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[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]The Bliss of Paradise[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]There is a beautiful authentic hadith regarding the eternity of heaven. God will say, [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]“Indeed you will be healthy and never sick again. You will live forever and never to die again. You will be young and never grow old again. You will be content in comfort and luxury never to face misery or hardship again.” (Muslim)[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]The bliss of eternal paradise is something unique beyond our wildest imagination. God said,[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]“I have prepared pleasures for my servant which no eye has seen, no ear has heard and no human mind has ever dreamed of…” (Bukhari)[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Thus, in understanding Heaven we must do our best to not judge it by human standards or earthly realities. No doubt we have a strong notion of some of the types of heavenly bliss, but it can’t be completely understood in a human earthly context. Yes, we will have physical bodies in heaven and enjoy life with very similar perceptions to what we have in this world. But it will be different. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Our life here on Earth is full of flaws, defects, corruption and hardship. That is part of the test of life. Heaven, on the other hand, is free from all of that. According to the ahadith, the people of heaven eat and drink and never get full, yet at the same time they never have to urinate or defecate. Their sweat has a pleasant scent. They do not need sleep; there is no sun or moon, or night and day. There is a soothing eternal light that emanates from the great throne...[/FONT]

The Bliss of Paradise - Growing in Faith - Reading Islam - OnIslam.net

 

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Three Conditions for a Perfect Faith

Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, is reported to have said:

"Let whosoever believes in God and in the Last Day either speak good or be silent.

Let whosoever believes in God and in the Last Day honor his neighbor.

Let whosoever believes in God and in the Last Day honor his guest."

(Al-Bukhari)

In this hadith, the Prophet outlines three conditions for having a perfect faith. We notice here that the Prophet links between believing in God and believing in the Last Day. This is because the Last Day is the day in which a believer will enjoy the fruits of his belief. It is on that day that the benefits of meeting the conditions stipulated in this hadith will be reaped ...

http://www.onislam.net/english/reading-islam/about-muhammad/he-said/451544-conditions-perfect-faith.html

 

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Gender Equity in Islam (Part 1)

In terms of spirituality and humanness, both genders stand on equal footing before God.

It is clear also that nowhere in the primary sources of Islam (the Quran and Sunnah) do we find any basis for the superiority of one gender over the other. Human misinterpretations, culturally-bound opinions or manipulations are not congruent with what Islam teaches.
The full equality of all human beings before God is beyond doubt. This equality differentiation in the spirit of cooperation and complimentarity. This is why equity is a more accurate term than equality

http://www.onislam.net/english/reading-islam/research-studies/islamic-thought/451580-gender-equity-in-islam.html

 

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Gender Equity & The Economic Aspect (Part 2)

One aspect of the world-view of Islam is that everything in heaven and on earth belongs to God as stated in the Quran:

{To Allah belongs all that is in the heavens and on earth. . .} (Al-Baqarah 2: 284)

As such, all wealth and resources are ultimately "owned" by God. However, out of God's mercy He created mankind to be, collectively, His trustees on earth...

In order to help mankind fulfill this trusteeship, He made the universe serviceable to mankind:

{And He (Allah) has subjected to you, as from Him, all that is in the heavens and on earth: behold, in that are signs indeed for those who reflect.} (45: 13)

It is the human family that is addressed in the above, and in other verses of the Quran. And since that family includes both genders, it follows that the basic right to personal possession of property (as God's trustees) applies equally to males and females.

More specifically: The Shariah (Islamic Law) recognizes the full property rights of women before and after marriage. They may buy, sell or lease any or all of their properties at will. For this reason, Muslim women may keep (and in fact they have traditionally kept) their maiden names after marriage, an indication of their independent property rights as legal entities...

http://www.onislam.net/english/reading-islam/research-studies/islamic-thought/451644-gender-equity-a-the-economic-aspect-part-2.html

 

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How to Achieve Tranquility of the Heart

Sometimes it feels like it’s just too much – these fluctuations in our faith, the repeated sinning, the feeling that “I just don’t deserve Allah’s mercy.”

