How to Succeed in the Hereafter?

/in /by

Islam-and-Belief-in-the-HereafterThere are many ways people measure success in the worldly life, such as acquiring wealth, advancing in career, or having many children. However, Islam teaches us that true success is to be successful on the Day of Resurrection.

There is an important passage in Surah Al-Muminun detailing the attributes of those who succeed in the Hereafter.

Allah (swt) says:

قَدْ أَفْلَحَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الَّذِينَ هُمْ فِي صَلَاتِهِمْ خَاشِعُونَ وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ عَنِ اللَّغْوِ مُعْرِضُونَ وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ لِلزَّكَاةِ فَاعِلُونَ وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ لِفُرُوجِهِمْ حَافِظُونَ إِلَّا عَلَىٰ أَزْوَاجِهِمْ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ غَيْرُ مَلُومِينَ فَمَنِ ابْتَغَىٰ وَرَاءَ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْعَادُونَ وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ لِأَمَانَاتِهِمْ وَعَهْدِهِمْ رَاعُونَ وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ عَلَىٰ صَلَوَاتِهِمْ يُحَافِظُونَ أُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْوَارِثُونَ الَّذِينَ يَرِثُونَ الْفِرْدَوْسَ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ

“Certainly the believers have succeeded, who are reverent during their prayers, who turn away from ill speech, who give in charity, who guard their chastity except from their wives or those their right hands possess, for they will not be blamed, but whoever seeks beyond that are transgressors, who fulfill their trusts and promises, who preserve their prayers, those are the inheritors who will inherit the highest Paradise in which they will abide for eternity.” (Surah Al-Muminun, 23:1-11)

Allah (swt) mentions here that the virtues practiced by those who succeed are the following:

  1. True faith

True faith is to have complete faith inwardly with sincerity toward Allah (swt) and purity of heart, as well as complete faith outwardly by affirming the articles of faith, performing the obligations, and avoiding sin. They live by the virtues of faith to the point that they have become absolutely certain of the truth of Islam.

Allah (swt) said:

وَالَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَمَا أُنزِلَ مِن قَبْلِكَ وَبِالْآخِرَةِ هُمْ يُوقِنُونَ أُولَٰئِكَ عَلَىٰ هُدًى مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ وَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ

They are those who believe in what has been revealed to you and what has been revealed before you and they are certain of the Hereafter. Those are upon guidance from their Lord and they will be successful. (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:4-5)

  1. Fulfillment of the daily prayers

After faith, the most important obligation is to fulfill the daily prayers. Allah (swt) has doubly emphasized the prayer by mentioning it at the beginning and end of the passage in Surah Al-Muminun, as well as in Surah Al-Ma’arij.

The ritual prayer is fulfilled by completing them in their proper times and with correct observance, but the believers must also fulfill its objectives outside of prayer such as remembering Allah (swt) at all times, performing regular supplications, reading the Quran, and purifying the heart from spiritual diseases.

Allah (swt) said:

قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَن تَزَكَّىٰ وَذَكَرَ اسْمَ رَبِّهِ فَصَلَّىٰ

He has succeeded who purifies himself, remembers the name of His Lord, and he prays. (Surah Al-A’la, 87:14-15)

  1. Guarding tongues from speaking in vain

The successful are careful to guard their tongues from speaking in vain. A believer only has the option of speaking goodness or remaining silent.

Likewise, the believers turn away from vain speech whenever they hear it. They do not argue among those who speak vanities, but rather they leave their company with grace.

Allah (swt) said:

وَإِذَا سَمِعُوا اللَّغْوَ أَعْرَضُوا عَنْهُ وَقَالُوا لَنَا أَعْمَالُنَا وَلَكُمْ أَعْمَالُكُمْ سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُمْ لَا نَبْتَغِي الْجَاهِلِينَ

When they hear ill speech, they turn away from it and say: For us are our deeds and for you are your deeds. Peace be upon you. We seek not the ignorant. (Surah Al-Qasas, 28:55)

  1. Giving Charity

The successful performs acts of charity for others. Our families, the poor, and the needy have a right that we help them as much as we are able. This includes both fulfilling the obligatory charity (zakat) as well as to perform many voluntary good deeds (sadaqah) for others.

Allah (swt) said:

فَآتِ ذَا الْقُرْبَىٰ حَقَّهُ وَالْمِسْكِينَ وَابْنَ السَّبِيلِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌ لِّلَّذِينَ يُرِيدُونَ وَجْهَ اللَّهِ وَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ

Give the relative his right, as well as the needy and the traveler. That is best for those who desire the countenance of Allah (swt). Those will be successful. (Surah Ar-Rum, 30:38)

Indeed, every good deed is charity, even smiling at another person. By performing such acts of charity, we will earn good deeds that will be heavy upon the scale on the side of goodness in the Hereafter.

  1. Protecting private parts

The successful practice chastity and they protect their private parts from adultery and fornication, for sexual intimacy is only allowed in a lawful marriage.

Allah (swt) said:

وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا الزِّنَا إِنَّهُ كَانَ فَاحِشَةً وَسَاءَ سَبِيلًا

Do not approach unlawful sexual intercourse. Verily, it is ever immoral and is an evil way. (Surah Al-Isra 17:32)

Even those who look at someone with lust have committed a lesser form of adultery, so we must avoid these acts in order to be successful. 

  1. Truthfulness

The successful are truthful in their dealings with others, such that they fulfill their trusts and promises.

Allah (swt) said:

وَأَوْفُوا بِالْعَهْدِ إِنَّ الْعَهْدَ كَانَ مَسْئُولًا

Fulfill the covenants. Verily, the covenants will be questioned. (Surah Al-Isra 17:34)

In contrast, those who broke their promises, violated their covenants, and failed to fulfill their trusts will be exposed on the Day of Resurrection.

How to Repent to Allah?

/in /by

the-prayer“And most surely I am most Forgiving to him who repents and believes and does good, then continues to follow the right direction.”  (Qur’an; 20:82)

The Messenger of Allah (swt) also says: “A repentant person is like one who has no sin.”

Once a man came to Imam Ali (as) to repent and when the Imam realized that the man was ignorant of the importance of repentance, he said to him, “Do you know the meaning of repentance? It has an exalted position. It has six conditions for its acceptance and the last two are the conditions of its completion.” Now let’s see what these six conditons are:

  1. Feeling ashamed and regretful for the past sins;

The first one is regretting what has passed. It means looking at the dark deed and being so sorry and ashamed of it that it makes your heart burn.

  1. Taking firm decision for avoidance of sins forever;

The second condition that forms the basis of reference is a decisive resolution not to repeat the foul deed again. Repentance does not depend on the enormity of sin. Every kind of sin, whether big or small, lends itself to repentance provided the Penitent is serious in his or her intention .

  1. Paying all the dues of the people so that when he meets God-Almighty on the Resurrection Day, he does not have any pending claim against him;

One of the two conditions for the acceptance of repentance is to return what belongs to others, whether it is something that is seized or a right that has been trampled on. It must either be returned itself or, at least, the rightful owner must be given satisfaction. If you have nothing left to give back and for example the rightful owner is no longer living, seek forgiveness from God. God willing, He will make that person satisfied.

  1. All the religious obligations (Wajibat) which have not been performed in the past should be discharged as makeup (Qadha) obligations;

Similarly, heavenly rights must also be restored. What are heavenly rights? If you have failed to observe the fast or perform your ritual prayer or failed to make your obligatory pilgrimage to Mecca in spite of being able to bear it physically and financially, you must make up for all these failuresbecause this is the second condition for the acceptance of your repentance.

  1. The person Should feel so sad about his past sins that all the bodily flesh formed as a result of eating forbidden (Haram) should be melted in a manner that skin touches the bare bones until the new flesh is reformed again;

The next point Imam Ali (peace be upon him) mentioned about the condition for the acceptance of repentance is to rid oneself of all the flesh that has grown on one by illegitimate means. This requires the mortification of the flesh, abstinence and self-discipline. It means benefitting from what is legitimate, honest and proper.

  1. The inconvenience and hardship of worshipping should be imposed upon the body as a compensation for the pleasures it fasted because of past sins.

The last condition is to let the body which has tasted the sweetness of sin, also taste the pain of deviation and worship. Fasting is not an easy matter especially if you spend the night in prayer.

How to Control our Anger?

/in /by

angerNone of us is free from the vice of anger but the true test is that can we control it or not?! As the world around us has become more chaotic and frustrating, anger has also increased. The tiniest of things make us angry…be it on the road, talking to an annoying/irritating person, in the market, at the office and even at home. Let’s look at what Islam has to say about it.

