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A worshipper of Allah should never forget supplication. It is a door that is always open and never closed. Allah says: "Call upon Me. I will answer you[prayer]."Waqala rabbukumu odAAoonee astajib lakum inna allatheena yastakbiroona AAan AAibadatee sayadkhuloona jahannama dakhireena [Surah Ghafer 40:60]

Allah says: " When My servants ask thee concerning Me, I am indeed close (to them): I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calleth on Me: Let them also, with a will, Listen to My call, and believe in Me: That they may walk in the right way.[Wa-itha saalaka AAibadee AAannee fa-innee qareebun ojeebu daAAwata alddaAAi itha daAAani falyastajeeboo lee walyu/minoo bee laAAallahum yarshudoona.[2:186]

"O my son! establish regular prayer, enjoin what is just, and forbid what is wrong: and bear with patient constancy whatever betide thee; for this is firmness (of purpose) in (the conduct of) affairs. [ Ya bunayya aqimi alssalata wa/mur bialmaAAroofi wainha AAani almunkari waisbir AAala ma asabaka inna thalika min AAazmi al-omoori] Surah Luqman 31:17

Regarding Tasbeeh

Speech,Deeds and the Love of Allah SWT

The Qur'anic verse: "Allah ( SWA) has commanded that you worship none but Him, and that you be kind to your parents...." (Quran 17:23) .......The Hadith version: "Pay the worker his wage before his sweat dries." (Ibn Majah)

My dear brothers and sisters in Islam As Sallamo Alaykum wa' Rahmatullahi wa' Barakatouh, I would like to share with you this nice message about the love of Allah in His Creations, and i want to share it with you all by the knowledge of Allah who gave it to me. This topic is really very nice and i hope you would love to read it.. ..insha Allah

One must publicly declare faith to Allah. Even Shaytan ( evil ) had belief in his heart, but he did not declare his pledge of loyalty to God, but rather he declared himself in rebellion and opposition. Therefore, a Muslim must declare that "there is none worthy of worship except Allah" And must believe in all of the Prophets of Allah who taught this message.

Ibn Taimiyyah stated in The Book of Faith:

"One who believes in his heart but does not verbally state his belief is not considered as a believer, neither in this life nor in the Hereafter. Allah has not declared such a person—who simply has knowledge of faith in his heart—to be a believer in the Message [of Allah]. He is not considered a believer unless he confirms it by his speech.

"Therefore, the outward speech is an essential aspect of Faith, and according to the earlier and later scholars, one will not be saved unless he verbally testifies…he, who does not make the confession of faith although he has the ability to do so, is a disbeliever. He is a disbeliever both inwardly and outwardly." (Kitab al-Iman)

"The Importance of Deeds"

Belief in the heart results in good works. How could it be that a person would say he believes in the heart but never does good works? The great scholar Ibn Taimiyyah said:

"And that is because Faith's root is what is in the heart and the outer deeds are inevitable due to that. It is inconceivable that there would exist Faith in the heart yet there are no [good] works from the limbs [as a consequence] . Rather, when the outer deeds diminish it is due to the diminishing of the belief which is in the heart… Since works are correlated to the heart, then surely it is desired that a man is not contented by the heart's belief; rather, the righteous works are definitely with it." (al-Fatâwâ, 7/198)

Islam teaches that there is no dichotomy between belief and works. Rather, belief and works compliment each other and are intertwined. The person who claims to believe—and does not show it with works—is a hypocrite.

If a man loves his wife in his heart, then he will treat her well with his actions. If a man neglects and abuses his wife, then surely he does not truly love her. Love manifests itself in works. If a man loves his wife, then he will do what pleases her. If a man truly loves Allah, he would show it in his obedience to Allah's Commandments. Such a person would know to do good deeds to earn Allah's Pleasure. He would strive through his works to seek the Pleasure of Allah, and that is the Path to Salvation.

