Virtues of remembering the 99 names of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala

Al-Bukhaari (2736) and Muslim (2677) narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said: “Allah has ninety-nine names, one hundred less one. Whoever learns them by heart will enter Paradise.” 

“Leaning by heart”, which is mentioned in the hadeeth, implies the following: 

1.     Memorising them

2.     Understanding their meaning

3.     Acting in accordance with the meanings. So if a person knows that He is One, he does not associate anything else with Him. If he knows that He is the Provider (ar-Razzaaq), he does not seek provision from anyone other than Him. If he knows that He is Most Merciful (ar-Raheem), then he does acts of obedience and worship that are the means of attaining this mercy… and so on.

4.     Calling upon Him by these names, as He, may He be glorified and exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning): “And (all) the Most Beautiful Names belong to Allah, so call on Him by them’ [al-A‘raaf 7:180]. So he might say: O Most Merciful (Ya Rahmaan), have mercy on me; O Oft-forgiving (Ya Ghafoor), forgive me; O Accepter of repentance (Ya Tawwaab), accept my repentance, and so on. 

Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen said: Learning them by heart does not mean writing them down on a piece of paper then repeating them until one has memorised them. Rather what it means is:

Firstly: learning how to pronounce the names

Secondly: understanding their meanings.

Thirdly: worshipping Allah in accordance with what they signify, which involves two things:

(i)                Calling upon Allah by them, because He, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning): “… so call on Him by them” [al-A‘raaf 7:180], to that they may become a means of attaining what you seek, so choose a name that is appropriate to what you seek. When asking for forgiveness, say: O Oft-forgiving (Ya Ghafoor), forgive me. It is not appropriate to say: O You Who are stern in punishment (Ya Shadeed al-‘Iqaab), forgive me; rather that is more akin to mockery. What you should say (if you call upon Allah by this name) is: Save me from Your punishment.

(ii)              In your acts of worship you should do is what is implied by these names. What is implied by the name ar-Raheem (Most Merciful) is mercy, so do righteous deeds that will bring the mercy of Allah. This is what is meant by learning them by heart; if it is done like this, then it deserves to be the price of admission to Paradise. End quote. 

Majmoo‘ Fataawa wa Rasaa’il Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, 1/74 

The 99 names of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala are as follows:

The Virtues and Sunnah's of Jummah

Hadhrat Ali Ibn Abu Taalib (RA) narrated: on the pulpit in the Masjid of Kufah: When Friday comes, the devils go to the markets with their flags, and involve people in their needs and prevent them from the Friday prayer. The angels come early in the morning, sit at the door of the mosque, and record that so-and-so came at the first hour, and so-and-so came at the second hour until the imam comes out (for preaching). When a man sits in a place where he can listen (to the sermon) and look (at the imam), where he remains silent and does not interrupt, he will receive a double reward. If he stays away, sits in a place where he cannot listen (to the sermon), silent, and does not interrupt, he will receive the reward only once. If he sits in a place where he can listen (to the sermon) and look (at the imam), and he does not remain silent, he will have the burden of it. If anyone says to his companion sitting besides him to be silent (while the imam is preaching), he is guilty of idle talk. Anyone who interrupts (during the sermon) will receive nothing (no reward) on that Friday. Then he (the narrator) says in the end of this tradition: I heard the Apostle of Allah (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) say so. (Abu Dawood 1046)

What are the things which we can do to derive maximum benefits on the day of Jummah:

1. Jummah preparations should begin on Thursday such as clipping the nails, removing of the hair etc (Ihya aul-Uloom, vol. 1, page 161)

Good Manners At Home

In Today’s blog, we will explain the importance of having good manners at home and what all we can do to at home by following the example of our dear Messenger of Allah (SALLALLAHU ALAIHI WA SALLAM)

Spreading kindness in the home

'Aa'ishah (RA) said: "The Messenger of Allah (SALLALLAHU ALAIHI WA SALLAM) said:

