How to get Barakah in our home

How to get Barakah in our home ( Important Keys)

Means of attaining Barakah in our homes: 

Barakah a word we here often but sadly we have lost it in our homes, so we find no barakah in time, nor in sustenance or our wealth and children, so what then is the key to barakah. 

There are 8 keys to attaining barakah :

1-Tilaawah of the Quraan: 

Allah has made the Quraan al Kareem a source of barakah, if we ponder over its meaning and we live our lives according to its teachings . And for this reason our beloved messenger ﷺ said about the home in which Quraan is recited, the malaaikahs live in it, the shaithaans flee from it and it expands for the family and goodness increases in it.

2- Saying Bismillah and making the zikr of Allah: 

The messenger ﷺ said: if a man enters his home and he mentioned Allahs name upon his entrance and before he ate, Shaithaan says to his companions, there is no home nor food for you here. 

3. Sadaqah: 

From the means of attaining barakah in a home is to give sadaqah. Especially secret sadaqah because it extinguishes the anger of Allah. 

4. Maintaining family ties: 

And indeed our messenger ﷺ has informed us that maintaining family ties, and observing good character, increases our sustenance and our lives.

5. Waking up early to search for your rizq: 

It is mentioned in a Hadith ( Give glad tidings to my ummah in the early parts of the day) Which means - those who leave their homes to search for their rizq in the early parts of the morning. 

6. Establishing salaah on its fixed time is a means of attaining barakah: 

And enjoin As-Salat (the prayer) on your family, and be patient in offering them  [i.e. the Salat (prayers)].  We ask not of you a provision , We provide for you. And the good end (i.e. Paradise) is for the Muttaqun .

7. Putting our trust in Allah as he should be trusted: 

As is mentioned in a Hadith, If you trust Allah as he should be trusted , he will sustain you as he provides for the birds, they leave hungry in search for food and return full. 

8. Seeking Repentance: 

Making lots of Istighfaar. And Istighfaar on its own is a means of Increasing our sustenance, Just as Nabi ﷺ said: Whoever makes Istighfaar Allah will make a way out of every difficult situation for him, And he will ease his sorrow, and he will sustain him from where he perceives not. 

May Allah bless us with lots of barakah and contentment.

Luck In Islam

What does Islam say about luck?

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

Brother in Islam,

Linguistically, ‘luck’ means, apparent success brought about by chance. According to the oxford dictionary, the word luck means the force that causes good or bad things to happen. In Islam, we believe all good and bad is from Allah Ta’ala and everything happens exclusively by the command of Allah Ta’ala. In today’s context, the word ‘luck’ is commonly used to wish someone well, or to acknowledge a gift a person has been bestowed with. However, if a person uses the word luck and believes it to mean as defined by linguists, then it will be impermissible.

We, as Muslims believe that all things in this World are destined by Allah Ta’ala. Allah Ta’ala knows what has happened, what is happening and what will happen. Outwardly, certain things seem to be a cause of luck or coincidence. But a Muslim believes that his time of death, sustenance and means of livelihood were pre-determined by Allah Ta’ala when he was still a foetus in his mother’s womb. 

Hence, in the life of a Muslim there is no scope for luck or coincidence. Rather, he is to act according to the commands of Allah Ta’ala and his messenger (Sallallahu Alaihi Wassalam) and he is to believe that this is a form of taking necessary worldly measures and the results are up to Allah Ta’ala.

With regards to the word حظ, there are different definitions given by linguists of the Arabic language, including; fortunate, lucky and portion. The word appears seven times in the Quran. In some verses, the word is translated as fortunate, whilst in other it is translated as portion.

You have made reference to the following verse:

وَمَا يُلَقَّاهَا إِلَّا الَّذِينَ صَبَرُوا وَمَا يُلَقَّاهَا إِلَّا ذُو حَظٍّ عَظِيمٍ (فصلت: 35)

Translation: ‘None is granted it except one having a great portion (of good).’

Exegetes have mentioned that the interpretation of حظ عظيم could mean those who will earn most rewards, whilst others say it could mean Jannah. Therefore, using this verse to prove that Muslims believe in luck, is incorrect. Yes, indeed, a person will be lucky if he is granted the qualities mentioned in this verse because, in our custom, the word luck also refers to someone who has been blessed with a bounty from Allah Ta’ala. Hence, using the word luck in its common usage today and believing in its original concept are two different things.

Another verse of the Quran wherein the word حظ is used:

فَخَرَجَ عَلَى قَوْمِهِ فِي زِينَتِهِ قَالَ الَّذِينَ يُرِيدُونَ الْحَيَاةَ الدُّنْيَا يَا لَيْتَ لَنَا مِثْلَ مَا أُوتِيَ قَارُونُ إِنَّهُ لَذُو حَظٍّ عَظِيمٍ (قصص: 79)

Translation: ‘So he emerged among his people in pomp and splendour. Those who desired the world gaped, “if only we also possessed what Qaroon has! Undoubtedly, he is the owner of great fortune”.’

