Advice of the Prophet: Islamicity

Companion of Prophet Muhammad , Khalid ibn El Waleed narrated the following:

A Bedouin came one day to the Prophet and said to him, "O, Messenger of God! I've come to ask you a few questions about the affairs of this life and the Hereafter. "

The Prophet responded Ask what you wish.

I'd like to be the most learned of men.

Fear God, and you will be the most learned of men.

I wish to be the richest man in the world.

Be contented, and you will be the richest man in the world.

I'd like to be the most just man.

Desire for others what you desire for yourself, and you will be the most just of men.

I want to be the best of men.

Do good to others and you will be the best of men.

I wish to be the most favored by God.

Engage much in God's praise, and you will be most favored by Him.

I'd like to complete my faith.

If you have good manners you will complete your faith.

I wish to be among those who do good.

Adore God as if you see Him. If you don't see Him, Know that He sees you. In this way you will be among those who do good.

I wish to be obedient to God.

If you observe God's commands you will be obedient.

I'd like to be free from all sins.

Bathe yourself from impurity and you will be free from all sins.

I'd like to be raised on the Day of Judgment in the light.

Don't wrong yourself or any other creature, and you will be raised on the Day of Judgment in the light.

I'd like God to bestow His mercy on me.

If you have mercy on yourself and on others, God will grant you mercy on the Day of Judgment.

I'd like my sins to be very few.

If you seek the forgiveness of God as much as you can, your sins will be very few.

I'd like to be the most honorable man.

If you do not complain to any fellow creature, you will be the most honorable of men.

I'd like to be the strongest of men.

If you put your trust in God, you will be the strongest of men.

I'd like to enlarge my provision.

If you keep yourself pure, God will enlarge your provision.

I'd like to be loved by God and His messenger.

If you love what God and His messenger love, you will be among their beloved ones.

I wish to be safe from God's wrath on the Day of Judgment.

If you do not lose your temper with any of your fellow creatures, you will be safe from the wrath of God on the Day of Judgment.

I'd like my prayers to be responded.

If you avoid forbidden actions your prayers will be responded.

I'd like God not to disgrace me on the Day of Judgment.

If you guard your chastity, God will not disgrace you on the Day of Judgment.

I'd like God to provide me with a protective covering on the Day of Judgment.

Do not uncover your fellow peoples faults, and God will provide you with a covering protection on the Day of Judgment.

What will save me from sins?

Tears, humility and illness.

What are the best deeds in the eyes of God?

Gentle manners, modesty and patience.

What are the worst evils in the eyes of God?

Hot temper and miserliness.

What alleviates the wrath of God in this life and in the Hereafter?

Concealed charity and kindness to relatives.

What extinguishes hell's fires on the Day of Judgment?

Patience in adversity and misfortunes.

Imam El Mustaghfiri said: "I have never heard a tradition more comprehensive of the beauties of religion, and more beneficial than this hadith. It collects all the good things of Islam but not put to use." (Related by Imam Ibn Hambal)

Article taken from Islamicity.com, for a link to this article, please click on the following link: Advice of the Prophet: Islamicity

Finding my Faith: Islamicity

By: Patricia Dunn
Salon.com* -

I'm not the same woman I was at 27 when I told my mother, "Ma, I can't eat the pasta fagioli." (She'd made it with bacon.) I'm not the same woman who lied when she said, "I didn't become Muslim because of Ahmed."

My mother believes that for women, most problems and solutions begin and end with the man in her life. But back then there was no way this feminist would admit to anyone -- including herself and especially not her mother -- that she had converted because of a man.

But today, at 42, and secure in my faith, I can admit that if it weren't for Ahmed -- though he is now my ex-husband -- the word "Islam" would probably still conjure up images of black-cloaked women and melodramatic Sally Field movies in my head. After all, I am my mother's daughter.

The day I left my Italian-Bronx neighborhood to go to college, I knew my communion and confession days were over. I was never going to let Jesus stick to the roof of my mouth again. There were too many contradictions for me in Catholicism. Why was my never-miss-Sunday-mass father excommunicated after he and my mother divorced -- especially when she was the one having the affair? How could the pope have an Olympic-size swimming pool while millions of his people were starving? And how could I tolerate the church's position on abortion and women's rights?

By the time I transferred from Barnard to UCLA, I was a lapsed Catholic who wanted nothing to do with organized religion. But I needed to believe in something....

For more on this article, please click on the following link: Finding my Faith: Islamicity