Why Faraj (ease) is delayed?

A repeated question you always hear from people, when will faraj (ease) come?
I am tired! It’s been five years since I was diagnosed with this illness…..
I have been waiting for a child for 10 years ….
I have been wishing to get married but it is not happening, I am tired!!....
I can’t find a job and I am tired of asking people for help….
When will faraj (ease) come?!!

A question which we all have to ask ourselves, why is ease sometimes delayed?
We have to ask ourselves this question so we can understand that the believer is in khair (good) despite the situation he is in.

Before I answer the question, I want to clarify one matter for you. This matter is mentioned in an ayah in the Quran but unfortunately most of us pass this ayah without contemplating or understanding. If we understood this, we would not wonder about this question and we would know the answer. 
Allah says what can be translated as: Say: "Nothing will happen to us except what Allah has decreed for us 9:51
Why did Allah say “has decreed for us” not decreed on us or against us!?  Most of the time when we experience a trial we immediately think about it as something which is against us.

Allah is telling us in this ayah that everything which happens to us is for us and not against us…This is a fixed rule with the believer.

The Prophet peace be upon him emphasis what came in this aya and says: Allah does not decree anything for the believer except what is good for him.
Source: Musnad Ahmad 12495, Grade: Hasan

The Prophet peace be upon him also says: If Allah loves a people, then he afflicts them with trials. 
Source: Musnad Aḥmad 23122, Grade: Sahih

Ponder upon these ahadeeth and you will realize why Allah says He decrees for us and not against us. If Allah loves someone He afflicts them with trials and tests, why?  In order for them to receive good….Take this as a rule from now on and I will explain to you how.

From now on when you are afflicted with a trial or difficulty, search for the blessing that is behind it.
On the other hand if you receive khair or something good then be careful from the fitnah (test) that is behind it.
Every difficulty comes with a blessing so look for it in order to enjoy it.  Let me give you an example: You become sick with a serious illness and you find yourself getting closer to Allah and doing more good deeds in your life or you find yourself learning more about your religion.

And for every good you receive search for the fitnah behind it and be careful not to fall into it. Whether it is money, or position or religion or anything else. Any blessing which made you happy, look for its fitnah and make sure to block it. And the worse fitnah in any blessing is pride, arrogance and reya’a (show off) which makes the person forget Allah.

So why is faraj delayed? A question I pose to you and to myself….

Faraj is delayed different reasons. Let’s learn about them from the Prophet himself peace be upon him

The first reason:

Zayed ibn Al Arqam had an illness in his eyes and the Prophet peace be upon him visited him. He then saw him in the market two weeks later and he asked him: What happened to you, Zayed answered: Allah healed me. The Prophet peace be upon him asked him: what if you lost your sight, what would you have done? Zayed said: I would have been patient and would have expected the reward from Allah. The Prophet peace be upon him said: then you would meet Allah without a single sin. Musnad Ahmed.

Imagine Allah says I will test you so that I can wipe all your sins and purify you and bring you to me without a single sin and you say No I don’t want, just cure me now or  just get me a husband now, I am tired! 

From now on my dear sister and brother if Faraj is delayed then rest assured that Allah wants to meet you while you have no sins in your account. It is simply the greatest blessing you could ever have.

What are you rushing for? Allah is telling you I will cleanse you and make you come to me clean from all sins because He knows you are weak and you always rush to commit those sins, a sin after a sin until they multiply.

Second reason:

The Prophet peace be upon him said: (Allah decrees a high status for His slave, he could not reach with his deeds, so Allah tests him in his body or in his money or his children. He then bestows patience on him until he reaches to the  status which He decreed for him) Narrated by Abu Dawood (3090 ) Al Albani authenticated it in "Sunan Abi Dawood."

Allah has decreed for you Jannat Al Firdous which you will not reach with your deeds because you are lazy to work for it or because of any other reason.
The Prophet peace be upon him says: Allah tests him in his body or in his money or his sons…and elevates you to that rank.

