12 Tips to bring your Friends Closer to Allah

12 Tips to bring your Friends Closer to Allah

By Dar-ul-Muslimeen

Why should you, a young Muslim, be helping to bring your friends closer to Allah? After all, you've got your own struggles to deal with: trying to explain to hostile teachers why you pray, Hijab discrimination, standing up in class when the professor attacks Islam, dealing with parents who think you've gone nuts because you're growing a beard, or all the other difficulties faced by a number of practicing Muslim youth?
Islam was never meant to be an individualistic faith, reserved for the "chosen few". Muslims have a duty to spread the Deen; and practicing Muslim youth, whether beginners, activists or leaders, have a crucial role to play.

"Allah has put them in a position that perhaps no one else is in," notes Sheema Khan, former Muslim Youth of North America (MYNA) advisor for eastern Canada. "They have the means to communicate with their peers, they have an understanding of what they're going through plus they have the guidance of Islam."

Who is your childhood friend going to listen to? Who is your childhood friend, who would rather spend Fridays at McDonalds's than the Masjid, or your classmate who is Muslim in name and only knows that "Muslims don't eat pork" going to listen to: the nice Imam of the Masjid who would freak out if he saw the way they were dressed and talked or you who may have grown up with them, joked with them, or see them everyday in school?

The answer is obvious: You.

Don't panic. Here are some tips and advice which can help. These are advises from other Muslims, many of whom have been there and done that:

Tip # 1 : Make Your Intention Sincere

All work we do should ideally be for the sake of Allah. That includes the task of bringing someone closer to Allah. That of course means this should not be connected to arrogance, thinking you're the teacher and everyone else should be lucky you've embarked on a crusade to save them. Guidance is from Allah. Make Dua and make sincere efforts and remember Allah.

Tip # 2 : Practice What You Preach

Not practicing what you preach is wrong and you will lose the confidence of anyone, young or old, once they figure you out. Don't do it.

Tip # 3 : Use The Qur'an, Seerah of the Prophet and Ahlulbait (peace be upon them)

As TABLIGH Guides Read and understand those chapters of the Qur'an which talk about how the Prophets presented the message of Islam to their people.

Read the Seerah to see especially how the Prophet Muhammad and Ahlulbait peace and blessings be upon them) brought Islam to so many different people, including young people.

As well, talk to Tabligh workers, and check out manuals they may have
written, like Yahiya Emerick's How to Tell Others About Islam.

Tip # 4 : Talk To People As If You Really Don't Know Them

Don't assume you know someone just by looking at them. You don't know that the Muslim girl in your homeroom who walks through the school's hallways as if they were fashion show catwalks, is not someone you can talk to about Allah because she looks like a snob. Or that the Muslim guy who you've never seen at Juma at your university is a "bad Muslim". Maybe he was never really taught Islam and has no idea what importance Friday prayers have in Islam, especially for Muslim men.

Tip # 5 : Smile

Did you know the Prophet was big on smiling? But many "practicing" Muslims seem to have "their faces on upside down" as one speaker once said-frowning and serious. Smiling, being polite and kind are all part of the manners of the Prophet, which we must exercise in our daily lives. If we want to approach others with Islam, we have to make ourselves approachable. Smiling is key to this.

But note that being approachable does not mean being flirtations with the other gender. There are Islamic rules for how men and women should deal with each other which have to be respected. Tabligh is no excuse to have long and private conversations and meetings with the other sex, for example. Set up a system where someone expressing an interest in Islam is referred to someone of the same sex.

Tip # 6 : Take The Initiative & Hang Out With Them

Take the first step and invite someone you may have spoken to a couple of times to sit at lunch together, to check out a hockey game or invite them over for Iftaar in Ramadan.

Also, share difficulties, sorrows and frustrations. Help with homework, be a shoulder to cry on when depression hits, or just plain listen when your friend is upset, discuss common problems and KEEP THEIR SECRETS. There are few things as annoying as a snitch and backstabber. But an important note: if the problem is of a serious nature, (i.e. your friend is thinking of committing suicide or is taking drugs), notify and consult an adult immediately.

Tip # 7 : Show Them Islam Is Relevant Today, Right Here, Right Now

Young people may think Islam is too "old fashioned" and not in tune with the modern age.

Prove this wrong. Show how Islam is really about relating to Allah, which any human being can do, anywhere, anytime. Allah is always closer to you than your jugular vein and He hears and knows everything. Encourage friends to ask Allah's help during tests, exams, and in dealing with problems at home with parents and siblings. Also point out how Islam relates to teenagers: Islam gives you focus and an understanding of who you are and where you are going, which most of "teen culture" does not.

Tip # 8 : Get Them Involved In Volunteer Work With You

If you are already involved in the community, get your friend to help out. Ask them to make a flyer for one of your youth group's events or brainstorm for ideas about activities to hold this school year. This involvement makes them feel part of the Muslim community and deepens your friendship, since you are now working together on something beneficial for both of you. Make sure you thank them for their contribution.

