Ihsan Center – Islam From The Heart

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem

السلام عليكم

Not a second ticks by in 24 hours / 7 days a week, except that there is a Muslim caller to prayer somewhere in the world in the millions of masajid announcing Ash hadu an la illaha il allah, Ash hadu anna Muhammadar Rasul Allah – I testify that there is no God but God and I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.

This is so, not because human beings gave him this authority. Nor because he himself proclaimed this for himself (saw). As the emperor of Rome – Herculias – asked the Muslim messenger in the year 679CE after he had presented Islam to him, “Which King gave Muhammad this authority?” The reply was so simple, so profound, “Allah did! God gave him this authority!”

If you asked a person in the US what is the most popular name in the world he or she would probably say David, or John or Sally or Jane. And I wouldn’t blame that person; a lot of people in North America have not traveled and experienced the treasures of culture and flavor that the nations of the world have to offer humanity.

Well I’ve been told, although I could not find the info anywhere to corroborate it, that the most popular name, worldwide is Muhammed, masha’allah. Even according to the US Social Security Administration the name Muhammad, or similarly spelled names was ranked 560^th of the 1000 most popular names given to babies in the US in 2003. That is up from 711^th in 1990. In England and Wales in 2003 Mohammed was the 22^nd most popular name of the top 100, in France 57^th in 2001. Allahu Akbar!

Islam is the fastest growing religion in America, and more so even in the world. In the past 50 years, Muslims have increased by 233%. And across the earth, from every nation, Muslims number over 1.2 Billion. And only 250millon of those live in the Middle east.

The key to Islam is the Kalima – Laa ilaha illa Allah, Muhammad Rasul Allah – There is no god except Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.

This statement takes only a few seconds to pronounce, but it is the transformation point of the lives of Muslims around the world. Only the Creator deserves to be worshipped.

Let’s take an example from the lives of such people who’s lives changed with this call to worship only one God. Bilal – may Allah be pleased with him – was an Abyssinian slave for the aristocracy of Makkah in the year 623CE. When Rasul Allah (saw) – came with this message of ‘No god except Allah’, Bilal – may Allah be pleased with him – denounced the 360 statues and idols that the tribes of Makkah were worshiping and from that point on, believed in only Allah.

His enraged slave master Umayyah would take Bilal out in the sizzling noon heat because of his beliefs and burn Bilal’s back on the sand. To intensify the pain, Umayyah would bring a boulder and place it on his stomach to press him down on the grilling sand, burning the skin away.

All Bilal would whisper was, “La illaha il allah” infuriating Umayyah who would only intensify the torture.

Bilal was freed by one of Rasul Allah’s (saw) – closest friends and followers: Abu Bakr, and Bilal become the first Mu’adhdhin (the one who calls others to prayer) of Islam.

Another example is that of the Muslim women, Sumayyah – may Allah be pleased with her. She was also a slave and she and her husband and son were subjected to physical beatings because they had accepted la illaha il allah.

Her torturer Abu Jahl became infuriated one day with her soft voice repeating, “La illaha il allah” He put a spear through her and made Sumayyah the first Muslim to die in the name of “La illaha il allah” May Allah be pleased with her.

Although it was permissible for the Muslims to lie to save themselves from the torture, you’ll see example after example of Muslims who would rather die than surrender their right to believe that only Allah deserved to be worshiped.

Amongst the tyrants of Makkah was a man by the name of Umar ibn Al-Khattabh. He was so vicious with the Muslims that he would volunteer to torture Muslim slaves.

One day, he just had enough and he set on his way to the home of Rasul Allah (SAW) to slit his throat once and for all. On the way a Muslim who had been hiding his Islam – Nu’aym ibn Abdullah – inquired about Umar’s haste. “I’m off to Muhammad, that convert who cut up our tribe, belittled our gods, and mocked our religion, to kill him!” Nu’aym became afraid for the Messenger of Allah – upon whom be peace – so he quickly thought and said, “Why don’t you start with your family first! Your sister and her husband have accepted Islam!”

Umar became enraged and changed direction to his sister’s home. At that time, a Muslim teacher – Khabbab ibn al Arat – was at their home teaching them the word of Allah – The Qur’an – and for a few moments Umar stood there listening. Then he shouted for them to open the door, Khabbab hid in an adjacent room and Umar’s sister Fatimah hid the scroll that had the Qur’an written on it.

