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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.

As you shed Those warm tears, Crying for the past Sinful years, You just can’t utter A comprehensible sentence Yet; truthful is your repentance. Strange Is that vibration You feel As you fall On bended knees, Before He who spread darkness Into the depth of the seas. Sublime Is the sensation You get After a prostration You make In true contrition For the sake Of forgiveness, From He Who Inspired the bees. Subhaaan Al Ghafour! Rochdi Bouille March 15, 2012

DU’AA FOR GOOD EXPECTATIONS FROM AND SINCERE RELIANCE ON ALLAH TA’AALA اَللّٰهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ شُكْرًا وَّلَكَ الْمَنُّ فَضْلًاـ اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّيْ أَسْأَلُكَ اتَّوْفِيْقَ لِمَحَابِّكَ مِنَ الْأَعْهَالِ، وَصِدْقَ التَّوَكُّلِ عَلَيْكَ، وَ حُسْنَ الظَّنِّ بِكَ ـ Allaahumma lakal-hamdu shukran wa lakal-mannu fadla(n). Allaahumma innii as’alukat-tawfiiqa limahaabbika minal-‘a’maal(i), wa sidqat-tawakkuli ‘alayk(a), wa husnaz-zanni bik. (Composite: Ka’b ibn ‘Ujrah and Abu Hurayrah. Kanz al-‘Ummal #3653, 3654) O Allah, to You is due all praise with thanks; it is only Your domain to do favors with grace. O Allah, I beseech You to enable me to perform the deeds loved by You, develop sincere reliance on You, and hold good expectations from You. ~~~Ameen~~~ It is important to hold good expectations from Allah Ta’aala, for Allah Ta’aala deals with a person according to his expectations. When a servant of Allah sincerely puts his trust and hopes in Him, Allah Ta’aala does not disappoint him. (Source: Khalid Baig’s transliteration, translation and commentary of du’aa #122 from the Accepted Whispers: Munajat-e-Maqbul)

(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

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

"Don't read the Qur'an like speech, separated like date seeds, and don't recite it like the flow of poetry. [Rather], stop at it's amazing parts, and move hearts with it. None of you should be worried about ending the chapter (Surah)" - Abdullah bin Mas'ud Athar al-Tanzil pg 159

https://www.instagram.com/p/CSwshuZDM5J/?utm_medium=share_sheet

Pandemic periods: why women's menstrual cycles have gone haywire A majority of menstruating women have experienced changes to their cycle over the last year, surveys suggest. One of the main culprits? Persistent stress. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/mar/25/pandemic-periods-why-womens-menstrual-cycles-have-gone-haywire Persistent stress leaves us suspended in fight-or-flight mode. In threatening situations, a hormonal pathway in the body called the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, which links the brain with the adrenal glands, encourages the release of the stress hormone cortisol – preparing us to respond to the threat. However, if the brain is telling the body it needs to “respond” all the time (to anxious thoughts, changing circumstances, the stress of home schooling, the impact of loneliness, illness or bereavement), unregulated cortisol can suppress the normal levels of reproductive hormones in the body. This can lead to abnormal ovulation, which will disrupt the cycle – or even pause it altogether. For Muslim women whose cycles are affected by stress in this way, it can become serious simply because their manadatory acts of worship which require purity are affected. In this type iregular bleeding, previous habits are necessary to determine the stae of menstruation and purity

I have never understood as to why there are a billion courses, gazillion articles and trillion apps to keep track of a Mas'ala which has affected mankind from day one. There is absolutely no way that Sahabiyyat kept track of calendars or took extensive notes and a large number of Muslim women cannot read or write. I spoke to Mufti Asadullah Shehbaz (HA) at Jamiatur-Rasheed (Karachi) and before I share his answer, I would like to hear from a Sister as to why this issue is so complex that it needs tables and Apps to track?

https://youtu.be/NSHsunVE0zQ

Imām al-Ghazālī (رحمه الله) on overcoming arrogance: If you see someone who is older than you, then think that that person has done more ʿibādah (acts of worship) than you. If you see someone younger than you, then think that that person has less sins than you. If you see someone more knowledgeable than you, then think that there is no doubt he is better than you. If you see someone with less knowledge than you, then think that he has committed sins out of ignorance, while you sinned knowingly.

