Probation on Earth

by zartasha zainab

Al-Ghafur, Ar Raheem defines who He is.

Accepting of Repentence and Mercy in bliss

He is the subtle, aware of the violence, and aggression

Yet for a time respite is granted for those many transgressions

With hope and mercy to His slave He turns

Doors wide open to those who repent and learn

Pardon granted for those who try

And in this testing life, continue to strive

The conscious voice to purify

And bring to life what is inside

A light that shines to guide us through

To be close to Him an invitation to you

Or would you after this choose another way?

When Allah blessed you as His honored creation whom Iblis longed to lead astray?

Would you than turn away from this invitation?

Even so time is passing your life with deterioration?

What excuse than shall you bring?

Life’s 25 550 days

How many chances the Merciful Lord gave?

Than who do you fear and what do you chase?

A fading shadow or your longing desires?

When the way was given to cease that fire?

Probation on earth, this testing period he gave us all

With death and life so why than do you stall?

Turn to your Lord before its too late.

 Turn to your lord before its too late.

(c) 2013

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(2) Quotes 2010-2011
(3) Qutoes 2012-2013
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Quotes 2012-2013

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repay good with with equal/better. repay evil with justice/forgiveness. 

The Doors of Sadaqah

Abu Dhar al-Ghafari said: “The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wasallam) said: ‘Sadaqah is prescribed for every person every day the sun rises.’ I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, from what do we give sadaqah if we do not possess property?’ He said: ‘The doors of sadaqah are takbir (Allahu Akbar), Subhan Allah, Alhamdulillah, La-ilaha-ilAllah, Astaghfirullah, enjoining good, forbidding evil, removing thorns, bones and stones from the paths of people, guiding the blind, listening to the deaf and dumb until you understand them, guiding a person to his object of need if you know where it is, hurrying with the strength of your legs to one in sorrow who is appealing for help, and supporting the weak with the strength of your arms. These are all the doors of sadaqah.” [Ahmad]

In other words one does not need to have financial resources to earn the reward of sadaqah. There are many deeds that qualify as sadaqah with Allah (subhana wa ta’ala). In addition to those listed above the following ordinary courtesies are also sadaqah if we do them with the intention of pleasing Allah with them.

1. To administer justice between two people is sadaqah.
2. To assist a man upon his mount so that he may ride it is sadaqah.
3. To place his luggage on the animal is sadaqah. 
4. A good word is sadaqah.
5. Every step taken toward prayer is sadaqah.
6. Your smile for your brother is sadaqah.
7. Planting anything from which a person, an animal or anything eats is sadaqah.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "If anyone travels on a road in search of knowledge, God will cause him to travel on one of the roads of Paradise. The angels will lower their wings in their great pleasure with one who seeks knowledge. The inhabitants of the heavens and the Earth and (even) the fish in the deep waters will ask forgiveness for the learned man. The superiority of the learned over the devout is like that of the moon, on the night when it is full, over the rest of the stars. The learned are the heirs of the Prophets, and the Prophets leave (no monetary inheritance), they leave only knowledge, and he who takes it takes an abundant portion. - Sunan of Abu-Dawood, Hadith 1631

"Felicity.
When your heart feels so free it soars in the sky.
So light and weightless, as if carried by Angels of Mercy and Glad-tidings.
Mind of purity and clarity.
Vision that’s clear of clouds. 
No mist. No chains.
No burdens or pains.
Hands are freed up, speech flows again.
You can breathe.
Time is blessed, lands are blessed.
Days are a beauty and nights pass in serenity.
God’s creatures smile as if to acknowledge the bliss.
Even the trees rustle; I can hear their tasbih.
Gratitude only increases the goodness, as if the Promise is more than just that.
It’s a certainty.
It’s freedom. Freedom from the world.
But the world’s inexperienced want to define it.
They are baffled. The more the tests, the happier we become.
Freedom.
Allah gives it to some so they enter the Paradise of this world before the Next.
And some are deprived so they remain imprisoned; 
Either to be released in the Hereafter and or to be sentenced.
He is the King of Kings; A Most Generous King.
And it’s a felicity.
A serenity. 
I found it in the places of prayer.
It’s there again whenever I open the Book.
Like a magnificent robe, it gently wraps and protects.
Freedom and felicity,
They take root in the heart when the heart is watered with faith and sustained with Islam."