Umar entered and walked right up to his brother in law. “I heard you both have accepted Muhammad and are following him.” Then Umar pounded his brother in law in the face. Fatimah his sister stood to protect her husband, and when she came in the way, Umar slapped the face of his sister with all his might.

She fell to the ground, her cheek split and the blood spilt all over her cloths. She looked up at her brother and said from behind her tears, “Yes Umar we are Muslim and yes we have believed in Allah and His Messenger. Maybe you don’t have all the truth like you think you do?”

Umar was ashamed at the sight of his sister’s blood and desisted. He asked, “What was that sound I heard, that recitation.” His sister replied, “I fear for that scroll to fall in your hands.” But Umar swore by the Idols that he would do no harm. She handed him the scroll after he had cleansed himself and he recited:

020.001 طه

Ta-ha

Ta, Ha.

020.002 مَا أَنْزَلْنَا عَلَيْكَ الْقُرْآنَ لِتَشْقَى

Ma anzalna ‘aalayka alqur-ana litashqa

We have not sent down the Qur’an to thee to be (an occasion) for thy distress,

020.003 إِلا تَذْكِرَةً لِمَنْ يَخْشَى

Illa tathkiratan liman yakhsha

But only as an admonition to those who fear (Allah),-

020.004 تَنْزِيلا مِمَّنْ خَلَقَ الأرْضَ وَالسَّمَاوَاتِ الْعُلا

Tanzeelan mimman khalaqa al-arda waalssamawati al’aula

A revelation from Him Who created the earth and the heavens on high.

020.005 الرَّحْمَنُ عَلَى الْعَرْشِ اسْتَوَى

Alrrahmanu ‘aala al’aarshi istawa

(Allah) Most Gracious is firmly established on the throne (of authority).

020.006 لَهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الأرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا وَمَا تَحْتَ الثَّرَى

Lahu ma fee alssamawati wama fee al-ardi wama baynahuma wama tahta alththara

To Him belongs what is in the heavens and on earth, and all between them, and all beneath the soil.

020.007 وَإِنْ تَجْهَرْ بِالْقَوْلِ فَإِنَّهُ يَعْلَمُ السِّرَّ وَأَخْفَى

Wa-in tajhar bialqawli fa-innahu ya’alamu alssirra waakhfa

If thou pronounce the word aloud, (it is no matter): for verily He knoweth what is secret and what is yet more hidden.

020.008 اللَّهُ لا إِلَهَ إِلا هُوَ لَهُ الأسْمَاءُ الْحُسْنَى

Allahu la ilaha illa huwa lahu al-asmao alhusna

Allah! there is no god but He! To Him belong the most Beautiful Names.

Umar later that day visited the Messenger of Allah – upon whom be peace. When he met him, the Messenger of Allah – upon whom be peace – took the coat of Umar and said, “Hasn’t the time come for you to become Muslim?” And Umar replied, “I’ve only come for that reason. There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.”

The Prophet shouted – Allahu Akbar! (God is Great!) and everyone that heard it knew that Umar had become Muslim!

Part II

I’ve been in large crowds in my life, both here in the west and in the Middle East.

But one crowd I have only heard about so far is the crowd of 3 million worshippers in one prayer at Mecca during Hajj! These people are not from one nation, nor are they from one language backround, 3 Million people lined up in perfect circles around the Grand Mosque to worship Allah (swt)!

A consistent crowd of 3 million from every nation, class, and color who do not come about without pain and struggle to assert humanities right to worship nothing but the one true God – Allah (swt)

There were times in that very same valley of Makkah when Rasul Allah (saw) would prostrate to only to Allah, avoiding all the false idols that surrounded him. The Mushrikeen of Makkah sitting there staring at him and hating what they saw. They said to themselves, “How can we sit here and allow him to prostrate to Allah in your midst. Who amongst us will humiliate him?”

One of them took the intestines of a fresh lamb that had been sacrificed to the idols and dumped it on the head of Rasul Allah (saw). The Mushrikeen fell off their seats in hysterical laughter. Rasul Allah (saw) – did not come up from his prostration.