A man came to Dr. Khaled Al Jubair and said: A month ago I took my wife to the hospital and the doctor told us he is suspecting she has cancer. He took blood samples from her for further testing but he said it may take up to one month to get back the results. The man said: we left the clinic devastated and we planned to make lots of dua, give sadaqa, wake up at night for prayer and go for umrah. We continued doing all those good deeds until the month has passed. We went to see the doctor for the results and to our surprise all her tests were clear Alhamdulilah. We were very happy and relieved but unfortunately we later stopped all that we used to do (dua, sadaqa and qeyaamulail)

Subhana Allah, Allah knows that when you have it easy, you forget and you stop everything as if you will be living for good. Some people do not remember Allah until death comes.

Dr. Khaled Al Jubair said: I had a patient for surgery and before the surgery the nurse came and handed me a paper from the patient. I looked at the paper and it was a will he wrote to his wife. The will stated: “On top of the bedroom cabinet there is a red bag, you will find 100,000, give it out as sadaqa and inside the cabinet there is another black bag, it has 50,000 also give it for sadaqa and under the bed there is a blue bag…. etc. Basically, he left nothing for his children. Now he started panicking and he remembered Allah.
Many people do not remember Allah unless they fall sick or they are inflicted with a trial. Isn’t this always the case!?

The third reason

When Allah delays faraj for you, he delays it to grant you something even bigger and better. What is it?
Sabr (patients) Allah says: O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with the patient.2:153
Being patient puts you in the company of Allah and what better company than that!? If Allah is with you, you don’t care who is against you.  Would you say no to that!? Would you say to Allah!? No I don’t want your company, I am tired, I just want you to grant me a child or a husband or a job!!?

Allah is telling you, be patient I am with you, don’t worry … and you say no, I just want what I want right now.
Allah says what can be translated as: And be patient, for indeed, Allah does not allow to be lost the reward of (Muhsineen) those who do good. 11:115

Allah here lifted you a rank from being a Muslim to being a Muhsin (the one who does good). He has given you a special badge and elevated you and you say no, no I don’t want!! I want to be in a lower rank!!

Here is an even better status. Allah says what can be translated as: And Allah loves the patient 3:146
Allah says to you, while you are in this trial and this test and you are patient, you gain my love and If I love you, I will give you this world and the hereafter and everything in it just be patient.

An old poor woman was visited in her small hut by a TV show. The reporter asked her, are you happy? She said yes I am. He said: how can you be happy in this small hut,  you simply have nothing to achieve the happiness you are claiming. She said: I am happy because I am satisfied with what Allah has given me, because I know what He has given me is what is good for me now.
Can we think like this old woman or at least strive to remind ourselves to think like that.

Believe me my dear sister and brother if you are not satisfied and happy with what Allah has given you, you will never be happy even if you became a King or a Queen. Be content and remember Allah only gives good and Allah only gives khair.

Abu Hurairah Radiyallahu 'anhu narrates that Rasullullah Sallallahu 'alaihi wasallam in a Hadith Qudsi said: Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala says: When I inflict illness upon My believing slave and he does not complain about Me to people who visit him, I set him free (forgive his sins). Then I change his flesh with flesh better than his and blood better than his blood and he resumes his deeds afresh (as all his sins been wiped out). (Mustadrak Hakim)

Do you now understand why faraj is sometimes delayed!?

Have You Prepared Your Witnesses?

Have you prepared your witnesses?

Allah says what can be translated as: (And the earth will shine with the light of its Lord, and the record [of deeds] will be placed, and the prophets and the witnesses will be brought, and it will be judged between them in truth, and they will not be wronged.)39:69

On that day when we are all gathered Allah will call our Prophets and all the witnesses to testify for or against us.

Prophet Mohmmad peace be upon him will stand before us and testify that he taught us everything and left us with a complete guide and a straight path, he will testify that you and I have no excuse to not pray on time, no excuse to not read the Quran and understand it, no excuse to not wear the Hijaab, no excuse to not lowering our gaze, no excuse to eating Reba (Interest) and simply no excuse to not following the Quran and sunnah fully.  What will be our situation then!!?

And the witnesses!!!
Make sure you have lots of witnesses on that day if you really want to make it through.

