Hadhrat Ali (RA) narrates that Rasulallah (sal-Allâhu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: Even if only a day remains for Qiyamah to come, yet Allah will surely send a man from my family who will fill this world with such justice and fairness, just as it initially was filled with oppression- Abu Dawood.
The Qur'an is our ToolkitSome newcomers to Islam try to rapidly learn and obey every command in the Qur'an, and they try to learn and emulate every possible example of the Prophet(saws) reported in the traditions.
The result - all too often - is "burnout".
Islam does indeed tell us to strive as if in a race to do good (al-Ma'idah 5:48), but Islam IS NOT ITSELF A RACE. We do not get to Allah "faster" by trying to take on more than He gives us; and what Allah gives us is One Day - today - and the tools which enable us to make the best us of this One Day. No one is guaranteed tomorrow, and yesterday is gone.
When we open our Qur'ans we find 6,236 verses (6,248 with bismillah's) each of which can and will have a meaning in our lives exactly as Allah wills. Some verses give us clear commands and limits we should learn to be aware of at all times, others have meanings with are metaphorical - meanings which may only manifest in our lives in as yet unencountered situations. We are also warned not to accede too quickly to anyone else's interpretation of such verses (al-E-Imran 3:7).
But what of the many clear commands? There seem to be so many!
Can a believer be obeying every single one every single minute of every day?
Of course not. That is the path to "burnout".
Some commands do indeed lay out the attitudes, and tasks, which must be regular and constant in the life of a Muslim... we must be regular in our salaat, we must be concious of Allah at all times. Other commands are the TOOLS that Allah has blessed us with.
Yes. TOOLS.
The Qur'an is the largest and most complete spritual TOOLKIT ever given to mankind.
We cannot feed an orphan every minute of every day, but ON THAT DAY when we are feeling unblessed or ungratefull - feeding that orphan is the fastest way to remember and be gratefull for our own blessings.
That is the TOOL that Allah has provided for ADJUSTING that attitude.
Are we having a day of doubt in our deen? Turn to and obey an-Nahl 16:125- invite others to submission to our Creator.
Telling others about the peace of Islam is the TOOL that Allah has provided for INCREASING that peace in ourselves.
It is not for me to speak for Allah and to tell each of you which tool is the one Allah would have you use in every situation in your life, it is only for me to tell you that the tools are there... and the more time we spend reading our Qur'an the easier will finding the correct tool be. This is true for merely human toolkits, it is infinitely more the case when we have the help of Allah in using the tools He has blessed us with.
Learn the tools Allah has provided for maintaining your life; they have the best guarantee possible, and they never break.
Any truth herein is from Allah, any errors are mine alone. As always, Allahu Alim
The Qur'an is our ToolkitSome newcomers to Islam try to rapidly learn and obey every command in the Qur'an, and they try to learn and emulate every possible example of the Prophet(saws) reported in the traditions.
The result - all too often - is "burnout".
Islam does indeed tell us to strive as if in a race to do good (al-Ma'idah 5:48), but Islam IS NOT ITSELF A RACE. We do not get to Allah "faster" by trying to take on more than He gives us; and what Allah gives us is One Day - today - and the tools which enable us to make the best us of this One Day. No one is guaranteed tomorrow, and yesterday is gone.
When we open our Qur'ans we find 6,236 verses (6,248 with bismillah's) each of which can and will have a meaning in our lives exactly as Allah wills. Some verses give us clear commands and limits we should learn to be aware of at all times, others have meanings with are metaphorical - meanings which may only manifest in our lives in as yet unencountered situations. We are also warned not to accede too quickly to anyone else's interpretation of such verses (al-E-Imran 3:7).
But what of the many clear commands? There seem to be so many!
Can a believer be obeying every single one every single minute of every day?
Of course not. That is the path to "burnout".
Some commands do indeed lay out the attitudes, and tasks, which must be regular and constant in the life of a Muslim... we must be regular in our salaat, we must be concious of Allah at all times. Other commands are the TOOLS that Allah has blessed us with.
Yes. TOOLS.
The Qur'an is the largest and most complete spritual TOOLKIT ever given to mankind.
We cannot feed an orphan every minute of every day, but ON THAT DAY when we are feeling unblessed or ungratefull - feeding that orphan is the fastest way to remember and be gratefull for our own blessings.
That is the TOOL that Allah has provided for ADJUSTING that attitude.
Are we having a day of doubt in our deen? Turn to and obey an-Nahl 16:125- invite others to submission to our Creator.
Telling others about the peace of Islam is the TOOL that Allah has provided for INCREASING that peace in ourselves.
It is not for me to speak for Allah and to tell each of you which tool is the one Allah would have you use in every situation in your life, it is only for me to tell you that the tools are there... and the more time we spend reading our Qur'an the easier will finding the correct tool be. This is true for merely human toolkits, it is infinitely more the case when we have the help of Allah in using the tools He has blessed us with.
Learn the tools Allah has provided for maintaining your life; they have the best guarantee possible, and they never break.
Any truth herein is from Allah, any errors are mine alone. As always, Allahu Alim
*~*~*~*
Eating collectively from a single plate
Al-Wahshiyyi ibn Harb radiallaahu 'anhu related that some of the Companions of Allaah's Messenger sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said:
O Messenger of Allaah! We eat, but do not become satisfied.
So he said to them: "Perhaps you eat separately?"
So they replied: Yes.
So he said: "Eat your food collectively, mention the Name of Allaah upon it, then there will be blessings for you in it."[1]
Shaykh Ibn al-'Uthaymeen said:
"This indicates that it is essential to eat collectively from a single plate. So if there are five or ten people, they should eat collectively from a single dish, depending upon the situation. Indeed, doing so is a cause for barakah (blessings) to descend, whilst eating separately is a cause for barakah to depart."[2]
[1] Hasan: Related by Abu Daawood (no.3764). It was authenticated by al-Haafidh al-'lraaqee in his Takhreejul-lhyaa (214).
[2] Sharh Riyaadhus-Saaliheen (7/231) of Ibn al-'Uthaymeen.
Source for the above: Al-Istiqaamah Newsletter, Shawwaal 1418H / February 1998 ,Issue No.8
The following is taken from Imam Al-Nawawi's Riyad-us-Saliheen - Chapter 107 :
745. `Abdullah bin Busr (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) had a large bowl called Al-Gharra', which would be carried by four men. One day, when the Companions finished their Duha (forenoon optional) prayer, Al-Gharra' was brought full of sopped bread, meat and broth, and they sat down around it. When their number increased, Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) sat down on his knees and rested on the soles of his feet. A bedouin said to him: "What sort of sitting is that?'' Thereupon Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, "Verily, Allah has made me a courteous slave not a fierce tyrant.'' Then he said, "Eat from the sides of the bowl and leave the central part of it so that your food will be blessed.''
[Abu Dawud].
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