EID MUBARAK

As Salaamu Alaykum,

Just a quick message to all readers to say Eid Mubarak. May Allah make this day special and full of blessings. Aameen.

Do remember me in your Du'as on this blessed day.

Wasalaam

Note to Readers

As Salaamu Alaykum,

It has been nearly been a month since I have posted on this site. Insha Allah, I shall start my posts once again in the near future continuing with the Nikaah / marriage Series.

I pray that all my readers are in the best of health and Imaan.

Please remember me in your Du'as.

Wasalaam.

Eid Mubarak

As Salaamu Alaykum,

Alhumdulillah, Allah has bestowed upon us a day of celebration and rejoice; it is a day which is given to us by Allah to after our 'dedication', 'hard work' and 'undivided worship' in the month of Ramadhan.

As much a celebration, Eid is also a day within which Muslims around the world show gratitude and thankfulness towards Allah for giving them strength, courage, life and an opportunity to worship Him with devotion during the month of Ramadhan and by doing so strengthening their Faith and Imaan.

Eid is a day where those things which were impermissible for a Muslim during the day in the month of Ramadhan have now become permissible; namely food and drink. It is a day where Allah forbids us from refraining from food and drink and instead celebrate whilst remaining within the boundaries of Islam.

This is the 'normal' and 'usual' explanation of Eid. However, there is also another side of Eid.

Eid is like the commencement of a 'new year'; in essence a beginning of a new 'spiritual year'. The day of Eid is the day we leave the month of Ramadhan and continue what we were doing within that month with dedication. The day of Eid begins for us a year that should be spent in the path of Allah to obtain His mercy, forgiveness and pleasure.

It is from this day forward that one will see whether his Ramadhan was accepted by Allah or rejected. If he was successful then he will see a change in his life, a change for the better; and Allah forbid, if he is swayed further away from the path then his Ramadhan was as just an 'obligation' which he discharged without reaping its benefits or rewards.

May Allah make us from those whose Ramadhan and its worships were accepted and may He forgive us for our shortcomings. May He grant us the strength to worship Him with sincerity and total devotion for the remaining months and may He grant us life so that we are blessed with the bouties of the month of Ramadhan once again. Aameen.

EID MUBARAK to all the readers. May this day, and the days to follow, be filled with joy, happiness and glad tidings and blessings from Allah. May Allah's mercy be with us all and may His happiness be our goal. Aameen.

Wasalaam

A Few Du'as For RamadhanPost 6

Following are a few Du'as that one should commit to memory or keep at hand for the month of Ramadhan:

When beginning the fast- Suhur

وَبِصَوْمِ غَدٍ نَّوَيْتُ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ

Wa bi-sawmi ghadin nawaytu min shahri Ramadhan

I intend to keep the fast for tomorrow in the month of Ramadan

or

نَوَيْتُ أنْ أصُوْمَ غَدًا لِلهِ تعَالي مِنْ فَرْضِ رَمَضَانَ هَذَا

Nawaytu an asooma ghadan lillahi ta'aala min fardhi Ramadhana haadha.

I intend to fast tomorrow for the sake of Allah Ta'ala from the obligatory fasts of this Ramadhan.

or

نَوَيْتُ أنْ أصُوْمَ هَذَا الْيَوْمَ لِلهِ تَعَالي مِنْ فَرْضِ رَمَضَانَ

Nawaytu an asooma hadhal yowma lillahi ta'aala min fardhi Ramadhana

I intend to fast today for the sake of Allah Ta'ala from the obligatory fasts of Ramadhan.

or

اللهُمَّ أصُوْمُ غَدًا لَكَ فَغْفِرْلِيْ مَا قَدَّمْتُ وَ مَا أخَّرْتُ

Allahumma asoomu ghadan laka, Faghfirli maa qaddamtu wa maa akkhartu

O Allah, I am fasting tomorrow for Your sake, so forgive my past sins and future sins.


When breaking the fast- Iftar

اللَّهُمَّ إنِّى لَكَ صُمْتُ وَبِكَ آمَنْتُ [وَعَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْتُ] وَعَلَى رِزْقِكَ اَفْطَرْتُ

Allahumma inni laka sumtu wa bika aamantu [wa 'alayka tawakkaltu] wa 'alaa rizqika aftartu

O Allah! I fasted for You and I believe in You [and I put my trust in You] and I break my fast with Your sustenance.

or

ذَهَبَ الظَّمَأُ وَ ابْتَلَّتِ الْعُرُوقُ، وَ ثَبَتَ الأجْرُ إنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ

dhahabadh dhama-u wabtallatil 'urooqu, wa tha-batal ajru insha Allah

The thrist is gone, the veins are moistened and the reward is confirmed, if Allah [Ta'ala] wills.

or

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسأَلُكَ بِرَحْمَتِكَ الَّتِي وَسِعَتْ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ أَنْ تَغْفِرَ لِي

Allaahumma inni as-aluka birahmatika allati wasi'at kulla shay-in an taghfira li

O Allah, I ask You by Your mercy which envelopes all things, that You forgive me


Du'a to be recited in between every 4 Rak'ats of Taraweeh

سُبْحَانَ ذِيْ الْمُلْكِ وَ الْمَلَكُوْتِ
سُبْحَانَ ذِيْ العِزَّةِ وَ العَظْمَةِ وَ الهَيْبَةِ وَ القُدْرَةِ وَ الكِبْرِيَاءِ وَ الجَبَرُوْتِ
سُبْحَانَ المَلِكِ الحَيِّ الَّذِيْ لا يَنَامُ وَ لا يَمُوْتُ
سُبُّوْحٌ قُدُّوْسٌ رَبُّنَا وَ رَبُّ المَلَائِكَةِ وَ الرُّوْحِ
اللّهُمَّ أجِرْنَا مِنَ النَّارِ
يَا مُجِيْرُ يَا مُجِيْرُ يَا مُجِيْرُ

Subhaana dhil mulki wal malakooti
Subhaana dhil izzat wal azmati wal haybati wal qudrati wal kibriyaa-e wal jhabaroot
Subhanal malikil hayyil ladhi laa yanaamu wa laa yamootu
Suboohun qudoosun Rabbuna wa Rabbul malaaikati war rooh
Allahumma ajirna minan naar
Ya Mujeeru Ya Mujeeru Ya Mujeeru

Glorified is the Owner of the kingdom of the earth and the heavens;
Glorified is the Possessor of Honour and Magnificence and Awe, and Power and Greatness and Omnipotence;
Glorified is the Sovereign, the Living, Who does neither sleep nor die
O all Glorious, All Holy one, Our lord and the Lord of the Angels, And the soul.
O Allah save us from the (hell) fire.
O Saviour, O Saviour, O Saviour

Insha Allah, by reciting these Du'as one will get the rewards that lie in the month of Ramadhan.

Ramadhan Mubarak

Alhumdulillah the month of Ramadhan has dawned upon us once again. I wish all the readers of my blog Ramadhan Mubarak. I pray to Allah that He gives us strength in this month to worship Him with our utmost ability and strength. May He give us the knowledge and understanding to complete this month in the manner shown by our Beloved Prophet صلي الله عليه و سلم and ordered by Allah Ta’ala.

Insha Allah the Ramadhan posts will continue through the month of Ramadhan. First I will post a few essential rulings that will ensure that our fasts are valid and not rendered broken in accordance to the Shari’ah. Thereafter, I will continue in the month of Ramadhan with posts that entail Du’as and supplications that one can use in the month of Ramadhan as well as a post on Laylatul Qadr (The Night of Power).

I once again supplicate to Allah that He does not deprive us in this month of His mercy and forgiveness and that He grants us Freedom from the Hell Fire.

Insha Allah I will be remembering all of you in my Du’as and I humbly request that you all remember me in your Du’as also. Finally, please do forgive me for all the discrepancies I may have had and if I have caused any pain to anyone.

Wasalaam

Acts of Worship in RamadhanPost 5 - Part 2

8. Supplicating to Allah.

الدعاء مخ العبادة

“Supplication is the essence of worship.”

Ramadhan is the month within which one tries to excel in worship. It is a month where a servant, through the medium of worship, draws closer to his beloved, Allah. Though we perform many acts of worship during this month, we should keep in mind that the core and essence of worship lies in supplication. A person who does not supplicate to Allah gives out an image of being haughty, proud and independent; and these qualities are not liked by Allah.

In this month the mercy and blessing of Allah descend upon the earth all those people who are within. Allah calls out within this month to His believers asking whether there is anyone that is supplicating so that he can accept his supplication.

Therefore, one should make an utmost effort to supplicate as much as possible in this month and ask Allah for forgiveness, steadfastness, a place in Jannah, freedom from hellfire and all whatever needs a person has.

Insha Allah, specific Du’as will be posted during the month of Ramadhan which one may use to supplicate.

9. Dhikr & Remembrance of Allah.

مثل الذي يذكر ربه و الذي لا يذكر مثل الحي و الميت

“The example of one who remembers his Lord and the one who does not is like the living and the dead”

The month of Ramadhan is a month where man excels in the remembrance of Allah; the level of worship increases in this month and therefore the remembrance of presence of Allah is felt more. The more we remember our Lord the more He remembers us and the more Allah remembers us the more likely we are to receive His mercy and forgiveness.

Therefore, in the month of Ramadhan we should increase the Dhikr and remembrance of Allah by trying to recite as much Tasbeeh (glorification) of Allah as possible. If there is one thing that a person will regret and have remorse for in Paradise it will be that time which was not spent in the remembrance of his Lord.

10. Sunnah & Nafl I'tikaaf.

‏النبي ‏ ‏صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ ‏كان ‏ ‏يعتكف ‏ ‏في العشر الأواخر من رمضان

“The Messenger of Allah صلي الله عليه و سلم used to retire in the mosque for devotion (I'tikaaf) in the last ten days of Ramadan”

I’tikaaf is the name given to the retreat inside a mosque that one practices in the month of Ramdhan. When one retreats and secludes himself to worship Allah in the month of Ramadhan he is in actual fact offering his entirety to his Lord and trying to achieve a maximum level of worship and closeness to Allah.

There are two forms of I’tikaaf:

The first type of I’tikaaf Sunnah which is performed during the last ten days of Ramadhan and has been mentioned in many Ahadeeth and it holds great merits as it has also been mentioned that that Night of Power (Laylatul Qadr) occurs during this time.

