Causes of Increasing the Iman Part Three Belief in Allah (swt) is the most virtuous deed One of the blessings that Allah (swt) bestows upon a slave is to prolong his life to perform righteous good deeds. And the worst of the people, the person whom Allah (swt) prolonged his life, but did evil. We ask Allah (swt) to protect us. Ameen. What is the best good deed in Allah s sight? There is a hadith: Believe in Allah (swt) and His messenger, then to strive. In another hadith: Believe in Allah (swt) and His messenger, then to strive, then a hajj mabroor. In another hadith: to offer the salat in its due time and to be dutiful to one s parents. What is the connection between praying on time and the best deed? Surah Al Mu menoon 1-2: () ٢( ق د أ فل ح ٱل م ؤ م ن ون )١( ٱل ذ ين ه م ف ى ص ل ت ہ م خ ش ع ون ) (Successful indeed are the believers. (1) Those who offer their Salât (prayers) with all solemnity and full submissiveness. (2)) The first sign of a believer is they take care of their prayers, because the salat is their connection to Allah (swt). They love Allah (swt) and leave everything to pray. Another hadith: Belief in Allah, and keep relation with the kith and kin. Most hated deed is to commit shirk and cutting the relation with kith and kin. So the most virtuous and important deed is to believe in Allah (swt). Your belief in Allah (swt) is the basis for the acceptance of the rest of your deeds, subhan Allah. We have to believe in Allah s existence and we have to learn about His names and attributes. We also have to act that I believe in Allah (swt) or not. True belief is based on knowledge about Allah (swt). If you want to believe in Allah (swt), you have to learn who is Allah? Where will I know about Allah (swt)? From the Quran and the Sunnah. When you contemplate the Quran and the universal signs, it will lead you to the belief in Allah (swt), subhan Allah. Allah (swt) created us to have natural disposition, He gave us intellect, senses, and signs to reach Him. And Allah (swt) sent messengers with books to guide us. So what excuse will we have to tell Allah (swt) when we meet Him? Why did we not worship Him, why did we not love MHime? Subhan Allah. He gave us everything to know Him and still we disbelieved, subhan Allah. We have time for everything, but we don t have time to know Allah, subhan Allah. Examples of those who are blind to Allah (swt) أ ف ل م ي س ير وا ف ى ٱ ل ر ض ف ت ك و ن ل ه م ق ل وب ي ع ق ل و ن ب ہ ا أ و ء اذ ان ي س م ع و ن ب ہ ا ف إ ن ہ ا ل ت ع م ى ٱ ل ب ص ر و ل ك ن ت ع م ى ( :46 Surah Al Hajj (Have they not travelled through the land, and have they hearts wherewith to ) ٱل ق ل وب ٱل ت ى ف ى ٱلص د و ر understand and ears wherewith to hear? Verily, it is not the eyes that grow blind, but it is the hearts which are in the breasts that grow blind.) We understand with our hearts, and have ears to listen, but there are those whose hearts are blind. The blindness of the eye does not harm a person, but the blindness of the heart is what harms a person. What does this mean? He does not see the indications behind the decrees and signs, he Page 1
does not see that Allah (swt) is behind all of these signs and decrees. He just sees people. He does not see that Allah is The Provider, the Sustainer. He sees the sun rising and setting every day he does not see that the world will perish, he is still attached to the world. The people are diverted by the duniya. Mercy of Allah (swt) ل ه و ٱلر ح م ن ٱلر ح ي م ( :163 Surah Al Baqarah - (God (And your Ilâh (God) is One Ilâh ) و إ ل ه ك م إ ل ه و ٲح د ل إ ل ه إ Allâh), Lâ ilâha illa Huwa (there is none who has the right to be worshipped but He), the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.) Your deity, your God is One in His essence, there is no partner, there is no peer with Allah (swt), He has no son, no daughter, no partner, no offspring, there is no one similar, or co-equal to Allah (swt). Allah is One in His actions, there is no one who creates from nothing except Allah (swt). If He is One and there is no one like Him, then there is no other god that deserves to be worshiped and magnified except Him. You should be attached to Him only. Then Allah (swt) tells us why? Because He is Ar Rahman Ar Raheem. There is no one that can be full of mercy. Allah (swt) brought us into existence by His mercy. And He gave the creation all of the blessings by His mercy. He is the only One who drove all of the harm away by His mercy. His mercy encompasses everything. By His mercy, He gives the disbelievers, the animals, and every creature and creation. Even if the creation is in the depth of the earth or in the heavens, then the mercy of Allah (swt) reaches. Our mercy is limited, can our mercy reach to another part of the world? Everything that you are enjoying is from Allah s mercy, and there is no harm than can be taken or driven away except by Allah s mercy, subhan Allah. We don t say by Allah s mercy I was saved, we don t say by Allah s mercy I was given this, subhan Allah. It s not fair, He is the only One Who is Ar Rahman Ar Raheem. What are the details of His mercy? ق ٱلس م و ٲ ت و ٱ ل ر ض و ٱخت ل ف ٱل ي ل و ٱلن ه ا ر و ٱل ف ل ك ٱل ت ى ت ج ر ى ف ى ٱل ب ح ر ب م ا ي نف ع ٱلن ا س ( :164 Surah Al Baqarah إ ن ف ى خ ل ر ب ي ن ٱلس م ا ء و م ا أ نز ل ٱ لل م ن ٱلس م ا ء م ن م اء ف أ ح ي ا ب ه ٱ ل ر ض ب ع د م و ت ہ ا و ب ث ف يہ ا من ڪ ل د اب ة و ت ص ر ي ف ٱلري ح و ٱلس ح ا ب ٱل م س خ (Verily! In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and in the alternation of ) و ٱ ل ر ض ل ي ت ل ق و م ي ع ق ل و ن night and day, and the ships which sail through the sea with that which is of use to mankind, and the water (rain) which Allâh sends down from the sky and makes the earth alive therewith after its death, and the moving (living) creatures of all kinds that He has scattered therein, and in the veering of winds and clouds which are held between the sky and the earth, are indeed Ayât (proofs, evidences, signs, etc.) for people of understanding.) o Creation of the heavens and the earth o Alteration of the day and night: so we sleep during the night and go after our livelihood during the day. We have the alteration of the seasons from the changing of the days and night, and this all indicates the mercy of Allah (swt). o Ships that sail in the sea: all for the benefit of the people. Who gave man the intellect, skill, and power to build? Allah (swt). Who blows the wind and subjected the sea? Allah Ar Rahman Ar Raheem. If there was no ship, what would happen to us? Life would not Page 2
be simple, people might say we have trains and planes, but there are heavy containers that airplanes and trains cannot even carry, only ships, subhan Allah. o And Allah (swt) sent down the rain to bring forth vegetation, and dispersing of the creatures. o There are winds for carrying the clouds, winds for scattering the clouds, because continuous rain can destroy the land. There are winds which brings the pollen to the plants. There are southern and northern winds, all out of Allah s mercy for us, subhan Allah. Who will see these signs? People of understanding ( ق و م ي ع ق ل و ن.