Male assertiveness

A mild-mannered man was tired of being bossed around by his wife so he went to a psychiatrist.

The psychiatrist said he needed to build his self-esteem, and so gave him a book on assertiveness, which he read on the way home.

He had finished the book by the time he reached his house.

The man stormed into the house and walked up to his wife.

Often I think about the sacrifices of Rasool Sallalahu Allaihi Wassalam for this ummah and tears roll down my face. I think about the hardships he suffered, pelted in taif till his shoes were clogged with blood.

When he lost his mubarak tooth on the battlefield. The stones he used to tie on his belly to pacify the pangs of hunger, when he as dragged on the ground with a rope around his neck infront of the kabaah only to be rescued by Abu Bakr (RA). Many had taught he had passed away.

Camel intestines were placed on his back when he was in sujood, the long nights he spent in ibaadah in prayer, so long that his mubarak feet used to swell. Even at the time of his death he beseeched the angel of death to give him the pain of his entire ummah.

Adam and Hawa, high school darlings, everyone thought they were the perfect couple, they were a match made in heaven. They got married soon after leaving high school.

In the beginning life was good, but the challenges grew, they had their first child, then a second and a third. They became pre-occupied with their own lives. Adam was in a highly successful career, loads of pressure and was earning tons of money often at the expense of family time. Hawa was busy juggling 3 hard to tame kids a busy husband and a hectic home schedule that left little time for herself.

Abu Hurairah (radhiAllahu anhu) narrated: Messenger of Allah (sallaAllahu alayhe wasallam) said, “Allah does not look at your figures, nor at your attire but He looks at your hearts [and deeds].”
[Muslim]

Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) says in his explanation of this hadith:

This hadith points to what Allah says in the verse:

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَاكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ وَأُنثَىٰ وَجَعَلْنَاكُمْ شُعُوبًا وَقَبَائِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوا ۚ إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ اللَّهِ أَتْقَاكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ
َ

A pious man once said, love of this world and love for Aakhirah is like the East and West.

However close you get to one the further away you get from the other.

May Allah Swt Guide us. Ameen.

Meet Nabeela, but you can call her Nabs. She is just 22, an aspiring young medical graduate, beauty and brains that would make any man happy. So here's her story.

Jameel: Hey nabs, congratulations I heard you graduated top of your class, we should party tonight, what you think.
Nabeela: Oh Jamz I would love to, but nani's ill and I got to go visit her at the hospital.
Jameel: Bummer, some other time then.
Nabeela: For sure.
Jameel: Looking hot today, pulling the wool over my eyes and making nani an excuse, u sure you don't have a date?
Nabeela: Oh come on Jamz u know I won't lie to you, you are my best friend.
Jameel: I hope so, you know any aloo you choose to marry has to get my approval first right?

If we want Allah to forgive us, we should be forgiving of others and willing to overlook their wrongs. This is part of what it means to be good to others. Allah describes his believing servants as “those who restrain their anger and are pardoning towards people.” He then says: “Indeed, Allah loves those who do good.” [Sūrah Āl `Imrān: 134]

Indeed, Allah says: “And let not those of you who possess wealth and abundance swear against giving to the near of kin and the poor and those who have had to emigrate for Allah’s sake. They should forgive and forebear. Do you not love that Allah should forgive you? And Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.” [Sūrah al-Nūr: 22]

Overlook the faults of a Muslim.
When he cries, have mercy on him.
Conceal his shortcomings.
Accept his excuses.
Remove his difficulties.
Always be good to him.
Gaining his love is an accomplishment.
Fulfil his promises.
When he falls ill, visit him.
When he passes away, make dua for him.
Accept his invitation.
Accept his gifts.
When he shows kindness to you, show kindness to him in return.
Be grateful for his favours upon you.
Help and assist him at the time of need.
Safeguard his family and children.
Assist him in his work.
Listen to his advice.
Accept his intercession.
Do not make him feel despondent over his ambitions.
When he sneezes and says "Alhamdulillah", say "Yarhamukallah" in reply.
If you find a lost item of his, return it to him.

Oh Allah Grant me the taufeeq to practice upon this more than anyone else. Ameen.

By Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani
Translated by Shaykh Yusuf Laher

The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said: “That person who taunts and ridicules his Muslim brother over a sin from which he has repented, will not die until he himself commits that same sin.” For example, you come to know that a certain person committed or was involved in a particular sin and you also know that this person has repented from it. To think low of him or to taunt or ridicule him because of that sin, by saying something like: “You are the one who was involved in certain evil actions”, is in itself a sin.

One night Hazrat Mu'awiya was resting at home fast asleep. Suddenly someone woke him up for prayers. He looked around to find the person who got him up, but the person had disappeared. In surprise he said: "No one can enter my house at this time. I wonder who could have been so brave".

Then suddenly a person appeared at the door with his face hidden. He asked him: "Who are you?"
The person replied: "I am known by the notorious name of lblees, the one of ill-fortune".
Hazrat Mu'awiya asked: "0 Iblees, tell me, why did you wake me up? Tell me the whole truth".
He replied: "The time for salaah was running out and was nearly finished. You should hurry to go to the mosque".