We can evaluate our love for Allah by assessing how beneficent we are to people. The extent to which we readily serve people, help them and provide for them, measures the range of our love for Allah.
The quality of our faith is reflected in our intentions, attitudes and behaviour.
The better our faith, the more profound our daily intentions, attitudes and behaviour.
How can we cleanse our heart of love and attachment of things other than Allah?
How do we free ourselves from distractions that seize our attention away from Allah?
How can become like those "who love Allah more than anything else?"
The answer is in the Qur'an and the in way of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w).
The answer is, remember Allah because in the constant remembrance of Allah doe hearts find composure and develop closeness to Allah.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
The Best of You
Narrated Hamzah bin Suhaib that Suhaib (r.a.), also known by the title (kuniyya) Abu Yahya said that he was from the Arabs and he generously fed others. Umar (r.a.) said to him: O Suhaib, why are you known by the title of Abu Yahya when you have no son? and you say that you are an Arab and you feed others generously. This is extravagance of wealth! Suhaib replied: The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) gave me the title of Abu Yahya. As for your statement regarding my lineage, I am a man from Namar bin Qasit from the people of Mosul but I was enslaved as a small boy and I am ignorant of my family and my nation. And as for your statement about feeding others, the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) said: "The best of you are those who feed and respond to salam", this is what made me feed others.
عَنْ حَمْزَةَ بْنِ صُهَيْبٍ أَنَّ صُهَيْبًا رَضِيَ الله عَنْهُ كَانَ يُكَنَّى أَبَا يَحْيَى وَيَقُولُ إِنَّهُ مِنْ الْعَرَبِ وَيُطْعِمُ الطَّعَامَ الْكَثِيرَ فَقَالَ لَهُ عُمَرُ رَضِيَ الله عَنْهُ: يَا صُهَيْبُ مَا لَكَ تُكَنَّى أَبَا يَحْيَى وَلَيْسَ لَكَ وَلَدٌ وَتَقُولُ إِنَّكَ مِنْ الْعَرَبِ وَتُطْعِمُ الطَّعَامَ الْكَثِيرَ وَذَلِكَ سَرَفٌ فِي الْمَالِ فَقَالَ صُهَيْبٌ: إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَنَّانِي أَبَا يَحْيَى وَأَمَّا قَوْلُكَ فِي النَّسَبِ فَأَنَا رَجُلٌ مِنْ النَّمِرِ بْنِ قَاسِطٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْمَوْصِلِ وَلَكِنِّي سُبِيتُ غُلَامًا صَغِيرًا قَدْ غَفَلْتُ أَهْلِي وَقَوْمِي وَأَمَّا قَوْلُكَ فِي الطَّعَامِ فَإِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَانَ يَقُولُ: "خِيَارُكُمْ مَنْ أَطْعَمَ الطَّعَامَ وَرَدَّ السَّلَامَ" فَذَلِكَ الَّذِي يَحْمِلُنِي عَلَى أَنْ أُطْعِمَ الطَّعَامَ. أخرجه لوين في " أحاديثه " ( 25 / 2 ) ، وابن عساكر ( 8 / 194 - 195 ) ، والضياء المقدسي في " الأحاديث المختارة " ( 16 / 1 ) و الحافظ ابن حجر في " الأحاديث العاليات " ( رقم 25 ) وأخرجه أيضا: أحمد (6 / 16) وصححه الألباني في "السلسلة الصحيحة" (1 / 73
عَنْ حَمْزَةَ بْنِ صُهَيْبٍ أَنَّ صُهَيْبًا رَضِيَ الله عَنْهُ كَانَ يُكَنَّى أَبَا يَحْيَى وَيَقُولُ إِنَّهُ مِنْ الْعَرَبِ وَيُطْعِمُ الطَّعَامَ الْكَثِيرَ فَقَالَ لَهُ عُمَرُ رَضِيَ الله عَنْهُ: يَا صُهَيْبُ مَا لَكَ تُكَنَّى أَبَا يَحْيَى وَلَيْسَ لَكَ وَلَدٌ وَتَقُولُ إِنَّكَ مِنْ الْعَرَبِ وَتُطْعِمُ الطَّعَامَ الْكَثِيرَ وَذَلِكَ سَرَفٌ فِي الْمَالِ فَقَالَ صُهَيْبٌ: إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَنَّانِي أَبَا يَحْيَى وَأَمَّا قَوْلُكَ فِي النَّسَبِ فَأَنَا رَجُلٌ مِنْ النَّمِرِ بْنِ قَاسِطٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْمَوْصِلِ وَلَكِنِّي سُبِيتُ غُلَامًا صَغِيرًا قَدْ غَفَلْتُ أَهْلِي وَقَوْمِي وَأَمَّا قَوْلُكَ فِي الطَّعَامِ فَإِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَانَ يَقُولُ: "خِيَارُكُمْ مَنْ أَطْعَمَ الطَّعَامَ وَرَدَّ السَّلَامَ" فَذَلِكَ الَّذِي يَحْمِلُنِي عَلَى أَنْ أُطْعِمَ الطَّعَامَ. أخرجه لوين في " أحاديثه " ( 25 / 2 ) ، وابن عساكر ( 8 / 194 - 195 ) ، والضياء المقدسي في " الأحاديث المختارة " ( 16 / 1 ) و الحافظ ابن حجر في " الأحاديث العاليات " ( رقم 25 ) وأخرجه أيضا: أحمد (6 / 16) وصححه الألباني في "السلسلة الصحيحة" (1 / 73
Monday, December 27, 2010
Love The Best!
"You will be safe as long as you love the best amongst you, and as long as you acknowledge just and constructive criticism when they befit you, for whatsoever recognizes what is just and true is like the one that does them." Abu-Dardaa
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Friends of Allah
“Among Allah’s servants are people who are neither prophets nor martyrs, but whom the prophets and martyrs will deem fortunate because of their high status with Allah.”
The Companions asked, “O Messenger of Allah! Inform us of who they are.” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) told them that they are people who loved each other for Allah’s sake, even without being related to one another or being tied to one another by the exchange of wealth. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) went on to describe their great reward on the Day of Resurrection:
“By Allah, their faces will be luminous and they will be upon light. They will feel no fear when the people will be feeling fear, and they will feel no grief when the people will be grieving.” Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) read the verse: [Behold! verily on the friends of Allah there is no fear, nor shall they grieve] (Yunus 10:62). (Abu Dawud)
Friday, December 24, 2010
Gift from God
Once a man asked Luqman Hakim “Are you the same person who used to graze sheep?” Luqman replied, “You are right. I am the same person. But why are you asking this question?” That man continued to ask, “From where did you obtain all this wisdom and intelligence?” Luqman replied,
“This is a gift from God, which is granted by telling the truth and by refraining from useless things and by behaving honestly.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Light of Wisdom
عن مالك انه بلغه ان لقمان الحكيم أوصى ابنه فقال يا بني جالس العلماء وزاحمهم بركبتيك فإن الله يحيي القلوب بنور الحكمة كما يحيي الله الأرض الميتة بوابل السماءMalik narrated that while advising his son, Luqman Hakim said: O my son, sit in the company of the people of Knowledge (Ulama/Scholars) and draw close to them with humility. For verily Allah revives the hearts by the light of wisdom just as Allah revives the dead earth by a heavy down pour from the sky.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Salat Burns The Sins
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ رَضِيَ الله عَنْهُ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى الله عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: "تَحْتَرِقُونَ تَحْتَرِقُونَ فَإِذَا صَلَّيْتُم الفَجْرَ غَسَلَتْهَا، ثُمَّ تَحْتَرِقُونَ تَحْتَرِقُونَ فَإِذَا صَلَّيْتُم الظُّهْرَ غَسَلَتْهَا، ثُمَّ تَحْتَرِقُونَ تَحْتَرِقُونَ فَإِذَا صَلَّيْتُم العَصْرَ غَسَلَتْهَا، ثُمَّ تَحْتَرِقُونَ تَحْتَرِقُونَ فَإِذَا صَلَّيْتُم المَغْرِبَ غَسَلَتْهَا، ثُمَّ تَحْتَرِقُونَ تَحْتَرِقُونَ فَإِذَا صَلّيْتُم العِشَاءَ غَسَلَتْهَا ُثُمَّ تَنَامُونَ فَلا يُكْتَب عَلَيْكُمْ حَتَّى تَسْتَيْقِظُوا". أخرجه الطبراني فى الأوسط (2/358
Narrated by Abdullah bin Masud (r.a.), the Prophet (s.a.w.) said: You are burning (due to your sins) but when you pray the Fajr prayer, it cleanses (the sins). Then again you begin to burn (due to the sins) but when you pray the Zuhr prayers, it cleanses (the sins). Then again you begin to burn (due to the sins) but when you pray the 'Asr prayers, it cleanses (the sins). Then again you begin to burn (due to the sins) but when you pray the Maghrib prayers, it cleanses (the sins). Then again you begin to burn (due to the sins) but when you pray the 'Ishaa prayers, it cleanses (the sins). Then you fall asleep and no sin is recorded against you until you wake up (and commit a sin).
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Your Sins Will be Forgiven
If you make this dua after eating food your sins will be forgiven:
عَنْ مُعَاذِ بْنِ أَنَسٍ الْجُهَنِيِّ رَضِيَ الله عَنْهُ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: "مَنْ أَكَلَ طَعَامًا فَقَالَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَطْعَمَنِي هَذَا وَرَزَقَنِيهِ مِنْ غَيْرِ حَوْلٍ مِنِّي وَلَا قُوَّةٍ غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ". أخرجه أحمد (3/439
عَنْ مُعَاذِ بْنِ أَنَسٍ الْجُهَنِيِّ رَضِيَ الله عَنْهُ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: "مَنْ أَكَلَ طَعَامًا فَقَالَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَطْعَمَنِي هَذَا وَرَزَقَنِيهِ مِنْ غَيْرِ حَوْلٍ مِنِّي وَلَا قُوَّةٍ غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ". أخرجه أحمد (3/439
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Give All of Yourself
أعْطِ العِلْمَ كُلَّكَ تَأْخُذ بَعْضَهُ
Give knowledge all of yourself and you will take some of it.
Give knowledge all of yourself and you will take some of it.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Love of Allah
The love of the Beloved
must be unconditionally returned.
If you claim love
yet oppose the Beloved,
then your love is but a pretence.
You love the enemies of your Beloved
and still seek love in return.
You fight the beloved of your Beloved.
Is this Love or the following of shaytaan?
True devotion is nothing
but total submission
of body and soul
to One Love.
We have seen humans claim to submit,
yet their loyalties are many.
They put their trust here, and their hope there,
and their love is without consequence.
- Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah
must be unconditionally returned.
If you claim love
yet oppose the Beloved,
then your love is but a pretence.
You love the enemies of your Beloved
and still seek love in return.
You fight the beloved of your Beloved.
Is this Love or the following of shaytaan?
True devotion is nothing
but total submission
of body and soul
to One Love.
We have seen humans claim to submit,
yet their loyalties are many.
They put their trust here, and their hope there,
and their love is without consequence.
- Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah
Monday, December 6, 2010
Repentance
“A servant will commit a sin and as a result enter Paradise and a servant will perform a righteous deed and as a result enter the Fire.” Ibn Al-Qayyim shed light on the above saying of some of the righteous scholars, He explained, “A servant commits a sin which then stays at the forefront of his mind when he stands, sits and walks – always recollecting his sin. This generates dejection, repentance, seeking forgiveness, and regret that become the source of his salvation. “Conversely, an individual performs a good deed and it then continues to be at the forefront of his mind when he stands, sits and walks, each recollection of it causes him to view himself with amazement, pride and the sense of having favored (others), which are all causes for his destruction.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
I Wonder
As I look through my window Wonder, from where does this
wind blow
There must be someone who made trees
And then made them move to and fro...
Often as I look into the burning sun
I start to think of HIM, the Greatest One
HE is the creator and protector of all
I am the creator and protector of none !
HE gave me eyes to see HIS grace
HE gave me a tongue just to praise
Today, as I think of my bad deeds...
All selfish talks and my worldly greeds...
My eyes get filled with tears and shame
With pain and sorrow, my heart bleeds...
For how long in this world will I stay?
Surely, I'll hve to leave one day
With the passge of time, I've realized
I m nothing but a being of clay !
wind blow
There must be someone who made trees
And then made them move to and fro...
Often as I look into the burning sun
I start to think of HIM, the Greatest One
HE is the creator and protector of all
I am the creator and protector of none !
HE gave me eyes to see HIS grace
HE gave me a tongue just to praise
Today, as I think of my bad deeds...
All selfish talks and my worldly greeds...
My eyes get filled with tears and shame
With pain and sorrow, my heart bleeds...
For how long in this world will I stay?
Surely, I'll hve to leave one day
With the passge of time, I've realized
I m nothing but a being of clay !
Change
Nothing in this universe remains same !
Notice the changing weather, changing colour of skies, changing of all scenery around us with seasons, changing foods along with season, changing directions of winds, change in human beings-a silent daily change in every person, change in our feelings towards our relationships, change in our desires, change in our du'as, change in our goals and targets, change in our state of heart... and more
So many changes--whether we are conscious of them or not--give us the great lesson that 'Change is good, its necessary' and we should remember to be positively welcoming to change!
Notice the changing weather, changing colour of skies, changing of all scenery around us with seasons, changing foods along with season, changing directions of winds, change in human beings-a silent daily change in every person, change in our feelings towards our relationships, change in our desires, change in our du'as, change in our goals and targets, change in our state of heart... and more
So many changes--whether we are conscious of them or not--give us the great lesson that 'Change is good, its necessary' and we should remember to be positively welcoming to change!
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Most Difficult
Never have I dealt with anything more difficult than my own soul,
which sometimes helps me and sometimes opposes me. -Imam Al-Ghazali
which sometimes helps me and sometimes opposes me. -Imam Al-Ghazali
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
The Best Action
“The world is the believer’s prison. The best action in the prison is patience and control of one’s anger. The believer has no country in the world, His land will be there tomorrow in the Afterlife." - 'Abdullâh ibn Mubârak
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
The Traces of Ink
“The traces of ink on the clothes of a scholar of hadeeth is better than the perfume on the clothes of a bride.” - 'AbduAllah ibin MubaarakTartib Al Madarik, 1/104.
Difficult to Change
“Repel the thought, for if you don’t, it becomes an idea. So repel the idea; for if you don’t it will become a desire. So fight against that (desire), for if you don’t, it will become a determination and a passion. And if you don’t repel that, it will become an action. And if you don’t replace it with its opposite, it will become a constant habit. So at that point, it will be difficult for you to change it.”- Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Lasting Bliss
Your attention must be directed to your life in the present: the time between two times. If you waste it, then you have wasted the opportunity to be of the fortunate and saved ones. If you look after it, then you will achieve rest, delight, and ever-lasting bliss.- Ibn Qayyim Al Jawziyyah
Difficult Auditing
A believer is a guardian over himself: he acounts himself for Allah. Those who take account of themselves in this world will be audited lightly in the Hereafter. Those who take this issue lightly will find their auditing very difficult. - Al-Hasan Al-Basree
Monday, November 1, 2010
Envied?
"I have never envied anyone over anything: if a person is going to be in the Fire, how could I envy him over some worldly matter when he is destined for the Fire?! And if he is going to Paradise, how could I be envious of a man of Paradise with whom Allah tabaraka wa ta’ala is pleased?!- Muhammad ibn Sireen
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Best Days of The World!
عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللهِ رَضِيَ الله عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى الله عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: "أَفْضَلُ أَيَّامِ الْدُّنْيَا أَيَّامُ الْعَشْرِ، يَعْنِي عَشْرُ ذِي الحْجَّةِ". أخرجه البزار
“The best days of the world are the ten days, the ten days of Dhul Hijjah." - Reported by Bazzar
First ten days of Dhul Hijjah are the best days of the year. Plan the best for them.
“The best days of the world are the ten days, the ten days of Dhul Hijjah." - Reported by Bazzar
First ten days of Dhul Hijjah are the best days of the year. Plan the best for them.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Are You Worried?
عَنِ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ الله عَنْهَا، قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى الله عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: "إِذَا أَصَابَ أَحَدَكُمْ هَمٌّ أَوْ لأْوَاءٌ فَلْيَقُلْ: اللَّهُ، اللَّهُ رَبِّى لاَ أُشْرِكُ بِهِ شَيْئًا". أخرجه الطبرانى
Are you Worried? Read!
اللَّهُ، اللَّهُ رَبِّى لاَ أُشْرِكُ بِهِ شَيْئًا
Are you Worried? Read!
اللَّهُ، اللَّهُ رَبِّى لاَ أُشْرِكُ بِهِ شَيْئًا
Whatever Allaah Wills
tThe Messenger of Allaah -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- said:‘Do not say: whatever Allaah wills and what so and so wills, but rather say: whatever Allaah wills then what so and so wills. - ’Narrated by Hudhayfah
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Dead or Alive
"Books are the gardens of learned." and "The man of learning is alive even after his death. The man of ignorance is dead even while he is alive." - Ali (r a)
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Reap the Returns
*If you plant honesty, you will reap trust
* If you plant goodness, you will reap friends
* If you plant humility, you will reap greatness
* If you plant perseverance, you will reap contentment
* If you plant consideration, you will reap perspective
* If you plant hard work, you will reap success
* If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation
So, be careful what you plant now; it will determine what you will reap later.
'Whatever You Give To Life, Life Gives You Back‘. Live our CORE VALUES, and Reap the returns!
* If you plant goodness, you will reap friends
* If you plant humility, you will reap greatness
* If you plant perseverance, you will reap contentment
* If you plant consideration, you will reap perspective
* If you plant hard work, you will reap success
* If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation
So, be careful what you plant now; it will determine what you will reap later.
'Whatever You Give To Life, Life Gives You Back‘. Live our CORE VALUES, and Reap the returns!
Dream and Aim
The difference between dream and aim, Dream requires Soundless sleep to see Where as Aim Requires Sleepless Efforts to Achieve.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Good Company
"It is better to remain silent than to speak a word of evil, but it is better to speak a word of good than to remain silent. And it is better to be alone than to remain in bad company, but far better to remain in good company than to be alone"
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Students of Knowledge
كم من حريص جامع جاشع ليس بمنتفع و لا نافع
“How many dedicated (students of knowledge) there are, seeking to gather it and desirous of obtaining it, yet they do not gain benefit from it nor do they give benefit out to others.” - Al-Awzaa'ee
“How many dedicated (students of knowledge) there are, seeking to gather it and desirous of obtaining it, yet they do not gain benefit from it nor do they give benefit out to others.” - Al-Awzaa'ee
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Calamities and Trials
"Perform Hajj for the terrible things to come; fast on an extremely hot day, for the duration of the resurrection; pray two rakahs in the darkness of the night for the loneliness and coldness of the grave; say a good word or restrain from bad talk for the standing on the Great Day; and give charity with your wealth in hope that you will be saved from other such (calamities and trials)." - Abu Dharr al-Ghafari
Monday, October 18, 2010
Mankind is on a journey
From the very moment of creation, mankind is on a journey.
He is a traveler and is not allowed to halt except when he reaches either Paradise or Hellfire.
The wise one among them is the one who knows that traveling is based on hardship and danger. It is usually hard to seek pleasures and relief during it, which are to be acquired after it is completed. Every footstep and every moan made during this journey will not stop him.
It is proven that the traveler is preparing supplies, which will take him to his final end. And if he halts, sleeps, or rests, he is doing so while preparing himself to complete his journey. - Abridged from: Al-Fawaai’d Ibn Qayyim,
He is a traveler and is not allowed to halt except when he reaches either Paradise or Hellfire.
The wise one among them is the one who knows that traveling is based on hardship and danger. It is usually hard to seek pleasures and relief during it, which are to be acquired after it is completed. Every footstep and every moan made during this journey will not stop him.
It is proven that the traveler is preparing supplies, which will take him to his final end. And if he halts, sleeps, or rests, he is doing so while preparing himself to complete his journey. - Abridged from: Al-Fawaai’d Ibn Qayyim,
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Imperfection of Knowledge
"Everyone has an imperfection of knowledge and wisdom, if his wealth increases, he becomes so happy though day and night are working hard on destroying his life-span. So what is good of a wealth that increases and a life-span that decreases."Abu Dardaa'
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Illuminate The Heart
Worship and obedience illuminate the heart and make it strong and steadfast, until it becomes like a clear mirror, shining with light.
When Shaytaan draws close, he is struck by its light like those who try to eavesdrop [in the heavens] are struck by the shooting stars, and Shaytaan flees from this heart with more terror than a wolf fleeing from a lion." ibn al-qayyim, Al-Jawaab al-Kaafi
When Shaytaan draws close, he is struck by its light like those who try to eavesdrop [in the heavens] are struck by the shooting stars, and Shaytaan flees from this heart with more terror than a wolf fleeing from a lion." ibn al-qayyim, Al-Jawaab al-Kaafi
Friday, October 15, 2010
How Are You Today?
Al-Murrudi’ asked Imam Ahmed: “How are you today?”
