Oh you who believe; 5 pieces of golden advice!

Assalamu alaikum (May peace be upon you all)

Each part of the Qur’an is relevant to all of mankind, whether a believer, disbeliever, Jew, Christian or even hypocrite is mentioned.

However, there are eighty-eight verses specifically mentioning those who believe.

Read more in this week’s Jumuah Special by Khawlah b. Yahya.

Do you feel the intense beauty of the fact that the Grand Creator of all personally calls and advises you, the believer? Even though each part of the Qur’an is addressed to all of mankind, there are eighty-eight verses specifically mentioning those who believe.

Let’s learn five pieces of golden daily-life advice inspired by powerful “Oh you who believe”ayaat in Surah Al Baqarah.

1. Remind yourself and others where to look for help.

Social media, internet, family and friends, or even food? Shouting, getting stressed or angry? Who do you turn to and how do you act, when you need help with something? Turning to Allah, the Most High, first and foremost, in the heat of the moment, for something significant or trivial, it’s a habit many have abandoned or were never taught. This is perhaps one of the most powerful pieces of advice in the Qur’an:
Oh you who believe! Seek help in patience and As-Salat (the prayer). Truly! Allah is with As-Sabiroon (the patient). [Qur’an, 2:153]

Do you know what the best of faith is? Ma’qil ibn Yasar reported that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “The best of faith is patience and tolerance. [Zahr al-Firdaws]Perseverance (sabr) has a broad meaning in Islam; from being patient in the face of insults, curses and trials, being patient with the rules of Allah and in making dua’ to the high level of truly being satisfied with the decree of Allah.

Let this be a reminder that when things don’t go your way, or you need help, you first ask Allah, pray to Him with a present heart and beg Him to give you patience every single day.

2. Reignite gratefulness for the little things.

We usually realize that we should be grateful for the ‘big’ blessings we have like our homes, our family, our health; but how easy is it to forget practising shukr (gratitude) for those seemingly small, daily life blessings?
And while Allah blessed us with a huge variety of food and drink; how many aren’t satisfied and resort to what isn’t permitted for us, let alone thanking Him daily for all we have?

Oh you who believe! Eat of the lawful things that We have provided you with, and be grateful to Allah, if it is indeed He Whom you worship. [Qur’an, 2:172]

Being grateful doesn’t mean only thanking Allah for what you have. Look at the beauty of Islam, in which we action our gratitude. … It was said, “What is gratitude?” Sufyan said, “It is that you avoid what Allah has prohibited.” [Shu’abal-Imān]

Beg Allah, the Most High, daily to guide you in how you deal with His provisions and to practise gratitude, both in words and actions.

3. Know your King and your Enemy.

Do you realize you are daily treading a kingdom of a King who sees, hears and knows everything. Imagine how far away the sky is and how close Allah is to you.  Strive to be more aware this world is a testing location and who your King and biggest enemy is:

Oh you who believe!Enter perfectly in Islam (by obeying all the rules and regulations of the Islamic religion) and follow not the footsteps of Shaitan. Verily! He is to you a plain enemy. [Qur’an, 2:208]

How many abide by the beautiful rules of Islam when it matches their way and needs, but when things go against their wishes or ego, they disregard the guidance and rules of the Qur’an and Sunnah. Did we enter Islam perfectly? The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “None of you have faith until his desires comply with what I have brought.”[Al-Sunnah li-Ibn Abī ‘Āṣim]

And don’t forget you can battle and exhaust your devils! The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:“Verily, the believer will wear down his devils by obedience to Allah, just as one of you wears down his camel on a journey.”[Ahmad]

Ask Allah, the Most High, to help you to tame your nafs (ego) including its desires and to truly take the sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon you, as your guide. Learn, use and share this beautiful Prophetic supplication:

