All good deeds, no matter how small, matter. Don't look down on them. Embrace them as an opportunity.

Gems from the teachings of the great Imam

We live as if we are dead. We are sleeping and refuse to wake up. When will we wake up?

Lessons and reflections from the life of Imam al-Shafi'i

Inspiring wisdom from the life and teachings of the righteous. Based on the book of ibn al-Jawzi Sifat al-Safwah (صفة الصفوة)

Gentleness and Kindness are general and comprehensive Islamic principlesWedding Manners Importance of implementing Islamic manners

Why do we ask Allah repeatedly each day to guide us to the Straight Path?

Are religious stories unbelievable fables? Or is there a rational foundation to believing in what we have not seen?

Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali's advice on the causes and cures of the hardness of the heart

Condolences Conversation etiquette Listening more than talking

Manners with receiving guests and visiting the sick

Manners related to parents, our teachers, and our elders.

Manners of visitation and welcoming guestsManners with young and old

We all like to belong to something or someone. But we cannot help but feel like strangers. Why? And what do we do about it?

A series focusing on the development and practice of Islamic Manners. The series is based on a book by Sh. Abdul Fattah Abu Ghuddah (Islamic Manners)

You cannot be happy with yourself until you are happy with Allah

The path to the piety of a child is through the piety of the parents

Have dignity, not arroganceBe generous, not stingySeek while relying on Allah

The superiority of memorization and understandingStudy and discuss what you learn with a study-mate Do not debate to win but to reach the truthThe five conditions for praiseworthy speechThank Allah for the blessing of knowledge for it to increaseLearn from all (with some conditions), and teach all And more

Learning how to live thankfully could change your life

Importance of persistence and effort in seeking knowledgeAvoiding distractions and luxuries

The six things the seeker of knowledge needsHow to select your study-companions & friendsRespecting Scholars and teachesRespecting books of knowledge Importance of good manners for the seeker of knowledge

We think we have Iman, but do we?

Commentary on the famous book by al-Zarnuji (d. 593 H) "Ta'lim al-Muta'allim Turuq al-Ta'allam".The necessity of the intention and patienceHow to select your teacher The importance of shurah

Commentary on the famous book by al-Zarnuji (d. 593 H) "Ta'lim al-Muta'allim Turuq al-Ta'allam".1) Reason for writing the book2) Priorities in seeking knowledge3) Intended fruits4) Types of knowledge

How the love of Allah prompts us to pursue excellence in religious and worldly matters

Never despair in the face of mounting Fitnah and troubleKeep your identity and do not compromise itReal defeat is internal defeatPower belongs to Allah, and He gives them to the righteous.

Why are they important? What do we do in them? What do we get from them?

Why is it difficult to have and maintain an Islamic identity? And why is having it worth the effort?

Why is it that we need Istighfar every day of our lives (hint: it's not just after a sin)

Why is it that some lose all or part of their belief in God? In this lecture, we look at the core causes and better ways to understand the Creator and religion.

Why is raising Muslim children so challenging in the West? And what can be done about it?

Asking Allah for forgiveness is the key that brings ease into our lives and relief from distress.

This is one of the most common and serious problems we have. What are the causes of marital discord? And what are the solutions?

Solutions to Life's Most Common Problems is a New Six-Part Series where we deal with a new problem each week trying to understand its causes and solutions.

What we do with your free time will define who we are.

We face a real spiritual challenge after Ramadan. This is how to overcome it.

Don't miss out on the Last Ten of Ramadan. Get motivated and ask Allah for support.

Ramadan forces us to face this eternal question: Do I love Allah more or this world?

There can be no Ramadan without sacrifice. This is the path to Allah's pleasure.

You'll only get out of Ramadan as much as you're ready to put in

The wisdom behind the awful things that happen in this life and how to process them

Even the Prophets of Allah asked for it! What is it? And why do we need it?

Why do the wicked prosper while the righteous suffer?What's the benefit of dua when Allah already destined everything?

The Four Features and Common Mistakes of Extremists, from the past to the Present

The following statement, if allowed, can change your life. "Of the Ihsan of one's faith is for them to leave what is not a concern of theirs." Hadith.

Do we have free will? Why is there evil and suffering in the world? What is the purpose of our existence?

Ihsan is to do things well, and it covers all parts of our lives, from the religious to the mundane.

If I give up something for the sake of Allah, will Allah compensate me?

What does it mean to believe in Destiny? Do we have free will? What is there evil in the world?

What does it mean to believe in Destiny? Do we have free will? Why is there evil in the world?

Do you feel like the mosque is your home or the farthest thing from it? Is there a way for us to love it again?

Do you hate winter? Here are some reasons why you shouldn't.

The causes of envy, the damage it does to faith and society, and ways to protect ourselves from it.

How Islam can help us combat and triumph over depression

What is depression? Why does it happen? And how can we overcome it?

Shaytan is our enemy and he is bent on our destruction. But how does he do that? And how do we protect ourselves from him?

If the Shaytan is our enemy, how does he trap us and deceive us? What are his most common plots and tricks?

The relevance of the Day of Ashura today goes beyond remembering the past. It is about changing the present.

This world can be a distraction or a reminder. This is how we can turn it into a reminder.

This is how Salah (the prayer) can change your life.

Lessons from the life of the great scholar.

What does it mean to be happy on Eid? Is it new clothes and food or more?

Reflections on the last Friday in Ramadan, what's passed, and what lies ahead.

Fasting teaches one of the most important qualities of an accepted worship: sincerity.

What is so special about the month of Shaban? And what is its connection to Ramadan? Listen for more on the importance of this month and the lessons it is teaching us.

Is your iman weak? Is it hard to obey Allah and do the right thing? Does it feel sometimes that you are so far gone that you cannot come back to Him? Listen to how asking Allah for forgiveness can change all that.

Islam is a revelation from the Most Merciful Creator through the most merciful Prophet. In this khutbah, you will hear how Allah is Merciful with us, instances where the Prophet peace be upon him was merciful, and the centrality of mercy in Islam.

The People of the Book's anticipation of the arrival of a new ProphetThe significance of the Year of the Elephant

In the introduction to the series, we present and explain the following points:1) Belief in the sending of the Prophets follows necessarily from our belief in a Wise and Merciful God.2) There is no logical reason to prevent God from commutating with humanity.3) A true Prophet cannot be mistaken for an imposter.4) Proofs of Prophethood are beyond count.

Islam and Iman are incomplete without noble character. It's unbefitting for any believer to be worse than those who disbelieve in Allah in character, ethics, discipline, and justice.

Can we see the Prophet in a dream? And how do we know if this dream is reliable? And a discussion on the inheritance of the Prophet.

How can our desire for the opposite sex turn into a disease of the heart? And how can we overcome haram impulses and acts and only partake of what Allah allowed? This khutbah discuses causes and cures of illicit desires.

How many names does the Prophet have? And what do they mean? How shy was he? What did he say about cupping? Find the answers to these questions in this lecture of al-Shamail al-Muhamaddiyah.

Examples of his forgiveness, humility, & mercy.

How he read the Quran, the times when he cried and why, and examples of his humility

His Duha prayer, His Fasting, & balance in the worship of Allah

Night Prayer, Sunnah Prayers, and the Different Ways He prayed, salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam.

Why are we attached to the world so much even though we know that we're going to leave it? Why do we let it come between us and our Creator? How can we make the Hereafter our focus in this life?

Ishq is pictured as intense romantic love in the movies. But is it healthy to love someone to this extent? And what does this do to the love we have for Allah?

Ishq is pictured as intense romantic love in the movies. But is it healthy to love someone to this extent? And what does this do to the love we have for Allah?

The poetry that the Prophet loved and used to repeat, how he slept, and what he used to say before going to bed.

What fruits he ate and how, what drinks he liked, his perfume, and some of his good nature and jokes.

A heart that lives in ghaflah (unaware & forgetful) lives aimlessly and rebels against its nature and Creator. How can we escape this dangerous yet prevalent state?

Seldom do we escape this spiritual disease, yet we do little to treat it. Learn the devastating effects of envy on our lives and iman and what we can do about it.

We, individually & collectively, are facing many fitnahs today. Why? And how do we prevail against them?

What does it mean to believe in Allah and His Prophet and trust them? What do we do when our minds disagree with what Allah revealed? Is there an inherent contradiction between our minds and divine revelation?

What does it mean to believe in Allah and His Prophet and trust them? What do we do when our minds disagree with what Allah revealed? Is there an inherent contradiction between our minds and divine revelation?

More on the food that the Prophet ate and liked.

What food did the Prophet eat and what food did he like?

We continue with a description of his sword, armor, the length of his clothes, how he used to walk, recline, and sit.

What clothing did the Prophet, peace be upon him, like to wear? What did his footwear look like?

Explanation of the Book of Imam al-Tirmidhi on the physical features and character of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him.

Explanation of the Book of Imam al-Tirmidhi on the physical features and character of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him.

Do we really love Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him? Do we know how much we have to love him and why? Are we showing signs of this love in our lives? Do we know what we would get if we loved him?

The Hajj experience has a lot to teach us about the true meaning of jihad and the potential of this ummah.

If you want to understand why Allah made Hajj an obligation, you have to dig deep to unearth its jewels and wisdom.

The five principles that will improve interpersonal relationships and communication.

Hajj is a unique pillar of Islamic practice, with innumerable lessons to teach. One of its most immediate lessons is the equality of humanity before its Creator and its inevitable journey back to Him.

Some in this life open the doors of good and lock the doors of evil, while some open the doors of evil and lock the doors of good. The keys are in our hands, and the choice is ours to make.

This khutbah explores the manners and etiquettes of travel in Islam and its underlying principles.

How can we maintain the spirit and beauty of Ramadan after it's gone?

Believing the best about Allah and expecting the best from Him is a great act of worship that erases all our fears and sorrows. It can change our whole life.

Ramadan is almost over. Will it be accepted from us?

Can Ramadan make us more patient? More sincere? More caring? One of the blessings of Ramadan is that it can.

Are you excited about Ramadan? Listen to this khutbah to get excited about all the great things Allah is sending our way.

Why do we fast? Is there wisdom behind Ramadan. This lectures details (8) lessons and benefits from the fast of Ramadan.

Shaban determines what Ramadan will look like. Listen to what the Prophet, salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam, used to do in Shaban and how it is the rehearsal for Ramadan.

