The first thing Almighty Allah communicated to mankind through their final messenger, Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), were the words:

Read! In the name of your Lord who has created (all that exists)

(Al-‘Alaq, 1).

This is the first verse (ayah) of the surah or chapter Al-‘Alaq (the Clot). The surah ends with the words:

Fall prostrate and draw near (to Allah)!

(Al-‘Alaq, 19).

This means that the beginning, as well as the total dynamism and disposition, of life should be anchored in a vibrant culture of reading and everything that goes with it such as exploring, researching, questioning, discovering and innovating.

The process applies as much to individuals and their personal development as to communities and their collective cultural and civilizational consciousness and evolution.

The net results of such processes should be in support of attaining, internalizing and applying the truth. They should help a person understand himself, life and his Creator better. They should make him draw closer to his Creator and Master, and make him submit his total being to His Will, with the prostration representing the ultimate sign of such an advancement and conformity.

Life Between Reading and Submission  

Man’s life purpose and mission reside and unfold between the parameters of the heavenly instructions to read – as the first word of the surah Al-‘Alaq – and to humbly submit and prostrate to Allah and so, constantly draw closer to Him – as the last two words (instructions) of the same surah.

Reading leads to knowledge and wisdom, which in turn lead to certainty and the truth. Reading enlightens. It is believing, and believing is doing.

Reading is intangible and intellectual. Its results need to be transported into the realm of palpable realities.

Reading is to be an act of devotion. At the same time, it is to lead to the sphere of supreme and ultimate devotion, equating itself with it.

In a sequential order, man is created to read, know and worship his Creator. He is created to acknowledge and follow the truth. He is to become its epitome.

No form of devotion is acceptable without reading and knowledge, just as reading and knowledge without devotion are untenable. The truth is the life force of all life dimensions.

The truth is life, and life is the truth. In the midst of both of them, man as Allah’s vicegerent on earth has been thrust. His life is an embodiment of meaning, import and accountability.

Reading here means reciting, studying, internalizing, interpreting and applying the signs (ayat) of Almighty Allah. Doing so connotes the foundation of all knowledge and wisdom. It is the soul of culture and civilization.

Reading the Revelation and Creation

Those signs (ayat) are to be found at two levels: the level of revelation and the level of creation.

That also means that there are two books of signs to be read: the book of revelation, which is the Holy Quran; and the “book of creation”, which is the universe with all its proceedings and phenomena.

The two books could further be named al-Qur’an al-tadwini (the Qur’an or scripture revealed to the Prophet Muhammad) and al-qur’an al-takwini (the ontological “qur’an” or “scripture” whose pages and lines are the worlds of animate and inanimate beings, occurrences and affairs).

Both books are replete with signs (ayat) which attest to and authenticate the omnipresence, omnipotence and benevolence of the Creator and Sustainer of man and the universe. They are the media through which Almighty Allah speaks and conveys the truth about Himself, man and life.

One day, Abu Bakr (the companion of Prophet Muhammad) met another companion, Hanzalah al-Usaydi. As they were good friends, Abu Bakr asked:

“How are you O Hanzalah?”

This is how the conversation transpired:

Hanzalah: “Hanzalah has become a hypocrite.”

Abu Bakr: “Subhan Allah! What are you saying?”

Hanzalah:

“When we are with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) he reminds us of the Fire and the Garden until it is as if we are seeing them with our own eyes, but when we depart from the Messenger of Allah, we attend to our wives and children and businesses, and we forget a great deal.”

Abu Bakr:

“By Allah, we experience something similar.”

Following this, Abu Bakr and Hanzalah both felt the need to seek the counsel of the Prophet (peace be upon him).

Hanzalah:

“Hanzalah has become a hypocrite, O Messenger of Allah.”

The Prophet:

“Why is that?”

Hanzalah:

“O Messenger of Allah, when we are with you, you remind us of the Fire and the Garden until it is as if we are seeing them with our own eyes, but when we depart from you, we attend to our wives and children and businesses, and we forget a great deal.”

The Prophet said:

By the One in Whose hand is my soul, if you continued as you are when you are with me, and continued to remember (Paradise and Hell), the angels would shake hands with you in your homes and on the streets. But, O Hanzalah, there is a time for this and a time for that, (he said it three times). (Muslim)

This is one of the most powerful narrations from the companions and of how they took their faith seriously.

In our daily practice of Islam, there are times when we doubt ourselves. We have had good times when our prayers were excellent, and we excelled in our lives both from a dunya and akhirah point of view and felt great.