Al-Hasan al-Basri, a great scholar of Islam, explained:

"Faith is not by embellishment or wishful thinking, but it is what settles in the heart and is verified through your actions. Whoever says good but does not do good, will have his words compared to his deeds by Allah. Whoever says good and does good will have his words raised by his deeds. This is because Allah (SWA) said:

"To Him (Allah) ascends the good word, and the righteous deed raises it." (Quran 35:10) (Ibn Battah in Al-Ibaanah Al-Kubraa 3/120, and Al-Khateeb Al-Baghdaadi in Iqtidaa' Al-'Ilm Al-'Amal #56.)

True faith means having hope and dependence on Allah's Promise. Almighty Allah says in the Quran:

"So worship Him (Allah) and have total dependence on Him." (Quran 11:123)
And the another verse from the Qur'an Allah (SWA) said:

"Have total dependence on the Living One, Who will never die, and glorify His praises." (Quran 25:85)

There is a difference between true hope in Allah and mere wishful thinking. Ibn al-Qayyim (2/27-28) explained:

"The difference between mere wishful thinking and true hope is that mere wishful thinking involves laziness wherein the person neither exerts himself, nor strives [to achieve what he wishes for]. Hope and trust in Allah, however, entails striving, exertion, and beautiful reliance [on Allah]. The first [mere wishful thinking] is like the one who wishes that the earth would plant and sow its own seeds for him. The second [hope in Allah] is like the one who [actually] tills the soil, plants the seeds and then hopes that crops will grow…Hope is not correct, except if accompanied by action."

Shah al-Kirmani said: "The sign of sound hope is good obedience." (as quoted by Ibn al-Qayyim, 2/27-28)

Ibn al-Qayyim (2/27-28) continued: "And Hope is of three types; two are praiseworthy and one type is blameworthy and mere delusion. The first two are: (1) the hope of a person who does an act of obedience for Allah, upon guidance from Allah, hoping in its reward; (2) someone who commits a sin, then repents from it, hoping for Allah's forgiveness, pardon, kindness, magnanimity, clemency and generosity. (3) The third [type] is like a person who persists in sinning and transgressing the limits, yet hopes for Allah's mercy without doing any action [to warrant it]. This is delusion, mere wishful thinking and false hope."

We must love Allah. But we must not only love Allah with our hearts,but love Allah with our actions. If we pray throughout the night, then this will instill in our hearts the remembrance of Allah; from this, we see that an action (such as prayer) can reinforce our inner belief. On the other hand, sinful actions decrease faith. If a man spends the night in illegal fornication, this will affect his heart and decrease him in faith. Good action fortifies the heart's belief, whereas evil action corrupts the heart.

The truth of the matter is that those who claim to love Allah—yet have no works to prove this—neither have belief in their hearts, nor have conviction in their tongues, nor do their actions reflect anything but the emptiness of their hearts. We find that many people of some faiths make ostentatious claims about their supposed love for Allah, yet they do not back it up with their deeds. A Muslim must recite the Declaration of Faith, or shahadah, as it is known in Arabic. The word literally means "to witness", and it means to be a witness that there is nothing worthy of worship except Allah. Yet, witnessing with one's tongue is an easy matter; it is a much greater sign of belief to witness Allah's Glory with one's body, actions, and even life. This is why the word shaheed (the one who physically gives his life to Allah) comes from the same root as shahadah (Declaration of Faith), because the most excellent way to declare Allah's Glory is with one's actions and not just by one's tongue.

It is a matter of common sense: a son telling his father that he loves him is one thing, but if he offers him his own kidney, then this is a higher level of love. A man may say he loves his country, but it is a higher level for a man to risk his life in the army defending his country. It may sound cliché, but it is a truism that actions speak louder than words. Oftentimes we find that some adherents to certain faiths are busy telling us how much they love Allah. but they do not know that we Muslims are too occupied showing how we love Allah! We show our love to Allah five times a day, when we bow to Him in prayer, and when we adhere to Allah's Commands. Moreover, Muslims are too humble and shy to claim that our love for Allah is so strong that we are promised Paradise! Who is superior: the person who continually boasts his love for Allah, or the one who humbly manifests it in his works, toiling away to please His Lord Most High?

In the Quran, Almighty Allah commanded the Prophet to tell those who claim to love Allah to back it up with their works in obedience:

"Say: If you indeed love Allah, then follow me! Then Allah will love you and forgive you for your sins, for Allahis Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." (Quran 3:31)

This is a challenge from God Almighty, whereby He tells us that if we truly love God, then we should obey God's commandments to prove it. If, however, we defy God's laws, then in reality we do not love God, and this is mere hypocrisy and insincerity.

" The Components of Faith"
Islam teaches that works are a branch of faith. Faith (iman) is not defined as mere inner belief, but rather is the sum of inner belief and works (amal). Thus, Faith and works are not two different entities, but rather one is a part and component of the other. Therefore, the debate about "faith versus works" is irrelevant to the Islamic discourse, since the latter is a part and component of the former. Muslims believe that faith (iman) is comprised of three parts: (1) belief in the heart (i'tiqad), (2) affirmation by the tongue (qawl), and (3) works (amal).

"Belief of the Heart"
Of these three components of faith, belief in the heart is considered the most important. Therefore, even from this angle, it is incorrect to say that Islam emphasizes outward actions over inner belief. Rather, no works are accepted by God if one does not hold correct inner belief, one such as the belief that only God is to be worshipped. Allah says:

"If you associate others with Allah, (then) surely all your works will be rendered vain, and you will certainly be among the losers." (Quran 39:65)

Works are only accepted if correct belief is held. Thus, whenever God Almighty mentions works in the Quran, the word "belief" precedes it, indicative of the Islamic view that belief has more importance in the religion than works:

Allah said: "And those who believed and did good works, they are the inhabitants of Paradise, abiding therein eternally." (Quran 2:82)

"Allah has promised those who believed and did good works, that for them is a tremendous reward (in Paradise)." (Quran 5:9)

"And those who believed and did good works…they are the inhabitants of the Garden (of Paradise), abiding therein eternally." (Quran 7:42)

"Those who believe and do good works, their Lord guides them by their faith. Rivers will flow beneath them in the Gardens of Delight." (Quran 10:9)

"Upon those who believed and did good works shall The Most Gracious [Allah] bestow [His] Love." (Quran 19:96)

"Those who believed and did good works, We shall blot out their transgressions and shall reward them according to the best of that which they used to do." (Quran 29:7)

"And He (Allah) answers those who believe and do good works, and gives them more out of His Grace." (Quran, 42:26)

To explain this concept, Muslim scholars have likened faith to a tree. Belief in the heart is considered the root; it is hidden beneath the surface, not visible to the eye. Yet, the root is what gives the tree a firm foundation, without which there can be no tree. Works then are considered what is apparent above the surface, such as the trunk and branches of the trees. This is one of the reasons why it is improper to debate "faith verses work"; a person may compare one tree to another, but it would be invalid to compare a tree (faith) with its branches (works). However, if we compare belief in the heart to actions of the limbs, then we know that the former is the root or foundation, whereas the latter is the branch; the root or foundation is always more important than a branch. A branch can fall off and the tree still stands or sprout anew, but if one chops the root, then the entire tree falls and ceases to exist.

Belief in the heart is the foundation of the tree of faith, without which it dies. Good works are the trunk and branches of this tree; if there were no branches and only a root, there would in essence be no tree. The more the branches, the more perfect the tree is. Therefore, we say that the base of faith is belief of the heart, but it is incomplete without good works. While a tree is not a tree without its trunk and branches, a tree cannot stand without its foundation or root.

