Ingredients for Predicting Future

Following are the ingredients for predicting future trends. But don't be fooled by randomness. Even when you got all (some) of the following ingredients, your predictions would remain only predictions. Reality or actual future events may be different. So, a model you might design may not necessarily be a perfect model. As some quant once said, all models are not perfect, some models predict better than others. So believe in yourself and be ready to adjust your models if the trends change or new things emerge in the market. Good luck!

1. Best and the Brightest
Hunt out the best mathematicians, scientists, finance, quantitative and computer experts to design the best models and trading systems.

2. Data
Both the data sample period and varied data related to various elements depending upon the nature of model, for example weather, social media, news and other real world (financial and non-financial) data sets.

3. Computing Power
A huge power required to find correlations or patterns in the data. So one would need to build large distributed computing systems to find correlations and patters quickly.

4. High-end Mathematics
Latest trends in mathematics to find new ways of extracting patterns.

5. Trading Optimization
To be successful quant trader, the real task is to find a way to optimize trading ideas using big data.

Advice to his son by Imam Ahmed (Rahimullah)

How one of our pious predecessors interacted with an ayah from the Quran. This is a story about Imam Ahmed (Rahimullah) the way he dealt with a man who was interrupting his halaka, cursing him, trying to get him to respond in a like manner and Imam Ahmed (Rahimullah) took the high road. Imagine a man walking into halaka and starts insulting, but let's not forget that Imam Ahmed (Rahimullah) was tortured for his great portion of his adult life. He was tortured in ways that many of us today can not even imagine. All of his skin was taken off from his back, was flogged and was attempted to be killed. But Imam Ahmed (Rahimullah), by the grace of Allah, eventually came out of that and entire Muslim world at that time sided with him against his oppressors, and his last a few years were peaceful and calm. All of these people who used to torture him in his prison, guards and people who cursed him and so on, constantly used to come to him and seek his forgiveness. Saleh, the son of Imam Ahmed (Rahimullah) says that his father forgave each and every single person who tortured him. SubhanAllah! Each and every single time, a person came to him and said, 'I used to beat you.', and would be full of tears, and then ask him, 'please forgive me'. On that, Imam Ahmed (Rahimullah) will just forgive them. Anytime, if someone came and said we back-bited you, Imam Ahmed (Rahimullah) would forgive them. Saleh says that I asked my father, 'What about those who died before they could seek your forgiveness?' Imam Ahmed (Rahimullah) said, 'I have forgiven each and every single deceased person for the beatings that they used to inflict upon me'. So Saleh said, 'I understand when people come to you and seek forgiveness from you, you should forgive. But those people never even sought forgiveness from you.' Imam Ahmed (Rahimullah) said, 'Listen O my son!, Allah SWT says in Surah Ash-Shuraa (42) Ayat (40): 

Sahih International

'And the retribution for an evil act is an evil one like it, but whoever pardons and makes reconciliation - his reward is [due] from Allah . Indeed, He does not like wrongdoers.'

'Whoever forgives and pardons, his reward is upon Allah SWT'.

He said, 'When I came across this ayah, I came across a narration from Imam Hasan al-Basri (Rahimullah). Imam Hasan al-Basri (Rahimullah) narrates, 'When the day of judgement comes, all of the Ummahs, all of the nations will be on their knees in front of Allah SWT. Allah will say, "Don't stand up, unless I owe you some 'ajar'." No one would stand except for those that used to forgive in part in this world.'. 

Imam Ahmed (Rahimullah) said, 'I want to be one of those people who stand up when everyone is on their knees.' He says, 'I have forgiven all of those people who have died for what they did to me.' He further says, 'What is upon a man is to make sure that Allah will not punish anyone on the day of judgement because of him.'

SubhanaAllah. Look at the heart of gold. Usually a person that is subjected to that much torture, in terms of solitary confinement and torture for over a decade. Usually a person like that will be bitter. Look at the heart of gold of Imam Ahmed (Rahimullah). He is telling his son, what you want on the day of judgement is that no one is going to be punished on your behalf. You do not want Allah SWT to punish anyone on your behalf. In fact you want to be one of those people who stands up and Allah SWT gives the special reward. 

We ask Allah SWT to give us those big hearts and to allow us to forgive and pardon. Ameen. Even when people do not seek forgiveness we should ask Allah SWT to allow us to do that may be not because they would deserve it but because we want the mercy of Allah SWT.

(Taken from the lecture/video of Sheikh Omar Suleiman).

