Islam religion: January 2013
Sunday, 27 January 2013

Lost your Job ? Do not Lose Hope !



As world markets suffer from the ongoing global financial crisis
and housing markets slump, as jobs are lost and unemployment rates rise
high, as businesses close down and people dont have a source of income,
you worry.

You worry about the growing global recession and its challenges. And you worry about your family, your kids, how to provide for them, how to put food on the table, how to pay the bills ?!

In times such as these, this is a reminder for my brothers and sisters, as the reminder always benefits the believers.
           
"But remind, theReminder will benefit the believers."
(Surah adh-Dhaariyaat verse  55)


KEEP YOUR IMAAN (Faith) STRONG

1. Always Remember that nothing happens except by the will and decree of Allaah.

Belief in al-qadar (the Divine decree) is one of the pillars of our Imaan, and no ones faith is complete without it. So if you lost your job, it was by the Will and Decree of Allaah. 

Allaah says:

“No calamity befalls on the earth or in yourselves but it is inscribed in
the Book of Decrees (al-Lawh al-Mahfooz) before We bring it into
existence. Verily, that is easy for Allaah” (al-Hadeed:22)


Also the Prophet (PBUH) said:-

 "Know that what has passed you by was not going to befall you, and that what
has befallen you was not going to pass you by. And know that victory
comes with patience, relief with affliction, and ease with hardship."

 (Tirmidhi-Saheeh)  


2. It is Allaah that provides for you and NOT your employer;

Remember that Allaah is al-Razzaaq (the Provider) and the Best of those who provide.
It was Allaah who was providing you before you lost your job and it is
still He that will provide you after you lost it.
The one who fed you when you were in your mother womb will also feed you when you are an adult. And it was not you who was putting food on the table for your family. Rather it was Allaah using you as a means to provide for them.

"Except for Allah, is there any other Creator whoprovides for you out of heaven and earth ? There is no god except He. Where then do you turn?" (Surah Faatir:3)


3. Know that your provision was written for you before you were even born:

Allaah had sent an angel to write down your provision for you when you
were just a few days old in your mothers womb, and you will get it, no
matter what.

"(the angel) says, ‘O Lord, male or female? Doomed or blessed? What is his
provision? What is his lifespan?’ And that is written in his mother’s
womb.” (Bukhaari)


There is nothing that can take your provision away. And you will not die until you have had your full provision. The Prophet (PBUH) said:

“The Holy Spirit (Jibreel) has inspired to me that no soul will die until it has completed its appointed term and received its provision in full, so fear Allaah and do not be desperate in seeking provision, and no one of you should be tempted to seek provision by means of committing sin if
it is slow in coming to him, for that which is with Allaah can only be
attained by obeying Him.” (Saheeh al-Jaami, 2085) 


4. It is a test for you from Allaah:

Remember that disasters and calamities are a test of a believer’s patience. And so He will test you to see how strong you are and how you will react to His test. And
know if Allaah loves a person, He tests him. 


"We shalltest you with something of fear and hunger, and decrease of goods, life and fruits. Give glad tidings to the patient."
(al-Baqarah:155)


5. Surely, it is a means of expiation of your sins:

Calamities are a means of expiation of sin and raising ones status.

The Prophet (PBUh) said: 


“There is nothing that befalls a believer, not even a thorn that pricks him,
but Allaah will record one good deed for him and will remove one bad
deed from him.” (Muslim). 


And he said: “Trials will continue to befall the believing man and woman, with regard to
themselves, their children and their wealth, until they meet Allaah with no sin on them.”
(Tirmidhi, saheeh by al-Albaani)


WHAT TO DO
 
1. Have tawakkul on Allaah

Always think to yourself...Allaah wouldnt decree something for me unless it was good for me. Have faith in Allaah's Words....

"But you may hate a thing although it is good for you, and may love a thing
although it is evil for you. Allah knows, and you do not." (Baqarah:216)



The Prophet (sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam) said:

 “If you put your trust in Allaah in the true sense, He will grant your
provision as He grants to the birds, who go out in the morning hungry
and come back full.” (Ahmad, Ibn Maajah and al-Tirmidhi).


2. Be patient

Remember that with every difficulty comes ease and with hardship comes relief.

“How wonderful is the affair of the believer, for all his affairs are good
and this does not apply to anyone except the believer. If something good happens to him he is grateful, and that is good for him, and if
something bad happens to him he is patient, and that is good for him.” (Muslim).


3. Review your life and make LOTS of Istighfaar

Look at your life. Is there something that you need to improve on? Is there
something that you need to give up? Is there anything that may be a
cause of Allaah's warning or punishment to you?

“And whatever of misfortune befalls you, it is because of what your hands have earned” [al-Shoora:30]

“A man may be deprived of provision by a sin that he commits.” 
(Ibn Maajah-saheeh by al-Albaani)


If there is such a thing, NOW is the time to fix yourself. Ask Allaah sincerely to forgive you and He will. There is no doubt in that.For He is al-Ghafoor, ar-Raheem.

