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@Bint e Aisha @ummtaalib Interview with my Teacher, Ustadh Samir Ismail The Revert Experience: Real Challenges, Real Advice (Part 1) New Muslim Essentials: Qur’an, Salah, and First Steps (Part 2) Why Tablighi Jamaat Changed in America? (Part 3)

Allahu Akbar, Walillahil-Hamd First Taraweeh in 88 years will be led by (Maulana) Professor Ali Erbas (HA), himself tonight

As-Salaam alaikum, Have you ever considered the acquisition of the sweetness of faith (Imaan) and that immense enjoyment in the worship (Ibaadah) we do? The pleasure a person finds in his Sallaah impels him to delay his Sajdas. His Zikr of Allah Ta'ala emanates from the deep recesses of his heart... intoxicating him. The requirement for this intoxication and ecstasy is not wine or worldly love; the requirement for this 'high' is neither heroine nor cocaine, it is the Remembrance of his Beloved Lord (Allahu). When he recites the Holy Qur'an, it is as if he is conversing with his Rabb. The Speech of Allah Ta'ala, which he recites, deeply impresses upon his heart and establishes a profound and strong Imaan within him. With a deep hearted enjoyment, he believes that his Lord, Allah, is listening to His Own Kalaam (Speech) from the tongue of His sinful servant. Allahu Akbar! Wa Lillahil-Hamd!!

Read here: https://www-independent-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.independent.co.uk/voices/september-11-guantanamo-bay-war-on-terror-afghanistan-b1917879.html?amp

From Afghan women regarding Afghan women VID_150010127_044805_681.mp4 VID_150010715_052943_075.mp4 VID_150010827_104245_366.mp4

Thank you very much respected Admin for publishing my post. I shall abide by the rules and regulations of this site by the grace of God. Mohammad Rafique Etesam ( shaikhrafiquee)

wa'alaykumus salam warahmatullah I asked and recieved following reply so it can be done but I dont think people with websites would take the risk

This is the stance of Islamic political parties: https://www.dawn.com/news/amp/1641051 I don't know of any Deobandi madrasah in Pakistan that does not hail and support Afghan Taliban. Ghair muqallideen / ahle hadith Ulama also support them. I've heard them showing approval and praising them in their speeches but I don't know if they support them in any other way.

we should ask a scholar knowledegable in these matters

Amount of water used by Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) for wudhu and ghusl Q: How many litres of water would Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) use for wudhu and for ghusl? A: Hazrat ‘Aaishah (radhiyallahu anha) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) used one mudd of water for wudhu and one saa’ for ghusl. One mudd amounts to approximately 1.03 litres and one saa’ is approximately 4.1 litres. And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best. عن أنس رضي الله عنه قال: كان النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يغسل، أو كان يغتسل، بالصاع إلى خمسة أمداد، ويتوضأ بالمد (صحيح البخاري، الرقم: 201) عن عائشة رضي الله عنهاأن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم كان يغتسل بالصاع ويتوضأ بالمد (سنن أبي داود، الرقم: 92) فتاوى محموديه 8/122 أحسن الفتاوى 4/386 تأليفات رشيديه صـ 245 Answered by: Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)

At the moment I'm celebrating as well as being wary. Just because they are the Taliban, we shouldn't give them a free pass. In fact they should be held to a stricter standard. It's very early days so let's wait and see how things pan out. I don't know what their justification is in forming a relationship with China, but I'm hoping and praying that it is all in Allah's plan and inshallah we shall see the benefit. My mind keeps thinking back to the treaty of hudaibiya and how it ultimately lead to our benefit. The first time Taliban took over, they allowed the losing side to join Taliban and gave them the same positions they held when they were in opposition to the Taliban. They also allowed the opposition to hold official positions in some areas such as Kabul. I can understand their hikmat behind this, but it backfired. The ex opposition holding positions in the Taliban gained numbers and strength and caused problems for the main leadership, including ameerul mumineen mullah umar (rh). I hope this doesn't happen again. I think this is a very critical time and the Taliban need help and support from our scholars, world leaders, and general awaam.

Nothing ELSE needs to be said about the matter. KHALAS!

No he is not a scholar, just a student of knowledge But I think he can make a lot of contribution in Maliki fiqh discussion

Mufti Muhammad Shafi Explaning following incident with Shaykh al-Hind Moulānā Mahmūd al-Hasan Someone once asked Shaykh al-Hind about the hadith: “The Prophet ﷺ has said that Satan does not pass the road which is used by 'Umar." Because the same or similar was not said in relation to the Prophet ﷺ or Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه), the question naturally arises as to why Satan should have feared Umar (رضي الله عنه) alone, even though both the Prophet ﷺ and Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه) enjoyed a higher status than him. Mufti Muhammad Shafi' said that in responding to any kind of critical question, Shaykh al-Hind would usually commence with a pointed, but humourous kind of remark, before providing a more comprehensive reply. Hence, it came as no surprise that in answer to this question, he opened with a quick-witted observation: "It is Satan's own stupidity. I think you had best ask him why he feared Umar (رضي الله عنه ) more than the Prophet ﷺ or Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه)!" He then cogently proceeded to offer the following explanation: "Superiority and awe are two different things. A superior person may not necessarily be the most dreaded person. In the case of Umar (رضي الله عنه) the quality of awe was a predominant characteristic, and its presence was what the hearts of the people felt most immediately. On the other hand, in the case of the Prophet ﷺ and Abū Bakr (رضي الله عنه), the quality of beauty was what predominated in their characters. Given this contrast, the immediate sense of awe when confronted with 'Umar (رضي الله عنه) is not surprising." [The Great Scholars of the Deoband Islamic Seminary by Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani]

I am not an Arab I am not from the Middle-East I don't speak Arabic But why does Palestine matter to me as a Muslim and as a human? How did we get here through the lens of history? https://youtu.be/RbLEiTbzCqI

Assalaamu ‘alaykum warahmatullah I will try to answer your question to the best of my ability according to what I have learnt in these “billion courses and gazillion articles”. On a side note, these courses and articles are mostly very basic, outlining the maxims for awareness. The only in-depth courses in the UK that I know of were conducted by Ustadhah Hidaya Hartford and Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera sahib. I know there is one in Pakistan which is in Urdu and which many UK sisters have joined. Regarding: Absolutely agree with you. They probably did not even have calendars and definitely no apps and probably did not even need to record their cycles (due to the points I’ll mention below) so no dispute with you or the Mufti sahib you consulted. In order to answer your question regarding, “why this issue is so complex that it needs tables and Apps to track” I will insha-allah first have to explain some important points which have bearing on the answer. I’ll try to be as brief as possible 1 Knowledge of Sahaabiyaat RA compared to women today: The Sahaabiyaat RA lived with none other than the source of all knowledge (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) whom they consulted through his Azwaaji Mutahharaat RA regarding these issues and would therefore be knowledgeable in this regard. Generally, among women today, ignorance of fiqhi issues prevails to the extent that many women are not aware of the faraaidh of ghusl and wudhu – not saying all women are ignorant as Alhamdulillah Allah ta’ala has blessed women great uloom throughout the ages till today 2 Things which Impact menstrual cycles: Allah ta’ala ordained for women to go through the menstrual cycles and post-natal bleeding from day one yes, however women through the ages lived in different environments which impacted their cycles differently. Many things which affect women’s cycles today were unknown in the time of the Sahaabiyaat RA. Various illnesses exist today which were unknown even a few generations ago let alone in the time of the Sahaabiyaat RA. The illnesses themselves or their treatments, medication, etc. affect women’s cycles. Added to that, there are various forms of contraception Muslim women use in our age, almost all of which cause problems with women’s cycles. The food and drink consumed today also affects women’s cycles Stress, anxiety, depression, etc. was most probably unknown in their time and this also affects women’s cycles. All this information can be verified online. 3 For non-Muslim women all of the above does not create any issue whereas the very core of the Deen is affected for Muslim women where their obligatory worship which requires the state of purity is affected (5 daily prayers, fasting of Ramadhaan, the main Tawaf of Hajj). Therefore, Muslim women need to know the basic rules of when they are allowed to continue these obligations and when to refrain and that is why there are so many books, articles and courses. 4 Misconceptions One of the greatest misconceptions that exists among many cultures is LEAVING OUT the obligatory acts of worship which require the state of purity once any type of bleeding begins. This is sinful as there are situations where a woman may be bleeding however it is termed “Istihadha” (Irregular bleeding, invalid bleeding) during which she must continue carrying out those acts of worship. 5 Few facts regarding women’s bleedings Now towards why women need to keep a record of their cycles. The Shari’ah has set out maxims regarding menstruation and post-natal bleeding. A woman’s blood can by one of three types – menstruation (haydh), post-natal (nifaas) or invalid Istihadaha). These maxims help determine which type of bleeding a woman is experiencing and as mentioned before, this impacts her obligatory acts of worship. Women develop “habits” in menstruation and purity and in the bleeding after childbirth. Please remember this point. Everything is simple as long as women’s cycles remain within the limits set out by the Shari’ah. (Note that differences of opinion exist between the Madhaahib and even within the Hanafi Madhab as these are ijtihaadi Masaail) Problems only arise when bleedings are abnormal/invalid. Many women do not experience many problems however problems do usually arise at the following stages of a woman’s life; At adolescence – Girls s begin menstruating at a much younger age than before and some start off with no regular habits and actually experience continuous or intermittent bleeding or spotting without having a complete purity of 15+ days in between bleedings (which separates two bleedings). This is generally a straight forward issue where they are “given” habits in both menstruation (10 days) and purity (20 days) which is used to determine when they can carry on their acts of obligatory worship and when they are required to refrain After child-birth – many women continue bleeding after the maximum 40 days creating confusion regarding acts of worship During menopause – most women experience a total change in their cycles from ages as early as 45 nowadays where bleeding occurs frequently without the required 15+ day purity occurring between bleedings. Use of contraception – is the most common cause of irregular bleeding for women whatever their age Keeping all the above in mind, now the answer to the question: Answer: Any ‘Aalim/Mufti will tell you that previous habits are necessary when blood exceeds the maximum or when it is continuous – by continuous I mean there is no occurrence of a complete purity of 15+ days and this situation can last for months. Experience shows that most women simply stop praying when they experience any type of bleeding or spotting no matter how long it carries on. They only consult Apas when they are made aware by someone with more knowledge. The Mudhillah is a woman who has forgotten her habits (not recorded them). For the Mudhillah the situation can get extremely serious when she suddenly experiences problematic cycles (Hardly any women remember their exact days of previous bleedings and purity as they generally fluctuate) because it is impossible to determine the bleedings without previous habits. In some extreme cases, some women may have to perform ghusl (obligatory ritual bath for full body purification) BEFORE EVERY PRAYER and thereafter repeat it in the next prayer time. However, at these times (in some cases) they may be allowed to take dispensations from other Madahaahib which is an extreme mercy of our Most Gracious Lord! And this is why there are these “billion courses and gazillion articles” so as to educate and empower women in their Deen. And this is the reason why great Fuqahaa of the past have written hundreds of treaties on the subject and as ʿAllaamah Ibn ‘Aabideen Al-Shaami (Rahimahullah) says in ““Manhalil Waarideen min Bihaaril Faydh ‘alaa “Dhukrul Muta-aahileen fee Masaailil Haydh” (The kitab taught by Mufti Abdur Rahmaan Mangera sahib) [the fuqaha have agreed on the mandatory nature of the obligation of knowing the necessary states of a person] This is to have knowledge of that ruling, which a person is in need of, at the time he is in need of it. By learning these rules in these “billion courses and gazillion articles” and following them, women are in fact worshipping their Lord. Isn’t our Deen the most beautiful?! Apologies as I could not answer in just a few sentences and also for saying you were being “Rather selfish” but this is exactly how it appears from your own words however it my not be so.

