are we worse than those people that Allah will not tend to at least our basic needs?!  Is this world not a testing center for us?!

4. Fully practicing Deen is impossible!

It is only impossible if you never do anything about it. The reason certain things seem impossible is simply because these people are not aware of anyone who has achieved them yet. But this does not mean that with your help these things won’t become possible in the future. If you truly dedicate yourself to an end result, almost anything is possible. You just have to want it bad enough.  The examples of our pious predecessors and the examples of the righteous people of today are in front of us.  Resolutions only become available to people of firm resolve!

5. Only a lucky few “make it.”

That is because those lucky few got off their rear ends and did something about it! They had the drive, determination, and willpower that you have right now. You can be one of them. It is up to you, and only you.  Keep in mind the lives of the pious people.  They had to deal with the taunts of people also.  In fact it was said that the recitation (Qira’ah) of Imam ‘Asim (the teacher of Imam Hafs) and the jurisprudence (Fiqh) of Imam Abu Hanifah would not reach outside Kufa….Look who gets the last laugh now!

6. You might fail and sin. And sinning is bad.

Failures which lead to sinning are simply stepping stones to repentance. No matter how it turns out, it always ends up just the way it should be. Either you succeed or you learn something: win–win. The biggest mistake you can make is doing nothing because you’re too scared to make a mistake. If you can’t handle failure, then you can’t handle success either.  In the end, you will have attained the love of Allah.  How you ask?  Allah mentions in the Qur’an that He loves the pious and the righteous.  But Allah also mentions that He loves those who frequently repent.  One will only frequently repent when one frequently fails and sins.

7. You do not have access to the right resources.

It is not about having the right resources; it’s about using the resources available to you.  Imam Abu Yusuf was a poor person.  He did not have the luxury to give everything up and sit and learn.  What he did have though, was his eyes on the prize and sincere yearning for learning.  That resulted in the great Imam Abu Hanifah noticing this and resolving to look after the financial needs of Imam Abu Yusuf.  Get it?  Got it? GOOD!

8. You need more money saved before you can take the first step.

You do not need more money. You need a plan. You need a budget. Eliminate ALL the nonessential costs in your life. If pursuing your dream requires you to leave your day job, figure out the absolute minimum amount of income that you realistically require. Studying the lives of those who have succeeded with similar ventures helps a great deal. But above all, take baby steps. Do not be foolish and assume that you must have a certain amount of money saved right now, or that you must quit your day job today in order to pursue your Deen. Instead, ask yourself this question, “What actions can I take right now with the money and resources I have right now that will bring me closer to the desired goal of practicing Deen properly?”

9. You do not need any help. It is smarter and better to learn and practice on your own.

You are the sum of the people you spend the most time with. If you socialize with the wrong people, they will negatively affect you. But if you socialize with the right people, you will be far more capable and powerful than you ever could have been alone. Find pious people who you click with and work together to make a difference in all of your lives.

10. That sounds like a lot of hard work.

You are darn right it does! But that does not mean it is not worth it. I think success in life hinges on one key point: finding work you love doing and knowing that Allah also loves that work.  As long as you do not do anything to incur the wrath of Allah, remain true to yourself and follow your own interests, values, and dreams, you can find success through passion. Perhaps most importantly, you won’t wake up a few years from now in a situation you and Allah despise, wondering, “How the heck am I going to be like this for the rest of my life?  What is Allah going to do to me if I were to die?” So if you are not breaking the laws of Allah, nor going against the Sunnah, and you catch yourself working hard and loving every minute of it, do not stop. You are onto something big.  Deen is not hard when you concentrate on it and make Deen your passion.

Disregard these misguided bits of nonsense and Insha Allah, you will be on your way to fulfilling your Deen. Now get up and go earn Allah’s pleasure!

source: http://annoor.wordpress.com/2011/02/22/ten-comments-you-will-hear-before-pursuing-your-deen-2/

The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said, “Whoever relieves his brother of a hardship from the hardships of this world, Allah shall relieve him of a hardship from the hardships of the Day of Judgement. And whoever makes things easy for a person in difficulty, Allah will ease for him in this world and the Next. And whoever conceals (the faults of) a Muslim, Allah will conceal him in this world and the Next. Allah is forever aiding a slave so long as he is in the aid of his brother.” [Sahih Muslim, al-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and others]

