Praise be to Allaah.  

Firstly: 

Islam encourages us to make a lot of du’aa’, and not to be hasty in seeking a response.  That is because du’aa’ is a great act of worship which is beloved to Allaah. Indeed there are texts which warn us against neglecting du’aa’, because neglecting it is a sign of arrogance. 

Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“And your Lord said: ‘Invoke Me [i.e. believe in My Oneness (Islamic Monotheism) and ask Me for anything] I will respond to your (invocation). Verily, those who scorn My worship [i.e. do not invoke Me, and do not believe in My Oneness, (Islamic Monotheism)] they will surely enter Hell in humiliation!’”

[Ghaafir 40:60] 

It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “(The du’aa’) of any one of you will be answered o long as he is not hasty in seeking a response and does not say, ‘I prayed but I have not had a response.’” 

Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 5981; Muslim, 2735 

It was narrated from Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:  “There is no Muslim who calls upon Allaah with words in which there is no sin or severing of family ties but Allaah will give him one of three things: either He will answer his prayer soon, or He will store it up for him in the Hereafter, or He will remove something bad from him that is equivalent to what he is asking for.” They said, “Then we should make a great amount of du’aa’.” He said, “Allaah is greater.” 

Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 3573; classed as saheeh by al-Tirmidhi and others. 

Secondly: 

The hadeeth mentioned by the questioner is a very weak hadeeth (da’eef jiddan). It was narrated from Jaabir ibn ‘Abd-Allaah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “If a person prays to Allaah and Allaah loves him, He says ‘O Jibreel, meet the need of this slave of Mine, but delay it, for I love to hear his voice.’ If a person prays to Allaah and Allaah hates him, He says, ‘O Jibreel, meet the need of this slave of Mine and give it to him immediately, for I hate to hear his voice.” 

Narrated by al-Tabaraani in al-Awsat, 8/216. Its isnaad includes Ishaaq ibn ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Abi Farwah, who is matrook as stated in Majma’ al-Zawaa’id, 10/151 

If it is understood that the hadeeth is very weak, it is not fit to be quoted as evidence. 

Thirdly: 

Undoubtedly if a person feels that Allaah has responded to him, this is a great blessing which deserves that he should give thanks and praise, and continue doing righteous deeds and fearing Allaah, for these are among the greatest means of Allaah answering du’aa’. It is a blessing, if it is true, and a person may feel envious of the one who is blessed in this manner. Every Muslim wishes that his du’aa’ will be answered. This – in sha Allaah – is an indication that a person is righteous, truthful and sincere. So he must continue to fear Allaah, do righteous deeds and avoid haraam things; this will make the blessing continue. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“If you give thanks (by accepting Faith and worshipping none but Allaah), I will give you more (of My Blessings)”

[Ibraaheem 14:7] 

Fourthly: 

What the questioner mentions about spreading goodness and da’wah is something that will be good for her in this world and in the Hereafter in sha Allah. This is one of the kinds of kindness that bring good in this world and in the Hereafter. We ask Allaah to support her, guide her and help her in that, and to give her the best reward.

How to Develop and Increase the Love for Allah Almighty

Most of us claim loving Allah Almighty. We pray and fast during Ramadan and we give Zakaat and charity. But, are we really aware of what implies loving Allah?

Love for Allah is also obedience to His Law, advising the good and prohibiting evil.

Love for Allah is remembering Allah always, worshiping Him, fearing him but trusting Him completely and hoping for his forgiveness and Rahmah (Mercy) 

Imam Ibn al-Qayyim (rahimahullah) said: The reason which cause mahabbah (love) of Allah to develop, are ten:

First: Reciting the Qur’an, reflecting and understanding its meaning and its intent.

Second: Drawing closer to Allah Almighty through optional deeds, after fulfilling the obligatory duties.

Third: Being continuous in the dhikr (remembrance) of Allah, with the tongue, the heart and the limbs under all circumstances. The more continuous the dhikr, the more love develops and intensifies.

Fourth: Giving precedence to what Allah loves over personal loves, when being overcome by desires.

Fifth: Contemplating and pondering over the Names and Attributes of Allah.

Sixth: Recognizing and remembering the favors and bounties of Allah both manifest and hidden.

Seventh: To be humble and submissive before Allah and this is the greatest matter.

Eighth: To be in seclusion reciting the Qur’an, during that time in which Allah descends to the lowest heaven (which is the last third of every night), finishing this recitation with seeking Allah’s forgiveness and repenting to Him.

Ninth: To sit in the gatherings of the true and sincere lovers of Allah, reaping the fruits of their speech, and not to speak except if there is benefit in it and that you know that such talk will increase you in goodness and that it will benefit others as well.

Tenth: To stay clear of all those causes which distances the heart from Allah the Mighty and Majestic.

So these are the ten reasons which cause the person to develop true love for Allah and to reach the rank of al-mahabbah, by which he reaches his Beloved.

Dhikr is another way of acquiring Allah's love. However, we need to be cautious here and ensure that whenever we are doing Allah's dhikr we should be doing it wholeheartedly and with complete focus.