Good Conduct: Quran and Hadith

When a man asked the Prophet SAW about good conduct, he recited the following verse (Quran 7:199)
خُذِ الۡعَفۡوَ وَاۡمُرۡ بِالۡعُرۡفِ وَاَعۡرِضۡ عَنِ الۡجٰهِلِيۡنَ‏
"Take to pardon, enjoin good and keep away from the illiterate." (Quran 7:199).

Rizq in light of the Holy Quran and Hadith

Dear friends,

In shaa Allah, in this article, I would try to address an important topic that concerns everyone in our daily life - RIZQ. Today, we live in an age that is dominated by love for money, infatuation with wealth, and fear and anxiety for the provision. The most widely talked about topic in the media, at the gatherings in tea/coffee shops, at the dinner tables at home and in restaurants, and in public places is Money. One measures happiness and aspiration in terms of the economic goals he can achieve. It is a common goal of the education system from school education to the university level of education to groom the students for careers. Students are taught that the most important thing that matters for seeking education is the future employment. People neither see the universities as the centers of scholarship nor attend the universities to seek knowledge. They only seek degrees that help them better their job prospects. The focus of the whole society is economics/money. It would not be wrong to say that money/economics/wealth has become Deen of the modern age. A person's success is defined by the job that he/she gets and the wealth he/she accumulates. Today, wealth equals status and power. The whole system is built on it. If we walk past the prominent buildings, we find them to belong to financial industry: banks, insurance firms, money exchanges, stock exchanges and so on. Nearly everyone is in thrall to this system - rich and poor, Muslim and non-Muslim, almost everyone is under the delusion that their livelihood is dependent, somehow, upon the system as it is set up. Almost everyone is worried about his/her future financial stability, the ability to maintain the lifestyle, and means to accumulate the wealth.

People think and worry about money as if it is everything for them. But, in reality, it is the least worrying and worthy thing in the life. For RIZQ is not something which is in any one's hands. Rather, it is solely and only in the hands of our Lord. Allah SWT says in Surah Hud (11), Ayat 6:

In translation (Sahih International):

And there is no (moving) creature on earth but that upon Allah is its provision, and He knows its place of dwelling and place of storage. All is in clear register.

The sustenance of all animals and creatures that Allah SWT provides for is described as RIZQ. Every creature, small or big, whether it lives under the sea (water) or on the land, Allah JJ provides it with its daily sustenance. RIZQ is a very beautiful Arabic word that actually accommodates several related meanings. On hearing this word, RIZQ, we instinctively ‘understand’ what it means. Here RIZQ means ‘daily sustenance and provision’.

Friends,

Describing our sustenance and our provisions, Allah uses the word ‘RIZQ’. It is also mentioned several times in the Quran. For example in Surat Al Baqara (2), Ayat 57, Allah SWT says:

In translation (Sahih International):

And we shaded you with clouds and sent down to you manna and quails, (saying), “Eat from the good things with which We have provided you.” And they wronged Us not – but they were [only] wronging themselves.

In this context, RIZQ can mean everything that Allah SWT has provided us of food and drinks for our sustenance/survival/living.

RIZQ also means our livelihood and wealth and this is probably what we commonly understand as what RIZQ means. For example: When Allah SWT forbids the act of killing one’s children for the fear of poverty. In Surat Al-Anaam, Ayat 151 Allah says:

In translation (Sahih International):

“And do not kill your children out of poverty; We will provide (the means) for you {Narzuqukum} and for them.

While Allah asks Prophet SAW to say to people the things that Allah has forbidden. From them, killing children for the fear of RIZQ is also forbidden.

So, these are potential meanings of RIZQ: Sustenance, Provisions, and Wealth. Sometimes, it is also translated as ‘bounties’. In Surat Al-Baqarah (2), Ayat 254, Allah SWT says:

In translation (Sahih International):

O you who have believed, spend from that which We have provided for you before there comes a Day in which there is no exchange and no friendship and no intercession. And the disbelievers – they are the wrongdoers.

Dear friends,

When Abu Musa al-Ash'ari and his people emigrated to Madina, they arrived with their stores and provisions having been completely exhausted, so they sent a man from among them to the Prophet to ask for some food. When the man came to the door of the Prophet and was about to knock, he heard the Prophet reciting the aya mentioned above,

وَمَا مِن دَابَّةٍ فِي ٱلأرْضِ إِلاَّ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ رِزْقُهَا

 "There is no creature on the earth except that Allah undertakes to provide for it.", so he said to himself. "Surely our people are no lower in the eyes of Allah than the beasts", so he went back to them without having spoken to the Prophet and said, 

أبشروا أتاكم الغوث

 “Good news! Help has come!" When they heard that, they thought he must have spoken to the Prophet and the Prophet had promised him something. And while they were speaking with him, two men appeared bearing a huge platter of bread and meat which they set before them. So they ate their fill and then, seeing that so much food was left, they said, 

