Lessons from Nuh (as)

The Messengers of Allah

 

'The Messenger believes in what has been revealed to him from his Lord, and so do the believers. They believe in Allah, His angels, His Books, and His messengers. (They proclaim) 'We make no distinction between any of His messengers.' And they say, 'We hear and obey. (We seek) Your forgiveness, our Lord! And to You (alone) is the final return.' (Al-Baqara 2: 286)

 

All the prophets who preceded Muhammad (pbuh) were sent with a message of warning and guidance to a particular people. None of their messages was intended to be universal, including that of Jesus [Isa (as)], who was commissioned by Allah specifically as a prophet to the Children of Israel, Israel being another name given to Jacob [Yaqub (as)], until there came the last law-bearing prophet and messenger, i.e. Muhammad (pbuh) who was entrusted with the final and complete set of Allah’s laws as guidance for the whole of humanity for all times to come. So, who were some of those prophets of Allah?

‘Trust Allah in Trials of Life’

 

Tarbiyyat Lessons- 23

 

‘The testing of a believer, male or female,

In respect to one’s person, children, and property

Will not cease until one meets Allah the Exalted

 Unburdened by any sin’ 

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‘When Allah wants good for a mortal

Allah hastens affliction in this world;

And when Allah wants ill for a mortal,

Allah leaves him be with his sin

Until his soul is taken

on the Day of Resurrection’

 

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‘Be mindful of Allah,

And you will find Allah in front of you.

Acknowledge Allah in ease,

And Allah will acknowledge you in distress.

And know that what misleads you 

will never enable you to do right,

And what enables you do right 

will never mislead you.

And know that help comes with patience,

And that relief comes with distress;

And that with difficulty comes ease.’

 

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‘Being Fair in Family Relations’

  

‘Truly many intimate partners/close associates transgress against one another, save those who believe and perform righteous deeds. And yet, how few are they!’ (Holy Qur’an, 38:25)

'The just will be on platforms of light in the presence of God; those who are just in their decisions, with their families, and with what they are in charge of.' --Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa). 

 

The structure of a Muslim family, in general, at the minimum, involves the husband and wife, their children and their parents. Within this basic social unit, the dynamics of family/household relations can test the best of men and women, especially when mother-in law and the daughter-in law in the family do not get along well. With different temperaments and inclinations, preferences and prejudices; conditions and circumstances emerge on aspects of everyday life whereby differences of opinion lead to conflictual positions.  If not handled with care with wisdom respecting the emotions of all involved in a fair way in quick time [before the hardening of feelings among the persons concerned]; inexorably and inevitably, the issues can lead to simmering tensions, even domestic abuse and violence. And when the discord becomes irreconcilable, the very breaking up of family relations ensue- as it happens these days with so many families in our societies.

An anecdote from early Muslim history suggests that during the time of the second caliph Hazrat Umar (ra), he apparently wrote to his governors saying: ‘Tell relatives to visit one another, and not to live next to one another.’ Commenting on Hazrat ‘Umar’s words, Imam Al-Ghazzali said:  ‘He said that because living next to one another may lead to conflicts and may lead to alienation and severing of ties.’ [Ihya’ ‘Uloom al-Deen (2/216)]. According to another saintly figure in Islam, ‘If you live further away from one another you will have greater love for one another.’ 

Tarbiyyat Lessons- 22

                         

       Every morning

Allah says:

One more time,

Live life, be kind;

Make a difference;

Touch one heart,

Encourage one mind,

Inspire one soul,

And bless everyone.

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Always Choose

To heal, not to hurt;

To forgive, not to despise;

To persevere, not to quit;

To smile, not to frown;

And to love, not to hate.

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