Circulating Chain mail dua’s and matters related to this…

Circulating chain mail du’as and stories by promising rewards and threatening those who don’t participate

By Ash-Shaikh Dr. Saalih Al-Fawzaan

All praise is due to Allaah, and may prayers of blessing and peace be upon our Prophet, Muhammad, and whoever supports him and follows his guidance. To proceed:

Indeed the question has increased regarding what has been reported in cellphone messages (i.e. text messages) of admonitions that contain various types of Thikr (words of remembrance of Allaah) done in different methods, and in a number of specific ways, and at specified times. These messages also contain an encouragement to others to read them, and distribute them among friends and companions. The messages also mention that they should be distributed to such-and-such number of people from one’s companions, and whoever does so will attain an abundance of great rewards and goodness in this life and the hereafter, and whoever does not distribute them will have a tremendous sin upon him, and punishment in this life and the hereafter. So from this there has spread a superstitious dream of the Shaikh Ahmad, the carrier of the keys to the room of the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam).

And in facing this it is obligatory that we alert the people that receiving these messages, and acting according to them, and distributing them, and circulating them; all of that is from the matter of spreading falsehood, and distributing superstitions, and cooperating with the people of superstitions and the liars. Therefore, it is incumbent upon everyone who these messages reach to reject them ( i.e. recognize them as lies) and warn against them, and warn against their writers – those who are behind them. For verily they are enemies of the Sunnah, and enemies of the Ummah (the Muslim nation). And though they may hide behind the cellphones, they are never hidden from Allaah, the Most High.

Written from the matter of sincere advising to the Muslims

Dr. Saalih bin Fawzaan Al-Fawzaan, Member of the Committee of Senior Scholars

Source:

http://www.alfawzan.ws/AlFawzan/MyNews/tabid/87/Default.aspx?more=454&new_id=36Translated by Aqeel Walker

الحمد لله والصلاة السلام على نبينا محمد ومن والاه واتبع هداه؛ وبعد:
فقد كثر السؤال عما يرد في رسائل الجوالات من وصايا بأنواع من الذكر وصيغ وأعداد محددة وأوقات معينة، والحث على قراءتها وتوزيعها على الأصدقاء والأصحاب وأن من وزعها على عدد كذا من الأصحاب ينال من الأجر والخير العاجل والآجل الشيء الكثير، ومن لم يوزعها فعليه الإثم العظيم والعقوبات العاجلة والآجلة، ومن خلال ذلك انتشرت خرافة رؤية الشيخ أحمد حامل مفاتيح حجرة النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم. 
 وإزاء ذلك يجب أن ننبه إلى أن استقبال هذه الرسائل والعمل بها ونشرها وتوزيعها كل ذلك من ترويج الباطل ونشر الخرافات والتعاون مع المخرفين والكذابين، فعلى كل من بلغته هذه الرسائل أن يكذبها ويحذر منها ومن أصحابها الذين من ورائها فإنهم أعداء السنة وأعداء الأمة وإذا تستروا وراء الجوالات فلن يخفوا على الله تعالى.
كتب هذا من باب النصيحة للمسلمين
د. صالح بن فوزان الفوزان عضو هيئة كبار العلماء

Islam’s War on Terror Event at Rochester Institute of Technology

To all the respected readers,

I hope that this message reaches you while you and your families are in the best of health and faith.This is to inform the readers of this blog and visitors that the Muslim Students Association at RIT will be hosting an event titled “Islam’s War on Terror” on Saturday May 12th at Ingle Auditorium. The event will begin at 6:30 pm and will go until 8:30 pm. The purpose of the event is to dispel the commonly held misconception amongst non-Muslims as well as Muslims that Islam supports terrorism and the people who carry out such crimes, the likes of Usama bin Laden and his likes. The main topic which will be addressed in this short event is the true Islamic stance on terrorism, suicide bombings, hijackings and kidnappings.For those of you who live close to the city of Rochester, NY, we hope that you will be able to join us in attending this event and we hope that you will help support this event by passing this message and the flyer on to your friends and family members.

 

Lecture topics for NJ seminar

Here are the lecture topics for the NJ “Islam’s War on Terror” Seminar this coming weekend inshaAllah ta’ala 

http://www.masjidulbayaan.org/files/islamwaronterror.pdf
 

LECTURE TOPICS

Abul Hassan Maalik Al Akhdar

[1]The Deviance of the Khawaarij; Past and Present
[2]Commonly Misunderstood Ahaadeeth and Ayaat

Abu Su’aad Musa Dorsey

[1]The Deviance of the Raafidhah
[2]Da’wah to Tawheed: the Solution to the Ummaah’s Problems

Abu Ri’aayah Abdur Razzaaq

[1]The Fitnah of Takfeer
[2]The Deviance of Syed Qutb and Ikhwaanul Muslimeen

Abu Hafsah Kashiff Khan

[1]Are Suicide Bombings and Murder a Legislated Path to Success?
[2]A Biography Shaykhul Islaam Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhaab and a Clarification of his Da’wah.

