Al A’laa 87:9

Increase in the remembrance of Allah, praising Him, glorifying Him, declaring His Oneness and His Might and Majesty. Fast in these nine days and especially on the Day of Arafah. Pray on time. Increase in voluntary acts of worship, for servants draw near to Allah, through their voluntary deeds, until Allah becomes pleased with them. Increase in the recitation of the Quran, its reflection and its application. Give in charity. Join the ties of kinship. Spread goodness and be in the service of others. Repent, and seek the forgiveness of Allah. Supplicate plenty, for Allah is more plentiful (in responding).

So remind, in case the reminder benefits.

Surat al-A’laa (The Most High 87:9)

Al-Hijr 15:49

The Forgiver
The Oft-Forgiving
The Most Forgiving
The Repeatedly Forgiving
The One Who loves to forgive
The One Who covers our flaws
The One Who erases our mistakes
as though they were never there
The One Who replaces our bad deeds
with good deeds when we repent
The One Who continuously accepts repentance
The One Who is Most Merciful to His servants
The One Whose Mercy exceeds everything.

“Tell My servants that I am indeed Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.”

Not A One-Way Street

In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Especially Merciful

As Muslims, sometimes we have this ‘formal’ relationship with Allah. We fulfill His obligatory commands; we avoid major sins; we call upon him with the same du’as that we’ve been supplicating with since young, and things never really progress from there. However, being Muslim entails a love for Allah that makes us look forward to knowing Him, pleasing Him, and finally meeting Him in the aakhirah. So how do we attain such love and feel near to Allah? How can we taste the sweetness of faith? And how are we able to trust Him no matter what circumstancewe’re in? These happen when, and only when, we have a strong relationship with our Lord.

Prophets Series – Syu’ayb

(84) And to the Madyan (Midian) people (We sent) their brother Shu’ayb. He said, “O my people! Worship Allah, you have no deity other than Him. And do not decrease from the measure and the scale. Indeed, I see you in prosperity, and verily I fear for you the torment of a Day encompassing.  (85) And O my people, give full measure and weight in justice and do not deprive the people of their due and do not commit mischief in the land, spreading corruption. (86) That which is left by Allah (after giving the rights of the people) is better for you, if you are believers. And I am not set over you as a guardian.” (87) They said, “O Shu’ayb, does your prayer command you that we should leave what our fathers used to worship or not do with our wealth what we please? Indeed, you are the forbearing, the most right-minded!” (They said this sarcastically.) 

The 5 C’s

In Singapore, there is a popular way with which some people measure success by, and that is the five C’s, namely, (1) cash, (2) cars, (3) credit cards, (4) condominiums, and (5) country club memberships (I didn’t know this before, but that’s because I live in a cave*). It is easy to equate material things to success, perhaps due to the tangibility of such possessions. However, one cannot help but ask, “Is that all? Is that all that I want in life? Will obtaining the five C’s mentioned above fulfill my needs and make me happy?”