₦airaland Forum

QUALITIES OF A GUIDE
So when a worshipper desires to follow another person,then let him see:Is this person from the people of dhikr,or from the people who are negligent [about remembering Allah]? Does this person judge in accordance with his whims and desires or by the Revelation? So,if he judges by whims and desires then he is actually from those people who are negligent;those whose affairs have gone beyond bounds and whose deeds are lost.The term furat [which occurs in the above verse] has been explained in many ways.It has been explained to mean:-
(i) losing the rewards of that type of action which is essential to do and in which lies success and happiness;
(ii)exceeding the limits of something;
(iii) being destroyed;and
(iv)opposing the truth.
Each of these sayings are very close in meaning to each other.The point is that Allah - the One free from all imperfections, the Most High - has prohibited all those who possess such attributes.So it is absolutely essential that a person considers whether such attributes are found in his shaykh or the person who's example he follows or the person that he obeys.If they are,then he should distance himself from such a person.
However,if it is found that the person is in most cases,pre-occupied with the dhikr of Allah and with following the Sunnah and his affairs do not exceed the limits,but rather he is judicious and resolute in his affairs,then he should cling to him very firmly.Indeed,there is no difference between the living and the dead,except with the dhikr of Allah;since [the Prophet(pbuh) ] said:"The example of one who remembers Allah and someone who does not is like the example between the living and the dead." Related by al-Bukhaaree (11/208) and Muslim (1/539).


This is adapted From al-Istiqaamah magazine Shawwal 1418H/ February 1998

packaging: Hello guys!!!
FUTA post utme is out.... Pls check todays PUNCH news paper, page 65 for d full gist... Best wishes frnds!!!

Half gist: CBT date is JULY 18th 2013- JULY 19th 2013.... Pay 2k to any commercial bank nation wide using the e-tranzact platform.

THE FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, AKURE
(Office of the Registrar)
PUBLIC NOTICE
POST-UTME/ DIRECT ENTRY COMPUTER-BASED SCREENING
EXERCISE FOR UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSIONS FOR THE 2013/2014
ACADEMIC SESSION
All candidates, who made the Federal University of Technology,
Akure their first or/and second choice(s) most preferred institution
and obtained a minimum score of 200 in the 2013 Unified Tertiary
Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted by the Joint Admissions
and Matriculation Board (JAMB), are invited for a computer-based
screening exercise in the University from Thursday, 18th July, 2013
to Friday, 19th July, 2013.
Similarly, candidates, who made FUTA their first or/and second
choice(s) most preferred institution for the Direct Entry Admission
for the 2013/2014 Academic Session are invited for a computer-
based Pre-Admission screening exercise on Friday, 19th July, 2013.
`
The computer-based screening exercise will hold as scheduled
below:
Day/Date School Departments
Day 1
Thursday,
18th July, 2013
School of Eng. & Eng. Technology
School of Environmental Technology
School of Management Technology
School of Earth and Mineral Sciences
SEET: Agricultural Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical/ Electronic
Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Metallurgical and Materials
Engineering and Mining Engineering.
SET: Architecture, Building, Estate Management, Industrial Design,
Quantity Surveying, Surveying and Geoinformatics and Urban and
Regional Planning.
SMAT: Entrepreneurshi p, Project Management Technology and
Transport Management Technology.
SEMS: Applied Geology, Applied Geophysics, Meteorology, Marine
Science Technology and Remote Sensing and Geosciences
Information System.
Day 2
Friday,
19th July, 2013
School of Sciences
School of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology
Direct Entry
SOS: Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science,
Microbiology, Statistics, Mathematics and Physics.
SAAT: Agricultural Extension and Communication Technology,
Animal Production and Health, Agricultural and Resource
Economics, Crop Soil and Pest Management, Ecotourism and
Wildlife Management, Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology, Food
Science and Technology and Forestry and Wood Technology.
All Departments
Candidates are to come strictly according to their schedule that
would be obtained automatically (printed) from the internet after
their registration.
Registration Procedure
Each candidate is to make a payment of N2,000.00 (exclusive of
bank commission/ charges) at any commercial Bank nation-wide
using the e-tranzact platform.
Please note that the CANDIDATE’S UTME/DE Registration Number
and the full names should be correctly provided at the point of
payment.
After the payment, each candidate should visit the University’s
website ( www.futa.edu.ng) and complete an online Registration
Form. The completed Form which will indicate the exact date and
time for the screening exercise should be printed for the candidate’s
use. The registration exercise which will commence on Monday, 1st
July, 2013, will close at 12.00 midnight on Friday, 12th July, 2013.
1. All candidates are requested to bring along the following items to
the screening venue:
(i) Depositor’s copy of Bank Teller indicating payment of TWO
THOUSAND NAIRA (N2, 000.00) for Registration.
(ii) Print out of e-transact receipt (collected from the bank)
(iii) Completed Registration Form (downloaded from the FUTA
website)
(iv) JAMB UTME Notification of Results/JAMB Slips for Direct Entry
candidates.
2. The Venue of the Screening exercise is the Electronic Test Centre
(ETC) “Obakekere Campus” of the Federal University of Technology,
Akure.
3. Candidates are NOT allowed to bring cell phones or electronic
gadget(s) into the examination hall.
4. Any UTME/DE candidate who fails to present himself/ herself for
the computer-based screening exercise will NOT be considered for
admission.
5. Candidates are requested in their own interest to have a feel
(practice) of the computer-based test by visiting http://
test.jkketc.net
6. The under-listed helplines could be contacted for clarification on
issues bordering on the screening exercise or visit the University
website: www.futa.edu.ng. Helplines: 08034359976 and
08076767352
(SIGNED)
DR. (MRS.) M. O. AJAYI
REGISTRAR

