Day of Arafat

Assalamu Alaikom.

The Prophet said, "Fasting the day of Arafat erases the sins of two years: the previous year and the coming one."

Tomorrow, (Thursday, 11/26) is the Day of Arafat. For those of us not fortunate enough to make the pilgrimage this year, this is is a beautiful chance to take advantage of the blessings of this day, iA.

Just wanted to share a small reminder and also invite you all to my family's home in Long Island on the first day of Eid (Friday, 11/26) anytime between 2-5pm. Let me know if you can come through, iA.

Be safe and take care.

Peace-

Jumma Mubarak! Trust in your Lord

Bismillah

Jummah Mubarak! Have you read sura Kahf?

In terms of a reminder, the following two ayaat remind me of the importance of complete trust in our Lord. Alhamdullillah, we are living in the wealthiest country in the world and I pray Allah gives us the strength and creativity to utlilize this privledge to make amazing contributions to our families, communities, and beyond, iA. Ameen!

Sura Bakarah (2:216)
It may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you and that you like a thing which is bad for you. Allah knows but you do not know.

Sura Nisa (4:19)
And live with them [women] honourably. If you dislike them, it may be that you dislike a thing and Allah brings through it a great deal of good.

Peace-

Are you taking advantage of the next ten days?

Bismillah.

It has been a long time. Ramadan is over, healthcare bill passed the House, and Dow Jones has been setting new highs for the year.... More importantly, we are close to the first ten days of the Islamic calendar month of Dhul-Hijjah (starts on Nov. 18th, iA).

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "There is no day more honorable in Allah's sight and no acts more beloved therein to Allah than those in these ten days (of Dhul-Hijjah)"

I know I need to take advantage of these 10 days to rejuvenate myself. May Allah bless us with the strength to take advantage of these days, and help us be kinder, more positive influences on the ones around us. Ameen!

Shaykh Muhammad Alshareef gives the following suggestions for extra good deeds during these days:

1. Fasting these 10 days
2. Giving more charity during these 10 days
3. Say the "Eid" Takbeers loudly wherever you go. (Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar. Laa ilaaha illa Allah. Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar. Walillaahil hamd.)
4. Try to pray more prayers in the Masjid
5. Increase ties of kinship (visit family, say kind words to them, etc.)
6. Perform more voluntary prayers at home
7. Read more Quran, contemplating the meanings
8. Do more Dhikr
9. Ask for forgiveness more frequently

Peace-

Trust in your Lord

Bismillah.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "No one of you will enter Paradise by his deeds alone." His companions asked, "Not even you, O Messenger of Allah?"
He (peace be upon him) said, "Not even me, unless Allah covers me with His Grace and Mercy"

My take:
SubhanAllah... This prophetic saying reminded me of our complete dependence on our Lord and his Mercy. No doubt, we have to work hard, be kind/sincere in all our actions, and always keep working towards developing ourselves, but, Ultimately, our destiny/fate is in our Lord's hands. And, knowing this should give us comfort. I remember Shaykh Hamza Yusuf put it nicely, 'We are in good hands.'

Be safe, work hard, and have complete trust in your Lord.

Peace-

Say Good words

Bismillah..

Adi bin Hatim reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Guard yourselves against the Fire (of Hell) even if it be only with half a date fruit (given in charity); and if you cannot afford that, you should at least say a good word."

My take:

1. Give charity as a means to to protect yourself from punishment in the the hereafter

2. Saying good words will serve as a protection for you in hereafter, iA

May our Lord forgive all our sins, guide us on the straight path, and make us among the most generous. Ameen.

Peace-

Be there for your brother and your Lord will be there for you

Bismillah..

So, it has been a while. Anyhow, I wanted to share a hadith on the benefits/beauty of being there for your brother/sister.

Abu Huraiha (R) reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said,

"He who removes from a believer one of his difficulties of this world, Allah will remove one of his troubles on the day of Resurrection; and he who finds relief for a hard-pressed person, Allah will make things easy for him on the Day of Resurrection; he who covers (the faults and sins) of a Muslim, Allah will cover up (his sins and faults) in this world and the hereafter. Allah supports his slave as long as the slave is supportive of his brother;

and he who treads the path in search of knowledge, Allah make that path easy, leading to Jannah for him. The people who assemble in one of the houses of Allah, reciting the Book of Allah, learning it and teaching, there descends upon them the tranquillity, mercy covers them, the angels flock around them, and Allah mentions him in the presence of those near hm;

and he who lags behind in doing good deeds, his noble noble lineage will not make him go ahead." (Muslim)

My take:

Three major points:
1. Help/honour your brother, and Allah will be there for you in this life and the next. iA
2. Pursue and teach knowledge of the religion, and the path to Jannah will be made easy for you.
3. Perform good deeds, because your family's nobility isn't going to take you to jannah.