As-Salaam alaikum, The Noble Messenger of Allah, Sallallahu alaihi Wasallam, said:-- "What is little but sufficient is better than that which is abundant but causes heedlessness.'' (Ibn Hibban)

Q: I know that kaffaarah fasts have to be kept consecutively, with no break in between. My question is that if a female has to keep kaffaarah fasts, then how will she keep them consecutively, taking into consideration that her haidh will come between the fasts? A: The days of her haidh are excluded from her kaffaarah days. Hence, immediately after the haidh ends, she should continue with the kaffaarah. And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best. قلت أرأيت المرأة يجب عليها شهران متتابعان فتحيض فيهما أتستقبل الصيام أم كيف تصنع قال إن كان الحيض يصيبها في كل شهر لا بد لها منه فعليها أن تقضي أيام حيضها ولا تستقبل الصيام وتصل ذلك بالشهرين (الأصل للشيباني 2/220) ولو كانت امرأة فصامت عن كفارة الإفطار في رمضان أو عن كفارة القتل فحاضت في خلال ذلك لا يلزمها الاستقبال لأنها لا تجد صوم شهرين لا تحيض فيهما فكانت معذورة (بدائع الصنائع 5/111) (فإن لم يجد ما يعتق صام شهرين متتابعين ليس فيهما رمضان وأيام منهية) وهي يوم الفطر ويوم النحر وأيام التشريق لأن التتابع منصوص عليه وشهر رمضان لم يشرع فيه صوم آخر غيره في حق المقيم الصحيح والصوم في العيدين وأيام التشريق منهي عنه فلا يتأدى به الكامل وينقطع التتابع بدخول هذه الأيام لأنه يجد شهرين متواليين خاليين عن هذه الأيام بخلاف ما إذا حاضت المرأة في صوم كفارة الإفطار أو القتل حيث لا ينقطع به الترتيب لأنها لا تجد بدا منه في شهرين بخلاف كفارة اليمين والنفاس والمرض حيث يستقبل في هذه الأشياء لأنه يمكن وجود شهرين خاليين عن النفاس والمرض ومدة كفارة اليمين قليلة فيمكنها أن تصوم مرتبا من غير حرج (تبيين الحقائق 3/10) Answered by: Mufti Zakaria Makada Checked & Approved: Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach

Reward of performing Ṣalāh in the Masjid It is hoped from the mercy of Allah Almighty that a person performing Ṣalāh at home in these circumstances will attain the reward of performing Ṣalāh in the Masjid. This can be inferred from the following ḥadīth: Congregational Ṣalāh at home Anyone who is self-isolating in a room within a house should perform Ṣalāh individually as mentioned above. All other members of the family should perform congregational Ṣalāh in the home, with an bālig (mature) male as the Imam. In relation to the standing position, the following principles should be noted: Females will always stand behind male(s) in a separate row whether one female or more. Males will always stand behind the male Imam, unless there is only one male in which case he will stand to the right of the Imam, one step behind. The following table illustrates this with some examples: Family Standing position Father and one female Female will stand in a new row behind Father and one male Son will stand next to the father one step behind Father and more than one son Sons will make a row behind the father (similar to the Masjid) Father, mother and daughter Mother and daughter will make a row behind the father (similar to the Masjid) Father, mother and 1 son Son will stand to the right of the father one step behind Mother will stand alone in a row behind Father, 2 sons, 2 daughters Sons will make a row behind the father Daughters will make another row behind the sons If the room is small, the males can stand to the right and left of the Imam one step behind. If the Adhān has been performed in a Masjid in the local area, there is no need to perform Adhān at home. If it is performed, care should be taken not to disturb neighbours. Either way, before starting congregational Ṣalāh, the Iqāmah should be given by the Imam or any of the family members. Perhaps ask the children to take turns. The Ṣalāh must be led by a bālig (mature) male. It is likely that the current situation continues through to the month of Ramaḍān. In this scenario, if the only ḥāfiẓ in the household is a young boy, there is no harm in acting upon the view of some ḥanafī jurists who permit a non-bālig to lead Tarāwīḥ Ṣalāh. However, in this scenario, an adult must lead ʿIshāʾ and Witr Ṣalāh (refer to our earlier answer for further details).