Abu Hatim: It is a must upon all Muslims that they should advise each other and alleviate each other’s sorrows and difficulties, because whoever relieves his brother of a hardship from the hardships of this world, Allah will relieve him of a hardship from the hardships of the Day of Judgement. And whoever strives to help a person with regards to his concerns, but is not able to completely fulfill it himself, then he has not fallen short. The smallest thing (a person can do) in settling people’s needs is giving due praise/thanks, and friends are known in times of need just like a family is tested in times of poverty. This is because in times of ease everyone is a friend, but the worst of friends is he who deceives his brothers during times of difficulty and need (by not being there for him/her), just like the worst of cities is the one without security and fertile land…

Al-Karizi recited the poem:

The best days of a man is when he attains benefit
And doing good to others is the most lasting of deeds
Goodness is never attained by doing evil
And a person only reaps what he has sown of seeds
Eras are not made up of one type of day
And perhaps a person falls, only to rise again.

Al-Hasan al-Basri said: ‘Helping and settling the needs of a Muslim brother is more beloved to me than I’tikaf (seclusion in the mosque) for 2 months.’

Al-Basami recited:

Rush towards the good, and prepare for it!
Indeed, you know what lies ahead of you
And put forth good deeds, for every person
Shall only be preceded by what he’s put forth.

A beautiful example of a Muslim’s generosity:

A man once came to Yahya ibn Talha ibn ‘Ubaydallah and said, ‘Give us something.’ He said, ‘O boy (speaking to the young man who worked with him), give him whatever you have.’ So he gave him 20,000 which he took and attempted to carry. But it was too heavy for him and so he sat down and began to weep. He (Yahya) said, ‘What’s making you cry? Perhaps you think it’s too little, so shall I increase it for you?’ He said, ‘No, by Allah I do not think it’s too little, but I am crying due to what the earth consumes of your generosity.’ Yahya then said to him, ‘What you have just said to us is greater than what we have given you.’

source:
http://fajr.wordpress.com/2011/01/09/youll-know-your-friends-in-times-of-difficulty/

I always used to think that nasihah literally meant to give advice because that’s how many of us use the term. Apparently, I was wrong:

Abu Raqiyyah Tamin bin Aws ad-Dari radi Allahu `anhu, may Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet s.a.w. said: “[Islam] is an-nasihah.” We said, “To whom?” He said, “To Allah, to His book, to His messenger, the leaders of the Muslims and to the general populous of the Muslims” (Muslim).

Upon reading this hadith (saying of the Prophet s.a.w.) it became clear that nasihah does not mean advice. How could one possibly advise God or His book? Nasihah actually means sincerity; it is striving to seek the best outcome in any situation in life. So when we have nasihah with Allah azza wa jal, that means that we are sincere in worshipping Him and following His commandments.

Nasihah is not so much about advice; rather it is about seeking the good and benefit in a situation. If we keep this in mind, we realize that when we give nasihah to our leaders and fellow Muslims it is not to prove our point, or because we feel violated; we don’t do it in anger or haste, but rather humbly, honestly and strategically. We look to improve the situation, or the individual, instead of debasing and humiliating them. Thus, we give nasihah in the best way possible: the way that it will be received.

This, in essence, is one of the very reasons we come together as a community. We seek to uplift each other in times of hardship and grow together in times of ease. It allows us to multiply our potential and seek the best in any situation. So don’t leave a brother (or sister) hanging and please keep the nasihah coming.

Source:
http://www.suhaibwebb.com/relationships/brotherhood-sisterhood/understanding-nasihah/

I would like to introduce you today to  3 powerful elements of productivity. These are the cornerstone of productivity without which one cannot be productive, and here they are:

1.    Knowledge
2.    Action
3.    Consistency

I call this the Productivity Triangle, and if all 3 elements meet in a person, he/she  becomes truly productive. But if one element is missing that’s when un-productivity kicks in.

So how do these 3 elements work?

Knowledge

Say, “O my Lord! advance me in knowledge (  Surah Taha, Chapter #20, Verse #114)

It all starts with knowledge. Understanding what you need to do, and how to do it. One of the top reasons for people to procrastinate on a project or task is that they do not know how to do it. And they are worried to approach this learning curve out of fear that they may never understand how to do it.

Here’s some good news though: Knowledge can be attained in a number of ways, and I’ve yet to meet someone who has put their mind onto something and failed to gain knowledge in that area. But the key factor here is action, you need to put effort in to gaining knowledge.

