A Sermon from the Dying to the Living

Basrah a prolific and profoundly spiritual worshipper whose fear of
the Hereafter caused him to become physicallyweak, and whose constant
crying made him skinny and sick. When he was on his deathbed, his
family gathered around hiim, and they all began to cry.
"Help me sit up." He said He addressed his father first: "O my father,
what is making you cry?"
"My son," began his father, "I remembered that I will lose you, and
that I will be alone after you die."
The worshipper then turned his gaze towards his mother and said, "O my
Mother, what is making you cry?"
"I am crying because I will soon have to taste the bitterness of
losing you," she said.
He then turned to his sister and asked, "what ismaking you cry?"
"Because I will soon lose out on your kindness andwill consequently
have todepend on others for help," she said.
Finally, he looked at his children and asked, "what is making you cry?"
"The prospect of hard and humiliating life of being orphans after you
die," they said. Now it was his trun to cry. "And what is making you
cry?"everyone asked.
"I am crying because I saw that each one of youcried for his or her
own self, and not for me, he said. Is there none among you who cries
for the long, hard journey I am about to embark upon, and the few
supplies (i.e. good deeds)that I have for it? Is therenone among you
who cries because I will be lying down in dirt? Is there none among
you who cries becuase I will be held accountable (andmight have to
endure punishment)? Is there none among you who cries because of when
I will stand before the Lord of all that exists (for judgement)?" He
then rolled over onto his face, when they tried to move him, they
realised that hehad just died.
Source: Al-Mawa'iz Wal Majalis

Islamic Article,-

learn from it.
This is something that is very personal and important to me. I hope
that you will learn and benefit from it. Let me begin by saying
"Bismillah." When I first started University, I had met another Muslim
brother. We had become good friends , but this friendship was not like
any other ordinary friendship, I would have done anything for him, he
was like my real brother.
During our last year of University, this brother ofmine announced that
he was engaged and that hewas to be married after he graduates this
year and finds himself a job. I was glad for him and so was he. He
talked non stop about getting married, I was sort of getting jealous
of him, because the brother had it made for him, finishingschool,
getting married and especially coming from a wealthy family.
One day this brother was to meet me at the coffee shop. He showed up,
but astonishingly he wasn't smiling and wasn't talking about his
fiancée.I asked him what was wrong, he asked if we could talk
somewhere privately and we did. Finally I knew why he was upset. He
had told me that he found out that he had a brain tumor which was
malignant, which meant it had become cancerous.When he told me the
news, his voice was quivering and tears werestreaming down his cheeks.
I had never seen him like this before. I tried keeping in my tears and
Itried not to show that I was hurt also. I was burning up inside and
things were racing through my mind. I kept thinking, how could this
have happened? A man who had everything made and had everything
perfect. I keptit inside because I did not want him to see me upset.
I saw this brother slowly go down. He had to drop out of school at his
last year because he began to lose his memory and he started to repeat
himself over again. He did not have a chance at school without his
memory. This brother was intelligent, but after,he became lost.
He was told that his fianceés family and her parents did not want
their daughter to marry him, because he had no job and basically no
future. This was hard for him, I remember he would cry to me about her
and how he cared forher and how hopeless hefelt.
Later, the brother had problems writing and hisright eyesight was
fading. The tumor was on the left side of his brain so it affected
everything on his right. Because of his memory loss, the brother soon
forgot suras and he even forgot how to pray. A year later, his right
arm was paralyzed and his eyesight was taken awayfrom him. It was the
hardest thing for me to see. The brother I loved so much as going
through so much. I began coming over everyday helping him recite
suras.
When I was recited sura Fatiha to him and he wasslowly repeating after
me, I looked at him and I thought, this was the same brother who was
so intelligent and was to finish school. This was the same brother who
came from such a wealthy family. This was the same brother who talked
for days about getting married and raising a family. This was the same
brother who had everything. But now he can barely remember what I said
to him ten minutes ago, he can't getmarried, and now he is struggling
to read Qur'an, he was not much of a practicing Muslim so it was
harder for him to recite the Qur'an. This man was now turning towards
Allah, he dropped EVERYTHING and turned towards Allah. Allah gave him
everything, and he could take everything away just as easily.
A month ago, I had received a call saying that the brother passed away
and that his janaza is today. I washed his body with a couple of other
brothers and I saw his lifeless body. He was buried and after that I
returned home. The next day, I sat down wondering to myself about the
power of Allah.My brother's death made me realize that we forgetwhat
our purpose of being here is for: To serve Allah. You could have
everything, but do you have anything that isimportant? I spent six
years knowing this brother, and caring for him. I never once shed a
tear when he was alive and not even when he passed away. But the
dayafter his death, I did cry because I thought about the power of
Allah. I thought about my brother. We always say that we will return
to Allah, but we never reallybelieve it. If we did, then we would
struggle to read the Qur'an and pray to Allah like my brother did.
My brother had his eyesight taken away from him, his arm was paralyzed
and his memory was lost, but he still got up every morning and he
insisted and I repeat, insisted on reciting the Qur'an. But we are
able, but we still do not struggle to read the Qur'an. We do not
really believe that we will return to Allah, or else we would struggle
for Allah.
My brother had love for materialistic objects, but when death
approached him, those things were no use to him because heknew those
things were not going to lead him to Jannah without his Iman.Allah can
give and take things easily whenever and wherever. I love my brother
and I pray that Allah will accept him, andI humbly request that prayer
be made for him. Ido pray that you have a true belief of Allah and our
return to Him because if you do have this fear, you will struggle for
your Islam to the best of your ability before you can say it is too
late. May we all be rightly guided. Ameen.

23 YEARS LATER, THIS PROFOUND MESSAGE IS EVER MORE RELEVANT AND IMPORTANT!

SHAIKH ABUL HASAN ALI AN-NADWI (R) – SPEECH DELIVERED IN DEWSBURY, UK
IN 1982 AT THE OPENING OF THE DEWSBURY MARKAZ
I am filled with happinessby your reception. I would be most
ungrateful if I do not respect your wishes and share my inner
feelings. If I desire I could shower you with praises, for Almighty
Allah has bestowed me with an abundance of vocabulary, but I would not
be fulfilling the right of friendship.
DA'WAH IN THE SEERAH
As you are aware, the Prophet (sallallahu-alayhi-wasallam), had a
burning desire to invite humanity towards Islam. Despite 13 years of
untiring effort in Makkatul-Mukarramah and 7 years in
Madinatul-Munawwarah, there was no large scale movement of non-Muslims
into Islam. Between 7 AH and 10 AH, which is the period after
Fath-Makkahuntil the Prophet's demise, there was such an influx of
people entering the ranks of Islam that was not witnessed in the
preceding 20 years.
Imam Zuhri (rahmatullahi-alayh), an eminent Muhaddith and Tabii,
expressed surprise on this sea change, with so many people embracing
Islam in a matter of just 3 years. Along with other distinguished
Muhaddith he has commented that this was due to non-Muslims having had
an opportunity for the first time, to observe and intermingle with
Muslims, witness their honesty, fair dealing, compassion and sole
reliance on Almighty Allah. This left such a deep and profound
impression on non-Muslims that thousands entered into the fold of
Islam within a relatively short period of time.
APPLYING THE LESSONS OF SEERAH HERE AND NOW
This incident also contains abundant lessons on how Muslims should
live in this country. Their conduct should be sublime and captivating.
Whosoever should see us should accept Islam. Whosoever sits with us
should be inclined towards Islam. There should be no need to convince
anyone to accept the Truth.
Therefore, in this countryif you wish to live peacefully and have an
opportunity to present Islam to the host community, you will need to
inculcate and manifest sterling qualities, not just inside the Mosques
but also outside in the streets, in the markets, in your
dailyactivities, and at home. A life of Taqwa will immediately attract
non-Muslims towards Islam.
DANGERS OF LIVING ISOLATED AND INSULATED
As an ordinary student of Islam it is my religious responsibility to
warn you. If you do not lead anupright life, if you continue to live
an insular lifestyle, and if you fail to manifest the beauty of Islam
to non-Muslims, then you face some real dangers. In such a case, there
is noreason for you to feel content and secure in this country.
If ever the fire of race, religion or nationalism rages here you will
not be saved. In Spain there were Mosques a hundredtimes more
beautiful than yours. So do not feelcontent and self-satisfied.As an
ordinary student of religion I would wish to express my joy and
happiness at this wonderful new Mosque. But what words shall I use to
congratulate you?
LESSONS FROM SPAIN
Others may not speak to you as plainly, but remember the glorious
Masjid-e-Cordova. It still stands in Spain. Iqbal, Poet of the East,
so eloquently reminisces thegreat legacy of Islamic Spain in his
famous poemMasjid-e-Qurtaba. In Islamic Spain, there were such
brilliant Mosques, celebrated Madrasahs, famous scholars like
Shaykh-ul-Akbar, Ibnu-Hazm, Qurtubi, Shatbi - and how many others
shall I mention? However, when the flames of religious sectarianism
raged then the Mosques and Madrasahs became deserted. Once, Islamic
Spain boasted such magnificent structures, distinguished educational
centres, refined culture and society. Regrettably, the Muslims,
despite such a high standard of living, did not draw the non-Muslims
of that country to see the Truth of Islam, to warn them of the dangers
of disbelief, with the result that ensuing religious violence
subsequently consumed them like a morsel. The Arabs with their glowing
history, architectural splendour and vast oceans of knowledge, were
displaced from the country. Today, unfortunately, the ears eagerly
wait to hear the Azaan and the empty Mosques thirst for the Salah.
EARN YOUR PLACE IN YOUR COUNTRY
My dear brothers, you must earn your recognition in this country. You
should earn your place and leave an imprint on the host community of
your value and significance. You must show your exemplary conduct is
far nobler than that of other people. You must impart on them the
lessons of humanity. You should demonstrate such commitment and noble
virtues that impress on people that there cannot be found more upright
humans elsewhere besides you. You need to establish your worth,
showing what blessing and mercy you are for the country.
If however you decide to live in an enclosed environment simply
content with your Prayers and Fasting, apathetic to the people and
society you live in, never introducing them to the high Islamic
valuesand your own personal qualities, then beware lest any religious
or sectarian violence flares up. In such a situation, you will not
find safety orprotection.
I pray to Almighty Allah my prediction is totally unfounded. But
remember, you are guests here. Your Tabligh, Mosques, Madrasahs,
Ibadah and religious sacrifices are all worthy of commendation. May
Almighty Allah grant you Barakah. But do not forget to earn your place
in this country. Gain proficiency of the national language and use it
to effectively propagate Islam. Preparewriters and orators to convey
the message of Islam. Although you will distance yourself from their
religion, do not distance yourself from them. Establish your
credibility to the extent that if you are entrusted with onerous
responsibilities, as was Prophet Yusuf (alayhis-salam), you do not
shirk but embrace all challenges wholeheartedly.
YOUR PRIORITY SHOULD NOT BE WEALTH AND LUXURY
You will have to present a new pattern of life to this country. You
will not earn recognition by exerting yourselves in the workplace. If
you overwork you will lookedupon disparagingly and be likened to
horses and bulls. In fact, you will be labelled as money-making
machines. However, if you can showto the people here that you are
worshippers of Almighty Allah and not wealth, you do not bow before
power but only before virtue, you are humans and think like humans,
you are concerned not only about yourselves but alsoabout others; and
you are compassionate aboutyour own children as well as theirs, that
you are earnestly concerned about the path of destruction they have
chosen for themselves, you will then earn their respect. They will
begin to respect Islam and become desirous of studying it. They will
ask you for literature concerning Islamic beliefs and practices and an
opportunity will arise here for you to promote Islam.
On the other hand, if you remain preoccupied in eating and working,
engaged in Prayers, remaining indifferent to what is happening in the
country, insulated within the Muslim community, totally apathetic to
what is happening outside, which direction the country is taking - in
sucha situation if there is trouble you will not be able to save
yourselves.
STRENGTHEN YOUR POSITION
I have been meaning to convey and accentuate this message to you as I
do not know whether I will be able visit you again in the future. You
gathered here with love and affection and therefore it was easy for me
to convey. As a student of religion it would have been convenient for
me to recommend the virtues of reciting various Zikr orprescribe
certain Wazifahs but you may not have had an opportunity of listening
to the message I have just conveyed from anyone else.
Please strengthen your position in this country. Earn your
recognition. Donot be like a straw or crop that is uprooted by a mere
breeze. You should be so firm that not even a hurricane is able to
displace you. Display such noble character that you attractthe hearts
of the people. See then how these people will stand up to defend you.
If there is the slightest hostility towards you, they will bethe first
ones to argue onyour behalf and argue what a blessing you are for
them.
May Almighty Allah grant us the ability to understand what is
right;may He bless and protect you. Aameen.

Good nutrition:

Nutrition is one of the most influential factors in growth. The kinds
of nutrients that one consumes during childhood affect the physical
structure for the rest of one's life, either positively or negatively.
Malnutrition does not only mean lack of food, but it also means
consuming poor nutrients.
In other words, malnutrition means imbalance between the quantity and
quality of food the body needs, the growth stage and one's physical
activities. Moderation must be observed in nutrition, because eating
many foods -- especially foods that are rich in sugar, carbohydrates
and fats -- irrespective of the quality and the actual requirements of
the body needs, causes obesity and several serious diseases including
heart disease, diabetes,high blood pressure, high cholesterol and
stomach diseases.
Food is necessary for the body, but food consumption should remain
within reasonable limits. It is equally harmful to consume food that
does not satisfy the body's needs or exceed them. Several diseases are
caused by quantitative or qualitative malnutrition (excess or
shortage). There is a strong relationship between good health and good
nutrition.
In the following paragraphs, we will speak about the nutrients that
are necessary for a healthy body:
1- Proteins:
Proteins are indispensable materials for the structure of the cells,
and the need for them increases over time according to the growth
phase. Proteins are divided into two types:
A- Animal proteins : This type of protein can be found in meat, fish,
milk, cheese, egg, and so on.
This type should represent one third of the proteins that one
consumes. However, there shouldbe moderation in consuming these
proteins because excessive consumption may harm the bodyand cause
serious diseases such as kidney diseases, joint diseases,increase in
blood cholesterol, andso on.
B- Plant proteins : This type of proteins can be found in chickpeas,
beans, lentils, green peas, walnut, hazelnut and other plants. This
type is very important in building the body and maintaining health.
2- Carbohydrates and fats: These can be found in the foods that
contain sugar and starch such as wheat, barley, rice, macaroni,
potatoes, sugar, honey, dry fruits,and so on.
They are next to the proteins in importance, because they are
necessary for energy production and warmth. Likewise, these nutrients
should be consumed moderately so as not to exhaust the digestive
system including the liver and the stomach.
Obese people should consume small amounts of foods that contain fats
and sugar because the body transforms any excess sugar to fats and
stores them. Such persons should also do physical activities to burn
the stored fats.
3- Mineral salts and vitamins:
They can be found in plant foods such as vegetables and fresh fruits
and they help in activating the intestines and facilitating the
excretion process and the indigestible cellulosic materials
itcontains.
Salts contain important materialsfor bone structure such as calcium
and phosphorus and for blood structure too such as iron.
These salts and minerals can be found in abundance in vegetablesand
animal products. Similarly, vitamins are very important and their
deficiency causes feebleness, weakness, gum bleeding (due to lack of
vitamin C), rickets (due to lack of vitamin D), neuritis and weakness
of the heart as well as inappetence (due to lack of vitamin B);
immunodeficiency and weak resistance of infection (due to lack of
vitamin A).
Good nutrition requires a balanced and integrated weekly food menu
that contains all the mentioned materials (proteins, fats, mineral
salts and vitamins).
One of the blessings that Allaah The Almighty bestowed upon humanity
is that He made it possible for all people, whether poor or rich, to
have a sufficient and balanced diet if we only observe integration in
nutrition.
Dear educator, the first step towards raising an athletic child is to
provide him with a healthy nutritious diet, because playing sports
without good food is like a tree without water.
The Prophet, , urged parents in several Hadeeths (narrations) to take
care of the nutrition of their children and to spend on them.
The Prophet, , said:
- "The best Dinar that a man spends is the Dinar which he spends on
his family, the Dinar which he spends on his companions in the cause
of Allaah and the Dinar which he spends on his riding animal in the
cause of Allaah ." [At-Tirmithi on the authority of Thawbaan [
- "A Dinar that you spend in the cause of Allaah, or to free a slave,
or as a charity you give to a needyperson, or to support your
family,the one yielding the greatest reward is that which you spend on
your family." [Muslim on the authority of Abu Hurayrah, may Allaah be
pleased with him]
Allaah The Exalted Says (what means):
· } Say, "Who has forbidden the adornment of Allaah which He has
produced for His servants andthe good [lawful] things of provision?"
Say, "They are for those who believe during the worldly life [but]
exclusively for them on the Day of Resurrection." { [Quran 7:32]
· } Eat from the Provisions of your Lord and be grateful to Him. { [Quran 34:15]
Abu Hurayrah said, "The Messenger of Allaah never found fault with
food. If he had inclination to eating it, he would eat; and if he
disliked it, he wouldleave it." [Al-Bukhaari]
If we consider the foods that the Prophet, , used to eat, we willfind
important educational hints that direct us to choose the specifically
beneficial foods as supported by modern scientific research.
These hints include directing us to eat protein-rich foods, as the
Prophet, , ate chicken and atethe shoulder of a sheep and as well as
grilled meat from a sheep.
The Prophet, , used to eat soft and easily digestible meat. That is
why he chose the soft parts of the sheep (shoulder and side) to eat
from. He also ate cooked and grilled meat.
The Prophet, also used to drink milk for its great health benefits.
'Aa'ishah narrated that the Prophet, , used to like sweet edible
things (syrup and so on) and honey. [Al-Bukhaari]
According to Al-Bukhaari, the Prophet, also used to eat barley, which
is starchy.
He also ate dates, which are sugary and contain other important elements.
It was also narrated that the Prophet, , used to eat ripe dates
(fruit) and cucumbers (vegetable). [Al-Bukhaari]
The Prophet, , directed us to be moderate in food consumption saying:
"The believer eats in one intestine (is satisfied with a little food),
and the disbeliever eats in seven intestines (eats too much)."
Modern medical and scientific experiments proved that these prophetic
instructions and recommendations are very beneficial. These
experiments confirm that eating excessively disturbs the digestive
system, prevents it from extracting energy that the body needs from
food, and causes obesity.
We should follow the instructions of the Prophet, , and the
conclusions of modern researchers by taking care of the food our
children eat.
This is the first step towards having an active and healthy childthat
all of us want to have.