Being Perfect for Allah

Have you ever dressed up for someone you like? Its fun to be stylish, to try out new makeup shades and jewelry ideas. But to dress up for someone you like is an experience and an occasion by itself. We all have done that a few times and we know we love it. But what would it be like to dress up for Allah? Like really look pretty and be perfect for our Creator so when He looks at us, He loves us in first glance? Surah Furqan has some really attractive make over ideas :) Enjoy :)

1. Wear the Foundation of Humility and Forbearance ^_^

وَعِبَادُ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الَّذِينَ يَمْشُونَ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ هَوْنًا

And the slaves of the Most Gracious (Allah) are those who walk on the earth in humility - 25:63

Being humble is being unassuming of one’s own greatness, precedence and importance in front of Allah and people. Humility is by knowing the Greatness of Allah and being thankful for the fact that everything comes by His blessing, constant repentance and seeking forgiveness of the Most Merciful. Remembering Allah and doing things in the name of Allah. Humility with people is remembering our weaknesses and shortcomings and that we are just creatures made from dust who will return to dust. 

Humility is also in walking without pride, serving all kinds of people. The companions’ love and respect for the Prophet (s.a.w) was undoubtedly more exemplary than the followers of any other king or emperor in history. They were always ready to serve him. Yet when A’ishah (r.a) was asked about how he was at home she replied, “He was in the service of his family…” (Bukhari) The Prophet ﷺ used to milk the sheep, sew and patch his own garments, go to the market and buy his own things, sit and eat with his servants, initiate greetings with others, and act as though he was like any other one of the companions, joining them in whatever they were doing. Prophet (s.a.w) said, “Allah only increases a person in status if he forgives, and no one ever humbles himself before Allah but He will raise him in status.” (Muslim)
Arrogance is the opposite of humility and the basic root cause of all evil. Arrogance drove Iblees to disobey Allah and be expelled from Paradise. Arrogance is belittling the commands of Allah/the truth revealed from Allah and looking down on people. Prophet (s.a.w) said, “Whoever has an atom’s weight of arrogance in their heart will not enter heaven.”

وَإِذَا خَاطَبَهُمُ الْجَاهِلُونَ قَالُوا سَلَامًا  

and when the foolish address them (with bad words) they reply back with mild words of gentleness - 25:63

Allah loves forbearance. It means to have a calm and mild composure. calm, peaceful and do not react to challenging people or situations with anger or impatience. We all get angry and annoyed; but the issue is how do we react to a stressful situation. The servants of the Most Merciful react to any form of verbal abuse with something that is better, whether it be good words like "assalamu alaikum" or a peaceful silence. Psychological research suggests that one’s self confidence plays a major role in his or her temperament. Those with low self-confidence tend to have a much shorter fuse and hotter temper then those who feel they have nothing to prove. It takes a person of great precedence and spiritual discipline to overlook people’s shortcomings, make excuses for others and keep composure with forbearance. Prophet (s.a.w) said, “Indeed knowledge comes through studying and learning, and forbearance comes by disciplining oneself.” (Albani’s Authentic Compilation, 2328). Our Prophet (s.a.w) said, “The strong man is not the one who can win a physical fight. The strong person is the one who controls himself when angered.”(Bukhari 6114) Prophet (s.a.w) also said, “There was not something swallowed more great to Allah than swallowing one’s anger for the sake of Allah.” (Al-Targheeb, 3/386). 

Forbearance is a characteristic which is perfectly personified by The Merciful Himself. His existence and bounties upon us. To top all of that off, He sent us prophets with a message and proof. After all of that, we are ungrateful and persistently disobedient; yet Allah does not immediately destroy us. Instead He continues to surround us with His bounties and favors and leaves the door wide open for those who would repent.

2. The Perfect eyeshadow and liquid eyeliner for eyes, the Night Prayer!

Allah loves those who pray the night prayer. Praying in the night reflects a special relationship with AllahThe Prophet (s.a.w) said, “The best prayer after the obligatory prayers is the night prayer.” (Muslim). The Prophet (s.a.w) also said, “Allah descends (in a way that suits His Sublimity) in the last third of the night. He then says, ‘Who will supplicate me so I can answer him? Who will ask Me so I can give him? Who will seek my forgiveness so I can forgive him?’” (Bukhari)

The concept of night prayer is simple. Allah created us and provided us with everything we have, and potentially can have and be. He in return asks us to show our love, obedience and loyalty as an act of gratitude through the night prayer, to be worthy of Paradise.... This life is a test where we must discipline ourselves to go against our ego and desires in order to fulfill the divine purpose – pleasing Allah. “Muslim” is an Arabic word that refers to a specific lifestyle – to submitting to the will of Allah. To claim the noble title of a Muslim, one must, at least, be dedicated to trying to fulfill that by means of praying the night prayer. 