الْقَابِضُ الْبَاسِطُ الْقَابِضُ andالْبَاسِطُ will be discussed together. These are the names which have meanings which are opposite to each other. They work in tandem and that is why they are used together. Translation الْقَابِضُ is translated as The Withholder and The Restrainer so The One Who restrains, constricts, contracts. الْبَاسِطُis translated as The Reliever, The Expander and The Unfolder. The One Who expands, unfolds, relieves. الْقَابِضُ has the meaning of closing in or constricting and الْبَاسِطُhas the meaning of opening up or expanding. Scholars say whether it’s a person’s Akhlaaq/personality, or Rizq, or their bodies and their souls, if Allah ta’ala wants to expand them or constrict them then no one can stop Him. Therefore this expanding and constricting applies to everything. Some say that الْقَابِضُ is The One Who takes the Rooh out of the body at the time of death and for life, الْبَاسِطُ is The One Who spreads the Rooh throughout the body. These words are often used in terms of going astray or being guided.الْقَابِضُ would mean to be misguided or going astray andالْبَاسِطُ means to be guided, expanded. The State of Bast & Qabdh It can also be used in terms of the heart and feelings of hope and fear i.e. feeling Allah ta’ala’s Majesty and Rahmah, feeling His beauty and kindness and having hope which would beالْبَاسِطُ and this is an expansion. When a person feels fear and restricted in terms of the feelings of Allah ta’ala then that is الْقَابِضُ Some Scholars take a spiritual take on this. We go through difficulties in life where we sometimes feel spiritually low and that is the state of Qabdh. It is a state of constriction where the heart is constricted and does not feel the closeness as much as it should. The state of Bast is when the heart opens up and one has a spiritual high and makes spiritual progress. Everything is in the Hands of Allah ta’ala Allah ta’ala can make a poor person a king or a king into a pauper. He can make a weak person strong or vice versa and this all is in the hands of Allah ta’ala. Many times Allah ta’ala shows us in the world. Two people start the same job, one of whom is very intelligent, educated, qualified, experienced, etc. and you think this person will attain success. The other person who is less educated, intelligent and experienced is expected to fail however it is for the less educated, less intelligent person that the job expands and he succeeds and Allah ta’ala is الْبَاسِطُ. For the other person Alah ta’ala is الْقَابِضُ i.e. He is restraining/holding. Story of Taaloot (Surah Baqarah, verse 246-252) The Bani Isra’eel asked their Prophet to give them a king who would lead them against their enemy but they had their own concept of who the king should be. Allah ta’ala chose Taaloot who was of the Bani Isra’eel, a young and hardworking man however not regarded by the Bani Isra’eel as capable of being a king. Allah ta’ala says, وَاللَّهُ يُؤْتِي مُلْكَهُ مَنْ يَشَاءُ ۚ وَاللَّهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ Allah grants kingship to whom He pleases and Allah has boundless knowledge. [last part of verse 247 of Surah Baqarah] Sometimes a person may have the image of being a great leader but does not have the ability while a person who is not regarded as capable, can turn out to be a better leader. This is something in which Allah ta’ala is الْبَاسِطُ and الْقَابِضُ Wisdom of Expansion What is the Hikmat behind Allah ta’ala being الْبَاسِطُ and الْقَابِضُ? Whenever Allah has put Bast (Expansion) in something there must be Khayr and Hikmat in it and if Allah ta’ala puts Qabdh (Restriction) in something there must be Khayr and Hikmat in it. This is mentioned in Surah Shura, verse 27, وَلَوْ بَسَطَ اللَّهُ الرِّزْقَ لِعِبَادِهِ لَبَغَوْا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَٰكِنْ يُنَزِّلُ بِقَدَرٍ مَا يَشَاءُ ۚ إِنَّهُ بِعِبَادِهِ خَبِيرٌ بَصِيرٌ Had Allah bestowed abundance upon His servants, they would have transgressed beyond bounds in the earth; that's why He sends down in due measure as He pleases; He is well aware and observant of His servants. If Allah ta’ala had spread out Rizq to all His creation where it was easy and made open where everyone was well to do and everyone had a lot then Allah ta’ala says, there would have been Fasaad (Rebellion or excess) on earth and this is human nature that when people have wealth there will be Fasaad and no one can escape it i.e. no one can say it would not happen to me because when Allah ta’ala says something in the Qur’an, it means it applies to all human beings with maybe the Ambiyaa being excluded. When people have wealth it has an effect and the biggest effect is that the person is not dependant on or controlled by anyone and they feel important. Hirs (Desire for the world) also increases and the end result is that the person becomes aggressive about possessions. This verse shows Hikmat. Instead of giving everything to everyone, Allah ta’ala distributed Rizq (Wealth, looks, knowledge, happiness, wisdom, intelligence etc. as Rizq includes everything) according to His knowledge and Wisdom. Sometimes you see people who outwardly have a perfect life but there will always be something they do not have. A couple who have everything they want may not have children and that is their struggle because if they had everything then it would be too perfect. Or sometimes people do have everything however soon it may get taken away or they may die early. Therefore even if everything is good we should realise that it is a test and it can get taken away. Allah ta’ala has made a system where people are dependent on one another to some extent. If a person has a lot of wealth but no knowledge then they need someone to teach them. How can a person be generous if everyone had wealth and there was no poverty? So this dependency is not a bad thing. We just look at our own personal wants and our fears are limited to our own life but Allah ta’ala gives and takes looking at the benefit of all of humanity. Saying this does not mean we should be complacent with poverty or injustice. We should still help others as this is part of our Deen. وَجَعَلْنَا بَعْضَكُمْ لِبَعْضٍ فِتْنَةً أَتَصْبِرُونَ ۗ وَكَانَ رَبُّكَ بَصِيرًا In fact, We test you by means of one another. Now, will you show patience, for your Rabb is Ever Observant. [Last part of verse 20: Surah Furqaan] Having differences in Rizq is all part of being tested, having Sabr when not having something and making Shukr when in good conditions. The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam said, “Look at those who are beneath you and do not look at those who are above you, for it is more suitable that you should not consider as less the blessing of Allah.” [Ibn Majah] Use in Du’a يا باسِطَ الْيَدَيْنِ بِاارَّحْمَةِ O You who have opened Your hands for mercy! This is part of a long Du’a (Not sure if it is authentic as there is a story attached to it) It means we spread out our hands knowing the Rahmah of Allah ta’ala. There are many Du’as which ask Allah t’ala to be Baasit – to open up, to give. We should ask Allah ta’ala for His grace and to increase our love for Him. Counsel In terms of Aqeedah, to know Allah ta’ala controls all these levers in our lives and no one can increase or decrease in something except Allah ta’ala. To make Du’a for ease in Rizq and also to put effort in it in a Halaal way. A person should realise both states. When in a situation of Qabdh (Constriction), spiritually, physically, financial, health etc. then we should think of this as Allah ta’ala being just and make Sabr. We should know our reality and that we do not even deserve so many of the things. When we are in a situation of Bast (Expansion) then we should regard it as the Fadhl of Allah ta’ala that it is His generosity and make Shukr. Hearts Constrict & Expand through speech Imam Ghazali (Rahimahullah) says that there are people who can constrict and expand hearts through their speech and this is so true as we do have speakers and preachers who help and guide people. It is interesting to see this power which Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam referred to. Two men came from the East and addressed the people who wondered at their eloquent speeches. On that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘layhi wasallam said, “Some eloquent speech is as effective as magic.” [Bukhari] When speakers remind people of the blessings of Allah ta’ala the hearts expand and when they hear of the punishment of Allah ta’ala their hearts constrict in fear. Allah ta’ala uses both in the Qur’an as encouragement and to expand and also to constrict when we read about Jahannam. *~~*~~*

