Do Not Neglect the Religious Obligations

It was narrated on the authority of Abi Tha'labah Al-Khushani Jurthum bin Nashir (ra) that the Messenger of Allah (sas) said:

Verily Allah the Almighty has prescribed the obligatory deeds, so do not neglect them; He has set certain limits, so do not go beyond them; He has forbidden certain things, so do not indulge in them; and He has said nothing about certain things, as an act of mercy to you, not out of forgetfulness, so do not go enquiring into these. (Related by Al-Daraqutni and others - Al-Nawawi said this is a hasan (fine) hadith)

Means of Goodness

From Mu'adh bin Jabal (ra) who said: I said,

O Messenger of Allah, tell me of a deed which will take me into Paradise and will keep me away from the Hell-fire." He said: "You have asked me about a great matter, yet it is, indeed, an easy matter for him to whom Allah Almighty makes it easy. (It is ) that you worship Allah without associating anything with Him, that you perform the prayers, that you pay the zakat, that you fast during Ramadan, and that you make the pilgrimage to the House."

Then he said: "Shall I not guide you to the gates of goodness? Fasting is a shield; charity extinguishes sin as water extinguishes fire; and a man's prayer in the middle of the night." Then he recited: "Who forsake their beds to cry unto their Lord in fear and hope, and spend of that We have bestowed on them. No soul knoweth what is kept hid for them of joy, as a reward for what they used to do". [Qu'ran, Surah al-Sajdah (32): Ayah 16-17]

Then he said: "Shall I not also tell you of the peak of the matter, its pillar, and its topmost part?" I said: "Yes, O Messenger of Allah." He said: "The peak of the matter is Islam (submission to Allah), the pillar is prayer; and its topmost part is jihad." Then he said: "And shall I not tell you of the controlling of all that ?" I said:" Yes, O Messenger of Allah". So he took hold of his tongue and said: "Restrain this." I said: "O Prophet of Allah, will we be held accountable for what we say?" He said: "May your mother be bereft of you! Is there anything that topples people on their faces (or he said, on their noses) into the Hell-fire other than the jests of their tongues?
(Related by Al-Tirmidhi, who said it was a fine and sound hadith)

The Obligation of Following the Sunnah

It was narrated on the authority of Abu Najih al-Irbad bin Sariyah (ra) who said:

The Messenger of Allah (sas) delivered an admonition that made our hearts fearful and our eyes tearful. We said, "O Messenger of Allah, it is as if this were a farewell sermon, so advise us." He said, "I enjoin you to have Taqwa of Allah and that you listen and obey, even if a slave is made a ruler over you. He among you who lives long enough will see many differences. So for you is to observe my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the rightly-principled and rightly-guided successors, holding on to them with your molar teeth. Beware of newly-introduced matters, for every innovation (bid'ah) is an error."

(Abu Dawud & Al-Tirmidhi, who says it is an authentic hadith)

Righteousness is in Good Character

Al-Nawwas bin Sam'an (ra) reported that the Prophet (sas) said:

Righteousness is good character, and sin is that which wavers in your heart and which you do not want people to know about.
(Muslim)

According to Wabisah bin Ma'bad (ra) who said

I came to the Messenger of Allah (sas) and he said: "You have come to ask about righteousness ?" " Yes," I answered. He said: "Consult your heart. Righteousness is that about which the soul feels tranquil and the heart feels tranquil, and sin is what creates restlessness in the soul and moves to and fro in the breast, even though people give you their opinion (in your favour) and continue to do so."
(A good hadith transmitted from the Musnads of the two Imams, Ahmad bin Hanbal and Al-Darimi)

What is Sadaqa?

