Is it permissible to marry one‟s first cousin?

Answer

Marrying first cousins is permissible.

SILAH RAHMI

Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said that Silah Rahmi (kindness to family members) is

To be kind to unkind family members.

"Undoubtedly, if We bestow pride and ingratitude of most to man from Our Mercy, then people. In prosperity they are snatch it away from him, then forgetful, of Allah Ta'ala. verily, he becomes despond- They behave like Qaaroon ent and ungrateful." believing that the state of prosperity and the bounties ac- Undoubtedly, if We bestow to companying it are due to him bounties after adversity their expertise and effort. has afflicted Him, he will They thus strut in pride and certainly say (proudfully): „All haughtiness.

adversities have left When Allah Ta'ala snatch- Me." Verily, he becomes es away the bounties and prideful and haughty." casts man into adversity, then (Surah Hood, 9 & 10) he becomes despondent, complains and loses hope. These Qur'aanic Verses Whereas the conduct of the depict the general attitude of sincere Mu'min is beautifully explained by Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) in the following Hadith:

"The Mu‟min is wonderful. If prosperity comes his way, he makes hamd of Allah (recites the praise of Allah) and makes shukr (is grateful).

If adversity befalls him, he also makes hamd of Allah, and exercises

Sabr (is patient.)

Thus the Mu'min is always between Sabr and Shukr. He never complains.

Once Hadhrat Ibraahim Bin Adham (rahmatullah alayh) was in a ship proceeding to Makkah for Hajj. Some miscreants decided to mock and jeer him. They tugged at him; insulted him; slapped him and pushed him about. While they were enjoying themselves in this manner, Allah Ta'ala revealed to Hadhrat Ibraahim that he should verbally curse them. Allah's Wrath would overtake them and all would be drowned.

In a Hadith-e-Qudsi, Allah Ta'ala says: "Whoever hurts My Wali, I give him notice of war." Sometimes Allah Ta'ala imposes His enemies over His Friends by way of trial. But He swiftly extracts vengeance and eliminates His enemies who harmed His Friend.

When Hadhrat Ibraahim was inspired by way of Ilhaam to curse the miscreants, he supplicated: "O Allah! For my sake You have promised to accept my curse. I implore you, for my sake, open up their spiritual eyes so that they are saved from the spiritual calamity in which they are drowned." Allah Ta'ala accepted his dua. Hidaayat dawned on the miscreants. They all regretted and fell at the feet of Hadhrat Ibraahim (rahmatullah alayh) seeking forgiveness. Every one of them became a Wali.

When Allah Ta'ala sent Hadhrat Aadam (alayhis salaam) to earth, He (Allah Ta'ala) sent Jibraeel (alayhis salaam) with three things: Deen, Aql and Beautiful Moral Character. Hadhrat Aadam (alayhis salaam) was ordered to take only one of these three items. Hadhrat Aadam (alayhis salaam) selected Aql. Then he instructed the other two to return to the heaven, but they refused. When Aadam (alayhis salaam) said: "Are you being disobedient?", they said: "We are not being disobedient. We have been commanded to remain constantly with Aql." Thus Hadhrat Aadam (alayhis salaam) acquired all three treasures.

Aql (Intelligence) is not the effect of secular education. The natural intelligence of man even if he is not blessed with a high degree of Aql, is enhanced by Taqwa. A person bereft of moral excellence lacks Aql. Intelligence is a natural corollary of moral excellence.

"Do not pursue that of of Qiyaamah and testify rewhich you have no garding the evil deeds comknowledge. mitted with them. Nothing is Verily, the ears, eyes and hidden from Allah Ta'ala. The heart - regarding all of them, zina of the eyes, ears, mind, hands, etc. are all recorded there will be questioning and known to Allah Ta'ala.

(and reckoning)."

The evil committed in dark- (Bani-Israaeel, Aayat 36)

ness and privacy will be laid The Qur'aan Majeed also bare on the Day of Qiyaamah. mentions that the limbs of the So remember when you inbody will speak on the Day dulge in cellphone immorality and commit sins in the darkness that you are not alone. Allah Ta'ala is watching you. The two Recording Angels are at your side, and every limb in your body is retaining your villainy and immorality and will testify against you on the Day of Qiyaamah. Therefore, meditate on these issues when the nafs and Iblees draw you to sin.

THE EVIL GAZE

Allah Ta'ala revealed to Nabi Daawood (Alayhis salaam): "O Daawood! When a beautiful woman passes by you, then remember your presence in front of Me on the Day of Qiyaamah."

Evil lascivious gazes are diseases with which most people are afflicted, even buzrugs and ulama. The prescription for this disease provided by Allah Ta'ala is to immediately reflect on the Presence of Allah Ta'ala. The moment the eyes fall on a ghair mahram, immediately bring to mind the Presence of Allah Ta'ala and the two Recording Angels at your side. Allah Ta'ala is watching. How can I sin in the presence of Allah Ta'ala?

THIKRULLAH of Thikr, shaitaan becomes

his companion. Then, gener- "He who abstains from the ally his thinking and activity Thikr of Rahmaan, We becomes shaitaani. appoint for him a shaitaan. Shaitaan cannot tolerate Then he (shaitaan)

Thikrullah. Rasulullah becomes his constant com- (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) panion."

said: "Shaitaan sits glued on (Az-Zukhruf, Aayat 36)

the heart of man. When he engages in Thikrullah, shai- Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi taan flees. When he becomes wasallam) said: "Your tongue ghaafil (forgetful of thikr), should remain ever fresh shaitaan casts waswasah in with Thikrullaah." When the him." Mu'min becomes neglectful

SUBMISSION TO HIS WILL

Hadhrat Huzaifah Bin Qataadah Mur'ashi (rahmatullah alayh) narrates:

"Once I was on a voyage when the ship was caught in a storm and wrecked. A woman and I managed to clamber on to a plank board. We were the only survivors. We drifted in the ocean for seven days. Finally the woman was exhausted and overcome with thirst. She supplicated to Allah Ta'ala for water. Suddenly a chain at the bottom of which was attached a mug of water was lowered from above. The woman drank the water.

I glanced upwards and to my amazement I saw a man sitting high above in mid-air holding the chain. I called out: "Who are you?" The man responded: "I am a human being." I said: "How have you been elevated to this rank?" He responded: "By making my desires subservient to the Will of Allah Ta'ala."

Hadhrat Abu Dardaa' (radhiyallahu anhu), who was a very senior Sahaabi, said: "When a man rises in the morning there develops a conflict between his virtuous deeds and his desires. If he subjugates his virtuous deeds to his desires, his entire day is ruined. If he subjugates his desires to his virtuous deeds, his day is blessed and successful."

Some people make haste in making promises and vows to Allah Ta'ala. When in difficulty they pledge to give Sadqah in abundance or make Ibaadat in abundance if the hardship is eliminated. However, once Allah Ta'ala grants them prosperity, they renege and soothe their conscience with baseless interpretation.

A pious faqeer (pauper) one day said to himself: ―If Allah Ta'ala bestows wealth to me, I shall spend it in His Path on the fuqara.‖ Soon thereafter someone gave him a dinaar (a gold coin). He said to himself: ―It is better that I save this coin for a day when I am in need so that I do not beg from others.‖ Thus, he did not honour his intention.

A few days thereafter, he developed a severe toothache. After he had the tooth extracted, a second tooth started to pain. He had this tooth also extracted. Suddenly he heard a Voice exclaiming: ―If you refrain from giving that dinar to the fuqara, not one of your teeth will remain.‖

Reneging from an intention for no valid reason has grave consequences. One may suffer punishment here on earth and be deprived of certain bounties in Jannat. A good intention is a pledge made with Allah Ta'ala. Since the pious faqeer enjoyed a close bond with Allah Ta'ala, he was warned by means of the Voice after some punishment was meted out to him. Beware of greed and miserliness after making a promise to Allah Ta'ala.

Once when Hadhrat Khwaajah Ali Seerjaani (rahmatullah alayh) sat down to have his meal, he supplicated to Allah Ta'ala: ―O Allah! Send a guest to share the food with me.‖ Soon a dog appeared from the door of the Musjid which was close by. Hadhrat Seerjaani chased the dog away. The dog departed. Nearby from the grave of Hadhrat Shah Shuja' Kirmaani (rahmatullah alayh), a voice spoke and said: ‗O Khwaajah! You had desired a guest to join you. Why have you buffeted him?'

As he heard the reprimand, Khwaajah, taking the food with him, ran in the direction the dog went, but to his grief, he could not find the dog. He continued the search from lane to lane. Finally he set out towards the wilderness. After prolonged searching, he saw the dog sleeping in a corner. Khwaajah Saheb placed all the food in front of the dog. The dog opened its eyes but did not even look at the food. Fear and grief overcame Khwaajah Sahib. He repented, reciting Istighfaar. He removed his turban from his head and said: ―I have repented.‖

Suddenly the dog spoke in a human voice and said: ―O Khwaajah! You have done well. You muster up courage to supplicate for a guest whereas you should supplicate for (spiritual) eyes. If it was not for the blessedness of Shah (i.e. Shah Shuja'), you would have seen what you ought to see. Was-salaam.‖ So saying, the dog departed.

ALLAH'S BELOVED

Allah Ta'ala revealed to Nabi Dawood (Alayhis salaam): "O Dawood! He who speaks less and engages much in Istighfaar is My beloved." Allah Ta'ala revealed to Nabi Daawood (Alayhis salaam): ―O Daawood! Inform Bani Israaeel that they should fulfil the Huqooq (rights) of people before death claims them. I have taken an oath that those who have not fulfilled the rights of people, will rise on the Day of Qiyaamah with garlands of fire around their necks.‖

THAWAAB FOR THE could not understand what

was happening? He supplicat-

AMWAAT

ed to Allah Ta'ala, ‗O Allah! Once a buzruq was going What is happening here?' Althrough the Qabrastaan and lah Ta'ala inspired him to ask he observed all the arwah one of the arwah…who re- (souls) outside the quboor

(graves) collecting items; he

THAWAAB FOR THE AMWAAT

plied, ‗We are all the arwah of this Qabrastaan. A week ago, last Jumu'ah, one Alim passed by here and he recited Surah Ikhlaas three times and asked Allah Ta'ala to bestow the reward of this recitation of Surah Ikhlaas to the amwaat of the Mu'mineen of this Qabrastaan. Allah Ta'ala showered and cascaded us with so much reward, that even after 7 days, we are still collecting the thawaab (reward).'