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” ~ Martin Luther King

Beauty is the goal. Beauty of the heart. Judge every experience in life as either good or bad, not based on how much pleasure or pain it brought, but based on how beautiful or ugly it made your heart.
-yasmin mogahed

“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.” 
― Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

Inside the Great Mystery that is, we don’t really own anything. What is this competition we feel then, before we go, one at a time, through the same gate? -Rumi

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "If you guarantee me six things on your part I shall guarantee you Paradise. Speak the truth when you talk, keep a promise when you make it, when you are trusted with something fulfill your trust, avoid sexual immorality, lower your eyes, and restrain your hands from injustice."
[Bukhari]

Say He is Allah - the One & Only
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKGcJ_0UGvs

Don't think of the trials in your life ('balaa') as just a 'test' in the human form. Allah is not like a professor who hands you a test, moves away and just watches from afar to see how you'll do. Allah is our murabee--the One who raises us with more mercy than a mother raises a child. The Prophet (pbuh) tells us that when Allah wills good for someone, he sends them 'balaa' (trials or tests). When Allah wills good for us, He purifies us. That is why each person is tested in what they love most. In other words our greatest possible 'competitor' in our love for God is what is withheld or must be sacrificed. This is the purification process because it cures the heart of competitors. Why was Prophet Ibrahim (AS) asked to slaughter the most beloved thing to him? Did Allah actually want him to *kill* his son? No. He didn't kill his son. He killed the attachment. By being willing to sacrifice what he loved most, he had slaughtered any possible competing love. Allah was raising him, purifying him and elevating him. Allah tell us, “By no means shall you attain righteousness unless you give (freely) of that which you love.” (3:92)

‎[29:1-3] Alif. Lam. Mim. Do the people think that they will be left alone after they have once said, "We have believed," and they will not be tested? The fact is that we have put to test all those who have gone before them. Surely, Allah has to see who are the truthful and who the liars.

A lesson of humility: What was the lesson to be learned from this little epitome in history? Not an appeal to man's self glory, but humility. not an appeal to man's selfishness, or self sufficiency but a realization of Allah's Grace and Mercy. and the abundant outpouring of Allah's Grace and Mercy and the Abundant OUtpouring of Allah's praise in word and conduct. (Surah Nasr Qur'an Tafsir)

"It has reached me that one of the wise people said reliance has three degrees, first: giving up complaining, second, contentment, third: love. Giving up complaining is the degree of steaffastness. Conetentment is the tranquility of the heart towards that which is decreed for one and that is higher than the former. Love is that one love is for that which Allah does with one. The first is the degree of those who do without. The second is that of the truthful. The third is that of the messengers.

If the one who relies upon Allah is patient with whatever provision and other things Allah decrees for him, then he is steadfast. If he is pleased with whatever is decreed for him after it happens, then he is content. If he has entirely no choice nor any contentment except with that which has been decreed fro him, then that is the rank of the lovers who are gnostics.

Umar ibn abd al aziz used to say "i have become such that I only have happiness in the places of the general and specific decrees"


‎"This world cannot break you—unless you give it permission. And it cannot own you unless you hand it the keys – unless you give it your heart. And so, if you have handed those keys to dunya for a while—take them back. This isn’t the End. You don’t have to die here. Reclaim your heart and place it with its rightful owner:
God."
- Yasmin Mogahed

It is possible that a person has a need for something… so he earnestly prays and requests Allah for it, until the sweetness of asking and imploring Allah is opened for him. So he enjoys being humbled before Him, and trying to draw closer to Him, using His Names and Attributes, and his heart becomes void of eveything besides Him, and he cuts off any relationship or hope for good from anyone else – all of which would never have occurred had it not been for his need… So it is possible that what good has come about because of this state of his is even greater, and more pleasing to him, than the actual need (that was the cause of such a state), to such an extent that he wishes to continue in this state, and prefers it over the actual fulfillment of his need. So his happiness due to this state is greater than the happiness he would achieve had his need actually been fulfilled. Some of those that have recognized (the signs of Allah) have stated: “Sometimes, I have a certain need (that I wish to ask) Allah, so I ask Him earnestly. Then, I find that the door of dialogue opens up for me, and I recognize Allah more (i.e. become more aware of Him), and feel humbled before Him, due to which I prefer that the answer to my prayer be delayed, so that this state may continue!" - Ibn al-Qayyim 

To love Allah, to know Him intimately, to remember Him constantly, to find peace and rest in Him, to make Him alone the ultimate object of love, fear, hope and trust, to base one's act on His control of His servants cares, aspirations and will - such is the world's Heaven, and such is a blessing with which no other blessing can compare

-ibn Qayyim al Jawziyyah

"Be Soft.
Do not let the world make you hard.
Do not let the pain make you hate.
Do not let the bitterness steal your sweetness.
Take pride that even though the rest of the world may disagree, you still believe it to be a beautiful place.
Be Soft. Be Love."


