HEALING THE WEAK EEMAAN (FAITH)

Thinking about and trying to understand meanings of the Glorious Quran, which Allah has sent down for His slaves to clarify all things and as a Light that He gives to whom He wills among His slaves.

Indeed, the Quran contains tremendous medicine for all ills of the heart, as Allah [az] said, "And We sent down from the Quran that which is a healing and a mercy to those who believe (in Islamic Monotheism)." (Al-Qur’an: 17:82)

The Quran contains Islamic Monotheism; Allah’s promises, warnings and Commandments; stores of previous nations; and codes of the best conduct and behaviour. These various subjects in the Quran have different effects on the heart. Some Soorahs (chapters) of the Qur’aan are more frightening than others.

The Prophet’s Reaction When Reciting the Qur’aan

The Messenger of Allah said, what translated means, "Hood (Al-Qur’aan: Chapter 11) and its sisters (Al-Qur’aan: Chapters 56, 77, 78 and 81) have brought me white hairs before their due time." (As-Silsilah As-Sahihah). The Chapter Hood and its sisters brought white hairs to the Messenger of Allah because of what they contain of matters of eemaan [faith]. These Soorahs [chapters], and the rest of the Quran, showed their effect on the Messenger of Allah and his companions, exactly as they were ordered in the Quran, "So stand (ask Allah to make) you (Muhammad) firm and straight (on the religion of Islamic Monotheism) as you are commanded and those (your companions) who turn in repentance (unto Allah) with you." (Al-Qur’aan: 11:112)

The Companions’ Reaction When Reciting the Qur’aan

The Companions would also be deeply moved with emotions when they recited the Qur’aan. Abu Bakr, for example, who was a soft-hearted man, used to cry while reciting the Qur’aan when leading Muslims in prayer. Once, 'Umar became ill as a result of his reciting the verse, "Verily, the Torment of your Lord will surely come to pass. There is none that can avert it." (Al-Qur’aan: 2:7-8)

On another occasion, U’mar wept when he was reciting the verse, "I (Prophet Jacob) only complain of my grief and sorrow to Allah." (Al-Qur’aan: 12:86), and he was clearly heard by those who were standing behind him.

Furthermore, Uthman ibn `Affan said,

"If our hearts were pure, they will never have enough from reciting Allah’s Speech (the Quran)."

The Reaction Of the Later Generations When Reciting the Qur’aan

As for later generations, Ayyoob said, "I heard Sa`d ibn Jubayr recite the Ayah, "And be afraid of a Day when you shall be brought back to Allah." (Al-Qur’aan: 2:281), repeating it more than twenty times." This is the last Ayah that was revealed to the Messenger of Allah, and it ends with, "Then every person shall be paid what he earned, and they shall not be dealt with unjustly." (Al-Qur’aan: 2:281)

Also, Ibrahim ibn Bashar said, "If you could but see where they will be held over the (Hell) Fire! They will say, 'Would that we were but sent back (to the world)." (Al-Qur’aan: 6:27), was the Ayah that Ali ibn al-Fudhayl died while reciting. I was among those who prayed the Janazah (funeral) prayer on him, may Allah grant him His Mercy."

Furthermore, when our Salaf [predecessors] would reach a portion of the Qur’aan where Sujood (bowing down) is warranted, they treated this incident different than ordinary people. A man once recited, "And they fall down on their faces weeping and it adds to their humility." (Al-Qur’aan: 17:109), and then fell in Sujood. Then, he said to himself,

"Here you are, you do the Sujood, so where is the crying?"

Ibn Al-Qayyim said with regards to what one should do to cure his weak emaan using the Quran,

"First you should remove your heart from the life of this world and settle it in the Next Life. Then, pay your full attention to pursuing the meanings of the Qur’aan, and try to comprehend and understand them and what they were sent down to accomplish. Then, offer these meanings to the sickness that your heart feels, and when they touch the disease, they will cure the heart, Allah willing."

Drench Your Heart and Tongue with Zikr

As Muslims, all we need to do is to follow a simple way which will enable us to have a successful life. It is known as Zikr which is a practice with our heart and

tongue to remember Allah in everything we do. It can also be known as a practice to fill our hearts with the remembrance of Allah. Once we start this practice, we will soon find how things change on our way from negative to positive. We will be sad thinking of our past life for missing this practice of Zikr. So let's have a look on this practice to know about it better.

Opinions based on Zikr

There are two main opinions based on Zikr:

1. Feeling the prescence of Allah as a form of Zikr:

This means, Remembering Allah in everything we do. This happens because we always feel that Allah is so close to us and this includes everything like: glorifying, praising, repenting, supplicating, thanking etc.

2. Quran recital as a form of Zikr:

It's a common thing to see that most of us carry Quran as a mode to remember Allah often. We used to have a copy with us so that we can read whenever we get a time with the aim of remembering Allah through it. It is also considered to be an effective way for we can fully focus on remembering Allah without paying attention to anything else.

Types of Zikr

There are 3 ways to perform Zikr:

1. Orally: Performing Zikr with tongue. For Example: Reciting Quran, Uttering Duas.

2. Silently: Performing Zikr by heart. For Example: Repenting, Contemplating on the creations of Allah.

3. Practically: Performing Zikr with obedient actions. For Example: Fasting, Offering Salah.

Importance of Zikr

1. Closeness to Allah:

Allah is always near to those who are with Zikr. He is proud of them and praises them in the gathering of the angels. Verily, those who attain the closeness to Allah are successful in this world and the hereafter as well.

Abu Huraira (R.A) narrated that Rasoolullah (SAWS) said, “Allah (SWT) says I am closer to my slave than his supposition of which he keeps of me. And when he/her does Zikr of Allah, I am with him/her. If he does Zikr in his heart, I do his Zikr near MY proximity (closeness) and if he does Zikr in a gathering, I mention him in a gathering (better) than it.[Bukhari]

2. The best of deeds:

Zikr is the gateway to lead us towards goodness. Remembering Allah will never lead us astray and it always guides us to the right. That's why it is known to be the best of deeds.

"And remembrance of Allah is the greatest (thing in life) without doubt." [29:45] 

Muhammad (SAWS) would often tell his companions, "Shall I tell you about the best of deeds, the most pure in the Sight of your Lord, about the one that is of the highest order and is far better for you than spending gold and silver, even better for you than meeting your enemies in the battlefield where you strike at their necks and they at yours?" The companions replied, "Yes, O Messenger of Allah!" Muhammad (SAWS) said, "Remembrance of Allah." [Tirmidhi]

3. Gardens of Paradise:

Rasoolullah defined the gatherings of Zikr as the Gardens of Paradise because Zikr is sweet to those who are used to it and it gives a twitch of eternal bliss in advance.

Anas (R.A) narrated that Rasoolullah (SAWS) said, “When you pass by gardens of paradise, eat fruits of them. The Sahaba said, “What are the gardens of Paradise?” He said, “The gatherings of Zikr.” [Tirmidhi]

Benefits of engaging in Zikr

1. You will be successful:

If your heart is filled with the remembrance of Allah, then you are successful indeed. You will always have a focus in your life and it will let you know what to be done, and what to be avoided which is a highly outlined character of a successful person.

