Bismillah Many scholars like Imam Bukharee rahmatulillah alay and Imam Muslim rahmatulillah alay have clarified the dangers of using da’eef (weak) ahadeeth. Of the scholars that have used weak ahadeeth, they have done so with very strict conditions. Ibn Hajar al-Askalani rahmatullilah alay, the father of the scholars of hadeeth, has said da’eef ahadeeth are only to be used when the following conditions are met: It is well accepted amongst the scholars of hadeeth that the weakness is only minor.

My brothers and sisters in Islam, know that the Muslim is one who never gives up in anything that he or she does. O People! Know that the one who submits himself to Allah, should never feel like he or she does not have the capabilities to accomplish something. My brothers and sisters, sometimes we find it difficult to excel in our fields. If you’re a student — you may feel that you’re not able to get that A+ grade, you think to yourself ‘I’m not that smart, I can’t do it!

Victory comes only by the decree and permission of Allah, and this is true whether the victory is a small personal victory (like meeting a personal goal), the victory of a nation (like winning a battle), or the victory of passing the tests of dunya (like overcoming temptation and lowering your gaze). The evidence that supports this rule is ample, and the quality of the evidence—subhaanAllah, the stories are amazing! One such story comes from Suratul-Fil (The Elephant), and even a moment of reflection upon the story resonates with a message about the Supreme Power of Allah.

‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr bin al-‘Aas (رضي الله عنه‏) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: There are two characteristics that no servant possesses except that he will enter Paradise. They are both very easy, but those who act upon them are quite few: The first is that one of you says ‘Subhan Allah’ ten times, ‘al-Hamdu lillah’ ten times, and ‘Allahu Akbar’ ten times after each prayer.

In Suratul-Furqaan (Surah 25), ayah 63, Allah begins a description of what is translated as “the slaves of Ar-Rahmaan (Allah)…” …عِبَادُ الرَّحْمَنِ In ayah 64, He describes these “slaves” by saying: َالَّذِينَ يَبِيتُونَ لِرَبِّهِمْ سُجَّداً وَقِيَاماً … This is translated as: those who spend the night before their Lord, prostrating (in sujood) and standing. Tafsir ibn Kathir explains this ayah, and compares it to ayahs 17-18 from Suratuth-Thaariyaat (Surah 51):

The king is the one who rules over the land and has power over it. Every king has soldiers. If the king is righteous, then the soldiers are righteous; and if the king is evil, then the soldiers are evil. And the body has a king, too–the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: “There is a piece of flesh in the body; if it is righteous, the whole body is righteous; if it is evil, then the whole body is evil; indeed, it is the heart.

What is a Qareen? A shaytaan, a devil, assigned to someone to mislead and misguide him. Someone to whisper to him in the light of day and the darkness of night. Allah says: وَمَن يَعْشُ عَن ذِكْرِ الرَّحْمَنِ نُقَيِّضْ لَهُ شَيْطَاناً فَهُوَ لَهُ قَرِينٌ Translation: And whoever is blinded from remembrance of Ar-Rahman, we appoint for him a qareen, and he is to him a companion. [Surah Az-Zukhruf, verse 36]

QMajd has alhamdulillah published their second (or third, depending on how you count) newsletter! This one is all about Route 114, the sciences of the Qur’an. Insha’Allah check it out–it covers everything from notes on the Ameer (and how Majd managed to be the largest student body–800+ students) to crosswords to articles from our very own Ilm Fruits! So check it out insha’Allah, there’s lots of ‘ilm to benefit from.

Bismillah حدثنا زهير بن حرب وعثمان بن أبي شيبة وإسحاق بن إبراهيم قال إسحاق أخبرنا وقال الآخران حدثنا جرير عن منصور عن أبي وائل عن عبد الله قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إن الصدق يهدى إلى البر وإن البر يهدى إلى الجنة وإن الرجل ليصدق حتى يكتب صديقا وإن الكذب يهدى إلى الفجور وإن الفجور يهدى إلى النار وإن الرجل ليكذب حتى يكتب كذابا Translation: Narrated ‘Abdullah: The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: Truthfulness (sidq) leads to righteousness (birr), and righteousness leads to Paradise.

Having already discussed the unlimited number of Allah’s names and attributes, we turn now to an authentic hadith that seems to clash with what we said before. The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: إِنَّ لِلَّهِ تِسْعَةً وَتِسْعِينَ اسْمًا مِائَةً إِلاّ وَاحِدًا مَنْ أَحْصَاهَا دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ . Translation: Indeed, Allah has 99 names (one hundred minus one); whoever memorizes them will enter Jannah. [Saheeh Bukhari and Saheeh Muslim]