In The Name of Allah The Most Gracious The Most Merciful.
May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon his last and final messenger.
asalamu alaykum (peace be upon you)

Tawbah is to repent from ones previous sins and to start fresh by changing whatever bad they used to do and trying to adhere to the law of Allah subhaanahu wa ta’aala. When a person makes a proper tawbah and Allah excepts their tawbah, that tawbah will eliminate all their previous sins and so they have a clean slate to start over on.

Quranic verses concering tawbah:

Surah 39 Ayah 53
Say: “O my Servants who have transgressed against their souls! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah. for Allah forgives all sins: for He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Surah 19 Ayah 60
Except those who repent and believe, and work righteousness: for these will enter the Garden and will not be wronged in the least,-

Surah 25 Ayah 70
Unless he repents, believes, and works righteous deeds, for Allah will change the evil of such persons into good, and Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful,

Surah 66 Ayah 8
O ye who believe! Turn to Allah with sincere repentance In the hope that your Lord will remove from you your ills and admit you to Gardens beneath which Rivers flow,- the Day that Allah will not permit to be humiliated the Prophet and those who believe with him. Their Light will run forward before them and by their right hands, while they say, “Our Lord! Perfect our Light for us, and grant us Forgiveness: for Thou hast power over all things.”

a collections hadeeths adressing tawbah and forgiveness.

Abu Musa Ash’ari Radiyallahu ‘anhu has narrated that the Holy Prophet Sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam said:
verily Allah the Almighty spreads open His arms of forgiveness every morning so the one who disobeyed Him during the day can repent to Him, and spreads open His arms of forgiveness throughout the night so the one who disobeyed Him in the day can seek His forgiveness and repent to Him and this will continue untill the day the sun rises from the west.
(Muslim)

Umar bin Al Khattaab Radiyallahu ‘anhu has narrated that the Holy Prophet Sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam said:
Verily Allah the Almighty will accept the repentance of his servants right until the last moments of his death
(Tirmidhi)

Abu Hurayrah Radiyallahu ‘anhu has narrated that the Holy Prophet Sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam said:
The one who repents prior to the rising of the sun from the west Allah will accept his forgiveness.
(Muslim)

Anas bin Malik Radiyallahu ‘anhu has narrated that the Holy Prophet Sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam said:
Allah becomes even more happier when you repent to him than the happiness of one of you who is in a barren land and he has all his belongings on a conveyance and he loses it, he becomes despondent at finding it and waits for death to overcome him, to his utter amazement he finds it in front of him, due to excessive happiness and joy as a result of finding his conveyance with all his belongings, as a slip of the tongue he utters Oh Allah, I’m your Lord and You are my servant, one can imagine how happy he must be, Allah Subhânahù wa Ta’âlâ when the lost servant finds his direction and repents to Allah Subhânahù wa Ta’âlâ, Allah becomes even more Happier.
(Bukhari, Muslim)

In the Name of Allah The Most Gracious The Most merciful
May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon His last and final messenger.
Asalamu alaykum (peace be upon you)

Who are those Whom Allah subhaanahu wa ta’aala loves.We need not to turn to other than the Holy Qur’an. Allah mentions those Whom he loves in the Qur’an clearly and so we should try to be like them.Many times Allah subhaanahu wa ta’aala also mentions how they will be rewarded in the hereafter.

3:146
“But they never lost heart if they met with disaster in Allah’s way, nor did they weaken (in will) nor give in. And Allah Loves those who are firm and steadfast.”

Surah 2 Ayah 195
“And spend of your substance in the cause of Allah, and make not your own hands contribute to (your) destruction; but do good; for Allah loveth those who do good.”

Surah 3 Ayah 76
“Nay.- Those that keep their plighted faith and act aright,-verily Allah loves those who act aright.”

Surah 5 Ayah 42
“If thou judge, judge in equity between them. For Allah loveth those who judge in equity.”

Surah 2 Ayah 222
“For Allah loves those who turn to Him constantly and He loves those who keep themselves pure and clean.”

A beautiful lecture by Sheikh Mohamed Elshinawy.
The Promise of Allah
Enjoy.

The following story was narrated by Professor Anwar, who teaches in the Ryerson University located in Toronto, Canada. He said that during his student life, he was studying at an university in Bangladesh. There, he had a good friend who was very intelligent. This friend was the only child of his family. Everyone used to look upto his great future. And they were right, he graduated with the highest mark in his field. Immediately, calls came for him from big companies. One day, Dr. Anwar was requested by his friend to accompany him to one such companies for an interview. They were going by riding on a motor cycle. On the way, a speeding truck couldn’t manage itself and hit their motor cycle from the back. At that collision, Dr. Anwar flew off the motor cycle and fell on the side of the street. But his friend got hit from another vehicle that was coming from the opposite side and died instantly.

Here was a person who was at the peek of material success in this world but little did he know that his death was just around the corner. We have spent much of our time preparing for the life before death, but how much time have we spent preparing for the everlasting life after death?

ARTICLE

Narrated by Anas:

The Prophet (may peace be upon him) said, “When a human being is laid in his grave and his companions return and he even hears their foot steps, two angels come to him and make him sit and ask him: What did you use to say about this man, Muhammad ? He will say: I testify that he is Allah’s slave and His Apostle. Then it will be said to him, ‘Look at your place in the Hell-Fire. Allah has given you a place in Paradise instead of it.’ ” The Prophet (may peace be upon him) added, “The dead person will see both his places. But a non-believer or a hypocrite will say to the angels, ‘I do not know, but I used to say what the people used to say! It will be said to him, ‘Neither did you know nor did you take the guidance (by reciting the Quran).’ Then he will be hit with an iron hammer between his two ears, and he will cry and that cry will be heard by whatever approaches him except human beings and jinns.”

Sahih Al Bukhari

Allah has promised the Muslim men and Muslim women, Gardens beneath which rivers flow – they will abide in it forever – and pure dwellings in Gardens of everlasting stay; and the greatest (reward) is Allah’s pleasure; this is the supreme success. [Taubah 9:72]

August 3,4&5, 2012, Path to Piety will be hosting Shaykh Husain Abdul Sattar for a 3 day retreat at the Islamic Society of Toronto – Masjid Dar Us Salaam. Visit our website at www.pathtopiety.com for more information

Friday, 27 July 2012 from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Toronto, Ontario

The Heart That Bleeds | Fundraising Iftaar Dinner for Syria

http://theheartthatbleeds.eventbrite.ca/

As we are all aware of the genocide that is currently taking place in Syria where thousands of children, women, and men have been raped, tortured and slaughtered, a group of youth from Toronto decided that they needed to do something to mobilize the community into action for helping those most afflicted by the violence in Syria. The money raised will help in providing humanitarian aid including food, medical aid, and emergency shelter for those most afflicted by the violence.

Join us for a SPECIAL night with incredible speakers and entertainment for the entire family

Tickets are only $20.00 / At the door $25.00
Table tickets (6 seats) $100.00

Dinner is included!

Join us on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/events/458508824167589/
Follow us on twitter https://twitter.com/SYRIA_isCALLING

Questions? Syria.is.calling@gmail.com

Want to volunteer? Join our group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/248705015247579/

Join us for an evening of reminders, remembrance, and advices as we demonstrate solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Syria!