Then we had a horrible dip. We started missing those Fajrs, we started to lose our temper, we started to forget our extra nafl deeds and soon we looked at ourselves and felt disgusted.

And that is normal- yes it really is. Look at this conversation. Both Abu Bakr and Hanzalah are among the top tier companions during the time of the Prophet.

Even Hanzalah had this realization that there are times when he was better as a Muslim in his heart and mind than other times. And he was worried. And he went and complained to the Prophet.

The fact that you are worried about your faith is a very, very good thing. It is in fact the sign of a believer as many among the earlier generations would say. The great scholar from the generation after the companions, al-Hasan al-Basri said about hypocrisy:

“No one fears it but a believer, and no one feels safe from it but a hypocrite.”

If we were sinning, and failing in our duties and feeling nothing, then we should be even more afraid because that is a sign that our hearts have died. The fact that we feel that guilt, that scratching inside our souls, is like a reminder from Allah for us to sort ourselves out.

It is important again to look back at the hadith. The Prophet said that if Hanzalah was perfect, the angels would come and shake hands with them.

This is one of the beautiful ways of the Prophet telling Hanzalah that perfection in worship in this world is reserved for the angels, not for humans. For humans there is a dip, and then there is a peak.

So, what do we do about it?

We can’t just sit around to expect things to change. Nothing happens without there being an initial force that brings about a change. As Allah puts it in the Quran:

Allah does not change the situation of a people until they change what is in themselves. (Quran 13:11)

Below is a list of things you can do, and is proven in the Sunnah to help in reconnecting to Allah and to help in purifying our hearts.

Be persistent in your good deeds even if you do not feel like it initially. As one of my teachers said: “Fake it till you make it.”

Every good thing is initially difficult to initiate and then easier as it goes along. So, think of the following good deeds to help in your journey back to Allah.

• Istighfar (seeking forgiveness).



• Reading Quran, understanding and contemplating it.



• Send blessings upon the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).



• Being thankful for many of the blessings that Allah has blessed us with.



• Taking some time out in nature and ponder on God’s creation.



• Attending a halaqah or an Islamic course.



• Going to the Masjid if you are not a regular, or going more than you usually would.

Try and pick a few of the activities above and see where you go. The best way to beat self-doubt is to do things that stop you doubting yourself and stop Satan making you doubt yourself.

The fact that you care about your faith is wonderful. Now, put that guilt into action. Satan makes us do nothing so that we are doomed to hell.

Allah invites us to His house, the house of peace, serenity and tranquility.

In his well-known book, Al-Hikam (Words of Wisdom), sheikh Ahmad ibn `Ataa’illah as-Sakandari says: 

How often has a long life brought about so little, and how often has a short life brought about so much. If someone’s life is blessed, he will attain, in a short time, bounties from Allah that cannot be expressed in words or comprehended in descriptions.

In  Islamic terminology, especially in Sufism, there is a lot of attention given to what is called barakah (blessing). Blessing is defined as the divine good displayed in something. When we invoke Allah’s blessing in something, this means that we would have favorable results due to the divine blessing.

The Sheikh says in this word of wisdom:

‘How often has a long life brought about so little, and how often has a short life brought about so much.’

He wants to say that someone may live for so many years but there is no blessing in his life, and that some other person may live for a short time but there is much blessing and great good in his life.

Then, the Sheikh says:

‘If someone’s life is blessed, he will attain, in a short time, bounties from Allah that cannot be expressed in words or comprehended in descriptions’.

This means that you cannot count Allah’s bounties in a blessed life even if it were to be short.We have a good example in Prophet Muhammad’s life. During the twenty years which he lived after receiving Allah’s revelation, he conveyed Allah’s message to the world at his time, and he changed the course of human history until the Day of Judgment.

Great Examples

The Prophet’s life was a blessed life which brought about much good and success to all people of all ages in all aspects of life.

Some of the Prophet’s companions died at the age of thirty or forty, but they contributed greatly to the faith. Mus`ab ibn `Umayr (may Allah be pleased with him), for example, died when in his twenties, but he served the cause of da`wah (the call for the faith) in Madina before the Prophet’s immigration. Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) governed  for three years only, but he founded a strong state and protected Islam against its many enemies at that time.

Many imams and scholars, such as, Shafi`i, abu Hamid al-Gazali, ibn al-Qayyim, died in their fifties. Yet, they left behind dozens of influential books and thousands of students. Today, after many centuries of their passing away, their knowledge and wisdom still benefits millions of people every day.

