Before you talk, listen. Before you react, think. Before you spend, earn. Before you criticise, wait. Before you pray, forgive. Before you quit, try. - Ernest Hemingway

Before you talk, listen. Before you react, think. Before you spend, earn. Before you criticise, wait. Before you pray, forgive. Before you quit, try.

- Ernest Hemingway

We Believed in Goodness

-by zartasha

   On our way back from our errand in Eglington Downtown, we decided to pass through downtown and lakeshore heading towards Pickering.

  Passing the CN tower and skydom as we drove through the streets of downtown, we could see the work of every architectural phenomena. High buildings reaching the sky. Skyscape buildings. Every commercial product in the market. Every industrial and human achievement and the accumulation of an abundant amount of wealth.

   The people all striving towards a goal, almost running frantically towards a goal, but what goal? Ever since we are young we are taught this concept of success but as we drive through the streets of downtown, we realize that no one is in peace. Downtown, the place where everyone does exactly what they want to do without a care in the world. Everyone is competing and striving to beat the rest in this conceptual success. There is every form of self gratification available. Clothed in all the latest trends and yet pain, worry and arrogance marks all these faces. You see people on the streets and yet you see people on drugs, but people pass eachother without recognition. No one talks, there is no mercy, thankfulness or care for anyone. Everyone is different , everyone is unique and everyones does as they wish. Is this really what we want? Is this our measure of success?

  Crossing through these streets disrupts your own peace as though the world is cold although the day is warm,. Is this what we are working so hard to become?

    Exiting throughout the streets of downtowm, we enter don valley parkway.

    It contains a highway surrounded by a beautiful park. Lush trees grouped together reaching towards the heavens. Harmoniously breathing and their natural beauty is unmatched. The air is fresh, the winds are cool, the park is as though a meadow. The trees almost absorbing the pain, the worry, and returning peace and love into the air. This beauty is wild and yet  submitted to the diving law of its creator. There is goodness in it. There is a harmony to it that you can accept as goodness coming from a source of goodness. As you see the faces of the drivres around, their calm is reflected on their features. No loudness, no self gratification, no worry, just peace.

     We now turn to Eglington. There is a combination of civilization and nature. You can see pigeouns now. People are dressed more simply yet cleanly and comfortably. No one is rushing. There is some famlies, some friends, you can sense greater love here.

    Than we approach kingston and as we approach closer to pickering, the more you can see compassion rather than competition. People are now striving to want the best rather than to be the best. Humility and submission to the divine will are replacing the arrogance and self gratification behavior. As though we are taking the time to breathe, to plant the seeds to blossom into beautiful flowers. There is small homes with gardens rather than high sky scape buildings There is many birds. The people in the streets are with families. There is lesser diversity and greater unity because th e sense of community is growing. Wealth is not piled up and accumulated but people are living well. Love is surpassing the need for fame and self glory. People are considerate of their surroundings rather than oblivious.

    It is as though we are coming closer to heaven. But what do we really want? Why have we always been taught that money, fame and power are marks of success? That knowledge of technical advancements are the true marks of a great civilization? Why have we been kept so busy to fulfill the greater essence of life itself?

    The essence of life is created when our omnipotent self is awakened. A belief in a solid foundaiton behind everything. To believe that there is a creator and that creator has a will that marks every attribute of perfeciton, of goodness. And the absence of it as as thought the absence of a light leaving all else in darkness, Who taught us this is success? I've heard a quote that Everyone says love hurts, but that is not true. Loneliness hurts. Rejection hurts. Losing someone hurts. Envy hurts. Everyone gets these things confused with love. But in reality love is the only thing in this world that covers up all pain and makes someone feel wonderful again, love is the only thing that doesnt hurt. Just like sorrow is the absence of joy, just like chaos is the absence of patience, just like darkness is the absence of light, and just like evil is the absence of goodness, and ignorance the absence of knowledge. Nothing is beautiful without the perfect omnipotent will of the creator from whom originate all that is good. Goodness itself is a manifestation of the divine and the true essence of life. To believe that the beginning and the end belong to him. And to believe that what will happen will the His good perfect will. The angry faces just lackign that goodness within them deprived of the beauty that Allah created in the best of moulds. Reduced to the lowliest of lows, unmeasured greed and self gratification. Is this how we are measuring success?

    Everything just kept turning more and more beautiful because as we neared Pickering, that will manifested itself more. He is the Most Compassionate, He is the Most Just, He is the Most Wise and so is His perfect will. And so people let their compassion and want for the best supersede their competition and ruthless and want to be the best. The streets empty of homeless people. Like the final sermon of the prophet “my umaah, my umaah, m y umaah”.

The greed, gluttony and envy of the selfish desires replacing by an increase in humility and submission before the perfect diving will. The wealth shared, the community. The faces joyful and in peace instead of in hurry and greed and want.

We believed in goodness. Omnipotent goodness. But all this beauty only manifested itself when we took the first step even as it started wretched , but than the sincere heart and the sincere intention, and Allah swt made it beautiful.

May Allah swt preserve the goodness in our community.

