105 fans!

Mashallah!

Thankyou all for your support. Honestly, I'm so happy right now. 100 fans may not seem alot compared to the other groups out there, but for me, it's a great achievement and I'd like to sincerely thank every one of you for choosing to follow my blog. May Allah bless you all, accept all your duas and may we continue to help each other grow in becoming Professional Muslims.

Please spread the link to the blog and invite others to join this page. I'm not being greedy or anything but 200 fans would be awesome! (",)

Jazakallah!

Your fellow Professional Muslim x

The Power of Prayer...

Revolutionise Your Salaat

Jummah Mubarak y'all!

So, we pray namaaz numerous times a day and recite Surah Faatiha dozens of times daily but how many of us know the meaning behind this beautiful Surah?

Please take a moment to read and even memorise the translation below, it really will transform the way you pray your salaat. Mashallah, it worked for me and it will for you too, inshallah!

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

Praise be to Allah.

Lord of the Worlds, the Compassionate, the Merciful.

Master of the Day of Judgement.

You alone we worship,

And to You alone we look for help.

Guide us to the straight path,

The Path of those upon whom You have bestowed favours,

Not those who have earned Your anger, nor those who have gone astray.

Duty to Parents

"Thy Lord hath decreed that ye worship none but Him, and that ye be kind to parents. Whether one or more attain old age in thy life, say not to them a word of contempt, nor repel them, but address them in terms of honour. And out of kindness, lower to them the wing of humility, and say, "My Lord! Bestow on them Thy Mercy, even as they cherished me in childhood."

(Quran 17: 23-24)

What a beautiful quote, Mashallah! May Allah grant us all the knowledge to understand Islam and it's principle to be well mannered towards our parents... Aameen!

P.S. Jummah Mubarak y'all! (",)

Because We All Love a Bit of Gossip...

My friend Smiley posted this up on Facebook today. I found it quite inspiring and I think we could all learn a thing or two from it...

One day an acquaintance came to meet Zaid and said to him excitedly ,

"Do you know what I just heard about your friend?"

"Just wait a while", Zaid replied. "Before you tell me anything I would like you to go through a little test which I call the triple filter test".

"What's that?" asked the acquaintance.

"I will tell you", Zaid said. "Before you talk to me about my friend, it might be a good idea to take a moment and filter what you are going to say. That is why I call it the Triple Filter Test.

The first filter is `Truth.' Are you sure that what you are about to tell me is true?"

"No", the man said. "Actually, I just heard about it."

"All right", said Zaid. "So you don't really know if it is true or not. Now let's us try the second filter, the filter of `Goodness'. Is what you are about to tell me about my friend something good?"

"No, on the contrary.."

"So", Zaid continued, "You wanted to tell me something bad about him but you are not certain it is true. You may still pass the test because there is one filter left; the filter of `Usefulness' . Is what you want to tell me about my friend going to be useful to me?"

"No, not really..."

"Well", continued Zaid, "If you want to tell me what may not be true and is neither good nor useful, why tell it to me at all?"

Moral of the story:

He who repeats the ill he hears of another is the true slanderer.

From One Farewell Speech to 1.6 billion Muslims! Mashallah!

Over 1400 years ago, on this very day (9th of Dhul Hijjah), Prophet Muhammad (SAW) delivered his last sermon in the Uranah Valley of Mount Arafat. His words were quite clear and concise and were directed to the entire humanity. He demanded that the congregating Muslims should deliver his message to all humankind. Accordingly, they did deliver the message and, Alhamdulillah there are in excess of 1.6 billion Muslims in the world today! Mashallah, i reckon they did a pretty good job of spreading the word.. (",)

After praising, and thanking Allah he said:

"O People, lend me an attentive ear, for I know not whether after this year, I shall ever be amongst you again. Therefore listen to what I am saying to you very carefully and take these words to those who could not be present today.

O People, just as you regard this month, this day, this city as Sacred, so regard the life and property of every Muslim as a sacred trust. Return the goods entrusted to you to their rightful owners. Hurt no one so that no one may hurt you. Remember that you will indeed meet your Lord, and that He will indeed reckon your deeds...

Beware of Satan, for the safety of your religion. He has lost all hope that he will ever be able to lead you astray in big things, so beware of following him in small things.

O People, it is true that you have certain rights with regard to your women, but they also have rights over you... Do treat your women well and be kind to them for they are your partners and committed helpers...

O People, listen to me in earnest, worship Allah, say your five daily prayers, fast during the month of Ramadan, and give your wealth in Zakat. Perform Hajj if you can afford to.

All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good action. Learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood. Nothing shall be legitimate to a Muslim which belongs to a fellow Muslim unless it was given freely and willingly. Do not, therefore, do injustice to yourselves.

Remember, one day you will appear before Allah and answer your deeds. So beware, do not stray from the path of righteousness after I am gone.

O People, no Prophet or Apostle will come after me and no new faith will be born. Reason well, therefore, O People, and understand words which I convey to you. I leave behind me two things, the Quran and my example, the Sunnah and if you follow these you will never go astray.

All those who listen to me shall pass on my words to others and those to others again; and may the last ones understand my words better than those who listen to me directly. Be my witness, O Allah, that I have conveyed your message to your people".

Towards the end of his sermon, the Prophet asked

"O people, have I faithfully delivered unto you my message?"

A powerful murmur of agreement,  

"O Allah! yes!"

arose from thousands of pilgrims and the vibrant words 

"Allahumma Na'm"

rolled like thunder throughout the valley. The Prophet raised his forefinger and said:

"O Allah bear witness that I have conveyed your message to your people."

One can heed words of wisdom and guidelines from these last words of the Prophet (SAW). This final speech was indeed addressed to all humankind at all times and for all generations. It encompasses many aspects of life (general and specific). He laid down the foundation of morality, chastity, modesty, justice, equality, brotherhood, and accountability. He abolished economic exploitation, human enslavement, paganism, transgression and all systems that contradict with the system of Allah.

Let’s do our part in following the Prophet’s message and propagating the message to everyone we know.

More Than Just a Feast... One of History's Greatest Sacrifices

This is the story of Prophet Ibrahim AS and Ismaeel AS, who were prepared to make one of history’s greatest sacrifices. Allah comforted them with news of His pleasure in the strength of their faith, and He promised to preserve the symbol of their submission in the tradition of generations to come.

A father and son make their way in the early light of dawn, to fulfill an obligation that weighs heavily on their shoulders. The father, Ibrahim AS, is facing the ultimate test of his faith. In the days which lead to this morning, he has had recurring visions which instructed him to sacrifice his own son.

Yet this is the child Allah had bestowed on him like a miracle. The boy they had named Ismaeel, meaning God shall hear, because he was Allah’s answer to the Ibrahim’s AS supplication, when he was still childless.

Ismaeel AS is still only a child, but the child follows his father to his imminent death with immovable faith. As they near their destination, his forbearance is tested. Doubt manifests itself in the shape of the doubt-casters whispering, but he remains steadfast, hurling stones at the Devil. When they reach the place of sacrifice the boy does not hesitate. He lies face down in submission to his father’s knife, and with a heavy heart, Ibrahim AS presses the blade against his son’s neck.

‘Oh Ibrahim’ Allah calls out at that moment. ‘You have fulfilled the vision!’ Then, as a ransom for Isma’el AS, the angel Jibra’il brings them a ram to sacrifice in his place, shouting, “Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar!” to stop Ibrahim’s hand. Overwhelmed with relief, on beholding the angel’s arrival, Ibrahim AS cries “Laa ilaha illallahu wallahu akbar!” And his son Isma’el AS, rises to his feet, exclaiming in thanks, “Allahu akbar wa lillahil hamd.”

So every year we celebrate Eid ul-Adha, making and sharing our sacrifices with our communities, in the spirit of a splendid history.

Journey of a Different Kind

This year, millions of Muslims have been granted the honour of migrating to the Holy Land purely for the Sake of Allah and are now undertaking the journey of a lifetime. But how many of us hope and dream of making the ultimate journey – that of your heart? Whilst reading the "Sisters" magazine I was reminded of the importance of the forgotten journey– the jouney to attain an Islamic character.

