Levels of Paradise

During assension Prophet Muhammad described the seven heavens and who sits on them

Heaven	What Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) described
First	The Prophet said: "The animal's step (was so wide that it) reached the farthest point within the reach of the animals' sight. I was carried on it, and Gabriel (Jibra'eal) set out with me till we reached the nearest heaven. "When he asked for the gate to be opened, it was asked, "Who is it?" Gabriel (Jibra'eal) answered, 'Gabriel (Jibra'eal). It was asked "Who is accompanying you?" Gabriel (Jibra'eal) replied, 'Muhammad. It was asked "Has Muhammad been called?" Gabriel (Jibra'eal) replied in the affirmative. Then it was said "He is welcomed. What an excellent visit his is!" The gate was opened, and when I in to the first heaven, I saw Adam there. Gabriel (Jibra'eal) said to me "This is your father, Adam; pay him your greetings" So I greeted him and he returned the greetings to me and said "You are welcomed, O pious son and pious Prophet"
Second	Gabriel (Jibra'eal) then ascended with me till we reached the second heaven. Gabriel (Jibra'eal) asked for the gate to be opened It was asked "Who is it?" Gabriel (Jibra'eal) answered "Gabriel (Jibra'eal)" It was asked "Who is accompanying you?" Gabriel (Jibra'eal) replied "Muhammad" It was asked "Has he been called?" Gabriel (Jibra'eal) answered in the affirmative. Then it was said "He is welcomed. What an excellent visit his is!" The gate was opened. When I in to the second heaven, here I saw John (Yahya) and Jesus (Eisa), who were cousins of each other. Gabriel (Jibra'eal) said to me: "These are John and Jesus; pay them your greetings" So I greeted them and both of them returned my greetings to me and said "You are welcomed, O pious brother and pious Prophet"
Third	Gabriel (Jibra'eal) then ascended with me to the third heaven and asked for its gate to be opened. It was asked "Who is it?" Gabriel (Jibra'eal) replied "Gabriel (Jibra'eal)" It was asked "Who is accompanying you?" Gabriel (Jibra'eal) replied "Muhammad" It was asked "Has he been called?" Gabriel (Jibra'eal) replied in the affirmative. Then it was said: 'He is welcomed, what an excellent visit his is!' The gate was opened, and when I in to the third heaven there I saw Joseph (Yusuf), Gabriel (Jibra'eal) said to me "This is Joseph, pay him your greetings" So I greeted him and he returned the greetings to me and said "You are welcomed, O pious brother and pious Prophet"
Fourth	Gabriel (Jibra'eal) then ascended with me to the fourth heaven and asked for its gate to be opened. It was asked "Who is it?" Gabriel (Jibra'eal) replied "Gabriel (Jibra'eal)" It was asked "Who is accompany you?" Gabriel (Jibra'eal) replied "Muhammad" It was asked "Has he been called?" Gabriel (Jibra'eal) replied in the affirmative. Then it was said "He is welcomed, what an excellent visit his is!" The gate was opened, and when I in to the fourth heaven, there I saw Enoch (Idris), Gabriel (Jibra'eal) said to me "This is Enoch; pay him your greetings" So I greeted him and he returned the greetings to me and said "You are welcomed O pious brother and pious Prophet"
Fifth	Gabriel (Jibra'eal) then ascended with me to the fifth heaven and asked for its gate to be opened. It was asked "Who is it?" Gabriel (Jibra'eal) replied "Gabriel (Jibra'eal)" It was asked "Who is accompany you?" Gabriel (Jibra'eal) replied "Muhammad" It was asked: 'Has he been called?' Gabriel (Jibra'eal) replied in the affirmative. Then it was said: 'He is welcomed, what an excellent visit his is!" So when I in to the fifth heaven, there I saw Aaron (Harun) Gabriel (Jibra'eal) said to me: "This is Aaron; pay your greetings" So I greeted him and he returned the greetings to me and said"You are welcomed, O pious brother and pious Prophet."
