For children, - Favourite Stories: Messenger of Allah (saww) and Mother(Mother and Islam)

Share

At the time of the Messenger of Allah (saww), there was a young man named Alqamah. He was very diligent in obeying Allah by engaging in prayer and fasting and spending in charity. Then he fell ill and his illness became serious. His wife went to the Messenger of Allah (saww) and said, "My husband, Alqamah, is on his deathbed. I therefore came to tell you, Messenger of Allah (saww), about his condition."
The Messenger of Allah (saww) sent for Ammar ibn Yasir, Suhaib and Bilal ibn Rabah, and told them to go to him (Alqamah) and have him repeat the Shahadah. They went to him and found him in the agony of death. They asked him to say, "La illaha illa Allah," but his tongue was unable to pronounce it. At that, they came and told the Messenger of Allah (saww) that he was unable to repeat the Shahadah.
The Messenger of Allah (saww) asked, "Is either of his parentsalive?"
He was told, "Messenger of Allah (saww), his mother is, but she is very old."
The Messenger of Allah (saww) sent her a message that if it was convenient for her (if she was able to go out), she should come to him; otherwise she should stay in her house and the Messenger of Allah (saww) would come to her.
The Messenger of Allah's (saww) messenger came to her and informed her of the Messenger of Allah's (saww) message. She said, "May my life be a ransom for him, it is my pleasure to go to him!"
She stood up, leaning on her walking stick, and came to the Messenger of Allah (saww) and greeted him. The Messenger of Allah (saww) returned her greeting and said to her, "Umm Alqamah, tell me the truth, for otherwise Allah Most High will reveal the truth to me! What is the situation concerning your son, Alqamah?"
She replied, "Messenger of Allah (saww), he prays much, fasts a great deal, and spends a great amount in charity."
The Messenger of Allah (saww) said, "And what about yourself?"
She said, "Messenger of Allah (saww), I am angry with him."
He said, "Why?"
She replied, "Messenger of Allah (saww), he has preferred his wife to me and has disobeyed me."
The Messenger of Allah (saww) said, "Umm Alqamah, surely your anger has prevented Alqamah's tongue from pronouncing the Shahadah."
The Messenger of Allah (saww) then turned to Bilal ibn Rabah and said, "Bilal, go out and collect a quantity of firewood."
She said, "Messenger of Allah (saww), what do you plan to do?" The Messenger of Allah (saww) replied, "I will burn him in front of your eyes."
She said, "Messenger of Allah (saww), he is my son! My heart cannot bear your burning him in front of me!"
The Messenger of Allah (saww) said, "Umm Alqamah, Allah's punishment is more severe and more lasting! Therefore, if you want Allah to forgive him, be reconciled to him. By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, the prayer, fasting, and spending in charity (which he has done) are of no benefit to Alqamah as long as you are angry with him!"
Thereupon she said, "Messenger of Allah (saww), I call upon Allah Most High and His angels and the Muslims who are present to be my witnesses that I am pleased with my son Alqamah."
The Messenger of Allah (saww) said, "Bilal, go to him and see whether he is now able to say, "La illaha illa Allah" or not. It may be that Umm Alqamah is saying something for my sake which is not in her heart."
Bilal ibn Rabah went, and while entering the door he heard Alqamah saying, "La illaha illa Allah."
Bilal ibn Rabah remarked, "It is surely true that while Alqamah's mother was angry with him his tongue was tied, and now that she is pleased with him his tongue is freed."
Alqamah died the same day. The Messenger of Allah (saww) came to him and gave the order for his washing and shrouding, and then prayed the funeral prayer for him and buried him. The Messenger of Allah (saww) then stood by the side of his grave and said, "You company of Muhajirun (Emigrants) and Ansar (Helpers), if anyone favors his wife over his mother, Allah and His angels and all the people curse him! Allah does not accept his spending (in charity) and his uprightness unless he repents toward Allah, the Glorious and Majestic, and reconciles with her and attains her pleasure, because Allah's pleasure consists in her pleasure and Allah's anger consists in her anger."
We must always be respectful and obedient to our parents. However, we are not to obey them if they order us to disobey Allah and His Messenger of Allah (saww). Other than this, they deserve our utmost attention and respect.
O our Lord! grant me protection and my parents and the believers on the day when the reckoning shall come to pass! Noble Qur'an (14:41)

