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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.

الْغَنِيُّ Translation الْغَنِيُّ is translated as The Self-Sufficient.A person who is well to do is referred to as غَنِيُّ. Uthmaan RA was known as ‘Uthmaan al-Ghaniyy as he was a well to do person i.e. self-sufficient. It comes from the root غنى which means to be self-sufficient and independent and to be free from needs or wants. It can also mean to be wealthy. Linguistically غِنىٰ is used to refer to the concept of independence because of being self-sufficient. The opposite is فَقْر which refers to poverty, being in need. Faqeer is used to describe a poor person or beggar. Definition The One Who Himself is self-sufficient. The One Who is not dependent on another due to His own high stature and being self-sufficient and independent. In reality no one is in absence of need of Allah ta’ala and everyone is dependent on no one other than Him. Allah ta’ala does not need anything. He does not need our Salaah, Sadaqah or goodness. It is mentioned in a Hadith that Allah ta’ala says, “O My servants, were the first of you and the last of you, the human of you and the jinn of you to be as pious as the most pious heart of any one man of you, that would not increase My kingdom in anything. O My servants, were the first of you and the last of you, the human of you and the jinn of you to be as wicked as the most wicked heart of any one man of you, that would not decrease My kingdom in anything. O My servants, were the first of you and the last of you, the human of you and the jinn of you to rise up in one place and make a request of Me, and were I to give everyone what he requested, that would not decrease what I have, any more than a needle decreases the sea if put into it.” [Part of a long Hadith; Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah] This is Allah ta’ala being الْغَنِيُّ What people do or do not do does not affect Him at all. We do not perform good deeds because Allah ta’ala needs them, we do them because we need them and to express our love for Him. In the Qur’an Allah ta’ala says, يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ أَنْتُمُ الْفُقَرَاءُ إِلَى اللَّهِ ۖ وَاللَّهُ هُوَ الْغَنِيُّ الْحَمِيدُ O mankind! It is you who stands in need of Allah, and it is Allah Who is Free of all wants, Worthy of all praise. [Surah Faatir: 15] فُقَرَاء is plural for Faqeer. Even the richest person in the world is a Faqeer (Beggar) in front of Allah ta’ala Who is absolutely self-sufficient. His self-sufficiency does not even need our praise. Secret behind praising Allah ta’ala When we praise Him, Allah ta’ala will listen to our prayers and that is the secret behind praising Allah ta’ala, that it attracts the Rahmah of Allah ta’ala. Allah ta’ala is Self-sufficient, Forbearing and Kind Being self-sufficient is mentioned many times in the Qur’an along with being forbearing and kind. In Surah Baqarah Allah ta’ala says, قَوْلٌ مَعْرُوفٌ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ خَيْرٌ مِنْ صَدَقَةٍ يَتْبَعُهَا أَذًى ۗ وَاللَّهُ غَنِيٌّ حَلِيمٌ Kind words and forgiveness are better than charity followed by injury. Allah is Self-sufficient, Forbearing. [Surah Baqarah: 263] A kind word and forgiving is better than that charity which is followed up by insult or injury. Allah ta’ala is Self-Sufficient and Forbearing. He does not need our charity as He is غَنِيٌّ, independent. If the recipient of our charity do not show appreciation or reciprocate the favour then we should show forbearance and be independent i.e. be emotionally self-sufficient. We should try and emulate to some extent the two qualities of Allah ta’ala mentioned in the verse. When Allah ta’ala said, “Who is the one who would give Allah a good loan so that Allah multiplies it for him many times?” [Surah Baqarah:245] the Mushrikeen of Makkah made fun saying Allah ta’ala is poor and that He needs help. But it is an expression meaning the loan will help the person as Allah ta’ala is Self-sufficient. Allah ta’ala says, وَرَبُّكَ الْغَنِيُّ ذُو الرَّحْمَةِ - Your Rabb is Self-Sufficient, Lord of Mercy. [Surah An’aam:133] Even though Allah ta’ala is self-sufficient, He is merciful. People who are self-sufficient often do not show mercy to others. They think they have done a great deed by giving Sadaqah but Allah ta’ala does not need it and we should be happy to have had the opportunity to please Allah ta’ala. Allah ta’ala is not dependent on Progeny In terms of Aqeedah regarding the Ahli Kitaab attributing a son to Allah ta’ala, it implies He needed one to depend on and therefore was not self-sufficient. Allah ta’ala rebuts it in Surah Yunus saying He is beyond any type of dependency on progeny. قَالُوا اتَّخَذَ اللَّهُ وَلَدًا ۗ سُبْحَانَهُ ۖ هُوَ الْغَنِيُّ They (Jews and Christians) say: “Allah has begotten a son!” Glory be to Him! He is self-sufficient! [Surah Yunus: 68] In the Qur’an الْغَنِيُّ is mentioned many times in the Qur’an in various forms. وَاللَّهُ الْغَنِيُّ وَأَنْتُمُ الْفُقَرَاءُ - For Allah is the Self-Sufficient, whereas you stand in need of Him [Surah Muhammad: 38] الَّذِينَ يَبْخَلُونَ وَيَأْمُرُونَ النَّاسَ بِالْبُخْلِ ۗ وَمَنْ يَتَوَلَّ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الْغَنِيُّ الْحَمِيدُ “Nor those who, being stingy themselves, enjoin others to be stingy also. He that gives no heed should know that Allah is free of all needs, worthy of