By Harun Yahya

All things are created with wisdom and with an ulterior purpose. In consort with this ulterior purpose, there are benefits for the believers in all happenings. Because Allah is on the believers' side and does not let them down.

Encounters in life may at first seem unfavorable for the believers. However, one should understand that even seemingly events, for example, a plot hatched against them by the others, will ultimately turn out well for them. Allah will sooner or later let them savor His beneficence so, believers should be completely sure that there is goodness in all.

There are many examples of this kind of situation in the Qur'an; the life of Yusuf (Joseph) is one of the most remarkable. In his childhood, Yusuf had been thrown down to the bottom of a well by his brothers. He was later rescued and then accused and imprisoned, even though he was innocent. For a person without faith, these incidents may be thought of as the greatest misfortunes. Nevertheless, Yusuf always kept in mind that these could only happen under Allah's will and that all would certainly turn out for the better. And this proved to be true. Allah turned the "disasters" to good account; Yusuf was released from prison and in time became one of the governors of that land.

The situation with Yunus (Jonah) was no different. He fled to a laden ship, where, to retain his place, he drew lots. When the draw proved unfavorable, he was thrown into the sea where he was swallowed by a gigantic fish. The Qur'an informs us that he was rescued and was sent to a "nation a hundred thousand men or more," only because he had glorified Allah.

"Had he not been of them who glorify Allah, He would have indeed remained inside its belly (the fish) till the Day of Resurrection. But We cast him forth on the naked shore while he was sick, And We caused a plant of gourd to grow over him. And We sent him to a hundred thousand (people) or even more. And they believed; so We gave them enjoyment for a while." (Surat as-Saaffat, 37:143-148)

All these examples given in the Qur'an teach us that the events which seems to be a "misfortune" are not really so for the believer. If he puts his trust in Allah, seeks refuge in Him and asks help only from Him, then nothing will be a matter of regret for him. Allah does create certain difficulties, but they are only to put man to the test and to strengthen believers' loyalty and faith.

The opposite holds true for the unbelievers. Nothing in this life can be good for them. Things that strike them as delightful or pleasant are indeed "misfortunes", and these will increase their torment in the Hereafter. Anything that they achieve unjustly is entered in their record, and for this they will ultimately be responsible. On this score the Qur'an records Allah's commandments:

"And let not those who covetously withhold of that which Allah has bestowed on them of His Bounty think that it is good for them. Nay, it will be worse for them; the things which they covetously withheld shall be tied to their necks like a collar on the Day of Resurrection. And to Allah belongs the heritage of the heavens and the earth; and Allah is Well Acquainted with all that you do." (Surat Aal-e-Imran, 3:180)

Harun Yahya is a pen name used by Mr. Adnan Oktar. Born in Ankara in 1956, Adnan Oktar is a prominent Turkish intellectual. Completely devoted to moral values and dedicated to communicating the sacred values he cherishes to other people, Oktar started his intellectual struggle in 1979 during his education at Mimar Sinan University's Academy of Fine Arts.

Source: www.islamicity.com

By Sadullah Khan

Cars carry a message, "Objects in mirror are closer than they appear". We need a message on our personal mirrors that says, "Your image may not be as it appears; look within yourself for true reflection".

Who am l?

When I look in the mirror, who is that looking back? Am I who I appear to be? Do I try to mask the interior of my personhood by decorating the exterior with designer labels. Have I become so accustomed to give an impression of other than my true self that I have begun to believe and accept the false image I portray? Each one of us should seriously reflect on this.

The need for maturity and integrity

Integrity is about being yourself at your best, being honest, being honorable and being true to the noblest of universal values. Maturity entails taking responsibility for your own life, taking rational decisions that reflect the best that you can offer. The touchstone of maturity, however, is personal integrity; applying basic values to the decision-making process and thus living in a way that allows your personality to be consistently good. In reality, integrity is about moral maturity; what it is to think and act in a way that reflects the full stature of a rational human being.

Life shaped by choices

Our lives are continually being shaped by the choices we make and the convictions and values that underlie them. In this sense, our lives are like works of art, in progress. We can take the material of life and either react to it in a passive way, always remaining life's victim, (hiding behind a mask); or take it and use it creatively, becoming the architect of one's life and a participant in shaping one's destiny and in designing one's true personality.

Reach your full potential The holy Prophet is reported to have said that Allah has prescribed goodness and excellence in all that you do. In relation to evolving human potential and developing personality, this statement motivates a person to utilize one's life skills in the most progressive and pro-active manner; demanding the demonstration of dignity with pride, courage with conviction, patience with perseverance, power with mercy, authority with justice, duty with commitment, principle with wisdom, freedom with discipline and honor with compassion.

Let your imprint be a heart-print

We may try to impress people by leaving behind a particular impression of our self or imprinting an image of some kind. We leave behind various kinds of imprints throughout our lives, imprints that makes distinct our uniqueness. Each one of us have swirly lines on the tips of our fingers that provide a map of our individuality called fingerprints. The footprints we leave behind temporarily indicate the direction from which we have come or in which we are going. Voiceprints are somewhat unique to individuals and can even be identified by little babies if the voice belongs to one close to the child.

All these prints are some form of physical manifestations of who you are. These can be obscured, wiped away or smudged; but there is another kind of print that is never wiped away; it is the imprint you leave when you positively affect the life of another person: heart-prints. Unlike your fingerprints, footprints and voiceprints, with heart-prints there are no lines, no sole marks and no sound wave peaks. What you witness is the impact and effect you can have on the lives of those you touch. You might see a smile in return for a greeting or a tear when sharing an emotion or feel the warmth of a hug in return for your consolation. Heart-prints leave indelible imprints, ones that sustain and enrich life for years to come.

True You

The only way to leave true heart-prints is to be uniquely you and to share with others the essence of who you are at your best; no masks, no charades; just the bona fide you, uniquely you, you-nique.

Sadullah Khan is the Director of Islamic Center of Irvine. He has presented lectures on Islamic Civilization at California State University at Dominguez Hills. He is a frequent lecturer for the Academy of Judaic, Christian and Islamic Studies at UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles). He is also an advisor to the Chancellor's Committee on Religion Ethics and Values at UCLA and serves as Director of Muslim Affairs at USC (University of Southern California).

Source: www.islamicity.com

Among all traditions Envy is considered evil. People define it as unreasonable, irrational, imprudent, vicious, or wrong to feel. Following is a collection of Islamic traditions on how to avoid Envy by Imam Zaid Shakir.

Definition of Envy

Envy (Hasad) is desiring the removal of a blessing from one truly deserving it. Al-Munawi, al-Tawqif

A. The Relationship Between Envy and Miserliness

Envy and miserliness are related in that their possessor desires to deny a blessing to someone else. The miser is distinguished by not wanting to share a blessing with someone else, and the envious person desires that no one other than himself is given a blessing. Al-Kafawi, al-Kulliyyat

B. Ten Cures for Envy

   1. Seeking refuge with Allah from its evil. (Verse 5 Shura 113 - Quran 113:1-5)

   2. Being conscious of Allah (Taqwa).

   3. Patience with one's social enemy [by not retaliating against him].

   4. Relying on Allah, for whosoever relies on Allah, He suffices him.

   5. Emptying the heart of being preoccupied with or thinking about her [the object of one's envy].

   6. Orienting oneself towards Allah, being sincere with Him, placing His love, pleasure and penitence to Him in the place of fleeting thoughts of the soul and its baseless aspirations.

   7. Having pure repentance to Allah from the sins his enemies have led him to commit.

   8. Giving charity and engaging in acts of goodness to the extent possible, because that has an amazing effect in repulsing tribulations, the evil eye, and the wickedness of the envious person.

   9. This is the most difficult cure for the ego, and the weightiest upon it. No one is given the providence to undertake it except one whose portion [of spiritual strength] from Allah is great. It is
   extinguishing the fire of envy, iniquity, and harm by extending good to the envious person.

  10. This is the compendium of all of the other cures; they all revolve around it. Namely, pure divine unity, and elevating your thought from the effects manifested in creation [something envy     revolves around] to the mighty, wise cause of those effects.  Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya, al-Tafsir al-Qayyam

C. Texts from The Qur'an Concerning Envy

Many of the People of Scripture would love if they were able to turn you back to disbelief after your faith, out of the envy they harbor in their souls; after the truth has been made clear to them. Pardon, and overlook [their faults] until Allah brings about His command. Surely, Allah has power over all things. Qur'an 3:109

Do they envy people over what Allah has given them from His bounty? We have given the Family of Abraham the Scripture and Wisdom; We have given them a great dominion. Qur'an 4:54

D. Hadith Concerning Envy

The Prophet, peace upon him, has said, "Surely, the disease of the nations will afflict my community." They said, "What is the disease of the nations?" He said, "Arrogance, iniquity, consumerism, evying over the world, mutual alienation, and envy; until there is rebellion and then widespread murder." Ibn Abi al-Dunya

The Prophet, peace upon him, said, "Beware of suspicion, for surely suspicion is the worst form of lying; do not eavesdrop on one another, do not spy on one another, do not vie with one another, do not envy one another, do not hate one another, do not break relations with one another, be you servants of Allah, brothers." Bukhari, #6066

The Prophet, peace upon him, mentioned, "The people will be in good shape as long as they do not envy one another." Mundhari, al-Targhib wa'l Tarhib, 3:574

E. Sayings of the Islamic Scholars Concerning Envy

"There is no vile characteristic more just than envy. It destroys the envious person before his harm reaches the object of his envy." Mu'awiya, Adab al-Dunya wa'l Din

"No servant remembers death frequently except that his gaiety and envy are drastically reduced." Abu al-Darda', al-Ihya'

"Why are you envying your brother? If what he has been given is because of his nobility, why are you envying one Allah has ennobled? If [what he possesses] is for some base reason, why are you envying one whose destination is Hell?" Al-Hasan, al-Ihya'

"Envy is the first sin committed against Allah in heaven; that is Iblis envying Adam. And it is the first sin committed against Allah on earth; that is the son of Adam envying his brother until he murdered him." Anonymous, Adab al-Dunya wa'l Din

"People are of two types, enviers and the object of their envy; and every blessing has an envier." Anonymous, Adab al-Dunya wa'l Din

Imam Zaid Shakir is amongst the most respected and influential Islamic scholars in the West. As an American Muslim who came of age during the civil rights struggles, he has brought both sensitivity about race and poverty issues and scholarly discipline to his faith-based work.

Source: New Islamic Directions
Source: www.islamicity.com

By Sadaf Farooqi

Just as our body gives us signals when we tax it too much physically or mentally, with migraine headaches, aching bones, low immunity to seasonal viruses, and muscular strains symbolizing the need for us to slow down, relax and give ourselves some stress-free time to unwind.

So too, our actions and dealings with people give us some telltale signs about the state of our spiritual well-being and health.

A healthy soul is serene when it is at the peak of faith. Imagine how it felt after spending a part of the night of “Al-Qadr” in prayer during Ramadan, or after consciously forgiving someone who had wronged you, or after sincerely repenting of and giving up a sin.

Such moments became turning points in your life that made you feel as if you were freed from shackles when you rushed back to Allah. During such times, the heart is spiritually charged, healthy, and resonating with faith. On the flip side are some warning signs in our actions that we should watch out for, because they indicate that we are gravitating towards the worst disease of the heart: Nifaq or hypocrisy. Just as a bodily disease requires immediate prescription of an appropriate remedy for timely cure, a disease of the heart also necessitates immediate diagnosis of symptoms and prescription of a remedy.

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “There are four (characteristics), whoever has all of them is a complete hypocrite, and whoever has some of them, has some element of hypocrisy, unless he gives it up: When he speaks, he lies; when he makes a covenant, he betrays it; when he makes a promise, he breaks it; when he quarrels, he resorts to insults.” (Sahih Muslim, no. 53)

The Munafiq or hypocrite is someone who possesses all of the above traits. He makes an outward show of piety, but is inwardly different from his deliberately put-on, outer facade.
There are varying degrees of Nifaq, but the important thing to remember is that it is the opposite of Ikhlas – sincerity of intention towards Allah and His Deen, Islam.
If anyone wants to know how sincere his heart is towards Allah, he should analyze his behavior and actions honestly and if he detects any of these four traits:

Lying

Lying is a major sin that the companions of the Prophet (peace be upon him) would stay far away from. We, however, lie regularly to save face before people. If we cannot visit someone just because we do not feel like going, we lie that we have to go somewhere else. We fear people and value their opinion about us more than we fear
Allah, His wrath, and our standing before Him. We are weak in faith and hence, we lie. Remember that each time you lie, you move further down the levels of faith, further away from Allah and righteousness, until you repent.

Betraying trusts

The agreements and contracts we sign with organizations, institutions, authorities or countries are covenants or trusts. We must obey the laws and rules of these contracts and not intentionally defy them. Anything belonging to someone else is also a trust that we must take care of.

If you find yourself betraying other people’s trusts, such as secretly disobeying office or school rules, deceiving your spouse (with whom you have the Nikah contract), borrowing and misusing other’s belongings, or forging marriage documents for immigration to another country, you should remind yourself that treachery or treason is the trait of a hypocrite.

Breaking promises

The tongue of a believer is cautious and on guard. A kind of carelessness of the tongue is to say to others that you will do something, only to make them pleased with you, and then not actually do it. For example, a husband might say to his wife, “I will buy you shoes next month,” or a woman might say to her friend, “I will not tell anyone your secret” – and then not keep up the word. Breaking promises leaves the other person feeling disappointed and betrayed.

A believer never makes a promise he does not intend to fulfill, and always fulfills a promise once he makes it. Making a promise and then breaking it, is a sign of hypocrisy. A sincere believer always takes his word seriously; once he says he will do something, he considers it a binding oath that remains on his mind until he duly discharges it.

Insulting another person during a dispute

Disputes, disagreements and quarrels are bound to crop up in human relationships, especially with people to whom we are close. One only fights with those whom he meets regularly, or has some business with, or is biologically related to. Consequently, fights erupt most often between siblings, spouses, neighbors, parents and children, employers and subordinates, colleagues, buyers and sellers, and close friends.

How do you behave when you get angry during a quarrel? Do you start shouting, screaming, hurling profanities and dishing out insults? Do you abuse the other person verbally or physically?

If you do, you should try to control and rectify this behavior. A sincere believer leaves the scene of the quarrel or maintains his composed demeanor even when furious.

As Muslims, we must constantly check ourselves to see whether our hearts have Nifaq or not. Ponder this wise saying of Hasan Al-Basri: “It is only a believer who fears hypocrisy (for himself), and it is only a hypocrite who feels safe from it.” (Al-Bukhari, Kitab-ul-Iman, ch. 36)

The most effective means of ridding one’s heart of the disease of Nifaq is to adhere to the Qur’an by studying it, memorizing it, and acting upon it; fulfilling all the obligations of Islam, abstaining from its prohibitions, and constantly engaging in remembrance of Allah.

Source:http://www.saudigazette.com

If we were to look for an Islamic definition of Productivity, it'll probably be summarised in the word "barakah" or Blessing. Being able to achieve more with little resources, doing much in little time, and generate a lot with little effort surely is a blessing from Allah (SWT). Yet Barakah has somehow become a lost treasure these days; everyone's looking for it, but no one seems to find it! You always hear people complaining that there's no barakah in their time, no barakah in their sleep, no barakah in their money..etc. In this post, we'll solve this mystery inshaAllah, we'll find out what Barakah is and where you can find it!

What is Barakah?

A Well-known daee explains it as follows:

"Barakah is the attachment of Divine goodness to a thing, so if it occurs in something little, it increases it. And if it occurs in something much it benefits. And the greatest fruits of Barakah in all things is to use that barakah in the obedience of Allah (SWT)"

Sources of Barakah

I'm a firm believer that Barakah is not a lost treasure, it's right in front of our eyes! This treasure is only available and ready to be handed over to the one who works for it. Below I list some of the sources of Barakah. It's not an exhaustive list, therefore, I do hope you can contribute to it with your comments below inshaAllah so we can all share and extend our understanding of this great treasure!

1. Good Intentions

If you want something to have barakah attached to it, have good intentions for it. More specifically, make sure that deed is intended for the sake of Allah (SWT). Looking at the definition of Barakah again, you may guess that without us intending what we have or do to be for thesake of Allah, the "Divine goodness" won't be attached to it.

2. Piety and Belief in Allah

Allah says in the Quran: "If the people of the towns had but believed and feared Allah, We should indeed have opened out to them (All kinds of) blessings from heaven and earth..."(Surat Al-A'raf, verse 96). And He says in the Quran:

"And for those who fear Allah, He (ever) prepares a way out. And He provides for him from (sources) he never could imagine" (Surat Al-Talaq, verses 2-3).

3. Putting your trust in Allah

Allay says in the Quran: "And if any one puts his trust in Allah, sufficient is ((Allah)) for him. For Allah will surely accomplish his purpose: verily, for all things has Allah appointed a due proportion" (Surat Al-Talaq, verses 3)

Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said: “If only you relied on Allaah a true reliance, He would provide sustenance for you just as He does the birds: They fly out in the morning empty and return in the afternoon with full stomachs."

4. Reading Quran

This is the fountain of the Barakah! But subhanaAllah, we rarely drink from it! Allah says in the Quran:

 "And this is a Book which We have sent down, bringing blessings, and confirming (the revelations) which came before it..." (Surat Al-An'am, verse 92).

So read the Quran, and note the blessings and barakah of Allah coming to your life. The further we are from this book, the less barakah we'll have in our lives, trust me.

5. Saying Bismillah

When you say bismillah before anything you do, you're invoking the name of Allah on that activity, not only will that activity be blessed but shaytaan cannot take part in it! So always say bismillah before anything you do!

SubhanaAllah, it's easy for us to forget to say Bismillah or be conscious of saying it. Sometimes we're so used to saying it that we can't remember if we said it or not! Try to be conscious of saying Bismillah and understand what you're saying.

6. Eating with People

Anyone who had the experience of inviting guests to his/her house will know this one. No matter how little you think the food you're presenting to your guest is, it's always enough! (note: this is not an excuse to be miserly when you invite guests over, in fact we should follow the sunnah of our Prophet Ibhraim (Peace be upon him) who when the angels visited his house and he didn't know they were angels he went and prepared a large meal for them). What I'm referring here is the blessing that occurs with eating together, this is confirmed in the hadeeth of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) who said :"Eat together, for blessing is in Jamma'a (congregation or being together)..." and in another hadeeth "Whoever has food enough for two persons, should take a third one, and whoever has food enough for four persons, should take a fifth or a sixth (or said something similar)."

7. Honesty in Trade

This is for all of the business people out there (include ebayers!), don't think that lying and deceiving people would make your trade profitable, on the contrary, it'll remove the blessing from your trade. Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said: "The buyer and the seller have the option ofcancelling or confirming the bargain unless they separate, and if they spoke the truth and made clear the defects of the goods, them they would be blessed in their bargain, and if they told lies and hid some facts, their bargain would be deprived of Allah's blessings."

Yes, it's difficult to be honest when you're trying to sell something, but trust me it's worth it.

8. Dua

Ask Allah for barakah! If you listen to some of the Duas from the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) you'll notice how the Prophet used to make dua for barakah. We always say "May Allah bless you!" well, guess what? That's a source of barakah! Also, when you're invited to someone's house, Prophet Muhammad advised us to make the following dua for the host:"O Allaah, bless for them, that which You have provided them, forgive them and have mercy upon them."

9. Halal income/money

Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said: "O people, Allah is good and He therefore, accepts only that which is good"Scholars refer this to Halal income and the importance of Halal income.

A scholar also said that the one who eats Haram his limbs will disobey Allah whether he likes it or not, and the one who eats Halal and seeks Halal income his limbs will also do good and would be given the permission to seek goodness.

This concept of your limbs being "blessed" and enabled to do good, is truly a blessing and a barakah we should all seek. Reminds me of a story of the old man, who jumped a large distance that young people couldn't do. So when the young men asked the old man how he did it, he replied: "These are limbs, we've protected it from doing sins when we were young, so Allah preserved them from us when we got old"

10. Following the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad in all things

I've said it once and I'll say it again, the most Productive Man in the history of humanity is Prophet Muhammad(Peace be upon him), therefore, by just following his lifestyle and the sunnahs we so often hear about, is a great source of Barakah!

Some of these sunnahs include: Eating Suhoor, eating with the right hand from the side of the plate, going out for Eid Salat, licking your fingers after finishing eating, sleeping on your right hand side, using the siwaak, and many more. Look out for these sunnahs and follow them, for imitating the life of the most blessed man on earth, is surely a source of blessing!

11. Praying Istikhara

Praying istikhara in all matters and handing over the matters to Allah and accepting his decree is a great source of barakah. And Prophet Muhammad have taught us this beautiful dua which helps us make decisions and not regret the choices we make with the permission of Allah in the following hadeeth:

On the authority of Jaabir Ibn ‘Abdullah he said: The Prophet (S) would instruct us to pray for guidance in all of our concerns, just as he would teach us a chapter from the Qur’an. He (S) would say ‘if any of you intends to undertake a mater then let him pray two supererogatory units (two rak’ah naafilah) of prayer and after which he should supplicate:

‘O Allaah, I seek Your counsel by Your knowledge and by Your power I seek strength and I ask You from Your immense favour, for verily You are able while I am not and verily You know while I do not and You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allaah, if You know this affair -and here he mentions his need- to be good for me in relation to my religion, my life, and end, then decree and facilitate it for me, and bless me with it, and if You know this affair to be ill for me towards my religion, my life, and end, then remove it from me and remove me from it , and decree for me what is good wherever it be and make me satisfied with such.’

One who seeks guidance from his Creator and consults his fellow believers and then remains firm in his resolve does not regret for Allaah has said:

‘…and consult them in the affair. Then when you have taken a decision, put your trust in Allaah…”

12. Giving thanks to Allah in abundance

Allah says in the Quran:

"If ye are grateful, I will add more (favours) unto you"

A scholar once told me if you look into this verse, the Arabic word that is used to confirm that Allah will favours unto the person who thanks Allah is actually in the form of an Oath "La azidannakum" so Allah is promising the person who thanks Him that He'll increase him, and Allah never breaks his promises.

13. Charity

In the Hadeeth Qudusi, Allah says: "O son of Adam, spend (in charity), and I'll spend on you!"

Whenever you are broke, or you feel barakah is zapped out of our life and urgently need it back, the quickest of way of getting barakah in your life is giving charity. Not only because of the above hadeeth, but let's say barakah has been removed from your life because of a sin you've committed, charity cleanses your sins and adds good deeds and is truly a source of barakah.

I cannot describe the instantaneous gratification of giving charity and the barakah that follows it! Try it NOW!

14. Tying your ties of kinship

Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, "Allah created His creation, and when He had finished it, the womb, got up and caught hold of Allah whereupon Allah said, "What is the matter?' On that, it said, 'I seek refuge with you from those who sever the ties of Kith and kin.' On that Allah said, 'Will you be satisfied if I bestow My favors on him who keeps your ties, and withhold My favors from him who severs your ties?' On that it said, 'Yes, O my Lord!' Then Allah said, 'That is for you.' " Abu Huraira added: If you wish, you can recite: "Would you then if you were given the authority. do mischief in the land and sever your ties ofkinship."

15. Waking up early

Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said: "Allah made the early hours blessed for my Ummah."

This hadeeth was the reason for me to start ProductiveMuslim.com! Such gems of productivity are actually sources of blessings that we should seek to make our life productive. Waking up early is such an important part of being blessed and feeling blessed throughout your day.

Try to wake up for tahajjud, pray, and then work during the hours before fajr salaat and tahajjud. If you can't, then at least wake up for fajr and stay up till sunrise before you go back to sleep. Those hours are so blessed. If you're able to go to work in those hours, do so, you'll get much more work done than the whole day put together!

16. Marriage

Allah says in the Quran:

"Marry those among you who are single, or the virtuous ones among yourselves, male or female: if they are in poverty, Allah will give them means out of His grace: for Allah encompasseth all, and he knoweth all things."

Speaking of marriage, I highly recommend the following training course to anyone seriously thinking of getting married: www.Practimate.com.

17. Salaat

Allah says in the Quran:

"Enjoin prayer on thy people, and be constant therein. We ask thee not to provide sustenance: We provide it for thee. But the (fruit of) the Hereafter is for righteousness"

To illustrate the point of Salaat further, just imagine your life without salaat, where would barakah come from? For those of you who are still wavering in their Salaat, please get back on track, this is your lifeline in this life and hereafter, and the daily food for your soul.

18. Asking Allah for forgiveness

The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: "If anyone continually asks forgiveness from Allah, Allah will appoint for him a way out of every distress, and a relief from every anxiety, and will provide for him from where he did not reckon."

I hope this covers most of the sources of Barakah, but as I said before, this is not an exhaustive list, please add your sources of barakah in the comments section below!

Source: www.productivemuslim.com

 Imam Ghazali writes: “You should not neglect your time or use it haphazardly; on the contrary you should bring yourself to account, structure your litanies and other practices during each day and night, and assign to each period a fixed and specific function. This is how to bring out the spiritual blessing (barakah) in each period.

But if you leave yourself adrift, aimlessly wandering as cattle do, not knowing how to occupy yourself at every moment, your time will be lost. It is nothing other than your life, and your life is the capital that you make use of to reach perpetual felicity in the proximity of God the Exalted.
Each of your breaths is a priceless jewel, since each of them is irreplaceable and, once gone, can never be retrieved.

Do not be like the deceived fools who are joyous because each day their wealth increases while their life shortens. What good is an increase in wealth when life grows ever shorter? Therefore be joyous only for an increase in knowledge or in good works, for they are your two companions who will accompany you in your grave when your family, wealth, children and friends stay behind.”

[Ghazali, The Beginnings of Guidance, p23]

More than 1,400 years ago, Allaah All-Mighty told us through His Messenger sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) that honey can heal a variety of medical problems.

Honey is a remarkable viscous liquid, prepared by bees from nectars of various plants. It has occupied a prominent place in traditional medicines throughout history. The ancient Egyptians, Assyrians, Chinese, Greeks and Romans employed honey for different diseases.

The Noble Quran and many Prophetic narrations refer to honey as a great healer of disease.

Allaah, Almighty, Says (what means): "And your Lord inspired the bee, saying: ‘Take you habitations in the mountains and in the trees and in what they erect. Then, eat of all fruits, and follow the ways of your Lord made easy (for you).’ There comes forth from their bellies, a drink of varying color wherein is healing for men. Verily, in this is indeed a sign for people who think."  [Quran; 16: 68-69]

Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri may Allaah be pleased with him related that a man came to the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) and said: "My brother has some abdominal trouble." The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said to him "Let him drink honey." The man returned to the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) and said: “O Messenger of Allaah! I let him drink honey, but it caused him more pain.”  The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said to him: “Go and let him drink honey!” The man went and let his brother drink honey, then returned back and said: “O Messenger of Allaah, it did not cause him except more pains.”  The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) then said: "Allaah has said the truth, but your brother's abdomen has told a lie. Let him drink honey." So he made him drink honey and he was cured. [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]

The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) also said: "Make use of the two remedies: honey and the Quran." [At-Tirmithi, Ibn Maajah and Al-Bayhaqi] Modern medicine is only just learning of this fact.

Benefits of honey:

1. Alleviates inflammation of cornea if used locally on the eye.

2. An antibiotic if used locally in situations of wounds and burns, and it is used for healing of wounds:

   • In case of wounds, honey absorbs moisture from the air, facilitates healing process and prevents scarring. This is because honey stimulates the growth of epithelial cells that form the new skin cover. In this way, honey may eliminate the need for tissue transplantation.
   • Honey stimulates the re-growth of tissue involved in the healing process. It stimulates the formation of new blood capillaries and the growth of fibroblasts that replace the connective tissue of the deeper layer of the skin and produce the collagen fibers that give strength to the repair.
   • Honey has an anti-inflammatory action, which reduces the swelling around a wound. This improves circulation and thus hastens the healing process. 
   • Honey does not stick to the underlying wound tissues, so there is no tearing away of newly formed tissue, and no pain, when dressings are changed.
   • Thanks to its antimicrobial property, honey provides a protective barrier to prevent wounds becoming infected. It also rapidly clears any existing infection from wounds. It is fully effective, even with antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria.
   • Some studies showed that honey is a good treatment against the hospital infection bacteria "superbugs" (MRSA.)
     

     As honey does not accommodate bacteria, this bactericide (bacteria-killing) property of honey is named "the inhibition effect." There are various reasons of this anti-microbial property of the honey. Some examples are: the high sugar content that limits the amount of water microorganisms need for growth, its high acidity (low pH) and composition which deprive bacteria from nitrogen necessary for reproduction. The existence of hydrogen peroxide as well as antioxidants in the honey prevent bacteria growth.

3. Antioxidant: Those are the components in cells that get rid of harmful byproducts of normal metabolic functions. These elements inhibit destructive chemical reactions that cause spoilage of food and many chronic illnesses. Researchers believe food products rich in antioxidants may prevent heart problems and cancer. Strong antioxidants are present in honey: Pinocembrin, pinobaxin, chrisin and galagin. Pinocembrin is an antioxidant that merely exists in the honey.

4. A treatment for gastric and duodenal ulcers, as honey decreases the secretion of hydrochloric acid to a normal rate, thus helping to heal such ulcers and alleviate the related pains and reduce resultant cases of vomiting and colic. For the treatment to be effective, honey should be taken dissolved in warm water one or two hours before meals.

5. A treatment for involuntary urination at beds. So, if the child is given one small spoon of honey before sleeping, this will have a positive effect, as honey is sedative for the nervous system, thus helping the cyst to relax and expand during sleep.

6. It supports blood formation: Honey provides an important part of the energy needed by the body for blood formation. It helps in cleansing the blood. It has some positive effects in regulating and facilitating blood circulation. It also functions as a protection against capillary problems and arteriosclerosis.

7. A treatment for colds, flu and pharyngitis.

8. A treatment for cases of chronic hepatitis, as honey increases the liver stock of the glycogen material through the increase of blood glucose, thus helping the liver to function properly and relieve it from more burdens.

9. A treatment for insomnia and a sedative for nerves, as it contains some sedative and tonic substances as sodium and potassium at a reasonable rate such.

10. A treatment for alcoholic poisoning. Fructose and vitamin B group in the honey help oxidize the alcohol remaining in the body.

11. A treatment for cough.

12. In cosmetics, a mixture of honey with lemon and glycerin is considered of the best old medical prescription for the treatment of skin cracking and roughness, the inflammation and wounds of lips, sun stroke, and dermal pigments.

13. A treatment for muscular spasm of sportive exercises or facial spasms and eyelids muscles, which disappear after having one big spoon of honey for three days after each meal.

14. Has a low calorie level. When it is compared with the same amount of sugar, it gives 40% less calories to the body. Although it gives great energy to the body, it does not add weight. Furthermore, the use of honey is safe and has no allergic or side effects. The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) was right in his prescription for the ailing man. When the fourth treatment of honey was given to the man, he got better. Such is part of the knowledge that the Almighty has revealed to His Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ).

Source: http://english.islamweb.net

By Ahmad Fareed

From the morals and manners of the Salaf was that they would be fully conscious of fighting Iblees and they would strive to know about his plots and plans.

Allaah, the Most high said:(Sura Faatir 35, Ayat 6)

"Verily the shaitaan is an enemy to you all, so take him as an enemy. He only calls his followers to be the people of a blazing fire"

This is an aspect of life which has been ignored by many people and since Iblees is never absent-minded about us, thus neither should we ever ignore him, because he watches and is keen to trip up the slave so that he falls into what Allaah the Most High hates.

The Messenger of Allah said: "Iblees places his throne ('arsh) on the sea from which he sends his armies and troops. The one greatest in standing to him is the greatest in spreading turmoil among the people" (Reported by Muslim)

Fudhayl ibn 'Iyaad (rahimahullaah) said: "If Iblees conquers the son of Aadam with one of three (things) he says - I will not seek anything else from him - (1) being fond of himself, (2) deeming his deeds to be plentiful, and (3) forgetfulness of his sins".

Wahb ibn Munabbih (rahimahullaah) would say: "Beware of despising shaitan in public while obeying him in secret. The one who sleeps in disobedience then for that reason shaitaan will sleep with him as his bride".

Pay attention dear Muslimeen and be warned for the sake of your self. Do not think Iblees has abandoned you when you are seen approaching worship, but consider carefully and search the fullest search and you will be sure to find there some presence of Iblees.

Therefore, seek the forgiveness of Allaah more!

Al-Hasan (rahimahullaah) said: "If shaitaan saw you consistently obeying Allaah he will seek you time and time again. If he sees your consistency he grows weary of you and rejects you. If you changed, however, each and every time, then he begins to have hope in you".

Source: www.islamicawakening.com

The Miswaak was known before Islam, but Islam added a religious perspective to its usage.

The Prophetic guidance:

The Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) recommended Muslims to clean their teeth using a Miswaak every day; especially upon waking up, when performing ablution, before prayer, when reciting the Quran, before sleeping, when entering the house, and when the mouth has a foul odor.

There are many Prophetic narrations that talk about Miswaak. Following are some of them:

‘Aa'ishah may Allaah be pleased with her related that the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: "Ten things are part of one’s natural disposition: Trimming the moustache, growing a beard, (using) the Miswaak, sniffing water, cutting the nails, washing hands, plucking armpits, shaving pubic hair, and conserving water." [Muslim]

Furthermore, he sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) highlighted its importance, saying: "If it were not that it would create hardship for my people, I would have ordered them to use the Miswaak with every ablution and with every prayer." [Al-Bukhaari]

Medical discoveries:

The Miswaak is a natural tool for brushing the teeth. It is taken from the roots and branches of particular desert trees. It differs from one region to another, but in Arabia and Asia it is taken from the Arak tree. This is the most famous variety, and is the kind that was used by the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ).

