Motivational & Manners

Hannah, Maryam and Saara are three ordinary teenage Muslim girls living their ordinary lives, in their ordinary little town. One by one, they all face problems and difficulties which they had never expected. Can they be strong and overcome the problems they will face?

Allah the Most High, Said, “Every soul will taste death…” [ Al-Anbiya (21): 35] The inevitable reality of death is greater than life itself, for life is something uncertain – one may plan for the future, yet know not whether he will live long enough in order to achieve his hopes and ambitions – for the arrival of the Angel of Death may precede those very hopes. The prudent one understands this great reality and prepares for its eventuality.

Untold number of humanity has passed through the stages of death, and current generations will be replaced by future generations. “The best of believers are those with best manners. And the smartest are those who remember death often, and the astute are those who readily prepare it. Those are the smartest.” [Silsilat as-Sahihah, 1384] Some of the scholars used to say, “Those who often remember death, Allah honours them with three: Their repentance is expedited; Their heart is given satisfaction and; Their worship is energised. And those who forget remembering death are afflicted with three: Their repentance is postponed; Their contentment is stripped and; Their worship is neglected. Therefore one of the finest aids in remembering and preparing for death is seeking forgiveness for one’s sins and shortcomings. Allah The Most High Said, “Say, ‘O My servants who have transgressed against themselves, do not despair of the Mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.'” [Al-Zumar (39): 53] In the noble Prophetic guidance, the Messenger of Allah (saw) said the leading du’a (invocation) by which forgiveness should be sought is called ‘Sayyid Al-Istighfār’.

It is composed of special words with profound meanings, which the Prophet keenly taught his ‘Ummah. He (saw) said, ‘Whoever reads it during the day with firm faith in it and dies on the same day before the evening, he will be from the people of Paradise. And whoever reads it at night with firm faith in it and dies before the morning, he will be from the people of Paradise.” [Al-Bukhari, 6306] Before you dear reader is a small contemporary work explaining the immense benefits of ‘Sayyid Al-Istighfar’. It should be memorised by every Muslim and its meanings understood and internalised for heightened impact and gain.

The author (may Allah bless him) breaks down the du’a, elucidating its beautiful composition correctly, and explaining the meaning of repentance, its importance and Allah’s Love for those who turn to Him in true repentance. Beseeching Allah for forgiveness is amongst the greatest means in getting close to Him and attaining His Pleasure in this world and the Hereafter.

Ranks of The Fearful by Shaykh Al Islam Muwaffaq Al Din Ibn Qudamah Al Maqdisi (Died 620 Hijri) Allah, the Most High, has praised those who possess the attribute of a heightened sense of fear Saying, “And such (are the believers) who are humbled by the fear of their Lord…” (Al Muminun, 57) And He also Said: “… fear Me alone, if you are believers.” (Ali’ Imran, 175) The element of fear exists within mankind in varying degrees. When the fear of Allah is established in the hearts, it eliminates wrongdoing and attachment to worldly desires. It is alight that navigates a person through sin and temptation, and when this fear is removed, it easily leads them astray – for surely true and praiseworthy fear is being vigilant from transgressing the limits of Allah. Yet when fear exceeds its proper boundary, it gives rise to hopelessness and despair, which is equally blameworthy. The attribute of fear therefore, is not the end goal itself, but a means towards a successful end. ‘Al-Khawf ‘ is from the smaller works of Imam Ibn Qudamah, who is better known for authoring major authoritative treatises of Hanbali jurisprudence and doctrine. In this short book, he brings disquieting realities of fearing Allah in a unique perspective; elucidating some profound insight into the topic, its reality and merits, types and levels and cures that bring about fear. It also discusses causes that lead to a bad ending for people on this earth, while taking rooted examples from the lives of the fearful ones from among the Angels,Prophets and our righteous predecessors.