Allah our Lord

If we see a beautiful picture painted on good canvas, do we not think that an artist produced it?

If we see an automatic machine, regularly manufacturing articles, are we not led to think that there is an engineer who made, designed and invented its system?

If we see a book written in any scientific field, surely we are aware that an author wrote it?

Surely the picture could not have been created without an artist!

Surely the machine could not work without an engineer!

Surely the book could not be written without an author!

Is it possible to say that this book in your hand was written by chance?

Would you believe it if someone told you that it happened that the paper was scattered by wind, and ink was spilt on it, and thus the book was written?

Basic human sense does not believe such a supposition but rather, makes fun of it. Thus everything needs a maker or a creator; nothing can come into existence without there being an originator: the creator.

Look at the sky and do you not wonder how the bright and beautiful sun sends down its light and heat to the people on earth? Look at the land upon which we live and ask how do plants grow on it?

Look at the water we drink, the air we breathe; the sun when it sets and the night when it comes; then, look at the beautiful stars which are impossible to count, and the light of the moon.

Look, and then think how were these wonders created and who then created them? Are they created by themselves or do they have a creator who made them?

They are as in need of a maker or a creator, as a house which needs a builder to be built; or a chair, on which we sit, needs a carpenter to be made; or a picture needs an artist in order to be painted, or a book needs an author to be written. And certainly Allah is their Creator and Maker Who created everything.

Let us ponder about ourselves and our bodies, and ask:

Who created us in this unique way?
Who gave us two eyes with which to see?
And the tongue with which we talk?
And two hands with which we work?
And two legs with which we walk?
And two ears with which we hear?
Who created the food we eat and the water we drink?

Not the farmer who cultivated the crops nor the plumber who connected the pipes. Without food and water, one will surely die.

Who gave us the air which we breathe? Without air, surely we will suffocate and die.

Indeed, our Creator is He Who created the heavens, the earth, water, air and the stars. And He is All-Great and All-Powerful. It is He Who created and provided us with all these amenities of life.

Knowing Allah, His Greatness and His Grace

The Holy Prophet (p.bu.h.) said: "O' people! verily, there is no prophet after me, nor any Ummah after you (Muslims). So, take care to worship your Lord, perform your five ritual prayers, fast in the appointed month (Ramadhan), make Pilgrimage to the House of your Lord (Mecca), give the alms of your wealth in order to purify your souls thereby, and obey the Holders of Authority, so that you enter the Paradise of your Lord."

Khisal-i-Saduq, p.152

Imam Amir-ul-Mu'mineen Ali (a.s.) said: "Having the Greatness of the Creator in your mind would make you realise the insignificance of the creatures in your view."

Nahjul-Balagha, Statement 129

Imam Amir-ul-Mu'mineen Ali (a.s.) said: "Blessed is he who sincerely devotes the entirity of his actions, knowledge, love, hatred, receiving, relinquishing, speech, silence, deeds and statements absolutely to Allah."

Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 77, p.289

Imam Sadiq (a.s.) said: "The heart is the sanctuary of Allah, therefore, do not settle therein anything but Allah." (The sacred place of the heart belongs to Allah and Him alone. Therefore, keep the love of the world out of it.)

Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 70, p. 25

Imam Sadiq (a.s.) said: "Our true followers are those who, when they are alone, remember Allah abundantly." (That is, they avoid committing vices in private where there is no barrier for them to commit sin by the mere remembrance of Allah.)

Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 93, p. 162

Imam Baqir (a.s.) said: "By Allah, He, the Exalted, expects of people but two traits; that they confess for Him the blessings in order that He increases His bounties for them; and that they make confessions about their evil actions and then He forgives those sins for them."

Al-Kafi, vol. 2, p. 426

Imam Husayn-ibn-Ali (a.s.) said: "Verily, Allah, the Exalted, has not created human beings except for recognising Him and worshipping Him as (the consequence of ) knowing Him; and when they worship Him they would lack the need of adoring any human being (or things) other than Him because of that worship."

Safinat-ul-Bihar, vol. 2, p. 180

Imam Ali-ibn-ul-Husayn (a.s.) said: "There is no destruction (Hell) for a believer having three qualities: Confessing that there is no god besides Allah, the One Who has no partner; the intercession of the Messenger of Allah; and the vastness of the Grace of Allah."

Safinat-ul-Bihar, p. 517

Let go and let God.

They say that God is everywhere,
and yet we always think of Him as somewhat of a recluse.
God is within you,
but we place Him outside and worship Him.

God gives birds their food,
but they must fly for it.

Prayer is not changing God's reluctance but taking hold of God's willingness.


Who falls for love of God shall rise a stare.

If we just stop looking for the Red Sea to split,
we might see all the wonderful miracles
God makes all around us every day.

God does not care much for the importance of our work,
as for the love with which they are done.

All religions are paths but the paths are not God.

God is that, the greater than which cannot be perceived.

Love is the highest gift of God.

Abstaining from luxuries is the way to God.

By practicingGod's remembrance,
your inner being will be illuminated little by little,
and you'll achieve some measure of detachment from the world.

