Saddidu wa Qaribu wa Abshiru

Hadith: Saddidu wa Qaribu wa Abshiru... (and more)

Saddidu means look for the fruit of your good deeds. We are praying every day, giving sadaqah, doing Hajj, etc, why? What's the reason for this? Are just just doing all these ibadat as a habit?

We need to know the meaning of salah and sadaqah and Hajj and rest of the amal. Salah has a meaning of 'silah', which means connection. We are actively connecting to Allah, directly during our prayers 5 or more times a day. According to another hadith, it is like a Mi'raj of the Muminin to Allah. The moment you say Allahu Akbar, it's called Takbir Tahrima, which means you are putting the world and everything in it behind you and you are alone standing in front of Allah. So, we need to prepare our minds and our souls prior to salah so that we can establish a firm connection with Allah every time and thus our status and relationship with Allah can grow continuously.

Think of Sadaqah as giving away our sickness and sins. And put your hands below the receiver, because he/she is doing you a favor, not the other way around. See on the left; that's how you should offer sadaqah/charity to others and let the receiver's hands be on top of your hand. This is the etiquette of Islam; this is the beauty of Islam.

Hajj is supposed to make you divert your attachment to the world and worldly wealth and relationships. The poor and the rich are all together. The healthy and sick are all together. The black and the white are all together; everyone (male) is wearing 2 pieces of white plain cloth. You throw stones at the shayateen (devil's stones); it means you will not obey satan no more or follow his ways.

Qaribu means perfect your deeds; perfect your salah and jakah and rest of the amal. No one (but the prophets) is perfect, but we need to try our best.


Abshiru means give glad tidings and or think about the jazaa/rewards you will be getting; so be happy. Be happy when you are in the masjid for salah thinking about the reward. Be happy when you are giving sadaqah or doing any good deeds; knowing that Allah will reward you. Be excited and actively compete with other Muslims.


Even when all our amal are nearly perfectly, we can never go to Jannah/paradise without the mercy of Allah. All these good deeds are for the mercy of Allah. Once we are granted jannah, then our deeds will determine our levels there.


Mi'raj: Great journey of Prophet Muhammad S.A.W. when he was invited by Allah with the company of Angel Jibril alayhissalam from Mecca to Jerusalem, and then from there to beyond 7th heaven to meet Allah directly, on a Buraq (4 legged animal). 

Rahman Vs. Rahim

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim

Rahman refers to Allah's mercy on everyone. He is merciful to everyone, Muslims and Non-Muslims in this world. That's why we see non Muslims too living their lives, eating, drinking; all provided to them by the mercy of Allah.

Raheem refers to Allah's mercy to Mu'minin /believers only. This is applicable here in this world and more importantly on the Day of Judgement, when Allah will be merciful to only the Muminin; non-Muslims will be be punished for their disbelief.

HasbiyAllahu wa nimal wakeel

Hadith:

Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wasallam said if someone makes a knot and he spits in it, he makes magic with it; he seeks the helps of the Jins to make the magic. If you hang something in your neck or draw a black dot on baby's forehead and believe that that will protect the baby from evil gaze and what not, this is shirk - this action translates to setting partner with Allah; which is the worst of all major sins. Only Allah is the protector and he alone protects. If you depend on your job, Allah will leave you alone with your job, and if you depend on your money, Allah will leave you alone with your money. Always depend on Allah; Allah alone.

Look at the life of Prophet Ibrahim alayhissalaam and his incredible absolute reliance on Allah. When he was a little boy, he was thrown in the fire. While he was falling into the fire, angle Jibril alayhissalaam flew to him and asked him, do you need any help? Prophet Ibrahim A.S. replied, from you? No, HasbiyAllahu wa nimal wakeel - (Allah is my availer and protector and the best of aids) - Allah is enough for me. All the prophets depend on Allah alone.

'HasbiyAllahu wa nimal wakeel' is a very powerful dua.

Prophet Daud/David alayhissalaam used to awaken his family to worship Allah at the last 3rd of the night; before Fajr in our time.

Allah subhanahu taala descends to 1st heaven at the 3rd part of the night and asks-Allah asks! Allah asks, is there any Muslim that need anything? I will fulfill his needs. Anyone to repent? I will forgive his sins. Every night! That's why Tahajjud is the most important salah after Fardh salah.

3 types of people:
1) They are doing sins all night; drinking, fornicating, wasting time, etc.
2) They pray Isha and sleep till Fajr; they don't make sins.
3) They pray Isha and they wake up at last part of the night and worship Allah.

7 major sins' explanations continues...

3) Killing without reason

Imam Jahabi r.a. mentions more than hundred major sins. But Prophet Mohamed peace be upon you focus only on the seven major sins. One of these seven would destroy all your good deeds.

