NATIONALISM IN ISLAM

Assalamualaikum Warahamatuallahi Wabarakaatuhu!

There is no nationalism in Islam. There are some people who claim to be super proud Pakistanis or super proud Indians or super proud Saudis to the extent that they start hating other nationalities and start feeling superior and start abusing or degrading people of other nations. This is strictly forbidden in Islam and this is the way of absolute ignorance. This is exactly what is happening in America, India, Pakistan and many other European countries where people from different countries are looked down upon as if they were a piece of scum. Only in the name of nationalism or racism.  Especially when it comes to Indians and Pakistanis, Israelis and Palestinians, the hate and disrespect for each other is appalling. Ofcourse this doesn't apply to everyone. It would be unjust to label everyone as racists but let's just say, it's pretty common all over the world.
I personally never really cared to be an Indian, all I care about is my identity as a Muslim. Yes, I am happy to be an Indian but this never made me feel superior or made myself to be divided from my other fellow humans in the name of Nationalism. May Allah keep us steadfast. 
The Prophet Sallalahu alaihi wa sallam said, “He who promotes nationalism is not one of us, neither the one who fights for the sake of nationalism, nor the one who is passionate for nationalism.” [Sahih Muslim]
Islam teaches us to be united because of our faith and to not be divided because of our nationalities. Such partisanship divides Muslims, while Allah commands us to unite, and help one another in causes of good deeds and righteousness, and He forbids division and discord.
This is the true teaching of Islam, to be untied and to eradicate old practices of ignorance from our current affairs and affairs to come. Be loving and kind to other people and welcome other nationalities with open arms.
This is why when millions of people from different parts of the world come to do Hajj and Umrah, we see that there is no distinction between an Arab and a non-Arab, all are muslims and one! 

جزاكم الله خيرا كثيرا for reading! 

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Thank you for reading.

Please feel free to send me the link of your blogs and comment below if you have similar views.

- Manal Mirza

DON'T BE JEALOUS OF ONE ANOTHER

Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakaatuhu!

Abu Hurairah [RAA) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

“Avoid jealousy between yourselves, do not outbid one another (with a view to raising the price), do not harbor hatred against one another, do not bear enmity against one another, one of you should not enter into a transaction when the other has already entered into it; and be fellow brothers and slaves of Allah. A Muslim is a Muslim’s brother. He does not wrong, desert or despise him. Piety is found here (pointing three times to his chest), despising his Muslim brother is enough evil for any man to do. Every Muslim’s blood, property and honor are unlawful to be violated by another Muslim.” Related by Muslim.

وَعَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-{ لَا تَحَاسَدُوا وَلَا تَنَاجَشُوا, وَلَا تَبَاغَضُوا, وَلَا تَدَابَرُوا, وَلَا يَبِعْ بَعْضُكُمْ عَلَى بَيْعِ بَعْضٍ, وَكُونُوا عِبَادَ اَللَّهِ إِخْوَانًا, اَلْمُسْلِمُ أَخُو اَلْمُسْلِمِ, لَا يَظْلِمُهُ, وَلَا يَخْذُلُهُ, وَلَا يَحْقِرُهُ, اَلتَّقْوَى هَا هُنَا, وَيُشِيرُ إِلَى صَدْرِهِ ثَلَاثَ مِرَارٍ, بِحَسْبِ اِمْرِئٍ مِنْ اَلشَّرِّ أَنْ يَحْقِرَ أَخَاهُ اَلْمُسْلِمَ, كُلُّ اَلْمُسْلِمِ عَلَى اَلْمُسْلِمِ حَرَامٌ, دَمُهُ, وَمَالُهُ, وَعِرْضُهُ } أَخْرَجَهُ مُسْلِمٌ.‏ (1959)‏ .‏

‏1 ‏- صحيح.‏ رواه مسلم (2564)‏.‏

 Book 16, Hadith 1539 

Jealousy is very common these days. Jealousy is so common that people have now started working their ways into satisfying their jealousy to the extent that others get hurt or have serious issues. Jealousy is also happening especially when there is a rapid rise of media outlet where everyone is sharing everything and every bit of their lives online. This leads to people envying each other and wishing and desiring for things that others have and feeling bad that they don't have it like good food, beautiful partners, makeup, shoes, accessories, bodies etc! This leads to the extremely dangerous jealousy where the person starts to wish bad upon the person he/she is jealous of. One starts cursing them which is very bad and unacceptable!
The worst thing is when women see other women they are friends with or even related to, and start hating them for it internally. And men get jealous when they see other men having better cars, jobs, wives than themselves. This is a disease. A big disease!! Not only the person who is jealous gets restless, the people who he/she is jealous off also suffers big time, either due to evil eye, or secretly plotted disaster like black magic or simply slandering, calumny or dishonoring.

“Beware of jealousy, for verily it destroys good deeds the way fire destroys wood.” (Abu Dawood)

To be jealous of another person is itself dangerous. It burns off your good deeds slowly but surely.