Truly in the heart there is a void that cannot be removed except with the company of Allah. And in it there is a sadness that cannot be removed except with the happiness of knowing Allah and being true to Him. And in it there is an emptiness that cannot be filled except with love for Him and by turning to Him and always remembering Him. And if a person were given all of the world and what is in it, it would not fill this emptiness.”
--Ibnul Qayyim

Allah (swt) says 
'I am with my slave when he thinks of Me and I am with him when he mentions Me. For if he mentions Me to himself, I mention him to Myself; and if he mentions Me in a gathering, I mention him in superior gathering. If he approaches Me by a hand's width, I approach him by an arm's length, I approach him by two arms length. And if he comes to me walking, I hasten to him swiftly.'" [Bukhari 8/171, Muslim 4/2061; this wording is from Al-Bukhari]

Allah is the light of the heavens and the earth; a likeness of His light is as a niche in which is a lamp, the lamp is in a glass, (and) the glass is as it were a brightly shining star, lit from a blessed olive-tree, neither eastern nor western, the oil whereof almost gives light though fire touch it not-- light upon light-- Allah guides to His light whom He pleases, and Allah sets forth parables for men, and Allah is Cognizant of all things.

"If Allah brings you to it, He will bring you through it. Happy moments, praise Allah. Difficult moments, seek Allah. Quiet moments, worship Allah. Painful moments, trust Allah. Every moment, thank Allah."

put you're trust back where its due:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSCL1Ofajjs&feature=related 

hasbiyallahu la illaha illahu tawakaltu wahuwa rabbul arshil adheem.


‘Souls are like conscripted
soldiers; those whom they recognise, they get along with, and
those whom they do not recognise, they will not get along
with.’” (Sahih Al-Bukhari)

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Moral Development: Table of Contents

(1) Surah Nas and Moral Development

(2) Ramdhan and Moral Development

Ramadhan and Moral Development

  I remember trying to decipher the purpose of ramadhan last year writing for the message, and than coming to the next meeting feeling empty as there was so much more insight to ramadhan. If we were to sit down and count the billion blessings of fasting in ramadhan, and fasting properly, it is possible that each year, there is another source to be awed by another discovery about the benefits of fasting, or the benefits of wudu, or the benefits of eating halal, or the benefits of zakah in community. We cannot ever grasp the entirety of the divine wisdom behind the commands of Allah swt, so this year, I share more insight I gained regarding benefits of Ramadhan as well as how we can benefit from it. The focus of this year’s insight is towards fasting and moral development as well as practical implementation of internal states.

 The purpose of fasting is so that we can learn self restraint, so that we can be purified so that you may be rightly guided and attain taqwa. (Sh. Nouman Ali Khan) In brief, the purpose of fasting is so that you may attain taqwa. Taqwa is the goal. Let’s focus on a few aspects of moral development through this claim by Sh. Nouman Ali Khan.

Self Restraint:

·         DON’T EAT: Delay all gratification and be able to “not eat or drink” between sehri time till iftar time

·         DON”T LOOSE CONTROL of YOURSELF: Internalize values and be able to self regulate your own behavior:  quran recitation, attend halaqas (moral dialogues)/educational programs/peer discussion on moral issues and exploring solutions

·         Do not violating others rights through arguing, fighting, lying, backbiting (ghibat, or violence)

·         DO NOT INFLICT relational violence (destroying interpersonal relationships, excluding peers, besmirch others reputations, backstabbing, gossiping, causing social and psychological maladjustment) and physical violence (physical harm).

