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Posts tagged ‘Increase and Decrease of Iman’

7
Dec

A hypocrite…or just a human being?

Assalamu Alaikum.

Please ponder over the following hadeeth:

[I’ll explain the purpose of this post in the next Remember Ramadan Ramblings post, insha-Allah, because some people may misunderstand what it means. I could have done it now but my brain is half-asleep. Sorry.]

“Hanzala Usayyidi, who was amongst the scribes of Allah’s Messenger (salallahu alaihi wasallam). reported: I met Abu Bakr. He said: Who are you? He (Hanzala) said: Hanzala has turned to be a hypocrite. He (Abu Bakr) said: Subhan Allah, what are you saying? Thereupon he said: I say that when we are in the company of Allah’s Messenger we ponder over Hell-Fire and Paradise as if we are seeing them with our very eyes and when we are away from Allah’s Messenger (salallahu alaihi wasallam) we attend to our wives, our children, our business; most of these things (pertaining to After-life) slip out of our minds.

Abu Bakr said: By Allah, I also experience the same. So I and Abu Bakr went to Allah’s Messenger and said to him: Allah’s Messenger, Hanzala has turned to be a hypocrite. Thereupon Allah’s Messenger (salallahu alaihi wasallam) said: What has happened to you? I said: Allah’s Messenger, when we are in your company, we are reminded of Hell-Fire and Paradise as if we are seeing them with our own eyes, but whenever we go away from you and attend to our wives, children and business, much of these things go out of our minds.

Thereupon Allah’s Messenger (salallahu alaihi wasallam) said: By Him in Whose Hand is my life, if your state of mind remains the same as it is in my presence and you are always busy in remembrance (of Allah), the Angels will shake hands with you in your beds and in your paths but, Hanzala, time should be devoted (to the worldly affairs) and time (should be devoted to prayer and meditation). He (the Prophet) said this thrice.” [Sahih Muslim, Hadeeth No. 6623]
18
Oct

Lecture Series: One Step Closer

Assalamu Alaikum.

In an earlier post, I had linked to a lot of Huda TV’s Ramadan programs.

I didn’t mention one and ironically, it seems to have been one of the best programs. It’s called “One Step Closer” and it was hosted by Brother Mutasim Al-Hameedee. It offered practical solutions to increase one’s iman.

Now, even though it’s not Ramadan anymore, I think that we should still watch this series.

For those of you who claim that they “don’t have time”, why don’t you download these onto your iPhone or whatever (now you know which phone I have), and at least watch it at those times when you’re reduced to watching the flies flying around (like when you’re waiting for your doctor).

You can download the entire series from here.

Here’s a little summary of some of the episodes.

13
Oct

Project “Recover Ramadan” – Step 4: Remember your glorious past

Assalamu Alaikum.

“Glorious” past, you ask? What “glorious” past???

Allow me to explain.

I’ve met many sisters who tell me how they used to be more practicing in the past, and that depresses them.

Yes, it is quite depressing to remember the times when you were a much better Muslim and realise that it was in the past, not in the present.

And to some degree, all of us have been through this. We look back at those glorious times (which occur in Ramadan a lot of the time) and feel sad that we are not anything like we used to be.

Here’s where a change of perspective can work wonders. Rather than letting the past depress you, let it MOTIVATE you.

How? Well, tell me, who was that praying on time? Who was that who was spending so much time with the Quran? Who was that doing all those good deeds?

Past or present aside, that was YOU, not somebody else. Therefore, you know that you CAN do all these things, simply because you’ve already done it before.

So, if you can get to that level once, then don’t you think that getting there a second time will be easier, simply because you know for a surety that you can do it?

So, what do you do? Think about the time when your iman was at its highest level and resolve to get there again, insha-Allah.

After all, the second time is always easier (for most things anyway!).

12
Oct

Project “Recover Ramadan” – Step 3: Realise that you aren’t the only one in this boat

Assalamu Alaikum.

[Side note: Would you mind filling out the poll on my tafsir blog? Jazakumullah kheira.]

Which boat, you ask?

Well:

– The Boat containing those who have trouble sustaining their Ramadan spirit.

– The Boat containing those whose iman goes up and down like a yo-yo.

– The Boat containing those who struggle daily to follow this great religion.

– The Boat containing those who have lots of problems.

You get my point.

I’ve noticed that many sisters* who’ve come to me with their problems seem to think that their problems are unique.

[*I keep mentioning sisters because I interact with sisters obviously, not with the brothers.]

And they’re quite surprised that I’m unsurprised at their problems (usually related to their iman). And I’m surprised that they’re surprised that I’m unsurprised at their problems.

Why? Because I’ve noticed that everyone has similar problems. I’ve yet to come across a completely unique issue.

And it struck me that this is Shaytan’s plan: divide and conquer. He makes a person feel as if he or she is the ONLY loser on this planet with this problem and shames him/her to a point where he/she:

– Feels ashamed to ask for help.

– Thinks that there is no solution.

– Feels that he/she is the biggest sinner in the world and nobody has done what he/she has done.

Now don’t misunderstand what I’m saying. I’m not asking you to feel happy that everyone has problems sustaining the Ramadan routine, for example. It doesn’t matter if everyone failed to sustain it. We’ll all still be questioned by Allah about why we could do these acts of worship in Ramadan and not outside of it.

What I AM trying to say is: you are not the only who has this problem. We are all in the same boat. And, insha-Allah, we’ll all work together to solve this problem.

[Sorry, this post was longer than the last one.]

26
Aug

Book: Causes Behind the Increase and Decrease of Iman

Assalamu Alaikum.

I can’t believe it.

Can’t believe what, you ask?

I can’t believe that I forgot to share this wonderful book with all of you.

It’s called “Causes Behind the Increase and Decrease of Iman” and it’s by Shaikh Abdur Razzaq Al-Abbad (of “The Most Excellent Manner of Seeking Forgiveness” fame).

If you have to choose a book to read, then read this one. It really is quite wonderful.

Here you go: Causes Behind the Increase and Decrease of Iman.