The Muslim woman path to happiness

 

Praise be to Allah, and peace be upon His Messenger

Dear Muslim sister

The most important thing that characterizes Muslims; whether a man or a woman, whose hearts are attached to Allah, and who apply His Shari'a (set of laws) in their lives, is the psychological ease and inward tranquility. You cannot see them but smiling even in the darkest circumstances and harshest situations. They realize that what hit them would never miss them, and what missed them would never hit them. They will not bemoan a missing good, or frown over a coming adversity, it is probable that the missing good hides an adversity, and the coming adversity hides a great good: “But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allah Knows, while you know not.” [Al-Baqarah 2:216]

Transliteration: waAAasa an takrahoo shayan wahuwa khayrun lakum waAAasa an tuhibboo shayan wahuwa sharrun lakum waAllahu yaAAlamu waantum la taAAlamoona

They are not conceited by the adornments of worldly life, though they leave their share of it: “But seek, through that which Allah has given you, the home of the Hereafter; and [yet], do not forget your share of the world.” [Al-Qasas 28:77]
 

Transliteration: Waibtaghi feema ataka Allahu alddara alakhirata wala tansa naseebaka mina alddunya
They know that life is short, it is full of sorrow and grievances, and it is not worthy being angry or grieved for. It is worth nothing compared to the Hereafter, the final destination, home of eternal blessings which no eye has seen, no ear has heard and no heart has imagined, only for faithful believers.

Muslim sister

If life were free from grievances or misfortunes, the mere remembrance of death turns its sweet sour, its more less, its long short and its clear turbid; that when guaranteeing a long life. Then what about seeing the morning and fearing never to reach the night, what about grieving over lost friends and family, what about whenever faced by a calamity or an illness, you always conceive death ghost hovering over, getting sicker and more fearful as if fear would push death away!

How weak man is, how pitiful and despicable he is! One day he is a healthy youth full of vitality and activity, soon he turns old; hunchbacked, wrinkled faced, tired and exhausted by the least effort.

One day man is wealthy, living in palaces, riding luxury vehicles, and enjoying comfortable bed. Days turn their back on him, he live in what he previously disdained, ride mean vehicles and eat disgusting food.

The beauty of life, its wholeness and complete happiness lie in the obedience of Allah which cost nothing but integrity and taking His path. Hence, man will spend life enjoying comfortable conscience, peace of mind, calmness, good nature. He forgives the abuser and the unjust, has mercy on the young and respects the old, help people and tolerate them. He never neglects Allah's commands; on the contrary, he is keen to fulfill every deed that would take him closer to Allah. When death comes he considers it the salvation from life worries and a port to eternity.

Muslim sister

In these pages are some guidelines, which if you follow and apply in your life, and regret ignoring them, will turn your misery into comfort and happiness. Life will taste differently and you will look to it in another perspective. I have been urged to write this set of instruction by the love of good, seeking Allah's consent, and wishing to reform. Come on dear sister, may Allah guide you through.

Dear Muslim sister

1. Beware of gossiping and talking too much. Allah almighty has said: “No good is there in much of their private conversation, except for those who enjoin charity or that which is right or conciliation between people.” [An-Nisa' 4:114]
 

Transliteration: La khayra fee katheerin min najwahum illa man amara bisadaqatin aw maAAroofin aw islahin bayna alnnasi

Know that there are angles calculating and counting your words: “When the two receivers receive, seated on the right and on the left. (17) Man does not utter any word except that with him is an observer prepared [to record].” [Qaf 50:17]
 

Transliteration: Ith yatalaqqa almutalaqqiyani AAani alyameeni waAAani alshshimali qaAAeedun (17) Ma yalfithu min qawlin illa ladayhi raqeebun AAateedun

Let your words be concise and to the point.