Share

Hajj & Umrah, - *Virtue of the Days ofAt-Tashreeq -I

Share

Remembrance of Allaah The Almighty is one of the best and greatest acts of worship. Mu‘aath ibn Jabaldeemed it as the best act of worship ever, for he said,
No deed can save one from the Punishment of Allaah better than the remembrance of Allaah The Almighty”They said,“Not even fighting in the Way of Allaah?”He replied,“Not even fighting in the Way of Allaah; except for a man who goes on fighting until he had his sword cut )for the Sake of Allaah( because Allaah The Almighty Says in His Book )what means(:}And the remembrance of Allaah is greater.{]Quran 29: 45[Hearts find life, comfort and tranquility in the remembrance of Allaah for Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allaah hearts are assured.{]Quran 13: 28[
Whoever remembers Allaah The Almighty at all times, will have little regard for the worldly life and all that it contains. Thereafter, he will suffer nothing of this life for he always remembers its Creator and knows for certain that what He has for him is better and more lasting.
Whoever adheres to the remembrance of Allaah The Almighty fears nothing, for the remembrance of Allaah The Almighty instills bravery and courage in his heart and eliminates cowardice and hesitation. In fact, it is the secret behind the power of those who strive in the Way of Allaah The Almighty when they defeat their enemies, even though they are fewer in number and less armed. It is the secret that drives scholars and reformists to enjoin good and forbid evil, and declare the truth without fearing the blame of any blamer. They are probably the ones who remember Allaah The Almighty the most. They remember Him more than anyone else does.
Days of Remembering and Thanking
The Days ofAt-Tashreeqare days of remembrance and showing gratitude to Allaah The Almighty. Allaah The Almighty must be remembered and thanked at all times, even more so in these blessed days. Nubayshah Al-Huthali narrated that the Prophet,, said:"The Days of At-Tashreeq are days ofeating, drinkingand remembering Allaah."]Muslim[ In another narration reported by Imaam Ahmad, the Prophet,, said:"Whoever observes fast )i.e. on the days of At-Tashreeq(, should break his fast for they are days ofeating and drinking."]Muslim[
They are the numbered days about which Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}And remember Allaah during ]specific[ numbered days.{]Quran 2: 203[ Furthermore, in theHadeethnarrated by ‘Abdullaah ibn Qurtthat the Prophet, said:"Thegreatest of days in the Sight of Allaah are the Day of Sacrifice)10thof Thul-Hijjah( and the Day of stay at Mina )11thof Thul-Hijjah(."]Ahmad[
Since these are the last days of a blessed season as pilgrims complete the rituals of theirHajjat this time and others finish them by slaughtering sacrifices to draw them nearer to Allaah The Almighty after the righteous deeds that they did in the ten days, it is recommended for the pilgrims and others to end this season with the remembrance of Allaah The Almighty.
In fact, that is the common tradition that Allaah The Almighty has enacted after finishing some acts of worship. As for remembering Allaah The Almighty after finishing prayer, the Noble Quran mentions that Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}And when you have completed the prayer, remember Allaah standing, sitting, or ]lying[ on your sides.{]Quran 4: 103[
Concerning the Friday prayer, He The Almighty Says )what means(:}And when the prayer has been concluded, disperse within the land and seek from the bounty of Allaah , and remember Allaah often that you may succeed.{]Quran 62: 10[
Also, after performingHajj, Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}And when you have completed your rites, remember Allaah like your ]previous[ remembrance of your fathers or with ]much[ greater remembrance{]Quran 2: 200[
It is necessary for the one who says remembrance of Allaah The Almighty to think thoughtfully and perceive what he is saying, in turn, this will drive him to be more submissive and more affected by it, which will in turn lead to the reformation of his heart.
Ibn Al-Qayyimsaid,“The best Thikr )i.e. remembrance of Allaah The Almighty( is what the heart and the tongue share, and was reported from the Prophetand considered attentively by the reciter.”