He replied:
‘How can I be while I am required by my Lord to perform obligatory acts of worship, by my Prophet to practice his Sunnah, by the two angels to improve my deeds, and my soul urges me to follow it, Shaytaan pushes me to commit evil deeds, the Angel of death is waiting to take my life, and my children are asking me to provide for them?’” -Siyaar a'laam an Nubalaa 11/227
He replied:
‘How can I be while I am required by my Lord to perform obligatory acts of worship, by my Prophet to practice his Sunnah, by the two angels to improve my deeds, and my soul urges me to follow it, Shaytaan pushes me to commit evil deeds, the Angel of death is waiting to take my life, and my children are asking me to provide for them?’” -Siyaar a'laam an Nubalaa 11/227
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Your Share
“O son of Adam! You need your share in this life, but need your share in the Hereafter even more. If you took care of your share in this life, then you will lose your share in the Hereafter and are soon bound to lose your share in this life too. If you took care of your share in the Hereafter, you will also win your full share in this life with ease.-Fada'il al- Dhikr by ibn al Jawzi p. 19
Beneficial Speech
“It was said to Hamdoon bin Ahmad: ‘Why is it that the speech of the Salaf was more beneficial than ours?’ He said, ‘Because they spoke for the honor of Islaam, and for the deliverance of their own souls, and for the pleasure of ar-Rahman, and we speak for the honor of our souls, for seeking the world, and for the pleasure of the creation." - Abdullah bin Mubarak
O Allah!
O Allah make the best part of my life the last part
And my best deed the last deed
And my best day in which I meet YOU
And my best deed the last deed
And my best day in which I meet YOU
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Two Days and Two Nights
There are two days and two nights the likes of which no one has ever heard of before: the Day on which you will receive the news about Allâh the Exalted: whether you will receive His punishment or His mercy, the Day you will be given your book (of deeds): either in your right hand or your left, that [first] night you will spend alone in your grave, a night like no other you have spent, and that night on the morning of which will be the Day of Resurrection, after which there will be no more night.- Anas b. Mâlik
Abû Bakr Al-Daynûrî, Al-Mujâlasah wa Jawâhir Al-’Ilm article 19
Abû Bakr Al-Daynûrî, Al-Mujâlasah wa Jawâhir Al-’Ilm article 19
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
The Matter of Afterlife
At the time of Fajr, or a while before it, the Salaf would be as if birds were sitting on their heads: (still ) concentrating on themselves [and their worship], so much so that even if one of their closest friends came to them after having been parted from them, they would not notice him. They would remain in this state until just before sunrise. Then, they would meet each other and sit in the circles. The first thing they would discuss is the matter of their afterlife and what would become of them in the hereafter. Then they would begin the circles of Quran and Fiqh study. Imâm Al-Awzâ’î –
Ibn ‘Asâkir, Târîkh Dimishq 35:184, 185
Ibn ‘Asâkir, Târîkh Dimishq 35:184, 185
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Your Habits
“Arrest your thoughts, they become your ideas, arrest your ideas, they become your desires, arrest your desires, they become your character, arrest your character, it becomes your actions, and arrest your actions, they become your habits”.
Ibn al-Qayym
Ibn al-Qayym
Take account of yourself
حاسبوا أنفسكم قبل أن تحاسبوا ، وزنوا أنفسكم قبل أن توزنوا، فإنه أهون عليكم فى الحساب غدا أن تحاسبوا أنفسكم اليوم، وَتَزَيَّنوا للعرض الأكبر، يومئذ تعرضون لا تخفى منكم خافية
Take account of yourself before you are taken to account and weigh yourself before you are weighed, for it would be easier on your Accounting tomorrow if you do so today. Adorn yourself for the great exposure, the day you shall be exposed and not a secret of yours will remain hidden. —‘Umar b. al-Khattab [Muṣannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah, Kanz al-‘Ummāl]
Take account of yourself before you are taken to account and weigh yourself before you are weighed, for it would be easier on your Accounting tomorrow if you do so today. Adorn yourself for the great exposure, the day you shall be exposed and not a secret of yours will remain hidden. —‘Umar b. al-Khattab [Muṣannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah, Kanz al-‘Ummāl]
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Do not Hate them
Become a scholar if you are able. If you are not able, then be a student. If you can not, then show love for them. If you are unable to do that, then (at least) do not hate them.
'Umar ibn 'Abdil-'Azeez
'Umar ibn 'Abdil-'Azeez
Friday, October 8, 2010
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Do you mock the supplication?
‘Do you mock the supplication and belittle it?
While you do not know what it has the power to do!
The arrows of the night (du’a) do not miss target
But they have an end which brings matters to an end
So if my Lord wishes, He holds it back
And if the decree is to be fulfilled, He sets it forth.’
- Imam al-Shafi’i
While you do not know what it has the power to do!
The arrows of the night (du’a) do not miss target
But they have an end which brings matters to an end
So if my Lord wishes, He holds it back
And if the decree is to be fulfilled, He sets it forth.’
- Imam al-Shafi’i
Wasting Time
"Wasting time is worse than death, because death separates you from
this world whereas wasting time separates you from Allah."
[Ibn al Qayyim]
this world whereas wasting time separates you from Allah."
[Ibn al Qayyim]
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
TEN Useless Matters
TEN Useless Matters
1. Knowledge that is not acted on.
2. The deed that has neither sincerity nor is based on following the righteous examples of others.
3. Money that is hoarded, as the owner neither enjoys it during this life nor obtains any reward for it in the Hereafter.
4. The heart that is empty of love and longing for Allah, and of seeking closeness to Him.
5. A body that does not obey and serve Allah.
6. Loving Allah without following His orders or seeking His pleasure.
7. Time that is not spent in expiating sins or seizing opportunities to do good.
8. A mind that thinks about useless matters.
9. Serving those who do not bring you close to Allah, nor benefit you in your life.
10. Hoping and fearing whoever is under the authority of Allah and in His Hand; while he cannot bring any benefit or harm to himself, nor death, nor life; nor can he resurrect himself.
However, the greater of these matters are wasting the heart and wasting time. Wasting the heart is done by preferring this worldly life over the Hereafter, and wasting time is done by having incessant hope. Destruction occurs by following one’s desires and having incessant hope, while all goodness is found in following the right path and preparing oneself to meet Allah.
How strange it is that when a servant of Allah has a (worldly) problem, he seeks help of Allah, but he never asks Allah to cure his heart before it dies of ignorance, neglect, fulfilling one’s desires and being involved in innovations. Indeed, when the heart dies, he will never feel the significance or impact of his sins.
– Al-Fawa’id, Ibn Qayyim Al Jaaziyyah
1. Knowledge that is not acted on.
2. The deed that has neither sincerity nor is based on following the righteous examples of others.
3. Money that is hoarded, as the owner neither enjoys it during this life nor obtains any reward for it in the Hereafter.
4. The heart that is empty of love and longing for Allah, and of seeking closeness to Him.
5. A body that does not obey and serve Allah.
6. Loving Allah without following His orders or seeking His pleasure.
7. Time that is not spent in expiating sins or seizing opportunities to do good.
8. A mind that thinks about useless matters.
9. Serving those who do not bring you close to Allah, nor benefit you in your life.
10. Hoping and fearing whoever is under the authority of Allah and in His Hand; while he cannot bring any benefit or harm to himself, nor death, nor life; nor can he resurrect himself.
However, the greater of these matters are wasting the heart and wasting time. Wasting the heart is done by preferring this worldly life over the Hereafter, and wasting time is done by having incessant hope. Destruction occurs by following one’s desires and having incessant hope, while all goodness is found in following the right path and preparing oneself to meet Allah.
How strange it is that when a servant of Allah has a (worldly) problem, he seeks help of Allah, but he never asks Allah to cure his heart before it dies of ignorance, neglect, fulfilling one’s desires and being involved in innovations. Indeed, when the heart dies, he will never feel the significance or impact of his sins.
– Al-Fawa’id, Ibn Qayyim Al Jaaziyyah
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Stories of Salaf
"Whoever does not read the stories of the Salaf and the path that they tread, he can never tread that path. It is befitting for a person to know and understand that the nature of an individual (character) is a thief. If a person leaves his nature with the people of his time, his nature will steal from theirs and he will become similar to them. But if he reads into the lives of the Salaf his nature will join theirs and he will learn from their character…." Ibn al-Jawzi
Excess of Knowledge
Hudhaifah Ibn al-Yaman (ra) narrated, the Messenger of Allah (saw) said:
The excess of ilm (knowledge) is better than the excess of ‘Ibadah (worship), and the best of your religion is the wara’ (piety, self restrain).”
(At-Tabarani, Al-Awsat; Al-Bazzar)
The excess of ilm (knowledge) is better than the excess of ‘Ibadah (worship), and the best of your religion is the wara’ (piety, self restrain).”
(At-Tabarani, Al-Awsat; Al-Bazzar)
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Allah takes care
‘Whosoever rectifies what he does in privacy, Allah will rectify for him his public image. Whosoever rectifies his relationship with Allah, Allah will rectify his relations with the people. Whosoever strives for his Hereafter, Allah takes care of his worldly matters.’
– Kitab Az-Zuhd, Hannad Bin As-Sari, vol. 1, pg. 300
– Kitab Az-Zuhd, Hannad Bin As-Sari, vol. 1, pg. 300
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Dead Hearts and Empty Supplications
Dead Hearts and Empty Supplications
It is reported that Ibrâhîm b. Adham (d162H) – Allâh have mercy on him – once passed through the market of Basrah. People gathered around him and asked:
O Abû Ishâq, Allâh the Exalted says in his Book. ‘Call on me, I will answer your prayers’, but we have been calling on Him for a long time and He does not answer our prayers. [Ibrâhîm] replied, “O people of Basrah, your hearts have died in respect to ten things:
First, you know Allâh but you do not give Him His rights;
Second, you have read Allâh’s Book but you do not act by it;
Third, you claim to love Allâh’s Messenger – Allâh’s peace and blessings be upon him – yet you abandon his Sunnah;
Fourth, you claim to be enemies to Shaytân but you conform to [his ways];
Fifth, you say you love Paradise yet you do not work for it;
Sixth, you say you fear The Fire yet you put yourselves closer to it [by sinning];
Seventh, you say death is true but you do not prepare for it;
Eighth, you busy yourselves with the faults of others and disregard your own;
Ninth, you consume the favors of your Lord but are not grateful for them; and
Tenth, you bury your dead but take no lesson from them.”
Abû Nu’aym, Hilyah Al-Awliyâ’ 8: 15, 16.
