How to develop a momin musalman humble personality, a must for all of us

abdlsy · Jan 28, 2014

May allahtallah guide us all ameen and keep shaitaan away from us, ameen

"Part of someone's being a good Muslim is leaving alone that which does not concern him." [At-Tirmidhie]

One of the reasons that pushes someone to get involved in speaking about things which does not concern him, is his desire to know that which there is no need to know or being satisfied with talking about things that have no benefit.

Excessive speech.

Another way in which the tongue is misused is by excessive speech. This involves engaging in speech that there is no need to concern oneself with, as well as being excessive in expressing oneself by speaking more than is necessary.

A shameless, vulgar and indecent tongue.

This is not only offensive, but also prohibited. It originates from being malicious, vile, wicked, and reproachful. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

"A believer is not a shameless person, nor one who curses, nor an obsene person nor is he indecent." [At-Tirmidhi and Al-Baihaqie].

It is prohibited to boast .

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Allah has revealed to me that you all should be humble, so that no person would oppress another, and neither should there be anyone displaying pride, or boast to another person." [Muslim]

c) It is prohibited for a Muslim to abuse or blaspheme another Muslim, The Messenger (peace be upon him) said: "Abusing/blaspheming of the Muslim is evil and immoral whilst fighting him is kufr (disbelief)". [Bukharie & Muslim]

He (peace be upon him) further states: "The Muslim is he from whom other Muslims are safe from his hand and his tongue." [Muslim]

d) It is prohibited to abuse/blaspheme the dead. The Messenger (peace be upon him) said:

"Do not abuse/blaspheme the dead. [Bukharie]

e) It is prohibited to insult/blaspheme what the unbelievers worship other than Allah.

Allah, the Most High said:

"And insult not those whom they (the disbelievers) worship besides Allah lest they insult Allah wrongfully without knowledge." [Al-An'aan: 108]

It is not permissible to talk ill of the deceased Muslims or to mention their evil deeds. This is based on Bukhari's report from 'Aishah that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "Do not speak ill of the dead; they have seen the result of (the deeds) that they forwarded before them." Abu Daw'ud and Tirmizhi have transmitted, from Ibn ' Umar a similar hadith that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said, "Mention the good deeds of your dead and cover their evil deeds."

[FONT=&quot]The reward of such believers will be paradise and happiness in the hereafter as well as benefits in the life of this world as long as Islamic laws and principles are applied to behaviour and manners.[/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]Anger, like fear, is a psychological condition, and cause of evil and aggressive actions.[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]One who does not control his anger loses control of his mind. The enraged man cannot control his actions, and harms and hurts himself and others.[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]A faithful should have a strong will not to become angry over everything but only when he sees evil deeds or corruption, which he should try to reform.[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]A believer is one who forgives and tolerates people's mistakes because Allah loves those who forgive others and will reward them on the Day of Resurrection.[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]1. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Surely, among the faithful's characteristics is not to interfere in the affairs of others.[/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]1. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]The faithful neither hurts others nor causes them harm, and if he commits a mistake he apologizes. [/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]1. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]The hypocrite only harms and hurts others and never apologizes to them.[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]3. False Words
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Speaking false words is denying what is true. Indeed, the Holy Messenger ~~says: It is considered among the greatest sins because the liar causes harm both to people and to himself.~~~~[/FONT]~~

The true Muslim restrains his anger and is forgiving. He does not see any shame in doing so, rather he sees it as a good deed which will bring him closer to Allah (SWT).[FONT=&quot][/FONT]

The Prophet said: "Among the best of you are those who have the best attitude (towards others)". [Agreed upon]

He (SAWS) also said: "Nothing will weigh more heavily in the balance of the believing servant on the Day of Resurrection than a good attitude (towards others). Verily Allah hates those who utter vile words and obscene speech." [Al-Tirmidhi, Hasan Sahih hadith]

The true Muslim has a good attitude. He is humble and soft and gentle in his speech. He does not use bad language or insult others. He is patient, gentle, forgiving, tolerant, cheerful, and sincere towards others.

abdlsy · Jan 28, 2014

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[TD="class: cms_table_dxrp cms_table_dxrpcontent"]It is not permissible to talk ill of the deceased Muslims or to mention their evil deeds. This is based on Bukhari's report from 'Aishah that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "Do not speak ill of the dead; they have seen the result of (the deeds) that they forwarded before them." Abu Daw'ud and Tirmizhi have transmitted, from Ibn ' Umar a similar hadith that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said, "Mention the good deeds of your dead and cover their evil deeds."

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2) And behold! a bier passed by Muhammad, and he stood up; and it was said to him, "This is the bier of a Jew." He said, "Was it not the holder of a soul, from which we should take example and fear?"

Do not speak ill of the dead.
When the bier of anyone passeth by thee, whether Jew, Christian, or Muslim, rise to thy feet."

abdlsy · Jan 28, 2014

One of the most beautiful things I found in Islam when I first encountered it was the emphasis on good manners. One quote a shaykh once made in a lecture particularly stuck with me: A Muslim is made by manners.
Nowadays something strange is going on in the UK, where I live. The Islamic schools are becoming known for bad manners— not only from students but from teachers as well.
Muslims themselves prefer non-Muslim landlords because at least they’re punctual. The areas in the city that are most dirty are the Muslim areas. What kind of da’wah is this?
There’s clearly something wrong. Why is there such a massive difference between what Allah ‘azza wajal teaches us and what is being reflected in society? The answer is: manners.
The Prophet salallahu alayhi wa sallam said: No father can give a child anything better than good manners.[At-Tirmidhee]
Stop a moment and realize that your manners are one of the main reasons for Allah to enter you into His Gardens of Paradise. Do you know which manners Allah subhanahu wa ta’alaa loves to see in you? Do you want to motivate yourself to master them and to please your Beloved?
In this week’s Jumuah Special you’ll learn about five beautiful practices that can take you to Paradise.
It is as Allah says in this week’s central ayah: Allah will say, ‘This is the Day when the truthful will benefit from their truthfulness.’ For them are gardens [in Paradise] beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever, Allah being pleased with them, and they with Him. That is the great attainment. [Quran, 5:119]
Habits for the Sake of Allah
“Say please.”
“Say thank you!”
Why are almost all parents so keen on teaching these among their children’s first words? Because it is fitrah (natural inclination) for parents to want good manners from your children.
You should speak the truth, for example, not just because society considers it good manners; you should speak the truth because Allah ‘azza wajal has commanded you to do so! Allah(swt) has told us which manners are good. So develop your good habits only for the sake of Allah, remembering your relationship with Him and seeking closeness to Him while focusing on your manners.
Where Can We Find the Best Model of Good Character?

How do I know what a good character is? Look at the prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. He is the perfect example of good character, Allah says about him: You have indeed in the Messenger of Allah a beautiful pattern (of conduct) for any one whose hope is in Allah and the Final Day, and who engages much in the Praise of Allah. [Quran, 33:21]
Perfection in All You Do
The main attribute of the Prophet’s character was perfection; he strove for perfection in everything he did. When someone would speak to him, he would turn around fully to talk. When he shook hands, he was the last one to let go. When speaking with him, he was never the first to look away. From people who used to bury their own babies alive to the most compassionate, caring persons– he brought out the best in all his companions.
Likewise we should try to perfect anything we do, no matter how small the deed!
Five Practices With Which to Adorn Your Character for the Sake of Allah
1. Be truthful.
Allah tells us in this week’s central ayah that a beautiful reward is awaiting us for our good manners.

Feel it: Speaking the truth is not always easy, especially if it can get you into trouble. But think about this: you’ll feel much better after you’ve told the truth— even if the consequence is blame or punishment— because you did something for the sake of Allah.

Motivate yourself: The Prophet said: Truthfulness leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise. And a man keeps on telling the truth until he becomes a truthful person. Falsehood leads to al-fujur [wickedness, evil-doing], and al-fujur leads to the (Hell) Fire, and a man may keep on telling lies till he is written before Allah, a liar. [Al-Bukharee]

2. Keep your promises.
You’re defined by your actions, not your words.

Feel it: We don’t really intend to break promises, yet so many things we promise are not happening. Especially with loved ones we tend to just say things and never do them, because ‘they are family anyway.’ For example promising to help your little sister with her homework. These little things all count in the sight of Allah, so ask yourself this: am I trying hard enough to keep every promise I make to anyone?

Motivate yourself: Allah says: Oh you who believe! Why do you say that which you do not do? Most hateful it is in the sight of Allah that you say that which you do not do. [Quran, 61:2-3].

3. Be trustworthy.
Scenario: Your friend tells you about a personal problem and asks you not to tell anyone. You meet with another friend and it just all comes out.

Feel it: Are you considered trustworthy? When we say Allah is the most trustworthy, we realize that He will never let us down, will never leave our sides.
Motivate yourself: The Prophets of Allah were all trustworthy people and Allah declared the trustworthiness of those who were doubted by there people, for example Prophet Hud: I but fulfill towards you the duties of my Lord’s mission: I am to you a sincere and trustworthy adviser. [Quran, 7:68] Learn from the prophets and practice daily developing the habit of being trustworthy, not just in some situations. Accept responsibility and then fulfill it. When others trust you, do not betray their trust.

4. Be a sincere adviser.
Do you know you can gain Paradise by the mercy of Allah by helping two people resolve their differences?

Feel it: It’s so easy to just fire up an argument between two people by joining in and saying bad things about the other. But is this honorable? No! One of the best manners is to advice people sincerely and help them to get back together.
Motivate yourself: Allah says: The believers are but a brotherhood. So make reconciliation between your brothers, and have Taqwa of Allah so that you may receive mercy. [Quran, 49:10]

5. Give with a clean heart.
One day you’re walking on the street and you’re stopped by a homeless person asking you for money for food. You either ignore him or her completely and think this person is not “real” or that they won’t really buy food. You might even wonder why this person doesn’t even have a job like the rest of us.

Feel it: Does thinking like this make you feel better? Wouldn’t it feel better to just give something for the sake of Allah and maybe ask him or her to buy food with it? Or buy something to eat and just give this?
Motivate yourself: The lesson is here to never turn away a person who asks your help—this was the character of our beloved Prophet!