Aameen to lovely Du'a and its so good to see this topic continued, Jazaakillah Can you please double check the spelling in thsi word ? - ثَوَابَلهُ

Website: http://www.spirituallight.co.za/

There are various learning resources available online. Please refer to this section and see if they are offering Arabic course inshaAllah. http://www.islamicteachings.org/forum/category/169-online-learning-resources/

Rectified motives and reformed children The Honourable Hadith expert of our times, Al-Muhaddith, Shaykh Muhammad ‘Awwamah (may Allah protect him) often states that the residents of Madinah Munawwarah regularly make the following du’a: اللّٰهُمَّ أَصْلِحِ النِّيَّةَ والذُّرِّيَّةَ Allahumma aslihin niyyah wadh dhurriyyah Translation O Allah, rectify my intentions and reform my progeny. This brief yet profound du’a is much needed in the world today. Ponder: One who is bereft of the above two bounties will suffer in both Worlds! Intentions and the Selfie Age Unfortunately we live in an era where almost nothing is done without an ulterior motive. It’s an era wherein everything is ’selfied’, be it with a picture or even in text. Without the correct motive, no deed is accepted by Allah Ta’ala, even if that deed be as noble as it gets. We should still be focused on our intentions, instead of broadcasting our achievements! A Rare Breed The need for ‘reformed’ offspring is understood by one and all. Especially in an age where such a blessing is of a rare kind. Fortunate are those who have already achieved this. While many of us still only yearn for that blessing. Let’s include this du’a in our daily supplications, in addition to the physical effort that is needed to achieve the above. Keeping the company of the pious is very effective in achieving these two bounties. Insha Allah we will see great results. May Allah Ta’ala‬‎ accept all our efforts and du’as. Amin al-miftah

Aoudhubillahi minahs shaitan nirrajeem Bismillahirrahmanirraheem Two Characteristics of Nafs or Ego Why do the man like prohibited acts? It can be observed that the man normally develops yearning towards the forbidden acts. There is an online game because of which many youth are committing suicide. Effective measures are being taken to stop this game but people watch with more vigor. The zeal towards the forbidden acts is in proportion to the strength to prevent these acts. Adam (AS) was prohibited from eating the fruit of a certain tree. There were many trees that he (AS) could eat from but he chose to eat from the forbidden tree. When a man is prevented from an act, he becomes greedier of that act. Careful observation show two reasons behind this human behavior: 1) The nafs or ego does not tolerate imprisonment. The nafs is already imprisoned by the physical body and when it is further constrained spiritually, it becomes furious. Voluntarily a man will stay in a house for a month but the moment he was ordered to not come out of the house, he would find it difficult to oblige even for a day as his nafs would become enraged feeling imprisoned and will pressurize him to move out of the house. 2) It is not the tendency of the nafs to obey others and it finds submission and obedience very difficult. Physically it can do the most strenuous acts but mentally it finds it very difficult to submit to any simple command. This is why the biggest religion in this world is worshiping nafs whereby people obey the nafs. In fact the people of this world can be broadly divided into two groups: One group who live by the command of the Lord and the other group who live by the command of their nafs. It is because of these two characteristics of the nafs, the man finds pleasure in forbidden acts but not in permitted acts. Growing beard is very easy and it does not utilize man’s time, energy or money and it does not even hurt his skin but he finds it difficult to grow whereas he will take much effort and spend time, money and go through the pain to cut off the beard which is forbidden. Shariah has freed man from following unnecessary customs in getting married making it easy for him but he finds it difficult to oblige. On the other hand, the man will spend time, energy and waste his hard earned money which he laboriously saved for years in following the customs to please the people suiting the desires of his nafs. Do people really get pleased? Nay! He only earns up jealous people who will harm him. He finds it easy to do the most strenuous acts which will make one wonder because it pleases nafs but the simple easy acts become difficult for him as it goes against his nafs. This is the tendency of the nafs. Go Against the Nafs and Enjoy the Jannah Right in this World Irrespective of the difficulty endured by the nafs, the struggle we put to go against the nafs to please Allah SWT is what will make us attain Jannah. When we struggle against our nafs, Allah SWT will ease our path. If we go after the desires of nafs, there is hell behind its veil and if we abide by Allah’s SWT commands, definitely it is difficult for the nafs but there is Jannah behind its veil. I am not just talking about the Jannah awaiting in the akhirah but we will be able to taste the Jannah right in this world after a period of time if we go against our nafs. When we apply medicine to the wound, initially there will be stinging pain but later we will enjoy the health. Similarly, tolerate the displeasure of nafs in the beginning and later you will enjoy the Jannah of this world. If you do not apply medicine for the wound fearing the momentary pain, the wound will start rotting from inside leading to intolerable pain. Know that if you tolerate the difficulty and displeasures of nafs for Allah SWT, it will bring in the taste of Jannah like how the medicine brings health. Sins will make the Life Hell If you want to see the life of hell, look at the lives of sinners. Depending on the depth of the sin committed, deep is the hell life of the sinner. There are countries which are called paradise of this world but their inhabitants are committing suicide. Why do they commit suicide? Their anxiety, worries and difficulties are so severe like those of inmates of hell who will cry, “Alas! We wish we are dead and become dust and extinct”. Just like these inmates of hell, the sinners of this world become exasperated desiring for death and commit suicide. Can you imagine the level of desolateness, anxiety, insecurity and worries they are experiencing in their lives? In spite of having beautiful weather, house and comforts, why do they commit suicide? Depending on the severity of sins in one’s life, he will feel the heat of the hell in his life. The heat will be less when sin is small and will be more if the sin is big but for certain sins make the life that of the hell. This is as clear as a day brought out by the sun. One cannot be deceived by huge houses, factories or cars as for sure the sins committed by a person would make his life hell. Forbear the Stinging Pain of the Nafs The Quran commands one to save himself, his women and children from the fire. This command was descended on the most intellectual people that ever came on the earth, i.e. the companions of the Prophet SAW. They were commanded to save themselves from the fire of the sins. This fire is not good for your women or children and you cannot overlook their sins. Children are unaware and ignorant of the consequences of sins meted out by their environment but they are heading towards the fire. Believing in Allah SWT and following His SWT commands will definitely be difficult for the nafs but there is health behind this stinging pain and the taste of worldly Jannah behind this difficulty. Those people who are blessed with tahajjud salah or solitude worship in the late nights and in the mornings find them more pleasurable than the tastiest food. The coolness, the tranquility and the pleasure that one feels from these ibaadat (worship) are incomparable. When Hazrat ibn Taymiyyah (RA) was imprisoned and taken towards the prison, he exclaimed, “How wonderful it would be to spend my time in prison in solitude! Now I will enjoy my time of Jannah here.” When the prison guard wondered at his words, he said, “My Jannah is in my heart and it is with me wherever I go.” Who can snatch away Jannah from the hearts granted by Allah SWT? When Allah SWT bestows one deen and purity outwardly and inwardly, he has attained the Jannah of this world. Allah SWT says that such people will have tranquility in their hearts and tranquility is experienced in Jannah too. In the Jannah of this world, the man remains peaceful all the time and in every single state. This is pleasure. So have patience over the difficulty of the nafs when obeying Allah SWT for this pain is only temporary like applying medicine on the wound which will be followed by the enjoyment of eemaan (faith). The heart might desire to backbite and see forbidden things but stop the tongue from maligning others honor through backbiting and stop the eyes from seeing forbidden things. Definitely the nafs would find it tormenting but soon you will feel the coolness. How to control the Nafs? Deal with the nafs just like how a smart patient would deal with the medicine. He aims for good health and eats the bitter medicine and if it is too bitter, he still convinces himself to consume it by adding little sweetness to it or eats something sweet immediately after the medicine so his body accepts it. Do not obey the nafs but deal with it like a smart patient. It also happens that the nafs itself would not like eating certain delicious food because it knows well that it will prevent him from enjoying all other delicious foods. So teach the nafs about the severe loss it would incur if it commits a sin and losing the blessings it is enjoying. This is how a smart believer will hold his nafs. He will fully have the control of the bridle and will not lose the rope from his hand. Sometimes he loosens the rope but will have control over it. As long as the nafs is on the straight path, he will be lenient with it and when it tries to deviate from the path, he tries to bring back with a soft approach and if it doesn’t respond well, he will bring back sternly. He will deal with the nafs like how he would deal with an ignorant wife. When she shows her weakness intellectually, he entertains her by being very considerate. When a wife becomes disobedient, the husband first advices her gently and if the advice fails, he keeps her away from him on the bed and if she still persists in her behavior, he becomes little stern on her. There is no whip greater than firm determination to control the nafs. Be determined that you will not disobey Allah SWT and there is no better whip than determination for the nafs. Let Allah SWT grant His divine help to lead a life pleasing to Him SWT. Ameen -Sheikh Maulana Abdus Sattar (DB): Morning Tarbiati Majlis-29th September 2017.

(An Essential Hospital Guide) Being admitted to hospital, particularly for those undergoing surgical procedures, can be a challenging experience. Muslim patients may erroneously assume that being in hospital absolves them from performing Salaah. This may be due to ignorance of the Islamic aspects of Purity and Salaah as well as the various relaxations that Islam affords to the patient. The attached booklet seeks to explain the most convenient manner in which the obligation of Salaah can be fulfilled and is written with the hospitalised patient in the mind. It is meant to be simple to understand yet comprehensive in its reach. The book covers the central concepts of Fiqh, pre-admission advice as well as specific health conditions and common surgical procedures. It provides general guidelines that are applicable to most patients on aspects that would enable them to be not only regular in their Salaah but comfortable in its practice. We make Du’aa that Allah Ta'ala accepts this contribution solely for His pleasure and uses it as a means to enable Muslim patients to uphold and fulfil the cardinal pillar of Salaah, Ameen. The e-book can be downloaded here. Shukran Was Salaam Mufti Moosa Salie Jamiatul Ulama (KZN) - Fatwa Department Jamiatul Ulama (KZN) Council of Muslim Theologians Purity-and-Salaah-for-Muslim-Patients-E-Book-FINAL.pdf

As-Salaam alaikum, As we know it in Islam, Riya' (hypocrisy) is one of the secret sins of the heart, and often the perpetrator of riya' is self-deluded and hardly realizes his hypocrisy. Hypocrisy means that the state of the heart, in its intention and desires, does not correspond to the virtue of the outward act; it is the desire for something beside Allah Ta'ala, in serving Him, and the desire to gain something from men by that service to Allah; it is to do an action, outwardly for the glory of Allah, but with the intention of having glory of men. The Noble Prophet, Sallallahu alaihi Wasallam, said:-- "The thing most to be feared for my community is hypocrisy and secret desire." If man is not heedful of the direction of his secret desires, they will corrupt his service of Allah. In its most open form, hypocrisy is falsehood and in its most hidden form, it is guile. It is hidden from him who is neglectful and is manifest to him who searches for it with understanding knowledge; and he who knows the gravity of his need of it cleaves to sincerity, out of fear of hypocrisy.

Walaikumus Salam One correction: it is actually alam bardaar (flag bearer) "Anyone who is a flag bearer of any evil will be disrespectful."