Seizing Barakah Opportunities

Because Allah knows that we are far behind those great people, He placed His blessings (barakah) in certain times and places. For example, Allah filled the Night of Destiny (Laylat al-Qdar) with infinite blessings:

{We have indeed revealed this (Message) in the Night of Power: And what will explain to you what the night of power is? The Night of Power is better than a thousand months. Therein come down the angels and the Spirit by Allah’s permission, on every errand; Peace! This until the rise of morn!.} ( Al-Qadr 97)

Worshipping Allah in this night is better than worshipping Him for a thousand months other than this night.

Allah also made Friday a blessed day. The hour before the dawn is a blessed hour. The early hours of the day are blessed by Allah. If you get up early, everything you do will be blessed, be it work, worship, sport, or anything.

Allah has also chosen some places to be more blessed than others. Allah says:

{Limitless in His glory is He who transported His servant by night from the Inviolable House of Worship at Mecca to the Remote House of Worship at Jerusalem – the environs of which We had blessed.} (Al-Israa’   17:1)

{Behold, the first house ever set up for mankind was indeed the one at Bakkah [Mecca]: rich in blessing, and a source of guidance unto all the worlds}. (Aal `Imran  3:96)

These places have been blessed by Allah in a special way.

There is abundant blessing (barakah) in sincerity. When something is done with pure sincerely for Allah, it will certainly be blessed. A sincere life is a blessed life, which cannot be expressed in words or comprehended in descriptions.

Remember when you were very young and loved to play in the kitchen with all the gadgets?

Very likely, your mother would let you play with some things but not with others. Years passed and when you got older you wanted to try different things and go many places. Perhaps your parents let you try some but disapproved of others. At such times, you would feel frustrated and even angry that you failed to get what you wanted.

Now you are facing life on your own. Your parents have done their job and raised you, protected you and taught you as much as they could. Now you are on your own – just you and your Creator.

Are you still frustrated and angry when you do not get what you want from life?

Imagine what would have happened if your parents had let you play with sharp utensils. Remember how you stomped and pouted when they took them away!

Imagine what would have happened if your parents let you mix with that gang of kids and remember how most of them later ended up in trouble with the police!

Our parents love and care for us and they took dangerous things away from us and they loved us enough not to care how angry we were with them. It is also important to keep in mind that Almighty Allah is merciful to us more than our parents are. In life He takes some things away from us because they are harmful – even if we do not understand the nature of that harm.

 

This is similar to when we have our immunization shots to prevent illness. In life we undergo many challenges to strengthen our inner selves so we will be prepared for whatever comes across our path.

 

Almighty Allah wants us to turn to Him for help, guidance, forgiveness and support. Out of His wisdom, Almighty Allah leaves us free to make decisions and explore life but He is there when we call on Him and turn to Him sincerely seeking His pleasure.

Almighty Allah knows we will make mistakes and He sends us people and situations to test us and to help us learn. Sometimes, He the Almighty takes things from us but if we are patient and trust in Him, He gives us something better.

Almighty Allah says:

{…it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you and that you like a thing that is bad for you. Allah knows but you do not know.} (Al-Baqarah 2:216)

Al-Hasan al-Basri said:

“Do not resent the calamities that come and the disasters that occur, for perhaps in something that you dislike will be your salvation, and perhaps in something that you prefer will be your doom.”

Almighty Allah tells us many times in the Qur’an that He is the most merciful, the most compassionate. If we keep this in mind as we steer the course of our life, we will see His signs all around us.

Therefore, we must have faith in Almighty Allah and trust in Him. Even though sometimes we may not understand the reason behind certain things that happen, we should be sure that as long as we seek to obey Him, whatever happens will be for our betterment.

May be now, instead of the kitchen gadgets, we might be after a car, a house or a better job. Only Almighty Allah knows if those things are good for us. Only He knows if they will lead us on the straight path and be beneficial for us. So if He chooses not to grant us these things, we should trust in Him and say ‘Allah knows best’.

Perhaps we have to face sickness or some kind of calamity and surely this is not easy. Remember that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

“There is nothing that befalls a believer, not even a thorn that pricks him, but Allah will record one good deed for him or will remove one bad deed from him.” (Muslim)

Can you imagine that you would leave this world without bearing any sin? Well, the Prophet said:

“Trials will continue to befall the believing man and woman, with regard to themselves, their children and their wealth, until they meet Allah with no sin on them.” (At-Tirmidhi)

The great scholar, Ibn Taymiyah said:

“A calamity that makes you turn to Allah is better for you than a blessing which makes you forget the remembrance of Allah.”

