Why Eemaan is Like A Tree.

Eemaan is like a good, strong tree that is firmly rooted in good soil with its branches reaching up into the sky, bearing abundant fruit, producing its fruit for everyone by the grace of its Lord.

Thus eemaan is the tree, its roots are ‘aqeedah which is rooted deeply in the heart, and its trunk, branches and fruits are deeds and actions.

Undoubtedly if the roots are removed or turn rotten or dried up, they will no longer exist. Similarly, eemaan will no longer exist if `aqeedah is taken away. If the trunk or branches are cut off, or some of them are cut off, the tree will weaken and may die altogether, because the presence of branches and leaves are essential to the trees continued existence. Similarly, if deeds are neglected, in part or in whole, thus eemaan will be reduced or destroyed.

Shaykh ‘Umar Sulayman ‘AbdAllah al- Ashqar in ‘Al `Aqeedah fillah’

A Shining Example For Every Father.

`Umar ibn `Abdil `Azeez (rahimahullah) was told a son of his bought a ring for a thousand dirhams, he wrote to him:

“I was told that you bought a ring that cost a thousand dirhams. So when you receive this letter,   sell the ring and fill a thousand stomachs (with food bought) with that money. Then buy a ring for two thousand dirhams that has a core iron and have the following words in scripted on it ‘May Allah grant His Mercy to he who knows the limits of his own self’”

Madarij us Salikin

Thorns That Emerge From Following Desires

“Having patience in restraining oneself from desires is easier than having patience upon what the desire itself entails, because it:

• Either necessitates pain and punishment, or it cuts off a delight that would have been greater than it.

• Or it will waste much of ones time, whose wastage is only a means of sorrow and regret, or it causes a breach in ones honour, such honour whose rise and continuation would have been more beneficial than its defilement.

• Or it causes the loss of wealth, which if it remained would have been better than its loss, or it causes the loss of ones value and authority, such that its having been upheld would have been better than its absense.

• Or it causes one to become deprived of a blessing, a blessing whose having been accomplished and reached would have been more joyful and pleasant than the fulfilment of the desire.

• Or it opens upon you an approach, such that was not found before , or that it brings about distress, and sorrow, and grief, and fear, such that it outweighs the pleasure of the desire itself.

• Or it causes the loss of knowledge, whose remembrance would have been more delightful than to earn the desire.

• Or that you cause and enemy of yours to rejoice at your misfortune – and cause a close friend sorrow,

• Or that you sever from yourself the opening of an imminent blessing, or that you bring about a deficiency – such that you become marked with it – a mark irremovable.

For indeed actions leave behind attributes and characteristics. “

Imam Ibn al-Qayyim in al-Fawaa`id

The Ultimate Weapon.

Don’t ever underestimate du’a. What is the value of du’a? That you are transferring a situation from your power and ability to the power and ability of Allah. You are moving obstacles from yourself to the One who has no obstacles...

Shaykh Abul-Fadl.

New Scholarship for Single, Male Students of Knowledge

As-Salaamu ‘Alaikum wa Rahmatullaahi wa Barakaatuh

***Good news for students of knowledge***

We thank all the students who applied to join our previous scholarship programs. Due to the large number of requests we will now be offering:

25 full scholarships for single male students for 2 years in Alexandria.

Classes will start the 11^th of February 2009 insha’Allah.

The scholarship includes:

· 4 to 5 hours (per day) studying Arabic, Qur’aan and Islamic studies. Classes are 5 days a week (Thursday and Friday off) and will be broken down into:

§ 2.5 hours Arabic Language classes.

§ 1.5 hours to 2.5 hours Qur’aan and Islamic studies (Tafseer, Hadeeth and Tawheed).

Accommodation in single gender flat, 10 minute walk from Qortoba Institute. Two students will share a double room (with separate bed).

Costs

· The scholarship does NOT include any other services paid for by the Institute.

· The student will have to pay Euro 500 as a deposit after his arrival in Alexandria and this will be refunded at the end of his scholarship term (a minimum of two years).

· Islamic and Arabic schools may recommend their outstanding students for this opportunity. Please contact the school to discuss any further special offers that may be available.

· Imaams and directors of masaajid may contact Qortoba about outstanding students who they would recommend for this opportunity.

· Students are required to know a minimum of the Arabic alphabet and / or possess basic reading skills.

· Priority will be given to students from the following countries: Japan, Korea, Eastern Europe, Spain, Portugal, South Africa and all Latin American countries.

· Due to the specific financial situation of students from Latin America, Qortoba will pay 50% of the airfare of students who come from Latin American countries.

Exceptions

· Students from countries other than those listed above who wish to take advantage of this opportunity have to be very active in da’wah and/or seeking Islamic knowledge and they have to provide one letter of recommendation from an imam or shaykh located in the student’s country.

· Married, male students who are active in da’wah may contact Qortoba for information about other scholarship opportunities.

If you are interested, please complete the attached scholarship application in English and send it to the director of Qortoba, Mr. Tarek En-Nawwam (Abu Anas) at: tnawwam@hotmail.com.

You may also download the application at: http://qortoba.net/scholarship_app_muslims1.doc.

Alternatively, you may contact Abu Anas online via Skype (Skype Username: Qortoba16).

Please forward this message to all of your contacts. Baarak Allaahu feekum.

Was-Salaamu ‘Alaykum,
Tarek En-Nawwam (Abu Anas)
Director – Qortoba Institute for Arabic Studies (QIAS)
www.qortoba.net
0020-10-5843-438

Knowledge Alone Does Not Suffice.

Muhammad bin Abi ‘Ali al-Asbahaanee recited:

“Act upon your knowledge and you will profit, O man

Knowledge does not benefit so long as one does not perfect his actions

Knowledge is beauty and Taqwa (Fear) of Allah is its decoration

Those with Taqwa are always preoccupied with their knowledge

The proof of Allah, O possessor of knowledge, is immense

Neither plotting nor scheming concerning it is of any use

Acquire knowledge and perform deeds as much as you can

And do not let vain pastimes and argumentation distract you

Always make it your goal to benefit the people

And beware, beware of fatigue and weariness overtaking you

Admonish your brother with gentleness when he makes a mistake

For knowledge is affectionate with those who are overcome by errors

And if you are amidst a people that have no religious morals

Then command them to do good when they act ignorantly (i.e. sin)

And if they disobey you, then remind them without getting annoyed

And be patient, strive in patience and do not let their actions worry you

For every goat is attached to its two feet

Have patience whether they are oppressive or fair.”

al-Khateeb al-Baghdadi’s ‘Iqtida’ al-’Ilm al-’Amal’

O You Who Are Not Satisfied With Your Sins…

A poet once said:

O you who are not satisfied with your sins in Rajab

So much so that you continued disobedience in Sha’ban

The month of fasting has now come upon you

So do not convert it also to a month of disobedience

Take Care of Your Most Beloved Possession

The words of one of the salaf:

“One of the signs of proper understanding is when a slave takes care of his eemaan,
and pays attention to what decreases it, and knows when it increases and when it decreases,
and recognizes the temptation of Shaytaan when he comes to him.”

(Sharh Nooniyah Ibn al-Qayyim by Ibn ‘Eesa, 2/140).

Description of ‘Ali that Made Mu`awiyah* Weep.

After Ali died , Mu`awiyah bin Abi Sufyan said to Dirar bin Damrah
“Describe ‘Ali to me.”
“Will you not excuse me from answering you,” said Dirar.

“No, describe him,” insisted Mu`awiyah.

“Please excuse me from doing so,” said Dirar.

“I will not,” said Mu`awiyah.

” I will do so, then” said Dirar with a sigh.

“By Allah, he was (far-sighted) and very strong. He spoke with a truthful finality, so that, through him , truth became distinguished from falsehood. He ruled justly, and knowledge gushed forth from him, as did wisdom. He felt an aversion to the world and its (pleasure). He was comfortable with the night and its darkness ( meaning he prayed a lot). By Allah he would cry profusely ( from fear of Allah); long durations would he spend in contemplation, during which time he would converse with his soul. He showed a liking to coarse garments and lower-quality food. By Allah, it was as if – in his humbleness- he was one of us: when we asked him a question, he would answer us; when we would go to him, he would initiate (the salam); and when we would invite him (to our homes), he would come to us . Yet, in spite of his closeness to us, we would not speak (freely) with him, because of the dignity and honor that he exuded if he smiled, he revealed the likes of straight and regular pearls(his teeth). He honored religious people and loved the poor. The strong person could not hope to gain favors from him through falsehood. And the weak person never lost hope of his justness. I swear, by Allah, that on certain occasions, I saw him in his place of prayer when the night was dark and few stars could be seen; he would be holding his beard and crying the way a very sad person cries; and I would hear him saying,

“O world, O world, are you offering yourself to me? Do you desire me? Never! Never! Deceive someone other than me, I have divorced you for the third time, so that you cannot return to me (metaphorically, of course; he is alluding to the fact that, in islam, the third divorce is final) your life is short, the existence you offer is base, and your danger is great. Alas for the scarcity of sustenance (good deeds), the great distance of the journey, and the loneliness of the road!”

Upon hearing this description, Mu`awiyah’s eyes swelled with tears, and not being able to hold them from gushing forth, he was forced to wipe them with his cuffs; and the same can be said for those who were present. Mu`awiyah then said, “May Allah have mercy on the father of Al-Hasan, for he was, by Allah, just as you described him to be. “

He then said, “O Dirar, describe your sadness at having lost him.”

“My sadness” began Dirar “is like the sadness of a woman who cannot control her tears or allay her grief after her child , while in her lap, has just been slaughtered.”

Dirar then stood up and left.

Sifatus-Safwah 1/66

* May Allah be pleased with them both.

‘O People, Prepare for Departure!’

Habib al-’Abid reports: Once, when I arrived in al-Basrah, I was surprised to see that the markets were closed, and the streets empty.

I called out, “O people of Basrah, is this some kind of holiday of yours that I am unaware of?”

Someone answered, “No, but al-Hasan al-Basri is in the main gathering place (of basrah), giving a khutbah to the people.”

I hurried to his gathering , and when I arrived there, I saw him sitting down on some high ground .

He was saying:

“O people, prepare for departure, for very little time remains from this world.

Prepare to move (to the akhirah), for there is no way to stay here.

Do you not know that you will soon be surrendered to the place of trial?

Do you not know that each one of you will soon be alone with his deeds and that you will be presented (with your deeds) to Allah on the day of judgment?

He forbade you from sinning, but you have not stopped sinning.

He (threatened) you with the hell-fire, but you are neither afraid nor terrified of it.

He has encouraged you to seek our Jannah, but you do not (seem to) desire it or long for it.

Your white hairs are warning you of approaching death, so what are you waiting for?

O white-haired one, you are able to perform good deeds , so what is your excuse.

O one who obeys his mouth and his desires, who wastes his share of the akhirah by taking his entire share in this world, who persists in committing sins and evil deeds , if only I knew : what your excuse will be before him?

What argument will you put forth when you go to him? You are lost and misguided, so ask Allah, the All-Mighty, to forgive both me and you.”

(al-Mawa’idh wal-Majalis’ , pg 181)