Rants, Intentions, Mustfah Hosny, Words Episode 28, Good Work but Negative Reactions"

 

SubhanAllah!! I was literally just ranting to someone about alot of the points that are mentioned in this Mustfah Hosny lecture ( I attached it below), moments before I came across this lecture... I loveee when that happens humdAllah!!

 

So I was ranting about the following things (you will see the connection to the lecture)

 

Rant :

The  Arab concept of "Aib" shame and how this affects what you try to do for the sake of Allah...

For an example, my parents know I am in the Masjid, but the arabs around me dont know so when I come home at 11 pm its like oh look at her..blabla, this "worry" of what people will think of me even though I know my inetions is something that comes from the shytan. Its a battle with the shytan who wants you to stop going to the masjid, or that meeting or that lecture.

 

You cannnnnnnt let him convince you that you should stop going to the Masjid, MSA, etc because of what people will think or say about you, because this lady thinks you are trying to get married, and this one thinks you are a "Sayiaah" another stupid arab concept for girls who go out alot !!!

 

Rant : Everything is about marriage!

 

When people see a young women or man active in the masjid they assume they are just trying to get married (so annoying!)...

 

There are some youth who are in this msa meeting,that lecture, all these youth committees, and that volunteering event but than they disappear after they get married! It makes you question are we doing what we do  to get married ( we all seem to fall into this which is OKAY, because it is a HALAL intention).

 

I alwaysssss find it very interesting how the the the very first Hadith of an nawi is about intentions and how the mans intention was for marriage and thats what he was rewarded for! The Prophet knew people would intend to do stuff for marriage why else would he teach this Hadith.

 

If going to the masjid,lectures, events and everything else is keeping you away from your role as a wife than i understand but I'm sure if you put Allah first and working for HIS home as your priority He will place barakaa in your time and barakaa in your own home. No one can argue against this theory.

 

 

Heres the Mustfah Hosny lecture that was so on point in response to my rants and he also covers other stuff like facing negativity from people when you are trying to do good.

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRXAyry-oEI

كلمة - الحلقة 28 - خيرًا تعمل شرًا تلقى - مصطفى حسني

 

 

 

Todays word is about "Good work, but negative reactions" (like bad reactions from people, negtaivity!)"

 

 

Between you and Allah there should be iklhas: sincerity when you are trying to do good work.

 

You do whatever good for the sake of Allah. Oh Allah I am your slave, I want to please You.

 

Sometimes you do something good and say you are doing this for the sake of Allah, and you dont find the postive response you are looking for from the people,  or you can be successful in this test and say it doesnt matter what people think I did this for the sake of Allah, and Allah will make you of the "muhsineen" good doers, the ones who were best with Allah, " Inaa Allah maa al muhsineen" Indeed Allah is with the good doers.  Or you can fail this test and say because I did not find the positive reaction I was looking for from the people, than I am going to treat people badly and this will ruin your manners, and your iklhas sincerity, and that your action was not for the sake of Allah to begin with.  For this reason Allah puts a person in this test so they can think am I doing this for the sake of Allah or not?? But if you have patience (with negativity from others) than you have achived ikhlas, sincerity.

 

"And whatever good you put forward for yourselves - you will find it with Allah" 73:20 Quran

 

It is better in this dunya, and even greater in the after life..

 

 

I know a story of a person who used to work very hard in his company. And because he is so nice, his boss used to throw extra work on him , but the worker never complained. Once he was leaving from the Masjid, and he came across his friend from a very long time ago who was in the same college as him, his friend asked him where have you been, I am looking for an employee. And than he took him to work at his company in which his status was raised, people respected him, the work load was light and basic. This story can be a simple one for the one who used to work very hard but didnt find a good response from his company, but then Allah gave him much more because

 

"Indeed, he who fears Allah and is patient, then indeed, Allah does not allow to be lost the reward of those who do good." Quran Surat Yusuf aya 90

 

(Personal note, subhanAllah this aya he quotes is from Surat Yusuf, right before he quoted it I keept thinking about Prophet Yusufs story and how Allah raised his status from a prisoner to king!!)

 

If you did something for the sake of Allah, Allah will not forget you.

 

I know another story of a girl who was very patient with her parents who used to always fight with her, and then Allah sent her a very good hausband who was kind and caring to her. He changed her life of fights and misery to giving and caring.

 

If you ever do something good for sure no doubt you will find it with Allah... He will provide for you in this life and the afterlife.

 

I have a challenge for you, what do you think of forgiving someone so Allah will forgive you?

What do you think of doing something good for someone who is bad to you but still do good. Allah will see that good of you.

 

Arent there times when Allah brings us good and He sends us naaim (gifts, blessings) even though we acted wrong.

 

Sometimes we know we are not doing good, but Allah continues to send us His blessings and gifts. Would you like it if Allah stoped sending you good because of your bad actions?

 

Dont stop doing good even if you see bad from people! Do the good for the sake of Allah, you will become sincere,

Mustfah Hosny, Words Episode 22, The Generous Forgiving Person

 

 

 

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvRudCocqQg&list=UUwttCEi9Fq1DgTd5Anil6rQ&index=1

 

 

كلمة - الحلقة 22 - المسامح كريم - مصطفى حسني

 

Todays word is on the heart of every person who has a good heart. It is a quality that Allah always loves to see, and for it to be in every household, and for all of us to be a person of this quality.

