A GREAT SUPPLICATION

BISMILLAAHIR RAHMAANIR RAHEEM.
ASSALAMU'ALAIKUM WRWBTH, DEAR ILHAM FRIENDS,
I read lots of books especially that might help me grow spiritually. I have four books of discourses by Shaikh Abd Al-Qadir Al-Jilani, and I deeply like his advice. The following is a du'a made by him:
" O Allah, You are our Lord and their Lord, our Creator and their Creator, our Provider and their Provider, so deal with us as You dealt with them. { 'They' refer to our great predecessors}. Bring us out of us, away from us, toward You! Cause us to forget the kings and their slaves, the sultans and their subjects, the rich and the poor, the elite and the masses, the rise and fall of market prices, affluence and scarcity. Remind us to remember You! Treat us gently in your workings. Bring us close to Your nearness, and let our hearts enjoy Your intimate friendship. Keep us safe from the evil of Your cities and Your servants, and from the evil of every crawling creature that You grasp by the forelock and seize by the tail. Keep us safe from the evil of the evildoers, and from the cunning deceptions of the morally corrupt. Let us be members of Your Party, guiding others to You while abasing ourselves before You, summoning others to You while humbling ourselves before You, but standing tall against those who behave with arrogance toward You and toward the true believers among Your creatures. Amin "

***This is indeed a very comprehensive du'a made by a very pious man. There are many such beautiful du'as from Allah's Messenger SAWS. Currently they are published in a du'a book called 'Accepted Whispers,' by Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanawi. This book is available at (www.albalaghbookstore.com) The English translation is of high quality.***
Source: The Removal of Cares by Shaikh Abd Al-Qadir Al-Jilani, translated by Muhtar Holland
Ma'Salamah,
Sr. Tasneem

Re: Proper Eating Manners

BISMILLAAHIR RAHMAANIR RAHEEM.
ASSALAMU'ALAIKUM WRWBTH, DEAR ILHAM FRIENDS,

1. It was narrated from Abu Juhaifah RA that Allah's Messenger SAWS said: " I do not eat while reclining." (Ibn Majah & Al-Bukhari)

2. 'Abdullah bin Busr RA said: " I gave the Prophet SAWS a gift of a sheep, and the Messenger of Allah SAWS sat on his knees to eat. A Bedouin said, ' What is this sitting?' He (SAWS) replied, ' Allah has made me a humble and generous slave (of Allah) and has not made me arrogant and stubborn.' " (Ibn Majah & Abu Dawud)

3. It was narrated from Abu Hurairah RA that the Prophet Mohammad SAWS said: " Let one of you eat with his right hand and drink with his right hand, and take with his right hand and give with his right hand, for Satan eats with his left hand, drinks with his left hand, gives with his left hand and takes with his left hand." (Ibn Majah, Tabarani & Muslim)
Ma'Salamah,
Sr. Tasneem

Re: Continuous Forgiveness from Allah azza wajal

BISMILLAAHIR RAHMAANIR RAHEEM.
ASSALAMU' ALAIKUM WRWBTH DEAR ILHAM FRIENDS,

Narrated Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri RA: " I heard Prophet Muhammad SAWS saying: ' The Devil said to his Lord: ' By Your Glory and Majesty! As long as the progeny of Adam exists on earth. I shall continuously misguide them. At this Allah Remarked: ' By My Glory and Majesty! As long as they seek My forgiveness, I will continue to pardon them.' " (Ahmad)

***We must bring to mind that our beloved Prophet Muhammad SAWS would seek forgiveness 70 to 100 times a day. If he engaged in this ibadah, then we should always keep our mouths moist with du'as of forgiveness. We can NEVER be despaired like Shaitan about Allah azza wajal's perfect love for us. ***
Ma'Salamah,
Sr. Tasneem

GOOD TREATMENT TOWARDS EVERYONE

BISMILLAAHIR RAHMAANIR RAHEEM
ASSALAMU'ALAIKUM WRWBTH ,DEAR ILHAM FRIENDS,
Eid Mubarak to all of you. I pray that Allah azza wajal had accepted all of your good deeds and fasting during the fist 10 days of DhulHijjah. I also pray that He gave rewards to people who had made the intention of doing good but could not do it.
The following are some Ahadith regarding good treatment towards all:
1. Fadalah bin 'Ubaid RA narrated that Prophet Muhammad sallal lahu wa alaihi wa sallam said: " The believer is the one from whom their (people's) wealth and lives are safe, and the Muhajir is the one who forsakes mistakes and sins." (Ibn Majah, Ahmad, and others)
2. Abu Hurairah RA narrated that Prophet Muhammad sallal lahu wa alaihi wa sallam said: " The whole of the Muslim is sacred to his fellow Muslim, his blood, his wealth, and his honor." (Ibn Majah & Muslim)
3. Ibn Mas'ud RA narrated that Prophet Muhammad sallal lahu wa alaihi wa sallam said: " Verbally abusing a Muslim is Fusuq (disobedience), and fighting him is Kufr (ungratefulness to Allah)." ( Ibn Majah)
4. Sunabih Al-Ahmasi RA related that Prophet Muhammad sallal lahu alaihi wa sallam said: " I shall reach the Cistern (Haud) before you, and I will boast of your great numbers before the nations, so do not fight one another after I am gone." (Ibn Majah & Ahmad)
It is imperative that we treat each other with honor and respect. May Allah azza wajal protect us from this kind of Kufr.
Ma'Salamah,
Sr. Tasneem