May Allah help us be the best source of comfort for ones around us, make our path towards gaining beneficial knowledge easy for us, and help us be consistent in good work. Ameen!!!

Be safe and take care.

Wudu (ablution) + Forgiveness

Bismillah
ablution

Humran related that Uthman ibn Affaan said that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Whoever does wudoo as I have done it, then prays two rak’ahs in which he focuses completely on his prayer, his previous sins will be forgiven.” (Muslim)

So, how did the Prophet perform wudu?


In the earlier part of the hadith listed above, Uthman bin Affan called for water to do wudo.’ He washed his hand three times, then he rinsed his mouth and nose, then he washed his face three times, then he washed his right arm up to the elbows, then he washed his right foot up to the ankle three times, and then he washed his left foot likewise. Then he said, “I saw the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) doing wuddo as I have done it. “


My take:
1. Performing proper wudu and completely focusing on prayer is a method to have our previous sins forgive.
2. Wudu and FOCUS on prayer
3. Our Lord has made the religion easy on us and has given us ample opportunity to seek his forgiveness. Are we taking advantage of these opportunities?

May Allah accept our wudu (ablution) and grant us focus on our prayers. Ameen
Just as a side note. Based on Sura Maaidah (5:6), the obligatory actions in wudu are listed below (The following is taken from Al Maghrib’s Purification Act notes)

1. Washing the face completely once, this includes rinsing the mouth and nose.
2. Washing the arms up to the elbows, once
3. Wiping the entire head, including the ears.
4. Washing the feet up to ankles, once. What is meant by once in all above is that the entire part of the body mentioned must be washed thoroughly.
5. This must be done in order, so one washes the face first, then the arms, then wipes the head, then washes the feet, because the Prophet (peace be upon him) did ablution in that order.
6. This must be done continuously, i.e. the part of the body must be washed one after other with no lengthy interruption between washing one part and the next.

The aforementioned are the obligatory parts of ablution which must be done in order for the ablution to be sound.

Some comments on Eric Weiner's The Geography of Bliss

Bismillah

So, as I was recovering from my knee surgery, I read a review of a book, The Geography of Bliss, by Eric Weiner, and subsequently, read the book. Eric Weinder, a NPR correspond travels to different countries all over the world trying to establish common themes on happiness and how it is achieved in different cultures.

http://blog.timesunion.com/muslimwomen/divine-happiness/462/ (review)

Here is my comment on the review above:

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. This book was an interesting read. Eric Weiner’s journey to find the path to happiness is intriguing and brings out common themes about people who consider themselves happy. One of Weiner’s statements at the end of book sheds light on his conclusions from his worldwide travels:

“Money matters, but less than we think and not in the way we think. Family is important. So are friends. Envy is toxic. So is excessive thinking. Beaches are optimal. Trust is not. Neither is gratitude. “

As a Muslim, reading this book made me think about one of my favorite prophetic (peace be upon him) sayings: “Wondrous are the believer’s affairs. For him there is good in all his affairs, and this is so only for the believer. When something pleasing happens to him, he is grateful, and that is good for him; and when something displeasing happens to him, he is patient, and that is good for him."

Reflecting on this saying provides peace and contentment of hearts. Happiness is a state of mind, and is a gift from our Lord.

Although Weiner discusses many different facets of happiness (e.g. avoidance of envy, tolerance, family, friends, etc.), he does not discuss the role of community service in depth. I would make the argument that community service/serving others is paramount in dealing with symptoms of depression/sadness and achieving a sense of lasting purpose/fulfillment.

Anyhow, be safe and keep bring interesting topics to the table ,iA.

Peace-

Bismillah.

Ramadan is over, and I feel it. May Allah forgive all our sins and keep us on the straight path. Ameen! Have you read Sura Kahf?

So, one step towards staying strong... More than anything else, this is a reminder for myself..

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:“Whoever fasts Ramadan and follows it with six days from Shawwal it is as if they fasted the entire year.”

Be safe and Jummah Mubarak.

Peace-

Good Manners

Bismillah

Abdu-Darda reported: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Nothing will be heavier on the Day of Judgement in the scales than good manners. Allah hates one who utters foul or coarse language. (Ar-tirmdhi)

My take:

1. Be kind and courteous to the people around you. Good manners is paramount in practicing this religion/way of life well.

2. It is important not to use foul language in our daily discourse.

3. We should consider this hadith during moments of irritation/jealousy/miserliness/etc.

May Allah bless us with the best of manners and make us the ambassadors of proper conduct in and outside our homes. Ameen!