 

The word of today is the generous forgiving person.

 

Allah loves forgiveness, that is why He describe Himself as the Most Forgiving, and He taught us to also have this quality of forgiveness. For it be apart of our character to forgive.

 

Before I speak about forgiveness, I know that lots of people have been wronged, and hurt greatly which makes forgiveness difficult. That is why Allah sent down the signs in this dunya, and on the Day of Judgement He will save those who forgive. They will have their rights.

 

 

Today I speak about the hundreds of problems, the fights that happen due to our weakness, and the characteristics we need to work on. Let us agree that 50 out of 100 percent of our problems can be solved if we forgave one another.

 

In our religion this form of forgiveness is called "Islaah Daat Albayn" like the makeup between the two who were not talking, etc.

 

The Prophet said: "Shall I not inform you of a level higher than salah, siyam (fasting), sadaq (charity)" The people replied: Yes ofcourse tell us

he said:  the makeup between two people, the ties or relations.

Than he said:  breaking and cutting of relations is like the shave/cut. It does not just cut the hair, rather it cuts the deen (religion)."

 

When we fight with each other, and lose each other, and we dont want to makeup, there is a corruption. This breaking of relations ruins the deen religion, because Allah does not like to see this type of broken relation.

 

One of the signs of the hypocrite is that " Whenever he quarrels, he behaves in a very imprudent, evil and insulting manner".  The hypocrite can go for 1,2,3,5 days, no even months!  without talking to their brother/ sister or whoever.

 

For those of you who think that if you forgive someone you will become and seem weak:

the Prophet said: There are 3 I swear upon

1. When you pay sadqa (charity) you will not lose or decrease in money/wealth, Allah will place barakaa (blessings) in the rest of your money.

2. If someone forgives someone who wronged them, Allah will only increase them in honor !

 

Honor is in the power of Allah, and He only honors whom He wills.

 

 

The Prophet was crying as he was telling a story about two people asking for their rights on the Day of Judgement, and the Prophet said, Indeed the Day of Judgement is Great day, people will direly need others to forgive them.

 

Allah tells the one who was wronged/oppressed but still forgave: raise your head, and look to the gardens,

the oppressed one raises his head and looks and he says: Oh Allah I see mountains of gold and sliver, and (other stuff described in the Quran about Jannah), which prophet is this for!? For which truthful man!?

 

Allah replied for the One who gave "Atamaan" (I dont know how to translate the word) but maybe something around good, kindness, etc.

The man said: Who is the ownership who gave the tamaan?

Allah replied: You gave the tamaan , you own it.

The man said: But why!

Allah replied: Because you forgave your brother

The man said: I forgive my brother!

Allah replied: Take the hand of your brother and enter Jannah

 

 

 

After telling this story, the Prophet said:

Be concicous of Allah (Fa Ataqwaa Allah) and fix your relation's with others, because Allah will fix your realtions between the beleivers on the Day of Judgement.

 

After this hadith, the Prophet implies fixing your relations with people at this moment before this moment on the Day of Judgement.

Through this story he is telling the one who wronged the other person, why dont you forgive your brother now in case he doesnt forgive you on the Day of Judgement, and to the one who was wronged, he is telling him what if you forgave your brother now and Allah will give you this amazing place in Jannah which will be written for you from this moment.

 

Yallah Ya Jamaah (Mustfaah Hosny, and Yasir Birjas both say this alot lol, it means come on people!)

 

"AlMasmih Al Qarim" The generous forgiving person.

 

 

If the wrong was not of sin or blood, than forgive,forgive so Allah can forgive you..

 

And if you cannot forgive, I am not going to force you because I know there are hearts that still cannot forgive, but remember

 

Holy Quran 16:126-127

 

 

And if you punish (your enemy, O you believers in the Oneness of Allah), then punish them with the like of that with which you were afflicted. But if you endure patiently, verily, it is better for As-Sabirin (the patient ones, etc.).

 

 

And (endure) patiently, and in no way is your patience with the help of anyone except with Allah. And do not grieve for them, nor be straitened for whatever they scheme. 

 

 

 

Mustfah Hosny, Words Episode 17, AlSalat, Prayer

 

 

 

كلمة - الحلقة 17 - الصلاة - مصطفى حسن

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y288wupeUlI&feature=em-subs_digest&list=TL90BkRXNBjjc

 

 

The word of today is a word the Prophets knew very well because it is very beloved to Allah, it is a huge door of the doors to Jannah, and it is what the Prophet Muhmmad used to tell Belal to bring us tranquility with...it is the word of Salaat, prayer.

 

Did you ever think about why Allah wants you to make prayer? Did you ever think about why Allah made the salat a pillar of Islam, an obligation? Can you say that there is something special that Allah benefits from when we make salat?

 

No people, Allah wants us to make salat for our own selves, because He knows it helps us, brings our hearts peace (mutmanah) in this dunya (world) and the akhirah (afterlife).

 

Any improtant person you want to meet with, there is a protocol. First you have to present your questions in an organized manner and give it to them, and if you get a reply there will be a certain time or place where you can meet this important person, and the time is limited to that persons availability, and you can only talk about certain points, you cant go off topic.  If you go over time, the important person will start to look at their watch, and he/she will get up and say you took to much time,

except Allah..

 

Anytime you want to meet with Him, any place, any talk you want to mention, you can come to this it is the time of Salat. There is nothing that tells you you took to long in your salat...

The Prophet said: Whoever leads the people in prayer, shorten the prayer for there may be a old man, or a weak man praying behind you, but when you make salat alone, make it as along as you want.

 

Allah made the salat an obligation, and the salat is the "Waslaa" connection, because Allah loves to connect or reach to you. Allah does not need you, but the salat is for you.  It is fard (obligation) to make the connection (salat) is for your own self.

 

In some of the best psychological, etc books, the scholars write that in order for a person to live peacefully, in sakinaah, tranquility,  you need a connection with the Creator.

 

In the famous book, Eat, Pray, & Love, its like the book was telling the readers you always have to have a connection with your Lord.

 

 

Why is it that the first thing we will be judged upon on the Day of Judgement is the Salaat?

 

You know why? Because the salat tells you " I love Allah". I love having the connection with you  oh Allah.

 

Allah made the salat only 5 times a day, not 50.

 

The Prophet said that in between the fards Allah erases your sins.

 

Allah erases your sins because you took this decision to stand up for salat.

 

The salat has three types of times

 

1. Waqat AlIsthabab, Loved: It is the first 30minutes after the adhan.

For an example, Duhr was made at 12:00, but you prayed within the first 30minutes.

 

2. Waqat AlIbhaha:  After 30minutes but 30minutes before the next prayer

 

3. Waqat AlQaraha, Disliked : 30minutes to the next prayer

 

Dont wait until the last 30minutes to make your salat, try your best to make salat in "Waqaat AlIsthabab" the most beloved time to Allah.

 

Yallah,

The salat is a decision, make the decision, and say

"Oh Allah alshukr (gratefulness) to You, that you have guided me and allowed me to listen to this lecture, and I want to make tawbah (ask for forgiveness) for all of the fard salats I missed, didnt make on time, lazy, and that I did not make you Akbar (Greater), when I heard the call to prayer, "Allahu Akbar" Allah is Greater, that I allowed what is in my heart to be greater, Oh Allah I will try my best to never miss a fard or be late to salat, because I love You, and I like to reach (connect) to You, just as you love for us to reach to You.

 

Mustfah Hosny, I am Sorry, Ana Assaf, "Words" Audio Series, Prophet Muhmmads Forbearance

Mustfah Hosny, my favorite Arabic speaker has a new audio show called "word" and basically its just 5-8 minute audio sessions on different words. Even with 5minutes you learn SO much with him mashAllah. At the end I also shared a chapter about the Prophets Forbearance I came across.

 

The Word: Second Episode: I am Sorry, Mustfah Hosny

 

كلمة - الحلقة 2 - أنا آسف - مصطفى حسني

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eijXiLE8bu4&list=UUwttCEi9Fq1DgTd5Anil6rQ&index=22

Introduction

How much do words have an impact on the souls. Words can make you glad or sad, a word can inspire you or discourage you.....Everyday we will learn a word, and understand it and use it, if there is good in the word we will use it, if there is bad in it we will leave it.

 

Ana Assaf, I am sorry means that I acknowledge my mistake. Or let me tell you, sometimes people are not wrong but they still say I am sorry, which is like saying even if I am not wrong, I want our relationship to go back to good, it doesnt matter who is wrong , what matters is that we stand next to each other, and our hearts are kind to one another. I am sorry means I dont want to see you mad, I care, you are valuable to me. I am sorry, is a word of the strong people who are not impacted of waswas (whsiperings) which tell them that you are weak if you say sorry.

 

The person knows that the word I am sorry, and I will forgive you, Allah loves very much

 

 

 

"...and let them pardon and overlook. 

Would you not like that Allah should forgive you? 

And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful"

 

 Surat Al Noor aya 22

 

I am sorry is a word the arrogant do not understand and they will never tell you I am sorry, or if they do tell you I am sorry its from the edge of their nose (Arab proverb) for the sake of themselves (maslhaa), nor does the arrogant accept apologizes. They think it is not enough.

 

I am sorry to my mom and dad who always missed me when I was to busy working. Or I am sorry to my mom or dad if you died and you needed my duaa I did not make duaa for you.

I am sorry to my son if I never made time to spend with you.

 

 

 I am sorry to my daughter if you started looking for a man early in your life to bring you love and care because as a father I was always cold and mean and I never sat and spoke to you.

 

 

 I am sorry to my soul I did not teach you enough, I did not bring you closer to Allah. I am sorry to my soul when I listened to your whims and desires and I did not stop you, instead I listened to you and I lost you.

 

 

I am sorry to my religion that I shouldve given more honor, but instead my bad manners and my low level of mercy to the people around me made them hate when I was religious.

 

 

I am sorry to every person who taught me beneficial knowledge and I never made duaa for Allah to have mercy on them.

 

I am sorry oh Prophet Muhmmad, you always wanted to meet me and you made duaa for me but my heart is cold towards you, and I dont know much about you, and that is why I cant do what you did for me.

 

I am sorry oh my Rabb for every blessing you bestowed upon me, so that you can tell me I am your Rabb and I wanted to see you glad, but instead my shukr (gratefulness) to You was of bad deeds and making you angry.

 

 

I am sorry oh Egypt (he is Egyptian) for singing Egyptian country songs but I didnt help rebuild you or make you a better place.

 

"I am sorry"

Dont ever allow this word to be heavy on your heart.

 

 

 Around the same time of coming across this video, I also came across the chapter "Prophet Muhammads Forbearance" in the book titled, "Muhamad As If You Can See Him". If you ever want to read a serah book about the Prophets life or characteristics, than pick this book, gives excellent desciprtions and makes you wana cry and be like the Prophet.

 While I was reading the book I saw that the author was the author of my favorite book Dont Be Sad.

 

The chapter said:

 

"To be a forbearing person is to be tolerant, patient, moderate, lenient and forgiving"

 

"The Prophet was the most forbearing of people. When personally wronged, he would restrain his anger and forgive the person who wronged him"

 

"Bedouins were notorious for being rude and inapproaite in their behavior towards the Prophet, and yet the Prophet reciprocated their harshness not with harshness of his own, but with forbearance and forgiveness.

Allah said, "So overlook oh Muhmmad their faults with gracious forgiveness" Quran 15:85

 

"Everyone who came to know the Prophet, were immediately impressed by his smiling countenance, easy going manner, friendly demeanor and forgiving manner"

 

 

Prophet Yusuf, Beautiful Patience, Tafseer Surat Yusuf,AlMaghrib

 

 

This weekend I took the Al Maghrib Seminar titled, "Beautiful Patience, Tafseer Surat Yusuf"

and let me tell you Prophet Yusuf is not only described as a beauty but his story is also beautiful, and it represents beautiful Patience.

 

To be honest I never really read Surat Yusuf for fun, and now I see how interesting stories of the Prophets are. I dont even know details of many of Prophet stories.
Through this story you learn about
1. Beautiful Patience (Which is differnt from patience) from both Prophet Yusuf and his father Prophet Yacob
2. The improtance of counesling Allah and not people during times of need, when facing sins
3. Jealousy between families
4. Forgivness amongst family memebers, and others
5. Allah will ALWAYS reward the good doers, as long as they are patient.
6. The stories of the Quran are much more interesting when taken into details, tafsir teaches you how to think, reflect.
6. This list can go on, but here are my notes!

 

"the parts that are in green are based on the Quran, and the black notes are what the sheikh added"

 

The Quran has the best method for telling a story.

 

Surat Yusuf was revealed in a difficult time for the Prophet, in the year of sorrow Aaam Ul Huzn, because both Khadijah and Abu Talib passed away.

 

The story of the Prophet Yusuf is the best of the best.

 

Prophet Yusuf is the son of Jacob who is the son of Prophet Ishaq who is the son of Prophet Ibrahim. Prophet Yusuf has a long legacy of prophet hood within his family. He had the most highest lineage and he was described as a veryyyyy handsome man. Prophet Jacob (Prophet Yusufs father) had 12 sons.

 

In the class we went through all of the ayas and more detials.
 

 

Full Surat Yusuf http://quran.com/12 (open the link and read it while looking at the notes to understand)

 

The Quran has the best method for telling stories, and these first ayas capture your attention at the very beginning.  The setting of this story is in the desert of Palestine which was known as Kanan.

 

Aya 4-6 is when Prophet Yusuf goes to his father (Prophet Yacob) and he tells him about his dream. Prophet Yacob advises his son not to tell his 11 brother about his dream because he fears they will become jealous of him and create a plot against him. He tells his son that Allah has choosen you and favored you to interpret dreams.

 

These ayas teach parents the importance of having a good trustworthy relationship with their children so they can come and talk to them.

 

Aya 7-10

 

The story of Prophet Yusuf and his brothers is a sign to strengthen the eman of the believers and to increase us in patience. Prophet Yacob favored Prophet Yusuf  the most along with his other son benjmain amongst the other 10 brothers. The brothers recognized this and they are jealous. This shows us that a parent unintentionally favors a child.  The brothers create a plot to kill Prophet Yusuf or he take him to another land. One of the brothers suggests that  they throw Yusuf in the bottom of a well and eventually travellers will take him.

 

The objective of this plot is noble, because these brothers simply want their father to favor them.

 

Aya 11-15

 

The brothers told their father they are going to take Yusuf, but the father is worried. He tells them what if a wolf eats him. They tell him not to worry, and than they take him and they place him in the bottom of the well.

 

 

Ayas 16-17

After they returned at night they came to their father crying. And they told him that a wolf ate him, and "you would not beleive us, even if we are truthful" (the sheikh said they are telling their father that they are not saying the truth).  They showed their dad Yusufs shirt which had fake blood.

 

 

 

(Here the first aya appears about beautiful patience)

 

There is a difference between patience and beautiful patience

 

 

 In aya 18 in arabic Allah writes, "Fasubrn Jamil" beautiful patience

 

"Jacob  said, "Rather, your souls have enticed you to something, so patience is most fitting. And Allah is the one sought for help against that which you describe."

