A Miracle

Hazrat Jabir ibn Abdullah narrates, “When the Trench (battle of Trench) was dug, I saw Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wa Sallam) in the state of severe hunger. So I returned to my wife and said, "Have you got anything (to eat), for I have seen Allah's Apostle (Sallallahu alayhi wa Sallam) in a state of severe hunger." She brought out for me, a bag containing one Saa (a measurement) of barley, and we had a domestic she animal (i.e. a kid) which I slaughtered then, and my wife ground the barley and finished around the time I finished my job (i.e. slaughtering the kid).

Then I cut the meat into pieces and put it in an earthenware (cooking) pot, and returned to Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam). My wife said, "Do not disgrace me in front of Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) and those who are with him." So I went to him and said to him secretly, "O Allah's Apostle! I have slaughtered a she-animal (i.e. kid) of ours, and we have ground a Saa of barley, which was with us. So please come, you and another person along with you." Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) raising his voice announced, "O people of Trench! Jabir has prepared a meal so let us go." Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said to me, "Don't put down your earthenware meat pot (from the fireplace) or bake your dough till I come." So I came (to my house) and Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) too, came, proceeding before the people. When I came to my wife, she said, "May Allah do so-and-so to you." I said, "I have told the Prophet of what you said." Then she brought out to him (i.e. the Prophet the dough, and he inserted some saliva in it, and invoked for Allah's Blessings in it.

Then he proceeded towards our earthenware meat-pot and inserted some saliva in it and invoked for Allah's Blessings in it. Then he said (to my wife). Call a lady-baker to bake along with you and keep on taking out scoops from your earthenware meat-pot, and do not put it down from its fireplace." They were one thousand (who took their meals), and by Allah they all ate, and when they left , our earthenware pot was still bubbling (full of meat) as if it had not decreased, and our dough was still being baked as if nothing had been taken from it .
(Sahih Bukhari – Chapter on Ghazawaat – Battles)

The Month of Sha'baan & Laylatul - Baraa'ah(The Fifteenth Night of Sha'baan)