The second type is Nafl (optional) and can be performed at any time during the month of Ramadhan for any duration. This method is also meritorious and commendable; however it does not hold the same reward as the Sunnah I’tikaaf.

A person should try and perform the Sunnah I’tikaaf during the month of Ramadhan. If this is not possible due to commitments or other reasons then everyone should perform Nafl I’tikaaf for as much time as he can. A person can make the intention of Nafl I’tikaaf every time he enters the mosque, even if it is for prayer. This way he will receive the reward of I’tikaaf as long as he remains within the mosque boundaries and upholds the requirements of I’tikaaf.

11. Sehri / Suhur.

‏تسحروا فإن في السحور بركة

“Take Suhur (meal before dawn); for in Suhur there is a blessing.”

Suhur or Sehri is the meal that is taken by the person intending to fast before dawn and in the last portion of the night. Suhur is the Sunnah of our beloved Prophet صلي الله عليه و سلم and we have also been encouraged to make Suhur as it contains blessings and is a medium for Allah’s mercy.

During Ramadhan, one should avoid missing Suhur without a valid excuse. Even though may not feel hungry it is advised that one performs this Sunnah and reaps the rewards, blessings and mercy of Allah contained within.

12. Iftaar

‏ ‏إذا أقبل الليل وأدبر النهار وغابت الشمس فقد أفطر الصائم

“When the night approaches and the day retreats and the sun sinks down, then the observer of the Fast should break his fast”

It is Sunnah to make Iftaar [break one’s fast] immediately after sunset. One should not delay the Iftaar as this is undesired and disliked.

One should indulge himself in seeking Du’a (supplicating) to Allah during the time of Iftaar. To do this, one should try and commit himself to sit down at least ten minutes before the time of Iftaar and supplicate to Allah for all his needs until the Adhan is called. Furthermore, one should make a habit of making Iftaar at the Masjid and not at home.

13. Taraweeh Prayers

شهر جعل الله صيامه فريضة وقيام ليله تطوعًا

“It is a month in which Allah has made fasting compulsory by day. And has made Sunnah the Taraweeh prayer by night”

The nights of Ramadhan are blessed with the recitation of the Qur’an through the prayers of Taraweeh. The scholars class the Taraweeh prayers as Sunnah and that it consists of twenty Rak’ats (cycles) in total.

One should make an effort to attend the Taraweeh prayers in the mosque and ensure that one completes the Qur’an in this manner. If one follows the Taraweeh within one mosque only then Insha Allah he will have heard the entire Qur’an.

14. Nafl (optional) and recommended Salaah.

During this month, one should make an effort to perform optional and recommended prayers. It is a month where even recommended acts receive the rewards of Fardh (obligatory) acts in another month and additional rewards and benefits will be gained from the reading of the optional prayer.

Some prayers that can be performed are:

a) Ishraaq (begins roughly 15 minutes after Dawn – Consists of 2 – 4 Rak’ats)

b) Duha / Chast (offered after sunrise until midday – Consists of 2 – 12 Rak’ats)

c) Awabeen (After Maghrib Salaah – Consists of 6 - 20 Rak’ats)

d) Tahajjud (offered in the last portion of the night before dawn – Consists of 2 - 12 Rak’ats)

e) Tahiyyatul Masjid / Tahiyyatul Wudhu (when entering the Masjid / after performing Wudhu – Consists of 2 Rak’ats)

f) Salaat-us Tasbeeh (anytime – Recommended once daily or at least once in a lifetime – Consists of 4 Rak’ats)

g) Salaat-ut Tawbah (anytime – Performed with the intention of seeking forgiveness from Allah – Consists of 2 Rak’ats)

h) Salaat-us Shukr (anytime – Performed with the intention of thanking Allah)

i) General Nafl (optional) prayers can be performed also.

14. Praying the Qur'an.

‏وكان ‏ ‏جبريل ‏ ‏يلقاه في كل ليلة من شهر رمضان فيدارسه القرآن

“And Jibreel عليه السلام would meet him every night in the month of Ramadhan and rehearse with him صلي الله عليه و سلم the Holy Qur’an”

The Holy Qur’an has an immense connection with the month of Ramadhan; it was in this month that the Qur’an was revealed and it was in this month the angel Jibreel عليه السلام would come to rehearse the Qur’an with our beloved Prophet صلي الله عليه و سلم.

In this month one should make an effort to recite the Qur’an daily as much as possible. In actual fact, one should reduce his other forms of optional worship to accommodate the recitation of the Qur’an if he has limited time. It is also vital to recite the Qur’an correctly and accurately without making mistakes or reading too fast.

If one is able to then he should complete the Qur’an by recitation in this month and make an effort to hear the entire Qur’an in the Taraweeh prayers.

15. Excellence of Durood / Salaah Alan Nabi.

إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا صَلُّوا عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا

“Indeed Allah and His angels send blessings on the Prophet (Muhammad صلي الله عليه و سلم). O you who believe! (Ask Allah to) send blessings upon him (صلي الله عليه و سلم) and (ask Allah to) send salutations upon him (صلي الله عليه و سلم).

The act of sending blessings on the Prophet صلي الله عليه و سلم is an act that carries endless rewards and merits whilst its benefits are infinite and cannot be encompassed. A person who sends blessings on the Prophet of Allah صلي الله عليه و سلم is blessed ten times in return and it is through sending constant blessings on the Prophet of Allah صلي الله عليه و سلم will one receive his intercession and favours on the Day of Judgment.

One should never fall short on sending blessings upon the Prophet صلي الله عليه و سلم during any month of the year. However, it is vital that this act of worship is increased in the month of Ramadhan so that one can reap the benefits contained within its recitation as well as seek the mercy of Allah and His Prophet صلي الله عليه و سلم in both worlds.

َ اللهُمَّ صَلِّيْ وَسَلِّمْ عَلى مُحَمَّدٍ كُلَّمَا ذَكَرَهُ الذَّاكِرُوْنَ , و صَلِّيْ اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّم كُلَّمَا غَفَلَ عَنْ ذِكْرِهِ الْغَافِلُوْنَ َ

“O Allah, send blessings and salutations upon our Beloved Prophet Muhammad صلي الله عليه و سلم the amount of every person that remembers (sends salutation upon) him; and send blessing and salutations upon him صلي الله عليه و سلم the amount of every person who is ignorant of remembering (sending blessings upon) him صلي الله عليه و سلم.”

Acts of Worship in RamadhanPost 5 - Part 1

In the last post I mentioned the minimum level of worship one should carry out in the month of Ramadhan and points that people should always keep in mind during this month. In this post a few acts will be mentioned that, although not complete, can be used as a guideline and indication towards the acts which can be performed in this month. As there are many acts of worship that can be performed, and only a short period before the beginning of this blessed month, I shall be posting the acts of worships on a daily basis, Insha Allah.

Acts that can be Performed.

In the month of Ramadhan there is no amount of worship that be classified as the 'maximum' level of worship. However, there are worships which have been mentioned in the Ahadeeth that are specific for this month and others which are generally rewarding. Following is a selection of a few acts that one can perform during this month to reap the benefits of this month as well as these acts. May Allah give us all the strength to perform worship to the maximum of our ability in this blessed month. Aameen.

Acts of Worship Directly Related to Ramadhan

1. Worshipping on Laylatul Qadr - The Night of Power.

شهر فيه ليلة خير من ألف شهر، شهر جعل الله صيامه فريضة وقيام ليله تطوعً

"A month in which lies a night greater in virtue than a thousand months"

It is within this month of Ramadhan that Laylatul Qadr, Night of Power, is most likely to occur. This night is better and holds more weight than worship of a thousand months (eighty three years and four months). Many scholars have explained on the fact that this night, although not fixed, can be found mostly in the last ten days of Ramadhan and moreover on the 27th night.

The Prophet of Allah صلي الله عليه و سلم has said:

‏تحروا ليلة القدر في العشر الأواخر من رمضان

"Look for the Night of Qadr in the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan"

[Sahih al-Bukhari]

Keeping this Hadeeth in mind, every person should make an effort to spend the nights of Ramadhan in worship as much as possible. For it is most likely that this month contains the Night of Power. If one is unable to worship every night in this month then one should not miss the opportunity to perform worship on at least the 27th night.

Insha Allah, a post will be published regarding the Night of Power during the month of Ramadhan.

2. Fardh (obligatory) & Nafl (optional) Acts.

من تقرب فيه بخصلة كان كمن ادي فريضة في ما سواه و من ادي فريضة فيه كان كمن ادي سبعين فريضة فيما سواه،

"Whosoever intends drawing near to Allah by performing any virtuous deed, for such person shall be the reward like the one who had performed a Fardh in any other time. And whoever performs a Fardh shall be blessed with the reward of seventy Faraidh in any other time."

In this month Allah is multiplying the rewards for every act we carry out; a person who performs a Nafl (optional) act in this month will be given the reward of a Fardh (obligatory) act performed in any other month; and the person who perform a Fardh act in this month is given the reward of seventy Fardh acts performed in any other month.

Therefore, one should discharge all the Faraidh duties and thereafter make an effort to perform as many Nafl (optional) acts of worship. Thus, ensuring that one has acquired this great 'sale' and 'offer' that Allah Ta'ala is providing during this month.

3. Observing Patience.

وهو شهر الصبر، والصبر ثوابه الجنة

"And it is the month of patience, and the reward for patience is Jannah (Paradise)."

This is the month within which a person's patience is tested and put at trial. The nature of man is such that if something occurs against his habit then he will feel uneasy and restless to such an extent that the person can become ill.

Therefore, during this month a person's habits will change significantly; he will leave his food and drink during the day and perform the fast and at night he will reduce his sleeping hours by perform the Taraweeh prayers and waking up for Sehri (morning meal).

This change, along with the extra level of worship and the abstention from sins, will make a person less patient. Therefore, patience will be a great act of worship for which the reward can be no less than Jannah itself.

Furthermore, it should be remembered that there are three levels of patience that one can exercise; the first being the most common, to have patience on a calamity or disliked occurrence that befalls us. However, in addition to this, we also need to exercise patience for the performance of good deeds and the abstention from sinning. When a person finds it difficult to perform a deed then he should be patient and hope for the reward that lies in this patience. Similarly, when one feels a struggle in abstaining from sin then he should be patient and again hope for the reward from Allah.

One should have a firm intention to be patient on all the difficulties he faces, whether is be in the form of sorrow, grief and trials, or merely the difficulties one faces when performing deeds and abstaining from sins.

4. Sympathy and Huqooqul 'Ibaad (rights of fellow beings).

شهر المواساة،

"It is the month of sympathy with one's fellow men."

Within this month great emphasis is placed on direct worship; worship which is directed related to Allah. However, this should not deceive us from the rights that are attached to people. It is vital that we ensure we do not unjustly disregard the rights of others whilst trying to offer optional acts of worship as well as obligatory acts.

It is essential to keep in mind that upholding the rights of others is also Fardh and obligatory. A person who disregards the rights of others will not be forgiven by Allah for that sin and only the person whose rights have been disregarded can forgive is.

Many times we see in the month of Ramadhan that due to the increased level of worshippers in the mosque there is a difficulty in finding parking; in such a case, it would wrong to cause someone inconvenience by parking inconsiderately or even blocking a car. It would in actual fact better to reach the prayers late and have not caused any inconvenience to fellow beings.

In short, as well as upholding the rights of Allah, it is necessary that a person keeps in mind the rights of fellow beings and does not disregard their rights whilst having the notion in his mind that he is receiving reward for the act he is doing.

5. Work & Worship.

و شهر يزاد في رزق المؤمن فيه

"It is the month wherein a true believer's sustenance is increased."

There are a very few fortunate people who can leave their work for this month and dedicate themselves entirely to worship in this month. However, Islam does not necessitate the leaving of one's job; in fact, Islam would not allow a person to leave working if his family are depending on him for food and income. Therefore, though one does not have to leave work to dedicate himself to worship it is advised that each person makes an effort to decrease the amount of work he is doing and spend a greater portion of his time in worship. It should also be noted that working and earning an honest and Halaal livelihood for one's family is also an act of worship and bears great reward.

However, one should keep in mind that this is the month within which one's sustenance is increased; this is an indication from Allah to the believers to notify them that do not be heedless towards worship by becoming engrossed in business and work; for Allah has increased the sustenance of a believer in this month so that he can freely worship Allah and not have major concern regarding his sustenance.

6. Feeding the Fasting & Feeding the Poor.

من فطر فيه صائما كان مغفرة لذنوبه وعتق رقبته من النار وكان له مثل أجره من غير أن ينقص من أجره شئ ... و من سقي صائما سقاه الله من حوضي شربة لا يضمأ حتي يدخل الجنة

"Whosoever feeds another who fasted, in order to break the fast at sunset, for the feeder there shall be forgiveness of sins and emancipation from the fire of Jahannam (hell), and for such feeder shall be the same reward as the one who fasted (who he fed) without that persons reward being decreased in the least... And whoever gave a person who observed fast water to drink, Allah shall grant that giver to drink from my fountain, such a drink where after that person shall never again feel thirsty until he enters Jannah."

Abdullah ibn 'Amr رضي الله عنه narrates:

‏أن رجلا سأل النبي ‏ ‏صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ ‏أي الإسلام خير قال ‏ ‏تطعم الطعام وتقرأ السلام على من عرفت ومن لم تعرف

"A man asked the Prophet صلي الله عليه و سلم, what sort of deeds (or qualities) of Islam are good? He صلي الله عليه و سلم replied, to feed (the poor) and greet those whom you know and those whom you do not know"

Feeding people in any month is classified as one of the greatest acts and qualities of Islam. However, in the month of Ramadhan this deed becomes more valuable and precious. The person who feeds a fasting person, or gives him water to break his fast, will receive the reward of that persons fast without that person's reward being decreased. Furthermore, Allah will make this act a means of that person's sins being forgiven and will safeguard him from the hellfire.

Taking this into consideration one should make an effort to feed the poor. If this is difficult to achieve, then one should take every opportunity to feed the fasting and provide them with the food to break their fast.

7. Lessening the Burden off Others.

من خفف عن مملوكه فيه غفر الله له و اعتقه من النار

"Whosoever lessens the burden of his servants (bonds-men) in this month Allah will forgive him and free him from the fire of Jahannam"

In this month, employers should make an effort to reduce the strain on their employees; just as anyone in charge should reduce the level of work and burden on those under their charge. It is a month where a person should show care and consideration towards others as much as possible.

One should make the utmost effort not to cause any difficulty to anyone in this month and to try and lessen the burden off as many people as he can. Insha Allah, by easing the matters from other people, Allah will ease our matters both in this world and the hereafter.

May Allah give us all the inclination to perform these acts, those that follow and many more during this blessed month of Ramadhan and thereafter also. Aameen.

Insha Allah, further acts of worship will be posted tomorrow.

Levels of Worship in RamadhanPost 4

As mentioned in the previous post, it is vital to prepare for the month of Ramadhan by taking into consideration our habits as well as being prepared both mentally and physically.

Primarily, there are two things that should always be kept in mind when executing any act, for without these two things being present the act will be deemed useless.

1. Correct Intention.

The first thing is to have the correct intention and to ensure that we are doing an act solely for the pleasure of Allah.

In the month of Ramadhan, we have to eradicate the temptation of doing any act for show, to please another or through the fear of someone. It is vital that whatever act we do, we do it for the sake of Allah alone.

مَنْ صَامَ رَمَضَانَ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ

"Whoever fasts in the month of Ramadan out of sincere faith, and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven."

[Saheeh al-Bukhari]

It is clear in this Hadeeth that a person who intends reward whilst having faith is the one who will be fortunate enough to have his previous sins forgiven.

In another Hadeeth it is stated that many people receive nothing from their fast except for thirst, for which one reason is given as them having incorrect intentions.

2. Correct Method.

It is vital that along with the correct intention one adopts the correct method of carrying out an act of worship. Many people have the misunderstanding that their actions will be rewarded regardless of their quality and correctness as far as their intentions are correct. However, this is a great deception from Shaytaan and a trick that he plays to give people false hopes in achieving something when in reality nothing comes from their worship.

We can take an example of that person who intends to travel to London but instead is taking the road that leads to Scotland. No matter how sincere and correct his intentions may be he will not reach his destination. This is because the method, being the correct road here, is incorrect; he wants to travel South but has taken the route the leads North.

Therefore, along with intention, it is vital that the method we adopt is also correct. These rulings should be applied in all the acts we carry out, be it during Ramadhan or out of this blessed month.

Any act which is contrary to the order of Allah and the teachings of our Beloved صلي الله عليه و سلم will be classed as incorrect and will be against the method we should be adopting.

During the Month of Ramadhan

It is vital that in the month of Ramadhan we are of those whom Allah has forgiven and not of those whom Allah has cursed as well as Jibra'eel عليه السلام and our Beloved Prophet صلي الله عليه و سلم. This is one of the main objectives of this month.

The Messenger of Allah صلي الله عليه و سلم has informed us:

ان جبرئيل عرض لي فقال بعد من ادرك رمضان فلم يغفر له قلت آمين

"Jibreel came to me and said, Whoever reaches the month of Ramadan and does not have his sins forgiven and so enters the Fire, then may Allah distance him, say Aameen, so I said Ameen"

[Mustadrak al-Haakim]

The aim for this month is therefore to be of those who acquire Allah's forgiveness and to be saved from becoming from those people who acquire this month yet become more distant from Allah due to negligence.

Minimum level of worship that should be performed.

In order to acquire the forgiveness of Allah in this month we need to be certain that certain things are kept in mind when acts are being discussed.

The most vital and important act of worship, without argument or compromise, is abstention from sins. Enough emphasis cannot be made regarding this act and negligence from this will render the rewards of one's fast useless.

قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ مَنْ لَمْ يَدَعْ قَوْلَ الزُّورِ وَالْعَمَلَ بِهِ فَلَيْسَ لِلَّهِ حَاجَةٌ فِي أَنْ يَدَعَ طَعَامَهُ وَشَرَابَهُ

"Whoever does not give up telling lies and evil actions, then Allah is not in need of his leaving his food and drink."

[Sahih al-Bukhari]

كم من صائم ليس له من صيامه الا الظمأ، و كم من قائم ليس له من قيامه الا السهر

"Abu Huraira related that Rasulullah said: Many people who fast get nothing from their fast except hunger and thirst, and many people who pray at night get nothing from it except wakefulness."

[Darimi]

These above two Ahadeeth mention the importance of abstaining from sins and keeping one's fast free from all defects and corruption. A person who fasts yet does not uphold the rights of that fast is like one who has fasted and only acquired hunger and thirst from his fast. Such a person does not receive any benefits from that fast except that the obligation of fasting is lifted from him; as far as rewards and benefits are concerned, he receives none.

Allah's forgiveness has to be achieved, and the minimum requirement in this month to achieve this forgiveness is to respect the month of Ramadhan and the fast that one keeps. This can only be done if one has the correct intention for the fast he is keeping whilst adopting the method shown to us by the Shari'ah and thereafter abstaining from sins during this fast as well as throughout the entire month.

This, as mentioned, is the minimum requirement for each individual in this month. Although one should not aim to achieve only the minimum it may be that this is enough for a person to acquire the forgiveness of Allah. It is entirely the decision of Allah to forgive whom He wishes; if abstaining from sins is a great achievement for an individual and an immensely difficult task then this may be sufficient.

Nevertheless, one should excuse himself in front of Allah for having achieved the minimum and not carrying out further acts of worship during this month. One should intend that through abstaining from sins during this month He is hoping for the forgiveness of Allah and the bounties that lie within this month. Finally, one should, if possible, supplicate to Allah as often and as much as possible if he is unable to execute any other acts of worship.

Additional Things to Keep in mind.

The month of Ramadhan is the month of worship; it is the month within which a believer strives to remain engages in direct worship rather than indirect worship (as mentioned in the previous post). In this month no amount of worship can be classed as the 'maximum' and therefore a believer should strive to worship in this month to the peak of his ability and adequacy.

However, it is paramount to keep a few things in mind so that one's efforts are not rendered unworthy of acceptance.

