Excellence of Simple Living and Being Content with Little 

“…The reward of Allah (in the Hereafter) is better for those who believe and do righteous good deeds’.” [Surah Al-Qasas (The Stories) 28:80] 

“Then, on that Day, you shall be asked about the delights (you indulged in, in this world)!” [Surah At-Taqathur (The Piling Up) 102:8] 

“Whoever desires the quick-passing (transitory enjoyment of this world), We readily grant him what We will for whom We like. Then, afterwards, We have appointed for him Hell; he will burn therein disgraced and rejected (far away from Allah’s Mercy).” [Surah Al-Isra (The Night Journey) 17:18]

Aishah (RA) reported: The family of Muhammad (SAW) never ate to the fill the bread of barley for two successive days until he died [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

 Abu Hurairah (RA) reported: Messenger of Allah (SAW) used to supplicate: “O Allah, make the provisions of family of Muhammad (SAW) bare subsistence.” [Al Bukhari and Muslim] 

COMMENTARY:

These Hadiths tells us about the extreme piety, contentment and simplicity of the Prophet (SAW). This mode of his life continued to his last days when he had started storing provision for one year for the maintenance of his wives. But he would always distribute it among the needy, so much so that nothing was left with him. Thus, the statement of the wives of the Prophet (SAW) that the family of Muhammad (SAW) had never taken bellyful of food for two days is absolutely true. If they had it on one day they did not have it on the next day. This is how they lived their whole life in the companionship of the Prophet (SAW) 

PERSONAL NOTE:

Subhannallah, I find this topic very profound simply because at one point or another, this is how YOU AND I feel sometimes. We have the tendency to want to work so hard and do our best to move our way up to the highest echelon of good life, living and success. And we all know a pocket full of gold ain’t so bad either.  For some who have reached that stratum already, they need a reality check. For others that are still in Fantasy Island trying to work up the ladder so to be a part of the achievers and dreamers, they too need a reality check as well as some guidance before they reach their comfort zone.  

What this topic is basically talking about is the neediness to live a simple life, and work towards achieving a better and more stress-free life in the Hereafter. I completely understand that we all need to make a living to support our daily necessities for survival purposes and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that, alhamdullilah. However, I do believe that we need to realize the importance of charity and giving what extra we have towards a better cause in support of our less fortunate ummahs.

In this Holy month of Ramadan, at this time of need, life is about sharing. Life is about living to a bare minimum, keeping away from meaningless spending and so forth. Most importantly LIFE IS ABOUT GIVING.  In this Holy Month of Ramadan, we should gather what we have and let us start thinking about our Brothers and Sisters all over the world who are striving to find a good decent meal to put on the table for their children EVERY SINGLE DAY. They are, without a doubt, the afflicted ones.  We can’t just sit there and watch their world unravel before our eyes; we can’t just sit there and and continue to pity or sympathize for them; we must GIVE what we can to the best of our ability.

As someone who’s lived a very comfortable and stable life [alhamdullilah]; seeing my brothers and sisters go through life with pain, poverty, intolerance, injustice, and bias is MY REALITY CHECK!! May Allah provide us the strength to GIVE and may Allah guide us all to a righteous path, amin.    

************************************************************************–Hadiths No. 491 and 501 from “Riyadh-us-Saliheen: Volume One” compiled by Al-imam Abu Zakariyah Yahya bin Sharaf An-Nawawi Ad-Dimashqi.
Darussalam Publishers and Distributors (www.dar-us-salam.com) ************************************************************************ 

What is a marriage about?

• Marriage is a contract, and you have to honor and respect the terms of the contract.
• It’s a type of ibadaah
• When dealing with one another husband/wife you are also dealing with Allah subhana wata’ala
• Allah says in the quraan “They have rights as they have obligations”
• Marriage is the sunnah of life
• In general marriage is recommanded
• The one who doesnt marry is incomplete in his faith
• “And of the signs he created of yourselves mates, so you may live in tranquility”.