Sixth	Gabriel (Jibra'eal) then ascended with me to the sixth heaven and asked for its gate to be opened. It was asked "Who is it?" Gabriel (Jibra'eal) replied "Gabriel (Jibra'eal)" It was asked "Who is accompany you?" Gabriel (Jibra'eal) replied "Muhammad" It was asked "Has he been called?" Gabriel (Jibra'eal) replied in the affirmative. Then it was said "He is welcomed, what an excellent visit his is!" "When I in to the sixth heaven, there I saw Moses (Musa). Gabriel (Jibra'eal) said to me"This is Moses; pay him your greeting". So I greeted him and he returned the greetings to me and said: "You are welcomed, O pious brother and pious Prophet." When I left him (Moses) he wept. Someone asked him: 'What makes you weep?' Moses said 'I weep because after me there has been sent (as Prophet) a young man whose followers will enter Paradise in greater numbers than my followers.'
Seventh	Gabriel (Jibra'eal) then ascended with me to the seventh heaven and asked for its gate to be opened. It was asked "Who is it?" Gabriel (Jibra'eal) replied "Gabriel (Jibra'eal)" It was asked "Who is accompany you?" Gabriel (Jibra'eal) replied "Muhammad" It was asked "Has he been called?" Gabriel (Jibra'eal) replied in the affirmative. Then it was said "He is welcomed, what an excellent visit his is!" "So when I went in to the seventh heaven, there I saw Abraham (Ibrahim). Gabriel (Jibra'eal) said to me: 'This is your father; pay your greetings to him.' So I greeted him and he returned the greetings to me and said: 'You are welcomed, O pious son and pious Prophet.' Then I was made to ascend to Sidrat-ul-Muntaha (the Lote Tree of the utmost boundary). Behold! Its fruits were like the jars of Hajr (a place near Medina ) and its leaves were as big as the ears of elephants. Gabriel (Jibra'eal) said: "This is the Lote Tree of the utmost and boundary.' Behold! There ran four rivers, two were hidden and two were visible, I asked: 'What are these two kinds of rivers, O Gabriel (Jibra'eal)?' He replied: 'As for the hidden rivers, they are two rivers in Paradise and the visible rivers are the Nile and the Euphrates . "Then Al-Bait-ul-Ma'mur (the Sacred House) was shown to me and a container full of wine and another full of milk and a third full of honey were brought to me. I took the milk. Gabriel (Jibra'eal) remarked: 'This is the Islamic religion which you and your followers are following.' Then the prayers were enjoined on me: they were fifty prayers a day. When I returned, I passed by Moses, who asked me; 'What have you been ordered to do?' I replied: 'I have been ordered to offer fifty prayers a day.' Moses said: 'Your followers cannot bear fifty prayers a day, and by Allah I have tested people before you, and I have tried my level best with Children of Israel (Children of Israel (Bani-al-Israel)) in vain. Go back to your Lord and ask for reduction to lessen your followers'' burden.' So I went back, and Allah reduced ten prayers for me. Then again I came to Moses, but he repeated the same as he had said before. Then again I went back to Allah, and He reduced ten more prayers. When I came to Moses he said the same. I went back to Allah, and He ordered m to observe ten prayers a day. When I came back to Moses, he repeated the same advice, so I went back to Allah and was ordered to observe five prayers a day. "When I came back to Moses, he said: 'What have you been ordered?' I replied: 'I have been ordered to observe five prayers a day.' He said: 'Your followers cannot bear five prayers a day, and no doubt, I have got an experience of the people before you, and I have tried my level best with Children of Israel (Bani-al-Israel), so go back to your Lord and ask for reduction to lesson your followers' burden.' I said: 'I have requested so much of my Lord that I feel ashamed, but I am satisfied now and surrender to Allah's Order.' When I left, I heard a voice saying: 'I have passed My order and have lessened the burden of My worshippers.'"

