Today’s podcast is a reading of question # 26869 from Islam QA.  The original post can be found by clicking here.

(Photo: Big Richard C)

We all know how easy it is to criticize others.  This is something that we do without even thinking twice about it.  It doesn’t necessarily mean that what we are saying is negative or meant to be rude in any way.  However, rarely is it the case that we criticize to truly and sincerely help people.

Insha’Allah, in the future we will get into backbiting and gossiping.  For today, just try to control your tongue and what you say to other about others.

Make this a day that you either say good - or say nothing.

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Recently, a new service called Ilm Finder was opened.  The website (www.ilmfinder.com) provides an easy, efficient way to search for all of your Islamic Information needs.  Go use their search engines to discover something knew about your deen.  Perhaps you want to know about good manners??  Maybe you want to find out more about the rights of your neighbors?  You may even want to learn about respecting your parents?

Whatever it is you want to learn — this is the site to go to.  I recommend looking at the “What and Why?” page so you know what their site is all about.

Ilm Finder

(Photo: a.prakharevich)

Neighbors, as we all well know, are super important in Islam. The rights that they have upon us are so great. In fact, check out these two Hadiths of the Prophet (saw) about neighbors:

Ibn `Umar and `Aishah (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “Jibril kept recommending treating neighbours with kindness until I thought he would assign a share of inheritance”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Abu Dharr (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (PBUH) commanded me thus, “O Abu Dharr! Whenever you prepare a broth, put plenty of water in it, and and give some of it to your neighbours”.
[Muslim].

Both Hadiths are clearly important and greatly emphasize the rights of neighbors upon you and me.  Today, we want to focus on the second one.  Today, we want to look out for our neighbors’ stomachs.  Today, we want to give our neighbors some food.

Now, don’t think you have to cook up a storm.  Allah (swt) knows that many of us, especially the men, will insult our neighbors if we present them with our horrible cooking.  Sometimes it is best to give them something simple and ready to eat (cookies?).  Of course, though, if you can provide them with a fresh, delicious, and fulfilling home-cooked meal — then all the power to you and may Allah (swt) reward you extra.

The Prophet (saw) reminded us over and over of the rights of our neighbors upon us.  I think we can all agree that the least we can do is give them a warm smile, a friendly hello, and a small bite to eat.  May Allah (swt) reward all of you who act upon this advice — and reward the one who suggested this post to me.

This isn’t just another thought out Deed of the Day. Actually, it was a friend of mine that shared with me some of his favorite audio/video clips. Here is one of the videos he sent me:

If you know your favorite Surah and want to share the audio, go here to download Qur’an from many of the recitors around the world.  Or, if you want to see an awesome video that you might want to share, we posted one on this site a while back — check it out — this just might be the video you share.

So go out there and find someone to share your love of the Qur’an with.

(Photo: Joshua Davis)

This post is for all the college students out there.  The semester is coming to an end and, soon enough, we will be relaxing from the stresses of school.  No more studying, no more papers.  No more assignments, no more reading.

But, before we go walking off this semester we should take a moment to appreciate others.  This is a concept that should be applied across the board into all areas of our lives.  In this case, let’s focus on our Professors.

If you’ve ever taught a class, even if at Sunday School, then you know how difficult it can be to teach a group of people.  On the University level, though, it is a physically and mentally draining process to prepare for class.  These Professors have dedicated themselves to us.

The least we can do is to thank our Professors.

Buy them a thank-you card, drop by their office, send them an e-mail, or leave a voicemail.  The point is to find some way to thank your Professor for all of their hardwork.

Oh, and even if you did bad in the course, that is not an excuse to not thank your Professor.

(Photo: Matthew Fang)

Note: This post is slightly longer. The 5 tips and a few Hadith are in the second half.

Let’s start with a clear order from Allah (swt):

قُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِمْ وَيَحْفَظُوا فُرُوجَهُمْ ذَلِكَ أَزْكَى لَهُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا يَصْنَعُونَ

Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts, etc.). That is purer for them. Verily, Allâh is All-Aware of what they do. (An-Nur 24:30)

This is something that we should be doing on a daily basis anyway. But, we are human and we forget. Sometimes, we don’t forget but our emaan is just too weak and we forget this aspect of our deen. So that is why I wanted to post this reminder. Keep reading for tips on how to do it and two Hadith to motive you

Lowering your gaze is something you can do virtually everywhere you go. So I wanted to provide a few quick tips.

