Are men wiser than women according to Islam?

Are men wiser than women according to Islam?

Thought-provoking answer to a common question raised against Islam.

When it is too late to repent

Surah 7 Verse 5

When Allah's punishment comes, it is too late to repent then. They were given the chance to repent but chose not to. Another relevant example is the case of Pharoah who cried out that he believed as the sea closed in on him.

We have many chances to change our ways, but waiting until the last moment is never a good idea. Remember that Imaan is belief in the unseen! It is not Imaan to say I believe when one can see the angels, etc.

Only fear/seek protection from Allah

Surah 7 Verse 3

Allah explains to us not to follow anyone else other than Him.
If we fear anyone other than Him, it is like we are committing shirk.

We should only trust in Allah for all our matters. If we feel that we are afraid of our boss because we feel he controls our job, that is shirk. We should understand that Allah controls everything. If we like/entertain someone because we think that they can help us, protect us, then this is shirk.

At the same time, it does not mean that we should adopt a careless attitude either. Here is a quote from How A Muslim Should Deal With Stress and Anxiety: 25 Ways to Deal with Stress and Anxiety

One day Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, noticed a Bedouin leaving his camel without tying it. He asked the Bedouin, "Why don't you tie down your camel?" The Bedouin answered, "I put my trust in Allah." The Prophet then said, "Tie your camel first, then put your trust in Allah" (Tirmidhi).

Muslims must never become fatalistic. Although we know only Allah is in control and that He has decreed all things, we are each responsible for making the right choices and doing the right thing in all situations of our lives. We must take action (link to planning articles on SV). We must work to alleviate the hardships we, our families and our communities face.

So it important to adopt the correct Halal means, but to remember that in the end , Allah is in control.

Kids Becoming Hifz of Quran

Memorising the Quran

Guidelines for Hifz Students

Amongst Muslims in the west, the practice of encouraging children to learn the whole Quran by heart seems to be something on the way out.
Here are some of the virtues taken from the 'Guidelines for Hifz Students' link above:

Verily We revealed the reminder (Qur'ân) and We are its guardian. (Al Hijr, ayâh no.9)

Uthman Radiallahu anhu narrates that Rasulullah Sallallahu alaihi wasallam said: "The best amongst you is he who learns the Qur'ân and teaches it." (Bukhari)

Abu Saeed Khudri Radiallahu anhu narrates that the prophet of Allâh Sallallahu alaihi wasallam said: "Allâh says: "If anybody finds no time for my remembrance and for begging favours of Me, because he remains busy with the Holy Qur'ân, I shall give him more than what I give all those who beg favours of Me". The superiority of the word of Allâh over all other words is like the superiority of Allâh over the entire creation. (Tirmizi)

Yet why is it so?

Is it that we do not want to pressure them into learning?
Is it that there is not enough time in the day for them to learn?
Do we feel that we will be burdening them if we do this?
Are the pressures of worldly study so much, that they will fall behind if they take time to learn the Quran?

There are several ways to tackle these issues.

How about setting up part-time Hifz lessons in the local masjid?

Once they can read the Quran, the kids can immediately start learning the Quran on a part-time basis. Probably 2, 3, 4, 5 hours a week depending on the child and his/her school work load. Ramp down during school term, ramp up during holidays. But keep the momentum going, no matter how long it takes, the earlier they start the better. Where there is a will there is a way. Parents should approach their local mosque and demand these part-time classes.

Time Management at home
Another side of the coin is that parents should closely examine their child's daily routine. Is it really that difficult to set aside a few hours a week for them to learn the Quran? Parents should examine how many hours their children spend in front of the TV? Actions speak louder than words. Do the children really need to go to all those after school clubs? I am not saying they should not, but we must understand the importance of learning the Quran as well and place it on the same level as worldly education. Sometimes parents are so strict when it comes to worldly education but are so lax when it comes to religious education. Children pick up on this and grow up with this attitude. It is the parents' duty to put it on equal footing. Parents should reward their children for learning parts of the Quran just as they get rewards for passing exams. I say it again, Actions speak louder than words.

