Muslim Student VS Professor

Professor : You are a Muslim, aren’t you, son ?
Student : Yes, sir. Professor: So, you believe in GOD ?
Student : Absolutely, sir.
Professor : Is GOD good ?
Student : Sure.
Professor: Is GOD all powerful ?
Student : Yes.
Professor: My brother died of cancer even though he prayed to GOD to heal him. Most of us would attempt to help others who are ill. But GOD didn’t. How is this GOD good then? Hmm? (Student was silent.) Professor: You can’t answer, can you ? Let’s start again, young fella. Is GOD good? 
Student : Yes. 
Professor: Is satan good ? 
Student : No.
Professor: Where does satan come from ? 
Student : From … GOD … 
Professor: That’s right. Tell me son, is there evil in this world? 
Student : Yes. 
Professor: Evil is everywhere, isn’t it ? And GOD did make everything. Correct? 
Student : Yes. Professor: So who created evil ? (Student did not answer.) 
Professor: Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things exist in the world, don’t they? 
Student : Yes, sir. 
Professor: So, who created them ? (Student had no answer.) 

 

Professor: Science says you have 5 Senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Tell me, son, have you ever seen GOD? 
Student : No, sir. 
Professor: Tell us if you have ever heard your GOD? 
Student : No , sir. Professor: Have you ever felt your GOD, tasted your GOD, smelt your GOD? Have you ever had any sensory perception of GOD for that matter? 
Student : No, sir. I’m afraid I haven’t. 
Professor: Yet you still believe in Him? 
Student : Yes. Professor : According to Empirical, Testable, Demonstrable Protocol, Science says your GOD doesn’t exist. What do you say to that, son? 
Student : Nothing. I only have my faith. 
Professor: Yes, faith. And that is the problem Science has. 

 

Student : Professor, is there such a thing as heat? 
Professor: Yes. 
Student : And is there such a thing as cold? 
Professor: Yes. 
Student : No, sir. There isn’t. (The lecture theatre became very quiet with this turn of events.) 
Student : Sir, you can have lots of heat, even more heat, superheat, mega heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat. But we don’t have anything called cold. We can hit 458 degrees below zero which is no heat, but we can’t go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold. Cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it. (There was pin-drop silence in the lecture theater.) 
Student : What about darkness, Professor? Is there such a thing as darkness? 
Professor: Yes. What is night if there isn’t darkness? 
Student : You’re wrong again, sir. Darkness is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light. But if you have no light constantly, you have nothing and its called darkness, isn’t it? In reality, darkness isn’t. If it is, were you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn’t you? Professor: So what is the point you are making, young man ? 
Student : Sir, my point is your philosophical premise is flawed. 
Professor: Flawed ? Can you explain how? 

 

Student : Sir, you are working on the premise of duality. You argue there is life and then there is death, a good GOD and a bad GOD. You are viewing the concept of GOD as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, Science can’t even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life: just the absence of it. Now tell me, Professor, do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey? 
Professor: If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, yes, of course, I do. 
Student : Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir? (The Professor shook his head with a smile, beginning to realize where the argument was going.) 
Student : Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor. Are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you not a scientist but a preacher? (The class was in uproar.) 
Student : Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the Professor’s brain? (The class broke out into laughter. ) 
Student : Is there anyone here who has ever heard the Professor’s brain, felt it, touched or smelt it? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established Rules of Empirical, Stable, Demonstrable Protocol, Science says that you have no brain, sir. With all due respect, sir, how do we then trust your lectures, sir? (The room was silent. The Professor stared at the student, his face unfathomable.) 
Professor: I guess you’ll have to take them on faith, son. 
Student : That is it sir … Exactly ! The link between man & GOD is FAITH. That is all that keeps things alive and moving.

