Part 6

62 * Time is scarce, but she wishes her entire neighborhood to be filled with goodness. Therefore, she started a project using the telephone to encourage memorizing the Qur'§n and help her sisters in Islam review what they memorize from it. She said to them, "The telephone is a gift from Allah and should be used in the service of His religion. We thank Allah that He helped us use the telephone in this rewarding manner; everyone among us is able to serve the cause of the religion using the telephone to call her relatives and friends without leaving her house." *Neighbors have tremendous rights on each other, and the Prophet ~ emphasized these rights in his Hadith. She implements the Prophet's order and concerns herself about the well-being and condition of her neighbors. * When people in her neighborhood gather, their meetings are advantageous because they contain good advice, memorizing some Ayat from the Qur'§n and reciting some of the Prophet's Ahadith. They also collect money and spend it on various charity projects. Some of them donate a small amount and others give large amounts, each according to her capabilities. * She visits the widows and poor people in her area and asks the needy as to what they need. She buys electric items for these families, such as refrigerators and washers, and school necessities for other families. Then she sends the bill to wealthy people to pay, so that she continues her good endeavors with other families. * They were surprised at her suggestion that they should learn sewing, but her dedication encouraged them to do so. The women in her area started sewing clothes for

63 time in a good way and earn rewards for their good intentions and beneficial actions. * She is an energetic caller to Allah in her school and among the women who live in her area. She occasionally invites women to her house and gives them soft advice that reminds them of their journey to the Last Life. Further more she occasionally invites other sisters to give a speech, so that her guests hear from other people as well. * She knows that righteousness is easily planted in the hearts of the young. With permission from their parents, she gathers the young girls in her area two days a week to memorize parts of the Quran and to teach them Islamic conduct and ideals. * She encourages the families in her area to help their children marry at an early age, and often helps them look for suitable candidates for marriage, especially religious girls. She also encourages other girls who are not very firm in their Islam to marry, to protect them from indecent behavior. She helps create more Muslim families and asks Allah to bless their marriage. Once, the mother of a girl she helped get married, offered a gift to her, but she refused saying that she works for Allah's Cause only.

64 * She heard a radio program on the topic of keeping good ties with kith and kin and the rewards that this righteous action brings from Allah. She immediately called her aunts and uncles, whom she did not visit for some time, and invited them to visit her for dinner. They came and enjoyed being with each other after they had not seen each other for a long time. * At every meeting or occasion she attends, she encourages the women to give charity because she knows that many of them would like to donate money, but are not sure of how they could do it. When someone encourages them to donate and helps distribute the money, they usually donate generously. * She collects information about the various Islamic projects and reminds the women, who attend Islamic lectures, about these projects and the virtues of charity. She opens the door wide for other women to participate in charity projects, by informing them about these projects and the good that they bring to Muslims. * They say that backbiting is the fruit of women, but she refuses this statement and says to her Muslim sisters, "Let us perfume our meetings with remembering Allah, reciting the Quran and listening to Islamic lectures." * When the crescent for a new lunar month is sited, I remind my relatives of the Du 'ii they should recite and the virtues of voluntary fasting on the 13th, 14th and 15th of that month. 2 I also call them just before these days to

2 The Prophet :ii said, "Fasting three days of every month (the white days), the thirteenth, the fourteenth and the fifteenth, equals fasting all year round." (An-Nasa'[)

65 lectures for women, often reminding them of the dates and titles of these lectures. And when some of them apologize because they cannot find anyone to take them to the lecture, I and my son drive them to and from the lecture. * She is physically handicapped, but her inability to move easily did not stop her from taping Islamic lectures and giving the tapes as gifts to her relatives and friends. * When she learns about mistakes and errors committed by her family, friends and neighbors, she gives them books that pertain to their errors, so they are able to mend their shortcomings. She gives women books about Tahiirah, for instance, since most women are not fully aware of the rulings of Tahiirah in Islam. She also gives books against magic, soothsaying and fortune telling, and books that i I explain the negators of Islam. She helps women read about ~ aspects oflslam that pertain to their distinct needs.

The Seed of the Jewel * She is a precious jewel, a young girl who is active and energetic, who strives to protect her self and her honor. She decided not to go to the market excessively, yet she has sufficient clothes to wear, according to Islamic principals and code of Hijiib. * Many girls go to the market feeling afraid for some reason, thus causing them to be bothered by sellers or people roaming the market. Such deviant people use these apparent fears and try to abuse women without protest from them. However, she informs the Muslim authorities of every evil action she experiences or witnesses by men, as well as, telling her husband about it. She does not allow anyone to abuse her or Muslim women in any way or

66 form, and pays back this abuse by helping enJom righteousness and forbid evil. May Allah forbid her face to the Fire * She vowed not to go the market except twice a year, and Allah helped her fulfill her vow. She does not feel any eagerness to go to the markets, like other women do. She also has sufficient Islamic clothes: ~fo..~;i~l_;.t:tJ, " ... and the raiment of righteousness, that is better." (7:26) * When she is invited to a wedding, she asks if the wedding contains any disallowed acts and apologizes if the answer is in the affirmative. She says that obeying Allah is better than attending wedding parties that contain music, dancing and free mingling between men and women. When the families of those getting married find that many Muslim men and women are not attending their weddings, they will be encouraged to obey Allah and follow the Sunnah of His Messenger ~ with regards to all that pertains to marriage. This way, Islamic weddings will become more widespread and true happiness and delight will fill these occasions. * She started to use makeup less and less and gave away the money she saved by not buying it, to the poor and the needy. She said, "It is better for me to save my face from the Fire by giving away charity." * She works with the Islamic authorities and .informs them of any indecent acts or statements (that she cannot forbid herself) that occur in public areas where women usually gather.

