Al-Qalb

"Allah has full knowledge of man's heart, for the heart in relation to Allah is like the tongue in relation to mortals."

-imam al ghazali - book 12 ihya ulum ad din

"Verily there are signs for those who reflect!"

"In the fast paced consumer world we live in, we hardly get time to stop, time to think about what is really happening around us, what is happening to us. Be one who reflects. Be one who contemplates. Think. Smile. Appreciate...and most importantly thank The Magnificent, The Giver, The Generous, Our Lord."

Say, “Are the ones who are blind in respect of the mind equal to those who are endowed with mental perception and understanding? Will you not then THINK & REFLECT?” [6:50]

And it is He who spread out the earth, and set thereon mountains standing firm and (flowing) rivers: and fruit of every kind He made in pairs, two and two: He draweth the night as a veil o'er the Day. Behold, verily in these things there are Ayaat [proofs, evidences, lessons, signs, etc.] for those who THINK & REFLECT! [13:3]

We have sent down unto thee the Message; that you may explain clearly to men what is sent for them, and that they may THINK & REFLECT! [16:44]

Lifelong bitterness vs. Lifelong sweetness

"The pleasure of sinning is short. Then, the consequences are very dreadful. The Muslim Scholars say, “A sin will breed another sin”. When you perpetrate a sin, what happens? The pleasure and delight precedes the sin and the bitterness comes after. Whereas the doing of the good deed, the bitterness/ hardship precedes and the pleasure comes after. When you want to commit a something shameful, something haram, a misdeed, you are thinking only of the pleasure, the fun you will have. The moment you finish such a horrible act, you feel bad about yourself, you hate yourself, you might cry. You feel your chest tighten like someone is squeezing your chest. That is the bitterness you will have until you enter the grave. The sweetness which you think of is limited and short, while the bitterness will remain the rest of your life. The opposite is true of good deeds. It is difficult at first, you feel bitterness only. Something against the nafs. But, for example, if you get up for fajr, despite the cold, difficulty in leaving the bed and making wudu, if you do so, what do you feel after the Salah? Sweetness, goodness, lightness. In Tarawih, with the long rakah, you feel tired, you feel hardship. But afterwords, you feel sweetness. The sweetness comes after doing the good deed. The opposite is true with sin, whereby the bitterness follows, and lasts forever."

As explained by Dr Salem Al Amry -"The Satanic Trap Talk"

Fear, Hope, Love

Abu Bakr al Siddiq (ra) said, "Worshippers are of three groups, each group has three signs by which it is known- a group who worship Allah The Exalted out of fear, a group who worship Allah out of hope and a group who worship Allah out of love.

For the first group, there are three signs; they disparage themselves, they deem their righteous deeds to be few, they deem their evil deeds to be plenty.

For the second group, there are three signs; they are an example to others in all situations, they are the most generous of all people in spending their wealth, and they have the best of opinions amongst creatures regarding Allah.

For the third group, there are three signs; they give away what they love most and do not care as long as their Lord is pleased with them, they do that which will displease their nafs and please their Lord, and they are with their Lord in every situation, whether it be in following His commandments or avoiding His prohibitions."

- as cited in "Preparing for the Day of Judgement" - Imam ibn Hajar al Asqalani


[ on a side, yet smile rendering note, my older brother, May Allah grant him the best of both worlds, gifted me this book. In books which he gifts me, he always writes something on the first page, usually a dua. In the front of this book, with words of sincerity, one finds:

"This book is a gem. Gems are looked after and seen as precious for their value. When disheartened, a look at the beautiful raises the spirit. Allah is Beautiful and Loves beauty."

May Allah allow us all to realise the worth of the pearls of the deen, and be among this who are granted the opportunity to look at beauty, and associate it with The Truth, ameen!! ]

May the One for whom you love me, Love you

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (PBUH) said, "A man set out to visit a brother (in Faith) in another town and Allah sent an angel on his way. When the man met the angel, the latter asked him, "Where do you intend to go?'' He said, "I intend to visit my brother in this town.'' The angel said, "Have you done any favour to him?'' He said, "No, I have no desire except to visit him because I love him for the sake of Allah, the Exalted, and Glorious.'' Thereupon the angel said, "I am a messenger to you from Allah (to inform you) that Allah loves you as you love him (for His sake)" [Muslim].

Commentary: This Hadith points out the following:

1. The great merit of visiting Muslims for Allah's sake.

2. The bond of brotherhood in Islam is much stronger than the bonds of blood relationship and worldly interests and, therefore, comes before them in preference.

3. Whoever loves someone for Allah's sake, Allah will love him in a manner that suits His Majesty.

- Riyadh as Saliheen