The Love Story of Ali and Fatima (RadiAllahu Anhuma)

Fatima Bint Muhammad (RA) and her sisters settled into their lives in Madinah, rejoicing that they are finally reunited with their father again after the Prophet ﷺ left for Madinah on his own and in the dark of night. By this time, Fatima was a woman of eighteen and full of energy and passion with a personality that matched her father more than anyone else. This did not go unnoticed and many men started to come forward to ask her hand in marriage. First came Abu Bakr, and he was kindly refused by the Prophet ﷺ. Then came Umar, who was also kindly refused by the Prophet ﷺ. Umar went to Ali and suggested that he ask for Fatima’s (RA) hand. Ali was very much in love with her. However, Ali did not think that the Prophet ﷺ would accept his proposal, as he was very poor, especially when he saw that the proposals of two Companions were rejected. Umar reminded him of his family relationship with the Prophet ﷺ and his position in Islam and Ali became convinced that he might have a shot.

All Ali’s confidence melted away though when he finally got to the Prophet’s ﷺ house. He came inside, sat down and said nothing. “What is the matter, son of Abu Talib?” said the Prophet ﷺ. Ali was still too nervous to speak. The Prophet ﷺ asked again, “What is your mind, son of Abu Talib?” Again Ali said nothing. “You have come to ask for Fatima’s (RA) had in marriage, am I right?” Ali nodded. The Prophet ﷺ broke into a great smile and went and asked Fatima her opinion. When she approved, he told Ali that they accept his proposal. He then asked him if he had any dowry for her. Ali replied that he did not. “What about your shield?” asked the Prophet ﷺ? “It is worth barely more than 400 Dirhams,” said Ali. “I accept it as a dowry,” replied the Prophet ﷺ.

And so Ali sold his shield for 400 Dirhams and with the dowry the Prophet ﷺtold Bilal to buy some perfume for Fatima (RA) and he told Um Salama to buy her some new dresses. On the day of their wedding, their zaffa included all the Companians- Anas Ibn Malik, Abu Bakr, Umar, Talhah, Zubair and other Ansar and migrant friends. The food was dates that were offered to the guests. The wedding zaffa took them from Madinah to the outskirts of the city where Ali had found a home, as he couldn’t afford a place in the city.

Their house was a humble small room. It had a bed, a pillow filled with date leaves, a plate, a glass, a leather water bag, and a grinding stone for grinding flour. On their wedding night, the Prophet ﷺ told Ali and Fatima to wait for him in their new house. After Isha prayer, the Prophet ﷺ went to their house and asked for some water, which he used to make wudu, supplication, and said, “ Oh Allah bless them and bless their offspring.” He addressed Ali as his brother and asked him to place his hand on Fatima’s (RA) head and repeat some duaas. He then placed Ali’s hand on Fatima’s hand and advised them how to honor each other as husband and wife. “Ali do not get angry, and if you do, sit down. Remember Allah’s power over His servants and His tolerance of their sins. If you are advised to fear Allah, abandon your anger and go back to your deliberateness.” After he had given them all the advice he was walking out the door when he turned and said to them that they should pray two rakkahs.

So began the married life of Ali and Fatima (RA). Fatima was very much in love with Ali and content to live with him in poverty. He would work hard labor all day and she would too, grinding flour and working with her hands. So much so that the skin between her fingers was dead and her hands were always sore, as was Ali’s back. Ali, hating to see his wife in pain, once asked Fatima to see if her father could get her a maid from one of the prisoners of war. Her father refused saying it was a conflict of interest and told her he would give her something better than a maid. Her told her to recite Subhannallah (Glory be to Allah) thirty three times, Alhamdullilah (All praise be to Allah) thirty three times, and AllahuAkbar (Allah is greatest) thirty three times before going to sleep and it would give them the energy and strength they needed for the upcoming day. Ali said that he did that every night before he went to sleep, even during battles, and it gave him unbelievable strength.

At one point, Ali was thinking about marrying the daughter of Abu Jahl. This greatly upset Fatima (RA) and the Prophet ﷺ. It became such a big deal that the Prophet ﷺ gave his Friday sermon about it. He said that he cannot make Haram that of which is Halal, but when a man is to choose another wife, he must not make a decision that would greatly hurt his wife. He said that Fatima was a part of him, and anything that displeased her, displeased him. The daughter of Allah’s Messenger ﷺ and the daughter of his enemy could not be married to the same man. Ali immediately went and apologized to Fatima (RA) and she accepted his apology.