all praises.” [Surah Hadeed: 24] وَإِنْ تَكْفُرُوا فَإِنَّ لِلَّهِ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ ۚ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ غَنِيًّا حَمِيدًا And if you disbelieve, lo! unto Allah belong whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth, and Allah is ever Absolute, Owner of Praise. [ Surah Nisa’: 131] Acknowledging the Reality of dependency on Allah ta’ala We are all born helpless and dependent on others. Then as we grow older we become more independent though still dependent on Allah ta’ala, and then go back to being dependent on others in old age. Allah ta’ala is showing us we are dependent on others from the very beginning and at the end. A Scholar mentions that the foundation of a successful person is having the reality of how dependent one is on Allah ta’ala. Allah ta’ala says in Surah Alaq, كَلَّا إِنَّ الْإِنْسَانَ لَيَطْغَىٰ - Nay! Indeed, man transgresses all bounds أَنْ رَآهُ اسْتَغْنَىٰ - in thinking himself to be self-sufficient[Surah Alaq:6-7] A person who realises his dependency on Allah ta’ala is successful and the person who does not realise it, has the false concept of being self-sufficient. He is deluded. It can lead to transgression and sin. The person who has servitude to Allah ta’ala (‘Uboodiyyat) realises their dependency on Allah ta’ala and it shows in their Du’a and the way they interact with people. Wealth expanded and life span extended by doing Silah Rahmi Everyone has the desire for wealth and the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam said who ever wishes to have his wealth expanded and his life span extended, then he should keep good relations with his family (Silah Rahmi) which is maintaining family ties. There are many Hadith on maintain family ties even when disputes occur. Maintaining family ties means; • To help relatives in time of need – to give condolences in times of grief or congratulating in happy times • To meet them happily and to make Du’a for them • Not to stop talking or cut relations In a comprehensive way Silah Rahmi is to help a person towards Khayr (in terms of the world and the Aakhirah) and to help and protect them in terms of anything bad. Allah ta’ala is الْغَنِيُّ and He grants wealth or poverty to whomsoever He wishes. Counsel To regard one’s self as a Faqeer in front of Allah ta’ala and only in front of Him. Some people express their dependency on others however it is Allah ta’ala Who grants and therefore to ask Him and not creation who are only the means. Use the beautiful and comprehensive Du’a of Musa AS while realizing your need of الْغَنِيُّ. رَبِّ إِنِّي لِمَا أَنْزَلْتَ إِلَيَّ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَقِيرٌ My Lord! I am needy of whatever good You send down for me. [Surah Qasas: 24] Benefit of Surah Waaqiah for Wealth Prophet sallalaahu ‘alayhi wasallam said, “Surah Waqiah is the Surah of Wealth, so recite it and teach it to your children”. (Ibn Asakir) It is narrated from Ibn Katheer (Rahimahullah) on the authority of Ibn Asakir that when Abdullah ibn Mas’ood RA was on his death-bed, Uthman RA visited him and asked, ‘What is your ailment?’ He replied, ‘My sins.’ ‘And what do you desire?’ He replied, ‘The mercy of my Lord.’ Uthman RA asked, ‘Shall I not give you your stipend which you have refused to take for years now?’ He replied, ‘I have no need of it.’ Uthman RA said, ‘Let it be for your daughters after you.’ He replied, ‘Do you fear poverty for my children? I have commanded them to read Surah al-Waqiah every night for I have heard the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam saying, “Whoever reads Al-Waqiah every night shall not be afflicted by poverty ever.” Du’a for protection from the Fitnah of poverty The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam feared wealth for his Ummah as it can be a Fitnah and we see this in our time. Wealth intoxicates and leads to bad deeds and distances one from Allah ta’ala. Similarly poverty can also lead to Fitnah and affect one’s Imaan. The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam made the following Du’a seeking refuge from many things including the Fitnah of wealth and poverty. اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ فِتْنَةِ النَّارِ وَعَذَابِ النَّارِ وَمِنْ فِتْنَةِ الْقَبْرِ وَعَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ وَمِنْ شَرِّ فِتْنَةِ الْغِنَى وَشَرِّ فِتْنَةِ الْفَقْرِ وَمِنْ شَرِّ فِتْنَةِ الْمَسِيحِ الدَّجَّالِ اللَّهُمَّ اغْسِلْ خَطَايَاىَ بِمَاءِ الثَّلْجِ وَالْبَرَدِ وَنَقِّ قَلْبِي مِنَ الْخَطَايَا كَمَا نَقَّيْتَ الثَّوْبَ الأَبْيَضَ مِنَ الدَّنَسِ وَبَاعِدْ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ خَطَايَاىَ كَمَا بَاعَدْتَ بَيْنَ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْكَسَلِ وَالْهَرَمِ وَالْمَأْثَمِ وَالْمَغْرَمِ O Allah, I seek refuge with You from the tribulation of the Fire and the torment of the Fire, and from the tribulation of the grave, and from the evil of the tribulation of richness and the evil of the tribulation of poverty, and from the evil of the trial of the False Christ. O Allah! Wash away my sins with the water of snow and hail, and cleanse my heart from sin as a white garment is cleansed from filth, and put a great distance between me and my sins, as great as the distance You have made between the east and the west. O Allah! I seek refuge with You from laziness and old age, and from sins and debt). [Ibn Majah] *~~*~~*

