Beneficial Knowledge

Great loss "By the time. Verily, man is in loss, except those who believe (in Islamic monotheism) and do righteous good deeds, and recommend one another to the truth and recommend one another to patience." (Qur'an: Translation of the meaning, 103:1-3) Accept the right path of Allah for life and death; every other path is that of misguidance and great loss. In this surah Allah has summed up the qualities of the people who will succeed. Imam Shafi' said if no surah other than this one had been revealed, this surah could have been enough forever for all peoples. A great many people have been described as losers, except the ones who have the following qualities: 1.Belief in the Oneness of Allah. 2.Doing righteous deeds. 3.Recommending one another to patience in life for sufferings, mishaps, and injuries one may encounter in the way of Allah. Faith is verbal and practical, and its performance is by the limbs. It increases by doing g...

Turning Away and Heedlessness Turning away is a common but bad human quality. "Draws near for mankind their reckoning, while they turn away in heedlessness." (Qur'an: Translation of the meaning, 21:1) "...And when we show favor to man , he withdraws and turns away..." (Qur'an: Translation of the meaning, 41:51) "...And verily, many among mankind are heedless of our ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.)." (Qur'an: Translation of the meaning, 10:92) Many people are heedless of Allah's ayat (signs). They show little care about them and scarcely look upon them. When they are living happy they never think of Allah, Paradise or Hell, penalty or reward. They remain ungrateful for Allah's graces and forget all about his orders. Many people spend their lives in such a manner. "And warn them (O Muhammad) of the Day of grief and regrets, when the case has been decided, while (now) they are in a state...

Arrogance "O man! What has made you careless about your Lord, the All-Generous, Who created you, fashioned you perfectly, and gave you due proportion; in whatever from He willed, He put you together." (Qur'an: Translation of the meaning, 82:6-8) "This, because you took the revelations of Allah (this Qur'an) in mockery, and the life of the world deceived you." (Qur'an:Translation of the meaning, 45:35) "But you led yourselves into temptations, you looked forward to our destruction; you doubted (in Faith) and you were deceived by false desires, till the Command of Allah came to pass. And the chief deceiver (Satan) deceived you in respect of Allah." (Qur'an: Translation of the meaning, 57:14)

Transgression and Ingratitude "Nay! Verily, man does transgress (in disbelief and evil deed), because he considers himself self-sufficient." (Qur'an: Translation of the meaning, 96:6-7) "Verily! Man (disbeliever) is ungrateful to his Lord." (Qur'an: Translation of the meaning, 100:6) Many people in general do not express gratitude to Allah. They transgress and disobey, feel proud in wealth and impatient in poverty. The acts of many people reflect ingratitude and transgression and they themselves become witnesses for that. "And to that fact he bears witness (by his deeds)." (Qur'an: Translation of the meaning, 100:7) To get rid of these bad qualities, people should avoid worldly desires except in the ways allowed, and they should always think of the spiritual pleasure and the Hereafter reward.

Irritability and Discontent The human being is both irritable and discontent by nature, equally in cases of good happenings or disasters. But if one is not a believer and lacks faith, these instincts become very intense in him. When one feels discontented by a calamity he feels that it will never be over. Allah's role is very often forgotten in such cases unless one is a real or true believer. On the same analogy, when one is rich and happy he may forget others and be miserly and more cautious. But only faith is the remedy in such cases, faith that teaches him how to remember Allah and how to seek His help. Allah the Exalted exempted the believers from these un-remembering people. "Verily, man (disbeliever) was created very impatient; Irritable (discontented) when evil touches him, and niggardly when good touches him, except those who are devoted to Salat (prayers)." (Qur'an: Translation of the meaning, 70:19-22) " And those in whose wealth there...

Forgetfulness "And when some hurt touches man, he cries to his Lord (Allah Alone), turning to Him in repentance. But when He bestows a favor upon him from Himself, he forgets that for which he cried for before, and he sets up rivals to Allah, in order to mislead others from his path. Say: Take pleasure in your disbelief for a while: surely, you are (one) of the dwellers of the Fire!" (Qur'an: Translation of the meaning, 39:8) "When harm touches man, he calls Us (for help); then when We have (rescued him from that harm and ) changed it into a favor from Us, he says: "Only because of knowledge (that I posses) I obtained it." Nay, it is only a trial, but most of them know not!" (Qur'an: Translation of the meaning, 39:49) " And indeed We made a covenant with Adam before, but he forgot, and We found on his part no firm will-power." (Qur'an:Translation of the meaning, 20:115) Man was created forgetful so that he can forget...

