Sunday, July 18, 2010

Ustadzah Edibe (The Little Hijabi)


The Importance of Saying Bismillah all the time InshaAllah.

Posted in Hadith, Islam, Knowledge, Taqwa, Tazkiyah at 7:50 pm by faith786
…(continuing)…
Saying Bismillah before wudhu->
Prophet Muhammad (saw) said: “One who does not say Bismillah before wudhu, his wudhu is incomplete.” [Tirmidhi]
Reported by Abu Hurayrah that anyone who doesn’t say bismillah before wudhu, only the sins committed by the limbs are washed away; and one who says Bismillah before his wudhu, the sins of the entire body will be washed away.
Saying Bismillah before meals:
Prophet Muhammad (saw) said: Say Bismillah and eat with your right hand the food that is in front of you.” [Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmidhi]
(I am not sure if the other hadiths are sound, so I am not typing them here)
By saying Bismillah, barakah is put into the food. And if one forgets and remembers half way, they can say: Bismillahi Awwalahu Wa Akharahu, which will make shaytaan put back any food he has taken and therefore put in barakah in what has already been consumed.
Also saying Bismillah helps satisfy the stomach and stops someone from feeling hungry.
When undressing (i.e. changing clothes, going to the bathroom, shower, etc. etc.) saying Bismillah will put a barrier and safety between you and Shayateen and Jinns.
According to a hadith (narrated by Tirmidhi), you say: Bismillahi Tawakaltu ‘Al Al-La Wa La Hawla Wa LaQuwata Illah Billah, Allah responds by saying: “I have given you protection and I have saved you from your enemy, the Shaytaan.”
And when coming home, if a person says Bismillah, the shayteen respond saying that there is no food or place to sleep here (the home) and if you do not say Bismillah, then they say that there is food and a place to sleep here (the home).
Uthman (ra) once asked prophet Muhammad (saw) about Bismillah and the prophet said that is one of the best names of Allah and it brings a person close as the closeness of whiteness and blackness in the eyes.
Ali was reported to have said that saying Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim is a duaa that helps simplify a hard task and removes grief and brings happiness to the heart.
***Reading Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim numerous times and blowing it on water and drinking it helps strengthen a poor memory, insha ‘Allah.***
Reading Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim:

  • before going to bed will insha ‘Allah protect a person from burglary during the night.

  • helps a person’s protection

  • safeguards a person from Shaytaan

  • there are many stories in which people recited Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim and miracles/ blessings from Allah would happen, but I am too lazy to type them.
Other things about Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim:

  • According to Abu Hanifah (ra), it is advised to say Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim softl between Fatihah and the next surah.

  • When it is said to separate two surahs in the Quran, it is still an ayah, so it should be treated with the same respect and honor.

  • It is also in surah Naml: Innahu Min Sulaymana Wa Innahu Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim.

  • Because Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim is also an ayah, it is strongly advised not to hold a sheet of paper with it written on it without wudhu.

  • It is necessary to say Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim before slaughtering an animal, otherwise it is not Halal (or Zabihah)

  • It is good to say Bismillahi Allahu Akbar before wudhu (not sure who narrated it)

  • It is also recited when someone is buried.
So as you can imagine, Bismillah is literally in every aspect of our lives. I bet there is so much more out there about Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim, but I haven’t come across it yet. Again, this information has come from at least 5 different sources, so I can’t take credit for it. But I hope you find it beneficial and the moral of the story is: SAY BISMILLAH IN EVERYTHING YOU DO. Thank you….

Saturday, July 17, 2010

The Little Hijabi

The Little Hijabi

Once upon a time in a big, beautiful city lived an ever more beautiful little hijabi. Allah loved the little hijabi, her friends loved her, her brother and sisters loved her, her father, Baba, loved her, everyone who met her loved her and her mother, Ummi, loved her very much. When the little hijabi slept in her mother’s bed, Ummi’s heart would smile every time she looked at the little hijabi.

One day Ummi was sick and did not have the strength to get out of bed. She had a list of things to do during the day but was just too sick to do them. Her family told her to get some rest and even though Ummi wanted to do the things on her list, she agreed to get some sleep, insha’Allah.


The little hijabi was sad. Ummi always tried to do nice things to show how much she loved the little hijabi. The little hijabi wanted to show her mother how much she loved her and help her while she was sick, insha’Allah. The little hijabi had an idea! She grabbed the list of things to do Ummi had made. While Ummi was trying to sleep, the little hijabi was going to try and do the list of things her mother made, insha’Allah.


The little hijabi made dua then began to read the list. The first thing was to tidy up the house, insha’Allah. The little hijabi said bismillah and started cleaning. She picked up the trash. She put the dirty dishes in the sink. She swept the floors. Every chore the little hijabi did she would begin with bismillah and end with alhamdulillah. None of the chores felt like work to the little hijabi because, when you do something out of love, the act is a reward in itself.


The little hijabi made another dua and checked what was next on the list. It was to take out the trash, insha’Allah. The little hijabi was not big enough to lift the trash on her own so she said bismillah and asked her big brother to help her, insha’Allah. He said he would help insha’Allah and the little hijabi said alhamdulillah. They both took out the trash together not forgetting to start with bismillah and when they were done saying alhamdulillah. After they were finished, the little hijabi said jazak Allah khair to her big brother. He smiled at her and said, “wa iyyakum”.


The little hijabi made another dua and went to see what was next on the list. It was laundry. The little hijabi said bismillah and started to pick up the dirty clothes. Each time she picked up the dirty clothes she would say bismillah and each time she put them by the washing machine she would say alhamdulillah. The little hijabi was too young to use the washing machine alone, so she said bismillah and asked one of her sisters to help her, insha’Allah. Her sister said she would help and the little hijabi said alhamdulillah. They began by saying bismillah then loaded the laundry and soap into the washer and when the clothes were finished they said alhamdulillah. After they were done, the little hijabi said jazak Allah khair to her sister. Her sister smiled and replied, “Wa iyyakum”.


The little hijabi made another dua and now it was nearing lunch time so she decided to take a break until after lunch to finish the list, insha’Allah. Ummi was still sleeping so the little hijabi had another idea. She would make Ummi some soup to help her get better, insha’Allah. The little hijabi said bismillah and began getting the ingredients and each time she collected one she would say alhamdulillah. The little hijabi was too young to use the stove on her own so she said bismillah and asked another one of her sisters to help her, insha’Allah. The little hijabi’s sister agreed to help her cook the soup and the little hijabi said alhamdulillah. They began with bismillah then began to mix and cook the soup and when the soup was finished cooking they said alhamdulillah and poured it into bowls for the little hijabi and Ummi. After the soup was finished being poured, the little hijabi made sure to say jazak Allah khair and her sister said back with a smile, “Wa iyyakum”.


Before having her own soup, the little hijabi brought Ummi some soup. Her mother was still sleeping so the little hijabi left the soup near her bed then went to have her own soup. She sat down and said bismillah then began to sip her soup. When she finished, the little hijabi smiled and said alhamdulillah.


The little hijabi made a dua and got back to the list of things to do. The next thing on the list was to get some meat from the halal butcher’s shop, insha’Allah. The little hijabi was too young to go to the butcher’s shop by herself and she had no money for the meat. The little hijabi decided to ask her father, Baba, to help her insha’Allah and said bismillah before going to ask him. Baba agreed to go with her and pay for the meat and the little hijabi said alhamdulillah.


A little while later, Baba took the little hijabi to the butcher shop and they both went inside. “As-salaam alaykum.” said Baba and the little hijabi to the butcher. “Wa alaykum as-salaam.” said the butcher. “How is your family?” he asked the little hijabi. “Alhamdulillah.” said the little hijabi, “They are all well except Ummi is home sick in bed”. “Insha’Allah your mother feels better.” said the butcher. “Insha’Allah wa jazak Allah khair.” Said the little hijabi. The butcher smiled and said, “Wa iyyakum”.

The little hijabi said bismillah and handed the list to the butcher. When the butcher finished getting the meat and giving it and the list back to the little hijabi she said, “Alhamdulillah” then “Jazak Allah khair”. The butcher smiled again and said “Wa iyyakum”. The little hijabi said bismillah and handed the money Baba had given her to the butcher. When the butcher gave the change back to the little hijabi she said alhamdulillah and jazak Allah khair again. The butcher smiled wide and said “Wa iyyakum”. The little hijabi and Baba exchanged salaams with the butcher and went home. On the way home, the little hijabi handed Baba the change and said, “Jazak Allah khair, Baba”. He smiled and put his hand on her head as he said, “Wa iyyakum my little hijabi”.

Baba and the little hijabi got home and put the meat in the refrigerator. Once the food was put away, the little hijabi made another dua and went back to the list. The next thing on the list was to pick up a kitten from a friend of Ummi’s, insha’Allah. The mama cat had six kittens and Ummi’s friend said they could keep one, insha’Allah. The little hijabi was not old enough to go there alone so she said bismillah and asked her last sister to go with her, insha’Allah. Her sister agreed and the little hijabi said, “Alhamdulillah”. The little hijabi and her sister went to Ummi’s friend and met her at the door. After saying salaams to each other, the little hijabi was allowed to go inside and choose a kitten. The little hijabi said bismillah before spending time with each one then saying it again before choosing. After she chose, the little hijabi said “Alhamdulillah.” then “Jazak Allah khair”. Ummi’s friend smiled and said, “Wa iyyakum”. The little hijabi, her sister, and Ummi’s friend exchanged salaams and the two girls went home with the kitten.


When the little hijabi got home, she made dua then said bismillah and got the kitten some food and water in some dishes. After the kitten began eating, the little hijabi said alhamdulillah before checking to see what was next on the list. There was only one thing left on the list and that was to make dinner for the family, insha’Allah. The little hijabi could not make dinner for the family alone, but she had a wonderful idea. She would ask her three sisters to help, insha’Allah. The little hijabi said bismillah and asked her sisters and they agreed to help. The little hijabi said alhamdulillah.


The little hijabi and her sisters said bismillah before preparing the dinner and when they finished cooking and making the meal they said alhamdulillah. Next they set the table and brought out the food remembering to say bismillah and alhamdulillah. The little hijabi said jazak Allah khair to her three sisters when they were finished and they all smiled and said back to her, “Wa iyyakum”.

The little hijabi went to her mother’s bed and Ummi was sitting up and looking much better than she had that morning, alhamdulillah.

“As-salaam alaykum, my little hijabi.” Ummi said with a smile.


“Wa alaykum as-salaam, Ummi.” smiled the little hijabi. “Insha’Allah you are feeling better. Dinner is ready”.


“Alhamdulillah wa jazak Allah khair.” replied Ummi.


“Wa iyyakum.” smiled the little hijabi and they both went to have dinner with the family.


Before they began to eat, the family said bismillah and had a lovely meal together, alhamdulillah. When they were finished eating they said alhamdulillah. After supper was done, the little hijabi helped her sisters clean up remembering to say bismillah before they started and saying alhamdulillah when they finished.


The little hijabi took a pen and crossed off the list then she wrote something on another piece of paper. Ummi asked what the little hijabi had done the whole day while she had been sleeping off the sickness. The little hijabi told her mother everything she had done; the house cleaning, the trash, the laundry, the soup for lunch, the butcher shop, the kitten, dinner, and how everyone helped and shared in the barakah, alhamdulillah.


“Masha’Allah! Alhamdulillah wa jazak Allah khair.” said Ummi.


“Wa iyyakum.” smiled the little hijabi. “I love you very much, Ummi, alhamdulillah”.


“I love you, my beautiful treasure, alhamdulillah.” Ummi said back as she gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek.


“Ummi"?


“Yes my little hijabi?” Ummi replied.


“I wrote my own list to do tonight, insha’Allah.” said the little hijabi before showing the list to Ummi.


Ummi took the list and looked at it. It read: Watch a movie on the couch with Ummi.

Ummi smiled and said, “I think insha’Allah we can finish your list”.

The little hijabi and her mother put in a movie and curled up together with the kitten on the couch. They relaxed together enjoying the warmth of each other and the love they shared, alhamdulillah. As the little hijabi started falling asleep, Ummi said, “You are my little treasure and I love you with all my heart, alhamdulillah, and the most beautiful treasures are the ones you keep in your heart.", then kissed the little hijabi on the forehead as she closed her eyes and the love she showed Allah and to her mother helped her fall asleep into sweet little hijabi dreams.


The End, Alhamdulillah (written by Br A.Coates July 10)

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Notes from my YMATV class (Imam Ibn Hajar Asqalani rha)


During some of his supplications and entreaties, a devotee said, "O my Lord!
* Tulul-Amal (thinking that my lifespan will be long) has deluded me,
*Hubbu-d-Dunya (love of the world) has destroyed me,
*Shaytan has misled me,
*the Nafsul-Ammarah (who is always inclines to evil) prevented me from abiding by the Truth,
*my wicked companion helped me in disobedience,
So save me (Ya Allah!) O Helper of those who seek help! If You do not have mercy on me then who will?"

Rasullullah (saw) said, "There will come a time upon my ummah when they will love five things and forget five others:
*they will love this world (dunya) and forget the next world
*they will love life and forget death
*they will love palaces and forget the grave
*they will love wealth and forget the (Day of) Account; and
*they will love creatures and forget the Creator"

Yahya ibn Mu'adh al-Razi (ra) said in his entreaties and supplication ,
"O My Lord!
*the night is only pleasant to me when I supplicate to You
*the day is only pleasant to me when I obey You
*this world is only pleasant to me when I remember You;
*the Hereafter will only be pleasant to me if I receive Your pardon; and
*Paradise will only be pleasant to me if I see You."

Rasullullah (saw) said, "Six things are strangers in six siuations
*the Masjid is a stranger amongst people who do not pray;
*the Qu'ran is a stranger in a household where it is not read;
*the memorised Qu'ran is a stranger in the heart of a fasiq (an open sinner);
*a righteous Muslim woman is a stranger in the hands of an oppressive husband of bad character;
* a pious Muslim man is a stranger in the hands of an evil wife of bad charater;
*and an 'Alim (Islamic scholar) is a stranger amongst a group of people who do not listen to him."
Then he (saw) said, "Verily Allah the Exalted will not look at them on the Day of Judgement in a merciful manner."

for live streaming classes log on to http://www.ymatv.com/?live  every tues and fri nite 8pm Melbourne Time (GMT+10)

Monday, July 5, 2010

Prophet (saw) loves cat.



Bismillaah

As Salaamu 'alaykum and peace to all,

Today, Allah (swt) has given me a new friend. I crosspath with a new sister online, which i have never met before. Pretty great gal. I got to know she is in sadness for her pet just died. Yeah, you can smile. A pet? A cat actually. Honestly, I am not so fond of cats. I am actually quite terrified by cats. It is just my thing. Something, until today is still a mystery to me. This is my fear factor. Cats.

But I know how much Rasullullah SAW loves cat. We all have heard of stories about it. Also, the name of Abu Hurayrah, a major authority on hadith, literally translates to "cat man" or "father of cats". Both Abu Hurayrah and the Prophet enjoyed the presence of cats. So, maybe i should try to overcome this 'little' problem of mine. After all, it is just in the brain. I also found one nice story about Prophet SAW and his love for animals, in particular, cats...


Feeding a dumb animal is also full of virtue

The Prophet of Islam was once performing ablution (Wudhu) for prayers from a pot of water. A cat passed there and turned its eyes at the pot of water with a thirsty look. The Prophet realised at once that the cat was very thirsty, so he stopped the ablution (Wudhu) and placed the pot before the cat. Only after the cat had fully quenched its thirst, did the Prophet resume the ablution (Wudhu).

Subhanallaah.. Can you see how great the character of Prophet is?

1602. Anas said, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, forbade tying up animals so that they could be shot at and killed." [Agreed upon]Riyad as-Salihin (The Meadows of the Righteous)

Islam taught us to be merciful to all creatures, and that includes animals.

"Those who are kind and considerate to Allah's creatures, Allah bestows His kindness and affection on them. Show kindness to the creatures on the earth so that Allah may be kind to you." Hadith - Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi

Failure to do so may result in us being burn in the Hellfire, na'uzubillaah.

Allah's Apostle said, "A woman was tortured and was put in Hell because of a cat which she had kept locked till it died of hunger." Allah's Apostle further said, "(Allah knows better) Allah said (to the woman), 'You neither fed it nor watered when you locked it up, nor did you set it free to eat the insects of the earth.' " Hadith - Bukhari 3:553, Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Umar [Also in Muslim, Narrated Abu Huraira]

Therefore, my friends, let us always remember that loving all creatures of Allaah is a duty for us if we want to receive His Kindness and Affections. And for me, that includes ...cats.... :)))

*I would like to dedicate this piece to a cat living with a voyager and a cat named cheeky
Sis Zabrina 2006-Malaysia
More Beautiful Reading

Cats in Islamic Culture
When Cats Reigned Like Kings
Cats and Islam

Saturday, July 3, 2010

Beautiful Butterflies

Imam Shafii (rha) Beautiful Poems



Poems By Imam Shafi' (Rahimullah)

صَدِيقٌ لَيْسَ يَنْفَعُ يَوْمَ بُؤْسٍ * قَرِيبٌ مِنْ عَدْوٍّ فِي القِيَاسِ
وَمَا يَبْقَى الصَّدِيقُ بِكُلِّ عَصْرٍ * وَلاَ الإِخْوَانُ إِلاَّ لِلتَّآسِي
عَبَرْتُ الدَّهْرَ مُلْتَمِسَاً بِجُهْدِي * أَخَا ثِقَةٍ فَأَلْهَانِي التِمَاسِي
تَنَكَّرَتِ البِلاَدُ وَمَنْ عَلَيْهَا * كَأَنَّ أُنَاسَهَا لَيْسُوا بِنَاس
ِ

A friend who does not benefit at the time of hardships,
Is close to an enemy on the scales,
The friend does not remain, during all times,
Nor does the brother, except for consolation.
I searched the days, with all my strengths
for a brother to trust, but my search was fruitless,
The lands and those who live them were barren,
As though its people were not people [I wanted them to be


إِذَا الْمَرْءُ أَفْشَى سِرِّهُ بِلِسَانِهِ * وَلاَمَ عَلَيْهِ غَيْرَهُ فَهُوَ أَحْمَقُ
إِذَا ضَاقَ صَدْرُ المَرْءِ عَنْ سِرِّ نَفْسِهِ * فَصَدْرُ الَّذِي يُسْتَودْعُ السِّرَّ أَضْيَقُ


If a man spreads his secret with his own tongue
and blames another... then he is a fool.
If his own breast is too narrow to conceal his own secret,
Then the breast of the one in whom he places it is even narrower.

Part from the days where you used to do as you wish
And restrain your soul when the decree of Allah is ordained
And don't despair over the events of the past
For none of the events of the dunya were ever meant to remain
And be a man who is firm upon his affairs
And whose character is that of pardoning and nobility
And there is no sadness or happiness that is continuous
Just as there is there is no comfort or pain
If you are a person who is satisfied with what he has
Then you and the owner of all possessions are equal
And upon he who's open valley death descends upon
Then there is no earth or sky to protect you from it
And the earth of Allah is vast but
When the ordainment of Allah descends even the open valley congests.

~ Imam Shafi


و من الشَقاوة أن تحبَ
و من تحبُ يحبُ غيرك
أو أن تريد الخير للأن
سان و هو يريد ضيرك


"And from misery is that you love, and (the one) who you love, loves other than you,
or that you want good for a person, and he wants to hurt you".

I complained to Waki about the weakness of my memory
So he ordered me to abandon disobedience
And informed me that the knowledge is light
And that the light of Allaah is not given to the disobedient

- Imam Shafi


لسانك لا تذكر به عورة امرئ *** فكلّـك عورات وللناس ألسـن

وعينك إن أبدت إليك معايباً *** فدعها وقل : يا عين للناس أعينُ


Let not your tongue mention the shame of another
For you yourself are covered in shame and all men have tongues.
If your eye falls upon the sins of your brother
Shield them and say: "O my eye! All men have eyes!" 
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