Alhamdulilah, all praise is due to Allah who has sent us this blessed book! to ponder, recite, reflect, and live our lives by!

I’m swapping this post from ‘cucumber.wordpress…

1. Whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is on the earth glorifies Allah. And He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.

2. O you who believe! Why do you say that which you do not do?

3. Most hateful it is with Allah that you say that which you do not do.

4. Verily, Allah loves those who fight in His Cause in rows (ranks) as if they were a solid structure.

5. And (remember) when Musa (Moses) said to his people: “O my people! Why do you hurt me while you know certainly that I am the Messenger of Allah to you? So when they turned away (from the Path of Allah), Allah turned their hearts away (from the Right Path). And Allah guides not the people who are Fasiqun (rebellious, disobedient to Allah).

6. And (remember) when ‘Iesa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary), said: “O Children of Israel! I am the Messenger of Allah unto you confirming the Taurat [(Torah) which came] before me, and giving glad tidings of a Messenger to come after me, whose name shall be Ahmed . But when he (Ahmed i.e. Muhammad ) came to them with clear proofs, they said: “This is plain magic.”

7. And who does more wrong than the one who invents a lie against Allah, while he is being invited to Islam? And Allah guides not the people who are Zalimun (polytheists, wrong-doers and disbelievers) folk.

8. They intend to put out the Light of Allah (i.e. the religion of Islam, this Qur’an, and Prophet Muhammad ) with their mouths. But Allah will complete His Light even though the disbelievers hate (it).

9. He it is Who has sent His Messenger (Muhammad ) with guidance and the religion of truth (Islamic Monotheism) to make it victorious over all (other) religions even though the Mushrikun (polytheists, pagans, idolaters, and disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah and in His Messenger Muhammed ) hate (it).

10. O You who believe! Shall I guide you to a commerce that will save you from a painful torment.

11. That you believe in Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad ), and that you strive hard and fight in the Cause of Allah with your wealth and your lives, that will be better for you, if you but know!

12. (If you do so) He will forgive you your sins, and admit you into Gardens under which rivers flow, and pleasant dwelling in Gardens of ‘Adn – Eternity ['Adn(Edn) Paradise], that is indeed the great success.

13. And also (He will give you) another (blessing) which you love, help from Allah (against your enemies) and a near victory. And give glad tidings (O Muhammad ) to the believers.

14. O you who believe! Be you helpers (in the Cause) of Allah as said ‘Iesa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary), to Al-Hawariun (the disciples): “Who are my helpers (in the Cause) of Allah?” Al-Hawarieen (the disciples) said: “We are Allah’s helpers” (i.e. we will strive in His Cause!). Then a group of the Children of Israel believed and a group disbelieved. So We gave power to those who believed against their enemies, and they became the uppermost.

-Fi Amanillah-

My article: http://www.muslimahsource.org/spirituality/1-strength-of-heart/

Alhamdulilah, all praise is due to Allah who has blessed us in so many ways!

I’ve been busy doing what I love doing! Alhamdulilah, my Lord is great to us. Will post my lecture from last week!

What powerful reminders there is in surah Baqarah! One from surah Baqarah (49-59 ) today:

Allah sent clouds of mist and manna and salwa for bani Isreal in a desert…the blessings came of all places, subhana’Allah how my Lord blesses us, these are signs to remind us no feat is over great for Allah, and that blessings will come when He decrees and that He is capable of all things! Gem from surah Baqarah!

Alhamdulilah, All praise is due to Allah who has bestowed His blessings upon us. Alhamdulilah my Lord is great to us.

This is such a wonderful recitation, masha’Allah.

Alhamdulilah, all praise is due to Allah who continues to shower His mercy upon us whether we’ve asked or not. Subhana’Allah, how good to us my Lord is.

Tears… tears of joy to be exact. This past weekend at my teen halaqah one of the best/happiest moments of my life took place. A young woman came in and sat through my halaqah, afterwards I asked her if she had any questions about what I talked about, and in Islam in general. Eventually, and I doubt it all came from me (i.e my talk), but ultimately what transpired happened by the will of Allah and I’m moved that Allah used me as a tool for this sister to enter into Islam. Her heart was guided by Allah, and it was the decree of Allah that she had come into my halaqah of all places. I remember once listening to kamel El Makki’s lecture on ‘how to give Shahadah in ten minutes’ on Youtube, and one of the greatest tips I learned from that series was when you encounter someone and you give dawah to them, invite them to Islam. After asking her questions about what she knew, had any questions/or misgivings about Islam, I asked her if she wanted to become muslim and subhana’Allah she accepted. Its been a couple days since I’ve made that invitation and my heart is joyed and my eyes fill with tears thinking about it. It is one of the greatest Joys to to experience. I pray that Allah causes this sister to stay firm in this beautiful faith, and that she is of those who are entered into paradise without accountability.