The Greatness of Allah

Recongnizing His Existence

   The first most important thing to do, in order to develop a relationship with Allah (swt) is to recongize His existence absolutely and completely. A lot of literature has already been written about this. Below are examples of three different forms of Tawheed.

   The types of Tawheed are three: Tawheed ar-Ruboobiyyah, Tawheed al-Ilaahiyyah and Tawheed al-Asmaa was-Sifaat.

    Tawheed ar-Ruboobiyyah is singling out Allaah the Exalted with (the actions of) creation, providing sustenance, giving life, causing death, and all of the types of regulation and administration of the dominion of the heavens and earth, and (also) singling Him out, the Exalted, with (the right to) judgement and legislation and sending of the Messengers and revealing of Books. Allaah the Exalted said, "Verily, to Him belongs the creation and the comman, blessed be Allaah, the Lord of the worlds" (al-A`raaf 7:54).

    Tawheed al-Uloohiyyah is singling out Allaah with worship so that none besides Him is worshipped, so that none besides Him is called upon, so that no one is sought for rescue, or aid except Him. So that no one is sacrificed to or slaughtered for, or made an oath for, except Him. Allaah the Exalted said, "Say: My prayer, my sacrifice, my life and my death are for Allaah, the Lord of the worlds. He has no partner. This is what I have been commanded with and I am the first of those who submit (to him with Islaam and Tawheed)" (al-An'aam 6:162), and He said, "Therefore turn in prayer to your Lord and sacrifice (to Him only)" (al-Kawthar 108:2).

    Tawheed al-Asmaa was-Sifaat is describing Allaah the Most High and naming Him with whatever He described and named Himself with, and with whatever His Messenger (sallAllaahu `alayhi wa sallam) described and named Him with in the authentic narrations - and to affirm that for Allaah without resemblance (to the creation) or likening (to the creation), and without (false) interpretation (of any of that) or negation (of any of that). There is nothing like Him and He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer. And may Allaah send prayers and salutations upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and his companions.

Our Relationship With Allah (swt): Table of Contents

(1) Perceiving His Existence

(2) Seeking His Pleasure
(3) Purifying the Intentions

(3) What to do with Attachments

100 Questions to Ask Before Marriage

[LIST=1]

[*]What is your concept of marriage?

[*]Have you been married before?

[*]Are you married now?

[*]What are you expectations of marriage?

[*]What are your goals in life? (long and short term)

[*]Identify three things that you want to accomplish in the near future.

[*]Identify three things that you want to accomplish, long term.

[*]Why have you chosen me/other person as a potential spouse?

[*]What is the role of religion in your life now?

[*]Are you a spiritual person?

[*]What is your understanding of an Islamic marriage?

[*]What are you expecting of your spouse, religiously?

[*]What is your relationship between yourself and the Muslims community in your area?

[*]Are you volunteering in any Islamic activities?

[*]What can you offer your spouse, spiritually?

[*]What is the role of the husband?

[*]What is the role of the wife?

[*]Do you want to practice polygamy?

[*]What is your relationship with your family?

[*]What do you expect your relationship with the family of your spouse to be?

[*]What do you expect your spouses relationship with your family to be?

[*]Is there anyone in your family living with you now?

[*]Are you planning to have anyone in your family live with you in the future?

[*]If, for any reason, my relationship with your family turns sour, what should be done?

[*]Who are your friends? (Identify at least three.)

[*]How did you get to know them?

[*]Why are they your friends?

[*]What do you like most about them?

[*]What will your relationship with them after marriage be?

[*]Do you have friends of the opposite sex?

[*]What is the level of your relationship with them now?

[*]What will be the level of your relationship with them after marriage?

[*]What type of relationship do you want your spouse to have with your friends?

[*]What are the things that you do in your free time?

[*]Do you love to have guests in your home for entertainment?

[*]What are you expecting from your spouse when your friends come to the house?

[*]What is your opinion of speaking other languages in home that I do not understand? (with friends or family)

[*]Do you travel?

[*]How do you spend your vacations?

[*]How do you think your spouse should spend vacations?

[*]Do you read?

[*]What do you read?

[*]After marriage, do you think that you are one to express romantic feelings verbally?

[*]After marriage, do you think that you want to express affection in public?

[*]How do you express your admiration for someone that you know now?

[*]How do you express your feelings to someone who has done a favor for you?

[*]Do you like to write your feelings?

[*]If you wrong someone, how do you apologize?

[*]If someone has wronged you, how do you want (s)he to apologize to you?

[*]How much time passes before you can forgive someone?

[*]How do you make important and less important decisions in your life?

[*]Do you use foul language at home? In public? With family?

[*]Do your friends use foul language?

[*]Does your family use foul language?

[*]How do you express anger?

[*]How do you expect your spouse to express anger?

[*]What do you do when you are angry?

[*]When do you think it is appropriate to initiate mediation in marriage?

[*]When there is a dispute in your marriage, religious or otherwise, how should the conflict get resolved?

[*]Define mental, verbal, emotional and physical abuse.

[*]What would you do if you felt that you had been abused?

[*]Who would you call for assistance if you were being abused?

[*]Do you suffer from any chronic disease or condition?

[*]Are you willing to take a physical exam by a physician before marriage?

[*]What is your understanding of proper health and nutrition?

[*]How do you support your own health and nutrition?

[*]What is you definition of wealth?

[*]How do you spend money?

[*]How do you save money?

[*]How do you think that your use of money will change after marriage?

[*]Do you have any debts now? If so, how are you making progress to eliminate them?

[*]Do you use credit cards?

[*]Do you support the idea of taking loans to buy a new home?

[*]What are you expecting from your spouse financially?

[*]What is your financial responsibility in the marriage?

[*]Do you support the idea of a working wife?

[*]If so, how do you think a dual-income family should manage funds?

[*]Do you currently use a budget to manage your finances?

[*]Who are the people to whom you are financially responsible?

[*]Do you support the idea of utilizing baby sitters and/or maids?

[*]Do you want to have children? If not, how come?

[*]To the best of your understanding, are you able to have children?

[*]Do you want to have children in the first two years of marriage? If not, when?

[*]Do you believe in abortion?

[*]Do you have children now?

[*]What is your relationship with your children now?

[*]What is your relationship with their other parent?

[*]What relationship do you expect your spouse to have with your children and their parent?

[*]What is the best method(s) of raising children?

[*]What is the best method(s) of disciplining children?

[*]How were you raised?

[*]How were you disciplined?

[*]Do you believe in spanking children? Under what circumstances?

[*]Do you believe in public school for your children?

[*]Do you believe in Islamic school for your children?

[*]Do you believe in home schooling for your children?

[*]What type of relationship should your children have with non-Muslim classmates/friends?

[*]Would you send your children to visit their extended family if they lived in another state or country?

[*]What type of relationship do you want your children to have with all their grandparents?

[*]If there are members of my family that are not Muslim, that are of different race or culture, what type of relationship do you want to have with them?[/LIST]

Physical Limitations, Spiritual Elevations

By Zartasha Zainab

The new moon has been seen, the month begins

The doors of hell have been shut, the devils in chains

The angels descend as I open my eyes

And sustain myself until the white thread of dawn in the sky

I intend to fast today in the month of Ramadan

The month in which was revealed the Qur’an

And now that I have my needs fulfilled

I fast to enlighten my spirit, a pillar on which Islam is built

Giving up food, drink, and sensual pleasures,

And seeking after the real treasure

And restraining evils so that my soul may be freed

Erasing arrogance, anger, gluttony and greed

Sorrow lust and envy, all devils’ marks

The shaitan’s whispers engrained in my heart

Reciting the word of Allah the final revelation

Enlightening my soul to reach spiritual elevation

It’s a physical fast, but a spiritual meaning

Those physically incapable can be rewarded if the indigent they are feeding

Prayer, contemplation, charity and love

Compassion and justice, strengthening our relationship with the one above

The rewards are doubled and I await layalatul Qadr

Better than a thousand months, rewarding than all other

Greatness of purpose and smallness of needs

Pleasing  Allah by our goodly deeds

Purifying my soul while from the devil I’m freed

A fruit to obtain, planting the right seed

And as sunset approaches I break my fast

Hoping it’s accepted as today’s breath may be my last

How great is Allah for the sustenance He gives

This sustenance from He who forever lives

And now I enjoy food, drink and sensual pleasures

But I know with my Lord lies all without measure

And when they ask me, what is this soul?

It is beyond neurons and atoms in my heart there’s a door

He breathed from His spirit and gave sight, hearing and hearts

And it finds rest, listening, obeying, and comprehending His words

Spiritual elevation is what I hope to obtain

Evils inside me I hope they are drained

And eating to live, not living to eat

Desires in check, is my purpose being fulfilled?

Pro Dealings

(found in fajr blog)

“Know that if you harm ten people, you will have enemies, even if they are your mothers and fathers, but if you do good to ten people who are not your relatives, they will become like mothers and fathers to you.

If you enter Basra and oppose its people, elevate yourself over them, vaunt your knowledge among them, and hold yourself aloof from their company, you will shun them and they will shun you; you will curse them and they will curse you; you will consider them misguided and they will think you misguided and an innovator. Ignominy will attach itself to you and us, and you will have to flee from them. This is not an option. It is not an intelligent person who is unsociable to the one who is unsociable until Allah shows him a way out.

When you go to Basra, the people will receive you, visit you and acknowledge your due, so put each person in his proper position. Honour the people of honour, esteem the people of knowledge and respect the shaykhs. Be kind to the young and draw near to the common people. Be courteous to the impious but keep the company of the good. Do not disregard the authorities or demean anyone. Do not fall short in your chivalry and do not disclose your secrets to anyone or trust them until you have tested them. Do not socialise with the base or the weak. Do not accustom yourself to what you disapprove of outwardly.

Beware of speaking freely with fools. You must have courtesy, patience, endurance, good character and forbearance. Renew your clothing regularly, have a good mount and use a lot of what is good. Offer your food to people: a miser never prevails. You should have as your confidants those you know to be the best of people.

When you discern corruption, you should immediately rectify it. When you discern righteousness, you should increase your attention to it.

