The Branches of Imaan

Recently I heard a statement I found very funny, “Do you think money grows on trees?” I suddenly remembered a time in my childhood when I asked my beloved mother for something extremely expensive to which she replied, “Do you think money grows on trees?!” I became extremely upset and set out to prove her wrong and so I waited for a sunny day and proceeded into my garden with my green plastic shovel that I got from Blackpool beach and a bag full of pennies. I spent many days watering them hoping that a tree would sprout out. I had envisaged myself jumping up and down underneath a tree that would have £50 under each branch. These memories made me think and Allah opened my eyes to the fact there is a tree which has an entity that is more valuable than money. The tree of Islam which consists of 77 Branches of Imaan. Hazrat Hakeemul Ummat (Allah have mercy upon him) mentions them in his Kitaab 'Furu’ ul Imaan':

The Messenger of Allah (May peace and blessings be upon him) said “There are over 70 branches of faith. The highest is to bear witness that ‘There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah’. The lowest is the removal of harm from the road. Modesty is also of faith.” We will therefore mentions these qualities.

30 QUALITIES ARE CONNECTED TO THE HEART

1. Belief in Allah

2. To believe that everything other than Allah was non-existent. Thereafter, Allah Ta'ala created these things and subsequently they came into existence.

3. To believe in the existence of the Angels.

4. To believe that all the divine books that were sent to the different prophets are true. However, apart from the Qur'an, all other books are not valid anymore.

5. To believe that all the prophets are true. However, we are commanded to follow the Prophet Muhammad (May peace and blessings be upon him) alone.

6. To believe that Allah Ta'ala as knowledge of everything from before hand and that only that which He sanctions or wishes will occur.

7. To believe that the Resurrection will definitely occur.

8. To believe in the existence of Heaven.

9. To believe in the existence of Hell.

10. To have love for Allah Ta'ala.

11. To have love for the Messenger of Allah (May Allah peace and blessings be upon him)

12. To love or hate someone solely because of Allah.

13. To execute all actions with the intention of religion alone.

14. To regret and express remorse when a sin is committed.

15. To fear Allah Ta'ala.

16. To hope for the mercy of Allah Ta'ala

17. To be modest.

18.To express gratitude over a bounty or favour.

19. To fulfill promises.

20. To exercise patience.

21. To consider yourself lower than others.

22. To have mercy on the creation.

23. To be pleased with whatever you experience from Allah Ta'ala.

24. To place your trust in Allah Ta'ala.

25. Not to boast or brag over any quality that you posses.

26. Not to have malice or hatred towards anybody.

27. Not to be envious of anyone.

28. Not to become angry.

29. Not to wish harm for anyone.

30. Not to have love for the world.

7 QUALITIES ARE CONNECTED TO THE TONGUE

31. To recite the testimony of faith (kalimah) with the tongue.

32. To recite the Qur'an.

33. To acquire knowledge.

34. To pass on Knowledge.

35. To make dua'a.

36. To make the zikr of Allah Ta'ala.

37. To abstain from the following: lies, backbiting, vulgar words, cursing, singing that is contrary
to the Shariah.

40 QUALITIES ARE CONNECTED TO THE ENTIRE BODY

38. To make wudhu, ghusl, and keep one’s clothing clean.

39. To be steadfast in offering salaat.

40. To pay zakaat and sadaqatul fitr.

41. To fast.

42. To perform Hajj.

43. To make i’tikaaf.

44. To move away or migrate from that place which is harmful for one's deen.

45. To fulfill the vows that have been made to Allah.

46. To fulfill the oaths that are not sinful.

47. To pay the kaffarah for unfulfilled oaths.

48. To cover those parts of the body that are compulsory to cover.

49. To perform the ritual slaughter.

50. To enshroud and bury the deceased.

51. To fulfill your debts.

52. To abstain from prohibited things when undertaking monetary transactions.

53. Not to conceal something true which you may have witnessed.

54. To get married when the nafs desires to do so.

55. To fulfill the rights of those who are under you.

56. To provide comfort to one’s parents.

57. To rear children in the proper manner.

58. Not to sever relations with one’s friends and relatives.

59. To obey one’s master.

60. To be just.

61. Not to initiate any way that is contrary to that of the generality of the Muslims.

62. To obey the ruler, provided what he orders is not contrary to the Shariah.

63. To make peace between two warring groups or individuals.

64. To assist in noble tasks.

65. To command the good and prohibit the evil.

66. If it is the government. it should mete out punishments according to the Shariah.

67. To fight the enemies of deen whenever such an occasion presents itself.

68. To fulfill one’s trusts.

69. To give loans to those who are in need .

70. To see to the needs of one’s neighbour.

71. To ensure that one’s income is pure.

72. To spend according to the Shariah.

73. To reply to one who has greeted you.

74. To say 'Yarhamukallah' (May Allah have mercy upon you) when anyone says 'Alhamdulillah' (All praise be to Allah) after sneezing.