'When Allah (SUBHANAHU WA TA’ALA) wills some good towards the people of a household, He introduces kindness among them.'" (Reported by Imaam Ahmad in al-Musnad, 6/71; Saheeh al-Jaami', 303)

According to another report:

"When Allah loves the people of a household, He introduces kindness among them." (Reported by Ibn Abi al-Dunya and others; Saheeh al-Jaami', no. 1704)

In other words, they start to be kind to one another. This is one of the means of attaining happiness in the home, for kindness is very beneficial between the spouses, and with the children, and brings results that cannot be achieved through harshness, as the Prophet (SALLALLAHU ALAIHI WA SALLAM) said:

"Allah loves kindness and rewards it in such a way that He does not reward for harshness or for anything else." (Reported by Muslim, Kitaab al-Birr wa'l-Sillah wa'l-Aadaab, no. 2592)

Ways to Gain Khushuu’ in prayer !

This article is an attempt to remind us of the importance of Khushu in our salah, what improves it, why we should constantly strive to guard our salah, and some productive tips to excel in our khushu. ‘Khushu’ is an Arabic word used to refer to humility or humbleness while offering our daily salah (prayers). The meaning and actualization of khushu lies in the ‘presence of our hearts’ while we are reporting for our daily duty towards Allah (glorified and exalted be He).

Below mentioned are some tips which can make you improve your Salaah In sha Allah:

1. Pre-Salaat
   
   1- A Muslim should know his Lord very well. Knowing whom one worships makes a person a better worshipper. Having clear and authentic knowledge about Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’alaincreases His love in our hearts. Consequently, faith also increases.

2- Avoiding major and minor sins is very helpful in gaining Khushuu’, as the heart becomes more receptive to the words of Allah during and after Salaat.

3- Reciting the Qur’an frequently and consistently softens the hearts and prepares it for Khushuu’. Hard hearts do not gain Khushuu’.

4- Minimize attachment to worldly matters. Gearing one’s intentions towards the Afterlife helps against the temptations of life.

5- Avoid excessive laughter and useless arguments as they harden the heart and lead to heedlessness.

Tips To Become A True Muslim By Following Quran and Sunnah

Every person who is born to Muslim parents is a Muslim by birth and a person who accepts Islam after by saying the Kalma is also a Muslim. However, being a Muslim is far more than merely being born to Muslim parents or just entering Islam by saying Kalma. The need for a Muslim is to follow and practice Islam.

 After entering Islam or realizing the fact of being a Muslim, it is the duty of every Muslim to follow the Qur’an and the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (SALLALLAHU ALAIHI WASSALLAM). The lines below give useful tips extracted from Sunnah and Quran that can help a Muslim to become a pure:

1. Faith In Allah- First of all you need to have a strong unflinching faith on the supremacy of Allah. He is the creator of all and whatever happens in this world is as per His will. Have strong faith in Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala), all His Prophets (may peace be on all of them) and Books He bestowed upon mankind.

2. Pray- Thing to adhere to in prayers is not saying them as a robot, rather there needs to be sincerity in your prayers. Take prayers as a source that helps you avoid all other sins, instead of just performing prayers and continuing sins likewise. Pray with true heart and spirit.

Finding a Job.. The Islamic Way

Todays e-mail is very special- it is on one of the most important subject which troubles the youth today- including myself- finding a good job! Most muslim youths have been having trouble finding a good job.  People struggle in interviews, give various tests but when they are rejected, it really hurts emotionally. People become depressed, sorrowful and sometimes it leads to extreme cases like  a suicide.

So in this regards, today we will share with you some information on what you can do to find a good job.. in sha Allah.

The Islamic way is a way of means and measures; it directs hearts and minds to deal with facts and reality and interact with the cosmic laws that Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) has established in His creation, including putting trust in Allah (tawakkul) and relying in one's heart on Him to achieve one's goals. 