Takbeer Tashreeq Story behind the Takbeer Tashreeq Takbeer Tashreeq is the recitation of "Allaahu akbar, La ilaaha [illa Allaahu] Wallaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar wa lillaahil hamd" after every fardh salaah commencing from the Fajr of the 9th of Dhul Hijah until after Asr of the 13th of Dhul Hijjah. (Shami vol. 1 pg. 406) When Ibrahim (AS) began moving the knife on his beloved son, Ismaeel (AS), the angels sent by Allah with a ram exclaimed, "Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar (Allah is the greatest, Allah is the greatest)." Ibrahim (AS) heard the voice of the angels and replied, "La illaah illa Allaahu Wallaahu akbar (There is no god besides Allah, and Allah is the greatest)." His son Ismaeel (AS) heard this conversation and understood that Allah had relieved him from this great trial, thus he replied, "Allaahu Akbar Wa lillaahil hamd (Allah is the greatest, and to Allah belongs all praise)." (Ibid) and Allah Ta'ala Knows Best Mufti Ebrahim Desai http://www.beautifulislam.net/hajj/takbeer_tashreeq.htm

Bursting the Bubble As exhausted as she was, she put in the extra effort. “Never mind if I’m tired, I’ll do it for my hubby,” she thought to herself. She wore attractive clothing and jewellery, applied perfume, prepared his favourite meal and dessert and even lit candles, hoping to please her husband by making it a ‘special evening’. Sadly, as soon as he entered, let alone appreciate and admire, and let alone a simple smile and a hug – he didn’t even spare her a second glance! He walked in, glued to his phone, absolutely oblivious to the loving wife who had eagerly awaited him all day. At that moment, her bubble burst and her heart was broken… After reading the above, most people would be quick to condemn the husband’s behaviour and classify him as insensitive, callous and uncaring. Now, consider the following: “Mummy! You know what aapa told us today?” Faatimah excitedly exclaimed as she ran in from madrasah. “Not now Faatimah! I’m busy!”her mother snapped while frantically typing on her phone. “Daddy! See what I made for you with my blocks!” Muhammad said, hopping with happiness. “Can’t you see that I’m on the phone?” his father scolded in irritation. In all the cases above, a person turned to someone that they love, hoping and expecting to receive warmth, love, attention and acceptance, and were instead brushed off abruptly and painfully ignored. Just as a wife feels hurt when her husband treats her indifferently, children similarly feel hurt when their parents treat them in this way. If the husband is guilty, the parents are also guilty and deserving of condemnation. In such a child’s eyes, his parents love their phones more than him as they cannot even put it down for a few minutes to give him attention and love. When the child sees that his parents have bonded with their phones more than with him, it is unsurprising that he develops a fascination with the phone and also wishes to acquire one to bond with. If it is not the phone occupying the parents, then regardless of what it is, it causes hurt and pain to the child – especially when it happens on a continuous basis. As fathers and mothers, we need to understand that parenting is not an eight-to-five occupation where we can knock off for the day,thereafter ignoring all responsibilities of the work place until the next morning. As parents, we can never feel, “I gave my children enough attention today, now it’s my turn to relax and I do not want them to disturb me or bother me.” We are on duty 24/7, and whenever our children come to us, we must show them warmth, love and attention. Failing to do so creates a serious complex in the child, affecting their emotional wellbeing and causing them to develop a dangerous craving for attention. When the wife is displeased with her husband for ignoring her, then due to her intelligence and age, she will be able to express herself with words or even tears. In the case of the child, he does not know how to communicate his need via words. Instead, when he desperately craves the attention and love of his parents, he looks for other ways to gain it – or he will seek the love from outsiders. Children are simple souls and do not understand diplomacy and tact. If a child wants a toy from another child, he will often snatch it without thinking twice. Likewise, when the parents do not give the child the attention that he wants, he tries to ‘snatch’ it from them. This often manifests in the form of naughty behaviour such as breaking things, tantrums, etc., as the child knows no other way to draw his parents’ attention. How sad that the child has to resort to this behaviour simply to make his parents look at him! Unfortunately, this plan backfires. The child is given attention – but in the form of scolding, punishment, etc. and this further entrenches the complex and craving within the child. The parents then lament and complain about the behaviour of their children, failing to realise that it is actually a shout for help from a child who is starving for love and knows no other way to express himself. The next time our child comes to us, even if it may be to show us a flower they picked in the garden, or a ‘picture’ that they scribbled with crayons, or to tell us something silly that their friend told them, or to show us their toy, let us not burst their bubble and break their hearts. Let us take out a few moments to give them our undivided love and attention. uswatulmuslimah

We need to work on a comprehensive database categorizing the atrocities carried out by the US and its allies otherwise the information will be lost and people will forget. We need to include links and sources and also archive the evidence and testimonies etc before they get scrubbed off the net. Anyone available to spearhead this?

Great Alhamdulillah..as long the content is sourced it should be good

The content in this topic has been taken from Menstrual Matters Whitethread Institute. Menstruation is a part of every woman’s life. For a young girl, it will mark her entrance into womanhood and the point at which she is responsible for her worship in accordance with Islamic laws (Shari’ah). For a woman, it will be a constant part of her life, through monthly cycles, pregnancies and even menopause. Given the way hayd (menstruation) and nifas (post-natal bleeding) are so intimately connected to a woman, it is imperative that she understands the rules that govern them. She must know when she is obligated to pray and fast and when she must abstain from certain acts of worship. The tutorials aim to help women gain clarity and understanding of how to differentiate between the differnt types of bloods they experience. Index 1. Key Terms - it is very important to know the different types of blood women experience 2. Minimum & Maximum Frames - Shari'ah has stipulated the minimum and maximum limit to the bloods 3. Colours of blood - Women experience different colours of blood. This tutorial shows which colours can be considered 4. Habits - Habits are formed in the number of days a woman bleeds (in menstruation and post-natal bleeding) 5. Recording Cycles - This tutorial shows how imporatnt it is for women to record their cycles 6. Number & Place - It is not just about the number of days a woman bleeds. It is also at which place of the month she bleeds 7. Early Blood - Women's habits fluctuate and some months she may beging bleeding earlier than expeceted. What does she do? 8. Post-natal Bleeding (Nifas) - Definition and rulings 9. Miscarriage - Rulings on how to determine the bleeding after a miscarriage 10. Menopause - Rulings 11. Attaining Ritual Purity - How and when to attain purity aftre bleeding

