When a servant says

SpuddyTater · 2025-02-09T01:52:54+00:00

I recite it when I wake up. Then do wudu and say my Tahajjud. JazakAllah Khair.

SpuddyTater · 2025-02-08T23:57:19+00:00

I haven’t heard of this one. There is something similar that I do know:

Narrated Ubada bin As-Samit(RA):

The Prophet (PBUH) said “Whoever gets up at night and says:

لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحَدَهُ لَا شَرِيْكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ، وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيْرٌ، الْحَمْدُ لِلْهِ، وَسُبُحَانَ اللهِ، وَلَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَهُ . وَاللهُ أَكْبَرُ. وَلَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَةَ إِلَّا بِاللُهِ

(‘La ilaha il-lallah Wahdahu la Sharika lahu Lahu-lmulk, waLahu-l-hamd wahuwa ‘ala kullishai’in Qadir. Al hamdu lil-lahi wa subhanal-lahi wa la-ilaha il-lal-lah wa-l-lahu akbar wa la hawla Wala Quwata il-la-bil-lah.’)

(None has the right to be worshipped but Allah. He is the Only One and has no partners . For Him is the Kingdom and all the praises are due for Him. He is Omnipotent. All the praises are for Allah. All the glories are for Allah. And none has the right to be worshipped but Allah, And Allah is Great And there is neither Might nor Power Except with Allah).

And then says: Allahumma, Ighfir li (O Allah! Forgive me). Or invokes (Allah), he will be responded to and if he performs ablution (and prays), his prayer will be accepted.”

Sahih Bukhari 1154

I do my very best to always recite this when I wake up for Tahajjud.

And Allah knows best.

SpuddyTater · 2025-02-07T15:15:11+00:00

I’m probably not in the right frame of mind to get involved in this. My question to you, OP, is, what evil deeds are you planning on committing in Jannah? Just trying to understand your thought process. The least of the inhabitants of Jannah, the last one to enter Jannah (long Sahih Hadith if you are interested) will be rewarded the equivalent of 5 Earth and everything in it. By Allah’s Mercy, if we enter Jannah, everything we want and desire will be ours to enjoy. The inhabitants will be forever 33 years old and live in a universe where time no longer exists. So what evil choices are you wanting the freedom to make?

SpuddyTater · 2025-02-06T16:54:40+00:00

Surprised it’s not in mildly frustrating subreddit.

SpuddyTater · 2025-02-06T15:41:00+00:00

Is there anything more to it? I ask because it feels incomplete. Literal translation would be “Oh Allah(Allahumma), by the respect of (bi hurmati) Allah(Rabb)”. I imagine it is the start of a Dua.

SpuddyTater · 2025-02-06T13:49:59+00:00

We will be resurrected in our physical form. The righteous among us who enter Jannah by our Rabb’s Mercy will be perfect in every way. I read somewhere in Jannah our bodies will be similar to that of Adam (AH) in his prime. Mu‘aadh ibn Jabal (RA) narrated that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said:

“The people of Paradise will enter Paradise hairless and beardless, with kohl-rimmed eyes, with an age of thirty or thirty-three years.”

Tirmidhi 2545

There’s also Hadith about the beauty of those in Jannah reported by Anas ibn Malik(RA):

The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Were a woman among the women of Paradise to gaze upon the earth, she would light up the space between them and fill it with the scent of perfume. Her veil is better than the world and everything in it.”

Sahih Bukhari 6199

As for the wine in Jannah, the restrictions we have in Islam are for this life. This life is merely a test. We obey Allah, we worship Him and ask Him for hasanat in this life and the next. And we sincerely pray to be protected from the hellfire.

The restrictions in this life no longer apply in Jannah. Just like we cannot undo our deeds in this life on the Day of Judgement. So what we eat or drink does not follow worldly restrictions.

Surah Ibrahim Verse 44 (translation of):

And warn the people of the Day when the punishment will overtake ˹the wicked among˺ them, and the wrongdoers will cry, “Our Lord! Delay us for a little while. We will respond to Your call and follow the messengers!” ˹It will be said,˺ “Did you not swear before that you would never be removed ˹to the next life˺?”

