Encouraging good works

I try my best to answer anyone who contacts me, whatever the communication medium. Even if it takes a number of months, I make a mental (and written!) note and it irritates me and I feel indebted until I respond.

Lately I had been thinking, why bother? Doing so detracts me from doing what I want to do and I could always choose to "forget". This was until someone mentioned to me in passing how he and others appreciated their being able to get through to me, and I thought "oh".

I felt really good inside after hearing this and couldn't understand why, until I stumbled upon this Hadith: "... The Prophet (SAWS) said, 'When anybody among you finds a good attribute in his brother, let him tell him of it, as it will give him encouragement to do good works'..."

Sarcasm

My sister tells me I need to make a resolution this Ramadhan to cut down on the sarcasm. How fortunate I am to have someone to point my errors out to me. If she slapped me across the head every time I made a sarcastic remark, that would be even better.

14, Purification of the Heart

Title: Purification of the Heart: Signs, Symptoms, and Cures of the Spiritual Diseases of the Heart
Author: Hamza Yusuf
Paperback: 220 pages
Publisher: Starlatch Press, US (Jun 2004)
Language: English

Maybe because I am most in need of it, but this is one of the best books I have read and will ever read, maa sha Allah.

Imam Abu Hanifa said, as quoted in this book, "If the kings knew the pleasure we are in [worshipping God and gaining knowledge of His religion], they would send their armies with swords to take it away from us."

Such is true of this book. A knowledge more valuable/pleasurable than gold or oil or any such commodity.

The book is excellently structured/sectioned to allow for broken up periodic reading and digestion in parts. Some of the "diseases" discussed include miserliness, hatred, love of the world, envy, fear of poverty, displeasure with the divine degree, negative thoughts, vanity, anger, boasting and arrogance.

Get it if you want to better yourself as a person. A must for all, irrespective of religious belief.

JIMAS - Quotes for Ramadhan

Some quotes for Ramadhan taken from various talks during last weekend's JIMAS conference:

1. Some things to try improve upon this Ramadhan: prayer (increasing Khushoo/attentiveness, avoiding distractions etc), modesty (lowering gaze etc), dhikr (increasing time spent in the remembrance of Allah).
2. Ramadhan: A month of *sacrifice*? Better word is *deposit*. Or better yet: *investment*.
3. Ramadhan is the month of training.
4. The only thing that belongs to you is your good deeds. The money that you give in charity is a part of you, forever.
5. Charity brings success. You will find much such advice in many self-help business-manuals (written by non-religious authors).
6. Iftaar: Invite the poor to join you. Serve others before yourself when eating. Keep refilling others' plates without them having to request it.

JIMAS - Random Categorisations and Quotes

Some random categorisations and quotes taken from various talks during last weekend's JIMAS conference:

1. The best advice for anyone and everyone: Fear Allah.
2. The 4 pillars of Kufr (disbelief): Pride, Envy, Anger, Arrogance.
3. The 3 evil figures in Islam: Iblees, Fir'awn, Ad-Dajjaal.
4. The 4 CEO (Chaos Of Everything) forces: (i) the devilish pull/whisperings of Shaytaan (satan); (ii) the Nafs (lower soul); (iii) the Dunya (world) - its worldliness and material pull; (iv) Hawaa' (whims/desires/passions). Our Jihad (striving) is against these 4 things.
5. Only a hypocrite feels himself safe from hypocrisy.
6. "Shari'ah! Shari'ah! Chopping of hands!" we hear. Man, relax! That's just for thieves.
7. This Deen was shouldered by the young ones and sharpened by the wisdom of the elders.

JIMAS - Quotes on Good Manners and Character

Some quotes about good manners and character taken from various talks during last weekend's JIMAS conference:

1. People of character bring about victory.
2. Sometimes good manners means we put up with others' bad manners.
3. In an incident revealed in the Qur'an, Ibrahim (peace be upon him) welcomes/invites some guests even though he doesn't know them and he brings them a large, quality amount of food immediately, without even asking them. An incident to reflect upon.
4. Guests: Don't ask if they want to eat. You know, out of politeness, they're going to say no. Just bring it.
5. The saying "serve yourself" does not translate in Arabic. Try it: "ikhdim nafsak". "ikhdim nafsak"?! In the Arabic language and Arab culture, it comes across just plain bizarre.
6. Feed and assist others for the sake of Allah (SWT). Not to be compensated. To remind of a good deed done is Haram. Severly disliked. A kind word is much better.
7. Two people (characteristics) loved by Allah: a person who is kind/forbearing and a person who takes time to deliberate.
8. Some characteristics come natural to a person. Others have to be learned/acquired.
9. From your good character are qualities like patience and forgiveness.
10. Mercy: He who doesn't show it, will not receive it.
11. Our so-called "practice" of Islam becomes a barrier for people accepting it.
12. "The Prophet's (SAWS) character was the Qur'an" means that the Qur'an is full of character.
13. Don't make comments like "Oh, you're not married yet?" or "You've put on a bit of weight" or such things. It can be very hurtful for the other person.
14. Treat your family good, parents in particular. It is a good measure of whether your good behaviour outside the house is just for show. Treat the womenfolk gently.

JIMAS - Quotes on Belief

Some quotes about belief taken from various talks during last weekend's JIMAS conference:

1. Spirituality is liked in the secular world because it denies the (existence of the) devil.
2. Take a walk in the countryside (and marvel at the beauty) if you don't believe in God.
3. Science can only answer *how* Allah created the earth. Religion answers *why*.
4. We don't invent new names/titles for Allah, e.g. "the artist", "the engineer" etc. We stick to those that He (SWT) has revealed to us.
5. When you create something and programme it to obey you, and it does, that shows the greatness of the creator. When you create something and it *chooses* to obey you, that is something else, wallahu akbar.