Abu Hurairah (ra) reported that the Messenger of Allah (sas) said,

On every person's joints or small bones (i.e. fingers and toes), there is sadaqah (charity) every day the sun rises. Doing justice between two people is sadaqah; assisting a man to mount his animal, or lifting up his belongings onto it is sadaqah; a good word is sadaqah; every step you take towards prayer is sadaqah; and removing harmful things from pathways is sadaqah.
(Al-Bukhari & Muslim)

The Value of Charity

Abu Dharr (ra) reported that some of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (sas) said to him:

O Messenger of Allah, the rich have taken away all the rewards. They observe the prayer as we do, and they keep the fasts as we do, and they give sadaqah (charity) from their surplus riches." Upon this he (the Prophet) said: "Has Allah not prescribed for you (a course) by following which you can also do sadaqah? Verily in every tasbih (i.e. saying Subhanallah) there is a sadaqah, every takbir (i.e. saying Allahu Akbar) is a sadaqah, every tahmid (i.e. saying Alhamdulillah) is a sadaqah, every tahlil (i.e. saying Lailaha illallah) is a sadaqah, enjoining of good is a sadaqah, forbidding of evil is a sadaqah, and having sexual intercourse with your wife is a sadaqah. They (the Companions) said: "O Messenger of Allah, is there reward for him who satisfies his sexual passion among us?" He said: "Tell me, if he were to devote it to something forbidden, would it not be a sin on his part? Similarly, if he were to devote it to something lawful, he should have a reward.
(Muslim)

The Forbiddance of Oppression

It was relayed on the authority of Abu Dhar al-Ghifari(ra) that the Prophet(sas) said, of what he related from his Lord, Magnified and Exhalted be He, Who said:

O My servants, I have made oppression unlawful for Me and unlawful for you, so do not commit oppression against one another. O My servants, all of you are liable to err except for those whom I guide on the right path, therefore seek guidance from Me so that I should direct you to the right path. O My servants, all of you are hungry (needy) except for those whom I feed, therefore seek food from Me so that I may feed you. O My servants, all of you are naked (need clothes) except for those whom I provide garments, therefore seek clothing from Me so that I should clothe you. O My servants, you sin by night and by day and I am there to pardon your sins, therefore seek forgiveness from Me so that I should grant you pardon. O My servants, you can neither do Me any harm nor can you do Me any good. O My servants, even if the first amongst you and the last amongst you and the whole human race of yours and that of Jinns become as pious as the most pious heart of any one amongst you, it will not add anything to My Power or Kingdom. O My servants, even if the first amongst you and the last amongst you and the whole human race of yours and that of Jinns become as wicked as the most wicked heart of anyone amongst you, it will not decrease anything from My Power or Kingdom. O My servants, even if the first amongst you and the last amongst you and the whole human race of yours and that of Jinns gather together on a sector of land and all ask of Me and if I were to give everyone of them what they asked, that will not in any way decrease what I have anymore than a needle decreases what is in the ocean when it is put into it. O My servants, these deeds of yours which I am recording for you I shall reward you for them, so he who finds good should praise Allah and he who finds other than that should not blame anyone but himself.
[Muslim]

Hastening to Do Good

On the authority of Abu Malik al-Harith bin 'Asim al-Ash'ari(ra) who said: The Messenger of Allah(sas) said:

Purification is half of iman (faith). Saying 'Al-Hamdulillah' (Praise be to Allah) fills the scales. Saying 'Subhanallah wa al-Hamdulillahi' (Exhalted be Allah and Praise be to Allah) fills the space between the heavens and the earth. Salah (prayer) is a light. Sadaqah (charity) is a proof. Sabr (patience) is a shining glory. The Qur'an is an argument either for you or against you. Everybody goes out in the morning and sell themselves, thereby setting themselves free or destroying themselves.[Bukhari & Muslim]

Verse of the Week - April 4th Week

And verily, I am indeed forgiving to him who repents, believes (in My Oneness, and associates none in worship with Me) and does righteous good deeds, and then remains constant in doing them, (till his death). (82)

Meaning of the verse of the Holy Quran - Surah Taha(20), Verse 82

Entering Paradise

Abu ‘Abdullah Jabir bin ‘Abdullah al-Ansari(ra) reported that a man questioned the Messenger of Allah(sas) saying:

Do you see, if I pray the prescribed (prayers), fast during Ramadan, treat the lawful as permissible and treat the forbidden as prohibited, but do nothing more than that, shall I enter Paradise?" He (the Prophet(sas)) answered: "Yes.[Bukhari & Muslim]

