A beautiful poem- I'm Malakul Maut

It was early in the morning at four,

When death knocked upon a bedroom door.

Who is there? The sleeping one cried.
I'm Malakul Maut, let me inside.

At once, the man began to shiver,
As one sweating in deadly fever,

He shouted to his sleeping wife,
Don't let him take away my life.

Please go away, O Angel of Death!
Leave me alone; I'm not ready yet.

My parents and family depends on me,
Give me a chance, O please!

The angel knocked again and again,
Friend! I'll take your life without a pain,

It is your soul that Allah requires,
I come not with my own desires..

Bewildered, the man began to cry,
O Angel I'm afraid to die,

I'll give you gold and be your slave,
Don't send me to the unlit grave.

Let me in, O Friend! The Angel said,
Open the door; get up from your bed,

If you do not allow me in,
I will walk through it, like a Jinn.

The man held a gun in his hand,
Ready to defy the Angel's stand..

I'll point my gun, towards your head,
You dare come in; I'll shoot you dead.

By now the Angel was in the room,
Saying, O Friend! Prepare for your doom.

Foolish man, Angels never die,
Put down your gun and do not sigh.


Why are you afraid! Tell me O man,
To die according to Allah's plan?
Come smile at me, do not be grim,
Be Happy, to return to Him.

O Angel! I bow my head in shame;
I had no time to take Allah's Name.

From morning till dusk, I made my wealth,
Not even caring for my own health.

Allah's command I never obeyed,
Nor five times a day I ever prayed.

Ramadan came and a Ramadan went,
But I had no time to repent.

The Hajj was already FARDH on me,
But I would not part with my money.

All charities I did ignore,
Taking usury more and more.

Sometimes I sipped my favorite wine,
With flirting women I sat to dine...

O Angel! I appeal to you,
Spare my life for a year or two.

The Laws of Qur'an I will obey,
I'll begin my SALAT this very day.

My Fast and Hajj, I will complete,
And keep away from self-conceit.

I will refrain from usury,
And give all my wealth to charity,

Wine and wenches I will detest,
Allah's oneness I will attest.

We Angels do what Allah demands,
We cannot go against His commands..

Death is ordained for everyone,
Father, mother, daughter or son.

I'm afraid this moment is your last,
Now be reminded, of your past,

do understand your dreadful fears,
But it is now too late for your tears.

You lived in this world, two score and more,
Never did to you, your people adore.

Your parents, you did not obey,
Hungry beggars, you turned away.

You did ignore the Mua'dhin Adhaan,
Nor did you read the Holy Qur'an.

Breaking promises all your life,
Backbiting friends, and causing strife !

From hoarded goods, great profits you made,
And for your poor workers, you always underpaid.

Horses and fancy cars were your leisure,
Moneymaking was only your pleasure.

You ate vitamins and grew more fat,
With the very sick, you never sat.

A pint of blood you never gave,
Which could a little baby save?

O Human, you have done enough wrong,
You bought good properties for a song.

When the farmers appealed to you,
You did not have mercy, it is true.

Paradise for you? I cannot tell,
Undoubtedly you will dwell in hell.

There is no time for you to repent,
I'll take your soul for which I am sent.

The ending however, is very sad,
Eventually the man became mad

With a cry, he jumped out of bed,
And suddenly, he fell down dead.

O my Brother! Take moral from here,
You never know, your end may be near

Change your living and make amends
For heaven, on your deeds depends.

if this poem inspires you,
It can help someone too.

At least take some time, and do not ban
And send it to as many people as you can.

This poem may change many lives,
And Allah may have for you a great surprise.

The Story of A Rose and A Cactus

 

Never Judge Anyone By Appearance   One beautiful spring day a red rose blossomed in a forest. Many kinds of trees and plants grew there. As the rose looked around, a pine tree nearby said, "What a beautiful flower. I wish I was that lovely." Another tree said, "Dear pine, do not be sad, we can not have everything."   The rose turned its head and remarked, "It seems that I am the most beautiful plant in this forest." A sunflower raised its yellow head and asked, "Why do you say that? In this forest there are many beautiful plants. You are just one of them."   The red rose replied, "I see everyone looking at me and admiring me." Then the rose looked at a cactus and said, "Look at that ugly plant full of thorns!"   The pine tree said, "Red rose, what kind of talk is this? Who can say what beauty is you have thorns too."   The proud red rose looked angrily at the pine and said, "I thought you had good taste!  You do not know what beauty is at all. You can not compare my thorns to that of the cactus." What a proud flower, thought the trees.   The rose tried to move its roots away from the cactus, but it could not move. As the days passed, the red rose would look at the cactus and say insulting things, like "This plant is useless. How sorry I am to be his neighbor."   The cactus never got upset and he even tried to advise the rose, saying, "God did not create any form of life without a purpose."   Spring passed, and the weather became very warm. Life became difficult in the forest, as the plants and animals needed water and no rain fell. The red rose began to wilt. One day the rose saw sparrows stick their beaks into the cactus and then fly away, refreshed. This was puzzling, and the red rose asked the pine tree what the birds were doing. The pine tree explained that "the birds got water from the cactus."   "Does it not hurt when they make holes?" asked the rose. "Yes, but the cactus does not like to see any birds suffer," replied the pine.   The rose opened its eyes in wonder and said, "The cactus has water." "Yes you can also drink from it. The sparrow can bring water to you if you ask the cactus for help."   The red rose felt too ashamed of its past words and behavior to ask for water from the cactus, but then it finally did ask the cactus for help. The cactus kindly agreed and the birds filled their beaks with water  and watered the rose's roots. Thus the rose learned a lesson and never judged anyone by their appearance again.

