What is meant by ‘taking care of Allah‘ in the Prophetic hadith?

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Question: In the following answer, can you please clarify what is meant by ‘Trust in Allah that if you take care of Him, he will take care of you,‘…it’s the ‘if you take care of Him’ I don’t understand who is this referring to? I may be wrong, but that doesn’t sound correct; please clarify.https://seekersguidance.org/answers/general-counsel/how-should-i-deal-with-being-attracted-to-the-same-gender-and-having-most-of-my-friends-from-the-opposite-gender/Answer:

Assalamu alaykum,

Thank you for following up about this hadith. Here it is in full and I believe it is self-explanatory. The translator here has used ‘be mindful of Allah‘ instead of ‘take care of Allah‘ as I had used in the previous answer:

كُنْت خَلْفَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه و سلم يَوْمًا، فَقَالَ: يَا غُلَامِ! إنِّي أُعَلِّمُك كَلِمَاتٍ: احْفَظْ اللَّهَ يَحْفَظْك، احْفَظْ اللَّهَ تَجِدْهُ تُجَاهَك، إذَا سَأَلْت فَاسْأَلْ اللَّهَ، وَإِذَا اسْتَعَنْت فَاسْتَعِنْ بِاَللَّهِ، وَاعْلَمْ أَنَّ الْأُمَّةَ لَوْ اجْتَمَعَتْ عَلَى أَنْ يَنْفَعُوك بِشَيْءٍ لَمْ يَنْفَعُوك إلَّا بِشَيْءٍ قَدْ كَتَبَهُ اللَّهُ لَك، وَإِنْ اجْتَمَعُوا عَلَى أَنْ يَضُرُّوك بِشَيْءٍ لَمْ يَضُرُّوك إلَّا بِشَيْءٍ قَدْ كَتَبَهُ اللَّهُ عَلَيْك؛ رُفِعَتْ الْأَقْلَامُ، وَجَفَّتْ الصُّحُفُ” . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ [رقم:2516] وَقَالَ: حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ. وَفِي رِوَايَةِ غَيْرِ التِّرْمِذِيِّ: “احْفَظْ اللَّهَ تَجِدْهُ أمامك، تَعَرَّفْ إلَى اللَّهِ فِي الرَّخَاءِ يَعْرِفُك فِي الشِّدَّةِ، وَاعْلَمْ أَنَّ مَا أَخْطَأَك لَمْ يَكُنْ لِيُصِيبَك، وَمَا أَصَابَك لَمْ يَكُنْ لِيُخْطِئَك، وَاعْلَمْ أَنَّ النَّصْرَ مَعَ الصَّبْرِ، وَأَنْ الْفَرَجَ مَعَ الْكَرْبِ، وَأَنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا”.

Ibn `Abbas narrated, “One day I was behind the Prophet, may Allah bless him and give him peace, [riding on the same mount] and he said, “O young man, I shall teach you some words [of advice]: Be mindful of Allah and Allah will protect you. Be mindful of Allah, and you will find Him in front of you. If you ask, then ask Allah [alone]; and if you seek help, then seek help from Allah [alone]. And know that if the nation were to gather together to benefit you with anything, they would not benefit you except with what Allah had already prescribed for you. And if they were to gather together to harm you with anything, they would not harm you except with what Allah had already prescribed against you. The pens have been lifted, and the pages have dried.” It was related by at-Tirmidhi, who said it was a sound and rigorously authenticated hadith. Another narration, other than that of Tirmidhi, reads: Be mindful of Allah, and you will find Him in front of you. Recognize and acknowledge Allah in times of ease and prosperity, and He will remember you in times of adversity. And know that what has passed you by [and you have failed to attain] was not going to befall you, and what has befallen you was not going to pass you by. And know that victory comes with patience, relief with affliction, and hardship with ease.“
May Allah give you the best of this world and the next.
[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria, for two years, where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, Tafseer, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she completed her Master’s in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan, where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She recently moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.

How Can I Kindly Ask My Husband To Get His Sagging Skin Removed so That He Becomes More Attractive?

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Question: I love my husband but I find his body unattractive. Before marriage, he lost a lot of weight and got sagging skin. He got surgery to remove it from his abdomen, but not his back, so he has loose skin there. He gained some weight back, so now it looks loose and bulgy at the same time. I didn’t notice this before marriage because we didn’t spend much time together and the clothes he wore didn’t show it. I’m really anxious and want to ask him to get it removed. How do I go about this?