Sponsored by Human Concern International

Fasting is for a fixed number of days, and if one of you be sick, or if one of you be on a journey, you will fast the same number of other days later on. For those who are capable of fasting (but still do not fast) there is a redemption: feeding a needy man for each day missed. Whoever voluntarily does more good than is required, will find it better for him; and that you should fast is better for you, if you only know. [2:184]

Have those who disbelieved not considered that the heavens and the earth were a joined entity, and We separated them and made from water every living thing? Then will they not believe? (21:30)

By Shafath Syed, Special to CNN

(CNN) – As our family has been getting ready for Ramadan and I look at my daughter I’m reminded of our Hajj trip and how it completed our family. I didn’t fully realize the impact that Hajj would have on our family’s life. It not only gave us a spiritual awakening but also brought a child, our child, into our lives. For Muslims, the chance to perform Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca, is one of the greatest expressions of our faith.

There are three facets of my life that make me who I am. I’m an American by nationality, a Muslim by faith and an Indian by culture. Faith has always been an important part of my life. It comes from my parents, who exposed me to faith not just with education, but also in practice. For as long as I can remember, they were involved in the Muslim community and even helped to establish our local mosque.

Typically, Muslims perform Hajj during their senior years but my wife and I wanted to do it in our 30s, because we did not know what the future would hold. Additionally we had another reason, one that was very personal. We had been married for more than 10 years but didn’t have any children. We thought it would help if we performed Hajj and prayed for God to bless us with a child.

CNN’s Belief Blog: The faith angles behind the big stories

We knew that it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so we wanted to do it right. We wanted to share the experience with our friends, so we assembled a group of close friends. Our local imam, i.e. religious leader, would lead our group, so it was going to be a great adventure. Little did I know what would unfold.
We tried to conceive for many years without success, so we talked about adoption but I just wasn’t ready for it.
Call it a mental or emotional block but I just wasn’t there. I didn’t want to adopt until I knew that I would love an adopted child exactly the same way I would my own biological child.
Hajj resolved these concerns, for the better.
At Hajj it dawned on me why we are required to perform it. It’s not as much about the ritual but about teaching patience, tolerance and focus.
Explain it to me: Ramadan

It’s the greatest example of diversity and unity at the same time. There were millions from all over the world converging on one city.
They looked different, spoke differently and had different cultures, but they were all there for the same reason and did the same things at exactly the same time. You had to keep your cool at all times and maintain focus to complete your Hajj.
We prayed for health, happiness and to be blessed with a child.
After returning from Hajj in early 2007 we were on a spiritual high and saw things from a more optimistic perspective.
We knew some day, somehow we would get a child.
That day happened in late 2008 when we learned that a baby girl in Pakistan was recently abandoned and available for adoption.
When you’re dealing with an abandoned baby you don’t have time to debate the issue. You have to act immediately, because the child’s well-being is at stake and you may miss this chance.

Living in California and having never set foot in Pakistan made the challenge even greater. I said to myself that I’m ready to adopt and hop on a plane to bring this child home. A couple of days later we landed in Pakistan and had a beautiful baby girl in our arms.
Like many developing countries, Pakistan has a large problem of population growth and limited resources. Unfortunately due to a lack of education and resources, many babies are abandoned upon birth.
We would often hear on the news how conflicted and dangerous Pakistan is, so we were nervous about the process and didn’t know how it would end, but our Hajj experience brought us through.
At Hajj we learned patience to deal with the days and weeks of waiting. We learned tolerance to deal with the living conditions. We learned to stay focused so we could complete the rigorous adoption process.

Most of all the spiritual awakening from Hajj and connection with God gave us the strength to make it happen.
Given all we went through it was clear to my wife and me that we would name our daughter Imaan, which means “faith.”
Imaan is nearly 4 years old now and we love her with all our hearts. My only regret is that we didn’t adopt sooner.
The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Shafath Syed.

It has been said that everything 8 Easy Steps to Recite the Entire Qur’an this Ramadan has a beloved & that the month of Ramadan has a beloved, too: The Glorious Qur’an. And so for the duration of this month, Muslims worldwide honour Ramadan’s beloved and aspire to complete the recitation of the Qur’an.

In this article you’ll learn how you too can work towards achieving this noble goal, insha’Allah.

