THE BLESSING OF ISLAM

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ Islam is based on five : to testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is Allah’s apostle, to perform prayer, to pay the obligatory charity, to perform pilgrimage, and to fast Ramadan.” 

The starting point in Islam is the two testimonies : the Oneness of Allah and the prophethood of Muhammad (PBUH) . Prayer is a daily worship. Obligatory charity, i.e. , zakat , is a yearly worship ; so is fasting the Ramadan month. Pilgrimage is a once-in-life worship.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ There is a piece of flesh in the body. If it becomes good, the whole body becomes good, and if it becomes spoilt , the whole body becomes spoilt, and that is the heart.”

Islam emphsizes the heart as a symbol of intention.  Allah knows what we hide, i.e. , what we intend. One may deceive anyone else, but certainly he cannot decieve Allah , i.e. , God. What counts is not what you reveal, but rather what you conceal. God knows what undeclared intentions we may cover up.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ Allah has accepted my invocation to forgive what whispers in the hearts of my nation unless they act or speak .”

Allah does not hold you responsible for what you think. You are responsible to Allah for what you actually do or say. This is out of God’s mercy.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ Allah said , ‘ Man disbelieved me when he had no right to do so and abused me when he must not . His disbelief was when he claimed that I cannot recreate him as he was. His abuse was when he claimed that I have a son, whereas I am too glorified to have a wife or a son .’ ”

To re-do something is easier than doing it for the first time. For Allah , to recreate humans from death on the Day of Resurrection is obviously easier than creating them on their birth although the terms “easy” and “difficult” do not apply to Allah the Almighty. Further, Allah has no son , no daughter, and no wife , and he has no equal.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ Do not believe the people of the Book nor disbelieve them, but say, ‘ We believe in Allah and what is revealed to us.’ ”

Islam holds that the books of Jews and Christians have undergone serious changes . Even Jews and Christians themselves , i.e. , the people of the Book, admit such changes. Their book is now called The Bible , with its Old Testament and New Testament. Since The Bible is not the pure word of Allah , although it may include some of it, it is difficult to be sure of which sentences are truly Allah’s words and which ones are not. That is why the safe position of a Muslim with regard to The Bible may be not to accept and not to reject. But surely, a Muslim believes in Allah and The Holy Quran as Allah's pure final complete revealed Book.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “Whoever dies worshipping a partner with Allah enters the Hell-fire.”

Allah may forgive any sin except holding partners with Him. This major sin is unforgivable by Allah. It is the only unforgivable sin. Allah is one and has no equal. The Oneness of Allah is a major principle of faith. If one believes in two or three gods, the whole essence of faith collapses, and he is no more a believer, according to Islam . Allah is one; this principle was emphasized by all prophets including Abraham , Noah , Moses , Jesus, and Muhammad. No prophet said that Allah is three; nor did any prophet say that he is Allah besides Allah or that Allah is hiding in him or united with him.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ The keys of the Unseen are five . Only Allah knows when the Hour comes . He sends the rain down. He knows what wombs carry. No soul knows what it earns tomorrow . None knows where he will die. Verily, Allah is the All-Knower and the All- Aware .”

There are five things known by God only . No one except Allah knows when the Day of Resurrection will come. Only Allah knows for sure when and where and how much rain will fall. Only Allah knows, from the first moment after fertilization , the number and sex of embryos that a womb will carry , even before fertilization. Only Allah knows what will happen to you tomorrow and in the days to come. Only Allah knows when and where and how each one of us will die.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said , “ The Hour will not come until the sun rises from the west. When it does so and is seen by people, they all will believe , when it will do the soul no good to believe.”

One of the signs of the approach of the Day of Resurrection is that the sun rises form the west, instead of the east . When people see such an unusual rise, disbelievers will believe in Allah , but it will be too late . If we believe that Allah is the creator and the designer of the universe, we accept the westerly rise of the sun . If Allah has made the sun rise from the east so for, why can He not make it rise from the west?

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ The adulterer is not a believer at the time of adultery; nor is a person at the time of drinking alcohol ; nor is a thief at the time of stealing.” 

When a believer commits a wrong act such as adultery or stealing although he knows that Allah strongly prohibits this act, he cannot be a believer at the moment of his violation of Allah’s commandments . Had he been a true believer , he would not have done what he did. Belief may pass through moments of weakness that sometimes reach the threshold of disbelief by some transgressors . This moment of disbelief is the moment when disobedience to Allah may take place. Here comes the function of prayer , which is performed five times daily by a Muslim so as to become a regular meminder of Allah. The Islamic principle is this: worship God , i.e. , Allah, as if you see Him because if you do not see Him , He sees you.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was asked about the greatest sins , and he said, “ To join partners with Allah , to commit murder, to be undutiful to parents, and to give a false testimony.”

The most horrible sin in Islam is to hold partners with Allah; this sin is unforgivable by Allah . Murder is a major sin : if you kill one , it is almust equal to killing all people. Undutifulness to parents is a major sin. So is giving a false witness, often resulting in seriously hurting and wronging someone.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ Allah has made mercy into one hundred parts. He kept ninety-nine parts with Himself and sent down one part on the earth . Because of this single part, creatures are merciful to each other , so much that a mare lifts up its hoof away from its baby animal lest it should trample on it.” 

The Prophet’s saying shows that Allah’s mercy is very wide and very abundant . God is merciful and He shows His mercy in ways we know and ways we do not know . Even animals enjoy His mercy and show it as well. Look around, look at yourself, your body, your health, your wife and kids , your property , your friends, your job, your income, and even your voice . Look , think , and see God’s generosity and mercy to you . You should thank God , i.e. , Allah, at every minute.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ All the sins of my followers will be forgiven [ by Allah ] except those committed openly or disclosed to people.”

God may forgive any sin except those sins committed openly and those sins committed privately but discolsed to people by sinners boasting of their evil acts. The rule is this : don’t sin, but if you do, don’t do it publicly . If you sin, don’t boast of your sinning ; at least, feel ashamed of yourself, a step necessary for future repentance.

Prophet Muhammad said, “ Whoever leads people in prayer should shorten it because among them there are the sick , the infirm , and those in need for time.” 

Islam is a religion of easiness and practicality . There should be no exaggeration even in worship, even in prayer. Islam is the religion of moderation in everything.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said , “ If a person passes wind, urine , or stool, his prayer is not accepted until he performs ablution.” 

Ablution is one of the conditions of prayer in Islam. Ablution achieves cleanliness, very much emphasized in Islam . Other conditions of prayer are purity of the body, which requires a bath after the marital sexual intercourse, purity of clothes , and purity of the prostration place. 

Prayer in Islam is a spiritual submission before Allah and a practical daily lesson in purity and cleanliness. Ablution , by which the mouth, the nose , the face, the arms , the head , the ear, and the legs are cleaned with water , also prepares the Muslim psychologically to stand for prayer in complete submission to Allah .

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “Congregational prayer is twenty-seven times superior to prayer performed individually.”

Islam emphasizes collective prayer , rather than individual prayer, for the social advantages of the former one. Collective prayer enhances social sympathy, social solidarity, unity, mutual understanding, friendship, brotherhood, and exchanging ideas , and opinions. Collective prayer is a practical daily lesson in warm social relations , unity , and fraternity.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ If one does not give up forged speech and evil deeds , Allah is not in need of his leaving food and drink[, i.e. , Allah will not accept his fast ] .”

Fasting in Islam requires abstaining from food , drinks, and marital sexual intercourse from dawn to sunset , with nothing going down the throat at all . However , fasting is not this only ; it also requires abstaining from all evil speech and all evil deeds, which is , in fact, the ultimate goal of fasting.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “Whoever fasts one day for Allah’s sake will be protected from Hell-fire by Allah.”

Fasting is the only worship which is not seen by the public: it is completely between the individual and Allah. Therefore , fasting is a very special kind of worship and its reward is really special and great .

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ A woman must not fast [ an optional fast ] in her husband’s presence unless he permits her to do so.” 

