The Mahr (Dowry) should be a small amount

Mahr should be a small amount and that people should not compete

[Q]: I and many others have observed that many people are very excessive when it comes to the matter of the mahr (wedding dowry that is paid to the bride), and that they seek great amounts of mahr when it comes to the marriage of their daughters, and they stipulate as a condition the giving of other gifts to them, along with the mahr. This wealth that people demand in such cases, is it halaal (lawful) or haraam (unlawful)?

[A]: What is prescribed in the Sharee’ah is that the mahr should be a small amount and that people should not compete with each other in this regard, acting in accordance with the many ahaadeeth which are related about this. They should also help facilitate marriages and be keen in preserving the modesty and decency of the young Muslim men and women. And it is not permissible for the awliyaa (guardians of the brides-to-be) to demand and stipulate gifts for themselves, since they have no right at all in this matter. Rather the right belongs to the woman, and in some particular cases to the father. He may stipulate a condition as long as it does not harm the daughter, nor lead to the delaying of the marriage. However, if the father forgoes such a right then this is better and more preferable. Allaah – the One free from all defects – says: “And marry those amongst you who are single and also marry the pious of your male and female slaves. If they be poor, Allaah will enrich them out of His Bounty.” [Soorah an-Noor 24:32].

In the hadeeth of ‘Uqbah ibn ‘Aamir radiallaahu ‘anhu, the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: “The best dowry is that which is easy.” This was narrated by Abu Daawood and al-Haakim who authenticated it. And once a woman offered herself to the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam for marriage. However, one of his Companions desired to marry her, so the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said [regarding the mahr]: “Bring something, even if it be an iron ring.” So when he could not find even this, the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam married them for the dowry that the man would teach whatever of the Qur’aan he knew to her. 2

And the dowry of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam’s wives was five-hundred dirhams, which is equivalent to one-hundred and thirty riyaals today. And his daughters were married for the mahr of four-hundred dinaars, which is equivalent to one-hundred riyaals today. Allaah – the Most High – said: “Indeed in the Messenger of Allaah you have a most beautiful example to follow.” [Soorah al-Ahzaab 33:21].

So whenever the difficulties relating to marriage are lightened, then preserving the modesty and decency of young men and women becomes easier, shameful and evil deeds decrease, and the Ummah – as a result – will increase in number. However if this matter is made difficult, and people continue competing with each other with regards to the mahr (dowry), then the number of marriages will decrease, fornication will become more widespread and more young men and women will remain unmarried – except those whom Allaah saves.

So my sincere advice to all the Muslims, wherever they may be, is to facilitate the marriage process and to cooperate in this and make it easy. They should turn away from demanding excessive mahr and avoid unnecessary hardships and difficulties in the waleemah (wedding-feast) . Rather, they should content themselves with a waleemah that is according to the Sharee’ah, in which the burdens and difficulties for the husband and wife are minimal. May Allaah improve and rectify all the affairs of the Muslims and may He give them the guidance and ability to cling to the Sunnah (Prophetic guidance) in all matters. 3

2. Related by Abu Daawood in his Sunan.
3. Al-Fataawa (1/168-169).

Source : Concerning Everyday Issues published Al-Istiqaamah . Check others by clicking on the below

Brief commentary: Today, marriages are becoming more and more a sign of showing off to the people what the families can afford and to show to the people their status in the community. It maybe that they wish for the people to think or say about them that they have a high status, yet their status with Allah might be from amongst the lowly ones because of their lack of entering into Islaam wholeheartedly.

As Muslims who follow the sunnah in all matters of their lives and who call others to do the same, we should make a sincere effort to bring this change into our lives so that, hopefully, by us acting upon it, others will change their lifestyles as well bi’idhnillah.

Islamic Calendar

New Knowledge Based Articles – Albaseerah

NEW Article Added to the Albaseerah Knowledge Base on

27/12/2009

“The Dislike of Praising Someone in Their Presence”

Click Here to Visit our Article Section

Mp3 Players Pre-Loaded w/ Authentic Islamic Audios

Bismillahir Rahmaan ir Raheem

All praise belongs to Allah, the Most High, Lord of all that exists

May Allah send His salaat and salaam upon Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him, his family and companions.

We need some feedback from the readers of this blog for a new project inshaAllah.

Many people today own mp3 players of different kinds.

We are thinking of starting a project where we will buy mp3 players and pre-load them with authentic Islamic audio lectures and Qur’aan. This is since it is not the easiest of things to find good lectures online and then to take out the time to put lectures on the mp3 player.

We will remove this hassle from the people and give them pre-loaded mp3 players so all they have to do is receive it and start listening. No need to go on the computer.

Please take the time to fill out the poll. Your feedback will determine if we want to initiate this project or not.

BarakAllahu feekum

ClearSunnah Admin

Wahhabism: Is it a fifth Madh-hab?

Reply given by Ibn Baz to written questions posed by a Shaykh from outside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

From ‘Abdul-‘Aziz ibn ‘Abdullah ibn Baz to my esteemed brother, may Allah guide you to useful knowledge and to act upon it! Amen. Peace be upon you!

I have received your letter dated 2/3/1394 A.H. May Allah guide you and grant you success! It included three questions about Wahhabism. Following is my answer:

Q 1: You asked about Wahhabism and whether it is a fifth Madh-hab (School of Jurisprudence) or follows one of the four Madh-habs.

A: The term Wahhabism is used by many people to refer to the call initiated by Imam Muhammad ibn ‘Abdul-Wahhab ibn Sulayman Al-Tamimy Al-Hanbaly (may Allah be merciful to him). He is called along with his followers ‘Wahhabis’. Every knowledgeable person must have heard about Shaykh Muhammad ibn ‘Abdul-Wahhab’s movement (may Allah be merciful to him). He called for pure Tawhid (belief in the Oneness of Allah) and warned people against all forms of Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship), such as supplicating to the dead, trees, rocks or the like. He (may Allah be merciful to him) followed in creedal matters the Madh-hab (School of Jurisprudence) of the Salaf (righteous predecessors) while in subsidiary matters he followed the Madh-hab of Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal Al-Shaibany (may Allah be merciful to him). This is clear in the books and Fatwas (legal opinions) of Muhammad ibn ‘Abdul-Wahhab and in the books of his followers and offspring which are published. Imam Muhammad ibn ‘Abdul-Wahhab appeared at a time when Islam was alienated, the Arabian Peninsula and other areas were engulfed in ignorance and worshiping idols was widespread. So the Shaykh took it upon himself to strive and struggle, and devoted himself to destroying all means of misguidance.

Prepare for Death Yourself (Khutbah of Uthmaan)

It is narrated that ‘Uthmân b. Áffân – Allâh be pleased with him – said in a sermon:

Son of Adam! Know that the angel of death who has been assigned to you has not ceased to pass you and move on to others, ever since you have been in this world. But it is as if he is about to pass someone else and move on to target you, so be careful and prepare for him (by correcting your deeds). And do not forget him, for he does not forget you. And know o son of Adam, if you are heedless about yourself and do not prepare, no one else will prepare for you. You must meet Allah the Mighty and Majestic, so take for yourself and do not leave it to someone else. Peace be on you.

Abû Bakr Al-Daynûrî, Al-Mujâlasah wa Jawâhir Al-Ílm 2: 73, 74.

Related posts:

1. Abû Bakr to ‘Umar on his Deathbed
2. The Last Sermon of Caliph Umar b. Abd Al-Aziz
3. Advice from Abû Al-Dardâ’
4. A Comfortable Life
5. No poverty after Paradise and no wealth in the Fire

Continuation of Refutation of Anwar al-Awlaki by Abu Hakeem Bilaal Davis

As Salaam ‘Alaykum wa RahmatUllaahi wa Barakatahu,

Bismillaahi wa-Alhumdulillaah wa Salaatu wa Salaam ‘alaa RasulAllaah ‘amma ba’ad

After praising Allaah ‘Azza wa Jal, we at Muwahhideen Publications would like to say Jazakum Allaah khayr for all those who came out to the tremendously beneficial session last Thursday 10th December, 2009 – “Don’t be Deceived by Elegant Speech: A Refutation of The Deviant Anwar al-Awlaki.” We are also extremly pleased to announce that the sessions will continue this Thursday 17th December, 2009 and for the next few Thursdays, insha’Allaah, until we have done justice to this topic from clarification and in exposing this infamous deviant, May Allaah guide him to The Haqq. Our Noble brother Abu Hakeem Bilaal Davis (hafidhahullaah) will continue with his exposition at 6pm T&T/ 5pm EST/ 10pm GMT, insha’Allaah.
The Sessions will be broadcast LIVE in Masjid At-Tawbah, Tobago, Masjid us Sunnah, Barataria, and in the Paltalk Room: Ahl Sunnah wal Jamaah TnT,
insha’Allaah.

Please see revised flyer below.
Download the Printable Version and post it in your local masjid, insha’Allaah.

Once the series is complete, the mp3s of the sessions will be available for a small fee on our website www.muwahhideenpubs.com (still under construction), insha’Allaah. All proceeds go towards recovering the costs of this session and others, including seminars and programs, and as a means of furthering the dawah here in Trinidad & Tobago. We will be willing to work with any Masaajid and individuals who wish to purchase them wholesale for mass distribution, in any effort to create a wider awareness of this criminal instigator, Anwar al-Awlaki, bi’idnillaahi ta’ala.

BarakAllaahu feekum
Wa Billaahi Tawfeeq
Muwahhideen Publications, Tobago

Download Printable Version Here. Right Click on Link Below –> Select Save Target As

https://rcpt.yousendit.com/791886588/6642f3c4f36000d6dab7c5b54c2c2425

The Ruling on Listening to Unknown Speakers

Question:

What is the Ruling on Listing to Unknown Speakers and Taking Knowledge from them?

ما حكم سماع أشرطة المجاهيل وأخذ العلم عنهم؟

Answer:

Bismillah al-hamdulillaah wa salaatu wa salaam ‘alaa rasoolillaah wa ‘alaa aalihi wa sahbihi wa man tabi’a hudaahu wa bad. The trials of today are very many. Innovations and mixing up innovators with the people of the sunnah and their outward call to the sunnah and salafiyyah is wide spread, for this reason one should be cautious. ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Abbaas used to say, if a man said ‘I heard the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) or the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, we (used to) rush to him and went out to seek him, listening to him, but when the fitnah occurred they began asking about the men (who were narrating the knowledge) like how Ibn Seereen mentioned ‘we said: name to us your men’ meaning they were know by whom they narrated from. So from there they would know if they would listen and accept or refuse and not listen. If that was the case in that time, then our time has more priority. It is a must that one determines and limits those whom he listens to, and from whom he reads from, and who he takes from, and (the works he) issues, and also who he sits with, this is very important. As for being a haatib layl (one who gathers wood at nigh i.e. blindly, heedlessly), listing to everyone and those who are unknown. No, it is feared that a trail will befall this one. Surely from the signs of success from Allaah and wanting good for his slave, it is uprightness and guidance that he helps him to sit, mix with and take from the people of the Sunnah. It is obligatory to have seriousness and diligence towards seeking out that which brings about success and guidance from Allaah, and Allaah is the one who grants success.

بسم الله والحمدلله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله وعلى آله وصحبه ومن تبع هداه وبعد ، الفتن اليوم كثيرة جدا, والبدع كثيرة جدا, وتلبس المبتدعة بأهل السنة وإعلانهم للسنة والسلفية كثير جدا؛ لذلك ينبغي الحذر. وإذا كان عبدالله بن عباس يذكر أنهم كانوا إذا قال رجل : سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم, أو قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم , ابتدرناه ،يبادرونه, يشرئبون إليه, يسمعون منه ، لكن لما وقعت الفتنة صاروا يسألون عن الرجال كما ذكر ابن سيرين: (قلنا : سموا لنا رجالكم). أي يعرفون عمن ينقلون, ومن ثم من خلال النقلة يعرفون هل يسمعون ويقبلون,أم يرفضون ولا يسمعون. فهذا إذا كان في ذلك الزمان, ففي زماننا أولى,لابد أن يحدد الإنسان لمن يسمع, ولمن يقرأ, وعمن يأخذ ويصدر, وعند من يجلس, هذا مهم جدا, أما أن يكون حاطب ليل يسمع للجميع وللمجاهيل ,لا,هذا تخشى عليه الفتنة ، وإن من علامات وصور توفيق الله وإرادته بعبده الخير والصلاح والهداية أن يوفقه إلى مجالسة ومخالطة والأخذ عن أهل السنة ، فالواجب الجد والاجتهاد والتحري استجلابا لتوفيق الله وهدايته ، والله الموفق

Shaykh Falaah Ismaa’eel al-Mandakar

Translated by Muhammad Elmi

http://www.mandakar.com/FatawaDetails.asp?ID=314

http://fatwaislam.com/fis/index.cfm?scn=fd&ID=1367

Connecticut Conference: The Foundations of ISLAAM

As salamu ‘alaykum,

InshaAllah this coming Friday Dec. 11th 2009, brothers in Connecticut, USA are organizing a lecture on the topic “Foundations of Islam”. The details (location, paltalk, tele-conference,etc.) are in the attached flyer.

The speaker is Br. Abu Yusuf Khaleefah who is a Dai’ee from New York. Br. Abu Yusuf has given lectures alongside the Duaat of Ahlus Sunnah like Brothers Dawood Adeeb, Abul Hasan Maalik, Hasan as-Somalee, etc. in the past couple of years.

The Khutbah at 12:30pm EST will also be available on teleconference line inshaAllah ta’ala.

Please spread the word to aid the Da’wah in Connecticut. BaarakAllahu feekum.

MPUBS presents A Refutation of Anwar al-Awlaki by Abu Hakeem Bilaal Davis[Thursday,Dec.10th 2009]

As Salaam ‘Alaykum wa RahmatUllaahi wa Barakatahu,

Bismillaahi wa-Alhumdulillaah wa Salaatu wa Salaam ‘alaa RasulAllaah ‘amma ba’ad

Due to the recent events that took place in Texas from one rogue individual acting on terrorist behaviour and a khawarij-type mentality, and as a direct influence of the deviant known as Anwar al-Awlaki The Jihadi/Takfeeri, Muwahhideen Publications is pleased to announce an online event this Thursday 10th December, 2009 at 6pm T&T/ 5pm EST/ 10pm GMT, in refutation of this misguided lecturer and his deviance. This misfit Awlaki’s misuse and mis-interpretation of the texts of the Qur’aan and Sunnah has created a huge fitnah in the west and worldwide, in general, with many of the muslimeen, who have been deluded into thinking he is a person of knowledge, and that he preachs from daleel (Qur’aan and Sunnah).

Our Noble brother Abu Hakeem Bilaal Davis (hafidhahullaah) will deal with this and many more related issues in this extremely benefical session, insha’Allaah. The Session will be broadcast LIVE in Masjid At-Tawbah, Tobago, Masjid us Sunnah, Barataria, Masjid Khalifah, Chaguanus and in the
Paltalk Room: Ahl Sunnah wal Jamaah TnT,
insha’Allaah.