Here are top tips to gaining knowledge:

1.    Research online/offline: Al-hamdulillah, the information world is in our finger tips these days and this is a blessing of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) upon us all. I’ve found myself if I lack knowledge in a field, I would firstly go to the Library and pick as many books on the topic as I can, I’ll read some of them and scan through others, then I’ll research online or listen to further audiobooks/podcast on the topic and within a few weeks/months, that knowledge gap would be filled with the permission of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala).
2.    Ask an expert/someone who has done it before: If there’s something new you need to learn, then know that there’s a teacher out there who’s ready to share his/her knowledge with you. And trust me, no matter how “important” this person is, you’d be surprised how they would love to pass their knowledge to you. Approaching them through associates or friends can be a good start, or a direct e-mail and cold calling can sometimes work. The most important thing is to be persistent until you get what you need from them.
3.    Make dua: Knowledge is a blessing of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) upon you, and it’s enlightening. So if you’re stuck or find yourself not knowing much about a subject and really need to learn about it, ask Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) for help and try some of the above methods  to gain what you desire. A word of caution here: Make sure you seek beneficial knowledge,  that is knowledge that will be beneficial to you either in this world, or hereafter, or both preferrably!

Action
The value of knowledge without action is zilch! In fact, this brings about the wrath of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) – may Allah protect us.  Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) described those who had the knowledge but did little action  as “those who incurred His anger” in the opening chapter of the Quran. So let’s not be one of them.

But here’s an important point: in one hand we need to remember that we must take action upon the knowledge that we learnt in order to be productive, but we have to understand here that Action/Ability or Skill comes from Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) first and foremost, since without his permission you can’t do anything. That’s why again in the opening chapter we say: “You alone we worship and You alone we seek help from”. So we want to worship Him, but we can’t worship Him without His permission, and this is true servitude to Allah.

When you realise that everything you do, you’re doing it with the permission of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala), you’ll be humble in your approach, will seek perfection in all your actions, and you’ll be sincere in what you do.

Also, action starts with you taking the first step. Again, those of us who procrastinate, here’s a killer-productivity technique: Start working on a project/task for just 10 minutes and watch yourself drift to 30-45 minutes. Give yourself a 5 minute break and then start again for ‘just’ 10 minutes. I always say that our ‘nafs’ and self is like a baby, and we have to treat it that way; a bit of encouragement, a bit of scolding, a bit of prize and it’ll get a long just fine.

Consistency
So, you’ve gained the knowledge, you’ve taken action and after a few days, you flop. You can’t be bothered and you’re not productive anymore. 90% of the productivity complaints is regarding consistency. People normally have no issue new gaining knowledge or taking action, but being consistent that’s when they find it hard.

I’ll admit, this is the hardest stage and there’s no easy answer, but here are some helpful advice:

1.    Start small and grow slow – It’s tempting when you’re super excited about a project to jump into it with BIG action and BIG tasks only to find yourself overwhelemed a few days after. Why not start small, build small, and grow slowly over the years? Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said that the most beloved actions to Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) are those that are consistent even if they are small.
2.    Break it down – Some of the reasons why it’s hard to become consistent in your action is because the action is HUGE or takes a number of tasks to achieve. Try breaking it down and see if there’s better ways of doing it: can you eliminate some steps? can you delegate some parts?. As the Chinese proverb goes: A journey of 1000 miles starts with one step. My only addition to this is: KEEP WALKING!
3.    Check your Intentions – Sometimes when you fail to be consistent on a project, it might be a sign that perhaps your intentions are not pure and sincere. For example, if you’ve tried many times to memorize the Quran and failed, check your hearth, check your intention, who are you doing it for. Normally, when our intentions are pure and when our goals are bigger than ourselves, it’s easier to be consistent inshaAllah.
4.    Ask Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) for help – I swear upon the One who created me and you, you cannot be consistent in any task, project, endeavour you’re in except by His permission. So ask Allah for help in all your matters and ask Him to that He makes you consistent. Most importantly, ask Him to be consistent in your Deen and religion, so that you’re constantly worshipping Him to the best of your ability and improving yourself and those around you.

Source: www.productivemuslim.com

Yahya ibn Mu’adh was once asked, ‘When does a slave reach the ranks of Ridha (being pleased with Allah)?’

He said:

“When he acts upon 4 principles with which he deals with his Lord:

That he says: ‘(O Allah), if You give me, I shall accept and if You prevent me, then I shall be content. If You were to leave me, I shall still worship You, and were to call me I shall indeed answer.” [Hilyat al-Awliya']

Being pleased with Allah `azza wa jall no matter what happens is from the greatest signs that a believer is a sincere and strong believer. It shows caliber, truthfulness and integrity in one’s practise of Islam. As human beings, we’re bound to go through ups and downs in life, we’re tested with many things – sometimes the test is easy but sometimes it’s difficult and will knock you down unsuspectingly – but this is not the key issue in our lives. Trials & tribulations, ups & downs, good & bad times etc, are all from the Sunan of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala that every living thing will experience in their lifespan. But the crucial matter at hand is how we deal and cope with these issues.

It might be the case that a few years ago, you used to be a very strong Muslim, steadfast in your faith, consistent in your ‘Ibadah (worship in all its forms) and being very active in general. Throughout the years however, you notice that things are not the same anymore, you’re slacking, you no longer have that zeal to learn, to develop and progress in your Deen, and your worship is minimal at it’s best – no Sunnah prayers, no extra fasts, no Qiyam and definitely no sadaqah, what with all the credit crunch crunching right through your pocket!. When bad times hit you, you fall into some type of depression, unable to lift your chin, breathe in the air and say with a smile and fresh contentment, ‘Alhamdulillah `ala kulli hal’ (praising Allah for every circumstance).

Why? What’s changed?

It could be many reasons; it could be a personal thing for you. But at its root, undeniably, it’s to do with tarbiyyah – were you built up enough to endure those years? Were you strong enough from the beginning such that any problem you faced only made you stronger? Did you have the right self-tarbiyyah in the first place?

What Yahya ibn Mu’adh described above is a person who has trained themselves upon the principles of Islam… someone who has gone through effective tarbiyyah and who has really benefited from their knowledge and practise of Islam. It has penetrated them such that no matter what happens, they see beyond that matter and focus on Allah `azza wa jall Himself, since He is the Controller of all things, the Sustainer, the One to Who they’re returning to – and this is an incredible source of strength for the ‘Abd: when he turns to his Master and Keeper.

So, let us try to understand our affairs and be happy regardless of what situations we find ourselves in. If it’s good, then be thankful and if it’s not what you expected, then be patient and still be thankful because at the end of the day, it’s not about the issues you face… rather what’s being recorded in your book is how you deal with them and the deeds you subsequently do.

Source: http://fajr.wordpress.com/2010/09/16/no-matter-what-were-still-believers/

When we hear the word “Jinn” nowadays, spooky stories of possessions and ‘haunted’ masajid immediately come to our minds. Jinn have become a source of entertainment for many of us and we do not see this creation as anything beyond a scary story.

However, when we look in the Qur’an, we see a beautiful example in the Jinn who accepted Islam. We can derive many lessons and points of benefit from their story.

Before discussing these lessons, a few background points need to be mentioned regarding the revelation of these verses. The story of the Muslim Jinn is mentioned twice in the Qur’an; once is in Surah Jinn with nearly half the Surah dedicated to their experience, and secondly in verses 29-32 in Surah Ahqaf. The verses from Surah Ahqaf are said to have taken place after the ordeal in Ta’if when the Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) was praying outside of Makkah, while Surah Jinn is said to have been revealed after the Jinn heard the Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) reading Qur’an during Fajr prayer in Makkah. In both of these instances, the Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) was not aware that the Jinn were listening to him, but Allah the All-Knowing revealed their story to him afterwards.

Lesson 1 – The Jinn’s Eagerness and Manner of Listening to the Qur’an

Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala begins Surah Jinn, “Say: It has been revealed to me that a group of the jinn listened and said, ‘Indeed, we have heard an amazing Qur’an’.” (72:1) He (The Most High) describes their listening as “istama’a” which is more than just listening. Istima’a is to listen with eagerness and full concentration, so that you do not miss anything.

In Surah Ahqaf, Allah (azza wa jal) says, “And [mention, O Muhammad], when We directed to you a few of the jinn, listening to the Qur’an. And when they attended it, they said, ‘Listen quietly’.” (46:29) These Jinn said among themselves, “ansitoo”, which is not only to be silent, but also to be silent for the sole purpose of listening attentively.

Allah (ta’ala) combines both of these powerful words, istima’a and ansitoo, when He commands to listen and pay attention to the Qur’an He says, “So, when the Qur’an is recited, listen to it, and be silent that you may receive mercy.” (7:204) The Jinn were so attentive and cautious when listening to the Qur’an, so how are we when we hear the Words of Allah?

Allah (The Most High) mentions their listening as a threat and warning to the Quraysh tribe. They are turning away from emaan and from the Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) while this creation, the Jinn, are better than them because they believed immediately when emaan was presented to them. The Quraysh were given the Qur’an in their own language and a Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) from their own people, yet they refused and turned away mocking Islam even though they knew the Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) was not a liar and that the Qur’an was a miracle.

Allah (ta’ala) also describes their eagerness to listen to the Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam), “And that when the Servant of Allah stood up supplicating Him, they almost became about him a compacted mass.” He (the Most High) says they were “libadaa,” as if they were pilling on top of the Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam). “Libadaa” literally means the hair that is stacked together. The use of this word shows that these Jinn were all over the place and nearly climbing on top of the Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam). This shows two things; firstly, that many Jinn were present. It was as if there was a traffic jam of Jinn wanting to listen to the Qur’an. Secondly, it shows their eagerness to hear, see, and listen to the Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam).

Lesson 2 - Their Description of the Qur’an

The Jinn describe the Qur’an with the most beautiful of words and they recognized its unique qualities immediately after listening to it.

• Amazing: The first description the Jinn say about the Qur’an is that it is “’ajaban” – amazing. “Say, It has been revealed to me that a group of the jinn listened and said, ‘Indeed, we have heard an amazing Qur’an’.” (72:1) This word is a masdar (verbal noun) but in this verse it has been used as a description (sifah) of the Qur’an. This is done in the Arabic language to intensify the meaning, so ‘ajaban in this ayah not only means amazing but it also means marvelous and mind-blowing. The Jinn were amazed and impressed when they heard the clarity, the message and sheer beauty and richness of the Qur’an.
• Guides to Good: In the next verse, they describe the Qur’an as a guide, “It guides to the right course, and we have believed in it. And we will never associate with our Lord anyone.” (72:2) The word used is “rushd” which refers to iman here. Imam Sa’di says that “rushd” refers to all kinds of good that guide man to righteousness in his deen and in his dunya.
• Guidance: They also describe the Qur’an as a “huda”: guidance. They say, “And when we heard the guidance, we believed in it…” (72:13) Hidayah literally means to guide someone until they reach their destination.
• Confirming: The Jinn said, “…indeed we have heard a [recited] Book revealed after Moses confirming what was before it…” (46:30). “Musaddiqan’lima bayna yadayh” means it confirms and is true to what came before it – the Torah and previous Books.
• Guiding to the Truth: They said the Qur’an “guides to the truth” (46:30), meaning it guides to all that is correct and it is not deficient in any way.
• Guiding to the Straight Path: They said, “[and it guides] to a straight path” (46:30), meaning the path that connects you to Allah and leads you to Him, to knowledge and to Paradise. They describe the path as “mustaqeem” which means a path that is not crooked, but it leads straight to the destination and is easy to remain on it.

Lesson 3 - Their Adab with Allah (The Most High)

The Jinn continue on to say, “And we do not know [therefore] whether evil is intended for those on earth or whether their Lord intends for them a right course” (72:10). In this verse, they are referring to the fact that they cannot listen to the gathering of the Angels in the heavens as they used to, so they say here that they do not know what their Lord has intended through this. The beauty of this is how they used the passive form when mentioning evil, and the active form when mentioning the guidance of Allah (azza wa jal). In other words, they do not ascribe evil to Allah (ta’ala), but they ascribe good to Him, even though everything is from Him. This shows their good thoughts of Allah (ta’ala) and their adab (manners) with Allah. Ibn Kathir says in his tafsir that the Jinn wanted to know the reason why they could not sit in the heavens and listen to Angels anymore, so they went out in search of an answer and found the Prophet ﷺ. They realized that he was the reason, so they listened to him and submitted.

These Jinn also had good thoughts of the people, and they could not imagine that anyone would lie against Allah (ta’ala). They said, “And we had thought that mankind and the jinnwould never speak about Allah a lie” (72:5). The Jinn give this as their reason for why they were following Shaytan. They could not fathom anyone lying against Allah (azza wa jal), so they followed Shaytan believing what he was saying was true. When they heard the Qur’an, they immediately knew that Shaytan was a liar. We see here that even though these Jinnat were pagans, they could not imagine anyone lying against Allah (azza wa jal).