1. Abstention from Sins.

Abstention from sins is essential and should be primarily kept in mind. A person who commits a sin in normal circumstances eradicates the rewards of worships he has carried out; but a person who sins in the month of Ramadhan not only removes the rewards he has accumulated but also becomes subject to having his fast rendered as just thirst and hunger and one from which no benefit is derived.

The example of such a person, who carries out acts of worship but does not abstain from sins, is like that person who carries water in a bucket containing a whole. It is apparent that eventually all the water (being his deeds) will have seeped out and nothing will remain.

2. Steadfastness on Essential and Obligatory Acts.

Although this seems obvious and basic, it has been seen that many people will make an extreme effort to perform something which is Nafl (recommended) while totally disregarding that which is Fardh/Wajib (obligatory). We see this example in the lives of many Muslims where people will run to the mosques to sit in the speeches and talks that take place on 'big nights' such as the 15th of Sha'baan etc but are misguided and neglectful of the five daily prayers.

It is essential that this habit does not follow us into Ramadhan and does not come back to us after the departure of this greatest month. In Ramadhan it is vital that we should stay from sins; and leaving a Fardh/Wajib act is also a sin. Therefore, more important than any act of worship is that act of worship which has been made incumbent and necessary upon us.

3. Correct Intention.

Although this may seem as repetition, it is essential that a person has his intentions rectified and correct. The Nafs (self) of a person is such that it craves for attention and status. Therefore, in this month, when we are performing acts of worship we will at times be subjected to the desire of 'showing' people how 'pious' we are; or we will without realising at times perfect our acts for onlookers. This is a trick of Shaytaan and the Nafs, they don't prevent us from doing an act of worship but instead will deem our worship valueless.

Acts Which Can Be Performed.

Insha Allah in the next post I will mention a lists of 'Ibaadat (acts of worship) that one can perform during the month of Ramadhan.

May Allah give us all the inclination to prepare for this month and to reap benefits from it once it arrives. Aameen.

اللهم بارك لنا في رجب وشعبان وبلغنا رمضان

"O Allah, make the months of Rajab and Sha'ban blessed for us, and let us reach the month of Ramadhan".

Preparation for RamadhanPost 3

The month of Ramadhan is fast approaching and before we even realise it, it will have dawned upon us.

Generally, we have two types of acts; one that needs no preparation and another that needs preparation. For the acts that don’t need preparation, we can confidently say that greater benefit can be derived from those acts if preparation was made; and acts for which preparation is necessary a loss will be usually be endured if preparation is not made, and benefit will not be derived.

For example, for cooking we can say that preparation is not essential; but if someone makes the necessary preparations and even marinates the food in advance we can say that the taste will be better and the task easier. Similarly, for someone embarking on a journey it is essential that he makes necessary arrangements, such as clothing, hotels, money etc. If these preparations are not made then it is quite clear that a great calamity will befall the person.

Similarly, to derive maximum benefit from the month of Ramadhan it is necessary that one makes preparation for it in advance. This month needs no introduction; it is an immensely valuable and blessed month and thus wasting a single moment of its precious time would lead to a loss that one may not be able to recover. It is therefore vital that we begin to prepare for this month of Ramadhan in order to derive maximum benefit from it.

In order to achieve the entire blessings of this month it is crucial that one understands its purpose and what is to be achieved from this month. The objective of this month is to reform and guide us in such a manner that the blessings and guidance continue in the eleven months to come. But in order to achieve this objective, it is essential that we make use of every second of this month, for in reality, we are preparing to better ourselves in a span of one month and we anticipate it to last us for the remaining eleven months.

In a lengthy Hadeeth, the Prophet صلي الله عليه و سلم mentions that the month of Ramadhan is the month of Sabr (patience), and the reward of this Sabr is Jannah (Paradise).

و هو شهر الصبر، والصبر ثوابه الجنة

"And it (Ramadhan) is the month of Sabr (Patience). And Sabr, its reward is Jannah (Paradise)"

Our beloved Prophet صلي الله عليه و سلم has mentioned that the month of Ramadhan is the month of patience. However, we have been taught to be patient regardless of the month. So what then could the meaning of this sentence be?

The meaning of this portion of the Hadeeth is that the month of Ramadhan is a month in which extreme patience is required. It is a month in which the patience of a man will be tested time and again, for the change of lifestyle always reduces a man's level of patience and thus making him more impatient than he would be in other months.

Similarly, the month of Ramadhan is a month of worship and prayer, we have the extra night prayer of Taraweeh in the month of Ramadhan and we are encouraged to recite the blessed Qur'an at least once in this month. Additionally, we are encouraged to spend more time in worship than we normally do. This continuous pattern of worship is something that the soul and body are not used to due to normally being engrossed in the materialistic world and therefore patience is also required in carrying out these acts of worship in this month.

As a result, it is vital that each and every person concentrates on his level of patience in this holy month so that through this patience he is able to refrain from committing sins and at the same time he can concentrate and exercise patience on fulfilling those acts of worship that he would not normally do.

The Hadeeth further states the reward for exercising patience in this month is "Jannah" (Paradise) and therefore we can see how vital this act of patience is. We, our entire lives, have strived to acquire this Jannah, and here the Prophet صلي الله عليه و سلم is telling us that if we exercise patience in this month we will be rewarded with Jannah.

Therefore, in reality we are attempting to acquire the reward of Jannah itself in the span of one month. As the month of Ramadhan is blessed and holds a great status, one should not think this act is impossible nor should one think that he is not capable of achieving this reward.

However, in order to be successful in the month of Ramadhan we have to prepare for it and ensure that we do not miss even one vital moment of this month; it is necessary that we begin to exercise patience from today and that we develop it to such a level by the beginning of Ramadhan that we do not need to exhaust our effort in this act whilst leaving the other rewarding acts in this month.

In short, we need to realise the urgency and the shortage of time that we have and what we are trying to achieve in the period of one month.
In order to prepare for this month we should start practicing during this month so that we are trained and ready for the month of Ramadhan.

Following are just few points that one should keep in mind and start practising from this day. However, individuals will be more aware of their weaknesses and should concentrate on those weaknesses before the dawning of Ramadhan. For example, if someone is in the habit if swearing / losing his patience etc then he should make an effort on these matters.

'Ilm (Knowledge)

The Prophet of Allah صلي الله عليه و سلم has said, "The seeking of knowledge is Fardh (obligatory) upon every Believer"

The meaning of this Hadeeth is that we are obliged to seek the knowledge that we need in order to execute the commands of our religion, and therefore it is vital that each and every person, during this period between Ramadhan, that we seek the necessary knowledge regarding the Masaa'ils of Ramadhan, i.e. the Fiqh (rulings) regarding the fast and other matters regarding this month.

Insha Allah these will be covered in the following posts.

Habits

It should be remembered that what we practice is what we will take into the month of Ramdhan. It cannot be denied that the blessed month of Ramadhan will indeed encourage a person to worship Allah Ta'ala in greater amounts than in the other months, but it should be also noted that our habits will continue with us through the month of Ramadhan. Therefore, one should pay extra attention towards their daily habits and try to minimise the habits of sinning and increase the habit of the Dhikr (remembrance) of Allah and worshipping Him.

It is during this month that we should exercise a greater level of patience and gratitude. We should increase the level of perseverance and determination in gaining His pleasure so that when the month of Ramadhan dawns upon us we are in the habit of devoting ourselves to His service.

Sins

It is during the month of Ramadhan that Allah Ta'ala chains the Shaytaan and aids us in controlling our Nafs (Self Desire). It is therefore during this time that we can concentrate on our desires and try to control them and bring them in accordance to the pleasure of Allah.

Allaamah Busairi رحمه الله says in his Qasida-e-Burdah (Poem of the Scarf) that "Your self (desires) is like a child..." The meaning of this is that a child will desire to do something but like the self desire it will give up if its desire is procrastinated and prolonged.

Therefore, from now on, we should make an intention that whenever we have a desire to commit a sinful act, we will delay that act until our desire retreats and it is thus that we can bring our self desire under control in time for the auspicious month of Ramadhan.

Direct Worship and In-direct worship

Islam, though classed as a religion, in reality, is a lifestyle for a believer. Keeping this in mind, Allah Ta'ala has made each of our daily activities something from which we can gain reward. Therefore, Allah Ta'ala has instructed us to worship Him throughout the year; eleven months which is dominated by indirect worship and one month which is dominated by direct worship.

Therefore, it is necessary that we pay extra attention towards this month as it is the only month in which we are asked to increase the level of direct worship.

Huqooqul 'Ibaad

It should be remembered that when we disobey Allah it is at His discretion to forgive us, but if we cause any discomfort or difficulty to one of His servants then Allah has informed us that He shall not forgive us until that person does not forgive us and He has commanded us to seek forgiveness from that person.

The month of Ramadhan is a month in which the direct worship an individual believer does increases significantly. It is therefore a time where each person will be in a greater contact with other Muslim brothers. Hence, we should take extra care in ensuring that this does not result in us being involved in sins whilst not even realising it.

It is seen that in Ramadhan people make a greater effort to go to the Masjid to offer their Salaah. Alhumdulillah, this is a great act of worship and may Allah reward us all for making the extra effort. However, how many of us take other people into consideration? We bring our cars, block other people's vehicles and remain in the Masjid to offer our Nawaafils (optional acts). Yet, we fail to realise that we have caused another person difficulty and therefore all our prayers are washed away.

Keeping a Log

Although not necessary, it is advised that a person keep a personal log on everything he does from today till until after Ramadhan.

The method that can be used is that a book be kept, on one side all the positive points can be noted and on the other side all the negative points should be noted. If this log is started in Sha'baan and continued even after Ramadhan, then one will be able to see what deeds he has been doing and what sins have also been committed. It will also allow us to see whether during the month of Ramadhan our deeds increased and our sins decreased. Thereafter, Insha Allah, we can concentrate on our actions and achieve the purpose of Ramadhan, to change for the better.

The scholars have mentioned that the sign of acceptance of acts is to see the change in a person after the act; the sign of acceptance for one’s Salaah is to see if he offers the following Salaah; the acceptance of one’s Ramadhan, in the same way, will be determined whether the deeds of a person increase after Ramadhan and his sins decrease.

May Allah Ta'ala make out efforts for this month successful and may He grant us the rewards that He has promised His pious servants. Aameen.

The Upcoming of the Blessed Month of RamadhanPost 2

In the previous post we mentioned the merits of Ramadhan. After acknowledging the merits of this blessed month it is vital that we prepare for this month and ensure that we are ready when this month dawns upon us. However, in order to be able to prepare for this month it is primarily essential to understand its purpose; for only after understanding the purpose of this month will we understand our aims and prepare accordingly.

The Purpose of Ramadhan

The month of Ramadhan is not like any other month; its purpose is to rid man of those habits which he has accumulated throughout the rest of the year. It is a month that prepares man for the remaining eleven months by teaching him discipline and self control. Thus, Allah has made some acts which are beloved to man, like eating, drinking and fulfilling one's desires, Haraam. If man can control these desires in this month, which are usually permissible for him, then he can surely control himself from other desires which are not permissible throughout the remaining months.

This blessed month has been sent by Allah to His bondsmen so that can create a connection and draw closer to Allah by reaping the many rewards that lie in this month. A person who has been given the opportunity to be present in this month can take this as a sign that Allah Ta’ala has given him another opportunity to draw closer to Him and earn His paradise through worship in this month.

In this month we will be given many opportunities, as mentioned above to reform ourselves and seek forgiveness for our bad sins. This is a month of reformation and self reflection, where a believer can ponder of over spirituality and piety and bring a change for the better. The Prophet of Allah صلي الله عليه و سلم has clearly stated:

مَنْ لَمْ يَدَعْ قَوْلَ الزُّورِ وَالْعَمَلَ بِهِ فَلَيْسَ لِلَّهِ حَاجَةٌ فِي أَنْ يَدَعَ طَعَامَهُ وَشَرَابَهُ

“Whoever does not give up lying and evil actions, then Allah is not in need of his leaving his food and drink"

[Saheeh al-Bukhari]

It is clear from this Hadeeth which has been narrated on the authority of Hadrhat Abu Huraira رضي الله عنه that Allah is not in need of any person to leave his food or drink. Allah is far from needs and desires. However, it is the mercy of Allah that He wants each and every person to leave those things which will lead him to the hellfire and by controlling one’s desires throughout this month it is hoped that one will be able to control himself throughout the following months also.

For those who can relate, we can look at the month of Ramadhan like an MOT test. It is vital to be on form during this test. Once the test is over then we should be at a standard where we can continue through the following months. Indeed, there will be repairs and faults in between, but these will be minor and can be dealt with on the spot.

May Allah Ta’ala make us successful in this test, for the one who is unsuccessful in this test may not be given an opportunity for a re-test.

ان جبرئيل عرض لي فقال بعد من ادرك رمضان فلم يغفر له قلت آمين

"Jibreel came to me and said, 'Whoever reaches the month of Ramadan and does not have his sins forgiven and so enters the Fire, then may Allah distance him, say ameen" So I said "Ameen"

[Mustadrak al-Haakim]

In summary, the month of Ramadhan has been made so that mankind can take benefit of the merits and blessings contained within to change themselves for the better and by doing so create a bond with Allah that will continue throughout the eleven remaining months.

It is a month within which Allah has instructed us to place more emphasis on actions regarding our Deen (religion) as opposed to our daily routine and emphasis on worldly matters.

Insha Allah in the next post, an effort will be made to discuss the methods we should carry out to prepare ourselves for this unique month. We have now one month remaining before the arrival of this blessed month, and therefore it seems necessary to post more than twice a week in an effort to cover all the topics and necessary rulings before the commencement of this month. Insha Allah, I will be making an effort to post as much as three times a week in order to cover these topics. I pray that information comes in use and aids the readers in preparing for the month of Ramadhan.

As a reminder, please commit the following Du’a to memory and make a habit of reciting it daily until the day of Ramdhan.

اللهم بارك لنا في رجب وشعبان وبلغنا رمضان

"O Allah, make the months of Rajab and Sha’ban blessed for us, and let us reach the month of Ramadhan”.

[Musnad-e-Ahmed]

The Upcoming of the Blessed Month of RamadhanPost 1

The month of Ramadhan is by far in need of any introduction to its merit, status and significance in Islam. It is a month that excels and surpasses all the other months in its excellence and superiority.

However, it is a merit on its own to introduce the many qualities of this month with the intention of preparation for this month; for it was also the practice of our Beloved Nabi صلي الله عليه و سلم to prepare for this month, physically, spiritually and also verbally.

Insha Allah, in attempt to ready ourselves, a series of posts will be written regarding Ramdhan. A few of the topics will include:

• Purpose of Ramadhan
  
• Methods of preparations,
  
• Acts of worship that should be carried out in this month,
  
• Rulings regarding Ramadhan,
  
• Supplications that one can make during this month,
  
• A true farewell of this month.

The Merits of Ramadhan

Ramadhan is the 9th month of the Islamic Calendar and is well known as the month of fasting. It is in this month that fasting is made obligatory upon Muslims all across the globe.

The month of Ramadhan brings along with it a new height of mercy from Allah Ta’ala; it allows a believer to reach levels that he may not have been able to reach in other months. The month of Ramadhan is a gift from Allah to the believers due to their short span of life; it allows them to reap benefits in this short period similar to that which previous nations acquired.

The commencement of any Islamic months is indicated by the sighting of the moon, and similarly its end is also known by the sighting of the moon for the month of Shawaal. The Prophet صلي الله عليه و سلم once mentioned in regards to Ramadhan and said:

"لاَ تَصُومُوا حَتَّى تَرَوُا الْهِلاَلَ، وَلاَ تُفْطِرُوا حَتَّى تَرَوْهُ، فَإِنْ غُمَّ عَلَيْكُمْ فَاقْدُرُوا لَه"

"When you see the crescent (of the month of Ramadan), start fasting, and when you see the crescent (of the month of Shawwal), stop fasting; and if the sky is overcast (and you can't see It) then regard the crescent (month) of Ramadan (as of 30 days)".

[Saheeh al-Bukhari]

It is narrated by Hadhrat Abu Huraira رضي الله عنه that the messenger of Allah صلي الله عليه و سلم said:

إِذَا جَاءَ رَمَضَانَ فُتِحَتْ أَبْوَابُ الْجَنَّةِ

"When Ramadan begins, the gates of Paradise are opened."

[Saheeh al-Bukhari]

It is also narrated by Hadhrat Abu Huraira رضي الله عنه that the messenger of Allah صلي الله عليه و سلم said:

إِذَا دَخَلَ شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ فُتِّحَتْ أَبْوَابُ السَّمَاءِ، وَغُلِّقَتْ أَبْوَابُ جَهَنَّمَ، وَسُلْسِلَتِ الشَّيَاطِينُ

"When the month of Ramadan starts, the gates of the heaven are opened and the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained."

[Saheeh al-Bukhari]

In this month Allah Ta’ala opens the gates of paradise to denote that during this month access to Jannah is made simple for the believers, it is during this month that believers can enter this garden prepared by Allah for the believers.

The opening of the gates encourages a believer to excel in worship, and Allah through His mercy makes it easier for him to do this by chaining the devils and locking the doors of Hell.

To any ordinary person, it would seem that fasting is the name of leaving one’s food, drink and desires from sunrise till dawn. However, the reality of fasting and the month of Ramadhan is far greater. It is for this reason that many Ahadeeth have been narrated from the Prophet صلي الله عليه و سلم regarding this auspicious month.

It is narrated by Hadhrat Abu Huraira رضي الله عنه that the messenger of Allah صلي الله عليه و سلم said:

وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَخُلُوفُ فَمِ الصَّائِمِ أَطْيَبُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى مِنْ رِيحِ الْمِسْكِ، يَتْرُكُ طَعَامَهُ وَشَرَابَهُ وَشَهْوَتَهُ مِنْ أَجْلِي، الصِّيَامُ لِي، وَأَنَا أَجْزِي بِهِ، وَالْحَسَنَةُ بِعَشْرِ أَمْثَالِهَا

"By Him in Whose Hands my soul is, the smell coming out from the mouth of a fasting person is better in the sight of Allah than the smell of musk. (Allah says about the fasting person), 'He has left his food, drink and desires for My sake. The fast is for Me. So I will reward (the fasting person) for it and the reward of good deeds is multiplied ten times."

[Bukhari]

In this Hadith the rank and status of the fasting person is mentioned and Allah declares His love and appreciation for that person who fasts for His sake. He proclaims and announces that the fast is such an act which is done for Him and He will personally reward that person for this act.

In another Hadith it is reported by Hadhrat Sahl رضي الله عنه that the messenger of Allah صلي الله عليه و سلم said:

إِنَّ فِي الْجَنَّةِ بَابًا يُقَالُ لَهُ الرَّيَّانُ، يَدْخُلُ مِنْهُ الصَّائِمُونَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ، لاَ يَدْخُلُ مِنْهُ أَحَدٌ غَيْرُهُمْ يُقَالُ أَيْنَ الصَّائِمُونَ فَيَقُومُونَ، لاَ يَدْخُلُ مِنْهُ أَحَدٌ غَيْرُهُمْ، فَإِذَا دَخَلُوا أُغْلِقَ، فَلَمْ يَدْخُلْ مِنْهُ أَحَدٌ

"There is a gate in Paradise called Ar-Raiyan, and those who observe fasts will enter through it on the Day of Resurrection and none except them will enter through it. It will be said, 'Where are those who used to observe fasts?' They will get up, and none except them will enter through it. After their entry the gate will be closed and nobody will enter through it."

[Bukhari]

This is the honour given by Allah to all those that fast for His sake. They will be given the honour of being called separately on the Day of Judgement and will be made to enter Jannah from a door that will be specifically for them.

In a lengthy Hadeeth, the Prophet of Allah صلي الله عليه و سلم addressed the Sahaba رضي الله عنهم on the last day of Sha’ban and mentioned many qualities and virtues.

Extracts have been taken from this Hadeeth which is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Salman رضي الله عنه. He states:

خطبنا رسول الله عليه و سلم في اخر يوم من شعبان فقال: "يا أيها الناس قد أظلكم شهر عظيم مبارك شهر فيه ليلة خير من ألف شهر، شهر جعل الله صيامه فريضة وقيام ليله تطوعًا، من تقرب فيه بخصلة كان كمن ادي فريضة في ما سواه و من ادي فريضة فيه كان كمن ادي سبعين فريضة فيما سواه، وهو شهر الصبر، والصبر ثوابه الجنة، و شهر المواساة، و شهر يزاد في رزق المؤمن فيه، من فطر فيه صائما كان مغفرة لذنوبه وعتق رقبته من النار وكان له مثل أجره من غير أن ينقص من أجره شىء... وهو شهر أوله رحمة وأوسطه مغفرة واخره عتق من النار، من خفف عن مملوكه فيه غفر الله له و اعتقه من النار... و من سقي صائما سقاه الله من حوضي شربة لا يضمأ حتي يدخل الجنة".

On the last day of Sha’ban Rasulullah صلي الله عليه و سلم addressed us and said, "O people there comes over you now a great month, a most blessed month in which lies a night more greater in virtue than a thousand months. It is a month in which Allah has made fasting compulsory by day. And has made Sunnah the Taraaweeh prayer by night. Whosoever intends drawing near to Allah by performing any virtuous deed, for such person shall be the reward like the one who had performed a Fardh in any other time. And whoever performs a Fardh, shall be blessed with the reward of seventy Faraidh in any other time.

This is indeed the month of patience, and the reward for true patience is Jannah (paradise). It is the month of sympathy with one's fellowmen. It is the month wherein a true believer's sustenance is increased. Whosoever feeds another who fasted, in order to break the fast at sunset, for the feeder there shall be forgiveness of sins and emancipation from the fire of Jahannam (hell), and for such feeder shall be the same reward as the one who fasted (who he fed) without that persons reward being decreased in the least…

This is a month, the first of which brings Allah's mercy, the middle of which brings His forgiveness and the last of which brings emancipation from the fire of Jahan-nam.

Whosoever lessens the burden of his servants (bonds-men) in this month, Allah will forgive him and free him from the fire of Jahannam…

And whoever gave a person who fasted water to drink, Allah shall grant that giver to drink from my fountain, such a drink where after that person shall never again feel thirsty until he enters Jannah."

[Saheeh ibn Khuzaimah]

In this Hadeeth there are many virtues that have been mentioned regarding the month of Ramadhan. It is a month within which Allah increases the rewards of acts carried out by a believer; he is able to get close to Allah through Nafl (optional) acts and is given the reward of seventy Fardh (obligatory) acts for a single Fardh act in this month.

Feeding or giving water to a fasting person in this month is also shown to be an act of great reward and merit, one of the reasons being that the fasting person is fasting for the sake of Allah and Allah Himself shown appreciation for this act of a believer. A person who quenches the thirst of a fasting person will also be given the honour on the Day of Judgement by being from those fortunate people who are given water from the fountain of the Prophet صلي الله عليه و سلم, known as al-Kauthar. A person who is given this water shall not feel thirst until during the day of Judgement until he enters Jannah.

This month is divided into three portions; the first portion being that which contains the mercy of Allah Ta’ala, the second portion containing the forgiveness of Allah Ta’ala and the final portion being a part within which there is freedom for the believers from the fire of Hell.

It is narrated that in this month is the Night of Power, Laylatul Qadr, which is more better than a thousand months of worship. It is a night which can be the medium for a persons forgiveness and success. It is narrated by Hadhrat Abu Huraira رضي الله عنه that the messenger of Allah صلي الله عليه و سلم said:

مَنْ قَامَ لَيْلَةَ الْقَدْرِ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ، وَمَنْ صَامَ رَمَضَانَ إِيمَانًا وَاحْتِسَابًا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ

"Whoever established prayers on the night of Qadr out of sincere faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven; and whoever fasts in the month of Ramadan out of sincere faith, and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven."

[Saheeh al-Bukhari]

One who performs in the month of Ramadhan in a manner shown by the Prophet of Allah صلي الله عليه و سلم he will be subject to the mercy and forgiveness of Allah Ta’ala. He will achieve the true purpose of Ramadhan, a new start and the closeness of Allah Ta’ala.

Insha Allah an effort will be made to present posts relating to the month of Ramadhan as an effort to prepare ourselves for such an exhilarated and rewarding month. The posts will include the necessary rulings and important information pertaining to this blessed month.

A decision is still being made as to whether the posts will be posted on this blog or my alternative blog, www.zain121.worpdress.com.

Life cannot be trusted, and I pray to Allah that He grants us all the life to be present in this Ramadhan and also grant us the wisdom and inclination to reap the benefits within. May He accept this effort and make it a source of salvation. Aameen.

Let us all make an effort to commit this Du’a to our memory and make a habit of reciting it daily until the day of Ramdhan.

‏ اللهم بارك لنا في رجب وشعبان وبلغنا رمضان

"O Allah, make the months of Rajab and Sha’ban blessed for us, and let us reach the month of Ramadhan".

[Musnad-e-Ahmed]

Marriage in Islam - 02. When to get married.

The first post on marriage covered the topic "if one chooses not to marry or is unable to get married". The topic that will now be discussed is, "When to get married".

Hadhrat Abdullah ibn ‘Umar mentions that he heard the Prophet of Allah SAW said:

‏عن النبي ‏ ‏صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ ‏أنه قال ‏ ‏ألا كلكم راع وكلكم مسئول عن رعيته فالأمير الذي على الناس راع وهو مسئول عن رعيته والرجل راع على أهل بيته وهو مسئول عنهم والمرأة راعية على بيت بعلها وولده وهي مسئولة عنهم والعبد راع على مال سيده وهو مسئول عنه ألا فكلكم راع وكلكم مسئول عن رعيته

"All of you are shepherds and each of you is responsible for his flock. An Imaam is a shepherd and is responsible for his flock. A man is a shepherd in respect of his family and is responsible for his flock. The woman is a shepherd in respect of her husband’s house and is responsible for her flock. The servant is a shepherd in respect of his master’s property and is responsible for his flock. All of you are shepherds and each of you is responsible for his flock."

[Saheeh Muslim]

The meaning of this Hadith is that each person is responsible for one thing or another and that each person will be questioned regarding his responsibilities.

The parents hold great responsibility for their children; they are required to name them, feed them, clothe them, educate them and fulfil their necessities. Additionally, one of the responsibilities of parents is to marry their children when they are of age.

It is narrated by Hadhrat Abu Huraira رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah صلي الله عليه و سلم said:

حق الولد علي والده أن يحسن إسمه و يزوجه اذا أدرك و يعلمه الكتاب

[Kanzul Ummaal]

It is clear in this Hadith that the responsibility of getting one’s child married is of the parents. If they are neglectful in any manner then they will be responsible and sinful, especially if the child commits any sin.

It is obvious that the age of marriage will vary with each individual and that varying factors will determine a suitable age of marriage for a person. For example, a child who is less aware of these matters will desire to marry later than someone who has matured earlier and quicker. Similarly, a child who is studying or does not have the means to maintain a family may decide to delay marriage until one is more settled and ready.

Nevertheless, it should be remembered that if the child has such desires then marriage should not be delayed due to excuses such as studying; for if the child falls into sinning due to not marrying then he will receive the sin as well as the parents.

Although the ages of marriage will vary, as mentioned above, there have been guidelines and indications regarding the age. In the Ahadeeth it is mentioned that a child should be married when the child matures and reaches an understanding. Furthermore, the child should be able to bear the responsibilities of marriage and fulfil the rights of the partner.

General guidelines have indicated the average age for a male to be twenty and for a female to be seventeen. However, this will vary in different societies, countries and from individual to individual. We may also see that as time goes by the age for marriage may decrease as children develop a quicker understanding of such matters and usually mature quicker.

Therefore, it is vital for every parent to analyse their child individually and deduce whether it is the correct time for their children to get married.

It should be understood that delay in marriage due to pre-requirements, such as not being able to find a suitable partner, does not fall under the description of ‘negligence’. The messenger of Allah صلي الله عليه و سلم has himself mentioned qualities for which a person is regarded suitable for marriage. However, it should also be kept in mind that all preparations and 'requirements' should be in accordance to the Islamic guidelines and Shari’ah.

In conclusion, the general age mentioned for marriage is twenty for boys and seventeen for girls. However, this will vary from individual to individual and will also depend on the customs within different backgrounds, social classes and families. However, these should all be disregarded if the child is ready for marriage and especially if he will commit a sin if marriage does not take place soon.

The above was written in view of the Shari’ah where the responsibility of getting a person married lies in the hands of the parents. However, it would be foolish to ignore current situations and customs where individual children are responsible for their own marriage, sometimes for valid reasons and at other times by going against the Shari'ah.

At times individuals are faced with the difficulty of organising their own marriages. This, at times, is due to the parent’s negligence or stubbornness where they are not willing to take the necessary action to meet the needs of their children or because they are unwilling to accept the choice of partner selected by their children. Insha Allah, these topics will be discussed in a later post.

Question 2: Are we allowed to watch a man doing Bayaan despite alternatives being available?

As I mentioned previousl, Sister Aisha raised a few questions she wanted answering. I have already addressed the the first question and will now attempt to explain the second question.

2) Are we allowed to watch a man doing Bayaan despite alternatives being available?

The answer to this question is almost answered in the first question which was regarding watching the new on television. I will explain a few differences from this question and the previous question whilst bringing answers from the previous question.

As mentioned before, questions regarding the watching of general television are occasional. The majority of Muslims will readily and whole heartedly agree that the viewing of the television will be impermissible in Islam due to many reasons.

However, from time to time we will see questions that are regarding specific viewing of the television and utilising it under different circumstances. For instance, the first question was regarding watching news on television whilst this question is regarding the watching of a male person or a female person giving a Bayaan (lecture) on television.

The reason why these questions usually have to be asked is because we fail to understand the reason of the impermissibility of watching the television in the first place.

In the previous question this topic was dealt with in much detail where I explained how any person is not allowed to see someone whom he/she is allowed to marry, known is Islam as a Ghair Mahram. Whilst taking this into consideration and other factors such as nudity, vulgar scenes and language, music etc, we class television as forbidden under the Islamic Law.

Nevertheless, the confusion will arise when the matter is religiously related or specific reasons are not present. For example, if someone was to watch a lecture (Bayaan) taking place on television then it would certainly remove the obscene language, nudity, vulgar scenes and music from being present. However, it is vital to ascertain whether all forbidden factors are removed.

Regarding the news it was explained that the Prophet of Allah صلي الله عليه و سلم had instructed as to lower our gazes and restrain ourselves from the viewing of Ghair Mahrams. This is the same instruction given to us by Allah Ta’ala in the Qur’an and it is the same for both men and women:

قُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِمْ وَيَحْفَظُوا فُرُوجَهُمْ ذَلِكَ أَزْكَى لَهُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا يَصْنَعُونَ

"Tell the believing men to lower their gaze, and protect their private parts. That is purer for them. Verily, Allah is All-Aware of what they do."

[Surah Nur- 24:30]

وَقُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنَاتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِنَّ وَيَحْفَظْنَ فُرُوجَهُنَّ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَلْيَضْرِبْنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلَى جُيُوبِهِنَّ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ... وَلَا يَضْرِبْنَ بِأَرْجُلِهِنَّ لِيُعْلَمَ مَا يُخْفِينَ مِن زِينَتِهِنَّ وَتُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا أَيُّهَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ

"And tell the believing women to lower their gaze, protect their private parts and not to show off their adornment except only that which is apparent and to draw their veils all over bodies and not to reveal their adornment… And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And all of you beg Allah to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful."

[Surah Nur- 24:31]

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ قُل لِّأَزْوَاجِكَ وَبَنَاتِكَ وَنِسَاء الْمُؤْمِنِينَ يُدْنِينَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِن جَلَابِيبِهِنَّ ذَلِكَ أَدْنَى أَن يُعْرَفْنَ فَلَا يُؤْذَيْنَ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا

"O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) all over their bodies. That will be better, that they should be known (as free respectable women) so as not to be annoyed. And Allah is Ever Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."

[al-Ahzab - 33:59]

In these verses both the men and the women are clearly told to lower their gazes without any exception.

It is essential that we fully understand the Shari’ah (Islamic Law) in order to be able to follow it correctly. It is the way of Shaytaan not to stop a person from doing good but to make him think he is doing good when actually what he is doing is totally against the teachings of our Beloved Prophet صلي الله عليه و سلم. Furthermore, when we do a good deed, he makes it his mission to omit that good by making us sin thereafter.

Thus we should see how the companions of the Prophet صلي الله عليه و سلم would seek knowledge and deduce from their actions whether or not it would be permissible to gaze at a Ghair Mahram in order to seek the knowledge of Islam.

‏عن ‏ ‏عائشة ‏ ‏رضي الله عنها ‏ ‏قالت ‏أومت امرأة من وراء ستر بيدها كتاب إلى رسول الله ‏ ‏صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ ‏فقبض النبي ‏ ‏صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ ‏يده فقال ما أدري أيد رجل أم يد امرأة قالت بل امرأة قال ‏ ‏لو كنت امرأة لغيرت أظفارك ‏ ‏يعني بالحناء

"It is narrated by Aisha رضي الله عنها that a woman made a sign from behind a curtain to indicate that she had a letter for the Prophet of Allah صلي الله عليه و سلم. The Prophet صلي الله عليه و سلم closed his hand, saying: I do not know whether this is a man's or a woman's hand. She said: No, a woman. He صلي الله عليه و سلم said: If you were a woman, you would make a difference to your nails, meaning with henna."

[Sunan Abi Dawud]

This Hadeeth clearly indicates that even when women approached our Beloved Prophet صلي الله عليه و سلم they did so through a veil or a curtain. There is no doubt in the fact that the companions of the Prophet صلي الله عليه و سلم were amongst the best of creations and there is no question about the innocence and purity of the Prophets عليهم السلام let alone our Beloved Prophet صلي الله عليه و سلم. Despite the ranks of these people we can see that even the Prophet صلي الله عليه و سلم wanted the women to veil from him even if it was regarding Islamic understanding and knowledge, for it was this reason that the companions would approach the Prophet of Allah صلي الله عليه و سلم.

This was also the case when the companions of the Prophet صلي الله عليه و سلم approached the Mothers of all the believers, the wives of the Prophet صلي الله عليه و سلم.

وَإِذَا سَأَلْتُمُوهُنَّ مَتَاعًا فَاسْأَلُوهُنَّ مِنْ وَرَاءِ حِجَابٍ ذَلِكُمْ أَطْهَرُ لِقُلُوبِكُمْ وَقُلُوبِهِنَّ

"And when you ask them (the wives of the Prophet صلي الله عليه و سلم) for anything you want, ask them from behind a veil; this is purer for your hearts and for their hearts."

[Surah al-Ahzab – 33:53]

This is another example where Allah Ta’ala is commanding us to ask for anything from behind a veil, even if it be from the wives of the Beloved Prophet صلي الله عليه و سلم for this is purer for our hearts.

Returning to the original question, we must realise that there is no one purer than the Prophet صلي الله عليه و سلم, his wives and his companions رضي الله عنهم; despite this they were instructed to interact from behind veils and curtains. Therefore, when the matter comes in regards to us it is even more essential to oblige to this order of Allah and be alert when interacting with the opposite gender and Ghair Mahrams.

Seeking knowledge is essential in Islam, but to seek the knowledge of Islam correctly is also as essential. Therefore, we should ensure that we are not misguided into thinking we are receiving rewards by listening to lectures whilst in reality we are going against the core principle taught to us by the Prophet صلي الله اليه و سلم.

Once again, I hope that this answers your question and if there are any further queries or questions please do not hesitate to ask me. I would also advise that the previous question be read so that a full understanding can be gained regarding the issue of television.

May Allah give us all the understanding of Islam and may He give us the courage to endure all the hardships that occur in the effort to seek the knowledge of Islam. May He save us from misunderstandings and deception and the trickery of Shaytaan. Aameen.

Question 1: Are we allowed to watch the news?

In my previous post, Sister Aisha raised a few questions she wanted answering. I apologise for the delay caused by my appendix operation and will answer the first question.

It is important that we justify and answer each question correctly, keeping in mind as many aspects and rulings of religion as possible. Insha Allah, I will make an attempt to answer the questions you have raised.

1) Are we allowed to watch the news?

The question of the television does not raise much doubt in the average Muslim’s mind. He will not find it difficult to class the watching of general TV as impermissible in Islam. However, the question has been raised a number of times regarding certain programmes or uses for TV and whether specific use of the television is permissible in Islam.

Taking the example raised in the question, regarding the watching of news, let us analyse what would be the ruling of watching news on television.
Let us assume that a man would switch on his television on the hour precisely and would switch it off as soon as the news finishes. This will mean that the person will specifically be watching the news and nothing before or after it. Let us now analyse what that person will be experiencing whilst watching the news:

1. First of all, there will be a presenter for the news channel which will be either a women or a man, and on some occasions there are both.

2. Thereafter, the presenters have news reporters in various places that report back to the news room and give us a live update on what is taking place.

3. Pictures of current news, events and even sports are shown on the news. This will include pictures of men and women.

If we pause here for a moment, we will all be able to see the picture that is being drawn up. The visualisation and perception of a male or female is usually inevitable during a news broadcast. It would be farfetched to assume that pictures which are classed as impermissible by the Shari’ah will not be shown.

Furthermore, though it is vital to keep in touch with situation occurring in our community and the wider world it is also a higher form of piety (Taqwa) to keep away from that which is not useful. The Prophet of Allah صلي الله عليه و سلم has beautifully said:

من حسن إسلام المرء تركه ما لا يعنيه

From the beauty of a person’s Islam is for him to leave that which does not benefit or concern him.

[Sunan Tirmidhi]

The ruling regarding the viewing of men by women and the viewing of women by men is common to all people. It is explicitly mentioned in the Qur’an and has been clearly instructed in the Ahadeeth also. Following are a few Qur’anic verses and Ahadeeth which show hint clear state the disapproval of looking at the opposite gender:

قُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِمْ وَيَحْفَظُوا فُرُوجَهُمْ ذَلِكَ أَزْكَى لَهُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا يَصْنَعُونَ

"Tell the believing men to lower their gaze, and protect their private parts. That is purer for them. Verily, Allah is All-Aware of what they do."

[Surah Nur- 24:30]

وَقُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنَاتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِنَّ وَيَحْفَظْنَ فُرُوجَهُنَّ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَلْيَضْرِبْنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلَى جُيُوبِهِنَّ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ... وَلَا يَضْرِبْنَ بِأَرْجُلِهِنَّ لِيُعْلَمَ مَا يُخْفِينَ مِن زِينَتِهِنَّ وَتُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا أَيُّهَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ

"And tell the believing women to lower their gaze, protect their private parts and not to show off their adornment except only that which is apparent and to draw their veils all over bodies and not to reveal their adornment… And let them not stamp their feet so as to reveal what they hide of their adornment. And all of you beg Allah to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful."

[Surah Nur- 24:31]

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ قُل لِّأَزْوَاجِكَ وَبَنَاتِكَ وَنِسَاء الْمُؤْمِنِينَ يُدْنِينَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِن جَلَابِيبِهِنَّ ذَلِكَ أَدْنَى أَن يُعْرَفْنَ فَلَا يُؤْذَيْنَ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا

"O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) all over their bodies. That will be better, that they should be known (as free respectable women) so as not to be annoyed. And Allah is Ever Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."

[al-Ahzab - 33:59]

From another point of view, it was a Habit of the Prophet of Allah صلي الله عليه و سلم that when faced with two tasks, he صلي الله عليه و سلم would always choose the easier option. The ruling of action upon the lesser of two evils is also well known to people. Keeping these two things in mind, it would be correct to say that there are alternatives available for people to acquire information regarding the current situations and daily news; Radio, Internet and Newspapers are just a few to name. If a person opts to watch the news on the television then there is a possibility that Shaytaan and Self Desire will slowly and eventually take him to prolong his viewing time and make him start watching a few minutes earlier and finish a few minutes later.

As a final point, we can say that there may be benefits of watching the news, specifically on television. However, with the above arguments in mind it seems as though the harms outweigh the benefits. Therefore, it would not only be impermissible but also foolish to indulge in something that causes more harm then benefit. This is the same reason why alcohol and intoxicants were made impermissible:

قُلْ فِيهِمَا إِثْمٌ كَبِيرٌ وَمَنَافِعُ لِلنَّاسِ وَإِثْمُهُمَآ أَكْبَرُ مِن نَّفْعِهِمَا

"In them there is a great sin and some benefits for the people. But their sin far outweighs their benefit."