The life of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) was based on facts and reality interwoven with means and measures. His life was full of sacrifices, putting up with hardship and patience in waiting to see the results of his efforts, and this is what Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala)  willed should be an example to follow for mankind after him.

This world, sweet and bitter, difficult and easy, is something that the Muslim must interact properly with. He should be patient in dealing with its annoyances and put up with its difficulties, seeking the pleasure of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala)  thereby, and he should take appropriate measures, and put his trust in Allah in all his affairs, as Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Then when you have taken a decision, put your trust in Allah, certainly, Allah loves those who put their trust (in Him)” [3:159]. 

Dutifulness to Parents

Being kind and dutiful to parents means to obey one’s parents, show them love and respect, and help them with whatever means available such as exerting effort or spending money.

It also means talking to them in the most polite and grateful manner, listening to them when they talk, and never show dissatisfaction or resentment towards them.

Indeed Islam advocates us to be kind and dutiful to our parents and deal with them in the best manner. Allah Says (which means): "And your Lord has commanded that you worship none but Him. And that you be dutiful to your parents. If one of them or both of them attain old age in your life, say not to them uff (a word of disrespect), nor shout at them but address them in terms of honour. And lower unto them the wing of submission and humility through mercy, and say: "My Lord! Bestow on them Your Mercy as they did bring me up when I was small."[Quran 17:23-24].

Islam regards being kind and dutiful towards parents as one of the best acts of worship which a Muslim performs in order to get closer to Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala, because parents are the direct reason for the existence and happiness of the children. On one hand, the mother spends many nights awake bringing up her children and taking care of them. She spends long nights taking care of her young child who is unable to manage any of his affairs. On the other hand, a father does his best to earn a living to support his children with food, clothing and education, and help them realize their dreams. That is why we notice that Allah mentioned obedience to parents as being next to worshipping Him. Allah Says (which means):

"And your Lord has commanded that you worship none but Him. And that you be dutiful to your parents. If one of them or both of them attain old age in your life, say not to them uff (a word of disrespect), nor shout at them but address them in terms of honour."[Quran 17:23].

Allah even commanded children to be kind and dutiful to their parents even if they are polytheists. Allah Says (which means):

"But if they (both) strive with you to make you join in worship with Me others that of which you have no knowledge, then obey them not, but behave with them in the world kindly, and follow the path of him who turns to Me in repentance and obedience. Then to Me will be your return, and I shall tell you what you used to do."[Quran 31:15].

Parents' Rights 

If it is normal to be grateful to any person who offers you help, then parents are the worthiest of all asthey deserve thankfulness and appreciation because of the help, support and love they show towards their children without even expecting any recompose in return. The happiest moments in a parents' life is when they see their children in the best possible condition and the greatest of positions.

Zehra's Conversion to Islam

My name is Zehra. I converted to Islam over 7 years ago. Alhamdallilah! My husband convinced me of the truth in Islam before marriage. 

I've always been deeply religious when I was a Christian. I've always thought that religion was very important. The only thing was that no church really satisfied me, heart and soul. I always felt something was missing. That something was not quite right. So I'd go from church to church, trying to fill that gap that I felt. Nothing worked.

Then I met my husband. At first, he didn't say to much about his religion, then slowly he did. He started telling me about Islam, and I became more interested. Now you have to understand, that my mother always taught me to be tolerant of other religions, and to have an open mind. So I think that helped a lot. Anyway, as I learned more about Islam, and my husband was reading the Qur'an, along with other teachings. Pieces began to fall into place. I began to feel whole and to be happy in my soul. I'd finally come home. I was sooo excited. 

Everything made perfect sense. 

Allah had made the perfect religion, and I'd found it. 

Praise be to Allah! 

May Allah always bless my husband for this. My goal in life now, is to help someone else to find Islam even if only one. Inshallah, I will.

