In the first hadith in Sahih Bukhari, the messenger of Allah (صلي الله عليه وسلم) said: “The reward of deeds depends upon the intentions and every person will get the reward according to what he intended. So whoever emigrated for worldly benefits or for a woman to marry, his emigration was for what he emigrated for.”1 The majority scholarly opinion is that this hadith applies to all actions, natural or religious (read more about the distinction here).

Continuing our discussion of barakah, you might ask “so what has barakah in it?” The Qur’an: In many verses, the Qur’an itself is called “mubarak”. There is nothing but good in it–every letter, every verse, every surah, every prohibition, every command. The revelation, the recitation, the understanding, and the memorization, as well, are blessed–because they are the speech of Allah (سبحانه وتعالى). The Prophets: All prophets have barakah, especially the last, Muhammad (صلي الله عليه وسلم).

Tabaarak (تَبَارَك) has many meanings. The root word (ba-ra-kaf; like barakah) means: To Remain/Linger. This is why a pool of water is called birkah in Arabic. Same word. To Nurture/Generate. Connotations are that it increases. Under Shari’ah, the divine law of Allah (سبحانه وتعالى), tabaarak means: the presence of divine blessings in an object, and an increase of those blessings. It also means: an increase in the amount of good in something.

In Arabic, there is the letter Ya: ي. It is pronounced similar to the letter Y in English. However, there’s also another type of ya–the ya without dots, which looks like this: ى. As for that ya, sometimes pronounced as a ya, and sometimes, as an alif (ا). For example, the word على (ayn-lam-ya) can be read as ‘ala (on top: عَلَى) or as ‘Ali (as in the name: عَلِي). So how do you know when to pronounce it as a ya, and when to pronounce it as an alif?

Question: What is the best way for a person increase his or her eman? Answerer: Shaykh Yasir Qadhi The single greatest way to increase your eman is to gain knowledge. Study what eman is, study tawhid, the pillars of eman, etc. It automatically increases your eman. Good deeds also increase eman–each and every single good deed and act of worship you perform increases your eman. Fast a day. Read Qur’an. Pray Tahajjud.

19) Ease and Light Crossing the Sirat Towards the end of Judgement Day–a day that will last 50 000 years (Surah Al-Maarij, verse 4)1, after the judgement has been decreed, the people will have to cross the Sirat–a bridge sharper then a sword and thinner then a hair2, that runs over Hell–in order to get to Jannah. People will fall off–there will be hooks like thorns of a size known only to Allah, to snag people into the Fire.

Continuing our study of the fruits of eman, here are some additional fruits that spring from the tree of eman: 18) Benefit From Advice In Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) says: وَذَكِّرْ فَإِنَّ الذِّكْرَى تَنفَعُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ Translation: And continue to remind, for surely the reminder profits the believers. (Surah Adh-Dhariyat, verse 55)1 Notice, here, who benefits from the reminders–not all humankind, but believers. Why? Try this hypothethical situation on for size: there’s a guy who’s sinning–say he’s drinking beer in front of you inside his home.

Continuing our study of the fruits of eman, here are some additional fruits that spring from the tree of eman: 17) Love Here and in the Hereafter In Surah Maryam, Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) says: إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ سَيَجْعَلُ لَهُمُ الرَّحْمَنُ وُدًّا Translation: On those who believe and work deeds of righteousness, (Allah) The Most Gracious bestows love. (Surah Maryam, verse 96)1 That is: on those who have eman and perform good deeds, Allah decrees for them love.

Continuing our study of the fruits of eman, here are some additional fruits that spring from the tree of eman: 16) Brotherhood In Surah Hujraat, Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) says: إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِخْوَةٌ فَأَصْلِحُوا بَيْنَ أَخَوَيْكُمْ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ Translation: The Believers are but a single Brotherhood … (Surah Hujraat, verse 10)1 If you’ve ever been to a different city, you walk into the grocery store, and nobody says anything.

Continuing our study of the fruits of eman, here are some additional fruits that spring from the tree of eman: 15) The Khalifa In Surah Noor, Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) says: وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنكُمْ وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَيَسْتَخْلِفَنَّهُم فِي الْأَرْضِ كَمَا اسْتَخْلَفَ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ وَلَيُمَكِّنَنَّ لَهُمْ دِينَهُمُ الَّذِي ارْتَضَى لَهُمْ وَلَيُبَدِّلَنَّهُم مِّن بَعْدِ خَوْفِهِمْ أَمْنًا يَعْبُدُونَنِي لَا يُشْرِكُونَ بِي شَيْئًا وَمَن كَفَرَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ فَأُوْلَئِكَ هُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ Translation: Allah has promised, to those among you who believe and work righteous deeds, that He will, of a surety, grant them in the land, , inheritance (of power), … [when] they worship Me (alone) and not associate aught with Me.