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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

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] *~~*~~*

(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

Bridal and Baby Showers by Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Saheb (rahmatullah alayh) There are many customs and trends which have their affiliation with the non-Muslim culture and lifestyle. Many Muslims, due to being afflicted with what appears to be a truly insecure and inferior complex, look towards and choose the customs and trends of the non-Muslims over that of the beautiful Sunnah. It seems as if the need is to secure a kind of acceptance in a non-Muslim society and just blend in with them – so that we are not recognized as Muslims. Bridal Showers and Baby Showers have become synonymous with the Muslim lifestyle as it is with the rest of the non-Muslim lifestyle. Many may ask: What’s wrong with giving gifts, congratulating the bride-to-be or the new mother, or having a get together with friends? There is nothing wrong with giving the bride or the new mother, a gift, or congratulating the person. To give a gift and congratulate are from the teachings of Islam – and would draw rewards … but there are conditions to be met in even these noble deeds. What is extremely wrong and objectionable is the background to these good deeds. They are not within the parameters of Shari’ah. The picture of a typical bridal shower and baby shower is not typical with the Sunnah. It is typical of the non-Muslim way of life. By following suit, we fall into the sin of “Tashabbu bil Kuffaar” (emulating the disbelievers). It is aligning oneself with those who have rejected Allah Ta’ala, who live their lives in immorality and disobedience. Nikah is a great Ibaadah. Pregnancy and the birth of a child also have their requisites in Islam. However, the west has commercialized all of these noble occasions, and made them into money-making events. The sacredness of these occasions is forgotten. …Today, Nikahs have taken on a distinct mould of a Hollywood or Bollywood style wedding – where the bride is dressed to look like a Christian bride or a Bollywood actress – with no sign of Islam on her; and the groom is dressed in a suit and tie, looking like a typical Christian groom. Adding insult to injury is the extravagance and open sin at the time of the wedding and Walimah. One’s mind moves in the direction of the millions and millions who are suffering famine and starvation, who have no home, no water, no food, no clothing – but the Muslim ignores all that suffering just for some fleeting attention and praise. All those hundreds of thousands of Rands wasted on draping a hall, on dressing the chairs, on wine glasses, on musicians, photography, on wedding cards that are thrown away, etc. is money, which could have been the means of alleviating the plight of so many suffering people. One brother handed me an elaborate invitation card for his daughter’s wedding. I enquired as to the cost of the wedding card, and was told that each card cost R50. Advising him, I told him that almost all people throw away wedding cards. People generally dispose of them. So he should regard that as people throwing away hundreds of his R50 notes. Would he throw R50 notes into a bin? No. However, the throwing away of those cards is equal to throwing away R50 notes. That same money could have been used in making the Aakhirah. Even those who are known to be religious will waste thousands on halls, on décor, etc. sacrificing the pleasure of Allah Ta’ala and Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam). Those who were meant to set the noble example of the Sunnah, who we expect are living the Sunnah – knowingly choose to forsake the Sunnah. Simplicity, which is part of Imaan, is a rare sight in these times. Hazrat ‘Ayesha (Radhiyallahu ‘anha) related that Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said: ‘Verily, the most blessed Nikah is that which involves the least difficulty (expenditure).’ We have a perfect Sunnah – a perfect way of life in the life of our Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa-Sallam) and in the lives of his companions, men and women. We have what is superior to all other cultures yet we consider everything else. It shows great weakness if we give preference to the culture of the Christians, Jews and Idolators over the noble Sunnah of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa-Sallam). We are exchanging diamonds for stones… and what an unprofitable exchange this is! What a great loss! Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa-Sallam) said: “Whoever emulates a nation is from amongst them.” In another Hadith, it is stated: “A person is with whom he loves.” Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa-Sallam) also said that we will be raised on the Day of Judgment with those whom we imitate in this worldly life. (May Allah Ta’ala save us from such disgrace and humiliation.) Emulating the non-Muslim culture is one downfall but there are many more that are found in the Bridal and Baby Showers. The non-Muslims have coined a novel concept of begging – especially amongst the upper-class. It seems as if some, from amongst the wealthy, have developed an art to begging. They even have a name for it. In the name of Bridal Showers, Baby Showers, Registries, people gracefully and politely extend their hands, and they ask and take from others. The bride-to-be chooses her gifts from exclusive stores that offer a “registry” or she unashamedly hands out a list of those items she wants gifted to her. In the process, she places pressure and financial difficulty and sometimes a great burden on others - to purchase those gifts that she has chosen. At the get-together, these gifts and other gifts are presented to the bride-to-be, who opens them and shows them to all present – and each person can assess the kind of money that was spent on the gift given. Let us now consider the various wrongs in this act: A person is forced to purchase gifts that the bride has chosen – which may be beyond her budget in spending. A person who gives something simple or inexpensive will feel ashamed and embarrassed, considering the manner in which gifts are being received and shown to others. The Hadith encourages giving gifts because giving gifts creates Muhabbah (love). If Muhabbah is not created then this proves that either the giver or receiver in insincere. Sometimes, people give with intentions other than expressing their Muhabbah. However, there are many who request or are desirous of receiving and there is a kind of greed from the receiving side. This request or expectation (Ishraaf) reveals insincerity from the one who is receiving. A gift must be given happily and willingly – and should be received graciously and thankfully. This is the Sunnah. However, when we ask of people, as in the case of registries, etc. – people will give, but they give unhappily and unwillingly. And if some gift is given, which is not to our liking, then we receive it without any appreciation and thanks. This is our lamentable condition. Another aspect that has also been brought to attention is the immorality and shamelessness at such gatherings – with indecent talk, shameless dressing by Muslim women, inappropriate games, music, dancing and such filthy entertainment, that we would not want to bring on to our tongues. It is not permissible for a person to attend such gatherings. The Shari'ah instructs us: ‘IT IS NOT PERMISSIBLE TO BE PRESENT IN A GATHERING WHERE ALLAH TA’ALA IS BEING DISOBEYED.’ Moreover, a person's presence is aiding in promoting and glorifying what is not permissible. We are told not to assist each other in sin; rather to assist in what is righteous: "Help each other in righteousness and piety, and do not help each other in sin and aggression." [Surah Al-Maa'idah 5 : 2] A bride-to-be is known for her modesty and shyness – but all of this is lost in adopting the culture of the non-Muslims. Their dressing and their fashion nurtures immodesty. Added to this, these sins are publicized and photographs are taken and uploaded on social media – for all and sundry to view the level of our degeneration. The heart bleeds at this miscarriage of the Sunnah. …Nay, this abortion of the Sunnah. How will we meet our Beloved Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) on the Day of Judgment? How will we show our faces to the one whose entire life was sacrificed so that today we be the reciters of the Kalimah? May Allah Ta’ala have mercy upon us since we stand to lose by adopting this culture. If we continue in this line and direction, we will lose the pleasure of Allah Ta’ala and we will lose the great rewards for enlivening and practising the Sunnah. We also stand to lose the companionship of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayh wasallam) at the fountain of Kauthar on the Day of Judgment and even stand to lose the success of our marriages due to having sacrificed the beautiful, noble Sunnah by means of our emulation of the Hollywood and Bollywood culture. If our allegiance is to Allah Ta’ala and His Rasul (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam), then there should be no delay in repentance and mending our ways and coming back to what is pure and beautiful – Islam and the Sunnah. In this, is the success of both worlds. May Allah Ta’ala grant us the understanding, the concern and the Taufeeq of Aml. http://yunuspatel.co.za/articles-bridal-and-baby-showers.php

Click on image to enlarge Taken from Instagram @quotesfromtherapy

Put Your Phone Away and Pay Attention to Your Kids Medically reviewed by Scientific Advisory Board — Written by Marie Hartwell-Walker, Ed.D. on May 17, 2016 This psychologist is worried. It seems that everywhere I go a sizable number of the parents are ignoring their kids. At the grocery store: Mom is pushing one child in the cart. Two others are hanging onto the sides — when they’re not running up and down the aisles. Where’s Mom? In an animated discussion on the phone. At a local playground: Kids playing are pleading with Mom to look at them. Their mom barely looks up. She’s on the phone. At the mall food court: I see far too many tables where kids are eating fries and their folks are on the phone. At a high school football game. Yup. A dad misses his kid’s big play. Why? He’s on his phone. Not everyone is guilty of putting their phone ahead of their kids, of course. And sometimes, I’m sure, the parents on the phone are dealing with an emergency or monitoring kids left at home. But it’s happening enough that it has me concerned. Below are five reasons to put those phones away: Providing positive attention when kids are doing positive things builds a strong value system and positive self-esteem. Responding with enthusiasm to their attempts to master new things ensures that the kids will keep trying. The “look at me’s” you hear on the playground and in your kitchen are your kids asking for your approval and encouragement. When you do look, really look, and smile and wave, the kids soak it up. They try again. They push themselves to the next level. Giving kids positive attention also puts a big deposit in their emotional bank. When kids know that their folks think they have what it takes to handle life’s problems, they develop confidence in their ability to take on life’s challenges. When parents put their phones down (or turn off the TV or shut down their computer) and talk to them seriously about what they are doing, their skills grow and their self-confidence blossoms. Later, when those same kids hit the inevitable troubles of life, they will have what it takes to cope. Babies light up when bigger people make eye contact and talk directly to them. They are taking in the rhythm and sounds of our voices. They are learning the words for the things and people of their world. They are learning how those words get strung together. Television doesn’t help children learn language. It’s too passive. They need to experience the give and take that comes with interacting with another warm, caring human being. Parking them in front of even the best children’s TV is no substitute for the give and take that goes on between even babies and their parents. Many parents are amazed when their little one suddenly moves from saying one and two words at a time to a full sentence. “Where did that come from?” they ask. It came from listening to adults who talked to them, not around them because they’re on the phone. Conversation builds brain power. Little kids’ brains are sponges. The more we talk to them, the more their brains absorb. Even children who are far too young to carry on a real conversation are taking in far more than adults may realize. Parents who talk to their kids with complicated sentences are setting them up for success in school and in life. One and two word answers don’t do it. Commands don’t do it. A momentary break in your phone conversation to acknowledge them doesn’t do it either. Kids need to hear language used to describe and explain their world. That’s one of the many good reasons to read to children. It’s not just for the entertainment of the stories. It’s also an important way for them to hear and take in the richness of language. Our kids need our first priority to be our relationships with them, not with our phones. Children learn how to be with other people and how to love by being with people who love them, teach them, encourage and comfort them. Contrary to conventional wisdom, quality time is not a substitute for regular moments of interest, talk, and participation in their lives. Yes, quality time has a certain special quality. We all remember big celebrations, vacations, or trips to the zoo. But those days are special because they are rare. For kids to grow, they need us to be curious about their experiences and to comment on what is going on around us in an ongoing way. I love my phone as much as the next person. I love that it helps me stay regularly connected with my extended family. I find it reassuring that my kids can always reach me. I stay in touch with far-flung friends, former students, and family members through Facebook and tweets. I check the weather, glance at headlines and Google information.There’s no way I want to go back to the old days with a party line on the one phone in the house. But kids need us to remember that when we are with them, we need to put our phones away (and confiscate theirs). Providing kids with direct attention and interested conversation is one of the most important responsibilities of parenting. https://psychcentral.com/lib/put-your-phone-away-and-pay-attention-to-your-kids#6

Salaam. Multiple explosions and gun fights attributed to ISIS. 3 explosions so far. Multiple deaths and injuries including US troops. r/afghancivilwar (reddit) is a good source for quick information.

Jazaakallaahu khayran for showing the true situation... We need more of this for a while....especially regarding women's situation whcih is being really played up by the media. They have to find something I suppose since their is none of what they expected! One point: regarding number 3 "Revenge attacks" - does not the reporter mean revenge attacks on those who worked with the previous government? It didnt look like she meant the Shia?

