The importance of Rajab, the sacred month

The Sacred months have a special status, which applies also to Rajab because it is one of these sacred months.

Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

"O you who believe! Violate not the sanctity of the Symbols of Allaah, nor of the Sacred Month…"
[al-Maa'idah 5:2]

This means: do not violate their sanctity which Allaah has commanded you to respect and forbidden you to violate, for this prohibition includes both evil deeds and evil beliefs.

Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

"so wrong not yourselves therein…" [al-Tawbah 9:36] meaning, in the Sacred Months.

The pronoun here [translated here as "therein"] refers to these four sacred months, as stated by the Imaam of the Mufassireen, Ibn Jareer al-Tabari (may Allaah have mercy on him).

So we should pay attention to the sanctity of these four months, because Allaah has singled them out for a special status and has forbidden us to commit sins out of respect for their sanctity, for sins committed at this time are even worse, because of the sanctity of the time which Allaah has made sacred. Hence in the aayah quoted above, Allaah has forbidden us to wrong ourselves even though this – i.e., wronging ourselves, which includes committing sins – is forbidden during all the months of the year.

http://www.islam-qa.com/en/ref/books/111

Those who publicise good deeds, Allah will humiliate him

Allah's Messenger (may peace and blessings be upon him) said:

"He who wants to publicise (his deeds), Allah will publicise (his humiliation), and he who makes a hypocritical display (of his deeds), Allah will make a display of him."

[Sahih Muslim]

3 people of Bani Israeel who were tested by Allah

Allah's Messenger (SAWS) said:

There were three persons in Bani Isra'il, one suffering from leprosy, the other bald-headed and the third one blind. Allah decided to test them.

So He sent an angel who came to one who was suffering from leprosy and said: "Which thing do you like most?"
He said: "Beautiful colour and fine skin and removal of that which makes me detestable in the eye of people."
He wiped him and his illness was no more and he was conferred upon beautiful colour and beautiful skin.
He (the angel) again said: "Which property do you like most?"
He said: "Camels", or he said: The cow the narrator is, however, doubtful about it, but (out of the persons) suffering from leprosy or baldness one of them definitely said: The camel. And the other one said: Cow. And he (one who demanded camel) was bestowed upon a she-camel, in an advanced stage of pregnancy, and while giving he said: "May Allah bless you in this!"

Then he came to the bald-headed person and said: "Which thing do you like most?"
He said: "Beautiful hair and that (this baldness) may be removed from me because of which people hate me." He wiped his body and his illness was removed and he was bestowed upon beautiful hair,
and the angel said: "Which wealth do you like most?"
He said: "The cow". And he was given a pregnant cow and while handing it over to him he (the angel) said: "May Allah bless you in this!"

Then he came to the blind man and he said: "Which thing do you like most?"
He said: "Allah should restore my eyesight so that I should be able to see people with the help of that." He wiped his body and Allah restored to him his eyesight,
and he (the angel) also said: "Which wealth do you like most?"
He said. "The flock of sheep." And he was given a pregnant goat and that gave birth to young ones.

And it so happened that one valley abounded in camels and the other one in goats and the third one in sheep.

He then came to one suffering from leprosy in his (old) form and shape and he said: "I am a poor person and my provision has run short in my journey and there is none to take me to my destination except with the help of Allah and your favour. I beg of you in His name Who gave you fine colour and fine skin, and the camel in the shape of wealth (to confer upon me) a camel which should carry me in my journey."
He said: "I have many responsibilities to discharge."
Thereupon he said: "I perceive as if I recognise you. Were you not suffering from leprosy whom people hated and you were a destituye and Allah conferred upon you (wealth)"
He said: "I have inherited this property from my forefathers."
Thereupon he said: "If you are a liar may Allah change you to that very position in which you had been."

He then came to the one who was bald-headed in his (old) form and said to him the same what he had said to him (one suffering from leprosy) and he gave him the same reply as he had given him and he said: "If you are a liar, may Allah turn you to your previous position in which you had been."

And then he came to the blind man in his (old) form and shape and he said: "I am a destitute person and a wayfarer. My provision have ran short and today there is no way to reach the destination but with the help of Allah and then with your help and I beg of you in the (name) of One Who restored your eyesight and gave you the flock of sheep to give me a sheep by which I should be able to make my provisions for the journey."
He said: "I was blind and Allah restored to me my eyesight; you take whatever you like and leave whatever you like. By Allah. I shall not stand in your way today for what you take in the name of God."

Thereupon, he said: "You keep with you what you have (in your possession). The fact is that you three were put to test and Allah is well pleased with you and He is annoyed with your companions."

3 Things follow the Dead Body : Hadith

Messenger of Allah S.A.W.S. said

"Three things follow the bier of a dead man. Two of them come back and one is left with him: the members of his family. wealth and his good deeds. The members of his family and wealth come back and the deeds alone are left with him."

[Sahih Muslim]

Hide good deeds, just as you hide bad deeds

Hide good deeds, just as you hide bad deeds

Ikhlas (Sincerity) is probably the most difficult of all actions in Islam. Sincerity in seeking Allah’s pleasure alone in all our deeds requires a high-level of consciousness of our Creator that must be consistent over time. More often than not, we fall into the problem of Riya (show off), where our deeds are really for the sake of people than for the sake of Allah.