67 * She is a good speaker and hears other women's problems with a good heart. She advises them on the best ways to solve their problems, and observes patience when some of them repeat the explanation of their condition or give unnecessary details. She next conveys to them her opinion and reminds them that this life is full of trials and tests. She reminds them of the Sunnah of Allah's Messenger :i and how he endured all types of sufferings, even though he is the master and chief of all mankind. She spends her time and energy helping her sisters in Islam overcome their troubles and attain their needs. She often intervenes with her relatives and friends to solve their problems and help them in their jobs and at home. She tries her best to relieve disasters and remove distress, seeking Allah's Pleasure. * She .kept drawing close to her female relative for a full month, until her relative felt love for her and comfort in seeing and listening to her. She said to herself, "Now that a month has passed, I should tell her about the good Islamic ways and warn her against all types of errors and mistakes. I do not mind that I continue my efforts with her for five more months until she accepts the Da 'wah and becomes a better Muslim. If she accepts the Daw 'ah with a good heart, several families will be positively affected by her transformation." * Even though summer in Makkah is very hot and she was fasting, she insisted that she visits poor families living in the mountains of Makkah, to see their condjtion with her own eyes and spend on them with her own hands. She is a wealthy woman from a notable family; yet, she insists on spending in charity directly to the poor, may Allah forbid

68 1 her to the Fire. * She cuts strong paper in rectangular shapes and writes some Du 'a and Ahadith on them, -to use as bookmarks. She sells what she makes in one of the Qur'anic schools and gives the profit to that school.

In the Barren Desert When she saw the seeds of righteousness, she ran away from them and continued the heedless life she was living. Her interest is concentrated on shoes and clothes. She did not allow this Ayah to touch her heart: ~-- "'""1G:31 -~J--(..~;;.-~-:;\-:'d.,. . ·-~r!J "'(LJ_,..-,j ~ .~ ""~ .~,

[''o:0_,.:....rJI] "Did you think that We had created you in play (without any purpose), and that you would not be brought back to Us?" (23: 115) She tires herself in this life, but without benefit. She did not stop and contemplate this Hadith from Allah's Messenger ;i: ·. / ·Jw; /·1 If'/ If' . • ~_) "" ~ ,; 0~ • """J. ~/ ~\::ill ; ~ ~ ~J.s J ·· ~)) . ~ ; •; i Y- •. JJ' ,... ....

,~u . :51 ~ ·1 ~ • .J~ ~..;;. j , ~')if! ~ 4.Jt:..:!. C,S. j ,~Q ~ ~ ~ ""'"" v . \""'"" ...-;... \""""" "", o;.;. • «4.J ;1.;. 11~ ~ ~..;;.j /~l ~j ""':.~ .,.,,.. ""'vr ....... "On the Day of Judgment, the slave's feet will not move until he or she is asked about four matters: about his life, what he did during its term; about his youth, what he invested it for; about his wealth, from where he earned it and where he spent it; and about his knowledge, how he used it." * The daughter of Islam prefers weakness, inaction, comfort and laziness! If her shoes become tom, she fills the

69 She does this while the seeds of righteousness are being planted and harvested by others. The caravan of goodness is traveling away from her to Paradise, as wide as the heavens and the earth. But, she lags behind because of her laziness and preferring comfort and an easy life. She drank from the river of excuses and thus has them in abundance. * 0 you who offer excuse not to obey Allah and conduct Da 'wah, who will offer you excuses on the Da~r when Allah questions you. Look at your sister in Islam who worships Allah in the middle of the night, while people are asleep. She frequently plants and collects the abundant harvest of various seeds of righteousness that will help her on the path to the Hereafter. She hopes that she is included in this Ayah: ,., ..... -:-,~ :-;;t!t:-»' ., . . , . . ,~ ....;';,t"t ............ -:; ..... ;:,~1/l""i•"""" .. ~u~~.JI!~y.Yb.J - u.~.J ~~ ..>v 0--.J,.. ['a.: .,.\.r")'I] ~~):::.!1 "And whoever desires the Hereafter and strives for it, with the necessary effort due for it (i.e. does righteous deeds of Allah's obedience) while he is a believer (in the Oneness of Allah - Islamic Monotheism) - then such are the ones whose striving shall be appreciated, (thanked and rewarded by Alh1h)." (17:19) * This is a call to the Muslim sister who has not planted a seed of righteousness yet. Here you are spending precious time in your life without benefiting your Hereafter. Use the seeds of righteousness offered to you in this book, might that Allah accept your good deeds from you, even on account of one seed that you plant for His Cause. We ask Allah to grant you dedication and good intention, so that you become a crown on the upper most part of this