Just imagine if you were in this situation

In the name of Allah, the Most-Merciful, the All-Compassionate

"We have sent down to you a Book ( The Holy Qur'an) containing your message. Do you not understand?" (Qur’an 21:10)


Bismillah Walhamdulillah Was Salaatu Was Salaam 'ala Rasulillah

As-Salaam Alaikum Wa-Rahmatullahi Wa-Barakatuhu




Just imagine if you were in this situation !!!



Praise be to Allaah


Brothers and Sisters, all of us know the story of Ibrahim's (pbuh) sacrifice and we say that it was a test by Allah (ta'ala). But do we really understand what Ibrahim(pbuh) went through? Do we appreciate what it was like to be Ibrahim (pbuh)? Can we grasp in thought what happened? Why is it that we regard Ibrahim(pbuh) as the father of faith? What was it that he achieved?



It is not possible to convey in words what it must have meant for Ibrahim (pbuh) to be commanded by Allah (ta'ala) to sacrifice his only son Ismail (pbuh) . The magnitude of the pain does not allow the imagination to enclose it. It inspires fear and trembling.



How can Ibrahim (pbuh) take his beloved son, the fruit of his life, the joy of his heart, the meaning of his living and staying, his Ismail (pbuh), and hold him on the ground, put a knife to his throat and kill him?



If it were only the slaughter of Ibrahim (pbuh) at the hand of Ismail (pbuh) how easy! But no! The young Ismail (pbuh) must die and the old and aged Ibrahim (pbuh) must remain!



Ibrahim (pbuh) , the steel-like idol-smasher must have felt torn apart!



Within him, there must have been a war, the greatest jihad. Which war? The war between God and Ismail (pbuh) ! The difficulty of choice!



Who should Ibrahim (pbuh) choose?


Love of God or Love of self?


Prophet Hood or Fatherhood?


Loyalty to God or loyalty to family?


Faith or Emotion?


Truth or Reality?


Consciousness or Instinct?


Responsibility or Pleasure?


Duty or Right?


Tawheed (Monotheism) or Shirk (Polytheism) ?


Advancing or Remaining?


To Become or To Be?


And finally, God or Ismail (pbuh) ?


What should Ibrahim (pbuh) choose?



Brothers and Sisters, he did not choose immediately. He doubted and wavered under the crushing force of pain and anguish.



Only after the third vision did he finally decide to carry out Allah's command. This is reflected in the hajj ritual of stoning the three idols representing Iblis who tempted Ibrahim(pbuh) to disobey Allah.



Iblis works wherever he finds traces of fear, weakness, doubt, despair, envy selfishness and even great affection towards someone or something. Iblis sometimes blows logical reasons, intellectual and religious justifications to achieve his ends.



For instance we may imagine that, under the powerful crush of his pain and distress, Ibrahim (pbuh) could have used many justifications. Perhaps the meaning of dhebh (slaughter) is just metaphorical and means kill your `ego'. Perhaps `Ismail' might be a general noun and not Ibrahim's son. Perhaps ``slaughter Ismail'' actually means ``slaughter the love of Ismail''. Ibrahim (pbuh) could have also tried many interpretations of his vision.



But Ibrahim (pbuh) , khalil-ul-Allah, the intimate friend of God, had faith in Allah and he knew that Allah (ta'ala) demanded the sacrifice.



Ibrahim (pbuh) chose Allah (ta'ala) and gave up Ismail (pbuh).



An amazing and frightening conversation between a father and a son in mina



Ibrahim (pbuh) said to Ismail (pbuh): "O my Son, I see in a vision that I offer you in sacrifice. Now see what is your view? "(37:102)



What frightening words for a child to hear!



Ismail(pbuh) could have kept silent. He could have asked Ibrahim (pbuh) to refrain.



But Ismail (pbuh) had also faith. He submitted to Allah's will. Realizing his father's distress, Ismail (pbuh) gave him these comforting words: "O my father! Do as you are commanded. You will find me, if Allah so wills, patient and constant "(37:102)



Allah-u-Akbar! Allah-u-Akbar! Allah-u-Akbar!



