AMAU Newsletter

Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu,

All of us know the reality we are living in today: the Ummah is in one of its weakest states since the time of the Prophet ﷺ.

This should not surprise us, for the Prophet ﷺ informed us that such a time would come.

He ﷺ told us that the nations would gather against this Ummah just as people gather around a dish of food. When the Companions asked whether that would be because Muslims would be few in number, he ﷺ replied that we would, in fact, be many, but like the foam carried by a flood. He then explained the reason for this weakness: wahn – love of the Dunya and hatred of death.

He ﷺ also informed us that, generally, each generation after another would be lesser than the one before it. We were not born in the time of the Sahabah, nor the generations that followed them. We live far removed from the days of Revelation. Although goodness will remain in this Ummah until the Hour, ignorance has spread, Iman has weakened in many hearts, doubts and desires have become widespread, and attachment to the Dunya has become stronger than concern for the Akhirah.

The Prophet ﷺ also said that there would come a time when holding firmly to one’s religion would be like holding onto a burning ember. Allah knows best whether this is that time, but none of us can deny how difficult steadfastness has become.

Yet Allah did not leave us wondering why this happens.

“Indeed, Allah does not change the condition of a people until they change what is within themselves.” (Ar-Ra’d 13:11)

The Mufassirun explain that blessings are removed when people themselves change: from knowledge to ignorance, from Iman to Kufr, from obedience to disobedience, from gratitude to ingratitude, and from certainty to doubt.

Allah also says:

“Indeed, Allah does not wrong people in the least, but it is people who wrong themselves.” (Yunus 10:44)

The condition of the Ummah is inseparable from the condition of its people.

As Ibn Taymiyyah repeatedly explained, Allah grants honour, aid and victory according to His servants’ obedience to Him, and weakness follows when they turn away from His commands. Ibn al-Qayyim likewise wrote that the rectification of societies begins with the rectification of hearts, and that beneficial knowledge is the foundation upon which sincere worship and righteous action are built.

The Ummah is us.

If ignorance, sins, doubts and attachment to the Dunya become widespread among us, the Ummah becomes weaker. But when knowledge spreads, Tawheed is learnt and lived, the Sunnah is revived, and hearts become attached to the Akhirah, Allah brings rectification through His servants.

This is why seeking beneficial knowledge is never just a personal act of worship.

Through knowledge, a Muslim comes to know his Rabb. He learns how to worship Him correctly. He distinguishes truth from falsehood. He rectifies his Aqeedah, his worship, his character and his dealings with others.

Then that knowledge reaches others.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“Convey from me, even if it is one verse.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari 3461)

Every Muslim can teach a family member, remind a friend, encourage someone towards goodness, or simply become an example through sincere worship and righteous character. This is how Allah has always preserved His religion: through ordinary believers who learnt, acted upon what they knew, and passed it on.

Many of them were never famous.

Their names may have been forgotten by the people, yet Allah allowed their efforts to benefit generations after them.

Every one of us can be part of that legacy.

Perhaps you have wondered what you can do for the Ummah.

Its rectification will not happen overnight. It begins with individuals who return to Allah upon knowledge, sincerity and obedience. Every person who replaces ignorance with knowledge, doubts with certainty, and sins with repentance strengthens this Ummah by the permission of Allah.

So begin with yourself.

Learn your religion from authentic sources. Worship Allah upon knowledge. Act upon what you learn. Then pass on whatever good Allah blesses you with.

The journey you begin today may, by Allah’s permission, become a source of guidance not only for you, but for your family, your community, and generations yet to come.


I Want To Start Today I Am Okay With My State
Barakallahu feekum,
Team AMAU

Supplication with Hope

In Surah Kahf, we learn about the story of the young men who fled their homes for the security of their imaan. When the young believers took shelter in the cave to preserve their imaan, they made the following duaa:

“Our Lord, grant us from Yourself mercy and prepare for us from our affair right guidance.”

