The Friday Khutbah · AlMaghrib Journals

5 Ways to Bring Barakah to Your Life

AlMaghrib — Fri, 06 Nov 2026 20:37:12 GMT

“All praise is to Allah. We praise him, we seek His help, His forgiveness, and we seek refuge in Allah from the evil within ourselves and of our actions. Whomsoever Allah guides, none can misguide him. Whomsoever Allah leads astray, none can guide him.

I testify there is no God but Allah alone, without any partners, and that Muhammad, ﷺ, is His servant and messenger.”

Welcome to the Friday Khutbah! A series on the AlMaghrib Journal based on sermons delivered by our esteemed instructors! We hope you find it beneficial!

Allah ﷻ says in His noble Book:

تَبارَكَ الَّذي بِيَدِهِ المُلْكُ وَهُوَ عَلى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَديرٌ
“Blessed is He in whose hand is the dominion, and He is over all things competent.”
(Surah Al-Mulk 67:1)

Allah is ‘tabarak’; He is blessed, and He is the source of all barakah. This raises fundamental questions that every believer should contemplate:

What exactly are blessings? How can we live a blessed life? How do we increase the blessings in our lives?

The answer lies in understanding that Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala is the one who makes places blessed, people blessed, and actions blessed. Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala is the ultimate source of barakah, which scholars define as “ziyadatul khair” – increased good or multiplication of benefit.

To understand barakah practically, imagine accomplishing double your normal productivity in the same timeframe. When you reflect on a day and realize you achieved far more than usual in your typical 12, 14, or 24 hours, you recognize that this day had barakah in it. This is the essence of divine blessing – the miraculous multiplication of benefit and good.

Blessed Places: Sanctuaries of Divine Grace

Allah has designated certain places as inherently blessed. The greatest of these is Makkah, about which Allah says:

إِنَّ أَوَّلَ بَيْتٍ وُضِعَ لِلنّاسِ لَلَّذي بِبَكَّةَ مُبارَكًا وَهُدىً لِّلْعالَمينَ
“Indeed, the first House [of worship] established for mankind was that at Makkah – blessed and a guidance for the worlds.”
(Surah Aal-‘Imran 3:96)

Jerusalem (Al-Quds) also holds special blessed status.

In Surah Al-Isra, Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala describes not only Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa as blessed – may Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala liberate it – but extends this blessing to all its surrounding areas.

سُبْحانَ الَّذي أَسْرى بِعَبْدِهِ لَيْلاً مِّنَ المَسْجِدِ الحَرامِ إِلَى المَسْجِدِ الأَقْصا الَّذي بارَكْنا حَوْلَهُ لِنُرِيَهُ مِنْ آياتِنا إِنَّهُ هُوَ السَّميعُ البَصيرُ

“Exalted is He who took His servant by night from al-Masjid al-Haram to al-Masjid al-Aqsa, whose surroundings We have blessed, to show him of Our signs. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Seeing.”

(Surah Al-Isra 17:1)

The entire region of Al-Sham is blessed, as we learn from the authentic hadith of Rasulullah ﷺ.

Medina, the city of the Prophet ﷺ, also enjoys blessed status through prophetic supplication. The Prophet ﷺ explained that just as Ibrahim made dua for Mecca and declared it a sanctuary (haram), he too was making Medina a sanctuary and supplicating that Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala place twice the amount of barakah in Medina as exists in Mecca.

The manifestation of these places’ blessedness becomes evident in the multiplication of prayer rewards: in Mecca, prayers are rewarded 100,000 times; in Medina, 1,000 times; and in Al-Quds, 250 times the normal reward.

Blessed People: The Prophets and Their Legacy

Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala makes certain people blessed, and foremost among them are the Prophets. Jesus (Isa) alayhi as-salam said, as recorded in the Quran:

وَجَعَلَني مُبارَكًا أَيْنَ ما كُنتُ وَأَوْصاني بِالصَّلاةِ وَالزَّكاةِ ما دُمْتُ حَيًّا

“And He has made me blessed wherever I am, and has enjoined upon me prayer and zakah as long as I remain alive.”

(Surah Maryam 19:31)

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was the most blessed of all creation.

The evidence of the Prophet’s ﷺ personal barakah is demonstrated in numerous ways. During his final illness, Aisha would recite the protective verses (ma’udatayn) that the Prophet ﷺ used for protection and healing, reading them into his own hands and wiping them over his body specifically because of the blessedness inherent in his person.

The Companions understood this blessing so profoundly that they would collect anything from the Prophet ﷺ – whether it was a hair, his blessed sweat, or even his saliva – before it could touch the ground, preserving these items because of their inherent barakah.

Recognizing Barakah in Our Lives

Barakah belongs to what scholars call “al ghayb al nisbi” – the relative unseen. This means we cannot directly observe or measure barakah like a tangible quantity. You don’t look at someone and say they possess a specific amount of barakah, nor can you quantify it numerically.

Instead, we recognize barakah through its effects and manifestations. After spending money, we might reflect and say, “SubhanAllah, this money had tremendous barakah in it.” After completing a productive day, we recognize, “This day had much barakah.” After utilizing time effectively, we acknowledge, “This time had great barakah.”

Consider the great scholars of Islam as examples of blessed lives. Imam Shafi, with his immense knowledge and lasting legacy, passed away at approximately 50-54 years old. Imam An-Nawi, whose works continue to benefit the ummah centuries later, died in his late thirties. Imam Al-Bukhari, compiler of the most authentic hadith collection after the Quran, passed away at 56 years old. These great names left knowledge that has endured for centuries – clear evidence of the incredible barakah Allah placed in their limited time on earth.

Practical Ways to Seek Barakah

1. Cultivating Taqwa (God-Consciousness)

The foundation for attracting barakah is developing taqwa of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala. Allah says in the Quran:

وَلَوْ أَنَّ أَهْلَ القُرى آمَنوا وَاتَّقَوا لَفَتَحْنا عَلَيْهِم بَرَكاتٍ مِّنَ السَّماءِ وَالأَرْضِ وَلـكِن كَذَّبوا فَأَخَذْناهُم بِما كانوا يَكْسِبونَ
“And if only the people of the cities had believed and feared Allah, We would have opened upon them blessings from the heaven and the earth; but they denied, so We seized them for what they used to earn.”
(Surah Al-A‘raf 7:96)

Anyone seeking blessed time and blessed sustenance (rizq) must examine their relationship with Allah and their level of taqwa. The absence of taqwa has the opposite effect – it removes barakah from our transactions and provisions. Without taqwa, one becomes like the companion of the two gardens mentioned in Surah Al-Kahf, who despite his immense wealth, lacked faith in Allah. When his believing companion advised him:

وَلَوْلا إِذْ دَخَلْتَ جَنَّتَكَ قُلتَ ما شاءَ اللَّهُ لا قُوَّةَ إِلا بِاللَّهِ

“And why did you not, when you entered your garden, say, ‘What Allah wills [has occurred]; there is no power except in Allah’?”

(Surah Al-Kahf 18:39)

His refusal ultimately led to the destruction of his blessed provisions.

2. Honesty in Transactions

The Prophet ﷺ, in a hadith recorded in both Bukhari and Muslim, taught about barakah in business dealings. He explained that when two people are engaged in buying and selling, both parties have the option to withdraw from the transaction as long as they remain together.

Crucially, the Prophet ﷺ said that if both parties are honest in their transaction – meaning if there’s a defect in the product, the seller informs the buyer; if there’s something the buyer should know, it’s disclosed; if the buyer seeks specific features that the product lacks, the seller clarifies this rather than allowing false assumptions – then Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala will bless their transaction.

Conversely, if they remain silent about defects or allow misunderstandings to persist – letting the buyer discover problems only after returning home while the seller has moved on – then Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala will remove the barakah from that transaction. Even though the seller may have money in their pocket, that money will lack barakah.

3. Constant Remembrance of Allah

The remembrance of Allah (dhikr) serves as a perpetual source of barakah. Rasulullah ﷺ taught that when a person enters their house while remembering Allah and mentions Allah’s name when eating, Shaitaan will declare, “I have no place to stay tonight and no food.” The removal of Shaitaan’s presence naturally brings about barakah in our homes and sustenance.

4. Unity and Togetherness

There is inherent barakah in unity and gathering together, particularly during meals. A Companion named Wahshi once complained to Rasulullah ﷺ that despite eating, he and his household never felt satisfied. The Prophet ﷺ inquired whether they ate separately, and when they confirmed this, he advised them to gather when eating and mention Allah’s name. This simple act of unity, combined with dhikr, would bring Allah’s blessing to their food.

5. Establishing Justice

One of the most profound ways to seek barakah is through justice. A powerful hadith narrated by Jabir ibn Abdullah illustrates this principle. When the Companions returned from Abyssinia, Rasulullah ﷺ asked them about the most remarkable thing they witnessed there.

They related an incident where an elderly nun was walking while carrying a water vessel on her head. A man came from behind and pushed her down, breaking the vessel. The nun looked at her aggressor and said, “O traitor, you will know on the Day of Judgment when Allah establishes His throne and people’s hands and feet speak about what they used to do – you will come to know about this affair between me and you very soon.”

Upon hearing this, Rasulullah ﷺ confirmed her words, saying “She spoke the truth, she spoke the truth.” Then he asked a penetrating question: “How can Allah sanctify (yuqaddis) a nation where the weak cannot secure their rights from the strong?”

The word “al-Muqaddas” or “al-Quddus” carries the meaning of being a source of barakah, which is why “al-Ard al-Muqaddasa” refers not just to the Holy Land, but to the blessed land. This teaches us that divine blessing is intrinsically connected to justice and the protection of the vulnerable.

The Path Forward

If we desire our families to be blessed, our communities to flourish with divine favor, and our countries to prosper under Allah’s grace, we must be deeply concerned with securing the rights of those who are weaker than us. Justice is not merely a social ideal – it is a prerequisite for divine blessing.

The lesson is clear: societies that fail to protect their vulnerable members cannot expect to receive Allah’s barakah. Those that establish justice, ensure the rights of the weak against the strong, and create systems of fairness and protection will find themselves recipients of divine blessings that multiply their efforts and sanctify their endeavors.

May Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala grant us understanding of His religion and make us among those who hear the speech and follow the best of it. May He grant us Jannah and protect us from the Fire through our righteous actions and speech.