But who are the witnesses?
The witnesses are not necessarily the people around you because if you work hard to have them be your witnesses you might end up in Reya’a (Show off) wal eyathu biLLAH. 

Your witness is the sa-ja’dah (prayer matt) which you have placed in a corner in your room and you wake up to it every night for qeyamulail just to ask Allah for His forgiveness and  blessings.
Your witness is a poor person you did not know but you helped with a few dollars or shillings you had.
Your witness is a dead person you knew or did not know whom you prayed for Rahma and forgivness.
Your witness is that Mus-haf (Quran) which you have up on a shelf. Is it going to say I was collecting dust or will it testify that you were reading it every single day and trying your best to understand the message?
Your witness is (Al Zahrawain) surat Al Baqarah and Aal Imran.
The Prophet peace be upon him said: Recite the Quran as it helps the reader to come on the Day of Judgement. Read Zahrawain, namely Surah al-Baqarah and Aali-Imran, because they will come on the Day of Resurrection like two clouds will overshadow its readers or as two groups of birds in flight in the goal to defend its readers. (Sahih Muslim)

Your witness is your tongue which you made say a lot of good, kind and encouraging words or maybe tortured it by forcing it to gossip and eat the flesh of dead people.

Your witness is your eyes which you safe guarded not to look at what is haram just because you know no one is there but He is indeed watching.

Your witnesses are those fingers which you use to do dhikr every single day.

Your witness is a brother or a sister who found the right path through a reminder from you, a talk or message or a video.

Your witness is your child who grows learning to pray, read Quran and love their deen.

Your witnesses are the pigeons or the cat which you fed just because they are the creatures of Allah and because you want every chance for reward.

Your witness is an orphan whom you put a smile on their face on any day not just on Eid day.

Your witness is a sick person who needed help financially and you didn’t have much but you helped them because you remembered the hadith of the Prophet peace be upon him: He who relieves the hardship of a believer in this world, Allah will relieve his hardship on the Day of Judgment. Sahih Muslim

Your witness is a friend you helped in a difficult situation without expecting anything from them.

Your witness is a poor worker whom you gave a cold drink on a hot day.

Your witness is the adhaan which you hear and repeat every day five times.

Your witness is your spouse whom you treated with kindness and took chances to put a smile on their face just for the sake of Allah.

Your witnesses is your computer or your phone and what you do with it, your profile and what you post on it. You don’t know how many people will be affected by it in a good or a negative way. Remember it’s a chain and it continues and it will last until the Day of Judgment.

Your witness is a masjid which you donated to build or repaired for people to pray comfortably and worship Allah.

And the list goes on but above all is our main witness, our Shafee (Intervener), our beloved and our role model the Prophet Mohammad peace be upon him. Imagine this moment every time you aim to do something which is not right. What will you say to him? Why you disappointed him? He went through a lot to bring you this beautiful deen ready and complete without any effort from your side. He was abused and beaten up, he was cursed and mocked, he stayed hungry for days but he never gave up for us. Why we are giving up on yourself?

When Abdullah ibn Masoud was reading surat Al Nisa’a to the Prophet peace be upon him, he reached this ayah:
So how [will it be] when We bring from every nation a witness and we bring you, [O Muhammad] against these [people] as a witness? 4:41

The Prophet peace be upon him was crying and he asked him to stop! he could not bear the thought of him standing as a witness against us!!
Allahum Sal’I wa sal’im wa barik alah ashfraf Al Mursalieen sayyedina Mohammad

HIJAB.

Assalam Aleikum wa rahmatu Allah wa barakatouh my dear sister

I am here to talk to you my dear sister who is unable to wear the Hijab or who wears it in a stylish way with lots of makeup and tight clothes.  May be you are finding it difficult because you are in a society which objectifies women and you feel you will not look beautiful with the hijaab. May be you feel if you wear it people will look at you in a strange way or will mistreat you. May be you are thinking to wear it when you get slightly older, you are still young and you want to enjoy life. May be your parent or your husband is putting pressure on you not to wear it. May be you think even if I am not wearing it right and I have so much makeup on and tight clothes, at least I am wearing it unlike others who don’t wear it completely so don’t judge me.