The third major sin to talk about today is killing somebody without the proper reason. The philosophy of Islam is very simple and easy just to simply defend yourself. If somebody is trying to kill you then you can defend yourself.

The so-called Kings in Saudi Arabia; they steal the money of the Muslims. They steal the oil and the natural resources that belong to the Muslims in general all over the world. And there is no punishment for them. But if a Muslim from Pakistan or Egypt happen to steal something then they cut his arm in public. This is not justice, this is oppression. 

Killing is of two types: intentional or accidental. The penalty for hitting accidentally is hundred camels which is a lot of money. About 10 years ago a camel used to cost about $3000 to right know it probably cost $5000. So that's basically $500,000, which is the penalty of killing accidentally. 

4) Riba / (bank interests)

Allah declared against 2 types of people in the Quran. 1st type are those who takes Awliya (friends of Allah) as their enemies. 

Waliullah: someone who's fulfilling the Faridah (mandatory duties of Islam) and avoiding major sins. 

Hadith Qudsi: If anybody's gonna be the enemy of my wali, I will declare war against him. 

2nd type are those who involve themselves with Riba / interests. 

Quran: Baqarah: Oh who you believe, fear Allah, get rid of Riba completely. If you will not do, if you will not stop, then Allah will declare war against you. 

7 Major sins Muslims MUST avoid

Famous Hadith: Most people know about it but they do not realize about it; it's very dangerous. Be away from 7 things; 7 Major sins, which if committed by any Muslim, will destroy his deen, his Islam. 


1) Set partner with Allah
2) Magic (learning/practicing)
3) Killing someone innocent without excuse
4) Interest (in Banks; giving/taking)
5) To take the wealth/money of the orphans and to oppress them
6) When you face the Kuffar in war, to turn your face away from them; to show them your back; i.e. to run away from the battlefield
7) To insult and to talk bad about the Honor of your sister in Islam
Though there are more than 100 major sin, these 7 are the most dangerous ones and thus Prophet  mentioned them in the hadith. 


Explanations:


1) Set partner with Allah


> Someone who's seeking from everyone else, not from Allah. 
> Once Hazrat Umar ibn al Khattab R.A. had some dates with him. He felt like worshipping, but didn't have any idles with him. So, he molded the dates to form it into a shape of an idle and he worshipped it. Later when he was hungry because his father didn't give him food, he had to eat that idle of dates; i.e. he ate his god; delicious god. :) May Allah bless Hazrat's soul; he became the 2nd khalifah of Islam and Allah honored him with the 2nd highest status of all people after the prophets. 
> When Abu Zar al Ghaffari R.A. became Muslim, he visited Rasoolullah  and the Prophet asked him, what did the fox do with your god oh Aba Zar? Abu Zar said who told you about it? The fox was urinating on the idle god of Abu Zar. 


2) Magic


> Mostly by women who don't have iman and are upset with everyone. 
> Labid ibn Asim made magic with the hair of Rasoolullah  and hid the kno under the well 'Riwan'. Rasoolullah used to think that he was sleeping with his wives, but in reality, he did not. This was the affect of the magic. Hazrat Jibril alayhissalaam came to Rasoolullah and told Him that someone made magic on you. When asked, He was told where it's hidden. Rasoolullah sent Abbas and Ali R.A. and they retrieved that magic knot. 


Hadith: If any Muslim just goes to a fortune teller to ask him something; he (the Muslim) doesn't believe in the magician, but just is there to ask him something, Allah will not accept his prayers for 40 days! If he believes in him, then he is Kafir!
Hadith: Surtul Baqara Tabhul Batala > Rasoolullah  said, Surah Baqara killing the batil; the magicians and the falsehood. 


Some ways to cure magic: though the whole Quran is blessed, but some ayah are especially revealed to cure magic. 
1) Surah Fatiha 7 times
2) 1st 5 ayah of Surah Baqara
3) Baqara, ayah 102, about the kingdom of Prophet Sulaiman/Solomon alayhissalaam and the devils
4) Surah Baqara: Inna fe khaliqissamawait wal ardi wakhtilafinnar..
5) Ayatul Kursi - the greatest verse of Quran
6) Last for 'Qul's of Quran

Ask for Allah's Mercy, not Justice

How can we be with Abu Bakr R.A. and such high ranking sahabees, i .e. close to Prophet Muhammad ? 

Some of us are hafiz, some of us pray tahajjud, some of us give lot of sadaqah. 

If we love the prophet  and the sahabees R.A. then we will be with them, but our amal will determine how close and levels. 

> How will we enter jannah?

By the rahmah of Allah. 

> Then why do we do all the amal if we'll enter jannah his His mercy?

Level of paradise/jannah will be determined by the good deeds. 