"Stand firm and remember Allah much that you may be successful." [8:45]

2. You will find peace within you:

Minds with the remembrance of Allah will never be disturbed for they are always away from sins and unnecessary things. No matter whatever happens as they are steadfast in their faith and it will help them to praise Allah than before.

"Who have believed and whose hearts have rest in the remembrance of Allah. Verily in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest!" [13:28]

3. You will be forgiven and greatly rewarded:

Allah will be much pleased with the ones those who remember Him, and He will forgive them and bless them with great rewards.

"And the men who remember Allah often and the women who do so - for them Allah has prepared forgiveness and a great reward." [33:35]

4. You will be covered with Allah's Mercy:

Allah never fails to shower His Mercy for the ones those who remember Him. He will let the angels to surround them so they will feel tranquility overpowering them.

"When any group of men remember Allah, angels surround them and mercy covers them, tranquility descends upon them, and Allah mentions them to those who are with Him." [Muslim]

5. You will be surrounded with Angels:

Whenever you join a gathering where Allah is remembered, Angels will encircle you and the people around you.

Abu Huraira (R.A) narrated that Rasoolullah (SAWS) said, “The angels look for those who do Zikr of Allah on the paths. When they find those who are doing Zikr of Allah, then they call each other, “Come, your desired has been found.” Then those angels cover those are doing Zikr of Allah up to the skies of this world with their wings. [Bukhari]

6. Your heart will be softned:

Those who fear Allah and remember Him, they will be soft at heart. There will be politeness in their speech, friendliness in their gesture, generosity in their hearts and moderate in their pace.

"Then their skin and their heart soften to the remembrance of Allah." [39:23]

7. You will be blessed with lasting happiness:

We all know that this life is temporary and we have come here to harvest for the hereafter. Those who remember Allah often have this in mind and they never feel sad for they knew that this mundane life has no value. So they are happy in remembering Allah, no matter whatever that come across and the happiness will last forever.

"Lasting happiness will be for those who purify themselves, remember the name of the Lord, and pray to Him." [87:14,15]

Drawbacks of not performing Zikr

1. You will be among the losers:

Those who fail to remember Allah are real losers. They gain nothing in this world because of doing for the sake of others and they have nothing left in the hereafter as well.

"O you who have believed, let not your wealth and your children divert you from remembrance of Allah. And whoever does that - then those are the losers." [63:9]

2. You will have a depressed Life:

What's the use of leading a life without remembering the Creator who provide us everything? You will be always nagged by the feeling that this life is useless, but you are unaware that it all happens because of not remembering Allah. You will feel empty within you and it will narrow your life gradually without knowing you.

"And whoever turns away from My remembrance - indeed, he will have a depressed life, and We will gather him on the Day of Resurrection blind." [20:124]

3. You will have to face a severe torment:

If your mind isn't possessing the remembrance of Allah, then you will not have a mind to offer salah, give charity, observe fast, perform hajj etc. This will lead you to an empty handed state where you will find nothing good in you on the Day of Judgement. Thus, you will be hurled to a severe punishment. May Allah protect us all!

"But if any turns away from the remembrance of his Lord, He will cause him to undergo a severe Penalty." [72:17]

4. You will be among the party of Satan:

It's all because of nothing, but Satan which leads you away from the correct course. He overtakes your mind and makes you to forget the Creator. So control your nafs and never let him enter your mind.

"Satan has overcome them and made them forget the remembrance of Allah. Those are the party of Satan. Unquestionably, the party of Satan - they will be the losers." [58:19]

"And whoever is blinded from remembrance of the Most Merciful - We appoint for him a devil, and he is to him a companion." [43:36]

Abdullah Bin Abbas (R.A) narrated that Rasoolullah (SAWS) said, “The Satan sticks to the heart of the child of Adam. When he does Zikr of Allah, he (the Satan) runs away from him. And when the child of Adam becomes careless from the Zikr of Allah, the Satan begins to put was-wasah (evil suggestions) into his heart. [Bukhari]

5. You will be hard-hearted:

When you are out of zikr, you will be too much involving in unnecessary talks. This will stiffen your mind, and arrogance will overwhelm in you.

"Woe to those whose hearts have become like stone against the remembrance of God. They are clearly in error." [39:22]

Abdullah Bin Umar (R.A) narrated that Rasoolullah (SAWS) said, “Don’t have a conversation [without] Zikr of Allah. Because talking too much without Zikr of Allah is the reason for the heart’s hardness and wretchedness. And that person becomes distant from Allah in whose heart there is wretchedness. [Tirmidhi]

How to engage in Zikr often?

Follow these simple guidelines below and you will be stunned to see how often you remember Allah.

1. Remember Allah in everything you do:

The first and foremost thing you have to do is to remember Allah in everything you do, but how? For an instance, when you go for a walking, look at the things around you and observe how beautifully Allah has created everything that fits with one another. When you are having your meals, you can remember and thank Allah for the sustenance he has provided you without any barriers. In this way, if you start, you will soon get accustomed to this habit and you will see how it turns your life to an entirely different concept.

2. Control your nafs:

One of the main aspect which makes us to forget the remembrance of Allah is our own desires. If you can control your desires and let your hearts to invade with the remembrance of Allah, then those times will be the best paces in your life. If you do not, then Satan will accompany you. So control your nafs and never let Satan to invade your life. Always seek refuge from Satan by uttering Ta'awwudh as much as you could.

3. Don't miss your daily adhkar:

Daily adhkar are very important to purify our minds and to remember Allah often. If you could make it a habit of reading it every morning after fajr and every evening after asr, you will soon feel a change in your life. Daily adhkar prevent the evils and soothes our hearts. It is an excellent way to keep remembering Allah often as you are expecting every fajrs and asrs to complete them.

4. Read atleast an ayah from the Quran:

One of the most effective way is to read the Quran on a daily basis which will help you to remember Allah often. If you just read an ayah and ponder its meaning the whole day, no wonder you have remembered Allah all the time. You can make it more productive by pondering its meaning when you are involving in your routine tasks like gardening, working on your vehicle, cooking etc.

5. Be among the good company:

If you are among the good company, you will remember Allah often. You will be inspired by the people who are around you and they will be a motivation for you to engage in goodness. You will always try to find some ways that would please Allah for you are surrounded with people of such. This will refrain you from doing bad and will let your heart to be developed with the remembrance of Allah.

"The likeness of the one who Remembers his Lord and the one who does not Remember Him is like that between the living and the dead." [Bukhari]

"Those who are admitted into paradise will not remorse over anything of this world, except over the times in which the zikr of Allah was not utilised" [Bukhari]

Quran says about Parents

What does Quran say about Parents?

Parents are important figures who nurtured us throughout their lives. Even if we have grown and matured enough to do our things on our own, Parents still feel that it is important to surround and protect us. They still look at us the way they looked at us when we were a child. They see us like mirrors and always consider us as their reflections. They actively participate in all the events of our life. They silently laugh when they see us happy, silently cry when we are sad and silently worry when we are upset. They never show us their real emotions, rather they hide from us without making us worried. Fathers are happy to spend their hard earned money and mothers are happy to spend their hours and days with us. So much a vital role they play in our lives that we fail to realise them. That's why I decided to write an article on how our parents should be treated and the importance Islam has given to our parents. I dedicate this article to all parents who did their best to nurture their children.

Importance of Parents

If you look upon some verses in the Quran which define about parents, Most of the verses express that the parents' rights are coming next to those of Allah.

"And when We made a covenant with the children of Israel: You shall not serve any but Allah and (you shall do) good to (your) parents," [2:83]

"Worship Allah and associate nothing with Him, and to parents do good," [4:36]

"Let me tell you about what your Lord has commanded: Do not consider anything equal to God; Be kind to your parents;" [6:151]

These verses are fairly enough for a person to know the important roles played by our parents and How much Allah has stressed upon the fact to be good with them.

How should parents be treated?

Parents love us without a reason. If a child goes and asks his parents, 'Why you both love me?' They would be astonished for they find no reason why they love us. They simply find joy and contentment through observing us from day to night. So what they really expect from us? What do they want from us? Do they want education from us? Do they want wealth from us? Nay! They expect nothing from us, but kindness! They wanted the same love they showered upon us. I have observed the happiness sprouting from parents' faces when they hear such words from their child like: 'Mummy, I love you', 'Daddy, I can't spend a single day without you.' This is what they expect from us. This is what they wanted from us.

"We have advised the human being to be kind to his parents;" [46:15]

And I didn't fail to notice some parents whose children are in abroad. Whenever I visit them and talk to them, they never find enough time to tell about their children and the cravings they have to see them. I couldn't really express how they grieve for it's really painful, and I think it will be more painful if children start to hate their parents when they are around them. I couldn't really fancy it out; the agony, tolerance and everything that they bear for just one reason thinking that no matter what for it is their child. It's really painful. We all are obliged to our parents. We must give our due respect to them. It's important to embrace them when they are in need of us.

"And We have enjoined on man (to be dutiful and good) to his parents." [31:14]

When parents become old, we know that they are yearning to be treated with love and care. They are in need of someone's accompany. They wanted someone to listen to their speeches. They will be interested to discuss their old tales with us. It might be a hard thing for us, but still we should try our best to allocate some of our time with them. We musn't show atleast a speck of disappointment to

them; instead, we must listen to them, speak to them kindly, make them laugh... These are some things we could do to our parents. Just earning largely and spending on their cause isn't enough. Ofcourse it's important to look upon their material needs, but it's rather important to focus on their non-material needs, which could be satisfied by none, but by their own children. 

"Your Lord has ordained that you must not worship anything other than Him and that you must be kind to your parents. If either or both of your parents should become advanced in age, do not express to them words which show your slightest disappointment. Never yell at them but always speak to them with kindness." [17:23]

Even Rasoolullah insisted that it is important to look after our parents than taking part in Jihad which shows that Parents are to be considered first in everything.

Narrated by Abdullah bin Amr that A man came to the Prophet asking his permission to take part in Jihad. The Prophet asked him, "Are your parents alive?" He replied in the affirmative. The Prophet said to him, "Then exert yourself in their service." [Bukhari]

If we desire to spend for a good course, it is vital to consider our parents first and then onto other matters. The Quran cleary states:

"They ask you (O Muhammad SAW) what they should spend. Say: Whatever you spend of good must be for parents and kindred and orphans and Al­Masakin (the poor) and the wayfarers, and whatever you do of good deeds, truly, Allah knows it well." [2:215]

Even if we are to die before our parents, then our legacy should be handed down to our parents.

"If one of you facing death can leave a legacy, he should bequeath it to his parents and relatives, according to the law. This is the duty of the pious." [2:180]

So it's important to show the best to our parents out of all we could.

Why Mothers are given a prominent place than fathers?

There are three main reasons why mothers are given a special place than fathers:

1. The burden a mother carry throughout her pregnancy: 

This could never be imagined and it is only mothers who can say what really the hardships are. Allah expresses about it in His Book as,

"And We have enjoined upon man [care] for his parents. His mother carried him, [increasing her] in weakness upon weakness, and his weaning is in two years. Be grateful to Me and to your parents; to Me is the [final] destination." [31:14]

2. The pains of delivery:

The throes of child birth is something which is far beyond of what we actually think of. Mothers are not common, but special for they are extremely patient and tolerant at this stage.

"We have advised the human being to be kind to his parents; his mother bore him with hardship and delivered him while suffering a great deal of pain..." [46:15]

It will be more clear if you glance over the following verse in which Maryam (peace be upon her) expressed the pains of delivery when she was about to give birth to Prophet Isa (peace be upon him),

"And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm-tree: She cried (in her anguish): 'Ah! would that I had died before this! would that I had been a thing forgotten and out of sight!'" [19:23]

3. Feeding from her blood:

She never cares about it. She is extremely happy when feeding her child from her own blood. How could this possibly be? That's how Allah shaped mothers. That's why Allah stressed much importance on mothers and they aren't feeding for a few weeks, but for thirty months, Subhan'Allah!

"We have advised the human being to be kind to his parents; his mother bore him with hardship and delivered him while suffering a great deal of pain. The period in which his mother bore and weaned him lasted for thirty months." [46:15]

These are the reasons why even Rasoolullah emphasised on giving importance to mothers. By considering the above three reasons, we can conclude that there can be none more unique than mothers.

Narrated by Mu'awiyah ibn Hayadah, I asked: ‘O Messenger of Allah(saws)! To whom should I show kindness most?’  He (saws) replied: ‘Your mother.’  I asked (again): ‘Who next?’. He (saws) replied: ‘Your mother!’.  I asked: ‘Who next?’  He (saws) replied: ‘Your mother!’  I asked again: ‘Who next?’ and he (saws) replied: ‘Your father, and then your relatives in order of relationship.’ [Abu-Dawood]

Is it permissible to act against them?

Yes, it is permissible to act against them only at certain circumstances. That is, if they ask you to keep faith or belive in something other than Allah, then you are not to obey them. The Quran clearly tells that,

"And We have enjoined on man to be good and dutiful to his parents, but if they strive to make you join with Me (in worship) anything (as a partner) of which you have no knowledge, then obey them not. Unto Me is your return, and I shall tell you what you used to do." [29:8]

but still Allah insist us to accompany and be kind with them in this world.

"But if they (both) strive with you to make you join in worship with Me others that of which you have no knowledge, then obey them not, but behave with them in the world kindly, and follow the path of him who turns to Me in repentance and in obedience." [31:15]

Also it is a must to call them towards The Truth for Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) didn't fail to call his father who was a non-muslim and it is important to maintain politeness when speaking to them. The following verses which was the conversation between Prophet Ibrahim and his father will clearly help you to understand that.

