Jannah is Our Dream

What kind of Student of Knowledge are you? Among the requirements that must be met by a student of knowledge in order to achieve his goal – aside from giving consideration to tawfiq (divine success) and whatever other support he is offered – are nine requirements: The first: Intelligence by which he perceives the reality of things. The second: Discernment by which he conceptualizes incomprehensible disciplines. The third: Brilliance which allows him to retain by memory what he has conceptualized and understand what he has learnt. The fourth: Desire which allows seeking knowledge to last and wards off boredom from arriving too soon. The fifth: Having sufficient material sustenance that is adequate for the expenditure of studying. The sixth: Free-time which gives him availability and by which a lot of knowledge is acquired. The seventh: Not having any abrupt disturbances, of concerns and illnesses. The eighth: Long life and a lengthy period of time to acquire a lot and finish with it at the ranks of perfection. The ninth: Acquiring a scholar who is generous with his knowledge and thoughtful in his teaching. If he meets these nine requirements, he will be the most delighted student and most successful learner. Al-Iskandar said, “A student of knowledge requires four: time, aggressiveness, talent and desire; and its perfection with the fifth: a sincere teacher.” [Adab al-Dunya wal-Din, al-Mawardi (pp. 67-68)]

The Prophet ﷺ said: “Delay in payment by a wealthy person is ظلم (oppression).” 📖 Sahih al-Bukhari 2400; Sahih Muslim 1564 Owing someone money is a serious matter. If you are able to repay, do not delay. People’s rights are not something to take lightly.

Ibn al-Qayyim – may Allah have mercy on him – said: "Indeed, the servant's joy intensifies on the Day of Resurrection because of the rights he has over people in terms of wealth, life, and honor. The wise person considers this a treasure for the day of poverty and need, and does not nullify it by seeking revenge that benefits him nothing." مدارج السَّالكين (٢/٣٠٦)

There’s a moment in the Qur’an, in Surah Al-Kahf, that many of us recite but rarely pause to truly reflect on. It is when Khidr damages a boat belonging to poor people who depend on it for their livelihood. When Musa sees this, he is confused and questions the act—why harm those who have done no wrong? Allah later reveals the wisdom behind it: “As for the ship, it belonged to poor people working at sea. So I intended to damage it because there was a king after them who seized every good ship by force.” (18:79) Now imagine yourself in the place of that family. Your boat—your means of provision—is damaged. You turn to Allah and ask: Why? I needed this. I prayed for this. I worked for this. You may feel: • Why is my opportunity taken away? • Why is my du’a not answered the way I hoped? • Why me, when others seem to have it easier? But just like Musa, we often cannot see what lies ahead. We do not see the “king” that Allah is protecting us from. That damaged boat was not a loss—it was protection. Allah, in His wisdom, ensured: • The tyrant would overlook it • The family would keep what little they had • And they could repair it later In the same way, what feels broken in your life right now may actually be saving you from something far worse. Allah reminds us elsewhere in the Qur’an: “Perhaps you dislike something which is good for you, and perhaps you love something which is bad for you. Allah knows and you do not know.” (2:216) So if your “boat” feels broken: • Trust that Allah sees what you cannot • Trust that His plan is more merciful than your own • Trust that what is delayed, denied, or taken is never without purpose Keep making du’a. Keep striving. Keep walking forward. Because Allah also promises: “Indeed, Allah does not allow the reward of those who do good to be lost.” (9:120) Your efforts, your prayers, your patience—none of them are wasted.