Do’s and Don’ts

1. Do not humiliate one another
2. Use good language with one another
3. Ask your husband or wife what they like so you can do it constantly and know what they dislike like so you can avoid doing it.
4. You are rewarded for the good things you do for your family as charity. As the prophet (Salalaahu alaihi wasalam) said the best charity that can be spent is on your family.
5. If you don’t have tranquility in your house than you need to work on your marriage
6. Make time to spend with your wife/husband
7. Learn together
8. be kind,gental and tell him/her you love them constantly
9. Shower and suprise eachother with gifts
10. Woman beautify yourselves and look pleasing to your husband at all times
11. Must have patience and communication,dialogue is very important
12. have a peaceful and loving home.

Sutiable husband

Good deen, Good aklaaq (manners) these are the two qualities the Prophet (Salallaahu alaihi wasalam) said were the most important when choosing a good husband. Then come everything else good looks, capable of support, family.

Sutiable Wife

Good deen, Good Aklaaq (manners), money, family, beauty, fertility.

The marriage life

The best husband honors his wife and the best wife is like a treasure in this world.

• Problems between husband and wife will arise but remember they are only tests from Allah. It is natural to have problems because you are bringing two different people from two different families together.
• There is no perfect match
• Deal with eachother with love and mercy, without mercy a marriage cannot survive.
• The Prophet (salalaahu alaihi wasalam) said ” The best of you is the one who is best to his wives and I am the best to my wives”.
• The purpose of marriage is to help eachother worship Allah better

The best wife

The most beautiful wife is the one who is the most righteous, when you look at her she pleases you, when your gone she watches over your property and when you order her she obeys.

Marriage helps in helping us lower our gaze and from commiting zina. As the Prophet salalaahu alaihi wasalam said “Marry if you are able to, and if not fast”

May Allah make it easy for everyone and give us all a happy, healthy and a marriage full of tranquility.

Loving you all for the sake of Allah

Your sister in Islam,

                    Zakah On Women’s Gold Jewelry

All Praises be to Allah, Lord of the worlds. Peace and blessings be upon Muhammed, his family his companions and all those who follow in their footsteps until the Last Day.             

             I chose do some research on the ruling of zakah on jewelry. Before starting this I was under the opinion that zakah was to be paid on everything as long as it met its nisab (treshhold). As the prophet salalaahu alaihi wasalam encouraged us all men and women to give in charity. The wife of ‘Abd-Allaah, said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ‘Give in charity, O women, even if it is from your jewellery.”

These days woman have of a lot of gold jewelry. Although the majority of the scholars like Imam Shafie, Imam Malik Ibn Anas and Imam Ahmed Ibn Hanbali and others said that there is no zakah that should be paid on a woman’s jewelry. The jewelry they referred to is the one she wears occasionally. Once Jabir Ibn Abdullah was asked about zakah of jewelry; he replied, “None is needed even if it surpasses 1000 dinars”2. In Al-Muwatta it is reported from Abdur Rahman ibn al-Qasim from his father that Aishah used to take care of her nieces, who were orphans under her protection, and adorned them with jewelry without paying its zakat’. Also reported from Muwatta is that ‘Abdullah Ibn Umar used to adorn his daughters and slave girls with gold without paying out zakat’3.  Bayhaqi also narrates the case of Asma “Asma bint Abu Bakr used to adorn her daughters with gold. Although its value was around fifty thousand dinars, she did not pay zakat on it.”4

Where on the other hand Imam Abu Hanifa and Ibn Hazm took that opinion that is compulsory to give zakah of gold used by the woman, as jewelry for ornament and the jewelry must reach the nisab. Aisha narrated “The Messenger of Allah came to me and saw me wearing silver rings, whereupon, he asked: ‘What is this, Aisha?’ I replied: ‘I made them to adorn myself for you, O Messenger of Allah.’ He said: ‘Did you pay their zakat?’ I said: ‘No, or what Allah wishes.’ Then he said: ‘their punishment in Hell is enough for you”5. This view can also be based on the proof of many similar ahadeeth’s such as the report of Amr ibn Shu’ayb from his father from his grandfather: “Two women with gold bracelets on their wrists came to the Prophet. The Prophet said: ‘Do you want Allah to make you wear bracelets of fire on the Day of Judgment?’ They answered: ‘No.’ He said ‘Then pay the zakat which is due on what you wear on your wrists”6. Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him) said “if zakaah is owed by a woman who owns jewellery, and her husband or someone else pays it on her behalf with her permission, there is nothing wrong with that. Zakaah does not have to be paid from the jewelry itself, rather it is sufficient to give its value every time one hijri year passes, according to the value of gold and silver in the market at the time when the year is completed”7.  Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) also said “the correct scholarly view and the most likely to be correct in my view is that zakaah must be paid on jewelry if it reaches the nisab (minimum threshold), which is eighty-five grams. If it reaches this amount, zakaah must be paid on it. If she has other wealth and pays from that, there is nothing wrong with it. If her husband or one of her relatives pays it on her behalf, there is nothing wrong with that. If neither of these options is available to her, then she should sell some of it and pay zakaah with that money”8.  In another Hadith one narrated from Ummu Salamah Radiallahu anha said “I was wearing some shining golden jewelry and I said to the Prophet Muhammad Salalaahu alaihi wasalam is this a treasure?” He said: “Any thing that reaches the amount in which the Zakah is due is no longer a treasure as its Zakah was already given”9.

Although the majority of the scholars agree that zakah is not to be paid on woman’s gold jewelry, which she wears daily. They do agree that if the person is capable of giving the zakah they should. Because ultimately the zakah is for the poor and you will be rewarded for that. The calculations for the zakah on gold are as follows that is 20 Mithqal (a measure which is equivalent to 85 grams of pure gold, 1 Mithqal = 425 grams) then one should pay ½ Mithqal as Zakah, i.e., 2.5% of the value of gold. Then one Islamic year (lunar) should pass after possessing the money.

    May Allah guide us all to that wish is best. Ameen

1 Saheeh Al-bukari 1466 and Muslim 1000

2 Fiqhus Sunnah by Sayyid Sabiq Vol 1,pg 330-331.

3 Al-Muwatta

4 Bayhaqi

5 Narrated by Abu Dawud in his Sunan with a strong chain (Zakat), Daraqutni in his Sunan, and Bayhaqi in his Sunan (4:140)

6 Narrated by Tirmidhi

7 Fataawa Islamiyyah, 2/85 

8 Majmoo’ Fataawa Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, 18/138 

9 Reported by Abu Dowood

Your sister in Islam,

Woman in Islam 

How do women fit into Islam? What is their fate?This has been the subject of many a debate‘For both believing men and women, is a great reward’

This is from The Holy Qur‘an – the Words of our Lord

 It can be seen from reading The Holy Qur‘an That a woman to God, is equal to manA woman is respected as a mother and wifeFor nine long months, she carries new lifeDuring childbirth, she is exempted to fastIslam is against the burial of live girls in the pastThey can pray at the Mosque or pray at homeThey may marry or divorce – it’s their choice, their ownAfter marriage, she can retain her old maiden-nameAnd is rewarded for treating all her offspring the sameOnce they are married, they should live pious livesAnd the men are ordained to be good to their wivesWomen in the
UK, had property rights from 1938This right was given by Islam, 14 centuries to dateIn the
UK, women could vote from 1918This was given 1400 years ago in Islam – our DeenWomen can work and lead a happily married lifeWithout neglecting her role as mother and wifeFor her child’s upbringing, she deserves her creditIslam also gives a woman the right to inheritThough some misinform with what they preachThe Holy Qur‘an this does not teachA woman’s status in Islam, we should never neglectIn Islam they are favoured and deserve their respect Does that answer your questions about women in Islam. If not let us know. This is a bit of an intro to our roles.

Contemplation

Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-’Uthaymeen hafidhahullaah

Sharh Riyaadh as-Saaliheen Chapter: Contemplation [Muraaqaba]

“Who sees you when you stand up (for prayer), and your movements along with those who fall prostrate.” (26:218-219) “He is with you wheresoever you may be.” (57:4) “Truly nothing is hidden from Allaah, in the earth or in the heavens.” (3:5) “Indeed your Lord is Ever-Watchful (over them)” (89:14) “Allaah knows the fraud of the eyes and all that the breasts conceal.” (40:19)

The verses concerning this are many and well known. After mentioning the chapter concerning Truthfulness and the verses and ahaadeeth pertaining to it, the author follows this up with the chapter concerning Contemplation. There are two aspects to contemplation: 1.That you contemplate Allaah, Azza wa Jall 2.That you know that Allaah is watching you as He says,