A Special Trait
One of the beautiful traits of a Muslim is bravery. When it comes to watching the scariest movies, doing the most extreme sports etc. we are being brave! But what about being brave for our deen? Anas ibn Malik said: The Prophet was the best of the people, and he was the most generous of the people, and the bravest of the people. [Al-Bukharee, Muslim]
His courage can be seen in the way he told the Quraysh about Islam, how he was on the battlefield in the cause of Allah.
You and me are all in need of some level of courage in order to establish our deen in our daily lives!
So here’s a special dua the Prophet made: اَللّهُمَّ إِنِّيْ أَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْعِجْزِ ، وَالْكَسْلِ، وَالْجُبْنِ ، وَالْهَرَمِ ، وَالْبُخْلِ ، وَأَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ، وَأَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ فِتْنَةِ الْمَحْيَا وَالْمَمَاتِ
O Allah, I seek refuge in You from weakness and laziness, miserliness and cowardice, anxiety and sorrow, and I seek refuge in You from the torments of grave, and I seek refuge in You from the trials and tribulations of life and death. (Al-Bukharee, Muslim]
Homework: Two duas for good manners
Dua for good manners: The Prophet used to say: ‘Oh Allah, I ask you for good health, chastity, trustworthiness, good manners and to be content with destiny.’ [Al-Bukharee]
Dua to seek protection from bad manners: The Prophet used to supplicate: ‘Oh Allah! I seek refuge in You from reprehensible manners, deeds and whims.’ [At-Tirmidhee]
Praying you will benefit,
Khawlah bint Yahya ~ United Kingdom
THE AYAH JOURNAL, Qur’an & Productivity is a global project with the exciting goal to inspire every Muslim worldwide to open the Qur’an every day, pick one ayah, and apply it to your own life by making acting on the ayah your mission for the day. Let’s bring back the message of the Qur’an to our daily life! Check www.ayahjournal.com and follow us on www.facebook.com/ayahjournal for vibrant Qur’an &

abdlsy · Jan 28, 2014

Muslim code of behaviour

114. According to Islamic teachings, apart from having the right belief how important is it for a person to do good deeds?
Doing good and having the right belief go hand in hand in Islam. In fact, doing good in practice is the proof of having the right belief in the heart. This is why the Holy Quran speaks of true Muslims very often as "those who believe and do good deeds". Both the Quran and the Holy Prophet have told Muslims that the best among them is that person who shows the best behaviour towards other people.

115. Please give a list of some of the good qualities a Muslim must try to acquire.
Below we give, in the words of the Holy Quran and the Holy Prophet Muhammad, the chief qualities a Muslim should display:

1. Truthfulness:

"O you who believe! keep your duty to Allah and speak straight, true words." (Holy Quran 33:70)

"O you who believe, keep your duty to Allah, and be with the truthful people." (9:119)

"Be maintainers of justice and bearers of true witness for Allah, even if it (the truth) goes against your own selves or parents or relatives or someone who is rich or poor." (4:135)

2. Sincerity:

"Serve Allah, being sincere to Him in obedience." (39:2)

"It is most hateful in the sight of Allah that you say things which you do not do." (61:3)

"Woe to those who pray but are unmindful of their prayers, who do good to be seen." (107:4-6)

3. Unselfishness:

"You cannot attain to righteousness unless you spend (in charity) out of those things which you love." (3:91)

"They (the true believers) give food, out of love for Allah, to the poor, the orphan and the slave, saying: We feed you only for Allah's pleasure - we desire from you neither reward nor thanks." (76:8-9)

"Do no favour seeking gain." (74:6)

4. Humility:

"The servants of the Beneficent (Allah) are those who walk on the earth in humility." (25:63)

"Do not turn your face away from people in contempt, nor go about in the land exultingly." (31:18)

"Do not ascribe purity to yourselves. Allah knows best who is righteous." (53:32)

5. Patience:

"Allah loves those who are patient." (3:145)

"Give good news to the patient, who, when a misfortune befalls them, say: We are Allah's and to Him do we return." (2:155-156)

6. Forgiveness:

"Pardon (people) and overlook (their faults). Don't you love that Allah should forgive you." (24:22)

"(The dutiful are) . . . those who restrain their anger and pardon people. Allah loves those who do good to others." (3:134)

"Whenever they (true believers) are angry they forgive." (42:37)

"The recompense of evil is punishment like it. But whoever forgives (an evil committed against himself) and amends (matters), his reward is with Allah. . . . Whoever is patient and forgives, that is a matter of great resolution." (42:40, 43)

When the Holy Prophet Muhammad defeated his enemies in Makka and returned to that city as its conqueror, he forgave them in the following words:

"No reproof be against you this day; Allah may forgive you, and He is the most Merciful of those who show mercy." (12:92)

7. Purity and cleanliness:

"He indeed is successful who purifies himself (in mind and body), and remembers the name of his Lord, then prays." (87:14-15)

"Purify your garments and shun uncleanness." (74:4-5)

8. Honesty:

"Don't go near the property of an orphan, except in a goodly way, till he attains maturity. And fulfil the promise (you make) . . .. Give full measure when you measure out, and weigh with a true balance." (17:34-35)

"Do not swallow up your property among yourselves by false means, nor offer it as a bribe to the officials so that you may swallow up other people's property unlawfully while you know." (2:188)

9. Goodness and kindness to others:

"Allah commands you to uphold justice and to do good to others and to give to the relatives." (16:90)

Three degrees of doing good are mentioned here: "justice," which means returning any good that someone has done you with equal good; "do good to others," which means taking the initiative in doing good to others; and "give to the relatives," which means doing good to people instinctively and naturally just as one does good to one's close relatives.

"Do good to others, surely Allah loves those who do good to others." (2:195)

10. Consideration and respect for others:

"O you who believe! do not enter houses other than your own until you have asked permission and greeted the inmates . . . and if it is said to you, 'Go back', then go back." (24:27-28)

"O you who believe! avoid most of suspicion (against others), for surely suspicion in some cases is sin; and do not spy (into other people's affairs), nor let some of you backbite others." (49:12)

"When you are greeted with a greeting, greet with one better than it, or return it (in the same terms at least)." (4:86)

11. Courage:

Speaking of a small number of Muslims facing a big and powerful enemy, the Quran relates:

"Those to whom men said: people have gathered against you, so fear them; but this increased their faith, and they said: Allah is sufficient for us and He is an excellent Guardian." (3:173)

12. Moderation:

"Eat and drink, but do not be immoderate." (7:31)

"Do not chain your hand to your neck (so that you are mean in spending), nor stretch it out to the utmost limit (so that you waste everything)." (17:29)

Regarding the performance of religious duties, the Holy Prophet has given the following advice:

"Religion is easy, but any one who exerts himself too much in religious devotions will get overcome by it; so you should just act rightly, and keep to the mean, and be of good cheer, and ask for Allah's help morning, evening, and a part of the night." (Bukhari.)

13. Cheerfulness:

"Be of good cheer." (Holy Prophet in Bukhari.)

"It is an act of charity to meet your fellow with a cheerful face." (Holy Prophet in Mishkat.)

Finally, we give a verse of the Holy Quran mentioning a number of qualities a Muslim, man or woman, should try to acquire:

"The truthful men and the truthful women, the patient men and the patient women, the humble men and the humble women, the charitable men and the charitable women, the fasting men and the fasting women, the men who guard their chastity and the women who guard their chastity, the men who remember Allah much and the women who remember Allah much - for all these Allah has prepared forgiveness and a great reward." (33:35)

116. How does Islam require a Muslim to treat the people around him?
The Holy Quran and the Hadith mention various categories of people that one has to deal with, and give a great deal of guidance on how to behave towards them.

1. Parents and the elderly:

"Your Lord has commanded that you worship none but Him, and do good to parents. If one or both of them reach old age with you, do not say 'Fie' to them, nor chide them, but speak to them a generous word . . . and say, My Lord, have mercy on them as they brought me up when I was little." (17:23-24).

"The Holy Prophet said, It is one of the greatest sins that a man should curse his parents. Someone said, How can a man curse his own parents? He said, If a man abuses the father of another, that person will abuse his parents (in return)." (Report in Bukhari.)

2. Other Near Relatives:

"Do good to the near relatives." (4:36)

"Give to the near relative his due, and also to the needy and to the traveller (in need of help). (17:26).

3. Children:

"Do not kill your children for fear of poverty - We (Allah) provide for them and for you." (17:31)

"A man came to the Holy Prophet and said, `You kiss children but we do not kiss them'. The Holy Prophet said, `Do I have any control over you if Allah has taken away mercy from your heart'." (Report in Bukhari.)

4. Orphans and destitute children:

"Maintain the orphans out of their property and clothe them and give them a good education. Test them when they reach the age of majority, and if you find them to be mature, hand over their property to them." (4:5-6)

"I and the man who brings up an orphan will be in paradise like this," said the Holy Prophet, putting together his forefinger and middle finger. (Report in Bukhari.)

5. Poor and needy:

"Righteous is he who . . . gives away wealth out of love for Him to the near of kin and the orphans and the needy and the wayfarer and to those who ask and to set slaves free." (2:177)

"What will make you understand what the uphill road (to success) is? (It is) to free a slave, or feed at a time of hunger an orphan who is a relative or the poor man lying in the dust." (90:11-16)

"Have you seen him who goes against religion? That is the one who is rough to the orphan and does not urge the feeding of the needy." (107:1-3)

"(The true believers are those) in whose wealth there is a known right for the beggar and the destitute." (70:24-25)

"The person who manages things for the widow and the poor is like the one who strives hard in the way of Allah." (Holy Prophet in Bukhari.)

6. Neighbours:

"Be good to . . . the neighbour belonging to your people and the alien neighbour." (4:36)

"He is not a believer who fills his stomach while his neighbour is hungry." (Holy Prophet in Hadith.)

"The angel Gabriel continued to enjoin upon me good treatment of the neighbour, so much so that I thought he would make him heir to one's property." (Holy Prophet in Bukhari.)

7. Wives/Husbands:

"They (your wives) are a garment for you, and you are a garment for them." (2:187)

"Of His (Allah's) signs is that He created spouses for you from yourselves so that you might find quiet of mind in them, and He put between you love and compassion." (30:21)

"The best of you are those who are kindest to their wives." (Holy Prophet in Tirmizi.)

A man related:

"I asked Aishah (Holy Prophet's wife): What did the Prophet do when in his house? She said, `He served his wife', meaning that he did work for his wife." (Report in Bukhari.)

8. Employers/Employees:

"(The true believers) are those who are keepers of their trusts and covenants." (23:8)

"Trusts" include the duties and the other things with which an employee is entrusted by his employer; "covenants" include the contract by which both the employer and the employee are bound.

"Allah says: There are three persons whose opponents I shall be on the Day of Judgment . . . (the third is) the person who employs a servant and receives fully the labour due from him, but does not pay his wages." (Holy Prophet in Bukhari.)

Ans, a companion of the Holy Prophet, related:

"I served the Holy Prophet for ten years, and he never said to me, `Fie', nor did he ever say `Why have you done this', or `Why have you not done that'." (Report in Bukhari.)