The migration of the heart to Allah is a strong requirement, if not an obligation, upon every believing servant. Correcting the heart is a fundamental aspect of our migration to Allah, for it is a beautiful struggle performed on a daily basis.

The heart is a spiritual container – the inner port – with the ability to harbour all that is good as well as all that is evil. It can either positively affect or severely corrupt a servant’s actions. As the Prophet (SAW) taught us:

“There is a lump of flesh in the body – if it is set right and made good, the entire body becomes good and healthy; but if it becomes diseased, the entire body becomes diseased. Remember well – it is the heart” (Bukhari).

The goodness evident in a person’s actions is as a result of what emanates from the heart. Thus, a sound heart will in turn produce sound beliefs and actions, whereas a corrupt heart will only serve to be a means of destruction.

Being in control, paves the way for beautiful relationships to blossom. It is not from the character of a believer to violate the rights of others, neither is it to be concerned with the vices of others. We shouldn't go out of our way to look for, or to ‘discover’ faults in others, especially when our own character bears witness to internal faults and weaknesses. If we want to gain Allah's love we should constantly be concerned with purifying our souls and immersing ourselves in performing numerous good deeds, for fear of our own weaknesses and shortcomings.

“For those who act with excellence is the greatest good, and even more. Neither darkness nor humiliation shall afflict their faces. They are the people of the Garden, dwelling there forever" (Yunus:26).

As humans, we cannot harbour 'perfection', however, striving to perfect our character is what is really required. This means reflecting upon ourselves and working to nurture, refine, and polish the content of our character in order to emulate the beauty of this blessed faith.

On the Second Day of Dhul-Hijjah My Allah Gave to Me...

In Ramadan doing good deeds and struggling in worship, especially during the last ten nights, is easier than during these days for a few reasons. Firstly, the atmosphere of the month of Ramadhan, whether culturally, spiritually, or traditionally, makes it easier to focus and strive. Secondly, shaytaan is chained up.

So, to get that drive and direction we had in Ramadan, is much harder when we have most likely fallen out of “Ramadhan mode.” However, since the 'ibaadah is more difficult, the reward is greater, inshaAllah. So let’s keep this in mind and work really hard to gain some extra brownie points! (",)

The Prophet (SAW) said,

“There are no days more loved to Allah for you to worship Him therein than the ten days of Dhul Hijjah. Fasting any day during it is equivalent to fasting one year and to offer Salatul Tahajjud (late-night prayer) during one of its nights is like performing the late night prayer on the night of power. [i.e. Lailatul Qadr].”

On the First Day of Dhul-Hijjah My Allah Gave To Me...

Today (Wednesday 18th November) is the 1st Dhul-Hijjah 1430 and the Muslims performing Hajj will be in Arafah next Thurdsday (9 Dhul-Hijjah), and the Muslim Ummah shall be celebrating Eid al-Adhaa on Friday 27 November 2009, (10 Dhul-Hijjah), inshaAllaah.

Even for those not performing the pilgrimage, Hajj, the first ten days of this month are considered very sacred and a time for increased reflection, seeking Allah's forgiveness, doing good and various other forms of worship.

Prophet Muhammad (SAW) has said about the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah:

"There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days." [Sahih al-Bukhar].

So sacred are the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah that Allah swears an oath by them when He says in the Quran:

"By the dawn; by the ten nights" [al-Fajr 89:1-2].

So what should we be doing?
While any good deed done for the sake of Allah according to the way He approves will be rewarded immensely during the first ten days, some of the more specific actions mentioned in the traditions of the Prophet (SAW) are fasting and verbal Dhikr (remembrance) of Allah.

In terms of fasting, it is particularly encouraged to fast on the ninth day of Dhul-Hijjah, known in Arabic as Yawm Arafah. The Prophet used to fast on this day. Fasting on this day will expiate a Muslim's sins for two years.

Abu Qatadah reported that the Prophet (SAW) said:

"Fasting the Day of Arafah will be credited with Allah by forgiving one's sins of the previous year and the following year." [Muslim]

The day of Arafah is the day when the pilgrims stand in worship on the Mountain of Arafah. It is the best day of the Whole Year.