Say 'I believe in Allah' and then be Steadfast

On the authority of Abu ’Amr — and he is also called Abu ’Amrah — Sufyan bin Abdullah ath- Thaqafee(ra) who said:

I said, 'O Messenger of Allah, tell me something about al-Islam which I can ask of no one but you.'
He (sas) said, Say I believe in Allah — and then be Steadfast. [Bukhari]

Wisdom & Benefits from the Story of Musa & Khidr

Modesty is from Faith

Abu Mas'ud 'Uqbah bin 'Amr al-Ansari al-Badri(ra) reported that the Messenger of Allah(sas) said:

Among the things that people have found from the words of the previous prophets was: 'If you feel no shame, then do as you wish.'[Bukhari]

Be Mindful of Allah and Allah will Protect You

Abu al-‘Abbas ‘Abdullah bin ‘Abbas(ra) reported: One day I was behind the Prophet(sas)and he said to me:

O young man, I shall teach you some words [of advice] : Be mindful of Allah, and Allah will protect you. Be mindful of Allah, and you will find Him in front of you. If you (have need to) ask, ask of Allah; and if you seek help, seek help from Allah. Know that even if the Nation (or the whole community) were to gather together to benefit you with something, they would not benefit you with anything except that which Allah has already recorded for you, and that if they gather together to harm you with something, they would not be able to harm you with anything except that which Allah has already recorded against you. The pens have been lifted and the pages have dried.
[Tirmidhi]

In a version other than that of al-Tirmidhi it reads:

..Be mindful of Allah, you will find Him before you. Get to know Allah in prosperity and He will know you in adversity. Know that what has passed you by was not going to befall you; and that what has befallen you was not going to pass you by. And know that victory comes with patience, relief with affliction, and ease with hardship.

Follow Up a Bad Deed with a Good Deed

On the authority of Abu Dharr Jundub ibn Junadah, and Abu 'Abd-ir-Rahman Mu'adh bin Jabal (ra) that the Messenger of Allah (sas) said :

Have Taqwa (Fear) of Allah wherever you may be, and follow up a bad deed with a good deed which will wipe it out, and behave well towards the people.
[Tirmidhi]

Prescription of Ihsan (Perfection)

On the authority of Abu Ya'laa Shaddaad bin Aws (ra), that the Messenger of Allah(sas) said :

Verily Allah has prescribed Ihsan (proficiency, perfection) in all things. So if you kill then kill well; and if you slaughter, then slaughter well. Let each one of you sharpen his blade and let him spare suffering to the animal he slaughters.[Muslim]

The Forbiddance of Anger

It was related by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim.

On the authority of Abu Hurayrah (ra):

A man said to the Prophet (sas), “Counsel me,” so he (sas) said, “Do not become angry.” The man repeated [his request for counsel] several times, and [each time] he (sas) said, “Do not become angry.”
[Bukhari & Muslim]

Verses of the Week - April 3rd Week

When you were propagating it with your tongues, and uttering with your mouths that whereof you had no knowledge, you counted it a little thing, while with Allâh it was very great. (15) And why did you not, when you heard it, say "It is not right for us to speak of this. Glory is to You (O Allâh) this is a great lie." (16) Allâh forbids you from it and warns you not to repeat the like of it forever, if you are believers. (17) 

Meaning of the Verses of the Holy Quran - Surah Nur (24), Verse 15-17

Islamic Manners

It was related by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim

On the authority of Abu Hurairah (radiAllaahu anhu) that the Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) said :

Let him who believes in Allaah and the Last Day speak good, or keep silent; and let him who believes in Allaah and the Last Day be generous to his neighbour; and let him who believes in Allaah and the Last Day be generous to his guest.
It was related by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim.

Prohibition of Blood of a Muslim

On the authority of Ibn Mas'ood (radiAllaahu anhu) who said : The Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said :

It is not permissible to spill the blood of a Muslim except in three [instances] : the married person who commits adultery, a life for a life, and the one who forsakes his religion and separates from the community.
It was related by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim.

