Is Dunya Haram for us? Here’s how to Balance Deen and Dunya

by Ahmad El-Shaf’ei

Sometimes we find people working for this worldly life and pretend to have forgotten that one day they will die and be brought to account…

Then there are others who do great deeds with the Hereafter in mind, but completely neglect their financial and familial responsibilities.

So, how can reconcile between dunya and akhirah, between not completely depriving ourselves of the delights Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) has put on this earth while keeping our focus and efforts on Paradise?

As always, we get any guidance we need from The Noble Qur’an and Sunnah; here we go:
Three persons came to the Prophet’s home (sal Allahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and asked about how he (sal Allahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) worships Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala). When they got the answer, they thought since he is a Prophet, Allah Ta’ala has forgiven him, and that they are just ordinary people and need to step beyond what the Prophet (sal Allahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said – they wanted to fast without breaking it, pray all night without sleeping, and refrain from marriage for their whole lives. The Prophet (sal Allahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) explained, however, that what they described was not his path. The Prophet (sal Allahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) is the best of examples and the best of us, yet he fasted but also broke his fast, he prayed night prayer but also slept, and he did marry; we should stick to his Sunnah, the Straight Path. (Muslim and Bukhari)

Islam does not ask for us to live in isolation, to cut ourselves off from society, or to completely deprive ourselves of what Allah Ta’ala has made halaal (permissible). Are religion is not one of extremes – we shouldn’t be excessive in our eating, we eat to sustain ourselves; we shouldn’t be excessive in our spending, but we are not tight-fisted or miserly.

 

The key is to always have akhirah on top of our mind and list of priorities; we can (and should) have families, but they shouldn’t distract us from our Islamic duties; we can seek lawful means of living, but we leave and turn our back on it when prayer or Jum’uah comes. (Note: Keep in mind activities like working can turn into good deeds by changing our intentions to be independent and provide for our families, etc. Now, we should know that we can get reward by putting food in your wife’s mouth. If you change your intention to please Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala, then you’ve unlocked the key to gaining good deeds through the daily acts you do)

Our connection with Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) is a fuel and a light for our dunya activities.

“Improve your secret and private life, and Allah will improve your public and social life. Make matters well between you and Allah, and Allah will make matters well between you and people. Work for the Hereafter and Allah will be enough for you in your worldly concerns” [Imam Sufyaan AthThawri, rahimahuAllah]

“This dunya (world) is like a shadow, run after it and you will never be able to catch it, turn your back against it and it has no choice but to follow you” [Ibn Al-Qayyim]

Some lessons from The Qur’an to ponder upon:

1. Qarun’s people said to him: “Do not exult. Indeed, Allah does not like the exultant. But seek, through that which Allah has given you, the home of the Hereafter; and [yet], do not forget your share of the world. And do good as Allah has done good to you. And desire not corruption in the land. Indeed, Allah does not like corrupters.” (Quran, Chapter 28, # Verse# 77)
2. So fear Allah as much as you are able and listen and obey and spend [in the way of Allah ]; it is better for your selves. And whoever is protected from the stinginess of his soul – it is those who will be the successful. (Quran, Chapter# 64, Verse# 16)
3. O children of Adam, take your adornment at every masjid, and eat and drink, but be not excessive. Indeed, He likes not those who commit excess. Say, “Who has forbidden the adornment of Allah which He has produced for His servants and the good [lawful] things of provision?” Say, “They are for those who believe during the worldly life [but] exclusively for them on the Day of Resurrection.” Thus do We detail the verses for a people who know. (Quran, Chapter# 7, Verses#31-32)
4. [The people of understanding are those] Who remember Allah while standing or sitting or [lying] on their sides and give thought to the creation of the heavens and the earth, [saying], “Our Lord, You did not create this aimlessly; exalted are You [above such a thing]; then protect us from the punishment of the Fire. (Quran, Chapter# 3, Verse# 192)

Deen should be our number one priority. Islam is simple, balanced and the middle path, the key to success in this life and the next.

About the Author:

Ahmad El-Shaf’ei studied Islamic Studies in English at Al-Azhar University, and has also studied at other institutions in Cairo, Egypt. He enjoys writing tips that uncover the simplicity and practicality of Islam and how it is the key to success in our modern life. He hopes this Ummah can return to being the leader it once was.