Fasting is two kinds: obligatory in the month of fasting and optional outside this month . The woman does not need her husband’s permission for obligatory fasting , but she needs it for optional fasting because fasting requires refrainment from sexual intercourse during the fasting hours, i.e. , from dawn to sunset. If she wants to optionally fast, her husband has the right to be asked because her fasting involves her husband in a way or another.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ He who eats [ something ] forgetfully while fasting should continue his fasting, for Allah has provided him with some food or drink.”

It may happen that while you are fasting, you drink or eat something out of forgetfulness. If this occurs , go on with your fasting , for your eating or drinking has not been intentional.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ You will be rewarded for whatever you spend for Allah’s sake even if it were a morsel which you put in your wife’s mouth .” 

You will be rewarded by Allah for any good act you do if your intention is to please Allah . You will be rewarded even for what you spend on your wife and children as long as you do it for God’s sake.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “Protect yourself from Hell-fire by giving even half a datefruit.”

Islam emphasizes charity, both obligatory and optional. To help the needy is a basic worship in Islam . Give, and be generous and helpful. Give even a date-fruit, even half a datefruit ; a penny or a cent is good enough. Give according to your ability.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ The upper hand is better than the lower hand. Start giving charity to your dependents . Charity is the best when given from the surplus [ beyond expenses ] . Whoever abstains from asking for charity shall be provided and sustained by Allah.”

To give is better than to take. When you give, begin with the members of your family and then give your closer relatives. If everyone gives or if the able give, the poor will be no more poor, and charity will not make the rich poor. Charity keeps the rich rich , but makes the poor no more in need.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ If a Muslim plants a tree or sows seeds and then a bird, a human , or an animal eats from it, it is regarded a charitable act for him [ by Allah ] .”

In Islam , charity is not only giving money to the poor . It has a very much wider meaning . Doing anything good to people is an act of charity. A nice word is charity. A smile to a brother is charity. Removing a stone off the road is charity. Planting a tree from whose fruit a bird or human may eat is charity, for which the doer is rewarded by Allah.

Prophet Muhammd (PBUH) said, “ Protect yourselves from the Fire even if with half a date . If one does not find this, do so by a good word.” 

The prophet urges doing good deeds no matter how small they may seem . Give half a date in charity, a penny, a cent , or even less than this. Anything that you give for God's sake is accepted by Allah, and he will reward you for it . Do not belittle any act of charity that you can do . If you do not have any surplus money to give , a good word is acceptable. This word has a great value: it makes someone happy; it cheers him up ; this is good enough . In Islam , a good word is an act of charity; removing a stone off the road is an act of charity too. Any good act is credited for you as an act of charity.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ May Allah be merciful to a man lenient in selling , buying , and demanding his money back.” 

In Islam, all life is one unit, and good ethics is required in all aspects of life including business. One is to be lenient if he sells, buys, or asks for repaying a debt.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “Swearing [in order to sell] may help the seller to market his commodities, but it deprives him of Allah’s blessing.”

When one sells, he does not need to use God’s name again and again in swearing to promote his articles . God’s name need not be used sparingly in swearing over everyday matters. The seller can sell if he adopts a policy of honesty in promotion and pricing , and swearing by God is not essential to the marketing process.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “If you sell , you must measure, and if you buy, you must ask the seller to measure for you .” 

Islam emphasizes preciseness and exactness. Right is right: you get your right, and I get mine. Islam honors justice very highly: you get what you deserve, and I get what I do.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ Do not urge a person to return what he has purchased so as to sell him your own goods .” 

If your aim is good, your means to it should be good too. It is desirable to sell and make a profit, but not at any cost or by any means . You should not hurt others in the process. Love for others what you love for yourself. Islam is essentially based on brotherhood.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “Trading in alcohol is prohibited.” 

To protect the mind , Islam has categorically prohibited not only drinking alcohol , but also producing, transporting, selling , buying , and serving it. Islam forbids drinking even one drop of it . The drinker is punished with eighty stripes in public. Islam is the only religion or -ism in the world that forbids alcohol, another evidence of its perfection.

Pr o p h e t Mu h amma d (PBUH) s a i d , “Muslims should abide by their conditions.” 

Islam urges Muslims to honor their contracts. If you sign an agreement in politics , business , or whatever, you have to respect your signature . A contract is a contract. A promise is a promise. This is in line with truthfulness and justice , both of which Islam honors highly . Unfortunately, some countries or religions consider violating the pledge a duty or a desirable tactic. Islam does not allow breaking agreements even with non-Muslims unless the other party breaks them.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ The best among you are the best debt repayers.” 

Islam is not worship only; it is mainly behavior: how to deal with other people in the right way in all aspects of life.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ He who takes a [ false ] oath so as to grab others’ property illegally will meet Allah enraged on him.” 

No one should transgress his own limits. You cannot possess what is not yours by any means . A false oath will make the transgression a double sin: getting what is not yours and using Allah’s name in a lying act.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ The oath is to be taken by the defendant.” 

If there is no clear evidence against the defendant who denies the charge, he has to take the oath. Of course, a Muslim knows that the oath has to be true because a false intentional oath leads to Allah’s anger.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “Verily, Allah forbids you to swear by your fathers. If you have to swear , swear by Allah or be silent.” 

If you have to take an oath on a serious matter, do not swear by your father , grandfather , or any other person dear to you . Do not swear even by a prophet , not by Prophet Muhammad himself . If you have to swear , the only one you may swear by is Allah. Allah is the Greatest, the Hightest, the One . He has no partners or equals.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ None of you will have faith until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself.” 

If this motto is applied by everyone , evil deeds will surely disappear. If everyone asks himself this question before he acts, “Do I like this act to be done to me?” , no one will ever be hurt by any other person. The golden rule is this : treat others as you wish to be treated. Love for others what you love for yourself . Hate for them what you hate for yourself.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ A Muslim is a brother of another Muslim ; therefore, he does not wrong him or let him down. If you fulfill a brother’s need, Allah will fulfill yours. If you support him in moments of distress, Allah will do the same to you on the Day of Resurrection . If you screen him , Allah will screen you on the Day of Resurrection.” 

Islam emphasizes fraternity among Muslims, kind-heartedness, and sympathy. The Prophet’s saying is quite self-evident .

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ I and the orphan’s custodian are in Paradise like this.” 

He showed his index finger and middle finger separatedly. This prophetic saying urges for social solidarity . If you take care of an orphan and meet all or most of his financial and psychological needs, you will be with prophets in Paradise . In Islam , you go to Paradise mainly by your good deeds, not by having another one slain or put on the cross to carry your sins. You , no one else, carry your good deeds and your bad deeds to Allah on the Day of Judgment , and He will judge you accordingly , supported by Allah’s mercy, forgiveness, and grace.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ You see believers resemble the body in their mutual mercy, love, and sympathy: if a part of the body is not well , all the body shares sleeplessness and fever with it.” 

This is a touching simile, indeed . The community of believers resembles the body . If an organ aches, all the body aches . A believer does and should care about what afflicts other believers. This is the meaning of one nation : unity of feelings, unity of cares, and unity of objectives. A believer cannot be heedless,

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ Gabriel continued to recommend the neighbor so much so that I thought he would make him an heir.” 

Islam emphasizes the rights of neighbors. We have to be kind to them, care for them, worry about them , and share feelings with them . Islam goes strongly for social sympathy and solidarity with special emphasis on relatives, neighbors, and friends.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said , “Muslims should abide by their conditions.” 

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ A believer to another is like a building structure , whose different parts strengthen each other .” Then he interlaced his fingers. Again , believers have to form a unity in feelings , actions , and reactions. No believer should be left to suffer alone. Believers, wherever they are, are one nation, one unit , one power, and one goal . Each should get the support of all.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ Swear allegiance for me not to join partners with Allah, not to steal , not to commit adultery, not to kill your children , not to accuse the innocent, and not to disobey Allah.” 

What Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) required is what all prophets did: worshipping Allah only, no theft, no adultery, no homocide, no lying , and no disobedience to Allah. If one abides by all the above, he is a true surrenderer and submitter to Allah, i.e. , a Muslim.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ Your servants are your brethren, rendered by Allah under your command. Whoever has a brother under his command should feed him of what he eats and dress him of what he wears. Do not burden them with what they cannot bear ; if you do so , then help them.” 