Share

Hajj & Umrah, - *Hajj and Inner Peace - III

Share

… Continued
Repentance entails true knowledge and overwhelming faith and certainty in the heart. If a believer's repentance is complete, his heart is pained and grieves over the sins and misdeeds that he committed.
The Muslim fully believes that Allaah The Almighty accepts repentance and forgives sins, and that Allaah The Exalted fulfills His promises, leads him to seek forgiveness, repent and keep away from acts of disobedience, hoping to attain the forgiveness and pleasure of Allaah The Almighty. If the Muslim repents sincerely, adheres to obeying and worshipping Allaah The Almighty by good deeds, his heart will be comfortable, his soul will be assured and the sense of guilt that gives rise to psychological worries and character disorders will vanish.
Hajjis a great opportunity for the negligent soul and the heedless heart and for a person to reconsider his thoughts and cleanse himself from sins, misdeeds and offences so that he becomes upright and starts obeying Allaah The Almighty – which helps him acquire new habits and good morals. However, if the slave does not repent or seek the pardon of the one he has hurt or wronged, his injustice or abuse to others remains suspended until the Day of Judgment when Allaah The Almighty judges his case. That is to say, that he may be granted the reward ofHajjif Allaah The Almighty wills, but his injustice remains hung around his neck till the Day of Resurrection when Allaah The Almighty reckons him for his injustice to others. This is the justice and mercy of Allaah The Almighty. He is the Judge, the utterly Just and the Ever Merciful. Justice is the balance of the Most Merciful by which He takes retribution from the wrongdoer and supports the wronged.
Discussing the issue of injustice makes us pause for a moment of reflection hoping to attain the reward of Allaah The Almighty. The wronged person hopes to attain the reward of Allaah The Almighty for what others did to him.
Hoping to attain the reward of Allaah The Almighty is a virtue and an elevated rank of faith which requires one to possess certain behavior and strive against himself. It requires, for example, behavior such as restraining anger, pardoning and patience – all of which is behavior in the path of Allaah The Almighty which keep man in a state of constant struggle with the self, which is a state that requires patience. Indeed, patience with the harm of people is one degree ofIhsaan.
Never think that those who hope to attain the reward of Allaah The Almighty have lost their rights. No, their rights are preserved with Allaah The Almighty till the appropriate time comes when He wishes to support His wronged slave. This is the promise of Allaah The Almighty, and the promise of Allaah The Almighty is true.
Entrusting affairs to Allaah The Almighty and seeking His reward grants man great power; a power that he derives from his love and trust in Allaah The Almighty; a power that gives him the capacity to have patience and grants him serenity, tranquility and security which lead to peace of the soul and the mind.
Inner peace is one degree of faith where man feels as if flying in the sky, that the world is small and its days are short ,no matter how long they last. Inner peace leads one to believe that winning the love and pleasure of Allaah The Almighty is a great prize which is not equivalent to anything and not compared to the treasures and pleasures of the life of this world.
Peace is a blessing from Allaah The Almighty which He bestows upon His believing and loving slave, upon which the slave feels that there is a light spreading inside himself and running in his blood; a light that disciplines, refines and directs him to everything that is good, virtuous and noble.
Inner peace requires of man special behavior such as pardoning, truthfulness, patience, sincerity, restraining anger,Ihsaanand satisfaction, all of which drive man to adhere to the Quranic morals. A person who is fortunate to have Quranic morals, coupled with correct knowledge of them, will find that they protect him from the evils and sins of this world.

