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Written by Amirah Bouraba
If you know the date of your death, will that change anything in the way you lead your life?
Have you ever lain awake at night and thought about the day of your death? Were you scared? Did you quickly start to think about ways to cheat death? Maybe get an oxygen tent or inject yourself with hormones? Or carry on with your day to day business trying not to think about it and that it will just never happen?
Even then, your brain will still decay. Hormones will not stop your body from slowly moving towards its’ end, and there will never be immortality for any of us in this world.
There is no way to cheat death and no sorrow or joy will last but a few seconds before it disappears forever. Indeed, you and I are not permanent residents of this world.
To further bring the truth to our homes and hearts, what if it was possible to know when you were going to die? What if you could get in touch with someone or pay an agency some money to tell you the exact day and time you would pass on to the next life?
How would such knowledge affect you?
Imagine right now knowing what date you will die if it was today, tomorrow, in ten years or more. What if you saw your death-date carved on your tomb stone at a shop just waiting to stand over your grave?
Would your lifestyle change? Would your goals seem meaningless? Would you begin to question all those things you thought you think are important like a big house and a fancy car just to impress people ? Or would you see them as dust before your eyes ?
Allah says in the Quran what means,
{The example of those who deny their lord is that their accomplishments are like ashes upon which the wind blows furiously on a stormy day. They have no power over what they earned. They were far from a real goal.} (Ibrahim 14:18)
So what are we here for? We are all here to surrender our wills to Allah. We are here to undergo a set of tests to determine if we are worthy of eternal life or eternal damnation.
What is before our eyes is a glittering show and only those who seek less in this life will have more in the real life to come.
Ali ibn Abi Talib said: “People are asleep and when they die they will wake up.”
That is a way of saying that most people have no clue who they are or why they are here. And sometimes we bump into people who seem to be sleeping more deeply than others.
Once the Prophet Muhammad was organizing an army to fight the idol worshippers and a lot of people came forward asking to be excused from military duty. According to the Quran they were even questioning Allah saying,
{Our Lord, why have you ordered us to fight? Won’t you give us time to live our natural lives? } (An-Nisaa’ 4:77)
Clearly, these people were afraid to die, and selfishly thought only about living in the life they thought they owned.
But Allah then ordered Prophet Muhammad to tell them,
{The enjoyment of this world is short. The next life is the best for those who do right.. You will never be dealt with unjustly at all.} (An-Nisaa’ 4:77)
Then we are all warned,
{ Wherever you are, death will find you. Even if you are in mighty towers.}(An-Nisaa’ 4:78)
{You cannot save yourself form death. This life is not a place you should think of as permanent. Your purpose is to be tested and try to build an iman (faith) that is true as you can make it and do the best you can be to those around you.. } (Al-Baqarah 2:160 and Fussilat 41:34)
Think about it that way, if you can release yourself from being a slave to material things, then nothing that happens in this life can pull you into depression or frightfulness. You may feel sad if something tragic happens but you will never lose hope.
Suicide, drug abuse, drunkenness, and stress are all indicators of being far from Allah. People can lose their fears and worries by fully implanting Islam in their lives.
Our lives do not end with death, far from it. Sure, our physical bodies perish and decay away, but the spirit that Allah has breathed into us is quickly released into another world.
Allah says in the Quran what means,
{Allah is a reality. It is He who brings life to the dead and it is Him who has power over all things.} (Al-Hajj 22:6)
The purpose of our lives can best be summoned up in the words of a man who thought much about it and hit upon the truth.
{ I wouldn’t be reasonable if I didn’t serve the One who created me and Whom I will return.} (Ya-Sin 36:22)
You only have one chance to get your life’s record right. Make your decision wisely.
That’s why you are here.
[Amirah Bouraba converted at the age of 15 in 2003 and since then she has been trying her best to learn more about Islam. She is a teacher at a local Islamic school teaching Islamic studies and also working for the Islam Channel for a program called 'City Sisters'. In her spare time she is studying at Oxford University on the subject of understanding Islam and the Muslims. In 2007, she became a mother for the first time to a baby girl called Safia]
Written by N. Abdul Rab
The best Greeting there could ever be.
Did you wake up this morning and say “As-Salaamu Alaikum” to your spouse or your child? Or did you greet them with a “Good Morning” or even a casual “hi”?
Have we been teaching our children the importance of greeting each other with salaam? Or when we see them off to school, do we send them off with a ‘bye’, instead of “As-Salaamu Alaikum”, the dua for peace and blessings? For some of us, this may seem a minor issue. Or it may even be a’progressive’ issue. But, in our haste to ‘adapt’, we forget that saying “As-Salaamu Alaikum” is the best greeting there could ever be.