sino: I think it's a good idea, a dedicated thread for the sisters, it may be named 'the sisters platform'

@deols,
The sisters are everywhere na, i opine that you start the thread as the amirah(yeah, it's official ), let it make front page, seek support from sisters, especially from the ttc thread on this section(i believe they are matured and experienced as well as knowledgeable), you may also pm sisters that have been active on this section, informing them about this special thread dedicated to them.
Brothers too can contribute, shearing useful info that are targeted at the sisters.

@mac&tbaba, una don start again abi? Personally, i saw mac's initial post as a joke(typical of him), heck, there ain't nothing wrong about a bro bringing up suggestions for sisters. So both of you should stop putting your feet on the letter P and see how we can better our lot jare.

Gbam!!! Gbam!!! Gbam!!!

sino: I think it's a good idea, a dedicated thread for the sisters, it may be named 'the sisters platform'

@deols,
The sisters are everywhere na, i opine that you start the thread as the amirah(yeah, it's official ), let it make front page, seek support from sisters, especially from the ttc thread on this section(i believe they are matured and experienced as well as knowledgeable), you may also pm sisters that have been active on this section, informing them about this special thread dedicated to them.
Brothers too can contribute, shearing useful info that are targeted at the sisters.

@mac&tbaba, una don start again abi? Personally, i saw mac's initial post as a joke(typical of him), heck, there ain't nothing wrong about a bro bringing up suggestions for sisters. So both of you should stop putting your feet on the letter P and see how we can better our lot jare.

Gbam!!! Gbam!!! Gbam!!!

POLISHING THE HEART
Abu Dardaa(may Allah be pleased with him) said:For everything there is a polish and the polish for the heart is the dhikr of Allah.
Al-Bayhaqee relates from Ibn 'Umar(may Allah be pleased with him) that Allah's Messenger(pbuh)said:For everything there is a polish,and the polish for the hearts is the dhikr (remembrance) of Allah. There is nothing more potent in saving a person from the punishment of Allah than the dhikr of Allah.It was said:''Not even Jihaad in the path of Allah.So he replied: "Not even if you were to continue striking with your sword until it breaks[Saheeh:Related by Ahmad (4/352)]

There is no doubt that heart becomes rusty just as copper and silver coins become rusty.The polish for [this rust]is the dhikr of Allah.This is because [dhikr] is like a polish [which polishes the heart] like a shiny mirror.When dhikr is left,the rust returns. But when dhikr resumes,then the heart is [again] polished.And hearts become rusty due to two things:-
(i)neglecting remembering Allah,and
(ii)committing sins.

The polish for these two things is:-
(i)seeking Allah's forgiveness and
(ii)dhikr.

CONFUSING TRUTH WITH FALSEHOOD

Whoever neglects [remembering Allah] most of the time,then his heart will become rusty in accordance with how neglectful the person is.And when this [filthy] rust accumulates on the heart,then it no longer recognises things as they really are.Thus,it views falsehood as if it is the truth and truth as if it is falsehood.This is because this rust darkens and confuses the heart's perception and so it is unable to truly recognise things for what they really are.So as the rust accumulates,the heart gets blackened and as this happens the heart becomes stained with this filthy rust and when this occurs it corrupts the heart's perception and recognition of things.
The heart [then] does not accept the truth nor does it reject falsehood and this is the greatest calamity that can strike the heart. Being neglectful [of dhikr] and following of whims and desires is a direct consequence of such a heart,which [further] extinguish the heart's light and blinds its vision.

Allah(swt) says in the glorious Quran;And do not obey him whose heart We have made to be neglectful of Our remembrance, one who follows his own whims and desires and whose affairs are furat [have gone beyond bounds and whose deeds have been lost].[Surah Al-Kahf 18:28].

