As a gender, in general, I believe women are very selfless and giving. This can and does become a serious weakness for us. For me. We are taught to “grin and bear it.” Not to complain. We are emotional. We are caregivers and want to help everyone no matter the detriment that it can cause if we are not careful. But that is the point. We have to be careful. We have to be strong and learn to say one little word, “no.” Women, in general, have a hard time uttering this two letter word. The way it usually happens is the pursuer (husband, boss, friend, collegue, etc) will ask us to do some sort of favor. We know that we have too much on our plate already but after a full on session of sob stories and guilt trips we cave in and end up adding it to our list.

As Muslim women, we have to be doubly careful of this. You see, not only do we have our schedules but our life should be scheduled around worship and devotion to Allah (swt) (not the other way around). So, once we pile obligations, trusts, and responsibliies up we automatically deduct the time that we would have spent in rememberance of Allah. Our prayers become rushed and squeezed in here and there. No longer do we sit after salat and make dhikr. Because, really, we don’t have time for that. We no longer read the Qur’an because it takes up too much time, or if we do read the Qur’an we read it to get it over with and don’t ponder what we have read which results in us coming away with little to no benefit whatsoever.

Even those of us who look like we have it all together may not. Even those of us who play Islamic lectures day and night and post up islamic information may not have the time to actually sit and listen and ponder or read what we are posting, playing, etc. Those of us that volunteer with Islamic organizations may have had admirable intentions when we began but then it becomes just another trust that we feel responsible for. Afterall, if we don’t do it, who will?

As a result, we suffer, our relationship with Allah suffers, our children suffer, our marriages suffer. We may or may not be asked about what we volunteered to do on the Day of Judgement. We may or may not be asked about how sucessful we were in our vocations. But for certain we will be asked about our prayers. Did we complete them perfectly? Or were we too busy? Did we concentrate on the words letting them penetrate our heart? Or did we stand up half asleep and go through the motions to mark it off the list for the day? We will be asked about our obligations to Allah. Did we take our time to fulfill them? We will be asked about our children. Did we give them their rights or were we so caught up in other things that we neglected to teach them and bring them up on the Qur’an and Sunnah? Were we good wives, did we give our husband’s their rights, did we give our parents their rights?

Sadly, many of us on that day will probably be in a state of shame and regret. We will beg and plead to go back to this time and vow that we will say “no” to the things that we can’t add to our hectic schedules. We would probably wish that we had lived simpler lives and concentrated on our obligations and fullfilling them perfectly while volunteering and spreading daw’ah as we are capable…..not to the point that obligations are neglected or half performed out of laziness and tiredness. But it will be too late by then. We won’t have a second chance that day.

That’s why we must evaluate ourselves now as Umar ibn Khattab once said:

“Judge yourselves before you are judged, evaluate yourselves before you are evaluated and be ready for the greatest investigation (the Day of Judgement)”

As long as we have a breath left, we are capable of making changes in our lives. We are capable of saying “no” to overworking ourselves, neglecting our relationship with Allah (SWT), and allowing things to pile up in our lives unnecessarily. Allah has given us all this ability to choose, free will. It’s up to us to learn to balance our lives and use them to strive for Paradise. To struggle For the ability to be able to stand up before Allah (SWT), Our Creator, on the Day of Judgement, knowing that we made every effort to fulfill all our obligations perfectly with love, hope and fear for His Sake alone. That is the ultimate goal. How many of us will reach it?

Virtues of Surahs

The virtues in the recitation of certain surahs and ayats.

• Reciting the Qur’an

Tameem ad-Dari (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, “Whoever recites (in prayer) with a hundred verses in a night, it will be written for him as devout obedience to Allah for the night.”

Abdullah bin Mas’ud (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, “Whoever recites one letter from the Book of Allah then he will receive a good reward, and every good deed is rewarded with ten times its like. I do not say that Alif Laam Meem is one word but Alif is one word, Laam is one word and Meem is one word.”

Ibn Imran (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, “Whoever recites the Qur’an then let him ask from Allah by it, for there will come a people who recite the Qur’an and will the ask from people by it.”

A’isha (radiAllahu anha) that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, ‘Reciting the Qur’an during prayer is more excellent than reciting it at other times, and reciting the Qur’an at a time other than during prayer is more excellent than extolling Allah and declaring His greatness. Extolling Allah is more excellent than sadaqah, sadaqah is more excellent than fasting, and fasting is a protection from Hell.
[Bayhaqi Shu’ab al-Iman, Mishkat al-Masabih #2166]

• Saying ‘Bismillah’

The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said that it is one of the names of Allah the distance between it and Allah’s greatest name, is but like the distance between the black and white of the eye seen from a close angle.
[Hakim & Dhahabi in The Book of Excellence of the Qur’an 1/552]

Ibn Abbas (radiAllahu anhu) said, concerning ‘Bismillah’, Allah evolved it for you, and never had He evolved it unto any community before you.
[Hakim in Al-Mustadrak & Dhahabi in ‘The Book of Excellence of the Quran 1/551]

• Surah al Fatihah (1)

A man came to the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam), embraced Islam then returned to his people. On his way there were a group of men who had with them a mad man in iron manacles. The group said, that they heard that the travelers friend (i.e. Prophet Muhammad) had something good with him and so he exorcised the mad man with Surah al Fatiha, and he was cured. As reward they gave the traveler 100 sheep. He then returned to the Prophet and narrated the story. The Prophet asked if he did anything other than recite al-Fatiha, he said no. So the Prophet said that while these people make their livelihoods out of false incantations (i.e. worshipping false idols) the traveler earned the 100 sheep through something lawful; so he could keep the sheep.
[Abu Dawud 3398/a]

Abu Sa’id Ar-Rafi’ bin Al-Mu`alla (radiAllahu anhu) reported: The Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, “Shall I teach you the greatest Surah in the Qur’an before you leave the mosque?” Then he (salAllahu alayhi wasalam), took me by the hand, and when we were about to step out, I reminded him of his promise to teach me the greatest Surah in the Qur’an. He (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, “It is `Alhamdu lillahi Rabbil Alamin (i.e., Surat Al-Fatihah) which is As-Sab` Al-Mathani (i.e., the seven oft-repeated Ayat) and the Great Qur’an which is given to me.”
[Sahih Al-Bukhari]

Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) reported that when Allah’s Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) asked Ubayy ibn Ka’ab (radiAllahu anhu), “Do you want me to teach you a Surah the like of which has not been revealed in the Torah, the Injeel, the Zabur, nor the Qur’an?”, and also asked what he recited in his prayers. He replied Umm-ul Qur’an (Surah Fatihah) the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) proclaimed, ‘By Him in whose dominion my soul is, nothing like it has been revealed in the Torah, the Gospel, the Psalms, or the Qur’an and it is seven of the oft-repeated verses in the Mighty Qur’an which I have been given’
[at-Tirmidhi, Al-Hakim says that this hadith is Sahih on the conditions established by Imam Muslim (Tafseer Mazhari 1:30)]

Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbas (radiAllahu anhu) reported that Allah’s Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said ‘Rejoice in the two lights brought to you which have not been brought to any prophet before you’: al-Fatihah and the last verses of Surah al-Baqarah (2: 2854), (said an angel to the Prophet, blessings and peace be on him)
[Muslim].

Ambari in his ‘Kitabur-Rad’ through his own chain of narrators has mentioned from Mujahid ibn Jabr (rahmatullahi alaih) that Iblees the accursed of Allah Ta’ala lamented on four occasions: first when he was cursed; secondly when he was cast out of Heaven to the Earth; thirdly when Muhammad (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) was given the Prophethood; fourthly when Surah Fatihah was revealed and it was revealed in Madinah.

Once the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) was traveling when he disembarked and began walking alongside a companion. He asked him, ‘Shouldn’t I tell you the best part of the Qur’an?’ then he recited ‘Alhamdu lilahi rabil alameen’ (Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds).
[Hakim 1/560; Dhahabi]

Abu Saeed al-Khudr’i narrates that while on a journey we halted at a place. A girl came to us and said: “The chief of this tribe has been stung by a scorpion and our men are not present, is there anybody amongst you who can recite something upon him to treat him?” Then, one of our men went along with her although we did not think that he knew any such treatment. However, our friend went to the chief and recited something upon him and the chief was cured. Thereupon, the chief gave him thirty sheep and gave us all milk to drink. When he returned, we asked our friend: “Did you know anything to recite upon him to cure him?” He said: “No, I only recited Umm al-Kitab (i.e. Surah al-Fatihah) upon him.” We said that do not do anything until we reach Madinah and ask the Prophet regarding this (practice and reward-whether the sheep were lawful or not for us). Upon reaching Madinah, we narrated this to the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam), whereupon he remarked: “How did he come to know that Al-Fatihah can be used as a cure? (Rasulullah said this in astonishment) Distribute your reward amongst yourselves and allot a share for me as well.
[Sahih al-Bukhari]

Ibn ‘Abbas said, “While Jibril (alayhis salam) was sitting with the Prophet, he heard a sound above him and raised his head. He said, ‘This is a door of heaven which has been opened today and which has never been opened before today. An angel descended from it.’ He said, ‘This is an angel who has descended to earth who has never descended before today.’ He gave the greeting and said, ‘Give the good news of two lights which you have been given and which no Prophet before you was given: the Fatiha of the Book and the end of Surah al-Baqarah (2). You will not recite a letter of them without being given it.’”
[Muslim, Riyad as-Salihin by Imam an-Nawawi]

Abu Sulaiman says that once a group of Companions were in an expedition (ghazwa) when they happened to come across an epileptic person, who was unconscious. One of the Companions recited Surah Al-Fatiha and blew in his ear. The epileptic person immediately cured. When Sayyidana Muhammad (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) was informed of this, he said: “It (Surah Al-Fatiha) is “The Mother of the Qur’an” (Umm al-Qur’an) and is a cure for every disease.”
[This narration has been recorded by Ath-Thua’lbi from Abu Sulaiman, who narrated it from Muawiya bin Saleh (radhi Allah anhu), Tafseer Mazhari 1:31]

Sa’ib (radhi Allah anhu) bin Yazeed says that Rasulullah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) recited Surah Al-Fatihah and blew it on me. To safeguard me against calamities, Rasulullah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) recited this Surah and put his blessed saliva in my mouth.
[At-Tabraani narrated this tradition in ‘Al-Awsat’, Tafseer Mazhari 1:31]

Anas (radhi Allah anhu) said: “When you recite Surah Al-Fatihah and Surah Al-Ikhlas upon lying on your bed, you will be safeguarded and should become fearless of every thing except death.”
[Narrated by Baraa’, Tafseer Mazhari 1:31]

The Prophet said, ‘Whoever mastered the first seven (chapters or verses) from the Qur’an is a pontiff’.
[Hakim 1/564; Dhahabi]

The Prophet said, ‘The mother of the Qur’an are the seven oft repeated verses’
[Bukhari 4704]

It is narrated from Jabir (radhi Allah anhu) that Rasulullah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said: “O Jabir, shall I inform you about the best Surah revealed in the Qur’an?” Jabir said: “O Messenger of Allah, please inform me.” Rasulullah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said: “It is Fatiha tul Kitab.” Jabir adds: “And I think that Rasulullah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said that Al-Fatiha is a cure for every diseases.” Jabir is also reported to have said: “Fatiha tul Kitab is a medicine for every disease except death.”
[Recorded by Al-Khal’i in his Fawa’id, Tafseer Mazhari 1:30]

The Prophet said, ‘In the Fatiha of the Qur’an, there is a cure for all maladies(illnesses)’
[Darimi 3236, also narrated by Ad-Darmi in his Al-Masnad and Al-Bayhaqi in Shu’bul Imaan, Tafseer Mazhari 1:30]

Surah Al-Fatihah is equivalent to two thirds of the Qur’an
[Al-Bayhaqi and Al-Haakim, Tafseer Mazhari 1:31]

• Surah al Baqarah (2)

The Prophet said, ‘The Qur’an and those who committed themselves to it will be presented on the Day of judgement, preceded by Surah al-Baqarah and Surah al Imran’.
[Muslim 805]

The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, ‘Learn how to recite Surah al-Baqarah for there is a blessing in it, and there is sorrow for abandoning it, and it is unbearable for the idle’ and that ‘al Baqarah and al Imran are like two flowers which will shade their learner on the day of Judgement, as if there were two large clouds or two flocks of birds’.
[Ahmad 21872 & Buraida al-Aslami Muslim 1/553]

The Prophet said, ‘Recite Surah al Baqarah in your dwellings and do not keep them as tombs. He also said that whoever recited Surah al Baqarah at night would be crowned with a crown of paradise.’
[Baihaqi in Al-Shuaib]

Abu Huraira reported that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, “Do not turn your houses into graves. Shaitan is barred from any house in which Surat al-Baqarah (2) is recited.” [Muslim 780, 4: 1707]

The Prophet was asked, ‘Which part of the Qur’an is the best?’. He replied, ‘The Surah in which the cow is mentioned’. He was then asked ‘Which part of that Surah?’. He replied, ‘The verse of the Throne and the last pasrt of Surah al Baqarah came down from under the Throne’
[Darimi 3248]

The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, ‘Al Baqarah is the top (or pinnacle) of the Qur’an. Eighty angels came down with each one of it’s verses and extracted the verse of the throne from under the throne, and it was joined to the other verses’
[Ahmad 5/26]

Abu Ummamah (radiAllahu anhu) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Whoever recites Ayat Al-Kursi immediately after each prescribed Prayer, there will be nothing standing between him and his entering Paradise except death.”
[an-Nasa’i, Ibn Hibban, Darimi 3249/A]

Imam Ahmad (rahimullah) said: It was narrated that Asma’ bint Yazid ibn As-Sakan (radiAllahu anha) said, I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say about these two verses— “Allah! There is no god but He, the Ever-Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists…” [Al-Baraqah, 2: 255] and “Alif. Laam. Meem. Allah! None has the right to be worshiped but He, the Ever-Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists” [’Al ‘Imran, 3: 1-2]— that they contain the greatest name of Allah.
[abu Dawud, at-Tirmidhi, Tafsir of Imam Ibn Kathir]

Ubayy ibn Ka’b reported that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, “O Abu’l-Mundhir! Do you know which ayat in the Book of Allah is greatest you have?’ I said, ‘Allah. there is no god but Him, the Living, the Self-Sustaining.’ (W2:253; H2:256) He struck me on the chest and said, ‘May knowledge delight you, Abu’l-Mundhir!’”
[Muslim, Riyad as-Salihin by Imam an-Nawawi]

Imam Ahmad narrated: Muhammad ibn Ja’far told us, Uthman ibn Itab told us, he said: I heard Abu As-Sulayl saying, A man from among the Companions of the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) addressed the people until a large number had gathered around him, then he climbed onto the roof of a house and addressed the people, saying: “The Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, ‘Which verse of the Qur’an is the greatest?’ A man said, ‘Allah! There is no god but He, the Ever-Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists…’ [Al-Baqarah, 2: 255].’ He said: He put his hand between my shoulders and I felt coolness in the center of my chest, [or he said] he put his hand on the center of my chest and I felt coolness between my shoulders, and he said, ‘Congratulations on your knowledge, Abul-Mundhir.’”
Another version of the same hadith.
[Tafsir of Imam Ibn Kathir]

It was reported from the Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) that “It is the greatest verse in the Book of Allah.” (referring to Ayat al-Kursi). It was narrated from Ubayy ibn Ka’b (radiAllahu anhu) that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) asked him which verse in the Book of Allah was the greatest. He said, “Allah and His Messenger know best.” He repeated it several times, then he said, “Ayat Al-Kursi.” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Congratulations upon your knowledge, Abul-Mundhir. By the One in Whose hand is my soul, it has a tongue and two lips, and it glorifies the Sovereign (i.e., Allah) at the foot of the Throne.”
[Tafsir of Imam Ibn Kathir]