Halaqats/ any gathering of remembrance is the best place to be in! I’m headed to one in a half hour and alhamdulilah I’m honored to give this talk below…. here are my notes! What an amazing lecture, and I can totally relate to the tears of Joy! Tears of knowing Allah’s mercy is upon me and all of us, and He gives, gives, and gives in so many ways that its beyond comprehension!

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Yaser Birjas – Just A Tear For The One We Fear

The Prophet said:
There are seven whom Allah will shade in His Shade on the Day when there is no shade except His Shade: a just ruler; a youth who grew up in the worship of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic; a man whose heart is attached to the mosques; two men who love each other for Allah’s sake, meeting for that and parting upon that; a man who is called by a woman of beauty and position [for illegal intercourse], but be says: ‘I fear Allah’, a man who gives in charity and hides it, such that his left hand does not know what his right hand gives in charity; and a man who remembered Allah in private and so his eyes shed tears.’

Narrated by Abu Hurairah & collected in Sahih al-Bukhari (english trans.) vol.1, p.356, no.629 & Sahih Muslim english trans.) vol.2, p.493, no.2248

Seven who are covered in the shade of Allah azza wa jala, on a day when there is no shade.
Alone, without a distraction they remember Allah. They are alone, they tear up.

That they sit and think about Allah, it becomes real to them, and they are moved.

Hadeeth : wa rajuln thakiruallah Qalin Fa fadat 3aynaa. They sit and they remember.

Beautiful gatherings, . After every beautiful gatherings, their departures, But not every departure has to return to a reunion, bc when you die there is no reunion except to the hereafter. Example; Parents there, a young man, parents grow old, they depart, they leave, soon a child comes and he calls him ‘father’. Until that perpetual gathering in the hereafter. Shows how we will only meet together, the cycle continues. When this cycle ends, you make sure that you are of these who are covered by the shade, you are part of these categories.

Someone who remembers Allah in their solitude and their eyes tear up. Fadat 3ayna is not whaling, eyes are flowing with tears.

Why do people cry?

Imam al qurtabi on his commentary of Surat Najim, Waninahu huwa adhaaka wa abka “Allah is the one who makes you laugh and cry” He is the one who allowed/created for this to happen, and He created situations that allowed us to feel this way. It was by His decree. He created the Asbaab- the reason. Crying/laughing natural things, especially crying, a natural thing, not a weakness.

The righteous cried in the past, Allah says in Surah Maryam Olaika allatheena anAAama Allahu AAalayhim mina alnnabiyyeena min thurriyyati adama wamimman hamalna maAAa noohin wamin thurriyyati ibraheema waisraeela wamimman hadayna waijtabayna itha tutla AAalayhim ayatu alrrahmani kharroo sujjadan wabukiyyan
19:58 Those were some of the prophets on whom Allah did bestow His Grace,- of the posterity of Adam, and of those who We carried (in the Ark) with Noah, and of the posterity of Abraham and Israel of those whom We guided and chose. Whenever the Signs of ((Allah)) Most Gracious were rehearsed to them, they would fall down in prostrate adoration and in tears.

To cry is a noble thing, especially is for the sake of Allah.

The prophet sal allahu sallam cried for the sake of Allah. Aisha r.a mentioned how he was up, he “Tharaynee 3ayn” leave. I love you, but I won’t stand in the way. In he cried his sujud. Even someone was there and he cried, but when you are alone/or someone is there, when you are doing in salaah by yourself and you cry, its truly that you are remembering Allah.

What is that thing that is worst crying for? Why do we cry? Sometimes movies and other things make us cry. Sometimes we cry when we watch animation, a sale ended at the mall, our team lost a game.

Why people cry:
*People cry out of fear: Qawf: something that will happen in future

*Out of Rahma: out of mercy, tenderness, someone like the Prophet sal allahu sallam his child dying in his arm. Abdullah ibn 3awf so this and he said you do this. And he sal allahu alayhi wa sallam told him its from the rahma of Allah that this is possible’

*Out of love: You cherish a memory of someone you love. Memories of moments with them. You fear it won’t last long.

* Crying of ones love one departing/coming.

**Tears of happiness: cool tears/ brings ease and tranquility to the heart.

*Tear of huzn: tears of sorrow/you remember and you cry. Extremely hot, or warm, comes with pain.

*Tears of weakness: situation where you feel helplessness. It’s a breaking point, and you feel like I can’t do anything about this situation. Leads to regret, pain, etc.

In old days, whaling, they use to pay ppl to whale on the behalf of those who died. F

Fake tears: tears of hypocracy, they are lying.

Fear: Qawf, qhashya: rahma, ishfaaq: (Qawf/Qhashiya) most common, that is the practice of the anbiyah, :

Inma yaqshallah min ul3ama : those who fear Allah are the scholars

The men hearing of the Prophet sal allahu sallam, over heard things and he told them I’m the most akhshaykhum – the most fearful of you all.

Ibnul Qiyam Al jawzi, in his book Madrakul salikeen has a beautiful description of Qashiyah : is fear that is associated with knowledge You fear out of what you know. The day of Judgement is an open book exam, you have all the answers, they have come to you, you have no reason to fail. Do your homework, gain knowledge, and you will pass. Qawf: not associated with knowledge, you fear of what is going to happen, you hear something and you guess whats going to happen. Those who have the Qawf, without the knowledge, they will be angry, they will be upset because they don’t have the knowledge, they become angry and lose hope in Allah. Those who have knowledge, they know who Allah is, they avoid the jahanam, they want jannah, they have the incentive to work harder. The companions when they heard the verses, they cried, they were moved, they didn’t fainted. People who came after companions, when faint when they would hear verses of hell-fire, they didn’t faint, they were just scared.

Another explanation by Ibnul Qiyam rahimullahi : Someone sees a flood coming, you see it, you physically run away, as you keep running, this qawf depends movement. Qashiyah, when you get higher level, find shelter, you hide yourself, you are still scared, but you have the knowledge. Qashiyah leads to peace, you develop that peace with Allah.

These people are not crying out of desperation, they are crying because of Qashiyah, they know Allah, they are crying because of the mercy of Allah.

These people even crying in the hope of meeting Allah subhana wa tala. Ubay Ibn Ka3b: He received the news from the Prophet sal allah alayhi wa sallam “ Ya ubay Innallah subhana qad amara qarat quran: The Prophet said, Allah has commanded you me to recite to you..Ubay was shocked, and he said he said me, Allah mentioned me by name? Ubay cried! It’s a moment of happiness, of joy! Because of Qashiya, is the middle path between Jannah and nar/ where you hope for the mercy of Allah but are cautious.
We have been given this knowledge now of this, we have Qashiya . 7 people who meet the qualifications on being under that shade on the Day of Judgment. On the day of Judgment you will cry because of cool tears.

This requires knowledge, this fear; it’s a positive fear of Allah. Empower yourself with deen.

Imam ibnu Qayim: 3alamu bi Allah 3alim bi deen– knows allah and knowledgeable of allah. They know what allah is to them,they work towards.

3alamul bi Allah jahiliya bi deenallah. They know about Allah, but don’t know anything about deen of allah. They don’t have it in their hearts, that qashiyah, comes with fear

3alamul jahilyah billah bi deenallah. Orientalist. Some Muslims, so rigid in their practices, only recognize the superficial practice that they have lost the spirit of the deen. They lost the connection of the deen.

You can be an expert, can get the 7 sides, Like umar r.a, just like you have all the degrees, an expert in this and this.

We don’t want to tear up for the worst situations in the hereafter, we want to work hard right now, go through situations and face them so that in the day of Judgement we are happy/and tears of Joy. Happy that they did what we did in this dunya. This dunya is not easy, things will come, and difficulty will come. Allah has tested people before us, and will test us.

The road to Paradise and the finishing this life with a good ending is difficulty, its not easy! Jannah is expensive!
:::Its Expensive:::
Being granted such an abode of bliss is difficult…its a path in which one is tested, shaken to the core..subhana’Allah. A bit ago we covered verse 214 of Surah Baqarah in Al-Huda, Examples of those who were before is given and of how they were tested. Its not enough to say I believe, there is more to it. subhana’Allah, towards the end of the ayah He states..these people were shaken to the core..tested with hardship Albasa, and Aduriry and suffering, and then what to the point they exclaimed “mata nasurallah” when is the help of Allah?! And in which Allah replies, “the help of Allah is near”

I reflected upon this and I thought Allah tests those whom He loves and surely their abode is Jannah (Paradise). But that abode and getting into is not easy, it comes with hard work, dedication, and much toil and testing! Remember that.

