Better Alternatives

[Better Urself]

Better Alternatives

About to click on play to that movie u know u shouldn't watch?
Pick up a novel which you've read a gazillion times and u know is little more than a waste of time?
Or perhaps preparing to lounge back to listen to mind-numbing songs? burning playlist after playlist?
Tell a lie when its so much easier and safer to simply speak the truth?
Falling under peer pressure?

What to do when faced with such situations?
What do you do when you're about to sin, to save yourself?
to just stop and do something better?

[23:96] Repel evil with that which is better. We are Best-Acquainted with the things they utter..

[41:34] And not equal are the good deed and the bad. Repel [evil] by that [deed] which is better;

[28:54] These will be given their reward twice over, because they are steadfast and repel evil with good, and spend of that wherewith We have provided them,

Islam is fun. Its Healthy. There are always, always better alternatives. Where there's a wrong path, there is a right path.

We should endeavour to make what pleases Allah the same as what pleases us. And what displeases Him, should displease us. Insha Allah.

This thread focuses on suggesting, as the name indicates, better alternatives.

Like, for a start:

Instead of picking up that novel, go for a walk.
Instead of mindless gossip, which is derogatory and spiteful, listen to a talk.
Call a friend. Talk to someone.

Run away from all opportunites of sin!



Let us help each other better ourselves, insha Allah.

[IMMuslim]

What do you do when you're about to sin, to save yourself?

Remember this ayah: 18:49.
And the Book (one's Record) will be placed (in the right hand for a believer in the Oneness of Allah, and in the left hand for a disbeliever in the Oneness of Allah), and you will see the Mujrimun, fearful of that which is (recorded) therein. They will say: "Woe to us! What sort of Book is this that leaves neither a small thing nor a big thing, but has recorded it with numbers!" And they will find all that they did, placed before them, and your Lord treats no one with injustice.

He is watching. At this time. And every time.

Alternatives to novels: Quran, Islamic books n magazines, Inspiring Articles and Stories.

to music: recitation of beautiful reciters of the Quran, Islamic nasheeds (w/out musical instruments)

to gossip and mindless chatter: talk to ur dad/mom/sib about beneficial things, listen to audio lectures (lots of great CDs are available- like the Imam Anwar Al-Awlaki collection: which includes Seerah, the stories of Prophets, Lives of Prominent companions, hereafter series n other awesome lectures), you-tube videos of Nauman Ali Khan, www.islamicspirituality.org for Islamic talks...

to over-eating Junk Food: reflect on how little Prophet SAW n the companions had to eat, sometimes they went for days without eating anything.. the time of the Battle of Trench, have fruits, eat when hungry and stop while you still have space to eat some more (the signal that you'r full arrives later and u realise u've eaten enough after a while- so you dont overstuff), fast voluntarily so you are in the practice of leaving food.

Reflect, reflect, reflect! Remember Allah frequently.

We are not slaves of our desires, but to Allah SWT

[Maria]

an alternative for music...

[affinity]

JUST Make you prayers pure..everything sinful will move away automatically

[Ummati]

Forgive me when i whine



You are never alone



Allah is enough for me

By Zain Bhika

[affinity]

One of my favorites...

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cuxgq7yzfrE&feature=related
[/youtube]

[younus]

[younus]

Gather your hands together
And send your prayers away
Whisper your utmost love to Allah
And ask Him what you may...
Fill Him in your heart
And your eyes and your ears
And your mind, your soul
and your tears...

[younus]

[younus]

[Ummati]

Jazak Allah khair

Amazing Nasheeds Masha Allah

Better Alternatives

Allah the Exalted says in the Qur’an: “And (remember) the Day when the wrong-doer will bite his hands and say: Woe to me! Would that I had taken a path with the Messenger. Woe to me! If only I had not taken so- and-so as a friend! He has led me astray from this Reminder (the Qur’an) after it had come to me. And Satan is ever a deserter to man in the hour of need.” Qur’an 25:27-29


In a Hadith, Rasoolillah(SAW) said: “The example of a good companion and a bad companion is like that of the seller of musk, and the one who blows the blacksmith’s bellows.. So as for the seller of musk then either he will grant you some, or you buy some from him, or at least you enjoy a pleasant smell from him. As for the one who blows the blacksmith’s bellows then either he will burn your clothes or you will get an offensive smell from him.” (Bukhari & Muslim)

Allah(SWT) also says: “Friends on that Day will be enemies one to another, except al-Muttaqoon (i.e. those who have Taqwah).” (Surah 43: Ayah 67)
Hafidh Ibn Katheer, commenting on this verse, relates a story on the authority of Ali Ibn Abi Talib (RA) and says that any friendship for other than Allah is turned into enmity, except what was in it for Allah the Mighty and Majestic: “Two who are friends for Allah’s sake; one of them dies and is given good news that he will be granted al-Jannah, so he remembered his friend and he supplicated for him, saying: ‘O Allah, my friend used to command me to obey You and to obey Your Prophet (SAW) and used to command me to do good and to forbid me from doing evil. And he told me that I will meet You. O Allah, do not let him go astray after me, until you show him what you have just shown me, until You are satisfied with him, just like You are satisfied with me.’ So he is told: ‘Had you known what is (written) for you friend, would you have laughed a lot and cried a little.’ Then his friend dies and their souls are gathered, and both are asked to express their opinions about each other. So each one of them says to his friend: ‘You were the best brother, the best companion and the best friend.’ And when one of the two disbelieving friends dies, and he is given tidings of Hellfire, he remembered his friend and he said: ‘O Allah, my friend used to order me to disobey You and disobey Your Prophet, and commanded me to do evil, and forbade me from doing good, and told me that I would not meet You. O Allah, do not guide him after me, until you show him what you have just shown me and until you are dissatisfied with him just like You are dissatisfied with me.’ Then the other disbelieving friend dies, and their souls are gathered, and both are asked to give their opinions about each other. So each one says to his friend: ‘You were the worst brother, the worst companion and the worst friend.”

Ali (RA) said: “Mix with the noble people, you become one of them; and keep away from evil people to protect yourself from their evils.”

Ibn Hazm said: “Anyone who criticises you cares about your friendship. Anyone who makes light of your faults cares nothing about you.”

Subhan Allah! The wisdom of these words..

These quotations stress the importance of constantly being on the watch: Who am I hanging out with? Who are my pals, the ones I talk to, party with? Are they helping me in striving in the path of Allah, or pushing me away from my purpose in life?

“A person is likely to follow the faith of his friend, so look whom you befriend.”

So, making good friends who'll help you out in this life and the next is probably the best thing you can do for yourself.

Whoever takes as friend Allah and His Messenger and those who believe - verily, the Fellowship of Allah will be victorious. (5:56)

And, let's be honest, can there be a better friend than Allah SWT?

[younus]

“And whoever turns away from My remembrance - Indeed, he will have a depressed life, and We will gather him on the Day of resurrection blind.” [Surat Taha, Chapter 20, Verse 124]

[younus]

[Ummati]

[Maria]