Refresh Your Imaan

Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wasallam) told us that there was a group from the Bani Israel who went to visit a graveyard. There they said, “How about if we pray two rakahs and ask Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) to resurrect someone, so we can ask him about death.” So they prayed two rakahs and asked Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) to resurrect one of the dead. A dark man was resurrected, who had the sign of sujood (prostrations) on his forehead. He said, “What do you want from me? I died one hundred years ago and the pain of death only just stopped at this moment. Pray to Allah and ask him to return me to as I was.” [Abu Daud] There are three lessons to learn from this hadith: 1. The pain of death is severe and it lasts for a long time. We should pray to Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) to make it easy for us. 2. The value of shahada. One of the many honors that Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) will give a shaheed is that his/her pain of death would feel no more then the sting of a mosquito.

Uthman ibn Affan (radi Allahu anhu) relates that when the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) used to finish burying someone, he would stand by the grave and say, ‘All of you, ask Allah to forgive your brother and make him steadfast, for he is now being asked.” [Abu Dawud] The dead are questioned in their graves. It is legally valid and recommended after burial for a living person to ask Allah to forgive the deceased and make him steadfast for the questioning of the two angels.

The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “The key to Paradise is prayer (salat), and the key to prayer is ritual purity (tuhur).” [Ahmed] Paradise has eight doors. If you have the key to a door, you can turn the key in the lock and the door easily opens for you. If, on the other hand, you don’t have the keys, you could keep trying other keys that don't fit, or attempt to break the door down. When the keys are easily available though, only a foolhardy person would insist on trying wrong keys, or try to get in by breaking the door down. The keys to Jannah have been given to you. Don't waste your time with trying wrong ones. The keys to Jannah are the obligatory five daily prayers. And purification of the body, through wudhu and ghusl, are the keys to the prayer. In everyday life, if we were to keep looking at a person, they would feel obliged to turn to look at us. Allah Most Mighty and Majestic is much more obliging than all of His creation. When you pray, you are address

Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wasallam) said: “When Allah created Paradise, He said to Jibreel: ‘Go and look at it.’ Jibreel went and looked at it, then came and said: ‘O my Lord! By Thy might, no one who hears of it will fail to enter it.’ Allah then surrounded it with disagreeable things, and said: ‘Go and look at it, Jibreel.’ He went and looked at it, then came and said: ‘O my Lord! By Thy might, I am afraid that no one will enter it.’ When Allah created Hell, He said: ‘Go and look at it, Jibreel.’ Jibreel went and looked at it, then came and said: ‘O my Lord! By Thy might, no one who hears of it will enter it. ‘ Allah then surrounded it with desirable things and said: ‘Go and look at it, Jibreel.’ Jibreel went, looked at it, then came and said: ‘O my Lord! By Thy might and power, I am afraid that no one will remain who does not enter it.’ [Abu Daud] Hellfire is surrounded by tempting things and sin appears attractive to us. On the other hand, Jannat is surrounded by difficult th

Imam Ahmed narrates that Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said regarding something: “That would happen when knowledge is lost.” One of the Sahabah asked, “O Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam), how could knowledge be lost when we have studied the Quran, we are teaching it to our children and our children will teach it to theirs.” Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wasallam) said: “Woe to you! I thought you were one of the most learned men of Medinah. Can’t you see the Jews and Christians are not benefiting even though they have their scriptures (Torah and Injeel) right with them?” This hadith makes clear that if there is no application of the Quran, its recitation becomes useless. If we know what the Quran contains but don't apply it, we become like donkeys carrying books as our burdens, not benefitting from our loads. How did the Sahabah study the Quran? If we take the example of Abdullah ibn Umar (radi Allahu anhu), it took him 14 years to finish memorizing Sura

A man asked the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam), "What Islamic traits are the best?" The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) replied, "Feed the people, and greet those whom you know and those whom you do not know." [Bukhari] One of the minor signs of the Day of Judgement is that people will only give salaam to the people that they know. [Ahmad] Nowadays we see that salaam is not considered the right of every Muslim. It used to be that salaam was given to any Muslim, whether one knew them or not. In fact, if you offer salaams to strangers today they might look at you funny, trying to figure out if they know you. Nevertheless, let us make an effort to revive this sunnah for the love of the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) and as a practice of one of the best traits of Islam.

Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wasallam) said: “By Allah, this world in comparison to the hereafter is nothing but as though one of you dipped his finger in the sea. So ponder how much (of sea water), the finger returns with.” [Mishkaat] The duration of the Day of Judgment is equal to 50,000 years. The sun will be brought overhead so that it is unbearably hot. People will be drenched in their sweat according to the amount of their sins. Some will be ankle deep in it, some will be in it up to their ears. In this condition, people will be standing for hundreds of earth years and not even a minute of that day will have gone by. Those who love Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) in this world will be under the shade of Allah’s Throne on the Day of Judgment – the only shade available that Day. That is why Luqman Hakeem advised his son: “Serve this world according to the time you are going to spend in it, and work for the akhirah according to the time you are going to spend in it.” After we have been

1. Belief in ALLAH [1] 2. To believe that everything other than ALLAH was non-existent. Thereafter, ALLAH Ta'ala created these things and subsequently they came into existence. [2] 3. To believe in the existence of angels (Malaaikah). [3] 4. To believe that all the heavenly books (Kutub) that were sent to the different prophets are true. However, apart from the Quran, all other books are not valid anymore. [4] 5. To believe that all the prophets are true. However, we are commanded to follow Muhammad (Sallallahu alayhi wa Sallam) alone. [5] 6. To believe that ALLAH Ta'ala has knowledge of everything from before-hand and that only that which He sanctions or wishes will occur. [6] 7. To believe that Qiyaamah will definitely occur. [7] 8. To believe in the existence of Jannah. [8] 9. To believe in the existence of Jahannam. [9] 10. To have love for ALLAH Ta'ala. [10] 11. To have love for Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wa Sallam) [11] 12. To love or hate someone solely because

Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “A time will come when it will be said about a man how intelligent he is, and how cool he is, but there won’t be a single grain of eeman in his heart.” This is one of the minor signs of the Day of Judgement. Today we see that people in many walks of life are admired as being cool or brilliant; athletes, pop stars, actors, scientists, businessmen, entertainers, politicians, etc. Yet these are often people who exhibit no morality, conscience, character or taqwa. When the people that we look up to are devoid of the fear of Allah, undoubtedly our behaviour will model theirs. We should seek refuge with Allah from making people who have no eeman in their hearts our role models.

Once a blind man came into the house of Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam). The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) told Ummul Mumineen Aisha (radi Allahu anha) to go behind a curtain. She replied, “O Prophet of Allah, he is blind. How can he see us?” The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) replied: “He may be blind, but you are not blind.” [Ahmad] From this hadith we can deduce that just as it is forbidden for a man to look at a non-mahram woman, it is similarly forbidden for a woman to look at a non-mahram man. Both men and women need to guard their glances in order to protect their faith and modesty. The glance opens the door to lustful looking, which in turn slowly and surely takes one down the road to adultery or fornication. Another hadith describes the gaze of a non-mahram as one of the arrows of the Shaitaan. These arrows tear into the fabric of our ruh/soul, shredding it to bits so that we are not able to return victoriously to Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) with a qalb

The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “If there was only one day left of this world, Allah would lengthen that day, until He sent a man who is of me, or of my family, whose name is the same as my name, and whose father’s name is the same as my father’s name. He will fill the world with fairness and justice as it was filled with wrongdoing and injustice.” [Abu Dawud] Regarding the emergence of Imam Mahdi, it has been the consensus of the Ahle-Sunnah wal Jamaah for the past fourteen hundred years, that he will appear in the end times to lead the Muslims. His name will be Muhammad and his father’s name will be Abdullah. He will be the leader of the Mujahideen and through Qitaal in the Path of Allah will bring Allah’s land under Allah’s rule. As a result of this, the world will be filled with justice and prosperity. Mufti Nizam-ud-Deen Shamzai (shaheed, rahimuhullah) has provided a detailed and documented account in his book, “Aqeedah Zahoor-e-Mahdi Ahadith ki Roshni M

The Prophet Muhammad (Salallaho Alaihi Wassallam) foretold 72 signs that would appear near Doomsday: 1. People will leave prayer 2. People will usurp Ama'naat 3. Lying will become an art 4. There will be murders on the slightest of disagreements 5. Interest will become common 6. There will be very tall buildings 7. People will sell Religion for the world 8. People will treat relatives badly 9. Justice will become a rarity 10. Lies will be considered truth 11. Clothes will be of silk 12. Persecution will become common 13. Divorces will become common 14. Sudden deaths will increase 15. The usurper of Ama'naat will be considered honest and honourable 16. The keeper of Am'naat will be called an usurper of things given to him for safekeeping 17. Liars will be thought of as honest 18. Honest people will be thought of as liars 19. False accusations will become the norm 20. It will be hot in spite of rain 21. Instead of wishing for children, people will pray that they not have chil

Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wasallam) said: “Ask yourself for a decision, ask your heart for a decision (saying it three times.) Righteousness is that with which the soul is tranquil and the heart is tranquil, but sin is that which rouses suspicion in the soul and is perplexing in the breast, even if people give you a decision in its favour.” [Mishkat] Everybody has within them the sense to distinguish right from wrong. And each person will be held accountable for using this sense. It is possible to twist facts and get people to give the decision that you want to hear, but if your heart is not at peace with the decision then know that it is most likely sinful for you to act on it. Unfortunately, if a person sins enough then the heart becomes dead and the ability to feel disquiet dies. Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wasallam) said: “Leave that which causes you doubt for that which does not cause you doubt.” [Tirmidhi] This hadith is one of the ahadith around which the whole religion

Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wasallam) said: “The world is a prison for a believer and Paradise for a non-believer.” [Muslim] A believer is ever mindful of Allah (subhana wa ta’ala). Therefore, he/she is not free to do what they please. They cannot wait to get to Jannah where they will have no restrictions of any kind, no suffering, no sacrifice, and no separation from their loved ones. That is why this world feels like a prison to them. Those believers who are even more cognizant of Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) are in even more pain because of their separation from Him. An ashiq/lover always yearns to join his Beloved (subhana wa ta’ala). This is the sole thought occupying his or her mind. You are the true innermost desire of my heart, Love of You is the deepest thought in my mind. Whenever I glance at the world around me, I find that today there was naught but You, And that tomorrow holds naught but You. When an ashiq looks around, he finds the heedless people of the world trapped

The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: "When a person tells a lie, the bad smell that comes out of the lie keeps the angels one mile away." [Tirmidhi] Keep in mind that you are pushing the angels that protect you away from you when you tell lies. Many are the lies that we are aware of telling. Yet how many more lies do we tell without even considering them as lies, so far away are we from having Islamic morals. Once a Sahabiah called her son in telling him that she wanted to give him something. The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) then asked her if she had in fact given anything to her son. She replied that she had given him a date. The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) told her that if she had not given him anything she would have been recorded as lying to her child. We need to be very careful not to say anything that we are not committed on fulfilling, for all lies are written down. A small lie is noted down as a small lie and a big lie is written down as