Salaat Time

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

Imam Ali (May Allah be pleased with him) said: “The Day of Justice (Day of Judgement) will be harder for the unjust than was the day of his injustice to the oppressed.”

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

Umar Ibn al-Khattab (May Allah be pleased with him) said: “We were the most humiliated people on earth and Allah gave us honour through Islam. If we ever seek honour through anything else, Allah will humiliate us again.”

Say: “O Allah! Possessor of the kingdom, You give the kingdom to whom You will, and You take the kingdom from whom You will, and You endue with honour whom You will, and You humiliate whom You will. In Your Hand is the good. Verily, You are Able to do all things. (Koran 3.26)

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

The Qur’an contains detailed accounts of conversations among believers, to whom Allah has given an exalted position in Jannah (Paradise). As well as conversations of the disbelievers and those who didn’t do good. These conversations are important, because they provide a good example for believers in this life to follow to reach Paradise Insha’Allah, as well as examples on what actions lead to Hellfire, may Allah protect us.

One thing you will notice is that excuses, procrastination and regret are characteristics of the people of Hellfire. They complain “If only we had obeyed… If only we could have another chance… If only we had prepared…” I wish I did this, I wish I did that. I should have done this, I should have done that. Send me back and I will be a Muslim, send me back and I will do good etc… The people of Hellfire are the people of Excuses.

On the Day when their faces will be turned over in the Fire, they will say: “Oh, would that we had obeyed Allah and obeyed the Messenger.” And they will say: “Our Lord! Verily, we obeyed our chiefs and our great ones, and they misled us from the (Right) Way. Our Lord! give them double torment and curse them with a mighty curse!” (Koran 33.66-68)

Arguing in it with one another, they will say, “By Allah, we were plainly misguided when We equated you with the Lord of all the worlds. It was only the evildoers who misguided us and now we have no one to intercede for us; we do not have a single loyal friend. If only we could have another chance then we would be among the believers!” (Koran 26.96-102)

And Hell will be brought near that Day. On that Day will man remember, but how will that remembrance (then) avail him? He will say: “Alas! Would that I had sent forth (good deeds) for (this) my life!” (Koran 89.23-24)

“What has caused you to enter Hell?” They will say: “We were not of those who used to offer their Salat (prayers) “Nor we used to feed Al-Miskin (the poor); “And we used to talk falsehood (all that which Allah hated) with vain talkers. “And we used to belie the Day of Recompense “Until there came to us (the death) that is certain.” So no intercession of intercessors will be of any use to them. (Koran 74.42-47)

While on the other hand a characteristic of the people of Jannah is the exact opposite “Alhumdilah Allah guided me… Alhumdilah I did this… Alhumdilah I did that… ” etc… People of Jannah don’t make excuses they are people of Action. When reading the Koran, you never read about someone in Jannah saying “Oh I regret… Oh I wish I had done this…, Oh I didn’t have time to do that…, Oh I was prevented from good because of so-and-so…” they are not like that. Through Allah’s guidance the people who succeed are the people who don’t live a life of excuses.

And We shall remove from their breasts any (mutual) hatred or sense of injury (which they had, if at all, in the life of this world); rivers flowing under them, and they will say: “All the praises and thanks be to Allah, Who has guided us to this, never could we have found guidance, were it not that Allah had guided us! Indeed, the Messengers of our Lord did come with the truth.” And it will be cried out to them: “This is the Paradise which you have inherited for what you used to do.” (Koran 7.43)

And those who kept their duty to their Lord will be led to Paradise in groups, till, when they reach it, and its gates will be opened (before their arrival for their reception) and its keepers will say: Salamun ‘Alaikum (peace be upon you)! You have done well, so enter here to abide therein.” And they will say: “All the praises and thanks be to Allah Who has fulfilled His Promise to us and has made us inherit (this) land. We can dwell in Paradise where we will; how excellent a reward for the (pious good) workers!” (Koran 39.73-74)