Allah-the Most High said:
O you who believe!Remember Allah and remember Him a lot.[Surah Al-Ahzaab 33:4I].
Those men and women who remember Allah a lot.[Surah Al-Ahzaab 33:35].
So when you have finished the rights of your Pilgrimage,then remember Allah as you remember your fore-father,or with more intense remembrance." [Surah Al-Baqarah 2:200].

These verses contain a command to remember Allah intensely and abundantly, since the worshipper is in dire need of Dhikr [remembering Allah]and cannot do without it even for a twinkling of an eye.This is because every moment that a person does not spend in the dhikr (remembrance)of Allah will not be of any benefit to him. Rather,the harm entailed in being neglectful of the dhikr of Allah is far greater than any benefits that can be gained.
One of the aarifeen (those who are knowledgeable about Allah) said:"If a person were to spend such and such number of years engaged [in the dhikr of Allah],then he turns away from it for just a moment,what he will lose is far greater than whatever he has already gained."

Al-Bayhaqee relates from Aishah(may Allah be pleased with her) that the Prophet(pbuh)said:There is no time in which the son of Adam does not remember Allah in it, except that it will be a source of regret for him on the Day of Judgement
Mu'aadh ibn jabal(may Allah be pleased with him)relates that the Prophet(pbuh)said:The people of Paradise will not have any regrets except for those moments in which they were not engaged in the dhikr(remembrance) of Allah.

Mu'aadh ibn Jabal also relates that Allah's Messenger(pbuh)was asked:What action is the most beloved to Allah? So he replied:That you continue to keep your tongue moist with the dhikr of Allah,until you die.

Ameen,may Allah protects us from the fitnah of end times

Be Consistent
Apart from all the habits listed above, perhaps the one that is sure to help you become a highly successful Muslim youth is that of being consistent.One cannot be truthful one day and a liar the next;one cannot be trustworthy in one instance and totally unreliable in the next;and so on for each of the other habits.A Muslim understands from an early age that it is easier to do something once or whenever we feel like it but much harder to do something regularly and consistently.
Indeed,the Mother of the Believers Aishah(may Allah be pleased with her)narrates that "the most beloved action to Allah's Apostle was that which is done continuously and regularly(Sahih Bukhari, Book #76,Hadith #469).
Regular and consist actions show that a person has thought about it,has intended to do it,has planned to do it and therefore does it.It's very important to be as consistent as possible,especially in those areas of your life which we need constant improvement,such as prayers,fasting,manners,studying habits etc.
Do not say,I am going to pray all day every day,or fast voluntarily all of the days of every month,or study all night every night, because such actions cannot be humanly sustained over a long period of time.Say on the other hand,I am going to be sure to read at least one part of the Quran every day or I will strive to help my parents with at least one household chore every day or I will try to study at least one new item every week so that I can be ahead of the lesson plan.

Finally,Muslims should aspire to develop all of these habits because in doing so,we draw nearer to Allah Most High.

Have Self-Restraint and Be God-Conscious
Perhaps the most difficult challenge while navigating adolescence is to restrain oneself from falling victim to one's desires —especially one's lower desires.Our success in life depends to a great extent on how well we are able to restrain ourselves and to be moderate in what is permissible,as well as how capable we are of distancing ourselves from what is impermissible.Why is self-restraint so critical?
Satan's goal is to make you a slave of your desires to the extent that you eat until you are actually uncomfortable;that you consume without restraint beverages made of caffeine,sugar and alcoholic drinks;that you find yourself longing for sleep more than prayer;and that you yearn to satisfy your sexual desires.Developing self-restraint as a habit entails making self-restraint your second nature—something which is done almost without thought, without too much effort.We are reminded by Allah,the Most High in the glorious Quran in surah Fusilat 41:5-
And no one will be granted such goodness except those who exercise patience and self-restraint,—none but persons of the greatest good fortune. In seeking to be highly successful Muslim youth that is,youth deserving of the greatest fortune,it is imperative that you develop self-restraint.
How awesome will it be if you can look back at your life and say to yourself,all praise is due to Allah that I did not succumb to my lower desires and instead exercised self- restraint consistently!

Be Punctual
Stop saying over and over again that you are late because of "Muslim standard time," or the "standard time" of your particular ethnicity.The last thing we should attribute to Islam is the notion that its teachings somehow make us late,slow,slugging and anything but punctual.What a sad state of affairs,indeed that we attribute our own weaknesses to our religion or ethnicity! Highly successful individuals,be they Muslim or not understand and appreciate the value of not only their time but the time of everyone else with whom they interact.Keeping people waiting for hours on end is neither something to be proud of nor a habit that has a place in the mindset of a person who tries to be successful.One of the central pillars of Islam is prayer and Allah and the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him)have given us clear reminders that we are to establish prayers at their due times.
When Abdullah(may Allah be pleased with him)asked "which deed is the dearest to Allah?" the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) replied, "To offer the prayers at their early stated fixed times" (Sahih Bukhari,Book #10,Hadith #505).
If indeed your day is to be considered successful,you must have prayed all the obligatory prayers at their established times and as many voluntary prayers as possible.If your day is planned around the times of prayer,you should not pray exactly at the time when you are to pray but then come late to all other appointments.Being punctual is a habit which,when perfected, demonstrates to others the tremendous value that Islam places on time—not only ours but that of everyone else with whom we interact.

Be Focused
One thousand ideas go through your head the moment you stand up for prayer.Is that you? Really? What do you make of those ideas? Do you process them? What about when you are sitting in class? Do you find your mind wandering,daydreaming and unable to focus on the lecture at hand? Are you likely to use any excuse whatsoever to leave what you are doing?
Developing the habit of being focused ensures that you are awake,alert and totally motivated to work on and complete the task at hand,whatever it may be.Among the best ways to develop focus is to practice praying with deep concentration to the extent that you are almost unaware of your surroundings.Allah(swt)tells us in the glorious Quran that the
believers are-those who humble themselves in their prayers] (Surah Al-Mu'minun 23:2)
The humility referred to here results from total focus and concentration on the fact that one is in the presence of Allah, standing before Him,Most High.Do your best to develop focus,no matter what activity you are engaged in — whether in prayer,in academics,in athletics, or some other pastime.

Be Thorough
Look around your room.How many unfinished projects do you have? When you work on assignments,are you likely to rush through the assignment just so you can be done with it or are you more likely to take your time,to check your work and most importantly,to be thorough?
Often Lecturers or teachers will grade a report based on how well and to what extent the student covered the topic at hand.Being thorough is not a habit that is developed overnight.The opposite of being thorough is being incomplete,being rushed, and working in haste without any regard for accuracy or quality.The most perfect is Allah Most High,Who perfected creation, Who perfected our religion and Who guided His Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him)to be the most perfect among humans in behavior and in character.
We read in the Muwatta of Imam Malik "Yahya related to me from Malik that he had heard that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, 'I was sent to perfect good character'" (Book #47, Hadith #47.1..
To be thorough stems from a desire to be perfect to the extent that this is humanly possible.Seeking perfection in our actions and speech from an early age helps us to develop a keen eye,not only for thoroughness in our own life,but also for thoroughness in the lives of those around us.Being thorough in prayer,for example teaches us to be patient and to concentrate upon the words we are reciting and the different positions of the prayer.

Be Trustworthy
Who do you rely on? Of course,Allah(swt). He is indeed the Most Trustworthy.But among humans,who do you rely on? Who can you trust to come through for you all the time? Do people rely on you? Are you considered trustworthy? Moving ahead in life,achieving ultimate success requires that people consider you trustworthy and reliable.Being trustworthy should not be an arbitrary activity but rather a habit so that you can be relied upon in all instances,big or small,convenient or inconvenient,easy or difficult.When we say Allah(swt)is the Most Trustworthy,we are coming to terms with the fact that Allah(swt) will never let us down,will never leave our side.He,the Most High says about someone who willingly accepts Islam in surah Al-Baqarah 2:256
Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from error:whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold, that never breaks.And Allah Heareth and Knoweth all things

Indeed,the prophets of Allah(peace be upon them all)were all trustworthy people and Allah attested to the trustworthiness of those who were doubted by their communities.Prophet Hud,appealing to his community declared to them in surah Al-Araf 7:68 -I but fulfill towards you the duties of my Lord's mission:I am to you a sincere and trustworthy adviser. Practice daily developing the habit of being trustworthy.Accept responsibility and then fulfill it.When others trust you, do not betray their trust.
The beautiful biography of our Prophet Muhammad(peace and blessings be upon him)also gave us an insight of how people used to entrust him with their valuables, knowing that upon their return they would find their valuables safe and unharmed.His personal and business practices were commendable to the degree that he was known for it in his community,even before he became aware that he was the Prophet of Allah,literally one who is most truthful and trustworthy.

If you are alive and breathing,you should constantly be engaged in an inner struggle to develop habits which draw you closer to Allah,the Most High.Success in this world is directly related to the strength of your relationship with Allah.The farther one is from Allah and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad(peace and blessings be upon him),the less likely one is to achieve success in this world and for sure,even less likely to achieve success in the hereafter.Is it not time for us to reflect upon Islamic teachings to discern the necessary habits of highly successful Muslim youth?
Here are at least seven habits indispensable for highly successful Muslim youth,derived entirely from the glorious Quran and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad(peace and blessings be upon him).