Answer:

Assalamu alaykum,
Thank you for your question.

Physical attraction

The point that you bring up is important. A man should care to take of his hygiene and his body for the sake of his wife. Even though physical attraction is not everything in a marriage, it is still important. Hopefully, you are keeping up your end of exercising, dressing up, smelling nice, and eating healthy as well. Now, how do you tell him?

Tact

You know your husband the best, and you know how he will react to you. If he is the type who appreciates you sitting down and talking to him about it at length, do that. If he is the type who better appreciates a simple comment like, “I know of a good doctor who is better than your last one“ or “I want to start keto, do you want to do it with me?“try that. Usually, a short comment will spark a train of thought, which will eventually spark action by the grace of Allah. Here are some general tips:

Tips

-Ask Allah to help you speak to him and ask Him to bless you and your family with health, strength, and devotion to Him.
-Choose good timing. When he is relaxed, not stressed out, not in the middle of work, not while he is eating or hungry, but when he is relaxed and has free time.
-Speak respectfully. Always treat another as you want to be treated yourself; as the Prophet told us, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.
-Be honest and use positive words, not an accusatory tone.
-Motivate him by cooking healthy meals and not buying sweets. Make healthy desserts. You control most of what goes in his stomach!
-Don’t try to control his eating habits or force him to exercise. It must come from within him, and pressuring him will only cause resentment.
-Also, pray istikhara about the surgery. Istikhara should always be employed for big decisions like this and followed sincerely.
-Take steps yourself to get rid of your anxiety regarding this. I don’t want you to stress and lose sleep over it. Focus on his good points and do your best, and leave it in Allah’s hands.

May Allah give you the best of this world and the next.

https://seekersguidance.org/answers/general-counsel/how-important-is-physical-attraction-in-marriage/

[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad

 

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria for two years where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, Tafseer, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she completed her Master’s in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan, where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She recently moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.

Chronologically Disqualified from the Islamic Eutopia

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Question: Are all Muslim rulers and Muslim civilizations automatically discounted because they were after the period of the righteous caliphs?

Answer:

Wa alaykum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

Dear questioner,

Thank you for your important question.

No, this is not the case. No one is automatically disqualified from any of Allah’s mercy and favor. A person, a ruler, and civilization only has recompense from Allah what they themselves did or didn’t do. Race, history, or circumstances do not cancel one out or forestall one.

Every Muslim ruler and every Muslim dynasty or civilization who strove (or now strives) to apply the Qur’an and Sunna is on the way of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). This is not restricted to time or place.

Furthermore, eutopia doesn’t exist. Just as there are demons and devils within the midst of the Muslims today, there were demons and devils in the time of the Prophetic Companions and the Early Muslims.

The many hadiths about the bad rulers who would come in the future are to be understood in general terms and were, for the most part, confirmed by history. But they do not mean that everyone ruler since the time of the Righteous Caliphs should be discounted as a mere “prince.”

Regarding the hadiths, Imam Ahmad narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, ‘Prophecy will remain among you for however long Allah wishes for it to last, and then Allah will remove it when He wishes; then there will be a caliphate that will adhere to the Prophetic way for however long Allah wishes for it to last, and then Allah will remove it when He wishes; then there will be despotic monarchies for however long Allah wishes for it to last, and then Allah will remove them when He wishes; then there will be tyrannical rulers for however long Allah wishes for it to last, and then Allah will remove them when He wishes; then there will be a caliphate that will adhere to the Prophetic way.’

This hadith was deemed sound (hasan) by Shaykh Shu’ayb al-Arna’ut.

Imam Ahmad also narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, ‘The caliphate will last thirty years, and then there will be princes thereafter.’

Again this is a general trend that the Messenger of Allah drew for us. It doesn’t mean that there weren’t many good and righteous Muslim rulers after the period of the Righteous Caliphs and that there won’t be righteous Muslim rulers before the appearance of the Mahdi.

I pray this helps.

[Ustadh] Farid

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadh Farid Dingle has completed extensive years of study in the sciences of the Arabic language and the various Islamic Sciences. During his studies, he also earned a CIFE Certificate in Islamic Finance. Over the years, he has developed a masterful ability to craft lessons that help non-Arabic speakers gain a deep understanding of the language. He currently teaches courses in the Arabic Language

Legitimate Reasons to Speak Bad of Others

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Question: Is complaining of being wronged to someone who cannot help one at all considered backbiting?