The month of Sha'baan enjoys a very special place in the Islamic Calendar
because in this month lies a very auspicious night known as
LAYLATUL-BARAA'AH (The Night of Emancipation; The night of Freedom from
fire). The word Sha'baan means branches of good a'maal (deeds).
FASTING IN SHA'BAAN:
In this month Nabi(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) used to fast more than in
the preceding months. Hadhrat Ayesha(radhiyallahu anha) reports that: " I
never saw the Messenger of Allah(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) fasting in a
month so profusely as he did in the month of Sha'baan. He used to fast in
that month leaving only a few days, rather, he used to fast almost the whole
of the month." (Tirmizi)
However, Nabi(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) advised in several other
Ahaadeeth that when the (first) half of Sha'baan has passed, one should not
fast (i.e. during the second half of the month). Ulama explain that one
should not unduly exert and strain one's self by fasting much (in the second
half), for fear of one's health deteriorating before Ramadhaan begins;
instead one should rather build strength and prepare one's self for the
fasts of Ramadhaan. However, should one have the strength and health, then
it would be meritorious and virtous to keep fasts according to one's
ability.
SPECIAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE NIGHT OF BARAA'AH On this night Allah's Special
Mercy and Forgiveness descends upon His fortunate servants from the
commencement of the night (i.e. from Maghrib) until dawn. Furthermore, the
announcements seeking out those who want forgiveness well exceed those,
which occur every other night of the year.
It is narrated from Hadhrat Abdullah bin Amr(radhiyallahu anhu) that
Rasullullah(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) said: "Allah looks with special
attention towards His creation on the fifteenth night of Sha'baan and
forgives all His servants except two categories of people, the person who
harbors enmity(hatred) and a murderer." ( Imam Ahmad reports this Hadith
with a slightly weak chain of narrators- Targhib-wat-Tarhib)
Hadhrat Uthmaan bin Abil 'Aas(radhiyallahu anhu) narrates that
Rasullullah(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) said: : "On the fifteenth night of
Sha'baan Allah's (special mercy) descends to the nearest heavens.
Thereafter, a proclaimer announces:" Is there anyone who seeks forgiveness
so that I may forgive him? Is there anyone who desires anything so that I
may grant his wishes? Allah thus fulfills the requests of all accept the
adulteress and idolator." ( Baihaqi has reported this Hadith -Durre Manthur
Page 27 Vol.6)
UNFORTUNATE PEOPLE
According to the Ahaadeeth, certain people are deprived of Allah's mercy
even on this auspicious night. These unfortunate souls are:
1) Those who ascribe partners unto Allah.
2) Those who harbour enmity against others.
3) Those who habitually consume alcohol.
4) Those who disobey their parents.
5) Those men who wear their trousers etc.below their ankles.
6) Those who commit adultery and murder.
7) Those who sever family ties.
Every Muslim should take stock of oneself and if one is involved in any of
the above vices, one should turn to Allah and sincerely implore for
forgiveness, lest one be deprived on this night.
SINCERE TAUBAH(REPENTANCE)
Allah Ta'aala says in the Noble Qur'aan: " O you who believe, turn to Allah
with sincrere repentance, in the hope that your Lord will remove from you
your evil deeds." (Quran: Surah Tahreem - Para 28). One should turn towards
Allah with sincere regret and shame for the sins that one has committed. One
should seek Allah's forgiveness for one's sins and make a firm resolution
and promise not to commit sin again. However, sins relating to the rights of
fellow beings will not be forgiven by mere taubah alone. Allah will only
forgive such sins if forgiveness is first sought from the person who had
been harmed and a sincere effort to redress the wrong committed against
him/her is made.
What should one do on this night?
During this night one should engage oneself in Salaah, Qur'aan Tilaawat,
Du'aa, Istighfaar and Zikr, according to one's ability and strength.
PREPARATIONS FOR RAMADHAAN
Nabi(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) frequently recited the following du'aa: "
0 Allah bless us in Rajab and Sha'baan and make us reach Ramadhaan." We
should earnestly begin preparing for Ramadhaan during this month of Sha'baan
by making Istighfaar and cleansing ourselves of sins. We must endeavour to
curtail our desires of committing sins, especially with the eyes, ears,
tongue, mind and heart. Then we should begin inculcating good practices and
bring about a spiritual and moral transformation in our lives in
anticipation and eagerness for Ramadhaan.
The virtue of this night as established from Ahaadeeth, is that from the
very beginning of the night, Allah Ta'ala turns with special mercy and
attention towards the creation and forgives those who repent and seeks
forgiveness. Every Muslim should therefore value this night. Turn towards
Allah Ta'ala with sincere regret and shame over sins committed and make a
firm promise not to return to sin and seek forgiveness from Allah Ta'ala.
Have firm hope and resolution in the heart that Allah Ta'ala will surely
show mercy and forgiveness. We should value and treasure this night and
derive maximum benefit therefrom; remembering to make duaa for the entire
Ummah, the living and the deceased. Let us not be deprived of its tremendous
blessings due to sheer negligence and indifference.
Sources:
1. Ilmun Noor- Nurul Huda
2. Shabe' Baraat- Sheikhul Hadeeth Fadhlur Rahman
3.Al Hidaayah: Pamphlet No. 10

Aslam-u-Alaykum Wa Rahmatullah-e-Wa Barakathu Wa Maghfirathu,
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ten Sicknesses of The Heart
1.You believe in the existance of Allah Ta'ala, but you do not fulfil
his commands.

2.You say you love the Holy Prophet Mohammed (Sallallahu 'alahi
wasallam), but you do not follow his sunnah (ie, his example).

3.You Read The Qur'an but you do not put it into practice.

4.You enjoy all the benefits from Allah Ta'ala, but you are not
grateful to him.

5.You acknowledge Shaytan as your enemy, but you do not go against
him.

6.You want to enter paradise, but you do not work for it.

