A Potato, an Egg, or a Coffee Bean

 A Potato, an Egg, or a Coffee Bean

The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “When Allah loves a people, He afflicts them with trials. Anyone who forbears patiently, (the reward) for patience is written down for him. And anyone who becomes impatient, impatience is written down for him (he keeps on grumbling).” [Musnad Ahmad]

Once upon a time a daughter complained to her father that her life was miserable. She was tired of fighting and struggling all the time and didn’t know how she was going to make it.

Her father, a chef, took her to the kitchen. He filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Once the three pots began to boil, he placed potatoes in one pot, eggs in the second and ground coffee beans in the third pot. He then let them sit and boil. The daughter moaned and impatiently waited, wondering what he was doing. After twenty minutes he turned off the burners, took the potatoes out of the pot and placed them in a bowl. He pulled the eggs out and placed them in a separate bowl. He then ladled the coffee out and placed it in a cup.

Turning to her he asked. “Daughter, what do you see?” “Potatoes, eggs and coffee,” she replied. “Look closer,” he said, “and touch the potatoes.” She did and noted that they were soft. He then asked her to take an egg and break it. She observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, he asked her to sip the coffee. Its rich aroma brought a smile to her face. “Father, what does this mean?” she asked.

He then explained that the potatoes, the eggs and the coffee beans had each faced the same adversity - the boiling water. However, each one reacted differently. The potato went in strong, hard and unrelenting, but in boiling water, it became soft and weak. The egg was fragile, with the thin outer shell protecting its liquid interior until it was put in the boiling water. Then the inside of the egg became hard. However, the ground coffee beans were unique. After they were exposed to the boiling water they changed the water and created something new.

“Which one are you?” he asked his daughter. “When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a potato, an egg, or a coffee bean?”

In life, things happen around us and things happen to us, but the only thing that truly matters is how you choose to react to it and what you make out of it. Can you convert it into something useful for your Akhirah by exhibiting patience with Allah’s decree? Can your inward and outward patience make your environment a pleasant place for all?

The Deceased Children of the Believers....

 

The Blessings Descend for the Reciting of the Qur’an in the home

 The Blessings descend for the reciting of the Qur'an in the home. 

Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, said:

A house will be expanded upon its inhabitants, angels will enter it, devils will abandon it and its goodness will increase; if the Qur'an is recited in it.

A house will be cramped upon its inhabitants, the angels will abandon it, devils will enter it, and its goodness will decrease; if the Quran is not recited in it."

Reported by al-Darimi in al-Sunan

أخرجه الدارمي في السنن (ج4/ص2085

Maintaining Ties of Kinship is Obligatory

 Maintaining ties of kinship is obligatory

Maintaining good ties with one's kindred is obligatory in order of relationship. Keeping good relations with relatives is bound to earn a lot benefits and greater reward from Allah (عز وجل). Severance of kinship ties has been Islamically forbidden as such an act is counted among the major sins. This is based on the Ayat (Qur'anic verse) which read: “Would you then, if you were given the authority, do mischief in the land, and sever your ties of kinship? Such are they whom Allâh has cursed, so that He has made them deaf and blinded their sight.” [Surah Muhammad, 47: 22 - 23] The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) is also reported to have said: “The one who severs (kinship-ties) shall not enter Jannah (Paradise).” Narrated by Muslim in his Sahih (authentic book of Hadith). Once a man asked the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) saying: “To whom should I show kindness? He replied: “Your mother.” He said: “Then who (is the next one)?” He said: “Your mother.” He again said: “Who is the next one?” He said: “Your mother.” He said in the fourth time then your father and then your relatives in order of relationship.” Narrated by Muslim in his Sahih. It is also narrated in the Sahih that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: “Whoever wants to be granted more wealth or to have his lifespan prolonged, should keep good relations with his kith and kin.”

There are many Hadiths narrated to that effect. It is your duty to maintain good relations with your relatives as much as possible. You may pay then a visit, send them letters, or talk to them on the phone. You may also provide them with financial assistance in case they are poor. Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) says: “So keep your duty to Allâh and fear Him as much as you can.” [Surah At-Taghabun, 64: 16] In another Ayah, Allah (may He be Exalted) says: “Allâh burdens not a person beyond his scope.” [Surah Al-Baqarah, 2: 286]  The Prophet is also reported to have said: “When I command you to do anything, do of it as much as you possibly can.” (Agreed upon by Al-Bukhari and Muslim). May Allah guide us all to that which pleases Him. 

[Majmoo ’al-Fataawa Ibn Baaz, Vol.: 9; pp. 414 - 415]

Further matters that people may not know the ruling on them:

 Further matters that people may not know the ruling on them:

Some think that Tarawih Prayer should not be less than twenty Rak‘ahs (units of Prayer). While others think it is not permissible to offer more than eleven or thirteen Rak‘ahs, and all this is incorrect; it even contradicts textual evidence.

The Sahih Hadiths point out that Night Prayer is optional and has no certain limit of Rak‘ahs that is not permissible to exceed. It is authentically reported that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) used to offer eleven Rak‘ahs in the Night Prayer and sometimes offered thirteen Rak‘ahs. Other times he (صلى الله عليه وسلم) offered less than that during Ramadan and at other times.

When the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) was asked about Night Prayer, he said: “Night Prayer is two Rak‘ahs followed by two Rak‘ahs (and so on), and when one of you fears the break of dawn (Fajr Prayer), let them offer a single Rak‘ah to make the Salah they have offered Witr (Prayer with an odd number of units).” (Agreed upon by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) did not specify a certain number of Rak‘ahs in Ramadan or at other times. For that reason, the Sahabah (رضی اللہ عنھم) sometimes offered during the time of ‘Umar (رضي الله عنه) thirty-three Rak‘ahs and at other times eleven Rak‘ahs. All that was authentically reported from ‘Umar (رضي الله عنه) and by the Sahabah during his time.

Some Salaf (righteous predecessors) used to offer during Ramadan thirty-six Rak‘ahs and then offer three Rak‘ahs as Witr. Others used to offer forty-one Rak‘ahs. This was reported about them by the Shaykh of Islam, Ibn Taymiyyah (رحمه الله تعالى), and by other scholars. He also mentioned that this is an optional matter and indicated that it is better for those who lengthen the recitation, bowing and prostration to lessen the number of Rak‘ahs, while those who lighten (shorten) the recitation, bowing and prostration to increase the number of Rak‘ahs. This is the meaning of his statement (رحمه الله تعالى).

If we contemplate the Sunnah of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم), we will know that the best practice is to offer eleven Rak‘ahs or thirteen Rak‘ahs in Ramadan or at other times because this is what conforms to the practice of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) at most times. This is more considerate of the people who are being led in prayer and more helpful in achieving tranquillity and Khushu‘. If any one wishes to offer more, there is no blame or Karahah (reprehensibility). ...