In this verse, Ibn Abbas (Radhiyallahu Anhu) and many other exegetes have mentioned that the words, حظ عظيم, refer to the vast portion of the Dunya that was given to Qaroon.

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best.

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.

The 15th Night of Shaaban

If a person wants to fill a container he will first ensure that the container is clean. If the container is not clean he will first clean the container then he will fill it up. Likewise, if we want to fill his heart with the blessings of Ramadhān then we will first have to clean our hearts. If we are not prepared to fill ordinary water in a dirty glass how then we expect to fill a dirty heart with the pure blessings and mercies of the blessed month of Ramadhān? 

Allāh through His infinite mercy blessed us with the night of emancipation, the night of the 15th of Sha’bān so that we may clean and purify our hearts so that when Ramadhān comes we are able to fill our hearts with the immense goodness it brings along.

The night of the 15th of Sha’bān is a night of turning to Allāh  in repentance. It is also an opportunity to patch up with fellow human beings. It is an occasion to clean up our hearts so that when Ramadhān comes we are ready to fill up our hearts and gain maximum benefit from this auspicious month.

We are thought in the aḥādīth that on this night Allāh  forgives His entire creation except those who ascribe partners unto Him. Another narration mentions that Allāh  forgives so many people on this night as to the amount of wool on the sheep of the tribe named Kalb. 

Dua To Be Recited On This Night 

أَعُوْذُ بِعَفْوِكَ مِنْ عِقَابِكَ وَأَعُوْذُ بِرِضَاكَ مِنْ سَخَطِكَ وَأَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْكَ إِلَيْكَ

لَا أُحْصِيْ ثَنَاءً عَلَيْكَ أَنْتَ كَمَا أَثْنَيْتَ عَلىَ نَفْسِكَ

I seek protection in Your forgiveness from Your punishment

And I seek protection in Your happiness from Your anger

And I seek protection in You from You

I am unable to praise You

You are as You praised Yourself.

Written By: Mufti Ishaaq E Moosa (Student of Mufti Ebrahim Desai)

Checked and Approved by,

Mufti Ebrahim Desai

Source: http://www.idealwoman.org/2014/the-month-of-shaban/

Dua For Rajab and Shaaban

Hazrat Umar Bin Abdul Aziz

A great umayyad caliph, ruling an empire stretching from the shores of the Atlantic to the highlands of Pamir, was indulged in examining a pile of state documents. A dim light of a lamp is the only source of illumination in his private chamber. Mean while, the caliph is visited by his wife Famita. Completely unaware of arrival of his wife, he was busy in his job untill she said “Sire! Will you spare a few moments for me? I want to discuss a private matter with you.” “Of course”, replied the pious Caliph, raising his head from the papers, “But, please put off this State lamp and light your own, as I do not want to burn the State oil for private talk.” This great caliph was Umar bin Abdul Aziz.

He was the son of Abdul Aziz bin Marwan, the governor of Egypt while his mother, Umm-i-Aasim was the granddaughter of Caliph Umar Ibn Al Khattab. 

Birth of Hazrat Umar Bin Abdul Aziz

Umar bin Abdul Aziz was born in 63 A.H. (682 A.D.) in Halwan, Egypt, but he received his education in Madinah from his mother’s uncle, the celebrated scholar Abdullah Ibn Umar. He stayed in Madinah till his father’s death in 704 A.D., when he was called by his uncle Caliph Abdul Malik and was married to his daughter Fatima. He was appointed governor of Madinah in 706 A.D. succeeding Caliph Waleed bin Abdul Malik.

umar bin abdul aziz One of the brightest shining start of islam after the four rightly guided caliphs and other companions of prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) is Hazrat Umar bin abdul aziz. A unique ruler from every point of view. And why not ! after all he had blood of Umer Farooq running through his veins ! His mother, Umm-i-Aasim was the grand daughter of the Caliph Umar bin khattab.

Imam Abu Yusuf (d. 182 AH / 798 AD) quotes the memory of Caliph ‘ Umar bin Abdul Aziz by his Wife Fatima. When ‘ Umar ibn Abdul Aziz died, the learned men came to his wife to express sympathy and say how great a calamity had struck the people of Islam by his death. And they said to her, ‘Tell us about him – for the one who knows best about a man is his wife’.

And she said: “Indeed he never used to pray or fast more than the rest of you, but I never saw a servant of God who feared Him more than Umar bin abdul aziz. He devoted his body and his soul to the people. All day he would sit tending to their affairs, and when night came he would sit up while business remained. One evening when he had finished everything, he called for his lamp – from which he used to buy the oil from his own money – and prayed two prostrations. Then he sat back on his folded legs, with his chin in his hands, and the tears ran down from his cheeks, and this didn’t stop until dawn, when he rose for a day of fasting.

I said to him, ‘Commander of the Believers, was there some matter that troubled you this night?’ And he said, ‘Yes, I saw how I was occupied while governing the affairs of the community, all its black sheep and its white sheep, and I remembered the stranger, beggared and straying, and the poor and the needy, and the prisoners in captivity, and all like them in the far places of the earth, and I realised that ALLAH most high would ask me about all of them, and Muhammad would testify about them, and I feared that I should find no excuse when I was with ALLAH, and no defence with Muhammad.’

