Friday Nasiha

Living The Quran

Divine Laws
Nuh (Noah) Sura 71: Verse 21

Noah said: "My Lord! They have disobeyed me and followed those whose wealth and children have increased them only in loss and self-ruin."

There is no direct link between faith and worship and God's allocation of provision in the form of income or children. The granting of wealth and children is quite different from His opening the door of His blessings as a result of one's repentance and asking for forgiveness. Besides His laws in the form of the Religion, God also has laws of life. Prosperity in both worlds requires obedience to both of these laws. Obedience to the former (the Religion) adds to the success which comes as a result of obedience to the latter (Divine laws of life). So if believers obey the latter in addition to sincere adherence to the Religion, they always and inevitably prevail over unbelievers.

In any case, we should always bear in mind that whatever blessing we are given, it is a means of testing us and requires certain things, such as thanking God, spending wealth on religiously lawful things and in God's cause, for the needy, and for educating our children so that they can be good servants of God.

Compiled From:
"The Quran: Annotated Interpretation in Modern English" - Ali Unal, p. 1176

Understanding The Prophet's Life

Easy Matter

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, "It is easy for whomever Allah, Exalted be He, makes it easy." [Tirmidhi]

This hadith demonstrates that all guidance is in the hands of Allah. Allah can make anything easy for anyone. So, Allah can make grave and difficult matter easy for anyone He wills. Allah opens a person's heart to faith and Islam. The person loves Islam and loves obeying Allah. This makes fulfilling the obligatory deeds easy for him. This makes staying away from the forbidden acts easy for him.

If Allah makes guidance and good deeds easy for a person, then the question of entering Paradise and escaping Hell is an easy matter. If Allah does not make it easy for a person, it will never be easy for him as it is a grave and difficult matter that cannot be made easy except by Allah.

Every believer should realize this fact and turn to Allah for help and guidance. If a person beseeches Allah and strives to follow the straight path, Allah will make the path easy for him.

Compiled From:
"Commentary on the Forty Hadith of al-Nawawi" - Jamaal al-Din M. Zarabozo, pp. 1091, 1092

Blindspot!

Not an Inspector

When you enter a home whether as a visitor or an overnight guest; do not closely examine its contents as an inspector would. Limit your observation to what you need to see. Do not open closed door or boxes. Do not inspect a wallet, a package, or a covered object. This is against Islamic manners and an impolite betrayal of the trust your host has accorded to you. Uphold these manners during your visit and seek to cultivate your host's love and respect, may Allah bless and protect you.

Imam al-Muhasibi in Risalat al-Mustarshidin said: "The duty of sight is to preclude forbidden sights and not to try to see what has been hidden and covered." Likewise Dawud al-Tai'y said: "I was told we would be accountable for our minor gazes, as we are accountable for our minor deeds." The Arab poet, Miskin al-Darimi said:

My neighbour need not worry if
his door was not closed.

Compiled From:
"Islamic Manners"- Abdul Fattah Abu Ghudda, pp. 43, 44