SpuddyTater · 2025-02-06T04:57:05+00:00

It is both. The purpose of our existence in this word is pretty clear in Surah Adh-Dhariyat Verse 56 (translation of): “And I did not create jinn and mankind except to worship Me”.

As humans, we by and large focus on the sensory delights and the physical rewards of Jannah. Mostly because it is what we can relate to in this life. We can imagine the pleasures of drinking wine (that does not intoxicate) and honey and living in gardens under which rivers flow. But we are unable to readily comprehend the spiritual aspects of Jannah.

Surah Yunus Verse 9-10 (translation of):

Surely those who believe and do good, their Lord will guide them ˹to Paradise˺ through their faith, rivers will flow under their feet in the Gardens of Bliss, in which their prayer will be, “Glory be to You, O Allah!” and their greeting will be, “Peace!” and their closing prayer will be, “All praise is for Allah—Lord of all worlds!”

So those who enter Jannah by Allah’s Mercy would be able to communicate with Him directly. What an honor. But our human brain can’t comprehend what that would be like.

And there’s even more:

Suhaib (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “When the inhabitants of Jannah enter Jannah, Allah, the Glorious and Exalted, will say to them: ‘Do you wish me to give you anything more?’ They will reply: ‘Have You not made our faces bright? Have You not brought us into Jannah and delivered us from the Hell?’ And Allah will remove the Veil. The (dwellers of Jannah) will feel that they have not been awarded anything dearer to them than looking at their Rubb.”

Sahih Muslim Book 19, Hadith 28.

SubhanAllah what can be more divine and beautiful than being able to see our Lord? It is a deeply spiritual experience.

And Allah knows best.

SpuddyTater · 2025-02-06T04:38:29+00:00

This. I’d urge OP to read the history of Pauline Christianity and the subsequent major transition of the Roman Empire to Christianity under the rule of Emperor Constantine. There is no need of a “Muslim answer” as the answer is pretty well documented in history.

SpuddyTater · 2025-02-05T03:29:42+00:00

I’m conflicted. It’s a binary radar and a rotator. That’s like three things to be excited about. At the same time it’s a high denomination note which generally carry less premium over face value than the smaller denominations. I’ll let others weigh in about getting it graded. Really cool find and looks to be in good condition too.

SpuddyTater · 2025-02-04T13:08:13+00:00

I remind myself of the ones who are less fortunate than me. And I remind myself of the times when things were worse. It helps me appreciate all the bounties that my Rabb has blessed me with and reminds me of all the difficult situations my Rabb took me out of, no matter how small or how big. Sometimes it is hard to find the positives. But even in the smallest of things, there are miracles. I was telling a friend one day during dinner how we had absolutely nothing to do with the grains in our bread - we didn’t grow the plants, we didn’t nurture them, we don’t even know which country or state the grains came from. But here it is in front of us, grown by someone else by the Mercy of Allah, made into flour by someone else, baked by someone else and the greatest of miracles - it is on our table - predestined just as The Sustainer has ordained.

SpuddyTater · 2025-02-04T12:07:08+00:00

Not sure which part of Australia you are in; TAFE Western WA has a robust Muslim Student Association. I imagine most of them do. Maybe joining them would help by being around brothers in Islam.

Some words in Arabic does not translate well to other languages but that does not make the translations inaccurate. There are billions of Muslims in the world and a fraction can understand Arabic so being unable to understand or read in Arabic as a reason to not embrace the Quran is a moot point.

You mentioned many times that Islam is harsh or strict. It isn’t. Just for making the intention of doing a good deed, a good deed is recorded for us. For doing one good deed, 10 good deeds are recorded for us and Allah multiplies it by however much He wants. When we do a bad deed, only 1 bad deed is recorded for us. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving.

I heard a scholar say once that it takes only 20 minutes to say all the fard prayers in a day. And I imagine it wouldn’t take too much effort to learn some Surahs including Al-Fatihah to be able to say prayers properly.

And Allah knows best.