And even when ‘Umar was with me in bed, where a man usually find some pleasure with his wife, if he remembered some affair of God’s (people), he would be upset as a bird that had fallen into the water. Then his weeping would rise until I would throw off the blankets in kindness to him. ‘By God’ he would say, ‘How I wish that there was between me and this office the distance of the East from the West!’

Detail About Hazrat Umar Bin Abdul Aziz

There are a few rulers in the world who have left indelible impressions in history. Caliph Umar bin Abdul Aziz tops that list. He is considered one of the finest rulers in Muslim history, second only to the four rightly guided caliphs — Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali (RA). In fact, in some circles, he is affectionately referred to as the fifth and the last caliph of Islam. 

The Roman emperor, when heard about his death, said: "A virtuous person has passed away... I am hardly surprised to see an ascetic who renounced the world and give himself to the prayers of Allah. But I am certainly surprised at a person who had all the pleasures of the world at his feet and yet he shut his eyes against them and lived a life of piety and renunciation."

Umar bin Abdul Aziz ruled as a caliph for only 30 months but during this short period he changed the world. His tenure was the brightest period in the 92-year history of the Umayyad Caliphate.

He was the son of Abdul Aziz bin Marwan, the governor of Egypt while his mother, Umm-i-Aasim was the granddaughter of Caliph Umar Ibn Al Khattab. 

Umar bin Abdul Aziz was born in 63 A.H. (682 A.D.) in Halwan, Egypt, but he received his education in Madinah from his mother’s uncle, the celebrated scholar Abdullah Ibn Umar. 

He stayed in Madinah till his father’s death in 704 A.D., when he was called by his uncle Caliph Abdul Malik and was married to his daughter Fatima. He was appointed governor of Madinah in 706 A.D. succeeding Caliph Waleed bin Abdul Malik.

Umar remained governor of Madinah throughout the reigns of Caliph Walid and Caliph Suleiman. But when Suleiman fell seriously ill, he wanted to appoint heir, as his sons were still minors. Reja ibn Haiwah, the adviser, proposed to him to appoint his cousin Umar bin Abdul Aziz as his successor. Suleiman accepted the suggestion. 

After being nominated caliph, Umar addressed the people from the pulpit saying: “O people, I have been nominated your caliph despite my unwillingness and without your consent. So here I am, I relieve you of your pledge (baiyat) that you have taken for my allegiance. Elect whomsoever you find suitable as your caliph." People shouted: "O Umar, we have full faith in you and we want you as our caliph." Umar continued, “O people, obey me as long as I obey Allah; and if I disobey Allah, you are not duty-bound to obey me."

Umar was extremely pious and averse to worldly luxuries. He preferred simplicity to extravagance. He deposited all assets and wealth meant for the ruling caliph into the Bait Al Maal. He even abandoned the royal palace and preferred to live in a modest house. He wore rough clothes instead of royal robes and often went unrecognized in public like his great grandfather Caliph Umar ibn Al Khattab.

After his appointment as caliph he discarded all the pompous appendages of princely life-servants, slaves, maids, horses, palaces, golden robes and real estates and returned them to Bait Al Maal. He also asked his wife Fatima to return the jewelry she had received from her father Caliph Abdul Malik. The faithful wife complied with his bidding and deposited all of it in the Bait Al Maal. Later, he got his articles of luxury auctioned for 23,000 dinars and spent the amount for charitable purposes." 

He never built a house of his own. Allama Suyuti in his historical work "Taarikh Al Khulafaa" records that Umar spent only two dirhams a day when he was caliph. He received lesser salary than his subordinates. His private properties yielded an income of 50,000 dinars annually before his nomination, but when he returned all his properties to the Bait Al Maal, his private income was reduced to 200 dinars per annum. This was his wealth when he was commanding the vast Caliphate from the borders of France in the West to the borders of China in the East.

Once his wife found him weeping after prayers. She asked what had happened. He replied: "I have been made the ruler over the Muslims and I was thinking of the poor who are starving, and the sick who are destitute, and the naked who are in distress, and the oppressed that are stricken, and the stranger that is in prison, and the venerable elder, and him that hath a large family and small means, and the like of them in countries of the earth and the distant provinces, and I felt that my Lord would ask me about them on the Day of Resurrection, and I feared that no defense would avail me (at that time), and I wept." 

He was very considerate to his subjects. 

His generous reforms and leniency led the people to deposit their taxes willingly. Ibn Kathir writes that thanks to the reforms undertaken by Umar, the annual revenue from Persia alone increased from 28 million dirham to 124 million dirham.

He undertook extensive public works in Persia, Khorasan and North Africa, including the construction of canals, roads, rest houses for travelers and medical dispensaries. 

The result was that during his short reign of two and half years, people had become so prosperous and contented that one could hardly find a person who would accept alms. 

