Benefits of Generosity

Allah (SWT), the Wise, has said in the Noble Qur'an: 

"Give to your close relatives what they need, and also 

give generously to the destitute and to wayfarers. 

Do not squander your wealth; those who are wasteful 

are the brothers and sisters of Satan and Satan is always 

ungrateful to his Lord. But if, while waiting for the 

Lord's bounty, you are unable to help your relatives, 

the destitute and wayfarers, then at least speak kindly to them.

                                               " Surah Al-Isra (17:26-28)

It is narrated from Imam Musa Kadhim (as) that in Bani Israel 

was a righteous man who had a kind hearted wife.

One night this man dreamt that he was told that 

the Almighty Allah had fixed a particular life span for him. 

Half of it was to be in prosperity and other half in difficulties. 

He had the choice of whichever life he desired first and 

whichever condition he desires to have in the later life. 

The man requested for some time as he wanted to consult 

his wife as he had always sought her counsel in important matters.

Next day he related the dream to his wife who told him to 

ask for a prosperous life first. She said, "And hurry up to obtain it. 

May be Almighty Allah desires to grant us with His bounties." 

The next night when he was asked in his dream he said that 

he wished for prosperity in the earlier part of life. 

He was told that his wish shall be fulfilled.

Thus he began to receive all types of bounties and comforts. 

His wealth and property increased.

Then his wife said, "O slave of Almighty Allah! Now you help 

your relatives and other deprived people. Do good to them. 

Give that particular thing to that neighbour and something to 

that friend of yours."

This man followed the advice of his wife and was not stingy in 

giving his wealth in charity. In this way half the life passed. 

Again he dreamt of the same person and he was saying, 

"You were not stingy in charity, therefore the Almighty Allah had 

decided to grant you prosperity in the later half of your life also."

She refrained him from committing a Sin

There was a hermit in Bani Israel. He was absolutely free 

from sins. Upon seeing this, the head Satan (Shaitan) called

his cohorts and asked which one of them could mislead 

this man?

One of them volunteered and Satan asked what method he 

would use? He said through women. The head Satan told him 

that he would not succeed because the sage was oblivious to 

sexual pleasure.

Another Satan rose up and said he would deviate him through 

wine and sensuality. The head Satan said that he too was unsuitable

for this job because the sage was not interested in these things.

A third Satan stood up and said that he would cause him to err 

through good deeds and noble character. The head Satan said that

indeed he was fit for the job. This Satan, at once went to the place

where the sage was engrossed in his meditation, and stood up beside

him and began to pray Salah (Salat, Namaz). The sage was feeling 

sleepy but the Satan continued to perform prayers. When the sage 

got tired he would take a rest but the Satan did not take a break.

The sage felt himself inferior and went to the Satan to ask him the 

secret of his stamina in praying Salah (Salat, Namaz). The Satan did 

not give any reply and the sage reiterated his question. Yet there 

was no response from the Satan. When the sage asked him the 

third time the Satan said, "The fact is that I had committed a great sin 

(Gunah-e-Kabira) and since then whenever I remember my sin, I get 

impetus to worship more."

The sage asked him what sin he had committed so that even he can 

do it and gain the stamina to worship so much. The Satan said, 

"Go to a particular prostitute in the town, pay her two dirhams and 

fulfill your needs with her."

"From where can I get two dirhams?" asked the sage, "I don't even 

know what a Dirham means". The Satan took out two dirhams from 

under his feet and gave them to the sage and also gave him his 

cloak and sent him towards the city.

The sage sought the address of the prostitute. The people guided him

thinking that he was going to her to guide her towards morality. 

The sage gave the two dirhams to the woman and asked her to 

entertain him.

The prostitute invited him inside with respect and said, "Pious people

like you do not visit prostitutes. Why have you taken such a step?" 

The sage explained his aim in detail. The woman told him, "Actually, 

avoiding a sin is easier than repenting for it. Because it is not necessary

that a sinner will get a chance to repent. I think that the one who has

advised you for this is Satan, who has assumed a human form to 

mislead you. Go back to your place and you shall find him missing."

The sage returned home and by chance the prostitute died the

 same night. In the morning people saw the following inscribed on 

her door: "Take part in the funeral of this woman, she is from the 

people of Paradise."

The people fell into doubt and were so astounded that for three days 

they were not able to bury her. Till the Almighty Allah (SWT) 

revealed upon His Messenger, Musa Ibn Imran (as) [Prophet Moses (pbuh)] 

to recite her funeral prayer and also command the people to participate

 in it. "Because she had prevented a servant of Mine from committing 

a grievous sin. So I have forgiven all her sins and made Paradise 

incumbent on her."

Have you refrained anyone today from committing a sin? How fortunate

are those who practice Amar Bil Maroof (enjoining the right) and 

Nahi Anil Munkar (forbidding the wrong) everyday in an Islamic 

Society/Muslim Society.

No Escape From Death.. Real Life Story

Almighty Allah (SWT) made Prophet Solomon / Sulaiman (as) 

King of a vast kingdom, which included His entire creation. 

The Jinn and men obeyed his will and even the birds adhered 

to his commands, to the extent of using their wings to provide

 shelter for him. He was also given many other powers such as 

being able to talk to animals and control the wind so that it 

could carry him wherever he wished to go. 

Prophet Solomon (as) was blessed with an extraordinary power 

of perception and intelligence.

It is narrated that one day, a man entered the court of 

Prophet Solomon (as), looked around at all the people and 

went out again. When the court adjourned, one of the people 

present approached Prophet Sulaiman (as) and asked him 

whether he knew this strange man.

"The person you saw was the angel of death (Izrael)" replied 

Prophet Solomon (as). The man was taken aback and 

looked worried.

"Why was he staring at me as though he wanted to take 

my soul?" he asked.

"What do you want me to do?" enquired Prophet Sulaiman (as).

"O Solomon!" exclaimed the man. "You have power over the wind. 

Command it to transport me to the land of Hind (India)."

As the man was a believer, Prophet Solomon (as) agreed and 

granted his wish. A few days later, Prophet Solomon (as) saw 

the angel of death again. He asked him why he had been staring 

at the man so intently on that particular day.

"O Solomon!" replied the angel of death. "Allah (SWT) commanded 

me to take the soul of that man on the soil of Hind. When I saw 

him sitting in your court, I could not understand how I could 

carry out Allah's order. Nevertheless, as it was a divine command, 

I left for Hind and fortunately found the man there. I took his soul 

as Allah (SWT) had commanded."

There is nothing more certain than death. It is a reality, 

which nobody can escape from. Allah (SWT), the Almighty says: 

"Wherever you may be, death shall overtake you, even if you 

were in fortified towers". Noble Qur'an (4:78)

Imam Ali (as) said: Any breath that a man breathes is a 

step towards death.

Imam Ali (as) said: You are the game that death hunts. 

If you stand still it will seize (catch) you. If you ran (flee) away 

it will overtake you.

Cheap Ticket to Paradise

A man from a respectable background came to Balkh 

which is situated in the south of Iran, accompanied by 

his wife and daughters. Shortly after their arrival 

the man fell ill and later died, leaving his wife and daughters. 

Without his support they became poor and suffered. 

So fearing the mockery of enemies, she fled Balkh with her 

daughters to Samarkand.

On the day she arrived the weather was very cold, so she left 

her daughters in a mosque and went out in search of food. 

She passed by two groups of people. One was gathered around 

a Muslim who was the Sheikh and the other group around 

a Zoroastrian (Majusi) who was the security officer of the city.

She first went to the Muslim Sheikh and described her situation 

saying, "I am a woman of a respectable family, with daughters 

whom I have left in the local mosque and I have come in 

search of food." He asked her, "Bring me proof that you are 

from a respectable family." She replied, "I am a stranger in 

this town and therefore do not know anyone to testify for me.

" She departed from him brokenhearted. She then went to 

the Zoroastrian and explained her situation to him, telling him 

about her noble background and her orphaned daughters 

who were, waiting her return in the local mosque. 

She also mentioned to him how the Muslim Sheikh had treated her.

The Zoroastrian stood up and sent some womenfolk to bring her 

daughters and took all of them to his house. There he showered 

them with honour and generosity. He fed them fine food and 

clothed them in rich garments.

That night the Muslim Sheikh saw in a dream the Day of Resurrection 

and the banners were unfurled around Holy Prophet Muhammad 

(Peace be Upon him). Ahead of him, was a green palace made of 

emeralds, its balconies of pearls and rubies and domes of pearls and corals. 

He asked Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon him), 

"Messenger of Allah, for whom is this palace?" 

Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon him) replied, "For a Muslim." 

The Muslim Sheikh replied, "I am a Muslim!" 

Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon him) said, "Prove to me 

that you are a Muslim?" At that, the Muslim Sheikh was dumbstruck. 

Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon him) then said, 

"You asked a woman to produce proof of her respectability and 

therefore my question to you is, can you produce proof that 

you are a Muslim?" At this point the Muslim Sheikh felt remorse 

about his treatment towards the woman and her orphaned daughters.

In the morning, he immediately set out to find the woman. He learnt 

she was staying with the Zoroastrian and so called for him. When 

the Zoroastrian arrived, the Muslim Sheikh requested that he sends 

the woman and her daughters to him. The Zoroastrian replied, 

"Under no circumstance! I have received great blessings from her." 

The Muslim Sheikh said, "Take a thousand dinars from me and

 bring them to me." Zoroastrian shouted, "Impossible! The one who 

showed you the palace in your dream has made it (the palace) for me. 

Are you surprised because I am not a Muslim? By Allah (SWT), 

I did not sleep last night, before I and my family accepted Islam at that 

noble woman's hand and I dreamt something similar to what you dreamt; 

Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon him) asked me, 

"Is that noble woman and her daughters with you?" I replied: 

"Yes, Messenger of Allah." Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon him) 

said, "This palace is for you and your family. Allah (SWT) created you 

a believer in eternity." At that the Muslim Sheikh remained 

sorrowful and grieved for the missed opportunity of earning 

a lofty position in Paradise, due to his neglect of the widowed woman 

and her daughters.

Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon him) has said, 

"The one who strives on behalf of the widow and the needy is like a warrior 

in the path of Allah". (Bukhari and Muslim) May Allah guide us to 

what is right for indeed, He is Generous, the most Kind, and the most Merciful!

The Beautiful Story of Hazrat Adam AS from Holy Quran

The creation of man is referred to in the Holy Quran in many places.

Adam was the first man God created. Then He created Eve, 

and they lived together in heaven.

God regarded man as his noblest creation. He sent him

as His vicegerent on earth. Before creating Adam, 

He told the angels in the heavens that

He was creating 'man from clay, moulding him from earthly substance',

and asked them to 'fall down before him in prostration, 

when I have given him form and breathed into him My spirit'. 

The angels were aghast: They asked: 'Pray, 

will you put man there Who will do mischief and shed blood?

Why not send us instead who worship and glorify You? 
[2:30] Holy Quran

They prayed to the Lord not to humiliate them. God told them

to obey His command, for, he said, 'You know not what I know.' 

The Holy Quran states: So each one of them obeyed except Satan.

God asked him: 'Why did you not prostrate?' 

Satan replied: 'Because I am worthier, my Lord, than Adam.

Of fire You have created me, from clay you have created him.' 
[7:12]Holy Quran

God thundered: Begone from My presence! There is no place for you

here. Your arrogance makes you the meanest of My creatures. 
[7:13]Holy Quran

Satan bowed before the Lord, and made one plea: Grant me, my Lord,

a reprieve until the day man is raised again. 
[7:14]Holy Quran 

God granted Satan the reprieve. Satan then said: 

Since you have thrown me out, I shall now waylay man

< on the straight path you have laid and 

make him commit sin, from the right hand to the left, 

from before and behind him; You will not find in Adam 

and in most of his progeny, gratitude for Your bounties. 
[7:16-17]Holy Quran 

God told Satan that he was disgraced, and banished him 
from paradise: Those of My creatures who follow you 
they shall be consigned

to hell with you. 
[20:123-124]Holy Quran

Turning to Adam, God said: You and Eve can reside in 
the garden of paradise. Eat fruits from any tree you like, 
but there is one to which you shall not go nor 
shall you eat its fruits. For, indeed, 
it will be a transgression. 

[2:35] Holy Quran

Adam and Eve began to live blissfully in paradise, but Satan would 

tempt them so as to swerve them from the right path. 

He whispered into their ears that they should enjoy their bare bodies,

which until then they had not perceived.

He told them that their Lord had asked them to keep away

from the prohibited tree because He did not wish them 
to become angels and thus immortal. 


He asked them to swear that 

they would not betray his trust and then urged them

to eat the forbidden fruit. He assured them that

he was their 'true friend'. He used all his guile to entice them. 

Eventually, Adam and Eve succumbed to his enticements

and tasted the forbidden fruit. They covered themselves 
with leaves in order to conceal their shame. 

On seeing this transformation, their Lord asked them: 

Did I not forbid you to go near that tree? Did I not warn you

that Satan is your enemy? 
[7:20-22] Holy Quran

Adam and Eve realized their mistake and begged forgiveness 
of their Lord: O Lord, we have sinned grievously. 
Please grant us Your forgiveness

or else we shall be lost forever. 
[7:23] Holy Quran

The Lord in His mercy forgave them, but cast them down 
to live on earth. He told them that there shall be 
eternal enmity and feuding between them and Satan. 


The Lord reminded Adam and Eve,

and their progeny who followed them, that clothing

might cover their shame, but what was more important for them

was to cover themselves with the 'garment of true piety':

O Children of Adam! Let Satan not be your guide 
as he has been of your parents.

He misled them and drove them out, stripping them 
of their nakedness. 
[7:27] Holy Quran

Satan made Adam and Eve commit indecency. 
Thus they disobeyed the command of their Lord. 
They were warned of Satan's designs;

they were asked to tell Satan: Our Lord commands us to do

what is right and just. He is to be worshipped 

in every place and prayed to with all the sincerity of faith.

It is He who has brought us to life, and it is He 
who will raise us again. After we die we shall return to Him. 
Some of us have been guided right.

But some have taken to Satan's ways. They are, 
indeed, in the wrong. 
[7:29-30] Holy Quran

Referring to Cain and Abel, the two sons of Adam, 
the Holy Quran says

that each of them made an offering to God; 

the offering of Abel was accepted and that of Cain 
was rejected: But his brother replied: 'Only from those 
who truly fear the Lord does God accept an offering. 
If you try to kill me, I will not do the same to you. 
For I fear my Lord, Who is the Lord of all beings. 
If you kill me, the sin will be on your head 

and you will be consigned to hell.' 
[5:27-29] Holy Quran

Abel's words had no effect on Cain. He murdered his brother 
without any cause and 'took his place among the lost'. 
God sent a raven who dug the ground to cover 
the corpse of Abel. Seeing this,

Cain felt most remorseful and cried, 'Woe to me.

I am worse than this raven, for I cannot hide the evil

that I have done to my brother.' 


The Holy Quran admonishes: 

" O Children of Israel! If anyone kills another 
without just cause, except in retaliation for a murder or 
for causing corruption in the land,

it is as if he has killed the whole of mankind. And

whosoever saves a life, it is as if he has saved 
the whole of mankind. 
[5:32] Holy Quran

Presented by Hassan Ali

mail me at quotesofislam@gmail.com

Real Story: For The Sake of Allah Only

During the time of Prophet Muhammad(pbuh), his enemies -

 ten thousand strongmen, once planned to attack him. 

The Muslims were then but very few. Having received the secret news 

of what was about to happen, the Muslims dug a very wide ditch 

around them for their defense so that the enemy may not attack them 

all of a sudden.

From the enemy side, a warrior by name 'Amr Bin Abd-e-wadd' 

who was very famous for his strength, courage and art of fighting, 

landed in the midst of these Muslims by jumping over the ditch!

 The Muslims lacked the courage to face him. Only the lion of Allah, 

Imam Ali (a.s.) came forward to challenge the intruder!

Both drew their swords and were soon locked in a fierce duel. 

At last, Allah bestowed victory to Imam Ali (a.s.) who threw Amr down 

on the ground and mounted on his chest ready to kill the arch-enemy of Islam, 

but before Imam Ali (a.s.) could do this, Amr spat in the face of our Imam.

Everybody around was certain that as a result of this insult, 

Amr would meet his death even faster still. But instead 

Imam Ali (a.s.) moved from Amr's chest and walked away! 

People around were too surprised to see why he left loose 

such a dangerous enemy after overpowering him. 

Amr attacked again and after a short while, Imam Ali (a.s.) 

again got control over him and this time he killed the enemy of Islam.

After the battle was over, people asked Imam Ali (a.s.) 

about the reason why he had spared Amr's life when he 

first got control over him Imam Ali (a.s.) replied, 

"I wanted to kill him for the sake of Allah only. 

He spat on me and thus made me angry. 

Had I killed him at that moment, it would not have been 

for the sake of Allah only. It would have also been for 

the satisfaction of my anger. So I let him free. 

When I controlled my anger, I killed him purely for the sake of Allah.'

To keep away from insincere and impure intentions is indeed difficult 

but not impossible. This is how the Ahlul Bait - people of 

the household of our Holy Prophet have set examples of sincere intention.

Purely For The Pleasure of Allah..

During the time of Prophet Musa, there was a pious man, 

who used to pray day and night on the roof of his house. 

One day some people came and told him that there was a garden

where a tree was being worshiped by a group of people. 

Hearing this the pious man picked up an axe and went to

 that tree with the intention of cutting and uprooting it altogether.

Satan (the Devil) came to him in the form of an old man and asked: 

"What are you aiming to do?" The pious man explained 

what was happening and his intention to cut the tree. 

Satan said: "What have you to do with it? 

If God wished the tree to be cut, 

he would have sent his Prophet to do it."

The pious man did not listen. The two went on arguing and 

quarreling till they came to blows. He managed to knock the Satan down

 on the floor and sat on him, aiming at cutting his throat. 

The Satan begged him for pardon and release saying, 

"Let me suggest you one thing which would help you in this world 

as well as in the next world. I shall pay you two dinars everyday.

 You can pay partly to the poor and partly spend for your own self. 

Leave this tree uncut till God commanded whether it was right 

or wrong to cut it."

The pious man was misled by the Satan. He thought the suggestion 
was right and returned home. On the second day, 
he saw two dinars under his pillow. 

He was delighted with the money and spent some after the poor. 

But on the following day, he did not see the money again as expected, 

so he again took his axe and went to the tree. Again Satan came to him 

in the form of an old man and asked him, "What do you want to do?" 

He said, "I want to cut that tree." Satan told him that he had no power 

to do it so it was better he went back home. He did not agree 

and again they fought. This time the Satan succeeded 

in overpowering the pious man and knocked him down on the floor.

The pious man was surprised at this and asked Satan 
why it so happened that he could not overpower him this time. 
The Satan replied: 

"Whoever does a good deed purely for the pleasure of God, 

no one can face him but if he does it with an aim of worldly gain, 

then he loses strength and stands to fail."

Why did the pious man win on the first day and lose on the second

 in his fight against the Satan? Because his first intention to cut the tree, 

was to please God and nothing else. But the second day, 

his good intention had changed and it had become for the sake of money. 

So the God given spiritual strength which he had on the first day 

had then disappeared and so he lost.

Moral from The Story;

Before any action we take, we must be clear in our minds that 

the action is in accordance with the commands of Allah.

This can be done by constant thinking and true understanding of 

the aim of our life. We have to understand what Allah really wants from us.

By Unknown