 

--
Aish - The Fairy Princess

Visit my Blog - 

http://cutheartprincessash.blogspot.com/

False Web sites of Qur'aan...

Posted as received by -

 BROTHER MAJID.

As Salam Alaikum,

 
Please pass this message to every Muslim you know...
ASAP!
If you don't...
A Muslim somewhere in the world could be receiving false information about Islam. So prevent that from happening. PLEASE!
Beware of the following websites:
www.answering-islam.org
www.aboutislam.com
www.thequran.com
www.allahassurance.com
These sites have been developed by
Jews .
Who Intentionally are spreading
wrong information about the QURAN , the HADITH and ISLAM itself.
 
Please spread this information
To all the Muslim brothers and sisters around the world. The list of traced anti- Islamic websites, about Islam are:

1. http://www.islamreview.com/
This site has posted fake stories of how Muslims converted to Christianity. How do I know? Read the following excerpt from one of the stories:
First the 'convert' says: (emphasis added)
In the end, I managed to convince my mother, as it was for Allah and I joined the Islamic College. Having graduated as an ustaz, I was soon posted to my neighbourhood…
And then:
My trip to Mecca for the Haj (pilgrimage) was tiring but eventful. I did not have the rare opportunity to see inside the holy Kabah and the holy idols inside, which Prophet Muhammud had helped to place, as explained in Bukhari's Hadith
An Ustaz (scholar) in Islaamic Studies is saying that there are idols inside the Kabah and that too placed by Muhammad (saw) himself!?!?!
This clearly shows that the author is deliberately trying to spread misinformation about Islaam and wants to convey to possible reverts to Islaam that it is religion of idol worship.
In fact most of the Christian sites use this tactic of false convert stories but it's not always possible to prove it
2.
http://www.faithfreedom.org/
AlhamduliLlaah I was able to catch another site posting fake stories of Muslims leaving Islaam. See the false information imparted here. That the attempt is deliberate is known through the claim that the 'convert' has done detailed study about the topic.
For Islamic Education, I had to study about marriage in detail to do well. So, I learnt all the stuff and got the highest grade anyone can get for Islamic Education. And guess what? Because I know it so well, I know that there is a lot of discrimination against women in Islam. Things like a father and grandfather can marry a girl/woman to whomever they want even if the girl/woman doesn't want to marry that person… In addition, I learned things like women couldn't be witnesses in Syariah Courts and things like that . The first point here is a total lie whereas the second is a distorted version of the truth.
3.
http://www.answering-islam.org/Testimonies/younathan.html
Here's yet another extract from a false convert story aimed at spreading misinformation about Islaam.
As I started thinking about my life and the Quran, I realized all Muslims, even the prophet Muhammad, would go to Hell for certain sins they committed in their lifetime.
This is a common ploy of the Christian Missionaries. They first inform gullible victims that Jesus (God) is Love and just by believing in the Crucifixion, you will be assured of Paradise. Whereas the concept of God in Islaam is so harsh that no one will be spared from Hell and that even Prophet Muhammad (saw) was not sure of where he would end up. For this purpose they quote an ayat of the Qur'aan out of context. Here there have gone a step further by saying that even our beloved Prophet (saw) would have to go through hell. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Anti Islaamic Sites under misleading names
4. http://www.muslimhope.com/
5. http://www.islameyat.com/
6. http://www.islamreview.com/
7. http://www.muhammadanism.com/
8. http://thespiritofislam.com/index.html
9. http://www.abrahamic-faith.com/
10. http://www.gnfcw.com/
11. http://www.knowislam.info/drupal/mno
12. http://www.homa.org/
13. http://www.thequran.com/
14. http://www.allahassurance.com/
15. http://www.mosque.com/
16. http://thespiritofislam.com/index.html
17. http://www.newislam.org/
Anti Islaamic Sites apparent even by name
18. http://www.islam-exposed.org/
19. http://answering-islam.org.uk/
20. http://www.answeringinfidels.com/
21. http://www.islamundressed.com/
22. http://www.studytoanswer.net/myths_ch1.html
23. http://www.challenging-islam.org/submissions/shariah.htm
24. www.answering-islam.org
25. http://www.islamundressed.com/
26. http://www.exmuslim.com/
27. http://www.answeringinfidels.com/
28. http://www.gnfcw.com/
29. http://www.dhimmi.com/
30. http://www.chick.com/information/religions/islam/
31. http://www.acage.org/
32. http://www.apostatesofislam.com/
33. http://www.secularislam.org/
34. http://www.muslim-refusenik.com/
35. http://www.icapi.org/
36. http://www.hesetsfree.org/
37. http://www.letusreason.org/Islamdir.htm
38. http://www.kafirnation.com/
39. http://www.jihadwatch.org/
40. http://www.anti-cair-net.org/
41. http://apostatesofislam.com/
42. http://challenging-islam.org/
Always check the source of any Islamic web site even if it is very convincing
A FAKE AMERICAN QUR'AN
(The FURQAN QUR'AN) http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1579211755/qid%3D1096805827/102-4933271-2395342
 
 
PLEASE DO NOT ignore this. 
SHARE  this to as many Muslims as you can.
The new AMERICAN Qur'an:
a dangerous trick.
A new Quran
is being distributed in Kuwait , titled 'The True
Furqan'. It is being described as the verses of the
Shaytan and Al-Furqan weekly magazine has found out that the two American companies  
 
'Omega 2001'
and 'Wine Press' are involved in the publishing of
' The True Furqan ', a book which has also been titled
' The 21st Century Qur'an '!
It is over 366 pages and is
in both the Arabic and English languages...it is being
distributed to our children in Kuwait in the private
English schools!
The book contains 77 Surats, which include Al-Fatiha, Al-Jana and Al-Injil. Instead of
Bismillah, each Surat begins with a longer version of
this incorporating the Christian belief of the three
spirits.
And this so called Qur'an opposes many Islamic
beliefs. In one of its verses it describes having more
than one wife as fornication, divorce being
non-permissible and it uses a new system for the
sharing out of the will, opposing the current one. It
states that Jihad is HARAM.
This book even goes as far as attacking God Almighty Allah!
All this is poisoning our children at approx. $3.
Brothers and Sisters please make sure you forward this
email to as many people as possible so that we can
stop this dangerous trick.
May Allah reward you. Ameen.

--

رب اغفر لي ولوالدي، رب ارحمهما كما ربياني صغيرا

--
Aish - The Fairy Princess

Visit my Blog - 

http://cutheartprincessash.blogspot.com/

To Celebrate or Not to Celebrate ... That is the Question???

 

In the name of Allaah, the Most-Merciful, the All-Compassionate  

"May the Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon You"

 

Praise be to Allaah, we seek His help and His forgiveness. We seek refuge with Allaah from the evil of our own souls and from our bad deeds. Whomsoever Allaah guides will never be led astray, and whomsoever Allaah leaves astray, no one can guide. I bear witness that there is no god but Allaah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

 

  

Bismillaah Walhamdulillaah Was Salaatu Was Salaam 'ala Rasulillaah

As-Salaam Alaikum Wa-Rahmatullaahi Wa-Barakaatuhu!!! 

 

 

To Celebrate or Not to Celebrate...

That is the Question

by Asma bint Shameem

 

 

Some of us celebrate it with great devotion and diligence, while some of us are against it with an equally great vengeance. Some say it is our religious duty while others say it is nothing but bid'ah.

 

People argue about it. Families split up, friends forsake each other. And sometimes people literally fight over it and hurt one another.

 

So what is it that I am talking about?

 

I am talking about celebrating the birthday of the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam), the Mawlid or Milad, as some of us say.

 Yes, the 12th of Rabi-ul-Awwal came and went. But, ever wondered..... what is the reality regarding the celebration of the birth of our beloved Prophet anyway?

 Let's examine the facts.

 First of all, whenever a Muslim is faced with a problem or confusing situation, what are we supposed to do? Allaah tells us:

 

"O you who believe! Obey Allaah and obey the Messenger (Muhammad), and those of you (Muslims) who are in authority. (And) if you differ in anything amongst yourselves, refer it to Allaah and His Messenger, if you believe in Allaah and in the Last Day. That is better and more suitable for final determination" [Nisaa':59] 

 

 Referring it to Allaah and His Messenger means to turn to Allaah's Book and the Sunnah of the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam).

 

 1. What does the Qur'aan say about the Mawlid?

 

Nothing. Yes that's right.....NOTHING.

 There is absolutely nothing in the Quraan that tells us to celebrate the birthday of the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam). Not one single ayah.

 You see, all acts of worship are tawqeefi which means that they are not subject to personal opinion and it is not permissible to do any acts of worship except those which are approved by Shareeah.

 

So, for example, I cannot pick a special day or time, say the 22nd of every month, and start celebrating that day as a form of worship.

Why?

Because there is nothing in the Shareeah that permits me to do that.

 

Also, I cannot start praying three rakaah for Fajr from tomorrow, even if I want to worship Allaah more, because Fajr Salah is only two rakaat as commanded upon us by the Shareeah.

 

 And similarly, if there is no order for us to celebrate the birthday of the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam), then we dont.

 

In fact, the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: "Whoever innovates anything in this matter of ours (i.e., Islam), that is not part of it will have it rejected." (Bukhaari). 

 Now someone might argue that we dont celebrate the Mawlid/Milad as an act of worship.

 

So let's see what other evidences we have.

 

 2. What does the Sunnah say about it? 

 

Again, there is nothing in the Sunnah of the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) that shows us that the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam)EVER celebrated his birthday or that of his wives, children, or Sahaabah.

 

There is not a single hadeeth that tells us that he (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) thought this day was significant enough to celebrate it.

 

Just think.....if there was any good in doing so, wouldnt he would have done so himself and wouldnt he have ordered the Sahaabah to do so?

 

And obviously, it is not possible that he (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) forgot to tell us about it, Aoodhu billaah!

 

 Did the Sahaabah celebrate the Mawlid/Milad?

 

The Sahaabah were witnesses to the revelation of the Qur'aan.

 

They had the Prophet right in front of their eyes.

 They ate, drank, sat, slept, talked, walked, lived with the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam).

 

If they misunderstood anything or were mistaken, the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) immediately corrected them. And thus, their understanding and practice of Islaam was the best.

 

 Yet, when we look at the lives and practice of the Sahaabah, we find that none of them EVER celebrated the birth of their beloved Prophet, whether during his life or even after he passed away. 

Not Abubakr, not Umar, not Uthman, not Ali, nor Aa'ishah, Ibn Umar, Ibn Masud, Talha, Az-Zubair,  not a single Sahaabi.

 

Doesn't that prove anything?

 

The Sahaabah absolutely loved the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam). They gave up their homes, families, lives, everything they had... for his sake, in the blink of an eye. Yet this love did NOT promote them to celebrate his birth.

This love translated into the practical application of his teachings and NOT picking the 12th of Rabi-ul-Awwal as a day of celebration.

 

 What about the Four Imaams and other Ulema?

 

Did any of the Imaams – Abu Haneefah, Maalik, al-Shaafi'i, Ahmad, al-Hasan al-Basri, do this or command others to do it or say that it was good? No. In fact, it was not even mentioned during the first and best three centuries.

 

The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said:"The best of mankind are my generation, then those who come after them, then those who come after them. (Bukhaari, Muslim and al-Tirmidhi).

 

And if the 'best of mankind' didnt celebrate his birth, then we shouldnt either.

 

Actually, the celebration of the Prophet's birthday appeared many centuries later. By this time, many of the features of true religion had disappeared and bid'ah had become widespread.

 Think about it!

 

Can it be possible that the Sahaabah, the Imaams and the people of the best three centuries were unaware of the importance of celebrating the birthday of the Prophet or that they were lacking in their love for him?

 

And it was only those who came later who were aware of it or loved him more?!!! How can that be?!!

 

Actually, dear brother/sister in Islaam, TRUE love of the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) is shown and proven by following the guidance that he brought. So follow his Sunnah to the best of your ability and don't fall into innovated forms of worship. It is nothing but a trap of the Shaytaan.

 

 "Say (O Muhammad): 'If you (really) love Allaah, then follow me, Allaah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allaah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (Aal 'Imraan 3:31)

 And remember the words of the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) when he said:

 "The best of speech is the Book of Allaah, and the best of guidance is the guidance of Muhammad(saws). The most evil of things are those which are newly-invented (in religion), and every innovation (bid'ah) is a going astray."

(Muslim and al-Nisaai).

--
Aish - The Fairy Princess

Visit my Blog - 

http://cutheartprincessash.blogspot.com/

Wonderful Gifts of Allaah SWT...

 

IN THE NAME OF ALLAAH, THE MOST GRACIOUS, THE MOST MERCIFUL.

 

Wonderful Gift of Allaah SWT

 

 Allaah Swt has given us many wonderful gifts: Our eyes, ears and tongue.

Allaah Swt wants us to use these gifts correctly. We can protect these gifts

by using them well. Have you ever seen a blind man? Have you seen a

person who is dumb? To be able to speak and see is very wonderful.

Allaah asks in the Qur'aan:

"Have We not given him pair of eyes?

A tongue and pair of lips?"

Don't use these gifts wrongly. We often make mistakes. Making mistakes

is not bad. But it is very bad to hide them by telling lies. If you do something wrong don't hide the facts speak the truth.

 

Talking

Some people have the habit of boasting. They brag about themselves and

Just tell lies. It is a very bad habit. Don't talk in this shameful way.

Some people have the habit of shouting or talking loudly. This is wrong.

The Qur'aan says that the harshest of all voices is the voice of a donkey.

Would you like your voice to be called a donkey?

 

 

 

Cursing Is Bad

Some people have the habit of cursing. To curse means to wish evil for somebody or something. A good Muslim keeps away from cursing.

Talking to much is also not good. Our Prophet (PBUH) never spoke unnecessarily.What he said was always to the point and enough to make his meaning clear. You should not unnecessarily interrupt somebody who talks to you.

There are people who go on talking, never allowing others to say anything. This is bad. Wait until the other person has finished the thought and respond to what has been said. If you don't know anything about the subject under discussion, don't pretend to know. It is far more effective to admit ignorance and show interest by asking questions.

Most people will be willing to explain. When you are given a compliment, accept it with grace and thank-you.

 

Backbiting Is Bad

Don't mention the faults of others in their absence. Speaking ill of others is very bad.Don't give out the secrets of others. Telling the truth does not mean that we should say everything  we know. Keep silent about the secrets, given in your trust. Don't open them before anyone, even to the closest friends.

Likewise, we should use the gifts of eyes correctly. To show the way to the blind, to help him cross the road, is a good way of using the eyes.

May Allaah Swt give us the Hidayah to follow our Beautiful Deen in a Perfect Manner.

Aameen.

Jazaak Allaah Khair.

Article sent to me by sister Yasmin and Brother Majid....

--
Aish - The Fairy Princess

Visit my Blog - 

http://cutheartprincessash.blogspot.com/

The Power of LOVE

Friends - Why they are so important and what to do about them?? (Islamic View)

---

Friends

Why they are so important and what to do about them

Mirza Yawar Baig

All praise and thanks are due to AllahY the Rabb of the Worlds and peace and blessings on His Messengerr the last and final Nabi and Rasool, our master Muhammadr, his family and companions and all those who follow them in excellence until the Day of Judgment. Thereafter –

My dear brothers and sisters, there are two kinds of people in the world – the sheep and the shepherds. So the first thing that you need to do is to make a choice. Do you want to be a sheep or do you want to be a shepherd? If you want to be a sheep then I suggest you don't waste your time listening to me because I don't know the language of sheep so you won't understand what I am going to say. So please go to sleep and when the Khutba is over, I'll wake you up.

But if you are a shepherd or want to become one, then this Khutba is for you so listen well. The first thing I want to say to you is:

Being a leader means to take hard decisions and to like being alone.

The tiger walks alone. Sheep have lots of company.

The biggest reason and pull of friendship is the need for company, which in psychology we call by various names: affiliation need, need for approval, affirmation, confirmation and so on. I agree and accept that this is a natural, internal need for human beings. Goes back to the time we used to live in tribal societies where without the tribe the man was dead. But it is also an insidious need which seeks to manipulate you to make you conform to the acceptability norms of the group you wish to belong to. In simple terms, they are saying to you, 'If you want to be one of us, be like us.' Do what we do, like and dislike, approve and disapprove of what we approve and disapprove of. Walk on our path and reach our destination.

But then even in tribal times, you saw what those who wanted to differentiate, to make a difference, to lead their people, did. They refused to go with the flow. They swam against the current. They demonstrated that they were alive and not dead. For it is only dead fish that go with the flow. Live fish always swim against the current. It is a sign that they are alive and capable of charting their own course. So as I said, the basic need for friends is the need for company. Now, the second thing that I want to say to you is:

Anyone who is driven by a need is someone who is at the mercy of the one who can fulfill that need. He is a hostage in the hands of others.

I want you to think about Tawheed in this context and see how Tawheed sets you free from the slavery of the world, because you acknowledge the Only One who can fulfill our needs. When you make Sujood to AllahY it frees you from bowing to everyone else. That is why Allama Iqbal said:

Wo ek Sajda jisay thu giraan samajhta hai

Hazaar sajdon say deta hai aadmi ko najaat

{The one Sajda which you consider difficult: Frees man from a thousand Sajdas}

When you seek the company of people, it does not come free of cost. Each group you want to be a part of has its own boundary conditions, its own entry rules; its own conditions for inclusion. Some of these are formally stated and you have to attend an interview and subject yourself to the examination of the group and be accepted to become a member. In other cases the conditions are not formally stated but they are equally compelling.

One common rule for all boundary conditions for inclusion is, 'If you want to be one of us, be like us.'

So what is the implication of, 'If you want to be one of us, be like us'?

To understand that we have to consider each set of entry rules and see what they are and what they mean. For example there are some entry rules which demand that we deliberately do things which are against the laws of Islam. They demand that we pay large sums of money to support institutions which exist to propagate Haraam like gambling, drinking alcohol, music and dancing and so on. When we agree and pay huge sums of money and demonstrate our willingness to commit Haraam by participating in their activities wholeheartedly, only then are we admitted as members. There's even a probation period to see if we demonstrate our commitment to Haraam. Truly to enter Jahannam is not easy. It takes time, money and desire. Only then can one be admitted into the Jahannam to spend the rest of eternity with Shaytaan and his friends. AllahY mentioned those sheep that in the clutches of self-induced blindness and deafness enter such company and then when their eyes open on the Day of Judgment they realize what it meant to be in that company. AllahY described the scene where the person who used to follow his bad friends will deeply regret that on the Day of Judgment and will bite his hands in regret and say, 'O I wish I had not taken so-and-so as my friend.