 

 

Sometimes we think something is bad in our life but it is really stregthing us for something better.

 

Crying does not mean that you are not patient. If you are crying and supplicating to Allah it is an indication of your ikhlas and your tawhid (faith, religion).  That is why Prophet Jacob cries and cries but to Allah. He is patient, beautifully patient.

 It is a beautiful patience in which he turns to Allah alone.

 

What is beautiful patience? Prophet Yacob describes it,

"Allah is the One I seek help from"

 

Beautiful patience:

1.  You are patient from the very beginning

2.  Brings you closer to Allah, return to Allah

3. Allah is the one you seek help from

4. Address your sadness and concerns to Allah, do not look for sympathy from the people. Dont cry to people.

 

3 Types of Patience in Surat Yusuf:

 

1. Patience in times of obedience of Allah

2. Patience in times of calamity

3. Patience in abstaining from sins

 

Prophet Muhmmad:

"Know Allah in times of ease and He will know you in times of hardship"

 

 

Ayas 19-20

 

After the brothers place Yusuf in the well, a group of travellers come to buy him as a slave. The brothers sold him quickly for a very low price.

 

The caravan is a mercy from Allah. Allah has better plans for Yusuf.

 

 

Ayas 21-29

 

The one who bought Yusuf was the minister of Egypt, and he told his wife to make him comfortable in their home, and he even wanted to adopt Yusuf. Allah tells us , "We established Jospeh in the land that We might teach him the interpretation of events (dreams)". Allah also tells us that after Yusuf became mature no longer a boy, "We gave him judgement and knowledge. And thus We reward the doers of good"( 23).

 

Yusuf was a very handsome man.

 

The wife of the minister wanted to seduce him, and she closed all the doors and she told him to come to her, but Yusuf was of the righteous and he said, "I seek the refuge of Allah. Indeed He is my Master who has made good my residence (24)".

 

Every time you think about committing a sin, do what Yusuf did:

1. Seek refuge with Allah

2. Remember all the good things Allah has bestowed upon you.

Allah made Prophet Yusuf of the chosen servants. So than Yusuf and his wife ran out towards the door and she teared his shirt from the back. Her husband was at the door, and she lied to her husband. She said, "What is the recompense of one who intended evil for your wife but that he be imprisoned or a painful punishment" (26).  Prophet Yusuf told her husband that it was she who was trying to seduce him, and a witness from their family came and say that if the shirt was riped from the front she was truthful, and Yusuf has lied. The husband that the shirt was ripped from the back and he realized it was his wifes plan, and he told Yusuf to ignore this, and for his wife to ask for forgiveness because she was sinful.

 

We complain about the fitnah we deal with in college, high school, and etc. Just remember Yusuf and his story. He is all alone with this women, and she is trying to seduce him but he stays strong.

 

 

Ayas 30-35

 

The women of the city started talking about the wife of the minister and how she was trying to seduce her slave Yusuf. They believed she was wrong. The wife of the minister heard about their talk and so she brought them to a banquet and she gave each of them a knife. She told Yusuf to come in front of them. They started cutting themselves without even noticing because of how handsome he is.

"Perfect is Allah! This is not a man, this is none but a noble angel"(32).

 

The wife of the minister told them "That is the one about whom you blamed me"(33). Meaning you see how handsome he is who can you blame me for wanting to seduce him.

 

She told him how when she tried to seduce him he firmly refused and she was going to put him in prison if he did not do what she wanted.

 

"He (Prophet Yusuf) said: "My Lord, prison is more to my liking than that which they invite me. And if You do not avert me from their plan, I might incline toward them and thus be of the ignoroant"(34).

 

In this aya Yusuf is  addressing his concerns to Allah.  This teaches us that when we are confronted with a sin, we should automatically counsel Allah and He can help you.

 

Allah responded to Yusufs concern and he averted the plan. The wife of the minister decided to imprison Yusuf.

 

 

Ayas 36-42

 

When Yusuf is placed into prison he meets tow young men who tell him about their dreams. Prophet Yusuf interprets their dreams and he tells them what they mean.

 

Prophet Yusuf is in prison but he is still making dawah, first through his character.

When one of the young men was about to be freed, he told him to mention him to his master (king)  and how he is innocent. But shytan made him forget to mention Yusuf to his master, and so Yusuf remained in prison for a couple of years.

 

If you tell someone to do something a favor for you, a responsibility, remind them, because the shytan will try to make the person forget so you can fight.

 

 

 

The story keeps getting interesting as Yusuf becomes a high and very imrpotant ruler of Egypt, he is reunited with his family, and so muchhhhh more, but to be continued!! InshAllah .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"The Meaning of the Tashahhud" A Word Anaylsis

 

 

So I realized I cant pay full attention to lectures online without taking notes, and if I dont take notes I will for sure forget what I learned.

 

Heres what the sheikh said in this awesome video titled, "The Meaning of the Tashahhud"

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=IevbR3-SnSk#t=635s

 

I began the video at 10:30 and stopped at 27 minutes inshAllah I will continue it because I think it is REALLLY good to know these details.