Peace-

End of Ramadan Khutbah from different sources

Bismillah
Praise be to Allaah, we seek His help and His forgiveness. We seek refuge with Allaah from the evil of our own souls and from our bad deeds. Whomsoever Allaah guides will never be led astray, and whomsoever Allaah leaves astray, no one can guide. I bear witness that there is no god but Allaah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger).


This khutbah has been adapted from 'Shaykh Abdur-Rahmaan as-Sudais from the Harram and a khutbah from the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore

http://www.alminbar.com/khutbaheng/2260.htm (Shaykh Sudais Khutbah)http://www.muis.gov.sg/cms/downloads/khutbahs.aspx (Victory at the End of Ramdan)

This khutbah will a call to reflect on the month of Ramadan, to make lots dua in these remaing hours of Ramdan in hopes to gaining Allah’s forgivness, to use the lessons learned in this month for the rest of the year.

Know that, among the signs of the acceptance of a good deed is to continue and be steadfast in performing that deed.

"So, we are at the end of Ramadan. This month of blessings and rewards will soon be leaving us. Will we meet Ramadan again? None of us knows. Ramadaan is the month of righteousness and generosity, the month of forgiveness and liberation from Hell. It is all but gone now and nothing remains of it but a few moments. Therefore, a fortunate Muslim during this month is one who is able to improve his acts of worship with sincerity and self-examination and end it with sincere repentance, for acts have value if they are accepted by Allah T’ala"

"Brothers in faith! Our righteous predecessors used to exert maximum effort in perfecting their acts of worship and had grave concerns regarding their acceptance or rejection. ‘Ali Ibn Abi Taalib warned: “Have a greater concern for the acceptance of your deeds than you do for the amount of deeds you have performed. Do not you hear the saying of Allaah: ‘Indeed, Allaah accepts only from the righteous” (Al Maa’idah: 27). "

"It is important to reflect on our present condition in light of the effects Ramadaan had on us. Let us compare our condition at the start of Ramadaan to our condition now: Was the advent of Ramadaan something that made us become pious? Did it reform our actions and conduct? Did it remove the hatred and rancour between us? "

In another hadith Qudsi, Allah the Almighty said:"I am as My servant thinks I am. I am with him when he makes mention of Me. If he makes mention of Me to himself, I make mention of him to Myself; and if he makes mention of Me in an assembly, I make mention of him in an assemble better than it. And if he draws near to Me an arm's length, I draw near to him a fathom's length. And if he comes to Me walking, I go to him at speed."



Know that, among the signs of the acceptance of a good deed is to continue and be steadfast in performing that deed. May Allah fill our lives with taqwa (God consciousness)and may we attain success in this world and the hereafter.


Lets always keep our brothers and sisters in our prayers, for the Prophet (p) "The dua of a Muslim for his brother (in Islam) in his absence is readily accepted, an angel is appointed to his side, whenever he makes a beneficial dua for his brother the appointed angel says "aameen and may you also be blessed with the same".


The Prophet s.a.w once said, The best deed that is loved by Allah is the one that is consistent, although it is small in quantity. (Narrated by Muslim). Let us try to take some of our habits from this month into the rest of the year. Know that, among the signs of the acceptance of a good deed is to continue and be steadfast in performing that deed.

May this Ramadan be a success for all of us as we strive to obey Allah’s commands. May Allah help instill in us the understanding of the following hadith. The Prophet (S) said that the Muslim is always a winner. When something good happens to him, he is grateful, and when adversity strikes, he is patient, and that is good for him.

Drivers of Health Care Costs

Bismillah

National health spending is expected to reach $2.5 trillion in 2009 (http://www.nchc.org/facts/cost.shtml)

(Wall Street Journal Video Clip)
Dr. Robert Levine, author of "Shock Therapy for the American Health System," tells Kelsey Hubbard that while he supports comprehensive reform, he does not believe that President Obama's plan goes far enough.

http://online.wsj.com/video/the-need-for-comprehensive-health-care-reform/2B4B9297-795F-40BD-BAEF-2ACCD7A21B08.html

Dr. Levine believes that Washington's health care plans does not address costs.

1. Unnecessary care: 30% of total costs (CBO estimate)
2. Administration Costs: 15-20% costs

He cites main drivers of health care costs and suggests that the health care reform should work towards to decreasing these cost buckets. In terms of next steps, he suggests that physicians should be salaried to prevent incentives to order more tests (fee for service model).

Peace-

Sheikh Negm's advice on last days of Ramadan

Bismillah

My younger brother listened to a short talk by Sheikh Negm, who is serving as a representative of Sheikh Ali Goma, The Grand Mufti of Egypt and is teaching at al-Azhar University.

Sheikh Negm gave 6 advices for the remaining nights of Ramadaan.

1. Perform Tahajuud (night) prayers

2. Read More Quran than usual

3. Make lots of Dua

4. Give Extra Charity

5. Make extra Dhirk (remembrance of Allah)

6. Maintain Family Relations

May Allah keep us on the straight path and help us take full advantage of these last days of Ramdan. Ameen!

Peace-

Last 10 days of Ramadan- Are you taking advantage?

Bismillah.

Have you read Sura Kahf today?

So, we are upon the last 9 days of Ramadan. I'm sure we have heard of the significance of the last 10 days of Ramadan, and we will be reminded at Jummah (friday mid-day prayer) and, then again, at tarawih (nightly) prayers, iA.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever prays during the night of Qadr with faith and hoping for its reward will have all of his previous sins forgiven."

This night of Qadr is supposed to fall during the last 10 days of Ramadan, iA. The Prophet (peace be upon) was known to exert himself in worship during these last 10 days.

So, what is your plan? Have you made a list of your duas? Have you set some goals for these last days? Do you feel closer to your Lord?

May Allah give us the strength to increase our worship/sincerity in these last 10 days, accept our prayers, and make us among the ones who achieve the highest level of Jannah. Ameen!

Jummah Mubarak and peace-

Show Mercy to receive God's Mercy

Bismillah

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Allah will not be merciful to those who are not merciful to mankind."

My take:
1. Show mercy, give back to your community, friends, family, and know that your Lord will take care of you, iA.


Take care and be safe.

Peace,
Nabil

Make lots of dua (supplication)

Bismillah

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Duas (supplication) of three persons are not refused: a fasting man when breaking the fast, a just ruler, and an oppressed person."

My Take:

1. We need to take full advantage of this month and continuously make dua (especially, right before breaking our fast at sunset) and trust that Allah will always keep his promise.

May the most Merciful bless us with God consciousness and contentment of hearts through our worship and faith. Ameen.

Sura Kahf + Actions are judged on intentions

Bismillah

Have you read sura kahf today?

Umar bin al-Khattab related that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Actions are (judged) by motives, so each man will have what he intended. Thus, he whose migration was to Allah and his Messenger, his migration is to Allah and his Messenger, he whose migration was for some worldly thing he might gain, or wife he might marry, his migration is to for which he migrated." Related by Bukahri and Muslim

My take:
1. We need to be careful with our intentions and regularly renew/re-evaluate our intentions

2. We will be judged according to our intentions and the best actions are ones that are done for the sake of pleasing our Lord

2. I found it is very easy to talk about past good actions and subhanAllah, why would we try to lose the blessings in our good deeds by showing them off?

May Allah saves us from insincerity and help us accomplish our goals and aspirations for the right reasons. Ameen.

Peace and Jummah Mubarak

Good Manners

Bismillah

Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
"Let whosoever believes in Allah and in the Last Day either speak good or be silent. Let whosoever believes in Allah in the Last Day honour his neighbour. Let whosoever believes in Allah and in the Last day honour his guest." (Related by AlBukhari and Muslim)

My take:

1. Engage in useful/positive talk or keep quiet.

2. Be kind to your neighbours and hospitable to your guests.

3. Good manners is paramount to this religion, the Prophet (S) has said that the heaviest matter on the Day of Judgment is Good Manners.

May Allah always bless us with good manners and give us the ability to be amazing influences on our communites. Ameen.

Peace-

Muhammad Alshareef has a nice khutbah (sermon) on the importance of good manners:
http://www.khutbah.com/en/sunnah_seerah/manners.php

Fwd: Wisam Sharieff's Ramadan Qur'aan Class

A class to strengthen our connection with the Quraan.

Begin forwarded message:

AsSalamu Alaykum Warahmatullah

Br. Wisam Sharieff is a Hafidh, Qari, and instructor for Bayyinah Institute and currently teaches Arabic and Tajweed with them. He teaches side-by-side with Br. Nouman Ali Khan in many cities throughout the USA. See more of his videos here.

InshaAllah, he'll be holding a class which will be broadcasted live via the internet and phone on the word-by-word meaning of the Qur'aan. Everyone is encouraged to listen in, inshaAllah. See flyer below.

Mckinsey's Accounting for the cost of U.S. health care: A new look at why Americans spend more

Click on the link below to see Mckinsey's take on US's health care costs relative to other developed countries'. You will have to register (its free, you just have to create a profile).

The report gives insight on the main cost drivers of the health care system in the United States. It takes a bit of time to read the whole report, but the report provides an interesting quantiative analysis of health care costs.

http://www.mckinsey.com/mgi/reports/pdfs/healthcare/US_healthcare_Executive_summary.pdf

Bismillah

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "He who provides for the breaking of the Siyam (fast) earns the same merit as the one who was observing Siyam without diminishing in any way the reward of the latter."

My take:

1. Feeding ones who are fasting has a ridiculous multiplier effect in terms of rewards, mA.

May Allah give us the opportunity to provide for ones who are fasting during this blessed month of Ramadan. Ameen!

peace-

Trust in your Lord

Bismillah

The person whose desire is for Allah alone, Allah with suffice him from every concern, take on all of his affairs, deflect from him what he is not capable himself to deflect, protect him like the protection of a father to his child and preserve him from all afflictions.(Ibn AlQayyim)
My Take:
1. Trust in your Lord, work hard, and don't stress, you will be fine.

Virtues of Ramadan- Yasir Qadhi- Forgiveness

Bismillah

The following hadith is related by Shaykh Yasir Qadhi in a Friday Khutbah:

One day when the Prophet (peace be upon him) was giving the Friday khutbah, he climbed up his mimbar, he climbed up the pulpit – and his pulpit had 3 steps to it. And so he climbed up the first pulpit and he said out loud Ameen. Then he climbed up the second and he said Ameen. Then he climbed up the third and he said Ameen. So the companions were confused and they said: “Oh! Messenger of Allah we have never seen you say Ameen every time you climb the pulpit; this is the first time we have heard you say Ameen. What was the reason for this?” The Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: “When I was climbing up the pulpit, Jibreel (AS) came to me and told me: O Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam)! Anyone in your nation who manages to be alive when Ramadan comes & yet cannot get his sins forgiven, then may he perish in the fire of Hell. Say Ameen.” So the Prophet (Sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said Ameen. Then he climbed the second step, Jibreel (AS) said: “O Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam)! Anyone who manages to catch Laylatul Qadr & he does not manage to get his sins forgiven, may he perish in the fire of hell. Say ameen.” So the Prophet (Sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said ameen. And then he climbed the third one and Jibreel (AS) said: “O Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam)! Anyone of your ummah who manages to catch his parents one of them or both when they are elderly and they need his help and he is not able to service them properly and get his sins forgiven then may he perish. Say ameen.” And so he (Sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said ameen.

My take:

1. Make lots of dua throughout the month of Ramadan and continuously strive to gain Allah's forgiveness. This month will yield the highest returns on dua investments.

2. Search for Layatul Qadr and make sure to make lots of dua those nights.

3. Take care of your parents!

May Allah grant us the strength to fully benefit from the blessings of Ramadan and forgives all our sins. Ameen!

Be safe and take care.

Peace-

Find the rest of Shaykh Yaser Qadhi's Ramadan Reminder here:
http://ilmnotes.wordpress.com/tag/yasir-qadhi/

Be kind to your mother

Bismillah

This hadith is first and foremost a reminder to myself.

Abu Huraira narrated, A man came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and said, "O Allah's Aposttle! Who is more entitled to treated with the best companionship by me?"
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Your mother." The man said, "Who is next?" The Prophet (S) said, "Your mother." The man further said, "Who is next?" The Prophet (S) said, "Your mother." The man asked for the fourth time, "Who is next?" The Prophet (S) said, "Your father." Related by Bukhari.

My take:
1. It is very easy to take our mothers/fathers, especially mothers, for granted. Have you spoken to your mother today? When is the last time you gave her a sincere thank you and expressed your love for her? Give them a call today or do it in person, iA.

2. This is a reminder to treat our mothers in the highest regard and with kindness. I know I need to be kinder and more patient with my parents. A mother's love is simply amazing and one that is never really appreciated until it is gone.

3. All the knowledge in the world is not useful, if our manners to our parents are not extra-ordinary. The implementation of knowledge in our actions is the actual proof of living by the tenets of this religion.

May Allah help us be the best to our mothers and fathers and grant us the strength to remember their status in our religion/life at all times. Ameen!

Be safe and peace-

Help your fellow brother/sister

Bismillah

Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) said:
Verily, Allah will say to His slave as He is taking account of him on the Day of Judgment, `O' son of Adam, I was hungry and you did not feed me. He will answer, how can I feed you and you are the Lord of the worlds! He will say, did you not know that my slave so and so who is the son of so and so felt hunger, and you did not feed him. Alas! Had you fed him you would have found that (i.e. reward) with Me. O' son of Adam, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink. He will say, How can I give you drink, and you are the Lord of the worlds! He will say, did you not know that my slave so and so, the son of so and so felt thirsty and you did not give him drink. Alas! If you had given him, you would have found that (i.e. reward) with Me. O' son of Adam, I became sick and you did not visit Me. He will say, How can I visit you and you are the Lord of the worlds! He will say, did you not know that my slave so and so, the son of so and so became sick and you did not visit him. Alas! Had you visited him, you would have found me with him.”

From the book, Don't be Sad, by Aaidh bin Abdullah al-Qarni.

