Best Dua for Children and Spouse

And those who pray, "Our Lord! Grant unto us wives and offspring who will be the comfort of our eyes, and give us (the grace) to lead the righteous." Those are the ones who will be rewarded with the highest place in heaven, because of their patient constancy: therein shall they be met with salutations and peace, Dwelling therein;- how beautiful an abode and place of rest!

[Surat Al-Furqan(25) - Ayahs 74-76]

Perpetual Charity

From Aboo Hurairah (radiyallaahi 'anhu), who said: Allaah's Messenger (salallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam), said:

"Among the deeds and virtues whose reward will reach the Believer after his death are: (1) knowledge that he taught and disseminated; (2) a righteous son whom he left behind; (3) a written copy of the Qur`aan which he left as a legacy; (4) or a mosque that he built; (5) or a house that he built for the passing traveller; (6) or a canal which he dug and caused to flow; (7) or charity which he gave from his property whilst he was alive and well, for which he will continue to receive reward after his death."

[Reported by Ibn Maajah (no.242), Ibn Khuzaymah (4/121/2490), and al-Bayhaqee in Shu`abul-Eemaan (3/274/3448). Declared 'hasan' by Shaikh al-Albaanee in Saheehut- Targheeb wat-Tarheeb (no.77).]

Falling Away

Coming upon a tree with withered leaves, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) struck it with his staff, and the leaves were scattered. He then said: (Saying) 'Praise be to God; Glory be to God; There is no god but God; and God is most great,' causes a person's sins to fall away just as the leaves of that tree were falling."

[Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 737]

Six Rights of Every Muslim

Abu Hurayrah (radhiyallaahu 'anhu) narrated that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said, 

"The rights of the Muslim upon the Muslim are six." It was said, "And what are they Oh Messenger of Allaah?" He replied, "(1)When you meet him, give him the greeting of peace, (2)When he invites you, respond to his invitation, (3)When he seeks your advice, advise him, (4)When he sneezes and praises Allaah, supplicate for mercy upon him, (5)When he becomes ills, visit him, and (6)When he dies follow him (i.e. his funeral)."

[Muslim]

Praying Fajr and Isha Prayers

Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah, (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, 

"And if they only knew what was in the prayers of 'Isha' and Subh [Fajr], they would come to them even if they had to crawl."

[Al-Bukhari & Muslim]

`Uthman bin `Affan (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) saying, 

"One who performs `Isha' prayer in congregation, is as if he has performed Salat for half of the night. And one who performs the Fajr prayer in congregation, is as if he has performed Salat the whole night.''

[Muslim]

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, 

"No Salat is more burdensome to the hypocrites than the Fajr (dawn) prayer and the `Isha' (night) prayer; and if they knew their merits, they would come to them even if they had to crawl to do so.''

[Al-Bukhari & Muslim]

Your True Friend

On the authority of An-Nu'maan Ibn Basheer (may Allaah be pleased with him), the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said:

"There is no male or female slave (of Allaah) except that he/she has for him/herself three friends. A friend that says: I am with you, take what you want and leave what you want. That is his/her wealth. A friend that says: I am with you, when you arrive to the door of the King I will leave you. That is his/her servant(s) and family. A friend that says: I am with you whenever you enter and whenever you leave. That is his/her actions."

[At-Tabaraani, Authenticated by Al-Albaani]

Three White Days for the month of Thul-Qa'dah

Assalaamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu,

Just a Reminder, InshaAllah the three white days (13, 14, and 15) for the month of Thul-Qa'dah 1432 will be TOMORROW Tuesday, October 11th - Thursday, October 13th. Try and fast them if you can. 

Jareer ibn ‘Abdullaah (rAa) narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said: “Fasting three days of each month is fasting for a lifetime, and ayaam al-beed are the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth." [Al-Nasaa'i; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheel al-Targheeb]

Qatada ibn Milhan said, "The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) used to command us to fast the white days: the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth." [Abu Dawud]

Ibn 'Abbas said, "The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) did not fail to fast the white days either when at home or on a journey." [an-Nasa'i]

*****There is a yahoo group titled 'ThreeWhiteDays' that will send email reminders of when these days will be observed for each month.

fi'imanilLah,
Wafā' وفاء Manasrah

Allah's straight path

'Abdullaah ibn Mas'ood radiallaahu 'anhu said: 

The Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam drew a line for us and said. "This is Allaah's Straight Path." Then he drew lines to its right and left and then said. "These ore other paths. Upon every one of them there is a devil calling towards it." Then he recited: "Indeed this is My Straight Path, so follow it, and do not follow other paths that will separate you from His Path." [Soorah al-An'aam 6:153]

[Hasan: Related by Ahmad (1/435) and an-Nasaa'ee (7/49). It was authenticated by al-Albaanee in Dhilaalul-Jannah fee Takhreejis-Sunnah (no.16)]

Three White Days for the Month of Shawwaal - Bonus Deeds!

Assalaamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu,

Just a Reminder, InshaAllah the three white days (13, 14, and 15) for the month of Shawwaal 1432 will be from this Sunday, September 11th - Tuesday, September 13th. Try and fast them if you can.

Prophet (S) said, "Whoever fasts the month of Ramadan and then follows it by fasting six days during the month of Shawwaal will be rewarded as if he had fasted the entire year." [Related by Muslim, at-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, Abu Dawood and Al-Nasaa'ee]

Jareer ibn ‘Abdullaah (rAa) narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said: “Fasting three days of each month is fasting for a lifetime, and ayaam al-beed are the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth." [Al-Nasaa'i; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheel al-Targheeb]

Qatada ibn Milhan said, "The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) used to command us to fast the white days: the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth." [Abu Dawud]

Ibn 'Abbas said, "The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) did not fail to fast the white days either when at home or on a journey." [an-Nasa'i]

*****There is a yahoo group titled 'ThreeWhiteDays' that will send email reminders of when these days will be observed for each month.

fi'imanilLah,
Wafā' وفاء Manasrah

upon going out of your home

Whoever says - upon going out of his home: 

"Bismillaah, tawakkaltu 'alaa 'allaah, laa hawla wa laa quwwata 'illaa bil-laahi ta'aala"
I put my trust in Allah, there is neither might nor strength, except by Allah, the Most High

it is said to him:

You have been sufficed, protected, and guided, and the shaytan would move aside from him, then say to another shaytan: What access do you have to a man that has been guided, sufficed, and protected?

[Reported by Abu dawood, An-Nisã’ee , and At-Tirmithi and he said it was comely-sound. Al-Albãni included this hadeeth in The Authentic of Good Sayings as #44.]

Reward equal to that of freeing four precious slaves

"He who utters ten times: 

'La ilaha illallahu, wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahulmulku wa lahulhamdu, wa Huwa 'ala kulli sha'in Qadir'

There is none worth of worship except Allah. He is One and He has no partner with Him. His is the sovereignity and His is the praise, and He is Omnipotent.

he will have a reward equal to that for freeing four slaves from the progeny of Prophet Ismail."

[narrated Bukhari and Muslim]

Catch the First Row

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, 

"If people came to know the blessing of calling Adhan and the standing in the first row, they could do nothing but would draw lots to secure these privileges.''

[narrated Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

[Source: Imam Al-Nawawi's Riyad-us-Saliheen. Chapter 194 - The Excellence of Standing in the First Row]

These 2 verses will be sufficient for you

The Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) said: "Who ever recites the last two Ayaat from Soorah al-Baqarah at night, then those two verses will be sufficient for him."

Al-Baqarah (2):285
آمَنَ الرَّسُولُ بِمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْهِ مِن رَّبِّهِ وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ كُلٌّ آمَنَ بِاللّهِ وَمَلآئِكَتِهِ وَكُتُبِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ لاَ نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِّن رُّسُلِهِ وَقَالُواْ سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا غُفْرَانَكَ رَبَّنَا وَإِلَيْكَ الْمَصِيرُ
Amana alrrasoolu bima onzila ilayhi min rabbihi waalmuminoona kullun amana biAllahi wamalaikatihi wakutubihi warusulihi la nufarriqu bayna ahadin min rusulihi waqaloo samiAAna waataAAna ghufranaka rabbana wailayka almaseeru
The Messenger (Muhammad ) believes in what has been sent down to him from his Lord, and (so do) the believers. Each one believes in Allâh, His Angels, His Books, and His Messengers. They say, "We make no distinction between one another of His Messengers" - and they say, "We hear, and we obey. (We seek) Your Forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the return (of all)." (Al-Baqarah 2:285)