News reached his daughter Fatimah – who at that time was still a young girl – that her Father was being ridiculed at the Ka’bah (The Grand Mosque). She raced there and when she saw her father she cried and removed the filth and swore through her tears at the Mushrikeen.

This is just an example of the ridicule the Messenger of Allah and the Muslims went through to teach humanity La illaha il allah!

The Mushrikeen of Makkah used their media – poetry and word of mouth – to sway public opinion against this call of La illaha il allah.

A doctor by the name of Damaud made pilgrimage to Makkah and when he arrived in the Holy valley the news media of Makkah warned him not listen to a word Muhammad says. “He is a magician,” they said, “He’s mad”

Damaud recalls, “They frightened me so much that I considered putting cotton in my ears. But then I said to myself, ‘I am a doctor and have healed mad men before…perhaps I may be able to cure Muhammad.”

So after completing his circumbulation around the ka’bah, he saw Muhammad – upon whom be peace – sitting peacefully in the courtyard. He approached him and said softly, “Muhammad, I administer treatment for this illness and God has allowed me to heal many people, would you wish that I nurse you?”

Muhammad – upon whom be peace – turned and said, “Verily all praise belongs to Allah; we thank Allah and seek his protection from everything; whoever Allah guides none can misguide them and whoever Allah leaves to go astray none can guide them aright. I testify that there is no god worthy of worship except Allah and that (I) Muhammad am the Messenger of Allah.”

Damaud’s mouth gapped open. He swallowed and said, “Could you repeat that for me?” Muhammad the Messenger of Allah – upon whom be peace – repeated it.

Then Damaud smiled and announced, “By God, I have heard the words of soothsayers, and have heard the words of magicians, and have heard the words of poets, and I have never heard words like this! Give me your hand for I am pledging allegiance to Islam. There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is His Messenger!”

You’ll find in the Qur’an verse after verse opening the eyes of humanity to the reality of La illaha il allah.

Jubayr ibn Mut’em stood quietly behind the Messenger of Allah – upon whom be peace – at sunset prayer (in Arabic Maghrib) one day and listened to the verses of Qur’an. The Messenger of Allah – upon whom be peace – was reciting the Sura Toor (chapter 52) and in it he heard him recite:

052.035 أَمْ خُلِقُوا مِنْ غَيْرِ شَيْءٍ أَمْ هُمُ الْخَالِقُونَ

Am khuliqoo min ghayri shay-in am humu alkhaliqoona

Were they created of nothing, or were they themselves the creators?

052.036 أَمْ خَلَقُوا السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأرْضَ بَل لا يُوقِنُونَ

Am khalaqoo alssamawati waal-arda bal la yooqinoona

Or did they create the heavens and the earth? Nay, they have no firm belief.

052.037 أَمْ عِنْدَهُمْ خَزَائِنُ رَبِّكَ أَمْ هُمُ الْمُسَيْطِرُونَ

Am ‘aindahum khaza-inu rabbika am humu almusaytiroona

Or are the Treasures of thy Lord with them, or are they the managers (of affairs)?

Jubayr ibn Mut’em said, “When I heard these verses, it was as if my heart had wings flying swiftly and in bliss to the truth that I had found in Islam.”

Friends, where will you be in 100 years? You’ll be dead. And what were you 100 years ago? Nothing.

Allah says in the Qur’an: Has there not come upon man a period of time when he was not a thing (even) mentioned? / Indeed, We created man from a sperm – drop mixture (i.e. combination of male and female substance) that We may test him; and We made him hearing and seeing. / Indeed, We guided him to the way, to be thankful or to be ungrateful. Chapter 76/1-3

In those early days of Islam, the Messenger of Allah – upon whom be peace – would go from tent to tent, tribe to tribe, announcing to them, “Say there is no god but Allah and success will be yours!” Today, over 1400 years later as the followers of Muhammad, believers in Allah, we extend those words of our Messenger – upon whom be peace – to all whom we find and to those around us in this society and world where Islam is growing so strongly: “Say La illaha il allah and success will be yours!”

And Allah knows best.

 

This khutbah is adapted from one given by Imam Muhammad al Shareef. Jazakallahu khairun for this inspiration.