 

 

Word Analysis: Each word needs to be appreciated

 

Altahayyatu Greetings

 

The 1st word is AlTahiyyatu , this is a plural word of the word tahiya Tahiya means greeting, to greet somone, altahiyyat is the plural form so it would mean the greetings. The word greeting tells the story of the orgins of this word. The word tahiya comes from the root word of haya. Haya means life. So why would the word greeting come from the word which means life? In pre-Islamic times, in the times of jahihlya, the Arabs would greet one another with supplication such as "Hayaik Allah" which means  I hope Allah gives you a long and prosperous life. It was a good supplication (sheikh qatani says it sometimes I noticed). They were making duaa for the life of the person through this greeting. 

 

 Later on when Islam came, the Quran and the Prophet taught us a different supplication and that is the greeting of Aslaamu Alkyaum. Even though the greeting itself changed, the word greeting remains the same, and that is in the Quran Allah said, "When somebody greets you with a greeting than return that greeting back to them better or at least return the equal greeting". In arabic the aya contains the word "Haya"

 

Altahayyatu lillah

 Royal compliments firt for a king are exclusively for Allah

 

 

What does it mean to greet Allah? There is a little story behind this. A scholar was interested in knowing what this means. He went to scholar named Alkasie, and I asked him what does "Altahiyaat laiAllah mean?" he said, it is like blessings, so the scholar said what does blessings mean? The scholar replied thats all I know. So he went to another scholar and the scholar said altahiyait is a word we use to worship Allah. Finally I came across Imam Alshafi who was both a scholar and poet which gave him a very unique perspective. Imam Alshafi said, why didnt you ask a poet scholar. Let me  explain something, when you enter the court of the royal king how do you enter the court? You offer royal complements, such your royal highness, etc. Its protocol. That is what the word "Altahiyat" So when we say althiyat laiAllah we are pronouncing royal complements which are exclusively for Allah.

 

 

Wa al salawat And Prayers

 

Plural of the word salat which is prayers. Our salawat are also for Allah.

 

 

Wa al tayyibat And beautiful character, conduct, etc is also for Allah.

 

Plural of the word tayba which means good. The beautiful conduct, character, our manners, our dealings with people. You treat people good not because of who they are but rather you do that for the sake of Allah.

The prophet in this statement is teaching us that the way we conduct ourselves social is based on Allah.

 

As Salaam Peace and Safety

 

Its very profound and comprehensive word. Islam comes from the root word of salaam. Islam means to submit because when you submit to Allah you achieve peace and safety.

 

Salaium in the arabic language refers to ladders and stairs, and it comes from peace and safety. Arent stairs and ladders kind of dangerous? The Arabs realized that stairs are dangerous so they named it safety, so people would think oh we have to becareful.

 

As Salaamu Alayka Ayyhua Al Nabi  Peace and Safety Upon you o Prophet.

 

This is a form of supplication. Now who is the you refering to you? The supplictaion tells us "Alayki Ayyhua al nabi" which means upon O Prophet

 

The word nabi means Prophet. This can come from 2 roots, which is naba which means news that is very important or very relevant to you (never knew that!). That means the nabi brings news that is important and relevant. Reflect on it. Words teach us lessons.  The second possible root of nabi is that it comes from the word nabawan, which means an elevation. The nabi is an individual is at a higher status. He is the messnger of Allah.

 

 

Wa Rahmtu llah Mercy of Allah Upon you

 

Wa Barkathu, Long Lasting Blessings of Allah also be upon you.

 

Barkathu which is the plural word of baraka which means blessings

 

The roots of baraka means blessings that are long lasting. That is why the Arabs would call a small collection of water  that has been sitting for a long time a bareeika ( as an Arab I know we call the pool barikaa). The word implies longevity.

 

 

Are we speaking about the Prophet or to the Prophet? It is to  the Prophet.

The Prophet used to teach the scholars the tashuhud just like how he taught the ayas.

This implicates the improtance of memorizing the tashuhud. Second it implicates that it must be read how he taught it, and it cannot be changed.

 

 

To be contunied inshAllah

 

 

 

Light Upon Light Allahs Light, Amazing, Going From Darkness (Hardship) To Light (Ease)

One of the most amazing ayas unbeliveable I love this, Oh Allah place your Light upon us!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQfRF1MWvMI

Before you start reading this post I want you to hear these amazing ayas (the traslation is also with it)  which describes Allahs Noor, Light. Its simply unbelievable amazing....imagine Allahs Light? And imagine being guided to this Light? Think about when you go through a dark situation (hardship) and than you get to go through the ease, is it not a form of light?

 

One of the worst hardships a person can create for themselves is hob aldunya, love for this world. When you find yourself feeling sad because you dont have this or that , or you start to feel alone, or you start to feel bad for yourself than you know that you are falling for shytans worst traps. You are creating this hardship for yourself when you start to fall for the beauty of dunya. I fall for this sometimes, but I found that the best remedy is TRULY the remembrance of Alllah.