Classical Islam Group

Best Wishes

Gateway to Quran

Woe To Every Unjust Husband, By Ibn ‘Uthaymeen

The Prophet (saw) said:

“The doers of justice will be on thrones of light at Allaah’s right Hand – and both of Allaah’s Hands are right Hands – those who were just in their rulings with their families, and in all that over which they were given authority.“

[Saheeh Muslim]

Allah says what can be translated as:

“Woe to Al-Mutaffififun (those who give less in measure and weight). Those who when they have to receive by measure from men demand full measure. And when they have to give by measure or weight to men give less than due. Do they not think that they will be resurrected (for reckoning). On a great day. The day when (all) mankind will stand before the Lord of the Alamin (all that exits).” [83:1-6]

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said concerning the explanation of Chapter Al-Mutaffinfin:

“Woe” The word woe is repeated in the Quran many times and according to what is most correct it is a statement of threat by which Allah threatens those whom oppose His command or indulge in what He has prohibited them from. And the prohibition is mentioned in the sentence following the threat.

He then goes on to mention:

“they give less than what is due.“

18 sources of Barakah!

As Salaamu Alaikum!

If we were to look for an Islamic definition of Productivity, it can probably be summarised in the word “barakah” or Blessing. Being able to achieve more with few resources, doing much in little time, and generating a lot with little effort is surely a blessing from Allah (Subahanahu Wa Ta’ala). Yet Barakah has somehow become a lost treasure these days; everyone’s looking for it, but no one seems to find it! You always hear people complaining that there’s no barakah in their time, no barakah in their sleep, no barakah in their money and the rest of it.

In this article, we’ll solve this mystery inshaAllah: we’ll find out what Barakah is and where you can find it!

What is Barakah?

“Barakah is the attachment of Divine goodness to a thing, so if it occurs in something little, it increases it. And if it occurs in something much it benefits. And the greatest fruits of Barakah in all things is to use that barakah in the obedience of Allah (Subahanahu Wa Ta’ala)”

Sources of Barakah

Some of the methods through which we can get Barakah (In sha Allah) are as under

This e-mail is divided in two parts. Today we will mention the 9 sources of Barakah, in our e-mail, tomorrow In sha Allah we will bring to you the remaining nine sources. 

1. Good Intentions

If you want something to have barakah attached to it, have good intentions for it. More specifically, make sure that deed is intended for the sake of Allah (Subahanahu Wa Ta’ala). Looking again at the definition of Barakah, you may guess that without us intending what we have or do for the Sake of Allah, the “Divine goodness” won’t be found in our deeds.

2. Piety and Belief in Allah

Allah says in the Quran: “If the people of the towns had but believed and feared Allah, We should indeed have opened out to them (All kinds of) blessings from heaven and earth…”(Surah Al-A’raf, Verse 96). And He says in the Quran: “And for those who fear Allah, He (ever) prepares a way out. And He provides for him from (sources) he never could imagine” (Surah Al-Talaq, Verses 2-3).

Muslim code of behaviour

Dear Readers, As  Salaamu Alaikum!

 ALL PRAISES AND THANKS TO ALLAH, LORD OF THE WORLDS!!

 www.waytoquran.tk

According to Islamic teachings, apart from having the right belief how important is it for a person to do good deeds? Doing good and having the right belief go hand in hand in Islam. In fact, doing good in practice is the proof of having the right belief in the heart. This is why the Holy Quran speaks of true Muslims very often as "those who believe and do good deeds". Both the Quran and the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) have told Muslims that the best among them is that person who shows the best behaviour towards other people.

Can you imagine a Muslim who prays 5 times a day, fasts in Ramadan, gives Charity but when he comes with his friends he slanders and backbites, beats his wife, is disrespectful to his parents and elders, hurts and slaps his children, is dishonest in his trade and uses abusive language to people he meets!! Hence, having Imaan is good but having good behavior along with Imaan is very important.