We must make dua that may Allah deal with us with his mercy, not justice; there are 2 stories in this regard.

1) There was an abid from Babi Israel who worshipped Allah for 500 years and he was told, enter by the mercy of Allah. He was like, I worshiped Allah for 500 years and thus I think I can enter jannah with my amal/good deeds. Angels were told to bring only 1 of the countless blessings he is gifted by Allah - his sight; and to place that on 1 side of the scale and place the good deeds of 500 years on the other side of the scale. The weight of sight flung the good deeds towards the sky. Then the abid realized he made a mistake and he asked Allah for forgiveness and begged to enter jannah by the mercy of Allah; not by his justice. 

2) 2 men were accuse of a murder. The innocent person, knowing that he was clean, made dua to Allah that ya Allah, please be just with me. The convict, knowing that Allah is aware that he's the real murderer, made dua to Allah that ya Allah, please have mercy on me. End result was that the convict was freed and the innocent guy was hanged. Reason for this was that the innocent person once killed an ant and since wanted justice, Allah gave him justice; ant's life for his own. On the other hand, Allah loved the convict's plea of mercy, because the convict realized that only Allah can save him despite his sin. 


Hadith:
Ibn Masud R.A. - a man came to Prophet ; what about a man who loves so and so people but their levels in jannah is higher than him. Allah will enter this man with those he loves. 


Quran: (Sura Tur)
Those who believe in the oneness of Allah and their offsprings and they follow them the same way (i.e. faith, religion), Allah will put the children with their parents and the grandparents in jannah in the same level. 
This is totally out of the mercy of Allah. 
> Example: Your dad's on Ferdous al a'la and your levels' in Jannatul Ma'wa (lower). Allah will take you and put you with your dad in Jannatul Ferdous. 


Hadith: 
Abu Zar al Ghaffari R.A. said: ya Rasoolullah , a man loves so and so, but he can't reach them in making good deeds. They have money, they make charity, but I don't have money ya Rasooulullah . They are healthy and full of iman and they came to salatul jamah but I didn't come to salatul jamah; I am busy with certain things; but I love them. 
Prophet Muhammad  said: Aba Zar, you will be with those you love in the same level in paradise inshallah. 
Abu Zar R.A. said: I love Allah and His messenger . (He was very smart and wanted prophet  to say that 'you'll be with me' :) ) 
Prophet  replied: you will be those you love. (Of course Rasoolullah was smarter than him! :)) 
He R.A. said: (again) ya Rasoolullah, I love Allah and him messenger. 
Prophet  said: you will be with those you love. 
Prophet  didn't give him what he wanted, because He doesn't know the unseen. 

Bismillah is the Masterkey of life

Abdullah used to almost always forget to say Bismillah before starting his daily activities, including eating, leaving the house, entering the house, cooking, walking, driving and so on. However, he developed the habit of saying Alhumdulillah for the littlest of things. So, it was as if he was half complete. 


Abdullah happened to befriend a waliullah. Waliullah would always remind Abdullah about Bismillah. Whenever Abdullah would remember, he'd say, 'Bismillah awwaluhu wa aakhiruhu' (I start and end in the name of Allah). 


This waliullah one day told Abdullah that, 'Bismillah is like a key; just like there's a key for your car or house, think of Bismillah as the key for life.' Going out-Bismillah, starting work-Bismillah, going to bed-Bismillah, before eating-Bismillah, meeting your spouse-Bismillah; doing anything good-Bismillah. Everywhere except in the bathroom. 


Abdullah benefited greatly from waliullah's simple words. Having firm faith in Allah and saying Bismillah - in the name of Allah, without a doubt will bring blessings from Allah in life. 


(Abdullah = slave of Allah, i.e. a Muslim
Waliullah = friend of Allah, i.e. someone who obeys Allah)

You will be in Paradise with those you love

Hadith: Anas ibn Malik R.A. was sitting next to Hujur A.S. and remembered that he will be in a different level in jannah and he was crying. Prophet S.A.W. asked him why you are crying? He answered (the difference of level). Prophet S.A.W. said you will be with those you love. Anas R.A. said, I love the messenger of Allah S.A.W., Abu Bakr as Siddiqui R.A. and Umar bin al Khattab R.A.

(Anas ibn Malik R.A. died at 120 years of age. His mom asked prophet S.A.W. - Allah give him barakah in his life, children and wealth. Saw more than 120 of his children and grand children. Taught the 1st gen of tabeyyin because of the dua. )

Hadith 2: A bedouin asked the prophet S.A.W. when is the hour? He (S.A.W.) said what did you prepare for it? He said-nothing, but I love Allah and his messenger.
> This isn't good enough if he doesn't pray or give jakah or fast and rest of the duties of Islam.