75. Not to cause harm to anyone unjustly.

76. To abstain from games and amusements contrary to the Shariah.

77. To remove pebbles, stones, thorns, sticks, and the like from the road.

May Allah Ta'ala give us the ability to grow this tree in our lives and may He pour enough Guidance over it for it to blossom. May the contents of these 77 branches drop into our lives with great impact. Ameen

Heartbreaking News for Oreo Lovers :(

Date: Thu, 30 Oct 2008 10:18:04 +0100>

From: UKConsumerCare@krafteurope.com>

To: ...@hotmail.co.uk>

Subject: Case Ref: 2008501010407614/BG

Dear Abdul Gearay,

Regarding your ongoing query into Oreo biscuits, the entire Oreo product range as sold in the U.K is unsuitable for vegetarians.

Additionally, I´m afraid it is not our policy to provide comprehensive lists of products which are suitable for vegetarians due to the extensive nature of our product range, but if you have a query regarding a specific product or range please let me know and I will be happy to inform you concerning that product.

Kind regards,

Benjamin Green

Consumer Relations Team

Kraft Foods UK Ltd. Registered & Head Office: St George's House, Bayshill Road, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL50 3AE, Registered London 203663

NOTE: THIS APPLIES TO ALL OREO PRODUCTS (Milkshakes included) MADE BY THE COMPANY KRAFT FOODS UK. OREOS MADE BY NABISCO THE AMERICAN BRAND MAY BE VEGETERIAN (according to what some people have been saying)

Poetry: Fajr

My battle for You has just begun,

A little time left till the Earth smiles at the sun.

The manipulative warmth of a close enemy,

My eyes are closed but my heart can feel the dichotomy.

I know it is time to stand forth as a slave,

But this pressure on my body is like immense tidal waves.

The Accursed begins to polish a perilous desire,

Its under a veil and it is quite evident it leads to the Fire.

A desire to slumber begins to overtake my power,

The feeling of defeat makes my heart feel sour.

It is in the darkness of that hour my soul remembers its time with You,

and with every bit of strength in my body, it sits up with my heart beating...

..Allah Hu..

Importance of Salaat

The Ummah of today have abandoned salah but if we knew what it was worth we would never miss another prayer again, not for any wedding or party.

Ka'b(R.A.) says that he saw in the Taurat that Allah Ta'ala said to Musa(a.a.):

'O Musa! For the two rakaats of Fajr prayer that Ummah of Muhammad (s.a.w) will perform, We will forgive all their sins of the whole day and night and enter them into the fort of Our security.

O Musa! For each of the four rakaats of Zuhr, which the Ummah ofMuhammad perform, the reward is seperate. For the first rakaat, the reward is forgiveness of sins, for the second rakaat, the reward is that his good deeds will be made heavy on the Day of Judgment, for the third rakaat, the reward is the angels making Du'a for their forgiveness and asking My mercy for them; for the fourth rakaat, the reward is the opening of the doors of Heaven and the damsels of Paradise looking at them.

O Musa, when Our last Prophet and his Ummah will pray the four rakaats of Asr salat, there will be no angel on earth and heaven who will not pray for their forgiveness. And we will not punish those for whom the angels pray for forgiveness.

O Musa, when Our last Prophet's Ummah will pray the three rakats at the time of Maghirib, then the doors of the heavens will be opened, and We will fulfill whatever they will ask.

O Musa, the four rakaats of Isha are better than all the earth's kingdom and wealth. After performing this salat, they will be as purified of their sins, as a new born baby.'

Kiss of a Hero

Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) once dispatched a group of people to approach the Romans. There was one man in the group who had the status of a Companion and his name was Abdullah bin Hudhaafa (May Allah be pleased with him). During their journey, the entire Muslim group were captured and held captive by the Romans. The Romans at the time were the superpowers and dominated other nations with their power and prowess. To them belonged the riches of the earth and the wealth of the world.

The Roman Emperor was not too bothered about the captives till he was informed by his guards that there is a man amongst the Muslims who is a companion of Muhammad (May peace and blessings be upon him). The Emperor recognised instantly that this is a golden opportunity to lure an extraordinary Muslim away from the fold of Islam. If he could do this to Abdullah ibn Hudhaafa (May Allah be pleased with him) then it would bring many other Muslims into disbelief and also justify his rule over the Roman Empire. The Emperor’s mouth watered at this prospect and so he initiated his torture of Abdullah ibn Hudhafaa (May Allah be pleased with him).

Abdullah ibn Hudhafaa (May Allah be pleased with him) was brought before the Roman Emperor and his guards. It was the custom of the Roman’s to give entertainment to their people and their kingdom. The proud Emperor approached Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with him) in a very eloquent but manipulative way and then made a proposal of a lifetime! With his citizens looking on, he asked Abdullah ibn Hudhafaa (May Allah be pleased with him),

“I shall share my kingdom and my authority with you if you become a Christian.”