Why should one be jealous? We must be happy for other's blessings. We should not wish bad upon them or assume that they don't deserve it. It is Allah's Decree that He wishes to provide for someone with whatever Provision He wills. We have no right to unnecessarily interfere into other's businesses or lives to see how they live and why they live and that they don't deserve it. Be happy and most importantly, we all should be GRATEFUL! Say Alhumdulillah that we have a lot of things to be grateful off like our husbands, our families, our children, our houses, our jobs, our lives, our iman and everything basically! We need to accept of what we have been given and what others have been given and being happy for everyone in the end. 

[Also don't be that type of person who purposefully makes others jealous by showing off and what not. Don't do that. Please.]

When we envy others and ask questions or point fingers or start talking about that particular person, we need to ask ourselves, is that really any of my concern? Does this really benefit me? Do I need to talk about it? Is it really worth it? When you know it's not, you'll stop and it only takes a little practice to process and perfect this thought and action. Just avoid that thought, just avoid talking or matter of fact, just thinking about that person. Just practice that and see you feeling light. Jealousy is a negative trait and thought, and getting relieved of it is very liberating. 

Remember that not everyone has a perfect life. You must be deluded by the outward appearances or outward leisure of other people but it's not always the case. No one is happy all the time, what they show to you might not be what they really are in private. We need to see the overall picture and not always get carried away with the glitters and amusement of others' lives. Look at the lives of the famous celebrities and youtubers, how they always keep crying and keep complaining of discontentment! They got everything, but are they really happy? What do you really like from them? Their happiness or their fame? They ain't got happy lives all the times. What you can do for yourself is pray for your betterment and to work hard to get what you want in life! Be busy. The more you are free you will find yourself occupied in these petty little issues which are so very insignificant. 

So remember there is always something better and good that YOU have and you only need to acknowledge it and be grateful for it and to never compare your life with others'. It's not worth it. In fact, before building up the feelings of jealousy remember that jealousy is a SIN and committing this sin robs you of your good deeds. 

Just remember this beautiful and thoughtful advice from our Prophet sallalahu alaihi wasallam


Narrated Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him):

Allah’s Apostle (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said, “Beware of suspicion, for suspicion is the worst of false tales and do not look for the others’ faults, and do not do spying on one another, and do not practice Najsh, and do not be jealous of one another and do not hate one another, and do not desert (stop talking to) one another. And O, Allah’s worshipers! Be brothers!”

Muslim :: Book 32 : Hadith 6218

Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) as saying: “Don’t bear aversion against one another and don’t be jealous of one another and be servants of Allah.”

At-Tirmidhee narrated from al-Zubayr Ibn al-Awam (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: “There has come to you the disease of the nations before you, jealousy and hatred. This is the ‘shaver’ (destroyer); I do not say that it shaves hair, but that it shaves (destroys) faith…” [(Hasan) Jamee at-Tirmidhee (2434)]

جزاكم الله خيرا كثيرا for reading! 

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- Manal Mirza

BACK WITH A POWERFUL IMPLEMENTING HADITH

Assalamualaikum Warahmatuallahi Wabarakaatuhu!!

It's been long since a posted anything on my blog. And, there are many reasons for that like for instance I was having my final exams, moving my house, having my holidays begun, having my sister over from Canada, getting into Ramadan with my brother here and traveling by road to places we never went and now, teaching Summer Islamic course!

I know it's a lot but now here I am, coming back to set my mind back into perspective, trying my best to think for the positive outcome and bringing back the hope of benefiting others I had when I first began this blog. in sha Allah!

We can start over by this wonderful hadith that I came across today, and if we all tried to implement on this hadith then we would achieve a lot in this dunya and aakhirah. 




Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (PBUH) said, "1. He who removes from a believer one of his difficulties of this world, Allah will remove one of his troubles on the Day of Resurrection; and 2. he who finds relief for a hard-pressed person, Allah will make things easy for him on the Day of Resurrection; 3. he who covers up (the faults and sins) of a Muslim, Allah will cover up (his faults and sins) in this world and in the Hereafter. 4. Allah supports His slave as long as the slave is supportive of his brother; and 5. he who treads the path in search of knowledge, Allah makes that path easy, leading to Jannah for him; 6. the people who assemble in one of the houses of Allah, reciting the Book of Allah, learning it and teaching, there descends upon them the tranquillity, and mercy covers them, the angels flock around them, and Allah mentions them in the presence of those near Him; and 7. he who lags behind in doing good deeds, his noble lineage will not make him go ahead.'' [Muslim]

These are some of the things we all must hurry ourselves into implementing. This is one of the greatest hadiths that teaches us about brotherhood, removing harm from others, acquiring knowledge and removing ignorance, to teach others and help others in times of difficulty and to not deceive them in any way. 

I hope this hadith brings some change in our behaviors and actions bi idhnillah!

Pray for my khair and consistency. 

جزاكم الله خيرا كثيرا for reading! 
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 Please feel free to send me the link of your blogs and comment below if you have similar views. 

- Manal Mirza

HALAL IS CLEAR AND HARAM IS CLEAR

Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakaatuhu

This hadith is added to the collection of Arbaeen Nawawi by Imam An Nawawi at the sixth rank from the sequential order. 

On the authority of an-Nu’man ibn Basheer (ra), who said:
I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say, “That which is lawful is clear and that which is unlawful is clear, and between the two of them are doubtful matters about which many people do not know. Thus he who avoids doubtful matters clears himself in regard to his religion and his honor, but he who falls into doubtful matters [eventually] falls into that which is unlawful, like the shepherd who pastures around a sanctuary, all but grazing therein. Truly every king has a sanctuary, and truly Allah’s sanctuary is His prohibitions. Truly in the body there is a morsel of flesh, which, if it be whole, all the body is whole, and which, if it is diseased, all of [the body] is diseased. Truly, it is the heart.” [Bukhari & Muslim]

عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ النُّعْمَانِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا، قَالَ: سَمِعْت رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه و سلم يَقُولُ: "إنَّ الْحَلَالَ بَيِّنٌ، وَإِنَّ الْحَرَامَ بَيِّنٌ، وَبَيْنَهُمَا أُمُورٌ مُشْتَبِهَاتٌ لَا يَعْلَمُهُنَّ كَثِيرٌ مِنْ النَّاسِ، فَمَنْ اتَّقَى الشُّبُهَاتِ فَقْد اسْتَبْرَأَ لِدِينِهِ وَعِرْضِهِ، وَمَنْ وَقَعَ فِي الشُّبُهَاتِ وَقَعَ فِي الْحَرَامِ، كَالرَّاعِي يَرْعَى حَوْلَ الْحِمَى يُوشِكُ أَنْ يَرْتَعَ فِيهِ، أَلَا وَإِنَّ لِكُلِّ مَلِكٍ حِمًى، أَلَا وَإِنَّ حِمَى اللَّهِ مَحَارِمُهُ، أَلَا وَإِنَّ فِي الْجَسَدِ مُضْغَةً إذَا صَلَحَتْ صَلَحَ الْجَسَدُ كُلُّهُ، وَإذَا فَسَدَتْ فَسَدَ الْجَسَدُ كُلُّهُ، أَلَا وَهِيَ الْقَلْبُ".
[رَوَاهُ الْبُخَارِيُّ]، [وَمُسْلِمٌ].

Reference : 40 Hadith Nawawi 6 

If you really want to understand this hadith, you will need to read it word by word and understand what it really means. Comprehending is not that difficult, it's quite simple, it's we who read ahadiths really quickly and jumping to conclusions. 

In Islam, halal and haram has been clearly defined to us and what falls into halal and what falls into haram has also been clearly stated to us Muslims in the Qur'an and sunnah of Rasool sallalahu alaihi wa sallam.  But what is in between these two are ambiguous, obscured and unclear matters that haven't been made clear to us and the rulings of which we don't know, and they are the 'doubtful matters' or 'grey matters'. We are asked to stay away from these grey area as these cause doubts or suspicions in our heart as to whether they are right or wrong. This is where we are tested, what we really do on the grey matters. Do we stay away from them or go near it? That's the real test.


And we know we are asked to stay from anything that is doubtful or suspicious lest it puts us in a calamity. If you are in a prayer and you suddenly get a doubt of whether you have broken your wudhoo or not. You will eradicate this doubt because you won't break your salat on the basis of a doubt. Your salat will be broken if you heard a sound or smelled something or felt something. It is broken on the basis of daleel; Proof.  

The sins are like a private sanctuary, it's like a border of caution and beyond that comprises the area of sins, the area of prohibitions. It's like a big sign in front of that sanctuary, NO ENTRY, NO TRESPASSING. And whoever dares to go inside has committed a felony, he has committed haram. And whoever goes NEAR that border of sign is usually tempted to go inside that trespassing border of sins.  This place of temptation is the Grey area, Ambiguous, unclear matters which we don't know.  


And we are asked to stay away from the grey area and we need to stay close to the halal as much as possible. Stay near the border of halal and lawful things which you can do without having any doubt.

A person who stays close to the grey area usually falls into the haram activities. For example, a woman is used to bleaching her eyebrows so that she can get a nice shape of it because she thinks plucking is only what is stated as haram in the Hadith and not bleaching, or trimming them, so she does it thinking she is doing halal, but what she is exactly fallen into is the grey matter, ambiguous, unclear matter. She is in the temptation border, which is very close to the haram. This is the doubtful matter which we are asked to stay away from because if we fell into it we will also fall into haram matters.  We will start doing what is haram as well that is plucking them and shaping them.

We need to protect ourselves by staying in the halal border.  We usually satisfy ourselves by going near the haram things without actually doing it, then we complain about how we never did anything but the haram just happened. Just like when girls or boys make friends of opposite gender, think that 'we can totally stay friends', (remember they are in the temptation border by being just friends) and sooner or later they will fall into haram by either falling in love, or start dating. Or sometimes the men say the first glance at the women is allowed and he fools himself by this and keeps staring at her just at the first glance, and therefore, he is in this grey area. And what do you think will happen to him after falling into this grey area? He will definitely fall into the haram. 

What is the benefit of staying away from the grey area?? 

He will save his religion and honor. He will save that! And he surely does save them!

Remember the grey areas are the slippery areas, if you walk on it, you will definitely slip in the black area of Haram!