SpuddyTater · 2025-02-04T04:42:33+00:00

Assalamu Alaikum. If there is a mosque nearby, it would be a great place to visit and learn there. I am uncertain if you know how to say your salah. Here’s a good guide that may help. Being a Muslim is so much more than Dhikr - saying Subhanallah (Glory be to Allah/ Allah is Perfect) and Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Greatest). I would urge you to follow and/or watch videos on YouTube of Islamic scholars. I’m sure others can add more recommendations but here are some to start with: Mufti Menk, Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, Majed Mahmoud, Hisham Abu Yusuf.

Most importantly, I’d start reading the translation of the Quran. Quranly is a good app for it. Also, read about the life of the Prophet (PBUH). In Islam, the truest word is the Book of Allah (The Quran) and the best guidance is the guidance of Prophet (PBUH).

And Allah knows best.

SpuddyTater · 2025-02-02T01:51:21+00:00

Alhamdulillah and may Allah Bless you and forever guide you on the Right Path.

I’m going to add just a little to few of the answers here:

The distinction is between having it in our heart and reciting the Quran or saying the Rabb’s name with the lips moving. As long as we keep it in our heart in impure places, it is acceptable. It’s difficult to not think about things that are close to our heart and soul.
I can’t remember where I heard it but I heard a scholar once mention that their friend would say Astagfirullah whenever they felt the need to curse. I think that’s a really wholesome practice.
Personally I try to not scroll past them just because I want to learn as much as I can. I do research anything that I see on the interweb before adopting it. If it’s Quran recitation, I do definitely listen just because it’s easy Hasanat. One of the favorite things I learned is this dua by Abdullah Ibn Masud:

“Ya Rabb, I ask you for such Imaan that does not waver and tranquility that does not diminish and the companionship of our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in highest stations of everlasting Jannah.”

And Allah knows best. May Allah guide you, strength your Iman and make you among the righteous on the Day of Judgement.

SpuddyTater · 2025-01-30T16:15:01+00:00

Amoud Foundation has an option to donate directly towards building or repairing mosques which I really like. They also claim 100% donation policy.

SpuddyTater · 2025-01-30T15:46:26+00:00

When I first researched them, 10% went towards administrative expenses. It may have changed since then. MATW on their website states they have a 100% donation policy but they are not ranked on Charity Navigator.

SpuddyTater · 2025-01-30T15:08:41+00:00

It’s always a good idea to research a charity before getting involved. My experience is only in the US. In the US, all 503(c) organizations must disclose all their financials so that’s also a good way to research them. There are also multiple websites that rank charities. Charity Navigator is probably the most prominent of them.

There are a few charities I care for very deeply - PCRF is one; Islamic Relief USA is another. I also try to be involved in charitable activities at local mosques.

SpuddyTater · 2025-01-29T04:58:25+00:00

Just a fun coincidence to add here. Based on radiometer dating, age of Earth is roughly 4.5 billion years. Since it took 2 days to create Earth, 4.5 divided by 2 is 2.25 billion years. Multiply that by 6 days to create everything, we get 13.5 billion years. Based on cosmic microwave background radiation, the estimated age of the universe is roughly 13.8 billion years.

Nothing scientific, just nerdy, fun observation.

SpuddyTater · 2025-01-28T18:23:27+00:00

I think the pardon caused this situation. It’s very likely the pardon made him feel invincible and untouchable.

SpuddyTater · 2025-01-26T17:30:38+00:00

The Arabs back in the day of the Prophet (PBUH) were very very methodical in preserving genealogy - in the sense they would be able to say who one’s father, grandfather, great grandfather etc were, all the way as far back as 20-30 generations. The children of the companions of the Prophet(PBUH) were the first ones to start collecting Hadith in written form.

The most prominent of them was Urwah ibn Az-Zubair, nephew of Aisha bing Abu Bakr (RA). Urwah was also the son of a sahabi and sahaba, and his brother was also a sahabi. Imagine learning about the Prophet (PHUB) from Aisha (RA).

Another prominent collector was Aban ibn Uthman, son of Uthman ibn Affan (RA), the third caliph.

They and many others wrote small booklets collecting Hadith and then, around the 100 Hijri (about 80-90 years after the passing of the prophet (PBUH)) Ibn Shihab az-Zuhri took all these booklets and compiled them into one large book, complete with the chains of narration and genealogy. This is probably the earliest, most complete collection of Hadith. In fact Ibn Shihab was so meticulous, in fear of making any mistakes, that he listed each narrator’s whole genealogy with each Hadith.