Aside from the spiritual benefits of doing Hifz, the following are also very relevant for the growing children:

Kids are in the company of pious people namely the imams, this in itself is something priceless.
Kids learn the virtue of patience as Hifz classes usually involve repetition
Kids learn to concentrate better
Kids get the habit of actually picking up the Quran, rather than just doing this for madrassas and forgetting it once they go home.
School holidays are used wisely instead of wasted in front of TV

Everyone knows how the best time to learn is when a child, we should use this not just for wordly knowledge but also for spiritual knowledge.

We must understand that Hifz is not just for the Moulana or Hafiz but can be for everyone. A Hafiz is not just for Taraweeh salaah. The duty of parents is to prepare the child for this world and the Akhirah. Many families want all their children to be doctors, engineers, lawyers, accountants. Yet how many want their children to be Hifz of Quran as well as doctors, engineers, lawyers, accountants?

Giving the Quran to the child may be the greatest gift a parent can ever give

Eid Celebration - Do we really care?

The Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “They are days of eating, drinking, and remembrance of God.” [Reported by Bukhari in his Sahih, an authoritative collection of the sayings of the Prophet.]

What to wear for Eid?

The Significance of Eid al-Fitr

The Fiqh of Eid

Eid, A day for Joy

I would like to comment on the attitude of many Muslims today towards Eid.

I will go to Eid prayer and then go back to work
I will go to Eid prayer and then get my lectures
We will celebrate Eid on the weekend
They need me at work
I could not get the time off
This lecture is REALLY important
My situation is difficult
I have no holidays left

Sound familiar?
All too many times I am noticing Muslims, even practising Muslims, have a very low regard to the actual celebration of Eid other than going to Eid Salaat.
Eid only happens twice a year.ONLY TWICE A YEAR!! Eid is OUR festival. Why don't we plan well ahead and make sure that the Eid day will be free?

Oh but we don't know when it will be? Depends on the moon

Yes that is true. So get both days off just in case. At the worst case, the extra day can be spent making the Eid that more special.

Muslims should REALLY celebrate Eid, within the Halal limits obviously.
For many, Eid simply consists of going for prayer and then going to mother's or in-law's place and eating. Eid becomes so boring for children. Probably we should look at how non-Muslims celebrate and take a leaf out of their book.

Why don't we put up decorations around the house?
Why don't we buy presents for each other and have a time to distribute it on Eid day?
Why don't we spare the ladies from the kitchen and order a meal for everyone?
Why don't we REALLY celebrate Eid?
Why don't we do something different from last year?

What message do we present to our children? Do we want to say 'Christmas is better than Eid'?

Everything must stop for Eid! School, University, Work Because it is Eid! None of this business of doing Eid on the weekend! Celebrate Eid on Eid, not when it is convenient to you!

Eid should be a special moment with the family and relatives. Everyone should and must pull out ALL the stops to meet up for Eid. I hear even parents saying to their children

it's your future, you cannot miss school, you cannot miss your lectures

What message does that give to the children? We live in a non-Muslim society where the holidays are focussed around non-Muslim holidays. If we do not make an effort to make our own holiday then the kids will not really remember Eid but they will remember Christmas, Easter. We have to create the environment of celebration in and around us, in the house, in the mosque, in the community, amongst our relatives and neighbours (even non-Muslim ones).

What is really sad is when I see practising Muslims adopt such a laid back attitude to festivities on Eid day. One will see them very active on Dawah to non-Muslims, at Islamic talks and Islamic lectures, on Islamic charity weeks up and down the country, but when it comes to celebrating Eid, it's like all the fire in them just disappears.

Oh I have a lecture I cannot miss!
Oh I could not get the time off!
Oh I will see you on the weekend!

This is the time to celebrate! This is not Haraam! Are you afraid to have fun? This is also Dawah to non-Muslims, show them how Islam is also about having fun! Let them know at work, university and school that we are celebrating Eid! Bring in some sweets for them! But don't forget your own relatives and close family! CELEBRATE!

We must send a message to everyone, Muslim and non-Muslim, that Eid is OUR festival and we will safeguard it at all costs. Lose that and we lose our identity.

There will always be exceptions to the rule, but let's honestly assess our circumstances before we come to any conclusions. Let's make sure that the exception does not become the norm.

Have a great Eid everyone!