Virtues of Fasting in Ramadan

August 22, 2009 at 6:12 AM | Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment
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Ibn Rajab has a section in ‘Lata’if al-Ma’arif’ (p. 272-273) about the virtues of fasting during hot days. Since Ramadan will start in the summer this year, this will be a good encouragement:

“…And from the acts of worship whose reward is multiplied during the heat is fasting, and this is because of the thirst that one experiences in the mid-day heat.

This is why Mu’adh bin Jabal expressed regret on his deathbed that he would no longer experience this mid-day thirst, as did other early Muslims.

And it was related that Abu Bakr would fast in the summer and not fast in the winter, and ‘Umar advised his son ‘Abdullah on his deathbed: “Try to obtain the characteristics of faith,” and the first one he mentioned was fasting in the intense summer heat.

And al-Qasim bin Muhammad said that ‘A’ishah would fast in the intense heat, and he was asked: “What drove her to do this?” He replied: “She would take advantage of the days before death.” And some of the righteous women would choose the hottest days and fast them, saying: “If the price is low, everyone will buy,” meaning that she wanted to do those actions that only a few were capable of due to how hard it was to do them, and this is indicative of the high aspirations these women had.

And Abu Musa al-Ash’ari was on a boat, and he heard someone calling out: “O passengers, stand up!” And he said this three times. So, Abu Musa told him: “How can we stand up? Don’t you see where we are? How can we stand up?” So, the caller said: “Let me tell you of a rule that Allah made upon Himself: whoever makes himself thirsty for Allah’s sake on a hot day has the right upon Allah to have his thirst quenched on the Day of Resurrection.” So, Abu Musa would search out the days that were so hot that one would feel he was being cooked, and he would fast those days.

Ka’b said that Allah Said to Musa: “I made it incumbent upon Myself that whoever is thirsty for My sake will have his thirst quenched on the Day of Resurrection,” and others said that it’s written in the Torah: “Glad tidings for whoever makes himself hungry in anticipation of the Great Day where he will have his hunger satisfied, and glad tidings for whoever makes himself thirsty in anticipation of the Great Day where he will have his thirst quenched.”

al-Hasan said: “A maiden of Paradise will speak to the wali of Allah while he is laying with her on the shore of a river of honey in Paradise while she hands him a glass of the sweetest drink, and she will ask him: “Do you know what day Allah married me to you? He Saw you on a long summer day while you were thirsty in the mid-day heat, and He called the Angels and Said: “Look at My slave. He has left his wife and pleasure and food and drink for Me out of his desire for what I have for him. Bear witness that I have Forgiven him,” and He Forgave you on that day and married you to me.””

And when ‘Amir bin ‘Abd Qays went from Basrah to Sham, Mu’awiyah would ask him to tell him what he needed. He refused to ask of him, and eventually said: “All I need is for you to return the heat of Basrah to me to make the fasting a bit harder, as it is too easy in your lands.”

And al-Hajjaj was on a journey between Makkah and Madinah. He pulled out his dinner and invited a bedouin to eat with him, and the bedouin said: “I have been invited by One who is better than you and I have accepted the invitation.” He asked: “And who is this?” The man replied: “Allah invited me to fast, and I fasted.” al-Hajjaj asked: “On this very hot day?” The man replied: “Yes. I am fasting it in anticipation of a much hotter day.” al-Hajjaj said: “So, eat today and fast tomorrow.” The man replied: “Only if you can guarantee that I will live until tomorrow.” al-Hajjaj said: “This isn’t in my hands.” The man said: “How can you ask me to do something now when there is something of the future that isn’t in your hands?”

And Ibn ‘Umar went on a trip once with some companions, and they saw a sheep-herder who they invited to eat with them. He said: “I am fasting,” and Ibn ‘Umar said: “You are fasting in heat like this, and while you are between all these plants and sheep?” The herder replied: “I’m taking advantage of my remaining days.” Ibn ‘Umar was impressed by this reply and said: “Can you sell one of your sheep to us? We’ll feed you from its meat when you break your fast, and we’ll also pay you for it.” The herder said: “It doesn’t belong to me. It belongs to my master.” Ibn ‘Umar said: “What would your master say if you told him that it was eaten by a wolf?” The herder raised his finger to the sky and said: “What about Allah?” Ibn ‘Umar kept repeating this phrase that the herder was saying, and when he got to the city, he went to the herder’s owner and bought him and his sheep from him. He then freed the herder and gave him his sheep as a gift.