Poem on Jannah by Ammar

Close your eyes and imagine this
Eternal bliss,
your every wish,
at your finger tips
and more…

Perched on a throne, near a stream
So serene, and exquisite a scene
You’ve never seen
Yet you still dream
of more…

Gone is pain, gone is fear
Gone is grief, gone are tears
Idle speech you shall never hear
And the Prophets make up your social sphere
and more…

The martyrs, righteous and truthful too
You are from them, and they from you
They held tightly to what they knew was true
and To join them, you did too
theres more…

Maidens, chaste, who restrain their gaze
Lost in a glance for days and days
Fun and frolic, as a child plays
Where the breath that leaves your lips is praise
of the One who gave you more

Imagine you and your father, with ages the same
Imagine showing off your book with no shame
Imagine nights with the sahabah, with their stories to entertain
Imagine Muhammad (Sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) knowing your name
What could be there more..

Gardens underneath which rivers flow
A goal so far, and yet so close
A journey worth taking, for those who know
Tell me Do you not wish to go..
for more?

For all the bounties, all the grace
All the sights and the smells and the tastes
Will be forgotten, without a trace
as if frozen in time and space
When you see His Face

What an excellent Master, of a miserable slave
You forgot and He forgave
He gave you guidance, and you still strayed
You asked for mercy, that He gave
and more…and more..and more

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Uv7mNOaYVE

Why Give Da’wah? – by Kamal El-Mekki

With every blessing is a test

“Blessings come in packages of two. With every blessing is a test. So don’t ever envy people who seem to have more than you. The more blessings, the more tests. And the greater the blessing, the harder the test.” Yasmin Mogahed

Forget finding the ‘right’ Man, focus on being the right Woman

A woman once asked her mother, “Mother, how will I ever find the right Man? ” Her mother replied, “Forget finding the ‘right’ Man, focus on being the right Woman.” And we read in the Qur’an: “Good women are for good men and good men are for good women.”

سخط القدر

Allah never forsakes one’s prayers

How to give Dawah

Dawah is a word in Arabic that means “to invite” or “to offer to share.” This is a very important part of being a Muslim and it can be somewhat difficult at times. Yet it is not impossible. The fact is that sharing Islam is a very simple concept. The difficulty comes in when you are trying to communicate the idea to others, especially when they have already been predisposed to believe in something else and to believe that Islam is something bad.

Keep in mind at all times that you are on a special mission to deliver a message of inviting people to worship Allah according to the way that He wants to be worshipped. You are to call them to know the truth and how to follow it. You do this with both your kind words and correct actions.

Your words are used in lectures, sermons, books, tapes and dialogs. These words help people to understand the truth of Islam.

Your actions are observed by others through your behavior and manners. You become the role model for what Islam is all about.

Both methods (dawah by words and actions) were used by the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) when delivering the message of Islam. He was the perfect example of what he was calling the people to do. Ayeshah, may Allah be pleased with her, said that if you would like to see a living example of the Quran walking, then simply look to Muhammad, peace be upon him. His life was the best example of the noble teachings and principles set forth in the Quran.

Muslims are supposed to advise everyone by using a gentle and simple approach to attract the hungry souls to the Way of Allah. For sure today more than ever, people need to know about Islam and be able to put it into practice. We all need an example to follow.

Actually, the problem is not so much calling or inviting to people to the message of Islam, as it is the way that we go about it. The way that we present ourselves and the message is most important and unfortunately, something that many of the Muslims are not taking into consideration these days.

Some have actually ruined the image of dawah due to the rigid methods, mistakes and misunderstandings they are applying. This gives a very negative impression about Islam and the Muslims in general. Considering all of the detraction and negative media against Islam and Muslims occuring in these days, it is vital that we approach our dawah with wisdom, kind invitation and logical discussions.