It is reported that Ibrâhîm b. Adham (d162H) – Allâh have mercy on him – once passed through the market of Basrah. People gathered around him and asked:
O Abû Ishâq, Allâh the Exalted says in his Book. ‘Call on me, I will answer your prayers’, but we have been calling on Him for a long time and He does not answer our prayers. [Ibrâhîm] replied, “O people of Basrah, your hearts have died in respect to ten things:
First, you know Allâh but you do not give Him His rights;
Second, you have read Allâh’s Book but you do not act by it;
Third, you claim to love Allâh’s Messenger – Allâh’s peace and blessings be upon him – yet you abandon his Sunnah;
Fourth, you claim to be enemies to Shaytân but you conform to [his ways];
Fifth, you say you love Paradise yet you do not work for it;
Sixth, you say you fear The Fire yet you put yourselves closer to it [by sinning];
Seventh, you say death is true but you do not prepare for it;
Eighth, you busy yourselves with the faults of others and disregard your own;
Ninth, you consume the favors of your Lord but are not grateful for them; and
Tenth, you bury your dead but take no lesson from them.”
Abû Nu’aym, Hilyah Al-Awliyâ’ 8: 15, 16.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Hardship a Blessing
"Knowledge knocks on the door of action. If it receives a reply, it stays, otherwise it departs."
"In our view, a person does not have an understanding of the religion until he thinks of a hardship as being a blessing, and a comfort and luxury as being a hardship."
Sufyaan ath-Thawri رحمه الله
"In our view, a person does not have an understanding of the religion until he thinks of a hardship as being a blessing, and a comfort and luxury as being a hardship."
Sufyaan ath-Thawri رحمه الله
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Useful Knowledge
Useful knowledge is that which makes you
grow in the fear of Allah,
increases you in awareness of your defects,
deepens your knowledge of the worship of your Lord Most High,
decreases your desire for this world and increases your desire for the life to come,
and opens your eyes to the defects of your actions so that you guard against them."
-Imam Ghazali
grow in the fear of Allah,
increases you in awareness of your defects,
deepens your knowledge of the worship of your Lord Most High,
decreases your desire for this world and increases your desire for the life to come,
and opens your eyes to the defects of your actions so that you guard against them."
-Imam Ghazali
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Supplicating Earnestly
This is one of the most beneficial medicines.
Ibn Maajah reported in his Sunan, on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (radiyallaahu ‘anhu) who said: “The Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said: ‘He who does not ask Allaah, earns His Anger.’”(3)
Al-Hakim reported in his Sahih book, on the authority of Anas (radiyallaahu ta’aala anhu) that the Prophet (salallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said: “Do not under-estimate supplication, for no one perishes with it.”
Al-Awza’i reported from az-Zuhari, from ‘Urwah, from ‘Aishaah (radiyallaahu ‘anha) who said: “The Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said: ‘Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’aala) loves those who persist in supplicating to Him.”
In the book, Zuhd, by Imaam Ahmad, on the authority of Abu Qatadah who said: “Muwariq said: ‘I could not find a better example of a believer but that of a man clinging to a piece of wood at sea, praying: ‘O Lord…O Lord…’ asking Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’aala) to save him.”
---------------------------------
Footnotes:
3) Recorded by At-Tirmidhee in the “Book of Supplications”, (chapter 24) and Ahmad in his Musnad (2/442).
Transcribed from: Spiritual Disease and its Cure, Ibn Qayyim, rahimahullaah
Ibn Maajah reported in his Sunan, on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (radiyallaahu ‘anhu) who said: “The Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said: ‘He who does not ask Allaah, earns His Anger.’”(3)
Al-Hakim reported in his Sahih book, on the authority of Anas (radiyallaahu ta’aala anhu) that the Prophet (salallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said: “Do not under-estimate supplication, for no one perishes with it.”
Al-Awza’i reported from az-Zuhari, from ‘Urwah, from ‘Aishaah (radiyallaahu ‘anha) who said: “The Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said: ‘Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’aala) loves those who persist in supplicating to Him.”
In the book, Zuhd, by Imaam Ahmad, on the authority of Abu Qatadah who said: “Muwariq said: ‘I could not find a better example of a believer but that of a man clinging to a piece of wood at sea, praying: ‘O Lord…O Lord…’ asking Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’aala) to save him.”
---------------------------------
Footnotes:
3) Recorded by At-Tirmidhee in the “Book of Supplications”, (chapter 24) and Ahmad in his Musnad (2/442).
Transcribed from: Spiritual Disease and its Cure, Ibn Qayyim, rahimahullaah
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Forgiveness
Hadith Qudsi, Allah said:
O son of Adam, so long as you call upon Me and ask of Me, I shall
forgive you for what you have done, and I shall not mind.
O son of Adam, were your sins to reach the clouds of the sky and were
you then to ask forgiveness of Me, I would forgive you.
O son of Adam, were you to come to Me with sins nearly as great as the
earth and were you then to face Me, ascribing no partner to Me, I
would bring you forgiveness nearly as great at it.
- Saheeh. Related by at-Tirmidhi
O son of Adam, so long as you call upon Me and ask of Me, I shall
forgive you for what you have done, and I shall not mind.
O son of Adam, were your sins to reach the clouds of the sky and were
you then to ask forgiveness of Me, I would forgive you.
O son of Adam, were you to come to Me with sins nearly as great as the
earth and were you then to face Me, ascribing no partner to Me, I
would bring you forgiveness nearly as great at it.
- Saheeh. Related by at-Tirmidhi
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Advice of Sufyaan Ath-Thawri
Sufyaan once wrote to one of his Muslim brothers:
Posted: 31 Aug 2010 04:51 PM PDT
May Allaah, with His Mercy, protect both me and you from the Hellfire.
I advise both you and myself to fear Allaah. And I warn you not to turn to ignorance after you have learned, not to turn to destruction after you have seen and recognized the truth, and not to leave the (Straight) Path after it has been made clear to you.
Do not become deceived by worldly people, and do not become unduly impressed by the way they strive for and greedily gather worldly things, for the terror (that will envelop them on the Day of Resurrection) is severe indeed. The danger (of the Day of Resurrection) is grave indeed, but what is more, it is near at hand.
So occupy yourself exclusively with the Hereafter, and empty your heart of all other thoughts; once you have done that, work hard! Do not waste time! And flee from the world and its temptations! Travel to the Hereafter (with your worship) before you are taken there…I have indeed given you the same advice that I gave myself.
And understand that success comes from Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’aala). The key to gaining His help is supplication, prayer, feeling remorse for past negligence, and complete submission to Him. Your days and nights are numbered, so use the time you have left wisely, and do not be negligent in fulfilling the rights of your Lord.
I ask Allaah, Who has blessed us to know Him, not to entrust us and you to our ownselves; and I ask Allaah to be our Guardian and Helper, just as He is the Guardian and Helper of His beloved, righteous slaves.
Beware of doing that which will spoil your deeds, and know that it is showing off that spoils a person’s deeds; and if it is not showing off, then it is conceitedness – for you to imagine that you are better than one of your Muslim brothers, when in reality he performs more good deeds than you do; or perhaps he performs his deeds with a purer intention than you do.
And even if you are not conceited, beware of developing a love for praise. Be ever so careful not to come to love other people’s praise of your good deeds, or the respect they feel for you and bestow upon you because of your good deeds. And beware of desiring that others should help you in your personal affairs just because they have become impressed with your good deeds. You surely claim (as does everyone else), after all, that you are doing good deeds only for the sake of Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’aala); well, then turn that claim into a reality.
If you want to be less desirous of this world – its things, wealth, and pleasures – and more desirous of the Hereafter — Paradise and its bliss – then remember death frequently.
And know that you have long term hopes for this world – which one should not have — if you fear Allaah only a little or if you recklessly perpetrate sins.
And one will be sufficiently regretful and wretched on the Day of Resurrection if he has knowledge but does not apply it.
Transcribed from: The Biography of Sufyaan Ath-Thauree, rahimahullaah, page 181-183
Posted: 31 Aug 2010 04:51 PM PDT
May Allaah, with His Mercy, protect both me and you from the Hellfire.
I advise both you and myself to fear Allaah. And I warn you not to turn to ignorance after you have learned, not to turn to destruction after you have seen and recognized the truth, and not to leave the (Straight) Path after it has been made clear to you.
Do not become deceived by worldly people, and do not become unduly impressed by the way they strive for and greedily gather worldly things, for the terror (that will envelop them on the Day of Resurrection) is severe indeed. The danger (of the Day of Resurrection) is grave indeed, but what is more, it is near at hand.
So occupy yourself exclusively with the Hereafter, and empty your heart of all other thoughts; once you have done that, work hard! Do not waste time! And flee from the world and its temptations! Travel to the Hereafter (with your worship) before you are taken there…I have indeed given you the same advice that I gave myself.
And understand that success comes from Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’aala). The key to gaining His help is supplication, prayer, feeling remorse for past negligence, and complete submission to Him. Your days and nights are numbered, so use the time you have left wisely, and do not be negligent in fulfilling the rights of your Lord.
I ask Allaah, Who has blessed us to know Him, not to entrust us and you to our ownselves; and I ask Allaah to be our Guardian and Helper, just as He is the Guardian and Helper of His beloved, righteous slaves.
Beware of doing that which will spoil your deeds, and know that it is showing off that spoils a person’s deeds; and if it is not showing off, then it is conceitedness – for you to imagine that you are better than one of your Muslim brothers, when in reality he performs more good deeds than you do; or perhaps he performs his deeds with a purer intention than you do.
And even if you are not conceited, beware of developing a love for praise. Be ever so careful not to come to love other people’s praise of your good deeds, or the respect they feel for you and bestow upon you because of your good deeds. And beware of desiring that others should help you in your personal affairs just because they have become impressed with your good deeds. You surely claim (as does everyone else), after all, that you are doing good deeds only for the sake of Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’aala); well, then turn that claim into a reality.
If you want to be less desirous of this world – its things, wealth, and pleasures – and more desirous of the Hereafter — Paradise and its bliss – then remember death frequently.
And know that you have long term hopes for this world – which one should not have — if you fear Allaah only a little or if you recklessly perpetrate sins.
And one will be sufficiently regretful and wretched on the Day of Resurrection if he has knowledge but does not apply it.
Transcribed from: The Biography of Sufyaan Ath-Thauree, rahimahullaah, page 181-183
Friday, August 13, 2010
Keep Only a Few Friends
Keep Only a Few Friends
Sufyaan ath-Thawri (may Allah have mercy on him) said that one foolishly compromised one's religion when one kept too many friends. Having too many acquaintances diverts one from one's duty towards one's Lord, for a person who has many friends is always busy socializing with them and fulfilling their rights over him; so he becomes prreoccupied with people when he really should be preoccupied with his religious duties. The ill-effects of being too gregarious can last well beyond a social gathering. Sufyaan said, "I might meet a brother and as a result, remain heedless (of what I should be doing) for an entire month."
