Narrated Ibn 'Umar: The Prophet had said, "Offer some of your prayers (Nawafil) at home, and do not take your houses as graves." [Bukhari, 425]

Narrated by Anas ibn Malik: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said to him: Son, when you enter your home greet your people with the salutation of peace. It will be a source of blessing for you and for the members of your family [Tirmidhi, 861].

Islam is a beautiful religion, full of wisdom and harmony. If this wonderful religion is followed properly then a typical Muslim would only be a great example to follow. The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: "The most perfect believer in faith is the one who is best in moral character..."  [At-Tirmithi]

Spreading kindness at home:

'Aa'ishah may Allaah be pleased with her said: "The Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: '"When Allaah, The Almighty,Wills some good towards the people of a household, He introduces kindness among them.'" [Ahmad]

According to another report: "When Allaah loves the people of a household, He introduces kindness among them." [Ibn Abu Ad-Dunyaa] In other words, they start to be kind to one another.

This is one of the means of attaining happiness at home, for kindness is very beneficial between the spouses, and with the children, and it brings results that cannot be achieved through harshness, as the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: "Allaah loves kindness and rewards for it in such a way that He does not reward for harshness or for anything else." [Muslim]

Helping the wife with the housework:

Many men think that housework is beneath them, and some of them think that it will undermine their status and position if they help their wives with this work. The Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) however, used to "sew his own clothes, mend his own shoes and do whatever other work men do in their homes." [Ahmad]

This is how 'Aa'ishah may Allaah be pleased with her responded when she was asked about what the Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) used to do in his house; she described what she herself had seen. According to another report, she said: "He was like any other human being; he would clean his clothes, milk his ewe and serve himself." [Ahmad]

She may Allaah be pleased with her was also asked about what the Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) used to do in his house, and she said, "He used to serve his family, then when the time for prayer came, he would go out to pray." [Al-Bukhaari]

If we Muslim men were to do likewise nowadays, we would achieve three things:

1.      We would be following the example of the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ).

2.      We would be helping our wives.

3.      We would feel more humble and down to earth.

These narrations should act as a reminder to those men, who demand food instantly from their wives, when the pot is on the stove and the baby is screaming to be fed; they do not pick up the child or wait a little while for the food.

Being affectionate towards and joking with the members of the family:

Showing affection towards one's wife and children is one of the things that lead to creating an atmosphere of happiness and friendliness in the home. Thus the Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) advised Jaabir may Allaah be pleased with him to marry a virgin, saying,

"Why did you not marry a virgin, so you could play with her and she could play with you, and you could make her laugh and she could make you laugh?" [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]

The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) also said: "Everything in which Allaah's name is not mentioned is idleness and play, except for four things: a man playing with his wife..." [An-Nasaa'ee]

The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) used to treat his wife 'Aa'ishah may Allaah be pleased with her affectionately when performing Ghusl (ritual bath) with her, as she may Allaah be pleased with him said: "The Messenger of Allaah and I used to perform Ghusl together from one vessel, and he would playfully pretend to take all the water so that I would say, 'Leave some for me, leave some for me.'" [Muslim]

The ways in which the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) showed affection towards young children are too famous to need mentioning. He often used to show his affection towards his grandchildren Hasan and Husayn. This is probably one of the reasons why the children used to rejoice when he came back from traveling; they would rush to welcome him, as reported in the following authentic narration: "Whenever he came back from a journey, the children of his household would be taken out to meet him." He sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) used to hug them close to him, as 'Abdullaah Ibn Ja'far may Allaah be pleased with him said: "Whenever the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) came back from a journey, we would be taken out to meet him (to the boundaries of Al-Madeenah). One day we met him, Hasan, Husayn and I. He carried one of us in front of him (on his animal), and another on his back, until we entered Al-Madeenah." [Muslim]

Compare this with the situation in some miserable homes where there is no joking or playing, affection or mercy among its members. Whoever thinks that kissing his children goes against the dignity of fatherhood should read the following narration reported from Abu Hurayrah may Allaah be pleased with him who said:

"The Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) kissed Al-Hasan Ibn 'Ali, and Al-Aqra' Ibn Haabis At-Tameemi was sitting with him. Al-Aqra' said: 'I have ten children and I have never kissed any one of them.' The Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) looked at him and said: 'The one who does not show mercy will not be shown mercy.'" [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]

Source: www.islamweb.net

|Sheikh Salman al-Oadah|

When we think of a young religious person, too often we think of someone who spends all his time with other Muslims, going to the Islamic center, or attending religious classes. When he is not outside engaged in these outside activities, we think of him devoting all his time to personal devotions like reading Islamic books, reciting the Qur’ân, or listening to recorded lectures. Sadly, we do not think of this young person having anything whatsoever to do with the rest of the household.

This is, in fact, a grave mistake that many religious young people make. The worldly needs of the household must be met.

Who, then, is going to purchase the household’s needs? Who will take members of the family to the places where they have to go? Who will entertain the guests? Who will pick up so-and-so from the airport? Should the “pious” member of the family be the one to say: “Sorry. I have no time. I am busy!” ?

This “pious” person has failed to carry out his proper role at home. Therefore, someone else will have to be the one to carry it out. That someone else may be deficient in his religion, but because he is the one taking care of the needs of the household, he is going to be the one to have the greatest influence. His words will be heeded and his commands obeyed. His opinions will carry weight. As for the religious young person, his word will carry no weight whatsoever, since he never does anything to benefit anyone else.

Sometimes the situation is even worse than this. There are cases, especially in the Gulf states, where the religious person does not leave the affairs of the household to another family member, but rather to a servant or the driver.

The driver is the one to take the girls to school and to the shops. This stranger, then, is the one who stays with them for hours on end in the car or at the shopping center.

This is a serious shortcoming on the part of the religious person.

Serving the members of one’s family is the best way to influence them. A religious young person should safeguard the weaker members of the family from having to leave the home too much. He should take care of their needs himself. He should go to the shop for them.

His home is not some hotel where he goes to sleep, eat, and drink. It is definitely not his place to do nothing but act like an emperor, ordering others around and piling on prohibitions without providing any alternatives.

If you want to be listened to, then you have to expend some time and effort to make sure that your household’s needs are met. You must take the time to get the things that they need and take them where they need to go.

Some of our religious young men and women do not carry out the housework that their families expect of them. They seek to excuse themselves from their household chores with excuses like reading the Qur’ân or listening to a taped lecture!

Then they wonders how they can have a positive affect on the other members of their household who are engaged in sinful activites.

In order to be able to counteract the sinful behavior that goes on in the home and bring about positive change, you must first build up your own position within your household by serving your family and catering to their needs. Do not make yourself invisible. Make your presence known by doing things for others.

Some of our young, religious people flee from their homes in one way or another after becoming religious. They feel that they cannot bear staying at home surrounded by what they regard as sinful behavior or as their family’s casual religious attitudes.

Some seek to escape the temptations at home by going overseas to study or by simply moving away from home. There are often clear signs in their behavior that they are merely running away. Some of them even leave home without their parents’ permission.

They forget that when a man asked the Prophet (peace be upon him) if he could go to war, the Prophet (peace be upon him) immediately asked him if his parents were alive. When he said that they were, the Prophet said: “Your jihad is to take care of your parents!” [Sahîh al-Bukhârî (2728) and Sahîh Muslim (4623)]

They also forget that when another young man approached the Prophet (peace be upon him) to go and fight, the Prophet (peace be upon him) asked him if his mother was alive. When he found out that she was, he told the man: “Woe unto you! Attend her at her feet and you will attain Paradise.” [Sunan Ibn Mâjah (2771). The hadîth is authentic (sahîh)]

So, if we want Paradise, the quickest way to get there is by honoring our mothers.

During the reign of `Umar b. al-Khattâb, a young man named Kullâb volunteered to fight in Syria with the army of Yazîd b. Abî Sufyân. The boy’s father approached `Umar and appealed to him in poetic verse about how his son had abandoned his father and mother.

`Umar asked him what was going on and the old man said: “He left for Syria and abandoned his two elderly parents.” Upon hearing this, `Umar shed tears and promptly wrote to Yazîd ordering the young man to be returned with all of his possessions to `Umar.

When the man arrived, `Umar asked him: “So you are Kullâb?” Then he said to him: “Go to your parents and honor them, and stay with them until they die.” [Ibn `Asâkir, Târîkh Dimashq (50/270, 276)]

Sometimes a person is unable to cope with his duties as a Muslim at home. Such a person is definitely not going to be able to engage in this effort of disseminating Islam to others. How can a person who cannot even cope with his duties in his own home think he can take on broader responsibilities?

The first duty of our young people is to establish themselves at home by fulfilling their responsibilities to their families.

Source: www.islamtoday.com

Taken From "40 Recommendations for the Muslim Home"

by Sheikh Muhammad Al-Munajjid

All praise be to Allaah, we praise Him and seek His help and forgiveness. We seek refuge with Allaah from the evil of our own selves and from our evil deeds. Whomsoever Allaah guides, no one can lead astray, and whomsoever Allaah leaves astray, no one can guide. I bear witness that there is no god but Allaah Alone, with no partner or associate, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

The home is a blessing.

Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

"And Allaah has made for you in your homes an abode…" [al-Nahl 16:80]

Ibn Katheer (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: "Here Allaah, may He be blessed and exalted, is mentioning His complete blessing to His slaves: He has given them homes which are a peaceful abode for them, to which they retreat as a haven which covers them and gives them all kinds of benefits."

