Friends According to Islam

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

ا سَـــــــلاَمُ عَلَيــْــكُم وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكـَـاتُه

We should choose the friend that believes in and abide by our religion (Islam) and gives great respect to what Allah (SWT) and Prophet Muhammad (saw) had ordered us. And we should stay away from the one who is not well mannered and gives no attention to what Islam is about or what pleases or displeases Allah (SWT), for he will surely affect us negatively. 

There is no good if the companion drowns us in sins and displeasing Allah (SWT). The bases for the actions of those who follow the evil ways are corrupt; their actions are built upon misguidance and deviation.

Good friends are those who share with their companions both happiness and sadness. If we share our feelings with the wrongdoers whose actions are worthless and based on corruption, then we are following the same ways and standards as they are doing, and we will end up being as corrupt as they are, and then we are in a big trouble, how can we face Allah's (SWT) dissatisfaction and displeasure? 

Instead of making friends with the misguided ones we should befriend the righteous, yet treat the rest in a gracious and just manner. Staying at sufficient distance is necessary; yet treating everybody in a noble and kind manner is required.The danger of having corrupt friends isn't confined to the worldly life. Such friendships produce repentance on the Day of Resurrection, too!

Allah (SWT), the Exalted says in the Noble Qur'an: "And (remember) the day when the unjust one shall bite his hands saying: O! Would that I had taken a way with the Messenger! O woe is me! Would that I had not taken such a one for a friend! Certainly he led me astray from the reminder after it had come to me;" (Surah Al-Furqan, 25:27-29)

The two main regrets on the day of judgement are 

(1) Not following Prophet Muhammad (saw) on the path of guidance 

(2) Befriending a person who diverted one from the truth.

Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) has said: 

"The felicity of this and the next world lie in two things: firstly, keeping secrets; and secondly, friendship with the good. And the miseries of this and the next world are summed up in two things: firstly, divulging secrets; and secondly, friendship with wicked persons."

So take heed before the inevitable day of judgement comes and we are reckoned for our acts.

Allah (SWT), the Exalted says in the Noble Qur'an: 

"Friends on that Day will be enemies one to another, except al-Muttaqun (i.e. those who have Taqwa/Piety)." 

(Surah Az-Zukhruf, 43:67)

It is wise to choose moderation in dealing with friends. Excessive love and confidence in friends are unacceptable since it happens that a friend may change into an enemy and use the secrets that he had shown as weapons.

Allah (SWT), the Exalted says in the Noble Qur'an: "And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression." 

(Surah Al-Maeda, 5:2)

There are three types of 'friends'...

Those that are necessary like nourishment and you cannot live without them; those that are like medicine and are beneficial, so you need them sometimes; and finally, those that are like a sickness and you do not need them at all!

Prophet Muhammad (saw) has said, 

"The believer is like a mirror to other believers (in truthfulness)." 

Like a mirror, your friend gives you an honest image. He forgives your mistakes, but does not hide or exaggerate your strengths and weaknesses.

Once Prophet Muhammad (saw) was asked, 

"What person can be the best friend?" "He who helps you remember Allah (SWT), and reminds you when you forget Him," the Prophet Muhammad (saw), counseled.

Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) said: 

"A friend cannot be considered a friend unless he is tested on three occasions: in time of need, behind your back and after your death."

Indeed if we establish these as the standards of friendship, the believers shall soon find themselves enveloped with friends who will take them closer to Paradise and farther away from the fire of hell.

Allah (SWT) says in the Noble Qur'an: 

O you who believe! Take care of your souls; he who errs cannot hurt you when you are on the right way; to Allah is your return, of all (of you), so He will inform you of what you did. 

(Surah Al-Maeda, 5:105)


There are certain tips to remember if you wish to keep a stable friendship.

Do not dispute with him and do not be hostile to him.

Do not ridicule him. Do not quarrel with him. Instead accord friends the respect they deserve.

Do not hold him in contempt nor consider him to be lower than you. Instead guard the honor of your friends during their absence and after their death.

Do not claim precedence and supremacy over him. Instead forgive the short-comings of your friends, because everyone makes mistakes in life.

Do not crack indecent jokes with him.

Finally, we ask Allah (SWT) to make us of the righteous ones and give us companions that will take us away from His Wrath and lead us to His Pleasure and Paradise.

Friends, sorry if i've hurt you. I've tried... :(

For Allah's Cause

For Allah’s Cause

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

ا سَـــــــلاَمُ عَلَيــْــكُم وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكـَـاتُه

There was a pious man named Reiichi among a society who always remained busy in the worship of Allah.

One day, a group of people came to him and told him that a tribe living on a nearby village worshipped a tree. The news upset him, and with an axe on his shoulder Reiichi went to cut down that tree.

On his way, Satan met him in the form of an old man and asked him where he was going. He said he was going to cut a particular tree. Satan said, "You have nothing to be concerned with this tree, you better mind your worship and do not give it up for the sake of something that does not concern you."