A friend, Sufyaan insisted, should be someone who helps one to improve as a Muslim; otherwise he is not worth keeping as a friend. Sufyaan expressed this sentiment when he sad, "If someone is not with you, then he is against you."
And Yousuf ibn Asbaat reported that he heard Sufyaan ath-Thawri say, "Whenever I spoke contrary to the desires of any man, he, regardless of who he was, would inevitably become furious with me. The people of knowledge and piety have departed."
Sufyaan once advised someone to test the character of the person he wanted to befriend. Sufyaan said, "Choose whoever you want as your companion. But when you have made your choice, make him angry, and then order someone to go and ask him what he thinks about you-without him knowing that you sent that person."
Bakr ibn Muhammad Al-'Aabid related that Sufyaan ath-Thawri once said to him, "Direct me to a man with whom I can keep company." Sufyaan said, "You are searching for something that cannot be found."
Khalf ibn Ismaa'eel Al-Barzaanee reported that he heard Sufyaan ath-Thawri said, "Acquaint yourself with fewer people, and as a result, you will backbite less (frequently) ." And Sufyaan ibn 'Uyainah said, "I once saw ath-Thawri in my sleep and I said to him, 'Advise me,' and he responded, 'Acquaint yourself with fewer people."
May Alah have mercy on him, Ameen
Sufyaan ath-Thawri (may Allah have mercy on him) said that one foolishly compromised one's religion when one kept too many friends. Having too many acquaintances diverts one from one's duty towards one's Lord, for a person who has many friends is always busy socializing with them and fulfilling their rights over him; so he becomes prreoccupied with people when he really should be preoccupied with his religious duties. The ill-effects of being too gregarious can last well beyond a social gathering. Sufyaan said, "I might meet a brother and as a result, remain heedless (of what I should be doing) for an entire month."
A friend, Sufyaan insisted, should be someone who helps one to improve as a Muslim; otherwise he is not worth keeping as a friend. Sufyaan expressed this sentiment when he sad, "If someone is not with you, then he is against you."
And Yousuf ibn Asbaat reported that he heard Sufyaan ath-Thawri say, "Whenever I spoke contrary to the desires of any man, he, regardless of who he was, would inevitably become furious with me. The people of knowledge and piety have departed."
Sufyaan once advised someone to test the character of the person he wanted to befriend. Sufyaan said, "Choose whoever you want as your companion. But when you have made your choice, make him angry, and then order someone to go and ask him what he thinks about you-without him knowing that you sent that person."
Bakr ibn Muhammad Al-'Aabid related that Sufyaan ath-Thawri once said to him, "Direct me to a man with whom I can keep company." Sufyaan said, "You are searching for something that cannot be found."
Khalf ibn Ismaa'eel Al-Barzaanee reported that he heard Sufyaan ath-Thawri said, "Acquaint yourself with fewer people, and as a result, you will backbite less (frequently) ." And Sufyaan ibn 'Uyainah said, "I once saw ath-Thawri in my sleep and I said to him, 'Advise me,' and he responded, 'Acquaint yourself with fewer people."
May Alah have mercy on him, Ameen
I Fear
Ibnul-Qayyium said in AnNooniyyah:
"By Allah, I don't fear my past sins, since I have sincerely repented to Allah and Allah loves to forgive.However, what I truly fear is that in the future this heart of mine will cease to rule by this Quran and this revelation."
"By Allah, I don't fear my past sins, since I have sincerely repented to Allah and Allah loves to forgive.However, what I truly fear is that in the future this heart of mine will cease to rule by this Quran and this revelation."
Ten useless matters
Imam Ibn al Qayyim Jawziyyah
There are ten useless matters:
Knowledge that is not acted on
The deed that has neither sincerity nor is based on following the righteous examples of others
Money that is hoarded, as the owner neither enjoys it during this life nor obtains any reward for it in the Hereafter
The heart that is empty of love and longing for Allah, and of seeking closeness to Him
A body that does not obey and serve Allah
Loving Allah without following His orders or seeking His pleasure
Time that is not spent in expiating sins or seizing opportunities to do good
A mind that thinks about useless matters
Serving those who do not bring you close to Allah, nor benefit you in your life
Hoping and fearing whoever is under the authority of Allah and in His hand; while he cannot bring any benefit or harm to himself, nor death, nor life; nor can he resurrect himself.
However the greater of these matters are wasting the heart and wasting time. Wasting the heart is done by preferring this worldly life over the Hereafter, and wasting time is done by having incessant hope. Destruction occurs by following one’s desires and having incessant hope, while all goodness is found in following the right path and preparing oneself to meet Allah.
How strange it is that when a servant of Allah has a [worldly] problem, he seeks help of Allah, but he never asks Allah to cure his heart before it dies of ignorance, neglect, fulfilling one’s desires and being involved in innovations. Indeed, when the heart dies, he will never feel the significance or impact of his sins.
There are ten useless matters:
Knowledge that is not acted on
The deed that has neither sincerity nor is based on following the righteous examples of others
Money that is hoarded, as the owner neither enjoys it during this life nor obtains any reward for it in the Hereafter
The heart that is empty of love and longing for Allah, and of seeking closeness to Him
A body that does not obey and serve Allah
Loving Allah without following His orders or seeking His pleasure
Time that is not spent in expiating sins or seizing opportunities to do good
A mind that thinks about useless matters
Serving those who do not bring you close to Allah, nor benefit you in your life
Hoping and fearing whoever is under the authority of Allah and in His hand; while he cannot bring any benefit or harm to himself, nor death, nor life; nor can he resurrect himself.
However the greater of these matters are wasting the heart and wasting time. Wasting the heart is done by preferring this worldly life over the Hereafter, and wasting time is done by having incessant hope. Destruction occurs by following one’s desires and having incessant hope, while all goodness is found in following the right path and preparing oneself to meet Allah.
How strange it is that when a servant of Allah has a [worldly] problem, he seeks help of Allah, but he never asks Allah to cure his heart before it dies of ignorance, neglect, fulfilling one’s desires and being involved in innovations. Indeed, when the heart dies, he will never feel the significance or impact of his sins.
Ten useless matters
Imam Ibn al Qayyim Jawziyyah
There are ten useless matters:
Knowledge that is not acted on
The deed that has neither sincerity nor is based on following the righteous examples of others
Money that is hoarded, as the owner neither enjoys it during this life nor obtains any reward for it in the Hereafter
The heart that is empty of love and longing for Allah, and of seeking closeness to Him
A body that does not obey and serve Allah
Loving Allah without following His orders or seeking His pleasure
Time that is not spent in expiating sins or seizing opportunities to do good
A mind that thinks about useless matters
Serving those who do not bring you close to Allah, nor benefit you in your life
Hoping and fearing whoever is under the authority of Allah and in His hand; while he cannot bring any benefit or harm to himself, nor death, nor life; nor can he resurrect himself.
However the greater of these matters are wasting the heart and wasting time. Wasting the heart is done by preferring this worldly life over the Hereafter, and wasting time is done by having incessant hope. Destruction occurs by following one’s desires and having incessant hope, while all goodness is found in following the right path and preparing oneself to meet Allah.
How strange it is that when a servant of Allah has a [worldly] problem, he seeks help of Allah, but he never asks Allah to cure his heart before it dies of ignorance, neglect, fulfilling one’s desires and being involved in innovations. Indeed, when the heart dies, he will never feel the significance or impact of his sins.
There are ten useless matters:
Knowledge that is not acted on
The deed that has neither sincerity nor is based on following the righteous examples of others
Money that is hoarded, as the owner neither enjoys it during this life nor obtains any reward for it in the Hereafter
The heart that is empty of love and longing for Allah, and of seeking closeness to Him
A body that does not obey and serve Allah
Loving Allah without following His orders or seeking His pleasure
Time that is not spent in expiating sins or seizing opportunities to do good
A mind that thinks about useless matters
Serving those who do not bring you close to Allah, nor benefit you in your life
Hoping and fearing whoever is under the authority of Allah and in His hand; while he cannot bring any benefit or harm to himself, nor death, nor life; nor can he resurrect himself.
However the greater of these matters are wasting the heart and wasting time. Wasting the heart is done by preferring this worldly life over the Hereafter, and wasting time is done by having incessant hope. Destruction occurs by following one’s desires and having incessant hope, while all goodness is found in following the right path and preparing oneself to meet Allah.
How strange it is that when a servant of Allah has a [worldly] problem, he seeks help of Allah, but he never asks Allah to cure his heart before it dies of ignorance, neglect, fulfilling one’s desires and being involved in innovations. Indeed, when the heart dies, he will never feel the significance or impact of his sins.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
The punishment for a sin
The punishment for a sin committed by a believer is removed in ten ways:
He repents to Allah (Taubah), so Allah accepts his repentance, for the one who repents from sin is like the one who has no sin.
He seeks forgiveness from Allah (istighfar), so Allah forgives him.
He does good deeds that erase his sin, for good deeds erase bad ones.
His believing brethren pray for him or seek forgiveness for his sins during his life or death.
Or they [ask Allah] to bestow on him as gift from the reward for their deeds, with which Allah benefits him.
His Prophet Muhammad, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, intercedes for him.
Allah tests him with trials in this world which expiate his sin.
Allah tests him in al-Barzakh (the intermediate life in the grave, between the death and the Day of Judgment) which expiates his sin.
Allah tests him in the various stages of the Day of Judgment which expiates his sins.
Or the Most Merciful of those who have mercy has mercy on him.
Whoever, then, is missed by these ten cannot blame anyone but himself.
He repents to Allah (Taubah), so Allah accepts his repentance, for the one who repents from sin is like the one who has no sin.
He seeks forgiveness from Allah (istighfar), so Allah forgives him.
He does good deeds that erase his sin, for good deeds erase bad ones.
His believing brethren pray for him or seek forgiveness for his sins during his life or death.
Or they [ask Allah] to bestow on him as gift from the reward for their deeds, with which Allah benefits him.
His Prophet Muhammad, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, intercedes for him.
Allah tests him with trials in this world which expiate his sin.
Allah tests him in al-Barzakh (the intermediate life in the grave, between the death and the Day of Judgment) which expiates his sin.
Allah tests him in the various stages of the Day of Judgment which expiates his sins.
Or the Most Merciful of those who have mercy has mercy on him.
