Up and down

Blessings of Having Daughters

Imam Sadeq (AS) has said:

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“Surely Prophet Ibrahim (AS) called on God to give him a daughter to weep after his death.”
The Holy Prophet (SAW) has said:

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“What good offspring are the girls! For they are kind, obedient, sympathetic and having blessing with them.”

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“Whoever curses his child, God will afflict him with poverty.”
Imam Sadeq (AS) has also said:

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“Girls are as benefaction but boys are as riches. On the Day of Judgment, there will be reward for the benefaction but riches will be questioned of.”
The holy Prophet (SAW) has said:

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“Whoever has three daughters or three sons, paradise is his due.”
It was asked: O Messenger of Allah, how about two? The Holy Prophet (SAW) said:
“The same is true with two.” It was asked: O Messenger of Allah, how about one? The Holy Prophet said:
“The same is true with one.”
The Holy Prophet (SAW) has also said:
“Whoever has three daughters or sisters and is patient in taking care of them until they get married or die he and me are as these two fingers on paradise - at this time, the Holy Prophet referred to his index and middle fingers.”
It was asked: O Messenger of Allah, what happens if they are two? The Holy Prophet (SAW) said:
“The same is true with two.” It was asked, how about one?
The Holy Prophet said: “The same is true with one.”
A man to whom a baby girl was born and seeing he was angry, Imam Sadeq (AS) said:

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“What will you do if God says to you: Shall I choose. The Imam said:

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“Now God has chosen a girl for you.
About the boy whom Khidr killed as mentioned in verse 81 of the Quranic Chapter, the Cave:

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“So we desired that their Lord might give them in his place one better than him in purity and nearer to having compassion.”
Imam Sadeq (AS) said instead of that son God gave them a daughter from whose generation, seventy prophets came.
4-Kinsfolk
The Holy Prophet (SAW) has said:

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“I recommend ties of kinship to those who are present or absent and every one of my Ummah being in the loins of men and wombs of women till the Day of Judgment even if there is a gap as long as a year between them, for ties of kinship is part of religion.”
The Holy Prophet (SAW) has also said:

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“One side of Sarat (bridge which the righteous only can cross on the road to paradise) on the Day of Judgment is trustworthiness and the other is ties of kinsfolk. One who has been trustworthy and has observed ties of kinsfolk, crosses the bridge and goes to paradise, however, one who breaches the trust and is heedless of relatives can not cross the bridge, for his other deeds will not avail him and Sarat will throw him.

Source:
Oddatatol Daee
(The Asset of Supplicant)

Power of Prayer

A poorly dressed Muslim lady with a look of defeat on her face, walked into a grocery store. She approached the owner of the store in a most humble manner and asked if he would let her charge a few groceries. She softly explained that her husband was very ill and unable to work, they had seven children and they needed food. The grocer scoffed at her and requested that she leave his store.
Visualizing the family needs, she said: "Please, sir! I will bring you the money just as soon as I can." He told her he could not give her credit, as she did not have a charge account at his store.
Standing beside the counter was a customer who overheard the conversation between the two. The customer walked forward and told the grocer that he would stand good for whatever she needed for her family.
The grocer said in a very reluctant voice, "Do you have a grocery list?"
Muslim lady replied, "Yes sir"
"OK" he said, "put your grocery list on the scales and whatever your grocery list weighs, I will give you that amount in groceries." She hesitated a moment with a bowed head, then she reached into her purse and took out a piece of paper and scribbled something on it. She then laid the piece of paper on the scale carefully with her head still bowed.
The eyes of the grocer and the customer showed amazement when the scales went down and stayed down. The grocer, staring at the scales, turned slowly to the customer and said begrudgingly, "I can't believe it."
The customer smiled and the grocer started putting the groceries on the other side of the scales. The scale did not balance so he continued to put more and more groceries on them until the scales would hold no more.
The grocer stood there in utter disgust. Finally, he grabbed the piece of paper from the scales and looked at it with greater amazement. It was not a grocery list; it was a prayer, which said: "Ya Allah (SWT), you know my needs and I am leaving this in your hands."
The grocer gave her the groceries that he had gathered and stood in stunned silence. The Muslim lady thanked him and left the store. The customer handed a fifty dollar bill to the grocer and said, "It was worth every penny of it." Only Allah (SWT) knows how much a prayer weighs.

