PRAYING (SALAAT) Is Like Whispering With God!

 

Praying (Salaat) Is Like

Whispering With God

“Pray as you have seen me praying!”

– Muhammad (s.a.w.)

(M. Javed Naseem)

Prayer (Salaat) is one of the most important pillars of the Faith of Islam. Some scholars have called it ‘Furqan’ (the distinguisher) as it distinguishes between a Muslim and non-Muslim. There are numerous commands of Allah in the Quran that emphasize the establishing of ‘Salaat’ and paying of ‘Zakaat’ (poor-due) – It is probably more than the commands for any other obligation! And that’s the reason many scholars have gone too far to declare that the one who does not offer obligatory prayer (Salaat) is not a Muslim.

وَأَقِمِ ٱلصَّلاَةَ طَرَفَى ٱلنَّهَارِ وَزُلَفاً مِّنَ ٱلْلَّيْلِ

إِنَّ ٱلْحَسَنَاتِ يُذْهِبْنَ ٱلسَّـيِّئَاتِ

ذٰلِكَ ذِكْرَىٰ لِلذَّاكِرِينَ
“And establish regular prayers at the two ends

of the day and at the approaches of the night.

For those things, that are good, remove those

that are evil. Be that the word of remembrance

to those who remember (their Lord).”

(al-Quran 11:114)

The deciding factor between the occupants of Paradise and Hell on the Judgment Day, would be the remembrance of Allah. Remembering Allah means that you fulfill all commands of Allah and obey Him in discharging all obligations. Muslims are required to offer five obligatory prayers (Salaat) in a 24-hour period every day. As a result, prayer should become an essential part of our daily routine or habit. Allah tells us to keep and preserve that habit and give special attention to the middle prayer.

حَافِظُواْ عَلَى ٱلصَّلَوَاتِ وٱلصَّلاَةِ ٱلْوُسْطَىٰ

وَقُومُواْ للَّهِ قَانِتِينَ
“Guard strictly your (habit of) prayers,

especially the Middle Prayer; and stand

before Allah in a devout (frame of mind).”

(al-Quran 2:238)

Scholars are of the view that the ‘Middle Prayer’ means the Salaat of ‘Asr’ (late afternoon).

Allah, the Almighty, has commanded the believers to glorify His name day and night. Similarly, the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) also told us to remember God as much as possible. Religious teachers recommend that we do Dhikr (Zikr) after every obligatory prayer (Salaat) and offer ‘Nawafil’ (optional prayers), especially at night.

It has been narrated that Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) said:

"The coolness of my eyes is in Salaat".

Don’t over-do it!

Remembering Allah and offering prayers is an excellent thing to do but at the same time we should remember that Allah made us to live in this world so that we have to handle the affairs of this world too. We need to keep the balance. We should not force or kill ourselves in the name of ‘prayers’ by over-doing it. As a matter of fact, Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) prohibited it.

It has been narrated Aayesha, (r.a.a.):

“Once the Prophet (s.a.w.) came while a woman was sitting with me. He said, "Who is she?"

I replied, "She is so-and-so," and told him about her (excessive) prayers.

He said disapprovingly: "Do (good) deeds which are within your capacity (without being overtaxed) as Allah does not get tired (of giving rewards) but (surely) you will get tired and the Deen (good, righteous deed, act of worship) loved most by Allah is that which is done regularly”. (Bukhari, Book 2, chapter 32, No.43).

Note: This means: Don’t over-burden yourself! Do good deeds or prayers regularly and that which you can easily do. Don’t force yourself nor get yourself hurt! Relax when you get tired, but Allah never gets tired to bestow His blessings on you. Do as much as is comfortable and easy to do everyday without troubling yourself!

************

RAMADAN Can Help Change Your Eating Habits. Be Health Conscious!

 

Ramadan Can Help

Change Your Eating Habits!

Be Health Conscious,

Use Nutritious Foods,

Fruits & Veggies!

(M. Javed Naseem)

We are almost through Ramadan and are now in a difficult and challenging part. The last days of Ramadan require Muslims to be more God-conscious and concentrate more on their spiritual cleansing; though Ramadan is generally known for physical cleansing.

While fasting, we should pay special attention to our food. We should use more fruits and vegetables. Beans and lean meat is also recommended. Nutrition experts recommend Lentil soup. In India-Pakistan, this means ‘Masoor ki Daal’. Avoid spicy food in the Suhoor because it will make you thirsty during the day. Milk and yogurt are very good at both ends (Suhoor & Iftar times).