Purification: Your mind and body should look something like…

·         Do wudu and ghusl when required and be clean (cut nails and all bodily purification)

·         Pray. (5 regular prayers + sunnah prayers + nafl prayers + tahajjud, taraweeh)

·         Develop tawakkul (trust in Allah swt)

·         Swallow your anger. You will be rewarded for this

·         The Prophet pbuh said “IF any of you become angry while standing then let him sit down. Then if the anger leaves him, but if  not then let him lie down” (Abu Dawud) – COOL DOWN

·         “And those who swallow their rage and pardon people. Allah loves the doers of good.” (Surah Al Imran; 134)

·         Do not listen to music or watch anything with explicit, inappropriate content

·         And say to the believing men that they should lower your gaze and guard your modesty, that will be purer for them and Allah is aquinted with all that they do. And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty…...”(Qur’an 24:30-31)

·         Do not come near sin

·         Avoid inconsiderate Violence in video games, television, and other explicit content as this may immune you to becoming empathetic

·         Do not take out your anger on others/objects : This is known as catharsis (discharging aggressive impulses by engaging in symbolic aggressive acts that do not harm another person) i.e. a “punching bag”. Do not take out your frustrations on a chosen victim/object. This will not control/reduce your frustrations and is in fact related to elevated aggression. Find a cognitive solution + you will attain gunnah. This shows that the tactic of cooling down, sitting, lying down, and so on is more practical and beneficial (score for hadith :D)

·         Purify your mind body, and soul: Conflicts furthermore arise chemical imbalances and leakages of chemicals occur in the brain including High testosterone levels, High astradiol levels and Low serotonin (inability to control emotions) levels

·         Chemicals associated with appetite released when seeing food

·         If  you chose not to lower your gaze, purify your thoughts, hormones will be released so watch your activities, thoughts and behaviours carefully and purify your inner states.

Rightly Guided – Your activities should look something like….

·         Pray

·         Understand how It feels to not have food for those in poorer or less privilages societies

·         Donate and give charity and zakat to less privilaged

·         Be empathetic, speak politely, be kind, and considerate to those around you first to your parents, help in chores, give kind salutations with the assurance of peace, or a sincere “salam”, involve people in groups and be helpful

·         Help in chores

·         Give counsel

·         The Prophet pbuh said “Whoever eases a distress of the world for a mumin, Allah will ease one of the distresses of the Day of Rising for him. Whoever makes it easy for someone in difficulty, Allah will make it easy for him in the world and the Next Life. Whoever conceals the wrong action of a muslim, Allah will conceal his wrong action in the world and the next life. Allah is redy to help the slave as long as the slave is ready to help his brother…..” (Abu Hurayrah, Muslim)

·         Maintain good ties and relationships (visit relatives, do iftar get togethers)

·         Reciting and understanding the quran and praying regularly and try to internalize what the Qur’an is saying

·         No matter what! Be Honest, sincere, truthful, polite

·         Be prosocial (empathic, sharing, caring, considerate, kind, helpful, comforting, donating, cooperative, unified)

·         Internalized Values which result in higher self discipline and self regulation

Taqwa (God-Conscioucne) – You internal state should look something like…..

·         Pray – develop a close relationship and awareness of Allah swt

·         Fear Hell (avoid punishments, Fear Hell and be conscience of the result of your actions and what it may bring)

·         Try to attain Jannah (have hope that all of your efforts will be rewarded if they are done sincerely so keep working on your good deeds)

·         Respect the authority and keep good relations with family, community, society

·         Understand the shariah and system of the home/country/organization that you are a part of

·         Be empathetic and considerate and compassionate: Do not violate people’s rights

·         Understand a piece of the divine wisdom of the Allah swt, the omnipotent creator, the authority, Lord, Cherisher of the Universe and attain and listen to the voice of the consioucne

·         The Prophet pbuh said “Boy, I will teach you some words: Be mindful of Allah and He will be mindful of you. Be mindful of Allah and you will find Him facing you. When you ask, then ask Allah. When you seek help, then seek help from Allah. Know that if the Ummah gathered together to benefit you with something, they would only benefit you with something that Allah had already written for you. If they gathered together to harm you with something, they would only harm you with something that Allah had already written against you. The pens have been lifted and the pages have dried. (Tirmidhi & Sahih)

·         We have instructed those given the Book before you and you yourselves to have taqwa of Allah” (Surah Nisa; 131)

I hope that this article was beneficial and if I made any mistakes, it is of my own human capacities and Allah swt knows best. I also hope that this series of activities to do during ramadhan will be beneficial and that we may all develop morally in this blessed month. Ameen.