The tests always feel like punishments. There is a constant worry about the future: my marriage, my money, my career, my nation… And some difficulties just feel like they are too great to overcome. We know we’re not supposed to ask this, but the question at the back of our minds is: “Why me?”

We have all heard that we should never despair of God’s mercy. And on the surface, we try not to, but the Devil has a trick. We tend to despair of ourselves and our incapacity to change things, especially the inner turmoil that we feel. And the effect of this is basically the same as despairing of God’s mercy. We do not always accept that God can take us out of the situation we are in and we don’t need to ‘deserve’ the trouble; God isn’t punishing us and we don’t need to be perfect.

This doesn’t mean, however, that we shouldn’t strive, or take ourselves to account when we do mess up. The key is to develop our relationship with God during that trouble. If we knowGod, no situation is too hopeless. No sadness is ever permanent. We perceive trials as they are meant to be perceived – as tests of our trust in God, forcing us to put our knowledge into practice and bringing us closer to Him. These trials could potentially be a punishment too, that is if we let it affect us negatively by completely turning away from Him because of our sadness. But our awareness of our own state and our understanding of God’s mercy allows us to turn the punishment into something positive that is manifested through repentance to God, alongside increasing ingood deeds in order to erase the bad ones ...

http://www.onislam.net/english/reading-islam/living-islam/growing-in-faith/451696-how-to-achieve-tranquility-of-the-heart.html

 

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Gender Equity & The Social Aspect (Part 3)

- As a Wife: Marriage in Islam is based on mutual peace, love and compassion ...

- As a Mother: The Quran elevates kindness to parents (especially mothers) to a status second only to the worship of God ...

- General: Prophet Muhammad taught kindness, care and respect toward women in general "I commend you to be kind to women". (Muslim) It is significant that such instruction of the Prophet was among his final instructions and reminders in the "farewell pilgrimage" address given shortly before his passing away ...

http://www.onislam.net/english/reading-islam/research-studies/islamic-thought/451708-social-equity-between-man-and-woman-part-3.html

 

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Tawakkul: Reliance on God

Have you ever had that feeling of anxiety in your heart?

What if it doesn’t work out?

What if you never get over it?

The truth is that we have all felt this way at some point in our lives. Sometimes, the uncertainty is just too much to bear, or the hardship of a moment prevents us from seeing any light at the end of the tunnel. At times we desperately want some kind of medicine, a pill perhaps, to miraculously take these worries away.

But we do have that. This pill is called tawakkul (reliance on God). Like any pill, it’s sometimes hard to swallow. There are moments when we wonder whether this medicine even works, or if it is just some tool to make us simply believe we can be better. But God, the one – the only one – in control of this universe has said:

{…And whoever relies upon Allah – then He is sufficient for him.} (At-Talaq 65: 3)

So what does it mean to rely on God; to have tawakkul in Him?

It means to be firm in your heart. On this concern, the Muslim scholar, Ibn Ata’illah stated:

“Relieve yourself of worry after you have planned; do not concern yourself with what Allah has undertaken on your behalf.”

With tawakkul (reliance on God), our external burden or outward struggle is to plan, to use our means, and to work hard, but in our heart there is no longer the worry of this burden. If you are sick, you seek out the best option: a professional doctor. If you are applying to university, you take your time in preparing your application to meet the criteria. But also know that after you have done your daily work and faced struggles, you should feel a resounding rest in your heart. Why?