Al-Baqarah (2):286
لاَ يُكَلِّفُ اللّهُ نَفْسًا إِلاَّ وُسْعَهَا لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَعَلَيْهَا مَا اكْتَسَبَتْ رَبَّنَا لاَ تُؤَاخِذْنَا إِن نَّسِينَا أَوْ أَخْطَأْنَا رَبَّنَا وَلاَ تَحْمِلْ عَلَيْنَا إِصْرًا كَمَا حَمَلْتَهُ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِنَا رَبَّنَا وَلاَ تُحَمِّلْنَا مَا لاَ طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِ وَاعْفُ عَنَّا وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَارْحَمْنَا أَنتَ مَوْلاَنَا فَانصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ
La yukallifu Allahu nafsan illa wusAAaha laha ma kasabat waAAalayha ma iktasabat rabbana la tuakhithna in naseena aw akhtana rabbana wala tahmil AAalayna isran kama hamaltahu AAala allatheena min qablina rabbana wala tuhammilna ma la taqata lana bihi waoAAfu AAanna waighfir lana wairhamna anta mawlana faonsurna AAala alqawmi alkafireena
Allâh burdens not a person beyond his scope. He gets reward for that (good) which he has earned, and he is punished for that (evil) which he has earned. "Our Lord! Punish us not if we forget or fall into error, our Lord! Lay not on us a burden like that which You did lay on those before us (Jews and Christians); our Lord! Put not on us a burden greater than we have strength to bear. Pardon us and grant us Forgiveness. Have mercy on us. You are our Maulâ (Patron, Suppor-ter and Protector, etc.) and give us victory over the disbelieving people." (Al-Baqarah 2:286)

[Source : http://greatrewards.wordpress.com]

Three White Days for the Month of Rajab

Assalaamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu,

Just a Reminder, InshaAllah the three white days (13, 14, and 15) for the month of Rajab 1432 will be Wednesday, June 15th - Friday, June 17th. Try and fast them if you can. 

Jareer ibn ‘Abdullaah (rAa) narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said: “Fasting three days of each month is fasting for a lifetime, and ayaam al-beed are the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth." [Al-Nasaa'i; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheel al-Targheeb]

Qatada ibn Milhan said, "The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) used to command us to fast thewhite days: the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth." [Abu Dawud]

Ibn 'Abbas said, "The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) did not fail to fast the white days either when at home or on a journey." [an-Nasa'i]

*****There is a yahoo group titled 'ThreeWhiteDays' that will send email reminders of when these days will be observed for each month.

fi'imanilLah,
Wafā' وفاء Manasrah

Three White Days for the Month of Jumad Al-Ukhraa

Assalaamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu,

Just a Reminder, InshaAllah the three white days (13, 14, and 15) for the month of Jumad Al-Ukhraa 1432 will be tomorrow, Monday, May 16th - Wednesday, May 18th. Try and fast them if you can. 

Jareer ibn ‘Abdullaah (rAa) narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said: “Fasting threedays of each month is fasting for a lifetime, and ayaam al-beed are the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth." [Al-Nasaa'i; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheel al-Targheeb]

Qatada ibn Milhan said, "The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) used to command us to fast the white days: the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth." [Abu Dawud]

Ibn 'Abbas said, "The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) did not fail to fast the white dayseither when at home or on a journey." [an-Nasa'i]

*****There is a yahoo group titled 'ThreeWhiteDays' that will send email reminders of when these days will be observed for each month.

fi'imanilLah,
Wafā' وفاء Manasrah

Guide to a Better Life

Points on how to improve your life

 

Personality

1. Don't  compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all  about.

2. Don't have negative thoughts of things you cannot control. Instead  invest your energy in the positive present moment

3. Don't over do; keep  your limits

4. Don't take yourself so seriously; no one else does

5.  Don't waste your precious energy on gossip

6. Dream more while you are awake   

7. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need..

8.  Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner of his/her mistakes of the  past. That will ruin your present happiness.