Why Prayers are not answered?

One day a Sufi saint Ibrahim Adham was passing through the bazaar in the city of Basra when he was surrounded by people who said to him: "O Ibrahim! Allah (SWT) has stated in the Noble Qur'an that: "Call on Me; I will answer your (Prayer)"; we call upon Allah (SWT) but our prayer is not answered.
Ibrahim Adham said: "The reason is because your hearts have died due to ten things so that your supplications have no sincerity as your hearts are not pure and free of contamination."
They asked: "What are those ten issues?" Ibrahim Adham replied:
01: First and foremost you have accepted Allah (SWT) but have not repaid His claim.
02: You have recited the Noble Qur'an but have not practiced it.
03: You profess your love of the Holy Prophet of Islam (saw), but are opposed to his Household (as).
04: You claim to have enmity with Shaitan (Satan) but in practice you are in agreement with him.
05: You say that you are fond of heaven but in order to enter heaven you have not done anything.
06: You said that you were afraid of the Hell Fire, but have thrown your bodies in to it.
07: You were busy slandering and criticizing people but were ignorant of your own shortcomings and faults.
08: You said that you didn't like the world but are greedily following it.
09: You confess to the reality of death but don't prepare yourself for it.
10: You have buried the dead but haven't taken a lesson or guidance from it.
These are the 10 practices (Ten Reasons) which cause prayers to remain unanswered.
"Prayer is not a spare wheel that you pull out when YOU ARE IN TROUBLE, It is a steering wheel that keeps you on the right path throughout your life."

Nine great benefits of reciting Holy Qur'an

1. Reading and reflecting over the Noble Qur'an fulfils an Islamic duty.
2. The Noble Qur'an will be a proof for us on the Day of Judgment.
3. The Noble Qur'an will intercede for us on the Day of Judgment.
4. Your status in this life will be raised.
5. You will be from the best of the people.
6. There are ten rewards for each letter you recite from the Noble Qur'an.
7. The reciters of the Noble Qur'an will be in the company of the noble and obedient angels.
8. Your position in Paradise is determined by the amount of Noble Qur'an you memorize in this life!
9. The Noble Qur'an will lead you to Paradise!

I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like!

An Angel was having a conversation with the Lord one day and said, "Lord, I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like?"
The Lord sent the Angel to two doors. The Angel opened one of the doors and looked in. In the middle of the room was a large round table. In the middle of the table was a large pot of stew which smelled delicious and made the Angel's mouth water.
The people sitting around the table were thin and sickly. They appeared to be famished. They were holding spoons with very long handles that were strapped to their arms and each found it possible to reach into the pot of stew and take a spoonful, but because the handle was longer than their arms, they could not get the spoons back into their mouths.
The Angel shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering.
The Lord said, "You have seen Hell. Now go to the next door."
The Angel went to the next room and opened the door. It was exactly the same as the first one. There was the large round table with the large pot of stew which made the Angel's mouth water. The people were equipped with the same long handled spoons, but here the people were well nourished and plump, laughing and talking.
The Angel said, "I don't understand."
"It is simple" said the Lord, "it requires but one skill. You see, they have learned to share by feeding each other, while the greedy think only of themselves."
Moral of the story: Its people's attitude that makes our place of work, a hell or heaven! 'Help and Seek Help' this makes all the difference to each individual's life and makes our lives hell or heaven. Success and happiness is all about effective team-work make it a great place to work.

Does God Exist?

