Simple Things You can Do!
Jun 18, 2009
1. Take care of Orphans and Widows
Orphan welfare is a repetitive theme in the Quran. Verses encouraging good treatment of orphans are found throughout the Quran, creating a sense of responsibility towards orphans.
Of all people who need our understanding, sympathy, and help, widows and orphans need them most. A widow with little or no support often suffers a lot or is at a disadvantage. If she has children the problem becomes acute and the situation precarious. See what the Almighty says in the Holy Quran:
وَيُطْعِمُونَ الطَّعَامَ عَلَى حُبِّهِ مِسْكِينًا وَيَتِيمًا وَأَسِيرًا
إِنَّمَا نُطْعِمُكُمْ لِوَجْهِ اللَّهِ لا نُرِيدُ مِنكُمْ جَزَاء وَلا شُكُورًا
And They Feed, For The Love Of Allah, The Indigent, The Orphan, And The Captives, Saying: We Feed You For Allah's Sake: No Reward Do We Seek From You Nor Thanks.
(Surah 76: Ayah 8-9)
وَآتُواْ الْيَتَامَى أَمْوَالَهُمْ وَلاَ تَتَبَدَّلُواْ الْخَبِيثَ بِالطَّيِّبِ وَلاَ تَأْكُلُواْ أَمْوَالَهُمْ إِلَى أَمْوَالِكُمْ إِنَّهُ كَانَ حُوبًا كَبِيرًا
And As To The Orphans, Restore Their Property (When They Reach Their Age), Don't Substitute Your Bad Things For Their Good Ones, And Devour Not Their Funds (By Mixing It Up) With Your Own; For Of A Certainty This Is A Great Sin.
(Surah 4: Ayah 2)
وَأَمَّا السَّائِلَ فَلا تَنْهَرْ وَأَمَّا بِنِعْمَةِ رَبِّكَ فَحَدِّثْ
...Therefore, Treat Not The Orphan With Oppression, Nor Be Harsh To The Seeker Of Information, But Speak Publicly Of The Bounty Of Your Lord.
(Surah 93: Ayah 9-11)
أَرَأَيْتَ الَّذِي يُكَذِّبُ بِالدِّينِ فَذَلِكَ الَّذِي يَدُعُّ الْيَتِيمَ وَلا يَحُضُّ عَلَى طَعَامِ الْمِسْكِينِ
Have You Seen The One Who Denies Religion? It Is He Who Turns Away The Orphan And Does
Not Urge Others To Feed The Poor....
(Surah 107: Ayah 1-3)
This affinity between the orphan and the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) is expressed with great clarity in the sacred tradition (hadith) There is a promise of Paradise for anyone who looks after an orphan:
أنا وكافلُ اليَـتيمِ في الجَنَّةِ هكذا (وأشار بإصبعيه السبابة والوسطى)
"I, and the one who looks after an orphan, will be together like this in the next world", then he raised his index and middle fingers together. (Hadith Muslim)
The important lesson Muslims have taken from this well-known hadith is that to choose the companionship of an orphan is to choose the companionship of the Prophet himself (Allah bless him and give him peace).
Allah (swt) urges us to do everything in our power to help the orphans and widows. That means not only material help but also help with their worldly affairs. Allah rewards us (thawaab) very well for these deeds and He oversees and knows all about us.
Let us take some Hadiths in this regard. Muhammad (pbuh) says:
السَّاعي على ألأرْمَلةِ والمِسْكينِ كَالمُجَاهدُ في سَبيلِ اللهِ أو القائمِ الَّليْـل الصائمِ النهار
A Giver Of Maintenance To The Widows And The Poor Is Like A Giver In The Way Of God, An Utterer Of Prayers All Night, And Fasting During The Day. Bukhari
Other Hadiths of the Prophet (pbuh) and/or sayings of the Imams are given here:
The Person Who Strives For The Widows And The Poor Is Like One Who Strives In The Way Of God.
"You see, a widow is in need," continued Abdul-Rahman, "And it is an honor to help and support her. It is essential we strive hard to assist and support the widow and orphan.
2. Take care of the sick
Islam is the religion of compassion and mercy. Allah's Messenger, Muhammad (pbuh) said:
حقُّ المسلمِ على المسلمِ خَمْسٌ: رَدُّ السَّلام، وعِيادَةُ المريضِ، واتِّباعُ الجَّنائز، وإجابةُ الدعْوةِ، وتَشْميتُ العاطِسِ
The Rights Of A Muslim Over Another Are Five:
Answering The Greetings, Visiting The Sick, Attend The Funeral Procession, Accept The Invitation, And Bless Him When He Sneezes.
Muttafaq Alayh
Other Hadiths of the Prophet (pbuh) and/or sayings of the Imams are given here:
Feed The Hungry, Visit The Sick, And Free The Captive If He Is Unjustly Confined. Assist Any Person Oppressed, Whether Muslim Or Non‑Muslim.
When You Go To Visit The Sick Comfort Him In His Grief And Wish Him Well And To Live Long. Though Such Sympathy Will Not Prevent His Due Course, It Will Comfort Him And Solace His Soul.
A sick person needs extra care and sympathy. All of us, sooner or later, are likely to get sick. On becoming ill we feel troubled and even develop a bad temper, or simply feel very bad or worry about our condition among other things.
As Muslims we must comfort the sick and make him feel at ease. Sometimes words of assurance act like medicine—not that they will cure him, but just to make him feel better.
Won't it be good, then, to visit and comfort the sick, be they in a hospital or at home? Won't it be nice to be good company to a sick person, the very one who appreciates such company? Yes, it is a solace to his soul."
3. Take care of Neighbors
A neighborhood blessed with friendly families is a marvelous community. They exchange visits, help each other, and what is offered one day will be offered back later. The children and adults become trusted friends, and all will establish healthy, happy relationships. The Holy Quran says about neighborliness:
وَاعْبُدُواْ اللّهَ وَلاَ تُشْرِكُواْ بِهِ شَيْئًا وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا وَبِذِي الْقُرْبَى وَالْيَتَامَى وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَالْجَارِ ذِي الْقُرْبَى وَالْجَارِ الْجُنُبِ وَالصَّاحِبِ بِالجَنبِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ وَمَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ إِنَّ اللّهَ لاَ يُحِبُّ مَن كَانَ مُخْتَالاً فَخُورًا
Serve Allah And Associate None With Him. Show Kindness To Your Parents And Kinsfolk, And To The Orphans, To The Needy, To Your Near And Distant Neighbors, To Your Fellow‑Travelers, To The Wayfarer, And To What Your Right Hands Possess: For Allah Loves Not The Arrogant And Haughty Men.
(Surah 4: Ayah 36)
The Almighty enjoins on us to be good to our parents first, then relatives, then orphans and those in need; then He directs us to do good to our neighbors. Being good to neighbors is enjoined by Allah (swt). There are many Hadiths and recommendations about neighborliness. Allah's Messenger (pbuh) said:
مَن كانَ يُؤمنُ باللهِ والَيومِ الآخِر فليَـقُل خَيراً أو ِليَصْمُت
ومَن كانَ يُؤمنُ باللهِ والَيومِ الآخِر فلْيُكرمٍ جَـاره
ومَن كانَ يُؤمنُ باللهِ والَيومِ الآخِر فلْيُكرمٍ ضَيْفَه
Let The Believer In Allah And Day Of Judgment Either Speak Good Or Keep Silent. Let The Believer In Allah And Day Of Judgment Honor His Neighbor. Let The Believer In Allah And Day Of Judgment Honor His Guest
Muslim And Bukhari
ما زآل جِبْـريلُ يُوصِيني بالجَّـار حتّى ظَننتُ أنه سَيُورثُه
A'isha Relates That The Holy Prophet Said `Gabriel Advised Me So Repeatedly To Care For My Neighbor That I Thought Allah Was To Make The Neighbor My Inheritor!
Muttafaq Alayh
خَيرُ الأصْحابِ عند اللهِ تعالى خَيْرُهم لِصاحِبهِ، وخَيرُ الجِيرانِ عند اللهِ تعالى خَيْرُهم لِجارِهِ
The Finest In The Sight Of Allah Is The Person Who Is Best To His Friends. And The Finest In The Sight Of Allah Is The Person Who Is Best To His Neighbor. Tirmidhi
مَن كانَ يُؤمنُ باللهِ والَيومِ الآخِر فَلْيُحسِن إلى جَارهِ...
Let Him Who Believes In Allah And The Day Of Judgment Not Harm His Neighbor..
Muslim
"As you read the above Hadiths, MuhammadAli," continued Abdul-Rahman, "You will notice how important it is to be neighborly. It is wonderful to be neighborly, help those nearby, be good friends with them, and cooperate with them. Not only will the children benefit, but so will the adults and the whole neighborhood as well. This is more so if our neighbors are elderly or disabled, needing our help and understanding."
4. Take care of streets
I can't believe the streets of the Ummah of cleanliness are so dirty. A Weekly Event to help Clean your Street after Fajr prayer with few brothers.
It is narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah (may peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Faith has over seventy branches or over sixty branches, the most excellent of which is the declaration that there is no god but Allah, and the humblest of which is the, removal of what is injurious from the path: and modesty is the branch of faith.” (Sahih Muslim Book 001, Number 0056)
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said "Once a man, who was passing through a road, found a branch of a tree with thorns obstructing it. The man removed the thorns from the way. Allah thanked him and forgave his sins." (Bukhari)
5. Take care of Trees
Adopt a tree Plant a tree and give it water.
The are a number of hadiths which refer to taking care of trees. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is reported to have said, "Whenever Muslims plant a tree, they will earn the reward of charity because of the food that comes from it; and likewise what is stolen from it, what the wild beasts eat out of it, what the birds eat out of it, and what people take from it is charity for them" (Muslim).The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is also reported to have said, "Muslims will always earn the reward of charity for planting a tree, sowing a crop and then birds, humans, and animals eat from it" (Al-Bukhari and Muslim).
6. Driving a Car in some Muslim Countries
Driving a Car in some Muslim Countries is simply irresponsible and shows a terrible manners. No respect of human beings who are walking in streets. As if the car driver is from a higher class, and the pedestrians are not humans that are in most case better humans than the driver himself in the eyes of Allah. This arrogance attitude lead to hellfire, because as our Prophet said " No one will enter Paradise if he/she has the weight of a seed of arrogance" This is very dangerous. Why these car drivers respect traffic lights when they go to western countries? Someone needs to start a campaign against reckless driving in Muslim courtiers. Find a way for car drivers to respect pedestrians and traffic light.
7. Cleanliness is part of Iman (Faith)
When you go to public toilet, or even a toilet in a mosque, in many Muslim cities, you find it dirty with terrible smell. The person who causes that forget or ignore, that Islam is a religion cleanliness. We perform Wudu (Ablution) five times a day. Quran and Sunnah makes Wudu a requirement for prayer. our beloved Prophet Muhammad ordered Muslims to make Wudu in the desert where water is scarce, whether water is cold or hot. Please clean toilet after you finish, and don't leave it dirty for the next person. Please, just fear Allah.
Sometimes even when Muslims have conference or Eid prayer in a Western country, they leaves toilets in a disgusting form. Who would believe us if we claim that Islam is a religion of cleanliness?
8. Teach yourself Arabic (Language of Quran)
Arabic Language IS the Language of the Quran. Whenever, there was Caliphate, the language of the Islamic Ummah was Arabic. This should be the language that we talk to each other with. Unfortunately, some Muslims think that this is a racist idea. It is not. I have seen some of those brothers/sisters to think this call to learn Arabic is a racist idea or project supremacy of Arabs, only to change their minds few years later, adopt this call, and encourage their children to learn Arabic.
Orphan welfare is a repetitive theme in the Quran. Verses encouraging good treatment of orphans are found throughout the Quran, creating a sense of responsibility towards orphans.
Of all people who need our understanding, sympathy, and help, widows and orphans need them most. A widow with little or no support often suffers a lot or is at a disadvantage. If she has children the problem becomes acute and the situation precarious. See what the Almighty says in the Holy Quran:
وَيُطْعِمُونَ الطَّعَامَ عَلَى حُبِّهِ مِسْكِينًا وَيَتِيمًا وَأَسِيرًا
إِنَّمَا نُطْعِمُكُمْ لِوَجْهِ اللَّهِ لا نُرِيدُ مِنكُمْ جَزَاء وَلا شُكُورًا
And They Feed, For The Love Of Allah, The Indigent, The Orphan, And The Captives, Saying: We Feed You For Allah's Sake: No Reward Do We Seek From You Nor Thanks.
(Surah 76: Ayah 8-9)
وَآتُواْ الْيَتَامَى أَمْوَالَهُمْ وَلاَ تَتَبَدَّلُواْ الْخَبِيثَ بِالطَّيِّبِ وَلاَ تَأْكُلُواْ أَمْوَالَهُمْ إِلَى أَمْوَالِكُمْ إِنَّهُ كَانَ حُوبًا كَبِيرًا
And As To The Orphans, Restore Their Property (When They Reach Their Age), Don't Substitute Your Bad Things For Their Good Ones, And Devour Not Their Funds (By Mixing It Up) With Your Own; For Of A Certainty This Is A Great Sin.
(Surah 4: Ayah 2)
وَأَمَّا السَّائِلَ فَلا تَنْهَرْ وَأَمَّا بِنِعْمَةِ رَبِّكَ فَحَدِّثْ
...Therefore, Treat Not The Orphan With Oppression, Nor Be Harsh To The Seeker Of Information, But Speak Publicly Of The Bounty Of Your Lord.
(Surah 93: Ayah 9-11)
أَرَأَيْتَ الَّذِي يُكَذِّبُ بِالدِّينِ فَذَلِكَ الَّذِي يَدُعُّ الْيَتِيمَ وَلا يَحُضُّ عَلَى طَعَامِ الْمِسْكِينِ
Have You Seen The One Who Denies Religion? It Is He Who Turns Away The Orphan And Does
Not Urge Others To Feed The Poor....
(Surah 107: Ayah 1-3)
This affinity between the orphan and the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) is expressed with great clarity in the sacred tradition (hadith) There is a promise of Paradise for anyone who looks after an orphan:
أنا وكافلُ اليَـتيمِ في الجَنَّةِ هكذا (وأشار بإصبعيه السبابة والوسطى)
"I, and the one who looks after an orphan, will be together like this in the next world", then he raised his index and middle fingers together. (Hadith Muslim)
The important lesson Muslims have taken from this well-known hadith is that to choose the companionship of an orphan is to choose the companionship of the Prophet himself (Allah bless him and give him peace).
Allah (swt) urges us to do everything in our power to help the orphans and widows. That means not only material help but also help with their worldly affairs. Allah rewards us (thawaab) very well for these deeds and He oversees and knows all about us.
Let us take some Hadiths in this regard. Muhammad (pbuh) says:
السَّاعي على ألأرْمَلةِ والمِسْكينِ كَالمُجَاهدُ في سَبيلِ اللهِ أو القائمِ الَّليْـل الصائمِ النهار
A Giver Of Maintenance To The Widows And The Poor Is Like A Giver In The Way Of God, An Utterer Of Prayers All Night, And Fasting During The Day. Bukhari
Other Hadiths of the Prophet (pbuh) and/or sayings of the Imams are given here:
The Person Who Strives For The Widows And The Poor Is Like One Who Strives In The Way Of God.
"You see, a widow is in need," continued Abdul-Rahman, "And it is an honor to help and support her. It is essential we strive hard to assist and support the widow and orphan.
2. Take care of the sick
Islam is the religion of compassion and mercy. Allah's Messenger, Muhammad (pbuh) said:
حقُّ المسلمِ على المسلمِ خَمْسٌ: رَدُّ السَّلام، وعِيادَةُ المريضِ، واتِّباعُ الجَّنائز، وإجابةُ الدعْوةِ، وتَشْميتُ العاطِسِ
The Rights Of A Muslim Over Another Are Five:
Answering The Greetings, Visiting The Sick, Attend The Funeral Procession, Accept The Invitation, And Bless Him When He Sneezes.
Muttafaq Alayh
Other Hadiths of the Prophet (pbuh) and/or sayings of the Imams are given here:
Feed The Hungry, Visit The Sick, And Free The Captive If He Is Unjustly Confined. Assist Any Person Oppressed, Whether Muslim Or Non‑Muslim.
When You Go To Visit The Sick Comfort Him In His Grief And Wish Him Well And To Live Long. Though Such Sympathy Will Not Prevent His Due Course, It Will Comfort Him And Solace His Soul.
A sick person needs extra care and sympathy. All of us, sooner or later, are likely to get sick. On becoming ill we feel troubled and even develop a bad temper, or simply feel very bad or worry about our condition among other things.
As Muslims we must comfort the sick and make him feel at ease. Sometimes words of assurance act like medicine—not that they will cure him, but just to make him feel better.
Won't it be good, then, to visit and comfort the sick, be they in a hospital or at home? Won't it be nice to be good company to a sick person, the very one who appreciates such company? Yes, it is a solace to his soul."
3. Take care of Neighbors
A neighborhood blessed with friendly families is a marvelous community. They exchange visits, help each other, and what is offered one day will be offered back later. The children and adults become trusted friends, and all will establish healthy, happy relationships. The Holy Quran says about neighborliness:
وَاعْبُدُواْ اللّهَ وَلاَ تُشْرِكُواْ بِهِ شَيْئًا وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا وَبِذِي الْقُرْبَى وَالْيَتَامَى وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَالْجَارِ ذِي الْقُرْبَى وَالْجَارِ الْجُنُبِ وَالصَّاحِبِ بِالجَنبِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ وَمَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ إِنَّ اللّهَ لاَ يُحِبُّ مَن كَانَ مُخْتَالاً فَخُورًا
Serve Allah And Associate None With Him. Show Kindness To Your Parents And Kinsfolk, And To The Orphans, To The Needy, To Your Near And Distant Neighbors, To Your Fellow‑Travelers, To The Wayfarer, And To What Your Right Hands Possess: For Allah Loves Not The Arrogant And Haughty Men.
(Surah 4: Ayah 36)
The Almighty enjoins on us to be good to our parents first, then relatives, then orphans and those in need; then He directs us to do good to our neighbors. Being good to neighbors is enjoined by Allah (swt). There are many Hadiths and recommendations about neighborliness. Allah's Messenger (pbuh) said:
مَن كانَ يُؤمنُ باللهِ والَيومِ الآخِر فليَـقُل خَيراً أو ِليَصْمُت
ومَن كانَ يُؤمنُ باللهِ والَيومِ الآخِر فلْيُكرمٍ جَـاره
ومَن كانَ يُؤمنُ باللهِ والَيومِ الآخِر فلْيُكرمٍ ضَيْفَه
Let The Believer In Allah And Day Of Judgment Either Speak Good Or Keep Silent. Let The Believer In Allah And Day Of Judgment Honor His Neighbor. Let The Believer In Allah And Day Of Judgment Honor His Guest
Muslim And Bukhari
ما زآل جِبْـريلُ يُوصِيني بالجَّـار حتّى ظَننتُ أنه سَيُورثُه
A'isha Relates That The Holy Prophet Said `Gabriel Advised Me So Repeatedly To Care For My Neighbor That I Thought Allah Was To Make The Neighbor My Inheritor!
Muttafaq Alayh
خَيرُ الأصْحابِ عند اللهِ تعالى خَيْرُهم لِصاحِبهِ، وخَيرُ الجِيرانِ عند اللهِ تعالى خَيْرُهم لِجارِهِ
The Finest In The Sight Of Allah Is The Person Who Is Best To His Friends. And The Finest In The Sight Of Allah Is The Person Who Is Best To His Neighbor. Tirmidhi
مَن كانَ يُؤمنُ باللهِ والَيومِ الآخِر فَلْيُحسِن إلى جَارهِ...
Let Him Who Believes In Allah And The Day Of Judgment Not Harm His Neighbor..
Muslim
"As you read the above Hadiths, MuhammadAli," continued Abdul-Rahman, "You will notice how important it is to be neighborly. It is wonderful to be neighborly, help those nearby, be good friends with them, and cooperate with them. Not only will the children benefit, but so will the adults and the whole neighborhood as well. This is more so if our neighbors are elderly or disabled, needing our help and understanding."
4. Take care of streets
I can't believe the streets of the Ummah of cleanliness are so dirty. A Weekly Event to help Clean your Street after Fajr prayer with few brothers.
It is narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah (may peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Faith has over seventy branches or over sixty branches, the most excellent of which is the declaration that there is no god but Allah, and the humblest of which is the, removal of what is injurious from the path: and modesty is the branch of faith.” (Sahih Muslim Book 001, Number 0056)
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said "Once a man, who was passing through a road, found a branch of a tree with thorns obstructing it. The man removed the thorns from the way. Allah thanked him and forgave his sins." (Bukhari)
5. Take care of Trees
Adopt a tree Plant a tree and give it water.
The are a number of hadiths which refer to taking care of trees. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is reported to have said, "Whenever Muslims plant a tree, they will earn the reward of charity because of the food that comes from it; and likewise what is stolen from it, what the wild beasts eat out of it, what the birds eat out of it, and what people take from it is charity for them" (Muslim).The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is also reported to have said, "Muslims will always earn the reward of charity for planting a tree, sowing a crop and then birds, humans, and animals eat from it" (Al-Bukhari and Muslim).
6. Driving a Car in some Muslim Countries
Driving a Car in some Muslim Countries is simply irresponsible and shows a terrible manners. No respect of human beings who are walking in streets. As if the car driver is from a higher class, and the pedestrians are not humans that are in most case better humans than the driver himself in the eyes of Allah. This arrogance attitude lead to hellfire, because as our Prophet said " No one will enter Paradise if he/she has the weight of a seed of arrogance" This is very dangerous. Why these car drivers respect traffic lights when they go to western countries? Someone needs to start a campaign against reckless driving in Muslim courtiers. Find a way for car drivers to respect pedestrians and traffic light.
7. Cleanliness is part of Iman (Faith)
When you go to public toilet, or even a toilet in a mosque, in many Muslim cities, you find it dirty with terrible smell. The person who causes that forget or ignore, that Islam is a religion cleanliness. We perform Wudu (Ablution) five times a day. Quran and Sunnah makes Wudu a requirement for prayer. our beloved Prophet Muhammad ordered Muslims to make Wudu in the desert where water is scarce, whether water is cold or hot. Please clean toilet after you finish, and don't leave it dirty for the next person. Please, just fear Allah.
Sometimes even when Muslims have conference or Eid prayer in a Western country, they leaves toilets in a disgusting form. Who would believe us if we claim that Islam is a religion of cleanliness?
8. Teach yourself Arabic (Language of Quran)
Arabic Language IS the Language of the Quran. Whenever, there was Caliphate, the language of the Islamic Ummah was Arabic. This should be the language that we talk to each other with. Unfortunately, some Muslims think that this is a racist idea. It is not. I have seen some of those brothers/sisters to think this call to learn Arabic is a racist idea or project supremacy of Arabs, only to change their minds few years later, adopt this call, and encourage their children to learn Arabic.
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