7.You do not want to be thrown into hell-fire, but you do not try to
get away (ie, do good deeds).

8.You believe that every living-thing will face death, but you do not
prepare for it.

9.You gossip and find faults in others, but you forgot your own faults
and mistakes.

10.You bury the dead, but you do not take a lesson from it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

May Allah Ta'ala help us to get rid of the cravings of our egos and
help us to implement his law (Shariah), and the sunnah of his beloved
Prophet Sayyidinna Muhammed (sallallahu 'alahi wasallam) in our
everyday lives.

Ameen

Rewards of Fasting

Every act of goodness is rewarded. Rewards are given based on the sincerity of the intention. Fasting is the only worship about which Allah has said that He Himself is the reward for it. This means that one develops such a close relationship with Allah that Allah Himself becomes the helper.

Abu Hurairah relates that the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "Allah, the Lord of Honor and glory says: All other deeds of man are for himself, but his fasting is purely for Me and I shall reward him for it. The fast is a shield. When any of you is fasting he should abstain from loose talk and noisy exchanges. Should anyone revile him or seek to pick a quarrel with him, he should respond with: I am observing a fast. By Him in Whose hands is the life of Muhammad, the breath of one who is fasting is purer in the sight of Allah than the fragrance of musk. One who fasts experiences two joys: he is joyful when he breaks his fast, and he is joyful by virtue of his fast when he meets his Lord" (Bukhari and Muslim).

Sa'ad ibn Sahl relates that the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "There is a gate of Paradise called Rayyan through which only those will enter on the Day of Judgment who are regular in observing the fast and no one else. A call will go forth: Where are those who observed the fast regularly? And they will step forth and no one beside them will enter through that gate. After they shall have entered, the gate will be closed and no one else will enter thereby" (Bukhari and Muslim).

Abu Sa'id Khudri relates that the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "When a servant of Allah observes the fast for a day for the sake of Allah, He thereby repels the Fire from him a distance of seventy years of journeying" (Bukhari and Muslim).

Abu Hurairah relates that the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "He who observes the fast during Ramadhan out of sincerity of faith and in hope of earning merit will have his past sins forgiven him" (Bukhari and Muslim).

Abu Hurairah relates that the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "When Ramadhan arrives the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of hell are locked up and satans are put in chains" (Bukhari and Muslim).

got this on email....made me really sit up and think "what will I say to Him?".... May Allah (swt) forgive our past and guide us all to the path of righteousness as followed by our Rasool (saw).Ameen