Be Truthful
Being truthful is not always easy,especially when we make a mistake.We fret over whether or not to disclose exactly what happened.We sweat,we are afraid,we feel nervous and anxious.We are often afraid that if we tell the truth about what we have done or said,we will be in trouble with our parents or friends.What we forget is that whether we tell the truth or not,Allah,the Most High knows exactly what took place, even those things that were never manifest or visible to people around us.Despite how burdensome telling the truth might seem, all of us are aware of the feeling of relief we experience when we tell the truth,even if the consequence of telling the truth is punishment.Casting the telling of truth and the fate of the truthful in terms of profit and loss,Allah the Most High tells us in the Quran in surah Al-Maidah 5:119-
This is a day on which the truthful will profit from their truth:theirs are gardens, with rivers flowing beneath—their eternal Home:Allah well-pleased with them and they with Allah.That is the great salvation, (the fulfillment of all desires).

So much is to be gained from being truthful as opposed to escaping punishment or blame because of not being truthful.Not being truthful,in fact, leads us down a slippery slope,guaranteeing that with one lie,more lies must be told.Being truthful is not an option for Muslims,but rather an obligation because our goal in being truthful is Paradise.The beloved Prophet Muhammad(peace and blessings be upon him)said as narrated by
Abdullah(may Allah be pleased with him),Truthfulness leads to righteousness and righteousness leads to Paradise.And a man keeps on telling the truth until he becomes a truthful person.Falsehood leads to al-fujur [wickedness,evil- doing]and al-fujur leads to the (Hell) Fire and a man may keep on telling lies till he is witten before Allah as a liar.(Sahih Bukhari,Book #73,Hadith #116)
Ultimate success is therefore achieved by living one's entire life—the youthful years, the adult years,and the elderly years — being truthful.

We say for the Sake of Allah because we know our goal is to live by it as it serves as a constant reminder that Allah(swt) is the All-Aware,the only One in charge and that legislation belongs solely to Him.We strive to live by it as we are taught in the verse, “Say:Indeed,my prayer,my rites of sacrifice,my living and my dying are for Allah,Lord of the worlds.’” (Surah Al-Anam 6:162)
No hesitation whatsoever;complete and automatic submission.There is a simple yet profound equation from a scholar that can help us get a better grasp of what it means to live your life for His Sake.When dealing with Allah(swt) remove people from the equation and when dealing with people remove yourself from the equation. Every day should be spent aiming to please Allah and not the people,for living a life for His Sake means embodying that in the state of worship you are in and the deeds you put forth and strive for.When you deal with people,you understand that you are dealing with the creation of your Lord so you give them the best and prefer them over yourself,whether it is through noble manners and character,standing up for justice and the oppressed amongst this world,giving in charity etc.You remove any malice,jealousy,apathy,anger,insincerity and other negative emotions for His Sake because you truly recognize the dignity of your created brethren through your Creator.

You are now an individual with a purpose—seeing the world through a different lens. You have a mission to be living,doing and speaking only for His Sake.In that,you have truly become independent.In other words, realizing that your independence comes from being dependent on Him as opposed to your own nafs or this world and what it contains.

Thus,for the one with a purpose who has a vision and understands their mission,the outlook in this world changes.This dunya (this life)becomes a place of opportunities and a place to accumulate wealth(in the form of good deeds)for the hereafter.Every trial they come across in this world becomes an opportunity to be patient and content.Every blessing they’re given and witness around them becomes a means of being thankful and humble.Every temptation they struggle against they see it for what it is;a mirage meant to deceive and entrap their soul.

Adapted from Sheik Ismahan Abdullah's Lecture

When we utter that beloved phrase,we are going beyond mere intonations of the voice to matters of the heart.When those words escape our lips,our hearts should tremble in recognition of the full depth of its meaning. They should flourish as words spoken of love for Him into willingness and eagerness to obey.We say those words with Allah(swt)in our hearts and minds.We say those words recognizing the Omnipotent King and Creator of all the worlds.This changes our lifestyle and allows us to be men and women of God.It increases our God-consciousness and constantly reminds us that our souls are in His Hands and the time of return is dawning upon us from every corner.The adhan(call to prayer) has been called for us at the time of our birth and its prayer,our janazah(funeral prayer) is ever close.To utter these words is to pledge again and again that we are servants of Ar-Rahman(the Most Compassionate) and our deeds and actions will be the proof of the pledge we have made.Allah(swt) promises us that His Promises are true and never will He disappoint anyone.Wouldn’t it be a terrible loss if it was us who broke the pledge we made with Him,missing out on His Pleasure and jannah (paradise)?
Allah(swt)mentions in Surah Muhammad 47:19-'So know[O Muhammad],that there is no deity except Allah…''.Allah(swt)uses the word “know” as opposed to “say”.To know something,you have to comprehend it and Allah(swt) commands us to know that none has the right to be worshipped but Him.To know Allah is your Lord and the only One worthy of being worshipped gives you a sense of peace,guidance and urgency to action in your life.Who amongst us then know the depth of the phrase for the Sake of Allah?
The one who knows what it truly signifies will start to live a life of true submission. When they are wronged they can forgive easily for His Sake.When they spend in charity,they do so readily.When Allah (swt) commands them to veer away from a sin or action,they do so without a second thought.When they see the state of their society, they become truely committed Islamic workers who benefit their community. There is no longer a struggle when it comes to the halal and the haram or the commandments of the Creator;it becomes automatic submission to His Will-We hear and we obey.