FAMILY AHADITH

BISMILLAAHIR RAHMAANIR RAHEEM.
ASSALAMU'ALAIKUM WRWBTH, DEAR ILHAM FRIENDS,

1. Abu Salamah As-Sulami RA narrated that Prophet Muhammad SAWS said, " I enjoin each one to honor his mother, I enjoin each one to honor his mother, I enjoin each one to honor his mother (three times), I enjoin each one to honor his father, I enjoin each one to honor his guardian who is taking care of him, even if he is causing him some annoyance." (Hasan) (Ibn Majah, Ahmad & Tabarani)

2. Abu Umamah RA related that a man asked, " O Messenger of Allah, what are the rights of parents over their children?" He replied, " They are your Paradise and your Hell." (Da'if) (Ibn Majah)

3. Abu Darda RA heard the Prophet Muhammad SAWS say, " The father is the middle door of Paradise (i.e. the best way to Paradise), so it is up to you whether you take advantage of it or not. (Hasan) (Ibn Majah)

4. 'Aishah RA narrated: " Some Bedouin people came to the Prophet Muhammad SAWS and said, ' Do you kiss your children?' He (SAWS) replied, ' Yes.' Then the Bedouin said, ' But we, by Allah never kiss (our children)!' The Prophet SAWS said, ' What can I do if Allah has taken away mercy from you!' " (Sahih) (Ibn Majah, Muslim, & Al-Bukhari)

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Our dear Prophet Muhammad SAWS taught us how to become better members of the family. The family is indeed the core of our being, and if the state of the family is sound, then the individual will also be sound too, inshaAllah.
Nowadays we are witnessing too many family breakups and the heartaches that follow. It leaves trauma and poor self-image in its tracks. The remedy lies in following the advice offered by the best of creation, Prophet Muhammad SAWS. None of us can instantly morph into super parents or spouses, or children, but we can at least step on the staircase of success. Humanity is indeed blessed for having this collection of Ahadith to follow!
May our Lord bless us with the patience required to remedy the state of our families. Aameen
Ma'Salamah,
Sr. Tasneem

AHADITH REGARDING FOOD

BISMILLAAHIR RAHMAANIR RAHEEM.
ASSALAMU'ALAIKUM WRWBTH DEAR ILHAM FRIENDS,

' Abdallah bin Salam RA said: " When the Prophet SAWS came to Al-Madinah, the people rushed to meet him, and it was said, ' The Messenger of Allah SAWS has come! The Messenger of Allah SAWS has come! The Messenger of Allah SAWS has come!' three times. I came with the people to see him, and when I saw his face clearly, I knew that his face was not the face of a liar. The first thing that I heard him say was: ' O people! Spread (the greeting of) salam, feed others, uphold the ties of kinship, and pray during the night when people are sleeping, and you will enter Paradise with Salam.' " (Ibn Majah)

It was narrated from 'Abdallah bin 'Amr RA that a man asked the Messenger of Allah SAWS:
" O Messenger of Allah, which (aspect) of Islam is the best?" He (SAWS) replied, " Offering food (to the needy) and greeting with salam those whom you know and those whom you do not know." (Ibn Majah)

Ma'Salamah,
Sr. Tasneem

FOR THE LOVE OF THE PROPHET (SAWS)

BISMILLAAHIR RAHMAANIR RAHEEM.
ASSALAMU'ALAIKUM WRTBTH, DEAR ILHAM FRIENDS,

Loving and honoring the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad SAWS is part of our Deen. Yet, we often tend to overlook this fact, the greatness of this unlettered Prophet (SAWS) to whom the Quran was revealed. For our worldly lives we owe gratitude to our parents, and for the attainment of our eternal lives we owe deep gratitude to Prophet Muhammad SAWS. The following are reminders from the Creator of the Heavens and of the Earth of this fact:
1. " Take what the Messenger has brought to you and refrain from what he has forbidden you."
(59:7)
2. " You have in the messenger of God a good example for whoever has hope in God and the Last Day and remembers God in abundance." (33:21)
3. " The one who obeys the Messenger obeys God." (4:80)
4. " Those who give allegiance to you are giving allegiance to God." (48:10)
5. " Say { O Muhammad}, " If you love God, follow me and God will love you and forgive your sins; God is Forgiving, Compassionate." (3:31)
6. " Let those who contravene his commands beware lest they become afflicted or stricken by a painful torment." (24:63)

May Allah azza wajal forgives our sins, allow us to follow the sunnah of our beloved Prophet SAWS, and remain steadfast on His Path.
Ma'Salamah,
Sr. Tasneem