5 Ways to Help You Lower Your Gaze

1. Change the wallpaper of your cell phone. Write a reminder to lower your gaze on a sheet of paper, take a picture of it, and set it as the wallpaper for your phone. Now every time you open your phone you will be reminded
2. Focus on your shoes. You can follow your feet with each step you take, count the steps, or even try to remember the different places those particular pair of shoes have taken you before.
3. Make du’a. This is one of the best times to make du’a. Why? Because you are intentionally, and consciously, lowering your gaze and struggling for the sake of Allah (swt). Allah (swt) is Aware both when you are looking up and when you are looking down.
4. Read Qur’an. One way to look down is by simply looking down into the palm of your hands where you can be holding a pocket Mushaf. You’d be surprised how much reading you can get done like this.
5. Plan your day. Our lives can get pretty messy and chaotic. A lot of us have to cut out time to make our plan and organize our time. So instead of looking around. you can lower your gaze and use this time to plan what you will do once you get to work, home, or school.

These are just some quick ideas that will, Insha’Allah, help you. But there are many different strategies that each of us use. I encourage you to leave comments and share the things you do to help you lower your gaze.

As usual, we want to make sure that we always, always, always turn back to the Qur’an and the authentic Sunnah of the Prophet (saw). Did the Prophet Muhammed (saw) talk about lowering our gaze? Of course! We know this deen is complete in every sense. So, let’s take a look at two Hadith of our belove Prophet (saw).

The First Hadith:

Jareer ibn ‘Abdullaah said: “I asked the Messenger of Allaah (saw) about an accidental glance at a woman. He commanded me to turn my gaze away.” (Reported by al-Tirmidhi, who said: This is a saheeh hasan hadeeth. See al-Sunan, 2700)

The Second Hadith:

The Messenger of Allaah (saw) said: “O Ali, do not follow a glance with another, for you will be forgiven for the first, but not for the second.” (Reported by al-Tirmidhi, 2701; see Saheeh al-Jaami’, 7953)

In closing, I wanted to make a few recommendations.  I pulled these two Hadith out this answer to a question on Islam QA.  So I would recommend you take a look at the whole text.  The second recommendation is to pick one particular lecture given on the issue of modesty:  Sheikh Safi Khan’s Selected Khutba Series: Volume 8.

I know, you’re at a site called Deed of the Day.  So yes, this is something you should do today.  At the same time, however, this is also one of those deeds that Allah (swt) and His Prophet (saw) have told us we need to do everyday.

(Photo: canonsnapper)

Everyone loves gum (unlike tea). If you’re in class, at work, or any place with people - it’s likely that someone wouldn’t mind chewing on some gum.

You can buy a pack of gum anywhere for less than $1 including tax. Actually, go to a vending machine and you can pick up a pack for 75 cents.

So try it out. Pick up a pack. Don’t just open it and start chewing it. Open the pack in front of the person you want to offer a piece to. It will make them feel good that you are sharing a freshly opened pack. Make sure you take a piece too so it’s not awkward for the other person.

People, including you, appreciate random generosity.

If you can afford to hand out something more expensive, go right ahead; don’t let me stop you. All I’m suggesting though is one piece of gum from a 75 cent pack.

(Photo: monettenriquez)

I’m not a tea kinda guy, but parents are different. Perhaps its something that comes with age. Maybe the love of tea springs to life in the heart of parents after they have their first child. I don’t know what it is.

There is one thing that is a definite — Parents Love Tea.

And you know, it only takes a few moments to make a cup of tea. I won’t guide you through it because I’m sure you all know how to prepare a decent cup of tea. However, if you want to go all out and make a cup of tea that will blow your parents’ mind then I have just the thing for you.

The 3 links below will take you to sites that will transform you into a tea making master (you know that’s what you always wanted to be):

1. Random Guy Sharing His Method
2. Scientific Formula from BBC News + Quiz
3. A Quiz and Only a Quiz

There you have it. Now go make a cup of tea for your mother/father. Please your parents. Why? Not simply because they are you parents or because you love them. Those are well and dandy, but take a look at this Hadith:

Abu Hurairah (R.A.) relates that the Prophet (S.A.W.) said “May he be disgraced, may he be disgraced, may he be disgraced.” “Who?” The Sahaaba enquired. “The person whose parents, or any one of them, attain old-age during his life-time and he does not earn Paradise (by being kind-hearted and dutiful to them)!”

I think that Hadith of the Prophet (saw) says it all…

(Photo: buntalshoot)

اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ

Read! In the Name of your Lord, Who has created (all that exists), (Al-’Alaq 96:1)

The first command ever revealed was to “Read!”  1400+ years laters, here on this blog, and at this moment - you are being asked to continue the same command upon which the rest of this religion of Islam came.

And from the very first Ayah in this Surah Al-Alaq, we are reminded of our Lord and that it is He who created everything.

We previously had a post about praising and thanking Allah (swt).  All those blessings that you were, and are, grateful for all came from Allah (swt).  He created you, everything you know, and other things that are beyond the capacity of the human mind.

The Qur’an is the word of Allah (swt) and we ought to pay more attention to it.

Start today. Pick Up The Qur’an and Read