The benefits, harms, etiquette, and responsibilities of social media.

Last episode in the series: the virtue of the companions & the final advice from Imam al-Muzani.

In this Installment, we talk about Heaven and Hell, seeing Allah in Heaven, and Takfeer of Muslims.

What are the virtues of the month of Rajab? And how can we use it to get ready for Ramadan? Rajab is the month where we plant the seeds for blossoming of good deeds in Ramadan.

An explanation of the proper way to understand the attributes of Allah. We then discuss death, the grave, the Day of Judgment, and the questioning on the Day of Judgment.

How did Allah create Adam? What is the definition of Iman? What does it mean that the Quran is the Word of Allah?

On the virtue of helping others in Islam and how it can take us to Heaven.

Continuation of the explanation of Sharh Assunnah by al-Imam al-Muzani. The lecture covers the ascendancy of Allah, the sound belief about predestination, and belief in angels.

Explanation of the aqidah book by al-Imam al-Muzani (d. 264 H), the student of Imam al-Shafi'i. In this lecture, we are introduced to the author and the reasons why he wrote this book. We also explore the importance of aqidah in Islam and the best way to study and understand it.

The life story of Salman al-Farisi, may Allah be pleased with him, and his extraordinary journey to Islam.

What is the Islamic guidance on raising righteous and happy children? How do we instill in them the right values that will stay with them for the rest of their lives? This lecture shares with you practical do's and don'ts to helps us become better parents. This is the last part of the Muslim Family Series.

14 tips and strategies on how to improve family life and solve its problems.

A khutbah on the state of our mosques and the need for more etiquette and manners in them.

The second lecture in this series explores the ways we can improve our family life and bring more happiness to us and those around us. The lecture introduces 12 points to help us achieve these goals.

In the first installment of this series, we understand what Islam teaches us about choosing the best spouse and how to go about doing this. The lecture presents 10 points to keep in mind while embarking on this important search.

Khutbah on what it means to trust Allah and how to achieve it.

Explanation of the last ayahs of Surat al-Hashr, ayahs (18-24) which contain the names of Allah.

Explanation of Surat Luqman: ayahs (29-34)

Khutbah on honesty in a dishonest world.

Tafsir Surat Luqman ayahs (20-28)

A discussion of the definition of fitnah, why they greatly increase with time, and ways we can protect ourselves from them.

Tafsri Surat Luqman ayahs (16-19)

Explanation of ayahs (12-15) from Surat Luqman.

Lessons from the tragedy of Aleppo.

Explanation of ayahs (1-11) from Surat Luqman.

The Final hadith in the Heart Therapy Series:The Prophet salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam said: (Call upon Allah while certain of being answered, and know that Allah does not answer a supplication from of a heedless and distracted heart.) Reported by al-Tirmidhi (660) and al-Hakim (1031), and al-Albani declared it to be hasan (Sahih al-Tirmidhi 3479)قالَ رسول اللهِ ﷺ: (ادْعُوا اللَّهَ وأنْتُم مُوقِنونَ بالإجابَةِ واعْلَموا أنَّ اللَّهَ لا يَسْتَجيبُ دُعاءً مِنْ قَلْبٍ غَافِلٍ لَاهٍ) رواه الترمذي (3479) والحاكم (1817) وحسنه الألباني (صحيح الترمذي 3479

How do we thank Allah for the blessing of having children? What is our responsibility towards them? How do we raise them right?

Explanation of the 39th hadith in the Heart Therapy Series:The Prophet salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam said: (The one who hears the call to prayer on Friday and doesn’t come to it, then hears it and doesn’t come to it, then hears it and doesn’t come to it, Allah then will put a seal on his heart and make his heart the heart of a hypocrite.)Reported by al-Bayhaqi in Shu‘ab al-Iman (2745) Al-Albani (Sahih al-Targhib 735) and Abdul Qadir al-Arna‘ut judged it to be hasan.قالَ رسول اللهِ ﷺ: (مَنْ سَمِعَ النِّداءَ يَوْمَ الجمُعَةِ فَلَمْ يَأْتِها ثمَّ سَمِعَهُ فَلَم يَأْتِهِ ثُمَّ سَمِعَهُ فَلَم يَأْتِها طَبَعَ اللهُ على قَلبِهِ وجَعَلَ قَلْبَهُ قَلْبَ مُنافِقٍ) رواه البيهقي في شعب الإيمان (2745) وحسنه الألباني (صحيح الترغيب 735) وعبد القادر الأرناؤوط

Explanation of the 38th hadith in the Heart Therapy Series:The Prophet salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam said: (Seven people will be shaded by Allah under His shade on the day when there will be no shade except His: the just ruler, a young man who grew up worshipping Allah, a man whose heart is attached to the mosque, two persons who love each other for Allah’s sake and they meet and part on it, a man who is called by a beautiful woman with nobility [for zina] but he says: “I fear Allah,” a person who gave charity and hid it so that his left hand does not know what his right hand has given, and a person who remembers Allah in seclusion and his eyes get flooded with tears.) Reported by al-Bukhari (660) and Muslim (1031).قالَ رسول اللهِ ﷺ: (سَبْعَةٌ يُظِلُّهُمُ اللهُ في ظِلِّهِ يَوْمَ لا ظِلَّ إلا ظِلُّهُ الإِمامُ العادِلُ وشابٌّ نَشَأَ بِعِبادَةِ اللهِ ورَجُلٌ قَلْبُهُ مُعَلَّقٌ في المَساجِدِ ورَجُلانِ تَحابّا في اللهِ اجْتَمَعا عَلَيْهِ وتَفَرَّقا عَلَيْهِ ورَجُلٌ دَعَتْهُ امْرَأَةٌ ذاتُ مَنْصِبٍ وجَمالٍ فقالَ إنِّي أَخافُ اللهَ ورَجُلٌ تَصَدَّقَ بِصَدَقَةٍ فَأَخْفاها حَتَّى لا تَعْلَمَ شِمالُهُ ما تُنْفِقُ يَمينُهُ ورَجُلٌ ذَكَرَ اللهَ خالِيًا فَفَاضَتْ عَيْناهُ) وفي روايةٍ لمسلم (ورجلٌ مُعَلَّقٌ بالمسجدِ إذا خَرَجَ مِنْهُ حَتَّى يَعودَ إِلَيْهِ) رواه البخاري (660) ومسلم (1031

Why is tawbah so important? Why do we need it every day of our lives? Why did the Prophet salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam seek it every day? In this khutbah, we learn about the reality of repentance and how to transition away from our sins and mistakes to a life that is pleasing to Allah.

Explanation of the 37th hadith in the Heart Therapy Series:The Prophet salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam said: (Who will take these statements from me to apply them or teach them to one who will apply them?) Abu Hurairah said: (I shall O Messenger of Allah.) So he took my hand and enumerated five and said: (Avoid the unlawful and you will be the best worshipper among people. Be satisfied with what Allah allotted for you and you will be the richest of people. Be kind to your neighbor and you will be a believer. Love for the people what you love for yourself and you will be a Muslim. And do not laugh too much, for indeed excessive laughter kills the heart.)Reported by al-Tirmidhi (2305) and ibn Majah (4217). Ibn Hajar declared it to be hasan and so did al-Albani (al-Silsilah al-Sahihah 930). قالَ رسول اللهِ ﷺ: (مَنْ يَأْخُذُ عَنِّي هؤُلاءِ الكَلِماتِ فَيَعْمَلُ بِهِنَّ أَوْ يُعَلِّمُ مَنْ يعمَلُ بِهِنَّ) فقالَ أبو هريرةَ قلتُ أنا يا رسولُ اللهِ فأخَذَ بيدِي فَعَدَّ خمْسًا وقال: (اتَّقِ المَحارِمَ تَكُنْ أَعْبَدَ النَّاسِ وارْضَ بما قَسَمَ اللهُ لَكَ تكُنْ أَغْنَى النَّاسِ وأحْسِنْ إلى جارِكَ تكُنْ مُؤمِنًا وأَحِبَّ للنَّاسِ ما تُحِبُّ لنِفْسِكَ تَكُنْ مُسلِمًا وَلَا تُكْثِر الضَّحِكَ فإِنَّ كَثْرَةَ الضَّحِكِ تُمِيتُ القَلْبَ) رواه الترمذي (2305) وابن ماجه (4217) وحسنه ابن حجر والألباني (السلسلة الصحيحة 930

Explanation of the 36th hadith in the Heart Therapy Series:A man complained to the Prophet salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam about the hardness of his heart so he said: (Wipe over the head of the orphan and feed the poor.)Reported by Ahmad (7576) and al-Bayhaqi in Shu‘ab al-Iman (10523) and al-Sunan al-Kubra (7094). Ibn Hajar declared it to be hasan and so did al-Albani (Sahih al-Targhib 2545).شَكا رَجَلٌ إلى رسولِ اللهِ ﷺ قَسْوَةَ قَلْبِهِ فَقالَ: (امْسَحْ رَأْسَ اليَتيمِ وأَطْعِم المِسْكينَ)رواه أحمد (7576) والبيهقي في شعب الإيمان (10523) والسنن الكبرى (7094) وحسنه ابن حجر في فتح الباري والألباني (صحيح الترغيب 2545

It's one of the main obstacles that stands between us and our dreams, between us and Allah. Learn how dangerous this obstacle can be for our life and iman. This khutbah outlines some practical steps you can to overcome laziness and embark on a goal-driven life.

