Think about all the problems you have that you need to get a solution for. Or every single thing you are hoping for…
That new car…
getting married…
Children…
A job promotion…
Whatever it is that you want, you can ask Allah. Allah says: “Your Lord said make dua to me - supplicate to me - and I will respond to you!”
And that’s not just sometimes, but at any time – Allah WILL respond to us.
The Prophet ﷺ said, that a Muslim has five rights over his fellow-Muslim.
One of them: he should return his salam,
This shows that responding to a muslim’s salam is obligatory and both a right and a duty.
Let's strive to spread 'Salam' more often.
Replace "hi" with "as-salamu ‘alaykum",
The Prophet ﷺ said, "You will not have true faith until you love one another. Shall I inform you of something which, if you do, you will love one another? Spread the salam amongst yourselves.”
He ﷺ associated spreading 'Salam' with true Iman or faith.
It fosters love and kinship.
And those are two fundamental principles of our Ummah.
Such a simple act, yet it strengthens bonds, reduces conflicts, and unifies hearts.
In fact, it builds love between us as Muslims.
Benefits of performing the Sunnah prayers are:
They can increase our rewards, help us to maintain focus and concentration during our obligatory prayers, purify our hearts and increase our spiritual connection with Allah (SWT).
The Prophet ﷺ told us; that when we feel any pain, put a hand on the part of a body that was sore and say three times Bismillah “With the name of Allah,”
and seven times,
أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ وَقُدْرَتِهِ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا أَجِدُ وَأُحَاذِرُ
“I seek refuge in Allah’s might and power from the evil of what I am experiencing and trying to avert.”
Allahu Akbar! The power of the Name of Allah mentioned with true Faith, true Iman
Maintaining ties of kinship does not mean you have to be best friends with your extended family.
It simply means that you do not cut off from them and actively distance yourself from them or boycott them.
Unity, compassion, and respect within a family forge a bond of tolerance and love, embodying the essence of our shared human values
Our ties of kinship aren't merely familial bonds.
They're a sacred path to Allah's pleasure,
vessels blessings in our income,
and keys to longevity in our lives..
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, 'The one who severs the ties of kinship will not enter Paradise.' (Narrated by by Bukhari and Muslim)
This hadith reveals a terrifying reality.
Many people today don't even take the time to speak to their relatives.
They work all day and night or study for months on end, with maintaining strong family bonds being the last thing on their minds.
This is dangerous because it risks their deeds being nullified.
Do you struggle to identify a sin even though you have knowledge of which actions and statements are sinful?
Did you know there is another way to recognize sin beyond just knowledge?
The Prophet ﷺ summed it up for us by saying,
“Sin is that which wavers in your heart and you do not want people to find out about it.” (Sahih Muslim)
Have you ever felt ashamed doing something wrong in front of someone you deeply respect?
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Feel shy before Allah just as you would feel shy before a man of your family.” (Sahih Al-Albani)
Considering that Allah always sees us and is never unaware, and that nothing is hidden from Him, how should you feel when committing any sin at any moment?
That's something you want always to keep in mind.
Our thoughts and beliefs about Allah have a powerful impact on our relationship with Him.
We should have hope in Allah’s Mercy and forgiveness and at the same time fear His Wrath and punishment.
This delicate balance between hope and fear isn't just an emotional state; it's a compass that guides our actions, our prayers, and our relationship with Allah.
So, my dear brothers and sisters, always hold onto hope in Allah's mercy and forgiveness while maintaining a respectful fear of His justice.
The Prophet ﷺ says:
"Having good company or bad company is like being in the company of the owner of musk or of the blacksmith blowing the bellows. The owner of musk would either offer you some musk free of charge, or you would buy it from him, or you smell its pleasant fragrance; and as for the one who blows the bellows (i.e., the blacksmith), he either burns your clothes or you smell a repugnant smell".
[This Hadith is Narrated by by Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Good company uplifts you like the scent of musk...
While bad company burns like a blacksmith's fire.
Choose wisely—your companions shape your path.
This wisdom underscores the powerful influence of our social circles on our character and destiny.
The foundation to building our iman: we should increase in good deeds and avoid sinning, and
we should make dua to Allah to keep our iman fresh and renewed.
So how else can we revitalise our Iman?
Immerse ourselves in worship.
Allah tells us in the Quran,
وما خلقت الجن والإنس إلا ليعبدون
“And I created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone)”(51:56)
Worship is the very essence of our existence...
So worshipping Allah alone is the very purpose of our creation.
Sometimes, we fear that perhaps our actions are deficient, and our repentance may lack the conditions necessary for its acceptance (such as sincerity and remorse).
Consequently, we find ourselves living in a delicate balance between hopeful anticipation of Allah’s forgiveness and the persistent fear of His punishment.
This equilibrium drives us to continually strive for improvement and to earnestly seek His mercy.
How can we become devoted slaves of Allah?
Make more dua...
Deepen our knowledge and devotion in worship...
Fulfill the obligations, avoid sinning...
Recite and reflect on the Quran, and consistently turn to Allah in supplication...
Pray qiyaam al-layl (the night prayer), and seek Allah's guidance in the time just before fajr
The Prophet ﷺ said, that a Muslim has five rights over his fellow-Muslim:
One of them: he should return his salam,
This shows that responding to a muslim’s salam is obligatory and both a right and a duty.
Let's strive to spread 'Salam' more often.
Replace "hi" with "as-salamu ‘alaykum",
وإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِى عَنِّى فَإِنِّى قَرِيبٌ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ ٱلدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُوا۟ لِى وَلْيُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِى لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْشُدُونَ ١٨٦
“And when My servants ask you concerning Me, [tell them] indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me” (Quran 2:186).