So, our success in this life and the next depends on how we react to what happens to us. The most important thing we have to learn is to trust in Almighty Allah. We must be sure that along with the hardship and troubles, He gives us His mercy, help and support. Everything in life has meaning. Every lesson we learn can bring us closer to Almighty Allah and all the peace of mind and insight which that entails.

Almighty Allah says in a hadith qudsi:

“I am as My slave thinks of Me and I am with him whenever he remembers Me.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim).

If we fall short and only focus on the hardship and fail to pay attention to the lessons, then we may undergo that hardship without really gaining anything from it. No matter how much we might have to go through, there are always countless things to be grateful for. Sometimes the test is to recognize the blessings and be grateful.

Our minds are limited. As human beings we are incapable of perceiving the wisdom of Almighty Allah and His infinite mercy.

{And when someone puts his trust in Allah, He will be enough for him.} (At-Talaq 65: 3)

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

“If you put your trust completely in Almighty Allah, He will arrange for your sustenance in the same way as He provides for the birds. They go out in the morning with their stomachs empty and return filled in the evening.” (At-Tirmidhi)

So trust Almighty Allah! There is great reward for those who learn to do that. Hardship can be a sign of Almighty Allah’s love for a person. Difficulty can be like medicine: even though it is bitter, in spite of its bitterness you still give it to the one whom you love.

“The greatest reward comes with the greatest trial. When Almighty Allah loves a people He tests them. Whoever accepts that wins His pleasure but whoever is discontent with that earns His displeasure.” (At-Tirmidhi)

A believer’s heart should always be filled with the remembrance of Allah. Forgetfulness and negligence are the main weaknesses of human beings. The only remedy is that the believer should develop God-consciousness and be constantly aware that Almighty Allah watches him.

All acts of worship aim at drawing man closer to Allah. The Qur’an says, {Establish prayers for My remembrance} (Ta-Ha 20:14). The Friday sermon, too, constitutes the commands and remembrance of Allah (Al-Jumu`ah 62:10).

But we must be clear that the remembrance of Allah is not restricted to certain acts of formal worship. The point is that one should always remember Him: {Those who remember Allah, standing, sitting, and lying on their sides} (Aal `Imran 3:191).

Thabit Al-Banani (may Allah have mercy on him) once exclaimed, “I know when my Lord remembers me.” Upon hearing this, those present trembled in fear and asked him how he knew this. In response he recited from verse 152 of Surat Al-Baqarah, {Remember Me. I will remember you.} It is recorded in the hadith:

I come up to the expectations of My servant.I am with him when he remembers Me. When he makes mention of Me in his heart, I make mention of him to Myself. When he mentions Me in a gathering, I mention him in a better gathering (of the angels). (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

It is the height of felicity for a human being that Allah remembers him and mentions him in the blessed gathering of the angels.

We have taken note of the important and blessed nature of the remembrance of Allah. By the same token, one’s neglect of it is fatal, bringing disgrace upon oneself. Those who forget Allah are forgotten by Him (At-Tawbah 9:67). Allah then lets them wander in the web of their own self (Al-Hashr 59:19). One’s disregard for Allah culminates in the ruin of the self.

The universe remembers Allah

It is worthy to note that everything in the universe is preoccupied with remembering and glorifying Allah. This point is explicitly made in the first verse of Surat Al-Hadid (surah 57) and in many other places in the Qur’an.

As one is engaged in remembering, praising and glorifying Allah, one becomes at one with the entire universe and the gate for all goodness and success is opened.

The remembrance of Allah should permeate one’s life in every respect. It should not be restricted to reciting certain formulas in private at an appointed hour. Prayers, zakah, fasting, and Hajj are the practical manifestations of remembering Allah.

Moreover, the remembrance of Allah is not confined to utterance and speech—one’s whole mind and process of thinking should be constantly imbued with it, as the Qur’an teaches,

{They reflect deeply about the creation of the heavens and earth, saying: “Our Lord! You have not created all this without purpose. Glory to You. Preserve us from the torment of the Fire.”} (Aal ‘Imran 3:191)

The remembrance of Allah that is most rewarding involves our thoughts and prompts us to think about our accountability in the Hereafter. This, in turn, motivates the measures needed to protect ourselves against Hellfire.