9. Animals

"There is no animal in the earth, nor a bird flying on its two wings, but they are communities like yourselves (O people)." (6:38)

Someone asked the Holy Prophet, "Is there a reward for us (from Allah) for doing good to beasts?" He replied:

"In every animal having a liver fresh with life there is a reward." (Holy Prophet in Mishkat.)

"Be careful of your duty to Allah in the matter of dumb animals; ride them while they are in a fit condition, and eat them while they are in a fit condition." (Holy Prophet in Abu Dawud.)

"Whoever tills a field, and birds and beasts eat from it, it is an act of charity." (Holy Prophet in Musnad of Ahmad.)

10. Authorities:

Regarding electing and appointing people to positions of authority, the Quran says:

"Allah commands you to make over trusts (or positions of trust and authority) to those worthy of them." (4:58)

Some other principles are as follows:

"Obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority from among you; then if you quarrel about anything (with your authorities) refer it to Allah and the Messenger" (4:59), i.e. settle the disagreement by means of the Holy Quran and the Holy Prophet's example.

"Obedience (of authority) is due only in good matters", i.e., orders to do wrong must not be obeyed. (Holy Prophet in Bukhari.)

The first head of state of the Muslims after the Holy Prophet, the famous Hazrat Abu Bakr, said in a speech after his election:

"Help me if I am in the right. Correct me if I am in the wrong. Obey me as long as I obey Allah and His Messenger; in case I disobey Allah and His Messenger, I have no right to obedience from you."

"The most excellent jihad is to speak the truth in the face of an unjust ruler." (Holy Prophet in Mishkat.)

11. Muslims:

"Hold fast by the covenant of Allah all together and be not disunited. And remember Allah's favour to you when you were enemies, then He united your hearts, so by His favour you became brethren." (3:103)

"The believers are brethren, so make peace between your brethren . . . Do not find fault with your own people, nor call one another by (bad) nick*names." (49:10-12)

"Help one another in good and righteous works, and do not help one another in sin and aggression." (5:2)

"Do not hate one another and do not be jealous of one another and do not boycott one another, and be servants of Allah, as brothers; and it is not lawful for a Muslim to sever his relations with his brother for more than three days." (Holy Prophet in Bukhari.)

"You will see the believers in their having mercy for one another, and in their love for one another, and in their kindness towards one another, like the human body: when one limb is ailing, the whole body feels it, one part calling out the other with sleeplessness and fever." (Holy Prophet in Bukhari.)

"None of you has faith until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself." (Holy Prophet in Bukhari.)

12. Those who abuse Muslims:

"Bear patiently what they (abusers) say." (20:130)

"Disregard their annoying talk." (33:48)

"When you hear Allah's messages disbelieved in and mocked at, sit not with them until they enter into some other talk." (4:140)

"And if you invite them to guidance, they hear not; and you see them looking towards you, yet they see not. Take to forgiveness and enjoin good and turn away from the ignorant." (7:198-199)

"The Messenger of Allah and his Companions used to forgive the idolaters and the followers of the book (Jews and Christians), as Allah had commanded them, and they used to show patience on hearing hurtful words." (Report in Bukhari.)

13. Enemies:

"Repel evil with what is best, when lo! he between whom and you there is enmity will be like a warm friend." (41:34)

"Many of the people of the book wish that they could turn you back into disbelievers after you have believed, out of envy from themselves. . .. But pardon and forgive." (2:109)

"And you will always find treachery in them, except a few of them. So pardon them and forgive. Surely Allah loves those who do good to others." (5:13)

14. Non*Muslims:

"Allah does not forbid you concerning those people who do not fight you because of your religion, nor expel you from your homes, that you show them kindness and deal with them justly.. . . Allah forbids you only concerning those people who fight you for your religion, and drive you from your homes and help others to expel you, that you make friends of them." (60: 8,9)

"Whatever good they (people of other religions) do, they will not be denied it (by Allah), and Allah knows who the righteous are." (3:115)

"O you who believe, be upright for Allah, bearers of witness with justice; and do not let the hatred of a people incite you not to act with justice. Be just; that is nearer to observance of duty." (5:8)

"Call (others) to the way of your Lord with wisdom and goodly exhortation, and argue with them in the best manner." (16:125)

"Argue not with the people of the Book (Jews, Christians, and other people having scriptures) except by the best (means), save those of them who act unjustly. But say: We believe in that which has been revealed to us and revealed to you, and our God and your God is One, and to Him we submit." (29:46)

A companion of the Holy Prophet relates:

"A funeral procession passed by the Holy Prophet, and he stood up for it. People said to him: It was the funeral of a Jew. He said: Was it not a human life?" (Report in Bukhari.)

15. Mankind generally:

"Mankind is a single nation." (2:213)

"O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into races and families so that you may know each other. The most honoured of you in Allah's sight are those who best keep their duty." (49:13)

"We (Allah) have not sent you (O Muhammad) except as a mercy to the nations." (21:107)

"Speak good words to all people." (2:83)

"Allah commands you that . . . when you judge between people (i.e., of any race, religion, family, class, etc.), you judge with justice." (4:58)

abdlsy · Jan 28, 2014

A Believers Attributes

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent the Merciful. "Successful indeed are the believers, who are humble in their prayers, and who keep aloof from, what is vain, who are givers of poor-rate and who guard their private parts, except before their mates or those whom their right hands possess, for they surely are not to blame. But whoever seeks to go beyond that, these an they that exceed the limits. And those who are keepers of their trusts and their covenant, and those who keep a guard on their prayers, these are they who are the heirs, who shall inherit paradise; therein they shall dwell forever."
Holy Qur'an (23:1-11)
This narration from the Holy Qur'an is about the believer's attributes.

It describes believers as humble in their prayer; so the believer is he who stands before Allah in absolute sincerity and without any feeling of vanity. He calls upon Allah, worships Him and approaches Him; he asks His forgiveness and remission; his heart, mind and bodily limbs are focussed together as a mere being in front of the Almighty, the Most High.
When believers hear untrue profanity spoken by disbelievers such as curses, they avoid such people because their characters are aloof from such matters and never indulge in meaningless or debasing conversations.
Believers pay poor-rates (zakat), which is an obligatory amount of money paid by the rich to the poor. They help in funding charitable projects such as schools, hospitals, dwellings, mosques, libraries ...etc. so that no one in an Islamic society has to remain poor, or in need of education, or a place to live or medical care. Indeed, Islam wants to protect people from poverty, ignorance, illness and need.
Male and female believers are able to guard themselves from committing forbidden acts through Allah's constituting marriage as the lawful way for people to live together and be near families.
Believers keep the covenants which they have made, pay back trusts and never betray. If a believer agrees to do something, he does it; if someone entrusts him with property, with a secret, with a will, he guards them for their owners, or if people choose him to be a judge for them, he returns their confidence in him by acting fairly.
Another obvious signs of a true believer is prayer, which distinguishes him or her from a disbeliever. Whoever stops praying or despises it as a burden is disliked by Allah, the Almighty, and His Messenger, and even believers dislike them and cut their relations with them. They do not talk, greet, visit nor help the one who does not pray.
Wherever we find the above mentioned attributes in the individuals of any community, that society will be an Islamic one, happy and progressive; far from corruption and vice, in which people live contentedly in security.

The reward of such believers will be paradise and happiness in the hereafter as well as benefits in the life of this world as long as Islamic laws and principles are applied to behaviour and manners.

abdlsy · Jan 28, 2014

Practising Good Manners

The human soul is in need of developing educationally in order to become characterised by the best of morals and refrain from evil doings. This can be achieved by teaching ourselves the following points: 1. Following in the footsteps and copying the examples of the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad , his infallible household (Ahlul Bayt) and the most righteous among his companions. Studying their biographies and considering all aspects of their virtuous behaviour are essential ways of being led on the right path.
2. Practice makes perfect and we should practise conducting ourselves with the best of morals, like truth, courage, generosity, mercy, benevolence and forgiveness. Whoever repeatedly does good deeds and behaves in a principled manner, such conduct will undoubtedly become habitual, whereas whoever commits misdeeds and ill-natured vices like hypocrisy, lying, deceiving ...etc. will accept them to such an extent that they will not feel their abomination and the damage they cause.
3. Avoiding people characterised by bad manners and not making them friends, because not mixing with such people removes the danger of being misled and should also discourage their unprincipled behaviour.
4. We should also ask the forgiveness of Allah in case of committing sins or doing evil deeds and should regret and repent for such actions. This can be done through reprimanding ourselves and feeling that such action is bad and should not be repeated.
To Summarise
1. Good manners surely indicate the goodness of the upright human soul while bad manners indicates that the soul of that man is evil and wicked. A good human soul is like a sweet flower from which fragrant perfume is emitted. Conversely one which is wicked can be likened to a poisonous smell that harms people.
2. Allah bids us towards the best morals and will reward us accordingly on the Resurrection Day and also forbids us against bad morals for which He will duly punish us.
3. Bad morals cause the destruction of society and the spread of corruption; he who has vices, his personality will be disliked and he will be liable to punishment, and people will avoid and humiliate him.
4. The man with good morals is considered the foundation on which the structure of a sound Islamic society is built, and is among the causes of giving strength to Muslims.
5. But if Muslim communities lose their good morals of justice, mercy and benevolence, they will be destroyed, and all the scientific progress and abundance of wealth can not prevent it. When moral principles are abandoned, the quality of life is disrupted and led astray.
Thus we see war, gross injustice and rising crime spreading in immoral societies.
Vices like lying, selfishness, greed, deceit and hypocrisy fester in the same way as germs destroy the human body.
6. The onus is on all Muslims to ensure good morals which are preserved by way of self-education and practising exemplary behaviour.

abdlsy · Jan 28, 2014

Whom Allah Loves Most

The Messenger of Allah ~~said:~~ "All mankind belongs to Allah; therefore the most favoured by Allah is the one who is good to his or her own family".[7]
A man once asked the Messenger of Allah :
"What people does Allah love most?"
He said: "Those who are most useful to other people."[8]
Through the quoted holy traditions (hadith), the Messenger of Allah ~~teaches us in simplistic terms how to deal with people and how a Muslim should behave with individuals in society.~~
Indeed, a Muslim should be a useful member of the community in which he or she lives, because human society is like the human body. The human body consists of different organs for different functions, for instance the eye takes the duty of seeing, the tongue for speaking, the legs for walking and the hands for working. Consequently, each of these organs has a benefit and use for the human body without which man cannot live normally.
Therefore, human society is made up of different people, who carry out certain duties to perform necessary services.
A farmer supplies food, a doctor attends to the sick, the holy struggler (mujahid) defends his religion and country, and the teacher educates people. These few examples show that each person offers advantages in providing for people.
The Messenger of Allah ~~likens human society to a single family by saying:~~
All mankind belong to Allah, the Exalted, Who loves goodness and benefits them; and Who preserves their interests and welfare, like a man who takes care of his or her own family by providing care and assistance.
Therefore, Allah loves those who do good to people and whoever helps the needy, cares for the sick, provides food for the hungry, reconciles people, discovers new medicines, builds a school or establishes an orphanage to look after children without parents. Indeed a true believer does all these for the benefit of other people and is a useful asset to his or her society.
Consequently, the most useful person in society is he who is the best and most beneficial, whom Allah loves most, because an Islamic society cannot be a strong and caring one, in which peace and happiness prevails, unless people do good to the advantage of all and ignore their own personal interests.
To Summarise

1. The best among people is the one who does good to all and is most useful to society.
2. A Muslim is one who loves to do good for society.

