THE BRIGHT LAMP OF KNOWLEDGE (المصباح المنير)

The Cure for the Hardness of the Heart Shaykh Muhammad ibn Salih al-Uthaymeen, may Allah have mercy upon him, said: Some people have hardness in their hearts, and their hearts are not soft. So you find that they do not have humility, and even if they are afflicted with the greatest calamities—We ask Allah for well-being—their hearts are hardened like stones, or even harder. From the causes of softening the heart is reciting the Noble Qur’an, for it softens the heart—if a person recites it with reflection and deep contemplation—due to the statement of Allah, the Most High: “Had We sent down this Qur’an on a mountain, you would surely have seen it humbling itself and rending asunder by the fear of Allah…” [Al-Hashr: 21]. This is a mountain of solid rock. And Ibn ʿAbd al-Qawī, may Allah have mercy upon him, said in his well-known Dāliyah: “And persist in studying the Qur’an, for indeed it softens a heart that is hardened like solid rock.” And from the causes of softening the heart is reading the prophetic biography of the one upon whom be the best of prayers and peace, for reading the biography has a tremendous effect upon the heart, because a person remembers, as if he is with the Companions, so his heart becomes soft. And from the causes of softening the heart is showing mercy to children and being gentle with them, for that softens the heart and has a profound effect. For this reason, the Prophet ﷺ said: “The merciful are shown mercy by the Most Merciful. Be merciful to those on the earth, and the One above the heaven will have mercy upon you.” And from the causes of softening the heart is listening to admonitions and poems that bring the heart to life. For this reason, you find that when a man hears an impactful poem, his heart becomes humble and his eyes shed tears. And from the causes of softening the heart is the presence of the heart in the prayer, for that is from the causes of humility and softness of the heart. We ask Allah, the Most High, to soften our hearts for His remembrance and to protect us from the hardness of the heart. 📚Fatāwā Nūr ʿalā ad-Darb (12/19–20)

The reason for the distress and grief that comes over you..! Ibn al-Jawzi رحمه الله said: "Whenever you notice a clouding in your state, then remember a blessing you did not give thanks for, or a slip/mistake you committed." ﻣﺘﻰ ﺭﺃﻳﺖ ﺗﻜﺪﻳﺮا ﻓﻲ ﺣﺎﻝ، ﻓﺎﺫﻛﺮ ﻧﻌﻤﺔ ﻣﺎ ﺷﻜﺮﺕ، ﺃﻭ ﺯﻟﺔ ﻗﺪ ﻓﻌﻠﺖ.. [Sayd al-Khatir]

🔹 Narrated Aishah رضي الله عنها: Allah's Messenger ﷺ said: "The Salat of a women who has reached the age of menstruation is not accepted without a Khimar" «لَا تُقْبَلُ صَلَاةُ الْحَائِضِ إِلَّا بِخِمَارٍ» 📖 Reference: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 377 Grade: Sahih (Darussalam)

Is it permissible to celebrate Mawlid al-Nabi (Prophet Muhammad’s birthday)? With regard to celebrating the day on which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was born, it should be noted that he (ﷺ) did not tell us to celebrate this day, and he himself (ﷺ) did not celebrate it, nor did his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them). They loved the Prophet ﷺ far more than we do, yet despite that they did not celebrate this day. Hence we do not celebrate this day, in obedience to the command of Allah Who has commanded us to follow the commands of His Prophet. Allah says: وَمَا ءَاتَاكُمُ الرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَمَا نَهَاكُمْ عَنْهُ فَانْتَهُوا “And whatsoever the Messenger (Muhammad) gives you, take it; and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it).” [al-Hashr 59:7] And the Prophet (ﷺ) said: علَيْكُمْ بِسُنَّتِي وَسُنَّةِ الْخُلَفَاءِ الْمَهْدِيِّينَ الرَّاشِدِينَ تَمَسَّكُوا بِهَا وَعَضُّوا عَلَيْهَا بِالنَّوَاجِذِ وَإِيَّاكُمْ وَمُحْدَثَاتِ الأُمُورِ فَإِنَّ كُلَّ مُحْدَثَةٍ بِدْعَةٌ وَكُلَّ بِدْعَةٍ ضَلالَة “I urge you to adhere to my Sunnah [way] and the way of the Rightly-Guided khalifas. Adhere to it and cling tightly to it. And beware of newly-invented matters [in religion], for every newly-invented matter is an innovation and every innovation is a going-astray.” رواه أبو داود (السنة/3991)، وصححه الألباني في " صحيح أبي داود " برقم (3851) The extent to which a person loves the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) is to be seen in how he follows him with regard to all that he commanded or forbade.

"Intentions Are Not Yours to Judge" The Prophet ﷺ said: "Actions are judged by intentions, and every person will get the reward according to what they intended." (Bukhari, Muslim) Pause. Not by outcome. Not by how it was received. Not by how someone else interpreted it. By what was in the heart when it was done. This hadith is one of the most repeated — and one of the least applied. Because it's easy to recite when we're explaining our own actions. It's much harder to extend to someone else's. Allah says: "O you who believe, avoid much suspicion. Indeed, some suspicion is sin." (49:12) Zann — assumption. The Qur'an names it as something that can become sinful, not just unwise. And yet how often does this happen in a home: A person makes a choice rooted in love, in modesty, in care for the other — and instead of being asked "why did you do that?", they are told what they must have meant. Their intention gets rewritten by someone else's fear, someone else's past hurt, someone else's assumption of the worst. This is not a small thing in the deen. Suu' al-zann — thinking ill of another without evidence — was warned against so strongly that the Prophet ﷺ called it "the most untrue of speech." (Bukhari, Muslim) Even between spouses. Especially between spouses. Because a marriage cannot survive on interpretation. It survives on asking. "Why did you say that?" "What did you mean by this?" Not: "I know what this really is." When Allah alone knows what sits in a heart, no human — however close, however loved — has the right to declare what someone else intended. That right was never given to us. Not even over the people we love the most. So if your intention was never anything but sincerity, and it was measured by someone else's assumption instead of your own words — Remember: Allah does not judge you by what you were accused of. He judges you by what you meant. And that is between you and Him — not between you and anyone's suspicion.

The Difference Between the Whispers of Satan and the Whispers of the Soul: Shaikh ul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullaah) said: “Abu Haazim mentioned regarding the difference between the whispering of the soul and that of Satan when he said: ‘Whatever your soul dislikes for itself, then it is from Satan, so seek refuge with Allaah from it, and whatever your soul loves for yourself, then it is from your soul, so prohibit it from it.’” [Majmu’ Fataawa vol 17 p.529-530]

“However, if the reports of the astronomers agree upon it, they are hardly mistaken. Despite this, no Sharʿī ruling follows merely from their report, for the eclipse prayer for the sun and moon is not performed unless we observe it.” Majmūʿ al-Fatāwā (24/258). He goes on to explain that if a person considers the astronomical report likely to be correct and consequently prepares himself at that time to observe the eclipse, this is commendable as a form of hastening to obedience to Allah. Thus, the calculation can be used to know when to look, while the prayer itself remains attached to observation. Shaykh ʿAbdul-ʿAzīz ibn Bāz رحمه الله likewise explained: “فعلق ﷺ الأمر بالصلاة والدعاء والذكر والاستغفار برؤية الكسوف، لا بخبر الحاسبين” “He ﷺ therefore attached the command to pray, supplicate, remember Allah and seek forgiveness to the observation of the eclipse, not to the reports of the astronomers.” He further said: “ويعلم أيضا أنه لا يشرع لأهل بلد لم يقع عندهم الكسوف أن يصلوا؛ لأن الرسول ﷺ علق الأمر بالصلاة وما ذكر معها برؤية الكسوف، لا بالخبر من أهل الحساب بأنه سيقع، ولا بوقوعه في بلد آخر” “It is also known that it is not legislated for the people of a land in which the eclipse has not occurred to pray, because the Messenger ﷺ attached the command to pray, and the other acts mentioned with it, to observing the eclipse — not to the astronomers reporting that it will occur, nor to its occurrence in another land.” Majmūʿ Fatāwā wa-Maqālāt Mutanawwiʿah (15/133). Accordingly, astronomical calculations may be used to alert people to the possibility and timing of an eclipse so that they can look for it. However, the prayer itself is connected to observing the eclipse. Thus, if an eclipse is predicted astronomically but is not actually observed in the locality, the eclipse prayer is not commenced merely on the basis of the calculation. This also applies where cloud cover or similar conditions completely prevent the eclipse from being observed. The astronomical prediction may establish that an eclipse is taking place above the clouds, but the Prophetic instruction concerning the prayer was attached to its observation: “فإذا رأيتموهما…” “When you see them…” ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ In conclusion, the Prophetic command is to hasten to the eclipse prayer when the eclipse is observed. Where there is sufficient time to perform both the eclipse prayer and the obligatory prayer within its prescribed time, there is a recognised basis for beginning with the eclipse prayer, since its cause may disappear. If, however, there is a genuine fear that the obligatory prayer will be missed, the obligatory prayer takes precedence. If the eclipse prayer has already begun, it should be shortened where necessary to preserve sufficient time for the obligatory prayer. Finally, the eclipse prayer is connected to actual observation of the eclipse, not merely its astronomical prediction. Thus, the guiding principles are to hasten to the eclipse prayer when it is observed, while at the same time safeguarding the obligatory prayers and ensuring that they are performed within their prescribed times. Abū ʿAṭiyah 29 Ṣafar 1448H

احْرِصْ عَلَى مَا يَنْفَعُكَ وَاسْتَعِنْ بِاللَّهِ Be keen on what benefits you, and seek the help of Allāh. Sahīh Muslim (2664) You are not short on strength/ability. It's where you spend it that matters. In trivial debates that change nothing, current news items you can't affect, or personal comparisons that are draining you. Success doesn't start with more effort. It starts with choosing what deserves your actual effort.

ʿUmar ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz (رحمه الله) said: من جعل دينه غرضًا للخصومات أكثر التنقل Whoever makes his religion a target for disputes and arguments will frequently change from one position to another. Sunan al-Dārimī (312)

That heart, so quick to anxiety and turmoil… When a wave of panic sweeps over it, its limbs tremble, and its beats accelerate… What in this world could ever bring it peace, if not the mercy of Allah—the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful, the Giver of Security? Glory be to Him! In the remembrance of Allah, the heart finds tranquility and comes to rest. Praise be to Allah, Who permitted us to remember Him and taught us some of His words, so that our hearts may find solace in His light amidst the darkness and fears of this world.

Allah says in surah Aal 'Imran: [فِيهِ آيَاتٌ بَيِّنَاتٌ مَّقَامُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ ۖ وَمَن دَخَلَهُ كَانَ آمِنًا ۗ وَلِلَّهِ عَلَى النَّاسِ حِجُّ الْبَيْتِ مَنِ اسْتَطَاعَ إِلَيْهِ سَبِيلًا ۚ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ عَنِ الْعَالَمِينَ] In it there are clear signs, the standing place of Ibrahim. And whoever enters it will be safe. Hajj to the House is due to Allah from mankind, for whoever is able to find a way. But whoever disbelieves, then Allah is free of need from all creation. [97] Commenting on this, al-Shawkani wrote: [ وأخرج ابن جرير وابن المنذر وابن أبي حاتم والبيهقي في سننه عن ابن عباس في الآية قال : من كفر بالحج فلم ير حجه برا ولا تركه مأثما . وأخرج سعيد بن منصور وعبد بن حميد وابن جرير وابن المنذر والبيهقي في سننه عن عكرمة قال : " لما نزلت ومن يبتغ غير الإسلام دينا [ آل عمران : 85 ] قالت اليهود : فنحن مسلمون ، فقال لهم النبي صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم : إن الله فرض على المسلمين حج البيت ، فقالوا : لم يكتب علينا وأبوا أن يحجوا ، قال الله : ومن كفر فإن الله غني عن العالمين . ] Regarding this ayah, ibn Jarir, ibn al-Mundhir, ibn Abi Hatim, and al-Bayhaqi in his Sunan all reported that ibn 'Abbaas said: Whoever disbelieves in the Hajj, neither considering making Hajj a good deed nor thinking leaving it off is a sin. Sa'eed ibn Mansoor, 'Abd ibn Humayd, ibn Jarir, ibn al-Mundhir, and al-Bayhaqi in his Sunan reported that 'Ikrimah said: When the ayah [وَمَن يَبْتَغِ غَيْرَ الْإِسْلَامِ دِينًا فَلَن يُقْبَلَ مِنْهُ وَهُوَ فِي الْآخِرَةِ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ] "And whoever seeks something other than Islam as a religion, it will never be accepted from him and he will be one of the losers in the hereafter." [Aal 'Imran ayah 85] was revealed, the Jews said, "But we are Muslims [i.e. those who submit]." The Prophet replied, "Allah has mandated Hajj for the Muslims," to which they replied, "That is not required for us," and they refused to make Hajj, so Allah said, "But whoever disbelieves, then Allah is free of need from all creation." [Fath al-Qadeer 1/234]

1000 good deeds a day? (multiplied in Ramadan): Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said: "Is anyone of you incapable of earning one thousand Hasanah (rewards) a day?" Someone from the gathering asked, "How can anyone of us earn a thousand Hasanah?" Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said: "Glorify Allah a hundred times by just saying “Subhanallah” and a Good deeds will be written for you, or a thousand sins will be wiped away.” (Muslim 4:2073)

Mālik ibn Dīnār (رحمه الله) said: «رَحِمَ اللَّهُ عَبْدًا قَالَ لِنَفْسِهِ: أَلَسْتِ صَاحِبَةَ كَذَا؟ أَلَسْتِ صَاحِبَةَ كَذَا؟ ثُمَّ ذَمَّهَا، ثُمَّ خَطَمَهَا، ثُمَّ أَلْزَمَهَا كِتَابَ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى، فَكَانَ لَهَا قَائِدًا» “May Allah have mercy on a servant who says to his own soul: ‘Are you not the one who did such-and-such? Are you not the one who did such-and-such?’ Then he rebukes it, restrains it, and binds it to the Book of Allah, the Exalted, making it its guide.” Iʿtilāl al-Qulūb: 28

Better for him than three large, fat, pregnant she-camels: عن أبي هريرة قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: «أيحب أحدكم إذا رجع إلى أهله أن يجد فيه ثلاث خَلِفَاتٍ عِظَامِ سِمَانٍ؟» قلنا: نعم، قال: «فثلاث آيات يقرأ بهن أحدكم في صلاته خيرٌ له من ثلاث خلفات عظام سمان».   [صحيح] - [رواه مسلم] Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Would any one of you like to find three large, fat, pregnant she-camels when he returns to his family?" We said: 'Yes.' He said: "Three verses that one of you recites in his prayer are better for him than three large, fat, pregnant she-camels."   [Sahih/Authentic. - (Muslim)]

Al-Wadūd — The Most Loving. He is the One whose love is boundless, the One who loves His servants immensely. His love is not dependent on conditions or anything in return. He knows your weaknesses, yet He still loves you. Many times you drift away from Him, yet He never stops calling you back to His mercy. He never abandons His servant; rather, He remains close to you in every situation. So, love Al-Wadūd, for He is the Lord who loves you beyond measure. 💖🫶🏻

Phone Addiction Can Kill Your Marriage...✍️ Phones steal time. Phones steal attention. Phones steal emotional presence. You sit beside your spouse, but your heart is online. You scroll. You swipe. You tap. Meanwhile, your partner feels ignored. Addiction starts small. Just five minutes. Then thirty. Then two hours. Your spouse becomes background noise. You lose connection. You lose eye contact. You lose deep conversations. Love dries quietly. Put your phone down. Look at your spouse. Talk. Ask questions. Laugh. Listen with your heart. Your partner needs your voice. Not your emojis. Not your likes. Not your scrolling. Phones are tools. Not life. Not love. Not intimacy. Social media cannot hug you. It cannot heal you. It cannot protect your vows. Your marriage needs real presence. Give your best energy to your spouse. Not to strangers online. Not to comments. Not to endless videos. Phone addiction can kill your marriage. Protect your connection with your partner intentionally.

Ibn Taymiyyah’s رحمه الله Salaah Al-Ḥāfiẓ al-Bazzār رحمه الله said, “𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 ṣ𝗮𝗹ā𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗮𝘆, ‘𝗔𝗹𝗹ā𝗵𝘂 𝗔𝗸𝗯𝗮𝗿,’ 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗮𝗹𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗱𝘂𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝘄𝗲 𝗳𝗲𝗹𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘀𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝘁. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝗳𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 …” Al-Aʿlām al-ʿAliyyah fī Manāqibi Shaykh ul-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah, p. 37.

وَنَحْنُ ضِدَّ الْيَهُودِ، وَنَحُثُّ الْمُسْلِمِينَ عَلَى اجْتِمَاعِ كَلِمَتِهِمْ عَلَى كِتَابِ اللَّهِ وَسُنَّةِ رَسُولِهِ ﷺ We are against al-Yahūd (ie: the Jews), and we encourage the Muslims to unite their word upon the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger ﷺ ہم یہود کے خلاف ہیں، اور ہم مسلمانوں کو ترغیب دیتے ہیں کہ وہ اللہ کی کتاب اور اس کے رسول ﷺ کی سنت پر متحد ہو جائیں، وَعَلَى إِعْدَادِ الْعُدَّةِ لِتَحْرِيرِ فِلَسْطِينَ بِالْإِسْلَامِ الَّذِي فُتِحَتْ بِهِ، and upon preparing the means to liberate Palestine with al-Islām by which it was originally conquered. اور فلسطین کو اسی اسلام کے ذریعے آزاد کرانے کی تیاری کریں جس کے ذریعے وہ ابتدا میں فتح ہوا تھا، لَا بِدِينِ الرَّوَافِضِ وَلَا بِأَيْدِيهِمُ الْمُلَوَّثَةِ بِالْخِيَانَاتِ وَالْغَدْرِ وَبِدِمَاءِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ. Not with the religion of al-Rawāfīḍ nor by their hands stained with the treachery, betrayal, and blood of the Muslims. نہ کہ روافض کے دین سے اور نہ ہی ان کے خیانت، غداری اور مسلمانوں کے خون سے آلودہ ہاتھوں سے۔ ❖══════༻♡༺══════❖ رَبِيعُ بْنُ هَادِي الْمَدْخَلِيُّ، مَجْمُوعُ كُتُبِ وَرَسَائِلِ وَفَتَاوَى ١٢/٤٩ Rabīʿ b. Hādī al-Madkhalī, Majmūʿ Kutub wa Rasāʾil wa Fatāwá 12/49 ربیع بن ہادی المدخلی، مجموع کتب و رسائل و فتاویٰ ١٢/٤٩ https://archive.org/details/rabi_al-madkhali-majmu_kutub_rasail_wa-fatawa/12/page/n46/mode/1up

Sheikh Rabee bin Hadi رحمه الله said, Those who boast about their deeds are destined for ruin we seek refuge in Allah from such. [Marhaban Ya Talib ul Ilm Pg. 48] ●๏●━━━━━ᶠᵒˡˡᵒʷ ᵘˢ━━━━━●๏●

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله said: "If the slave opposes all of the creation and follows the Messenger (ﷺ), Allah would not ask him about his opposition to anyone." [Majmu' al-Fataawa (16/529)]