There is no day on which Allah frees people from the Fire as He does on the day of Arafah. He comes close (to those standing on Arafah) and then revels before His angels, saying: "What are these people seeking?" [Muslim]

Dhikr
The verbal remembrance of Allah is another meritorious act during these first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah.

"And mention the name of Allah on the appointed days" [12:28].

The Prophet (SAW) encouraged Muslims to recite a lot of Tasbeeh (Subhanallah) , Tahmeed (Alhamdulillah) and Takbeer (Allahu-Akbar) during this time.

Remembering Allah in this simple way is something we can all easily do. Be it on our commutes to and from work, in the car or on the train/bus, at our desks, during our lunch breaks, whilst in bed... anywhere, at any time! Let's all make an effort to do more Dhikr in the coming days.

Good Deeds
Generally, all good deeds are rewarded highly at this blessed time. These actions include praying, reading Quran, making Du'a, giving in charity and being good to our families, and other voluntary righteous deeds of worship. These are amongst the deeds that are multiplied in these days.

Seek Allah's Forgiveness and Repentance
In addition, seeking Allah's forgiveness and Tawbah (repentance) at this time is also encouraged. This means more than just a verbal statement of sorrow for past misdeeds. It also requires a firm resolution to avoid making the same mistakes in the future by giving up bad habits and behaviour while sincerely turning to Allah.

Sacrifice
The slaughtering of a sacrificial animal is also legislated for the Day of Sacrifice (10th) and the Days of Tashriq (11th, 12th and 13th).

The tenth of Dhul-Hijjah is Eid ul-Adha or the day of an-Nahr (slaughtering) . It marks the conclusion of the major rites of Hajj and commemorates Allah's bounty on Prophet Ibrahim (Peace be upon him), when He gave him a ram to sacrifice as ransom for his son.

Here's a Dua for everyone who is going on Hajj this week: May Allah protect them from harm and may their Hajj be accepted and blessed by the Almighty. May they use this opportunity to completely submerge themselves in the remembrance of Allah and may Allah make us all fortunate enough to complete this journey of a lifetime. May Allah be with the Hajis and the whole of the Muslim ummah always. Ameen.

Thank God it's Friday!

Jummah Mubarak!

Every Friday, for as long as I can remember, I get a call from my best friend saying, "Jummah Mubarak!" and it's a tradition that I'm proud of and look forward to every week, mashallah... (",)

Friday is a huge blessing from Allah and a sign of His Mercy. Subhanallah, even non-Muslims wait anxiously for the blessed day of Friday!

The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said:

"Friday is the best of all days and the most virtuous in the sight of Allah Most High. In the sight of Allah Most High it has more greatness than Eid ul-Fitr and Eid ul-Ad'haa." (Ibn Majah)

" The people of Jannah can not wait for the arrival of al-Jumuah, to fill their eyes more and more with the presence of the Almighty. For this reason al-Jumuah has been named the day of more (increase) ." {At-Tabarani}

If you think about it, the above quote is quite breathtaking as it implies the people of Jannah will anxiously be waiting for the arrival of Friday because it is the day when they will be able to see Allah.. Subhanallah!!!

We're so fortunate to be given such a blessed day... EVERY WEEK! It's crucial that we take the time to appreciate this beautiful day regardless of our busy lifestyles. If we haven't done anything to earn Allah's pleasure during the week, then Friday is our last chance. So try and visit the sick or an elderly person, get ready for Jummah prayers, offer to help someone out in need, give your Mum a hug, tell that special someone just how special they are to you, thank Allah for blessing you abundantly and ask for an honourable death on the blessed day of Friday.

Try and make the most of this and every Friday, it'd be a terrible shame to let such an awesome day pass without giving it much thought.

Be Positive!

When speaking to a friend today, I heard the words, "I can't be arsed" or "I can't be bothered with anything anymore" or something along those lines and it inspired me to right a few words on the importance of being positive.

It's so easy to adopt a negative attitude when things aren't quite going the way you want them to, but having an optimistic outlook on life can be so beneficial to both the mind and soul (and even to those around us!).

As Professional Muslims, we should have the wisdom to realise it doesn't take much to switch that little bit of negative energy we have inside and use it to inject others with positivity. And the funny thing is, a positive attitude is not a difficult thing to have at all. It just takes a little effort to extend to others a warm smile, or a kind word and it's amazing how beneficial it can be for your own spiritual and physical health too!

If you're not aware of the effect your attitude has on people and on your influence as a Muslim, beware! You may be doing a good job of putting food on the table, giving Zakat, working hard, going to the mosque, praying every day, fasting, etc. BUT the power of your attitude behind all that you do will essentially determine the true effect of your actions. Having a good attitude shows your concern for those around you before yourself, it shows your reverence for Allah and the strength of your character to hold a smile even when it may not be your day.

Attitude directly affects your friendships, your family, your work, your ability to serve Allah... it affects EVERYTHING!! So when you're contemplating life and wondering what you may be doing that is hurting your relationships, or asking yourself why life is being cruel to you, take a look at how you hold yourself around others and the attitude you hold towards life.

In conclusion, even when we may not be feeling happy or at ease, we can still show a smile on our face or share a few friendly words and kind gestures. Often, it is simply our attitudes that can influence someone or inspire someone to seek Islam. We need to be aware of that. We can be doing all the rights things in our minds, thinking that we are being good examples of Islam to others, but if we are not carrying a positive attitude at all times, we may not be doing as good of a job at being 'Professional Muslims'.

I know it's easier said than done, and I'm not always so positive myself but I wrote this because I also need to remind myself that attitude is everything, and I think ESPECIALLY for Muslims. We can build a mosque, we can do great things for Islam, but one of the greatest things can simply come from the attitude we have. So, let's all start being positive people!! (",)

So Who Is This Professional Muslim?

It's you!

It's nothing to do with being a lawyer, or a doctor, or a teacher, or of any profession, its more about developing and improving your chararcter in the hope of becoming a better Muslim... a 'Professional' Muslim! (",)

It seems that in our professional lives, we're always seeking ways to move up the ladder, whether it be going on training courses or taking further exams or even just doing that extra bit of reading so we're up-to-date with the latest in our fields of work. However, it is just as important that we strive to work our way up the Islamic ladder too, by working on our social conduct, being charitable, helping out in the community, educating ourselves, and educating others by sharing our knowledge.

To seek knowledge is a sacred duty; its obligatory on every Muslim. And its not only the knowledge of Deen, but ANY beneficial knowledge is Islamic knowledge; an ocean that has no coast.

The Qur'an is filled with verses inviting man to use his intellect, to ponder, to think and to know. The Hadith literature is also full of references to the importance of knowledge,

"Seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave"

and

"Seek knowledge, even as far as China".

These ideas have echoed throughout the history of Islam and encouraged Muslims to seek knowledge wherever it might be found. During most of its history, Islamic civilization has been witness to a true celebration of knowledge. That is why every traditional Islamic city possessed public and private libraries, and some cities like Cordoba and Baghdad boasted of libraries with over 400,000 books!!

I mean, it's great that as young British Muslims, we're succeeding both academically and professionally, however, it's so important that we are just as clued up on imaan, islam, good character and good conduct so that we can achieve success in not only this life, but also in the Hereafter.

 

And vice versa too. Like, there's no point in being all clued up on Islam, when you don't make an effort to seek non-religious knowledge or don't strive to excel in your job.

 

As Professional Muslims, it's all about striking a good balance between Deen and Dunya, showing others what a great blessing it is to be a part of this beautiful religion called Islam!

Salaam and Welcome to my blog!

Bismillah hir Rahman nir Raheem.
In the Name of Allah, The Beneficient, The Merciful.

I will start with the dua that Prophet Musa made before he confronted Pharoah,

"My Lord, I ask you to expand my breast, make my task easy, undo the knot in my tongue so that my speech will become comprehensible."

I'm always reading up on Islam, finding ways to increase my Islamic knowledge and I come across so many amazing facts, quotes, words of inspiration and videos that I decided to create a blog so that I could share this wealth of beautiful knowledge with others too.

I hope you all enjoy reading my posts, and please, feel free to comment or add anything you'd like to share with others.

So, with the name of Allah, let the blogging begin... (",)