Therefore, the Islamic position is stated thus: faith (iman) is the fundamental and most important pillar of Islam. Faith consists of both the (belief of the) heart and the (actions of the) body. The former is more important than the latter, yet faith ceases to exist if either is absent.

The importance of belief in the heart can be demonstrated by the fact that seemingly good deeds can be negated if belief in the heart is not present. For example, giving money in charity to seek the Pleasure of Allah is a good belief accompanied by a good action, and as such there is a reward from Allah for it. Yet, if one were to donate money in charity in order to boast of one's generosity to the people, then this is a seemingly good action with an evil intent and corrupt inner belief, and as such, this does not at all earn Allah's Good Pleasure. The Prophet Muhammad, may the blessing and mercy of God be upon him, said:

"Actions are judged by their intentions." (Al-Bukhari, Saheeh Muslim)

What is meant by this is that actions of the tongue or the limbs are of no avail if they are not rooted in the belief of the heart.

I hope that i explain this topic very well to all of you my brothers and sisters, and may Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala forgives me if ever i do mistakes through typing this topic, may also Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala grants me and my fellow muslims good iman and make our faith in Allah stays in our heart till the time of death will come to us... Aameen.. Jazakallahul khair wa barakalallahu feek... wa' Sallamo Alaykum wa' Rahmatullahi wa' barakatouh.. ..

Cultivating the love of Allah SWT

A heart filled with the love of Allah is a heart that finds peace and tranquility. Allah says: "Indeed, by the remembrance of Allah do the hearts find contentment. " [Sûrah al-Ra`d: 28]

Allah promises those who believe and work righteousness that he will give them a life of goodness. He says: "Whoever works righteousness, man or woman, and has faith, verily to him we will give him a life that is good and pure." [Sûrah al-Nahl: 97]

This life which is good and pure is by way of the radiance of one's spirit, the coolness of one's eyes, and the happiness of one's heart towards Allah. Religion faith provides solace to the soul's pain. It is the physician that cures our tears and our emotional wounds.

From our love for Allah stems our love for His Messengers, His Prophets, and His angels, Our love for Allah makes us love His righteous servants among our fellows. We want to be with those who love Him, associate with them, and adopt their good ways and manners.

From our love for Allah stems a desire to exhibit goodness to all of Creation. This desire manifests itself in our good words, our good deeds, our supplications, and our help. This in itself is a reason for happiness and contentment. Those who go forth to help others and fulfill their needs are the people with the most happiness and fulfillment in their lives.

The love for Allah comes by way of keeping His Book as a dear companion – by reading it, contemplating its meanings, and acting upon its teachings. Such companionship of the Qur'ân means that the reader is always with it. Whenever he completes one chapter, he moves on to another. He never finishes reading the Qur'ân except with the intention of starting again.

A person's love for Allah is expressed through his love for prayer, since this is the way the soul can travel to its Lord. It brings rest to the spirit. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said to Bilâl: "Call the prayer, so that we may find rest in it." [Sunan Abî Dâwûd (4985)]

Prayer safeguards us from sin and wrongdoing. Allah says: "Establish prayer, for prayer restrains from shameful and false deeds." [Sûrah al-`Ankabût: 45]

We show our love to Allah by constantly seeking His forgiveness and by constantly striving to draw nearer to Him. A Muslim never despairs of Allah's mercy and he never see his sins to be greater than Allah's forgiveness. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins.

Allah says: "No one despairs of Allah's mercy except those who have no faith." [Sûrah Yûsuf: 87]

Allah says: "And who despairs of the mercy of Allah except those who are astray?" [Sûrah al-Hijr: 56]

Our penitence includes our repeatedly seeking Allah's forgiveness with the prescribed wording for doing so while keeping the meaning of what we are saying clear in our minds. We must recognize and acknowledge our shortcomings before Allah. We should feel acutely how much we need Him and how much we must rely on Him at every moment of our lives.

We show our love for Allah by being aware of the numerous blessings He has bestowed upon us, despite all our sins and shortcomings.

A worshipper of Allah should never forget supplication. It is a door that is always open and never closed. Allah says: "Call upon Me. I will answer you." [Sûrah Ghâfir: 60]

Allah says: "If My servants asks you about Me, for indeed I am near. I answer the supplication of the supplicant when he calls upon Me." [Surah al-Baqarah: 186]

We must beseech our Lord in humility at every possible occasion and express our need of Him. Our hearts should be tied to Allah. We should wake up and pray to Him during the last third of the night, which is a special and most precious time for our worship. We should beseech Allah during the last hour of the afternoon on Friday and between the two calls of every prayer.

We should be careful that all of our sustenance is lawful and good. We should uphold our ties of kinship and honor our parents. We should respect the honor and wealth of our fellow human beings and never transgress against them.

We should receive in our hearts the glad assurance of the good that is bestowed by the One who when He wills something, just says "Be!" and it is.

How perfect You are O Allah, and I praise You. I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped except You. I seek Your forgiveness and turn to You in repentance.

'Our Lord, give us good in this world, and good in the hereafter, and safeguard us from the punishment of the Fire.' (Qur'an, 2:200-201) (Aameen)

May Allah bless our Beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAW), and His family, and His companions,and all those who follow Him in truth. (Aameen)

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The Importance of Salat
Author : Shariffa Carlo

When I was researching this, I was surprised to see how few sources we have which encourage salat and so many that instruct. Especially in light of the fact that so many of our brothers and sisters have abandoned the salat --- May Allah guide us all.
Some of the greatest blessings imaginable are so simple yet we try so hard to make them so unattainable. Great rewards are the blessings that Allah has given us for various acts that we perform. The greatest of them all is the salat. Allah has enjoined on us five prayers a day. Simple, efficient, and packed with benefit, this small amount of time that we spend in remembrance of Allah, speaking to Him, seeking from Him, gaining from Him...this short time that we give to Him from the multitude of time He has given us is so tiny, yet so power-packed.

Imagine the honor Allah has bestowed upon us by actually providing us with a time and a place for a private audience with Him. When we pray, we are actually talking to Allah who is listening to us and will, if we are sincere and humble in our supplications, grant us what we ask. Narrated Anas bin Malik: The Prophet said, "A faithful believer while in prayer is speaking in private to his Lord..." Sahih Buykhari: Volume 1, Book 8, Number 405:

Just the blessing and honor we get from reciting the Fatiha in our salat should be sufficient incentive for us, but the unfortunate truth is that it is not.

Narrated AbuHurayrah: The Apostle (peace_be_upon_ him) said: If anyone observes prayer in which he does not recite Umm al-Qur'an, it is deficient (he said this three times) and incomplete. It was said to AbuHurayrah: At times we are behind the Imam. He said: Recite it inwardly, for he had heard the Messenger of Allah (peace_be_upon_ him) declare that Allah the Exalted had said: I have divided the prayer into two halves between Me and My servant, and My servant will receive what he asks for. When the servant says: Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the universe, Allah the Most High says: My servant has praised Me. And when he (the servant) says: The Most Compassionate, the Merciful, Allah the Most High says: My servant has lauded Me. When he (the servant) says: Master of the Day of Judgment, He remarks: My servant has glorified Me, and sometimes He will say: My servant entrusted (his affairs) to Me. When he (the worshipper) says: Thee do we worship and of Thee do we ask help, He (Allah) says: This is between Me and My servant, and My servant will receive what he asks for. Then, when he (the worshipper) says: Guide us to the straight path, the path of those to whom Thou hast been Gracious--not of those who have incurred Thy displeasure, nor of those who have gone astray, He (Allah) says: This is for My servant, and My servant will receive what he asks for. Sahih Muslim: Book 4, Number 0775.