Act on behalf of those who visit you and those who do not. Be good to those who are good to you and those who are bad to you. Adopt pardon and command the correct. Ignore what does not concern you. Leave all that will harm you. Hasten to establish people’s rights.

If any of your brethren is ill, visit him yourself and send your messengers. Inquire after those who are absent. If any of them holds back from you do not hold back from him.

Show affection to people as much as possible and greet even blameworthy people. When you meet others in a gathering or join them in a mosque and questions are discussed in a way different to your position, do not rush to disagree. If you are asked, tell the people what you know and then say, “There is another position on it which is such-and-such, and the evidence is such-and-such.” If they listen to you, they will recognise your worth and the worth of what you have. If they ask, “Whose position is that?” reply, “One of the fuqahā”.

Give everyone who frequents you some of the knowledge they are expecting. Be friendly with them and joke with them sometimes and chat with them. Love encourages people to persevere in knowledge. Feed them sometimes and fulfil their needs. Acknowledge their worth and overlook their faults. Be kind to them and tolerant of them. Do not show them annoyance or vexation. Be like one of them. Do not burden people with what they cannot do.”

By Imtiyaz Damiel

Rebellion

A little child knows not, the dangers of the playground in the dark

And you see the stars shining but the fire that has caused them to spark

As their shining in the sky and an angry man throws on it sand

wishing he could be the shining star so he throws with his hand

but the sand falls back to him and the star continues to shine

that is the example of the man that acts blind

And that is the difference between hating and climbing the ladder

A hater knows not the responsibilities of the shiner

A hater is the man that just throws up the sand

But back at his face is where the sand is going to land

And there is a difference between getting a position

And a criminal versus a civil citizen there is a clean division

Difference between a theif and the one that earns his prize

Nothing special about a theif or a lie

A follower knows not the responsiblities of the leader

He wishes to become or be in the position of the leader

Or a rebel that gathers his following based on a persons wrong

But does not look within him and that will not make him any more strong

Because climbing up that ladder was not an easy task

The one that gets up there doesn't hide in a mask

The one that gets there stays true to his word

The one that teaches gets up there with love

And flies upto the sky like a glowing shining dove

Rights and responsiblities come in a combo

Just like the little child cant be responsible

And cannot understand the dangers of the playground in the dark

And cannot have the right to play or go very far

You are where you are because thats where you can be

If you wanted to get higher than know there is more responsibility

IF you think you have enough challenges in you life right now

Than I better not see a new hater frown

First learn to endure what is in your own life with patience

Than Allah will begin for you your next stage up! Your next mission

by zartasha

Everything Happens for a Reason

part of Al- Kahf)

(66) Moses said to him: "May I follow thee, on the footing that thou teach me something of the (Higher) Truth which thou hast been taught?" قالَ إِنَّكَ لَن تَستَطيعَ مَعِىَ صَبرًا ﴿٦٧﴾

(67) (The other) said: "Verily thou wilt not be able to have patience with me!" وَكَيفَ تَصبِرُ عَلىٰ ما لَم تُحِط بِهِ خُبرًا ﴿٦٨﴾

(68) "And how canst thou have patience about things about which thy understanding is not complete?" قالَ سَتَجِدُنى إِن شاءَ اللَّهُ صابِرًا وَلا أَعصى لَكَ أَمرًا ﴿٦٩﴾

(69) Moses said: "Thou wilt find me, if Allah so will, (truly) patient: nor shall I disobey thee in aught." قالَ فَإِنِ اتَّبَعتَنى فَلا تَسـَٔلنى عَن شَيءٍ حَتّىٰ أُحدِثَ لَكَ مِنهُ ذِكرًا ﴿٧٠﴾

(70) The other said: "If then thou wouldst follow me, ask me no questions about anything until I myself speak to thee concerning it." فَانطَلَقا حَتّىٰ إِذا رَكِبا فِى السَّفينَةِ خَرَقَها ۖ قالَ أَخَرَقتَها لِتُغرِقَ أَهلَها لَقَد جِئتَ شَيـًٔا إِمرًا ﴿٧١﴾

(71) So they both proceeded: until, when they were in the boat, he scuttled it. Said Moses: "Hast thou scuttled it in order to drown those in it? Truly a strange thing hast thou done!" قالَ أَلَم أَقُل إِنَّكَ لَن تَستَطيعَ مَعِىَ صَبرًا ﴿٧٢﴾

(72) He answered: "Did I not tell thee that thou canst have no patience with me?" قالَ لا تُؤاخِذنى بِما نَسيتُ وَلا تُرهِقنى مِن أَمرى عُسرًا ﴿٧٣﴾

(73) Moses said: "Rebuke me not for forgetting, nor grieve me by raising difficulties in my case." فَانطَلَقا حَتّىٰ إِذا لَقِيا غُلٰمًا فَقَتَلَهُ قالَ أَقَتَلتَ نَفسًا زَكِيَّةً بِغَيرِ نَفسٍ لَقَد جِئتَ شَيـًٔا نُكرًا ﴿٧٤﴾