Q: If I already have wudhu, will I be rewarded for making another wudhu? A: If one is in the state of wudhu and he wishes to make another wudhu, it will be permissible and rewarding for him provided that after making the first wudhu, he had carried out some ibaadat which is such that wudhu is a precondition for its validity e.g. he performed salaah, made sajdah tilaawat, etc. If he did not carry out any ibaadat which is such that wudhu is a precondition for its validity, it will not be permissible for him to make a second wudhu. Making a second wudhu at this time will not earn him reward. Rather, it will only be a wastage of water. And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best. إن الوضوء عبادة غير مقصودة لذاتها فإذا لم يؤد به عمل مما هو المقصود من شرعيته كالصلاة وسجدة التلاوة ومس المصحف ينبغي أن لا يشرع تكراره قربة؛ لكونه غير مقصود لذاته فيكون إسرافا محضا (رد المحتار 1/119) قال الحلبي في شرح المنية: أطبقوا على أن الوضوء عبادة غير مقصودة لذاتها فإذا لم يؤد به عمل مما هو المقصود من شرعيته كالصلاة وسجدة التلاوة ومس المصحف ينبغي أن لا يشرع تكراره قربة لكونه غير مقصود لذاته فيكون إسرافا محضا اهـ فليتأمل (منحة الخالق 1/24) Answered by: Mufti Zakaria Makada Checked & Approved: Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)

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

Keeping a record of your menstrual cycle is absolutely essential because many rulings depend on it. It is extremely important to keep a record of the exact time and date when bleeding begins and stops. In cases where habits become irregular and problems arise, it is keeping a record which saves a woman from unnecessary hardship of rulings such as having to perform a Ghusl for every Salaah. A simple calendar can be quite sufficient though nowadays it is quite easy to keep a record with various apps which are easily available. Attached are different types of charts you can print out. Yearly Menstruation Record Chart.docx Menstruation Recording Chart.docx

Our early salaf saliheen used to spend six months preparing for Ramadan and after Ramadan, they used to spend six months worried that their Ramadan be accepted.

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.

Dealing with an abusive father I would like to ask if your father abuses you as a child and has hurt you and beat you up leaving you with marks to go to school and has abused you since a little child to the point you felt like you worth nothing and you didn’t do anything to deserve what had happened to you and he later abandons you because he believes that you disrespected him, when all your life he made you feel as if everything was your fault when it wasn’t and mother of that child even knows that because she has been abused as well. Since 14 the child’s family has been divorced and the father has used Allah swt for his wrong doings and has been very cultural. I read a hadith saying that cutting off ties who are blood related and not being helped will not enter paradise and this whole time this person has not been helped or supported and abandoned since 14 years old from his father.This child lives with his mother who has supported him. My question is what should this person do , what should the one do who has been abandoned, not been supported, and been abused by his father? This person is good and loves Islam and tries his best to be good and has been making dua and praying for his father but is still full of pain, while his father doesn’t feel at all he has done anything wrong and feels nothing towards this child. Is this kid at fault? Is the child in a state of getting bad deeds because of this problem? Is there any way to get closer to Allah swt to get rid of this pain? Answer: In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah. May Allah’s peace and blessings shower upon our beloved Messenger. Dear Questioner, I pray that this message finds you in a state of strengthened iman and renewed spirits. Children who have suffered abuse often blame themselves, seeking to find some explanation for the abuser’s behavior. Please understand this: You are not at fault for what happened! No parent has the right to abuse his or her child. Allah Most High has entrusted parents with a tremendous amana or trust: raising, nurturing, and loving a human being, and teaching that child about his or her religion. When a parent violates this trust through abuse, be it physical, mental, or emotional, or neglects his or her child through abandonment or non-support, these actions constitute enormities, major sins in the sight of Allah Most High. The abusive and negligent parent will have much to answer for on the Day of Judgment, when Allah Most High knows what we have done, down to an atom’s weight of good or evil. It is obligatory for that parent to repent to Allah Most High and beg His forgiveness for violating the responsibility with which he or she was entrusted. You are right to continue to pray for your father. Allah Most High hears and responds to our prayers, often in ways that may not be immediately apparent. A crucial first step in resolving your anger toward your father is to pray for him. It is completely natural that you have a certain amount of resentment. The thing to remember is that: 1. You are not at fault. A child does not ask to be abused. 2. Your father is answerable to Allah Most High for what he has done. 3. Resentment and bitterness can tear a person’s heart. You don’t want to be weighed down by these feelings, so strive to put things in perspective and move on with your life. Alhamdulillah, you have a mother who seems to have looked out for you. 4. Yes, you will feel pain, but you can channel these feelings in a different direction. Allah willing, when you start your own family, you will know what NOT to do in raising your children. 5. As far as your relationship with your father is concerned, you can still maintain family ties by praying for him and being good to him, but you MUST NOT subject yourself to any type of abuse. The Prophet, peace be upon him said, “A person should help his brother whether he is an oppressor or an oppressed. If he is the oppressor he should prevent him from doing it, for that is his help; and if he is the oppressed he should be helped (against oppression).” [Sahih Muslim, Book 32, Number 6254] 6. Last but certainly not least, you may want to seek the help of a qualified counselor or therapist to help you work through these issues. The effects of child abuse can linger well into adulthood, and it may be of benefit to learn some strategies for coping with your pain, learning from it, and moving beyond. Turn to Allah Most High in all your thoughts and prayers. Be constant in your obligatory prayers and perform voluntary worship. It is reported in a Hadith Qudsi: On the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Allah (mighty and sublime be He) said: ‘Whosoever shows enmity to someone devoted to Me, I shall be at war with him. My servant draws not near to Me with anything more loved by Me than the religious duties I have enjoined upon him, and My servant continues to draw near to Me with supererogatory works so that I shall love him. When I love him I am his hearing with which he hears, his seeing with which he sees, his hand with which he strikes and his foot with which he walks. Were he to ask [something] of Me, I would surely give it to him, and were he to ask Me for refuge, I would surely grant him it. I do not hesitate about anything as much as I hesitate about [seizing] the soul of My faithful servant: he hates death and I hate hurting him.'” [Bukhari]

