“Learn the throwing of arrows and do not be averse to it, for the area between the two targets holds a garden of the gardens of paradise.” Saying of Prophet Muhammad (May peace and blessings be upon him)
#archery #bowhunting #mathewsarchery #mathewshalon #halon32 (at Houston, Texas)
I put these together for myself, so I thought I’d share
1. Plan, plan, plan.
Schedule your time in a way that will give you adequate time for worship, worldly tasks, and rest. Break up your acts of worship into manageable sizes. (It’s easier to memorize 1 line after every salah, than 5 lines at once.)
2. Renew your intention and say it out loud before every act
3. Try to implement consistent acts into daily routine, these are most beloved to Allah, even if small
e.g. a) ayat al kursi after every salah. (RasoolUllah sallAllahu a’laihi wa sallam said for one who does so, the only thing standing between him/her and Jannah is death). b) tasbeeh after salah. c) donate some money every day, even if it’s just $1
4. Try to memorize the meaning of the small surahs we know so that it helps us gain khushu’
5. Try to memorize the surahs that are specifically praised for their virtue
e.g. Yasin, Mulk, Waqi’ah, etc.
6. Recite as much Quran as possible
7. Make a list beforehand of all the du’as you’d like answered by Allah and be consistent of making them
8. Make a list of all your weaknesses and along with asking Allah to rid you of them, try to actively watch for them and correct them.
One weakness that every one of us can be vigilant about is what we say. Backbiting, racist remarks, lewdness, and the likes can be the source of our damnation in the hereafter.
9. Repent, repent, repent
There is no sin greater than His mercy. Even if you were to spend every second of every day sinning, His mercy is still greater. Be remorseful, say sorry, and promise Him you won’t return to the evil.
10. Try to wake up a few minutes before suhoor and pray two rak’ah. Some suggested donating the reward of these to the ummah of RasoolUllah sallAllahu a’laihi wa sallam.
Laad Bazaar, Hyderabad, India.
Khadim, or servant/helper, is the title given to the men and women in charge of the upkeep and maintenance of the Two Holy Mosques. Their duties range from cleaning the restrooms, to filling up coolers with Zamzam. Here we see them meticulously dusting and polishing one of the gates of Masjid an-Nabawi. - While many of them are financially struggling, others with great wealth and prestige apply for these positions in order that they may serve pilgrims and mosque attendees, and in return, gain the pleasure of God. The true custodians of The Holy Mosques. May they all be served in the highest level of paradise. (at Al-Masjid Al-Nabawi Madinah Munawwarah)
Students from all over the world flock to Medina to study their faith. During the day, you find many majalis, or circles of discussions, taking place simultaneously throughout the masjid. Here we see children split up into groups, each with their own teacher, memorizing the Holy Quran. God bless them and their families.
A copy of the Holy Quran in a hotel room drawer, Medina. - Here in the States, copies of the Bible are placed in hotels by Gideons International, a multi-million dollar evangelical Christian organization aimed at distributing Christian scriptures to hotels, hospitals, schools, and prisons throughout many countries.
Jannatul Baqi (Garden of Heaven) is the main cemetery of Madinah. Buried here are around ten thousand companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be on him), many close family members including his own children, and many other Muslims from previous and current generations.
The Prophet (peace and blessings be on him) would go to al-Baqi and say: “Peace be upon the inhabitants of this city (graveyard) from among the Believers and the Muslims. And may Allah have mercy on those who have gone ahead of us, and those who come later on, and we shall, God willing, join you.” (at Al-Baqi’)
Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz Airport, Medina
(at Medina, Saudi Arabia)
Assalamu a'alaikum
InshaAllah my family and I will be leaving for Umrah on December 14th. Please forgive us if we have hurt you in any way, and let me know if we owe you anything.
If you would like me to make du'a for you and/or convey your salaam to Rasoolullah (sallAllahu a'laihi wa sallam), please use this form: https://goo.gl/forms/MDp3IcEYkJpyarKq1
When one achieves success by not doing much, remind yourself that he or she is the exception. Yes, God is capable of doing whatever He wills, and He gives to whomever He wills, but He has placed us in a world of cause of effect; of laws and rules. We don’t jump into a fire expecting it to be cooled as it was for Abraham, so follow the rules, don’t look for shortcuts, be consistent, and work hard.
As one of my teachers said, “the barakah (blessing) is in the rule, not the exception.”
When I was a wee chap, my madrasah teacher told me a story:
One day shaytaan goes to a sweets shop filled with people, eats a syrupy dessert and barely wipes one syrupy finger on the wall as he leaves. Just almost a tap. Before long, a fly lands on the spot and starts drinking the syrup. A lizard appears almost instantly in pursuit of the fly. The shop owner has a cat that pounces on the lizard. A soldier enjoying his dessert has a dog with him that breaks free to viciously attack the cat. In trying to protect his cat, the shop owner hits and kills the dog. The furious soldier jumps over the counter, flipping trays of sweets in the process, to grab the owner by the throat. There is complete chaos in the shop. Desserts fly everywhere. Customers join in on the fight, some siding with the owner, others with the soldier. Everyone bloody and hurt. Shaytaan stands down the street, with a smile on his face, watching the whole debacle, and all he did was a swipe of the finger.
Sound familiar?
“And Satan will say when the matter has been concluded, ‘Indeed, God had promised you the promise of truth. And I promised you, but I betrayed you. I had no power over you except that I called you, and you responded to me. So do not blame me, blame yourselves. I cannot be called to your aid, nor can you be called to my aid. Indeed, I have [always] denied your association of me [with God].’ Indeed, for the wrongdoers is a painful punishment.” Quran 14:22
The Prophet, peace be upon him, said, “for fasting the day of `Ashura, I hope that Allah will accept it as expiation for the year that went before.” [Reported by Muslim, 1976]
Ibn ‘Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them both, said, “I never saw the Messenger of Allah, upon whom be peace, so keen to fast any day and give it priority over any other than this day, the day of `Ashura, and this month, meaning Ramadhan.” [Reported by al-Bukhari, 1867]
When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) arrived in Madinah, he found that the Jews there fasted on Muharram 10 and asked them the reason for their fasting on this day. They said,” This is a blessed day. On this day Allah saved the Children of Israel from their enemy (in Egypt) and so Prophet Musa fasted on this day giving thanks to Allah.” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “We are closer to Musa than you are.” He fasted on that day and commanded Muslims to fast on this day. (Al-Bukhari)
We are taught that in addition to the 10th, it is best to fast either the day before `Ashura (9th of Muharram) or the day after (11th of Muharram), but it is inshaAllah still acceptable to fast only on the 10th.
Ibn al-Qayyim writes, “Regarding the fast of `Ashura, the best method of observing it is to fast three days: the 9th, 10th, and 11th. The next best is to fast the 9th and 10th. And the next is to fast only on the 10th”
May Allah accept all of us. Ameen.
Tomorrow is the day of ‘Arafah, the holiest day in Islam. The day on which Allah revealed:
“This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion.” (Quran 5:3)
The day about which The Prophet (sallAllahu a'laihi wa sallam) said:
“On this day, Allah, the most Exalted, descends to the nearest heaven, and He is proud of His servants (performing Hajj) on the earth and says to those in heavens, look at My servants, they have come from far and near, with hair disheveled and faces covered with dust, to seek my Mercy. Even if their sins are as much the sand or the froth of the sea, I shall forgive them.”
What should we do?
Fast"Fasting on the Day of 'Arafah expiates the sins of the past year and the coming year.“ (Muslim)
Make du'a
“The most excellent dua is the dua on the Day of 'Arafah…” (Muwatta)
Do dhikr
“…the best of what I and the prophets before me have said, is 'There is nothing that deserves to be worshiped in truth except Allaah, He is Alone and has no partner, to Him belongs the dominion and to Him belongs all praise, and He is All-Powerful over all things.’” (Muwatta)
لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له ، له الملك ، وله الحمد ، وهو على كل شيء قدير
Repent and ask for forgiveness
“There is no day on which Allah frees people from the Fire more so than on the day of 'Arafah. He comes close to those (people standing on 'Arafah), and then He reveals before His Angels saying, ‘What are these people seeking.” (Muslim)
General good deeds like giving charity, praying extra nawafil, reciting Quran, etc.
May Allah accept all of our deeds, may He forgive all of our sins, may He accept all of the Hajj, and grant us all the highest level of paradise. Ameen.
The backyard.
“Verily in the creation of the heavens and earth, and in the alternation from night to day, are signs for those who have intelligence.” -Quran