In the name of Allah most gracious most merciful.

Seizing Opportunities

Written by: Sk. Dr. Younis Salih

Translated by: Dr. Faheem Bukhatwa

02 Thul-Hejjah 1430 h

20 November 2009 ac

All thank be to Allah. Today the talk is about grapping opportunities and will consist of two parts. First, the available opportunities, and the second is about the methodology of how to take those opportunities.

First, the available opportunities:

Opportunity 1: Allah Has given you life, use it.

Allah gave us life to do the greatest duty which is worshipping Allah and achieving His satisfaction.

Opportunity 2: Be amongst the prophet's brothers (ppbu).

The messenger (ppbu) said once: {I would love to see my loved ones}. The companions said to him: aren't we your loved ones? He said: {No, you are my companions. But, my loved ones are people who shall come after me, who believe in me without seeing me. I solemnly swear by Allah each one of them gets the reward that seventy of you get}. The companions said: you mean gets the reward of seventy of them. The messenger (ppbu) said: {but seventy of you. For you find who would help you to do the good, and they do not.}

Allah says in the Koran: {You who have faith, take care of your selves. Those who are misguided will not effect you as long as you are guided}. In explaining this verse the messenger (ppbu) said: {indeed, commend one another the right and deter against evil until you start seeing the one with the little knowledge is being listened to, and whim or fantacies followed, and irrelevant matters in this life that are given more priority, and each is proud of his own opinion, then you need to take care specifically of yourself. And you will need to leave the general public. There shall be days coming after you when this who practices patience would be like one who is holding a burning rock of fire. This who does a good deed then, it will count like the reward of good deed of fifty men like you}.

Opportunity 3: Five for the value of fifty.

The link of that relation between Allah and His slave is the performed prayers which eliminate any intermediaries between the creature and the creator. The messenger (ppbu) talked about his night journey to Al-Aqsa Mosque. He said:

I was mounted on the winged steed called Al Burak "the Lightning" and, with the angel Gabriel for escort, I was carried from Makkah (Mecca), to Jerusalem. And when we reached Bait al Makdis, the Holy City, we came to the gate of the mosque and here Jibrail (Gabriel) caused me to dismount. And I tied up Al Burak to a ring, to which the prophets of old had also tied theirs. Entering the Haram Area by the gateway, I proceeded to perform two-rakaa prayer. When I finished and came out, Gabrail came up with two jugs one contained honey and the other contained milk, I chose the milk, Gabreil said: you chose the natural instinct.

From the Sacred Rock we next ascended up into heaven; and, in anticipation. Approaching a gate, Gabrail asked for the gate to be opened, it was asked, 'Who is it?' Gabriel answered, 'Gabriel.' It was asked, 'Who is accompanying you?' Gabriel replied, 'Muhammad.' It was asked, 'Has Muhammad been called?' Gabriel replied in the affirmative. Then it was said, 'He is welcomed. What an excellent visit his is!' The gate was opened, and when I went over the first heaven, I saw Adam there. Gabriel said (to me). 'This is your father, Adam.' So I greeted him and he returned the greeting to me and said, 'You are welcomed, O pious son and pious Prophet.' Then Gabriel ascended with me till we reached the second heaven. Gabriel asked for the gate to be opened. It was asked, 'Who is it?' Gabriel answered, 'Gabriel.' It was asked, 'Who is accompanying you?' Gabriel replied, 'Muhammad.' It was asked, 'Has he been called?' Gabriel answered in the affirmative. Then it was said, 'He is welcomed. What an excellent visit his is!' The gate was opened.

When I went over the second heaven, there I saw Yahya (i.e. John) and 'Isa (i.e. Jesus) who were cousins of each other. Gabriel said (to me), 'These are John and Jesus; pay them your greetings.' So I greeted them and both of them returned my greetings to me.' Then Gabriel ascended with me to the third heaven and asked for its gate to be opened. It was asked, 'Who is it?' Gabriel replied, 'Gabriel.' It was asked, 'Who is accompanying you?' Gabriel replied, 'Muhammad.' It was asked, 'Has he been called?' Gabriel replied in the affirmative. Then it was said, 'He is welcomed, what an excellent visit his is!' The gate was opened, and when I went over the third heaven there I saw Joseph. Gabriel said (to me), 'This is Joseph. I greeted him and he returned the greeting. ' Then Gabriel ascended with me to the fourth heaven and asked for its gate to be opened. It was asked, 'Who is it?' Gabriel replied, 'Gabriel' It was asked, 'Who is accompanying you?' Gabriel replied, 'Muhammad.' It was asked, 'Has he been called?' Gabriel replied in the affirmative. Then it was said, 'He is welcomed, what an excellent visit his is!'

The gate was opened, and when I went over the fourth heaven, there I saw Idris. Gabriel said (to me), 'This is Idris; and I greeted him. ' Then Gabriel ascended with me to the fifth heaven and asked for its gate to be opened. It was asked, 'Who is it?' Gabriel replied, 'Gabriel.' It was asked. 'Who is accompanying you?' Gabriel replied, 'Muhammad.' It was asked, 'Has he been called?' Gabriel replied in the affirmative. Then it was said He is welcomed, what an excellent visit his is! So when I went over the fifth heaven, there I saw Harun (i.e. Aaron), Gabriel said, (to me). This is Aaron. I greeted him.' Then Gabriel ascended with me to the sixth heaven and asked for its gate to be opened. It was asked. 'Who is it?' Gabriel replied, 'Gabriel.' It was asked, 'Who is accompanying you?' Gabriel replied, 'Muhammad.' It was asked, 'Has he been called?' Gabriel replied in the affirmative. It was said, 'He is welcomed. What an excellent visit his is!'

When I went (over the sixth heaven), there I saw Moses. Gabriel said (to me), 'This is Moses; pay him your greeting. So I greeted him and he returned the greetings to me. 'Then Gabriel ascended with me to the seventh heaven and asked for its gate to be opened. It was asked, 'Who is it?' Gabriel replied, 'Gabriel.' It was asked,' Who is accompanying you?' Gabriel replied, 'Muhammad.' It was asked, 'Has he been called?' Gabriel replied in the affirmative. Then it was said, 'He is welcomed. What an excellent visit his is!'

So when I went (over the seventh heaven), there I saw Abraham resting his back on to the . the Sacred House called Al-Bait-ul-Ma'mur. This house everyday is frequented by different seventy thousand. Gabriel said (to me), 'This is your father Abraham.'I greeted him and he returned the greetings. ' Then I was made to ascend to Sidrat-ul-Muntaha (i.e. the Lote Tree of the utmost boundary) Behold! Its fruits were like the jars of Hajr (i.e. a place near Medina) and its leaves were as big as the ears of elephants.

Then the prayers were enjoined on me: They were fifty prayers a day. When I returned, I passed by Moses who asked (me), 'What have you been ordered to do?' I replied, 'I have been ordered to offer fifty prayers a day.' Moses said, 'Your followers cannot bear fifty prayers a day, and by Allah, I have tested people before you, and I have tried my level best with the people of Israel (in vain). Go back to your Lord and ask for reduction to lessen your followers' burden.' So I went back, and Allah reduced five prayers for me. Then again I came to Moses, but he repeated the same as he had said before. Then again I went back to Allah and He reduced five more prayers. When I came back to Moses he said the same, I went back to Allah and I repeated going back between Moses and Allah until I was ordered to observe five prayers a day each of them is counts for ten and that makes the fifty. And anyone who intends to do a good deed and has not done it, he/she will get a good point for reward, and if he/she does that good deed then it will count for ten good points. And anyone who intends to do a bad deed and has not done it, then it will not count for him/her, and if he/she does that bad deed then it will count for one bad point.

When I came back to Moses, he said, 'What have you been ordered?' I replied, 'I have been ordered to observe five prayers a day.' He said, ' go back to your Lord and ask for reduction to lessen the burden.' I said, 'I have requested so much of my Lord that I feel embarrassed'.

Opportunity 4: Do not waste forgiveness.

This is another opportunity that carries forgiveness, satisfaction from Allah the most gracious. The messenger (ppbu) said: {when the first night of Ramadan approaches, the gates of heavens are opened and are not closed until the last night of Ramadan. And any faithful slave who performs a salaah (prayer) during the night (any night of Ramadhaan), then Allah will record for him one thousand five hundred hasanah (rewards) for every time he/she puts the head down prostrating or sajdah. And Allah will build a home for him in paradise made out of red ruby. So when the first day is fasted then all his/her previous sins are forgiven back to the same day of the previous Ramadan. And seventy thousand angels will pray for him or her ever day from the noon prayer until sun down. And during Ramadan in the day or night for each time he/she prostrated he is given a great tree which takes five hundred years to walk in its shade.

Opportunity 5: The blessings of deed and time.

A Muslim is really blessed in his deed and time. And the best blessing in any deed is the deed of obedience to Allah. A single word in obedience is rewarded with ten good points, and Allah will give His satisfaction, and will be a cause to protect the slave until he/she enters paradise. And Allah will be satisfied with the slave while in paradise such that Allah will never be angry with. Obedience is a blessing in the deeds too. For each prayer is rewarded with the equivalent of ten, and fasting the month of Ramadan counts for ten months, and giving for charity counts for seven hundred times, and a good Hajj has no other reward other than Paradise.

The greatest blessed times are the ten day of Thul-Hejjah for they have such a great status with Allah. Allah loves and glorifies those ten blessed days, they have plentiful of reward points, and have minimum bad points, multiple deeds of obedience and their advantages are unlimited.

Those first ten days of Thul-hejja are the best days ever in this life. The messenger (ppbu) said: {No other deed is more loved to Allah than the deeds in those days}the companions asked: is it even better than Jihad? He answered :{ even better than jihad except if a man went out with his life and his money and returned with none of that}.

The ninth day of Thu-Hejja is a blessed day is known as day of Arafah. The messenger (ppbu) said: {the best duaa (prayer) is that on the day of Arafah}. It is a day known for the big rewards given by Allah, and the great forgiveness of sins. Make a plenty of Duaa on that day, and be insistent on your requests and prayers. Affirm the oneness of Allah, make Duaa, and control your senses, and for those who are not at Hajj do fast that day, and it is the main day in Hajj. And fasting it will cause forgiveness of sins of two years, the previous and the next year.

Another blessed day is the day of sacrifice which is the tenth day. It is the best day and it is the day of slaughter. Most acts of Hajj are done on that day like stoning the devil, hair shaving, slaughter, and tawaf round Kaba, and walk between Safa and Marwa and the meeting of the Muslims at the Mosque and their greetings of one another.

No Muslim should waste the benefits of those ten days. Take this opportunity and maximize y our benefits form it. Use it by keeping yourself busy with the good deed.

How do you take this opportunity is by first making repentance to Allah. This is a duty for each Muslim to repent each time he commits a sin. For one does not know when one will die.

One of the blessed deeds in those ten days is remember and say the name of Allah. The poor Muslims in Madina came to the prophet and said: the rich are getting all the rewards because they can afford going to Hajj and giving charity. The messenger (ppbu) said: {I will tell you something if you do it you catch up those who went ahead of you, and you will be ahead of those who are like you. And no one can achieve what you will except who will do like you do.} He said: {Praise Allah 33 times, and give thanks to Allah 33 times, and Glorify Allah 33 times}.

Recite the Koran a lot during those ten days. Those who recite the Koran is the best of word, it is guidance, blessings and mercy, and a healing, and it is the best words loved to Allah, and it saves the individual in this life and the life after, and it is protection from satan and from fire and from going astray. Koran remitters are mentioned to their Lord, and prayers are said for them by Allah and by the angels, and it is better than donating for charity, and it is not limited by a place or time.

During those days perform a lot of nafilah (voluntary) prayers. Give charity which will have even higher reward than charity during Ramadan. Charity opens the doors to goodness and closes doors to evil, and a reason to be shaded into the shadow of Allah on the day when there will be no shadow except His.

Do fast during those days (the first nine day).

And remember those who want to sacrifice that they must not trim their hair or nails or skin during those ten days. Refraining from this action only applies to the individual who will be giving the sacrifice but not members of his family even if they contribute or share the sacrifice.
with Allah

Notes:

Adhan - The call to prayer.

Ansar (or Al-Ansar): The inhabitants of the city of Al-Medina that received and supported the messenger (PPBU) when he immigrated from Mekkah in the very early years of Islam.

Assalam Alaikum - The Islamic greeting, literately means: Peace be with you. Used when approaching or leaving. When used during approaching it will be like saying: I bring no harm to you . and when said during leaving somebody it will mean: No harm will come to you after I leave.

Aya (or Ayah): is a verse of the Koran. It also means a miracle or a sign from God.

Arafa (or Arafah or Arafat): is a mountain outside the city of Mecca that represents the climax of the Hajj worship. All doing Hajj must stay at this location on the same day.

Badr - The place of the first significant battle between the Muslims and the pagans of the Quraish. It is located in Saudi Arabia.

Caliph - A Muslim ruler. See: (Khalifa)

Dajjal - Antichrist or the False Massiah.

Dawah - The proliferation of Islamic teachings through word and deed.

Deen (Din) - Religion or way of life.

Duaa: a prayer in the form of talking to Allah; praising him and asking him for help.

Fatwa - Legal verdict given based on the Qur'an (Koran) and the Sunnah which are the recorded sayings and deeds of Muhammad.

Ferdose: is the highest level of the all the gardens of Eden or paradise.

Fiqh - Religious law.

Hadeeth: is something reported that the messenger have said. It includes all the speeches and ceremonies he gave. It is usually narrated or told by one of his companions. There is a list of hadeeths approximately 14000 that are reported and checked to be genuine. No more hadeeths are acceptably added to this list.

Hajar - The Black Stone set into the corner of the Ka'aba in Mecca. It is said to be a stone from Heaven.

Hajj - The pilgrimage to Mecca which takes place in the last month of the Islamic calendar. One of the five pillars of Islam.

Hasana or hasanas: is the reward for a good deed. a hasana is a point or a merit for a good deed.

Hadith - The sayings and not deeds of the prophet Muhammad recorded by his followers. Considered authoritative and perfect.

Hajj: is the worship of pilgrimage.

Hijra (or Hejrah): the event of the immigration of the messenger from Mekkah to Madina. This event marks the start of the Islamic calendar. the Islamic calendar has 12 months based on the lunar cycle, each is 29.5 days. Hijra is also used as a name for the Islamic dating system.

Ibadah - Worship. All the words and deeds with which Allah is pleased. These deeds could be prayer and charity.

Iblis - (Ibleese): On of Satan's names.

Ibn (Ebn): the son of. Used by Arabs as part of an individual's name. Example: Ali whose father is Omar or the son of Omar, would be called: Ali Ibn Omar.

Imam (or Emam)- The leader for a prayer. In the Shiaa sect, an Imam is the individual who has the religious authority.

Iman: belief or faith

Injil (Enjeel) - The Bible. The book inspired to Jesus for the Christians.

Islam - Submission, the religion of all the prophets of Allah culminating in Muhammad.

Jannah - The heavenly garden, Paradise. The place of the faithful in the afterlife.

Jihad: is striving in the line of Allah in many forms. Includes a very wide scope varying from improving oneself to fighting a defensive war in protection of Allah's word. The greatest Jihad is the fight one's self against temptations. It also means "holy war."

Jinn - Supernatural, invisible beings race of beings, below angels. They were made from fire. Like humans, there amongst them are the faithful and the non beleivers and Jinn shall be judged on Judgment Day.

Ka'aba: A cube shaped building in Mecca containing a stone laid there by Abraham and Ishmael. Some say Ka'aba was first built by Adam, and some say by Abraham. It is the holiest place for Muslims. It is where all Muslims face in their daily prayers. Ka'aba also makes a major part of the pilgrimage in a ritual known as Tawaf.

Khalifa: is the Muslim ruler. Head of the Islamic empire. Exact translation: "Successor".

Khutbah - A sermon given in a Mosque, usually on Friday.

Kufr - Denial or Disbelief. A term Muslims use for anyone who denies existence of Allah or the prophecy of Muhammed.

Koran - Also spelled Qur'an. The holy book of Islam revealed to Muhammad by Allah through the Archangel Gabriel. Koran literally means "the recital." It is the final revelation of Allah given to the prophet Muhammad. It consists of 114 surahs (or chapters.)

Madinah - (Medinah): A city in the Arabian peninsula (in the country known now as Saudi Arabia). A city where the messenger had to immigrate to. Then it was called Yathrib.

Masjid - A center for Muslim activity. It is referred to as a mosque.

Masiah - A sin, or a sinful act

Mecca or Makkah: is the holiest city for Muslims. It contains the Ka'aba mosque with the famous black cubical shape. Mecca is the birth place of the messenger (PPBU).