2. Recite the holy Qur'an. Make sure to have a daily regular portion of it. Try to know by heart as much as you can to attain a great reward on the Day of Judgment. Ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with both of them, narrated: "in the day of Judgment the Qur'an reciter is told to: read, elevate and recite as you are used to in your life, your position is where the last verse is recited" [Narrated by Tirmizi and Al-Albani said it is Hasan and Authentic]
 

3. It is not nice to tell about everything you hear, it may lead to falling in lies. Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet, peace be upon him said: "it is enough lying of a Muslim to tell about everything he hears". [Narrated by Muslim]
 

4. Beware of boasting of what you do not have for the purpose of rising in people's eyes. Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, narrated that a woman said: "O Messenger of Allah, I would say that my husband gave me what he did not give me?", "The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, replied: "the one who boasts about things he was not given is like that who wears two garments of falsehood", [agreed upon]
 

5. Remembering Allah has a great effect in the life of Muslims: spiritual, psychological, physical and social. Make sure my Muslim sister to remember Allah at all times in whatever state you are in. Allah has praised His faithful slaves describing them as: “Who remember Allah while standing or sitting or [lying] on their sides” [Al-'Imran 3:191]
 

Transliteration: Allatheena yathkuroona Allaha qiyaman waquAAoodan waAAala junoobihim

Abdullah ibn Bisr, may Allah be pleased with him, said that a man said: "O Messenger of Allah, the laws of Islam have been too many for me, tell me something to seize to", he replied: "let your tongue always wet of the remembrance of Allah", [Narrated by Tirmizi and Al-Albani said it is Authentic]
 

6. If you want to talk beware of ostentation, pompousness, and gutturalization. These are repugnant to the Messenger of Allah as he says: "the most repugnant and remote people from me in the Day of Judgment are the gossiping, drawlers and the mutafaihiqûn (arrogant)", [Narrated by Tirmidhi and Al-Albani said it is authentic]
 

7. Take Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, as your role model. He used to prolong silence and thinking, and not indulge himself in laughter. Sammak said: "I asked Jabir ibn Samra:" Did you sit with the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him? ", He said:" Yes, his silence was a long, his laughter was little, his companions would mention poetry and things from their own affairs and laugh, but perhaps he would smile", [Al-Musnad, 5 / 86]

Let your speech - if you talk - benevolent or else keep silent; the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: "Who has believed in Allah and the Last Day let him speak of good or remain silent", [narrated by Bukhari]
 

8. Beware of interrupting, disregarding or underestimating people's talks, let good listening your etiquette, and repel evil with that which is better.

9. Beware! Beware of mocking people's way of speaking; one who falters in his speech or he who stutters or lisps. Allah almighty said: "O you who have believed, let not a people ridicule [another] people; perhaps they may be better than them; nor let women ridicule [other] women; perhaps they may be better than them." [Al-Hujurat 49:11]
 

Transliteration: Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo la yaskhar qawmun min qawmin AAasa an yakoonoo khayran minhum wala nisaon min nisain AAasa an yakunna khayran minhunna
The Prophet said: "A Muslim is the brother of a Muslim. He neither oppresses him nor humiliates him nor looks down upon him. It is a serious evil for a Muslim that he should look down upon his Muslim brother". [Narrated by Muslim]
 

10. if you hear the recitation of the holy Qur'an, interrupt whatever talk you are making, it is being polite with the words of Allah and obeying His command: “So when the Qur'an is recited, then listen to it and pay attention that you may receive mercy” [Al-A'raf 7:204]
 

Transliteration: Waitha quria alquranu faistamiAAoo lahu waansitoo laAAallakum turhamoona

11. Exert an effort in weighing words before saying them; make sure your words are good and righteous, far from evil. A word has a great responsibility, how many words took their speaker to heaven, and how many words plunged them into the bottom of hell.

Abu Huraira said that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "A slave of Allah may utter a word which pleases Allah without giving it much importance, and because of that Allah will raise him to degrees (of reward), and a slave of Allah may utter a word (carelessly) which displeases Allah without thinking of its gravity and because of that he will be thrown into the Hell-Fire." [Narrated by Bukhari]
 

Mu'az, may Allah be pleased with him, said that when the Prophet, peace be upon him, was asked: "are we held responsible for what we say?" He said, peace be upon him: "what prostrate people in hell fire on their faces, or on their noses, but the harvest of their tongues". [Narrated by Tirmizi and Al-Albani said it is Authentic]
 

12. Use your tongue - the great blessing of God - for the promotion of virtue and prevention of vice, and advocacy to good doing, Allah said: “No good is there in much of their private conversation, except for those who enjoin charity or that which is right or conciliation between people.” [An-Nisa' 4:114]
 

Transliteration: La khayra fee katheerin min najwahum illa man amara bisadaqatin aw maAAroofin aw islahin bayna alnnasi

Learning

13. Learning is a praiseworthy matter and a noble path. Al-Shefa' bint Abdullah said: "the Prophet, peace be upon him, entered while we were at Hafsah's (the Prophet's wife), he said: wouldn't you teach Hafsah the Roquia (Islamic incantation) like you taught her how to write?" [Narrated by Abu Dawud and Al-Albani said it is Authentic]
 

14. Learning does not mean the getting certificates or achieve positions, it is not making careers; nevertheless it is knowing matters of religion, realizing its provisions, and proficiency in reciting the Qur'an, so that a woman can, knowingly, worship Allah. The purpose of learning is the awareness of the methods of sound education, as exemplified by the life of the Prophet, peace be upon him, and the lives of his companions, and the predecessors of this nation, so that women live in happiness and bliss.

15. Avoid mocking or making fun of the non-educated fellow women, treating with contempt those who are less in education than you. Let your modesty and humility rise when you escalate in the ladder of learning, otherwise, your knowledge is your doom. Ka'b ibn Maalik, may Allah be pleased with him, said that he heard the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, say: "he who seeks knowledge to keep up with scientists or to argue with the foolish or to attract people's attention to him, Allah will throw him into hell fire". [Al-Albani said it is Hasan]
 

Hearing

16. Make your ears chaste against music, songs and foul language.

Clothes

17. You are Muslim. Your clothes must fall under the Islamic specifications; loose so that it does not show or describe your body.

18. The so called "half sleeve or quarter sleeve" is but a pretext to shrink the veil. Your body parts may expose when getting in or out of a car.

Meetings

19. Beware, may Allah preserve you, from attending infamous meetings or mingle with their people. And hurry to the councils of virtue and goodness.

20. If you sit by yourself or in a council with some Muslim sisters let the remembrance of Allah be on your tongues always, so that you will gain your reward.

The Prophet, peace be upon him said: "whoever sits in a place and does not mention Allah, and whoever lies down and does not mention Allah, they will gain sorrow and regret on the Day of Judgment", [Al-Albani said it is Authentic]
 

It means regret and remorse and consequences on the Day of Judgment.

If you wish to leave a council, do not forget to say: "subhanak Allahum, wa behamdek, ashhadu anna la ilaha ila ant astghferuka wa atoobu elaik (Glory and praise be to Allah I bear witness that there is no god but You I seek your forgiveness and I repent to you)", [Narrated by Tirmizi and Al-Albani said it is Authentic]
 

21. Purify your council from backbiting and gossiping, in compliance with the order of Allah and for fear of His punishment. Backbiting and gossiping are despicable qualities and hated morals. Allah said: “And spy not, neither backbite one another. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would hate it (so hate backbiting)” [Al-Hujurat 49:12]
 

Transliteration: wala yaghtab baAAdukum baAAdan ayuhibbu ahadukum an yakula lahma akheehi maytan fakarihtumoohu

22. If one of the attendees uttered improper words or behaved erroneously, it is your duty to advise her after leaving the Council with nice words and in a good manner.


The library


23. Make sure to acquire useful selected books to establish a home library, benefiting all members of the family.

24. Beware my Muslim sister, of wasting your time in reading worthless things. Stay away from reading harmful things such as degraded magazines and novels; whose publishers try to spread vice and corruption, beware of bringing them home, and be a war against them.

25. It is useful that the library be variable to meet all needs, and to address various issues. Muslims need to learn the rulings of religion and matters of their faith, they need to be acquainted with the Islamic world and to identify the problems of Muslims, they must be aware of the means helping them in raising themselves and their families, they should look into the history of the Ancestors to learn.

26. If you like a useful book you should introduce it to your Muslim sister and induce them to read it, and if you know about a harmful book you should alert your Muslim sisters, and manifest its danger or errors.