 

Besides acts of worship, study of the Qur’an is another effective means for remembering Allah. Allah speaks of the Qur’an itself as remembrance (Al-Anbiyaa’ 21:50 and Al-Hijr 15:9). It is further said,

{And We have indeed made the Qur’an easy to understand and remember; then is there anyone who will receive admonition?} (Al-Qamar 54:17)

One should recite the Qur’an with utmost devotion and reflect over its contents.

24-Hour Connection

Other modes of remembering Allah are reciting the supplications recorded on the Prophet’s authority. These constantly remind one at every stage of life that one should turn wholly to Allah and maintain a close relationship with Him.

These supplications should not be merely uttered, they should be reflected in one’s thoughts and actions. The Qur’an says,

{O you who believe! When you meet an enemy force, take a firm stand against them and remember Allah much so that you may be successful.} (Al-Anfal 8:45)

The point here is that constant remembrance of Allah facilitates one’s engagement in jihad. The Qur’an further states,

{O you who believe! Let not your properties or your children divert you from the remembrance of Allah, for whosoever does that, then they are the losers. And spend in charity of that with which We have provided you before death comes to one of you.} (Al-Munafiqun 63:9-10)

In this context, the remembrance of Allah consists of spending in His cause. One of the benefits of remembering Allah is that man is always mindful that he will die, and so spends generously for the sake of pleasing Allah.

Protection from Heedlessness

The objective of all the prescribed duties of worship is to train us to prepare against and to remedy human weaknesses. We can attain the goal of self-purification by fulfilling these duties properly.

Forgetfulness is a major weakness of man; the effective remedy for it is prayer. Man is liable to be swayed by the glitter of worldly life; he is drawn to amass wealth and may develop a strong love for it; the remedy for this is zakah and spending for the pleasure of Allah in His cause.

Similarly, man is vulnerable to the base desires of the self. He is gratified by eating, drinking, living to excess in luxury, and indulging his lower appetites; the remedy lies in fasting, which trains and disciplines these appetites and desires. Hajj, too, cures man of these weaknesses because its rituals effectively prefigure the proceedings of the Day of Judgment.

Perhaps one of the most hurtful experiences in life is when someone breaks a promise they made to you. You might struggle to trust them again and doubt they even speak the truth.

Likewise, how many promises have you broken, even if they seemed insignificant?

When it comes to promises, we humans seem to easily make them, and break them. There is a promise though, which truly is sacred and is never broken. It is the promise of Allah, the Most High.

Even though we know Allah’s promises are true, do you really live by this fact? Keeping a promise is a demonstration of being truthful, it’s time to ask ourselves: how much do we love the truth and how much do we really live by it?

Let’s discover a beautiful verse in the Quran and supplication from the Sunnah centred around the promise of Allah, and above all, the meaning of Truth.

A Verse of Promise and Al-Haqq

In chapter Al Qasas, we find a beautiful example of Allah’s promise:

So We restored him to his mother that she might be content and not grieve and that she would know that the promise of Allah is true. But most of the people do not know. (Quran, 28:13)

When Allah Himself makes a promise, He will make it happen. Now stop a moment and think; how close are you to the promises of Allah? Do you know some the promises Allah made in the Quran?

One of Allah’s beautiful Names is Al-Haqq, the Absolute Truth, cited nine times in the Quran, and His promises are a demonstration of this powerful attribute. The ultimate and greatest Truth ever is the existence of Allah, Exalted is He! Allah is Al-Haqq, the Truth, and His words, orders, prohibitions, decree and promises are truth.

A Supplication of Nine Truths to Have No Worries

There are nine most important facts (truths) of life that, if you lived by them, would help you have a clear vision and pave your way to Paradise. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) urged us to invoke Allah focusing on these nine facts each day, and translate them into daily action.

If you lived by them, any falsehood in life wouldn’t blind you from the truth, because you will be seeking the truth. Even if temptations were irresistible and everyone around you was blinded by falsehood.

Living by these nine truths is a solution for all worries, in whatever area of life; what are these truths and facts the Prophet Muhammad used in his invocation?

