If you are going through a difficult time in your marriage, reflect over these 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀

• 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

((أَكْمَلُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِيمَانًا أَحْسَنُهُمْ خُلُقًا، وَخِيَارُكُمْ خِيَارُكُمْ لِنِسَائِهِمْ خُلُقًا)).

“The most complete of believers in faith are those with the best character, and the best of you are the best in behavior to their women.” [Sunan At-Tirmidhī (1162) authenticated by Sheikh Albāni]

The Reasons Which Cause Love of Allah

Ibnul-Qayyim رحمه الله said : “The reasons which cause mahabbah of Allāh to develop, are ten:

1. Reciting the Qur‘ān, reflecting and understanding its meaning and its intent.
2. Drawing closer to Allāh – the Most High – through optional deeds, after fulfilling the obligatory duties.
3. Being continuous in the dhikr (remembrance) of Allāh, with the tongue, the heart and the limbs – under all circumstances. The more constant the dhikr, the more mahabbah develops and intensifies.
4. Giving precedence to what Allāh loves over personal loves, when being overcome by desires.
5. Contemplating and deliberating over the Names and Attributes of Allāh.
6. Recognising and remembering the favours and bounties of Allāh – both the manifest and hidden.
7. To be humble and submissive before Allāh – and this is the greatest matter.
8. To be in seclusion reciting the Qur‘ān, during that time in which Allāh descends to the lowest heaven (which is the last third of every night), finishing this recitation with seeking Allāh’s forgiveness and repenting to Him.
9. To sit in the gatherings of true and sincere lovers of Allāh, reaping the fruits of their speech, and not to speak except if there is benefit in it and that you know that such talk will increase you in goodness and that it will benefits others as well.
10. To stay clear of all those causes which distances the heart from Allāh – the Mighty and Majestic.

The Best Creation

Sheikh Albāni raḥimahullāh said:

والإنسان كما نعلم جميعا مفضل على المخلوقات كلها، {وَلَقَدۡ كَرَّمۡنَا بَنِیۤ ءَادَمَ وَحَمَلۡنَـٰهُمۡ فِی ٱلۡبَرِّ وَٱلۡبَحۡرِ وَرَزَقۡنَـٰهُم مِّنَ ٱلطَّیِّبَـٰتِ وَفَضَّلۡنَـٰهُمۡ عَلَىٰ كَثِیرࣲ مِّمَّنۡ خَلَقۡنَا تَفۡضِیلࣰا

“Mankind, as we all know, is favoured over all of creation. [Allah Almighty said, in what is translated to mean] “Indeed, We have honoured the children of Ādam, carried them on land and sea, granted them good and lawful provisions, and privileged them far above many of Our creatures.” 
[Sūrah Al-Isrā' 70]

Differences between Athan and Iqamah

1. Adhaan is an announcement for the prayer entrance time, whereas the iqaamah is a notification for the commencement of the actual prayer
2. The words of the Adhaan are repeated twice, whereas the words of the iqaamah are uttered only once – with the exception of:
   قد قامت الصلاة
3. The Adhaan is pronounced in a slow and graceful manner, whereas the iqaamah is quicker
4. The Adhaan is announced very loudly, whereas the iqaamah is not as loud.
5. The Adhaan seeks to notify those who are absent from the masjid, whereas the main objective of the iqaamah is to notify those in and around the masjid.
6. One is recommended to repeat after the Muadhin, but not after the iqaamah
7. During Adhaan, it is recommended for the Muadhin to turn his neck to the left and right when saying the hay’alataan (*), but this is not the case for the iqaamah
8. There are recommended invocations to be said during and after the Adhaan, but this is not the case for the iqaamah

Testing, Affliction and Calamities – Dr. Saleh Al-Saleh

Al-Hamdulillaah (all praise is due to Allaah), the Most High, the One who said (in the translation of the meaning):

وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُم بِشَيْءٍ مِّنَ الْخَوْفِ وَالْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ الْأَمْوَالِ وَالْأَنفُسِ وَالثَّمَرَاتِ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ الصَّابِرِينَ
الَّذِينَ إِذَا أَصَابَتْهُم مُّصِيبَةٌ قَالُوا إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ
أُولَٰئِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ صَلَوَاتٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ وَرَحْمَةٌ ۖ وَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُهْتَدُونَ

And certainly, We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to the patient ones. Who, when afflicted with calamity, say: “Truly! To Allaah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return.” They are those on whom are the Salawat (i.e. who are blessed and will be forgiven) from their Lord, and (they are those who) receive His Mercy, and it is they who are the guided-ones.
Surah al-Baqarah (2:155-157)

May the salaah and salaam of Allaah be upon His Messenger Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم : sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), the one who was tried and tested in various ways and who was patient and persevered. And may Allaah’s (سبحانه و تعالى : subhannahu wa ta’ala) salaah and salaam be upon his household, the noble companions who also were also tested and tried, as well as upon the righteous predecessors and those who follow them in righteousness until the Day of Resurrection.

The Nature of Tests and Trials

It is clear that this life is filled with calamities, tests, and trials and that every believer will be subjected to many of these. Sometimes these trials are within himself, sometimes with his wealth and sometimes with his loved ones. These preordained trials and calamities, from the One who is All-Wise, will touch the believer in various ways and manners; if the believer does not have the correct view regarding the matter of testing, then he may err seriously, especially since some of the calamities are painful and profound.

Warning Against Talking about People’s Honour and Ghibah

Question : What is Ghibah? What is the ruling on transgressing against the honour of people? Is it permissible to sit with a person who backbites others?

Answer : Saying things about Muslims which they dislike is a major reprehensible matter in religion and is included in backbiting that is prohibited. It is regarded as a major sin according to Allaah’s Saying:

“And spy not, neither backbite one another. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would hate it (so hate backbiting). And fear Allâh. Verily, Allâh is the One Who forgives and accepts repentance, Most Merciful.”
[Surah Al-Hujurat, 49: 12]

Useful Advice on Raising Children

This is an excerpt from the Book of : Imâm Ibnul Qayyim al-Jawziyyah رحمه الله , a famous book called Tuhfat al-Mawdood bi Ahkaam al-Mawlood. One of the most important chapters of his book is the sixteenth chapter, which is entitled ‘Fi fusool naafi’ah fi Tarbiyat al-Atfaal tuhmad ‘awaaqibuha ‘ind al-Kabr’ (Useful advice on raising children which will have good consequences when the child grows up.)

Here is a summary of what Ibnul Qayyim رحمه الله said: