The True Generous and Master

Abdul-A'la reported: Abu-Abdillah(A.S.) asked me whether I had been associating with the people of Medina. I told that once I was sitting among people of Medina when they were talking about openhandedness.
A man, named Abu-Dukein, spoke, "It is surely Ja'far except that he is like this." He then closed his hand. As he listened to this story, the Imam(A.S.) commented: "Woe to Abu-Dukein! His like is the feather; the wind flights it whenever it blows." After a pause, he(A.S.) added:
The Holy Prophet(S.A.W.) said: "Any favor is charity. The best alms is that which does not influence one's expenditure of his family members. Begin, when you give alms, with those whose provisions are obligatory upon you. The hand or the giver is better than the hand of the receiver. Allah does not censure for the minimum sustenance." Do you think that Allah is ungenerous or there is something more generous than Him?
The true generous and master is that who carries out Allah's rights correctly. He who gains money illegally and spends it unrightfully is not generous. Most surely, I desire for meeting Allah without taking anything that is illicit for me. I have fulfilled the rights in my fortune.

Coat of Imam Ali (a.s.)

Once Imam Ali (a.s.) saw his coat of mail in the possession of a Christian. He took him in the court of a judge named Shurayh so that he might give a decision regarding its ownership. When both of them appeared before the judge Ali (a.s.) said: "This coat of mail is mine. I have neither sold nor gifted it to anyone". The judge asked the other person:
"What have you to say about the claim made by the Commander of the Faithful?" The Christian said: "This
coat of mail is mine. In spite of this, however, I do not consider the Commander of the Faithful to be a liar".
Then the judge Shurayh turned to Ali (a.s.) and said: "Can you produce any witness who should depose that this coat of mail is yours?" Ali (a.s.) smiled and said: "Shurayh is right.I cannot produce any such witness".
The judge gave a judgment in favour of the Christian who took the coat of mail and departed. The Commander of the Faithful kept looking at him from behind. After having gone a few steps, however, he returned and said:
"I testify that such an order resembles the order of the prophets, because one who is the Commander of the
Faithful has appeared along with a person like myself in the court of the judge who is also his subordinate and the judge has given a judgement against him". (Voice of Human Justice, George Jordac)

Wake up for Fajr Salaah

A man woke up early in the morning in order to perform the Fajr Prayer.

He got dressed, made his ablution and was on his way to the Masjid.

On his way to the Masjid, the man fell down and his clothes got dirty.

He got up, brushed himself off, and headed home.

He changed his clothes, made his ablution once again on his way to the Masjid.

On his way he fell again and at the same spot!

He, again, got up, brushed himself off and headed home.

Once again, he changed his clothes, made his ablution and was on his way to the Masjid.

On his way to the Masjid, he met a man holding a lamp.

He asked the man of his identity and the man replied 'I saw you fall twice on your way to the Masjid, so I brought a lamp so I can light your way.'

The first man thanked him profusely and the two where on their way to the Masjid.

Once at the Masjid, the first man asked the man with the lamp to come in and pray Fajr with him. The second man refused.

The first man asked him a couple more times and, again, the answer was the same.

The first man asked him why he did not wish to come in and pray.

The man replied: "I am Shaitaan"(devil/ evil). The man was shocked at this reply.

Shaitan went on to explain:

'I saw you on your way to the Masjid and it was I who made you fall. When you went home, cleaned yourself and went back on your way to the Masjid, Allah forgave all of your sins.

I made you fall a second time, and even that did not encourage you to stay home, but rather, you went back on your way to the Masjid.

Because of that, Allah forgave all the sins of the people of your household.

I was afraid if I made you fall one more time, then Allah will forgive the sins of the people of your village, so I made sure that you reached the Masjid safely..'

So do not let Shaitan benefit from his actions.

Do not put off a good that you intended to do as you never know how much reward

your might receive from the hardships you encounter while trying to achieve that good.

Hijab Reform in the Month of Ramadhan

Ramadan – the month of spiritual reform. It is the month that I finally decided to wear the hijab. My thoughts were full of worries about what would happen if I began to wear it; I would be recognized as a Muslim everywhere I go. Having grown up amongst non-Muslims whilst living in the west made me afraid to express my culture, because I felt I would not be accepted.

Throughout my school years I experienced different forms of discrimination and intolerance, much of it enforcing my fear to wear the hijab. Senior year came and a feeling of emptiness spread inside me. I thought maybe there was something worldly I was missing out on. I knew I was in need of a spiritual change, and that I must begin to wear the hijab, but I ignored it.

I relied on worldly matters to take the feelings of emptiness away. If only I had known of the Hadith of Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq (peace be upon him) in which he said, "This world is like seawater, the more you drink the more you get thirsty." And let us think, what is the effect of seawater on the one who drinks it? There are elements in it which cause insanity. Indeed, relying on worldly things to quench our thirst and solve our problems will cause us nothing but distress.

Throughout those days at school I knew I was committing sin, and I can even remember a moment where I could feel Allah watching me directly. My heart was saddened, but Shaytan told me to ignore it; he was trying to convince me that this world will provide me with all that I needed. Yet Imam Sadiq's words will always ring true - it will never be enough.

As senior year came to an end I felt as if I was awakening form my slumber; my eyes were finally opening, and regret for my actions consumed me. I began to repent to Allah asking Him to bring me back to His Mercy and Love. I gave up music, and this time seriously considered wearing the hijab. I wanted the emptiness to disappear and my thirst to be quenched.

It was in the month of Ramadan that Allah helped me gain the courage to wear it. He allowed me to meet some very encouraging sisters who impacted my life greatly. I began to observe hijab in the second week of Ramadan, and I knew instantly that this was what my heart had been yearning for.

The day I put it on, not a single person spoke against me for wearing it, and it was then that I realized all my fears were whispers of Shaytan. My friends did not question me, and instead I felt I had gained respect. I fell in love with my hijab.

But putting the hijab on was only the beginning. I soon realized it is not just a piece of cloth on my head, but a spiritual journey to the Almighty; I could feel my love of Allah increasing daily. He soon blessed me to go on Ziyarat to visit Lady Zainab (peace be upon her), and upon my return I found within myself a strong craving to gain Islamic knowledge. I began learning what I did not know, and things I once thought I knew.

Let us make this Ramadan one in which we abandon our sinful ways and ask Allah to help us gain nearness to Him in our hearts. To my sisters who are struggling to wear the hijab: if you sincerely ask Allah for help, while also making the effort to change, He will certainly help you in the best of ways. And to my brothers: do remember to lower your gaze.

This world is only temporary, while Love for Allah is eternal. Love for Him is the best of feelings and the highest form of love, for He wants nothing from us, but everything for us - so let us develop the God-consciousness in our hearts to practice all that He has made obligatory, and guard ourselves from all that He has made forbidden.

By Sister AMIRA ALSAREINYE