“A VERY USEFUL CONVERSATION ABT THREE QUESTIONS”

Three Questions

There was a young man who went overseas to study for quite a long time. When he returned, he asked his parents to find him a religious scholar or any expert who could answer his 3 Questions.
Finally, his parents were able to find a Muslim scholar.

YOung man:
Who are you? Can you answer my questions?

SchoLar:
I am one of Allah (SubHana Wa Ta`ala)’s slaves and Insha-Allah (God willing), I will be able to answer your questions.

YOung man:
Are you sure? A lot of Professors and experts were not able to answer my questions.

SchoLar:
I will try my best, with the help of Allah (SubHana Wa Ta`ala).

YOung Man:
I have 3 questions:

1. Does God exist? If so, show me His shape.
2. What is thaqdir (fate)?
3. If shaitan (Devil) was created from the fire, why at the end he will
be thrown to hell that is also created from fire. It certainly will not
hurt him at all, since Shaitan (Devil) and the hell were created from
fire.

Did God not think of it this far?

Suddenly, the SchoLar slapped the young man’s face very hard. Young Man
(felt pain): Why do you get angry at me?

SchoLar:
I am not angry. The slap is my answer to your three questions.

YOung Man:
I really don’t understand.

SchoLar:      
How do you feel after I slapped you?

YOung Man:
Of course, I felt the pain.

SchOlar:      
So do you believe that pain exists?

YOung Man:
Yes.

SchoLar:      
Show me the shape of the pain!

YOung Man:
I cannot.

SchoLar:
That is my first answer. All of us feel God’s existence without being able to see His shape… Last night, did you dream that you will be slapped by me?

YOung Man:
No.

SchoLar:      
Did you ever think that you will get a slap from me, today?

YOung Man:
No.

SchoLar:
That is takdir (fate) my second answer…… .. My hand that I
used to slap you, what is it created from?

YOung Man:
It is created from flesh.

SchoLar:      
How about your face, what is it created from?

YOung Man:
Flesh.

SchoLar:      
How do you feel after I slapped you?

YOung Man:
In pain.

SchoLar:
That’s it. This is my third answer, Even though Shaitan (Devil)
and also the hell were created from the fire, if Allah wants, insha-Allah (God willing), the hell will become a very painful place for Shaitan. 
  

A CONVERSATION…
THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST EXPLANATIONS OF WHY ALLAH ALLOWS PAIN AND SUFFERING THAT I HAVE SEEN:

A MAN WENT TO A BARBERSHOP TO HAVE HIS HAIR CUT AND HIS BEARD TRIMMED.
AS THE BARBER BEGAN TO WORK, THEY BEGAN TO HAVE A GOOD CONVERSATION. THEY TALKED ABOUT SO MANY THINGS AND VARIOUS SUBJECTS WHEN THEY EVENTUALLY TOUCHED ON THE SUBJECT OF ALLAH,

THE BARBER SAID: “I DON’T BELIEVE THAT ALLAH EXISTS.”
“WHY DO YOU SAY THAT?”ASKED THE CUSTOMER.WELL, YOU JUST HAVE TO GO OUT IN THE STREET REALIZE THAT ALLAH DOESN’T EXIST. TELL ME, IF ALLAH EXISTS, WOULD THERE BE SO MANY SICK PEOPLE? WOULD THERE BE ABANDONED CHILDREN? IF ALLAH EXISTED, THERE WOULD BE NEITHER SUFFERING NOR PAIN. I CAN’T IMAGINE A LOVING ALLAH WHO WOULD ALLOW ALL OF THESE THINGS” THE CUSTOMER THOUGHT FOR A MOMENT, BUT DIDN’T RESPOND BECAUSE HE DIDN’T WANT TO START AN ARGUMENT.
THE BARBER FINISHED HIS JOB AND THE CUSTOMER LEFT THE SHOP. JUST AFTER HE LEFT THE BARBERSHOP, HE SAW A MAN IN THE STREET WITH LONG, STRINGY, DIRTY HAIR AND AN UNTRIMMED BEARD HE LOOKED DIRTY AND UNKEMPT. THE CUSTOMER TURNED BACK AND ENTERED THE BARBER SHOP AGAIN AND HE SAID TO THE BARBER: “YOU KNOW WHAT? BARBERS DO NOT EXIST.”
“HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT?”ASKED THE SURPRISED BARBER.
“I AM HERE, AND I AM A BARBER. AND I JUST WORKED ON YOU!”
“NO!” THE CUSTOMER EXCLAIMED. “BARBERS DON’T EXIST BECAUSE IF THEY DID, THERE WOULD BE NO PEOPLE WITH DIRTY LONG HAIR AND UNTRIMMED BEARDS, LIKE THAT MAN OUTSIDE.”

“AH, BUT BARBERS DO EXIST! THAT’S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PEOPLE DO NOT COME TO ME.”
“EXACTLY” AFFIRMED THE CUSTOMER. “THAT’S THE POINT!

