A traveler was making his way, feeling confident and safe, walking a while and then running a while, and then resting or sleeping. He came across a shady place, with abundant cool water and a blossoming garden, and decided to rest for a while. While he was relaxing, he was attacked by an enemy who seized him and tied him up. He saw destruction looming and thought that his end had come, that he would become a feast for lions and never reach his destination. While he was in this state, troubled by thoughts of despair, his merciful and caring father suddenly appeared before him. He untied him and told him to be on his way and to be wary of the enemy which lurked in ambush along the road. He assured him that as long as he remained alert and vigilant he would not be overcome, but that if he was negligent he would once again be captured. His father said that he would go ahead and lead him to his destination. If the traveler stayed alert and kept his presence of mind and remained prepared for his enemy, then his journey would be better than it had been before, and he would arrive more quickly. If, on the other hand, he forgot about his enemy and returned to his former state of inattention and forgetfulness, indifferent to danger and only mindful of the pleasant garden, then he would once again become an easy target. A traveler was making his way, feeling confident and safe, walking a while and then running a while, and then resting or sleeping. He came across a shady place, with abundant cool water and a blossoming garden, and decided to rest for a while. While he was relaxing, he was attacked by an enemy who seized him and tied him up. He saw destruction looming and thought that his end had come, that he would become a feast for lions and never reach his destination. While he was in this state, troubled by thoughts of despair, his merciful and caring father suddenly appeared before him. He untied him and told him to be on his way and to be wary of the enemy which lurked in ambush along the road. He assured him that as long as he remained alert and vigilant he would not be overcome, but that if he was negligent he would once again be captured. His father said that he would go ahead and lead him to his destination. If the traveler stayed alert and kept his presence of mind and remained prepared for his enemy, then his journey would be better than it had been before, and he would arrive more quickly. If, on the other hand, he forgot about his enemy and returned to his former state of inattention and forgetfulness, indifferent to danger and only mindful of the pleasant garden, then he would once again become an easy target.

Temptations Evil Sins & & Hell fire

The Prophet said:

& & Temptations Evil Sins

What happens when one leaves the prayer? What is the punishment for leaving the prayer?

Those who abandon the prayer have nullified there shahada. The Prophet said, –“that prayer separates the believer from the disbeliever and the one who leaves the prayer, is a disbeliever” (Muslim) The Prophet said, –“that prayer separates the believer from the disbeliever and the one who leaves the prayer, is a disbeliever” (Muslim) Those who leave the prayer will be asked, –“What has caused you to enter Hell? They will say: We were not of those who prayed.” (Quran 74:42-43) Those who leave the prayer will be asked, –“What has caused you to enter Hell? They will say: We were not of those who prayed.” (Quran 74:42-43)

“He [Pharaoh] will go before his people on the Day of Judgment, and will lead them into the Fire.” (Quran 11:98) Allah (swt) said,

Like prayer, Zakat is from amongst the basic principles of Islam and not paying your Zakat is a major sin.

Allah (saw) warns those who refuse to pay the Zakat: Allah (swt) tells us in the Quran: “They who hoard up gold and silver and spend them not in the way of Allah, Announce to them a painful torment O Muhammad (saw) On the day when it all will be heated in the fire of hell, and their foreheads and their flanks and their backs will be branded with it, (and it will be said to them). This is the treasure which you hoarded for yourself, now taste of what you used to hoard.” (Quran 9:34-35) Allah (swt) tells us in the Quran: “They who hoard up gold and silver and spend them not in the way of Allah, Announce to them a painful torment O Muhammad (saw) On the day when it all will be heated in the fire of hell, and their foreheads and their flanks and their backs will be branded with it, (and it will be said to them). This is the treasure which you hoarded for yourself, now taste of what you used to hoard.” (Quran 9:34-35)

The Apostasy Wars The companions of the Prophet understood the importance and obligation of paying Zakat, so much so that during the Caliphate of Abu Bakr as-Siddiq he waged what is known as the Apostasy Wars against those Muslims who refused to fulfill their obligations to Allah (saw). The Apostasy Wars The companions of the Prophet understood the importance and obligation of paying Zakat, so much so that during the Caliphate of Abu Bakr as-Siddiq he waged what is known as the Apostasy Wars against those Muslims who refused to fulfill their obligations to Allah (saw).

Allah (swt) said, “Who gathered riches and counted them over thinking that his riches have made him immortal. Verily he will be thrown into the crushing fire” (Quran 104:2-4).