The nutrition experts from the Singapore General Hospital (SGH) have recommended the following foods during Ramadan. You can keep the same regime even after the month of Ramadan.

What foods should you have during Suhoor?

For Suhoor (pre-dawn meal)

When deciding what to eat during Ramadan, remember that Iftar and Suhoor help sustain your fast the following day, so consuming the right food is important,” says the Department of ​Dietetics at Singapore General Hospital (SGH), a member of the SingHealth​ group.​

Suhoor needs to be wholesome to provide enough energy to last during the long hours of fasting. Suhoor should include the following foods:

Fruits and vegetables
Rich in fiber, fruits and vegetables are essentials during fasting as they increase the feeling of fullness and help prevent constipation. They also contain vitamins, minerals and phyto-chemicals that are vital for good health.

Health Promotion Board (HPB) recommends 2 servings of vegetables and 2 servings of fruit per day. Make sure you have 1 serving of fruit and 1 serving of veggie at each of your two meals. Traditionally during Ramadan, dates are eaten at the start of Iftar to symbolize the breaking of the fast. Besides being an excellent source of energy, dates are also rich in potassium – helping muscles and nerves to function well. But don’t consume too much as dates are high in sugar!

Rice and alternatives
High-fiber carbohydrate foods like brown rice and wholemeal bread take longer to digest, helping to sustain energy levels longer.

Whole-wheat bread, brown rice or wholegrain noodles are complex carbohydrates that provide the body with energy, fiber and minerals. Compared to sugary foods and desserts that burn quickly, they provide more stable and sustainable energy levels.

Meat and alternatives
Skinless chicken, fish and low-fat dairy products are a great source of protein while limiting your fat intake. Furthermore, they help repair and build body tissue, and build up your immune system. Consuming high-calcium dairy products also helps maintain strong bones. Those that are lactose intolerant can choose lactose-free milk or calcium-fortified soybean milk.​

Incorporate protein rich sources such as lean meat, skinless chicken, fish, eggs, legumes and low-fat dairy products.

To keep your meals healthy, limit the use of oil and opt for steaming, grilling, baking or shallow frying instead. When choosing oils, you should also pick those that are high in unsaturated fats such as canola oil and soybean oil. 

British Nutrition Foundation recommends:

What to eat and drink at iftar and Suhoor:

Iftar – when first breaking the fast go for plenty of fluids, low fat, fluid-rich foods and foods containing some natural sugars for energy (avoid consuming a lot of foods or drinks with added sugars). Below are some examples:

Drinks – water, milk, fruit juices or smoothies – water provides hydration without any extra calories or added sugars. Drinks based on milk and fruit provide some natural sugars and nutrients – these are also good to break the fast but avoid drinking a lot of drinks with added sugars after breaking the fast as these can provide too much sugars and calories.

Dates – traditionally eaten to break the fast since the time of the Prophet Muhammad, dates are a great way to break the fast as they provide natural sugars for energy, provide minerals like potassium, copper and manganese and are a source of fiber. You could also try other dried fruits such as apricots, figs, raisins or prunes, which also provide fiber and nutrients.

Fruit – a traditional way to break the fast in South Asian cultures, fruit provides natural sugars for energy, fluid and some vitamins and minerals.

Soup – traditional in many Arab countries, is a light way to break the fast and provides fluid. Traditional soups are based on a meat broth and often contain pulses, like lentils and beans, and starchy foods like pasta or grains, providing nutrients and energy.

After breaking the fast – meals vary between different cultures and traditions but try to make sure the foods you eat provide a balance of starchy foods, including whole-grains where you can, fruit and vegetables, dairy foods and protein-rich foods like meat, fish, eggs and beans.

After a long fast it’s natural to want to treat yourself but try to keep the amount of fatty and sugary foods and sugary drinks you have to a small amount. Remember that you only have a relatively short time each day to eat and drink to provide your body with all the essential nutrients and fluids it needs to be healthy, so the quality of your diet is especially important during Ramadan.

 

Suhoor – drink plenty of fluids, choose fluid-rich foods to make sure you are well hydrated for the day ahead and go for starchy foods for energy, choosing high fibre or wholegrain varieties where possible as these can help keep you feeling fuller and can aid digestion, helping to prevent constipation. Below are some examples:

Oats - these are whole-grains and you could choose porridge, which will also provide fluids as it’s made with milk or water, muesli with milk or yogurt or overnight oats. You could experiment with fresh or dried fruit, nuts or seeds as toppings.