This was the practice and teaching of Prophet Muhammad (Sal Allaahu Alaihi wa Sallam), the best example for mankind. And it was Allaah Himself that prescribed the manner of greeting among Muslims as “As-Salaamu Alaikum” [not 'salaams' or 'good morning' or 'hey' or 'hi' or whatever] “When those who believe in Our Ayaat (proofs, verses, signs, etc.) come to you, say: “Salaamun Alaikum” (peace be on you)…..” (Surah al-An’aam:54)
Ibn al-Qayyim says:
“Allaah, the Sovereign, the Most Holy, the Peace, prescribed that the greeting among the people of Islam should be ‘As-Salaamu Alaikum’, which is better than all the greetings of other nations which include impossible ideas or lies, such as saying, ‘May you live for a thousand years,’ or things that are not accurate, such as ‘An’im sabaahan (Good morning),’ or actions that are not right, such as bowing in greeting. Thus the greeting of salaam is better than all of these, because it has the meaning of safety which is life, without which nothing else can be achieved…. ” (Badaa’i’ al-Fawaa’id)
“As-Salaamu Alaikum” is the best Dua
The word ‘salaam’ comes from the root ‘salema’, which implies to disassociate oneself from evil and harm. Thus, when we greet other Muslims,the greeting means: “No harm shall come to you from me (may no evil come to you, may no harm come to you) And since As-Salaam is also one of the Beautiful Names of Allaah, the greeting of salaam also means, “May the blessing of His Name descend upon you, may Allah be with you, may Allah guide and protect you.”
Subhaan Allaah! What a beautiful greeting!
Yet, it is utterly tragic to see that some of us have exchanged something so beautiful for something ugly, when we stopped saying Assalaamu Alaikum and started with ‘Good Morning’ or ‘Hi’. It is especially sad to see some of our youth, who don’t even know how to say the words clearly and properly. Some say ‘ Saa kum”, some just mumble something incomprehensible under their breath and some don’t even bother to say anything at all! And if they are being really nice to you, they just might throw you a ‘hey’ from afar.
And even those of us who do say salaam, some of us are so stingy or hesitant in doing so. Although, at the time of the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaihi wa Sallam) the Sahaabah would compete with each other to see who could give salaams first. They would go to the market just to say salaam to people they knew and to the people they did not know.
The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said: “The best of the two persons is the one who begins with salaam.” (Related by an-Nawawi)
BENEFITS OF “AS-SALAAMU ALAIKUM”
1.”As-Salaamu Alaikum” is a means of immense reward
A man passed by the Messenger of Allaah (Sal Allaahu Alaihi wa Sallam) while he was sitting with others, and said “As-salaamu ‘alaykum. ” The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said, “[He will have] ten hasanaat.” Another man passed by and said “As-Salaamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullaah (peace be upon you and the mercy of Allaah).” The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said:
“[He will have] twenty hasanaat.” Another man passed by and said “As-Salaamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullaahi wa Barakaatuh (peace be upon you and the mercy of Allaah and His blessings).” The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said,”[He will have] thirty hasanaat.”
2.”As-Salaamu Alaikum” is an aspect of Imaan
Once a man asked the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaihi wa Sallam) about which aspect of Islam was best. The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaihi wa Sallam) replied: “Feeding the hungry, and saying salaam to those you know and those you don’t know.” (Bukhaari and Muslim)
3. “As-Salaamu Alaikum” is a means of entering Jannah
The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said: “You will not enter Paradise until you believe, and you will not believe until you love one another. Shall I not tell you about something which, if you do it, you will love one another? Spread salaam (the greeting of peace) among you.” (Muslim)
4. “As-Salaamu Alaikum” gets rid of sins
The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaihi wa Sallam) also said, “When two Muslims meet (give salaam), and shake hands , they are forgiven their sins before they part (with each other).” (Abu Dawud)
5. “As-Salaamu Alaikum” is the greeting of the people of Jannah
“Then, those that feared their Lord shall be driven in companies into Paradise . When they draw near its gates will be opened, and its keepers will say to them: “Salaamun ‘Alaikum” (Peace be upon you), you have done well.Enter and live in it for ever.” (Surah Zumar:73)
6. Even Allaah says “As-Salaamu Alaikum”
Allah sends His Salaam upon the people who believe in Him, especially the prophets such as Nuh, Ibraheem, Ismaeel, Musa, etc.(Surah as- Saa ffaat) as well as other pious people.Jibreel came to house of the Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) and Khadeeja was there. Jibreel said: “Allah send s his salaam to Khadeeja.” The Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “O Khadeeja, Allah is sending His salaams to you.” She said, “Allah is As-Salaam. And upon you O Jibreel, be as-salaam and upon you Rasulullah be as-salaam.” [Bukhaari]
It is obligatory to return the greeting of “As-Salaamu Alaikum”
“The Muslim has five rights over his fellow-Muslim: he should return his salaams, visit him when he is sick, attend his funeral, accept his invitation, and pray for mercy for him [say "Yar ha'mu kallaah"] when he sneezes.” (Bukhaari, Muslim)
We should say “As-Salaamu Alaikum” when we enter our homes
“When you enter houses, greet (with peace) one another with a salutation from Allah, blessed and good. As such Allah makes clear to you His verses so that you understand.” (Surah an-Nur: 61)
“As-Salaamu Alaikum” is also to be said at time of leaving
The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said: “When one of you joins a gathering, he should greet those present; and when he leaves them he should salute them, because the first salutation is not better than the last one.” (Abu Dawud and Tirmithi)
Why would you want to give up something beautiful for something ugly??