Mosque - A Muslim house of worship.

Muhajir - (Muhajireen) Immigrant, one who leaves his home town due to lack of religious freedom. It was first used to describe early Muslims immigrating from Mecca to Median and Ethiopia.

Muhammad - the final messenger and prophet of God whose message abrogated all previous revelations. He received the Koran through the angel Gabriel over a 23 year period. Born in Mecca and died in Medina at the age of 63. His full name: Muhammad ibn Abd-Allah

Muslim - One who holds faith to the religion of Islam.

Nafilah: a voluntary prayer other than the five obligatory prayers; performed at any time.

Nasara - Christians. Nasrani: A Christian individual. Nasraniah: Christianity.

Ommah: is the Arabic word for a nation. It usually refers to the Islamic nation unless otherwise specified.

Paradise - Another word for heaven. A garden of bliss, fruits, rivers and all forms of pleasures imaginable and imaginable. No suffering, disease or death. Service is provided by angels. All live in it an ever lasting youthful life. Promised by Almighty Allah to all faithful, true Jews, true Christians and True Muslims. Paradise is one of two places every person will go to, either Paradise or Hellfire.

PPBU (P.B.U.H.) : Peace and Prayers Be Upon him. A statement Muslims use any time they mention the name of the messenger or make a reference to him.

Qadar - Fate. Preordainment is the teaching that all things, good and bad, are preordained to occur.

Qadr - (night of Qadr): The night when the first revelation of the Koran took place. Most likely it happened during one of the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan. Or when the Koran was brought down to the nearest heaven in one go, and from there it was brought down in bits and few verses at a time over a period of 23 years. This night is considered the holiest night for Muslims with tremendous advantages.

Qibla - The direction which Muslims turn for daily prayers, towards Mecca.

Quraish - An ancient Arab tribe to which the messenger Muhammad belonged.

Ramadan - The ninth month of the Islamic calendar which is the month of the fast. The holiest month in the Muslim colander.

Salat - Prayers. Generally it covers all forms of worship, but more specifically refers to the Muslim rituals which is performed to worship Allah five times daily.

Shiaa: A sect of Islam that teaches that a religion leader (Imam) should be the political ruler and must be direct descendants of the messenger (PPBU). Therefore, disapproving of all Muslim leaders who ruled After the messenger (PPBU) except Ali, the messenger's grandson.

Shirk - Associating another god with Allah. Or associating anyone or anything with Allah. Or using anyone or anything as a medium to Allah. The opposite of Monotheism or Tawheed.

Siam or Soam- Fasting

Sunni: is a the title of those Muslims who are suppose to be following the life style of the messenger. This differentiates them from the Shiaa of Iran.

Sunna (Sunnah): Is how the Messenger PPBU lived, what he did or said. It includes the way he dressed, ate, drank, prayed, interacted with other people and fought. Basically, sunnah is the life style of the messenger PPBU. It is considered the second source of legislation in Islamic laws and it is considered to be an important reference to be used for concluding arguments and disputes. It is also a title give to the main stream Muslims who make 90% if all Muslims.

Surah - A chapter of the Koran.

Tawaf: part of the pilgrimage (Hajj) ritual. It involves walking round the Ka'aba Mosque in anti-clock wise direction a number of seven circles.

Tauhid - Tawheed - Monotheism, in Islam is the teaching that there is only one God who alone is worthy of worship. The first requirement of becoming a Muslim. It is included in the testimony of faith for new Muslims when declaring that God is one: (No God but Allah)

Taqwah - Proper fear and veneration of Allah. A divine spark that enables the person to understand God.

Taurat: The old Testaments and scriptures of Mosa.

Ummah - the word means: a Nation. Usually refers to the Islamic nation unless otherwise stated.

Umrah - (Amrah): A mini hajj. A Minor form of pilgrimage to Mecca. Unlike Hajj which can only be done on the 12th month of the Islamic year, Umrah can be performed at any time.

Wathoo (wadoo): a washing up ritual done by Muslims before each of the five daily prayers known as ablution.

Zaboor - The Psalms

Zakat - The third pillar of Islam. Alms giving, charity that is given to the poor.

Faheem Bukhatwa, my email address is : faheemfb@gmail.com