And Ruh bin Zinba’ was traveling between Makkah and Madinah on a very hot day. A herder living on a mountain approached him, and he said to him: “O herder, come eat with me.” The herder said: “I’m fasting.” Ruh said: “You’re fasting in this heat?” The herder replied: “Should I let my days pass by in vain?” ٍSo, Ruh said: “You have used your days wisely, O herder, while Ruh bin Zinba’ has wasted his.”

And Ibn ‘Umar used to fast extra days until he would almost faint, and this wouldn’t cause him to break his fast. And al-Imam Ahmad would fast until he was about to pass out, and would wipe water over his face. He was asked about fasting very hot days, and he replied: “There is nothing wrong with wetting a towel to squeeze the water on himself to cool down with.” And the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) would pour water over his head while fasting.

And Abu ad-Darda’ would say: “Fast the very hot days in anticipation of the Day of Resurrection, and pray two rak’at in the darkness of night in anticipation of the darkness of the grave.” And it’s reported in the two ‘Sahih’s that he said: “You have seen us with the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) on some of his journeys on very hot days, and a man would hold his hand against his head due to the intensity of the heat, and none of them would be fasting except the Messenger of Allah and ‘Abdullah bin Rawahah.” And the narration of Muslim states that Abu ad-Darda’ said: “This was during the month of Ramadan.”

When those who fast for Allah in the heat are patient despite their intense thirst, He will set aside a specific gate of the gates of Paradise for them. This is the gate called Rayyan, and whoever enters through it will drink, and whoever drinks after entering it will never be thirsty again. When they enter through it, it will be locked for those after them, and none will enter through it except them…”

About Nifaaq/Hypocrisy

March 31, 2009 at 6:22 PM | Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment
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All praise is due to Allah. All allegiance belongs to Prophet Muhammad [صلى الله عليه و سلم]. The religion brought forth by him is the best religion. By following the path laid down by him, Al-Islam, we can achieve the best destiny in the Akhirah: Jannah.

However, simply being a Muslim isn’t enough. As Muslims we are always at risk of falling into Nifaaq, or Hypocrisy. Nobody can be a Hypocrite except someone who calls himself/herself Muslim, because all others are Disbelievers. But the Hypocrites – the Muslims who do not take Islam seriously enough – will be lower than the Disbelievers in Hell.

Therefore, we should always be cautious of falling into this grave sin.

If anyone of us thinks that we can’t, then look at the example of Umar ibn al-Khattab: When the revelation came down to Prophet Muhammad [صلى الله عليه و سلم] revealing who the Hypocrites were, he told one of his close Sahabah to write down the names. When Umar ibn al-Khattab heard of this, he rushed, in a panic to the Sahabi. Why? To find out if his name was on the list!

Umar ibn al-Khattab.

Al-Farooq.

Ameer ul-Mu’mineen.

When he walked one way, Shaytan walked another, trying to avoid him.

This man was worried that he would be on the list of Hypocrites? He was promised entry into Jannah!

The Prophet [صلى الله عليه و سلم] said: “If there were to be a prophet after me it would be Umar ibn al-Khattab.”

And HE was worried that he might be a Hypocrite? Allahu Akbar.

Who are we, then, to think for even a second that we’re safe from Hypocrisy? InshaAllah, let’s pray that Allah saves us from Nifaaq, and let’s make sure we do our part by avoiding it as best we can.

Here are some signs of the Hypocrite, so that we may be careful:

The Prophet Muhammad [صلى الله عليه و سلم] said, “Four traits whoever possesses them is a hypocrite and whoever possesses some of them has an element of hypocrisy until he leaves it: (1) the one who when he speaks he lies, (2) when he promises he breaks his promise, (3) when he disputes he transgresses and (4) when he makes an agreement he violates it.”