3. Allah surely loves those who do good for society.

abdlsy · Jan 28, 2014

Bestowing Love and Peace

The Messenger of Allah ~~said:~~ "I swear to Allah in Whose hand my life is, that you cannot attain heaven and eternal happiness unless you have faith, and you cannot have faith unless you love each other. Should I not guide you towards some task, as a result of which, love and friendship will be created among you?" They answered: "Yes, O Prophet of Allah" He added: "So, salute each other (with peace) openly and clearly."[9]
Our religion is Islam. It is the religion of fraternity and brotherhood among people. Prophet Muhammad called people towards friendship and caring because they are the foundation of co-operation and happiness in this life. One feels happy and at peace when living with one's own family or with loving friends. That feeling and love and respect goes both ways and one cannot forget family and friends because of one's loves for them.
It is when there is no love that enmity among people is created which often leads to aggression breaking out. If there was real love, fighting among people would not erupt nor would one steal another's property nor would there be such a gap between rich and poor.
Allah will not be pleased with us and we not will live in happiness unless we love each other.
Our Prophet guides us towards the right path by instructing us to greet each with the salutation of peace (salam) as the first sign of showing affection for each other. He says: "Salute each other (with peace) openly and clearly."
He guides us in this way because such a salutation and greeting make both love and happiness enter our souls.
Love among Muslims is a sign for their true and sincere belief, and all Muslims are brothers and they love each other.
So, whoever dislikes his Muslim brothers and hurts them is not a true believer. This is endorsed by the Messenger of Allah ~~who says: No believers will be true in their belief unless they love each other.~~
These holy traditions (hadith) guide us to the knowledge that Allah will be displeased with us and will not let us enter Paradise unless we believe and act upon the guidance of His Prophet. His Messenger has spelt out: It is obligatory for Muslims to love each other in order to be believers and thus enter Paradise.
To Summarise

No one will enter Paradise except the person who truly believes in Allah.

A Muslim cannot be a true believer unless he loves his other Muslim brothers.

Initially saluting each other with peace causes love and fraternity among people and reaches their hearts.

Those who salute and greet others deserve and gain the double reward of happiness in the life of this world and in the Hereafter.

abdlsy · Jan 28, 2014

Controlling Anger

Once a man approached the Messenger of Allah ~~and asked: "Advise me". Then the Messenger of Allah ~~said:~~~~ "Do not be angry". The man repeated the same question and (the Prophet) again said: "Do not be angry," and continued: "He is not strong and powerful who throws people down but he is strong who withholds himself from anger."[18]
Allah created man and gave him different psychological emotions like love, hate, fear, anger...etc. Every man feels these emotions in him according to conditions and circumstances. Thus, he likes and dislikes, becomes afraid or enraged in certain situations. Each emotion offers some profit to man if used correctly. But equally, there is the grave danger of provoking harm if they are used incorrectly. Harm will be inflicted not only on others but also will backfire on the inflictor.
For instance, Allah, the Almighty, made fear in the human soul so that he might protect himself against danger, and stay away from evil and crime. For such an occasion, fear is a good way to keep man from evil and corruption.
The faithful who fears Allah also fears committing sins and evil deeds. Consequently, he keeps to the right path by staying away from such crimes. But there is a difference between fear and cowardice. It is not right for the faithful to be a coward or to be controlled by weakness, without standing up to an aggressor or without confronting oppression, evil and corruption. Being afraid in a cowardly way only leads to being submitted to humiliation and aggression.
Anger as an emotion existing in the human soul, has a useful aim for man and can be a counterbalance to cowardice if he uses it in a correct way.
Man should be angry about an evil action or corruption in society. He should be angry for the right, for Allah alone, and he should defend good and goodness. But anger can harm himself and other people and even be changed to evil if he becomes angry for meaningless causes and does not control himself, allowing his anger to overwhelm his will. Anger then pushes man to oppress others and to commit crimes by its uncontrollable use, which is in gross disobedience to Allah.
The Messenger of Allah forbids man against such anger but considers one who controls himself when he is confronted with evil sufficient to make him angry, as a man strong in will, mind and wisdom. He is more powerful than a wrestler, as his mental control is more than physical strength, and defeats evil and aggression not only in others but also in himself.
The man who can control himself when angry, and prevent himself from doing harm to others or oppressing them or punishing them, has a will of iron and is of exalted character. He couples pushing problems away and alleviating harm from himself with spreading the spirit of love, forgiveness and tolerance among people.
Indeed, Allah loves those who control their anger and He forgives those who do not seek revenge or punishment.
Certainly, Allah, the Exalted is All-Forgiving Who forgives His servants and tolerates them and He also loves His servants to forgive each other, to tolerate each other and not be vindictive to each other.
If a man wrongs another man or makes a mistake, and he repents, then Islam recommends forgiving such a man and not punishing him, because Allah is All-Pardoning and He loves those who pardon people.

To Summarise

Anger, like fear, is a psychological condition, and cause of evil and aggressive actions.

One who does not control his anger loses control of his mind. The enraged man cannot control his actions, and harms and hurts himself and others.

A faithful should have a strong will not to become angry over everything but only when he sees evil deeds or corruption, which he should try to reform.

A believer is one who forgives and tolerates people's mistakes because Allah loves those who forgive others and will reward them on the Day of Resurrection.

abdlsy · Jan 28, 2014

Surely, among the faithful's characteristics is not to interfere in the affairs of others.

The faithful neither hurts others nor causes them harm, and if he commits a mistake he apologizes.

The hypocrite only harms and hurts others and never apologizes to them.

There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.

abdlsy · Jan 28, 2014

Disobedience is to commit forbidden acts and give up obligatory ones.

Repentance is to give up disobedience and refrain from repeating it.

Allah is Most-Merciful with His servants. He accepts their repentance and forgives them if they regret their misdeeds.

It is obligatory for a man to ask Allah for forgiveness and to do the obligatory acts and give up the forbidden ones, and to regret his evil deeds.

Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds.

abdlsy · Jan 28, 2014

The Greatest Sins

The Messenger of Allah ~~says:~~ "Shall I inform you of the greatest sins? Associating others with Allah, being undutiful to parents, and false words."
Sin and crime are both evil for people. Associating other partners with Allah, being undutiful to parents, and uttering false words are all mentioned by the Holy Prophet ~~in this hadith as being among the greatest sins. Others include theft, murder, deceit, gambling, sorcery, and harming others...etc.~~
All cause as much harm to their doers as they harm other people. Indeed, Allah promises the wrongdoers who commit these offences severe punishment, i.e. hell, but some of these sins are worse than others. This is because they are more harmful and endanger the lives of people, and also because they cause sins.
The most abominable of these atrocious sins are the following:
1. Associating other Partners with Allah
Associating other partners with Allah is to believe in the existence of a god other than Allah, or to say that Allah has sons as the Jews and the Christians allege, and Whose beginning is like that of other creatures. Such beliefs are considered among the greatest sins because they cause people to deviate from the straight path, and it is telling lies about Allah.
And he whose belief is corrupt and lies against Allah, does not respect people, nor guards the welfare of humanity nor forbids crimes and wrongdoing. That is why polytheism is among the greatest sins.
2. To Be Undutiful towards Parents
A Muslim's heart is filled with love and kindness towards parents. Both have favoured for us and are the origin of our existence in this life. Our education, instruction and care are due to them. No one forgets his father's favour, who strives to work and supports his family. And no one forgets his mother's favour, bearing us in her womb while her life blood nourishes us, and watching over us many a night sleepless for our sake, keeping us, rearing us and educating us.
Parents are the source of love and benevolence for each individual in society, and whoever wrongs their parents and does not carry out his duties towards them is surely an unrighteous person, having no respect and being ungrateful to those who bestowed such benevolence upon us. Such a person will become habitual in doing evil against others and extorting from them their rights.
The Holy Messenger ~~instructs us that being undutiful towards our parents is among the greatest sins, and Allah is wrathful with those who wrong their parents and deny them respect.~~
3. False Words

Speaking false words is denying what is true. Indeed, the Holy Messenger ~~says: It is considered among the greatest sins because the liar causes harm both to people and to himself.~~

Lying is the result of doing various evil deeds, like a thief stealing property and denying it belongs to others. When asked why he has stolen another's property; he will claim that he did not take it. Or there is the oppressor who denies people their basic rights and when he is asked why he behaves in such a bad way, he lies about it.
Lying is the route to destruction of all moral behaviour in contrast to being really truthful and confessing misdeeds to ensure they are not committed again.
It is said one lie leads to another, and the Messenger Muhammad ~~says: Surely, lying is among the greatest sins due to its being the cause for crimes, and when man gives it up and is truthful, he will be far from such crimes.~~

abdlsy · Jan 28, 2014

Among the best characteristics of a Muslim is to speak only the words of goodness and reconciliation.

It is better to remain silent if you cannot speak the word of goodness.

Whoever does not keep a check on his tongue will regret it.

For those who do good is good (reward) and even more than that.

abdlsy · Jan 28, 2014

[h=1]Top 10 Traits of a Real Man (Muslim Style)[/h] Posted by: Guests August 28, 2012 in Featured, Islam, Positively Muslim 39 Comments
By: Asif Balouch
Cross-posted from: http://philasify101.blogspot.com/2012/05/top-10-traits-of-real-man-muslim-style.html#more
A phrase that has long been thrown around is the popular term, “Real Man”. Being labeled a “Real Man” has forever been seen as the ultimate compliment of respect a man could give another and to be viewed in this way has been regarded as the ultimate goal to achieve for the male population. But what is a “Real Man”?
In some parts of society this achievement is measured in terms of how much alcohol you can consume without keeling over and puking your guts out. Others regard a real man in accordance to how many fights one has participated in and won, even if the reason for the fight is for something completely idiotic and dishonorable. Another historic definition of a real man would depend on how shredded and cut up he is when it comes to his muscularity, never mind if the method of gaining it was questionable. Some societies label one a “real man” depending on how much money he rakes in or how many sexual encounters he's had, disregarding whether the money is earned in a positive manner and overlooking the tremendous heartbreak of the poor women that agreed to be another tally mark to his bedroom antics. Catching a football, driving a pickup truck…I'm sure there's plenty more.