An Accepted Qurbaani – How? When Sayyiduna Aadam and Hawwa (alaihimas salaam) came to live in the world and started having children, it so happened that they had twins from every pregnancy, one of the two being a boy, while the other, a girl. When the issue of marriage came, since there was no one other than brothers and sisters – and a brother cannot be married to his sister – Allah Ta‘ala instructed that the boy born from one set of twins should marry the girl born from the other set of twins and vice-versa. But, the girl born with the first boy, Qaabil, was beautiful while the girl born with the second boy, Haabil, was unattractive. When the time of marriage came, the unattractive girl born with Haabil fell to the lot of Qaabil according to the law. This enraged Qaabil. He turned hostile to Haabil and started insisting that the girl born with him should be given to him in marriage. Sayyiduna Aadam (alaihis salaam) did not accept the demand. However, to remove the division between Haabil and Qaabil, he proposed that they should both offer their respective sacrifice for Allah Ta‘ala. Whoever has his sacrifice accepted will be the one to have that girl. He was certain that the sacrifice to be accepted will be the sacrifice of the one who has the right to marry her, that is, the sacrifice of Haabil. In that era, an open sign of a sacrifice being accepted was that a fire would come from the sky and consume the sacrifice; and the sacrifice which was not consumed by the fire was the sign of its non-acceptance. Haabil owned a flock of sheep and goats. He happily offered the sacrifice of the best and healthiest sheep he possessed. Qaabil was a grain farmer. He offered a few poor quality grains as his sacrifice. As was customary with them, a fire came from the sky and ate up the sacrifice offered by Haabil while the sacrifice offered by Qaabil remained lying where it was, untouched. Qaabil was further enraged and said to his brother: “I will kill you.” Haabil responded in a peaceful manner: “Allah Ta‘ala only accepts from those who possess taqwa (Allah consciousness).” That is, if you had been conscious of Allah Ta‘ala, practising taqwa and piety, your sacrifice too would have been accepted. Since you did not do so, the sacrifice was not accepted. Hence, why blame me for it? (Tafseer Ibni Katheer vol. 2, pg. 43 and Ma‘aariful Quraan vol. 3, pg. 112) Lessons: 1. If we desire that our Qurbani (sacrifice) be accepted in the Divine court, it is essential for us to adopt Taqwa in every aspect of our lives, since the meat and blood does not reach Allah Ta‘ala, rather it is the Taqwa which is seen by Him. 2. When we see that Allah Ta‘ala has given someone a particular blessing, we should regard our deprivation as a result of our own shortcomings and sins. Thus we should repent from our wrong ways instead of wishing and worrying about ways through which the other person could be made to lose the blessing that he is enjoying. uswatulmuslimah

Does acid reflux break the fast? Q. I have reflux in pregnancy but I'm trying to fast today and it's already came up my throat twice. will my fast be accepted? (Question published as received) A. An Acid reflux occurs when part of the stomach contents travels back up the oesophagus (sometimes into the throat and even into the mouth). Acid reflux happens unintentionally/involuntarily. If one experiences acid reflux whilst fasting, the fast will only break if the contents enter the mouth and is then swallowed intentionally. If the contents enter the mouth and is swallowed involuntarily or spat out, the fast will not break. (Kitaabul Fataawa 3/389) In any event, the fast will not be effected if it does not reach the mouth or if it is not swallowed. And Allah Ta’ala Knows Best Mufti Ismaeel Bassa Confirmation: Mufti Ebrahim Desai Fatwa Department Jamiatul Ulama (KZN) Council of Muslim Theologians

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

Protecting Oneself in the Time of Fitnah Hazrat Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Daamat Barakaatuhu) mentioned: In this time of fitnah (trial), there seems to be evil prevailing everywhere. Hence, how will one protect himself from the fitnah? One will be able to protect himself from the fitnah by creating a safe-haven for himself. This will be possible by doing three things as explained in the hadeeth: 1. Control the tongue at all times. Controlling the tongue is not confined to speech, but also includes writing which is also a form of communication. 2. Do not leave the home unnecessarily. Though it is not haraam, but if one knows that a certain place is infested with malaria, will he go there unnecessarily? 3. Focus towards your weaknesses and cry over your sins.