لو أنا رددنا هذا الطعام إلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ليقضي به حاجته

 ‘We must send this food back to the messenger of Allah so he can also eat his fill.’ So they instructed the two men to take it back to the Messenger of Allah. Then, when they came to the Messenger of Allah, thy said to him, 

 يا رسول الله ما رأينا طعاماً أكثر ولا أطيب من طعام أرسلت به

 ‘Messenger of Allah, we have never seen food more plentiful or more delicious than the food you sent us.' The Messenger replied that he had not sent them any food, so they told him they had sent a man from among them to ask him for it. So the Messenger of Allah spoke to the man and when he heard his story, said,

ذلك شيء رزقكموه الله

 ‘That is something Allah provided you with.’ There is no point worrying about rizq, because your rizq is coming to you regardless of what you say and do. Indeed, you could not even escape from it were you to want to. The Prophet said,

 لو أن أحدكم فرّ من رزقه لتبعه كما يتبعه الموت

‘If you were to try to run away from your provision, your provision would come after you just like death.’ There is no point chasing after it, because it is chasing after you. Your provision is waiting for you from before the day you were born, and you will receive it in full in the course of your life.

The Prophet SAW said,

إن نفساً لن تموت حتى تستكمل رزقها،

 “No human being will die until he has received his provision in full.” This is a promise and a guarantee from Allah,

ولا يخلف الله الميعاد

 “Allah never breaks his covenant.” So why worry over something over which you have no control.

So, what is special about RIZQ?

It is very natural for most if not all people to be very motivated and devoted when it comes to maintaining two things: maintaining our lives and maintaining our livelihoods, or our ‘RIZQ’. Maintaining our livelihoods is one of the greatest efforts in our lives. One of the great deal that drives us and motivates us is earning and sustaining a living.

As a human being, it is our innate makeup that Allah has made us like that. Therefore, Allah SWT has established for us the rules that govern the concept of RIZQ. One of the important rules for us (Muslims) is to understand the fundamental concept: Where does this RIZQ come from? Other important rules include: How can we increase the bounties of Allah on us; Is it better for us to be rich/wealthy or not wealthy?; Should we work hard to get more money, or should we work for what is enough?; Is money in itself a good or a bad thing and; Is having more money better or worse for us? These are just a few important and legitimate issues for us to understand.

The first rule of RIZQ in our understanding as Muslims is that it is all solely and wholly in the hands of Allah SWT, and Allah SWT distributes His bounties on whoever Allah SWT chooses. This fundamental understanding can constitute part of the Tawheed as Muslims. Narrated from Ibn Abbass RA, the Hadith emphasizes that Allah SWT is the sole owner and Allah SWT is the sole provider. I present here one ayat from Quran but there are similar reminders and ayahs in the Holy Quran. In Surat Al-Baqarah (2), Ayat 212, Allah SWT says:

In translation (Sahih International):

“And Allah gives provision {yarzuku} to who He will without account (measure)”

This statement emphasizes out two things. First, it is Allah and only Allah SWT has the power to provide. {Wallahu Yarzuku}. Second, In Allah’s wisdom this provision includes everyone without exception. It includes believer and non-believer, Muslim and non-Muslim, male and female, old and young, educated and uneducated, honest and dishonest and so on.

{Yarzuku Ma’n’ Yashao Bi Ghairi Hisaab} “Provides to whom He wishes without account (measure).”

As Muslims, we should be very clear on this as sometimes unknowingly we question the wisdom of Allah SWT (Naoozo Billahi). The bounties of Allah are without any boundaries. In fact, in Surat Al-Baqara (2), Ibrahim Alaihi Salam, as a believer in Allah SWT, and out of his convictions to his belief, Ibrahim AS asks Allah SWT to provide only for the believers. Allah SWT, however, responds and tells us that the provisions from Allah are for all, including the disbelievers. It is not for us to questions this:

In translation (Sahih International):

And [mention] when Ibrahim said, “My Lord make this a secure city and provide its people with fruits – whoever of them believes in Allah and the Last Day.” [Allah] said, “And whoever disbelieves – I will grant him enjoyment for a little; then I will force him to the punishment of the Fire, and wretched is the destination.”

This is a fundamental rule of RIZQ. This sometimes becomes difficult to comprehend when a person comes across someone who is blatant disbeliever or someone who though believes in Allah, but does not live according to the teachings and guidance of Allah SWT, and finds that they are in abundance. This becomes even much more difficult when the wealth is earned through means that Islam has declared Haram. The two temptations are firstly to question the wisdom of Allah by saying ‘why them’ and secondly to be tempted to think ‘why not me’. We must be careful brothers and sisters.

The examples of Haram income for us are plenty but the most obvious ones are for those of us who are prepared to work with ‘Riba’, to work in the ‘alcohol’ trade/industry, to cheat in various ways and so on. It can be hard when one sees how much wealth others have piled up, the luxurious cars they buy, the lavish lifestyles and luxurious houses. Instinctively, one may fall prey to question ‘why is Allah SWT so generous to those who do not believe in Him and to those who disobey Him?’

It is not for us to question the wisdom of Allah. We must force ourselves to understand that ‘RIZQ’ is in the hands of Allah SWT and Allah provides to whom He wills. In Surat Al-Imran (3), Ayat 26, Allah SWT says:

In translation (Sahih International):

Say: “O Allah, Owner of sovereignty, You give sovereignty to whom You will and You take sovereignty away from whom You will. You honor whom You will and You humble who You will. In Your hand is [all] good. Indeed, You are over all things competent.”

[Aqulu quoli hadha wa astaghfirullahi li walakum]

Delicious Lamb with Nuts, Coconut powder curry

Surprised huh. Yes I also like to cook. It is one of my hobbies which I rarely practice :)

Hearing of the food specially Sindhi biryani, Gosh karhai, Tandoori Chicken, Tarka Daal, Beha basar, Qeemay kay Karelay, Palak Gosht (Lamb Spinach) and what not! All are so delicious. Oh i forgot, be it bengan (Aubergine/Eggplants) ka bhurta or bengan in spanish tapas style are my favorite.

It becomes commonplace if you eat same Pakistani food everyday. So why not take some turkish or iranian taste and mix the tastes of these cultures and innovate a new lamb curry :). I thought so and have innovated a recipe which worked very well for me. I hope that you will also like. I can't bet but am sure, if cooked well, you will be licking your fingers. Enjoy the secret, new and innovative recipe. Give me your feedback in the comments section with the taste and twist you added to recipe while cooking. If possible share the pictures as well.

I prepared it with half kilo meat. You can adjust the recipe according to the amount of meat you want to cook.

Ingredients required:

Boneless Lamb cut in middle sized cubes            1/2 Kg

Peanuts (without shells)                                        3/4 tea cup

Sesame seeds                                                        3 table spoons

Khopra (Coconut)                                                 3/4 or 1 full tea cup

Yoghurt                                                                 1 tea cup

Jeera (Zeera) whole                                               2 table spoons

Onions Medium Sized                                          2 finely chopped

Ginger and Garlic Paste                                        2 table spoons

Medium sized tomatoes                                        2

Gur (Solid brown sugar)                                       piece of the size of a lemon

Imli (Tamrind)                                                      1/2 tea cup (without seeds or paste)

Green Chillies                                                       4/5

Red chilli powder (preferrably beaten chili)        2 table spoons

Whole garam masala (includes dar chini, pata, black cardamom, long, kalongi, and some other i dont know the names :))

Dhaniya (Corriander seeds)                                 Kutta hoa (not the powder; you can use if not available)

Curry leaves                                                         5-6

Turmeric powder                                                  a pinch or half tea spoon

Methi                                                                    1 table spoon

Oil

Salt

Before you start this recipe, you should have kept lamb meat marinated in some karahi masalah (not too much) just a little bit. Marinate it for at least 1 hour.

Before reading recipe (read Step 7 and you can already do that step before step 1 if you have marinated meat)

Recipe:

Step 1: Add three table spoons of oil in frying pan. Add peanuts, coconut khopra, sesame seeds. Fry them till they are slightly red.

Step 2: Add yoghurt keep frying them for another 3 mins so yogurt is completely mixed.

Step 3: Blend the mixture by adding 1/4 cup of water and keep it aside.

Step 4: In yet another frying pan, fry finely chopped onions till they are light brown. Add all whole garam masalas, ginger garlic paste, kutti hoi mirch, zeera, turmeric powder, curry leaves. Fry them till they give a good smell and are brownish/pinkish.

Step 5: Add finely chopped tomatoes, methi, salt, imli paste and gur. Cook them for 5 mins or so.

Step 6: Mix blended paste which was kept aside (refer step 3). Cook till the paste is fine.

Step 7: Boil the meat till it is tender. You can do this step in the beginning. Cook till most of the water is boiled away. Do not throw the water. Water contains the actual meat taste.

Step 8: Add meat in the paste/curry already made in Step 6. Cook this for another 15-20 minutes on a light stove fire.

Step 9: Garnish the remaining with some green herbs. :)

Lekker! (Lekker means delicious in dutch)

Smakelijk (Enjoy the food in dutch).