Explanation of the 35th hadith in the Heart Therapy Series:The Prophet salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam said: (I forbade you to visit the graveyards, so [now] visit them, for they soften the heart and bring tears to the eye; and don’t say something wrong.)Reported by Ahmad (13487) and al-Hakim (1393). Al-Albani graded it as a Sahih (Sahih al-Jami‘ 4584), and so did Shu‘ayb al-Arna‘ut.قال رسولُ اللهِ ﷺ: (كُنْتُ نَهَيْتُكُمْ عَنْ زِيارَةِ القُبورِ ألا فَزُورُوها فَإِنَّها تُرِقُّ القَلْبَ و تُدْمِعُ العَيْنَ وتُذَكِّرُ الآخِرَةَ وَلا تَقُولُوا هُجْرًا) رواه أحمد (13487) والحاكم (1393) وصححه الألباني (صحيح الجامع 4584) وشعيب الأرناؤوط

Explanation of the 33 & 34 hadiths of the Heart Therapy Series:33) A young man came to the Prophet salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam and said: “O Messenger of Allah, allow me to commit zina.” The people turned to him and scolded him and said: “Stop!” The Prophet salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam said: “Come closer.” So he came closer and sat down. He asked him: “Would you like this for your mother?” He said: “No, by Allah O Messenger of Allah, may Allah make me your ransom.” He said: “And people don’t like it for their mothers.” He asked him: “Would you like this for your daughter?” He said: “No, by Allah O Messenger of Allah, may Allah make me your ransom.” He said: “And people don’t like it for their daughters.” He asked him: “Would you like this for your sister?” He said: “No, by Allah, may Allah make me your ransom.” He said: “And people don’t like it for their sisters.” He asked him: “Would you like this for your paternal aunt?” He said: “No, by Allah, may Allah make me your ransom.” He said: “And people don’t like it for their paternal aunts.” He asked him: “Would you like this for your maternal aunt?” He said: “No, by Allah, may Allah make me your ransom.” He said: “And people don’t like it for their maternal aunts.” Then he put his hand on him and said: “O Allah, forgive him his sin, purify his heart, and make him chaste.” After that, the young man never paid attention to anything of that nature.”) Reported by Ahmad (22211) and al-Tabarani. Al-Iraqi declared it to be a hadith with a good chain. Al-Haythami, al-Albani (al-Silsilah al-Sahihah 370), and Shu‘ayb al-Arna‘ut declared it to be sahih. إنَّ فَتًى شابًّا أتى النبيَّ ﷺ فقال: يا رسولَ اللهِ ائْذَنْ لي بالزِّنا فأَقْبَلَ القَوْمُ عليه فَزَجَروهُ وقالوا مَهْ مَهْ فقال (ادْنُهْ) فَدَنا مِنْهُ قَريبًا قال فَجَلَسَ قال (أَتُحِبُّهُ لِأُمِّكَ) قال لا واللهِ جَعَلَني اللهُ فِداءَكَ قال (ولا النَّاسُ يُحِبُّونَهُ لأُمَّهاتِهمْ) قال (أَفَتُحِبُّهُ لِابْنَتِكَ) قال لا واللهِ يا رسولَ اللهِ جعلني اللهُ فِداءَكَ قال (ولا النَّاسُ يُحِبُّونَهُ لبناتِهم) قال (أَفَتُحِبُّهُ لأُخْتِكَ) قال لا واللهِ جعلني اللهُ فِداءَكَ قال (ولا النَّاسُ يُحِبُّونَهُ لأَخَواتِهِمْ) قال (أَفَتُحِبُّهُ لِعَمَّتِكَ) قال لا واللهِ جعلني اللهُ فِداءَكَ قال (ولا النَّاسُ يُحِبُّونَهُ لِعَمَّاتِهِم) قال (أَفَتُحِبُّهُ لِخَالَتِكَ) قال لا واللهِ جعلني اللهُ فِداءَكَ قال (ولا النَّاسُ يُحِبُّونَهُ لِخالاتِهِمْ) قال فَوَضَعَ يَدَهُ عليه وقال (اللهمَّ اغْفِرْ ذَنْبَهُ وَطَهِّرْ قَلْبَهُ وحَصِّنْ فَرْجَهُ) فَلَمْ يَكُنْ بَعْدَ ذلِكَ الفَتى يَلْتَفِتُ إلى شَيْءٍ رواه أحمد (22211) والطبراني في الكبير وجود إسناده العراقي وصحح إسناده الهيثمي والألباني (السلسلة الصحيحة 370) وشعيب الأرناؤوط34) The Prophet salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam was sitting with his companions, then he went inside his home and came out after he had bathed. So we said: “O Messenger of Allah, did something happen?” He said: “Yes. A female passed by me and the desire for women fell into my heart, so I went to one of my wives and was with here. And thus you should do, for committing the halal is among the best of your deeds.” Reported by Ahmad (18028) and al-Tabarani. Al-Iraqi graded it as a hadith with a good chain, al-Albani declared it to be hasan (al-Silsilah al-Sahihah 235), and Shu‘ayb al-Arna‘ut declared it to be sahih. كان رسولُ اللهِ ﷺ جالسًا في أصحابه فدخل ثم خرج وقد اغتسل فقُلْنا يا رسولَ اللهِ قد كان شيءٌ قال: (أجل مرَّتْ بي فلانةٌ فوقع في قلبي شهوةُ النساءِ فأتيتُ بعضَ أزواجي فأصبتُها فكذلك فافعلُوا فإنه من أماثلِ أعمالِكم إتيانُ الحلالِ) رواه أحمد (18028) والطبراني في الأوسط وجود إسناده العراقي في تخريج أحاديث الإحياء وحسن إسناده الألباني (السلسلة الصحيحة 235) وصححه لغيره شعيب الأرناؤوط في المسند

Explanation of the 32nd hadith in the Heart Therapy Series:The Prophet salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam said: (One’s iman won’t be straight until their heart is straight, and their heart won’t be straight until their tongue is straight. And a man whose neighbor doesn’t feel secure from his harm shall not enter Heaven)Reported by Ahmad (13048) and ibn Abi al-Dunya in al-Samt (9). Al-Albani declared it to be hasan (Sahih al-Targhib 2554).قالَ رسولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: (لا يَسْتَقيمُ إيمانُ عَبْدٍ حَتَّى يَسْتَقيمَ قَلْبُهُ ولا يَسْتَقيمُ قَلْبُهُ حَتَّى يَسْتَقيمَ لِسانُهُ ولا يَدْخُلُ الجَنَّةَ رَجُلٌ لا يَأْمُنُ جَارُهُ بَوائِقَهُ)رواه أحمد (13048) وابن أبي الدنيا في الصمت (9) و حسنه الألباني (صحيح الترغيب 2554

Explanation of the 31st hadith in Heart Therapy Series:The Prophet salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam said: (May Allah beautify the face of someone who hears my words and conveys them, for there may be a carrier of knowledge that lacks understanding and a carrier of knowledge to another who has more understanding than he does. There are three things because of which no hatred will be in the heart of a Muslim: sincerity to Allah in action, advice to Muslim leaders, and adhering to the Muslim jama'ah, for indeed their du'a includes all of them.)Reported by Ahmad (13350), ibn Majah (3056), and al-Tirmidhi (2658). Ibn Hajar, al-Albani (al-Silsilah al-Sahihah 404), and al-Wadi‘i (al-Sahih al-Musnad 358) declared it to be sahih.قالَ رسولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: (نضَّرَ اللَّهُ امْرَأً سَمِعَ مَقالَتِي فَبَلَّغَها فَرُبَّ حامِلِ فِقْهٍ غَيْرُ فَقيهٍ ورُبَّ حامِلِ فِقهٍ إلى مَن هوَ أَفْقَهُ مِنهُ ثَلاثٌ لا يَغِلُّ عَلَيْهِنَّ قَلْبُ امْرِئٍ مُسْلِمٍ إخْلاصُ العَمَلِ لِلَّهِ والنُّصْحُ لِأَئِمَّةِ المُسلِمينَ ولُزومُ جَماعَتِهِم فإنَّ دَعْوَتَهُم تُحِيطُ مَنْ وَرائَهُم) رواه أحمد (13350) وابن ماجة (3056) واللفظ له والترمذي (2658) وصححه ابن حجر والألباني (السلسلة الصحيحة 404) والوادعي (الصحيح المسند 358

Explanation of the 30th hadith in the Heart Therapy Series:The Prophet salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam said: (Whosoever’s concern is the world, Allah will scatter his affairs for him and place poverty between his eyes, and he will only receive from the world that which has been written for him. And whosoever’s intention is the Hereafter, Allah will gather his affairs for him, put richness in his heart, and the world will be forced to come to him)Reported by ibn Majah (4105) and al-Tirmidhi (2456). Al-Iraqi declared its chain to be good, and al-Albani declared it to be sahih (Sahih ibn Majah 4105)قالَ رسولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: (مَنْ كَانَتِ الدُّنْيا هَمَّهُ فَرَّقَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ أَمْرَهُ وَجَعَلَ فَقْرَهُ بَيْنَ عَيْنَيْهِ ولَمْ يَأْتِهِ مِنَ الدُّنْيا إلَّا ما كُتِبَ لَهُ ومَنْ كانَتِ الآخِرَةُ نِيَّتَهُ جَمَعَ اللَّهُ لَهُ أَمْرَهُ وجَعلَ غِناهُ في قَلبِهِ وأَتَتْهُ الدُّنْيا وَهِيَ راغِمَةٌ) رواه ابن ماجه (4105) واللفظ له والترمذي (2465) بلفظ (من كانت الآخرة همه) وجود إسناده العراقي وصححه الألباني (صحيح ابن ماجه 4105

Explanation of the 28 & 29 Hadiths from the Heart Therapy Series:28) The Prophet salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam said: (When one commits a sin, a black spot appears on his heart. When he refrains from it, seeks forgiveness, and repents, his heart is polished clean. But if he returns, it increases until it covers his heart, and this is the Ran which Allah mentioned: ‘No, but on their hearts is the Ran which they earned [al-Mutaffifin 14]) Reported by Ahmad (7952) and al-Tirmidhi (3334) who said it is hasan sahih, and al-Albani declared it to be hasan (Sahih al-Tirmidhi 3334)29) The Prophet salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam said: (There is at times a thin shade that comes upon my heart, and I ask Allah for forgiveness a hundred times a day) Reported by Muslim (2702)قالَ رسولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: (إِنَّ العَبْدَ إذا أَخْطَأَ خَطيئَةً نُكِتَتْ في قَلْبِهِ نُكْتَةٌ سَوْداءُ فإذا هُوَ نَزَعَ واسْتَغْفَرَ وتابَ سُقِلَ قلبهُ وإن عادَ زِيدَ فيها حتَّى َتعْلُوَ قَلْبَهُ وهو الرَّانُ الذي ذَكَرَ اللهُ كَلّا بَلْ رَانَ عَلَى قُلُوبِهِمْ مَا كَانُواْ يَكْسِبُونَ [سورة المطففين 14]) رواه أحمد (7952) والترمذي (3334) وقال حسن صحيح و حسنه الألباني (صحيح الترمذي 3334)قالَ رسولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: (إِنَّهُ لَيُغانُ عَلى قَلْبي وإنِّي لأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ في اليَومِ مِائةَ مَرَّةٍ) رواه مسلم (2702)

An explanation of the importance of the best days of the year and what to do in them to gain favor with Allah.

