Remember Death Often

3:185 (Y. Ali) Every soul shall have a taste of death: And only on the Day of Judgment shall you be paid your full recompense. Only he who is saved far from the Fire and admitted to the Garden will have attained the object (of Life): For the life of this world is but goods and chattels of deception.

3:185 (Y. Ali) Every soul shall have a taste of death: And only on the Day of Judgment shall you be paid your full recompense. Only he who is saved far from the Fire and admitted to the Garden will have attained the object (of Life): For the life of this world is but goods and chattels of deception.

29:57 (Y. Ali) Every soul shall have a taste of death in the end to Us shall ye be brought back.

Ibn ‘Umar said, “The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, took me by the shoulder and said, ‘Be in this world as if you were a stranger or a traveller on the road.” Ibn ‘Umar used to say, “In the evening, do not anticipate the morning, and in the morning do not anticipate the evening. Take from your health for your illness and from your life for your death.” [al-Bukhari]

Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “Remember frequently the thing that cuts off pleasures,” i.e. death.” [at-Tirmidhi]

Benefits of remembering death often is a means of :

1. restraining hopes;

2. preparing for death;

3. non-attachment towards the world (which is the actual object);

4. to prevent amassing unused wealth;

5. helps to gather a treasure for the hereafter;

6. a thing which encourages repentance from sin and

7. a prevention from oppressing others and not fulfilling their rights.

source: Benefits of remembering death

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UF7-IAgCiC8

Say InshaAllah

76:30 (Y. Ali) But ye will not, except as Allah wills; for Allah is full of Knowledge and Wisdom.

18:23-24 (Y. Ali) Nor say of anything, “I shall be sure to do so and so tomorrow”- Without adding, “So please Allah.” and call thy Lord to mind when thou forgettest, and say, “I hope that my Lord will guide me ever closer (even) than this to the right road.”

22:18 (Y. Ali) Seest thou not that to Allah bow down in worship all things that are in the heavens and on earth,- the sun, the moon, the stars; the hills, the trees, the animals; and a great number among mankind? But a great number are (also) such as are fit for Punishment: and such as Allah shall disgrace,- None can raise to honour: for Allah carries out all that He wills.

28:27 (Y. Ali)… But I intend not to place thee under a difficulty: thou wilt find me, indeed, if Allah wills, one of the righteous.”

48:27 Truly did Allah fulfil the vision for His Messenger. ye shall enter the Sacred Mosque, if Allah wills, with minds secure, heads shaved, hair cut short, and without fear. For He knew what ye knew not, and He granted, besides this, a speedy victory.

The Messenger of Allah (sallalahu alaihe wa-sallam) said: “Sulaiman Ibn Dawood (alaihimus-salaam) said: ‘Tonight I will go around to all my seventy wives (according to some reports it is ninety or one hundred wives) so that each one of them will give birth to a son who will fight for the sake of Allah.’ It was said to him, (according to one narration, an Angel said to him), say, ‘If Allah Wills.’ But he did not say it. He went around to the women but none of them gave birth except for one, who gave birth to a half-formed child.” The Messenger of Allah (sallalahu alaihe wa-sallam) said: “By the One, in Whose Hands is my soul, had he said, ’If Allah wills,’ he would not have broken his oath, and that would have helped him to attain what he wanted.” [Saheeh Muslim (vol. 3, no. 1275)]

Insha Allah! (Allah Willing) One of the teachings of Islam is that when we undertake a task, we should start by saying, ‘Insha Allah,’— Allah willing.

1. Allah willing (Insha Allah) is a phrase of great significance. Islam teaches us that whenever one embarks upon any venture, one should say, ‘if Allah wills’ before one begins. This is to acknowledge the reality that Allah alone is the Doer in this world.
2. A person can achieve his ends successfully only when Allah’s blessings are with him. Allah alone has the power to make things happen, as everything functions according to His will. Man can only wish for certain happenings, but occurrence rests with Allah alone.

3. When one thinks seriously of Allah’s all-powerfulness and his own total helplessness, such feelings find expression in the words, ‘Insha Allah.’ In this way he acknowledges that he can only make a beginning.

4. So far as the completion of the task is concerned, it lies entirely in Allah’s hands.

5. The phrase Insha Allah in its essence is a form of prayer. Beginning one’s work with Insha Allah is like seeking Allah’s company and when Allah, the Lord of the universe, accompanies us on our journey, who can stop us from reaching our destination.

source: Insha-Allah

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfXIF2Mm2Kc&feature=player_embedded

Halal & Haram Food Guide

Partial List of Halal (Lawful) Ingredients

Nartural - Additives
Citric Acid
Honey
Mustard
Pepper
Salt
Sugar
Vinegar
Synthetic - Additives
Sodium Bicarbonate
Sodium Citrate
More Halal ingredients
Acetic Acid
Adipic Acid
Agar
Amylase
Amylose
Antioxidantants (BHA & BHT)
Arachidonic Acids (Fish)
Ascorbic Acid (Vit. C)
Avidin
Baking Powder
Baking Soda
Benzoate (Benzoic Acid)
Bran
Butyric Acid
Calciferol (Vit. D3)
Calcium Acid Phosphate
Carbohydrates (Natural)
Carotene
Carotenoid
Carrageenin
Casein
Cellulose
Chocolate Liquor
Cholecalciferol
Choline
Citric Acid
Cocoa Butter
Corn Syrup Solids
Cream of tartar
Cultures (Microbes)
Cystein
Dextrose
Disaccherids
Ergosterol
Farina
Fiber
Ficin
Firming Agents
Fructose
Galactose
Gallic Acid
Gliadin (Gluten) Glucose
Gums
Hemicellulose
Hydrogenated Oils
Inulin
Iodine
Lactic Acid
Lactose
Lysin
Malic Acid
Malt
Maltose
Mannitol
Mannosan
Methionine
Molases
Monosaccherides
Oxalic Acid
Papain
Pectin
Phytic Acid
Polysacceride
Propionic Acid
Propyl gallate
Roughage
Smoke Flavorings
Sodium Aluminum Sulphate
Sorbic Acid
Sorbitol
Starch
Sucrose
Suet
Sweeteners (Natural)
Tannic Acid
Tapioca
Tryptophan
Vanilla
Vanilla Acid
Vanillin
Vitamin Tablets: (A, D, E, C)
Zinc

Partial List of Haram (Unlawful) Ingredients

Alcohol
Alcoholic Beverages
Bacon
Cider (Hard) (Alcohol)
Cocaine
Codeine
Collagen
D.E.S (sex Hormones)
Ethylene Oxide
Fermented Malt
Ham (Hog)
Insulin (Porcine)
Insulin
Lard (Hog)
Pepsin (Hog)
Pork
Vanilla Extract (Alcohol)
Wine (Alcohol)

Partial List of Mash-Booh (Suspected) Ingredients

Mash-Booh Product Sources
Alanine Animal/Plants
Bile Salts Animal
Biotin Animal
Chelate Animal
Cholesterol Animal
Chymotrypsin Animal
Cobalamine Animal
Coloring Extract Health Reasons
Cures .
Cystein Animal
Cystine Animal
Diglycerides Animal/Plants
Disodium Inosinate Animal
Disodium Guanilate Animal
Diuretic Health Reasons
EDTA Health Reasons
Enrichement Animal/Plants (Mainly Plants)
Fatty Acids Animal/Plants
Folic Acid Animal/Plants
Gelatin Animal/Seaweeds
Glycerides Animal/Plants
Glycerol Animal
Hismatine Animal/Plants
Hormones Animal
Inositol Animal/Plants
Insulin Animal
Keratin Animal
Limit Dextrin Animal
Lipids Animal/Plants
Monoglycerides Animal/Plants
Niacin Animal/Plants
Nitrate Health reasons
Nitrite Health Reasons
Oleic Acid Animal/Plants
Para Amino Benzoic Acid Animal/Plants
Pepsin Animal
Phenyl Alanine Animal/Plants
Phospholipids Animal
Phosphoric Acid Health Reasons
Polysaccherides - Amylopectin Animal
Polysaccherides - Glycogen Animal
Polyunsaturated Animal/Plants
Rennet Animal/Plants
Rennin Animal/Plants
Riboflavin Animal/Plants (Mainly Plants)
Shortenings Animal/Plants
Sweeteners - Aspartame Health reasons
Sweeteners - Cyclamate Health Reasons
Sweeteners - Saccharine Health Reasons
Tartaric Acid Alcohol
Thiamin Animal/Plants
Tonic Alcohol/No-Alcohol
Trypsin Animal
Uric Acid Animal
Vinegar Alcohol/No-Alcohol
Vitamin: Capsules (A,E,K) Animal
Whey May contain Rennin or Rennet
Yeast (Brewer's Beer) Alcohol

