Welcome to Al-Irfad

by Yahiya Emerick

I’ve often been confronted with people who are really motivated to do something for Islam, but who were aimless. You know what I’m talking about. Sometimes we are so filled with feelings of wanting to help but we don’t really know where to begin.Doesn’t it seem like there’s just too much that needs to be done? Muslims are starving in war zones all over the world, kings and dictators rape our lands, misinformation about Islam is rampant, our children are succumbing to the non-Muslim way of life, maybe half our family members don’t practice Islam, even if they say they’re Muslim, the Masjid needs funds, Muslims need to be taught the difference between what’s Islam and what’s cultural, etc…

I’m sure many of you could add endlessly to this list. Have you ever felt like the problems are just too great to solve? Have you ever blocked it out of your mind because if you really thought about it you would become depressed? If so, then you’re not alone. I’ve met tons of believers, real sincere people, who lament that they don’t know what to do or how they can really help.

Of course, there are some people who will make one specific issue their focus and they’ll work to help in that direction. For example, someone might make the support of the local Masjid their cause. Another person may support whole-heartedly an Islamic school or the activities of a relief agency, etc… But most of us don’t have time to do justice to those types of goals like we should.

But the alternative, sitting at home and watching TV is hardly worth our time when there are real Muslims out there who need us, and a cause that we must support. So in view of all the variables that affect most of our lives in the modern world, I’ve come up with a list of ten easy things that every Muslim family should do so that they can contribute to the betterment of Muslims and the establishment of Islam in the West.

Anyone can do these ten things and I’ve selected activities that are not overly time-consuming, nor expensive. I expect that you’ll agree and will tape a cut out of these ten “to do’s” to your refrigerator door. (Before grabbing that snack you can be reminded about what is more important than filling your belly!)

#1 Sponsor an Orphan. Before anything else, there are hungry Muslim children everywhere who have needs right now. There are several reputable relief agencies who offer orphan sponsorship programs that only cost from $20-$40 a month. You and I know that’s nothing expensive on your part – so do it. Some agencies even offer automated withdrawal so you can send a letter once with a voided check and never have to fill anything out again. Doing this can make you close to the Prophet in Paradise.

#2 Subscribe to at least three Muslim magazines. This is practically the only way you can keep abreast of issues important to the Muslims in the West. It also supports the budding Muslim media. Even if you don’t intend to read the magazines, subscribe anyway. Someone around you will read or you can leave them with others. Make it at least three and try to subscribe for 2-3 years at a time.

#3 Go to the Masjid at least once a week for Salat. In the West today, nearly all of us have a Masjid within driving distance. Even if you don’t go to the local Masjid for Jum’uah because of your job, then go for at least one Maghrib a week or for Zuhr on Sunday. Whatever, just go at least once a week- WITH YOUR FAMILY. It’s the only way that you and your family will consider the Masjid to be your place.

#4 If your children go to public school, and there is no Islamic school nearby, then make sure they either get into some Sunday school program, or, if the local Masjid doesn’t run it right, then pool together with some like-minded families and run your own program at somebody’s house every Saturday or Sunday and conduct it the way you think it should be done. This is the minimum requirement for not losing your children to secular Christianity.

#5 Buy at least one book, audio or video produced by a Muslim company or author per month. Have you ever wished that there were better items for you and your family’s pleasure? Unfortunately, Muslims don’t support their own writers and artists very well. No one can make even a decent living if they want to write or produce for the Muslim market. That must change if you want to see wonderful products for you and your children. Just buy one thing per month. Either out of a catalog or from your local Muslim bookstore. For you it’s only $5-$10 bucks, but collectively, it can encourage our creative and talented brothers and sisters to do more.

#6 If you see any new Muslims at your Masjid, then partially “adopt” them into your family. The convert experience is basically one of isolation and loneliness. You’d be surprised to know that most converts are outright ignored by the people in the Masjid. Beyond a few pleasantries and handshakes, they are usually never made to feel welcome or accepted. They are often cut off from their non-Muslim friends and relatives so they are doubly vulnerable. A new convert should be invited into various peoples home for dinner a minimum of six times a month. Get together with others and make sure you all put the new convert on your guest list for any sort of gathering.