Tip # 9 : Ask Them 4 Fundamental Questions

As your friendship develops, you will notice the topics you discuss may become more serious. You may be discussing, for instance, future goals and plans. Khan recommends four questions to ask that can steer the topic to Allah and Islam:

a. Where am I going in life and what would make me really happy deep down inside?
b. What do I believe?
c. Who should I be grateful to?
d. Did I get to where I am today without the help of anyone?

Tip # 10 : Emphasize Praying 5 Times A Day Before Any Other Aspect Of Islam

A person's main connection with Allah, on a daily basis, is through the prayer five times a day. Don't emphasize any other aspect of Islam until your friend starts making a real effort to pray five times a day. Emphasize the direct connection one has with Allah in prayer. If they are facing a problem, tell them to pray, and to ask Allah for help in Salah and outside this time. When possible, make it a point to pray together during your "hang out time". If your friend begins to pray, that is the first step to other aspects of Islam like giving up swearing, treating parents with respect or dressing Islamically.

Tip # 11 : Help Instill Confidence In Adults

Adults, like Bart Simpson's dad Homer, are considered bumbling idiots in the eyes of "teen culture". Your job as a young Muslim is to help turn the tables on this false and un-Islamic belief. All you have to do is this: when a Muslim adult does something good (i.e. saving someone's life, donating money to a worthy cause, the Imam gives a good speech, taking good care of his/her family) bring it up in the course of your conversations with your friend and praise the adult in question. Doing this regularly may not only change your friend's perspective, but could lead to them seeing their own parents in a more respectful way.

Tip # 12 : Support Them Even When They Become More Practicing

Remember, just because a person starts practicing Islam more regularly, this does not mean everything will be okay from this point onwards. There will still be hard times, difficulties. There may be times when your friend may have doubts about his or her newfound practice of Islam. Be there to reassure them.

How can I be a Confident Muslim?

How can I be a Confident Muslim?

Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) says;


Sahih Al Bukhari Volume 1, Book 4 [ablutions/wudu], Number 241: Narrated 'Abdullah bin Mas'ud:
Once the Prophet was offering prayers at the Ka'ba. Abu Jahl was sitting with some of his companions. One of them said to the others, "Who amongst you will bring the abdominal contents (intestines, etc.) of a camel of Bani so and so and put it on the back of Muhammad, when he prostrates?" The most unfortunate of them got up and brought it. He waited till the Prophet prostrated and then placed it on his back between his shoulders. I was watching but could not do any thing. I wish I had some people with me to hold out against them.

They started laughing and falling on one another. Allah's Apostle was in prostration and he did not lift his head up till Fatima (Prophet's daughter - who was only a young girl at that time) came and threw that (camel's abdominal contents) away from his back.

He raised his head and said thrice, "O Allah! Punish Quraish." So it was hard for Abu Jahl and his companions when the Prophet invoked Allah against them as they had a conviction that the prayers and invocations were accepted in this city (Mecca). The Prophet said, "O Allah! Punish Abu Jahl, 'Utba bin Rabi'a, Shaiba bin Rabi'a, Al-Walid bin 'Utba, Umaiya bin Khalaf, and 'Uqba bin Al Mu'it (and he mentioned the seventh whose name I cannot recall). By Allah in Whose Hands my life is, I saw the dead bodies of those persons who were counted by Allah's Apostle in the Qalib (one of the wells) of Badr.

Some years later...

Sahih Muslim Book 019 [jhd], Number 4434:

It has been narrated on the authority of Anas b. Malik that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said (after the encounter at Badr): Who will ascertain for us what has happened to Abu Jahl?

Ibn Mas'ud went (to gather this information). He found that the two sons of 'Afra' had struck him and he lay cold at the point of death. He (Abdullah ibn Mas'ud) caught him (Abu Jahl) by his beard and said: Art thou Abu Jahl? He said: is there anybody superior to the person you have killed, or (he said) his people have killed him.

Ibn Mas'ud says that, according to Abu Mijlaz, Abu Jahl said: Alas! a person other than a farmer would have killed me.
The tables have turned, and Allah has honoured Abdullah ibn Mas'ud, and He has humiliated Abu Jahl. So we see that Abdullah ibn Mas'ud cuts off Abu Jahls head, and drags it to Allah's Messenger [as mentioned in Fath al-Bari’ (7/342-354), and ‘Sharh Sahih Muslim’ (12/159-160)]. Every Muslim prays for Abdullah ibn Mas'ud, and every Muslim curses Abu Jahl, while the rest of mankind remains silent.


See how Abdullah ibn Mas'ud held Abu Jahl by the beard? That's what you want to achieve by the end of this article.
“So do not weaken and do not grieve, and you will be superior if you are [true] believers.” [Quran 3: 139]


Your confidence comes through Islam

Without Islam, you try to fit in with those around you. You need to please them in order to gain self confidence about yourself. This is the only way you're acceptable to them. So you see the shy guy with alot of money buying an expensive car to hang out with the bad boys - while knowing that they're only using him, or the girl who will only hang out with the pretty girls to gain the same rep, while knowing she'll be sworn at behind her back. Or the innocent person who tries to avoid the fame, but Allah has given him a blessing - yet others still envy that.