ALLAH, TOO, DOES EXIST! THAT’S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PEOPLE DO NOT GO TO HIM AND DON’T LOOK TO HIM FOR HELP. THAT’S WHY THERE’S SO MUCH PAIN AND SUFFERING IN THE WORLD” 

Four Keys To Successful Action Guaranteeing Success by “True” Conditions By FARAZ FAREED RABBANI

Four Keys To Successful Action

Guaranteeing Success by “True” Conditions By FARAZ FAREED RABBANI The idea of striving for success is a central theme of both the Qur’an and Prophetic teachings. It is something ultimately sought by every human. But how is success achieved? Shaykh al-Islam Shabbir Usmani, one of the great Muslim scholars of the 20th century and a leading voice in the Independence Movement in the Indian subcontinent, said we can understand from the Qur’an and Prophetic teachings that, if the following four conditions are present, success is guaranteed. The Four Keys 1) One’s intention must be true; 2) One’s goal must be true; 3) The means one takes must be true; and 4) The way one takes the means must be true. How are these four conditions made “true”? First: True Intention A true intention is for one’s action to be sincerely for the sake of God. God Most High says, “They were only ordered to serve God, making their religion sincerely His.” (98:5) And, “Whoever hopes for the meeting with his Lord, let him do righteous work, and make none sharer of the service due unto his Lord.” (18:110) The Messenger of God (God bless him and give him peace) said, “Actions are by intentions, and each person shall only have that which he intended.” (Related by Bukhari and Muslim, on the authority of Umar – God be pleased with him) The second Islamic century scholar and Sufi, Abdullah Ibn al-Mubarak (God have mercy on him), said, “How often is a small action made tremendous through its intention, and how often is a tremendous action rendered small through its intention.” (Dhahabi, Siyar A’lam al-Nubala, 8.400) Second: True Goals Having a true goal entails that one’s goal is something that is pleasing to God. What pleases God is seeking to make good one’s relationship with Him and to seek the good for oneself and for all creation. Third: True Means The Prophet (God bless him and give him peace) said, “The strong believer is better and more beloved to God than the weak believer, though there is good in both. Be avid for that which benefits. Rely on God, and don’t deem yourself incapable.” (Related by Muslim, on the authority of Abu Hurayra – God be pleased with him) The “strong believer” in this hadith has been explained in various ways, but perhaps the best explanation is that the strong believer is the one who is able to take the best of means – outward and inward – in each situation. Some sunnas in planning the right way of action include: [1] Considering all options; [2] Consulting those worthy of consultation; [3] Carefully weighing the choices based on the greatest likely benefit; [4] Consigning the matter to God by suspending one’s judgment before acting and performing the prayer of seeking guidance (istikhara); and [5] Acting in the way one then feels is of the greatest likely benefit. It is a Prophetic promise that such action will be blessed. Fourth: True Way of Taking the Means This entails that the way one takes the means be in accordance with the spirit of excellence, wisdom, gentleness, dignity and forbearance that are the essence of the way of the Beloved Messenger Muhammad (God bless him and give him peace). It entails striving to promote the good – for oneself and others – in one’s action and as one acts; and to strive to respond to all challenges that arise in the best way possible. May God inspire us to all that is best and most pleasing to Him. And God alone gives success. FARAZ RABBANI is a researcher in Islamic law who answers religious questions and teaches at www.SunniPath.com

 

Copyright 2007 Islamica Magazine.
All rights reserved. http://www.islamicamagazine.com/issue-19/four-keys-to-successful-action.html

The best way to ask forgiveness

Shaddad ibn Aws (May Allah be pleased with him) reported

 

that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessingsof Allaah be upon him) said,

“The best way to ask forgiveness is to say,

 “Allaahumma Anta Rabbee laa ilaah illa Anta, khalaqtani wa ana ‘abduka wa ana ‘ala

‘ahdika wa wad’ika maa asta’tu, a’oodhu bika min sharri ma sana’tu aboo’u laka bi

ni’matika ‘alayya wa aboo’u laka bi dhanbi, faghfir li fa innahu laa yaghfir al-dhunoob

illa anta

(O Allaah, you are my Lord. None has the right to be worshipped but You. You created me

and I am Your lave, and I am faithful to my covenant and my promise (to You) as much as I

can. I seek refuge with You from all the evil I have done. I acknowledge before You all the

blessings You have bestowed upon me, and I confess to You all my sins. So I entreat You

to forgive my sins, for nobody can forgive sins except You.).”

He [the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)] said: Whoever says this

during the day, believing in it with certainty, then dies on that day before evening comes, will

be one of the people of Paradise, and whoever says it at night, believing in it with certainty,

then dies on that night before morning comes, will be one of the people of Paradise.”

(Narrated by al-Bukhaari)