I strongly advice against sisters putting heart emojis on brothers post, because men do not have hearts of stone. In fact, hayaa on social media is just as important as hayaa in real life. I've adviced brothers many times and in different ways how to properly conduct themselves as men of honour, befitting a believing slave of Allah (Apparently as a thorn in the eyes of some Alhamdulillah). I will now also advice my believing, pure monotheistic sisters to behave in a manner that befits a princess or queen of Tawhīd. Do not be seen joking around in the open and sharing about your private life, or show your true personality for every man to see. If in private with other trustworthy sisters, no problem be yourself but ofcourse according to and in line with good Islamic akhlaq. But in full display for everyone, even estranged non mahram men in the thousands to see? Ask yourself, is it truly befitting a believing female slave of Allah whose role models are the likes of Maryam, Khadija, Aisha and Fatima? (may Allahs peace and blessings be upon them all). Be careful in how you interact, write and behave when it is in the open for everyone to see. Shamelessness is from the kuffar, and yes we are all westernised to some degree but we have to fight it. Let's not give in and say "we all sin anyway so I'll just do what I wish". What is the intention anyway? Is it to gather attention? Is it to be seen? But who will you attract? No man of honour and dignity, that's for sure. I know/knew many men of dignity and had the blessing and privilege to be raised (islamicly) by some of the best and I can tell you with all honesty that it will not attract but shameless men from experience of having been with good men. And when it comes to heart emoji and such, there's many times I myself would've loved to show my extra appreciation for a post well written or shared but when it is the opposite gender I don't because of the fitnah it might lead to. Men does not have heart of stones as I mentioned. And it's a slippery slope, a heart emoji here, one there and the next thing you know is laughing, talking.. sliding into DM with the "intention" of a correction of a post.. You know the rest. Abu Mas’ud reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Verily, among the words people obtained from the Prophets are this: If you feel no shame, do as you wish.” Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 3483 Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Al-Bukhari عَنْ ‌أَبِي مَسْعُودٍ عُقْبَةَ قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِنَّ مِمَّا أَدْرَكَ النَّاسُ مِنْ كَلَامِ النُّبُوَّةِ إِذَا لَمْ تَسْتَحْيِ فَافْعَلْ مَا شِئْتَ 3483 صحيح البخاري كتاب أحاديث الأنبياء باب حديث الغار

"We are all selective sinners. We choose the sins we are comfortable with and judge others for the ones we can't accept." Another day of my research..

“Muhammad (SAW) in Makkah was the same as Muhammad (SAW) in Madinah. Yusuf (AS) in prison was the same as Yusuf (AS) on the throne. Character is not a hostage to circumstances.”

*This life- not worth the wing of a mosquito in the Sight of Allāh* One of the saddest things I’ve witnessed in life is how often families and siblings grow distant — sometimes severing ties for months, years, or sadly, until one of them passes away. And what’s most striking is the tears and grief seen at the funeral of the one they hadn’t spoken to in years — not merely tears and grief over their passing away, but a deeper grief due to regret. Regret for words left unsaid, forgiveness withheld, time lost forever. But by then, it’s too late. More often than not, these break-ups are due to worldly disputes, often over things which are trivial. We must take heed from these stories, as 'Abdullāh ibn Mas'oud رضي الله عنه said: *"The blissful one is the one who learns and takes lessons from others."* Let us be the ones who rise above our egos and pardon even when it’s difficult — especially with those closest to us. Pardon those who may have wronged you and Allāh will pardon you. Repel evil behaviour with goodness, and watch how Allāh places tranquility and contentment in your life. Hatred and seeking revenge do nothing but consume the soul, leaving a person hollow and only deepening their sadness. This life is but a brief journey — a handful of days that quickly turn into memories. Let those memories of our families and loved ones be loving and joyful, not bitterness and resentful. May Allāh give us the enlightenment to be sincere and truthful in our forgiving and love for one another. Your brother Daood Habshi Markaz Muadh-Slough

The Judge Ibn al-Akfani, may Allah have mercy on him, said: "The shortest path to Paradise is a pure heart..!" تاريخ دمشق لابن عساكر (١٢٣/٤٩)

People can be: ■ Kind, yet still selfish ■ Loving, yet still unaware ■ Supportive, yet still inconsistent ■ Present, yet still unable to truly hold you See them for who they are - not who you wish they should be. Don't take it personally. 🔰 You were never meant to be fully held by people. That's beyond their role. Only Allah SWT can do that... and He does it perfectly. ✍️ Maryam Ibrahim #truebelonging