 

 

Verily in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest! Surat Al Rad Aya 28

 

 

SubhanAllah its seriouslly a feeling of darkness to light....but you see the sweetness is not going from light to light, the sweetness of the hardship or the ease is when you feel the bad and than you feel the good. And when you start to turn  your heart away from dunya and you turn to Allah looking for light you will find signs all around you. Open your heart, and  just go to youtube and randomly search a Quran recitior and you will probably find ayas directly realting to what you need(inshAllah), or go to radioquraan.com and you will probably find your favorite aya reciting, or go to your favorite muslim site, (for me its suhaib webbs virtual mosque) and you will find new articles on the homepage directly related to what you need. 

 

I found this one this time, humdAllah: and the following hadiths are was what I needed to hear:

Prophet said:

"“Satan threatens you with poverty, and commands you to evil, while God promises you forgiveness from Him and bounty.”

 

“Whoever makes the Hereafter his goal, Allah places abundance in his heart, and organizes his affairs, and the world comes to him despite its unwillingness. And whoever’s aim is worldly gain, Allah puts poverty before his eyes, and disorganizes his affairs, and nothing of this world comes to him, except what has been decreed for him.”

 

http://www.suhaibwebb.com/personaldvlpt/purification-heart/change-of-heart/

AlhumdAllah

 

 

 

Im All Over NJCU lol

So in alot of NJ City University  hallways (like 5) you will find a huge poster like lifesize poster of me .

You will also find me on the NJCU Youtube page, the NJCU App, and the Instgram page...

Although I don't really like the life size picture of me  ( when the Dean took the pic I did not expect this at all!) I hope it is a form of dawah and it proves a point: Muslim women are educated.

I show up in a NJCU YouTube video a couple of times

I dont like how my voice sounds nor was I prepared for this as I was told at that moment  lol but again I hope it serves as a greater purpose: to inspire other Muslim women and to show that Muslim women are educated and successful. Its a representation of our deen alhumdAllah

Ultimate Eid Celebration 2013 Coming Soon InshAllah!



Photo Credit: NHIEC Mosque

As December comes to an end I realize how much Muslims fall into the glitz and glam of the "holiday season". I have also fallen for this as I honestly enjoy seeing the lovely decorations, the gifts, etc. If Muslim adults are falling for this glitz and glam of the holiday season, imagine how the Muslim kids feel when they see their non-Muslim fellows talk about the awesome gifts they get or the awesome Christmas tree and then they compare it to the not so glitzy Eid. Although you may get angry when Muslims compare Eid to the Holiday season, you shouldnt....instead you should try to make Eid the ULTIMATE festival....let Eid live up to its name..
 

 Allah gave us the best Holiday: EID. What have we done to show appreciation of this holiday?
 

Its time for us to step up our EID. I had enough of hearing the "Oh I wish Eid was like Christmas".  Its true, you wont find the stores glowing with lights and lanterns for Eid in America, but we as a community are capable of creating this awesome Eid experience if we wanted to....I am ready to create the ultimate Eid celebration. And no it wont be an event that will only be fun for the kids! Its going to be appealing to all ages inshAllah, especially my age group (16-30) which seem to be losing the Eid spirit every time we get older.

 

You want this to happen? You want Eid to be the ULTIMATE EID CELEBRATION? Well then you gota do your part because you know what? Allah SWT says,

 

"Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves" Holy Quran

 

Through the ULTIMATE EID CELEBRATION:
 

We can bring back that Ultimate EID spirit the Prophet had

We can make this a unity event and bring the ummah together

We can exchange gifts to one another, Prophet said: "Give gifts and you will love one another."

We can visit the Muslims in hospitals, shelters, etc and share our ultimate Eid with them

We can celebrate ALL THREE days of Eid

We can bring back that excitement you used to get weeks before Eid as a child

We can do pre-eid giving through fundraising for zakat al fitr

We can make a big deal of reciting the besttttt holiday song, TAKBIR AL Eid (How can we compare this to anything!? Allahs name is constantly repeated!) 

We can DO SO MUCH

Allah SWT describes as the best, but why have we not made our Eid the best for ourselves?
"You are the best of the nations raised up for (the benefit of) men; you enjoin what is right and forbid the wrong and believe in Allah" Holy Quran
 

ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS  input effort and have trust in Allah...!
This is a simple formula that works for anything good you attempt to do in this dunya inshAllah if Allah wills.

 

 

ARE YOU READY? For the "The Ultimate Eid Celebration"Coming to a Masjid near you in 2013 inshAllah....lets make this happen! Are you ready to take on the challenge?

 

(If we want this Ultimate Eid Experience actually happen, we must start planning from like NOW) inshAllah.

 

Lets make this event go viral.

Please SHARE
And if anyone is interested in helping contact me!!

Dawah At Its Finest, Real Stories From me

(Read to the end for the amazing stories and a very important suggestion)

 

 

AlhumdAllah today was my last day as an undergraduate student. I am looking back at my personal statement I wrote in 2010 upon applying for colleges and alhumdAllah I think my whole college career revolved around this goal which is almost a form of dawah.

“I seek to redefine the image of Muslim-American women, just as Barack Obama has redefined the image of African-Americans. I am concerned about the negative stereotypes people hold of Muslim women. I will take advantage of the freedom and great opportunities I have been given. I hope that my choice of attending university will present a positive counter image to the prevailing stereotypes.” 