There was a time when words spoken were binding contracts;pledges held and honored,where an individual would act as a testimony to his character.Speech was not just words of folly,but rather true and honest communication between individuals.Often times,we utter words heedlessly without realizing the impact it has on our hearts and in our lives,failing to comprehend the weight of what we have just spoken.We tend to abuse or misuse certain words as we throw them around,to the point where we use such words and phrases without truly understanding their meaning and the inner state of being that should come with it.Amongst these words and phrases is FOR THE SAKE OF ALLAH(LIL LAH TA`ALA).
Allah(swt)mentions in Surat As-Saf 61:2-3,“O you who have believed,why do you say what you do not do? Great is hatred in the sight of Allah that you say what you do not do.”.SubhanAllah.Let us ponder these verses for a moment.Typically,we may associate these verses with individuals who promise to do something but do not follow through,or lie in saying they have done something when they have not. However,we tend to forget that Allah(swt) addresses all of us when He says,“O you who have believed.”[/b]This is an admonition and a reminder for the believer which is of great benefit.Thus,when we say the words [b]for the Sake of Allah,can our hearts and actions testify that we have truly acted for His Sake?

When we hear the words for the sake of Allah,how do we understand and interpret them? Do they even affect us? When we realize the power and depth of that phrase,it becomes the coolness of our eyes and nafs(soul).Our perception of life and the world around us changes to such a degree that you will strive to embody the lifestyle of the Prophets,the martyrs,the truthful ones and all those who follow in righteousness.We may know our true purpose is to worship Allah(swt)as He states in Surah Al-Qaf and Surah Ad-Dhariyat;however,how many of us can truly say we try to live our lives for His Sake?

NL member: I see, in other words you don't even know if what you're saying is true, you have to wait till the day of judgement to find out? Ok, go ahead and wait. Peace

No need wasting my time replying you again.....Peace

NL member: Yes I'll do that, especially since my perspective is the truth

Allah said in the glorious Quran in surah Ta-ha 20:135-''Say:Each one is waiting,so wait you too and you shall know who are they that are on the straight and even path and who are they that have let themselves be guided''.
So let's wait till the Day Allah will settle the dispute.....Peace

NL member: Yea, peace to you too.

I think it's really sad, the way hell is so horrible and yet allah made it hard to attain paradise. Really sad....

Keep to your perspective.....Peace

NL member: Ok I understand your answer.
Allah wants us to find it difficult to worship him that's why he made it hard to attain paradise after making it easy initially.

I don't think there's a way I can explain better than this.The purpose of life is worship.....Peace

NL member: Why are you angry? Is it wrong for me to want to help you escape oppression?

Anyway enough of that, I'll stick to the topic now.

What do you mean by oppression?

NL member: But common man, they have to have light skin for their skins to be transparent. Have you ever seen something that is dark and transparent at the same time?

Firstly,can you even see through a white girl? These Houris aren't of offsprings of Adam(pbuh).....Peace

NL member: I appreciate your answer lanre but I don't think you understood my question. let me ask in another way;

I understood your question.

Does Allah want it to be difficult for us to attain paradise?

Your question is like asking me why is it difficult to become a successful medical doctor? Almost 8years,studying,reading and doing a lot of practicals.Like I said,this material world is a test for the hereafter and you will have to work hard to achieve First class.Success don't come by easily,you will have to work harder towards it.

or why did he make it difficult after initially making it easy?

Allah said in the glorious Quran that if he had willed,he could have the whole of mankind as one nation submiting to his will.But He wants to use this world to test mankind how good they are in respect of their deeds.

and then create satan knowing fully well that satan will lead many astray.

I have explained to you that it's only the people that choose to follow the footsteps of satan.Allah said in surah An-Nahl 16:99-100-''Verily,he(satan) has no power over those who believed and put their trust only in their Lord(Allah).His power is only over those who obey and follow him(satan) and those who join partners with Him(Allah i.e. Those who are disbelievers,polytheists and deniers of oneness of Allah)''.
It's only the people who choose to follow satan and I think I have explained that....Peace

NL member: Also the Koranic verses describing houris usually say that houris are so fair of skin that their bone marrows are visible through their skins

I have explained the meaning of fair to you bro.The places where Houris are mentioned in the Quran[surah Al-Saffat 37:48-49,surah Al-Dukhan 44;54,surah Al-Rahman 55:58,surah Al-Waqiyah 56:22-23,surah At-Tur 52:20]described them as FAIR FEMALES.I don't see fair of skin there......Peace