"Mention the story of Abraham, the truthful Prophet, in the Book (the Quran)" [19:41]

"When he said to his father: "O my father! Why do you worship that which hears not, sees not and cannot avail you in anything?" [19:42]

"O my father! Verily! There has come to me of knowledge that which came not unto you. So follow me. I will guide you to a Straight Path." [19:43]

"O my father! Worship not Shaitan (Satan). Verily! Shaitan (Satan) has been a rebel against the Most Beneficent (Allah)." [19:44]

"O my father! Verily! I fear lest a torment from the Most Beneficent (Allah) overtake you, so that you become a companion of Shaitan (Satan) (in the Hell-fire)." [19:45]

"He (the father) said: "Do you reject my gods, O Ibrahim (Abraham)? If you stop not (this), I will indeed stone you. So get away from me safely before I punish you." [19:46]

"Ibrahim (Abraham) said: "Peace be on you! I will ask Forgiveness of my Lord for you. Verily! He is unto me, Ever Most Gracious." [19:47]

The above verses clearly show how a parent should be treated when he/she is a non-muslim and how the words should be carefully choosen so as not to hurt them.

In Addition, it is important to maintain justice, even if it is against our parents,

"O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm in justice, witnesses for Allah , even if it be against yourselves or parents and relatives." [4:135]

What will be the reward for the conduct towards parents?

If we treat our parents with kindness, cherish them in all possible ways and humbly make dua for them, then Allah will reward us to be among the dwellers of paradise. Even Allah is ready to ignore our bad deeds.

"We have advised the human being to be kind to his parents; his mother bore him with hardship and delivered him while suffering a great deal of pain. The period in which his mother bore and weaned him lasted for thirty months. When he grew-up to manhood and became forty years old, he then said, "Lord, inspire me to give You thanks for the bounties you have granted to me and my parents, and to act righteously to please You. Lord, make my offspring virtuous. Lord I turn to you in repentance; I am a Muslim". [46:15]

"These are the ones from whom We accept righteous deeds and ignore their bad deeds. They will be among the dwellers of Paradise. It is the true promise which was given to them." [46:16]

But those who disobey and shown a slightest disappointment in their words, then Allah describe them as losers.

"There are people who say to their parents, "Fie upon you! Are you telling us that we shall be raised from our graves? So many people have died before us and (none of them have been raised)" Their parents plead to God and say to their child, "Woe to you! Have faith; the promise of God is certainly true" They reply, "What you say is only ancient legends". [46:17]

"Such people will be subject to the punishment of God, which was also decreed for many human beings and jinn before them. These people are certainly lost." [46:18]

Beautiful Duas from Quran

Remember those days when you were totally relied upon your parents. How you were in need of them to survive, How they filled your life with love and affection, How they raised you bearing all the hardships, and How readily they moved forward to share your happiness and How without any reluctance they came forward to console and protect you at times of distress. It is important to recall those days and pray to Almighty Allah to shower His mercy upon them, but how can we effectively ask some duas to our parents? Here are some beautiful duas which I found in Quran:

"Our Lord! Forgive me and my parents, and (all) the believers on the Day when the reckoning will be established." [14:41]

"My Lord! Bestow on them Your Mercy as they did bring me up when I was small." [17:24]

"My Lord! Grant me the power and ability that I may be grateful for Your Favour which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents, and that I may do righteous good deeds, such as please You, and make my off-spring good. Truly, I have turned to You in repentance, and truly, I am one of the Muslims (submitting to Your Will)." [46:15]

Exhort one another: READ THE QURAN

Read the Quran by heart.
Read all means to better understand and appreciate each meaning.


The Holy Prophet says:

"The best of you is to learn the Qur'an and teach it." (Hadith narrated by Bukhari, Abdu Daud, at-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah).

"Read the Quran. Because it is on the Day of Resurrection would come to give readers intercession. "(Hadith narrated by Muslim)

"The most important thing from the worship of my people are reading the Quran." (Hadith narrated by al-Bayhaqi)

"Those who are in the chest not the Quran at all, not shocked like a broken home." (Hadith, at-Tirmidhi, Ahmad, Hakim and al-Darimi)

Message of the Prophet to his companions, Abu Dhar, he said: "O Abu Dhar, you go to learn a verse of the Quran better than you pray one hundred rak'ahs." (Hadith narrated by Ibn Majah)

There are three points that not one of them caught fire
Read the Qur'an until tears.


How are you, if you receive a letter or note or sms or a written order from the person you love. You would have read it with your feelings. You would repeat repeat reading it, and you would try to understand every word that is written. How about you whenever you receive a message from the Lord, how many times you read it and if you try to understand it.

What if you received a package that usually food from the village. Certainly feel happy. What if suddenly in the package was an Al-Quran. What are you feeling at the time.

Quran is a message from the Lord. Do not leave without reading. supposed to feel guilty when you leave for more than three days. It softener heart. Cal recurrence read alan soften your soul and add your love to Him. Read and Consider each of Words, as it was once good teaching. Follow the directions as it best guidance.

How much sorrow at the sight of the Quran in which not even tampered with or read. Every time you approached him, believe me it is requested that you take and read. Assuming you yearn to the Lord, read His Word. And then if you want to talk to the Lord, let all Words.

Do not hurry hurry while reading it, because the act is causing you not tasted the sweetness of every sentence. Consider the hadith the Prophet when he said that each letter be rewarded by Allah. So each character has the right to pronounce words and death. He then perfected right you will all call each Words yummy.

Do not you be fooled by the whispers of Satan who whispers o feeling lazy you read the Qur'an. Satan sometimes planted feeling not good to keep you from reading the Quran. While emgkau read individually rewarded spell double reward from God. Strive to learn. Do not you feel ashamed to learn Quran, because no human being is born in a state of religious.


Happy to hear the voice of the Qur'an from all of you. Because it is a very beautiful entertainment that will invite the grace of God in the house and bless all the inhabitants. Do not let your house music resonates, and quiet from the Quran. Because the house did not read the Quran, and quiet from the remembrance of Allah is grave.

Never make fun of your sentence or word or letter. Do not be humble place. Do not turn you back on it. Book our very honorable rank very high.

Believe me, when reading it will be our friend when in the grave until we raised later.

Do not get us all upset and very sorry when only the end of the day we heard a lot of bees. Then it is no longer available. In fact, we believe the word of monotheism also will forget how to saying it.

Umrah and Hajj

Narrated by Abû Huraira : The Prophet sallAllâhu `alayhi wa sallam said,

“Whoever performs Hajj for Allâh’s pleasure and does not have sexual relations

with his wife, and does not do evil or sins then he will return (after Hajj free from all sins) as if he were born anew.”

[Sahîh Al-Bukhari]

Abdullah ibn Mas’ud radhiAllâhu `anhu narrated that the Prophet sallAllâhu `alayhi wa sallam said:

“Alternate between Hajj and ‘Umrah (regularly), for these two remove poverty and sins just as the blacksmith’s bellows removes all impurities from metals like iron, gold and silver. The reward for Hajj Mabrur is nothing short of Paradise.”

