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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
Having all hope in Allah and no fear of his punishment can make us arrogant and we can feel like we don’t need to obey Allah as much as we should in order to attain his mercy.
Likewise, having no hope in Allah and only fearing him will overwhelm us and can eventually make us give up trying to please Him.
So balancing hope in Allah's mercy with the awareness of His justice guides us on a humble path of obedience.
And also this Equilibrium prevents arrogance and despair, leading us towards a fulfilling spiritual journey and guiding us closer to Him.
The meaning of the word 'Islam' itself is 'submission.'
All the prophets - Adam, Nuh, Ibrahim, Musa, Isa, Muhammad ‘alayhimus-salam - and all the other prophets - called people to this same message of submitting to Allah—in other words, to be Muslims, which means Submitters to God.
Allah says:
وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ مِن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا نُوحِىٓ إِلَيْهِ أَنَّهُۥ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنَا۠ فَٱعْبُدُونِ
"
We never sent a messenger before you ˹O Muhammad except revealing to him: “There is no god ˹worthy of worship˺ except Me, so worship Me ˹alone˺.”"
[Surah Al-Anbiya (21:25)]
Qiyam al-Layl is our direct connection to Allah.
It’s a time for personal communication with our Creator.
Even if we do just 2 rak'ahs and 1 rak'ah of witr consistently, it can have a great impact on our spiritual growth.
Let’s strive to incorporate Qiyam al-Layl into our routine for greater closeness to Allah.
The first command the Prophet ﷺ ever received from Allah ﷻ was “Iqra,” which means "read!"
Allah begins many surahs in the Qur’an by describing it as a guidance, a light, and wisdom for mankind.
Allah says:
"ألم ﴿ذلِكَ الكِتابُ لا رَيبَ فيهِ هُدًى لِلمُتَّقينَ﴾"
"Alif Lam Mim (1) This is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those conscious of Allāh." [Al-Baqarah: 2]
In Surah Yunus:
"﴿الر تِلكَ آياتُ الكِتابِ الحَكيمِ﴾"
"Alif Lam Ra (1) These are the verses of the wise Book." [Yunus: 1]
And in Surah Al-Hijr:
"الٓر ۚ تِلْكَ ءَايَـٰتُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ ٱلْمُبِينِ"
"Alif Lam Ra. These are the verses of the clear Book." [Al-Hijr: 1]
The Qur’an is a book of wisdom, a guide for all of humanity. The more time we spend with Allah’s book, the more He will guide us in our lives.
Let’s make the Qur’an a regular part of our lives and seek its light and wisdom.
Seeking inspiration on your faith journey? Look no further than the righteous predecessors—the Sahabah and the Salaf.
Allah praises the Prophet’s ﷺ companions multiple times in the Quran for their unwavering faith and urges us to follow their path. He ﷻ says:
"وَالسّابِقونَ الأَوَّلونَ مِنَ المُهاجِرينَ وَالأَنصارِ وَالَّذينَ اتَّبَعوهُم بِإِحسانٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنهُم وَرَضوا عَنهُ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُم جَنّاتٍ تَجري تَحتَهَا الأَنهارُ خالِدينَ فيها أَبَدًا ذلِكَ الفَوزُ العَظيمُ"
"And the first forerunners [in the religion] among the Muhājireen and the Anṣār and those who followed them with good conduct—Allāh is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him, and He has prepared for them gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever. That is the great achievement." (At-Tawbah: 100)
Let’s commit to following the example of the Sahabah and the Salaf, seeking Allah’s pleasure and striving for the eternal gardens of Jannah.
Start by surrounding yourself with people who help you on that journey.
Allah says:
"ٱلْأَخِلَّآءُ يَوْمَئِذٍۭ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ عَدُوٌّ إِلَّا ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ"
"Close friends will be enemies to one another on that Day, except the righteous." (Az-Zukhruf 43:67)
Our friends and daily companions have a significant impact on our thoughts and actions.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “A good companion, in comparison with a bad one, is like that of the musk seller and the blacksmith's bellows (or furnace); from the first you would either buy musk or enjoy its good smell, while the bellows would either burn your clothes or your house, or you get a bad, nasty smell from it."
The Prophet's ﷺ example highlights how the company we keep shapes us. Let’s strive to surround ourselves with righteous, pious companions who help us grow closer to Allah ﷻ.
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!
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.
Just like preparing for an important meeting, we should mentally prepare for Salah.
Be present and aware of yourself when you pray.
Allah is listening and responding to us during Salah.
When we say
“اهدنا الصراط المستقيم”
(Guide us to the straight path),
Allah says:
“This is for My servant, and My servant will receive what he asks for.”
Let’s cherish this conversation with Allah and pray with sincerity.
Qiyam al-Layl is our direct connection to Allah.
It’s a time for personal communication with our Creator.
Even if we do just 2 rak'ahs and 1 rak'ah of witr consistently, it can have a great impact on our spiritual growth.
Let’s strive to incorporate Qiyam al-Layl into our routine for greater closeness to Allah.
Salah is our direct connection to Allah.
It’s a time for personal communication with our Creator.
Let’s value this connection and make each Salah meaningful.
Purification is essential in Islam and comes in two main forms:
Ritual cleanliness: This includes Wudu (ablution) and Ghusl (full-body purification) before prayer, which spiritually prepares us to stand before Allah.
Physical cleanliness: This involves ensuring our bodies, clothes, and the place of prayer are free from impurities, reflecting the importance of purity in our daily lives.
By maintaining both types of purification, we ensure that our prayers are accepted and that we approach worship with the reverence it deserves.
Allah says,
“Indeed, prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing” (Al-‘Ankabūt: 45).
Salah is a powerful tool to keep us on the right path.
Let’s strive to perform it with sincerity and focus.