Ruqayyah (r.a)

RUQAYYAH (r.a) - DAUGHTER OF MUHAMMAD(pbuh)
Ruqayyah (R.A.) was Rasulullah’s (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) second daughter. She was married to Utba the son of Abu Lahab. Abu Lahab was the uncle of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) but had become his violent enemy and of Islãm and its followers.

Both father and son did not enter into Islãm and Utba repudiated Ruqayyah (R.A.) on the incitement of his father. Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) gave Ruqayyah (R.A.) in marriage to Uthman ibn Affãn (R.A.). When the battle of Badr took place, Ruqayyah (R.A.) was seriosly ill. Uthman (R.A.) had the desire to fight but Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) asked him to stay at home and take care of his sick wife. He told him that he would be rewarded equal to the participants. He marked him ’Fighter of Badr’ and gave him his share in the booty. Ruqayyah (R.A.) passed away on the day the Muslims returned victorious.
source: Attarbiyah Magazine

Mishkat Hadith

Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) is reported to have said: "The contrast between the person who glorifies Allah Ta’ala and the one who does not remember Him is like that between the living and dead. [Mishkaat]

Zaynab (r.a)

ZAYNAB (r.a) - DAUGHTER OF MUHAMMAD(pbuh)
Zaynab (R.A.) was the eldest of the four daughters of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). She was married to Abdul As ibn Rabi, who was also the first cousin of Zaynab (R.A.) son of Khadija’s (R.A.) sister Hala. After Prophethood her husband did not accept Islãm and the leaders of his clan put great pressure upon him to divorce her and in return promised him to arrange the bride of his choice. But he didn’t.

Later Zaynab (R.A.) went to Madinah with other emigrants. Abdul As let her go with a heavy heart. The news of her journey leaked and some miscreants of the Quraysh followed them to bring her back. One of them, Habbãr by name, galloped ahead brandishing his spear. Zaynab (R.A.) was troubled much by his arrival. The camel, she was mounted on was startled and she fell down from her howdah (carriage). She was expecting her third child and later she had a miscarriage.

Not long after Hijrah, Abdul As came to Madinah and embraced Islãm. His wife Zaynab (R.A.) ever praying to Allah that He may turn his heart to Islãm owing to the deep love between the spouses, was grateful to Allah. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) allowed his daughter to reinstate the suspended bond of marriage.
source: Attarbiyah Magazine

Imagine Your Death

I M A G I N E
Unknown Author

Imagine yourself after you pass away
Imagine your grave through night and through day
Wishing that you did not do as they say
Wishing that you had got up and had prayed.

Imagine, my friends, the day that you died
Imagine all of the tears that they cried
Remember how it felt when your body was tied
Remember how it felt in the grave which you lied.

Imagine the day you'll be called to account
Imagine the sum to which your life will amount
Think for a moment of the deeds which you mount
Think for a moment how much they will count.

What will they say of you when you are dead?
What will they say, what will be said?
Will they speak of all the poor who you fed?
Will they remember all the Qu'ran that you read?

Think not of them, but of Allah, Lord of mankind and jinn
Think of Allah when tempted to sin
Think of the paradise which you will dwell in
Don't wait till later to think what might have been.

Other reading:
Allah is the Best of all planners
The Funeral Poem
Life is short

Sa'eed ibn Amir (r.a)

SA'EED IBN AMIR (r.a) - Companion of the Prophet (pbuh)
He left Makkah for Madinah to join the faith and to be one of its sincere and staunch followers. He was a staunch supporter of the 2 successors, Abu Bakr (r.a) and Umar (r.a) after the death of the Prophet (pbuh) and would provide counsel and moral support to them. Umar (r.a) appointed him as governor of Homs in Syria. In the beginning Saeed (r.a) tried to decline the governorship but he had to accept when the Caliph reminded him that as a responsible citizen he had to share the burden placed upon the shoulders of the Caliph.

When some trustworthy people came from Homs in Syria sometime later, Umar (r.a) asked them to list the name of the poor in Homs. Amongst the first listed was the name of Saeed (r.a). When Umar (r.a) asked the people of this they said, 'By Allah! Days pass without fire being lit in his house (out of poverty).' Umar (r.a) wept out of pity for Saeed (r.a) and sent him 1000 dinars. Both Saeed (r.a) and his wife put the money in small pouches and distributed it to the poor, instead of keeping it for themselves.

On one of the inspection tours of the State, Umar (r.a) visited Homs in Syria and inquired about the governor Sa'eed ibn Amir (r.a). They complained of 4 bad things about him:

1. he does not appear until late morning
2. he does not answer us during the night
3. once in a month he would stay at home a full day
4. he sometimes faints

Umar (r.a) was shocked to hear this, but felt there must be some misunderstanding of the matter as he knew Sa'eed (r.a) too well to doubt his conduct. The next day Umar (r.a) brought Sa'eed (r.a) and the citizens together and publicly asked about these complaints.

Sa'eed (r.a) said with regards to the first complaint, 'I hate to mention this, but I have no servant. So I get up in the morning, prepare the dough for my family, wait until it is ready and then bake the bread for them. Only then do I perform Wudu and go out to meet the public.'

Concerning the second complaint he said, 'I hate to publicise this, but I have allocated the day time for people and the night time for worship of Allah.'

In response to the third complaint agaist him, 'I have no servant, and no clothing except the one I am wearing. Therefore, when I wash it I have to stay at home until it dries, then I wear it and get out to meet the people.'

Answering to the fourth complaint, 'Before my conversion to Islam, I witnessed the murder of Khubaib (r.a) and witnessed and heard his response. Now when I recall the incident, how it happened and that I did not offer a helping hand, I fear that Allah may punish me and so I faint.'

At this Umar (r.a) sighed, saying, 'Thanks be to Allah who had guided me to choose the right governor.' Sa'eed was a model of a true and responsible governor to whom leadership was a responsibility rather than an honour.


Subhanallah, so many lessons to be learnt from this God fearing companion. We should compare how we hoard wealth, continously expand our wardrobes to keep with fashions, become engaged with responsibilty and forget Allah and dont reflect on our past actions let alone seek forgiveness for them.

May Allah give me and you the ability to act on the above. Ameen. Please take a look at Breathe Islam blog and inform others also, Jazakallah.

in need of your duas
Wasalam

Wake Up!

WAKE UP!
by a dear sister

Bismillah Al Rahman, Al Raheem:

"Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar" you hear the athaan go on.
But you still decide to procrastinate, even when your family yells, "Come on!"

You think, "I still have time, before I really have to pray, 'Asr is still hours away."
Your head is saying "Go" but the Shaytaan is saying "No" so you go on anyway.

You go to your bed and decide to lie down, for just a few minutes you say.
But when your head hits the pillow, your body is overcome by a feeling, different than any other way.

You suddenly feel hot and nervous, and your throat is parched and dry.
You hear a voice call, "Why did you disobey me?" But you are unable to answer why.

Suddenly your life flashes before your eyes,
And feelings of guilt and regret are becoming hard to disguise.

Images and thoughts run through your head,
If only you did more useful things, but you wasted your time instead.

Every ill word you said, and every prayer you missed is presented,
If only you took life more seriously...if only you repented.

You say, "I didn't know any better, I never knew to take a closer look"
But the voice replies, "Yes you did, you had The Holy Book."

"In it you will find the meaning of life, and words of inspiration.
And the perfect example for mankind, the Prophet who received the revelation."

"This life is but a stage, a mere drop compared to an ocean,
"So think not of the worldly things, and make sure that in your heart lies devotion."

You wake up suddenly, alarmed and quivering.
"I wasted so much time!" you think, "good words and prayers I should be delivering."

You pray, and then afterwards do some reflection,
And you decide to give your life a thorough inspection.

This life is so unpredictable; it can vanish very soon,
All that you see will perish, and only your deeds will remain with you.

So hold on to the Quran and the way of the Prophet (saw) for salvation,
And do not delay what you must do, remember Jannah, the ultimate destination.