Top Tips for Becoming Special and Closer to Allah Almighty

Gateway to QuranBecoming one of Allah’s special person is a desire everyone of Muslims wishes for. However, in order to make this wish come true, it is imperative to do special things that Allah the Almighty has ordered the human beings. When you start doing the things that your Lord has ordered you to perform, you start getting the blessings of being special to Him. Therefore, to attain the special status, everyone is encouraged to look at things that will please Allah and prevent you from breaching out the rules He has established for human beings to live on earth.

In this post, we are going to have a look at some of the major deeds we can do in order to be among the blessed ones:

Five Pillars – Do the Basics Right

The five pillars of Islam are the fundamentals to which the basis of the Religion is established. These five pillars are known as:

1. Tauheed / Shahadah – This refers to the fact that there is no god, but Allah and the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is God’s Last Messenger. Anyone who refrains from accepting this fact is excluded from the circle of Islam. Hence, he/she can never ever attain a level of being special to Allah.
2. Salat / Prayers – It is obligatory for every Muslim to offer his prayers five times a day on particular times. On the day of resurrection, the foremost question will be asked about the prayers. Therefore, to pass out the accountability process successfully, everyone must offer the prayers with humble gratitude to Allah.
3. Zakat – Charity rewards and the easiest way to be the beneficiary is to give Zakat and Sadaqa. In order to purify your savings and assets, it is mandatory (only who are eligible) to give Zakat to the poor and needy. This does not only purifies your possessions and trade, but also creates a level of peace and ultimate satisfaction deep down inside the heart.
4. Fasting – Fasting in the month of Ramadan is another act of worship, which is being made obligatory for all Muslims.  This month is considered among the most holy months which Allah (SWT) has blessed Muslims to seek His nearness and forgiveness.
5. Hajj / Pilgrimage – Kaabah, the Holy Home of The Lord, is the place where every able body is encouraged to visit during the month of Dul-Hajj and perform the Hajj. Hajj is a special Ibadaat and an expression of loyalty to Allah. When you be loyal to Him, The Almighty will give you a heart and eye to look at the universe differently i.e. in a more beautiful way.

Remember, five pillars are the base of Islam and best maintaining of these pillars is an utter guide to live your life according to the teachings of Islam.

The Must, the Should, and the Encouraged

by Abu Jamal                            Gateway  to Quran

Commands With Degrees of Priority

In the Islamic belief system, the commands of Allâh (swt) exist within an order of priority, some commanding greater priority than others. In a Hadith Qudsi (saying directly attributed to Allâh), Abu Hurairah reports that Allah (swt) said:And the most beloved things with which My slave comes nearer to Me, is what I have enjoined upon him; and My slave keeps on coming closer to Me through performing Nawafil (praying or doing extra deeds besides what is obligatory) till I love him so I become his sense of hearing with which he hears, and his sense of sight with which he sees, and his hand with which he grips, and his leg with which he walks; and if he asks (of) Me, I will give him….[Bukhari].

This hadith makes it clear that there exists the fard (obligatory) and thenawafil (supererogatory or recommended), and that the performance of thefard exceeds the performance of the nawafil in importance, but they both result in the pleasure of Allah (swt), his ever-present support and his response to one’s supplications. As an illustration of the significance of performing the nawafil, Umm Habiba, the wife of the Apostle of Allah (saws), reported Allah’s Messenger (saws) as saying: If any Muslim servant (of Allah) prays for the sake of Allah twelve rak’ahs (of Sun’an) every day, over and above the obligatory ones, Allah will build for him a house in Paradise. [Muslim]

Please, Do Not Complain..Just open The Qur'aan, and READ !!!

As Salaamu Alaikum!

Everyone has problems in this world and every one of us needs solutions. Some of us are able to handle problems effectively while many of us moan and cry over it. We run here and there, seek the help of the entire world but fail to understand that the answer is just with us – the answer is in the Holy Qur'an itself.

The Holy Qur'an consists of beautiful Surah's which are a guidance and a means of mercy for the entire mankind. We must constantly read the Qur'an especially with translation as it gives insight to the various situations of this World and the next. It gives a lot of information on the Attributes of our Lord, Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala) and also instructs us as to what we need to do in this world and to attain Salvation in the next. 

Let us see what are the common problems we have and what answer Holy Qur’an has given.

1. We ask: "Why are we tested?"

Allâh answers: "Do people think that they will be left alone because they say: "We believe," and will not be tested. And We indeed tested those who were before them. And Allâh will certainly make (it) known (the truth of) those who are true, and will certainly make (it) known (the falsehood of) those who are liars, (although Allâh knows all that before putting them to test). [Surah Al Ankaboot (29): 2-3]

Amazingly Easy Sin-Erasers

Khawlah bint Yahya – United Kingdom

They are easy. They are unexpected. They are amazing.

We all sin, but we don’t all know of ways to make up for our sins. This is your chance, in shaa Allah. Here are five very simple, amazingly effective ways to expiate your mistakes, errors, and shortcomings from the Quran and sunnah.

In this week’s central ayah Allah ‘azza wa jall advises you: And perform the prayer, at the two ends of the day and in some hours of the night (i.e. the five compulsory daily prayers). Verily, the good deeds remove the evil deeds. That is a reminder for the mindful [Quran, 11:114]

Good deeds wipe out bad deeds

In this ayah Allah ‘azza wa jall mentions the order for prayer and when you sometimes feel you have to push yourself to pray, motivate yourself with this immense reward. The Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: When the time for a prescribed prayers approaches and a Muslim observes its ablution and acts of bowing and prostrating properly, this salat will be an expiation for his part sins, so long as he does not commit major sins, and this is for always [Muslim]

Take a break and revive a sunnah!

Anas radiyallahu ‘anhu said: “I pray as I saw the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessing be upon him, leading us.”

Thaabit radiyallahu ‘anhu said: “Anas used to do something which I do not see you doing; when he lifted his head from bowing (rukoo‘) he stood up (so long) that one would say: He has forgotten (to bow down in prostration/sujood). And when he lifted his head from prostration (sujood), he stayed in that position, ’til someone would say: ‘He has forgotten (to bow down in prostration for the second sajda)’” [Al-Bukhaaree, Muslim]

Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim, rahimahullah, said: “This sunnah was forsaken by many people after the time of the companions, may Allah be pleased with them, came to a close.”

Subhanallah, forsaken!

So add in a pause— after coming up from rukoo, for example— to revive this sunnah.

When you pause between two prostrations you can say: Rabbighfirlee, Rabbighfirlee (O Lord fogive me, O Lord forgive me), as the Prophet salallahu ‘alayhi wasallam used to supplicate [Abu Dawood]

Hints

• Write on a sticky note, “take a break in salah” and stick it wherever you pray, to remind yourself.
• Teach this etiquette of prayer to the children in shaa Allah!

Name Of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH):

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