#7 Keep three extra Qur’an translations and some literature in your home at all times. You never know when you’ll find someone interested who wants to know more. Besides, your children read only and understand only English. (You wouldn’t believe how many Muslim families don’t have an English Qur’an translation in their homes! How will the child read it if they don’t understand Arabic, and they never understand Arabic, even if their parents are Arabic speaking!)

#8 Go to one convention a year. Even if you have given up on them, you have to go. It’s the only way your children will feel a part of a greater community of believers. Think about it and realize that you don’t just go to a convention for your personal enrichment. It’s about Muslim solidarity. Go to at least one every year. Couple it with your vacation plans or something. Just go.

#9 Eat only Halal or Kosher Food. Besides all the religious aspects I could mention, which are the most important, by the way, there is another advantage. You solidify your identity and introduce to your family the concept that animals should not die cruelly (like they do in all American slaughterhouses) and that Muslims eat cleaner food. If there are no Halal meat stores nearby, you’ll probably find a Kosher store. At least many of the Jews are not shy about Allah’s commandment there and have established kosher markets everywhere.

#10 Lastly, make sure you and your family have cultural-type items in your home in abundance that are associated with Islam or Islamic culture. Everyone in your home should have prayer beads, prayer rugs, kufis, Hijabs, (even if they’re worn only for prayer), gowns, posters, wall plaques,
stickers, logo-shirts, Islamic screen-savers on the computer, and on and on. You want to establish an  dentity in your home. Everything outside is totally un-Islamic. At least let the Islamic flavor be present inside.

Originally, there were only ten things on this list, but then a very important item came to mind but I just couldn’t bring myself to delete any of the preceding items. But in the interest of simplicity, I’ll keep the upper ten intact and mention this item as a separate issue because it’s something that you don’t really need to list with the other things.

This is extremely crucial: Resolve to raise your family as Muslims. Don’t be passive. Don’t sit around and watch your spouse and children drift further and further away into disbelief and kufr. Would any of you like to be on their deathbed and then realize that they only left non-Muslims behind them? Imagine entering the great sleep with that realization on your heart!

These ten things can be done, with minimal trouble and fuss, by each and every Muslim family. Through these ten points nearly every purpose of Islam is served and you can finally feel that you’re doing something in an organized fashion to help promote your healthy way of life and also to fulfill your responsibility to your Creator. Give it a try and see how easy these things really are. Then stick with it. You have no excuses for inaction anymore.

Yahiya Emerick has been a prolific author and has written many articles that have been published in local as well as national magazines, both in North America and abroad. Amirah Publishing was founded by Yahiya Emerick in 1992 in order to further his ideal of publishing American-oriented literature on Islam. Much to his chagrin, Brother Yahiya found that many traditional Muslims were quite content with the old, outdated books imported from overseas and could not conceive of the need for literature specifically designed for the North American environment. Today, with the addition of Reshma Baig, Qasim Najar and Samina Baig to the team, Amirah Publishing is enjoying rapid growth and recognition among Muslims as a source for original, as well as improved literature, for use in a strictly American environment.

1. When you say: La ilaha illAllaah – wahdahu laa shareeka lahu – lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu – wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in qadeer.  [There is none worthy of worship except Allah alone.  He has no partners.  To Him belongs the Dominion, to Him belongs all praise and He is capable over all things] a hundred times a day.

The evidence is what has been reported in the Saheeh of al Bukhaari and Muslim from Abu Hurayrah (ra) that Allaah’s Messenger (saw) mentioned the above words and then said:  “He will receive the reward of setting free ten slaves, a hundred good deeds will be written for him and a hundred bad deeds will be erased from him.  It will be a sanctuary from Shaytaan for him on that day until he reaches the evening.  No one will come with something better except one who increases beyond that”.
 