Presenting below are a list of some of the good qualities a Muslim must try to acquire. The chief qualities a Muslim should display:

Salaat al-Tawbah (the Prayer of Repentance)

Dear Readers, As  Salaamu Alaikum!

ALL PRAISES AND THANKS TO ALLAH, LORD OF THE WORLDS!!

We human beings sin a lot. Some people do major sins, some minor, and some people do both. So it is important that we seek His forgiveness for all the sins. This world is nothing but a place for small enjoyment, but the hereafter is everlasting. So how can we spoil our hereafter for this world! Let us seek His forgiveness! The best method is salaat al-tawbah (the prayer of repentance). The below article mentions its importance and the method of doing the same.

Praise be to Allaah. By the mercy of Allah towards this ummah, He has opened the gate of repentance to it, and it will not cease until the soul reaches the throat (at death) or the sun rises from the west.

By His Mercy to this ummah, He has prescribed for them an act of worship which is one of the best acts of worship, by means of which the sinner can draw close to his Lord with the hope of his repentance being accepted. This is salaat al-tawbah (the prayer of repentance) and there follow some issues that have to do with this prayer.

1 – The prayer of repentance is prescribed in sharee’ah

Getting the Most out of Ramadan

The month of Ramadan provides us with a blessed chance to reap blessings and rewards. That is not all. It is also an excellent opportunity for us to strengthen and purify our character. The general spirit of Ramadan encourages us to live more wholesomely and better ourselves.

The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) tells us: "When the month of Ramadan arrives, the gates of Heaven are opened, the gates of hell are locked, and the devils are chained." [Sahîh Muslim (1079) and Sunan al-Tirmidhî (682)]

The reduced temptation to do wrong afforded to us by fasting and by the general atmosphere of Ramadan gives us a chance to show Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala our best potential. We should do what we can to maximize this potential.

Renew Your Relationship With the Qur'ân

To get ourselves in the proper frame of mind – and earn Allah's blessings as well – we should devote more of our time to the Qur'ân.

We should not only read it every day, but it is really important to reflect on what it is telling us, to ponder the lessons we can learn to improve our lives. The more we dwell upon the Qur'ân and its teachings, the better it will be for us, since Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala is speaking to us directly. The Qur'ân is a balm for our hearts, a restraint on our passions, and a cure for our doubts and misgivings.

Therefore, we need to read the Qur'ân with sincerity and concentration. We need to seriously meditate on its meanings. How sad it is for a person who does not benefit from his or her reading of the Qur'ân.

Allah says: "These are the communications of Allah which We recite to you with truth. In what speech will they possibly, believe if not in Allah and His communications?" [Sûrah al-Jâthiyah: 6]

Allah also says: "Do they see nothing in the dominion of the heavens and the Earth and all that Allah has created? (Do they not see) that it may well be that their terms are nigh drawing to an end? In what message after this will they then believe?" [Sûrah al-A`râf: 185]

The importance of reading the Qur'ân during this month is made all the clearer to us by the fact that the angel Gabriel used to review the Qur'ân in full with the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) every Ramadan. [Sahîh al-Bukharî (4998)]

Tips to Kill Bad Breath Whilst Fasting

I don’t need to say much about bad breath in Ramadan, we’ve all experienced it (either from others or ourselves) and it’s becoming a serious issue that needs to be tackled as it affects our self-confidence.

Firstly, it should be noted that the smell that comes from the fasting person’s mouth as a result of the fast is not something to be disliked, because it is the effect of obedience to Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala. In the hadeeth it says that “the smell from the fasting person’s mouth is better in the sight of Allah than the fragrance of musk.” Unfortunately, this hadeeth is often misunderstood as an excuse to drop all forms of oral hygiene during Ramadan! That shouldn’t be the case. We need to put the effort in and take care of our oral hygiene as best as we can, and if any bad smell still emanates then we should remember the above hadeeth and try to be patient. The biggest evidence that oral hygiene is important especially during Ramadan is the example set by our Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) who used to use the siwak often.