Emotional WellbeingPhysical WellbeingSelf Improvement The Beast In The Mirror: Overcoming Body Dysmorphic Disorder “Mirrors are perpetually deceitful. They lie and steal your true self. They reveal only what your mind believes it sees.” – Dee Remy Are you finding yourself in front of your mirror on a regular basis and noting all of your imperfections? Are you embarrassed to leave the home because of a minor flaw or blemish on your face? Is plastic surgery on the horizon for you in the near future? If you answer yes to any of these questions, you may be dealing with Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD). The DSM-IV defines BDD as “a preoccupation with an imagined defect in appearance. If a slight physical anomaly is present, the person’s concern is markedly excessive. This preoccupation often causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. This preoccupation is not better accounted for by another mental disorder (eg, dissatisfaction with body shape and size in anorexia nervosa).” BDD is distinguished from anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa , to the extent that patients w anorexia or bulimia disorders are preoccupied with their overall weight and body shape. BDD however focuses on a specific area and is not related to weight or dieting. An example might be an adolescent who thinks that her breasts are too large and wants to have plastic surgery to reduce their size but is otherwise unconcerned about her weight and is eating normally. Recent statistics indicate a many as 50% of patients diagnosed with BDD undergo plastic surgery to correct their perceived physical defects. Individuals with BDD often focus so much on the defect, they often lose sight of the whole self. A person with a pimple on their nose might feel it is considerably larger than it actually is and their reactions fit their perception rather than reality. This may be caused by an error in the visual processing region of your brain. This visual processing error can lead to low self-esteem, high suicide risk, and repeated cosmetic surgery. Although the symptoms appear psychological in nature, new research by UCLA psychiatrist Jamie D. Feusner appears to indicate it might actually be linked to problems with seeing the big picture in the brain. In the study, subjects were shown blurred pictures of their own faces while inside the fMRI machine. Dr. Feusner observed, compared to healthy control subjects, those subjects identified with BDD showed much less activity in the brain region responsible for forming visual details into composite forms. This inability to see the whole picture generalized to other activities as well, including looking at pictures of houses. People with BDD tend to have difficulty seeing the whole picture and cannot process the context of what they are looking at. This perceptual error seems to be the underlying reason individuals suffer from a distorted self image, which defines BDD. Causes of BDD Although recent research points to an error in the visual processing region of the brain, other research indicates the cause might be related to low seratonin levels in the brain. Seratonin, a neurotransmitter produced by the brain, is often associated with depression and mood disorders when levels are below normal in the brain. Another significant factor in the development of BDD is the influence of the mass media, particularly the role of advertising in spreading images of physically “perfect” men and women. Impressionable young children and adolescents absorb the message that anything short of physical perfection is unacceptable. This may lead to developing distorted perceptions of their own faces and bodies. Family of origin plays an important role in our self perceptions, which can increase our vulnerability to BDD. Children whose parents are obsessed with appearance, dieting, and/or bodybuilding; or who are highly critical of their children’s looks, are at greater risk of developing BDD. A history of trauma and abuse can also be an additional factor. When an individual with a history of trauma or abuse buries their feelings about the abuse or traumatic incident, the oppressed feelings can emerge in the form of obsessions about physical features. This “reassignment” of feelings is called displacement. An example that best describes this displacement is an adolescent with a history of physical abuse as a young