The 14 Harms Of Casting Evil Glances

Alhamdulilah, I heard about this book being put online and alhamdulilah I found it today so I thought it would be very helpful to all of us. This should keep all the readers busy for a while too, making up for the slow down in our publishing of articles. May Allah Ta'alaa give us all the guidance to read this book and act upon what is written in this book. Ameen.

Please do spread this book and this link to all muslims and remember me in your duas please. Jazakallah.


http://www.khanqah.org/books/show/14-harms-casting-evil-glances

“Every eye shall weep on the Day of Judgment expect for the eye which was lowered from unlawful glances and that eye which stayed awake in the path of Allah and that eye which shed tears in the fear of Allah (even if tear be as small as the head of a fly).”
(Tafseer Ibn Katheer: Sura Nur, Ayat 30)"

Cover the Sins of Your Brother

It is alarming the amount of times a person can exploit his brother in a majlis. This is something I witnessed today and realised that it is a core problem to society today. A conversation would begin about things which are 'Haraam' and suddenly, good friends would jeer one another indicating that the other commits the sin. An example would be:

"Alcohol is Haraam."

"You hear that? Its Haraam so stop drinking!"

All of a sudden, there is one person in the congregation whose sin has been discovered due to a sarcastic, over emphasised remark. The ears now boil, the cheeks turn red and the sin doesn't taste so sweet all of a sudden when there is a hiss of 'Astagfirullah'. He is looking down on the floor like a complete and utter bewaqoof. We should not exploit the sins of our brothers and sisters but we should help them in their leaving their sins. The Prophet salallahu alayhi wa salam said,

"A Muslim is a brother of another Muslim. So he should not oppress him nor should he hand him over to (his shaytaan or to his self which is inclined to evil). Whoever fulfills the needs of his brother, Allah will fulfill his needs; whoever removes the troubles of his brother, Allah will remove one of his troubles on the Day of Resurrection; and whoever covers up the fault of a Muslim, Allah will cover up his fault on the Day of Resurrection".

May Allah Ta'ala give us all the ability to bring what has been said into our lives. Ameen.

People Come & Go

Allah Ta'ala says in the Qur'an,

"Surely We will test you with a bit of fear and hunger, and loss in wealth and lives and fruits, and give good tidings to the patient."

This verse speaks about a 'loss in lives'. Sometimes in our life, people come and go. At some part of our life they (friends) may play an instrumental role but in another walk of life there may not be space to accommodate them. However, the love and care for these people should always remain. A person should always continue to make Dua'a for that person who helped him in some way. Even if it was a small piece of advice that seemed to be useless at the time of need. Many people become friends but due to circumstances are not able to speak anymore. Though there is no bitterness between the two, it is just a difficulty to maintain contact with one another via letters, phone, email etc. Overtime, it just becomes mutally accepted that there is no urgent need to speak to one another. This does not mean that you totally forget them, they are most deserved of spending time with you in your Dua'as. The Ulama e Kiram used to say,

“If one of you do not wish to fulfil his brother’s needs by sharing his worries or by making Dua'a then do not ask, 'How are things?' because it is considered hypocrisy.”

This does not mean you stop asking people about their condition. This means that you should care for them in your Dua'a and remember them when you are unable to be in their company as often as you would like. Then when you do ask them about their condition, it will be sincere, heartfelt and not just 'lip-service'. This will be good for your heart and never ever forget to ask a person how they are as this shows the other person that you actually care for them.

May Allah Ta'ala give us the best ability to recognise those people who have helped us in our life. May He shower upon them countless blessings and easen for us the restraints of not being able to fulfill their rights regularly. May He make us from those people who loved one another in the world and thus receive the shade of His throne. Ameen.

Poetry - Your Mercy

I have heard that there is a river, an endless river

and that inside it flows Your Mercy? A river of Mercy..

And that whomsoever travels on this river ends up finding You?

And that whomsoever drowns, will be covered in Your Kindness?

Im confused now... I want both.

I continue to beseech and You continue to forgive,

You continue to bestow for aslong as I live.

What more can I say to the One who loves to forgive?

A doctor cannot be taught how to perform an operation by an ignoramus.

It is only his job to trust the doctor and hope he will be cured.

Like this, it is not my job to define mercy for you, I am blind to the word.

Yet I trust and I hope that You will not leave me void of it.

"Say (on My behalf), 'O servants of Mine who have acted recklessly against their own selves, do not despair of Allah's mercy. Surely, Allah will forgive all sins. Surely, He is the One who is the Most-Forgiving, the Very-Merciful.'"