‘Ask forgiveness from your Lord, verily, He is Oft‑Forgiving. He will send
rain to you in abundance, and give you increase in wealth and children,
and bestow on you gardens and bestow on you rivers.’”[Nooh 71:10-12]
 


Fear Allaah and obey Him as much as you can:

Obedience is the key to the Mercy of Allaah and fearing Him (taqwa) is a means to attain all success.

Allaah says:


“And whosoever fears Allaah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way
for him to get out (from every difficulty). And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine. And whosoever puts his trust in
Allaah, then He will suffice him. Verily, Allaah will accomplish his
purpose. Indeed Allaah has set a measure for all things” [al-Talaaq:2-3] 


Make duaa and do lots of good deeds

Never forget that Dua is the weapon of the believer. Pray to Allaah with the attitude of certainty and He will surely respond. Do a lot of acts of worship, such as reading Quraan, fasting, giving
charity, etc. This will get rid of your worry and anxiety, and give
you happiness, peace of mind and success in this dunya as well as in the Hereafter.

“Whoever works righteousness — whether male or female — while he (or she) is a
true believer; verily, to him We will give a good life (in this world
with respect, contentment and lawful provision), and We shall pay them
certainly a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to do
(i.e. Paradise in the Hereafter)” (al-Nahl:97)


Also, worship at times of hardship and tribulation has a special sweetness to it and a great reward.

The Prophet (sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam) said: “Worshipping at times of tribulation and confusion is like migrating to join me.” (Muslim)


Uphold ties of kinship

If there are any family members that you have cut off from or are not on
speaking terms, etc., correct that and ask them for forgiveness, even if it was not your fault.
Why? 


Because the Prophet (sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam) said:  “Whoever would like his provision to be increased and his life span to be extended, let him uphold the ties of kinship.”

Do your best to seek Halaal earnings ?

 
Work hard to find a means of living for your family, while relying on Allaah. That is a responsibility placed upon you by Him.

Imam Ahmad was asked about a man who sat in his house or in the masjid and
said, “I will not do anything until my rizq comes to me.” He said, “This is a man who has no knowledge. 


"Strive to do that which will benefit you and seek the help of Allaah, and do not feel helpless." (Muslim). 



BUT, do not lose sight of the Aakhirah

However, do realize that this world is only temporary and the REAL life is that
of the Hereafter. This world should not be the main concern of the
Muslim, rather our focus should be on what we do for the Aakhirah.

The Prophet (sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam) said:


 “Whoever is mainly concerned about the Hereafter, Allaah will make him feel
independent of others and will make him focused and content, and his
worldly affairs will fall into place. But whoever is mainly concerned
with this world, Allaah will make him feel in constant need of others
and will make him distracted and unfocused, and he will get nothing of
this world except what is decreed for him.” 


(Tirmidhi- saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami). 


 
Thursday, 24 January 2013

Extremism or Adherence to Religion?



Question

Allaah blessed me with a righteous wife; she is knowledgeable and very concerned about her religious matters, however she goes to extremes in religion to the extent that she makes me sick of life. Please advise me regarding what I should do with her.
 May Allaah reward you.

Answer


All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad Peace be upon him is His slave and Messenger.

You should thank Allaah The Almighty that He granted you a religious wife because a righteous wife is a comfort of the eyes of the husband and helps him obey Allaah The Almighty, carry out his duties, and bring up the children.
It was narrated on the authority of ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Amr  (RAA) that the Prophet (Pbuh), said: 

"This worldly life is a passing pleasure, and the best pleasure of this worldly life is a righteous wife."

 [Muslim, An-Nasaa’i, and Ibn Maajah]
You have to fear Allaah The Almighty regarding her.
If going to extremes in religion means that she adheres to the teachings of Islam such as wearing Hijaab (Islamic covering), not intermixing with non-Mahram (marriageable) men, and not shaking hands with them, this is not called extremism. This is adherence to Islam and carrying out the Sharee‘ah (Islamic legislation) of Allaah – a praiseworthy matter for which she is not to be reproached and you should be happy with it. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): 

{It is not for a believing man or a believing woman, when Allaah and His Messenger have decided a matter, that they should [thereafter] have any choice about their affair. And whoever disobeys Allaah and His Messenger has certainly strayed into clear error.}

 [Quran 33:38] 

If you mean that she is really an extremist and exaggerating matters, or that she neglects your rights and the rights of your house and children by performing too many prayers, fasting, night prayers, and keeping herself busy with seeking knowledge in a way that negatively affects her marital duties, she should be advised to carry out her duties. You have to be patient with her and instruct her kindly. It would be preferable if you mentioned the activities that you think are religious extremism to see if they are extremism or not. 

Allaah Knows best.



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