Step 1: Establishing an intention

Our beloved Messenger ṣallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) taught us – through his words & actions – the importance of one’s intent or purpose. Establishing one’s intention is an effective catalyst for implementation. Once your intention has been established, remember to renew it often. Whilst reciting and even upon completion of the Qur’an, recall your intention and renew it, thus ensuring that it is constantly purified & you are seeking His Divine Acceptance, inshaAllah.

Step 2: Don’t be overwhelmed

For some, as much as they aspire to complete the recitation of the Qur’an during Ramadan, they are overwhelmed by the number of pages or the length of some Surahs. Remove ‘I can’t’ from your vocabulary and eliminate negative thinking, for the believer puts their trust in Allah, matched by striving with their actions. Remind yourself that you are (if Allah wills) fully capable of achieving your Qur’anic aspirations, whether it be completing Qur’an 1 or 5 times. This second point is key. Put your heart into this accomplishment & reap the rewards throughout, inshaAllah.

Step: 3 Plan ahead

Prior to commencing with your recitation it’s important to plan around your routine and block out time for your Qur’an goal e.g. your work hours, rest hours & any other commitments which you may have. Structure a realistic plan of how to complete the recitation of Qur’an within the month by dividing each Juzz up per day. Draw up this personal plan, review it constantly, and put it into action!

As you put your plan to paper, consider past Ramadans and; ask yourself if there have been instances where you were unable to complete Qur’anic recitation. Reflect over why and how this occurred. Is there a different mechanism that you could put into place? How could you enhance your daily Qur’an routine if these distractions were dealt with?

Take the first opportunity that comes, to begin your Qur’anic quest. So when the moon is sighted & the announcement has been made for the 1st Salaatul-Taraweeh, begin in earnest, with Surah Al-Fatiha, Surah Al-Baqarah etc.

Step 4: Understand the Qur’an

Read the translation of the Juzz you will be reciting daily. Having a basic knowledge of the theme, topic, message & meaning of what you are reciting makes the recitation of the Qur’an an incredibly uplifting experience that you do not want to miss out on!

Step 5: Find Qur’an Buddies and Compete in Good

Develop close bonds with brothers/sisters who are known for their attachment to the Qur’an. They’ll be your spiritual friends. Engage a Qur’an Buddy in your noble Qur’an productivity goals. Request that they remind you to fulfil your goals and spiritual aspirations so they can help you in times of slacking.

In life, we compete with many materialistic goals and race one another, but what about following the footsteps of the best of generations that had come before us in a competition this Ramadan? In striving and competing with our friends and colleagues towards our noble goals, in a good-natured way, we can motivate ourselves to finish our Qur’an goal.

One of the common aspects which deter a Muslim from completing this task is excessive communication. Often, many of us spend too much unnecessary time surfing the net, chatting, texting, etc… . Reduce this even by a third and you will see, feel and witness the blessings in your time, inshaAllah.

Step 6: Seize the Moment

A deeply inspiring story in ‘lessons from the waiting room’ – where a mother; who has taken her unwell child to the hospital; waits for the doctor to see to her child. She notices a young Muslim who uses his time in the waiting room, in a most effective & spiritually rewarding way, reciting from a pocket-sized Quran. Lesson to be taken here: Invest in a pocket-sized Qur’an and make it your best friend this Ramadan. Seize every opportunity and moment to be with Allah subḥānahu wa ta’āla (glorified and exalted be He) (glorified and exalted be He) through your recitation.

One of the best times at which to recite Qur’an, is after Suhoor. Having partaken from the Sunnah meal, and within an hour or two still to go before work or school, this is the ideal jump start to your day. The Prophet ṣallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) asked Allah subḥānahu wa ta’āla (glorified and exalted be He) (glorified and exalted be He) to bless our Ummah in the early hours, and you will also be more likely to memorise ayahs at this time. Research shows that morning study creates better performance in students so don’t miss the morning recitation!