My take on the hadith above:

1. Be good to others, feed the poor, visit the sick, and you will find your Lord.

You can find the whole book online by clicking on the following link:

http://d1.islamhouse.com/data/en/ih_books/signal/en_Do_not_be_Sad.pdf

Much love and peace-

Take it easy

Bismillah

Have you read Sura Kahf yet?


Abu Huraira reported that the Prophet (peace be upon) said, "Religion is very easy and whoever overburdens himself in his religion will not be able to continue in that way. So you should not be extremists, but try to to be near perfection and receive the good tidings that you will be rewarded; and gain strength by offering the prayers in the mornings, afternoons, and during the last hours of the night. (Related by Bukhari)

My take:

1. This religion is very easy to follow.

2. Remember that your family, you body, etc. have rights over you, so fulfill these rights and stay close to your Lord through prayers in different parts of the day and night, iA.

Be cool and take care.

Peace

Three things that can help after your death

Bismillah

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
" After the death of a person, his actions stop, except three things that he leaves behind: First, continuous charity, Second, a knowledge from which some benefit may be obtained, Third, a virtuous son who make dua (pray, supplicate) on his behalf." Related by Muslim.

My take:

1. Remember that death will come to everyone.

2. This hadith advises us on investments we need to make while we are still alive that will hopefully benefit us after we die.

a) continuous charity (e.g. building/contributing to a masjd/orphanage that still serves as a place of worship or place of refuge/comfort for orphans)

b) knowledge: this advice highlights the importance of passing on beneficial knowledge to people; who knows, the possibilities for teaching are infinite (i.e. guiding one person who then guides someone else and so on and so forth). this is similar to a franchise model, and it nice to know that our Lord's mercy/rewards has no limit

c) when we are blessed with children, it is important to raise them properly, and asking them to keep us in in our prayers, God willing.

May Allah give us the ability to give continuous charity, teach others of beneficial matters, and grant us righteous children who always make dua (supplication) for us. Ameen!

Much love and peace-

Feed the needy and Greet your brethren

Bismillah

Abdullah bin 'Amr narrated that a person asked the Prophet (peace be upon him), "What (sort of) deeds in or (what qualities of) Islam are good?"
The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied, "To feed (the poor) and greet those whom you know and those whom you don't know."

My Take:
1. The Prophet (peace be upon him) highlights the importance of feeding the poor in this religion
2. Greeting our friends and strangers with the greetings of salam (peace) is recommended and revives the Prophet's tradition.

May our Lord make it easy for us to feed the less fortunate and give the greetings of peace to people we know and people we don't know. Ameen.

Ramadan is not just changing dietary habits

Bismillah

Abu Huraira narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Whoever does not give up forged speech and evil actions, Allah is not in need of his leaving his food and drink."

My take:
1. It is not just about refraining from eating and drinking during Ramadan. Besides our eating habits, have our other daily actions changed?
2. It is important to keep this hadith in mind as we interact with people and schedule our days during Ramadan.

May our Lord help us take full advantage of this month's blessings. Ameen!

Peace-

Healthcare of the Future Model- Booz and Company Insight

Read this if you are interested in a new potential model of health care based on pilot products that are advertised as patient centric.
Specifically, the article discusses an experiment taking place in Florida that supposedly will reshape the system around the needs of patients, use best practices from science and management, offer appropriate incentives and products that bundle world class care, transparent billing, and real consumer choice.

http://www.booz.com/media/uploads/Healthcare_of_the_Future_Model.pdf

Manners- Don't envy

Bismillah

Abu Huraiaha narrated the the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Look upon one who is below in status and do not look upon one who above you in status. In this way, you will not look down upon the grace that Allah has bestowed upon you."

My take:
1. The Prophet (S) has give practical advice on how we can avoid envy towards our fellow brethren.
2. It is important to look at people who are below in status, looks, wealth, etc. in order to appreciate your Lord's blessings.
3. It is easy to to be ungrateful, and it is human nature, so, don't stress, you are going to experience feelings of ungratefulness. The bigger matter is how we deal with these feelings.
Are we going to pray for our brothers/sisters to increase them in goodness? Are we going to be grateful for all our gifts?

May Allah bless us with righteous hearts that always want the best for others regardless of our state. Ameen.

Be safe and take care.
Peace-

The Affluent Have Departed with the Rewards

Bismillah

Abu Dharr related:

Some of the Companions of the Prophet (peace be upon him) said to the Prophet (S): "O Messenger of Allah, the affluent have departed with the rewards. They pray as we pray, they fast as we fast, and they give charity with the superfluity of their wealth."
He (S) said, "Has Allah not made things for you to give away in charity? Every Tasbeeh (saying SubhannAllah) is a charity, every Takbeer (saying Allahu Akbar) is a charity, every Tahmeed (saying 'Alhamdulliah') is a charity, every Tahleel (saying Laa ilaah ill Allah') is a charity, to enjoin a good deed is a charity, to forbid an evil deed is a charity, and in your sexual relation is a charity."
They said, "O Messenger of Allah, will one of us have reward when he fulfills his sexual desire?"
He (S) said, "Do you no think that if he were to do an unlawful act that he would be sinning? Likewise, if he has done it lawfully he will have a reward." (Related by Muslim).