“Salamun ‘Alaikum (peace be upon you) for that you persevered in patience! Excellent indeed is the final home!” (Koran 13.24)

Saying: “Aforetime, we were afraid with our families (from the punishment of Allah). “But Allah has been gracious to us, and has saved us from the torment of the Fire. “Verily, We used to invoke Him (Alone and none else) before. Verily, He is Al­Barr (the Most Subtle, Kind, Courteous, and Generous), the Most Merciful.” (Koran 52.26-28)

Let us strive and not be the people of regret and excuses from the people of Hellfire. With the guidance of Allah, let us strive instead to be of the people of Jannah, the Muslim believers who do good, the people of action. May Allah guide us and all the Muslims and grant us Paradise, and protect us from the Hellfire. Ameen.

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

It is related that a woman went to the Prophet Dawud (PBUH) and said, “O Prophet of Allah, is your Lord an oppressor or is He just?” The Prophet replied, “Woe unto you, O woman, He is the All-Just, Who never oppresses. What is your story?”

She explained that she was a widow with three daughters and that she provided for them by what she would spin with her hands. She explained, “Yesterday, I tied what I had spun into a red cloth to sell in the marketplace so as to provide for my children. As I was walking, a bird came and snatched the cloth from me and flew away, leaving me with nothing to sell for the provision of my children.”

As the woman was speaking to Dawud (PBUH), someone came knocking on his door. He gave permission for them to enter and learned that they were ten businessmen bringing with them one hundred dinars each. They said, “O Prophet of Allah, give this wealth to the one that is deserving.” Dawud asked them what had brought them to him with their wealth.

They explained, “O Prophet of Allah, we were on a boat, the wind was very violent, and we were about to drown when a bird came and dropped a red cloth upon us. In this cloth was some yarn and with this we were able to block the hole in the ship until the winds subsided and we vowed that each one of us would give one hundred dinars in charity. So give that amount to whomever you please.” Dawud turned to the woman and said, “Your Lord does business for you in the land and in the sea, yet you ask whether He oppresses!” He gave the 1000 dinars and said: “Spend this on your children.”

PBUH: Peace be upon him

Gems and Jewels
Compiled by: Abdul-Malik Mujahid
Publisher: Maktaba Dar-us-Salam
ISBN: 9960-897-59-1
Page 68

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

When Umar bin Khattab (May Allah be pleased with him) was Caliph, the Caliphate received some pieces of cloth from one of the Islamic states. Umar distributed these pieces of cloths evenly; he gave everyone one piece of cloth. One day when Umar stood to give a khutba (lecture), he had two pieces of those cloths on. Umar then spoke and said, “Listen and obey everybody!” Salman Farsi (May Allah be pleased with him) stood up and said, “We will not listen and we will not obey.” Umar bin Khattab asked, “How come?” Salman Farsi said, “Because you have given each one of us, one piece of cloth, and we see that you are wearing two pieces of cloth.” Umar bin Khattab did not respond, but signalled his son Abdullah bin Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) to stand up and respond to what Salman is saying. Abdullah bin Umar stood up and said, “My father is a very tall man, very well built, with wide shoulders. One piece of cloth would not be enough for him, so I gave him mine.” Salman Farsi said, “Now we will listen and obey.” This was the standard of justice that the companions of the Messenger of Allah (May Allah exalt his mention and protect him from imperfection) had. The leadership was held to account and the people would not accept any injustice from their leaders. They knew that on the Day of Judgement, being a follower of a corrupt leadership will not be an excuse. Allah Alim.

And, when they will dispute in the Fire, the weak will say to those who were arrogant; “Verily! We followed you, can you then take from us some portion of the Fire?” Those who were arrogant will say: “We are all (together) in this (Fire)! Verily Allâh has judged between (His) slaves!” (Koran 40.47-48)

Source: Did not find the exact source of this commentary. Transcribed from an audio lecture and from memory. The exact wording used by the Companions may not be exact. May Allah forgive any errors. Amin.