‘Spoon of Freedom’ Escape tool of 6 Palestinians becomes symbol of resistance AMMAN — Palestinians have always had different symbols to represent their freedom; a spoon is the newest sign that has captured artists’ and social media users’ attentions. After the six Palestinians tunnelled out of the high-security Gilboa Prison, reportedly using a spoon, a large number of social media users, influencers and artists have been focusing on the simple tool used in the movie-like escape. The six fugitives included Zakaria Zubeidi, Mahmoud Ardah, Mohammad Ardah, Yacoub Qadri, Ayham Kamamji and Munadel Nfeiat. A Palestinian-Jordanian virtual artist Beesan Arafat, who describes herself as an artist with “sharp edges”, created a piece of art depicting the spoon the six Palestinians used to extricate themselves from the Israeli prison. “The men evaded 40 prison guards, three watchtowers, two walls, two barbed-wire fences and a pack of sniffer dogs to get to their freedom,” Arafat wrote on her Instagram post. “They used a rusty spoon to escape one of the most secure jails in the country,” she added. The Jordanian illustrator and graphic designer Abeer Anabtawi shared a post of a watermelon and spoon, which are currently symbols of Palestinian resistance that have gone viral on social media platforms. “The spoon has become an icon. With a spoon, the six Palestinians obtained their freedom,” wrote Palestinian activist and photographer Abdalafo Bassam on his Instagram post. Also, Twitter user “@M7rusa” wrote: “Raise the spoon for freedom; raise your spoon for the Palestinian prisoners and Palestine”. Samar Khalil, a Palestinian-Jordanian living in Amman, told The Jordan Times on Sunday: “Although four of the six prisoners were recaptured, the Palestinian resistance will continue and from now on, the spoon will illuminate the untold stories of Palestinians”. The four prisoners who were recaptured are: Zakaria Zubeidi, Mahmoud Ardah, Mohammad Arda and Yacoub Qadiri. The Jordan Times

One should recite the following dua when fearing the enemy اَللّٰهُمَّ اكْفِنَاهُ بِمَا شِئْتَ O Allah, suffice us of his evil in the manner You wish عن البراء رضي الله عنه قال...فقال أبو بكر لعازب... فارتحلنا والقوم يطلبوننا، فلم يدركنا أحد منهم غير سراقة بن مالك بن جعشم على فرس له...فلما دنا منا، وكان بيننا وبينه قيد رمحين أو ثلاث، قلت: هذا الطلب يا رسول الله قد لحقنا... فدعا عليه رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، فقال: اللهم اكفناه بما شئت... (صحيح ابن حبان، الرقم: 6281) Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) said, “When Suraaqa bin Maalik bin Ju’shum came close to us (during the journey of hijrat and he had not yet embraced Islam), and there was only a distance of two or three spears between us, I said (to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)), ‘The pursuers have caught us, O Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)!’…Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) made dua against him saying, اَللّٰهُمَّ اكْفِنَاهُ بِمَا شِئْتَ ihyaauddeen..co.za

I don't know if it's reliable, weak, or completely fabricated. The gist of it is as follows... A muslim army and a christian army will unite together to fight a muslim army. The muslim/christian coalition will win. Then an argument will ensue regarding why they won. The muslim army will declare the victory was due to Islam and the christians will declare it was due to Christianity. This will culminate into a fight and the Muslims will win.

I used to be hopeful, but now my hope has turned to trepidation. But that's just me. People are moulded by their experiences and this is where it has brought me. Inshallah I am completely wrong and I hope I stand embarrassed by my lack of confidence. Saying that, the current situation is definitely going to have a big effect around the globe, inshallah.

"I am not jealous of anything as much as I am jealous of a believer who is in his grave and has been saved from the punishment from Allah and has been relieved from the Dunya." — Masruq رضي الله عنه [Kitab al-Zuhd Wa al-Raqaiq pg 280]

Question Many brothers ask by email about the issue of shaking hands with women in professional settings where, they say, not doing so would harm or impede their ability to function. They may not get hired, promoted, or accepted in professional areas (such as law) where Muslim presence is essential. I checked what some major contemporary traditional fuqaha, such as Shaykh Taqi Usmani and some of my teachers in Damascus, had to say, and they are very firm on this point. But the brothers who asked are saying that such answers belie a lack of understanding of “Western realities.” They are saying that it is not possible to function in professional Western work environments without shaking hands with women. What would you answer and advise about this issue? Answered by: Mufti Abdurrahman ibn Yusuf Assalamu alaykum In the name of the Inspirer of truth. No, it is not permissible to shake hands with women at all. There are many reports from the Prophet Sallallahi alayhi wasallam that he never shook the hands of any women, despite his status as a Prophet. All the allegiance (bay’a) he took was either without holding the hand or with a cloth tied around it. He explicitly informed the women when they extended their hands to him that he did not shake hands with women. (See Muhammad Ibn Sa’d, The Women in Madina, Chapter One: The manner in which the Messenger of Allah received women’s allegiance) Hence, we can find no leeway to change this ruling. Many non-Islamic practices are rife in the business and corporate world. We are constantly asked about the permissibility of sitting at the same table with a client where alcohol is served; the permissibility of holding private meetings with women behind closed doors without any third person in the room, performing Zuhr instead of Jumu’ah if one is occupied in a meeting at the time of the Khutbah; shedding the hijab to seek employment; shaving the beard for such purposes and so on; not to mention usury and interest bearing loans. The list is endless. So, how does a person want to assimilate, and sell his hereafter for this transient world? Yes, certain “fatwas” are to be found on these issues from so called scholars. Much of the religion has already been compromised in such a way. We are aware of a masjid in a city in California where “Islamic Dating” is promoted. Their practice is backed by seemingly convincing logical arguments which sounds very attractive, but how far can the matter be taken, and how much of the religion will remain if this course continues to be followed? Nobody said it was easy to follow the din in the twenty-first century; whether one is in a Muslim country or the West. Didn’t the Prophet Sallalahu alayhi wasallam say that a time will come when a person following his religion will be like one holding on to a cinder, and did he not say this world is a prison for a believer and a Paradise for the non-believer. One must remember that through perseverance and refraining from sin (sabr ani ‘l-ma’siyah) there are great rewards to be gained, despite the apparent monetary or such losses one may have to incur in this world. The regular American (since the issue of shaking hands with women is a greater problem in America) is normally very understanding and accommodating of other people’s religious requirements. If politely informed, they normally act with understanding and are prepared to be more accommodating. If the scholars begin to offer discretion and allowance on certain issues which are rigid in the Shari’a under the excuse of changing times, then how will the original rulings in those issues ever be revived? The sunna and proper practices will be lost for ever and innovations will take their place. Those who attempt to adhere to the correct rulings of Shari’ah in these issues would feel isolated and weak. Therefore, it must be made clear that the traditional jurists (muftis) who are not able to give discretions in such issues are not due to some short-sightedness or ignorance. It is merely to keep the religion intact and whole. Yes, if someone in certain situations is forced to act contrary to the sunna then that is a personal problem in which tawba (repentance) should be made. Whoever fears Allah, Allah will make a way out for them. And He knows best. Mufti Abdurrahman ibn Yusuf zamzam academy

Coronavirus has solved this problem forever, Alhumdolillah.

Part 1 – The reward for Illness and Hardship 1. Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam has stated, “No hardship, discomfort, worry, sorrow, grief, pain or distress afflicts a Muslim, to the extent of the pain of a thorn prick, but Allah will pardon his sins in lieu of it.” (Sahih Bukhari) 2. Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam has stated, “Do not curse fever, for it removes the sins of the children of Adam as a furnace removes rust from iron.” (Sahih Muslim) 3. Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam has stated, “When Allah tests a Muslim with physical illness, Allah instructs (the angels), ‘Continue recording the good deeds he would perform while healthy.' If Allah thereafter grants him cure, He washes and cleanses him (of sin); and If He takes his soul, He pardons him and grants him mercy.” (Musnad Ahmad) 4. Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam has stated, “When Allah decrees a certain rank (in Jannah) for a person which he cannot reach through his deeds, Allah afflicts him with a test in his body, wealth, or children, and then grants him the patience to bear that test until he reaches the rank decreed for him.” (Abu Dawud) 5. Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam has stated, “When those who suffered (in this life) will receive their reward on the Day of Qiyamah (judgement), those who enjoyed good health and prosperity will wish that their skins were cut with scissors in the world (so they may attain the same reward.)” (Sunan Tirmidhi) To be continued...

Q. Is there any belief in Islam that after a person passes away, a person’s soul moves into another form, like a form of an animal, bird or insect and roams around one’s house, family and friends looking over them? A. The belief in resurrection and life after death is one of the fundamental and core beliefs of Islam. The belief of reincarnation i.e. believing that one’s soul moves into another living form or body after exiting one’s body in an endless cycle contradicts this fundamental and core belief of Islam. The belief of reincarnation exists most commonly amongst the Hindus, Buddhist, Sikhs and also has roots in Greek philosophy. None of these has any basis in Islam. As Muslims, we believe that once the soul exits the body, it enters an intermediary state between this world and the hereafter (Barzakh) and remains there until the time of resurrection. When resurrection takes place, the soul is placed in a new body to face Judgement in the court of Allah Ta’ala. The soul does not move into another living form or body in this world after death and neither does it roam around one’s house, family or friends. If a Muslim believes in reincarnation and negates the fundament belief of resurrection and life after death, such a belief takes one out of the fold of Islam. (Ar-Rooh – Ibnul Jawzi 1/114 - Fataawa Darul Uloom 12/215) And Allah Ta’ala Knows Best Mufti Ismaeel Bassa Confirmation: Mufti Ebrahim Desai (The answer hereby given is specifically based on the question asked and should be read together with the question asked. Islamic rulings on this Q&A newsletter are answered in accordance to the Hanafi Fiqh unless otherwise stated.) Fatwa Department Jamiatul Ulama (KZN) Council of Muslim Theologians

When something is lost When something is lost supplicate with the following words: 1. اللَّهُمَّ رَادَّ الضَّالَّةِ وَهَادِي الضَّالَّةِ أَنْتَ تَهْدِي مِنَ الضَّلَالَةِ ارْدُدْ عَلَيَّ ضَالَّتِي بِقُدْرَتِكَ وَسُلْطَانِكَ فَإِنَّهَا مِنْ عَطَائِكَ وَفَضْلِكَ “O Allah, the Returner of the lost, and the Guide of the lost, You guide the lost. Return to me what I have lost by Your power and Your domain, for surely It was Your gift and grace in the first place”. (Al Hisnul Haseen) 2. يا جامع الناس ليوم لا ريب فيه اجمع بيني وبين مالي إنك على كل شيء قدير. Allahuma ya jami’ an-naas li yawmin laa rayba feeh ijma’ bayni wa bayna dhaallati. “O Allah, Gatherer of mankind on the day in which there is no doubt. Connect me with my lost item.” (Fathul qadeer) Source