This hadith is such a clear way of living of life as a Muslim. If ever you have any doubt regarding any matter, first clear that matter and if you don't find a solution to that matter, stay away from the obscurity.  Guard yourself and then you will find yourself much close to halal than haram.  In sha Allah!

May Allah grant us the straight path for steadfastness. Ameen!

جزاكم الله خيرا كثيرا for reading! Ask me anything regarding this  topic heree 

Thank you for reading. 

Please feel free to send me the link of your blogs and comment below if you have similar views. 

- Manal Mirza

PROBLEM IN TODAY'S YOUTH

Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakaatuhu!!!

Most of the times when the question of straightening our Ummah comes, the consideration of straightening the youth comes at least once. This is one of the most least talked about topics of this generation… The truth behind this can come from the greatest scholars who’ve written books on these issues or from somebody who is striving against these problems as youth too. According to what I have experienced and what I have come across the problem of the youth under lies in many paths of the road of this world and enjoyment.

FRIENDS: The biggest issue that any practicing muslimah or any muslimah in general would face is through her friends. As the famous hadith goes, you are on your friend’s deen. This is exactly how many of the youngsters have failed to come out off. Whatever the friend does, you do. Whatever language your friend speaks, You speak. Your friend curses, You swear double. Your friend hangs out with boys, so do you.

Abu Huraira reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “A man is upon the religion of his best friend, so let one of you look at whom he befriends.” [Source: Sunan Abu Dawud 483 Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to An-Nawawi]

Of course there is an exception to this, not many are like this. But majority are. Unfortunately, the fitna of friends is very easy to fall in, and coming out from it is only by leaving that company itself. For the sake of Allah!

MATERIALISM: Many of the youth have become so materialistic that they think they will only feel contended if they buy a little something or eat a little something. Without that iPhone not many are happy, without that Anastasia Beverly hills liquid lipstick many are not happy. Without those shoes or dress they will look ugly or they won’t fit in. Hoarding things that majority of the crowd is hoarding has become a major disease that our ummah is being engulfed into. It’s a sad reality and many are working to lead such a life. They are earning more of the dunya. When was the last time a youth had an intention to earn to give sadaqah? To spend in an Islamic or beneficial education? To give it to parents? To spend it on relatives?

FOOD: Food is also a form of materialism. When you eat or consume something that is junk all the time or dining out all the time, you are spending way more money than you would normally spend if you were to cook at home and eat. Not only are our youth eating way too much they are spending way too much. What you consume is what you are. If you are eating what pleases you all the time you are satiating your stomach with your desires, and when you fulfill your desires you get used to that life and you are less immune into facing changes or hardships in life. When was the last time, if you as a youth had to eat food you didn’t like, didn’t become angry or irritated? We have revolved our lives so much around food that the moment we wake up, we think of what we will eat, where we will eat and with whom we will eat. This is a disease and we think it is a way of life. We should only eat what is necessary and not eat till everything becomes a calamity for us to do.

SELF-OBSESSION: Not only girls but even guys are facing self-obsession due to media outlets and it is very saddening. The high demand in the makeup world is one of the biggest causes of self-obsession in girls and it is the collecting of money and showing it off in guys. Extreme immodesty has increased in our ummah, there is no shame in doing anything. Where there is no shame, then one can do anything as they will, and this is what is happening, the youth are doing anything they want. Exceptional love and admiration in oneself is way different than being confident and Islam has not liked the behavior of a narcissist self-obsessing humans. It is one of the diseases of heart and it needs to be cured by removing the root cause or replacing it with humility.

 MUSIC: The fact that many don’t consider music to be prohibited and sinful, is a sin in itself. And only a countable number of youth don’t listen to music. May Allah accept from them. Listening of music is happening even in practicing households and every single girl and boy are listening to filthy music. It’s like a habit. It’s a routine. Parents are not stopping the kids from listening to music let alone supervise what kind of music is being heard. One has to remove this illness from the heart because Music is considered to be the whisperings of the shaitaan, and the heart where music lies is a place of darkness. Just refer to this link https://islamqa.info/en/5000 for more information on music being haram and listening to it is sinful.

Taking care of our youth is our responsibility and with responsibility comes great consistency. When these root causes are removed, naturally a normal teenager would be praying five times a day, understanding Qur’an, lowering gaze, doing hijab, staying away from haram and enjoying life within the halal boundaries and being grateful for every single thing. In sha Allah!!

May Allah guide us all and reward us for striving against these fitnas. Ameen! :D

جزاكم الله خيرا كثيرا for reading!

Ask me anything regarding this topic here. Thank you for reading.

Please feel free to send me the link of your blogs and comment below if you have similar views.

-Manal Mirza

CAN I GUIDE OTHERS?

Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakaatuhu

"Perhaps, [O Muhammad], you would kill yourself with grief that they will not be believers.

If We willed, We could send down to them from the sky a sign for which their necks would remain humbled.

And no revelation comes to them anew from the Most Merciful except that they turn away from it.

For they have already denied, but there will come to them the news of that which they used to ridicule.

Did they not look at the earth - how much We have produced therein from every noble kind?

Indeed in that is a sign, but most of them were not to be believers." [ Surah Ash-Shuára:2-8]

These ayats are very comforting when you feel something like how Rasool Sallalahu alaihi wasallam felt...

Every once in a while you get this jerk of life that hits you to remind you that you can't guide anybody to what''s the truth. You cannot change the hearts of anybody. You can't put others in your place and position to know what you know or to feel what you feel.

It's only Allah alone Who Guides and can change the heart of the person who is really looking for a change.


Many times I have found myself in the situation where bringing people closer to Islam is only by feeding words into their ears and then simultaneously praying for them. It works wonders. But this needs to be a consistent act with a lot of patience.


What hasn't normally worked was the constant nagging and making others understand what you know and how you feel the iman in yourself that others don't and won't feel. You can't force anybody to do a certain thing when they don't have the iman at that point of their lives to do an act of deed. 

What needs to be done is strengthening the basic core of Islam first, that is knowing Allah and getting to know the Prophet Sallalahu alaihi wasallam. Teaching them the basics of Islam that is the aqeeda of Laa ilaha illallah and the pillars of iman and pillars of Islam. When these cores are strengthened only then the fruitful act of good deeds will be produced.
You don't have to ask them to pray yet. They should pray on their own after they've learned the meaning of their Kalima tayyiba. Maybe asking them to pray can be done when they are at their very emotional and rough phases of their lives, so they can turn to Allah and pour in all their sorrows to Him. But someone who already knows about the real importance of Prayer should be reminded constantly and everytime of the day. 

Ilm is the basic and the most important thing that we all need to learn. It is fard upon every muslim to learn the main and basic ilm of Islam. 

Our main concern is to bring people close to Islam at least by making them stay away from the major sins like Shirk, biddat, disobeying parents, zina, riba, drinking alcohol etc. That way Allah keeps having mercy upon them, keeps guiding them and makes the path of Jannah easy for them. in sha Allah!

And it's not that easy to be honest. Not every one you meet is going to be a hard core practicing muslim. I mean we all have flaws but not everyone is going to pray five times a day or not listen to music or don't have a bf or gf. Not everyone you find or meet out there does the right things all the time.

Main thing to remember is that you are not pious and nor were you pious when you knew nothing about Islam. You were just like them. Humble yourself. Thank Allah for guiding you.
You also need to remember how would you have wanted others to approach to you when you were in the times of jahaalat and gaflat.
When bringing others close to Islam, you need to purify your intentions on what you are doing and why you are doing it and for whom you are doing it and proceed with the best of your patience. 

Guide People to Islam through what was was sent as a guidance; through the Qurán and the Sunnah. Use these guides as a means for guiding others and see how Allah guides them; if He wills. 

Learn to accept that you can never guide anyone. You are only their to deliver a message and forbid the evil and command the good. Make duwa for your family, relatives, friends and the muslim ummah, and after that your work is done...

May Allah guide us to the straight path. Ameen!

This might not be a very beneficial post but this is something that many of us need to feel relieved about. These ayats are comforting and makes you feel that Allah is the ultimate GUIDE. He guides Whom He shall will and unto Him is our final return. We are there to be good muslims and help others in the same journey as us.  :D

جزاكم الله خيرا كثيرا for reading! Ask me anything regarding this topic here at http://ask.fm/manalmirza23 

Thank you for reading. 

Please feel free to send me the link of your blogs and comment below if you have similar views. 

- Manal Mirza

Wandering Your Eyes in Salah?

Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakaatuhu!

How heedless are we in our prayers? Let's take a look at Surah Al Ma'un and see what Allah has talked about people who pray.

Surah Al Ma'un

So woe to those who pray 

                     [But] who are heedless of their prayer -

Allah has woed and cursed those who pray but with heedlessness. In tafsir As Sa'di, Saahun is defined as those who DELAY their prayers and leave it to their last hours. Neglecting the proper time of prayer is considered as Saahun. 
Allah isn't cursing the one do not pray but He curses those who PRAY but pray with heedlessness. How Scary is that! May Allah not make us from amongst them. Ameen!

In one of the most authentic tafaaseers, Ibn Kathir, it is mentioned on the authority of Ibn Abbas Radiallahu Anhu that,"This means the hypocrites who pray in public but do not pray in private." [At Tabari 24:632] Meaning these people only pray when others are praying along with him otherwise he never prays when he is alone. He only prays to please people or to impress them.

Saaahun has also been defined as to not fulfill the pillars of Salah properly that is the proper wudhoo, proper posture, the humility and contemplation of its meanings. 


Usually, we don't have the Khushoo and Khudhoo in our prayers because of the distractions around us, or doing something before the salat which could really occupy our minds, or maybe because we simply don't know the meanings of what we are reciting in our prayers. 