So what can we do to reduce or eliminate bad breath whilst fasting? Here are 6 practical tips:

1. Clean Your Tongue

No, not with a brush, but with a special tongue scraper (Yes I know, didn’t know they existed before either!). Gently cleaning the tongue twice daily is the most effective way to keep bad breath in control; it wipes off the bacterial biofilm, debris, and mucus. Ask your dentist to recommend a scraper suitable for your tongue.

2. Brush Regularly

Brush regularly for at least four minutes, twice a day. Get a timer and make sure that you don’t put that brush down until you hit the 4 minute mark! When brushing we should clean our teeth and gums, cleaning even more thoroughly after eating or drinking milk products, fish and meat – especially at suhur time.

3. Floss often

Flossing should be implemented daily and choose unscented floss so that you can detect those areas between your teeth that give off odours, and clean them more carefully

4. Miswak

The fasting person should use miswak throughout the day. The miswak (miswaak, siwak, sewak) is a teeth cleaning twig made from a twig of the Salvadora persica tree, also known as the arak tree (or peelu tree). Using miswak is both rewardable and effective:. Numerous international studies have been done that prove the effectiveness of miswak for oral hygiene and has been highly recommended by Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam)

He said: ‘Make a regular practice of the Miswaak, for verily, it is healthy for the mouth and it is a Pleasure for the Creator (i.e. Allah is pleased with the Muslim who uses the Miswaak)” [Bukhari]

5. Drink lots of Water (before and after fasting)

Bad breath seems to be more potent when fasting due to the dryness of the mouth. To reduce this drink plenty of fluids during the evening and suhur time. If you are a denture wearer, it would be advisable for you to soak the denture in an antiseptic mouthwash overnight.

6. Regular visits to your dentist

Regular visits to the dentist throughout the year are also essential although we may not enjoy them. There may be cavities, broken fillings, spacing between teeth, or pockets that may be allowing food packing which may in itself be causing a foul smell.

So in conclusion, if you want to beat the bad breath during Ramadan, then clean your tongue, brush thoroughly (especially after those meat and fish curries!) and drink plenty of fluids whenever you can.

(Source: Productiveramaadaan.com)

With Best Wishes

 www.gatewaytoquran.com / www.gatewaytoquran.tk

Dua to receive favours of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala)

Dear Readers, As  Salaamu Alaikum!

 www.waytoquran.tk

ALL PRAISES AND THANKS TO ALLAH, LORD OF THE WORLDS!!

Today we will discuss a beautiful Dua’a from the Holy Qura’an which can be recited at all times. Through this Dua’a we invoke Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) to give us His special favours and bounties, especially on the Day of Judgement. Also this Dua’a can be recited to plead with the Almighty, not to disgrace or shame us on the Day of Judgement.

Another special thing about this Dua’a is that it also highlights the attribute of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) that he does not break His promise. Whatever He has said, will happen and He will not go against His own Words. If He has promised Jannah for the pious and the righteous slaves, they will get it. Similarly, if He has said that the unbelievers and the people who do not follow the correct path will have to get Hell fire, it will happen as Allah (Subhanu Wa Ta’ala) does not go against His words.

The Dua’a is as follows:

RABBANAA WA AATINAA MAA WA-A’TTANAA  A’LAA RUSULIKA WA LAA TUKHZINAA YAWMAL QIYAMAAH INNAKA LAA TUKHLIFUL MEE-A’AD.

(O our Lord, give us what You have promised us through Your Messenger and do not disgrace us on the day of resurrection. Verily, You do not break Your promise).

(AL IMRAN:194)

Through this Dua’a the faithfull servants of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala), who have accepted the true religion, revealed by Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) and His messengers, invoke Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) to keep them safe from the shame and disgrace which the evil doers will face on the day of Judgement, because rewards and favours have been promised only for those who believe in Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) and do good deeds in this World.

With Best Wishes

www.waytoquran.tk