Abu Umamah (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, “The greatest name of Allah, which if He is called by it, He responds, is in three surahs: Al-Baqarah, ‘al ‘Imran and Ta-Ha.” Hisham ibn Ammar, the khateeb of Damascus, said: “In Al-Baqarah, it is ‘Allah! There is no god but He, the Ever-Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exist’ [Al-Baraqah, 2: 255]. In ‘al ‘Imran it is ‘Alif. Laam. Meem. Allah! There is no god but He, the Ever-Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists’ [’al ‘Imran, 3: 1-2]. And in Ta-Ha it is ‘And (all) faces shall be humbled before (Allah), the Ever- Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists’ [Ta-Ha, 20: 111].”
[narrated in a marfu’ report (one that is traced all the way back to the Prophet [salAllahu alayhi wasalam], Tafsir of Imam Ibn Kathir)]

The Prophet said, ‘Whoever recites 4 verses from the first part of Surah al Baqarah, the verse of the Throne, two verses after the verse of the Throne and three verses from the last part of Surah al Baqarah, Satan would never come near him or the members of his family on that day, and nothing he despises would come near him or the members of his family, and never are these verses recited over a madman without him regaining his consciousness’
[Darimi 3249/A in the Book of Excellence of the Quran; an-Nasai in the Deeds during the Day and Night; Ibn Hibban & Tabrani]

Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (radiAllahu anhu) said, ‘Whoever recited ten verses from al-Baqarah in the night, Satan shall not have access to that house, during the night till he wakes in the morning. These are: Four from the first part of the Surah, followed by the verse of the Throne, two verses after the verse of the Throne and three from the last part of the Surah’.
[Darimi 3248/A]

Abu Umamah (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, ‘Recite Surah al-Baqarah: for to hold on to it is a barakah (blessing), to leave it is a regret’
[Muslim]

Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, ‘Everything has a hump, and the hump of the Qur’an is al-Baqarah’
[at-Tirmidhi, ad-Darami]

Abu Mas’ud al-Badri (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, “If anyone recites the two ayats at the end of Surat al-Baqarah (2) at night, they will be enough for him.”
[Sahih al-Bukhari 6:61 #530, Agreed upon]

It was narrated from Abdullah ibn Ubayy ibn Ka’b (radiAllahu anhu) that his father told him that he had a vessel in which he kept dates. He used to check on it and found that the number was decreasing. So he kept guard on it one night and saw a beast that looked like an adolescent boy. He said: I greeted him with salams and he returned my greeting, then I asked him, “What are you, a jinn or a human?” He said, “A jinn.” I said to him, “Show me your hand.” So he showed me his hand, and it looked like a dog’s paw with dog’s fur. I said, “Do all the jinn look like this?” He said, “I know no one among the jinn who is stronger than I.” I said, “What made you do what you did [i.e., taking the dates]?” He said, “We heard that you are a man who loves charity, and we wanted to have some of your food.” Ubayy asked him, “What will protect us from you?” He said, “This verse, Ayat Al-Kursi.” Then the next day he [Ubayy] went to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and told him (about what had happened) and he said, “The evil one spoke the truth.”
[Tafsir of Imam Ibn Katheer]

Ibn ‘Abbas (radiAllahu anhu) said, “While Jibril (salayhis salam) was sitting with the Prophet, he heard a sound above him and raised his head. He said, ‘This is a door of heaven which has been opened today and which has never been opened before today. An angel descended from it.’ He said, ‘This is an angel who has descended to earth who has never descended before today.’ He gave the greeting and said, ‘Give the good news of two lights which you have been given and which no Prophet before you was given: the Fatiha of the Book and the end of Surah al-Baqarah (2). You will not recite a letter of them without being given it.’”
[Muslim, Riyad as-Salihin by Imam an-Nawawi]

Abu Umamah (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said ‘Read the two radiant ones al-Baqarah and Al ‘Imran for they will come on the Day of Resurrection like two clouds, or two shades, or two flocks of birds, pleading for their companions’
[Muslim]

Al-Nawwas Ibn Sam’an (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said ‘The Qur’an will be brought on the Day of Resurrection, along with its companions who used to act by it, at the front being Surah al-Baqarah and Al ‘Imran like two black clouds or canopies with light, or two flocks of birds pleading for their companion’
[Muslim]

Abu Huraira (radiAllahu anhu) said, “The Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) put me in charge of guarding the zakat of Ramadan. Someone came and began to take handfuls of food. I grabbed him and said, ‘By Allah, I will take you to the Messenger of Allah!’ He said, ‘I am needy and have a large family and I am in dire need.’ I let him go and in the morning the Prophet said, ‘Abu Huraira, what did you do with your prisoner yesterday?’ I said, ‘Messenger of Allah, he complained of dire need and a large family, so I showed mercy to him and let him go on his way.’ He said, ‘He lied to you and he will come back.’ So, from the words of the Messenger of Allah, I knew that he would come back. Therefore, I lay in wait for him and he came and once more began to take handfuls of food. I seized him and said, ‘I will take you to the Messenger of Allah!’ He said, ‘Let me go. I am in need and have a large family. I will not come back again.’ I had mercy on him and let him go his way. In the morning the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said to me, ‘Abu Huraira, what did you do with your prisoner yesterday?’ I said, ‘Messenger of Allah, he complained of dire need and a large family, so I showed mercy to him and let him go on his way.’ He said, ‘He lied to you and he will come back.’ So I lay in wait for him a third time and he came and began to take handfuls of food. I grabbed him and said, ‘I will take you to the Messenger of Allah! This is the third time. You claimed you would not come back and then you came back.’ He said, ‘Let me go. I will teach you some words which will help you with Allah.’ I said, ‘What are they?’ He said, ‘When you go to bed, recite the Throne Verse, “Allah, there is no god but Him, the Living, the Self-Sustaining…” to the end of the ayat. You will have someone guarding over you from Allah and shaitan will not come near you until morning.’ So I let him go his way. In the morning, the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said to me, ‘What did you do with your prisoner yesterday?’ I said, ‘Messenger of Allah, he claimed that he would teach me some words which would help me with Allah, so I let him go his way.’ He said, ‘What are they?’ I said, ‘He said to me, “When you go to bed, recite the Throne Verse to the end: ‘Allah, there is no god but Him, the Living, the Self-Sustaining’.” He said to me, “You will have someone guarding over you from Allah and shaitan will not come near you until morning.”‘ The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, “He told you the truth even though he is a liar. Do you know whom you were speaking with on these three days, Abu Huraira?’” He said, “No.” The Prophet said, “It was Shaitan.”
[Sahih al-Bukhari]

• Surah al Imran (3)

Abdullah ibn Masud (radiAllahu anhu) said, ‘What an excellent treasure Surah al Imran is to the pauper when he recites it in prayer during the last part of the night’
[Darimi 3264/A]

The Prophet said, ‘Allah’s most Magnificent name, which when used to implore Him, He responds, is found in three Surahs. Al Baqara, Al’ Imran and Taha’
[Hakim & Ibn Majah 3856]

The Prophet said to Muadh (radiAllahu anhu), ‘Should I not teach you a supplication which, when used to implore Allah, Allah shall pay your debt, even it be as huge as Mount Uhud? He then mentioned them (i.e. Surah al Imran verse 26 & 27)’
[Tabarani in Al Saghir 1/330]

Makhul (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, “If anyone recites Al ‘Imran on a Friday, the angels will invoke blessings on him till night comes.”
[Darimi transmitted it. Mishkat al-Masabih #2172]

Usman ibn Affan (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, “If anyone recites the end of Surah ‘Al Imran at night, the reward for a night spent in prayer will be recorded for him.”

Abu Umamah (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said ‘Read the two radiant ones al-Baqarah and Al ‘Imran for they will come on the Day of Resurrection like two clouds, or two shades, or two flocks of birds, pleading for their companions’
[Muslim]

Al-Nawwas Ibn Sam’an (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said ‘The Qur’an will be brought on the Day of Resurrection, along with its companions who used to act by it, at the front being Surah al-Baqarah and Al ‘Imran like two black clouds or canopies with light, or two flocks of birds pleading for their companion’
[Muslim]

• Surah al An’am (6)

Jabir (radiAllahu anhu) reported that The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, ‘So many Angels accompanied its revelation that the horizon was covered with them’
[Hakim, Dhahabi & Baihaqi]

The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, ‘The Qur’an was revealed in one fifth part, whoever memorised it in one fifth parts would not forget it. Except for Surah al An’am, which was revelaed in it’s entirity, seen off by seventy angels from each heaven until they delivered it to the Prophet. Never has it been recited over a sick person, without Allah granting him a cure’
[Baihaqi & Khatib]

Umar ibn al-Khattab (radiAllahu anhu) reported that The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, “Surah An’aam is from the core of the Qur’an”
[Tafsir of al-Qurtubi]

• Surah Hud (11)

Ka’ab (radiAllahu anhu) reported that The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, ‘Recite surah Hud on Fridays’
[Darimi transmitted it in mursal form. Mishkat al-Masabih #2174]

• Surah Yusuf (12)

The Prophet said, ‘Teach your relatives the recitation of Surah Yusuf, for, any Muslim who recites it or teaches it to his family and slaves, Allah shall ease for him the agony of death, and give him the strength that will prevent him from envying a fellow Muslim’
[Ibn Asakir]

• Surah al Kahf (1

The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, ‘Whoever recited Surah al Kahf in the same manner in which it was revealed, it will serve for him as a light on the Day of Judgement, from his domicile to Makkah. And whoever recited the last ten verses, and it happens that the Dajjal should appear after that, Dajjal will not be empowered over him’.
[Hakim 1/564 & Dhahabi]

Abu’d-Darda’ reported that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, “Anyone who memorises ten ayats from the beginning of Surat al-Kahf (1 will be protected from the Dajjal.”
[Muslim, Riyad as-Salihin by Imam an-Nawawi 183 #1012]
One variant has, “from the end of Surat al-Kahf.”

The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, ‘Whoever recited Surah al Kahf on a Friday, Allah will kindle for him abundant light to brightly illuminate the period between the two Fridays (the Friday on which the recitation was made and the next Friday)’
[Hakim 2/367, Mishkat al-Masabih #2175, however Baihaqi disagreed with it’s authenticity in Sahih Al Jami 2/1104]

Narrated Al-Bara’bin Azib: A man was reciting Surah Al-Kahf and his horse was tied with two ropes beside him. A cloud came down and spread over that man, and it kept on coming closer and closer to him till his horse started jumping (as if afraid of something). When it was morning, the man came to the Prophet, and told him of that experience. The Prophet said, “That was As-Sakina (tranquility) which descended because of (the recitation of) the Qur’an.”
[Sahih al-Bukhari 6:61 #531, at-Tirmidhi 2810/A]

• Surah Ta Ha (20)

Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) reported that Allah’s messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, A thousand years before creating the heavens and the Earth, Allah recited Ta-Ha and Ya-Sin, and when the angels heard the recitation they said, ‘Happy are the people to whom this comes down, happy are the minds which carry this, and happy are the tongues which utter this.
[Darami transmitted it, at-Tirmidhi]

Abu Umamah (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, “The greatest name of Allah, which if He is called by it, He responds, is in three surahs: Al-Baqarah, ‘al ‘Imran and Ta-Ha.” Hisham ibn Ammar, the khateeb of Damascus, said: “In Al-Baqarah, it is ‘Allah! There is no god but He, the Ever-Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exist’ [Al-Baraqah, 2: 255]. In ‘al ‘Imran it is ‘Alif. Laam. Meem. Allah! There is no god but He, the Ever-Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists’ [’al ‘Imran, 3: 1-2]. And in Ta-Ha it is ‘And (all) faces shall be humbled before (Allah), the Ever- Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists’ [Ta-Ha, 20: 111].” [narrated in a marfu’ report (one that is traced all the way back to the Prophet [salAllahu alayhi wasalam], Tafsir of Imam Ibn Kathir)]

• Surah al Mu’minun (23)

Ibn Masud (radiAllahu anhu) recited (Surah al Mu’minun from verse 115 to 11 in the ear of an afflicted person and the man was cured. The Prophet said, ‘What did you reicte in his ear?’. Ibn Masud told him, and the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, ‘By He in Whose hand lies my soul, Were a believing man to recite it over a mountain, it would have melted’.
[Fath al Qadir 3/502]

• Surah as Sajdah (32)

The Prophet would not sleep until he recited Surah as Sajdah.
[at-Tirmidhi 5/165; Hakim 2/412 & Dhahabi in Sahih al Jamiea (22/789)]

Khalid ibn Ma’dan (radiAllahu anhu) said, “Recite the Deliverer, which is Alif Laam Tanzeel, for I have heard that a man who had committed many sins used to recite it and nothing else. It spread its wing over him and said, ‘O’ My Lord, forgive him, for he often used to recite me.’ So the Lord Most High made it an intercessor for him and said, ‘Record for him a good deed and raise him a degree in place of every sin.”
Khalid (radiAllahu anhu) also said, “It will dispute on behalf of the one who recites it when he is in his grave saying, ‘O’ Allah, if I am part of Thy Book, make me an intercessor for him. But if I am not a part of Thy Book, blot me out of it.’ It will be like a bird putting its wing on him, it will intercede for him and will protect him from the punishment in the grave.” He said the same about Tabaarakalladhi (Surah Mulk).
Khalid (radiAllahu anhu) did not go to sleep at night till he had recited them. Taus said that they were given sixty virtues more than any other Surah in the Holy Qur’an.

• Surah Yasin (36)

Anas (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said ‘Everything has a heart and the heart of the Qur’an is Ya Sin. Anyone who reads it, God will write down for him ten readings of the Qur’an’
[at-Tirmidhi 2812/A & Dhahabi, Maqal]

The Prophet said, ‘Whoever recited Surah Yasin in the night seeking Allah’s pleasure, Allah would forgive him’
[Ibn Hibban, Darimi 3283/A, Abu Yala, Tabarani, Baihaqi & Ibn Mardawaih]

Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) narrated that the messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, ‘Whoever reads surat Ya-Sin in the night, he will be forgiven. And whoever reads Ha-Meem, the one in which smoke is mentioned, he will be forgiven.’
[Abu Ya’la reported it]

Ma’qil Ibn Yasar (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said ‘Whoever reads Ya Sin, seeking Allah’s pleasure, his past sins will be forgiven, so recite it over the dying among you’
[Bayhaqi]

• Surah al Fussilat (41)

The messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, ‘Everything has its fruit and benefits, and the fruit of the Qur’an is Ha-Meem (another name for Surah al-Fussilat). Chapters beginning with Ha-Meem are beautiful, fresh, fragrant, splendid mesdows. Whosoever desires to walk around in the mesdows of Paradise should recite these surahs’
[Al-Tadhkar Fi Afdal Al-Adhkar by Imam al-Qurtubi]

• Surah ad Dukhan (44)

Ibn Masud (radiAllahu anhu) said, ‘The ‘ha-meems’ are the embelishments of the Quran
[Hakim, Dhahabi, Ibn Al Mundhir & Baihaqi]

The ‘ha-meems’ refer to the seven Surahs which have ha-meem at the start.

Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) narrated that the messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, ‘Whosoever recites Surah ad-Dhukhan every night, seventy thousand angels will ask forgiveness for him’
[at-Tirmidhi]

Abu Hurairah (radiAllahu anhu) narrated that the messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, ‘Whoever reads surat Ya-Sin in the night, he will be forgiven. And whoever reads Ha-Meem, the one in which smoke is mentioned, he will be forgiven.’
[Abu Ya’la reported it]

The messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, Chapters beginning with Ha-Meem are beautiful, fresh, fragrant, splendid mesdows. Whosoever desires to walk around in the mesdows of Paradise should recite these surahs’
[Al-Tadhkar Fi Afdal Al-Adhkar by Imam al-Qurtubi]

NB: The ‘ha-meems’ refer to the seven Surahs which have ha-meem at the start are: Surahs Ghafir or Al-Mu’min (40), Fussilat (or Ha-Meem) (41), Shura (42), Zukhruf (43), Dukhan (44), Jathiyah (45), Ahqaf (46)

• Surah al Fath (4

Umar (radiAllahu anhu) narrated that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, ‘A Surah of the Qur’an was revealed to me tonight, indeed it is the dearest Surah to my heart, than anything under the sun’. Then the Prophet recited Surah al Fath verses 1-5.
[Sahih al-Bukhari 6:61 #532]

• Surah ar Rahman (55)

The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) went to the companions and recited Surah ar Rahman but they were all quiet. He told them that he went to the jinn and recited it to them and they were responsive. And when he would recite the verses ‘And which of the favours of the Lord will you deny’ the jinn would respond ‘There is nothing among your bounties that we can deny, all praise belong to Allah’
[Tirmidhi, Ibn al Mundhir, Al Adhama & Hakim 2/474]

Abdullah Ibn Mas’ud (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, ‘Everything has an adornment, and the adornment of the Qur’an is Surah ar Rahman’
[Bayhaqi in Shuab al Eiman]

• Surah al Waqiah (56)

Abdullah ibn Mas’ud reported that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, ‘Whoever recites surah al Waqiah at night would never encounter poverty’
[Ibn as-Sunni 620, Bayhaqi]

The Prophet said, ‘Surah al Waqiah is the Surah of Wealth, so recite it and teach it to your children’
[Ibn Asakir]

• Surah al Hadid (57)

The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) used to recite Surahs of Glorification before returing and he said that there is a verse in them which is better than a thousand verses.
[Tirmidhi 5/181]
NB: These Surahs are: Al-Hadid, Al-Hashr, As-Saf, Al-Jum’ah and At-Tagabun

• Surah al Hashr (59)

The Prophet said, ‘Whoever when he wakes in the morning says ‘I seek refuge with Allah against the accursed satan’ and then recited three verses from the last part of Surah al Hashr, will be assigned seventy thousand angels to pray for him until the evening, and should he die that day, he would have died a martyr’
[Ibn Ahmad, Darimi, Tirmidhi 5/182]

• Surah al Mulk (67)

The Prophet said, ‘There is a surah in the Qur’an which is only thirty verses. It defended whoever recited it until it puts him into paradise’ i.e. Surah al Mulk
[Fath al Qadir 5/257, Sahihul Jamiea 1/680, Tabrani in Al-Awsat & Ibn Mardawaith]

Abu Huraira (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, “The Qur’an contains a surah of thirty ayats which will intercede for a man until he is forgiven. It is: ‘Blessed be He who has the Kingdom in His Hand!’ (67)”
[abu Dawud, Ahmad, at-Tirmidhi, Riyad as-Salihin by Imam an-Nawawi Ch.183 #1016]

The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, ‘Surah al Mulk is the protector from the torment of the grave’
[Sahihul Jamiea 1/680, Hakim 2/498 & Nasai]

Jabir (radiAllahu anhu) said it was the custom of the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) not to go to sleep until he had read Tabarakallahi Biyadihil Mulk and Alif Laam Meem Tanzeel.
[Ahmad, Tirmidhi and Darami]

Anas (radiAllahu anhu) reported Rasulullah (sallallahu alaiyhi wasalam) as saying, “There is a Surah which will plead for its reciter till it causes him to enter paradise (Tabarakallahi Biyadihil Mulk).”
[at-Tabrani]

Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbas (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, ‘It is my desire/love that Surahtul Mulk should be in the heart of every Muslim’
[Hakim, al-Hisnul Haseen by the cassical scholar Muhammad al-Jazri]

Ibn Abbas (radiAllahu anhu) said that one of the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam)’s companions set up his tent over a grave without realising that it was a grave and it contained a man who was reciting the Surah Tabarakallahi Biyadihil Mulk up to the end. He went and told the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) who said, ‘It is The Defender; it is The Protector which safeguards from Allah Ta’ala’s punishment’
[at-Tirmidhi]

Khalid bin Madam (tabie) said about surat Al Mulk and ‘As Sajda that these two surahs will fight for their reciter in the grave and will say, ‘O Allah! If we belong to your book, accept our intercession in his favour. In case we do not, get us obliterated. These surahs will spread their wings like birds and will save the person from the torment of the grave.’
[Mishkat al-Misbah]

It was narrated that Abdullah ibn Mas’ud said: Whoever reads Tabarakallahi Biyadihil Mulk [i.e. Surah al-Mulk] every night, Allah will protect him from the torment of the grave. At the time of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaiyhi wasalam) we used to call it al-mani’ah (that which protects). In the Book of Allah it is a surah which, whoever recites it every night has done very well.
[an-Nasa’i]

• Surah al A’la (87)

‘Ali (radiAllahu anhu) narrated ‘He loved this Surah’
[Ahmad]

• Surah al Zilzilah (99)

Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbas and Anas Ibn Malik (radiAllahu anhum) reported that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, ‘Whoever recited Surah Zilzilah (99) would get the reward of reciting half the Qur’an. Whoever recited surah al Kafirun (109) would get a reward as if reading a quarter of the Qur’an. Whoever recited Surah al Ikhlas (112) would get a reward as if reading one third of the Qur’an’.
[at-Tirmidhi 2818/A]

An old man, saying that his heart had difficulty in remembering, and tongue his sluggish asked the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam); “Teach me the reading of a comprehensive surah.”
So Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) taught him to recite Idha dul dilatil ardhu dhildalaha up to the end. The man said, “I swear by Him who has sent you with the truth that I shall never recite more than that.”

• Surah Aadiyat (100)

The Prophet said, ‘Whoever recietes Aadiyat his reqard equals one half of the Qur’an’
[Hakim 1/566 & Tirmidhi 2894]

• Surah at Takathur (102)

The Prophet said, ‘Whoever recited one thousand verses in one night would meet Allah with a smile on his face’. Someone said, ‘O Apostle, who can recite a thousand verses?’. The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) then recited Surah at Takathur and then said, ‘By He in Whose hand my soul is, it is equal to a thousand verses’
[Al Khatib in Al Muttafaq wal Muftaraq & Dailami in Fath al Qadir 5/487]

• Surah al Kafirun (109)

The Prophet said, ‘Recite surah al Kafirun and then go to sleep after coming to its end, for it is a clearance from shirk’
[Abu Dawud 4396 & Hakim 1/565]

Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbas and Anas Ibn Malik (radiAllahu anhum) reported that the messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said ‘It is equivalent to a quarter of the Qur’an’
[at-Tirmidhi, 2818/A].

Abdullah ibn Umar Al-Khattab (radiAllahu anhu) reported that Allah’s messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, “Qul Huw Allahu Ahad” is equal to a third of the Qur’an and “Qul ya ayyuhal Kafirun” is equal to a fourth of the Qur’an.”
[at-Tabarani, classed as Sahih]

• Surah al-Nasr (110)

Anas (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, ‘It is equivalent to a fourth of the Qur’an’
[at-Tirmidhi]

• Surah al Ikhlas (112)

Anas mentioned that a man said to the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) , ‘I really love this surah’. The Prophet replied, ‘And your love for it will enable you to enter paradise’
[at-Tirmidhi 2826/A, Riyad as-Salihin by Imam an-Nawawi Ch.183 #1013]

Abu Sa’id al-Khudri (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said about the surah, “Say: He is Allah, Absolute Oneness” (112), ‘By Him in Whose hand my soul is, it is equal to one third of the Qur’an!’
[Sahih al-Bukhari 6:61 #533, Riyad as-Salihin by Imam an-Nawawi Ch.183 #1010]

“Qul Hu Allahu Ahad” is equal to a third of the Qur’an and “Qul ya ayyuhal Kafirun” is equal to a fourth of the Qur’an.”
[at-Tabarani, classed as Sahih]

Mu’adh bin Anas (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, “Whoever recites (Qul Hu Allahu Ahad) ten times, Allah will build for him a house in Paradise.”

Abu Huraira (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said that “Say: He is Allah, Absolute Oneness” is equal to a third of the Qur’an.
[Muslim, Riyad as-Salihin by Imam an-Nawawi Ch.183 #1012]

Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbas and Anas Ibn Malik (radiAllahu anhum) reported that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, ‘Whoever recited Surah Zilzilah (99) would get the reward of reciting half the Qur’an. Whoever recited surah al Kafirun (109) would get a reward as if reading a quarter of the Qur’an. Whoever recited Surah al Ikhlas (112) would get a reward as if reading one third of the Qur’an’.
[at-Tirmidhi 2818/A]

Anas (radhi Allah anhu) said: “When you recite Surah Al-Fatihah and Surah Al-Ikhlas upon lying on your bed, you will be safeguarded and should become fearless of every thing except death.”
[Narrated by Baraa, Tafseer Mazhari 1:31]

Abu Sa’id al-Khudri (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said to his Companions, “Are any of you unable to recite a third of the Qur’an in a night?” That was difficult for them and they said, “Which of us is able to do that, Messenger of Allah?” He said, “[The surah] ‘Say: He is Allah, Absolute Oneness, Allah, the Everlasting Sustainer of all’ (112) constitutes a third of the Qur’an.’”
[Sahih al-Bukhari 6:61 #534, Riyad as-Salihin by Imam an-Nawawi Ch.183 #1010]

Anas (radiAllahu anhu) reported the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) as saying, “If anyone recites two hundred times daily, Qul huwallahu ahad the sins of fifty years will be wiped out, unless he is in debt.”
[at-Tirmidhi and Darami].
The latter version has ‘fifty times’ and he did not mention ‘unless he is in debt’

A’isha (radiAllahu anha) reported that whenever the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) went to bed every night, he used to cup his hands together and blow over it after reciting Surat Al-Ikhlas, Surat Al-Falaq and Surat An-Nas, and then rub his hands over whatever parts of his body he was able to rub, starting with his head, face and front of his body. He used to do that three times.
[Sahih al-Bukhari 6:61 #536]

• Surah al Falaq (113)

The Prophet said, ‘O Uqba, learn to recite Surah al Falaq, for you would never recite a surah more cherished by Allah and more profound in His sight that this surah’
[Durais, Ibn al Anbari, Hakim, Dhahabi & Ibn Mardawaih]

The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) used to seek refuge from the jinn as well as from the evil eye until Surah al Falaq and An Naas were revealed. When they were sent down, he utilised them and left other things.
[at-Tirmidhi #1984, Riyad as-Salihin by Imam an-Nawawi Ch.183 #1014]

‘Uqba ibn ‘Amir reported that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, “Have you not seen the ayats sent down this night the like of which have never been seen before? ‘Say: I seek refuge with the Lord of Daybreak,’ and ‘Say: I seek refuge with the Lord of mankind.’” (113 & 114)
[Muslim]

• Surah an Nas (114)

A’isha (radiAllahu anha) reported that whenever the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) became sick, he would recite Mu’awwidhat (Surat Al-Falaq and Surat An-Nas) and then blow his breath over his body. When he became seriously ill, I used to recite (these two Surahs) and rub his hands over his body hoping for its blessings.
[Sahih al-Bukhari 6:61 #535]

‘Uqbah Ibn ‘Amir (radiAllahu anhu) reported that the messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said ‘No seeker of refuge can seek refuge with anything like these two’
[abu Dawud]

References:
-Riyad as-Salihin (The Meadows of the Righteous) by Imam Abu Zakariya Yahya bin Sharaf An-Nawawi Ad-Dimashqi
- The Excellence of the chapters and verses of the Qur’an by Mohammad Abdul Bashir Rafiuddeen
- Al-Hisnul Haseen by Imam Ibn al-Jazari Muhammad ibn Muhammad
- Selected Surahs from the Qur’an and their Excellence by AlBirr Foundation, UK
- Munajati Maqbul by Abdul Rahman Tariq

SOURCE:

http://www.geocities.com/mutmainaa2/dhikr/quran_virtue.html

Today, the Discovery Network will launch “Planet Green”, a 24 hour channel focusing on promoting eco-friendly living featuring celebrities to sell the concept.

Scientists have repeatedly warned us in the past to slow down on carbon emissions, find alternative energy sources, and generally eat and live an eco-lifestyle. Though, no one paid attention until a few celebrities jumped on board. Then BAM! It’s everywhere.

I can’t wait to see what “Planet Green” has to offer. It is past time that we start living better.

Though, I can’t help but focus on our society. We are so obsessed with Hollywood that we need actors and actresses to promote something before we will pay attention. Does anyone think for themselves anymore? Or is everything dominated by what the celebrities are doing? In the fifties, people smoked because it was “in”. Now, we quit because it is “in.” We drove gas guzzling suvs because it was “In.” Now, we are told to give them up because hybrids are “in.”

As with everything “In”, celebrities are almost the only ones who can afford a green lifestyle. The cost of renovating homes, buying new cars, buying organic, etc etc can add up to a small fortune….or a very large fortune for working lower-middle class families.

Ah, and I can’t help but find the irony in driving up to an energy INEFFICIENT awards ceremony in a prius.

I guess we should just be grateful that the trends are changing for the better.

Go ahead and go green…..it’s in!

A comprehensive history of Islam in America. Yasir Qadhi explores the history of Islam and Muslims in the Americas from the beginning to the present day, discussing everything from the pre-Columbus era to theories about early Muslim exploration of the New World, to the Muslim Slave experience, the Nation of Islam, right through to the advent of both early and recent Muslim immigration. Coincidentally, from the same podium where Abraham Lincoln spoke a few hundred years ago, and Barack “Hussein” Obama, two days earlier. Along the way we learn the amusing story about Hajji Ali, also know as Hi Jolly, the Greek-Syrian convert from Constantinople who was hired to come to America and raise camels of all things.

Yasir Qadhi gave this speech at IlmFest 2008 in New York hosted by AlMaghrib Institute’s Qabeelat Tayyabah.

Notes from the lecture:

-Until we understand where we came from, we dont understand who we are and how Islam became so prominent in the Americas.

-Even during slavery Abu Bakr AsSiddique said that “The faith of our family is the faith of Islam” (1834)

-The money that financed Columbus came from the fallen Muslim caliphate of Grenada a few months prior to his setting sail in 1492.

-George Washington is quoted as saying that he would “even” have “Muhammadans” (ie: Muslims) come to Mt. Vernon if they are good workmen (citizens).

-The well documented slave, Ayyub ibn Sulayman wrote 3 entire Qur’ans from memory which are still present today. He went to England to see the king in the 1730s and when they wanted to paint him in his cultural garments, he said that he would describe them (for he did not have any).. to which the painter replied “how can I draw something I haven’t seen”… to which Ayyub ibn Sulayman said::

“How can you then draw pictures of God, Whom no one has seen?”

-One slave, Bilani Mohammad was owned by a just slave owner who allowed the slaves to practive Islam freely.

-Later, a book of Bilani Mohammad was found–this was a book of fiqh written from memory and changed for the situation of the slaves.

-Many of Mohammad’s descendants had memories of their great grandfather and other relatives practicing Islam. Among the many points, they said

“Aunty Hanna was mighty punctual about prayer”

-The Nation of Islam spread a pseudo-Islam in the African American community - but, sometimes bad things lead to good. i.e: Muhammad Ali (who made “Muhammad” a household name) and Malcolm X joined orthodox Islam after first going through the Nation.

-”Hadji Ali, a Greek born in Constantinople and later converted to Islam. His name was too complicated for people to pronounce, so if you wanna look him up you’ll have to search under the name “Hi Jolly”

He was buried in Quartzsite, Arizona, there’s a pyramid with a camel on top of his grave and it is the most popular tourist attraction in Quartzsite, Arizona. The question is, what else can be found in Quartzsite, Arizona?!

http://www.ilmcast.com

Al Qamar designs has posted a 5 part series titled: “Steps Towards The Right Path of Understanding” By: Shaykh Haitham Al Haddad. 

This lecture series is A MUST SEE FOR EVERY MUSLIM!!!

Insh’Allah check it out here and be sure to give feedback (insh’Allah): http://alqamardesigns.wordpress.com/2008/05/26/the-right-path/

It was relayed on the authority of Abu Dhar al-Ghifari, radiyallahu ‘anhu, that the Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wasallam, said, of waht he related from his Lord, magnified and exhalted be He, Who said:

“O My servants, I have made oppression unlawful for Me and unlawful for you, so do not commit oppression against one another. O My servants, all of you are liable to err except for those whom I guide on the right path, therefore seek guidance from Me so that I should direct you to the right path. O My servants, all of you are hungry (needy) except for those whom I feed, therefore seek food from Me so that I may feed you. O My servants, all of you are naked (need clothes) except for those whom I provide garments, therefore seek clothing from Me so that I should clothe you. O My servants, you sin by night and by day and I am there to pardon your sins, therefore seek forgiveness from Me so that I should grant you pardon. O My servants, you can neither do Me any harm nor can you do Me any good. O My servants, even if the first amongst you and the last amongst you and the whole human race of yours and that of Jinns become as pious as the most pious heart of any one amongst you, it will not add anything to My Power or Kingdom. O My servants, even if the first amongst you and the last amongst you and the whole human race of yours and that of Jinns become as wicked as the most wicked heart of anyone amongst you, it will not decrease anything from My Power or Kingdom. O My servants, even if the first amongst you and the last amongst you and the whole human race of yours and that of Jinns gather together on a sector of land and all ask of Me and if I were to give everyone of them what they asked, that will not in any way decrease what I have anymore than a needle decreases what is in the ocean when it is put into it. O My servants, these deeds of yours which I am recording for you I shall reward you for them, so he who finds good should praise Allah and he who finds other than that should not blame anyone but himself.”

[Muslim]

background

This hadith stresses on the prohibition of all forms of injustice and oppression in Islam. It commands its followers to practice justice which is one of the main objectives of the Shariah. It also encourages Muslims to seek guidance from Allah by means of supplication (du’a) and relying on Allah alone (Tawakul).

Even though we are commanded to do our best efforts in carrying out our daily activities, one should not be materialistic and rely on his efforts alone. It is only with Allah’s permission and support and His tawfiq that our efforts becomes successful. Hence, this hadith confirms certain aspects of al-qadar which have been pointed out before and the choice is Allah’s Glory, the all-Gracious and Powerful.

lessons

As also mentioned in many verses of the Qur’an, Allah subhana wa ta’ala affirms His absolute justice and negates that He has never committed any kind of injustice towards anyone. Some verses of the holy Qur’an in this regards are:

In Surah Fussilat (41), Ayah 46 : “Your Lord is not at all unjust to His slaves”

In Surah al-Zukhruf (43), Ayah 76 : “No wise shall We be unjust to them but it is they who have been unjust to themselves”

In Surah Ghafir (40), Ayah 31 : “And Allah wills no injustice for His slaves”

In Surah al-Imran (3), Ayah 108 : “…and Allah wills no injustice to the world”

In Surah al-Nisa (4), Ayah 40 : “Surely Allah wrongs not even of the weight of an atom”

In Surah al-Kahf (18), Ayah 49 : “…and your Lord treats no one with injustice”

The forbidden injustices include all forms. The first, the highest level and the most extreme form of injustice is al-shirk or associating partners with Allah. Allah says in the Qur’an:

“Verily joining others in worship with Allah is a great form of injustice indeed”
[Surah Luqman (31) : Ayah 13]

The second form is unjust towards one ownself such as committing sins. The third form is dhulm or unjust towards others whether human beings or other creatures.

It is a must that a Muslim should avoid injustice as it displease Allah subhana wa ta’ala and leads to His severe punishment.

Ibn Taymiyyah points out that good and bad may be related to one’s worldly life or one’s religion. The guidance and forgiveness that are mentioned in the hadith are related to one’s religion. Food and clothing are related to one’s worldly needs. These are examples of what every one of us needs.

The hadith shows us that humans are always in great need for Allah. We need Allah for everything because we are poor and needy. Allah is the only One Who does not need anybody. He does not need anything from us. He is the Almighty and the Most Powerful. So a Muslim should show his or her need to Allah all the time and should seek Allah’s support and Tawfiq in whatever he or she does. That is why we are ordered to do a lot of dhikr all the time because it expresses our needs to Allah subhana wa ta’ala.

It is by the help of Allah that we are able to do things. We are able to move and walk. We are able to sleep and wake up and do all our activities. All our internal bodily systems such as breathing, blood circulation and digestion and so on depend and work on Allah’s Will. If any of these functions stop working, no one can bring it back to normal except Allah. So we should always be grateful to Allah subhana wa ta’ala.

Most people remember Allah only when there is a problem. For example, when one of our bodily functions does not work properly (e.g. an injured muscle, a broken finger, etc.), it is only then that we remember the bounties of Allah and what He provided us. But we should not wait until a problem occurs to be grateful to Allah. We have to be grateful to Him all the time and thank Him for all His Ni’mah on us. This will increase our iman because the more we show our needs to Allah, the more we feel the bounty of Allah. People who are not grateful to Allah are considered arrogant because they do not recognize the bounties of Allah given to them.

Guidance is a great mercy and ni’mah from Allah the Almighty. It is very important for every Muslim to know that the most valuable thing that we have in our life is this guidance. Allah has guided us to the right path or iman and we have to be grateful to Him. This guidance in the form of the Qur’an was revealed to us by Allah through His Messenger, Muhammad, sallallahu alayhi wasallam. So we should stick to its guidance and follow its teachings as a guide for us in everything we do in our lives. Our efforts alone cannot guide us. Even though we have our own will and choice, they are not independent. They are under Allah’s will and choice and belong to Him. We have aql (mind) but again it is created by Allah. We also have fitrah or the natural deposition but it is also created by Allah and belongs to Him. All these things are created by Allah. Allah showed us the right way to follow and be guided and warn us against Shaitan who is our greatest enemy and cause of our wrongdoings and misguidance. Allah also showed us how to deal with our own desires which He created in us. He told us that we should not be misled by these desires. We have to use them in the right ways.

When it comes to the issue of misguidance, we must know that it is not from the choice of Allah because He does not want us to be misguided. It is from our own will and choice. When someone is misguided it is his or her own attitude and behavior and it is he or she who chooses it to be like that. For example, takabur (arrogance) is one source of misguidance but it is a person’s character and attitude which affect the heart and cause misguidance. So when a person chooses to be misguided he or she will be so by his or her own will and not by Allah’s misguidance. Allah’s misguidance comes later as punishment for the person who chooses to be misguided. But if the person is misguided because of external factors which is out of his hands, he will be excused. For example, if the person did not receive the message of Islam at all or he received it but not in a clear way, then he will be excused for that misguidance. People who live in periods between two prophets (Ahlul Fatrah) are considered as being in excusable situations because they could not receive the messages of Allah at that period of time.

At the end of the hadith it is mentioned and stressed that whoever finds good record he should be thankful to Allah and praise Him for that, and anyone who finds other than that, which means bad record, he should not blame anyone except himself. This is a clear statement that shows the personal responsibility of one’s actions. It is the person’s own will and choice and not Allah’s. Allah is al-A’dil or Just. He never does injustice to His servants. In the Qur’an, we can find many verses that explain how people blame themselves during the Day of Judgment for not following the right path. It is the people themselves who chose to be misguided and hence they cannot blame any one else but themselves. This is also an important aspect of al-qadar that should be understood.

According to the scholars there are four types of guidance:

1. Guidance needed for the welfare of the worldly life. This type is general guidance for all living beings. They include Muslims and non-Muslims, animals and also other creatures. All are guided by Allah for their worldly well-being.

2. Guidance which benefits mankind in the religious sense. This type is beneficial for life in the Hereafter.

3. Guidance in terms of placing faith and guidance into the heart of a person. This can be done only by Allah, as mentioned in Surah al-Kahf, Ayah 117.

4. Guidance in the Hereafter as stated in Surah Yunus, Ayah 9. This fourth guidance is a result of the second guidance. Those who follow the message of Allah are guided to the right path and will be guided in the Hereafter.

The door of Taubah or repentance is open for all. The acceptance of our repentance is always available. Islam is a practical religion. It acknowledges our weaknesses. People are always subject to wrongdoings. They may neglect or delay performing obligations (wajib) or they may even indulge in sins (ma’asi’) but Allah subhana wa ta’ala is Oft-Forgiving and His door is open to all wrongdoers.

We are given the chance to repent and come back to Allah. This is a mercy from Allah. If we truly repent to Allah, our sins will be forgiven and even the bad records will be changed into good ones. Allah is telling us that He is Forgiving, Merciful and Compassionate. He requires us to come to Him and seek His forgiveness. We should know that the door of Allah is open to us all the time. If we do something wrong at night, we should come back to Him in the morning and if we do something wrong in the morning, we should come to seek His forgiveness during the night. We are always encouraged to do istighfar, which means to remember Allah and praise Him by reciting His Dhikr. We should maintain this istighfar regularly, for example, during the morning and evening times. It is also recommended to recite these adhkar after the salah and in some other specific times. We are encouraged to read these dhikr in our hearts.

The hadith shows the generosity of Almighty Allah. Allah gives His servants a lot of bounties and favours. The more they ask Him, the more He gives them His Ni’mah and countless Bounties. He wants us to ask Him more and seek His help and support. This is different from human beings because humans do not like to be asked frequently. The more you ask a human, the more they hate you and eventually will turn away from you. But the more we ask Allah the more He gives us. He wants us to come closer to Him and show Him our needs and humbleness. He will be pleased by our frequent taubah and repentance. This is also a kind of ibadah which is required to be practiced.

The early scholars (al-Salaf) used to ask Allah a lot and always seek His help in everything, even when a part of their shoe is cut they ask Allah to repair it for them. This shows that they were totally relying on Allah subhana wa ta’ala in their lives. We should also depend on Allah alone. We should not depend on our material aspects such as money and wealth as they cannot do anything for us. It is Allah alone Who deserves to be relied on. So every Muslim should be closer to Allah and seek His help and support. This will give us strength in our faith and iman. It will also give us more barakah (blessings) in our deeds and actions as explained in many verses of the Qur’an.

Istighfar is also one way to acquire good rizq or wealth because when we do istighfar we will get barakah in our rizq. It is this barakah or blessing of Allah which makes our wealth more beneficial regardless of how much money we earn. Some people earn a lot of money but there in no barakah in their wealth because they do not do istighfar nor are they grateful to Allah. People should show their need and humbleness to Allah who is the Master and Sustainer of the world.

conclusion

The hadith shows us the proper relationship between mankind and Allah. It shows us the many attributes of Allah such as being Merciful, Forgiving, Powerful and Compassionate. In contrast, we as human beings are poor, needy and weak. We are in continuous need for Allah, our creator and sustainer. We need His Guidance, Help and Support. That is why in every raka’ah of our salah we are required to recite Umu al-Kitab or Surah al-Fatihah. We recite it at least 17 times everyday. It reminds us of our extreme need for our Lord and His Guidance and Support. Also this will strengthen our faith and iman.

In many verses of the Qur’an and in the hadiths of the Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wasallam, it is explained the importance of showing our need and humbleness to Allah and the worthiness of frequent taubah or repentance to Him. He will listen to us and will accept our supplication and repentance. He will be pleased by our du’a and prayers. He will shower on us His Mercy and Blessings and that is what we continuously need. We want to be guided, supported and forgiven. We seek the pleasure of Allah and it is the most important thing that a Muslim may achieve in life. Those who achieve it are described as Fa’izun or the most successful people.

I once knew a  beautiful Muslim woman full of confidence and charisma. Almost Every Friday, she and her husband would get out of their car and walk to the masjid hand in hand. He would lean down and give her a peck on the cheek before they parted ways, he to the men’s entrance and she to the women’s entrance.

One day, as she entered through the women’s entrance and stood to pray her two rakats to greet the masjid, a sister called out to her “Ya Khaltu” (Oh Auntie), don’t you and your husband know that holding hands in public is a sin, much less kissing! AstagfirAllah!! AstagfirAllah! At your age you should be ashamed.” May Allah guide us all!”

She stood still for a few seconds and then raised her hands and said the takbeer beginning  her prayer.  The younger sister smirked thinking that she had done her duty well. As Khaltu prayed, hushed whispers filled the room, each woman entering getting an ear full of the juicy gossip of the moment and the tale of how “khaltu” was given a good dressing down by the younger sister (who sat  basking in the attention).

When Khaltu finished her prayer, she turned around, tears in her eyes, but nevertheless dignified.  All the sisters quietened eagerly waiting to hear what Khaltu would say, itching to hear an argument so that they may go home and burn up the phone lines with the jumah gossip.

However, what they got was not an argument. Khaltu simply said:Perhaps, you think that I am crying  because of the “advice” given me. No, I am crying because as I was making dhikr, I heard all the hushed whispers,no doubt spreading the gossip. I was crying because I found out how eager my beloved sisters are to eat my flesh.  She faced the younger sister and continued, “And what is your proof from the Qur’an and Sunnah? Do you have an ayat, a saheeh (authenticated) hadith?”  The younger sister thought for a few seconds before starting “I once read in a fatwa….” “No,” Khaltu cut her off. “I follow the Quran and Sunnah. What does the Quran and Sunnah say prohibiting it?”  The younger woman couldn’t answer. “Well, I believe that settles it, correct?” Khaltu finished with a tone that made it clear she was finished with the issue.  

Now, Why is it that so many people are quick to judge? Itching to show one another up to see who can deliver the most stinging blow. Why do people think that they can prove their righteousness by analyzing their fellow muslims for any sign of weakness or mistake so that they may come back and throw it in their face in the most horrific manner possible.  What does this accomplish other than division, hurt feelings, and rancour?

It is human nature not to agree on every single point. The companions (the great sahabiyat and tabieen) did not even agree on every single topic. Did they react by treating each other badly? No, because they feared Allah and knew the seriousness of such actions.

I’m not saying that you shouldn’t advise people. I’m not saying that you have to accept all other opinions. All I’m saying is, when disagreeing do so in a good way. A way that will unify rather than divide, a way that doesn’t leave people trying to avoid you at all costs.

We need to recognize that people are going to follow different madhabs, people are going to have different opinions, but as long as they say la illaha ill Allah, Muhammad ar Rasool Allah. They are your brother and sister and you owe them their rights and your kindness.

Sometimes, you just have to say: You follow what you deem best and I will follow what I deem best. And leave it at that.

 Secondly, It is a sad fact indeed that SOME (NOT ALL!!!!) Muslims feel that they can show one another no affection in public and in some cases act like they do not even know one another! I’m not talking about making out or anything lewd. But what is wrong with holding hands, linking arms,  or a small peck on the cheek? I don’t get it. Will the world end if my husband stops walking hand in hand with me down the street? No. But it’s nice and it shows our children that we care about one another and it shows others that most Muslim men  are not opressive to their wives but instead we are actually very well cared for and loved. As long as it is happening behind closed doors that’s all that counts. Yes, I have heard that and I get it. But this is just one of those things that I don’t believe is wrong and I have failed to see concrete evidence that it is wrong. Trust me, if someone brings me a hadith or verse of the qur’an  saying “do not hold your wife’s hand in public, do not link arms, thou shalt not give your wife a peck on the cheek…..” I will stop it. Until then……leave me alone.

*Story told w/permission from sisters involved*