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Imam Anwar al-Awlaki says: Yaqeen is certainty in your beliefs over your physical reality. Your heart soaks up the belief and becomes unshakable.

The Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) had it. All four khulafa had it.

O Allah, grant us belief in the hereafter and make our hearts firm.

During the reign of Prophet Muhammad (صلي الله عليه وسلم), and later, the reign of Abu Bakr, the first Khalifa, may Allah be pleased with him, Khalid bin Walid, commander of the Muslim army, rocked the non-Muslim armies again and again and again and lead the Muslims to many victories. In this way, he became a fitnah–people ascribed victory to him, and not to Allah (سبحانه وتعالى).

After the battle of Yarmuk, the newly-instated Khalifa, ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) removed Khalid bin Walid from leadership of the army and instated Abu Ubaydah (RA) as the commander. This is after Khalid bin Walid lead the Muslims to victory against gigantic armies–30k, 50k, 75k, 100k, and so on–monstrously huge battles, and he won. He rocked, and he knew it.

To memorize the Qur’an, regardless of your learning style, utilize your senses (sight and sound) plus your intellect to reinforce your memorization inshaAllah.

1. See it: See the Qur’an in Arabic. A tajweed colour-coded mushaf works. Pick a script you like, and read it over a few times. Learn how the letters look. Read it after you listen to it a few times.
2. Hear it: Download your favourite reciter and listen to the particular verse you want to memorize. Listen at least a few times, both before and after you try to memorize.
3. Understand it: Learn the translation in your native language, both of the individual words and of the ayat. When need to remember and get stuck on a word, you can always recall the translation in your native language and translate.
4. Associate it: Associate words, meanings, and sounds with anything. For example, the word tansawna (to forget) sounds like the English words “ton sauna”. These associations greatly aid your memorization.
5. Practice it: Every chance you get to recite it, in any prayer, recite it!  Recite it over and over and over and over until you can do it without hardly thinking about it.  Eventually, you reach a point where it becomes ingrained into your subconscious mind.

And of course, straighten your intention before-hand (to memorize for the reward, for example), make du’a constantly, and utilize the early part of the morning (Fajr to sunrise). May Allah aid you in your endeavour.

Some companions asked the Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) “Who are the people most tested?” The Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) said “The rightly guided people.”

Allah tests people according to the strength of their faith. As you increase in iman, your tests become tougher and tougher.

Allah tests everyone, even non-believers. So if you’re going to be tested, be tested for fleeing to Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) and the truth.

The scholar/monk said to the boy, after he defeated the beast: verily, you will be tested.

The sunnah of Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) is to test those who come with the truth –place tests in their path.

When the Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) first received revelation and visited Waraqa, he said: I wish I had the life/strength to live until the time when your people kick you out.

The Prophet said: Are they going to kick me out?” As in, “how do you know?”

After the boy killed the lion, news spread fast–news arrives like an ant and leaves like an elephant. Sensationalism.

The boy meets the scholar and informs him of what occurred. The scholar replied with: “O my boy, today you are better then me. You will be tested, so when it happens, do not reveal me (don’t rat me out).”

How was the boy better? He gained knowledge and implemented it, and increased in humility.

The lie of the scholar/monk to the boy falls under the three types of acceptable lies, a situation of war.

A beast blocked the path of the people. The boy said: “O Allah, if the monk is dearer to you, then kill the beast.” He threw the stone, hit the beast, and it died. (The people came to celebrate him as a great hero.)

Notice the natural inclination of the boy–to help the people. He’s attached to the people, he knew the truth, and wanted to help the people. Note also his bias towards the monk–when he made du’a, he asked about the monk. He didn’t say “O Allah, if the magician is more hated to you” or “O Allah, if the magician is more beloved to you”. He ties his love of Allah to his love of the monk. Subhanallah.

In Islam, lying is haram (prohibited: to lie entails a sin, and to abstain from it enails good deeds). However, there are three circumstances in which a lie is allowed: for a husband to create love and tranqulity between himself and his wife, for one to settle disputes, and in war.

1. For a man to create harmony with his wife: One may lie to one’s wife in order to create peace and avoid arguementation–for example, if one’s wife asks “do I looks fat and ugly?”, woe to the one who says “yes”.

Beware that **lies to steal property or rights are haram by consensus!**

2. To settle disputes: When two argue and stop speaking to each other and so on, one may lie to bring them together–for example, tell them each, seperately “hey, you know, the other guy says you’re so awesome, you’re like, his hero man!” In this case, the action is mustahab and one receives rewards for it.
3. In war: in war, one may lie. For example, if captured as a prisoner of war, one may lie about Muslim armies, numbers, locations, strategies, etc. In this case, the action is fard, and must be carried out.

Wallahu ‘alim. When in doubt, ask people of knowledge.

The key to attract an amazing spouse is to nurture in yourself those qualities that appeal to a person of that standard.

Many of us pine for the perfect spouse–realize he or she does not exist. Pick the best you can find, and learn to live with and cover their warts and weaknesses.

Set your criteria (based on the hadith of the Prophet, peace be upon him)–have they memorized the Qur’an? Do they speak Arabic? Do they pray Tahajjud (middle-of-the-night prayer) once a week?–then ask yourself what a person of those qualities would like in a spouse, and instill those qualities into yourself.

When you wear Islam, wear it properly and responsibly. –A. M.

When you grow a beard or put on hijab, be aware of the responsibility. You represent the Muslims, more then ever. Represent properly!

Don’t mess up and appear at clubs or bars and similar places. With the greater reward comes the greater potential of punishment–you can misguide many, many people if you represent Islam improperly.

May Allah protect us from anti-da’wah.