Jus Desserts!

Alhamdulillah by the grace of Allah Ta'ala our respected brother Ismail Dedat (May Allah Ta'ala grant him success in deen and dunya ameen) has recently opened a shop on Hoe Street. It is a shop that caters desserts, ice creams, cakes and foods such as springrolls, samosas etc (all of which are Halal). This shop aims to serve the Muslim community in providing a place for youngsters to chill out and also has segregation for sisters if per chance they need it. On Wednesdays, the back section is for sisters only so that you are able to enjoy your ice cream properly without fearing the gaze of others. We make Dua'a that Allah Ta'ala grants immense success to Jus Desserts and gives them refuge from the evils of this world. Ameen.

Address - 249 Hoe Street, Walthamstow, London, E17. (next to Chik Inn)

Part 5 - Environmental Issues

If I go outside in the middle of winter in my shorts and vest and I stand outside for a while, will I feel warm and cosy or will I feel cold and maybe even catch a fever?

If I go outside whilst its raining and I'm not wearing no coat or anything then what will happen to me? Will I stay dry and warm or will I get drenched with rain?

In the same way, if a person walks into an area of sin, like the quad and canteen, then do you think that it will not have an effect on you?

The same way that a person will feel the effects of the weather on him if he isn't wearing the right clothes, is the same way that a person will feel the effects of the sin occuring in the environment around him if he isn't well protected and wearing the right clothes. The one who adorns himself with the Sunnah of the Prophet Sallalahu Alayhi Wasallam, with pure intentions will see that these clothes will have an effect on a person's behaviour. With the Sunnah of the Prophet Sallalahu Alayhi Wasallam comes good character aswell and when these two are put together you will see that a man will become elevated in status by Allah Ta'alaa. When a person has the real Uniform of the Soldiers of Allah, then he will have more shame than a normal person, and the effects of some sins will not have a full blown effect on him. For example, A person who is wearing a Juba is less likely to be holding a girls hand around college because he himself will know that it would look soo wrong aswell as him receiving a lecture every couple of minutes because what he is doing is completley against islam.

Let it be known that if a person does not wear any signs of islam, that does not make it permissible for him to go and walk about with his girlfriend around college. Its still haram at the end of the day and if a person was to commit a sin whilst wearing islamic clothing then this person is better than the one who commits the same sin and doesn't wear any islamic clothing. Why? because the one who is observing the Sunnah of Rasoolullah Sallalahu Alayhi Wasallam is doing a good dood and is more likely to be forgiven for his sin, but the one who doesn't wear any islamic clothing will not have anything that brings the mercy upon him, but instead he will keep on carrying on gaining the anger of Allah Ta'alaa because he will be commiting more and more sins. An example of this is a girl who observes the hijaab and one that doesn't who both listen to music. The hijabi is more likely to be forgiven than the non-hijabi because shes only doing one thing wrong but she's covering herself so she gets one good deed. The non-hijabi will be doing two things wrong, listening to music and not covering herself properly.

It come in a story that once a man from amongs the people of Firaun was employed by Firaun himself to immitate Musa Alayhis salaam as a form of mockery. So this man dressed like Musa Alayhis salaam, he had a beard like him, he wore clothes like him, he had a stick like him and he would walk like him. It so happened that when the punishment and wrath of Allah decended upon these people and this man was amongst them, he was spared. Abit of a surprise as we would think this man would be first on the list for a beating but instead he was saved. Why? because at the time of the decending of this punishment, he was observing the Sunnah of Musa Alayhis salaam. Even though his intentions were something far from following the Sunnah it was still enough to save him. So imagine if we did follow the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad Sallalahu Alayhi Wasallam, would we not be saved from calamities and the wrath of Allah Ta'alaa?

It comes in a famous hadeeth to the nearest meaning that the one who revives a Sunnah of the Prophet Sallalahu Alayhi Wasallam will have the reward of 100 martyrs. And the reward of one martyr is such that all his sins are forgiven before the first drop of his blood touches the ground.

My Respected teacher stated that if a non-muslim was to follow the Sunnah of Rasoolullah Sallalahu Alayhi Wasallam then he would be successful in this world but not in the hereafter. If a muslim was to follow the Sunnah of Rasoolullah Sallalahu Alayhi Wasallam then he would be successful in both this world and the hereafter.