Explanation of the 27th hadith in the Heart Therapy SeriesThe Prophet salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam said: (“There is no one who is afflicted with distress and grief and says: ‘O Allah, I am Your slave, son of Your slave, son of Your female slave; my forehead is in Your hand, Your command over me passes and Your decree over me is just. I ask You by every name belonging to You with which You have named Yourself, revealed in Your Book, taught to any of Your creation, or have preserved in the knowledge of the Unseen with You, that You make the Quran the spring of my heart, the light of my breast, a departure for my sorrow, and a release from my anxiety,’ but Allah will take away his distress and grief and replace it with joy.”) He was asked: “O Messenger of Allah, should we learn these words?” He said: (“Of course; everyone who hears them should learn them.”)Reported by Ahmad (3712), al-Hakim, and ibn Hibban. Ibn al-Qayyim, Ahmad Shakir, and al-Albani declared it to be sahih (Al-Silsilah al-Sahihah 199)قالَ رسولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: (ما أَصابَ أَحَدًا قَطُّ هَمٌّ ولا حَزَنٌ فقال اللَّهُمَّ إنِّي عَبْدُكَ وابْنُ عَبدِكَ وابنُ أَمَتِكَ ناصِيَتي بِيَدِكَ ماضٍ فِيَّ حُكْمُكَ عَدْلٌ فيَّ قَضاؤُكَ أَسْألُكَ بِكُلِّ اسْمٍ هو لكَ سَمَّيْتَ به نفَسَكَ أو أَنْزَلْتَهُ في كِتابِكَ أو عَلَّمْتَهُ أَحَدًا من خَلْقِكَ أو اسْتَأْثَرْتَ بهِ في عِلمِ الغَيْبِ عِندكَ أنْ تَجعلَ القرآنَ رَبيعَ قَلبي ونورَ صَدْري وجَلاءَ حُزْني وذَهابَ هَمِّي إلَّا أَذْهَبَ اللهُ عزَّ وجلَّ هَمَّهُ وأَبْدَلَهُ مَكانَ حُزْنِهِ فَرَحًا) قالوا يا رسولَ اللهِ ينبغي لنا أن نتعلَّمَ هؤلاءِ الكلماتِ؟ قال: (أَجَلْ يَنْبَغي لِمَنْ سَمِعَهُنَّ أَنْ يَتَعَلَّمَهُنَّ) رواه أحمد (3712) والحاكم (1877) وابن حبان (972) وصححه ابن القيم وأحمد شاكر والألباني (السلسلة الصحيحة 199)

Explanation of the 26 hadith in the Heart Therapy Series:The Prophet salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam used to make this dua:(My Rabb, aid me and do not aid against me, grant me victory and do not grant victory over me, plot for me and do not plot against me, guide me and facilitate guidance for me, and grant me victory over those who transgress against me. My Rabb, make me to You ever-grateful, of You ever-remembering, to You ever-fearful and ever-obedient, to You ever-humble, to You oft-regretful and returning. My Rabb, accept my repentance, wash my sin away, confirm my proof, guide my heart, straighten my tongue, and remove the blackness of my heart.)Reported by al-Nasa’i in al-Sunan al-Kubra (10552) and al-Tirmidhi (3551) and Abu Dawud (1510). Ibn Hajar declared it to be hasan, and ibn al-Qayyim, Ahmad Shakir, and al-Albani declared it to be sahih (Sahih al-Tirmidhi 3551)كانَ رسولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يدعو بِهَذا الدُّعاءِ: (رَبِّ أَعِنِّي ولا تُعِنْ عَليَّ وانْصُرْني ولا تَنْصُرْ عَليَّ وامْكُرْ لي ولا تَمْكُرْ عليَّ واهْدِني ويَسِّرِ الهُدَى لِي وانصُرْني على من بَغَى عليَّ رَبِّ اجْعَلْني لَكَ شَكَّارًا لَكَ ذَكَّارًا لَكَ رَهَّابًا مِطواعًا إليكَ مُخْبِتًا لَكَ أوَّاهًا مُنيبًا ربِّ تَقَبَّل تَوْبَتِي واغْسِلْ حَوْبَتي وثَبِّتْ حُجَّتي واهْدِ قَلْبي وسَدِّدْ لِساني واسْلُلْ سَخِيمَةَ قَلْبي)رواه النسائي في السنن الكبرى (10552 طبعة دار التأصيل) والترمذي (3551) وأبو داود (1510) وحسنه ابن حجر وصححه ابن القيم وأحمد شاكر والألباني (صحيح الترمذي 3551

Are we true followers of Allah and His Prophet? Do we put their guidance and judgment first? Before our preferences? In this khutbah, we examine the consequences of following the divine guidance or ignoring it. We also see how the companions and the pious predecessors honored the words of the Prophet and placed them before anything else.

Explanation of the 25th hadith in the Heart Therapy SeriesThe Prophet salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam said: (Indeed iman gets worn out inside of you as a piece of clothing gets worn out. So ask Allah to renew iman in your hearts. ) Reported by al-Hakim and al-Tabarani. Al-Haythami, al-Iraqi, and al-Albani declared it to be hasan (al-Silsilah al-Sahihah 1585)قال رسولُ اللهِ ﷺ: (إنَّ الإيمانَ ليَخْلَقُ في جَوْفِ أَحَدِكُم كَما يَخْلَقُ الثَّوبُ فاسْأَلوا اللهَ أَنْ يُجَدِّدَ الإيمانَ في قُلوبِكُم ) رواه الحاكم والطبراني وحسنه الهيثمي في مجمع الزوائد (159) والعراقي الألباني (السلسلة الصحيحة 1585)

Explanation of Hadith 24 in Heart Therapy Series: Zayd ibn Arqam said: I only say to you what the Prophet salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam used to say. He used to say: (O Allah, I seek refuge in You from inability, laziness, cowardice, miserliness, decrepitude, and the torment of the grave. O Allah, grant my soul its piety and purify it as You are the Best to purify it. You are its Supporter and its Master. O Allah, I seek refuge in You from non-beneficial knowledge, from an irreverent heart, from a dissatisfied soul, and from a du‘a that goes unanswered) Reported by Muslim (2722)عن زَيْد بن أَرْقَم قال لا أَقولُ لَكُم إلا كما كان رسولُ اللهِ ﷺ يقول كانَ يَقولُ (اللهمَّ إني أَعوذُ بِكَ مِنَ العَجْزِ والكَسَلِ والجُبْنِ والبُخْلِ والهَرَمِ وعَذابِ القَبْرِ اللهُمَّ آتِ نَفْسي تَقْواها وزَكِّها أَنتَ خَيْرُ مَن زَكَّاها أنت وَلِيُّها ومَوْلاها اللهمَّ إني أعوذُ بك من عِلمٍ لا يَنْفَعُ ومن قلبٍ لا يَخْشَعُ ومن نَفْسٍ لا تَشْبَعُ ومن دَعْوَةٍ لا يُسْتجابُ لَها ) رواه مسلم (2722)

This khutbah discusses Black Magic according to the Quran and Sunnah, the danger of Magic, and means of protection. It also discusses how to seek treatment and how to wisely choose the one treating you.

Explanation of the 23rd Hadith in the Heart Therapy Series:Shakal ibn Humayd said: I came to the Prophet salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam and said: “O Messenger of Allah, teach me a protective du‘a with which I can supplicate to seek refuge.” So he held my hand and said: “Say: ‘O Allah, I seek your refuge from the evil of my hearing, the evil of my sight, the evil of my tongue, the evil of my heart, and the evil of my private part.’” Reported by Abu Dawud (1551) and al-Tirmidhi (3492). It is declared to be hasan gharib by al-Tirmidhi, hasan by ibn Hajar and al-Suyuti, and sahih by al-Albani (Sahih al-Tirmidhi 3492)عن شَكَلِ بن حُمَيْدٍ قال أتيتُ النَّبيَّ ﷺ فقُلتُ يا رسولَ اللَّهِ عَلِّمْني تَعَوُّذًا أَتَعَوَّذُ بِهِ قالَ فأخذَ بكَفِّي فقالَ (قُلْ اللَّهمَّ إنِّي أعوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ سَمْعي ومِن شرِّ بَصَري ومِن شرِّ لِساني ومِن شرِّ قَلبي ومن شرِّ مَنِيِّي) يَعني فَرْجَهُ رواه أبو داود (1551) والترمذي (3492) وقال حسن غريب وحسنه ابن حجر والسيوطي وصححه الألباني (صحيح الترمذي 3492)

In this khutbah, we learn about the reality of hasad (the evil eye) and how much damage it can do. We also learn about precautions you can take to protect yourself and family from it, and ways you can seek treatment from it when you are touched by it.