God is the East and the West
and wherever you turn, there is God's face.


The prayer most acceptable to
God comes from a thankful heart.

Sooner or later you have to seek God. Why not now?

whoever wants to find God will find a way to Him.

Sleep in peace, God is awake.

God brings men into deep waters,
not to drown them but to cleanse them.

Know that all which is other than God veils you from Him.

All God's testing has a purpose, someday you'll see the light.
What He asks is that you trust Him, walk by faith and not by sight.

God, often in His wisdom,sends angels down to walk with us.
We know them best as friends.

Don't pray that God's on your side; pray that you're on His side.

Some people think it is unfair for

God to put thorns on roses.

Others praise Him for putting roses on thorns.

A person who is not kind, doesnt know God, because God is love.

The Quran on God's Love

Quran, Chapter 3, Verses 31 and 32:

Say: if you love God, then follow me, God will love you and forgive you your faults, and God is forgiving, merciful
Say: obey God and the messenger; but if they turn back, then surely God does not love the unbelievers

Islam in one sense is different from some other major religions of the world. The picture of God that has been depicted in Quran, as we Muslims all believe, is a combination of love toward good people and aversion toward bad people. This has been repeated in at least 40 verses of holly Quran with a clear definition for good people and bad people. This article aims to distinguish between these two groups based on Quranic verses and clarify the image of people whom God loves.

As mentioned in above two verses, the first step is to follow the path that has been shown to us by god's messenger. This is the most beautiful picture that one can demonstrate as a mutual love. If you do love your God, you are therefore prompted to follow the path that has been shown to you and prepare yourself to receive his love. But it is also stated that the people who do not follow the right path are not to be loved by God.

This may need a little bit more clarification on the definition of right path and people who are to be loved by God. Perhaps the most distinguished characteristic for these people which has been mentioned in 5 verses of Quran (2:195, 3:134, 3:148, 5:13 and 5:93) is to do good to others. Doing good could be helping poor people, supporting orphans or even respecting one's parents which have been also mentioned in various verses of Quran.

Others, based on Quran, are people who:

guard themselves against sin (3:76, 9:4, 9:7)
judge fairly (5:42, 49:9, 60:8)
fight in God's way (61:4)
purify themselves (2:222, 9:108)
turn much to God (2:222)

trust in God (3:159)
and are patient (3:146).

On the other hand, God does not love the person who is:an unbeliever (3:32, 30:45)
arrogant (16:23, 4:36, 31:18, 57:23)cruel (3:57, 3:140, 42:40)
unfaithful and ungrateful (2:276, 22:38)
exceeding the limits (2:190, 5:87, 7:55)
extravagant (6:141, 7:31)
mischief-maker (2:205, 5:64, 28:77)
treacherous (8:58, 4:107)
and exulting in riches (28:76)

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Why do we pray?


After a long and hectic day at work, how difficult it is for a tired person to go out to the mosque and concentrate on his prayers to Allah, the Almighty. Snuggled up in a warm and cozy bed, how difficult it is to get up at the call of the Mu'adhin: "Come to prayer! Come to success!"

So Why Do We Pray?..

Have You Ever Asked Your Self That?

PRAYER: A CRY OF THE INNER SOUL His arrogance and pride have often led man to behave as an oppressor and a tyrant. Some men have been carried away by their own self-importance that they have even claimed divinity.
Pharoah, the ruler of Egypt, was among those who announced: "I am your supreme Lord!" With his sense of greatness and pride, Pharoah subjugated the Israelites and made their lives wretched and miserable. But is man really as strong and great as his ego tells him?
The Qur'an tells us the reality of man’s nature: "It is Allah Who created you in a state of weakness, then gave you strength after weakness, then after strength, gave you weakness and a hoary head: He creates what He wills, and He is the All-knowing, the All-powerful"
[Surah 30:54] Weakness in the beginning and weakness in the end: This is the essence of man.
He is so weak and helpless at birth that his entire existence depends on his parents and his family.
If he were to be abandoned in these first crucial years, he could not survive on his own.
He needs a gentle and loving hand, not only in his infancy, but in his childhood and even in his teenage years. As this child enters the years of youth and independence, he begins to take control of his own life.
He looks with pride at his strong physique, his handsome features and his many talents. He begins to despise those of lesser abilities, even scorning his parents, who exhausted their own health to nurture him.
He becomes unjust and cruel, using his strength and vigour to dominate others. He thinks he is master, free to act as he wills. But does this youth, these good looks last forever? In only a few decades, he begins to lose his strength…his youth is replaced by old age. Weakness in the beginning, weakness in the end." The message is clear: The real Master is Allah. He Alone is Mighty, He Alone, is Great. He Alone is never tired, never needs rest, is never dependent upon anyone.
Allahu Akbar! - Allah is the Greatest! In our everyday lives, we say a warm thank you for the small acts of kindness which others do for us.
So what about thanking Allah, Who, in His infinite Mercy, has provided for every single one of our needs. Just observe the beauty and perfection of the earth around you and fall down in gratitude to your Lord.
PRAYER: THE ASCENSION FOR A BELIEVER After the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) was commissioned for Prophethood, the first thing he was commanded to do by Allah was to pray.
The angel Jibreel u came to him and a spring of water gushed out of the rocks in front of them. Jibreel u then showed Allah’s Messenger how to make ablution. He then showed him how to offer prayers to Allah.
He began to pray two rak'ah twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. He then went home and showed his wife Khadijah what he had learnt from the angel Jibreel. From that time, the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) never went through a day without praying.
Just before his migration to Madinah, he was taken on a night journey to Jerusalem and then to the heavens (Mi'raj).
During this journey, Allah, Almighty, ordered him to pray five times a day. This prayer was a gift given to every Believer to enable him to experience a spiritual ascension five times a day.
The Prophet said: "The prayer is the Mi'raj of the Believer." It gives every Muslim the chance to communicate with his Lord. During each prayer, the Muslim recites Surah Al-Fatihah:
This recitation is not a dull monologue by the Believer, but Allah promises that it is a conversation between Him and the worshipper.
The Messenger of Allah reported that Allah, the Almighty says: ‘When my slave says in his prayer: "All praise is for Allah, the Lord of the worlds," I say: "My slave has praised Me" When he says: "The Merciful, the Compassionate, Master of the Day of Judgement," I say: "My slave has glorified Me." When he says: "You Alone we worship and your Aid we seek," I say: "This is between Me and My slave." When he says: "Show us the Straight Path," I say: "This is for My slave, and I give My slave what he wants."
The number of prayers in a day have been set at five by Allah almighty. The believer has no choice in the matter but to obey. To reduce the number of prayers would not only be disobedience, it would also lose the benefits of prayer.
For example, a room is only good fro residence if it has four walls and a roof.
If only one wall or the roof were to be removed, what use could it be? Similarly, the prayer will only achieve its purpose and be of use on the Day when nothing except one's deeds will be of use, if it is observed in the prescribed manner.