Serve it with naan bread!

Bootstrap Confidence

Bootstrap Confidence:

Bootstrap confidence was a term used today by Janet Yellen, the Chairwoman of the Federal Reserve while reporting to the US Congress.

Senator Robert Mendendez asked her about the chance that raising interest rates will boost confidence and thus would act as a growth catalyst. She responded:

"It's fair to say that when we begin to raise our target for the federal funds rate it will be because we're confident about the recovery and we're reasonably confident that inflation will move back toward our 2% objective over time, but that confidence will reside in real improvements that we see in the underlying conditions in households and businesses." ... "be attempting to somehow bootstrap an improvement that is purely occurring from a confidence effect that comes from our raising rates".

By bootstrapping confidence she means the Fed can't make the economy better by bluffing by raising interest rates.

Can Allah SWT forgive all sins?

Verily Allah can forgive all the sins! Do we need to doubt the mercy of Allah SWT? No not at all. A human being is prone to the evil thoughts as Satan is working all the time to misguide and mislead the servant and slaves of Allah SWT. Allah's mercy is limitless, He can forgive anyone and anytime who He wants. 

Allah SWT asks the Prophet SAW to say to the slaves of Allah (Abd: one who submits to Allah SWT) who have committed sins and have performed evil deeds not to despair of the mercy of Allah. Allah's mercy is huge. There are many ayahs in Quran where Allah's mercy and forgiveness are mentioned. Yet I report here only one ayah from Surah Az-Zumr 39, Ayah 53 wherein Allah SWT says:

Surah Az-Zumr 39: Ayah 53

قُلۡ يٰعِبَادِىَ الَّذِيۡنَ اَسۡرَفُوۡا عَلٰٓى اَنۡفُسِهِمۡ لَا تَقۡنَطُوۡا مِنۡ رَّحۡمَةِ اللّٰهِ‌ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ يَغۡفِرُ الذُّنُوۡبَ جَمِيۡعًا‌ ؕ اِنَّهٗ هُوَ الۡغَفُوۡرُ الرَّحِيۡمُ‏

Say: "O Ibadi (My slaves) who have transgressed against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins)! Despair not of the mercy of Allah, Verily! Allah forgives all the sins. Truly He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful"

In this ayah, Allah SWT informs clearly that with His Mercy He forgives all the sins. This definitely is true but Allah SWT also says in the next ayahs that a transgressor abd needs to be repentant and obedient to Allah and submissive to Him before he meets the torment (azaab) of Allah SWT.  

Allah SWT describes the people who might be shocked with the torment as they didn't perceive that it will strike because they did not repent, became obedient and submitted to the will of Allah. These people when struck with torment would say either (1) I was undutiful to Allah and I mocked at the truth (La ilaha illallah, the Quran, Prophet Muhammad SAW and at the faithful believers) or (2) if only Allah had guided me I would have become one of the Pious/Muttaqun or (3) if I had another chance I would have become one of the Mohsinin. (Refer to 39:56-58).

Therefore, it is important to make ourselves aware of the fact that Allah's all attributes are infinite. Moreover, we must always seek the mercy of Allah SWT in all cases be it seeking forgiveness, seeking protection, seeking favors, seeking anything.

May Allah SWT have mercy on all of us. Ameen

Imam al-Ghazali - one of the greatest scholars of Islam

Brief Introduction of Imam Al Ghazali

The name of Imam Al-Ghazali, the prominent Islamic Scholar, is Abu Hamid Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn Muhammad. He was one of the greatest Islamic jurists, theologians and mystical thinkers. He was born in 1058 AD in Tus, Persia - a great Seljuq empire. He acquired knowledge of various branches of Islamic religious sciences in his hometown Tus and Nishapur in the northern part of Iran. He is well-known for his refutations of philosophers. He criticized the early Islamic Neoplatonism that was developed on the grounds of Hellenistic philosophy that it never recovered.

The life of Imam al Ghazali can be divided into three major periods. The first is the period of learning/acquiring knowledge. He was appointed as the Head of Nizammiyah College Baghdad in 1091 AD by the court of the Nizam al-Mulk, the powerful wazir of Seljuq Sultans. The second period of his life was his brilliant career. He was the highest ranking 'doctor'/scholar of the Islamic community in Baghdad (1091-5). This period lasted four years but was the most significant period of his life. Following the assassination of Nizam al-Mulk and later the violent death of Sultan Malikshah, Imam al-Ghazali faced a serious spiritual crisis. He left Baghdad renouncing both his career and the world. This was the time when his third period of life started (1095-1111). This was the period of inner search. He wandered as a Sufi in Syria and Palestine before he returned to Tus, his home town. He then engaged into writing, practicing as a Sufi, and imparting knowledge to his disciples/ students till his death.

One of the greatest works of Imam al-Ghazali is Ihya uloom al-din (The revival of the religious sciences). It is widely considered as the greatest work of Muslim spirituality, and perhaps the most widely read after the Holy Quran.

Ablution - Wudu - The Importance and the Manner.

The following is taken from the book Ihya Uloom Din by the great Islamic philosopher Imam al-Ghazali. 

Importance of Ablution

The Prophet SAW said, "Whoever performs his ablution well and prostrates himself twice in prayer without allowing anything worldly to distract his mind, will be absolved of all his sins, and will become as innocent as he was when he was born." (Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Taharah: 183,188).

Prophet SAW also said, "He who performs the ablution while pure, will be credited with ten good deeds by God." (Ibn-Majah, Taharah: 73).

The Prophet SAW said, "When a Muslim, during the act of ablution, rinses his mouth, the sins leave it; when he blows his nose, they are gone therefrom; when he washes his hands, the sins, even those beneath his finger-nails, are removed; when he washes his head, he rids it of its sins, even those in and behind his ears, when he washes his feet, he cleanses them from sins, even those beneath his toe-nails. Then, and only then, will his going to the mosque and his prayer therein be meritorious." (Ahmad ibn-Hanbal, Tahara:187).

The Prophet also said, "Whoever performs his ablution well, and then lifts his head unto heavens and says, "I testify that there is no god but Allah alone, He has no associate, and I testify that Muhammad is His servant, the Apostle, the eight gates of Paradise will be flung open before him and he will enter therein through whichever gate he may desire.""

Washing the parts three times

Prophet SAW performed ablution throwing water once on every member and said, "Prayer is unacceptable before God except after such ablution." He SAW performed ablution throwing water twice on every member and said, "Whoever performs the ablution throwing water twice on every member will twice receive his reward from God." Finally, he performed the ablution throwing water thrice and said, "This is my manner of ablution and that of the Prophets (Peace Be Upon Them) and that of Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH), the Friend of the Merciful God.".

The Manner of Ablution

It is recommended that a person should start his wudu with the use of the toothpick. Prophet SAW said, "You mouths are the pathways of the Quran. Render them, therefore clean with toothpicks." (Ibn-Majah, Tahara:7). The purpose of using a maswak should be the purification of the mouth for reading Quran and the invocation of God during the Salat. Prophet SAW said, "One prayer after the use of maswak is better than seventy five prayers without the use of the maswak." Prophet SAW did not make it compulsory so as not to overburden the people. He SAW said, "Had it not been for my fear to overburden my people, I would have commanded them to use the maswak before every Salat."

After completing the cleansing of the mouth with maswak, a person should start ablution while facing Qiblah and pronouncing, "in the name of Allah the most Merciful, the most Compassionate.". The Prophet SAW said, "There is no ablution to him who does not call upon the name of God." (Ibn-Majah, Tahara:41). After that a person should say, "O Allah, I seek refuge in Thee from the power of the devil. I seek refuge in Thee O Allah lest they should come and surround me." The purpose of the ablution to remove impurities and making Salat lawful afterwards should be kept in mind until the face is washed. Though it is highly recommended, however, on forgetting to keep it in mind until the face is washed is not penalized.

1. Washing hands thrice

The person should begin with the washing of his right hand and pray, "O Allah, On the day of judgement hand me the book of my actions in my right hand and judge me with lenience."

When one washes his left hand, he should pray, "I beseech Thee O Allah, hand me not the book of my action in my left or from behind my back."

2. Rinsing mouth thrice

Take a handful of water with his right, and rinse his mouth with it three times and gargle. Allow the water to reach the throat, except when one is fasting, at which time one should take it easy. One should say after that, "O Allah, Help me to recite They book and to glorify Thy name."

3. Inhaling through nose thrice

One should take another handful of water and inhale it thrice. One should force it with the breath up the nose and flushing the cartilages of the nose, and force the water out by exhaling. As sniffing the water, one should say, "O Allah, Grant me (to enjoy) the perfumes of Paradise and be gracious unto me." As one exhales to force the water out, one should say, "O Allah, I seek refuge in Thee against the stench of Hell and evil of the world."

These respective duas should be recited since inhaling is equivalent to drawing in while exhaling is removal and rejection. Therefore, while inhaling one should make dua for enjoying perfumes in the Paradise and similarly, while exhaling, one should pray for seeking refuge against Hell and Evil.

4. Washing face thrice

Now, one should take another handful of water to wash his face. One should wash it from the beginning of the flat part of the forehead to the end of the chin, and from one ear to the other ear. The two temples which are on either side of the forehead are not included in the face but form a part of the head. The water is allowed to reach the edge of the bangs which women use to affect: It is the part which lies at the side of the face when the end of a thread is placed upon the top of the ear, and the other end is placed upon the corner of the forehead. The water is allowed to reach the four parts of face where the hair grow: the eyebrows, the mustache, the side whiskers, and the eyelashes. Water should be allowed to reach the base of sparse but not the thick beards. One who has beard, he should wash face thrice and port water over the long part of his beard, and work his fingers in, and clean the ye holes where the dirt which they discharge collects and where the kohl gathers.

While washing eyes, one should wish and make dua that sin should depart therefrom. As one washes his face he should pray, "O Allah, Cleanse Thou my face with Thy light when Thou cleanseth the faces of They sainds; blacken not my face with Thy darkness when Thou rendereth the faces of They enemies black."

5. Washing arms upto elbows thrice

One should wash arms upto the elbows three times. When washing his hands a person should move the ring around his finger. He should draw his wet right hand over the fore-part of the head, raising the head gear with the left, and should apply water to the upper part of the upper arm.

Prophet SAW says, "For (the believers) will appear on the day of the resurrection with whiteness on their foreheads, wrists, and ankles, from the effect of ablution." (Al-Bukhari, Wudu:3).

6. Washing forehead, ears, neck thrice

A person should start by washing of his right hand first and left hand after wards. He should proceed then to wipe his head thoroughly by soaking his hands in the water, bringing the tips of their fingers, both the right and the left, together, placing them on the forepart of the head, running them over to the opposite side, and finally bring them back again to the forepart. This all constitutes as a single wipe. He should repeat it thrice and say, "Cover me with Thy Mercy, O Allah, and shower upon me of Thy blessings. Give me to sit in the shadow of Thy throne on that day when there will be no shade except Thine own."

After that, one should wipe the ears, both from outside and inside with the fresh water. He should put the tips of his forefingers into his ears and twist them round, passing his thumbs at the same time over the back of the ears. He should then place the palms of his hands over the outer part of his ears, repeating the act thrice and saying, "Make me O Allah one of those who hear and pattern their work in accordance to the best of what they hear. O Allah, let me hear the crier of Paradise with the righteous."

Now is the time to wash one's neck with another fresh water. The importance of washing neck can be seen from the saying of the Prophet SAW that, "Wiping the neck safeguards against being shackled on the day of resurrection." While wiping the neck, one should make dua that, "O Allah, release my neck from the yoke of fire and save Thou me from the chains and shackles."

7. Washing feet thrice

In the last, one needs to wash his both feet thrice starting with the right foot. With his left hand, one should pass fingers between the toes from the bottom up, beginning with the little toe of the right foot and ending with the little toe of the left. While washing the right foot, one should make dua that, "O Allah, steady my foot on the narrow bridge on that day when feet slip down into the fires of Hell." While washing the left foot, one should make dua that, "I see Thy aid O Allah lest my foot should slip off the bridge on that day when the feet of the hypocrites slip."

After one finishes the washing of feet, one should turn to his head up towards the heavens and say, "I testify that there is no god but Allah, that He has no associate, and that Muhammad is His servant and His apostle. Glory be to You O Allah, and the praise be Thine, for there is no god but Thee. I have done evil and sinned against my own soul. I beg Thy forgiveness O Allah, an dI hearken back unto You. Forgive, therefore, my sin and be gracious unto me; Thou art the Forgiving, the Merciful. Give me to be penitent O Allah, and make me pure. Grant me to be one of Thy righteous servants and make me patient and grateful. Help me always to remember Thy name, and to praise Thee day and night."

Stages of the cleanliness. Cleanliness is one half of the belief (Imaan)

Cleanliness keeps a very important place in the religion of Islam. Praise be to Allah SWT Who has shown His kindness on His servants and has provided them with cleanliness (wudu). He has made his Light and grace to flow into the hearts for the purification of the inward thoughts. He has provided His servants with the water which is smooth and soft for the washing of the bodies. May Allah be pleased with and have His peace and mercies on Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) who has encompassed the entire world from one end to another with the light of guidance, as well as upon his noble and righteous family - a peace the blessings of which will be a salvation onto us or the day of resurrection and a bulwark unto us against every danger or affliction.

The Prophet SAW said, "Religion was founded on cleanliness" (al-Ghazali). 'Purification is the key to prayer.' (al-Tirmidhi, Tahara: 3). Allah said, "Therein are men who aspire to purity, and God loves the purified." (Surah 9: 109). The Prophet SAW also said, "Purification is one half of belief." (Muslim, Tahara-1). Allah said, "Allah desires not to lay burden onto you, but He desires to purify you." (Surah 5: 9). Imam al-Ghazali explains that through these externals, those who contemplate the fact that the most important thing is the purification of the heart, because, it is very unlikely that the words of the Prophet SAW "Purification is one half of belief" meant that men should polish and clean the body with generous use of water and neglect the heart and leave it stuffed with impurities and filth.

Imam al-Ghazali suggests that purity has four stages: The first stage is the purification of body from the excrements, imupurities, and bodily growth and discharges (arabic fadlah / fadalat). The second stage is the purification of bodily senses from crimes and sins. The third stage is the purification of the heart from blameworthy traits and reprehensible vices. The fourth and final stage is the purification of the innermost self (sirr) from everything except Allah SWT. This last stage is that of the Prophets (May Peace Be Upon Them) and the saints.

In all these stages, the purity is half of the activities it encompasses. For the highest aim of the activities of the innermost self is to have the majesty and greatness of Allah revealed on it. But knowledge of Allah will never be revealed into the innermost until everything except Allah is removed from there. Allah has therefore said, "Say: It is God: then leave them in their past time of cavilling." It is clear that knowledge of Allah and allegiance to another besides Him can not inhabit the same heart and Allah has not created two hearts within him.

As to the activities of the heart, the sole purpose is to decorate it with the praiseworthy traits and doctrines established by the Law. No one who has not cleansed his heart from the opposite, the false doctrines and reprehensible vices, has ever been described by these traits. Hence purification of heart comprises of one half of the activities. This first half is the prerequisite for the second. And it is in this manner that purification of the heart is one half of the belief. In the same fashion, the purification of the bodily senses from the forbidden things is half of the activities they entail and is prerequisite for the second half. Their purification is the first half and their adornment with good works is the second half.

There are different stages of the belief. One attains the higher stage of belief unless he first goes through the lower stage. He will not attain the purification of the innermost self from the blameworthy qualities and will not adorn it with the qualities that are praiseworthy unless he accomplishes first the purification of the heart from the blameworthy traits and adorns it with the praiseworthy. In the same manner, none will attain the purification of the heart from the blameworthy traits or adorn it with the praiseworthy traits unless he first accomplishes the bodily senses from the forbidden things and adorns them with good works. The more precious and noble the desired object becomes the more difficult is the way to its attainment. The longer is the road which leads to it, and greater are the obstacles which block its path. Therefore, one should not think that this can merely be achieved by wishing or by no efforts. The one whose insight fails to distinguish between these four stages shall not perceive them except the lowest which is equivalent to the last and outermost husk of the desired fruit. Therefore, such a person will only concentrate on it and go to the extreme in study of its rules and waste his all time in istinja (abstersion), washing clothes, cleaning his body, and outdoing himself in the use of water, thinking as a result of constant fear with which he is obsessed and of a hallucination which dwells in his mind, that the desired and noble purity comprises only of such outward and external cleanliness. Therefore, he shows his complete ignorance about the way the early Muslims spent their lives: How they spent all their energy and thought of the purification of the heart and were very lenient regarding the body to the extent that 'Umar, despite his high station, has once performed his ablution with water from a jar which belonged to a Christian woman.' Similarly, it was a common practice among early Muslims not to wash their hands from the remains of the fats and foods but instead wipe their fingers off against the arches of their feet without any soap or anything. They used to pray, kneeling and prostrating themselves directly on the ground and walk barefooted in the streets. There were many who slept on earth had nothing between themselves and the earth.

Umar said, "We had no knowledge of Alkali at the time of the Apostle of Allah and our towels were the hollows of our feet: Whenever we ate anything, we wiped our fingers against our feet." After the death of the Prophet SAW, the first four innovations were the use of the sieve (for flour), the use of Alkali (for washing), the use of tables (for eating), and eating to satiety.

The only concern to the early Muslims was the cleanliness of the heart. One of them even said, "To perform prayer with the shoes on is better than performing them without them because when Apostle of God SAW took his shoes off during prayer as Gabriel informed him that they were unclean, and the people present took their shoes off as well, he told them, "Why have you taken off your shoes?"" (Abu Dawood, Taharah: 137).

Such was the lenience of theirs in those matters. Therefore, when Prophet SAW said, "Religion was founded on the cleanliness.", it's main emphasis was to lead to the purification of the innermost self which can be attained after achieving other stages of the purification as well. Too much emphasis on the purification of the body, will lead to the waste of energies and the actual purpose of the cleanliness will be lost.

We pray that Allah SWT helps us achieve the purification of the innermost self. Amen.