Whoever, then, is missed by these ten cannot blame anyone but himself.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
My Rizq
توكلت في رزقي على الله خالقي *** و أيقنت أن الله لا شك رازقي
و ما يك من رزقي فليس يفوتني *** و لو كان في قاع البحار العوامق
سيأتي به الله العظيم بفضله *** و لو لم يكن مني اللسان بناطقي
ففي أي شيء تذهب النفس حسرة *** و قد قسم الرحمن رزق الخلائق
When it comes to my provisions, I rely upon Allah, my Creator
And I know with certainty that He will no doubt provide for me.
Whatever’s in my due, will not pass me by,
Even if it were to be in the depths of the sea.
Allah the Exalted will bring it forth by His Grace,
Even if I were to remain silent over it.
So, what can a soul feel sorrow over,
When the Most Merciful has set the provisions of the creation?
- Imam al-Shafi’i
و ما يك من رزقي فليس يفوتني *** و لو كان في قاع البحار العوامق
سيأتي به الله العظيم بفضله *** و لو لم يكن مني اللسان بناطقي
ففي أي شيء تذهب النفس حسرة *** و قد قسم الرحمن رزق الخلائق
When it comes to my provisions, I rely upon Allah, my Creator
And I know with certainty that He will no doubt provide for me.
Whatever’s in my due, will not pass me by,
Even if it were to be in the depths of the sea.
Allah the Exalted will bring it forth by His Grace,
Even if I were to remain silent over it.
So, what can a soul feel sorrow over,
When the Most Merciful has set the provisions of the creation?
- Imam al-Shafi’i
Monday, August 9, 2010
Delegation
home » leadership/management » delegation
delegation
delegating authority skills, tasks and the process of effective delegation
Delegation is one of the most important management skills. These logical rules and techniques will help you to delegate well (and will help you to help your manager when you are being delegated a task or new responsibility - delegation is a two-way process!). Good delegation saves you time, develops you people, grooms a successor, and motivates. Poor delegation will cause you frustration, demotivates and confuses the other person, and fails to achieve the task or purpose itself. So it's a management skill that's worth improving. Here are the simple steps to follow if you want to get delegation right, with different levels of delegation freedom that you can offer.
This delegation skills guide deals with general delegation principles and process, which is applicable to individuals and teams, or to specially formed groups of people for individual projects (including 'virtual teams').
Delegation is a very helpful aid for succession planning, personal development - and seeking and encouraging promotion. It's how we grow in the job - delegation enables us to gain experience to take on higher responsibilities.
Effective delegation is actually crucial for effective succession. For the successor, and for the manager too: the main task of a manager in a growing thriving organization is ultimately to develop a successor. When this happens everyone can move on to higher things. When it fails to happen the succession and progression becomes dependent on bringing in new people from outside.
Delegation can be used to develop your people people and yourself - delegation is not just a management technique for freeing up the boss's time. Of course there is a right way to do it. These delegation tips and techniques are useful for bosses - and for anyone seeking or being given delegated responsibilities.
As a giver of delegated tasks you must ensure delegation happens properly. Just as significantly, as the recipient of delegated tasks you have the opportunity to 'manage upwards' and suggest improvements to the delegation process and understanding - especially if your boss could use the help.
Managing the way you receive and agree to do delegated tasks is one of the central skills of 'managing upwards'. Therefore while this page is essentially written from the manager's standpoint, the principles are just as useful for people being managed.
delegation and SMART, or SMARTER
A simple delegation rule is the SMART acronym, or better still, SMARTER. It's a quick checklist for proper delegation. Delegated tasks must be:
Specific
Measurable
Agreed
Realistic
Timebound
Ethical
Recorded
Traditional interpretations of the SMARTER acronym use 'Exciting' or 'Enjoyable', however, although a high level of motivation often results when a person achieves and is given recognition for a particular delegated task, which in itself can be exciting and enjoyable, in truth, let's be honest, it is not always possible to ensure that all delegated work is truly 'exciting' or 'enjoyable' for the recipient. More importantly, the 'Ethical' aspect is fundamental to everything that we do, assuming you subscribe to such philosophy.
The delegation and review form is a useful tool for the delegation process.
Also helpful tools for delegation, see the goal planning tips and template, and the activity management template.
The Tannenbaum and Schmidt Continuum model proviodes extra guidance on delegating freedom to, and developing, a team.
The Tuckman 'Forming, Storming, Norming Performing' model is particularly helpful when delegating to teams and individuals within teams.
Below are:
The steps of successful delegation - step-by-step guide.
The levels of delegation freedom - choose which is most appropriate for any given situation.
the steps of successful delegation
1 Define the task
Confirm in your own mind that the task is suitable to be delegated. Does it meet the criteria for delegating?
2 Select the individual or team
What are your reasons for delegating to this person or team? What are they going to get out of it? What are you going to get out of it?
3 Assess ability and training needs
Is the other person or team of people capable of doing the task? Do they understand what needs to be done. If not, you can't delegate.
4 Explain the reasons
You must explain why the job or responsibility is being delegated. And why to that person or people? What is its importance and relevance? Where does it fit in the overall scheme of things?
5 State required results
What must be achieved? Clarify understanding by getting feedback from the other person. How will the task be measured? Make sure they know how you intend to decide that the job is being successfully done.
6 Consider resources required
Discuss and agree what is required to get the job done. Consider people, location, premises, equipment, money, materials, other related activities and services.
7 Agree deadlines
When must the job be finished? Or if an ongoing duty, when are the review dates? When are the reports due? And if the task is complex and has parts or stages, what are the priorities?
At this point you may need to confirm understanding with the other person of the previous points, getting ideas and interpretation. As well as showing you that the job can be done, this helps to reinforce commitment.
Methods of checking and controlling must be agreed with the other person. Failing to agree this in advance will cause this monitoring to seem like interference or lack of trust.
8 Support and communicate
Think about who else needs to know what's going on, and inform them. Involve the other person in considering this so they can see beyond the issue at hand. Do not leave the person to inform your own peers of their new responsibility. Warn the person about any awkward matters of politics or protocol. Inform your own boss if the task is important, and of sufficient profile.
9 Feedback on results
It is essential to let the person know how they are doing, and whether they have achieved their aims. If not, you must review with them why things did not go to plan, and deal with the problems. You must absorb the consequences of failure, and pass on the credit for success.
levels of delegation
Delegation isn't just a matter of telling someone else what to do. There is a wide range of varying freedom that you can confer on the other person. The more experienced and reliable the other person is, then the more freedom you can give. The more critical the task then the more cautious you need to be about extending a lot of freedom, especially if your job or reputation depends on getting a good result. Take care to choose the most appropriate style for each situation. For each example the statements are simplified for clarity; in reality you would choose a less abrupt style of language, depending on the person and the relationship. At the very least, a "Please" and "Thank-you" would be included in the requests.
It's important also to ask the other person what level of authority they feel comfortable being given. Why guess? When you ask, you can find out for sure and agree this with the other person. Some people are confident; others less so. It's your responsibility to agree with them what level is most appropriate, so that the job is done effectively and with minimal unnecessary involvement from you. Involving the other person in agreeing the level of delegated freedom for any particular responsibility is an essential part of the 'contract' that you make with them.
These levels of delegation are not an exhaustive list. There are many more shades of grey between these black-and-white examples. Take time to discuss and adapt the agreements and 'contracts' that you make with people regarding delegated tasks, responsibility and freedom according to the situation.
Be creative in choosing levels of delegated responsibility, and always check with the other person that they are comfortable with your chosen level. People are generally capable of doing far more than you imagine.
The rate and extent of responsibility and freedom delegated to people is a fundamental driver of organisational growth and effectiveness, the growth and well-being of your people, and of your own development and advancement.
levels of delegation - examples
These examples of different delegation levels progressively offer, encourage and enable more delegated freedom. Level 1 is the lowest level of delegated freedom (basically none). Level 10 is the highest level typically (and rarely) found in organisations.
1 "Wait to be told." or "Do exactly what I say." or "Follow these instructions precisely."
This is instruction. There is no delegated freedom at all.
2 "Look into this and tell me the situation. I'll decide."
This is asking for investigation and analysis but no recommendation. The person delegating retains responsibility for assessing options prior to making the decision.
3 "Look into this and tell me the situation. We'll decide together."
This is has a subtle important difference to the above. This level of delegation encourages and enables the analysis and decision to be a shared process, which can be very helpful in coaching and development.
4 "Tell me the situation and what help you need from me in assessing and handling it. Then we'll decide."
This is opens the possibility of greater freedom for analysis and decision-making, subject to both people agreeing this is appropriate. Again, this level is helpful in growing and defining coaching and development relationships.
5 "Give me your analysis of the situation (reasons, options, pros and cons) and recommendation. I'll let you know whether you can go ahead."
Asks for analysis and recommendation, but you will check the thinking before deciding.
6 "Decide and let me know your decision, and wait for my go-ahead before proceeding."
The other person is trusted to assess the situation and options and is probably competent enough to decide and implement too, but for reasons of task importance, or competence, or perhaps externally changing factors, the boss prefers to keep control of timing. This level of delegation can be frustrating for people if used too often or for too long, and in any event the reason for keeping people waiting, after they've inevitably invested time and effort, needs to be explained.
7 "Decide and let me know your decision, then go ahead unless I say not to."
Now the other person begins to control the action. The subtle increase in responsibility saves time. The default is now positive rather than negative. This is a very liberating change in delegated freedom, and incidentally one that can also be used very effectively when seeking responsibility from above or elsewhere in an organisation, especially one which is strangled by indecision and bureaucracy. For example, "Here is my analysis and recommendation; I will proceed unless you tell me otherwise by (date)."
8 "Decide and take action - let me know what you did (and what happened)."
This delegation level, as with each increase up the scale, saves even more time. This level of delegation also enables a degree of follow-up by the manager as to the effectiveness of the delegated responsibility, which is necessary when people are being managed from a greater distance, or more 'hands-off'. The level also allows and invites positive feedback by the manager, which is helpful in coaching and development of course.
9 "Decide and take action. You need not check back with me."
The most freedom that you can give to another person when you still need to retain responsibility for the activity. A high level of confidence is necessary, and you would normally assess the quality of the activity after the event according to overall results, potentially weeks or months later. Feedback and review remain helpful and important, although the relationship is more likely one of mentoring, rather than coaching per se.
10 "Decide where action needs to be taken and manage the situation accordingly. It's your area of responsibility now."
