THE RIGHTS OF BROTHERHOOD
Upon meeting your Muslim brother, call him by a name he loves and greet him with a smiling face.
“To smile at your brother is charity.”
Encourage him to speak with you, or in other words, give him an opportunity to talk to you about himself and about his life. Ask him about his affairs, but only about those things that won’t cause him embarrassment.
“Whoever is unconcerned with the affairs of the Muslims, is not from them.”
(The believers, men and women, are Auliya [helpers, supporters, friends, protectors] of one another….) (Qur’an 9: 71)
Don’t blame or remind him of his past errors, and don’t cause him discomfort by making fun of him.
“Do not dispute with your brother, don’t make fun of him, and don’t make an appointment with him and then not show up.”
TWO SECRETS REGARDING SINNING (EVEN IF YOU KNOW THEM, DON’T SIN)
Some of the people of knowledge mentioned that:
After one repents from a sin, one’s feelings of self-importance and sanctimoniousness are quelled.
Allah’s names and attributes, such as the Most Merciful and the Oft-Forgiving, bear a greater meaning to the one who sins and then repents than they do to others.
SEEK OUT SUSTENANCE BUT DON’T BE COVETOUS
All glory and praise is for the Creator and Provider. He gives sustenance to the worm in the ground, the fish beneath water, the bird in the air, the ant in the dark, and the snake within the crevice of a rock.
Ibn al-Jawzi mentioned something he witnessed that was wonderful yet strange. A blind snake lived on a branch at the top of a tree. A bird would come to it with food in its mouth. It would chirp a signal to the snake, which in return would open its mouth and allow the bird to insert the food. All praise and glory belongs to Allah, Who made this one to help the other.
(Nor a bird that flies with its two wings, but are communities like you.) (Qur’an 6: 38)
Provision came to Mariyam (Mary) day and night. It was said to her, “How does this come to you.” She replied, “It is from Allah. Verily, Allah provides for whom He wishes without reckoning.”
So do not worry, for your sustenance is guaranteed.
(And kill not your children for fear of poverty. We provide for them and for you.) (Qur’an 17:31)
People must realize that the Provider for both father and son is the One Who begets not, nor is He begotten.
(And kill not your children for fear of poverty. We provide for them and for you. ) (Qur’an 17: 31)
The proprietor of infinite treasures has guaranteed your sustenance.
(So seek your provision from Allah [Alone], and worship Him [Alone], and be grateful to Him.) (Qur’an 29: 17)
(And it is He who feeds me and gives me to drink) (Qur’an 26: 79)
PAUSE TO REFLECT
As for the prayer, its significance —- or rather part of its significance — is that it empties the heart from bad feelings and fills it with strength and pleasure. During prayer, one’s heart and soul are in communication with Allah. Closeness to Him, the comfort realized from asking of Him, and the spirituality felt from standing in front of Him—- these are all realized during the prayer. Every limb is used in the prayer, but what is more important is that the heart must be wakeful as well. When one prays, tranquility and peace are achieved, as one travels away, at least spiritually, from enemies and troubles.
Thus the prayer is one of the most potent of remedies for the diseases of the heart. Yet only the worthy heart benefits from prayer; the weak heart, on the other hand, is like the body, in that it seeks its sustenance from material matter.
Therefore prayer is the greatest way to help us achieve the blessings of both this world and the Hereafter. The prayer precludes one from sins, defends against diseases, illuminates both heart and face, makes one active, and in general, brings good upon the person who performs it sincerely.
A RELIGION THAT IS FULL OF BENEFITS
Islam offers the believer a broad range of benefits and rewards, benefits that encourage him to continue upon the true path and rewards that boost his hopes for the Hereafter. Deeds that wipe out sins — such as prayer— are many in Islam. For example, a good deed is multiplied ten times in reward, or seven hundred, or even much, much more. Another example is hardship, because any time a believer is afflicted with hardship, some of his sins are atoned for.
(Also, during times of affliction one benefits from the supplications of other believers.)
(And if you would count the graces of Allah, never could you he able to count them.) (Qur’an 16: 18)
(And He has completed and perfected His Graces upon you, [both] apparent [i.e. Islamic Monotheism, and the lawful pleasures of this world, including health, good looks, etc.] and hidden [i.e. One’s faith in Allah (of Islamic Monotheism), knowledge, wisdom, guidance for doing righteous deeds, and also the pleasures and delights of the Hereafter in Paradise,
etc ].) (Qur’an 31: 20)
FEAR NOT! SURELY, YOU WILL HAVE THE UPPER HAND
(Fear not! Surely, you will have the upper hand) (Qur’an 20: 68)
Moosa (Moses) was especially in trouble on three occasions:
When he entered the council of the evil Fir’aun, he said:
(‘Our Lord! Verily! We fear lest he should hasten to punish us or lest he should transgress [all bounds against us].) (Qur’an 20: 45)
(He [Allah] said: ‘Fear not, verily! I am with you both, hearing and seeing.) (Qur’an 20: 46)
The phrase, “I am with you…, hearing and seeing” should always be in the mind of the Muslim.