وَصَلَّى اللَّهُ وَبَارَكَ عَلَىٰ سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ

6 Etiquettes of Seeking Knowledge

AlMaghrib — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 10:38:22 GMT

This article was based on a khutbah delivered by Shaykh Ammar AlShukry.

Welcome to the Friday Khutbah! A series on the AlMaghrib Journal based on sermons delivered by our esteemed instructors! We hope you find it beneficial!

All praise is due to Allah, who is magnificent in His essence, perfect in His attributes, undeniable in His presence. All praise is due to Allah, who has the most magnificent names, a praise that is forever for Him, a praise that eternally remains. May He send peace and blessings in their most perfect fashion.

May He send greetings and salutations that are complete and everlasting upon the best of His creation, Muhammad ﷺ. May He perfect his rank and elevation, for he taught us what we did not know. And he gave, and he gave, and he gave, because he loved us so.

Allah ﷻ says in the Qur’an:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنتُم مُّسْلِمُونَ

O you who believe, fear Allah as He deserves to be feared and do not die except in a state of Islam. (Surah Al Imran, 3:102)

And Allah ﷻ says:

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُوا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُم مِّن نَّفْسٍ وَاحِدَةٍ وَخَلَقَ مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا وَبَثَّ مِنْهُمَا رِجَالًا كَثِيرًا وَنِسَاءً ۚ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ الَّذِي تَسَاءَلُونَ بِهِ وَالْأَرْحَامَ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَلَيْكُمْ رَقِيبًا

O mankind, fear your Lord who created you from a single soul and produced from that soul its mate, and made from their combination many men and women. So fear Allah whom you ask each other by and by the ties of kinship, verily Allah is ever watchful over you. (Surah An-Nisa, 4:1)

And Allah says:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَقُولُوا قَوْلًا سَدِيدًا ﴿٧٠﴾ يُصْلِحْ لَكُمْ أَعْمَالَكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ ۗ وَمَن يُطِعِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَقَدْ فَازَ فَوْزًا عَظِيمًا ﴿٧١﴾

O you who believe, fear Allah and say that which is correct. He will correct for you your deeds and forgive you your sins. And whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger, then they are indeed victorious. (Surah Al-Ahzab, 33:70-71)

To proceed, we have come and spent or intended to spend a number of our days for the purpose of seeking knowledge. And the Prophet ﷺ said:

Whoever traverses a path to knowledge, Allah ﷻ facilitates for them a path to Paradise. (Narrated by Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه, Sahih Muslim)

And so we begin by asking Allah ﷻ that the journeys that we take for knowledge, near and far, to make them a path to Paradise for us. اللهم آمين

In this khutbah we will explore the etiquettes of knowledge, the important etiquettes that we should always place in front of us. And in sha Allah, we will mention six quick points to remember and to remind others of.

1. Sincerity

The first is sincerity, the most important quality before doing any action, because the Prophet ﷺ says:

إِنَّمَا الْأَعْمَالُ بِالنِّيَّاتِ، وَإِنَّمَا لِكُلِّ امْرِئٍ مَا نَوَى

Actions are by their intentions, and everyone shall have what they intended. (Narrated by Umar ibn al-Khattab رضي الله عنه, Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim)

And so if a person is seeking knowledge, why should they be seeking knowledge in the first place? Imam Malik رحمه الله says:

تَعَلَّمْتُ الْعِلْمَ لِنَفْسِي وَهَكَذَا كَانَ النَّاسُ

I learned knowledge for myself, to remove ignorance from myself.

I was once sitting with a Shaykh when a person said to him, “Shaykh, I want to be a person who lectures all over the country. What do I do to be like you?” And the Shaykh said to him, “Well, I did not go and study Islam to lecture all over the country. That was not my goal. My goal was I wanted to learn how to worship Allah ﷻ correctly. I wanted to benefit myself. Not to have a name anywhere, not to be famous, not to be followed. That wasn’t my goal.”

And so make your intention for seeking knowledge that you benefit, learning how to worship Allah ﷻ correctly, and be wary of intentions that deviate you from that path. Because we learned in the great hadith of Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه that the first three people whom the Fire will be kindled with on the Day of Judgment are people who had deviated intentions. And of them was a person who learned knowledge and taught it, but they did it because they wanted people to call them a scholar. And it was said, they got what they wanted. (Narrated by Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه, Sahih Muslim)

Because Allah ﷻ says:

مَّن كَانَ يُرِيدُ الْعَاجِلَةَ عَجَّلْنَا لَهُ فِيهَا مَا نَشَاءُ لِمَن نُّرِيدُ

Whoever wants this world, We will give them what We want to give them of this world. (Surah Al-Isra, 17:18)

They’ll get some of it. Not what they want, but what We want to give them. And then they’ll have the Hellfire as a punishment.

And so make your intention crystal clear as best as you can, and always work on that intention, because intentions are shifty, and they change, and they alter.

2. Implementation

Sometimes you’ll attend a khutbah and say, “You know what, this khutbah wasn’t really beneficial. Everything the khatib said, I knew already.”

Have you ever had that feeling before?

You might be sitting there while the khatib is narrating a hadith, thinking to yourself, “I actually heard this hadith before this khatib was even born.”

But that’s not the question that you should be asking. The question should not be, “Do I know this already?” It should be, “Do I do this?” If you alter the question that you’re asking as you’re engaging with knowledge, then you benefit from every reminder, no matter how basic, and every khutbah, no matter how repetitive. Because we always fall short of doing the things that we know we should be doing.

Something as basic as, you should be good to your neighbor. And then we ask ourselves the question, am I good to my neighbor? If my neighbor was surveyed right now, would I get a 10 out of 10? Would I get a 7? Would I get a 5? Do neighbors get excited when they find out that a Muslim has moved next door to them? Because they know how greatly our Prophet ﷺ commanded us to look after the neighbor.

It isn’t about what we know. We all know the hadith about the neighbor. We all know the hadith about taking care of your parents. But do we do these things? Do we implement them?

Ali ibn Abi Talib رضي الله عنه said:

Knowledge calls out to action. If the action arrives, the knowledge stays. And if the action does not follow, then the knowledge disappears. (Al-Khatib al-Baghdadi, Iqtida’ al-‘Ilm al-‘Amal)

When a person is sincere, it leads to implementation. I’m seeking knowledge for the purpose of implementing, not for intellectual curiosity.

If you learn a new du’a and then you start to say it, then of course you’re going to remember it. But if you learn a dhikr or a du’a and never implement it, the knowledge doesn’t stay.

3. Teaching

The third is teaching. Teaching is incredible when it comes to your own journey of knowledge. That’s why one of the things that we should be committed to, when we’re attending a conference like this and going back to our towns and our places, is that we teach what we learn.

How does teaching benefit you? As Shaykh Yaser Birjas mentions, it’s the zakah of knowledge, the tax of knowledge. But it also, crucially, will showcase the holes that you have. A person will ask, “What about this?” And you’ll say, “I never thought of that. I have no idea.” “I didn’t realize that I had a gap in the information that I have, so let me go and fill this hole. Let me go back to my notes. Let me research this further.”

We who are teachers also all know that when you teach, it forces you to prepare even more than you would have otherwise when you were passively learning.

4. Du’a

The fourth is du’a, and this is crucial. I’ve heard this question my entire life, and I’m sure you’ve heard it as well: Where is the best place to go and learn? Where is the best program? What’s the best book? What’s the best teacher? Where’s the best country to go to?

Shaykh named Muhammad al-Mukhtar al-Shinqiti حفظه الله. When he was asked where the best place to go and study is, he said: take all of the programs, all of the books, and all of the teachers, and cast them to the side, and make your preoccupation that you ask Allah ﷻ for knowledge. Because if Allah ﷻ decrees for you to have knowledge, then He will guide you to the best programs and the best teachers and the best books. And if Allah ﷻ doesn’t will for you to have knowledge, then you could be in the greatest bastions of learning on earth and still come out ignorant.

That is something that we’ve all witnessed. You might have gone to the same university program as a friend of yours. You benefited, but that friend did not. Your degree means something, but this classmate or that person- you wouldn’t trust the ink that their paper is written on. Not because they didn’t have the same opportunity, or weren’t exposed to the same people in the same places, but because Allah ﷻ didn’t give them that tawfiq.

So it’s not just about the program, and it’s not just about the teacher, and it’s not just about the places. It is that you ask Allah ﷻ to grant you knowledge. And as you know, the only thing that we were told in the Qur’an to ask Allah ﷻ for more of is knowledge:

وَقُل رَّبِّ زِدْنِي عِلْمًا

Say, my Lord, increase me in knowledge. (Surah Ta-Ha, 20:114)

May Allah ﷻ make us of those who have a great share of knowledge. اللهم آمين

5. Taqwa

The last two, crucially, are taqwa, having taqwa of Allah, which is what the masters of knowledge would advise each other of.

Imagine the brilliance of a young al-Shafi’i, who has a photographic memory and memorizes the collection, the life’s work of Imam Malik, before he ever meets him. He travels from Makkah to Madinah and meets this man whom the entire world considered to be the scholar of Madinah. They used to say:

مِنْ زِينَةِ الدُّنْيَا أَنْ يَقُولَ الرَّجُلُ: حَدَّثَنِي مَالِكٌ

It is one of the greatest adornments of the world that a person says, “Malik narrated to me.”

That was like graduating from the best universities on earth. And so this man, who has the entire world coming to him, meets and sees the brilliance of this young man, Muhammad ibn Idris al-Shafi’i. He advises him, saying:

إِنِّي أَرَى اللَّهَ قَدْ أَلْقَى عَلَى قَلْبِكَ نُورًا، فَلَا تُطْفِئْهُ بِظُلْمَةِ الْمَعْصِيَةِ

I see that Allah ﷻ has cast light upon your heart, so do not extinguish that light with sins. (Ibn al-Qayyim, al-Jawab al-Kafi)

You’ve got something special, so do not extinguish that light with sins. That was the advice he had for him.

And it’s not just Imam Malik who told that to al-Shafi’i. Al-Shafi’i famously complains to his teacher, Waki’ ibn al-Jarrah, about his memory. His memory was so incredible that he notices any deviation in it. And he recorded his teacher’s advice in couplets:

شَكَوْتُ إِلَى وَكِيعٍ سُوءَ حِفْظِي ۞ فَأَرْشَدَنِي إِلَى تَرْكِ الْمَعَاصِي وَأَخْبَرَنِي بِأَنَّ الْعِلْمَ نُورٌ ۞ وَنُورُ اللَّهِ لَا يُهْدَى لِعَاصِي

I complained to Waki’ about my memory, and leaving sins is what he guided me to address. And he told me that this knowledge is light, and the light of Allah is not given to those who transgress. (Diwan al-Shafi’i)

And Allah ﷻ says:

وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ ۖ وَيُعَلِّمُكُمُ اللَّهُ

Have taqwa of Allah, and Allah ﷻ will teach you. (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:282)

And so we recognize that there is a spiritual element to this knowledge. It is not simply memorizing a lot of things, but it is a light that Allah ﷻ casts into our hearts.