Before I start telling you so much which you already know, I want to ask you one question my dear sister. Are you a Muslim?
If Yes, do you know the meaning of Islam? (And I am not being sarcastic here, it is a genuine question) Many of us may not know the proper answer to this question. Being born into Islam does not mean I must know everything but it means I must educate myself and find out.

Islam means to completely submit to the will of Allah. Complete submission means you have no say and no otherwise. If Allah says you must pray then you must and if he says you must fast then you have no choice other than that. If he says you must wear the hijab and you must wear it properly then who are you to have a say in this?

Let me give you an example; when your parents say you must do so and so, you never dare say No to them, not because you fear them but because you love and respect them and you know they only want what is good for you. Even if you don’t understand you follow. You may ask why but in the end you follow. WliLLAH Al Mathalul A’la. How can you take the chance and the risk to stand up to Allah and tell him No I am not going to do what you are asking me to do? Can you really handle this statement my dear sister?  Do you have the power to do that?

Despite all the reasons you could come up with in order to justify why you are not wearing it, you will never be able to justify it believe me. ….Why?
Because Allah created us and he knows what is best for us. He knows that you will go through all those reasons and excuses in life and yet He commanded you to cover.
 So if you say I feel I am not going to look beautiful, I will tell you what will your looks do for you 20 years from now?

If you say I don’t want people to mistreat me or look at me strangely, I would tell you did you forget the words of your beloved Prophet peace be upon him when he said: Be mindful of Allah, and Allah will protect you. Be mindful of Allah, and you will find Him in front of you. If you ask, ask of Allah; if you seek help, seek help of Allah. Know that if the Nation were to gather together to benefit you with anything, it would benefit you only with something that Allah had already prescribed for you, and that if they gather together to harm you with anything, they would harm you only with something Allah had already prescribed for you. The pens have been lifted and the pages have dried."

Your beloved Prophet went through so much hardship to bring you this beautiful religion and you cannot take a simple sacrifice!!? Remember the meaning of Islam, Are you a true Muslim or you just don’t care? Think about it….. before it is too late.

If you say I am still young, I will tell you death does not only visit old people.

If you say at least Im wearing it even if I have makeup and tight clothes, I will tell you, fear Allah, you are taking a beautiful value from Allah and corrupting it under the name of fashion. Can you take the responsibility of this?  Can you stand up to Allah and answer when He asks you: Why you were the reason to misguide many Muslim girls? Why you were the reason to give a wrong image about Islam? Can you take this responsibility my dear sister?

Allah knows what’s in your heart and if you sincerely want to wear the Hijab, just go on sujoud cry and tell him to help you. None of us is able to do any act of obedience on their own, we can only do it if we truly want and with the blessings of Allah. Take the step my dear sister, I know you can and Allah will help you. Being a Muslim woman is a great honor, you represent your religion everywhere you go, you carry the flag of Islam on your head proudly and you tell people I am the Khalifa of Allah on this earth and I will do everything in my power to please him

Allah says: يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ قُل لِّأَزْوَاجِكَ وَبَنَاتِكَ وَنِسَاء الْمُؤْمِنِينَ يُدْنِينَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِن جَلَابِيبِهِنَّ ذَلِكَ أَدْنَى أَن يُعْرَفْنَ فَلَا يُؤْذَيْنَ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا / الاحزاب/59

What can be translated as: O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) all over their bodies (i.e.screen themselves completely except the eyes or one eye to see the way). That will be better, that they should be known (as free respectable women) so as not to be annoyed. And Allah is Ever OftForgiving, Most Merciful. 33:59

Can you see the honor Allah is giving you when he addresses you at the same level of the mothers of the believers and the daughters of the Prophet peace be upon him when we have not done half of what they did for this deen.  Wake up my dear sister before it is too late

SUJOUD AL SHUKR.

Everything you need to know about Sujoud Al Shukr (prostration for thanks and gratitude to Allah)

What is sujoud Al Shukr?
Sujood ash-Shukr is a prostration which is performed for Allaah, in order to show Shukr (thanks and gratitude) to Him for a specific blessing.

