Strange

‘Abdullah Ibn Mas’ood reported that the Messenger of Allah (sal-Allâhu 'alayhi wa sallam) said:

“Indeed Islam began new and strange and it shall return as it began – new and strange. So glad tidings to the strangers.”

[Narrated by Muslim]

The Destroyer of Pleasures

"20 year old boy dies a sudden death after supposedly being diagnosed with pneumonia."

"Young man commits suicide by jumping off a building."

"A 19 year old student admitted in the intensive care unit. Doctors say chances of him surviving are 50/50..."

Day in and day out we see these kind headlines in the news all over the world. It doesn't matter how young they are, how athletic or how much they seem to "enjoy and chill" in life, When their appointed time is up, the Angel of Death descends to grab their souls and thus, they are returned to their Lord for their ultimate reckoning.

Few people really do what they have to do in such cases. Most people pretend to get "freaked out" and talk uselessly about the dead person and fail to grasp the real benefits from it. The wise are those who take heed from such incidents and strive to rectify their deeds before it is finally their turn to meet their Lord and become heavily interrogated for what they used to do in the life of this world. Allah is the All-Merciful. But never forget that He is also the Most Severe in Punishment and we will be held accountable for every single sin that we do.

How many of us actually think to ourselves that "I could be next"? "It might be my turn to be enclosed in that coffin today and buried in that dark whole in the ground"? "Am I prepared for it"?

May Allah Almighty make us amongst those who realize the reality of death and prepare ourselves for it instead of closing our eyes, covering our ears and trying to flee from it. May He make us amongst those who frequently remember death - the destroyer of pleasures - as the Prophet Muhammad (sallAllah 'alaihi wasallam) advised.

A Hadith to Deeply Reflect Upon 2

Concerning the fluctuation of one’s energy and faith…..

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

“Everybody has his time of energy, and every time of energy is followed by a time of lethargy. But if a person tries to follow a moderate path, then I have hope for him, but if he becomes one who is pointed out (in the street), then do not think anything of him.”

(Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 2453; classed as hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi).

What is meant by “Everybody has his time of energy” is eagerness for a thing, energy and the desire to do good.

What is meant by “every time of energy is followed by a time of lethargy” is tiredness, weakness and lack of movement.

“But if a person tries to follow a moderate path” means that the one who has energy does his deeds in moderation and avoids going to extremes when he is feeling energetic and avoids being negligent when he is feeling lethargic.

“Then I have hope for him” means, I have hope that he will be successful, for he can continue following a middle course, and the most beloved deeds to Allaah are those which are continuous.

“but if he becomes one who is pointed out (in the street)” means, if he strives hard and goes to extremes in doing good deeds so that he will become famous for his worship and asceticism, and he becomes famous and people point him out to one another,

“then do not think anything of him” means, do not think that he is one of the righteous, because he is showing off. He did not say, “do not have hope for him,” as an indication that he has already fallen, and he will not be able to make up for what he has missed out on. 

[From Tuhfat al-Ahwadhi]

Reference: www.islamqa.com

Another Hadith related to this topic:

“The most beloved of deeds to Allah is the one that is continuous, even if it is little.”

[Agreed upon]

Supplication for one in Distress

‘‘O Allaah, it is Your mercy that I hope for, so do not leave me in charge of my affairs even for a blink of an eye and rectify for me all of my affairs. None has the right to be worshipped except You.”

[Narrated by Abu Dawud 4/324 & Ahmad 5/42]