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portion in the Hereafter (Jannah). Neither will Allah
speak to them, nor look at them on the Day of
Resurrection, nor will He purify them, and they shall
have a painful torment.) (3:77)
12) It commands humans to take care of themselves and forbids
suicide, whether directly or indirectly, such as dealing with
intoxicants, drugs, cigarettes, and other things which modern
medicine has proven to be causes of harmful diseases. Allah (r)
says:
(And do not kill yourselves (nor kill one another).
Surely, Allah is Most Merciful to you. * And whoever
commits that through aggression and injustice, We
shall cast him into the Fire, and that is easy for Allah.)
(4:29-30)
13) It commands truthfulness, trustworthiness, and the fulfilling
of oaths; and it forbids lying, deception and treachery. Allah (I)
says:
(O you who believe! Betray not Allah and His
Messenger, nor betray knowingly your amaanaat
(things entrusted to you and all the duties which Allah
has ordained for you).) (8:27)
14) It commands love and unity, and it forbids disassociation
and all things which lead to hate and enmity, such as bearing
grudges, hatred, and envy. The Prophet (r) said:
“Do not hate each other, do not envy each other, and
do not turn your backs on each other (i.e. boycott) but
rather be true slaves of Allah as brothers. It is
impermissible for a Muslim to boycott his brother
more than three days.” (Bukhari #5718 & Muslim
#2558)
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15) It commands generosity and forbids greed and miserliness.
Allah (I) says:
( And let not your hand be tied (like a miser) to your
neck, nor stretch it forth to its utmost reach (like a
spendthrift),so that you become blameworthy and in
severe poverty ) (17:29)
16) It commands one to be frugal in all matters and forbids
wastefulness and the squandering of money uselessly. Allah (I)
says:
(And give to the near of kin his due and (to) the needy
and the wayfarer, and do not squander wastefully.
Surely the squanderers are the brothers of the Shaitans
and the Shaitan is ever ungrateful to his Lord.) (17:26-
27)
17) It commands moderateness and forbids fanaticism and
extremism in religion. Allah (I) says:
(Allah intends for you ease and He does not want to
make things difficult for you.) (2:185)
The Prophet (r) said:
“Be aware and stay away from extremism in religion,
for indeed the only thing which destroyed those before
you was extremism in Religion.”
(Nasa'íe #3039 & ibn Maajah #3057 )
18) It commands humility and forbids pride and arrogance.
Allah (I) says:
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(And be moderate (or show no insolence) in your
walking, and lower your voice. Verily, the harshest of
all voices is the voice (braying) of the ass.) (13:19)
About pride, the Prophet (r) said:
“He who has even a mustard seed’s worth of pride in
his heart will not enter Jannah.” A person asked, “O
Messenger of Allah, people like to wear nice clothes
and sandals.” He said, “Indeed Allah is Beautiful and
He loves beauty. Arrogance is to reject the truth and
belittle others.” (Muslim #91)
The Prophet (r) said about self-conceit:
“Whoever drags his clothes on the ground out of selfconceit,
Allah will not look at him on the Day of
Resurrection.” (Bukhari #3465 & Muslim #2085)
19) It commands people to console others and not feel happy
about others’ grief. The Prophet (r) said:
“Do not feel happy about your brother’s grief, it might
be that Allah will show mercy to him and put you
through a trial.” (Tirmidhi #2508)
20) It forbids Muslims from interfering in affairs which do not
concern them. The Prophet (r) said:
“Indeed from the good traits of a true Muslim is that
he leaves that which does not concern him.”
(Tirmidhi #2317 & ibn Maajah #3976)
21) It commands respecting people and forbids debasing them
and holding them in contempt. Allah (I) says:
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(O you who believe! Let not a group scoff at another
group, it may be that the latter are better than the
former; nor let (some) women scoff at other women, it
may be that the latter are better than the former. And
do not defame one another, nor insult one another by
nicknames.) (49:11)
22) It commands one to jealously protect and guard one’s
maharim1, and it forbids cuckoldry (i.e. the person is not
protective of his relatives and turns a blind eye to their
promiscuity).
. The Prophet (r) said:
“Three will not enter Jannah: one who maltreats his
parents, a cuckold (Day’youth) and women who act like
men.” (Nasa'ie #2562)
23) It prohibits resembling members of the opposite sex. Ibn
‘Abbaas (t) said:
“The Messenger of Allah (r) cursed those men who
imitate women and those women who imitate men.”
(Bukhari #5546)
24) It commands that people exert efforts in doing good to
others, and it forbids that they remind them of their favors
upon them. Allah’s (I) says:
(O you who believe! Do not render in vain your
Sadaqah (charity) by reminders of your generosity or
by injury.) (2:264)
25) It commands thinking good about others, and it forbids
suspicion and backbiting. Allah (I) says:
1 Maharim: Those relatives who are forbidden for a person to marry
due to their closeness in blood relations, like mothers, sisters, aunts,
or suckling or marriage ties etc.
