How to be the best in everything

Khalid Ibn El-Waleed narrated the following:
A Bedouin came one day to the prophet and said tohim, "O, Messenger of
Allah! I've come to ask you a few questions about the affairs of this
life and the Hereafter.
Ask what you wish.
I'd like to be the most of learned of men.
Fear Allah, and you will bethe most learned of men.
I'd like to be the richest man in the world
Be contented, and you will be the richest man in the world.
I'd like to be the most of just men.
Desire for others what you desire for yourself, and you will be the
most just of men.
I want to be the best of men
Do good to others and you will be the best of men.
I wish to be the most favored by Allah
Engage much in Allah's praise, and you will be favored by Allah
I would like to complete my faith
If you have good mannersyou will complete your faith
I wish to be among those who do good
Adore Allah as if you see Him, for surely He sees you.
I wish to be Obedient to Allah
If observe Allah's commands you will be obedient to Allah
Id like to be free from all sins
Bathe your body from impurities and you will befree from all sins
I'd like to be raised in the day of judgment in the light
Don't wrong yourself or any other creature, and you will be raised on
the day of Judgment in the light
I'd like Allah to bestow HisMercy on me
If you have mercy on yourself and on others Allah will bestow His Mercy on you.
I'd like my sins to be very few
If you seek forgiveness from Allah as much as youcan, your sins will be very few
I'd like to be the most honorable man
If you do not complain to any fellow creature, you will be the most
honored of men
I'd like to be the strongestof men
If you put your trust in Allah, you will be the strongest of men
I'd like for Allah to enlargemy provision
If you keep yourself pure, Allah will enlarge your provision
I'd like to be loved by Allah and His Messenger
If you love what Allah andHis messenger love, you will be among their
beloved ones
I wish to be safe from Allah's wrath on the day of Judgment
If you do not lose your temper with any of your fellow creatures you
will be safe from the wrath of Allah on the day of judgment
I'd like my prayers to be responded
If you avoid forbidden actions your prayers will be responded
I'd like Allah not to disgrace me on the Day ofJudgment
If you guard your chastity Allah will not disgrace youon the Day of Judgment
I'd like Allah to protect mewith a covering protection on the Day of Judgment
Do not uncover your fellow creatures faults, and Allah will provide
youwith a covering on the Day of Judgment
What will save me from sins
Tears, humility and illness will save you
What are the best deeds in the eyes of Allah
Gentle manners, modesty,and patience in adversity
What are the worst evils in the eyes of Allah
Hot temper and Miserliness
What extinguishes hell's fire on the Day of Judgment?
Patience in adversity and misfortunes
What assuages the wrath of Allah in this life and thehereafter
Concealed charity and kindness to others/

Files of your life

In that place between wakefulness and dreams, I found myself in a
room. There were no distinguishing features save for the one wall
covered with small indexcard files. They werelike the ones in
libraries that list titles by author orsubject in alphabetical order.
But these files, which stretched from floor to ceiling and seemingly
endlessly in either direction, had very different headings. As I drew
near the wall of files, the first to catch my attention was one that
read "People I Have Liked". I opened it and began flipping through the
cards. I quickly shut it,shocked to realize that I recognized the
names written on each one.
And then without being told, I knew exactly where I was.
This lifeless room with its small files was a crude catalog system for
my life.Here were written the actions of my every moment, big and
small, ina detail my memory couldn't match. A sense ofwonder and
curiosity, coupled with horror, stirred within me as I began randomly
opening files and exploring their content. Some brought joy and sweet
memories; others a sense of shame and regret so intense thatI would
look over my shoulder to see if anyone was watching.
A file named "Friends" was next to one marked"Friends I Have
Betrayed".The titles ranged from themundane to the outright weird.
"Books I Have Read", "Lies I Have Told","Comfort I Have Given","Jokes
I Have Laughed At".Some were almost hilarious in their exactness:
"Things I've Yelled at My Brothers." Others I couldn't laugh
at:"Things I Have Done in MyAnger", "Things I Have Muttered Under My
Breathat My Parents". I never ceased to be surprised by the contents.
Often there were many more cards than I expected. Sometimes fewer than
I hoped.
I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the life I had lived. Could
it be possible that I had the time in my 30 years to write each of
these thousands or even millions of cards? But each card confirmed
this truth. Each was written in my own handwriting. Each signed with
my signature.
When I pulled out the file marked "Songs I Have Listened To", I
realized the files grew to contain their contents. The cards were
packed tightly, and yet after two or three yards, I hadn't found the
end of the file. I shut it, shamed, not so much by the quality of
music, but more by the vast amount of time I knew that file
represented.
When I came to a file marked "Lustful Thoughts", I felt a chill
runthrough my body. I pulledthe file out only an inch, not willing to
test its size, and drew out a card. I shuddered at its detailed
content. I felt sick to thinkthat such a moment had been recorded.
An almost animal rage broke on me. One thoughtdominated my mind: "No
one must ever see these cards! No one must ever see this room! I have
to destroy them!" In an insane frenzy I yanked thefile out. Its size
didn't matter now. I had to empty it and burn the cards. But as I took
it at one end and began pounding it on the floor, I could not dislodge
a single card. I became desperate and pulled out a card, only to find
it as strong as steel when I tried to tear it. Defeated and utterly
helpless, I returned the file to its slot. Leaning my foreheadagainst
the wall, I let out a long, self-pitying sigh.
And then I saw it.
The title bore "People that I Have Taught About Allah". The handle was
brighter than those around it, newer, almost unused. I pulled on its
handle and a small box not more than three inches long fell into my
hands. I could count the cards it contained on one hand.
And then the tears came. Ibegan to weep. Sobs so deep that the hurt
startedin my stomach and shook through me. I fell on my knees and
cried. I cried out of shame, from the overwhelming shame of itall. The
rows of file shelves swirled in my tear-filled eyes. No one must ever,
ever know of this room.
I must lock it up and hide the key.

advice

Take this Ramadan to really cleans your insides so that your actions
will begenuine. By that meaning, act with sincerity, pray with
submission, make dua' with humility, love foryour brother what you
love for yourself, truly honor your parents, don't gossip, be a good
neighbor, assume the best of people, be kind, think about what to give
than what you'll get and there are so much more you can do.
In sha Allah, sisters and brothers, let us cleanse ourhearts.

Taking pills to prevent period in the last ten days of Ramadaan

If a woman's period is going to come in the last ten days of Ramadaan,
is it permissible for her to use contraceptive pills so that she can
continue to worship during these days of blessing?
Praise be to Allaah.
This question was put to ShaykhMuhammad ibn 'Uthaymeen (may Allaah
have mercy on him)and he said:
We do not think that she should use these pills to help her worship
Allaah, because the period which happens to her is something which
Allaah has decreed for the daughters of Adam.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)entered upon
'Aa'ishah when she was with him during the Farewell Pilgrimage. She
had entered ihraam for 'Umrah, thenher period came before she reached
Makkah. He entered upon her and found her weeping. He asked, "Why are
you weeping?" and she told himthat her period had come. He told her,
"This is something which Allaah has decreed for thedaughters of Adam."
So the period is not something which is under her control. If it comes
during the last ten days of Ramadaan, then let her accept what Allaah
has decreed for her and not use these pills. I have heard from
trustworthy doctorsthat these pills cause harm to the uterus and the
blood, and they may cause deformity in thefoetus if she should
conceive. Hence we think that she should avoid them. If her period
comes and she cannot pray or fast, thisis beyond her control and is
the decree of Allaah.
Shaykh Muhammad ibn 'Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him)