[Nasa'i and Tirmidhi, who regards it a sound hadîth ]

Narrated Abû Huraira radhiAllâhu `anhu: Allâh’s Apostle sallAllâhu `alayhi wa sallam said,

“(The performance of) ‘Umra is an expiation for the sins committed (between it and the previous one). And the reward of Hajj Mabrur (the one accepted by Allâh) is nothing except Paradise.”

[Sahîh Al-Bukhari]

Ten days of Dhul-Hijjah

 'There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than in these 10 days.'

(Sahih al Bukhari)

One of the great seasons of worship, the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah are now upon us. In these days, the following deeds should be given great attention:

Fasting

"The Prophet SallAllahu 'alayhi wasallam used to fast on the first nine days of Dhul Hijjah and the day of ‘Ashoora’, and three days each month, the first Monday of the month and two Thursdays."

(Sunan an-Nasa'i)

It is Sunnah for the Muslims to fast on the first nine days of Dhul Hijjah.

Allah’s Messenger Salallahu ‘alaihi wasallam encouraged us to do righteous deeds in these days; and fasting is one of the best deeds.

Tasbeeh, Tahmeed, Tahleel & Takbeer

“There are no days that are greater before Allah or in which good deeds are more beloved to Him, than these ten days, so recite a great deal of tahleel, takbeer and tahmeed during them.”

(Musnad Ahmad)

It is Sunnah to recite takbeer (الله أكبر),tahmeed (الحمد لله), tahleel (لا إله إلا الله) and tasbeeh (سبحان الله) during the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah.

These words should be said in masjids, in the homes and in the streets.

Qurbani One of the righteous deeds that brings one closer to Allah. It is to be performed on the10th, 11th or 12th of Dhul Hijjah - this worship is specific to these days alone.

Don’t leave Istighfar

A man once came to al-Hasan al-Basri and complained to him: “The sky does not shower us with rain.” He replied: “Seek Allah’s forgiveness (i.e. say أستغفر ألله).”

Then another person came to him and said, “I complain of poverty.” He replied: “Seek Allah’s forgiveness.”

Then another person came to him and complained, “My wife is barren; she cannot bear children.” He replied: “Seek Allah’s forgiveness.”

The people who were present, said to al-Hasan: “Everytime a person came to

you complaining, you instructed them to seek Allah’s forgiveness?”

Al-Hasan al-Basri said, “Have you not read the statement of Allah? ‘I said “Ask forgiveness of your Lord. Truly He is Oft-Forgiving. He will send rain to you in abundance; increase you in wealth and children; grant you gardens and bestow on you rivers.”‘” [Nuh (71):10-12]

There are two things in the earth that give a person safety and security from the punishment of Allah. The first has been removed, whilst the second still remains. As for the first, it was the Messenger of Allah (صلي ألله عليه و سلم). “Allah would not punish them while you were among them.” [al-Anfal (8):33] As for the second, it is istighfar. “Allah would not punish them as long as they sought forgiveness.” [al-Anfal (8):33]

7 common questions about Islam

1) What is Islam ?


Islam is the name of the religion, or more properly the ‘way of life’, which God (Allah) has revealed and which was practiced by all of the Prophets and Messengers of God that He sent to mankind. Even the name stands out unique among other religions in that it means a state of being; it does not refer to any particular person,

such as Christianity, Buddhism or Zoroastrianism; a tribe like Judaism; or a nation like Hinduism. The root Arabic word from which Islam is derived implies peace, safety, salutation, protection, blamelessness, wholesomeness, submission, acceptance, surrender, and salvation. Islam specifically means being in the state of submission to God, worshipping Him Alone, and reverently accepting and obeying His Law. Through this submission, the peace, security, and wholesome well-being implied in its literal meaning is achieved. Hence, a Muslim or Muslimah is a person (male or female) in that state of submission. A person’s Islam weakens through sins, ignorance, and wrong-doing, and becomes nullified in totality by associating partners with God or disbelieving in Him.

2. What are Muslims?



The Arabic word “Muslim” literally means “someone who is in a state of Islam (submission to the will and law of God)”. The message of Islam is meant for the entire world, and anyone who accepts this message becomes a Muslim. Some people mistakenly believe that Islam is just a religion for Arabs, but nothing could be further from the truth. In actuality, over 80% of the world's Muslims are not Arabs! Even though most Arabs are Muslims, there are Arabs who are Christians, Jews and atheists. If one just takes a look at the various peoples who live in the Muslim World - from Nigeria to Bosnia and from Morocco to Indonesia - it is easy enough to see that Muslims come from all different races, ethnic groups, cultures and nationalities. Islam has always been a universal message for all people. This can be seen in the fact that some of the early companions of the Prophet Muhammad were not only Arabs, but also Persians, Africans and Byzantine Romans. Being a Muslim entails complete acceptance and active obedience to the revealed teachings and laws of God the Exalted. A Muslim is a person who freely accepts basing his beliefs, values and faith on the will of Almighty God. In the past, even though you do not see it as much today, the word “Mohammedans” was often used as a label for Muslims. This label is a misnomer, and is the result of either willful distortion or sheer ignorance. One of the reasons for the misconception is that Europeans were taught for centuries that Muslims worshipped the Prophet Muhammad in the same way that Christians worship Jesus. This is absolutely not true, since one is not considered a Muslim if he worships anyone or anything besides God the Exalted.





3. Who is Allah?



Often one hears the Arabic word “Allah” being used in discussions regarding Islam. The word “Allah” is simply the Arabic word for Almighty God, and is the same word used by Arabic speaking Christians and Jews. As a matter of fact, the word Allah was in use far before the word God ever came into existence, since English is a relatively new language. If one were to pick up an Arabic translation of the Bible, one would see the word “Allah” being use where the word “God” is used in English. For instance, Arabic speaking Christians say that Jesus is, according to their canon belief, the Son of Allah. In addition, the Arabic word for Almighty God, “Allah”, is quite similar to the word for God in other Semitic languages. For example, the Hebrew word for God is “Elah”. For various reasons, some non-Muslims mistakenly believe that Muslims worship a different God than the God of Moses and Abraham and Jesus. This is certainly not the case, since the Pure Monotheism of Islam calls all people to the worship of the God of Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and all the other prophets, peace be upon them.



4. Who is Muhammad?



The last and final prophet whom God sent to humanity was the Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him. At the age of forty, he received the revelation from God. He then spent the remaining portion of his life explaining, and living the teachings of Islam, the religion that God revealed to him. The Prophet Muhammad is the greatest of all prophets for many reasons, but primarily because he was chosen by God to be the last prophet - whose mission to guide humanity would continue until the Last Day - and because he has been sent as a mercy to all of mankind. The result of his mission has brought more people into the pure belief in One God than any other prophet. Since the beginning of time, God sent prophets to the earth, each one to his own specific nation. The Prophet Muhammad, however, was sent as the final Messenger to all of humanity.



Even though other religious communities have claimed to believe in One God, over time, some corrupted ideas entered into their beliefs and practices leading them away from the pure sincere monotheism of the prophets. Some took their prophets and saints as intercessors with Almighty God. Some even believed that their prophets were the manifestations of God, or “God Incarnate” or the “Son of God”. All of these misconceptions lead to the worship of created beings instead of the Creator, and contributed to the idolatrous practice of believing that Almighty God may be approached through intermediaries. In order to guard against these falsehoods, the Prophet Muhammad always emphasized that he was only a human-being with the mission of preaching and obeying God's message. He taught Muslims to refer to him as “the Messenger of God and His Slave”. Through his life and teachings, God made Muhammad the perfect example for all people - he was the exemplary prophet, statesman, military leader, ruler, teacher, neighbor, husband, father and friend. Unlike other prophets and messengers, the Prophet Muhammad lived in the full light of history, and all his sayings and acts were meticulously recorded and collected. Muslims don't need to have mere ‘faith’ that he existed, or that his teachings are preserved - they know it to be a fact. God took it upon Himself to protect the message revealed to Muhammad from distortion or from being forgotten or lost. This was necessary because God promised that Muhammad was to be the final Messenger to mankind. All of God's Messengers preached the message of Islam - i.e. submission to the law of God and the worship of God alone – but Muhammad is the last prophet of Islam who brought the final and complete message which was never to be changed until the Last Day.









5. What are the Teachings of Islam?



The foundation of the Islamic faith is belief in absolute Monotheism (the Oneness of God). This means to believe that there is only one Creator and Sustainer of everything in the Universe, and that nothing is divine or worthy of being worshipped except for Him. Truly, believing in the Oneness of God means much more than simply believing that there is “One God” - as opposed to two, three or four. There are a number of religions that claim belief in “One God” and believe that ultimately there is only one Creator and Sustainer of the Universe, but true monotheism is to believe that only the One True Deity is to be worshipped in accordance to the revelation He sent to His Messenger. Islam also rejects the use of all intermediaries between God and Man, and insists that people approach God directly and reserve all worship for Him alone. Muslims believe that Almighty God is Compassionate, Loving and Merciful.



A common misconception is the claim that God cannot forgive His creatures directly. By over-emphasizing the burden and penalty of sin, as well as claiming that God cannot forgive humans directly, people often despair of the Mercy of God. Once they become convinced that they cannot approach God directly, they turn to false gods for help, such as heroes, political leaders, saviors, saints, and angels. We often find that the people who worship, pray to, or seek intercession from these false deities, do not consider them to be a ‘god’. They claim belief in One Supreme God, but claim that they pray to and worship others beside God only to get closer to Him. In Islam, there is a clear distinction between the Creator and the created. There is no ambiguity or mystery in issues of divinity: anything that is created does not deserve to be worshipped; only Allah, the Creator, is worthy of being worshipped. Some religions falsely believe that God has become part of His creation, and this has led people to believe that they can worship something created in order to reach their Creator.



Muslims believe that even though God is Unique and Exalted beyond speculative comprehension, He definitely has no partners, associates, peers, antagonists or offspring. According to Muslim belief, Allah “neither begets, nor was He begotten” - neither literally, allegorically, metaphorically, physically or metaphysically. He is Absolutely Unique and Eternal. He is in control of everything and is perfectly capable of bestowing His infinite Mercy and Forgiveness to whomever He chooses. That is why Allah is also called the All-Powerful and Most-Merciful. Allah has created the Universe for man, and as such wants the best for all human beings. Muslims see everything in the Universe as a sign of the Creatorship and Benevolence of Almighty God. Also, the belief in the Oneness of Allah is not merely a metaphysical concept. It is a dynamic belief that affects ones view of humanity, society and all aspects of practical life. As a logical corollary to the Islamic belief in the Oneness of Allah, is its belief in the oneness of mankind and humanity.



6. What is the Quran?



The Quran is the final revelation of Allah to all of mankind, which was spoken by Allah the Exalted Himself and conveyed through the Arch-Angel Gabriel in Arabic to the Prophet Muhammad, in sound, word and meaning. The Quran, (sometimes incorrectly spelled Koran), was then relayed to the Prophet's companions, and they diligently memorized it verbatim and meticulously complied it into written form. The Holy Quran has been continually recited by the companions of the Prophet and their successors until the present day. In short, the Quran is the revealed book of Divine scripture from Allah to all humanity for their guidance and salvation.



Today the Quran is still memorized and taught by millions of people. The language of the Quran, Arabic, is still a living language to millions of people. Unlike the scriptures of some other religions, the Quran is still read in its original language by countless millions of people. The Quran is a living miracle in the Arabic language, and it is known to be inimitable in its style, form and spiritual impact, as well as the unique knowledge that it contains. The Quran was revealed in a series of revelations to the Prophet Muhammad over a period of 23 years. In contrast to many other religious books, the Quran was always believed to be the exact Word of Allah. The Quran was recited publicly in front of both the Muslim and non-Muslim communities during the life of the Prophet Muhammad, and thereafter. The entire Quran was also completely written down in the lifetime of the Prophet, and numerous companions of the Prophet memorized the entire Quran word-for-word as it was revealed. The Quran was always in the hands of the common believers: it was always thought to be God's word; and, due to wide-spread memorization, it was perfectly preserved. Never was any part of it altered or decreed by any religious council. The teachings of the Quran comprise a universal scripture addressed to all of mankind and not to any particular tribe or ‘chosen people’. The message that it brings is nothing new but the same message of all of the prophets: 'submit to Allah the One God and worship Him alone and follow Allah's Messengers for success in this life and salvation in the hereafter'. As such, Allah's revelation in the Quran focuses on teaching human beings the importance of believing in the Oneness of Allah, and framing their lives around the guidance which He has sent, which is articulated in the Islamic Law. The Quran contains the stories of the previous prophets, such as Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus, peace be upon all of them, as well as commands and prohibitions from God. In our modern times, in which so many people are caught up in doubt, spiritual despair and social and political alienation, the Quranic teachings offer solutions to the emptiness of our lives and the turmoil that is gripping the world today.





7. How Do Muslims View the Nature of Man, the Purpose of Life and the Life Hereafter?



In the Holy Quran, Allah teaches human beings that they were created in order to glorify and worship Him, and that the basis of all true worship is God-consciousness. All of Allah's creatures worship him naturally and only the humans have the free will to worship Allah their Creator or to reject Him. This is a great test, but also a great honor. Since the teachings of Islam encompass all aspects of life and ethics, God-consciousness is encouraged in all human affairs. Islam makes it clear that all human acts are acts of worship if they are done for God alone and in accordance to His Divine Scripture and Law. As such, worship in Islam is not limited to religious rituals, and for this reason it is more properly known as ‘way of life’ than a religion. The teachings of Islam act as a mercy and a healing for the human soul, and qualities such as humility, sincerity, patience and charity are strongly encouraged. Additionally, Islam condemns pride and self-righteousness, since Almighty God is the only judge of human righteousness.







The Islamic view of the nature of man is also realistic and well-balanced in that human beings are not believed to be inherently sinful, but are seen as equally capable of both good and evil; it is their choice. Islam teaches that faith and action go hand-in-hand. God has given people free-will, and the measure of one's faith is their deeds and actions. However, since human beings have also been created innately weak and regularly fall into sin, they are in need of continually seeking guidance and repentance, which is, in itself , also a form of worship loved by Allah. The nature of the human being as created by God in His Majesty and Wisdom, is not inherently ‘corrupt’ or in need of repair. The avenue of repentance is always open to all. Almighty God knew that humans were going to make mistakes, so the real test is whether they seek repentance for their sins and try to avoid them, or if they prefer a life of heedlessness and sin, knowing well that it is not pleasing to God. The true balance of an Islamic life is established by having a healthy fear of Allah's rightful punishment for crimes and sins, as well as a sincere belief that Allah, in His infinite Mercy, takes pleasure in bestowing His reward for our good deeds and sincere worship to Him. A life without fear of Allah leads to sin and disobedience, while believing that we have sinned so much that God will not possibly forgive us only leads to despair. In the light of this fact, Islam teaches that only the misguided despair of the Mercy of their Lord, and only wicked criminals are devoid of the fear of Allah their Creator and Judge. The Holy Quran as revealed to the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, also contains a great deal of teachings about life in the hereafter and the Day of Judgment. Muslims believe that all human beings will ultimately be judged by Allah, the Absolute Sovereign King and Judge, for their beliefs and actions in their earthly lives. In judging human beings, Allah the Exalted will be both Absolutely Just, by only punishing the truly guilty and rebellious unrepentant criminals, and Absolutely Merciful for those people who He, in His wisdom, judges worthy of mercy. None will be judged for that which was beyond their capacity, or for that which they did not actually do. It is sufficient to say that Islam teaches that life is a test designed by Allah, the Creator, Almighty and Most Wise; and that all human beings will be accountable before Allah for what they did with their lives. A sincere belief in the life of the hereafter is the key to leading a well-balanced and moral life. Otherwise, life is viewed as an end in itself, which causes people to become more selfish, materialistic and immoral by their blind pursuit of pleasure even at the expense of reason and ethics.



ARROGANCE AND THE TREATMENT

Boasting is counted among these peculiarities. It is defined as

your praising yourself for good qualities.

You should deem its vertiginous mountain as insignificant—by which I mean, of course, arrogance. [Do this] if you desire it to collapse to the ground.

Do that by knowing your Lord and knowing yourself, for whoever knows these two is humbled and feels insignificant.

The station of arrogance negates the station of gratitude, just as humility, by its nature, engenders gratitude.

Avoid and beware of humiliation and lowliness; in fact, display pride with the affluent and arrogant one.

In the poem verses (145 – 149) above, Imam Mawlud speaks about fakhr

Exceptionally odious is the practice of bragging about what one has not done or exerted any effort toward, like bragging about one’s ancestry and borrowing from some past nobility. Boasting is a problematic behavior that universally evokes objection and is considered a spiritual disease. No one likes a boaster, the person who walks with a swank and swagger, the person who cannot be in the company of others without speaking about himself or drawing attention to what he has done.

God Himself reveals His dislike of bragging: God does not love the arrogant and boasting ones.

Surat Luqman 31: Ayah 18

Surat Al-Hadid 57: Ayah 23

The Arabs used to shout out, “I am the son of so and so!” claiming somehow that one’s pedigree suffices as a mark of one’s status and privilege, an ethic that loomed large in pre-Islamic Arab social structure. Instead, we should always strive to be among those whom others speak of with veneration.

“Be not content with stories of those who went before you. Go forth and create your own story” 

Imam Mawlud mentions the force behind the culture of boasting, namely, arrogance (kibr). “Deem that mountain insignificant,” he says, “if you desire to sink it to the ground.” Arrogance comes from the same Arabic root that signifies growth, either in mass or age. With arrogance, what is alluded to is self-aggrandizing and the glorification of the self.

The most villainous beings in history were filled with arrogance and false pride: Satan, Pharaoh, the opponents of the Prophet (PBUH) and many nefarious tyrants since. The Prophet (PBUH) warned against arrogance: 

It was narrated from ‘Abd-Allah ibn Mas’ood (RA) that the Prophet (PBUH) said: “No one who has an atom’s-weight of arrogance in his heart will enter Paradise.” A man said, “O Messenger of Allah, what if a man likes his clothes and his shoes to look good?” He (PBUH) said, “Allah is Beautiful and loves beauty. Arrogance means rejecting the truth and looking down on people”  [Sahih Muslim]. 

Allah (SWT) said, 

Surat Al-Aaraf 7: Ayah 146

That is, God recompenses the arrogant ones by turning them away from understanding His Book, His prophets, and His signs placed in the horizons and in one’s own self.

God also says that He sets a seal upon the heart of every arrogant tyrant;

Surat Ghafir 40: Ayah 35

and, He does not love those who wax arrogant.

Surat An-Nahl 16: Ayah 23

One of the attributes of God the Exalted is Al-Mutakabhir (the Proud), which is reserved for Himself. It is not becoming for anyone to have any of it in his or her heart.

Justice follows every vice. When it comes to arrogance, its possessors will end up being the most abject people in the Hereafter; they will envy those whom they once thought to be beneath them in honor and status, those who were patient, grateful, and humble in this life. There are many passages of the Quran and hadith that support this.

There are different qualities and kinds of arrogance. The first type is when a person deems himself superior to others. Imam Al-Ghazali said, “People of knowledge are in greater danger of arrogance

than anyone else” because the knowledge they have attained may lead them to feelings of superiority.

The second type is arrogance displayed in a person who shows contempt and scorn to others. Once a man saw an old woman calling to the Prophet (PBUH) in a boisterous manner; the Prophet (PBUH) stopped to speak with her, showing no sign of annoyance. When the man saw the Prophet’s (PBUH) calm reaction, he said, “Muhammad is a man unlike the kings of other lands.” It is a marvel how some people act arrogantly because of their perceived piety, while the Prophet (PBUH) himself—”the best of creation”—remained humble.

The third type of arrogance is related to lineage. In some cultures, if one is aware of his “high birth,” he is obliged to behave nobly. The Arabs were that way. If a man was born into a clan known for generosity, it was mandatory for him to be generous. One of the blights of many societies is racism, when people feel and act superior simply because of their race.

The Quran lays waste to false claims of superiority and states that the only rank that matters relates to one’s relationship with God; Indeed, the most honorable of you in the sight of God is the most God-fearing of you. 

Surat Al-Hujraat 49: Ayah 13

Many people are honored by having lineage traceable to the Prophet (PBUH) and his family. While this is indeed an honor in itself, it is something to be venerated when one’s actions are likewise honorable. It is said, “If your actions hold you back, your lineage will not speed you up.”

“No person of any consequence should respect or praise an ignorant man, even if he is of noble birth and virtuous ancestry. For to respect and praise such a person in his presence may have an adverse effect on him. It may deceive him concerning God, render him neglectful of proper behavior, and distract him from gathering provision for the Hereafter” – Imam Al-Haddad.

Treatment

As for the cure for arrogance, there are several aspects. First, we should remember our humble organic origins. As the Quran reminds us, we are created from a drop of semen.

Surat Al-Qiyamah 75: Ayah 37

One of the righteous forebears, to dramatize our humbleness, said, “A man carries between his two sides feces.” In other words, what is the source of a person’s arrogance? God says, Perished is man! How ungrateful he is! From what stuff did He create him? From a sperm drop He created him and proportioned him?

Surat Abasa 80: Ayah 17-19

Let man reflect from what he was created. He was created from an ejected fluid that issues from between the loins and the ribs;

Surat At-Tariq 86: Ayah 5-7

Has there come over man a time when he was nothing remembered. We created man from a sperm drop mixed in order to try him.

Surat Al-Insan 76: Ayah 1-2

These reminders suppress any uprisings of arrogance and conceit.

In Islam, we have religious heroes for a reason. To study the personalities of the Companions of the Prophet (PBUH) is to study incredibly great people who were humble. Abu Hurairah—the illustrious repository of prophetic Hadith—once sat in the company of another person who immediately moved his feet away from Abu Hurairah out of respect for this august Companion of the Prophet (PBUH). But Abu Hurairah objected: “Why did you move your feet?” The man said, “Out of deference to you.” Abu Hurairah replied, “For someone like me? I do not see anyone in this gathering worse than me.”

A cousin of Ali Ibn Abi Talib (RA) asked him, “Who is better, you or Abu Bakr?” Ali answered, “Abu Bakr.” And when asked the same question about Umar, he answered, “Umar.” He then asked him, “What rank do you have.” Ali said, “I am a Muslim among many.”

It is astonishing to hear people nowadays, who do not come close to the stature, knowledge, wisdom, and piety of Ali (RA), who nonetheless are so easily offended when they perceive others have slighted them. And acts we perceive as humble today are often attempts at attaining the mere appearance of humility.

“If you’re aware of your humility, then you are arrogant” – Ibn Ata’illah.

But scholars say the following, “If you are not like the real people, at least mimic them.” It is better to simulate humility than to be an outright arrogant person.

“If one wishes to master calligraphy, then he must go to a master calligrapher and repeat what he does” – Imam Al-Ghazali.

The fourth aspect is arrogance owing to beauty. The cure is to realize that beauty can be the most illusory of things. Social conditioning impacts our sense of beauty more that we would admit. But even if we were to ignore this, why should beauty ever be a cause of arrogance, that obnoxious sense of superiority for something one had nothing to do with? First of all, God (SWT) is the Fashioner; it is He who gives all things their shapes and forms. Second, beauty wanes, as the pressures of age and stress tear down flesh. And what we are left with is what we should have focused on in the first place, the content of our character, our beliefs, and our deeds.

The fifth is arrogance due to wealth. The affluent are notorious for showing contempt to those of lesser means. This is not to say that all wealthy people exhibit this. There are generous men and women who recognize the source and responsibility of wealth. But they tend to be the exception.

The sixth is arrogance based on strength. A man once came up to the Prophet (PBUH) and challenged him to wrestle. The Prophet (PBUH) agreed, and twice the Prophet (PBUH) threw him to the ground. The man was astounded that the Prophet (PBUH) was able to do that. “I’ve never been thrown to the ground,” he said. The man’s arrogance was rooted in his personal strength, which he thought none could match.

The seventh is arrogance for having a lot of something, like a teacher having many students and then seeing himself as being better than another teacher. The same is true with those who boast of having many friends, especially those in so-called high places.

The eighth is arrogance for having knowledge. This is particularly insidious, given that knowledge is an honorable matter. A knowledgeable person may believe himself to be superior to others due to the veneration shown to him.

These are the various causes that sow the seeds of arrogance. God created humanity and has given it what He has not given to much of His creation. The intellectual and volitional capacities of humankind are great responsibilities. Ironically, these capacities have the potential of causing people to forget that every blessing we have is a gift from God and something that we are responsible for.

The Quran states, [God] has created death and life to test you as to which of you is best in deed;

Surat Al-Mulk 67: Ayah 2

Have We not given [man] two eyes, a tongue, and two lips, and shown him the two highways [of good and evil]? Yet he does not attempt the steep road [of good].

Surat Al-Balad 90: Ayah 8-11

The steep road here is spending on the orphan, relieving the distressed, and all good acts that are difficult for the arrogant ones, who feel their wealth, strength, and prestige are born out of their own devices. People rejected the Prophet’s (PBUH) message not because they were not convinced. They knew that what the Prophet (PBUH) brought was the truth from God (SWT) Himself. But they rejected him out of arrogance. Many find the Muslim prayer objectionable because of its postures of humility and awe before God. What they struggle with is not merely the postures but their aversion to submit to God, being His servant. People have a problem with that, claiming that they are “free.” Astonishingly, these same “free” people are in bondage to their whims and passions.

Imam Mawlud says that the key to avoiding or removing this disease is to know yourself, your origins, and your ultimate return. The Prophet’s honor was entirely based on his servitude to God the Exalted—not wealth, lineage, power, or authority. Whoever is humbled for the sake of God, God elevates in rank. Haughtiness and gratitude cannot coexist in one vessel. Those who are grateful, God increases in goodness. The station of arrogance invites only humiliation.

Imam Mawlud says humility, by nature, leads to gratitude, for when one is humble before God the Exalted, only then does one see the vast mercy God bestows upon His creation, even upon liars and disbelievers.

Imam Mawlud’s conclusion touches upon the Islamic ethic of wasata, that is, moderation. In itself, humility is a praiseworthy virtue, but when carried out excessively it results in abasement. According to some classical Christian theological paradigms, abasement is praised. But in Islam, it is not. Imam Mawlud calls it dhul, not in the sense in which he starts his poem, where he speaks of dhulas humility required for proper courtesy with God. In this context, it is abject abasement before people. It is similar to the abasement that God the Exalted afflicted upon past communities because of their flagrant rejection of God, their derision of His apostles, and their mockery of His laws. Abject humiliation is disapproved of even in the face of tribulation. Those who face tests with dignity and patience are praised. And being humble is different from humiliation.

“Humility comes from the knowing about Allah and His names and attributes, and His greatness, venerating Him, loving Him and being in awe of Him; and also from knowing about oneself and one’s faults, and weaknesses. From that may develop the attitude of humility, which means feeling helpless before Allah, and being humble and compassionate towards His slaves, so that the person does not feel superior towards anyone, or think that he has any rights over anyone else; rather he thinks that others are better than him, and that their rights come before his. This is a characteristic that Allah bestows to those whom He loves, honors and draws close to Him” – Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim, Kitab Al-Ruh, p. 233.

Having dhul with respect to God is different from dhul with respect to creation.

“All the doors to God are crowded except for one: the door of humility and humbleness” – Imam Abd Al-Qadir Al-Jilani.

Having humbleness is one of the secrets of success, although it is hard on the soul. It is said, “Among the most noble things of this world is a rich man who is humble.”

The Prophet (PBUH) said, “Allah (SWT) says, He who is humble toward Me like this (and he lowered his palm to the ground until it was leveled with it, I will elevate him like this (and the Prophet (PBUH) raised his palm upwards facing the sky until it was high up)” [Sahih Hadith: Al-Albani].