The Prophet Muhammad's Last Sermon (PBUH)

The sermon was delivered on the ninth day of Dhul Hijjah 10 AH in the Uranah valley of Mount Arafat.

"O People, lend me an attentive ear, for I know not whether after this year, I shall ever be amongst you again. Therefore listen to what I am saying to you very carefully and take these words to those who could not be present here today.

O People, just as you regard this month, this day, this city as sacred, so regard the life and property of every Muslim as a sacred trust. Return the goods entrusted to you to their rightful owners. Hurt no one so that no one may hurt you. Remember that you will indeed meet your LORD, and that HE will indeed reckon your deeds. ALLAH has forbidden you to take usury (interest), therefore all interest obligation shall henceforth be waived. Your capital, however, is yours to keep. You will neither inflict nor suffer any inequity.

Beware of Satan, for the safety of your religion. He has lost all hope that he will ever be able to lead you astray in big things, so beware of following him in small things.

O People, it is true that you have certain rights with regard to your women, but they also have rights over you. Remember that you have taken them as your wives only under Allah's trust and with His permission. If they abide by your right then to them belongs the right to be fed and clothed in kindness. Do treat your women well and be kind to them for they are your partners and committed helpers. And it is your right that they do not make friends with any one of whom you do not approve, as well as never to be unchaste.

O People, listen to me in earnest, worship ALLAH, say your five daily prayers (Salah), fast during the month of Ramadhan, and give your wealth in Zakat. Perform Hajj if you can afford to.

All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good action. Learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood. Nothing shall be legitimate to a Muslim which belongs to a fellow Muslim unless it was given freely and willingly. Do not, therefore, do injustice to yourselves.

Remember, one day you will appear before ALLAH and answer your deeds. So beware, do not stray from the path of righteousness after I am gone.

O People, no Prophet or apostle will come after me and no new faith will be born. Reason well, therefore, O People, and understand the words which I convey to you. I leave behind me two things, the QURAN and my example, the SUNNAH and if you follow these you will never go astray.

All those who listen to me shall pass on my words to others and those to others again; and may the last ones understand my words better than those who listen to me directly. Be my witness, O ALLAH, that I have conveyed your message to the people".

The African King and his friend

A story is told about a king in Africa who had a close friend that he grew up with. The friend had a habit of looking at every situation that ever occurred in his life (positive or negative) by remarking, "This is good, Allah Almighty knows best."

One day the king and his friend were out on a hunting expedition. The friend would load and prepare the guns for the king. The friend had apparently done something wrong in preparing one of the guns, for after taking the gun from his friend, the king fired it and his thumb was blown off. Examining the situation the friend remarked as usual, "This is good! Allah Almighty knows best."

To which the king replied, "No, this is NOT good!" and ordered his soldiers to put his friend into jail. About a year later, the king was hunting in an area that he should have known to stay clear of. Cannibals captured the king and took him to their village. They tied his hands, stacked some wood, set up a stake and bound him to the stake.

As they came near to setting fire to the wood, they noticed that the king was missing a thumb. Being superstitious, they never ate anyone who was less than whole. So after untying the king, they chased him out of the village. When the king reached his palace, he was reminded of the event that had taken his thumb and felt remorse for his treatment of his friend. He went immediately to the jail to speak with his friend.

"You were right," the King said. "It was good that my thumb was blown off." And he proceeded to tell his friend all that had just happened. "I am very sorry for sending you to jail for so long. It was bad of me to do this." "No," his friend replied, "This is good...Allah Almighty knows best." "What do you mean, 'This is good!' How could it be good that I sent my friend to jail for a year?"

The king's friend replied, "Remember that the Almighty knows best and if I had NOT been in jail, I would have been with you on this hunting trip, and they would have eaten me!"


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"He knows what is before them and what is behind them: and all matters return to Him (for decision)" (Al-Qur'an: Surah 22, al-Hajj, Ayah 76)

Do not judge things or events by their immediate outcome!

Allah, the Almighty, the Most High, is the All-Knowledgable, the All-Knower. He chooses to show us things. But sometimes we are not shown the wisdom behind some things. When we are confronted by circumstances that are not very pleasing, we are quick to say, "This is not good...." But...is it really like that? We might not know the purpose behind it. It might turn out to be a good thing. Thus, when we are faced with any situation we should not be too quick to judge and always remember that this life, the good and the bad of it, is a test. There is nothing that happens for no resaon. Perhaps sometimes we don't appreciate this reason, but patience in hardship, and gratitude in times of ease, are qualities we must try to develop.

(Adapted from An-Noor news, Issue no 363, 16th March 2007)

The Prophet's Remedies

Milk:
The Prophet(SAW) said that milk wipes away heat from the heart just as the finger wipes away sweat from the brow. It strengthens the back, increases the brain, augments intelligence,
renews vision and drives away forgetfulness.

Honey:
Considered to be the best remedy for diarrhoea when mixed in hot water. It is the food of foods, drink of drinks and drug of drugs. It is used for creating appetite, strengthening the stomach, eliminating phelgm, as a meat preservative, hair conditioner, eye salve and mouthwash. It is extremely beneficial in the morning in warm water and is also a sunnah.

Olive oil:
Excellent treatment for skin and hair, delays aging, treats inflammation of the stomach.

Mushroom:
The Prophet(SAW) said that mushroom is a good cure for the eyes, it also serves as a form of birthcontrol and arrests paralysis.

Grapes:
The Prophet was very fond of grapes, it purifies the blood, provides vigour and health, strengthens the kidneys and clears the bowels.

Dates:
The Prophet(SAW) said that a house without dates has no food. Also to be eaten at the time of childbirth.

Figs:
It is a fruit from paradise and a cure for piles.

Barley:
Good for fever in a soup form.

Melon:
Melon contains 1000 blessings and 1000 mercies, The prophet SAW said "None of your women who are pregnant and eat of water melon will fail to produce off spring who are good in counternanace and good in character.

Pomegranate:
The Prophet(SAW) said it cleanses you of Satan and evil aspirations for 40 days.

Water:
The Prophet(SAW) said the best drink in this world and the next is Water, when you are thirsty, drink it by sips and not gulps, gulping produces sickness of the liver.

So praise be to our beloved Nabi(SAW) who produced us with marvellous knowledge which dazzles the wisest minds.

Studying Medicine

Allah SWT says in Chapter5:verse 32 of the Holy Qu’ran:

“…whoever saves the life of one; it shall be as if he/she had saved the life of all of mankind.”

These beautiful words are what inspired me to choose medicine as a career path out of so many possibilities Alhumdulillah. And these words are the driving force behind my hard work that will inshAllah lead me to success both in this life and the hereafter.

From a very young age I knew that I wanted to be a doctor and I guess that is what prepared me mentally and increased my knowledge of the career path. I also had to research the subjects and grades that were required of me by the Universities of my choice.

I think the greatest obstacle is people and not Islam. People discourage and challenge your ambitions by saying that women shouldn’t commit themselves to such a vigorous career that may weaken us in other responsibilities. No one seems to be concerned about the female patients who have to be treated by male doctors, at times taking part in intimate examinations. I think in today’s society we should encourage more women to become professionals like Drs, Dentists and Lawyers. Not only is this da’wah but it is healthier for our Ummah inshAllah.

Regarding issues such as dissecting humans, I personally haven’t come across any specific rulings prohibiting this for the study of Medicine. But from my understanding, this is merely a tool for learning and inshAllah is the way to better understand the human body in order to save the lives of millions of human beings. Allah knows best.

At my University they have provided females with single gender groups for intimate clinical sessions Alhumdulillah. I have spoken to many sisters in their final year of studying Medicine and they have said that when they consult a patient at the bedside they roll their sleeves up and after they have finished they roll it back down, it is for hygiene and infection control. I have been into surgery a few times wearing scrubs, and I wear the surgical gown, on top of the trousers and short sleeve top, which is like a Jilbab.

The thing that I would emphasise on the most is work experience and voluntary work. Try to get some experience over summer, whether working at your local GP surgery, or doing a few weeks of learning at a hospital (here or another country if possible). Remember Universities like to see that you will be a committed and dedicated student, especially for subjects like Medicine and Dentistry, so make sure you also get a few months or a year’s worth of voluntary work, either at a care home, children’s youth club, or even a part time job! I know that my University wanted an all rounder, so I had to tell them about my hobbies and interesting things I get up to in my free time… one of which was working for Islam Channel.

The most important thing to do if you are confused about anything is to do Istikhara and inshAllah Allah will guide you to the best path.

If you’d like to know more about my experiences as a medical student or would like any advice, inshAllah visit my blog: tazkiasamia.blogspot.com.

Let me remind you that Islam urges both, males and females to seek knowledge, it is reported by Abu Darda in al-Musnad and other sources, that the Prophet (SAW) has said, “If one treads a path in order to seek knowledge, Allah will make easy for him/her a way to enter Paradise.”

Samia Hussain - Islam Channel