But know this; no matter how hard you try to impress, you need something firm you can hold onto, to remain strong in life. This thing which you hold onto needs to be superior, that you don't find any weakness, infact - it makes you so strong that you can share it with someone so they are convinced by what is conveyed to them. This further strengthens your belief, enhancing your confidence to an even higher level of certainty. That is your Islam.


Don't you see that being shy about your Islam infront of the people makes you humiliated infront of them, so they control you while you look on? Yet when the companions of Allah's Messenger looked at the world - they controlled it, even though they were less in number, and lesser in worldly posessions than those who they shared their Islam to. This confidence and trust in Allah is what made them open the world to their call.

The whole reason we as Muslims are humiliated today is because we don't take pride in our Islam - so we see the modernists and disbelievers trying to change our religion for us, and the ones who do take pride in it more than anything else - they are the most influential people you will come across, so you see the bearded brother with strong eman and the niqaabi sister giving amazing dawah to the non muslims, and amazing them with their manners, logic and call.




So how can we gain this confidence?

We'll go over a few spiritual, mental and practical steps insha Allah to see what we can do to be more confident about ourselves as Muslims.

I myself was a shy person before, until I came across a fair understanding of Islam. This made me confident about my Islamic self, more than if i was to live a life without Islam, even within the west.


So let's look at the issues required which will make you superior;


Knowing Allah, and pondering over the Qur'an and Ahadith which discuss Allah and His Perfect Attributes. - By knowing Allah, you will be confident and strive to build a firm relationship with Him, because you know that Allah controls ALL things, while being aware of all that's going on. So you, and those around you are under Allah's control, and if you were to ask Him of something, then how special you really are. Out of a hundred people, you are the blessed one to make a prayer to Him, so He responds to it. While everyone else in their ignorance is unaware of how secure, and safe you really are while they carry on running like lost sheep - trying to find a owner, when the real Provider is only a prayer away.



Mental Strength

Eman requires faith, and faith requires mental focus. Mental focus can make you so strong, and its fact that Mental focus makes you powerful.
There's some chinese people who would walk on ice cold mountains, but prepare themselves mentally before doing it. So when they'd go there, they wouldn't even shiver. They mentally told themselves they're warm, so their body accepted that as fact.

What is our main aim in this life? To get closer to Allah. So your main aim in life is to find any means which will make you survive in this cold world, while reaching your target or focus - Allah.

The journey of islam requires preparation; 'ilm (knowledge) and 'amal (actions). But remember, if you're not getting any closer to Allah by doing any of these actions, then question your Islam. This re-checking your faith [throughout your life] can be measured by seeing how much good deeds your achieving, and how much evils your shunning - while having Allah's remembrance, for His pleasure. If your heart feels tranquil, your emotions (especially of love, hope and fear) senses at a high, then that is a good sign. Many forget this purpose after becoming 'religious' (and start delving into sectarian issues etc) - but remember, that is your main purpose in life - to draw closer to Allah, if it's not that - then re-check your Islam.



How does this all relate to Mental Focus? Since the articles about confidence, then you can make yourself extremely powerful.


Let me give u an example;
When I first grew my beard, i was well embarrassed to go and approach people. I'd be shy, because I looked different to how society wanted me to be.


But then my emaan grew, i gained stronger trust in Allah, knowing He controlled the hearts of those people who I felt shy of approaching.

I asked myself, don't I have stronger faith, and even more knowledge about the reality of this world than those people? Then what are you being shy from?
“So do not weaken and do not grieve, and you will be superior if you are [true] believers.” [Quran 3: 139]

As my emaan and knowledge grew, i became more mentally prepared. Don't you see how the weight lifter will only approach the heavy weights where the big boys hang out, once he reaches their level? So mentally, the same applies. So you as a Muslim are encouraged to seek mental, physical, and emotional strength so "you will be superior".

So you see the guy with the beard being the leader of a group of western friends instead of being the one who gets dragged along with them. When he forbids them from doing something bad, they feel embarrassed, due to a noble respect which Allah has placed for him in their sight.



What does age 40 mean to you?

Do you know how much your mental strength affects you? In the UK, when a male reaches the age of 40 [mid life crisis], he is looked down upon because he has reached an age where he feels he's lost his manhood. So he believes this claim, and runs around to buy an expensive fast car - to feel young again.

Compare this now to a cultural rule of the 'Arabs, where once you reach 40 - you have only truly become a man now (balagha ashudda). This is the age where he will be consulted by the elders, and accepted as one of them to make the big decisions which effect his people.


How amazing, both have reached 40, yet one is extremely distressed as if death has overtaken him, while the other one is pleased, as if he's been brought to life. See how mental strength and focus is on your perception of the world, and if you can take control of your own mentality and abilities, while placing your trust in Allah - how can you ever lose?! "You will be superior"!




The Strength of Da'wah

Your Mental strength will increase through Da'wah [calling people to Islam] (but this should be based on knowledge.) This Da'wah makes you patient, and strong because you learn the strength in confrontation, you gain strength from facing people who you don't even know - how will you react if they have more knowledge than you? This is like a mini battlefield, and will make you morementally focused, understanding other peoples psyche, and understanding your own strengths and weaknesses through facing your own reactions.

If you are strong in da'wah, you will gain a level of confidence insha Allah which will make you lose fear of confronting others in real life. Because you're mentally focused enough to handle the experience.


But remember; the Da'wah should be like vaccines. Vaccines are injections which are small doses of an illness, given to people to prevent them from having a virus or illness in the future i.e. the Flu jab. You immunize yourself against attacks [inoculation principle] by knowing how to fight them [attacks/viruses] by getting a small dose, so your body knows how to handle a small virus - causing them to be prepared if a big attack of viruses was to come at them at once.

Dawah keeps you stronger in your identity, so u 1st take many diluted atacks and cures, and gradually this makes you stronger against heavier attacks in the future.
You are the best community that has been raised up for mankind. Ye enjoin right conduct and forbid indecency; and you believe in Allah. [Qur'an 3:110]
Allah bearing witness to you Being the best [when u give dawah] = a Boost in Emaan + Boost in Confidence.





Emotion Control


The believer is always in a state of love, hope and fear of Allah. So when one is imbalanced, he balances it out with the other. Imagine a bird, its head is the love which keeps it alive and going ahead, and the hope is one wing, desiring Allahs mercy and wishing his deeds are accepted, the other wing is fear of Allah's punishment and his deeds might not have been accepted so he strives to do more good.

If he is going to sin or isn't accomplishing an obligatory deed, the fear prevents or forces him, andif he is scared that Allah will never forgive him, then the hope is used to balance the fear. This love, hope and fear has made the most bravest people among mankind achieve the heights of this world, and most importantly of the heights of Jannah [Paradise].

This balance allows the bird to reach its destination of paradise. Without this balance it would fall or stray from the straight path, and deviance from the straight path leads to loss in this life, and hellfire in the next.



Fox nose!

A non practising guy i used to know in the past told me that there was a girl who had put her picture on the internet, so he started laughing at her and calling her names like fox nose etc. He was a total stranger to her, but because of his insults - she got embarrassed and took her picture off the internet. Do you see how she might have thought she's so beautiful, that the world can see her, but just because of the criticism of a stranger - she was forced to hide her picture... Can't you achieve more than that in life? Yes, you can. Because you are Allah's slave, and He has promised that He will aid the believers.
O you who have believed, if you support Allah, He will support you and plant firmly your feet. [Qur'an 47:7]
Planting firmly your feet in any language means you won't slip, or fall, or decide to run away when the real deal happens.


Know that you are from the bravest ummah [nation] since the time of the Adam, so live upto that example.




Loving this life less = Greater Success in both Worlds..

Think about it, the more things you have as your posessions, the more you want to hold onto them. The less you have, the less you've got to worry about. So even if you travelled to a far off land, you wouldn't be worrying about someone stealing from your house back home. You wouldn't be worrying about doing greater good deeds either, because the only thing really holding u back from them is what you own of this world.

Imagine, the less you have - the more changes you can make, and the more u can achieve in life. If you need alot due to necessity, then atleast don't keep your love for them in your heart.
There's a famous saying, that if you placed a piece of gold, and a piece of mud in each hand, the salaf (pious predecessors) wouldn't care about the difference.

It was the same for them. Strive to be like that.


Practical Steps for confidence


Talking

This might seem like common sense, but most of the talkative people we see on the internet are probably the least talkative in real life.


Alot of us talk, and when we say something - we just say whatevers in our mind, and if it was something wrong - we try to correct it.
The Arabic language flows, and to be really good at it - you have to talk it fluently, and to the point accurately - otherwise your stuttering. So guess what the Arabic language calls a non Arab? An 'Ajami.

An 'Ajami literally is someone who stutters, and during the time of Allah's Messenger, if some none Arab came to the Arabs, arabic would be his second language - so he'd be less fluent at it, hence the stuttering, hence the 'Ajami.

But today, alot of us make mistakes in our own language and feel shy to talk to strangers in real life, incase we make mistakes and humiliate ourselves. But remember, its likely that this other person is just as shy as you are.


So here's a simple technique to use, whatever language you use - to talk to people properly. Once you get a mental image of how your conversation should be - you'll know how to begin a conversation...



This is how it goes;

[closed question - which requires a small answer.] I.e. What's your Name?

[he will give a short response]. I.e. Abdullah.


Kool, so how old are you?

20, you?


Same here! My names Muhammad by the way.

I got a brother called that. (more details are opening up!)

Is he older than you, or younger?

Older.

What does he do? Does he work?

Yeh, he's a Doctor.

I probably saw him the other day, i went to drop someone off to the hospital.

Why, what happened to them?


... (now you explain the details which leads to more deeper conversation)


See how if you start off with Short questions, they open the doorway to more Open questionswhich require longer details, finally causing a interesting conversation. It can be used in da'wah, or whatever - because by knowing the small details of what that person believes in, or has knowledge of - you have a basis or foundation which you can use to go into further depth in a conversation.

Knowing how to speak is a confidence booster, so some pyschologists recommend that you actually practise talking to yourself infront of the mirror.


Also; try finding something which you feel you've achieved in your life, writing down all the good qualities which you personally feel have helped you to become something better than others. Write down how you achieved them, and read them to yourself every day or everytime you want to aim higher, and use these methods - which you feel comfortable with - to reach the new targets which you want to aim for. Then ask Allah to make you succeed in that.


If you, or someone keeps telling you something continuously, you'll believe it. This is great if you want to become something which you feel you can't achieve [also known as the Self Fulfilling Prophecy]. So imagine if you want a really high status with Allah (like shahadah) - whenever the remembrance of it comes to your mind - ask Allah for it, and it might just be that its a moment when Allah accepts your prayer.




Knowing Facial Expressions

There's a way of confronting others while still being in your 'safe zone'.

When people talk, they prefer eye contact. If you find it hard to have that eye contact, be brave and look at the nose area which is exactly in between the eyes. This makes your attention directly at this person (they really think you're looking at their eyes!), but at the same time - you're in your safe zone.


We want to expect what we probably unexpected - so to remove the state of anxiety that we face, especially when talking to strangers - here's some good psychological tips and tricks about the human face;

If you see someone thinking while looking up in the air [looking up], their thinking by remembering images (using their photographic memory.)

This is why you see kids looking up when you ask them to remember back on something [more common with children because they prefer images over text.]



If someone is looking down at their bottom left, the person is probably talking to themselves in their mind, so if you're chatting to them - their probably not listening to what you're saying.

This is important to realise in debates because you see that the person isn't really listening to the points you're making, but instead thinking [in their mind] of ways to refute what you just said.


Whenever you go sleep, you'll realise that your eyes (while closed) are always positioned to the bottom right. Try keeping your eyes closed and keeping them to the bottom left and you'll realise that you can't fall asleep comfortably unless you move them back to the bottom right again.


If you see someone pushing their tongue towards the side of their inner cheek(so you see their tongue pressing against their cheek - so their face cheek pops out abit) - it's most likely that this person is trying to hide something like a secret.

Body Movements;

*When someone is interested in what you have to say, they lean towards you.

*If they are not interested, they tend to take a slightly more defensive stance and either put an object in between both members (i.e. their arm) or create a space, i.edistance themselves slightly. Sometimes people might even fold their arms as a sign of defense.

*Humans are at heart conformists [they like to agree with others and follow the majority]. This is both a great strength and a great weakness. So if you have alot of friends who are into Islam, and you encourage someone else to follow you - even if they're not practising, they might just follow along with the majority if you keep telling them to.
These different psychological tips might help you understand who you're talking to better, but don't jump to conclusions - alot of people hate it when you tell them that its fact that they're a certain way - when they know themselves more that they're not. You can just get a basic understanding of how the person might be thinking there and then, but always keep an open mind to different possibilities. I.e. someone might have folded their arms because they're cold, but you might argue that its their dislike of you. That's not always true.



Smile! I always try to mention this in these types of posts, because i know how powerful it really is. I.e. i walk into my room and smile at family, or friends, and they just have the urge to smile back. It's free too! But it makes everyone happy when the day is sad. If you smile at someone, you're showing them that you accept them - so there's no pressure.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said [meaning]: "When you smile to your brother's face, it is charity."

This is an authentic hadîth. It is related in Sunan al-Tirmidhî (1879) and al-Tirmidhî declared it to be good. It is also related in Sahîh Ibn Hibbân (475 & 530) and Musnad al-Bazzâr.



Smiley story..

I read a really nice story on smiling, which is summarised below;
Once a child was walking home from school and came home and smiled at her daddy because she had won a notepad from her teacher.. her dad was getting late to do some shopping but was really pleased to see his daughter smiling - so when he passed through the front door - he was smiling broadly too.. a guy was slowly walking past and was really sad, he saw the huge smile on the dad's face, and got a warm feeling in his heart, so he smiled back softly..

The dad waited for the guy because he used to see him but never actually greeted him in the past - they lived on the same street, but it turned out he was about to commit suicide because his family couldn't afford any proper medicine for his daughter.. the dad pulled out the money for shopping, and gave it to him.

They became friends then, his daughter was saved, and... they all lived happily ever after, just because of a smile.
I know its probably just a story, but it's probably true and real in alot of ways.

Imagine if you smiled at a brother, or a sister at a muslim sister, or even at a non muslim - it might just be that their hearts change or feel comfortable for the better. Sometimes a bro might feel embarrassed with a beard, or a sister in niqab and hijab, but when you smile at them - they gain a confidence boost, which might aid them in encouraging themselves and gradually others to wear Islam in their lives.