NL member: This is a Tirmidhi hadith that provides the physical descriptions of the houris and the hadith says they are 'white'.
A houri is a most beautiful young woman with a transparent body. The marrow of her bones is visible like the interior lines of pearls and rubies. She looks like red wine in a white glass. She is of white color, and free from the routine physical disabilities of an ordinary woman such as menstruation, menopause, urinal and offal discharge, child bearing and the related pollution. A houri is a girl of tender age, having large breasts which are round (pointed), and not inclined to dangle. Houris dwell in palaces of splendid surroundings.
—Al-Tirmidhi, Jami` at-Tirmidhi

I need the hadith number please......Peace

basilico: A difficult question to muslims. What and who is an abed(i) in Arabic? A dark skinned slave? A black african member of the Ummah?

I haven't heard about Abed in Arabic,there's Abd which means a slave.....Peace

NL member: First of all, salam to you all, I mean no offense to anyone but I have read the description of the muslim paradise and it seems to me that there aren't going to be any black or dark skinned women in paradise. The women of paradise are described as having fair skins, in one verse they are said to have skins so fair that their bone marrows are visible through them.

There is absolutely no mention of dark skinned women in the quran.

Is dark skin not a desireable quality in Islam? I know that at that time in Arabia, beauty in women was likened to having fair skin but I wouldn't expect that racist preference to extend to a paradise designed by allah so verses like this look a bit odd;

“Verily the God-fearing shall be in a secure place amidst gardens and springs. Attired in silk and brocade, they shall be arrayed face to face. Thus shall it be: and We shall espouse them to fair, wide-eyed maidens. “ (ad Dukhan/The Smoke:51-54

Is the quran systematically saying dark skinned women are ugly and undesireable or why aren't there black women in paradise?

Firstly,the creation Allah(swt) was talking about are QASIRATUL TARF.They aren't creations from Adam(pbuh),their creation is entirely different from that of the offsprings of Adam(pbuh).

Secondly,what gave you the assurance that the Fair used in surah Al-Dukhan means light complexion?
Fair has many meanings.As defined by Collins Dictionary,Fair means beautiful or lovely to look at,umblemished untainted.So Allah(swt)isn't talking about complexion in that surah.

Lastly,Islam is against racism.Allah said in the glorious Quran in surah Al-Hujurat 49;13-''O mankind!We have created you from a single pair of male and female and made you into tribes and nations,that you may know one another(not to depise another).Verily,the best among you in the sight of Allah is the one with Taqwa(righteous,piety,self-restraint).Allah is all-knowing,Well-Acquainted''......Peace

Avoid Sinful Environments
When Allah forbade Adam from one particular tree,He did not say,do not eat from this tree” but rather,“do not come close to this tree.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:35)
We must therefore distance ourselves from anything that may lead to committing sin.

Keep Good Companionship
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) advised, “A person is on the path of his close friend,so be careful whom you befriend.” (Tirmitdhi)
The company you keep strongly influences your decisions and actions.Good companions will remind you about Allah and encourage you to do good,whereas bad company will lead you into the arms of Satan.

Do Good Deeds
Keeping busy with religious deeds, especially prayer is an excellent means of defeating Satan.If one occupies their time with good,they are less likely to be influenced by Satan’s tricks.
And if an evil suggestion comes to you from Satan then seek refuge in Allah. Indeed,He is Hearing and Knowing.(Surah Al-Araf 7:200)

We ask Allah the Almighty,by His most beautiful Names and sublime Attributes,to forgive our sins and grant us refuge from the traps of Satan(Amin)......Peace

How to Defeat Satan
Indeed,Satan is an enemy to you;so take him as an enemy...(Surah Fatir 35:6)
The first step is to recognise Satan as our enemy:if you know your enemy,you can defeat him.Satan’s power consists principally in his ability to deceive,so we need to understand his cunning tactics and approach,in order to better protect ourselves.

Seek Help with Allah
To ask Allah for His protection and to rely on Him alone for help is a tool in defeating Satan.Surah Al-Falaq and An-Nas of the Quran may be used to regularly seek protection from Satan and we should recite them.We must realise that as long as we are alive,Satan will never give up attempting to mislead us.We must always be on our guard and constantly ask Allah for guidance and protection.

Seek Forgiveness
The Prophet (peace be upon him)said,“He who repents from sin is like one without sin.(Ibn Majah)
If we succumb to Satan’s plots,by the Grace and Mercy of Allah we still have the opportunity to rectify our mistakes by acknowledging our wrongdoings and repenting to Allah.The Prophet (peace be upon him) said,
“Satan said to the Lord of Glory,‘By Your Glory O Lord,I will keep trying to misguide Your slaves so long as their souls are in their bodies.The Lord said,By My Glory and Majesty,I will continue to forgive them so long as they ask My forgiveness.(Ahmad)
For repentance to be accepted,it must be sincere,with the intention of never committing that same sin again.