Share

Hajj & Umrah, - *Hajj and Inner Peace - II

Share

… Continued
All these forms and others come under the category of wronging one another. Allaah The Exalted Says )what means(:}The cause is only against the ones who wrong the people.{]Quran 42:42[
If you are tempted by your position or power to wrong people, remember the power of Allaah The Almighty over you. Perpetrating this type of injustice requires repentance on your part. In addition, repentance should be accompanied by some practical behavior, such as the reconciliation of the slave with the one he has wronged or abused, so that he can go toHajjchaste and pure from any grudge or impurity, only seeking the love and pleasure of Allaah The Almighty.
All the three categories mentioned above constitute wronging oneself.
In any case, the whole issue is referred only to Allaah The Almighty. His mercy and forgiveness are always associated with His will only. Thus, He guides whom He wills and forgives whom He wills. His mercy and knowledge encompasses everything. The angels pray to Him saying:}"Our Lord, You have encompassed all things in mercy and knowledge, so forgive those who have repented and followed Your way and protect them from the punishment of Hellfire."{]Quran 40:7[
Allaah The Almighty Says about His mercy )what means(:
*.}My Mercy encompasses all things.{]Quran 7:156[
*.}Indeed, Allaah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills.{]Quran 4:48[
No sooner does a man start walking along the path of sincerity towards Allaah The Almighty than the following verse becomes applicable to him, where Allaah The Exalted Says )what means(:}Except for those who repent, believe and do righteous work. For them Allaah will replace their evil deeds with good. And ever is Allaah Forgiving and Merciful.{]Quran 25:70[
A person's feelings of guilt result in a sense of inferiority and worry. The Noble Quran provides us with a unique and successful means for treating the feeling of guilt; namely repentance. Repentance to Allaah The Almighty obliterates sins and strengthens the hope for gaining the pleasure of Allaah The Almighty. Thus, worries are alleviated and repentance usually leads man to amend and rectify himself, in order to avoid committing errors and acts of disobedience again. This helps to increase one's self esteem and self-confidence, which enables a person to enjoy the feelings of security and reassurance.
Allaah The Exalted Says )what means(:
*.}Say, "O My servants who have transgressed against themselves ]by sinning[, do not despair of the mercy of Allaah. Indeed, Allaah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He Who is the Forgiving, the Merciful."{]Quran 39:53[
*.}And whoever does a wrong or wrongs himself but then seeks forgiveness of Allaah will find Allaah Forgiving and Merciful.{]Quran 4:110[
*.}The repentance accepted by Allaah is only for those who do wrong in ignorance ]or carelessness[ and then repent soon after. It is those to whom Allaah will turn in forgiveness, and Allaah is ever Knowing and Wise.{]Quran 4:17[
*.}And when those come to you who believe in Our verses, say, "Peace be upon you. Your Lord has decreed upon Himself mercy: that any of you who does wrong out of ignorance and then repents after that and corrects himself - indeed, He is Forgiving and Merciful.{]Quran 6:54[
*.}But those who committed misdeeds and then repented after them and believed - indeed your Lord, thereafter, Is Forgiving and Merciful.{]Quran 7:153[
*.}But indeed, I am the Perpetual Forgiver of whoever repents and believes and does righteousness and then continues in guidance.{]Quran 20:82[
*.}And those who, when they commit an immorality or wrong themselves ]by transgression[, remember Allaah and seek forgiveness for their sins - and who can forgive sins except Allaah ? and ]who[ do not persist in what they have done while they know.Those - their reward is forgiveness from their Lord and gardens beneath which rivers flow ]in Paradise[, wherein they will abide eternally; and excellent is the reward of the ]righteous[ workers.{]Quran 3:135[
*.}Indeed, Allaah loves those who are constantly repentant and loves those who purify themselves.{]Quran 2:222[
To be continued …

Share