Is He "THE ONE" for Me?

Shahiq

For those who reject Their Lord and Cherished is the Penalty of Hell. And evil is (such) destination. When they are cast therein they will hear the terrible drawing in of its breath. Even as it blazes forth.(Quran: 67 6-7)

The term used is means (sobs) was contrasted with zafir (sighs). in the one case it is the drawing in of breath and in the other the emission of a deep breath. Here the latter process is represented by the verb fara, to swell, to blaze forth, to gush forth. fara was applied to the gushing forth of the waters of the Flood: here the verb is applied to the blazing forth of the Fire of Punishment. Fire is personified: in its intake it has a fierce appetite: in the flames which it throws out it has a fierce aggressiveness. And yet in ultimate result evil meets the same fate whether typified by water or fire. (Abdullah Yusuf Ali)

 _______________________________________________

When I read this surah. ayah, i kept asking myself what it mean that those who rejected faith will be thrown into hell and than will hear the drawign of its breath and fire blazing. In the word for word translation it translated that it will be as though it is inhaling and as though it is boiling. While making a recipe gone severly wrong, a part of me looked at this (refer to video underneath) and as I watched it, it seems as though it was inhaling deeply, and than as though boiling and blazing up. Is this what it must look like? shahiq? except that it would be the fire of hell? (lava?) Except that it would be the hottest of all fires and it would be burning. But just imagine. Looking at the boiling almost inhaling personification (recipe gone wrong) it made me think this is probably what it must look like. personified.

Allah's Attributes (swt)

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He is al-Raqib - the Watchful. You're never really alone, and you're never really free to do as you please. The eyes of Mankind may be diverted away from you but the Eyes of Allah never sleep. He is al-Raqib Who watches His servants, each and every one of them; He watches over you and never does He lose sight of you. He watches your actions, and watches what goes on inside you. Blessed is the person who remembers al-Raqib and in turns develops within themselves what is called 'al-muraqabah' - to act under the watchful Eye of Allah and constantly be in an amazing state of awareness.

Al-Raqib...

He is al-Fattah - The Opener. He creates a way when there seems to be no way and opens a door when there seems to be no key. He is the Judge Who decides what is best, and guides you when confusion overtakes you. Whenever you reach your dead end, don't stand there wondering what's happened, instead call out to the only One who can create a path from absolutely nowhere: 'Ya Fattah, iftah 'alayya!' (O Opener of ways, open up my way).

He is al-Fattah, and as He opens up the skies upon the dead earth, and breaks away the darkness with the dawn, so too can He open up upon your dead heart, open your eyes to solutions, remove your obstacles, and grant you a way out.

Al-Fattah...

He is al-'Aziz - The Honourable and AlMighty. No amount of transgression can tarnish His 'izzah (glory) and no amount of disobedience can lower His Might. He is al-'Aziz. To Him belongs ultimate 'izzah and as such, He grants it only to those of His slaves who seek it through Him Alone, who do not seek it in other than Him, and are thus saved from the dark depths of hypocrisy.

"... And all honour, power and glory belong to Allah, His Messenger, and to the believers, but the hypocrites do not know." [al-Munafiqun: 8]

Al-'Aziz..

He is al-Sabur - the Patient. Every day we transgress His limits, we fall short of His Rights, and we forget Him. But in patience He remains and forbearance does He show, for He is al-Sabur. Don't you see how they ascribe partners and a son to Him, how they blaspheme against Him, how they deny His very Existence, but still He keeps them alive, still He provides for them, still He gives them Signs and gives them more time.

Al-Sabur...

He is al-Mu'akhir - the Delayer. He delays certain things out of Mercy for us, but out of ignorance we become impatient. Instead of having a good opinion of Him, a deeper certainty in His Power, and more trust in His Ways, we instead become anxious, resentful, and unhappy. Our Iman (faith) then takes a dip because we've failed to understand. But He is al-Mu'akhir. He delays out of goodness. Does He not delay punishing the creation for their sins, so that they can come to repent?

Al-Mu'akhir...

He is al-Mubdi' - the Initiator. He initiated the creation and began it from nothing. He originated the heavens and the earth when they were non-existent. He is al-Mubdi' who initiates new things in your life, and creates new circumstances - some as a blessing, some as a test, and some to just bring change into your life and a different direction. He creates you and creates your way and all that you will meet therein.