اللَّهُم لَكَ أسْلَمْتُ وبِكَ آمنْتُ، وعليكَ توَكَّلْتُ، وإلَيكَ أنَبْتُ، وبِكَ خاصَمْتُ. اللَّهمَّ أعُوذُ بِعِزَّتِكَ، لا إلَه إلاَّ أنْتَ أنْ تُضِلَّنِي أنْت الْحيُّ الَّذي لاَ تمُوتُ، وَالْجِنُّ وَالإِنْسُ يمُوتُونَ

“O Allah, I have surrendered to you and I have faith in you. I trust in you and I have turned to you. I have contested my opponents for your sake. O Allah, I seek refuge in your power from going astray, for there is no God but you. You are the Living who never dies, while the jinn and humans die.” [Al Bukhari, Muslim]

4. Know what true wealth is.

There is nothing wrong with earning money and spending money on yourself, family and others. Amr ibn al-‘As reported that the Prophet, peace and blessings upon him, said: “O ‘Amr, I intend to send you at the head of an army and Allah will award you with spoils. I will give you an appropriate portion of the property.” ‘Amr said, “I did not embrace Islam in hopes of earning spoils, but rather I submitted in hopes of Islam and to be with the Messenger of Allah.” The Prophet said, “O ‘Amr, lawful wealth is excellent for a righteous man.”[Al-Adab al-Mufrad]

However, it’s easy to lose the balance of seeking wealth in this life and the next.Let this be a reminder that true wealth is in the Hereafter and the currencies we strive for, sometimes compromising our faith, are worthless on the Day of Judgement:

Oh you who believe! Spend of that with which We have provided for you, before a Day comes when there will be no bargaining, nor friendship, nor intercession. And it is the disbelievers who are the Dhalimoon (wrong-doers). [Qur’an, 2:254]

Beg Allah to enrich you with wealth in this lifeand to bless you with the true wealth of Paradise.

5. Strive and give gracefully.

Whatever provisions we have, whether we earned it, mined it, extracted it or made it with our very own hands; spending of our possessions in charity is for our own good, as Allah is free of all want, He is Al-Ghaniyy. Let this be a reminder to give willingly, of the best you have, with a clear conscience and knowing it is Allah who has bestowed the wealth on you in this first place:

Ohyou who believe! Spend of the good things which you have (legally) earned, and of that which We have produced from the earth for you, and do not aim at that which is bad to spend from it, (though) you would not accept it save if you close your eyes and tolerate therein. And know that Allah is Rich (Free of all needs), and Worthy of all praise. [Qur’an, 2:267]

Jabir ibn Abdullah reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “O people, fear Allah and be graceful in seeking provision, for a soul will never die until it finishes its provision. If it is slow coming, fear Allah and be graceful in seeking provision. Take what is lawful and leave what is unlawful.” [Sunan ibn Majah]

Supplicate to Allah to guide you in seeking provisions and spending for His sake, without reminding others of your charity and for Him to accept it.

And finally, live by and share this beautiful advice with others:
Abu Muslim al-Khawlani, may Allah have mercy on him, said, “To renounce the world does not mean to forbid what is allowed, nor to squander wealth. Verily, to renounce the world means to be more reliant on what is in the hand of Allah than your own hand. If you are afflicted with a calamity, you have stronger hope for the reward in store for you, if you continue to endure it. [Al-Zuhdli-Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal]

O Allah, help us to live by Your guidance, rely on You and have strong hope for Your reward, ameen.

Praying you will benefit,

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Khawlah b. Yahya – United Kingdom

Khawlah b. Yahya founded SISTERS’ PROJECT in 2008, a United Kingdom based women’s support organization, the creative community lead in an art gallery and is a writer for different Islamic organizations and academies. She authored the renown How to Live by the Names of Allah Series, published by the Understand Qur’an Academy, as well as the internationally shared Revive a Sunnah Series. She focuses most of her work on how to translate classic Islamic Knowledge to daily life action. She recently released Personal Lessons from the Qur’an, in which daily life action points are based on Qur’anic Ayaat in a way that’s never seen before. You can purchase the E-book on: understandquran.com/product/personal-lessons-from-the-quran/