The immensity of this honor is mind-boggling if we really think about it in its reality. Reciting Quraan, the Words of Allah -- Speaking directly to Allah! Think about it in worldly terms. May of us are awe - struck by even the lowest of creatures on this earth. Some of us would literally be left speechless if we were to have an opportunity to meet with one of these kafir singers or some King or President, but we take our audience with Allah so casually that we sometimes have the audacity to blow it off. We don't even show up. Allah guide us!!!! Even though, Allah has promised us to accept the sincere prayers and to reward them :

Allah says:

And when My servants ask you concerning Me, then surely I am very near; I answer the prayer of the suppliant when he calls on Me, so they should answer My call and believe in Me that they may walk in the right way. 2:186

And:

Those who believe, and do deeds of righteousness, and establish regular prayers and regular charity, will have their reward with their Lord: on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve. 2:277

And:

But the firm in knowledge among them and the believers believe in what has been revealed to. you and what was revealed before you, and those who keep up prayers and those who give the poor-rate and the believers in Allah and the last day, these it is whom We will give a mighty reward. 004.162

Allah does not need us. We need Him. We must call upon Him to achieve in this life and the next. He is our Creator and our Master. Our Rabb (Lord) and our Malik (King). He is the one who deserves all the awe, fear, love, respect and reverence, but in our petty life-mindedness, we forget this or ignore it or, Allah forbid, disbelieve in it.

Allah says:

O you who believe! whoever from among you turns back from his religion, then Allah will bring a people, He shall love them and they shall love Him, lowly before the believers, mighty against the unbelievers, they shall strive hard in Allah's way and shall not fear the censure of any censurer; this is Allah's Face, He gives it to whom He pleases, and Allah is Ample-giving, Knowing. Your (real) friends are (no less than) Allah, His Messenger, and the (fellowship of) believers,- those who establish regular prayers and regular charity, and they bow down humbly (in worship). 5:54-55

Does nothing affect us anymore or even faze us? Are our hearts and souls sealed so tightly? We must recognize the power and importance of the prayers. We must establish them, and we must seek the blessings which accompany them. Otherwise, we are beyond lost.

Yet, instead of doing this, we are consistently calling upon that which has no true power to help us or hurt us. We give our awe and our respect to the Kings of the earth and devalue the King of the Worlds. How many of us -- out of fear or shame --- will remove our coverings or our beards because we fear losing an employment opportunity or fear jail? Too many of us have done it already.

I have seen brothers and sisters leave their salat -- waiting till they arrive at their home -- after the prayer times have elapsed --- because they were at work or at school and/or they either did not want to be seen in public doing this thing or were afraid of their boss or their teacher's reaction or --- the silliest yet -- because the available locations were not up to their comfort standards. Ya Allah! How far has the Muslim fallen that we had a prophet who prostrated in the mud but his followers can not prostrate on cement or concrete instead of nice cushy carpet or sweet grass?

When will we remember and adhere to the words of Allah?

Say: Shall we call on that besides Allah, which does not benefit us nor harm us, and shall we be returned back on our heels after Allah has guided us, like him whom the Shaitans have made to fall down perplexed in the earth? He has companions who call him to the right way, (saying): Come to us. Say: Surely the guidance of Allah, that is the (true) guidance, and we are commanded that we should submit to the Lord of the worlds. And to establish worship and be dutiful to Him, and He it is unto Whom ye will be gathered. 6:71-72

and

Every soul will taste of death. And ye will be paid on the Day of Resurrection only that which ye have fairly earned. Whoso is removed from the Fire and is made to enter paradise, he indeed is triumphant. The life of this world is but comfort of illusion. 3:185.

Brothers and sisters, I beg you, for your own soul's sakes. Let us stop fearing social reactions. Let us stop following the ways of Shaytan. Let us stop worrying about our own comforts. Let us stop worshipping these things with our actions or inaction and let us return to worshipping, fearing and loving Allah.