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(O you who believe! Avoid much suspicion, indeed
some suspicions are sins. And spy not, neither backbite
one another. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of
his dead brother? You would hate it (so hate
backbiting). And fear Allah. Verily, Allah is the One
Who accepts repentance, Most Merciful.) (49:12)
26) It commands that one guards his tongue from all evil talk,
and that he use it for good and beneficial things which would
benefit himself and his society; such as remembering Allah, and
reconciliation between people. Likewise, it forbids the
individual to use it in evil. The Prophet (r) said:
“May your mother lose you O Mu‘adh! Are
people thrown into the Hellfire on their faces or
nostrils except for what their tongues reaped?”
(Tirmidhi #2616 & ibn Maajah #373)
27) It commands with well-treatment of the neighbor and
forbids harming them. The Prophet (r) said:
“By Allah he is not a true believer! By Allah he is not a
true believer! By Allah he is not a true believer!” It was
said, “And who is he, O Messenger of Allah?” He
replied, “Him whose neighbor is not safe from his evil.”
(Bukhari #5670)
28) It commands that one seek righteous companions and
forbids that one seek evil companions. The Prophet (r) said:
“The example of a righteous and evil companion is like
one who carries perfume and another who is a
blacksmith. As for the one who carries perfume, he will
either give you some perfume, you might buy some, or
[at least] you will find a pleasing scent with him. As for
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the blacksmith, either he (the blacksmith) will burn his
clothes, or you will find a hideous odor from him.”
( Bukhari #1995 & Muslim #2628)
29) It orders people to settle their disputes and prohibits
anything which leads to enmity and hatred. Allah (I) says:
(There is no good in most of their secret talks save (in)
him who orders Sadaqah (charity in Allah's Cause), or
Ma’roof (Islamic Monotheism and all the good and
righteous deeds which Allah has ordained), or
conciliation between mankind, and he who does this,
seeking the good Pleasure of Allah, We shall give him a
great reward.) (4:114)
30) It orders that people be sincere to each other [by giving
good advice] and forbids that advice be withheld when it is
sought. The Prophet (r) said:
“The religion is sincere counseling.” We asked, “To
whom?” He replied, “To Allah, to His Book, to His
Messenger, and to the leaders of the Muslims and their
general folk.” (Muslim #55)
31) It orders people to help relieve worries of Muslims, to give
them respite [in paying back debts] and to conceal their faults.
The Prophet (r) said:
“Whoever relieves some worry of a believer, Allah will
relieve a worry of his on the Day of Requital. Whoever
makes things easy for one in times of hardship [by
giving respite to one who is not able to pay back a debt]
Allah will make things easy upon him in this life and
the next. And whoever conceals the faults of a Muslim,
Allah will conceal his faults in this life and in the
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Hereafter. Allah helps his slave as long as he helps his
brother.” (Muslim #2699)
32) It orders that one have patience and fortitude in times of
hardships, and forbids that one become worried and discontent.
Allah (I) says:
(And certainly, We shall test you with something of
fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but give
glad tidings to As-Sabirin (the patient ones, etc.). Who,
when afflicted with calamity, say: "Truly! To Allah we
belong and truly, to Him we shall return. They are
those on whom are the Salawat (i.e. blessings, etc.) (i.e.
who are blessed and will be forgiven) from their Lord,
and (they are those who) receive His Mercy, and it is
they who are the guided-ones.) (2:155-157)
33) It orders one to forgive, pardon, and turn away from one
who does evil to him, and forbids that one seek revenge and
retribution. Allah (I) says:
(And march forth in the way (which leads to)
forgiveness from your Lord, and for Jannah as wide as
the heavens and the earth, prepared for Al-Muttaqoon
(the pious). Those who spend [in Allah's Cause - deeds
of charity, alms, etc.] in prosperity and in adversity,
who repress anger, and who pardon men; verily, Allah
loves Al-Muhsinoon (the good doers).) (3:133-134)
34) It commands mercy and it forbids cold-heartedness. The
Prophet (r) said:
“Allah shows mercy to those who show mercy. Show
mercy to those on earth, and Allah will be merciful to
you.” (Abu Dawood #4941 & Tirmidhi #1924)
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35) It commands people to be kind and lenient to each other,
and it forbids harshness. The Prophet (r) said:
“Nothing is done with kindness except that it is
beautified, and nothing is devoid of kindness except
that it is flawed.” (Muslim #2594)
36) It commands that one return evil with good, and forbids that
one reciprocate evil with evil. Allah (I) says:
(Repel (the evil) with one which is better (i.e. Allah
ordered the faithful believers to be patient at the time
of anger, and to excuse those who treat them badly):
then verily he, between whom and you there was
enmity, (will become) as though he was a close friend.)
