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To Be a True Believer

Believers love for the sake of the One; they breathe love and kindle love all around. They rush to stop tears and agony, they apply antidotes to pain, they transform weeping to laughter, moaning to praise, and storms of fire to breezes of pleasure.

They scream to stop the screams of the world and their tears flow like rivers. They develop self-esteem only if it means something to others, thus preferring “us” over “me.”

They are not selfish but altruistic; they are not drowned in corporeality, but are soulful and absorbed in the truth that lies beyond. They do not allow their hearts to be hidden in their bodies or their spirits trampled under their corpses. They seek a prophetic dignity and protection from sin. Champions of discipline, believers are content with the pleasures and tastes within the lawful domain—they outperform their carnal selves and sensuality, reach the respective horizons of their spirit and overcome each obstacle with one single move, Allah willing...

To Be a True Believer (Part 2) - Advice - Shari`ah - OnIslam.net

 

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Toward a Productive and Just Society

Work and Wealth in Islam

The Quran considers idleness - or squandering of time in pursuit of unproductive and non-beneficial work - as the manifestation of lack of faith and of unbelief.

Man is called upon to utilize “time” in pursuit of work by declaring that God has made the day as means of seeking sustenance. A person who through hard work seeks God’s “bounty” - which includes all appropriate means of earning one’s livelihood - is most highly praised.

All able-bodied persons are exhorted to work in order to earn their living. No one who is physically and mentally able is allowed to become a liability on one’s family or the state through idleness. The work which everyone is required to perform must be “good” or “beneficial” (al-’amal al-salih), but no work is considered as inconsequential in terms of its rewards or punishments in this world and in the next. One will have to reap whatever rewards or retributions are done as a result of his work...

Work and Wealth in Islam - Ethics & Values - Reading Islam - OnIslam.net

 

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Tips for Self-Improvement

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Be Productive - Be Muslim (Folder) [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]How can a Muslim live a meaningful and productive life and at the same time strengthen faith and the bond with God?[/FONT]
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How can we face up to life's challenges, frustrations, ups and downs without diminishing in faith?
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Be Productive - Be Muslim (Folder) - In Focus - Reading Islam - OnIslam.net

 

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Having Hope in God's Mercy:

Reflections on the Branches of Faith (Part 2)

The twelfth branch of faith that Imam al-Bayhaqi mentions is on having hope in God.

Hope in the mercy of the Creator, His blessings, bounties, and continued abundances is a cornerstone belief in Islam. It has a manifest effect upon the psychology of the Muslim and the verses and traditions on the topic are numerous.

Hope

The teaching of hope is essentially this: do whatever you can, to the best of your ability and then hope that God will accept it and forgive any shortcomings. In doing this, we are to have glad tidings and thereafter maintain optimism in the bountiful mercy of our Lord...

Reflections on the Branches of Faith (Part 2) - Growing in Faith - Reading Islam - OnIslam.net

 

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Divine Justice is not for Muslims Only

Human Rights in Islam

It is the individual, social, and universal responsibility of Muslims, according to their faith, to protect the human merits and virtues of all Humans, i.e. all the children of Adam, whatever their differences may be.

Defending the human rights of any human being is a religious duty for a Muslim, who believes that any oppression is an obstruction of God’s will and plan in His creation.Moreover, a Muslim believes that God has created all mankind equal as human beings, and no one can claim superiority in this respect, whatever his/her ethnicity, family, wealth or gender may be...

Human Rights in Islam - Human Rights - Reading Islam - OnIslam.net

 

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Every Soul Carries its Own Burdens

Be Careful Not to Burden a Believer

One of the most beautiful and serious lessons of the Quran is that people should be judged against their own merits.
As Muslims, we are warned against associating the behavior, actions, and beliefs of one person with another.

In other words, just because my friend, neighbor, or cousin self-express in certain ways does not mean that I am responsible for his or her choice or that I condone him/her.

Because this may seem intuitive in the case of complete strangers, God gives clear examples in the Quran of instances where even our closest relatives may deviate from Islamic teachings. As we reflect on these examples there is much that we can benefit, both on a personal level, and even more important in how we perceive and deal with other believers who may be experiencing great trials from their Lord in this regard...

Be Careful Not to Burden a Believer - Family - Reading Islam - OnIslam.net

 

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Toward a Healthy and Happy Family

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Positive Parenting: Paving the Path to Paradise [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Focus On the Pleasure of God[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]

It is easy to fall into the trap of focusing on our rights as parents, instead of the responsibilities; to desire the “perks” associated with this job - obedience, respect, financial support, and kind treatment - and overlook the accountability before God that it entails.[/FONT]
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If we constantly monitor our intention of raising our children to be solely the pleasure of God, then the benefit of such sincerity will result in removing any hatred and rebellious feelings that might develop in our children’s hearts.[/FONT]
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Gain Islamic and Worldly Knowledge of Effective Parenting[/FONT]
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A parent should strive to do his/her job of raising children properly in order to please God. Parenting involves many stages, with each one requiring different approaches and skills. This necessitates gaining knowledge to achieve optimum results in both this world and the next; namely, healthy, well-rounded, happy, productive, righteous and God-fearing children...[/FONT]
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Find an Alternative Occupation[/FONT]
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I cannot stress enough the necessity for parents to plan ahead for that phase in their lives when their children will be independent adults and busy with their own work, home and family. Many parents end up becoming controlling, clingy, resentful and manipulative towards their adult kids (which also affects the spouses of the latter) because they do not want to ‘let go’ and face a vacant, silent house that compounds and highlights their loneliness.[/FONT]
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Parents should realize that the goal of life is to please God, and that the nature of a parenting role changes with time. Eventually, parents should find something else to do to fill up their time productively. All the beneficial hobbies and occupations that they had back when they were single and childless, can be picked up again, e.g. gaining knowledge, doing welfare and charity work, volunteering, tutoring, teaching, or simply, reading...
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Positive Parenting: Paving the Path to Paradise - Family - Reading Islam - OnIslam.net

 

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New Muslims Between Religion and Culture

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Following the Quran and Sunnah: Solidifying Unity [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Islam is for all of Mankind. The Quran was composed for everyone to read and for all Muslims to follow.

In Prophet Muhammad’s farewell sermon, he reminded that no single person of any race is better than any other person of the same or different ethnicity, except in God-consciousness.

Although the Prophet reached out to all cultures and encouraged Dawah (call to one God) to communities around the globe, the underlying common factors of Islam lie in the Quran and the Hadith.

As long as our cultures do not over-ride their jurisdiction, we should celebrate our traditions. But otherwise, Islam comes first, over and above even the smallest differences between and within communities, solidifying unity within the Muslim nation...

[/FONT]Following the Quran and Sunnah: Solidifying Unity - Society - Reading Islam - OnIslam.net

 

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Steps on the Path to Allah

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Bonding with the Creator [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]We are pretty much aware of what “remembering God” entails - it’s about daily prayers, regular reading Quran, fast, enjoining good and other obligations. But what God narrates here is growing in this relationship. And to grow in this relationship such that God comes rushing to us, there are two things that need to be taken care of consistency in worship, and leaving all that can turn us away from God’s remembrance. It’s a continuous climb. For a new Muslim, it is undoubtedly a great struggle.[/FONT]
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In a new Muslim's case, for example, he starts small by keeping his newly found faith a secret from his friends. And then he takes it to the next level by coming out in the open with it. God responds to this by praising him in the gatherings above, among His angels. That is an honor indeed. For when a person obeys God on all fronts, he encounters opposition from his own kind and when he chooses God over them, they make life harder for him. So to aid this person, God sends angels as his allies who bring with them tranquility and glad tidings.[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]{Verily those who say: our Lord is Allah, and have thereafter stood fast by it, - upon them there shall come down the angels: ‘fear not, nor grieve; and rejoice in the tidings of the Garden which ye have been promised. We are your friends in the life of the world and in the Hereafter…} (Fussilat 41: 30)[/FONT]
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No wonder, we do feel inner peace and serenity whenever we undo a wrong and our faith grows and gains momentum. We feel the divine intervention in our daily routine and we know that God is keeping His end of the rope...
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Bonding with the Creator - Growing in Faith - Reading Islam - OnIslam.net

 

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Know Your Lord

Man’s need for his Lord is eternal, more than an infant for its mother or a plant for light and water. It never ceases.

Allah created mankind to know and praise Him, not to ignore and deny Him

Know Your Lord - Heart & Soul - Reading Islam - OnIslam.net

 

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Toward a Happy Married Life

How to Keep a Successful Islamic Marriage

If we understand that everyone makes mistakes, then it will be logical to forgive your spouse because you also – and I guarantee it – will make mistakes that beg for forgiveness.

It’s conceptually like a mother who’s facing her own crying, annoying, and ill child. The weird thing would be to cry back at the child that she loves, while very well understanding that he/she is ill or has a high fever. In the same way the spouse, either husband or wife, could be angered or irritated, whether rightfully or for an unacceptable reason, he/she will still be the same beloved husband/wife in the end. Risking the entire marriage and relationship just for that moment of anger is as ridiculous as that mother crying back at her own beloved child.

Another factor that endangers good marriages is discovering a bad manner in the spouse that was not known prior to the marriage. The secret here is still tolerance, but it should be tolerance that relies on the rest of the good manners that the spouse has – that’s why he/she was chosen to begin with. But after tolerance come persuasion, courteous gestures, and polite communication at the right moment. Such gentle reminders like “don’t you think that it’s better to do this that way”. Or, “what is your opinion about this?”...

How to Keep a Successful Islamic Marriage - Family - Reading Islam - OnIslam.net

 

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Time and Health: The Blessings That We Deny

"There are two blessings in which most people are most deluded by: good health and free time."

Are you thankful for both of them?

It’s hard to believe something so simple bypasses our busy lives. But the social problems relating to time and health are of abundance and stories relating to them grace the monthly tabloids and daily newspapers.

Children are wasting time watching too much television. Families are spending a lot of time and, in turn, spending plenty of money on entertainment. Too many children are being riddled with health problems due to ‘X’ ‘Y’ ‘Z’ reasons. Obesity in children is on a sudden rise, too much time is being spent being complacent rather than fighting the problem. Obesity in adults is also on the rise, modern parents resolve their problems by eating instead of getting fit. Cancer statistics are also on the rise – what is causing all these?

Then there are other articles that grace the media: Teenagers hang out busted behind abandoned buildings; students are spending their time smoking and drinking instead of keeping up with their studies. Kids are socializing with friends in less amiable locations, instead of convening at public libraries or mosques...

Time and Health: The Blessings That We Deny - Growing in Faith - Reading Islam - OnIslam.net

 

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Who Other Than Allah?[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
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Faith is not born from a stagnant mind, only influenced by miracles and myths. A faith of this kind is of no weight. An imitated or inherited faith is of no use, because {Man shall have only that for which he strives.} (Al-Najm 53: 39)[/FONT]
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There is no striving or effort in imitating faith. No thoughts have kindled and stirred the soul or aroused a will to know, but the faith of others has merely been followed. This would not yield any insights or be deserving of reward.[/FONT]
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Inquisitiveness about the world around us with a diligent quest for true answers about its Creator is the real path...

[/FONT] Who Other Than God? - Allah - Reading Islam - OnIslam.net

 

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Moderation in the Qur'an

One characteristic of the Qur'an is moderation or harmony between the divine and human, the spiritual and the material, the individual and the collective, and so on.

The Qur'an pays due attention to all facts of life and all needs of man, and deals with them in such a way as to help man to realize the noble objectives of his being. For this approach of moderation, the Qur'an calls the Muslims a "middle nation" (Al-Baqarah 2:143), and with this "middleness" they are called the best people ever evolved for mankind, as they enjoin the right, combat the wrong, and believe in God (Aal `Imran 3:110).

The Qur'anic wisdom functions in three principal dimensions: inwardly, outwardly, and upwardly.

Inwardly, it penetrates into the innermost recesses of the heart and reaches the farthest depths of the mind. It is aimed at the healthy cultivation of the individual from within. This inward penetration is different from and far deeper than that of any other legal or ethical system because the Qur'an speaks in God's name and refers all matters to Him. The outward function of the Qur'an embraces all walks of life and covers the principles of the entire field of human affairs from the most personal matters to the complex international relations. The Qur'an reaches areas unknown to any secular system of law or code of ethics and inaccessible to any popular doctrine of religion. What is remarkable about the Qur'an in this respect is that it deals with human transactions in such a way as to give them a divine flavor and a moral touch. It makes the presence of God felt in every transaction and acknowledges Him as the first source of guidance and the ultimate goal of all transactions. It is man's spiritual guide, his system of law, his code of ethics, and, above all, his way of life.

In its upward function the Qur'an focuses on the One Supreme God...

Moderation in the Qur'an - Reflections - Shari`ah - OnIslam.net

 

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Divine Beauty

God loves Beauty

The One who is the Most-Beautiful, and who is the source of all Beauty, surely knows what true beauty is. So what is the beauty that Allah (swt) loves?

Ibn Al-Qayyim said that it pertains to two things: Firstly beautifying ourselves outwardly, and secondly beautifying ourselves inwardly.

Contrary to what some might think, outward beauty is important in Islam. At the very basic level is cleanliness. We are told “Cleanliness is half of faith” [Muslim]. Moreover, people are discouraged from attending the mosque if they have eaten garlic or onion because the odor may bother other people.

At the aesthetic level, we are encouraged to be well-dressed and presentable. As the hadith showed us, dressing well is not considered showing off, unless it is done for that purpose or to show that one is better than others. But dressing well is a sign of dignity.

The Prophet, peace be upon him, said “Allah loves to see the affects of His grace upon His servant.” [Tirmidhi] All of this pertains to outward beauty. We all incline towards that kind of beauty, in one way or another...

The Prophet, peace be upon him, also says “Allah does not look at your appearance or your possessions; but He looks at your heart and your deeds.” [Muslim]

So beautifying ourselves outwardly, while commendable and can take different forms in different cultures, is tempered by what is beautiful to Allah. No matter how elegant a shirt is, if it does not cover our ‘awra (parts of the body that must be covered), it is not beautiful to Allah (swt)...

The real beauty that is evident to anyone is inner beauty. If the inside is beautiful, it beautifies what is outside...

Divine Beauty

 

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Toward a Better Understanding of the Quran

The Quranic Verse of the Throne (Part 1)

He is the Maintainer of every soul, knowing what it has earned, and the heavens and the earth and whatever is in them. It is impossible that anything slips out of His Control or veers in a direction other than that which He has designed. Every tiny little thing relies for its existence, movement, and continuity on His Supreme Being.

{Verily, Allah holds the heavens and the earth lest they move from their places. If they were to move from their places, no one could hold them in place after Him.} (Fatir 35: 41)

These two attributes – the Ever Living and the Self-Sufficient Master – destroy any Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship) and bear witness to the Creator’s absolute oneness.

{Neither slumber nor sleep overtake Him.}

Slumber is light drowsiness, relaxation, and heaviness, whereas sleep is profound drowsiness and complete rest of the body and mind.
We, as humans, experience hours of inactivity and unconsciousness of anything going on or anything around us. Even while awake, our mental alertness and cognitive performance differ during the day.

With tiredness or fatigue, our concentration diminishes, our energies wane, and our errors increase.

Allah is something entirely different. One subject does not distract Him from another, and nothing whatsoever escapes His Knowledge in the heavens or on the earth. He feels no fatigue, feebleness, or exhaustion. His ever-vigilant grasp, never for a moment falters, wavers, or lets go of an atom.

{To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth.}

Allah’s Kingdom is infinite. It is beyond words or thoughts, as limitless as the limitless horizons of the heaven, and as deep as the impenetrable depths of the earth. Visible and invisible realms of this vast cosmos of unknowable extents and energies all belong to Allah Alone...

The Quranic Verse of the Throne (Part 1) - Allah - Reading Islam - OnIslam.net

 

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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Racing to the Houses of Worship
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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]A nice new talk by brother Jamaal Diwan at the start of Ramadan on the importance of the mosque in Islam for Muslims as individuals and as a community, remembering how the Prophet, peace be upon him, gave importance to the role of the mosque

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ISR Season 5 Episode 2: "Racing to the Houses of Worship" - Jamaal Diwan - YouTube

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Toward a More Caring Society:

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Muslims' Respect for Senior Citizens [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]I have a soft spot for two kinds of people: babies and senior citizens.[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]My first thought as soon as I see someone from either group is that I want to hug them and show them some love and warm emotions.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Naturally, there is no lack of love and attention for a baby from everyone around, but often that is not the case for an elderly person...[/FONT]
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Islam teaches that kindness is never wasted and that what goes around comes around, and that if we pay it forward we’re sure to get kindness back one day when we most need it.[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]One of the best things Muslims can do in non-Muslim countries is to visit elderly homes and offer the residents some gentleness and love. That human connection is a form of worship in Islam, where mercy is a basic value of the religion, where the ultimate is God’s mercy. Moreover, mercy and kindness are not limited only to Muslims but extends to all people and even to all creatures. Being merciful for a Muslim is a sign of strong faith and respect to God.[/FONT]
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Parents in particular enjoy a uniquely special place in Islam, next only to God Himself as stated in the Quran. That’s in gratitude for their effort and sacrifice in bringing up their children. Neglecting them or hurting them in their old age is considered a sin in Islam, and honoring them and caring for them is considered an act of worship...[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
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Muslims' Respect for Senior Citizens - In Their Own Words - Reading Islam - OnIslam.net

 

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[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Thoughts on Forgiveness[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]

One of the best gifts that we can offer ourselves is forgiveness: forgiving anyone who might have wronged us (according to our perception), and forgiving ourselves for our own shortcomings, and not continually beat up the drums of our "failures" in our mind and simply concentrating our efforts on doing the good.​

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Personally, I embrace true forgiveness, and I encourage others to embrace it. However, in my teaching, I found that many misconceptions about what true forgiveness is abound. Below are some of my thoughts about true forgiveness.​

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Thoughts on Forgiveness - Growing in Faith - Reading Islam - OnIslam.net​

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The Month of the Quran
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The Quran describes itself as a book that proves the commonality of the divine messages previously revealed to earlier prophets that were not preserved in the original form by their followers. It also asserts that the divine message has essentially been the same revolving around three main principles;

1) monotheism in the sense that the source of all divine messages is Allah, the initiator and the creator of the universe,

2) the guidance from a higher and neutral source is needed by human beings to lead a simple and disciplined life. It is only through following the divine guidance human beings can discipline their lives the same way as every thing else in the universe runs in a perfect order.

3) the life is in constant evolution and the death would not end the life but move in a difference stage of existence where individuals and groups would be held accountable for every thing that they do and say in their limited life in this world.

The greatest miracle of the Quran is the consistency of this message evident in all its suras (chapters) and ayas (sentences). The linguistic beauty and style are apparent to only those who understand the language but the clarity and consistency of the message is for everyone regardless of their linguistic skills and they relevant for all times. In other words every sura of the Quran is connected with its overall message with variations in emphasis and every aya is related with a particular aspect of the message within the context of the total guidance.

Thus the month of Ramadan offers the believers a unique opportunity to refresh their understanding of the guidance and live it for an entire month so that the life in coming months could be disciplined around that. Thus, the first task for every believer is to get connected with the divine guidance in a disciplined, consistent, and regular basis.

The fasting enables a person to live the principle of self control and self discipline, which is essential to realize the strength and relevance of the divine message...

IslamiCity.com - The Month of the Quran[/FONT]
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