Allah has made it so easy for us to worship Him. If you can't do it standing, sit. If you can't do it sitting, lie down. If you can't move your trunk, move your head. If you can't move your head, move your eyes. If you can't move even your eyes, at least move your heart!

I challenge anyone to find one other activity so blessed by Allah or man. Can you go to your employer for one hour a day and reap as much reward? Can you be a student for an hour a day and get such reward? What activity can you do that will give you so much for so little, and if this is not enough, to make it even easier, this hour --- this insignificant morsel of time --- is divided up into five periods over twenty-four hours. Subhana Allah! Allah is truly the Most Generous, the Most Merciful, the Most Beneficent!

You want more easy blessings? What about this?

A man questioned his companions, "If there was a river at the door of anyone of you, and he took a bath in it five times a day would you notice any dirt on him?" They said, "Not a trace of dirt would be left. That is the example of the five prayers with which Allah blots out (annuls) evil deeds." This was narrated from our beloved Prophet by Abu Huraira: Sahih Bukhari: Volume 1, Book 10, Number 506:

and:

Narrated Uthman ibn Affan: I heard Allah's Apostle (peace_be_upon_ him) say: When the time for a prescribed prayer comes, if any Muslim performs ablution well and offers his prayer) with humility and bowing, it will be an expiation for his past sins, so long as he has not committed a major sin; and this applies to for all times. Sahih Muslim: Book 2, Number 0441:

What a blessing! Something so simple -- praying --- blots out every single one of the minor sins committed till we are as clean from our sins as a man who bathes five times a day is clean from the dirt. What more can we ask for? What greater ease is there in gaining the pleasure of Allah? Allah has commanded us to pray. The fear of burning forever in the hellfire should be enough to motivate us to perform this duty, but Allah, in His infinite Mercy and Justice has given us both the carrot and the stick. Don't pray, and He will punish you. Pray, and the blessings you get are beyond description: Paradise everlasting. Subhana Allah! One spot in paradise is worth all of this world and everything in it!!!!

Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, "A place in Paradise as small as a bow is better than all that on which the sun rises and sets (i.e. all the world)." He also said, "A single endeavor in Allah's Cause in the afternoon or in the forenoon is better than all that on which the sun rises and sets." Sahih Bukhari: Volume 4, Book 52, Number 51.

Why so great a punishment and so great a reward? Because Allah created us for one purpose alone, to worship Him. Allah says,

I created the jinn and man only that they might worship Me. 51:56

We are here only to worship Allah, not to get that perfect job, that house, that car, that man, that woman, that degree, that (fill in your own blank). We are the slaves of Allah. As such, we need to show our gratitude for the blessings He has bestowed on us. Can you see? Can you walk? Can you hear? Can you speak? Can you love? Can you work? Can you study? Can you feel? Choose a blessing, and show the proper gratitude. For the doctor who removes our appendix in the nick of time, we shower him with thanks. For the teacher who gave us the recommendation that got us into college, we are eternally grateful, but to Allah who gave us everything we have, we can not find the hour a day to thank Him? Where are our priorities?

Don't get me wrong. Gratitude to the one who helps is part of the Islamic character: The prophet said "Those who are not grateful to the people are not grateful to Allah" (sahih) We have to be grateful to those who help us, but we can never forget that the greatest gratitude belongs to Allah. It is His right upon us!

Narrated Mu'adh: I was a companion rider of the Prophet on a donkey called 'Ufair. The Prophet asked, "O Mu'adh! Do you know what Allah's right on His slaves is, and what the right of His slaves on Him is?" I replied, "Allah and His Apostle know better." He said, "Allah's right on His slaves is that they should worship Him (Alone) and should not worship any besides Him. And slave's right on Allah is that He should not punish him who worships none besides Him." I said, "O Allah's Apostle! Should I not inform the people of this good news?" He said, "Do not inform them of it, lest they should depend on it (absolutely) ." Sahih Bukhari: Volume 4, Book 52, Number 108.