We should not look at any Sunnat of Rasoolullah Sallalahu Alayhi Wasallam as small and insignificant. A person wearing a Topi, Jubba or Ammamma could be the reason for his intercession by Rasoolullah Sallalahu Alayhi Wasallam himself and those who adhere more and more to the Sunnah of Rasoolullah Sallalahu Alayhi Wasallam are more and more likely to have the intercession of Rasoolullah Sallalahu Alayhi Wasallam on the Day of Ressurection. The Day when our parents will run a mile away from us and we will look left and right for help and we will have nobody but our good and bad deeds at our side. It will be on this Day when we will see how significant these Sunnats really are and if we find that due to us keeping a beard it brings a smile to Rasoolullah Sallalahu Alayhi Wasallam's blessed face it may be that just because of that he will intercede for us and we will be safely taken to Jannah.

Sincerity is the key to the successful following of the Sunnah of Rasoolullah Sallalahu Alayhi Wasallam and remember that when you do wear the Clothes of Islam e.g Hijab, Topi, Jubba then remember that you are representing Islam, so act like Muslims! Allow the swearing and loudness because all it does spoil your honour and nobility.

May Allah give me the ability to act upon what was said and those of you that read this article. May Allah bring the love of Rasoolullah Sallalahu Alayhi Wasallam into our hearts. And May Allah grant us all the blessing of being raised up on the Day of Ressurection with Rasoolullah Sallalahu Alayhi Wasallam. Ameen.

Tips - Waking up for Fajr

Today a common problem for many people is the issue of getting up for Fajr and praying Isha. The many Ahadith state, "The most burdensome prayers for the hypocrites are Isha and Fajr…" Hazrat Abdullah ibn Umar radiallahu anhuma used to say, "If we did not see a person at Fajr and Isha prayers, we would think badly of him." The most beloved thing at this point no longer remains our Mussala (prayer mat) but our warm, comfy beds. This prayer holds immense virtues just like the rest but is one of the most neglected prayers. For one, “Whoever prays Fajr is under the protection of Allah." However, here are a few tips that you could adhere to perhaps if you are struggling from waking up for Fajr.

• To make a very strong intention is really necessary. It will be really hard to wake up for Fajr when your heart does not even fully want to. It is a necessity that one clenches his fists and makes it clear to his nafs (desires) and shaytaan that he will wake up for Fajr no matter what.

• To make Dua'a in abundance the night before. One should really try his best to make Dua'a from his heart and beg Allah Ta'ala to make the struggle of waking up for Fajr easy. This will give the heart contentment too that your intention is not half hearted but a sincere plea to Allah Ta'ala. The intention and Dua'a together are like the brick and cement of a house, the building will fail to establish itself with both of them.

• Many people fail to realise that what they do the night before contributes to whether they wake up in the morning or not. It is very difficult for a person to wake up for Fajr if he spends the night watching TV, speaking to the opposite gender on the phone, MSN or indulging in other Haraam. This will intoxicate his mind with other things besides Allah Ta'ala. However, if Allah Ta'ala was the last thing we went to sleep thinking about then most assuredly (inshallah) He will be the first thing we think about in the morning. This too will help wake us up inshallah.

• One should keep an alarm on his phone or clock. Many phones have the ability to have five alarms, one should set all these alarms as perhaps one them may get you out of bed. It is also an idea to keep the phone away from your bed so that you do not press 'snooze' or 'off'.

• Get friends who are steadfast or who also have a desire to pray Fajr and ring one another in the morning. Leave your phone on loud so that it wakes you up.

• Sleep early the night before, avoid getting into a scheme where you sleep extremely late and are not able to wake up for Fajr. Some from among us may have insomnia and in situations like this it is really important to keep someone close who can wake you up with care and love.

• Once you get into the habit of reading Fajr, it doesn't matter how late you sleep, your eyes will automatically wake up at the time of Fajr and soon you will find it firm in your life (inshallah). One should continually make Dua'a and seek the help of Allah Ta'ala.

• After waking up, it is quite hard to sleep. One should make Dhikr, Istigfaar and send Durood Sharif in this time. Those who have permission for Dhikr bil Jahr should fix this time to do so. Also, those who are Talaba should use this time to do Mutala of their kitabs and to make Dua'a that Bari Ta'ala maintains and increases their memory.

• Ponder over the words Hazrat Umar radiallahu anhu proclaimed a short while before his death. "There is no Islam for the one who leaves his prayer."

Much more can be said but I fear Shaytaan may cause your wonderful eyes to close before you finish this article. May Allah Ta'ala give me and you all the ability to protect each one of our prayers. May He make it easy for us and create a deep love for prayer in our hearts. Ameen