Allah swt assures us that He hears all our duas. He readily responds. He assures us that he is near!
Each plea heard, each call answered.
In this divine closeness, find Your guidance, your light.
When you meet someone, saying "Assalamu alaykum" isn't just a greeting; it's a prayer for peace.
Responding with equal or better kindness is a sign of genuine care and love, as taught in the Quran.
وَإِذَا حُيِّيتُم بِتَحِيَّةٍ فَحَيُّوا بِأَحْسَنَ مِنْهَا أَوْ رُدُّوهَا
When you are greeted with a salutation then return it with a better one, or at least the same. (Quran 4:86)
In this world, many of us often struggle to buy a house,often spending years trying to save up for one.
And even if we do manage to buy one, we'll only live in it for maybe 60 to 80 years maximum.
But the house in Jannah is for eternity and it only takes 12 rak'ahs (Sunnah prayers) to earn it.
The Prophet ﷺ told us; that when we feel any pain, put a hand on the part of a body that was sore and say three times Bismillah “With the name of Allah,”
and seven times,
أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ وَقُدْرَتِهِ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا أَجِدُ وَأُحَاذِرُ
“I seek refuge in Allah’s might and power from the evil of what I am experiencing and trying to avert.”
Allahu Akbar! The power of the Name of Allah mentioned with true Faith, true Iman
Allah's Messenger ﷺ said:
“Shaytan considers that food lawful for himself on which the Name of Allah is not mentioned.”
Also, he said.
"O child, mention Allah's Name, eat with your right hand, and eat from what is near to you."
Have you said bismillah today?
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Shut your door and mention Allah's name, for the shaytan does not open a door which has been shut...
Extinguish your lamp and mention Allah's name...
Cover up your vessel even with a piece of wood that you just put on it and mention Allah's name...
And tie up your water skin (which they used to contain water) mentioning Allah's name.”
The prophet ﷺ tells us to say Bismillah before taking many small everyday actions to make sure that the shaytan does not enter or tamper with their belongings.
Are you striving to strengthen your connection with Allah ﷻ?
Regularly engage with the Qur’an—read it, understand it, and reflect on its teachings.
But there's more to it than personal devotion. We also need to actively engage in الأمر بالمعروف والنهي عن المنكر—enjoining what is good and forbidding what is evil.
When we neglect this duty, we’re not just letting individuals stray; we’re allowing the fabric of our community to weaken.
It’s not only a personal responsibility but a collective one to uplift each other, guide one another towards righteousness, and ensure the well-being of our entire community.
Have you ever taken a step in this direction? Let’s make it practical and start today.
Our beloved Prophet ﷺ, said: “Allah, may He be exalted, says: ‘‘I am as My slave thinks I am, and I am with him when he remembers Me... If he comes to Me walking, I go to him running.’’”
(Sahih al-Bukhari)
This hadith highlights Allah's Mercy, Generosity, and Unwavering Love for us.
وَلَقَدْ يَسَّرْنَا ٱلْقُرْءَانَ لِلذِّكْرِ فَهَلْ مِن مُّدَّكِرٍۢ
And We have certainly made the Quran easy to remember. (54:22)
Being associated with the Qur'an is a significant honor. It invites us to reflect, engage, and live by its teachings, aiming for an elevated status both in this life and the hereafter.
So, let me ask you: Have YOU read and understood the entire Quran from cover to cover? If not, it’s a call from the Lord of the Worlds to make a change.
Allah says in the Quran,
أَفَأَمِنُوا۟ مَكْرَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ فَلَا يَأْمَنُ مَكْرَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَّا ٱلْقَوْمُ ٱلْخَـٰسِرُونَ
{Then did they feel safe from the plan of Allah? But no one feels safe from the plan of Allah except the losing people}
[Al-A‘raf 7:99].
Shaykh Ibn Baz explains this beautifully: The believer should neither feel entirely safe from Allah's plan nor should they despair of His mercy.
So, while we strive for good, we should also remain humble, understanding that everything is in Allah’s Hands.
When faced with challenges or when we make mistakes, we should always turn back to Allah, seeking and hoping for His forgiveness and mercy.
At the same time, we should be mindful of our actions, fearing any wrongdoing that may displease Him.
Allah said in the Quran:
وَمَا مُحَمَّدٌ إِلَّا رَسُولٌۭ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِهِ ٱلرُّسُلُ
Muḥammad is no more than a messenger; other messengers have gone before him. [Al ‘Imran 3:144]
إِنَّ ٱلدِّينَ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلْإِسْلَـٰمُ
Certainly, Allah’s only Way is Islam. [Al ‘Imran 3:19]
These ayahs attest that the message of Islam—of submitting oneself entirely to Allah—is not new. It's the core belief of every prophet sent by Allah.
The Prophet ﷺ said, “Iman wears out in your heart as clothes wear out, so ask Allah to renew the faith in your hearts.”
[This hadith is considered sahih by Al-Albani]
We understand that Iman isn't static...
It rises and falls and, much like how we nurture our bodies with good food and exercise, both mental and physical, our iman too needs consistent nourishment.
This serves as a reminder of the importance of constantly reviving our faith.
It also tells us a very important way of achieving that: by making dua to Allah - asking Him - to keep our Iman strong and renewed.
The scholars say that the systems of laws differed between prophets, but the foundational teachings remained consistent.
It's like the sturdy trunk of a tree while the branches may sway in different directions.
And that make sense since the One who sent all the Prophets is the same true One God: the sole Creator of the Heavens and the earth!