child becoming obsessed with body building and strength. Individuals with BDD can have symptoms similar to OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) since anxiety is at the root of both disorders. Symptoms of BDD include: Ritualistic Behavior: Ritualistic behavior refers to actions that the individual performs to manage anxiety and that take up excessive amounts of his/her time. Individuals are frequently upset if someone or something interferes with or interrupts their ritual. For individuals diagnosed with BDD, these ritualistic behaviors may include exercise or makeup routines, assuming specific poses or postures in front of a mirror, etc. Camouflaging: Individuals with BDD usually spend a great amount of time camouflaging “problem” feature or body part with makeup, hats, or clothing. 94% of individuals with BDD have reported camouflaging. Mirror Obsession: Abnormal behavior around mirrors, large storefront windows, or similar reflecting surfaces is common with individuals with BDD. A majority of individuals diagnosed with BDD frequently check their appearance in mirrors or spend long periods of time doing so. A few react in the opposite direction and avoid mirrors when possible. Fishing for Compliments: Individual with BDD frequently ask for reassurance from others about their appearance. Self Comparisons: Individuals with BDD frequently compare their own appearance to others. Social Avoidance: Due to their insecurities, individual with BDD often avoid activities outside the home, including school and social events*. *The loss of functioning resulting from BDD can have serious consequences for the individuals future. Adolescents with BDD often cut school and may be reluctant to participate in sports, youth groups, or hold part-time or summer jobs. Many individuals are unable to remain in school, form healthy relationships, or keep steady jobs. Adults with muscle dysmorphia have been known to turn down job promotions in order to have more time to focus on their imperfections by working out more at the gym or fitness centers. The economic consequences of BDD can include overspending on cosmetics, clothing, or plastic surgery. Treatment Individuals with BDD often respond well to medications such as antidepressants as well as individual therapy using Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT). CBT has been found useful in reducing BDD symptoms. With CBT, individuals learn to see themselves in the mirror without the need for negative self talk or tendency to focus on the negative defects. CBT also challenges inaccurate self-perceptions the individual might have about themselves. Relaxation techniques paired with CBT work well for individuals with BDD. In more severe cases, hospitalization may be warranted for individuals with BDD. Since BDD patients have a high rate of self-destructive behavior, including performing surgery on themselves at home (e.g. liposuction followed by skin stapling, removing facial scars with sand paper, or even sawing down their teeth), hospitalization might be the best place for them to get the help they need. Individuals with severe cases of BDD have a high rate of attempted and completed suicide. Out of 100 individuals diagnosed with BDD, 48% have been hospitalized for psychiatric reasons and 30% had made at least one suicide attempt. Prevention The best preventive strategy appears to be simply challenging the perception of those afflicted with unrealistic images of themselves. Despite the pervasive influence of the mass media in our lives, we must educate ourselves and our children about the realities of those supposed “perfect” images we are exposed to. Point out the airbrushing and photo-shopping involved in getting models to look a certain way. Most importantly, talk to young children about the pitfalls of trying to look “perfect”. Teach them the importance of being well rounded, mentally and physically. Stop complimenting girls and boys on just their physical appearance and attributes. Compliment them on being smart, kind, compassionate, and generous rather than on being beautiful and cute. By doing so, you are teaching them to value themselves as a whole rather than a physical part or feature. Lastly, educate yourself on the symptoms of BDD and pay attention to changes in your children’s dress and behavior. Early intervention is key. Dr. Nafisa Sekandari mentalhealth4muslims