"What will I say to Him? ! "
> A man known as Abu Abdallah said: I don't know how to explain an
> experience I lived through a while ago, that changed my whole life
> routine. The truth is that I would never have decided to reveal it, if it
> weren't for the fact that I felt a responsibility towards Allah (The
> Glorious), as a warning for the young men who disobey Allah, and as a
> warning for the young women who follow a fake dream or fantasy called
> "love". We were three friends, nothing grouped us together but
> disobedience and misguidance. No, actually we were four, the Shaytan was
> the fourth.
>
> We used to go hunting down beautiful girls, and lure them with our sweet
> talk to far away farms. There, they would be surprised that we have turned
> into foxes with no sympathy, no feelings whatsoever, no matter what they
> said or did to make us reconsider. We were cold hearted, and had no
> feelings or any sense of shame. That is how we spent our days and nights;
> in the farms,camps, cars, and on the shore.Until the day that I will never
> forget came.
>
> We went as usual to the farm, everything was ready. Each one of us had his
> prey, the damned drink (i.e., alcohol), but we forgot one thing, and it
> was the food. So after a while, one of my friends went to buy food for
> supper with his car. It was almost 6 p.m. When he left.
>
> Hours passed without him returning, so at 10 p.m. I became worried that
> something happened to him. So I went with my car looking for him. And on
> the way, I saw some flames of fires spreading on the sides of the road.
> When I reached, I was shocked to see that it was my friends car, with the
> fire eating it up while it was flipped on one of it's sides. I ran like
> crazy, trying to free my friend from his burning car. I was alarmed to see
> that half his body was black like charcoal, but he was still alive. So I
> carried him and placed him on the floor, and after a minute he opened his
> eyes and said: "The fire! The fire!" So I decided to take him to my car
> and rush with him to the hospital.
> But he sobbed: "There's no use, I won't reach."
>
> Tears overcame me as I was watching my friend to die in front of me...
> Then he stunned me by yelling: "What will I say to Him?! What will I say
> to Him?!"
> "Dumbfounded, I looked at him and asked: "Who?" He replied with a distant
> voice: "Allah".
>
> I felt fear creep all over my body and I began to shake.Then suddenly he
> let out an echoing scream, and he took in his last breath. The days
> passed, but the image of my friend being eaten up by the fire,and him
> yelling "What will I say to Him?! What will I say to Him?!" never left my
> mind. I found myself asking "And what will I say to Him?!"
>
> [And all those who disobey Allah, should ask themselves: "What will I say
> to Him?" ]
>
> My eyes overflowed with tears and I felt an odd compassionate feeling I
> never felt before. At that same moment, I heard the Muazzin (the person
> who calls the Athan -Call to Prayer- ) call for Salat Al-Fajr (Morning
> Prayer)"Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Hayya 'Ala Al-Salah" (Allah is Great,
> Allah is Great,Come to Salah).
>
> I felt that it was a call directed to me personally, telling me to close
> the curtains on the dark years of my life, and calling me to the straight
> path of guidance and obedience. I washed up, made Wudu, and cleansed my
> self from the sin I drowned in, and I prayed. Since that day, I have
> turned to Allah, begging for forgiveness and repentance. I haven't missed
> one fardh. I became a new person. I try to be a an obedient slave to My
> Creator. My life has changed......
> *************************
> "On the day when the earth will be changed to other than this earth, and
> the heavens - and they will all come forth standing before Allah, the One,
> the Dominant above all." [Qur'an Surah Ibrahim 14:48]

1. Ummul-Mu'mineen 'Aishah, Radi-Allahu anha, is reported to have said, "Once Rasulullah, Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, performed the Salaah of the night (Tahajjud) and made a very long Sajdah until I feared that he had passed away. When I saw this, I rose (from my bed) and moved his thumb (to ascertain whether he is alive). The thumb moved, and I returned (to my place).

Then I heard him saying in Sajdah: 'I seek refuge in Your forgiveness from Your punishment, and I seek refuge in Your pleasure from Your annoyance, and I seek Your refuge from Yourself. I cannot praise You in the manner that You deserve. You are exactly as You have defined Yourself.'

Thereafter, when he raised his head from Sajdah and finished his salaah, he said to me: 'Aishah, did you think that the Prophet has betrayed you?' I said, 'No, O Prophet of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), but I was afraid that your soul has been taken away because your Sajdah was very long.' He asked me, 'Do you know what night it is?' I said, 'Allah and His Messenger know best.' He said, 'This is the night of the half of Shábaan. Allah Ta’ala looks upon His slaves in this night and forgives those who seek forgiveness and bestows His mercy upon those who pray for mercy, but leaves those who have malice (against a Muslim) as they were before, (and does not forgive them unless they free themselves from malice).'"
Targheeb wat tarheeb(vol 2 pg.119)on the authority of Imam Bayhaqi (rah)

Commentary:Allah Ta' ala has, afforded His bondsmen certain selected opportunities whereby they may reap his infinite mercy and forgiveness. Some explicit examples of these occasions are the month of Ramadan and Laylatul Qadr.The night of the fifteenth of Shábaan is one such opportunity. Several Ahadith expound the tremendous merit of this occasion. Amongst them is the fact that countless people are forgiven by Allah Ta' ala during this blessed night. It is due to this reason that it is called "The Night of Bara'at" (i.e. the night wherein judgment of salvation from Jahannam (hell) is passed.)