Desperate plea from a regretting son Salam. Please do not do curse me after reading this. I had been a very disobedient child for my parents. I was the only son and they had hopes that I will treat them well in their old age. But I turned out to be exactly the opposite. When both of them were alive, I avoided talking to them and if I did, I was very rude. I hurt them a lot. I told them all kinds of unwanted things that hurt them a lot. I even physically pushed my mother around. When they asked for help, I would tell them to do it themselves. My father’s joints hurt a lot but I never showed any mercy on him. I would tell him he was faking. I was the worst son anyone could have. Now, when I remember all that I did with them, I feel very bad. I am pained thinking of my parents. Is there any way that will forgive me and also get me the forgiveness of my parent? I am very ashamed of all that I did. I wonder how I would face my parents after my death. And, how will I face Allah? Please advice, please help, please pray for me. In the Name of Allaah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. As-salaamu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullaahi wa-barakaatuh. Brother in Islaam, We take note of the contents of your query. We make du’aa that Allaah Ta’aala rewards your parents for undergoing the hardships of life and tolerating you. May Allaah grant your parents Jannatul Firdaws. Aameen. Shari’ah has greatly emphasized on being dutiful to one’s parents[1]. In regards to the father, Rasulullaah (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, رِضَى الرَّبِّ فِي رِضَى الوَالِدِ، وَسَخَطُ الرَّبِّ فِي سَخَطِ الْوَالِدِ. Translation: “The pleasure of the Lord is in the pleasure of the parents, and the displeasure of the Lord is in the displeasure of the father.” (Tirmidhi 1899)[2] In regards to the mother, Rasulullaah (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, الوالدة أوسط أبواب الجنة فأضع ذلك أو احفظه[3] Translation: “The mother is the middle door of Jannah. So (the choice is yours) either discard it (by disrespecting your mother) or protect it (by honoring and obeying her).” (Haakim 7251) Rasulullaah (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said in regards to disobedience of the parents, لعن الله العاق لوالديه[4] Translation: “May Allaah curse the one who is disobedient to his parents.” (Haakim 7254) Your behavior with your parents during their lifetime was unfortunate. However, it is apparent that you are remorseful for what you did. Your sense of realization of your bad behavior towards your parents is perhaps due to the du’aas of your parents for you and the barakah of their sabr. Generally, parents still love and care for their children despite the pain caused to them by their children. Turn to Allaah Ta’aala and beseech Him for His forgiveness for the wrong you have done. Ask Allaah Ta’aala to spare you from the punishment of ill-treating your parents in this life and the next. Rasulullaah (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, كل الذنوب يؤخر الله ما شاء منها إلى يوم القيامة إلا عقوق الوالدين فإن الله تعالى يعجله لصاحبه في الحياة قبل الممات[5] Translation: “Allaah may delay the punishment of all sins as He wishes until the Day of Judgment except showing disrespect to one's parents; for indeed Allaah will hasten the punishment of that sin to its perpetrator prior to his death.” Do righteous deeds and send the thawaab to your parents. Rasulullaah (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) was once asked if there was any good a person can do to his parents after their demise. He (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) replied, نعم، الصلاة عليهما والاستغفار لهما، وإيفاء بعهودهما من بعد موتهما، وإكرام صديقهما، وصلة الرحم التي لا توصل إلا بهما[6] Translation: “Yes, making du’aa for them, seeking forgiveness on their behalf, fulfilling their promises after their passing away, honoring their friends and joining ties which are only joined by their relationship.” (Ibn Maajah 3664) Do something on behalf of your parents that has a perpetual reward (sadaqah jaariah) such as giving sadaqah or assisting in building a masjid or Islaamic institute. Send the rewards of your daily worship to them. Always keep them in your du’aas. You may recite the following du’aa: رب ارحمهما كما ربياني صغيرا Translation: “My Lord! Have mercy upon them both as they have raised me up as a little one.” (Al-Israa v.24) The greatest reward to your parents will be to change your lifestyle. Fear Allaah Ta’aala and be Allaah-conscious in all your matters. Perform the five daily salaahs on time. Recite a portion of the Qur’aan daily. Be from amongst the saaliheen, the righteous. Rasulullaah (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, إذا مات الإنسان انقطع عنه عمله إلا من ثلاثة: إلا من صدقة جارية، أو علم ينتفع به، أو ولد صالح يدعو له[7] Translation: “When a person passes away, all his actions come to an end save three: a charity that has perpetual reward (sadaqah jaariah), beneficial knowledge and a righteous child that prays for him.” Link yourself to a spiritual guide and inculcate in you the qualities of the righteous. You may listen to the discourses of my honorable teacher, Mufti Ebrahim Desai (Hafizahullaah) on the Qaseedah Burdah for spiritual enhancement. The discourses are available on the following link: https://daruliftaa.net/qaseeda-burdah/[8]. And Allaah Ta’aala Knows Best. Muajul I. Chowdhury Student, Darul Iftaa Astoria, New York, USA Checked and Approved by, Mufti Ebrahim Desai. [1] http://askimam.org/public/question_detail/32474 [2] سنن الترمذي (3/ 374) 1899 - حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو حَفْصٍ عَمْرُو بْنُ عَلِيٍّ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدُ بْنُ الحَارِثِ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ يَعْلَى بْنِ عَطَاءٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: رِضَى الرَّبِّ فِي رِضَى الوَالِدِ، وَسَخَطُ الرَّبِّ فِي سَخَطِ الْوَالِدِ. الترغيب والترهيب (3768) وعن عبد الله بن عمرو رضي الله عنهما قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم رضا الله في رضا الوالد وسخط الله في سخط الوالد رواه الترمذي ورجح وقفه وابن حبان في صحيحه والحاكم وقال صحيح على شرط مسلم ورواه الطبراني من حديث أبي هريرة إلا أنه قال طاعة الله طاعة الوالد ومعصية الله معصية الوالد ورواه البزار من حديث عبد الله بن عمر أو ابن عمرو ولا يحضرني أيهما ولفظه قال رضا الرب تبارك وتعالى في رضا الوالدين وسخط الله تبارك وتعالى في سخط الوالدين [3] المستدرك على الصحيحين للحاكم (4/ 168) 7251 - أخبرنا الشيخ أبو بكر بن إسحاق، أنبأ بشر بن موسى، ثنا الحميدي، ثنا سفيان، عن عطاء بن السائب، عن أبي عبد الرحمن، قال: تزوج رجل فكرهت أمه ذلك فجاء يسأل أبا الدرداء، فقال: طلق المرأة وأطع أمك فإني سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: «الوالدة أوسط أبواب الجنة فأضع ذلك أو احفظه» رواه شعبة، عن عطاء بن السائب، مفسرا بالشرح [التعليق - من تلخيص الذهبي] 7251 – صحيح [4] المستدرك على الصحيحين للحاكم (4/ 169) 7254 - حدثنا أبو سعيد أحمد بن يعقوب الثقفي، ثنا أحمد بن يحيى بن إسحاق الحلواني، ثنا إبراهيم بن حمزة، ثنا عبد العزيز بن أبي حازم، عن العلاء، عن أبيه، عن هانئ، مولى علي بن أبي طالب، أن عليا، رضي الله عنه، قال: يا هانئ ماذا يقول الناس؟ قال: يزعمون أن عندك علما من رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم لا تظهره، قال: دون الناس؟ قال: نعم. قال: أرني السيف فأعطيته السيف فاستخرج منه صحيفة فيها كتاب، قال: هذا ما سمعت من رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: «لعن الله من ذبح لغير الله ومن تولى غير مواليه ولعن الله العاق لوالديه ولعن الله منتقص منار الأرض» [التعليق - من تلخيص الذهبي] 7254 - سكت عنه الذهبي في التلخيص [5] المستدرك على الصحيحين للحاكم (4/ 172) 7263 - حدثنا علي بن حمشاذ، العدل - رحمه الله تعالى - وعبد الله بن الحسن القاضي، قالا: ثنا الحارث بن أبي أسامة، ثنا محمد بن عيسى بن الطباع، ثنا بكار بن عبد العزيز بن أبي بكرة، قال: سمعت أبي، يحدث عن أبي بكرة، رضي الله عنه قال: سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: «كل الذنوب يؤخر الله ما شاء منها إلى يوم القيامة إلا عقوق الوالدين فإن الله تعالى يعجله لصاحبه في الحياة قبل الممات» هذا حديث صحيح الإسناد ولم يخرجاه " [التعليق - من تلخيص الذهبي] 7263 - بكار بن عبد العزيز ضعيف [6] سنن ابن ماجه (4/ 632) 3664 - حدثنا علي بن محمد، حدثنا عبد الله بن إدريس، عن عبد الرحمن ابن سليمان، عن أسيد بن علي بن عبيد مولى بني ساعدة، عن أبيه عن أبي أسيد مالك بن ربيعة، قال: بينما نحن عند النبي - صلى الله عليه وسلم - وجاءه رجل من بني سلمة (3) فقال: يا رسول الله، أبقي من بر أبوي شيء أبرهما به من بعد موتهما؟ قال: "نعم، الصلاة عليهما والاستغفار لهما، وإيفاء بعهودهما من بعد موتهما، وإكرام صديقهما، وصلة الرحم التي لا توصل إلا بهما" [7] صحيح مسلم (3/ 1255) 14 - (1631) حدثنا يحيى بن أيوب، وقتيبة يعني ابن سعيد، وابن حجر، قالوا: حدثنا إسماعيل هو ابن جعفر، عن العلاء، عن أبيه، عن أبي هريرة، أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، قال: " إذا مات الإنسان انقطع عنه عمله إلا من ثلاثة: إلا من صدقة جارية، أو علم ينتفع به، أو ولد صالح يدعو له " [8] Alternative link: http://tasawwuf.daralmahmood.org/i-tikaaf-2015.html