السلام عليكم

Aasiyah was the wife of Fir’own (Pharaoh). Her Iman in Allah thrived under the shadow of her husband who said, “I am your Lord, Most High!” When news reached Fir’own of his wife’s Iman he beat her and commanded his guards to beat her. They took her out in the scalding noon heat, tied her hands and feet and beat her perpetually. Who did she turn to? She turned to Allah! She prayed, “My lord, build for me a home with you in Paradise and save me from Fir’own and his deeds and save me from the transgressive people.

It was narrated that when she said this, the sky opened for her and she saw her home in Paradise. She smiled. The guards watched astonished, she’s being tortured and she smiles? Frustrated, Fir’own commanded a boulder to be brought and dropped on Aasiyah, to crush her to death. But Allah took her soul before the boulder was brought and she became an example for all the believing men and women till the end of time:

wa- d.araba ‘allaah mathal(an) li- ‘alladhena ‘aamano imra’ah fir’awn ‘idh qaalat rabb -i ibni li- -y ‘inda -ka bayt(an) fe al- jannah wa- najji -ne min fircawn wa- ‘amal -hi wa- najji -ne min al- qawm az.- z.aalimen

And Allah has set forth an example for those who believe: the wife of Fir’own (Pharaoh) – when she said, “My Lord, Build for me a home with You in Paradise, and save me from Fir’own and his deeds, and save me from the transgressive-disbelieving people.] -Tahreem 66/11

In the hadith of Jibreel, when he came to the Prophet (saw) and asked him about Islam, Iman, and Ihasan, the Prophet (saw) said about Iman,

“Iman is to believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His Messengers, the Final Day, and the divine decree, the good and the bad thereof.”

Today we shall look into this last article of Iman: to believe in the Divine decree, the good and the bad thereof.

As you and I travel though life we find ourselves in one of two situations. Either something good is happening in our lives and in which case – as Muslims- our role is to thank Allah for the blessing. Or something bad is happening to us, something we dislike and our role here is to be patient (Sabr). This is the formula for a happy life, a life cruising towards the pleasure of Allah. Sabr or Shukr, the worry stops here.

The Messenger of Allah (saw) said,

“Strange is the affair of the Mu’min (the believer), verily all his affairs are good for him. If something pleasing befalls him he thanks (Allah) and it becomes better for him. And if something harmful befalls him he is patient (Saabir) and it becomes better for him. And this is only for the Mu’mmin ”

Ibn Al-Jowzee said,

“If this Dunya was not a station of tests it would not be filled with sicknesses and filth. If life did not also have hardship, then the Prophets and the pious would have lived the most comfortable of lives. Nay, Adam suffered test after test until he left the Dunya. Nuh cried for 300 years. Ibrahim was thrown into a pit of fire and later told to slaughter his son. Ya’qub cried until he became blind. Musa challenged Fir’own and was tested by his people. ‘Isa had no provision except the morsels his disciples provided him with. And Muhammad (saw) met poverty with patience, his uncle – one of the most beloved relatives to him – was slain and mutilated and his people disbelieved in him … and the list of Prophets and the pious goes on and on.”

What happens to us happens by the will of Allah. It is an article of our Iman in Qada’ and Qadr that we are pleased with Allah’s choice, Good or seemingly bad it is all the test of this Dunya. How could we imagine that we shall not be tested when those who were better than us suffered what they suffered. They however came away with the pleasure of Allah, Subhaanahu wa Ta’Aala.

Al Hasan ibn Arafah narrated,

“I visited Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal after he was whipped and tortured. I said to him, “O Abu Abdillah, you have reached the station of the Prophets!” He said, “Keep quiet. Verily, I saw nothing more than people selling their Deen. And I saw scholars that were with me sell their Faith. So I said to myself, ‘Who am I, what am I. What am I going to say to Allah tomorrow when I stand in front of Him and He ask me, “Did you sell your Deen like the others did?” So I looked at the whip and the sword and chose them. And I said, “If I die I shall return to Allah and say: ‘I was told to say that one of Your Characteristics was something created but I did not.’ After that, it will be up to Him – either to punish me of be Merciful on me.”

Al-Hasan ibn Arafah then asked,

“Did you feel pain when they whipped you?” He said “Yes, I felt the pain up to 20 lashes then I lost all feeling (They whipped him over eighty times). After it was over I felt no pain and that day I prayed Dhuhr standing.”