Ibrahim (pbuh) had consulted his son who willingly offered himself to Allah's command. The choice of Ibrahim (pbuh) was sacrifice. That of Ismail (pbuh) was self-sacrifice: Martyrdom.



This gave Ibrahim (pbuh) strength. Ibrahim (pbuh) tied his heart to God, he took the Ismail (pbuh) of his life in one hand and the knife of his faith in the other and he walked until he reached the place of sacrifice. Ibrahim (pbuh) was suffering while believing and at every moment it was possible for him to retract and turn back. Yet he laid Ismail (pbuh) on the ground, putting his face away from him to give strength to his crushed soul and paralyzed hand. And so he slaughtered Ismail (pbuh) . But, by Allah's grace, the knife did not cut.



Ibrahim (pbuh) received a sheep and was called by Allah:

"O Ibrahim ! You have confirmed the Vision Thus indeed do We reward those who do right This is indeed the manifest trial!" (37:104-105)



Allah-u-Akbar! Allah-u-Akbar! Allah-u-Akbar!



Brothers and Sisters, Ibrahim (pbuh) gained everything and kept Ismail (pbuh) . And, symbolically, the only bloodshed in this story is the blood of Iblis.



Brothers and Sisters, this means that from the very beginning Allah (ta`ala) did not want Ismail (pbuh) to be slaughtered. He wanted Ibrahim (pbuh) to be the slaughterer of Ismail (pbuh). When he became so, the slaughter became useless.





Mankind has needs but God has no needs. He is Self-Sufficient. Allah (ta`ala) in His Wisdom raised Ibrahim (pbuh) to the highest peak of sacrificing his Ismail (pbuh) without sacrificing Ismail (pbuh). Allah (ta`ala) promoted Ismail (pbuh) to the highest peak of being the great sacrifice of God without bringing any harm to him.



Brothers and Sisters, the Ismail of Ibrahim was his son. But you, who is your Ismail? What is it?



Your degree? Your reputation? Your position? Your money? Your home? Your car? Your beloved? Your family? Your knowledge? Your title? Your dress? Your fame? Your soul? Your spirituality? Your Beauty? Your strength? Your career?



How does one know?



Well, you know this yourself. One can only give its signs to you.



Whatever is in your eyes which holds the place of Ismail (pbuh) in the eyes of Ibrahim (pbuh) !



Whatever weakens you on the way of faith!



Whatever stops you in your movement!



Whatever brings doubt to your responsibility!



Whatever has enchained your freedom!



Whatever leads you to compromise and justification!



That very thing which deafens your ears before the Message of Truth!



Whatever calls you to remain with yourself!



Whatever causes you to flee from your duty!



Whoever or Whatever keeps you behind in order to remain with her/him or it!



Brothers and Sisters, these are the signs of our Ismail's. Let us search for them in ourselves and let us slaughter them to move towards Allah (ta'ala) and to remove the real knife from the throat of oppressed Muslims . Let us revolt against the heartless worshippers that we have become.





Brothers and Sisters, there still is a lot to understand and discover about this momentous event. These are only a few possible meanings.


When a `truth' enhances one's earthly life, most people become seekers of truth. But when a truth opposes life and leads to problems, loss and dangers the seekers of truth are few in number.


Richness does not lie in the abundance of (worldly) goods but richness is the richness of the soul (heart, self).

[Sahih al-Bukhari, Muslim 5:2287]



This event is not about the torment and torture of mankind but about the perfection of humanity, the freedom from the prison of instinct and selfishness and about the elevation of spirit.





And Allah Knows Best

Islam not a religion of equality, but of justice

There are some people who speak of equality instead of justice, and this is a mistake. We should not say equality, because equality implies no differentiation between the two.

Because of this unjust call for equality, they ask, “What is the difference between male and female?” So they have made men similar to women. The communists said, “What difference is there between the ruler and the subject? No one has any authority over anyone else.” Not even the father over his son?! So they said the father has no authority over his son and so on.