Question assalamwalakum wa rahmatulllahi wa barakatu, If one does not feel the incline to studying their alima course what should you do? I have the interest in learning the content but I do not feel the motivation on a daily basis Answer In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh. Sister in Islam, We are pleased to hear that you have the zeal to seek knowledge of Deen. We make du’aa to Allah to keep you firm and steadfast on Deen & grant you beneficial knowledge. Aameen. There are numerous Ahaadith stating the virtues of a person who goes out to seek knowledge Rasulullah Sallallahu alaihi wasallam has mentioned: منْ سَلَكَ طَرِيقًا يَطْلُبُ فِيهِ عِلْمًا سَهل اللَّهُ بِهِ طَرِيقًا مِنْ طُرُقِ الْجَنَّةِ، وَإِنَّ الْمَلَائِكَةَ لَتَضَعُ أَجْنِحَتَهَا رِضًا لِطَالِبِ الْعِلْمِ، وَإِنَّ الْعَالِمَ لَيَسْتَغْفِرُ لَهُ مَنْ فِي السَّمَوَاتِ، وَمَنْ فِي الْأَرْضِ، وَالْحِيتَانُ فِي جَوْفِ الْمَاءِ، وَإِنَّ فَضْلَ الْعَالِمِ عَلَى الْعَابِدِ، كَفَضْلِ الْقَمَرِ لَيْلَةَ الْبَدْرِ عَلَى سَائِرِ الْكَوَاكِبِ، وَإِنَّ الْعُلَمَاءَ وَرَثَةُ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ، وَإِنَّ الْأَنْبِيَاءَ لَمْ يُوَرِّثُوا دِينَارًا، وَلَا دِرْهَمًا وَرَّثُوا الْعِلْمَ، فَمَنْ أَخَذَهُ أَخَذَ بِحَظٍّ وَافِر (سنن أبي داود، ج3ص317، المكتبة العصرية) Translation: “Whosoever traverses a path of knowledge, Allah will ease his path to Jannah. And the angles happily spread their wings for the one seeking knowledge. And every creation in the skies and the earth seek forgiveness for the seeker of knowledge including the fishes in the ocean. The virtue of a scholar over a worshipper is like that of a full moon on the night of 14th over the rest of the stars. And the scholars are the heirs of the Prophets. And the Prophets do not leave behind any wealth except for knowledge. Whosoever inherits from it has inherited a great portion. (Abu Dawood) v Below are some useful advises and tips summarized for motivation and steadfastness: 1) Don’t expect to feel motivated all the time: The fact is that no one feels motivated all the time. So don’t rely on feeling motivated in order to get the work done. Sometimes the motivation just won’t be there. That’s why you need a study routine and study habits, because systems always beat motivation. One of the best ways to deal with a lack of motivation is to stop expecting to feel motivated all the time. It’s all about consistency and making gradual progress. 2) Organize your time: The act of creating a study schedule is a form of commitment, so it will help you to stay motivated. Here are some useful steps in creating a study schedule: For each subject/book, make a list of the tasks you need to complete in order to be ready for the exam As far as possible, choose blocks of time that are the same each day (e.g. 3:30pm to 5:30pm) so that your study schedule is easy to remember Create a daily plan which lists the most important tasks to be completed for the day Review your study schedule at the end of each week. Evaluate whether you’re on track to reach your study goals by exam time. If you’re not, adjust your schedule by finding additional blocks of time for studying. 3) Group Study: Many students find it motivational to study in a group. Of course, it’s crucial that you find the right students to join the study group. These students should be focused and disciplined. Studying in a group is not only fun. It also gives everyone in the group a sense of accountability. Also, studying in a group takes advantage of the fact that everyone has different strengths and weaknesses. If there’s a concept you don’t understand, chances are that someone in your group will be able to explain it to you. When you study in a group you can pool your notes together and get much better notes than any one person could possibly produce. 4) Focus on the process, not the result: When you’re studying, it’s often difficult to see the fruit of your labour, especially at the beginning. That’s why you should focus on the process, not the result. Did you complete most of your planned tasks today? Congratulate yourself. Did you stick to your study schedule in general today? Maintain your focus. Did you put your phone in another room when you were studying, so you wouldn’t be distracted? Keep it up. Remember, it’s habits that you’re trying to form. If you get the process right, the results will follow. 5) Break the material down into chunks A major cause of procrastination is that the task ahead seems overwhelming. That’s when you need to “chunk down”. Break down each task into small chunks. Assign yourself a certain number of those chunks each day. Suddenly, you’re no longer faced with a scary task, but rather a series of manageable chunks. A chunk might be reading three pages of your textbook, completing five multiple-choice questions, or finding three reference articles on the Internet for your paper. 6) Study in short bursts Research shows that we learn better when we study in short bursts. It’s called “spaced learning”, and the theory behind it is that learning involves the creation of memories. Memories are formed through links between neurons. In order for these memories to become embedded, the neurons have to be left undisturbed for a period of time. That’s why we learn better in short bursts of studying. This approach gives the neurons time to “lay down” these new memories. 7) Exercise regularly When you’re focused on studying for a major exam, it’s common to overlook exercise. But, as far as possible, get 20 to 30 minutes of physical activity every day. This is because regular exercise is vital if you want to study effectively and stay motivated. Aerobic activity, such as swimming, jogging or walking, sends oxygen, blood and nutrients to your brain. This helps you to think and concentrate. Research even shows that short periods of light exercise immediately after studying improves the recall of new information. 8) Get rid of distractions This may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s amazing how many students try to study with one eye on their textbook and the other eye on their social media feed. It’s almost as if they want to be distracted. List all the common distractions you face when you’re studying. Do your best to eliminate every single one of them. For example, you could: Turn off your Internet access Put your phone on flight mode Put your phone in another room Mute your group chats Delete all the unnecessary apps from your phone, tablet and computer Spend minimum time if necessary. 9) If you don’t feel like starting, set a timer for 5 minutes Sometimes, the hardest part of anything is simply starting. But the fear of doing something is almost always worse than the actual doing. Once you start, you’ll find it wasn’t as bad as you thought. So if you don’t feel like getting to work, set a timer for 5 minutes. You can tell yourself that once those 5 minutes are up, you can stop work. But, in all likelihood, you would have got some momentum going, so you’ll continue. Conclusion The keys to getting motivated to study are organising your time and work, and knowing how to use your mind effectively. We also advise you to turn to Allah Ta’ala by praying Salatul hajah, Duaas, and Zikr. Read the following Duaas as much as possible for motivation and steadfastness: يَا مُقَلِّبَ الْقُلُوبِ ثَبِّتْ قَلْبِي عَلَى دِينِكَ(سنن الترمذي: 5/ 538) [ii] Translation: O Changer of the hearts, make my heart firm upon Your religion. يَا مُصَرِّفَ الْقُلُوبِ، ثَبِّتْ قَلْبِي عَلَى طَاعَتِكَ(مسند أحمد :15/ 245) [iii] Translation: O Changer of the hearts, make my heart firm upon Your religion. رَبَّنَا لَا تُزِغْ قُلُوبَنَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَيْتَنَا وَهَبْ لَنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً ۚ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْوَهَّابُ - 3:8 Translation: [Who say], "Our Lord, let not our hearts deviate after You have guided us and grant us from Yourself mercy. Indeed, You are the Bestower. (Surah aal-Imran: 8) And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best Mahmood Baig Student Darul Iftaa Jeddah, KSA Checked and Approved by, Mufti Ebrahim Desai. Source

5 Point Plan: Preparing For Ramadan In a few days time, we will enter Rajab followed by Sha'ban and then Ramadan. "O Allah, make the months of Rajab and Sha'ban blessed for us, and let us witness the month of Ramadan." Rajab itself is a blessed month being from the Al-Ash'hur Al-Hurum (Sacred months), where the rewards of virtuous deeds are increased. It is therefore perfect to start our preparation for Ramadan 1) Fast some extra days during these 2 months. For Example the Sunnah fast of Mondays & Thursdays. 2) Increase and renew our Tawbah (repentance) and practice perfecting it. 3) Increase our Ibadah (acts of worship) For example, 2 extra Raka'at of Nafl Salah, 2 extra pages of the Qur'an daily, practice 1 more daily Dua'a. 4) Train our Tongue, Ears & Eyesight Get them used to the act of worship and to refrain from sins. 5) Gradually reduce the time we spend on Social Media and The Television. For example remove yourself from 2/3 unnecessary groups and stop watching few unnecessary television shows. kitaabun.com

Imam Baqy Ibn Makhlad (rahimahullah); A True Student Imam Baqy ibn Makhlad al Andulusy (rahimahullah) was born in Spain and he passed away there as well. He was born in the year 201 A.H. and passed away in 276 A.H. At the age of 20 he traveled to Baghdad on foot for the sole purpose of meeting Imam Ahmad ibn Hambal (rahimahullah) He relates: “When I drew near to Baghdad, I heard of the sanction on Imam Ahmad (rahimahullah) and that he was banned from having any lessons. I became extremely saddened by this. After reaching Baghdad I went to the Masjid in search of some gathering of learning. I was shown a huge gathering wherein someone was authenticating people. He was mentioning the categories of the various narrators of Hadith. Upon enquiry I was told that this was Imam Yahya ibn Ma’in (rahimahullah) I then saw a gap near him and went closer and asked: “O Abu Zakariyya ! May Allah have mercy on you, I am a traveler and very far away from home. I wish to ask you a question so please do not refuse me”. He said to me: “Go ahead”. I enquired from him about a few of people that I had met from the As-habul Hadith (seekers of Hadith). Some of them he authorised and some he unauthorised… Then I said to him: “Can I seek your authorisation of Imam Ahmad ibn Hambal?” He looked at me astonished and said: “Can a person like me be asked about Imam Ahmad ibn Hambal (rahimahullah)?! Verily that is the leader of all the Muslims and the best and most exalted of them”. I then went out in search of the house of Imam Ahmad (rahimahullah). I tapped on the door. When he came out he saw a man who he did not recognize. I said to him: “O Abu Abdillah! I am a man who is far away from his home and this is my first time in this town. I am a student of Hadith and I have undertaken this journey specially to benefit from you”. He said to me: “Come to the passage so nobody sees you”. He then asked me: “Where are you from?” I replied: “From the far West” he asked: “From Africa?” I replied: “Further than that. I have to cross the sea to go to Africa, I am from Spain”. He said: “Your country is very far off . Nothing is more beloved to me than to assist a person like you but I have been afflicted with the sanctions that you my have heard of ” I said: “Of course, I heard of it whilst I was near Baghdad, but O Abu Abdillah! This is the first time I have come here. Nobody knows me so if you permit I will come every day in the clothes of a beggar and call out at the door like they normally call out. Then you could come to this passage and if you narrate to me only one Hadith a day it would be sufficient for me”. He replied: “Yes on condition that you do not go to any other gathering or halaqah (gathering) of the As-habul hadith”. I said: “As you wish “. So I use to take a stick in my hand, wrap a cloth on my head, put my paper and ink in my sleeve and come to his door and call out like the beggars would call out. Then he would come to the passage and narrate to me two or three Hadiths and sometimes even more. In this manner I collected approximately 300 Hadiths. I did this till the end of the sanctions and till Imam Ahmad (rahimahullah) regained his status in the eyes of the people. Whenever I would attend his gathering later on, he would keep me close to him and he would say to the As-habul Hadith: “This person is fit to be called a student of Hadith”. Then he would narrate to them my experience with him”. Imam Abul Walid Al-Faradhy (rahimahullah) says: “Imam Baqy ibn Makhlad (rahimahullah) use to say: “Verily I know a man (referring to himself) who days use to pass by during his student-hood and he would not have food to eat except cabbage leaves that would be thrown away as garbage.” He once said to his students: “Are you’ll seeking ‘ilm (knowledge), is this the way to seek ‘ilm?!! Only when one of you does not have anything to do does he think of seeking knowledge! verily I know a man (referring to himself) who days use to pass by during his student days and he would not have anything to eat but the cabbage leaves that people use to throw on the streets! And certainly I know a man who sold his pants many a times to buy pages for writing!!! Extracted from the book: صفحات من صبر العلماء على شدائد العلم والتحصيل “Incidents of the sacrifices of the ‘Ulama in their quest for knowledge” By Shaykh ‘Abdul Fattah Abu Ghuddah (rahimahullah) Lessons to be acquired from the incident of this “genuine student of Din”: The manner in which he plotted to benefit from the vast knowledge of Imam Ahnad (rahimahullah) despite those very delicate circumstances. His long sojourn of hundreds of miles from Spain to Baghdad for this purpose. His tolerance of extreme poverty in the path of acquiring knowledge. Let us try and emulate these great ‘Ulama to some extent in their manner of seeking knowledge. It is said that Imam Baqy ibn Makhlad (rahimahullah) had compiled a very large and comprehensive work on Hadith but unfortunately its whereabouts are unknown today. May Allah Ta’ala make it easy to locate this magnificent piece of work of Imam Baqy ibn Makhlad (rahimahullah) (amin) al-miftah