God is Al-Wakeel; this means that it is He who controls His worshipers’ affairs and takes care of them. He never abandons them nor leaves them to another source. He has given Himself this name and made it known to us, so that we know this is an essential attribute of His; thus, we will never be let down. Even if things do not go according to plan, we know that God will give us something that is better. We could not have entrusted our affairs to anyone better than Him. ...

http://www.onislam.net/english/reading-islam/living-islam/growing-in-faith/451721-tawakkul-reliance-on-god.html

 

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Purity of Intentions

Satisfaction When Seen Doing Good

When people are seen performing a good deed, they often cannot but feel good if they are praised for it. Islam does not consider this to be riya', as long as the person originally intended the deed for the sake of God, without wanting to be praised by people. A person must also have the feeling of humbleness and thankfulness to God that He helped him or her perform this good deed.

This means that if a person intends to secretly do a good deed without anybody knowing and by chance somebody sees him or her, then he or she gets a double reward: one for doing a good deed and another for not feeling vain. This was mentioned when the Prophet was asked his opinion about a person who had done a good deed and then people had praised him for it. So he said, "It is glad tidings for a believer (which he has received in this mortal world)" (Muslim).

Good and Evil Intentions

Sometimes people may have a sincere intention to do good, but due to uncontrollable or unexpected circumstances, they may not be able to fulfill this act. According to Islam, although this action was not actually done, they are still rewarded for it due to their sincere intention. ...

http://www.onislam.net/english/reading-islam/understanding-islam/ethics-and-
values/435513.html

 

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Thinking Well of God

Sometimes, our sins weigh heavily on us. We recognize our mistakes but instead of turning back to God we turn away. We feel that we must be so bad that even the All-Merciful will reject us.

Other times, we do not see the fruits of our perseverance and believe that we will not be given what we have worked so hard for. Perhaps we do not even begin an endeavor, thinking there is no use.

Unfortunately, when we do this, we attribute human qualities to God. We act as if God has some grudge against us that will heal as soon as He punishes us or rejects one of our requests. We act as though God is just waiting for us to slip up and say “Ha! Caught you!” We assume that we have to “deserve” the mercy of God by being almost perfect. This sounds absurd when articulated, but our actions unfortunately indicate that we believe otherwise.

What does this thought process actually tell us about ourselves? It tells us that we did not really have hope in Him to begin with.

Rather, our hope was in what we believed to be our own good deeds or abilities. Once we slip up or feel that we do not have the strength to continue, we do not think well enough of God to believe that He will guide us through. We must understand that when we think well of God, that is what we will find.

Thinking Well of God in Difficulty

Think well of God when embarking on something difficult, even if you fail...

http://www.onislam.net/english/reading-islam/about-muhammad/he-said/451783-thinking-well-of-god.html

 

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Mending The Broken Heart

In our journey to gain tranquility of the heart, we explored what we need to know when faced with difficult situations.

We need to understand that God has told us we will be tested, that these tests are for a reason, and that there will be relief.

When we are worried thinking about the future, we need to work hard but have full trust in God that He will not leave us, and we must always think well of God because that is what we will find.

Yet in certain circumstances we just feel broken. Perhaps it is the death of someone close, perhaps a hurtful word, or perhaps a reason we cannot pinpoint. Yet this feeling of brokenness can be an invitation to be better acquainted with Al-Jabbar ...

http://onislam.net/english/reading-islam/living-islam/growing-in-faith/451836-mending-the-broken-heart.html

 

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Seeking Comfort in Life

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his companions knew something that is not often displayed today.

They were able to face difficulty with a certain determination in their hearts; they were grateful for even the seemingly small blessings; they took pleasure in praying at night while the people were asleep.

What they knew was this: if they sought God they would not be let down...

Human desires are insatiable. And for this reason, the more we chase after this world, the less we are satisfied.

If we chase after the love of a human being, especially in ways that are not lawful, inevitably we will be let down because no human being is perfect. We may chase after compliments, praise and attention – but after that momentary pleasure, it will fade away. What will be left is mere emptiness. We go after money, power and status – but it won’t end there, because we will always want more. And our hearts will always be perturbed because these things are temporary. Once we have reached the goal, the pleasure we feel will wear away and we will want something else or something more.

If we find ourselves in that position, these words are hard to read because, in a sense, we don’t want to give up the chase. We think, perhaps, somehow, we will find that which we are looking for. It bothers us to have to prioritize God and His religion in our lives, because that might get in the way of worldly pleasures. But God says in the Quran: {truly it is in the remembrance of Allah that hearts find rest.} (Ar-Ra’d 13: 28) ...

http://www.onislam.net/english/reading-islam/living-islam/growing-in-faith/451847-seeking-comfort-in-life.html

 

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[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Nothing is Ever Wasted[/FONT]
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[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Failure can take a toll on a person: that feeling of trying and trying, over and over, yet somehow never getting where you want to be. Or sometimes the task just seems too huge to achieve; is there even any use?[/FONT]
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[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]We touched upon this a little when discussing thinking well of Allah and tawakkul. But this aspect involves knowing that nothing ever goes to waste. In the verse above, God tells us our effort is appreciated; it is recognized. That is what we get rewarded for. Whether or not we succeed, it is ultimately the effort that we put in that God takes into account.[/FONT]
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[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]One of God’s Names is Ash-Shakur: He is appreciative of what you do, no matter how small, and He rewards it abundantly. Imagine: God is so appreciative, He even rewards our intention! Therefore, we know that those who intend to do well, but cannot do it, are still rewarded ...[/FONT]


http://www.onislam.net/english/reading-islam/living-islam/growing-in-faith/451898-nothing-is-ever-wasted.html

 

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Seeking Lawful Earnings

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:

"Seeking halal earning is a duty after the duty." (Al-Bayhaqi)

In other words working to earn a halal (lawful) living is itself a religious obligation second in importance after the primary religious obligations like prayers, fasting and Hajj.

This brief hadith contains three very important messages. First, it points to the Islamic way out of the apparent dichotomy between the material and the spiritual worlds. We often see them working in opposite directions. Indulgence in the material world does lead one away from the spiritual world. Spiritual uplifting seems to accompany a tendency to distance oneself from the material pleasures. There is a conflict, but is there a contradiction also? Is it possible to resolve the conflict in a way that one can take care of both? Or are they mutually exclusive?

This has been a central question for all religions and many in the past suggested the second answer, making hermits as the ideal for humanity. Unfortunately not much humanity is left when one moves too far in this direction. One can read today the horror stories of Christian and Hindu monks, among others, who tried to seek spiritual purification this way.

As a reaction, others took the other course, making material pleasures the goal of this life. The western civilization today is the prime example of that. Its toll on human spirit and morality is well known and is a constant reminder that something is wrong here as well.

In between the two extremes Islam points out the Straight Path. Man is both a material and a spiritual being. The solution does not lie in denying the material needs and desires but in denying their claim to primacy. They are part of being but not the reason or goal of being. As long as they are kept in place, they are an important part of our life. The problem is not money but the love of it. Wealth itself is not bad. In fact Quran refers to it as: { ... your wealth which Allah has made for you a means of support.} (An-Nisa', 4: 5). And another hadith praises the merits of "the halal (lawful) wealth of a pious person." The effort to earn a living is not against spirituality, it is a religious obligation! ...

http://www.onislam.net/english/reading-islam/living-islam/451948-seeking-lawful-earning.html

 

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Who are The Strangers?

I think that many of you would agree that being Muslim in the 21st. century makes you well acquainted with being strange. It might even be a metaphor for random, as in you have been randomly selected.

Seriously though, many converts to Islam will tell you about feeling as if they were strangers, before finding Islam. They will speak of feeling that they belonged somewhere else that their lives were just slightly off centre. They often speak about a vague sense of knowing they were not like everyone else around them, feeling like a stranger in a strange land. Converting to Islam gives one a sense of coming home, of finally being normal, albeit sometimes still in a strange land.

It does not take long though before some converts begin to feel that they are still strangers and they start to wonder if this feeling of never quite being at ease, or at home, will ever end. Some conclude that it will not, at least not until they are in their true home, Paradise. This feeling is not restricted to converts; often those who were born into the religion of Islam feel a sense of not belonging, of being out of place, of not fitting in, of being strange. ...

http://www.onislam.net/english/reading-islam/about-muhammad/he-said/452010-who-are-the-strangers.html

 

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Search for The Best Companions

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was reportedly asked:

“Which of our companions are best?”

He replied: “One whose appearance reminds you of God, and whose speech increases you in knowledge, and whose actions remind you of the hereafter."

Who do we spend the most time with?

Chances are for many of us (especially if we are students), they are our friends. Friends are the people we share things with, talk to regularly, and experience a large part of our life with.

This is why the Prophet said:

“A person is on the religion of his companion. Therefore let every one of you carefully consider the company he keeps.” (At-Tirmidhi)

Good friends who prioritize their relationship with God will help us on the spiritual path.

It is easier to pray and to do our everyday acts of worship because we have company to help us. Even when we face difficulties, these friends will support us; ultimately they will remind us of God during these tests and help us to rely on Him. No one is perfect, and this is why it is important to be around people who want to improve themselves, and in the process will help you to improve yourself too.

Search for The Best Companions - Growing in Faith - Reading Islam - OnIslam.net

 

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30 Reasons to Avoid Being Angry & Argumentative

How difficult is it to practice patience when being provoked?

At the same time, how many times have we responded much too sensitively, although we were not the clear target of anyone’s malice?

How many hearts have been lost in an effort to win arguments?

And yet, as human beings it is natural and even our right to disagree, and to think critically.

One of the most difficult challenges of character for Muslims of every background is being able to practice hilm (forbearance) during times of anger and disagreement—that is to be able to disagree with a dignified and generous spirit, and to think critically without being argumentative, stubborn, and condescending. It is because we as a community fall into this so much, and on so many levels, that I found this issue to be a relevant reminder to myself and others. ...

http://www.onislam.net/english/reading-islam/understanding-islam/ethics-and-values/452073-30-reasons-to-avoid-being-angry-a-argumentative.html

 

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[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Reinterpreting Prosperity and Hardship [/FONT]
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[/FONT][FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]We may live in this world, and have all the goods and possessions of deception that anyone could dream of, but have completely failed at the object of our existence. And if the object of our existence is, as Allah tells us, only to serve Him (51:56), then it would follow that only that which brought us closer to that end, would be a blessing, while that which took us away from that end would be the greatest calamity – no matter what those things were.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]And so it may be that the loss of everything dear to us is in fact the greatest blessing from Allah. If that loss brings us closer to the very purpose of our creation, what greater blessing could there be?[/FONT]
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[/FONT][FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]It is for this reason that Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said,[/FONT]
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[/FONT][FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]“If Allah wants to do good to someone, He afflicts him with trials.” (Sahih Bukhari)[/FONT]
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[/FONT][FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]And Allah says in the Qur’an:[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]
[/FONT][FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]“And We sent to no city a prophet [who was denied] except that We seized its people with poverty and hardship that they might humble themselves [to Allah].” (Al-A'raf, 7:94)[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]
[/FONT][FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]It is, in fact, out of Allah’s mercy for those people that he does so. Because, what would be the greater tragedy? Afflicting a people with adversity and trials, until they became humble, or providing them with all the wealth and ease, until they became arrogant?[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Correcting our criterion is a challenge, but is absolutely necessary. Only when we can break through the deceptive definitions that surround us, can we correctly orient ourselves, prepare for the real test, and ever hope to reach true prosperity in this life and the next.[/FONT]
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[/FONT]http://www.onislam.net/english/reading-islam/living-islam/growing-in-faith/452153-reinterpreting-prosperity-and-hardship.html

 

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Thinking of Others Before Yourself

Do we give away half of our clothes to someone who needs them? Half of our food? Our shoes? Our books? Our money? ...

Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "No wealth (of a servant of Allah) is decreased because of charity" (At-Tirmidhi).

And also God said in the Qur'an what means:

{If you lend unto Allah a goodly loan, He will double it for you and will forgive you, for Allah is Responsive and Clement.} (At-Taghabun 64:17)

Don't you think it is simply great to receive twofold and more of what you gave away? If we live by that principle, we won't have any fear of not having enough, of not being adequate, of losing what we have, of doing charity, of serving the needy, of extending a helping hand.

Have you ever heard the quote "Give and you shall receive"? The principle is pretty clear: If we want to receive, we should give first. The saying doesn't say receive and then give. It doesn't tell us to become the recipient and then only when we get richer we can donate.

How many times have we postponed our good intention to give away charity by giving excuses like "If I am a millionaire, I will donate to the charity" or "If I am paid more, I will donate some money"?

Do you think it's a wonder why we are not millionaires still? If there is no giving, there is no receiving.


http://www.onislam.net/english/reading-islam/understanding-islam/worship/zakah-and-charity/443029.html

 

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[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Understanding Marriage in Islam[/FONT]
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Marital love in Islam inculcates the following:[/FONT]
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Faith: The love Muslim spouses have for each other is for the sake of God that is to gain His pleasure. It is from God that we claim our mutual rights (see An-Nisa' 4:1) and it is to God that we are accountable for our behavior as husbands and wives.[/FONT]
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Sustain: Love is not to consume but to sustain. God expresses His love for us by providing sustenance. To love in Islam is to sustain our loved one physically, emotionally, spiritually and intellectually, to the best of our ability (to sustain materially is the husbands duty, however if the wife wishes she can also contribute)[/FONT]
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Mercy: Mercy compels us to love and love compels us to have mercy. In the Islamic context the two are synonymous. The attribute Allah chose to be the supreme for Himself is that He is the most merciful. This attribute of Rahman (the Merciful) is mentioned 170 times in the Quran, bringing home the significance for believers to be merciful. Mercy in practical application means to have and show compassion and to be charitable.[/FONT]
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Respect: To love is to respect and value the persons about their contributions and their opinions. Respect does not allow us to take for granted our loved ones or to ignore their input. How we interact with our spouses reflects whether we respect them or not.[/FONT]
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Confidentiality: Trust is the most essential ingredient of love. When trust is betrayed and confidentiality compromised, love loses its soul.[/FONT]
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Caring: Love fosters a deep fondness that dictates caring and sharing in all that we do. The needs of our loved ones take precedence over our own. [/FONT]
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Kindness: The Seerah of the Prophet Muhammad is rich with examples of acts of kindness, he showed towards his family and particularly his wives. Even when his patience was tried, he was never unkind in word or deed. To love is to be kind.[/FONT]..

http://www.onislam.net/english/reading-islam/living-islam/452249-understanding-marriage-in-islam.html

 

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Earning His Love

If we want to cleanse our hearts further, we should do good actions, because they also help to wipe away our sins.

When we feel guilty because we committed a sin, in addition to seeking forgiveness, we should consciously go out and try to do good; perform a rewarding deed that is beloved to God. This can be anything from giving charity, helping our family out with the chores to reading Quran; anything that is deemed praiseworthy in Islam.

And obviously, this is not only for when we feel guilty. But how does this help us to achieve tranquility of the heart?

God says in the Quran: {Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds – the Most Merciful will appoint for them wud} (Maryam 19: 96)

God uses the word “wud” for love in the above verse, and one of God’s names is Al-Wadud (the Most Loving)...

whenever you are feeling down and troubled in your heart, give yourself a boost by immersing yourself in deeds that are beloved to God. Because the one who has named Himself Al-Wadud (the Most Loving) will bestow upon you love and affection

http://www.onislam.net/english/reading-islam/living-islam/growing-in-faith/452271-earning-his-love.html