Assalamualaikum...

"Buy the best & latest mobile, laptop, gadget or vehicle of your own choice! It remains the best & latest for you until you come across a later model! Suddenly your heart begins to silently or violently demand the newer one, yet yours always served your purpose. Had you never seen the later one, yours would have always been the latest & best! Moral is never allow yourself to run behind the world because there is no end to it! Lower your gaze & be satisfied with what is yours - esp in marriage".

| Mufti Ismail Menk |

Putrajaya Floria, Putrajaya

Assalamualaikum...

"We break the fast the moment we are instructed to eat & we start the fast each morning the moment we should stop eating! If we applied that to all the instructions of the Almighty we would achieve true piety. Whenever we want to do something He has prohibited, we stop immediately & whenever we find an instruction of His, we engage immediately. Surprising how we can fast so well bearing every second in mind but we tend to ignore the same Creator when it comes to other matters!"

| Mufti Ismail Menk |

Merlion Park, Singapore Photo credit: Mudme

Assalamualaikum...

"Trying out a bit of weed, a knock of crack, a quick cigarrette, a tot of brandy, a sip of larger or just going to check out what happens at the clubs & pubs is the beginging of a road that ultimately winds through the mountains of destruction! Even though many youth may not initially think it would do any harm, being promised by their peers that it is "fun", the roller coaster ride they are in for is such that besides the lucky few who are flung out, the rest are stuck until they are overtaken!"

| Mufti Ismail Menk |

Isma & Mudme - Mini Studio

Assalamualaikum...

"Success is incorrectly guaged by many people as being dependent on how much wealth one has accumulated. So the most wealthy are looked up to as the most successful. This is the first line of Satan's attack because once we don't even know what success is, he hardly needs to do much more to keep us climbing up the wrong ladder. We want to earn more than we can spend, buy more than we can eat, build more than we can live in & aspire far longer than we will live! So who is considered successful?"

| Mufti Ismail Menk |

Sekinchan, Kuala Selangor Photo credit: Mudme

Assalamualaikum...

"A growing number of young do not realise that marriage is not a perpetual honeymoon. It is a very great sacrifice & a major adjustment is required for it to be blissful. Some are looking for a readymade groom who already has the world at his fingertips & all he needs is a trophy on his arm to show the world how good they look together! What is the point of that when the whole house is in disarray! Humble beginings result in more appreciated relationships that last longer in most cases."

| Mufti Ismail Menk |

The Engagement Ring, 2009

Assalamualaikum...

Those who want to live a life of luxury even though they know that they cannot afford it have none other than themselves to blame when their life is torn apart! We should never be shy or hesitate to downgrade our entire lifestyle when our earnings have been affected. Husbands become stressed, wives complain, children develop bad habits ultimately disintegrating the once cosy home, solely becuase we choose to live a fake life to display to others that we have what we cannot really even afford!

| Mufti Ismail Menk |

Perkampungan Orang Asli, Kuala Koh Gua Musang, Kelantan

Assalamualaikum...

When our children show a greater inclination than ourselves towards spirituality & religion by trying to please their Maker in their duties unto Him, we should support & encourage them rather than become upset & pass very discouraging remarks or even stop them from fulfilling their obligations. It should be a reminder to us to fulfill our duties too. Sadly many parents become unhappy when their daughters seek to please the Almighty by dressing more appropriately or their sons become religious!

| Mufti Ismail Menk |

Masjid Jame' Asr Hassanil Bolkiah, Brunei Darussalam Picture credit: Mudme

Assalamualaikum...

"It is the Message that is POWERFUL & not the person delivering it. Without that message, the one conveying it would have nothing to say & would be insignificant. So always focus on the power of the message & it's source - the Almighty & the Prophet pbuh - & let's abstain from praising the "postman". Our awe & love belong to the source! We respect our scholars but should not raise them above being human just like others."

| Mufti Ismail Menk |

Isma & Mudme - Mini Studio

"The supplications made immediately after engaging in a good deed are more likely to be answered in the way we wished. The same applies when praying for others who are going through difficulty etc before praying for ourselves. Hence when the fast comes to an end each day do not forget to pray for humanity at large! We are taught that when we pray for others, the angels ask that the same be given to us!"

| Mufti Ismail Menk |

Guangzhou, China Picture credit: Mudme

"Oh You who believe, if you are conscious of the Almighty, then only, will He grant you the ability to distinguish (between right and wrong, good and bad, light and darkness, halaal and haraam, good friends and bad, upright business deals and those that are not etc) and He will expiate your sins and forgive you, for indeed the Almighty is Owner of the Great Bounty" Surah 8:29

Terengganu - Malaysia

This means that if we would like to be able to make maximum use of the brains we have then one of the most important prerequisites is to be conscious of our Creator at all times, and the fact that we are totally answerable to Him, and at the same time be on the lookout for the truth on one hand as well as the plot of the devil on the other.

Never be deceived by people's comments, or by what others say, do, or encourage. Always ask yourself, "Is this what my Maker wants of me?" "Is this what will please my Creator?" "What answer will I give my Creator when I am questioned about this?"

These questions will always help you increase your consciousness of Allah Almighty. Then you will be able to differentiate between the various forces around you of good and evil.

The constant concern about the Almighty being ever watchful and being in absolute control will also help you effect the necessary changes in your life once you have differentiated. This is because there is no merit in a Muslim who knows that his friends are bad but remains in their company and does not have the power to leave their circle.

True guidance arrives when all bad friends depart!
Food for thought - and implementation.

| Mufti Ismail Menk |