Hypocrites say that family ties are what matter, but Allah reveals in the Qur'an that it is the ties of faith that matter

Allah reveals in the Qur'an that believers should be respectful,
affectionate and loving toward their parents, and commands them to be
protective toward and watch over their relatives. A pure believeris
kind, affectionate and full of love in respect of his family and
everyone, expecting no reward for being so. However, in the event that
any one of his family or his relatives tries to prevent him having
faith in Allah,following the Prophet (saas) or living by religious
moral values, then of course he will obey Allah's command and turn his
back on the person seeking to divert him from Allah's path. It is
revealed in one verse that:
Say: "If your fathers or your sons or your brothers or your wives or
your tribe, or any wealth you have acquired, or any business you fear
may slump, or any house which pleases you, are dearer to you than
Allah and His Messenger and striving in His Way, then wait until Allah
brings about His command. Allah does not guide people who are
deviators." (Surat at-Tawba, 24)
As revealed in the verse, nothing is finer and more valuable for a
pure believer than Allah, His Messenger (saas) andstriving on Allah's
path.
But hypocrites' criteria and values are based on self-interest, rather
than the Qur'an. This comes out in their familial relations, as in
their relations with everyone else. The family is not a holy and
sacred concept for the hypocrite, but somewhere that will help him
survive, provide him with opportunities and make material means
available. To put it another way, it is a gateway to income.
Therefore, the reason why hypocrites regard family ties as important,
in their own eyes, is self-interest. They imagine that their brothers,
spouses, parents or other relatives among believers will regard
thisbond as important. The fact is, however, that Allah has revealed
that the important bond for believers and His approval is that of
faith.
In concentrating on family ties, hypocrites dothis not because they
really love their families, would be prepared to make sacrifices for
them or would watch over and protect them, but out of self-interest.
When there is no hope of personal gain, they never think of their
familial ties, brothers or parents. Indeed, it is revealed in the
Qur'an that when faced with the torment of the Hereafter they will
willingly give up their children, parents and all they love in order
to save themselves.
The bonds between believers and their families are honestly based on
love of Allah and His approval. The believer is warm, full of love,
protective, loyal and altruistic toward his family, as he is toward
all those who have faith.A devout believer will never even say "ugh"
to his parents. In addition, as required by Allah's command, if one of
the members of his family tries to turn him from Allah's path or
pressurizes him to engage in idolatry, he will never heed that person,
even if it is his mother or father.
Indeed, by citing examples from the lives of the prophets, it is
revealed in the Qur'an that throughout the course of history true
believers have always left their spouses, children or parents for not
believing in Allah, for not living by the moral values of the deen,
for engaging in denial or for being hypocrites. For example;
The Prophet Abraham (as) Who Fell out with His Father:
Abraham would not have asked forgiveness for his father but for a
promise he made to him,and WHEN IT BECAME CLEAR TO HIM THAT HE WAS AN
ENEMY OF ALLAH, HE RENOUNCED HIM . Abraham was tender-hearted and
forbearing. (Surat at-Tawba, 114)
He said, "Do you forsake my gods, Abraham? If you do not stop, I will
stone you. Keep away from me for a good longtime." He said, "Peace
beupon you. I will ask my Lord to forgive you. He has always honored
me. I WILL SEPARATE MYSELF FROM YOU AND ALL YOU CALL UPON BEDISES
ALLAH and I will call upon my Lord. It may well be that,in calling on
my Lord, I will not be disappointed.' (Surah Maryam, 46-48)
The Prophet Noah (as) Falls out With His Son:
Noah called out to his Lord and said, "My Lord, my son is one of my
family and Your promise is surely the truth and You are the Justest of
Judges." (Surah Hud, 45)
He said, " NOAH, HE IS DEFINITELY NOT OF YOUR FAMILY. He is someone
whose action was not righteous. Do not, therefore, ask Me for
something about which you have no knowledge.I admonish you lest you
should be among the ignorant." (Surah Hud, 46)
The Prophets Noah (as) and Lot (as) Fall out withTheir Wives:
ALLAH HAS MADE AN EXAMPLE FOR THOSE WHO ARE UNBELIEVERS: THE WIFE OF
NOAH AND THE WIFE OF LOT. They were married to two of Our servants who
were righteous but they betrayed them and werenot helped at all
against Allah.They were told, "Enter the Fire along with all who enter
it." (Surat at-Tahrim, 10)
Allah Commands People in the Qur'an Not to TakeThose Who Seek to Turn
Them from Allah's Path As Guides and to Turn away from Them, Even If
They Are Their Parents, Brothers of Children:
We have instructed man to honor his parents, BUTIF THEY ENDEAVOR TO
MAKE YOU ASSOCIATE WITH ME SOMETHING ABOUT WHICH YOU HAVE NO
KNOWLEDGE, DO NOT OBEY THEM. It is to Me youwill return and I will
inform you about the things you did. (Surat al-'Ankabut, 8)
You who believe, DO NOT BEFRIEND YOUR FATHERS AND BROTHERS IF THEY
PREFER DISBELIEF TO FAITH. Those among you who do befriend them are
wrongdoers. (Surat at-Tawba, 23)
You who believe! SOME OF YOUR WIVES AND CHILDREN ARE AN ENEMY TO YOU ,
so be wary of them. (Surat at-Taghabun, 14)
You will not find people who believe in Allah andthe Last Day having
love for anyone who opposesAllah and His Messenger, THOUGH THEY BE
THEIR FATHERS, THEIR SONS, THEIR BROTHERS OR THEIR CLAN. (Surat
al-Mujadala, 22)

The most urgent question is the establishment of true faith (tahqiq ul-iman)

The problem underlying present-day thinking and the troubles
afflicting everyone, no matter what their social status, nation, race
or country, is the lack of a sincere faith in and genuine devotion and
complete submission to Allah. The fact that, with the support of the
theory of evolution, people have gradually turned their backs on faith
in Allah and religious moral values since the 1800s has caused
terrible disasters to take place, one after the other.
Imperialism, which attached no value to people of other nations and
races, regarded them as literally a species of animal and enslaved
them and exploited all their resources, communism that maintained that
war, conflict and bloody revolutions were the only solution that would
supposedly lead mankind to happiness, fascism that evaluated people
according to their skull measurementsand regarded other races and
societies as enemies needing to be eliminated, and all such irrational
ideologies thatviolate good conscience and science have all drawn
strength from Darwinism and literally turned the world into a sea of
blood.
Similarly, it is Darwinism that lies at the root of the erroneous
world view that indoctrinates people with the idea that nobody should
trustanyone else, that everyone should be suspicious of everyone else,
that allows no one the right to love anyone else and with the lie
thatmight is right, rather than truth, that human beings are the
result of blind chance and will therefore never have to account for
their actions to anyone.
In essence, the movement of the antichrist is spreading Darwinism and
materialism and keepingthem alive by using all the technical and
technological means available today. The movement of the antichrist is
inculcating irreligion by the use of newspapers, magazines,
television, radio, movies and the Internet, is usingDarwinism as a
supposed scientific foundation to keep irreligion propped up, and has
taken the Islamic world captive and is inflicting huge suffering on
it.
The most important thing to be done in an environment in which the
system of the antichrist is so active is to be instrumental in people
sincerely believing in the existence and oneness ofAllah. The
prevalence of true faith, espoused with one's entire conscience, is
the most important way of immediately eliminating all these pains and
troubles. When people genuinely believe, whenthey genuinely love and
are devoted to Allah, it isobvious that the world will attain the
beauty of Paradise. Because sincere faith means people enjoying
complete love, joy, peace, beauty, quality and nobility. Where there
is certain faith, there will also be art, science, progress, peace and
everything.
That is why the first priority is the intellectual elimination of the
error of Darwinism, which people shelter behind asa superstitious
faith, andto tell people of the countless proofs of the evident
existence of Allah in the finest and most effective manner. In doing
this, however, it is of the greatest importance to adopt a scientific
and rational approach.
Irrational and illogical talk that is unrealistic and insincere will
just have a negative impact on people and may turn them even further
away from the religion of Allah. For that reason, it is very important
that in preaching the religion Muslims should make thebest use of
their time and opportunities, be instrumental in people coming to love
and fear Allah rather than talking about matters they can easily learn
from catechisms, Islamic law books and other religious texts, and
telling them things that will enable them to realize the joy that
comes from living for. A Muslim must possess the culture and knowledge
with which to smash the idol of denial, Darwinism, by making the most
rational use of the opportunities offered by science. He must possess
a knowledge of all branches of science and know how to make the most
productive use of them for the religion of Allah. He must be able to
describe the proofs of the existence of Allah in the wisest, most
memorable, most impressive and finest manner, by using all the
technological means at his disposal.
At a time when lack of faith is inflicting terrible disasters on
mankind, it is irrational to spend time and opportunities on matters
that are not urgent instead of first being instrumental in people
either coming to faith or strengthening the faith that they already
have.

The difference in thewordings of the Muslims in good will wishes like 'Good Morning', 'Good appetite', 'Bless you', 'Get well soon'.

There are some patterns of speech which becamea custom in every
society. This is a commonlanguage all people speak. Like saying
"GoodMorning" when they get up in the morning or when they meet in the
evening saying "good evening", when they areabout to go to bed at
night saying "good night, sleep tight", whenthey are eating
saying"good appetite", when one is ill saying "get wellsoon", when one
is doing something saying" more power to you", when one sneezes saying
"bless you"…
Almost everyone gets adapted to these patterns he sees in the society
ever since his childhood. However when one is saying these words, he
should not forget that Allah is the Only Power that would enable all
these good wishes.
And that is where the difference of a Muslim is seen. A Muslim behaves
consciously in every stephe takes, in every word he says, in every
thoughtin his mind. He never forgets that every incident he has ever
experienced all his life has happened by the Wish of our Lord. It is
only the Almighty Allah Who will enable a person to have a good day or
a good night, Who will cure him and make him healthy, Who will give
him peace and comfort in his sleep, Who will make the food he eats
delicious and beneficial or Who will ease and finalize the work he
does.
Apart from this it is our Lord Whom a Muslim loves with the most
profound and intense love, with the highest devotion and Whom he is
most loyal to. He mightforget many people he loves, many incidents or
many objects from time time. But his love for Allah is so strong that
he lives in the awareness ofthe existence, power, love, friendship,
compassion and justice of our Lord in every minute, every single
second of his 24 hours. There is not even a single moment that the
existence and dominion of Allah is not in his mind.
And for Muslim to commemorate Allah, mentioning and exaltingAllah is a
very big act of worship. It is at the sametime one of the
blessingsthat a Muslim's soul findsmost pleasure in. For that reason
he would want to commemorate Allah, to exalt His Name, to praise Him
by mentioning His greatness in every possibility he gets. A Muslim
wants to mention his love for Allah, his devotion, his submission in
every turn of phrase in the form of a prayer.
Consequently, a Muslim's way of daily talking is very different from
other people just like all his demeanors and attitudes are. A Muslim
puts the fact that it is Allah Who will create that act, into words in
every speech he makes. In every good will expression, he verbalizesthe
fact that he wishes those blessings from Allah. For instance instead
of using phrases like "Good Morning","Good Night", "Good Evening",
"Sleep tight","Good Appetite", "Get well soon", "More powerto you",
"Bless you", he mentions the Name of our Almighty Lord Who will be
creating all these wishes by saying "May Allah give you a nice day",
"May Allah give you a nice night", "May Allah give you a good
evening," "May Allah give you a nice sleep","May Allah bless you a
good appetite", "May Allah cure your illness,""May Allah ease your
work", "May Allah bless you a long life".
Apart from this, when someone says his good wishes with the
remembrance of Allah's name, he again responds by showing the same
awareness in faith. For instance when someone says"May Allah give you
a nice day", he doesn't respond by only saying"to you too". He
commemorates and exalts Allah's Name and praises our Lord. He responds
by saying "MayAllah give you a nice daytoo". Or in responding toa
Muslim who says "May Allah give you good night", he does not respond
only by saying"To you too" –Allah is beyond that- He responds by
saying "MayAllah give you a good night too". He would notuse such a
wording without mentioning Allah's name even if he was thinking about
Allahin that moment. He doesn't find it becoming to the love, devotion
friendship he feels for Allah to assume even a slightest defect in his
wordings.
This stems from the good morality of the Muslim. In his consciencehe
cannot bring himself to talk about an incidenthe knows that Allah will
create, without mentioning His name. No matter what the wording the
other person uses is, his response will definitely be by mentioning
Allah'sname and by exalting our Lord.
... and certainly the remembrance of Allah is the greatest, and Allah
knows what you do. (Surat Al-Ankabut: 45)
To Allah belong the Most Beautiful Names, so call on Him by them and
abandon those who desecrate His Names. They will be repaid for what
they did. (Surat Al-A'raf: 180)

The Virtue of Nurturing Girls - II

Consider, may Allaah have mercy upon you, how Allaah The Almighty
mentions houses in relation to women in three occasions in His Book,
despite thefact that these houses (in most cases) belong to their
guardians. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means):
• {And remember what is recited in your houses of the verses of Allaah
and wisdom.} [Quran 33:34]
• {And abide in your houses.} [Quran 33:33]
• {Do not turn them out of their [husbands'] houses.} [Quran 65:1]
So, be eager to bring up your daughters to abide in the home, and
adhere to firmness for it is more beneficial for their religion and
more likely to bring you honor in this world and the Hereafter.
Third: Giving her shelter in a house full of Thikr (mentioning and
remembering Allaah), worship and righteous deeds. It is true that some
women do not come out of their houses, but their houses, at the same
time, are inhabited by the human devils and the jinn, where women do
not veil themselves from the men who are not their Mahrams
(unmarriageable relatives), and their sons and those of the paternal
and maternal uncles and aunts go and come and enter everywhere they
like with neither a cover nor a veil.
The same is true of the driver andthe servant, as if they have foster
relations with them, for they enter upon the women of the house with
no veil. Such a house is not fit to be a refuge, for it is a house in
which honor is violated.
Also, some women do not come out of their houses, but their houses are
filled with corruption-causing devices and channels of singing and
adultery. The girl there thus learns, listens to and sees what is
unlawful, is temptedaway from her religion and straysand gets
corrupted more than if she goes to markets.
Is this a refuge, O slaves of Allaah?
The real refuge lies in a screeningshelter that guards and maintains
your honor: "Whoever has three daughters whom he gives refuge,
provides for and shows mercy to, Paradise is inevitably guaranteed for
him."
That was the refuge; now what isintended by providing for them?
This is explained in the narration of Muslim: "Whoever looks after two
girls until they attain the ageof maturity." An-Nawawi said, "It means
to raise them andprovide them with sustenance." It is further
explained in his (the Prophet's saying: "And dresses them from what he
has."
Yes, O slaves of Allaah! To provide the woman with what she
necessarily needs of food, clothing and sustenance is among the
obligatory duties and one of the greatest acts that bring men closer
to Allaah.
Men should provide women with these things so that they would not need
to come out of the house to work and earn their living. They should
provide them with these necessities so that they would not think about
committing a sin or deviation.
The Prophet said: "To provide for them," and did not say to make them
transgress by giving them what is beyond their needs as many fathers,
may Allaah guide them, do with their daughters. They give their
daughters all that they ask for, and whenever one's daughter has a
desire for a certain thing, they hasten to buy it for her to fulfill
her desire, and whenever they request anything, they hurrywith full
power in response to her command.
This kind of indulgence destroys the girl and would shorten her
marital life. Once such a girl moves to the house of her husband and
is no longer pampered, she rebels against herhusband because she
misses what she was brought up on.
On the other extreme are other men who fall short of fulfilling the
necessities of their women, shouting at them things like,"Why do you
not come out and work like so-and-so who obtains her needs and what is
sufficient for her?" Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And [they
are] those who, when they spend, do so not excessively or sparingly
but are ever, between that, [justly] moderate.} [Quran 25:67]
The third qualification and condition included under being kind (to
girls) lie in his statement: "And shows mercy to them." What is the
real nature of mercy? What is intended by it?
The first thing that occurs to the mind is its apparent and general
meaning; to show mercy to themis to sympathize and show pity for them,
not to beat them, and everything else included in the meaning of
mercy, which are, no doubt, true. However, the real mercy one should
show girls lies in two things:
First: to show mercy to them by earnestly seeking and seriously
working to keep them away fromthe Wretched Settlement that is the
Fire. That is to bring them up on the rituals of Islam, the
establishment of prayers, adherence to Hijaab and the maintenance of
their chastity: {O you who have believed, protect yourselves and your
families froma Fire whose fuel is people and stones.} [Quran 66:6]
The man who shows sympathy towards his daughters, pampers them and is
spiritually and materially kind to them, and, at the same time does
not command them to perform prayers, to observe fast or to adhere to
Hijaab, is in fact a tyrant and plain enemy of them, for he is not
sincere in advising them, and he does not help themand keep them away
from the Fire of Hell.
That is the real mercy, O companyof believers. The Prophet said: "My
parable in relation to that of my Ummah (nation) is like a man who
kindled a fire and when it lit all around him, moths and insects
started falling into the fire. I am there to catch hold of you (in
order to save you) from the fire. But you plunge into it and overpower
my efforts."
This is only one of many forms with which Allaah The Almighty honored
the woman and raised her esteem. Which honor and high esteem are
better than exhorting men to enter Paradise and be gathered in the
company of the Prophet and kept awayfrom the Fire of Hell, if they are
kind to the girls in their care, look after their affairs and take
care of them perfectly?
So, fear Allaah, O slave-girl of Allaah, and be proud of that honor,
and remember that the final statement of the Prophet before he left
this world was: "And I advise you to be kind and good to women."
Thus, he commanded and advised us to be good and kind to you, O woman.
So, be a good helper to your guardians to achieve that great task, and
bear in mind that your honor and glory lie in your adherence to your
religion. And, O men, be good and kind to your girls – your daughters
and sisters, and be aware of the fact that this great reward you have
been told about is qualified by these heavy qualifications, which are
easy for the person on whom Allaah The Almighty makes it easy, and
within the capacity of him who strives his utmost and is eager todo
them.
And Allaah is the guardian of success.