He indeed led me away from the reminder (Qur'an) after it had come to me.' Clearly this is directed towards the Muslims as well, because who else will say, 'Led me away from the reminder after it had come to me.' Needless to say, by then it is already too late to change anything.

وَيَوْمَ يَعَضُّ الظَّالِمُ عَلَى يَدَيْهِ يَقُولُ يَا لَيْتَنِي اتَّخَذْتُ مَعَ الرَّسُولِ سَبِيلًا

يَا وَيْلَتَى لَيْتَنِي لَمْ أَتَّخِذْ فُلَانًا خَلِيلًا

لَقَدْ أَضَلَّنِي عَنِ الذِّكْرِ بَعْدَ إِذْ جَاءنِي وَكَانَ الشَّيْطَانُ لِلْإِنسَانِ خَذُولًا

Furqaan 25: 27. And (remember) the Day when the Zalim (wrong-doer) will bite at his hands, he will say: "Oh! Would that I had taken a path with the Messenger (Muhammad). 28. "Ah! Woe to me! Would that I had never taken so-and-so as a friend! 29. "He indeed led me astray from the Reminder (this Qur'an) after it had come to me. And Shaytaan (Satan) is ever a deserter to man in the hour of need."

Such people in this life consider themselves to be very cool and trendy and hip. They look down on others who they call 'square', 'traditional', 'dull' and 'drags'. Naturally for people whose reason for meeting and parting is self-indulgence and the displeasure and anger of AllahY, those who love AllahY and whose need to please Him outweighs every other, will look strange and be 'drags' on their lifestyle. They will call them 'Strangers'.

Interestingly so did Rasoolullahr. He prophesied:

بدأ الإسلام غريبًا، وسيعود غريبًا كما بدأ، فَطُوبي للغرباء‏

"Islam began as something strange, and it shall return to being something strange, so give glad tidings to the strangers."

Saheeh Hadeeth [Ibn Maajah, Kitaab al fitan 3986

AllahY also mentioned the fate of those who consider themselves to be very clever and cool today and lead others astray. On the Day of Judgment they will find that those who refused to listen to them and who refused to be led by them are vindicated and have a light running before them and by their right hand while the cool and smart of this world are in darkness. Then they will call out to them and remind them that they used to be with them in the world. But of no consequence will that company be to them on the Day of Judgment, because in the world they did not benefit from the company of their good friend but instead laughed at them.

On the Day of Judgment when they call out to the Believers, "Were we not with you?" The Believers will reply: "Yes! But you led yourselves into temptations, you looked forward for our destruction; you doubted (in Faith); and you were deceived by false desires, till the Command of Allah came to pass. And the chief deceiver (Satan) deceived you in respect of Allah."

يَوْمَ تَرَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ يَسْعَى نُورُهُم بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَبِأَيْمَانِهِم بُشْرَاكُمُ الْيَوْمَ جَنَّاتٌ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا ذَلِكَ هُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ

يَوْمَ يَقُولُ الْمُنَافِقُونَ وَالْمُنَافِقَاتُ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا انظُرُونَا نَقْتَبِسْ مِن نُّورِكُمْ قِيلَ ارْجِعُوا وَرَاءكُمْ فَالْتَمِسُوا نُورًا فَضُرِبَ بَيْنَهُم بِسُورٍ لَّهُ بَابٌ بَاطِنُهُ فِيهِ الرَّحْمَةُ وَظَاهِرُهُ مِن قِبَلِهِ الْعَذَابُ

يُنَادُونَهُمْ أَلَمْ نَكُن مَّعَكُمْ قَالُوا بَلَى وَلَكِنَّكُمْ فَتَنتُمْ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَتَرَبَّصْتُمْ وَارْتَبْتُمْ وَغَرَّتْكُمُ الْأَمَانِيُّ حَتَّى جَاء أَمْرُ اللَّهِ وَغَرَّكُم بِاللَّهِ الْغَرُورُ

Hadid 57: 12. On the Day you shall see the believing men and the believing women their light running forward before them and by their right hands. Glad tidings for you this Day! Gardens under which rivers flow ( Paradise ), to dwell therein forever! Truly, this is the great success! 13. On the Day when the hypocrites men and women will say to the believers: "Wait for us! Let us get something from your light!" It will be said: "Go back to your rear! Then seek a light!" So a wall will be put up between them, with a gate therein. Inside it will be mercy, and outside it will be torment." 14. (The hypocrites) will call the believers: "Were we not with you?" The believers will reply: "Yes! But you led yourselves into temptations, you looked forward for our destruction; you doubted (in Faith); and you were deceived by false desires, till the Command of Allah came to pass. And the chief deceiver (Satan) deceived you in respect of Allah."

