Professional Documents
Culture Documents
1.Good CarryanInten onsJournaltowritedownyourinten onforany
Inten onsand deed/ac onyouwanttotake.Reviewthisjournalo entocheckyour
Righteousness inten on.Iliketowritemyinten onsbeforestar nganewbig
project.Ithelpskeepthingsinperspec vewhentheprojectgrowsand
Istartfacingchallengesdealingwithit.Itsalwaysagoodreminderto
AndIdidnotcreatethejinnandmankindexceptto askyourself:Whatwasmyinten onbehindthis?
worshipMe.Idonotwantfromthemanyprovision,
nordoIwantthemtofeedMe.Indeed,itisAllah Whenyoullyourdayscheduleorplanyourdays,writedownin
whoisthe[con nual]Provider,thermpossessorof parenthesisyourinten onssoyoureclearwhyyoureworkingon
strength.[Quran:Chapter51,Verses5658] them.
Andenjoinprayeruponyourfamily[andpeople]
andbesteadfasttherein.Weaskyounotfor
provision;Weprovideforyou,andthe[best]
outcomeisfor[thoseof]righteousness.[Quran:
Chapter20,Verse132]
:
"
."
Narrated'UmarbinAlKha ab:Allah'sMessenger(
)said,"Therewardofdeedsdependsuponthe
inten onandeverypersonwillgetthereward
accordingtowhathehasintended.Sowhoever
emigratedforAllahandHisApostle,thenhis
emigra onwasforAllahandHisApostle.And
whoeveremigratedforworldlybenetsorfora
womantomarry,hisemigra onwasforwhathe
emigratedfor."[SahihAlBukhari]
2.Pietyand
BeliefinAllah
Alwaysseekwaystoimproveyourpiety,askingyourselfatdecision
points,isitmorepiousformetofollowthispathornot?
Findamentor/teacher/scholarwhocanalertyouwhenyouseemto
slipinyourpietyandhelpyoumakemorepiousdecisions.
Andifonlythepeopleoftheci eshadbelieved
FindgoodcompanionswhocanremindyouofthepiouspathtoAllah
andfearedAllah,Wewouldhaveopeneduponthem
[swt]
blessingsfromtheheavenandtheearth;butthey
denied[themessengers],soWeseizedthemfor
whattheywereearning."[Quran:Chapter7,Verse
96]
3.Pu ngyour ConstantlysaytheDua(supplica on)ofleavingthehousewhenyou
trustinAllah . leaveyourhousesinceitremindsyoutohavetrustinAllah[swt]as
(Tawakkul) yougoabouttoseekHisboun es.TheduainarabicB ismillaah,
tawakkaltu'alallaah,walaahawlawalaaquwwataillaabillaah.
Transla onIntheNameofAllah,IhaveplacedmytrustinAllah,
thereisnomightandnopowerexceptbyAllah.[AbuDawud4/325,
AndwhoeverfearsAllahHewillmakeforhima AtTirmithi5/490.SeealsoAlAlbani,SahihAtTirmithi3/151]The
wayout.Andwillprovideforhimfromwherehe ProphetMuhammad(Peacebeuponhim)said:Whoeversaysupon
doesnotexpect.AndwhoeverreliesuponAllah goingoutofhishome(theaboveduaa)itissaidtohim:Youhavebeen
thenHeissucientforhim.Indeed,Allahwill suced,protected,andguided,andtheshaytanwouldmoveaside
accomplishHispurpose.Allahhasalreadysetfor fromhim,thensaytoanothershaytan:Whataccessdoyouhavetoa
everythinga[decreed]extent.[Quran:Chapter65, manthathasbeenguided,suced,andprotected?[ReportedbyAbu
Verses23] dawood,AnNisaee,andAtTirmithi]
Whenfacedwithachallengingtask/ac on/mee ng/assignment;do
yourbesttoovercomethechallengeandremindyourselfofyour
tawakkulandtrustinAllah[swt]
"
"
ProphetMuhammad[saw]said:Ifonlyyourelied
onAllah[swt]atruereliance,He[swt]would
providesustenanceforyoujustasHe[swt]doesthe
birds:Theyyoutinthemorningemptyandreturn
inthea ernoonwithfullstomachs.[Ahmad,
[AnNasaI,IbnMajah,AlHakimandAtTirmidhi
neverbeboredfromreci ngtheQuran.
Remember,itistheSpeechofAllah[swt].Each meyoureciteit,you
arelisteningtoHim!
Reci ngSurat
AlBaqarah Recita onofSuratalBaqarahisavailableinparts.Listentothem
whiletravelling,beforesleeping...etc.Themoreyoufamiliarize
yourselfwiththeSurah,theeasieritwillbeforyoutorecite.
Selectapar cular me/salahforreci ngsuratalBaqarah(orsome
" partsofit)
MemorizeandreciteAyatulKursi(Verse255ofSuratalBaqarah)a er
eachSalah,adhan,whileleaving/enteringthehouse,andbefore
sleeping.
."
. Memorizeandrecitethelast2ayatsofSuratalBaqarahbefore
sleeping:MessengerofAllah[saw]said:Whoeverrecitesthelasttwo
VersesofSuratAlBaqarahatnight,thatwillbesucientforhim.
AbuUmamasaidheheardAllah'sMessenger() [SunanIbnMajah]
say:
RecitetheQur'an,forontheDayofResurrec onit
willcomeasanintercessorforthosewhoreciteIt.
Recitethetwobrightones,alBaqaraandSurahAl
'Imran,forontheDayofResurrec ontheywillcome
astwocloudsortwoshades,ortwoocksofbirdsin
ranks,pleadingforthosewhorecitethem.Recite
SurahalBaqara,fortotakerecoursetoitisa
blessingandtogiveitupisacauseofgrief,andthe
magicianscannotconfrontit.(Mu'awiyasaid:Ithas
beenconveyedtomethathereBatalameans
magicians.)[SahihMuslim]
Applyingthe
Quran ReadtheQur'anwithtransla ontounderstandthemeaningofthe
verseswhilereci ngthem.