9. Life is too short to waste  time hating anyone. Don't hate others.

10. Make peace with your past so it  won't spoil the present

11. No one is in charge of your happiness except you 

12. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn.

13. Smile and  laugh more

14. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to  disagree.

Community

15. Call your  family often

16. Each day give something good to others

17. Forgive  everyone for everything

18. Spend time with people over the age of 70 &  under the age of 6

19. Try to make at least three people smile each day 

20. What other people think of you is none of your business

21. Your job  will not take care of you when you are sick. Your family and friends will. Stay  in touch.

 

Life

22. Put GOD first in anything and everything that you think, say and do.

23. GOD heals everything

24. Do the right things

25. However good or bad a situation is, it will change

26. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up  and show up

27. The best is yet to come

28. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful

29. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it

30. If you know GOD you  will always be happy. So, be happy.

31. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.

[Author Background: Dr. Randy Pausch was a Carnegie Mellon University professor and was in his forties. He died of pancreatic cancer in 2008, but wrote a book ‘The last lecture”, one of the bestsellers in 2007. In a letter to his wife Jai and  his children, Dylan, Logan , and Chloe, he wrote this beautiful  "guide to a better life" for them  to follow.]

Three White Days for the Month of Rabi' Al-Thaani

Assalaamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu,

Just a Reminder, InshaAllah the three white days (13, 14, and 15) for the month of Rabi' Al-Thaani 1432 will be tomorrow, Friday, March 18th - Sunday, March 20th. Try and fast them if you can.

Jareer ibn ‘Abdullaah (rAa) narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said: “Fasting three days of each month is fasting for a lifetime, and ayaam al-beed are the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth." [Al-Nasaa'i; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheel al-Targheeb]

Qatada ibn Milhan said, "The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) used to command us to fast the white days: the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth." [Abu Dawud]

Ibn 'Abbas said, "The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) did not fail to fast the white days either when at home or on a journey." [an-Nasa'i]

*****There is a yahoo group titled 'ThreeWhiteDays' that will send email reminders of when these days will be observed for each month.

fi'imanilLah,
Wafā' وفاء Manasrah

Email the President

Assalaamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu,

During these critical and horrific situations in the Middle East, it is our duty to act! Start with Libya, and continue with all the rest of the countries. 

Please send an email to the President urging him to immediately stop the massacre of the innocent people of Libya.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact

If you choose, you may use the following message:

Dear President Obama,

The current situation in Libya is unacceptable and violates human rights. I urge you to immediately intercede and stop the massacre of the innocent people of Libya and ask Gaddafi to step down.

Please feel free to change the wording and request assistance for all countries suffering from their leaders and government.

Best Manners are 10

From Al-Harmaas ibn Habeeb, who narrarated from his father, who narrarated from his grandfather, that he heard 'Aaishah (radhiyallahu 'anhaa) saying:

"The best manners are ten: 

1. Truthful speech
2. sincerity and courage in obedience to Allah
3. giving the one who asks
4. recompensing the worker [employee]
5. keeping the ties of kinship
6. giving back [being trustworthy] with that which you are entrusted upon
7. honesty and good treatment of the neighbor
8. honesty and good treatment of the spouse
9. honouring the guests
and the top of all, the [best manners] is
10. hayaa [shyness & modesty]."

[Taken from The Excellence of Aaishah The Mother of The Believers pg 47. Reference in Arabic (Makaarim-al-Akhlaaq of Ibn Abee Dunya(35).]

Differences of Opinion

Sufyan At-Thawri was reported to have said "If you see a man doing something over which there is difference of opinion among scholars, and which you believe to be forbidden, you should not forbid him from doing it."

Content Ever After

By Dr. Imad Bayoun

Those involved in family counseling (or family problems themselves) notice some recurrent complains:  “She doesn’t like to …”, “he doesn’t like to talk”, “he doesn’t spend enough time in…” 

While some of the problems are real, sometimes these complains can be translated as “she’s not like Sr. X”, “he doesn’t treat me the way Br. Y  treats his wife”, “she doesn’t look like Sr. Super-Z”, and so on.

