Refresh Your Imaan

Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “May Allah curse him who eats of usury (riba) or feeds it to another.” [Sahih Muslim] The prohibition regarding riba is for both accepting it (eating of it) as well as paying it (feeding another with it). “Curse (la’n)” means to put someone far from divine mercy. Riba is usually translated as “interest”. This includes both simple and compound interest. Dealing in riba is one of the kaba’ir (enormities) as it is accursed by Allah’s Messenger in the above hadith, and also carries the threat of punishment in the Hereafter in the words of Allah (subhana wa ta’ala): “O you who believe: fear Allah and forgo what remains of usury (riba) if you are believers. If you will not, then know of a declaration of war (against you) from Allah and His Messenger.” [Quran 2: 278-79] If Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) and His Messenger come armed to wage war against a person on the Day of Judgement, does he/she stand a chance? The prohibition regarding riba also e...

Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “Allah gives worldly things to those He loves and to those He does not love, but He gives eeman (faith) only to those He loves, so he who is given eeman by Allah, has been loved by Him.” [Ahmad, Bayhaqiy] The most priceless treasure on earth is eeman. This is the currency that will buy you eternal happiness and all the riches you want to keep forever. Thus, whoever is given the treasure of eeman is among the most beloved people to Allah (subhana wa ta’ala). If something is not in your share in this worldly life (e.g. car, house, nice clothes, good food), it makes no difference. The duration of this life compared to the life that starts after this, is so short, that it will be as though it never happened.   Material riches in this life could also be the lot of him/her who ends up for eternity in the Fire of Hell. Again, this life is so short compared to the Hereafter, that despite having every luxury in the world, a person who ends up...

Abu Hurairah (radi Allahu anhu) narrated that the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “It was said to the children of Israel, ‘Enter the gate (of the town), prostrate (in humility) and say: Hittatun (repentance) i.e., O Allah! Forgive our sins.’ But they entered by dragging themselves on their buttocks, so they did something different (from what they had been ordered to do) and said, ‘Hittatun,’ but added, ‘A grain in a hair.’” [Sahih Bukhari] The Bani Israil have distinguished themselves in history as the most disobedient and rebellious of people. They have, however, already met with the consequences of their behaviour. So then why are their stories narrated to us in the Quran and hadith in such a large number? This is because Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) knew that we, the last nation, would insist on following in their footsteps. Thus, He made clear to us with their examples which actions earn Allah’s wrath and punishment and which actions are worth emulating. This incident is ...

Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “The Dajjal will emerge, and he will have with him water and fire. As for that which the people will think is water, it will be burning fire, and as for that which the people will think is fire, it will be sweet, cool water. Whoever among you sees that, let him plunge into that which he thinks is fire, for it is sweet, cool water.” [Sahih Muslim] This is a characteristic of the time of the Dajjal and the end times, that good will be made to appear bad, and evil will be presented with good names. Pious Muslims will be misrepresented and portrayed in the worst possible way while evil people will be held up as models of virtue. Corruption will be in food, water, land and in the air. Unnatural and harmful things will be adopted as beneficial and essential parts of people’s lifestyles. Thus, it is no surprise that the fire and water with Dajjal will also be the opposite of what they appear to be.

Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said about Dajjal, “He is a young man with curly hair and his eye is blind….Whoever among you sees him, let him recite the opening verses of Surat al-Kahf over him.” [Sahih Muslim] Besides being one-eyed, Dajjal has curly and short hair and is a young man. Additional descriptions we have of him from the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) are that he is heavy built with a big body and red complexion. [Sahih Bukhari] The first ten ayaat of Surat al-Kahf should be memorized as these are the only antidote against him. People who consider themselves to be good Muslims will be taken in by him, give up their Islam and accept his divinity. Therefore, should we hear about him we should make no attempt to meet him. Instead we should try to escape as far away from him and his fitnah as possible; into the mountains and away from cities and civilizations as his fitnah will be more intense here. Dajjal will come at a time when people have stopped ...

Abu Hurairah (radi Allahu anhu) narrated that the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “A man who had never done a pious deed said to his family members, ‘When I die burn me to ashes and divide the ashes into two parts. Scatter one of them on land and the other in the ocean. By Allah! If Allah gets hold over this body, He will punish it as severely as He may not have punished anyone else.’ When he died, his family members obeyed his instructions. Allah commanded the land to gather his ashes and it collected every particle of his ashes on it. And He commanded the ocean and it too gathered all particles even from its depths. (Then He gave it life and speech and) He asked him, ‘Why did you do that?’ He said, ‘My Lord! Fear of You!’ So Allah forgave him.” [Sahih Bukhari] This hadith highlights the importance of having fear of Allah (subhana wa ta’ala). The man had done no good deed throughout his life despite Allah’s blessings on him, but at the time of his death the events of...

Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “Allah created Aadam. His height was sixty cubits. He said to him, ‘Go and greet that group of angels and listen to how they reply, for that will be your greeting and the greeting of your offspring.’ Aadam went and said, ‘As-salamu alaykum (Peace be upon you).’ And they answered, ‘As-salamu alayka wa rahmat Allah (Peace be on you and the mercy of Allah).’ So, they added the words ‘and the mercy of Allah.’ So, whoever will enter Paradise will be of the shape and picture of Aadam. Since then the stature of the children of Aadam is being diminished continuously till the present time.” [Sahih Bukhari] When Aadam (alaihis salam) was created he had a height of about 90 feet. Height has been decreasing for humankind ever since. In the Hereafter people will have the same height as Aadam (alaihis salam). Scientists today believe that the earth was once much smaller, hence had less gravity. With less pull of gravity, living creatures would be much...