May Allah Almighty enable us to enliven Masajid, establish Salah and pay Zakah. A good company is extremely important in order to gain steadfastness in performing virtuous deeds. Otherwise at times, after reading or listening to the excellence of virtuous deeds, a person does develop a mind-set that now, I will not disobey Allah Almighty and will fully remain inclined towards virtuous deeds; but evil company comes in the way which becomes a hindrance in attaining steadfastness over virtuous deeds. At times, useless activities waste a person’s time as well as deprive him of various virtuous deeds.

Fond of kite-flying

An Islamic brother of Bab-ul-Madinah (Karachi) was fond of kite-flying. He was used to playing video games and other useless sports. He had the ill-habit of intervening in everyone’s matters, picking up a quarrel with people and having a fight on very small issues. In the last ‘Asharah (10 days) of Ramadan-ul-Mubarak, he observed I’tikaf in the nearest Masjid. He saw beautiful dreams there and received a lot of solace. Thereafter, he was privileged to observe I’tikaf for further two years. Once, the Mu’azzin of the Masjid brought him to the weekly Sunnah-inspiring Ijtima’ in the ‘Aalami Madani Markaz, Faizan-e-Madinah (Bab-ul-Madinah, Karachi). He was deeply touched due to the luminosity of the face of the Muballigh (preacher) and became associated with the Madani environment of Dawat-e-Islami. اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـه عَزَّوَجَلَّ, he also adorned his face with a fistful beard.

صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب           صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلٰى مُحَمَّد

Dear Islamic brothers! Just like other attributes, Imam Shaafi’i رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه was also matchless when it came to generosity. He رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه used to spend wealth abundantly (in the path of Allah Almighty). Being generous and giving to the deserving people had been embedded into his character. Let us listen to four parables regarding the generosity of Imam Shaafi’i رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه:

1. Sayyiduna Hameedi رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه states: Sayyiduna Imam Shaafi’i رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه went to Yemen for one of his needs. When he رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه came back