 “… and Allaah is Ever a Watcher (Raqeebaa) over all things.” As for your contemplating Allaah then this is that you know that Allaah, the Exalted, Knows your every saying, action, or belief, as He said, “… and put your trust in the All-Mighty, the Most Merciful – Who sees you when you stand up (for prayer) and your movements along with those who fall prostrate.” (26:216-218) “Who sees you as you stand” meaning at night, when the person stands in a place in seclusion from others such that no one would see him, but Allaah, Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa, sees Him even if he be in the darkest and most intense of darknesses. “And your movements along with those who prostrate” meaning: and you move alongwith all those who prostrate to Allaah in this hour, for indeed Allaah sees a person when he stands and prostrates. Standing and prostrating have been (specifically) mention because standing in prayer is better than prostration with respect to the remembrance of Allaah, and prostration is better with respect to its appearance and condition. As for the standing being better than the prostration with respect to remembrance then this is because the legislated remembrance in the state of standing is the recitation of the Qur’aan and the Qur’aan is the noblest of speech. As for the prostration being better than the standing with respect to its appearance and condition then this is because the person in the state of prostration is closest to His Lord, Azza wa Jall, as is established from the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam when he said:

“The closest a person is to His Lord is when he is in prostration.” [Muslim]

This is why we have been commanded to increase our supplications while in prostration. Also from your contemplating Allaah is that you know that Allaah hears everything single thing that you say as He said,

“… or do they think that We Hear not their secrets and private discourse? (Indeed We do) and Our Messengers are by them, to record.” (43:80) And alongwith this, that you know that every good or evil thing that you say, be it openly or secretly then it is written – for or against you. Allaah, the Blessed and Exalted says,

“… not a word does he utter, but there is a watcher by him ready (to record it)” (50:18) Know this, and beware! Beware that their emit from your tongue a saying which will count against you on the Day of Judgement. Make sure that your tongue is continuously articulating the truth or that it remains silent as the Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said, “whosoever believes in Allaah and the Last Day then let him speak only good or remain silent.” [Bukhaaree] (Also from your contemplating Allaah) is that you do so with regards to your secrets and what is in your heart. Look to what is in your heart! Associating partners with Allaah, showing off, deviations, jealousy, hatred and dislike displayed towards the Muslims, love of the disbelievers and other such things that Allaah is not Pleased with. Supervise and be attentive to your heart for Allaah has said,

“Indeed We created man, and We know what his own self whispers to him.” (50:16) So contemplate Allaah in these three places, in your actions, your saying and your heart so that your contemplation may be complete. This is why, when the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam was asked about Ihsaan, he replied, “that you worship Allaah as if you see Him, and if you do not see Him, then indeed He sees you.” Worship Allaah as if you see Him and witness Him with the eye, and if you do not see Him then go to the next station below this: then indeed He sees you. So the first station is to worship Him out of hope and desire. The next is to worship Him out of fear and awe this is why he said, “and if you do not see Him, then indeed He sees you.” So it is necessary for the person to contemplate His Lord and that he know that Allaah is Watching over you. Anything that you say or do or keep secret, Allaah, Exalted is He, Knows it. The author has mentioned a number of verses that prove this and began with the verse that we have already mentioned,

“… and put your trust in the All-Mighty, the Most Merciful – Who sees you when you stand up (for prayer) and your movements along with those who fall prostrate.” (26:216-218)

Sisters!  We have become lazy and forgotten about yourselves, our families have come first before us. But let’s not take that to the extreme to the point we forget about our health. 

I remember growing up my mother would not eat unless we ate first, and then she would forget to eat. She has 7 children MashAllah she doesn’t look it. 

Some of us are under-eaters others are over-eaters. What category are you?  It’s hard to keep up physical exercise, time to find a gym. Then you have to check it out. Do they play music; cater to men, and the whole awrah issue. The key is Motivation. 

We have become unhealthy. Live by the Sunnah.  I’m not saying sign the membership to the gym. Just move around, get out and walk, eat healthy, drink water!!!. I’m not telling you be skinny don’t be fat. I’m telling you be healthy and feel good. Taking my own naseeha. InshaAllah   

Having that extra weight around makes us less confident and lazy. Laziness is from Shaytaan. So get rid of it.   

The Prophet used to say, “O Allah! I seek refuge with You from helplessness, laziness, cowardice and feeble old age; I seek refuge with You from afflictions of life and death and seek refuge with You from the punishment in the grave.” 

 Food is not a power over us live the Sunnah and Fast.   

 And Allah the Majestic, has said: With the exception of fasting, for it is done for Me and I will give a reward for it, for one abandons his passion and food for My sake. 

Sister post a comment and let us know what works for you. Maybe your habits can influence us. Let’s make our health an important factor. 

Loving You for the Sake of Allah

We read just a few ayah’s from surah al baqarah and I just found myself crying. It is like everytime you lose hope and wonder what is the point of this life, and give up, Allah reminds you in the best way, and makes you comprehend and everything becomes as clear as night and day. We’ve all heard the term patience is a virtue and now i know what is really meant by it.

Lessons from these Verses:

Ayah 2:153

O you who believed, seek help through patience and prayer indeed Allah is with the patient.

i) Help comes through patience and prayer. The one who seeks help from Allah through prayer and patience is the true believer.

ii) Allah will aid those who are patient and give them guidance.

Ayah 2:155

 And we will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient.

i) Here we see “surely” meaning we will be tested there is not doubt about that. Allah mentions a couple of things people are tested with and we will all be tested with them.

 ii) The “something” here means insignificant whatever you are tested with if you are patient it becomes nothing.

 iii) Every time there is a test remember it could be worse and be thankful it is in this world and not the hereafter. And always praise and thank Allah for what you have.

Ayah 2:156

Who, when disaster strikes them, say “indeed we belong to Allah and to him we shall return”.

i)This is a sign of eeman ii) You don’t become impatient. The Prophet (SAWS) said “patience is at the beginning of the strike”.

 Ayah 2:157

 Those are the ones upon whom are blessings from their Lord and mercy And it is those who are rightly guided.

i) The virtue of patience is rahma ( mercy)

ii) Patience leads to guidance.

May Allah (SWT) give us patience and guidance and keep us on the straight path. We all need reminders from the Qur’aan and the first step to attaining it is picking it up and reading.

and Allah says about the believers:

 “Therefore remember Me I will remember you and be grateful to Me and never be ungrateful”. 2:151

Remember Allah by performing acts of worship. By mentioning him in the best manner and not disobeying Him and sinning is how we show our gratefulness.

Wishing you the best of this life and the hereafter,

Your sister in Islam.

What’s Your Eeman(faith) Like?

On his many trips to the bookstore my husband brought me a book called Weakness of Faith by Muhammad Salih Al-Munajjid. The minute I opened this book up and started reading, I put myself in every category, therefore classifying myself as having weak Eeman(faith). Alhamdulilah the Sheikh put in it ways we could go about fixing our hearts so that our Eeman(faith) could return to it’s right place.

SubhanAllah this was an amazing book I could not put it down. The book is in a check list manner as the Sheik goes down the list explaining what the Symptoms, Causes ,and Cures of weak faith are.

The thing that struck a cord with me was one point the Sheik made about not being able to reflect on the Qur’ann as a sign of weak faith. I agree completely I don’t think reading the Qur’ann in English is the same in Arabic. It doesn’t touch your heart the same.

I pray that Allah Ta’ala bless with the ability to understand the Qur’ann. Ameen.

Excerpt from the book weakness of Faith by: Muhammad Salih Al-Munajjid

The phenomenon of weak faith has become very widespread among Muslims, and many people at present complain about the hardness of their hearts. So Often we hear the words, “I feel hardness in my heart,” “I do not find any joy in worship,” “I feel that my faith has hit rock bottom,” “Reading Qur’an does not move me,” “I fall into sin so easily.” The effects of this affliction can be seen in many people, and this problem is the cause of every disaster and adversity.

This book can be found at: http://islamqa.com/index.php?pg=arti…g&article_id=6

This blog is intended for sisters to further their knowledge in Islam, and to help others to take seeking ‘ilm seriously. The best example for us is the example of the Mothers of the believers, and the best of guidance is the guidance of the Prophet Salalaahu ‘alaihi wasalam.