*smiling,see how confused people can be.*,It's a waste of time replying these trinitarians because they won't agree to your explanations.I have explained this to desika before,but he's adamant and won't yield to your ways.Stopping wasting your time with him.....Peace

Interesting,May Allah reward you for this.

Beautifying Evil Deeds
“...And Satan made attractive to them that which they were doing.” Surah Al-Anam 6:43)
Satan presents sins to people in a favourable light,such as how he deceived Adam and Eve into eating from the tree. Satan whispered to Adam,saying,
‘O Adam!Shall I lead you to the Tree of Eternity and to a kingdom that will never waste away?’ (Surah Ta-ha 20:120)
‘Your Lord did not forbid you this tree except that you become angels or become of the immortal..Indeed, I am to you from among the sincere advisors.So he made them fall,through deception.And when they tasted of the tree… their Lord called to them,Did I not forbid you from that tree and tell you that Satan is to you a clear enemy? (Surah Al-Araf 7:20-22)

Although Adam was surrounded by many permissible foods,Satan convinced him to eat from the tree which was forbidden. Similarly,Satan tricks people into forbidden acts instead of those which are permitted, such as fornication over marriage,music over the Quran,haram income over halal, and into the small percentage of prohibited food and drink over the vast majority that is wholesome and pure.

Arousing Desires
Satan promises them and arouses desire in them.But Satan does not promise them except delusion.”(Surah An-Nisa 4:120) Every human has desires and temptations. Satan plays on this and convinces man to indulge in instant gratification without considering the consequences.This inevitably leads to regret and humiliation, either in this life or on the Day of Judgement.

Wasting Time
If Satan cannot trap someone into sinning, he keeps them busy with trivial acts which have no benefit.Instead of using our time wisely,fulfilling our priorities and reaching high goals,Satan occupies us with useless actions.
Next is how to defeat Satan

Disbelief in the Oneness of God
The foundation of Islam is the belief in the Oneness of God -having no partner,equal, son or rivals.Conversely,the greatest sin in Islam is to ascribe partners or equals with Allah.Examples include:
^ Directing worship to other than God (e.g. prostrating or supplicating to other than God).
^ Delegating some of God’s attributes to other objects or beings (e.g. idols/lucky charms).
^ Claiming that God has a son, mother or any other partner.Thus,tempting mankind into disbelief is Satan’s main focus.

However,if Satan cannot mislead people to commit clear acts of disbelief,he resorts to more subtle means,such as the belief in superstitions,good luck charms,astrology and fortune telling.Such beliefs contradict the fact that Allah(swt)alone has power and knowledge over all things,and is the Only One Who can bring benefit or harm.

Innovation in the Religion
“...I have perfected for you your religion...(Surah Al-Maidah 5:3)
Satan will lure a person to invent wrong beliefs and practices into Islam which were neither ordained by God nor the Prophet Muhammad(peace be upon him).In fact,the belief that Islam is incomplete or imperfectly revealed by God,thus requiring innovation is considered disbelief;because it is a rejection of what Allah has revealed. Many innovations are implemented with the same meticulous care as a religious observance and viewed as being just as significant as what God revealed.Herein lays danger,as the people who follow innovations believe their acts are accepted, although in reality they are committing a sin.These innovators will feel no need for repentance,as they do not recognise their wrong doing.

Neglecting Obligatory Deeds
“...Indeed,prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing...” (Surah Al-Ankabout 29:45)
Satan wants to “...avert you from the remembrance of Allah and from prayer.” (Surah Al-Maidah 5:91)
Allah has made certain actions obligatory on every Muslim,the most regular of which is the five daily prayers.Therefore,Satan seeks to make us neglectful of prayers so that we fall further into sin.

Gradual Deception
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) explained to us how idol worship originated,which highlights the gradual and patient approach of Satan.After a group of righteous people died,Satan inspired those around them to erect statues in their honour and as reminder of their righteousness.When that generation passed away and the people had forgotten why the statues were erected,Satan deceived them into believing that their forefathers used to worship them,and that through them,the rains were brought forth. People then began worshipping these statues.This gradual deception is used in many ways.For example,Satan tricks people into committing forbidden sexual acts:it begins with a look,which leads to a thought,then a smile,then a seemingly innocent conversation,then seclusion and eventually,the sin itself.Similarly,in desiring to make people cease their obligatory religious acts,Satan initially convinces people to give up their optional acts of worship,which leads them to become lazy with the obligatory ones.He also tries to trivialise small sins,which eventually leads them down a slippery slope to major sins.