The Jinn were also humble and knew their status as slaves of Allah (ta’ala). They said, “And we have become certain that we will never cause failure to Allah upon earth, nor can we escape Him by flight” (72:12). They knew that Allah (swt) prevails over them and that they cannot harm Him in any way. Compare this humility to the arrogance of Pharoah! These Jinn immediately understood the Power and Might of Allah after hearing the Qur’an.

Lesson 4 - Their Understanding of Iman and Tawheed

Right after they describe the Qur’an as amazing and that it guides to the right path, they said, “so we have believed in it” (72:2). The “fa aa manna bih” here means “as a result”, showing their belief was immediate. They continue to say, “And we will never associate with our Lord anyone.” (72:2) This is proof that they were Mushrikeen before and that if you have iman, you cannot associate partners with Allah (azza wa jal).

The Jinn understood the message of the Qur’an, while we humans focus on secondary issues. The core of the Qur’an is tawheed and the Jinn connected to this right away.

They also understood: “exalted is the nobleness of our Lord; He has not taken a wife or a son” (72:3). Allah is Exalted, The Most High, Majestic and Noble therefore it is not suitable for Him to have a son or wife. It is not suitable for Allah (ta’ala) because He is Perfect, and having a wife or child would make Him deficient.

The Jinn also say, “And that our foolish one has been saying about Allah an excessive transgression” (72:4). They called those who do not understand iman as “safeeh”, which means someone who is not intelligent and does not have any intellect. Mujahid says that the ‘safeeh’ is Shaytan because he calls them to commit shirk.

Lesson 5 - Their Da`wah to their People

Surah Jinn mostly discusses the reaction of the Jinn to the Qur’an, but Surah Ahqaf discusses how the Jinn gave da`wah to their people.

Allah (azza wa jal) says, “And [mention, O Muhammad], when We directed to you a few of thejinn, listening to the Qur’an. And when they attended it, they said, ‘Listen quietly.’ And when it was concluded, they went back to their people as warners” (46:29). They immediately gave da`wah after hearing the Guidance! How often do we give da`wah and many of us have had Islam for our whole lives?

We can take many lessons from their da`wah tactics:

• The way they call their people. “They said, “O our people, indeed we have heard a [recited] Book revealed after Moses confirming what was before it which guides to the truth and to a straight path” (46:30). They say “our people” – they did not call them disbelievers or misguided, or disassociate from them. Many Muslims nowadays make the grave mistake of denouncing their family and friends, while these Jinnreminded their people that they are from them as well and that they are connected.
• They established credibility. “They said, “O our people, indeed we have heard a [recited] Book revealed after Moses” (46:30). They said ‘we heard’ showing their people that this is not a rumor or a tale, but that they were present and listening to the Qur’an.
• They described and praised the Qur’an. “…Which guides to the truth and to a straight path” (46:30). Before they called their people to believe, they first beautifully described what they heard, in a beautiful manner.
• They called their people to iman and told them the benefits of believing. “O our people, respond to the Messenger of Allah and believe in him, Allah will forgive for you your sins and protect you from a painful punishment” (46:31).
• They told them the consequences of not accepting the truth. “But he who does not respond to the caller of Allah will not cause failure [to Him] upon earth, and he will not have besides Him any protectors. Those are in manifest error” (46:32). After they called their people to iman and told them the good that will come from it, they warned them of the consequences of not listening as well. This is the best way of giving da`wah as the Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) was sent as a basheer (one who gives glad tidings) and a nadheer (one who warns). Our da’wah nowadays is not effective because sometimes we sugarcoat our deen and so our da`wah becomes very mechanical and apologetic. The Jinn also mention here that the person who does not accept is not hurting Allah (ta’ala) in any way; believing is only for his benefit and disbelieving will only harm him.
• Their description of the Prophet ﷺ. They call the Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam), “the Caller of Allah” (46:32) to show that following him will lead you to Allah (ta’ala) and also that he is not calling others to benefit himself but for the sole purpose of showing them the straight path.

We learn from these five lessons that the Jinn are not a ghost-like creation that possess and terrorize people, but that just like humans, there are believers among them and disbelievers. Allah (The Most High) highlights the amazing qualities of these Jinn, and shows us that even though we are the more honored creation, we can learn many lessons from them.

source:
http://www.tayyibaat.com/2010/09/28/five-lessons-from-the-jinn-in-the-quran/