| An-Numan bin Bashir (Radi Allahu anhu) reported:
Allah's Messenger (SallAllahu alaihi wasallam) said, "What is lawful is clear and what is un-lawful is clear, but between them are certain doubtful things which many people do not know. So he who guards against doubtful things which keeps his religion blameless. But he who falls into doubtful things falls into that which is unlawful, just as a shepherd who grazes his cattle in the vicinity of a pasture declared prohibited (by the king); he is likely to stray into the pasture. Mind you, every king has a protected pasture and Allah's involved limits is that which He has declared unlawful. Verily, there is a piece of flesh in the body, if it is healthy, the whole body is health, and if it is corrupt, the while body is corrupt. Verily, it is the heart."
[Al-Bukhari & Muslim]
As Taken from Riyad-us-Saliheen
Abu Qatadah (May Allah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (PBUH) said, "Do not touch your private parts with your right hand while urinating, nor for washing or cleaning (your private parts); and do not breathe into the drinking vessel from which you drink."[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
Commentary:
Muslims are required to take food and do other such things with their right hand. They have been ordained to do all the other essential but not much liked acts with their left hand. This demarcation has been done to highlight the distinctive position of the right hand. It is regrettable indeed that some Muslims nowadays use the left hand for eating. It is a sign that their righteous nature is spoiled and that they have totally ignored the Divine injunctions. May Allah help us observe the Divine orders.
| | 298/1648 - Riyad Us-Saliheen (Gardens of the Righteous) |
| | The more we reflect on the grand design of the universe, the more we are reminded of the Designer. How many forces must come together with perfect coordination before a seed can sprout? | The Remembrance of Allah is Integral to
Faith 7/18/2013 - Religious - Article Ref: IC1307-5485
By: Sadullah Khan
IslamiCity* - The Remembrance of Allah is Integral to Faith
In this special month of introspection and of re-aligning our connection with the Divine, Shaykh Sadullah Khan focuses on the Dimensions ofDhikr.
Qur'an & Dhikr
The Qur'an undoubtedly emphasizes the need for dhikr: O Believers! Remember Allah with much remembrance and glorify Him early and late [Qur'an 23:41] Remember your Lord in your heart with humility and due respect [Qur'an 7:205] The Qur'an itself is referred to as al-dhikr (The Remembrance) in [Q15:9]. Allah furthermore states: We have made the Qur'an easy to remember (and an easy mode of remembrance), are there any who care? [Q 54:17]
Tafakkur wa Tadabbur
Tafakkur means thinking on a matter, constructively, purposefully and in earnestness. Tafakkur (reflection) is the lamp of the heart, the food of the spirit, the spirit of knowledge and the soul and light of the Islamic way of life. Without reflection, the heart is darkened, the spirit becomes exasperated and Islam is lived at a superficial level devoid of meaning and profundity.
Reflection is such a light in the heart that good and evil, harm and benefit and beauty and ugliness can be discerned and distinguished from each other through it. Again, it is through reflection that the universe becomes a book to study and the verses of the Qur'an disclose their meaning and secrets more deeply. The quality of our thought is a very serious and important subject for any Muslim to consider.
The more we reflect on the grand design of the universe, the more we are reminded of the Designer. How many forces must come together with perfect coordination before a seed can sprout? What keeps this immensely complex universe working so flawlessly, from the simplest to the most complex things? There are indeed pointers to the Creator in every atom of everything in this universe: In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of night and day, there are indeed Signs for people of understanding - people who remember Allah, standing, sitting and lying down. They realize that Allah did not create all this without purpose. Glory to Allah! [Q 3:190-191]
In this verse Allah, the Most High, - speaks highly of the ulul albab or literally the "possessors of mind" or those who "reflect"/"contemplate". This quality of thinking (reflection/contemplation) is mentioned in the Qur'an precisely because Muslims are expected to imbibe them. This kind of "quality thinking" formed an integral part of the texture and culture of Muslims since the time of the Prophet. A saying attributed to Abdullah ibn 'Abbas documented by Imam Qurtubi in his tafsir states "tafakkur for an hour is better than a whole night's prayer." This ability and capacity to think deeply about things is the light of a Muslim.