It is sad to see that when it comes to the matters of Dunya, we strive our utmost to give our families and friends the best. Yet when it comes to greetings, we forget the most beautiful and comprehensive greeting “As-Salaamu Alaikum”, which is also a prayer….a prayer of peace and blessing…of security and protection from all harm and all evil…..a blessing that Allaah Himself send s down to His beloved slaves…… a greeting of the people of Jannah itself.
Written by Remez Sasson
For some reason, most people find it easier to think in a negative way than in a positive manner. It seems that some effort is needed to think positive thoughts, whereas negative thoughts come easily and uninvited. This has much to do with education and the environment one has been living in.
In order to understand how positive thinking works, and how to use it efficiently, it is important to understand the power of negative thinking. If you have been brought up in a happy and positive atmosphere, where people value success and self-improvement, then it will be easier for you to think positively and expect success. If you have been brought up under poor or difficult situations, you will probably go on expecting difficulties and failure.
From an early age people let outside influences shape their minds. They view everything through their predominant mental attitude. If their thoughts are positive, that is fine, but if they are negative, their lives and circumstances will probably mirror these thoughts.
If you believe that you are going to fail, you will unconsciously sabotage every opportunity to succeed. If you are afraid of meeting new people or having close relationships, you will do everything to avoid people and relationships, and then complain that you are lonely and nobody loves you.
Do you often think about difficulties, failure and disasters? Do you keep thinking about the negative news you have seen on the TV or read in the newspapers?
Do you see yourself stuck and unable to improve your life or your health? Do you frequently think that you do not deserve happiness or money, or that it is too difficult to get them? If you do, then you will close your mind, see no opportunities, and behave and react in such ways, as to repel people and opportunities. You let the power of negative thinking rule your life.
The mind does not usually judge or examine thoughts and opinions before accepting them. If what it hears, sees and reads is always negative, it accepts this as the standard way of thinking and behavior.
The media constantly bombards the mind with a lot of information about disasters, catastrophes, wars and other negative happenings. This information sinks into the subconscious mind, and let the power of negative thinking grow. By occupying the mind with negative thoughts and expectations one radiate negative energy into the surrounding world, thus creating and recreating more negativity, failures and disasters.
The mind can be directed towards positive thinking or negative thinking. The power of thoughts is a neutral power. The way one thinks determines whether the results are positive and beneficial or negative and harmful. It is the same of energy acting in different ways.
Persistent inner work can change habits of thoughts. You must be willing to put energy and time to avoid negative thinking and pursue positive thinking, in order to change your mental attitude.
Five times SALAH and ZIKR is the best solution for Muslims.
Each time you catch yourself thinking a negative thought, change it into a positive one.
If you catch yourself visualizing failure, switch to visualizing success.
If you hear yourself repeating negative words, switch to positive ones.
If you hear yourself saying, “I cannot”, say to yourself, “I can”.
Do you repeat useless and unnecessary negative words and phrases in your mind? Change them to positive ones.
Open your mind to positive attitude, happenings and events. Expect them and think about them, and soon you life will change for the better. Decide that from today, from this very moment, you are leaving all negative thinking behind, and starting on the way towards positive thinking and behavior. It is never too late. Soon your life will turn into a fascinating, wonderful journey.
And you will yourselves thanking to Allah (SWT) for the wonderful world around you.
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