Radio Islam Newsletter

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Sources of Barakah (Blessings)

9. Halal income/money: Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam said: "O people, Allah is good and He therefore, accepts only that which is good" Scholars refer this to Halal income and the importance of Halal income. A scholar also said that the one who eats Haram his limbs will disobey Allah whether he likes it or not, and the one who eats Halal and seeks Halal income his limbs will also do good and would be given the permission to seek goodness.

This concept of your limbs being "blessed" and enabled to do good, is truly a blessing and a barakah we should all seek. Reminds me of a story of the old man, who jumped a large distance that young people couldn't do. So when the young men asked the old man how he did it, he replied: "These are limbs, we've protected it from doing sins when we were young, so Allah preserved them from us when we got old"

10. Following the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad in all things: I've said it once and I'll say it again, the most Productive Man in the history of humanity is Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam, therefore, by just following his lifestyle and the sunnahs we so often hear about, is a great source of Barakah!

Some of these sunnahs include: Eating Suhoor, eating with the right hand from the side of the plate, going out for Eid Salat, licking your fingers after finishing eating, sleeping on your right hand side, using the siwaak, and many more. Look out for these sunnahs and follow them, for imitating the life of the most blessed man on earth, is surely a source of blessing!

11. Praying Istikhara: Praying istikhara in all matters and handing over the matters to Allah and accepting his decree is a great source of barakah. And Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam has taught us a beautiful dua which helps us make decisions and not regret the choices we make with the permission of Allah. One who seeks guidance from his Creator and consults his fellow believers and then remains firm in his resolve does not regret for Allaah has said: ‘…and consult them in the affair. Then when you have taken a decision, put your trust in Allaah…"

12. Giving thanks to Allah in abundance: Allah says in the Quran: "If ye are grateful, I will add more (favours) unto you" A scholar once told me if you look into this verse, the Arabic word that is used to confirm that Allah will favours unto the person who thanks Allah is actually in the form of an Oath "La azidannakum" so Allah is promising the person who thanks Him that He'll increase him, and Allah never breaks his promises.

13. Charity: In the Hadeeth Qudusi, Allah says: "O son of Adam, spend (in charity), and I'll spend on you!" Whenever you are broke, or you feel barakah is zapped out of our life and urgently need it back, the quickest of way of getting barakah in your life is giving charity. Not only because of the above hadeeth, but let's say barakah has been removed from your life because of a sin you've committed, charity cleanses your sins and adds good deeds and is truly a source of barakah.

14. Tying your ties of kinship: Narrated by Abu Huraira Radiyallahu Anhu: Nabi Sallallahu alaihi Wa Sallam has said, "Allah created His creation, and when He had finished it, the womb, got up and caught hold of Allah whereupon Allah said, "What is the matter?' On that, it said, ‘I seek refuge with you from those who sever the ties of Kith and kin.' On that Allah said, ‘Will you be satisfied if I bestow My favors on him who keeps your ties, and withhold My favors from him who severs your ties?' On that it said, ‘Yes, O my Lord!' Then Allah said, ‘That is for you.' " Abu Huraira Radiyallahu Anhu added: If you wish, you can recite: "Would you then if you were given the authority. do mischief in the land and sever your ties ofkinship."

15. Waking up early: Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam said: "Allah made the early hours blessed for my Ummah."

Try to wake up for Tahajjud, pray, and then work during the hours before Fajr Salaat and Tahajjud. If you can't, then at least wake up for Fajr and stay up till sunrise before you go back to sleep. Those hours are so blessed. If you're able to go to work in those hours, do so, you'll get much more work done than the whole day put together!

16. Marriage: Allah says in the Quran: "Marry those among you who are single, or the virtuous ones among yourselves, male or female: if they are in poverty, Allah will give them means out of His grace: for Allah encompasseth all, and he knoweth all things."

17. Salaat: Allah says in the Quran: "Enjoin prayer on thy people, and be constant therein. We ask thee not to provide sustenance: We provide it for thee. But the (fruit of) the Hereafter is for righteousness"

To illustrate the point of Salaat further, just imagine your life without salaat, where would Barakah come from? For those of you who are still wavering in their Salaat, please get back on track, this is your lifeline in this life and hereafter, and the daily food for your soul.

18. Asking Allah for forgiveness: Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam has said: "If anyone continually asks forgiveness from Allah, Allah will appoint for him a way out of every distress, and a relief from every anxiety, and will provide for him from where he did not reckon."

Source: www.productivemuslim.com