Abu Muhammad Naadir Al Jamaiky

[1]To be announced
[2]To be announced

Q+A with Shaykh Muqbil rahimahullah

Questions on Manhaj¹                                                                                       

 

By Al Muhaddith Shaykh Muqbil Ibn Haadi                                                                    

 

Translated by Abu Abdillaah Hassan As-Somali                                                               

 

                                                                                                            

Question                                                                                                    

 

Those who were once considered to be upon the correct methodology 

and then they deviated from it, is it permissible for us to listen to their 

tapes and to read books which they previously authored and likewise 

attend their lectures?                                                                                      

 

Answer                                                                                                     

 

I do not advise that their books be read or their tapes be listened to, and 

I admire the great saying of Shaykhul Islaam ibn Taymiyyah may Allah 

have mercy upon him when he said: “If Allah never created Bukhari and 

Muslim the religion would have not been lost.” For verily Allah the most 

High preserves his religion,                                                                               

 

He the most High said:                                                                                      

 

 “Verily, We, It is We Who have sent down the Dhikr (i.e. the Qur’ân) and 

surely, We will guard it (from corruption).” [Al-Hijr:9]                                     

 

I advise with distancing from reading their books, listening to their tapes 

and attending their lectures as they are in need of da’wah and to return 

back to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah and 

to repent to Allah the most High from that which occurred from them in 

the issue of the gulf and other than that.                                                                 

________________________                                                                                   

 

¹ Taken from Tuhfatul Mujeeb P. 209    

http://www.al-athariyyah.com

Islam’s War Against Terrorism

 Reminder to all the readers about this event coming up next weekend.

Masjidul Bayaan presents

Islam’s War Against Terrorism

 

Truth of Islam and its stance against Terrorism

 

Confirmed Invited                               

Abul Hasan Maalik Al-Akhdar
[Masjid Muhammad bin Abdil Wahhab, Camden NJ]

Abu Su’aad Musa
Masjid Ahlil Hadeeth, Philadelphia PA]

Abu Muhammad Al Jamiaky
[Masjid Ahlil Hadeeth, Philadelphia PA]

Abu Hafsah Kashiff Khan
[Masjidul Bayaan, Asbury NJ]

Abu Ri’aayah Abdur Razaaq
[Philadelphia PA]

Unconfirmed Invited

Ibu Ismaeel Mustapha George
[United Arab Emirates]

Waleed ibn Haneef
[Wilkes Barre, PA]

 

Lecture Topics

1. Islaam’s Stance on Terrorism
2. Misconceptions Regarding Quraanic Ayaat and Prophetic Ahaadeeth
3. Wahaabiyyah and Salafiyyah
4. Emergence of the Deviant Khaarijite Sect; Past and Present
5. Islaam’s Call to the Tawheed of Allaah
6. Justice in Islaam

And Much More…

Vending Bazaar with Islaamic books, CD’s, tapes, clothes, and more

For VENDING related enquiries call Abu Zubair Abdullah Lammers
@ (732) 670-7886

Free Literature and CD’s

Date:

Saturday, April 28th, 2007 to Sunday April 29th, 2007

 

Venue:

 

Matawan Regional High School
Atlantic Avenue
Abderdeen NJ, 07747

Entry Fee: $5.00/day
Food:$7.00 w/drink

Note: All funds raised will be used for da’wah purposes

 

For further enquiries and/or questions please contact:

Abu Aneesah Abdul Hakeem @ 732.421.7383
Abu Zubayr Abdullah Lammers @ 732.670.7886
Abu Shu’eib ibn Fathi @ 732.496.1176

 

Flyer: http://www.masjidulbayaan.org/files/islamwaronterror.pdf

Islam and Women

Islam and Women

Alhamdulilah, this is a small presentation taken from the recently published booklet “For the Sincere” which was compiled for non-Muslims. I thought it would be beneficial for the brothers and sisters to read it and help them develop a strong and clear Hujjah i.e. argument when they discuss these matters with their non-Muslim relatives. Especially the sisters as they have a very hard time convincing their non-Muslim female relatives the benefits of covering and the fact that she is not oppressed in Islam. If there were any mistakes made therein then it was from me and the Shaytan and I seek Allah’s pardon and if there was any good in it then it was from Allah.
What does Islam say about women?

“Allah has given the Muslim woman a very unique and distinctive role which no other religion has given her. Rather Allah addresses the Muslim woman in the Qur’an as being unique and special with His statement:

يا نساء النبي لستن كأحد من النساء

“O wives of the Prophet, (and the rest of the believing women), you are not like any other women…” (Al Ahzab:32)

The woman in Islam is regarded as a precious jewel; rather Prophet Muhammad (May peace and blessings be upon him) described the Muslim woman as he was traveling with one of his companions, and some of his wives were in the caravan, he said:

رفق يا أنجشة! ويحك بالقوارير

“…O Anjashah be careful! Don’t break the fragile vessels”, (Sahih Al Bukhari)

This is due to the delicate manner in which Allah has commanded the Muslim man to deal with her. And because of this, Allah has allocated for both the husband and the wife certain rights and highly emphasized their fulfillment.