High-fiber breakfast cereals – these provide plenty of fiber and are often fortified with vitamins and minerals, providing extra nutrients. Because they are consumed with milk, you also get fluid and nutrients like calcium, iodine and b vitamins from the milk.

Starchy foods like rice, or couscous – you could try rice pudding with fruit or experiment with couscous or other grains with dairy or fruit. If you go for savoury dishes at suhoor then it's a good idea make sure these are not too salty or they may make you very thirsty during the fast.

Yogurt – this can be a good food to include at suhoor as it provides nutrients like protein, calcium, iodine and b vitamins and also contains fluid. You could combine it with cereal and fruit as in the examples above.

Breads – go for wholegrain options as these provide more fiber, for example whole-meal toast or Chapattis. Avoid combining bread with salty foods like hard cheese, or preserved meats. You could try nut butters (without added salt), soft cheese, or banana. As bread is fairly dry, make sure you drink plenty of water or other fluids alongside or you could have fluid-rich foods such as a lentil soup, which is a traditional food at Suhoor in some countries. 

(Courtesy: https://www.nutrition.org.uk/healthyliving/seasons/ramadan.html)

************

"GRAPES AND WINE". Islam Has Drawn The Line (Limits) To Discipline Us.

“Grapes And Wine”

Islam Has Drawn The Line (Limits)

To Discipline Us

 (M. Javed Naseem)

“Those are limits set by Allah. 

Those who obey Allah and His Messenger 

will be admitted to Gardens with rivers 

flowing beneath, to abide therein (for ever) 

and that will be the supreme achievement.” 

(al-Quran 4:13) 

Allah the Almighty and the Most Merciful, prescribed Islam as faith for the entire mankind. The main purpose of it is to make all humanity righteous. To achieve that objective, the sense of 'rights' and 'responsibilities' has to be developed. The Divine Books (Torah, Bible & the Quran) were introduced to teach man how to live in this world maintaining justice and peace. There were rules and regulations (Laws) in those Books to keep man within limits. The lines were drawn and the limits were set. This was like an international discipline for all people. Man was warned by Allah the Almighty, not to cross those lines or limits otherwise he'll face the penalty or punishment. 

 “(O mankind!) Call upon your Lord humbly 

and in secret. Lo! He loves not transgressors.” 

(al-Quran 7:55) 

In his book about People of Sham (Syria), Prof. Adil Abu Shanab tells the story of an Arab sheikh who got into a discussion with one of the French occupation officers during the French occupation of Syria (they are doing it again!). The French officer had invited some Syrian dignitaries to a dinner. One of the invitees was an old Sheikh with his white beard. When the French officer saw the old Sheikh eating with his fingers, he asked him: 

“Why are you not eating like us?” 

The Sheikh replied: “Do you see me eating with my nose?” 

The French officer sheepishly answered: “I mean, why don’t you use fork and knife?” 

The Sheikh replied: “I am sure of the cleanliness of my hand, but are you sure of the cleanliness of your fork and knife?” 

This shut the French officer up, but he made up his mind to get vengeance on the old Sheikh. 

At the feast, the wife of the French officer was sitting to his right and the daughter to his left. The French officer, to spite the man of God, asked for wine to be brought, and proceeded to pour for himself, his wife and daughter. He started to drink in a way to annoy the Sheikh. 

He asked him: “Listen, O Sheikh! You like grapes and eat them, don’t you?” 

To which the Sheikh replied in the affirmative. The French officer pointed towards the grapes, hoping to beat the old Sheikh, and said: 

“This drink is from these grapes, so why do you eat the grapes, but reject the wine, keeping away from it?” 

All the guests looked at the old Sheikh, feeling that he would have no answer to that. 

The Sheikh calmly replied: “This is your wife, and this is your daughter. Your daughter is from your wife, right? So how is it that your wife is legitimate (Halal) for you and your daughter is not?” 

The French officer had no answer to that. He was embarrassed and sheepishly left the table. 

(From my book, “God's Prescription – al-Quran”)

So, at the end of the day, what matters most is righteousness – our obedience to our Creator, Almighty Allah. Our success is guaranteed if we obey Allah's commands and follow the teachings of the Prophets who were sent to this world to show us the right way. Now, the ball is in our court. The rules are drawn and the compliance is only voluntary. To us to play till the final whistle!

 ***********

THE JUDGMENT DAY: "I Wish I Were Dust!"

 

The Day Of Judgment

When The Unbeliever Will Say:

"I Wish I Were Dust!”

(M. Javed Naseem)

“Verily, We have warned you of a Penalty near,

the Day when man will see (the deeds)

which his hands have sent forth.”

(al-Quran 78:40)

When God sent man to live on Earth, He also told him what to do, what not to do and how to work for his second (or eternal) life in the Hereafter. Allah told man that his tenure in this world would be temporary and the real eternal life was in the Hereafter. Man's death separates the two parts. He (along with all other humans) shall be resurrected on the Day of Judgment to face the questioning. And then the decision will be made to send him to Paradise or to Hell – based on his deeds in this world.

In Surah al-Naba (or an-Naba), Chapter 78 of the Holy Quran, Allah the Almighty talks to us humans directly. He makes it very clear that there is no doubt about that Day. While reminding us of that, Allah reiterates that He has the sovereignty over heavens and earth, and whatever is in-between. He is the Supreme Creator and He is the Best Provider and Sustainer who feeds all humanity and all living things in the universe. Allah asks us:

“Have We not made the earth as a wide expanse,

And the mountains as pegs?

And (have We not) created you in pairs,

And made your sleep for rest,

And made the night as a covering,

And made the day as a means of subsistence?

And (have We not) built over you the seven firmaments,

And placed (therein) a dazzling lamp (sun)?

And do We not send down from the clouds water in abundance,

That We may produce therewith corn and vegetables,

And gardens of luxurious growth?”

(al-Quran 78:6-16)

Allah reminds us that there is no doubt about the happening of that Day. That has been decreed and nothing can change it. On that Day, the Heaven and the Hell will be shown to people who did not believe in meeting with their Creator after death; or who did not believe that the sinners and transgressors will become the fuel of Hellfire. The Paradise will be shown to the righteous. The greatest show on that Day will start with the sounding of trumpet.

“Verily, the Day of Decision is a thing appointed,

The Day that the Trumpet shall be sounded,

and you shall come forth in crowds;

And the heavens shall be opened as if there were doors,

And the mountains shall vanish, as if they were a mirage.

Truly Hell is as a place of ambush,

For the transgressors a place of destination.

They will dwell therein for ages.

Nothing cool shall they taste therein, nor any drink,

But a boiling fluid and a fluid, dark, murky, intensely cold,

A fitting recompense (for them).

For that they used not to fear any account (for their deeds),

But they (impudently) treated Our Signs as false.

And all things have We preserved on record.

"So taste you (the fruits of your deeds);

for no increase shall We grant you, except in Punishment."

Verily for the Righteous, there will be a fulfillment of

(the heart's) desires; Gardens enclosed, and grapevines;

And voluptuous women of equal age;

And a cup full (to the brim).

They shall not hear therein any vain words nor lying.

Recompense from your Lord, a gift, (amply) sufficient,

(al-Quran 78:17-37)

You will have no middle-man and nobody would be able to plead your case. After the decision, Allah might allow Prophets & Messengers to submit prayers for forgiveness; on the basis of which Allah might forgive some people who were earlier destined to Hell. The Almighty is warning us with all those verses that the End Time is approaching and we should repent. Only repentance and reverting to Allah, the Most Merciful, can save us from the Hellfire.

“(From) the Lord of the heavens and the earth,

and all between, (Allah) Most Gracious.”

None shall have power to argue with Him.

The Day that the Spirit and the angels will

stand forth in ranks, none shall speak except any

who is permitted by (Allah) Most Gracious,

and He will say what is right.

That Day will be the sure Reality.

Therefore, whoso will, let him take

a (straight) return to his Lord!

Verily, We have warned you of a Penalty near,

the Day when man will see (the deeds)

which his hands have sent forth,

and the Unbeliever will say,

"Woe unto me! I wish I were dust!"

(al-Quran 78:6-40)

**************

MEN OF UNDERSTANDING, People Who Take Heed & Those Who Reflect.

 

Where Are The

Men Of Understanding;

People Who Take Heed;

& Those Who Reflect?

“Why don't you ponder on the Quran?”

(al-Quran 4:82)

(M. Javed Naseem)

إِنَّ هَـٰذِهِ تَذْكِرَةٌ فَمَن شَآءَ ٱتَّخَذَ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِ سَبِيلاً

“Surely this is a Reminder. Let him who will,

then, take a straight path to his Lord.”

(al-Quran 73:19)

Allah, the Almighty, is the Supreme Creator! He created heavens and earth and whatever is between them, in six days. And then placed His throne higher above all and installed there. He is able to do all things.

We humans are Allah's wonderful creation – weak but at the same time capable of doing amazing things. Allah the Almighty demonstrated His miracles through humans (Prophets and Messengers) and showed us the way how to achieve great feats. He promised us His help, mercy and guidance. He bestowed upon us intellect, granted us intelligence, power of thinking, power of analyzing, power of understanding, power of learning and teaching. He put 'brains' in our skull – the most amazing thing humans have, apart from their hearts, eyes, nose, ears and tongue.

Since Allah gave us the intelligence and power of thinking, He wants us to reflect, think and ponder over His Message that He delivered to us in the form of Holy Books. In the Holy Quran, the Almighty has asked us in many different verses: “Why don't you reflect?” or “Why don't you think?” or “Why don't you ponder?” or even “What's wrong with your thinking?” We are invited, challenged, and commanded to reflect, to think, to use our intelligence, and ponder upon the message of the Quran. In Chapter 4 (Surah an-Nissaa), Verse 82, the Almighty asks us a straight-forward question:

“Why do they not study the Quran carefully?”

(al-Quran 4:82)

Pickthal translated this verse as:

“Will they not then ponder on the Quran?”

A believer is the one who believe in Allah's sovereignty and lives by the commands of the Almighty. He cannot even think of disobeying Allah – his Creator. He knows that the Quran is the 'how-to manual' or the 'book of instructions' for the life of this world. The real believers and responsible Muslims have been declared by Allah as the “people who reflect”, “those who ponder”, “men of understanding”, “people who take heed”, and “they are the successful”.

“This is the path of your Lord, a straight path.

We have detailed Our revelations for a people

who take heed.”

(al-Quran 6:126)

كِتَابٌ أَنزَلْنَاهُ إِلَيْكَ مُبَارَكٌ لِّيَدَّبَّرُوۤاْ آيَاتِهِ وَلِيَتَذَكَّرَ أُوْلُو ٱلأَلْبَابِ

“This is a Book that We have revealed to you,

full of blessings, that they may ponder its

revelations, and that men of

understanding may reflect.”

(al-Quran 38:29)

Allah’s help and guidance is there for us but it comes to those only who ask for it; and strive for it. Allah's guidance is for all mankind but only those benefit from it who seek it and try to follow Allah's commands. Not everyone is capable to benefit from it. Some people are too weak to resist the temptation and say 'No' to the Devil. Only seekers can succeed. A mother does not feed her baby unless the baby cries for milk. Here is a recipe to seek Allah’s help:

يَآأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ ٱسْتَعِينُواْ بِٱلصَّبْرِ

وَٱلصَّلاَةِ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلصَّابِرِينَ

“O you who believe! Seek help with patient

perseverance and prayer; for Allah is

with those who patiently persevere!”

(al-Quran 2:153)

Patient perseverance means steadfastness (in Urdu: Istiqamat). It is the basic requisite of Islam. You believe in Allah, obey His commands, His messengers, and keep doing the right things; then ask for Allah’s mercy and forgiveness. He will surely bless you; but He will also test your faith, your honesty, your sincerity, i.e., your steadfastness. If you stay the course, of course with His help, you will be blessed. It is hard but worth trying! Allah's message is direct and clear. Here's what He tells us to do to live a successful and prosperous life in this world:

“O you who believe! Bow down and prostrate

yourselves, and worship your Lord, and do

good, that haply you may prosper. …

So establish worship, pay the poor-due, and

hold fast to Allah. He is your Protecting

Friend; a blessed Patron, and a

blessed Helper.”

(al-Quran 22:77-78)

Allah's commands are very clear and plain. If we follow them, we can be saved from humiliation, misery, and the punishment of the Hellfire. There is no room for ignoring or disobeying God's commands.

Disobedience means wrath of Allah – in other words landing in Hell. We are Allah's creation; Allah's subjects; Allah's slaves. How can we even think of disobeying Allah or ignoring His commands? We cannot escape as we have nowhere to go or hide!

“But those who disobey Allah and His

Messenger and transgress His limits will be

admitted to a Fire, to abide therein. And

they shall have a humiliating punishment.”

(al-Quran 4:14)

**************