Do you follow your parents blindly?

"Verily, their return is to the flaming fire of Hell. They found their fathers on the wrong path; And they (too) hastened in their footsteps!" (Qur'an 37:68)

In the above ayah, Allah warns us against following the footsteps of our elders blindly.

We are forbidden from following an action without confirming its correctness and authenticity.

"And follow not that of which you have no knowledge. Verily! The hearing, and the sight, and the heart, of each of you will be questioned." (Quran 17:36)

The one who you are blindly obeying today can be the same person who you will blame and curse on Judgement Day.

"And they will say: "Our Lord! Verily, we obeyed our chiefs and our great ones, and they misled us from the (Right) Way. Our Lord! give them double torment and curse them with a mighty curse!"

(Qur'an 33:67-68)

The Prophet s.a.w.s forbade us from obeying any one in a Haraam act.

"There is no obedience to anyone if it involves disobedience to Allah. Verily, obedience is in that which is correct."

(Bukhari)

May Allah guide us, our elders and our families to the straight path.

"The people of Hell beg to the people of Paradise.."

نَادَىٰٓ أَصۡحَـٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ أَصۡحَـٰبَ ٱلۡجَنَّةِ أَنۡ أَفِيضُواْ عَلَيۡنَا مِنَ ٱلۡمَآءِ أَوۡ مِمَّا رَزَقَڪُمُ ٱللَّهُ‌ۚ قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ حَرَّمَهُمَا عَلَى ٱلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ
The companions of the Fire will call to the companions of Paradise, "Pour upon us some water or from whatever Allah has provided you." They will say, "Indeed, Allah has forbidden them both to the disbelievers."

(Qur'an 7:50)

"He looked down from Paradise and saw his companion in Hell Fire"

أَقۡبَلَ بَعۡضُہُمۡ عَلَىٰ بَعۡضٍ۬ يَتَسَآءَلُونَ (٥٠) قَالَ قَآٮِٕلٌ۬ مِّنۡہُمۡ إِنِّى كَانَ لِى قَرِينٌ۬ (٥٢) أَءِذَا مِتۡنَا وَكُنَّا تُرَابً۬ا وَعِظَـٰمًا أَءِنَّا لَمَدِينُونَ (٥٣) قَالَ هَلۡ أَنتُم مُّطَّلِعُونَ (٥٤) فَٱطَّلَعَ فَرَءَاهُ فِى سَوَآءِ ٱلۡجَحِيمِ (٥٥) قَالَ تَٱللَّهِ إِن كِدتَّ لَتُرۡدِينِ (٥٦) وَلَوۡلَا نِعۡمَةُ رَبِّى لَكُنتُ مِنَ ٱلۡمُحۡضَرِينَ (٥٧) أَفَمَا نَحۡنُ بِمَيِّتِينَ (٥٨) إِلَّا مَوۡتَتَنَا ٱلۡأُولَىٰ وَمَا نَحۡنُ بِمُعَذَّبِينَ (٥٩) إِنَّ هَـٰذَا لَهُوَ ٱلۡفَوۡزُ ٱلۡعَظِيمُ (٦٠) لِمِثۡلِ هَـٰذَا فَلۡيَعۡمَلِ ٱلۡعَـٰمِلُونَ

Then (in Paradise) they will turn to one another and question one another. One of them will start the talk and say: "I had an intimate companion (on the earth) who used to say `What! are you amongst those who bear witness to the truth (of the Message)? When we die and become dust and bones shall we indeed receive rewards and punishments?'"

(A voice) said: "Would you like to look down?" He looked down and saw him (his companion) in the midst of the Fire.

He said: "By Allah! You had nearly ruined me! Had it not been for the Grace of my Lord, I should certainly have been among those brought (there)! Is it (the case) that we shall not die (anymore), except our first death, and that we shall not be punished?" Verily this is the supreme achievement! For the like of this let all strive, who wish to strive.

(Qur'an 37:50-61)


Related to the above verses, Furat bin Tha`labah Al-Bahrani narrated a story of two men of Israel. "There were two men who were partners and had collected eight thousand Dinars. One of them had a craft and the other did not. The one who had a craft said to the other, `You do not have a craft, so I think I will divide the money with you and leave you.' So he left him. Then the man bought a house, belonging to a king who had died, for the price of one thousand Dinars. He called his companion and showed him the house, saying, `What do you think of this house I bought it for one thousand Dinars.' He said, `How beautiful it is.' When he went out he said, `O Allah, this companion of mine has bought this house for one thousand Dinars; I ask You for one of the houses of Paradise' -- and he gave one thousand Dinars in charity. Then as much time passed as Allah willed should pass. The first man married a woman with a dowry of one thousand Dinars, and invited his companion and made food for him. When he came, he said, `I have married this woman with a dowry of one thousand Dinars.' He replied; `How beautiful this is.' And when he left, he said, `O Lord, my companion has married a woman with a dowry of one thousand Dinars; I ask you for a wife from among Al-Hur Al-`Iyn' -- and he gave one thousand Dinars in charity. Then as much time passed as Allah willed should pass. Then the first man bought two gardens for two thousand Dinars, then he called his companion and showed them to him. He said, `I have bought these two gardens for two thousand Dinars.' He replied, `How beautiful this is.' When he came out, he said, `O Lord, my companion has bought two gardens for two thousand Dinars; I ask you for two gardens in Paradise' -- and he gave two thousand Dinars in charity. Then the angel came to them and took their souls in death. He took the one who had given his money in charity and put him in a house (in Paradise) that he liked. There, there was a woman who was so beautiful that the ground that she stood on glowed, then he (the angel) took him to two gardens and gave him other things which are known only to Allah. The man said, `This is like a man who had such and such.' The angel said, `That is exactly what it is; this house, these gardens and this wife are all for you.' The man said, `I had a companion who used to say: Are you among those who believe' It was said to him, `He is in Hell. Will you look down' So he looked down and saw him in the midst of Hell. At this, he said the words that are mentioned in the above verses.

"We followed you (in sin) so share the punishment with us!"

Allah tells us that the sinners will blame one another in the arena of Resurrection.

وَإِذْ يَتَحَآجُّونَ فِى النَّـارِ فَيَقُولُ الضُّعَفَاءُ لِلَّذِينَ اسْتَكْـبَرُواْ إِنَّا كُنَّا لَكُمْ تَبَعاً فَهَلْ أَنتُم مُّغْنُونَ عَنَّا نَصِيباً مِّنَ النَّارِ - قَالَ الَّذِينَ اسْتَكْبَرُواْ إِنَّا كُلٌّ فِيهَآ إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ حَكَمَ بَيْنَ الْعِبَاد

The weak will say to those who were arrogant: "Verily, we followed you (in sin), can you then take from us some portion of the Fire?'' Those who were arrogant will say: "We are all (together) in this (Fire)! Verily, Allah has judged between (His) servants!''

(Qur'an 40:47-48)

وَلَوۡ تَرَىٰٓ إِذِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ مَوۡقُوفُونَ عِندَ رَبِّہِمۡ يَرۡجِعُ بَعۡضُهُمۡ إِلَىٰ بَعۡضٍ ٱلۡقَوۡلَ يَقُولُ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسۡتُضۡعِفُواْ لِلَّذِينَ ٱسۡتَكۡبَرُواْ لَوۡلَآ أَنتُمۡ لَكُنَّا مُؤۡمِنِينَ (٣١) قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسۡتَكۡبَرُواْ لِلَّذِينَ ٱسۡتُضۡعِفُوٓاْ أَنَحۡنُ صَدَدۡنَـٰكُمۡ عَنِ ٱلۡهُدَىٰ بَعۡدَ إِذۡ جَآءَكُمۖ بَلۡ كُنتُم مُّجۡرِمِينَ (٣٢) وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسۡتُضۡعِفُواْ لِلَّذِينَ ٱسۡتَكۡبَرُواْ بَلۡ مَكۡرُ ٱلَّيۡلِ وَٱلنَّهَارِ إِذۡ تَأۡمُرُونَنَآ أَن نَّكۡفُرَ بِٱللَّهِ وَنَجۡعَلَ لَهُ ۥۤ أَندَادً۬اۚ وَأَسَرُّواْ ٱلنَّدَامَةَ لَمَّا رَأَوُاْ ٱلۡعَذَابَ وَجَعَلۡنَا ٱلۡأَغۡلَـٰلَ فِىٓ أَعۡنَاقِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْۚ هَلۡ يُجۡزَوۡنَ إِلَّا مَا كَانُواْ يَعۡمَلُونَ

"But if you could see when the Zaalimoon (polytheists, sinners) will be made to stand before their Lord, how they throw back the word (of blame) on one another!

Those who were deemed weak will say to those who were arrogant: "Had it not been for you, we should certainly have been believers!"

And those who were arrogant will say to those who were deemed weak: "Was it we who kept you back from Guidance after it reached you? Nay rather it was ye who transgressed."

Those who were deemed weak will say to those who were arrogant: "Nay! it was a plot (of yours) by day and by night. behold! you (constantly) ordered us to be ungrateful to Allah and to attribute equals to Him!"

And each of them (parties) will conceal their own regrets (for disobeying Allah during this worldly life), when they see the torment. And We shall put iron collars round the necks of those who disbelieved. Are they requited aught except what they used to do?

(Qur'an 34:31-33)

5 tips to be Constant in doing Good Deeds

1) Keep Focus: The world is attractive and mesmerizing, but a believer can not afford to lose focus of his destination (Paradise). If he remains alert and focused, he will reach his destination, but if he indulges himself in the worldly charms, he will fail. So, constantly remind yourself of your end. Messenger of Allah (S) said, "Remember more often the destroyer of pleasures - death.'' [At-Tirmidhi] (Check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsjZc-Zkr9g )

2) Build Taqwa (Fear of Allah): Taqwa is what will keep you going on and on tirelessly. Only those who have knowledge about Allah and about the life after death, truly fear Him as He should be feared, and only those will stay away from His disobedience. So, read about what awaits you in the life after your death and infuse the love for Jannah and fear of Hell in your heart. (Check out "The Hereafter" at http://www.hoor-al-ayn.com/lectures/anwar-al-awlaki/ )

3) Gain ‘ilm (knowledge): Read the Qur’an and ahaadith (sayings of the prophet s.a.w.s.) and scholarly advices about the various methods of ibaadah (worship) that will reap you rewards and increase your closeness with Allah. (Check out: http://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/hadeeth/riyad/08/book08.htm ).

4) Don’t burden yourself: Prophet s.a.w.s said "Religion is very easy and whoever overburdens himself in his religion will not be able to continue in that way.” (Sahih Bukhari). Assign yourself only as much as you will be able to do constantly. There are several ways to earn rewards (as given in the link above), from personal level (Qur’an, Salaah, Dhikr) to social level (Helping others in their work, meeting fellow muslims cheerfully, giving counsel, etc.). Choose the forms of ibaadah that are easiest and best for you and be constant in doing them. “The most beloved deeds to Allah are the most regular and constant even though it were small." (Bukhari)

5) Keep record: Every morning when you wake up, revise the list of things-to-do, organize the hours of the day and perform the tasks without fail. The most important tip to be constant in performing good deeds is to evaluate yourself each night before going to sleep- remember the day that passed by, ask yourself if you have fulfilled all your obligations towards Allah almighty and His slaves, and think of ways of improving your imaan and aamaal (deeds).

10 ways to develop love for Allah

Shaykh Ibn al-Qayyim (rah) says: “The reason which cause mahabbah (love) of Allaah to develop, are ten:

First: Reciting the Qur’aan, reflecting and understanding its meaning and its intent.

Second: Drawing closer to Allaah – the Most High – through optional deeds, after fulfilling the obligatory duties.

Third: Being continuous in the dhikr (remembrance) of Allaah, with the tongue, the heart and the limbs – under all circumstances. The more continuant the dhikr, the more muhabbah develops and intensifies.

Fourth: Giving precedence to what Allaah loves over personal loves, when being overcome by desires.

Fifth: Contemplating and deliberating over the Names and Attributes of Allaah.

Sixth: Recognizing and remembering the favors and bounties of Allaah – both manifest and hidden.

Seventh: To be humble and submissive before Allaah – and this is the greatest matter.

Eighth: To be in seclusion reciting the Qur’aan, during that time in which Allaah descends to the lowest heaven (which is the last third of every night), finishing this recitation with seeking Allaah’s forgiveness and repenting to Him.

Ninth: To sit in the gatherings of the true and sincere lovers of Allaah, reaping the fruits of their speech, and not to speak except if there is benefit in it and that you know that such talk will increase you in goodness and that it will benefit others as well.

Tenth: To stay clear of all those causes which distances the heart from Allaah – the Mighty and Majestic.

So these are the ten reasons which cause the person to develop true love for Allaah and to reach the rank of al-muhabbah, by which he reaches his Beloved.

Today is all you've got!

When you wake up in the morning ,
do not expect to see the evening live as though today is all that you have. Yesterday has passed with its good and evil, while tomorrow has not yet arrived. Your life's span is but one day, as if you were born in it and will die at the end of it. With this attitude, you will not be caught between an obsession over the past, with all its anxieties, and the hopes of the future, with all its uncertainty.

Live for today: During this day you should pray with a wakeful heart, recite the Qur'an with understanding, and remember Allah with sincerity. In this day you should be balanced in your affairs and satisfied with your allotted portion.

Organize the hours of this day, so that you make years out of minutes and months out of seconds. Seek forgiveness from your Lord, remember Him, prepare for the final parting from this world, and live today happily and at peace.

When you achieve this attitude, you will profit from every moment of your day, by developing your personality and imaan, and purifying your deeds.

(Slightly abridged excerpt from the Book 'Don't Be Sad' by 'Aaidh Ibn Abdullah al-Qarni )

4 Simple Tips to Prepare for the Life after Death

1) Learn the do’s and dont’s: When you have recognized Islam as the true religion and chosen it as your way of life then you must know the laws of the deen so that you can start practising it. Learn about the permissible and impermissible matters, so that you know which actions will make you a beloved slave of Allah and take you to Paradise, and which actions will make you a follower of Shaitaan and take you to Hell-Fire.

Prophet (S) said: "Whoever follows a path seeking knowledge, Allah will make the path to Paradise easy for him."

(Al-Bukhaari)

2) Attain Taqwah: If you have knowledge but lack Taqwah, then you cannot practice the deen with devotion. Only those who have knowledge about Allah and about the life after death, truly fear Him as He should be feared, and only those will stay away from His disobedience. So, read about what awaits you in the life after your death and infuse the love for Jannah and fear of Hell in your heart. Check out the lecture "The Hereafter" at http://www.hoor-al-ayn.com/lectures/anwar-al-awlaki/

'Umar (ra) said, "Taqwa is not by fasting the day and not by praying the night. And its not by mixing between the two of them. But Taqwa is leaving what Allah (swt) has made forbidden and by doing what Allah (swt) has made obligatory. After one has done this, Allah (swt) will provide good things for that person."

3) Be passionate about performing good deeds: Grab opportunities to do good deeds. Learn ways to make your scale of good deeds heavy on Judgment Day (such as these ahadith- Allah’s Messenger (S) said, "The heaviest thing to be placed in the balance of a believing slave on the Day of Judgement will be good behaviour." (At-Tirmidhi).

"There are two statements that are light for the tongue, heavy in the Scales and are dear to the Merciful: Subhan-Allahi wa bihamdihi, Subhan-Allahil-'Adheem.'' [Al-Bukhari].

"If the seven heavens and the earth were placed on one side of the scale, and 'la ilaha ill-Allaah' was placed on the other, the side in which 'la ilaha ill-Allaah' is placed will be heavier." [Al-Bukhari])

Allah says "And the weighing on that day (Day of Resurrection) will be the true (weighing). So as for those whose scale (of good deeds) will be heavy, they will be the successful (by entering Paradise). And as for those whose scale will be light, they are those who will lose their ownselves (by entering Hell), for they wrongfully treated Our Signs."

(Qur'an 7:8)

4) Invoking Allah for His Mercy and His guidance: Remember it is only Allah who creates ways for you to earn hasanaat (good deeds) and it is He who gives you the strength to stay away from evil. So sincerely pray to Him to guide and have mercy on you, your family and the ummah.

Allah's Apostle (S) said, "The deeds of anyone of you will not save you (from the Hell Fire)." They said, "Even you (will not be saved by your deeds), O Allah's Apostle?" He (S.A.W.S) said, "No, even I (will not be saved) unless and until Allah bestows His Mercy on me. Therefore, do good deeds properly, sincerely and moderately, and worship Allah in the forenoon and in the afternoon and during a part of the night, and always adopt a middle, moderate, regular course whereby you will reach your target (Paradise)."

(Sahih bukhari)