Explanation of the 22 hadith in the Heart Therapy Series:The Messenger salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam used to supplicate with these supplications: “O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the trial of Hellfire, from the torment of Hellfire, from the trial of the grave, from the torment of the grave, form the evil of the trial of affluence, and from the evil of the trial of poverty. O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the evil of the turmoil of the Dajjal. O Allah, wash away my sins with snow and hail water, purify my heart from sins as the white garment is purified from dirt, and put a distance between my sins and me like the distance You’ve put between East and West. O Allah, I seek refuge in You from sloth, senility, sin, and debt” Reported by al-Bukhari (6377) and Muslim (589)كانَ رسول الله ﷺ يدعو بهذه الدَّعَوات: (اللَّهمَّ إنِّي أَعوذُ بِكَ من فِتنةِ النَّارِ وعَذابِ النَّارِ وفتنةِ القَبرِ وعذابِ القبرِ وشَرِّ فِتنةِ الغِنى وشرِّ فتنةِ الفقرِ اللَّهمَّ إنِّي أعوذُ بكَ من شرِّ فتنةِ المسيحِ الدَّجَّالِ اللَّهمَّ اغسَلْ قلبي بماءِ الثَّلجِ والبَرَدِ ونَقِّ قلبي منَ الخطايا كما نقَّيتَ الثَّوبَ الأبيضَ منَ الدَّنَسِ وباعِدْ بيني وبينَ خَطايايَ كما باعَدْتَ بينَ المَشْرقِ والمغربِ اللَّهمَّ إنِّي أعوذُ بكَ منَ الكَسَلِ والمَأْثَمِ والمَغْرَمِ) رواه البخاري (6377) ومسلم (589)

Explanation of the 21st hadith in the Heart Therapy Series:Umm Salamah was asked: “What was the most frequent du‘a of the Prophet salla Allah alayhi wa sallam when he was with you?” She said: “His most frequent du‘a was ‘O Turner of the hearts, make my heart firm upon your religion.’” She said: “O Messenger of Allah, why is ‘O Turner of the hearts, make my heart firm upon your religion’ your most frequent du‘a?” He said: ‘O Umm Salamah, there is no human except that their heart is between Two Fingers of the Fingers of Allah, so whomever He wills He makes steadfast, and whomever He wills He leads astray.’” Then Muadh [one of the narrators of the hadith] recited: (O Our Rabb, do not lead our hearts astray after you have guided us [Aal Imran (8)]) Reported by al-Tirmidhi (3522) who declared it to be hasan and al-Albani declared it to be sahih (Sahih al-Tirmidhi 3522)قُلتُ لأمِّ سَلَمَةَ يا أمَّ المؤمنينَ ما كانَ أكْثرُ دعاءِ رسولِ اللَّهِ صلَّى اللَّهُ علَيهِ وسلَّمَ إذا كانَ عندَكِ قالَت كانَ أَكْثرُ دعائِهِ: (يا مُقلِّبَ القُلوبِ ثَبِّتْ قلبي على دينِكَ) قالَت فقُلتُ يا رسولَ اللَّهِ ما لأكثرِ دُعاءكَ يا مُقلِّبَ القلوبِ ثبِّت قلبي على دينِكَ قالَ (يا أُمَّ سلمةَ إنَّهُ لَيسَ آدميٌّ إلَّا وقلبُهُ بينَ أُصْبُعَيْنِ من أَصابعِ اللَّهِ فمَن شاءَ أقامَ ومن شاءَ أزاغَ) فتلا معاذٌ [أحد رواة الحديث] رَبَّنَا لَا تُزِغْ قُلُوبَنَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَيْتَنَا [آل عمران (8)]. رواه الترمذي (3522) وحسنه وصححه الألباني (صحيح الترمذي 3522)

Is Islam responsible for the extremism committed in its name? Where do the roots of extremism lie? How can we stem the spread of violence and extreme ideology today? You'll find the answers to these questions and more in this khutbah insha-Allah.

Do you sense some emptiness after Ramadan? Do you look back and crave the spirituality and iman you felt in Ramadan? Listen to this khutbah to reenergize your iman and start developing a plan for your hereafter.

Ramadan is a metaphor for our lives. The way we approach the last few days of Ramadan reflects how we will be in the last days of our lives. The way to know if our Ramadan is successful is to see if it had left us with lasting lessons before it quickly leaves.

Why do we practice I'tikaf (seclusion in the mosque) in Ramadan? What do we hope to gain from it? And how can it help change us and recharge us for the rest of the year? In this talk, we discuss the objectives of this great worship and the impact it leaves on those who practice it.

Explanation of the 20th hadith in the Heart Therapy Series:The Messenger salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam was asked: “Who is the best of people?” He said: (Everyone with a makhmum [clean] heart and truthful tongue.) They asked: “We know the truthful tongue but what is a makhmum heart?” He answered: (It is the pious and pure one, with no sin, aggression, hatred, and envy in it.”) Reported by ibn Majah (3416) and declared to be sahih by al-Mundhiri, al-Iraqi, al-Busayri, and al-Albani (Sahih ibn Majah 3416) قِيلِ لرسولِ اللهِ ﷺ: أَيُّ النَّاسِ أفضلُ قال: (كُلُّ مَخْمومِ القَلبِ صَدوقِ اللِّسانِ) قالوا: صدوقُ اللسانِ نَعرِفُه فما مخمومُ القلبِ قالَ: (هُوَ التَّقِيُّ النَّقِيُّ لا إِثْمَ فِيهِ ولا بَغْيَ ولا غِلَّ ولا حَسَدَ) رواه ابن ماجه (3416) وصحح اسناده المنذري والعراقي والبوصيري وصححه الألباني (صحيح ابن ماجه 3416)

Explanation of hadith (18 & 19) in the Heart Therapy Series:18) The Messenger salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam said: (I know a statement that no one says truly from their heart except that they will be saved from Hellfire: La ilaha illa Allah) Reported by al-Hakim (242) and ibn Habban (204) and declared to be sahih by al-Albani (Sahih al-Targhib 1528)قالَ رسول الله ﷺ: (إنِّي لأَعْلَمُ كَلِمَةً لا يَقولُها عَبْدٌ حَقًّا مِن قَلبِه فَيَموتُ على ذلكَ إلَّا حُرِّمَ عَلى النَّارِ لا إلهَ إلَّا اللهُ) رواه الحاكم (242) وابن حبان (204) وصححه الألباني (صحيح الترغيب 152819) The Messenger salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam said: (The one who offers salah for me from my ummah, sincerely from their heart, Allah will then offer ten salahs for them, will raise them ten degrees, write for them ten good deeds, and cancel for them ten sins) Reported by al-Nasa’i in al-Yawm wa al-Laylah and al-Tabarani in al-Mu‘jam al-Kabir and declared to be sahih by al-Albani (Sahih al-Targhib 1659) قالَ رسول الله ﷺ: (مَنْ صَلَّى عَلَيَّ مِنْ أُمَّتي صَلاةً مُخلِصًا مِن قَلبِه صَلَّى اللهُ عَليهِ بِها عَشْرَ صَلَواتٍ ورَفعَهُ بِها عَشْرَ دَرَجاتٍ وكَتبَ لهُ بِها عَشْرَ حَسَناتٍ ومَحا عَنهُ عَشْرَ سَيِّئاتٍ) رواه النسائي في اليوم والليلة والطبراني في معجمه الكبير والبخاري في تاريخه وصححه الألباني (صحيح الترغيب 1659)

How can we reach a state where we actually enjoy the month of Ramadan? Where we look forward to it and prefer it to other months? Allah had made certain promises to us in the Quran, and if you listen to Him, Allah will take you there.

Explanation of the 17th hadith in the Heart Therapy Series:The Messenger salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam said: (When a person brings the Wudu’ water close to him and washes his mouth and nose, the sins committed by his face, mouth and nose fall out. Then when he washes his face as commanded by Allah, the sins of his face fall out from the ends of his beard with the water. Then when he washes his hands up to and including the elbows, the sins of his hands fall out from his fingers with the water. Then when he wipes over his head, the sins of the head fall out from the ends of his hair with the water. Then when he washes his feet to the ankles, the sins of his feet fall out from his toes with the water. Then if he stands up for Salah and thanks Allah, praises Him, glorifies Him as He deserves, and dedicates his heart wholly to Allah, he emerges sin free as the day he was born) Reported by Muslim (832) قالَ رسول الله ﷺ: (ما مِنْكُم َرجُلٌ يُقَرِّبُ وَضوءَهُ فَيَتَمَضْمَضُ ويَسْتَنْشِقُ فَيَنْتَثِرُ إِلَّا خَرَّتْ خَطايا وَجْهِهِ وَفِيهِ وَخَياشيمِهِ ثُمَّ إذا غَسَلَ وَجْهَهُ كما أَمَرَهُ اللهُ إلا خَرَّتْ خَطايا وَجْهِهِ مِن أَطرافِ لِحْيَتِهِ مَعَ الماءِ ثُمَّ يَغْسِلُ يَدَيْهِ إِلى المِرْفَقَيْنِ إلا خَرَّتْ خَطايا يَدَيْهِ مِنْ أَنامِلِهِ مع الماءِ ثُمَّ يَمْسِحُ رَأْسَهُ إلا خَرَّتْ خَطايا رَأْسِهِ مِن أَطرافِ شَعْرِهِ مع الماءِ ثُمَّ يَغْسِلُ قَدَمَيْهِ إلى الكَعْبَيْنِ إلا خَرَّتْ خطايا رِجْلَيْهِ من أَنامِلِهِ مع الماءِ فَإنْ هُوَ قامَ فَصَلَّى فَحَمِدَ الله تَعالى وَأَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ وَمَجَّدَهُ بِالَّذِي هُوَ لَهُ أَهْلٌ وَفَرَّغَ قَلْبَهُ للهِ تَعالى إِلا انصَرَفَ مِنْ خَطِيئَتِهِ كَهَيْئَتِهِ يَوْمَ وَلَدَتْهُ أُمُّهُ) رواه مسلم (832) في قصة إسلام عمرو ابن عَبَسَة

Ramadan teaches us so many lessons, and few are as important as developing our patience and reconnecting us with the Quran. In this khutbah, we learn the wisdom behind our fast, and we understand how the Quran should be read in the month of Ramadan.

Explanation of the Bonus Hadith from the Heart Therapy Series:The Messenger salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam said: (The fasting of the Month of Patience and three days from every month removes the contaminants of the heart) reported by al-Bazzar and Ahmad and al-Tabarani and declared to be sahih by al-Albani (Sahih al-Targhib wa al-Tarhib 1032) قالَ رسول الله ﷺ: (صَوْمُ شَهْرِ الصَّبْرِ وثلاثَةُ أيَّامٍ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ يُذْهِبْنَ وَحَرَ الصَّدْرِ) رواه البزار وأحمد والطبراني وصححه الألباني (صحيح الترغيب 1032

Ramadan brings a lot of rahmah (mercy) with it, a gift from the Most Merciful. It allows us to draw near to our Creator and to recover from the troubles and burdens of the last year. In this khutbah, we explain the mercy that we receive in Ramadan and how to be ready to receive it.

