The Islamic Die

Bismillah

We are constantly bombarded in this society with diet after diet, new ways to loose weight or supposedly be ‘healthy’. As Muslims, we know that Allah ta’ala sent the Qur’an to us as a huda, a guide. Not only is the Qur’an a guidance for us in our beliefs, our worship and character, but we learn basic lessons on how to live our lives in a way that is pleasing to Allah. So rather than turning to outside sources for guidance in these basic matters, turn to the Qur’an, for by Allah you will find your answer. Did you know that Allah ta’ala teaches us the “islamic” diet in the Qur’an?

He says,

يَا بَنِي آدَمَ خُذُوا زِينَتَكُمْ عِنْدَ كُلِّ مَسْجِدٍ وَكُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا وَلَا تُسْرِفُوا ۚ إِنَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُسْرِفِينَ

“O children of Adam, take your adornment at every masjid, and eat and drink, but be not excessive. Indeed, He likes not those who commit excess.” [Suratul A'raaf, verse 32]

Allah outlines in this simple verse how we as Muslims should eat. He mentions first to “take your adornment at every masjid”, which means to wear nice, clean clothes when attending the masjid. Then He says: “and eat and drink, but be no excessive”. The word for excessive here is ‘israaf’ (إسراف) and israaf not only means to be excessive, but it means to waste and be extravagant.

Imam ibnul Qayyim mentions two extremes that can be defined as ‘israaf’ in eating:

1) Firstly, the person will not follow the verse which says to “eat and drink”; they will under eat and constantly be in a state of malnutrition and starvation. This diet brings about sickness and prevents health.

2) Secondly, the person will overeat and go beyond what the limit of what is normal. The Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam taught us, “there is no worse vessel for the son of Aadam to fill than his stomach, but if he must fill it, the let him allow one-third for food, one-third for drink, and one-third for air.” (Saheeh, Ahmad) This extreme also brings about sickness and prevents health.

The Muslim must avoid these two ways of doing israaf, and remain balanced in their diet–without overeating or under eating.

InshaAllah this serves as two reminders for us. Firstly, that the Qur’an is a guide for us in all aspects of our lives and also a reminder for us to leave both of these extremes in diet. wa Allahu ta’ala alam.

A Disbeliever’s Reaction to the Qur’an

Bismillah

Al-Waleed ibn Mugheerah, a staunch disbeliever amongst the Quraysh of Makkah, once came upon the Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam and asked him to recite the Qur’an for him. The Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam recited the ayah:

إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالْإِحْسَانِ وَإِيتَاءِ ذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَيَنْهَىٰ عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ وَالْبَغْيِ ۚ يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ

Allah commands justice, the doing of good, and liberality to kith and kin, and He forbids all shameful deeds, and injustice and rebellion: He instructs you, that you may receive admonition.(16:90)

He asked the Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam to repeat again, so he repeated. Then Al-Waleed said:

والله إن له لحلاوة . وإن عليه لطلاوة . وإن أعلاه لمثمر . وإن أسفله لمغدق . وإنه ليعلو ولا يعلى عليه . وإنه ليحطم ما تحته . وما يقول هذا بشر

By Allah, indeed it has a sweetness to it, and a charm upon it; the highest part of it is fruitful and the lowest part of it is gushing forth with bounty; it dominates and cannot be dominated, and it crushes all that is under it. And it is not the speech of a man.

This is the reaction of one who disbelieved in Allah and His Messenger…What is our reaction to the Qur’an?

Respecting Parent

                                              

 

There are many days set aside in non-Islamic societies to honour and appreciate special people; examples of these are Father's Day, Mother's Day, Memorial Day and Labour Day. In Islam, however, respecting, honouring and appreciating parents is not just for a single day of the year, but rather for each and every day.

       Parents in the Quran

 

A Muslim child should respect and appreciate his or her parents on a daily basis. Allaah mentions that human beings must recognise their parents and that this is second only to the recognition of Allaah Himself. Throughout the Quran, we notice that parents are mentioned with appreciation and respect, even if they are senile. In the Quran, there is a very beautiful description of how parents are to be treated; Allaah Says (what means): 

"And your Lord has decreed that you not worship except Him, and to parents, good treatment. Whether one or both of them reach old age [while] with you, say not to them [so much as] 'uff' [i.e., an expression of irritation or disapproval] and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word. And lower to them the wing of humility out of mercy and say: 'My Lord! Have mercy upon them as they brought me up [when I was] small.'" [Quran 17:23-24]

The recognition and respect of parents is mentioned in the Quran eleven times; in every instance, Allaah reminds children to recognise and to appreciate the love and care that they have received from their parents. One such example is when Allaah says what means: "And We have enjoined upon man goodness to parents…" [Quran 29:8 & 46:15

                     "Your Morther...Your Mother...Your Mother.."

Although Islam recognises both parents, mothers are given particular gratitude and respect. This can be appreciated if we reflect upon the hardships and suffering that mothers experience in their lives. In this regard, there is a Hadeeth of the Prophet : It was narrated by Abu Hurayrah that a man came to the Prophet and asked him: 'Who is most deserving of my close companionship?' He replied: “Your mother; your mother; your mother; then your father; then the next closest to you in kinship; then the one next closest.”

Islam has endorsed respect for parents by their children, even if the parents are non-Muslims. If parents strive to convert their children to non-Islamic beliefs, the children should not obey them, but must still maintain goodness towards them. In this regard, Allaah says what means:

 

"And We have enjoined upon man [care] for his parents. His mother carried him,

 [increasing her] in weakness upon weakness, and his weaning is two years. Be

grateful to Me and your parents; to Me is the [final] destination. But if they endeavour to make you associate with Me that of which you have no knowledge, do not obey them but accompany them in [this] world with appropriate kindness and follow the way of those who turn back to Me [in repentance]. Then to Me will be your return, and I will inform you about what you used to do." [Quran 31:14-15]

Islam teaches us that of the most beloved deeds to Allaah, having respect for one's parents is second only to that of prayer and is greater than that of Jihaad (fighting in His cause). In this respect, Abu 'Abdur-Rahmaan 'Abdullaah Ibn Mas’ood narrated the following: "I asked the Prophet : 'Which deed is the most beloved to Allaah?' He replied: "Prayers performed on time." I then asked: 'Which one is next?' He replied: "Goodness to parents." I then asked: 'Which is next?' He replied: "Jihaad in the path of Allaah.""

We hope and pray that all of us will respect our parents while they are alive and after their death. One can honour his parents after their death through the following 

methods:

1.        Performing daily Du'aa' (supplication) for them.

2.        Giving charity on their behalf.

3.        Instituting a perpetual charity on their behalf, such as a mosque, an Islamic   Centre, an Islamic library, an Islamic hospital, an orphanage, etc.

4.        Performing Hajj on their behalf, or asking someone to do so.

5.        Distributing Islamic literature on their behalf.

Let us pray to Allaah that we do our best to respect our parents, honour them, be kind to them, assist them, and please them so that we may attain the love of Allaah.

O Allaah! Accept our humble prayers and make us obedient slaves to You.

O Allaah! Help us to be respectful children to our parents. Aameen.

Introduction

Bismillah walhamdulillahi wahdahu, was salaatu was salaamu ‘alaa man la nabiyy ba’dahu.

سُبْحَانَكَ لَا عِلْمَ لَنَا إِلَّا مَا عَلَّمْتَنَا ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْعَلِيمُ الْحَكِيمُ

“Glory be to You, How far You are from imperfection, we have no knowledge except what You have taught us. Verily, it is You, the All-Knower, the All-Wise.”  (2:32)

I’ve always been asked when I will get my own blog. MashaAllah this is my third attempt (third time is the sunnah inshaAllah) at starting one and keeping it.

The purpose of this blog is to post tayyibaat, good things, primarily gems from the Qur’an and our religion in general. Why the name “Presenting Islam”? Well, since this blog is not just for Muslims but non-Muslims alike, I thought I should call it something we can all understand. I mean, a fancy Arabic word isn't going to attract the world, right? It might, but I don't know..

Everything that I post is based on various Islamic courses and classes I have taken. I have no knowledge, all I am doing is passing on what I learned from these courses and institutes.  So guys, if there's a Islamic course going on near you, grab the chance. Don't pass it up.

If anyone would like to contact me, please email me at:  abdirahman_ali@ymail.com 

I ask Allah ta’ala to place barakah in our time and actions and make us among at Tayyibeen, Ameen.

wa lillahil hamd.

الفقيرة لرحمة ربها