Allah is The Best Planner

My Mother

Who should I give my love to?My respect and my honor toWho should I pay good mind to?After AllahAnd Rasulullah
Comes your motherWho next? Your motherWho next? Your motherAnd then your father
Cause who used to hold youAnd clean you and clothes youWho used to feed you?And always be with youWhen you were sickStay up all nightHolding you tightThat's right no otherYour mother (My mother)
Who should I take good care of?Giving all my loveWho should I think most of?After AllahAnd Rasulullah
Comes your motherWho next? Your motherWho next? Your motherAnd then your father
Cause who used to hear you
Before you could talkWho used to hold you?Before you could walkAnd when you fell who picked you upClean your cutNo one but your motherMy mother
Who should I stay right close to?Listen most toNever say no toAfter AllahAnd Rasulullah
Comes your motherWho next? Your motherWho next? Your motherAnd then your father
Cause who used to hug youAnd buy you new clothescomb your hairAnd blow your noseAnd when you cryWho wiped your tears?Knows your fearsWho really cares?My mother
Say AlhamdulillahThank you AllahThank you AllahFor my mother.

Read more: YUSUF ISLAM - YOUR MOTHER LYRICS 

Strength of Basmalah

If a person goes out of his house and says: "Bismillah, tawakkaltu ‘ala Allah, wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa Billaah"

"In the name of Allah, I put my trust in Allah, and there is no power and no strength except with Allah," It is said to him: "You are guided, taken care of and protected" 

 So the devil keeps away from him so much so that another devil says: "What can you do against a man who is guided, taken care of and protected?" (narrated by Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi)

Hadith

Reported by Abu Hurairah (RA): The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "By Allah, he is not a believer! By Allah, he is not a believer! By Allah, he is not a believer.'' It was asked, "Who is that, O Messenger of Allah?'' He said, "One whose neighbour does not feel safe from his evil". [Bukhari and Muslim]

Quranic Verse

It is He who created you from dust, then from a sperm-drop, then from a clinging clot; then He brings you out as a child; then [He develops you] that you reach your [time of] maturity, then [further] that you become elders. And among you is he who is taken in death before [that], so that you reach a specified term; and perhaps you will use reason. (Surat Al Ghafir 40:67)

Salat Istikharah

How to perform Salat-l-Istikhara

Salat-l-Istikhara

Anytime a Muslim is making a decision, he or she should seek Allah’s guidance and wisdom. Allah alone knows what is best for us, and there may be good in what we perceive as bad, and bad in what we perceive as good.

If you are ambivalent or unsure about a decision you have to make, there is a specific prayer for guidance (Salat-l-Istikhara) that you can do to ask for Allah’s help in making your decision. Should you marry this certain person? Should you attend this graduate school? Should you take this job offer or that one? Allah knows what is best for you, and if you are not sure about a choice that you have, seek His guidance.

Salat al-Istikhara is a powerful tool that Allah has given us to ask His guidance in all matters. We should not hesitate to pray Istikhara before making any choice in our lives, big or small.

It’s important to do this prayer with sincerity, knowing in our hearts that only Allah can give us the guidance we seek, and resolved to follow the guidance He gives us, even if it clashes with our own desires.

We should also say the dua with firm conviction, not begging or pleading, but asking Allah clearly for guidance.

And we should not be impatient after our dua. We do not put Allah on a timetable. And we should not expect some sort of miracle, or a dream full of signs and symbols. These things are not necessary. We simply say our prayers and trust that Allah has heard us and will answer us in the way that is best.

Salat-l-Istikhara is described in the Hadith narration below.