And one thing is certain: comparisons are the biggest killers of happiness.  One sure way to destroy your happiness is by comparing with others, who seem to have more.  Allah (S) say in Surat Taha, verse 131:

ولا تمدن عينيك الى ما متعنا به ازواجا منهم

And strain not your eyes in longing for the things We have given for enjoyment to various groups of them

What others have, always seems more appealing.  While what we have may be satisfactory, once we start comparing, we will always find someone who has it “better.”  Then what we have is not even acceptable anymore.  It becomes bad, even terrible, in comparison. We may even stop seeing the good things we have over other people, focusing on the “better” THEY have and failing to see the “better” that WE have.

We always compare because we’re always looking for the ideal in everything; in this case, the ideal spouse, the soul-super-mate (SSM).  And this is strengthened by over-exposure to so many ideal love stories and cute romantic comedies in books and movies. They show us that everyone, after some adventures, ends up finding his SSM and living happily ever after.  Thus, we reach a point where we think these ideals are indeed the norm, and anything short of that is not acceptable.  We think “the one, for me, for me, formidable” (as narrated by Aznavour), is somewhere out there, waiting for me.  She/he actually exists, and is easy to find.  Nothing less will be acceptable.

Then every time we meet someone (even if the Halal way), we hope he/she is the One.  So we project all of our heavy dreams, baggage and furniture over the poor person.  We expect them to be that which they are not.  Then we get married and discover the true person. We divorce. Then we repeat the same cycle, living miserably ever after.

While some people actually find their SSM, most people don’t (including the actors in those movies), yet still can live happily.  Omar Al-Farooq (R) said: Love is not the only component for building successful families (ليس بالحب وحدة تبنى البيوت).  Happiness can still be achieved with someone short of the ideal spouse.  The key is to accept what one has.  A beautiful Arabic proverb says: Contentment is a treasure that never perishes (القناعة كنز لا يفنى).  If a person is content with a difficult situation, he will be happy; if he’s discontent with a good situation, he will never be happy.

Here are a few things that could help:

1. Stop watching those romantic comedies.  Most of those stories are more ‘fiction’ than Avatar.

2. Remember, you’re not perfect yourself, even if your mother thinks you are.

3. Get to know your wife/husband as they are, not as you wish for them to be.  Each person has his/her individuality, and if you accept them as they are, you may find someone very beautiful.  Put an effort to discover your other half, without any prior judgment.  But essential for that, is…

4. ... not to criticize them, and to make them feel uncomfortable.  When people feel they’re constantly monitored and evaluated, they act very sloppy and awkward, and could never blossom, and show their beauty.

5. Do not define her by her shortcomings.  In a Hadeeth narrated by Abu Hurairah in Sahih Muslim, our Prophet (S) said:

لا يفرك مؤمن مؤمنة إن كره منها خلقا رضي منها آخر

“A believing man would never feel repulsed by his believing wife; if finds something about her that he dislikes, he will always find something else about her that satisfies him.”

6. Keep in mind that Mr/Mrs-Super-Perfect DOES NOT exist.  But then what about Khadija (R), she was perfect and real, wasn’t she?  Yes, she was real, for someone like the Prophet (S).  It won’t be fair to hold that perfect woman as the minimumacceptable standard, that unless my wife is like her, she wouldn’t good enough.  Khadijah was indeed the Maximum, the best a woman can be.  The Prophet (S) said four women attained perfection.  Only Khadijah, among them was married to a prophet.  In a Hadeeth narrated in the Musnad, the Prophet (S) said Allah sent 124,000 Prophets, yet only one of the perfect women was married to a prophet.  So 123,999 prophets had less-than-perfect wives.  Some, like the great Prophets Nuh and Lut (S), even had bad wives.  Something to think about.

7. Have Taqwa of Allah in whatever you do, and keep in mind His reward.  Omar (R) said: We found the joy of our life in the patience (Sabr).

8. And just to make it easier on others, if you are blessed with a great husband/wife, then a million Al-Hamdulillah.  Just don’t make it difficult on the others, by continuously telling them how great, perfect, wonderful and ideal your wife/husband is.

9. Finally, if I still feel a compulsion to compare, then I should compare with those that have less.  The Prophet (S) said to compare with those that have less, "it makes it easier for you to appriciate the blessings of your Lord."

the benefit of being together

During the Ice Age many animals died because of the cold. Seeing this situation, the porcupines decided to group together, so they wrapped up well and protected one another.