PRAYER: A PILLAR OF ISLAM
The Messenger of Alah once said: "Prayer is the pillar of religion.'
[Al-Baihaqi]
This makes the image very clear: Islam is like a building supported by five columns; remove just one column and the entire building weakens.
In the same way, when a person stops praying, his faith becomes weak, and the mildest blows can cause it to crumble.
The prayer is so very important that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:Namaz is a piller of Religion. If Namaz is accepted all other deeds are accepted. If Namaz is rejected then all other Deeds are rejected

How true is this statement!

If you look at people walking down the road, it may be difficult to distinguish Muslims from non-Muslims.
Islam is not marked upon a believer's forehead, and neither is Kufr stamped on an infidel's face.
But at the time of prayer, you can separate the two groups with ease.
The believer will abandon his work, his business to join the rows of Muslims in prayer, while the disbeliever will carry on with his worldly affairs.

Surah Al-Muddathir narrates an interesting dialogue which will take place on the Day of Judgement.

The believers will ask the people of Hell-fire:

"What has caused you to enter Hell?" They will say: "We were not of those who used to offer their prayers. Nor we used to feed the poor; and we used to talk falsehoods (all that which Allah hated) with vain talkers, and we used to belie the Day of Recompense. Until there came to use (the death) that is certain."
[Surah 72 :42-47]

The rejecters of truth are silent in this world, but in the next world they will themselves speak the truth.

PRAYER IS LIKE A FORTRESS

Prayer is the basis of all good actions. Below are quoted two passages of the Quran, both of which list a number of good actions. Prayer comes before and after all good actions:-
A. Surah al-Muminun [23: 1-11]

"Successful indeed are the believers. Those who offer their Salat (prayers) with all solemnity and full submissiveness.

And those who turn away from Al-Laghw (dirty, false, evil vain talk, falsehoods and all that Allah has forbidden). And those who pay the Zakat.

And those who guard their chastity (i.e. private parts, from illegal sexual acts). Except from their wives or (the captives and slaves) that their right hands possess, -for then, they are free from blame.

But whoever seeks beyond that, then those are the transgressors. Those who are faithfully true to their trusts and to their covenants.

And those who strictly guard their Salat (five compulsory congregational prayers at their fixed stated hours). These are indeed the inheritors. Who shall inherit the Firdaus (Paradise). They shall dwell therein forever."

 Surah Al-Marif: [70: 19-35]

"Verily, man (disbeliever) was created very impatient; irritable (discontented) when evil touches him; and niggardly when good touches him.

Except those devoted to Salat (prayers), those who remain constant in their Salat (prayers), and those in whose wealth there is a known right, for the beggar who asks, and for the unlucky who has lost his property and wealth, (and his means of living has been straitened).

And those who believe in the Day of Recompense, and those who fear the torment of their Lord. Verily! The torment of their Lord is that before which none can feel secure.

And those who guard their chastity (ie, private parts from illegal sexual acts), except with their wives and the (women slaves and captives) whom their right hands possess, -for (then) they are not to be blames.

But whosoever seeks beyond that, then it is those who are trespassers.

And those who keep their trusts and covenants, and those who stand firm in their testimonies, and those who guard their Salat (prayers) well; such shall dwell in the Gardens (i.e. Paradise) honored."