Ignorance "Truly, We did offer Amanah (trust or moral responsibility or honesty and all the duties which Allah has ordained) to the heavens and the earth, and the mountains, but they declined to bear it and were afraid of it (i.e. afraid of Allah's Torment) and ignorant (of its results)." (Qur'an:Translation of the meaning, 33:72) Piety and righteousness are the responsibility mankind accepted, whereas the heavens and earth and the mountains could not bear it. Mankind, being ignorant of the outcomes and the Unseen, accepted such responsibility: Though man is weak and helpless he accepted such a great responsibility and made himself responsible and will be reckoned for it before Allah. Whoever becomes pious and carries out such duties as Allah ordered will be rewarded in the Hereafte,r and if one neglects such Divine orders and behaves against the guidance of the revelation, he will be tortured severely as he will thus deserve the wrath of the All Great...

Miserliness "Say (to the disbelievers): "If you possessed the treasure of the Mercy of my Lord (wealth, money, provision), then you would surely, hold back (from spending) for fear of (being exhausted), and man is ever miserly!" (Qur'an: Translation of the meaning, 17:100) Unless one believes in the unlimited grace of Allah and trains oneself to be a giver and hospitable, one will remain miserly. Allah loves generosity and benevolence. "Those who are misers and enjoin upon people miserliness. (Allah is not in need of their charity). And whosoever turns away (from Faith--- Allah's monotheism), then Allah is All-Rich (Free of all needs), Worthy of all praise." (Qur'an: Translation of the meaning, 57:24) People who give and show hospitality to others are loved by Allah, and the miserly ones are hated by Allah and people.

Striving and Working Hard for Worldly Desires "O man! Verily, you are returning towards your Lord with your deeds and actions (good or bad), a sure returning, and you will meet (the results of your deeds which you did)." (Qur'an:Translation of the meaning, 84:6) "Verily, We have created man in toil." (Qur'an: Translation of the meaning, 90:4) The human being who spends his life working hard to be happy in this world dies after all and meets Allah, to Whom we all return. The harder one strives to be rich the more fatigued one is, and if one acquires power and authority he seeks more and more and becomes more and more fatigued. But the fatigue of worship is rewarded by Allah with pleasure in the Hereafter and happiness, spiritual and material, in this world. The fatigue for worldly desires is endless unless one is pious and contented. "But whosoever turns away from My Reminder (i.e. neither believes in this Qur'an nor acts on its tea...

Impatience "And man is ever hasty (i.e., if he is angry with somebody he invokes (saying): "O Allah! Curse him," and that one should not do, but one should be patient)." (Qur'an: Translation of the meaning, 17:11) "Man is created of haste. I will show you My ayat (torment, proofs, evidence, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.). So ask Me not to hasten (them)." (Qur'an: Translation of the meaning, 21:37) The human being is impatient because he does not know what is going to happen, one may be hurried and meet his end. He cannot control himself against lust and desires at times, but the believer who wholly relies on Allah is always content and patient. Patience is a high quality of high class people. The master of Banu Tamim was once addressed by the Prophet: "You have two qualities, Allah likes: patience and forgiveness." Narrated by Muslim, Abu Dawud, Al-Tirmidhi and Ahmad. Believers are also wise, calm, confident...

Being Quarrelsome and Contrary "He has created man from nutfah (mixed drops of male and female sexual discharge:?), then behold, this same (man) becomes an open opponent." (Qur'an: Translation of the meaning, 16:4) "but man is over more quarrelsome than anything." (Qur'an:Translation of the meaning, 18:54) This human being, which was created from a mixture of male and female fluids, soon becomes an open opponent and disputes the Rabb (Lord) who created him from nothing; and blew a soul into him. He bestowed upon him the powers of sight, hearing and thinking. But the human being still disputes over the Oneness, lacks knowledge, and is arrogant. There are many creatures upon the earth, but they are less quarrelsome and less opponent than man. Allah tells us in the Holy Qur'an that man is an open opponent, so one should not be arrogant to deny His Knowledge and powers Such adverse traits are the qualities of the hypocrites who are really v...