We’re tested in patience-when seeking the knowledge of Islam (indeed this requires a specific type of patience). And this we must do as learning about Allah, who is Allah-His attributes, ways of increasing in our Iman and really connecting with Him we must do. We must make the effort as we know whoever takes the path of knowledge (of islam) Allah will pave the one to Jannah for them (paraphrased: sahih hadeeth)

Baqarah ayah: 155
We’re tested with Fear
We’re tested with Hunger
We’re tested with loss of wealth
We’re tested with loss of health
We’re tested with loss of life/soul
So next when your tested, remember “ala inna nasra Allah Qareebun” The help of Allah is near.
So when you are shaken-and yes one time or another we all will be, remember to keep steadfast in the way of Allah (as that is the path to Jannah), and remembered that the path of paradise is paved with hard work and many trails.
Baqarah ayah 214:
Am or
hasibtum did you all think haa seen baa hasabah-to think , consider
an that
tadkhuloo you will enter, all enter
aljannata the jannah
walamma : while not as yet
Yatikum : it comes to you
mathalu : like of
allatheena of those who
khalaw : they passed away
min from
qablikum before you
massathumu it touched them
albasao the hardship
waalddarrao : and the suffering: adversity comprised of mental pain, physically as well as psychological traumas. Fatigue, hunger
wazulziloo : and they were shaken, zaay laam zaa laam -to shake to and fro-continuously -to frighten someone, to put them in a difficult position till they are shaken.
hatta Until
yaqoola he says
alrrasoolu the messenger said
waallatheena and those who
amanoo they believed
maAAahu : with him
mata when
nasru : help
llahi of Allah
ala : beware, for emphasis-this is true, its near.
inna : indeed
nasra : help
Allah : of Allah
qareebun : is one near

Not to leave with a sad not, the mercy of Allah is great, He loves that we return to Him, ask Him for forgiveness, and work towards doing good deeds! The doors of mercy and forgiveness are open, it is just there for us to make sincere dua and seek His help!

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Alhamdulilah, all praise is due to Allah who Has has given us the ability to think and ponder!

Its early morning now and I’m heading out soon to attend to one of my halaqah’s of the day and insha’Allah another one later in the day. Today’s talk will be on manners in Islam! How important this topic and so embedded with talks of Aqeedah and Iman that one cannot live without it!

In preparing and thinking about things for my halaqah I’m reminded of a post one sister made on her a blog last weekend…found here: http://jannah.org/blog/2011/10/15/why-do-muslims-flip-out/

In response to that I wrote:

Assalama ‘alaykum,

Awesome and much needed post. My friend and I were just having this same talk the other day. The Ummah is really in need of using hikmah and showing more mercy to its fellow muslims/non-muslims. People are so stuck with what they consider to be ‘right/wrong’ that they forget the bigger picture and overlook such things as mercy and kindness to their fellow human being. They are so stuck with ‘harm/halal’ ‘I think this, and you think that’ that the brother/sisterhood of Islam isn’t there. Subhana’Allah if people looked on the Prophet sal allahu sallam dealt with things they would understand that their thinking and ways of acting is what the prophet sal allahu sallam warned us against. I’m reminded of a saying…”Verily we are more in need of a little bit of good manners then we are a lot of knowledge” Knowledge is great, but I feel like people learn a few things in Islam or hold a certain view and they make go around passing judgement on people and making them all uncomfortable. Most people who do this feel like they have all the knowledge in the world and they are more knowledgeable then anyone and are free to pass judgement…when do we get to that level, the scholars of the past spent decades studying and they still considered themselves not fully learned, and look at us today, a person learns a ruling and they run with it without a backward thought of “could there be a difference of opinion on this” nope, its my way or the high for some. May Allah make us of those who ponder and think over our actions towards others, cause us to think, and use our hearts in dealing with people.
——————–

Till next time, may we meet in circle’s of remembrance!

Alhamdulilah, all praise is due to Allah who has blessed us with time!

Post from: http://quranandme.wordpress.com/

How to Organize Time?

Ever wonder how people are able to take out time for worship and seeking knowledge despite their busy work schedule, appointments and family commitments?

Another successor to the Companion, ‘Ata ibn Abi Rabah understood the purpose of creation and thus was heedful of his accountability to Allah. He methodically organized his time since childhood.

1) Born as a slave, his first concern was serving his owner. He performed all of his chores as quickly and skillful as possible, so that none could say that he was lazy or negligent.

2.) He also reserved an equal portion of his time to worship Allah, so he could devote himself to prayer alone during this portion of the day.

3) Finally, he reserved a portion of ihs time for learning and seeking knowledge. He sought out the remaining venerable Companions of the Prophet sallahu alyihi sallam.

He reached a high level of scholarship due to two personal qualities:

1) Extraordinary degree of self-control which never granted him an opportunity for self indulgence.

2) He was exacting in how he spent his time, and would net waste it on frivolous actions or speech.

Advising Muhammad ibn Suqah, he said, “When the Day of Judgement comes, should we not be ashamed to be shown the record which we have filled up with or speech, and to find that most of it has nothing to do with our religion our our needs?”
Source: Portraits (vol.1) – Abdul Rahman al Basha

Alhamdulilah, all praise is due to Allah has blessed in so many ways!

Alhamdulilah.

I recently started two youth halaqahs. I love teaching about Allah, and anything that I hope is pleasing to Allah. I look at my young students and in my heart I want the best for them and pray that Allah showers His mercy upon them and keeps them on the straight path. In the life we live there are so many opportunities for children to get lost and to forget the remembrance of Allah, but its up to all of us to aid anyone we can, young or old into remembering Allah, into keeping steadfast in the straight path, into striving to do greater things for the sake of this deen. The Prophet sal allahu sallam said the ummah is like one body, when one part is ailing we should all feel responsible and help them. The youth of today are the future, the kids I teach today are going to be adults in a less than a decade, they are going to be the movers and shakers of their community, they are going to be the ones calling to goodness and forbidding the bad. We are all connected to one another and all of us have to ask ourselves how are we giving back to our community, what are we doing for our ummah, how are we contributing to the ummah of the Prophet sal allah sallam. As I told a mother of one of my students, that every time I do I talk I’m helping myself, this is good for me! I ask Allah to accept it of me and to grant me the blessings of being able to see His face in Paradise. I ask Allah to bless all of us in whatever capacity we are in helping our ummah…whether its raising righteous children at home, fulfilling the rights of our families, or taking a bit of our precious time in helping young ones in our communities.

A wonderful Quran khutbah given by the Prophet sal allahu sallam that recorded in the books of hadeeth.

Till next time, may we be joined together in gatherings of remembrance and be remembered in a better gathering in Alfirdous ala!

Alhamdulilah, all praise is due to Allah who has blessed us in so many ways! Oh Allah continue to bestow your favours on us.

Alhuda Gems for the week:

* Time passes, we will get busy, things will come up, but we have to ponder on how we spend our time.

* Whenever we hear verses about disbelievers (such as 6-7 of Baqarah) we might have a tendency to tune them out. 1/3rd of the Quran addresses them, we our selves should take a lesson. Subhana’Allah just now I’m thinking how that in itself (that Allah addresses the believers in 1/3rd Quran) as being a mercy for them and us. This is Allah’s mercy, He doesn’t give up on us, it is mostly us he renounce all hope and give up easily. The doors of Allah’s mercy, guidance, and love for us is open…we just have to try harder! For these verses, we need to reflect on them, really in take because nothing/is ever guaranteed for us. In the same way Allah talks about the disbelievers so much, because indeed we are not guaranteed to die as believers. Disbelief in Allah is the greatest removal of Allah’s mercy on us and it leads to our destruction, Allah is constantly reminding us “Oh my slave, don’t die in this state!”

* Goes with the upper points: A young devout man hastened to do the adaan everyday, he came early so he could get this reward. One day he sees a woman, its love at first sight for him. He goes to her house, asks for her hand, she turns him down because he is muslim and she is Christian. He becomes a Christian to marry her, and as soon as he gets married he falls off a roof and dies, he dies as a Christian. Here is a man believing in Allah, the one God, and he converts for someone and even at that what he sought didn’t happen for him. The reality is that this can be anyone practising, they can be easily taken away from the path…this is indeed a reminder for us!

* We need to keep up, guard our iman, protect our imaan, because this is the only thing that will avail us on the Day of Judgement! Not our children, nothing, nada, just our imaan! Our world life will keep us busy..my teacher mentioned how out of all that she owns, the most important thing is her faith. It is what would save her!

*The Quran is what keeps our faith alive. We need it, we need to get closer to the Quran. This is what the mutaqee does, the God conscious one seeks this books, uses this book!

* Quran! Read it, learn it, study it, keep up with it. This gives life to the heart!

* Death: people die every day. Some are famous and some not famous. My teacher pointed how regardless of what someone had or did in the dunya, i.e their status in the dunya, it doesn’t matter in terms of the hole they will be placed in. A hole is a hole, what matters is our faith and our closeness to Allah subhana wa tala. Speaking death, Imaam Siraj Wahhaj has this amazing lecture on preparing for death…its really moving, subhana’Allah.

Till next time, may Allah make us of the people of the Quran and those who take reminders to heart and implement in their lives!

Alhamdulilah, all praise is due to Allah subhana wa tala who provides for us in so many ways!

Today in my alhuda class we covered verses 1-5 of Surah Baqarah, and one of the parts that really hit home with me was the concept of Taqwa. Having Taqwa is a precursor to obtaining guidance. Allah says that this book is a guidance for the mutaqeen (those who are God conscious-Pious), meaning that these people approach the Quran with Allah in mind (following what He commands and distancing oneself from what displeases Him). My teacher recently covered gave the example of going to a party and coming dressed appropriately, and in the same way I thought of the Quran and anything to do with Allah, i.e that we must claock ourselves with clothing of Taqwa, we must adorn our lives with the remembrance of Allah so that we may continue to recieve and benefit from the guidance that Allah readily provides for us. In tafseer we also discussed how Allah says in surah Baqarah (that this book is for the mutaqeen- the God conscious, but at the same time somewhere else Allah says “this book is a guidance for mankind”) and to understand these verses is to say that the Quran is revealed for all-open to all, to read, reflect, recieve information, but the one who benefits the most from it and gains the utmost guidance is the one who comes to it with a heart that is God conscious. This point really hit home with me…it made me think about what I should think about every time I open Allah’s noble book, the kind of frame of mind I should be in.

Some gems/reminders from class:

* Allah subhana wa tala is Ar Rahman-Ar Rahmeem, and when we face difficulty in anything we should see whether the problem is happening as a result of something we are doing wrong. We should seek to gain Allah’s forgiveness, pray two rakats of nawafil and continue to seek Allah’s guidance in everything we do.

* Whenever we are doing anything, working towards something, we should ask ourselves whether its Akhirah oriented or not. We should strive and know that whatever we are doing if its for the sake of Allah, the efforts will not be forgotten by Allah and He will reward us.

* With every hardship comes ease, and sadly enough we forget the ease part. We have a lot of eases that Allah has blessed us with that we don’t take into account. Our sight, our hearing, everything that we have.

* There are so many things that we get from Allah that we didn’t even ask for. Allah has given to us anyway.

* Concerning huruful Muqadat- disjointed letters in beginning of Surah Baqarah. When Allah wants as to understand, open our heart to something, or to comprehend something it will happen…only when He wills it. This is so true in life! Whatever we can’t understand, we must accept it as Allah’s decree i.e Alif Laam Meem meaning.

* What is your meaning of success. Prophets s.a.w. defination. To be saved from the hell-fire, and entered into Paradise (hadeeth).

* The least punishment in the hell-fire is that given to Abu Lahab- shoes of fire that makes his brain boil; So when we take the idea of hell-fire lightly we don’t know the reality of it, and we have no comprehended the severity of the punishments.

* Anything associated with Allah has a high status. The Quran, the people associated with the sunnah, its time frame, all of it is important.

* Try to give up a lot of sleeping, less sleep, and more time to the way of Allah and you will see barakah in your life.

* Ulaika- “those” is showing high status, these people are being exalted..those who recieved guidance from Allah, who believe in the unseen, who establish salaah, who give zaakah. Allah also uses “Ulaika” to refer to the people of the book- ahlul kitaab, because indeed these people were given one of the books of Allah as well. We need to be open minded when giving them dawah.

* Verse 3 of Maida, Omar r.a had a jewish man tell him that had they been given that verse in their book, they would have been celebrating…who would have followed it if it was in their book.

* Referring to point up. In path of knowledge, prejudice takes the place of taking knowledge from a specific people. Open minded we should be!