(41:34)
37) It commands the spreading of knowledge and forbids
concealing it. The Prophet (r) said:
“Whoever was asked about knowledge but conceals it,
he will be brought on the Day of Resurrection muzzled
with the leashes of Hellfire.”
(Abu Dawood #3658 & Tirmidhi #2649 )
38) It commands that Muslims enjoin virtue and righteousness
and prevent evil and vice, each according to his ability. The
Prophet (r) said:
“Whoever of you sees an evil act, let him change it with
his hand, if he is not able, then with his tongue, and if
he is not able, then with his heart, and that is the lowest
branch of Iman.” (Muslim #49)
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Some Prohibitions Concerning Food, Drink and
Clothing
1) Wine and all other drugs which come under this heading,
whether ingested, inhaled or injected. Allah (I) says:
(O you who believe! Intoxicants (all kinds of alcoholic
drinks) gambling, Al Ansaab, and Al Azlaam (arrows
for seeking luck or decision) are an abomination of
Shaytaan's (Satan) handiwork. So avoid (strictly all)
that (abomination) in order that you may be successful.
Shaytaan (Satan) wants only to excite enmity and
hatred between you with intoxicants (alcoholic drinks)
and gambling, and hinder you from the remembrance
of Allah and from As-Salaat (the prayer). So, will you
not then abstain?) (5:90-91)
2) Eating the meat of carrion, pigs, and all other things
mentioned in Allah’s (r) words:
(Forbidden to you (for food) are: Al-Maytatah (the dead
animals - cattle-beast not slaughtered), blood, the flesh
of swine, and the meat of that which has been
slaughtered as a sacrifice for others than Allah, or has
been slaughtered for idols, etc., or on which Allah's
Name has not been mentioned while slaughtering, and
that which has been killed by strangling, or by a violent
blow, or by a headlong fall, or by the smiting of horns -
and that which has been (partly) eaten by a wild animal
- unless you are able to slaughter it (before its death)
and that which is sacrificed (slaughtered) on An Nusub
(stone altars). (Forbidden) also is to use arrows seeking
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luck or decision, (all) that is Fisqun (disobedience of
Allah and sin).) (5:3)
3) Eating things over which the Name of Allah was not
pronounced intentionally, or that over which other than the
Name of Allah was pronounced upon slaughtering. Allah (r)
says: (Eat not (O believers) of that (meat) on which Allah's
Name has not been pronounced (at the time of the
slaughtering of the animal), for sure it is Fisq (a sin and
disobedience of Allah).) (6:121)
4) Eating animals which have canine teeth, such as lions,
leopards, wolves and the like, as well as birds which have
talons, like eagles, falcons, hawks etc. Ibn ‘Abbaas said:
“The Prophet (r) forbade us from [eating] any
carnivorous animal which has canine teeth, and every
bird which has talons [with which it catches its prey].”
(Muslim #1934)
5) What was slaughtered by other than the Jews and the
Christians. It is considered carrion and it is impermissible to
eat.
6) Any food or drink which is apparently harmful to one’s
body, such as cigarettes and the like; they are impermissible.
Allah (r) says:
(And do not kill yourselves (nor kill one another). Surely,
Allah is Most Merciful to you.) (4:29)
7) Wearing silk, gold, and silver for men; they are permissible
for women. The Prophet (r) said: “The wearing of silk and
gold has been permitted for the women of my nation but not
for its men.” (Ahmad #19662)
It is allowed for men to wear silver rings, belts, and have
decoration on weaponry.
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Various Supplications, Words of Remembrance,
and Islamic Etiquettes
1) Mention the name of Allah [by saying Bismillaah] before
you start eating or drinking, and thank Allah [by saying
Alhamdulillaah] upon finishing. You should eat from what is in
front of you and you must eat with your right hand, for the left
hand is mainly used to clean what is abhorred (like cleaning
oneself after relieving himself).
‘Umar bin Abi Salamah (t) said: “When I was a young boy, I
was in the care of the Messenger of Allah (r) and my hand was
wandering all over the plate [while eating]. So the Messenger of
Allah (r) said to me,
“Young boy, mention the name of Allah [before you
start to eat], eat with your right hand, and eat from
what is in front of you.” (Bukhari #5061 & Muslim
#2022)
2) Never be critical of food, no matter how it is. Abu Hurairah
(t) said:
“The Messenger of Allah (r) never criticized food at
all. If he liked it he ate it, and if he did not, he left it.”
(Bukhari #3370 & Muslim #2064)
3) Do not enter the houses except after seeking permission [by
knocking or the like]. Allah (I) says:
(O you who believe! Enter not houses other than your
own, until you have sought permission and greeted
those in them.) (24:27)
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Do not persist in seeking permission [more than thrice]. The
Prophet (r) said:
“One should seek permission thrice. If he grants you
permission, [then enter] and if not, go back.”
