Caring for your mother

At the time of the Prophet (Sallal La Hu Alaihe Wa Sallam), there was a young man named Alqamah (Raziallah Anho). He was very diligent in obeying Allah by engaging in prayer and fasting and spending in charity. Then he fell ill and his illness became serious. His wife went to the Prophet (Sallal La Hu Alaihe Wa Sallam) and said, ”My husband, Alqamah, is on his deathbed. I therefore came to tell you, Messenger of Allah, about his condition.” The Prophet (Sallal La Hu Alaihe Wa Sallam) (then) sent for Ammar or Suhaib and Bilal, and told them to go to him (Alqamah) and have him repeat the Shahadah. Thereupon they went to him and found him in the agony of death. They asked him to say, “La illaha illa Allah,” but his tongue was unable to pronounce it. At that, they came and told the Messenger of Allah that he was unable to repeat the Shahadah.

The Prophet (Sallal La Hu Alaihe Wa Sallam) asked, “Is either of his parents alive?” He was told, “Messenger of Allah, his mother is, but she is very old.” The Prophet (Sallal La Hu Alaihe Wa Sallam) sent her a message that if it was convenient for her (that is, is she was able to go out), she should come to him; otherwise she should stay in her house and the Prophet (Sallal La Hu Alaihe Wa Sallam) would come to her.

The Prophet's messenger came to her and informed her of the Prophet's message. She said, “May my life be a ransom for him, it is my pleasure to go to him!” She then stood up, leaning on her walking stick, and came to the Prophet (Sallal La Hu Alaihe Wa Sallam) and greeted him. The Prophet (Sallal La Hu Alaihe Wa Sallam) returned her greeting and said to her, “Umm Alqamah, tell me the truth, for otherwise Allah Most High will reveal the truth to me! What is the situation concerning your son, Alqamah?” She replied, “Messenger of Allah, he prays much, fasts a great deal, and spends a great amount in charity.” The Prophet (Sallal La Hu Alaihe Wa Sallam) said, “And what about yourself?” She said, “Messenger of Allah, I am angry with him.” He said, “Why?” She replied, “Messenger of Allah, he has preferred his wife to me and has disobeyed me.” Then Allah's Messenger said, “Umm Alqamah, surely your anger has prevented Alqamah's tongue from pronouncing the Shahadah.”

He then turned to Bilal and said, “Bilal, go out and collect a quantity of firewood.” She said, “Messenger of Allah, what do you plan to do?” He replied, “I will burn him in front of your eyes.” She said, “Messenger of Allah, he is my son! My heart cannot bear your burning him in front of me!” He said, “Umm Alqamah, Allah's punishment is more severe and more lasting! Therefore, if you want Allah to forgive him, be reconciled to him. By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, the prayer, fasting, and spending in charity (which he has done) are of no benefit to Alqamah as long as you are angry with him! Thereupon she said, “Messenger of Allah, I call upon Allah Most High and His angels and the Muslims who are present to be my witnesses that I am pleased with my son Alqamah.” Allah's Messenger said, “Bilal, go to him and see whether he is now able to say, “La illaha illa Allah” or not. It may be that Umm Alqamah is saying something for my sake which is not in her heart.”

Thereupon Bilal went, and while entering the door he heard Alqamah saying, “La illaha illa Allah.” (Concerning this), Bilal remarked, “It is surely true that while Alqamah's mother was angry with him his tongue was tied, and now that she is pleased with him his tongue is freed.” Alqamah died the same day. The Prophet came to him and gave the order for his washing and shrouding, and then prayed the funeral prayer for him and buried him. He then stood by the side of his grave and said, “You company of Muhajireen and Helpers, if anyone favors his wife over his mother, Allah and His angels and all the people curse him! Allah does not accept his spending (in charity) and his uprightness unless he repents toward Allah, the Glorious and Majestic, and reconciles with her and attains her pleasure, because Allah's pleasure consists in her pleasure and Allah's anger consists in her anger.”