Al-Hasan ibn Arafah started weeping when he heard what had happened. Imam Ahmad questioned him,

“Why are you crying? I did not lose my Iman. After that why should I care if I lose my life?”

They were better than us but this was how they were tested.

Let us discuss some facts about these tests of life, the good and the bad that befalls us: Allah (swt) says:

wa- maa as.aaba -kum min mus.ebah fa- bi- maa kasabat ayde -kum wa- ya’fu ‘an kather

[And whatever misfortune befalls you it is because of what your hands have earned. And He pardons much.] – Sura 42/30

Muhammad ibn Seereen used to say when his debts piled up and he felt sad,

“I know that the cause of this sadness is a sin I committed over 40 years ago.”

People understand that when something bad happens it is a test from Allah. But dear Brothers and Sisters, the good things that happen to us are also a test.

Allah (swt) says

wa- qat.t.a’naa -hum fe al- ‘ard. ‘umam(an) min -hum as.- s.aalih.on wa- min -hum dona dhaalika wa- balawnaa -hum bi- al- h.asanaat wa- as- sayyi’aat la’alla -hum yarjicon.

[And we tested them with good (blessings) and evil (calamities) in order that they might turn back] – A’raf 7/168

Abd alMalik ibn Ishaq said,

“There is no one that is not tested with health and prosperity to measure how thankful he is (Shukr).”

And the Companion – AbdurRahman ibn ‘Awf (ra) said,

“We were tested with hardship and were patient. And then we were tested with prosperity and we were not patient.”

Because of this Allah states:

yaa ‘ayyuhaa ‘alladhena ‘aamano laa tulhi -kum amwaal -kum wa- laa awlaad -kum can dhikr ‘allaah wa- man yaf’al dhaalika fa- ‘olaa’ika hum al- khaasiron

[O ye who believe! Let not your wealth or your children divert you from the remembrance of Allah. And whosoever does that, then they are the losers.] – Munafiqun 63/9

Patience must happen from the beginning, not three days later or one day later, at the first news of the calamity, when it first happens. The Prophet (saw) said,

“Verily patience is only Sabr when practiced at the first hit (of news).”

There are things that contradict Sabr. Tearing ones shirt, for example, slapping ones face, slapping hands, shaving ones head, and cursing and wailing. Umm Salamah narrates:

I heard the Messenger of Allah (saw) say, “Any Muslim that says when a calamity befalls him that which Allah commanded him: inna allahi wa inna allahi rajayun, To Allah we belong and to him we return. O Allah reward me in this calamity and give me better then it – (any Muslim that says this) Allah will grant him better than (that which he lost).” – Muslim

These tests and hardships wash our sins. Aisha (ra) said,

“Verily fever sheds sins like a tree sheds leaves.”

The hardships that befall us distinguish the believers from the insincere. Shumayt ibn Ajlaan said,

“The pious and the ungrateful are hidden by health. Yet when calamities befall the two men are separated (by how they react).”

Allah says in the Quran [Alif/Laam/Meem..Do people think that they will be left alone because they say, “We believe,” and will not be tested? Indeed We tested those who (lived) before them] Al-Ankaboot 29/1-‘

Part II: Towards Sabr

Ali (ra) said,

“Verily Sabr is to Iman what the head is to the body. When the head is cut off, the body falls. (He then raised his voice) Verily there is no Iman for he who has no Sabr (patience).”

Ali (ra) said, “Verily Sabr is to Iman what the head is to the body. When the head is cut off, the body falls. (He then raised his voice) Verily there is no Iman for he who has no Sabr (patience).”

There are three types of Sabr that the Muslim must have:

a. Sabr in the obedience of Allah. For example, One must be patient and perform their Fajr at it’s time.

b. Sabr in not disobeying Allah. Like someone might say, “I just have to insult him.” No, we are command by He who gave us our tongues to not follow the whispers of Shaytaan. And we must have Sabr in not disobeying Allah.

c. Sabr in what Allah Decrees on us. For example, if our child was to pass away we should be patient and seek the reward of Allah in our patience and say only that which is pleasing to Allah.