But they hurt one another with their thorns, and so then they decided to stay apart from one another.

They started to freeze to death again.
So they had to make a choice: either they vanished from the face of the earth or they accepted their neighbor’s thorns.

They wisely decided to stay together again. They learned to live with the small wounds that a very close relationship could cause, because the most important thing was the warmth given by the other.

And in the end they survived.


[The Porcupines & Solidarity. Paulo Coelho's Blog.]

Pray to Allah(swt)

Anas ibn Malik (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said, 

"If anyone prays to Allah for Paradise three times, then Paradise prays : 'O Allah admit him to Paradise'. And if anyone seeks deliverance from Hell three times, then Hell prays: 'O Allah, deliver him from the Fire'.”

[Ibn e Majah 4340, Nisai 5531, Ahmed 13172]

the path to Bliss; the path to Misery

"So he who gives in charity and fears Allah, And in all sincerity testifies to the best, We will indeed make smooth for him the path to Bliss. But he who is a greedy miser and thinks himself self-sufficient, And gives the lie to the best, We will indeed make smooth for him the path to Misery" [Surat Al-Lail (The Night), #12: Ayahs 5-10]

Description of Paradise

Ibn al-Qayyim said, in regards to the description of the Paradise and the delights that it contains:

"And if you ask about its ground and its soil, then it is of musk and saffron.

And if you ask about its roof, then it is the Throne of the Most Merciful.

And if you ask about its rocks, then they are pearls and jewels.

And if you ask about its buildings, then they are made of bricks of gold and silver.

And if you ask about its trees, then it does not contain a single tree except that its trunk is made of gold and silver.

And if you ask about its fruits, then they are softer than butter and sweeter than honey.

And if you ask about its leaves, then they are softer than the softest cloth.

And if you ask about its rivers, then there are rivers of milk who's taste does not change, and rivers of wine that is delicious to those who drink it, and rivers of honey that is pure, and rivers of water that is fresh.

And if you ask about their food, then it is fruits from whatever they will choose, and the meat of whatever birds they desire.

And if you ask about their drink, then it is Tasneem, ginger, and Kaafoor.

And if you ask about their drinking cups, then they are crystal-clear and made of gold and silver.

And if you ask about its shade, then a fast rider would ride in the shade of one of its trees for a hundred years and not escape it.

And if you ask about its vastness, then the lowest of its people would have within his kingdom and walls and palaces and gardens the distance that would be travelled in a thousand years.

And if you ask about its tents and encampments, then one tent is like a concealed pearl that is sixty miles long.

And if you ask about its towers, then they are rooms above rooms in buildings that have rivers running underneath them.

And if you ask about how far it reaches into the sky, then look at the shining star that is visible, as well as those that are far in the heavens that the eyesight cannot possibly reach.

And if you ask about the clothing of its inhabitants, then they are of silk and gold.

And if you ask about its beds, then its blankets are of the finest silk laid out in the highest of its levels.

And if you ask about the faces of its inhabitants and their beauty, then they are like the image of the Moon.

And if you ask about their age, then they are young ones of 33 years in the image of Adam, the father of humanity.

And if you ask about what they will be hearing, then it is the singing of their wives from among the Hoor al-'Ayn, and better than that are the voices of the Angels and the Prophets, and better than that is the Speech of the Lord of the Worlds.

And if you ask about their servants, then they are young boys of everlasting youth who resemble scattered pearls.

And if you ask about their brides and wives, then they are young and full-breasted and have had the liquid of youth flow through their limbs; the Sun runs along the beauty of her face if she shows it, light shines from between her teeth if she smiles; if you meet her love, then say whatever you want regarding the joining of two lights; he sees his face in the roundness of her cheek as if he is looking into a polished mirror, and he sees the brightness from behind her muscles and bones; if she were to be unleashed upon the World, she would fill what is between the Heavens and the Earth with a beautiful wind, and the mouths of the creation would glorifiy, praise, and exclaim greatness, and everything between the East and the West would be adorned for her, and every eye would be shut from everthing but her, and the light of the Sun would be outshone just as the light of the Sun outshines the light of the stars, and everyone on the face of the Earth would believe in the Ever-Living, the One who Sustains and Protects all the exists.