Talk by : Mufti Faisal al-Mahmudi Topic : Khushu' in Salah and Social Media 2020_10_02_13_47_12

﷽ Ehsan An individual enthusiastically informed Arif-billah Hadhrat Dr. Abdul Hayy Arifi (RH) that by Allah’s grace he had attained the station of Ihsan. That is, worshipping Allah as though you see Him and if that is not possible then as though He sees you. Shaykh Dr. Arifi (qaddas sirrahu) congratulated and encouraged him. And then inquired that if this ihsan was attained only in prayers (salah) or it was also present at other times, like dealing with house hold members, especially wife. The individual looked in bewilderment at Shaykh and informed that he thought this ihsan was only meant to be limited to prayers and ritual worship. Shaykh Arifi explained to the audience in detail that this is a common mistake. We tend to limit deen to formal acts of worship (Ibadaat). Our all other activities seem to be independent of the fact that each and every moment of our life we are as much a slave of Allah as in prayers and other worship. The genuine ihsan is perpetual. The slave is aware that he is being watched and he will be accountable for whatever he does. Hence, he has utmost respect and does not do any thing inappropriate. Remember this is an intentional and a voluntary act of thinking. As per instruction of Sayyidi wa sanadi Shaykh Mawlana Muhammad Taqi Usmani sahib (Allah SWT preserve him & allow us to benefit from him abundantly. Ameen) setting aside an allocated time every day to think repeatedly that: ‘I am in front Allah SWT & He is watching me’, is essential for achieving it. It becomes a habit in second nature only by doing it repeatedly. Practice makes perfect. Gradually it becomes almost like an instinctive performance, like breathing or drinking. Wa ma taufiqi ilabillah!