Now let us look at another kind of friend. AllahY said about them:

الْأَخِلَّاء يَوْمَئِذٍ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ عَدُوٌّ إِلَّا الْمُتَّقِينَ

Zukhruf 43: 67. Friends on that Day will be foes one to another except Al-Muttaqun

So one of the qualities of good friends, friends who are Muttaqun is that they will not abandon you even on the Day of Judgment. This is because they will be in a state where the horrors of the Day will not touch them and they will be protected from the terror by AllahY.

Narrated by Abu Hurairah, Rasoolullahr is reported to have said, 'There are seven whom AllahY will shade in His Shade on the Day when there is no shade except His Shade:

1. A just ruler;

2. A youth who grew up in the worship of AllahY;

3. A man whose heart is attached to the Masaajid;

4. Two men who love each other for AllahY's sake, meeting for that and parting upon that;

5. A man who is called by a woman of beauty and position [for zina], but he says: 'I fear AllahY',

6. A man who gives in charity and hides it, such that his left hand does not know what his right hand gives in charity;

7. And a man who remembers AllahY in private and his eyes shed tears.'

Saheeh al-Bukhari (English trans.) vol.1, p.356, no.629 & Saheeh Muslim (English trans.) vol.2, p.493, no.2248

Rasoolullahr mentioned the criteria of a good friend. He said:

There are four qualities of a good friend:

1. When you see him, he reminds you about AllahY
2. When you sit with him, your Imaan increases.
3. When he speaks it increases your knowledge.
4. When you see his actions, you remember your Aakhira.

May AllahY help us to choose friends who fit this standard and to make ourselves friends of this standard for those who choose us. Such groups also have their entry criteria. These are that you should love AllahY and His Messengerr and his Deen. That you should be interested in learning and practicing and conveying this Deen to everyone in the world. That you should not fear anyone in the practice of this Deen. That you should stand for this Deen even if you stand alone – but then who is alone when the One who makes him stand is AllahY?

There is another aspect of being in the company of those who obey AllahY and those who don't.

When you are in the company of Muttaqoon, those who obey AllahY, it becomes easy for you to obey AllahY and difficult to disobey him. Company influences. So when you are in the company of Muttaqoon, when it is time for Salah it is but natural that you join them in prayer. Your activities, be they formal or informal, business or pleasure – will not violate the laws of the Shari'ah. You will not have celebrations in ways that are un-Islamic. You will not indulge in ostentation and Israaf which is Haraam. You will not do anything that is displeasing to AllahY or in violation of the Sunnah of His Messengerr. Their talk will loop back over and over to the Aakhira and to the fact that one day we will die and be called to account. Their role models will be the heroes of Islam. The criterion of intelligence that they will quote will be the criterion that the Qur'an prescribed – that the person first recognize AllahY and worship Him alone. They will quote examples of people who were global leaders in a worldly sense yet adhered to Islam totally and completely in word and in spirit. They will seek to bring about change in themselves so that they can improve in knowledge and practice to get closer to AllahY. They will talk about the Jannah and the Jahannam as if they could see them and believe them to be real. And you will find yourself beginning to see the vision before their eyes and to want to achieve what they want to achieve – the pleasure of our Rabb. About such people AllahY said:

وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتُ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاء بَعْضٍ يَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلاَةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَيُطِيعُونَ اللّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ أُوْلَـئِكَ سَيَرْحَمُهُمُ اللّهُ إِنَّ اللّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ

Tawba 9:71 The believers, men and women, are Auliya (friends, protectors) of one another. They enjoin Al Ma'aroof (all that Islam orders) and forbid Al Munkar (all kinds of things that Islam forbids). They establish As Salat (Iqamat-as-Salaat) and give Zakat and obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah will have His Mercy on them. Surely Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise.

On the other hand when you are in the company of the Fasiqoon disobedience becomes easy and obedience difficult. Your friends, social pressure and atmosphere will collude to prevent you even from making Salah at its right time. They will pressurize you to break the rules of the Shari'ah in the name of 'freedom' or 'modernity' or some other similar rubbish. Their business will violate the Shari'ah. So will their entertainment and relaxation. Their talk will be exclusively of the Duniya and will take your more and more away from any thought of the fact that one day you will die and be called to account. They will make fun of your religion and of the Sunnah of Rasoolullahr. They will laugh derisively at those who seek to follow the Sunnah and call them names. They will cast doubts about the promises of AllahY and use clever arguments and misguided logic to 'prove' to you that Jannah and Jahannam are figurative, illusory and unreal. They will deny the provisions of the Shari'ah and will make Halaal what AllahY has made Haraam and make Haraam what AllahY has made Halaal. They will seek to deny the teachings of Rasoolullahr and try to separate AllahY from His Messengerr. Their role models will be rocket scientists who worship mythological figures – their so-called intelligence unable to distinguish between reality and a fairy tale. Or men who feel no shame to live off the earnings of their wives and daughters who exhibit their bodies on the film screen for money.

They will quote to you as examples worthy of emulation, people who have become so lost in the Duniya that they have lost their Deen and are busy preparing their pathway to the Jahannam. Their desires which they seek to fulfill at all costs will all be of the Duniya – objects, things, food, sensations. Their idea of fun is to go blindly from sensation to sensation seeking to reach a new high each time. AllahY said about them:

أَرَأَيْتَ مَنِ اتَّخَذَ إِلَهَهُ هَوَاهُ أَفَأَنتَ تَكُونُ عَلَيْهِ وَكِيلًا

أَمْ تَحْسَبُ أَنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ يَسْمَعُونَ أَوْ يَعْقِلُونَ إِنْ هُمْ إِلَّا كَالْأَنْعَامِ بَلْ هُمْ أَضَلُّ سَبِيلًا

Al Furqaan 25:43/44 Have you (O Muhammad) seen him who takes as his Ilaah (god) his own vain desire? Would you then be a Wakil over him?? Or do you think that most of them hear and understand? They are only cattle – nay they are even farther astray from the Path (worse than cattle).

And about such, He told us what He does with them when they exceed all limits:

فَلَمَّا نَسُواْ مَا ذُكِّرُواْ بِهِ فَتَحْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ أَبْوَابَ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ حَتَّى إِذَا فَرِحُواْ بِمَا أُوتُواْ أَخَذْنَاهُم بَغْتَةً فَإِذَا هُم مُّبْلِسُونَ

Al An'aam 6:44 Then, when they had forgotten all that they had been told to take to heart, We threw open to them the gates of all [good] things until -even as they were rejoicing in what they had been granted - We suddenly took them to task: and lo! They were broken in spirit.

AllahY warned us against being with such people and said that if we didn't heed this warning, then we would be included among them on the Day of Judgment. He said:

وَقَدْ نَزَّلَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي الْكِتَابِ أَنْ إِذَا سَمِعْتُمْ آيَاتِ اللّهِ يُكَفَرُ بِهَا وَيُسْتَهْزَأُ بِهَا فَلاَ تَقْعُدُواْ مَعَهُمْ حَتَّى يَخُوضُواْ فِي حَدِيثٍ غَيْرِهِ إِنَّكُمْ إِذًا مِّثْلُهُمْ إِنَّ اللّهَ جَامِعُ الْمُنَافِقِينَ وَالْكَافِرِينَ فِي جَهَنَّمَ جَمِيعًا

Nisa 4:140. And it has already been revealed to you in the Book (this Qur'an) that when you hear the Ayaat of Allah being denied and mocked at, then don't sit with them, until they engage in a talk other than that; (but if you stayed with them) certainly in that case you would be like them. Surely, Allah will collect the hypocrites and disbelievers together in Hell

AllahY warned us against taking those who deny AllahY as friends. He said:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ لاَ تَتَّخِذُواْ الْكَافِرِينَ أَوْلِيَاء مِن دُونِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَتُرِيدُونَ أَن تَجْعَلُواْ لِلّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ سُلْطَانًا مُّبِينًا

Nisa 4:144 O you who believe! Take not for Auliya (protectors or helpers or friends) disbelievers instead of believers. Do you wish to offer Allah a manifest proof against yourselves?

So finally, what should you do? How do you choose who you should take as your friend and which situation, place or activity you should be in and which you should avoid? I have a very simple rule which I apply to myself and which I will share with you.

For the person: Ask, 'Is this someone I want to lead my Salatul Janaaza?' For the situation, place or activity: Ask, 'Is this where I want to die?'

A man asked Rasoolullahr about the Hour (i.e. Day of Judgment) saying, "When will the Hour be?" Rasoolullahr said, "What have you prepared for it?" The man said, "Nothing, except that I love Allah and His Messengerr." Rasoolullahr said, "You will be with those whom you love." We had never been so glad as we were on hearing that saying of Rasoolullahr (i.e., "You will be with those whom you love.") Therefore, I love Rasoolullahr , Abu Bakr and 'Umar, and I hope that I will be with them because of my love for them though my deeds are not similar to theirs.

(Narrated by Anas - al-Buhkhari 5.37)

So let us be very careful who we love and who we spend time with, because we will be resurrected with them and share our Aakhira with them.

I ask Allah to ease the path for us, to what is pleasing to Him. and give us those friends who can lead us towards right parth - ameen.

Those who are interested in the audio recording, please look for it on www.yawarbaig.in/downloads after Monday, February 7

--
Aish - The Fairy Princess

Visit my Blog -


http://cutheartprincessash.blogspot.com/