But just as He is al-Mubdi', He is also al-Mu'eed - the One who repeats. As He created the first time, He will repeat it. As He constructed existence once, He will repeat it. But also, that smile He once placed on your face, He can certainly repeat that. Those days of joy He caused to take place, He can certainly bring those back. And just as He created certain things in your life, He can certainly repeat them. The Dunya encircles, and comes back on itself, history repeats and comes back on itself, all because of the Hand of al-Mu'eed... will we then be steadfast?

al-Mubdi' wal-Mu'eed...

He is al-Khafidh - the Abaser. And He is al-Rafi' - the Exalter. He is al-Mu'izz - the Giver of Honour. And He is al-Mudhill - the Debaser.

He raises whom He Wills and lowers whom He wills. He hands the kingdom to whoever He wishes and seizes it from whoever He wishes And such are the days that He gives to Mankind; days weighed upon scales that tip according to the Decree of al-Khafidh al-Rafi', al-Mu'izz al-Mudhill. Don't you see how civilizations rise only to fall after some time? Don't you see how the oppressed of yesterday become the leaders of tomorrow? Don't you see how the famous disappear into anonymity and the unknown one becomes the well-known and remembered? The Scale of Allah tips and so we see extraordinary days, incredible history, and ironic happenings. He is al-Rafi' al-Mu'izz Who raises His humble Slaves, and He is al-Khafidh al-Mudhill Who lowers every arrogant head. He turns tables as He turns the earth, and He does so with Wisdom in a Supreme Law which cannot be surpassed.

"Say: 'O Allah! Possessor of the kingdom, You give the kingdom to whom You will, and You take the kingdom from whom You will, and You endue with honour whom You will, and You humiliate whom You will. In Your Hand is all good. Verily, You are Able to do all things.'" [Aal 'Imran: 26]

He is al-Qahhar - The Irresistible and Supreme. He is the one Whom souls recognise and stand in awe of. His Strength is overpowering and dominating; it breaks and defeats forces you can see and forces you cannot see. He is al-Qahhar who causes the backs of the oppressors to break, the necks of the Mushrikin (polytheists) to lower, and the soul of every Man and Jinn to submit at the time of death. He is al-Qahhar to Whom everything in the heavens and the earth pays heed to, prostrates to, respects and fears so deeply. The King of Kings. The AlMighty and Supreme. Nothing can break away from His Grip when He seizes and nothing can escape His Sight or Knowledge.

"He is the Irresistible, Supreme over His slaves, and He sends guardians over you, until when death approaches one of you, Our Messengers take his soul, and they never neglect their duty." [al-An'am: 61]

He is al-Hafeedh - The Preserver. All that He preserves is protected, and all that is protected by Him remains. He preserves our bodies, mind, and our very existence, and thus we're saved every day from accidents and catastrophes. He preserves our faith for us so we see ourselves being guided to knowledge, benefiting from reminders, and meeting the right people. Of the greatest thing that He has preserved is the Qur'an, and look at how it is: No word or chapter has ever changed, it remains lofty and unchallenged, and He has even appointed slaves of His to guard it; Angels from the creation above and huffadh (memorisers) from the creation on earth. He is al-Hafeedh Who can preserve you from all evil if He so wishes, so ask for the Hifdh and Ri'ayah (care) of Allah, and He will take you under His Protection.

He is al-'Adhim - the Great. He is the AlMighty and Powerful, the Exalted, Magnificent and the Most Majestic. When you realise the greatness of Allah, you begin to see how small and trivial certain things are in life. When you think about the greatness of His Kingdom in the Hereafter, you will begin to see the insignificance of this world. He is al-'Adhim with nothing greater than Him, no rival or contestant. He is our ultimate focus and He is the greatest that we can ever behold; the greatest that our minds can ever come to know, and the greatest that our hearts can ever love. Our sacrifice for Him is the greatest sacrifice, our intentions for Him are the greatest, and our deeds for Him are the greatest of deeds, simply because He is the Greatest.

Tabarakta ya Rabbana wa Ta'alayt (Blessed be You, Our Lord, and Ever-Lofty are You).

Al-'Adhim...

