Care For Your Daughters

Learn from the Prophet (PBUH).

All throughout the eons, having many daughters is often considered as taboo and history relates to us the innumerable ways in which daughters and women have been exploited in the world.

  • In the times of Jahiliyya, Arabs would bury their newborn daughters alive.

  • Today, you still hear stories of women who undergo abortion if the ultra sound detects a female fetus. (Note: Steps are being made to prevent this)

  • In some rural areas, parents who have many daughters sell them off illegally.

Sayyidina Abu Saeed Khudri (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger said,

‘If anyone has three daughters or three sisters, or two daughters or two sisters and he looks after them well, fearing Allah in this regard then for him is paradise.’ [Tirmidhi 1997]

The hadith applies to both parents and although it states three sisters or three daughters, it also applies to those who have more or less, as clarified in other narrations of this hadith. This hadith shows virtue and importance of caring for your daughters, sisters, mothers, aunts, etc.

How Did the Prophet (PBUH) Treat His Daughters?

  1. He called them to Islam in the best manner, out of compassion towards them.

  2. He took care of them when they were sick, even at the most difficult times.

  3. He would welcome them warmly.

  4. He would confide his secrets to them.

  5. He would say things to make them happy.

  6. He enjoined them to observe hijab and wear conservative clothing.

  7. He took part in the ‘aqeeqah of his daughters’ children.

  8. The Prophet’s care for his daughters continued even after they died. This is represented in his concern about their washing, and his giving one of his garments for shrouding one of them.

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Habits; Creating Good Ones and Eradicating Bad Ones

A thing when done repetitively becomes a habit, and habits become second to nature. Therefore, it is incumbent that we form good habits.

Yet, forming good habits seems as a situation of “easier said than done.”

Also just like the yin and yang, bad habits seem impossible to leave as the acclaimed quote that states “ Old habits die hard.”

Some tips to establish good habits and kill bad ones are:

  • Seek Allah’s help.
    This is something that we should do first and foremost. Yet, sadly, especially before doing something good, we regrettably fail to ask Allah’s help, thinking that after all we are trying to do something good.
    My friends, we have to realize that even a good deed cannot be accomplished without Allah’s help. After all, not even a leaf shakes without the will of Allah.

ayat-habit

  • Motivate yourself by acquainting yourself with the rewards of a particular good deed.
    Unfortunately, many of us remain ignorant regarding the benefits of particular deeds. Time and time again, we have heard that Allah looks for quality not quantity, and do a small deed but regularly, to attain Allah’s pleasure.
    Indeed the knowledge of doing an action on a regular basis pleases our Rabb, is the greatest incentive of all.
  • Make yourself aware of the punishments of your bad habits.
  • Use a habitator
    Moreover; we can use a “habitator” to help us. The habitator provides an amazing technique to instill good habits or kill bad ones, and is a personal recommendation on my behalf.
    You can download and print the habitator worksheet from: http://productivemuslim.com/the-productivemuslim-habitator/ and watch the tutorial on how to use it.
Credit:

Credit:productivemuslim.com

  • Tell some your close ones about your intentions.
    You can tell your mother, sister etc. about your goals, so that when time comes when you fall back to your lazy habits, they can help you, remind you of the punishments that such bad habits reap, deter you and motivate you.

Furthermore, time and settings also are important, and indeed the best time to develop good habits would be Ramadan, where temptation is at its minimum and motivations at its max.

We pray to Allah alone to help us and guide us.

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.”
(Aristotle)

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8 Health Benefits of Date Fruit

With Ramadan here, fastidious preparations are made by Muslims, one of which entails the purchasing of bulky quantities of dates.

Science now proves the worth of fruits, which the ancient Arabs considered a staple food in their diet. Some of the benefits of dates are listed below:

  1. Promoting Digestive Health, Relieving Constipation:

Dates are often categorized as a laxative food. This is why they are so frequently eaten by people suffering from constipation. They have high levels of soluble fibre, which is essential in promoting healthy bowel movements and the comfortable passage of food through the intestinal tract, which can relieve symptoms of constipation.

  1. Bone Health and Strength:

The significant amounts of minerals found in dates make it a super food for strengthening bones and fighting off painful and debilitating diseases like osteoporosis.

  1. Anaemia:

Dates have a high mineral content, but their impressive levels of iron make them a perfect dietary supplement for people suffering from anaemia.

  1. Energy Booster:

Dates are high in natural sugars like glucose, fructose, and sucrose. Therefore, they are the perfect snack for an immediate burst of energy. Many people around the world use dates for a quick afternoon snack when they are feeling lethargic or sluggish. No wonder Muslims break their fast with dates.

  1. Boosting Heart Health:

In addition to promoting colon health, fibre is also known to boost heart health. Studies have shown that dates reduce the risk of stroke and other heart related diseases.

  1. Anti-Inflammatory:

Dates are rich in magnesium – a mineral known for its anti-inflammatory benefits. Studies show that magnesium can effectively reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, Arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, and other inflammation-related health ailments.

  1. Reduced Blood Pressure:

One of the most common ailments in today’s era; blood pressure can also be lowered by magnesium– and again, dates are full of this mineral.