Time Tip: Salah Followed by Qur’an.

Consider the following option that has worked well for numerous people in past Ramadans. Try reciting 6 – 8 pages of Qur’an (depending on the Mus-haf that you are using) after each of your 5 daily salah. Add Qiyaamul-Layl as a 6th addition, and you will reach the end of Ramadan, having completed your Qur’an recitation with ease & perhaps, even before the last 5 days of Ramadan so long as you remain committed.

Time Tip: Recite before going to sleep.

Allah subḥānahu wa ta’āla (glorified and exalted be He) (glorified and exalted be He) says: “Indeed, the hours of the night are more effective for concurrence [of heart and tongue] and more suitable for words” [73:6]. Reciting during the day is also beneficial, however the night time recitation is easier as well during Ramadan as there are less distractions and noise.

Step 7: Remain steadfast and consistent

The key to any success is consistency. Once you’ve mapped your plan, stick to it. Remind yourself of the greatness of this month, of the opportunities that it provides for your spiritual growth and your relationship with the Qur’an. Don’t be willing to compromise it in this month.

Step 8: Make dua’a to Allah subḥānahu wa ta’āla (glorified and exalted be He) (glorified and exalted be He)

Nothing can be achieved without the aid and guidance of Allah subḥānahu wa ta’āla (glorified and exalted be He) (glorified and exalted be He). When making your intention to complete your memorisation of Qur’an, supplicate to Allah subḥānahu wa ta’āla (glorified and exalted be He) (glorified and exalted be He) to ease this noble pathway and to crown your efforts with success, inshaAllah.

These are the 8 ways I wanted to share with you on starting and completing your journey through recitation of the Qur’an this Ramadan. Indeed, Allah subḥānahu wa ta’āla (glorified and exalted be He) (glorified and exalted be He) says in Surah Al-Baqarah: “This is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those conscious of Allah.’’ In the hours of the days and nights of this sacred month, may the Qur’an be your companion of light and guidance, resonating through your words, actions and life mission. May your relationship with the Qur’an be strengthened, enriched & enlivened with the profound wisdom and divine message from Allah subḥānahu wa ta’āla (glorified and exalted be He) (glorified and exalted be He).

ARTICLE: PRODUCTIVE MUSLIM

A very beneficial Hadith reported on authority of Salman Al-Farsi RA on a sermon which the Prophet Muhammad SAW gave the day before Ramadan.

The Qur’an mentions only 25 prophets by name, including Zakariyah(A S), the father of Yahya (John the Baptist). Muslims, believe that many prophets were sent to mankind to spread the message of Allaah, including many not mentioned in the Qur’an.

General Description of Zakariyah (A S)

The years had taken their toll on the Prophet Zakariyah (A S) . He was now old and bent with age, in his nineties. Despite his feebleness, he went to the Mosque daily to deliver his sermons.

Zakariyah (A S) was not a rich man, but he was always ready to help those in need. His one disappointment in life was that he had no children, for his wife was barren. This worried him, for he feared there was no one after him to carry out his work. The people needed a strong leader, for if they were left on their own, they would move away from Allaah’s teachings and change the Holy Laws to suit themselves.

Zakariyah Talks to Maryam (‘Alayha Salaam)

Almighty Allaah chose Prophet Zakariyah (A S) as a prophet to the Children of Israel to guide them to believe in Allaah and worship Him alone. That was after false beliefs had spread amongst them and after they had neglected Allaah’s religion which He revealed to Prophet Moosa (A S) (Moses).

This took place years before the birth of Prophet ‘Eesaa(A S) (Jesus) the son of Maryam (‘Alayha Salaam). At that time, there was a pious man, called ‘Imraan, from the Children of Israel who was famous for his knowledge, piety, and virtue.