Holy Quran says:… (The believers) are hard against the unbelievers and merciful among themselves… (48:29)

The Messenger of Allah [s] also said in response to  a man’s request for advice: “Do not be angry”. The man repeated the same question and (the Prophet) again said: “Do not be angry,” and continued: “He is not strong and powerful who throws people down but he is strong who withholds himself from anger.”

Imam Ali also said: “Protect yourself from anger for its beginning is insanity and its end is remorse.”

Now the question arises what to do when one gets angry. Let’s look at some traditions and recommendations:

  1. Say ` Aozo Billah-e-Menash Shaitanir Rajim;
  2. Change your position or place when you become angry and excited by sitting if you are standing, standing if you are sitting;
  3. Leave the place for another open place and breath as deeply as possible while raising and lowering the hands slowly;
  4. Do ‘Wazu’ and wash your hands and face;
  5. Drink water and eat a little dried grapes;
  6. If you are angry with any relative, touch your his body. This will pacify your anger;
  7.  Think of the greatness of Allah and His ability to punish criminals and of His patience and forgiveness if they repent and do good;
  8. If you can drive out your anger from yourself through a shout or some tears shed in private, it would be better for you;
  9. Look forward to the reward of Allah and think of the good end that Allah has promised the patient;
  10. Impartially study the problem that has caused you to become angry, and even if the cause isn’t yours, confess your mistake and turn back to your reason.

How to Have concentration in  the Prayer (20 Recommendations)

/in , /by

 

The Muslim community in the French  Describing  the faithful persons (Mo’menin ), Allah (st) says in Holy Quran they are those whose hearts are present in  their Salah. Our prophet also says Allah (st) would not accept the prayer of the man whose heart  is not present in his prayer. But how can we have a present heart in our Salah? There are 20 practical points that might be helpful:

  1. Setting the Prayer Scene and Burning Incense

The place you say your Prayer should be special. Every item that can distract you from your Prayer should be taken care of. The room should be the one that you don’t use regularly, and should be neat and clean, a comfortable temperature, and dark. With comfortable temperature, you do not have to worry or entertain thoughts that may distract you when the room is hot or cold. Human skin is filled with thermal receptors that will constantly remind you of any discomfort to your body.

  1. Wudhu as a Way to Increase Your Attention

 Wudhu (formal/minor ablution) is one of the most effective ways to prepare the scene for your daily Prayer. It has powers to re-organize your thoughts before Prayer and assist you in offering your Prayer with confidence and not to be swerved by Satan, The Accursed.

  1. Understanding and Appreciating Allah (SWT)’s Presence

 It is always to your benefit if you were to ponder the Existence of Allah (SWT) and His Power, Signs and Decisions related to this world and the next. Appreciating His presence is one way of bringing humility into your heart and humbling yourself in Prayer, performed with attention and concentration. It is only He Who looks at you Mercifully during your Prayer, and you ought to keep this in mind every time you say your Prayer.

  1. Reminding Yourself Of Allah

One of the reasons why Adhan and Iqamah have been much emphasized before Prayer is to establish a strong link between the worshipper and his Creator, before he ventures into this sacred journey of Prayer and be in direct communication with The Almighty. This way, you start reminding and convincing yourself of the presence of Allah (SWT) before you begin Prayer.

  1. A Relaxed and Alert State of Mind

 An alert state of mind is one of the many vital ingredients of Prayer. If you are tired and exhausted, it is better to rest and do some deep breathing and relaxation exercises before you make the commitment to stand in front of your Lord.

  1. Understanding What You Recite

It is clear that if you don’t strive to learn and appreciate the meanings of the verses and glorification you proclaim in your Prayer, you stand very little chance of developing and maintaining the concentration you need to focus in Prayer. Focusing on the meanings of what you recite would generally keep your mind busy and involved in Prayer.

  1. Proper Pronunciation

Arabic language is considered one of the sweetest of all the languages. So, reciting Prayer with proper Makhaarij (proper pronunciation) and Tajweed (following the rules of the Arabic Language) and learning the rules of reciting The Qur’an, would make your efforts in maintaining attention a lot easier.

  1. Alternating Recitations

Next, you need to alternate recitations by reciting different chapters of The Qur’an, different supplications and different forms of glorification in your Prayer. This is vital because your brain will not become accustomed and habituated to what is being recited daily and switch off attention to something else.

  1. Continued Cleanliness

An important and attractive aspect of Islamic teaching is related to cleanliness. It means to be ritually pure at all times by performing ablution (wudhu) and ghusl (major ablution) whenever necessary.

  1. Seeking Forgiveness and Accepting Limitations

After every Prayer you should seek forgiveness, as this will indirectly increase your attention and concentration during Prayer and bring you nearer to Him. While reciting this invocation, you should sincerely repent to Allah (SWT) that the Prayer you just finished was not up to the required standards and pray to be forgiven for it by The Merciful Lord. Then, you return to Him promising that the next Prayer will be a better one. This process in itself is a motivation to perform better next time you stand before the Almighty. Accepting faults will create in you desire to perform even better.

  1. Stress Management

Of the important cordial disciplines of worship, especially the invoking worship, one is tranquility. The person who prays should perform his worship with quietude of the heart and a tranquility of the mind.

  1. Moderation In Eating

Eating and drinking is also one of those matters with regard to which people go to extremes and, of course, mostly towards excess. No doubt, you need food to live and it is necessary that food should reach the cells of your body to maintain life. However, the important question is how much food your body needs and whether excessive food is good or harmful.

  1. Checking And Inspection

Keep track of the level of your attention and concentration in Prayer. If it is the right level, give thanks; if wrong, ask for forgiveness.

  1. Putting Thoughts in Writing

Unfortunately, in any relaxed state and in particular the Prayer, it is only human to have numerous creative thoughts, as well as recollections of things you forgot or need to do. These thoughts may haunt your continued meditation if you don’t write them down.

  1. Removing Obstacles

Also, before the Prayer, all obstacles in attaining heart’s presence must be removed. As such, you should relieve yourself before starting Prayer, and you should satisfy your hunger or thirst as well. Also, since over-eating creates a lack of attention and concentration, you should observe moderation if you have to eat before Prayer.

  1. Grief-Stricken, Submission and Sadness

No doubt, sadness brings to your soul many benefits, one of which is a revolution of the soul. It is the time when you are sad and grief-stricken, that you are able to fully organize and empower yourself to be most attentive in Prayer. It is widely accepted that a sad mind is more attuned towards an objective (Allah (SWT), in this case) and more capable of maintaining a high level of attention and concentration.

  1. Patience, Accepting Fault, and Addressing The Problem To Allah (SWT)

You should be patient with your practice of attention. You do not perform masterfully the first time in any given circumstance. It is the continued practice of meditation, relaxation and attention that reaps benefits. You should not expect specific benefits in a short period of time. Invoking Allah (SWT) and addressing your problem of inattention is a good practice, as He would definitely assist you in this matter.

  1. Arresting Thoughts

Because any individual’s mind is filled with thoughts at all times, he is supposed to arrest them, and put a stop on them during Prayer. When a thought comes, a command stop is used subconsciously to arrest and halt that thought and the person does not dwell on it. If this strategy is used on all incoming thoughts, then one will assume command and control over his incoming thoughts during Prayer.

  1. Remembrance Of Death

Great Scholars have advised you to keep busy reminding yourself of death as a way to fear Allah (SWT) and maintain vigilance in your daily Prayer and communication with Allah (SWT). The idea is to develop piety and fear in you and to convince your soul the importance of Prayer.

  1. Fixing Your Gaze

The Prophet (S) has said: “While a person is in the standing position during Prayer, he must be looking down fixing his gaze to the point where he places his forehead while in prostration; while in Ruku’ (bending position) the gaze should be between his two feet; while in Qunoot (when he raises his hands reciting the invocation) he should fix the gaze on the palms of his hands, placing them in front of his face; during Sajdah (prostration) his eyes looking at his nose; and while in the final sitting position the gaze to be towards his armpits.”

 

 

 

 

How to Read Holy Quran?

/in , /by

LearningReadingQuranThe Holy Quran is a book containing the words of Allah (swt). It should be treated with the respect it deserves. This respect should also extend to any book, such as this manual, wherein there are verses of the Holy Quran.