Yes i felt it would be thawaabahul..insha-allah Acacia will change it after checking

PROTECTION FROM HYPOCRISY, OSTENTATION AND PRETENSION اَللّٰهُمَّ طَهِّرْقَلْبِيْ مِنَ النِّفَاقِ، وَعَمَلِيْ مِنَ الرِّيَاءِ، وَلِسَانِيْ مِنَ الْكَذِبِ، وَعَيْنِيْ مِنَ الْخِيَانَةِ، فَأِنَّكَ تَعْلَمُ خَاىِنَةَ الْأَعْيُنِ وَ مَاتُخْفِي الصُّدُوْرُـ ِAllaahumma tahhir qalbii minan-nifaaq(i), wa ‘amalii minar-riyaa(i), wa lisaanii minal-kadhib(i), wa ‘aynii minal-khiyaana(ti), fa innaka ta’lamu khaa’inatal-‘a’yuni wa maa tukhfis-suduعr. (Um Ma’bad al=Khuzaa’iyyah. Kanz al-‘Ummal #3660) O Allah, purify my heart from hypocrisy, my deeds from ostentation and pretension, my tongue from lies, and my eyes from wrongful glances. For, indeed, You know what the eyes deceptively glance at and what the hearts conceal. ~~~Ameen~~~ (Source: Khalid Baig’s transliteration and translation of du’aa #126 from the Accepted Whispers: Munajat-e-Maqbul)

"Reflect over the favours of Allah Ta`ala, both material and spiritual. The more you will reflect the more you will discover Allah's love." And Allah Ta`ala knows best (Mufti) E Salejee Source

Hazrat Moulana Muhammad Ilyaas (rahmatullahi ‘alaih) once mentioned the following: The actual meaning of zikr is for a person to fulfil the command of Allah Ta‘ala that relates to him in every given situation. Allah Ta‘ala commands us in the Qur’aan Majeed saying: یٰۤاَیُّهَا الَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوْا لَا تُلْهِکُمْ اَمْوَالُکُمْ وَلَاۤ اَوْلَادُکُمْ عَنْ ذِکْرِ اللّٰه O you who believe! Do not let your wealth or children turn you away from the remembrance (command) of Allah Ta‘ala. (Surah Munaafiqoon v. 9) Hence, while one is at home interacting with his family and children, or while one is engaged in trade and commerce, if he ensures that he remains obedient to Allah Ta‘ala and does not break His commands while fulfilling these worldly needs, then even though he is engaged in these occupations, he will be regarded as a person engaged in the remembrance of Allah Ta‘ala. (Malfoozaat Hazrat Moulana Muhammad Ilyaas (rahmatullahi ‘alaih) pg. 57) Ihyauddeen.co.za

The essential instructions for mureed Hakim al Umma Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi (Allah have mercy on him) said, ‘After bayiah (spiritual allegiance) the things that need to be rectified upfront include, arrogance, negligence in fulfilling the rights of others (huqooq al ‘ebad), envy, hatred, creating adversity (fitna) between people, etc. However, nowadays no restrictions are instructed for these things. Whereas, previous pious elders (Mashāyikh) used to give priority to these things from first day. The litanies & recitations (wazaif) were instructed after many years. Moreover, these restrictions were not merely verbal instructions, they recommended various practices to uproot these spiritual ailments from the heart. Like, if they saw an individual afflicted with self adoration (زینت پرستی) he was instructed to sweep and tidy up the spiritual lodge (khanqah) or streets. Similarly, if they saw arrogance in an individual, he was instructed to tidy up the shoes of people coming to pray. These acts of humility have the ability to create humbleness in heart. ‘ Infas e Essa, volume 1, pg43 Taken from ashrafiya.com

Forgot to add: Aisha reported: When the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, would lie down for sleep, he would blow into his hands, recite the two chapters of refuge, Surat al-Falaq and al-Nas, and he would wipe his hands over his body. (Bukhari) “It is reported in the Sunan of Abu Dawud and Ibn Maajah from Asmaa’ bint ‘Umays (radhiya Allahu ‘anhaa) that she said, ‘Rasulullah (‘Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa ‘alaa aalihi wa sallam) said to me, “Shall I teach you some words that you should say at the time of كرب Karb or in Karb (heartache, distress, gloom)? Say: ‏أَللَّهُ ‏ ‏أَللَّهُ رَبِّي لَا أُشْرِكُ بِهِ شَيْئًا “Allahu Allahu Rabbi Laa Ushriku Bihi Shai’a” Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that whenever the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was faced with a serious difficulty, he would raise his head to the sky and supplicate, “Subhan-Allah al-’Azim (glory be to Allah, the Mighty).” And when he implored seriously and strongly, he would say, “Ya Hayyu, Ya Qayyum (O the Living, the Eternal One).” (Tirmidhi)