  1. Abdominal Cancer:

Research has pointed towards dates being a legitimate way to reduce the risk and impact of abdominal cancer.

Further to this, many hadiths report that the Prophet Muhammad (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) encouraged the consumption of dates:

He (peace be upon him) said:

“Break your fast by eating dates as it is purifying.” (Narrated by Ahmad)

In another narration, Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said: The Prophet (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Indeed in dates there is a cure”. (Reported by Muslim and Ahmad)

Dates are full of benefits, yet our intentions ought to be pure, and we should eat dates with the intent of following a sunnah.

Indeed, the religion of Islam is beautiful and recommends for us only that, which is beneficial to us.

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Praise To Allah

Let there arise out of you a group of people inviting to all that is good, enjoining Al Maroof (Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam orders one to do) and forbidding Al Munkar (polytheism and disbelief and all that Islam has forbidden ) and it is they who are successful.Saheeh Al Jaami, 5136

Whilst reading this ayah, a thought should strike us as we introspect ourselves and wonder whether we are among those blessed people. As they are many, besides us, who are, were and will be.

People have died for the cause of Da’wah. The Sahaba sacrificed their lives to promote and propagate this deen in hopes of attaining Allah’s pleasure alone. The question remains what about me and you? Have we fulfilled our duty in this regard?

When 1258 H witnessed a horrible carnage and catastrophe, a brutal heart wrenching crime, a time when the Muslim world was decimated and ransacked with 800,000 Muslims butchered by the grandson of Genghis Khan; Hulagu Khan and his people ravaged the city of Baghdad. Yet only 80 years later, these same barbaric Mongols converted to Islam.

By the mercy of Allah, it were those Muslims who even in those tragic moments continued to work for Islam; enjoining good and forbidding evil. As a result, the Mongolians took a complete U-turn, raising the banner of Islam as their religion. It was at this time where women were at the forefront of Da’wah.

The barbaric Mongolians converted to Islam, the flag of Islam raised itself high in several countries and even now Muslims occupy an extremely large portion of the globe. Would such have been the situation if Muslims hadn’t adhered to the commands of Allah and propagated our deen?

It is essential that we contribute to this developing Ummah, we need to motivate ourselves by remembering our ancestors. After all, giving Da’wah is obligatory and we will be questioned. So let’s prepare ourselves by realizing the importance of Da’wah and consequently implementing it in our lives.

We need to incorporate Da’wah in our everyday routine. We have ample opportunities to give Da’wah, at our workplace, colleges, on the bus, at the airport etc. It’s our duty to make the best of these moments. Let’s take on the inheritance of the prophets.

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Business Practices The Islamic Way – A Lenient Trade

Like the passing of a fleeting vision, the ‘out-of-the-world’ noble characters of our past history, hardly seem more than a chimera in the dusk light. To even think, that an era where traits such as chivalry, benevolence, valour and magnanimity lay rampant, barely seems more than a delusional person’s figment of imagination. But alas, such disbelief embarrassingly just voices aloud our ignorance and illiteracy in regards to our golden history. For indeed, such an era did exist, and not in someone’s fantasy dreamland, but in fact about 1400 years ago.

Without a doubt, then was the time, when people competed to excel in righteousness and were motivated by pure guidance (Quran and Sunnah) and truthful promises of Paradise!

One among such great incentives is the hadith where the Messenger (PBUH) said, “Allah, The Most Great, admitted a person into Paradise because he was lenient in his buying, selling, paying and demanding of his money back.” [Al-Bukhari in At-Tareekh Al-kabiir]

This hadith shows the virtue of being lenient in trade, whereby the Prophet (PBUH) mentioned that Allah granted paradise to a man who was lenient in his trade by fearing Allah in his business and financial transactions. Also by being forgiving towards others; if they struggled to repay their debts towards him and not pressuring them to sell their valuables in order to repay him.

Even though, a world without sellers, buyers and business is categorically wishful thinking, this hadith nevertheless carries a message to each and every one of us, as pearls of wisdom giving glad tidings of paradise.

Furthermore, debt cycle anecdotes are not news to us. We are well aware in regards to the misery of those clouded in debt, we have heard of suicide cases committed worldwide due to the immense despair that a person’s debt brings him. Can we not then, contrive to be patient and helpful to those who owe us? It might not mean much to us, but to those, on whose head debts hang as a never-ending nightmare of despair, it may mean a world of solace and peace.

Moreover, it is important to remember that every business that one ventures in and harvests fruits from, is only by the will and mercy of Allah. Then what, my dear friends, is the need of being deceitful. Further on comes this awe inspiring hadith, ensuring us that if we become fair; Paradise, by the will of Allah, shall be our final abode.

So dear friends, together, let us reconstruct a business world free of hypocrisy, sham and trickery, where honest trade is our motto and Paradise our target. This vision can only be attained by adhering to the rules and regulations of the Quran and Sunnah, for verily in the following of these, lays the success of this world, and even more importantly, the Hereafter’s.

Finally, in conclusion I appeal to each and every one of us to take hold of this hadith as our ticket to Paradise (Allah willing) and instil within ourselves the mannerisms of leniency and generosity in our day-to-day trade.

May Allah grant us success. Amen.

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