(ل Contemplating the signs of the universe increases your tawheed. The reason behind not seeing the impact of Allah s mercy is because of weakness of faith in the heart. Blessings of Allah (swt) If you want to cook: you need food, water and fire. Then you need to strength to be able to cook. Who gave us the food? Surah Al Waqiah :63-64 () )٣٤ أ ف ر ء ي ت م م ا ت ح ر ث ون )٣٦( ء أ نت م ت ز ر ع ون ه ۥ أ م ن ح ن ٱلز ٲر ع ون ) (Then tell Me! about seed that you sow in the ground. (63) Is it you that make it grow, or are We the Grower? (64)) Who makes the seed to grow? Subhan Allah. Everything is by Allah s mercy. Who gave us the water? Surah Al Waqiah :68-69 () )٣٦ أ ف ر ء ي ت م ٱل م اء ٱل ذ ى ت ش ر ب ون )٣٦( ء أ نت م أ نز لت م وه م ن ٱل م زن أ م ن ح ن ٱل م نز ل و ن ) (Then tell Me about the water that you drink. (68) Is it you who cause it from the rainclouds to come down, or are We the Causer of it to come down? (69)) Who gave us the fire? Surah Al Waqiah :71-72 () )١٢ أ ف ر ء ي ت م ٱلن ار ٱل ت ى ت ور و ن )١١( ء أ نت م أ نش أ ت م ش ج ر ت ہ ا أ م ن ح ن ٱل م نش ون ) (Then tell Me about the fire which you kindle. (71) Is it you who made the tree thereof to grow, or are We the Grower? (72)) If you take gas and oil and take back to its origins, it goes back to trees and organic plants, subhan Allah. Who gives us milk? Surah An Nahl :66 ( و إ ن ل ك م ف ى ٱ ل ن ع م ل ع ب ر ة ن س ق يك م مم ا ف ى ب ط ون ه ۦ م ن ب ي ن ف ر ث و د م ل ب نا خ ال صا س اٮ غا ل لش ر ب ي ن ) (And verily! In the cattle, there is a lesson for you. We give you to drink of that which is in their bellies, from between excretions and blood, pure milk; palatable to the drinkers.) Allah (swt) gives us milk, palatable and pure that is coming from between two filthy elements, blood and excretion. Subhan Allah. The livestock, the cows, are eating water and grass, and we get milk, Page 3
subhan Allah. Can we do that? Then who is making all of this? Subhan Allah. So when you are asked where does milk from? Don t say the cow, it is from Allah (swt). It is ungratefulness to attribute a blessing to something besides Allah (swt). Who gave us gardens? و ٱض ر ب ل ه م م ث ل ر ج ل ي ن ج ع لن ا ل ح د ه م ا ج ن ت ي ن م ن أ ع ن ب و ح ف ف ن ه م ا ب ن خل و ج ع لن ا ب ي ن ہ م ا ز ر عا )٦٢( ( :32-34 Surah Al Kahf ك لت ا ٱل ج ن ت ي ن ء ات ت أ ك ل ه ا و ل م ت ظل م منه ش ي ا و ف ج ر ن ا خ ل ل ه م ا ن ہ را )٦٦( و ك ان ل ه ۥ ث م ر ف ق ال ل ص ح ب ه ۦ و ه و ي ح او ر ه ۥ أ ن ا أ ك ث ر م نك م ال (And put forward to them the example of two men; unto one of them We had given ) و أ ع ز ن ف را ٦٤( ) two gardens of grapes, and We had surrounded both with date-palms; and had put between them green crops (cultivated fields). (32) Each of those two gardens brought forth its produce, and failed not in the least therein, and We caused a river to gush forth in the midst of them. (33) And he had property (or fruit) and he said to his companion, in the course of mutual talk: I am more than you in wealth and stronger in respect of men.") ( (و ج ع لن ا) / surrounded) (We had (و ح ف ف ن ه م ا) / given) (We had (ج ع لن ا) (swt): Look at the actions of Allah We had put) / ف ج ر ن ا) (و (We caused to gush forth),(أ ن ا أ ك ث ر م نك م ال ( said Now let us see what the person says, after all that Allah (swt) had given him: He I (I am more than you in wealth), subhan Allah. و د خ ل ج ن ت ه ۥ و ه و ظ ال م ل ن ف س ه ۦ ق ال م ا أ ظ ن أ ن ت ب يد ه ذ ه ۦ أ ب دا )٦٣( و م ا أ ظ ن ٱلس اع ة ق اٮ م ة و ل ٮ ن ر د د ت ( :35-36 Surah Al Kahf disbelief) (And he went into his garden while in a state (of pride and (إ ل ى ر بى ل ج د ن خ ي را منه ا م نق ل با ٦٣( ) unjust to himself. He said: "I think not that this will ever perish. (35) "And I think not the Hour will ever come, and if indeed I am brought back to my Lord, (on the Day of Resurrection), I surely shall find better than this when I return to Him." (36)) He disbelieved, denied in Allah (swt). He was arrogant, and disbelieved in Judgement Day. This is.