Umar is credited with having ordered the first collection of Hadith, in an official manner, fearing that some of it might be lost. Abu Bakr ibn Muhammad ibn Hazm and Ibn Shihab Al-Zuhri, were among those who compiled Hadith at Umar’s behest. 

Following the example of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him), Umar sent out emissaries to China and Tibet, inviting their rulers to embrace Islam. It was during the time of Umar that Islam took roots and was accepted by a large segment of the population of Persia and Egypt. When the officials complained that because of conversions, the jizya revenues of the state had experienced a steep decline, Umar wrote back saying that “Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was sent as a prophet (to invite the people to Islam) and not as a tax collector." He abolished home tax, marriage tax, stamp tax and many other taxes as well. When many of his agents wrote that his fiscal reforms in favor of new converts would deplete the Treasury, he replied, "Glad would I be, by Allah, to see everybody become Muslim so that you and I would have to till the soil with our own hands to earn a living." 

Once a Muslim murdered a non-Muslim of Hira. Caliph Umar, when informed of the event, ordered the governor to do justice in the case. The Muslim was surrendered to the relations of the murdered person who killed him.

The general princely class of that time could not digest these policies of justice, simplicity and equality. A slave of the caliph was bribed to administer the deadly poison to him. The caliph having felt the effect of the poison sent for the slave and asked him why he had poisoned him. The slave replied that he was given 1,000 dinars for the job. The caliph took the amount from him and deposited it in Bait Al Maal. Freeing the slave he asked him to leave the place immediately, lest anyone might kill him. This was his last deposit in the Bait Al-Maal for the welfare of Muslims.

Umar died in Rajab 101 AH at the age of 38 in a rented house at the place called Dair Sim’aan near Homs. He was buried in Dair Sim’aan on a piece of land he had purchased from a Christian. He reportedly left behind only 17 dinars with a will that out of this amount the rent of the house in which he died and the price of the land in which he was buried would be paid. And thus departed the great soul from the world. 


May Almighty Allah rest his soul in peace and award him the best place in Paradise.

About Hazrat Umar Bin Abdul Aziz

Istikharah Seeking Allah Guidance

WHAT IS ISTIKHAARAH?
Istikhaarah is to seek guidance from Allah when one is faced with a problem to which no solution is apparent (Istikharah means to ask Allah for goodness). The one who makes -istikhaarah will not lose and The one who makes Mashwarah will not regret.

At certain stages of life we often find ourselves at crossroads, impelled to make important decisions that would have huge impacts on our future. These decisions could be about choosing a career, getting married to someone, buying a car or a house, relocating or moving to a foreign land and the like. 

Whenever a person is faced with a difficult problem, or becomes hesitant in making a decision and his knowledge of the matter is insufficient to guide him then after seeking advice from trusted friends he should turn to Allah and beseech His grace. He should willingly and with an open heart and mind supplicate for divine guidance and ask for direction so that the problem is solved in his own best interest. The Du'aa at such an occasion is called Istikhaarah. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “It is from the happiness of the son of Adam to practice Istikharah and be pleased with what Allah had ordained for him. And it is from the misery of the son of Adam to drop the Istikharah of Allah and be displeased at Allah decrees.” (Tirmidhi and Ahmad).

Despite considering all the positives and negatives and consulting family, friends or other qualified people, this task of reaching a sound decision leaves us doubtful and nervous. Praise and thanks to our Creator who doesn’t leave us fretting and worried during these crucial times. He has taught us, a special prayer for guidance in making decisions called Salat Al-Istikharah. When performing this prayer one asks Allah to guide him to the right choice concerning a certain essential matter. 

The prayer of Istikharah was described in a Hadith narrated by Jabir ibn Abdullah Al-Salami, who said: “The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to teach his companions to make Istikharah in all things, just as he used to teach them surahs from the Qur’an. He (peace be upon him) said: ‘If any one of you is concerned about a decision he has to make, then let him pray two rakahs of non-obligatory prayer, then say: 

(Translation) O Allah, I ask for Your decision by Your knowledge and Your decree by Your ability, and I ask of You from Your great favor. For You are able and I am not able, and You know and I do not know, and You are the Knower of things concealed. O Allah, if You have known that this matter (naming it here) is good for me in my religion, my livelihood and the outcome of my affair, then decree it for me, make it easy for me and then bless it for me. And if You have known that this matter is bad for me in my religion, my livelihood and the outcome of my affair, then turn it away from me and turn me away from it, and decree for me what is good wherever it may be. And then make me content with it.’ (Al-Bukhaari, Al-Tirmidhi, Al-Nisa’i, Abu Dawood, Ibn Maajah and Ahmad).

The result of Istikharah is known by being inclined to do something and continuing to feel positive about it. In addition, if the decision one is about to take is good for him (in both worlds), the paths to it will open up and if it’s not, then the paths will become obstructed and Allah will direct him somewhere else. The beauty of Istikharah is that the person who sought the guidance of Allah will be content with Allah’s decision for him even if it diverts him from what he thought was good as he will know that this is the result of his Istikharah. This is because, Allah, the Creator knows what is best and will definitely guide His servants to what is best for them within His vast knowledge and infinite wisdom. 