Moral: This is a story of a companion of Hazart Muhammad (Sallal La Hu Alaihe Wa Sallam). These companions of Holy Prophet (Sallal La Hu Alaihe Wa Sallam) are the group of most beloved person of Allah after Propehts. If such a thing can happen to a companion of Holy Prophet (Sallal La Hu Alaihe Wa Sallam) on account of his dealing with his mother, just think of what bad can happen with us if we commit such a great sin!

May ALLAH make us be obedient to and pleasure for our parents.
Ameen.

Eight lies of a Mother!

A very touchy and sentimental article..

1.
The story began when I was a child;
I was born as a son of a poor family.
Even for eating, we often got lack of food.
Whenever the time for eating, mother often gave me her portion of rice.
While she was removing her rice into my bowl,
She would say "Eat this rice, son. I'm not hungry".
That was Mother's First Lie

2.
When I was getting to grow up,
The persevering mother gave her spare time for fishing in a river near our house,
She hoped that from the fishes she got,
She could gave me a little bit nutritious food for my growth.
After fishing, she would cook the fishes to be a fresh fish soup,
Which raised my appetite. While I was eating the soup,
Mother would sit beside me and eat the rest meat of fish,
Which was still on the bone of the fish I ate.
My heart was touched when I saw it.
I then used my chopstick and gave the other fish to her.
But she immediately refused it and said "Eat this fish, son.
I don't really like fish."
That was Mother's Second Lie.

3.
Then, when I was in Junior High School,
To fund my study, mother went to an economic enterprise to bring some used-matches boxes that would be stuck in.
It gave her some money for covering our needs.
As the winter came,
I woke up from my sleep and looked at my mother who was still awoke,
Supported by a little candlelight and within her perseverance she continued
the work of sticking some used-matches box.
I said, "Mother, go to sleep, it's late,
tomorrow morning you still have to go for work.
" Mother smiled and said "Go to sleep,
dear. I'm not tired."
That was Mother's Third Lie.

4.

At the time of final term,
mother asked for a leave from her work in order to accompany me.
While the daytime was coming and the heat of the sun was starting to shine,
the strong and persevering mother
waited for me under the heat of the sun's shine for several hours.
As the bell rang, which indicated that the final exam had finished,
mother immediately welcomed me and poured me a glass of tea
that she had prepared before in a cold bottle.
The very thick tea was not as thick as my mother's love,
which was much thicker. Seeing my mother covering with perspiration,
I at once gave her my glass and asked her to drink too.
Mother said "Drink, son. I'm not thirsty!".
That was Mother's Fourth Lie.

5.
After the death of my father because of illness,
my poor mother had to play her role as a single parent.
By held on her former job, she had to fund our needs alone.
Our family's life was more complicated. No days without sufferance.
Seeing our family's condition that was getting worse,
there was a nice uncle who lived near my house came to help us,
either in a big problem and a small problem.
Our other neighbors who lived next to us saw that our family's life was so unfortunate,
they often advised my mother to marry again. But mother,
who was stubborn, didn't care to their advice,
she said "I don't need love."
That was Mother's Fifth Lie.

6.
After I had finished my study and then got a job,
it was the time for my old mother to retire.
But she didn't want to; she was sincere to go to the marketplace every morning,
just to sell some vegetable for fulfilling her needs.
I, who worked in the other city, often sent her some money to help her in fulfilling her needs,
but she was stubborn for not accepting the money.
She even sent the money back to me.
She said "I have enough money."
That was Mother's Sixth Lie.

7.

After graduated from Bachelor Degree,
I then continued my study to Master Degree.
I took the degree, which was funded by a company through a scholarship program,
from a famous University in America .
I finally worked in the company. Within a quite high salary,
I intended to take my mother to enjoy her life in America .
But my lovely mother didn't want to bother her son,
she said to me "I'm not used to."
That was Mother's Seventh Lie.

8.
After entering her old age,
mother got a flank cancer and had to be hospitalized.
I, who lived in miles away and across the ocean,
directly went home to visit my dearest mother.
She lied down in weakness on her bed after having an operation.
Mother, who looked so old, was staring at me in deep yearn.
She tried to spread her smile on her face;
even it looked so stiff because of the disease she held out.
It was clear enough to see how the disease broke my mother's body,
thus she looked so weak and thin.
I stared at my mother within tears flowing on my face.
My heart was hurt, so hurt, seeing my mother on that condition.
But mother, with her strength, said "Don't cry, my dear.
I'm not in pain."
That was Mother's Eight Lie.

Dr. Israr Ahmed visiting Karachi

Dr. Israr Ahmed is visiting Karachi and delivering some public lectures. Details can be found here:

Dr. Israr Ahmed Visiting Karachi

Remember the order to lower your gaze

As the heat gets hotter…. as the sun gets brighter
As they take it all off…. as their 'burden' gets lighter

When you feel the temptation as they roam half naked
When you think for sure that you just can't make it

Remember O Muslim the perfect instructions
Remember not to give in to those temptations

Through the lure, the enticement and through the haze
Remember the order…..to lower your gaze

Don't go to such places….don't go to the beaches
Remember the lessons ....remember what Islam teaches

Don't sit idle in the street nor visit the mall
When you know they are going to bare it all

Now, I know it isn't easy….. its hard not to stare
Its difficult to look away when its all there

But, don't feed your lust, nor set it ablaze
Remember the order…. to lower your gaze

What's the harm in it, they say. It's nothing but fun!
If I look at some bodies bathing in the sun!

A lustful look towards the opposite gender
Is all that it takes to set off the trigger

It leads to sin and abomination
It paves the way for fornication

Don't take it so lightly, don't think it's a phase
Remember the order…. to lower your gaze

Watch out for that arrow….the arrow from Satan
The one you're warned about….laden with poison

The arrow that is aimed towards your very heart
When it reaches its target, it leaves a black mark

It infects your heart and leaves it vulnerable
for Satan to take over and do as he is able

Recall the Prophet's words for he told no lies
"Looking at something forbidden is the zinaa of the eyes."

Don't look at anything haraam, that's what he said
So when temptation passes by…..just turn away your head

Just lower your gaze…..don't give that second look
For you never know when you get caught by the hook

A lustful glance….then the talk …..then the meeting
You know what comes next….after all the flirting

Fornication is major. "Don't even come near it."
It starts with that first look, every Muslim should fear it

So lower your gaze…. don't look at haraam
Strive for good deeds….they work like a charm

If you are able then do get married
That's what the Prophet alaihis-salaam instructed

Keep voluntary fasts….they will make you strong
Being a good Muslim, you surely can't go wrong

A part of his character is the Muslim's gaze
So fear Allaah as you spend these summer days

Ask Allaah to help you….you'll find Him there
And never underestimate the power of prayer

Not only in the streets, remember O Muslim
Lower your gaze when watching television

The shows….the sitcoms…..the underwear ads
The suggestive scenes….the fashions and the fads

Day in and day out, we watch haraam and yet….
when 'Baywatch' comes on, we don't turn off the set

Did you forget the Day when Allaah will ask you
of every look you cast….every glance you threw

So where will you hide….what will you do
That Day your eyes will witness against you

Remember, the beauty of this world is temporary
The question is then….will you be able to carry

Your head up high in front of the Almighty
When you stand on a Day, so long so dreary?

You are the best Ummah….the Model Community
Custodians of Truth…Upholders of Morality

So fight the Shaytaan, stop him in his wickedness
Lower your gaze, ask for Allaah's forgiveness

And thank Allaah O Muslim and realize
The greatest blessing is a pair of eyes

Don't use it to disobey Him, don't earn His Displeasure
For you will be asked what you did with this treasure

It is not too late….to repent….to amend
Start now….by lowering your gaze my friend


"Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty. That is purer for them. Verily, Allaah is All-Aware of what they do. Say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty...O you who believe! Turn you all together towards Allah that you may attain success." (Surah Nur:30,31).

Quran Dictionary

Dictionary with Arabic-English word-meaning for entire Quran.

http://www.alquranic.com/downloads/Quran_Dictionary.pdf

Pick your teeth!

It's one of the greatest sins and yet it's something we do day after day. Sometimes we don't even realise it. You're just chatting away with your friends and you begin to talk about somebody else. Our whole lives are based around 'Home and Away' and 'Neighbours', soaps based on lying, backbiting etc. But look at what the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said about it:

The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) was sitting with his companions one day and one of them was speaking badly about someone who wasn't there. As the man got up to leave the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said to him: 'Pick Your Teeth!' 'But I haven't eaten anything,' the man protested. 'No,' the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said 'You have eaten the flesh of your dead brother'.

As Allah tells us in the Qur'an: 'Would any of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? No, you would hate it.' [surah al-Hujurat; 49:12]

But What If It's True?!

The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) told us:

'Backbiting is to say something about someone they wouldn't like said about them....If what bad you said about them is true, then you have backbited and if it is false then you have slandered them.'

[Muslim]

If you're still not convinced of how big a sin backbiting really is, then look at the punishment Allah has in store for the backbiters. The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) described:

'On the night of mirage I passed by some people who had metal hooks in their hands and were clawing at their faces and their necks with them. I asked Gabriel 'Who were these people?' He said 'These are the people who eat the flesh of human beings and disgrace them'

[Abu Dawud].

This is how big a sin backbiting is looked upon and yet we continue to backbite without a second thought. Next time you lie, talk about somebody, remember Allah (subhanahu wa Ta'ala) and the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) and put them in front of you before you speak.

Just having a Laugh!

May be we think it's all right to take the mick out of someone so long as we say it to their face. We'll make fun of the way someone talks, walks, or how they look. Allah Ta'ala warns us against such behaviour:

'O you who believe. Let not some men laugh at others, it may be the that they are better than you. Nor let some women laugh at others it may be that they are better than you. Nor abuse each other, nor be sarcastic to each other by using offensive nicknames...'

[surah al-Hujurat; 49:11]

Don't forget that Allah made us the way we are, so how can you even think of making fun of his creation?

Cool to Swear?

Listen to yourself and to your friends speaking one day - nearly every sentence will have a swear word in it, thinking it's cool and macho to swear, copying the idols of TV and the cinema. Is it really 'cool' to swear? The Hellfire is far from being cool. People will wish they were cool then rather than being cool in this world. Remember! That every time you speak, an angel writes down what you say, and that one day you will have to answer for every single word you ever uttered. So if you swear at someone then it's written down as a sin against you. You're only harming yourself. The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said that:

'Abusing a Muslim is a sin and fighting with him is disbelief.'

[Muslim].

'But sometimes you just have to swear'!

We've all been there - you're just so angry with somebody and the only way you can express yourself, is to swear at them. The solution? ...

Don't get angry in the first place.

A man came to the Prophet (S) one day and said 'Advise me'. The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said 'Don't become angry. Don't become angry. Don't become angry'.... 'When one of you gets angry while he is standing up, he should sit down. Then anger will leave him, and if not then he should lie down'

[Ahmad]

So let us follow this beautiful advice of the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) and remember that anger is from Shaytaan. If someone angers you or swears at you, then don't harm yourself by doing the same but respond in a better way as Allah says in the Qur'an:

'Repel evil with what is better. Then he who was your worst enemy will become your best friend.'

[surah 41:33]

'It wasn't me. Honest.'

How often do we say such a phrase or say that 'I was only joking'. We treat lies as being trivial. However we are told that:

'Allah's messenger did not hate anything more than lying'

[Ahmed].