Thus the Muslim man and woman are equal in this respect but their rights differ as it relates to gender. As equality between the man and the woman in every aspect of the religion is neither perceivable nor logical, but they are equal in that they both have rights which are specific to them. Allah the All Mighty says in the Holy Qur’an:

ولهن مثل الذي عليهن بالمعروف وللرجال عليهن درجة والله العزيز الحكيم

“And women have rights over their husbands similar to the rights of their husbands over them based on what is reasonable but the men have a degree of responsibility over them, and Allah is All Mighty, All Wise”, (Al Baqrah: 228)

This degree which the man has over the woman is due to many reasons, and from the most exclusive of them, is the tremendous responsibility which Allah has entrusted him with and the definite accountability which he is subject to in the event of any negligence in regard to the rights which she has over him. Even the bible alludes to this fact, as in the story of Adam and Eve when they both ate from the forbidden tree, God (As they proclaim) did not address Eve nor did He reprimand her, rather his reproach and rebuke was directed solely towards Adam.

This was because the husband is responsible for his household and his accountability is more emphasized than the woman’s and not because she was exempt from blame, nor was she considered to be the initial perpetrator as the Christians believe. In fact this dogma of “the original sin” creates a very derogatory and depreciating outlook towards woman, but they were both equally sinful as the Qur’an emphatically clarifies. For Allah addressed both of them with His statement:

فدلاهما بغرور فلما ذاقا الشجرة بدت لهما سوءاتهما وطفقا يخصفان عليهما من ورق الجنة وناداهما ربهما ألم أنهاكم عن تلكما الشجرة وأقل لكما إن الشيطان لكما عدو مبين

“So he (i.e. the Shaytan) mislead them both (i.e. Adam and Eve) then when they both ate from the tree which was forbidden to them their shame became exposed and they began to cover themselves with the leaves of paradise. And their Lord called out to them saying: “Did I not forbid you both this tree? And did I not inform you that Shaytan is an open enemy to you?” (Al A’raf:22)

Allah says in the Holy Qur’an directing His address towards the Muslim men:

يأيها الذين ءامنوا قوا أنفسكم وأهليكم نارا

“O you who believe save yourselves and your families from a fire…”, (At Tahrim: 6)

Likewise the Muslim man is also responsible for the financial well-being of the woman, as Allah the Most High says in the Holy Qur’an:

الرجال قوامون على النساء بما فضل الله بعضهم على بعض وبما أنفقوا من أموالهم

“Men are the protectors and maintainers of women because Allah has made one of them to excel the other and because the men spend from their wealth to support their women…” (An Nisaa’a:34)

Islam has not prohibited the woman from working but it has legislated specific guidelines to safeguard and preserve her chastity, honor and integrity, all of which Islam greatly emphasizes. The woman in Islam is considered a vital organ of the community. She is the primary nurturer and educator of the household and the future of our children is dependent upon her.

Nevertheless, if the woman adheres to these guidelines then she is not to be prevented from seeking her provision and the wealth which she acquires from her occupation is a right which she is in total control of and her husband has no right to it except by her permission. While her husband on the other hand, his wealth belongs to her, her children and their maintenance, and he is regarded as a sinner due to any intentional negligence in this. Prophet Muhammad (May peace and blessing be upon him) said:

كفى بالمرء أن يضيع من يعول

“It is sufficient for a man to be regarded as a sinner that he neglects someone he is responsible for.” (Sunan Abu Dawud)

Islam has preserved the integrity and chastity of the woman by legislating the veil and the over garment which she uses to conceal her beauty from strangers. Those who, in the absence of this veil, consider the woman to be a piece of flesh that is to be hunted and devoured. The overwhelming percentage of sexual assaults and rapes around the world vividly substantiates this fact. However, this does not mean that the vast majority of sexual assaults and rapes that take place are solely due to the way that women dress, but it contributes to it. And because of this, Allah said:

يأيها النبي قل لأزواجك وبناتك ونساء المؤمنين يدنين عليهن من جلابيبهن ذلك أدنى أن يعرفن فلا يؤذين وكان الله غفورا رحيما

“O Prophet! Tell your wives, your daughters and the believing women to draw their veils over their bodies, this is better so that they will be acknowledged as respectable women and not to be insulted and Allah is Oft- Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Al Ahzab:59)

For example, in corporate America where people are generally supposed to be conservative and meet a conventional dress code, you find that many women come to work with skirts above their knees not to mention the fact that it may even be skin tight and expect a man who is bombarded with visions of naked women whether on the television, billboards even on liquor bottles and cigarette cartons, to respect her chastity and integrity?

Although Islam has legislated the veil, it has also taken into consideration the gradual process of change which is inevitable with every human being and differs from one individual to the next. As most women who hear about Islam may incline towards the general and unique precepts of the religion but they reject the fact of accepting Islam as their way of life solely based on the mere aspect of covering.

Islam acknowledges the process of change and does not regard a woman who does not cover to be a non-Muslim, as the major affairs of the religion are to be embarked upon in stages as Allah says:

إن ربكم الله الذي خلق السماوات والأرض في ستة أيام ثم استوى على العرش

“Indeed your Lord is Allah, who created the heavens and the earth in six days, and then He rose above the throne (in a manner befitting His majesty)…” (Al A’raf)

The scalars of Tafseer explain that Allah has the power and capability to create the heavens and the earth and everything that is in it and that which is greater than it in one word! “Be an it is “ but from His infinite wisdom He created them in this manner to teach His creation that matters of great importance should be carried out in stages!

However Allah has command the woman to conceal her beauty and adornment from the eyes of strangers. We ask the question, when you love something don’t you make sacrifices for it? For example you would not wear a work uniform as a part of your normal attire right? Rather you humble yourself to wear it only because you have to work to provide for yourself and your children but otherwise you would never wear it.

This is called sacrifice, so if a woman truly believes in the Creator, Allah, and seeks to please Him and attain what He has prepared for her of felicity in this life and the hereafter, then she will make whatever necessary sacrifices and changes she has to, as this is more important! So just as you would not reject a particular job due to the uniform you may have to wear, then likewise, don’t reject the truth of Islam due to the honorable and principled uniform that has been legislated to safeguard and preserve your honor and integrity.

Authored by : Shadeed Muhammad, Abu Az-Zubayr

Date Published: Friday, 13 April 2007

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Purification and Water

Purification and Water

Sheikh Salih al Fawzan

Prayer is the second pillar of Islam, after the Two Testifications of Faith. Prayer is what distinguishes Muslims from disbelievers; it is the cornerstone of Islam, and it is the first thing one is questioned  about when called to account ( on the Day of Judgment ). Therefore, if it is correctly performed and ( thus ) accepted ( by Allah ), all of one’s good deeds will be accepted, but if rejected, so will be all one’s deeds.

 

Prayer is mentioned in many different contexts of the Glorious Quran, stressing its various virtues; sometimes Allah commands establishing it regularly, and sometimes He demonstrates its merits; at times, Allah shows the reward for establishing it, and at other times He associates it with patience, enjoining seeking His Help through both ( patience and prayer ) in adversity. Hence, prayer has been made the comfort of the eyes of Allah’s Messenger sallallahu alayhe was salaam in this world, as it is the ornament of the prophets, the sign of righteous servants, and the connection between servants and the Lord of the Worlds. Prayer, in addition, prevents immorality and wrongdoing.

 

Prayer is not deemed valid unless the one performing it is in the state of both minor and major ritual purity, as much as possible. The means of purification for prayer is either water ( in ablution ) or clean earth ( in tayammum, i.e. dry ablution ) in case water is unavailable. Due to the above, faqihs ( may Allah have mercy upon them ) used to start their books with handling the issue of purification. Since prayer is at the head of the Pillars of Islam, following the Two Testifications of Faith, it is appropriate to start with handling its prerequisites, among which is purification, the key to prayer as mentioned in the following hadith: ” The key to prayer is purification.” This is because a state of minor ritual impurity is like a padlock that hinders one from performing prayer. But once one performs ablution, that padlock is unlocked, as purification is the ‘key’ to prayer. Thus purity is one of the most central conditions of prayer; a condition is to be fulfilled before performing the action stipulating it.

 

Linguistically, purity means cleanliness and purification from all matters and spiritual impurities. Jurisprudentially, purity means the removal of ritual impurity as well as impure objects. The removal of impurity can be achieved by using water with the intention of purification. In case of major ritual impurity, one uses water and washes one’s whole body. yet, one only washes the four parts of ablution in case of minor ritual impurity. One can use the substitute for water ( namely clean earth ) if water is unavailable or one is unable to use it ( i.e. one can perform tayammum instead ). We will, Allah willing, elaborate on how to purify oneself from both minor and major ritual impurity.

 

Let us now point out the qualities of the water used for purification, and those of the water that is not. Allah, Exalted be He, says :

 

“…And We send down from the sky pure water.” (Quran:AlFurqan:48)

 

Allah also says:

 

“…And sent down upon you from the sky, rain by which to purify you…” (Quran : Al-Anfal:11)

 

Pure water is that which is originally pure and can be used as a means of purification. It is also that water which has not undergone any change (i.e. it retains its original characteristics), whether it is sent from the sky such as rain, snow or hail water, running water, such as the water of rivers, springs, wells, and sea, or distilled water. This is the proper kind of water to be used for removing ritual or physical impurity. However is it indisputable that if the characteristics of such water change due to an impure material, it is impermissible to use it for purification. Yet, if it is just a slight change and is caused by a pure material, it is impermissible to be used as a purifier, according to the preponderant of the two opinions maintained by the scholars in this regard.

 

 

Shaykh ul -Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullaah) states: “There are many cases in which the       characteristics of little or much water are affected by pure objects, such as potash, soap, lote tree leaves, dust, dough, and such things that may change water. For example, water might be put into a pot containing traces of lote tree leaves that would affect its characteristics, though the water would not be completely changed in this case. Scholars hold two well known opinions regarding such cases.”

Ibn Taymiyyah then mentions those two opinions with the arguments they are based on. He supports the opinion maintaining that it is permissible to use such water for purification, saying: In fact, this is the sound opinion, for Allaah says…” But if you are ill or on a journey or one of you comes from the place of relieving himself or you have contacted women (had intercourse with them) and do not find water, then seek clean earth and wipe your faces and hands with it.”(Quran : Al-Maidah :6 )

“Water here is an indefinite noun in a negative phrase, which, in ‘Arabic, implies that “water” in the above mentioned verse includes every thing referred to as “water” in general, with no distinction between different kinds of water.”

That is to say, Allah has made ‘clean earth’ the substitute for water ( as a purifier) in case water is unavailable or one is unable to use it. The way clean earth is used for purification has been pointed out by the Prophet sallallahu alayhe was salaam through the Sunnah ( Prophetic Tradition ) – which will be dealt with, Allah Willing, in a special chapter. So,  decreeing such as a substitute for water (i.e. clean earth ) is a kind of divine mercy and a way by which Allah makes things easier for His servants. Allah, Exalted be He, says:

“…And if you are ill, or on a journey, or one of you comes after answering the call of nature, or you have been in contact with women (by sexual relations) and you find no water, perform Tayammum with clean earth and rub therewith your faces and hands (Tayammum). Truly, Allâh is Ever Oft­Pardoning, Oft­Forgiving. “( Quran An-Nisa 4:43)

Ibn Hubaryrah states:

” Muslim scholars uniformly agree that purification with water is obligatory for whoever is obliged to perform prayer, provided water is available; in case water is unavailable, one should use its substitute (i.e . clean earth ), in accordance with the Qur’anic verse in  which Allah Exalted be He says ” … And find no water , then seek clean earth…‘ ( Quran An-Nisa : 43), and ‘ …And sent down upon you from the sky, rain by which to purify you…‘ ( Quran Al-Anfal:11 )

 

This shows the greatness of Islam,. The religion of purity, and both physical and spiritual cleanliness. It also shows the loftiness of prayer which one cannot enter upon without being in two states of purity. The first is spiritual purity from polytheism, by means of testifying  the Oneness of Allah and worshipping Him sincerely and devoutly. The second is the physical purity from ritual and tangible impurities, which is performed by means of water or its legal substitutes. We should also know that provided the water is still in its original state, mixed with nothing else, it is deemed pure as scholars uniformly agree. They also agree that if any of its three basic characteristics odor, taste, and color  change due to any impure object, then water is deemed impure and it is impermissible to use as a means of purification.

Yet some scholars differ regarding the purity of water when any of its characteristics has changed due to a pure object – such as tree leaves ( like lote tree leaves ), soap, potash, or suchlike pure materials – provided that such a material is not predominant in the resulting mixture. In fact, the sound opinion is that the resulting water is still deemed pure and it is permissible to use it as means of purification from both ritual and tangible impurity.”

 

Due to the above, we can state that water is divided into two categories:

 

1-Pure Water, which can be used as a purifier, whether it is in its original state, or mixed with a pure object provided it is not prevalent enough to change the composition of water or turn it into another object.

 

2- Impure Water, which cannot be used for purification from either ritual or tangible impurity. It is also the water any of whose characteristics (odor, taste or color) has changed due to an impure object. And Allah, Exalted be He, knows best.

A Summary of Islamic Jurisprudence

Sheykh Salih al Fawzan

Vol.1

Ch.1

pgs 9-13

Whoever abandons something for the sake of Allah…

“Whoever abandons something for the sake of Allaah, He will replace it
for
him with something better than it”

AUTHOR:  ‘Alee Hasan al-Halabee
SOURCE:  Al-Asaalah Magazine (Issue 31, pg. 60-61)
PRODUCED BY:  Al-Ibaanah.com

The teacher of our teachers,[1] the great scholar and historian, Shaikh
Muhammad Raaghib At-Tabbaakh, rahimahullaah, mentioned the following
story
in his book “I’laam an-Nubalaa bi-Taareekh Halab ash-Shuhabaa”
(7/231):

“Shaikh Ibraaheem Al-Hilaalee Al-Halabee – a pious and noble
scholar –
traveled to Al-Azhar University in search of knowledge. While seeking
knowledge, he became very poor and used to rely on charity. One time,
several days passed by and he did not find anything to eat, so he
became
extremely hungry.

So he came out of his room in Al-Azhar to ask for some scraps of food.
He
found an open door from which a pleasant smell of food was coming out
of. So
he entered the door and found himself in a kitchen with no one around.
There
he found some tempting food, so he grabbed a spoon and dipped it in,
but
when he lifted it to his mouth, he held himself back from eating it,
since
he realized that he had not been given permission to eat from it. So he
left
it and returned to his room in the dormitory of Al-Azhar, still hungry
and
starving.

But no less than an hour passed by, when one of his teachers,
accompanied by
another man, came into his room. And his teacher said to him: ‘This
noble
man came to me seeking a righteous student of knowledge to choose for
marrying his daughter, and I have chosen you for him. So rise and come
with
us to his home where we can complete the marriage contract between you
and
his daughter and you can become part of his household.’ So Shaikh
Ibraaheem
struggled to get to his feet, obeying the command of his teacher and
went
with them. And behold they took him to the very same house he had been
to,
and which he had entered and dipped the spoon into the food!

So when he sat down, the girl’s father married her to him and the
food was
brought out. It was the same food he had put the spoon into before and
which
he abandoned. But now he ate from it and said to himself: ‘I withheld
from
eating it when I had no permission, but now Allaah has given me this
food
with permission.’

Afterward, this righteous wife went back with him to Halab, after he
had
finished his studies. And she bore righteous children for him.”

So this is the fruit of patience and this is the result of having
taqwaa, as
Allaah says: “And whoever has Taqwaa of Allaah, He will make a way
out for
him (from hardship), and He will provide for Him from places He never
imagined.” [Surah At-Talaaq: 2-3]

But as for those who are hasty – those who do not distinguish between
the
truth and falsehood, seeking after the transitory vanities of this
worldly
life – they will never experience anything but grief and sorrow in
their
hearts, for they will never attain the worldly life nor will they ever
achieve Religion.

This is because they forget – or perhaps neglect – the saying of
Allaah: “Is
not Allaah sufficient for His servant?” [Surah Az-Zumar: 36]

As for those who are patient and firm and who have Taqwaa, they will
gain
ascendancy in this life and glory and honor with their Lord on the Day
of
Judgement. And Allaah says: “So give the glad tidings to the patient
ones.”
[Surah Al-Baqarah: 155] And He says: “Verily, the patient ones will
be given
their reward without any reckoning.” [Surah Az-Zumar: 10]

——————————————————————————–

Footnotes:

[1] Translator’s Note: He is referring to Imaam Al-Albaanee, who was
a
student of Shaikh Muhammad Raaghib At-Tabbaakh.

Raising the hands in supplication after the fardh prayer

Raising the hands in supplication after the obligatory prayer

Question: Is there any evidence to suggest that the Messenger of Allaah (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) raised his hands in supplication after the obligatory prayer itself, since there are those who have said to me that he would not raise his hands in supplication after the obligatory prayer?

Response: It is not authenticated that the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) would raise his hands after the obligatory prayer, and nor has it been authenticated that the companions (radhi-yAllaahu ‘anhum) (would do so) from that which we know. So that which some people do in raising their hands after the obligatory prayer is an innovation which has no basis, for that which the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) said:

«Whoever does an act which is not in agreement with us (i.e. Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’aala) and Muhammad (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) ) then it will be rejected», [Muslim transmitted it in his Saheeh].

And (likewise) he (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) said:

«Whoever introduces anything into this matter of ours (i.e. Islaam) that which is not from it, will have it rejected», [It’s authenticity is agreed upon (by both Imaam al-Bukhaaree and Imaam Muslim]

Shaykh Ibn Baaz
Silsilah Kitaab ad-Da ‘wah (1), al-Fataawa – Volume 1, Page 74

Taken from: www.fatwaonline.com

 

Guidelines to help in waking up for Fajr

AsSalamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatu.

Mending the Rift: Guidelines to help you Observe Fajr Prayer

Written by:

An anonymous student of Islamic knowledge

“And then there followed after them (the prophets) an evil
generation who delayed the prayer and followed their lusts. Soon
will they face destruction, except he who repents, affirms his faith
and does deeds of righteousness. ” (Soorat Maryam: 59-60)

Most surely all praise belongs to Allaah, we praise Him and we seek
His Aid and Forgiveness. We seek refuge in Allaah from the evils of
our souls and from the evils of our actions. Whomsoever Allaah
guides there is none to misguide and whomsoever He misguides their
is none to guide. I send prayers and blessings upon our leader
Muhammad with the best of prayers and the most complete submission.

To proceed:

One of the ill-seeming phenomena and most serious precedents boding
impending danger and punishment, giving reason to fear and calling
for most urgent consideration on our part requiring immediate
investigation into its causes and treatment of its symptoms is the
fact that a growing number of observers of prayer deliberately shun
Fajr prayer in congregation and only perform it at times other than
its lawful time.

It may be the case that this is due to their wasting away long hours
at night engaged in idle and leisure pursuits. Our ancestors not
very long ago used to make a point of going to bed early, to lock
their doors after ishaa prayer and to make their dinner light so as
to be able to wake up for Fajr prayer in an energetic state. That is
why they led a happy, peaceful and healthy life experiencing the
real taste of life.