There are two keys. If we understand them we shall open the door to Sabr
in our lives:

The First Key: know that our souls, families and wealth do not belong to us, they belong to Allah. He gave it to us as a loan to see what we would do with it. And when he takes it back He is taking back what belongs to Him. We had nothing before the blessing and we’ll have nothing after it. We did not create the blessing from nothing, so how can we claim that it belongs to us.

The Second Key: We are on a journey and the destination is the hereafter – Paradise or Hell. We shall be leaving the Dunya behind us and we’ll come back to Allah by ourselves. This is what needs our focus. And if Allah is pleased with us then no worry. If He is not pleased with us then all worry.

Let me draw your attention to a verse. Listen carefully. Allah revealed:

h.aafiz.o ‘alaa as.- s.alawaat wa- as.- s.alaah al- wust.aa wa- qomo li- ‘allaah qaaniten

[Guard strictly the observance of the salawat, especially the middle Salah and stand before Allah in obedience.]- alBaqarah 2/238

The verses before this deal with divorce. The verses after it deal with divorce. Why was this verse placed in the middle?

The Ulama’ have suggested, Wa Allaahu a’lam, that in the hard times that a person goes through (especially in a divorce) they should not forget the remembrance of Allah, the Salah. And it is that Salah coupled with Sabr that will pull them through.

yaa ‘ayyuhaa ‘alladhena ‘aamano ista’eno bi- as.- s.abr wa- as.- s.alaah ‘inna ‘allaah ma’a as.- s.aabiren

[O you who believe! Seek Help in Patience and Salah. Truly, Allah is with those that are patient.]-Baqarah 2/153

In conclusion, Allah (swt) wants us to pass on the following good news: for the patient who, when afflicted with calamity say, “Truly, to Allah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return.”

‘olaa’ika ‘alay -him s.alawaat min rabb -him wa- rah.mah wa- ‘olaa’ika hum al- muhtadon

They are those on whom the Salawat (i.e. the blessing and forgiveness) of their Lord is upon them, and who shall receive His Mercy, and it is they who are the guided ones] -Baqarah 2/157

Allah (swt) promised anyone who wants to work on his or her patience three things: Forgiveness, Mercy, and guidance. Who could ask for more?

And Allah (swt) knows best.

السلام عليكم

When we do not accept the guidance of Allah (SWT) which is given with compassion and mercy what happens to us? We are in a state that is like a shackle around our necks ever burdening us and making our necks stiff. What is the image of a stiff necked person. That person is terribly hobbled. Unable to look around. In terms of the heart and spirit, they too are hardened by this, the heart is made harder and harder and further from Allah (swt) And remember these shackles are of our own making when we refuse to believe, when we refuse to follow this guidance of Allah (swt).

036.008 إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا فِي أَعْنَاقِهِمْ أَغْلالا فَهِيَ إِلَى الأذْقَانِ فَهُمْ مُقْمَحُونَ

‘inaa ja’alnaa fe a’naaqihim aghlaalan fa- hiya ‘ilaa al- adhqaani fahum muqmahoon

We have put yokes round their necks right up to their chins so that their heads are forced up (and they cannot see)

036.009 وَجَعَلْنَا مِنْ بَيْنِ أَيْدِيهِمْ سَدًّا وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ سَدًّا فَأَغْشَيْنَاهُمْ فَهُمْ لا يُبْصِرُونَ

wa- ja’alnaa min bayna aydehim saddan wa- min khalfihim saddan fa- aghshaynaahum fahum laa yubsiroon

And We have put a bar in front of them and a bar behind them and further We have enshrouded them in veils; so that they cannot see

And this leads further into a kind of spiritual stagnation. We are unable to go back and unable to go forward. All guidance becomes lost to us and it is as if we are blinded by the veils of dark and light that we have imposed upon ourselves.

036.010 وَسَوَاءٌ عَلَيْهِمْ أَأَنْذَرْتَهُمْ أَمْ لَمْ تُنْذِرْهُمْ لا يُؤْمِنُونَ

wa- sawaa’ ‘alayhim andhartahum ‘am lam tundhirhum laa yu’minoon

The same is it to them whether thou admonish them or thou do not admonish them: they will not believe.

And when this ultimate state of spiritual impoverishments comes. When the sinner cannot advance or retreat and when all light and guidance is seemingly cut off, what then? They are deaf and blind to guidance, where can the go from here? What difference does it make if we advise them or not? They do not listen and seemingly cannot alter their state.

