Seriously Short Reminder No. 31: Remember that the Fire of Hell is hotter…
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Assalamu Alaikum.
It was 45 degrees Celsius today here in Dubai.
And we haven’t even started summer yet.
Subhan Allah, we can barely stand this heat. Shouldn’t that make us feel even more fearful of the Hell fire?
Allah says:
فَرِحَ الْمُخَلَّفُونَ بِمَقْعَدِهِمْ خِلَافَ رَسُولِ اللَّـهِ وَكَرِهُوا أَن يُجَاهِدُوا بِأَمْوَالِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّـهِ وَقَالُوا لَا تَنفِرُوا فِي الْحَرِّ ۗ قُلْ نَارُ جَهَنَّمَ أَشَدُّ حَرًّا ۚ لَّوْ كَانُوا يَفْقَهُونَ
فَلْيَضْحَكُوا قَلِيلًا وَلْيَبْكُوا كَثِيرًا جَزَاءً بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ
“Those who stayed away (from Tabuk expedition) rejoiced in their staying behind the Messenger of Allah; they hated to strive and fight with their properties and their lives in the Cause of Allah, and they said: “March not forth in the heat.” Say: “The Fire of Hell is more intense in heat”, if only they could understand!” So let them laugh a little and (they will) cry much as a recompense of what they used to earn (by committing sins).” [Surah At-Tawbah (9) : 81-82]
The group of people mentioned in the above ayah (verse) did not take part in jihad (fighting for the sake of Allah) because it was “too hot” for them.
Sadly, we see many people doing similar things today:
– Men who don’t want to go to the masjid because it’s too hot outside.
– Women who don’t want to wear hijab because they feel too hot in it.
– People who don’t fast in Ramadan because the heat makes them tired.
Of course, it’s not the heat that’s actually the problem. It’s that we don’t want to harm ourselves in anyway. We want the easy way out.
Unfortunately, sometimes this leads many people to putting this world above the next. So for them, if they see an act of worship as being a burden, they just drop it because it’s too much trouble.
They don’t realise that the punishment in the Hereafter is much worse than anything that could happen to them in this world.
So the next time we undergo a trial or a punishment of any sort, let us remember the following:
– Hell is even worse so we need to be steadfast in our religion.
– Paradise needs to be earned. It’s not going to drop in our laps.
How to remove the impurities from one’s heart…
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Assalamu Alaikum.
Okay, let me see.
This is a Ramadan blog.
And Ramadan is the month of fasting.
So, guess which way I’m going to suggest?
Yep.
And here’s the proof:
Lecture: Trials – Gifts from Allah
Assalamu Alaikum.
After the back-to-back article/audio double on the topic of Anger Management, someone asked me if I could do the same thing for the topic of trials.
So, after yesterday’s article on trials, today we have an audio on this topic.
Question to the readers: Would you like this to be a regular pattern? Should I try to post an audio on a topic and then post an article on the same topic the next day or vice versa?
Let me know your thoughts, insha-Allah.
So, here’s another reminder as to how beneficial trials are for us:
Trials – Gifts from Allah by Moutasem Al-Hameedy (Download)
[I only listened to a few minutes of the audio so I can’t comment but I generally enjoy all of Brother Moutasem’s lectures.]
A bonus: For all those of you who like this brother’s lectures, here’s his blog:
Article: Testing, Afflictions and Calamities
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Assalamu Alaikum.
If one looks around these days, one will see lots of sad faces.
Apparently, everyone has a problem.
And you know what? It’s true. Everyone does have a problem.
Why is that? Well, it’s because this world is a place of tests, and the next world is the reward based on the results of these tests.
Those who pass get Paradise and those who fail get the Hellfire.
Too often, we forget these simple facts, which is why we need to keep reminding ourselves of the reality of these trials.
So, here’s another article to remind ourselves to be patient at these times. It’s really nice stuff – very simple but very heartwarming.
Testing, Afflictions and Calamities by Dr. Saleh As-Saleh (rahimahullah)
Project “Recover Ramadan”- Step 9: Realise that the grass is greener on YOUR side
Assalamu Alaikum.
There’s this awful saying in English which goes “The grass is always greener on the other side.”
Tommyrot.
That’s what whiners say. However, if we want to be successful in this world and in the hereafter, then we need to think like winners and say:
The grass is greener on MY side. And on YOUR side.
One of the main problems that we have today as an ummah (nation) is our propensity to exaggerate our problems. We all walk around like the moon has dropped on our heads. Unfortunately, this leads to:
1) Complaining about life instead of appreciating the bounties of Allah.
2) Being destructive instead of constructive (point 1 is just one example of many).
3) Harbouring bad thoughts about Allah. How? Well, if we think that we have a sad, bad life, who do you think Shaytaan (the devil) will convince us to blame?
So what do we need to do? Be positive at all times, of course.
a) In the good times, we need to be grateful to Allah (by obeying Him).
“And (remember) when your Lord proclaimed: “If you give thanks (by accepting Faith and worshipping none but Allah), I will give you more (of My Blessings), but if you are thankless (i.e. disbelievers), verily! My Punishment is indeed severe.”” [Surah Ibrahim (14) : 7]
Article: The Fitnah of Doubts and Desires
Assalamu Alaikum.
[Note: Insha-Allah, the Recover Ramadan posts will be only twice a week, insha-Allah. I barely managed to post them every day and it seems many people are still reading Step 1!
So, we’ll be having daily posts as usual, insha-Allah but I’ll alternate between Project Recover Ramadan, the Teensie-Weensie Tips, the Remember Ramadan Ramblings and other stuff.]