A man went to a barbershop to have his hair and his beard cut as always. He started to have a good conversation with the barber who attended him. They talked about so many things on various subjects.
Suddenly, they touched the subject of God. The barber said: "Look man, I don't believe that God exists as you say so."
"Why do you say that?" Asked the client
Well, it's so easy; you just have to go out in the street to realize that God does not exist. Oh, tell me, if God existed, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children? If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain. "I can't think of a God who permits all of these things." The client stopped for a moment thinking but he didn't want to respond so as to prevent an argument.
The barber finished his job and the client went out of the shop. Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with a long hair and beard (it seems that it had been a long time since he had his cut and he looked so untidy). Then the client again entered the barbershop and he said to the barber: know what? Barbers do not exist.
"How come they don't exist?" asked the barber. "Well I am here and I am a barber."
"No!" - The client exclaimed. "They don't exist because if they did there would be no people with long hair and beard like that man who walks in the street."
"Ah, barbers do exist, what happens is that people do not come to me."
"Exactly!" - Affirmed the client. "That's the point. God does exist, what happens is people don't go to Him and do not look for Him that's why there's so much pain and suffering in the world."

Mutiara Hikmah

Imam Ali bin Abi Thalib (sa) berkata: Barangsiapa yang mengangkat dirinya sebagai pemimpin, hendaknya ia mulai mengajari dirinya sendiri sebelum mengajari orang lain. Dan hendaknya ia mendidik dirinya sendiri dengan cara memperbaiki prilakunya sebelum mendidik orang lain dengan ucapan lidahnya. Orang yang menjadi pendidik bagi dirinya sendiri lebih patut dihormati daripada yang mengajari orang lain. (Syarah Nahjul Balaghah III Syeikh Muhammad Abduh)

Imam Ali bin Abi Thalib (sa) berkata: Akan datang suatu masa ketika orang yang didekatkan oleh para penguasa hanyalah mereka yang pandai memfitnah orang lain; yang diterima ucapannya hanyalah mereka yang menyimpang dari agama, dan yang dianggap bodoh ialah mereka yang mengatakan kebenaran. Pada masa seperti itu sedekah akan dianggap sebagai kerugian, bantuan sanak-kerabat hanyalah sebagai alat pamer, dan beribadat kepada Allah sebagai perbuatan “sok alim”. Pada saat itu kekuasaan negeri dijalankan berdasarkan saran-saran kaum perempuan, kepemimpinan anak-anak dan perencanaan kaum pondan. (Syarah Nahjul Balaghah III Syeikh Muhammad Abduh)

Jika manusia menghamba pada hawa nafsunya, ia akan menghalangi dirinya dari kebahagiaan dan kemuliaan. Jika ia mentaati pemerintahan keji dan zalim, maka akan menghalangi masyarakat menuju kemuliaan dan kebahagiaan.
(Imam Khumaini RA, Jurnal Al-Qurba: 83, vol 2 No 1)

Square Watermelon

Japanese grocery stores had a problem. They are much smaller than shops in the USA and therefore don't have room to waste. Watermelons, big and round, wasted a lot of space. Most people would simply tell the grocery stores that watermelons grow round and there is nothing that can be done about it.

That is how majority of people would respond. But some Japanese farmers took a different approach. If the supermarkets wanted a square watermelon, they asked themselves, 'How can we provide one?' It wasn't long before they invented the square watermelon.

The solution to the problem of round watermelons was solved as the farmers did not assume it was impossible and simply asked how it could be done. They found out that if you put the watermelon in a square box when they are growing, the watermelon will take on the shape of the box and grow into a square fruit.

This made the grocery stores happy and had the added benefit that it was much easier and cost effective to ship the watermelons. Consumers also loved them because they took less space in their refrigerators which are much smaller than those in the USA meaning that the growers could charge a premium price for them.

What does this have to do with anything in life or at your job? There are a few lessons that you can take away from this story which help you:

Don't Assume: The major problem was that most people had always seen round watermelons so they automatically assumed that square watermelons were impossible before even thinking about the question. Things that you have been doing a certain way your entire life have taken on the aura of the round watermelon and you likely don't even take the time to consider if there is another way to do it. Breaking yourself from assuming this way can greatly improve your overall life as you are constantly looking for new and better ways to do things. This was one of the most difficult things for me to do because most of the assumptions I make, I don't even realize that I'm making them. They seem perfectly logical on the surface, so I have to constantly make an effort to question them.

Question Habits: The best way to tackle these assumptions is to question your habits. If you can make an effort to question the way you do things on a consistent basis, you will find that you can continually improve the way that you work. Forming habits when they have been well thought out is usually a positive thing, but most of us have adopted our habits from various people and places without even thinking about them. I have changed a large number of habits that I have had after taking the time to question them and continue to do so. Some of them I have know idea where they came from while others I can trace to certain people or instances in my life. It's a never ending process, but by doing this, you can consistently strive toward making all aspects of your life more enjoyable instead of defaulting to what you have now.

Be Creative: When faced with a problem, be creative in looking for a solution. This often requires thinking outside the box. Most people who viewed this question likely thought they were being asked how they could genetically alter watermelons to grow square which would be a much more difficult process to accomplish. By looking at the question from an alternative perspective, however, the solution was quite simple. Being creative and looking at things in different ways in all portions of your live will help you find solutions to many problems where others can't see them. I am not a creative person, but I've found that the more that you look at things from different perspectives, the more creative I have become. It's a learned art and builds upon itself.

Look for a Better Way: The square watermelon question was simply seeking a better and more convenient way to do something. The stores had flagged a problem they were having and asked if a solution was possible. It's impossible to find a better way if you are never asking the question in the first place. I try to ask if there is a better way of doing the things that I do and I constantly write down the things I wish I could do (but currently can't) since these are usually hints about steps I need to change. Get into the habit of asking yourself, 'Is there a better way I could be doing this?' and you will find there often is.

Impossibilities Often Aren't: If you begin with the notion that something is impossible, then it obviously will be for you. If, on the other hand, you decide to see if something is possible or not, you will find out through trial and error. Take away the lessons from the square watermelons and apply them to all areas in your life (work, finances, relationships, etc) and you will find that by consistently applying them, you will constantly be improving all aspects of your life.

I am sure we can bring about change if we really want to.

Understanding the Earth Better

A) Why was the Earth created?

The Holy Qur'an in Surat TA-HA (20:53) says: "He who appointed the earth to be a cradle for you."

Allamah Tabataba'i in his Al-Mizan says: Thus Allah stationed man in the earth to live an earthly life, so that he may earn a provision for his heavenly and exalted life, in the manner that a baby is stationed in the cradle, and is brought up for a more sacred and developed life..." (Vol. 14, pg. 171)

From this we come to realize that the earth was created as a preparing ground & means for human perfection and the purity of the heart. Sadly, however, many a people, instead of maintaining it for a good Hereafter, tend to destroy it for selfish gains.

B) Do the human beings employ the earth for the purpose it was created?

The Holy Qur'an in Surat AL-ROOM (30:41) clearly talks of a people who instead of practically thanking Allah (swt) by utilizing the earth for its sacred purpose cause mischief therein and subsequently face its evil consequences: "Corruption has appeared in the land and sea, for that men's own hands have earned, that He may let them taste some of that which they have done, that haply so they may return."

And in Surat AL-ARAF (7:10), Almighty Allah says: "Indeed We made you live in the earth and made therein for you the means of livelihood; little is it that you thank."

In this verse, "little is it that you thank" should not merely taken as "verbal thanks," for the reality of "shukr" is to use the gift for the purpose it was created.

C) What is our duty towards the Earth today?

From the above discussion the answer is evident: Because the earth was created for achieving human perfection, we should make a firm resolve to utilize it solely for that. This however should not mean that we stop scientific advancements, for such ventures are also a means to help the creation of the earth. But making a resolve in utilizing the earth as a means for achieving human perfection requires us to have a good understanding of how to go about utilizing the earth and its resources properly. Revelation is the best source for guiding us here.

We should first try to study the elements that are responsible for mischief both in the physical as well as the spiritual world. So long as we have not searched for the root problem, our resolve to change, however firm it may be, would be futile. And as we make a firm resolve we should humbly pray to Allah (swt) to enable us maintain our resolve so that we have done our duty and removed ourselves from the group that is responsible for the earth crisis.