(كفر الشك ( doubt disbelief of Why does he think that he will have something better on the Day of Judgement? He thinks that Allah (swt) loves him, since He gave him in the duniya, then he thinks that Allah (swt) will give him in the akhira something better. But Allah (swt) gives the duniya to both believer and disbeliever, to those whom He loves and hates. But Allah (swt) gives the faith to the ones He loves, subhan Allah. ق ال ل ه ۥ ص اح ب ه ۥ و ه و ي ح او ر ه ۥ أ ك ف ر ت ب ٱل ذ ى خ ل ق ك م ن ت ر اب ث م م ن ن طف ة ث م س و ٮ ك ر ج ل )٦١( ل ك ن ا ( :37-39 Surah Al Kahf ) ه و ٱ لل ر بى و ل أ ش ر ك ب ر بى أ ح دا )٦٦( و ل و ل إ ذ د خ ل ت ج ن ت ك ق ل ت م ا ش اء ٱ لل ل ق و ة إ ل ب ٱ لل إ ن ت ر ن أ ن ا أ ق ل م نك م ال و و ل دا )٦٦( (His companion said to him, during the talk with him: "Do you disbelieve in Him Who created you out of dust (i.e. your father Adam), then out of Nutfah (mixed semen drops of male and female discharge), then fashioned you into a man? (37) "But as for my part (I believe) that He is Allâh, my Lord and none shall I associate as partner with my Lord. (38) It was better for you to say, when you entered your garden: 'That which Allâh wills (will come to pass)! There is no power but with Allâh '. If you see me less than you in wealth, and children. (39)) So he was taught what to say, ( م ا ش اء ٱ لل ل ق و ة إ ل ب ٱ لل ) by Allah s will He gave me, and by His will He can take it away. Had it not been for Allah (swt), you would not have been able to have all of this. We need to attribute the blessing to Allah (swt). Imagine a group sitting talking about a great teacher or a great doctor, saying so kind, gentle, smart, clever, and in the end, they just say alhamdulliah. Subhan Allah. Page 4
The believer only sees Allah (swt), he will say jazaki Allah khair to the doctor, teacher. But his heart is filled with the love of Allah (swt), subhan Allah. و أ ح يط ب ث م ر ه ۦ ف أ ص ب ح ي ق ل ب ك ف ي ه ع ل ى م ا أ نف ق ف يہ ا و ه ى خ او ي ة ع ل ى ع ر وش ہ ا و ي ق و ل ي ل ي ت ن ى ل م أ ش ر ك ب ر بى ( :42 Surah Al Kahf (So his fruits were encircled (with ruin). And he remained clapping his hands (with sorrow) over (أ ح دا what he had spent upon it, while it was all destroyed on its trellises, he could only say: "Would that I had ascribed no partners to my Lord!") He ruined his garden and that is the effect of disbelief. The blessing is taken away if a person is not grateful to Allah (swt), subhan Allah. His sin was he attributed the blessings of Allah (swt) to himself. Our problem is that we are reading the Quran with a heedless and hurried heart, subhan Allah. Knowledge of Allah (swt) Surah Ta Ha :7 ( و إ ن ت ج ه ر ب ٱل ق و ل ف إ ن ه ۥ ي ع ل م ٱلس ر و أ خف ى ) (And if you O) Muhammad SAW) speak (the invocation) aloud, then verily, He knows the secret and that which is yet more hidden) Allah (swt) knows the secrets of the heart and more hidden than that, subhan Allah. Surah Ghafir 19: ( ي ع ل م خ اٮ ن ة ٱ ل ع ي ن و م ا ت خف ى ٱلص د و ر ) (Allâh knows the fraud of the eyes, and all that the breasts conceal) Allah (swt) tells us about His knowledge and specifically His detailed knowledge. This makes us to be watchful of our hearts. What is the intention that is established in our hearts, two intentions happen in the heart: o One that can easily be declared and a person is not shy to talk about it. For example, I am doing it for Allah s sake, I am a patient person, I am doing this because Allah (swt) loves the muhsineen. You are telling the people your intention. o But there is another hidden intention that is behind it, it is yourself telling you that it s not for Allah (swt), but you ignore it or ask Allah (swt) to purify it. Sometimes we don t know when we have an ill intention, so Allah (swt) will make us go through a situation to make you see what is our real intention, subhan Allah. Surah Al Ankaboot 1: ( أ ح س ب ٱلن ا س أ ن ي ت ر ك وا أ ن ي ق ول وا ء ام ن ا و ه م ل ي فت ن و ن ) (Do people think that they will be left alone because they say: "We believe," and will not be tested) Example of having these two intentions: o A lady had a good helper and she wanted to recompense her for her good work. There is no harm in giving a bonus or something extra. She said she gave her helper a gold ring. Then after two days, the helper ran away. She was depressed and sad because she didn t expect that she would treat her in this manner. She was asked, for whose sake did you give her? For Allah s sake or for your sake so that she may stay with you, treat you better, continue to serve you, subhan Allah.. o If I do good for Allah s sake, then I should not be sad, Allah (swt) will not waste any good deed. But if you are sad, then your intention was not for Allah s sake. And Allah (swt) will expose it so that you do not do it again, subhan Allah. You will not be truthful with Allah (swt) until you are truthful with yourself. You need to inspect your heart, you need to expect a reward only from Allah (swt). Another example: Page 5
o A woman quit her job, so she was asked why? She said because of the mixing and the place would not be pleasing to Allah (swt) and she said that Allah is Ar Razaq, He is the Provider. Of course she will be tested. She went through a financial crisis, she couldn t pay her rent, bills, so this is her test. During her problem, her previous employer called her and said we are offering the job, and whatever you want, we will give you. Subhan Allah. So we need to contemplate just one verse, because one verse, one piece of knowledge, may change our lives. This is out of Allah s mercy to show us He is Ar Rahman Ar Raheem, subhan Allah. It is not difficult for the believer to not expect a thank you from the people, because he knows that Allah (swt) will reward him. One of the salaf said I struggled for 20 years to purify my intention, subhan Allah. Allah (swt) helped him, so don t lost hope, never. When Allah (swt) teaches you to learn this, this is an impact of Allah s mercy. So you have to be happy and rejoice with Allah s blessing. He did not leave you blind. Alhamdulliah. Invoke Allah (swt) to purify your intention until you are perfect. Expect good always from Allah Ar Rahman Ar Raheem, you will love Him. Sunnah Jawf Al Layl The (جوف) it is the mid of the last third of the night. ع ن أ ب ي ه ر ير ة - رضى هللا عنه - ي رف ع ه ق ا ل س ئ ل أ ى الص ل ة أ فض ل ب ع د الم كت وب ة و أ ى الصي ا م أ فض ل ب ع د ش ه ر ر م ض ا ن ( Hadith: (.