There are two major mistakes people make while doing Dhikr (remembrance) of Allah:

We do the dhikr without understanding the meaning of those Adhkaar.

We do dhikr absent-mindedly, meaning our tongue is moving with Allah's remembrance, but we don't know when we began the dhikr or when we finished it.

Still, many scholars say that even if one makes the above mistakes in his/her dhikr, they will still be rewarded, but not with the same level of reward as someone who performed the dhikr consciously and with complete Ihsaan.

(Ihsaan is a level of faith when the believer really feels that Allah is watching him all the time, so the believer struggle to please Allah doing all kind of good deeds and acts of worship for Allah sake only)

Also, we should love what Allah loves:

In Surah Al Baqarah, 222  Allah Almighty says:

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلتَّوَّٲبِينَ وَيُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُتَطَهِّرِينَ

“Truly, Allâh loves those who turn unto Him in repentance and loves those who purify themselves.”

And pondering and reflecting upon the numerous blessings of Allah upon each of us and be grateful to Him and love Him for his countless favors is a good way of increasing our love for our Creator. As Allah Almighty mentions in the Qur'an:

وَإِن تَعُدُّواْ نِعۡمَتَ ٱللَّهِ لَا تُحۡصُوهَآ‌ۗ

“You cannot count my blessings if you want to.”

The Secret to a Tranquil Soul

Importance of Self Improvement in Islam

Islam is a way of life that teaches Muslims to focus on bettering themselves by following the Quran, the holy book of Islam, and the teachings of the final prophet, Muhammad, peace be upon him (pbuh). Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) once said, “Truly I was sent as a Prophet for the purpose of perfecting human character.” This prophetic tradition defines a very important aspect of Islam: self improvement through spiritual and physical purity.

An old Arab proverb aptly states: “The one who lacks something cannot give it to others.” This saying establishes the fact that in order for one to spread “good” in terms of his or her character, manners, words, or actions, he or she must first strive to possess it. One should not neglect to improve one’s own faults even as they attempt to assist others. Of course, this does not mean that one has to be perfect in order to be of benefit to others; for instance, some people think that they cannot spread knowledge because they are not scholars. Instead, this adage goes hand in hand with the English saying, “Practice before you preach.” As Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said, “Who are the learned? Those who practice what they know.”

In Islam, it is of utmost importance for Muslims to seek self improvement in regards to every aspect of their lives. As a result, one’s good character will impact others and therefore improve society as a whole. This dynamic change all begins at the individual level. In this regard, God says in the Quran:

            “Truly God does not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves.” (13:11)

Pure Intentions

Before an individual consciously embarks on this journey, he or she must define and cleanse their intention. A pivotal teaching of Islam is derived from the prophetic statement, “All actions are judged by their intentions, and each person will be rewarded according to his or her intention.” 

Hence, a desire to genuinely improve oneself, please God, and provide benefit is paramount. On the other hand, having impure intentions such as seeking the admiration of other people or showing off is counterproductive. For these reasons, purifying one’s intentions is critical to the success of one’s pursuit of self development.

Cleansing of the heart is also a large component of self improvement because it directly impacts one’s actions. God says in the Quran:

“God did confer a great favor on the believers when He sent among them an apostle from among themselves, rehearsing unto them the signs of God, sanctifying them, and instructing them in scripture and wisdom, while, before that, they had been in manifest error.” (3:164)

This verse demonstrates the role of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and the importance of self improvement in Islam. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) taught the pagan Arabs of Mecca to believe in the One God and to live righteously; he implored them to renounce idolatry and their impulsive lifestyles. Over the course of 23 years, his message uplifted the status of women, brought God-consciousness among people, and safeguarded the poor and needy. In doing so, not only did he help individuals to attain self improvement, he rehabilitated an entire society: racial discrimination was practically eliminated, tribal warfare was replaced with united ties of brotherhood, usury and alcohol were completely forbidden.

Righteous Actions

Self development begins at the individual level and requires a vast amount of discipline. Along with striving to become more physically pure by maintaining a healthy and clean body, it is equally important for an individual to maintain his or her spiritual health through righteous actions. Purification of the soul allow an individual to become closer to God and exhibit more positive behavior which will translate into his or her deeds.

In order to purify and enhance oneself, Islam outlines several pragmatic steps:

•  Core worship, such as prayer, fasting, supplication, etc. Performing these allows Muslims to draw closer to God by increasing the individual’s awareness of God throughout the day. This will, in turn, decrease his or her likelihood to commit acts that would displease God, enabling people to raise their moral and ethical standards.



• Smiling, being kind, and staying positive when interacting with others. This leads to mercifulness and forgiveness, which are attributes which God loves in human beings. Prophetic traditions mention that smiling is an act of charity and removing obstacles from the road is a sign of faith; others encourage people to spread good news and exchange gifts as a way of increasing love between people.



• Having self discipline and managing one’s time so that the person is more productive throughout the day. <translation of Surah Asr>



• Lending a helping hand to those in need. Once Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was asked, “What actions are most excellent?” He answered, “To gladden the heart of human beings, to feed the hungry, to help the afflicted, to lighten the sorrow of the sorrowful, and to remove the sufferings of the injured.”