(74) Then they proceeded: until, when they met a young man, he slew him. Moses said: "Hast thou slain an innocent person who had slain none? Truly a foul (unheard of) thing hast thou done!" قالَ أَلَم أَقُل لَكَ إِنَّكَ لَن تَستَطيعَ مَعِىَ صَبرًا ﴿٧٥﴾

(75) He answered: "Did I not tell thee that thou canst have no patience with me?" قالَ إِن سَأَلتُكَ عَن شَيءٍ بَعدَها فَلا تُصٰحِبنى ۖ قَد بَلَغتَ مِن لَدُنّى عُذرًا ﴿٧٦﴾

(76) (Moses) said: "If ever I ask thee about anything after this, keep me not in thy company: then wouldst thou have received (full) excuse from my side." فَانطَلَقا حَتّىٰ إِذا أَتَيا أَهلَ قَريَةٍ استَطعَما أَهلَها فَأَبَوا أَن يُضَيِّفوهُما فَوَجَدا فيها جِدارًا يُريدُ أَن يَنقَضَّ فَأَقامَهُ ۖ قالَ لَو شِئتَ لَتَّخَذتَ عَلَيهِ أَجرًا ﴿٧٧﴾

(77) Then they proceeded: until, when they came to the inhabitants of a town, they asked them for food, but they refused them hospitality. They found there a wall on the point of falling down, but he set it up straight. (Moses) said: "If thou hadst wished, surely thou couldst have exacted some recompense for it!" قالَ هٰذا فِراقُ بَينى وَبَينِكَ ۚ سَأُنَبِّئُكَ بِتَأويلِ ما لَم تَستَطِع عَلَيهِ صَبرًا ﴿٧٨﴾

(78) He answered: "This is the parting between me and thee: now will I tell thee the interpretation of (those things) over which thou wast unable to hold patience. أَمَّا السَّفينَةُ فَكانَت لِمَسٰكينَ يَعمَلونَ فِى البَحرِ فَأَرَدتُ أَن أَعيبَها وَكانَ وَراءَهُم مَلِكٌ يَأخُذُ كُلَّ سَفينَةٍ غَصبًا ﴿٧٩﴾

(79) "As for the boat, it belonged to certain men in dire want: they plied on the water: I but wished to render it unserviceable, for there was after them a certain king who seized on every boat by force. وَأَمَّا الغُلٰمُ فَكانَ أَبَواهُ مُؤمِنَينِ فَخَشينا أَن يُرهِقَهُما طُغيٰنًا وَكُفرًا ﴿٨٠﴾

(80) "As for the youth, his parents were people of Faith, and we feared that he would grieve them by obstinate rebellion and ingratitude (to Allah and man). فَأَرَدنا أَن يُبدِلَهُما رَبُّهُما خَيرًا مِنهُ زَكوٰةً وَأَقرَبَ رُحمًا ﴿٨١﴾

(81) "So we desired that their Lord would give them in exchange (a son) better in purity (of conduct) and closer in affection. وَأَمَّا الجِدارُ فَكانَ لِغُلٰمَينِ يَتيمَينِ فِى المَدينَةِ وَكانَ تَحتَهُ كَنزٌ لَهُما وَكانَ أَبوهُما صٰلِحًا فَأَرادَ رَبُّكَ أَن يَبلُغا أَشُدَّهُما وَيَستَخرِجا كَنزَهُما رَحمَةً مِن رَبِّكَ ۚ وَما فَعَلتُهُ عَن أَمرى ۚ ذٰلِكَ تَأويلُ ما لَم تَسطِع عَلَيهِ صَبرًا ﴿٨٢﴾

(82) "As for the wall, it belonged to two youths, orphans, in the Town; there was, beneath it, a buried treasure, to which they were entitled: their father had been a righteous man: So thy Lord desired that they should attain their age of full strength and get out their treasure - a mercy (and favour) from thy Lord. I did it not of my own accord. Such is the interpretation of (those things) over which thou wast unable to hold patience." وَيَسـَٔلونَكَ عَن ذِى القَرنَينِ ۖ قُل سَأَتلوا عَلَيكُم مِنهُ ذِكرًا ﴿٨٣﴾

(83) They ask thee concerning Zul-qarnain. Say, "I will rehearse to you something of his story

Quest to the Straight Path

(published in 2010)

http://issuu.com/tmvmag/docs/tmvmagazine2010

Picture yourself on a lighted road in the dark woods that leads straight from your difficult day at work and directly towards your home filled with security and peace where all your loved ones reside. You are driving while your GPS is guiding you on where to turn and how to get where you need to get. Except for this straight path, all the rest of the ways are filled with the darkness of the woods with paths leading to destinations away from your home. On each of these paths, there are things that tempt you to stop, to come there way, and lead you astray and are filled with all kind of evil. However, you have to stay firm and direct your love, efforts, attention towards reaching the safety of your home, your final destination point.  

In Islam, when we think about the straight path, sirat al mustaqeen which we recite in Al Fatiha, we are asking for something of this nature, to guide us to this straight path, the path upon which is the grace of Allah and not a path which earns Allah’s wrath. This is part of the verse that opens the Qur’an before leading to the many different stories about the kinds of people that went astray, and we recite Al Fatiha at the beginning of every prayer no matter what sect a person belongs to, all of us are seeking to walk on the same path, the straight path that will lead us towards Allah (swt).