With respect to women visiting the cemetery, there are three famous opinions of the Fuqaha (jurists) and scholars. The first opinion is that it is generally permissible for women to visit the graveyard. This allowance is on account of the tradition of the Prophet (SA) in which he said, ‘I used to prohibit you from visiting the graveyard, but now you can visit it. (Musnad ahmad). Those scholars who allow this, state that the above tradition includes the permission for women also (to visit the cemetery) as it is for men. The great jurist Shamsul A’imma Saraks; has preferred this. (Al Fatawa Hindiyah). The second opinion of some jurists is that it is not permissible (at all) for women to visit the cemetery, since the Prophet (SA) has cursed those women who visit the cemetery. As for the previous narration, these scholars state that the address is given only to men, not women. The third opinion of some jurists (which is generally accepted and practiced upon) is that, if by visiting the cemetery, women begin to cry, weep, wail and become uncontrollable, then it is haram for them to go to the cemetery, and it is on account of this behaviour, the Prophet (SA) cursed such women as mentioned in the above tradition. However, if the purpose of going to the cemetery is to take a lesson, and remember death and the hereafter, (and there is no possibility of crying and wailing), then it will be allowed for the older women, wearing their proper garb, to visit the cemetery, and not the young women. As mentioned by these scholars, the allowance for these women to visit the cemetery is based on the narration which states that Aisha (RA) used to visit the graves of the Prophet(SA), Abu Bakr and Umar (RA). (Hashiya Jamiul Masaaneed wa As Sunan). (Kitabul Fatawa vol.3 pg.228; Marghoobul Fatawa vol.3pg.317,317). Based on the above third opinion, if the women (as specified above ) wish to visit the cemetery, there is no fixed amount of days which must be passed in order for them to do so. However, due to the fact that women are soft by nature, if they go to the graveyard at a time that is close to the burial, then it is feared that they may cry loudly, and may become emotional, since the death of the person may still be fresh in their minds. Hence, it is best for them to allow a few days to past, when they have settled down a bit. And Allah knows best. Mufti Waseem Khan Source

Ameen! Wa iyyaki, ameen. Absolutely! JazakAllahu khayran for pointing them out... please continue to do so - any error I make, please.

Assalaamu 'laykum warahmatullah! Jazaakillahu khayran once more for the excellent contribution Can you pls check the following word? Transliteration says, "wa min da’watith-thubuur" so is it a Shhen on a thaa? وَمِنْ دَعْوَةِ الشُّبُوْرِ،

Encouragment of Nikah (Marriage) Nikah is extremely important. It is a 24 hour ‘Ibaadah (worship) which includes the mundane and has tremendous potential of reward for both the husband and the wife. It is a Sunnah of all the previous Ambiyaa AS and our Nabi sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam who stressed on Nikah and practically showed us by his example (exceptions are ‘Isaa AS who will marry when he returns to earth before the Day of Judgment and Yahya AS) Nikah is part of Sunnah Nabi sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam said, “Marriage is part of my sunnah and whoever does not follow my sunnah has nothing to do with me” (Ibn Majah) A group of young men told to marry if they have the means or fast “O young men, whoever among you can afford it, let him get married, for it is more effective in lowering the gaze and guarding one's chastity. Whoever cannot afford it, let him fast, for it will diminish his desire.” (Ibn Majah) Nikah perfects a person's Imaan "Whoever Allah provides witha righteous wife, Allah has assisted him in half of religion. Let him fear Allah regarding the second half" (Bayhaqi) This Hadith is sometimes misinterpreted however Muhadditheen say Nikah is Takmeerul Imaan, it perfects a person’s Imaan. This Hadith highlights the importance of Nikah and the influence it has on a person’s social and spiritual life. Some say Nikah helps allocate a person’s sexual desire in a Halaal way. Imam Ghazali (Rahimahullah) says the sexual organs and the stomach are the most destructive factors to a person’s Imaan. So this desire is curbed with Nikah and the other half, the stomach, can be curbed by eating less. Nikah is not contrary to Taqwa Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Three men came to the houses of the wives of the Prophet (ﷺ) to inquire about the worship of the Prophet (ﷺ). When they were informed, they considered their worship insignificant and said: "Where are we in comparison with the Prophet (ﷺ) while Allah has forgiven his past sins and future sins". One of them said: "As for me, I shall offer Salat all night long." Another said: "I shall observe Saum (fasting) continuously and shall not break it". Another said: "I shall abstain from women and shall never marry". The Prophet (ﷺ) came to them and said, "Are you the people who said such and such things? By Allah, I fear Allah more than you do, and I am most obedient and dutiful among you to Him, but still I observe fast and break it; perform Salat and sleep at night and take wives. So whoever turns away from my Sunnah does not belong to me". (Al-Bukhari and Muslim) The concept of marriage is highly emphasised in this Hadith. The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam removes the false notion that marriage, having children, eating, sleeping, etc. are contrary to Taqwa. Our Deen has made it easy for us to live as Believers 24 hours a day. A person being “not from” our Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam is a very serious matter. It is tantamount to Kufr. Not marrying without a valid reason is going against the Sunnah and detrimental to one’s Imaan. Even worse is to reject the notion of marriage i.e. saying celibacy is better than marriage. Other religions regard celibacy as the highest stage of relationship with Allah ta’ala (priesthood, nuns, monks). It is Allah ta’ala Who has put feelings of desire in humans and He gives a solution for it through marriage. Choosing this option will aid in piety and devotion to Allah ta’ala.

Hazrat Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Daamat Barakaatuhu) mentioned: Daily we hear of the depression rate increasing and escalating. It got me thinking that what is the solution to this? The following hadeeth came to mind: “Show mercy to those on earth, and in turn Allah Ta‘ala will show mercy to you.” The remedy is so simple, i.e. bringing some joy and cheer to the next person, and Allah Ta‘ala will bring cheer to your heart. This in actual fact is the fundamental teaching of Islam. Ihyaauddeen.co.za

Q. If someone reads full salaah instead of short salaah on travel, should they make qadha of those salaah? (Question published as received) A. If a person performs the complete 4 Rakaats Fardh Salaah instead of 2 Rakaats on a journey, mistakenly or due to miscalculation of the distance of travel etc., the Salaah performed will be valid. However, if the Salaah time remains and a person is made aware of his/her mistake, it will be necessary to repeat the Salaah during the Salaah time. If the Salaah time expires, it will not be necessary to repeat it. On the other hand, if a person performs the complete 4 Rakaats Fardh Salaah instead of the 2 Rakaats Fardh Salaah on a journey knowingly and intentionally, it will be necessary to repeat all such Salaah performed in this way. (Al Bahrur-Raaiq 2/141 – Khairul Fataawa 2/681-682) 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

A miser was on his death bed. He told his wife to put all his money in a box and bury it with him. She promised him she would. Soon after that he died. At the funeral her friend asked her if she had done as she had promised. She said yes she had and her friend looked very shocked. She smiled and said, "I deposited all the money in the bank, wrote him a cheque and put it in the box. If he can cash the cheque, he can have the money!"

Benefits of Smiling! The Messenger of Allah Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said, “To smile in the company of your brother is charity.” (Bukhari) It seems that nothing has more power to elevate a mood than the impact of a genuine smile. The benefits of a smile extend not only to the recipient of the warm gesture but also to the smile’s originator. “A smile is a little curve that sets a lot of things straight.” 1. Smiling Makes Us Attractive – People are spending millions on cosmetic products and procedures to make them look better. If you want to look better, try adding a genuine smile. It’s cheaper and much more attractive. The muscles we use to smile lift the face, making a person appear younger. Don’t go for a face lift, just try smiling your way through the day — you’ll look younger and feel better. 2. Smiling Changes Our Mood - Next time you are feeling down, try putting on a smile. There’s a good chance you mood will change for the better. Smiling can trick the body into helping you change your mood. 3. Smiling Is Contagious - When someone is smiling they lighten up the room, change the moods of others, and make things happier. A smiling person brings happiness with them. 4. Smiling Relieves Stress - Stress can really show up in our faces. Smiling helps prevents us from looking tired, worn down, and overwhelmed. When you are stressed, take time to put on a smile. The stress should be reduced and you’ll be better able to take action. Smiling helps to promote release of a “feel good” group of hormones called endorphins. These are the same group of hormones responsible for the runners high you hear so much about. If you don’t have time to get to the gym for a hard run, try adding a smile to boost these natural, stress relieving hormones. 5. Smiling Boosts Your Immune System - Smiling helps the immune system to work better. When you smile, immune function improves possibly because you are more relaxed. Prevent the flu and colds by smiling. 6. Smiling Lowers Your Blood Pressure - When you smile, there is a measurable reduction in your blood pressure. Give it a try if you have a blood pressure monitor at home. Sit for a few minutes, take a reading. Then smile for a minute and take another reading while still smiling. Do you notice a difference? 7. Smiling is medication - Studies have shown that smiling releases endorphins, natural pain killers, and serotonin. Together these three make us feel good. Smiling is a natural drug and leads to a healthier immune system. Various studies conducted over the years have shown that smiling can boost the functioning of the immune system. This may help to reduce your risk of developing everything from the common cold to chronic diseases such as cancer. Could there be a less expensive medicine than this? 8. A smile inspires others - When you smile you also send a positive message that can potentially change someone else’s mood for the better. The person you graced with your smile may go on to pass the kindness to someone else. Who knows how far your original smile will travel? 9. Smiling promotes Success - Smiling people appear more confident, are more likely to be promoted, and more likely to be approached. Put on a smile at meetings and appointments and people will react to you differently.When you smile, you appear confident and capable. Given the choice between two equally qualified job candidates, the smiling candidate is going to be perceived as being more of a team player and easier to work with. Who do you think is more likely to get the job offer? 10. Smiling Helps You Stay Positive -Try this test: Smile. Now try to think of something negative without losing the smile. It’s hard. When we smile our body is sending the rest of us a message that “Life is Good!” Stay away from depression, stress and worry by smiling. Smile!!! It does not cost a cent and can make a person’s day! “It takes seventeen muscles to smile and forty-three to frown”. The greatest reason for smiling is because it is a sunnah [practice] of our Beloved Messenger of Allah Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. The Messenger of Allah had a smiling face and advised us to entertain our guest with a smiling face and good conduct. Posted by E ISLAM Jamiatul Ulama (KZN) Council of Muslim Theologians

I like how you use smiley after every sentence mashaAllah. Keep smiling sis :) Pleased to meet you too dear :)

A good example of "Tawriyah"

Part Nineteen Hazrat Sa‘eed bin Musayyib (rahimahullah) narrates: A certain person was once speaking ill of Hazrat ‘Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), Hazrat Talhah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and Hazrat Zubair (radhiyallahu ‘anhu). Seeing that this person was speaking ill of the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum), Hazrat Sa’d (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) immediately tried to stop him saying, “Do not speak ill of my brothers!” However, the person refused to desist. Hazrat Sa’d (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) thus stood, performed two rakaats of salaah, and made du‘aa against this person who was speaking ill of the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum). Shortly thereafter, a camel arrived, pushing its way through the people. The camel seized this person and trapped him between its chest and the ground, crushing him to death. Hazrat Sa‘eed (rahimahullah) concludes saying, “I then saw the people walking behind Hazrat Sa’d (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) saying, ‘Congratulations, O Abu Ishaaq! Your du‘aa was accepted (in defense of the Sahaabah)!’” (Siyar min A’laam min Nubalaa 3/73) Source: Whatisislam.co.za

Ibn al-Qayyim (رحمه الله) said, “Go on the path of truth and do not feel lonely because there are few who take that path, and beware of the path of falsehood and do not be deceived by the vastness of the perishers.”

Here is an explanation (noted elsewhere) for the title name-change: