Friday, February 26, 2010

Have you ever thought about the wonders of Jannah?

Have you ever thought about the wonders of Jannah?


In Sahih Muslim, Abdullah Bin Mas’ud narrates from Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) the warming story of the last man to escape Hellfire:


HIS crawl away from Hellfire is filled with his face slipping into the dirt, a tremoring walk, and a fire that licks him until he finally escapes.


When he is past it, he looks back, horrified, and announces with the loudest voice, “All praise is due to Allah Who saved me from you.” Then he says, most proud, “Verily I have been rewarded with something that no one from the beginning to the end of creation has been blessed with.”



At that moment, a tree catches his eye – a tree that was commanded to be raised for him. He quickly raises his hands, “O Allah! Allow me to draw near to that tree so that I can cool off under its shade and drink from its water.”



Then Allah calls him, “O son of Adam! If I grant you what you ask, you shall ask for more.”



“Nay, O Allah!” pleads the man and he testifies that he shall ask for no more. As the man basks in the glory of the tree, another tree is raised, one more bounteous and lush than the first. The man pleads, “O Allah! Allow me to draw near to that tree so that I can cool off under its shade and drink from its water.



Allah then says, “Did you not promise me that you would ask for no more? Perhaps if I give it to you, you shall ask for yet even more.”



The man testifies that he will not, and is granted that tree.



Just then a tree is raised near the doors of Jannah (paradise), one bigger and lusher than all the rest and the man’s heart sinks.



“O Allah, that tree, that tree. I’ll ask for nothing else.”



“Did you not promise you would ask for nothing more?”



“After that tree, O Allah, nothing more!”



He is permitted to draw nearer to the tree and there, as he nears the doors of Jannah, he hears the sounds of its inhabitants and he leaps, “O Allah! Enter me into Jannah!”



“O son of Adam!” Allah announces, “What shall satisfy you and put an end your pleading?”



Then Allah offers, “Will it please you if I give you all the treasures and bounties of the entire world and then double it!”



The man’s smile shuts off and his eyes lock up. “My Lord, You’re the Lord of the universe… Are You mocking at me?”



At this point Ibn Mas’ood started laughing. He said to his students, “Ask me why I’m laughing. I’m laughing because Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) laughed when he told us this. And he also asked us, ‘Do you know what makes me laugh? I’m laughing for Allah’s laughter when the man said, ‘You are the Lord of the universe… are You mocking at me?’”



Allah then tells him, “I am not mocking at you, rather I am capable of doing whatever I so wish.” Allahu Akbar!





Jannah – have you ever seen it or felt it?



Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) taught us that in Jannah there is that “which no eye has witnessed, no ear has heard, and that which has never been imagined by any human.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)



“No person knows what is kept hidden for them of joy as a reward for what they used to do.” (Qur’an, 32:17)



Imagine yourself in Jannah



Imagine yourself present on the day when the gates of Jannah will be opened with all of the splendor that lies beyond it. Allah tells us in the Qur’an about when the muttaqun (pious) are escorted to the gates of Jannah by the most handsome of angels.



“And those who kept their duty to their Lord will be led to Paradise in groups, till, when they reach it, and its gates will be opened (before their arrival for their reception) and its keepers will say: Salamun ‘Alaikum (Peace be upon you)! You have done well, so enter here to abide therein.” (Qur’an, 39:73)



The shade in Jannah



“Verily, the Muttaqun (the pious. See V.2:2) shall be admidst shades and springs. And fruits, such as they desire. Eat and drink comfortably for that which you used to do. Verily, thus We reward the Mushsinun (good-doers.)” (Qur’an, 77:41-44)



The ambience in Jannah



Imagine yourself in Jannah. Your face is shining with joy and you’re so glad that you woke up for Fajr all those days, glad you paid your Zakah, glad you wore Hijab all those summer days. This is what the atmosphere is like in Jannah:



“(Other) faces that Day will be joyful, glad with their endeavor (for their good deeds which they did in this world, along with the true Faith of Islamic Monotheism), in a lofty Paradise, Where they shall neither hear harmful speech nor falsehood.” (Qur’an, 88:8-11)



Jannah is the fruit of a seed planted in this world. Let’s go driving towards Jannah!

Monday, February 22, 2010

What Quran is

What Quran is

The Quran is the most often-read book in the world. Revealed by God to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in the 7th century, and revered by Muslims as being God's final Scripture and Testament, its words have been lovingly recited, memorized, and implemented by Muslims of every nationality ever since.
“It is He Who sends down manifest Ayaat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) to His slave (Muhammad) that He may bring you out from darkness into light
[Surah (Chapter of) al-Hadeed 57:9 – English interpretation of the Quranic Verse]
Learn Quran, Read tajweed Quran online, learning Quran online Koran

Allah has told us in the Quran (Quran / Koran) the stories of the earlier and later generations and the creation of the heavens and the earth. He has explained in detail what halaal is and what is haraam, the basics of good manners and morals, the rulings of worship and dealings with others, the lives of the Prophets and the righteous, and the reward and punishment of the believers and disbelievers. He has described Paradise, the abode of the believers, and He has described Hell, the abode of the disbelievers. He has made it (the Quran (Quran / Koran)) an explanation of all things:
“And We have sent down to you the Book (the Quran (Quran / Koran)) as an exposition of everything, a guidance, a mercy, and glad tidings for those who have submitted themselves (to Allah as Muslims)”
The Quran (Quran / Koran) confirms the Books which came before it, the Tawraat (Torah) and Injeel (Gospel), and it is a witness over them, as Allah says (English interpretation of the Quranic Verse):
“And We have sent down to you (O Muhammad) the Book (this Qur’aan (Quran / Koran)) in truth, confirming the Scripture that came before it and Muhaymin (trustworthy in highness and a witness) over it (old Scriptures)”[Surah (Chapter of) al-Maa'idah 5:48]
The faithful are inspired, consoled often moved to tears by its eloquence and poetic imagery, especially when recited aloud. And yet, the Qur'an is unique in being the only Scripture that is free of scientific inaccuracies, whose historical authenticity can be verified, and whose text has been so carefully preserved that just one authorized version (in Arabic) exists. Approximately the length of the New Testament, the Qur'an is also the only holy book that can be memorized in its entirety by people of all ages and intellectual abilities - including non-Arabic speakers - which Muslims consider to be one of its miracles.