Question Can we follow more than one scholar in islam? Answer Bismillahi Ta'ala, Walaikum Assalam Warahmatullah, There is a statement in arabic which says, "For every field has its people". While we understand that it is most safe to restrict oneself to one scholar and follow him, yet if one has access to multiple scholars then there is nothing wrong with seeking a scholar of expertise in that particular field. For example, if one has to go to a doctor, then one cannot simply stick to one General Practitioner. Instead, one will need to seek out the doctor who specializes in the field for which a medical advice is needed. Hence for a heart disease, it would not serve to seek out a neurologist. In other terms, if you are looking for guidance in food items and their halal and haram status then it would be beneficial to seek out scholars who do not only understand the fiqhi aspects of halal and haram food, but also has the ability review his judgement based on industrial practices in that field. Similarly, if you are looking for guidance in marital dispute, it will best help if you approach a scholar who specializes in mediation and dispute counseling. Do not confuse this with the issue of following only one madhab (school of methodology). There are four major schools of methodology; Hanafiyyah, Malikiyyah, Shafi'iyyah and Hanbaliyyah. It is best to restrict oneself in following one of these schools and not mix and match. To understand this restriction, revert to the same example given above about seeking out a doctor for medical guidance. While you choose specific specialists to guide you in your medical diagnosis, you stick to the same methodology of medicine. If you choose a mode of medical treatment such as allopathy (general secular medical treatments) for your ailment, then you do not mix it with homeopathy or acupuncture medicine. Similarly, if you have chosen to follow one of four schools in fiqh, then it is equally detrimental to mix and match for your soul as it would be to mix and match medical treatments for your body. So while within the hanafiya school, you may choose different scholars based on their expertise or base on your reliance on those scholars within the hanafiya school. Wallahu A'lam, Mufti Faisal al-Mahmudi Fatwa.ca

Surah 'Abasa (80), Verses 17-42 by Mu'ayyid al-Mazen (مؤيد المزين)

Never forget: • When you are hurt by people who share the same blood as you, just remember Yusuf (alayhissalam), who was betrayed by his own brothers. • If you find your parents opposing you, remember Ibrahim (alayhissalam), whose father led him to the fire. • If you're stuck with a problem where there's no way out, remember Yunus (alayhissalam), stuck in the belly of a whale. • When someone slanders you , remember Aisha (radi Allahu 'anha) who was slandered throughout the city. • If you're ill your body cries with pain, remember Ayoub (alayhissalam) who was more ill than you. • When you are lonely, recall Adam (alayhissalam) who was created alone. • When you cant see the logic around you, think of Nuh (alayhissalam)who built an Ark without questioning. • If you are mocked by your own relatives, family, friends and the world at large, then remember our dear Prophet Muhammad (sallAllahu 'alayhi wasallam). Allah put these prophets to trial so that generations will persevere in patience.

awww, don't stress sis. As said above, try your best and rely on Allah ta'ala as effort is from us (With the tawfeeq from Allah ta'ala) and success is ultimately from Allah ta'ala. Allah ta'ala grant you ease and great results, aameen! (mind you we are supposed to remember death much...so I think exam is beneficial for you)