The other day I came across an article on AskMen.com that provided a top 10 list of traits of a real man. Now granted, I don't think the blog was supposed to be taken too seriously because it was from the perspective of a mafioso character. Despite that, I thought it was a good concept to dive into when properly defining a “Real Man”. I believe this top 10 list is significant since what constitutes a real man is not legislated by any regular humanfolk. Oh, no, no, no…the declaration of what a Real Man comes from the words of the Creator, Allāh (God) of man himself, and was put into practice by a man who is without a doubt the epitome of a real man, The Prophet Muḥammad

. Just by reading about this man's life, his struggles and the description of his profound character, there is no one on this earth that the label “Real Man” fits more perfectly than him. So without further ado, here are the top ten traits of a real man.
Trait # 1: A Real Man Reads
That's right, just like how your stomach needs to be regularly fed with food, your mind needs to be regularly fed with knowledge. Now there's quite a few ways to attain knowledge of different things but a surefire way for it to stick in your brain is through reading. (A quick note: If you're a real man, you didn't groan when reading this first trait.) And no I'm not saying reading the newspaper, or your Twitter or Facebook news feeds does it. That is NOT true reading. That's not manly reading. I'm talking about books. A man reads books. Books that can save him from making stupid mistakes, books that can inspire him to get off his lazy rear end and do something with himself, books that makes him realize why the heck he's here in the first place. Though the Prophet

himself was illiterate, he made it a high priority to seek knowledge and there are many sayings where he mentions the high value importance of attaining knowledge. Some include: “The pen(knowledge) is mightier than the sword” and “He who travels in the search of knowledge, to him God shows the way of Paradise.” A real man doesn't stop seeking knowledge until his heart stops beating.
Trait # 2: A Real Man is a Focused Man
Alluding to the trait above, a real man who has knowledge, recognizes what is important and what is rubbish that ain't worth his time. A real man doesn't lose himself in the pretty bells and whistles of life that don't bring him any real benefit. When a real man sees things that are a distraction, he keeps moving. A real man realizes why he's here on this earth, that he is only here for a short time and that he has to do what he has to do to make sure he's got a ticket to paradise. A real man focuses on what's important: bettering himself, making a living for his family and preparing himself for the future. A real man lives by what the Prophet

said:“Live in this world as (if you are) a wayfarer or a stranger.”, which in essence means to not get caught up by all the glitz and glamour of this world because it's temporary. He doesn't stick around and waste time. Don't let things distract you because you have to make it to your destination. A real man manages his time wisely and gives the proper due to his work, his family, and his Creator. Stay focused and do what you have to do, because in the end there isn't anybody to bail you out.
Trait # 3: A Real Man is Gentle but Firm
A real man recognizes that he's a man with an intellect, not an animal. A real man speaks softly and doesn't need to holler and yell at the top of his lungs to be heard or get his point across. A real man doesn't create a scene, start trouble or “act hard” in front of others to show he's a tough guy. When there is trouble ahead, he does his best to squash it in a civilized manner. A real man isn't a punk either. Just because he doesn't raise his voice or try to intimidate others, doesn't mean he's a floor mat that people can walk all over. If he has problem with something, he lets it be heard. A real man practices patience. A real man suppresses his anger like a caged lion. Sure he can open the door at anytime and unleash hell but knows there is more honor and dignity in holding back. Raising his fists is the ABSOLUTE last resort.The Prophet

said, “He is not strong and powerful who throws people down, but he is strong who withholds himself from anger.”, in addition he also said, “Deal gently with people, and be not harsh; cheer them and condemn not.” A real man lives by these quotes.
Trait # 4: A Real Man is a Family Man
A real man recognizes the importance of his family and does his utmost to be a contributing member of the family. A real man preserves and protects. A real man recognizes that his children are a blessing from God and treats them as such and brings them up to be upright human beings. A real man MAKES TIME for his family and does not neglect them because of work or his own personal dealings. A real man is the backbone of his family and doesn't have time to be weak. A real man doesn't just take care of his immediate household but looks after his family that he grew up with. He honors his parents to the utmost, especially his mother. He calls his family often and stays in touch. He's good to his siblings and relatives. A real man strives to be the best father, brother, son and husband he can be and works hard to live up to be the best. The Prophet

once said, ”The best of you is the one who is best to his own family, and I am the best of you towards my family.”
Trait # 5: A Real Man doesn't Slander/Backbite/Cuss/Gossip
A real man keeps his mouth shut if he doesn't have anything nice to say. A real man, when he hears others ripping on whoever–whether they know them or not, either goes over and shuts it down by warning the party or walks right on out of the room. A real man would say in that situation, “Hey, I wouldn't like anyone saying that about me when I'm not around so ya'll shouldn't be talking about so-and-so like that”. A real man keeps a careful watch on his tongue because he knows that what he says can hurt him then or definitely in the future. A real man doesn't discuss things he doesn't know about or people he hasn't ever met. A real man doesn't cuss to be “cool” and chooses his words intelligently because he can get his point across better without dropping an f-bomb or an s-missle. A real man recognizes the hadith that says ”most people that are in hellfire are in there because they couldn't control their tongue.” In the Qurʾān, God states that he has given man “two lips and one tongue”, so the lips can control the tongue. [Surah Al Balad, 9]
Trait # 6: A Real Man Keeps His Promises
A real man's word is his bond. If he can't keep a promise, he doesn't give his word. A real man is trustworthy and doesn't flake out on somebody. He doesn't use inshā'Allāh (God willing) as a copout. He doesn't break deals and he pays back debts. A real man knows that his words are as powerful as his actions, and that they must be taken at face value. A real man doesn't say “I'll try” if he doesn't have to try it really. He either does or he doesn't and if he can't do it, he says he can't. There's no shame in saying that you can't do a favor for somebody, or you won't be able to come through. At least you'll be upfront and honest about it rather than being relied on and letting someone down. What does the Qurʾān say about this? “O you who believe! Why do you say that which you do not do? Most hateful it is with Allāh that you say that which you do not do.” [Surah Saff, 2-3] From this quote, a Real Man knows that keeping a promise is serious business and doesn't screw around on them.
Trait # 7: A Real Man Respects All Women
A real man doesn't “holler” at girls. A real man doesn't sit with other guys and talk about how sexy girls are and drool while discussing their body parts and wanting to “hit it”. A real man doesn't treat women like a buffet. A real man pursues a WIFE, not a girlfriend and he goes about it the right way. If a Real man is interested in a female, he goes to their parents to let them know his intentions, like how they did it back in the days. A real man works on lowering his gaze when beautiful women walk by. A real man keeps his interactions with women short, cordial and to the point and doesn't let it go longer so flirting and dirty thoughts can come into the mix. If a man is married, he stays faithful and doesn't leer his eyes elsewhere – and that includes the TV, the internet and magazines. A real man is respectful to his wife, both in public and in private. A real man does not raise his hands to his wife no matter what the case is. A real man doesn't point out his wife's flaws and treat her like a second-class citizen. A real man treats every female (that isn't his wife) he comes in contact with in the same way he treats his mother or sister.
Trait # 8: A Real Man Keeps His House in Order
Contrary to popular belief, a real man doesn't live in a pigsty. There aren't any pizza boxes on the counter, the sink isn't filled with dishes and his underwear isn't laying around. A real man is the master of his domain if he's living on his own, because if not then he better move back in with his mom and get some lessons if he ever wants to land a wife. That's correct! A real man DOES CHORES, even with his wife around. He does the dishes if they need cleaning, takes out the garbage, does his own laundry, irons his clothes, cooks from time to time. If you haven't reached that level, you better work on it now. The Prophet Muḥammad

regularly did household work and did most of his own chores himself like fixing his shoes, doing his own laundry etc. Stop using manliness as an excuse and get your job done, clean your place up, get your documents in order and clean up yourself.
Trait # 9: A Real Man Handles His Own Money
A real man isn't a charity case. He doesn't go looking for handouts from mommy and daddy or friends. A real man isn't satisfied with welfare checks. He goes out there and busts his tail to do something he wants to do and be the best at it. Whether it's being a CEO of your own company or sweeping the streets with a broom, you be the best at whatever you choose to do and give it 100%. When you start making some bread, you don't flaunt it like a douche or splurge it like an idiot. You budget your money and make sure you have some savings for emergencies. A real man doesn't buy a thing he can't afford. A real man relies on his own sweat from hard work and God, to provide for him. Rather than being a charity case, a real man gives to charity and good causes. Unless he wants to rescue the world himself from all its issues, he should support those that are doing good things properly. The Prophet

once said that it was better for a man to take a rope and gather some wood on his back to sell then to go out begging for money. So do what you gotta do to make an honest living and give back and God will rain down good fortune on you here and in the next life.

Trait # 10: A Real Man Knows He's Being Tested
A real man doesn't whine, cry and complain when life isn't going his way. He doesn't mope, wallow in his own self-pity or ruminate about all the BS that's going wrong with his life to anyone that will listen. “Why me?” is not in a real man's vocabulary. A real man makes decisions and takes full responsibility of what follows. A real man shows GRATITUDE. He is grateful for what he has no matter how big or how small. He takes the cards he's been dealt and runs with them. He doesn't look at other folks and get jealous because they have more. A real man realizes he has weaknesses and works on controlling them and not being consumed by them. That's because a real man knows what this life is all about. A man knows that he's constantly being tested and the decisions he makes will have either a negative or positive effect in the end when he's in front of his Maker on the day of judgment. A real man only cries out in private to his Lord and asks him for solace, forgiveness and comfort. A real man gives his best effort in anything he does and when life throws him a curveball he takes it in stride because he knows what the Qurʾān says “With hardship comes ease.” [Surah Ash-Sharh, 5-6] A real man knows that there's always gonna be ups and downs in life and that the ultimate down is in the next life if he winds up in Hellfire and the ultimate up and the ultimate form of “ease” is being in Paradise maxin' and relaxin' for all eternity. In the end we're all trying to get to the same place, and a real man knows that with Islam, he's got a compass, he's got the straight path and he knows what he has to do to make it there. Everything else is an obstacle in his way.

Conclusion
So what have we learned here today? Hopefully, we've learned that we guys have some homework to do before we can even consider ourselves a real man, especially one of the caliber of the Prophet Muḥammad

. I put this top 10 list together knowing that I do not possess all of these traits fully and it may take a lifetime before I can even confidently say that I meet all these requirements. But these traits are not impossible to attain. All it takes is some effort. A wise man once said that the essence of manhood is when a man has reached the pinnacle of his role. By the help of God, we very well can reach that pinnacle. Last but not the least, a Real man would share this with others. Till next time, this has been your favorite PhilAsifer, telling you to take care and be a man!

abdlsy · Jan 28, 2014

WHO IS A MUSLIM?

by Ibrahim B. Syed, Ph. D.
President
Islamic Research Foundation International, Inc.
7102 W. Shefford Lane
Louisville, KY 40242-6462, U.S.A.
E-mail: [email][email protected][/EMAIL]
Website: http://WWW.IRFI.ORG

What is the criteria laid down by Islam for a person to be known as, identified as and treated as a Muslim so far as matters of civil law and his social relations with other Muslims are concerned. The evidence on this point is divided into the following parts:
(1) From the Glorious Quran, extracts showing that belief in God and His messenger makes a person a 'Muslim'.
(2) From the Hadith, incidents showing that during the life-time of the Noble Prophet Muhammad people embraced Islam by reciting the Kalima Shahadah.
(3) Opinion of Muslim authorities, throughout the history of Islam, again showing that to be known as a Muslim and included in the Islamic community, a person has only to profess the Kalima.
(4) Sayings of the Noble Prophet Muhammad, giving certain outward signs of a Muslim, so that a person showing those signs must be treated as a Muslim.
Imam Ghazali (d. 1111 C.E.): Ghazali, one of Islam's greatest philosophers, wrote:
"He who says, 'There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is His messenger', with the tongue but does not confirm it in his heart, there is no doubt that in the Hereafter he shall be included among the unbelievers, and shall enter hell. But there is also no doubt that, so far as affairs of this world are concerned, the religious and secular authorities shall include him among the Muslims because it is not known what is in his heart, and we are obliged to accept what is on his tongue.'' (Ihya al-Ulum, p. 97)
Lisan al-Hukam: The author of the classical Lisan al-Hukam wrote:
"It is written that if an atheist, or an idol worshipper, or one who believes in gods besides the One God, were to merely say, There is no god but Allah, he enters Islam. Or if he were to say, I believe Muhammad to be the messenger of God, he enters Islam. This is because the deniers of Islam refrain from saying these two formulae. Hence if he were to declare even one of these two commandments, he would be taken out of the category called non-Muslim, and would be considered as a Muslim.'' (Lisan al-Hukam, p. 204)
Imam Shafi`i: Shafi`i, founder of one of the four schools of jurisprudence in Sunni Islam, related the following:
"It was reported to Umar, the second Caliph, regarding a certain man that he was not a believer at heart, but merely a Muslim in the outward sense. Umar asked him: `Is it not true that you are only outwardly a Muslim, and not really a Muslim, and your only reason for embracing Islam is to gain Islamic rights?' He asked Umar: `Sir, does Islam deprive those people of their rights who follow Islam only in the outward sense, and does it leave no way for them?' Umar said: `Islam has left a way for them', and then said nothing further.'' (Kitab al-Um, vol. vi, p. 154)
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (d. 1958): He was a Muslim theologian, scholar and author of 20[SUP]th[/SUP] century in India, who also held high political and ministerial posts in the republic of India. In his well-known Urdu commentary of the Quran, he writes:
"Here we draw attention to just one thing. What Islam has made as the basic expression of its teaching is known to everyone --- Ashhadu an la ilaha ill Allah, wa Ashhadu anna Muhammad-an abdu-hu wa rasulu-hu. That is, I confess that there is none to be worshipped besides God and I confess that Muhammad is the servant of God and His messenger.'' (Tarjuman al-Quran, Delhi, 1931, vol. i, p. 119)
Dr Sir Muhammad Iqbal (d. 1938 C.E.): This great poet-philosopher of Muslim India, and a national hero of Pakistan, writes:
``Once, under the influence of some spiritual urge, the Holy Prophet Muhammad told one of his companions: `Go and tell people that whoever in his life even once says with his tongue, there is no god but Allah, he should know that he shall enter paradise.' The Holy Prophet purposely omitted the second constituent of the Kalima, i.e. Muhammad is the messenger of Allah, without professing which a person cannot be a Muslim, and he considered just the confession of the Unity of God to be sufficient.'' (Khilafat Islamia, Lahore, 1923, pp. 9,--,10)

Sayyid Abul Ala Maudoodi (d. 1979 C.E.): Maulana Maudoodi is the best-known religious leader of Pakistan, and founder of the powerful Jama`at-i Islami political party. In a compilation of his sermons, he wrote:
"Brothers-in-Islam! You know that a man enters the pale of Islam by reciting a certain sentence. And even that sentence is not very long but a few words: There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. Expressing these words by tongue, a person changes altogether. He was a kafir, and is now a Muslim. He was impure and is now pure.'' (Khutbut-i Maudoodi, Pathankot, India, 1940, p. 24)
Who is a Muslim?
In very simple terms a Muslim is a follower of Islam. The word "Muslim" means one who submits to the will of God. This is done by declaring that "there is no god except one God and Muhammad is the messenger of God." In a broader sense, anyone who willingly submits to the will of God is a Muslim. Thus, all the prophets preceding the prophet Muhammad are considered Muslims. The Quran specifically mentions Abraham who lived long before Moses and Christ that, "he was not a Jew or a Christian but a Muslim," because, he had submitted to the will of God. Thus there are Muslims who are not submitting at all to the will of God and there are Muslims who are doing their best to live an Islamic life. One cannot judge Islam by looking at those individuals who have a Muslim name but in their actions, they are not living or behaving as Muslims. The extent of being a Muslim can be according to the degree to which one is submitting to the will of God, in his beliefs and his actions.
A Muslim is one who freely and willingly accepts the supreme power of God and strives to organize his life in total accord with the teachings of God. He also works for building social institutions, which reflect the guidance of God. There are no formal induction ceremonies into Islam. To formally become a Muslim, one has to bear witness to the statement of faith ("La Ilaha Il-lal-lah, Muhammadun Rasoolullah") by saying it. To become a true Muslim, one has to confirm the belief in that statement by heart, tongue and actions.
A Muslim's Character and Behaviour [SUP]1[/SUP]
Islam is a true religion because it teaches a person everything including how to act and behave, how to sit and talk and how to care and share. A Muslim is sure of himself both in this world and in the Akhirah (the Hereafter). He/she is always striving towards "falaah" (success, prosperity) and freedom from anxiety and is not troubled with doubts and conflicts. A Muslim family eats its meals together with Bismillah-ir Rahman-ir-Rahim and ends its meals together with Al-Hamdulillah. Everyone recites the Qur'an and prays at the appropriate times. Most importantly the children respect their elders and listen to their parents.
Muslims should be good role models and should set a good example to the non-believers so that when they look at a Muslim's character and behaviour and see how great it is, they would want to be Muslims too. Muslims have to project the right image especially when they're a minority in countries such as Canada and U.S.A. They should be honest, truthful, trustworthy, modest, patient, tolerant, punctual, kind, generous, forgiving, brave and hard working. They should be good to people even if those people are not good to them. Allah has said in the Glorious Qur'an "Tolerate patiently what they (the unbeliever) say and part from them in a polite manner" (73:10). Muslims should also practice forgiving people because Allah is always forgiving them. They should use the Noble Prophet Muhammad's (Sallallahu 'alayhi wa Sallam) example when the people of Taif threw stones at him and he forgave them.
Tawhid or belief in the Oneness of Allah helps the Muslim character a lot. Anyone who believes in Tawhid, surrenders himself/herself completely to the Will of Allah and becomes a true servant of Allah. Tawhid gives a person a lot of respect and confidence because he/she knows that Allah has Power over everything and he/she is in His loving care. It also makes a person humble and modest. The Noble Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu 'alayhi wa Sallam) has said "Modesty is part of faith" (Bukhari and Muslim). The person is never arrogant or rude because he/she knows that everything on earth belongs to Allah and he/she knows that everything one has is from Allah, so there's no reason to be proud and boastful.
Allah says in the Glorious Qur'an that Nabi Musa ('alayhissalam) advised his people: "...Seek help from Allah and be patient, the earth belongs to Allah. Anyone He wishes from among His servants shall inherit it..." (7:128). The most important effect on the Muslim's character from Tawhid is that it makes a person to obey and observe Allah's Commands. The person knows that Allah is always watching him/her and one can't escape Allah's watchful eye even for a single moment. Tawhid produces strong determination, patience and perseverance.
Believing in Allah makes a person brave and courageous. He/she will not be afraid of death because the person knows that it is no one but Allah who will cause death at the appointed time. So, unless the person disobeyed Allah's Commands he/she has nothing to worry about and can go on doing his or her duty without any fear.
You can think of this as a boat. A boat has a rudder, which guides the boat's movement. When the rudder is under control, the boat moves forward proudly over the waves, but if the rudder does not control the boat, it is tossed by every wave in the sea. It is the same thing with a person. When one surrenders oneself to Allah, one can face the problems of life without any fear. But if one does not surrender to Allah alone, one has to obey false gods like the fear of danger or the fear of hunger. Allah has said in the Noble Qur'an: "If Allah helps you, then none can overcome you and if He forsakes you, then who is there to help you after Him? And the believers should rely only on Allah" (3:160)
Luqman Hakim has been mentioned in the Qur'an as an intelligent and wise man. He told his son: "O my son! Do not associate anyone with Allah. Truly, polytheism is a tremendous wrong" (31:13). He also said: "O my son! Establish Salah and command the right and forbid the evil and bear patiently whatever may befall you, for this is firmness (of purpose) in (the conduct of) affairs. Do not turn your face away in disgust from people, nor walk arrogantly in the land. Surely, Allah does not love any arrogant boaster. Be moderate in your pace and lower your voice. Truly the harshest of all voices is the voice of the ***" (31:17, 18, 19).
Muslims should read the Glorious Qur'an and Hadiths about a Muslim's character and behaviour so that they could improve. Everyone makes mistakes but that does not mean that we can't improve ourselves. We should learn from our mistakes and improve. Muslims should help other Muslims by encouragement and not by exploiting their mistakes. A Muslim should think of himself as a mirror for his brother.
Hadrat Abu Hurairah (Rady Allahu Anhu) narrates that the Noble Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu 'alayhi wa Sallam) said: "Let him who believes in Allah and the Last day, either speak good or keep silent, and let him who believes in Allah and the Last Day be generous to his neighbour, and let him who believes in Allah and the Last Day be generous to his guest (Bukhari and Muslim). In another Hadith, Hadrat Abu Hurairah narrates that the Noble Prophet Muhammad ( Sallallahu 'alayhi wa Sallam) said: "Do not envy one another; do not inflate prices to one another; do not hate one another, do not turn away from one another; and do not undercut one another, but be brothers, O slaves of Allah. A Muslim is the brother of a Muslim: he neither oppresses him nor disgraces him, he neither lies to him nor does he hold him in contempt. Piety and righteousness is here - and he pointed to his breast three times. It is evil enough for a man to hold his brother Muslim in contempt. The whole of a Muslim for another Muslim is inviolable; his blood, his property, and his honour (Muslim).
The more we help others, the better we will become as well because we mature through helping others. Islam shows how an ideal Muslim's character should be and we should act upon that so that we might save ourselves from Hell-fire and attain Paradise.
CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD MUSLIM [SUP]2[/SUP]

Muslim is one who is willing to give up pleasure for long-term gains (Aakhirah).
Muslim is one who has the ability to settle differences without resentment or anger
Muslim is one who perseveres despite setbacks.
Muslim is one who knows life is too short to waste in idle activities.
Muslim is one who has no prejudice, intolerance, hatred or revenge.
Muslim is one who has the capacity to face disappointments and adversity without becoming bitter.
Muslim is one who accepts his mistakes and who does not complain that the rose bush has thorns but rejoices that it bears roses.
Muslim is one whose needs conform to the Qur'anic commands and those of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Muslim is one who makes Jihad (struggle) to change things, which he can and who lives in peace with things that he cannot change.
Muslim is one who gently and constantly questions himself/herself "AM I A MUSLIM?"