THE ROOT CAUSE:

Different seminars and discussions on the issue of the earth crisis have been, are being, and will be held in different parts of the world. Days like "the Earth day" is also celebrated to make the people realize the dangers facing the earth. The earth lovers mention several problems. The brevity of this speech however does not allow me to enumerate all. Some of the problems they cite are:

1. The depletion of the ozone layer [which acts like a sunscreen shielding the earth from harmful ultra violet radiation]. This is due to the usage of goods that contain CFC gases. Some dangers of ozone depletion are: skin cancers, eye disorders, global warming, etc.

2. The contamination of water. This is due to throwing industrial wastes in the water bodies. The Capitalistic and egoistic attitudes of the producers & manufacturers have no concern about the health risks of those using the waters. It is evident that using contaminated water has great health risks and dangers.

3. The contamination of air through Industrial wastes and other factors. Those who would like to know the details of the environmental problems may look at encyclopedias and the Internet.

But, we ask a fundamental question to ourselves: What is the ROOT CAUSE of the senseless attitude towards environmental pollution? If we answer that, we would then be able to respect the earth and lessen and perhaps even eradicate the ecological crisis that transpires in this oppressed earth.

The fundamental reason for such a crisis is an incorrect world-view or a narrow outlook towards this world. So long as the human being has not understood the meaning of this life, the purpose of his creation, the link between the Creator and the creation, he would never be merciful to himself, let alone the earth. The earth is merely a means for the aim of creation, which is the nearness and proximity of Allah (swt). It is due to ignorance of this fact or the lack of obedience on the part of us that causes the chaos in this transient earth. In fact why should the activists that struggle for bettering the physical environment forget the spiritual environment? The spiritual pollution is more grave than the physical one. Rather, the spiritual pollution is the cause of the physical pollution. In conclusion, two reasons may therefore contribute to the chaos that exists in the earth:

1. A wrong outlook towards the reality: disbelief in God, Revelation, the Hereafters, or having a concocted belief that is against the innate nature of the human being. These kinds of trends are followed by wrong judgments, which come about as a result of ignorance of the correct method of getting to the truth. And when one has a wrong outlook, and does not know the meaning of life, he would do whatever his ego wants. He would tend to forget the serenity of others.

2. Disobedience on the part of the believer: If a believer who has convictions about his true faith remains steadfast in following what Allah (swt) commands, the earth would be a place of serenity. Contrarily if he allows his desires to rule over his intellect, and is lax in his belief, he would cause great dangers not only for man, but the entire creation that lives on this earth.

Inspirational Quotations

Whether the day is gray or whether it is sunny, you can make a difference. If others support you or if they conspire to stand in your way, you can make a difference.
If you have plenty of resources available to you or if you have very few, you can make a difference. If momentum is on your side or if it is not, you can make a difference.
You can wait and hope for things to go your way. Or you can get busy and make it happen.
You can complain that life has been terribly unfair. Or you can move ahead anyway and achieve what you intend, no matter what the obstacles may be.
You can plead with others to give you a break. Or you can go ahead and forge your own path to success.
Wherever you may be, whatever may have happened, you can make a positive difference. Live with commitment, decide to move forward no matter what, and you will.

Relationships: Inspiring Quotes

People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. When you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that person.
When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend and they are. They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away. Some times they act up and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.
Some people come into your life for a SEASON, because your turn has come to share, grow or learn. They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it, it is real. But only for a season!
LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons, things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life. It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.
Thank you for being a part of my life, whether you were a reason, a season or a lifetime.

Note: For my dear husband,father of my daughters.....I'll always be there for you.....Insya Allah...in health and sickness,in happiness and sadness, be your truely companion in this life and hereafter....amin....

Islamic Motivation: Inspiring Quotes

1) Never expect things to happen, struggle and make them happen. Never expect yourself to be given a good value, create a value of your own.