Explanation of hadith #16 in the Heart Therapy Series:The Messenger salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam said: (The one whom Allah did not put in their heart mercy towards people has perished and is in loss) Reported by al-Dulabi in al-Kuna and Abu Na‘im in al-Ma‘rifah and ibn ‘Asakir in Tarikh Dimashq and decalred to be hasan by al-Albani (al-Silsilah al-Sahihah 456) قالَ رسول الله ﷺ: (خابَ عَبدٌ و خَسِرَ لَمْ يَجعَل اللهُ تعالى في قلبِهِ رَحْمَةً لِلبَشَرِ) رواه الدولابي في الكنى وأبو نعيم في المعرفة وابن عساكر في تاريخ دمشق وحسنه الألباني (السلسلة الصحيحة 456

Explanation of the 15th hadith in the Heart Therapy SeriesThe Messenger salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam said: (Allah descends on the night of the middle of Sha‘ban to the lowest sky and forgives each soul except one who has hatred in their heart or one with shirk in Allah the Most High) Reported by Ibn Abi ‘Asim in Kitab al-Sunnah (509) and declared to be sahih by al-Albani in Takhrij Kitab al-Sunnahقالَ رسول الله ﷺ: (ينزلُ اللَّهُ ليلةَ النِّصفِ مِن شعبانَ إلى السَّماءِ الدُّنيا فيغفرُ لِكُلِّ نفسٍ إلَّا إنسانٍ في قَلبِهِ شحناءٌ أو مُشرِكٍ باللَّهِ عزَّ وجلَّ) رواه ابن أبي عاصم في كتاب السنة (509) وصححه الألباني في تخريج كتاب السنة

The 14th hadith in the Heart Theray Series:The Messenger salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam said: (A thankful heart, a tongue that remembers Allah, and a pious woman that helps you in your worldly and religious matters are the best that people treasure) Reported by al-Bayhaqi in Shu‘ab al-Iman (4116) and declared to be sahih by al-Albani (Sahih al-Jami‘ 4409) قالَ رسول الله ﷺ: (قَلْبٌ شَاكِرٌ و لِسانٌ ذاكِرٌ و زَوْجَةٌ صالِحَةٌ تُعينُكَ على أَمْرِ دُنْياكَ و دينِكَ خَيْرُ ما اكْتَنَزَ النَّاسُ) رواه البيهقي في شعب الإيمان (4116) وصححه الألباني (صحيح الجامع 4409

Is there food in heaven? How about hell? What food did the Prophet love and recommend? How can we receive blessings and rewards from our food ? Is our food supposed to teach us something? In this khutbah, we answer these questions and learn about the place of food in the Islamic outlook on life.

Explanation of the 13th hadith in the Heart Therapy Series:The Messenger ﷺ said: (The one who has an ant’s weight of arrogance in their heart shall not enter paradise.) A man said: one loves that his clothes be nice and his shoes be nice. He said: (Allah is Beautiful and loves beautification. Arrogance is the rejection of the truth and the belittling of people.) Reported by Muslim (91)قالَ رسول الله ﷺ: (لا يَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّةَ مَنْ كانَ فِي قَلْبِهِ مِثْقالُ ذَرَّةٍ مِنْ كِبْرٍ) قَالَ رَجُلٌ: إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ يُحِبُّ أَنْ يَكُونَ ثَوْبُهُ حَسَنًا وَنَعْلُهُ حَسَنَةً قَالَ: (إِنَّ اللهَ جَمِيلٌ يُحِبُّ الْجَمَالَ الْكِبْرُ بَطْرُ الْحَقِّ وَغَمْطُ النَّاسِ) رواه مسلم (91

Explanation of the 12th hadith in the Heart Therapy Series:The Messenger salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam said: (Shuh [greed] and iman will never coexist in the heart of a slave of Allah) Reported by al-Nasa’i (3110) and al-Bukhari in al-Adab al-Mufrad. It is declared to be hasan by ibn Hajar and sahih by al-Albani (Sahih al-Nasa’i 3110)قالَ رسول الله ﷺ: (لا يَجْتَمِعُ الشُّحُّ والْإيمانُ فِي قَلْبِ عَبْدٍ أَبَدًا) رواه النسائي (3110) والبخاري في الأدب المفرد وحسن اسناده ابن حجر وصححه الألباني (صحيح النسائي 3110)

درس بليغ من سورة الأعراف عن فضل القناعة وشكر النعم

My recitation of the opening chapter of the Quran

This is my adhan recorded at home.

Explanation of the 11th hadith in the Heart Therapy Series:The Messenger salla Allahi alayhi wa sallam ascended the pulpit and cried out: (O you who have accepted Islam by tongue but iman is yet to penetrate their hearts: do not harm the Muslims, and do not shame them, and do not trace their faults. For the one who traces the faults of his Muslim brother will have Allah tracing his faults, and the one whom Allah traces his faults Allah will disgrace even if he was concealed inside his home)Reported by al-Tirmidhi (2032) and Abu Dawud (4880) and declared to be sahih by al-Albani in Sahih Abi Dawud (4880) صَعِدَ رسول الله ﷺ المِنبَرَ فنادى بِصَوْتٍ رَفيعٍ فقالَ: (يا مَعْشَرَ مَنْ أَسْلَمَ بِلِسانِهِ وَلَمْ يُفْضِ الإيمانُ إلى قَلْبِهِ لا تُؤْذوا المسلمينَ ولا تُعَيِّروهمْ ولا تَتَّبِعوا عَوْراتِهِمْ فَإِنَّهُ مَنْ يَتَّبِعْ عَوْرَةَ أَخِيهِ المسلمِ يَتَّبِع اللهُ عَوْرَتَهُ ومَن يَتَّبِع اللهُ عَوْرَتَهُ يَفْضَحْهُ وَلَوْ في جَوْفِ رَحْلِهِ)رواه الترمذي (2032) وأبو داود (4880) وصححه الألباني في صحيح أبي داود (4880)

The way the companions learned the Quran was drastically different than the way we do it today. Their way produced the best interaction with Allah's words and they were the best generation because of it. We, on the other hand, are only superficially connected to it. Learn how the companions used to do it and listen to a practical outline of steps that will help you rediscover the glory and beauty of the Quran.

Explanation of the tenth hadith in the Heart Therapy Series:The Messenger salla Allahi alayhi wa sallam said: (Written on the child of Adam is their share of fornication, they will surely meet what is written for them. The fornication of the eyes is in looking, and the ears is in listening, and the tongue in talking, and the hands in touching, and the feet in walking. And the heart desires and wishes, and the private parts confirm this or reject it)Reported by al-Bukhari (6612) and Muslim (2657) قال رسول الله ﷺ: (كُتِبَ على ابْنِ آدَمَ نصيبُهُ منَ الزِّنا مُدْرِكٌ ذلك لا مَحالَةَ فالعَينانِ زِناهُما النَّظَرُ والأُذُنانِ زِناهُما الاستِماعُ واللِّسانُ زِناهُ الكلامُ واليَدُ زِناها البَطْشُ والرِّجْلُ زِناها الخُطا والقَلْبُ يَهْوَى ويَتَمَنَّي ويُصَدِّقُ ذلكَ الفَرْجُ ويُكَذِّبُهُ)رواه البخاري (6612) ومسلم (2657) واللفظ لمسلم

Explanation of the ninth hadith in the Heart Therapy Series:The Messenger salla Allahi alayhi wa sallam said: (Amanah descended in the middle of men’s hearts, then the Quran descended and they learned the Quran, and then they learned the Sunnah.) Then the Prophet told us about the lifting of amanah and said: (One would sleep and amanah would be lifted from his heart, and a faint dark trace would remain in its place. Then he would sleep again and amanah would lifted from his heart and it will leave a trace like a blister, like an ember that you roll down your foot and it swells and you see it puff up but there is nothing inside. And so people would sell and buy with hardly anyone being trustworthy until it will be said: “Among the children of so and so is a trustworthy man,” until it will be said about a man: “How strong he is! How handsome and eloquent he is! How wise he is!” and there is no grain of iman in his heart) Reported by al-Bukhari (6497) and Muslim (143)قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: (إِنَّ الأَمانَةَ نَزَلَتْ في جَذْرِ قُلوبِ الرِّجالِ ثُمَّ نَزَلَ القُرْآنُ فَعَلِموا مِنَ القُرْآنِ وَعَلِموا مِنَ السُّنَّةِ) ثُمَّ حَدَّثَنا عَنْ رَفْعِ الأَمانَةِ قال: (يَنامُ الرَّجُلُ النَّوْمَةَ فَتُقْبَضُ الأَمانَةُ مِنْ قَلْبِهِ فَيَظَلُّ أَثَرُها مِثْلَ الوَكْتِ ثُمَّ يَنامُ النَّوْمَةَ فَتُقْبَضُ الأَمانَةُ مِنْ قَلْبِهِ فَيَظَلُّ أَثَرُها مِثْلَ المَجْلِ كَجَمْرٍ دَحْرَجْتَهُ عَلى رِجْلِكَ فَنَفِطَ فَتَراهُ مُنْتَبِرًا وَلَيْسَ فيهِ شَيْئٌ فَيُصْبِحُ النَّاسُ يَتَبايَعونَ لا يَكادُ أَحَدٌ يُؤَدِّي الأَمانَةَ حَتَّى يُقالَ إِنَّ في بَني فُلانٍ رَجُلاً أَمينًا حَتّى يُقالَ لِلرَّجُل ما أجْلَدَهُ ما أظْرَفَهُ ما أعْقَلَهُ وَما في قَلْبِهِ حَبَّةُ خَرْدَلٍ مِنْ إيمانٍ) رواه البخاري (6497) ومسلم (143)

Explanation of the 8th hadith in the Heart Therapy Series: The Messenger salla Allahi alayhi wa sallam came out while we were talking about poverty and expressing fears about it and he said: (Is it poverty that you fear? I swear by the One who has my soul in His Hand [the bounties of] this world will be poured upon on so much that the heart of one of you would not go astray except because of it. I swear by Allah, I have left you on the likeness of the white [path]: its night is no different than its day) Reported by ibn Majah and declared to be hasan by al-Albani (Sahih ibn Majah 5) خرَجَ عَلَيْنا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ونَحْنُ نَذْكُرُ الفَقْرَ ونَتَخَوَّفُهُ فقال: (آلفَقْرَ تَخافونَ؟ وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَتُصَبَّنَّ عَلَيْكُمْ الدُّنْيا صَبًّا حَتَّى لا يُزيغَ قَلْبَ أَحَدِكُمْ إِزاغَةً إلَّا هِيَهْ وَأَيْمُ اللهِ لَقَدْ تَرَكْتُكُمْ عَلى مِثْلِ البَيْضاءِ لَيْلُها ونَهارُها سَواءٌ)رواه ابن ماجه وحسنه الألباني في صحيح ابن ماجه 5

Does Allah love humanity? Is there evidence to show that? Does Allah want us to love each other? Is there evidence for that too? As this khutbah shows, the divine Shari'ah that Allah revealed aims to nurture and protect love. It undoubtedly can be dubbed the Shari'ah of love.

Explanation of the seventh hadith in the Heart Therapy Series:The Messenger salla Allahi alayhi wa sallam said: (The heart of the old man is young in its love of two things: long life and love of wealth)Reported by al-Bukhari (6420) and Muslim (1046)قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: (قَلْبُ الشَّيْخِ شابٌّ عَلى حُبِّ اثْنَـتَيْنِ طُولِ الحَياةِ وحُبِّ المالِ)رواه البخاري (6420) ومسلم (1046) واللفظ لمسلم

Explanation of the sixth hadith in the Heart Therapy Series:The Messenger salla Allahi alayhi wa sallam said: (O Abu Dharr, do you suppose that abundance of wealth is affluence? Affluence is the richness of the heart and poverty is the poverty of the heart. The one who is rich in heart will not be harmed by what they face in this world, and the one who is poor in heart will not be enriched by how much they acquire of this world. What harms his self is its shuh [i.e. avarice])Reported by ibn Habban and al-Tabarani and is declared to be sahih by al-Albani (Sahih al-Jami‘ 7816) قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: يا أبا ذَرٍّ أَتَرى أنَّ كَثْرَةَ المالِ هو الغِنَى إنَّما الغِنَى غِنَى القلبِ والفقرُ فقرُ القلبِ مَنْ كانَ الغِنَى فِي قلبِهِ فلا يَضُرُّهُ ما لَقِيَ مِنَ الدُّنيا ومَنْ كانَ الفقرُ في قلبهِ فلا يُغنيهِ ما أُكْثِرَ لهُ مِنَ الدُّنيا وإنَّما يَضُرُّ نَفْسَهُ شُحُّهارواه ابن حبان و الطبراني و صححه الألباني صحيح الجامع 7816

Loving the prophets and messengers of God is the second manifestation and realization of love in Islam. Discover in this khutbah why Allah loved these people so much and wanted us to love them too, especially Prophet Muhammad peace be upon them all. Importantly, we note the proper ways of loving the Prophet and ways to nurture this love.

Explanation of the fifth hadith in the Heart Therapy Series:Explanation of the fifth hadith in the Heart Therapy Series:The Messenger salla Allahi alayhi wa sallam said: (There is no heart except that it has a cloud like the clouds of the moon: while the moon is shining, it gets covered with a cloud and it gets dark; but when the cloud leaves it, the moon goes back to its shine) Reported by al-Tabarani in al-Awsat and Abu Na‘im in al-Hulya. It is declared to be hasan by al-Albani in al-Silsilah al-Sahihah (2268) قال رسول الله ﷺ: (ما مِنَ القُلوبِ قَلْبٌ إلا وله سَحَابَةٌ كَسَحابةِ القَمَرِ بَيْنا القمرُ مُضيئٌ إذْ عَلَتْ عَليهِ سَحابةٌ فأَظْلَمَ إذْ تَجَلَّتْ عنهُ فَأَضاءَ) رواه الطبراني في الأوسط وأبو نعيم في الحلية وحسنه الألباني في السلسلة الصحيحة (2268

An explanation of the fourth hadith in the Heart Therapy Series:The Messenger salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam said: (Virtue is what the soul is comfortable with and the heart is comfortable with, and sin is what the soul is uncomfortable with and the heart is uncomfortable with, despite what fatwa-givers might say) Reported by Ahmad. Al-Nawawi declared it hasan, ibn Rajab declared its chain to be sound, and al-Albani declared it a sound hadith.قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: (البِرُّ ما سَكَنَتْ إليهِ النَّفْسُ واطْمَأنَّ إليهِ القَلبُ والإثْمُ ما لم تسْكُنْ إليهِ النَّفسُ ولم يَطْمَئِنَّ إليهِ القلبُ وإن أَفْتاكَ المُفْتونَ) رواه أحمد وحسنه النووي وجود إسناده ابن رجب وصححه الألباني (صحيح الترغيب 1735)

We often hear that Islam is not a religion of love. Is this true? Is there no place for love in Islam? Here we investigate the relationship between love and Islam, and we try to understand the reasons behind the creation of this world and why we are in it.

Explanation of the 3rd hadith in the Heart Therapy Series:The Messenger salla Allahi alayhi wa sallam said: (Fitan [pl. fitnah] will be presented to the heart, like the weaving of a straw mat, straw after straw. Any heart that absorbs them will have a black dot left in it and any heart that rejects them will have a white dot left in it. In the end there will be two types of hearts left: one white like a smooth and solid stone with no fitnah able to harm it as long as the heavens and earth endure, and another black and turbid, like an overturned vessel, that does not abide by virtue or reject evil except what agrees with its desire-soaked heart)Reported by Muslim (124) قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: (تُعرَضُ الفِتَنُ عَلى القُلوبِ عَرْضَ الحَصِيرِ عُودًا عُودًا فَأَيُّ قلبٍ أُشْرِبَها نُكِتَتْ فِيه نُكْتَةٌ سَوداءُ وأيُّ قلبٍ أنْكَرَها نُكِتَتْ فيه نُكتةٌ بيضاءُ حتى يصِيرَ القلبُ أبيضَ مثلَ الصَّفا لا تَضُرُّه فِتنةٌ ما دامَتِ السمواتُ والأرضُ والآخَرُ أَسْوَدَ مُربَدًّا كالكُوزِ مُجَخِّيًا لا يَعرِفُ مَعروفًا ولا يُنكِرُ مُنكَرًا إلا ما أُشْرِبَ مِن هَواه)رواه مسلم (124)

An explanation of the second hadith in the Heart Therapy Series:The Messenger salla Allahi alayhi wa sallam said: (The qalb [heart] was given this name only because of its fluctuations. The heart is like a feather in the wilderness—at a base of a tree—that continues to be turned on its head by the wind) reported by Ahmad and al-Tabarani. Al-Iraqi declared it to be hasan, and al-Albani declared it as sahih.قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: (إِنَّما سُمِيّ القَلْبَ مِن تَقَلُّبِهِ إنَّما مَثلُ القلبِ مَثلُ ريشَةٍ بالفَلاةِ تَعَلَّقَتْ في أَصْلِ شَجَرَةٍ يُقَلِّبُها الرِّيحُ ظَهْراً لِبَطْنٍ) رواه أحمد والطبراني وحسنه العراقي (تخريج أحاديث الإحياء) وصححه الألباني (صحيح الجامع 2365)

An explanation of the 1st hadith in the series on the Purification of the Heart: The Messenger salla Allahi alayhi wa sallam said: (Halal is clear and haram is clear, and between the two are ambiguous matters that many people do not know their rulings. So whoever avoids the ambiguous matters will safeguard his religion and reputation. And the one who falls into them falls in the haram, like the shepherd who grazes around the sanctuary and is about to cross into it. Indeed, every king has a sanctuary and the sanctuary of Allah is His prohibitions. And indeed in the body there is a morsel of meat that if it is well, the rest of the body will be well; and if it is corrupt, then the rest of the body will be corrupt. It is the heart.) Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim

How do we deal with pain in our lives? How can we understand it and process it so it turns into something positive? What might be the hidden benefits behind the challenges we face? How can we maintain our patience and sense of gratitude when confronting life's problems? This khutbah explains how pain and affliction can be guides to something spectacular in the life to come.

So often we hear the words:“I feel hardness in my heart”“I do not find any joy in worship”“I feel that my faith has hit rock bottom”“Reading the Quran doesn't move me”“I fall into sins so easily”If you find yourself saying these words too often (verbally or in your heart), then you need this free class. The instructor collected 40 hadith on the heart and its purification. You will:Learn about the ailments of the the heart and their cures.Gain a deeper understanding of nature of the human heart and how to perform it.Learn the connection between the reformation of the heart and other facets of Islam.Discover the effect of heart purification on the life of the individual and society.And most importantly, you will also distinguish between the right and the wrong methods of purifying our hearts.

What impact did modernity have on our character and manners as human beings? Was it positive or negative? Why are manners (akhlaq) important in Islam? What type of manners and ethics are we in desperate need of today? This lecture tries to answer some of these questions and start a conversation on how we can re-introduce Islamic manners into our modern lives.

Prophet Muhammad, salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam, foretold that there will be times when the believer will feel like a stranger, tested because they decide to hold on to their faith. In this khutbah, we see how we can use this prophetic guidance to better understand the world around us, the pressures it puts on us, and how to strengthen our resolve in the pursuit of the truth.

Does the current climate of suspicion of Islam and Muslims and all the troubles in our world today mean that this is one of the worst times to be a Muslim? Learn in this khutbah why the opposite may indeed be be true and how Allah may have a special plan for you.

This khutbah explains the many and different ways we can find & increase Baraka in our lives. Examples include Baraka in certain food, Baraka in specific times and places, Baraka to prevent envy, and more.

Increasingly, Baraka is missing from our lives. We have less time, less money, more disharmony, and more unhappiness in our lives and in the world around us. We try to understand here the role that Baraka plays in all of this and how we can bring more Baraka into our lives.

To be blessed like the bee? To be generous like the date-tree? We learn what this means for us and the people around us and how being close to our Creator can make it happen.

Are we a positive influence? Do we benefit others around us and try to help? Do we make the places we're in and people we meet better? Learn why iman in Allah requires us to be blessed just like the bee.

Why is Ashura so special? Why should we remember it every year? What lessons does it hold for us? This khutbah reminds us of the real reason we fast Ashura and how learning from the past can help save our future.

As the world witnesses a fresh wave of refugees and asylum seekers, we consider here how Muslims should understand and react to their plight in light of the teachings of Islam. In particular, we emphasize how the first Muslim society was built by refugees and migrants and the people who decided to help them.

What is your relationship with the mosque like? Do you feel a close connection to it because it is the house of Allah on this earth? This khutbah reminds us of the place of the mosque in a Muslim's life and the great role they ought to play in it. It discusses why we have to reconnect with the mosque and our collective responsibility to make it the ideal place we all want it to be.

Shisha (aka hookah or arghila) is a popular pastime activity that is increasingly spreading among young adults. We explore here the social, historical, health, and religious aspects of the shisha phenomenon, placing it within the greater context of the philosophy that defines halal and haram in Islam.

