'Knowledge' is a comforting friend in times of loneliness...

Mu’aadh ibn Jabal (radiAllaahu anhu) said: 

“Knowledge is a comforting friend in times of loneliness, it is the best companion during travels, & it is the inner friend who speaks to you in your privacy. Knowledge is the discerning proof of what is right & what is wrong, & it is the positive force that will help you surmount the trials of comfort, as well as those of hardships. Knowledge is your most powerful sword against your enemy, & finally, it is your most dignifying raiment in the company of your close companions.”

"Forgive me for I have sinned...."

On the authority of Anas b. Maalik ⁽¹⁾, may Allaah be pleased with him: I heard the Messenger of Allaah, may Allaah exalt his mention and grant him safety, say:

Allaah, the Most High, said: Son of Adam, as long as you supplicate to Me and hope in Me, I will forgive you, no matter what you have done. And forgiving you does not cause Me distress.

Son of Adam, if your sins reached [the height of] the sky, then you sought My forgiveness, I would surely forgive you, and forgiving you will not worry Me at all.

Son of Adam, if you came to Me with an earth-full of sins, and met Me not having worshiped others along with Me, certainly, I would come to you with an earth-full of forgiveness. ⁽²⁾

[Benefits from the Hadeeth] ⁽³⁾

[1]: A clarification of Allaah’s vast favor.

[2]: Even if sins have become many and great, if a person, [who singles out Allaah in worship], asks his Lord for forgiveness, Allaah will forgive him.

[3]: The virtue of sincerity (i.e. worshipping only Allaah), and how it is a cause for the forgiving of sins – Allaah, the Most High says: “Verily, Allaah forgives not that partners should be set up with him in worship, but He forgives except that (anything else) to whom He pleases.” ⁽⁴⁾

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(1) [TN]: Anas Ibn Maalik [d. 92/93 AH] was the well-known servant of the Messenger of Allaah, may Allaah exalt his mention and grant him safety. He served him for ten years. When he passed away, he was over 100 years old. May Allaah be pleased with him.

(2) Authenticated by Naasir ad-Deen al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmithee, #3540

(3) Abridged: Muhammad Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen, Comments on 40 Hadeeth, 137

(4) Surah an-Nisaa (4): 48

Wasted Time & Effort

Our Noble Scholar Muhammad al-‘Uthaimeen (Rahimahullaah) said:

In this life, the description of a person’s actions is based upon what is apparent, so we interact with people based upon what is apparent from their conditions.

However, in order for a person’s actions to be sound, his inner actions must match these outward actions. Also, what is apparent from him must coincide with that which is hidden in him.

If a person’s actions contradict his intentions, and his heart becomes engrossed with corrupt aims -and we seek refuge with Allaah from this- then there is no greater loss for him! He tires himself by doing deeds; yet, there is no reward for his effort.

The end result of these sorts of actions is clarified in an authentic hadeeth. The Messenger of Allaah, صلى الله عليه وسلم said: ‘Allaah, the Most High, said:

 ‘I am not in need of any partners, whoever does an action for me and for other than me, I have abandoned him and his polytheism.’

[Collected by Muslim]

Can you pray ‘Esha after Taraweh?

Shaykh Abdul-Aziz Bin Baaz (rahimahullaah)

 

Questioner:

If someone comes to pray Salat Al-’Esha and finds the people praying so he starts to pray with them. Then, he realizes that they’re praying Taraweh, so he finishes the prayer with them and then prays ‘Esha. Is it permissible to pray ‘Esha after Taraweh? Likewise, is it permissible to pray Taraweh before Esha?

Answer:

Whatever the case may be, the Sunnah is for Taraweh to be after ‘Esha. So standing for prayer in Ramadan, i.e. Taraweh, is after ‘Esha however it is supererogatory; therefore, this person’s Salah with them (i.e., Taraweh) before ‘Esha is considered a supererogatory prayer between the two night prayers (Maghrib and ‘Esha). Praying between the two night prayers is permissible but it is not the standing that is known in Ramadan, that standing is after ‘Esha. Him praying ‘Esha after Taraweh is acceptable, but it is better and more preferable to start with the obligatory then pray Taraweh with them. This is what is necessary so that he is able to uphold the Sunnah as well as performing is obligatory prayer.

“It is upon you to have Taqwa of Allaah when you are forgetful …”

   Poem by Imaam Ash-Shaafi’e

“It is upon you to have Taqwa of Allaah when you are forgetful,

Sustenance will come to you from where you don’t know.

How dare you fear poverty when Allaah is the Provider!!

Indeed He provided for the birds & the whales in the sea.

And whoever thought that sustenance comes with power,

when the bird ate something with the eagles.

This world goes by you & you do not know

when the night covers if you will live until Fajr?

How many healthy died without a reason,

and how many weak live forever?

How many youth go to sleep & wake up laughing,

and we buried him at sunset & he didn’t even know?

So whoever lives a thousand, then a thousand years after that,

no doubt there will come a day when you will to the grave!”

(Slightly edited for clarity..)