- Makes reference to the second important attribute of this level or quality of Muslim is remembrance (dhikr).
Tadabbur implies pondering over something while giving careful consideration to its consequences. In fact, one of the primary purposes of revelation is for humankind to engage in tadabbur, to ponder and be mindful, (This is) a Book that We have revealed unto you (O Prophet), full of lasting Blessing that people may ponder upon its messages and that those who have understood may take them to heart and be mindful.[Q 38:29]
We note a distinctive reference to tadabbur and tazakkur in this verse.
Need for Dhikr
There are over 150 references. in the Qur'an to words from the root dh-k-r (to remember, to mention, to invoke). Our focus here is specifically on dhikr (whether qalbi, 'aqli, lisani, 'amali, whether singularly or in congregation) as it pertains to ways in which Allah is remembered (by name or in essence) as the Supreme Being. To pronounce words reflecting the attributes or glory of Allah isdhikr by tongue. To understand and reflect on Allah's Majesty isdhikr by heart. Both these desirable modes of remembrance reinforce each other; so conscious oral repetition engraves the words in the heart while understanding and reflection gives meaning and life to the spoken word.
Together they assist us in focusing on our destination while journeying through life in this world.
All forms of dhikr help us develop and reinforce our relationship with the Divine. Keep in remembrance the Name of the Lord and sincerely devote yourself wholeheartedly to Him. [Q 73:8] The Holy Prophet reported that Allah informs: I am with the thought of My servant and am with him when he remembers Me. If he remembers Me in his heart, I too remember him in My heart. If he remembers Me in an assembly, I too recollect him in an assembly, and this assembly is better than human assembly. [Bukhari]
Genuine dhikr by True Believers
Dhikr is the companion and spirit of actions. See how Allah has paired it with salah which is the best of all acts of worship, and made dhikr the very reason for it, when He says, Establish salah (prayer) for My dhikr (remembrance) [Q 20:14]. Going through rituals of prayer without the essential element of remembering Allah reflects strands of heedlessness and hypocrisy. Behold, the hypocrites seek to deceive God - the while it is He who causes them to be deceived [by themselves) and when they rise to pray, they stand reluctantly, only to be seen and praised by people, hardly remembering Allah God but seldom. [Q 4:142].
(True) believers are only those whose hearts tremble when the name of Allah is mentioned, and who, when His Signs are recited to them, have their faith increased thereby, and who put their trust in their Lord. Who observe Prayer and spend out of that which We have provided for them. These it is who are true believers. They have grades of rank with their Lord, as well as forgiveness and an honorable provision." [Q 8:2]
The above verses from Surah Anfal make reference to the signs of true Believers (mu'minuna haqqa) and this includes ... - Remembering Allah (dhikr) and its effect on them
- Reading the Qur'an (tilawah) and its effect on them
- Their dependence on Allah (tawakkul)
- Their pursuance of spiritual and moral welfare through prayer (salah)
- Their pursuance of social and economic welfare through charity (infaq)
Dhikr and Itminan
The word mutma'innah occurs in related forms in thirteen places in the Qur'an. The noun from this word istuma'ninah. Tuma'ninah means calmness, serenity, peacefulness and tranquility. It signifies a state of composure and equanimity. It implies a feeling of total security, of having complete peace of mind, being at ease with oneself; a state so sought after yet rarely experienced in this age. That pleasant and noble state (itminan) of the heart is attained through (dhikr)remembrance of Allah, Those who believe and whose hearts find satisfaction in dhikr-Allah (the remembrance of Allah), such find contentment. [Q 13:28]
The great spiritual luminary, Hasan al-Basri, commenting on the above verse said: "You should seek joy in three things: performance of prayer, the Qur'an and the remembrance of Allah)." Furthermore, forgiveness and reward from Allah are promised to those men and women who remember Allah... and men who remember Allah much and women who remember Allah much - for such has Allah prepared forgiveness and immense reward. [Qur'an 33:36].