Can we turn our professional and academic lives into an act of worship? Can our housework bring us closer to Allah and into heaven? In this khutbah, we learn how to bring Allah into these areas of our lives and how this improves the quality of our work, and our motivation and satisfaction with it. We also go through the dangers of having greed and showing-off as the intention that drives our professional/academic/domestic life.

Are you living on the edge when it comes to Allah and Islam? In the Fourth Episode of this series, we understand what this means and what to do about it.

What are we supposed to do now that Ramadan is over? Does Ramadan and its blessings/lessons matter after the month has passed? Do we go back now to our old selves and habits? Can Ramadan be part of a greater plan that covers our entire year? Our whole life? This khutbah puts our Ramadan experience in perspective as one part of our ongoing journey towards our Creator.

Do you know why you shouldn't envy a dog when he's eating a bone? Listen to the third episode of Muslim Tidbits. Leave us your comments, ideas, and suggestions. Please share if you found this beneficial. May Allah reward you.

What does Ramadan teach us about unity? Care for each other? Solving our disputes? Consumption? Material vs. spiritual living? Plus, an important discussion of the last Ten Nights of Ramadan.

In the Second Episode of Muslim Tidbits, we discuss the three common causes behind problems in our lives and how to overcome them. The book I mention in the episode is Hisnul Muslim (The Fortification of the Muslim). It is available as a free app for your phone. You can also find it here: www.makedua.comLeave me a comment if you would like to be in touch or email me: muslimresearchinstitute@gmail.com

As a significant religious experience, Ramadan must have an impact on our lives. So what does Ramadan teach? Here we discuss some of the important lessons of Ramadan that include: (1) Ramadan as the scale of our life, (2) Ramadan and self-improvement, and (3) learning generosity in Ramadan.

This is the first episode in the Muslim Tidbits series: short Islamic insights and reflections. Today, our talk is about human happiness and the reasons behind our unhappiness in this life. Please let us know what you think. Share with us your ideas, suggestions, or anything on your mind. Leave us a comment below or send an email to: muslimresearchinstitute@gmail.com. You can also visit our youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaptrfJLA5gn3qmVreFO9rw

This khutbah goes through the reasons behind our fasting and ways to make it more meaningful and us more conscious of its lessons.

The way we fast Ramadan reflects the reasons behind our fast and what we hope to gain from it. This khutbah builds on the previous one, Why do we fast Ramadan?, to highlight the importance of having the proper intention in our fast and its transformative powers. It also shares some of the insights that Ramadan can bring into our lives.

This lecture discusses the meaning of tawakkul (reliance and trust in Allah) and its connection to iman (faith). It also recommends ways we can strengthen our tawakkul on Allah through better reading of the Quran and contemplation of the stories in the Quran and Sunnah.

What does Ramadan teach us? Can it transform us? Is it a burden or an opportunity? This khutbah traces the reasons behind our fasting and the spirit this will create in us as we get closer to the month of fasting. When you know why you are doing something, you are likely to do it better. To complement this khutbah, please listen to the other khutbah: How to fast Ramadan?

If you would like to contact me for whatever reason, here is my email. You can use either of these two emails:muslimresearchinstitute@gmail.comislaminwest@yahoo.com

Why is the month of Shaban important? And what should Muslims do in it and learn from it? We discuss here what distinguishes this Islamic month and what Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him used to do in it. We also explore its connection to Ramadan and a process of change that we can launch in our lives.

This talk discusses important episodes in the life of the great imam of hadith, al-Bukhari, and what we can learn from him today. The talk also highlights his magnum opus, Sahih al-Bukhari, and the work that went into producing what was destined to become the most important book of hadith to date.

This talk asks us to reexamine the importance of da'wah in our lives, and to look at it as an individual and collective/communal responsibility. As an act of worship, Muslims reap its benefits before anyone else. The talk calls for the transformation of our mosques into welcoming and hospitable centers, where everyone who attends them takes on the responsibility of this call to Islam.

If death is such an important part of life, why do we avoid talking about it? Why don't we try to understand it better? Here, we discuss how remembering our mortality helps us to live better, as it brings much needed balance and purpose into our lives. Death in Islam is a bridge, and it is up to us to decide where this bridge is taking us.

Dua is the bridge between us and God. When we fall on hard times and are in need of help, Allah is our closest helper and ally. This talk explains how dua represents the essence of our relationship with Allah and how engaging in it transcends the worldly concerns that may prompt us to make it. It also answers the very important question: why do some of our prayers go unanswered? Does it mean that Allah is not listening, does not love us, or does not exist? This talk will help us to understand how our prayers are much more than the mundane things we are asking for.

What do we do when we are unsure about the future? About our next big move? How do we know if what we will be doing will bring us joy and success or trouble and harm? Rather than rely on omens, the stars, psychics, or a lucky penny, Islam teaches us to seek consultation and guidance from Allah. Here we discuss the importance of this prayer in our lives, how to perform it, and the signs that we should look for to make the best choices in our lives.

We, as humans, are social beings who seek each other's company and find comfort in it. But if we are not selective in whom we let be close to us, we can be hurt and betrayed. This talk emphasizes the importance of this selectivity, the dangers of bad companionship, and the criteria for selecting our close friends.

Some of the most interesting stories in the Quran can be found in the chapter of al-Kahf (the Cave). In this khutbah, one of those stories, the story of Musa (Moses) and al-Khadir, is explored for the lessons and wisdom it can teach us today.

The chapter titled al-Kahf (the Cave) in the Quran tells interesting four stories that have much to teach us about the trials and tribulations of this world. This khutbah explores these stories to try to learn more from them about the kinds of tests we will face in this world and the way we can overcome them.

One of the most elusive things in our modern life is to live a happy and content life. As we fail to recognize the many beautiful things we have in our lives we also fail to be grateful for them. The path to increased contentment is to start remembering all the blessings we have and to thank the Creator for them. This talk explains what it means to be a grateful person, how to be a more grateful person, and the indispensable benefits of adopting this attitude into our lives. It also highlights how our relationship with our Creator and fellow humans can be enhanced when we become more thankful.

How can we express our love of Prophet Muhammad? Though there are many ways to express this love, not all of them are equal. This khutbah points to the superior path of expressing our love of the Prophet, one that will earn back his love and manifest his message. The khutbah also emphasizes the enduring connection we have with the Prophet and its ability to change our lives today.

This talk focuses on the life of Jesus and the lessons we can learn from it. You will find in this track: (1) a discussion of the background of the family of Jesus, especially his mother Mary, and the political and religious context he experienced growing up(2) the message of Jesus(3) the miracles of Jesus(4) the attempt on his life(5) his ascension into heaven(6) his second coming(7) some of the signs of the end of the world

What are the origins of the Christmas celebration? How do they relate to Jesus Christ? What do they teach us about human tendencies and fallibilities? What is the religious path of moderation that shuns extremism on both ends? This talk (khutbah) attempts to shed light on these important questions.

This second lecture in the two part series on the manners of Prophet Muhammad continues where we left off with a discussion of another feature of Prophet Muhammad's manners: his humility. The lecture outlines aspects of the Prophet's humility with family, friends, and the weak and unprivileged in society. The last part of the talk attempts to answer the question introduced in the first lecture: how can we reconcile the mercy of Islam with some of the punishments found in its penal code?

One of the most distinctive features of Prophet Muhammad was his mercy. Yet many may not be aware of this quality and its centrality in Islam. This lecture explores the quality of mercy in the life of the Prophet and why it should be central in our lives today. The lecture concludes with the question: how can we reconcile the mercy of Islam with what some have called its harsh punishments and penal code?

What are the signs of hypocrisy? How can we detect it and find a cure for it? How can we live a life that shuns duplicity and insincerity? Here we discuss the definition of hypocrisy in Islam, its types, and focus on some manifestations of it in our lives. The talk concludes with some advice on how to combat this disease.

A talk followed by a Q&A on how to maintain Iman (faith) in the modern/western context. The talk includes an explanation of the reality of iman and ways to nurture it in the face of overwhelming challenges.

What place does winter have in Muslim life? What does winter season offer us in terms of insights, opportunities, and benefits? This talk explains how our attitudes about winter can be re-shaped when we understand its true role in our lives and suggests some practical activities to help us come to this realization.

Who was Uways al-Qarani? What position does he hold in Islamic tradition and spirituality? This talk recounts the story of Uways, based on early and authentic sources, and discusses some of the lessons in the life of this early Muslim ascetic that we can absorb into our lives today.

This lectures discusses how our tongues can a blessing or a curse based on what we decide to do with them. The lecture emphasizes the centrality of human speech and how no reform of human life can pass without the aid of the tongue.

Khutbah (Muslim lecture) on the philosophy of celebrations in Islam, discussed through the examples of Halloween and Ashura. In it, the two days are compared, their histories explored, and recommendations are made as to what should define the Islamic identity, life, and practice.

A khutbah (Muslim sermon) that discusses the importance of reminding ourselves of our own mortality to help us live better and more meaningful lives

The significance and virtues of the day of Arafah and Eid al-Adha in Islam. It includes discussion of their deeper meanings and how we are to approach them

How to remember Allah after the month of Ramadan and develop a strong and close relationship with Him

A khutbah (Islamic speech) on how to remember Allah and maintain our piety after the month of Ramadan

The virtues of the month of Sha'ban and preparing for the month of Ramadan

Lessons from the battle of Uhud and wisdom that Muslims can learn from it individually and collectively

A discussion of the life and example of imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal

The importance of preserving the tongue in Islam. Also discussed are some of the common offences of the tongue and ways to protect it from misguided speech

The dangers of gossip (nameemah) in this world and the next

Khutbah (Muslim sermon) on reassessing our worldly competitions and developing a grand project for our lives.

The importance and virtues of patience in Islam

A discussion on the blessings of having a home and the way to transform it into a Muslim one

The importance and many virtues of saying Salah and Salam on Prophet Muhammad in Islam

A discussion of the place of desire (Hawaa) in human life

God's reward and punishment exactly fit the nature of the good or bad deed humans commit

A khutbah on the mystical and rational tendencies in interpreting religion, and the supremacy of the middle way

The danger of false pride from an Islamic perspective and ways to protect the self from it

Discussion on envy from an Islamic perspective and ways to cleanse the soul from it

A continuation of the story of Moses in the Quran

A continuation of the story of Moses, peace be upon him, in the Quran

Discussion of the significance of stories in the Quran and what distinguishes them from all other stories. It is followed by a discussion of the beginning of the story of Moses in the Quran, in the chapter: Al-Qasas