6. Patience

The final is patience. There has to be endurance. There has to be resilience in this journey. There are ups and downs. There’s dedication that is required, there’s discipline that is required. There’s nobody who achieves anything worth achieving except that it requires patience, dedication, and discipline.

Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله says that no one has ever acquired anything good, neither a prophet nor anybody less than them, except with sabr, except with patience.

And Imam al-Shafi’i رحمه الله says:

أَخِي لَنْ تَنَالَ الْعِلْمَ إِلَّا بِسِتَّةٍ ۞ سَأُنْبِيكَ عَنْ تَفْصِيلِهَا بِبَيَانِ ذَكَاءٌ وَحِرْصٌ وَاجْتِهَادٌ وَبُلْغَةٌ ۞ وَصُحْبَةُ أُسْتَاذٍ وَطُولُ زَمَانِ

My brother, you will never achieve knowledge except with six things that I summarize for you in this rhyme: intelligence, striving, commitment, and means, a teacher, and a long span of time. (Diwan al-Shafi’i)

We ask Allah ﷻ to allow us to hear this speech and follow the best of it.

وَصَلَّى اللَّهُ وَبَارَكَ عَلَىٰ سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ

Why we send salam upon the Prophet ﷺ

AlMaghrib — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 13:42:18 GMT

I testify there is no God but Allah alone, without any partners, and that Muhammad, ﷺ, is His servant and messenger.”

Welcome to the Friday Khutbah! A series on the AlMaghrib Journal based on sermons delivered by our esteemed instructors! We hope you find it beneficial!

The Prophet ﷺ is the one through whom Allah granted us the greatest blessing we experience: the blessing of Islam. We remember the Prophet ﷺ because we love him. A person cannot help but constantly remember the one that they love.

Allah Himself mentions the Prophet ﷺ and praises him continuously, along with the angels. Allah says:

إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ۚ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا صَلُّوا عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا

“Indeed, Allah and His angels send blessings upon the Prophet. O you who believe, send blessings upon him and greet him with peace.” (Surah Al-Ahzab, 33:56)

What is Allah’s salah upon the Prophet? Ibn Abbas explained that the angels invoke blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ. Ibn Kathir stated that Allah’s salah upon Rasulullah ﷺ is His praise of the Prophet in the highest company (في الملاء الأعلى).

Allah invites the believers to send their salah upon Rasulullah ﷺ so that the inhabitants of the earth can praise the Prophet in harmony with the inhabitants of the heavens. When sending salah upon the Prophet ﷺ, we join the symphony of the hosts of the heavens as they invoke salah upon him.

Allah says:

وَذَكِّرْ فَإِنَّ الذِّكْرَىٰ تَنفَعُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ

“And remind, for indeed, the reminder benefits the believers.” (Surah Adh-Dhariyat, 51:55)

Five Virtues of Sending Salah Upon the Prophet ﷺ

1. It Is Highly Recommended on Friday

Rasulullah ﷺ said in the hadith of Aus ibn Aus:

إِنَّ مِنْ أَفْضَلِ أَيَّامِكُمْ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ فَأَكْثِرُوا عَلَيَّ مِنَ الصَّلَاةِ فِيهِ فَإِنَّ صَلَاتَكُمْ مَعْرُوضَةٌ عَلَيَّ

“The best of your days is Friday, so send a lot of salah upon me on that day, for your salah is presented to me.” (Abu Dawood)

The Companions asked, “Ya Rasulullah, how will it be presented to you when you have passed away?” The Prophet ﷺ replied:

إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ حَرَّمَ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ أَجْسَادَ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ

“Allah has prohibited the earth from consuming the flesh of prophets.”

The Prophet ﷺ did not define what “a lot” means, leaving it to each individual. For some, a hundred might be a lot; for others, it could be very little. Some might find 500 a lot, while others consider it little. Everyone is responsible for whatever they are capable of doing, striving to send abundant salah upon the Prophet ﷺ on Friday.

2. It Removes Burdens, Erases Sins, and Solves Problems

Ubayy ibn Ka’ab narrated:

يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي أُكْثِرُ الصَّلَاةَ عَلَيْكَ فَكَمْ أَجْعَلُ لَكَ مِنْ صَلَاتِي

“O Messenger of Allah, I send a lot of salah upon you in my dua. How much of my dua should I dedicate to sending salah upon you?”

The Prophet ﷺ responded, “Whatever you wish.” Ubayy then asked about dedicating a quarter, a third, half, and then two-thirds of his dua to sending salah upon the Prophet, and each time the Prophet replied, “Whatever you wish, but if you increase, it is better for you.”

Finally, Ubayy asked, “Should I make all of my dua sending salah upon you?” The Prophet ﷺ said:

إِذًا تُكْفَى هَمَّكَ وَيُغْفَرْ لَكَ ذَنْبُكَ

“If you do that, your worry will be relieved and your sin will be forgiven.” (At-Tirmidhi)

What is the relationship between sending salah upon the Prophet ﷺ and having problems resolved? The answer lies in another hadith. Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-‘As narrated that Rasulullah ﷺ said:

مَنْ صَلَّى عَلَيَّ صَلَاةً صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ بِهَا عَشْرًا

“Whoever sends one salah upon me, Allah sends ten upon them.” (Muslim)

When Allah cascades ten blessings upon a person for every one salah they send upon the Prophet ﷺ, what problem can exist in the presence of Allah’s peace and blessings being multiplied? Allah’s salah is so great and benevolent that when multiplied, nothing can stand in its way.

3. It Brings You Close to the Prophet ﷺ

In a hadith narrated by Ibn Mas’ud, Rasulullah ﷺ said:

أَوْلَى النَّاسِ بِي يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ أَكْثَرُهُمْ عَلَيَّ صَلَاةً

“The people most deserving of proximity to me on the Day of Judgment are those who send the most salah upon me.” (At-Tirmidhi)

Those who send the most salah upon the Prophet ﷺ are not only closest to him on the Day of Judgment but also closest to him in this world. Shaykh Muhammad Hassan, the Egyptian scholar, mentioned meeting a sixteen-year-old girl who had seen the Prophet ﷺ in her dreams numerous times. When asked how often she sent salah upon the Prophet, she replied, “Every day, no less than 10,000 times.”

He also mentioned meeting an elderly woman in a poor Egyptian village who did not stop sending salah upon the Prophet ﷺ, her every breath invoking blessings upon Rasulullah. When he offered to bring doctors for her ailment, she declined, saying, “I know my ailment and I know the cure. My ailment is that for the past three nights, I did not see the Prophet ﷺ in a dream.” She was so accustomed to seeing Rasulullah ﷺ in her dreams through her abundant salah that when she didn’t see him for three days, she became distressed.

4. It Is His Right Upon Us

When someone does something for you, Rasulullah ﷺ taught that if you can repay them, you should. If you cannot, at least invoke a prayer for them, saying “Jazakallahu khayran.” If that person has passed away, the least you can do is invoke Allah’s mercy for them.

One scholar of Islam said:

قَبِيحٌ بِكُمْ أَنْ تَنْقُلُوا عَنَّا وَلَا تَتَرَحَّمُوا عَلَيْنَا

“It is very ugly of you that you narrate from us our knowledge and do not invoke mercy upon us.”

People read the books of Imam al-Bukhari and benefit from Imam an-Nawawi without saying “rahimahullah” (may Allah have mercy on him). Imagine someone constantly talking about their parents without ever invoking Allah’s mercy upon them. It’s the smallest gesture, yet so meaningful.

If you understand this, then you can see how serious it is when a person mentions the name of Rasulullah ﷺ and doesn’t move their tongue to say “sallallahu alayhi wa sallam.” The Prophet ﷺ criticized such an individual, saying:

رَغِمَ أَنْفُ رَجُلٍ مَنْ ذُكِرْتُ عِنْدَهُ وَلَمْ يُصَلِّ عَلَيَّ

“May the nose of that person be in dust who I am mentioned in their presence and they don’t send salah upon me.”

In another hadith, the Prophet ﷺ said:

الْبَخِيلُ مَنْ ذُكِرْتُ عِنْدَهُ فَلَمْ يُصَلِّ عَلَيَّ

“The stingy person is the one who I am mentioned in their presence and they don’t send salah upon me.” (At-Tirmidhi)

5. It Is an Etiquette of Dua

When raising hands to Allah, believers want their dua to be accepted. There are etiquettes that make dua more likely to be accepted. At-Tirmidhi and Abu Dawood narrated that the Prophet ﷺ heard a man making dua without praising Allah or sending salah upon the Prophet ﷺ. Rasulullah ﷺ said:

عَجِلَ هَذَا

“This person rushed. They were hasty.”

The Prophet then taught:

“If a person makes dua, let them begin by praising Allah and sending salah upon the Prophet ﷺ, and then let them make whatever dua they wish.”

How to Send Salah Upon the Prophet ﷺ

The simple way is to say “Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammad” or “sallallahu alayhi wa sallam” when hearing his name. However, when the Companions asked how to send salah upon him, the Prophet ﷺ taught them the complete version recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari and Muslim:

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ

اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ

“O Allah, send Your salah upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent Your salah upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. Indeed, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious. O Allah, send Your blessings upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent Your blessings upon the family of Ibrahim. Indeed, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious.”

Remember that invoking salah upon the Prophet ﷺ:

Removes stress and worry
Forgives sins
Places a person close to the Prophet ﷺ in this life and the next
Is most recommended on Friday

We ask Allah to accept our actions and guide us to the best of actions and speech.

وَصَلَّى اللَّهُ وَبَارَكَ عَلَىٰ سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ

The Dangers of Gossip & Rumours

AlMaghrib — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 10:34:01 GMT

I testify there is no God but Allah alone, without any partners, and that Muhammad, ﷺ, is His servant and messenger.”

Welcome to the Friday Khutbah! A series on the AlMaghrib Journal based on sermons delivered by our esteemed instructors! We hope you find it beneficial!