“This night I dreamt that two men came and took me to a holy land where we proceeded on until we reached a river of blood, where a man was standing, and on its bank was another man with stones in his hands. The man in the middle of the river tried to come out, but the other threw a stone in his mouth and forced him to go back to his original place. And every time he tried to come out, the other man would throw a stone in his mouth and force him back down. I asked who is this? And was told, This is a interest eater.” (Bukhari) The Prophet said,

Allah (saw) said: “Those who live on interest will not rise up before him except like those who are driven to madness by the touch of shaitan. That is because they say: "trading is no different than interest, but Allah has made trading lawful and interest unlawful.”(Quran 2:275)

Allah decreases interest and increases charity and does not love any ungrateful sinner.

What are the Conditions of Repentance? The conditions of Repentance are four: –first we must stop committing the Sin. –second we must feel remorse; feel bad about committing the sin. –third we must be determine not to commit the sin again. –forth if you have harmed another, you must pay restitution to that person or individuals. The conditions of Repentance are four: –first we must stop committing the Sin. –second we must feel remorse; feel bad about committing the sin. –third we must be determine not to commit the sin again. –forth if you have harmed another, you must pay restitution to that person or individuals.

What does it mean to Stop committing a sin? Our repentance must be done only for the pleasure of Allah (swt) or else we will be like those that Allah describes: “So when they turned away (from the path of Allah), Allah turned their hearts away (from the right path)”(Quran 61:5). Our repentance must be done only for the pleasure of Allah (swt) or else we will be like those that Allah describes: “So when they turned away (from the path of Allah), Allah turned their hearts away (from the right path)”(Quran 61:5).

After we have given up a sin we should feel remorse. The Prophet said, “Remorse is Repentance” “Remorse is Repentance”

Don’t Go Back! The Prophet has told us that there are: "three (factors), whoever has them will find the sweetness of iman” and one of those three is that “he hates to revert to disbelief, as he hates being thrown into hellfire." (Bukhari and Muslim) The Prophet has told us that there are: "three (factors), whoever has them will find the sweetness of iman” and one of those three is that “he hates to revert to disbelief, as he hates being thrown into hellfire." (Bukhari and Muslim)

It is the Nature of the son of Adam (as) the Sin The Prophet told us, "If you did not have wrong actions, Allah would remove you and replace you with a people who did have wrong actions, so that they could seek Allah's forgiveness and He could grant them His forgiveness.” (Muslim) The Prophet told us, "If you did not have wrong actions, Allah would remove you and replace you with a people who did have wrong actions, so that they could seek Allah's forgiveness and He could grant them His forgiveness.” (Muslim)

The Prophet has told us that, "Allah loves His creation more than a woman does her child."

If we harm someone due to our committing of a sin we must pay restitution of victim's rights or seek forgiveness The Prophet said: –“He who has a right of his brother on him, be it of the nature of money or honor, let him compensate for it before he is made to compensate for it on a day when there will be neither Dinar nor Dirham to deal with. Instead, if he has no good deed in his account, sins of account.” (Bukhari) The Prophet said: –“He who has a right of his brother on him, be it of the nature of money or honor, let him compensate for it before he is made to compensate for it on a day when there will be neither Dinar nor Dirham to deal with. Instead, if he has no good deed in his account, sins of account.” (Bukhari)

“And surely this is My straight path so follow it; and do not follow any (other) paths, lest you are separated from His path.” (Quran 6:153) Allah says,

The sooner, the better…! It wasn’t until death was about to overcome him that Pharaoh repented saying: “I believe that there is no god except Him Whom the Children of Israel believe in: I am of those who submit (to Allah in Islam).” (Quran 90: 92) But it was too late!

Allah tells us in the Quran: “They have been commanded to worship only Allah, being sincere towards Him in their deen and true” (Quran 98:5) “They have been commanded to worship only Allah, being sincere towards Him in their deen and true” (Quran 98:5)

Importance of having the correct Intentions The Prophet said, “Actions are only by intention, and every man shall only have what he intended.” (Bukhari)

Permissible actions become acts of obedience if there is good intention behind them. The Prophet said the one who, Permissible actions become acts of obedience if there is good intention behind them. The Prophet said the one who, “goes to the mosque in the morning or the afternoon with no intention of going anywhere else, either to learn good or teach it, is like someone who does jihad in the way of Allah and returns with booty.” (Bukhari)

Good intentions do Not change the nature of forbidden action

Showing Off! The Prophet said “Whoever does a good deed in order to show off, Allah will expose his intentions on the Day of Resurrection (before the people).” (Bukhari) The Prophet said “Whoever does a good deed in order to show off, Allah will expose his intentions on the Day of Resurrection (before the people).” (Bukhari)

May Allah (swt) have mercy on our souls and keep us on the straight Path. Ameen