The Messenger of Allah (P.B.U.H) said: “The worst thief is the one who steals from his own prayer.” People asked: ‘Messenger of Allah! How could one steal from his own prayer?’ He said: “By not completing its rukoo and sujood” [at-Tabarani]

The Prophet (P.B.U.H) said: “He who does not complete his rukoo and sujood, his prayer is void” [Abu Dawood]

The answer is simple to that. When we want to gain consciousness and humility in our prayers we need to remove and avoid all those things which occupy us before we perform our prayers. It's basically what kind of life we are living. If we have been living a life of entertainment, you will find yourself in the thoughts of movies or some scenes from what you last saw. If your life is busy from working, then your salah might be engrossed on what you have to do next after salah. If your life is involved with lots of socializing then you will find yourself in thoughts of people and what they spoke to you or when you'll speak to them again. These are mere distractions and nothing else and this is nothing but the tricks and planning of shaitaan. Hence, we need to balance our lives and live a moderate life. 

“The Prophet (P.B.U.H) used to pause after each verse of Surah al-Fatiha. [Abu Dawood]

Sometimes, we also need to memorize the translation of the surahs we are reciting in our prayers, memorize the meaning of the tasbeeh we do in ruku' and in sujood. Be slow and relaxed in performing your salat, Do not be in a hurry, do every step of posture with contentment. Do not speed up your ruku' and sajdah. Repeat the tasbeeh at least 5-7 times and with concentration and understanding. Forget the dunya for five to ten minutes. Start with a clean intention. Humility should be in the heart not by bending your head and neck in qiyaam or tashahhud. It is the bending of the eyes on the sujood and sticking it over there and that shows true humility and discipline. 


The Messenger of Allah Sallalahu alaihi wasallam said, "This is the prayer of the hypocrite, this is the prayer of hypocrite, this is the hypocrite. He sits watching the sun until it is between the two horns of Shaytaan. Then he stands and pecks four raka'ats and he does not remember Allah in them except a little." [Fata Al Bari 6:386] 

SubhanaAllah! How scary is that! Are our Prayers filled with remembrance of Allah or are we doing a favor unto Allah and doing tasleem and rushing away from Allah? We really need to focus on improving our prayers!

One of the other signs of Gaflat [heedlessness] is wandering your eyes here and there. And this is sooo common! Wallahi I have seen 5 in 20 people looking here and there in their prayers. I have seen a woman bending down, picking up a cup and a bottle of water, pouring water in the cup and drinking it IN the PRAYER! I am not exaggerating! Believe me, many people do not know how important attention and activeness is in the Salat. They just consider standing in the prayer and reciting whatever they are as enough! But let us not forget again. Allah has CURSED those who pray with heedlessness. Woe means to be removed from Allah's mercy.

“Let those who raise their gaze up during prayer stop doing so, or else their sights would not return to them” (i.e. they will lose their eyesight) [Muslim]

Narrated Anas bin Malik: The Prophet said, "What is wrong with those people who look towards the sky during the prayer?" His talk grew stern while delivering this speech and he said, "They should stop (looking towards the sky during the prayer); otherwise their eye-sight would be taken away." SAHIH AL_BUKHARI [Book 1 : Volume 12 : Hadith 717]

Another common mistake we make is in our sajdah. Some women think that the prayer of a woman and man is different and hence they stick their elbows, stomach and thighs to the ground as if they are lying down in the sajdah. But I have never heard any sound hadith from them to back up their belief. Yes there should be a little shyness, the lowering of the back and body but that's it. 

The Prophet (P.B.U.H) said: “I am commanded to prostrate on seven bones, the forehead and the nose [1], the two hands [palms 2], the two knees [2], and the two feet[2]” [Sahih Muslim]

(prostrate on seven bones means that these seven bones should touch the ground & nothing other than that because that is the proper sunnah)

Let us all take heed from this post and try to improve our prayers slowly but surely.

May Allah grant us the ability to focus on our prayers, may He accept our Salahs, may He forgive us for our heedlessness! Ameen ya Rabbil A'lameen!!

جزاكم الله خيرا كثيرا 

Ask me anything regarding this topic here. Thank you for reading. Please feel free to send me the link of your blogs and comment below if you have similar views.

-Manal Mirza

| Deed 5 of day 5 | Ramadan series

Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakaatuhu

Alhumdulillah it's almost a week now since Ramadan has passed.

The deed of today is to try to do something productive throughout your day, that normally looks a normal routine task but it could be an act of worship once you change your niyyah to do that act just for the sake of Allah. 

Verily every action is judged by its intention.

Few actions for us girls could be to make iftar for the entire family, not just because you have to but because you want to make Allah happy and please Him by helping your family members. See how that became a simple act of worship? Help your mom to please Allah and to return the favours back to your mother. Speak good words to your father in a low polite tone not because you are controlling yourself from anger but because you want to make Allah happy by respecting your father.

Forgives your sibling's shortcoming not because you want to feel relieved and light but because you want Allah to forgive you as well.

Simple!  Isn't it?

Alhumdulillah, this will make your entire day free from expectations from any body and it will make you do ample of good deeds and worship in sha Allah. :) :)
JazakumuaAllah khairan for reading

-Manal Mirza

| Deed 4 of day 4 | Ramadan series

Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakaatuhu

The deed that I really want to acquire this Ramadan is in sha Allah to fast my tongue just as much I fast myself from food, water and all the halal things. 