"This is also worship," retorted Reiichi to the old man. Then Satan tried to prevent him from cutting the tree, and there followed a fight between the two, in which Reiichi overpowered the Satan.

Finding himself completely helpless, Satan begged to be excused, and when Reiichi released him, he again said, "Allah has not made the cutting of this tree obligatory on you. You do not lose anything if you do not cut it. If its cutting were necessary, Allah could have got it done through one of his many Prophets."

However Reiichi definitely insisted on cutting down the tree. There was again a fight between the two and again Reiichi overpowered the Satan. "Well listen," said Satan, "I propose a settlement that will be to your advantage."

Finally Reiichi agreed, and Satan said, "You are a poor man, a mere burden on this earth. If you stay away from this act, I will pay you three gold coins every day. You will daily find them lying under your pillow. By this money you can fulfil your own needs, can oblige your relative, help the needy, and do so many other virtuous things. Cutting the tree will be only one virtue, which will ultimately be of no use because the people will grow another tree."

This proposal appears reasonable to Reiichi, thinking how much he could improve his life and also the others. In fact, the old man was right, if he cut down the tree, the tribe would simple find another tree to worship. Therefore Reiichi accepted the offer.

 He found the money on two successive days, but on the third day there was nothing under his pillow. He got enraged, picked up his axe and went to cut the tree. Satan disguised as an old man again met him on the way and asked him where he was going. "To cut the tree," shouted Reiichi. "I will not let you do it," said Satan.

Another fight took place between the two again but this time Satan had the upper hand and overpowered Reiichi. Reiichi was surprised at his own defeat, and asked the old man the cause of his success.

Satan replied, "At first, your anger was purely for earning the pleasure of Allah, and therefore Almighty Allah helped you to overpower me, but now it has been partly for the sake of the gold coins and therefore you lost."

And whosoever fears Allâh and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty).

And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine. And whosoever puts his trust in Allâh, then He will suffice him. Verily, Allâh will accomplish his purpose. Indeed Allâh has set a measure for all things.

[Surah Al-Talq, Verse 2-3]

Beautiful Flower in Dirty Soil

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

ا سَـــــــلاَمُ عَلَيــْــكُم وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكـَـاتُه

A little boy, named Ren was enjoying the beauty of the garden in his home. His father had a good collection of rare and exotic plants. He grew them with tender care.

Ren was fascinated by a plant full of fine and fragrant flowers. He went near to the plant and enjoyed its beauty and the fragrance of its fine flowers. Suddenly he noted that the plant was growing in a heap of filth. He could not tolerate the presence of dirt at the bottom of the plant with such fantastic flowers.

Ren conceived a plan to clean the plant. He pulled the plant with all his might and uprooted it. He then carried it to the tap and washed the shoot and roots in running tap-water till all traces of dirt were washed away. Ren then placed the plant on a clean stone and went away, thinking that he had done a great deed indeed.

Later his father Reiichi came to the garden and saw the uprooted plant. Its flowers and leaves had wilted and the plant had almost died in the scorching sun. His little son ran to him to exhibit his achievement. “I have cleaned it, Daddy”, He reported innocently. “It was placed in dirty soil. Now it is clean.”

Reiichi showed him how his treatment had almost killed the plant. He told him that he had collected the filthy soil and placed it to cover the plant’s roots as it was the best medium to grow that plant. It could grow up healthily and produce fine flowers only if grown in filthy soil. He was sad that the plant had suffered and withered by his action.

----

Pain, poverty and illness may cause agony in our life. Sight of successful persons may make us depressed and envious. A great gardener mixes the right soil for each plant. In the same way God provides each of us with the best environment required for optimum spiritual growth. But it may appear to be unpleasant to us and we may even complain to God about our plight
.

Decorate Your Home

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

ا سَـــــــلاَمُ عَلَيــْــكُم وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكـَـاتُه

There was a small family that was financially stable, the husband, Reiichi earned enough but lived with his family in a simple, little hut. They didn't have proper carpet just bits and pieces of it here and there, no big and nice furniture nor a big television, just a simple little house with no luxurious stuff.

The people of the community who lived nearby used to visit Reiichi's wife who lived in that small hut and they would see how she runs down her home and they would talk among themselves in the community. 

"Have you seen what dump they live in, it's a shame! They don't even have chairs to sit on nor carpets. The wallpapers are peeled. What do they do with the money they earn? Her husband has a high paid job!"

One day one of the woman's friends came to her house and while they were sitting and chatting,  her friend said, 'Your husbands has a well paid job so why don't you get this house done up?'

Reiichi's wife replied,  'We've got another house so we use our money on that instead because we don't see the point of spending it on here'.

Her friend was surprised and said 'Oh I didn't know you had another house, where is this house?'

Reiichi's lovely wife replied...



 'In Jannah'

"I guarantee a house in Jannah for one who gives up arguing, even if he is in the right; and I guarantee a home in the middle of Jannah for one who abandons lying even for the sake of fun; and I guarantee a house in the highest part of Jannah for one who has good manners.'' [Hadith]

Let's ask ourselves...