The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) was once asked 'Can a Muslim be a coward?' He (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) replied 'Yes.' and then asked 'Can a Muslim be a miser?' and the reply was 'Yes.' The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) was then asked 'Can a Muslim be a liar?' The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) replied 'NO! A Muslim can never be a liar'. Furthermore, he said 'Truth leads to virtue and virtue leads to paradise...Lying leads to wickedness and wickedness leads to the hellfire.'

[sahih al-Bukhari].

As we know that one lie leads to another ten lies which lead to bad actions. Remember you can lie and think that you have got away with it but on the day of Judgement your hands, tongue and feet will bear testimony against you and tell the truth.

But it's only words!

One day one of the companions asked the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) 'O Messenger of Allah. Will we be called to account for what we say?' He replied 'May you be lost to your mother - people will be thrown, faces down into the hellfire, only on account to what their tongues said.'

[at-Tirmidhi].

Indeed the tongue controls the rest of your body. A well-controlled tongue will keep us within Islam but a loose tongue will destroy us. The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:

'When a person gets up in the morning, all the parts of his body make a plea to his tongue saying; 'Fear Allah regarding us, because we follow you. If you are right then we shall also be right , and if you are wrong then we shall also be wrong.' [at-Tirmidhi]

Instead of swearing, lying and engaging in useless talk we can use our tongues in better ways and what better than telling people about Islam. Allah says:

'Who is better in speech than one who calls (men) to Allah and works righteousness and says I am one of those who bow down in Islam'

[surah 41:33]

Your tongue can save you as well!.Indeed if you control your tongue and speak good then paradise can be yours. The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:

'Whoever can guarantee me two things I can guarantee them Paradise.' The companions asked 'What, O Messenger of Allah?' He replied 'What is between his jaws (his tongue) and his legs (private parts).'

[sahih al-Bukhari]

I've lied and backbited, sworn and made fun of others. I must be doomed I must be going to hell!'

NO! Allah tells us in the Qur'an:

'O my servants who have wronged themselves, never despair of the mercy of Allah for truly he forgives all sins. He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.'

[surah 39:53]

So if you really repent and turn back to Allah and promise not to commit the sin again then truly Allah's promise is true and He will forgive you. If you've backbitten someone - go and tell the person whom you backbited and apologise sincerely and ask them to forgive you. But if you think that the situation will get worse then turn back to Allah sincerely begging for his forgiveness then to make up for what you said, go around and talk good of him.

The Best Example

As we know that the best person to have ever lived is the Prophet Muhammad (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) and he is the best of example for mankind. If we follow him we can never go wrong. Ayesha (R) the Prophet's wife described the Prophet's conduct as follows:

'He was neither a obscene talker nor a user of bad words. He did not shout nor did he repay evil with evil. He used to forgive people and overlook their sins.'

[at-Tirmidhi]

Final Advice: A beautiful saying of the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) that will ensure the protection of our tongue. The Messenger of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) said:

'Whoever believes in Allah and the Last day, let him either speak good or keep silent'

Bukhari - Volume 8, Book 81, Number 772:

Narrated Abu Huraira:

A drunk was brought to the Prophet and he ordered him to be beaten (lashed). Some of us beat him with our hands, and some with their shoes, and some with their garments (twisted in the form of a lash). When that drunk had left, a man said, 'What is wrong with him? May Allah disgrace him!' Allah's Apostle said, 'Do not help Satan against your (Muslim) brother.'

Allah - the Most High - said:

'The Believers are only those who, when Allah is mentioned, feel a fear in the hearts, and when His Verses are recited to them, it increases their eemaan (faith), and they put their trust and rely upon Allah alone. They are those who perform the Prayer and spend out of that which We have given them, they are Believers in truth. For them are grades of dignity and nobility with their Lord, and also forgiveness and generous provisions.' [Soorah al-Anfaal 8:2-4]

[http://www.lutonmuslims.co.uk/pickurteeth.htm]

Daura Terjuma Quran for your iPod or Mobile Device

Daura Terjuma Quran for your iPod or Mobile Device
By Dr. Israr Ahmed

http://www.tanzeem.org/broadcast/video/urdu/dtqforipod.asp