Staying spiritually afloat

Like many Muslims today, I struggle with constancy in the remembrance of my Creator. I stay mostly mindful of being His servant, often finding myself subconsciously glorifying His name. But just as regularly I lapse and suddenly realize that my heart has slipped away, like the spinning helm of great wooden ship in a storm. Sometimes I feel almost totally.. More

Causes and effects of diseases of the heart

Indeed, all sins poison the heart and lead to its illness and destruction. They sicken it and define its will as other than what Allah, the Almighty wants [of His servant], in effect being as harmful to the heart as actual poisons are to the body. Imam Ibn Al-Mubarak, may Allah have mercy upon him, said, “I have seen that sins cause the death.. More

Wisdom Behind Two Years of Breastfeeding - A Scientific Perspective

Allah the Almighty Says (what means):{Mothers may breastfeed their children two complete years for whoever wishes to complete the nursing [period]. Upon the father is the mothers' provision and their clothing according to what is acceptable. No person is charged with more than his capacity. No mother should be harmed through her child, and no father.. More

Practical steps to help lower the gaze

Here are some practical steps to control your gaze: 1- First, let us agree upon an issue that greatly affects the way you control your gaze, namely, the issue of the relativity of beauty. The criteria of beauty vary from one person to another and from one sensibility to another. For example, you may like certain clothes and consider them the most.. More

The Practice of Self-Purification - III

4. Lifelong commitment This principle deals with the question of effectiveness how can we insure that our tazkiyah efforts bear their expected fruits, help us achieve piety, and fulfill our purpose in this life? Allah Almighty gave a hint: "Take what We have given you with determination and remember what is in it, that perhaps you may become righteous&q.. More

The Practice of Self-Purification - II

Principles of Tazkiyah As shown earlier, tazkiyah is a fundamental part of Prophet Muhammad's mission, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, and his life constitutes a unique example of it. Together with his teaching, this example was responsible for altering the lives of his Companions to such an extent that they became the pinnacle and paradigm generation.. More

The Practice of Self-Purification - I

Lexically, the Arabic word `tazkiyah' means purification and development—of anything—to the level of perfection. As a Quranic term, it expresses a way of ridding ourselves of flawed tendencies and leanings as well as providing one with the means to attain piety and to help our souls develop to become as perfect as humanly possible. In other.. More

The benefits of hoping for the best

Hope in Allah the Almighty bears fruit to the following: • It makes one strive more and exert greater effort in performing acts of worship. • It makes one even more inclined to be constantly obedient to Allah The Almighty. • It makes one enjoy drawing closer to Allah The Almighty and makes one experience the thrill of supplicating.. More

The virtues and rewards of prayer in Islam

The obligatory five daily prayers were prescribed during the night the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, ascended to the heavens, while the commands for the remaining acts of worship were revealed to the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, on earth. This indicates the special status and importance of prayer as an act of worship. Prayer: the.. More

Seeking forgiveness: tradition of the Prophets and the Righteous

The Prophets, may Allaah exalt their mention, and the virtuous and righteous people were the quickest of all to comply with the call of Allah the Almighty. Adam and Hawwaa’ (Eve), may Allaah exalt their mention, the father and mother of mankind: They responded to the call of Allah the Almighty immediately after they disobeyed Him when Shaytan.. More

Our Non-Muslim Relatives: Their Rights Upon us

By Kimberly Ben When I reverted to Islam over 10 years ago, I received mixed reactions from my friends and family. While attending my first family gathering wearing Hijab, I was eyed very curiously at first, but with time they have come to accept my choice. Now, no one even seems to notice much except for the occasional complement on my choice of.. More

The glory of faith

Khaleefah Haroon Ar-Rasheed, may Allah have mercy upon him, was once looking up at the sky from his palace in Baghdad and he saw a cloud passing by. He addressed it saying calmly, “Rain wherever you wish, for your fruit will certainly come to me anyway.” This means that the cloud would have rained either on an Islamic land or on a non-Islamic.. More

Our Home: A Haven of Knowledge

Truly, the Muslim home should be a haven of knowledge and beneficial learning and all its members should love knowledge and exert efforts to seek it, so that they would obtain the highest degrees in the Sight of Allah The Almighty. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): • {Allah will raise those who have believed among you and those who were given.. More

Women's inheritance laws in Islam

Concerning inheritance, Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {For men is a share of what the parents and close relatives leave, and for women is a share of what the parents and close relatives leave, be it little or much -- an obligatory share.} [Quran 4:7] Thus, Allah The Almighty assigned a known share of inheritance to women and men. Commenting.. More

The audacity of faith

The prayer has never been this hard Libraries are like studios. No sound goes unheard. No noise passes without someone looking up or, in this case, a librarian hissing and excitedly shushing the disturber of the peace, silencing the noise polluter. Nervously flitting and creeping about the bookshelves, I was endeavoring to be as quiet as such can.. More