Islamic exhibitions can enlighten Muslims worldwide

Bahman Dorri, Secretary General of the Society of Defending Palestinian and Cultural Deputy of Guidance Ministry

Tehran: The exhibitions like “Tehran International Book Fair” and the “Quran Fair” can help the Muslims display their cultural competency and promote the Islamic awakening across the Muslim world in every part of the world.

By Farhan Iqbal

Tehran: The exhibitions like “Tehran International Book Fair” and the “Quran Fair” can help the Muslims display their cultural competency and promote the Islamic awakening across the Muslim world in every part of the world.

These views were shared by the Secretary General of the Society of Defending Palestinian and Cultural Deputy of Guidance Ministry, Bahman Dorri, while talking to media personnel and highlighting the importance of exhibitions promoting Islamic culture.

Doori also holds the office of a Public Relations Officer of the Cultural Deputy Office in the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance.

He strongly emphasized that the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance has been seriously pursuing the Palestinian issue and considers it the foremost concern of the Muslim world.

According to him, the Quran Fair like exhibitions would not only pave the way for more dynamic and vigorous presence of the Muslim society but it would also help resolve issues in the Muslim countries.

The Culture Deputy of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance termed the Islamic Revolution of Iran as the resuscitator of the Islamic awakening. He said optimistically that the wave of Iranian Revolution will continue until the freedom of the land of Palestine and the Quds Shrine will be secured.

He further added that the current movement in Arab nations is the Islamic awakening which has emerged from the Islamic Revolution and is not the “Arab Spring as some are trying to pin it on people’s mind.”

Dorri stated, “Sampling Iran’s Islamic Revolution culture in the world of Islam and the demographic and anti-authoritarian and anti-colonial nature of the uprisings and at the same time the anti-US and anti-Zionistic features of the liberating movements are aspects of the crushing and massive wave of the Islamic awakening in the world which cannot be called the Arab Spring.”

“The world is in a dire need for the Islamic Revolution culture,” he added. “We should pave the way for systematization of movements in revolutionary countries by expanding the written culture and publishing valuable books and translations of proper works in the world,” he added.

Dorri also said that the integrity of the fulfilled activities in support for the Palestinian nation is an important factor to stick to.

He said, “In Iran, all the non-governmental societies who support the freedom of Palestine should concentrate their activities and work hand in hand to reach the desired integrity to achieve their goals.”

He also called for attention on the transmission of cultural concepts to the world in the current status of the world.

“Now that the occupying Zionist regime is in a process of involuntary topple, the transfer of cultural concepts to the world should be taken more seriously,” he concluded.