When is it performed?
No doubt every blessing is from Allaah. He said,
{Whatever you have of blessing – it is from Allah} [16:53]

However Sujood ash-Shukr is not performed for blessings in general, rather it is only performed for a specific blessing at a specific time – such as a person being blessed with the birth of their child, getting a job or passing an exam. It can also be performed when a specific harm is alleviated from a person – such as being cured from an illness or being saved from  calamity.

Evidence from the Sunnah:
Upon the authority of Abu Bakrah (may Allaah be pleased with him),
Whenever the Prophet (sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam) was pleased by a matter or was given the glad tidings of a matter, he would go into prostration as a form of Shukr to Allaah. Collected by Abu Dawood & Ibn Maajah

Abu Bakr as-Siddeeq prostrated when news reached him that Musaylamah the Liar had been killed. Alee’ prostrated when Dhul Thadiyyah had been killed among the Khawaarij. The Prophet (sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam)  also prostrated when Jibreel gave him the glad tidings that whoever sends salutations upon the Prophet once, Allaah will send salutations on that person ten fold…” Mentioned by al-Adheemabaadi in ‘Awnal-Ma’bood Sharh Sunan Abi Dawood

How it is performed:

As soon as a person hears of a specific blessing, it is recommended for him to immediately prostrate to Allaah. This is a prostration like any other prostration – in terms of prostrating on seven limbs [1] and saying:
سبحان ربي الأعلى
Subhana Rabil A’alah (Glorified is my Lord, the Most High)

A person should then also thank Allaah for the blessing.

There is no evidence however, for a person to say Takbeer at the beginning of the prostration, nor Tasleem after it.

Does a person have to be in a state of Wudhu?

“The correct opinion is that it is not obligated upon a person to be in a state of Wudhu when performing Sujood ash-Shukr. This is because the reason for performing it is due to an occurrence of a blessing or removal of a harm, and there is no specific time for this in which a person can prepare for it. In such a case, whenever a person is blessed, he should immediately perform Sujood ash-Shukr in whatever state he is in.”  Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen; Fataawa noorun alaa ad-darb http://islamport.com/w/ftw/Web/2190/2457.htmInnovations

There are a number of innovations and fabricated narrations which are occurring in relation to Sujood ash-Shukr:

1. Salaat ash-Shukr
It has not been narrated that the Prophet (sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam) dedicated a specific prayer called Salaat ash-Shukr. The only act of worship established is Sujood ash-Shukr – as mentioned above.

2. Performing Sujood ash-Shukr after each prayer or after reciting Qur’an
As mentioned previously in the Hadeeth, the Prophet (sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam) would only perform Sujood ash-Shukr on specific instances of good news or being saved from calamity. Therefore to introduce a new practice of performing a separate Sujood after each prayer is blameworthy and  is a Bid’ah (an innovation).

3. Saying Alhamdulillah 3 times, or Shukr Lillah 3 times
To specify a saying or Du’aa in Islaam requires evidence that it was done by the Prophet (sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam) and his companions. It is not known that the above statements were specified to be said during Sujood ash-Shukr.

A Fabricated Narration:

There is a narration which is mentioned by people in relation to Sujood ash-Shukr. It is,
“When the slaves of Allah do Sajdah-ul-Shukr, Allah opens the hijaab between them & the angels. He says to the Angels, ‘look at my slave, he did his fardh, obeyed my teachings and then performed Sujood to thank Me for what I’ve blessed him with.
‘Oh My Angels what should he get?’ The Angels will reply, ‘Ya Rabbana give him Your mercy.’
Then Allah will ask again, ‘and what else?’ The Angels will reply, ‘Ya Rabana give him Your heaven.’
Then Allah will ask again, ‘and what else?’ The Angels will reply, ‘Ya Rabana make his worries end.’
Then Allah Ta’aala will ‘ask what else?’
Every time Allah asks and what else?
The Angels will reply, something good to be given or be done to the person who does Sajdah-ul-Shukr.
Lastly the Angels will reply, ‘Ya Rabana we have no knowledge.’
Then Allah will say, ‘ I’ll thank him the way he thanked Me, I’ll give him My favour and show him My mercy’.” [End of narration].