In this regard Prophet Muhammad [صلى الله عليه و سلم] said: “The signs of a hypocrite are three: (1) when he speaks, he lies; (2) when he gives an agreement, he does not fulfill his commitment; (3) and when he is entrusted, he betrays the trust.” (Reported by Abu Hurayra)

For this reason Prophet Muhammad [صلى الله عليه و سلم] informed us that a hypocrite is a mischievous person. He said: “You will find that the worst person is double-faced; he meets one group of people with one side of his face, while another with the other side.” (Reported by Abu Hurayra)

–Maqdis

Define Religious

March 16, 2009 at 8:57 PM | Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment
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السلام عليكم

بسمالله الرحمان الرحيم

Religious isn’t defined by how many prayers you pray, or how many duas you make. It certainly isn’t defined by how long you wear your kufi or that hijab on your head. Nor is it by how short your thoab is or how long your beard is. You may have worn jilbab from the age of 8, and read Quran from the age of 4, but look at yourself now, is that defined religious? It’s the little things that make up religious. Of course a jilbab and hijab will help you in trying to be a good Muslim, but religious isn’t limited to that.

I’ve grown up with people who think that they are religious if they wear a jilbab, pray 5 times a day, read their duas and Quran daily, and not listen to music. Yes, that may be called “religious” but only to a certain point. What if those same people gossip with their friends, not like the idea of niqab, have racial ignorance in them, and deprive their children from so many things just so they’ll be “safe” from the harms of this world? What if they reject the idea of Salafism, when the Salafis were the closest to the Prophet salallahu alayhi wasalam?

They limit their deen what I said above. They think there is nothing more to the deen, and don’t strive to be better. Allahu a’lam what is exactly in their hearts, but I am talking about general people who do such things. Don’t think that you should stop at your beard. No, go to wearing a thoub! Don’t stop at your jilbab, go to niqab! Don’t stop at the additional sunnah prayers, go to tahajjud! Don’t stop at fasting once a month, fast every Monday and Thursday of every week!

Strive ya Muslimeen, strive for the sake of Allah. Make every little thing you do, for the sake of Allah subhana wata’ala. Don’t stop at good, continue on to great. Allah will reward you more. Get the ignorance out of your hearts because Islam has no limits, and to this day there hasn’t been a perfect Muslim since the Prophet salallahu alayhi wasalam’s time, but we can keep trying to get close to that stage one day bi’idhnillah.

May Allah increase our iman and grant us sabr and strength. Ameen thumma ameen.

– Saifa

Gossip and Doubt

March 5, 2009 at 5:26 PM | Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Assalamu Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh

[49:12] O you who believe! Avoid much suspicions, indeed some suspicions are sins. And spy not, neither backbite one another. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would hate it (so hate backbiting) . And fear Allâh. Verily, Allâh is the One Who accepts repentance, Most Merciful.

“Did you hear about her? She’s a fake!”

“What are you talking about?”

“Dude, she’s not who she is at all, she may even be made up!”

Although these were just lines from an instant messenger conversation, I could hear the words being whispered through out the night. They were letters floating around, trailing me like a trail of star dust. Harmless letters turned into poisonous darts. That’s what every bad word you say in your brother’s name turns to. Poisonous darts.

Do you realize every word of bad you speak behind your brother’s back is equivalent to a bite of your brother’s dead flesh? Take a second to ponder how awful that must taste. Imagine eating raw chicken. Worse. Spoiled raw chicken that’s been left out in the kitchen for a couple of days. Imagine the smell. And the insects crawling all over. Do you want to be doing anything at all that is equivalent to the above scenario?? If you are human enough, I am sure your answer is no.

Doubting your brother and being suspicious of him is a sin itself. We judge and doubt our brothers so quickly. Just a thought of doubt is a sin. And how many times do we do this everyday? How many times do we doubt Ali when he says he did pray Asr? How many times have we doubted Mariam when she told us she was at the library? Allahu a’lam. Maybe she lied and wasn’t at the library, maybe she was out with that brother from her History class, but who are we to doubt others and be suspicious of them? Who are we to talk about others when we make more mistakes and sins then the person we are talking about? Who are we to talk about someone else’s sins when we ourselves are committing sins at that very moment?

Those are the thoughts that were going through my head after thinking more and more about the instant messenger conversation. Maybe it was true… maybe she isn’t who she is, but who am I to doubt her? Allahu a3lam, Allah knows. I know one thing, I will continue treating this girl like I always have, and I will never force her to explain herself, but if she decides to tell me this “truth” one day, alhamdulillah. And if there is no other truth, alhamdulillah. I wouldn’t want people talking about me the same way they talk about her.

May Allah remove doubt and any suspicious feelings and thoughts from our hearts and minds. May Allah remove these poisonous darts from our tongues. May He better us as Muslims. Ameen ya rab.

*Brother is used as a general gender for both males and females.


-Saifa

The Believer Fears No Person!

February 20, 2009 at 1:23 PM | Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment
السلام عليكم
بسمالله
{“It is only Satan that suggests to you the fear of his allies. So, do not fear them, and fear Me if you are believers.”}
[Al ‘Imran; 175]

Ibn Taymiyyah commented (‘Majmu’ al-Fatawa’; 1/77-78):

“So, this verse proves that Satan makes his allies sources of fear, and he causes people to be afraid of them. And the verse shows that it is not permissible for the believer to fear the allies of Satan, and he should not fear people, as it was Said: {“So, do not fear the people, and fear Me…”} [al-Ma’idah; 44] So, we are commanded to fear Allah, and we are prohibited from fearing the allies of Satan. Allah Said: {“…So that men may have no argument against you except those of them that are wrong-doers. So, fear them not, and fear Me!”} [al-Baqarah; 150] So, He prohibited the fear of the wrong-doer, and He commanded us to fear Him.

He also Said: {“Those who convey the message of Allah and fear Him, and fear none except Allah…”} [al-Ahzab; 39] And He Said: {“…and fear Me, alone…”} [an-Nahl; 51]

And some people say: ‘O Lord! I fear You and I fear those who don’t fear You.’ These are nonsensical words, and it is not allowed to say them. Rather, one should fear Allah alone and not fear any person, since whoever does not fear Allah is too low to be feared, as he is a wrong-doer and is from the allies of Satan. So, Allah has forbidden us from having fear of such a person. If it is said that ’such a person can hurt me,’ the response is that he is only hurting you because Allah has set him loose on you, and if Allah seeks to repel his harm from you, He can easily do so. The affair is all with Allah, and He sets people loose upon a person because of his sins, and if you fear Allah and keep your duty to Him and rely on Him, He will protect you from every evil there is and will not allow anyone to have power over you, as He Said: {“And whoever relies on Allah, He is sufficient for him.”} [at-Talaq;3] The fact that someone is given power over you is the result of your sins and your fear of that person. So, if you fear Allah and repent rom your sins and seek His Forgiveness, nobody can overpower you, as Allah Said: {“…and Allah will not punish them while they seek His Forgiveness.”} [al-Anfal; 33]

And a narration states that Allah Said: “I am Allah! There is none worthy of worship except Me! I am the King of kings! The hearts and foreheads of all kings are between My Hands. So, whoever obeys Me, I will make the hearts of all kings merciful to him, and whoever disobeys me, I will make them a source of agony for him. So, do not preoccupy yourselves with the abilities of the kings. Rather, repent to Me and obey Me, and I will make them support you.”“

In ‘Ighathat al-Lahfan’ (1/94), Ibn al-Qayyim said: “From the plots of the enemy of Allah (i.e. Satan) is that he makes the believers afraid of his soldiers and allies. So, they do not strive against them, they do not enjoin what is good, and do not forbid what is bad. This is from his greatest plots for the believers, as Allah has informed us by Saying: {“It is only Satan that suggests to you the fear of his allies. So, do not fear them, and fear Me if you are believers.”}

Qatadah explained this by saying: “He makes them great and powerful in his heart. This is why Allah Said: {“…So, do not fear them, and fear Me if you yre believers.”}So, the stronger your faith becomes, the weaker the fear in your heart will be of Satan’s allies, and the weaker your faith becomes, the stronger the fear in your heart will be of them.””

In ‘al-Fawa’id’ (p. 78), he also said: “There is nothing that exists that can affect something else  completely independently and of its own accord. Rather, nothing can affect something without another factor somehow contributing to that effect and an obstacle is removed that prevents that effect from taking place. This applies to matters that can be seen by the eye. It also applies to the invisible and metaphysical, such as the Sun affecting livestock and plants, as this depends on other factors such as the presence of fertile ground, as well as other factors in addition to this factor.

Likewise, childbirth depends on many factors besides intercourse, and this rule applies to everything that affects something else. So every creature that is feared or hoped in is at best simply one of many factors that can affect something else, and nothing can affect something in a completely independent fashion except Allah, the Overwhelming One. So, none should be hoped in or feared except He. This is a concrete proof that attachment, hope, and fear of any but Allah is null. If we were to assume that one can affect something on his own, we would still have to accept that he did not derive this power on his own, and was rather granted it by someone else. So, he has no power of his own, as there is no might nor power except with Allah. He has all might and power in His Hand. So, the might and power for which people are feared are in reality in the Hand of Allah. So, how can we fear and hope in those who have no might or power? In fact, fearing someone and hoping in him is a reason for being afflicted by that very person and being prevented from his mercy, because the more you fear someone other than Allah, the more that person will overpower you, and the higher your hopes are in that person, the more you will be prevented from his
mercy.”

ٌRegarding this verse, Sayyid Qutb said in ‘Fi Dhilal al-Qur’an’: “Indeed, it is Satan who tries to make his allies a source of fear and terror, and to dress them up with the appearance of power and awe. As a result,
the believers should be aware of the plot of Satan and impede his attempts. They should not fear these allies of his. Rather, they should fear Allah alone, as He alone is the Mighty, Overwhelming, and Able who
should be feared: {“It is only Satan that suggests to you the fear of his allies. So, do not fear them, and fear Me if you are believers.”}

Indeed, Satan is the one who inflates the reputation of his allies and dresses them up with the garments of power and ability, and implants in our hearts the idea that they have the ability to do this and that, and
that they can bring about benefit and harm. He does all this to fulfill his own interests: to use them to spread evil and corruption on Earth, as well as to cause people to bow down to them and submit their hearts to them so that nobody would say a word of opposition to their faces, and that nobody would even think of criticizing them or preventing them from evil and corruption.

Satan has an interest in falsehood and evil becoming widespread, and that he appear strong, capable, overwhelming, aggressive, and tyrannical so that no opposition stands to his face, nobody repels him, and nobody overpowers him. Satan has an interest in maintaining things this way.

So, under the umbrella of fear, terror, and aggression, his allies carry out on Earth that which brings joy to his eyes! They make good appear as evil and evil appear as good. They spread corruption and falsehood and deception. They stifle out the voice of truth, guidance, and justice. They set themselves up as gods on Earth to support evil and kill off good without anyone daring to confront them or stand up to them or expel them from their positions of power – in fact, without anyone pointing out the falsehood that they have beautified or beautifying the truth that they have painted as ugly.

And Satan is a deceptive plotter who hides behind his allies and spreads fear through them into the hearts of those who fail to protect themselves from his whispers. Here, Allah exposes him and stands him naked without any covering for his plots, and makes his reality plain and clear to the believers – the reality of his plots and whispers – so that they are aware of them. So, they do not fear the allies of Satan, as they are too weak to be feared by a believer who relies on his Lord and His Power.

Indeed, the only power that is to be feared is the power that has the ability to bring about benefit and harm. It is the Power of Allah, and it is the Power that the believers in Allah fear. When they fear it alone –
the greatest Power of all powers – no force on Earth can stand in front of them – neither the power of Satan nor the power of the allies of Satan…{“It is only Satan that suggests to you the fear of his allies. So, do not fear them, and fear Me if you are believers.”}”

-Taken from unknown source

A Lesson From the Sahaba on Fiqh and Ikhtilaaf (Differences of Opinion)

February 18, 2009 at 6:21 PM | Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment
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السلام عليكم

بسمالله الرحمان الرحيم

I was just listening to a part of the Seerah of Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم by Anwar al-Awlaki, and he made a very important point using a story from Muhammad’s lifetime (paraphrased):

After the Battle of al-Khandaq/al-Ahzab [Battle of the Trench], Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم  was told by Jibreel that there was still fighting to be done. He said that this fighting was to be with the last Jewish tribe in Madinah, Banu Quraidah:

Narrated ‘Aisha: When Allah’s Apostle returned on the day (of the battle) of Al-Khandaq (i.e. Trench), he put down his arms and took a bath. Then Gabriel whose head was covered with dust, came to him saying, “You have put down your arms! By Allah, I have not put down my arms yet.” Allah’s Apostle said, “Where (to go now)?” Gabriel said, “This way,” pointing towards the tribe of Banu Quraida. So Allah’s Apostle went out towards them. [Sahih Bukhari. Book: 52, Hadith: 68]

Thus, Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم  rushed to his Sahaba. He said, “No one among you should pray `Asr except at Banu Quraida“. [Tarikh Ibn-Kathir]

The Sahabah immediately gathered their supplies and embarked on their journey. Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم was not with this group.

Soon, Maghrib was drawing near. The Sahabah were discussing what to do. On one hand Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم gave a clear order, but on the other, they were risking missing Asr.

Two different opinions arose:

1. When Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلمصلى الله عليه وسلم said they should not pray Asr except in Banu Quraidah, he meant it metaphorically. In other words, he was simply telling them to rush towards Banu Quraidah right away. They felt they should pray now, instead of actually getting there and risking missing the Salah.

2. Others took Prophet Muhammad’s صلى الله عليه وسلم word literally. When he said they should not pray ‘Asr except in Banu Quraidah, they were not supposed to pray anywhere else, even if they risked praying late.

Both groups did what they thought was correct. Some stopped and prayed, others went on and prayed when they arrived to the general area of Banu Quraidah.

When they returned to Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم, they told him what had happened and how two different opinions arose. He did not say that either of them was wrong, and that both were acceptable.

Shaykh Al-Awlaki concluded this by saying the following:

This shows that there is room for the difference of opinion in Islam. We can see that even in the time of The Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم himself, different people interpreted the same Ahadith differently. And according to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم himself, both opinions were acceptable.

Similarly, when it comes to Fiqh today [especially differences in Madhahib like Shafi’i vs. Hanafi vs. Hanbali vs. Maliki], more than one opinion can be valid. The only condition is that the opinions are derived because that is what the scholar feels to be most correct in the eyes of Allah and His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم; the opinion cannot be chosen out of desire because it’s easier or satisfies your Nafs more, or because it “makes more sense”. Finally, it must not stray from the already accepted opinions unless you have adequate proof and adequate scholarship.

This post does not mean to say that anyone can grab a copy of the Quran and Sahih Bukhari and derive rulings. It means that when you see that scholars have differing opinions on a topic, one of them doesn’t necessarily have to be wrong

So have respect for your brothers of different Madhahib (as long as they are within Ahl us-Sunnah) and different opinions, and love them as you would love the people of your opinions and Madhab.

-Maqdis

Ibn al-Qayyim (Rahimahullah) Describes Jannah

February 17, 2009 at 10:52 PM | Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment
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السلام عليكم
بسمالله الرحمن الرحيم

Description of Paradise
by Imaam Ibn al-Qayyim, Rahimahullaah

Translated by (and taken from) At-Tibyan Publications

Ibn al-Qayyim said, in regards to the description of the Paradise and the delights that it contains:

“And if you ask about its ground and its soil, then it is of musk and saffron.

And if you ask about its roof, then it is the Throne of the Most Merciful.

And if you ask about its rocks, then they are pearls and jewels.

And if you ask about its buildings, then they are made of bricks of gold and silver.

And if you ask about its trees, then it does not contain a single tree except that its trunk is made of gold and silver.

And if you ask about its fruits, then they are softer than butter and sweeter than honey.

And if you ask about its leaves, then they are softer than the softest cloth.

And if you ask about its rivers, then there are rivers of milk who’s taste does not change, and rivers of wine that is delicious to those who drink it, and rivers of honey that is pure, and rivers of water that is fresh.

And if you ask about their food, then it is fruits from whatever they will choose, and the meat of whatever birds they desire.

And if you ask about their drink, then it is Tasneem, ginger, and Kaafoor.

And if you ask about their drinking cups, then they are crystal-clear and made of gold and silver.

And if you ask about its shade, then a fast rider would ride in the shade of one of its trees for a hundred years and not escape it.

And if you ask about its vastness, then the lowest of its people would have within his kingdom and walls and palaces and gardens the distance that would be travelled in a thousand years.

And if you ask about its tents and encampments, then one tent is like a concealed pearl that is sixty miles long.

And if you ask about its towers, then they are rooms above rooms in buildings that have rivers running underneath them.

And if you ask about how far it reaches into the sky, then look at the shining star that is visible, as well as those that are far in the heavens that the eyesight cannot possibly reach.

And if you ask about the clothing of its inhabitants, then they are of silk and gold.

And if you ask about its beds, then its blankets are of the finest silk laid out in the highest of its levels.

And if you ask about the faces of its inhabitants and their beauty, then they are like the image of the Moon.

And if you ask about their age, then they are young ones of 33 years in the image of Adam, the father of humanity.

And if you ask about what they will be hearing, then it is the singing of their wives from among the Hoor al-’Ayn, and better than that are the voices of the Angels and the Prophets, and better than that is the Speech of the Lord of the Worlds.

And if you ask about their servants, then they are young boys of everlasting youth who resemble scattered pearls.

And if you ask about their brides and wives, then they are young and full-breasted and have had the liquid of youth flow through their limbs; the Sun runs along the beauty of her face if she shows it, light shines from between her teeth if she smiles; if you meet her love, then say whatever you want regarding the joining of two lights; he sees his face in the roundness of her cheek as if he is looking into a polished mirror, and he sees the brightness from behind her muscles and bones; if she were to be unleashed upon the World, she would fill what is between the Heavens and the Earth with a beautiful wind, and the mouths of the creation would glorifiy, praise, and exclaim greatness, and everything between the East and the West would be adorned for her, and every eye would be shut from everthing but her, and the light of the Sun would be outshone just as the light of the Sun outshines the light of the stars, and everyone on the face of the Earth would believe in the Ever-Living, the One who Sustains and Protects all the exists.

And the covering on her head is better than the World and all that is in it, and she does not increase with age except in beauty; free from an umbilical cord, childbirth and menses, and pure of mucous, saliva, urine and other filthy things; her youth never fades, her clothing is never worn out, no garment can be created that matches her beauty, and no one who is with her can ever become bored; her attention is restricted to her husband, so she desires none but him, just as his attention is restricted to her so she is the sole object of his desire, and he is with her in utmost safety and security, as none has touched her before of either humans or Jinn.

And if you ask about the Day of Increase (in reward) and the visit of the all-Mighty, all-Wise, and the sight of His Face – free from any resemblance or likeness to anything – as you see the Sun in the middle of the day and the full Moon on a cloudless night, then listen on the day that the caller will call: ‘O People of Paradise! Your Lord – Blessed and Exalted – requests you to visit Him, so come to visit Him!’ So they will say: ‘We hear and obey!’

Until, when they finally reach the wide valley where they will all meet – and none of them will turn down the request of the caller – the Lord – Blessed and Exalted – will order His Chair to be brought there. Then, pulpits of light will emerge, as well as pulpits of pearls, gemstone, gold, and silver. The lowest of them in rank will sit on sheets of musk, and will not see what those who are on the chairs above them are given. When they are comfortable where they are sitting and are secure in their places, and the caller calls: ‘O People of Paradise! You have an appointment with Allaah in which He wishes to reward you!’ So they will say: ‘And what is that reward? Has He not already made our faces bright, made our scales heavy, entered us into Paradise, and pushed us away from the Fire?’

And when they are like that, all of a sudden a light shines that encompasses all of Paradise. So, they raise their heads, and, behold: the Compeller – Exalted is He, and Holy are His Names – has come to them from above them and majestified them and said: ‘O People of Paradise! Peace be upon you!’ So, this greeting will not be responded to with anything better than: ‘O Allaah! You are Peace, and from You is Peace! Blessed are You, O possessor of Majesty and Honor!’ So the Lord – Blessed and Exalted – will laugh to them and say: ‘O People of Paradise! Where are those who used to obey Me without having ever seen Me? This is the Day of Increase!’

So, they will all give the same response: ‘We are pleased, so be pleased with us!’ So, He will say: ‘O People of Paradise! If I were not pleased with you, I would not have made you inhabitants of My Paradise! So, ask of Me!’ So, they will all give the same response: ‘Show us your Face so that we may look at it!’ So, the Lord – Mighty and Majestic – will remove his covering and will majestify them and will cover them with His Light, which, if Allaah – the Exalted – had not Willed not to burn them, would have burned them.

And there will not remain a single person in this gathering except that his Lord – the Exalted – will speak to him and say: ‘Do you remember the day that you did this and that?’ and He will remind him of some of his bad deeds in the Worldy life, so he will say: ‘O Lord! Will you not forgive me?’ So, He will say: ‘Of course! You have not reached this position of yours (in Paradise) except by my forgiveness.’

So, how sweet is this speech to the ears, and how cooled are the righteous eyes by the glance at His Noble Face in the Afterlife…

{Some faces that Day will be shining and radiant, l ooking at their Lord…} (al-Qiyaamah:22-3)

-Taken from Haadi al-Arwaah ilaa Bilaad il-Afraah by Ibn al-Qayyim

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February 17, 2009 at 10:36 PM | Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

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