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

"Overworking oneself is very destructive if it is made a habit & can cause significant mental, physical & social damage. It can also destroy family ties, break up marriages, result in loss of children to drugs etc. Of what use are those earnings when things around us are crumbling. Take a break with the family for a weekend. Make the time for those closest to you & spend the money you have earned on them!"

| Mufti Ismail Menk |

Pangkor Island Beach Resort, Perak Picture credit: Mudme

"Spying on others brings about one's own downfall & causes untold internal misery. Wanting to know the sins of others or their private matters that are between them & the Almighty is a disease that many people of our times believe to be their right. Those who spy, eavesdrop or hack should blame none but themselves when their own lives crumble. People are answerable to the Almighty & not to us for their personal sins."

| Mufti Ismail Menk |

Isma & Hasmi - Mini Studio

"What is it that we are waiting for to happen in our lives that will finally make us stop engaging in major sin,harming people, backbiting, gambling,taking drugs, consuming alcohol, dressing inappropriately etc? Has enough not already occured to move us sincerely towards our Creator & develop a stronger link with Him? Are we waiting for a disaster or huge calamity to make us turn? Rather turn NOW & feel the blessings!" 

| Mufti Ismail Menk |

S.E.A Aquarium Marine Life Park, Singapore Picture credit: Mudme

"Every night the Almighty stretches His Hand to forgive those who have sinned during the day & every day He stretches His Hand to forgive those who have sinned by night until the sun rises from the West!" He also descends to the lowest heaven when a third of each night remains asking "Is there anyone repenting that I may forgive, anyone turning to me that I may accept, anyone seeking anything that I may give!"

| Mufti Ismail Menk |

Sekinchan - Selangor Malaysia Picture credit: Mudme

When a senior religious scholar whom the Almighty has used to change the lives of many people across the globe passes away, a deep sense of loss is felt. Knowledge is taken away through the death of scholars hence it is almost impossible to fill the gap. It is our duty to make maximum use of the true scholars in our midst before we regret the way we wasted our access to them.

| Mufti Ismail Menk |

Fisherman Village - Terengganu Malaysia

If those without children complained about it, those with only boys complained about not having girls, those with girls complained about not having boys & those with both complained about how much of a handful they are, then WHO is going to show gratitude & satisfaction with the Divine Decree of the Almighty Indeed, He chooses, we don't! So let's stop complaining & start being thankful. He knows what is best for us!

| Mufti Ismail Menk |

Cameron Bharat Plantation - Cameron Highland Malaysia

The Messenger pbuh says, "A true believer is neither vulgar nor immoral when he speaks".
Many of us use words that we are prohibited to use, and get so used to using such language that we don't even realise what we are uttering. Using such words is sinful even if we are joking, and it results in the loss of blessings in our lives, the discomfort to the angels of protection who distance themselves from us, losing respect among fellow human beings and setting a very bad precedent in our families and societies. It also diminishes our spirituality and strengthens the link with Satan. It has a great negative effect on our minds and overall temperament. For this and many other reasons, we must never ever utter vulgar or immoral words. Speaking using the best and purest language will create a blessed look on our faces to begin with and result in us being respected and blessed at the same time. Our general lives will begin to improve and we will see this clearly and feel it truly. Are we ready to promise the Creator that we will improve on this immediately?

| Mufti Ismail Menk |

Volcano Batur Mountain - Bali Indonesia

"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 |