A endahalaqathatarestudyingtheQurananddiscusswaysto
implementtheversesyourereci ng.
Andifonlytheyupheld[thelawof]theTorah,the Makealistofverseswhichhavedirectimplica onsonyourlife.Pick
Gospel,andwhathasbeenrevealedtothemfrom oneverseaday,andtrytoactuponit.
theirLord,theywouldhaveconsumed[provision]
fromabovethemandfrombeneaththeirfeet. ListentothetafseeroftheQuranfromascholarandtakeprac cal
Amongthemareamoderatecommunity,butmany lessonsfromit.
ofthemevilisthatwhichtheydo.[Qur'an:
Chapter5,Verse66]
5. Saying
Remembrance Bismillah BeconsciousofsayingB ismillahinallyourac vi es,andrepeatit
ofAllah : o ensoitbecomeshabitualforyourtonguetomen onit.Ifyou
": forgottosayB
ismillaha tthebeginning,saywhattheProphettaught
: us:Aishah[ranha]reported:ProphetMuhammad[saw]said,"When
anyofyouwantstoeat,heshouldmen ontheNameofAllahinthe
: beginning,(i.e.,sayBismillah).Ifheforgetstodoitinthebeginning,
: " heshouldsayB ismillahawwalahuwaakhirahu(IbeginwiththeName
ofAllahatthebeginningandattheend).''[AtTirmidhiandAbu
Dawud].
Jabir(mayAllahbepleasedwithhim)said:Iheard
Learnothersupplica onsforthedierentsitua onswefacedaily.Just
ProphetMuhammad(Peacebeuponhim)say:"Ifa
likewerekeeponfeedingourbodiesinthemorning,weshouldalso
personmen onstheNameofAllahuponentering
befeedingoursoulswithremembrance.
hishouseorea ng,Satansays,addressinghis
followers:Youwillndnowheretospendthenight
Makesuretorecitetheadkharalsabahwalmasa(Supplica onsof
andnodinner.'Butifheenterswithoutmen oning
theMorningandtheEvening).Youcandownloadthem,ndthem
theNameofAllah,Satansays[Tohisfollowers];'You
onlineorgetapocketsizeHisnulMuslimtokeepthemwithyou
havefound[Aplace]tospendthenightin,andifhe
always.Thisactsasashieldforyoufrommanyharmsandkeepsin
doesnotmen ontheNameofAllahatthe meof
connec onwithAllahandinHisprotec on.
ea ng,Satansays:Youhavefound[Aplace]to
spendthenightinaswellasfood."[SahihMuslim]
Is ghfaar
(Seeking " Ac onstodouponsinning:
Forgiveness) "
1.Stopthesinanddonotcarryon.
2.Regretdeeplyandtrulythesinyoucommi ed.
Prophet[saw]said:Ifanyonecon nuallyasks
forgivenessfromAllah,Allahwillappointforhima 3.SeekforgivenessofAllah[swt].
wayoutofeverydistress,andarelieffromevery 4.Makeastronginten onnevertoreturntothatsamesinagain.
anxiety,andwillprovideforhimfromwherehedid 5.Performagooddeedtomakeupforthesin.
notreckon.
A ereachsalah,seekforgiveness.
.
. MakeitahabittoseektheforgivenessofAllah[swt]wheneveryou
receiveablessingorwhensomethinggoodhappenstoyou,and
rememberwhatAllah(SWT)taughttheProphettosaywhenVictory
comes:
"Andsaid,'AskforgivenessfromyourLord;Verily,He WhenthevictoryofAllahhascomeandtheconquest,Andyouseethe
isO Forgiving.Hewillsendraintoyouin peopleenteringintothereligionofAllahinmul tudes,Thenexalt[Him]with
abundance.Andgiveyouincreaseinwealthand praiseofyourLordandaskforgivenessofHim.Indeed,HeiseverAccep ngof
children,andbestowonyougardensandbestowon repentance.[Qur'an:Chapter110]
yourivers.[Qur'an:Chapter71,Verses1012]
MakeitahabittopraytahajjudandseekingHisforgiveness.
A errepea ngtheadhan,seekforgiveness.
Wheneveryoufeelblue,seekAllah's[swt]forgiveness:
Allah'sMessenger[saw]said:
Thereis(at mes)somesortofshadeuponmyheart,andIseekforgiveness
fromAllah[swt]ahundred mesaday.[SahihMuslim]
NarratedShaddadbinAus[ranhu]:
TheProphet[saw]said"Themostsuperiorwayofaskingforforgivenessfrom
Allah[swt]is:'A
llahummaantaRabbilailahaillaanta,AntaKhalaqtaniwa
anaAbduka,waana'alaahdikawawa'dikamastata'tu,A`udhubikamin
Sharrimasana'tu,abu'uLakabini'ma ka'alaiya,waabu'ulakabidhanbi
faghrleefainnahulayaghruadhdhunubaillaanta"(OAllah!Youaremy
Lord!NonehastherighttobeworshippedbutYou.YoucreatedmeandIam
Yourslave,andIamfaithfultomycovenantandmypromiseasmuchasIcan.I
seekrefugewithYoufromalltheevilIhavedone.IacknowledgebeforeYouall
theblessingsYouhavebestoweduponme,andIconfesstoYouallmysins.SoI
entreatYoutoforgivemysins,fornobodycanforgivesinsexceptYou)
TheProphet[saw]added."Ifsomebodyrecitesitduringthedaywithrmfaith
init,anddiesonthesamedaybeforetheevening,hewillbefromthepeople
ofParadise;andifsomebodyrecitesitatnightwithrmfaithinit,anddies
beforethemorning,hewillbefromthepeopleofParadise."[SahihalBukhari]
AimforaspecicnumberofsalawateachFridays(e.g.100or1000)
thiswillhelpyoumeasureyourprogressandincreaseSalawatevery
Friday.