A Muslim meets his brother with a smiling face (he restrains from anger and is forgiving). The Prophet said: "Do not think little of any good deed even if it is just greeting your brother with a cheerful countenance [face] {MUSLIM**. The Prophet said: "Your smiling at your brother is an act of charity {Sadaqah**" {al-TIRMIDHI who said it is Hasan gharib**.

The Muslim should always be pure of heart and should have a cheerful and friendly face. He should meet his brother with warmth and smiles. There's no excuse--Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) always had a warm smile on his face even though he went through hardships, torture, and suffering in this life.

"... [those] who restrain anger and pardon {all** men- for Allah loves
those who do good." [Translation of the Qur'an-Al-Imran 3:134]

The true Muslim restrains his anger and is forgiving. He does not see any shame in doing so, rather he sees it as a good deed which will bring him closer to Allah (SWT).

He has a good attitude towards others and treats them well. Anas (RA) said: "I served the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) for ten years, and he never said to me 'UFF!'. If I did something, he never said, "Why did you do that?" And if I did not do something, he never
said, "Why did you not do such-and-such? [Agreed Upon]

The Prophet said: "Among the best of you are those who have the best attitude (towards others)". [Agreed upon]

He (SAWS) also said: "Nothing will weigh more heavily in the balance of the believing servant on the Day of Resurrection than a good attitude (towards others). Verily Allah hates those who utter vile words and obscene speech." [Al-Tirmidhi, Hasan Sahih hadith]

The true Muslim has a good attitude. He is humble and soft and gentle in his speech. He does not use bad language or insult others. He is patient, gentle, forgiving, tolerant, cheerful, and sincere towards others.

REFERENCES
1. Ahmed Syed online at [url]http://www.iqra.net/students/essays/seniors/essay11s.php[/URL]
2. Ibrahim B. Syed, Intellectual Achievements of Muslims, published by Islamic Circle, Mauritius, 2002.

Believer12 · Jan 28, 2014

محترم آپکی کاوش کا کوی فائدہ نہیں پوری کتاب پوسٹ کرنے کی بجاے پہلے اسکو خود غور سے پڑھیے پھر اسمیں سے آٹھ دس اہم پواینٹ بنا کر پوسٹ کیجئے تو کوی پڑھے گا بھی اور فائدہ بھی ہوگا آپ اسکول ماسٹر کی طرح سارے سال کا کورس ایک ہی دن پڑھانا چاہتے ہیں

abdlsy · Jan 28, 2014

[h=1]Manners and Traits Every Muslim Should be Adorned with[/h] by Abdul Karim Al-Khodheir
Translated by Abu Maryam Bilal
Islam prescribes certain manners and traits for every Muslim to adorn his / her character. Some of these are:

Truthfulness: ‘Abdullah Bin Mas’ud narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “It is obligatory for you to tell the truth, for truth leads to virtue and virtue leads to Paradise…and beware of telling of a lie for telling of a lie leads to obscenity and obscenity leads to Hell-Fire...” [Sahih Al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim]. Hence, truthfulness is a praiseworthy virtue and people should adhere to it. They should not say that, “The conditions forced me to avoid speaking the truth”, since truth is salvation and this is borne by experience as well. For example look at the story of Ka’b Bin Malik about whom the following verses were revealed: “ And (He did forgive also) the three (who did not join the Tabook expedition (whom the Prophet) left (i.e. he did not give his judgement in their case, and their case was suspended for Allah’s Decision) till for them the earth, vast as it is, was straitened and their own selves were straitened to them, and they perceived that there is no fleeing from Allah, and no refuge but with Him. Then, He accepted their repentance, that they might repent (unto Him). Verily, Allah is the One Who accepts repentance, Most Merciful. O you who believe! Be afraid of Allah, and be with those who are true (in words and deeds).” [Al-Tauba 9:118]
This story is very clear to illustrate this point [Ka’b and his other two companions did not lie to the Prophet (peace be upon him) by making up false excuses for staying behind the battle. In the words of Ka’b reported in Sahih Al-Bukhari: “By Allah, I do not know whether anyone amongst the Muslims was put to more severe trial than I by Allah because of telling the truth. And since (then)… up to this day I have not told any lie and, by Allah, I have decided not to tell a lie and I hope that Allah would save me (from trials) for the rest of my life.”]
Similarly, telling lies is forbidden by consensus of Muslim, save a few exceptions like trying to reconcile hostile parties, false appreciation etc for one’s wife to endear her heart etc. However, generally telling lies is prohibited. There are different levels of lying. Lying to people is of course not allowed, but an even more serious crime is lying against Allah and His Messenger (peace be upon him). One of the forms of lying against Allah is to give fatwa (Islamic legal verdict) without Islamic knowledge, may Allah protect us from this. Allah says, “And say not concerning that which your tongues put forth falsely: ‘This is lawful and this is forbidden’, so as to invent lies against Allah. Verily, those who invent lies against Allah will never prosper.” [Al-Nahl 16:116], and He also said: “And on the Day of Resurrection you will see those who lied against Allah their faces will be black. Is there not in Hell an abode for the arrogant ones?” [Al-Zumar 39:60]. The most deserving one to enter in the heading of “those who lied against Allah” is the person who gives fatwa and ascribes opinions to Allah (and His religion).
Trustworthiness (Amanah): An obligatory quality of character is trustworthiness and being untrustworthy and treacherous is forbidden (haram). Deceiving Muslims, cheating them and not returning what they entrusted you with or lent to you is forbidden by the Qur’an, Sunnah and the consensus of Muslim scholars. Allah says, “Verily! Allah commands that you should render back the trusts to those, to whom they are due” [Al-Nisa 4:58] Allah also said, “Truly, We did offer Al-Amanah (the trust or moral responsibility or honesty and all the duties which Allah has ordained) to the heavens and the earth, and the mountains, but they declined to bear it and were afraid of it (i.e. afraid of Allahs Torment). But man bore it. Verily, he was unjust (to himself) and ignorant (of its results).” [Al-Ahzab 4:72] It is obligatory to discharge this trust and duty which Islam entrusts to a Muslim: prayers (salah) is a trust, Saum (fast) is a trust, Ghusl (ritual bath) after ritual impurity (janabah) is a trust. Hence it is not permissible for a Muslim to betray this trust in any case.
Purity and Chastity:A person should be pure in everything that the word pure can be applied to. He should have a pure, unpolluted heart so that it does not contain envy or spite. He should have a pure tongue which does not speak unjustly about anyone and does not attack the honor of Muslims. He should also not be boisterous and rowdy in the markets. He should be pure from all things forbidden by Islam. The most obvious form of purity is chastity, i.e. not having sexual relations except with whom a Muslim is lawfully permitted to have them.
Modesty (Haya): As the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Modesty brings forth nothing but goodness.” [Sahih Muslim] And it is also authentically reported that the Prophet said, “of the sayings of the early Prophets which the people have got is: If you don't feel ashamed do whatever you like.” [Sahih Al-Bukhari] So, modesty which does not bring forth anything except goodness, is a trait which should adorn and perfect the character of every Muslim. What is meant by modesty is the sense of shyness which prevents one from doing what is forbidden by Islam or what is customarily viewed as improper in the society. However, the sort of modesty which prevents one from doing what is obligatory in Islam or forces him to do what is forbidden by Islam, prevents him from ordering good and forbidding evil or correcting an ignorant person, then this is not modesty at all. This is timidness which is condemnable, may Allah protect us from it.
Bravery: Cowardice is an condemnable trait, from which the Prophet (peace be upon him) sought Refuge from Allah [Sahih Al-Bukhari] and every Muslim too should seek Allah’s Refuge from it. On the contrary, every Muslim should adorn his character with bravery and courageousness. Islam prescribes that ever Muslim should be brave, courageous, stand up and speak out for the truth. He should be brave in the battlefield, show courage in speech and openly speaking the truth when needed. .
Generosity: Stinginess too is a condemnable trait. Hence, every Muslim should be generous and should spend what he is required to as long as it does not harm him or become too cumbersome for him.
Fulfilling promises and pacts: Allah says, “O you who believe! Fulfill (your) obligations” [Al-Maidah 5:1] Hence, a Muslim must always fulfill his obligations to others and the pacts or promises he made to them. He must fulfill all that the agreement entails.
Avoidance of all that Allah forbade: A Muslim should always stay away from whatever Islam prohibited for him / her and avoid committing it whether alone or openly in front of other people. No doubt, committing sins openly is a more serious offence, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “All the sins of my followers will be forgiven except those of the Mujahirin (those who commit a sin openly or disclose their sins to the people).” [Sahih Al-Bukhari] However, even doing a sin alone secretly may result in Allah’s Punishment which He may or may not forgive.
Good neighborliness: There are many rights to which a neighbor is entitled to. He has the right as a brother in Islam and as a neighbor. If he also happens to be a relative, he also has the right of kinship. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Gabriel continued to recommend me about treating the neighbors Kindly and politely so much so that I thought he would order me to make them as my heirs.” [Sahih Al-Bukhari]. Once, he said "By Allah, he does not believe! By Allah, he does not believe! By Allah, he does not believe!" It was said, "Who is that, O Allah's Apostle?" He said, "That person whose neighbor does not feel safe from his evil." [Sahih Al-Bukhari] Hence, a person should be good to his neighbor and should not harm them in any way.
Helping those who need help as much as possible: For example helping a worker do his job or doing it for him. This is one of the best deeds. Similarly a blind man who needs a guide, you can hold his hand and act as his guide. Take him to the mosque, shop, to his workplace or wherever else he needs to go. However, you should not overburden yourself by affecting your own wellbeing. For example, if you have to go to your job and on the way you find a blind man whose workplace is in the opposite direction. Should you go and drop him there? No, unless it is not difficult for you and does not affect your job. People needing help should be helped according to one’s ability.

There are many other manners and traits that Qur’an and Sunnah recommend for a Muslim to have. Allah knows best and may His Peace and Blessings be upon our Prophet, his family and all his Companions.

abdlsy · Jan 28, 2014

The Many Dangers of the Tongue

In the Name of Allh, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

Chapter Five

General Evils of the Tongue.

Speaking about things that there is no need with which to concern oneself.

Know that the most precious wealth of an 'abd (servant of Allah) is his time. Thus, whenever he expends it on that which does not concern him, then he is wasting his most valuable asset. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
"Part of someone's being a good Muslim is leaving alone that which does not concern him." [At-Tirmidhie]

One of the reasons that pushes someone to get involved in speaking about things which does not concern him, is his desire to know that which there is no need to know or being satisfied with talking about things that have no benefit.
The cure for this is to be aware that every second of one's life is part of his most precious wealth, and that his tongue is a net with which he should hunt for good deeds. Being neglectful of this important fact will only lead to great losses in the Hereafter.

Excessive speech.

Another way in which the tongue is misused is by excessive speech. This involves engaging in speech that there is no need to concern oneself with, as well as being excessive in expressing oneself by speaking more than is necessary.

Therefore, in cases where there is need for someone to express oneself, he should stick to the minimum words necessary to express his ideas. To exceed that can be regarded as being excessive. This is a negative attitude although the one who is involved in it would accrue no sins. However, the time spent in repeating what he said could have been spent in saying something good, which would give him a reward in the Hereafter.

'Ataa said: 'Those that -were before you (the Salaf), used to detest excessive speech. And they considered anything as excessive speech except speaking about the Book of Allah, the sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), commanding good and forbidding evil, and speaking about what a man needs to speak because of a need he has to fulfill in his daily life."

Engaging in vain talk.

Even worst than the above categories, is indulgence in vain talk, since it involves sin. Acts of disobedience, such as men discussing the affairs of women, sitting around with men who are drinking alcohol and mixing with bad company, are common examples of vain talk or deeds. Ibn Mas'oud said:

"The man with the most mistakes on the Day of Judgment is the one who engages most in vain speech."

Allah, the Most High said:

"Successful indeed are the believers. Those who offer their prayers with solemnty and full submissiveness. And those who turn away from Al-Laghw (dirty, false, evil vain talk, falsehood)... " [Al-Muminoon 23:1-3]

He, the Sublime also said:

"And it has already been revealed to you in the Book (the Quraan) that when you hear the verses of Allah being denied and mocked at, then sit not with them, until they engage in a talk other than that.. " [An-Nisaa 4:140]

And in another aayah it also states:

"(The pious) in Paradise (Jannah) will ask one another about the Mujrimeen (the guilty ones): "What caused you to enter Hell?" They will say: "We were not of those who used to offer prayers, nor did we feed the poor, and we used to talk falsehood (all that which Allah hated) with vain talkers, and we used to belie the Day of Judgment. "
[Al-Muddathir: 40-46]

A shameless, vulgar and indecent tongue.

This is not only offensive, but also prohibited. It originates from being malicious, vile, wicked, and reproachful. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

"A believer is not a shameless person, nor one who curses, nor an obsene person nor is he indecent." [At-Tirmidhi and Al-Baihaqie].

Gossip

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "I command you with three things
and I prohibit you from three (things)- I command you to worship Allah and not to associate anything in worship with Him, to hold fast to the rope of Allah all together and not to divide, and to obey whoever Allah causes to be in charge of your affairs*. And I prohibit you from gossiping and idle-talk, excessive questioning and from wasting money."
[Authentic from the Hiliyah of Abi Na'eem].

*It should be noted that who "Allah causes to be in charge of your, affairs" are the scholars, as Allah, the Most High, describes in the following Aayah:

"When there comes to them some matter touching (public) safety or fear, they make it known (among the people). If only they had referred it to the Messenger or to those charged with authority among them, the proper investigators would have understood it 1Eom them (directly)... " [An-Nisaa 4: 83]

The prohibition to use the word 'if' relative to Qadr (Allah's Decree).

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "The strong believer is better and more loved by Allah than a weak believer, but in each of them is good; aspire after what is going to benefit you and seek Allah 's help and do not despair, and if anything afflicts you, then do not say: 'If I had done so and so, but say Allah 's decree and what He wills, He will do, because 'if' opens the works of Shaitaan." [Bukharie]

This is after the incident has occurred. However, in discussing an issue about the future, there is no harm in the use of the word 'if' in discussing various approaches. And Allah knows best.

It is prohibited for a person to say "such and such" is for Jannah or for Jahannam or that he is a kaafir.

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "There were two men who were living as brothers; one of them was sinful, while the other stove very much to perform his devotion to Allah. The striver (after good) would continuously see the other in sin, and so he would continuously advise him to leave it. The sinner retorted: 'Leave me, by my Lord- are you sent as a watcher over me?' worshipper said: 'By Allah, Allah will not forgive you, or (he said) Allah will not make you enter Jannah. After their souls were taken, they were brought together before Allah, so He said to the striver: 'Did you have knowledge of Me, or are you able to do what is in My Hand?' Allah said to the sinner 'Go to Jannah by my Mercy and said to the other "Take him to the fire (of Jahannam)'. "
[Abu Dawood and Ahmad]

If a person calls a Muslim 'O Kaafir (unbeliever)', then kufr will befall one of them. If what he said was true, then it is as he related. However, if it is not true, then the kufr would be his lot. [Hadeeth -Bukharie and Muslim]

The prohibition of defaming one's kin.

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Two types of people from among men have disbelief (kufr) in them, the defamer of his kin (close family relatives), and the woman who wails and lament over the dead." [Muslim]

It is clear from the above hadeeth, that it is also prohibited for women to wail over the
dead.

It is prohibited to boast .

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Allah has revealed to me that you all should be humble, so that no person would oppress another, and neither should there be anyone displaying pride, or boast to another person." [Muslim]

Blasphemy, insult, ridicule and abuse.

a) It is prohibited to insult, abuse or blaspheme Allah, His Messenger, His Deen, and/or His Book. These are all aspects of kufr (disbelief).
Allah, the Most High said:

"If you ask them (about this) they declare: 'We were only talking idly and joking.' Say 'Was it at Allah, and His Aayaat (signs, revelation, etc.,) and His Messenger that you were mocking? Make no excuse; you have disbelieved after you had believed... "
[At-Taubah 9: 65-6]

In the Tafseer of Ibn Katheer the following narration is related as the reason for revelation of this aayah. Ibn 'Umar, Muhammad Ibn K'ab, Zayd Ibn Aslam and Qatadaah have all contributed to the establishment of the following Hadeeth. In the course of the campaign of Tabuk, a man came up and declared:

"We have seen no people with greater appetites, more lying or more cowardly in battle, than the Prophet of Allah, and his reciting companions."
Aws ibn Maalik rose and said: "It is rather you who are the liar, you are a Munafiq pretending to be a Muslim. I shall tell the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) about you."
Aws went to the Prophet (peace be upon him) to inform him but found that revelation had already preceded him. (When the news reached) the man, he mounted his camel, sought the Prophet of Allah (peace be upon him) and said: "...But we were only joking trying to pass the time while travelling." Ibn 'Umar said: "He was clinging to the saddle belt of the Prophet's camel as it ran, his feet and legs being battered by the rough ground, and repeating: but we were only joking... and the Prophet insisting, without turning his face to him said: "Joking! Joking with Allah? With His Revelation With His Prophet?

b) It is prohibited to abuse or blaspheme the Sahabas (the companions of the Prophet (peace be upon him)

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "May Allah curse the one who abuse or blaspheme my companions". [At-Tabaranee, Al-Khateeb Al-Baghdadee]

He (peace be upon him) also said: "Do not insult/blaspheme my companions, for by the One in Whose Hand is my soul, if one of you spend the like of the mountain of Uhud in gold (in Allah 's way) you would not equal their support, or not even half of their support'. [Bkhari & Muslim].

It is painful to hear people, who claim that they are Muslims, abuse the noblest of men of this ummah, like Abu Bakr, and 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with them), or even other Sahabas, like Ma'aawiyah (may Allah be pleased with him).

c) It is prohibited for a Muslim to abuse or blaspheme another Muslim, The Messenger (peace be upon him) said: "Abusing/blaspheming of the Muslim is evil and immoral whilst fighting him is kufr (disbelief)". [Bukharie & Muslim]

He (peace be upon him) further states: "The Muslim is he from whom other Muslims are safe from his hand and his tongue." [Muslim]

d) It is prohibited to abuse/blaspheme the dead. The Messenger (peace be upon him) said:

"Do not abuse/blaspheme the dead. [Bukharie]

e) It is prohibited to insult/blaspheme what the unbelievers worship other than Allah.

Allah, the Most High said:

"And insult not those whom they (the disbelievers) worship besides Allah lest they insult Allah wrongfully without knowledge." [Al-An'aan: 108]

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Do not cause harm to the Muslim because of insult or abuse to a kafir (disbeliver)". [Al-Haakim & Al-Baihaqee]

f) The Prohibition to abuse the wind.

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Do not abuse/blaspheme the wind because it circulates from Allah, it brings mercy and punishment. However, ask Allah for its good, and seek refuge with Allah from its evil." [Al-Haakim & Ibn Majah]

g) The prohibition to blaspheme the rooster (fowlcock).

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Do not abuse/blaspheme the rooster, because it awakens (people) for prayer''. [Abu Dawood]

h) The prohibition to blaspheme time (As-Dahr)

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Do not abuse/blaspheme time..." [Muslim]

i) Do not blaspheme fever.

The Messenger (peace be upon him) entered upon Umm As-Saaib and said to her: "What is the matter with you, O Umm Saaib that you are trembling'" She said "Fever, (there is) no blessing of Allah in it". He (peace be upon him) said "Do not blaspheme fever, because it wipes out the sins of the children of` Adam, as the bellows extract the dirt from iron ".
[Muslim]

Humi · Jan 28, 2014

abdlsy bhayya....good effort...but perhaps you could divide it into smaller parts and post it over a period of few days as many find it hard to read so much in one sitting....thanks :)

abdlsy · Jan 28, 2014

Huma said:
abdlsy bhayya....good effort...but perhaps you could divide it into smaller parts and post it over a period of few days as many find it hard to read so much in one sitting....thanks :)

I just edited my first post to make it brief, sorry I understand

How to develop a momin musalman humble personality, a must for all of us

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