Written by Aboo Uthmaan

On Tuesday 19th February 2008 I broke my toe, only at the time I didn’t know that I had. It wasn’t until the next day when due to the pain that I was in I decided to visit the hospital, only to find out that my toe was indeed broken. They buddy tapped my broken toe (the big toe on my right foot) to the toe next to it, booked me in to see a specialist consultant the next day and then sent me on my way.

Last Monday, almost twelve weeks since I broke my toe, did I start to pray without the aid of a chair, but it is not the purpose of this post to make mention of the issues surrounding my broken toe, mostly because my injury is not that serious and it pales into significance when compared to the injuries of others (as we shall see later on in this post), however, it was and is enough to have reminded me and to continue to remind me of the Hadeeth in which Allaah’s Messenger (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:

“There are two blessings which many people lose: (They are) Health and free time for doing righteous deeds.” (Reported by al-Bukhaaree)

Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’aala) has in His mercy bestowed numerous blessings upon mankind; in fact, if we were to try to count them then we would never be able to. Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’aala) says:

“…and if you count the Blessings of Allaah, never will you be able to count them…” (Qur’aan, 14:34)

Unfortunately, many of us abuse the blessing of being in a state of and having good health, just like we do with many of the blessings that Allaah has bestowed upon us. Instead of using them in obedience to Allaah, we use them in disobedience to Him (subhaanahu wa ta’aala).

“Verily! Man is indeed an extreme wrongdoer…” (Qur’aan, 14:34)

My intention is not to write a long article or anything like that, and it is safe to say that the realities of being in a state of ill health will become all too apparent when one considers the brother in the video clip below, a video which speaks for itself:

Now many of you will have already seen the above video clip, if that is so then I ask Allaah to make it a reminder, and indeed the reminder will profit the believer. Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’aala) says:

“Has not the time come for the hearts of those who believe (in the Oneness of Allaah - Islamic Monotheism) to be affected by Allaah’s Reminder.” (Qur’aan, 57:16)

Wallaahu ta’aala ‘aalam!

Subahanaka Allaahuma wa bihamdika ashadu a laa illa illah anta astagfirouka wa at-tabu ilaik.

Aboo Uthmaan
7th Jumadaa al-Awwal 1429 A.H
(Corresponding to Tuesday 13th May 2008 C.E)

Footnote:

[1] English Translation of video clip:

Interviewer: Of course this is Qadr from Allaah; we do not object to it. Allaah says: “Perhaps you would dislike something and yet it is better for you.” However, ‘Abdullaah, tell me about the most important things that you used to have and now you don’t and wish you would have again after you have been paralysed.

’Abdullaah: Three wishes???!!! I have three wishes that concern me. I am grieved by the fact that I can’t have them. The first is to be able to prostrate even one “sajdah” to Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’aala). I wish I could prostrate to Allaah one sajdah only to never rise from it inshaa’Allaah. There is fear inside me. There is a verse in the Qur’aan that says: “…on the day when a shin will be uncovered and they will be invited to prostrate [to Allaah] but they will not be able to.” Today I can’t prostrate; but when I was able to walk, I had neglected many prayers. Some people may feel sad for me when they see me now. Those people were not sad when I neglected my prayers.

The second wish is to be able to turn one page of the Qur’aan. This is something you (i.e. healthy people) never think of. But for me it is like a mountain.

The third is that in a day of ‘Eed or happiness or any occasion, I wish I were able enter my house and give my mother a hug… (Long pause)…

An emotionally stirring highly beneficial lecture by Ahsan Hanif, that serves as an excellent reminder as to the importance of remembering Allaah and the prizes for doing so. You can download the audio file for the lecture here:

Dhikr: The Seed of Paradise by Ahsan Hanif

By Shaykh ‘Abdul-Maalik al-Qasim

The Messenger of Allah (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:

“The best actions are continuous ones even if little…” (Reported by Muslim)

After I looked at my own state and the state of those who waste their time, I wanted to encourage our souls to obey and worship Allah (‘azza wa jall) by compiling a list of some well-known actions that Allah (‘azza wa jall) has honoured us with and prepared a great reward for those who do them. This list is also a reminder of better utilising our time and seizing the opportunity of every hour and making use of it. My goal in compiling the list is not to point out the actions as much as to show the necessity of organising and planning and preserving one’s time by investing it in something good.

First of all, let us talk about time, with which many are heedless and wasteful, and which importance only few recognise.

Time is like wealth, it requires our attention and care in both spending and managing. While it is possible to gather and store wealth, and even add to it, time, however, is in no way like that. For every minute that passes can never come back even if you were to spend all the wealth of this world!

So since time is preordained to be a specific period that can not be brought forward or delayed and since the value of it depends on what it is spent on, it is obligatory upon every human being to preserve time, be it little or long. One should use it in the best possible way and not be heedless about it.

In order to preserve one’s time, one must reflect on how and where to spend it. The best way to spend time is in obeying Allah (ta’aala). One will never regret time spent in such acts of obedience. The only regret would be that if one were not to take yet more provisions in terms of good actions. So set your goal, O brother or sister; make your intention sincere, beginning with a desire to preserve your time and beware of wasting any minute of it.

My noble brother and sister,

I selected the time span of ten minutes (for performing particular righteous actions) due to ease of application, so that one starts with them until he or she engages in good all the time, by Allah’s grace. In these actions there is conformity with the saying of the Messenger (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam): “The most beloved action to Allah is the most continuous, even if little.” (Reported by Muslim)

Imaam an-Nawawee, may Allah have mercy on him, said in relation to this hadeeth: “In it (the above hadeeth) is an exhortation to perform deeds regularly and continuously, and [an explanation] that a small deed done regularly is better than a great one that is interrupted. It is because by continuously doing a little of such actions as, [one’s] obedience, remembrance, awareness of Allah, sincerity and dedication to the Creator (subhaanahu wa ta’aala), the outcome accumulates and it is multiplied exceeding what is greater but interrupted.”

The Messenger (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) spoke the truth. My dear brother or sister, I will give you an example of the blessing of utilising ten minutes in righteousness. Glorifying Allah (subhaanahu wa ta’aala) by saying: “Subhaanahu’Allaah” a hundred times daily means that one will do so 36,500 times in a year. So take account of your soul, my brother or sister. You can only glorify Allah this much in a year if you are regular in performing tasbeeh and if you make good use of your time.

Similarly, if one reads the Qur’aan for ten minutes regularly, one can finish reading it in full every two months. Is this how you do it? Ask yourself, do you complete recitation of the full Qur’aan outside of Ramadan? And do not limit, my dear brother or sister, these special ten minutes, devoted to obedience, to be performed only once a day. Perhaps you will find the time after the morning-prayer or after the sunrise, or after the noon prayer, or before sleep.

Likewise, if one manages to memorise only a single verse from the Book of Allah (‘azza wa jall) every day, he or she will complete memorization the complete Qur’aan in only eight years.

Most of the actions mentioned are performed with the tongue, so one is able to gain rewards at all times and in all situations. So whoever wants to strive in obedience to Allah, the doors of good are open and one can make one’s days and indeed all of one’s life like the ten minutes. Abu Bakra (radee Allaahu ‘anhu) related that a person said: “O Messenger of Allah, which people are the best?” He said: “Whose life is long and his actions good.” He said: “And what people are the worst?” He said: “Whose life is long and his actions bad.” (Reported by Muslim)

This is an opportunity for you, dear brother or sister. Ten minutes in which one can taste the sweetness of regularity of performing righteous actions and which can be a step towards managing one’s time, until all of one’s life becomes beneficial. Ten minutes that are in agreement with the saying of Allah (‘azza wa jall):

“And I have not created the Jinn or humans except to worship Me.” (Qur’aan, 51:56)

Ibn Qayyim, may Allah have mercy on him, said: “In conclusion, the servant, when he turns away from Allah and becomes preoccupied with sins (in this world), he loses days of his true life (in the Hereafter). He will see the consequence of losing them the Day he says:

‘He will say: ‘Oh, I wish I had sent ahead [some good] for my life [i.e. true, everlasting life in the Hereafter]’.’ (Qur’aan, 89:24).”

Some actions that can be done in ten minutes:

The forenoon prayer
Recitation of the Qur’aan
Salawaat on the Prophet (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)
Praying Salaat al-Janazah
Remembrance of Allah (‘azza wa jall)
Saying “Subhaanahu’Allaah,” “Alhamdulillaah,” and “Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah”
Teaching children
Supplication
Taking account of oneself
Reading
Removal of others’ difficulties and fulfilment of their needs
Preserving ties of kinship
Listening to da’wah tapes
Visiting believers for Allah’s sake
Remembering Allah after the obligatory prayers
Making peace between people
Advising
Phoning relatives
Writing one’s will
Giving charity
Reading traditions of the Prophet (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)
Contemplating
Mailing da’wah information
Feeding the poor
Praying Salaat al-Istikharah
Taking care of orphans
Serving one’s family
Seeking knowledge
Ordering good
Making sajdah
Spreading Islamic knowledge
Calling to Allaah
Giving Sadaqa jariyyah (charity that carries an ongoing award)
Guiding and nurturing one’s children
Repeating after the mu’adhdhin
Performing the night prayer

By Imaam Muhammad ibn Idrees ash-Shaafi’ee (d.204H)

Al-Muzni who is Aboo lbraaheem Ismaa’eel ibn Yahya said:

“I entered upon ash-Shaafi’ee during his illness which resulted in his death, so I said to him: ‘What is your condition?’

He replied: ‘I am journeying from this world, and departing from my brothers, drinking from the cup of death, and upon Allaah - Exalted is His remembrance - arriving. And no! By Allaah, I do not know if my soul is travelling towards Paradise or the Fire!’ Then he started to weep, and he said:

‘In You, the Creator, I raise my longing, And even if I am, O possessor of kindness and generosity, an evildoer, a criminal,

When my heart became constricted and my paths became narrow,

I took my hope in Your pardon and forgiveness as an opening and an escape,

My sins seemed very great to me but when I compared them to Your forgiveness,

I found Your forgiveness to be greater,

You are and still remain the only One who can forgive sins,

You grant and forgive out of Your benevolence and generosity,

Perhaps the One who is the source of all goodness will forgive and overlook my mistakes,

And will hide the sins and burden that I accumulated,

My sins seemed very great to me, so I turned (to You) in humility,

Were it not for my contentment in you, I wouldn’t, O my Lord, have seen any comfort at all,

So if You forgive me, You would have forgiven a sinner, A rebellious, oppressive tyrant still sinning,

So my crime is very great, past and present, But Your forgiveness that embraces Your servant is greater and higher,

So whomsoever holds fast to Allaah is truly saved from mankind, And whosever’s hopes are in Him, will be far removed from any regrets’.”

This is an incredibly motivational lecture by ‘Abdur-Raheem Green, a real eemaan booster, rich with verses from the Qur’aan and narrations from our beloved Prophet (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), delivered in a powerful style, systematically thought out with each sub-topic linking perfectly to the next. You can download the audio file for the lecture here:

Pray Before You Are Prayed Upon by ‘Abdur-Raheem Green

- When becoming humiliated, remember the Prophet (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) in Ta’if.

- When being starved, remember the Prophet (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) tying two stones to his stomach in the battle of Khandaq.

- When becoming angry, remember the Prophet’s (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) control of anger on the martyrdom of his beloved Uncle Hamza.

- When bleeding from any part of the body, remember the Prophet’s (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) body covered in blood on his return from Ta’if.

- When feeling lonely, remember the Prophet’s (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) seclusion in Mount Hira.

- When feeling tired in Salaat, remember the Prophet’s (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) blessed feet in Tahajjud.

- When being prickled with thorns, remember the Prophet’s (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) pain from Abu Lahab’s wife.

- When being troubled by neighbours, remember the old woman who would empty rubbish on the Prophet (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam).

- When losing a child, remember the Prophet’s (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) son, Ibrahim.

- When beginning a long journey, remember the Prophet’s (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) long journey to Madeenah.

- When going against a Sunnah, remember the Prophet’s (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) intercession, (Ummati, Ummati, Ummati) (My Ummah).