Sendsalawatbeforesleepingora ermakingwudhu.
Sendsalawata erreci ngtheQur'an.
10
Developthehabitofinvi ngpeopleyouknowordontknowatleast
onceaweek(toyourspecial meabove)andusethatopportunityto
givedawah,networkwithpeople,and/orlearnsomethingnew.
TheCompanionsoftheProphet[saw]said:
MessengerofAllah[saw]weeatbutwearenot
sa sed.Hesaid:Perhapsyoueatseparately.They
replied:Yes.Hesaid:Ifyougathertogetheratyour
foodandmen onAllah'sname,youwillbeblessed
[init.[SunanAbiDawud
Eatwithout
was ng Takesmallservingsoffood.
":
Giveyourself20minutesbeforegoingforasecondhelping.
Eatfromthecornerofyourplateorsmallpor onssothatle overs
" canbetakenhome/storedfreshandconsumedforthenextmealor
transformedtoanotherfoodortoservebirdsoranimals.
MessengerofAllah[saw]said,"Satanappearsat Slicefruitsorvegetablesratherthanconsumingasawhole.
everythingdonebyyou;heappearsevenatone's
dinner.Whenamorselofanyofyoufalls,heshould
pickitupandremoveanydirtonit,andtheneatit.
HeshouldnotleaveitforSatan,norshouldhewipe
hishandwiththetowelun lhehaslickedhis
11
ngers,forhedoesnotknowinwhatpor onofthe
foodtheblessinglies."[Muslim]
Ea ngfrom
thesidesand PlaceareminderinthediningareaoftheIslamice que esofea ng
bo omof "
dish "
TheProphet[saw]said:Whenoneofyoueats,he
mustnoteatfromthetopofthedish,butshould
eatfromthebo om;fortheblessingdescendsfrom
[thetopofit.[SunanAbiDawud
"
"
ItwasnarratedfromIbnAbbasthattheMessenger
ofAllah[saw]said:Whenfoodisserved,takefrom
thesidesandleavethemiddle,fortheblessing
descendsinthemiddle.[SunanIbnMajah]
12
Breakingfast Adddatestothegrocerylistastherstitem.
withdatefruit
Whenathome,servedatesandwaterrstandthena erSalah,serve
": thei ar.
": "
: ))." : Carrydatesinasmallpacketifyoubreakfastatoceorontheway.
.((
TheProphet[saw]said,"Whenyoubreakfast,you
shoulddoitwithadatefruitforthereisblessingin
it,andifyoudonotndadatefruit,breakitwith
waterforitispure."MessengerofAllah[saw]
added:"Charitytowardsapoorpersonischarity,
andtowardsarela onisbothcharityand
[maintainingthe es(ofkinship)".[Tirmidh]i
Suhoor
Ifyoureplanningtofast,dontstartyourfastwithoutsuhoor,evenif
itsjustaglassofwater.
." "
13
TheProphet[saw]said,"TakeSuhurasthereisa
[blessinginit."[SahihalBukhari
Zamzam Aboutzamzam,theProphet[saw]said,
IfyouknowsomebodygoingforHajj/Umrah;askthemtobringyou
someZamzam.Thatsthebestsouvenir/gi theycanbringyou.
Itisblessed(water)anditalsoservesasfood.
[SahihMuslimh p://sunnah.com/muslim/44/189]
7.Dua Whenyouasksomeonetomakeduaforyou,especiallyyourparents,
askthemtomakeduathatAllahgrantsyoubarakahinyourlife.Its
thebestduayoucouldaskfor!Dontaskforthejob,spouseor
childrenbutaskforBarakahinthoserequests.
." " . S cktothesunnahsupplica onsduringthedayandnight,pickup
FortressofaMuslim(orvisitmakedua.com)andlearntheduasthat
aretobemadeduringdierent mesofthedayandduringdierent
14
ac vi es.
.
Inyourdailyduasatdierent mes,askAllah[swt]forbarakahand
makeitoneofyourpriorityduasfortherestofyourlife.
AnasBinMalikreported:MymotherUmmAnas
cametoProphetMuhammad(Peacebeuponhim)
andshepreparedmylowergarmentoutofthehalf
ofherheaddressand(withtheotherhalf)she
coveredmyupperbodyandsaid:Allah'sMessenger,
hereismysonUnais;Ihavebroughthimtoyoufor
servingyou.InvokeblessingsofAllahuponhim.
Thereuponhe(ProphetMuhammad)said:OAllah,
makeanincreaseinhiswealth,andprogeny.Anas
saidyearslaterwhenhewasold:ByAllah,my
fortuneishugeandmychildren,andgrandchildren
arenowmorethanonehundred.[SahihMuslim]
Honestyin
8.Earning Trade KeepaleinyourhousewithInvoices/receiptsofallmajoritemsyou
Halal& : . : boughtforyourself/homeorbusiness.Aswellasalewithall
Contentment ": invoices/receiptsformaintenanceyouveperformedontheseitems.
ofWealth Thiswouldhelpyougiveanaccuratehistoryoftheitemwhenyouare
( ))" ) abouttosellandhowmany mesyouvexeditandwhatarethe
issuesitfaced.
MessengerofAllah[saw]said:"Bothpar esina Formajoritemssuchasacar/house,itsbesttogetanindependent
businesstransac onhavearighttoannulitsolong 3rdopiniononthecondi onoftheitembeforea emp ngtosellit.
15
EarningHalal
Income Beforeyouacceptanewpost/job;checkhowhalalitis.Ensurethat
youunderstandexactlywhatyoullbedoingandaskascholarto
ensurethatyourroleishalalandyourjobishalal.
"
):
RememberthatifyouleavesomethingforAllah[swt],e.g.Aharam
( job,ProphetMuhammad(Peacebeuponhim)promisedthatAllah
."(
[swt]willreplaceitforyouforsomethingbe er.TheProphet(peace
andblessingsofAllahbeuponhim)said:Whoevergivesup
. somethingforthesakeofAllah,Allahwillcompensatehimwith
somethingbe erthanit.[ClassedassaheehbyalAlbaani].