The most freedom that you can give to the other person, and not generally used without formal change of a person's job role. It's the delegation of a strategic responsibility. This gives the other person responsibility for defining what changes projects, tasks, analysis and decisions are necessary for the management of a particular area of responsibility, as well as the task or project or change itself, and how the initiative or change is to be implemented and measured, etc. This amounts to delegating part of your job - not just a task or project. You'd use this utmost level of delegation (for example) when developing a successor, or as part of an intentional and agreed plan to devolve some of your job accountability in a formal sense.
contracts - 'psychological contracts', 'emotional contracts'
Variously called 'contracts' or 'psychological contracts' or 'emotional contracts', these expressions describe the process of agreeing with the other person what they should do and the expectations linked to the responsibility. It all basically means the same, whatever you call it. The point is that people cannot actually be held responsible for something to which they've not agreed. The point is also that everyone is more committed to delivering a responsibility if they've been through the process of agreeing to do it. This implies that they might have some feelings about the expectations attached, such as time-scale, resources, budget, etc., even purpose and method. You must give the other person the opportunity to discuss, question and suggest issues concerning expectations attached to a delegated task. This is essential to the contracting process.
Certain general responsibilities of course are effectively agreed implicitly within people's job roles or job descriptions or employment contracts, but commonly particular tasks, projects, etc., that you need to delegate are not, in which case specific discussion must take place to establish proper agreement or 'contract' between you and the other person.
delegation
delegating authority skills, tasks and the process of effective delegation
Delegation is one of the most important management skills. These logical rules and techniques will help you to delegate well (and will help you to help your manager when you are being delegated a task or new responsibility - delegation is a two-way process!). Good delegation saves you time, develops you people, grooms a successor, and motivates. Poor delegation will cause you frustration, demotivates and confuses the other person, and fails to achieve the task or purpose itself. So it's a management skill that's worth improving. Here are the simple steps to follow if you want to get delegation right, with different levels of delegation freedom that you can offer.
This delegation skills guide deals with general delegation principles and process, which is applicable to individuals and teams, or to specially formed groups of people for individual projects (including 'virtual teams').
Delegation is a very helpful aid for succession planning, personal development - and seeking and encouraging promotion. It's how we grow in the job - delegation enables us to gain experience to take on higher responsibilities.
Effective delegation is actually crucial for effective succession. For the successor, and for the manager too: the main task of a manager in a growing thriving organization is ultimately to develop a successor. When this happens everyone can move on to higher things. When it fails to happen the succession and progression becomes dependent on bringing in new people from outside.
Delegation can be used to develop your people people and yourself - delegation is not just a management technique for freeing up the boss's time. Of course there is a right way to do it. These delegation tips and techniques are useful for bosses - and for anyone seeking or being given delegated responsibilities.
As a giver of delegated tasks you must ensure delegation happens properly. Just as significantly, as the recipient of delegated tasks you have the opportunity to 'manage upwards' and suggest improvements to the delegation process and understanding - especially if your boss could use the help.
Managing the way you receive and agree to do delegated tasks is one of the central skills of 'managing upwards'. Therefore while this page is essentially written from the manager's standpoint, the principles are just as useful for people being managed.
delegation and SMART, or SMARTER
A simple delegation rule is the SMART acronym, or better still, SMARTER. It's a quick checklist for proper delegation. Delegated tasks must be:
Specific
Measurable
Agreed
Realistic
Timebound
Ethical
Recorded
Traditional interpretations of the SMARTER acronym use 'Exciting' or 'Enjoyable', however, although a high level of motivation often results when a person achieves and is given recognition for a particular delegated task, which in itself can be exciting and enjoyable, in truth, let's be honest, it is not always possible to ensure that all delegated work is truly 'exciting' or 'enjoyable' for the recipient. More importantly, the 'Ethical' aspect is fundamental to everything that we do, assuming you subscribe to such philosophy.
The delegation and review form is a useful tool for the delegation process.
Also helpful tools for delegation, see the goal planning tips and template, and the activity management template.
The Tannenbaum and Schmidt Continuum model proviodes extra guidance on delegating freedom to, and developing, a team.
The Tuckman 'Forming, Storming, Norming Performing' model is particularly helpful when delegating to teams and individuals within teams.
Below are:
The steps of successful delegation - step-by-step guide.
The levels of delegation freedom - choose which is most appropriate for any given situation.
the steps of successful delegation
1 Define the task
Confirm in your own mind that the task is suitable to be delegated. Does it meet the criteria for delegating?
2 Select the individual or team
What are your reasons for delegating to this person or team? What are they going to get out of it? What are you going to get out of it?
3 Assess ability and training needs
Is the other person or team of people capable of doing the task? Do they understand what needs to be done. If not, you can't delegate.
4 Explain the reasons
You must explain why the job or responsibility is being delegated. And why to that person or people? What is its importance and relevance? Where does it fit in the overall scheme of things?
5 State required results
What must be achieved? Clarify understanding by getting feedback from the other person. How will the task be measured? Make sure they know how you intend to decide that the job is being successfully done.
6 Consider resources required
Discuss and agree what is required to get the job done. Consider people, location, premises, equipment, money, materials, other related activities and services.
7 Agree deadlines
When must the job be finished? Or if an ongoing duty, when are the review dates? When are the reports due? And if the task is complex and has parts or stages, what are the priorities?
At this point you may need to confirm understanding with the other person of the previous points, getting ideas and interpretation. As well as showing you that the job can be done, this helps to reinforce commitment.
Methods of checking and controlling must be agreed with the other person. Failing to agree this in advance will cause this monitoring to seem like interference or lack of trust.
8 Support and communicate
Think about who else needs to know what's going on, and inform them. Involve the other person in considering this so they can see beyond the issue at hand. Do not leave the person to inform your own peers of their new responsibility. Warn the person about any awkward matters of politics or protocol. Inform your own boss if the task is important, and of sufficient profile.
9 Feedback on results
It is essential to let the person know how they are doing, and whether they have achieved their aims. If not, you must review with them why things did not go to plan, and deal with the problems. You must absorb the consequences of failure, and pass on the credit for success.
levels of delegation
Delegation isn't just a matter of telling someone else what to do. There is a wide range of varying freedom that you can confer on the other person. The more experienced and reliable the other person is, then the more freedom you can give. The more critical the task then the more cautious you need to be about extending a lot of freedom, especially if your job or reputation depends on getting a good result. Take care to choose the most appropriate style for each situation. For each example the statements are simplified for clarity; in reality you would choose a less abrupt style of language, depending on the person and the relationship. At the very least, a "Please" and "Thank-you" would be included in the requests.
It's important also to ask the other person what level of authority they feel comfortable being given. Why guess? When you ask, you can find out for sure and agree this with the other person. Some people are confident; others less so. It's your responsibility to agree with them what level is most appropriate, so that the job is done effectively and with minimal unnecessary involvement from you. Involving the other person in agreeing the level of delegated freedom for any particular responsibility is an essential part of the 'contract' that you make with them.
These levels of delegation are not an exhaustive list. There are many more shades of grey between these black-and-white examples. Take time to discuss and adapt the agreements and 'contracts' that you make with people regarding delegated tasks, responsibility and freedom according to the situation.
Be creative in choosing levels of delegated responsibility, and always check with the other person that they are comfortable with your chosen level. People are generally capable of doing far more than you imagine.
The rate and extent of responsibility and freedom delegated to people is a fundamental driver of organisational growth and effectiveness, the growth and well-being of your people, and of your own development and advancement.
levels of delegation - examples
These examples of different delegation levels progressively offer, encourage and enable more delegated freedom. Level 1 is the lowest level of delegated freedom (basically none). Level 10 is the highest level typically (and rarely) found in organisations.
1 "Wait to be told." or "Do exactly what I say." or "Follow these instructions precisely."
This is instruction. There is no delegated freedom at all.
2 "Look into this and tell me the situation. I'll decide."
This is asking for investigation and analysis but no recommendation. The person delegating retains responsibility for assessing options prior to making the decision.
3 "Look into this and tell me the situation. We'll decide together."
This is has a subtle important difference to the above. This level of delegation encourages and enables the analysis and decision to be a shared process, which can be very helpful in coaching and development.
4 "Tell me the situation and what help you need from me in assessing and handling it. Then we'll decide."
This is opens the possibility of greater freedom for analysis and decision-making, subject to both people agreeing this is appropriate. Again, this level is helpful in growing and defining coaching and development relationships.
5 "Give me your analysis of the situation (reasons, options, pros and cons) and recommendation. I'll let you know whether you can go ahead."
Asks for analysis and recommendation, but you will check the thinking before deciding.
6 "Decide and let me know your decision, and wait for my go-ahead before proceeding."
The other person is trusted to assess the situation and options and is probably competent enough to decide and implement too, but for reasons of task importance, or competence, or perhaps externally changing factors, the boss prefers to keep control of timing. This level of delegation can be frustrating for people if used too often or for too long, and in any event the reason for keeping people waiting, after they've inevitably invested time and effort, needs to be explained.
7 "Decide and let me know your decision, then go ahead unless I say not to."
Now the other person begins to control the action. The subtle increase in responsibility saves time. The default is now positive rather than negative. This is a very liberating change in delegated freedom, and incidentally one that can also be used very effectively when seeking responsibility from above or elsewhere in an organisation, especially one which is strangled by indecision and bureaucracy. For example, "Here is my analysis and recommendation; I will proceed unless you tell me otherwise by (date)."
8 "Decide and take action - let me know what you did (and what happened)."
This delegation level, as with each increase up the scale, saves even more time. This level of delegation also enables a degree of follow-up by the manager as to the effectiveness of the delegated responsibility, which is necessary when people are being managed from a greater distance, or more 'hands-off'. The level also allows and invites positive feedback by the manager, which is helpful in coaching and development of course.
9 "Decide and take action. You need not check back with me."
The most freedom that you can give to another person when you still need to retain responsibility for the activity. A high level of confidence is necessary, and you would normally assess the quality of the activity after the event according to overall results, potentially weeks or months later. Feedback and review remain helpful and important, although the relationship is more likely one of mentoring, rather than coaching per se.
10 "Decide where action needs to be taken and manage the situation accordingly. It's your area of responsibility now."
The most freedom that you can give to the other person, and not generally used without formal change of a person's job role. It's the delegation of a strategic responsibility. This gives the other person responsibility for defining what changes projects, tasks, analysis and decisions are necessary for the management of a particular area of responsibility, as well as the task or project or change itself, and how the initiative or change is to be implemented and measured, etc. This amounts to delegating part of your job - not just a task or project. You'd use this utmost level of delegation (for example) when developing a successor, or as part of an intentional and agreed plan to devolve some of your job accountability in a formal sense.
contracts - 'psychological contracts', 'emotional contracts'
Variously called 'contracts' or 'psychological contracts' or 'emotional contracts', these expressions describe the process of agreeing with the other person what they should do and the expectations linked to the responsibility. It all basically means the same, whatever you call it. The point is that people cannot actually be held responsible for something to which they've not agreed. The point is also that everyone is more committed to delivering a responsibility if they've been through the process of agreeing to do it. This implies that they might have some feelings about the expectations attached, such as time-scale, resources, budget, etc., even purpose and method. You must give the other person the opportunity to discuss, question and suggest issues concerning expectations attached to a delegated task. This is essential to the contracting process.