To find this straight path, the GPS which is like our guide that will lead you home, is the Quran, and your destination point is Allah (swt). The path is lighted and it is clear and open. Iblis (satan) and his followers try to divert us from going to this straight path. The Quran mentions that there are seven gates of hell in the following verses; “Allah says  ‘This way of my sincere servants is indeed a way that leads straight to Me. For over My servants no authority shalt thou have, except such as put themselves in the wrong and follow thee. And verily, Hell is the promised abode for them all. To it are seven gates: for each of those gates is a special class of sinners assigned.” (Al Hijr; 41-44).  To understand what these satans are inviting us towards to follow them, we need to understand what the major sins are, and what the straight path is. Righteous deeds would be things like establishing the five daily prayers, respecting your parents, giving in charity, being good to neighbours, helping the needy and keeping a peaceful and clean environment around you where you constantly learn and recite the Qur’an. What the satans are inviting us towards may be things such as associating partners with Allah (swt), worshipping idols and false gods, evil within us such as pride, anger, depression, lust, envy, greed or gluttony that cause us to spread evil in the world while being in a state where what is wrong seems fair seeming to us. Consider when a person is extremely angry, they think it is okay to yell at someone, throw things around and sometimes even cause murder. Similarly when we enter an evil state the wrong seems fair seeming to us. These things divert us from the straight lighted path and into a different dark path in the woods. Consider, when doing something of the nature, are you doing it for Allah (swt)? Than how can it lead you closer towards him when your purpose and destination is no longer Allah?

While we are on this straight path the key thing we need to always remember is that when we strive, do deeds or work hard towards a goal, are we doing it for Allah (swt)? Or are we doing it for a worldy benefit. For example, is what we are doing to honor the family we are in, to follow our parents ways or are we doing it because we feel it is the right thing to do that Allah (swt) has commanded.  The good deeds that we are doing, are they to please and impress others so that they can accept us? Or, are they for Allah (swt). Are we doing good such as providing people with healthcare benefits because we are trying to help people for the sake of Allah (swt)or  are we doing it for wealth? Keeping clean and clear intentions while in prayer, while in school, while around a group of people, while preaching or discussing religion are all very important because in the end these are the things that are going to get you where you need to go and keep a clear direction and strong purpose to reach towards Allah (swt).

The Quran, finally, is our guide and it is not a weapon for us to use towards other people. It is not a political game to reach power, it is our guide. There are many examples of prophets, civilizations, individuals in the Qur’an and the examples of those people surround us today on every direction and even though there are wrong things happening around us, a lot of the time these are examples for us on what not to become. Similarly, there are righteous practicing Muslims that surround us and these are examples of what kind of people we need to become. The reality is that we need to strive within, find the best examples around us that follow most of the teachings, learn from the example of our prophet (pbuh) and strive to become like them. Out of mercy we can tell the people around us if they are doing something that is going to lead them to hell or are wrongdoing but only with the knowledge that they are going to listen to our advice or if we have guardianship over them, or a group of individuals striving towards the same goals to learn to correctly practice Islam. However, in the end it is ourselves we are constantly trying to improve. Islam was inspired, and not enforced and it is not right to enforce it on anyone because their intention is fear and not Allah (swt) and Islam is not a religion that can be successful through enforcing and so we must focus on ourselves and keep our own intentions clear. We shouldn’t be using the Quran as a weapon to prove why a person, or a sect is incorrect or look down upon anyone but we should study the Quran, and follow it to the best of our ability one step at a time because in the end, it is the firm belief in Allah, the five daily prayers, giving zakat, respecting parents, neighbours, helping the needy, giving in charity and protecting your chastity and purity that are going to guide a person towards their destination.

Just to name a few benefits of being a believer, A person that prays five times a day will be clean, organized, punctual with a clean. They will be giving, caring, honest and fair. Their face will be calm and they will have a kind loving and modest nature. Just a prayer follows many characteristics but at the same time we need to recognize that we are all striving and are not perfect but the practice of Islam changes a person’s life one step at a time.  

Once we begin to use the Qur’an as a guide, practice the fundamental principles of islam, avoid the sins and keep our intention clear of what our destination needs to be, than we will be guided to the straight path. I am not going to say that the straight way is easy because the further you go on the straight path, the greater the diversions to lead us astray to another destination, but still, we have to strive towards the right goal to fulfill the purpose of our life.

Subhan'Allah

speech reminder !!

Speak the truth –- Al Qur’an 3:17

Speak straight –- Al Qur’an 33:70

Speak justice –- Al Qur’an 6:152

Speak kindly –- Al Qur’an 2:83

Speak politely –- Al Qur’an 17:53

Speak fairly –- Al Qur’an 17:28

Speak gently –- Al Qur’an 20:44

Speak graciously –- Al Qur’an 17:23

Speak not in vain –- Al Qur’an 23:3

Speak no lie –- Al Qur’an 22:30

Speak not to backbite - Al Qur’an 49:12

Speak not without proof –- Al Qur’an 2:111

Speak no slander –- Al Qur’an 33:58

Struggles Against Shaitan

This article is based on research following the seven gates of hell. The one based on heaven is written almost a year after wards.