Another time, Ali and Fatima (RA) had gotten into a fight and he had walked out of the house. The Prophet ﷺ went to go visit his daughter as he does everyday and asked her where Ali was. She told him that he walked out. The Prophet ﷺ went and found Ali sleeping on the ground near the Mosque and covered in dirt. Prophet Mohammed ﷺ started to gently wipe the dirt off of his son in law and told him that it would be best for him to go home.

Just as their marriage has some rough times, like all marriages do, the majority of Ali and Fatima’s (RA) marriage was a happy one. The Prophet ﷺ would say that he would pass by their house and he could hear their laughter from far away. One time he was visiting them when he heard them laughing and entered and asked what was so funny. Ali said that Fatima (RA) keeps saying that she is older than him and he keeps telling her that she is not. The Prophet ﷺ said to Fatima that indeed Ali is five years older than her. “I know! I am just teasing Ali,” she replied. Ali used to always recite romantic poetry to her, many times funny ones that would make her laugh. Their children were raised in a household that was full of so much love.

Fatima (RA) and Ali were very devoted to Islam and integrated Islamic principles in their daily lives. One day, they were breaking their fast, when there was a knock on the door. Ali asked who it was and the person replied “a poor, hungry man”. Ali and Fatima (RA) gave him all of their food and broke their fast with only bread and water. The next day, they were breaking their fast when there was another knock on the door. This time it was “an orphan who is homeless and starving.” Again Ali and Fatima (RA) gave him all their food and broke their fast with bread and water. On the third day, at the knock on the door there was “a captive.” Once again Ali and Fatima (RA) at only bread and water as they gave all their food to the man. It was said that these three people were all angel Jibreel who was sent to test the patience of Ali and Fatima (RA).  It was also said that Jibreel told Prophet Mohammed ﷺ about this and informed him that Ali and Fatima (RA) will have a carriage of silver in Paradise. Some scholars believe that it was this incident that caused the revelation of this verse:

{And they give food, in spite of their love for it [or the love of Him] to the needy, the orphan, and the captive [saying], ‘We feed you seeking Allah’s countenance only. We wish for no reward or thanks from you.} –Holy Quran, 76: 8-9

Ali and Fatimah had a beautiful marriage that is an exemplary love story for us all.

Al-Hasan ibn Abi-Al-Hasan Al-Basri

Hasan Al-Basri (Arabic: الحسن البصري‎; full name: Al-Hasan ibn Abi-Al-Hasan Al-Basri), (642–728), was a well-known Sunni preacher, theologian, and scholar of Islam who was born in 642 from Persian parents. Brought up in the house of Umm Salama the wife of prophet, The name of (Al basri) in Arabic means the person that the Basra city (in Iraq) is his homeland. Hasan met many companions of Muhammad including, it is said, seventy of the warriors who fought in the Battle of Badr. Hasan grew up to become one of the most prominent figures of his generation, being famous for his piety and condemnation of worldliness. When he died on Friday 5th of Rajab 110 AH, at the age of 89, the entire population of Basra attended his funeral, so that the first time in history of Basra the Jami Masjid of the city remained empty at the hour of the Asr prayer. Hasan quickly became an exemplar for other saints in the area and his personality made a deep impression upon his contemporaries.

Imam al-Hasan al-Basri رحمه الله  said:

"One who acts without knowledge is like one who travels off the path; and the one who acts without knowledge corrupts more than he rectifies. So seek knowledge in a way that does not harm your worship, and seek to worship Allah in a way that does not harm your seeking of knowledge. For verily, there were people {the Khawarij} who sought to worship Allah but abandoned knowledge until they attacked the Ummah of the Prophet Muhammad ~ peace and blessings of Allah be upon him ~ with their swords. But if they had sought knowledge, it would not have directed them to do what they did."

{Related by Hafiz Yusuf Ibn ‘Abd Al-Barr, Jami’ Bayan Al-’Ilm wa Fadlihi}

 

Imam Hasan Al-Basri رحمه الله was on his deathbed, some of his companions came to him and said:  "O Abu Sa’id, offer us some words you can benefit us with." He replied,

“I will equip you with three words, then you must leave me to face what I am facing. Be the farthest of people from those things you have been forbidden, and be the most involved of people in the good you have been commanded to do; and know that the steps you take are two steps: a step in your favor and a step against you, so be careful where you come and where you go.”