Sheikh Abdul Malik Ar-Ramadani mentions some narrations on this subject from the righteous people of the past in his book Sittu Durar:

Ikhlas is “when the servant’s internal and external actions are the same. And Riya is when the external actions are better than the internal actions (of the heart). Truthfulness in one’s sincerity is when the internal is better (developed) than the external.” (Madarij-us-Salikeen, 2/91)

Bilal Bin Sa’d said, “Do not be a wali (friend) of Allah outwardly, yet an enemy to Him internally.” (Ahmad in Az-Zuhd, Abu Nu’aym in Al-Hilyah)


It has been stated, “Ikhlas is that you do not request anyone to witness your action except Allah, and that you do not seek anyone to reward you (for it) except Him.”


Salamah Bin Dinar said, “Hide your good deeds (from the people) just like you hide your evil deeds”. (Abu Nu’aym, Bayhaqi) And in a narration in Al-Bayhaqi, “Hide your good deed like you hide your evil deed, and do not be delighted at your own action, for you do not know whether you are happy or wretched (in the Hereafter).”


It has been stated in definition of Ikhlas, “It is to single out Allah in one’s intention (qasd) in one’s obedience (to Him).”


Hammad Bin Zaid said, “I used to walk with Ayyoob (As-Sakhtiyani) and he would take me through different routes. I would be surprised at how he would guide himself through them, fleeing from (being seen by) the people who might say, ‘This is Ayyoob.’”
He also said, “Ayyoob used to take me via a route that was the longest and I would say “But this one is closer.” He would reply, “I fear (passing by these) gatherings.”
When he would pass by them and give salams, they would reply to him with more than what (they would do for) others. So he would say, ‘O Allah, you know that I did not desire this! O Allah, you know that I did not desire this.’” (Ibn Sa’d, Al-Fasawi)


Abu Zur’ah Bin Abi Amr said, “Ad-Dahhak Bin Qays came out and made the prayer for rain with the people, but they were not granted rain, and nor did they see any clouds come. Ad-Dahhak said, “Where is Yazeed Bin Al-Aswad?” (And in a narration, “But nobody answered him!”. He then said again, “Where is Yazeed Bin Al-Aswad Al-Jurashee?” And I was insistent on calling him that if he was to hear my words he would get up.)
“Here I am,” he said. So (Ad-Dahhak) said, “Stand and intercede with Allah on our behalf, that he should grant us rain.” So Yazeed stood up, made his face pointed in the direction of his feet, and made his head sink into his shoulders (out of humility). He then said, “O Allah, these servants of yours sought intercession through me from You.
So he had not called upon Allah three times except that the people were granted rain in such abundance that they almost drowned on account of it.
Then Yazeed said, “O Allah, this one made a show of me (i.e. Ad-Dahhak, by asking him and calling him out), so grant me freedom from this (fame).” Yazeed did not live except for the next Jumuah.

Allah hates 3 things

Messenger of Allah SAWS said
“Allaah hates three things for you: gossip, wasting of money, and asking many questions (which bring no real benefit),”
[Bukhari]

A true believer hides his good deeds like his sins (The evil of showing-off religiousness)

Abu Umamah (RAA) came to the mosque and saw a person in prostration, sobbing and supplicating Allah. Abu Umamah told him ‘You, you if you must do this, do it at home!’
Muhammad bin Mubarak ‘It is better to manifest such aspects of your religious sincerity at night; it is more honourable by night than by day. Showing such acts by day is for the sake of creatures, but doing them at night is for the Lord of the Worlds.’

Ali ibn Abu Talib said ‘There are three signs of a show-off. He is lazy when alone, active when with people and does more work when he is praised for it and less when blamed for it’

"The true believer hides his good deeds just as he hides his sins." [Bishr Al-Hafi]


Allah's Messenger (SAWS) said “The greatest fear I have about you (Muslims) is minor Shirk”
He was asked ‘What is that, O Messenger ofAllah? The Prophet SAWS replied ‘That is doing good deeds for show. On the Day when Allah Most High will reward people for their deeds, He will tell them ‘Go to those people whose attention and praise you did these deeds and see if they will reward you”
(Related by Ahmad

Reward of giving a loan is much greater than charity!

Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said, "In the night of the journey, I saw on the gate of heaven written, 'reward for sadqah (charity) is ten times and reward for qard al-hasan is eighteen times'. So, I asked the angel, how is it possible? The angel replied, "Because a beggar who asked might have already had something but a loanee did not ask for loan unless he was in need."
[Ibn Hisham & Ibn Majah]

Islam has prohibited riba (interest) and allowed al-qard al-hasan. Qard al-hasan is a loan which is returned at the end of the agreed period without any interest or share in the profit or loss of the business.

Qard al-Hasan in Qur'an In many places of the Holy Qur'an, Allah has mentioned and encouraged His creature for qard al-hasan by assuring better reward in this world and in the Hereafter. In the Qur'an Allah says, He who will give Allah qard al hasan, which Allah will double into his credit and multiply many times. [Al-Baqarah (2): 245] If you give Allah qard al hasan. He will double it to your credit and he will grant you forgiveness. [ Al-Tagabun (64):17] And give Allah qard al hasan. [ Al-Maidah (5): 12] And give Allah qard al hasan, it will be increased manifold to their credit. [ Al-Hadid (57): 18] Who is he that will give Allah qard al hasan? For Allah will increase it manifold to his credit. [Al-Hadid (57):11] Establish regular prayer and give regular charity and give Allah qard al hasan---. [Al-Muzzammil (73): 20]

Read more here: http://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Articles/shariah/al_qard_al_hasan_A_Practical_Approach.htm