MessengerofAllah[saw]said:"Oyoupeople!
IndeedAllahisTayyib(good)andhedoesnotaccept
butwhatisgood.AndindeedAllahorderedthe
believerswithwhatHeorderedtheMessengers.He
16
[saw]said:'OyouMessengers!Eatofthegood
thingsanddorighteousdeeds.VerilyIamwell
acquaintedwithwhatyoudo(23:51).'AndHesaid:
'Oyouwhobelieve!EatfromthegoodthingsWe
haveprovidedyou(2:172).'Hesaid:"Andhe
men onedaman:'Whoisundertakingalong
journey,whosehairisdishevelledandheiscovered
withdust.Heraiseshishandstotheheavensand
says:"OLord!OLord!"Yethisfoodisfromthe
unlawful,hisdrinkisfromtheunlawful,hisclothing
isfromtheunlawful,andhewasnourishedbythe
unlawful.Sohowcanthatbeaccepted?'"[Jami`
[atTirmidhi
Beingcontent
withHalal Priori zeyourneedsandwantsandnotedownwhytheyare
Income importantandfulllthemaccordingly.
Lookatthepeoplebelowinworldlyma erstorealizehowblessed
" youareinfact:
Messenger[saw]said:"Whoeverlookstooneabovehimforhis
" religion,andfollowshiminit,andwhoeverlookstoonewhoisbelow
himinworldlyma ers,andpraisesAllahfortheblessingsHehas
favoredtheonewhoisabovehimwith,thenAllahwriteshimdownas
NarratedHakimbinHizam: gratefulandpa ent."[Jami'atTirmidhi]
17
IaskedtheProphet(forsomemoney)andhegave
me,andthenagainIaskedhimandhegaveme,and
thenagainIaskedhimandhegavemeandhethen
said,"Thiswealthis(like)greenandsweet(fruit),
andwhoevertakesitwithoutgreed,Allahwillbless
itforhim,butwhoevertakesitwithgreed,Allahwill
notblessitforhim,andhewillbeliketheonewho
eatsbutisneversa sed.Andtheupper(giving)
handisbe erthanthelower(taking)hand."
[[SahihalBukhari
9.Gra tudeto Makeitapointthatwheneveryoustartyourdua,yourststartby
Allah
praisingandthankingAllah[swt]forthefavoursHebestowedupon
you.
Countyourblessings:Althoughonecannevercountallhis/her
blessings,buteventhefu lea empttocountonesblessingswill
18
19
Allowotherstobeapartofyourblessing:Donotsharetheblessings
boas ully,butshareitmoderatelywithothersinawaythatwill
benetthem.Whilege ngabonusunexpectedly,buyamealfora
homelessperson,forexample.
Ifyouhaveknowledgeinsomething,sharetheknowledgewithothers
withtheinten onofhelpingthem.
Acknowledgethehelpyoureceivefromothersandtrulymeanitwhen
youappreciatesomeonefortheirsupport.Thishelpsyourealizethat
Allah[swt]hasplacedgoodpeoplearoundyou.
10.Charity Lookverycarefullyathowyouspendyour me&money(yourtwo
mostpreciousresources)andaskyourselfhowcanIgivesomeof
theseresourcesincharity.
" "
Trytondcharityactsthatcanbedoneregularly:Prophet
Muhammad[saw]said:"ThebestloveddeedstoAllaharetheones
20
21
11. Makeaninten ontoperformHajj/Umrah.
Hajj/Umrah
SaveasmallamountdailyoreachmonthforperformingHajj/Umrah.
"
"
22
Prophet[saw]said:
PerformHajjandUmrah,onea ertheother,for
performingthemonea ertheotherremoves
povertyandsinasthebellowsremovesimpurity
fromiron.[SunanIbnMajah]
Maintaining
12.Family TiesofKinship Findoutwhoyourrela vesare&theircontactdetails:Thisisan
obviousrststep,butmanypeopleskipitoutofembarrassmentof
admi ngthattheydontknowalltheirrela ves.Haveasitdownwith
" yourparentsandaskthemabouttheirbrothers/sisters/uncles/aunts,
etc.Drawafamilytreeandkeepadigitalcopyonyourcomputeroron
. ." apaper.
." "
Findouttheircontactdetails:Whetheritsaphonenumber,anemail
address,Facebookprole,MSNmessenger,SkypeorTwi erID!
AbuHurairahnarratedthattheMessengerofAllah Updateyouraddressbookaccordingly.Youllprobablynditeasierto
said: getthisinforma onthroughyourparents,butyoucanalsotrywith
cousins,unclesandaunts.
"Learnenoughaboutyourlineagetofacilitate
keepingyour esofkinship.Forindeedkeepingthe Getintouch:Ifyourrela vesareusinganyoftheonlinesocialtools,
esofkinshipencouragesaec onamongthe getintouchwiththemonlinewithasimplesalam.Imsuretheyllbe
rela ves,increasesthewealth,andincreasesthe pleasantlysurprisedtohearfromyou(whodoesnotliketomeet
lifespan."[Jami`atTirmidhi] someoneonlinetheyactuallyrelateto?!).Ifagoodoldphonecallis
theonlywaytogetintouchwiththemandifyoudontknowthem
verywell,ratherthanmakingacoldphonecall,startbreakingtheice
bysendingthemregulartextmessagestotheirmobilephonesending
23
withyournameandperhapsasonofsoandsoordaughterofso
andsosotheycanrecognizeyou.A erawhile,givethemacall
(eitherwithyourparentsaroundtoeasetheintroduc on)oronyour
ownandinquireaboutyourtextmessages;).Therearelotsofother
waysofbreakingtheicethisisjustanexample.
Interviewthegrangrans:Illneverforgetaninterviewmysisterhad
withmygrandfatherfewyearsbeforehepassedaway.Itwasamoving
interviewabouthislifestoryandonethatouren refamilycherishes.