What does the home represent to each one of us? Isn't it not the place where one eats, rests, and enjoys the company of his family members? If we think about those who are homeless, or living in shelters, or as refuges scattered in temporary places, then we will realize the blessings of our home.

There are many motives for the believer to put their homes in order:

1. Protecting oneself and the family from the fire of Hell, and keeping them safe from the Allah's punishment.

2. The great responsibility borne by the head of the household on the day of judgment.

3. The home is a safe haven to protect us from evils and keep one's own evils from people, it is a refuge prescribed by Islam at times of fitnah (tribulation).

4. The home shares a big part of the human life, and therefore maintaining a healthy home provides a good environment to spend the time in the worship of Allah, and refraining from wrongdoing.

5. The home is an essential part of building the strong blocks for the Muslim society. Following are tips to help you revive and strengthen your Muslim home:

Make Your Home a Place For the Remembrance of Allah

Revive your homes with all kinds of Dhikr. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The likeness of a house in which Allah is remembered and the house in which Allah is not remembered is that of the living and the dead, respectively."

We must make our homes places where Allah is remembered in all kinds of ways, whether in our hearts, verbally, during prayer, by reading Quran, by discussing Islamic issues, or by reading different kinds of Islamic books.

Help Your Family Increase Their Faith

Encourage your house members to pray, fast, give charity as means of increasing faith. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "May Allah have mercy on a man who gets up at night and prays, then he wakes up his wife to pray, and if she refuses he throws water in her face." (Ahmad and Abu Dawud)

Have a box at home for donations to the poor and needy: whatever is put in the box belongs to them, because it is their vessel in the Muslim home.

If the family members see an example among them fasting on al-Ayyam al-Bid (the 13th, 14th and 15th of each Hijri month), Mondays and Thursdays, Tasu'a' and 'Ashura' (the 9th and 10th of Muharram), 'Arafah, and frequently in Muharram and Sha'ban, this will be a motive for them to do likewise.

Learn Supplications Related to Home

The messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "When any one of you enters his home and mentions the Name of Allah when he enters and when he eats, the Shaytan says: 'You have no place to stay and nothing to eat here.' If he enters and does not mention the name of Allah when he enters, [the Shaytan] says, 'You have a place to stay.' If he does not mention the name of Allah when he eats, [the Shaytan says], 'You have a place to stay and something to eat.'".(Ahmad)

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) also said: "If a man goes out of his house and says, 'Bismillah, Tawakkaltu 'Ala Allah, La Hawla Wa La Quwwata Illa Billah (In the name of Allah, I put my trust in Allah, there is no help and no strength except in Allah),' it will be said to him, 'This will take care of you, you are guided, you have what you need and you are protected.' The Shaytan will stay away from him, and another Shaytan will say to him, 'What can you do with a man who is guided, provided for and protected?'" (Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi)

'A'ishah said: "When the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) entered his house, the first thing he would do was use Siwak." (Muslim)

Continuously Recite Surah Al-Baqarah to Ward Off Shaytan

Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Do not make your houses into graves. The Shaytan flees from a house in which Surat al- Baqarah is recited." (Muslim)

Concerning the virtues of the last two Ayat of this Surah, and the effect of reciting them in one's house, he (peace be upon him) said: "Allah wrote a document two thousand years before He created the heavens and the earth, which is kept near the Throne, and He revealed two Ayat of it with which He concluded Surat al-Baqarah. If they are recited in a house for three consecutive nights, the Shaytan will not approach it." (Ahmad)

Teach Your Family

Allah says: "O you who believe! Ward off from yourselves and your families a Fire (Hell) whose fuel is men and stones..."

Allocate some time for the family, and even for others such as relatives, to hold a study-circle at home and encourage them to come regularly, so that it will be an ongoing commitment for you and them.

Build Your Islamic Library

It does not have to be extensive; what matters is choosing good books, putting them in a place where they are readily accessible, and encouraging family members to read them.

Include books of varying levels, so that old and young, men and women can all use them.

Also have books for giving to guests, children's friends and family visitors, but try to get books that are attractively presented, edited properly and with the sources and classification of the Hadiths properly given.

One way in which you can help family members find a book when they want it is to organize the books according to subject, Tafsir, Hadith, Fiqh ..etc.

One of the family members could also compile alphabetical or subject indexes of the library, to make it easier to look for books. Consult and seek advice from those who have experience in the field of books.

Whomever Allah wishes good for, He helps him to understand His religion.

Have a Home Audio Library

Having a cassette player in every home may be used for good or for evil. How can we use it in a manner that is pleasing to Allah? Having a home audio library containing good Islamic tapes by scholars who are striving to raise the awareness of the Ummah, establish proof and denounce evil is very important for establishing individual personalities in the Muslim home.

