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Day 14: Listen Attentively – 30 Deeds 30 Days

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Day 14: Listen Attentively

We live in a world of online relationships, where face-to-face interactions are harder than they used to be. It’s also harder to get love and attention when you need it. We know that the Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, made an effort to listen to each and every person around him. He did this so well, that everyone thought that they were his favourite person.listen attentively

This Ramadan, make an effort to listen attentively to someone speaking to you. Go beyond simply hearing and really listen; read between the lines, and make them feel special.

Bring new life to this Ramadan by enrolling in a FREE On-Demand course.

Humanity Before Religiosity, a series by Habib Ali al-Jifri (English subtitles)

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Habib Ali al-Jifri’s Ramadan program Humanity Before Religiosity has been translated into English and Sign Language. SeekersHub will feature each new episode on this page.

Our sincere thanks to Habib Ali’s team, particularly those who manage his YouTube channel and his Facebook page, for making this wonderful resource available to us, Alhamdulillah.

Episode 18: Dealing with Non-Muslims

Episode 17: Citizenship and Rights

Episode 16: When Religion is Violated

Episode 15: Sexual Identity

Episode 14: How to Deal With Wrongdoers

Episode 13: Forgiveness and Pardon

Episode 12: Chanelling youthful passion (part II)

Episode 11: Channeling youthful passion

Episode 10: A Humane Approach to Dealing With Transgressions

Episode 9: “Al-Walaa Wa-l Bara’a” – Is It From Islam?

Episode 8: The Impact of God’s love and the Prophet Muhammad’s love

Episode 7: How Love Affects Humanity

Episode 6: On Human Rights

Episode 5: Ethics and values

Episode 4: Striking the right balance

Episode 3: The Different Types of Desires in Humans

Episode 2: What is Humanity?


Episode 1: The Vessel of Religiosity

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The Ummah Is Off Balance, by Shaykh Waleed Mosaad

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“To the casual observer looking at the state of the Muslims today, one would be remiss not to realize that something is wrong.”

If we look at the faith that the Prophet Muhammadﷺ restored, we realize that we are given many opportunities for renewal. We are given weekly opportunities with the Friday prayer, and yearly opportunities with the month of Ramadan.

But things still go wrong. Why?

The Ummah Off Balance

If we look at the testification of faith, it starts with a negation and the command to refrain. In addition, restraining yourself from doing something is known to be better than doing good. A man who does much good and much evil is better than one who does little good and little evil.

This is why we see people who fast and pray and make Hajj, but still harm others with their jealousy, rancor, and gossip. The sad thing is that this is a very common occurrence.

Suffice to say, the Ummah is off balance.

In this insightful sermon, Shaykh Walead Mosaad tells us about one of the most destructive ills of out community, and how to fix it.

We are grateful to the New Brunswick Islamic Centre for this recording.

Eager to restore the balance? Sign up for one of our FREE Online Courses, where you can learn reliable knowledge from qualified scholars.

Resources for Seekers

The Emotional Brilliance of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, by Ustadh Amjad Tarsin

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e·mo·tion·al in·tel·li·gence. noun. skill in perceiving, understanding, and managing emotions and feelings.

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ had a profound way of dealing with people with extremely varying personalities and emotional states, explains Ustadh Amjad Tarsin. His da’wah (way of inviting people to God) needs to be revived in a way that speaks to the realities faced by young people today. This khutba focuses on the importance of pondering his example ﷺ in the way we support and communicate with people spiritually and emotionally.

Support the programs and services of the Muslim Chaplaincy of Toronto by becoming a donor today.

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Resources for seekers

Be The Best, Not Only Just, To Your Loved Ones – Shaykh Faid Mohammed Said

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Being the best ummah for mankind starts with being the best – not only just – with those closest to you, Shaykh Faid Mohammed Said writes.

“Allah Guides to His Light Whom He Wills.”  (Surah An-Nur)
Bismillah-ir Rahman-ir Raheem

The Best Ummah

Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) wanted us to be the best Ummah, as He said in Surah Ahli-Imran (110):  “You are the best ummah that was sent for mankind.”
FOR mankind!  
Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) did not say you are the best ummah “of” or “from” mankind, but rather He said “for”.
Being the best means being close to Allah (subhana wa ta’ala).  Being the best means being in the company of Allah (subhana wa ta’ala).

Rasulullah ﷺ said, speaking about being the best that it is not only in your ibadat, salah or zakat, but rather Rasulullah ﷺ said in a Hadith: The best of you are the best to their wives, and I am the best to my wives.”