Respect your teachers

51:55 (Y. Ali) But teach (thy Message) for teaching benefits the Believers.

18:65 -70 (Y. Ali) So they found one of Our servants, on whom We had bestowed Mercy from Ourselves and whom We had taught knowledge from Our own Presence. Moses said to him: “May I follow thee, on the footing that thou teach me something of the (Higher) Truth which thou hast been taught?” (The other) said: “Verily thou wilt not be able to have patience with me!” “And how canst thou have patience about things about which thy understanding is not complete?” Moses said: “Thou wilt find me, if Allah so will, (truly) patient: nor shall I disobey thee in aught.” The other said: “If then thou wouldst follow me, ask me no questions about anything until I myself speak to thee concerning it.”

The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam said, “Seek knowledge and train to be dignified and calm while seeking knowledge, and humble yourselves with those whom you learn from” (Tabaraani).

Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam said, “Three types of people would not be mocked except by a hypocrite, an old Muslim man, a knowledgeable person and a just leader” (Tabaraani).

Sahl Ibn Sa’d As-saa’idi, may Allaah be pleased with him, narrated that the Messenger sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam said, “O Allaah! Do not let me reach a time during which scholars are not followed, and honorable people are not respected”

Respect all your teachers. Islamic and secular
Ali(RA) , may Allaah be pleased with him, gave a comprehensive and complete advice concerning the rights of the teacher or scholar upon his student saying,
1. ‘One of the rights of the scholar is that you greet people generally and then greet him with a special greeting;
2. sit in front of him;
3. do not point with your hand in his presence, nor wink with your eye;
4. do not quote someone else who said opposite of what he said;
5. do not backbite anyone in his presence;
6. do not hunt for his faults, and if he makes a mistake accept his excuse;
7. dignify him for the sake of Allaah;
8. if he needs anything, rush before everyone to serve him;
9. do not whisper in his presence;
10.do not grasp him by his garment;
11. do not insist for answers when he becomes tired;
12. do not ever feel you have accompanied him enough, because he is like a palm tree from which people wait for fruits to drop from’.

Lower your voice

31:19 (Y. Ali) “And be moderate in thy pace, and lower thy voice; for the harshest of sounds without doubt is the braying of the ass.”

20:44 (Y. Ali) “But speak to him mildly; perchance he may take warning or fear ((Allah)).”




Rasul Allah said, ‘Anyone who believes in Allah and the Last Day (of Judgment) should not harm his neighbor. Anyone who believes in Allah and the Last Day should host his guest generously. And anyone who believes in Allah and the Last Day should say what is good or keep quiet.’ Bukhari

A lower voice tone is often associated with authority, respectability, and power. It does not matter if the person with the lower voice tone actually possesses these qualities. We are taught from youth to respect people who speak with lower voice tones. While you cannot completely change your voice, there are ways you can lower your voice tone and improve how you speak. Difficulty: Challenging Instructions

Things You’ll Need: tape recorder

1 Record yourself talking. Nobody actually sounds like they think they sound. It is only through the painful process of listening to your own recorded voice that you can hear the defects. Make tape recordings of yourself during normal conversation when you forget the tape recorder is on. Keep your first recording for later comparison.

2 Listen for times in your speech when your voice rises to high tones. Notice the words, phrases, and subjects that prompt this higher voice tone. Everybody speaks with voice characteristics that are repeated every time we talk. If you can figure out which habits launch your speech into higher voice tones, you will know where to focus your efforts.

3 Slow down when you talk. The faster people talk, the higher their voice tone. When you are trying to lower your voice tone, focus on pronouncing every word deliberately. End sentences with a down-tone. Instead of your voice rising, like when asking a question, drop it lower.

4 Calm down when you talk. When people get excited, they have a higher voice tone. They also sound less authoritative. Focus on keeping yourself grounded and speaking with a nurturing quality. Try to calm others with your tone of voice.

5 Speak from down low. High voice tones resonate from up in the nose. Lower voice tones resonate deep in the throat. Test it yourself. Place one hand on your nose and another on your throat. Feel your nose vibrate when you speak in higher voice tones and your throat vibrate when you speak in lower voice tones. Drop your voice down there and you will feel a deeper resonance in your words.

6 Listen to yourself again on a tape recorder. This is the only way to determine whether you are making any progress. Play the tape recording at the same time as the recording made when you started trying to lower your voice tone. Do this once per week to gauge your results.

source: How to Lower Voice Tone

The_ Window

A young couple moves into a new neighborhood. The next


morning, while they are eating breakfast,
the young woman sees her neighbor hang the wash outside.

That laundry is not very clean, she said, she doesn't know how
to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better laundry soap.

Her husband looked on, but remained silent. Every time her
neighbour would hang her wash to dry, the young woman
would make the same comments.

About one month later, the woman was surprised to see a
nice clean wash on the line and said to her husband:
"Look! She has learned how to wash correctly.
I wonder who taught her this."

The husband said: "I got up early this morning
and cleaned our windows!"

And so it is with life:

"What we see when watching others depends on the
purity of the window through which we look. Before we
give any criticism, it might be a good idea to check our
state of mind and ask ourselves if we are ready to see
the good rather than to be looking for something in the
person we are about to judge. "

Li-Li and her Mother-in-Law (Story)

A long time ago in China , a girl named Li-Li got married & went to live with her husband and mother-in-law. In a very short time, Li-Li found that she couldn't get along with mother-in-law at all. Their personalities were very different, and Li-Li was angered by many of her mother-in-law's habits.

Days passed, and weeks passed. Li-Li and her mother-in-law never stopped arguing and fighting. All the anger and unhappiness in the house was causing Li-Li's poor husband great distress.

Finally, Li-Li could not stand her mother-in-law's any longer, and she decided to do something about it! Li-Li went to see her father's good friend, Mr. Huang, who sold herbs. She told him the situation and asked if he would give her some poison so that she could solve the problem once and for all.

Mr. Huang thought for a while, and finally said, 'Li-Li, I will help you solve your problem, but you must listen to me and obey what I tell you.' Li-Li said, 'Yes, Mr. Huang, I will do whatever you tell me to do. 'Mr. Huang went into the back room, and returned in a few minutes with a package of herbs. He told Li-Li, 'You can't use a quick-acting poison to get rid of your mother-in-law, because that would cause people to become suspicious.

Therefore, I have given you a number of herbs that will slowly build up poison in her body. Every other day prepare some delicious meal and put a little of these herbs in her serving. Now, in order to make sure that nobody suspect you, when she dies, you must be very careful to be actively friendly towards her. 'Don't argue with her, obey her every wish, and treat her like a queen.' Li-Li was so happy. She thanked Mr. Huang and hurried home to start her plot of murdering her mother-i! n-law.

Weeks went by, and months went by, and every other day, Li-Li served the specially treated food to her mother-in-law. She remembered what Mr. Huang had said about avoiding suspicion, so she controlled her temper, and treated her like her own mother.

After six months had passed, the whole household had changed. Li-Li had practiced controlling her temper so much that she found that she almost never got mad or upset. She hadn't had an argument with her mother-in-law in six months because she now seemed much kinder and easier to get along with.

The mother-in-law's attitude toward Li-Li changed, and she began to love Li-Li like her own daughter. She kept telling friends and relatives thatLi-Li was the best daughter-in- law one could ever find. Li-Li and her mother-in-law were now treating each other like a real mother and daughter.