ف ق ال " أ فض ل الص ل ة ب ع د الص ل ة الم كت وب ة الص ل ة ف ي ج و ف الل ي ل و أ فض ل الصي ا م ب ع د ش ه ر ر م ض ا ن ص ي ا م ش ه ر هللا الم ح ر م " (Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported that he (the Messenger of Allah) was asked as to which prayer was most excellent after the prescribed prayer, and which fast was most excellent after the month of Ramadan. He said: Prayer offered in the middle of the night and the most excellent fast after (fasting) in the month of Ramadan is the fast in God's month al-muharram.) Sahih Muslim, Book 13, Hadith 262 أ ن ه س م ع الن ب ي صلى هللا عليه وسلم ي ق و ل " أ قر ب م ا ي ك و ن الر ب م ن الع ب د ف ي ج و ف الل ي ل اآلخ ر ف إ ن است ط ع ت أ ن ت ك و ن ( Hadith: (Abu Umamah [may Allah be pleased with him] said: Amr bin Abasah ") م م ن ي ذك ر هللا ف ي ت ل ك الس اع ة ف ك ن reported to me that he heard the Prophet say: The closest that the Lord is to a worshipper is during the last part of the night, so if you are able to be of those who remember Allah in that hour, then do so. ) At Tirmidhi 3579 ق ال ق ا ل ل ي ر س و ل هللا صلى هللا عليه وسلم " أ ح ب الصي ا م إ ل ى هللا ص ي ا م د او د ك ا ن ي ص و م ي وما و ي فط ر ي وما و أ ح ب ( Hadith: said to me, "The (ﷺ) (Allah's Messenger (" الص ل ة إ ل ى هللا ص ل ة د او د ك ا ن ي ن ا م ن ص ف الل ي ل و ي ق و م ث ل ث ه و ي ن ا م س د س ه most beloved fasting to Allah was the fasting of (the Prophet) David who used to fast on alternate days. And the most beloved prayer to Allah was the prayer of David who used to sleep for (the first) half of the night and pray for 1/3 of it and (again) sleep for a sixth of it.") Al Bukhari 3420 وعن أبي أمامة رضي هللا عنه قال: قيل لرسول هللا صلى هللا عليه وسلم: أي الدعاء أسمع قال: "جوف الليل اآلخر ( Hadith: was asked: "At what (ﷺ) (The Messenger of Allah (ودبر الصلوات المكتوبات". رواه الترمذي وقال حديث حسن time does the supplication find the greatest response?" He (ﷺ) replied, "A supplication made Page 6
during the middle of the last part of the night and after the conclusion of the obligatory prayers.") At Tirmidhi, Book 17, Hadith 1500 How to calculate the last jawf of the night? If maghrib is 5pm and fajr is 5 am, then that is 12hr pd. Midnight is 11pm. If we divide this period into six parts, since the Prophet Dawud (as) would sleep for a 1/6 of the night. So half the night would be 11pm. Then to pray from 11 to 3, that is 1/3 of the night. And to sleep from 3 to 5, which is 1/6 of the night. The last third of the night is from 1 to 5, and the jawf is from 1 to 3. This is the most beloved time and greatest for response of supplication. Dubai time: jawf al layl is from 2 to 3:45 ع ن أ ب ي ه ر ير ة أ ن ر س و ل هللا صلى هللا عليه وسلم ق ا ل " ي نز ل ر ب ن ا ت ب ار ك و ت ع ال ى ك ل ل يل ة إ ل ى الس م ا ء الد ني ا ح ي ن ي بق ى ( Hadith: (Abu Huraira reported ) ث ل ث الل ي ل اآلخ ر ف ي ق و ل م ن ي دع ون ي ف أ ست ج ي ب ل ه و م ن ي سأ ل ن ي ف أ عط ي ه و م ن ي ست غف ر ن ي ف أ غف ر ل ه Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: Our Lord, the Blessed and the Exalted, descends every night to the lowest heaven when one-third of the latter part of the night is left, and says: Who supplicates Me so that I may answer him? Who asks Me so that I may give to him? Who asks Me forgiveness so that I may forgive him?) Sahih Muslim 758 The Prophet (pbuh) used to pray like Dawud (as). He would sleep to regain the energy for the fajr, and praying at this time protects you from riya a because most people are sleep at that time. Even if you have your menses, you can wake up at that time, and make supplication, subhan Allah. May Allah (swt) accept from all of us and increase us in faith and beneficial knowledge. Ameen. Page 7