Ask for Jannah Firdaus

Asalam Alaykum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu

Narrated Abu Huraira:

The Prophet said,

“Whoever believes in Allah and His Apostle offers prayers perfectly and fasts (the month of) Ramadan then it is incumbent upon Allah to admit him into Paradise, whether he emigrates for Allah’s cause or stays in the land where he was born.” They (the companions of the Prophet) said, “O Allah’s Apostle! Should we not inform the people of that?” He said, “There are one-hundred degrees in Paradise which Allah has prepared for those who carry on Jihad in His Cause. The distance between every two degrees is like the distance between the sky and the Earth, so if you ask Allah for anything, ask Him for the firdaus, for it is the last part of Paradise and the highest part of Paradise, and at its top there is the Throne of Beneficent, and from it gush forth the rivers of Paradise.”

Bukhari (Book #93, Hadith #519)

The Essence of Repetance

I looked at the shrouded body before me with a mixture of shock, grief and sorrow; the realisation dawning on me: This is our inevitable end.
Death is always difficult to deal with, but for me a recent death in the family was a real eye opener. My Great Uncle was fortunate enough to have passed away during the last ten days of the blessed month of Ramadhan and seeing him delicately wrapped up in his white shroud, I found myself imagining myself in the same position. Sooner or later, my turn will come. How will I face Almighty Allah…?
The issue of repentance is a familiar concept and one that I come across regularly in my work as a Muslim Chaplain working with prisoners. “Do you really think Allah will forgive me? Even after everything I’ve done?” asked a distressed and disheartened sister recently.
“Yes, insha Allah!” I replied confidently. I’ve always been taught that, with sincere repentance, even the greatest of sins can be eradicated.
Taubah means to repent for a sin by making a promise not to do the same evil deed again and thereby return to Allah. Repentance is the first step in the life of a person who intends to return to the path of Allah. Repentance forms the roots of a solid foundation; it is the key to guidance and the way to purification.
Repentance consists of three elements.

1. The need to acknowledge and feel ashamed of one’s sin

“Admitting you have a problem is the first step towards recovery” we hear therapists say time and time again. Acknowledging the fact that we have sinned is the first step towards repentance as, without acknowledgement, we will never feel the need to turn towards Allah and repent.

As we go about our daily lives, we see just how easy it is to busy ourselves in the affairs of others, so much so that we often overlook and fail to acknowledge the many faults hidden within ourselves.

2. Sincere repentance and the importance of not losing hope

“The children of Adam are all wrongdoers, but the best of wrongdoers are those who offer repentance” (Tirmidhi). How infinite is the mercy of Allah that through repentance the entire trace of sin is effaced from the register of deeds where the sin was recorded!

Taubah is the acknowledgment of one’s past sins and a firm determination to give up sin in the present and future. To repent for sins during one’s lifetime is necessary because sins act like poison and will destroy the ever-lasting happiness of the next world. Always keep in mind that the pleasures of this world are trivial and insignificant in comparison with that of the next world.
Turning towards Allah in repentance will soften the heart and enable the seeker of forgiveness to return from a distant path, so let us make seeking Allah’s forgiveness a regular daily activity, insha Allah.
“Live your life in a balance of hope and fear,” I remember my teacher telling us. Continuous hope for Allah’s forgiveness and constant fear from Allah’s wrath and punishment is key to living a balanced spiritual life.

3. Building a firm resolution not to recommit the sin

One of the objectives of Taubah is that a firm resolve be made not to repeat the sin in the future under any circumstances. A sincere intention and effort needs to be made on our part to suppress and obtain control over the promptings and temptations to sin. The Prophet Muhammad r has said, “One who repents from his sin is like one who has committed no sin at all” (Ibn Majah).

As Muslims, we need to inject the fear of Allah into our hearts, as this is the best form of immunity against sins. When a person becomes constantly aware of the fact that Allah is with her day and night, watching her every move, listening to her every word, then the likelihood of this servant committing sin is reduced considerably. Instilling within ourselves the quality of taqwa - attaining the fear and consciousness of Allah - is a quality we must all strive for, for it serves to reduce our inclination to sin.
Death comes suddenly. I pray my great Uncle is forgiven and rewarded with Paradise. However, we still have the precious commodity of time on our side. Cleanse and purify your soul and ensure your meeting with Allah is a success. The simple fact is that we are all humans and so total immunity from sins is not possible. The urge to commit a sin may be revived once again, but what is important is that we do not despair, but instead we seek forgiveness, repent, employ taqwa and continue to correct and reform ourselves, right through to the last moments of our lives.
Source: Sisters Magazine

Jumu'ah Mubarak!

Giving The Gift Of True Forgiveness

We have all been in situations where someone, usually someone we hold near and dear, has committed a wrong against us. As much as we want to move forward, we are often held back due to our inability to let go of the wrong, the injury and the injustice. Umm Thameenah bint Luqman searches deep to discover the essence of forgiveness.

I always thought of myself as the type of sister that found it difficult to hold a grudge. I have had my share of falling-outs, disputes, even confrontations in the past. With some, I made my feelings apparent; with others I either shrugged it off or hid my feelings and made excuses for them. In general though, I have found it easier to overlook things and simply utter “I forgive you” than to have to face an uncomfortable apology from someone.

However, a year ago, I found myself questioning my claim of being able to forgive easily. I faced a situation that was emotionally painful, not only because of the hurt and sadness it caused, but also because those involved were people whom I considered dear to me. I realised that I had a choice: I could either hold on to the situation and continue to experience the resentment and sorrow, or I could forgive and let go. I chose to let go.

But, as days turned into weeks and weeks into months, I found myself recalling the incident over and over again in my mind. “I haven’t been able to forgive them, have I?” I questioned myself. “Subhan Allah, I still hold a grudge against them.” I found myself questioning my relationship with these sisters, and found that the solid foundation of trust that we had built over years had been shattered with one thoughtless action. As much as I tried to forgive and to forget, remembering the incident brought intense sadness and tears that continued to hinder my progress.

Hostage to the past
Most of us have been in a similar position. We recognise some pattern of behaviour in ourselves that we would like to change, but we often feel powerless to do so. Everything we try seems to lead nowhere. However, if we probe deeper into the source of this behaviour, we can often link it to some past event or experience in our lives. In some cases, it is the result of a single traumatic event, whether a betrayal by a friend, an injury, an attack or a perceived injustice. For others, it is the result of emotional, mental or physical abuse that has occurred over an extended period of time.

As difficult as the situation is, overcoming it with sincere forgiveness is truly a blessing from Allah I. If we are unable to release the baggage we carry as a result of past experiences, we remain stuck, continuing to allow these experiences to shape our future in ways that are not always healthy, often creating unforeseen pain and suffering for us and those around us.

Finding the ability to forgive
To forgive someone does not mean that whatever harm or hurt they caused becomes insignificant. It is a process that begins in the heart and filters through our souls, ultimately creating an immeasurable release of burden for the one wronged and the wrongdoer.

• Forgiving by accepting responsibility. Yes, others may have done things that have hurt or harmed us, and they are responsible for those actions. But such individuals are not responsible for how we live the rest of our lives; we are responsible for that. How we respond to these past events and what we carry into our present and our future is entirely up to us and no one else. If we allow the past to negatively affect how we live the rest of our lives through the choices we make, our friendships, our relationships and our behaviour with others, then that remains our choice and responsibility, not that of the one who committed wrong. Once we understand this, only then will we grant ourselves the opportunity to implement the beautiful process of forgiveness, by freeing ourselves from the burden of pain, anger and resentment, insha Allah.

• Forgiving by releasing. Forgiveness is about releasing ourselves from those self-imposed limitations and self-defeating behaviour patterns that tie us to the past in negative ways. Forgiveness is releasing our anger, fear, pain and resentment and opening our hearts to joy, peace and love. It means that I will no longer allow the past to have a hold on my life today; that I am willing to release the hurt and pain; that I no longer wish to be tied to the experience or the person connected to the experience in a negative way; that I am releasing both myself and the person from a tie that holds us both back; and, most profoundly, that I simply wish to be free.

• Forgiving by moving on. Does forgiveness equal welcoming the person back into your life? Sometimes, to do so would be to take the high road, and that would be a source of khayr. However, there are times when it is neither wise nor prudent to do so. In the Qur’an Allah I informs us of the permissibility of seeking recompense from one that has wronged us. However, we are also told that to forgive is better than to seek revenge. True forgiveness does not always necessitate the complete forgetting of a situation, despite the common misconception that we should “forgive and forget” as though the incident never took place. However, you do not want to go around carrying the heavy burden of being bitter and resentful for the rest of your life either. Once you learn that if you touch a hot stove you can get burnt, you are not likely to do it again. You learn something from the experience: to exercise more caution while working around a hot stove, thus you do not blame the stove for being hot. It is what it is. And neither do you go around, for years, holding onto a grudge against the stove because you got burnt. This is the same for individuals that have wronged us. We are able to benefit from the situation by learning from the experience and moving on, as opposed to allowing the situation to control our lives.

Returning to Allah
A dear sister once told me, “We are a nation of believers, hoping to attain the forgiveness of our Lord, Most High, whilst failing to attain the forgiveness of our fellow beings.”

For me, learning to forgive meant taking ownership of my own situation. Though I sometimes struggle to do so, I make a habit of beseeching my Lord to forgive all who have wronged me … and to forgive me, for having ever harboured the inability to let go of what I claimed to have forgiven. As I recline each night, I attempt to cleanse my heart of every kind of ill-feeling, upset and hurt that I have been harbouring. I attempt to empty it completely, to forgive and make excuses, whilst turning to my Beloved, Most High, in need of His forgiveness.

“Our Lord! Forgive us, and our brethren who came before us into Faith, and leave not, in our hearts, rancour (or sense of injury) against those who have believed. Our Lord! You are indeed Full of Kindness, Most Merciful” (Al-Hashr: 10).

For those that have ever wronged me intentionally, unintentionally, with or without my knowledge, accept from me the best of all gifts - my forgiveness wrapped in a heartfelt du’a. With this, insha Allah, we shall walk hand-in-hand through the blessed gates of Paradise. With this, insha Allah, we shall not be held back to reconcile our worldly disputes. And with this, insha Allah, I have freed my soul and yours, by letting go of any past wrongs ever committed.

And for those that I have wronged, I pray, as taught by the Prophet r: “Oh Allah, whomever of the believers I have abused, give him the reward of a sacrificial slaughter for it on the Day of Resurrection” (Al-Bukhari).

Source: Sisters Magazine

Be content with that which Allah has given you and you will be the richest of people

In our days we live in a world of materialism and we are led to believe that happiness can be found only in an excess of  material possessions. That could not be furthest from the truth.Every minute of the day we chase and strive to acquire more material possessions in the expense of our spiritual possessions.One of the reasons, we are never satisfied. We look after our physical bodies but neglect our souls. But Allah Only knows how much of everything is enough for us and we should be grateful for what we got and also we should not forget to thank Allah.If we use our abilities with Allah's permission we can improve and be content with what we have. Always remember that the life of this world is just a test and the perfect happiness can only be found in Allah's Paradise.

The following is from the Book " Don't be Sad" Page 63

Wealth, appearance, children, house, and talents you must be content with your share in these things:

So hold that which I have given you and be of the grateful.  (Qur'an 7: 144)

Most Islamic scholars and pious Muslims of the early generations of Islam were poor; needless it is to say, then, that they did not have beautiful houses or nice cars. Yet, despite these disadvantages, they led fruitful lives, and they benefited mankind, not by some miracle, but because they used all that they were given, and spent their time in the correct way. Hence they were blessed in their lives, their time, and their talents.

On the contrary, there are many people who have been bestowed with wealth, children, and all forms of blessings, yet these blessings have been the very reason for their misery and ruin. They deviated from what their inborn instincts were telling them, namely, that material things are not everything. Look at those that have obtained degrees from world-renowned universities, and yet they are paragons of obscurity. Their talents and abilities remain unused. 

Meanwhile, others who are limited in the scope of their knowledge have managed to make mountains out of what they have been given, benefiting both themselves and society.

If you are a seeker of happiness, be satisfied with the looks Allah has favored you with, with your family situation, with the sound of your voice, with the level of your understanding, and with the amount of your salary. Certain educators go further than this by saying that you should imagine being contented with even less than you actually have now.

Here for you is a list of those who have shone from our Islamic heritage despite each being challenged by various disadvantages:

Ataa ibn Rabah was a world-renowned scholar of his time. He was not only a freed slave and snub-nosed, but he was also paralyzed.

Al-Ahnaf ibn Qays was famous among the Arabs for his singular level of patience. He achieved that fame despite being emaciated, humpbacked, with crooked legs and a fragile frame.

Al-A`mash was among the most famous scholars of hadith in his time. He was a freed slave, he had bad eyesight, and he was poor. His clothes were ripped, his appearance was disheveled, and he lived in straitened circumstances.

In fact, every Prophet was at one time or another shepherd. Dawood (David) was a blacksmith, Zakariah (Zacharia) a carpenter, and Idrees (Enoch) a tailor; and yet they were the best of mankind.

Therefore your value is in your abilities, good deeds, manners, and contributions to society. Do not feel grief, then, over that which has passed you by in life in terms of good looks, wealth, or family; and be content with what Allah has allotted for you.

It is we who portion out between them their livelihood in this world. (Qur'an 43: 32)

Remind yourself of Paradise, which is as wide as are the Heavens and the Earth. 

If you are hungry in this world, if you are sad, ill or oppressed, remember the eternal bliss of Paradise. If you do this, then your losses are really profits and the hardships you face are really gifts. The most wise of people are those that work for the Hereafter, because it is better and everlasting. 


And the most foolish of mankind are those that see this world as their eternal abode - in it reside all of their hopes. You will find such people to be the most grief-stricken of all when faced with calamity. They will be the most affected by worldly loss simply because they see nothing beyond the insignificant lives that they lead. They see and think only of this impermanent life. They wish for nothing to spoil them in their state of felicity. Were they to remove the veil of ignorance from their eyes, they would commune with themselves about the eternal abode - its bliss, pleasures, and castles. They would listen attentively when they are informed through the Qur'an and the Sunnah about its description. Indeed, that is the abode that deserves our attention and merits our striving and our toiling, so that we may achieve the best of it.

Have we reflected at length about the description of the inhabitants of Paradise? Illness does not befall them, grief does not come near them, they die not, they remain young, and their attire remains both perfect and clean. They are in a beautiful home. In Paradise is found that which no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human mind has imagined. The rider travels under a tree in Paradise for one hundred years and yet he still does not reach its end. The length of a tent in Paradise is sixty miles. Its rivers are constant, its castles are lofty, and its fruits are not only close-by, but are also easily picked.

Therein will be a running spring. Therein will be thrones raised high, and cups set at hand, and cushions set in rows, and rich carpets [all] spread out.   (Qur'an 88: 12-16)

The happiness of Paradise will be absolute. So why do we not contemplate this fact?

If Paradise is our final destination and we ask Allah for Paradise - then the hardships of this world are less heavy than they may seem, so let the hearts of the afflicted ones find solace. 

You who live in poverty, or are afflicted with calamity, work righteous deeds so that you shall live in Allah's Paradise. Peace is upon you, because you persevered in patience! Excellent indeed is the. Final hornet      (Qur'an 13: 24)