He is al-Wali - the Friend. He is your Friend, as well as your Creator and Lord. He is your Ally against the world, and your Protective Supporter in your time of need. We cannot begin to imagine how close He is to us. Closer than the jugular vein in our neck He said, so how close must He be... He is a Friend to your soul seeing as though He made it and knows it better than you. Everyone has an ally and a defender, and the wise one is he who makes al-Wali his Ally and Defender. Ever swift in coming to you and He is with you when you call upon Him, for a friend is never missing, and you know they are always there.

"Verily, my Wali (Friend, Protector, Supporter etc.) is Allah Who has revealed the Book, and He is an ally to the righteous." [al-A'raf: 196]

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Humbled

Love

You Have Power, We Have None

This is an interesting and unique question and that question is, do we have the power to control and guide our lives? Do we have the rationality, the capacity, the power to do this? Is it possible for us to decide a process in which we can govern our lives with order, peace, harmony and good will? Are we able to control our desires whatsoever by our own human physical, emotional and intellectual capacities? The answer to all of these questions is, no, we cannot.

   Allah swt created man and jinns for no other purpose but to worship Him alone. When he created Adam (a.s.) Allah swt. said to the angels (as mentioned in the Qur’an) to bow down to Adam a.s. He endowed man with the power of will as well as virtues, making him a vicegerent on earth. The ability to be vicegerent on earth means that he gave him a limited amount of control and power to guide his life. He equipped him with rationality and the ability to decide a process to govern his life with order, and good attributes such as justice, mercy, compassion and the like. He gave him the ability to control his passions and desires using physical, intellectual and emotional capacities, however, the shaitan became devious and excessively jealous and wanted to mislead mankind, attempting to mislead all of mankind.

   In the first section, we will explore and grow a broad understanding of what exactly it means to be a vicegerent and how much control a human being is capable of practicing. In the second section, we will look at the shaitan’s role in leading mankind astray through different means, why he was motivated to do so, as well as what was used to guide mankind again and again back to the straight path. We will observe closely why he fell into grief on four major occasions. In the Third Section, we will reflect and analyze what is meant by “Then We reduce him to the lowliest of lows” in surah Tin. and if in fact, mankind is capable of capable of defeating the shaitan, or prevent from falling astray from the path of guidance or if we are in fact capable of living our role as vicegerents of God’s perfect wll on earth with or without the help of Allah swt.

Section 1

   “Behold, thy Lord said to the angels: “I will create a vicegerent on earth.” They said : “wilt Thou place therein one who will make mischief therein and shed blood? Whilst we do celebrate Thy praises And glorify Thy holy name?” He said: “I know what ye know not. And He taught Adam the names of all things; then He placed them before the angels and said “Tell Me the names of these if ye are right”. They said “Glory to Thee: of knowledge We have none, save what Thou Hast taught us: in truth it is Thou who art perfect in knowledge and wisdom. “ He said: “o Adam! tell them Their names.” When he had told them, Allah said “Did I not ttell you that I know the secrets of heaven and earth and I know what ye reveal and what ye conceal?” (Al Baqarah, 30-32)

    This reveals to us that human beings have a degree of control over nature and the natural world around them, as much control as Allah swt has given to them especially because he made man the His vicegerent on earth.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali states about these ayah in his commentary (n. 47):

   It would seem that the angels, though holy and pure, are endued with power from Allah, yet represent only one side of Creation. We may imagine them without passion or emotion of which the highest flower is love. If man was to be endued with emotions, those emotions could lead him to the highest and drag him to the lowest. The power of will or choosing would have to go with them, in order that man might steer his own bark. This power of will when used aright gave him to some extent a mastery over his own fortunes. and over nature, thus bringing him nearer to the God like nature which has supreme mastery and will. We may suppose the angels had no independent will of their own: their perfection in other ways reflected Allah’s perfection but could not raise them to the dignity of vicegerency. The perfect vicegerent is he who has the power of initiative himself but whose independent action always reflects perfectly the will of his Principal. …..
   The names of things, according to commentators means the inner nature and qualities of things  and things here would include feelings. The particular qualities or feelings which were outside the nature of angels were put by Allah into the nature of man. Man was thus able to love and understand love, and thus plan and initiate, as becomes the office of vicegerent. The angels acknowledged this. These things they could only know from the outside, but they had faith or belief in the unseen. And they knew that Allah saw all what others see, what others do not see, what others may even wish to conceal. Man has many qualities which are latent or which he may wish to suppress or conceal to his own detriment.