And the covering on her head is better than the World and all that is in it, and she does not increase with age except in beauty; free from an umbilical cord, childbirth and menses, and pure of mucous, saliva, urine and other filthy things; her youth never fades, her clothing is never worn out, no garment can be created that matches her beauty, and no one who is with her can ever become bored; her attention is restricted to her husband, so she desires none but him, just as his attention is restricted to her so she is the sole object of his desire, and he is with her in utmost safety and security, as none has touched her before of either humans or Jinn.

And if you ask about the Day of Increase (in reward) and the visit of the all-Mighty, all-Wise, and the sight of His Face - free from any resemblance or likeness to anything - as you see the Sun in the middle of the day and the full Moon on a cloudless night, then listen on the day that the caller will call: 'O People of Paradise! Your Lord - Blessed and Exalted - requests you to visit Him, so come to visit Him!' So they will say: 'We hear and obey!'

Until, when they finally reach the wide valley where they will all meet - and none of them will turn down the request of the caller - the Lord - Blessed and Exalted - will order His Chair to be brought there. Then, pulpits of light will emerge, as well as pulpits of pearls, gemstone, gold, and silver. The lowest of them in rank will sit on sheets of musk, and will not see what those who are on the chairs above them are given. When they are comfortable where they are sitting and are secure in their places, and the caller calls: 'O People of Paradise! You have an appointment with Allaah in which He wishes to reward you!' So they will say: 'And what is that reward? Has He not already made our faces bright, made our scales heavy, entered us into Paradise, and pushed us away from the Fire?'

And when they are like that, all of a sudden a light shines that encompasses all of Paradise. So, they raise their heads, and, behold: the Compeller - Exalted is He, and Holy are His Names - has come to them from above them and majestified them and said: 'O People of Paradise! Peace be upon you!' So, this greeting will not be responded to with anything better than: 'O Allaah! You are Peace, and from You is Peace! Blessed are You, O possessor of Majesty and Honor!' So the Lord - Blessed and Exalted - will laugh to them and say: 'O People of Paradise! Where are those who used to obey Me without having ever seen Me? This is the Day of Increase!'

So, they will all give the same response: 'We are pleased, so be pleased with us!' So, He will say: 'O People of Paradise! If I were not pleased with you, I would not have made you inhabitants of My Paradise! So, ask of Me!' So, they will all give the same response: 'Show us your Face so that we may look at it!' So, the Lord - Mighty and Majestic - will remove his covering and will majestify them and will cover them with His Light, which, if Allaah - the Exalted - had not Willed not to burn them, would have burned them.

And there will not remain a single person in this gathering except that his Lord - the Exalted - will speak to him and say: 'Do you remember the day that you did this and that?' and He will remind him of some of his bad deeds in the Worldy life, so he will say: 'O Lord! Will you not forgive me?' So, He will say: 'Of course! You have not reached this position of yours (in Paradise) except by my forgiveness.'

So, how sweet is this speech to the ears, and how cooled are the righteous eyes by the glance at His Noble Face in the Afterlife...

{Some faces that Day will be shining and radiant, looking at their Lord...} (al-Qiyaamah:22-3)

[Description of Paradise.Taken from Kalamullah.]

Three White Days for Safar

Assalaamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu,

InshaAllah the three white days (13, 14, and 15) for the month of Safar will be from this Monday, January 17th - Wednesday, January 19th. 

The Prophet (S) said, "The best fasting after Ramadan is the month of Muharram, and the best prayer after the obligatory prayer is the prayer at night." [Muslim]. Therefore, in addition to fasting the three white days, try and fast as many other days as you can :)

Jareer ibn ‘Abdullaah (rAa) narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said: “Fasting three days of each month is fasting for a lifetime, and ayaam al-beed are the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth." [Al-Nasaa'i; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheel al-Targheeb]

Qatada ibn Milhan said, "The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) used to command us to fast the white days: the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth." [Abu Dawud]

Ibn 'Abbas said, "The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) did not fail to fast the white days either when at home or on a journey." [an-Nasa'i]

*****There is a yahoo group titled 'ThreeWhiteDays' that will send email reminders of when these days will be observed for each month.

fi'imanilLah,

Wafā' وفاء Manasrah