"READ IN THE NAME OF YOUR LORD"

LAILATUL-QADR

2008-08-05T03:20:00.000-07:00

LAILATUL-QADR

Its excellence is great, since in this night the Noble Qur'aan was sent down, which leads one who clings to it, to the path of honour and nobility, and raises him to the summit of distinction and everlasting life. The Muslims who adhere strictly to the Sunnah of Allaah's Messenger SAW do not raise flags on this night, nor suspend colourful decorations. Rather they vie in standing during it (Lailatul-Qadr) in Prayer out of sincere faith and hoping for reward. Here, O Muslim, are the Qur'aanic Aayaat and authentic prophetic ahaadeeth referring to this night:

* Its excellence

As regards its excellence it is more than sufficient to mention that Lailatul-Qadr is better than a thousand months, He, the Mighty and Majestic, says:

" Verily! We have sent it (this Qur'aan) down in the Night of Decree (Lailatul-Qadr). And what will make you know what the Night of Decree is? The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months. Therein descend the angels and the Rooh (i.e. Gabriel) by Allaah's Permission with all Decrees, Peace! until the appearance of dawn." (Al-Qadr 97: 1-5)

And in it every decreed matter for the year is conveyed, He, the Most High says:

" We sent it (this Qur'aan) down on a blessed Night. Verily, We are ever warning (mankind of Our Torment). Therein (that Night) is decreed every matter of ordainment. Amran (i.e. a command or this Qur'aan or His Decree of every matter) from Us. Verily, We are ever sending (the Messenger). (As) a Mercy from your Lord. Verily! He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower." (Ad-Dukhaan 44: 3-6)

* When is it?

It is reported from the Prophet SAW that it is within the twenty-first, twenty-third, twenty-fifth, twenty-seventh, twenty-ninth or the last night of Ramadhan.

Imaam ash-Shaafi'ee, rahimahullaah, said: To me it is as the Prophet SAW used to answer according to the question posed, it would be said to him: "Shall I seek it in such and such night?" So he would reply: "Seek it in such and such night." And Allaah knows best. (Reported from him by al-Baghawee in Sharhus-Sunnah)

The most correct saying is that it occurs in the odd nights of the last ten nights of Ramadhan and this is shown by the hadeeth of 'Aa'ishah, RA, who said: "Allaah Messenger SAW used to practice I'tikaaf in the last ten nights and say: 'Seek out Lailatul-Qadr in the (odd nights) of the last ten days of Ramadhan." (Bukhari, Muslim )

However if the servant is too weak or unable, then he should at least not let the last seven days pass him by, due to what is reported from 'Ibn 'Umar, who said: Allaah's Messenger SAW said: "Seek it in the last ten, and if one of you is too weak or unable then let him not allow that to make him miss the final seven." (Bukhari, Muslim)

This explains his, SAW saying: "I see that your dreams are in agreement (that it is in the last seven) so he who wishes to seek it out then let him seek it in the last seven." (Bukhari)

It is also known from the Sunnah, that knowledge of the exact night upon which Lailatul-Qadr falls was taken up because the people argued, 'Ubaadah ibn as-Saamit, RA said: The Prophet SAW came out intending to tell us about Lailatul-Qadr, however two men were arguing and he said: "I came out to inform you about Lailatul-Qadr but so and so, and, so and so were arguing, so it was raised up, and perhaps that is better for you, so seek it on the (twenty) ninth and (twenty) seventh and the (twenty) fifth." (Bukhari)

Some ahaadeeth indicate that Lailatul-Qadr is in the last ten nights, while others indicate that it is in the odd nights of the last ten, so the first are general and the second more particular, and the particular has to be given priority over the general. Other ahaadeeth state that it is in the last seven - and these are restricted by mention of one who is too weak or unable. So there is no confusion, all the ahaadeeth agree and are not contradictory.

In conclusion: The Muslim should seek out Lailatul-Qadr in the odd nights of the last ten: the night of the twenty-first (the night before the twenty-first day), the twenty-third, the twenty-fifth, the twenty-seventh and the twenty-ninth. If he is too weak or unable to seek it out in all the odd nights, then let him seek it out in the odd nights of the last seven: the night of the twenty-fifth, the twenty-seventh and the twenty-ninth. And Allaah knows best.

* How should a Muslim seek Lailatul-Qadr?

One who misses this blessed night then he has missed much good for no one misses it except one from whom it is withheld. Therefore it is recommended that the Muslim who is eager to be obedient to Allaah should stand in Prayer during this night out of Eemaan and hoping for the great reward, since if he does this, Allaah will forgive his previous sins.

He SAW said: "Whoever stands in (Prayer) in Lailatul-Qadr out of Eemaan and seeking reward then his previous sins are forgiven." (Bukhari)

It is recommended to supplicate a great deal in it, it is reported from 'Aa'ishah, RA that she said: "O Messenger of Allaah! What if I knew which night Lailatul-Qadr was, then what should I say in it?" He said: "Say: Allaahumma innaka 'affuwwun tuhibbul 'afwa fa'fu 'annee." (O Allaah you are the one who pardons greatly, and loves to pardon, so pardon me.) (at-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah)

O brother! You know the importance of this night, so stand in Prayer in the last ten nights, in worship, detaching oneself from the women, ordering your family with this, and increasing in actions of obedience and worship in it.

From 'Aa'ishah, RA who said: "The Prophet SAW used to tighten his waist-wrapper (izaar) - (meaning detached himself from his wives in order to worship, and exerted himself in seeking Lailatul-Qadr), spend the night in worship, and wake the family in the last ten nights." (Bukhari, Muslim)

From 'Aa'ishah, RA: "Allaah's Messenger SAW used to exert himself in the last ten nights more than he would at other times." (Muslim)

* Its sign

[Many people believe in all sorts of superstitions about Lailatul-Qadr, and false beliefs from them are that the trees prostrate, and buildings sleep! And these things are clearly futile and baseless.] Allaah's Messenger SAW described the morning after Lailatul-Qadr, so that the Muslim may know which day it is. From Ubayy, RA who said: that he SAW said: "On the morning following Lailatul-Qadr the sun rises not having any rays, as if it were a brass dish, until it rises up." (Muslim, Abu Dawood, at-Tarmidhi, Ibn Majah)

From Abu Hurairah, RA who said: "We were discussing Lailatul-Qadr in the presence of Allaah's Messenger SAW, so he said: 'Which of you remembers (the night) when the moon arose and was like half a plate?'" (Muslim) [Qaadi 'Iyaad said: "It contains an indication that it was towards the end of the month - since the moon does not appear like that when it arises except towards the end of the month."]

From Ibn 'Abbaas, RA who said: Allaah's Messenger SAW said: "Lailatul-Qadr is calm and pleasant, neither hot nor cold, the sun arises on its morning being feeble and red." (at-Tayaalisee, Ibn Khuzaimah, al-Bazzaar with hasan isnaad)

Let us seek abundance rewards from our Creator by performing extra actions in these last few days of the noble month of Ramadhan as it could be our last...

Wife Discipline

2008-07-19T05:50:00.001-07:00

Allah, the Exalted, stated in the Glorious Qur'an:
(... As to those women on whose part you see ill-conduct, admonish them (first), (next,) refuse to share their beds, (and last,) beat them (lightly, if it is useful). But if they return to obedience, seek not against them means (of annoyance). Surely, Allah is Most High, Most Great.)
[4:34]

Islam forbids beating women and warns strictly against it. The Prophet (Peace be upon Him) never beat any of his wives or servants, as his wife Aishah (may Allah exalt their mention) reported in an authentic tradition (Bukhari #2328). Women are, in general, weaker than men in their physique and stamina. Women are often unable to defend themselves against violence. Although beating of women is generally forbidden, Islam permits the beating of wives in a restricted and limited sense only as a final solution and acceptable valid reason when all else fails. This is analogous to spanking children when all else fails and they must learn a lesson in obedience for their own protection and success.

In the verse we quoted, Allah deals with the case of a wife who behaves immorally towards her husband's rights. The treatment of this extremely sensitive issue comes in gradual stages, as we have noticed from the verse. Medicine, or treatment of any ailment, can be very bitter at times. But an ill person will take the remedy gladly and bear the bitterness of the medicine in order to be cured from his illness. The remedy to treat a wife blameworthy of immoral behavior, as we have noticed, comes in three gradual stages:

First stage: The stage of advice, counseling and warning against Allah's punishment. A husband must remind his wife of the importance of protecting his rights in Islam. This stage is a very kind and easy one. But, if this treatment does not work and proves to be ineffective, then the husband may resort to the next stage.
Second stage: To leave the wife's bed. Or, if one sleeps in the same bed with her, he will turn his back to her, not touch her, talk to her or have intercourse with her. This stage, as noticed, combines both strictness and kindness, although it is a very harsh practice on both. But, if this treatment does not work, then the husband may resort to the final stage of discipline explained below.

Third and final stage: Beating without hurting, breaking a bone, leaving black or blue marks on the body, and avoiding hitting the face or especially sensitive places at any cost. The purpose of beating her is only to discipline and never retaliation or with desire to hurt by any means. Islam forbids severe beating as punishment.

The Prophet (Peace be upon Him) said:
"None of you should beat his wife like a slave-beating and then have intercourse with her at the end of the day".
[Bukhari #4908]

This treatment is proved to be very effective with two types of women, as psychologists have determined:
The first type: Strong willed, demanding and commandeering women. These are the type of women who like to control, master and run the affairs of their husbands by pushing them around, commanding them and giving them orders.
The second type: Submissive or subdued women. These women may even enjoy being beaten at times as a sign of love and concern.
G. A. Holdfield, a European psychologist, in his book Psychology and Morals states the following:

"The instinct of submission strengthens at times, in the human being so much that a submissive person will enjoy seeing someone overpowering him, over-ruling him and being cruel to him. Such a submissive person bears the consequences of his submission due to the fact that he enjoys the pain. This is a wide spread instinct amongst women, even if they do not realize it. For this very reason, women are well known for bearing more pain than men. A wife, from this type of women, becomes more attracted and admiring of her husband when he beats her. Nothing, on the other hand, will sadden some women, as much as a soft, very kind and very obedient husband who is never upset regardless of being challenged!"
Beating, according to the Islamic teachings, is listed as the last and final stage of disciplining methods. Islam does not permit, allow or even condone beating unless the first two stages are proven to be ineffective. Moreover, beating must not be employed as a remedy, if a wife prefers to be divorced.

The three stages of discipline stated in the verse of the Glorious Qur'an are only meant to be a means of discipline for the protection of the family unit. One form of destruction of a family is when the wife becomes a victim of divorce. Islam aims to relieve unnecessary pains, problems and conflicts.
The practice of beating wives is in other non-Muslim societies is far more brutal and frequent. Wife beatings in theses societies are often with intent to inflict pain and harm to the wife; something strictly prohibited in Islam as mentioned previously. Recent statistics show that in Britain, the number of wives who have been brutally beaten by their husbands has risen from 6,400 in 1990 to 30,000 in 1992. This number jumped to 65,400 women in 1995. Statisticians expect this number to double 124,400 towards the end of the twentieth century! These statistics, as the report says, were based on information gathered from the police department. But, what about the unreported cases of wife beating, and the beating of women in general, which are not reported!

Mrs. Annie Besant compared Islamic Laws and Western legislation on women's rights and said:
"Islamic Laws are among the best laws known to the world, insofar as woman is concerned. It is the most fair and just legislation. It exceeds the Western legislation concerning real estate, inheritance and divorce laws. It acts as a guardian for women's rights. Phrases such as One Wife is Sufficient for a man, and Polygamy, mystified people and turned them away from the real misery which Western women suffer from and live through. Many husbands left their wives after they got what they wanted from them. In fact such men show no care, concern or mercy for their wives.

On Hijab (Covering Head and Face)

2008-07-19T05:44:00.000-07:00

On Hijab (Covering Head and Face

This issue has been sensationalized in the media, especially in some secular countries like France and Turkey which seek to make illegal the wearing of the Muslim headscarf or face veil in public places. We will not delve into all the details of the issue but, given the information above and some additional information below, we will let the readers judge for themselves whether or not the modest clothing and covering of the beauty and adornments of women, mandated in Islamic scriptures, is only for her own honor and protection, or not.
Allah (The Almighty) says:

(O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (and/or veils) over their bodies. That is better that they should be known so as not to be annoyed and molested. Allah is Ever Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.)
[33:59]

This verse clearly states that the reason the woman is obligated to cover herself is to distinguish her to be identified as a respectable Muslim lady, to avoid the annoying glances and glares of the men. As we all know, provocative clothing urges some men to make advances, and expose women to molestation. This may be encouraged and marketed in some societies, but not among the respectable faithful Muslims.

All protective measures should be taken to guard women from excess temptation, which are explained in Islamic jurisprudence. Some of them are related to the women's attire like loose fitting body wrapping, head covering, and according to the authentic interpretations of the scriptures of the Qur'an and Sunnah, the face veil.

Allah (The Almighty) also said:
(And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and guard their private parts and not display their adornment (and beauty), except that which appears thereof (ordinarily) and to draw their coverings over their chests and not display their adornment except to their husbands, their fathers, their husband's fathers, their sons, their husband's sons, their brothers, their brothers sons, their sisters sons, their women, that which their right hands possess (their slaves) or those male attendants having no physical desire, or children who are not yet aware of the private aspects of women. And let them not stomp their feet to make known what they conceal of their adornments. And turn to Allah in repentance, all of you, O believers that you might succeed.)
[24:31]

This verse indicates those males who are categorized as "mahram," as mentioned above, and designates that men and women should lower their gazes in modesty, which is the best self-protection from natural temptations and mutual attractions that occur between the opposite sexes.
And Allah (The Almighty) says, indicating the provocative manners with which the women of pre-Islamic era used to walk about, and calling the believers to appropriate behavior and repentance:

(And stay in your houses, and do not display yourselves like that of the times of ignorance, and establish regular prayers and give obligatory charity and obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah wishes only to remove impurity from you, O members of the family (of the Prophet), and to purify you with a thorough purification. And remember(O you the members of the Prophet's family, the Graces of your Lord), that which is recited in your houses of the Verses of Allah and Wisdom (i.e. Prophet's Sunnah ). Verily, Allah is Ever Most Courteous, Well-Acquainted with all things. Verily, the Muslims men and women, the believing men and women, the obedient men and women, the truthful men and women, the patient men and women, the humble men and women, the charitable men and women, the fasting men and the women, the chaste men and women, and the men and the women who remember Allah much with their hearts and tongues; Allah has prepared for them forgiveness and a great reward (i.e. Paradise). It is not for a believing man or woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decreed a matter, that they should have any option in their decision. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger, he has indeed strayed in a clear error.)
[33:33-6]

We can see that Islamic regulations, although similar to many other cultures where modest dress and behavior is concerned, are yet unique to the highest standards of the Muslim identity of chastity, righteousness, and moral uprightness. Islam protects and safeguards the individuals and the society from awkward situations of unnecessary intermingling between marriageable males and females leading to natural temptations. The Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon Him) said in an authentic tradition:
"Verily for every religion there is a characteristic, and the characteristic of Islam is Haya`a (modesty, shyness, bashfulness)."
[Ibn Majah #4172 and verified

Power of Guardianship in the Marriage Contract

2008-07-19T05:36:00.000-07:00

Power of Guardianship in the Marriage Contract

In Islamic jurisprudence one requirement for a sound marriage is the total agreement of the woman concerned.

The Prophet of Allah said (Peace be upon Him):

An "ayyim" (a divorcee or a widow) must not be wedded unless she is asked, and gives her approval. And a virgin must not be wedded unless she is consulted."
It was asked: "O messenger of Allah, How is her permission?"
He said: "If she remains silent."

[Bukhari #4843 & Muslim #1419]

If a woman is coerced into accepting an undesired marriage, she is entitled to present her case before a Muslim judge to seek annulment. A woman by the name of al-Khansa bint Khadam, who had been previously married (and was now divorced or widowed), came complaining to the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon Him) that her father had forced her to marry a person she despised. He disapproved and invalidated it.(Reported by Bukhari #6546)

Another requirement is that she does not give herself in marriage to anyone without guardianship. Her father, or in case he is not alive, her grandfather, paternal uncle, brother or even her mature son, or the ruler of the State, must act as her guardian in this affair to assure her rights are protected and to sign the marriage contract along with her signature. His role is to make sure that the groom is sincere and of standard, that she has a proper dowry, and that two witnesses testify to the contract which she willfully accepts. All these measures are to protect her rights and the sanctity of marriage.

The Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon Him) made this perfectly clear when he said:

"There is no marriage without a guardian."

[Abu Dawood #2058 & Tirmidhi #1101 and verified]

And in another version:

"There is no marriage without a guardian, and the ruler is the guardian for those who have no guardian." [Ahmad #2260 & Ibn Majah #1889 and verified ]

Therefore, if she elopes and marries herself, this marriage is considered unlawful, as the Prophet (Peace be upon Him) declared:

"Any woman who marries without the consent of her guardian, then her marriage is nullified, then her marriage is nullified, then her marriage is nullified, and if he has consummated the marriage then she must receive a dowry from him for what he has made lawful of her private parts, and if they fall into dispute then the ruler is the guardian for those who have no guardian."

[Abu Dawood #2083 & Tirmidhi #1102 and verified]

As mentioned above in the rights of daughters, whether a virgin or otherwise, the right of a woman is to accept or reject any marriage offer of her own free will. The institution of guardianship is only to protect her interests. The fact that the ruler or governor becomes her legal guardian to assure that all is in order and that no criminal injustice is perpetrated reinforces the sacredness of the marriage contract and the sanctity of her rights in Islam.

Since the woman remains in a position of natural weakness, Islamic jurisprudence lays down principles and laws to protect her interests and welfare and preserve her rights. The father, the mother and other concerned relatives, if need be, help select the right and most suitable husband for her, since all seek her happiness and none wish her to be victim of a failed marriage. The goal of marriage is to establish an everlasting relationship between a male and a female and a loving and beneficial home for the children, not mere gratification of certain desires. Since women are, in general, more emotional than men and more easily affected and tempted with appearances rather than the deeper realities, Islamic jurisprudence gives the right to the guardian to refuse and reject proposals if the suitor is not deemed a sound and sincere match.

Male guardianship in this case is only natural given their role of authority and responsibility. Moreover, it cannot be denied that men, being of the same gender, have a better ability to perceive qualities of other men in certain areas, and are more capable of finding those characteristics of a man that suit his daughter or the woman under his responsibility of guardianship. Of course he seeks counsel of the wife and other concerned females in the process of selection of the bridegroom. If an appropriate man proposed for marriage and the guardian refused for no valid reason, then the guardianship can be contested in the court of law. The guardianship is then given to the nearest responsible male relative of the woman, or, in case she has no responsible male relatives, the Muslim Judge assumes guardianship.

In the final analysis, the true measurement of a suitable match in marriage is the statement of the Prophet of Allah (Peace be upon Him):

"If a person comes to you to propose a marriage and you are pleased with his religion and morals, then marry him. If you fail to do so, great affliction will take place on earth, and corruption will be widespread."

[Tirmidhi #1085 and verified ]

A man with a sound and good understanding of his Islamic commitment, with good moral standards will honor his wife and dignify her, and treat her justly with decency even if he does not love her.

Women in Islam

2008-06-26T15:31:00.000-07:00

Women in Islam

On no other question perhaps are opinions in our world as sharply divide das on the question of women's place in society. These clashing opinions manifest themselves in a million ways in our everyday life. They determine one's attitude on many important questions such as education for women, co-education, and “purdah system (stick Hijab)”, the dowry system, the right of women to inherit property, the question of monogamy and divorce etc. All these issues stem from one basic question. What is the place of women in our society? Is she inferior, superior or equal to man? What is her duty? What is her relation in society?

Islam stipulates the law of Allah and provides guidance for the regulation of life in the best interests of man. The law of Allah is out and out for our benefit. Islam has made sure to strike a balance in the rights of man and the rights of the society so that no conflict may arise between the two and all must co-operate in establishing the law of Allah. As far as the question of women's place in society is concerned Islam has laid clear and concise definitions in this regard. Before moving on to what Shariah says about it is important to know as to what history has to say about it.

Woman was man's first slave. For ages man has used woman for his pleasures. He has created the myth of woman's inferiority to man. Even today, there are many who regard woman to be essentially inferior creatures. Some think that woman is all emotion; she has no intelligence. Other asserts that she cannot resist temptation and there are still others who claim that a woman has no right to live independent. Woman is a creeper that needs support of a tree. There are many men who feel ashamed of listening to their wives with patience just because they bare the shame of being woman.