(Muslim #2153)
5) Greet both those you know and those you do not know [by
saying ‘As-Salaamu ‘alaykum] for love and friendship would
result from this. The Prophet (r) said:
“You will never enter Jannah until you believe, and
you will never believe fully until you love each other.
Shall I not inform you of something that if you do it,
you will love each other? Greet one another with
‘Salaam’.”
(Muslim #54)
6) If someone greets you with Salaam, return him the same
greeting or one that is better.1 Allah (I) says:
(When you are greeted with a greeting, greet in return
with what is better than it or (at least) return it equally.
Certainly, Allah is Ever a Careful Account Taker of all
things.) (4:86)
7) When you feel like yawning, you should try to suppress
yourself as much as possible. The Prophet (r) said:
“Yawning is from the Shaytaan. When one of you feels
like yawning, let him suppress it as much as he can.
1 If someone says “As-Salaamu alaykum,” respond with, “wa
‘alaykum As-Salaam,” at the very least. It is better to add, “wa
Rahmatullaah,” and even further, “wa Barakaatuh.”
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And if one of you yawns making sound, “Aahh!”
Shaytaan laughs.” (Bukhari #3115)
If he is unable to suppress it, he should cover his mouth with
his right palm. If he uses his left hand, he should either use its
back, or make a fist and use the circle composed of his index
finger and thumb.
8) When you sneeze, say, “Alhamdulillaah.” If another
Muslim sneezes and says, “Alhamdulillaah,” you should reply
by saying, “Yarhamuk-Allah (may Allah have mercy on
you).” If someone replies to you by saying, “Yarhamuk-
Allah,” reply to him by saying, “Yahdeekumullaah wa
yuslihu baalakum (may Allah guide you and better your
affairs).” The Prophet (r) said:
“When one of you sneezes, let him say,
‘Alhamdulillaah,’ his brother or companion should say
to him, ‘Yarhamuk-Allahu,’ and the one who sneezed
should say, ‘Yahdeekumullaah wa yuslihu baalakum.’
” (Bukhari #5870)
If a disbeliever says, “Alhamdulillah,” you should reply
saying, “Yahdeekumullaah (may Allah guide you),” only.
(Abu Dawood #5038 & Tirmidhi #2739)
Abu Hurairah (t) related, that whenever the
Messenger of Allah (r) sneezed, he would put his hand
or his clothes in front of his mouth and lower his voice
[in doing so]. (Abu Dawood #5870)
9) Do not burp in public. Ibn ‘Umar (t) said:
“A man burped while in the company of the Messenger
of Allah (r), and he said to him: ‘Save us from your
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burping, for the most satiated in this life will be hungry
for the longest time on the Day of Resurrection.’
(Tirmidhi #2478)
10) If you joke, do not say anything to harm or ill-treat others.
The Prophet (r) said:
“Let not anyone take his brother’s things (to anger
him) seriously or jokingly.” (Abu Dawood 5003 &
Tirmidhi #2160)
Do not let your joking be untrue, leading you to lie to make
others laugh. The Prophet (r) said:
“Woe to the one who lies in his speech to make people
laugh, woe to him! woe to him!”
(Abu Dawood #4990 & Tirmidhi #2315))
11) When you wish to sleep, mention the Name of Allah and lie
down on your right side. Hudhayfah ibn al-Yamaan said:
“When the Prophet (r) would retreat to his bed, he
would say:
‘Bismika amootu wa ahyaa.’
Meaning: With your Name I die and I live.
Upon awaking, he would say:
‘Alhamdu-lillaah-illadhi ahyaanaa ba’da maa
amaatanaa wa ilayh-in-nushoor.’ ” (Bukhari #5953)
Meaning: All praise is due to Allah, Who gives us live
after He has caused us to die and to Him will be the
resurrection.
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12) When you go to your wives [to have marital relations], say:
“Bismillaah. Allahumma jannibnash-Shaytaan, wa
jannib-ish-Shaytaana maa razaqtanaa.”
Meaning: “I begin with the Name of Allah. O Allah, keep
the Shaytaan away from us, and keep the Shaytaan away
from what you grant us [from offspring].”
The Prophet (r) said:
“If someone says when he approached his wife (before
sexual intercourse), ‘I begin with the Name of Allah. O
Allah, keep the Shaytaan away from us, and keep the
Shaytaan away from what you grant us [from
offspring],’ if Allah grants them a child he (the
Shaytaan)would not harm him.”
(Bukhari #141 & Muslim #1434)
Also, keep whatever takes place between you and your
partner private. The Prophet (r) said:
“Indeed from the worst of people on the Day of
Resurrection is one who has marital relations with his
wife and then spreads her private matters.”