Salaah Supplications

Salaah Supplications

Optional supplications before completing Salah after the final Tashahhud

Rabbij ‘alni muqimas salati wa min dhurriyati rabbana wa taqabbal du'aaa. Rabbana'ghfir li wa liwalidaiya wa lilmuminina yawma yaqumul hisab.	l O Lord, make me and my children steadfast in Salah: Our Lord, accept the prayer. Our Lord, forgive me and my parents and the believers on the Day of Judgement. (Surah Ibrahim 14:40-41)
Allahumma inni zalamtu nafsi zulman kathiran wa la ya'ghfirudh dhunuuba illa anta fa'ghfir li ma'ghfiratan min ‘indika warhamni innaka antal ‘ghafurur rahim.	O Allah, I have been very unjust to myself and no one grants pardon against sin but You, therefore forgive me with Your forgiveness and have mercy on me. Surely, You are the forgiver, the Merciful. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Allahumma innii a ‘uudhu bika min ‘adhaabi-qabri, wa min ‘adhaabi jahannama, wa min fitnatil-mahya wal mamati wa min sharri fitnatil masihid dajjal.	O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the punishment of the grave, and from the punishment of the Hell-fire and from the trials of life and death, and from the evil of the trial of the False Messiah. (Al- Bukhari 2/102, Muslim 1/412)
Allaahumma innii a ‘uudhu bika min ‘adhaabil-qabri wa a ‘uudhu bika min fitnatil-masiihid dajjaali wa a ‘uudhu bika min fitnatil-mahyaa walmamaati. Allaahumma innii a ‘uudhu bika minal-ma thami walmaghrami	O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the punishment of the grave, and the trial of the False Messiah, and I seek refuge in You from the trials of life and death. O Allah, I seek refuge in You from sin and from debt. (Al-Bkhari 1/202, Muslim1/412)
Allahumma inni zalamtu nafsi zulman kathira, wa la ya'ghfirudh-dhunuba illa anta, fa'ghfir lii ma'ghfiratan-min ;indika war-hamni innaka Antal ‘Ghafurur-Rahim.	O Allah, I have greatly wronged myself and on one forgives sins but You. So, grant me forgiveness and have mercy on me. Surely, You are Forgiving, Merciful. (Al-Bukhari 8/168 and Muslim 4/2078)
Allaahum-ma'ghfir lii maa qaddamtu, wa maa akhkhartu, wa maa asrartu, wa maa a' lantu, wa maa asraftu, wa maa Anta a'lamu bihi minii. Antal-Muqaddimu, wa Antal mu akhkhiru laa ilaaha Anta.	O Allah, forgive me what I have sent before me and what I have left behind me, what I have concealed and what I have done openly, what I have done in excess, and what You are better aware of than I. You are the One Who sends forth and You are the One Who delays. There is none worthy of worship but You. (Muslim 1/534)
Allaahumma a ‘innii ‘alaa dhikrika, wa shukrika, wa husni ‘ibaadatika.	O Allah, help me to remember You, to give You thanks, and to perform Your worship in the best manner. (Abu Dawud 2/86, An- Nasai 3/53. See also Al- Albani Sahih Abu Dawad 1/284).
Allaahumma innii a ‘uudhu bika minal-bukhli, wa a ‘uudhu bika minal-jubani, wa a ‘uudhu bika min an uradda ila ardhalil ‘umuri, wa a ‘uudhu bika min fitnatid-dunyaa wa ‘Adhaa bil-qabri.	O Allah, I seek Your protection from miserliness, I seek Your protection from cowardice, and I seek Your protection from being returned to feeble old age. I seek Your protection from the trials of this world and from the torment of the grave. (Al- Bukhari, cf. Al-Asqalani, Fathul-Bari 6/35)
Allahumma innii asalukal-jannat wa a ‘uudhu bika minan-naar.	O Allah, I ask You for paradise and seek Your protection from the Fire. (Abu Dawud. See also Al-Albani, Sahih Ibn Majah 2/328)
Allaahumma bi'ilmikal-ghayba wa qudaratika ‘alal-khalqi ahyinii maa ‘alimtal-hayaata khayran lii wa tawaffanii idhaa ‘alimtal-wafaata khayran lii, Allaahumaa innii asaaluka khashyataka fil-ghaybi wash-shahaadati, wa asaluka kalimatal-haqqi fir-ridhaa walghadhabi,wa asalukal-qasda fil-ghinaa walfaqri, wa asaluka na'iiman laa yanfadu, wa asalukaqurratan ‘aynin laa tanqati'u, wa asalukar-ridhaaba' dal-qadhaai, wa asaluka bardal-‘ayshi ba'dal-mauti, waasaluka ladh-dhatan-nadhari ilaawajhika wash-shawqa ilaa liqaaika fii ghayri dharraa a mudhirratin wa laa fitnatin mudhillatin, Allaahumma zayyinnaa biziinatil-iimaani waj'alnaaa hudaatan muhtadiina.	O Allah, by Your Knowledge of the unseen and by Your Power over creation, let me live if You know that life is good for me, and let me die if You know that death is good for me. O Allah, I ask You to grant me fear of You in private and in public. I ask You for the word of truth in times of contentment and anger. I ask You for moderation in wealth and in poverty. I ask You for blessings never ceasing and the coolness of my eye (i.e. pleasure) that never ends. I ask You for pleasure after Your judgment and I ask You for a life of coolness after death. I ask You for the delight of gazing upon Your Face and the joy of meeting You without any harm and misleading trials befalling me. O Allah, dress us with the beauty of faith, and make us guides who are upon (correct) guidance. (An-Nasai 3/54, 55, Ahmad 4/364. see also Al-Albani,Sahih An-Nasai 1/281)
Allaahumma innii asaluka yaa Allaahu biannakal-waahidul ahadus-Samadul-ladhii, lam yadil wa lam yuulad, wa lam yakun lahu kufuwan ahad, an taghfiralii dhunuubii innaka antal-Ghafuurur-Raheem	O Allah, I ask You, O Allah, You are the One, the Only, Self-Sufficient Master, who was not begotten and begets not and none is equal to Him. Forgive me my sins, surely You are Forgiving, Merciful. (An-Nasai 3/52, Ahmad 4/338. see also Al-Albani, Sahih An-Nasai 1/280 and Sifat Salatun-Nabi, pg.204.)
Allaahumma innii asaluka bianna lakal-hamda laa ilaaha illaa anta wahdaka laa shariika laka, al-mannaanu, yaa badii'as-samaawaati walardhi yaa dhaljalaali wal-ilraam, yaa Hayyu yaaqayumu innii as alukal-jannata wa a'uudhu bika minan-naar.	O Allah, I ask You, as You are the Owner of praise, there is none worthy of worship but You alone, You have no partner. You are the Giver of all good. O Creator of the heavens and the earth, Owner of majesty and honor. O Living and Everlasting One, I ask You for Paradise and I seek refuge in You from the Fire. (Abu Dawud, An-Nasai, Ibn Majah, At-Tirmithi.see also Al-Albani, Sahih Ibn Majah 2/329)
Allaahumma innii asaluka bianii ashhadu annaka antallaahu laa ilaaha illaa antal-ahadus-samadul-ladhii lam yalid wa lam yuulad wa lam yakun lahu kufuwan ahad.	O Allah, I ask You, by the fact that I bear witness that You are Allah. There is none worthy of worship but You, the Only God, Independent and begets not, and none is equal to Him. (Abu Dawud 2/62, Ibn Majah 2/1267, At-Tirmithi 5/515, Ahmad 5/360.see also Al-Albani, Sahih Ibn Majah 2/329 and Sahih At-Tirmithi 3/163)