Is our friendship qualified as friendship for the sake of Allah?

Assalamualaikum my beloved brothers and sisters,

Is our friendship qualified as friendship for the sake of Allah?

Friendship for the sake of Allah is based on true love that exists between two people above worldly motives or gains. It is based on compassion, empathy, selflessness, trustworthiness and sincerity. It is a high level of piety filled with genuine support and helping one another just for the sake of Allah. Only those who love one another truly for the sake of Allah are ones who will earn a blessed reward from Allah.

We admit that we love one another for the sake of Allah, but in reality we are not. We are not worried if our brothers or sisters are in trouble, we do not help, support or show them our care. There is no yearning desire when we did not meet our friends for some time, we don’t care if our lost sisters expose their a’uraat, we do not advise our lost brothers to restrain from sinful lust, we are not bothered about our friends’ welfare and we do not pray for them when they face adversity. So, is our friendship qualified as friendship for the sake of Allah?

Narrated by Mu`adh Bin Jabal [may Allah be pleased with him]: Allah's Messenger [Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him] said, "Allah, the Exalted, has said: “For those who love one another for the sake of My Glory, there will be seats of light (on the Day of Standing), and they will be envied by the Prophets and Martyrs".
[Al-Tirmidhi]

Narrated by Abu Dharr Ghifaari [may Allah be pleased with him]: Allah's Messenger [Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him] said: "The best of deeds is to love for the sake of Allah and to hate for the sake of Allah".
[Sunan Abu Dawood: 4582]


Anas Bin Malik [may Allah be pleased with him] narrated that a desert Arab said to Allah's Messenger [Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him]: “When will be the Last Hour?” Allah's Messenger said: “What preparation have you made for it?” Thereupon he said: “I love Allah and His Messenger”. Thereupon he (Allah's Messenger) said: “You will be with the one you love”.
[Sahih Muslim: Book 32, Number 6378]

And as Ibn Abbas said: "No one may taste true faith except by this (i.e. building relationships for Allah's sake), even if his prayers and fasts are many. People have come to build their relationship around the concerns of the world, but it will not benefit them in any way."

A scholar has said: "To seal a friendship for Allah's sake indicates the obligation of establishing relationships of love and trust for His sake; this is a friendship for the sake of Allah. It also indicates that simple affection is not enough here; indeed what is meant is a love based upon alliance. This entails assistance, honour, and respect. It means being with those whom you love both in word and deed."

May Allah forgive us and place us in the group of people who truly love each other for the sake of Allah.

Lahaula wala quwwata illa billahil aliyul azeem

With love and duas always
Sister Nur Sakinah
20/07/09

Strength in Islam – The Prophetic Understanding of Strength –Faraz Rabbani

Strength in Islam
– The Prophetic Understanding of Strength –Faraz Rabbani

:Abu Hurayra said that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “The strong believer is better and more beloved to Allah than the weak believer although there is good in each. Desire that which will bring you benefit, and seek help from Allah and do not give way to incapacity. If something happens to you, do not say, ‘If only I had done such-and-such.’ Rather say, ‘The decree of Allah. He does what He will.’ Otherwise you will open yourself up to the action of shaytan.” [Muslim]

Shaykh Faraz gives us a road map to follow by focusing on the four characteristics of a strong believer mentioned in the remaining words of the above hadith which are .
1) Be avid for benefit,
2) Seek the assistance of Allah,
3) Don’t deem yourself incapable,
and 4) Don’t second guess yourself.

Shaykh Faraz also mentioned five keys to benefit in this.
1) Seek beneficial knowledge,
2) Be committed to turning to Allah,
3) Act on one’s knowledge,
4) Keep good company,
and 5) Hold fast to the remembrance of Allah and to repent.

The full hadith is Translated by Ustadha Aisha Bewley found at : http://www.sunnipath.com/library/Hadith/H0004P0011.aspx