Its scientific name is Salvadora Persica. It is a tree that grows in hot equatorial countries, especially in desert valleys. It is widespread in the South of Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Sudan, Egypt, and elsewhere. 

Salvador Persica is an upright evergreen small tree or shrub, seldom more than one foot in diameter, reaching a maximum height of three meters. The leaves are small, oval, thick and succulent with a strong smell of cress or mustard.

The Miswaak is also obtained from other trees. In Africa, for example, it is cut from Lime and Orange trees, and in America some are cut from the Senna tree.

As the Arak tree is so well-known, and as it was the kind that the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) used, it has been scientifically studied. The following summarize the various discoveries regarding Miswaak.

Health effects of Miswaak:

Physically, the Miswaak is a natural toothbrush. It is composed of a compact group of minute natural fibers that perform exactly the same function as a normal toothbrush except that it is made of natural rather than plastic fibers. For this reason it may be more gentle on the gums.

Miswaak's natural toothpaste is made up of many substances that are important for cleaning teeth. Many researchers have studied the Miswaak in depth, and have proven that Miswaak contains over ten different natural chemical compounds considered essential for good oral and dental hygiene.

They are: fluoride, silica, tannic acid, resins, alkaloids (salvadorine), volatile oils (sinigrin), sulfur vitamin C, sodium bicarbonate, chlorides, calcium, benzylisothiocyanate (BIT), and others including salicylic acids, sterols, trimethylamine, saponins, flavenoids.

Some of these components are stain removers and teeth whiteners, some protect teeth against caries, some are bactericidal and antiseptic, some help in healing and to repair tissues, some promote remineralization (building) of tooth enamel, and some give the pleasant taste and smell.
   
Cytotoxicity:

Results of cytotoxictests showed no cytotoxic (cell damaging) effects from using freshly cut Miswaak. However, the same plant used 24 hours after cutting did contain harmful components. Based on these findings, researchers recommend cutting the used portion of the Miswaak after it has been used for a day and preparing a fresh part.

Scientific comparison between Miswaak and toothbrushes:

A clinical trial study on Ethiopian schoolchildren, comparing Miswaak with the conventional toothbrush, found Miswaak to be as effective as the toothbrush in removing oral deposits. The study also found instruction and supervision to be important since the children in the sample were not familiar with techniques for using Miswaak.

How to use Miswaak:

The method of preparing a Miswaak for use is to cut a branch or root of the Arak tree into pieces between 10 cm and 20cm in length, and between 4mm and 14mm in diameter. Occasionally some are thicker than this.

Fresh Miswaak is brown in color, with a hot, pleasant taste. People usually strip off some of the Miswaak's thin bark from one end, then chew that end a little to separate the fibers so that they become like the fibers of a normal toothbrush. They then use it to brush their teeth.

Length and diameter:

A length of 15cm is recommended, which is convenient to grip, and easy to manipulate in a confined space. The diameter is normally less than 1 centimeter, which provides a supple stick firm enough to transmit the pressure of the cleansing action to the teeth without breaking.

Freshness: Miswaak should be freshly cut so that it is supple, easily chewed, and still rich in active constituents. The root should be whitish-brown in color; a dark brown color indicates that the Miswaak is no longer fresh.

If a stick is dry, the end for chewing should initially be soaked in fresh water for 24 hours. It should be noted that soaking for unduly long periods causes loss of active constituents and diminishes the therapeutic properties, although the mechanical effects on the teeth can still occur.

The end: Before Miswaak is used, the end should be washed with water. It is then chewed repeatedly until the fibers stand out like the bristles of a toothbrush. These fibers should be trimmed every 24 hours.
 
Brushing technique:

The techniques employed for removing plaque mechanically are similar to that for the toothbrush and the chewing stick; i.e., vertical and horizontal brushing. The cleaning movement should always be directed away from the gingival margin of the teeth (away from the gums) on both the buccal (outer cheek) and lingual (inner cheek) surfaces.

Care should be taken to avoid damaging the soft tissues of the mouth. Satisfactory cleaning can be achieved if this procedure is followed for five minutes.

There are two basic holds: Pen-grip (three-finger) or palm-grip (five finger-grip). In each case the aim is to ensure firm but controlled movement of the brush end of the Miswaak within the oral cavity, so that every area of the mouth is reached with relative ease and convenience.

When to use Miswaak:

In general, the Miswaak should be used a minimum of five times a day (i.e. before each prayer). However it is recommended to use it all the time, whenever possible.

Common mistakes in Miswaak use:

1. The end is either too thin or too thick.
2. Keeping it in the mouth while doing other things.
3. Not cutting the end every day.
4. Forgetting that teeth have five faces (inner, outer, two sides, and biting/chewing face), and only using Miswaak to clean the outer faces.

[From: Al Jumu'ah Magazine]

Source: www.islamweb.net