Al-Hafeedh (The Guardian) : The One Who protects and preserves what He created and Whose Knowledge encompasses all that He brought into existence. The One Who protects His friends from falling into sins and the destructive matters. The One Who is Kind to them during their periods of activity and rest. The One Who accounts the actions of the servants and their rewards. “And Iblees did prove true his thought about them, and they followed him, all except a group of the true believers. And Iblees had no authority over them – except that We might test he who believes in the Hereafter from him who is in doubt about it. And your Lord is the Guardian over everything.” (34:20-21) “As for those who take friends and protectors besides Him – Allaah is the Guardian over them and you are not a disposer of their affairs.” (42:6) - Aboo Tayyib At-Tabaree (an early scholar), was an old man – about a hundred years old. He was remarkable in that he was 100 years old and...

"Verily, man is in indeed an extreme wrongdoer, a disbeliever (an extreme ingrate who denies Allah's Blessings by disbelief and by disobeying Allah and his Prophet, Muhammad)." (Qur'an: Translation of the meaning, 14:34) "Verily, man is indeed a manifest ingrate!" (Qur'an: Translation of the meaning, 43:15) "Be cursed (disbelieving) man! How ungrateful he is!" (Qur'an: Translation of the meaning, 80:17) Disbelief and oppression are some of the most common traits of mankind. Unless Allah's Mercy is graced upon men they cannot fight these traits. First of all man becomes unfair to his own self by committing sins like association of others with Allah. Therefore we inherited this invocation to seek protection against such self oppression: "O Allah, I have been unfair to myself so much, but none can forgive sins, but you can, so forgive me and be merciful on me as you are All-Forgiving All-Merciful." "And if ...

Prophet Muhammad (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said while a group of his companions were around him, Swear allegiance to me for: 1. Not to join anything in worship along with Allah. 2. Not to steal. 3. Not to commit illegal sexual intercourse. 4. Not to kill your children. 5. Not to accuse an innocent person. 6. Not to be disobedient (when ordered) to do good deed.  (Al-Bukhari)

Being Kind and Gentle to Others Baihaqani narrated: Allah's Messenger (pbuh) said: "Allah is kind and gentle (to others)" Kindliness "Aisha narrated: The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said: "Allah loves kindliness in all matters." Bukhari Repentance "Truly, Allah loves those who turn unto him in repentance." (Qur'an: Translation of the meaning, 2:222) Piety "Verily, then Allah loves those who are al-Muttaqun (the pious)." (Qur'an: Translation of the meaning, 3:76) Good-doing "Truly, Allah loves Al-Muhsinun (the good-doers)." (Qur'an: Translation of the meaning, 2:195) Body Purification "And Allah loves those who make themselves clean and pure [ i.e. who clean their private parts with dust (which has the properties of soap) and water from urine and stools, after answering the call of nature]." (Qur'an: Translation of the meaning, 9:108) Hu...

Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said : Allah has ninety-nine Names  and whoever believes in their meanings and acts accordingly, will enter Paradise; and Allah is Witr (one) and loves ‘the Witr’ (i.e., odd numbers). (Al-Bukhari)

Disbelief "Allah does not like that evil should be uttered in public except by him who has been wronged." (Qur'an: Translation of the meaning, 4:148) Committing Sin "And Allah likes not the disbelievers, sinners." (Qur'an: Translation of the meaning, 2:276) Treachery "Verily, Allah likes not any treacherous ingrate to Allah [those who disobey Allah but obey Satan]." (Qur'an: Translation of the meaning, 22:38) Oppression "Verily, He likes not the Thalimun (oppressors, polytheists, and wrongdoers)." (Qur'an: Translation of the meaning, 42:40) Corruption "And Allah likes not mischief." (Qur'an: Translation of the meaning, 2:205) Transgression "Truly, Allah likes not the transgressors. [This verse is the first one that was reveale in connection with jihad, but it was abrogated by another (9:36)]." (Qur'an: Translation of the meaning, 2:190) Be...

The allies of Allah have no special appearance with which they differ form other people. They have no special dress from other than just being permissible. Rather, they are to be found in all categories of the nation of Muhammad (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). However, the Qur'aan and the Sunnah show clearly that the best people in the sight of Allah is the one with the most of Taqwa (pious practice): "O people, we have created you from a male and a female and made you in peoples and tribes that you may know each other. Verily, the noblest of you in the sight of Allah is the greatest in righteous practice." [Holy Quran Soorah al-Hujarat (49): 13] Abu Hurairah narrates in a Saheeh Hadeeth: "The Prophet of Allah (sallalahu alaihe wa-sallam) was asked: "Which people are the best? He said: "Those greatest in taqwa (righteous practice)"… [Bukhareee and Muslim]