One day, Li-Li came to see Mr. Huang and asked for his help again She said, 'Dear Mr. Huang, please help me to keep the poison from killing my mother-in-law. She's changed into such a nice woman, and I love her like my own mother. I do not want her to die because of the poison I gave her.'

Mr. Huang smiled and nodded his head. 'Li-Li, there's nothing to worry about. I never gave you any poison. The herbs I gave you were vitamins to improve her health. The only poison was in your mind and your attitude toward her, but that has been all washed away by the love which you gave to her.'

There is a wise Chinese saying: 'The person who loves others will also be loved in return.' God might be trying to work in another person's life through you.

After all you have got nothing to lose but a lot to gain. 'A candle loses nothing if it is used to light another one.

Eid Mubarak

I wish all my brothers & sisters Eid mubarak !!!

Lailatul Qadr : The Night of Power

Qadr means honour and dignity. Lailatul Qadr means the night of honour and dignity. It is this night in which the first Divine Revelation came to the Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasallam, when he was in prayer in the cave of Hira. Since this night enjoys the honour of having the first revelation brought to the Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasallam, it has been named Lailatul Qadr.

This is one of the holiest and most blessed nights, which is likely to occur on one of the odd nights on the last ten days of Ramadhan and most likely to be the 27th. The reward of worship on this night is better than the worship of a thousand months of worship, equivalent to a person's lifetime. So, on this night one should pray nafil namaz, recite the Quran, do Tasbih, Zikr, Duas, etc as much as possible.

This night had already opened its gates of treasures when the angel for the first time had come with the Divine Message in the cave of Hira, but its auspiciousness has continued to be with us permanently. Every year in the month of Ramadhan, this night is given to the Ummah. Muslims engage in prayers, recitation of Quran and praying to Allah, as the Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasallam said: "The person who offered prayers to Allah in the night of Dignity with faith and with hope of reward from Allah, all his past sins have been forgiven." (Bukhaari)

As the rainy season is suitable for farming, similarly for the attainment of nearness to Allah, specific times , specific days and specific nights are most suitable, e.g. the time of Tahajjud prayers, Friday prayers, month of Ramadhan, the Day of Arafah, etc. So also the Night of Power is the most suitable night for attaining nearness to Allah.

In the Hadeeth, we have been asked to seek it in the last ten nights of the month of Ramadhan. Hazrat Aa'ishah radhiyallahu anhaa narrates that the Messenger of Allah sallalahu alayhi wasallam has said, 'Seek the night of Dignity in the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadhan'.(Bukhaari).

By odd nights, the reference is made to the 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th, 29th night of the month of Ramadhan. No one night has been fixed so that the yearning to find it may increase and people may spend more nights in worshipping Allah. From this aspect, the importance of `Itikaaf (seclusion) during the last ten days of Ramadhan is clear.

Some special prayers and Zikr for Laitul Qadr top

1. Seeking Forgiveness. Hazrat Aa'ishah radhiyallahu anhaa asked the Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasallam that if she happened to get the night sublime what prayer should she say. The Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasallam replied that she should say the following prayer :

"Allahumma innaka afuwwun kareemun tuhib-bul af-wa fa-afo anni"
(O Allah, You are the One who grants pardon for sins, loves forgiving, so forgive me.)

2. Reciting Astaghfar. The following should be recited as much as possible:
"Astaghfirullah hallazi la-ila-ha illa huwal Hayyul Qayyumo wa atu-bu ilaihe"
(I seek forgiveness from Allah, the Almighty, there is no God but He. He is self-Existent, the Eternal and I return to Him)

3. Reciting Surah `Inna anzalnahu...'
"Inna anzalnahu fee lailatul Qadr, Wa maa adraka maa lailatul Qadr.
Lailatul Qadri khairum min alfi shahr. Tanazzalul malai-katu var-roohu
fee ha bi izni Rabbihim min kulle amr. Salaamun heya hatta matla-il fajr."

4. Do Salatul Tasbih.

5. Do Afzul Zikr i.e. La ilaha illallah