- When sacrificing an animal, remember the Prophet’s (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) sacrifice of 63 animals for his Ummah.

- Before shaving your beard, remember the Prophet’s (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) face rejecting the two beardless Iranians.

- When falling into an argument with your wife, remember the Prophet’s (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) encounter with Aisha and Hafsa.

- When experiencing less food in the house, remember the Prophet’s (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) days of poverty.

- When experiencing poverty, remember the Prophet’s (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) advice to Ashaab-e-Suffa (People of Suffa).

- When losing a family member, remember the Prophet’s (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) departure from this world.

- When becoming an orphan, remember the Prophet’s (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) age at six.

- When sponsoring an orphan, remember the Prophet’s (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) sponsor for Zaid ibn Haritha.

- When fearing an enemy, remember the Prophet’s (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) saying to Abu Bakr in Mount Thour.

- Whatever situation you may find yourself in, remember your role model, the best of creation: Prophet Muhammad (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam).

By Zayn al-Abdeen

This is the problem with desire. Our natural desire to live well and enjoy life is co-opted by the consumer system and turned into something enslaving. If we could just extinguish consumer desires and stop shopping, we would get a lot closer to every day. Simply because we would not have to do so much work.

The key is not to renounce all pleasures but to be a master of them. When it comes to pleasure, we seem to oscillate between bingeing and abstention. Is it possible that somehow we are encouraged to binge and abstain because that does the double-job of keeping cash flowing through the system and keeping us docile through self-adulation and guilt.

It is important to distinguish between the physical pleasures provided by drink and food and the promise of pleasure produced by the marketing of mass produced objects.

We desire things. We are attached to things. We believe that things will make us better and this desire produces a restless craving, which leads us into the world and schemes for betterment but of course, things have a built-in disappointment factor. Think back to the last time you bought a “thing.” Did it live-up to the expectation that had been created by its expensive TV advertising campaign?

The fact that things are disappointing leads us not to abandon things, as it should, but to buy more things in the hope that the new and improved thing will not disappoint like the previous thing.

This is how capitalism works through a constant stream of disappointments, which encourages the spending of more and more money. The statement of Allaah:

“And the life of this world is only a deceiving enjoyment.” (Qur’aan, 57:20)

“O mankind! Be afraid of your Lord (by keeping your duty and staying away from the prohibited), and fear a Day when no father can avail aught for his son, nor a son avail aught for his father. Verily, the promise of Allaah is true: let not then this (worldly) present life deceive you, nor let the chief deceiver (Satan) deceive you about Allaah. Verily Allaah, with Him (Alone) is the knowledge of the Hour, He sends down the rain, and knows that which is in the wombs. No person knows what he will earn tomorrow, and no person knows in what land he will die. Verily, Allaah is All-Knower, All-Aware.” (Qur’aan, 31:33-34)

By Imaam ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah (d.751H)
Transcribed by Aboo Uthmaan [1]

Forms of rejecting the Qur’aan:

One: to refuse to listen to it, have faith in it and pay attention to it.
Two: to refuse to act according to it, abide by its lawful and unlawful commandments, even if the person reads it and has faith in it.
Three: to reject its arbitration and litigation according to its principles and branches of the religion and to believe that its words are not meant to be indisputable, and that its proofs are verbal and do not reach the level of real knowledge.
Four: to reject careful consideration of it, and fail to understand it and learn that which the Speaker intended.
Five: to reject seeking medication with it concerning all the diseases of the heart, by seeking the cure of such diseases from other than it.

All these are included in the following Qur’aanic verse (which means):

“And the Messenger (Muhammad) will say: ‘O my Lord! Verily, my people deserted this Qur’aan (neither listened to it, nor acted on its laws and orders)’.” (Al-Furqan 25:30)

This is the case with people although some rejection is less than others.

Footnote:

[1] I (Aboo Uthmaan) transcribed this text from a book entitled “Al-Fawaa’id - A Collection of Wise Sayings ”, Pgs. 126-127, translated by Bayan Translation Services and published by “Umm al-Qura for Translation, Publishing & Distribution”