2. Recitation of Ayaat ul-Kursi when you go to bed.

Abu Hurayrah (ra) reported that the Messenger (saw) put him in charge of guarding the zakaah of Ramadan and someone would come and take handfuls from the zakaah for two nights in succession. On the third night, he (Abu Hurayrah) grabbed him and said: “I will take you to Allaah’s Messenger (saw)”.  He (the thief) said: “Leave me alone and I will teach you some words by which Allaah will benefit you”.  He then said, “When you depart to go to your bed recite aayaat ul-Kursi until you complete it.  There wil never cease to be from Allaah a guardian to protect you and Shaytaan will not approach you until you wake up”.  When he explained this to Allaahs Messenger (saw), he said, “He has told you the truth althought he is a great liar”.  (al-Bukhaari).
 

3. When you spit on your left three times and seek refuge in Allaah from the evil of what you see in a dream.

Abu Salamah bin ‘Abdur-Rahman said: “I heard Abu Qataadah ibn Rab’iyy say: “I heard Allaah’s Messenger (saw) say, “The good dream is from Allaah and the bad dream is from Shaytaan.  When one of you sees what he dislikes, let him spit on his left three times when he awakens and let him seek refuge in Allaah from its evil and then it will not harm him”".  Abu Salamah said, “I used to see in my dream that which wouldbe more burdensome to me than a mountain and when I heard this hadeeth I considered it as nothing.” In another narration he said, “I used to see in my dream which would make me concerned until I heard Abu Qataadah say: “I used to have dreams which would make me ill until I heard Allaah’s Messenger (saw) say, “The righteous dream is from Allaah.  If one of you sees what he loves then let him not inform anyone about it except one whom he loves.  And if he sees what he dislikes, let him not inform anyone about it.  Let him spit on his left three times and let him seek refuge in Allaah from Shaytaan, the accursed from the evil of what he saw and it will not harm him.”"
 

4. Upon saying, when leaving the house “Bismillah tawakaltu ‘ala Allah, la hawla wa la quwata illaa bilLah” [In the Name of Allah, I place my trust upon Alaah, There is no power nor movement except by Allaah].

Anas (ra) reports that Allaah’s Messenger (saw) said, “Whoever says (when he leaves his house): “In the Name of Allah, I place my trust upon Alaah, There is no power nor movement except by Allaah” it is said to him: “You have been sufficed, you have been protected and you have been guided”.  Then one of the devils turns to another and says, “How can you get to a man who has been sufficed, protected and guided”.  (Abu Dawud, at-Tirmidhi, hasan saheeh).

Umm Salamah (ra) said, “Allaah’s Messenger (saw) never left my house except that he raised his sight to the sky and said, “Allahumma innee a’oodhu bika an adil aw udal, aw azil aw uzal, aw azlima aw uslam, aw ajhal aw yujhal ‘aleeyy (O Allaah I seek refuge in you from leading others astray and being led astray, from causing others to slip and being made to slip, from oppressing others or being oppressed and from making others ignorant, and being kept ignorant.”" (at-Tirmidhi, Abu Dawood, an-Nasa’ee, Ibn Majah. at-Tirmidhi said “hasan saheeh”, al-Albaani agreed with him in al-Kalim ut-Tayyib, no.59).
 

5. Remembering Allaah the Sublime and Exalted when entering the house and before eating.

Jaabir (ra) said: “I heard the Prophet (saw) say: “When a man enters his house and remembers Allaah the Exalted upon entering and before eating, Shaytaan says: “There is no place for you to spend the night and there is no supper for you.”  When he enters the house and does not remember Allaah, Shaytaan says: “You have found a place to spend the night” and when he does not remember Allaah upon eating his food, Shaytaan says: “You have found a place to stay and some supper”".  (Muslim).
 

6. Saying “A’oodhu bilLahil-’adheem wa bi wajhil-kareemi wa bi sultaanihil-qadeemi min ash-Shaytaani-rajeem” [I seek refuge with Allaah the Mighty, with His Noble Face and with His Eternal Authority from Shaytaan, the Accursed] when entering the mosque.

‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (ra) said, “When the Prophet (saw) used to enter the mosque he woul say, “I seek refuge with Allaah the Mighty, with His Noble Face and with His Eternal Authority from Shaytaan, the Accursed”. He then said, “When (a man) says this, Shaytaan says: “He has been protected from me for the whole day”". (Abu Dawud, al-Albaani declared it saheeh in Saheeh Abu Dawood, no. 458, and an-Nawawee and Ibn Hajr declared it hasan).
 

7. Upon pronouncing the adhaan.

This is due to what has been reported from Abu Hurayrah (ra) that Allaah’s Messenger (saw) said, “When the call to prayer is made, Shaytaan flees on his heels and passes wind with noise during his flight so that he does not hear the adhaan.  When the adhaan is completed he comes back.  When the iqaamah is pronounced he takes to his heels again until it is completed.  Then he returns again and whispers into the heart of the person and says to him:

“Remember this and remember that”. So the person remembers those things which were not in his mind before the prayer began and as a result, he forgets how much he has prayed”. (al-Bukhaari, Muslim).

Pronouncing the adhaan can be done at any time to repel Shaytaan.  This is due to what has been reported by Muslim from Abu Saheel bin Abu Saalih who said: “My father sent me to Bani Harithah and there was a young boy with me. Someone called him by his name from a wall, so he went to have a look at the wall but did not see anything.  I mentioned that to my father and he said: “If I had known that you would encounter this I would not have sent you.  However, when you hear a voice then make the call for prayer since I heard Abu Hurayrah (ra) saying the Prophet (saw) said, “When the call for prayer is made, Shaytaan flees”.
 

8. When seeking refuge in Allaah due to the Exalted’s saying: “And when an incitement to evil comes to you from Shaytaan, seek refuge in Allaah.  He is the All Hearing, the All Knowing”.  (41:36)
 

9. When you say “A’oodhu billah minka, al’anuka bi l’anatillaah” [I seek refuge in Allah from you, I curse you with the curse of Allah] three times during the prayer.

Abu Dardaa’ (ra) reports that “Allaah’s Messenger (saw) stood for prayer and we heard him saying, “I seek refuge in Allaah from you”.  Then he said, “I curse you with the curse of Allaah”  three times.  At the same time, he was stretching out his hand, trying to grab hold of something.  When he finished his prayer we said to him: “O Messenger of Allaah! We heard you say something in the prayer which we have never heard from you before and we saw you stretching out your hand”.  He said, “That was the enemy of Allaah, Iblees. He came with a flame of fire and tried to throw it in my face.  I said, “I seek refuge in Allah from you” three times and then (I said), “I curse you with the curse of Allaah” three times and he did not hesitate.  Then I desired to capture him.  By Allaah! If it had not been for the supplication of our brother (the Prophet) Sulaymaan, he would have been tied up and the children of Madinah would have played about with him”". (Muslim).

In another hadeeth from ‘Uthmaan bin Abul-Aas (ra) who said, “I said, “O Messenger of Allaah! Shaytaan comes in between me and my prayer and my recitation, confusing me.” He said, “That is a Shaytaan called Khunzub. When you feel his presence, seek refuge in Allaah from him and spit on your left three times.”  I did as he said and Allaah took that (distraction) away from me.” (Muslim)
 

10.  When the servant finds something in his soul that concerns him and says “huwal-awwalu wal-aakhiru wadh-dhaahiru wal-baatinu wa huwa bi kulli shay’in ‘aleem” [He is the First and the Last, the Outermost and the Innermost, and He has Knowledge of every single thing.]

Abu Zameel (ra) said, “I said to Ibn ‘Abbas (ra), “What is this thing which I find in my soul?” – meaning doubt.  He said, “When you find something like that in your soul, then say, “He (Allaah) is the First and the Last, the Outermost and the Innermost and He has knowledge of every single thing.”" (Abu Dawood, al-Albaani declared it hasan in al-Kalim ut-Tayyib no.135).
 

11. When a calamity befalls you and you say “QadrAllahu wa ma sha’ Allaahu fa’ala” [Allah has decreed (this) and He does whatever He wills].

Abu Hurayrah (ra) reports that Allaah’s Messenger (saw) said, “The strong believer is more loved by Allaah than the weak believer, but in both there is good.  Be zealous for what will benefit you.  Seek help from Allaah the Mighty and Majestic and do not become incapacitated.  If something afflicts you, do not say: “If only I had done such and such” but say, “Allaah has decreed (this) and He does whatever He wills”.  Indeed saying “if..” opens up the doorway of Shaytaan’s handiwork.” (Muslim)
 

12. When you say “Bismillah, Allahumma janibna ash-Shaytaan wa janibish-Shaytaana maa razaqtna” {in the Name of Allaah, O Allaah! Make us distant from Shaytaan and make Shaytaan distant from what you bestow upon us”.

Ibn ‘Abbaas (ra) reports that the Prophet (saw) said, “If one of you says, when approaching his wife (for intercourse): “In the Name of Allaah. O Allaah!  Make us distant from Shaytaan and make Shaytaan distant from what you bestow upon us” and offspring is decreed for you, Shaytaan will never be able to harm it (i.e. the offspring)”. (al-Bukhaari, Muslim).
 

13. When you say in a state of anger “A’oodhu bilLaahi min ash-Shaytaan ir-Rajeem” [I seek refuge with Allaah from Shaytaan the Accursed].

Sulaymaan bin Sard (ra) said, “I was sitting with Allaah’s Messenger (saw) and two men were abusing each other.  The face of one of them had become red (out of anger) and his veins had become inflated.  Allaah’s Messenger (saw) said, “I know a word which, if he was to say, his anger would leave him.  If he said: “I seek refuge in Allaah from Shaytaan the Accursed”, his anger would leave him”" (al-Bukhaari, Muslim).
 

14. Upon saying “bismillah” [in the Name of Allah]

Abul-Maleeh (ra) reports that a man said, “I was behind the Messenger (saw) and his riding animal stumbled.  I said, “May Shaytaan perish”, and he said, “Do not say, “May Shaytaan perish”.  If you say that he will grow in size until he becomes the size of a house and says, “By my strength”.  Instead say, “In the Name of Allaah”.  When you say that, he reduces in size until he is like a fly.” (Abu Dawood, saheeh isnad).
 

15.  When you supplicate for blessings for something which wins your admiration.

Allaah’s Messenger (saw) said, “When one of you sees something in his self or in his possessions which amazes him (or wins his admiration) he should invoke blessings upon it as the (evil) eye is indeed true and real”.
 

16. When you recite the M’uwadhdhataan [Surah al-Falaq and Surah an-Naaz].

Abu Sa’eed (ra) said, “Allaah’s Messenger (saw) used to seek refuge from the jinn and from the effects of the (evil) of men until the m’uwwadhdhataan were revealed.  When they were revealed he clung to them and abandoned what was besides them.”  (at-Tirmidhi, hasan; an-Nasa’ee and Ibn Maajah – saheeh).
 

17. When you make the prostration of recitation.

Allaah’s Messenger (saw) said, “When you read a verse of prostration then prostrate, Shaytaan departs crying and says: “Woe be to him.  He was ordered with prostration and he prostrated – so for him is Paradise. I was ordered with prostration and I refused – so for me is the Fire.”  (Muslim, Ahmad and Ibn Maajah).
 

18. When you recite Surah al-Baqarah.

Abu Hurayrah (ra) reports that Allaah’s Messenger (saw) said, “Do not turn your houses into graves. Indeed Shaytaan flees from a house in which Surah al-Baqarah is recited.” (Muslim).
 

19.  When reciting the Qur’aan.

The Messenger of Allaah (saw) went out one night and passed by Abu Bakr (ra) who was praying with a lowered voice.  Then he passed by ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab (ra) who was praying with a raised voice  When they came together with the Prophet (saw), he said, “O Abu Bakr! I passed by you while you were praying with a lowered voice.”  Abu Bakr (ra) said, “I made the one with whom I was conversing with (i.e Allaah) hear it, O Messenger of Allaah.”   He then said to ‘Umar (ra), “I passed by you while you were praying with a raised voice”.  ‘Umar (ra) said, “O Messenger of Allaah! I was incitng those who were asleep and driving away the Shaytaan.” The Prophet (saw) then said, “O Abu Bakr! Raise your voice somewhat” and he said to ‘Umar, “lower your voice somewhat”. (Abu Dawood, al Haakim, who declared it saheeh as did adh-Dhahabi).
 

20. When you move the finger during the prayer.

It is established that Allaah’s Messenger (saw) used to move his finger, supplicating with it (Abu Dawood, an-Nasaa’i, Ibn al_Jaarud in al-Muntaqa and others) and the Messenger of Allaah said, “It is more powerful against the Shaytaan than iron” – meaning the forefinger.  (Ahmad and others).

Imaam Ahmad was asked, “Should a man point with his finger in the prayer?” He replied, “Yes, vigorously”. (Ibn Haani mentioned it in Masaa’il of Imaam
Ahmad).

source: themodernreligion.com

Good treatment of relatives is very pleasing to Allah and earns much merit. It has also been enjoined by the Holy Quran in several places and its merits described, for instance (AI Nisa’: 36) Show kindness unto parents and unto near kindred.”

(AI Nisa’: 1) “Be careful of your duty towards Allah in Whom you claim your rights and towards the womb that bore you.”

Abu Hurairah relates that our Holy Prophet, may he be eternally blessed, said that “He who believes in Allah and in the Day of Judgment, should treat his relations well.” (Bukhari and Muslim) And according to Anas, the Holy Prophet said that, “He, who desires his earnings to increase and his life to be long, should treat his relations well.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

Good treatment means courteous behaviour, sharing in happiness and grief and helping them in a lawful manner whenever required.

However some points regarding this good treatment must always to kept in mind.

(1) Some people treat their relatives so well that they do not hesitate to sin for them in wrong belief that this is what has been enjoined on them. To share in sinning with a relative, to recommend them undeservedly, or to get them an employment for which they are not suited etc. are all unlawful in Islam. 

Good treatment of relatives does not encompass committing sins for them. Hence when a relative seeks helps or support for any unlawful end, a polite excuse is called for.

(2) Good treatment of relatives is meritorious and rewarding only when it is motivated by the desire to earn Divine pleasure and not by any urge to show off or to keep up with others or to follow customs. Our present day society is shackled by customs and traditions; good treatment of relatives is usually motivated by the desire to save face or out of one-up manship; hence many things not really desired or liked are done due to the force of customs. Consequently, one must not allow himself to be motivated by such thoughts and if any good is done to any relative or kinsman it must be done only to earn Allah’s pleasure, and with happiness and grace; nothing should be done to complete a formality or fulfil a custom.

(3) Since good treatment of kinsmen should be for the sake of Divine pleasure, one must never expect or wait for a good deed in return. Even when the return is not good, one should not abandon good treatment of his relations. Actually this is the acid test that shows whether the good treatment is for Allah or merely for show. Our eternally Prophet has said, “He does not treat his relations well who merely returns a good deed; he who treats them well even when they deny his rights really treats them well”. (Sahih Bukhari)

Umme Kulthum bin Aqabah has related that the eternally blessed Messenger of Allah said, “The best sadaqah is the one given to inimical relatives.” (Hakim and Tibrani: AI Targheeb wa al Targheeb, p.120. volume 4)

Real and true good treatment is the one given even when one’s relations treat him badly; this earns much merit. Abu Hurairah relates “Someone said to the Messenger of Allah ‘I have some relatives whom I treat well, but they deny me my rights; I treat them well, but they treat me badly. I am forbearing, but they quarrel with me’. The Messenger of Allah said ‘If this is really so then you are feeding them hot ashes. Allah shall always give you a helper.’” (Sahih Muslim).

It means that they were acquiring hell fire by their deeds, and they would never harm him; rather he would be helped against them by Allah.

Starting work early in the morning has been highly lauded in the hadith corpus. Our eternally blessed Prophet has said, “Oh Allah! Grant abundance to my ummah in its works of early morning.”

The blessed Prophet has also prohibited sleeping just after fajr prayers prior to sunrise and has called it a source of poverty (Ibn Maja). Once, upon seeing Fatimah – may Allah be pleased with her – sleeping just after fajr, he woke her up and told her never to sleep at that time (Targhib, p. 191, vol. 3, ref. Behaqi)

Intention is an alchemic prescription that can turn base dirt into noble gold. The hadith says “All actions depends upon intentions.”

It is sometimes interpreted to mean that good intentions justify bad deeds too and turn sins meritorious. This is entirely wrong. Sin is always a sin no matter how noble the intention may be. For instance if someone breaks into a house to steal with the intention of giving away as alms whatever he would steal would be a thief deserving the prescribed punishment. His good intentions would not earn him any merit nor would his sin be pardoned.

What this hadith means is as follows:

1. A good deed earns merit only if done with right intention. For instance prayer would earn merit only when one prays only for Divine pleasure; if one prays to impress others, then, instead of earning merit, it would earn punishment.

2. The second interpretation which is germane to the present discussion is that all lawful deeds actually earn neither merit nor punishment, but if these are done with good intent, they become acts of worship and earn merit. For instance eating is lawful; but if one eats with the intention that food shall give him energy and that energy he shall spend in the service of Allah, the act of eating would earn merit. Similarly if one eats with the intent that his physical body too has its rights and dues which include nourishment through eating or if one eats with the intent of getting pleasure and taste and of thanking Allah for these, the eating become an act of merit.

There is no lawful deed of life, which if done with good intent, does not become act of merit.

A few instances shall elucidate the point further:

(a) Honest earning, whether by trade or service or industry or agriculture, if done with the intent of rightly fulfilling the duties enjoined by Allah toward oneself and one’s family, would become an act of merit. Then if one further intends to spend whatever he may save after fulfilling the needs of himself and his family in helping the poor and in other similar good deeds, he would earn further merit.

(b) When a person engaged in learning intends to serve the humanity through his knowledge he would go on earning merit as long as he remains engaged in acquisition of knowledge. For instance a student of religion may decide to propagate the faith, a medical student to alleviate human suffering due to disease, an engineering student to serve his people through his specialised knowledge etc. all these acts would become acts of merit because of the intention which motivates the doer.

(c) A man, knowing that sustenance and subsistence is the responsibility of Allah which He shall fulfil without fail, engages is a particular profession or vocation with a view to serve humanity, his profession would earn him merit.

For instance if someone enters the medical profession consciously choosing it form among other professions in order to cure the sick, he would earn merit even if he charges for his services. Such a man would not hesitate to provide free treatment for the poor and the destitute.

A cloth merchant who enters this profession to provide clothes to people because clothing onself is a religious duty, would also earn merit.

Similarly a government servant, motivated by a desire to serve the common man and fulfil his needs, would earn merit. Thus every profession, becomes meritorious, provided the intention is right.

(c) If one dresses in finery not to show off his status or wealth, but to afford pleasure to others, it is
an act of merit.

(d) If one treats his children with love because it is a sunnah of our etemally blessed Prophet, it earns him merit.

(c) If one does the household chores because this too is a sunnah as our etemally blessed Prophet helped in the housework, it merits rewards in the Afterlife.

(f) Loving conversation with wife and children is a sunnah and the eternally blessed Prophet has so ordained, hence such an act is also meritorious if done to follow the sunnah.

(g) Hospitality to guests, if shown in pursuance of sunnah is an act of merit.

(h) Planting a sapling or plant in the house so that it may one day be of use of some man or animal and please the onlooker would be a good deed.

(i) Writing a beautiful and legible hand to make it easy for the reader to read is an act of merit.

(j) If a woman dresses herself in beautiful raiment and wears ornaments and adorns herself to please her husband and if a man remains clean and neat to please his wife, both are good deeds.

(k) If permissible recreation is indulged in to the extent needed to prepare oneself for duties it is a meritorious act.

(1) If a watch is kept to know prayer timings and to realize the value of time which is intended to be spent in good deeds, it is an act that earns merit.

There are a few common examples from everyday life which can earn much merit for the doer. Imam Ghazali has rightly observed in his Ihya’-al’ulum that there is no lawful action in human life which, if done with the right intent, cannot be changed into an act of merit. Even if husband and wife give mutual pleasure to each other, each with the intent of giving the other his or her due and making them pure this too would give them merit.