Answer:

Wa alaykum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

Dear questioner,

Thank you for your important question.

Speaking bad of an individual to someone who cannot help one either stop that individual wronging him or help him personally deal with the problem is backbiting (ghiba) and is sinful.

For example, your manager said something offensive to you, so you tell everyone you know what he/she said. Does everyone you know need to know that? Is it essential that they all know that for this wrong to set aright? No, therefore, it is sinful.

However, if one brought it up with two people, both of whom may offer advice on how to deal with it, it is not backbiting.

(One should also conceal the person’s identity one is speaking badly about as much as practically possible. If the person whose help or advice you are seeking doesn’t need to know who this person is, they shouldn’t know.)

Importantly, there is a qualitative difference between ranting and trying to solve a problem. Ranting is done out of vengeance and anger, whereas trying to solve a problem is done to protect oneself or someone else, or (ideally) purely for the sake of Allah.

Ranting about an individual is sinful and constitutes backbiting. Trying to solve a problem is part of commanding the right and forbidding the wrong. The two, unfortunately, can easily become mixed. May Allah forgive us all!

Please see:
https://seekersguidance.org/articles/saving-our-souls-series-part-7-38-sins-of-the-tongue-shaykh-yusuf-weltch/
https://seekersguidance.org/show/31-content-of-character/
https://seekersguidance.org/courses/upright-speech-birgivi-on-holding-ones-tongue/
https://seekersguidance.org/articles/prophet-muhammad/imam-ghazali-guarding-tongue/

I pray this helps.

[Ustadh] Farid

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadh Farid Dingle has completed extensive years of study in the sciences of the Arabic language and the various Islamic Sciences. During his studies, he also earned a CIFE Certificate in Islamic Finance. Over the years, he has developed a masterful ability to craft lessons that help non-Arabic speakers gain a deep understanding of the language. He currently teaches courses in the Arabic Language.

Obeying Muslim Rulers

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Question: What do I have to do if I mistakenly quote Islam on something?

Answer:

Wa alaykum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

Dear questioner,

Thank you for your important question.

One may not obey the Muslim ruler concerning something sinful. (Nihayat al-Muhtaj, Ramli)

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, ‘A Muslim must hear and obey [the ruler] whether he likes it or not, as long as he is not commanded to do a sin. If he is commanded to do a sin, then there is no hearing and no obeying.’ (Bukhari and Muslim)

Please also see:

https://seekersguidance.org/answers/what-is-the-definition-of-an-islamic-country/
https://seekersguidance.org/articles/general-artices/shaykh-emad-effat-revolution-martyr-alazhar/

I pray this helps.

[Ustadh] Farid

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadh Farid Dingle has completed extensive years of study in the sciences of the Arabic language and the various Islamic Sciences. During his studies, he also earned a CIFE Certificate in Islamic Finance. Over the years, he has developed a masterful ability to craft lessons that help non-Arabic speakers gain a deep understanding of the language. He currently teaches courses in the Arabic Language.

How Can I Live a Religious Lifestyle When I Find It So Daunting and Overwhelming?

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Question: I’m lost. I’m a 15-year-old trying to practice the deen after being lax, but I’m not strong enough for it. I feel like I have to give up all my hobbies, interests, friends, passions; I have makeup fasts and prayers, my family isn’t supportive, my friends aren’t religious and sometimes make fun of me, and I have problems with porn and masturbating. I want to seek knowledge, but I fear for my sincerity. It’s all so much, and I have no one to reach out to nor any idea what to do.

Answer:

Assalamu alaykum,

Thank you for your question. Dear student, may Allah reward you for your sincerity and for wanting to reach Allah. Trust me; this is all that you need; leave the rest in Allah’s hands.

Strength

You mention that you weren’t strong enough to practice your religion, but I disagree. I believe that Allah gave you the gift of wanting to know Him, and you have a treasure that many others don’t have. Hold fast to this treasure and take the steps that you know how to take, one day at a time. Remember that Allah sees and knows all that you do and feel. See this link:
https://seekersguidance.org/articles/prophet-muhammad/strength-in-islam-the-prophetic-understanding-of-strength-faraz-rabbani/

The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “The strong believer is better and more beloved to Allah than the weak believer, although both are good. Strive for that which will benefit you, seek the help of Allah, and do not feel helpless. If anything befalls you, do not say, ‘if only I had done such and such‘ rather say ‘Qaddara Allahu wa ma sha’a fa’ala (Allah has decreed and whatever he wills, He does).‘ For (saying) ‘If‘ opens (the door) to the deeds of Satan.‘“. [Ibn Maja]

Program

Come up with a program, and don’t despair. Fit your make-up fasts into a daily routine so you can finish them in a year or year and a half. Fast 2 or 3 times a week until you have finished your make-ups and combine intentions when you perform sunna fasts. Every wall is built one brick at a time, and every mountain is climbed one step. Ask Allah to help you, rely on Him, and be certain that He will not abandon you. Keep on seeking knowledge and practice what you learn, slowly but surely.

Company

The company that you keep can make you or break you. You must seek out religious and motivated friends and are on the same path as you. Being around like-minded friends is as easy as breathing and being around immoral people who don’t help you and support you is a burden. Pray that Allah sends you such people and search for them.  See these links:
https://seekersguidance.org/answers/general-counsel/where-can-i-find-good-company/

Turn to Allah with your sincere intention, place all your trust in Him, proceed slowly, consult, and learn. The next thing you know, you will be a practicing Muslim who has repented, moved beyond his sins, and is illuminated by his remembrance of Allah.

Please see SeekersGuidance youth Curriculum – https://academy.seekersguidance.org/local/track/?id=43

May Allah give you the best of this world and the next.

[Ustadha]Shazia Ahmad

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria, for two years, where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, Tafseer, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she completed her Master’s in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan, where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She recently moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.

Order of make up prayer

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Question:
If you pray your fajr prayer and zuhr prayer but miss your asr for whatever reason, do you pray the 4 rakah qadha of asr at maghrib time but before the maghrib prayer or after completing maghrib?

Answer:

In the Name of Allah, the Merciful and Compassionate

Assalamu alaikum,

I hope you’re doing well, insha’Allah.

In the Hanafi school, it is necessary to maintain order between our obligatory prayers (and the Witr prayer). [Shurunbulali, Maraqi al-Falah]

The basis of this is that when the Messenger of Allah (peace & blessings be upon him) and the believers were unable to pray on time during the Battle of the Trench, they made up the prayers in order. This is also understood from the indications of various Quranic verses. [ibid.]

Thus, in the case you mentioned, you need to pray the make-up (qada’) of Asr before performing the Maghrib prayer.

The details of this issue are explained in courses on the Fiqh of worship. See the Level One courses offered at SeekersGuidance — www.seekersguidance.org

Important Note: There is a Difference of Opinion on This

There is a difference of opinion regarding this ruling: maintaining order between missed prayers and current prayers isn’t a requirement in some other Sunni schools, such as the Shafi’i school.

As such, don’t worry about the validity of past prayers in which you didn’t uphold this order.

And Allah is the giver of success and facilitation.

[Shaykh] Faraz Rabbani

 

Shaykh Faraz Rabbani spent ten years studying with some of the leading scholars of recent times, first in Damascus and Amman, Jordan. His teachers include the foremost theologian of recent times in Damascus, the late Shaykh Adib al-Kallas (may Allah have mercy on him), and his student Shaykh Hassan al-Hindi, one of the leading Hanafi fuqaha of the present age. He returned to Canada in 2007, where he founded SeekersGuidance to meet the urgent need to spread Islamic knowledge–both online and on the ground–in a reliable, relevant, inspiring, and accessible manner. He is the author of Absolute Essentials of Islam: Faith, Prayer, and the Path of Salvation According to the Hanafi School (White Thread Press, 2004.) Since 2011, Shaykh Faraz has been named one of the 500 most influential Muslims by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center.

Uncertain about becoming Muslim

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Question: If one is trying to learn about Islam, is it normal to feel uncertain and feel that one could not possibly believe?

Answer:

Wa alaykum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

Dear questioner,

Thank you for your important question.

Knowing that Islam is true is easy. Accepting it as an emotional fact can take time.

To know that Islam is true, you can ask yourself two questions very frankly. Given the existence of the universe, it possible that God doesn’t exist? Given the personal qualities of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), is it possible that he was a liar and wasn’t really the last messenger of God?

For me, these are two facts that I cannot get around. Islam is a fact, and that is it.

If you need to read more, listen more, get more exposure to really grasp the facts surrounding these two questions, do so. Get as much information as possible. At the end of the day, your answer to each question will either be a definite yes, or a definite no.

However, emotionally coming to terms with this is the challenge. This is a spiritual and moral jump that each of us has to take when accepting Islam. It is normal to waiver in this decision and to be of two hearts about it. It isn’t an easy decision, and for some of us, it can take time.