Narrated Jabir bin ‘Abdullah: The Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam used to teach us the way of doing istikhara (istikhara means to ask Allah to guide one to the right sort of action concerning any job or a deed), in all matters as he taught us the Surats of the Quran. He said, “If anyone of you thinks of doing any job he should offer a two Rakat prayer other than the compulsory ones and say (after the prayer):

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلَا أَقْدِرُ وَتَعْلَمُ وَلَا أَعْلَمُ وَأَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوبِ اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ شَرٌّ فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ وَاقْدُرْ لِيَ الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ ثُمَّ ارْضِنِي بِهِ

‘Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi’ilmika, Wa astaqdiruka bi-qudratika, Wa as’alaka min fadlika al-’azlm Fa-innaka taqdiru Wala aqdiru, Wa ta’lamu Wala a’lamu, Wa anta ‘allamu l-ghuyub. Allahumma, in kunta ta’lam anna hadha-l-amra Khairun li fi dini wa ma’ashi wa’aqibati amri (or ‘ajili amri wa’ajilihi) Faqdirhu wa yas-sirhu li thumma barik li Fihi, Wa in kunta ta’lamu anna hadha-lamra shar-run li fi dini wa ma’ashi wa’aqibati amri (or fi’ajili amri wa ajilihi) Fasrifhu anni was-rifni anhu. Waqdir li al-khaira haithu kana Thumma ardini bihi.’

(O Allah! I ask guidance from Your knowledge, And Power from Your Might and I ask for Your great blessings. You are capable and I am not. You know and I do not and You know the unseen. O Allah! If You know that this job is good for my religion and my subsistence and in my Hereafter–(or said: If it is better for my present and later needs)–Then You ordain it for me and make it easy for me to get, And then bless me in it, and if You know that this job is harmful to me In my religion and subsistence and in the Hereafter–(or said: If it is worse for my present and later needs)–Then keep it away from me and let me be away from it. And ordain for me whatever is good for me, And make me satisfied with it). The Prophet added that then the person should name (mention) his need.

Sahih Al-Bukhari – Book 21 Hadith 263

* When making the dua, the actual matter or decision should be mentioned instead of the words “hathal-amra” (“this matter”).

What needs to be noted is that the answer to one’s istikhara prayer does not come simply in the form of dreams and feelings but in how Allah facilitates and unfolds events for an individual after he or she genuinely strives to do what is best.

Take the most effective means, which includes consulting those whose knowledge and wisdom one has confidence in, and place your trust in Allah.

Lastly, one needs to be patient in terms of receiving the answer to their prayers. Remember the words of our Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam, “The supplication of everyone is granted as long as he does not show haste and does not say that he made a supplication but it was not accepted.” [Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah]

And Allah knows best, He is the All-Seeing, All-Hearing, the best Planner. May He guide us and ease all our difficulties. Ameen.

The Beautiful Names of Prophet Muhammad

Asma un Nabi (اَلاسْمَاءُ النَب)

The Beautiful Names of Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى اللَّه عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ

Muhammad is not the father of [any] one of your men, but [he is] the Messenger of Allah and last of the prophets. And ever is Allah, of all things, Knowing.

Surat Al-Ahzab 33:40

Narrated Jubair bin Mutim: Allah’s Apostle said, “I have five names: I am Muhammad and Ahmad; I am Al-Mahi through whom Allah will eliminate infidelity; I am Al-Hashir who will be the first to be resurrected, the people being resurrected thereafter; and I am also Al-Aqib (i.e. There will be no prophet after me).”

Sahih Al-Bukhari – Book 56 Hadith 732

The Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam has been called by many names and titles in the Qur’an and Sunnah, each one of them describing a special quality of this exalted personality. In understanding them and reflecting upon them, we can, by the permission of Allah, increase in our love and following of the Messenger of Allah salallahu alaihi wasallam.
The names of the Prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam are of two types:

1.       Those names that are specific to him and none of the Messengers before him had these names, like Muhammad, Ahmad, al-Aaqib, al-Hashir, al-Muqaffee and Nabi al-Malhama.

2.       Those names and attributes that are not specific to him, and were shared by the Messengers before him, but are found in him in the most complete and perfect forms. Like: Messenger of Allah, His Prophet, His Servant, Prophet of Mercy etc.