‘Imraan had a kind and pious wife. When she felt that she had become pregnant, she vowed that she would dedicate the baby that was in her womb for the service of Almighty Allaah and the service of the sacred mosque in Jerusalem and be totally devoted for this throughout his life. When she delivered her baby, she said, “My Lord! I have delivered a female child, and the male is not like the female. I have named her Maryam (‘Alayha Salaam) (Mary), and I seek refuge with You to guard her and for her offspring from Satan, the outcast.” After that, and when Maryam (‘Alayha Salaam) became a little older, her mother took her to Jerusalem to fulfill her vow.

It was necessary that one of the rabbis from among the pious clergymen who dwelt in the Mosque should care for Maryam (‘Alayha Salaam), in order to bring her up, properly cultivate her and attend to her needs.

The rabbis competed with one another each trying to take Maryam (‘Alayha Salaam) the daughter of the glorious scholar (‘Imraan), under his care. The most ambitious among them was Prophet Zakariyah(A S), who was the husband of her elder sister and the worthiest to take care of and cultivate her.

They agreed to draw lots so as to choose the one who would be the girl’s guardian. As the lot came up in his name, Prophet Zakariyah (A S), was very happy. He designated a special place for her in the mosque that no one but her was allowed to enter and raised her well and took care of her. She used to worship Almighty Allaah and glorify Him day and night so much so that she set an example of piety, goodness, and true deep faith. Moreover, Allaah honored her with special super natural events that indicated how much He privileged her and how high her rank was.
During one of his visits to the Mosque, he went to check on Maryam (‘Alayha Salaam), who was living in a secluded room of the Mosque. He was surprised to find fresh out-of-season fruit in her room. Besides him, no one had entry to her room. When he inquired, she told him that the fruit was from Allaah. She found it every morning. But why was he so surprised, she asked him. Did he not know that Allaah provides without measure for whom He wills?

This noble girl had opened his eyes to a startling idea. Could he not ask his Lord to bless him with a child in his old age? Even if his wife was past child-bearing age, nothing was impossible for his Gracious Lord!

Zakariyah Asks for a Son – Qur’anic

Allaah the Almighty revealed: ‘Kaf, Ha, Ya, Ain, Sad, These letters are one of the miracles of the Qur’an, and none but Allaah (Alone) knows their meanings. (This is) a mention of the Mercy of your Lord to His slave Zechariah. When he called out his Lord (Allaah) – a call in secret, saying: ‘My Lord! Indeed my bones have grown feeble, and grey hair has spread on my head, and I have never been unblest in my in vocation to You, 0 my Lord! And Verily! I fear my relatives after me, since my wife is barren. So give me from Yourself an heir, – who shall inherit me, and inherit (also) the posterity of Jacob (inheritance of the religious knowledge and Prophethood, not the wealth, etc.) And make him, my Lord, one with whom You are Well-pleased!”

(Allaah said): “0 Zakariah! Verily, We give you the glad tidings of a son. His name will be Yahya. We have given that name to none before (him).”

He said: ‘My Lord! How can I have a son, when my wife is barren, and I have reached the extreme old age.”

He said: “So (it will be). Your Lord says, It is easy for Me. Certainly I have created you before, when you had been nothing.”

(Zakariah) said: ‘My Lord! Appoint for me a sign.”

He said: ‘Your sign is that you shall not speak unto mankind for three nights, though having no bodily defect.”

Then he came out to his people from Al-Mihrab (a praying place or a private room, etc.), he told them by signs to glorify Allaah ‘s Praises in the morning and in the afternoon.

(It was said to his son): “0 Yahya! Hold fast to the Scripture (The Torah).” And We gave him wisdom while yet a child, and (made him) sympathetic to men as a mercy (or a grant) from Us, and pure from sins (i.e. Yahya(John)) and he was righteous, and dutiful towards his parents, and he was neither an arrogant nor disobedient (to Allaah or to his parents). And Salamun (peace) on him the day he was born, the day he dies, and the day he will be raised up to life (again)! Surah 19: 1-12