Physical Exercise;This is really good because exercise makes you feel good about yourself when endorphines (happy hormones) pass around your body during exercise, whereas no exercise makes you feel ill. This applies equally for sisters, aswell as brothers. The ummah needs to be fit for the times that we see coming up lately throughout the world.




Summary:


Combine your Mental, Emotional, Physical, and the special ingredient of Allah's Trust in your life - and you've got what it takes to be confident.

Now, when i walk outside with my beard - i feel a sense of pride instead of embarrassment. I have an identity, and its an identity which we have pride in, not because we're arrogant people, but because this pride is for a worthy reason, and that reason is because we know Islam is the truth, and if anyone objects to that - then we have the confidence to argue in favour of why it is the truth. This pride makes the Muslim help mankind, and when they see us for the good we do - they don't think that a Paki did it, or an 'Arab or a Somalian, or a British white lad, but a Muslim did it. That's because only a Muslim wears the beard, or the niqaab. And Allah bears witness that the Muslims are on the truth, so He aids us.



So we see that the leaders of this ummah would send letters to the kings boasting so much that Allah will support us;
Ibn Taymiyyah - rahimahullaah- wrote the following letter to the King of Cyprus:

Allah will aid them and give them victory, especially in these times when the Ummah has bolstered its ranks and prepared for the fight ahead. The righteous and the allies of the Most Merciful have become observant in obeying His Commands. The coastal borders are now being manned by stern and strong commanders whose results we have already seen and their ranks are always increasing.

In addition, amongst the ranks of the Muslims are men committed. Their accounts, both new and old, have reached the ears of the kings.

Amongst them are righteous people whose prayers Allah does not refuse nor does He make their demands come to naught. They are such people that if they are angered, Allah gets angry and if they are pleased, Allah is pleased.


http://salaf-stories.blogspot.com/2009/04/our-salaf-writing-to-kings-to-free.html
A King like that would be shivering right now, and the letter is really convincing to even the disbeliever who denies. We don't just have strong men with a reputation who are continuously increasing, but we have the Most Merciful getting angry if they are angry, and pleased if they are pleased...


Believe, Indeed, Allah will surely support those who support Him (His cause).) (Quran Hajj 22:40) - think of the time when Allah answered your prayer, so you were relieved from that moment of danger, there was no way out except through Him, so when your prayer was answered - you felt so happy that you have a Lord who answers prayers. This increased you in your confidence, this increased you in emaan [faith], and if you continuously pray to Allah and keep a good connection with Him - you'll always be the winner!

So Face your Fears - oppose them - force yourself to defeat them to become stronger... A fear is only in the mind, and you can control your mind instead letting it control you.



Rule the World!

Know that Allah has given the human the potential ability of ruling the entire world, so if you feel you can't reach that target - then focus on the potential which you can achieve. Being Muslim isn't about living and then dyeing only, we're supposed to be aiming higher always for the sake of Allah to change the world for the better. Whose supposed to have more fear? The one who knows Who and where he'll return to? Or the one whose in doubt wherever he goes, and limited to and can't think past death? Who can achieve more?

The Muslim can.

Muslims Belief!!

Q1 Who is your Rubb? (the Lord,the Creator etc).

A. My Rubb is Allah Who has created me and all that exists. He nourishes me and all creatures by His Bounties.

Q.2. What is your religion?

A. My religion is Islam, which is submission and obedience to the Order oF Allah and His Messenger with love, hope and fear.

Q.3. How did you know Allah?

I know Him by His signs and creation like the day and night; the sun and the moon; the heaven and the earth, and all that is there in and between them.

Q.4. Where is Allah?

A. Allah is above the heavens raised over the Throne and separated from His creatures.

Q.5. Is Allah with us (in person)?

A. Allah is settled over His Mighty Throne, but He is with us by His Knowledge, hearing ,seeing and other attributes. As He said: "Fear not verily! I am with you both hearing and seeing (V,20. :46)

Q.6. Who are the friends of Allah?

A. Those people are the friends of Allah who are pious and righteous, fear Him much abstain from all kinds of sins and perform all kinds of goods, and holdfast to the Qur`an and Sunnah.

Q. 7. How do you worship Allah?

A. I worship Allah in a manner in which all my ibadah is dedicated to Him Alone. I do not ascribe anyone with Him in worship.

Q-8. Why did Allah send Messengers?

A. Allah has sent Messengers so that they call the people to worship Him Alone, not ascribing any partner with Him, and in order that mankind should have no plea against Allah.

Q-9 What is the meaning of Islam ?

A. Islam means i.e. submission to Allah with Tawhid .

Q-10 What are the pillars of Istam?

A. 1. Testimony of Faith (There is no true God except Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah )

2. To establish Salat (prayers).

3. To pay Zakat.

4. To observe Saum (fasting) in Ramadan.

5. Hajj (pilgrimage to the Sacred House) if one can afford the journey.

Q-11 What is Iman?