{Related by Imam Abu Nu’aym, Hilyatul’ Awliyah`, Volume 2, pg.154}

Halaal Earnings

Each morning the Allah showers His mercy upon us, even before the rays of sunlight reach our eyes. It is only through His mercy that we awaken from death itself. Each night, our souls leave our bodies only to be returned to us by the mercy and will of Allah Ta'ala. A process each and everyone of us go through everyday yet we fail to realise the power of the being who is behind this process.

It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abu Maalik al-Haarith bin al-Haarith al-Ash'aree Radhi Allahu Anhu that the Messenger of Allah Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam said:

"...Every person starts his day as a vendor of his soul, either freeing it or causing its ruin."

[Saheeh al-Muslim]

This Hadeeth informs us that every morning we are made responsible for the abode and actions of our souls. It is our personal choice which will either grant our souls freedom from the punishment of Allah and from the fire of Hell, or we could cause its ruin by following Shaytaan and his desires.


Allah Ta'ala has stated that if He is the buyer of the soul of a believer then in return for him shall be paradise:

"Verily, Allah has purchased from the believers their lives and their properties; for the price that theirs shall be Paradise"

[at-Tawbah 9:111]

Therefore, it is the sole responsibility of man, to steer his soul in either direction. His actions and intentions will make his abode either Paradise or Hell. So each morning, while man has been classified as being the "vendor" of his soul, he goes out to seek his sustenance and livelihood. It is his option to either sell his soul, or to free it, to earn this livelihood.


Hadhrat Abdullah ibn Mas'ood Radhi Allahu Anhu has narrated that the Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam said:

"The seeking of a permissible (Halaal) livelihood is an obligation after the obligatory acts (Faraa'idh)"

[Bayhaqi]

On the authority of Hadhrat Umar Radhi Allahu Anhu), He Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam is reported to have also said:

"If you placed your trust in Allah, in the manner in which He should be trusted, then He would arrange sustenance for you just as He provides for the birds; they leave in the morning with their stomachs empty and return with their stomachs filled in the evening."

[Sunan ut-Tirmidhi]

These two Ahadeeth outline the manner in which man should seek his sustenance. A manner in which earning a livelihood will not cause him to destroy his soul.


The seeking of sustenance is an obligatory act just as Salaah, Sawn, Zakaah etc are, yet earning one's sustenance should be done whilst placing trust and belief in Allah Ta'ala. We should convince our hearts to believe that no matter what efforts we put into earning sustenance, at the end of the day, it is Allah Ta'ala's will and decision as to how much we earn and what we shall receive. No effort of man can change the the amount that Allah Ta'ala has written for us.


Hadhrat Jaabir ibn Abdullah has narrated the Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam as saying:

"Verily a person does not acquire death until he receives his sustenance"

[Sunan ibn Majah]

On another occasion, Hadhrat Abu Dardaa Radhi Allahu Anhu reports the Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam as saying:

"Verily sustenance seeks the servant (of Allah) more than the manner in which death seeks him"

[Jaami' us-Sageer]

From the above Ahadeeth we can deduce that no matter how much effort a person puts into acquiring his sustenance he will only receive that which Allah Ta'ala has written for him. But, at the same time, it is important to note that every man has to make an effort to earn what has written for him. In brief, we learn that every person has to make an effort to earn his livelihood. However, in order to earn his sustenance, he should not break the Laws of Allah Ta'ala instead he should have complete faith in Allah Ta'ala that it is He who will feed us and even if we were to break His Shari'ah to earn our sustenance we would never acquire more than that which is written for us.


Similarly, just as how death seeks out a man at one time or another, and is certainly to occur, just in the same manner, sustenance seeks the person and he receives the sustenance that is written for him without any doubt. The person who strives to earn his living by breaking the Shari'ah of Allah Ta'ala; whilst sinning and overlooking the requirements of Shari'ah seems to have this belief in his mind that he has, through using using every means possible, acquired a large amount of money, which would not have been possible if he had chosen to stay within the boundaries of Shari'ah.


However, this is far from the truth. A person, in reality, denies himself of the sustenance that was written for him by committing sins and breaking the Islamic Law. Primarily, he is denied from all the Barakah (blessings) that Allah places in the wealth of those who earn their money in accordance to Allah's pleasure and additionally, his the wealth the was written for him decreases due to his sins.


On the authority of Hadhrat Thaubaan Radhi Allahu Anhu, it has been narrated that the Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam said:

"Verily a man makes forbidden upon him the sustenance (that was written for him) due to the sins which he commits"

[Sunan ibn Majah]

All the above Ahadeeth enlighten the believer to the reality of placing trust in Allah in attaining sustenance. It shows the believer that the giver of wealth and food is Allah Ta'ala alone and that we should concentrate of acquiring livelihood in the manner in which the Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam has shown us, for indeed sustenance is going to reach us no matter what happens, and our sins will actually will be the cause for our sustenance to decrease.

It is vital to note that the earning of Halaal livelihood. is directly connected to the eating of Halaal. Many people are in falsely deluded to think that Halaal and Haraam consumption is limited to the ingredients of a product. However, the chain of Halaal and Haraam begins from the earnings of person. Furthermore, the earnings of a person does not become Haraam only by a person selling alcohol or other forbidden products, but earnings will also have an indication of impermissibility is a person seeks that earning by neglecting his Salaah or any other Fardh (obligatory) activity. Similarly, if a person does not rightfully return money belonging to someone, or acquires money by cheating someone, then that money will also be regarded as Haraam.

May Allah Ta'ala save us all from the harms and punishments of Haraam earnings. May He give us the strength, ability, inclination and means to acquire sustenance that is totally Halaal so that we can make the nourishment our body receives from it can be a cause for good deeds. Aameen.

Insha-Allah, the following post on Halaal Sustenance will contain some verses and Ahadeeth on merits of eating Halaal and the punishments and harms of eating Haraam.

Posted by Zain

 
Ref: http://simplyislam.blogspot.com/2005/05/halaal-earnings.html

Rabi'ah al-Adawiyyah

Rabi’ah al-Adawiyyah is well known in Islamic history as Rabi’ah Basri was born in 714 A.C. in the city of Basra, Iraq.

 She was born in a very poor home and was stolen as a child and sold into slavery by her abductors. Her piety and her sanctity secured her freedom and she retired to a life devoted to prayer and meditation. She gathered around her many disciples and associates who came to seek her advise, or to ask her to pray for them or to listen to her teaching. Rabi’ah Basri was devoted completely to asceticism. She cared little for life on earth and its comforts, and preferred seclusion.
 Rabi’ah Basri is highly esteemed and her teachings quoted by most of the Sufi writers and biographers of the great saints in the history of Islam.

 She died in Basra, Iraq in 801 A.C. Here are but a few of the inspirational quotes from Rabi’ah…

"I am ashamed to ask for this world's goods from Him to Whom it belongs and how can I seek them from those to whom it does not belong!"

 

"O my Lord, I have made Thee the Companion of my heart, But my body is present for Those who seek its company, And my body is friendly towards its guests, But the Beloved of my heart is the guest of my soul. "

 

"O my Lord, if I worship Thee from fear of Hell, then burn me therein, and if I worship Thee in the hope of Paradise, then exclude me from it, but if I worship Thee for Thine own sake, then withhold not from me Thine Eternal Beauty.''



  

The Beauty of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.)

It is said that the beauty of the people of heaven with be equivalent to that of Hazrat Yusuf (a.s).

SubhanAllah, each Prophet was gifted with a unique quality, but the Beloved of Allah  (s.a.w.) was bestowed with all of the qualities and many more, SubhanAllah.

After the passing away of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.), a group of people came to Aisha R.A the wife of the Holy Prophet, and said to her, ''we have heard of the incident of Prophet Yusuf (a.s) that the women of Egypt were cutting the fruit, but upon beholding the beauty of Yusuf (a.s) they cut straight through their fingers and didn’t realize it! But we have never heard of such a story of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.)  !!'' Aisha R.A replied.. “if those women of Egypt had seen my Beloved they would had ripped their hearts out!!”   SubhanAllah

-wAllahu’aalam bis sawaab-

(http://www.naqshbandiya.com/messageboard/index.php?topic=1335.0)

 

Secret to a Long Happy Life

One of the secrets to a long, fruitful life is to forgive everybody everything every night before you go to bed....