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

Umar Ibn al-Khattab (May Allah be pleased with him) said: “Take account of yourselves before you are taken to account. Weigh your deeds before they are weighed for you and beautify yourselves (with good deeds) for the great display (on the Day of Judgment).”

The Day every soul will find what it has done of good present [before it] and what it has done of evil, it will wish that between itself and that [evil] was a great distance. And Allah warns you of Himself, and Allah is Kind to [His] servants.” (Koran 3:30)

So whoever does an atom’s weight (Or “the weight of a small ant.”) of good will see it, And whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it. (Koran 99:7-8)

But does he not know that when the contents of the graves are scattered And that within the breasts is obtained, Indeed, their Lord with them, that Day, is [fully] Acquainted. (Koran 100:9-11)

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

A question that troubles the minds of those whose faith is not yet firmly rooted in their hearts, concerns the bad events and tragedies that affect the people both good and evil. What’s more, we often see afflictions that touch the good people and spare the bad people. The good suffer from fear and want, while the bad, despite their repeated crimes and their denial of Allah, seem to revel with impunity in happiness, abundance and security. (…)

Allah tests those He loves for one of these four reasons:

1. To get that person to think of Him, for the one who turns away from the remembrance of Allah is forgotten by Allah and distanced from His grace.
2. To purify ones sins so that on Judgement Day that person’s judgement is of the lightest.
3. To raise that person’s degrees and levels in Paradise.
4. To test the unjust as the one who shows animosity to those beloved by Allah, Allah has promised to break them as stated in the words of the famous Hadith.

Whoever Allah wants to lose irretrievably, Allah lets that person run blindly in his misguidance and the Chaitan embellishes his evil deeds, dangles false hope and deceives concerning the Mercy of Allah.

Allah extends the rope more and more so as to enter this person into His harsh punishment when and where that person least expects it and then to throw that person violently into Hellfire with no hope of exit.

When they asked the Prophet (peace and salvation of Allah upon him) who were the most tested (afflicted) people on earth, he said: “The Prophets and the Saints, then the test decreases with the degree of the purity of man”.

Author: Dr. Salaheddine Keshrid

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

So she conceived him, and she retired with him to a remote place. (Koran 19.22)

When Saidna Maryam (PBUH) was pregnant and felt that her delivery was approaching she went towards Bethlehem (a remote place). It seems that she had kept her pregnancy concealed. Nobody knew about it. She was able to hide her pregnancy throughout. She left out of Jerusalem and went towards Bethlehem. She fell down under a palm tree. Allah, the Exalted, says:

And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm-tree… (Koran 19.23)

I want you to imagine now that you are over there. Imagine the situation. Maryam (PBUH) has been hiding this pregnancy for 9 months. That is difficult in itself. And now she is leaving out of her town, alone and with no help. She is feeling the pain of childbirth and it drives her and she falls down under a palm tree. It was so difficult on her that she said:

…She cried (in her anguish): “Ah! would that I had died before this! would that I had been a thing forgotten. (Koran 19.23)

Saidna Maryam (PBUH) was chaste and righteous. Now she is going to deliver a child and she has never been married. She knows the tongues of the people. She knows the harm they will cause her and her family. The righteous family of Al-Imran. It became so difficult on her that she wished she never had lived before this. And she wished that no one has known her and that she was forgotten and that she didn’t exist. In that moment of difficulty, Allah, the Exalted, provided her with Sakina. When things got to the level where it is unbearable for her anymore than Allah, the Exalted, brought her comfort and Mercy. Allah says:

But (a voice) cried to her from beneath the (palm-tree): “Grieve not! for thy Lord hath provided a rivulet beneath thee; (Koran 19.24)

The scholars say the voice is either Jibreel (PBUH) or Issa (Jesus) (PBUH). The voice says: La tahzani! (do not grieve), your Lord has provided a water stream under you.