| | http://www.islamicity.com/articles/Articles.asp?ref=IC1307-5485 ONE CREATOR - ONE MESSAGE [Inmates of the Fire will cry for water] The QURAN "And the inmates of the fire will call out unto the inmates of paradise: "Pour some water upon us, or some of the sustenance [of paradise] which God has provided for you!" [The inmates of paradise] will reply: "Verily, God has denied both to those who have denied the truth – [Quran – 7:50] The BIBLE "The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.' "But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us." [Luke 16:22-26] http://al-tanzil.com/In_The_Name_of_ALLAH.html ONE CREATOR - ONE MESSAGE [Pray To The LORD, Privately and Sincerely] The QURAN "Call on your Lord humbly and privately- He does not like those who transgress His bounds:" [Quran – 7:55] The BIBLE "But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." [Matthew 6:6]
For whom Allah has prepared forgiveness and a great reward
Verily, the Muslims (those who submit to Allah in Islam) men and women, the believers men and women (who believe in Islamic Monotheism), the men and the women who are obedient (to Allah), the men and women who are truthful (in their speech and deeds), the men and the women who are patient (in performing all the duties which Allah has ordered and in abstaining from all that Allah has forbidden), the men and the women who are humble (before their Lord – Allah), the men and the women who give Sadaqat (i.e. Zakat and alms), the men and the women who observe Saum (fast - the obligatory fasting during the month of Ramadan, and the optional Nawafil fasting), the men and the women who guard their chastity (from illegal sexual acts) and the men and the women who remember Allah much with their hearts and tongues – Allah has prepared for them forgiveness and a great reward (i.e. Paradise). Soorah al-Ahzaab 33:35 Narrated Abu Hurairah radhi-yAllahu 'anhu: Allah's Messenger sal-Allahu 'alayhi wa sallam said, "Allah has some angels who look for those who remember (glorify the Praises of) Allah on the roads and paths. And when they find some people remembering (glorifying the Praises of) Allah, they call each other saying, 'Come to the object of your pursuit.' " He added, "Then the angels encircle them with their wings up to the nearest heaven to us." He added, "[After those people remembered (glorified the Praises of) Allah, and the angels go back to Allah], their Lord [Subhanahu wa Ta'ala] asks them (those angels) though He knows better than them 'What do My slaves say?' The angels reply, 'They say: Subhan-Allah, Allahu Akbar, and Alhamdulillah'. Allah then says, 'Did they see Me?' The angels reply, 'No! By Allah, they didn't see You.' Allah says, 'How it would have been if they saw me?' The angels reply, 'If they saw You, they would worship You more devoutly and remember You (glorify Your Praises) more deeply, and declare Your freedom from any resemblance to anything more often.' Allah says (to the angels), 'What do they ask Me for?' The angels reply, 'They ask You for Paradise.' Allah says (to the angels), 'Did they see it?' The angels say, 'No! By Allah, O Lord! They did not see it.' Allah says, 'How it would have been if they saw it?' The angels say, 'If they saw it, they would have greater covetousness for it and would seek it with greater zeal and would have greater desire for it.' Allah says, 'From what do they seek refuge?' The angels reply, 'They seek refuge from the (Hell) Fire.' Allah says, 'Did they see it?' The angels say, 'No! By Allah, O Lord! They did not see it.' Allah says, 'How it would have been if they saw it?' The angels say, 'If they saw it they would flee from it with the extreme fleeing and would have extreme fear from it.' Then Allah says, 'I make you witnesses that I have forgiven them.' " (Allah's Messenger [sal-Allahu 'alayhi wa sallam] added:) "One of the angels would say, 'There was so-and-so amongst them, and he was not one of them, but he had just come for some need.' Allah would say, 'These are those people whose companions will not be reduced to misery.' " [Sahih Al-Bukhari, 8/6408 (O.P.417)] Ref.: The Noble Qur.aan Soorah al-Ahzaab 33:35 | | | | |
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