We need to understand that Istikharah does not guarantee the absence of tests and trials in life. Since Istikharah is a dua, Allah’s response to it may come in any of the three ways as stated in the Hadith: “There is no Muslim who offers a dua in which there is no sin or severing of family ties but Allah will give him one of three things in return: either He will answer his du’aa soon, or he will store it up for him in the Hereafter, or He will divert an equivalent evil away from him because of it.” (Ahmad) 

So if one goes through a bad marriage even after performing Istikharah or suffers loss in his business, etc., it might be that Allah wants him/her to draw closer to Him by way of patience and dua and send His blessings through some other way. Allah says: “But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allah knows, while you know not.” (Qur’an 2:216) 

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “It is from the happiness of the son of Adam to practice Istikharah and be pleased with what Allah had ordained for him. And it is from the misery of the son of Adam to drop the Istikharah of Allah and be displeased at Allah’s decrees.” (Tirmidhi and Ahmad) 

Unfortunately, many people nowadays ignore this beautiful Sunnah and resort to baseless or forbidden ways to make important decisions. There are some who do follow the Sunnah of praying Istikharah but have added weird myths and unreasonable expectations to it. They ask some stranger or religious personality to do it for them and expect the results of Istikharah to be shown to them in dreams, visions, some special sign or color while all of this is nothing but acts of ignorance. 

Firstly, it is a form of innovation to ask someone else to do Istikharah for you or do it for others and secondly, it doesn’t give one instant results like giving a green signal to proceed in a certain affair. 

Istikharah is a dua which one needs to make himself, at any time of the day and then execute the matter (for which he prayed). And if it is good then Allah will make it easy for him and bless him in that, and if it is not good for him, then Allah will turn it away from him and will make easy for him that in which there is good by His permission. For without doubt, the person who makes Istikharah, seeking guidance from his Creator and advice from His creation never regrets, as Allah says: id to His Messenger (peace be upon him): “... And when you have decided, then rely upon Allah. Indeed, Allah loves those who rely (upon Him).” (Qur’an 3:159)

The purpose of Istikharah

The purpose of istikharah is to remove the doubt a person has whether he/she should do such a thing or not. Istikharah is for the contentment of the heart and it is asking Allah to put khair (good) in what we are going to do and to make it easy.

METHOD OF ISTIKHAARAH

Salat-ul-Istikharah may be performed at any time. It is not a condition to perform Salat-ul-Istikharah before going to sleep. After performing Istikharah, one should hand over the entire matter to the limitless knowledge of Allah Ta'ala. Only that will happen which Allah Ta'ala wills and which is good for one’s own sake though one may not be able to see it immediately. 

When making Istikhaarah begin with performing two Rakaats Nafl Salaat. Then with all sincerity recite the following Du'a.


1. Recite Surah Kafiroon in the first Rakaat and Surah Ikhlaas in the second Rakaat. 
2. Thereafter, recite the following Du’aa:

اَلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ، وَالصَّلاةُ وَالسَّلامُ عَلَى سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَّعَلَى آلِهِ وَأَصْحَابِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ.

 اَللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ، وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ العَظِيْمِ، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلاَ أَقْدِرُ، وَتَعْلَمُ وَلاَ أَعْلَمُ، وَأَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الغُيُوبِ، اَللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ خَيْرٌ لِّيْ فِيْ دِيْنِيْ وَمَعَاشِيْ وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِيْ، فَاقْدُرْهُ لِيْ وَيَسِّرْهُ لِيْ ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِيْ فِيْهِ، وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِّيْ فِيْ دِيْنِيْ وَمَعَاشِيْ وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِيْ، فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّيْ وَاصْرِفْنِيْ عَنْهُ، وَاقْدُرْ لِيَ الخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ ثُمَّ أَرْضِنِيْ بِهِ 

English Translation:

“All praises are due to Allāh, the Rabb of the Worlds. Salutations and Greetings be on our leader, Muhammad, his family and all his Companions. 

Allaahumma innee astakheeruka bi ilmika wa-astaqdiruka biqudratika wa-as'aluka min fadhlika al-adheem. Fa innaka taqdiru walaa aqdiru. Wa ta'lamu walaa a'alamu wa anta allaamul ghuyoob. Allaahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna haadhal-amr khayrun liy fiy deeniy wa-ma'aashiy wa-aaqibat amriy, fa'qdruhliy wa-yassirh liy thumma baarik liy feehi. Wa in-kunta ta'lamu anna haadhal amr sharrun liy fiy deeniy wa-ma'aashiy was-'aaqibat amriy. Fa asrifh annee wa-srif 'anhu. Wa aqdurh liyal khayr hayth kaana thumma a-rdhiniy bihee. 

Meaning of Dua:

 O Allah!! Behold I ask you the good through Your Knowledge, and ability through Your Power, and beg (Your favour) out of Your infinite Bounty. For surely You have Power; I have none. You know all; I know not. You are the Great Knower of all things. O Allah! If in Your Knowledge this matter be good for my faith (Deen), for my livelihood, and for the consequences of my affairs, then ordain it for me, and make it easy for me, and bless me therein. But if in Your Knowledge, this matter be bad for my faith (Deen) for my livelihood, and for the consequences of my affairs, then turn it away from me, and turn me away therefrom, and ordain for me the good wherever it be, and cause me to be pleased therewith.

Note: While reciting this Du'aa when one reaches HAADHAL AMR (THIS MATTER) at both places he should think of his problem.

May Allah guide and assist us all, Aameen.

Istikharah Seeking Allah Guidance

Abu Bakr As-Siddique Radhi Allahu Anhu

Life of Abu Bakr As-Siddique Radhi Allahu Anhu 

Abu Bakr’s (RA) name was Abdullah bin Abi Quhaafah, his nickname was Abu Bakr (RA) and he was given the title Siddique because he testified the event of Me’raj. On the day Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was made prophet, after Khadeejah (RA) Abu Bakr Siddique (RA) was the first person to embrace Islam. Countless companions of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) embraced Islam because of his preaching. Out of those few of the prominent ones are, Uthmaan Ghani, Zubair bin Awwaam, Abdur Rahmaan bin Auf, Talha bin Ubaidullah and Saad bin Abi Waqqaas (RA). Right from the day he embraced Islam till the day he breathed his last he spent his entire life spreading the word of Allah and protecting Islam. 

The wealth Allah had bestowed upon him, was spent by him generously. For instance, he freed countless slaves (bought them and then set them free) and one of those slaves is Prophet Muhammd’s (PBUH) Muaddhin (the one who calls for prayer) Bilal (RA). After the death of Khadeejah (RA), Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) married Abu Bakr Siddique’s (RA) daughter Ayesha (RA). Abu Bakr Siddique (RA) migrated to Madinah with Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). In the verse of the Holy Qur’an, “and he was the second of the two” (Surah Taubah: 40) it is Abu Bakr Siddique (RA) who is referred to. Before the death of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), it was Abu Bakr Siddique (RA) only who led the congregational prayers several times and the companions of the Prophet (RA) offered prayer behind him. On the day Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) died he led the Morning Prayer with Abu Bakr Siddique (RA). After the death of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), as per the advice of companions of Prophet (PBUH), Abu Bakr Siddque (RA) was made the Caliph. Few of the achievements during the duration of his caliphate are:

The army under the commandment of Usama bin Zaid (RA) was dispatched to Syria. The army defeated the armies of the king of Persia and returned without being harmed.

By means of waging a war against apostates, those who denied giving obligatory charity, and those who made claims of prophethood, Abu Bakr Siddique (RA) removed all the sources of evil that had emerged right after the death of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

in the course of wiping out the aforementioned problems countless Huffaz of the Holy Qur’an (those who memorise the whole of Quran by heart) got martyred. Consequently, Abu Bakr Siddique (RA) got the whole of the Holy Qur’an collected at one place (in the written form).

Abu Bakr Siddique (RA) died in 13 A.H. He was buried in Ayesha’s (RA) room right next to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). He was almost 63 years old and the duration of his caliphate was two years three months and ten days. 

About Abu Bakr As-Siddique Radhi Allahu Anhu

He is the first of the four most illustrious sahaabah (radhiyallaahu anhum). His name – Abu Bakr As-Siddique (radhiyalaahu anhu), well-known for his close companionship to the most beloved of creation, Muhammad Rasoolullah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam). He also had the privilege of being the father-in-law to the best of mankind (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam), as his daughter Ayesha Siddiqah (radhiyallaahu anhaa) was one of the ‘mothers of the believers’.

This honourable and respected sahaabi was born just two years after Rasoolullah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) and therefore grew up in a similar environment to that of our beloved Messenger (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam). Yet, this ignorant environment did not have much effect on his pure heart. It is said that even before Islam, he did not touch a drop of wine, nor engaged in haraam relationships with women.

When Allah sent His messenger (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) with the religion of guidance and truth, Abu Bakr (radhiyallaahu anhu) was the first from amongst the men to profess his belief. He had seen and experienced the unique character of Nabi (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) and his wisdom and intellect understood that this man was a means of his guidance.

Never did this pillar of strength waver in its support of the Prophet of Islam (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam). He spoke up verbally, joined the jihaad physically, spent of his monetary wealth and assisted emotionally…

When Nabi (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) called to Islam openly and was attacked by the kuffaar of Makkah, Abu Bakr (radhiyallaahu anhu was by his side. They were both injured severely, but Abu Bakr (radhiyallaahu anhu) did what he could to protect his beloved (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam), until a rock struck his head bleeding and he lost consciousness. When he had eventually regained consciousness, the first words to pass his lips were: “How is the prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam).” He would not rest or think of getting well until he had seen with his own eyes that Nabi (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) was alive and well.

During the journey from Makkah to Madinah, he had the honour of accompanying Rasoolullah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam), offering his lap for Nabi (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) to sleep on in the cave of Thoor. It was there that he was honoured with the title of ‘thaaniyathnayn’- the second of the two- and Allah testified to Nabi (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) saying that Allah is their companion.

This great man stood shoulder to shoulder with the rest of the mujaahideen in the battle of Badr. He is amongst that small group of Badriyyin whose positions cannot be disputed. He participated in all the major battles of Islam, placing his body as a shield for his beloved (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam).

When the Battle of Tabook was being prepared for and funds were in short-supply, Umar bin Khattaab (radhiyallaahu anhu) determined that he would vie with Abu Bakr (radhiyallaahu anhu) in earning Allah’s pleasure. Sure that he would win in this action of sacrifice and generosity, he took an entire HALF of his estate to the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) to be used in the path of Allah. He was asked: ‘what have you left for your family, o Umar?’ ‘O messenger of Allah, I have left half of my wealth for them,’ he responded. Nabi (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) happily accepted his offer.

Shortly thereafter, Abu Bakr (radhiyallaahu anhu) arrived, bearing ALL his wealth. On being asked what he had left for his family, he replied: ‘o messenger of Allah, I have left Allah and His Rasool for them!’ Umar (radhiyallaahu anhu) remarks: ‘I knew then that I would never supersede Abu Bakr (radhiyallaahu anhu)!’

The night before Badr, when Nabi (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) wept for the victory of the ummah, his shawl fell off, exposing his back. Abu Bakr (radhiyallaahu anhu) went over, lifted the shawl, covered his back and comforted him, saying: ‘Enough now, o messenger of Allah! Enough.’

During the days of his fatal illness, Nabi (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) appointed someone to perform the salaah. This was a clear indication of the leader who should be approached in his absence. Who else did he appoint but Abu Bakr As-Siddique (radhiyallaahu anhu)?!

Do you know how Abu Bakr (radhiyallaahu anhu) earned the titled ‘Siddique’?

He had been out on a journey during the time that Nabi (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) had been taken for mi’raaj. It is well known what a mockery the kuffaar made of the journey of mi’raaj. On Abu Bakr’s (radhiyallaahu anhu) return to Makkah, they addressed him saying: ‘if a man has to say that he had travelled from here to Baytul Maqdis and back in one night, would you believe him?’ ‘No,’ Abu Bakr (radhiyallaahu anhu) responded. ‘Well, your companion, Muhammad, has said so!’ They announced. Abu Bakr (radhiyallaahu anhu) calmly replied: ‘If Muhammad has said so, it is the truth.’ This earned him the titled, ‘As-Siddique’, one who attests to the truth at all times.

After Rasoolullah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) departed from this world to meet his Lord, the sahaabah (radhiyallaahu anhum) were in confusion and disarray, their minds lost in extreme love. Abu Bakr (radhiyallaahu anhu) gathered the sahaabah (radhiyallaahu anhum) and addressed them wisely: ‘whoever worships Muhammad, know that Muhammad is no more. And whoever worships Allah, know that He is Ever-Living, Eternal.’ He then recited the verse: “And Muhammad is but a messenger. Messengers have passed before him. If he is killed or dies, will you then turn on your heels? And whoever turns on his heels, will not harm Allah in the least. And soon, Allah will reward the appreciative ones.” These words immediately caused peace and comfort to settle into the hearts of the sahaabah (radhiyallaahu anhum).

He is that sahaabi (radhiyallaahu anhum) regarding whom Nabi (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said, something to the effect: ‘I have repaid everyone in this world except Abu Bakr. Allah will recompense him on the day of Qiyaamah.’

All the doors of jannah will welcome to Abu Bakr As-Siddique Radhi Allahu Anhu, and Allah will meet specially to Abu Bakr As-Siddique Radhi Allahu Anhu in jannah.

The Value of Simple Good Deed

THE VALUE OF SEEDS

Once during mid-winter Hadhrat Zunnun Misri (rahmatullah alayh) was walking through the wilderness on a journey to Makkah Muakraamah for Hajj. 

The earth was white with ice and snow. It was bitterly cold. He soon came upon a Raahib (Christian monk) who was scattering some seeds on the ice. Hadhrat Zunnun enquired: "O Raahib, why are you scattering seeds on the ice?' Raahib: "On this tree there are some birds. There is nothing for them to eat today. There is only ice and snow all around. I am scattering the seeds for these birds." Zunnun: "Raahib! Allah Ta'ala does not accept the good deeds of an alien (i.e. a kaafir)." Raahib: "That is between Allah and myself. He knows best.

" Hadhrat Zunnun continued on his journey. He reached Makkah and when it was time for Hajj, he engaged in its rituals. 

One day whilst making Tawaaf, Hadhrat Zunnun (rahmatullah alayh), to his great surprise, saw the very same Raahib making Tawaaf of the Ka'bah. As their eyes met, the Raahib, smiled and said: :"Do you now understand the value of my seeds?" Allah Ta'ala had accepted his good deed and granted the Raahib the treasure of Imaan.