Listening Attentively A Requisite for ‘Ilm and Hidāyah By Shaykh-ul-Hadīth, Hadrat Mawlānā Muhammad Saleem Dhorat hafizahullāh The great muhaddith and faqīh, Sufyān Ibn ‘Uyaynah rahimahullāh states: The first step towards acquiring ‘ilm is istimā‘ i.e. listening attentively, then to understand, then to memorise/remember, then to act upon it and propagate. The importance of listening with full attention is the first step and an essential requisite for success in acquiring ‘ilm, which is the prerequisite to acting according to the Wishes of the Creator. It is for this reason Allāh ta‘ālā used the word istimā‘ (listening with intent) instead of sam‘ (merely to listen with or without intention), followed by the word insāt (to become silent), when stating the adab of listening to the Qur’ān in the following verse: When the Qur’ān is recited, listen to it attentively and be silent, so that you may be showered with mercy. (7:204) Allāh ta‘ālā has promised to bestow His Mercy upon those who listen attentively, which will manifest in the form of the ability to abstain from wrong and engage in good deeds. Allāh ta‘ālā states: ..those who listen to the word attentively (of Allāh ta‘ālā and His Rasūl sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam, and follow (it, knowing that it is) the best of it (of all speech). These are the ones whom Allāh has guided, and these are the ones who possess (true) intelligence (wisdom). (39:18) The importance of istimā‘ can be further understood by how Allāh ta‘ālā addressed Mūsā ‘alayhis salām when sending revelation to him. Allāh ta‘ālā states: I have chosen you (for prophethood), so listen attentively to what is revealed. (20:13) The commentators of the Qur’ān have mentioned that when Mūsā ‘alayhis salām was commanded that he should listen attentively to what is revealed to him, he stood on a rock, leaning against another, placed his right hand over his left, dropped his chin on his chest and stood listening attentively. From the above it is clear how important it is to listen attentively when seeking knowledge or listening to a discourse: only those people will genuinely benefit who listen attentively with sound understanding. How to Listen Attentively The pious predecessors have defined the term istimā‘ in detail. Wahb Ibn Munabbih rahimahullāh further explains the essence of istimā‘ by stating that it comprises of the following: a. Keeping the body motionless. A person should not engage any part of his body in anything whilst listening. He should become motionless. Fidgeting, playing around with clothes and other such actions dilute the concentration one needs when listening to religious discourses and lessons. The Sahābah radhiyallāhu ‘anhum, when in the company of Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam, would sit so still that they were described with the phrase, “as if birds were sitting on their heads.” If a bird was to sit on a person and he desired that it does not fly away, he will need to be extremely still. This was the condition of the Sahābah radhiyallāhu ‘anhum whilst sitting in the company of Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam and listening to him. b. Lowering the gaze. In essence, lowering the gaze means that one should not be distracted by anything and be totally focused towards the lesson being imparted. Hence, a person needs to abstain from looking here and there. Focussing in a manner which will prevent one from being distracted is essential to listening attentively. This can be achieved by either looking down or at the speaker. Furthermore, it portrays interest to the speaker which will further enhance the quality of delivery. c. Attention of the ears. During the discourse or lesson, a person should lend his ears only to the speaker. d. Attention of the mind. Whilst listening, the mind should also be alert and attentive. Being preoccupied or thinking about other things will be a hindrance in giving the required attention. It is for this reason students are advised to disengage from all such activities and devices which occupy the mind. e. Firm intention to act. If a person does not intend to act upon the knowledge being imparted, his attention will not always be completely focused. Having a firm intention to practice will motivate a person to focus on everything being said. When a person adopts such a manner of listening then he will fulfil the requisites of istimā‘ and gain the Pleasure of Allāh ta‘ālā. Allāh ta‘ālā will in return, grant him the correct understanding of knowledge and enlighten his heart with a special Nūr. Consequently, he will become from those who have been guided and granted a deep level of understanding, i.e. wisdom, as stated in the verse of the Glorious Qur’ān: ..those who listen to the word attentively (of Allāh ta‘ālā and His Rasūl sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam, and follow (it, knowing that it is) the best of it (of all speech). These are the ones whom Allāh has guided, and these are the ones who possess (true) intelligence (wisdom). [39:18] May Allāh ta‘ālā grant us the tawfīq to implement the act of listening attentively so that we may acquire true benefit from religious discourses and lessons. Āmīn. © Riyādul Jannah (Vol. 25 No. 9, September 2016)

The stages of the nafs: Nafs al ammara part 1 From Ashrafiya . Shaikh Abdul Ghani at Tarablusi al Khalwati (Allah have mercy on him) said, ‘It is your lower self (nafs) that veils you from Allah. The scholars of Reality (al haqiqa) have mentioned seven stages of the nafs according to its changing states, the ammara, lawamah, mulhema, mutmainah, radhiya, mardhiya and kamilah.’ Following is a summary of Shaikh’s discussion. 1. The inciting nafs (nafs-i-ammara) إِنَّ النَّفْسَ لأَمَّارَةٌ بِالسُّوءِ إِلاَّ مَا رَحِمَ رَبِّيَ‎ Surely, man’s inner self often incites to evil, unless my Lord shows mercy.”[12:53] In its primitive stage the nafs incites us to commit evil: this is the corrupt nafs as the lower self, the base instincts. Its characteristics include; stinginess, greed, envy, ignorance, arrogance, lust, anger, heedlessness, coveting, mad manners, involvement in useless, making others’ fun, having malice for them and harming them with speech or hand. It becomes the instrument of Satan’s seduction (to sin). It the most lethal enemy. Therefore extreme caution is needed in not listening to its insolent commands. In Prophetic saying the struggle against it has been mentioned as highest level of righteous effort (jihad al akbar). Being steadfast on the commandments of Shariah is essential. Keeping constant vigilance (muhasba) is required. It is imperative to have extreme humility and engagement in supererogatory deeds. This is facilitated by giving up (after consultation with Shaikh) the excessive permissible pleasures and all useless activities. By routinely crying in front of Allah asking for help and making remembrance of Allah as instructed by the Shaikh. ‘Never leave supplication because of being depressed and frustrated (by frequent slips) or lose hope by considering the goal to be unrealistic. This will severe the determination altogether.’ If one persists then Allah will spiritually enlighten the heart of the seeker that will make it possible to see the diseases that inflicts the nafs. Then comes the second stage. The stages of the nafs: Nafs al Lawwamah / part 2 The Self-reproaching nafs لا أقسم بيوم القيامة ولا أقسم بالنفس اللوامة [75:1] I swear by the Day of Resurrection, [75:2] and I swear by the self-reproaching conscience, (that Resurrection is a reality.) This is the stage where the conscience is awakened and the self reproaches one for listening to one’s ego. That is, in committing the evil acts or omitting the virtuous or doing them in a sloppy manner. Its characteristics include; reproaching, greed, coveting, self praise, show-off, cruelty, back-bitting, lying and heedlessness, love of fame and status. In sharing many characteristics of nafs al ammarah it maintains the ability to differentiate between the good and evil. However, it is not proficient, as yet, to fully follow the good commands and abstain from sinful. Moreover, if it does do some good acts it develops desires of self-praise (ujub) or showing-off or expecting praise from others. In this stage it is imperative that he acknowledges and exposes these blame worthy desires to his fellow-brethren (as per the instruction of his Shaikh). Otherwise these blame-worthy morals will cut-off his journey on this path. It is essential that in this phase he makes excessive remembrance of Allah and exerts in the struggle (to do good and abstain from evil). Here he is inflicted will excessive abstract, useless ideas, and random, bizarre thoughts. He has to fight them off with assistance of excessive remembrance of Allah and supplications, asking Allah for assistance in doing so effectively. If he does so, he passes to the third stage. The stages of nafs: Nafs e mulhimah / part 3 The Inspired Nafs Allah Almighty says, (9)ونفس وما سواها ( 7 ) فألهمها فجورها وتقواها ( 8 ) قد أفلح من زكاها [91:7] and by the soul, and the One who made it well, [91:8] then inspired it with its (instincts of) evil and piety, [91:9] success is really attained by him who purifies it, In this stage of development the nafs is gifted with the ability to distinguish between good and evil. Moreover,the performance of good actions and abstinence from evil is facilitated for him by the Grace of Allah. This Grace is manifested as immense desire to please Allah. And at this stage nafs remains drowned in intense love of Allah (‘ishq illahi). This is possible by following the recommendations of the Shaikh and excessive remembrance of Allah as instructed by him. In fact it is mandatory (wajib) to follow the recommendations of the Shaikh at this stage to be successful. This is both a phenomenal and a challenging stage. Any heedlessness here will pull the nafs to its initial stage. (May Allah protect us all from this disaster. Amin!) Its characteristics include; self restraint (hilm), philanthropy, contentment, humility, repentance, patience, forbearance, forgiveness, maintaining a good opinion about others, acceptance of others’ excuses, etc. In addition to the excessive remembrance of Allah and following the instructions of Shaikh meticulously one has to repeatedly remind himself of meeting Allah and His perfections. He has to be vigilant in following the Shariah and be compliant to his daily wird. He must efface his ego by purposefully doing permissible humble actions. Here the individual observes that everything is from Allah (tawhid e afa’li). He abandons all criticism. He cries often and is deeply effected by the crying of others. He withdraws from all the creation and finds solace with Allah. He is attracted to beautiful audition. In short this stage is marked by intense love, lofty desires and high aspirations to please Allah.

Sublime “Holiday Spots” A man was on his way to a neighboring village when an angel suddenly appeared before him. ‘What takes you to this village?’ Enquired the angel. ‘To visit a brother whom I love for the sake of Allah,’ was the sincere reply. The angel questioned further, ‘do you have any other motive?’ The man replied ‘No’, upon which the angel exclaimed, ‘I am the messenger of Allah and I assure you that Allah loves you as you love your brother.’ (Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 6495) At the same time, another angel is deputed to proclaim the following message to him: “You have done well, your foot steps have been profitable, and you have prepared an abode for yourself in Paradise.” (Sunan Tirmidhi, Hadith: 2008) Allah Ta’ala Himself announces: “My love is incumbent for the one who loves, visits, or spends on others purely for my sake.” (Musnad Ahmad, vol.5 pg.233) Value and Demand The reason for such abundant rewards could be understood in light of the business principle: Commodities are valued according to demand and availability. The scarcer a product, the higher the demand and therefore the greater the returns. The same concept is found in certain aspects of Shari’ah. Those deeds that are seemingly insignificant and seldom practiced generally yield a higher reward. People meet daily in the world for various motives, but the practice of loving/meeting someone purely for the sake of Allah is totally foreign to us. Of the many disastrous ill effects of the present day society is the concept of self-centeredness, where each person cares for himself whilst remaining totally oblivious of the presence and needs of those around him. Presently, there are many such un-noticed Muslim brothers and sisters that are secluded in old aged homes, hospitals, rehabilitation centers and orphanages etc, who await some kindhearted soul to lift their spirits by paying them a visit. Occasional visits to such places would do us more benefits than harm. Visiting Allah One who visits the sick is, so to say , visiting Allah Ta’ala. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said: “Allah Ta’ala will say to man (on the day of Qiyamah), O my slave, I was sick and you refused to visit me. ’Man will exclaim, O Allah, how could that be possible whereas You are the Lord of the Worlds? ‘Allah will reply, A certain slave of mine was sick, had you visited him, you would have found Me by him” (Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 6501) If the merit for visiting an ordinary Muslim is such, can one imagine the rewards for visiting those with whom one shares a special bond? Imagine the honor of joining ties with Allah! One who maintains family ties is promised the privilege of Almighty Allah joining ties with him, i.e. by means of showing His special mercy, etc. On the contrary, Allah Ta’ala severs ties with those who break family ties. (Sahih Bukhari, Hadith: 7502) The Wrong Alternative Nowadays, people choose to spend their spare time frequenting places that are totally immoral and filled with vice and sin, like: the cinemas, casinos, shows, entertainment halls, beaches, parties etc. The mere presence of a Muslim at such places in the company of immodest people is extremely detrimental to his Iman. On the contrary, ask yourself the question: when last did you visits your relatives, your local ‘Alim, an elder of the community, or any fellow Muslim brother purely for the pleasure of Allah? Visiting the sick, the elderly, the needy, one’s relatives, neighbours or any other Muslim for the sake of Allah was a salient feature in the life of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam). He would even visit such non-muslims, like the jewish lad who was ill. This had assisted in bonding the Ummah as well as its expansion. Today too, especially during the present holiday season, we can achieve all that and more by implementing this important and neglected Sunnah of our beloved Master (sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam) Instead of emulating the rest of the world who celebrate the year-end with as much sin as possible, thereby drawing the wrath of our Creator upon mankind. May Allah Ta’ala protect the Ummah from all fitnah. al-miftah