Why did Allah (swt) Create Hell, Heaven and Earth 

The Following Article however is based on a movie called "seven" as well as the seven gates of hell..

Both Articles are advised although the research definately does not capture the unlimited amount of knowledge. There have been no books written on "the seven gates of hell" in Islamic literature although the Qur'an does mention there are seven.

Overcoming Pride

Overcoming Anger

Overcoming Depression

Overcoming  Lust

Overcoming Envy 

Overcoming Greed

Gluttony (not written)

Again, these concept are more based on bad psychological roots to psychological diseases. I am unsure as to the correlation they have with Islam. 

Smallness of Needs and Greatness of Purpose - Table of Contents

Introduction

Putting the Ego Aside: Table of Contents

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Iblish
• Pharoah
• Abu Lahab
• Harmful Intentions behind Righteous Actions
• A few practical examples
• Self Worship
• Relationship between Tawheed and Ego
• Life of the faithful ego (role models and examples)

Family Relationships; Parents Lecture

Family Relationships; Parents

*The following information has been deprived from the site and is not written by my and the information is not taken from my search in the Quran or tafsir by Abdullah Yusuf Ali as I was unable to find any information on the upbringing of children: 
http://www.islamweb.net/emainpage/index.php?id=150794&page=articles

Parents’ responsibilities for the care and upbringing of their children are mentioned in several verses of the Quran, as well as in the Hadeeth.

Allaah Almighty Says (what means): “O you who have believed, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones…" [Quran 66:6]

How do we ward off that fire from our families? We need to show to them the right way and to teach them the difference between right and wrong. An excellent example of this is found in the words of Luqmaan to his son, related in the Quran, where he admonishes him:

1. Not to ascribe divine powers to anything other than Allaah.
2. To be good and kind to parents.
3. To obey parents unless they command what is wrong.
4. To understand that all our deeds, however minor, are recorded and will be brought to light.
5. To be constant in prayer.
6. To enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong.
7. To bear what befalls him with patience.
8. To avoid pride, arrogance and boastfulness.

9. To be modest in manner and speech.
This is a model example of parental responsibility and advice. Luqmaan guides his own son on the path to paradise with simple but memorable words.

Children are a trust given to the parents. Parents will be held accountable for this trust on the Day of Judgment. Parents are essentially responsible for the moral, ethical and the basic and essential religious teachings of their children. 
If parents fulfill this responsibility, they will be free of the consequences on the Day of Judgment. The children will become better citizens and a pleasure to the eyes of their parents, first in this life, and in the Hereafter. 
Allaah, Almighty Says (what means): “And those who believed and whose descendants followed them in faith – We will join with them their descendants, and We will not deprive them of anything of their deeds. Every person, for what he earned, is retained...” [Quran 52:21] 
This parental responsibility belongs not only to the father. The Prophet  is reported to have said: "Take care! Each of you is a shepherd and each of you shall be asked concerning his flock; a leader is a shepherd of his people, and he shall be asked concerning his flock; and a man is a shepherd of the people of his house, and he shall be asked concerning his flock; and a woman is a shepherd of the house of her husband and over their children, and she shall be asked concerning them.” [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]

Indeed the mother’s role may be even greater: while the children are young they are very close to her and dependent upon her, and they spend more time with her than with anyone else. There is an Arabic saying: “The mother is the first school”. She may be a good school, an indifferent or even a bad school. She may even be unaware that she is serving as a role model in her behavior, and her attitudes. Every mother should be conscious of her role and do her best to make it beneficial for the development of her children as they set out on the journey of life.

Parental care and guidance are fundamental to child upbringing. Some parents nowadays become so preoccupied with their jobs or with making money or with their social lives that children are often neglected. They may be ignored or left for hours with the television or computer or they may be sent to day-care centers at a very early age to be cared for in groups by other people.

The parents’ right to respect from their children is dependent upon the children’s right to loving care and guidance of their parents.

It is related that a man once came to ‘Umar ibn Al-Khattaab, the second Khaleefah (Caliph) of Islam  complaining of his sons’ disobedience to him. ‘Umar summoned the boy and spoke of his disobedience to his father and his neglect of his rights. The boy replied: “O Ameer al-Mu’mineen (Prince of believers)! Hasn’t a child rights over his father?”
“Certainly”, replied ‘Umar.
“What are they, Ameer al-Mu’mineen?”
“That he should choose his mother, give him a good name and teach him the Book (the Quran).”
“O Ameer al-Mu’mineen! My father did nothing of this. My mother was a Magian (fire worshipper). He gave me the name of Julalaan (meaning dung beetle or scarab) and he did not teach me a single letter of the Quran.”
Turning to the father, ‘Umar  said: “You have come to me to complain about the disobedience of your son. You have failed in your duty to him before he has failed in his duty to you; you have done wrong to him before he has wronged you.”

Education and bringing up in Islam

Allaah Almighty Says (what means): “This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion..." [Quran 5: 3]

Education is the process by which children are nurtured as they grow up to develop the Islamic worldview and the Islamic virtues.

Education means to look after, to nurture, to nourish, to help grow and flourish. It implies certain sensitivity towards the child under your care, his emotional and physical needs and capacities. It implies the ability to inspire confidence. It implies the courage to allow and promote creativity and innovation. It implies the ability to trust and not to stifle, to be firm when needed and even to impose sanctions when necessary.

The starting point for education is the example of parents. Small children take their parents as models. If parents are lazy and careless, the children will also take laziness and carelessness as normal. If they tell lies, children will regard lying as normal and acceptable. The same applies to smoking, drinking, rude manners, swearing and all other bad habits. There is no way parents can motivate their children to practice the Islamic virtues if they themselves do not respect the values and try to practice them also. As children grow up, they will only perceive the inconsistency or even hypocrisy in their parents’ approach.

It is important not to crush a child’s spirit and joy about life by terrorizing him/her, whether physically or psychologically. Children must play. It is the way they learn, and is not in itself something bad. Parents should give the child opportunities to play and to experience the excitement of exploration, of learning and of growing up.

At the same time, parents should teach children Islamic manners and etiquette in accordance with the beautiful example of the Prophet .

Such habits include truthfulness and honesty, gentleness, politeness, consideration for others, helpfulness, cleanliness and tidiness.

They also include:
1. Time management and doing things at the right time.
2. Physical exercise for fitness.
3. Mental exercise and developing an appetite for knowledge, understanding and skills.
4. Learning to read and recite the Quran from an early age when the child’s memory finds it easy.
5. Development of regular performance of Prayer between the ages of 7 and 10.
6. Taking on responsibilities in the family.
7. Taking on responsibilities in the wider community as children grow up.

Above all, correct education should ensure that children develop a love for Islam, a love for Allaah and His Prophet  and that they develop a feeling of pride in being Muslim and willingness to strive for the good of others. They need to realize the benefits of Islam, the foundations on which it is based and their need for Islam. They need to value Islam and live by Islamic values.

It is the responsibility of the parents to experiment with various ways of achieving those goals.

Islamic education and Muslim schools 
If parents are to get the best results for their children in Muslim schools, they must know what the Muslim school is trying to do. Parents need to understand that while the school basically may be following a National Curriculum (which in some countries may be compulsory), the teaching approach is expected to be holistic. Therefore it is not just a matter of teaching Islamic Studies, Quran and Arabic under the same roof as Arts and Sciences, but of developing an integrated Islamic perspective on all forms of knowledge right across the curriculum. At the same time, the school is trying to cultivate good attitudes, behavior and manners in accordance with the teachings of Islam.

'Aishah  is reported to have said of the Prophet  that: “His behavior was the Quran (in practice)”. [Ahmad] To take the Prophet  as a “beautiful example” means not just to imitate his outward actions or practices but also to base our own motivation and actions on the Quran as he did, in a way that is appropriate to the place and time in which we happen to live.

The approach of a modern Muslim School, which may be located in a modern “secular” or non-Islamic type of environment, cannot be like that of Islamic education of the recent past, when teaching relied much on repetition and memorization and uncritical acceptance of the teachers’ word. The Islamic teaching must relate with the society in which the pupils live, with the state of modern knowledge and with the beliefs of other people (probably the majority) in the country where the school is located. If Muslim children are to grow up as witnesses to the truth in a non-Muslim society, they need to understand that society and to develop an objective and critical approach, so that they can appreciate whatever is good in it, avoid its evils and reach out to the non-Muslims, presenting the truths of Islam in a way they can understand Islam and relate to it. 

Family Relationships

This Section of the Blog is focused on family relationships and is based on the Qur'an and the Qur'an tafsir by Abdullah Yusuf Ali. Each section is focused on that specific role. For example, the section "children" is focused on the responsibilities of the child in relation the parent. The section "parent" is focused on the relation of the parent to the child and the parent's responsibilities. Similarly, "husband" is the responsibilities of the husband in relation to the wife and "wife" is the responsibilities of the wife in relation to the husband and so on.

The reason it is written in this way is to remind ourselves of our responsibilities more than our rights. Rather than worrying about what the parents do for you or what your children are supposed to have been treating you like, the focus is on each specific responsibility.

Let's not forget that on the day of judgement, Allah (swt) is not going to ask us what our parents did for us whether we will be asked about whether or not we fulfilled our responsibilities. Their account of deeds is with them and ours is with us. 

Table of Contents

Parents

Children

Husband 

Wife

Brothers
Sisters
Grandparents

Aunts
Uncles
Cousins
Far Relatives

Conclusion to Sabr

May Allah (swt) help us all to have sabr during all times. It is a very difficult challenge, and it is hidden inside our hearts. Nobody will know this about you except for yourself and Allah (swt). It cannot be judged. It is not apparant like hijab, charity, prayer, recitation, it is hidden. Only through sincere faith can this virtue be obtained.
May Allah (swt) help us attain the virtue of sabr. (insh'Allah)

Nobody said it was going to be easy, Allah (swt) is letting you know though that it is definately worth it.