In this Hadith, Rasulullah ﷺ is relating being the best to being good to the closest person to you, as it does not matter how good you are to others if you are not good to the closest person to you.  This relates to the Qur’anic verse in which Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) says that those that are close to you are the most deserving of your goodness and kindness, as opposed to others.
In another Hadith, related by Imam Tirmidhi (rehmatullah alaih) and narrated by Syedina Abdullah ibn Amr (radiallah anhu), Rasulullah ﷺ said:  “The best companions and friends with Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) are those that are the best with their friends and good to those in their company; the best neighbors with Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) are those who are the best to their neighbors.”
In yet another Hadith, speaking about being the best, Rasulullah ﷺ said:  “The best of you are those whom teach the Qur’an and learn the Qur’an.”
If we look carefully at these Ahadith, we see that being the best is related to the actions and deeds that benefit other people, being good to other people and helping other people; whether it is by spreading knowledge and making people closer to Allah (subhana wa ta’ala), or by being the best to our wives (spouses) to create a family of peace and goodness, rather than a family purely of justice.

Justice is important, but being the best is more than being just

Being the best entails giving from your rights, rewarding even if it may not deserved; because being the best is in actuality being good to Allah (subhana wa ta’ala),and He gives and rewards you even though you are not worthy of such and do not deserve anything!
Also, being good to your neighbors, not matter how they are with you, because you are doing it for the sake of Allah (subhana wa ta’ala).
Rasulullah ﷺ wanted a society and community of love and care, and as such Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) is giving you a door of ibadah that you have never even imagined:  being good to those whom you love, and being rewarded!  
This is the community that Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) wanted to be the Ummah of Khair!  All the good mentioned is for our fellow human beings, and when you do that good, others may even exchange you with good.
May Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) make us worthy of following Rasulullah ﷺ and may He make us from the Ummah of Rasulullah ﷺ.
Allahumma salli alaa Syedina Muhammad wa alaa Ahli Syedina Muhammad, fi kulli lamhatin wa nafasin ‘adada maa wa see-a-hu ‘il-muLLAH
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Shaykh Faid SaidShaykh Faid Mohammed Said is a jewel in the crown of traditional Islamic scholarship in the United Kingdom and we at SeekersHub are ever grateful for his friendship, guidance and support. He was born in Asmara, Eritrea, where he studied the holy Qur’an and its sciences, Arabic grammar and fiqh under the guidance of the Grand Judge of the Islamic Court in Asmara, Shaykh Abdul Kader Hamid and also under the Grand Mufti of Eritrea. He later went to study at Madinah University, from which he graduated with a first class honours degree. In Madinah, his teachers included Shaykh Atia Salem, Shaykh Mohamed Ayub (ex-imam of the Prophet’s Mosque, peace be upon him), Professor AbdulRaheem, Professor Yaqub Turkestani, Shaykh Dr Awad Sahli, Dr Aa’edh Al Harthy and many other great scholars. Shaykh Faid has ijaza in a number of disciplines including hadith, and a British higher education teaching qualification. He is currently the scholar in residence and head of education at Harrow Central Mosque, United Kingdom.
Read Shaykh Faid Mohammed Said’s articles on the SeekersHub blog.

Do A Random Act Of Kindness For A Stranger (30 Days, 30 Deeds), by Shaykh Muhammad Adeyinka Mendes

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Do A Random Act Of Kindness For A Stranger (30 Days, 30 Deeds), by Shaykh Muhammad Adeyinka Mendes

30 Days, 30 Deeds
Sacred Acts to Transform the Heart

Every night, our scholars in residence explore one simple deed that could have a far-reaching spiritual impact on our lives – and the lives of others. Every day we’ll make the intention to put that teaching into practice. Whether it’s forgiving someone who’s wronged us or putting service to others at the top of our list of priorities, these powerful lessons will remind us of the great gift the Prophet ﷺ‎  gave us: the best of character.

Daily at 8:10 pm EST. Attend in person at SeekersHub Toronto or watch live.

 

Let’s #GiveLight to Millions More

We envision a world in which no one is cut off from the beauty, mercy, and light of the Prophetic ﷺ example. A world where the dark ideology of a few is dwarfed by radiant example of the many who follow the way of the Prophet ﷺ. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support. This Ramadan, we need you to help us #GiveLight to millions more. Here’s how.