2) If a drop of water falls in lake there is no identity. But if it falls on a leaf of lotus it shines like a pearl. So choose the best place where you would shine.

3) Falling down is not defeat, real defeat is when you are refusing to get up.

4) Ship is always safe at shore, but it is not built for it.

5) When you are successful your well-wishers know who you are, but when you are unsuccessful you know who your well-wishers are.

6) Never take some one for granted, hold every person close to your Heart because you might wake up one day and realize that you have lost a diamond while you were too busy collecting stones.

7) The fragrance of flowers spreads only in the direction of the wind. But the goodness of a person spreads in all directions!

8) Knowledge is like a fruit. When a fruit grows on a branch of a tree, its weight causes that branch to bend and bow. Similarly, when knowledge increases in a person, it causes him to become humble and not Mutakabbir (proud and boastful).

9) Under the shade there is always darkness.

Think it over: Big Storm or God is Great?

When we build a house, we take so much care to have a strong foundation so that it can stand the test of weather and time or that we could build more above it in course of time.

Do we take care to build our lives too on a strong faith foundation to courageously face the storms and challenges in life?

To stress the need to have strong faith, Prophet Jesus (pbuh) told of a parable of a wise man and foolish man who ventured to build a house. The wise man built his house upon the rock. The foolish man built his house upon the sand. The rains came down, the floods rose and gales and storms beat against the houses. The foolish man's house crashed to the ground while the wise man's house stood firm. (Matthew 7:24-27)

Most of us have experiences of facing storms. There could be financial storms, relationship storms, emotional storms, physical storms (health problems). People who build there lives on a strong faith foundation are those who will look at the storm calmly and courageously say "Oh Storm, God is great." But people who do not have a strong faith foundation will look at the storm and cry out "Oh God! I have a big storm."

We love our children so much that we give them the best of education, food, clothing, entertainment. But the most beautiful love gift we can give our children is the gift of a strong faith foundation in Allah (SWT). When we can give them this, they will be able to stand the challenges and storms of life courageously even when we are not around anymore.

A story is told of a shipwreck where everyone was swimming to safety. One sailor was struggling to make it to the shore when he suddenly saw a small rock protruding above the tide. He gripped to it tightly till the storm receded. When he reached the shore, people asked him "Did you not shake with fear when you held that small rock?" He quipped "Yes, I shook with fear, but the Rock did not shake and that's why I am safe."

Let us give ourselves and our children that rock to hold on to. When a pious man was on his deathbed he called all his children around him and said, "My children, if I leave all my wealth and property for you but do not leave you with a strong faith in Allah (SWT), you will be poor, very poor. But If I do not leave you any wealth or property but leave you with a strong faith in Allah (SWT), you will be rich, very rich indeed."

Dialogue between Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) and a Traveler

A traveler once came to the mosque to see Prophet Mohammad (pbuh). After greeting Prophet Mohammad (pbuh), he was asked where he was from. The traveler replied that he came from very far just to get a few questions answered. Following is the dialogue between the traveler and Prophet Mohammad (pbuh).

Traveler: I do not want punishment (Azaab) to be written in my account.
Prophet Mohammad (pbuh): Behave well with your parents.

Traveler: I want to be known amongst people as an intelligent person.
Prophet Mohammad (pbuh): Fear Allah (SWT) always.

Traveler: I want to be counted amongst Allah's (SWT) favorites.
Prophet Mohammad (pbuh): Recite Noble Qur'an every morning and evening.

Traveler: I want my heart to always be enlightened (Roshan and Munawar).
Prophet Mohammad (pbuh): Never forget death.

Traveler: I never want to be away from Allah's (SWT) blessing.
Prophet Mohammad (pbuh): Always treat fellow creatures well.

Traveler: I never want to be harmed by my enemies.
Prophet Mohammad (pbuh): Always have faith in Allah (SWT) only.

Traveler: I never want to be humiliated.
Prophet Mohammad (pbuh): Be careful of your actions.

Traveler: I wish to live long.
Prophet Mohammad (pbuh): Always do good towards blood relations (Sile Rahm).