A. Iman (Faith) means to believe in the heart, to confess by the tongue and to act with the parts of the body.

Q-12 Can there be any variation in Iman?

A. By some words and deeds it may increase and by some words and deeds it may decrease.

Q-13 What do you mean by increase and decrease in Iman?

A- Iman (Faith) increases by obedience to Allah and good deeds while it decreases by sins and evil acts.

Q-14 What are the pillars of Iman (Faith)

A. The pillars of Iman are six i.e. to believe in:

1. Allah.

2. His Angels.

3. His Messengers.

4. His Books.

5. The Last Day.

6. Divine Preordainments good or bad.

Q-15 What is Belief in Allah?

A. The Belief in Allah is that you should believe that Allah is the Sole Creator Sustainer Provider and the One in Whose Hand is the disposal of all affairs. Everything stands in need of Him, but He stands in need of none. He is the Only One Who is worthy of being worshipped. He has the Best Names and Perfect Attributes.

0-16 Who are the angels?

A. The angels are creatures of light. They are Allah's obedient slaves, they do that which they are commanded and are incapable of disobedience.

Q-17 What do you mean by Belief in the Book and the Messengers?

A. It means that Allah sent the Messengers like Moses, Jesus,Abraham. Noah etc. and sent down the books like the Torah, Injeel, Zaboor (Psalms) etc. to call the people to worship Allah Alone, associating nothing with Him. He sealed (finalized) the Messengers with Prophet Muhammed and abrogated all previous books with the Qur'an. Therefore the worship should be done according to the Qur'an and the Sunnah of the Prophet .

Q-I8 What is meant by Belief in the Last Day?

A. The Belief in the Last Day means to believe that Allah has ordained a fixed term for everything, and a term for this world. He will assuredly raise the dead from their graves and will account for everyone their deeds in this world. On that Day of Resurrection, rewards and punishments will be assigned. Every one will be justly rewarded or punished.

Q-19 What is meant by Belief Preordainment (Qadar)?

A. The Belief in Preordainment (Qadar) means to believe that everything — good or bad — happens or takes place according to what Allah has ordained for it. He has created everything in due proportion.

Q-20 What is the cleaning of "There is no God but Allah"?

A. It means there is no true deity except Allah Alone, Negating all false gods and affirming that Allah is the only true God.

Q-21 What is the meaning of ^Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah"?

A. It means total submission to him in whatever he ordered, and avoiding what he forbade and believing in all those matters he informed us about.

Q-22 What are the conditions of the testimony of Faith?

A. There are seven conditions of the testimony of Faith:

1- Knowledge whick negates ignorance.

2- Certainty which negates doubt.

3- Sincerity and purity of intent which negates Shirk.

4- Truthfulness which negates hypocrisy.

5- Love and devotion which negates disdain of Allah`s religion.

6- Submission which negates disobedince.

7- Acceptance which negates rejection or denial.

Q-23 What is the greatest thing that Allah has enjoined?

A. The greatest thing Allah has enjoined is Tauhid (Monotheism).

Q-24 What is Tauhid (Islamic Monotheism)?

A. Tauhid means declaring Allah to be the only God who deserves to be worshipped in truth and confirming all attributes with which He has qualified Himself or that are attributed to Him by His Messenger .

Q-25 What are the aspects of Tauhid?

A. There are three aspects of Tauhid:

1- Tauhid-ar-Rububiyah.

2- Tauhid-al-Uluhiyah.

3-Tauhid-al-Asma was-Sifat.

Q- 26 What isTauhid-ar-Rububiyah?

A. It is declaring Allah to be One and Unique in His work, Iike creation, sustenance, bringing to life and causing death etc.

Q-27 What is Tauhid-al-Uluhiyah?

A. It is declaring Allah as the Only God to whom all acts worship must be dedicated such salat (prayers), Zakat, Sawm(fasting), supplications vowing etc.

Q-28 What isTauhid-al-Asma was-Sifat?

A. It is an affirmation of all the Divien Names and Attributes of Allah in a manner that

suits His Majesty, as mentioned in the Qur'an and the Sunnah.

Q-29 How would you describe Ibadah?

A. It is a comprehensive word comprising deeds and words that Allah loves and is pleased with whether manifested or hidden,

Q-30 What are the conditions of Ibadah?

A. There are two conditions of Ibadah:

1. Sincerity to Allah.

2. Submission to Allah's Messenger i.e. to act according to his Sunnah.

Q-31 Write some types of Ibadah.

A. Some types of Ibadah are the prayers, the obligatory charity,

fasting, the pilgrimage, fear of Allah, hope in His Mercy, Seeking His aid. and other acts of worship which Allah has commanded and enjoined.

Q-32 What is the greatest thing Allah has forbidden?

A. The greatest thing Allah has forbidden is Shirk (polytheism).

Q-33 What is polytheism?

A. It means to believe that there is one who shares Allah in His acts i.e. ascribing partners or setting up rivals to Allah in His rights.

Q-34 What are the types of polytheism?

A. There are three types of polytheism:

1. The greater polytheism (Shirk Akbar).

2. The lesser polytheism (Shirk Asghar).

3. The inconspicuous polytheism (Shirk Khafi).

Q-35 What is greater polytheism?

A. The greater polytheism is to devote any form of worship to other than Allah Allah will never forgive one who dies upon Shirk,nor accept his good deeds, and he would be cast out from the folds of Islam.

Q-36 What are the types of greater polytheism?

A. There are four types of greater polytheism:

1- The polytheism in invocation i.e. involving supplications to other than Allah.

2. The polytheism in intentions i.e. purpose and intentions not for the sake of Allah but directed towards other deities.

3, The polytheism in obedience i.e. rendering obedience to any authority against the Order of Allah.

4. The polytheism in love i.e showing love to others which is due to Allah Alone.

Q-37 What is lesser polytheism?

A. The lesser polytheism is Ar-Riya, that means the acts of worship done to gain praise or fame rather than to please Allah, this type of polytheism, however, does not cast the person committing it out of the fold of Islam.

Q-38 What is inconspicuous polytheism?

A. The inconspicuous polytheism implies being dissatisfied with the conditions ordained by Allah.

Q-39 What is the proof of the inconspicuous polytheism?

A.The proof of the above Shirk is the saying of the Prophet "The inconspicuous polytheism is more hidden among this nation than the track of a black ant over a black stone on a dark night" (Musnad Ahmad)

Q-40 What are the types of Kufr (disbelief)?

A. There are two types of Kufr :

1. The majorKufr which cast its people out of Islam,

2. The lessor cr minor Kufr which does not cast the one who commits it out of Islam. It is Kufr of ungratefulness.

Q-41 What are the types of major Kufr?

A. There are five types of major Kufr :

1. The Kufr of denial.

2. The Kufr of arrogance associated with recognition of the truth.

3. The Kufr of doubt.

4-. The Kufr of disregard,

5. The Kufr of hypocrisy.

Q-42 What are the categories of hypocrisy ?

A. There are two categories of hypocrisy:

1. Hypocrisy in Belief.

2. Hypocrisy in deeds and actions.

Q-43 What is the hypocrisy in Belief?

A. Hypocrisy in Belief is of six types:

1. Denial of the Messenger .

2. Denial of the thing with which the Messenger is sent.

3. Hating the Messenger

4.Hating the thing with which the Messenger is sent.

5. Rejoicing at the disgrace of Islam.

6. Disliking the prevalence of Islam.

Q-44 What is the hypocrisy in deeds and actions?

A. The hypocrisy in deeds and actions is of five types:

1- When he speaks, he lies.

2- When he promises., he breaks it.

3. When he is entrusted, he betrays.

4. When he disputes, he acts immorally.

5. When he makes a pact, he makes acts treacherously.

Q-45 Are good deeds accepted (by Allah) with the polytheism?

A. Never! None of the deeds are accepted when mixed with polytheism.

Allah says: " If they had joined in worship others with Allah all that they used to do would have been of no benefit to them" (V.6: 88)

"Verily! Allah forgives not setting up partners in worship with Him, but He forgives whom He pleases sins other than that" '(V.4:116)

Q-46 What are the nullifiers of Islam?

A. The nullifiers of Islam are ten:

1. Polytheism of worship.

2. He who does not believe that the polytheists are disbelievers, or doubts their infidelity or holds their belief to be valid.

3. He who sets up intermediaries between one's self and Allah, supplicating them, trusting them and asking them to intercede on his behalf.

4. He who believes that the guidance of others is more perfect than the Prophet .

5. He who hates anything that the Prophet was sent with.

6. He who denies the religion of the Prophet or ridicules its reward or punishment.

7. Sorcery.

8. Supporting the polytheists against the Muslims.

9. He who believes that some people are exempted from abiding by the Shari`ah as Khidr was exempted by the laws of Musa.

10. Turning away from the religion of Allah by neither learning nor applying it.

Q- 47 What are the three fundamentals that every Muslim must learn?

A. The three fundamentals are:

I, Knowing Your Rubb (the Lord, the Creator, the Sustainer, and the One in Whose Hand is the disposal of all affairs).

2. Knowing your religion (Islam).

3. Knowing your Prophet Muhammad

Q-48 What is Taghut?

A. Everything that is worshipped. or followed or obeyed other than Allah is Taghut.

Q-49 How many Taghut are there and who are their leaders?

A. They are many but their leaders are Five:

Q. 50-Who are the leaders of Taghut ?

A. They are:

1. Satan, may Allah curse him,

2. Anyone who is worshipped with his consent.

3. A person who calls the people to be worshipped instead of Allah.

4. A person who claims the knowledge of Ghaib (unseen, hidden, invisible, absent etc).

5.The ruler who rules by laws other than the law sent down by Allah.

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