The advent of modern civilization spoiled both our religious
observances and our worldly arrangements. As a result, we have
fallen into laziness and inertia; our bodies grew fat and flabby; we
move about less frequently whilst showing a greater readiness to
sleep and a marked inability to perform the most trivial of manual
actions.

The present paper attempts therefore to suggest ways which may be of
help in inducing us to wake up for Fajr Prayer; for instance:

1. To make sure to go to bed early as the Prophet (sall-
Allaahu `alayhi wa sallam) used to discourage sleep before
performing ishaa prayer and especially engaging in conversation
after it. Certain cases were accepted, some of which are enumerated
by Imaam an-Nawawee in his explanation of Muslim’s account. An-
Nawawee, may Allaah have mercy upon him says:

“The reason why conversation after it is discouraged is the fear
lest it leads to staying awake for long , which might induce
drowsiness and difficulty with observing night prayers or Subh
[dawn] prayer in their permitted, preferred or best times. The
topics covered by this restriction are all fulfilling no good useful
purpose. However, as to useful verbal activities, such as the
pursuit of knowledge, listening to the wise tales of righteous
people, talking to one’s guest or bride, or members of one’s family
for the sake of company, interacting with travellers with a view to
protect themselves and their goods, embarking on talks designed to
conciliate between people or intercede before them in a good cause
or to enjoin good and forbid evil and admonish people by pointing to
a beneficial course of action to follow etc. There are no such
restrictions. ”

2. To be assiduous in observing the Aadaab [good manners prescribed
in Islam] as to what to do before sleep such as making Du’aa
[supplication] , bringing one’s palms together, very mildly spitting
into them and reciting the last three Soorah’s of the Qur’aan into
them and them wiping them over one’s face, head and body, being
physically and religiously pure and performing a two rak’ahs
voluntary prayer after wudhoo’ [ablution]. A Muslim has to ask his
wife, parents, relatives or neighbours to help waking him up. Once
waken up, he should not linger lazily for long in bed, lest he
acquires the vices of the hypocrites who come to prayer showing
ample signs of laziness and lack of enthusiasm.

3. To fill one’s heart with faith and good deeds. Once faith is
alive in the heart, it induces the person to do good deeds and
strive unremittingly hard. Faith is like a tree which only yields
good fruit when irrigated from the streamlets of good deeds, thus
bringing about an improvement both in personal conduct and at the
interactional level with society at large. The lack of such
streamlets or water supplies proportionately causes faith to wither
and wilt. The heart is highly sensitive to external hardening
stimuli, such as excess food or drink or aberrations in watching or
listening (letting your eyes and ears loose to what is unlawful for
them). You should therefore protect your heart from such external
allurements.

4. To keep away from Ma’aasi [acts of disobedience to Allaah] by
protecting the eyes, the tongue, the hearing and all the senses from
indulging in the perception of objects that Allaah has made unlawful
for us. As an alternative, one should concern himself with matters
pertaining to the worship of Allaah, such as devoting one’s sight to
the reading of Allaah’s Book, contemplating over the creatures that
Allaah has created in this universe, reading books of knowledge etc.

One member of the rightly guided early generations was asked about
the reason why people found it difficult to uphold voluntary prayers
at night. He answered: “Your sins have shackled you.” No doubt sins
can be a major cause for a person’s inability to enjoy the blessings
of piety. As Imaam ibn Qayyim said, sins are wounds and some wounds
can be fatal.

5. To bear in mind the great reward for attending Fajr prayer in
congregation on time, and the strong rebuke for him to fail to
observe it and to satisfy its conditions. Uthmaan ibn `Affaan (radia-
llaahu `anhu) related:

“I heard Allaah’s Messenger (sall-Allaahu `alayhi wa sallam)
saying: `He who prays Eshaa in Jamaa’ah [congregation] is as if he
has prayed for half the night. As to him who (also) prays Fajr in
congregation, it is as if he has prayed all night’.” (Narrated by
Maalik and the wording is that of Muslim who also reported it)

Similarly, Bukhaaree and Muslim and an-Nasaa’ee related on the
authority of Ibn Mas’ud (radia-llaahu `anhu) that he said:

“The case of a man who slept all the night up to sunrise (without
waking up for Fajr) was related to the Prophet (sall-Allaahu `alayhi
wa sallam) whereupon he said: `That was a man in whose ear Shaytaan
has urinated’, or he said: `in both his ears’.”

The urinating is literally true, as Imaam Qurtubi says, since
Shaytaan urinates and has sexual intercourse and procreates in a
manner that Allaah alone knows [1]. To ascertain for yourself the
truth of this assertion, look at the faces of those who come to deal
in their daily business without having prayed Fajr in congregation
at due time; look at their faces at working hours. You will surely
ask Allaah for refuge from a lot as miserable as theirs. But, after
all what do you expect from a person in whose ears Shaytaan has
urinated!!!

6. To realize the bad effects resulting from one’s failure to pray
Fajr, such as the melancholic and depressive state of mind and the
loss of many religious and worldly benefits, and the good effects
resulting from managing to perform it. In this respect the Prophet
(sall-Allaahu `alayhi wa sallam) said:

“Shaytaan ties three knots on the crown of any one of you in your
sleep. He says upon each knot that he ties: `You have a long night
before you, therefore sleep.’ But if you wake up and mention Allaah,
Most Exalted in remembrance one knot will be untied. If you then
make ablution another knot will be undone. If you then proceed to
pray the last knot will be disentangled. Thus, you will feel in the
morning energetic and in good spirits. Otherwise you will feel in a
despicable state, lazy.” [Narrated by Maalik, Bukhaaree, Muslim and
Abu Daawood]

There is full goodness and blessing in the time following Fajr
prayer. The Prophet (sall-Allaahu `alayhi wa sallam) made good use
of it occupy himself with the remembrance of Allaah until sunrise,
whereupon he would pray two rak’ahs.

The rightly guided generations were very committed to the observance
of this good Sunnah [tradition]. For instance, Shaykh-ul-Islam ibn
Taymiyyah is reported by his student, Ibn Qayyim to be in the habit
of engaging in Allaah’s remembrance after Fajr prayer and to
say: “Verily there is in the Dunyah [this world] a garden the
shunner of which will not enter Paradise in the Hereafter.” By this
he means that the pleasure of the communion with Allaah through
remembrance cannot be compared with all the pleasures of this world
put together. He, may Allaah bless his soul, is also reported as
saying: “This is my main sustenance; if I fail to have enough of it
I will lose my vital energy.” [2]

The time following Fajr prayer is full of goodness and blessings. At-
Tirmidhee narrated upon the authority of Sakhr Ibn Wadaa’ah al-
Ghamidee that the Prophet (sall-Allaahu `alayhi wa sallam) said:

“O Allaah bless my Ummah in its early rising!” And whenever he
dispatched an expedition or army he sent them early at the beginning
of the day. Sakhr was a merchant who always sent his merchandise
early in morning thus, becoming wealthy [3].

That is why we find the craftsmen and traders are particular about
making good use of this time. Those who sleep up to the late morning
have denied themselves the blessings of this early hour.

There are many benefits to the health derived from waking up for
Fajr prayer. For instance, the highest proportion of ozone gas (O3)
in the atmosphere is registered at dawn. It then gradually fades
away until complete disappearance by sunrise. This gas has a very
beneficial effect on the nervous system as it vivifies the brain and
energizes the muscles such that when a person inhales the beautiful
breeze of the dawn, known as the SABAA wind, he will experience a
pleasure that is unparalleled at any other time of the day or night
[4].

7. To lose no time to categorically clear yourself from the stigma
of hypocrisy. Because of the difficulty of waking for this time,
praying Fajr in congregation provides evidence that a person has
firm faith and is free from hypocrisy. That is why in a hadeeth
narrated by Bukhaaree and Muslim, the Prophet (sall-Allaahu `alayhi
wa sallam) said:

“Indeed, the most difficult of prayers to bear, for the hypocrites,
are Eshaa [night] and Fajr prayers. If only they knew what they are
missing, they would sooner come, even if crawling on their knees.”

The noble companion, `Abdullaah ibn Mas’ud (radia-
llaahu `anhu) asserts: “The only one indeed who misses them [i.e.
Eshaa and Fajr prayers] is a confirmed hypocrite.” [5] Ibn `Umar
(radia-llaahu `anhu) said: “When we find a man missing from the
Eshaa and Fajr prayers we nurture suspicions about him.” [6]

If you want a criterion for evaluating a person’s degree of faith
and truthfulness monitor his observance of Fajr prayer. If he passes
the test, that should be taken as a sign indicating the strength of
his Eemaan [belief, faith]. Let us then testify to his truthfulness
since he managed to achieve the greatest victory over himself and to
be superior to the pleasure of sleeping in bed. If he fails the
test, this is an index to his weakness in faith, a hardness in his
heart, an indulgence in self-gratification and a defeat against his
own whims.

How is it then that he who indulges in sleep and misses prayer
should conceivably feel comfortable while people are delighting in
the mosques in the company of the Qur’aan, listening rapturously to
Allaah’s message, and basking happily in His gardens. He who prefers
the pleasures of the bed to the pleasure of the communion with
Allaah is the real loser.

These are a few suggestions to help you wake up for Fajr prayer. May
Allaah make them useful. Glory be to Allaah, Most Exalted over any
false attributions and thanks be to Allaah, the Lord of all Beings.

Footnotes:

1. Fat-hul-Baaree 3/28

2. Al-Waabil us-Sayyib no.53

3. Saheeh Sunan at-Tirmidhee

4. “With Medicine in the Noble Qur’aan” p.108 by Abdul-Hameed Dayyaab

5. Reported by Muslim, Abu Daawood, Ibn Maajah and Nasaa’ee

6. Saheeh at-Targheeb wat-Tarheeb no.169

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