‘Has the time not come for those who have believed that their hearts should become humbly submissive at the remembrance of God and what has come down of the truth?’ (Qur’an, 57: 16)

Please also see:
https://seekersguidance.org/answers/islamic-belief/how-do-i-enter-islam-i-want-to-become-muslim/
https://www.overcome.tv/

I pray this helps.

[Ustadh] Farid

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadh Farid Dingle has completed extensive years of study in the sciences of the Arabic language and the various Islamic Sciences. During his studies, he also earned a CIFE Certificate in Islamic Finance. Over the years he has developed a masterful ability to craft lessons that help non-Arabic speakers gain a deep understanding of the language. He currently teaches courses in the Arabic Language

How Can Love Be a Sin Even if It Is Between Two People of the Same Gender?

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Question: I have a question regarding homosexuality. I am just wondering how can love (of any kind) be a sin? I read that some Islamic scholars nowadays are trying to find in the Quran if there are some signs that it is only the homosexual lust that is punishable, not the homosexual love. Could that possibly be true? If not, please explain to me how love can be a sin, as we can see many people in the world are in love with the same sex.

Answer:

Assalamu alaykum,

Thank you for your question. That which you ask about are two different things in my mind.

True Love

There is nothing in and of itself impermissible about love. As a matter of fact, my teachers taught me that the heart craves love, and man will spend all his life trying ways to fill the heart with different things, but really only the love of Allah can fill it, as that is what it was created for. Please read this answer about true, intense love by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani:
https://seekersguidance.org/articles/featured-articles/ten-steps-to-allah-step-4-love-allah/

Types of love

Loving another falls into many categories; a few among them are: A) Loving someone that you can be with, such as a spouse, or B) loving someone that you can’t be with, such as a non-mahram or person of the same gender, usually termed lust. C) Loving the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace and his family and companions for their rank with Allah and for teaching us our religions. These are just a few, but the important difference between these is that we distinguish which love brings us benefit.
https://seekersguidance.org/articles/featured-articles/love-for-lady-fatima-habib-umar/
https://seekersguidance.org/articles/prophet-muhammad/allow-your-emotions-to-be-elevated-habib-umar/

Actions and feelings

Because the shari`ah governs actions and not feelings, one should pay the most heed to one’s actions, which will help make the feelings gradually fade. One must be careful to guide one’s heart to refrain and withdraw from what might lead one to the impermissible and allow its love to flourish in what is permissible. If one was to allow one’s lustful feelings to grow unchecked and not consider that they could overpower one and turn into action, one has been deluded by the Devil. If this were to occur, the doors of mercy would still be open to one through repentance.

Homosexuality

I haven’t heard anything about what you described in your question about love and lust from the Qur’an, but the rulings are clear. A person would do well to push away his desires, whether for the same gender or in an illicit heterosexual relationship, with help and support if necessary to fulfill Allah’s commands. As such, love is not sinful, but rather one’s acting on it illicitly would be. One’s reward would be infinite, and one’s pain and suffering would not be lost on Allah. Please see this link for more info:
https://seekersguidance.org/answers/general-counsel/tackling-homosexual-feelings-supplication-repentance-and-going-cold-turkey/

Allah, Most High, says, “If you avoid the major sins forbidden to you, We will absolve you of your ˹lesser˺ misdeeds and admit you into a place of honor.“ [Qur’an, 4:31]

May Allah give you the best of this world and the next and grant you a love after which you will want for nothing else.

[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria, for two years, where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, Tafseer, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she completed her Master’s in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan, where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She recently moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.

 Covid vaccine and fasting

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Question:

Does getting the COVID vaccine during Ramadan break a person’s fast?

Thank you.

Answer: In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,

Assalam’aleykum, I pray this finds you in the best of states.

Jazakum Allah khayr for your question!

No getting the COVID vaccine does not break a person’s fast.

The fast is only nullified when a substance enters the body cavity through a recognized entry point, such as the mouth, nose, or front and back private parts. Therefore, eye drops, injections, and nicotine patches do not break the fast as they do not enter the body from a recognized entry point.

Please see: https://seekersguidance.org/answers/hanafi-fiqh/ramadan-injections-eye-drops-and-doubts/

And Allah knows best.

May  Allah Most High grant you the best of this world and the next.

Please keep us in your du’as!

Wassalam

[Ustadh] Sufyan Qufi

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani