FIRST REMINDER: Yaumu Al-Khamis, 5th day of Rajab (Thursday, 22nd March). LET'S STRIVE TO BE GOOD PRACTICING MUSLIM NOT JUST A MUSLIM BY NAME. LETS SHARE AND ASK QUESTIONS. BismilLahir Rahmaanir Raheem. Having good manners, character and being humble. Many of us think that “a perfect Muslim” is simply one who is correct in the observance of the salah (ritual Prayer), the fasting, the zakah (payment of a certain portion of one’s wealth to the poor), and the Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah). This indeed is not the case. If the ritual observances do not help the person to be humble, virtuous and truly God-fearing, then he or she is not a true Muslim. A Muslim should be good and just in dealing with others, no matter their religion, and take special care to keep away from all the shameful and sinful things ALLAH (God) has forbidden. One can never get close to Allah by being arrogant, full of pride and having a bad character and manners. Those who have humility and are humble and have good character and manners are the closest to ALLAH and ALLAH raises their ranks in the hereafter. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “And no one humbles himself before ALLAAH but ALLAAH will raise him (in status).” Humbleness is to know the value of oneself, to avoid pride, or disregarding the truth and underestimating people. As the Prophet sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam said, according to Muslim and others, "Al-Kibr (pride) is rejecting the truth and looking down upon people" [Muslim, Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud]. Humbleness is that, when you are advised, if Shaytaan calls you to reject the advice, you must negate him. Because the purpose of advice is that your brother points out the defects that you have. To be continued in shaa Allah. May ALLAH aid us through our effort to get closer to HIM. Aameen.