The name Muhammad means “Praiseworthy” and occurs four times in the Qur’an. The Qur’an addresses Muhammad in the second person not by his name but by the appellations, messenger, servant of God (‘abd), announcer (bashir)^{[Qur’an 2:119]}, witness (shahid),^{[Qur’an 33:45]}, bearer of good tidings (mubashshir), warner (nathir),^{[Qur’an 11:2]}, reminder (mudhakkir),^{[Qur’an 88:21]} one who calls unto Go] (dā‘ī),^{[Qur’an 12:108]} light personified (noor)^{[Qur’an 05:15]}, and the light-giving lamp (siraj munir)^{[Qur’an 73:1]}.

There are more than 99 names and attributes of Prophet Muhammad salallahu alaihi wasallam; here we list 99 of those names.

	Name	Transliteration	Meaning
1	مُحَمَّد	Muhammad	Most Praised One
2	اَحْمَد	Ahmad	Most Praiseworthy
3	حَامِدٌ	Hamid	One who praises Allah
4	مَحْمُود	Mahmud	Praised by all, Laudable
5	قَاسِمٌ	Qasim	Distributor
6	مَاحٍ	Mahi	The Effacer, Obliterator of disbelief
7	حَاشِر	Hashir	The gatherer, Summoner, Gatherer on the Day of Judgement
8	شَاهِدٌ	Shahid	Witness, Martyr
9	عَاقِب	Aqib	Last, Successor of all the Prophets
10	طه	Taha	Taha
11	طَهِّرْ	Tahir	Pure, Clean
12	مُطَهَّر	Mutahhar	One purified by Allah
13	فَاتِحٌ	Fatih	Conqueror, Opener
14	رَشِيِدٌ	Rasheed	Well Guided
15	بَشِيِرٌ	Basheer	Bearer of good news
16	نَذِيِرٌ	Nazeer	Warner
17	دَاعٍ	Da’i	Caller
18	شْفَعُ	Shafi’	Intercessor
19	رَسُول	Rasul	Messenger
20	مَهْدِيّ	Mahdi	Rightly guided
21	سَيِّد	Sayyid	Leader/Master of All
22	نَّبِي	Nabi	Prophet
23	هَاشِمي	Hashimi	Family of Hashim
24	كَامِل	Kamil	Perfect
25	مُدَّثِّر	Muddaththir	One Enveloped in a mantle
26	مُزَّمِّل	Muzzammil	One Wrapped up in a garment
27	حَبْيِبُ الله	Habibullah	The Beloved of Allah
28	صْطَفِي اللَّه	Safiullah	The Chosen one of Allah
29	خَاتَمَ النَّبِيِّين	Khatim ul Nabieen	The seal of the prophets
30	مُنجٍ	Munji	Leader to salvation
31	اعْفُ	Afuww’	Pardoner
32	رَحْمَةً لِّلْعَالَمِين	Rahmatul Alameen	Mercy for all creatures
33	نبيّ الرحمة	Nabi ur Rahma	Prophet of Mercy
34	نبيّ التوبة	Nabi ut Tawbah	Prophet of Repentance
35	نُورٌ	Nur	Sacred Light
36	مُّنِير	Munir	Illuminator
37	وَلِي	Wali	Friend of Allah
38	حَق	Haqq	Truth
39	أمينٌ	Amin	Trustworthy
40	كَرِيم	Karim	Honourable, Noble, Generous
41	سَيْفُ الله	Saifullah	The sword of Allah
42	مُصْطَفَى	Mustafa	Chosen, Selected
43	صَالِح	Salih	Virtuous, Pious, Devout, Righteous
44	صَدِق	Sadiq	Truthful
45	مِصْبَاحٌ	Misbah	Luminous Lamp, Prayer beads
46	عَبْد اللّه	Abdullah	Allah’s Servant