Tongue is one of the biggest paths that could lead us to heaven or hell. And I am afraid we speak useless and futile more than we speak beneficial and rewarding.  So in sha Allah, we will try to moist ours tongues with the remembrance of Allah and also with the recitation of the Qur'an and earn lots of ajar through our tongues. 

May Allah grant us the strength and tawfeeq to control our tongues and also our behavior throughout the entire year.  Ameen

JazakumuaAllah khairan for reading

-Manal Mirza

| Deed 3 of day 3 | Ramadan series

Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakaatuhu
I am sorry I didn't post earlier for yesterday's day three deed.

Deed of the day for day 3 would be something that we would want to apply in our daily lives and not only in Ramadan.  It is to wake up from your sleep to pray tahajjud after you've woken up.  Pray at least two rak'ats and seek forgiveness from Allah. Thank Him for all the blessings that He bestowed you with.  Ask anything you want from him. 

This is a deed we need to do daily.  And in the month of Ramadan rather than being awake all the time, sleep a little and then wake up again for tahajjud, then do your suhoor. 
Always keep doing astagfar at the time of suhoor.  Don't indulge in useless talks. Allah listens at that time to whatever we ask.

On the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

Our Lord‬ (glorified and exalted be He) descends each night to the earth's sky when there remains the final third of the night, and He says:

Who is saying a prayer to Me that I may answer it? 
Who is asking something of Me that I may give it him? 
Who is asking forgiveness of Me that I may forgive him?

It was related by al-‪Bukhari‬ (also by ‪Muslim‬, Malik, at-Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud). In a version by Muslim the Hadith ends with the words: And thus He continues till [the light of] dawn shines.
(From 40 Ahadith Qudsi)

Rabbana taqabbal Allahu minna wa minkum.

-Manal Mirza

| Deed 2 of day 2 | Ramadan series

Assalamualaikum

Today I will share with you a common good deed that we can practice this month of Ramadan so that we can continue this great habit even after Ramadan.
I'm sure all of us must be regular in their five daily prayers and from that the most regular must be the Fajr prayer. Since Fajr is the prayer that comes after we do our suhoor and very few of us sleep at that time.  [I have good hopes from my Rasool's (sallalahu alaihi wa sallam) ummah.]
So coming to the point, the great habit which we can add into our list of good deeds is to read Qur'an after Fajr.

"Establish prayer at the decline of the sun [from its meridian] until the darkness of the night and [also] the Qur'an of dawn. Indeed, the recitation of dawn is ever witnessed." (Surah Al Isra-78)

The recitation of the Qur'an after fajr is witnessed!! SubhanaAllah! From the last post of mine I mentioned how we must keep on doing dhikr, read Qur'an after fajr until sunset at our muscular, and now this deed, they both are similar. You won't have to try that harder now.  In sha Allah you will gain reward simultaneously for doing two things at once.  Two good deeds at once and rewards are multiplied. In sha Allah

May Allah grant us the tawfeeq to establish these simple acts of worship. Ameen

Remember me in your duwas. 

Rabbana taqabbal minna wa minkum.

-Manal Mirza

| Deed 1 of day 1 | Ramadan series

Assalamualaikum

A simple reward one can do this Ramadan is as followed below:

1. Involving oneself in dhikr and azkaar until sunrise.

Prophet ﷺ said “Whoever prays Fajr in congregation then sits remembering Allaah until the sun rises, then prays two rak’ahs, will have a reward like that of Hajj and ‘Umrah, complete, complete, complete.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi (586).

Shaykh Abdul Azeez bin Baaz (may Allah have mercy on him) said,

“If a woman prays in her Musalla, then after Fajr remembers Allah by dhikr or reading the Quran until sunup, then offers two Rakah she gets the reward mentioned in the hadeeth.”

(Majmoo’ Fatawa vol 11)

Alhumdulillah! Let's race in doing good deeds. Bi iznillah!!!

Kullu aam wa antum bi khair.

RAMADAN MUBARAK!!!
Remember the entire Muslim Ummah in your prayers. 

-Manal Mirza

P.s: in sha Allah I'll try to post everyday about one good deed we can do this Ramadan. Remember me in your duwas for my isteqaamat

DO YOU HAVE THE QUALITY OR SIGN OF A HYPOCRITE?

 Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakaatuhu

This post is just to make us all aware of what the qualities of a hypocrite are and how we need to stay away from these qualities in order to be saved from the extreme harsh punishment in aakhirat. 

“There are four (characteristics), whoever has all of them is a complete hypocrite, and whoever has some of them has some element of hypocrisy, unless he gives it up: when he speaks, he lies; when he makes a treaty, he betrays it; when he makes a promise, he breaks it; when he quarrels, he resorts to insults.”(Narrated by Muslim, 53) 

“Verily, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depth (grade) of the Fire”[al-Nisaa’ 4:145]

1. They lie whenever they speak.

2. They make promises with no intention in fulfilling it and later break it to escape from the commitment.

3. They break the trust when they are entrusted with it.

4. They do not spend in the way of Allah and also stop others from spending or doing any good deed. 

5. They do not pray Fajr and Isha.

6. They avoid and dislike masjids and even if they do go, they go when the prayer is about to finish.

7. They become transgressive, violent and abusive in disputes. 

8. They speak a lot and say what they will do but when the time comes when their need is required, they flee from it secretly.