Narrated Ibn Abbas: When the Prophet got up at night to offer the Tahajjud prayer, he used to say:

O Allah! All the praises are for you, You are the Holder of the Heavens and the Earth, And whatever is in them. All the praises are for You; You have the possession of the Heavens and the Earth And whatever is in them. All the praises are for You; You are the Light of the Heavens and the Earth And all the praises are for You; You are the King of the Heavens and the Earth; And all the praises are for You; You are the Truth and Your Promise is the truth, and to meet You is true, Your Word is the truth and Paradise is true and Hell is true and all the Prophets (peace be upon them) are true; and Muhammad is true, and the Day of Resurrection is true. (Part of the supplication, Sahih Al Bukhari, Book of the Night Prayer, hadith 221)

Transliteration of the dua:

Allahumma lakal-hamd, anta qayyimus-samawati wal-ard wa man fihinna. Walakal-hamd, laka mulkus-samawati wal-ard wa man fihinna. Walakal-hamd, anta nurus-samawati wal-ard. Walakalhamd, anta-l-haqq wa wa’duka-l-haqq, wa liqa’uka haqq, wa qawluka haqq, wal-jannatu Haqq wan-naru Haqq wannabiyuna haqq, wa Muhammadun, sallal-lahu’alayhi wasallam, haqq, was-sa’atu haqq.

Nine Action points

1. You (Allah) are the Truth

Allah, the absolute Truth, urges us to take inspiration from this attribute by loving the truth until it becomes the dearest thing to us! Abide by the truth, even if it is seemingly against your personal interests, remain steadfast and never give up the truth.

2. Your Promise is Truth

The next fact is: ‘Your Promise is Truth..’ Know that with Allah is your sustenance and never worry about it as it is guaranteed by Him. Believe from the bottom of your heart that anything Allah promises you, surely is true and will happen, sooner or later.

3. Meeting You is Truth

Allah says:

If you see when they are assembled before their Lord! He will say: ‘Is not this the Truth?’ They will say: ‘Yes indeed, by our Lord!’ (Quran, 6:30)

Daily remind yourself of your meeting with Allah, and ask Him to come to Him with a sound heart (qalbun saleem).

4. Your Word is Truth

The Quran is our link with His Words; what a blessing to be able to open the Book of Allah with this ease! Recite the Quran and believe with your very being every word in it is true and above all act upon this, for if you don’t, you will not be sticking to the truth!

5. Paradise is Truth

Imagine this conversation in the Hereafter:

And the companions of Paradise will call out to the companions of the Fire, “We have already found what our Lord promised us to be true. Have you found what your Lord promised to be true?” (Quran, 7:44)

In Arabic the verse is in the past tense, emphasizing Paradise is an established fact, the truth.

6. Hell is Truth

[Iblees] said, “By your might, I will surely mislead them all. Except, among them, Your chosen servants.” [ Allah ] said, “The truth [is My oath], and the truth I say -[That] I will surely fill Hell with you and those of them that follow you all together. (Quran, 38:82-85)

Ahmad ibn Harb said: “I wonder how the one who knows that above him, paradise is being embellished, and below him, hell fire is being kindled, and yet he sleeps between them!”


Your stance on the truth in this world is directly linked to your final destination. Choose wisely.

7. The Prophets are Truth

Adam, Ibrahim, Jesus, Moses, Solomon (peace be upon them all) are all Truth and their mission was to make Truth triumphant over falsehood. In our journey of life in this world, the Prophets and their mission should be part of our identity. Therefore study, live by and convey the stories and lessons of the lives of the prophets.

8. Muhammad is Truth

Allah Himself, the Lord of the Worlds, describes him as:

We have sent you with Truth to give glad tidings and to warn…

After 23 years of exile, the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) conquered Makkah; he entered Makkah repeating the verse representing the essence of his message: “Truth has come and falsehood has vanished..” He made tawaf around the Ka’bah saying:

Truth has come and falsehood has vanished, indeed falsehood is bound to vanish. (Quran, 17:81)

Being truthful in your love of the Prophet Muhammad, means loving and living by the truth in your daily life. Beg Allah for guidance and to help you recognize the truth from falsehood.

9. The Hour is Truth

The Day of Resurrection and Standing is inevitable; it will come because it is truth and the truth will then be triumphant over falsehood. In the powerful chapter Al-Haaqqah, Allah the Most High questions:

The Inevitable Reality – What is the Inevitable Reality? And what can make you know what is the Inevitable Reality? (Quran, 69:1-3)

That Day is a certainty; truly think of why you would sacrifice the truth for your personal interests?

This comprehensive supplication urges us to understand the nine facts, so

we understand the purpose behind our creation.

Then did you think that We created you uselessly and that to Us you would not be returned? So exalted is Allah , the Sovereign, the Truth; there is no deity except Him, Lord of the Noble Throne. (Quran, 22:115-116)

If you live by these nine truths, you will find happiness here and in the Hereafter.