(Muslim #1437)
13) Upon leaving your home, say the following supplication.
The Prophet (r) said:
“Whoever says, meaning upon leaving his home:
‘Bismillaahi, tawakkaltu ‘ala Allahi, laa hawla wa laa
quwwata illaa billaah.’
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Meaning: I begin with the Name of Allah, I put my trust in
Allah, there is no ability or might except with Allah.’
…it will be said to him, ‘Your affair has been taken care
of, you have been protected [from all evil], and the
Shaytaan moves away from him.” (Tirmidhi #3426 &
Abu Dawood #5095)
14) When you visit the sick, invoke the supplication which has
been narrated from the Prophet (r). When he would visit the ill,
he would sit close to his head and say the following seven
times:
“Asalullaah al-‘Adheem, Rabb al-‘Arsh il-‘Adheem an
yashfiyak.”
Meaning: I beseech Allah, the Magnificent, the Lord of the
Magnificent Throne, that He cures you.
He said:
“If Allah has written for him to live longer, he will be
cured from this sickness.” (Saheeh ibn Hibbaan #2975)
15) When you enter the toilet, enter with your left foot and say:
“Bismillah Allahumma inni a’uthu bika min al-kubthi
wal-khabaa´ith.”
Meaning: I begin with the Name of Allah, O Allah, I seek
refuge in you from the male and female Devils.
(Bukhari #142 & Muslim #375)
When you leave the toilet, exit with your right foot and say:
“Ghufraanak.”
Meaning: I seek your forgiveness.
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(Abu Dawood #30 & ibn Maajah #300)
Brotherly Advice
1) Know that upon entering the folds of Islam, Allah has
effaced all your previous sins and evil deeds. The Prophet (r)
said:
“Do you not know that Islam effaces all that is done
before it?” (Muslim #121)
Rather, the evil deeds you committed before you entered
Islam are changed into good deeds by the Bounty of Allah.
Allah (I) says:
(And those who invoke not any other ilaah (god) along
with Allah, nor kill such life as Allah has forbidden,
except for just cause, nor commit illegal sexual
intercourse and whoever does this shall receive the
punishment. * The torment will be doubled to him on
the Day of Resurrection, and he will abide therein in
disgrace. * Except those who repent and believe (in
Islamic Monotheism), and do righteous deeds, for
those, Allah will change their sins into good deeds, and
Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.) (25:68-70)
Listen to this good news from Allah (I). Those who embrace
this religion from the People of the Book will be given double
reward, due to their belief in their Messenger and their belief in
Muhammad (r). Allah says:
(Those to whom We gave the Scripture [i.e. the
Tawraah and the Injeel, etc.] before it, - they believe in
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it (the Qur`an). And when it is recited to them, they
say: ‘We believe in it. Verily, it is the truth from our
Lord. Indeed even before it we have been from those
who submit themselves to Allah in Islam as Muslims
(like ‘Abdullah bin Salaam and Salmaan Al-Faarisi,
etc.).These will be given their reward twice over,
because they are patient, and repel evil with good, and
spend (in charity) out of what We have provided them.)
(28:52-54)
The Prophet (r) said:
“Whoever accepts Islam from the people of the two
Books (the Jews and Christians) they will have a
double reward. They will receive the rights we enjoy,
and they must give the rights we give. And whoever
accepts Islam from the pagans [other than them] will
have their reward, and they will receive the rights we
enjoy, and they must give the rights we give.” (Ahmad
#22288)
Your records are white and clean, so be careful not to taint it
by doing any sins.
2) Now that you know the truth, set aside a part of your time to
learn your religion. The Messenger of Allah (r) said:
“If Allah desires good for a person, He gives him
understanding of the religion.”
(Bukhari #71 & Muslim #1037)
Seek the knowledge of ‘Aqeedah (Creed) and then study
everything else you need in your daily life about your religion,
such as Tahaarah, Salah, and the rest. You should also study
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the rulings of trade and the rulings pertaining to your source of
livelihood, so that you do not unintentionally fall into things
which are impermissible. Also, try your best to memorize the
Book of Allah.
You should understand your religion from its proper and
trusted sources, the Book of Allah and the authentic Sunnah of
His Messenger (r).
Your example should be Muhammad (r) learn his biography
so that you can emulate him. Try your best to be in the
company of the scholars and students of knowledge who
practice what they preach.
Be advised that not everyone who claims to be a Muslim is a
true Muslim. Therefore, you should be careful who you seek
knowledge from. Whatever you read or hear should be
scrutinized in light of the Qur'an and Sunnah of the Prophet (r)
(The Sunnah should be understood in light of the understanding
of the Pious Predecessors). The Prophet (r) said:
“I advise you with the taqwaa of Allah, hearing and
obeying even to an Ethiopian slave with amputated
limbs (if he be your leader). For indeed whoever lives
long amongst you will see many differences. So adhere
to my Sunnah, and the Sunnah of the Rightly Guided
Caliphs. Hold tight and cling on to it with your molar
teeth. And beware of innovated matters [in religion],
for indeed every innovated matter is an Bid'ah, and
every Bid'ah is misguidance.” ( Abu Dawood #4607,
Tirmidhi #2676 & ibn Majaah #42)
Whatever is in accordance with his Sunnah take it, and
whatever opposes it, leave it. The Prophet (r) said:
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“The Jews split into seventy-one sects, one is in Jannah
and seventy are in the Hellfire. The Christians split
into seventy-two sects, seventy-one are in the Hellfire
and one is in Jannah. By Allah, my Ummah (nation)
will be split into seventy-three sects, one will be in
Jannah and seventy-two will be in Hellfire.” It was
said, “O Messenger of Allah, who are they?” He
answered, “The Jamaa‘ah1.” (Abu Dawood #4596 &
ibn Maajah #3993)
3) Al-Wala and Al-Bara. You must love and stand with the
believers, and hate the disbelievers and take them as enemies.
But to hate them does not mean to oppress and transgress
against them or usurp their rights. You should not hate them
merely for their selves, but rather due to their disbelief and
misguidance. This should encourage you to do your utmost to
help save them from the Hellfire. Do not prefer disbelievers
over Muslims, and do not help them against Muslims. Allah (I)
says:
(The believers, men and women, are Awliyaa´ (helpers,
supporters, friends, allies, protectors) of one another.)
(9:71)
4) Know that whoever accepts Islam would face opposition,
disagreement and harm, especially from those closest to them.
You should keep this in mind and know that if you are
oppressed in any way, this would elevate your rank, purify your
sins, and would serve as a test through which Allah is trying
you to see the extent of your truthfulness and steadfastness on
your religion. Allah (I) says:
1 Jamaa’ah: The group (i.e. those who stick to the way of the Prophet
(r) and his companions).
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(Do people think that they will say: ‘We believe,’ and
will not be tested. We indeed tested those who were
before them. * And Allah 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 Allah knows all that before putting
them to test.) (29:2-3)
Also, the Prophet (r) was asked:
“Which people are the most tested?” He replied, “The
Prophets, then the righteous, then those after them,
and then those after them. Every person is tried
according to the strength of his religion, if his religion
is strong, he is tested more, and if his religion is weak,
his trial is lessened. A person continues to be tested and
tried until he walks on the earth totally free of sin (for
they would be effaced due to the trials).” (Tirmidhi
#2398 & ibn Majaah #4023 )
Know that they will try to raise doubts in your mind about
Islam and constantly mention these doubts to you. Ask the
People of Knowledge, so that you may find a proper reply to
these doubts, from the Qur'an and the Sunnah.
5) Calling to the religion of Allah (Da'wah) and his authentic
Sunnah. You must be knowledgeable to what you call people
to. In this manner, the doubts that the enemies of Islam bring
about can be easily answered. Give Da'wah as Allah says:
(Invite (mankind, O Muhammad r) to the Way of your
Lord (i.e. Islam) with wisdom (i.e. with the Divine
Inspiration and the Qur'an) and fair preaching, and
argue with them in the best way. Truly, your Lord
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knows best who has gone astray from His Path, and He
is the Best Aware of those who are guided.) (16:125)
Save others from the Hellfire, just as Allah saved you from it,
and start with those closest to you. Be mindful of the words of
the Prophet (r):
“Allah did not send me to make things hard...rather as
a teacher and to make things easy.” (Muslim #1478)
Know that there is much good and great Bounty from Allah in
helping a person to become Muslim, The Messenger of Allah
(r) said to ‘Ali (t):
“If Allah guides a person through you, it is better for
you than all that is on the earth.” (Bukhari #2783 &
Muslim #2406)
You will receive the same reward as all those who have been
guided through you, without their reward being decreased in the
least. The Prophet (r) said:
“Whoever calls to guidance, he will receive an
additional reward equal to those who follow him,
without their rewards being reduced in the least.
Whoever calls to misguidance, he will receive the sin of
those who follow him, without their punishment being
reduced in the least.” (Muslim #2674)
Know that conveying this religion to non-Muslims and calling
them to it is a duty upon every Muslim, so do not fall short in
doing this duty. The Messenger of Allah (r) said:
“Convey to others (the religion), even if it be one
verse.” (Tirmidhi #2669)
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You should make people love the religion of Allah. The
Prophet (r) said:
“Give glad tidings, and do not cause people to flee from
the religion; make things easy for people and don’t
make things hard.” (Bukhari #69 & Muslim#1732)
Know that in calling others to Islam, you are not responsible
for the results, for your calling is restricted to merely clarifying
and showing people the way to the truth. Allah (I) says:
(And verily, you (O Muhammad r) are indeed guiding
(mankind) to the Straight Path (i.e. Allah’s religion of
Islamic Monotheism). The Path of Allah, to Whom
belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is in the
earth. Verily, all the matters at the end go to Allah (for
decision).) (42:52-53)
As for the guidance by which one actually practices Islam,
this is from Allah alone. Allah (I) says:
(Verily! You (O Muhammad r) guide not whom you
like, but Allah guides whom He wills. And He knows
best those who are the guided.) (28:56)
6) Try to choose righteous companions who encourage and help
you to do good, warn and prevent you from doing evil, and will
be a support for you in your life. The Prophet (r) said:
“The example of a righteous and evil companion is like
one who carries perfume and another who is a
blacksmith. As for the one who carries perfume, either
he will give you some perfume, or you might buy it, or
[at least] you will find a pleasing scent with him. As for
the blacksmith, either he (the blacksmith) will burn his
clothes, or he will find a hideous odor from him.”
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(Bukhari #1995 & Muslim #2628)
7) Be careful not to go to extremes in the religion. There is
neither monasticism nor fanaticism in the religion. Allah says:
(Allah intends for you ease and He does not want to
make things difficult for you.) (2:185)
Anas bin Maalik (t) said:
Three people came to the houses of the wives of the
Prophet (r) asking about the worship of the Prophet
(r). When they were informed, they thought it was too
little and said, “Who are we in comparison to the
Prophet (r) for indeed Allah has forgiven him his past
and future sins.” One of them said, “As for me, I will
pray the whole night long.” Another said, “I will fast
every day without breaking it,” and yet another said,
“I will stay away from women and never marry.” The
Messenger of Allah (r) came [and when he heard of
this, he] said, “Are you the people who said such and
such? As for me, By Allah, indeed I am the most godfearing
and most cautious amongst you, but I fast and I
eat, I pray and I sleep, and I marry women. Whoever
desires other than my Sunnah (Way), then he is not
from me.” (Bukhari #4776)
On the other hand, there should be no compromising or
improper lenience in the religion of Allah. The Prophet (r) said:
“Leave me to what I have ordered you. Indeed those
before you were destroyed due to their [persistent]
questioning, and opposing their Prophets. If I forbid
you from something, abstain from it, and if I command
you with something, do of it as much as possible.”
(Bukhari #6858 & Muslim#1337)
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8) You will see many Muslims who do not fulfill their
obligations and do not refrain from the prohibitions of the
religion. They do not fulfill their obligations towards the
Da’wah. People differ in this; such that some fulfill their
obligations in a more complete way than others. In any case, the
reason one does not fulfill these obligations is due to the fact
that Shaitan is trying his utmost to misguide the Children of
Adam. Allah, the Exalted, says:
([Iblees (Satan)] said: ‘By Your Might, then I will
surely mislead them all.) (32:82)
Shaitan has promised to exert all his efforts to mislead the
Children of Adam. Allah, the Exalted, says:
(And surely, We created you (your father Adam) and
then gave you shape (the noble shape of a human
being), then We told the angels, ‘Prostrate to Adam’,
and they prostrated, except Iblees (Satan), he refused to
be of those who prostrate. (Allah) said: ‘What
prevented you (O Iblees) that you did not prostrate,
when I commanded you?’ Iblees said: ‘I am better than
him (Adam), You created me from fire, and him You
created from clay.’ (Allah) said: ‘(O Iblees) get down
from this (Jannah), it is not for you to be arrogant here.
Get out, for you are of those humiliated and disgraced.’
(Iblees) said: ‘Allow me respite till the Day they are
raised up (i.e. the Day of Resurrection).’ (Allah) said:
‘You are of those allowed respite.’ (Iblees) said:
‘Because You have sent me astray, surely I will sit in
wait against them (human beings) on Your Straight
Path. Then I will come to them from before them and
behind them, from their right and from their left, and
You will not find most of them as thankful ones (i.e.
they will not be dutiful to You).’ (Allah) said (to Iblees)
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‘Get out from this (Jannah) disgraced and expelled.
Whoever of them (mankind) will follow you, then
surely I will fill Hell with you all.) (32:82)
Do not be discouraged from fulfilling your duty in the field of
Da’wah to the religion of Allah; let this be an incentive to
yourself to strive in spreading the religion of Allah.