47	عَزِيز	Aziz	Mighty, Honourable
48	الأُمِّيِّ	Ummi	Unlettered
49	هُدَى	Huda	Guide
50	يس	Ya Sin	Ya Sin
51	وَحِيْد	Waheed	Non-Peril
52	اَحِيْد	Aheed	Rescuer from Hellfire
53	مُبَشِّر	Mubbashir	Messenger/Conveyor of Glad Tidings
54	وَجِيْه	Wajih	Respected, Illustrious, Honourable
55	قُرَيْشي	Quraishi	From tribe of Quraish
56	سَيِّدُ الْمُرسَلِين	Sayyid al Mursaleen	Leader of all the Messengers
57	حريصٌ عليكم	Harisun Alaykum	Full of concern for you
58	قويٌّ	Qawwi	Strong
59	مَتينٌ	Matin	Extremely Strong
60	مُبينٌ	Mubin	Clear, Evident
61	سِراجٌ	Siraj	Lamp/Sun of Prophethood
62	نَعْمَةُ اللهِ	Ni’matullah	Favour of Allah
63	هَديَّةُ الله	Hadiyatullah	Gift of Allah
64	خليل	Khalil	Good friend
65	مُكرَّم	Mukarram	Honoured, Venerated, The ennobled one
66	مَأمُوْن	Ma’mun	Safe, Trusted, Secure
67	مُطَاع	Muta’	One who is obeyed
68	مُطيع	Muti’	Obedient to Allah
69	رَءُوفٌ	Ra’uf	Most Kind, Clement
70	طَيّب	Tayyib	Good, Pleasant
71	نَاصِر	Nasir	Helper
72	مَشْهُود	Mashhud	The Witnessed
73	قيِّـم	Qayyim	Right and True, Straight
74	مُـقتف	Muqtafi	One who succeeds all the Prophets
75	مُـقـفى	Muqaffa	One who is followed
76	مُؤمَّل	Mu’ammil	Hopeful
77	ذُو قوَّةٍ	Zu quwwah	Possessor of power
78	ذُو مَكَانَة	Zu makanah	Possessor of firmly established high position/status
79	ذُو عِزٍّ	Zu izzah	Possessor of might/honour/respect
80	ذُو فَضل	Zhu fadl	Possessor of Allah’s grace/bounty
81	رَحْمَة	Rahma	Mercy, Compassion
82	رَحْمَة	Mujtaba	The chosen one
83	مُجْتبَى	Mujtaba	The chosen/selected one
84	مُخْتَار	Mukhtar	The chosen/selected one, empowered
85	مُشفّعٌ	Mushaffa	The Accepted Intercessor
86	بَرٌّ	Barr	Righteous, Pious
87	مَبَرٌّ	Mabarr	Essence of piety
88	وَكِيل	Wakil	Faithful Trustee, benefactor of mankind
89	مُتَوَكِّل	Mutawwakil	One who puts all his trust in Allah
90	نَصِيح	Nasih	Sincere Advisor
91	بَالِغ	Baligh	One who has attained spiritual perfection
92	وَاصِل	Wasil	The one who completed his journey to Allah
93	جَامِع	Jami’	One who gathers in himself all perfections, inclusive of all virtues
94	صَاحِبُ الوسيلَةِ	Sahib ul Wasilah	Possessor of the means to Allah’s Mercy, mediator
95	صَاحِبُ الفَضِيلة	Sahib ul Fadhilah	Possessor of Allah’s Grace
96	صَاحِبُ الحُجَّة	Sahib ul Hujjah	Possessor of the proof
97	صَاحِبُ المِعْرَاج	Sahib ul Mi’raj	Master of heavenly ascension
98	سيّدُ الكَوْنَين	Sayyid ul kawnain	Master/Leader of this world and the Hereafter
99	سَعْدُ الله	Sa’dullah	Joy of Allah