My Take:
1. Reciting different remembrances of our Lord, enjoining good, and forbidding evil can all act as charities and methods of giving back to our communities.
2. This religion is a complete way of life, and our actions are either bringing us closer to our Lord or further from Him.
3. It is up to us to make that sincere intention and try to be positive infuences on our communities, irrespective of our immediate means.

Power of leadership economics

http://www.bain.com/bainweb/publications/publications_detail.asp?id=26420&menu_url=publications_results.asp

Read this if you are interested in first mover advantage and a market leader position.

Ramadan is here

Bismillah

Abu Huraiha related that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Whoever fasts during Ramadan with faith and seeking his reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven. Whoever prays during the nights in Ramadan with faith and seeking his reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven. " (related by Bukharee)

My take:
1. This month can be a fresh start for everyone. Make sincere intention to fast this upcoming month for your Lord's sake and find comfort in knowing that all your past sins may be forgiven. 2. We are given multiple methods to have our past sins forgiven. The importance/rewards of the night prayers are amazing. Focus on your nightly prayers!

May Allah accept our fasts and forgive all my past sins. Ameen!

Ramadan Goals/Sura Kahf

Bismillah.

Have you read sura Kahf yet?

Have you setup your Ramadan goals yet? I listened to Muhammad Alshareef's talk on how to make Ramadan unforgettable yesterday. (http://www.halaltube.com/towards-an-outstanding-ramadan)
Setting goals for Radaman is the recipe to take full advantage of the month's blessings. Lets dream big and accomplish great things this month, God willing!

I hope we all benefit from this month, become closer to our Lord, and increase in our charity in all aspects (from giving extra smiles to feeding the needy).

Abu Abdullah Jaabir ibn Abdullah al Ansaaree narrated that a man asked the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), "Do you think that if I prayed the prescribed prayers, fasted Ramadan, treat the lawful as lawful, treat the prohibited as prohibited, and do nothing further, will I enter Paradise? The Prophet (peace be upon him replied), "Yes."

Narrated by Muslim

My take:

Our Lord has made following this religon easy and straightforward. Take care of your obligations in this life and you will be granted Paradise, iA.

May Allah help us take full advantage of Ramadan and accept all our fasts. Ameen!

Peace-

Come closer to your Lord

Bismillah

Abu Hurayiah related that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Surely Allah, the Exalted said, "Whoever shows enmity to an ally of mine, I have waged war upon him. My servant does not draw near to me with anything more beloved to me than what I have obligated upon him. My servant continues drawing upon me with the voluntary acts until I love him. Once I love him, I am his hearing with which he hears, his sight with which he sees, his hand with which he grasps, and his foot with which he walks. Were he to ask of Me, I would surely grant it to him. If he were to seek refuge in Me, I would surely protect him.""
(related by Bukhari)

My take:
1. Take care of the obligatory acts
2. Perform some extra voluntary good deeds
3. Once your Lord loves you, all of your actions are blessed and all of you have to do is keep your trust in your Lord.

This is a beautiful hadith reminding us how we can become closer to our Lord and how this level of God conscious will make our matters in this life easy, iA.

Some reflections from my knee surgery:

Alhamdulliah, the surgery was less severe than planned. It is remarkable how we take many of our Lord's blessings for granted. I was given local anesthesia through my spine and medicine to fall asleep during the procedure.

Typically, after the anesthesia/surgery, it takes a hour or two to gain your feelings back. In my case, it actually took 6 hours to gain the ability to completely control my legs. And, subhanAllah (glory be your Lord), it is a scary feeling, looking at your legs and feet, and not being able to move them or feel them as someone pokes at them...

I gained a new level of appreciation for the ability to walk, use the bathroom, etc. It is easy to forget about life's blessings when we are focused our own issues or not remembering our Lord. I hope we all are able to use our gifts and strengths for the betterment of our communities.

May Allah always bless us with contentment of hearts and help us be cognizant of the blessings He has bestowed upon us. Ameen.


Be safe and take care.

Peace-

Be in this world as a Traveler

Bismillah

Ibn Umar narrated that the Prophet (S) said: "Be in this life as if you are a stranger or a wayfarer."

Ibn Umar used to say, "In the evening do not expect to live to the morning, and in the morning, do not expect to live to the evening."

(Related by Bukaree)

My take:
It is important to realize our priorities in this life and not become too attached to matters of little benefit. I think we should strive to come to a nice balance of working hard to accomplish our goals in this life with the firm understanding that the hereafter is very real and eternal.

May Allah help us keep our intentions sincere and be of those who are rightly guided. Ameen.

On another note, I am having knee surgery in a few hours, iA, and I hope you can keep me in your duas. I don't know if you are keeping up with the health care insurance debate, but feel free to post articles and updates on this topic.

Be safe and take care.

Peace-

Hadith Qudsi ("I am as My servant thinks I am")

Bismillah

Abu Harayrah narrated that Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Allah the Almighty said:

"I am as My servant thinks I am. I am with him when he makes mention of Me. If he makes mention of Me to himself, I make mention of him to Myself; and if he makes mention of Me in an assembly, I make mention of him in an assemble better than it. And if he draws near to Me an arm's length, I draw near to him a fathom's length. And if he comes to Me walking, I go to him at speed."

My take:
Remember God and God will be with you. Knowing and internalizing this idea should be a source of comfort, God willing.

Even with this knowledge of God's love for his creation, we might feel lost or down at times, it is important to surround ourselves with righteous people and beneficial reminders.

May Allah always bless us with contentment of hearts. Ameen!

NYTIMES Public Option’ in Health Plan May Be Dropped

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/17/health/policy/17talkshows.html?hp

Virtue of Mending Ties, Justice, and Assistance amongst One Another

Bismillah

Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said,
"Every joint of a person must do a charity each day that the sun rises. Acting justly between two people is a charity, assisting a man onto his mount, or hoisting his belongings onto it is a charity, a good word is a charity, every step you take to perform the prayer is a charity, and removing harmful objects from the roadway is charity."

(Related by Bukhaaree and Muslim)

My take:
This hadith describes various types of charity and actions that are deemed virtuous. It is amazing that the smallest good deeds can be considered charity and ways of coming closer to our Lord.

May Allah make it easy on us to perform acts of charity throughout every day. Ameen.
-peace

Be Mindful of your Lord and He will protect you

Bismillah

Abul Abbass Abdullaah ibn Abbass narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Be Mindful of Allah, and you will find Him in front of you. Become acquainted with Allah in prosperity and He will become acquainted with you in adversity... Know that help comes with patience, relief with afflictions, and hardship with ease."

(Tirmidhee).

My take:
This hadith reminds us of the type of relationship we should have with our Lord. Our biggest challenge is the struggle within oneself. Being conscious of our Allah and placing our complete faith is the prescription to inner peace.

May Allah make it easy for us to remember Him in times of ease and in times of hardship. Ameen.

Peace-

Completing and Perfecting Eemaan (Faith)

Bismillah

Abu Hamzah Anas ibn Maalik narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said,

"Noone of you will have Eemaan (meaning complete and perfect faith), until he loves for his brother that which he loves for himself."
Related by Bukhaaree and Muslim.

My take:
Keeping this hadith in mind during our daily interactions with one another will lead to refreshing and healthy experiences, iA. Wanting good for others is very important in this deen (religion).

May Allah gives us the strength to always want the best for others no matter what state we are in. Ameen.

Peace-

Pillars of Islam

Bismillah

First and foremost, have you read sura Kahf today?


Abu Abdur Rahman Abdullah ibh Umar ibn Al Khattab narrated that the Prophet (S) said,

"Islam has been founded on five (pillars): To testify that none has the right to be worshipped in truth except Allah and that Muhammad is th e Messegner of Allah, to establish prayer, to pay the Zakat, to make the pilgrimage to the HOuse (i.e. Ka'bah in Makka, and to fast in Ramadhaan." (Related by Bukaharee adn Muslim)

My take:
This hadith teaches us the basic tenets and practices of a Muslim. The religion is built on these simple practices, mA, after testifying to the oneness of God and believing in the Messenger, a Muslim's basic obligations are to pray 5 times a day, pay annual charity on his savings, make a pilgrimage to Makka, if he/she is able, and to fast in the month of Ramadan. May Allah accept our actions. Ameen.

Peace-

National EHR database. Can you trust Google with your health info

Jeff Marion

Allah's Forgiveness

Bismillah.
Anas ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (S) said,

"Allah, Th Exalted, has said,: 'O son of Adam, whatever you call upon Me for, and hope of Me, I shall forgive you for what have done and I shall not mind. O son of Aadam, were your sins to reach the clouds of the sky and then you were to ask Forgiveness of me, I would forgive you. O son of Adam, were you come to Me with sins nearly as great as the earth and you were then to face Me not committing Shirk (ascribing partners to Allah) in anything, I would bring you forgiveness nearly as great as it.
(Related by Tirmidhee).

My take:

Allah is most forgiving, don't lose faith, don't lose hope, always ask for forgiveness with sincerity, and, iA, Allah will forgive your sins.

Peace-