And He found you lost and guided [you]

[Quran 93:7]

[Hi-res download]

Al-Mutaffifeen (The Curtailers)

وَيْلٌ لِلْمُطَفِّفِينَ

Woe to the curtailers,

الَّذِينَ إِذَا اكْتَالُوا عَلَى النَّاسِ يَسْتَوْفُونَ
who, when they measure something to receive from people, take it in full,

وَإِذَا كَالُوهُمْ أَوْ وَزَنُوهُمْ يُخْسِرُونَ
and when they measure or weigh something to give it to them, give less than due.

(Quran 83:1-3)

Begin Quote.

The word, Mutaffifin, 'those who give short measure or weight,' is derived from Tatfif, 'to give short measure or short weight'. The Qur'anic expression 'Woe to the curtailers' is indicative of the injunction that this practice is prohibited.

The Vicissitudes of Life

فَلَا أُقْسِمُ بِالشَّفَقِ
So I swear by the twilight glow [84:16]

وَاللَّيْلِ وَمَا وَسَقَ
And [by] the night and what it envelops [84:17]

وَالْقَمَرِ إِذَا اتَّسَقَ
And [by] the moon when it becomes full [84:18]

لَتَرْكَبُنَّ طَبَقًا عَنْ طَبَقٍ
[That] you will surely experience state after state. [84:19]

If we consider the four phenomena by which oath is taken, it bears evidence to the subject which is forthcoming in the complement of the oath, that is, the condition of man never remains the same at all times.

The Hadith of Ka'b bin Malik

Abdullah bin Ka'b, who served as the guide of Ka'b bin Malik (May Allah be pleased with him) when he became blind, narrated:

I heard Ka'b bin Malik (May Allah be pleased with him) narrating the story of his remaining behind instead of joining Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) when he left for the battle of Tabuk.

Sunnah Prayers

The sunnah Salah completes the Fard Salah. Our fard Salah is usually incomplete due to several reasons.  Sometimes we lack focus, sometimes our intentions are lacking sincerity, sometimes we pray too fast etc.

Ibn Taymiyyah on How to Acquire Knowledge

The Shaikh of Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allaah have mercy on him, said, “Purifying the soul, acting upon knowledge, and fearing Allaah have a tremendous effect on obtaining knowledge.”

Mowqif Ibn Taymiyyah minas-Soofiyyah, vol. 1, p. 357.

Taken from: Gifts of Knowledge

Do you fear Allah?

Al-Fudayl ibn 'Iyyad said, "If you are asked whether you fear Allah, do not reply; for of you say 'Yes' you would be lying, and if you say 'No' it would mean that you do not believe in Him."

Ahmad Farid (1996). The Purification of the Soul. p128

Gardens beneath which rivers flow

"Their reward with Allah will be gardens of perpetual residence beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever, Allah being pleased with them and they with Him. That is for whoever has feared his Lord." (98:8)

جَنَّاتُ عَدْنٍ تَجْرِي مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ
gardens of perpetual residence beneath which rivers flow

This description of gardens beneath which rivers flow comes many times in the Quran.  But many people simply overlook this ayah [verse] and simply move on, but there is wisdom here which is quite profound. [1]

The Human Seed

وَهُوَ الَّذِي يُرْسِلُ الرِّيَاحَ بُشْرًا بَيْنَ يَدَيْ رَحْمَتِهِ ۖ حَتَّىٰ إِذَا أَقَلَّتْ سَحَابًا ثِقَالًا سُقْنَاهُ لِبَلَدٍ مَيِّتٍ فَأَنْزَلْنَا بِهِ الْمَاءَ فَأَخْرَجْنَا بِهِ مِنْ كُلِّ الثَّمَرَاتِ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نُخْرِجُ الْمَوْتَىٰ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ

And it is He who sends the winds as good tidings before His mercy until, when they have carried heavy rainclouds, We drive them to a dead land and We send down rain therein and bring forth thereby [some] of all the fruits. Thus will We bring forth the dead; perhaps you may be reminded. (7:57)

Allah states in other places in the Quran:

Moderation in Food

The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) tells us to be moderate in our consumption of food; not to eat until we are full.

Miqdad bin Ma'dikarib (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
I heard Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) say: "No man fills a container worse than his stomach. A few morsels that keep his back upright are sufficient for him. If he has to, then he should keep one-third for food, one-third for drink and one-third for his breathing." [At-Tirmidhi][1]

The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “Withhold your burps from us, for those who are most satisfied in this world will be hungry for the longest time on the Day of Resurrection.” [At-Tirmidhi]

Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab said, "Beware of gluttony, for it makes one lazy from prayer and it is harmful to the body. Upon you is moderation in your food, for that will keep you further from ungratefulness, healthier in your body, and stronger to do worship. And a person does not become destroyed until he prefers his desire over his religion."[2]

[1] Riyad as-Salihin, Hadith 516
[2] Fu'ad Ibn Abdul Azeez Ash Shulhoob (2003). The Book of Manners.  Published by Darussalam. pg. 226-227