“And shake towards thyself the trunk of the palm-tree: It will let fall fresh ripe dates upon thee. (Koran 19.25)

Shake the trunk of the date-palm towards you and it will let fresh ripe dates fall upon you. So Allah provided her with water and Allah provided her with dates. It is a miracle from Allah that Allah provided her with this. A water stream was suddenly flowing under her. She can reach it with her hands and then Allah, the Exalted, said to shake the palm tree and fresh ripe dates will fall unto you.

Now we learn from this some very important lessons.

Maryam (PBUH) just delivered a child, is helpless, alone. And she is told by Issa (PBUH) or Jibreel (PBUH) to shake, not the branch of the palm tree, but to shake what? The trunk, the base of the palm tree. And all of you know palm trees and how solid they are. If a group of men surrounded it and tried to shake it at the base it is impossible. So what is the point in Allah telling Maryam (PBUH) to shake the base of a palm tree? She’s not going to be able to shake it. She’s not going to be able to move it even a fraction of an inch. So why is Allah telling her to shake it? Make an effort. She has to do her part. Allah could have made the dates fall on her without her shaking it. Because it is not the shaking of a palm tree that will make the fruit fall down. It is a miracle from Allah. If you put your hands on a palm tree, don’t expect any dates to fall on you. It is a miracle from Allah. Allah, the Exalted, could have made the dates fall down without her intervention. But Allah wants her to do her part. And that is a very very important lesson. If we want the victory of Allah, we have to do our part. You have to take the first step. Allah says in the Hadith Qudsi “If you walk towards Me. I will run towards you”. But you have to take the first step. And Allah says the ones who seek guidance, who look for it, Allah will give it to them. If you seek guidance Allah will give it to you. If you wait there expecting things to come to you without any effort, nothing will happen. Allah does not reward the person for their laziness, procrastination and passiveness. Allah wants us to do our part.

So Maryam (PBUH) put her hand on the palm tree and these fresh ripe dates fell on her. We also learn from this in conjunction with the Sounna of the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) that that is the best food for the women who just delivered a baby. Dates are the best food for a woman who just delivered a child and this is also confirmed in the Sounna of the Messenger of Allah (SAWS). They used to give the women who just delivered dates to eat. Allah provided her with water and provided her with dates.

“So eat and drink and cool (thine) eye… (Koran 19.26)

SAWS: May Allah exalt his mention and protect him from imperfection
PBUH: Peace be upon him/her

Source:
Audio lecture “Lives of the Prophets”.
The full audio series may be downloaded here.

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

During Umar’s (may Allah be pleased with him) caliphate, it was not unusual for him to be seen patrolling the streets during the night. It was in fact his routine to do so in order to make sure that everyone was safe. On one such night, he was patrolling the streets with his servant. Becoming tired after a while, both of them stopped to rest beside a house. They could clearly hear the voice of an old woman from inside the house; she was ordering her daughter to water down the milk they were going to sell the following day. But the daughter refused her request; instead, she said, “Indeed, the Leader of the Believers has sent someone to make the announcement that it is forbidden to mix milk with water” (of course, referring to milk that is for sale and not for personal consumption).

The mother was not necessarily angry with her daughter, but she insisted that her daughter comply with her request. She even tried to reason with her, saying, “Where is Umar now? Verily, he does not see us.” Her believing, trustworthy daughter answered, “If Umar does not see us, then indeed, the Lord of Umar sees us.” The Leader of the Believers was very impressed by what he heard from the young woman, impressed by her faith and by her trustworthiness. On the following morning, he asked about her and found out her name was Umm Ammarah bint Sufyan bin Abdullah Ath-Thaqafi and that she was unmarried. He then married her to his son Aasim (may Allah be pleased with him). Allah blessed their marriage, for one of their grandchildren turned out to be a just and pious Caliph: of course, I am referring to Umar bin Abdul-Aziz.

Gems and Jewels
Compiled by: Abdul-Malik Mujahid
Publisher: Maktaba Dar-us-Salam
ISBN: 9960-897-59-1
Page 283