When the sorcerers threw their rods, Allah, the Almighty, said:
(‘Fear not! Surely, you will have the upper hand.) (Qur’an 20: 68)
When Fir’aun and his army were catching up with Moosa (Moses), Allah said:
(Strike the sea with your stick.) (Qur’an 26: 63)
Moosa (may peace be upon him) said:
Nay verily! with me is my Lord, He will guide me. (Qur’an 26: 62)
STAY AWAY FROM THE FOLLOWING FOUR….
The following four deeds bring misery to a person’s heart, so avoid them:
Complaining and being angry with what Allah has decreed.
Committing sins without repenting afterwards.
(Say [to them], It is from yourselves [because of your evil deeds]. (Qur’an 3: 165)
(It is because of what your hands have earned.) (Qur’an 42: 30)
Hating people for the blessings that Allah has bestowed upon them.
(Or do they envy men for what Allah has given them of His Bounty?) (Qur’an 4: 54)
Turning away from the remembrance of Allah:
(……verily for him is a life of hardship…..) (Qur’an 20: 124)
IN ORDER TO FIND PEACE, TURN TO YOUR LORD
Allah’s slave — i.e. every one of us — can find comfort only by turning to Allah, the Exalted, Who mentioned tranquility in many verses of the Qur’an;
(Then Allah sent down His Sakinah [calmness and tranquility] upon His Messenger and upon the believers) (Qur’an 48: 26)
(…He sent down calmness and tranquility upon them….)
(Qur’an 48: 18)
(Then Allah did send down His Sakinah [calmness, tranquility and reassurance, etc.] on the Messenger [Muhammad]…..) (Qur’an 9: 26)
Tranquility means having a heart that is at peace and that has a sound trust in Allah. Tranquility is a state of calm enjoyed by those believers who have been saved from doubt. And it is according to one’s closeness to Allah and steadfastness in following the Messengers way that one will achieve tranquility and peace.
(Allah will keep firm those who believe, with the word that stands firm in this world [i.e. they will keep on worshipping Allah Alone and none else], and in the Hereafter) (Qur’an 14: 27)
TWO GREAT WORDS OF SOLACE
Imam Ahmad related two phrases that were said to him during the difficult times in which he was being punished and tortured.
A man who was imprisoned for drinking alcohol spoke the first, when he met Imam Ahmad and said,
“O’ Ahmad, be steadfast for you are about to be whipped for the truth that you are upon. I have been whipped many times for drinking, and even I was patient.”
(So be patient [O’ Muhammad]. Verily the Promise of Allah is true, and let not those who have no certainty of faith, discourage you from conveying Allah’s Message [which you are obliged to convey].)
(Qur’an 30: 60)
(…If you are suffering [hardships] then surely, they [too] are suffering [hardships] as you are suffering, but you have a hope from Allah [for the reward, i.e. Paradise] that for which they hope not… )
(Qur’an 4: 104)
A Desert Arab who witnessed Imam Ahmad in chains as he was being taken to prison said the second phrase. He said, “O’ Ahmad, be patient, for verily, if this is the spot from which you will be killed, it will also be the spot from which you will enter Paradise.”
(Their Lord gives them glad tidings of a Mercy from Him, and that He is pleased [with them], and of Gardens [Paradise] for them wherein are everlasting delights.) (Qur’an 9: 21)
SOME OF THE POSITIVE EFFECTS OF EXPERIENCING HARDSHIP
Hardship makes one turn humbly toward one’s Lord. Someone once said, “How Perfect is Allah, Who has elicited supplication through hardship.” It has been related that Allah tested one of His slaves in a matter and then said to the Angels that it was, “In order to hear his voice,” meaning his supplications and invocations.
Hardship instills humility in the heart of the afflicted:
(Nay! Verily, man does transgress all bounds [in disbelief and evil deeds, etc.], because he considers himself self-sufficient.)
(Qur’an 96: 6)
People give comfort to, and pray for, the afflicted. Thus during times of hardship the believers come together in a spirit of brotherhood.
Hardship should make one grateful for having been saved from that which is greater than the hardship with which he was afflicted.
Furthermore, hardship atones for sins. When the slave of Allah gains an appreciation of these facts, he will be thankful.
(Only those who are patient shall receive their rewards in full, without reckoning.) (Qur’an 39: I0)
Source: Islam Basics By Aaidh ibn Abdullah Al-Qarnee
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