27. Reading is important and necessary, so try, may Allah help you, to take the opportunities and to exploit time to get the education and knowledge.


Going out for Market Places


28. Do not be keen in going out from your home as long as you have someone running your errands. If you had to go out, let it be in short times and as tight as your need.

29. If you go out to the market, beware of putting on perfume, adornment and of wearing beautiful clothes that may draw attention to you. Abu Moosa, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "If a woman puts on perfume and passes by some people to find her fragrance, she is an adulteress" [Al-Albani said it is authentic]
 

Let your clothes loose to cover all parts of the body.

30. If you're in the market or on your way to it, do not look around so many times, looks have serious pitfalls, and when you find what you need, beware of talking too much with the vendors, it decrease modesty and opens way to sedition.

31. If you see evil or foul doing in the market or on your way to it, you must recant it, even only by your heart; by hating loathing it, Allah the Almighty said: “The believing men and believing women are allies of one another. They enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong” [At-Taubah 9:71]
 

Transliteration: Waalmuminoona waalmuminatu baAAduhum awliyao baAAdin yamuroona bialmaAAroofi wayanhawna AAani almunkari

32. Some women take a walk out to the market every day, as if it were a daily picnic, God forbid you are one of these women; they are most vulnerable to temptation, and most apt to waste time.

33. Have mercy on yourself and your husband, it is not necessary to have a branch of the market in the house, do not buy anything unless you really need it.

Invocation

34. You are vulnerable, weak and needy to Allah, raise your hands begging Him always, asking for forgiveness, well-being and success in the world and the Hereafter, wish well of Him. The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: "The Lord, blessed and exalted, is shy and generous, He is shy of His slave when he raises his hands to send them back empty" [Narrated by Abu Dawud and Al-Albani said it is authentic]
 

Beware of being haste in waiting for a response; the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: "Allah will respond unless you haste for an answer, one says: I called but was not responded to". [Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim]
 

Start your invocation of Allah by thanking and praising Him, and by saying: peace be upon the Messenger of Allah, and end your invocation by the same thing. And come to Allah honestly. The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: "invoke Allah and you are sure that He will respond; and know that Allah does not respond to prayer from the heart of the heedless inattentive"[Narrated by al-Tirmizi and classed as Hasan by Al-Albani]
 

Beware of asking for a sin or the severing of the relatives, and if you do not see an apparent response to your prayer, do not be sad, Allah maybe saving it for you in the Hereafter, or maybe it is expiation for your sins, or preventing misfortune that would befall you.

35. Try to draw closer to Allah by doing obligatory and supererogatory prayers and other acts of worship, you will attain a great reward, and rise to high grades, and you will be among the Auliyâ (People of Allah) who do not fear, nor shall they grieve, Allah will respond to their prayers and invocation, and eases their worries, and fills their hearts with tranquility. The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: "Allah said: whoever have enmity to someone devoted to me, I will declare war against him, and My slave will not draw nearer to Me with anything more beloved to me than what I have obliged him to do. And My slave continues to draw near to Me with supererogatory works until I love him, if I loved: I am his hearing with which he hears, his seeing with which he sees, the hand with which he strikes, and the leg with which he walks, if he asks me I will answer, if he seeks My protection I will protect him" [Narrated by Bukhari].
 

36. If you see a Muslim woman committed to her religion, responsive to the commands of Allah, and who is proud of her faith, love her and make her your best friend, amity in the sole sake of Allah has a great status. The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: "Allah Almighty said: those who love each other for my sake have pulpits of light, they are envied by prophets and martyrs" [Narrated by al-Tirmizi and Al-Albani said it is authentic]
 

37. Time, if not well used, is lost. You need to study your lessons - if you are a student - and you have to perform the duties of your family or your husband, do some beneficial and useful reading, and visiting kin and relatives.

38. Visiting kin and relatives brings blessings in life and livelihoods, and then make sure to visit your relatives, make it a beneficial visit: teach them to love the good and hate the evil. Ask about their health and their condition. The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: "whoever would like to have his livelihood extended, and that he leaves a long lived impact he must visit his kin" [Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim]
 

39. Do not be deceived by the large number of violators of the orders of Allah and the Diligently neglect the application of His laws, there will come a day when the wrongdoer will bite his hands in regret, and the faithful will rejoice his salvation with great joy, as he sees the horrors of Resurrection. He would not help but saying while holding his book of deeds by his right: " So as for he who is given his record in his right hand, he will say, "Here, read my record! (19) Indeed, I was certain that I would be meeting my account."" [Al-Haqqah 69:19-20]
 

Transliteration: Faamma man ootiya kitabahu biyameenihi fayaqoolu haomu iqraoo kitabiyah (19) Innee thanantu annee mulaqin hisabiyah

40. Plant compassion and kindness in your heart, have mercy on the young and old, even on animals. The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: "whoever does not show mercy will not have mercy" [Bukhari].
 

Abu Huraira, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: "While a man was walking he felt thirsty, and went down a well and drank water from it. On coming out, he saw a dog panting and eating mud because of excessive thirst. The man said, 'This dog is suffering from the same problem as that of mine. So he went down the well, filled his shoe with water, caught hold of it with his teeth and climbed up and watered the dog. Allah thanked him for his good deed and forgave him." The people asked, "O Allah's Apostle! Is there a reward for us in serving animals?" He replied, "Yes, there is a reward for serving any animate." [Narrated by Bukhari]
 

'Abdullah ibn 'Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both, narrated that the Messenger of Allah said: "A woman was tortured and was put in Hell because of a cat which she had kept locked till it died of hunger, she neither fed nor watered it as she locked it up, nor did she set it free to eat the insects of the earth" [Narrated by Bukhari]
 

41. Beware of the advocates to evil and the pretenders of progress who get use of every possible means to corrupt the Muslim women, bring her out from conservation and chastity to nudity and degradation. Be cautious and warn your sisters from falling into the claws or being fooled by their statements.

42. Be proud of your religion and superior by your belief. “and you will be superior if you are [true] believers.” [Al-'Imran 3:139]
 

Transliteration: waantumu alaAAlawna in kuntum mumineena

And beware of being shy or shameful of showing the rituals of your religion or under estimate performing them.

43. Nourish your culture by listening to Islamic lectures and useful seminars, even through cassettes, and be sure to read the useful Islamic magazines.

44. Help in spreading goodness and virtue, and beautiful manners, as well as beneficial knowledge in your home, your school and among relatives and friends.

45. Make sure you that you help your mother in the house work; this is honoring her, and paying some of your debt towards her. This also holds training for you so that you will be - God willing - a success in your future life.

Beware of leaning towards comfort or laziness on the pretense of studying and doing homework.

46. Smile always. It does not cost you anything, at the same time; it will bring you the love of others as well as the reward of Allah. The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: "and smiling at your brother is charity" [Al-Albani said it is authentic]
 

47. Beware of the anger and emotional reactions. Abu Huraira, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that a man said to the Prophet, peace be upon him: "Advise me." The Prophet answered: "Do not get angry", and he repeated so many times: "Do not get angry", [Narrated by Bukhari]
 

And remember that anger is from Satan.

And the angry will not find anyone to put up with them, so be patient and tolerate people's mistakes and errors.

48. Beware of imitating the disbelievers in their customs and traditions, methods of eating and drinking, clothing, etc., The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: "Whoever imitates some people is one of them" [Declared authentic by Al-Albani]
 

49. Many women are careless about delaying prayers after its fixed time, when they are busy with some business or the trivial chatting, especially during banquets. God forbid that you are one of this type. Read the words of Allah: {So woe to those who pray (4) [But] who are heedless of their prayer.” [Al-Ma'un 10:4-5], i.e., delay it until it is too late.
 

Transliteration: Fawaylun lilmusalleena (4) Allatheena hum AAan salatihim sahoona

50. Fasting has a high status and a great reward. It also has a major role in purifying the soul and in conscience refinement, it is advisable that you accustom yourself to perform a voluntary fast as six days of Shawwaal, and three days of each month.

And may the blessings and peace of Allah be upon Muhammad and his household and companions.


Abdulaziz Al-Muqbil
Translated by Wathakker.info website