“Our Lord! Let not our hearts deviate (from the truth) after You have guided us, and grant us mercy from You. Truly, You are the Bestower,” (HQ-3:8)

Importance of Jummah Salah

Leaving that Which Does Not Concern You

On the authority of Abu Hurairah (radiAllaahu 'anhu) who said: The Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) said:

Part of the perfection of one's Islaam is his leaving that which does not concern him.
A Hasan (Good) Hadeeth which was related by at-Tirmidhee and others in this fashion

The Virtue of Gathering for the Remembrance of Allah

On the authority of Abu Hurayrah (ra), that the Prophet (saw) said:

Whoever removes a worldly grief from a believer, Allah will remove from him one of the griefs of the Day of Resurrection. And whoever alleviates the need of a needy person, Allah will alleviate his needs in this world and the Hereafter. Whoever shields [or hides the misdeeds of] a Muslim, Allah will shield him in this world and the Hereafter. And Allah will aid His slave so long as he aids his brother. And whoever follows a path to seek knowledge therein, Allah will make easy for him a path to Paradise. No people gather together in one of the Houses of Allah, reciting the Book of Allah and studying it among themselves, except that sakeenah (tranquility) descends upon them, and mercy envelops them, and the angels surround them, and Allah mentions them amongst those who are with Him. And whoever is slowed down by his actions, will not be hastened forward by his lineage.

[Muslim]

The Grace of Allah and His Mercy

On the authority of Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him), from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), from what he has related from his Lord:

Verily Allah ta’ala has written down the good deeds and the evil deeds, and then explained it [by saying]: “Whosoever intended to perform a good deed, but did not do it, then Allah writes it down with Himself as a complete good deed. And if he intended to perform it and then did perform it, then Allah writes it down with Himself as from
ten good deeds up to seven hundred times, up to many times multiplied. And if he intended to perform an evil deed, but did not do it, then Allah writes it down with Himself as a complete good deed. And if he intended it [i.e., the evil deed] and then performed it, then Allah writes it down as one evil deed.”

[Bukhari & Muslim]

Obligations are According to Ability

On the authority of ‘Abi Hurayrah `Abdur-Rahman ibn Sakhr (ra) who said: I heard the Messenger of Allaah (sas) say:

What I have forbidden for you, avoid. And what I have ordered you to do, do as much of it as you can.
It was only the excessive questioning and their disagreeing with their Prophets that destroyed those who were before you. [Bukhari & Muslim]

The Sanctity of a Muslim

On the authority of Ibn `Umar (ra) that the Messenger of Allah (sas) said:

I have been ordered to fight against the people until they testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and until they establish the prayer, and pay the Zakah.
And if they do that, then they will have gained protection from me for their blood and property;
Except for the rights of Islam, (i.e. - unless they do acts that are punishable in Islam), and their Reckoning is with Allah the Exalted.
[Bukhari & Muslim]

The Religion is Naseehah (Sincere Advice)

On the authority of Tamim Al-Dari that the Prophet(sas) said:

Religion is naseehah." We said: "To whom?" The Prophet(sas) said: "To Allah and His Book, and His messenger, and to the leaders of the Muslims and their common folk.
[Muslim]

”……Our Lord! Keep perfect our Light for us [and do not put it off till we cross over the Sirât (a slippery bridge over the Hell) safely] and grant us forgiveness. Verily, You are Able to do all things.” – HQ – 66:8

The Halal is Clear and the Haram is Clear

On the authority of Abu 'Abdullah al-Nu'man bin Bashir (ra) who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah(sas) say:

Truly, what is lawful is evident, and what is unlawful is evident, and in between the two are matters which are doubtful which many people do not know. He who guards against doubtful things keeps his religion and honour blameless, and he who indulges in doubtful things indulges in fact in unlawful things, just as a shepherd who pastures his flock round a preserve will soon pasture them in it. Beware, every king has a preserve, and the things Allah has declared unlawful are His preserves. Beware, in the body there is a flesh; if it is sound, the whole body is sound, and if it is corrupt, the whole body is corrupt, and behold, it is the heart.
[Bukhari & Muslim]

Tips for Fajr

Rejection of Evil Deeds and Innovations

On the authority of the Mother of the Faithful, Umm Abdullah Aisha (ra), who said, The Messenger of Allah (sas) said:

He who innovates something in this matter of ours [i.e. Islam] that is not of it will have it rejected [by Allah]
[Bukhari & Muslim]

In one version by Muslim it reads:

He who does an act which we have not commanded, will have it rejected [by Allah].