Instead, if we say justice, which means giving each one what he or she is entitled, this misunderstanding no longer applies, and the word used is correct. Allah does not say in the Qur’an that He enjoins equality. He said (interpretation of the meaning):

“Verily, Allah enjoins Al?‘Adl (i.e. justice)” (Qur’an, 16:90)

“And that when you judge between men, you judge with justice.” (Qur’an, 4:58)

Those who say that Islam is the religion of equality are lying against Islam. Rather Islam is the religion of justice, which means treating equally those who are equal and differentiating between those who are different.

No one who knows the religion of Islam would say that it is the religion of equality. Rather what shows you that this principle is false is the fact that most of what is mentioned in the Qur’an denies equality, as in the following verses:

“Say: Are those who know equal to those who know not?” (Qur’an, 39:9)

“Say: Is the blind equal to the one who sees? Or darkness equal to light?” (Qur’an, 13:16)

“Not equal among you are those who spent and fought before the conquering (of Makkah, with those among you who did so later.” (Qur’an, 57:10)

“Not equal are those of the believers who sit (at home), except those who are disabled (by injury or are blind or lame), and those who strive hard and fight in the Cause of Allah with their wealth and their lives.” (Qur’an, 4:95)

Not one single letter in the Qur’an enjoins equality, rather it enjoins justice.

You will also find that the word justice is acceptable to people, for I feel that if I am better than this man in terms of knowledge, or wealth, or piety, or in doing good, I would not like for him to be equal to me.

Everyone knows that it is unacceptable if we say that the male is equal to the female.

- By Sheikh Muhammad Bin Saleh Al-Uthaymeen

- Sharh Al-Aqeedah Al-Wasitah, 1/180-181

Permission is granted to circulate among private individuals and groups, to post on Internet sites and to publish in full text and subject title in not-for-profit publications.

Advice On Dealing With Anger

In the name of Allah, the Most-Merciful, the All-Compassionate

"May the Peace and Blessings of Allah be Upon You"

Praise be to Allaah, we seek His help and His forgiveness. We seek refuge with Allaah from the evil of our own souls and from our bad deeds. Whomsoever Allaah guides will never be led astray, and whomsoever Allaah leaves astray, no one can guide. I bear witness that there is no god but Allaah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

Bismillah Walhamdulillah Was Salaatu Was Salaam 'ala Rasulillah

As-Salaam Alaikum Wa-Rahmatullahi Wa-Barakatuhu

Advice On Dealing With Anger

Anger is one of the evil whispers of Shaytan, which leads to so many evils and tragedies, of which only Allah knows their full extent. For this reason Islam has a great deal to say about this bad characteristic, and the Prophet (saws) described cures for this “disease” and ways to limit its effects, among which are the following:



(1) Seeking refuge with Allaah from the Shaytaan:


Sulayman ibn Sard said: “I was sitting with the Prophet (saws), and two men were slandering one another. One of them was red in the face, and the veins on his neck were standing out.
The Prophet (saws) said, I know a word which, if he were to say it, what he feels would go away. If he said “I seek refuge with Allaah from the Shaytan,” what he feels (i.e., his anger) would go away.’”
(Reported by al-Bukhari, al-Fath, 6/337)

The Prophet (saws) said: “If a man gets angry and says, I seek refuge with Allaah, his anger will go away.” (Saheeh al-Jaami‘ al-Sagheer, no. 695)



(2) Keeping silent

The Messenger of Allaah (saws) said: “If any of you becomes angry, let him keep silent.” (Reported by Imam Ahmad, al-Musnad, 1/329; see also Sahih al-Jaami, 693, 4027)

This is because in most cases, the angry person loses self control and could utter words of kufr (from which we seek refuge with Allaah), or curses, or the word of divorce (talaaq) which would destroy his home, or words of slander which would bring him the enmity and hatred of others. So, in short, keeping silent is the solution which helps one to avoid all that.



(3) Not moving


The Messenger of Allaah (saws) said: “If any of you becomes angry and he is standing, let him sit down, so his anger will go away; if it does not go away, let him lie down.”


Among the benefits of this advice given by the Prophet (saws) is the fact that it prevents the angry person from going out of control, because he could strike out and injure someone, or even kill - as we will find out shortly - or he could destroy possessions and so on. Sitting down makes it less likely that he will become overexcited, and lying down makes it even less likely that he will do something crazy or harmful.