Note: It should be known that this is a fabricated narration and has not been mentioned in the authentic books of Hadeeth and Sunnan. Rather it is a narration spread by the Rawaafidh Shee’ah in their books such as Bihaar al-Anwaar, Mustadrak al-Wasaail and others.
It is therefore not permitted to spread this hadeeth, rather this fabrication should be clarified and warned against.

Allaah knows best.

1] The seven limbs that must touch the ground when prostrating have been mentioned in the following Hadeeth: “I have been ordered to prostrate on seven limbs: the forehead – and he also pointed towards his nose, two hands, two knees and the toes of the two feet. [Narrated by Ibn Abbaas; Collected by Bukhaaree & Muslim]

How To Increase Your Blessings

Shurkr Al Nimah or Thanking Allah for His blessings is very important subject we all tend to forget or take for granted.
Majority of us think being thankful is just by saying Alhamdulilah but I am afraid we are mistaken and we need to stop for a moment and think.
Let me give you a very simple example to help you realize;
Imagine someone comes to you and asks to borrow money because they are in need and may be they even have kids and family. You give them the money and they thank you a lot by saying thank you but next day you see them gambling with that money with some friends or you see them buying alcohol with it, how will you feel!?

Did that person really appreciate what you have given them? Were they really thankful?
Will you ever give them money again?
Wa leLLAH Al mathalu Al A’alah

Allah granted us so many blessings and continues to grant us every single day but the question, are we being thankful?!!
Some will say: well, I say Alhamdulilah (Thanks to Allah) every day when I pray. I will tell you Alhamdulilah is not just words but it has to be words and actions.

Some of us have a good job which is a great blessing from Allah but unfortunately we are committing sins every day in this job! We cheat, we lie when we are late for no reason, we leave early and come late, we flirt, we don’t give sadaqa from the money we earn and the list is long.

Some of us have beautiful kids which is another blessing from Allah many don’t have but we neglect them, we beat them for no reason, we put our frustration on them, we don’t teach them right from wrong and we act as if we own them. Is this how you are thanking Allah for His blessings?

Some of us have a very understanding spouse, very loving and very kind but what do we do with them!? We take them for granted, we push them just because they take it, we neglect them and we deny them their rights. Millions are wishing to have a spouse like the one you have, so is this how you say Alhamdulilah?

Some of us got the chance to go to University or college to study but end up having haram relationship which Allah despises or end up flirting or wearing tons of makeup and having a new look everyday just to please the boys and attract their attention. Is that why you went to University?
Millions are craving for this chance and they don’t have it but you have it, so is this how you thank Allah?

You have good health, you can walk and move around and do what you please for yourself but are you treating your body the way you should? Are you eating well? Are you taking your meds so you don’t get worse and are you putting some effort to keep that healthy body which Allah granted you?
Unfortunately, many of us eat junk, smoke, neglect our meds and neglect our body and take it for granted, forgetting millions of people who are incapable. Is this how you say Alhamdulilah

Allah has blessed you with a beautiful body and beautiful hair and you use that body and that hair to disobey him Subhana Allah, you wear tight and revealing clothing and you refuse to wear the hijab!!. Is this how you thank Allah for His blessings which He bestowed upon you?
You have very understanding and trusting parents but you mistreat them, you lie to them, you answer back and argue with them while, millions are still crying for losing their parents. Is this how you are thanking Allah for His blessings?

And the list goes on……..

When Surat Al Takathur was revealed and the companions of the Prophet heard this ayah:
(Then, shall ye be questioned that Day about the joy (ye indulged in!).) 102:08

They asked the Prophet peace be upon him: what joy will we be asked about ya Rasoulu Allah and our swords are on our necks (as we are in Jihad everyday) and our food is dates and water. The Prophet peace be upon him told them, you will be asked about the dates and water !!