Listening to Quran recitation will have a great impact on family members, whether by reflecting on the meaning, or help memorizing it. We often find that tapes for children have a great influence on them. Have them listen to a young Quran reciter, or Du'as recited at various times of day and night, or Islamic manners, or Nashids (with no instrumental accompaniment)with a useful message, and so on.

Distribute good tapes by giving or lending them to others after listening to them.

Invite Righteous People and Seekers of Knowledge to Visit Your Home

"My Lord! Forgive me, and my parents, and him who enters my home as a believer, and all the believing men and women...". [Nuh 71:28]

If people of faith enter your home, it will increase in light (Nur), and will bring many benefits because of your conversations and discussion with them.

The bearer of musk will either give you some, or you will buy from him, or you will find that he has a pleasant scent.

When children, brothers and parents sit with such visitors, and women listen from behind a curtain or screen to what is said, this offers an educational experience to all.

If you bring good people into your home, by doing so you keep bad people from coming in a wreaking havoc.

Avoid Showing Family Conflicts In Front of Others

It is rare for people to live together under one roof without any arguments, but reconciliation is better and correcting oneself is a virtue.

What shakes the unity of the family and harms its infrastructure is when conflicts are brought out into the open before the members of the family, who then split into two or more opposing camps, not to mention the psychological harm that is done to children, especially little ones.

Think about a home where the father says to the child, "Do not speak to your mother," and the mother says to him, "Do not speak to your father."

The child is confused and filled with turmoil, and the entire family lives in an atmosphere of hostility. We should try to avoid conflict, but if it happens, we should try to hide it. We ask Allah to create love between our hearts.

Have a Schedule for Meals And Bedtime

There is nothing nicer than a family gathering together at the table and making the most of this opportunity to ask how everyone is and to discuss useful topics. Spread Kindness in the Home 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: "The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: 'When Allah - may He be glorified - wills some good towards the people of a household, He introduces kindness among them.' ".

This is one of the means of attaining happiness in the home, for kindness is very beneficial between the family members, and brings results that cannot be achieved through harshness, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Allah loves kindness and rewards it in such a way that He does not reward for harshness or for anything else." (Muslim)

Be Affectionate

Showing affection towards family members is one of the things that lead to creating an atmosphere of happiness and friendliness in the home. The prophet (peace be upon him) used to show his affection towards his wives, children and everyone around.

Abu Hurairah said: "The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) kissed al-Hasan ibn 'Ali, and al-Aqra' ibn Habis At-Tamimi was sitting with him. Al-Aqra' said: 'I have ten children and I have never kissed any one of them.' The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) looked at him and said: 'The one who does not show mercy will not be shown mercy.’”

Resist Bad Manners in The Home

Every member of the household is bound to have some bad characteristics, such as lying, backbiting, gossiping and so on. These bad characteristics have to be resisted and opposed.

'A'ishah said: "If the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) came to know that one of his household had told a lie, he would try to ignore him until he repented." (Ahmad)

Shield Your Home Against Common or Hidden Evils

Beware of non-Mahram relatives entering upon women when their husbands are absent.
Men and women should sit separately during family visits.
Beware of the dangers of having male drivers and female servants in the house.
Beware of the dangers of TV.
Beware of the evils of the telephone.
Remove everything that contains symbols of the false religions of the Kuffar or their gods and objects of worship.
Remove pictures of animate beings.
Do not allow smoking in your homes.
Do not keep dogs in your homes.
Avoid too much decoration in your homes (keep it simple).

Pay Attention to Family's Health and Safety

When any member of his family got sick, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) would blow on them and recite al-Mu'widhatayn (last two Surahs of the Quran). (Muslim)

When one of his family members got sick, he would call for soup, and it would be made for him, then he would tell them to drink it, and he would say, "It will strengthen the heart of the one who is grieving and cleanse (heal) the heart of the one who is sick just as any one of you wipes the dirt from her face." (Tirmidhi)

May Allah bless our Prophet Muhammad.

Imam Ibn ul Qayyim al Jawziyyah

Remembrance is easy for the servant-whether he lies in bed or journeys, in health or in illness, in comfort and luxury, in his daily work, standing, sitting or lying down, on his way or at home. No [other] act can be performed so often and in so many situations. In fact, it is so easy that he could sleep in his bed and still be ahead of the one who stands [in worship] but is heedless. The sleeper rises having traversed a great distance, all the while stretched out on his bed; whereas the one standing heedlessly rises seated on his mount. 'And that is the grace of God which He gives to whomever He pleases.' [57:21]

It is recounted that there once was an ascetic [rajul min al-`ibad] who stayed the night with a man as a guest. The ascetic spent the entire night standing in prayer, while the host was stretched out in his bed. When he rose in the morning, the ascetic said to the host, 'The caravan has gone on before you,' [sabaqak al-rakb, by which he meant, ‘I have surpassed you in the journey to God’] or words to that effect. To which the [host] replied, 'It is unimportant that one spend the night travelling and then wake up with the caravan. What is important is that one spend the night in bed but wake up having crossed a great distance.'

