For the past week I’ve been in out of the masjid countless times and the irony of it I haven’t memorized jack! Just the feeling of not having accomplished anything just about killed me this weekend. The memories of knowing I’ve been there done that…racked up on several juzs and not be able to rack up on anymore juzs this summer just about choked me. It reminded me of that verse in one of the hameems (reminder to look it up)…of the verse of the disbelievers being described as those who will have their hearts choking them because of the extent of what they earned in the dunya.

So..whats with all the venting? I’ve lost my IPod–excuse 1, sleepy, lazy,–excuse 2…excuse 3 can’t even be that I don’t have the time…nah nah. I have plenty of time..Subhan’Allah.excuse 4–my dugsi teacher got too busy.

Epiphany: So yeah a part of me..the best of part of who I am at least in my standards…just about died. Qur’an Memorizaiton. Alhamdulilah. I am actually at the Masjid now and just a couple hours ago while frantically trying to regain the hype..wallahi it is hard. Its hard when you haven’t memorized for a while. As soon as I would make the intention to memorize I would think about a million and 1 things to do. Crazy! So, am sitting there frantically trying to memorize what I tried to memorize a while back (Surah Sad) and I find myself being corrected left and right by one of the dugsi teachers. Masha’Allah. I missed that…being corrected. All I hear is wait..go back..yeah that part:

Inna hatha akhee lahu tisAAun watisAAoona naAAjatan waliya naAAjatun wahidatun faqala akfilneeha waAAazzanee fee alkhitabi (38:23) This verse I’ll never forget IN sha’Allah

So..after slaughtering pronunciations of Surah Sad I asked the teacher to be my teacher. She is a bit intimidating and I was actually scared to ask her…and just so I wouldn’t get of it I told her I’ll have the whole Surah memorized by tomorrow at 4 (usual time will meet from Mon-Thurs) with correct memorization and all. That means I can’ t be lazy anymore and can’t sleep in after fajr! ha

Gotta run! Alhamdulilah.

Bismillah,

Subhana’Allah. What started out as a distraction from my 6 page final paper, turned out to be one of the most uplifting, emanrush filled lectures I’ve listened to! A while ago I began listening to this lecture due to my crazy procrastination acts, and after some pushing from a friend I had to return to work and forsake this amazing lecture. Alhamdulilah, I just now finished it up! One must listen to all of Hassan As-Somaali lectures.

Fear the Dunya!
Hassan As-Somaali

http://www.masjidtawheedchicago.org/lectures.php?speakerid=5&pageid=167116

• Allah says in the His noble book: “Know this dunya, is but amusement and play. Of boasting of wealth, beauty, and children” in which people chase. (I3lam anamal haytu dunya la3ibun
• Don’t let this Dunya fool you!
• Don’t let the shaytaan fool you and don’t let the devil fool you of your Lord. As the shaytaan works day and night to make you forget the reality your living.
• The Prophet s.a.w. said the Hell fire is surrounded by your desires, surrounded by women, surrounded by your wealth, and surrounded by pride. And paradise is surrounded by undesirable things.
• Know Oh Mumin! Don’t let this world fool you—The Prophet s.a.w. said Adunya—this world is cursed. Except for the remembrance of Allah, and that which resemblance it; the scholars or the one who is learned.
• (Zuyani li nisa huba shawaha….) Allah Subhana wa tala is “Beautied for men are that which they desire for women, and that which they desire from children, from gold, from beautiful animals, and from wealth. This is the enjoyment of this world which will end and what Allah Subhana Wa Tala has the best abode. And Muhammed s.a.w. Shall I not inform you of that which is better, that which is better then all of worldly things; For those who fear their Lord: Gardens which rivers flow, and Purified mates, and the pleasure of the Allah Subhana Wa Tala.
• (Dead lamb) The Prophet s.a.w. was walking with his companions when they saw a dead carcass, and he s.a.w. said would any of you love this? Even if it was alive it would something praiseworthy. They replied. He s.a.w. said wallahi this world is more worthless than this dead carcass.
• This world is deceiving; it plays games with the minds of Insan.This dunya will deceive in making you think it will last forever
• (Wa mal haytun dunya –this world is deceiving )
• The Prophet s.a.w. said “This world is a prison for the believer and a Jannah for the disbeliever”. The disbeliever is not held back from anything and the believer fears His Lord and fears the consequence. The believer is restricted by the Qu’ran and Sunnah. The disbeliever acts like an animal and does as he wishes.
• Three things will follow that dead person:

1.) Family

2.) Wealth

3.) 3amal—his actions

· The Prophet s.a.w. gave direction for the wise—(Al -halim) the one who understands. 2 things will return. Your wives and your wealth. Your actions will only remain.

· Lets look at our actions:

1.) Umar r.a. said “bring yourself to account before your brought to account. Weigh your deeds before your deeds are weighed.”

2.) Bring yourself account—because its dangerous.

3.) The Prophet s.a.w. said “Verily this world is green and sweet and Allah subhana tala placed you in this earth generation after generation, why? So that Allah Subhana Wa Tala sees how you act, how you behave”

~Are you worthy of the paradise described in His book? Or are you fuel for the fire of Hell? ~

• Think of your deeds from today and last night—for our time is near.
• The Prophet s.a.w. fear this dunya! This dunya that is deceitful
• And we will ask when we die ask of Allah to “bring us back to this dunya—so that we may give sadaqah and be from the righteous”, but the answer will be no.
• Oh believer know that this issue serious, the duty is not paid and we are not understanding as we are suppose to –we are being fooled and we have let the devil deceit us and we chase after women, wealth ,pride, and our reputation etc. because this dunya is winning.
• The people of knowledge say that all of fitnah stems from two things.

1.) Following your desires (Ma3siyah—zina—because you love this world!)

2.) And following doubt which is innovations. i.e ( The belief of the last day not established in your heart…Are you doubtful of that day, Are you doubtful you will meet your Lord, Are you doubtful that you’ll sit in your grave?) If you say you don’t doubt then….where are your actions?

3.) Where are your actions? Because this life we live in is the life of actions. When we die and we are resurrected it is too late. If you did good you will be rewarded and if you did evil you will be rewarded with it.

4.) Some of the Salaaf they say; When some people become established or in a profitable state they become attached to this world and they begun to sin and their Iman will decrease their faith, because Iman with Ahlul Sunnah is what? Iman with Ahlul increases with obedience of Ar-Rahman and decreases with the obedience of Shaytaan (sinning)

5.) Imanul Qayyim (rahimuallah) said some of the Salaaf said “Sinning leads to disbelief of Allah. ==Could lead to road of Kufr . Likewise : The kiss leads to intercourse, music leads to fornication, the look leads to love, and sickness leads to death! Pay Attention Ya Ayuhal Iqwah! Pay attention the matter of this Dunya!

6.) Allah subhana Wa Tala has revealed many Ayah concerning this dunya and of what happened to the people who have fallen in the trap of the dunya.

Examples:

· People of Thamud: Disobediance of Allah and love of this world

· People of Lut: Disobediance of Allah and love of this world.

~Love of the Dunya leads to the disobedience of Allah!~

Examples of people who fell for the Dunya!

When the Prophet s.a.w. saw was shown the hell-fire—in a Hadeeth (Mutafathun) He s.a.w. said I saw amazing things this night

· 1^st man: He saw s.a.w. said he saw a man having his head being crushed by a stone. He s.a.w. explained Verily, this man memorized the Qur’an, studied the Qur’an , but didn’t act upon. And he sleeps through the prayer. His head is being crushed again an again.

· 2^nd man: He s.a.w. said concerning the second man: His eyes, his mouth, his teeth are torn apart from the front to the back. This man: He leaves his house, he lies, until his lies spread all over the world!

· 3^rd : Naked men women in a pit, crying and screaming, stove being burned: They are the adulterers, the fornicators!

· 4^th: Swimming and being forced to swallow stones==Riba consumed Ribba in the dunya!

From books ofAs-Sunin to show the severity of committing fornication: Even the monkeys realized it. Mumani..narrated a monkey at the time of Jahiliyah committed zina and all the monkeys gathered around that monkey and stoned him to death.

~We love this dunya! We expose our sins! We love what we do! We openly expose our sins! ~ The Prophet s.a.w. said all of my Ummah will be forgiven except to those who openly expose their sins! Why? Love of this world removes shame from the heart.

Abdullahi Ibn Mus3ood said in Sahih Buqhari: If the Mumin commits a sin, when he sins he believes its as he is sitting under a mountain and the mountain is about to fall and crush the believer. That’s the believer. As the evil person, if he sins, he sees it as a fly passing his nose. Because he loves this world.

Everytime you sin, a black dot is formed on your heart. Allah says in his Qur’an : “Verily a covering has formed on their hearts concerning what they have done.”

The Prophet s.a.w. “if the slave sins a black dot is formed on his heart, but if he repents, leaves the sinning, and seek forgiveness from Allah then Allah will forgive him. But if he continues to sin and the black dot will grow till it covers all of his heart. Till the blackness covers all of us heart==This the covering Allah speaks in the Qur’an.

Has the covering started?

Allah subhana says “A Day all of you will meet, a Day the best of you will not escape, a Day neither wealth nor children will avail, except the one who comes with a cleansed heart”

What’s a cleansed heart?

Ibnul Qayyim (rahimiuallah) mentioned that a heart will not be clean unless its free from these five things:

1. Shirk
2. Bidha
3. Following ones whims
4. Following ones desires which contradictory of sincerity
5. Following ones passions

Our hearts are dying before our eyes, slowly but surely our hearts are asking for help!

One of the Salaaf use to say “Sinning will cause your heart to die, by you being addicted to sinning, you will be humiliated and abandoning sinning will give life to the heart and its better for your nafs==by abandoning and forsaking anything to do with disobeying Allah!

Loving the Dunya will affect every aspect of your life. Loving this dunya will cause your destruction; will appear in you and affect your dealings with your husband to your wife, to the animals which you keep.

One of the Salaaf use to say “Verily, I use to disobey Allah, and I use to know this and see this in my wife. It use to appear in her and in my writing”.

The real discord and problems in the marriage occurs with the individuals sinning. The blackness is there, you expect happiness while sinning? How can one expect tranquility while sinning?

Allah says “Whoever turns away from my remembrance turns away from my commandments, he will live a life of misery”

If you want happiness, Jannah, and mercy of Allah, then forsake the love of this dunya and in sinning!

Seek forgiveness from Allah.

Following the example of the Prophet s.a.w.

The Prophet s.a.w. said “And by Allah, I seek forgiveness from Allah 70 times a day”

Reflections: Indeed the state of the believer is quite amazing!

I while ago (two hours), I attended a meeting for our upcoming class Rays of Faith. It is during this time, that a brother mentioned these verses from Allah’s book.

65:2 And so, when they are about to reach the end of their waiting-term, either retain them in a fair manner or part with them in a fair manner. And let two persons of [known] probity from among your own community witness [what you have decided]; and do yourselves bear true witness before God: thus are admonished all who believe in God and the Last Day. And unto everyone who is conscious of God, He [always] grants a way out [of unhappiness],

65:3 and provides for him in a manner beyond all expectation; and for everyone who places his trust in God He [alone] is enough. Verily, God always attains to His purpose: [and] indeed, unto everything has God appointed its [term and] measure.

From these verses, I was thinking of about a thousand things that have been running through my mind of late. Subhan’Allah, Indeed patience is something I’ve been trying my utmost to uphold. Indeed patience is part of Iman (ohhh that reminds me of Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyah (rahimahullah) book on Patience and Gratitude). Like always, its awesome to see others who are more patient then I am and who Subhan’Allah I look up to and say “wow”, if they can do it then I pray that Allah grants me the same! A lot of times, when something does occur I usually most likely just sit back and let things happen as Allah wills and more or less bid my time. At other times I am the most impulsive person on the face of the earth! QadrAllah.

Anyway, It’s amazing how things work out and of how Allah, the most High, moves and places all of us in places and in ways we may never have foreseen nor have ever imagined. Take for example, the other day I went into take care of some paper work for my school and lo and behold I completely forget to get some coins for the parking meter. The sun is about in its zenith…scalding hot and I frantically search for some coins in my bag and I find a measly 10 cents. I am thinking dudeee its over for me today, my car is gonna get towed! So, I place the coins in there and pray that nothing happens to the car while I go inside. Once I get there they tell me I have to wait a while, but Subhan’Allah I was completely taken aback and relieved when I found one of my friends at the same office as me. I was thinking, QadraAllah! How is this so that a friend of mine would be there on the same hour, same floor, same room and that she was able to help me and hook me up with coins.

Bismillah,

 Alhamdulilah. It’s about 9 something around here and I am a bit perplexed about what to do about my class schedule and school in general. I had an amazing day yesterday at a picnic for my awesome friend and my favorite aunti. I don’t know I want write so much but I’ve been putting it off so much that I don’t even know where to start. I’ve been meaning to write some excerpts and reflections from the Sealed Nectar, the seerah of the Prophet s.a.w.  I had this amazing discussion with a friend of mine the other day about memorization of certain verses. Verses, that really stand out to us for one reason or another. And additionally, verses that one can just look at and memorize on the spot and be able to tell someone about it at a later date. Take for example 40:40 That’s Surah Ghaafir verse 40. “Whosoever does an evil deed, will not be requited except the like thereof; and whosoever does a righteous deed, whether male or female and is a true believer (in the Oneness of Allah), such will enter Paradise where they will be provided therein (with all thing in abundance) without limit” Sweet. Take for example; these verses recited by my awesome friends favorite reciter. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AZ6YfjlFGc

In continuation of my previous posts, the habits and the usual quarcky things I’ve taken upon will follow through here. Here is a lecture by Shaykh Hassan As-Somaali ” The excellence of modesty and shyness” Link: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Seekers_of_the_Love_of_alRahman/message/2420

Shyness and Modesty :something to a praiseworthy quality. Imam Buqhari: The people they learn from the Prophet s.a.w. If you don’t have shame, do as you wish.Ibn Rajab explains* The wording of the hadeeth—this is something narrated to the previous prophets. And verily mankind has received from the prophets and learned from the Prophets.

*That verily Prophethood in the past came in brought this speech, and it becomes something well known among the people and becomes something natural in the people. *Some people have this naturalness in them; i.e some brothers/sisters are natural shy and is something they don’t need to learn.

*This is from the noblest of manners that Allah has made in the human. Signs of Iman=modesty and shyness

*The Prophet s.a.w. said: Reported from Buqhari.Modesty doesn’t bring anything but good; khayr. Protects the person and protects from falling in shame, that which is ugly, and bad manners. This modesty will create a willingness to do good with it.

Hadeeth Ibn Umar. The Prophet s.a.w. passed by a man from the Ansar, who was admonishing a man about modesty. The Prophet s.a.w. said 2^nd kind of Hiyah—obtaining Hayah, learned modesty and shyness.

Shame and modesty is from faith. Rajjab—from knowing Allah –the knowledge of Allah—that’s how shame and modesty is acquired. How can we acquire: Hayah will protect from doing that which is bad: A person from having shame, recognizing in your deficiency in your self and the perfection found in only Allah. Realizing your shortcomings—and recognizing the power of Allah—one of the ways of getting closer to Allah.

Nothing will prevent him from doing wrong—those who don’t have modesty and shame. Ibn Rajjab—Umm Abduallah commenting from him—(Above comments)

Its not hayah—praiseworthy modesty and shame—is one that protects from doing evil and going against Allah; and doing something that will anger Allah. “If you don’t have shame, do as you wish”The scholars have to meanings for this.

**Not a statement to do as you wish; rather the meaning is that its dis-praiseworthy. Not having shame that is. 1,2.) A threat; related to this—and Allah subhana Wa Tala will bring you to account.If one wants to do something and they are not shameful of it, not from Allah and of the people, because it’s the disobedience of Allah; then do as you wish.

Umm Abdullah defines modesty: She says Imam Nawawi: The scholars they say, the reality of modesty and shame (You can now bring yourself to account—of whether you have these attributes).

§ A characteristic that encourages the person to leave that which is evil and repugnant.§ This modesty is the most excellent of manners.§ Prevents a person from falling short in fulfilling a right of one who has a right over us.§ From those who have the best modesty—signs of beauty and of honor.§ This shame is an adornment which only brings beauty to the one who posses it.Lack of Modesty as Umm Abduallah mentions: § If modesty is not prevalent in the land—Leads to all types of evils; peoples honor might be questioned, —fahisha, blood will be spilled and sins might be spread out throughout the land.

§ Mixing of men and women will become prevalent—fornication, zina, women might travel without mahrem. The truth will be heard and rejected.

§ f you don’t have shame; anything will come out of your mouth—you’ll transgress against your brother.

§ Blood will be spilled—Why, no modesty—The Prophet s.a.w. forbidden a man pointing a sword at ones brother.

§ No respect of elders—speaking dis-respectfully to elders. Signs of unhappiness and miserliness in a person whether they know it or not: 5 signs

Umm Abduallah—Al fudail ibnul Iyad stated:

§ Verily if you’re not obeying Allah and you’re not fulfilling and staying away from prohibition—then unhappiness and miserliness will accompany you.

§ Hardness of the heart

§ Hardness of the eye—not being able to cry from the fear of Allah.

§ Too much desire for the dunya.

§ Allah subhana Tala will reward a man for raising a daughter who is modest.

§ Qasas verse 23-25 Living in these lands—due to our environment were affected—where modesty and shyness become something to not be praised. § Umm Abdullah continuous—Asma bint Abi Bakr r.a. The Prophet s.a.w. passed by her, and when the Propet s.a.w. passed by and their was a companion, and he s.a.w. said follow me..behind me. And she says I had shame and didn’t want to accompany the men and remembered Zubayr’s jealousy,

§ Ibnul-Qaym said—Life of the heart—the strength of ones hayah and shyness relies on the strength of ones heart.

§ A healthy heart—full of hayah. If the heart sick—lack of shame.

§ The more alive the heart is the more modesty and shameful the person is.

§ Dead heart, sick heart, Pure heart. ( We should ask ourselves which heart we possess)

§ Ibn Qaym- continuous the state of ones modesty relies on the amount of knowledge one has of his Lord.

§ Beneficial knowledge, and righteous actions—the whole deen is build on this.

§ There is no shame in the deen—no matters of deen that is shameful—ask if you don’t know. You are more likely to act without knowledge this is shameful—if you act without knowledge you are falling into the ways of the Christians.

§ This shame and modesty should never prevent you from learning of your religion.

§ Buqhari—in his book Saheeh—women asking of wet dream—Umm Sulam.

§ Muhjahid; student of Ibn Abbas said ==The shameful and the proud will never obtain knowledge==

§ Umm Abduallah said—shame should be applied in its rightful place. Submitting to Allah and staying away from that which He has prohibited.

§ The Prophet s.a.w. said: Shame is a branch of Iman.

§ Said Al-Khudri said of the Prophet s.a.w. –Allah messenger s.a.w. was shyer then a virgin behind a veil, when he s.a.w. saw something which he s.a.w. didn’t like—you could see it on his face and perceive it as well. He was the best example and he s.a.w. should be followed.

§ Characters of the bride—she was shy and shameful—known to have modesty.

§ When we see people not having shame/modesty we should remind them.

§ Like ourselves—don’t try to defend yourself in falsehood when accused, but put your pride aside and accept that which is a reminder.

 Starting anew. A bit of a continuation from old @ www.xanga.com/Rahma06