3. Real Blush.... from the Fear of Hellfire 

وَالَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا اصْرِفْ عَنَّا عَذَابَ جَهَنَّمَ إِنَّ عَذَابَهَا كَانَ غَرَامًا

And those who say: "Our Lord! Avert from us the torment of Hell. Verily its torment is ever an inseparable, permanent punishment." - 25:65

إِنَّهَا سَاءَتْ مُسْتَقَرًّا وَمُقَامًا

Evil indeed it (Hell) is as an abode and as a place to rest in. - 25:66

Allah loves those who are afraid of Hellfire. The Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) said, “When Allah created heaven and hell, He sent Jibreel to heaven and then said, “Look at what I have prepared for its inhabitants.” So he went and saw what Allah had prepared for its inhabitants. He then returned to Allah and said, “I swear by Your Honor and Might that anyone who hears of it (heaven) will enter it.” Then Allah commanded heaven to be surrounded by undesirable things and hardship. Jibreel said, “I fear that no one will enter it.” Allah then commanded Jibreel to go to hell and see what he has prepared for its inhabitants. He returned and said, “I swear by Your Honor and Might that anyone who heard about it would not go there.” Then Allah ordered hell to be surrounded by desirable things. After Jibreel saw this he then sa...id, “I swear by Your Honor and Might, I fear that no one would be saved from it.” (Tirmidhi) 

4. Money Management Gloss

وَالَّذِينَ إِذَا أَنفَقُوا لَمْ يُسْرِفُوا وَلَمْ يَقْتُرُوا وَكَانَ بَيْنَ ذَ‌ٰلِكَ قَوَامًا

And those who, when they spend, are neither extravagant nor stingy, but hold a medium (way) between those (extremes). - 25:67

-Spend on yourself, your family, relatives and friends without extravagance and without incurring interest. Only when the Prophet (s.a.w) could afford it, he sacrificed a 100 camels on the behalf of himself, his family and his followers. He ate from a small portioned from the sacrifical meat and donated the entire amount in charity. The Prophet's gifts (s.a.w) always increased love and benefit among its recipients. 

-If in debt then pay off your loan as a first priority concern.

-Hasan al Basri was a famous Tabai'ee (student of the Prophet's companion r.a). He used to wear a new suit (thobe and ghutra) every week and donate his old suit immediately. - Who said Muslims cannot solve global hunger and poverty?

-Eat in moderation – the worst thing a believer can fill is her belly

5. Avoid Al Zoor - False hair and Fake eyelashes

People stand by en masse and watch the blatant spread of debauchery, lewdness, and other forms of widespread societal corruption without apprehension. We promote and entertain ourselves with corruption in  movies, television, music and video games. It has gotten so bad that social iniquity is accepted as normal in our mainstream society. A trait of the servants of the Most Merciful is that they flee from Al Zoor.

وَالَّذِينَ لَا يَشْهَدُونَ الزُّورَ وَإِذَا مَرُّوا بِاللَّغْوِ مَرُّوا كِرَامًا

And those who do not bear witness to falsehood, and if they pass by some evil play or evil talk, they pass by it with dignity - 25:72

... Al-Zoor is specifically referring to falsehood which has been made to look good or desirable.

It refers to shirk, which means that a Muslim would not go to, take part in or watch on TV a shirk ritual like Christmas, Halloween, Valentines, Easter, Dewali, Holi etc. Because doing so will demonstrate acceptance to shirki ideology.

Another explanation for the word Al-Zoor is lying. A true servant of Allah would not be in the company of people who often lie and they definitely would not lie themselves in any matter.

Al-Zoor also means “the party scene” – the bar or dance club. They say that the gatherings where music and alcohol are found fall under Al-Zoor. So according to this interpretation it is definitely not appropriate for a true servant of Allah to be at a place where alcohol, drugs or music is prevalent.