What’s “Fitnah”? It means trials and tribulations.
And as we all face them, we need to understand more about them.
Basically, there are two types of trials. One has to do with aqeedah (creed) and the other has to do with desires.
The former is worse than the latter although many people mistakenly regard the latter as being worse.
Here’s a article that clarifies the whole issue. PLEASE read it.
The Fitnah of Doubts and Desires by Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim (rahimahullah)
You’ll also find this article useful, insha-Allah.
Again, I will request all of you to read it.
It’s strange. Many people seem to read normal blog posts (by ignorant writers like me) but when they are provided with the writings of REAL scholars which contain IMPORTANT information, they don’t read them.
“He (Musa) said, “Would you exchange that which is better for that which is lower?” [Surah Al-Baqarah (2) : 61]
Better = Writings of scholars, no matter how difficult you find them to read.
Lesser = Writings of ignorant people like me, no matter how much you may enjoy reading them.
Article: Patience in Times of Calamities
Assalamu Alaikum.
[For those of you who’ve subscribed to my Tafsir blog, I’ve already put up this article there a long time ago.]
A couple of weeks ago, at the beginning of Ramadan, I was really down in the dumps due to an ongoing problem. I really felt like I was at the end of the rope.
I remembered an article I had on patience so I decided to read through that. And subhan Allah, it really changed my outlook and gave me a lot of hope, alhamdulillah.
It was the tafsir (explanation) of a few ayaat (verses) of Surah Al-Baqarah:
“And certainly, We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to As-Saabirin (the patient ones, etc.). Who, when afflicted with calamity, say: “Truly! To Allah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return.” They are those on whom are the Salawaat (i.e. blessings, etc.) (i.e. who are blessed and will be forgiven) from their Lord, and (they are those who) receive His Mercy, and it is they who are the guided-ones.” [Surah Al-Baqarah (2) :155-157]
I thought perhaps someone out there might be down in the dumps today and might need cheering up, so I thought I would share this once more.
Here’s the article: Patience in Times of Calamities
I hope that it helps, insha-Allah.
Answers to some common Ramadan Questions
Assalamu Alaikum.
Too late, you say?
It’s never too late to seek knowledge.
Especially not when we are in the most important part of Ramadan, which means we should increase in our ibaadah. And seeking knowledge is an act of ibaadah.
Everyone’s favourite questions include:
1. What are the times when du’aa are accepted during Ramadaan? What specific du’aa should you say during the different parts of Ramadaan and on Laylatul-Qadr or the last 10 days of Ramadaan?
The answer is here.
[Note: The first and last duas that he mentioned were the ones that the Prophet (salallahu alaihi wasallam) recited the most frequently.
Also, another good time when dua is answered is the last hour of Friday i.e. the hour before the adhan of Maghrib.]
2. Is it better for a woman to pray Taraaweeh in the masjid or to pray at home? We have a musalla for prayer, but one of the sisters says it is better to go to pray in a masjid instead of a musalla and that masjid is not upon the Sunnah. So what is your advice?
The answer is here.
3. If a person misses his taraaweeh to be offered with the jamaa`ah (congregation) because he is delayed, is it permissible for him to offer taraaweeh after coming home, by holding the Qur’aan in his hand?
The answer is here.
4. What is allowed between the spouses that will not break the fast, (excluding intercourse, is there anything allowed)? According to the madhhab of Imaam ash-Shaafi’ee رحمه الله touching your husband or wife’s skin breaks your wudū’ and hence, kissing them also breaks the wudū’. How strong is this ruling in terms of dalaail (evidences) and what is the strongest opinion?
The answer is here.
4. Sometimes the children don’t listen or obey you and you have to raise your voice at them, so too when teaching them to fast and to not argue with each other. Does it break your fast to raise your voice at your children in order to get them to behave?
The answer is here.
5. I want to be able to increase in doing more good deeds in Ramadhaan so that I can increase in eemaan, please advise us on ways which will motivate us to do so.
The answer is here.
6. If one deals with teaching the Deen to many children who do not have much Islamic knowledge, nor are their families very practicing in the Deen, what should one focus on when teaching or advising these children during Ramadhaan? The ages of the children can range from 4 years to 13 years.
The answer is here.
7. Question: A person masturbated during the daytime in Ramadaan and he was saddened and wants to know how to make amends for this.
The answer is here.
Lots more questions here.
Prophetic words indeed…
Assalamu Alaikum.
Ibn Umar reported Allah’s Messenger (salallahu alaihi wasallam) as saying: “Seek it (Lailat-ul-Qadr) in the last (ten nights). If one among you shows slackness and weakness (in the earlier part of Ramadan), it should not be allowed to prevail upon him in the last week.“ [Saheeh Muslim, Hadeeth No. 2621]
Umm Muawiyah’s Translation:
Stop worrying about Eid shopping, the reopening of your children’s schools, etc. The most important part of Ramadan is here so let’s step on the accelerator! We need to make this an awesome Ramadan!
If not this year, then when? We don’t know if we’ll live until the next Ramadan so it’s silly to think that our awesome Ramadan will come next year.
Remember: It’s not over until the Angel of Death comes to pull out our souls. And he will most definitely come. We just don’t know when.
[Don’t you think it’s kinda silly that we spend so much time worrying about things that may never happen (poverty, illness, etc) and yet we don’t spend as much time worrying about the things (like death, the Day of Judgment, etc) that will definitely happen?]
So, we need to strive as much as we can until then.
The Greatest Month 