Replying to the Azaan in the state of haidh Q: Can a lady in haidh reply to the azaan? A: Replying to the azaan is a form of zikr. It is not permissible for a woman in haiz to recite the Quraan. However, it is permissible for her to engage in zikr, istighfaar and dua. Hence, it is permissible for her to reply to the azaan. And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best. ويكره للحائض والجنب قراءة التوراة والإنجيل والزبور هكذا في التبيين وإذا حاضت المعلمة فينبغي لها أن تعلم الصبيان كلمة كلمة وتقطع بين الكلمتين ولا يكره لها التهجي بالقرآن كذا في المحيط ولا يكره قراءة القنوت في ظاهر الرواية كذا في التبيين وعليه الفتوى كذا في التجنيس والظهيرية ويجوز للجنب والحائض الدعوات وجواب الأذان ونحو ذلك في السراجية. (الفتاوى الهندية 1/38) Answered by: Mufti Zakaria Makada Checked & Approved: Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)

PRACTICAL POINTS FOR A HAPPY MARRIAGE? Question: I have been married for 3 years now. My wife has very harsh tongue. How can I deal with this? Please also provide practical things which I can implement to increase our bond of love. How can I be more kind to her? I have seen many marriages crumble and I definitely do not want to go the same way. I still love her very much. Please help me urgently. May Allah reward you all and make he make all your aspirations into realities. Ameen Answer: In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh. You requested for advise on practical things to do in the marriage to increase the bond of love. Alhamdulillah, you have understood the objective of marriage being love and compassion as also understood from the following verse. Allah Ta’āla says, وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ أَنْ خَلَقَ لَكُمْ مِنْ أَنْفُسِكُمْ أَزْوَاجًا لِتَسْكُنُوا إِلَيْهَا وَجَعَلَ بَيْنَكُمْ مَوَدَّةً وَرَحْمَةً إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ [الروم: 21] And among His Signs is this that He created for you mates from among yourselves that ye may dwell in tranquillity with them and He has put love and mercy between your (hearts); verily in that are Signs for those who reflect. Allah Ta’āla describes the husband and wife as a garment for one another in the following verse; هُنَّ لِبَاسٌ لَكُمْ وَأَنْتُمْ لِبَاسٌ لَهُنَّ [ البقرة:187] Your wives are garments for you and you are garments for your wives. Garments are multi-purpose they cover the body, keep the body cool in summer and provide warmth in the summer. Likewise, they are a source of beauty and chastity. If one does not look after his garments, he does not iron them and wash the stains, the garments will no longer serve the purpose of beauty, protection and warmth. We have to also accept the fact that no two humans can make a perfect match. The attitude of zero defect is not possible nor practical. Total compatibility is almost impossible. They will always be situations wherein either one of you will have to compromise. The husband and wife have to bond with one another psychologically, physically and spiritually. How can one overcome the challenges of one’s spouse and maintain harmony in one’s marriage? The following points may be useful; · Fear Allah with how you deal with women. Verily you have taken them under your wing through the permission of Allah. It is through the procedure of nikah so fear Allah with how you treat your women. Live with her in kindness, goodness, fairness in good and bad times. · Respect each other. As long as there is mutual respect and a concerted effort to help out each other – the marriage will have an optimal chance for success and happiness. · Be compassionate and tolerant. Tolerance is one of the key factors in sustaining one’s marriage. Be kind, gentle, and loving in all matters. Sacrifice your happiness for one’s spouse. Never demand one’s rights. Remember the Hadith, "A believer must not hate (his wife) believing woman; if he dislikes one of her characteristics he will be pleased with another". (Muslim) · Learn how to speak to each other. Many arguments in couples stem from poorly worded requests or statements. Simply rephrasing your words can turn an adversarial situation into a cooperative one. Be a good listener. · Deal with arguments with wisdom. When you fight back, you are only adding fuel to the fire. Watch how sweetly an argument will end when you just say sincerely, "Look, I'm sorry." Learn to say I am sorry. Arguments between the husband and wife should be sorted out in an amicable, responsible and mature manner. Expect, accept, and overlook her shortcomings. · Trust Both husband and wife should trust each other in every regard. This trust should be present in every matter of life, whether it is reaching some decision, protection of property, honour or any kind. When this trust is present between the two, on the basis of it they both can overcome any situation and enjoy a long and healthy relationship. A husband should expect and respect her jealously. · Compliment each other. One of the major reasons why the marriages of today fail is the fact that the partners fail to complement each other and appreciate each other for all the good things they have. When the process of complimenting each other stops, the ultimate result is the flaws and ills surfacing which consequently lead to an unhealthy relationship, therefore, both husband and wife should and must complement each other. Praise each other for small things that you like, cooking, dress, beauty, (Be genuine in your praise, make sure you mean what you say) · Anger management. Anger is natural however one should try to control it to the best of one’s ability. Never be emotionally, mentally, or physically abusive to your spouse. Always have the following hadith in mind; “I guarantee a house in Jannah for one who gives up arguing, even if he is in the right(Abu Dawood)[ii] · Comfort her. Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam set the example for us in an incident when Hazrat Safiyyah Radhiallahu Anha was crying because, as she said, he had put her on a slow camel. He wiped her tears, comforted her, and brought her the camel.[iii] This is another feature a marriage must have. Each spouse has to be there for the other in the good and bad times. Be gentle with one another. The wife should find comfort and solace in the husband and the husband should find warmth and love in his wife. · Know each other’s feelings. Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam told Hazrat Aisha Radhiallahu Anha: "I know well when you are pleased or angry with me. Aisha replied: How you know that? He said: When you are pleased with me you swear by saying "By the lord of Mohammad" but when you are angry you swear by saying "By the lord of Ibrahim". She said: You are right; I don’t mention your name.” (Bukhari)[iv] When your spouse is down or upset, be there to console her. Sit with your spouse, speak with your spouse, listen to your spouse. Try and make your spouse smile. If the husband is always conscious of his wife’s feelings, and the wife is always conscious of the husband’s feelings, then this will assist greatly in keeping the ‘flicker’ alight. · Respect her family. A wife would appreciate her husband having good relations with her family. Compliment your in laws in her presence. This will bring added love and harmony. · Exchange gifts. Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam said, Give gifts and you will love one another. (Tirmidhi)[v] Surprising one’s partner with gifts brings joy and elation to its maximum. This will keep the flame of love burning. When there is a reciprocal relationship, the marriage climbs heights. · Dress up for each other. One should try to adorn for the spouse to the best of one’s ability. It incites the inner feelings of one’s partner. Just like the husband wants his wife to look appealing and alluring, she also wants her husband to dress up for her. Hazrat Abdullah ibn Abbas Radhiallahu Anhu said: “I love to adorn myself and smarten up for my wife just as I desire her to adorn herself for me, for Allah Ta’āla says, ‘And [women] have rights similar to those that [men have over them which should be fulfilled] with kindness’ (Surah Al Baqarah, Verse: 228)”. [vi] Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam would always start with Miswak when returning home. (Abu Dawood)[vii]. This emphasises the importance on keeping oneself in a pleasing state when going to one spouse. · Use perfumes. Perfumes and fragrances enhances the mood. This leads to more affection and fondness between the couple. Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam had immense love for perfumes to such an extent he would never refuse it.[viii] · Have nicknames for each other. Call your wife by the most beloved names to her, names she loves to hear. Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam would call Hazrat Aisha Radhiallahu Anha ‘Humairā’’. (Ibn Majah)[ix] · Smile and glance at her with love. Smile! Smiling is sadaqah.[x] Meet your wife with a smile when you home from work. A smile automatically enhances one’s facial beauty. Feelings between the spouses cannot be exchanged through fulfilling formal obligations or through exchanging words of love only. Rather, many of them can be exchanged through non-verbal signs such as facial expressions, tone of voice and the glances of the eyes. All these are means of emotional and psychological satisfaction. · Offer her a morsel of food. Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam said "You will be rewarded for whatever you spend for Allah's sake even if it were a morsel which you put in your wife's mouth.(Bukhari)[xi] In order to maintain a high vigour of love and compassion, try to do small things such as inserting a morsel in one’s spouse. Such acts have a huge psychological impact on the mind of the spouse. · Be gentle. Actions such as opening the door for one’s wife and lifting groceries go a long way in instilling added spark to the marriage. The wife can sense her spouses love from such actions. Consider the following hadith; “The most complete believers are those who have the best character and the best of you are those who are the best to their wives” (Tirmidhi). [xii] · Play games. Playing games with one’s spouse ignites love even more. A couple that plays together, stays together. Consider the following incident; Hazrat Aishah Radhiallahu ‘Anha says, ‘I was once on a journey with Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam and had a race with him. I outran Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam. [After some time] when I gained some weight, I raced him again and he beat me. Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam said, ‘This [win] is in exchange of that [defeat]’ (Abu Dawood). [xiii] · Joke with each other A man generally like and more inclined to women who are light-hearted and have a sense of humour. Be humorous with her when she made a mistake in the kitchen, like putting too much salt or burnt her baking. Laughter is the best medicine for a long lasting and blissful marriage. Take out time just to sit with her and enjoy a light hearted discussion. · Kiss her often. Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam would kiss his wife regularly. Even when Rasulullah Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam would be fasting, he would kiss his wife. (Ibn Majah)[xiv] Compliment your spouse often with kisses. When exiting the house, make it habit you leave by coming into contact with your spouse. When returning home, along with saying salām to her, show that you have missed her dearly. · Use same utensils Hazrat Aisha Radhiallahu Anha would drink from a cup. Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam would take this cup and search for the place where the lips of his beloved wife made contact. Upon finding the place where his wife drank from the cup, he would put his lips on the very same place so that his lips have touched the place where her lips touched. (Nasai)[xv] Treat your wife like she is the most precious pearl therefore use the same utensils whist eating to enhance the relationship between the couple. · Laying one wife’s lap. Hazrat Aisha Radhiallahu Anha mentioned that Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam used to lean on my lap and recite Qur'an whilst she was in menses. [xvi] Simple actions like laying on one’s wife’s lap actually reflects one’s true affections for the spouse. · Have quality time together. Generally, couples after having children do not spend quality time together. The husband sometimes feels frustrated however he does not open up regarding this. Once in a while it would be apt if the children are left with the grandparents which will make way for the couple to have quality time together. Plan a Surprise activity that your spouse likes. This will bring happiness and joy beyond words. · Helping in household chores. If the couple help each other in day to day activities, it will make one appreciate the other. Likewise, one should try his best not to demand his spouse to do things too much. Whatever one can do himself, he should do. We need to be considerate of the spouse. The wife works tirelessly all day. Rasulullah Sallalahu Alaihi Wasallam would clean and help at home. He would see to his needs himself rather than demanding his wife. He would clean and see to his clothing himself. · Turn to Allah Constantly recite the following Dua for a prosperous marriage; رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَاجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّاتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍ وَاجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا [الفرقان: 74] “Oh our lord! Grant us in our spouses and our children the joy of our eyes. Moreover, make us an exemplar of goodness for the God-fearing.” And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best Huzaifah Deedat Darul Iftaa Lusaka, Zambia Checked and Approved by, Mufti Ebrahim Desai. صحيح مسلم-دار احياء التراث العربي (2/ 1091) وحَدَّثَنِي إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ مُوسَى الرَّازِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عِيسَى يَعْنِي ابْنَ يُونُسَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْحَمِيدِ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، عَنْ عِمْرَانَ بْنِ أَبِي أَنَسٍ، عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَا يَفْرَكْ مُؤْمِنٌ مُؤْمِنَةً، إِنْ كَرِهَ مِنْهَا خُلُقًا رَضِيَ مِنْهَا آخَرَ» أَوْ قَالَ: «غَيْرَهُ» سنن أبي داود-المكتبة العصرية(4/ 253) [ii] حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عُثْمَانَ الدِّمَشْقِيُّ أَبُو الْجَمَاهِرِ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو كَعْبٍ أَيُّوبُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ السَّعْدِيُّ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِي سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ حَبِيبٍ الْمُحَارِبِيُّ، عَنْ أَبِي أُمَامَةَ، قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «أَنَا زَعِيمٌ بِبَيْتٍ فِي رَبَضِ الْجَنَّةِ لِمَنْ تَرَكَ الْمِرَاءَ وَإِنْ كَانَ مُحِقًّا، وَبِبَيْتٍ فِي وَسَطِ الْجَنَّةِ لِمَنْ تَرَكَ الْكَذِبَ وَإِنْ كَانَ مَازِحًا وَبِبَيْتٍ فِي أَعْلَى الْجَنَّةِ لِمَنْ حَسَّنَ خُلُقَهُ» السنن الكبرى للنسائي-موسسة الرسالة (8/ 261) [iii] أخبرنا محمد بن خلف قال: حدثنا آدم قال: حدثنا سليمان بن المغيرة قال: حدثنا ثابت البناني، عن أنس بن مالك قال: كانت صفية مع رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم في سفر، وكان ذلك يومها فأبطأت في المسير، فاستقبلها رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وهي تبكي وتقول: «حملتني على بعير بطيء، فجعل رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يمسح بيديه عينيها ويسكتها صحيح البخاري-دار طوق النجاة (7/ 36) [iv] حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أُسَامَةَ، عَنْ هِشَامٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا، قَالَتْ: قَالَ لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِنِّي لَأَعْلَمُ إِذَا كُنْتِ عَنِّي رَاضِيَةً، وَإِذَا كُنْتِ عَلَيَّ غَضْبَى» قَالَتْ: فَقُلْتُ: مِنْ أَيْنَ تَعْرِفُ ذَلِكَ؟ فَقَالَ: " أَمَّا إِذَا كُنْتِ عَنِّي رَاضِيَةً، فَإِنَّكِ تَقُولِينَ: لاَ وَرَبِّ مُحَمَّدٍ، وَإِذَا كُنْتِ عَلَيَّ غَضْبَى، قُلْتِ: لاَ وَرَبِّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ " قَالَتْ: قُلْتُ: أَجَلْ وَاللَّهِ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، مَا أَهْجُرُ إِلَّا اسْمَكَ [v] الأدب المفرد بالتعليقات (ص: 306)- مكتبة المعارف للنشر والتوزيع عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: (تَهادُوا تَحابُوا) صحيح ـ «الإرواء») [ليس في شيء من الكتب الستة] مصنف ابن أبي شيبة-مكتبة الرشد (4/ 196) [vi] حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرٍ قَالَ: نا وَكِيعٌ، قَالَ: نا بَشِيرُ بْنُ سَلْمَانَ، عَنْ عِكْرِمَةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ: " إِنِّي أُحِبُّ أَنْ أَتَزَيَّنَ لِلْمَرْأَةِ، كَمَا أُحِبُّ أَنْ تَتَزَيَّنَ لِي الْمَرْأَةُ، لِأَنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى يَقُولُ: {وَلَهُنَّ مِثْلُ الَّذِي عَلَيْهِنَّ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ} [البقرة: 228]، وَمَا أُحِبُّ أَنْ أَسْتَنْظِفَ جَمِيعَ حَقِّي عَلَيْهَا، لِأَنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى يَقُولُ: {وَلِلرِّجَالِ عَلَيْهِنَّ دَرَجَةٌ} [البقرة: 228] سنن أبي داود-المكتبة العصرية (1/ 13) [vii] حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ مُوسَى الرَّازِيُّ، أَخْبَرَنَا عِيسَى بْنُ يُونُسَ، عَنْ مِسْعَرٍ، عَنِ الْمِقْدَامِ بْنِ شُرَيْحٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ: قُلْتُ: لِعَائِشَةَ بِأَيِّ شَيْءٍ كَانَ يَبْدَأُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا دَخَلَ بَيْتَهُ؟ قَالَتْ: «بِالسِّوَاكِ» صحيح البخاري-دار طوق النجاة (7/ 164) [viii] حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو نُعَيْمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَزْرَةُ بْنُ ثَابِتٍ الأَنْصَارِيُّ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِي ثُمَامَةُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ: أَنَّهُ كَانَ لاَ يَرُدُّ الطِّيبَ، وَزَعَمَ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ «كَانَ لاَ يَرُدُّ الطِّيبَ» سنن ابن ماجه-دار احياء الكتب العربية (2/ 826) [ix] حَدَّثَنَا عَمَّارُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ الْوَاسِطِيُّ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ غُرَابٍ، عَنْ زُهَيْرِ بْنِ مَرْزُوقٍ، عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ زَيْدِ بْنِ جَدْعَانَ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ الْمُسَيِّبِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، أَنَّهَا قَالَتْ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا الشَّيْءُ الَّذِي لَا يَحِلُّ مَنْعُهُ؟ قَالَ: «الْمَاءُ، وَالْمِلْحُ، وَالنَّارُ» ، قَالَتْ: قُلْتُ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ هَذَا الْمَاءُ قَدْ عَرَفْنَاهُ، فَمَا بَالُ الْمِلْحِ وَالنَّارِ؟ قَالَ: «يَا حُمَيْرَاءُ مَنْ أَعْطَى نَارًا، فَكَأَنَّمَا تَصَدَّقَ بِجَمِيعِ مَا أَنْضَجَتْ تِلْكَ النَّارُ، وَمَنْ أَعْطَى مِلْحًا، فَكَأَنَّمَا تَصَدَّقَ بِجَمِيعِ مَا طَيَّبَ ذَلِكَ الْمِلْحُ، وَمَنْ سَقَى مُسْلِمًا شَرْبَةً مِنْ مَاءٍ، حَيْثُ يُوجَدُ الْمَاءُ، فَكَأَنَّمَا أَعْتَقَ رَقَبَةً، وَمَنْ سَقَى مُسْلِمًا شَرْبَةً مِنْ مَاءٍ، حَيْثُ لَا يُوجَدُ الْمَاءُ، فَكَأَنَّمَا أَحْيَاهَا» مسند أحمد ط الرسالة-مؤسسة الرسالة (23/ 161) [x] حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا الْمُنْكَدِرُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْمُنْكَدِرِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللهِ، قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: " كُلُّ مَعْرُوفٍ صَدَقَةٌ، وَإِنَّ مِنَ الْمَعْرُوفِ أَنْ تَلْقَى أَخَاكَ بِوَجْهٍ طَلْقٍ، وَأَنْ تُفْرِغَ مِنْ دَلْوِكَ فِي إِنَاءِ أَخِيكَ صحيح البخاري-دار طوق النجاة (1/ 20) [xi] حَدَّثَنَا الحَكَمُ بْنُ نَافِعٍ، قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنَا [ص:21] شُعَيْبٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِي عَامِرُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ، عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ أَبِي وَقَّاصٍ، أَنَّهُ أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «إِنَّكَ لَنْ تُنْفِقَ نَفَقَةً تَبْتَغِي بِهَا وَجْهَ اللَّهِ إِلَّا أُجِرْتَ عَلَيْهَا، حَتَّى مَا تَجْعَلُ فِي فَمِ امْرَأَتِكَ» سنن الترمذي ت شاكر-شركة مكتبة البابي الحلبي (5/ 709) [xii] حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يُوسُفَ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «خَيْرُكُمْ خَيْرُكُمْ لِأَهْلِهِ وَأَنَا خَيْرُكُمْ لِأَهْلِي، وَإِذَا مَاتَ صَاحِبُكُمْ فَدَعُوهُ» هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ وَرُوِيَ هَذَا عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مُرْسَلًا سنن أبي داود-المكتبة العصرية (3/ 29) [xiii] حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو صَالِحٍ الْأَنْطَاكِيُّ مَحْبُوبُ بْنُ مُوسَى، أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو إِسْحَاقَ يَعْنِي الْفَزَارِيَّ، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، وَعَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ [ص:30]، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا، أَنَّهَا كَانَتْ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي سَفَرٍ قَالَتْ: فَسَابَقْتُهُ فَسَبَقْتُهُ عَلَى رِجْلَيَّ، فَلَمَّا حَمَلْتُ اللَّحْمَ سَابَقْتُهُ فَسَبَقَنِي فَقَالَ: «هَذِهِ بِتِلْكَ السَّبْقَةِ» صحيح البخاري-دار طوق النجاة (3/ 30) [xiv] حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ المُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، عَنْ هِشَامٍ، قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنِي أَبِي، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، ح، وحَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ، عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ هِشَامٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا، قَالَتْ: «إِنْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَيُقَبِّلُ بَعْضَ أَزْوَاجِهِ وَهُوَ صَائِمٌ»، ثُمَّ ضَحِكَتْ سنن النسائي-المطبوعات الاسلامية (1/ 149) [xv] أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ مِسْعَرٍ، عَنِ الْمِقْدَامِ بْنِ شُرَيْحٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا تَقُولُ: «كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُنَاوِلُنِي الْإِنَاءَ فَأَشْرَبُ مِنْهُ وَأَنَا حَائِضٌ، ثُمَّ أُعْطِيهِ فَيَتَحَرَّى مَوْضِعَ فَمِي , فَيَضَعُهُ عَلَى فِيهِ» صحيح البخاري-دار طوق النجاة (1/ 67) [xvi] حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو نُعَيْمٍ الفَضْلُ بْنُ دُكَيْنٍ، سَمِعَ زُهَيْرًا، عَنْ مَنْصُورِ بْنِ صَفِيَّةَ، أَنَّ أُمَّهُ، حَدَّثَتْهُ أَنَّ عَائِشَةَ حَدَّثَتْهَا أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «كَانَ يَتَّكِئُ فِي حَجْرِي وَأَنَا حَائِضٌ، ثُمَّ يَقْرَأُ القُرْآنَ» http://www.askimam.org/public/question_detail/19600