If you have servants, you have to be kind and merciful to them. They have to eat what you eat and wear what you wear. Do not despise or belittle them . This is Islam: mercy and justice everywhere.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ Envy is impermissible except in two cases: that of a man whom Allah has given wealth and he spends it righteously and that of a man whom Allah has given wisdom [ , i.e. , the Holy Quran ] and he acts according to it and teaches it .” 

Basically, Islam forbids envy , which is wishing to have what belongs to others or hating someone simply because of his wealth , property , or prestige. However , Islam allows envy in two matters: to envy a righteous man earning his wealth righteously and spending it so too and to envy a learned man abiding by the religion that he knows. In brief, Islam allows you to envy righteous people and to do your best to be as righteous as they are or even to surpass them.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ The best meal ever eaten is that which is earned by one’s own work . Allah’s prophet, David, PBUH, used to eat from the manual work of his own hand.”

Islam honors work , including manual work and physical labor. You have to win your bread by your own hands , by your own sweat , as it is said . Islam does not approve of a person waiting for charity. Earn your own living in decent ways: no cheating, no forgery, no bluffing , no crooked ways.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ Should one of you cut and carry a bundle of wood on his back , that would be better than ask somebody , who may give him or may not .”

Islam does not like beggars. Get to work , and do anything decent to win your bread , with no laziness or helpless reliance on others’ alms. Islam is the religion of work and zeal accompanied by dependence on God, i.e. , Allah, and abiding by God’s word. Earn your money in a legal way and spend it in a legal way.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ Avoid sitting by roadsides.” They said, “ But we have to because there we sit to talk .” He said, “ If you have to , then observe the morality of road sitting.” They asked, “ What is it ?” He said, “Do not gaze at passing women; do not harm others [by hand or tongue] ; return greetings; advocate good; forbid evil.” 

Islam gives complete guidance to the individual on all occasions , even how to sit by roadside . It is a perfect religion .

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ One who takes back his gift is like a dog which swallows back its vomit.”

It is bad morals to give a gift to anyone and then take it back . It is like swallowing back one’s vomit. If you do not want to gift him , do not do so in the first place.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ Beware of suspicion since it is the falsest talk . Do not spy on one another , nor listen to evil talk against others , nor hate one another; be brethren . None should ask a girl’s hand already engaged to another until he marries or leaves her.” 

Islam includes a complete set of noble behavioral code. Do not suspect others. Do not spy. Do not backbite . Do not hate. Be brothers . If a girl is engaged to someone, do not approach her; she is your brother’s fiancee. Islam is the religion of knighthood , brotherhood , noble virtues , selflessness, and mutual respect.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, " O boy ! Mention the name of Allah , eat with your right hand , and eat of the dish what is closer to you .” 

Islam is a comprehensive code of life. It gives detailed guidance covering all aspects of life. When a Muslim begins eating , he should mention Allah's name; he says , “ In the name of Allah , the Most Merciful , the Most Compassionate.” When he finishes eating, he should say, “ Praise is due to Allah.” He should use his right hand in eating, not the left hand. For social courtesy, he should eat from the part of the dish closer to him if two people or more share one dish. 

The lesson is to remember God, i.e. , Allah, all through: in eating, drinking, greeting, driving, working , deciding, selling, buying, praying, dealing , or behaving. Allah rules the Muslim's life.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said after finishing a meal , “ Praise be to Allah , Who has satisfied our needs and quenched our thirst. Your favors cannot be rejected or denied .”

The favors of Allah to man are uncountable. Look at foods , all kinds of vegetables and fruits, the best drink on earth , i.e. , water, all kinds of allowed meat, and all kinds of fresh fruit juice. Look at Allah’s favors in your body : the eyes , the ears, the five senses, the heart , the tongue, the speech ability , the respiratory system , the circulation system , the digestive system , the nervous system , and the urinary system , just as examples. We must thank God hundreds of times every day, every minute if possible. If we thank Him , He will be more and more generous to us.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ Allah will not look , on the Day of Resurrection , at a person dragging his garment in vanity.”

Islam preaches and teaches modesty. No one should walk or talk arrogantly. All humans are equal ; they have the same father and the same mother , i.e. , Adam and Eve. Man is made from clay and to clay he returns. All of us are the offspring of Adam and Eve. We have the same God and in front of him we will stand on resurrection. There is no need or place for arrogance or conceit.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ The believer is not stung twice from the same hole.” 

The believer is supposed to be careful, watchful, and alert . He cannot be hurt twice by the same source, whether thing or human . The believer is smart enough to learn from his mistakes: he is not expected to make the same mistake twice.

A man said to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) , “ I have ten children , none of whom I have ever kissed.” The Prophet said to him, “ Whoever is not merciful to others will not be treated mercifully by others.” 

This is the law of life: what goes around comes around . Be kind to others , and they will be kind to you . Give mercy, and you will get mercy . As you sow, so shall you reap . It is a fair law , certainly .

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ The best among you are the best in good manners.”

Islam emphasizes good manners, all good manners you may think of. What makes you among the best is not your color , your tribe , your money, your body, or your power. In Islam , you are judged by your deeds, your behavior , what your say and do, and , above all , your intentions , which are absolutely and completely known by Allah.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “Abusing a Muslim is an evil act and fighting him is disbelief.” 

A Muslim must not abuse another Muslim or go to war against him . Muslims must not wage war against one another . No Muslim group or army or country may get involved in military operations against any other Muslim country. Islam purifies and unifies Muslims.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said , “ Verily, Allah forbids you to swear by your fathers . If you have to swear, swear by Allah or otherwise keep silent.” 

Some people may swear by fathers , grandfathers, or dear persons to convince the hearer of something. Islam disallows this because it may somehow lead to holding partners with God . If the situation surely requires your swearing, the only one you may swear by is Allah , not anyone else.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ If you do not feel ashamed, do whatever you wish .”

Feeling ashamed is the border line between a living conscience and a dead one. If one cannot feel ashamed , he is , in fact, ready to do anything because he lacks the self-monitoring mechanism. If one may feel ashamed , this implies that he is ready to hesitate before sinning and , thus , he may abstain from sins some day.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ A man should not make another man leave his own sitting place in order to replace him .” 

No one should exercise his power , status ,or prestige to force someone out of his seat in a gathering and then sit in his place. Such an act would be an act of clear aggression against the dignity of the displaced man . No one should degrade another . All should honor all . If one gives up his seat willingly to another one, there is nothing wrong with this. However , forced displacement is disallowed.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ If you are three, no two of you may whisper to each other excluding the third until you mingle with more people , lest this should grieve him .” 

Look at this saying of Prophet Muhammad . No human , scholar, or philosopher has said something so delicate like this. It is the sweetest among all talk . If you are three persons , do not exclude one of you because this alienation would hurt him. However , if you are more than three , any two may whisper to each other since the others would not feel excluded. Islam is real guidance, complete guidance to one looking for guidance . Soft hearts love softness , and harsh hearts live in harshness.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ He who can afford marriage should marry because it will help him refrain form looking at women and protect him from fornication . He who cannot afford marriage should fast because fasting diminishes the sexual drive.”

Islam encourages men to marry because marriage is essential to chastity. One should marry as soon as he can afford to do so. If he cannot afford it , he should fast since fasting extinguishes or at least decreases the sexual motive. The rule in Islam is clear and simple: no sex outside marriage, which is a very clean principle , unlike some non-Islamic patterns, which make liberal sex the rule. Islam , thus , protects both marriage and the family structure.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “Be afraid of Allah , and be just to your children .” 

A father or a parent must treat his children equally : he should not favor one over another; otherwise, they will hate each other and hate their father too.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “Every one of you is a guardian and is responsible for your charges . The ruler is a guardian and is responsible for his people . A man is a guardian responsible for his family . A women is a guardian responsible for her house and children. A servant is a guardian responsible for his master's property . Therefore, all of you are guardians responsible for your charges.”

Islam emphasizes social solidarity and individual responsibility hand in hand. You are responsible for others and they are responsible for you, and all are responsible to Allah.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ A woman is chosen as a wife for four [reasons] : her wealth, her family status , her beauty, or her piety. You should marry the pious woman.” 