[Surah al-Baqarah – 2:219]

As a final point, let us remember the Hadeeth narrated by Umm Salamah رضي الله عنه:

‏ ‏حدثنا ‏ ‏محمد بن العلاء ‏ ‏حدثنا ‏ ‏ابن المبارك ‏ ‏عن ‏ ‏يونس ‏ ‏عن ‏ ‏الزهري ‏ ‏قال حدثني ‏ ‏نبهان مولى أم سلمة ‏ ‏عن ‏ ‏أم سلمة ‏ ‏قالت ‏
‏كنت عند رسول الله ‏ ‏صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ ‏وعنده ‏ ‏ميمونة ‏ ‏فأقبل ‏ ‏ابن أم مكتوم ‏ ‏وذلك بعد أن أمرنا بالحجاب فقال النبي ‏ ‏صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ ‏احتجبا منه فقلنا يا رسول الله أليس أعمى لا يبصرنا ولا يعرفنا فقال النبي ‏ ‏صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ ‏أفعمياوان أنتما ألستما تبصرانه ‏
‏قال ‏ ‏أبو داود ‏ ‏هذا لأزواج النبي ‏ ‏صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ ‏خاصة ألا ‏ ‏ترى إلى اعتداد ‏ ‏فاطمة بنت قيس ‏ ‏عند ‏ ‏ابن أم مكتوم ‏ ‏قد قال النبي ‏ ‏صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ ‏لفاطمة بنت قيس ‏ ‏اعتدي عند ‏ ‏ابن أم مكتوم ‏ ‏فإنه رجل أعمى تضعين ثيابك عنده

"Ummul Mu’mineen, Hadhrat Umm Salamah رضي الله عنها narrates that “I was with Rasulullahصلي الله عليه و سلم while Maymunah رضي الله عنها was with him. Then Ibn Umm Maktum رضي الله عنه came. This happened when we were ordered to observe veil. Rasulullah صلي الله عليه و سلم said: Observe veil from him. We asked: O Rasulullah صلي الله عليه و سلم is he not blind? He can neither see us nor recognise us. Rasulullah صلي الله عليه و سلم said: Are both of you blind? Do you not see him?"

[Sunan Abi Dawud – Kitaabul Libaas]

I hope the first question that you asked has now been addressed. Please do let me know if there are any questions or clarifications regarding this question.

Marriage in Islam - if one chooses not to marryor is unable to get married.

The first post on marriage covered the introduction to marriage and generally what Islam portrays regarding marriage.

From the topics mentioned, "If one chooses not to marry or is unable to get married" is the next topic to be discussed.

Islam is a flexible religion but has its boundaries; its flexibility allows one to adopt it as a way of life and implement its teachings into every situation; whereas its boundaries restrict man from becoming too engrossed into certain acts and therefore becoming extreme in following their desires. Flexibility and boundaries set by Islam have created a perfect balance for man to achieve good both in this world and the hereafter, it is a balance that allows man to be successful in both the worlds.

Marriage also has boundaries and flexibilities; it is a matter which has been regarded as half of one's Imaan (religion). Marriage is taken seriously in Islam as it allows people to live in a clean and moral society where desires are fulfilled in a human and shameful manner. It is an act that increases the number of believers and will cause our beloved Prophet صلي الله عليه و سلم to be proud by having the largest number of believers.

The Prophet of Allah صلي الله عليه و سلم has clearly forbidden people from celibacy:

"There is no celibacy in Islam"

[Sahih al-Bukhari]

However, in life it is not always possible to adopt the Sunnah act of marriage. There come in life situations that restrict that do not allow one to get married.

Therefore, it is necessary to mention the ruling of marriage; is it Mustahab (desired/recommended), Sunnah (way of the Prophet صلي الله عليه و سلم, therefore encouraged), Wajib/Fardh (obligatory).

Similarly, there will be times when marriage will be ruled as Makrooh (disliked) or Haraam (forbidden).

At this time we will deal with those rulings that concern that person who chooses not to marry or does not have the means to.

According to Imams Abu Hanifah marriage is Sunnah and recommendatory. It is an act of worship and one should strive in fulfilling this act. However, if one is in a position where he cannot control his desires then it is Wajib (necessary) for such a person to get married as he will not be able to save himself from sinning.

However, a person is excused from marrying, so much so that he should refrain from it, if he does not possess the means of supporting his wife or the capability of fulfilling her rights.

The question remains for that person who wishes to marry but does not possess the means, what should he do? Hadhrat 'Abdullah رضي الله عنه narrates that:

"We were with the Prophet صلي الله عليه و سلم while we were young and had no wealth whatsoever. So Allah's Apostle صلي الله عليه و سلم said, "O young people! Whoever amongst you can marry, should marry, because it helps him lower his gaze and guard his modesty, and whoever is not able to marry, should fast, as fasting is a shield for him (from desires)."

[Sahih al-Bukhari]

In this Hadeeth it is clearly mentioned that one who cannot marry should fast as the fasting will act as a shield for him from his desires. However, whilst doing this one should make an effort to resolve the matters that are stopping him from marrying.

As a final note, it should be remembered that not being financially able and being in a position to provide for one’s wife means the basic essentials that are necessary. Having an elegant and extravagant wedding and inviting people is not part of ‘essentials’ and is in actual fact totally discouraged and forbidden in Islam. However, in today’s society we see people going to the extent of taking out loans to organise a ‘wedding to remember.

Insha Allah this topic will be mentioned in later posts and how choosing the correct partner will save one from committing such a grave sin from the first day of such a blessed and auspicious act of worship.

May Allah give us all the courage and strength to save ourselves from the sins of desires and may He also give those people who are in need of marriage the means and a pious partner. Aameen.

FEEDBLITZ

As Salaamu Alaykum,

As many readers will already be aware of the fact that Bloglet may no longer be an available service to bloggers.

Therefore, many bloggers have decided to move to Feedblitz which seems to be more stable.

There was a request for some bloggers to re-subscribe to the blogs. However, this won't be necessary as I have imported my contacts from Bloglet to Feedblitz and therefore all subscribers should be receiving updates in their mail as usual.

However, if you did not receive an update for this post, please re-enter your email address to subscribe to this blog.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to inform people that there subscription is now available on my new blog. www.zain121.wordpress.com.

Wasalaam

Surah Nûh

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ

إِنَّا أَرْسَلْنَا نُوحًا إِلَى قَوْمِهِ أَنْ أَنذِرْ قَوْمَكَ مِن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِيَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ

Verily, We sent Nûh (Noah) to his people (saying): "Warn your people before there comes to them a painful torment."

[Surah Nûh – 71:1]

This is the first verse of Surah Nûh, which is the seventy first Surah in the Qur'an.

In this Surah Allah Ta'ala is informing the believing men and women regarding the people of Nûh عليه اسلام and how they reacted towards him when he came to them with the message of Allah Ta'ala.

The Surah begins with a verse within which Allah informs us that He sent Nûh عليه اسلام to his nation to warn them before a calamity and painful torment befalls them.

This is one of the greatest mercies of Allah Ta'ala that He never destroyed a nation without sending them a Prophet, a sign or a warning. So much so that not even a single person is punished without being sent a warning or a sign.

In the Qur'an Allah has mentioned many verses informing the believing men and women that He is Just and that He will not punish people without having informed them before hand and that His punishment will come upon those who have been warned beforehand and thus they will have no excuse once in His presence:

قَالَ قَرِينُهُ رَبَّنَا مَا أَطْغَيْتُهُ وَلَكِن كَانَ فِي ضَلَالٍ بَعِيدٍ
قَالَ لَا تَخْتَصِمُوا لَدَيَّ وَقَدْ قَدَّمْتُ إِلَيْكُم بِالْوَعِيدِ
مَا يُبَدَّلُ الْقَوْلُ لَدَيَّ وَمَا أَنَا بِظَلَّامٍ لِّلْعَبِيدِ

"His Companion (Satan -devil) will say: "Our Lord! I didn’t make him transgress. But he (himself) was far astray." He will say: "Dispute not with each other in My presence: I had already in advance sent you warning. The Word changes not before Me, and I do not the least injustice to My servants."

[Surah Qaaf – 50:27-29]

In another verse Allah mentions that He sent Prophets to guide us, and further mentions their qualities and that we will have no plea against Allah once He has sent them:

رُّسُلاً مُّبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنذِرِينَ لِئَلاَّ يَكُونَ لِلنَّاسِ عَلَى اللّهِ حُجَّةٌ بَعْدَ الرُّسُلِ وَكَانَ اللّهُ عَزِيزًا حَكِيمًا


"Apostles who gave good news, as well as warning, that mankind, after (the coming) of the apostles, should have no plea against Allah.

[An Nisaa – 4:165]

So from all these verses, and from the first verse of Surah Nûh we can deduce that Allah Ta'ala is merciful because He chose to send us Prophets as well as warnings and despite being able to and not being answerable to anyone He gave us an opportunity to better ourselves and choose the right path before sending down upon us His wrath and punishment.

It is the nature of mankind to find excuses, even if it is in front of Allah Himself, and Allah knowing this made sure He left us no excuses:

وَلَوْ أَنَّا أَهْلَكْنَاهُم بِعَذَابٍ مِّن قَبْلِهِ لَقَالُوا رَبَّنَا لَوْلَا أَرْسَلْتَ إِلَيْنَا رَسُولًا فَنَتَّبِعَ آيَاتِكَ مِن قَبْلِ أَن نَّذِلَّ وَنَخْزَى

“And if We had destroyed them with a torment before this (i.e. sending Muhammad Muhammad صلي الله عليه و سلم and the Qur'an), they would surely have said: "Our Lord! If only You had sent us a Messenger, we should certainly have followed Your Ayat (verses, signs and warnings), before we were humiliated and disgraced."

[Surah Ta Ha – 20:134]

May Allah give us all the ability to recognise His signs and warnings and the inclination to follow the teachings of His Prophet صلي الله عليه و سلم and may He save us from being like the people of Nûh عليه اسلام. Aameen