Two years ago, in a small town in the UK, there was a tragic case involving the murder of some girls attending a dance class, a story which sent shockwaves throughout the country.

Immediately, a rumour began that the murderer was an asylum seeker with an Arabic-sounding name, and the entire country erupted.

It caused widespread protests throughout the country. Masajid were attacked, police cars were overturned, a library was burned down.

It created a security crisis in the country. By the time the dust settled, it turned out that it was not a refugee at all. It wasn’t an asylum seeker. It was a person who was born in the United Kingdom who was not of Arab ethnicity at all.

But yet, by the time that news became verified, the harm had already been done, and this is not the only instance we have seen in recent times.

We are all aware of the story of beheaded babies on October 7th that never ended up being true.

We are aware of wars started over supposed weapons of mass destruction that turned out to be phantoms.

Time and again, we see the importance and the harm that comes when news is spread unverified.

Wars can be launched. People can be killed. Misinformation can spread.

Allah gives us a principle, which is to verify before we amplify.

The Quranic Principle of Verification

Allah says:

“يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنْ جَاءَكُمْ فَاسِقٌ بِنَبَأٍ فَتَبَيَّنُوا أَن تُصِيبُوا قَوْمًا بِجَهَالَةٍ فَتُصْبِحُوا عَلَىٰ مَا فَعَلْتُمْ نَادِمِينَ”

“O you who believe, if a transgressor comes to you with news, verify it, lest you harm others out of ignorance and become regretful.”

[Quran 49:6]

Spreading unverified information can lead to regret in this life and accountability in the Hereafter.

Those we harm with our words will have the right to seek justice on the Day of Judgment. This is not limited to major tragedies; misinformation at any scale can be destructive.

The Social Media Challenge

In our times, social media amplifies both truth and falsehood at lightning speed. A single accusation or story can destroy reputations in hours.

There was a case where a Muslim influencer accused a restaurant of Islamophobia. Thousands of people, without verifying the claim, bombarded the restaurant’s Google ratings, causing its score to plummet from 4.9 to 3.5 overnight.

Later, witnesses confirmed that the influencer’s version of events was false, and in fact, it was the customers who had behaved disrespectfully. Yet, by then, the damage to the business was already done.

This is what happens when we fail to verify before we amplify. Attacking the reputation of a business based on false claims is an act of shahadat zur, bearing false witness, which the Prophet ﷺ described as one of the gravest sins.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“Shall I not inform you of the greatest of major sins? … To join partners in worship with Allah: to be undutiful to one’s parents…”

He ﷺ then sat up from his reclining position before saying:

“…And I warn you against bearing false witness.”

The Companions said that he ﷺ repeated the last warning until they thought he would never stop.

[Sahih al-Bukhari]

The Culture of “Breaking News”

In today’s news cycle, everything is labeled as “breaking,” and there is immense pressure to share information immediately. However, the Quran advises believers to pause, reflect, and verify before spreading news. Allah says about those who receive news related to security or fear:

“إِذَا جَاءَهُمْ أَمْرٌ مِّنَ الْأَمْنِ أَوِ الْخَوْفِ أَذَاعُوا بِهِ وَلَوْ رَدُّوهُ إِلَى الرَّسُولِ وَإِلَى أُوْلِي الْأَمْرِ مِنْهُمْ لَعَلِمَهُ الَّذِينَ يَسْتَنْبِطُونَهُ مِنْهُمْ”

“When there comes to them news of public security or fear, they spread it. But if they had referred it back to the Messenger or those in authority, those among them able to draw correct conclusions would have understood it.” [Quran 4:83]

A story from the time of the Prophet ﷺ illustrates this beautifully.

A rumor spread that the Prophet had divorced his wives, causing widespread panic. ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA) went directly to the Prophet to confirm the truth, rather than speculating.

This act of going directly to the source is a timeless lesson for us all.

Practical Steps to Verify Information

How can we practically implement this principle of verification?

1. Pause Before Sharing: Ask yourself, is this information truly important or relevant? The Prophet ﷺ forbade idle talk and taught:

“From the excellence of a person’s Islam is to leave what does not concern him.”

[Sunan al-Tirmidhi]

2. Go Back to the Source: Whenever possible, confirm the truth with the people involved or trusted authorities.

3. Cross-Reference: In an age of fake news, cross-check information with multiple credible sources before spreading it. A quick search can reveal whether a report is trustworthy.

4. Consider Timing: Breaking news is rarely the full story. Waiting allows the truth to emerge and prevents spreading half-truths.

In a time of deception and information overload, our responsibility as Muslims is to be sources of calm and clarity, not chaos and fear.

We ask Allah to make us people of truth, who extinguish the fires of fitnah (discord) rather than fanning them.

وَصَلَّى اللَّهُ وَبَارَكَ عَلَىٰ سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ

The Sunnah of being neighborly

AlMaghrib — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 09:07:27 GMT

I testify there is no God but Allah alone, without any partners, and that Muhammad, ﷺ, is His servant and messenger.”

Welcome to the Friday Khutbah! A series on the AlMaghrib Journal based on sermons delivered by our esteemed instructors! We hope you find it beneficial!

After the death of the Prophet ﷺ, Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه said to Umar ibn al-Khattab رضي الله عنه, “Let us go visit Um Ayman, as the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to visit her.”

Um Ayman رضي الله عنها, whose name was Baraka, was the blessed nurse of the Prophet ﷺ. He loved her dearly and would regularly visit her. When Abu Bakr and Umar came to see her, she began to cry.

They asked her, “Why are you crying? What is with Allah is better for His Messenger ﷺ.”

She replied, “I know that what is with Allah is better, but I am weeping because the revelation has stopped. There will be no more Quran being revealed, no more revelation.”

And so she cried, and they cried with her.

Consider this: Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه at that time was the khalifa of the Muslims, the busiest man in the world. Umar ibn al-Khattab رضي الله عنه was his right-hand man. Yet they recognized the immense value and virtue of spending time with this elderly woman.

As our society becomes increasingly isolated and individuals grow more disconnected, it is crucial that we constantly remind each other of the importance of visiting one another. What creates community, what builds family, what fosters the love that Allah loves so much is connection and visitation.

These acts of connection are among the most important elements in constructing a healthy social fabric.

Allah’s Love for Those Who Visit Each Other

Allah ﷻ says in a Hadith Qudsi, as reported by the Prophet ﷺ:

وَجَبَتْ مَحَبَّتِي لِلْمُتَحَابِّينَ فِيَّ، وَالْمُتَزَاوِرِينَ فِيَّ

“My love has been prescribed for those who love each other for My sake, and My love has been written for those who visit each other for My sake.”

(Reported by Imam Malik in al-Muwatta)

When someone travels to any part of the city or beyond it with no intention other than visiting their brother or sister for the sake of Allah, it is something that earns Allah’s love.

The Angel on the Road

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ narrated a profound story in a hadith reported by Abu Hurayrah رضي الله عنه:

A man set out to visit a brother of his in another town. Allah sent an angel to wait for him on the road. When the man approached, the angel asked, “Where are you going?”

He replied, “I am going to visit a brother of mine in this town.”

The angel asked, “Do you have some favor that you want to secure from him or repay to him?”

He said, “No, except that I love him for the sake of Allah.”

The angel then said, “I am a messenger from Allah to you, informing you that Allah loves you as you have loved your brother for His sake.”

(Reported by Muslim)

This hadith demonstrates the tremendous reward of undertaking a journey purely to visit someone for Allah’s sake.

Responding to Invitations

Just as Allah loves when we come to the masjid, He also loves when we go to the houses of our brothers and sisters. The Prophet ﷺ said:

حَقُّ الْمُسْلِمِ عَلَى الْمُسْلِمِ خَمْسٌ

“The rights of a Muslim upon another Muslim are five.”

(Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Among these five rights is ijabat al-da’wah, responding to their invitation. While many scholars say this specifically refers to wedding invitations (da’wat al-walimah), the statement is general and encompasses all invitations.

The Prophet ﷺ exemplified this beautifully. It is reported that if he was invited to eat the shoulder of a lamb (considered the most succulent meal) or the foot (the most humble meal), he would respond. Whether invited to a five-star meal or the simplest gathering, the Prophet ﷺ would accept his companions’ invitations.

Throughout the sirah, we see the Prophet ﷺ repeatedly visiting his companions and responding to their invitations.

The Unique Value of Home Visits

A person might ask: “Do I need to host people in my house? I see my friends all the time at restaurants and cafes.”

While meeting at restaurants is good, there is a level of vulnerability that comes with hosting someone in your home and a level of generosity unique to home hospitality.

As one person once observed, “When I meet my friend at a cafe, I’m able to leave them at that cafe.” This is one reason we host less frequently in our homes. Most people today host less than their parents’ generation did.

Guests can certainly present challenges. They might overstay their welcome, venture into areas of the house better left private, or witness family dynamics we’d prefer to keep hidden. This is precisely why Islam places such emphasis on the etiquettes of being a guest.

However, when we visit someone at their house, we gain access to a level of connection and understanding otherwise impossible to achieve. There are layers of their life we can access that ten years of meeting at the masjid or restaurants would never reveal.

When visiting someone’s home, we can meet their family members, gain insight into their challenges, and develop a much deeper understanding of who they are as a person.

The Etiquettes of Being a Guest

Because guests can present difficulties for hosts, Islam established comprehensive etiquette:

Sit exactly where the host directs you to sit
Be attentive to not overstay your welcome
Be as light a presence as possible
Don’t look around the house without the host’s permission
Recognize and respect the vulnerability of the host

The Right to Decline Visitors

Some people avoid extending invitations because they fear being overburdened by guests. Others hesitate to visit for fear of inconveniencing someone.

Islam provides a beautiful solution to this dilemma. Allah ﷻ says in Surah al-Nur:

وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَكُمُ ارْجِعُوا فَارْجِعُوا ۖ هُوَ أَزْكَىٰ لَكُمْ

“And when it is said to you, ‘Go back,’ then go back; that is purer for you.”

(Surah al-Nur, 24:28)

This verse teaches that if someone calls and says, “I’m in the neighborhood, are you available?” and the response is, “I’m sorry, I’m really busy right now,” there should be no offense taken. Allah says this response is pure for both parties.

The beautiful balance Islam creates happens when both sides fulfill their responsibilities: one makes themselves available to visit, while the other feels comfortable, honestly saying when it’s not a good time.

Ibn Umar رضي الله عنه used to visit people, hoping they would tell him it wasn’t the right time, because Allah says, هُوَ أَزْكَىٰ لَكُمْ (“It is purer for you”).

Instead of teaching our children to lie and say “Tell them I’m not home,” we should normalize honest communication. When everyone does what they’re supposed to do, the beautiful balance Islam created naturally emerges.

Why Invitations Sometimes Stop

When asked why we don’t gather as much as we used to, some say, “I’m not invited. I don’t get invited to things.”

Consider this: when your brother or sister invites you and you decline the first time, the second time, and the third time, saying “I’m busy,” what will they naturally do? They’ll stop inviting you.

Constant rejections may create a lack of opportunity. This is why we should be aware of and respectful toward invitations when they come. We should communicate our appreciation and, if unable to accept, try our best to fulfill the invitation at another time.

Who Deserves Our Visits Most?

Obviously, family members have rights over us, as do those we love for the sake of Allah. But the Prophet ﷺ placed tremendous reward in visiting the sick and elderly.

When noticing that certain acts of worship have become absent in society, one should resolve to perform those acts. Visiting the elderly and the sick, thinking about those who haven’t been seen at the masjid for weeks, this person who’s always at Jumu’ah but was absent this week—these are the people who deserve our attention.

One regular attendee of the masjid shared that when he was absent from one Jumu’ah, several brothers called to check on him. He said, “It made me so happy.”

Bringing Happiness to a Muslim

Visiting one another brings happiness. It is a cause of joy and connection.

The companions often asked the Prophet ﷺ:

أَيُّ الْأَعْمَالِ أَحَبُّ إِلَى اللَّهِ؟

“What action is most beloved to Allah?”

On one occasion, he simply replied:

سُرُورٌ تُدْخِلُهُ عَلَى مُسْلِمٍ

“Happiness that you bring to a Muslim.”

(Reported by al-Tabarani)

Let us recognize the virtue of this blessed action. When visiting others, it shouldn’t be merely because someone is cool, enjoyable to be around, or because we need something from them. Rather, let us make the intention that we are visiting this person for the sake of Allah. That is something Allah ﷻ loves.

وَصَلَّى اللَّهُ وَبَارَكَ عَلَىٰ سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ

Why fast on ‘Ashura?

AlMaghrib — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 08:00:42 GMT

I testify there is no God but Allah alone, without any partners, and that Muhammad, ﷺ, is His servant and messenger.”

Welcome to the Friday Khutbah! A series on the AlMaghrib Journal based on sermons delivered by our esteemed instructors! We hope you find it beneficial!

The Islamic calendar begins with the sacred month of Muharram, one of the four inviolable months honored even before Islam.

This sanctity is inherited from the pure monotheistic tradition of Prophet Ibrahim (A.S) and his son Ismail (A.S). The Arab tribes used to show special reverence to Muharram, including the tradition of renewing the cloth (kiswah) of the Ka‘bah during this month.

The Prophet ﷺ emphasized the importance of this month. He said:

“The best fasting after the month of Ramadan is in the month of Allah, Al-Muharram.”
[Sahih Muslim]

Though some narrations mention that Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) indicated the Prophet ﷺ fasted frequently in Muharram, the most reliably documented practice is his fasting on the tenth day of Muharram, known as ‘Ashura, and expressing his intention to add the ninth day the following year. He said:

“If I live until next year, I will fast the ninth as well.”
[Sahih Muslim]

Sadly, the Prophet ﷺ passed away before the following Muharram.

The Reward of Fasting on ‘Ashura

Fasting on the day of ‘Ashura is highly recommended. The Prophet ﷺ said:

“Fasting the day of ‘Ashura, I hope from Allah, will expiate the sins of the previous year.”
[Sahih Muslim]

According to Ibn Al-Qayyim (rahimahullah), the best method of fasting is to fast the ninth, tenth, and eleventh of Muharram, based on a narration collected by Imam Al-Daraqutni. Shaykh Ibn Baz (rahimahullah) also favored this view. However, the ‘Ulema (scholars) differ on the authenticity of the narration about fasting the eleventh. Some of the ‘Ulema hold that fasting the ninth and tenth is best, following the Prophet’s ﷺ expressed wish.

If a person cannot fast two or three days, then fasting only the tenth is still meritorious.

What if it falls on Friday?

In cases where ‘Ashura falls on a Friday, it is preferable to fast an additional day before or after it, in accordance with the Prophet’s ﷺ guidance:

“Do not single out Friday for fasting unless you fast a day before or a day after it.”
[Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim]

However, if one is unable to fast an extra day, it is still permitted to fast Friday alone due to the specific virtue of ‘Ashura.

As explained by the scholars, the prohibition refers to voluntary fasts done without specific reason, whereas ‘Ashura is a fast of clear purpose and reward.

The Prophet’s ﷺ Emphasis on Fasting ‘Ashura

The Prophet ﷺ not only fasted ‘Ashura but also encouraged others to do so as well.

Ar-Rubayyi‘ bint Mu‘awwad (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that:

“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent messengers on the morning of ‘Ashura to the villages around Medina saying: ‘Whoever has started fasting, let him complete his fast; and whoever has eaten, let him refrain (from eating) for the rest of the day.'”

She added that after this command, they took great care to fast ‘Ashura and even encouraged their young children to do so. They would keep the children busy with woolen toys until sunset, teaching them the importance of fasting from an early age.

Even during travel, where it is permissible to break the fast in Ramadan, many of the Salaf, such as Ibn Abbas and Az-Zuhri, would fast on ‘Ashura. When asked why they would fast while traveling on ‘Ashura but break the fast in Ramadan, they replied:

“We can make up for the fasts of Ramadan, but not for ‘‘Ashura”

The True Reason Behind Fasting ‘Ashura

The day of ‘Ashura also connects the Muslim ummah to its prophetic heritage. When the Prophet ﷺ arrived in Medina, he found the Jews fasting on ‘Ashura. Upon inquiry, they responded:

“This is a righteous day. It is the day Allah saved Musa and the Children of Isra’il from Pharaoh. Musa fasted it in gratitude.”

The Prophet ﷺ then said:

“We are more entitled to Musa than they are,” and he fasted it and encouraged others to fast.
Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim

This is the prophetic way: to show gratitude to Allah for His divine victories and mercies by worship, not cultural rituals or innovations. Fasting, remembrance of Allah (dhikr), and charity are the true forms of celebration.

Lessons from the Story of Musa (A.S)

The story of Prophet Musa is the most frequently mentioned in the Quran, appearing in 136 verses across 34 surahs. This repeated emphasis reminds believers of the timeless struggle between truth and falsehood, justice and oppression.

‘Ashura marks the day Allah granted victory to Prophet Musa and his followers and destroyed the tyrant Pharaoh and his army. It is a moment that signifies hope for the oppressed and a reminder that divine justice will always prevail.

“And We wanted to favor those who were oppressed in the land and make them leaders and inheritors. And establish them in the land, and show Pharaoh, Haman, and their soldiers what they feared from them.”
[Quran, 28:5–6]

Conclusion: A Day of Gratitude and Worship

‘Ashura is not simply a historical memory or a day of sorrow—it is a day of victory, gratitude, reflection, and commitment to truth. The Prophet ﷺ taught us to celebrate by drawing nearer to Allah, through fasting and good deeds.

Let us honor this day by reviving the Sunnah, refraining from innovation, and embodying the lessons of patience, faith, and righteousness. As the Prophet ﷺ intended, we align ourselves not only with his mission but with that of the great prophets before him, especially Musa (A.S).

May Allah accept our fasting, purify our intentions, and keep us steadfast upon Islam until our final breath.

“…And the best outcome is for the righteous.”
[Quran, 7:128]

وَصَلَّى اللَّهُ وَبَارَكَ عَلَىٰ سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ

10 Ways to Gain Reward in Salah

AlMaghrib — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 10:21:50 GMT

This article is based on a khutbah delivered by Shaykh Kamal El Mekki. You can watch the original khutbah here.

I testify there is no God but Allah alone, without any partners, and that Muhammad, ﷺ, is His servant and messenger.”

Welcome to the Friday Khutbah! A weekly series on the AlMaghrib Journal, based on sermons delivered by our esteemed instructors! We hope you find it beneficial!

Two people may be praying side by side in the same masjid, for the same length of time, behind the same Imam, and yet they can receive vastly different rewards.

The difference isn’t in the prayer itself, it’s in the quality of that prayer. There are multiple ways to increase the reward of the salah you are already performing, and understanding these can transform your daily worship from routine to truly rewarding.

Here are 10 simple ways to maximize the reward in your Salah.

1. Khushu: The Foundation of Rewarding Prayer

First and foremost is al-khushu: having humility, attentiveness, and presence of heart in your prayer. This means you’re actually paying attention and focusing, not mentally somewhere else entirely.

Allah begins Surah Al-Mu’minun by declaring: “Successful indeed are the believers: those who humble themselves in their prayers.” (Quran 23:1-2)

Notice that after describing them as believers, the very first characteristic Allah mentions is their focus in prayer.

The Prophet ﷺ made this stunningly clear in an authentic hadith: “A servant will pray the salah, and the only part that will be recorded for him, the only part he will get reward for, will be one-tenth of the salah.” Then he continued: “One-ninth, one-eighth, one-seventh, one-sixth, one-fifth, one-fourth, one-third, one-half.” (Sunan Abi Dawud, 796; Sunan An-Nasa’i, 1218)

Think about that. Based on how much you focus, that’s how much will be recorded for you. Two people praying right next to each other. One is completely distracted, whilst the other is focused and will receive dramatically different rewards even though they prayed the same length of time.

There’s a shaytan whose specific job is to distract you in salah. Our job is to resist, to bring ourselves back, to focus. The more you focus, the more reward you get.

2. Praying the Sunnah Prayers

Imagine two people coming to pray Dhuhr at the masjid. One prays all the sunnah prayers before leaving; the other doesn’t. It’s easy to see who will have a greater reward.

In Sahih Muslim, the Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever prays twelve rak’ahs in the day and night, Allah will build for him a house in Paradise.” (Sahih Muslim, 728)

These twelve rak’ahs are not the obligatory prayers, they’re the voluntary sunnah prayers we can easily incorporate:

Two before Fajr
Four before Dhuhr (this is the one most people need to add, as many only pray two)
Two after Dhuhr
Two after Maghrib
Two after Isha

We pray most of them anyway! We just need to add those extra two before Dhuhr. Do that consistently, and Allah will build you a palace in Jannah.

3. Praying in Congregation

The difference between praying alone and praying in congregation is staggering.

The Prophet ﷺ said: “The prayer of a man in congregation is more rewarding than his prayer at home or in the marketplace by twenty-five times.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, 647; Sahih Muslim, 650)

Another authentic narration mentions twenty-seven degrees or times greater reward. (Sahih al-Bukhari, 645; Sahih Muslim, 649)

Imam An-Nawawi reconciled these by noting both are authentic, and the difference could be due to different situations and times. Ibn Hajar Al-Asqalani suggested that twenty-five might refer to standard congregational prayer, while twenty-seven accounts for additional factors like arriving early or having more khushu.

The key point: there are levels even within congregational prayer, which brings us to our next point.

4. Arriving Early to the Masjid

There’s a clear difference between someone who arrives ten or fifteen minutes before the iqamah and someone who walks in right as it’s being called.

The Prophet ﷺ said: “If they knew what is in at-tahjeer (coming early to prayer), they would race each other for that.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, 615; Sahih Muslim, 437)

And in another well-known hadith, the Prophet ﷺ told us that when you come to the masjid and wait for salah, you’re rewarded as if you’re in salah the entire time you’re waiting. (Sahih al-Bukhari, 659; Sahih Muslim, 649)

Think about that multiplication of reward: just sitting and waiting counts as if you’re standing and praying.

5. Walking to the Masjid

Every step you take toward the masjid earns you reward.

In Sahih Muslim, the Prophet ﷺ explained: “When you walk to the masjid, one step will erase a sin, and the other step will raise you in rank.” (Sahih Muslim, 666)

Your journey to prayer is itself an act of worship, with every footstep either removing a sin or elevating your status with Allah.

6. Performing Wudu Properly

Wudu isn’t just getting wet. It’s an act of worship in itself that prepares you spiritually for salah.

When you perform wudu slowly and properly, you’re already entering a state of worship. You walk to the masjid calmly, getting yourself in the mode for khushu—as opposed to rushing and running, then suddenly trying to achieve presence of heart in a split second.

The Prophet ﷺ described in Sahih Muslim how sins literally leave your body during wudu: “Your sins will come out and drip out of your body with the water, even from underneath your nails, from every crevice. It’s like your sins are leaving your body because you performed wudu.” (Sahih Muslim, 244)

7. Reciting the Adhkar After Salah

This is often overlooked, but it’s a simple way to earn tremendous reward after every prayer.

The most famous version that everyone knows: Say “SubhanAllah” 33 times, “Alhamdulillah” 33 times, “Allahu Akbar” 33 times, then close it off with “La ilaha illallah wahdahu la sharika lah, lahul mulku wa lahul hamd wa huwa ala kulli shay’in qadeer” once, bringing it to 100. (Sahih Muslim, 597)

But there are other authentic variations:

25 times each of “SubhanAllah,” “Alhamdulillah,” “Allahu Akbar,” and “La ilaha illallah”, totaling 100 (Sunan Abi Dawud, 1503)
10 times each of “SubhanAllah,” “Alhamdulillah,” and “Allahu Akbar” (Sunan Abi Dawud, 1500; Sunan At-Tirmidhi, 3410)

This last version is what we teach our students in the masjid, and we encourage you to teach your children. At regular speed, it takes less than 25 seconds, and it’s just as authentic as the longer versions. Just less than 25 seconds for a huge reward after every salah!

8. Praying at the Earliest Time

When the Prophet ﷺ was asked, “Which deed is most beloved to Allah?” he replied: “The prayer at its time.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, 527; Sahih Muslim, 85)

Praying as soon as the time enters earns more reward than delaying the prayer, even if you still pray it within its time window.

9. Lengthening Your Recitation, Bowing, and Prostration

Imagine someone who prays in 40 seconds versus someone who prays the same salah in 3 minutes, spending a longer time with Allah, slowing down their recitation, and making longer sujood.

The Prophet ﷺ said: “The closest that a servant will ever be to his Lord is while in prostration, so make abundant supplication.” (Sahih Muslim, 482)

Lengthening your prayer increases your closeness to Allah and multiplies your reward. Take your time in your bowing and prostration; don’t rush through them.

10. Guarding Your Intention

There is not a single deed or action in Islam that isn’t affected by intention. Your intention can increase your reward, decrease it, or even nullify it entirely.

When you pray, your intention must be purely for Allah, not to show off to people, not to be seen at the masjid, not for any worldly reason.

If Shaytan creeps in and tries to make you think about people seeing you at the masjid, stop right then and there and renew your intention. Ask Allah for His forgiveness.

May Allah make us of those who recognize the truth as clear truth and follow the best of it, and make us of those who recognize falsehood as clear falsehood and abstain from it.

وَصَلَّى اللَّهُ وَبَارَكَ عَلَىٰ سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ

Evil Eye & Envy: Your Guide to Protection

AlMaghrib — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 11:30:45 GMT

I testify there is no God but Allah alone, without any partners, and that Muhammad, ﷺ, is His servant and messenger.”

Welcome to the Friday Khutbah! A series on the AlMaghrib Journal, based on sermons delivered by our esteemed instructors! We hope you find it beneficial!

We live in a time where personal milestones, family moments, and success stories are shared widely across social media.

But when we invite others, especially strangers, into our personal lives, we can also be inviting unseen forces that can be a source of great harm if we are not careful.

Those are al ‘ayn and hasad.

Two realities that are misunderstood by many, and ignored by many more!

What are they? What are the consequences of them? How do I protect myself and my loved ones from them?

Let’s talk about it…

What Is the Evil Eye (Al ‘Ayn)?

Ibn Abbas narrates that the Prophet ﷺ said:

“The evil eye is real.”

[Sahih Muslim]

Al ‘ayn, commonly translated as “the evil eye”, refers to harm that befalls someone due to another person’s gaze, often one of admiration or amazement.

Surprisingly, it is not always sinful, and does not require jealousy or bad intentions.

It can even come from a loved one: a parent admiring their child, a friend impressed by your achievement.

That’s why the scholars have recommended saying “MashaAllah” or “TabarakAllah” when we see something we like or receive good news:

Whether it’s seeing your own children, your neighbor’s new car, or hearing that a friend or relative has gotten married.

Always bring the blessings you see in yourself and others back to Allah, recognize that He is The Provider, and He gifts whom He wishes.

What Is Envy (Hasad)?

Hasad is more toxic. It is when someone wishes a blessing would be taken away from someone else. It’s fueled by hatred, comparison, and resentment.

Unlike the evil eye, hasad always comes from a malicious place and is considered a major sin. It can lead to backbiting, sabotage, and even greater harm.

Envy is an Ugly Garment, Never Wear it!

When people speak of the dangers of hasad, they often focus on the external side; envy and jealousy from other people.

But what lives in the hearts of others is not in your control…

What is in your control is what lives in your own heart.

So be mindful of protecting your heart from harboring hasad towards others.

As the Prophet ﷺ told us:

“Beware of envy, for it consumes good deeds just as fire consumes wood.”

[Sunan Abu Dawud]

Imam al Qurtubi highlights 5 ways that a person of envy is actually opposing Allah!

They are:

1. Resenting Allah’s Distribution of Blessings

The envier questions, “Why did they get this and not me?” as if Allah’s decisions are unjust.

2. Opposing Allah’s Decisions

The hasid is not just disappointed, they actively detest that Allah has blessed someone else.

3. Wishing for the Failure of the Righteous

Envy sometimes targets people doing good. Even scholars and those involved in da’wah can fall into this trap, desiring the downfall of others who are beloved by Allah.

4. Assisting Shaytan with Their Hatred

By harboring envy and animosity, the hasid becomes a tool of Shaytan, spreading negativity and division.

5. Exposing Themselves to Allah’s Wrath

Envy leads to spiritual corruption.

Hasan al Basri said:

“I have never seen an oppressor who resembles the oppressed more than the envier.” They harm others yet constantly feel like victims, burdened by grief.

Daily Habits to Protect Yourself

Protection does not come in the form of bracelets and amulets which, unfortunately, are widespread in many cultures.

Protection comes from Allah, and is about consistent spiritual habits.

Here are

✅ Daily Adhkar (Remembrances)

Recite the morning and evening adhkar, and encourage your family to do so!

Two powerful chapters of the Quran you should recite every morning and evening are Surah al Falaq and Surah al Nas.

✅ Say “MashaAllah” & “TabarakAllah”

When admiring blessings and success in your own life or others, say “MashaAllah”- Allah has willed it- to prevent harm.

✅ Gratitude is your fortress!

One of the most powerful weapons against hasad is shukr (gratitude). Allah promises:

“And (remember) when your Lord proclaimed, ‘If you are grateful, I will certainly give you more. But if you are ungrateful, surely My punishment is severe.”

[Quran, 14:7]

Gratitude isn’t just words, it’s action: it is to use your blessings (health, wealth, family, time) in ways that Allah loves.

Avoid flaunting personal blessings, especially without spiritual protection. Not everyone watching has pure intentions.

Should I hide my good news?

Some people go to extremes, downplaying or hiding their blessings entirely out of fear.

But is this the right approach

While caution is wise, excessive fear of hasad expresses distrust in the protection of Allah, and a culture of people hiding their good news can deprive the community of positive examples.

If everyone with a happy and healthy marriage were to hide it, and only people with toxic marriages spoke up, then what image would that create in the minds of young people?

Principles for Social media

Share with good intentions:

Sharing good news should not be for the sake of likes and attention; that is showing off and is disliked.

But if the intention is the inspire and uplift others, and express gratitude to Allah, then it can be praiseworthy.

Share with emotional intelligence:

Not every occasion is an appropriate time to share your success.

When you know someone is going through a divorce, talking about your wedding may not be wise.

When a person has just been laid off from work, that

Be mindful:

Not everyone watching your story has the best intentions for you, especially strangers.

Protect, Don’t Panic

The evil eye and envy are real, but so is Allah’s protection. Islam gives us practical tools to safeguard our lives. So instead of fearing people, fear Allah, trust Him, and use the adhkar He taught you.

“And they do not harm anyone except by the permission of Allah.”
[Quran, 2:102]

وَصَلَّى اللَّهُ وَبَارَكَ عَلَىٰ سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ

8 Principles of Seeking Marriage

AlMaghrib — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 10:00:05 GMT

I testify there is no God but Allah alone, without any partners, and that Muhammad, ﷺ, is His servant and messenger.”

Welcome to the Friday Khutbah! A weekly series on the AlMaghrib Journal, based on sermons delivered by our esteemed instructors! We hope you find it beneficial!

Marriage is half of our Deen, and choosing the person who will share that journey with you is one of the greatest decisions you ever make.

Yet many of our youth today are disheartened, even fearful of the idea of marriage. We find across communities that the rate of marriage keeps sliding while divorce is rising.

Much of this fear comes from hearing only horror stories: broken homes, betrayal, abuse, and much more.

Yet we hardly talk about the many positive, happy, and loving marriages around us, because healthy marriages don’t make headlines.

It is important in these times to not be disheartened by what we see around us and to have husn ad-dhann (good opinion) of Allah. As He has told us in a Hadith Qudsi:

“I am as My servants expects of Me. If he thinks good of Me, he will have it. If he thinks evil of Me, he will have it.” [Sahih ibn Hibban]

The question is, how do our young people today find the right spouse for them?

Here are eight principles for you to keep in mind when seeking a potential spouse:

Piety Is the Non‑Negotiable Foundation

The Messenger ﷺ said:

“The life of this world is enjoyment, and the best enjoyment is a righteous spouse.” [Sahih Muslim]

From these statements, we learn that taqwa is not a luxury add‑on; it is the bedrock upon which all other qualities rest.

If the person standing before you ignores their obligations towards Allah, then every other attraction; beauty, wealth, lineage is worthless.

Likewise, ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab (R.A) famously said:

“Marry your daughter to a man who fears Allah; if he loves her he will honor her, and if he dislikes her, he will never wrong her.”

A God‑fearing husband or wife safeguards your honour in the best and worst of times, whether the passion between you is high or low, because they are always mindful of Allah.

Let Heart and Mind Walk Together

Attraction is a key part of marriage, and must be considered, but it goes beyond physical appearances.

Outward beauty fades, but character and personality, they last a lifetime.

You must ask yourself two questions at the same time:

*Does my heart lean toward this person?*

*Does my mind respect this person’s character and conduct?*

Too many marriages collapse over people chasing desires instead of reason.

Do not expect a post-nikkah transformation

“He will start praying after marriage.”

“She will wear her hijab eventually.”

These assumptions lead to disastrous marriages.

Like buying a house, hoping the foundations will magically fix themselves.

Yes, all of us are imperfect, and everyone has room to grow, but having the foundations of your faith in place is a non-negotiable.

If your prospective spouse cannot change for the sake of Allah, do not expect them to change for you.

The “Opposites Attract” Myth

Outward contrasts; tall with short, introverted with extroverted, may be charming, but that does not mean all opposites attract.

Different temperaments, values, and levels of eman can often spell disaster in a relationship.

Make sure there is alignment in those areas first, and the rest will follow.

Be Brutally Honest Before the Contract, Not After

Concealing essential truths; debt, diseases, prior marriages, children, is a form of treachery, because you have stolen your spouse’s right to informed consent.

Some of these issues may be sensitive and hard to admit, but if you know a present issue or even a past sin will negatively affect your potential spouse, it is your responsibility to inform them.

Whatever could harm your future spouse later must be revealed now.

Consent Cannot Be Coerced

Parents, you may advise, guide, and even *plead*, but you may not *force*.

Unfortunately we find forced engagements even in our communities today. “Marry your cousin or lose my financial help.”

Such pressure hollows out the blessing Allah places in a union.

When a young woman once refused every suitor her father brought, the Prophet ﷺ supported her right to understand her duties before she agreed.

Consent is not a cultural courtesy; it is a principle of our Deen.

Seek Compatibility, Not Perfection

In a famous hadith, the Prophet ﷺ listed four motives that often drive marriage:

wealth, lineage, beauty, and religion

He ﷺ did *not* dismiss the first three; he simply prioritised the fourth.

The more overlap you share in education, culture, life goals, even sense of humour, the more tranquillity you will find.

Perfection, however, belongs in Jannah.

Look for someone whose shortcomings you can live with, so long as their foundations in faith are strong, and whose strengths complement yours, then anchor both hearts in shared obedience to Allah.

Du’a and Due Diligence

After everything, pray and investigate.

Perform Salat al-Istikhara regularly, begging Allah to guide your heart, and then do your homework.

Ask elders, friends, and teachers about the prospective spouse’s real life, and do not simply take things for granted.

Those few conversations today can save you from years of grief.

When Allah opens a door, enter it with confidence; when He closes one, walk away with gratitude.

And remember the Qur’anic du’a:

“Our Lord, grant us from our spouses and offspring a comfort to our eyes, and make us leaders for the righteous.”

Qur’an 25:74

May Allah bless every seeker with a partner who turns the home into a sanctuary of love, mercy, and mutual taqwa, and may He make our choices a ladder to His pleasure.

Your Nafs: Shaytan’s Battleground

AlMaghrib — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 10:30:05 GMT

I testify there is no God but Allah alone, without any partners, and that Muhammad, ﷺ, is His servant and messenger.”

Welcome to the Friday Khutbah! A weekly series on the AlMaghrib Journal, based on sermons delivered by our esteemed instructors! We hope you find it beneficial!

Some of the ‘Ulema called the nafs “the most intense battleground of any human being.”

Conquer it, and no other struggle will overwhelm you.

Fail to recognise it as your adversary, and you will continue to pass the blame elsewhere; toward the Shaytan, the evil eye, or even black magic.

Our first enemy is not an external devil but the undisciplined soul that clamours for immediate gratification.

Stop Shifting Blame: Shaytan Can’t Control You

The Shaytan is al-waswas al-khannas, the insidious whisperer who retreats the moment we remember Allah.

A single adhan, a short recitation of Quran, or the phrase “aʿudhu billah” sends him fleeing.

His power over you is limited to nothing more than whispers, at the end of the day, whether or not you listen to those whispers is your own choice.

On the Day of Judgement, the Shaytan will declare:

“…I did not have any authority over you. I only called you, and you responded to me. So do not blame me; blame yourselves…” [Quran, 14:22]

Accountability and the Master Istighfār

When you constantly blame outside forces for your faults, your spiritual growth stalls.

The Quran never attributes human sin to someone else. Even when our father Adam (A.S) ate from the forbidden tree, the Quran says “Adam disobeyed his Lord” [Quran 20:121].

The Prophet ﷺ told us:

“All of the children of Adam are sinners, and the best sinners are those who repent.” [Sunan at-Tirmidhi]

As such, he ﷺ taught us many supplications to invoke Allah’s mercy and forgiveness, among them Sayyid al-Istighfār, the best way of seeking forgiveness, and an integral part of this du’a is recognizing your own mistakes: abuʾu bi dhambi “I acknowledge all my sins.”

Progress begins with owning your mistakes.

Your Lifelong Jihad Against Yourself

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ defined the true mujahid not as the warrior on horseback but as “the one who struggles against his own nafs in obedience to Allah.” Likewise, he described the real muhajir (emigrant) as the person who abandons sins. Such inner jihad is never-ending; discipline cannot be seasonal or selective.

Desire and Discipline

Discipline is not simply avoiding the haram, but having self-control even with the halal.

ʿUmar ibn al-Khattab once saw a Companion hurrying through the marketplace to buy meat, and he admonished him for how overly eager he seemed, “Every time you desire something, you buy it?”

Nothing haram was involved, yet ʿUmar’s point was clear: train yourself not to obey every impulse.

The Prophet ﷺ warned us:

“The worst vessel the son of Adam fills is his stomach.” [Sunan Ibn Majah]

He ﷺ then advised that only a few bites are needed to stand upright and that if we must fill it, to leace one-third for food, one-third for drink, one-third for air. That is a maximum, not a baseline.

Physical excess breeds spiritual lethargy. Eat heavily and you will sleep heavily—then worship lightly. Everyone who has faced tarāwīḥ after a light ifṭār knows how effortless the prayer feels; everyone who has prayed after a bloated meal knows the opposite. Some even gain weight in the very month set aside to teach restraint, or find themselves nauseated in sujūd because of overindulgence. Such incidents expose a lack of discipline that Ramadan is meant to heal.

Perseverance that Terrifies the Devil

Our goal should be that when Shaytan sees us in such consistent obedience to Allah, he ultimately despairs and leaves us alone.

Continuous obedience is both self-discipline and a repellent to the Devil.

“O Allah, let us recognise truth as clear truth and grant us the strength to follow it. Let us recognise falsehood as clear falsehood and grant us the strength to abstain from it.”

The Secret to Positivity

AlMaghrib — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 10:12:37 GMT

This article is based on a khutbah delivered by Dr Waleed Basyouni. Watch the original sermon here

I testify there is no God but Allah alone, without any partners, and that Muhammad, ﷺ, is His servant and messenger.”

Welcome to the Friday Khutbah! A weekly series on the AlMaghrib Journal, based on sermons delivered by our esteemed instructors! We hope you find it beneficial!

In our Deen, optimism is more than “positive thinking”. Islam provides us with practical guidance on maintaining a positive outlook that is rooted in hope with an understanding of the nature of this life, one that keeps us both spiritually and psychologically grounded.

What are some of the ways our Deen helps us combat negative emotions?

Here are just a few examples:

The Walk of the Believers

There is a deep connection between how you present yourself and your internal sense of optimism and self-worth.

While we may not have complete control over our physical appearance, we absolutely have control over our style and how we carry ourselves. Our Shari’ah emphasizes the importance of dressing well and maintaining good personal hygiene – not out of vanity, but as a means of cultivating self-respect and positive energy.

The Quran provides us with beautiful descriptions of how believers conduct themselves. In Surah Al-Furqan, one of the first characteristics mentioned about the righteous is their manner of walking. They neither walk with arrogance nor do they walk as if they were lifeless or defeated.

There’s a powerful story about Umar ibn al-Khattab (رضي الله عنه) that illustrates this point perfectly. When he saw someone walking with his head down, shoulders hunched, and dragging his feet, Umar struck him with his staff and said: “لا تمت علينا ديننا يا هذا” – “Don’t make our religion appear dead!”

As the Arabic saying goes: “إِنَّ وَاثِقَ الْخُطَى يَمْشِي مَلِكًا وَلَوْ لَمْ يَكُن مُتَوَّجًا” – “When you walk with confidence and firm steps, you walk like a king, even if you’re not crowned.” This confident gait builds good self-esteem and projects positive energy to the world.

The Power of Personal Connection and Smiles

Human connection plays a vital role in building confidence and maintaining a positive outlook. There’s something powerful about a firm handshake, direct eye contact, and genuine human connection. These simple acts build confidence and lead to a more positive worldview.

Rasulullah ﷺ taught us the importance of smiling and maintaining a cheerful demeanor. A smile is not just a facial expression – it’s a tool that generates happiness within us, builds confidence, and creates positive energy that we can share with others.

We must be vigilant not to become those borderline grumpy individuals who drain the energy from every room they enter. Instead, we should cultivate and maintain our ability to smile genuinely, as it transforms not only our own internal state but also positively impacts everyone around us.

Optimism Is Not Denial of Reality

It’s crucial to understand that Islamic optimism is not about living in a fantasy world or ignoring life’s challenges. Many people might say, “You don’t understand my situation. My life is full of problems and difficulties. I have a sick child, I’m dealing with illness, I just lost my job, I’m in debt.”

The truth is, everyone has their own set of problems and challenges. However, Islamic optimism teaches us not to add another problem to our existing ones by dwelling in negativity. The key is to take things one step at a time.

Instead of constantly talking about your problems, start talking TO your problems. Begin dealing with them proactively. When you approach your challenges with a positive attitude, you’ll find yourself better equipped to overcome them.

How to Balance Optimism & Realism

True Islamic optimism means acknowledging that diseases exist while also believing that cures exist.

The Prophet ﷺ taught us:

“Allah has not created a disease without creating a cure for it, except for old age.” [Sunan Ibn Majah]

This profound teaching encapsulates our approach to optimism: it’s grounded in faith, realistic about challenges, yet hopeful about solutions.

As we strive to embody these teachings of optimism and positive outlook, let us remember our brothers and sisters who are facing trials around the world.

May Allah make us among those through whose hands He brings healing and happiness to hearts, families, and communities.

May Allah grant us success in this life and the next, and may He make the outcome of all the tragedies and calamities we witness in the world ultimately good for the believers.

Do These 7 Sunnahs on Friday

AlMaghrib — Fri, 19 Dec 2025 22:13:53 GMT

This article is based on a khutbah delivered by Shaykh Ammar AlShukry. Watch the original sermon here

I testify there is no God but Allah alone, without any partners, and that Muhammad, ﷺ, is His servant and messenger.”

Welcome to the Friday Khutbah! A weekly series on the AlMaghrib Journal, based on sermons delivered by our esteemed instructors! We hope you find it beneficial!

For many of us living in the West, the day of Jumu’ah is reduced to just another day of the week, with the exception of the Khutbah and the Salah.

Many of us are rushing too and from work, school, and other activities, so much that our minds are not present, and we cannot fully appreciate the blessings of this day.

It’s natural, and all of us need reminders, as Allah ﷻ says, “And remind, for indeed, the reminder benefits the believers” (Quran 51:55).

So, to bring back reverence for this day, here are seven essential etiquettes of Jumu’ah that can transform your Jumu’ah.

1. Recognize Friday as the Best Day of the Week

Friday isn’t just another day, it’s a weekly Eid, a celebration that deserves our enthusiasm. The Prophet ﷺ said in a hadith narrated by Abu Huraira:

“The best day on which the sun rises is Friday. On it Adam was created, on it he was entered into Paradise, on it he was expelled from it, and the Hour will not be established except on Friday.” (Sahih Muslim)

This isn’t merely historical significance; it’s a reminder that every Friday carries the weight of creation’s most pivotal moments.

2. Dress Well and Prepare Properly

The Prophet ﷺ told us:

“No man bathes on Friday, purifies himself as much as he can, applies oil to his hair or perfumes himself, then goes out (to the mosque) without separating two people, prays what is prescribed for him, and remains silent when the Imam speaks, except that his sins will be forgiven between that Friday and the next.”

(Sahih Bukhari)

Before asking yourself, “Do I know this already?” Ask instead: “Did I do this today?” Did you bathe, apply good fragrance, and dress in your finest clothes?

The fragrance of the congregation creates an atmosphere of reverence as beautiful as the architecture itself. Imagine if our entire community embraced this sunnah. What would that do for our collective experience?

While American work culture promotes “Casual Friday,” Allah ﷻ commands: “Take your adornment at every masjid” (Quran 7:31).

The Prophet ﷺ taught us that “Allah loves to see His blessing on His servant” (Tirmidhi). Even in the poorest villages, people save their finest garments for Jumu’ah.

3. Come Early to Maximize Reward

The Prophet ﷺ encouraged us to come as early as possible to the prayer, relaying to us the reward that comes with each our spent in the masjid:

First hour: Reward of offering a camel
Second hour: Reward of offering a cow
Third hour: Reward of offering a sheep
Fourth hour: Reward of offering a chicken
Fifth hour: Reward of offering an egg

The angels write the names of those entering before the khutbah begins, then close their scrolls when the imam starts speaking to listen to the remembrance of Allah.

Maybe you’re a student with Friday off, between jobs, or on vacation. This is your opportunity to earn rewards worth thousands of dollars through simple early arrival. Allah ﷻ says: “When you are called to prayer on Friday, then race to the remembrance of Allah” (Quran 62:9).

Don’t embody the quality of the hypocrites, whom Allah describes as coming to prayer lazily. Every week being late to Jumu’ah reveals a concerning pattern.

4. Focus on Prayer, Dhikr, and Quran

When you arrive early, maximize this blessed time. Engage in:

Voluntary prayers ( Some companions would pray 4, 10, even 17 rak’at while waiting)
Quran recitation, especially Surah Al-Kahf
Dhikr (remembrance of Allah)

The Prophet ﷺ said (reported by al-Hakim): “Whoever reads Surah Al-Kahf on Friday will have light between the two Fridays.” Even if you’re stuck in traffic afterward, use that time to recite while waiting to exit the parking lot.

5. Send Abundant Salam Upon the Prophet ﷺ

The Prophet ﷺ instructed us: “The best of your days is Friday, so send abundant salam upon me on Friday, for your salam is presented to me.”

The companions asked, “How is our salam presented to you after you have died?”

He replied: “Allah has forbidden the earth to consume the bodies of the prophets.” (Abu Dawud)

But how much is “abundant”? It depends on your level. Some don’t send salam even once on Friday, and for them, ten might feel like a lot. Others might need to push themselves to 100, 200, or even 1000. It’s a scale that moves according to your capacity, and that capacity will only increase with your effort.

6. Maintain Complete Silence During the Khutbah

The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever touches a pebble has committed vain speech.” (Sahih Muslim)

If touching a pebble during the khutbah negates your Jumu’ah reward, what about scrolling through your phone? As someone who delivers khutbahs, I observe people of all ages—young and old—unable to disconnect from their devices. I’ve seen elderly congregants buying and selling stocks during the sermon.

We’ve become a society addicted to our phones. Some might need to leave their devices in the car for those crucial 20 minutes. The khutbah has sanctity that demands our complete attention.

You cannot even correct someone doing something wrong during the khutbah—the only person you may speak to is the khatib himself, and only if absolutely necessary.

7. Take Advantage of the Hour When Dua is Accepted

The Prophet ﷺ taught us that there is an hour on Friday when Allah accepts dua. While scholars differ on the exact timing, many hold it’s the last hour of Friday, after Asr prayer. Don’t let this opportunity pass without making sincere supplication.

May Allah ﷻ allow us to hear these reminders and follow the best of them.

The Friday Khutbah · AlMaghrib Journals

5 Ways to Bring Barakah to Your Life

Blessed Places: Sanctuaries of Divine Grace

Blessed People: The Prophets and Their Legacy

Recognizing Barakah in Our Lives

Practical Ways to Seek Barakah

1. Cultivating Taqwa (God-Consciousness)

2. Honesty in Transactions

3. Constant Remembrance of Allah

4. Unity and Togetherness

5. Establishing Justice

The Path Forward

6 Etiquettes of Seeking Knowledge

1. Sincerity

2. Implementation

3. Teaching

4. Du’a

5. Taqwa

6. Patience

Why we send salam upon the Prophet ﷺ

Five Virtues of Sending Salah Upon the Prophet ﷺ

1. It Is Highly Recommended on Friday

2. It Removes Burdens, Erases Sins, and Solves Problems

3. It Brings You Close to the Prophet ﷺ

4. It Is His Right Upon Us

5. It Is an Etiquette of Dua

How to Send Salah Upon the Prophet ﷺ

The Dangers of Gossip & Rumours

The Sunnah of being neighborly

Allah’s Love for Those Who Visit Each Other

The Angel on the Road

Responding to Invitations

The Unique Value of Home Visits

The Etiquettes of Being a Guest

The Right to Decline Visitors

Why Invitations Sometimes Stop

Who Deserves Our Visits Most?

Bringing Happiness to a Muslim

Why fast on ‘Ashura?

10 Ways to Gain Reward in Salah

1. Khushu: The Foundation of Rewarding Prayer

2. Praying the Sunnah Prayers

3. Praying in Congregation

4. Arriving Early to the Masjid

5. Walking to the Masjid

6. Performing Wudu Properly

7. Reciting the Adhkar After Salah

8. Praying at the Earliest Time

9. Lengthening Your Recitation, Bowing, and Prostration

10. Guarding Your Intention

Evil Eye & Envy: Your Guide to Protection

What Is the Evil Eye (Al ‘Ayn)?

What Is Envy (Hasad)?

Envy is an Ugly Garment, Never Wear it!

1. Resenting Allah’s Distribution of Blessings

2. Opposing Allah’s Decisions

3. Wishing for the Failure of the Righteous

4. Assisting Shaytan with Their Hatred

5. Exposing Themselves to Allah’s Wrath

Daily Habits to Protect Yourself

✅ Say “MashaAllah” & “TabarakAllah”

✅ Gratitude is your fortress!

✅ Be Mindful on Social Media

Should I hide my good news?

If you share good news online, remember…

Protect, Don’t Panic

8 Principles of Seeking Marriage

Your Nafs: Shaytan’s Battleground

Stop Shifting Blame: Shaytan Can’t Control You

Accountability and the Master Istighfār

Your Lifelong Jihad Against Yourself

Desire and Discipline

Perseverance that Terrifies the Devil

The Secret to Positivity

The Walk of the Believers

The Power of Personal Connection and Smiles

Optimism Is Not Denial of Reality

How to Balance Optimism & Realism

Do These 7 Sunnahs on Friday

1. Recognize Friday as the Best Day of the Week