If all this, Paradise everlasting, is not enough, as a prize for our gratitude and our seeking of His pleasure, Allah has promised us the greatest of gifts: the more we attempt to reach Allah's Pleasure, the closer He will come to us.

Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, "Allah says: 'I am just as My slave thinks I am, (i.e. I am able to do for him what he thinks I can do for him) and I am with him if He remembers Me. If he remembers Me in himself, I too, remember him in Myself; and if he remembers Me in a group of people, I remember him in a group that is better than they; and if he comes one span nearer to Me, I go one cubit nearer to him; and if he comes one cubit nearer to Me, I go a distance of two outstretched arms nearer to him; and if he comes to Me walking, I go to him running.' " Sahih Bukhari: Volume 9, Book 93, Number 502.

Allah will come to us if we make even the smallest attempt to come to Him. Allah. Imagine that. Allah -- the Most Supreme, the One who needs us not, the One who Provides and needs no provision, the One who Gives Life and takes Life. Allah!

He will come to us -- all we have to do is draw nearer to Him. Him! Yes, none other than Allah!

Please. Take a second. Reflect on the magnitude of this. Really reflect on it. This is huge! This is the honor of honors. For the one who has no faith, there is no way to instill in him the immense blessing that is found in an audience with Allah. Here we are -- piddly humans, insignificant creatures who deserve neither Allah's forgiveness nor His favors, but rather we deserve His contempt because of all the evil we create. Yet, in spite of our unworthiness, in spite of the fact that we are so low in comparison to Him, Allah has promised to listen to, accept and respond to our prayers. Alhamdulillah rabi al Alamiin. La ilaha ila anta subhanak ini kuntu min adhaleemeen. (None has the right to be worshipped except you. How perfect you are. Verily I was among the wrongdoers).

I can not emphasize this enough. Please! Think about it! Who is Allah?? He is the All Powerful, the All Mighty. Do we deserve such an honor? Do we even consider it an honor anymore? We had companions who were so awestruck by the magnitude of Allah's Mercy in listening to us that when they went to make salat, they almost fainted from the fear and awe at the thought of having an audience with Allah. But today, we have no time to keep our appointment with Allah. The job, the kids, the school, are all too important to neglect, but Allah --- He can wait. Authu billah! I seek refuge in Allah from Allah! May Allah guide those of us who can not find the time for Him. What a great loss they have cursed themselves with. Listen to this with your hearts.

Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, "Angels keep on descending from and ascending to the Heaven in turn, some at night and some by daytime, and all of them assemble together at the time of the Fajr and 'Asr prayers. Then those who have stayed with you over-night, ascent unto Allah Who asks them, and He knows the answer better than they, "How have you left My slaves?" They reply, "We have left them praying as we found them praying." If anyone of you says "Amin" (during the Prayer at the end of the recitation of Surat-al-Faitiha) , and the angels in Heaven say the same, and the two sayings coincide, all his past sins will be forgiven." Sahih Bukhari: Volume 4, Book 54, Number 446.

What will these angels say about us? "We left him/her watching TV, Allah, as we found him/her ?", "We left him/her chatting on the computer, Allah, as we found him/her ?", "We left him/her at his lucrative job, Allah, as we found him/her ?", "We left him/her sleeping, Allah, as we found him/her?", "We left him/her studying, Allah, as we found him/her?" or "We left him/her praying as we found him/her praying?"

You decide how you want your case presented to Allah.

My dear brothers and sisters: Al deenu naseeha (The religion is advice) and advice profits the believers, so I leave you with the following -- the greatest advice ever given, the words of Allah.

Say: "My Lord hath commanded justice; and that ye set your whole selves (to Him) at every time and place of prayer, and call upon Him, making your devotion sincere as in His sight: such as He created you in the beginning, so shall ye return." 7:029

And

Say: "Truly, my prayer and my service of sacrifice, my life and my death, are (all) for Allah, the Cherisher of the Worlds: 6:162