Deeds are by Their Final Actions

On the authority of Abu Abdurhman Abdullah ibn Mas`ood (ra), who said: The Messenger of Allah (sas) and he is the Truthful, the Believed, narrated to us:
Verily the creation of each one of you is brought together in his mother's womb for forty days in the form of a nutfah (a drop), then he becomes an 'alaqah (clot of blood) for a like period, then a mudghah (morsel of flesh) for a like period, then there is sent to him the angel who blows his soul into him and who is commanded with four matters: to write down his rizq (sustenance), his life span, his actions, and whether he will be happy or unhappy (i.e. whether or not he will enter Paradise).
By the One, other than Whom there is no deity, verily one of you performs the actions of the people of Paradise until there is but an arms length between him and it, and that which has been written overtakes him, and so he acts with the actions of the people of the Hellfire and thus enters it; and verily one of you performs the actions of the people of the Hellfire, until there is but an arms length between him and it, and that which has been written overtakes him and so he acts with the actions of the people of Paradise and thus he enters it.(Sahih Bukhari and Muslim)

Islam is Built Upon Five

On the authority of Abu Abdurahmaan Abdullah, the son of Umar ibn Al-Khattab (ra), who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (sas) say:

Islam has been built on five [pillars]: testifying that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establishing the Salaah (prayer), paying the Zakah (obligatory charity), making the Hajj (pilgrimage) to the House, and fasting in Ramadan.

Islam, Iman, Ihsan

It is narrated on the authority of 'Umar, radiyallahu 'anhu, who said:

While we were one day sitting with the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam, there appeared before us a man dressed in extremely white clothes and with very black hair. No traces of journeying were visible on him, and none of us knew him.
He sat down close by the Prophet, sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam, rested his knee against his thighs, and said, O Muhammad! Inform me about Islam." Said the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam, "Islam is that you should testify that there is no deity save Allah and that Muhammad is His Messenger, that you should perform salah (ritual prayer), pay the zakah, fast during Ramadan, and perform Hajj (pilgrimage) to the House (the Ka'bah at Makkah), if you can find a way to it (or find the means for making the journey to it)." Said he (the man), "You have spoken truly."

We were astonished at his thus questioning him and telling him that he was right, but he went on to say, "Inform me about iman (faith)." He (the Messenger of Allah) answered, "It is that you believe in Allah and His angels and His Books and His Messengers and in the Last Day, and in fate (qadar), both in its good and in its evil aspects." He said, "You have spoken truly."
Then he (the man) said, "Inform me about Ihsan." He (the Messenger of Allah) answered, " It is that you should serve Allah as though you could see Him, for though you cannot see Him yet He sees you." He said, "Inform me about the Hour." He (the Messenger of Allah) said, "About that the one questioned knows no more than the questioner." So he said, "Well, inform me about the signs thereof (i.e. of its coming)." Said he, "They are that the slave-girl will give birth to her mistress, that you will see the barefooted ones, the naked, the destitute, the herdsmen of the sheep (competing with each other) in raising lofty buildings." Thereupon the man went off.

I waited a while, and then he (the Messenger of Allah) said, "O 'Umar, do you know who that questioner was?" I replied, "Allah and His Messenger know better." He said, "That was Jibril. He came to teach you your religion.
[Muslim]

Actions are by Intentions

It is narrated on the authority of Amir al-Mu'minin (Leader of the Believers), Abu Hafs 'Umar bin al-Khattab (ra), who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (sas), say:

Actions are (judged) by motives (niyyah), so each man will have what he intended. Thus, he whose migration (hijrah) was to Allah and His Messenger, his migration is to Allah and His Messenger; but he whose migration was for some worldly thing he might gain, or for a wife he might marry, his migration is to that for which he migrated. (Al-Bukhari & Muslim)