  1. The words of the Holy Quran should only be touched after doing Wudhu. Allah (swt) says: “None should touch it except the purified.” (al-Waqi’ah, 56:79)
  1. However, you may recite the words at any time, even without Wudhu. Allah (swt) says: “Those who remember Allah (swt) (recite Quran), standing, sitting and reclining, and think and wonder about the creation of the heavens and the earth…” (Ali Imran, 3:191)
  1. Always begin the recitation with Ta’awwudh. Allah (swt) says: “When you recite the Quran, seek refuge in Allah (swt) from Shaitan, the accursed.” (an-Nahl, 16:98) Ta’awwudh means to recite, “A’udhu Billahi minash Shaytaanir Rajeem“, which means “I seek refuge in Allah (swt) from Shaitan the accursed.
  1. After Ta’awwudh, recite “Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim“, which means, “I begin in the name of Allah (swt), the Beneficent, the Merciful”.
  1. Even if you know the verses by heart, it is better to recite while looking at the words, as this increases the rewards many times.
  1. It is Sunnat to recite the Holy Quran with your head covered and while facing the Qiblah.
  1. While reciting the Holy Qur’an, we should think as if Allah (swt) is directly addressing Himself to us. But it should not be so for memorizing it or quoting it in our speeches to arouse passion.
  1. We should recite the Holy Qur’an in a way as it ought to be recited that is with clear pronunciation of words, in distinct manner, in good voice, with proper care of pauses and not in a hurriedly and unintelligible manner. As the Holy Qur’an says: “Recite the Qur’an distinctly.” (Surah Muzzammil, 73: 4) 
  1. After reciting the Holy Qur’an one should ponder over the meaning also as the Holy Qur’an has objected to those who recite it as a formality just by hurriedly moving their lips without knowing the meaning. The Holy Qur’an says: “Do they not ponder over the Qur’an?” (Surah an-Nisa, 4:82)
  1. While reciting the Holy Qur’an, we should bear in mind the narrations of our infallible Imams about relevant verses of the Holy Qur’an as well as the background of the revelation of those particular verses as to the specific occasions so that we are not distracted from its true meaning and we do not deviate from our basic faith. We should not derive the incorrect meaning of the verse howsoever conservative or progressive it may be in outlook .
  1. When the Quran is being recited, listen attentively and do not eat or talk. Allah (swt) says: “And when the Quran is recited, listen to it with (full) attention, so that you may be blessed with mercy.” (al-A’raf, 7:204)
  1. Do not leave the Holy Quran open and unattended or in a place where it may be disrespected. Recite from it regularly and do not leave it unread on the shelf. Allah (swt) says: “And the Prophet (s.a.w.) shall say, “O my Lord! Verily my people abandoned this Quran.” (al-Furqan, 25:30)
  1. Worn-out pages of the Holy Quran or paper with verses of the Holy Quran must not be thrown in the bin. Instead they should be recycled or buried.

How to Be More Generous?

/in /by

generosity01Generosity is one of the ethics of the Prophets, a pillar of faith and a ray of the light of firm faith. The Noble Prophet (s.a.w) has said: “The ‘auliya’ (friends) of Allah are, essentially and inherently, generous.” Hence, in order to acquire this attribute, a Mu’min should endeavor hard to be munificent and generous towards relatives, deserving ones and the like, for the pleasure of Allah.

It is better that a person’s generosity be associated with a thing that is dear to him – eatables, clothes, money etc. – and that no obligation is placed upon the person towards whom generosity has been exhibited; man should only view himself as a trustworthy person, whose responsibility is to pass on Allah’s things to deserving and needy individuals.

As such, he should stay away from frugality and refrain from withholding the Divine trusts; this is because it is not known whether or not they would yield any benefit, if given after his death, and whether or not his inheritors would expend them in a correct and appropriate manner?

In the following you can see some simple acts which help you cultivate this characteristics in your personality:

  1. Give from the heart. If you truly want to be generous, then you have to give just because you want to give, not because you have ulterior motives and want something in return. You should give simply because you want to give, because you’ve found something you believe in, and because you want to do good in the world. If you’re only giving to impress other people or to ingratiate yourself with someone in some way, then you’re not really being generous.
  1. Know that being generous will make you happier. Though you shouldn’t be generous for the sake of furthering your own needs, you should know that people who are generous are known to be happier than those who are not: Being generous helps people feel more compassionate towards others, gives a stronger sense of community, and to establishes a higher self-image. While you are being generous towards others, you can also be generous toward yourself as well.
  1. Notice what would make someone’s life easier. Whether you’re interacting with your neighbors or your best friend, take a look at the person you’re talking to and see how you’ll be able to help that person out. Maybe your coworker is really stressed and needs someone to look after her dog while she’s visiting her sick mother in a different town. Maybe your best friend’s car broke down and she needs a ride to school. Maybe your mother is overworked and doesn’t even realize how much help she needs until you give it. When you talk to someone, start wondering about how you could help them instead of always thinking about how they can help you.
  1. Give your time to a friend. If your friend is down and needs some company, then you should be generous with your time and should hang out with that person. Make room in your schedule to spend time with that person, whether you’re taking a walk, going to the movies, or having a long talk over a cup of tea. No matter how busy you are, there should always be room in your life for hanging out with friends.
  1. Give to a cause you believe in. You don’t have to make a fortune to donate money to a reputable charity. Even if you’re only giving ten dollars a month, you’ll be doing good in the world and will feel good about yourself. You should give this amount right when you get your paycheck, instead of at the end of the month, when you see how much money you have left. You’ll be surprised by how little you’ll miss this money. Even putting some loose change in a tip jar can be a generous act.
  1. Volunteer. Volunteering your time is a great way to be generous. If you want to be generous, then spend at least an hour or two a week volunteering at a soup kitchen, tutoring adults or children, cleaning up a community park, or doing some other good out there in the world. You can do different tasks, such as volunteering in a bookstore, or helping at a fundraising campaign for charity. Find something that gives you meaning while expanding your generosity.
  1. Share your things. If you’re with friends, share your food, your clothes, your car, your home, or any of the things that mean something to you. If you’re just sharing something you don’t care about, then it’s not as meaningful. If you have just two delicious chocolates left and give one to a friend, that means more than giving your friend one of a hundred candy bars you don’t care about.
  1. Give away something you love. Give your favorite sweater to your little sister. Give your favorite novel to a friend. Give a beautiful notebook to a friend and encourage her to start writing poetry. Giving away something you don’t care about isn’t really generous because you’re not making a sacrifice. But giving away something that means something to you, which you know will do good for others, is the height of generosity.
  1. Call a friend who’s having a hard time. If you can’t be there in person, give your friend a call to check in, to say hi, and to show that you care. If you can just spare a few minutes to show that person that you’re thinking of him or her and to be kind and sincere, then you’ll be making that person’s day better, even if he or she is still struggling. Spending time trying to cheer up a person who is in need over the phone is very generous.
  1. Donate your stuff. Don’t just let those old sweaters or clothes sit in your closet for years. Take the time to sort through them and to donate them to charity so that someone else can find a good use for them. It won’t take long to sort through them or to drive them down to where they need to go, and you’ll feel good just thinking about someone else finding a better use for your clothes.

How to Cure Backbiting?

/in /by

cure-backbitingThe Messenger of Allah (S) explains Ghiba  in the following words, “Ghiba  is remembering your brother in a way he dislikes.” (Makasib Muhrima)
Imam Sadiq (AS) says, “Ghiba  is exposing that aspect of your brother which Allah had concealed.” (Makasib, al-Kāfi Vol. 2 page 358)
Imam Mūsa Ibn Ja’far (AS) says, “If one speaks of a person in his absence about those of his traits which are actually present in him and people are also aware of it, it is not Ghiība. But if he mentions something which is present in the person but people are unaware of it, it would be Ghiība. Moreover if what he says is not present in the man, it is allegation (Bukhtān).”

If someone, God forbid, has been guilty of this ugly act, he or she must purge this vice and nourish the roots of sincerity, unity, and solidarity in his or her heart by following these steps:

  1. Meditate for a while about the effects of this sin in this world and in the Hereafter. Reflect on the fearsome, frightful forms that will beset you in the grave, in the Barzakh, and on the Day of Resurrection. Heed the words of the Holy Prophet (s) and his household (‘a) for their pearls of wisdom in this regard will overwhelm you. Then weigh a quarter of an hour’s pleasantries, gossip, and satisfaction of the imaginative lust against thousands upon thousands of years of adversity or eternal damnation in hell and everlasting painful chastisement!
  2. Consider this: even if you have enmity toward a person whom you backbite, that animosity requires that you should not resort to backbiting. It is stated in the traditions that the good deeds of the backbiter are transferred to the book of deeds of the victim of his backbiting, and the victim’s sins are transferred to the record of the backbiter.
  3. Repent and seek the forgiveness of the victim, if this is possible without any chance of vicious consequences; otherwise, you must implore God’s mercy for the victim.
  4. Gather all your strength to rid your soul of this sin at all cost, by making a covenant with yourself to abstain from this abominable for a certain time. Bring your tongue under control and be fully watchful of yourself, steadfastly vigilant, calling yourself to account. God willing, it is hoped that after some time you will find yourself reformed and free of its ill traces. Gradually the burden of the task will ease, and you will feel a natural disposition to dislike and detest it. At that point, you will come to possess spiritual peace and delight in achieving freedom from this vice.
  5. Backbiting often results from a weakness in the backbiter’s own soul, such as an inferiority complex. You should pry into your soul to discover what weakness prompted you to backbite your brother or sister; then set out to remedy the weakness.

How to Start Wearing Hijab?

/in /by

ZibaImam Jafar Sadiq says: Modesty is the symbol of faith and whoever has no modesty, has no religion.

One of the modesty’s manifestation is our style of clothing and the way we cover our body which is called “Hijab” in Islam . Hijab is not limited just to women however they are recommended more to observe it.

To observe proper Hijab for a woman is to dress modestly and appropriately covering all parts of body except face and hands without showing her figure or curves and without using any sort of make-up.

Hijab is one of the righteous deeds and it is a sign of honor and equality with men and stands as a shield of protection against evil man. Maybe those who converted to Islam would like to know how they can wear Hijab. There are some practical points:

  1. Check out the requirements for Hijab on the Internet, or in Muslim magazines. Many Muslim women have put up tutorials for Hijab styles, but be aware that a basic requirement of Hijab is not to draw attention. You’ll learn what Hijab styles and products are available when you go looking, and learn what to do with Hijabs that require tying, folding, wrapping or pinning.
  1. Choose your Hijab. Go to a store that sells with Muslim clothing and look at their Hijab selection. Some Hijabs consist of a single piece of fabric that may be square, oblong, or triangular. These are often wrapped and pinned or tied to hold them in place. Others consist of tubes of fabric that slip over the head, and these come in one-piece and two-piece styles. The tube style is often easier for beginners, as they don’t require pinning. Find a Hijab that matches your outfit, or in a neutral color. Avoid wearing excessively bold colors and designs that stand out. Hijabs made of natural fibers like silk, or cotton are often more comfortable, as these fabrics “breathe.”
  1. Start to wear your Hijab when you are ready. If you aren’t quite ready to wear Hijab, you might confuse or offend other Muslims if you wear it inconsistently. So it is best if you begin wearing Hijab when you feel ready for a commitment to wear it consistently, but above all wear it for the sake of Allah.
  2. Don’t feel confined. Don’t think that if you wear Hijab, people will look down on you. Your friends will still be your friends. If anybody asks you on your decision on wearing a Hijab, tell them that you want to become a good Muslim. They actually will start to respect you for what you have done. If they start to comment and criticize your decision to wear Hijab, you may have to decide whether you think your relationship can tolerate the difference, or if you need to keep your distance to avoid further conflict. Moreover, you can become a good representative of all Muslims. Show that Muslims care for their image. Some Muslim women choose to take the additional step of covering their face as part of their Hijab.
  1. Wear what you like when you are in an all-ladies party. Freedom rules when you attend one! Just be absolutely certain that there are no men in the room; put a sign on the door if needed.

How to Cure Our Lying?

/in /by

lyingTo lie means to say something that you know is wrong on purpose.

We all know that lying is a great sin. The bad thing is that we do not realize how often we are doing it.

Our Sixth Imam said that it is more difficult to repent for many small sins than for one big sin.

Remember the story of the two men who came to Imam to repent for their sins.
Prophet Muhammad (S) has said:

“Leave falsehood and make speaking the truth a habit.”

“If a person has a habit of speaking lies, he is a hypocrite until he rids himself of the habit.”

To lie is Haraam because you are deceiving others. There are many reasons why people lie, some of them are:

  1. as an excuse to get yourself out of trouble;
  2. to cheat somebody out of something you want;
  3. to get someone else into trouble.

As you can see, all the above reasons are bad. If you have done something which gets you into trouble, then you should face it, and not lie your way out of it because that is being very irresponsible.

Holy Qur’an also tells us not to lie:
(2:42) “And cover not Truth with falsehood, nor conceal the Truth when you know (what it is).

Prophet Muhammad (S) has also said:

“Beware of association with the liar for he is like a mirage which draws the far one nearer to you and the nearer far from you.”

If you make the habit of lying, then you will lie very often without realizing. You will lie to your family, your friends and everybody you meet. Then one day you will be caught out because you will have trapped yourself in a corner, and there will be no escape.