Jabir bin `Abdullah says: "The Holy Prophet once visited us and we served him with fresh dates and gave him cool water to drink. Thereupon he said: "These are of the blessings about which you will be questioned." (Musnad Ahmad, Nasa'i, Ibn Jarir, Ibn al-Mundhir, Ibn Marduyah, `Abd bin Humaid, Baihaqi in Ash-Shu `ab).
And today we have tables filled with food just to show off. We have all sorts of blessings much more than what the companions of the Prophet peace be upon him had and yet we take them for granted.

Remember Allah gave you all the blessings you have and He is able to take them all away from you in a blink of an eye. They are just a test and you determine the final result my dear sister and brother.
Allah says surat Ibrahim: (And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed, 'If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]; but if you deny, indeed, My punishment is severe.' ")14:07
So please don’t be a denier of Allah’s blessing to you by missusing it and neglecting it.WALLAHI you will be questioned.
Go back and start fixing things and start appreciating what you have. It’s never too late as long as you are alive

When Giving Sadaqa.( What not to do)

Assalam Alikum wa rahmatu Allah wa barakatouh
Many of us have the habit of asking the poor to pray for us after giving them our sadaqa. Do you know that our mother Aisha may Allah be pleased with her used to hate that!! Why?
Allah says in surat Al Insaan what can be translated as: And they give food in spite of love for it to the needy, the orphan, and the captive,76:8

Meaning even the captive who comes to kill you and you hold them captive, you must feed them.
Then Allah continues in the following ayah saying what can be translated as: "We feed you only for the countenance of Allah . We wish not from you reward or gratitude.76:9
Meaning we do not wish from you any reward (like Dua’a) or gratitude (A thank you). So when you give sadaqa do not ask the poor person to pray for you, this is a very important matter my dear sister and brother and if you have been doing it, you must stop.
Our mother Aisha may Allah be pleased with her used to send the messengers with sadaqaat (money as charity) to different locations and when the messengers come back, she used to ask them, what did they pray for me? The messengers would say, they prayed for you such and such, she will say I will pray for them the same so the reward remains with Allah!! Why is that?
Because when the poor person prays for you, they have already rewarded you for your kindness and good deed!.
So for example If I gave a poor person $20 and told them: “ pray for me to be cured, and pray for my children and my husband” this means if this person prays for me then they have already rewarded me. The question, is this the reward I was looking for?
That is why Allah said in the above ayah: "We feed you only for the countenance of Allah . We wish not from you reward or gratitude.76:9
So when you give that sadaqa, you give it for the sake of Allah and Allah will reward you for it and you and I know that no human can reward us better than the Most Generous Subhanahu wa Ta’alah
If the poor person prayed for you without you asking that is fine but you do not give a $50 and say please pray for me to get married, get a job, have children…etc.
Give the sadaqa. What do you want? Nothing, “We wish not from you reward or gratitude.76:9”
Sadly, many of us do not realize this. We give and say do not forget to pray for me.

Give the sadaqa and the reward is from Allah, if the poor person prayed for you, that’s fine and if they didn’t then the reward remains with Allah.

The Secrets of Surat Al Fatiha

Translated from the book Khawater Qura’ania by Dr. Amr Khaled

What is the secret of this Surah? Why did the Qura’an start with this surah? Why is it called the (the mother of the Qura’an)? Why do we read it a minimum of 17 times in a day and night? Why a prayer cannot be right without it?

One of the companion of the prophet PBUH said : the prophet PBUH said to me:"I will teach you a Sura which is the greatest Sura in the Qur'an, before you leave the Masjid." Then he got hold of my hand, and when he intended to leave (the Masjid), I said to him, "Didn't you say to me, 'I will teach you a Sura which is the greatest Sura in the Quran?' He said, "Al-Hamdu-Lillah Rabbi-l-Alamin (i.e. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds) which is Al-Sab'a Al-Mathani (i.e. seven repeatedly recited Verses) and the Grand Qur'an which has been given to me." (Sahih Al Bukhari).

The secret of Surat Al Fatiha :

It contains the all the meanings of the Qura’an. You will find the goals of the whole Qura’an in Al Fatiha. How?