Mercy Over Machismo: The Prophetic Way, by Ustadh Amjad Tarsin

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:06 — 11.5MB)

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Mercy Over Machismo: The Prophetic Way, by Ustadh Amjad Tarsin

Capturing the Spirit of Ramadan
Mercy, Forgiveness, and Salvation

Every night our Ramadan scholars will explore one of the three key spiritual goals of Ramadan. Each talk will conclude with a dynamic conversation as we explore mercy, forgiveness and salvation deeply and see how we can attain these divine gifts practically. These talks will enliven and inspire us as we begin our nightly ‘isha and tarawih prayers.

Daily at 10:00 pm EST. Attend in person at SeekersHub Toronto or watch live. 

 

 

Let’s #GiveLight to Millions More

We envision a world in which no one is cut off from the beauty, mercy and light of the Prophetic ﷺ example. A world where the dark ideology of a few is dwarfed by radiant example of the many who follow the way of the Prophet ﷺ. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support. This Ramadan, we need you to help us #GiveLight to millions more. Here’s how.

Photo by apai biszign.

Allah Will Never Forget The Good We Do For Others

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Even the smallest good we do cannot bypass Allah’s all-encompassing knowledge, and we should feel infinitely hopeful and heartened by this, writes Shaykh Faid Mohammed Said.

“Allah Guides to His Light whom He Wills.”  (Surah An-Nur)

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
Allah Most High said in the Qur’an, in Surah Ahli-Imran (195):  “And their Lord responded to them, ‘Never will I allow to be lost the deeds of [anyone] among you, whether male or female…”
From the mercy of Allah Most High, is that He will never forget what we do.  Whatever we do for His sake raises our station with Him and it pleases Allah Most High; and the best way to please Him is by doing good by His creation.
Allah said at the end of Surah Al-Ankabut:  “And those who strive for Us – We will surely guide them to Our ways. And indeed, Allah is with the doers of good (muhsineen).”
The doers of good are those who not only do good, but also those who love, enjoy and perfect all that is good.
We say to ourselves and to those whom we love, “keep doing good and enjoy it.”  Gravitate from one good to the next.  Whatever you do for the creation of Allah Most High, you are in actuality, doing it for Allah Most High, as He said in a Hadith Qudsi:

I was sick, and you did not visit me, I was hungry and you do not feed me, and I was oppressed and you did not help Me.  They will say:  ‘How is that possible?’  So-and-so was sick and you did not visit them, so-and-so was hungry and you did not feed them, and so-and-so was oppressed and you did not help them!”

Thus, it is a great honor for us to do something for others, and this is how Allah Most High raises our station.
Allah Most High will never forget the good that you offered to someone, the anxiety of someone you helped to ease, the happiness you gave to someone who was broken and tearful, the smile you shone in someone’s face, and your accompaniment of someone lonely!
But, when you feel you cannot help, tell them how much you wish you could help them, and remind them of the One who can help them and Who is always watching them!
Let us live this life by the principle of spreading goodness (ihsan).  Even when we do not get goodness from people, let us still choose goodness, because Allah Most High loves the doers of good.
May your days and nights be those of goodness, and may Allah Most High facilitate for us His Divine Assistance to implement it in all that we do.
Shaykh Faid Mohammed Said
Scholar In Residence and Head Of Education
Harrow Central Mosque, United Kingdom
Interested in learning more about connecting with your Creator? Try enrolling in a free online course, such as The 40 Paths to Paradise: A Prophetic Road Map to Eternal Success. 

Resources for Seekers

Cover photo by Aladin Genius.

“Come, come, whoever you are” – Imam Khalid Latif on feeling estranged from the Muslim community

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Growing up, I didn’t really have a sense of ownership over my religion. To make matters worse, it seemed like I always was doing things that were wrong. There weren’t many that made me think I could be anything better and I felt quite low at times after interacting with some who made me feel I didn’t have a place to belong. The worst part about it all? I believed it. I believed every look of perceived condescension, I believed every murmur and whisper, I believed every glare and judgmental comment and never thought twice about it. It was easier not to. People who “looked” religious thought I was bad and I thought they must have known what they were talking about since they looked the part so well.

In retrospect, there were definitely people who treated me poorly. But I myself also played a role in how I felt by already presuming that I wouldn’t fit in and that people wouldn’t accept me.

It can be quite daunting to walk into a room where you either are different from everyone, or you believe you are different, you know no one, and you are also embarrassed that most of the people there have probably been there for years while you are still trying to figure out the basics. Where most people were in the wrong wasn’t because they were being jerks and making me feel like I shouldn’t have come. The only mistake that most made was not making a concerted effort to realize that there were people like me who were nervous being there and understanding that they could alleviate a lot of that fear just by smiling at me and saying welcome.

The Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Allah is kind and loves kindness and gives for gentleness what he does not give for harshness nor for anything else.”

The well-known Muslim poet Rumi wrote:

Come, come, whoever you are.
Wanderer, worshipper, lover of leaving — it doesn’t matter,
Ours is not a caravan of despair.
Come, even if you have broken your vow a hundred times,
Come, come again, come. ~ rumi

Not everyone knows everything about their faith, nor are they meant to. But everyone is entitled to being encouraged to do their very best. It’s simple things that keep us together. A kind word or smile can do a lot for someone who is just trying to figure out for themselves where they fit in and belong. It was the kindness of a couple of people that made me believe I could be more than what I thought of myself to be. Let’s start being the reason that someone feels like they can stick around, not the reason that they feel like they should never come back.

Imam Khalid LatifImam Khalid Latif is a University Chaplain for New York University, Executive Director of the Islamic Center at NYU, and a Chaplain for the NYPD. He is also the co-founder of Honest Chops, the first-ever all-natural/organic halal butcher in NYC, the Muslim Wedding Service, an agency specializing in providing charismatic and inspirational marriage officiants for wedding ceremonies.

 

Resources for Seekers:

Is There a Prophetic Supplication to Relieve My Hopelessness?
On Humility and being gentle with the believers
How Do You Know If Your Repentance is Sincere?
The Dowdy Muslim
The Door of Repentance and Return to Allah is Always Open
Having Hatred for a Sinful Person
Is Repentance Always Accepted?
My Husband Doesnt Pray: How Do I Advise Him?
Lesson on the Secrets of Seeking Repentance
Prayer of Repentance: Salat al-Tawba
Is Regret a Blessing from Allah?

Prophetic Guidance: On Forbearance, Patience and Kindness

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On forbearance, patience and kindness
From Imam Nawawi’s Riyad al-Salihin (‘Gardens of the Righteous’) tr. Ustadha Ayesha Bewley, chapter 74
Allah Almighty says, “those who control their rage and pardon other people. Allah loves the do good-doers,” (3:134) and the Almighty says, “Make allowances for people, command what is right, and turn away from the ignorant.” (7:199) The Almighty says, “Good action and bad action are not the same. Repel the bad with what is better and, if there is enmity between you and someone else, he will be like a bosom friend. None will obtain it but those who are truly steadfast. None will obtain it but those who have great good fortune.” (41:33-34; 41:34-35) The Almighty says, “But if someone is steadfast and forgives, that is the most resolute course to follow.” (W42:40; H42:43)
632. Ibn ‘Abbas reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said to Ashajj ‘Abdu’l-Qays, “You have two qualities which Allah loves: forbearance and steadiness.” [Muslim]
633. ‘A’isha reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “Allah is kind and loves kindness in every matter.” [Agreed upon]
634. ‘A’isha reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “Allah is kind and loves kindness and gives for gentleness what he does not give for harshness nor for anything else.” [Muslim]
635. ‘A’isha reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “Whenever kindness is in a thing it adorns it, and whenever it is removed from anything, it disfigures it.” [Muslim]
636. Abu Hurayra said, “A bedouin urinated in the mosque. The people moved towards him and the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, ‘Let him be and pour a bucket or pail of water onto his urine. You were sent to make things easy and not to make them difficult.'” [al-Bukhari]
637. Anas reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “Make things easy for people and do not make them difficult. Give good news to people and do not frighten them away.” [Agreed upon]
638. Jarir ibn ‘Abdullah said, “I heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, ‘Whoever is deprived of kindness is deprived of all good.'” [Muslim]
639. Abu Hurayra reported that a man said to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, “Advise me.” He said, “Do not get angry.” He repeated his request several times and the Prophet said, “Do not get angry.” [al-Bukhari]
640. Abu YaÕla Shaddad ibn Aws reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “Allah has prescribed good for everything. So when you kill, kill well. When you sacrifice, sacrifice well. Each of you should sharpen the edge of his knife and should calm down his sacrificial animal.” [Muslim]
641. ‘A’isha said, “The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was never given a choice between two matters without taking the easier of them, as long as it was not a wrong action. If it was a wrong action, he was the furthest of people from it. The Messenger of Allah did not take revenge for himself in respect of anything unless it violated the sanctity of Allah. Then he would take revenge for the sake of Allah Almighty.” [Agreed upon]
642. Ibn Mas’ud reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “Shall I tell you who is unlawful for the Fire – or the one for whom the Fire is unlawful? It is unlawful for everyone who is easy, flexible, modest and uncomplicated.” [at-Tirmidhi]