Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Jawal Zad SMS 14

66) Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "People's deeds are shown [to Allah] twice each week, on Monday and Thursday, and every believing slave is forgiven except a person between whom there is a dispute, and it is said, "Leave these two untill they reconcile." (From Muslim)

67) Imitation of the Kufaar that is permissible means doing something that is not originally taken from them, but they do it too. It is permissible only when the following conditions are met: 1) The resemblance should not be to any of their traditions or rituals by which they are distinguished. 2) That it should not be part of their religion. 3) That it should not be anything that Islam refers specifically to. If there is a specific reference in Islam, either approving or disapproving of it, then we must follow what our religion says about it. 4) The resemblance should not lead to going against any of the commands of shareea'ah. 5) That it should not involve celebrating any of their festivals. 6) The resemblance should be only according to what is needed, and no more.

68) The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "I have been given the Qur'aan and something like it with it." The phrase "something like it with it" refers to the Sunnah. (Saheeh hadeeth). Allah commanded us to refer to these two constitutional references,when He said (interpr. of meaning): ".....if you differ in anything amongst yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Messenger....." [al-Nisa' 4:59]. The Qur'an is the primary source of legislation, then the Sunnah. And Allah knows best.

69) There is no suggestion that at the end of an old year or the beginning of a new year the records of deeds are closed and deeds are shown to Allah. Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan said concerning commemorating the end of the year: "There is no basis for that, and singling out the end of the year for specific acts of worship such as fasting is a reprehensible innovation (bid'ah)." End quote.

70) Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "The angels of the night and the day come to you in succession, and they meet at Fajr prayer and at Asr prayer, then those who stayed among you ascend and their Lord asks them, although He knows best about them, "How did you leave My slaves?" and they say, "We left them when they were praying and we came to them when they were praying."" (From Bukhari, Muslim)

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Jawal Zad SMS 13

61) Abu Hurayrah said: the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Jibreel came to me and said: "I came to you yesterday and nothing prevented me from entering except that there was a statue by your door, and there was a curtain in your house with images on it, and there was a dog in the house. So tell someone to cut the head off the statue by your door, so it will look like a tree; tell someone to cut up the curtain and make it into floor-cushions that will be stepped on; and tell someone to put the dog outside."" So the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) did that. (Narrated by Abu Dawood, al-Tirmidhi, Ahmad) The hadeeth of Ibn Abbaas: the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The angels do not enter a house in which there is a dog or images." (Agreed upon)

62) The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "When one of you prays facing something that is screening him from the people, and someone wants to pass in front of him, let him push back, and if he insists then let him fight him, for he is no more than a devil." (Agreed upon) What is meant by the phrase "let him fight him" is let him push him back forcefully.

63) Even if a child passes in front of you in the prayer you must stop him, because of the general meaning of the evidence. If the child passes frequently and stopping him will distract the worshipper, then he should let him be. From Fath al-Baari: Ibn Battaal and others narrated that there was ascholarly consensus that it is not permissible for a person to move away from his spot in order to push (another person) away, or to move a great deal in doing so, because that has a greater effect on the prayer than his passing in front.

64) In prayer, it is better to recite Quran from memory rather than from a Mushaf, to prevent physical distractions such as holding the Mushaf, putting it down, turning its pages, looking at the letters, etc. By doing so he will miss out on putting his right hand over his left hand on his chest while standing during the prayer, or spreading out his arms during rukoo and sujood, if he puts the Mushaf under his arm. Shaykh ibn 'Uthaymeen, al-Fataawa al-Islamiyyah, 8/4.

65) Abu Moosa al-Ash'ari said: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) stood up before us and told us five things. He said: "Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, does not sleep and it is not befitting that He should sleep. He lowers the Balance and raises it; the deeds of the night are taken up to Him before the deeds of the day, and the deeds of the day before the deeds of the night...." (From Muslim)

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Jawal Zad SMS 12

56) Ali bin Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say: "There is no Muslim who visits a (sick) Muslim early in the morning but seventy thousand angels send blessings upon him until evening comes, and if he visits him in the evening, seventy thousands angels send blessings upon him until morning comes, and he will have a garden in Paradise." Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi.

57) A sin that is committed in secret is lighter in sanctity than one committed openly. Via Abu Hurairah the Prophet (peace be upon him) said that all of my Ummah is pardoned except for the mujahiroon (those who do things openly). Among [those] are people who do a deed during the night which Allah has hidden (from the eyes of others), then they go during the day and tell others that yesterday they did so and so. Whereas their Lord had concealed their wrongs overnight, they awake disclosing what their Lord had hidden. Bukhari and Muslim.

58) Participating in the holidays of the nonbelievers and congratulating them on them is part of imitating them and taking allegiance to them. Ibn ul-Qayyim said: it is haram by unanimous agreement; and if it is not considered kufr (disbelief) then it is at the very least forbidden and considered the same as one who congratulates one for prostrating to the cross.

59) Allah created the angels from light. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The angels were created from light, the jinn were created from smokeless fire, and Adam was created from that which has been described to you." (From Muslim) The angels are by nature obedient to Allah: "[they i.e., angels] disobey not, [from executing] the Commands they recieve from Allah, but do that which they are commanded" [al-Tahreem 66:6- interpr. of meaning]

60) Angels are created in such a way that they do not eat or drink. Their food is glorification of Allah (tasbeeh) and saying Laa ilaaha ill-Allah (tahleel), as Allah tells us concerning them (interpr. of meaning): "They [i.e the angels] glorify His Praises night and day, [and] they never slacken [to do so]" [al-Anbiyaa' 21:20]

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Jawal Zad SMS 11

51) Allah has guarenteed to preserve the Qur'an. He says (interp. of the meaning): "Verily, We, it is We Who have sent down the Dhikr (i.e. the Qur'an) and surely, We will guard it (from corruption)." [al-Hijr 15:9]. Everything revealed to the Prophet (peace be upon him) was written down in front of him. The transmission of the Qur'an by memory and writing was mutawaatir, narrated by groups to groups. The Qur'an was compiled by the Sahabah, and Uthman sent copies of the Mus-haf to all the main centers of Islam. There are several ancient manuscripts of the Qur'an in libraries and museums which bear visible testimony to the fact that nothing has been changed in the Book of Allah. Allah says (interpr. of the meaning): "And verily, it is an honorable well fortified respected Book (because it is Allah's Speech, and He has protected it from corruption). Falsehood cannot come to it from before it or behind it , (it is) sent down by thw All Wise, Worthy of all praise (Allah)." [Fussilat 41:41-42]

52) The shaytan has troops whom he sends to keep people from following the religion. They are the ones who prevent people from obeying Allah and push them to commit sins. Allah says (interpr. of the meaning): "And so We have appointed for every Prophet enemies" Shayateen (devils) among mankind and jinn, inspiring one another with adorned speech as a delusion (for by way of deception). If your Lord had so willed, they would not have done it; so leave them alone with their fabrications" [al-An'aam 6:112].

53) The basic principle of religion is that the halal is that which Allah and His Messenger have permitted, and the haram is that which they have forbidden. The religion is that which Allah and His Messenger have prescribed. No one has the right to transgress those limits. Allah says (interp. of the meaning): "And verily, this is My straight path, so follow it, and follow not (other) paths, for they will seperate you away from His path. This He has ordained for you that you may become Al-Muttaqoon (the pious)" [al-An'aam 6:153].

54) Allah offers a great reward if you bear the insults of foolish people with patience in this world. Allah says (interpret. of the meaning): "Beautified is the life of this world for those who disbelieve, and they mock at those who believe. But those who obey Allah's Orders and keep away from what he has forbidden, will be above them on the Day And Allah gives (of His Bounty, Blessings, Favors, and Honors on the Day of Resurrection) to whom He wills without limit." [al-Baqarah 2:212]

55) The believer combines good deeds with fear of punishment: A'ishah asked the Prophet (peace be upon him) about the verse: "And those who give that (their charity) which they give (and also do other good deeds) with their hearts full of fear" [al-Mu'minoon 23:60]

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Jawal Zad SMS 10

46) Anyone who studies the creation of Allah will see some of the signs of His greatness. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, describing the Kursiy (Footstool) and Throne: "The seven heavens, in comparison to the Footstool, are like a ring lying in the wilderness, and the superiority of the Throne to the Footstool is like the superiority of the wilderness to that ring." (Classed as saheeh by al-Albani)

47) This world should not be the main concern of the Muslim. Worry about his provision should not find any room in his heart or mind. Anas said: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever is mainly concerened about the Hereafter, Allah will make him feel independent of others and will make him focused and content, and his wordly affairs will fall into place. But whoever is concerned with this world, Allah will make him feel in constant need of others and will make him distracted and unfocused, and he will get nothing of this world except what is decreed for him." (Classed as saheeh by al-Albani.)

48) Prayer is the greatest pillar of Islam after the Shahadatayn, and it is not wavied for anyone so long as he is of sound mind. Whoever can pray standing must do that, otherwise he should pray sitting or on his side, or by making gestures, according to what he is able to do, and Allah does not burden any soul beyond its scope. That is because the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Pray standing, and if you cannot, then sitting, and if you cannot, then on your side." (Bukhari)

49) In prayer it is better to recite Qur'an from memory, because if a person recites from the Mushaf, he will be doing repeated actions such as holding the Mushaf, putting it down, and turning its pages. By doing so he will miss out on putting his right hand over his left hand on his chest when standing, or spreading out his arms during rukoo ans sujood. Some people carry the Mushaf to the imam's recitation in the prayer. This is something which should not be done.

50) If one is reciting Qur'an in situations other than in prayer, then reading from the Mushaf is better, because it is more accurate and helps one to remember better. But if reciting from memory is easier and helps one to concentrate more and have better presence of mind (khushoo'), then one should recite from memory.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Jawal Zad SMS 9

41) Based on the hadith in Bukhari and Muslim: On the night when the Prophet (peace be upon him) was taken up into the heaven (the Mi'raj), Allah initially enjoined fifty prayers to be performed night and day. Then the Prophet (peace be upon him) kept asking his Lord to reduce it untill it became five prayers to be offered night and day. But Allah decreed that whoever prays the five prayers will still recieve the reward of fifty prayers.

42) Abu Umamah said: "The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever recites Ayat al-Kursiy immediately after each prescribed prayer, there will be nothing standing between him and his entering Paradise except death." (This is how it was narrated by al-Nasa'i, and its chain of narration meets the conditions of al-Bukhari.)

43) A marriage contract must be done in the presence of the woman's wali (guardian) and with his consent. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "There is no marriage without a wali." And he (peace be upon him) said: "Any woman who gets married without the permission of her wali, her marriage is invalid, her marriage is invalid, her marriage is invalid."

44) When Allah forbids people to commit sin, He also supplies them with means to help them give up the sin if they fall into it. Among these means are:
1) Strengthening one's faith in Allah and one's fear of Him. 2) Knowing that Allah is always watching and that everything that you do is being recoeded. 3) Comparing the fleeting pleasure of sin (which quickly fades) with both the punishment of the sinner and the reward of the one who refrains from sin. 4) Keeping away from the things that help one to sin, such as haram looks, bad company, and going to sinful places. 5) Striving to keep company with righteous people.

45) With regard to the Shaytan sharing in a person's food and drink, Jabir ibn Abd-Allah said that he heard the Prophet (peace be upon him) say: "When a man enters his house and remembers Allah [i.e.,says Bismillah] when he enters and when he eats, the Shaytan says, "You have no place to stay and no dinner." If he enters and does not remember Allah when entering, the Shaytan says, "You have found a place to stay." If he does not remember Allah when he eats,[the Shaytan] says, "You have found a place to stay and dinner."

Monday, July 14, 2008

Jawal Zad SMS 8

36) Islamic nasheeds (words with a tune) as outlined by Shaykh ibn Uthaimeen:
1) If the nasheed is accompanied by the duff (a certain type of drum), then it is haram, because the duff is only permissible in a specific situation. It is more forbidden if it is accompanied by music or other types of drums.
2) If it is performed in the manner of immoral songs then it is not permissible, for it may lead to listening to haram kinds of songs.
3) If these nasheeds are sung in a way that provoke desire, or such that a person may enjoy listening to the melody of the sound regardless of the content, then this is also not permissible. Rather than listening to a nasheed, it is better to listen Qur'an, or a lesson by a scholar.

37) The wise person wants to eat to live, not live to eat. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The descendents of Adam fill no worse vessel, than their stomach. A simple few morsels are sufficient to sustain him." (Al-Tirmidhi, hassan saheeh hadith.)

38) More means of reaching Pradise: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "In Paradise there are rooms whose outside can be seen from the inside and the inside can be seen from the outside. Allah has prepared them for those who feed the poor, who are gentle in speech, who fast regularly and who pray at night when people are asleep." (Al-Albani classified as hassan).

39) It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah said: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever attends a funeral until he offers the (funeral) prayer will have one qirat (of reward) and whoever attends until the burial is done will have two qirats." it was said: "What are the two qirats?" He said: "Like two great mountains."

40) Abd-Allah ibn Umar only broke his fast with orphans and poor people. Consider a moving scene: arich man serving workers and needy people at the time of Maghrib adhan in a tent set up for iftar at one of the mosque.

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Jawal Zad SMS 7

31) From Shaykh al-Barrak, regarding Qur'an read from mobile phones and other such devices: [they] do not come under the same rules as the Mushaf, because the letters of the Qur'an in the these devices are different than the letters in the Mus-haf. [They] exist in the form of waves that form the letters when needed, so they appear in the screen then disappear when one moves to when needed, so they appear in the screen then disappear when one moves to another verse.

32) The evidence in the Qur'an and Sunnah is clear that honoring one's parents is a duty on all children, male and female. "And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him. And that you be dutiful to your parents. If one of them attain old age in your life, say not to them a word of disrespect, nor shout at them but address them in terms of honour." [al-Isra 17:23 interpretation of the meaning]. And the well-known hadith from Abu Hurayrah: A man came to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and said: Which of the people is most deserving of my good companionship? He said: "Your mother." He said: Then who? He said: "Then your mother." He said: Then who? He said: "Then your mother." He said: Then who? He said: "Then your father."

33) The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "No one should touch the Qur'an but one who is pure." From Shaykh Abd al-Rahman al-Barrack: It is the view of the majority of scholars that it is haram for one who is in a state of impurity to touch the Mushaf, wether that is for reading or otherwise. Also: It is well known that it is not essential to be free from minor impurity when reciting Qur'an from memory, or even from major impurity, but purifying oneself before reciting Qur'an, even from memory, is better.

34) Regarding the adhan: The people of every town must have someone among them who can give the call to prayers so that the people may be informed that the time for prayer has come. The scholars of the Standing Comittee said: The adhan is fard kifaayah (a communal obligation) in a town, and the same applies to the iqamah. If a person starts to pray without the adhan or iqamah, whether out of forgetfulness or ignorance, or for some other reason, the prayer is still valid. The same applies if the muezzin forgets the phrase al-salaatu khayrun min al-nawm (prayer is better than sleep) in the adhan for Fajr prayer...(i.e., he does not have to repeat it).

35) The wise person wants to eat to live, not live to eat. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The descendants of Adam fill no worse vessel, than their stomach. A simple few morsels are sufficient to sustain him." (Al-Tirmidhi, hassan saheeh hadith).

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Jawal Zad SMS 6

26) Regarding trials: Victory and success cannot be achieved except after tests which will bring the good forth from the evil and tell the believer apart from the kafir. "Allah will not leave the believers in the state in which you are now, until He distinguishes the wicked from the good. Nor will Allah disclose to you the secrets of the Ghayb (Unseen)." [ Interpretation of the meaning, Aal Imraan 3:179 ]

27) From the benefits of memorizing the Qur'an: the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Fasting and the Qur'an will intercede for a person on the Day of Resurrection. Fasting will say, "O Lord, I deprived him of food and desires during the day, so let me intercede for him." The Qur'an will say, "O Lord I deprived him of his sleep at night, so let me intercede for him." Then they will both intercede for him." (Classed as saheeh by al-Albani.)

28) True peace of mind: make a lot of du'a, call upon Allah, and seek to draw close to Him by different kinds of worship such as praying, giving charity, fasting and so on. Ask Allah to take away what is in your heart of sorrow and to grant you relief. "Those who believed (in the Oneness of Allah-Islamic Monotheism), and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allah verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest." [interpretation of meaning- al-Ra'd 13:28]

29) Regarding intention: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Four people are making the most of this world: a man to whom Allah gives wealth and knowledge, so he fears his lord with regard to the way in which he disposes of his wealth, and he uses it to uphold ties of kinship and he realizes that Allah has rights over it. This man occupies the highest status. And a man to whom Allah has given knowledge but did not give him wealth, so he is sincere in his intention when he says, "If I had wealth I would have done the same as so and so is doing." So he will be rewarded according to his intention and the reward of both of them is the same..." [Classed as saheeh by al-Albani]

30) A man may attain by his intention the reward of one who actually does the deed, if he is prevented from acting by some excuse. From Anas ibn Malik: the Messener of Allah (peace be upon him) came back from the campaign to Tabook and when he drew close to Madeenah he said: " In Madeenah there are people who, whenever you traveled any distance or crossed any valley, were with you." They said: O Messenger of Allah, even though they are in Madeenah? He said: "Even though they are in Madeenah, because they were kept there by excuses."

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Jawal Zad SMS 5

21) The Prophet ( peace be upon him ) said : " Allah has relieved the traveler of the obligation of fasting and half of the prayer, and He has relieved the pregnant woman and nursing mother of the obligation of fasting." ( classed as saheeh by al-Albani ). If a Pregnant woman fears that fasting may harm her or her baby then she may break her fast, and she has to make up the days that she did not fast. But if she does not fear harm for her or her baby, then she has to fast, because Allah says : " So whoever of you sights ( the cresent of ) the month ( of Ramadan i.e is present at his home ), he must observe Sawm ( fast ) that month." [ al-Baqarah 2:185 ] In most cases fasting is difficult for pregnant women, especially in the final months, and fasting may affect the pregnancy. She should refer to a trustworthy doctor for advice. And Allah knows best.

22) Our Prophet Muhammad ( peace be upon him ) is the best of the Prophets and the best of creation. But in addition, he ( peace be upon him ) is no more than a human being, so it is not permissible to call upon him or seek his help instead of Allah. Allah says : " Say ( O Muhammad ) : " I am only a man like you. It has been revealed unto me that your God is One God ( i.e. Allah ). So whoever hopes for the Meeting with his Lord, let him work righteousness and associate none as a partner in the worship of his Lord " [ al- Kahf 18:110 ]

23) Ibn Abbas said : " The Messenger of Allah ( peace be upon him ) was the most generous of people [ in doing good ], and he was most generous of all in Ramadan when Jibreel met with him, and he used to meet him every night in Ramadan and teach him the Qur'an. The Messenger of Allah ( peace be upon him ) was more generous in doing good than a wind ( That carries generous bounties )."

24) Fasting on the 'day of doubt' ( the thirtieth of Sha'ban if the new moon cannot be seen because of clouds, etc. ) is not allowed. The Prophet ( peace be upon him ) said : " Do not anticipate Ramadan by fasting one or two days before it begins, but if a man habitually fasts, then let him fast." If a person has the habit of fasting alternate days, or Mondays, etc., and it happens to coincide with this day, then it is permissible for him to fast. If he does not have a reason, then it is haram for him on this day.

25) " Two hungry wolves do not do more damage to a flock of sheep than a man's eagerness for wealth and status do to his religious commitment." Saheeh al-Tirmidhi. The Prophet likened the harm to a Muslim's religious commitment caused by greed for wealth & status to the damage caused by two hungry wolves who enter the sheep pen ans attack the flock, because the one who is greedy for wealth & status wastes his time and may commit haram actions in his efforts, then when he achieves his goal he may not do what is then required of him.