Theressomuchwisdom,experience,lessonsthatcanbelearntfrom
ourelders.Justsitwiththem,askthemsomeques onsandpress
record.Noneedtomakeitformal,justsitandlisten.
Visit/invitefori ar:Ifyourrela vesareinthesamecity,youshould
inviteeachothertoi ar.Ifparentsarentkeenbecauseofissues
betweenrela ves,trytodoitamongsttheyoungstersorthe
cousins.Thenatthei aryoucandiscussvariouswaystoresolve
familyfeudsandstayintouchwiththefamily.
Setupinternet/videochat:Next meyouvisitbackhome,thefamily
village,oryourgrandparentshouse,takewithyouoneofthelatest
electronicnotebookswithafrontfacingvideocameraandSkype(they
arerela velycheapandpre yrobust).Findouthowyoucansetup
internet(ideallywireless)foryourfamilythereandteachthemthe
simplestepsofmakingSkypecalls/videocalls.Oncetheygureitout,
forgetlongdistancecalls,Skypewouldbethenextthinginthevillage!
24
Spendcharity/zakatonthem:Unfortunately,thesedaysalotof
Muslimshaveforgo enaboutspendingcharity/zakatontheirpoor
rela vesandfamilymembers.Imnotsureifitsembarrassmentor
fearthattherela vemaystartrelyingonusfortheirwellbeingor
isitourlazinessandoverrelianceoninterna onalcharity
organisa onstodeliverourZakatandSadaqah.Whateveritis,we
havenoexcuse.Especiallywhenwehaveclearinstruc onsfromAllah
[swt]thatourchari es/zakatshouldbeforourrela vesaswellasthe
poorandneedyinotherpartsoftheworld.Infact,scholarsemphasize
thatweshouldpriori zeourchari es/socketsoitgoestothose
closesttousrstthentothewiderMuslimcommunity.Thereareways
ofdoingthisprac cally,includinggivingyoursadaqahtothepoor
rela vethroughanothermemberofthefamilywhosmoresenior,or
youcouldsponsoroneofyourpoorrela vesBIGexpenses,e.g.their
childseduca onoramedicalopera on,etc.
Bethefocalpointforyourfamily:Ifyouimplementsomeofthe
adviceabove,youllsoonbeTHEfocalpointforfamily es/mee ngs
foryourfamily.Happilytakethisresponsibilityandtrytoarrange
variousac vi esforyourfamily,e.g.arrangingfamilytrips,draw
familytreeday,familyfundraisingforanIslamicproject,e.g.
mosque/orphanage,etc.
Resolveoldissuesonceandforall:Oncethingsstartwarmingup
betweenrela vesandyoucanseeanopportunitytoresolveold
issues,trytoresolvethemformally,ideallythroughaseniormember.
Youcana empttodothatinRamadangiventhemaqamofthe
month.Peoplewillbehappytoforget/forgiveduringRamadan/Eid
25
andhopefullyrestarttheirrela onshipsonceagainonthebasisof
love,mercyandIhsaan,inshaAllah.
SayingSalam
toFamily
WheneveryoucallaMuslimespecialyafamilymember,saysalam
rstinsteadofHiorHello.
" Wheneveryouenter/leaveyourhouse,makeitahabittosaysalam,
. ." evenifnooneisthere.
Pasteas ckerontheentrancetoremindyoutosaysalam,ifit'sso
diculttoremember.
Messenger[saw]said:"Dearson,whenyouenter
yourhouse,sayAsSalamu'Alaikumtoyourfamily,
foritwillbeablessingbothtoyouandtoyour
family."[AtTirmidhi].
Elders
Listentothem:Make meandlistentowhattheyhavetosay,their
storiesetc.
"
." Make meandaccompanythemfortheirrou necheckups.
Decidea"grand" meandaskthechildrentospendsome mewith
theirgrandparents.
MessengerofAllahsaid:
26
"Noyoungpersonhonorsanelderduetohisage, Teachthechildrenofthehousetoaccompanythemforawalk.
exceptthatAllahappointsforhimonewhowill
honorhimatthatage."[Jami'atTirmidhi] Askforadviceorshareyourworrieswiththeelders.
Chooseadaytopayavisittothemortospend mewiththem.
Volunteeringatthelocalre rementhomeifyouareawayfromthe
elderlyofyourfamily.
"Theblessing(barakah)iswiththeeldersamong
you."[IbnHebban&Hakim]
Spiritualtools:Wakingupfortahajjud+fajr
13.Wakingup
Early
KnowwhoAllah[swt]is:T hisisthekeyandnumberonetoolto
" " wakingupforFajr.Ifyouknowwhoyoureworshipping,andyouknow
thatHerequeststhatyougetupinthemorningandpraytoHim,
youllwakeup.ItsourlackofunderstandingofwhoAllahisthat
makesuslazy.KnowyourLord,thatskey.
MessengerofAllah[saw]said:
"OAllah,blessmyna onintheirearlymornings Sincerity:Besincereaboutwakingupforfajr,dontjustsayto
(i.e.,whattheydoearlyinthemorning)."[SunanIbn yourself:InshaAllah,itllbeniceifIwakeupforfajrbesincereabout
Majah] it,andsay:IwillwakeupforfajrInditusefulsome mestotalkto
myselfaboutitbeforegoingtosleepandsay:Iwillwakeupforfajr,i
27
dontcarehow,butIlldenitelywill!
*SomethingthatALWAYSworkistotakeappointmentwithAllah[swt].
Beforeyougotosleep,tellAllah,IwanttomeetyouatFajr.Allah
isTheOneinWhosehandsisyoursoul,HeistheOnewhocansend
thissoulbackatFajr meforyoutowakeupandpray.Ifyousincerely
toldAllahIwanttomeetyouOAllahandspeaktoyouatFajr,then
HeWILLwakeyouup.Guaranteed.AllahlovesHisSlavesandHehelps
themwhentheysincerelyask.Tryit!