Also if you make a habit of lying you will start doing other things which are even worse. One evil leads you to another. So it is necessary for all of us to confront this ugly habit. There are some practical recommendations which can be helpful:

  1. Make a commitment to stop. Treat lying as you would any other addiction, make a serious commitment to quit. It’s going to require a lot of hard work and thought, so set a date after which you vow to be honest and get a plan in place to help you be successful. Reading this article is a great first step.
  2. If you can’t say something true, don’t say anything at all. When you’re faced with a trigger and tempted to tell a lie, stop yourself from speaking at all. If you simply can’t be honest in the moment, it’s better to stay quiet or change the subject. You are not required to answer questions you don’t want to answer, or reveal information you don’t feel like revealing.
  3. Practice actively telling the truth. If you’ve been lying more often than not, telling the truth really does take practice. The key is to think before you speak, and decide to say something true instead of false. Again, if you’re asked a question you can’t answer truthfully, don’t answer. The more you tell the truth, the easier it will become.
  4. Make honesty the core of your character. Honesty is a character trait that is highly valued across cultures and societies. It’s a quality that is honed through the hard work of being strong in difficult situations year in and year out. Let truth, rather than lies, become your automatic response when you’re faced with the trials of life.

 

How to Cure Our Arrogance ?

/in /by

arrogance Imam al-Sadiq (A) says: `Verily kibr (arrogance) is the lowest degree of ilhad (apostasy)’

Kibr is the name of a psychic state in which a person feels a sense of superiority and behaves high-handedly with others.

Its signs are discernible in his actions and its symptoms are clearly noticed by others by which they know that he is proud.

This perception of superiority and supremacy over others causes in him a state of vanity which is arrogance.

Kibr, in this sense, is an inner state, and when its effects are reflected in his behaviour and his speech, it is called takabbur.

 In short, the self-indulgent person becomes self-seeking, and his self seeking tendency grows into self-love, and when this self-love is filled to the brim it manifests itself as haughtiness and high-handed treatment of others.

Now that you have known the viciousness of arrogance, it is now your duty to resolve to cure yourself of this disease and to make up your mind to purge your heart from its taints and remove its traces and its heavy dust from the mirror of your heart:

  1. My friend, if you are proud of your spiritual attainments, they (i.e. the Prophet and Imam ‘Ali) were over and above all of us in this respect; and if you have arrogance in your office and authority, they possessed true sovereignty. Yet, in spite of it, their humility and modesty was more than of anybody else. This shows that humility is the product of knowledge and wisdom, and arrogance is the outcome of ignorance.
  2. Free yourself from the ignominy of ignorance and the disgrace of petty-mindedness;
  3. Acquire the attributes of the prophets and shed the qualities of Satan.
  4. Do not contend with your God regarding His mantle of Arrogance and Glory, as His wrath will subdue the contender and he will fall on his face into hell-fire. If you make up your mind for rectifying your self, the way to do so is also easy if you are somewhat persevering. You will not encounter any peril on this way if you move with manly resolve, freedom of thought, and high-mindedness. The only way of overpowering your carnal self and repelling the insinuations of Satan is to act against their incitements.
  5. No other way is better for crushing the desires of the self as adopting the traits and qualities of the modest and following their behavior and character. In whatever stage of arrogance you may be, and to whatever scientific or professional field you belong, you are advised to act against the inclinations and desires of the self.
  6. By discovering and meditating about this-worldly and other-worldly consequences of arrogance, it is hoped, your journey will become easier and you will reach the desired goal. If your self wishes that you should take the seat of chairmanship of the gathering or to take precedence over your colleagues and equals, you should act against its desire. If your self incites you to refrain from joining the company of the poor and indigent, admonish it severely and resolutely go and sit in their company, dine with them and travel with them.
  7. It is possible that your inner self would try to prevent you by arguing that you are a person of a higher position and that it is essential to keep up your esteem and dignity for the sake of the propagation of the Shari’ah, that sitting with the poor will undermine your respect in society, that humor with the subordinates will be injurious to your authority, that occupying a lowly place in gatherings will affect your status and then you will not be able to perform your religious duties properly… and so on.

[And the last point is that] be certain that all these are guiles of the Devil and wiles of the self. You have read and heard about the behavior and character of the Holy Prophet (S), whose worldly position was incomparably superior to you.