Prisoners Want to Be Free...

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: "The world is a prison for the believers and Paradise for the disbelievers"

[Sahih Muslim]

Explanation : Prison is not a place where people want to live or end up at. The mere existence of prison has a significant deterrent value. Also once a person is a prisoner , it is a human tendency to try to become free. Prisoners want to be free and to return to their homes and to the society where they originally belonged . This sense of believing is important for a believer.

To be a believer in Islam means understanding that one's destination is Paradise, that is where everyone belongs. Paradise is designed and prepared for successful human beings; it is awaiting them. When a person develops that awareness and conviction , then this ephemeral worldly life to him appears as nothing short of a prison from which he seeks freedom and wants to reach his destination.

If he has to spend some time in this prison , he hardly enjoys it ; the urge of reaching his ultimate destination overshadows his other desires. The opposite is true about people who do not believe. They treat this world as their Pradise. To them , nothing awaits them beyond this life. Therefore, they indulge themselves to the extent that they become entrapped.

People Only Listen to Those Whom They Like

Allah's Messenger (saws) said : "Shall I not tell you who among you is most beloved to me and will be closest to me on the Day of Resuurection?" He (saws) repeated it two or three times, and they said , "Yes, O Messenger of Allah (saws)." He said : "Those of you who are best in attitude and character."

[Ahmad]

Explanation : The Muslim who truly understands the teachings of his religion is gentle, friendly and likeable. He mixes with people and gets along with them. This is something which should be a characteristic of the Muslim who understands that keeping in touch with people and earning their trust is one of the most important duties of a Muslim.

It is an effective means of conveying the message of truth to them , and exposing them to its moral values, because people only listen to whom they like, trust and accept. Such a person is one of those chosen ones who are beloved by the Prophet (saws) and will be closest to him on the Day of Resurrection.

The Prophet (saws) set the highest example of good behaviour towards people. He was skilful in softening their hearts and called them to follow him in word and deed. He demonstrated how to reach people's hearts and win their love and admiration. He (saws) was always cheerful and easy-going, never harsh.

When he came to any gathering, he would sit wherever there was a free space, and he told others to do likewise. He treated everyone equally, so that no one who was present in a gathering would feel that anyone else was receiving any preferential treatment. The true Muslim follows in the footsteps of his Prophet (saws) in his dealings with all people. whether they are good or bad, so that he is liked and accepted by all people.

The Prophet (saws) was a living example for all humans to follow. His wife Ayesha (ra) was asked about his manners , and she said "His manners were the Qur'an". In this statement, Ayesha (ra) meant that the Prophet (saws) abided by its laws and commands and abstained from its prohibitions , and observed the virtuous deeds mentioned in it.

The Prophet (saws) said "God has sent me to perfect good manners and to do good deeds". [Bukhari & Ahmad]

Allah, the Exalted, described the Prophet (saws) saying : "And indeed, you are of a great moral character" (68:4)

Good Teachings Came From a Man who Strived for Establishing A Great New Faith

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said , "Allah dislikes an obscene and a rude talker and the bearer of a good moral character reaches to the level of the observer of the prayer and fasting, on account of his character."

[Imam Ahmed]

Explanation : The Holy prophet (saws) has very forcefully emphasized the above mentioned valuable principles so that the Ummah may understand it very clearly that the value of morality may not go down in its eyes.

There would be nothing surprising if such teachings were to come from a philosopher who was busy in his campaign for moral reform. But the great surprise is that these teachings come from a man who strived for establishing a great new faith , when all other religions turn their attention first only towards the performance of worship and other religious rites.

In spite of the expansion of the religion and the immense increase in the various tasks of his followers, the Prophet (saws) informs them of the fact that on the Day of Judgement there will be nothing weightier in their balance than their moral character , then definitely this reality is not hidden from him that in Islam the value of morality is very high.

Hope is the Medicine which Keeps One Alive

Thabit ibn Al-Dahhak (ra) reported the Messenger of Allah (saws) to have said , "He who killed himself with anything in the world will be tormented with that very thing on the Day of Judgement."
[Bukhari]

Explanation : The common reason behind thinking of suicide is always despair , As regards the remedy of this state , I'd like to cite the following :

The remedy is hope. Allah made hopelessness unlawful by saying, "Do not despair Alah's mercy." (Surah Yusuf :87) Thus, no matter at what level of despair, depression and frustration we are, whether loss of a loved one or job , or as the result of anger from someone else m we must not give up hope as there is a ray of light at the end of the tunnel. The greatest hope is the Mercy from Allah.

Hope is the medicine which keeps one alive and going, which is when we say , hang on , we mean hang onto the thread of hope. It is not unnatural to be sad over situations and events. Even Prophet Muhammad (saws) used to be sad, looking at the plight of the Unbelievers and their rejection of his message for Oneness of Allah , and not becoming Muslims.

During dejection , there is darkness, but in hope, there is light. Therefore, one must pray for this light to illuminate the heart so that we can see beyond what is causing the suffering today.