   We can now begin to understand the purpose of creation with the eye of goodness and purest standards. This means that the person is able to govern his life according to the principles outlined to him in the Qur’an. That he governs his passions and life and the natural world around him in accordance with those standards. When he understand the nature of things, he treats them according to what is best for them rather than without that good will and he understand the nature of things. He knows how to deal with different personalities, he knows how to practice his limits, he understand where his love, hopes, fears and trust belong. He understand the order of things and he places everything in its right place.

Section Two

    However, the shaitan is always waiting to lead him astray all of the time. We will analyze the ayahs that deal with what caused the shaitan so much enmity with mankind in the first place and his reaction when Adam a.s. was created. Then we will take a look at his weakened attempts in which he shrieked on four occasions; when Allah swt cursed him, when he was expelled from jannah, when the Prophet s.a.w.s. was born and when Surah al Fatiha was revealed. We will understand why it was that each of these was such a powerful blow against him. Finally, we will return to the question that without the help of Allah swt, would mankind really be able to resist the shaitan?

   The first thing we have to understand is why does the shaitan have so much enmity against mankind. When Allah swt created Adam (a.s). he refused to bow down to Adam (a.s.) although this was against the will of Allah swt. Allah swt states in the Qur’an:

“And behold, We said to the angels: i”Bow down to Adam:” and they bowed down: Not so Iblis; he refused and was haughty: He was of those who reject Faith. We said: “O Adam! dwell thou And thy wife in the Garden; And eat of the bountiful things therein as where and when ye will; but approach not this tree or ye run into harm and transgression. Then did Satan make them slip from the garden and get them out of the state of felicity in which they had been. We said “Get ye down, all ye people with enmity between yourselves. On earth will be your dwelling place and your means of livelihood for a time

These ayah and several other ayahs in the Qur’an explain how the shaitan does his best to lead mankind astray in every single situation. His pride and arrogance kept him from obeying the command of Allah swt. Furthermore, his envy against mankind leads him to rebel and find every opportunity to go against mankind. His motivation is to disgrace, lead astray and prove his own worth and his enmity is ever-fueled. He refused to even obey the command of Allah swt due to his pride and arrogance.

His hopes of leading mankind astray ocurred on four occasions. But the last two occasions also shows that his hopes in leading mankind astray and how extremely relevant they are to the power they had in saving mankind as a whole. Those two were the mercy to mankind when such a beloved prophet named Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) came, his teachings, his mercy, his endurance and his commitment to worshipping Allah swt was so beautiful and magnificent. The last being the beauty of surah fatiha. Two beautiful shields that we now have is the Qur’an and its representation through the teachings and actions of Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.s. If we hold on to these two things firmly, the shaytan will not have the power to lead mankind astray. But this is in the case that we firmly grasp on to the Qur’an and the sunnah. We ourselves are not powerful enough to withstand the powerful blows of shaitan alone. We need the help of our creator and we seek his power. We learn to guard ourselves and create barriers and divine guidance against even coming close to haram actions by strictly holding on to our deen and having a shield against each and every one of the traps that the shaitan could possibly attempt to dig for us.

Section Three

  Finally, we move into our third discussion of is man capable of controling his own self? Allah swt tells us in the Qur’an that mankind was created so nobly and with such a good purpose. He was raised to the level of vicegerncy. But when he (mankind) did not fulfill his purpose which was to believe and do the righteous deeds, and instead used his faculties for other purposes except worshipping Allah swt, he was reduced and abased to the lowest of the lows. This shows that when we do not fulfill our noble purpose for which we were created, we are than reduced and fallen.

Conclusion

This concludes our discussion of whether mankind is in fact capable of controlling himself. The answer is alone, withotu divine guidance, he has no power and it is only unless he grasps, seeks the help of his creator and follows the teachigns that he can resist and live the noble life. In short, it is like the absence of goodness that causes one to fall to the lowliest of lows. The Question being, why does evil exist or what causes it to exist? The truth being, it doesnt exist. It is a condition that can only exist in the absence of goodness. Just as darkness is the absence of light, ignorance is the absence of knowldge, coldness is the absence of head, similarly, evil can only exist inthe absence of goodness. When one plants iman and works righteous deeds, it is the only way to eliminate evil and withstand falling into wrongdoing and the depths of darkness.

And Allah swt knows best.