9. They don't do salam properly because they are actually cursing.

10. He eats from the stolen and steals from the war of booty. 

11. He sleeps a lot and is heedless about Fajr and Isha and gets up to pray with laziness.

12. They care a lot about physical appearance and having a beautiful speech but their hearts are hollow and shallow filled with jealousy, malice and hatred. 

13. They are double faced. They are camouflaged in whichever environment or majlis they go.  They are different in different majlis according to others just to blend in.

14. They worry a lot about what people might say or think. Hence, they do everything just to please people and gain their acceptance.

15. If you ask them to seek forgiveness from Allah, they turn away in arrogance not accepting their mistake.
16. Whenever they hear an alarm for seizing the cheaters, they become scared and traumatized in fear of getting caught of their mischief.
17. They prefer worldly life over the life of the aakhirat. Their process of mind is based from the knowledge of the worldly perspective. 
18. They are extremely negative and are always criticizing in every good thing they see.
19. They demotivate the believers into doing any good deed.
20. They show off in their Salat and in any good deeds they do.
21. They insult others by reminding others' of the favors they have done on them. 
22. They take credit for the things they haven't done in order to gain praise, compliments and fame. 
23. They deny in some parts of the Qur'an and sunnah and take some which suits their desires.
24. They advice people to do bad things and forbid them from doing good.
25. They do not follow the sunnah and turn away from it in aversion when asked to follow the sunnah. 

26. They make fun of Islam and Rasool Sallalahu Alaihi wasallam and make fun of those muslims who practice Islam.

And when it is said to them, "Come to what Allah has revealed and to the Messenger," you see the hypocrites turning away from you in aversion. Surah An Nisa 61

There are many more signs of a hypocrites. These are the many signs that I could find from the way the hypocrites behaved during the time of Prophet Muhammad Sallalahu alaihi wasallam, from the hadith and also from the Qur'an.
To know more about the Munaafiqoon (hypocrites) read Surah At Tauba and Surah Al Munafiqoon.
For much detailed version with daleels, click this link.

The cure of hypocrisy is to fear  the severe consequences of this disease (that is the lowest pit in the Hell), to give lots of charity (that will remove the love of wealth), to do lots of dhikr of Allah, fear Allah even in public and privacy, to sincerely seek repentance of our sins and cry to Allah to change our hearts. And the best cure is to learn what is in the Qur'an and gain knowledge and then act upon the guidance and path of Allah.

May Allah protect us from nifaaq and remove any kind of hypocrisy from our hearts. Ameen 

جزاكم الله خيرا كثيرا


 Ask me anything regarding this topic here. Thank you for reading. Please feel free to send me the link of your blogs and comment below if you have similar views. 

- Manal Mirza

QUALITIES OF THE INHABITANTS OF THE HEAVEN

Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakaatuhu!

Every one of us wants to be admitted into Jannah, but very little from amongst us work our way through getting it.

Jannah is a priceless price that can’t be earned, no matter how many good deeds we do we just can’t work our way through getting it. Only with Allah’s mercy one shall be admitted into Heaven. The ranks of Jannah will be determined by our good deeds but not our admission.

 As Allah says in the Qur’an in Surah Al Waqi’ah 56, ayat 24- “As a reward for their good deeds that they had done.”

·       The quality of those inhabitants of Jannah will be that they had done good deeds in the Dunya. Good deeds are supposed to meet two conditions for it to be accepted, the first one being the sincere intention to please Allah without any Show off or Shirk, and the second one doing those deeds accepted and proved by the way of our beloved Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم , without any fabrication or innovation done in his name. 

 “There they shall not hear any vain talk nor sinful words.” [56:25]

·       The quality which we learn from the inhabitants of the heaven is the beautification of their speech. They won’t hear let alone speak vain talks. Vain talks include purposeless meaningless conversations about the dunya, people and inappropriate discussions. They won’t have bad manners or bad conduct among the people. They won’t speak sinful words which include backbiting, taunting, mocking or lies. These were their qualities in the dunya which is how their quality will be in the Jannah. May Allah admit us from amongst them. Ameen!

“But only the greetings of ‘Peace be upon you! Peace be upon you!’” [56:26]

·       In Jannah, there will only be peace everywhere, there will be no hardships or difficulty, no hatred or any kind of hatred in themselves. Only peace and peace. Peaceful words, peaceful place, peaceful people and peaceful conversations. And it will all be forever. The quality we learn from the inhabitants of the Jannah is to spread lots of Salam to people whom you know and not, to keep checking the utterance of our words if they are peaceful or not, to remove hatred and grudges from our hearts and keep it peaceful. The tone and expression of your face and speech should also be dripping with peace. May Allah admit us from amongst them and embark upon us the qualities of the inhabitants of Jannah. Ameen!

جزاكم الله خيرا كثيرا

 Ask me anything regarding this topic HERE. Thank you for reading. Please feel free to send me the link of your blogs and comment below if you have similar views.
 - Manal Mirza