Planet Talks (P/B)

It is a unique educational book addressing the female gender espe cially the girls. Despite the small size of the book, it is rich in religious advice, and each chapter directs a phase of the girl’s life with more attention to the adolescence. It provides real experiences of life for some girls for the others to learn and benefit from.

This book is a good reference for the reader, be it the girl itself, a mother or anyone who is seeking to know the instructions, guidelines and good manners that a Muslim woman should follow. And this based on the texts of the Quran and Sunnah of the Prophet (pbuh). It also includes some poetry of the Arabs, real stories, and international statistics.

For every situation, Prophet Muhammad S.A.W. has prescribed various Du’a that can be read throughout Ramadan and even after it, as a form of therapy. It is with hope and faith that positive changes can come out of this beloved month of Ramadan to those who seek it.

Allah, The Most High, Said, “The men who remember Allah often and the women who do so – for them Allah has prepared forgiveness and a great reward.” [Al-Ahzab, 35]. He also Said, “O you who have believed, remember Allah with much remembrance, And exalt Him morning and afternoon…” [Al-Ahzab, 41] Al-Bukhari recorded a report from AbuMusa al-Ash’ari (may Allah be pleased with him) who narrated that the Messenger of Allah said, “The example of a person who makes dhikr of his Lord and a person who does not, is like that of a living and a dead person.”

Making dhikr (remembrance of Allah) has a lofty place in the Din of Islam and is inherently inscribed in the souls of the believers; for it is from the greatest acts of worship and provides enumerable fruits and benefits in this life and the next.

Dhikr is distinguished with many virtues through its perfect meanings, beautiful phrasings and comprehensiveness that contains depth of meaning and incorporating all types of goodness. Its wordings are concise while reflecting great reward, is easy to remember and pronounce possessing tangible effects on the body and soul.

From such great adhkar the Prophet used to consistently make and encourage others regarding it, is the Hawqala, or the saying of ‘La Hawla wa la Quwwata illa Billah’. This remembrance has merits and virtues none but Allah fully encompasses – the meanings and implications of which, lead to certainty and solace through strengthening ones’ faith and connection with Allah. This special dhikr is of such importance that the author (may Allah preserve him) saw the need to single it out in this short treatise, entitling it, “The Hawqala: Its meanings, virtues, and creedal implications”. It is hoped Muslims will focus their efforts in meaningfully utilising this phrase and making it a regular feature of their every day lives, along with other types of remembrances of Allah.