Turning Back to Allāh قُلْ يَا عِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا مِن رَّحْمَةِ اللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ. وَأَنِيبُوا إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُمْ وَأَسْلِمُوا لَهُ مِن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِيَكُمُ الْعَذَابُ ثُمَّ لَا تُنصَرُونَ Say: “(Thus speaks Allāh:) ‘O my servants who have transgressed against your own selves! Despair not of Allāh’s mercy: behold, Allāh forgives all sins. Surely, He is the One who is the Most-Forgiving, the Very-Merciful. Hence, turn towards your Sustainer (alone) and surrender yourselves unto Him before the suffering (of death and resurrection) comes upon you, for then you will not be helped.”(Az- Zumar, 39:53-54) This is such a reassuring message for those who have sinned. By sinning we transgress against our own selves. But the All Merciful Allāh will still turn to us with mercy if we turn to Him in repentance. He is Most-Forgiving; there is no sin He will not forgive if we sincerely seek His forgiveness and take corrective action. The pencil which has been given to us to draw the course of our life’s journey does come with a huge eraser. It lasts as long as the pencil itself. There are no signs on the highway of life that prohibit a U-turn. No matter how messed up our lives may have been, we can always correct course. The door to repentance is always open—until the very end of our life. But if we wait too long and the end comes in sight, then repentance will not help. Qur'an Reflections Al-Balagh

Examination Success!! Examinations are trying times for people in all walks of life. Use these valuable tips to gain the most out of your exams. 1. Be punctual with your Salaah. This is your essential spiritual and mental boost. 2. Recite Sura Yaseen in the morning. Your day will go smoother. 3. Eat a healthy, wholesome and nutritious breakfast. Your body needs proper nourishment for your brain to function at optimum level. 4. Be early at your exam venue. This will decrease stress levels. 5. Don’t hang around with pessimists and those that didn’t study before writing. They will hamper your morale and confidence. 6. Commence your paper with Bismillah, Durood Shareef and preferably be with Wudhu. This will draw the help of Allah Ta’ala. 7. Study hard, make fervent Dua and request the Duas of your parents and the pious. Dua is the believer’s weapon. Masjid Poster downloadable here. Jamiatul Ulama (KZN) Council of Muslim Theologians

You know you are getting attached to the dunya when.. 1. You don't plan your time around salah (namaaz) time. 2. A whole day or two passes and you don't open your Qur’an because you are too ‘busy’. 3. You care so much about what people say about you. 4. All you care about is how to accumulate more and more wealth. 5. You argue unnecessarily when you are told something you are used to doing is haraam. 6. You keep on delaying good deeds - i’ll do it tomorrow, or the next day, etc. 7. A new gadget comes out and you’re already thinking what you’re going to sell to obtain it. 8. The lives of celebrities interests you. 9. The lifestyle of the rich impresses you. 10. You want to be the centre of attention. 11. You compete with each other for worldly things. 12. Your thirst for power and glory cannot be quenched. 13. You fall into depression each time you don't get what you want. 14. Minor sins don't really mean anything to you. 15. You aren't able to stop the haram immediately and keep on procrastinating and delay taubah. 16. You aren't ready to displease people to please Allah. 17. You care a lot about whats in vogue (You want to belong). 18. You plan far far ahead into the future. 19. Seeking for islamic knowledge comes secondary (thats if it ever comes) after pursuing your future career. 20.Your friends aren't the type that remind you of Allah. 21. You regard people as successful according to their status in this world. 22. A whole day passes without you thinking of death. 23. You can afford to waste so much of your time doing things that won't benefit you in the hereafter. 24. Doing acts of ibaadat becomes very difficult for you. 25. You can't seem to be able to change your extravagant lifestyle despite knowing Allah dislikes the extravagant. 26. You love visiting the lands of the kuffar but not places of worship. 27. You are told about the dangers of consuming riba (interest) yet you argue that this is the only way you can survive. You add that if you find a better halal income you’ll change. 28. You want to live life to the fullest. 29. You care so much about your physical appearance. 30.You believe the end of world (qayamat) is still far far away. 31. You see things happening to others and you don't stop to think it could happen to you too. 32. You bury the dead yet you dont learn anything from it. 33. You want to ‘make ends meet’ by any means. 34. You are always in a haste to finish your prayer and continue with what your doing. 35. You don’t think that today could be your last day. 36. You are solely comforted by luxury (not by the remembrance of Allah) 37. You don’t ask Allah for paradise the way you ask for your dunya.