Are you ready for yourturn?

He was a student, probably in his early twenties. I didn't know his
name--I really didn't care. All I know is he wasgoing for a lay-up
while playing basketball, lost his balance and fell on the
ground--flat on his back.
We thought he would shake it off and continuethe game--so no one
really cared. To everyone's surprise, he never got up. At first a few
people on his team (later everyone) went upto him but he just wouldn't
reply.
CPR did no good. The ambulance personnel couldn't save him from dying.
The result at the ER was no better. HE WASDEAD!
As I came home tonight, I thought to myself, it could have been me
going up for that lay-up.It is very possible that I could be laying in
the cold city morgue, right this minute, as I type thise-mail.
Am I ready to die? Did I communicate with Allah today? Did I perform
my daily prayers? Did I seek the pleasure of Allah?
Did I treat my parents and family with respect and love? Did I give
any at all in charity (sadaqa) today? How many times did I remember
Allah and recount His name?
The entire day I made time to go to school, check my e-mail, read the
news, chat with friends, watch TV, play basketball.......but did I
even once say"Astagfirullah"? Did I ask Allah to forgive the sins that
I've committed today? NO! Not once.
Did I say "Alhamdulillah" other than in my daily prayers? NO! Not once
my friends. Would you like to know why? Because I was too caught up
with myself and my daily activities.
Well, guess what. I could have lost my life during a lay-up in a
basketball game and what do I have with me? Not a thing. Nothing that
I did today do I get to bring with me to the grave. Nothing.
A few words that I could have uttered were the only things that I
could have brought with me. Afew words that would'vetaken a few
seconds of concentration out of the 24 hrs. that was allotted to me.
A few cents in charity instead of cold drinks and candy bars could
have saved my soul. But Iinsisted to continue withmy careless
attitude. Thank God it wasn't my turn to go, because I sure wasn't
ready.
Now I close my eyes and say Alhamdulillah. Now I look back and say
Astagfirullah. Now I havea different attitude. Now, I want to prepare
for my turn.
Did you perform your prayers today? Did you give in charity and love?
Did you ask for forgiveness yet? Do you care? I'm asking becauseI
don't want to see you fall, knowing you aren't ready for your turn.
Are you ready for your turn?
May the Peace and Mercyof Allah be upon us all.

How to be the best in everything

Khalid Ibn El-Waleed narrated the following:
A Bedouin came one dayto the prophet and said to him, "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 be the 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
mostjust 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 manners you 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 allsins
Bathe your body from impurities and you will be free 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
theday of Judgment in the light
I'd like Allah to bestow His Mercy 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 veryfew
If you seek forgiveness from Allah as much as you can, your sins will bevery 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 strongest of men
If you put your trust in Allah, you will be the strongest of men
I'd like for Allah to enlarge my 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 and His 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
willbe 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 of Judgment
If you guard your chastity Allah will not disgrace you on the Day of Judgment
I'd like Allah to protect me with a covering protection on the Day of Judgment
Do not uncover your fellow creatures faults, and Allah will provide
you with 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 the hereafter
Concealed charity and kindness to others

Bride-Price / Dowry for a poor man

One day, a woman came to see the Prophet of Allah [PBUH= Allah's
blessings and Peace be upon him] and said: "Oh!Messenger of Allah! I
do not have a husband and I want to be a good wife; i give myself to
you."
The Messenger of Allah [PBUH] kept silent for a long while.
Suddenly, a man who was present stood up and asked if the woman would
accept him for a husband.
The Messenger of Allah [PBUH] said: "Do you have anything to give her
as a dowry."
The man thought and said: "I have half of my cloth," and indeed he was
wearing a single cloth around him.
"If you give her part of this cloth, you will have nothing to wear
anymore; it will become her possession. Find something else." Since
atthis time the followers ofIslam and the Prophet himself [PBUH] were
poor, the man thought again a long time and declared: "No, I do not
possess a thing to give her."
The Messenger of Allah then told him: "Go to your house and look for
something, even if it is an iron ring."
The man departed and came back a while later, and declared: "I looked
everywhere, but I did not find anything to giveher as her dowry."
After reflection, the Prophet of Allah [PBUH]said: "Did you learn some
of the Qur'an?"
"Yes, I have learned by heart so-and-so Surahs [chapters of the Qur'an]"
The Messenger of Alah [PBUH] therefore declared: "Teach her what you
know of the Qur'an, and this will constitute her dowry."
The couple felt contented with what was proposed, and they got married.

Etiquette of Eating - Aisha Siddiqa (Radi Allahu anha) narrates that the Prophet of Allah said, "Whenever one eats then he should say the name of Allah (say ) and if he forgets to say Bismillah in the beginning then he should say, "

Aisha Siddiqa (Radi Allahu anha) narrates that the Prophet of Allah
said, "Whenever one eats then he should say the name of Allah (say )
and if he forgets to say Bismillah in the beginning then he should
say, " " (Tirmizi, Abu Dawood, and Hakim)
Wahshi Bin Harb (Radi Allahu anhu) narrates that the Prophet of Allah
said, "Eat together and read , in this, there is blessing for you."
(Masnad Imam-e-Ahmad, Sunan-e-Abi Dawood, Ibne Majah)
Jabir Bin Abdullah (Radi Allahu anhu) narrates that the Prophet of
Allah said, "Whenever someone enters the house and at the time of
entering and eating recites , the Shaitan says to his offspring that
"you will not be able to live or eat in this home", and if at the time
of entrance onedoesn't read then he [the devil] says "that you have
found a place to live" and if someone doesn't read at thetime of
eating then he says "you found a place to live and you have found
food." (Sahih Muslim)
Amr Bin Abi Salma (Radi Allahu anhuma) narrates that I was child in
the care of the Prophet of Allah . While eating I would put my mouth
on every side of the dish. Rasul-Allah said,"After reading , eatfrom
the right side and eat from that side of the dish which is nearer to
you. (Bukhari and Muslim)
Jabir Bin Abdullah and Asma (Radi Allahu anhuma) narrate that
Rasul-Allah said, "Coolyour meal because thereis no blessing in hot
food. (Rawahul-Hakim and Abu Dawood)
Abu Saeed Khizri (Radi Allahu anhu) narrates that the Prophet of Allah
used to recite after eating food. (Tirmizi)
Aqba Bin Amir (Radi Allahu anhu) narrates Rasul-Allah said, "Thatmeal
which has not been read on is illness and there is no blessing in it.
The compensation for it is that if the table cloth has not been picked
up then read and eat somethingand if the table cloth hasbeen picked up
then read and a lick the fingers. (Ibn Asakar)
Ans Bin Malik (Radi Allahu anhu) narrates that Rasul-Allah
said,"Whenever you eat or drink, read this, then you will not get any
illness even if it has poison: (Rawahul Daylmee)
Abdullah Bin Umar (Radi Allahu anhuma) narrates that Rasul-Allah
said,"When one eats then he should eat with the righthand and when one
drinks then he should drink with the right hand. (Bukhari & Muslim)
Ka'ab Bin Malik (Radi Allahu anhu) narrates Rasul-Allah would eat with
three fingers and before wiping would lick them with the tongue.
(Bukhari and Muslim)
Jabir bin Abdullah (Radi Allahu anhuma) narrates that Rasul-Allah
said,"Lick the fingers and the dish. You don't know which part of meal
has blessings." (Sahih Muslim)
Nobelsha (Radi Allahu anhu) narrates from Rasul-Allah said,"Whoever,
after eating will lick the dish, that dish will do Istighfar for him.
(Tirmizi and Musnad-e-Imam Ahmad)
Abdullah Bin Abbas (RadiAllahu anhuma) narrates the Prophet of Allah
said, "Do not blow from your mouth into food and water." (Rawahe
Tibrani)
Aisha Siddiqa (Radi Allahu anha) narrates that Rasul-Allah entered the
house and saw some fallen bread. He picked it up, wiped it,and ate it.
Afterwards Hesaid, "Aisha, respect good things. When this thing
(bread) runs away from a nation it doesn't return." (Ibn-e-Majah)
Abdullah Bin Umme Haraam (Radi Allahu anhu) narrates that Rasul-Allah
said,"Respect bread. It is fromthe blessings of the skiesand earth.
Whoever eats fallen bread from the table cloth for him there is
Maghfirah [salvation]. (Rawahe Tibrani)
Aisha Siddiqa (Radi Allahu anha) narrates that Rasul-Allah said,"Do
not get up fromFrom food (DastarKhawan-Mat) until Food has been picked
up" (Ibn-e-Majah)
Abudllah Bin Umar (Radi Allahu anhuma) narrates that Rasul-Allah
said,"When the table cloth is chosen, no one should stand until the
table cloth is picked up and heshould not take away hishand from the
food untilall have finished eating. If he his going to stop his hands
from the food, he should excuse himselfbecause without excusing
(oneself) to stopping the hands will embarrass the other person
sitting on the table cloth and he too will pull his hands from the
food and it's possiblethat he might still necessitate food.
Ans Bin Malik (Radi Allahu anhuma) narrates that Rasul-Allah
said,"Whoever wants that Allah Ta'ala increase blessings and goodness
in his home then he should do wudu when the food is presented in front
of him and do wudu when it is picked i.e., wash the hands and the
mouth. (Ibn-e-Maajah)
Abu Hurairah (Radi Allahu anhu) narrates that the Rasul-Allah said,
"If there is the smellof grease on one's hand and he sleeps without
washing the hands and some problem reaches him then he should blame
himself. (Tirmizi, Abu Dawood, and Ibn-e-Maajah)
Abu Abs Bin Jabr (Radi Allahu anhu) narrates that Rasul-Allah
said,"Take off the shoes while eating because this is the better way."
(Rawahul Hakim)
Abu Jahefa (Radi Allahu anhu) narrates from Rasul-Allah said, "I don't
eat while (resting) on a pillow. (Bukhari)/ Etiquette of Eating