The lofty status of remembrance (dhikr)

Source: sunnah.org

Dhikr of Allah is the most excellent act of Allah’s servants and is stressed over a hundred times in the Holy Qur’an. It is the most praiseworthy work to earn Allah’s pleasure, the most effective weapon to overcome the enemy, and the most deserving of deeds in reward. It is the flag of Islam, the polish of hearts, the essence of the science of faith, the immunization against hypocrisy, the head of worship, and the key of all success.There are no restrictions on the modality, frequency, or timing of dhikr whatsoever. The restrictions on modality pertain to certain specific obligatory acts which are not the issue here, such as Salat. The Shari`a is clear and everyone knows what they have to do. Indeed, the Prophet said that the People of Paradise will only regret one thing: not having made enough dhikr in the world! Are not those who are making up reasons to discourage others from making dhikr afraid of Allah in this tremendous matter?

Dua Astaghfar (Forgiveness)

Source: http://hadithoftheday.com/dua-astaghfar/

Astaghfar means seeking forgiveness of Allah for the sins so far committed and turning repentant unto Allah.

Allah has created us weak and we are likely to make mistakes and transgress. At the same time Allah has allowed us to seek forgiveness. Forgiveness is very important in Islam. By constantly turning to Allah for forgiveness of our sins, we learn humility. Our Creator time and time again tells His creation to repent so that they may be forgiven.

And seek forgiveness of Allah. Indeed, Allah is ever Forgiving and Merciful.
Surat An-Nisa 4:106

And whoever does a wrong or wrongs himself but then seeks forgiveness of Allah will find Allah Forgiving and Merciful.
Surat An-Nisa 4:110

Allah is Ar-Rahman, the Most Compassionate, and Ar-Raheem, the Most Merciful. He loves that we ask Him for forgiveness and He has promised to forgive.

Say, “O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.” And return [in repentance] to your Lord and submit to Him before the punishment comes upon you; then you will not be helped.
Surat Az-Zumar 39:53-54

Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah’s Apostle salallahu alaihi wasallam said, “Our Lord, the Blessed, the Superior, comes every night down on the nearest Heaven to us when the last third of the night remains, saying: “Is there anyone to invoke Me, so that I may respond to invocation? Is there anyone to ask Me, so that I may grant him his request? Is there anyone seeking My forgiveness, so that I may forgive him?”
Sahih Al-Bukhari – Book 21 Hadith 246

Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah’s Apostle said, “When Allah created the creations, He wrote with Him on His Throne: ‘My Mercy has preceded My Anger.”
Sahih Al-Bukhari – Book 93 Hadith 545

Narrated by Anas ibn Malik
Anas heard the Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam say: Allah, the Exalted, has said: “O son of Adam! Certainly I shall continue to pardon thee so long as thou supplicatest Me and hopest (for My forgiveness), whatever may be thy faults and sins, I don’t care. O son of Adam, even if thy sins pile up as high as the sky, and thou askest for My forgiveness, I will forgive thee. O son of Adam, if thou comest to Me with an earthful of defaults and meetest Me, not associating anything with Me, I will come to thee, with an earthful of forgiveness.”
Al-Tirmidhi – Hadith 442
Narrated by Abdullah ibn Umar
The Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam said: “Allah, the Lord of honour and glory, will accept the repentance of His servant till his death-rattle begins.”
Al-Tirmidhi – Hadith 18

Prophet Muhammad salallahu alaihi wasallam, Allah’s beloved Messenger would constantly ask for Allah’s forgiveness.

Narrated Abu Huraira: I heard Allah’s Apostle saying.” By Allah! I ask for forgiveness from Allah and turn to Him in repentance more than seventy times a day.”
Sahih Al-Bukhari – Book 75 Hadith 319

Narrated Abdullah bin Amr: Abu Bakr As-Siddiq said to the Prophet “O Allah’s Apostle! Teach me an invocation with which I may invoke Allah in my prayers.” The Prophet said, “Say: O Allah! I have wronged my soul very much (oppressed myself), and none forgives the sins but You; so please bestow Your forgiveness upon me. No doubt, You are the Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”
Sahih Al-Bukhari – Book 93 Hadith 485

Thauban reported: When the Messenger of Allah salallahu alaihi wasallam finished his prayer, he begged forgiveness three times and said: O Allah! Thou art Peace, and peace comes from Thee; Blessed art Thou, O Possessor of Glory and Honour. Walid reported: I said to Auza’i: How is the seeking of forgiveness? He replied: You should say:, I beg forgiveness from Allah, I beg forgiveness from Allah.”
Sahih Muslim – Book 4 Hadith 1226

Narrated Shaddad bin Aus: The Prophet salallahu alahi wasallam said “The most superior way of asking for forgiveness from Allah is:

للَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِّي لا إِلَهَ إِلا أَنْتَ خَلَقْتَنِي وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ وَأَنَا عَلَى عَهْدِكَ وَوَعْدِكَمَا اسْتَطَعْتُ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا صَنَعْتُ أَبُوءُ لَكَ بِنِعْمَتِكَ عَلَيَّ وَأَبُوءُ لَكَ بِذَنْبِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي فَإِنَّهُ لا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلا أَنْتَ

‘Allahumma anta Rabbi la ilaha illa anta, Anta khalaqtani wa ana abduka, wa ana ‘ala ahdika wa wa’dika mastata’tu, A’udhu bika min Sharri ma sana’tu, abu’u Laka bini’matika ‘alaiya, wa Abu Laka bidhanbi faghfirli innahu la yaghfiru adhdhunuba illa anta.”

(O Allah! You are my Lord! None has the right to be worshipped but You. You created me and I am Your slave, and I am faithful to my covenant and my promise 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.

The Prophet added. “If somebody recites it during the day with firm faith in it, and dies on the same day before the evening, he will be from the people of Paradise; and if somebody recites it at night with firm faith in it, and dies before the morning, he will be from the people of Paradise.”
Sahih Al-Bukhari – Book 75 Hadith 318

Let us take time every day to reflect on ourselves and seek Allah’s forgiveness with utmost sincerity and earnestly. May Allah help us stay on the right path, forgive us and help us repent when we falter.

Ameen

Do Animals go to Heaven?

Source: askaquestion.hadithoftheday.com

By: Shaykh Yusuf Badat

Based on the verses of the Qurʾan and prophetic reports, animals will be resurrected on the day of judgement, justice will be manifested for them, thereafter they will be made to dust. Refer to the below mentioned source texts:

“There is no creature moving on the earth, nor a bird flying on its two wings, but they are all communities like you. We have not missed anything in the Book. Then, to their Lord all of them shall be gathered.” (Qurʾan 6:38)

Story of a former Islamophobic Christian’s conversion to Islam!

Not very long ago, I was preparing myself to be a Christian soldier against Islam, fighting with my words, not by force. Having been raised in a Southern Baptist home, with church-going protestant parents and an obsessive love of expressing myself through writing, I had all the assurance I needed that God had lined my life up in such a way to fulfill this plan. My mission had three parts: investigate Islam, devote my life to writing and circulating every bad and corrupt thing I found in Islam, and ultimately destroy Islam. I plotted and planned and my confidence in the quest for Christ grew tremendously. All the while God was plotting as well, preparing to send into my path a very important person to help save me from the mess I was creating.

Satan the Outcast – From the 7th Heaven to Hell (Video)

 Abdullah Ibn Omar, said that the Jinn, the descendants of Jaann, had existed for about two thousand years before Adam. They made mischief and shed blood, therefore God sent army of Angels who expelled them to remote islands. When the angels said, “while we glorify You with praises and thanks (Exalted be You above all that they associate with You as partners) and sanctify You.” means we always worship You and none of us ever disobey You. We worship You day and night. And when God said to the angels, “He said, “I know that which you do not know.” means God told them that He had the best of knowledge about the purpose of their creation which they had no knowledge of it. And He said, “I am setting on the earth a vicegerent.”

A Taste of Reality

By: Soufyan Bouharat

Bismillah (In the name of Allah).

Let’s think and reflect for a moment about life. The true reality of the purpose of our existence. Imagine this: a life without entertainment. For example, no TV, no Music, no Games, no Sport, no Internet. Just imagine that we would do none of these amusement activities. These types of entertainment are not a primary need.

Imagine sitting in your home or walking outside with nothing of these distractions coming up in your mind. What remains? The true purpose of life.

“And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.” – Qur’an Chapter 51: sūrat l-dhāriyāt (The Wind that Scatter)

Dealing with Worries and Stress

Source: http://www.missionislam.com/

Book by Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid

Contents:

Introduction
Kinds of Worry and Stress
Islam’s Treatment for Anxiety and Worry
Writings of Immam Ibn al-Qayyim on Treating Distress and Grief
Du’aa’ (Supplication)
Reminder

1. Introduction:

Praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the Worlds, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate, the Master of the Day of Judgement. I bear witness that there is no god but He, the Lord of the earlier and later generations and Sustainer of heaven and earth. Peace and blessings be upon the one who was sent as a Mercy to the worlds. I bear witness that he is the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). Peace and blessings be upon him, upon all his Family and Companions, and upon those who believe in his guidance and follow in his footsteps until the Day of Judgement.

Hadith Regarding Relief for Sadness, Worry, Grief and Trials

Source: http://www.missionislam.com/

1. It was narrated by Ibn Sina on the authority of Abi Qutada (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah, Allah (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:“whoever reads the verse of the Throne (ayat al-kursi) and the khawatam of Surat al-Baqara at the time of distress, Allah will help him.”

2. It was narrated by Imam Ahmad (may Allah be pleased with him) on the authority of ‘Abdullah ibn Ja‘far (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah , encouraged the saying of this supplication at the time of distress: “La illaha il Allah al-Haleem al-Kareem, Subhanallahi rabb al-‘Arsh al-‘Adheem wal Hamdulilahi Rabb al-‘Alameen (there is none worthy of worship except Allah, the Gentle and Generous. Glory is to Allah the Lord of the Great Throne, and all praises be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds.)”

Breathtaking: This Man Filmed The Skies For 7 Days (Video)

 Filmed over the course of 7 days at El Teide, Spain’s highest mountain, renowned as one of the best places in the world to photograph stars. Activate full-screen HD for the full experience! Earth is such a spectacular place! If you enjoyed these breathtaking shots please share with others.