Muslims believe that all their suffering, failures, and adversities are nothing but a test of Allah , who has said, "And surely We shall try you with something of fear and hunger, and loss of wealth and lives and crops; but give glad tidings to the steadfast , who say, when a misfortune striketh them : Lo ! To Allah we belong and yo Him we shall be returning." (Al-Baqarah)

The Blessings that Come to Us, Night & Day are Beyond Numeration

Hadhrat Abdullah ibn Ghannam (ra) narrates that the beloved Prophet (saws) said :" If anyone says in the morning :' O Allah ! Whatever favour has come to me, it comes from You Alone Who has no partner ; to You praise is due & thanksgiving ' , he will have expressed full thanksgiving for the day & if anyone says the same in the evening , he will have expressed full thanksgiving for the night".

[Abu Dawood]

Explanation : The Islamic term Shukr can be translated as gratefulness or thankfulness. It is such a comprehensive term that it can be viewed as another name for Islam. Its opposite is Kufr, ingratitude. Allah Ta'ala says in Surah Ibrahim "If you are grateful, I will add more (favours) unto you ; but if you show ingratitude, truly My punishment is terrible indeed" (14:7)

The blessings that come to us , night & day, are beyond numeration. The blessings come in all forms - what we see & touch (by way of material goods : food, clothing, shelted, wealth and the like), but also what we do not see (like safety, friendship, love, health and protection from harm & clamities) . To deny Allah's blessings can lead to outright disbelief & denial of Allah.

The ornaments of this life are such things as a house, furnishings , and clothing. The more that one has of these blessings, the more he will be accountable for them. The Messenger(saws) said that the meat, the dates, the cool water that we consume are of those things we will be asked about, even the sandals on our feet. Let us be grateful servants of Allah (Swt).

Hadhrat Abu Bakr (ra) narrates that when anything came to the Prophet (saws) which caused him pleasure (or, by which he was more glad), he prostrated himself in gratitude to Allah. [Abu Dawood]

Undertake All Necessary Actions to the Preservation of Good Health

Prophet Muhammad (saws) mounted the pulpit, then wept and said "Ask Allah (Swt) for forgiveness and health , for after being granted certainty, one is given nothing better than health."

[Tirmidhi]

Explanation : From an Islamic perspective health is viewed as one of the greatest blessings that Allah has bestowed on mankind. It should be noted that the greatest blessing after belief is health, as narrated in the abovementioned Hadith.

Health is indeed a favour that we take for granted . We should express gratitude to Allah for bestowing us with health, and we should try to look after it. Allah has entrusted us with our bodies for a predestined period of time. He will hold us to account on how we looked after and untilized our bodies and good health.

The preservation of this blessing can only be acheived through taking good care of one's health and taking every measure to maintain and enhance it. With this in mind every Muslim should make sure they undertake all necessary actions which are conductive to the preservation of good health.

Healthy living is part and parcel of Islam, introduced with the inception of Islam more than 14 centuries ago. Furthermore, the Qur'an and the Sunnah outline the teachings that show every Muslim how to protect his health and live life in a state of purity. Islam strictly forbids indulgence in intoxicants such as alcohol and drugs. The limited pleasure of such vices cause immense long-term damage to mind, body and the social fabric of society.

Be Generous in Regard to Family Expenditure

Hadhrat Abu Mas'ud al-Babri (r) reported that the Prophet (saws) said "A man's spending on his family is a deed of charity"

[Bukhari]

Explanation : Islam, as a complete code of life , educates people that their entire life is Ibadah (worship, obedience, and service). Everything in a human life that is done according to Allah's and His Prophet's guidance is an act of Ibadah. No wonder that spending money on one's earning on one's family has been honored in Islam as an act of benevolence to be rewarded by Allah. Muslim men and women should be geneorus in regard to their family's expenditure within parameters set by Islam.

Islam encourages showing kindness and benevolence to one's family , and at the same time, Islam makes people care about their social responsibilities beyond their families. Muslims should be oblivious neither to the duties to their families nor to the duties to others in the society among relatives and non-relatives, among Muslims and non-Muslims. This narration, like many others , balances often-observed polarities in human life.

Islam is a balanced way of life. How wonderfully it engages a person in fulfilling one's responsibility as an earner in a family ! How thoughtfully it creates a sense of the ultimate relationship between people and God so that their interaction at the family level is within the divine framewoek.

Rejoice Over Others' Happiness And Feel Sorrow When Others Are Sad

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said, "Do not rejoice over the troubles of your brother, lest Allah might have mercy on him and involve you in this trouble."

[Tirmidhi]

Explanation : Rejoicing over anyone's trouble is indecent according to Islam. For a believer such behaviour would be utterly unacceptable. Such rejoicing indicates a substandard attitude and may earn displeasure of Allah (Swt). Moreover, Allah (Swt) may turn the situation around and place the person rejoicing in a similar situation.

A believer's conduct towards others -- Muslims or non-Muslims -- can be only one way : rejoice over others' happiness and feel sorrow when others are sad or troubled. That is a sublime teaching of Islam. The aspect of Muslim personality that is emphasized here also reinforces another general point. Islam is not merely a matter of form and legal codes.

For example, a person may offer Salaah most meticulously but may not strive to stay clear from indecency (faahisha) and vices (Munkar) . There is no legal code to prosecute such a person who simply does not benefit from the value system of Islam. Similarly, a Muslim is not subject to a penal code for rejoicing over other people's troubles. He cannot, however, avoid Allah's (Swt) judgememt on such conduct.