wa'alaykumus salaam warahmatullah I came across this article when different people suggested different wazaaif for a major illness in my family with great emphasis on them. I was quite concerned about the emphasis and I consulted people of knowledge. I would like to share the advise so insha-allah there is greater awareness regarding this issue. 1 I was advised to read this article which explains everything very concisely yet with great depth 2 The Nabawi prescriptions are the best which include: a lot of Istighfaar a lot of Durood upon our Nabi sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam Verse 173 of Surah Aali 'Imraan abundantly - "Hasbunallaah‎u wa ni'mal wakeel" Verse 87 of Surah Ambiyaa abundantly - "Laailaaha illaa anta subhaanaka innee kuntu minadh dhaalimeen" - لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِين The following du'a for cure are also from the Sunnah

Part Forty One Appointment as the Khalifah (continued) On arriving at the home of Hazrat Miswar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), Hazrat ‘Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and Hazrat ‘Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) found Hazrat ‘Abdur Rahmaan bin ‘Auf (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) standing in salaah. When he completed his salaah, he turned to Hazrat ‘Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and Hazrat ‘Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and said, “I have asked the people regarding the two of you, and I did not find any person who considered anyone from among the people to be greater than you in deeni status and position.” Hazrat ‘Abdur Rahmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) then made Hazrat ‘Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and Hazrat ‘Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) pledge that from the two of them, the one whom he appointed as Khalifah would definitely rule with justice, and the one who was not appointed would definitely be pleased with the decision that was taken and accept the other person as Khalifah. Hazrat ‘Abdur Rahmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) thereafter wore the turban that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) had tied on his head, he strapped on his sword and went with Hazrat ‘Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and Hazrat ‘Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) to the musjid. Hazrat ‘Abdur Rahmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) sent a message to the eminent Sahaabah of the Muhaajireen and Ansaar summoning them, and also instructed for a general announcement to be made, calling the people to the musjid. Accordingly, people began to come to the musjid, forming rows, until the musjid was filled with people. Hazrat ‘Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) could not find any place to sit and thus, on account of his high level of hayaa, sat behind all the people in the musjid. Hazrat ‘Abdur Rahmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) then ascended the mimbar of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and stood on the step which Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) would sit on. He stood there for a lengthy period and made a long du‘aa which the people could hear. He then addressed the people saying, “O people! I have asked you (regarding Hazrat ‘Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and Hazrat ‘Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu)) in private and in public, in pairs and individually, and I found that you did not equate anybody to these two Sahaabah.” Hazrat ‘Abdur Rahmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) then held the hand of Hazrat ‘Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and declared him to be the Khalifah. He thereafter made Hazrat ‘Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) sit on the step of the mimbar below him so that the people could come to him and pledge their allegiance. From all the people, it was Hazrat ‘Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) who came first and pledged his allegiance to Hazrat ‘Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu). (Al-Bidaayah-wan-Nihaayah vol 7 pg. 297-298)

Q. Is it permissible to undergo an eyelash lift? (Question published as received) A. An eyelash lift entails applying a solution on ones eyelashes to lift/curl one’s eyelashes upwards, instead of having them sitting straight. In terms of Shariah, it is permissible to undergo an eyelash lift if the solution applied is water permeable. If it is not water permeable, then it will affect the validity of ones Ghusal and Wudhu. (Maraaqil Falaah 1/45) And Allah Ta’ala Knows Best Mufti Ismaeel Bassa Confirmation: Mufti Ebrahim Desai Fatwa Department Jamiatul Ulama (KZN) Council of Muslim Theologians