 

 I worked with so many people on campus, but only one was Muslim. Although you can argue it gets hard at times with so much fitnah around you, at the same time you can only imagine how many dawah opportunities I had.

 

Tip 1: Make an Annoucment

Tell Non-Muslims When You Have To Go Make Salat, Everytime You GO!

 

 

One tip I must teach everyone who goes to college, or works around non-Muslims is to NEVER be shy to say I need to a place to pray!  I want to tell you about the AMAZING stories I have when it came to practicing Islam openly in my non-Muslim workplace.

I dont think its okay to make up all of your prayers when you go home from school or work, and so I always pray at school and work. Although I must say its not very easy to concentrate as you feel like you must get back to class or work, I think its better than going home and praying duhr, asr, maghrib and aisha all at once which makes you even more lazy. There is a reason why the prayers are spilt into differnt times and not all at once.

Anyways I asked my job if I can pray in any of the empty rooms we had and they did not hesitate to say yes. I was given the work room as my own place to go to pray when I needed to.

One thing I would always do is make an annoucment that I was going to make salat. I would allow all those around me to hear me whether its the super boss, or my work study co workers. It was never embarrassing and in the end it was one of the best forms of dawah I was able to make during my years at the two offices I worked in.

Here are the cute small stories I have

Me: I am going to pray

Co Workers (plural,multiple): Please pray for me!

I think I heard that statement over 3 times!

Me: I lost my prayer rug =/

Office boss, and like everyone else around me: starts looking for the rug

Two days later,

Boss: Did you find your prayer rug? Me: Yes! Thank you for caring!!!

They reallly cared about my prayer rug!!!!

Me: praying in the workroom

Student Worker : Walks in and quickly apologizes, and apologizes again when I finished

The following three stories all happend in the same week (my last week)

Studnent Worker: You know Huda, I really like how you will stop everything just to go pray. You can be in the middle of an event,work, or whatever but when its time for you to pray you go!

Student Worker (upon driving her home): The thing I like most about you and Muslims is your  how you are serious about making your prayers. Our Pastor tells us how we should try to take out 5minutes every day to make a prayer.

Me: *Makes wudu in front of coworkers and explains what I am doing*
Student Worker: *Upon walking from the bathroom* I love your commitment to your prayers.

Do I need to say anymore?

 

 

Tip 2: Dont Let him hug you, touch you, or shake your hand!!

 

One common thing you will find in the non-Muslim workplace is that its okay when a guy hugs a girl and vice versa. If you tell them from the begining I cant shake your hand, hug you or whatever you willllllll recive so much respect! Explain why and move on its not that hard...here are some stories

 

 

 Man: *Tries to shake my hand*

Non-Muslim Classmate: No, she cant shake your hand!

Boss: *Tries to give me a high five*

Me: Sends an email explaining why I cant shake his hand or give him five

Next day Boss: *Air five!*

Co-Worker: Wow Huda you did great, and is about to air five me and then he stops

"I am so sorry I almost airfived you, but than I remembered you cant!"

Co Workers man and  women hug each other greet each other, than man co worker comes to me :

Verbally greeting only!

Tip 3: I tell them how I cant date, and I will get married instead...

Everyone dates in the non-Muslim environment, and thats okay, but for you, you must explain how you dont date and how you get married. Then the famous question of "Do your parents choose your husband"comes up and you get that awesome chance to explain how that is a cultural thing, and that is not apart of Islam.

Tip 4: BE KIND....no one is going to want to open dialogue with you if you are a rude person. And dont ever impose your beliefs on them, because you will see that they will come to you with all of the questions. I dont think a week passed in which I did not receive a question relative to Islam.

Tip 5: Be an ambassador of Islam...thats really all it is. REPRESENT !!! Easy as that...

And finally a tip I just learned upon my last day on campus (which I wish I learned A LONG time ago)

GIVE THE QURAN to people....after you have established a positive relationship with them.

I have a beautiful story for this tip:

Today I gave out the first Quran to  a Non-Muslim. He is one of my supervisors, and you wouldnt beleive his reaction...I did not expect that at all.

First of all I never gave him direct dawah  I like indirect dawah techniques such as being kind, showing that you are trustworthy person, doing a good job, etc. He would always ask me questions and he would always start dialgoues about differnt educational topics such as Palestine. I gave him an awesome lesson and resources for that.

Me: Hi, today is my last day at NJCU . I actually want to give you a book, it is realtive to the topics we spoke about such as history, and etc. Its the Holy Quran.

Him: WOW, thank you sooooo much Huda. This is great, I did not know that I am actually allowed to read this sacred text. I really appreciate this. This is a very nice gift.

Me: No probelm!! And than he starts talking about my great work ethics, and blabla

And than I go to the kitchen as I am leaving:

Him to other supervisor: "Look , Huda gave me the Quran!  Other supervisor: Wow!! Thats nice!

Me: *Sends message to mentor (VP of NJCU) saying I left a Quran on the desk because I know you liked to learn about my culture. I will never forget when you did not shake my hand the first time we meet! I learned sooo much from you!"

Mentor: "Huda, you have motiavted me to be a better person! I truly enjoyed meeting you. Thank you so much for the gift. I will read it to learn more about Islam."