Knowing a Man by his Moves: It is reported that Al-A’mash – Allāh have mercy on him – said: They (the Salaf) never used to ask about [the religious condition of] a man after knowing three things about him: where and upon whom he entered, where and with whom he walked, and the close company he kept. Meaning: Knowing these things about a man is more than sufficient for knowing whether he is following the right path on the Sunnah or not. [Ibn Battah, Al-Ibānah article 419]. Further: - Umar ibn al-khattab (Radiy'Allah'anhu). A man bore witness in the presence of Umar ibn al-Khattaab (Radiy'Allah'anhu) so `Umar said to him: “I do not know you, and it does not harm you that I do not know you, but bring someone who does know you.” So a man said: ‘I know him, O Chief of the Believers.’ Umar said: “What do you know of him?” The man said: ‘Uprightness.’ Umar said: “Is he your closest neighbour; so that you know about his night and his day, and his comings and goings?” The man said: ‘No.’ Umar said: “So have you had (monetary) dealings with him involving dirhams and deenars, which will indicate his piety?” The man said: ‘No.’ Umar said: “Then has he been your companion upon a journey which could indicate to you his good character?” The man said: ‘No.’ Umar said: “Then you do not know him.” Then he said to the man (who bore witness): “Bring me someone who knows you.” [Reported by Al-Bayhaqi and classed as Sahih by Al-Albani in Irwaa' Al-Ghaleel; 2637]

Nabi صلى الله عليه وسلم Said: “Kawthar is a river in Jannah, the two banks of which are made of gold and the bed of which is made of pearls and rubies. Its sand is more fragrant than musk, its water sweeter than honey and clearer than ice.” (Tirmidhi)A♥☀♥

We don’t accept something because it is said by a popular person or because they make statements in a very confident and assertive way. No matter who makes the statement (with the exception of Allah (ie, Quran) and His Messenger (ie, authentic hadeeth), we accept or reject it based on the evidence provided (shar’ee evidence). We also should be wary of those who seem to have the gift of the gab and dance around issues, making statements with no proof, but making them sound like totally plausible conclusions. The Prophet (sallal-laahu alayhi wasallam) said: ”Indeed some eloquent speech has the influence of magic” (al-Bukhari) Do beware of the many “celebrities” out there today whom this hadeeth applies to.

When Ibn Al-Jawzi advised his son on how he(Ibn Al-Jawzi) became so successful he said "My son I will sum up my success in a few words : وَاتَّقُواْ اللَّهَ وَيُعَلِّمُكُمُ اللَّهُ ”Fear Allaah, and Allaah will teach you.” [Surah al-Baqarah:282]

A reminder🤍 Leave the things that make your heart distant from Allah. Return to the Qur’an, learn its meaning, and let salah become the anchor of your day. Make sincere du'a, remember Allah often, and learn from the lives of the Prophets ﷺ. Take care of your body, your mind, your time, and especially your soul. Put the phone down sometimes. Sit in silence. Reflect. Read. Write. Learn something useful. Build discipline and stop feeding habits that steal your peace and your potential. Be intentional with your words. Speak truthfully, avoid gossip, protect people’s dignity, respect your parents, help those who need you, visit the elderly, feed the needy, give charity, and be someone whose presence brings goodness. Have goals for this dunya, but never let them make you forget the akhirah. Build something meaningful. Work hard. Keep improving. If you fail, learn and try again. If Allah gives you wealth, use it for good. If He gives you knowledge, share it. If He gives you opportunities, use them to leave behind something beneficial. Spend less time comparing your life with others and more time asking yourself: What am I doing today that my future self and my akhirah will be grateful for? Your life is more than what people see. Your real success is not just what you achieve here, but what you carry with you when you return to Allah. So purify your intentions, choose what brings you closer to Him, use your time wisely, and keep building a life that you would be proud to present before Allah. Because at the end of everything, the goal was never just to live well, but it would return to Allah well. 🤍

Ibn al Qayyim رحمه الله said, "If Allah had forgiven the one who had quenched the thirst of a very thirsty dog, so what would be the case for he who quenches the thirst, feeds the hungry, and clothes the unclothed from among the Muslims?." [Udat as Saabireen 1/216]

Ibn al-Jawzī رحمه الله said: ‎“And if Allāh assigns you to serve a purpose, He will prepare you for it.” ‎[Sayd al-Khateer | 299/862]