You are unique and you are loved You, my brother or sister who is experiencing difficulty in your life, try to be strong and remind yourself of all the wonderful things in life. This world is so full of beauty, from the stars in the sky to the taste of a sweet apple in your mouth; from flowers blooming in spring time to the majesty of a lightning storm. There is so much to see and experience. There is so much mystery. Open your eyes to it. There are miracles all around you. As far as your own existence, know that your life has meaning and purpose. Allah put you here on this earth for a reason. You are a unique person, the only one of your kind in the universe, and as such you are a treasure. Just as Allah created the stars, the oceans, and the majestic trees, He created you. In fact you dwarf them, because you are a creature of complexity and free will. If it seems that those around you do not value you, it may be only that they do not know how to show it. Parents who were raised in families that do not express love freely may be uncomfortable showing affection to their own children or spouses. But that does not mean that they do not love you and care about you deeply. Know, in any case, that Allah values you and cares about you. In one of the sayings of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) we are told that, "Allah is more loving and kinder than a mother to her dear child." In another saying, the Prophet (pbuh) said, “Allah has one hundred parts of mercy, of which He sent down one between the jinn, humankind, the animals and the insects, by means of which they are compassionate and merciful to one another, and by means of which wild animals are kind to their offspring. And Allah has kept back ninety-nine parts of mercy with which to be merciful to His slaves of the Day of Resurrection.” - Saheeh Muslim, al-Tawbah, 6908 Also, please believe that I care about you as well, even without knowing you, as do others who write about these subjects and speak about them. That is why we do it, because we care. I would like to talk about why suicide is not the Muslim way; and to suggest a way forward for those who are having these thoughts.

Asalamu'alaikum 20 Great Tips in Helping New Muslims 1. You should give the new Muslim the feeling that Islam is a perfect religion, its source is divine, and it is totally inclusive. You have to emphasize that there is no truth but the truth of this religion. 2. You should clarify to the new Muslim that Islam erases every sin before it. Otherwise, he will keep thinking about his previous sins. You should make it clear for him that the moment he converted to Islam, his records became clean, 3. Assure him that the only reference for Islam is quraan and sunnah, not the wrongdoings of Muslims. Only Qur’an and Sunnah can define what is right and what is wrong. 4. Advise the new Muslim to read Qur’an, Hadith and Serah as often as possible. 5. Advise him to take care of his personal cleanness in all its types, (Ablution, Ghusl…etc.) 6. He should perform prayers in time, and you should point out the importance of praying in Gama’ah. 7. It is very important that the new Muslim lives in an Islamic environment. This will help him to obey Allah, mainly by keeping him away from sins, and wrongdoings. 8. Take the new Muslim to a nearby mosque. It is better to have someone from the neighborhood accompanying him and following his progress. 9. Let the Imam of the mosque know about this new Muslim, and remind the Imam to take special care of him. 10. Advise him to read and learn more about Islam. It is better if he can dedicate some of his time to do that, whether by himself, or with a group. 11. It is very important for the new Muslim to ask about everything he doesn’t know or can’t understand. He should try to contact scholars or at least ask anyone he trusts. 12. Try to know about his financial status, and help him as much as possible to make him feel friendlier. It will be more encouraging to have his salary raised a little, if you are in a position to make that possible. 13. You should make it clear to him, that his conversion to Islam would cause him some problems. Allah is testing his faith by these problems. He can always handle these problems by referring to Qur’an and Sunnah. 14. You should emphasize the importance of Monotheism and Islamic belief basics. You can provide him with a book that explains these important things in a simple way. 15. Try to keep him away from his previous atmosphere, and to involve him in an environment that suits, and helps his development as a Muslim. 16. Try to engage him in some Islamic activities, and provide him with important books and recorded lectures. 17. Try introducing him to group from his nationality. The communication between them will be easier; he can also have lessons with them. 18. He should feel that he is important and loved by everyone, because of his conversion to Islam. Giving him a gift would be a good start… 19. Make it clear to him that the problems he faces have occurred to every new Muslim, so they are expected. Try to follow-up with his problems, and help him solving them, so that he can handle them without doing something terribly wrong. 20. There should be a simple approach that helps him to learn Arabic language (reading and writing), In order to be able to read quran by himself and understand it.

Trust me; there is no substitute for being able to look in the mirror and seeing purity, innocence and self-respect staring back at you. Joanna Francis Writer, Journalist – USA