Wudubeforesleep:IbnAbbas[ranhu]reportedthatAllahs
Messenger[saw]said:PurifythesebodiesandAllahwillpurifyyou,
forthereisnoslavewhogoestosleepinastateofpuritybutanAngel
spendsthenightwithhim,andevery meheturnsover,[theAngel]
says,OAllah!ForgiveYourslave,forhewenttobedinastateof
purity.Doyouthinkthatsuchapersonwouldbele tooversleepand
missfajr?
WitrPrayer+Dua:M akesureyoudontsleepbeforeperformingyour
witrprayer,andsupplicatetoAllahduringyourWitrprayertohelpyou
wakeupforFajr,remember,YouAloneweWorship,andYouAlone
weSeekhelpfrom
ReadsomeQuran:E ndingthedaywithversesoftheNobleQuran
willsureputyourfocusstraightonwakingupforSalah.Itis
recommendedtoreadSuratAlMulk(Chapter67)beforegoingto
sleep.
28
RememberAllah[swt]beforeyougotosleep:T hisispartoftherst
pointImade,andyoucanndallthesupplica onsyouneedtorecite
beforegoingtosleep.Youmightneedtoprintthemoandreadthem
opaperatrst,butwithinaweekortwoyoushouldbeableto
memorizethemfullyandjustrecitethembeforedozingo.
Remembertherewardsa achedtoTahajjudandFajrprayers:f rom
beingsafefromhypocricy,tohavinglightonthedayofjudgement,to
beingunderAllahsprotec onthewholeday,tohavinglaziness
removedfromusthatdayandbeingproduc ve.Rememberthese
rewardsandyoullsurewakeup.
Othertools:
1.5hourssleeprule:A aaah..heresasecrettrick,theresatheoryin
thesleepsciencethatsaysthateveryhumanbeingcompletesan
en resleepcyclein1.5hours,therefore,ifyoucanwakeupattheend
ofamul pleof1.5hours(e.g.1.5hours,or3hours,or4.5hours..etc)
youllwakeupfreshandrejuvenated.Otherwise,youllwakeuplazy.
Soiffajrisat5am,andyousleepat12am,makesureyousetyour
alarmat4.30am,becausethatgivesyou4.5hourstosleep.(Ofcourse,
ifyoutake1/2anhourtofallasleep,youmightneedtoaddthatinto
account).
Napinthea ernoon:Anotherlifehack,takenfromtheSunnahand
recommendedbymany,makesureyounapinthea ernoon,forjust
20minutes!yup,just20minutes.Trustme,forthepast3years,Ive
29
masteredthe20minnap,andevery meitneverfailstorejuvenate
me.Ifyouneedtotrainyourselftonapforthatlong,Ihighly
recommendwww.pzizz.com,awonderfulso warethattrainsyoufor
theseshortnaps,itswhatIusedtotrainmyself.
Promiseyourselfagrandbreakfastifyouwakeupearly:Ima
breakfastguy,soifIwakeupearly,Isureliketohaveabigbreakfast.
Some mesilookforwardtomybreakfastfromthea ernoonbefore,
andjustlikeasmallreward,treatyourselftoamassivebreakfastinthe
morning.Itlldenitelysetyourdaystraightaswell,inshaAllah.
14.Marriage Learnaboutmarriageandreadaboutit.Notjustbeforemarriage,but
evenduringmarriageanda er.Alwaysseekwaystoimproveyour
rela onshipandmakeithealthierandhappier.
Understandyourspouseslovelanguageandtrytospeakthesame
Andmarrytheunmarriedamongyouandthe language.IlearntthisfromDr.GaryChapmansfamousbook The5
righteousamongyourmaleslavesandfemale LoveLanguageswhichIhighlyrecommendallmarriedcouplesto
slaves.Iftheyshouldbepoor,Allahwillenrichthem read.
fromHisbounty,andAllahisallEncompassingand
Knowing.[Qur'an:Chapter24,Verse32] Ifyourmarriageisintrouble,seekwaystoresolveitinthebest
possiblemanner.Dontlettheemo onallychargedsitua onsleadyou
toinictharmagainsteachotherthatllbearscarsforyearstocome.
Rememberthatshaytaanistryingtodestroyyourmarriage,dontgive
himtheopportunity.
30
Praying LearnaboutSalah,howtoperformitproperlyandunderstandthatits
15.Salah regular aconnec onbetweenyouandyourLord.
prayers
PrepareforSalahearly,assoonastheAthan(CalltoPrayer)goeso,
anddontneglectitorworseforgetaboutit.
Andenjoinprayeruponyourfamily[andpeople]
Carrywithyouaportableprayermat,andloadyourphonewithapps
andbesteadfasttherein.Weaskyounotfor
totellyouofprayer mesandQibla(Makkah)direc on.
provision;Weprovideforyou,andthe[best]
outcomeisfor[thoseof]righteousness.[Qur'an:
Chapter20,Verse132]
Praying
Is khara
"
Everyday,youprobablyhavetomakesomekindofadecisionduringthatday,
makeitahabitthateachdayatacertain meyoullprayis kharaonthe
decisionsyouneedtomakeduringthenextday.
