Sujud (Prostration)

Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), said:
"The closest any worshipper can be to his Lord is while he is in prostration, so increase your duas in it." [Muslim]

Ibn Abbas narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
"I have been prohibited from reciting the Quran while in ruku or sujud, so during ruku, glorify your Lord, and during sujud, exert yourself in making dua, for it is very likely that you will be responded to." [Muslim]

The Mercy of Allah

“Say: “O ‘Ibaadi (My slaves) who have transgressed against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins)! Despair not of the Mercy of Allaah, verily, Allaah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft‑Forgiving, Most Merciful”
[al-Zumar 39:53] 

“And whoever does evil or wrongs himself but afterwards seeks Allaah’s forgiveness, he will find Allaah Oft‑Forgiving, Most Merciful”
[al-Nisa’ 4:110]

The Beauty of Helping Others

"A Muslim is a brother of another Muslim, he should not oppress him, nor should he hand him over to an oppressor. Whoever fulfilled the needs of his brother, Allâh will fulfil his needs; whoever brought his (Muslim) brother out of a discomfort, Allâh will bring him out of the discomforts of the Day of Resurrection, and whoever screened a Muslim, Allâh will screen him on the Day of Resurrection." 
[Bukhâri]

Gates of Goodness

On the Authority of Muaadh Ibn Jamal (may Allah be pleased with him) the Prophet, (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), said, "Shall I not inform you of the gates of goodness? [They are] fasting [which] is a shield, charity [which] extenguishes the sins like water extinguishes a fire and the prayer of a man in the depths of the night." 
[Recorded by al-Tirmidhi]

Never Lose Hope

The Almighty answers every call of ours for as long as we don't lose hope. We must continue seeking enthusiastically even if it means for years. 

Repeating a call constantly is a GREAT act of worship. One day, when the time is right, we will get what we had been asking for all along.

Never lose hope in the Mercy of the Almighty, as He knows when it is best for us to get what we want, if it is good for us.

Those who aim to please the Creator will always be pleased BY Him. He never lets us down but we let ourselves down by engaging in sin.


Source: Mufti Ismail Menk

A Special Month filled with Blessings

Ramadan is a time where one can focus on leaving bad habits for new ones and train the mind, body, and soul to return to its true purpose: to worship Allah (glorified and exalted be He) through our statements and actions. It is a time of great sacrifice benefit and multiple rewards.

“O People! The month of Allah (Ramadan) has come with its mercies, blessings and forgiveness. Allah has decreed this month the best of all months. The days of this month are the best among the days, and the nights are the best among the nights, and the hours during Ramadan are the best among the hours. This is a month in which you have been invited by Him (to fast and pray). Allah has honored you in it. In every breath you take is a reward of Allah, your sleep is worship, your good deeds are accepted and your invocations are answered. Therefore, you must invoke your Lord in all earnestness with hearts free from sin and evil, and pray that Allah may help you to keep fast, and to recite the Holy Qur’an. Indeed!” [Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 1965]

Source: Ramadan and the Revert, Asmah Bibi

Your Heart is the Pillar of Your Worship

The heart is the machine that drives all acts of worship. It is what moves the entire body! As long as the heart is alive, then the limbs will be alive, and the soul will open itself up to worship. However, if the heart becomes diseased, then worship will become too heavy on the soul, leading to it eventually disliking and hating - and we seek refuge with Allah from this - worship. Because of this, Allah - the Glorified and Exalted - said, regarding the prayer: 


{"...and truly, it is extremely heavy and hard except on those who are submissive..."} [al-Baqarah: 45]


The prayer is heavy, because one's legs and hands are not what get up for the prayer. What gets up for the prayer are the heart and the soul.


{"Verily, the hypocrites seek to deceive Allah, but it is He Who deceives them. And when they stand up for the prayer, they stand with laziness and to be seen of men, and they do not remember Allah but little."} [an-Nisa': 142]


Because of this, it is the heart that stands up for worship. The limbs are simply slaves of this heart, carrying out what it commands them. If the heart is alive, then the soul will be alive, and worship will become beloved and sweetened to the hearts and the souls, and they will open up for it.

(Source: 'Abdullah 'Azzam)

Reminder

When you drink water, remember it is from Allah!
When you eat, remember this food is a gift from Allah!

Everything you see, hear and feel are created by Allah for a purpose, and one of the biggest reasons behind the creation is to tell you about Allah!

Everything in this world tells you something about Allah and thus has the potential to bring you closer to him, if you just reflect!


(Source: Smart Muslims)

Beware of Arrogance and Pride!

Sufyaan bin Uyainah said •►"Whoever’s sin was because of [carnal] desires, hope for him (as he may repent and be forgiven), but whoever’s sin was out of pride, fear for him. For indeed, Adam sinned out of simple desire, and was forgiven; whereas Iblis sinned out of pride, and was cursed."

May Allah protect us from arrogance & pride! Aameen!

Important Reminder

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “whoever sends blessings upon me, Allaah will send blessings upon him tenfold.” 
Narrated by Muslim (384)

Performing Good Deeds Frequently

"The best of deeds are those carried out regularly even if they are little deeds. " Hadith 

Never underestimate the reward of punctuality upon a small deed that is very easy to fulfill or achieve.

Regularity or punctuality upon little deeds, is much more rewarding than huge deeds that are not fulfilled except haphazardly.

Do not be from those who have a tendency to start off something really good, but give up after a while. Be strong and keep going. 

May the Almighty strengthen our resolve to be regular in fulfilling our good deeds even if they are little. Aameen


(Source: Mufti Ismail Menk)