This and similar sayings have beneficial and detrimental aspects. If they lead someone to think that by lying in bed he can surpass a person who stands in prayer, then they are false. Rather, they refer to the one who lies in bed but his heart is attached to his Lord; the love of his heart cleaves to the Throne, and so he passes the night encircling the Throne with the angels. The man himself has passed away from the world and what it contains. The only thing that keeps him from standing in prayer is some hindrance, such as physical pain, cold or fear of being seen by enemies pursuing him, or some other excuse. He lies in bed, but God knows best what is in his heart.

The other person, however, stands in prayer and recites. In his heart is the desire to be seen, to impress others, to have some rank or praise from them. Or else, his heart is one place and his body in another. And God knows best what is in his heart.

There is no doubt that the one in bed will rise having far surpassed the one who stands, because [the value of] an act rests in the heart, not the body: it depends on the dweller, not the dwelling. [The meaning of an] expression is in its first motion [that is, whatever intention motivates someone to a word or deed, determines the meaning of that word or deed], and it is remembrance which inspires the dweller's resolve, stimulates the love that is dormant [in his soul] and resurrects the quest that has died.

Source: www.islaam.com

 

"بِسْمِ اللهِ، تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى اللهِ، وَلَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللهِ".

Bismillaahi, tawakkaltu 'alallaahi, wa laa hawla wa laa quwwata ‘ illaa billaah.

In the Name of Allah, I have placed my trust in Allah, there is no might and no power except by Allah.

(Reference: Abu Dawud, At-Tirmithi)

"الَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ أَنْ أَضِلَّ، أّوْ أُضَلَّ، أَوْ أَزِلَّ، أَوْ أُزَلَّ،


أَوْ أَظْلِمَ، أَوْ أُظْلَمَ، أَوْ أَجْهَلَ، أَوْ يُجْهَلَ عَلَيَّ" .

Allaahumma 'innee 'a'oothu bika 'an 'adhilla, 'aw 'udhalla, 'aw 'azilla, 'aw 'uzalla, 'aw 'adhlima, 'aw 'udhlama, 'aw 'ajhala 'aw yujhala 'alayya.

O Allah, I seek refuge in You lest I misguide others , or I am misguided by others , lest I cause others to err or I am caused to err , lest I abuse others or be abused, and lest I behave foolishly or meet with the foolishness of others.

(Reference: Abu Dawud, Sahih At-Tirmithi)

Listen to the Du'a:

Written by Imam Hamid Slimi
Wednesday, 12 November 2008
(FLN Magazine - Vol. 1 / Issue 2)

Children are our treasure; we must cherish them as such and nurture them with mercy

As-Salaamu alaikum and Peace be with you! In Islam, children are a great blessing from Allah Almighty, to be cherished, loved, respected and guided to imbibe the values of Islam. The family is a pre-eminent unit of society and both parents and children are commanded to honour one another. A child is considered as such until he/she hits puberty, after which he/she is considered a young adult.

In the Islamic tradition, believers are constantly reminded of the divine ordinance to be just and responsible starting from one's home to the society at large. Under the leadership of parents and the cooperation of children, a Muslim family strives, on a daily basis, to strike a balance between spiritual and physical needs.

Children are continuously reminded to show respect and reverence to the elderly, while parents are expected to be ceaselessly mindful of what God has entrusted them with, both as a blessing and a big responsibility. Both parents and children need to collectively aim at creating the ambience of harmony and peace at home by being considerate of each one's abilities, needs and dignity. However, peace can only be achieved when love is felt, lived and shown towards one another in words and action.

The Treatment of Children in IslamOver the past few years, with increasing media scrutiny of Muslims and Islam, greater numbers of incidents of abuse are making the rounds. As appalling as this is, Muslim children are no more likely to suffer mistreatment and abuse than the average child. As an Imam, I get asked questions on the treatment of children all the time. I respond with the authority of the text which all Muslims believe to be divine the Qur'an as the Word of God Almighty and the Sunnah or traditions of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) related as Hadith (collections of the sayings and actions of the Prophet).

Of late, there has been much media coverage of honour killings in Canada and the United States where young girls were slain by their fathers. However, there is no basis for honour killings in Islam. The Qur'an categorically stands against the mistreatment and killing of one's children for whatever reason fear of poverty, dishonour, disobedience or any such matter:

"Say: Come, I will recite unto you that which your Lord has forbidden to you: that you ascribe no thing as partner unto Him and that you do good to parents, and that you slay not your children because of penury - We provide for you and for them - and that you draw not nigh to lewd things whether open or concealed. And that you slay not the life which Allah hath made sacred, save in the course of justice. This He has commanded you, in order that you may discern." (Qur'an 6:151) "Slay not your children, fearing a fall to poverty, We shall provide for them and for you. Lo! The slaying of them is great sin." (Qur'an 17:31)

The Prophet's mission was to call people back to the religion of Abraham and eradicate injustice, slavery and female oppression, amongst other things, to create a just and equitable society. In fact, the killing of the girl child (female infanticide), the predecessor of so-called "honour killings" was banned by the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him). Around the world, in patriarchal Muslim and non-Muslim societies, females occupy a lower social status and female infanticide, honour killings, forced marriages and dowry deaths are common phenomena. The Qur'an stands firmly against the mistreatment of female children:

"When news is brought to one of them, of (the birth of) a female (child), his face darkens, and he is filled with inward grief! With shame does he hide himself from his people, because of the bad news he has had! Shall he retain it on (sufferance and) contempt, or bury it in the dust? Ah! What an evil (choice) they decide on?" (Qur'an 16:58-59)

In fact the constant call and commandment of the Qur'an is mercy. In as much as it is a guide to life in every way and includes commands on political, economic, social and jurisdictional systems, the Qur'an commands human beings to act mercifully. Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) constantly repeated the following messages:

"Be merciful to others, Allah will be Merciful to you, and forgive, Allah will forgive you." 1 "The merciful ones deserve the Mercy of the Most Merciful. Be merciful to those on earth so that the One in Heaven Allah - will cover you with His Mercy" 2

When al-Aqraâ ibn Habiss, a Bedouin man, saw the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) kissing his grand son al-Hassan and said that he had ten children and he never kissed anyone of them, the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) said: "Whoever does not show mercy to others, Mercy won`t cover him" 3 Ahmad added: "And whoever does not forgive, Allah won`t forgive him" 4

The Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) - A Model of Mercy

Known before his Prophethood as Al-Amin (the trustworthy), Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) with his excellent character, gracious personality and soft speech was, and still is, considered by the faithful Muslim as a gift from God. He is a precious gift because he represents mercy. We read in the Qur'an:

"We sent thee (Muhammad) not, but as a mercy for all creatures."(Qur'an 21:107)

"Now a Messenger has come to you from amongst yourselves: it grieves him that you should perish: ardently anxious is he over you: to the Believers is he most kind and merciful." (Qur'an 9:128)

The Messenger of Allah (Peace Be Upon Him) taught his followers that Islam is about mercy and being merciful. He explained mercy conceptually and demonstrated it practically. Once, he gave an example of the mercy of God by pointing to a woman who had saved her baby from a fire and was hugging her child, thanking God out of sheer happiness. He asked his companion, "Do you think this woman would throw her baby in the fire?" They replied "Certainly not! She would not allow herself to do that. He then said, "Know that Allah is more Merciful to you than this woman is to her baby." 5

Numerous stories mentioned in the Prophet`s biographies speak to the embracing of Islam by individuals because of the merciful behaviour of the teachers, including the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) and his disciples and companions.

At times, a chance encounter with the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) gave an individual a sense of the spirit of his mercy and compassion. Once, the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) saw an old woman carrying a heavy bundle of logs with difficulty. He ran towards her and offered to carry the load for her. He walked with her for a long way without saying much. When they reached the destination, the old woman said she was sorry she was too poor to give him a gift or payment for carrying the logs. He answered her by saying that he had carried her bundle out of pleasure and that he was not expecting anything in return. The old woman was so happy that, although she had nothing material to give to him, she did not want him to go empty-handed. In an era and culture where the sound advice from an elder was worth its weight in gold, the old woman said she wanted to advise him to "Beware of a man named Muhammad!"

The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) smiled at her and asked, "What is wrong with him?" She said, "I heard he is a very bad person. He splits families and says that the statues we worship are false gods and that the only true God we should worship is Allah, the God of Ibrahim." The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) smiled again at her and said, "I am Muhammad! And I do not split families! I call people back to worship the true God, the God of Abraham, and to be good and merciful to one another." The old woman was shocked and surprised. She said, "If you are Muhammad, then Muhammad is definitely a good person. I believe God to be the only deity to worship and I believe that you are the Messenger of God!" Such was his character.

Once, some of his followers, while suffering from persecution and the injustice of the polytheists of Makkah, asked him to curse them. The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) replied:ied: "I was not sent by God to curse people, but rather as a Mercy to them." 6

In the Qurâan, Allah, the Exalted also explained to His messenger the main reasons why people followed him. He said:

"It is part of the Mercy of Allah that you deal gently with them. Had you been severe or harsh-hearted, they would have broken away from about you: so pass over (their faults), and ask for (Allah's) forgiveness for them; and consult them in affairs (of moment). Then, when you take a decision, put your trust in Allah. For Allah loves those who put their trust (in Him)." (Qur'an 3:159)

Thousands of people pledged their allegiance to God and to Islam because of the Prophet's (Peace Be Upon Him) display of mercy. In 630 C.E., the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) entered Makkah with a large army and conquered it. His former Makkan enemies regretted all their vengeful acts against the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) and felt great humiliation, expecting severe retaliation for their past misdeeds. When the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) asked the people of Makkah what they thought he was going to do with them, they said, "You are a noble person and a generous person in forgiveness and a son of a noble and a generous person." He said, "Go, you are free!" The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) then read the Qurânic verse which explains what Prophet Yousuf (Joseph) (Peace Be Upon Him) had said to his brothers when they had admitted their sins and apologized for what they had done to him: "This day let no reproach be (cast) on you: Allah will forgive you, and He is the Most Merciful of those who show mercy!7 (Qur'an 12:92).

In his position of power, the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) could have punished or killed the Makkans if he had wanted to, but instead he (Peace Be Upon Him) acted mercifully. He told his companions that no one must harm the people or their property. The people of Makkah then accepted Islam, including the adversaries of the Prophet. Only a few of his staunchest enemies and military commanders had fled Makkah after his entry. However, when they received the Prophet`s assurance of no retaliation and no compulsion in religion, they came back and gradually the message of Islam won their hearts. Within a few years, almost all of Arabia had accepted Islam.

Mercy Begins at Home

Mercy is, therefore, a most cherished ideal in Islam. However, it is saddening how little mercy there seems to be in the world, and even within the Muslim community. The recent spate of honour-related killings horrifies us. I am astonished by how some Muslims go against Qur'anic teachings and then blame the world for all the negative press and publicity.ity.

This does not, however, excuse biased press and media reports for spreading Islamophobia through fear-mongering. Yes, it is true that some Muslims commit crimes against persons including women and children, but so do people from other communities, faith-based or otherwise. The criminal has no religion. The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) himself said:

"When a person commits illegal sexual intercourse, he is not a believer at the time of committing it; and if he steals, he is not a believer at the time of stealing; and if he drinks an intoxicating drink, he is not a believer at the time of drinking it; and he is not a believer when he commits a murder." 8

Therefore, at the time of committing a sin, the person is not a believer. There must be no condoning of criminal behaviour, regardless of the faith of an individual. Similarly, the notion of selective reporting and collective punishment must be stopped. Muslims will be ready to take responsibility for every crime done by a person who happens to be a "Muslim" when every faith group on earth is ready to take the moral responsibility of the action committed by one of its kind. People commit crimes for a myriad of reasons, none of them sane, none of them sanctioned by any religion (unless taken out of context entirely).

Coming back to the treatment of children and women, one of the hot button issues today is the practice of forcing young girls to wear hijÄb (head cover) or niqāb (face veil). Faith is a personal matter and choice. As parents, we can teach our children about Islam, but we cannot give them faith. Faith is something that comes from within; therefore, forcing an individual to practice an element of religion goes against ImÄn (faith) itself. The Qur'an clearly says

"Let there be no compulsion in religion."uot; (Qur'an 2:256)

Parents can educate their children about faith, teach them the practice of faith, and share their experiences and knowledge. Physical force or emotional manipulation was never used by the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) to bring people to faith, particularly not children. Denouncing such behaviour, he actually used to say:

"He is not one of us the one who shows no mercy to younger ones and does not acknowledge the honour due to our elders." 9

"The most perfect person in his faith among the believers is the one whose behaviour is most excellent; and the best of you are those who are good to their parents, spouses and children." 10

It is true that Muslim parents face enormous challenges in raising their children in western societies. However, they must recognize that their children find it difficult to reconcile Muslim traditions with the secular Western lifestyle. Parents must understand that children are affected not only by the values and traditions shared in the home, but in the society in which they live as well. In as much as parents expect their children to listen to them, they also need to learn how to listen to their children's concerns. Open channels of communication accompanied by trust and respect are a must, and they must be conducted with wisdom and patience.

There are good and bad elements in all societies and the wise take the best from all. Those parents who feel that Islam is not compatible with the Western environment have a limited understanding of Islam. Islam is a practical religion for all times and all places. Islam is about adjustment, balance and consideration of the self within its environment, without compromising faith, principles and values. Children are our treasure; we must cherish them as such and nurture them with mercy. Only then will we as parents embody the traditions of Islam.

________________________________________________________________________________

(1)Reported by Imam Ahmad in Musnad al-MukthirÄ«n mina as-SahÄbah: Hadiths: 6255 -6744

(2)Reported by Abu DÄwÅ«d in the book of Good Manners: Hadith 4290 - At-Tirmidhi in the book of Piety and Filial piety: Hadith # 1847 – Ahmad in the Musnad: Hadith #6206

(3)Agreed upon hadith by BukhÄri and Muslim.lim.

(4)Reported by al-BukhÄri in the Book of Good Manners: Hadiths # 5538 - 5554 -“ Muslim in the book of Virtues: Hadith # 4282“ at-Tirmidhi in the book of Piety and Filial piety: Hadith # 1834 - Abu DÄwud in the book of Good Manners: Hadith 4541 -“ Ahmad in the Musnad: Hadiths # 6824 -6988 -7329- 10257 - 18447

(5)Reported by al-BukhÄri in the book of Etiquette: Hadith # 5540 -“ Muslim in the book of Repentance: Hadith # 4947

(6)Reported by Imam Muslim in the book of Piety and Filial piety: Hadith # 4704

(7)ZÄd al Maâd by Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah: 2/162 and ar-RahÄ«q al-MakhtÅ«m (The Sealed Nectar) by Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri: p. 455.

(8)Reported by al-BukhÄri in Volume 3, Book 43, Number 655

(9)Reported by Imam at-Tirmidhi and Imam Abu DÄwud

(10)Reported by Imam at-Tirmidhi

Source: http://www.faithoflife.net/

To read the previous part: Click Here 

Meaning of being pleased with Allah, Islam and Mohammed (saw)

رَضِيتُ باللهِ رَبَّاً، وَبِالْإِسْلَامِ دِيناً، وَبِمُحَمَّدٍ صَلَى اللهُ عَلِيهِ وَسَلَّمَ

نَبِيَّاً

"I am pleased with Allah as my Lord, with Islam as my religion and with Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) as my Prophet."

Allah says in the Quràn:

Say: "If ye do love Allah, follow me: Allah will love you and forgive you your sins; for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." (3:31)

Only the true and sincere believers can attain Self- Realization.

It is reported on the authority of Anas that the Prophet of Allaah (may peace and blessings be upon him ) said: "There are three qualities for which anyone who is characterized by them will relish the sweetness of faith: he to whom Allaah and His Messenger are dearer than all else; he who loves a man for Allaah's sake alone; and he who has as great an abhorrence of returning to unbelief after Allaah has rescued him from it as he has of being cast into Hell." (Muslim)

Allah says in the Qur'an: 

"Yet there are men who take (for worship) others besides Allah, as equal (with Allah); they love them as they should love Allah. But those of faith are overflowing in their love for Allah..." (2:165)

When we are pleased with Allah, we are ready to sacrifice anything for the sake of Allah.

Allah says in the Qur'an:

"O ye who believe! put not yourselves forward before Allah and His Messenger: but fear Allah: for Allah is He who hears and knows all things." (49:1)

Do we worship Him alone? Put into practice that we are pleased with Allah by guarding the 5 pillars of Islam strictly. Everything on this earth, universe, etc praises Allah.

Say: "Truly, my prayer and my service of sacrifice, my life and my death are (all) for Allah, the Cherisher of the Worlds." (6:162)

Are we pleased with Islam as our religion?

1. Is Islam in our life?
2. Is Islam in our homes?

Are we pleased with Prophet (saw) as our Prophet?

1. Are we practicing any sunnah in our life?
2. Are we following His manners and etiquettes?

We need to imitate Mohammad (saw) in 3 things:

1. As Soorah (the way He looks)
2. As Seerah ( His ways, manners, ettiquettes, fear, patience, etc)
3. As Sareerah (His intentions)

The Rights of Prophet Mohammad (saw)

1. Love Prophet Mohammed (saw)
   
   Narrated Abu Huraira: "Allah's Apostle said, "By Him in Whose Hands my life is, none of you will have faith till he loves me more than his father and his children." (Bukhari)
   
   
2. Send Blessings upon Him (saw)
   
   Narrated Jabir bin 'Abdullah:Allah's Apostle said, "Whoever after listening to the adhan says, 'Allahumma Rabba hadhihi-d-da' watit-tammati was-salatil qa'imati, ati Muhammadan al-wasilata wal-fadilata, wab' athhu maqaman mahmudan-il-ladhi wa' adtahu (O Allah! Lord of this perfect call (of not ascribing partners to You) and of the regular prayer which is going to be established! Kindly give Muhammad the right of intercession and superiority and send him (on the Day of Judgment) to the best and the highest place in Paradise which You promised him)', then intercession for me will be permitted for him on the Day of Resurrection." (Bukhari)
   
   Narrated Abu Huraira:Allah's Apostle said, "For every Prophet there is one invocation which is definitely fulfilled by Allah, and I wish, if Allah will, to keep my that (special) invocation as to be the intercession for my followers on the Day of Resurrection." (Bukhari)
   
   
3. Telling (saw) when the name of Prophet is heard
   
   Prophet (saw) said: "May he be humiliated, the man in whose presence I am mentioned and he does not send blessings upon me..." (Tirmidhi)
   
   Prophet (saw) said: "Whoever sends one blessing upon Me, Allah will send ten upon him." (Muslim)

To read the next part: Click Here