036.011 إِنَّمَا تُنْذِرُ مَنِ اتَّبَعَ الذِّكْرَ وَخَشِيَ الرَّحْمَنَ بِالْغَيْبِ فَبَشِّرْهُ بِمَغْفِرَةٍ وَأَجْرٍ كَرِيمٍ

‘innamaa tundhir man ittaba’a adhdhikr wa- khashiya ar- rah.maan bi- al- ghayb fa- bashshirhu bi- maghfirah wa- ‘ajr karem

You can only admonish: those who follow the reminders and fear the Most Gracious unseen: give them therefore good tidings of Forgiveness and a Reward most generous

As for those who are concerned, who have obstinately delivered themselves to evil, The preaching of Allah’s message has no appeal because their own will, their own nafs shuts them out. But there are others who are anxious to hear Allah’s message and receive Allah’s grace. They love Allah and fear to offend against his holy law and their fear is not merely superficial but deep seated for while they do not yet see Allah nor do other people see them they have the same sense of Allah’s presence as if they saw him and their religion is not a mere pose to be seen of men. To such persons the message of Allah comes as good news because it shows them the way of forgiveness for anything wrong in their past and it gives them the promise of a full reward in the future arising out of Allah’s unbounded bounty.

036.011 إِنَّمَا تُنْذِرُ مَنِ اتَّبَعَ الذِّكْرَ وَخَشِيَ الرَّحْمَنَ بِالْغَيْبِ فَبَشِّرْهُ بِمَغْفِرَةٍ وَأَجْرٍ كَرِيمٍ

‘inna nah.nu, nuhye al- mawtaa wa- naktub maa qaddamo wa- ‘aathaarhum wa- kull shay’ah.saynaahu fe ‘imaam muben

It is true! We shall raise up the dead and We record that which they sent before and that which they leave behind and of all things have We have made a clear accounting

Clearly what we do here in this life is recorded and kept as a record to be read back to us at the time of our resurrection. Allah (SWT) knows all in our hearts and in our souls. Is this not a clear message for us? For those who believe and have Taqwa for Allah (SWT) it is a message of hope and mercy and kindness because our obedience is rewarded many times.

Part 2

Narrated Anas ibn Malik

Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said, “Everything has a heart, and the heart of the Qur’an is Ya-Sin. Allah will record anyone who recites Ya-Sin as having recited the Qur’an ten times.”

Narrated AbuHurayrah

Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said, “A thousand years before creating the heavens and the Earth, Allah recited Ta-Ha and Ya-Sin, and when the angels heard the recitation they said, ‘Happy are the people to whom this comes down, happy are the minds which carry this, and happy are the tongues which utter this.”

Narrated Ata’ ibn AbuRabah

Ata’ has been told that Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said, “If anyone recites Ya-Sin at the beginning of the day, his wants will be supplied.”

What do these ahadith point to? How we follow the guidance of allah (swt) affects us just as much in this life right here right now.

In our hearts, if we read Ya Sin is equal to reading Quran ten times. If we look in our own hearts and find love and obedience to Allah (SWT) it is like finding and obeying him with our whole bodies ten times. This is the opposite of having a chain around our neck! It is that we are open to Allah (swt) and open to his guidance and compassion and mercy.

And rasul allah (saw) tells us that our we and our minds and our tongues will be happy when we utter this just as Allah (swt) recited it to the angels long before we were here on earth.

And our recitation of it causes our wants to be supplied. What else could possibly happen, when our hearts are open to Allah (swt) we know we are receiving clear guidance, our whole body rejoices and our tongues are happy. In this state how could we ever NOT receive what we need from Allah (swt) even to knowing that the record that will be read about us on that final day will show that we had Taqwa for Allah (SWT) and that we loved rasul allsh (saw) and followed his sunnah.

Oh Allah, Let us rejoice in knowing this clear guidance, this light in our lives, let us not be among those whose necks and hearts are stiffened up and who know not Allah (swt) and are not in your grace and mercy. Let us be among those that understand and know and believe, even when you are hidden from us. And let us be among those that worship for your sake and not for the sake of being seen in our religion.

For all this we pray, ameen.