Certain general responsibilities of course are effectively agreed implicitly within people's job roles or job descriptions or employment contracts, but commonly particular tasks, projects, etc., that you need to delegate are not, in which case specific discussion must take place to establish proper agreement or 'contract' between you and the other person.
Friday, August 6, 2010
The Right to Lead
The Introduction from
The Right to Lead
by John Maxwell
WHAT GIVES A MAN OR WOMAN THE RIGHT TO LEAD?
It certainly isn't gained by election or appointment. Having position, title, rank, or degrees doesn't qualify anyone to lead other people. And the ability doesn't come automatically from age or experience, either. No, it would be accurate to say that no one can be given the right to lead. The right to lead can only be earned. And that takes time.
The Kind of Leader Others Want to Follow
The key to becoming an effective leader is not to focus on making other people follow, but on making yourself the kind of person they want to follow. You must become someone others can trust to take them where they want to go. As you prepare yourself to become a better leader, use the following guidelines to help you grow:
1. Let go of your ego.
The truly great leaders are not in leadership for personal gain. They lead in order to serve other people. Perhaps that is why Lawrence D. Bell remarked, "Show me a man who cannot bother to do little things, and I'll show you a man who cannot be trusted to do big things."
2. Become a good follower first.
Rare is the effective leader who didn't learn to become a good follower first. That is why a leadership institution such as the United States Military Academy teaches its officers to become effective followers first - and why West Point has produced more leaders than the Harvard Business School.
3. Build positive relationships.
Leadership is influence, nothing more, nothing less. That means it is by nature relational. Today's generation of leaders seem particularly aware of this because title and position mean so little to them. They know intuitively that people go along with people they get along with.
4. Work with excellence.
No one respects and follows mediocrity. Leaders who earn the right to lead give their all to what they do. They bring into play not only their skills and talents, but also great passion and hard work. They perform on the highest level of which they are capable.
5. Rely on discipline, not emotion.
Leadership is often easy during the good times. It's when everything seems to be against you - when you're out of energy, and you don't want to lead - that you earn your place as a leader. During every season of life, leaders face crucial moments when they must choose between gearing up or giving up. To make it through those times, rely on the rock of discipline, not the shifting sand of emotion.
6. Make adding value your goal.
When you look at the leaders whose names are revered long after they have finished leading, you find that they were men and women who helped people to live better lives and reach their potential. That is the highest calling of leadership - and its highest value.
7. Give your power away.
One of the ironies of leadership is that you become a better leader by sharing whatever power you have, not by saving it all for yourself. You're meant to be a river, not a reservoir. If you use your power to empower others, your leadership will extend far beyond your grasp.
In The Right to Lead, you will hear from and read about people who have done these same things and earned the right to lead others. Because of the courage they found and the character they displayed, other people recognized their admirable qualities and felt compelled to follow them.
The followers who looked to these leaders learned from them, and so can we. As you explore their worlds and words, remember that it takes time to become worthy of followers. Leadership isn't learned or earned in a moment.
~John Maxwell
The Right to Lead
by John Maxwell
WHAT GIVES A MAN OR WOMAN THE RIGHT TO LEAD?
It certainly isn't gained by election or appointment. Having position, title, rank, or degrees doesn't qualify anyone to lead other people. And the ability doesn't come automatically from age or experience, either. No, it would be accurate to say that no one can be given the right to lead. The right to lead can only be earned. And that takes time.
The Kind of Leader Others Want to Follow
The key to becoming an effective leader is not to focus on making other people follow, but on making yourself the kind of person they want to follow. You must become someone others can trust to take them where they want to go. As you prepare yourself to become a better leader, use the following guidelines to help you grow:
1. Let go of your ego.
The truly great leaders are not in leadership for personal gain. They lead in order to serve other people. Perhaps that is why Lawrence D. Bell remarked, "Show me a man who cannot bother to do little things, and I'll show you a man who cannot be trusted to do big things."
2. Become a good follower first.
Rare is the effective leader who didn't learn to become a good follower first. That is why a leadership institution such as the United States Military Academy teaches its officers to become effective followers first - and why West Point has produced more leaders than the Harvard Business School.
3. Build positive relationships.
Leadership is influence, nothing more, nothing less. That means it is by nature relational. Today's generation of leaders seem particularly aware of this because title and position mean so little to them. They know intuitively that people go along with people they get along with.
4. Work with excellence.
No one respects and follows mediocrity. Leaders who earn the right to lead give their all to what they do. They bring into play not only their skills and talents, but also great passion and hard work. They perform on the highest level of which they are capable.
5. Rely on discipline, not emotion.
Leadership is often easy during the good times. It's when everything seems to be against you - when you're out of energy, and you don't want to lead - that you earn your place as a leader. During every season of life, leaders face crucial moments when they must choose between gearing up or giving up. To make it through those times, rely on the rock of discipline, not the shifting sand of emotion.
6. Make adding value your goal.
When you look at the leaders whose names are revered long after they have finished leading, you find that they were men and women who helped people to live better lives and reach their potential. That is the highest calling of leadership - and its highest value.
7. Give your power away.
One of the ironies of leadership is that you become a better leader by sharing whatever power you have, not by saving it all for yourself. You're meant to be a river, not a reservoir. If you use your power to empower others, your leadership will extend far beyond your grasp.
In The Right to Lead, you will hear from and read about people who have done these same things and earned the right to lead others. Because of the courage they found and the character they displayed, other people recognized their admirable qualities and felt compelled to follow them.
The followers who looked to these leaders learned from them, and so can we. As you explore their worlds and words, remember that it takes time to become worthy of followers. Leadership isn't learned or earned in a moment.
~John Maxwell
Thursday, August 5, 2010
How should you deal with conflict in your workplace? By David Javitch
How should you deal with conflict in your workplace?
- Address It Directly. When conflict arises, you need to raise the issue with the parties involved. You want to emphasize the need for your employees to address it. At that time, you can explain that negative feelings and thoughts can be handled in an appropriate manner that can actually make them positive and productive.
- Listen to Both Sides. Speak with each party separately to gain their perspective on what the tension is all about. Make sure that along with any emotional information, you discuss specific facts or events that led up to or inflamed the situation.
- Bring Both (All) Parties Together. Allow them to share their version of the events or issue. Often, this step will elicit issues or facts that the other party was unaware of.
- Find Common Ground. This is very important, because often each side has some concern the other party can agree with, and this will become the foundation that enables you to bridge the gap that separates the parties involved.
- Encourage Compromise. For the sake of working together, each person must be willing to give in a little. This step may take a while because the sides are already firmly entrenched in their own viewpoint or version of what should happen to resolve the issue. When this is accomplished, everyone will feel a little better.
- Confront Negative Feelings. The feelings and thoughts that arose during the conflict stage have to be worked out. Unless this happens to everyone's satisfaction, the problem may go away for the moment, but the hard feelings or thoughts will persist, and then a repeat conflict might occur.
- Be Positive. Resolve to address future conflicts in a positive manner. The model, of course, would be similar to how this one is being resolved.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Knowledge and Faith
Knowledge and Faith
We ask Allah, most high, to grant us knowledge and faith – they are the greatest and highest of the gifts of the Most Merciful. These people are the best of the best, the very core. They are the ones qualified for the high levels and lofty statuses.
Imam Ibn all Qayyim (rahimahu Allah) said: "The best that the souls have acquired, and that the hearts have obtained, and that with which the slave has attained prestige in this world and the hereafter – is knowledge and faith. And for that, the Exalted has linked them in His saying: 'And those who have been bestowed with knowledge and faith will say: Indeed, you have stayed according to the Decree of Allah, until the Day of Resurrection.' [Ar-Room:56] And His saying: 'Allah will exalt in degree those of you who believe (have faith), and those of you who have been granted knowledge.' [Al-Mujadilah:11]"
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Do good deeds
Rasul Allah's (s.a.w) said, "Do good deeds properly, sincerely and moderately and know that your deeds will not make you enter Paradise, and that the most beloved deed to Allah's is the most regular and constant even though it were little."
Sahih Bukhari - Volume 8, Book 76, Number 471, Narrated by 'Aisha (r .a)
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Monday, July 5, 2010
Three types of pen
Three types of pen
Scholars have said that there are three types of pen in the world.
1. A pen that Allah created with His own hand and instructed it to write the decree of the universe.
2.The pen of the angels who record the events that are to occur and their magnitude,they also use it to record the deeds of human beings.
3.Then pen of human beings,which they use to reduce their speech to writing.
Scholars have said that there are three types of pen in the world.
1. A pen that Allah created with His own hand and instructed it to write the decree of the universe.
2.The pen of the angels who record the events that are to occur and their magnitude,they also use it to record the deeds of human beings.
3.Then pen of human beings,which they use to reduce their speech to writing.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
when unpleasant things happen
we shouldn't be worried when unpleasant things happen because they are taking us to Jannah... because the road to Jannah is covered with all unpleasant things and our test is to just keep doing sabr and gladly look forward to a most pleasant end where all these "pains" will appear as meaningless. So the thing to be worried about is our reaction to the unpleasant situations... is it according to Allah's pleasure or not... this is what is important.
May you have likewise
Prophet (s w s) said, 'The Dua of a person for his Muslim brother in his absence will be answered. At his head there is an angel, and every time he prays for him for something good, the angel who has been appointed to be with him, says, 'Ameen, may you have likewise.'
(Saheeh Muslim and Sunan Ibn Majah, narrated by Abu Dardaa')
Friday, July 2, 2010
Love for Allah (swt)
"Love for Allahu ta'ala is of two types: fard and non-fard. With the fard love, one obeys His orders, abstains from prohibitions and resigns oneself to His qada' and qadar. Committing harams and not performing fards are indications of slackness in this love. The non-fard love makes one perform naafila (the supererogatory) and abstain from mushtabihat. A hadith qudsi reported by Al-Bukhari on the authority of Abu Huraira (radi-Allahu ta'ala 'anh) says, 'Allahu ta'ala declared, "My human servants cannot approach Me through anything as close as they approach Me through the fard. If My human creatures do the supererogatory 'ibadat, I like them so much that they hear with Me, see with Me, hold everything with Me and walk with Me, and I give them whatever they ask of Me. If they trust in Me, I protect them." ('Abd al-Ghani an-Nabulusi quotes al-Imam al-Qastalani as writing in Al-mawahib al-ladunniyyah,)
Thursday, July 1, 2010
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