One example of negative dawah is the false concept that so many Muslims have today about debating the Christians about their Bible. This is very incorrect and not a part of the teachings of the Quran or the way of Muhammad, peace be upon him. While there are a number of things that we might be able to share with them about what we believe that is similar to what they might find in their Book, it is not correct to try to attack their Book, their beliefs nor their understandings. A wise man once said, “Debates bring a lot of heat, but not very much light.” Leave the idea of debating and do not attend any functions where these types of activities are taking place. Pray for the Muslims to wake up to the dangers of this as a tool for dawah before it is too late.

Another thing to stay away from is the so called “miracles” about the Quran and Islam that are not mentioned in the Quran or in the Sunnah of the prophet, peace be upon him. One example of the idea of some trees in Germany that are twisted around to spell, “Laa elaha illa lah, Muhammad rasoolulah.” This is not true. The picture is a fake and anyone can easily prove this is not real. So where would you be if you had insisted that this was a “proof” that Islam is the right religion?

Other fake “miracles” include; a fish with “Allah” written on it; a tree bent toward Mekkah in prayer; a pumpkin with “Bismillah Rahman Raheem” on it. Please verify this by visiting our website page on these stories at:

http://www.IslamTomorrow.com/pumpkin.htm

Another area to avoid is the misconception about the “miracle of numbers” in the Quran. The stories are many and all of them are false. There is no miracle of “19″ in the Quran; this not the occurance of the word “day” and “night” 365 times (the Muslim calendar is 354 days anyway); the words “angel” and “devil” do not occur the same number of times; and all of the mathematical equasions mentioned about the earth and the water are worthless to someone who is trying to understand about Allah and Islam. So please stop this propaganda and DO NOT FORWARD these messages to everyone on your list.

That is NOT dawah. That is a waste of time and energy. The fact is, that this will turn people away from the truth and destroy the pure message of Islam.

When we are going to talk with folks about Islam, we should first begin with the word itself. Let people know that there is a difference between the word “Islam” and what some people are doing. Visit our page on this subject of the explanation of words before you try to discuss Islam with anyone:

http://www.IslamTomorrow.com/word/

“ISLAM” – Explain to them that “Islam” can be understood both, as a verb and as a noun. As a noun, it is the religion that was completed by Allah for all human beings 1,400 years ago. The message came with Muhammad, peace be upon him, in the Arabic language.

As a verb, the word “Islam” means the surrender, submission, obedience and peace in sincerity with Allah.

Next, explain to them that the word Muslim comes from the word Islam itself. And the Arabic uses a prefix to the verb rather than a suffix to indicate the one who is preforming the verb or action. So instead of being an “Islam-er” we are “Mu-islims” (Muslim).

Remember: K.I.S.S. (Keep It So Simple)

Next you might logically break down the word “Allah” and let them know what it comes from and how it is the perfect word to describe and represent the Lord of the Worlds, The Only Creator and Sustainer of the universe.

“Allah” comes from the root “elah” and the plural is “awliha.” When the article “the” is placed in front of “elah” in Arabic, it becomes “Al-lah.” In this state the word can no longer be made plural, nor can it be associated with gender. That is to say, that “Allah” can actually be used to represent the meaning of “One only to be worshipped, never plural, always singular and never man nor woman.”

“Quran” is another word that you might explain to them. Let them understand that the Quran is not a book and that it is actually “alive” today in the hearts of over nine million (9,000,000) Muslims around the world. This is a real miracle. There is no other book like it. No book can compare to it and no other major religion today has their original preserved in the original language by so many followers of the religion.

For instance, you might ask the person, “Did you know? – Over NINE MILLION Muslims Memorized the Entire Quran. 9,000,000 + Muslims living today have memorized the entire Quran in the original Arabic language. But surprisingly over 75% of all Muslims are not Arab. In fact, the largest number of Muslims today are in Indonesia.And did you know? That every Muslim in the world, over 1.5 billion have all memorized some of the Quran and each of them desires to memorize it entirely?

 

Make the clear distinction between what “Islam” teaches and what some “Muslims” do. Ask them to consider some of the bad people in history who were supposed to be Christians, yet what they did does not represent the Christians or Jesus.

“Islam” is not what some Muslims do. It is what all Muslims are “supposed” to do.

So all in all, you need to adopt gentleness and politeness in presenting your arguments. Allah Almighty addresses His Prophet, saying:

“Invite (all) to the Way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious: for thy Lord knows best, who have strayed from His Path, and who receive guidance.” (An-Nahl: 125)

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is reported to have said: “Indeed, gentleness adds more beauty to the atmosphere it reposes therein.”

Actually, nothing is more needed now, in making dawah, than correct knowledge, gentleness and wisdom. The reason for this is to dispel all the superstitions and lies spread against Islam. All this needs wisdom, patience and perseverance, and such polite methods brings quick results and has rapid effect on the audience.

Consider the wife of Abu sufyan, Hind and her saying to Muhammad, peace be upon him, after she came to Islam; “I never wanted to see anyone on the face of the earth to be put down more than you and your family. But now, I do not see anyone on the face of the earth more honored than you and your family.”

This is a clear example of the prophet’s effect on people’s hearts and minds through his behavior and manners. Callers to Islam must follow this great example in their efforts to share the message of Islam instead of turning them away.

Always consider your audience and who it is that you are speaking to. If the people are not familiar with the Arabic language, then there is no real need to speak Arabic or make all of your quotes in Arabic and then try to translate everything to English. This is silly and could turn people away. Remember to keep everything on their level and not try to talk above them or talk down to them.

Allah is the All Knower.

Dont wait until its too late. Turn back home.

Allah wants to forgive you, Allah wants to meet you, Allah has kept those doors…waiting for you to come back home any instant but if you continue to forget about Allah, on that Day…Allah will forget you when you would want nothing more than to ransom everything just to make two rakah’s.

Dont wait until its too late. Turn back home.

Dear harsh tongues

Abû Hurayrah relates that Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should speak a good word or remain silent.

I’ve been observing recently that hayaa’ in speech is slowly getting lost.

This is a reminder for myself before anyone because this is something that I struggle with as well.

But our Ummah is becoming more and more harsh with one another.

We claim to love the Prophet, salla Allahu alayhi wasalam and we claim to follow his sunnah,

but then we publicly humiliate our own brethern. We publicly pass rude, offensive comments by them.

We slander our own blood, we curse them, we eat their flesh through our words. What kind of love is that?

 

Sometimes when it comes to Islamic work or community activism whether it may be at school or masajid or MSA’s,

I’ve noticed that some people think that being harsh and rude and assertive

is the way to change, that being harsh is the way to create change but wrong.

Allah is telling his Messenger, salla Allahu alayhi wasalam in Surah Ali-Imran that,

“So by mercy from Allah , [O Muhammad], you were lenient with them. And if you had been rude [in speech] and harsh in heart, they would have disbanded from about you. So pardon them and ask forgiveness for them and consult them in the matter. And when you have decided, then rely upon Allah . Indeed, Allah loves those who rely [upon Him].”[3:159] 

Allah is reminding his Messenger, salla Allahu alayhi wasalam that the people would leave if he had been rude and harsh. When Allah is telling this to the most perfect of creation, where do you think we stand?

SubhanAllah. Why do we feel like we need to start an argument and a fight over every single small thing? If we don’t agree, well that’s because every one of us is different. Allah created “Abdullah” as ‘Abdullah’ and ‘Adam’ as ‘Adam’ so why do we start fights cause of petty differences. Every little issue isnt something to create a world war over. If someone is asking you that they don’t like something you’re doing, out of respect, out of good manners, if its something small just…stop. There is no need to bring out and start questioning them to bring out the exact ayah and the exact hadith and etc etc. What kind of manners is that? SubhanAllah.

Our Prophet, salla Allahu alayhi wasalam, was so kind even to those that threw trash at him, how do we justify creating just rifts with our own bretheren? When someone is going through something tough, why do we feel like we need to make them feel stupid cause we don’t see things like that? Why do feel like we need to make someone feel inferior if our levels of religiosity are not the same? Why are we always so harsh, so jerk-like when Islam should make us soft, should make our hearts soft which should reflect from us?

This a reminder to myself first. Whether this is occuring in families, or friends, or masajids, or MSA’s or communities, this is a dilemma that we need to tackle inshaa’Allah.

 

source: http://destinationjannah.tumblr.com/