I feel clean for the first time

Once a pious Muslim brother got a job in a restaurant. He took with
himself a container for water so that he can use it for toilet
purposes. So, everytime he goes to the toilet, he fills the container
with water and takes it with him. One day, a Christian man, who also
works there, saw himtaking water and asked him about the reason for
it. The Muslim brother told him that after releasing the dirty
materials, we should clean that place and that cleanliness is a major
part of Islam. The man said that why not use the toilet papers? The
brotherasked him that if such dirty thing touched his hands, would he
use a toilet paper to wipe it off or use water? The man understood and
said that he would use water. The next day, the Christian man brought
a container for himself and used it during relieving himself. When he
came out of the toilet, he was crying and tears were rolling down his
cheeks. The Muslim brother asked him about why he is crying. The
Christian man said that"For the first time in my life, I feel
completely clean." Thereafter, he accepted Islam and became a devouted
Muslim.

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The Creation of Hell Fire

"Fear the fire, which is prepared for the disbelievers."
[Ali'-Imran, 3: 131]
"Truly Hell is lying in wait-a destination for the transgressors."
(One's rejection of faith is transgression against Allah and himself).
[an-Naba, 78: 21-22]
Abdullah bin Umar (radiAllahu anhu) narrated: "Allah Messenger
(salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, 'When someone dies, he isshown his
destination morning and evening andif he belongs to the people of
Paradise, (he will be shown his place) among the people of Paradise,
and if he is from the people of Hell, (he willbe shown his place)
among the people of Hell.'"
[Sahih al-Bukhari]
Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) reported that Allah's Messenger
(salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said: "There was a dispute between Hell and
Paradise during which Hell said, 'The haughty and the proud will find
abode in me.' And Paradise said, 'The meek and the humble willfind
their abode in me.' Thereupon, Allah, the Exalted and Glorious,
(addressing Hell) said, 'You are the means of My punishment by which I
punish those of My servants whom I wish.' (and addressing Paradise),He
said, 'You are My mercy by means of which I will show mercy to those
whom I wish. And each one of you will be full.'"
[Muslim]

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A pond full of milk

Once there was a king who told some of his workers to dig a pond. Once
the pond was dug, the king made an announcement to his people saying
that one person from each household has to bring a glass of milk
during the night and pour it into the pond. So, the pond shouldbe full
of milk by the morning. After receiving the order, everyone went home.
One man prepared to take the milk during the night. He thought
thatsince everyone will bring milk, he could just hide a glass of
water and pour inside the pond. Because it will be dark at night,
noone will notice. So he quickly went and poured the water in the pond
andcame back. In the morning, the king came to visit the pond and to
his surprise the pond was only filled with water! What has happened is
that everyone was thinking like the other man that "I don't have to
put the milk, someone else will do it."
Dear friends, when it comes to help the Religion of Allah, do not
think that others will takecare of it. Rather, it starts from you, if
you don't do it, no one else will do it. So, change yourself to the
way of Allah to serve Him and that will make the difference.

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The Muslim in Ramadaan

What should we say to the Muslims on the occasion of the beginning of Ramadaan?.
Praise be to Allaah.
Allaah says (interpretationof the meaning):
"The month of Ramadan in which was revealed theQur'aan, a guidance for
mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between
right and wrong). So whoever of you sights (the crescenton the first
night of) the month (of Ramadan i.e. is present at his home), he must
observe Sawm (fasts) that month, and whoever is ill or on a journey,
the same number[of days which one did not observe Sawm (fasts) must be
made up] from other days. Allaah intends for you ease, and He does not
want to make things difficult for you. (He wantsthat you) must
complete the same number (of days), and that you must magnify Allaah
[i.e. to say Takbeer (Allaahu Akbar: Allaah is the Most Great)] for
having guided you so that you may be grateful to Him."
[al-Baqarah 2:185]
This blessed month is a great opportunity for goodness, barakah
(blessing), worship and obedience towards Allaah.
It is a great month, a noble season, a month in which hasanaat
(rewards for good deeds) are multiplied and in which committing
sayi'aat (bad deeds) is more serious than at other times. The gates of
Paradise are opened and the gates of Hell are shut, and the sinners'
repentance to Allaah is accepted. It is a month whose beginning is
mercy, its middle is forgiveness and its end is redemption from the
Fire.
So give thanks to Him for the season of goodness and blessing that He
has bestowed upon you, and for the means of bounty and various kinds
of greatblessings for which He hassingled you out. Make themost of
this blessed time by filling it with acts of worship and forsaking
haraam things, so that you may attain a good lifein this world and
happiness after death.
For the sincere believer, every month is an occasion for worship and
his whole life is spent in obeying Allaah, but in the month of
Ramadaan he has even more motives todo good and his heart is even more
focused on worship, and he turns even more to his Lord. By His grace,
our generous Lord bestows His bounty upon the fasting believersand
multiplies the rewardfor them on this blessed occasion, so He gives
abundantly and rewards generously for righteous deeds. Time passes
quickly
Days pass so quickly, as if they were mere moments. We welcomed
Ramadaan, then we bade it farewell, and only a short period of time
passed and we are welcoming Ramadaan again. So we should hasten to do
good deeds in this month and strive to fill it with that which Allaah
is pleased with andwith that which will help us on the Day when we
meet Him.
How can we prepare for Ramadaan?
We can prepare for Ramadaan by taking stockof ourselves and
recognizing our shortcomings in living up to the Shahaadatayn, or our
shortcoming in fulfilling our duties, or ourshortcomings in not
keeping away from the desires and doubts that we may have fallen into…
We should set ourselves straight so that in Ramadaan we will have a
higher degree of faith. Forfaith increases and decreases. It increases
through obedience to Allaah and it decreases through disobedience
andsin. The first act of obedience that a person should achieve is
that of being a true slave of Allaah and believing that there is none
that is rightfully worshipped except Allaah, so he directs all kinds
of worship to Allaah and does not associate anyoneelse in worship with
Him. Each of us should realize that whatever has befallen him could
not have missed him, and whatever missed him could not have befallen
him, and that everything happens by the will and decree of Allaah.
We should avoid everything that could undermine our commitment to the
Shahaadatayn. This meanskeeping away from bid'ah(innovations) and
things that have been introduced into the religion. We should also
follow the principle of al-walaa' wa'l-bara' (loyalty and friendship
vs. disavowal and enmity), bytaking the believers as our friends and
by regarding the kaafirs and hypocrites as enemies, and we should
rejoice when the Muslims gain a victory over their enemies. We should
follow the example of theProphet (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) and his companions and adhere to the Sunnah of the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and the way ofthe
Rightly-Guided Khulafa' who came after him. We should love the Sunnah
and love those who adhere to it and defend it, in whatever country
they are and whatever colour or nationality they are.
After that we should take stock of ourselves and recognize our
shortcomings in doing acts of worship such as praying in congregation,
remembering Allaah (dhikr), paying attention to the rights of
neighbours, relatives and the Muslims .....

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