31
"
OntheauthorityofJaabirIbnAbdullah[ranhu]he
said: TheProphet[saw]wouldinstructustopray
forguidanceinallofourconcerns,justashewould
teachusachapterfromtheQuran.He(peacebe
uponhim)wouldsay:Ifanyofyouintendsto
undertakeama erthenlethimpraytwo
supererogatoryunits(tworakahop onalnal)of
prayeranda erwhichheshouldsupplicate:O
Allah,IseekYourcounselbyYourknowledgeandby
YourpowerIseekstrengthandIaskYoufromYour
immensefavour,forverilyYouareablewhileIam
notandverilyYouknowwhileIdonotandYouare
theKnoweroftheunseen.OAllaah,ifYouknowthis
aairandherehemen onshisneedtobegood
formeinrela ontomyreligion,mylife,andend,
thendecreeandfacilitateitforme,andblessme
withit,andifYouknowthisaairtobeillforme
towardsmyreligion,mylife,andend,thenremove
itfrommeandremovemefromit,anddecreefor
mewhatisgoodwhereveritbeandmakeme
.sa sedwithsuch
[SahihBukhari]
32
Praying Makesuretopraythe12voluntaryrakastoearntheirpriceless
voluntary reward!
prayers
TheProphet[saw]says:
WhoeverpersistsinperformingtwelveRakahfromtheSunnah,a
housewillbebuiltforhiminParadise:fourbeforetheZuhr,two
Andfrom[partof]thenight,praywithitas Rakaha erZuhr,twoRakaha erMaghrib,twoRakaha ertheIsha
addi onal[worship]foryou;itisexpectedthatyour andtwoRakahbeforeFajr.[S unanIbnMajah]
Lordwillraiseyoutoapraisedsta on.[Quran:
[Chapter17,Verse79 Prepareasalahchecklistifitllhelpyoukeeptrackofallprayers.
Pray2rakas+1witra er'ishadailyasQiyamprayer.
Usethebreaksyoutaketoperformvoluntaryprayerslikeduhaorsalat
alwudhu:
NarratedAbuHuraira[ranhu]:
Atthe meoftheFajrprayertheProphet[saw]askedBilal[ranhu],
"Tellmeofthebestdeedyoudida erembracingIslam,forIheard
yourfootstepsinfrontofmeinParadise."Bilal[ranhu]replied,"Idid
"
notdoanythingworthmen oningexceptthatwheneverIperformed
"
ablu onduringthedayornight,Iprayeda erthatablu onasmuch
aswaswri enforme."[SahihalBukhari]
NarratedAbdullahibnUmar[ranhu]:
33
TheProphet[saw]said:MayAllahshowmercytoa
manwhopraysfourrak'ahsbeforethea ernoon
prayer.[SunanAbiDawud]
Makkah
16.Places Makeitaprioritytopayavisittotheseplaces.
Learnandwatchvideosaboutthemtomo vateyourselftogo.
Indeed,therstHouse[ofworship]establishedfor Whenplanningtotravel,decidearoutetoincludesuchplaces.
mankindwasthatatMakkahblessedanda
guidancefortheworlds.[Qur'an:Chapter3,Verse
96]
Medinah
"
."
.
TheProphet[saw]said,"OAllah!BestowonMedina
".twicetheblessingsYoubestowedonMecca
[SahihalBukhari]
34
Blessedplaces
[Quds]
ExaltedisHewhotookHisServantbynightfrom
alMasjidalHaramtoalMasjidalAqsa,whose
surroundingsWehaveblessed,toshowhimofOur
signs.Indeed,HeistheHearing,theSeeing.[Qur'an:
Chapter17,Verse1]
Ramadan
17.Timeswith
Barakah PrepareascheduleforRamadanandmakeitproduc ve!
Indeed,Wesentitdownduringablessed AskAllah[swt]toacceptyouribadahandaskwhatyouwantwhile
night[Qur'an:Chapter44,Verse3] breakingthefast.
Providefoodforotherstobreakfast:
35
TheMessengerofAllahsaid:"Whoeverprovidesthefoodforafas ngperson
tobreakhisfastwith,thenforhimisthesamerewardashis(thefas ng
person's),withoutanythingbeingdiminishedfromtherewardofthefas ng
person."[Jami'atTirmidhi]
Carrysomedateswithyousothatyoucanbreakfastwithdateson
measwellasgiveittoanotherpersonwhiletravelingetc.
Helpyourmother/wifetopreparefoodtogainthisreward.
Invitehomelesspeople,neighbours,rela vesetc.fori ar.
Dayof'Arafah Itisadayofimmensebarakahforthosewhoarenotperforminghajjtoo.
Fas ngonthedayofArafa:
MessengerofAllah[saw]said:
" Fas ngontheDayofArafah,IhopefromAllah,expiatesforthesins
oftheyearbeforeandtheyeara er.[SunanIbnMajah]
"
Makealotofsupplica ons:
Prophet[saw]said:
A'isha[ranha]reportedAllah'sMessenger[saw]as
Thebestofsupplica onisthesupplica onoftheDayofArafah."
saying:
[Jami'atTirmidhi]
"ThereisnodaywhenGodsetsfreemoreservants
fromHellthantheDayof'Arafa.Hedrawsnear,
36
thenpraisesthemtotheangels,saying:'Whatdo Recitealotoftakbeer(AllahuAkbar),hamd(alhamdulillah),tahleel(la
thesewant?'"[SahihMuslim] ilahaillaAllah)andtasbeeh(subhanAllah)
SeekforgivenessofAllah[swt]onthatday!
LastThirdof
EveryNight Haveaspecialduathatyouonlymakeinthelastthirdofthenight.
PraytahajjudandreciteaportionoftheQur'an:
"
." Arise[topray]thenight,exceptforalittleHalfofitorsubtractfrom
italittle.Oraddtoit,andrecitetheQur'anwithmeasuredrecitation.
[Qur'an:Chapter73,Verses24]
Allah'sMessenger[saw]said,"OurLord,the
Blessed,theSuperior,comeseverynightdownon
thenearestHeaventouswhenthelastthirdofthe
nightremains,saying:"Isthereanyonetoinvoke
Me,sothatImayrespondtoinvoca on?Isthere
anyonetoaskMe,sothatImaygranthimhis
request?IsthereanyoneseekingMyforgiveness,so
thatImayforgivehim?"[SahihalBukhari]
DayofAshura
Fastonthedayof'Ashura
37
Fastthepreviousorthenextdayof'Ashura
Itwasnarratedfrom'Ubaidullah[ranhu]that:
heheardIbn'Abbas[ranhu],whenhewasasked
aboutthefastof'Ashura'say:"Idonotknowthat
theProphet[saw]fastedanydaybecauseofits
virtue,exceptthisday"meaningthemonthof
RamadanandthedayofAshura.'[SunananNasa'i]
Timebetween
adhanand SendsalawattoProphet[saw]
iqama
Recite:R abbanaaathinadunyahasanathan,walakhirathi
"
" hasanathan,waqinaadhabannaar
Askforsomethingyouneedurgentlythat me.
NarratedAnasibnMalik[ranhu]:
Thesupplica onmadebetweentheadhanandthe
iqamahisnotrejected.[SunanAbiDawud]
Rain
38
NarratedAisha[ranha]:
WheneverAllah'sMessenger[saw]sawtherain,heusedtosay,"O
: ":
Allah!Letitbeastrongfrui ulrain."[SahihalBukhari]
: ."
SeekforgivenessofAllah[swt]
:
AskAllah[swt]whatyouwant
NarratedSahlibnSa'd[ranhu]:
TheProphet[saw]said:Two(prayers)arenot
rejected,orseldomrejected:Prayeratthe meof
thecalltoprayer,and(theprayer)atthe meof
gh ng,whenthepeoplegrapplewitheachother.
Musa[ranhu]said:RizqibnSa'idibnAbdurRahman
reportedfromAbuHazimontheauthorityofSahl
ibnSa'd[ranhum]fromtheProphet[saw]assaying:
Andwhileitisraining.[SunanAbiDawud]
18.Avoiding RememberyourpastsinsandseekforgivenessofAllah[swt]sincerely.
Sins Reectuponthemandlearnwhatmadeyoucommitthem.
" Stopblamingothersorcircumstancesandtakeresponsibilityofyour
" wrongdoings:Pu ngblameonothersisthetraitofShaytan,but
accep ngmistakeandseekingforgivenessisthetraitofAdam
39
MessengerofAllah[saw]said: [alayhis].
Nothingincreasesoneslifespanexcept Iden fyyourtempta onsandthepersonaltraits/situa onwhichleads
righteousnessandnothingrepelstheDivinedecree tothem.Workonthosetraitsandmastercontrollingthem.Viewthe
exceptsupplica on,andamanmaybedeprivedof situa onsfromdierentanglesandfocusonrelevantthingsortryto
provisionbyasinthathecommits.[SunanIbn avoidthosesitua ons.Makeplansandsetgoals.
Majah]
SeekhelpfromAllah[swt]tobeonHispathalwaysandrefrainfrom
sins.
Seeking
19.Knowledge Knowledge Recitethisduao en:R abbizidni'ilman(OmyLord,increasemein
... ... knowledge)
[Qur'an:Chapter20,Verse114]
...Allahwillraisethosewhohavebelievedamong Educa onisfromwombtotomb:joinMOOCs,distantlearning
youandthosewhoweregivenknowledge,by coursesetc.
degrees...[Qur'an:Chapter58,Verse11]
Helpothersinstudies.
Listentotheelderlyandlearnfromtheirlifeexperiences.
Readbooksespeciallythoseunrelatedtoyoureldorcareer.
Observeandreect,thisistherststeptowardslearning.
40
A endseminars,webinars,andworkshops.
Shareyourknowledgewithothers.
Knowledgeof
Religion Readtransla onsoftheQur'an.
Readandlearnhadith:youcanusereliabledailyhadithorhadith
" collec onappsorwebsites.
" SubscribetoIslamicwebsites.
StayintouchwithMuslimcommunity.
NarratedMuawiya:
FollowIslamicins tu onsonsocialmedia.
IheardAllah'sMessenger[saw]saying,"IfAllah
[swt]wantstodogoodtoaperson,Hemakeshim Discusswhateveryouhavelearntwithyourfamilyandfriends.
comprehendthereligion..."[SahihalBukhari]
ReadbooksonQur'anstories,Islamichistoryetc.
Suppor ng/
Spending Sponsorastudent.
Timewith
Persons Purchaseitemsforastudentsinthebeginningofanacademicyear.
Seeking
Knowledge
41
Itispossiblethatyouareprovidedyourrizq
becauseofhim"
[Jami'atTirmidhi]
DatePalm Plantdatetreesanditnormallygrowsareaswhicharenotaridorsemi
20. Tree arid.Itisalsoana rac onforyourgarden.Itgenerallywillnotgrow
Plants/Trees
biginnondesertareasandcanberaisedinbalconygardensalso.
"
."
.
" "
42
NarratedAbdullahbinUmar[ranhu]:
Whileweweresi ngwiththeProphet[saw],fresh
dateswerebroughttohim.TheProphet[saw]said,
"Thereisatreeamongthetreeswhichisasblessed
asaMuslim"Ithoughtthatitwasthedatepalm
treeandintendedtosay,"Itisthedatepalmtree,O
Allah'sMessenger[saw]!"butIlookedbehindtosee
thatIwasthetenthandyoungestoftenmen
presentthere,soIkeptquiet'ThentheProphet
[saw]said,"Itisthedatepalmtree."[Sahih
alBukhari]
Helpothers
21.Helping Ifsomeonesoughtyouforhelpwhileyou'rebusy,donotturnthem
People down,whenyouhelpthem,Allahwillinturnfacilitateyouraairsfor
you.
Bea en vetotheneedsofthepeoplearoundyouandoerhelp
"
wheneverpossible.
Volunteerinsupportgroups/NGOs/Chari esthatintroduceyouto
casesofpeoplewhoneedhelp,andbeengagedinhelpingotherwith
whateverisinyourcapacity.
AbuHuraira[ranhu]reported:TheMessengerof
Par cipa nginfundraisingprogrammes.
Allah[saw]said,Whoeverrelievesthehardshipofa
believerinthisworld,Allah[swt]willrelievehis
hardshipontheDayofResurrec on.Whoeverhelps
43
44
"
"
MessengerofAllah[saw]said:"Bringmetheweak,
foryouonlyreceiveprovisionandDivinesupportby
virtueofyourweakones."[SunananNasa'i]
45