Traveler: I want my sustenance to increase.
Prophet Mohammad (pbuh): Always be in ablution (Wudu).

Traveler: I wish to stay free of punishment (Azaab) in the grave.
Prophet Mohammad (pbuh): Always wear pure (Paak) clothes.

Traveler: I never want to burn in hell.
Prophet Mohammad (pbuh): Control your eyes and tongue.

Traveler: how do I get my sins forgiven?
Prophet Mohammad (pbuh): Always ask forgiveness from Allah (SWT) with a lot of humility.

Traveler: I want people to respect me always.
Prophet Mohammad (pbuh): Never extend your hands of need at people.

Traveler: I want to always be honored.
Prophet Mohammad (pbuh): Never humiliate or put down anyone.

Traveler: I don't want to be squeezed in the grave (Fishar-e-Qabr).
Prophet Mohammad (pbuh): Recite Sura-e-Mulk often.

Traveler: I want my wealth to increase.
Prophet Mohammad (pbuh): Recite Sura-e-Waqia every night.

Traveler: I want to be safe and at peace on Day of Judgment.
Prophet Mohammad (pbuh): Do remembrance (Zikr) of Allah (SWT) from dusk to night.

Traveler: I want to be in full attention and concentration during prayer (Namaaz).
Prophet Mohammad (pbuh): Always do ablution (Wudu) with concentration and attention.

Note: The reward for Sile Rahm has been described by Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) in one of his traditions. Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) says: "When a person goes towards his relatives so that he can fulfill his rights with his life and his wealth, Allah (SWT) bestows upon him the reward of a martyr at every step he takes. He (Allah) writes down forty thousand Hasana (the unit of Divine rewards) and He erases forty thousand of his sins and He elevates him by forty thousand grades. The person achieves the position of one who has worshipped Allah (SWT) for a hundred years."

At another place Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) says, regarding the rewards for Sile Rahm: "The reward for Sadaqah in the way of Allah (SWT) is ten times, whereas the reward for giving a loan is twelve times (because in giving a loan the dignity of the Loaned is maintained). The reward for the good behavior to the believing brothers is twelve times and the reward for Sile Rahm is twenty four times."

Reminder for those who do not really believe in GOD

Big storm or God is great?
~~~~~*****~~~~~

When we build a house, we take so much care to have a strong foundation so that it can stand the test of weather and time or that we could build more above it in course of time.

Do we take care to build our lives too on a strong faith foundation to courageously face the storms and challenges in life?

To stress the need to have strong faith, Prophet Jesus (pbuh) told of a parable of a wise man and foolish man who ventured to build a house. The wise man built his house upon the rock. The foolish man built his house upon the sand. The rains came down, the floods rose and gales and storms beat against the houses. The foolish man's house crashed to the ground while the wise man's house stood firm. (Mathew 7:24-27)

Most of us have experiences of facing storms. There could be financial storms, relationship storms, emotional storms, physical storms (health problems). People who build there lives on a strong faith foundation are those who will look at the storm calmly and courageously say "Oh Storm, God is great." But people who do not have a strong faith foundation will look at the storm and cry out "Oh God! I have a big storm."

We love our children so much that we give them the best of education, food, clothing, entertainment. But the most beautiful love gift we can give our children is the gift of a strong faith foundation in God. When we can give them this, they will be able to stand the challenges and storms of life courageously even when we are not around anymore.

A story is told of a shipwreck where everyone was swimming to safety. One sailor was struggling to make it to the shore when he suddenly saw a small rock protruding above the tide. He gripped to it tightly till the storm receded. When he reached the shore, people asked him "Did you not shake with fear when you held that small rock?" He quipped "Yes, I shook with fear, but the Rock did not shake and that's why I am safe."

Let us give ourselves and our children that rock to hold on to. When a pious man was on his deathbed he called all his children around him and said, "My children, if I leave all my wealth and property for you but do not leave you with a strong faith in God, you will be poor, very poor. But If I do not leave you any wealth or property but leave you with a strong faith in God, you will be rich, very rich indeed."