The most hateful thing to a debater is to reject the truth revealed to his adversary and thus he takes to deception and deceit. The Holy Nabi (Sallallahu 'Alayhi wa Sallam) prohibited dispute about useless things. He (Sallallahu 'Alayhi wa Sallam) said: "If a man gives up disputation in matters of unlawful things, a garden will be built for him in Paradise. If a man gives up disputations in matters of Haqq, a house will be built up for him in the highest Paradise." Imam Malik (Rahmatullahi-'alaih) states: [this] Debate destroys the 'light' of knowledge. Mufti Taqi Uthmani: “Even if Argument & Debate are for/on Haqq, abstain from Argument & Debate.” Maulana Yusuf Ludhianvi Shaheed: Discussions and debates hamper the ability of a person to carry out (good) actions. It is reported in Musnad-e-Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and Mustadrak Haakim that Rasulullaah (sallAllaahu alaihi wasallam) said: “That nation is not led astray after the guidance has been brought to them, except when they are given to arguments.” Shaykh Ashraf Ali Thanwi It is written in Malfoozāt Hakeem-ul Ummat, vol. 1, p. 180 that once, in the course of a discussion, Hadhrat Moulānā Ashraf Ali Thanwi said: The Deobandi, Wahhābi, and Barelwi differences have caused great harm to the ummah. Nevertheless, I do not respond to anyone (to their criticism and allegations). In fact I detest such futile discussions. Taken from muftisays.com