How have we decorate our homes? InsyaAllah let us do good actions and deeds each day and slowly your house will be built in bricks of gold and silver. The more good deeds you do your house will have planning permission to grow :) Let's utilise our wealth and help the orphans, the widows, the ill. Let's utilise our wealth to help build mosques and InfaqFiSabilillah.

 Participate in building a Masjid. When Muslims Pray, you earn.

 Donate a wheelchair to a hospital. When patients Sse, you earn.

 Give a copy of Qur'an to someone. When he/she Reads, you earn.

 Place water cooler in a public place. When people Drink, you earn.

 Plant a tree. When people & animals use it for Food or Shade, you earn.

May ALLAH grant us all beautiful homes in the hereafter. We should not think that we have killed our nafs and thus become unmindful.

My Lord, build for me near You a house in Paradise

Little Angel

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

ا سَـــــــلاَمُ عَلَيــْــكُم وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكـَـاتُه

On every friday, after their Friday Prayer, an Imaam, who was a pious man, Reiichi and his 7 year old son, Ren would walk around the city where they live and give out pamphlets with the title "The Roads to Heaven" and few other titles.

On a very calm Friday, as Reiichi and his son went out to distribute their Islamic pamphlets, the sky suddenly turned dark and the air became cold. Suddenly rain poured down heavily. 

As Reiichi looked out to the sky from the door, Ren emerged from his side, adjusted his clothes and said, "Daddy, I'm ready."

Reiichi was shocked. He said "Ready for what, son?"

"Daddy aren't we going out to give the others pamphlets about Allah?"

"Son, it's cold out there and the rain is still heavy." Reiichi replied.

"But daddy, aren't there humans who would still go to hell even if it's raining?" Ren asked back.

Reiichi was taken aback. "I'm not ready to go out in this weather."

"Then can I go daddy?" Asked Ren fervently.

At first Reiichi hesitated to give the pamphlets to his son, but after Ren begged he gave up.

"Please be careful son, Allah is with you!" 

"Thank you daddy !"

With a gleaming face Ren went happily to the city centre to distribute his pamphlets until he reached the suburb. The small and little body disappeared in the sea of human, busy distributing the pamphlets to everyone he met. He also knocked on every door and gave the pamphlets to the owners. After nearly two hours, he had one pamphlet left. Ren felt that it his responsibility to finish every piece of pamphlets. He walked around for a while to find the last person but failed. Then he saw a small house hidden at a corner of a road. He mustered his strength and walked to the house. He pressed the bell. He waited for a while but there was no answer. He knocked the door. Again, no answer. He was about to left but he hesitated. Somehow Ren felt that this is the house where he must deliver his pamphlet. He pressed the button again. 

Finally the door opened slowly. Standing before Ren was an old lady in her 60s. Her mien was forlorn and sorrow. 

"Yes son...can I help you with something?"   

Ren face beamed beautifully as if he was an angel from the sky.

"Sorry maam for bothering you. I just want to say that Allah loves you very much and always takes care of you. I came to deliver the pamphlet and you are indeed the luckiest person." 

He smiled and bowed before he left. 

"Thank you son, may God be with you." The old lady replied in a soft voice.

***

The next Friday came and as usual before the Friday prayer the Imaam will give his sermon. As Reiichi closed his speech he asked the people, "Does anyone have something to say?"

Suddenly someone rose slowly. She was the same old lady. In a frail voice she started to speak. "I think nobody in this concourse knows me. I never attend this assembly even once. For your information, before the last Friday I was not even a Muslim. My husband had just left me alone in this world few weeks ago and I nearly followed him." Her eyes started to water.

"On last Friday I finally took decision to kill myself. I had the chair and the rope prepared. I tied the rope to the ceiling and the other end to my neck. As I was about to jump, my bell rang. I waited for a while, thinking that the person who pushed that button will eventually leave. But then it rang again, and I heard someone knocked on my door. I asked myself, nobody has ever be persistent and waited that long before. So I loosen up the rope and headed for the door. When I opened the door, I have never seen such a cute child before me. His smile was so sincere and his voice was angelic." 

[ Sorry maam for bothering you. I just want to say that Allah loves you very much and always takes care of you.]

That was the most beautiful words I have ever heard in my life. I watched the small angel walked in the rain. After I closed my door, I read the pamphlet, page by page. Lastly I put the rope and the chair to the place where they belong. I don't need that anymore.

And now, here I am standing as a happy person, humble servant to the only God, ALLAH. There was an address written on the back of the pamphlet. That's why I am here today. If it wasn't for the small angel who came on that day my spirit would surely be forever in hell."

Everybody was crying and shouted out, ALLAHUAKBAR, ALLAHUAKHBAR (Allah the Great, Allah the Great). The Imaam came down from his place and hugged his son tightly, crying his heart out. 

That was the most meaningful Friday for him. 

Please share his story :)

Allah loves all his servants.