Sunnah Acts of After Child Born

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

After the child is born, the following Sunnats should be observed

There are six rulings pertaining to a new born child:

1) Athan and Iqamah in the ear

2) Naming the baby

3) Tahnik

4) Shaving the hair on the head

5) Aqiqah

6) Circumcision

Adhan and iqamah

When the child is born Adhan and iqamah should be said in the child's ears. In the right ear of the new-born baby, the Adhan should be recited, and in the left ear, the Iqamah.This is done immediately after the baby is bathed. However if there is a delay, it may be done before. On the birth of Hadhrat Hasan to .Hadhrat Faatimah may Allah be pleased with them the Holy Prophet (sallallahu Alahi Wa Sallam) had said the Adhan in his ear.

Narrated 'Ubaidullah bin Abi Rafi':

That his father said: "I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say the Adhan in the ear of Al-Hasan bin 'Ali - when he was born to Fatimah - the Adhan of Salat." (at-Tirmidhi 1514)

Tahneek

Tahneek is the Sunnah of chewing date and applying a part of the chewed portion to the palate of the child so that it goes down the child’s mouth easily. If date is unavailable, one may apply any thing sweet, like honey to the child’s palate. The dental palate, the jaws and the mouth are made active. As a result, it is easy for the child to suck milk from the breast of its mother.

It is preferable for the Thaneek to be done by an Áalim or a pious elder of the family. If not then by any Muslim.

Aisha (Radhiallahu Anhu) narrates that "the people used to bring their newborn children to the Prophet and he would bless them and perform the tahneek" (Sahih Muslim 2147)

Naming of the child:

Naming a child with a beautiful and honorable name is very important. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alahi Wa Sallam) always chose names with good and beautiful meanings.

It should be selected from the names of Ambiyaa like Yaqoob, Yusuf, Idris, Musa, Saleh, Muhammad, Ahmad etc. or should be adopted from the names of Sahabah and pious People like Umar, Ali, Usman, Khalid, Khadhija, Maryam, Sumayya etc.

 Some Ahadeeth indicate that the child is to be named on the seventh day along with Aqeeqah. However, the Prophet also named children on the day of their birth, as proven by other narrations. There is no harm if the child is named before the seventh day, but if the naming has not been done, and then the child should be named on the seventh day.

There is a craze to keep unusual and unheard of names.  This practice should be shunned.  It is better to keep a name which is commonly used in the Muslim Ummah.  Names should originate from:

1)    The Qur’an

2)    The Ahādīth

3)    Names of Sahabah

4)    Names of the pious predecessors

5)    Good common names in the Ummah

To make Aqeeqa on the 7th day:

 Aqeeqa is a form of Sadaqah whereby the child is safeguarded against misfortunes. 

Aqīqah is a virtuous act.  It is not compulsory or necessary.  If one was to leave Aqīqah on behalf of his new born, he will not be sinful

The practice of Aqeeqah is encouraged in Islam. This is understood from following Ahadith Rasulullah )Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam( carried out the Aqeeqah of Hasan (Radhiyallahu Anhu) and Husain (Radhiyallahu Anhu) by slaughtering one ram each.(Abu Dawood 2834)

Buraidah Radhiyallahu Anhu ( mentions, “prior to Islam when one of us had a newborn boy, he would slaughter one sheep and smear the head of the newborn with its blood. When Allah blessed us with Islam, we began slaughtering one sheep. Thereafter, we would shave the child’s hair and apply saffron”. (Abu Dawood 2836)

Two sheep, or two goats are slaughtered in the case of a male while one goat or one sheep in the case of a female. If for some reason Aqeeqa was not made on the 7th day, then it should be done on the14th, 21st 28th or any day in multiples of 7 thereafter. For those who cannot afford two animals for the baby son, even one animal will be sufficient as Aqeeqah. If one has no means to sacrifice even this much, then there is no harm and he would not have to make up for it later.

It is recommended that one third of the Aqīqah meat is given to the needy.  The remaining two thirds can be used in serving relatives, friends and guests. 

 However, it is permissible to use all the meat for one’s relatives, friends and guests.

The parents and other siblings can eat from the Aqīqah meat.

The procedure of Aqeeqah

• If the newborn is a boy, then slaughter two sheep.
• If the newborn is a girl, then slaughter one sheep.
• The hair of the child should be shaved.
• Saffron should be applied to the head of the newborn after shaving the hair.
• Gold and silver equivalent to the shaved hair in weight should be given in charity.

Shaving the head

The hair on the head of the new-born, boy or girl, should be shaved on the seventh day. It is mustahib (desirable) to give silver in sadaqah to the poor and needy equal to the weight of his or her hair.

Narrated Muhammad bin 'Ali bin Al-Husain: That Ali bin Abi Talib said: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had the 'Aqiqah for Al-Hasan with one sheep, and said: 'O Fatimah! Shave his head and give the weight of his hair in silver as charity.'" He said: "So I weighed it, and it was the weight of a Dirham or a bit of a Dirham." (at-Tirmidhi 1519)

Circumcision

Circumcision of the boy should be done before he attains maturity. It is advisable to do it with aqeeqah. At this age he does not suffer much pain. The Noble Messenger had the aqeeqah and circumcision of Hasan and Husain performed on the seventh day after their birth.