• Striving to increase one’s knowledge whether it be religious or academic. Working towards becoming an informed and proactive citizen. According to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), “The seeking of knowledge is obligatory for every Muslim.” 



• Maintaining good company and friends that will influence the individual in a positive manner. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) has stated, “It is better to sit alone than in company with the bad; and it is better still to sit with the good than alone. It is better to speak to a seeker of knowledge than to remain silent; but silence is better than idle words.”



• Performing sincere repentance for one’s sins and seeking the mercy and forgiveness of God. Feeling guilty for transgressions that one has made, and then making an active effort to learn from one’s mistakes and never repeat them again. <verse from Quran>

As you may have noticed, many of these steps involve interacting with others. Even though spiritual purification is important, it is critical to note that seclusion and neglect of worldly responsibilities are not condoned by Islam. Prolonged seclusion for the purpose of spiritual purification is in fact inconsistent with Islamic teachings. A large component of self enhancement involves treating others with compassion and respect, and helping the less fortunate. This is not possible if one leads the life of a recluse.

One of the prophetic traditions encourages people to look at those less privileged when making worldly comparisons with others: “When you see a person who has been given more than you in money and beauty, look to those who have been given less.”  This advice is very important because it enables us to be grateful for the blessings we have and be less greedy or miserly. Such an attitude allows one to remain focused on the quest of attaining self improvement and eternal success in the hereafter rather than the transient materials of this temporary life.

The Virtues of Selfishness

Self improvement plays a significant role in the lives of Muslims also due to another key Islamic concept: that every individual will be held accountable for only him or her self in the hereafter. On the Day of Judgment, God will question each soul on its actions, and how it spent time on earth. On that day, each person will solely be concerned about the magnitude of his or her deeds.

The importance of self development cannot be overemphasized in Islam although it may seem like a selfish endeavor on the surface. However, such “selfishness” may actually be considered a virtue rather than a vice. When one is constantly struggling for self improvement, he or she becomes more willing to help others and disperse the good that he or she has gained to society at large. As a result, one person’s efforts contribute towards collective development. Such commitment is not possible in the individual who is self-absorbed for the sake of self-gratification. Therefore, “selfishness” for the purpose of self improvement and the greater good is the first step to selflessness.

Indeed, the essence of all good deeds stems from a pure and tranquil soul.

by Amira Esseghier

www.whyislam.org

The Means to a Righteous Heart


Shaykh Saalih bin Fawzaan al-Fawzaan

Question:

What is the way to the righteousness of the heart and to purify it from hatred and envy? And what are the most helpful means to make the heart righteous in this life?

Answer:

Righteousness of the heart is achieved by a few things.

The first: having a sincere intention for Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, in the righteous deeds. And remembering the Greatness of Allaah, the Majestic and Exalted, remembering that you stand in need of Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, and increasing in the dhikr (remembrance) of Allaah. Allaah, the Most High, has said:

{Those who believe (in the Oneness of Allaah – Islamic Monotheism), and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allaah, Verily, in the remembrance of Allaah do hearts find rest.}

[Soorah ar-Ra'd (13): 28]

So from that which brings the heart to life, is increasing in the remembrance of Allaah. And verily, he (the Prophet) – sallal-Laahu ‘alayhi wa sallam:

“The example of the one who remembers Allaah and the one who doesn’t remember Allaah, is like the example of the living and the dead.”

 

Also from the means of bringing the heart to life, is eating from halaal (legal, permissible food) and staying away from eating haraam (forbidden food). For verily, eating from haraam hardens the heart, corrupts the heart or makes the heart sick. Because bad food influences the heart and the body.

Also from the means of bringing the heart to life… Allaah, the Most High, has said:

{O (you) Messengers! Eat of the Tayyibaat (all kinds of Halaal foods which Allaah has made legal), and do righteous deeds.}

[Soorah al-Mu'minoon (23):51]

And Allaah has ordered the believers with that which He ordered the Messengers with. He said:

{O you who believe (in the Oneness of Allaah – Islamic Monotheism)! Eat of the Tayyibaat that We have provided you with.}

[Soorah al-Baqarah (2):172]

He should eat from the Tayyibaat, meaning: the permissible things. Because Allaah makes the Tayyibaat permissible for us and makes the Khabaa’ith (all evil and bad things) forbidden for us. So eating from the Tayyibaat, which are the permissible things, feeds the hearts a good meal. And eating from the Khabaa’ith feeds the hearts a bad meal.

That which makes the hearts sick as well, is listening to songs and musical instruments, which has increased alot in this time! And that which makes the hearts sick as well or makes it die, is being devoted to satellite TV, the internet and what is broadcasted in these media from wickedness, evil thoughts, forbidden desires and disgusting scenes. This is from that which makes the hearts sick.

Also, accompanying bad people and sitting with them corrupts the hearts. Similarly, accompanying the best people, the scholars and the people of khayr (good), is from that which brings the hearts to life.

www.salaf-us-saalih.com