9) Practice Islamic conduct in your daily life; such as helping
someone who is in need whether you know him or not, and
smiling in the face of your brother. The Prophet (r) said:
“Smiling in the face of your brother is a charity,
enjoining good and prohibiting evil is a charity,
showing someone the way when he is lost is a charity,
helping the weak-sighted is a charity, removing a rock,
a thorn, or bones from the path is a charity, and
pouring water from your bucket into the bucket of
your brother is a charity. (Tirmidhi #1956)
Your clothes and all your things should be clean. A Muslim
must always be clean, for his religion is the religion of
cleanliness. Allah (I) says:
(O Children of Adam! Take your adornment (by
wearing your clean clothes), while praying.) (7:31)
You should try to do as many good deeds as possible, such as
giving charity, performing supererogatory prayers and other
acts of worship.
When one performs these deeds [mentioned above] they are
giving indirect Da’wah to the Muslims who are heedless of
their religion. They are also giving Da’wah to the non-Muslims;
since they would become curious and ask about Islam when
they see its beautiful aspects.
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Treat your relatives well, and do not sever your relationship
with them even if they oppose your acceptance of Islam. You
should have better relations with your relatives, in order to
bring them closer to Islam. They would also know that after you
became a Muslim, your manners improved and you became a
better person. Asmaa´ (t) said:
“My mother, who was a pagan during the life of the
Messenger of Allah (r), came to visit me, so I asked the
Messenger of Allah (r): ‘My mother has come to visit
me…should I keep ties with my mother?’ He (r) said:
‘Yes, keep your ties of relation with your mother.’ ”
(Bukhari #2477 & Muslim #1003)
10) Know that the struggle between good and evil will last till
the Last Day. The weakness of the Muslims and the strength of
the disbelievers, the minority of Muslims and the majority of
the disbelievers, the backwardness of the Muslims and the
advancement of the disbelievers, the humility of the Muslims
and the might of the disbelievers are not evidences indicating
the falseness of Islam. It is a definite result of their distance
from implementing the legislation of their Lord and their
abandoning righteous deeds and calling to the path of Allah.
‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab (t), the second Khaleefah (Caliph)
said:
“We are a people who Allah honored and gave might
through Islam. If we seek honor in something else, Allah
would humiliate us. The truth should be followed, for indeed
Allah created Jannah and Hell, and He has promised that
each one will be filled.”
11) Know my brother that we are in the last of times (the Last
Day is near) and that each year that passes, we come closer to
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the end of the world and the establishing of the Final Hour. The
Prophet (r) said:
‘I myself and the Hour have been raised like these
two,’ and he joined his index and middle fingers.”
(Bukhari #4652 & Muslim #867)
The Prophet (r) foretold the state of Islam [and Muslims] in
this time. He (r) said:
“Islam started as a strange thing and it shall once again
return to this state. So may glad tidings be to the
strangers.” (Muslim #145)
Having many followers is not a proof of the correctness of a
methodology. The Prophet (r) said:
“Glad tidings to the strangers! Glad tidings to the
strangers! Glad tidings to the strangers!” Someone
asked, “Who are the strangers O Messenger of Allah?”
He said, “Righteous people amongst many evil ones.
Those who disobey them are more than those who
obey.” (Ahmad #7072)
He also clarified the state in which the Muslim who holds on
to his religion will be, and the various hardships he will face [in
practicing his religion] whether physical or psychological. The
Prophet (r) said:
“Enjoin the good and forbid the evil, but when you see
that greed is obeyed, desires followed, the life of this
world playing its affect on people, and that people are
pleased with their own opinions, stick to yourselves and
leave commanding the general public with good, for
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indeed there will be days after you, having patience in
them is like grasping a hot coal. One who does
righteous deeds in them will receive the reward of fifty
people doing the same deed.” ( Saheeh ibn Hibbaan)
The Prophet (r) informed us that when the Day of
Resurrection draws near, the religion would diminish. No
person who says “Laa ilaaha ill-Allah” will remain on the face
of Earth. Only the most evil of creation will remain, and upon
them will the Final Hour be established.
Nawwaas ibn Sam‘aan narrated the Hadeeth of the Prophet
(r) in which he describes the story of the Dajjaal (Pseudo-
Christ) the descending of ‘Eesaa ibn Maryam, and the coming
of Ya'jooj wa Ma'jooj (Gog and Magog) saying:
“… then Allah will send a good and pure wind which
will take them underneath their armpits. It will take
the soul of every Mu´min and Muslim, and only the
most evil of people will remain. They will engage in sex
in public in front of people like donkeys, and upon
them the Hour will strike.” (Muslim #2937)
12) Know that all affairs are judged by the way they end, so be
keen to always ask Allah that He keeps you steadfast upon
Islam, and that He causes you to die with a good end. Make
sure your speech and deeds are purely for Allah’s sake, that
they are done according to what He legislated, and that you
spend your time in Allah’s (r) obedience. Take account of
yourself, before you are taken to account, and let Allah see you
doing what He commanded not what He forbade.
May Allah keep us steadfast on His religion, and cause us to
die as Muslims.
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