Unfortunately women have been going through this agony since a very long time now. 1400 years ago darkness held the sway. The store of human knowledge was scanty and his outlook was narrow. There was no respect for woman and man's thinking was wild and barbaric in this regard. Whatever nations man had of moral, culture and civilization, were primitive and uncouth. Out of sheer foolish notions of prestige they would bury their daughters alive lest anyone should become their son in law. They would marry their stepmothers after death of their fathers. Woman was nothing but a symbol of sex and pleasure for man. Men were playing havoc with their lives.

The Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) then brought with him the limits and restrictions imposed by Allah to prevent a man from encroaching upon rights of woman. Islam does not want a man to become so much selfish and self centred that for attainment of few charms of mind and body he unashamedly assails the rights of women and violates all sanctions of morality. I, therefore, propose to give here a brief summary of those injunctions of Islam that throw light on this aspect of society along with the crude views and practices that are still prevalent in this modern age.

In Islam a woman is a symbol of respect, comfort, reverence and love in every position she holds. Family is the first cradle of man. It is here that the primary character traits of man are set. As such it is not only the cradle of man but also the cradle of civilization. Therefore, let us all consider the injunctions of Shariah relating to the family. Islamic injunctions about the family are very explicit. It assigns to man the responsibility of earning and providing the necessities of his wife and children and to protect them from the vicissitudes of life. To the woman it assigns the duty of managing the household, training and bringing up the children in the best possible way, and of providing to her husband and the children the greatest possible comfort and containment. It is not so because a woman is not capable of working and supporting her family, Islam rather considers a woman more capable of bringing up a family then a man. Many men think that a woman's place is in home and that she suited only to keeping house and rearing children. Many are against education for women. They think that it is only for a man to become a doctor, an engineer, a scientist, a statesman etc. Why a woman's noblest ambition is to become a good mother and good wife. They deny women right to property, freedom of speech and choice of her husband. And since a man is appointed as the head of the family, most of them don't consider it wrong to mentally or even physically torture the women. This concept is wrong.

Being given the house hold responsibility does not mean that woman are not allowed to step out of their houses at all. This is not the case. She can go anywhere she likes and she can do anything she wants as long as she is fair to her supreme duty. As far as the question of education is concerned Islam is in favor of educating women. The Prophet (P.B.U.H) said

“it is the duty of every Muslim man and woman to seek knowledge” (Sahih Muslim).

If a woman chooses to be a doctor or an engineer or an expert of any technical field, there is nothing wrong in it from Islamic point of view. Islam has also stressed that man and woman are equal as far as the question of kindness and their deeds are concerned. The Holy Koran says that

“And they (women) have rights similar to those (men) over them in kindness”.

Islam does not give any man the right to physically or mentally torture his wife/mother/sister/daughter.

Similarly when it comes to matrimonial matters Islam gives a woman the right to marry the person of her choice. In our society people normally wed their daughters of with whomever they want to without consulting them. It is strictly pointed out in Islam that parents should ask their daughters and seek their will before they marry them. In this context Koran says that

“o ye who believe! It is not lawful for you to forcibly inherit women”

Islam also gives the right of “law of dower” or “haq mehar” to a woman when she marries a man. It is the duty of the husband to pay this amount to his wife.

“and give unto the women (whom ye marry) free gift of their marriage portions”

Then a woman also has the right of “khulah” or “divorce obtained on wife's initiative”. Similarly a woman can have her own property and make whatever amendments she want in it. Islam has also granted women share in inheritance of property. These can be found in Koran in (11:4 al-Nisah). The religion also allows a woman to seek support from court just as a man can if she has any such problem. For being witnesses in court Islam has certain considerations. According to Islam testimony of a man is equal to that of two women.

Islam gives a degree of superiority to man over woman. According to Islam men are in charge of women because they spend on woman what they earn. Some people in our society confuse this term with masters, which is wrong.

As for the question of veiling our men consider it to be there supreme duty to insult women on this issue. Islam has laid clear instructions in this regard. Islam expects a woman to cover everything except her face and her hands while going out. Our men see to it that their women are properly covered and they don't mind suffocating them. It is said in the Koran

“Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and be modest. That is purer for them. Lo! Allah is aware of what they do.”

In short a woman is respectable in all her categories in Islam. As a mother heaven lies under her feet. In the role of a daughter she is God's blessing to parents. The Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) used to rise in respect of his daughter Fatima whenever she paid a visit to him. As a wife she has the right to be politely and kindly treated. As a sister she is a symbol of love and affection. Nature has equipped woman with immense qualities and she can and she is participating in the prosperity of nations. Therefore it is wrong to believe that women are inferior to men.

Islam & Abortion

2008-06-26T15:21:00.000-07:00

Islam & Abortion

The following article is written by Dr. Arafat El Ashi, we have sent a letter asking him permission, if granted will be displayed here, otherwise this article will be removed. This article also requires some corrections.

One of the burning issues these days in Canada and in all Western countries is that of Abortion. In the absence of a specific law on abortion, the provincial governments are, in fact, groping in the dark. One court in Ontario allowed a woman to have abortion. The interesting thing, however, is that on her way out of the court, she announced that she already had abortion but she repented for doing so simply because she returned back to her boy-friend. So she no more supports the pro-abortion campaign in Canada. This statement was hailed by what is called pro-lifers in North America.

Another woman from Quebec, called Chantal Daigle, asked the court there to allow her have abortion of her 21 week pregnancy. The court prevented her from doing so. The woman, however, insisted and defied the court's judgment. She did have abortion. Not only this but she resorted to the Supreme Court to change that decision. The Supreme Court gave its approval and repealed the prevention decision.

In the light of the above, it may be asked here: What is the attitude of Islam towards the issue of abortion? Is it true that women have full control over their bodies and they can have abortion anytime they wish? Or does Islam agree with those who say: "No, the fetus is a human being and has full human rights"? It has the right to live and to be protected. So it is a crime to have abortion? How does Islam look at this issue?

Basically, Islam considers life as a sacred gift from God Almighty. No one is allowed to take or stop the life of anyone else except by way of justice or according to the Islamic law. Thus, the Holy Quran says: "Say: Come, I will rehearse what God has really prohibited you from: Join nothing as equal with Him; be good to your parents, kill not your children on a plea of poverty; We provide sustenance for you and for them; approach not shameful deeds, whether open or secret; take not life, which God has made sacred, except by a way of justice and law (Chapter 6, Verse 151).

In another verse, the Holy Quran says: "Kill not your children for fear of want; it is We who provide sustenance for them as well as for you; for verily killing them is a great sin (Chapter 17, Verse 31).

What should we understand from these two verses? First of all, it is a grave sin to take the life of children for fear of want as was the habit during that period. Neither is it allowed to do so for any other reason unless a great evil is caused by the presence of the fetus that may cause the death of the mother.

But is the fetus a human being? Is it part of the woman's body and she is free to do what she likes with it. This is the logic of modern materialistic way of life. Islam has something else to offer. It is completely different from all other concepts or religions. Here are a few details. As a comprehensive and unique way of life, Islam does not at all agree with those who say that a woman has full control over her body. This does not mean that Islam subjugates woman and puts them under men's control. Islam considers our bodies as a trust, which we have to preserve and maintain. It also confirms that the fetus is the creation of Almighty God. No one, not even the mother, has the right to get rid of it unless its presence threatens the life of the mother. For in that case, Islam allows abortion within those limits only.

As a matter of fact, Islam encourages procreation when necessary. But it leaves the door open for birth control. Thus we are told by some companions of the Prophet, peace be upon him, that they used a method of birth control during the time of revelation. The Prophet knew about it and yet he never asked them to stop using it. We have to confirm here that it is basic in Islam to believe that having children is not decided by parents but is part and parcel of God's will and sole action. All that people can do is to try their human means leaving the decision to God.

The attitude of Islam can be better understood if we elaborate a little bit on the issue of sex. How does Islam look at sex between men and women? Does it allow free sex as long as it is agreed upon by the two adult partners as is the case nowadays with most of the non-Muslims nations so much so that the word "adultery" has been dropped from their dictionary? Or does Islam consider sex as a filthy sin that does not suit men of God?

Neither of these extremes is accepted in Islam. This last religion of God allows no sex whatsoever before or outside marriage. It, however, honours sex in marriage and raises it to a lofty standard. When a Muslim gets married he secures one half of his faith thanks to this contract. So sex in Islam is not at all a filthy sin as long as it is inside marriage. Not only this but a Muslim is rewarded even when he gratifies this desire. Inone tradition the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: "To cohabit with your wife is charity." Hearing this the Companion asked: "O Messenger of Allah. Is it possible that each one of us will be rewarded when he satisfies his sexual desire?" He said: "Yes indeed." Therefore, the Messenger of Allah concluded: "When he satisfies it lawfully he will be rewarded for it." (Narrated by Muslim).

Thus Islam does not look at sex as an end in itself, but as a means to an end. The end of sex according to Islam is to have children. So, it is not allowed in Islam that a woman can have abortion simply because it is her wish to do so, under the pretext of keeping her beauty and to avoid responsibility. This is considered as selfishness. Should a pregnant woman make abortion without any justified reason such as the expectation of risk on the mother's life, then this act amounts to murder according so Islam.

Islam is the religion of strong family relationships. Once marriage is achieved, the two partners should have no sex with anybody else. Not only this but Islam has imposed a severe penalty on those who commit adultery even before marriage. Thus the society Islam tries to establish is a pure and chaste society where women and men are modest. It is a society that does not raise the madness of sex nor does it exploit women's bodies under the false claim of freedom. It is a pure society that is immune from all evils resulting from sex. It is thus free from AIDS, Herpes, and other evils and epidemics that became rampant in modern free-sex communities.

For humanity to be saved of all the ailments of modern civilization, it has to follow the laws of Islam in sex relationships. We can safely say that Islam's attitude towards sex is the middle and the best attitude. Will people understand this and follow the path of happiness, Islam?

Abortion. In the absence of a specific law on abortion, the provincial governments are, in fact, groping in the dark. One court in Ontario allowed a woman to have abortion. The interesting thing, however, is that on her way out of the court, she announced that she already had abortion but she repented for doing so simply because she returned back to her boy-friend. So she no more supports the pro-abortion campaign in Canada. This statement was hailed by what is called pro-lifers in North America.

This was Written by

Dr. Arafat El Ashi

Director: MUSLIM WORLD LEAGUE

CANADA OFFICE

For More Information Please Contact:

MUSLIM WORLD LEAGUE

191 The West Mall, Suite 1018

Etobicoke, Ontario,

M9C 5K8,

CANADA.

Tel: (416)622-2184

Fax: (416)622-2618

POEM ( When i was Ill)

2008-06-25T11:49:00.000-07:00

POEM

When i was Ill

========
I was feeling ill
Solution was the pill
If only it could make me recover
In a spilt, like the Creator

The adhan was heard calling
The water for wudhu' was cool freezing
Wiz His name I began my prayer
To HIM i submit and surrender

To the bed i jumped again
Nothing else to bargain
Covering myself wiz blankets
I was asleep as though in casket

Dreams brought me far
To an island offshore
I saw a bird flying
I thought of many things

I tried to catch the bird
Till i fall down like dirt
And i could not get up
There was no one to help out

I cry a lot but there wasn't any tear
I was left all alone in my own fear
I was awake from the loud sound "vroom"
Alhamdulillah i was safe in my room

A sparrow flew on to my window sill
Making sound behind the grill
It was the same bird as in my dream
But only real this time it seem

I get up and walk towards the window
And the bird was quiet for a minute over
I saw a man starting his bike noisily
Disturbing the bird especially

And now i notice why didn't the bird fly
Just like when i'm ill, i could only lie
It's wing was injured badly
Perhaps by someone or accidentally

SubhanAllah I was thinking
How much ni'mat He has been giving
To ponder upon HIS creatings
Animals wiz four legs, others wiz wings.

I thought how wonderful Allah is
Everything around me is really His
I realise how much lucky i am
I'm still able to move around

Thank ya Allah for all that Ya give
The illness Ya bestow is indeed a gift
Every illness comes wiz His forgiveness
May He grants us mercy and easness

Ameen

POEM (Salaat )

2008-06-25T11:40:00.000-07:00

POEM

Salaat

Salaat is a basic pillar of islam

It is mentioned again and again in the Quran

The importance of prayer is in seven hundred places

But in the mosque,do you see many young faces?

Praying in the mosque gives 27 times the reward

Pray with the intention that you’re pleasing your Lord

When you walk to the mosque,just remember within

You gain a reward and you’re losing a sin

For every step towards your destination

This is a blessing from Allah swt to his creation

The Quran has foretold, that before you are dead

‘say your prayers before your prayers are said’

our prophet saws said about those who miss prayer

fifteen punishments they’ll have to bear

six in this life,three on passing away

three in the grave and three on judgement day

for missing fajr at the start of the day

the glow of the face is taken away

the punishment for missing the salaat of zohar

there will be no blessing from your income no more

for missing asr, the middle prayer of the day

the strength of the body is taken away

by missing maghrib, remember one thing

you will not be benefited by your offspring

for missing ishaa at the end of the day

the peace of your sleep will be taken away

while seeing elders pray at the mosque door

remember as a young person, your reward is 70 times more

read salaat punctually, read it with care

on judgement day, we will be asked about prayer

that’s the first question, so take this advice

salaat is the key to paradise

spread this word to muslim sisters and brothers

salaat will separate muslims from others

salaat is a blessing which Allah swt gave

it will intercede and protect us in the grave

when it comes eventually, to the day of rising

the believers body washed by wudu will be shining

for the believers who are regular in offering salaat

it becomes a light of guidance on the pul-siraat

don’t miss the prayer asr at any cost

it will be like your family and wealth is lost

the ayat-ul-kursi after fard, should be read

it will lead you to paradise (insha Allah) after you’re dead

not reading salaat will lead you to hell

surrounded by serpants in a deep well

read your salaat whilst still in your prime

and read the durood shareef in your spare time

you’ll get ten rewards, the Lord (insha Allah) will accept your pleas

and you’ll be closer to Allah swt by ten more degrees

so embrace islam with all your heart

and remember the key is reading salaat.

POEM (What is the purpose of this life? )

2008-06-25T11:30:00.000-07:00

POEM

What is the purpose of this life?

What is the purpose of this life?

Money, holidays, a beautiful wife?

There is no point in us denying

Each heart beat brings us closer to dying

You’ll breathe your last

Your life will have past

Don’t pretend

Death’s not the end

You will taste death, death never waited

Look around you, everything’s created

It has a creator, it has a meaning

A mother gives birth and then comes it’s weaning

The sun rises and gives us light

It sets, then falls, the blanket of night

The plants all grow, when falls the rain

They give fruits to man, and they too will wane

Why does man think that he will get away?

Spending life aimlessly, as if he’s here to stay

A fixed time is appointed, everything will perish

Everything you hate, everything you relish

Except the Almighty Allah, He will remain

And then will come judgement, all on one plain

Allah will say, I gave you life

I gave you health, wealth and a wife

What did you do with your time?

What did you do in your prime?

Did you spread my message, did you spread islam?

Why not? Did you not read the Quran?

My friends, we muslims, we are so blessed

Allah gave us islam to supercede all the rest

My non-muslim friends, the Quran must be read

Read before it’s too late and you’re dead

You owe it to yourselves, it will make you cry

You’ll know these words are from the Lord most High

Instructing mankind to the purpose of life

And the reward my friends is everlasting life

Our purpose is to worship our Lord most High

The reward is heaven where no one will die

You’ll have anything you want, all the best dishes

And Almighty Allah will grant all of your wishes

This life my friends is just a cage

We should live by His orders, to be safe from his rage

You will understand when you read the holy Quran

You’ll know the religion of truth is islam

Protect yourself and your families from hell

Embrace islam and all will be well

For the deeds of this life, you’ll pay the price

In the depths of hell or in paradise.

POEM (Women in Islam)

2008-06-25T11:21:00.001-07:00

POEM

Women in Islam

How do women fit into islam? What is their fate?

This has been the subject of many a debate

‘for the believing men and women, is a great reward’

this is from surah al azaab, the words of our Lord

it can be seen from reading the holy Quran

that a woman has some privilege over a man

praying is exempted during menstruation

here islam gives women consideration

a woman after marriage becomes a wife

for nine long months she carries new life

during childbirth she is exempted to fast

islam is against the burying of girls in the past

they can pray at the mosque or even at home

they may marry or divorce ,its their choice, their own

after marriage she can retain her old maiden name

and is rewarded for treating all her offspring the same

once they are married they should live pious lives

‘and the best men are those who are best to their wives’

islam shows equality my sisters and brothers

don’t forget paradise lies at the feet of your mothers

women in the UK had property rights from 1938

this right was given by islam, 14 centuries to date

in the UK, women could vote from 1918

this was stated 1400 years ago in islam our deen

women can work and lead a happily married life

but shouldn’t neglect her role as mother and wife

a woman for her child’s upbringing, deserves her credit

islam also gives a woman the right to inherit

a woman’s status in islam, we should never neglect

in islam they are favoured and deserve their respect.

POEM (Life after Death)

2008-06-25T11:21:00.000-07:00

POEM

Life after Death

You only live once so sit back and enjoy

No time for sorrows so fill it up with joy

This way of thinking is totally wrong

Our total existence is forever long

Life is for eternity its stages are four

The first is in the womb, but hold on there’s more

The second is from birth until the moment we die

The third takes place in the place where we lie

Barzakh is it’s name until judgement day

The fourth is eternity and in heaven we pray!

The soul splits from the body at the time we die

Then with the angel of death, they both will fly

If the person is pious, the angel looks handsome

And the wicked will wish, that they could ransom

For the pious, the soul is taken on a piece of silk

Eventually, they’re in heaven with rivers of milk

The evil person’s soul is dragged out with pain

Then they know, their life was in vain

When Allah swt gives the order, the soul is returned

Either to a bed of paradise, or else to be burned

The soul is returned, while the family are grieving

And then he is questioned while his loved ones are leaving

At that time the person will be in such a state

He is asked three questions which determine his fate

He will be panicking, his heart full of fear

When he sees the angels, Munkar and Nakeer

He will be asked about his God, religion and what did he say

About the person who appears in front of him that day

That will be Muhammed saws, who can save us from hell

The pious will recognise him, but others won’t tell

After answering rightly they are saved from the ordeal

Of the torments of the grave, which to us seem unreal

Their grave is extended and in peace they stay

They will praise Allah swt and continue to pray

A window of paradise is seen and they sleep in bliss

Whereas the unbelievers grave becomes hell’s abyss

Creatures are let loose on their fronts and back

Their graves close in until their ribs will crack

They are in constant agony until judgement day

Nothing will help, it will be too late to pray

They will know because of themselves, their future is wrecked

But they won’t have a clue what to further expect

For the believer , it passes like a good night’s sleep

His good deeds have been done, the rewards he shall keep

Judgement day will pass like the time for a prayer

At the speed of light he crosses the bridge, thin as a hair

And before he knows it, he is in paradise

Whereas the unbeliever, will be paying his price

This life is a journey, death isn’t the end

Real life goes on, so don’t just pretend

So prepare now, we’re not here to stay

Follow islam, the key is to pray

Brothers and sisters take this advice

You’ll be proud of yourself, when in paradise!

POEM (Paradise )

2008-06-25T11:08:00.000-07:00

POEM

Paradise

Whatever we do, we’ll pay the price

In the depths of hell or in paradise

For the believer ,this life is just like a cage

For the unbeliever, it’s the ultimate stage

Little does he know about the awaiting reward

Which is full of luxuries, where no-one gets bored

You’ll enter the gate of paradise, if it’s in your fate

Your deeds and actions will determine by which gate

No worldly things will you ever miss

On entering the gate, you’ll be surrounded by bliss

Four rivers will be granted by the Divine

containing water and milk, honey and wine

People will live in mansions built high

Where they’ll live forever, no-one will die

It’s bricks will be made of silver and gold

The climate will be perfect, not hot and not cold

A hundred years it will take to circle a tree

Surrounded by loved ones for all eternity

There will be no calls of nature, no-one will sleep

There will be no worries, no one will weep

When people sweat, it will smell of musk

Allah swt will be praised from dawn till dusk

Everyone will be aged 30 or 33

And they’ll stay at that age for eternity

The inhabitants will be wearing a beautiful green gown

Sitting on thrones, wearing a crown

People will be happy, there’ll be no remorse

To visit others, they’ll have a flying horse

Men will have 2 houris as their wives

Who will remain with them for the rest of their lives

On Friday there will be a dinner for people of all races

And a bazaar where people can exchange their faces!

When walking along there’ll be many meetings

With prophets and angels, exchanging greetings

Such is the ecstasy that will then prevail

When Allah swt removes His veil

There will be no kings, there will be no peasants

And everyone will see the Divine Allah’s presence

There are 100 levels to paradise and we should pray

That Al Firdaus, the highest will be where we stay

Allah swt has showered us with His grace

And we have to be worthy to show our face

Whatever we do ,we’ll pay the price

In the depths of hell or in paradise

POEM (The Torments of Hell )

2008-06-25T10:59:00.000-07:00

POEM

The Torments of Hell

If only you knew the torments of hell

It is the worst of places where anyone could dwell

It is in existence even as we speak

And for its inhabitants the outlook is bleak

On the day of rising, hell will be in view

A terrible sight, if only you knew

It will be brought forward by 70,000 reigns

And 70,000 angels will be on each of those chains

After burning for a thousand years , it’s flames turned white

A thousand more years, now it’s as black as the night

You think the flames are bearable, you’re totally wrong

The flames are of hell are sixty nine times as strong

In a flash it will disintegrate all of your bones

The hellfire will be fuelled by man and stones

The thickness of your skin will greatly increase

Causing your threshold for pain to greatly decrease

The people in hell are there to stay

They will melt to nothing, 70,000 times in a day

70 years it will take, for a stone that is thrown

to hit the bottom of hell and it won’t be alone

the food of hell resembles a devil’s head

and to drink, boiling water and blood bright red

which cuts up the bowels, everything will fall out

the inhabitants of hell will scream and shout

some will be taken out by Almighty Allah’s command

but the polytheists will stay eternally damned

take up islam, the only way to succeed

and if you don’t, you’re unfortunate indeed

brothers and sisters, help determine your fate

once you see hellfire, it’ll be far too late

POEM (The miracle, the Quran)

2008-06-25T10:51:00.001-07:00

POEM

The miracle, the Quran

So brothers and sisters, to increase your iman
Read the miracle, read the Quran
Here's a fact for the ones who are keener
92 surahs revealed in Mecca, 22 in Medinah
Read it every day and to read it be proud
The word Quran means to read it aloud
Read the book from the Lord of the worlds
Over 6,000 verses and 77,000 words
Read with respect,no disturbance, no laughters
from Al Fatiha to An naas, all 114 chapters
And in it 14 times you need to prostrate
And say Allah ho Akbar, meaning Allah is great
In this book, 25 prophets are mentioned by name
Who came at different times but their message was the same
This miracle was revealed over a 23 year span
Sent from Allah(swt), to an angel and then to a man
That man was Muhammed (saws), the best of creation
And we are proud to be part of his nation
He gave us a message and that was Islam
So read this miracle, read the Quran

POEM (ALLAH KNOWS BEST )

2008-06-25T10:51:00.000-07:00

ALLAH KNOWS BEST

ALLAH knows what is best for us
So why should we complain
We always want the sunshine
But He knows there must be rain.

We always want laughter
and the merriment of cheer
but our heart will lose
their tenderness
If we never shed a tear.

ALLAH tests us often
with suffering and sorrow
He tests us not to punish us
but to help us meet tomorrow.

For growing trees are strenghtened
if they can withstand the storm
and the sharpness of the chisel
gave the marble its grace and form.

ALLAH tests us often
and for every pain
He gives us
provided we are patient
Is followed by rich gain
So whenever we feel that
everything is going wrong

It is just ALLAH'S way to make our spirit strong.

POEM( Thy Mercy )

2008-06-25T10:46:00.000-07:00

Thy Mercy

Silence morning in Ramadhan
I wander amid the Qur'an
My soul is moved to tears
The ayats full of awaken fears

In the creation of earth and heaven
In the sailing of the ships through the ocean
Rain that Allah sends from the skies
Here indeed are all the signs

O believers do you not see
What Allah has revealed to thee
O believers do you not ponder
Allah's mighty and super power

Remembering of a slave
Tortured in the grave
Buried down so deep
No comfort and no sleep

Speaking of the blazing fire
Removes one desire
The fate of sinful Souls
Tread on scorching coals

Far more awful then the thought
Fierce fire that will be caught
The Qur'an state so lucidly
Describing life in eternity

Have we ever imagine in abundance
How terrible would be for existence
Without His love and friendship dear
Without the sense that He is near

To be forever forgotten
With no words that'll make things fine
Forever severed the connection
Disconnected the telephone line

How do I put to bed these fears?
No lullabys for these tears
I say I love Him but still I sin
Though I try but Shaytan win

So I sit here and I cry oceans
I fear of my sins that are abundant
I am but a child, a child premature
Nothing to boast, shameful creature

I am but a flesh, a flesh withering of sorrow
Even my days are unknown till tomorrow
Without HIS presence near me
I am useless without HIS mercy

What if I never hear Him tell me
To choose islam as my destiny
What will i become and what will I be
Without guidance for me to see

Will I be amongst those wild crazy teens
Who dance to their tune without thinking
Will I be a robber or burglar that steals
Or will i be the famous criminal who kills

Among the earthly pple in within
He chose me to be a Muslim
Should I not be thankful?
Have I always been grateful?

I may never travel this creation
Without Thee made my eyes open
My humbled nothingness to Thee
I thank Thee for Thy's Mercy

O Allah grants us wisdom
O Allah bestows us patience
O Allah forgives us if we sin
O Allah guide us from within....

POEM( Time for Apology )

2008-06-25T10:19:00.000-07:00

Time for Apology

I write this poem in earnest
In the Name of Allah, The Greatest

Many a time I have made mistakes
Maybe I forgot to give and take
I ask for everyone's forgiveness
if I have ever caused unpleasantness

E-mails and letters I forgot to reply
Agreements which I did not comply
Promises which are not operational
An unkind word which was unintentional

Please make halal whatever I take from you
Whether it's time or space in your in-box too.
There are times when I forget
These are also times when I regret

You know, we are all human beings
Prone to many misunderstandings
Put the past behind us, can you see
If you want life full of tranquility.

Life is short and full of unpredictness
Hence I wish to ask for your forgiveness
Time to forgive others since it is a virtue.

If you want Allah to forgive you too.

ISLAMIC JOKE

2008-06-25T09:53:00.000-07:00

ISLAMIC JOKE

An Imam was selling his horse in the market. An interested buyer came to him and requested if he could get a test drive. The Imam told the man that this horse is unique. In order to make it walk, you have to say Subhanallah. To make it run, you have to say Alhamdulillah and to make it stop, you have to say Allahu Akbar. The man sat on the horse and said Subhanallah. The horse started to walk. Then he said Alhamdulillah and it started to run. He kept saying Alhamdulillah and the horse started running faster and faster. All of a sudden the man noticed that the horse is running towards the edge of the hill that he was riding on. Being overly fearful, he forgot how to stop the horse. He kept saying all these words out of confusion. When the horse was just near the edge, he remembered Allahu Akbar and said it out loud. The horse stopped just one step away from the edge. The man took a deep breath, looked up towards the sky and said Alhamdulillah!

POEM ( Who is a Terrorist )

2008-06-25T09:50:00.000-07:00

Who is a Terrorist

They call my people
blood thirsty terrorists
blowing up buildings and planes
with dynamite tied to their chests
killing civilians by the hundreds
-but am I a terrorist?

True, some of my people
of names similar to mine
do act violently in despair
when their human rights are stolen
when their suffering and plights are ignored
in the refugee camps of Sabra and Chatala.
- but am I a terrorist?

They are not living their faith
just acting on emotions and hate
full with the revenge for the oppressor
with little regard for innocent lives
they are just Muslim in name
-but am I a terrorist?

Islam, the religion of peace
teaches Muslims to respect life
"If anyone had killed one man
except in lieu of murder and mischief
it is as if he killed the whole mankind"
Same verse in Torah and Quran too
by the same God
-how could I be a terrorist?

Prophet Mohammad, Peace be upon him
was a mercy to mankind
he cared for the poor, elderly and sick
even if not from his faith
he stood in respect for a funeral procession of a Jew
he let a cat take a nap on his robe
not to disturb her, he cut his robe
He told Muslim armies not to hurt women and kids
sick and old, cut trees or kill animals just for fun
I love him so much
-how could I be a terrorist?

But why do they call us terrorists?
why not call the IRA, Red Army, Tamil Tigers
Militant Hindus or Serbians terrorists.
Why not call the militia
blowing up government buildings
and killing innocent civilians a terrorist
No, the term is reserved for Muslims
- and I am a Muslim.

We are the victims of terrorism
in Palestine, Kashmir, Bosnia and Kosova
by individuals and states
with knives, guns, tanks and rape
-who is a terrorist?

I remember Serb soldiers came to my house
they killed my father and my big brother too
I miss them so much.
They raped my mom and my sister too.
I loved them so much.
Then they burned my house, my books and toys too
- and they call us terrorists.

I got scared, and fled into the woods
joined a caravan going to the border
migrating from oppression to a land of peace and freedom

I have walked two days and climbed a mountain
I am hungry and thirsty, tired and sick
My legs are weak and my feet are bleeding
unable to walk anymore
- do I look like a terrorist?

I am not a terrorist
I am a Muslim
seeking love, peace and justice
My name is Mehmet Poturvic
I am a 6 year old from Kosova
Dear God, please help me and my people.
"You alone I worship, from you alone I seek help"

2008-06-25T09:48:00.000-07:00

POEM ( Stranger on a train )

2008-06-25T09:43:00.000-07:00

POEM

Stranger on a train

As you gaze across to me
Your searching eyes are questioning me
'How is it you live?' You say
'Do you trek a straight pathway?
With whom do you daily plead?
Why this Book you always read?
And the dress you women wear!
Why this scarf upon your hair?
In your palm is there some power?
Why then supplicate each hour?
What then, do you claim to share?
For world justice do you care?
Tell me! Speak what is right
What then is your plight?'

In Allah's Name I now begin
'For Him, I do everything
Dependant I am, so I pray
Seeking Guidance night and day
His Good-Will I try to live
To share my love and wealth I give
My prayers for blessings never cease
For all creatures, man and beast
My coverings are His decree
To help me grow in purity
And my Qur'ān fulfils a need
It strengthens me and my belief
And every human I embrace
Extending peace to every race
My path: Islam, is Straight and pure
For every sickness, there is a cure
O stranger! Much talk you raise!
Know this! To God is due our praise!'

POEM ( Assalāmu'alaikum)

2008-06-25T09:42:00.000-07:00

POEM

Assalāmu'alaikum

Familiar faces we often greet
Exchanging dialogue while we meet
But as we gesture, respond or smile
Before we speak, just think a while

Welcome not with words unrewarding
'Hello', 'Good day', 'Good evening', 'Good morning'
But choose to radiate peace and calm
Offer a warm exchange of 'Salām!'

'And peace on you' - comes the reply
Will bond our kinship and strengthen our tie
To those unknown, do not hesitate
We are one family in Islamic faith

Allah's servants of the sky
The Angels extend this humble reply
And our acceptance into Grace
Yields 'Salām' - a blessed fate

So give glad tidings with words serene
Spread the blessings of 'peace' - our Dīn
And relish the good of this healing balm
And wish all our brothers and sisters 'Salām'.

POEM ( Al-Hamdulillāh )

2008-06-25T09:39:00.000-07:00

POEM

Al-Hamdulillāh

As I rise each day
Al-Hamdulillāh I say
As I put on my dress

Al-Hamdulillāh I express
As I fill my empty plate
Al-Hamdulillāh I state

As I make ready to strive
Al-Hamdulillāh for another day alive
As I hear the birds sing

Al-Hamdulillāh for the melody they bring
As I watch the Sun rise
Al-Hamdulillāh for my eyes

As I wash in the stream
Al-Hamdulillāh I am clean
As I pray my Salāt

Al-Hamdulillāh for the best start
As I share my gifts with neighbours
Al-Hamdulillāh for Allah's favours

As I delight with my family
Al-Hamdulillāh they care of me
As I pray for forgiveness

Al-Hamdulillāh for deliverance
As I open the Qur'ān
Al-Hamdulillāh for my Īmān

As I understand and take heed
Al-Hamdulillāh, Al-Hamdulillāh
For all the good I receive.

POEM ( Sleepy eyes! )

2008-06-25T09:37:00.000-07:00

POEM

Sleepy eyes!

O sleepy head!
Do not make haste for bed
But after Salāt Ishā'
Crave for even more Thawāb
And stand with me for a night prayer

O sleepy eyes!
Do not fail to realize
As your lids start to close
Your last breath may be near - just suppose!
Better then, to stand for a night prayer

O sleepy soul!
What burdens do you hold?
This longing for respite
To sleep all through the night
Your night prayer will revive you untold

O weary self!
You are bestowed with good health
You are passing through life
With wealth and keen sight
Owe Allah a little thanks then this night

O supple bed and carrier!
You stand as a barrier
Between me and my Lord
Your comfort stirs discord
Do not kindle your warm welcome for me!

I have preferred the hard floor
Therein lies comfort much more
On the dusty hard ground
Allah's nearness is found
How blessed is the nightly prostration!

POEM ( Fortunate is He )

2008-06-25T09:31:00.000-07:00

POEM

Fortunate is He

Fortunate is he
Who remembers Allah abundantly
Worldly distractions cannot mildly sway
His thoughts of Allah and Judgement Day

Righteous is he
Who prostrates to Him as though Him he can see
Whose deeds do not spring without Bismillāh
Fulfilling his tasks with perfect Taqwā

Devout is he
Who makes supplication to Allah intensely
Whose heart fills with mercy, is tender and kind
His gaze on the Ākhirah, this world behind

Prosperous is he
Who spends of his wealth on the poor and needy
Who speaks a kind word to his kin and his neighbour
Ever-grateful and indebted for Allah's Favours

Guided is he
Who attends to Salāt with punctuality
And extra Ibādah, Tahajjud he prays
For Allah's Pleasure and Nearness he craves

God-fearing is he
Who contemplates death, takes provision early
Whose limbs start to shiver as he reflects his demise
And tears stain his face over wasted sacrifice

Blessed be the pious
Who sing Allah's Praises fervently, tireless
Blessed be his slaves
Allah's Mercy and Blessings be upon them, always.

POEM (Beloved Messenger of Allah (SAW) )

2008-06-25T09:28:00.000-07:00

POEM
Beloved Messenger of Allah (SAW)

Although I never saw your face
So beautiful, bestowed with grace
My heart doth yearn to be like you
In thoughts and hopes and actions too
You loved the children and the old
And gave your heart to every soul
You nursed the sick and served the poor
And fed the hungry at your door
You loved the creatures - tame and wild
And comforted the orphan child
You bid men peace, cared for the youth
God's Messenger in truth

So with devotion I do read
Your life of which I try to lead
No deed is mine except is yours
My prayers upon you ever pour
The good-tidings you brought to me
And for mankind, we'll ever be
In humble praise of our Good Lord
For bringing His great Message forth

Now to my Lord I turn to pray
'O Allah! Your last Messenger's way
Lit the Earth whereso he went
This truthful, gentle soul You sent

O Allah! Your last Messenger's life
Was the perfect sacrifice
To bring your people to Your Garden
In hope he prayed for our pardon
Guiding, steady and forbearing
Patient with us for not caring

O Allah! Our love for him cannot sever
Peace and blessings on Muhammad forever'.

POEM (We seek refuge from Hellfire )

2008-06-25T09:18:00.000-07:00

POEM

We seek refuge from Hellfire

Hurl him headlong into the pit of Fire!
Never from evil did he part nor tire
But roaming the Earth and causing man pain
Hurting humanity without any shame!

Cast him headlong into the burning Flame!
Never did he call on, or praise Allah's Name
But laughing and mocking every man of truth
Careless in manhood and heedless in youth

Throw him headlong into the piercing Blaze!
He who rejected his Creator always
Who stood protecting his deeds - untrue
If goodness approached, he would try to undo

Seize the denier of Allah the One!
He whose past life was reckless fun
Who failed to cleanse his darkened heart
Ever-ready, from Allah's Will, to depart...

The torturous Fire
will burn the hardened sinner!
Who disbelieved in Allah
and thought he was the winner!
But not the fearful servant
who yearned for Allah and paid heed
Safety from the Fire
for him is guaranteed,
Because he pleased our Maker
the wrong, he chose to leave
On him no fear nor sorrow
Nor harm will he grieve
O servants! Seek refuge in Allah!
And Hellfire makes this plea
It says 'For all of Your servants, Lord!
Grant refuge to them from me'!

Istikharah

2008-06-25T08:46:00.000-07:00

Istikharah
According to Quran and Sunnah

Hadith - al-Tirmidhi # 2151. [Classed as saheeh by al-Haakim, 1/699, and al-Dhahabi agreed with him. It was classed as hasan by al-Haafiz ibn Hajar in Fath al-Baari, 11/184]

The happiness of the son of Adam depends on his being content with what Allah has decreed for him, and the misery of the son of Adam results from his failure to pray istikharah, and the misery of the son of Adam results from in his discontent with what Allah has decreed for him.

To make the prayer of Istikharah (say: iss-teh-KHAR-uh), one should pray two non-fard (non-obligatory) rakat (units) of prayer, even if they are of the regular sunnah prayers or a prayer for entering the mosque, and so on, during any time of the day or night.

One should recite in them whatever one wishes of the Qur'an, after reciting al-Fatihah. Then one should praise Allah and invoke blessings upon the Prophet, peace be upon him.

After this one should supplicate to Allah. Jabir Ibn 'Abdullah has reported the following supplication from the Prophet, peace be upon him, when he related, "The Prophet, peace be upon him, taught us how to make Istikharah in all (our) affairs, just as he taught us various surahs of the Qur'an. He told us, 'If anyone of you considers doing something he should offer a two-rak'at prayer other than the obligatory prayers, and then say (after the prayer),

"Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi'ilmika. wa astaqdiruka bi-qudratika, wa as'aluka min fadlika al-azimfa-innaka taqdiru wala aqdiru, wa ta'lamu wala a ' lamu, wa anta 'allamu-l-ghuyub.

Allahumma, in kunta ta' lamu anna hadhaI-amra khairun lifi dini wa ma'ashi wa aqibati amri (or 'ajili amri wa'ajilihi) f aqdirhu li wa yas-sirhu li thumma barik li fihi, wa in kunta ta'llamu anna hadha-l-amra sharrun lifi dini wa ma'ashi wa-aqibati amri (orfi'ajili amri wa ajilihi) fasrifhu anni was-rifni'anhu.

Wa aqdir li al-khaira haithu kana thumma ardini bihi"

(O Allah ! I ask guidance from Your knowledge, and Power from Your Might and I ask for Your great blessings. You are capable and I am not. You know and I do not and You know the unseen. O Allah! If You know that this thing is good for my din and my subsistence and for my Hereafter - (or say, If it is better for my present and later needs) - then ordain it for me and make it easy for me to obtain, and then bless me in it. If You know that this thing is harmful to me in my din and subsistence and in the Hereafter--(or say, If it is worse for my present and later needs)--then keep it away from me, and keep me away from it. And ordain for me whatever is good for me, and make me satisfied with it)."'

The Prophet, may peace be upon him, added that then the person should mention his need."

There is nothing authentic concerning anything specific that is to be recited in the prayer nor is there any authentic report concerning how many times one should repeat it.

An-Nawawi holds that "after making istikharah, a person must do what he is wholeheartedly inclined to do and feels good about doing and should not insist on doing what he had desired to do before making the istikharah. And if his feelings change, he should leave what he had intended to do, for otherwise he is not leaving the choice to Allah, and would not be honest in seeking aid from Allah's power and knowledge. Sincerity in seeking Allah's choice, means that one should completely abandon what one desired oneself."

Action Items for the BELIEVERS

Make the prayer of istikharah before deciding to embark on a journey.
Make the prayer of istikharah any time faced with uncertainty and requiring a decision to be made.

Remember... Allah, subhana watala, sees everything we do!

Male Hijab

2008-06-25T08:28:00.000-07:00

Male Hijab
According to Quran and Sunnah

Cover in Righteousness

The Noble Qur'an Al-A'raaf 7:26

O Children of Adam! We have bestowed raiment* upon you to cover yourselves (screen your private parts, etc.) and as an adornment, and the raiment of righteousness, that is better. Such are among the Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allâh, that they may remember (i.e. leave falsehood and follow truth).

*clothing/covering

What Must Be Covered During Prayer

The male 'Aura for prayer is that he must cover himself with clothes from umbilicus of his abdomen to his knees, and it is better that his both shoulders should be covered.

The Noble Qur'an 7:32: O Children of Adam! Take your adornment (by wearing your clean clothes), while praying and going round (the Tawâf of) the Ka'bah, and eat and drink but waste not by extravagance, certainly He (Allâh) likes not Al-Musrifûn (those who waste by extravagance).
Say (O Muhammad SAW): "Who has forbidden the adoration with clothes given by Allâh, which He has produced for his slaves, and At-Taiyibât [all kinds of Halâl (lawful) things] of food?" Say: "They are, in the life of this world, for those who believe, (and) exclusively for them (believers) on the Day of Resurrection (the disbelievers will not share them)." Thus We explain the Ayât (Islâmic laws) in detail for people who have knowledge.

The Thighs

The thighs are part of the aura and it should be a man's intentions to keep it covered.

Reported Muhammad Jahsh, "The Messenger of Allah, upon whom be peace, passed by Ma'mar while his thighs were uncovered. He said, to him, 'O Ma'mar, cover your thighs, for they are (part of the) 'aurah." This is related by Ahmad, al-Hakim and al-Bukhari in Tareekh and in mu'allaq form in his Sahih.

Reported Jurhad, "The Messenger of Allah passed by me when the cloak I was wearing did not cover my thigh. He said, 'Cover your thigh, for it (is part of the) 'aurah." This is related by Ahmad, Abu Dawud and at-Tirmidhi, who called it hassan, and by al-Bukhari in mu'allaq form in the Sahih.

Envelope (completely cover) oneself in Clothing
and Keep It Clean

The Noble Qur'an 74:1-4
1. O you (Muhammad SAW) enveloped (in garments)!
2. Arise and warn!
3. And your Lord (Allâh) magnify!
4. And your garments purify!

Fiqh 1.109b

Concerning bodily purity, Anas related that the Prophet upon whom be peace, said, "Stay clean of urine, as the majority of punishment in the grave is due to it." This is related by ad-Daraqutni, who said it is hassan.

Reported 'Ali, I used to have a great deal of prostatic fluid flowing, so I asked a man to ask the Prophet about it (as I was shy to ask him, due to my relationship with him through his daughter). He asked him and the Prophet, upon whom be peace, said, "Make ablution and wash your penis." (Related by al-Bukhari and others.)

'Aishah also related that the Messenger of Allah said to women with a prolonged flow of blood, "Wash the blood from yourself and pray . "

Concerning purity of clothing, we have the following: Says Allah, "And purify your raiment" (al-Muddathir 4). Jabir ibn Sumrah reported that he heard a man ask the Prophet, "May I pray in the same clothes that I had on during intercourse with my wife?" He said, "Yes, but if you see some stains on it, you must wash it." This hadith is related by Ahmad and Ibn Majah. Its narrators are trustworthy. Reported Mu'awiyyah, "I asked Umm Habibah, 'Did the Prophet pray in the same clothes that he wore when he had intercourse?' She said, 'Yes, if there were no stains on it."'(Related by Ahmad, Abu Dawud, an-Nasa'i and Ibn Majah.) Abu Sa'eed reported that the Prophet removed his shoes and the people behind him did likewise. When he finished the prayer, he asked, "Why did you remove your shoes?" They said, "We saw you remove yours." He said, "Gabriel came to me and informed me that there was some filth on them. Therefore, when one of you comes to the mosque, he should turn his shoes over and examine them. If one finds any dirt on them, he should rub them against the ground and pray with them on." The hadith is related by Ahmad, Abu Dawud, al-Hakim, Ibn Hibban and Ibn Khuzaimah. The latter grades it as sahih.

This hadith shows that if one enters the mosque (with his shoes on) and is unaware of some impurity or has forgotten it, and he suddenly remembers it during the prayer, he must try to remove it and proceed with the prayer. He does not have to repeat it later on.

Hadith - Abu Dawood 3150, Narrated Ubadah ibn as-Samit
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: The best shroud is a lower garment and one which covers the whole body, and the best sacrifice is a horned ram.

Clothing must not be Tight.

Covering entire body is preferred over covering just lower half.

Hadith - Sahih Bukhari 1.357, Narrated Said bin Al Harith

I asked Jabir bin 'Abdullah about praying in a single garment. He said, "I traveled with the Prophet during some of his journeys, and I came to him at night for some purpose and I found him praying. At that time, I was wearing a single garment with which I covered my shoulders and prayed by his side. When he finished the prayer, he asked, 'O Jabir! What has brought you here?' I told him what I wanted. When I finished, he asked, 'O Jabir! What is this garment which I have seen and with which you covered your shoulders?' I replied, 'It is a (tight) garment.' He said, 'If the garment is large enough, wrap it round the body (covering the shoulders) and if it is tight (too short) then use it as an Izar (tie it around your waist only.)' "

Silk Garments

Hadith - Sahih Al-Bukhari 7.693, Narrated Uqba bin Amir
A silken Farruj was presented to Allah's Apostle and he put it on and offered the prayer in it. When he finished the prayer, he took it off violently as if he disliked it and said, "This (garment) does not befit those who fear Allah!"

Saffron (Yellow, Red/Yellow) Colored Garments

Bowl of Harvested Saffron
Among Crocus Blossoms

Harvesters pick the three red-orange stigma from each saffron crocus blossom to be sold as the saffron spice.

A Saffron
Shoulder Bag

History records that the Phoenecians and Carthegenians used Saffron’s golden hues to dye the veils of their brides. Even now, Buddhist monks use it for coloring their robes. Indian brides use it for the ceremonial painting of their skins. The Irish use it for tinting wool. The Japanese use it for hand painting kimonos. It has also been used in the arts and paintings.

Before the Renaissance, saffron had several religious uses. Even today, Indian hindu women, when offering prayers, receive a paste of saffron on their foreheads (Tikka) as a symbol of blessings, good luck and benevolance. Also in India, saffron is offered as a sacrifice in many hindu temples. Certain Hindu texts have been known to be written with saffron ink.

Hadith - Sunan of Abu Dawood #4037, Narrated Imran ibn Husayn
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: I do not ride on purple, or wear a garment dyed with saffron*, or wear shirt hemmed with silk.

Hadith - Sunan of Abu Dawood #4210, Narrated Abdullah ibn Mas'ud
The Prophet of Allah (peace be upon him) disliked ten things: 1. Yellow colouring...

Hadith - Sunan of Abu Dawood #4055, Narrated Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-'As
We came down with the Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) from a turning of a valley. He turned his attention to me and I was wearing a garment dyed with a reddish yellow dye. He asked: What is this garment over you? I recognised what he disliked. I then came to my family who were burning their oven. I threw it (the garment) in it and came to him the next day. He asked: Abdullah, what have you done with the garment? I informed him about it. He said: Why did you not give it to one of your family to wear, for there is no harm in it for women.

e*a modrate orange to orange yellow color

Patterns/Marks In the Clothing: Simple Clothing Preferred

Hadith - Sunan of Abu Dawood, #4041, Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu'minin, r.a.
The Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) once prayed wearing a garment having marks. He looked at its marks. When he saluted, he said: Take this garment of mine to AbuJahm, for it turned my attention just now in my prayer, and bring a simple garment without marks.

Hadith - Muwatta 3.72 - Looking in the Prayer at What Distracts You From It
Yahya related to me from Malik from AIqama ibn Abi AIqama from his mother that A'isha, the wife of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Abu Jahm ibn Hudhayfa gave the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, a fine striped garment from Syria and he did the prayer in it. When he had finished he said, 'Give this garment back to Abu Jahm. I lookedat its stripes in the prayer and they almost distracted me.' "

Sadaqa Not Accepted with Unlawful Clothing

Hadith - Muslim
Then [the Messenger saaws] mentioned a man who had traveled for a long time. Unkempt and covered in dust, he raised his hands to the heavens (and cried): 'O my Lord! O my Lord!' His food was unlawful, his drink was unlawful, his clothing was unlawful, and what he had provided to sustain himself with was also unlawful. How could his invocation be accepted?"

Gratitude to Allah for the Protection of Clothing

The Noble Qur'an An-Nahl 16:81
And Allâh has made for you out of that which He has created shades, and has made for you places of refuge in the mountains, and has made for you garments to protect you from the heat (and cold), and coats of mail to protect you from your (mutual) violence. Thus does He perfect His Grace unto you, that you may submit yourselves to His Will (in Islâm).

Wearing White

Hadith - Al-Tirmidhi 4623, Narrated 'Aisha, r.a.
Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) was questioned about Waraqah and Khadijah said to him, "He believed in you, but died before you appeared as a prophet." Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) then said, "I was shown him in a dream, wearing white clothes, and if he had been one of the inhabitants of Hell he would have been wearing different clothing." [Ahmad and Tirmidhi transmitted it]

Hadith - Sahih Al-Bukhari 7.717, Narrated Abu Dharr, r.a.
I came to the Prophet while he was wearing white clothes and sleeping....

Wearing Green

Hadith - Sahih Al-Bukhari 7.705, Narrated 'Aisha, r.a.
When Allah's Apostle died, he was covered with a Hibra Burd (green square decorated garment).

Hadith - Sunan of Abu Dawood, Narrated Abu Rimthah, r.a.
I went with my father to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and saw two green garments over him.

Wearing Red

It is permissible to wear red clothes if the red is combined with another colour; it is not permissible to wear plain red, because the Prophet (saaws) forbade doing so.

The hadith which forbid wearing plain red

From al-Baraa’ ibn ‘Aazib (may Allah be pleased with him): “The Prophet (saaws) forbade us to use soft red mattresses and qasiy – garments with woven stripes of silk.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 5390)
From Ibn ‘Abbaas, who said: “I was forbidden (to wear) red garments and gold rings, and to recite Qur’aan in rukoo’.” (Narrated by al-Nasaa’i, no. 5171. Imam Albaani said: its isnaad is sahih. Saheeh Sunan al-Nasaa’i, 1068).
From ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Amr ibn al-Aas (may Allaah be pleased with them both), who said: “A man passed by the Prophet SAWS wearing two red garments and greeted him with salaam, but he SAWS did not return the greeting.” (Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, no. 2731; Abu Dawood, no. 3574. Al-Tirmidhi said: this hadeeth is hasan ghareeb with this isnaad). According to the scholars, the meaning of this hadith is that the Prophet SAWS disliked the wearing of garments dyed with safflower (the red dyestuff obtained from safflowers), but he had no objection to garments dyed with clay or other substances, so long as it was not dyed with safflower. This hadeeth was classed as da’eef by al-Albaani (Da’eef Sunan Abi Dawood, 403; Da’eef Sunan al-Tirmidhi, 334. He said: its isnaad is da’eef).

Hadith which may be understood to mean that it is permissible to wear red if it is mixed with another colour

From Hilaal ibn ‘Aamir from his father, who said: “I saw the Messenger of Allaah SAWS in Mina, giving a khutbah sitting on his mule, wearing a red cloak, and ‘Ali was in front of him, repeating what he said (in a loud voice, so that the people could hear).” (Narrated by Abu Dawood, no. 3551; classed as sahih by al-Albaani – Sahih Sunan Abi Dawood, 767).
The hadeeth of al-Baraa’ ibn ‘Aazib (may Allaah be pleased with him) who said: “The Messenger of Allah SAWS was of average build. I saw him in a red hullah, and I never saw anyone more handsome than him.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, no. 5400; Muslim, 4308).
From al-Baraa’, who said: “I never saw anyone who has hair wearing a red hullah and looking more handsome than the Messenger of Allah SAWS (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). He had hair down to his shoulders, he was broad-shouldered and was neither short nor tall.” (Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, no. 1646. He said: in this chapter there is a report from Jaabir ibn Samurah and Abu Rimthah and Abu Juhayfah. This hadeeth is hasan saheeh…)
From al-Baraa’ who said: “The Messenger of Allaah SAWS had hair down to his earlobes. I saw him wearing a red hullah, and I have never seen anyone more handsome than him.” (Narrated by Abu Dawood, no. 4072; Ibn Maajah, no. 3599. Classed as sahih by Albaani – Saheeh Sunan Abi dawood, 768).
Al-Bayhaqi narrated in al-Sunan: “[The Prophet] SAWS used to wear a red cloak on Eid.”

What is meant by a red hullah is a suit of two Yemeni garments which are woven with red and black stripes, or red and green stripes. It is described as red because of the red stripes in it.

This is the view of a number of scholars, such as al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar (Fath al-Baari Sharh ‘ala Sahih al-Bukhari, no. 5400) and Ibn al-Qayyim (Zaad al-Ma’aad, 1-137). And Allah knows best

Wear an 'Izar

An 'Izar (loing wrap) is a
rectangular piece of cloth
worn wrapped around the
waist for modesty.

Hadith - Bukhari 7.695 (Also 7.744) Narrated Ibn Abbas, r.a.

The Prophet (saaws) said, "Whoever cannot get an Izar, can wear trousers, and whoever cannot wear sandals can wear Khuffs."

Garment Should Not Hang Past Ankles

Hadith - Al-Muwatta 48.12, Similar narration in Abu Dawood #4082
Yahya related to me from Malik from al Ala ibn Abd ar-Rahman that his father said, "I asked Abu Said al-Khudri about the lower garment. He said that he would inform me with knowledge and that he had heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, 'The lower garment of the mumin should reach to the middle of his calves. There is no harm in what is between that and the ankles. What is lower than that is in the Fire. What is lower than that is in the Fire. On the Day of Rising, Allah will not look at a person who trails his lower garment in arrogance.' "

Hadith - Sahih Al-Bukhari 7.678, Narrated Abu Huraira, r.a.
The Prophet (saaws) said, "The part of an Izar which hangs below the ankles is in the Fire."

Hadith - Sunan of Abu Dawood, Narrated AbuJurayy Jabir ibn Salim al-Hujaymi
The Prophet saaws said, "Have your lower garment halfway down your shin; if you cannot do it, have it up to the ankles. Beware of trailing the lower garment, for it is conceit and Allah does not like conceit."

Folding up the hem because your garment is too long, is forbidden. Pull the trousers upwards, instead. (hint: hard to do if your pants are too tight to start with!)

Hadith - Sahih Muslim #5200, Narrated Abdullah ibn Umar, r.a.
I happened to pass before Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) with my lower garment trailing (upon the ground). He said: Abdullah, tug up your lower garment. I tugged it up, and he again said: Tug it still further, and I tugged it still further and I went on tugging it afterward, whereupon some of the people said: To what extent? Thereupon he said: To the middle of the shanks*.: *The part of the leg between the knee and ankle.
: Said Ibn 'Abbas, "The Prophet ordered us to prostrate on seven bodily parts and not to fold back the hair or clothing: the forehead, the hands, the knees and the feet." In another wording, the Prophet said, "I have been ordered to prostrate on seven bodily parts: the forehead, and he pointed to his nose, the hands, the knees and the ends of the feet." (Related by al-Bukhari and Muslim.) In another narration, he said, "I have been ordered to prostrate on seven bodily parts and not to fold back the hair or clothing: the forehead, the nose, the hands, the knees and the feet." (Related by Muslim and an-Nasa'i.)

Be Known as a Muslim

The Noble Qur'an 7:3
[Say (O Muhammad SAW) to these idolaters (pagan Arabs) of your folk:] Follow what has been sent down unto you from your Lord (the Qur'ân and Prophet Muhammad's Sunnah), and follow not any Auliyâ' (protectors and helpers, etc. who order you to associate partners in worship with Allâh), besides Him (Allâh). Little do you remember!

Narration - al-Hakim and Tirmidhi (hasan)
"Allah likes to see the mark of His benevolence on His servant."

Wearing the izar (loin-wrap), thawb (long cloth), `imama (turban), jubba (coat or mantle), sirwal (baggy pants), etc. is of the Prophet's (SAAWS) Sunnah of dress. There is no such thing as an unimportant or unnecessary Sunnah.

Hadith - Tirmidhi (hasan), Book of knowledge; al-Baghawi, Sharh al-sunna 1:233.
Whoever gives life to one of my Sunnahs which was eliminated after my time will receive the reward of all those who practice it without their reward being diminished...

Hadith - Tirmidhi (hasan gharib), Book of knowledge.
Whoever gives life to one of my Sunnahs, he loves me: and whoever loves me is with me.

And Abu Hurayra (r.a.) narrates the following hadith in Muslim, Nasa'i, Malik, and Ahmad:

The Prophet came to the graveyard and said: "Peace be upon you, O abode of a people of believers! We shall certainly join you, if Allah will. How I long to see my brothers!" They said: "O Messenger of Allah, are we not your brothers?" He replied: "You are my Companions! As for my brothers, they are those who have not yet appeared." They said: "How will you recognize those of your Community who had not yet appeared (in your time), O Messenger of Allah?" He replied: "Suppose a man had horses with shiny white marks on their foreheads and legs: would he not recognize them among other horses which are all black?" They said: "Yes, O Messenger of Allah!" He continued: "Verily, they (my brothers) shall be coming with shiny bright foreheads and limbs due to their ablutions, and I shall precede them to my Pond."

Dressing according to the sunnah is an act of ibadah that brings with it a reward, insha'Allah.

The Companions were quick to imitate every aspect of the Prophet's example of dress:

Hadith - Bukhari, Volume 9, Book 92, Number 401. Narrated Ibn 'Umar

The Prophet saaws wore a gold ring and then the people followed him and wore gold rings too. Then the Prophet said, "I had this golden ring made for myself." He then threw it away and said, "I shall never put it on." Thereupon the people also threw their rings away.

The very least that has been said by the scholars of the Shari`a in the matter is that following the Prophet in matters of dress or everyday matters such as eating, walking, and sleeping is a matter of excellence (ihsan) and perfection (kamal) and is desirable (mustahabb) and part of one's good manners (adab) in the religion. Every desirable practice performed on the basis of such intention means a higher degree in paradise which the person who neglects it may not attain to, and Allah knows best.

Wearing a Turban

The Prophet said: "Pray as you see me pray" . As Bukhari showed in the hadith he cited in the chapter entitled "Wearing turbans," the Prophet wore it and sometimes he wiped on top of it during ablution in order not to have to remove it.^[Bukhari, Book of Ablution, hadith of Ja`far ibn `Amr's father.]

He wore it in war and in the khutba, and he would receive it as a gift as established by the following three hadiths:

Jabir said: "The Prophet entered Mecca on the Day of victory wearing a black turban and he loosened its two ends between his shoulders." [Muslim and Abu Dawud. The first part is also in Tirmidhi (hasan), Ibn Majah, and Nasa'i.]
Ja`far ibn `Amr narrates from his father: "I saw the Prophet on the pulpit wearing a black turban with the extremity loosened between his shoulder-blades."[Muslim, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Nasa'i, and Ibn Majah.]
Abu Sa`id al-Khudri reported that when the Prophet got a new piece of garment, he would mention it, whether a turban or a shirt or a cloak, and then would say: "O Allah, all praise and thanks be to You. You have given me this garment. I seek from You its good and the good that is made of it and I seek Your refuge against its evil and the evil that it is made of." {Allahumma, laka al-hamd, anta kasawtanih, as'aluka khayrahu wa khayra ma suni`a lahu, wa a`udhu bika min sharrihi wa sharri ma ma suni`a lah.} [Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi]

Ibn Abi al-Ahwas said: I came in shabby clothes to see the Prophet and he said: "Do you have money?" I said yes. He said: "From where does your money come?" I said: "Allah has given me camels and sheep and horses and slaves." He said: "Then if Allah gave you money and possessions, he likes for you to show it."^[Narrated with a sound chain by Abu Dawud in the Book of Garments and al-Nasa'i in the Book of Ornaments. Ahmad narrates something similar in his Musnad.]

Abu al-Darda' said that the Prophet said: "You are coming to your brethren, therefore mend your mounts and mend your garments until you stand out among the people (due to your excellence) like a mole on the face. Verily, Allah does not like obscene speech nor obscene behavior." [Narrated with a sound chain by Abu Dawud in the Book of Garments and Ahmad in his Musnad.]

al-Khatib al-Baghdadi narrates in his Tarikh Baghdad that one time Abu Hanifa asked a man who was shabbily dressed to stay behind after the others had left from his circle of study. Then he told him: "Lift up the prayer-rug and take the money that is there and buy yourself some nice clothes." The man told him he was wealthy and had no need of the money. Abu Hanifa said: "Has it not reached you that the Prophet said: Allah likes to see the mark of His benevolence on His servant?" [al-Khatib, Tarikh Baghdad 13:263]

Bukhari also narrates in the book of Salat that Hasan al-Basri said that in the time of the Prophet, because of scorching heat, "People used to prostrate on their turban-cloth (`imama) and turban-cap (qalansuwa) with their hands in their sleeves," and that Anas Ibn Malik said:

We used to pray with the Prophet and some of us used to place the ends of their clothes at the place of prostration because of scorching heat.

They were wearing head-covers and long sleeves in scorching heat.

The following is a saying of `Umar ibn al-Khattab narrated by Malik in the Book of Friday Prayer in his Muwatta:
"I love to see the reciter of the Qur'an [i.e. the leader of the Friday prayer] wearing white."

The Prophet said on the authority of Ibn `Umar: "Whoso resembles a people in appearance, he is one of them." [Narrated by Abu Dawud (Libas) and Ahmad (2:50, 2:92) with a chain which has some weakness according to Sakhawi in al- Maqasid al-hasana, however he states that its authenticity is verified by other narrations. Also narrated by Ibn Abi Shayba in his Musannaf (5:313), Ibn Hajar in Fath al-Bari 10:274 [Dar al-Fikr ed.], and Ibn Kathir in his Tafsir (8:53). `Iraqi said its chain is sound (sahih). al-Bazzar also relates it through Hudhayfa and Abu Hurayra, Abu Nu`aym through Anas, and al-Quda`i relates it through Tawus, a chain which Ibn Hibban declared sahih. Ibn Taymiyya in his Iqtida' al-siratal- mustaqim (p. 82) calls Abu Dawud's and Ahmad's chain "a good chain."]

Note that shaving the beard is considered effeminacy and is forbidden (haram) and recognized to be haram by the Four Imams.

Ibn Hibban's version of `Umar's saying is mentioned by Ibn Taymiyya who interprets it as an explicit prohibition for Muslims in non-Muslim countries against wearing unislamic clothing:

This is a prohibition on the part of `Umar directed at Muslims against all that belongs to the manner of dress of non-Muslims (mushrikun). [Ibn Taymiyya, Iqtida' as-sirat al-mustaqim (1907 ed.) p. 60]

Imam Nawawi in his Fatawa was asked: "Is there harm for one's religion and his salat if he dresses other than in the fashion of Muslims?" He answered: "It is forbidden to resemble the disbelievers in appearance, whether in clothing or otherwise, because of the sound and well-known hadiths concerning this; and wearing such clothing makes one's prayer incomplete tanqusu bihi al-salat."

Bayhaqi also cited the hadith of al-`Abbas al-Duri from Sa`id ibn `Amir al-Dub`i from Sa`id ibn Abi `Azuba from Ayyub from Nafi` who said:

Ibn `Umar saw me pray in a single garment and he said: "Did I not give you clothes?" I said yes. He continued: "And if I sent you on an errand would you go out like this?" I said no. He said: "Then Allah is worthier of your self-adornment.": It is narrated by Tahawi in Sharh ma`ani al-athar (1:221), Tabarani, Bayhaqi in his Sunan al-kubra (2:236), and Haythami said in Majma` al-zawa'id (2:51): "Its chain is fair (hasan)." Albani included it in al-Silsila al-sahiha (#1369).

Bayhaqi also cited the hadith of Yusuf ibn Ya`qub al-Qadi from Sulayman ibn Harb from Hammad ibn Zayd from Ayyub from Nafi`:

`Umar entered upon me one day as I was praying in a single garment and he said: "Don't you have two garments in your possession?" I said yes. He said: "In your opinion, if I sent you to one of the people of Madina on an errand, would you go in a single garment?" I said no. He said: "Then is Allah worthier of our self-beautification or people?"

How to tie a turban

A ghaffiya or plain cap of heavy cloth can be worn to prevent hair from showing.
You start with one end of the turban about six inches below the base of the neck; this is going to be the tail which one sees on some period turbans.
From there, the turban passes over the head to just above the forehead and then you start winding it. A single wind is a clockwise circle tilted somewhat from the horizontal.
As you wind the turban, the circle grows; the low point moves around the head by about 90 degrees each wind. So if the first time around the low point is under the right ear then the next time it is at the back of the head, then left ear.
As you go, you can let the tilt increase, since the bottom of the circle will anchor itself below the bulge of cloth already there.
When you are down to a small peice or so, make a horizontal circle around the whole thing and tuck the end in. The result is the horizontal band.

We seek refuge in Allah from misguidance and innovation.

Action Items for the BELIEVERS

Wear your best available clothes for prayer.
Do not resemble the disbelievers attire.
Always cover your awra (for men, this is the distance between the knees and bellybutton, including both the knees and bellybutton being covered). Cover more when able, such as the arms for modesty.
Keep your clothes clean.
Do not wear bright, flashy colors. Wear white when able to for prayer.
Do not wear images of people, animals, or insects on your clothes.
Hem your pants short so that they do not hang past the ankle.
Do not tuck your shirt in your pants, but instead have a thawb that covers the knees, or wear an izar, etc.
Cover your hair for prayer when able.
Do not shave off your beard, for it is part of your required hijab.

Remember... Allah, subhana watala, sees everything we do!

Manners

2008-06-25T08:17:00.000-07:00

Manners
According to Quran and Sunnah

The Importance of Manners

Hadith - Bukhari's Book of Manners #271, Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Ahmad, and Ibn Hibban.

...Abu Darda' reported that the Prophet of Allah, upon him be peace, said, "Nothing is weightier on the Scale of Deeds than one's good manners."

Hadith - Bukhari's Book of Manners #286 and Ahmad

Abu Huraira, r.a., said, "I heard Abu al Qasim (the Prophet saaws), say, 'The best among you in Islam are those with the best manners, so long as they develop a sense of understanding.' "

Hadith - At-Tabaraanee collected it, and Albani authenticated it in Silsilatul-AHaadeethis-Saheehah (#432).

The Prophet (saaws) said: "The most beloved of Allah's servants to Allah are those with the best manners."

Hadith - Sahih Bukhari, Muslim, and Tirmidhi

... 'Abd Allah ibn 'Amr said, "The Prophet of Allah, upon him be peace, was never obscene or coarse. Rather, he used to tell us that the best among us were those with the best manners."

Hadith - Sahih Bukhari, Muslim and Ahmad

... Anas said, "I served the Prophet of Allah, upon him be peace, for ten years. During that time, he never once said to me as much as 'Oof' if I did something wrong. He never asked me, if I had failed to do something, 'Why did you not do it?,' and he never said to me, if I had done something wrong, 'Why did you do it?' "

Hadith - Bukhari's Book of Manners # 285, Hakim, and Abu Dawud

... Abu Huraira, r.a., said that the Prophet of Allah, saaws, said, "If one has good manners, one may attain the same level of merit as those who spend their nights in prayer."

Hadith - Bukhari's Book of Manners # 290, Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, and Ahmad

... Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet of Allah (saaws) said, "And what is most likely to send people to Paradise? Being conscious of Allah and good manners."

Hadith - Bukhari's Book of Manners # 296, Muslim, Tirmidhi, Darimi, Abu 'Awanah, Hakim, and Ibn Hibban.

... Nawas ibn Sam'an reported that the Prophet of Allah, saaws, was asked about doing good and evil. He replied, "Doing good is having good manners. Doing evil is what troubles you inside and what you would not like others to know about."

Hadith - Bukhari's Book of Manners #360, Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, and Hakim

The Prophet of Allah, saaws, said, "He who does not show mercy to our young or show esteem for our elders is not one of us."

The sin of finding faults in others

Hadith - Bukhari's Book of Manners #313, Ahmad, Ibn Hibban, and Hakim

... 'Abd Allah reported that the Prophet of Allah, upon him be peace, said, "A believer is not a fault-finder and is not abusive, obscene, or course."

Hadith - Bukhari's Book of Manners #329

... Ibn 'Abbas said, "If you wish to mention the faults of your friend, mention your own faults first."

Hadith - Bukhari's Book of Manners #330

... Ibn 'Abbas said on the following verse of the Qur'an, "Nor defame one another" (49:11), "Do not spend your time finding fault with one another."

Hadith - Bukhari's Book of Manners #545

Jubayr ibn Nufayr reported that Mu'adh ibn Jabal said, "If you love someone, do not quarrel with him and do not annoy him. Do not ask others about him, for the one you ask might be his enemy and thus tell you things about him that are not true and thus break you apart."

Hadith - Bukhari's Book of Manners #889 and Ibn Hibban

'Amr ibn al 'As said, "...I am amazed at one who spots an impurity in the eye of another but is unable to detect it in his/her own eye, or who attempts to remove a grudge from another's heart while making no attempt to remove grduges from his/her own heart. I have never blamed anyone for the confidences of mine that they have betrayed. How could I, when already they have given me reason for pause?"

Hadith - Bukhari's Book of Manners #1295

Bilal ibn Sa'd al Ash'ari reported that Mu'awiyah wrote to Abu Darda' "Write to the wrongdoers of Damascus." So he asked, "What do I have to do with the wrongdoers of Damascus? How will I know them?" Abu Darda's son, Bilal said, "I will write to them," which he did. Then Abu Darda' said [to Bilal], "How did you know to whom to write? You could not have known they were wrongdoers unless you were one of them. Begin with yourself!" So he did not address the letter in anyone's name.*

*i.e. he didn't single out a specific person as a wrongdoer, but spoke about wrongdoings in general, to come as a reminder (of Quran and Sunnah) to the people.

Group Conversations

Hadith - Sahih Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawud, and Ibn Majah

'Abd Allah ibn Mas'ud reported that the Prophet of Allah, upon him be peace, said, "If they are three, two of them should not carry on a conversation from which the third is excluded, for surely that will be distressing to him."

Hadith - Bukhari's Book of Manners, Abu Dawud. Ibn Hibban classified the hadith as authentic.

Ibn 'Umar reported the same from the Prophet, upon him be peace. Except that in the end, he added, "We asked, 'If they are four?' He, upon him be peace, said, 'Then there is no harm.' "

Beware of Suspicion

Hadith - Sahih Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, Ahmad, and Ibn Hibban

Abu Huraira, r.a., reported that the Prophet of Allah, upon him be peace, said, "Be careful of suspicion, for it is the most mistaken of all speech. Do not spy on others, compete* among yourselves, envy one another, or despise one another. Rather, be servants of Allah and brothers!"

*There is nothing wrong with healthy competition, particularly in doing good deeds. This hadith refers to competion that destroys team play and equality, etc.)

Hadith - Bukhari's Book of Manners #1294

'Abd Allah said, "Sometimes a victim of robbery will become so suspicious [of everyone around him] that he will become worse than the thief."*

*In other words, his suspicions will lead him to doubt everyone until he has destroyed every one of his relationships.

It is permissible to call over a person and inform them of the facts, so that they will not be suspicious, as we see in the following hadith (narration).

Hadith - Bukhari's Book of Manners #1293, Muslim and Abu Dawud

Anas reported that a man passed by while the Prophet of Allah, upon him be peace, was with one of his wives. The Prophet called the man and said, 'O So and so. This is my wife, so and so." The man replied, What I might have thought about another, I would never think about you." The Prophet, upon him be peace, said, "Shaytan [satan] will circulate through a person just like blood circulates [through one's veins]."

Give Gifts

Hadith - Bukhari's Book of Manners #594, also related by Abu Ya'la and by Nasa'i in al Kuna.

Abu Huraira, r.a., reported that the Prophet of Allah, upon him be peace, said, "Give gifts to one another, and you will love one another."

Hadith - Sahih Bukhari, Muslim, Nasa'i and Tirmidhi

Ibn Abi Mas'ud al Badri reported that the Prophet of Allah, upon him be peace, said, "Anyone who spends money on his family and seeks blessings for doing so will find it counted as sadaqah (charity) on his behalf."

Have a sense of shame/shyness

(not being shy from doing good, but shyness from doing wrong)

Hadith - Sahih Bukhari, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, Ibn Hibban, and Ahmad

Abu Mus'ud reported that the Prophet of Allah, saaws, said, "Among the well-known wisdom of the prophets is the saying, 'If you have no shame, then do as you please.' "

Hadith - Sahih Bukhari, Muslim, Nasa'i, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, and Tabarani

Abu Huraira, r.a., reported that the Prophet, saaws, said, "... Having a sense of shame is one branch of faith."

Hadith - Sahih Bukhari, Muslim and Ibn Majah

'Abd Allah ibn Abi 'Atabah said that he heard Abu Sa'id say, "The Prophet of Allah, upon him be peace, was shyer than a virgin in her shift. Whenever he disliked something, we could see it on his face."

The sin of Pride

Hadith - Bukhari's Book of Manners #550

Abu Huraira, r.a., reported that the Prophet of Allah, upon him be peace, said, "Whoever eats with his servant, or rides a donkey in the marketplace, or who ties up his goat and milks it will no be guilty of the sin of pride.

Hadith - Bukhari's Book of Manners #556, Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi

Abu Huraira, r.a., reported that a handsome man went to the Prophet of Allah, upon him be peace, and said, "I love beauty, and I have been given what you see, even to the extent of my hating to be bested. Is that pride?" The Prophet replied, "No. Rather, pride is to disdain the truth and to treat others with contempt."

The sin of flattering or praising a person

(Flattering or praising is not just to say something kind about a person. Praising is to glorify especially by the attribution of perfections. Flattering is to praise excessively especially from motives of self-interest.)

Hadith - Sahih Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Ahmad, Abu 'Awanah, and Ibn Hibban.

Abu Bakr reported that a man was mentioned in the presence of the Prophet, saaws, and another praised the man. The Prophet, saaws, said, "Woe to you, for you have broken your friend's neck!" The Prophet saaws repeated this several times and then said, "If any of you simply must praise another, let him/her say, 'I think the person is this way or that...' if you genuinely think the person to be that way. The Final Reckoner is Allah, and no one can tell Allah anything about anyone."

Hadith - Bukhari's Book of Manners #337, Bayhaqi, and similar version by Ibn Majah.

Aslam reported that he heard 'Umar say, "Praise is slaughter." One of the narrators added, "That is, if you accept it."

Hadith - Bukhari's Book of Manners #338, Nasa'i, Tirmidhi, Ibn Hibban, and Hakim

Abu Huraira, r.a., reported that the Prophet of Allah, saaws, said, "What a fine man Abu Bakr is. What a fine man 'Umar is. What a fine man Abu 'Ubaydah is. What a fine man Usayd ibn Hudayr is. What a fine man Thabit ibn Hudayr is. What a fine man Mu'adh ibn 'Amr ibn al Jumuh is. What a fine man Mu'adh ibn Jabal is." He said, "What a foul man so and so is. What a foul man is so and so."

Hadith - Sahih Bukhari and Muslim

'A'ishah reported that a man requested an audience with the Prophet, saaws. The Prophet said, "What a foul tribesman that one is." But when the man entered, the Prophet was cordial and pleasant to him. When the man left, another asked permission to meet with him. The Prophet said, "What a good tribesman that one is." But when he entered, the Prophet was not nearly as cordial with him as he had been with the first. When he left, 'A'ishah asked, "You said what you did about the first man, yet you met him cordially. And you said what you did about the second one, and yet you were reserved with him." The Prophet said, "O 'A'ishah, the worst kind of people are those whose vulgarity must be avoided."

Hadith Bukhari's Book of Manners #340, Muslim, Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and Abu 'Awanah.

"The Prophet of Allah, saaws, ordered us to throw dust in the faces of those who flatter."

Hadith - Bukhari's Book of Manners #341 and Ibn Hibban

'Ata ibn Abi Rabah reported that when a man praised another in the presence of Ibn 'Umar, Ibn 'Umar began tossing dust in the direction of his face, saying, "The Prophet of Allah, saaws, said, 'If ever you encounter those who flatter, throw dust in their faces.' "

Hadith - Bukhari's Book of Manners #762 and Bayhaqi

'Adi ibn Artah said, "If ever one of the Companions of the Prophet of Allah, upon him be peace, was praised, he would say, 'O Alolah, do not take me to task for what they say and forgive me for what they do not know about."

Regarding Fraud and Deceit

Hadith - Bukhari's Book of Manners #420, Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Hakim, and Tahawi

Abu Huraira, r.a., reported that the Prophet of Allah, upon him be peace, said, "A believer is frank and decent, whereas a wrongdoer is deceitful and blameworthy."

Praying for Good Manners

Hadith - Bukhari's Book of Manners #308 and Bayhaqi

... 'Abd Allah ibn 'Amr reported that the Prophet of Allah, upon him be peace, used very often to pray in the following manner, "O Allah! I ask You for good health, for trust, for self-control, for good manners, and to be satisfied with the divine decree."

Action Items for the BELIEVERS

Be sure your good manners are sincere before your Lord.
It is okay to speak about a person saying he is good or fine, but not to excessively lavish with flatter or praise.

Remember... Allah, subhana watala, sees everything we do!

Music

2008-06-25T08:02:00.000-07:00

Music
According to Quran and Sunnah

The Prohibition

The Noble Qur'an - Luqman 31:6

And of mankind is he who purchases idle talks (i.e. music, singing, etc.) to mislead (men) from the Path of Allah without knowledge, and takes it (the Path of Allah, the Verses of the Qur'an) by way of mockery. For such there will be a humiliating torment (in the Hell-Fire).

Ibn Masood (ra) said about this verse "I swear by the One other than Whom there is no God that it refers to singing [ghinaa].", and he repeated this three times. Ibn Abbaas (ra) said it refered to 'singing and the like' while Jaabir (ra) is reported to view its meaning to signify singing and listening to songs. Many taabi'oon such as Mujaahid, Ikrimah, Mak-hool and Umar ibn Shu'ayb viewed it as a censure of music and song.

Hadith - Bukhari (#787) [Also related by Tabari]

Sa'id ibn Jbayr reported that Ibn 'Abbas said about the verse: "And of mankind is he who purchases idle talks" (31:6), that, "ldle talks means singing and the like."

The Noble Qur'an - Al-Isra 17:64

"And Istafiz [literally means: befool them gradually] those whom you can among them with your voice (i.e. songs, music, and other call for Allah's disobedience)..."

Hadith - Bukhari 7:494

Narrated Abu 'Amir or Abu Malik Al-Ash'ari that he heard the Prophet saying, "From among my followers there will be some people who will consider illegal sexual intercourse, the wearing of silk, the drinking of alcoholic drinks, and the use of musical instruments as lawful. And (from them), there will be some who will stay near the side of a mountain, and in the evening their shepherd will come to them with their sheep and ask them for something, but they will say to him, 'Return to us tomorrow.' Allah will destroy them during the night and will let the mountain fall on them, and Allah will transform the rest of them into monkeys and pigs and they will remain so till the Day of Resurrection."

The Noble Qur'an - An-Najm 53:57-62

The Day of Resurrection draws near, None besides Allah can avert it, (or advance it, or delay it). Do you then wonder at this recital (the Qur'an)? And you laugh at it and weep not, Wasting your (precious) lifetime in pastime and amusements (singing, etc.). So fall you down in prostration to Allah, and worship Him (Alone).

‘Ikrimah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: it was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbaas that al-sumood [verbal noun from saamidoon, translated here as “Wasting your (precious) lifetime in pastime and amusements (singing)”] means “singing”, in the dialect of Himyar; it might be said “Ismidi lanaa” [‘sing for us’ – from the same root as saamidoon/sumood] meaning “ghaniy” [sing]. And he said (may Allaah have mercy on him): When they [the kuffaar] heard the Qur’aan, they would sing, then this aayah was revealed.
Ibn Katheer (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: Allah says (interpretation of the meaning) “Wasting your (precious) lifetime in pastime and amusements (singing)” – Sufyaan al-Thawri said, narrating from his father from Ibn ‘Abbaas: (this means) singing. This is Yemeni (dialect): ismad lana means ghan lana [sing to us]. This was also the view of ‘Ikrimah. (Tafseer Ibn Katheer).

Use of a Simple Drum

Use of the "duff" (simple drum) is permitted in Islam for a practical purpose (such as establishing a simple beat for exercise, rowing, and other labors), but not to be done by a Muslim for entertainment or idleness. In such instances, it must not be played as music, such as by enhancing rhythm, whistling a tune and whatnot. Ibn al-Qayyim said in Ighaathat al-Lahfaan (1/256) that the prohibition against the use of instruments refers to "all kinds of things used for entertainment."

According to the Sunnah, females can sing and beat the duff on the two 'Eids (specific Muslim celebrations) and to announce a Muslim wedding amongst themselves, and their voices shouldn't be raised loud enough or near enough to be heard by the men.

Poetry is also permitted, but it must not contain shirk (the major sin of associating a partner in worship with Allah, i.e. trinity, major or minor shirk, etc.).

The woman's voice should not be used in an attractive way around non-mahram men and to them it must be limited to necessity (physical necessity such as asking for something at the store, not emotional 'necessity' such as social conversation). Men and women must not engage in idle or social conversations with non-mahrams (those not related as specified in The Quran). Muslim men should avoid listening to a non-related (i.e. non-mahram) female voice (such as pop singers, etc.) except when it is unavoidable or due to her speaking out of necessity and not socializing.

The Noble Qur'an - An-Najm 53:57-62

The Prophet came to me after consuming his marriage with me and sat down on my bed as you (the sub-narrator) are sitting now, and small girls were beating the duff* and singing in lamentation of my father who had been killed on the day of the battle of Badr. Then one of the girls said, "There is a Prophet amongst us who knows what will happen tomorrow." The Prophet [saaws] said (to her),"Do not say this, but go on saying what you have spoken before."

* duff /daff- a one-sided drum made of animal skin.

The Noble Qur'an - Al-Ahzab 33:32
O wives of the Prophet! You are not like any other women. If you keep your duty (to Allâh), then be not soft in speech, lest he in whose heart is a disease (of hypocrisy, or evil desire for adultery, etc.) should be moved with desire, but speak in an honourable manner.

Explanation from Sheikh Ibn Baz

Shaykh Ibn Baz (may Allah have mercy on him) said in Majmoo' al-Fataawa, 3/423-424:

"Ma'aazif refers to singing and musical instruments. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) told us that at the end of time there will come a people who will allow these things just as they will allow alcohol, zina and silk. This is one of the signs of his Prophethood, for all of this has happened. The hadeeth indicates that [musical instruments] are haram (prohibited), and condemns those who say they are halal (permissible), just as it condemns those who say that alcohol and zina are allowed. The aayaat and ahaadeeth that warn against singing and musical instruments are many indeed. Whoever claims that Allaah has allowed singing and musical instruments is lying and is committing a great evil. We ask Allaah to keep us from obeying our desires and the Shaytaan. Even worse and more seriously sinful than that are those who say it is mustahabb. Undoubtedly this stems from ignorance about Allaah and His Religion; it is insolent blasphemy against Allaah and lying about His Laws.

What is mustahabb (recommended) is to beat on the daff [simple hand drum] at weddings. This is mustahabb for women only, in order to announce the wedding and to distinguish it from fornication. There is nothing wrong with women singing amongst themselves, accompanied by the daff, so long as the songs contain no words that encourage evil or distract people from their duties. It is also a condition that this should take place among women only, and there should be no mixing with men. It should also not cause any annoyance or disturbance to neighbours. What some people do, of amplifying such singing with loudspeakers is evil, because of the disturbance it causes to other Muslims, neighbours and others. It is not permissible for women, in weddings or on other occasions, to use any instrument other than the daff, such as the oud, violin, rebab (stringed instrument) and so on. This is evil, and the only concession that women are given is that they may use the daff.

As for men, it is not permissible for them to play any kind of musical instrument, whether at weddings or on any other occasion. What Allaah has prescribed for men is training in the use of instruments of war, such as target practice or learning to ride horses and competing in that, using spears, shields, tanks, airplanes and other things such as cannons, machine guns, bombs and anything else that may help jihaad for the sake of Allaah."

Hadith - Sunan of Abu Dawood, #4909, Narrated Abdullah ibn Mas'ud

Salam ibn Miskin, quoting an old man who witnessed AbuWa'il in a wedding feast, said: They began to play, amuse and sing. He united the support of his hand round his knees that were drawn up, and said: I heard Abdullah (ibn Mas'ud) say: I heard the apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) say: Singing produces hypocrisy in the heart.

Intentions as it Relates to Hearing Music

Shaykh Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: Concerning (music) which a person does not intend to listen to, there is no prohibition or blame, according to scholarly consensus. Hence blame or praise is connected to listening, not to hearing. The one who listens to the Qur'aan will be rewarded for it, whereas the one who hears it without intending or wanting to will not be rewarded for that, because actions are judged by intentions. The same applies to musical instruments which are forbidden: if a person hears them without intending to, that does not matter. (al-Majmoo', 10/78).

Imaam Maalik (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked about playing the drum or flute, if a person happens to hear the sound and enjoy it whilst he is walking or sitting. He said: He should get up if he finds that he enjoys it, unless he is sitting down for a need or is unable to get up. If he is on the road, he should either go back or move on. (al-Jaami' by al-Qayrawaani, 262). He (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: "The only people who do things like that, in our view, are faasiq's." (Tafseer al-Qurtubi, 14/55).

Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: It is not permissible to make musical instruments. (al-Majmoo', 22/140). And he said: According to the majority of fuqahaa', it is permissible to destroy musical instruments, such as the tanboor [a stringed instrument similar to a mandolin]. This is the view of Maalik and is the more famous of the two views narrated from Ahmad. (al-Majmoo', 28/113). Ibn Abi Shaybah (may Allaah have mercy on him) reported that a man broke a mandolin belonging to another man, and the latter took his case to Shurayh. But Shurayh did not award him any compensation, i.e., he did not make the first man pay the cost of the mandolin, because it was haram and had no value. (al-Musannaf, 5/395).

A Haram (Prohibited) Profession

It is haram (prohibited) to be work as a salesperson in a store that sells musical instruments. It is permissible to sell an instrument for its parts, such as to have it melted down, etc. It is of course, as shown by the evidences above, haram to be a musician.

Al-Baghawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) stated in a fatwa that it is haram to sell all kinds of musical instruments such as mandolins, flutes, etc. Then he said: If the images are erased and the musical instruments are altered, then it is permissible to sell their parts, whether they are silver, iron, wood or whatever. (Sharh al-Sunnah, 8/28)

Effeminate Men

Shaykh Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) made allowances for certain types of musical instruments at weddings and the like, and he made allowances for women to play the daff at weddings and on other joyful occasions. But the men at his time did not play the daff or clap with their hands. It was narrated in al-Saheeh that he said: "Clapping is for women and tasbeeh (saying Subhaan Allaah) is for men." And he cursed women who imitate men and men who imitate women.

Because singing and playing the daff are things that women do, the Salaf (men of the far past) used to call any man who did that a mukhannath (effeminate man), and they used to call male singers effeminate - and how many of them there are nowadays! It is well known that the Salaf said this.

Action Items for the BELIEVERS

Get rid of those Michael Jackson CD's
- If you had a large music collection as a kaffir, have a collection just as large, but instead fill your library with Islamic audio tapes and lectures.
- Think about how many hundreds or maybe even thousands of dollars you've spent on music cd's and tapes that you could now spend on a home Islamic library.
Spend your valuable time studying Qur'an, learning to perfect your salah, engaged in ibadah, spreading dawah.

Remember... Allah, subhana watala, sees everything we do!

Names

2008-06-25T07:56:00.000-07:00

Names
According to Quran and Sunnah

If something is not classified as haram (prohibited) in the Deen (religion/way of life of a Muslim), then it is halal (permitted). Retaining a name that (1) does not identify itself with/contain anything Islamically forbidden and (2) is not a Name of Allah , has not been declared haram.

It is according to sunnah (the examples of the Prophet's life what he said, did, implemented, how he implemented), to change a bad name (whether it is an arabic name or any other language) immediately, and it is permissible according to sunnah to exchange a name for a better one.

According to Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid, "...if one's name is Abdul-Messiah, for example, or similar such names, then he is obligated to change it, as the Prophet had people with the names Abdul-Ka'bah and Abdul-Uzzah change their names upon accepting Islaam. If the original name does not comprise or imply anything forbidden in Islaam, then he or she is permitted to retain it (such as the name George, for example). As noted, though, it is preferable to change it to an Islaamic name, as this also distinguishes him or her from the kuffaar."

While it is not haram to retain the name under the conditions listed above, the muslim has a responsibility to the Sunnah of the Prophet , and is encouraged to choose "the best of names"; and the best of names are the humblest, insha'Allah. In addition, the best of names we have on this side of life, will be what we are called by in Paradise, insha'Allah.

We should not cut the ties to our father, and it is correct to retain the name of the father, even in the muslim's newly converted name. i.e. "Abu Ameenah Bilal Phillips"... he chose (or was given, by another muslim) the name "Bilal" after the well-known companion Bilal, used the name "Abu Ameenah" meaning father of his daughter Ameenah, and he retained his father's last name, "Philips". Women are not encouraged to change their last name to their new husband's last name upon marriage, in situations where her father's last name is known.

While it is halal and encouraged to have a humble name such as "Abdur Rahman" (servant/slave of the most Beneficent [Allah]), having the name "Al-Rahman" ("Al-" means "The") is not permissible because it is the same as the Name of Allah, and no-one should compare themselves to Allah swt.

Names that are Disliked

Hadith - Bukhari (#819), Muslim, Abu Dawud, and Tirmidhi

Abu Hurayrah reported that the Prophet of Allah said, "The name most detested by Allah is 'Malik Al-Amlak' ('King of Kings.')"

Hadith - Muwatta 54.24

Malik related to me from Yahya ibn Said that the Messenger of Allah asked about a milk camel about to be milked, "Who milks this camel?" A man stood up. The Messenger of Allah said, "What is your name?" The man said, "Murra (bitterness)." The Messenger of Allah said to him, "Sit down." Then he said, "Who milks this one?" A man stood up and the Messenger of Allah said, "What is your name?" He said, "Harb (war)." The Messenger of Allah, said, "Sit down." Then he said, "Who milks this camel?" A man stood up, and the Messenger of Allah, said to him, "What is your name?" The man said, ''Yaish (he lives)." The Messenger of Allah, said to him, "Milk!"

Prohibited Names

Hadith - Bukhari 1:110, Narrated Abu Huraira
The Prophet said, "Name yourselves with my name (use my name) but do not name yourselves with my Kunya name (i.e. Abul Qasim)...."

Hadith - Muslim 5331, Narrated Jabir ibn Abdullah
Allah's Messenger decided to forbid (his followers) to name persons as Ya'la (Elevated), Barakah (Blessing), Aflah (Successful), Yasar and Nafi', but I saw that he kept silent after that and he did not say anything until Allah's Messenger died. And he did not forbid (his followers to do this), then Umar decided to prohibit (people) from giving these names, but later on gave up the idea.

Changing to a Better Name

Hadith - Al-Tirmidhi #4774, Narrated 'Aisha

The Prophet used to change a bad name.

Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Hadith - Sahih Al-Bukhari 8.212, Narrated Abu Huraira

Zainab's original name was "Barrah," but it was said, "By that she is giving herself the prestige of piety." So the Prophet changed her name to Zainab.

Hadith - Dawud, Narrated AbuWahb, Hazn ibn AbuWahb

The Prophet asked: What is your name?
He replied: Hazn (rugged).
He said: You are Sahl (smooth).
He said: No, smooth is trodden upon and disgraced.
Sa'id said: I then thought that ruggedness would remain among us after it.

AbuDawud said: The Prophet changed the names al-'As, Aziz, Atalah, Shaytan, al-Hakam, Ghurab, Hubab, and Shihab and called him Hisham. He changed the name Harb (war) and called him Silm (peace). He changed the name al-Munba'ith (one who lies) and called him al-Mudtaji' (one who stands up). He changed the name of a land Afrah (barren) and called it Khadrah (green). He changed the name Shi'b ad-Dalalah (the mountain path of a stray), the name of a mountain path and called it Shi'b al-Huda (mountain path of guidance). He changed the name Banu az-Zinyah (children of fornication) and called them Banu ar-Rushdah (children of those who are on the right path), and changed the name Banu Mughwiyah (children of a woman who allures and goes astray), and called them Banu Rushdah (children of a woman who is on the right path). AbuDawud said: I omitted the chains of these for the sake of brevity.

Hadith (agreed upon)

The Prophet said, "Whoever shuns my Sunnah is never of me."

Hadith - Sahih Al-Bukhari 8.212, Narrated Abu Huraira, .

Zainab's original name was "Barrah," but it was said, "By that she is giving herself the prestige of piety." So the Prophet changed her name to Zainab.

Abu

It is common for muslim fathers to be referred to as "Abu" plus the first name of their son. For example, Abu Turab literally means "Father of Turab."

Hadith - Sahih Al-Bukhari 8.223, Narrated Sahl bin Sad

The most beloved names to 'Ali was Abu Turab, and he used to be pleased when we called him by it, for none named him Abu Turab (for the first time), but the Prophet . Once 'Ali got angry with (his wife) Fatima, and went out (of his house) and slept near a wall in the mosque. The Prophet came searching for him, and someone said, "He is there, lying near the wall." The Prophet came to him while his ('Ali's) back was covered with dust. The Prophet started removing the dust from his back, saying, "Get up, O Abu Turab!"

Naming after a Prophet

Hadith - Sahih Al-Bukhari 8.218, Narrated Abu Musa

I got a son and I took him to the Prophet who named him Ibrahim, and put in his mouth the juice of a date fruit (which be himself had chewed, and invoked for Allah's blessing upon him, and then gave him back to me. He was the eldest son of Abu Musa.

Hadith - Abu Dawood, Narrated AbuWahb al-Jushami

The Prophet : Call yourselves by the names of the Prophets. The names dearest to Allah are Abdullah and AbdurRahman, the truest are Harith and Hammam, and the worst are Harb and Murrah.

Action Items for the BELIEVERS

Retain your father's family name in your name
When guiding a new revert to Islam, at the appropriate time, inform him/her that it is sunnah to change one's name if it contains anything haram or is a name of Allah swt (i.e. Al-Raheem).
If you are able, legally change your name to your new muslim name.
- Call your local county clerk's office for details, and explain your reason for changing your name as being "for religious reasons". The judge's main concern is that you are not just someone trying to dodge oustanding bills and creditors.
- The total cost is currently around $100 USD (may vary depending on your local area).
Select a humble name

Remember... Allah, subhana watala, sees everything we do!

Sickness

2008-06-25T07:42:00.000-07:00

Sickness
According to Quran and Sunnah

Ever wonder why a Muslim is allowed
by Allah, subhana watallah, to get sick?

Hadith - Bukhari 7:564

I visited Allah's Apostle while he was suffering from a high fever. I touched him with my hand and said, "O Allah's Apostle! You have a high fever." Allah's Apostle said, "Yes, I have as much fever as two men of you have." I said, "Is it because you will get a double reward?" Allah's Apostle said, "Yes, no Muslim is afflicted with harm because of sickness or some other inconvenience, but that Allah will remove his sins for him as a tree sheds its leaves."

Hadith - Muslim & Bukhari

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri r.a. reported that the Prophet said: Whenever a Muslim is afflicted with a hardship, sickness, sadness, worry, harm, or depression --even a thorn's prick, Allah expiates his sins because of it.

Recorded by Bukhari in al-Adab ul-Mufrad (no. 493), verified authentic by al-Albani

"Expect good, because Allah (s.w.t.) makes a believer's sickness an expiation (for his sins) and a period of repose. As for a disbeliever falling sick, he is like a camel whose owner ties it and then lets it loose --it does not understand why it was tied, nor why it was freed."

The cure...

Hadith - Sahih Bukhari, Book 25, Number 5466, Narrated Jabir ibn Abdullah

Allah's Messenger said: There is a remedy for every malady, and when the remedy is applied to the disease it is cured with the permission of Allah, the Exalted and Glorious.

Hadith - Muwatta 50:12

Yahya related to me from Malik from Zayd ibn Aslam that a man received a wound in the time of the Messenger of Allah . The blood clotted in the wound and the man called two men from the Banu Ammar tribe. They looked at it and claimed that the Messenger of Allah said to them, "Which of you is the better doctor?" They said, "Is there any good in medicine, Messenger of Allah?" Zayd claimed that the Messenger of Allah said, "The one who sent down the disease sent down the remedy."

Narration - Ahmad

"Worshippers of Allah, use medical treatments."

Hadith - Al-Tirmidhi #2170, Narrated AbdulMalik ibn Umayr

Allah's Messenger said, "Fatihat al-Kitab contains healing for every disease."

[Darimi and Bayhaqi, in Shu'ab al-Iman, transmitted it.]

Severe Trials for those Firm in their Religion

Hadith - Al-Tirmidhi 1562, Narrated Sa'd

When the Prophet was asked which people suffered the greatest affliction, he replied, "The prophets, then those who come next to them, then those who come next to them. A man is afflicted in keeping his religion. If he is firm in his religion his trial is severe, but if there is weakness in his religion it is made light for him, and it continues like that till he walks on the earth having no sin."

[Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it, and Tirmidhi said this is a hasan sahih tradition.]

Rewards for those Afflicted

Hadith - Al-Tirmidhi #1570, Narrated Jabir ibn Abdullah

Allah's Messenger said, "On the Day of Resurrection, when people who have suffered affliction are given their reward, those who are healthy will wish their skins had been cut to pieces with scissors when they were in the world."

[Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying that this is a gharib tradition.]

Recorded by Ahmad , verified authentic by al-Hakim, ath-Thahabi, and al-Albani

The ailment is intensified for the righteous. Whenever a believer is afflicted with a hardship, be it a thorn or more, a sin is taken off him because of it, and he is elevated on level (in Jannah [Paradise]).

Hadith - Al-Bukhari

A traveller's or sick person's deeds are recorded in accordance with what he used to do when he was resident or well.

Endurance

Hadith - Al-Tirmidhi, Narrated AbuUmamah [Ibn Majah transmitted it.]

The Prophet stated that Allah, who is Blessed and Exalted, said "Son of Adam, if you show endurance and seek your reward from me in the first affliction, I shall be pleased with no lesser reward than Paradise for you."

Hadith - Sahih Bukhari, Muslim, and Nasa'i, Narrated 'A'ishah

The Prophet of Allah, upon him be peace, said, "Do not say, 'I feel rotten*.' Instead, say, 'I do not feel well."

*or any expression that involves corruption of any type.

Epilepsy

Hadith - Bukhari 7:555, Narrated 'Ata bin Abi Rabah

Ibn 'Abbas said to me, "Shall I show you a woman of the people of Paradise?" I said, "Yes." He said, "This black lady came to the Prophet and said, 'I get attacks of epilepsy and my body becomes uncovered; please invoke Allah for me.' The Prophet said (to her), 'If you wish, be patient and you will have (enter) Paradise; and if you wish, I will invoke Allah to cure you.' She said, 'I will remain patient,' and added, 'but I become uncovered, so please invoke Allah for me that I may not become uncovered.' So he invoked Allah for her."

Kindness to the sick

Hadith - Mishkat, Narrated Abu Sa'id

Allah's Messenger said, "When you go in to visit an invalid, express a hope that he will live long. That will not avert anything, but it will comfort him."

Hadith - Sahih Bukhari, Volume 8, Book 73, Number 40, Narrated An-Nu'man bin Bashir

Allah's Apostle said, "You see the believers as regards their being merciful among themselves and showing love among themselves and being kind, resembling one body, so that, if any part of the body is not well then the whole body shares the sleeplessness (insomnia) and fever with it."

Visit the sick

Hadith - Qudsi 18

O son of Adam, I fell ill and you visited Me not. He will say: O Lord, and how should I visit You when You are the Lord of the worlds? He will say: Did you not know that My servant So-and-so had fallen ill and you visited him not? Did you not know that had you visited him you would have found Me with him? O son of Adam, I asked you for food and you fed Me not. He will say: O Lord, and how should I feed You when You are the Lord of the worlds? He will say: Did you not know that My servant So-and-so asked you for food and you fed him not? Did you not know that had you fed him you would surely have found that (the reward for doing so) with Me? O son of Adam, I asked you to give Me to drink and you gave Me not to drink. He will say: O Lord, how should I give You to drink whin You are the Lord of the worlds? He will say: My servant So-and-so asked you to give him to drink and you gave him not to drink. Had you given him to drink you would have surely found that with Me.

Supplication of an Invalid

Allah's Messenger said, "When you visit an invalid tell him to make supplication for you, for his supplication is like that of the angels."

[Ibn Majah transmitted it.]

Taking Medicine

Hadith - Muslim, narrated Jabir Bin 'Abdillah

The Prophet said: Every disease has a medication: If the medication for a particular disease is found, it will be cured with Allah's (swt) permission.

Hadith - Bukhari 7:610, Ibn 'Abbas and 'Aisha, Radiya 'Llahu 'anhuma

Abu Bakr kissed (the forehead of) the Prophet when he was dead. 'Aisha added: We put medicine in one side of his mouth but he started waving us not to insert the medicine into his mouth. We said, "He dislikes the medicine as a patient usually does." But when he came to his senses he said, "Did I not forbid you to put medicine (by force) in the side of my mouth?" We said, "We thought it was just because a patient usually dislikes medicine." He said, "None of those who are in the house but will be forced to take medicine in the side of his mouth while I am watching, except Al-'Abbas, for he had not witnessed your deed."

Read Qur'an when Sick

The Noble Qur'an - Al-Isra 17:82

And We send down from the Qur'an that which is a healing and a mercy to those who believe (in Islamic Monotheism and act on it), and it increases the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers) nothing but loss.

Ruqyah

Ruqyah (plural: ruqa) is du'a or dhikr used for protection or cure.

Hadith - Muslim, Narrated 'Awf Bin Malik al-Ashjai

'Awf Bin Malik al-Ashjai said to the Prophet , "O Allah's Messenger! We used to apply ruqa during Jahliyyah. What do you think of that?" He replied: "Present your ruqa to me. There is nothing wrong with them as long as they do not involve shirk."

Hadith - Muslim and others

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri r.a. reported that Jibril came to the Prophet and said, "O Muhammad, are you sick?" He replied, "Yes." He said: "Bismillahi arqik, min kulli shay'in yu'thik, min sharri kulli nafsin aw 'ayni hasid -- With Allah's Name I shelter you (give you ruqyah), from all that ails you, from the evil of every soul, or that of the envious eyes. May Allah cure you; with Allah's Name I shelter you."

Action Items for the BELIEVERS

Study tawheed as it relates to illnesses
Give all acknowledgement to Allah, subhana watala, for healing and ailments.
Do not jump to the conclusion that all sicknesses are punishments from Allah, subhana watala.
A woman may be treated by a male physician (including treatment or examination of private parts, etc.) only if a female physician cannot be obtained through all means possible, and it is recommended that a mahram male or trustworth muslim female be present to prevent the occurance of khulwah.
Males should avoid treatment by non-mahram female doctors or nurses, except when male doctors or nurses are not available.
Do not look down on a person who is sick, merely because of the sickness.
Performing ruqyah is permissible so long that it does not contain shirk or anything else haram. But do not seek ruqyah, because that can prevent you from being among the seventy thousand who immediately enter Paradise. You may, however, volunteer on your own and perform ruqyah over an individual if s/he has not requested it and still be eligible to be among the seventy thousand who immediatley enter Paradise... Allah knows best.
Count your blessings while you are sick, using the opportunity to seek forgiveness of sins and remaining patient during the affliction.

Remember... Allah, subhana watala, sees everything we do!

Hell (Jahannam)

2008-06-25T07:37:00.000-07:00

Hell (Jahannam)

According to Quran and Sunnah

And indeed he (Satan) did lead astray a great multitude of you. Did you not, then, understand? This is Hell which you were promised! Burn therein this Day, for that you used to disbelieve.

The Noble Qur'an 36:62-64

Description of Hell

Hadith - Al-Tirmidhi #5681, Narrated AbuSa'id al-Khudri
The Prophet said, "The awnings of Hell have four thick walls, each wall a distance of forty years." [Tirmidhi transmitted it]

The Noble Qur'an Hud 11:106
As for those who are wretched, they will be in the Fire, sighing in a high and low tone.

Hadith - Al-Muwatta 57.2
Malik related to me from his paternal uncle Abu Suhayl ibn Malik from his father that Abu Hurayra said, "Do you think that it (hell) is red like this fire of yours? It is blacker than tar."

Hadith - Qudsi 38

When Allah (swt) created Paradise and Hell-fire, He sent Gabriel to Paradise, saying: Look at it and at what I have prepared therein for its inhabitants. The Prophet said: So he came to it and looked at it and at what Allah had prepared therein for its inhabitants. The Prophet said: So he returned to Him and said: By your glory, no one hears of it without entering it. So He ordered that it be encompassed by forms of hardship, and He said: Return to it and look at what I have prepared therein for its inhabitants. The Prophet

The Science of Hadith

2008-06-25T07:35:00.000-07:00

The Science of Hadith
According to Quran and Sunnah

In the Name of Allah, The Most Beneficent, The Most Merciful.

Verily We: It is We Who have sent down the Dhikr (i.e. the Qur'ân)
and surely, We will guard it (from corruption).

(Qur'an 15:9)

The above ayat (verse) is obviously fulfilled in the undisputed purity of the Qur'anic text throughout the fourteen centuries since its revelation. However, what is sometimes forgotten is that the divine promise also includes, by necessity, the Sunnah of the Prophet . The Sunnah is the practical example of the implementation of the Qur'anic guidance, the wisdom taught to the Prophet along with the scripture, and neither the Qur'an nor the Sunnah can be understood correctly without the other.

Allaah, subhana watala, says in His Book (An-Nûr 24:54):

Say: "Obey Allah and obey the Messenger, but if you turn away, he (Messenger Muhammad saaws) is only responsible for the duty placed on him (i.e. to convey Allah's Message) and you for that placed on you. If you obey him, you shall be on the right guidance. The Messenger's duty is only to convey (the message) in a clear way (i.e. to preach in a plain way)."

Allah (SWT) preserved the Sunnah by enabling the companions and those after them to memorize, write down and pass on the statements of the Prophet , and the descriptions of his way, as well as to continue the blessings of practicing the Sunnah.

From al-Irbaad ibn Saariyah [radiy'Allaahu anhu] who said:

Allaah's Messenger gave us an admonition which caused the eyes to shed tears and the hearts to fear, so we said, "O Messenger of Allaah, this is as if it were a farewell sermon, so with what do you counsel us?" So he said: "I have left you upon clear proof , its night is like its day, no one deviates from it except one who is destroyed, and whoever lives long from amongst you will see great controversy. So stick to what you know from my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the orthodox, rightly-guided caliphs - cling to that with your molar teeth, and stick to obedience even if it is to an Abyssinian slave, since the believer is like a submissive camel, wherever he is led, he follows" [Ahmad (4/126), Ibn Maajah (no. 43), al-Haakim (1/96) and others - Hasan]

Later, as the purity of the knowledge of the Sunnah became a concern, Allah (SWT) caused the Muslim Ummah to produce individuals with exceptional memory skills and analytical expertise, who travelled tirelessly to collect thousands of narrations and distinguish the true words of prophetic wisdom from those corrupted by weak memories, from forgeries by unscrupulous liars, and from the statements of the large number of Ulama (scholars), the companions and those who followed their way. All of this was achieved through precise attention to the words narrated, and detailed familiarity with the biographies of the thousands of reporters of hadith.

The methodology of the expert scholars of hadith in assessing the narrations and sorting out the genuine from the mistaken and fabricated, for ms the subject matter of the science of hadith. Below is a brief discussion of the terminology and classifications of hadith.

Components of Hadith

A hadith is composed of three parts (see the figure [below]):

Matn (text), isnad (chain of reporters), and taraf (the part, or the beginning sentence, of the text which refers to the sayings, actions or characteristics of the Prophet (PBUH), or his concurrence with others action). The authenticity of the hadith depends on the reliability of its reporters, and the linkage among them.

Classifications of Hadith

A number of classifications of hadith have been made. Five of these classifications are shown in the figure [below], and are briefly described subsequently.

According to the reference to a particular authority
Four types of hadith can be identified.
- Qudsi - Divine; a revelation from Allah (SWT); relayed with the words of the Prophet (PBUH).
- Marfu - elevated; a narration from the Prophet (PBUH), e.g. I heard the Prophet (PBUH) saying ...
- Mauquf- stopped: a narration from a companion only, e.g., we were commanded to ...
- Maqtu' - severed: a narration from a successor.
According to the links of Isnad - interrupted or uninterrupted
Six categories can be identified.
- Musnad - supported: a hadith which is reported by a traditionalist, based on what he learned from his teacher at a time of life suitable for learning; similarly - in turn - for each teacher until the isnad reaches a well known companion, who in turn, reports from the Prophet (PBUH).
- Mutassil - continuous: a hadith with an uninterrupted isnad which goes back only to a companion or successor.
- Mursal - hurried: if the link between the successor and the Prophet (PBUH) is missing, e.g. when a successor says "The Prophet said...".
- Munqati - broken: is a hadith whose link anywhere before the successor (i.e., closer to the traditionalist recording the hadith) is missing.
- Mu'adal - perplexing: is a hadith whose reporter omits two or more consecutive reporters in the isnad.
- Mu'allaq - hanging: is a hadith whose reporter omits the whole isnad and quotes the Prophet (PBUH) directly (i.e., the link is missing at the beginning).
According to the number of reporters involved in each stage of Isnad
Five categories of hadith can be identified:
- Mutawatir - Consecutive: is a hadith which is reported by such a large number of people that they cannot be expected to agree upon a lie, all of them together.
- Ahad - isolated: is a hadith which is narrated by people whose number does not reach that of the mutawatir.
  It is further classified into:
- Mash'hur - famous: hadith reported by more than two reporters.
- Aziz - rare, strong: at any stage in the isnad, only two reporters are found to narrate the hadith.
- Gharib - strange: At some stage of the Isnad, only one reporter is found relating it.
According to the nature of the text and isnad
- Munkar - denounced: is a hadith which is reported by a weak narrator, and whose narration goes against another authentic hadith.
- Mudraj - interpolated: an addition by a reporter to the text of the hadith being narrated.
According to the reliability and memory of the reporters
This provides the final verdict on a hadith - four categories can be identified:
- Sahih - sound. Imam Al-shafi'i states the following requiremetts for a hadith, which is not mutawatir, to be acceptable "each reporter should be trustworthy in his religion; he should be known to be truthtul in his narrating, to understand what he narrates, to know how a different expression can alter the meaning, and to report the wording of the hadith verbatim, not only its meaning".
- Hasan - good: is the one where its source is known and its reporters are unambiguous.
- Da'if - weak: a hadith which fails to reach the status of hasan. Usually, the weakness is: a) one of discontinuity in the isnad, in which case the hadith could be - according to the nature of the discontinuity - munqati (broken), mu'allaq (hanging), mu'dal (perplexing), or mursal (hurried), or b) one of the reporters having a disparaged character, such as due to his telling lies, excessive mistakes, opposition to the narration of more reliable sources, involvement in innovation, or ambiguity surrounding his person.
- Maudu' - fabricated or forged: is a hadith whose text goes against the established norms of the Prophet's sayings, or its reporters include a liar. Fabricated hadith are also recognized by external evidence related to a discrepancy found in the dates or times of a particular incident.

Hadith - Reported by Ahmad, Abu Daawood, Ibn Maajah and at-Tirmidhee, who declared it hasan. Al-Albaanee declared it saheeh in Saheehul-Jaami’ (no.8186).
The Prophet said, “There will come a time when a man sitting upon his couch is told a hadeeth and he replies, ‘Between us and you is the Book of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic. What we find in it to be lawful, we take as lawful and what we find in it to be forbidden, we take as forbidden.’ Indeed, what the Messenger of Allah has forbidden is like what Allah has forbidden.”

Narration of Imam Maalik - Reported by Ibn ‘Abdul-Barr in Jaami’ Bayaan al-‘Ilm (2/91).
Imam Maalik (rahimahullaah) said, “Everyone after the Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) will have his saying accepted or rejected, not so the Prophet .”

Narration of Imam Ahmaad - Reported in Tabaqaatul-Hanaabilah (2/15) and by Ibn battah in al-Ibanatul-Kubraa (1/97).
Imam Ahmaad (rahimahullaah) said, “Whoever rejects a hadeeth of Allah’s Messenger is on the brink of destruction.”

Action Items for the BELIEVERS

Don't use or accept da'if (weak) or maudu' (fabricated) hadith as proof against strong ahadith or an ayat from the Qur'an.

Remember... Allah, subhana watala, sees everything we do!

Bid'a

2008-06-25T07:25:00.000-07:00

Bid'a
(Innovation in Ibadah [worship, i.e. all acts of submission to Allah, as defined in Qur'an and Sunnah])

According to Quran and Sunnah

Imaam ash-Shaafi'ee, rahimahullaah, said,

"That a servant meets Allaah with every sin except Shirk
is better than meeting Him upon any of the innovated beliefs."

Reported by al-Baihaqee in al-I'tiqaad (p.158)

The Noble Qur'an Al-Hijr 15:9

Verily We: It is We Who have sent down the Dhikr (i.e. the Qur'an) and surely, We will guard it (from corruption).

The Noble Qur'an An-Nisa' 4:171

O people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! Do not exceed the limits in your religion, nor say of Allah aught but the truth. The Messiah Jesus, son of Mary, was (no more than) a Messenger of Allah and Allah's Word, ("Be!" -- and he was) which Allah bestowed on Mary and a spirit (Ruh) created by Allah; so believe in Allah and Allah's Messengers. Say not: "Three (trinity)!" Cease! (it is) better for you. For Allah is (the only) One Ilah (God), Glory be to Allah (Far Exalted is Allah) above having a son. To Allah belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth. And Allah is All-Sufficient as a Disposer of affairs.

Hadith - Muslim, Narrated Jabir ibn Abdullah

When Allah's Messenger delivered the sermon, his eyes became red, his voice rose, and his anger increased so that he was like one giving a warning against the enemy and saying: "The enemy has made a morning attack on you and in the evening too." He would also say: "The last Hour and I have been sent like these two," and he would join his forefinger and middle finger. He would continue: "The best speech is that embodied in the Book of Allah, and the best guidance is the guidance given by Muhammad. The most evil affairs are their innovations; and every innovation is an error." He would add: "I am dearer to a Muslim than even his self. He who has left behind property, that is for his family, and he who dies in debt or leaves children (in helplessness), the responsibility (of paying his debt and bringing up his children) lies on me."

Hadith - Bukhari 9:391, Narrated Abu Huraira

The Prophet said, "Leave me as I leave you, for the people who were before you were ruined because of their questions and their differences over their prophets. So, if I forbid you to do something, then keep away from it. And if I order you to do something, then do of it as much as you can."

Hadith - Bukhari 9:396, Narrated Anas

We were with 'Umar and he said, "We have been forbidden to undertake a difficult task beyond our capability (i.e. to exceed the religious limits, e.g., to clean the inside of the eyes while doing ablution)."

Hadith - Al-Tirmidhi #1306, Narrated AbuMusa al-Ash'ari , Transmitted by Ibn Majah.

Allah's Messenger said, Allah, the Exalted and Glorious looks down on the middle night of Sha'ban and forgives all His creation except a polytheist or one who is mushahin (innovator in religion and out of the main stream of the community).

Hadith - Abu Dawud, Narrated Ali ibn Abu Talib

The Prophet said, If anyone introduces an innovation in the religion, he will be responsible for it. (Good or bad). If anyone introduces an innovation or gives shelter to a man who introduces an innovation (in the religion) he is cursed by Allaah, by His angels and by all the people.

Hadith - Al-Tirmidhi #5142, Narrated AbuBakr as-Siddiq

You people recite this verse, "You who believe, care for yourselves; he who goes astray cannot harm you when you are rightly guided." I heard Allah's Messenger SAAWS say, "When people see something objectionable and do not change it, Allah will soon include them all in His punishment." [Ibn Majah and Tirmidhi, who declared it to be sahih, transmitted it.]

Hadith - Bukhari and Muslim, Narrated Abu Sa'id, r.a.

The Prophet SAAWS said, "Surely, you will follow the ways of those nations who were before you, in everything as one arrow resembles another, (i.e. just like them), so much so that even if they entered a hole of a sand-lizard, you would enter it."

They said, "O Allaah’s Messenger! Do you mean to say that we will follow the Jews and the Christians?"

He SAAWS replied, "Whom else?" (By meaning the Jew and Christians)

Noble Qur'an - Al-Imran 3:103

And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allah (i.e. this Qur'an) and be not divided among yourselves, and remember Allah's Favour on you, for you were enemies one to another, but Allah joined your hearts together, so that, by Allah's Grace, you became brethren (in Islamic Faith) and you were on the brink of a pit of Fire, and Allah saved you from it. Thus Allah makes Allah's Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.,) clear to you, that you may be guided.

Noble Qur'an - An-Nur 24:54

Say: "Obey Allah and obey the Messenger, but if you turn away, he (Messenger Muhammad ) is only responsible for the duty placed on him (i.e. to convey Allah's Message) and you for that placed on you. If you obey him, you shall be on the right guidance. The Messenger's duty is only to convey (the message) in a clear way (i.e. to preach in a plain way)."

Hadith - Abu Dawud, Narrated Abdullah ibn Umar

Mujahid reported: I was in the company of Ibn Umar. A person invited the people for the noon or afternoon prayer (after the adhan had been called). He said: Go out with us (from this mosque) because this is an innovation (in religion).

Hadith - Bukhari 1:561, Narrated Muawiya

You offer a prayer which I did not see being offered by Allah's Apostle when we were in his company and he certainly had forbidden it (i.e. two Rakat after the Asr prayer).

The only good sunnah is a revived sunnah, not a newly invented one...

Hadith - Sahih Muslim

He who starts a good sunnah will be rewarded for it, in addition to receiving rewards equal to the rewards of those who follow him into it. Whereas he who starts a bad sunnah will be burdened with it, in addition to receiving burdens equal to the burdens of those who follow him into it.

Hadith - Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 49, Number 861. Narrated Aisha, r.a.

Allah's Apostle SAAWS said, "If somebody innovates something which is not in harmony with the principles of our religion, that thing is rejected."

Hadith - Abu Dawud, Narrated Ali ibn AbuTalib

Qays ibn Abbad and Ashtar went to Ali and said to him: Did the Apostle of Allah give you any instruction about anything for which he did not give any instruction to the people in general? He said: No, except what is contained in this document of mine. Musaddad said: He then took out a document. Ahmad said: A document from the sheath of his sword. It contained: The lives of all Muslims are equal; they are one hand against others; the lowliest of them can guarantee their protection. Beware, a Muslim must not be killed for an infidel, nor must one who has been given a covenant be killed while his covenant holds. If anyone introduces an innovation, he will be responsible for it. If anyone introduces an innovation or gives shelter to a man who introduces an innovation (in religion), he is cursed by Allah, by His angels, and by all the people. Musaddad said: Ibn AbuUrubah's version has: He took out a document.

Hadith - Abu Dawud, Narrated Irbad ibn Sariyah

AbdurRahman ibn Amr as-Sulami and Hujr ibn Hujr said: We came to Irbad ibn Sariyah who was among those about whom the following verse was revealed: "Nor (is there blame) on those who come to thee to be provided with mounts, and when thou saidst: "I can find no mounts for you." We greeted him and said: We have come to see you to give healing and obtain benefit from you. Al-Irbad said: One day the Apostle of Allah led us in prayer, then faced us and gave us a lengthy exhortation at which the eyes shed tears and the hearts were afraid. A man said: Apostle of Allah! It seems as if it were a farewell exhortation, so what injunction do you give us? He then said: I enjoin you to fear Allah, and to hear and obey even if it be an Abyssinian slave, for those of you who live after me will see great disagreement. You must then follow my sunnah and that of the rightly-guided caliphs. Hold to it and stick fast to it. Avoid novelties, for every novelty is an innovation, and every innovation is an error.

The Noble Qur'an: Al'Imran 3:7

It is He Who has sent down to you (Muhammad ) the Book (this Qur'an). In it are Verses that are entirely clear, they are the foundations of the Book [and those are the Verses of Al-Ahkam (commandments etc.), Al-Fara'id (obligatory duties) and Al-Hudud (legal laws for the punishment of thieves, adulterers, etc.)]; and others not entirely clear. So as for those in whose hearts there is a deviation (from the truth) they follow that which is not entirely clear thereof, seeking Al-Fitnah (polytheism and trials etc), and seeking for its hidden meanings, but none knows its hidden meanings save Allah. And those who are firmly grounded in knowledge say: "We believe in it; the whole of it (clear and unclear Verses) are from our Lord." And none receive admonition except men of understanding. (Tafsir At-Tabari).

Do not sit with the people of bid'a (deviation)

Hadith - Reported by Ibn Abee Ya'laa in Tabaqaatul-Hanaabilah (1/60) with a saheeh isnaad and by Ibn Muflih in al-Aadaabush-Shar'iyyah (1/263).

Abu Daawood as-Sijjistaanee said: I said to Abu' Abdullaah, Ahmad ibn Hanbal, 'If I see a man from Ahl us-Sunnah sitting with a man from the people of innovation, should I abandon speaking to him?' He said, "No, you should first inform him that the one whom you saw him with is a person of innovation. Either, he will cease speaking to him, so then continue speaking to him or if not, then regard him to be like him. Ibn Mas'ood said: A person is like his friend."

Hadith - Reported by Ibn Battah in al-Ibaanatul-Kubraa (no. 486)

Ibn 'Awn, rahimahullaah, said, "Whoever sits with the people of innovation is worse than them."

Hadith - Reported by Ibn Abee Ya'laa in Tabaqaatul-Hanaabilah (1/223-234) in the biography of 'Alee ibn Abee Khaalid

'Alee ibn Abee Khaalid said: I said to Ahmad, "This old man -referring to an old man who was present with us and was a neighbour of mine - I have warned him against a person, but he would like to hear your saying about him. haarith al-Qaseer (meaning Haarith al-Mahaasibee) and you saw me with him many years ago and you said to me, 'Do not sit with him and do not speak to him.' I have not spoken to him from then until now, but this old man sits with him. What do you say about him (i.e. the innovator)?" I saw that Ahmad became red, his veins and his eyes swelled. I have never seen him like that before. Then he shuddered and said, "That is one to whom Allaah has done such and such. No one knows that except one who is fully acquainted with him. Alas! Alas! Alas! He is one not known except to one fully acquainted with him. He was the one whom al-Maghaazilee sat with and Ya'qoob and so and so. He lead them to having the views of Jahm. They were destroyed through him." So, the old man said, "O Abu' Abdullaah! He narrated hadeeth, displays dignity and fearfulness. He is such and such." Abu 'Abdullaah became angry and said, "Do not be fooled by his fearfulness, nor his gentleness. Do not be fooled by how he droops his head. He is an evil person. This will not be known except by one well-acquainted with him. Do not sit with him, for there is no honour for him. Will you sit with everyone who narrated the ahaadeeth of Allaah's Messenger (saaws) and is an innovator?!"

Narration - Reported by al-Laalikaa'ee (no. 263) and Ibn Battah (no. 439). Saheeh isnaad

Al-Fudayl ibn 'Iyaad said, "Whoever sits with a person of innovation has not been given wisdom."

Masbahah (Prayer Beads)

Shaykh Muhammad Naasir al-Deen al-Albaani said in Al-Silsilat al-Da’eefah (1/110), where he quotes the (weak) Hadith “What a good reminder is the subhah [masbahah]":

”In my view, the meaning of this hadeeth is invalid for a number of reasons: Firstly, the subhah [masbahah (prayer beads)] is bid’ah and was not known at the time of the Prophet (SAW). It happened after that, so how could he (SAW) have encouraged his Sahabah to do something that was unknown to them?
: The evidence for what I have said is the report narrated by Ibn Waddaah in Al-Bid’ wa’l-Nahy ‘anhaa from al-Salt ibn Bahraam, who said: ‘Ibn Mas’ood passed by a woman who had a [masbahah] with which she was making tasbeeh, and he broke it and threw it aside, then he passed by a man who was making tasbeeh with pebbles, and he kicked him then said, “You think you are better than the Sahabah, but you are following unjustified bid’ah! You think you have more knowledge than the Companions of Muhammad (SAW)!”’ Its isnaad is saheeh to al-Salt, who is one of the trustworthy (thiqah) followers of the Taabi’een.
: * Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (rahmatullahi alay) said in al-Fataawa (22/187): “Some of them might show off by putting their prayer-mats over their shoulders and carrying their masbahahs (prayer beads) in their hands, making them symbols of religion and prayer. It is known from the mutawaatir reports that neither the Prophet (SAW) nor his Companions (RU) used these as symbols. They used to recite tasbeeh and count on their fingers, as the hadeeth says: “Count on your fingers, for they will asked, and will be made to speak.” Some of them may count their tasbeeh with pebbles or date stones.

The Noble Qur'an: Al-Baqarah 2:256

There is no compulsion in religion. Verily, the Right Path has become distinct from the wrong path. Whoever disbelieves in Taghut and believes in Allah, then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break. And Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower.

Action Items for the BELIEVERS

Recognize that the Qur'an is preserved in accuracy and is free from corruption.
When presenting Islam to someone, present Qur'an, not your opinion.
- Said Mujahid, "We were in a meeting in the mosque with the companions of Ibn 'Abbas (Tawus, Sa'eed ibn Jubair and 'Ikrimah). When he stood to pray, a man came in and said, 'Is there one who can give a legal verdict?' We said, 'Ask your question.' He said, 'Whenever I urinate, a liquid always follows it.' We asked, 'Is it the type of liquid that gives birth to children?' He said, 'Yes.' We said, 'Then you have to perform ghusl.' The man went away. Ibn 'Abbas hurried to finish his prayer, after which he told 'Ikrimah to bring the man back. He turned to us and said, 'Is your verdict found in the Book of Allah?' We said, 'No.' He asked, 'Is it based on the sayings of the Prophet, upon whom be peace?' We said, 'No.' 'Then from what?' We said, 'From our opinion.' He said, 'That is why the Messenger of Allah said that one learned man is more difficult for Satan than a thousand worshippers.' The man came and faced Ibn 'Abbas, who said to him, 'When that happens, is it owing to any stimulation?' He answered, 'No.' Ibn 'Abbas asked, 'Do you feel any numbness in your body?' He answered, 'No.' Said Ibn 'Abbas, 'That is from the cold. Ablution is sufficient."'
Do not engage in cultural activities that contradict the instructions of Qur'an and Sunnah.
The only good sunnah is a revived sunnah and not a newly invented one.
Stop making excuses for your laziness..... if you don't feel that you want to follow any particular command of Qur'an, don't try to twist the meaning to reflect your feelings. Be honest and take responsibility for your choices. Qur'an is simple and straight-forward.
Some examples of bid'a (innovation):
- Denying or declaring void, any of the five pillars of Islam, which are:.
  - To testify La ilaha ill Allaha wa anna Muhammad-ur-Rasul-Allah (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah, swt, and that Muhammad, saaws, is Allah's Messenger).
  - To offer the (compulsory congregational) prayers dutifully and perfectly (Iqamat-as-Salat)
  - To pay Zakat
  - To perform Hajj (i.e. pilgrimage to Makka) [if physically able]
  - To observe fast during the month of Ramadan [if physically able]
- Denying any of the six articles of Faith, which are:
  - Belief in Allah, swt.
  - Belief in Allah's angels
  - Belief in Allah's Messengers
  - Belief in Allah's revealed Books
  - Belief in the Day of Resurrection
  - Belief in Al-Qadar (Divine Preordainments i.e. whatever Allah swt has ordained must come to pass)
- Not dressing your daughters in hijab at the fixed time
- Misinterpreting hijab (covering)
  - The neck should not remain exposed
  - The arms should not be exposed (3/4 length sleeves don't cut it!)
  - The hijab should be worn at all times around non-mahram men and around non-Muslims - not just when praying or attending the Masjid!
- Neglecting wudu
- Hanging up pictures/images
- Dating (absolutetly no dating is permitted in Al-Islam) (see Qur'an 5:5 as one example)
- Drinking alcohol, even if just as "an occasional drinker"
- Making a tradition out of giving salutations to the Prophet saaws after the adhan or other such phrases before or after the adhan.
  - Ibn Hajr says in al-Fatawa al-Kubra, "Our shaikhs and others have given a legal verdict about the prayers and salutations for the Prophet after the adhan and how the callers to prayer do it. Their verdict is that (the prayers for the Prophet) has its root in the sunnah, but the manner in which they perform it is an innovation." Muhammad 'Abduh was asked about saying the prayers and salutation for the Prophet subsequent to the adhan and he said, "The adhan, as mentioned in al-Khaniyyah, is only for the prescribed prayers. It consists of fifteen phrases, the last being La ilaha illal-lah. Whatever is mentioned before or after it is an innovation. It has been introduced for rhythm, and nothing else. There is hardly a scholar who has allowed it, nor does it make any sense to say that it is a good innovation, for every innovation in matters of worship is evil. Whoever claims that it is not for melody is lying."
- Fasting on only Friday (see Bukhari 3:205), on the day of breaking the Ramadan fast (see Bukhari 3:211), or the first day of 'Id ul Fitr and 'Id ul-Adha (see Bukhari 3:211, 213)
- The use of dhikr beads when doing dhikr
  - The Prophet (peace be upon him) commanded them (the women emigrants) to be regular (in remembering Allah by saying): "Allah is most great"; "Glory be to the King, the Holy"; "there is no god but Allah"; and that they should count them on fingers, for they (the fingers) will be questioned and asked to speak. [Dawood 1496, Narrated Yusayrah, mother of Yasir]
- Placing trust in witchcraft
- Eating donkey meat (see Bukhari 5:511), or animals with fangs (see Bukhari 7:672)
- Drinking out of a gold or silver cup, or eating on a gold or silver plate (see Bukhari 7:337, 722)
- Males wearing silk (see Bukhari 7:718)
- Making du'a while facing a grave (i.e. intentions to seek help in any way from the deceased, whether a prophet or not)
- Celebrating the dunya's holidays
- Celebrating the Prophet saaws' birthday, i.e. Milaad
- Declaring haram (forbidden) something that is not declared haram in the Qur'an or Sunnah
- Combining images with Al-Islam. For example, you may not use images of a person to teach Al-Islam, such as watching videos that teach how to perform salah. The religion is meant to be taught in the ummah, not in private quarters where there is no contact with other muslims. In the event that no muslims live nearby, this is still no excuse for using images in the religion. We should not capture pictures of our brothers and sisters performing salah, especially not for media releases in which the kuffaar view the muslimah's back side. Simply put, do not use images of persons or animals to teach Islam or spread dawah.

Remember... Allah, subhana watala, sees everything we do!

Fear Allah

2008-06-24T05:49:00.001-07:00

Fear Allah

Subhana watala

Hadith - Qudsi 22

Let not any one of you belittle himself. They said: O Messenger of Allah, how can any one of us belittle himself? He said: He finds a matter concerning Allah about which he should say something, and he does not say [it], so Allah (mighty and sublime be He) says to him on the Day of Resurrection: What prevented you from saying something about such-and-such and such-and-such? He say: [It was] out of fear of people. Then He says: Rather it is I whom you should more properly fear.

Hadith - Al-Tirmidhi #5083, Narrated AbuDharr

Allah's Messenger said to him, "Fear Allah wherever you are; if you follow an evil deed with a good one you will obliterate it; and deal with people with a good disposition."

Ahmad, Tirmidhi and Darimi

Hadith - Al-Tirmidhi #5140, Narrated Hudhayfah

The Prophet said, "By Him in Whose hand my soul is, you must enjoin what is reputable and forbid what is disreputable, or Allah will certainly soon send punishment from Himself to you. Then you will make supplication and not receive an answer."

[Transmitted by Tirmidhi]

Hadith - Al-Tirmidhi #5142, Narrated AbuBakr as-Siddiq

You people recite this verse, "You who believe, care for yourselves; he who goes astray cannot harm you when you are rightly guided." I heard Allah's Messenger say, "When people see something objectionable and do not change it, Allah will soon include them all in His punishment."

Ibn Majah and Tirmidhi, who declared it to be sahih, transmitted it.

We must humble ourselves

Hadith - Al-Tirmidhi #5186, Narrated Uthman ibn Affan

The Prophet said, "The son of Adam* has a right only to the following: a house in which he lives, a garment with which he conceals his private parts, dry bread and water."

Tirmidhi transmitted it.

*humankind

Hadith - Narrated 'Abdullaah ibn Mas'ood (radhiyallaahu 'anhu)

The Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) said:

"Verily the most beloved speech to Allah is the servant's saying, 'Subhaanak Allaahumma wa bihamdika wa tabaarakasmuka wa ta'aalaa jad-duka wa laa ilaaha ghayruk.' (Glorified are you, O Allah, and to you is the praise, Blessed is Your Name and Lofty is your Majesty, there is none worthy of worship other than you.)

The most hated speech to Allah is when a man says to another man, 'Fear Allah!' and he replies, 'Worry about your own self!' "

[It was reported by Al-Asbahaanee in At-Targheeb (#739), and Sheikh Albani authenticated it in Silsilatul-Ahaadeethis-Saheehah (#2598)]

Health, Wealth and Happiness

Hadith - Al-Tirmidhi #5290, Narrated by one of the companions

When we were sitting together, Allah's Messenger appeared with a trace of water on his head, and when we told him that he appeared to us to be in a happy frame of mind, he agreed. The people then began to discuss wealth and Allah's Messenger said, "There is no harm in wealth for him who fears Allah, Who is Great and Glorious, but for him who fears Allah health is better than wealth, and a happy frame of mind is one of Allah's favours."

[Ahmad transmitted it]

Who do you fear? Mankind? or Allah swt?

The Noble Qur'an At-Taubah 9:13

Will you not fight a people who have violated their oaths (pagans of Makkah) and intended to expel the Messenger, while they did attack you first? Do you fear them? Allah has more right that you should fear Him, if you are believers.

Hadith - Al-Tirmidhi #5306, Narrated AbuDharr -Ahmad, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it.

Allah's Messenger said, he knew a verse which would suffice men if they would but apply it, "For him who fears Allah He will appoint a way out and He will give him provision from an unimagined source.'"

Tears of Fear

Hadith - Al-Tirmidhi #5359, Narrated Abdullah ibn Mas'ud

Allah's Messenger said, "If, through fear of Allah, tears--even to the extent of a fly's head--fall from any believer's eyes and drop on some part of his cheek, he will be kept away from Hell by Allah."

Ibn Majah transmitted it.

Must have Knowledge

The Noble Qur'an - Faatir 35:28

And of men and AdDawâb (moving living creatures, beasts, etc.), and cattle, in like manner of various colours. It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allâh. Verily, Allâh is AllMighty, OftForgiving.

Sayings of the Salaf

‘Umar ibn ‘Abdul ‘Azîz (rahimahullâh) used to say, "None can reach the station of taqwâ until he possesses neither action nor words that can be exposed to his embarrassment either in this world or the Hereafter." He was once asked, "When does the worshipper reach the peak of taqwâ? He replied, "If he put all his thoughts and desires in his heart on a plate and then wandered around in the market, he should not feel ashamed of anything there." He would frequently say, "The sign of the muttaqî (pious person who fears Allah swt much) is to bridle oneself from speaking just like one in ihrâm bridles himself from speaking. The muttaqî need to be a scholar of the Sharî‘ah, all of it, otherwise he leaves taqwâ without realising."

Action Items for the BELIEVERS

Run from sin and questionable matters (i.e. potential temptations or sins)
Run to Allah (i.e. repentence, with sincerity, in ibadah [worship], etc.)
Realize that it is out of love that a parent corrects a child. It is a lack of love that neglects or shows little concern regarding a child. So lovingly accept correction from Allah and abstain from evil because of fear of punishment.
There is no fear where there is not obedience.
Stop fearing mankind. If you're worried more about what Joe or Hasan down the street thinks then you're not fearing your Lord.
Stop fearing or worrying about the unknown and things you cannot control. "Fix yourself" (i.e. stop trying to fix things you can't control and stop making excuses that will not stand up to scrutiny on Judgement Day)
Accept the Qadar of Allah, swt.

Remember... Allah, subhana watala, sees everything we do!

Adoption

2008-06-24T05:47:00.000-07:00

Adoption

According to Quran and Sunnah

General

Hadith - Sahih Bukhari 5.169, Narrated Abdullah bin Umar

...Narrated Asma bint Abi Bakr: I saw Zaid bin Amr bin Nufail standing with his back against the Ka'ba and saying, "O people of Quraish! By Allah, none amongst you is on the religion of Abraham except me." He used to preserve the lives of little girls: If somebody wanted to kill his daughter he would say to him, "Do not kill her for I will feed her on your behalf." So he would take her, and when she grew up nicely, he would say to her father, "Now if you want her, I will give her to you, and if you wish, I will feed her on your behalf."

Abortion

2008-06-24T05:44:00.000-07:00

Abortion

According to Quran and Sunnah

I heard the Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) as saying:
Do not kill your children secretly, for the milk, with which
a child is suckled while his mother is pregnant, overtakes
the horseman and throws him from his horse.

Abu Dawood 3872, Narrated Asma', daughter of Yazid ibn as-Sakan

Fear of Poverty

It is not better to take a child's life because you fear they will have a life of poverty.

The Noble Qur'an Al-Israa 17:31

And kill not your children for fear of poverty. We provide for them and for you. Surely, the killing of them is a great sin.

The Noble Qur'an Al-An'aam 6:151

Say (O Muhammad SAW): "Come, I will recite what your Lord has prohibited you from: Join not anything in worship with Him; be good and dutiful to your parents; kill not your children because of poverty - We provide sustenance for you and for them; come not near to Al-Fawâhish (shameful sins, illegal sexual intercourse, etc.) whether committed openly or secretly, and kill not anyone whom Allâh has forbidden, except for a just cause (according to Islâmic law). This He has commanded you that you may understand.

Blood Money Due for deceased child is
also Due for Deceased Fetus

Hadith - Sahih Bukhari 8.732, Narrated Abu Huraira, r.a.

Allah's Apostle gave the judgment that a male or female slave should be given in Qisas for an abortion case of a woman from the tribe of Bani Lihyan (as blood money for the fetus) but the lady on whom the penalty had been imposed died, so the Prophets ordered that her property be inherited by her offspring and her husband and that the penalty be paid by her Asaba.

A Miscarriage or Murder of Fetus
Caused by Another Person

Hadith - Sahih Bukhari 9.420, Narrated Al Mughira bin Shuba, r.a.

'Umar bin Al-Khattab asked (the people) about the Imlas of a woman, i.e., a woman who has an abortion because of having been beaten on her abdomen, saying, "Who among you has heard anything about it from the Prophet?" I said, "I did.) He said, "What is that?" I said, "I heard the Prophet saying, 'Its Diya (blood money) is either a male or a female slave.' " 'Umar said, "Do not leave till you present witness in support of your statement." So I went out, and found Muhammad bin Maslama. I brought him, and he bore witness with me that he had heard the Prophet saying, "Its Diya (blood money) is either a male slave or a female slave."

Hadith - Sahih Bukhari 9.44, Narrated Abu Huraira, r.a.

Allah's Apostle gave a verdict regarding an aborted fetus of a woman from Bani Lihyan that the killer (of the fetus) should give a male or female slave (as a Diya) but the woman who was required to give the slave, died, so Allah's Apostle gave the verdict that her inheritance be given to her children and her husband and the Diya be paid by her 'Asaba.

Hadith - Abu Dawood 4555, Narrated Umar ibn al-Khattab, r.a.

Ibn Abbas said: Umar asked about the decision of the Prophet (peace be upon him) about that (i.e. abortion) Haml ibn Malik ibn an-Nabighah got up and said: I was between two women. One of them struck another with a rolling-pin killing both her and what was in her womb. So the Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) gave judgment that the blood-wit for the unborn child should be a male or a female slave of the best quality and that she should be killed.

Hadith - Al-Muwatta 43.5

Yahya related to me from Malik from Ibn Shihab from Abu Salama ibn Abd ar-Rahman ibn Awf from Abu Hurayra that a woman from the Hudhayl tribe threw a stone at a woman from the same tribe, and she had a miscarriage. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, gave a judgement that a slave or slave-girl of fair complexion and excellence should be given to her.

Action Items for the BELIEVERS

Abortion means "expulsion of a human fetus before it has reached proper gestation needed for survival." An abortion can occur on its own, and this is known as a miscarriage. An abortion that is deliberate or due to harm inflicted on the woman's womb, is prohibited in Islam.
An unborn fetus is as valuable as a child. Proof is in the fact that blood money is to be paid in the event of the death of either.

Remember... Allah, subhana watala, sees everything we do!

Adhan

2008-06-24T05:21:00.000-07:00

Adhan

According to Quran and Sunnah

The Reward on Day of Resurrection

Hadith - Al-Bukhari 9.638, Narrated Abdullah bin Abdur Rahman

that Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri said to him, "I see that you like sheep and the desert, so when you are looking after your sheep or when you are in the desert and want to pronounce the Adhan, raise your voice, for no Jinn, human being or any other things hear the Mu'adh-dhin's voice but will be a witness for him on the Day of Resurrection." Abu Sa'id added, "I heard this from Allah's Apostle."

A Blind Man May Pronounce the Adhan

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Bilal pronounces the Adhan when it is still night (before dawn), so eat and drink till the next Adhan is pronounced (or till you hear Ibn Um Maktum's Adhan)." Ibn Um Maktum was a blind man who would not pronounce the Adhan till he was told that it was dawn.

Singing it is Disliked

To "sing" the adhan or to state it in improper Arabic by adding a letter or lengthening the sound of a vowel, and so on, is disliked. If it changes or obscures the meaning of what is said, it becomes forbidden.

Reported Yahya al-Baka', "I saw Ibn 'Umar say to a man, 'I am mad at you for the sake of Allah.' Then he said to his companions, 'He sings in making his adhan, and he takes wages for it."'