(Surah Kahf, 10)

Their supplication was accompanied by full trust in Allah as well as a profound sense of hope – hope coupled with firm belief that Allah will answer their duaa. In verse 16 of Surah Kahf, Allah informs us one of them said to the other that once they have withdrawn from their people and retreated to the cave, Allah will spread out His mercy on them.

This shows us they had positive thoughts about Allah. They were optimistic and had hope. They did their part of striving and then put their trust in Allah to set their affairs right.

What happened? Allah answered their duaa. Allah SWT protected the young men by taking care of their affairs in an unimaginable way. They were made to fall asleep for 309 years, shielding them from persecution.

A Temporary Life

Surah Nahl, 96

This world is temporary and fleeting; our lives, possessions, families, and homes will inevitably come to an end. However, with Allah SWT are the everlasting treasures of the Hereafter.

Consider this: Do you wish to live solely for the present world, or would you prefer to utilize it as a means to attain Paradise?

Free yourself from worldly attachments. If you seek eternal wealth, dedicate it in the path of Allah. If eternal youth is your desire, invest it in Allah’s cause. Whatever you give in Allah’s way, that will remain. 

Istaghfar: Door to Many Blessings

Surah Hud, 3
Surah Hud, 52

The benefits of istaghfar are great. As stated in the above ayah, Allah will send down rain from the sky to fulfill one’s needs. He will increase us in strength and grant provision in this life for the one who seeks His Forgiveness. We all make mistakes, big and small. Yet it’s essential we seek Allah’s forgiveness frequently, turn back to Him, and change our ways. Keep your tongues moist by seeking Allah’s Forgiveness. Istaghfar opens the door to many blessings.

Ways to Jannah 

By which Allāh guides those who pursue His pleasure to the ways of peace and brings them out from darknesses into the light, by His permission, and guides them to a straight path (Surah Ma’idah:16)

The Quran enlightens a person by making the person more focused on the Hereafter. Allah guides people through the Quran. Through the Quran, a person knows what he has to do in order to make Allah happy. As he reads the Quran, it shakes him and reminds him. The person develops the desire to become a better believer. With the desire to improve, Allah SWT gives that person the ability to act upon the knowledge. 

Such people are ones who pursue Allah’s Pleasure. Allah SWT guides them to ways of security and safety. Ultimate peace and security can only be found in Paradise, not this world. 

Allah guides them to ways that will allow them to enter Jannah.  Notice how the plural form (ways) is used, not the singular form. There is not just one way to Jannah. There are many righteous deeds that lead one to Jannah. Jannah has many gates. People who fast will enter Paradise through one gate. People who give sadqah will enter through the gate of sadqah. Others will be invited through the gate of Salah.  

Every person has a unique set of talents. One person may be good at giving dawah. Another person may be excellent in teaching the Quran. Some are excellent in fasting. Others generously give sadqah. There is always one act a person excels in. Through that act and striving, he is keen to attain Allah’s pleasure.

But a person can only do this through the Quran. Once he reads the Quran, he will get ideas.

Allah brings such a person out from darkness into light. He will discover opportunities to do good. He will see more and more chances to perform righteous deeds. 

The Quran takes a person out from kufr to Islam. From ignorance to knowledge. It takes a person out of bidah to Sunnah. It takes a person to the Straight Path. 

FIRST 10 DAYS OF DHUL HIJJAH REMINDER:

Build your connection with the Quran. Recite it. Understand it. Reflect and think about its meanings. Use these blessed days to connect with the Book of Allah. The past nations rejected and neglected the reminders from Allah swt. They neglected their Books. Let’s take lessons from the past and take heed.

It is proven in the saheeh Sunnah that the Qur’an will intercede for its companions on the Day of Resurrection. Muslim (804) narrated that Abu Umaamah al-Baahili said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) say:

“Read the Qur’aan, for it will come on the Day of Resurrection interceding for its companions.”

Just as the Qur’an will intercede for its companions on the Day of Resurrection, it will also testify against those who went against it by neglecting it, ignoring its obligations and transgressing against the limits it set. Muslim (223) narrated that Abu Maalik al-Ash‘ari said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said:

“The Qur’aan is evidence for you or against you.”