Friday Nasiha

Living The Quran

The Greatest
Al-Baqara (The Cow) Chapter 2: Verse 185 (partial)

"And (Allah desires) that you should complete the period (of fasting), and that you should magnify Allah (saying 'Allahu Akbar') for having guided you, and that perchance you may be thankful."

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, la il Llaha il Allah!
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, wa li Llah il-Hamd!

Allah commands His servants to say "Allah is Greatest" in azhan (call to prayer), salah (prayer) and Eid, and urges Muslims to wholeheartedly chant these sweet and beautiful words of praise and glory, that, despite being soft on the tongue, are heavy on the scales of Judgement.

• Allah is Greatest, Allah is Greatest! This is neither in vain nor in jest, but it is meant to implant in the hearts of the believers the essence of this religion: the fact that Allah is One, Eternally Supreme, and He is Above anything else!

• Allah is Greatest! His Might is above all psychological crises that overwhelm people, no matter how extensive these woes and crises are. Even if they become mountainous to the extent of encompassing the whole earth and engulfing all souls, and no matter how overwhelming people’s calamities are, nothing can relieve them of these crises except faith in "Allahu Akbar!" 

• Allah is Greatest! He is Greater than all temporal lusts that disseminate mischief in the earth, spread chaos in society, and tear apart people's amity, cooperation, and solidarity. Nothing can curb these lusts except the belief in "Allahu Akbar!" 

• Allah is Greatest! He is Greater than all tyrants who enslave the helpless people and infringe upon their rights, for they are weak and powerless. Nothing can set these affairs in order except the belief in "Allahu Akbar!"

• O you Muslims who declare in your prayers, your Eids, and your calls to heaven your true belief in "Allahu Akbar"! Never faint, nor grieve, nor despair, nor weaken, nor give in. Surely, the earth is Allah's. He, Almighty, gives it for an inheritance to whom He wills amongst His servants, and the best end is for those who keep their duty to Him, not for the traitors, nor for the aggressors, nor for the tyrants, nor for the oppressors. Be confident in the fulfillment of Allah's promise, for He never breaks His promise. 

• Worship Him and don't associate other with Him. Fear Allah and implore Him to forgive your sins.

• Remember the Day of Reckoning when you will stand in front of Allah. Remember the resentment of the coming generation (if you fail in your work). Remember the curse of history (on those who went astray). 

"Kull 'Aam wa Antum Bekhair!" May you have a happy and blessed Eid!

Compiled From:
"Allahu Akbar" - Hasan al-Banna

Understanding The Prophet's Life

Rejoice: Do Not Crush the Joy of Eid

Feeling joy and showing happiness and delight are essential elements of Eid. That is why scholars stated that showing happiness in Eid is a religious rite. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) encouraged the Muslim community to manifest happiness on this day. The following report emphasizes this point. Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated:

Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) came to my house while two girls were singing beside me the songs of Buath (a war between Madinah’s two major tribes, the Aws and the Khazraj, before Islam). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) lay down and turned his face to the other side. Then Abu Bakr came. Seeing that, Abu Bakr spoke harshly to them saying, “Musical instruments of Satan in the presence of the Messenger of Allah?” But the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Leave them, Abu Bakr, for there is Eid for every nation and this is our Eid.”

Another manifestation of joy in Eid during the Prophet’s time was the Abyssinians’ show: they gathered at the mosque and played with shields and spears. When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) heard them, he looked at them then asked Aishah whether she would like to watch. She replied in the affirmative, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) made her stand behind him and her cheek was touching his cheek. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) encouraged them saying, “Carry on, Banu Arfadah! Let Jews know that we have a space of relaxation in our religion.” Here we see the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) approving and even encouraging such shows of happiness and joy.

What makes one wonder is the act of those who overlook this Prophetic guidance and try to destroy this joy and spoil Eid’s cheerful spirit. In fact, some ascetics and worshipers did so in the past out of good intention. This gloomy spirit is echoed today by some sincere people who are used to turning Eids into occasions of lamenting the Ummah’s shortcomings and tragedies, and mourning over the lost glories. Sadness and gloominess will never be the remedy for our tragedies. The remedy needs more than that. It needs reflection and wise thinking, as well as courageous self-criticism and assessment. Rejecting the manifestations of joy, extinguishing every smile and succumbing to sadness and grief have nothing to do with liberating even hand-span of land, satisfying a hungry person, or answering any call for help.

The best guidance is that of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), who used to seek refuge in Allah from worry and sorrow. He was always an optimistic, smiling man. We need to infuse the Ummah with this hopeful spirit. Eid is a ray that dispels the darks engulfing our souls and the despair strangling our hearts.

So let hope find its way into our souls. The life-span of Islam is far longer than ours; its horizons are far wider than our countries; the calamities afflicting us are not unchangeable fate. We should not be hasty and impatient. Allah’s laws in running the universe cannot be altered according to the humans’ whims or wishes. Let’s look at the bright side and appreciate the favours Allah has bestowed on us. A desperate soul overwhelmed by fears and blinded by a gloomy view can never be helpful in rectifying our situation. After all, we should remember that Allah is always there and that He Almighty is the Greatest.

Compiled From:
"Do Not Crush the Joy of Eid" - Abdul-Wahhab ibn Nasir At-Turairi

Blindspot!

Dealing with grief on Eid

While Eid is definitely a time of joy and happiness, it's also one of sadness for those who recall happy occasions with deceased family members. Whether we're experiencing this sadness ourselves, or know someone who is, grief is something we can't ignore.

Pray to Allah (Dua)

Why not use Eid to make Dua and remember deceased parents? As well, why not use it as an occasion to visit and show respect to their relatives and friends? This will alleviate some of the pain of missing them on an occasion when families get together and celebrate.

Avoid Isolation

Personal grief isn't just connected to the death of a loved one. It could be related to family problems, losing a job, failing grades or more. In this case, the need to get together with others on Eid is even more important. The key is to avoid isolation on a happy occasion. If you have a family member or friend who is suffering through such problems, inviting them over on Eid day can lift their spirits. This can help them break the cycle of depression and hopelessness they may be going through. Offer them words of Dua, hope and comfort which can also help them cope with their difficult situation.

This Eid, if you see someone suffering, try to comfort them. We must make a special effort to help anyone in need, and Eid day, which is a happy occasion, is an excellent occasion to do so.

Compiled From:
“Dealing with grief on Eid” – SoundVision.com