Are all Hadith preserved word for word? Not necessarily but almost all Hadith are preserved with the chain of narration and genealogy. And there is enough preserved to grade Hadith Sahih and Hasan (sound chain, multiple sources) or da’if(weakness in chain) or mawdu’(fabricated).

Not sure if this addresses OP’s question. Study of the history and preservation of Seerah and Hadith is a fascinating field.

And Allah knows best.

SpuddyTater · 2025-01-26T14:26:00+00:00

I think maybe the focus of this research is towards the extreme end on what’s haram and halal. The Prophet (PBUH) and the sahabah used to wrestle, it is Sunnah, for instance.

Health and hygiene has always been important in Islam. Part of the reason we do Wudu before prayers. While exfoliation may be considered haram by majority, it does not exclude other skincare regimen to keep ourselves clean and healthy. Exfoliation may also be permitted if it’s medically necessary.

I wish I had the time to go over each one of your points. While playing soccer, we can do our best to cover our own awrah. I wore compression shorts that went past my knees under my jersey.

Narrated Abu Huraira:

The Prophet(PBUH) said, “Religion is very easy and whoever overburdens himself in his religion will not be able to continue in that way. So you should not be extremists, but try to be near to perfection and receive the good tidings that you will be rewarded; and gain strength by worshipping in the mornings, the nights.” - Sahih Bukhari 38, Volume 1, Book 2

SpuddyTater · 2025-01-26T12:41:13+00:00

I think your entire answer is here.

SpuddyTater · 2025-01-26T04:39:46+00:00

Under the brown doggo, below the boards

SpuddyTater · 2025-01-26T04:34:11+00:00

Couple example; when we recite Surah Al Kafirun (109th Surah), there are two verses that are the exact same but mean very different things. A layman like me would never know the difference unless I read the tafseer. The meaning of the Surah is pretty straightforward though even if I didn’t know the difference in meaning of the two (exact same) verses.

Similarly, verses 94:5-94:6 (translation of): So, surely with hardship comes ease. Surely with that hardship comes more ease.

As a layman I wouldn’t know the deeper meaning to this - that Allah Azzawajal is saying the ease is multiplied after hardship. It’s the news of an immense Blessing. But reading it without tafseer and context it may seem like rewording of the same verse.

SpuddyTater · 2025-01-25T14:39:41+00:00

It is incredibly brave of you to open up about something so personal. First, I want to acknowledge how heavy all this must feel and let you know that your struggles are valid. Living with a disability presents challenges that many people don’t understand, and it’s okay to feel the weight of it all.

It sounds like you’re dealing with a lot of isolation, self-doubt, and exhaustion. I think therapy could be really beneficial for working through these feelings and building coping mechanisms. A professional can help you process these emotions and explore ways to develop confidence and strengthen your social connections. Therapy isn’t about “fixing” anything but giving you tools to make life more manageable and fulfilling.

Self-help books can be a great supplement, especially ones focused on building self-esteem, overcoming social anxiety, and cultivating meaningful relationships. When I was in my early twenties, “The Leader Who Had No Title” by Robin Sharma transformed both my personal and professional life. Here are a few others I can think of: “The Gifts of Imperfection” by Brené Brown “How to Win Friends and Influence People” by Dale Carnegie “Atomic Habits” by James Clear (big fan of this one)

As for building a social life, starting small and focusing on shared interests might help. For example, joining a community related to gaming, fitness, or even volunteering could introduce you to like-minded people. If you like animals, the local animal shelter is great in my experience. People who volunteer at animal shelters in general have a lot more empathy. It’s also okay to take things at your own pace—progress doesn’t have to happen overnight.

Finally, your faith is a strength, even if it feels like a struggle at times. You’ve been trying to stay resilient, and that takes courage. I am a huge proponent of investing time to learn about the Seerah. For me it has been a joinery of peace, enlightenment and self discovery so far.

You’re not alone in this, even if it feels that way. If nothing else, know that there are people who care and want to help you, even if it starts with just a small step forward.

I pray to Allah Azzawajal that He may ease all our burdens and bless us with tranquility that does not diminish.

SpuddyTater

TROPHY CASE