Hadith 3: Prophet S.A.W. asked Harisa how are you today. He (R.A.) replied I am full of iman today. Prophet S.A.S. said prove it to me. He said I woke up as if I see the throne of Allah in front of my eyes,  as if I see the people of the hellfire in severe punishment, crying; as if I see the people of jannah, mashallah they are so happy; the dirt of this duniya is nothing to me. Prophet S.A.S. said you have full of iman and what you just told me, stick with it. Prophet S.A.W. then called the sahabees and told them if you want to see someone amongst you with full of iman form hair to toe, look at Harisa R.A. Harisa R.A. became a shaheed in the Battle of Badr - This was a final proof of his iman.

_____________________________________________________________
R.A. = Radiyallahu Anh = Allah is happy with him
S.A.W. = Sallallahu Alayhi Wassalaam = May the blessings and the peace of Allah be upon him (usually exclusively for Prophet Muhammad S.A.W.)

Love for the Sake of Allah

Battle of Badr:

Abu Jahal had servants while fighting; he had a big body; was one of the biggest people in the battle . Two boys asked Abdur Rahman al Auff, where's Abu Jahal.

Why are you asking about him?

Because he used to hurt Rasoolullah sallallahu alayhissalaam.

Go away.

As soon as they were shown Abu Jahal, both of them ran/flew to Abu Jahal. One of them struck 1 leg and the other one struck the 2nd leg.

Now Abdullah ibn Masood (R.A.) saw Abu Jahal. With his bad sword, he jumped on his chest, stood up on his chest. He was a slave in Makkah. Abu jahal was exhausted in pain but couldn't move.

Abu Jahal, still arrogant and without iman said, you are standing on a very honored place (i.e. my chest; the chest of the leader of kuffar of Makkah), oh you 'small' sheppard. Abdullah ibn Masood (R.A.) used his bad knife to cut Abu Jahal's ear, (because Abu Jahal cut his ear while he dared to do tawaf around the Kaabah) but it wasn't cutting smoothly Jahal told him that take my sword and cut my ear, you are hurting me! lol. Then he took his sword and killed him.

ibn Masood severed the head of Abu Jahal and carried to Hujur alayhissalam; he was tired on the way and had to rest.

Hujur alayhissalaam said upon seeing the head of the head of kuffar, Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar, this is the Pharoa of this ummah. 

Prophet Muhammad (S.A.S.) made dua in the past for these two Umars (Jahal and Al Khattab) but only Al Khattab (R.A.) got hidaya and Jahal went to hell.

Topic shift

Love somebody for the sake of Allah, not for the money he's giving you.

Part of Iman is to love for sake of Allah. 

Hadith: 

Hujur alayhissalaam said (something like this), if two men love each other for the sake of Allah, and amongst them, the one who's loving the other more, Allah loves him/her more. Allah's judging you the way you carry out your action. 

Uddh > love. Mawaddatan wa rahmah.

For those who believe in Allah and follow with righteous good deeds, they will get Uddh from Allah.

Uddh = Love + kindness.

Love: someone may love you today, but not tomorrow, they'll stop.

Love + Kindness from Allah. This is between you and your wife.

Mawaddah is more than love. 

When Allah loves someone, He calls Jibril a.s. that oh Jibril, I love so and so, love him. Jibril alayhissalaam will call other angels and other creation of Allah that Allah and Jibril love so and so, so love him/her.

Hadith:

A man died and janaaza passed by Rasoolullah sallallahu slayhissalaam and He said that this is someone who's comfortable or people will be comfortable from him. Mu'min will be comfortable when he dies, but everyone around a kaafir will be comfortable upon his death.

Lesson: start loving other Muslims for the sake of Allah. They are part of our own big happy family, our ummah. 

Update your Iman

Bismillah.
Back in the days of Sahaabees, those (men) who did not attend the Jamaa' for Salah, they used to be called the Munaafiqoon.

Hadith: If the munaafiqoon knew the ajar/reward of praying Isha and Fajr in Jamaa', they'd craw to the masjid.

Smart businessman: Pray Isha with Jamaa', get reward for half of the night; as if you are standing and praying. Pray Fajr with Jamaa', get reward for the 2nd half of the night. So, pray both Isha and Fajr with Jamaah, and get the Ajar for praying all night long. Since we sleep half of our life, we could really take advantage of this hadith and get countless Ajar inshallah.

Update your iman: Every time you go to masjid, update your iman. Every time you pray or recite or give sadaqah or any other (good) deeds, update your iman. You may have been coming to masjid last several months for the sake of Allah, but recently, you are coming to the masjid to cause fitnah, or to fight with someone or any other evil intentions. All intentions should be done only to please Allah. 


If we continue to update our iman, when Jibraeel alayhissalaam (angel of death) comes to take our rooh (soul), our iman will be fresh inshallah.