The Qura’an covers three main meanings which are required from the Muslim or the reader of the Qura’an :

1. Beliefs (In who do we belief?).
2. Acts of worship (How do we worship who belief in?).
3. Life methods (The method that Allah wanted for us).
Surat Al Fatiha covers all these three goals.

When you read (الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيم مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ (All] praise is [due] to Allah, Lord of the worlds. The Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful, Sovereign of the Day of Recompense) Tawheed and belief in the Day of Judgment is the belief of the Muslim.

When it comes to the act of worship, you read إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ (It is You we worship and You we ask for help).

And when it comes to life method, you read اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ (Guide us to the straight path - The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray) and the whole Qura’an after surat Al Fatiha is elaborating those three main meanings.

Surat Al Fatiha reminds us of the fundamentals of Islam:

1. Allah’s blessings الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ.

2. Sincerity with a word إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ, means we only worship you , we ask your for help وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ.

3. Asking for good companion اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ (6) صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ.

4. Warning from bad companion غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ.

5. The names of Allah, with the focus of the two names of Allah الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ The Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. The root of Allah’s relation with humans is Rahma (Mercy) that is why it came twice ( the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful).

6. Straight path اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ.

7. The Day of judgment and preparing for it مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ and اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيم.

8. The importance of making dua’a and the etiquette of making dua’a, the surah ended with a dua.

9. Our Ummah (Nation) is one … that is why you find all the verses in this surah came in the form of plural even if the person is praying alone in his room, he still must use the plural form, so he knows he is part of one Ummah not alone in this Universe.

Manners and etiquette with Allah:

This surah teaches us the manners and etiquette with Allah, it is divided into two, the first part is tribute and compliment to Allah and the second part is the Dua. Whenever you pray you must start with tribute and compliment to Allah by calling him with his best names and thanking him for all the blessing then we ask for whatever we want. The amazing part in this surah is, the number of letters in the tribute is equal to the number of letters in the dua.

The dialogue with Allah

Allah, the Exalted, said, `I have divided the prayer (Al-Fatihah) into two halves between Myself and My servant, and My servant shall have what he asks for.' If he says,

[الْحَمْدُ للَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَـلَمِينَ ] (All praise and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of existence.)
Allah says, `My servant has praised Me.' When he/she says,

[الرَّحْمَـنِ الرَّحِيمِ ] (The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.)
Allah says, `My servant has glorified Me.' When he/she says,

[مَـلِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ ] (The Owner of the Day of Recompense.)
Allah says, `My servant has glorified Me,' or `My servant has related all matters to Me.' When he/she says,

[إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ ] (You (alone) we worship, and You (alone) we ask for help.)
Allah says, `This is between Me and My servant, and My servant shall acquire what he sought.' When he/she says,

[اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ - صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلاَ الضَّآلِّينَ ] (Guide us to the straight path. The way of those on whom You have granted Your grace, not (the way) of those who earned Your anger, nor of those who went astray),
Allah says, `This is for My servant, and My servant shall acquire what he asked for.').''

So you feel when you are reading Surat Al Fatiha that Allah SWT is responding to you, what an honor?
Omar Ibn Abdul Aziz used to read Al Fatiha and after each ayah he pauses for a while, when people asked him for the purpose of that pause, he said: So I can listen to my lord’s answer.

Can you feel the importance of this Surah? Ibn Al Qayem said: Allah revealed 104 books, he collected the meaning of all those books in three books: The Torah, The Gospel or the Einjeel and the Qura’an and he collected the meanings of those three books in the Qura’an and he collected the meanings of the Qura’an in Surat Al Fatiha.

Why was it named Al Fatiha?

1. The simple meaning is because it started the Qura’an as it is the first surah in the mus-haf.

2. The deeper meaning, it is the key of the meaning of the Quran.

The prophet PBUH him said: ليس للعبد من صلاته الا ما عقل منها , this means Allah accepts from your prayer what read with understanding and concentration. None of us want to pray and gain nothing from it by being absent minded or not understanding so from now on let read surat Al Fatiha with a full understanding have a beautiful conversation with our creator, the creator of all Universe.