How Surah Al-Baqarah Can Change Your Life‼️ There was a girl who kept receiving proposals. Many families visited. She was kind, practicing, and well-mannered. Everyone praised her but after every visit, they’d reject her.Again and again. Over 20 times. No one explained why. One day, after yet another rejection, Her father gently asked the guest, “Please, not to argue, just to understand. Why did you say no?” The man was uncomfortable. But finally, he said:“I don’t know how to explain this… but I kept smelling something strange. It wasn’t normal.” No one else smelled anything. Not her. Not her family. The scent was real to him but it wasn’t physical.SubhanAllah. Sometimes, we don’t know why life is stuck. Your deen is strong Your character is good You’re doing everything “right” And still nothing moves. It’s not always laziness or qadr. Sometimes, it’s a spiritual block.What did she do? She turned to the one thing guaranteed to cleanse: The Qur’an. She began reciting Surah Al-Baqarah consistently. Every day. No matter what. And along with it: – Ruqyah on herself – Daily Istighfar – Salawat upon the Prophet ﷺ – Morning & evening Adhkar – Deep du’a, full of sincerity And slowly… the invisible heaviness lifted. Her path opened. She got married.Some delays aren’t logical. Some rejections aren’t personal. Some barriers are spiritual and need spiritual tools. Why Surah Al-Baqarah? Because the Prophet ﷺ said: “Recite Surah Al-Baqarah, for taking it is a blessing and leaving it is a regret.” (Muslim)It protects from: – Evil eye – Black magic – Jinn – Depression – Emotional blocks – Stagnation So if life feels blocked…Don’t panic. Don’t give up. Just begin. Start with Surah Al-Baqarah. Let Allah’s words shift what you cannot see. Because nothing can stand in the way… when He decides it’s your time.

The whale. It doesn’t have to be a whale like the one of Yunus عليه السلام. In these days, the “whale” could be any hardship a person is struggling to escape from. It could be: - an illness they are trying to recover from, - heavy debts and financial stress, - problems with a child and difficulty raising them, - a goal they worked hard for but never achieved, - a marriage that never happened, - lost work and unemployment. Every one of us has a “whale” we live inside, a darkness that no one truly knows except Allah. And the One who saved Yunus عليه السلام is fully able to save you too. Never lose hope. For every hardship, relief will come. Indeed, with hardship comes ease. Never be among those who despair. Just think good of Allah, because perhaps what He has delayed is actually good for you. And always repeat: لا إِلهَ إِلّا أَنتَ سُبحانَكَ إِنّي كُنتُ مِنَ الظّالِمينَ There is no lord worthy of worship except You. Glory be to You. Indeed, I was among the wrongdoers.

There’s a moment in the Qur’an, in Surah Al-Kahf, that many of us recite but rarely pause to truly reflect on. It is when Khidr damages a boat belonging to poor people who depend on it for their livelihood. When Musa sees this, he is confused and questions the act—why harm those who have done no wrong? Allah later reveals the wisdom behind it: “As for the ship, it belonged to poor people working at sea. So I intended to damage it because there was a king after them who seized every good ship by force.” (18:79) Now imagine yourself in the place of that family. Your boat—your means of provision—is damaged. You turn to Allah and ask: Why? I needed this. I prayed for this. I worked for this. You may feel: • Why is my opportunity taken away? • Why is my du’a not answered the way I hoped? • Why me, when others seem to have it easier? But just like Musa, we often cannot see what lies ahead. We do not see the “king” that Allah is protecting us from. That damaged boat was not a loss—it was protection. Allah, in His wisdom, ensured: • The tyrant would overlook it • The family would keep what little they had • And they could repair it later In the same way, what feels broken in your life right now may actually be saving you from something far worse. Allah reminds us elsewhere in the Qur’an: “Perhaps you dislike something which is good for you, and perhaps you love something which is bad for you. Allah knows and you do not know.” (2:216) So if your “boat” feels broken: • Trust that Allah sees what you cannot • Trust that His plan is more merciful than your own • Trust that what is delayed, denied, or taken is never without purpose Keep making du’a. Keep striving. Keep walking forward. Because Allah also promises: “Indeed, Allah does not allow the reward of those who do good to be lost.” (9:120) Your efforts, your prayers, your patience—none of them are wasted.