All for a Palm Tree in Jannah

In life there will always be those people who are opportunists, or those who take advantage of any opportunity to get what they want no matter what the cost is. Opportunists are usually thought of in a negative, "out for yourself" perspective. In reality this depends on your intention, your acts, how you go about getting what you want, and at what costs. In Islam, being an opportunist is not seen as cutthroat, but rather it is encouraged to compete as opportunists, and even considered a praiseworthy act. This is because an opportunist racing towards the pleasure of Allah and towards getting good deeds in this life will have success waiting for them on Judgment Day and in the Afterlife. This goal is more important to reach "no matter what the cost in this world". Here is the beautiful story of one opportunist who did not let go of his chance to get guaranteed pleasure in the Hereafter. Abu Darda (may Allah have mercy on him) was one of those people who found an opportunity to win what is greater than the heavens and the earth. There was a companion of the Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wasallam) who cultivated his garden next to the property of an orphan. The orphan claimed that a specific palm tree was on his property and therefore belonged to him. The companion rejected the claim, so the orphan boy went to the Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu alayhi wasallam) to complain. The Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu alayhi wasallam) measured the two gardens and found that the palm tree did indeed belong to the companion. The orphan erupted crying. Seeing this, the Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wasallam) asked the companion, "Would you give him the palm tree and for you is a palm tree in Jannah?" However, the companion in his disbelief that an orphan would complain to the Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wasallam), missed the opportunity and went away angry. But someone else saw the opportunity Abu Darda (radi Allahu anhu). He went to the Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wasallam) and asked, "Ya RasulAllah, if I buy the tree from him and give it to the orphan shall I have that tree in Jannah?" The Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu alayhi wasallam) replied, "Yes." Abu Darda (radi Allahu anhu) had chased after the companion and asked, "Would you sell that tree to me for my entire garden?" (Abu Darda had a garden of 600 trees) The companion answered, "Take it, for there is no good in a tree that was complained to the Prophet about." Immediately, Abu Darda (radi Allahu anhu) went home and found his wife and children playing in the garden. "Leave the garden!" shouted Abu Darda. "Weve sold it to Allah! Weve sold it to Allah!" Some of his children had dates in their hand and he snatched the dates from them and threw them back into the garden. "Weve sold it to Allah!" When Abu Darda was later martyred in the battle of Uhud, RasulAllah (sallAllahu alayhi wasallam) stood over his slain body and remarked, "How many shady palm trees does Abu Darda now have in Paradise?" What did Abu Darda lose? Dates? Bushes? Dirt? What did he gain? He gained a Jannah whose expanse is the heavens and the earth. SubhanAllah, how beautiful is this story, of one Sahabi who gave up everything he had, just to have one palm tree in Jannah. Allahu Akbar.

Hadhrat Umar (Radhiya (Radhiyallaho llaho anho) and the Fear of Allah.
Umar (Radhiyallaho anho) would often hold a straw in his hand and say:

"I wish I were a straw like this."

Sometimes he would say: "I wish my mother had not given birth to me."

Once he was busy with some important work when a person came to him and, complaining about some petty grievance, requested for its redress. Hadhrat Umar (Radhiyallaho anho) laid a lash across his-shoulders, saying:

"When I sit for that purpose, you do not come to me but when I am engaged in other important work you come with your grievances to interrupt me."

The person walked away. But Hadhrat 'Umar (Radhiyal-laho anho) sent for him and, handing his whip over to him, said: "You now lash me to even the matter." He said: "I forgive you for the sake of Allah." Hadhrat Umar (Radhiyallaho anho) went home, prayed a Salaat of two rakaats in repentance and upbraided himself saying:

"0, Umar! You were low but Allah elevated you. You were wandering astray but Allah guided you. You were base but Allah ennobled you and gave you sovereignty over His people. Now one of them comes and asks you for redress of the wrong done to him, and you beat him? What answer have you to give before Allah?"

He kept on chiding himself thus for a very long time.

Once Hadhrat Umar (Radhiyallaho anho) was going on his usual round towards Harrah (a suburb of Madinah) with his slave Aslam, when he saw a distant fire in the desert. He said:

"There seems to be a camp. Perhaps, a caravan could not enter the town due to nightfall. Let's go and look after them and arrange for their protection during the night."

When he reached there, he found a woman and some children. The children were crying. The woman had a pan of water over the fire. Hadhrat 'Umar (Radhiyallaho anho) greeted her with salaam and, with her permission, went near her.

Umar: "Why are these children crying?" The Woman: "Because they are hungry." Umar: "What is in the pan?" The Woman: "Only water to soothe the children, so that they may go to sleep in the belief that food is being prepared for them. Ah! Allah will judge between Umar (Rad-hiyallaho anho) and me, on the Day of Judgement, for neglecting me in my distress." 'Umar (weeping): "May Allah have mercy on you! How can Umar know of your distress?" The Woman: "When he is our Amir, he must keep himself informed about us." Hadhrat 'Umar (Radhiyallaho anho) returned to the town and straightway went to Baitul-Mal to fill a sack with flour, dates, fat and clothes, and also drew some money. When the sack was ready, he said to Aslam: "Now put this sack on my back, Aslam." Aslam: "No please, Amir-ul-Mo'mineen! I shall carry this sack." 'Umar refused to listen to Aslam, even on his persistent requests to allow him to carry the sack, and remarked: "What! Will you carry my load on the Day of Judgement? I must carry this bag, for it is I who would be questioned (in the Hereafter) about this woman." Aslam most reluctantly placed the bag on Umar's (Radhiyallaho anho) back, who carried it with a swift pace right to the woman's tent. Aslam followed at his heels. He put a little flour and some dates and fat in the pan and began to stir. He blew (with his mouth) into the fire to kindle it. Aslam says: "I saw the smoke passing through his thick beard." After some time, the pottage was ready. He himself served it to the family. When they had eaten to their fill, he made over to them the little that was left for their next meal. The children were very happy after their meal and began to play about merrily. The woman felt very grateful and remarked: "May Allah reward you for your kindness! In fact, you deserve to take the place of Halifax instead of 'Umar." 'Umar consoled her and said: "When you come to see the Khalifah, you will find me there." He sat for a while at a place close by and kept on watching the children. He then returned to Madinah. On his way back, he said to Aslam: "Do you know why I sat there, Aslam? I had seen them weeping in distress; I liked to see them laughing and happy for some time." It is said that Hadhrat Umar (Radhiyallaho anho) while leading Fajr Salaat used to recite 'Kaht, *Taha' and other such Soorahs in his Salaat, and would weep so much that his crying could be heard way back to several rows. Once he was reciting Surah 'Yusuf in Fajr. When he came to the verse:

"I only plead for my distress and anguish unto Allah," (XII: 86) He wept so much that he could not recite any further. In Tahajjud, he would sometimes fall to the ground and would get indisposed with excessive weeping. Such was the fear of Allah in Hadhrat Umar (Radhiyallaho anho) whose name struck terror in the hearts of the mightiest monarchs of his time. Even today, the people are filled with awe when they read about him. Is there any person in power today who is prepared to show such kindness to the people in his charge?

ISLAM RELEGATES WOMEN TO THE MIDDLE AGES AND TREATS WOMEN AS A PRISONERS AND DISCRIMINATES AGAINST THEM FOR BEING WOMEN. MEDIA ALL OVER THE WORLD IS FEEDING US WITH THIS PROPAGANDA REPEATEDLY SO MUCH SO THAT EVEN SOME GULLIBLE MUSLIM MEN AND WOMEN HAVE STARTED BELIEVING IT. HOWEVER, HOW CLOSE ARE THESE VIEWS TO THE TRUTH? WHAT REALLY DOES ISLAM SAY ABOUT WOMEN? LET US PONDER OVER THE FOLLOWING POINTS AND DECIDE FOR OURSELVES HOW FAR FROM TRUTH THE ABOVE VIEWS ARE. 1. 2. THAT MEN AND WOMEN WERE CREATED AS EQUAL. (AL QURAAN) ISLAM PUT A STOP TO THE ABHORRENT PRACTICE OF A GIRL CHILD BEING BURIED ALIVE A COMMON PRACTICE AMONGST THE ARABS IN PRE-ISLAMIC ERA. WOMEN ARE YOUR COVERING AND YOU ARE THEIR COVERING (AL QURAAN)

3.

4. A MUSLIM WOMAN GETS A SHARE IN THE PROPERTY OF FATHER, BROTHER, HUSBAND, SON, AND THIS DOES NOT ABSOLVE THEM OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITY OF LOOKING AFTER HER.

5. A WOMAN, IN ISLAM, IS ENTITLED TO ALL EXPENSES LIKE FOOD,CLOTHING, SHELTER FROM HER MUSLIM HUSBAND EVEN IF SHE IS RICH ENOUGH TO TAKE CARE OF ALL HER NEEDS. SO IT IS NOT UNCOMMON TO FIND A RICH MUSLIM WOMAN LIVING WITH A NOT SO RICH HUSBAND AND THE HUSBAND HAS NO RIGHT OVER HIS WIFE'S PROPERTY DURING HER LIFE.IF A WOMAN HELPS HER HUSBAND IT IS CHARITY ON HER BEHALF.

6. A WOMAN IS ENTITLED TO APPLY FOR A KHULA (DIVORCE) IF SHE DOES NOT LIKE HER HUSBAND AND IF HE DOES NOT GIVE HER KHULA, THE QAZI (JUDGE) CAN NULLIFY THE MARRIAGE ON HIS OWN. 7. A MAN WHO DIES SAVING THE HONOUR OF HIS WIFE, SISTER, MOTHER OR DAUGHTER IS A MARTYR IN ISLAM. 8. PARDAH IS A PROTECTIVE WALL FOR A MUSLIM WOMAN AND NOT A GAG. INCIDENTALLY YOU WILL FIND THE CASES OF RAPE AND OTHER FORMS OF VOILENCE TO BE LEAST PREVALENT IN AN ISLAMIC SOCIETY.

9. THE BEST OF THE MUSLIMS ACCORDING TO PROPHET MUHAMMAD (PBUH) IS THE ONE WHO IS BEST TO HIS WIFE. 10. A MUSLIM WHO BRINGS UP THREE GIRL CHILDREN TILL HE GIVES THEM IN MARRIAGE IS ENTITLED TO HEAVEN-PROPHET MUHAMMAD (PBUH). 11. ANY ONE WHO ACCUSES A WOMAN OF ADULTERY IN ISLAM IS TO GET FOUR WITNESSES WHO WOULD WITNESS THAT THEY VIVIDLY SAW THE WOMAN IN THE ACT OTHERWISE THE ACCUSER WILL GET EIGHTY LASHES AND HE CAN NEVER BE A WITNESS IN HIS LIFE. 12. A RAPIST IN ISLAM IS TO BE PUT TO DEATH.

13. AFTER THE DEATH OF HER HUSBAND A MUSLIM WOMAN WILL BE LOOKED AFTER BY HER FATHER, BROTHER AND UNCLES IN THAT ORDER AND IT IS OBLIGATORY ON THEM. 14. A MUSLIM WOMAN IS ENTITLED TO SEPARATE QUARTERS IF SHE DOES NOT WANT TO LIVE WITH HER HUSBAND'S FAMILY. 15. THERE IS NO DOWRY IN ISLAM. IN FACT THE MAN HAS TO GIVE MEHR TO WOMAN FOR MARRYING HER. 16. ON MARRIAGE THE MAN IS TO GIVE THE MARRIAGE FEAST AND NOT THE WOMAN OR HER FAMILY. 17. MAINTENANCE OF THE CHILDREN IS THE FATHER'S RESPOSIBILITY AND IF THE WIFE WANTS TO EMPLOY A WET NURSE, HE HAS TO ARRANGE FOR HER. 18. ISLAM ALLOWS A MUSLIM TO HAVE FOUR WIVES BUT WITH THE CONDITION THAT HE BE JUST WITH THEM OTHERWISE IT IS BETTER TO HAVE ONLY ONE.THIS ALLOWANCE MUST BE SEEN IN THE BACKGROUND OF THE SITUATION PREVALENT IN PRE-ISLAMIC ARABIA AND OTHER PLACES OF HAVING DOZENS OF WIVES AND CONCUBINES SIMULTANEOUSLY. THEREFORE, IN FACT, THIS ALLOWANCE WAS A RESTRICTION WITH A STRICT CONDITION OF JUSTICE. 19. A MUSLIM WOMAN CANNOT BE MARRIED FORCIBLY WITHOUT HER CONSENT AND THE MARRIAGE SO PERFORMED IS INVALID. 20. ISLAM STRICTLY PROHIBITS FREE MIXING OF SEXES SO THERE IS NO QUESTION OF ILLICIT SEXUAL RELATIONS, RAPES, UNWED MOTHERS AND ILLEGITIMATE CHILDREN IN AN ISLAMIC SOCIETY. 21. WIDOW REMARRIAGE IS ENCOURAGED IN ISLAM .IN FACT, BARRING ONE ALL OTHER WIVE OF PROPHET MUHAMMED (PBUH) WERE EITHER WIDOWS OR DIVORCEES. 22. WHEN ASKED WHO A SON SHOULD TAKE CARE OF PROPHET MUHAMMED (PBUH) SAID-THE MOTHER AND HE REPEATED IT THRICE THEN THE FATHER.

Salaat wipes out the sins.

"Hadhrat Abu Zar (Radhiyallaho anho) narrates that once the Holy Prophet (Sallallaho alaihe wasallam) came out of his house. It was autumn and the leaves were falling off the trees. He caught hold of a branch of a tree and its leaves began to drop in large number. At this he remarked, '0, Abu Zar! (Radhiyallaho anho) when a Muslim offers his salaat to please Allah, his sins are shed away from him just as these leaves are falling off this tree." In autumn, usually, the leaves of the trees fall in large numbers, so much so that on some trees not a single leaf is left behind. The same is the effect of salaat performed with sincerity and devotion. All the sins of the person offering salaat are wiped off. It should, however, be remembered that according to the verdict of the theologians, it is only the saghaa'ir (minor sins) that are forgiven by the performance of salaat and other services. The kabaa'ir (major sins) are not pardoned without repentance. We should, therefore, in addition to saying salaat, be particular about doing taubah (repentance) and istighfaar (seeking forgiveness). ALLAH may, however, pardon, by His bountiful Grace, even the kabaa'ir of any person because of his salaat.