Refresh Your Imaan

Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wasallam) said: “Oh Ali, if two people come to ask you to judge between them, do not judge in favour of the first until you hear the word of the second in order that you may know how to judge.” [Ahmad, Abu Daud] Humans are hasty by nature. We are quick to judge. A situation aggravates us and we rush to condemn without bothering to determine all the facts first. In our haste usually only one point of view is considered. This could happen in our households when children get into a fight. This also often happens when we hear things about people. We don’t stay out of things that do not concern us; then we do not bother to hear the other side of the story either. Thirdly, we also get easily influenced with one sided information broadcast at us through the media. In short, we do exactly what Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) has forbidden, which is to make haste in passing judgment. Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) used to make dua begging Allah, “Enable me t...

"Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) passed by a heap of food. As he put his hand inside it, his fingers got wet. So he said to the vendor: ‘What is this?’ He replied: ‘It was dampened by the rain O Messenger of Allah.’ He (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: ‘Why don’t you put it on top so that people can see it? He who cheats us is not one of us.’” [Muslim] In order for justice to prevail in society, it is necessary that people are reminded of their moral obligations. The best police is a person's own conscience; the person's awareness of the final accountability before Allah (subhana wa ta'ala). When a community loses its God consciousness, then no quantity of police, courts and prisons are sufficient to keep it free of crime.  While taqwa (Allah consciousness) must be cultivated to keep society healthy, law enforcers are nevertheless needed. There will always be some recalcitrant, unscrupulous elements that will only respond to force. The second khalifah, Uma...

Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alayhi wasallam) said: "The example of a good companion and a bad one is the bearer of musk and the worker on the fires. A bearer of musk would give you some, you might buy some from him, or you might enjoy the fragrance of his musk. The worker on the fires, on the other hand, might spoil your clothes with sparks from his bellows, or you get a bad smell from him." [Sahih Bukhari]   Who are the top 5 people you hang out with? List them. Now look at their qualities and you'll notice that you are a product of the sum of them. Do they have the outstanding qualities that you seek? If not, then it's time to find some bearers of musk that you can truly smell great from.

Narrated Anas (radi Allahu anhu) that the Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said, “In Jannah there is a market to which the people will come every Friday. The northern wind will blow and shower fragrance on their faces and clothes and, consequently, it will enhance their beauty and loveliness. They will then return to their wives who will also have increased in their beauty and loveliness, and their families will say to them: ‘We swear by Allah that you have been increased in beauty and loveliness since leaving us.’ Thereupon they will reply: ‘We swear by Allah that you have also been increased in beauty and loveliness since we left you.’” [Sahih Muslim] Another feature of Jannah is this, that the beauty and charm of the men and women in Jannah goes on increasing with time and thus the love and affection between husbands and wives also keeps on increasing. It is the opposite of what happens here in this world; people lose their good looks with time. In Jannah, you ju...

The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “When those deserving of Paradise enter Paradise, the Blessed and Exalted will ask: ‘Do you wish Me to give you anything more?’ They will say: ‘Have You not brightened our faces? Have You not made us enter Paradise and saved us from Fire?’ He (Allah) will then lift the veil (from their eyes), and of things given to them nothing will be dearer to them than the sight of their Lord, the Mighty and the Glorious." [Sahih Muslim]  Doubtless we, men and women, are promised to have what we want in Jannah; Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) says in the Quran: “Therein you shall have (all) that your inner selves desire, and therein you shall have (all) which you ask for.” [41:31-32] But the greatest reward for the people in Jannah will be to view the Countenance (Appearance) of Allah (subhana wa ta’ala).  Despite having all that their hearts desire, the greatest treat for the inhabitants of Jannah will be to look at the Countenance of A...

The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: "Do not speak much without mentioning Allah, for too much speech without mentioning Allah hardens the heart, and the hard hearted are the furthest of all people from Allah Most High." [Tirmidhi] Imam Nawawi explains: "Every legally responsible person should refrain from saying anything except when there is a clear advantage to speaking. Whenever speaking and not speaking are of equal benefit, it is sunnah to remain silent, for permissible speech easily leads to that which is unlawful or offensive, as actually happens much or even most of the time -- and there is no substitute for safety. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, ‘whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him say what is good or remain silent.’ (Authenticated by Imams Bukhari and Muslim)" [r 1.1: Reliance of the Traveller by Ahmad ibn Naqib al-Misri]

Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “Teach! Make things easy! And do not make things complicated! He repeated this three times and then he added: And if you get angry, keep quiet!” [Ibn Hajar Al-Asqalani, Al-Matalib Al-Aliyah; Ahmad Ibn Hanbal] Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) came with the most important of teachings. He was sent by none other than the Supreme Most Being, the Creator of all that exists. Therefore, it stands to reason that Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) must have chosen Muhammad (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) because he would be the best teacher for this all important message. Considering this, let’s see what we can learn from this hadith regarding the qualities of excellent teachers: 1a. Make things easy for the students. A teacher should not try to complicate matters. In order to teach effectively, the teacher must know his/her material very well. For this adequate preparation is necessary.  1b. In order to communicate effectively, it is essential...