Islamic Meditation for Relaxation and Spiritual Comfort

This is a meditation that a Muslim can use to relax and recover from
stress. It is not a substitute for prayer and duaa, or a replacement
for dhikr (remembrance of Allah). Salat in particular is the first
duty and refuge of the Muslim. This is just a simplerelaxation
technique that one might use either alone or share with a spouse, to
relax the body and release some of the worries of the day. It also
functions as an affirmation, reminding the reader of the love and
peace that Allah offers us, and of each person's pure nature.
Settle yourself in a quiet place, in a comfortable position. Imagine
yourself to be in the most relaxing, secure, peaceful place you have
ever known. Breathe deeply in and out, breathing into your stomach.
Recite the following to yourself, with a quiet voice, very slowly, but
imagine it is being spoken to you by a voice outside yourself, by a
voiceof love. If you do this with your spouse, let one read and the
other close his/her eyes and listen:
***
Your breath is warm and soothing. As it spreads through your body it
makes you warm. It brings peace and tranquility to every cell in your
body.
Let every cell in your body know and feel that you are loved. Allah
lovesyou. Many people love you. You are surrounded by love and caring.
The love is all around you likewarm light, comforting you, taking away
all your pain.
The air that you are breathing in is warm and soothing. That warmth is
spreading all through your body. As it spreads throughyour body, it
causes your muscles to relax.
Now the warmth spreads to your head. Relax the topof your head. Relax
your mind. There is nothing to think about right now, nothing to worry
about. Release the burdens that you carry in your mind.
As you breathe deeply, the warmth spreads to your face. Let your face
relax. Relax your eyes. Whatever your eyes have seen that isunhappy or
that causes you pain, let it go. Release it with your breath.
Relax your cheeks and yourmouth. Whatever you havespoken that you
regret, let it go, release it with your breath. It's in the past and
is gone now with your breath.
Relax your ears. There is nothing for you to listen toright now except
the peacefulness of your own breath. Whatever you haveheard that has
hurt you, at any time in your life, let it go now. You don't need it
anymore. Release it with your breath.
Relax your jaw. Any tension that you are holding in your jaw, let it
go, release it. Feel the warmth spread through your mind, your face,
your neck. Relax your neck.
Know that you are safe. You are protected. You are in a place of
shelter. You are in Allah's care. You are in a safe place, a good
place. You have nothing to fear, nothing to regret. The past is gone,
and the future has not arrived. All that existsis this peaceful
moment, this safe place where youare protected and warm.
Continue to breathe deeplyand softly. Your breath warms you. The
warmth spreads now into your shoulders and relaxes your shoulders.
Whatever burden you have been carrying on your shoulders,let it go.
Give to Allah, and He will hold it for you until you are ready to take
it back. For now, let it go with your breath. Relax your shoulders.
Let go of your fear and your worry. You are following Allah's guidance
and that is peaceful. You are at harmony with the entire universe and
that is peaceful.
Breathe deeply and softly. The breath spreads now into your back and
warms your back. Relax your shoulder blades, and the middle of your
back. Relax your lower back. As you breathe out, release the burdens
that you have borne on your back. All the troubles, all the weight on
your back, release them with your breath, and let them disappear. You
don't need them anymore.
Allah is on your side and He will always be with you. You have the
strength of Imaan. Know that whatever challengesyou face in life, you
are strong and capable.
As you breathe, warmth continues to spread through your body, now
moving into your chest andyour stomach. Relax your chest. Whatever
fears you have for the future, let them go. Release them with your
breath. Trust in Allah; He is with you right now, at this moment, and
He will protect you. Relax your stomach. Whatever tightness you have
in your stomach, whatever tensionyou carry there, release it, let it
go with your breath.
Know that Allah created you pure, with the purity of fitrah. That
purity is always inside you, like a light. Allow yourself to feel it,
to be in touch with it; let that purity come out, and with it comes
peace.

--
:-> :->

Beings our Lord created with strong senses

Why do some animals display extraordinary behaviors before an earthquake?
What are some beings' attitudes in the face of dangers?
What are some of the animal senses stronger than those of human beings?
Beings With Danger Signal
One of the biggest advantages of living as a community is that it
provides more protection against dangers because when any of the
animals that lives in the community senses danger, it warns the other
animals instead of simply silently escaping . Every living species has
a specificform of warning.
Rabbits and some deer lifttheir tails to warn the animals around them
when they sense danger.
Many small birds signal alarm by a particular birdcall when they
sense their enemies. Species like the golden oriole make a
high-pitched sound with anarrow frequency interval when they give an
alarm. The human ear senses thisas only a slight whistle. The most
important quality of this sound is that its source cannot be detected.
This is a very important advantage for the bird warning its pack,
because the bird actually takes the risk of drawing all attention to
itself by sounding off, but since thedirection of the sound is not
certain, the danger is somewhat reduced.
In insects that live as colonies, the insect that first senses the
danger warns the rest of the colony. However, the alarm scent secreted
by the insect that communicates the danger also grabs the enemy's
attention . Therefore, the insect that warns its colony against danger
alsotakes the risk of death.
Prairie dogs live in massive colonies. Their nests, which bear
resemblance to a city, are divided into approximately 30 sectionswhere
the animals live. All of the animals in this region know one another.
There are certain prairie dogs which keep guard at all times standing
on their back feet in a way as to see in all directions at the
entrance and exit of the tunnels. If one of the animals sees an enemy,
it makes a barking sound like a whistle. This warning is repeated by
the guards, and it causes the colony to go into an alarm state.
Scientists who witness thiscooperation in nature are amazed at the
extraordinary behaviors ofthese unconscious behaviors. No doubt, Allah
is the One Who directs these beings with His inspiration at all times,
controls every one of them and commands them how to behave. This clear
truth is revealed in the Qur'an as such:
" Everything in the heavens and every creature on the earth prostrates
to Allah, as dothe angels. They are not puffed up with pride. They
fear their Lord above them and do everything they are ordered to do. "
(Surat an-Nahl, 49-50)
Animals With Different Senses Than Human Beings
Allah created animals' sensory organs as strongerthan those of human
beings. Some animals even have other sensory organs which humans do
not have, for example:
Since elephants are animals that live in vast open areas, it is very
important that there is a strong "communication" between them. This
communication is not onlya result of elephants' strong sense of smell
. Besides this, Allah created an organ, which makes an ultrasound
noise that humans cannot hear, in the elephant's forehead. Thanks to
this organ, elephants can communicate with a secret and encrypted
language that other beings cannot understand.These ultrasound noises
made by elephants can reach to enormous distances. Therefore, this
special sound made by elephants is ideal for long distance
communication.
Some beings' eyes have far more advanced qualities than human beings.
For example, insects and bees can see ultraviolet light that the human
eye cannot . A layer in the eyes of mammals that hunt at nights and
night birds called the "tapetum" allows these beings to seein the
dark. Vultures in Africa can detect whether an animal lying on the
ground is dead or just sleeping from a distance over 4,000 meters
where human beings cannot see that far even with binoculars.
Some animals' sense of smell is 100,000, even 1,000,000 times stronger
than that of human beings. For example, dogs can sense even the
slightest smells called microphakia. Thanks to these characteristics,
dogs are used in the early diagnosis of some metabolic distortions
seenin men and characterized by different body scents, as well as in
police business like narcotics detection and searching for fugitive
criminals and in the search for trapped victims of natural
disasterssuch as landslides and earthquakes.

--
:-> :->

HADEES - ~ Zakah, definition

Zakah or alms tax can be defined as that portion of a man's
wealthwhich is designated for the poor.The term is derived from the
Arabic verbal root meaning "to increase." "to purify," and "to bless."
It find its origin in Allah's command to: "Take sadaqah (charity) from
their property in order to purify and sanctify them" [at-Taubah 103].
That is why this kind of sadaqah is called zakah, for by paying it,
oneis aspiring to attain blessing, purification, and the cultivation
of good deeds.
Taking into account its very nature, it is no wonder that zakah
constitutes one of the five pillars of Islam. It is associated with
prayer (salah) in eighty-two Qur'anic verses. Allah, the Exalted One,
prescribed it in His Book (The Qur'an), His Messenger corroborated it
by his (sunnah), and the community (ummah) by consensus upheld it. Ibn
'Abbas reported that when the Prophet, upon whom be peace, sent Mu'azh
ibn Jabal to Yemen (as its governor), he said to him: "You are going
to a people who are People of the Scripture. Invite them to accept the
shahadah: that there is no god but Allah andI am His Messenger. If
they accept and affirm this, tell them that Allah, the Glorious One,
has enjoined five prayers upon them during the day and night. If they
accept that, tell them also that He has enjoined sadaqah upon
theirassets which will be taken from the rich of the (Muslim)
community and distributed to the poor. If they accept that, refrain
from laying hands upon the best of their goods and fear the cry of the
oppressed, for there is no barrier between Allah and it."
At-Tabarani relates in al-'Awsat and as-Saghir, on the authority
of'Ali, that the Prophet said: "Allah has enjoined upon rich Muslims
adue to be taken from their properties corresponding to the needs of
the poor among them. The poor will never suffer from starvation or
lack of clothes unless the rich neglect their due. If they do, Allah
will surely hold them accountable and punish them severely." According
to at-Tabarani: "It was reported only by Thabit ibn Muhammad
az-Zahid." Of Thabit's credibility, al-Hafiz in turn says: "Thabit was
an honest and trustworthy person. AlBukhari and others related from
him, and the rest of the narrators in the chain are considered as
accepted authorities."
In the early days of Islam at Makkah, no limit or restriction was
placed on the amount to be donated, for that decision was left to the
individual Muslim's conscience and generosity. In thesecond year of
hijrah, according to the widely known authorities, both the type and
the quantity ofzakah revenues were determined, and detailed
illustrations were provided.
Fiqh 3.2: Exhortation to Give Zakah in the Qur'an
At-Taubah 103 authorizes the Prophet, upon whom be peace, to take
either a stipulated amount of alms from the believers' holdings in the
form ofthe obligatory zakah, or a voluntary, unstipulated amount
(zakah of tatawwul). In this 'ayah, "purify" means to purify them from
stinginess, greed, andmeanness, and a lack of remorse toward the poor
and the wretched. To sanctify them is to raise them in esteem through
good deeds and blessings so that they will be worthy of happiness both
now and in the afterlife.
Fiqh 2.151 b:
In reference to the life hereafter, Allah reveals: "Lo! Those who keep
from evil will dwell amid gardens and watersprings, taking that which
their Lord gives them. For they were before doers of good. They used
to sleep but little of the night, and inthe hours of the early dawn
they prayed for forgiveness.... In their wealth, the beggar and the
outcast had due share" [azh-Zhariyat 15-19]. Allah views beneficence
and righteousness as exclusive qualities of the pious. It is because
of their beneficence that they pray at night and ask Allah's
forgiveness at dawn as a way of worshipping and approaching Him. Their
beneficence is likewisein their giving to the needy their share of
mercy and sympathy.
Allah further confirms: "And the believers, men and women, are
protecting friends of one another; they enjoin the right and forbid
the wrong, they perform prayer and pay the zakah, and they obey Allah
and His Messenger. Upon them, Allah will have mercy" [at-Taubah 71].
Such are the people blessed by Allah and given His mercy-- those who
believe in Him, who take care of each other through support and love,
who exhort fairness and restrain lewd behavior, who have strong ties
with Allah through prayer, and who strengthen their mutual relations
through zakah.
Finally, these people, as reflected in al-Hajj 41, are: "Those who, if
we give them power in the land, perform prayers and pay zakah, and
enjoin kindness and forbid inequity."

--
:-> :->

Our Prophet's (pbuh)sincere, joyful, smiling and playful behavior is the finestmodel for all Muslims

How did the Companions describe our Prophet's (saas) joyful and smiling nature?
How did our Prophet (saas) joke with those around him?
What did the Companions say about our Prophet's (saas) sincerity and gentleness?
Our Prophet (saas) is a most worthy person of deep faith who burns
withlove and passion for Allah. The depth of our Prophet's(saas) faith
bestowed on him a great acuity, honesty and sincerity. The Prophet
Muhammad (saas)was influenced by none and feared Allah alone. He was
therefore punctilious over what is lawful and unlawful, and was well
acquainted with love, compassion and affection. Since the heart of our
Prophet (saas) rejoiced with love of Allah, this bestowed great joy
and fervor upon him.
Despite all our Prophet's (saas) responsibilities and all the
difficulties he faced,he was always lively and smiling because of the
joy of his faith and his moral values. This behavior of our Prophet
(saas), a role model for all Muslims, has come down to us through
accounts from our Prophet's (saas) Companions and wives.
Our Prophet (saas) Was Very Joyful and Smiling
Our Prophet (saas) alwaysspoke to the heart. With his joyful nature
and behavior, he told those around him of the love of Allah and the
joy of faith. Those who saw him were not only affected by his
knowledge; those who were present to hear him speak felt an easing and
relaxation in their hearts, and an ineffable joy. Our Prophet's (saas)
joyful and smiling nature produced a delight in and desire to worship
in all those who knew and saw him. Our Prophet's (saas) joyful,
smiling face and language and his spiritual depth are described as
follows by the Companions:
Hazrat Ali (r.a): "His smiling face and kind behavior to everyone made
him literally a father to the people. Everyone was equal in his sight
and presence." (Imam Muhammed Bin Muhammed bin Sulayman ar-Rudani, eat
Hadith Collection, Jam'ul-fawaid min Jami'il-usul wa Majma'ith-zawaid,
Vol. 5, İz Press, p. 33)
The Messenger of Allah was always smiling of face and pleasant
natured... (Imam Muhammed Bin Muhammed bin Sulayman ar-Rudani, Great
Hadith Collection, Jam'ul-fawaid min Jami'il-usul wa Majma'iz-zawaid,
Vol. 5, İz Press, p. 34)
The Messenger of Allah... was the most smiling and joyful of people."
( Hujjatj'l Islam Imam Gazali, Ihya'u Ulum'id-din, Vol. 2, Trans: Dr.
Sıtkı Gülle,Huzur Press, Istanbul 1998, p. 801)
Our Prophet (saas) also advised his people to havesmiling faces, and said:
"You cannot make people happy with your possessions, but you canplease
them with a pleasant face and good nature." ( Bezzar, Ebu
Yala,Taberani; Huccetu'l Islam Imam Gazali, İhya'u Ulum'id-din, Vol.
3, Trans. Sıtkı Gülle, Huzur Press, Istanbul 1998, p. 111 )
"Almighty Allah loves him who makes things easy and has a smiling
face." (Huccetü'l Islam Imam Gazali, İhya'u Ulum'id-din, Vol. 2,
Trans: Dr. Sıtkı Gülle, Huzur Press, Istanbul 1998, p. 444)
Our Prophet ( saas ) Was Very Vivacious and Pleasant-Natured
Our Prophet (saas) had a very special and profound sincerity, honesty
and closeness to Allah in his heart. This honesty meant that he
treated everyone he met with warmth and sincerity, and that he
responded to people's questions seriously and with close interest.
Hazrat Ali (r.a), one of the people closest to him, described the
climate in our Prophet's (saas) conversations and his relations with
the Companions as follows:
i. Those who took part in his conversations were hugely affected by
his honesty and sincerity.
" Rasulullah ( saas ) was the most generous of men, and had the
widestheart and most regular accent, he best discharged any task he
undertook and had the gentlest nature and finest conversations. Those
who knew him and were present at his conversations approached him with
love. One who describedhim said, 'I have never seen anyone like him,
neither before nor since.'Whenever he was asked for something, he
wouldalways give it." (Tirmidhi; Huccetü'l Islam Imam Gazali, Ihya'u
Ulum'id-din, Vol. 2, Trans: Dr. Sıtkı Gülle,Huzur Press, Istanbul
1998, p. 814)
"... He would speak of things that made peoplelove one another and
brought them close together. He would not alarm or put them off.
Heattached importance to the leader of every tribe; he would offer
food and drink ..." ( Imam Muhammed Bin Muhammed bin Süleyman
er-Rudani, Great Hadith Collection, Jem'ul-favaid min Jami'il-usul ve
Majma'iz-zevaid, Vol. 5, İz Press, p. 33)
His grandson Hazrat Hassan (r.a) said this aboutour Prophet (saas):
" His facial expressions were highly significant...He spoke
expressively (using few words to impart much meaning) and well.

--
:-> :->