The Roman Emperor, the most powerful ruler of the time was offering the riches of the world to Abdullah ibn Hudhaafa (May Allah be pleased with him) but Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with him) himself was no ordinary man, he was a Companion of the Prophet . He was more interested in building a palace of his own in Jannah than accumulating the kingdom of a superpower. Thus he replied in a nonchalant yet meaningful tone,

“If you offer me your entire kingdom combined with the kingdom of all the Arabs in exchange for leaving the religion of Muhammad (May peace and blessings be upon him) for the duration equal to the blinking of an eye, I would still not do so...”

The Roman Emperor and his entire kingdom were so taken back by the response of Abdullah ibn Hudhafaa (May Allah be pleased with him) that the whole atmosphere maintained a stirring silence. The Emperor had never envisaged such a great offer being rejected and laughed off with the degree of derision given to him by the likes of Abdullah ibn Hudhaafa (May Allah be pleased with him). Infuriated, the Roman Emperor then threatened,

“I shall then have you killed!”

Such was the resilience of Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with him) that he replied with the most nonchalant of tones. He merely replied,

“My body is at your disposal, do as you please.”

The Roman Emperor ordered his men to grab Abdullah ibn Hudhaafa (May Allah be pleased with him) and tie him upon a cross. The Roman archers were then given the order to fire arrows at Abdullah ibn Hudhaafa (May Allah be pleased with him) but in a way which would injure him and scare him. Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with him) was not aware of this ploy, he genuinely believed that he was to be killed on the cross and the Roman Emperor gave Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with him) a final chance to forsake Islam but each time he invited Abdullah ibn Hudhaafa (May Allah be pleased with him) the latter would reject. The arrows were then fired at this resolute Muslim yet the words which reverberated in the palace of Rome were the same words we wear on our sleeves,

“I bare witness that there is no deity worth worship but Allah and that Muhammad (May peace and blessings be upon him) is His Messenger!”

The Roman Emperor and his men were all wonderstruck as to why this man was such a loyal servant of Islam. The Emperor then threw one final roll of the dice and attempted to penetrate the belief of Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with him) by killing to other Muslims in front of his very eyes.

Two Muslim prisoners were dragged into the court of this ruthless tyrant and handled rigorously. The fuming Roman Emperor demanded a cauldron of boiling hot water be brought forth and when it was presented to the Emperor, he would turn and say to Abdullah ibn Hudaafah (May Allah be pleased with him),

“Renounce your faith or I will kill your Muslim brothers.”

Abdullah ibn Hudhaafa (May Allah be pleased with him) still refused to leave the religion of Allah the Almighty and continued to show inspirational resistance. The Roman Emperor now accepted defeat; he was frustrated with the spirit of Abdullah ibn Hudhaafa (May Allah be pleased with him) and hence ordered his guards to kill Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with him) also. It was then the guards came and seized him that Abdullah ibn Hudhaafa (May Allah be pleased with him) showed the first signs of wavering. He began to cry copiously and the Roman Emperor’s face lit up with huge satisfaction! He got the reaction that he wanted, he saw tears streaming down the face of his prisoner, and he saw the suffering and agony in his eyes. This was the perfect time to pull Abdullah ibn Hudhaafa away from Islam and so the emperor said,

“O Abdullah! Leave the religion of Muhammad (May peace and blessings be upon him)!"

Then, from the behind the abundant rivers of sorrow came a thunderous reply that could supersede the sound of a million storms,

“I bare witness that there is no deity worth worship but Allah and that Muhammad (May peace and blessings be upon him) is His Messenger!”

The Roman Emperor was in awe, he was bamboozled as to why he got this roaring reply. He enquired,

“Then...why do you weep?”

The reply of Abdullah ibn Hudhaafa (May Allah be pleased with him) was such that it deserves to be written in the house of every Muslim in gold. He said,

“The reason I cry is because a thought just passed my mind that only now will I be killed and thrown into this cauldron. The reason I weep is because I am upset. I wish that I had as many lives as the hairs on my body so that each one could be given for the pleasure of Allah!”

The Emperor began to tremble in awe of this great man and so he requested in front of his entire palace,

“Would you please kiss my forehead in exchange for your freedom?”

Abdullah (May Allah be pleased with him) bartered,

“In exchange for all the prisoners?”

“Yes, in exchange for all the prisoners.”

Abdullah ibn Hudhaafa (May Allah be pleased with him) said to himself,

“Although he is an enemy of Allah, I don’t mind kissing his forehead in exchange for my freedom as well as the freedom of all the Muslim prisoners.”

Therefore he drew closer and kissed the forehead of the Roman Emperor, after which all the prisoners were freed.

Abdullah ibn Hudhaafa (May Allah be pleased with him) then brought them all back to Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) and informed him of the happenings of his adventure. The Commander of the Believers then got up and legislated to the masses,

“It is compulsory for every Muslim to kiss the head of Abdullah ibn Hudhaafa (May Allah be pleased with him) and I shall be the first!"