Wealth does not remain for ever ; wealth comes and goes . One may be wealthy today, but poor tomorrow , or vice versa. Beauty withers as age proceeds. The best quality of a woman is her piety: she abides by Allah’s guidance, which grants her all the positive values of good manners and ideal behavior.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ The conditions most required to be fulfilled by a man are those of the marriage contract.” 

The marriage contract has conditions such as dowery , place of dwelling, furniture, ornaments , or deferred dowery . The husband must fulfill all the conditions of the marriage contract on time in text and spirit. The contract is an obligation to be observed by the husband ; it has to be honored not less than any other commitment, even more.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ If any one of you is invited to a wedding banquet , he must accept the invitation .”

Islam requires the publicity of marriage : people must know that a certain man and a certain woman have become husband and wife. The wedding banquet achieves this desired publicity . Do not look for excuses for not going to such a banquet. If invited , go; socalize with people and share their joy on that special occasion.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ If a man invites his wife to his bed and she refuses, angels curse her until morning.” 

Research, including lab research on blood chemistry , has shown that the sexual hormone in the man’s blood is twelve times the sexual hormone in the woman’s blood. The man’s sexual drive is very strong , and it is the wife’s duty to satisfy her husband’s need whenever he asks for it . Otherwise, many problems may arise.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ Beware of entering upon women .” A man asked, “ O Allah’s apostle ! What about the wife’s in-laws?” The Prophet said, “ The wife’s in-laws are death.”

The general rule in Islam is that no man enters the house upon a woman in her husband’s absence except those men who can never marry her if she becomes a widow or a divorcee, such as her father, her brother , her father-in-law, and her brother’s son . The reason for this rule is to protect the holy bond of marriage against the husband’s suspicion and against probable dangers and complications . The ideal rule is that prevention is better than cure. Many marriages would collapse if men, including the woman’s inlaws, are allowed to be in seclusion with her in her husband’s absence. The husband’s suspicion alone is enough to destroy the marriage ; let alone other possible misbehaviors.

A woman said to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) , “ O Allah’s apostle! My husband is a miser , and he does not give me what is enough for me and my children , which makes me take of his property without his knowledge.” The Prophet said, “ Take what is sufficient for you and your children in a reasonable way .”

The woman is trusted with her husband's property and home. However, if the husband is a miser, the wife can take from his money only what covers the basic needs of herself and her children because it is the husband's duty to cover those needs in the first place .

A man asked Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) , “ Who is most entitled to my best companionship?” The Prophet said, “ Your mother.” The man asked , “ Who is next ?” The Prophet said, “ Your mother.” The man asked , “Who is next?” The Prophet said [ for the third time] , “ Your mother.” The man asked , “ Who is next ?” The Prophet said, “ Your father.”

Islam emphasizes dutifulness to parents , with a special attention to the mother. The Prophet said that Paradise is at the mother’s feet : if one obeys and respects his mother, he will be rewarded Paradise. The most respected parent on the earth is the Muslim parent; Allah ordains worshiping Him first and dutifulness to parents next.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ A Muslim is the one who avoids harming Muslims with his tongue and hands, and an emigrant is the one who abandons what Allah has prohibited.”

Islam focuses on actual behavior as a criterion of true faith. If you are a real believer , you should prove it through how you deal with others. One test of real faith here is not to hurt others, neither in deeds nor in words. Let us imagine how peaceful our world will be if all of us abide by this principle.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ If two Muslims fight each other, both the murderer and the murdered person will go to the Hell-fire.” I said , “ O Allah’s apostle ! It is justifiable for the murderer, but what is about the murdered one?” He said , “ He certainly had the intention to kill his companion.” 

The meanings of Prophet Muhammad’s sayings are not his invention . They are revealed to him by Allah, i.e. , God , and that is why they are always convincing and perfect.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ The signs of the hypocrite are three: if he speaks , he lies ; if he promises , he breaks his promise; if you trust him , he betrays you .” 

The hypocrite is the worst possible type of people . He is a regular liar; he breaks his promises; he is never trusted. In contrast, the believer is exactly the opposite: if he speaks , he tells the truth ; if he makes a promise, he fulfills it; if he is trusted , he is trustworthy . Real belief in Allah is what makes the difference.

Prophet Muhammad(PBUH) said, “ Verily, your blood , property , and honor are sacred to one another like the sacredness of this day in this month in this city . The present should inform the absent , who might better comprehend [ what I have said ] .” 

This saying forbids three things : murder, stealing, and adultery . The blood of everyone is sacred : NO to murder and murderers . The property of everyone is sacred: none can grab at another’s property illegally , i.e. , through theft , robbery , cheating , or deceit . Your women are sacred : NO to fornication and NO to adultery ; no one can touch a girl or a woman except through marriage. Islam makes our life very close to a utopia : no murder , no theft , no robbery , and no adultery . Your life is secure; so is your property ; so are sisters , mothers , daughters , and wives. This ideal life cannot be realized except through Islam .

 Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ Allah will give shade to seven when there is no shade except His : a just ruler , a youth brought up worshippping Allah , a man in love with mosques, two men loving each other and meeting and parting for Allah’s sake , a man refusing the seduction of a charmful nobly-born woman saying, ‘ I am afraid of Allah’ , a man giving charity so secretly that his left hand does not know what his right hand has given, and a man mentioning Allah in seclusion with tear-flooded eyes.” 

This saying implies that Islam honors certain acts : justice, worshipping , loving mosques , friendship for God’s sake , i.e. , Allah’s sake , resisting sexual seduction , unpublicized charity , and heart tenderness . Let us ask God to enable us all to enjoy the seven previous qualities . Amen.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “Oppression will be layers of darkness on the Day of Resurrection.”

Justice is a major concept in Islam . One of the names of Allah is the Just. Be just , no matter what your role is : ruler , employer, father, husband, or teacher . Make justice a basic principle in your utter life.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ Beware of the oppressed man’s complaint because there is no barrier between it and Allah.” 

No one should wrong another because injustice has very bad consequences , socially , individually , and ethically .

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ The person most hated by Allah is the most grudging and most quarrelsome one.” 

Don’t be a trouble-maker . Be an easy person. Don’t make a molehill a mountain . Be tolerant.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ He is not a liar who makes peace among people by inventing good news or passing good words.” 

Lying is a sin if the intention is bad or destructive . However , if the intention is reconciliation between two persons, fabrication in this case is not lying , as long as nobody is being hurt.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ The king of Persians will be ruined and no king will succeed him . The Caesar [ of the Romans ] will be ruined and no Caesar will succeed him . Their treasures will be spent in Allah’s cause.” 

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) prophesied the fall of the Persian Empire and the defeat of the Roman Empire, and his prophecy came real and true within about twenty years, when the Islamic army defeated the two empires , not for oil, dollars, spoils, or commercial routes, but for the superiority of Allah’s word, in the early seventh century .

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ He who believes in Allah and the Last Day must not hurt his neighbor. Be [also] kind to women.”

Islam strongly emphasizes good relations with neighbors, in all directions . The right of neighborhood extends up to the seventh neighbor. Not only that , but Islam also orders one to be sympathetic with his neighbor, helpful, caring, and sharing . Neighbors should be like brothers.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ The example of a good companion and a bad one is that of a person carrying musk and a person blowing a pair of bellows. The one with musk will present you some perfume, you will buy some from him , or you will get a good smell from him . As for the one with bellows, either he will burn your clothes or you will get a bad smell from him.”

The Prophet here emphasizes good company. An Arabic proverb says,“ Don’t ask about a person, but ask about his friend.” Friends influence one another . One should choose his friends carefully. Your friend could be an asset or a liability , so be careful about whom you befriend.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ The keeper of good relations with relatives is not the equalizer, but the one who keeps such relations even if his relatives severe the bond of kinship with him .” 

In Islam , you must maintain good relations with relatives , not only if they are good to you , but also even if they turn their backs on you . In fact, your reward will be very much more if you are kind to those relatives unkind to you .

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ A Muslim is not allowed to desert his brother Muslim for more than three nights. It is not allowed to either of them to turn away his face from the other, and the better of the two is the one who greets first.” 

If two Muslims are upset with one another , the maximum length of allowed desertion is three days only . The better is the one who greets the other first . Islam gives guidance even in the little details of life , which are nevertheless quite important, as this saying shows.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ He who believes in Allah and the Last Day must honor his guest . He should serve to him the best food for one day and one night. A guest is to be entertained with food for three days , and whatever is served beyond three days is considered charity. The guest should not stay so long to hurt the host’s feelings.” 

Islam emphasizes honoring the guest. However, the guest should know his limits too: he should not stay more than three days. Any stay beyond three days is a real burden to the host, who out of courtesy may pretend that he is the happiest man on earth with his guest’s long stay , but at his heart he wishes for his departure. Be a generous host when you have a guest, and be a sensitive guest when you visit a host. Don’t stay more than three days : find a hotel or go to another host.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ The young should greet the old; the passer-by should greet the sitting one; the small group of persons should greet the large group.”

Here is an example of the greatness of Islam: it even teaches us who to greet whom . Children should greet adults, which is quite logical . The one passing should greet the one sitting. A group of two should greet a group of four. Islam teaches everything including social etiquette. Jesus in the Gospel prophesied that a prophet would come and he would tell everything - all the truth . This is exactly what happened: Prophet Muhammad was sent by Allah to teach man all that man needs.

A man asked Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) , “ What is the best Islamic act?” The Prophet said, “ To feed others and to greet those whom you know and those whom you do not know.” 

Islam emphasizes charity, among other things, and sociability. Greeting others implies loving and respecting them , which in turn implies not to hurt them .

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “Facilitate [ religious matters ] to people , and never make them hard . Give good tidings , not bad ones.” 

Islam is a religion of easiness and practicality . All ordinances of Islam are within man’s capacity. Islam is a religion of balance and moderation . God never burdens one with what he cannot shoulder.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ If Allah wants to do good to anyone, He makes him know religion. I am just a conveyer [ of religion ] , but Allah is the giver [ of knowledge ] . This nation [of Islam] will continue to abide by Islam , not heeding whoever is different, until the Day of Judgment comes.” 

The best gift of Allah to a person is to help him know more and more of religion . The nation of Muslims will stick to Islam in spite of all non-Islamic pressures on them : media, political, and economic pressures . Muslims will remain Muslims for ever despite all odds .

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ Every child is born on Islam [ by his very nature ] , but then his parents make him Jewish , Christian , or Magian .” 

Islam is the religion of all people by their nature because Islam is very simple, quite logical, very practical , and obviously rewarding. Islam answers the physical , social, spiritual , ethical , and psychological needs of humans . Islam is comprehensive, ideal , and perfect . If you are not a Muslim , it is because you have not yet had the chance to know Islam ; your community, for historical biases, means to keep you away from the truth , i.e. , Islam . You are what you are , if not a Muslim , by inheritance or social pressure around you , not by your free rational choice . Why do you not take your fate in your hands: read about Islam and decide by yourself ; don’t let others decide for you . Why don’t you believe in all prophets ? Why Moses only ? Why Jesus only ? Why not all prophets ? If you come to this point , i.e. , believing in all prophets , then you are a real believer , i.e. , a Muslim . Do not trust media, which pictures Islam as a guardian of terrorism . The opposite , I assure you , is true . Muslims are the most peaceful nation on the earth. However, if media is biased against something or someone for known or unknown motives, it causes it or him a great deal of injustice. Why do you accept to be enslaved by biased media? Get free, now. Know Islam, and then decide .

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “The best among you are those who learn the Quran and teach it.” The Quran literally means “The book to be read .” 

It is the true word of Allah revealed to Prophet Muhammad through Angel Gabriel when the Prophet was forty years old and until his death at the age of sixty-three, between A.D. 610 - 633, a long twenty - three years. If you are not a Muslim , please, accept my sincere advice to read the Holy Quran , whose original text is in Arabic , but its meanings are translated into all major languages such as English , French , German, and Spanish. It is the final Book of Allah . Do not be afraid of the word “Allah”. Allah stands for whom you call “God” . The difference is that Allah is a proper noun ; it is the name of God. Notice that God is a common noun capitalized . The old Greeks used to have many gods . God is a common noun ; Allah is a proper noun . Allah has named Himself Allah.  All humans have names ; why shouldn’t our Creator have one? You find the word Allah in the Bible too : What about halleluiah?

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “For every disease which Allah created, Allah created a remedy .” 

All diseases have remedies , but we , humans, sometimes take time to discover the remedy of a certain disease . Sometimes , the remedy requires a great deal of scientific research, but finally the remedy will be discovered or invented . Allah’s mercy is always at work . There is an effective cure for every disease . Now most diseases have cures ; only a few ones do not . Remember that Allah rewards a person suffering from a disease or disability by expiating his sins.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “Natural practices are five: circumcision , shaving the pubic hair , cutting the moustaches short , clipping nails , and depilating the armpit hair .”

Islam is a comprehensive religion . It gives guidance covering all aspects of human life. This prophetic saying gives instructions related to physical hygiene. Islam emphasizes the health of both the body and the psyche.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ If you improve your religion , every good deed will be rewarded [ by Allah ] ten to seven hundred times, and every bad deed will be recorded as one .” 

This saying shows God’s , i.e. , Allah’s, generosity : a good deed is rewarded ten to seven hundred times . It also shows Allah’s mercy and justice : the bad deed is recorded only as one.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, " Deeds depend on intention , and everyone is judged according to his intention. Whoever emigrates for Allah and His apostle , so is his emigration . Whoever emigrates for worldly purposes or for a woman to marry , so is his emigration." 

What counts is intention , which is known perfectly and absolutely by Allah . Nothing can be hidden from Him . You are held responsible to Allah according to your intention , not according to what seems to people .

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ Never tell a lie against me [ intentionally ] because whoever does so will surely enter the Hell - fire.” 

The sayings of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) are the second source of Islam after the Holy Quran . His sayings are revealed in meaning to him by Allah . Therefore, lying against him , attributing to him what he did not say or do , or distorting what he said is , in fact, lying against Allah and an attempt to corrupt Islam . That is why the Prophet warns liars here; lying against him is the most serious and most abominable kind of lying .

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ He who desires an expansion in his sustenance and his age should keep good relations with his kith and kin.” 

God promises one who is good to his relatives a more expanded provision , better health, and a longer life. Keep good relations to your kith and kin regardless of everything , even if they are not as good to you as you may wish . Otherwise , the alternative will be mutual grudge , envy, and hatred, and a group of negative feelings and emotions that will make human life very gloomy and very depressing.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said , “ He who is killed in defence of his property is a martyr.” 

Islam urges a Muslim not to give in . He should fight back defending his land , property, life , and honor . No one can usurp Muslims’ land and simply goes away with it. The land of Muslims is as precious as their souls, even more.

A man asked Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) , “ A man fights for war spoils; another for fame; a third for showing off . Which one has fought for Allah's cause?” The Prophet answered, “ He who fights so that Allah's word should be superior is the one fighting in Allah's cause. ” 

The important criterion of a person’s righteousness to Allah is not the explicit action , but the internal motive, which only Allah's knows perfectly and truly.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said , “Whoever had his feet covered by dust for Allah’s sake will not be touched by the Hell-fire.” 

The reward of the fighter for Allah’s sake is Paradise, as Allah promises, and Allah always keeps His promise.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ A man may seem to people as if he were doing what the people of Paradise do , whereas he is , in fact, from the people of the Hell-fire. Another may seem to people as if he were doing what the people of the Hell-fire do, whereas he is , in fact , from the people of Paradise.” 

What counts to Allah is not the outside appearance of the act, but the intention and motive of the doer, more than anything else.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ Allah gets angry , and He does so when a believer does what Allah has prohibited.” 

The Islamic principle is this : everything is allowed unless it is disallowed. Disallowed things are a few in number, and a believer must refrain from them . In Islam, the allowed is clear and the disallowed is clear. It depends on you : what your choice is.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ For every calamity befalling a Muslim , Allah expiates one of his sins , even if it was a prick of a thorn. ” 

God , i.e. , Allah, supports those who are patient when befallen by a calamity. Allah rewards the patient person in many ways , one of which is to forgive him of his sins for every mishappening afflicting him . Allah is the Just: if you are hurt in one way, He makes it up for you in another way . Just believe in Allah , obey Him , and rely on Him , and you will be a winner.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ Allah is more pleased with one’s repentance than any one of you is pleased with finding his camel lost in the desert .” 

Allah keeps the door of forgiveness open to transgressors and sinners. If you sincerely repent of your sins, regret committing them , make a pledge to Allah , i.e. , God , and to yourself that you will never commit sins any more , and keep up your pledge, Allah will erase your sins and be pleased with your return to the straight path.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “Whoever controls what is between his two jaws and what is between his two legs will be rewarded Paradise.” 

You are to control your tongue: no backbiting and no tale-bearing . Do not hurt others with your tongue: no lying , no false testimony , and no false accusations. You are also to control your private parts: no adultery , no fornication , no sex outside marriage, no sex before marriage , no sexual abnormalities . You do not touch any person except your lawful mate . If you can control your tongue and control your private parts in obedience to God, God will reward you with Paradise.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ The disbeliever will be brought on the Day of Resurrection and be asked, ‘ Suppose you had so much gold that may fill the earth , would you offer it to ransom yourself?’ He will say, ‘ Yes.’ Then it will be said to him , ‘ You were asked to offer what is easier, but you refused.’ ” 

If the disbeliever had billions of dollars on the Day of Judgement, he would be ready to give up all his billions to free himself from the Hellfire. However, it would be too late because at that time no one has anything to pay for a ransom. Now , in this life, everyone can afford the ransom: just worship Allah and obey Him , and you are free from Hell . God is fair : the obedient go to Paradise , and the disobedient to Hell . It would be unfair to send all , whether obedient or not , to Paradise . But God is the Just : one gets what he deserves, and He forgives whomever He wills to forgive.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ Allah forgives my nation whatever [ evil deeds ] their souls may whisper or suggest to them provided that they do not put them to action or speak them out .” 

Many a time , one may imagine doing evil deeds . He whispers to himself that he would do so and so of bad acts . God forgives his such evil imagination or evil self-whisper as long as no bad actions are carried out and no foul words are spoken out.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ He who cultivates a land belonging to none is more rightful [ to be its owner ] .” 

In Islam, land is originally Allah’s. If a piece of land has no human owner, it belongs to whoever cultivates it . This is a very fair and practical legislation , typical of all Islamic laws.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ If one leaves some property [ after death ] , it goes to his heirs . If one leaves some weak children , we will support them .” 

This shows the responsibility of the state towards the individual in Islam . If one dies, his wealth and property go to his heirs. If he leaves needy children , the Islamic state is to grant them the social security which they are in need of . This is just an example of the splendor of Islamic legislation, based on mercy , justice, and tenderness .

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ It is injustice that a wealthy man delays repaying debts.”

Islam hates that one swallows others’ rights . It is unacceptable and untolerable, neither by people nor by the court. Besides, it is unforgivable by Allah . In fact, Allah does not forgive one for unpaid debts if the lender does not forgive him . It is so clear, strict , and serious : no messing with others’ rights. This concept is so deeply rooted in a Muslim’s conscience.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ It is the right [ of the ruler ] to be obeyed unless his order disobeys Allah . If so , he has no right to be obeyed.”

The Islamic principle is that obedience goes first of all to Allah . Obey your superiors provided that they do not order you to disobey Allah . Islam means complete submission to Allah , not to anyone else . A Muslim gives his first priority of obedience to Allah .

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ Free the captive, feed the hungry , and visit the sick .”

In Islam , the Muslim captive is freed by paying the ransom to the enemy from the Muslims' treasury if need be , through exchange of captives, or through a negotiated agreement with the enemy.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “Whoever spends public money unjustly will be in the Hell-fire on the Day of Resurrection .”

A man in charge of public funds should be honest simply because such funds are not his and because he has to be trustworthy. Allah sees him when nobody may not . This is a characteristic of the Islamic community : one is not mainly monitored by fear of law , but mainly monitored by Allah. He avoids illegalities not because the court may incriminate him , but because God will . A Muslim fears God's court as equally as He fears the civil court , and even more. This concept of God's court is a concept unique to Islam , a concept which helps to keep a person’s violations to the minimum.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “Whoever kills a person in covenant with Muslims shall not smell Paradise although its smell can be sensed at a forty-year-walk distance.” 

In Islam , a covenant is a covenant . Once you sign a treaty, you have to respect it fully . A promise is really a promise. However, if the other party breaks the treaty, the treaty exists no more. A Muslim is never the first to break a treaty. All Chistians and Jews who are subjects in the Islamic state are in covenant , and their lives are as sacred as the lives of Muslims. This is Islam: greatness in every aspect , in worship , in manners, and in law.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ If a person falsely claims to be another’s son knowing that he is actually not , he is a disbeliever in Allah . If one falsely claims to belong to some folk knowing that he does not , he should take his place in the Hell-fire.” 

In Islam , one should tell the truth invariably. Telling lies is strictly prohibited . If people link themselves falsely to persons other than their real fathers, a great deal of confusion will take place : social relations would be shattered ; legacy distribution would be corrupted , and a lot of fraud would be used.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ Foster relations prohibit whatever is prohibited by blood relations.” 

A man , according to Islam , cannot marry his sister in blood, i.e. , sister in birth . Similarly, he cannot marry his foster sister. He cannot marry his aunt in blood . Similarly, he cannot marry his foster aunt . These two cases are just examples of what this prophetic saying means.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) passed by a dead sheep and said [ to the people by ] , “ Why don’t you benefit from its hide?” They replied, “But it is dead.” He said, “ It is only eating it that is disallowed.” 

In Islam , dead animals are prohibited to eat . Here , the Prophet urges us to benefit from the hide of a dead animal ; its meat is prohibited, but not its hide.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ Any drink which intoxicates is prohibited to be drunk.”

Islam makes effective regulations that protect an individual’s property, life, mind, honor, and family . For property protection, Islam punishes thieves and robbers . For life protection, Islam punishes murderers effectively . For mind protection, Islam does not allow alcoholic drinks and punishes violators. For honor pretection, Islam punishes false accusers . For family protection , Islam punishes adulterers and adulteresses . 

The destructive effects of alcoholic drinks do not exist under the umbrella of Islam because Islam simply prohibits all kinds of such drinks . The best drink to a Muslim is a glass of water or a glass of fresh juice. Undoubtedly, Islam is a real blessing.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said about plague, “ If you hear of it breaking out in a land , do not go to it . If it breaks out in a land where you are, do not go out escaping from it .” 

This health lesson came out from Prophet Muhammad fifteen centuries ago . It applies to all epidemics , not to plague only . If an area is afflicted by an epidemic, nobody should go in or out so as to control the epidemic and minimize its dangers. This saying and many similar others prove the point that Islam is a full-life religion : it gives guidance related to all aspects of life. The more one reads about Islam , the more convinced and the more oriented one becomes.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, " Whoever purposefully throws himself from a mountain and kills himself will be in the Hell-fire falling down into it for ever. Whoever drinks poison and kills himself will drink his poison in the Hell-fire for ever. Whoever kills himself with an iron weopon will stab himself with it in the Hell-fire for ever .”

The lesson here is quite clear . Islam does not allow suicide. No one should commit suicide under any condition. One should be patient and face life with its ups and downs bravely .

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ It is not allowed for a man to be in seclusion with a woman. Nor a woman is allowed to travel without a muhram .” 

The seclusion disallowed here is between a man and a woman other than his wife. Such seclusion may lead to acts approaching adultery. Islam prohibits any act that leads to another prohibited act. A muhram to a woman is a man whom she can never marry , e.g. , her father, brother , and uncle.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ After me, there will be no affliction more harmful to men than women .” 

Truly , if women do not behave as God has ordained them to do , they will render men’s life unbearable. That is why Islam gives great attention to the relationship between men and women and their mutual behavior. This relationship surely influences the daily life of both men and women and the fate of both the family and marriage . A lot, indeed, depends on this relationship. Islam emphasizes the separation of the two sexes and decency in both clothes and behavior . Islam also emphasizes purity : no sex outside marriage or before marriage.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ A man cannot be married to a woman and her paternal aunt at the same time , nor to a woman and her maternal aunt .” 

Islam allows a man to have two , three , or four wives at the same time if he has to provided that he treats them equally and fairly . The purpose of this licence is to close the door to adultery : if you love a woman other than your wife, then arrange to marry her , not to have an affair with her for a week or two and then throw her off, often illegally pregnant. However, for obvious social considerations, a man is disallowed to marry two sisters at the same time or a wife and her aunt , peternal or maternal.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ A matron must not be given in marriage until she agrees , nor a virgin until she permits.” They asked, “ O Allah’s apostle ! What is her permission?” He said, “ Her silence .” 

Islam requires the consent of the woman for marriage . No father or brother should force a woman to marry someone if she does not want to . If she is a divorcee or a widow , her consent is to be given explicitly . If she is a virgin , her consent is to be expressed by her silence, out of shyness. Islam guards the woman’s rights , contrary to widespread misconceptions about Islam. Islam is God’s perfect guidance , and to God all are equal in dignity : both men and women are God’s servants and creatures.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ It is not lawful for a woman to ask for the divorce of her sister in Islam in order to have her husband all for herself , for she will obtain only what Allah has destined for her .”

If a man marries or intends to marry a second wife, this wife should not ask her husband to divorce his first wife in order to have him all only for herself . The second wife knows that she is a second wife and has accepted marriage on this basis . If she does not like to be a second wife, why has she accepted this marriage in the first place?

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ If anyone's wife asks permission to go to mosque , he must not forbid her.” 

In Islam , a wife must ask her husband’s permission before leaving home. Usually, he gives her permission , but the gesture here is the wife’s respect and obedience to her husband , who is considered to be the family’s manager or boss . In the West , the family has no boss since the husband and the wife fight for the same job . In Islam , the issue is settled : the husband is the family’s boss , but not dictator . The idea is that even if the woman is going to prayer at the mosque, she must ask her husband’s permission . In the Islamic family , nothing happens against the will of the husband : roles are clearly-defined, and both the husband and the wife abide by their roles quite happily .

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ A woman should not look at or touch another woman and then describes her to her husband as if he was actually looking at her.” 

Such a woman’s description would be nothing but temptation to her husband towards the described woman, which may lead to the man’s further unlawful acts. Any act that leads to the unlawful is unlawful. A woman should not function like a video-camera, nor is she to describe women to men to tempt or seduce them in a Satanic manner, whether intentionally or not.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ The one who looks after a widow or a needy person is like a fighter for Allah’s sake or like one praying all night and fasting all day .” 

The reward by Allah to a person helping others is very great . It is as great as Allah’s reward to a warrior for Allah’s sake or to a diligent worshipper . In fact , in Islam , any good act that a person does is considered an act of worship if the doer’s intention is Allah’s sake.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ It is not allowed for a woman believing in Allah and the Last Day to mourn for more than three days any dead person except her husband , whom she should mourn for four months and ten days.” 

Islam gives the husband-wife relationship a special attention even after the husband’s death. The mourning period for any close relative is three days in the maximum, but for the husband it is one hurdred and thirty days . It is a sign of loyalty and devotion to the husband’s memory.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ Whoever slaps his cheeks , tears out his clothes , and follows the traditions of the [ Pre-Islamic ] Days of Ignorance is not one of us.” 

Before Islam , upon the death of a person , his female relatives used to slap their cheeks , tear out their clothes , and show extreme grief approaching despair. Islam forbids such acts and orders the Muslim to show patience , self-control , and dependence on Allah . Islam allows sorrow at the death of a dear person, but not horror and despair.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ None of you should wish death owing to a disaster befalling him . If you have to wish for it, say, ‘ O Allah ! Let me live if life is better for me, and let me die if death is better for me .’ ” 

Don’t be so desperate that you wish for death. A Muslim must be tough , patient, and with a strong will and unshaky determination . No calamity should break him or let him surrender.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “Who among you loves his heir’s wealth more than his own?” They said, “O Allah’s Messenger! Every one of us loves his own wealth more.” The Prophet said, “His wealth is what he spends for Allah’s sake, and his heir’s wealth is what he leaves after his death.” 

When we die, we do not take our wealth with us , not cash money , cars, land, villas, companies , or buildings . All that we own is left behind for the new owners , i.e. , heirs. What we really take with us is our good deeds. The money we spend in charity in our life is our credit; it is what we really own . But the money we leave upon death is not ours . What we spend for God’s sake is what we have, and what we save and leave is what the heirs, not we, will have . What we spend now is what we have later. This is the really promising equation.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ When death approaches a believer, he receives the good news that Allah is pleased with him , so nothing is dearer to him than what is ahead; thus, he loves to meet Allah , and Allah loves to meet him . As for a disbeliever, when death approaches him , he receives the bad news of Allah’s torment and punishment , so nothing is more hateful to him than what is ahead ; thus, he hates to meet Allah, and Allah hates to meet him.” 

Allah , i.e. , God , is a fact. Death is a fact . The Last Day is a fact . The Day of Resurrection is a fact. This universe has a Creator. There is order everywhere. There is design . This cannot be by itself . Look at your body: every organ is a system. Chance cannot create order or systems. God is there. You are under His control , whether you like it or not . Those who believe in Allah are the winners ; those who disbelieve are the losers . Make your choice right now : choose to be a winner, man . Don’t lose the right track.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said when a funeral passed by him, “ Relieved and relieving.” They asked , “ O Allah’s Messenger ! What do you mean ?” He said, “ The believer is relieved [ by death ] of the troubles of this life and leaves to Allah’s mercy.The wicked person ,[by his death],relieves people, land, trees, and animals.” 

The death of a good believer gives him relief of the cares and hardships of this life, and everyone who knows him will miss him. In contrast, the death of an evil wicked person gives joy to all who know him , and even animals may be relieved by his departure.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ Three follow the dead person [ to his grave ] ; two return and one stays with him . His relatives , his property, and his deeds follow him ; relatives and property return, and deeds remain [ with him ] .” 

When one dies, he dies alone . Nothing goes with him to his grave except his deeds . After death, nothing of his property will be of any use to the deceased: not cars, not villas ,not prestige, not office, not bank credits , not stocks or shares. After death, none will be helpful : not wife, not sons or daughters, not relatives, not friends, not colleagues. There is one thing, and one thing only, that helps the dead person; it is his good deeds. In this life, we are under test . Obey God, and you pass. Disobey God , and you fail. This is what it is all about . Pass if you choose to pass , and fail if you choose to fail. It is mainly in your hands.

Propht Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ It will be said to the people of Paradise, ‘ O people of Paradise ! [ You have got ] eternity with no death,’ and to the people of the Fire , ‘ O people of the Fire ! [ You have got ] eternity with no death.’ ” 

Your mother gives birth to you . This is your birth. You live for as many years as Allah has destined, and this is your first life. Then you die; this is your only death : you are born only once and you die only once . In the grave, your body , or exbody, rests until the Day of Resurrection , when you will be resurrected : you are resurrected only once. Then you are judged and sent either to Paradise or Hell . After resurrection, there is no death: there is immortality either in Paradise or in Hell . 

We are born once. Then we live our first life. Then we die once . Then we are resurrected . Then we live the eternal life, the other life: some in Paradise, and some in Hell . Our line is this : birth, the first life, death , resurrection , and finally the eternal life. 

If we examine the stages of the line, we see that we have no control on our birth , nor on our death or resurrection . We only have control on this life : we choose to be good or bad, believers or disbelievers , and, consequently , our eternal life is dependent on our choice in our first life.

Prophet Muhammad used to say after prayer, “ O Allah ! I seek refuge with You from cowardice, from very old age, from the afflictions of the world, and from the punishment in the grave.” 

Invocation to Allah is the center of worship . Invoke Allah and He will respond to you . Such invocation implies submission to Allah .

Prophet Muhammad(PBUH) said addressing Allah, “ But for You, we would not have been guided, nor have given charity, nor have prayed. Please, give us tranquility , and make our feet firm when we meet our enemies, who have oppressed us and to them we will never surrender.”

Truly , without Allah’s guidance, there will be no guidance. Real guidance can come only from Allah, and no one but Him.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) used to say this invocation repeatedly, “ O Allah ! I seek refuge with You from worries and grief , from incapacity and laziness, from miserliness and cowadice, from heavy debts, and from being overpowered by other men.” 

Here, the Prophet is asking God to give him happiness, keep him far from care and sadness, keep him healthy and active,and keep him away from debt. Prophet Muhammad, by this invocation, is addressing Allah as a worshipper does and is also giving his nation an example of how an invocation may be. We all need these favors from God : happiness, good health , good manners, financial stability, and social dignity. These five favors are what this invocation is all about.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) used to say, “ O Allah ! I seek refuge with You from laziness and very old age, from sinning and debts, from punishment at the grave , from the Hell-fire and its punishment , and from the evils of wealth . I seek refuge with You from the affliction of poverty and from the affliction of Messiah the Liar. O Allah! Wash away my sins with the water of snow and hail. Purify my heart as a white garment is cleansed from filth. Distance me from sins as You have distanced the west from the east.” 

Here, the Prophet is asking God to keep him active , in good health, away from old-age frailties, away from sins, away from the temptations of wealth , and away from the temptations of poverty. Here , the Prophet is invoking God as any human would, giving his followers a good example of a touching invocation to Allah.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) used to say this invocation upon embarking on serious decisions , “ O Allah ! I resort to You to be guided to the right option of a decision as You are the All-Knowing . I ask You to support me as You are the Almighty. I ask You [ to bestow on me ] from Your bounteous favors since You have the power and I do not, You know and I do not , and You know all the invisible. O Allah ! If You know that this matter is good for my religion , my livelihood , and my Hereafter life, then choose it for me . If You know that this matter is not good for my religion , my livelihood, and my Hereafter life, then keep it away from me, and keep me away from it . Choose whatever is good for me wherever it is, and make me satisfied with it .” Then he would name the matter. 

If you are about to make an important decision, pray two voluntary prayer units , and then say the previous invocation , preferably in Arabic if you know it . Here , you ask for Allah’s support in whatever decision you make. Think , choose, and depend on Allah.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) used to often say this invocation, " O Allah! Give us in this life whatever is good and in the other life whatever is good , and save us Fire torments.”

This is a brief comprehensive invocation. Here, you ask Allah for the good in the two lives: this life and the other life. You also ask Him for being saved from Hell . If saved from it , you are surely in the other abode, i.e. , Paradise.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) used to say this invocation by night prayers, “ O Allah ! Praise is due to You . You are the light of heavens and Earth and those who dwell in them . Praise is due to You; You are the Guardian of heavens and Earth and those who dwell in them . Praise is due to You; You are the True . Your promise is true ; Your words are true; meeting You is true . Paradise is true , and the Hell-fire is true . The Hour is true. Prophets are true, and Muhammad is true . O Allah! To You I surrender myself ; on You I depend; in You I believe; to You I return; for Your sake I struggle; to Your law I refer . Forgive what I have done and what I may do , what I conceal and what what I reveal . You are the One Who can make things happen earlier or later . There is no god but You.” 

This invocation is really a touching comprehensive one. It can soften the toughest heart. Praise is due to Allah because he is the Giver, the Provider, the Sustainer, the Almighty , the Knowing, the True , the Just , the Wise , and the Forgiver. He dominates all the universe, all creatures, and all humans . Whatever God says or promises is true. The Day of Resurrection is coming . The Day of Judgment is coming . Paradise and Hell are facts . Moses is true . Jesus is true . Muhammad is true . Death is coming.We depend on God, i.e. , Allah, submit to Him , and ask for His forgiveness. If Allah is part of our life, we will enjoy this life and the other life. If not, we will suffer in both lives , for sure.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) used to say upon intending to go to sleep , “ O Allah ! In Your name , I die and I live .” Upon waking up, he used to say , “ Praise is due to Him Who has made us alive after He made us dead , and unto Him is Resurrection .” 

This is Islam : remembering Allah at every minute and on every occasion . We live under the dominance of Allah , and we die at His command . We sleep , and we do not know if we will wake up again . We get up, and we do not know when we will pass away. Sleep is death in miniature. If we live, our life is under God’s control . If we sleep, we trust ourselves to His care. If we die , we return to Him . This is Islam : faith in Allah , surrender to Him , now and then , here and there, day and night, in wake-up or sleep.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) used to say after prayer , “ There is no god but Allah . He has no partner . All the universe is His . Praise is due only to Him . He is the One capable of everything . O Allah! No one can withhold what You give, and no one can give what You withhold . A lucky person cannot avoid Your will .” 

The Oneness of Allah is a basic principle of Islam . Allah is one , not two or three in one, nor one in three, with no equal or partners, no parts , no assistants, no wife, no son, no daughter. God is the Donor, the Giver , the Provider , the Great , the Almighty . No one can hurt you if He does not want to , and no one can protect you if He does not want to. Allah’s will is above everything and everyone.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “This fire is your enemy . If you go to bed, extinguish it .” 

This is a lesson in safety measures and in selfdefence against fire accidents. No other prophet extended his guidance to such a limit. Islam is a perfect code of guidance, indeed .

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, " If you intend to go to bed in the night , put out the lights , close the doors , tie the mouth of waterskins , and cover food and drinks.” 

These bits of prophetic advice are to be followed upon going to bed. Oil lights have to be put out lest the house should catch fire or the dwellers suffocate owing to oxygen shortage. Doors are to be closed to guard against beasts or thieves. Food and drinks are to be covered to guard against insects and the like.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ Be in this world as if you were a stranger or a passerby.”

The meaning is that you should always remember that you are not going to live here, in this world , for ever. The maximum age is 100-120 years, and then everyone will pass away . We are, in fact, on a short-stay visit to this world. Our long-stay or final stay is in the Hereafter. Thus , our Hereafter life is the one we should focus on , not this tentative life. In fact, Islam urges a balanced attention to both lives provided that we obey Allah in this life. This life is the time of action; the other life is the time of judgement.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ Allah will not accept the excuse of someone whose death was delayed until the age of sixty years.”

If one dies when he is sixty, he cannot argue with God, on the Day of Judgement, that had he lived more, he would have done good deeds. His argument will be rejected because sixty years is enough or more than so. The point is that no one of us knows when he will die , and, therefore, it is wise to act in obedience to God at every hour , every day , starting now , with no delay , before it is too late .

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ If one had two valleys of money, he would wish for a third, for nothing can fill the belly of Adam’s son except earth . Allah forgives him who repents to Him .” 

This is very true. Look at millionaires : if one of them has one million, he plans for a second million . Even if he has one billion, he wishes for a second billion. The desire for wealth is never satisfied as long as one lives . It only stops when one dies . The desire for money is a real test to everyone : collect money logally and spend it legally . Get it in the right way and use it in the right way . Otherwise, money becomes a curse on its owner.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ Do not ask for governorship because if you do, no one will assist you, but if you do not, you will be helped in it. If you take an oath and then discover a better choice , expiate your oath and stick to this better choice.” 

The prophetic lesson is this : do not ask for a rulership office . The first man in your country knows you and knows where you are. If you are chosen for a leading job , accept it if you wish , but do not beg for it. 

If you take an oath to do something and later a better idea comes to your mind, do not hesitate to do what is better without being chained by your oath . Just make expiation for your oath, and then carry out the new choice.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ Allah is merciful only to those who are merciful [to others].” 

Islam emphasizes mercy . A Muslim glorifies Allah the Merciful dozens of times every day. A Muslim says ‘In the Name of Allah , the Most Merciful , the Most Compassionate’ whenever he begins doing most of his daily acts . This is so because mercy is the emotional basis of most , if not all , good acts . Mercy leads to charity , benevolence , philanthropy , and other good manners . In fact, mercy is a major component of all good acts . If you are merciful , you earn a solid ground for all that is good.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “ Whoever is ordered [ by the judge ] to take an oath and he takes a false oath to usurp another Muslim's property will incur Allah's wrath on the Day of Resurrection.” 

A Muslim should be honest. He should not take a false oath in order to get what is not his. A dibeliever may give a false oath because he does not believe in Allah or the Last Day or the Day of Judgement . Islam , however, emphasizes the Day of Judgment and warns believers against Allah's wrath and punishment . Be honest because Allah knows everything : what you conceal and what you reveal .