Al-Allaamah al-Khattaabi, may Allaah have mercy on him, said in his commentary on Aboo Daawood: “One who is standing is in a position to strike and destroy, while the one who is sitting is less likely to do that, and the one who is lying down can do neither. It is possible that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) told the angry person to sit down or lie down so that he would not do something that he would later regret.”(Sunan Abee Daawood, with Maaalim al-Sunan, 5/141)



(4) Following the advice of the Prophet (saws):


Abu Hurayrah, may Alalah be pleased with him, reported that a man said to the Prophet (saws), “Advise me.” He said, “Do not become angry.”
The man repeated his request several times, and each time the Prophet (saws) told him, “Do not become angry.”
(Reported by al-Bukhari, Fath al-Baaree, 10/456)

According to another report, the man said: “I thought about what the Prophet (saws) said, and I realized that anger combines all kinds of evil.”(Musnad Ahmad, 5/373)



(5) Do not become angry and Paradise will be yours

(a saheeh hadeeth, see Saheeh al-Jaam, 7374. Ibn Hajr attributed it to al-Tabaraanee, see al-Fath 4/465):

Remembering what Allaah has promised to the righteous (muttaqeen) who keep away from the causes of anger and struggle within themselves to control it, is one of the most effective ways of extinguishing the flames of anger.

One of the ahaadeeth that describe the great reward for doing this is: “Whoever controls his anger at the time when he has the means to act upon it, Allaah will fill his heart with contentment on the Day of Resurrection.”
(Reported by al-Tabaraanee, 12/453, see also Sahih al-Jaami‘, 6518)


Another great reward is described in the Prophets (saws) words: “Whoever controls his anger at the time when he has the means to act upon it, Allaah will call him before all of mankind on the Day of Resurrection, and will let him choose of the Hoor al-‘Ayn whoever he wants.”
(Reported by Aboo Daawood, 4777, and others. It is classified as hasan in Sahih al-Jaami‘, 6518).



(6) Knowing the high status and advantages offered to those who control themselves:


The Messenger of Allaah (saws) said: “The strong man is not the one who can overpower others (in wrestling); rather, the strong man is the one who controls himself when he gets angry.”
(Reported by Ahmad, 2/236; the hadeeth is agreed upon) .


The greater the anger, the higher the status of the one who controls himself. The Prophet (saws) said: “The strongest man is the one who, when he gets angry and his face reddens and his hackles rise, is able to defeat his anger.”
(Reported by Imam Ahmad, 5/367, and classified as hasan in Saheeh al-Jaami‘, 3859)


Anas reported that the Prophet (saws) passed by some people who were wrestling. He asked, “What is this?” They said: “So-and-so is the strongest, he can beat anybody.” The Prophet (saws) said, “Shall I not tell you who is even stronger then him?
The man who, when he is mistreated by another, controls his anger, has defeated his own Shaytan and the Shaytan of the one who made him angry.”(Reported by al-Bazzaar, and Ibn Hajr said its isnaad is saheeh. Al-Fath, 10/519)




(7) Following the Prophet’s (saws) example in the case of anger


The Prophet (saws) is our leader and has set the highest example in this matter, as is recorded in a number of ahaadeeth.

One of the most famous was reported by Anas, may Allaah be pleased with him, who said: “I was walking with the Messenger of Allaah (saws), and he was wearing a Najraanee cloak with a rough collar. A Bedouin came and seized him roughly by the edge of his cloak, and I saw the marks left on his neck by the collar. Then the Bedouin ordered him to give him some of the wealth of Allaah that he had. The Prophet (saws) turned to him and smiled, then ordered that he should be given something.”
(Agreed upon. Fath al-Baaree, 10/375)

Another way in which we can follow the example of the Prophet (saws) is by making our anger for the sake of Allah, when His rights are violated. This is the kind of anger which is praiseworthy. So the Prophet (saws) became angry when he was told about the imam who was putting people off the prayer by making it too long; when he saw a curtain with pictures of animate creatures in Aaishahs house; when Usaamah spoke to him about the Makhzoomee woman who had been convicted of theft, and he said “Do you seek to intervene concerning one of the punishments prescribed by Allah?”; when he was asked questions that he disliked, and so on. His anger was purely for the sake of Allaah.



(8) Knowing that resisting anger is one of the signs of righteousness (taqwaa)


The righteous (al-muttaqoon) are those praised by Allaah in the Quraan and by His Messenger (saws). Paradise as wide as heaven and earth has been prepared for them.

One of their characteristics is that they (interpretation of the meaning) “spend (in Allaahs Cause) in prosperity and in adversity, [they] repress anger, and [they] pardon men; verily, Allaah loves al-muhsinoon (the good-doers).” [Aal Imraan 3:134]


These are the ones whose good character and beautiful attributes and deeds Allaah has mentioned, and whom people admire and want to emulate. One of their characteristics is that (interpretation of the meaning) “. . . when they are angry, they forgive.” [al-Shooraa 42:47]




(9) Listening to reminders:


Anger is a part of human nature, and people vary in their anger. It may be difficult for a man not to get angry, but sincere people will remember Allaah when they are reminded, and they will not overstep the mark.

Some examples follow:

Ibn Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported that a man sought permission to speak to Umar ibn al-Khattaab (may Allaah be pleased with him), then he said: “O son of al-Khattaab, you are not giving us much and you are not judging fairly between us.” Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) was so angry that he was about to attack the man, but al-Hurr ibn Qays, who was one of those present, said: “O Ameer al-Mu’mineen, Allaah said to His Prophet (saws) (interpretation of the meaning): ‘Show forgiveness, enjoin what is good, and turn away from the foolish’ [al-Araaf 7:199].

This man is one of the foolish.” By Allaah, Umar could go no further after al-Hurr had recited this aayah to him, and he was a man who was careful to adhere to the Book of Allaah.
(Reported by al-Bukhari, al-Fath, 4/304).



This is how the Muslim should be. The evil munaafiq (hypocrite) was not like this when he was told the hadeeth of the Prophet (saws) and one of the Companions said to him, “Seek refuge with Allaah from the Shaytaan.”



(10) Knowing the bad effects of anger


The negative effects of anger are many; in short they cause damage to ones own self and to others. The angry person may utter words of slander and obscenity, he may attack others (physically) in an uncontrolled manner, even to the point of killing. The following story contains a valuable lesson:

Ilqimah ibn Waail reported that his father (may Allaah be pleased with him) told him: “I was sitting with the Prophet (saws) when a man came to him leading another man by a rope. He said, O Messenger of Allaah, this man killed my brother.
The Messenger of Allaah (saws) asked him, Did you kill him?
He said, Yes, I killed him.
He asked, How did you kill him?
He said, He and I were hitting a tree to make the leaves fall, for animal feed, and he slandered me, so I struck him on the side of the head with an axe, and killed him.’ . . .”
(Reported by Muslim, 1307, edited by al-Baaqi).


Anger could lead to less than killing, such as wounding and breaking bones. If the one who caused the anger runs away, the angry person turns his anger in on himself, so he may tear his clothes, or strike his cheeks, or have a fit, or fall unconscious, or he may break dishes and plates, or break furniture.


In the worst cases, anger results in social disasters and the breaking of family ties, i.e., divorce. Ask many of those who divorced their wives, and they will tell you: it was in a moment of anger. This divorce results in misery for the children, regret and frustration, a hard and difficult life, all as a result of anger. If they had remembered Allaah, come to their senses, restrained their anger and sought refuge with Allah, none of this would have happened. Going against the Shariah only results in loss.


The damage to health that results from anger can only be described by doctors, such as thrombosis, high blood pressure, tachycardia (abnormally rapid heartbeat) and hyperventilation (rapid, shallow breathing), which can lead to fatal heart attacks, diabetes, etc. We ask Allaah for good health.



(11) The angry person should think about himself during moments of anger


If the angry person could see himself in the mirror when he is angry, he would hate himself and the way he looks. If he could see the way he changes, and the way his body and limbs shake, how his eyes glare and how out of control and crazy his behaviour is, he would despise himself and be revolted by his own appearance.

It is well-known that inner ugliness is even worse than outer ugliness; how happy the Shaytan must be when a person is in this state! We seek refuge with Allaah from the Shaytaan and from failure.

Permission is granted to circulate among private individuals and groups, to post on Internet sites and to publish in full text and subject title in not-for-profit publications.

Have you ever thought

In the name of Allah, the Most-Merciful, the All-Compassionate

“O you who believe! Fear Allâh (by doing all that He has ordered and by abstaining from all that He has forbidden) as He should be feared. [Obey Him, be thankful to Him, and remember Him always], and die not except in a state of Islâm (as Muslims) with complete submission to Allâh.” (Aali Imran 3:102

Bismillah Walhamdulillah Was Salaatu Was Salaam 'ala Rasulillah

As-Salaam Alaikum Wa-Rahmatullahi Wa-Barakatuhu

Praise Be To Allah

Have you ever thought about the fact that you did not exist before you were conceived and then born into the world and that you have come into existence from mere nothingness?

Have you ever thought about how the flowers you see in your living room everyday come out of pitch black, muddy soil with fragrant smells and are as colourful as they are?

Have you ever thought about how mosquitoes, which irritatingly fly around you, move their wings so fast that we are unable to see them?

Have you ever thought about how the peels of fruits such as bananas, watermelons, melons and oranges serve as wrappings of high quality, and how the fruits are packed in these wrappings so that they maintain their taste and fragrance?

Have you ever thought about the possibility that while you are asleep a sudden earthquake could raze your home, your office, and your city to the ground and that in a few seconds you could lose everything of the world you possess?

Have you ever thought of how your life passes away very quickly, and that you will grow old and become weak, and slowly lose your beauty, health and strength?

Have you ever thought about how one day you will find the angels of death appointed by Allah (God Almightly) before you and that you will then leave this world?

Well, have you ever thought about why people are so attached to a world from which they will soon depart when what they basically need is to strive for the hereafter?

Man is a being whom Allah furnishes with the faculty of thought. Yet, most people do not use this very important faculty as they should. In fact, some people almost never think.

In truth, each person possesses a capacity for thought of which even he himself is unaware. Once man begins to use this capacity, facts he has not been able to realise until that very moment begin to be uncovered for him. The deeper he goes in reflection, the more his capacity to think improves, and this is possible for everyone. One just has to realise that one needs to reflect and then to strive hard.

"Have they not reflected within themselves? Allah did not create the heavens and the earth and everything between them except with truth and for a fixed term. Yet many people reject the meeting with their Lord." (Surat ar-Rum: 8)

Someone who does not think will remain totally distant from truths and lead his life in self-deception and error. As a result, he will not grasp the purpose of the creation of the world, and the reason for his existence on the earth. Yet, Allah has created everything with a purpose. This fact is stated in the Qur'an as follows.

We did not create the heavens and the earth and everything between them as a game. We did not create them except with truth but most of them do not know it. (Surat ad-Dukhan: 38-39)

Did you suppose that We created you for amusement and that you would not return to Us? (Surat al-Muminun: 115)

Therefore, each person needs to ponder the purpose of creation, first as it concerns him himself, and then as it pertains to everything he sees in the universe and every event he experiences throughout his life. Someone who does not think, will understand the facts only after he dies, when he gives account before Allah, but then it will be too late. Allah says in the Qur'an that on the day of account, everybody will think and see the truth:

That day Hell is produced, that day man will remember; but how will the remembrance help him?

He will say, "Oh! If only I had prepared in advance for this life of mine!" (Surat al-Fajr: 23-24)

While Allah has given us a chance in the life of this world to reflect and derive conclusions from our reflections, to see the truth will bring us great gain in our life in the hereafter. For this reason, Allah has summoned all people, through His prophets and books, to reflect on their creation and on the creation of the universe.

And Allah Knows Best

The Prophet (PBUH) said "Pass on knowledge from me even if it is only one verse"

MAY ALLAH GUIDE US ALL TO THE STRAIGHT PATH