ummtaalib

Apartheid Israel UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the occupied Palestinian territories Michael Lynk is the latest human rights expert to declare Israel an Apartheid state.In a 19-page report submitted to the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on Tuesday, Lynk said that the situation in the occupied Palestinian Territory (oPt) has moved beyond occupation and annexation, and now amounts to the crime of apartheid.“The political system of entrenched rule in the occupied Palestinian territory which endows one racial-national-ethnic group with substantial rights, benefits and privileges while intentionally subjecting another group to live behind walls, checkpoints and under a permanent military rule…satisfies the prevailing evidentiary standard for the existence of apartheid,” the report said. Follow our coverage of this developing story at https://bit.ly/3qBGg9f

Apartheid Avenue: Amnesty activists rename London street housing Israeli embassy The road leading up to the Israeli embassy in the British capital London has been renamed to "Apartheid Avenue" by activists from Amnesty International, to mark Israeli Apartheid Week, according to a tweet by Kristyan Benedict, a campaign manager for the global rights group. Benedict tweeted an image of a renamed street sign at the entrance to Kensington Palace Gardens in London, which houses the Israeli embassy. The sign was erected as part of a film shoot to mark Israeli Apartheid Week, when pro-Palestinian activists rally outside the embassy to highlight Israel’s discriminatory tactics. Activists say these routinely involve human rights abuses against Palestinians living in the occupied West Bank and besieged Gaza Strip. “Racist systems like apartheid aren’t relics of the past but the reality for millions of Palestinians,” tweeted Amnesty International alongside a teaser for the upcoming film. Israeli forces have displaced thousands of Palestinian families from their homes since the country's creation in 1948 and continue to occupy the West Bank and besiege the Gaza Strip. Israel has built hundreds of illegal settlements on Palestinian land, and its occupying forces routinely detain and violate the rights of Palestinians. Amnesty International published a report earlier this year calling for Israel to be prosecuted for its crimes at the International Criminal Court, adding that "Israel’s cruel policies of segregation, dispossession, and exclusion across all territories under its control clearly amount to apartheid." Source

Former Israeli politician says anti-Semitism accusation a "trick" to deflect criticism of Israel On August 14, 2002, Amy Goodman interviewed former Israeli Minister of Education Shulamit Aloni on the radio and television program Democracy Now. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BEVLD6YHsc TRANSCRIPT Amy Goodman: Often when there is dissent expressed in the United States against policies of the Israeli government, people here are called anti-Semitic. What is your response to that as an Israeli Jew? Shulamit Aloni: Well, it’s a trick, we always use it. When from Europe somebody is criticizing Israel, then we bring up the Holocaust. When in this country people are criticizing Israel, then they are anti-Semitic. And the organization is strong, and has a lot of money, and the ties between Israel and the American Jewish establishment are very strong and they are strong in this country, as you know. And they have power, which is okay. They are talented people and they have power and money, and the media and other things, and their attitude is “Israel, my country right or wrong,” identification. And they are not ready to hear criticism. And it’s very easy to blame people who criticize certain acts of the Israeli government as anti-Semitic, and to bring up the Holocaust, and the suffering of the Jewish people, and that is justify everything we do to the Palestinians.

On the 28th anniversary of the Ibrahimi Mosque Massacre—during which an Israeli-American settler named Baruch Goldstein opened fire on Palestinians inside a mosque, taking 29 Palestinian lives and injuring 150 more—the IMEU published a post on Instagram in remembrance of the Palestinians killed that day. Soon after, we were notified that Instagram took the post down.Facebook and Instagram have a history of censoring and silencing Palestinian stories, particularly those describing Palestinian suffering at the hands of Israeli violence. A 2021 Human Rights Watch report found that Facebook “wrongfully removed and suppressed content by Palestinians and their supporters, including about human rights abuses carried out in Israel and Palestine during the May 2021 hostilities.” Juve Muhammad (@juveyildiz) • Instagram photos and videos

The ruling regarding a woman whose Haidh period stops earlier than her usual habit Q. A womans Haidh habit is 7 days. If her blood stops on the 5th day, is it permissible for such a woman to engage in conjugal relations with her husband before the 7th day? Would the ruling be any different if her blood stops on the 7th or 10th day? (Question published as received) A. In this case, there are 3 scenarios that apply: 1) A woman’s blood stops during the days of menstruation (3-10 days) prior to her habit. For e.g. a woman’s menstrual habit is 7 days and the blood stops on day 5. Ruling: It is not permissible for her to engage in conjugal relations with her husband until she completes her habit of 7 days. Nonetheless, she is obliged to commence performing Salaah and Fasting once the blood stops (after taking a Ghusal). 2) A woman’s blood stops during the days of menstruation (3-10 days) as per her habit. For e.g. a woman’s menstrual habit is 7 days and the blood stops on day 7. Ruling: It is permissible for her to engage in conjugal relations with her husband after she takes a Ghusal or if one Salaah time lapses. 3) A woman’s blood stops during the days of menstruation (3-10 days) at the maximum (10 days). For e.g. a woman’s menstrual habit is 7 days and the blood stops on day 10. Ruling: It is permissible for her to engage in conjugal relations with her husband prior to taking a Ghusal but it will be preferred for her to take a ghusl first. (Dhukrul Mutaahhileen Wannisaa’) And Allah Ta’ala Knows Best Mufti Ismaeel Bassa Mufti Moosa Salie (The answer hereby given is specifically based on the question asked and should be read together with the question asked. Islamic rulings on this Q&A newsletter are answered in accordance to the Hanafi Fiqh unless otherwise stated.) Fatwa Department Jamiatul Ulama (KZN) Council of Muslim Theologians

Honouring Rachel Corrie Rachel Corrie was killed on March 16, 2003 while staging a peaceful protest to protect the home of a Palestinian family from demolition. #RachelCorrie became one of the top trending topics on Twitter on her death anniversary. Born in Olympia, Washington, Corrie dedicated her life to human rights, defending Palestinian rights in particular. She was the youngest of three children of Craig and Cindy Corrie, who described their family as "average American, politically liberal, economically conservative, middle class". Corrie was known for her love for peace and defending Palestinian rights, frequently exposing violations by Israel in the occupied Palestinian territories. In 2003, she went to Gaza for her senior-year college assignment; to connect her hometown with Rafah, as part of a sister cities project. During her stay, she engaged with members of the International Solidarity Movement, a pro-Palestinian NGO. On March 16, Corrie defied an Israeli bulldozer in hopes of stopping it from demolishing the home of a Palestinian family. Corrie believed that her western features and blonde hair would deter the bulldozer, but she was wrong. She was crushed to death when the Israeli bulldozer driver ran her over repeatedly, according to eye witnesses. Aftermath of her death The people of Gaza described her as a “martyr” and staged a massive funeral for their American friend. No U.S. senator attended her funeral. An Israeli investigation into her death concluded that it was an accident. Neither the international community nor Corrie's parents have bought the Israeli explanation. In 2005, Corrie's parents filed a civil lawsuit against Israel, asserting that she had either been intentionally killed or that the soldiers had showed criminal negligence. They sued for a symbolic one U.S. dollar in damages. An Israeli court rejected the lawsuit in 2012 ruling that the Israeli government was not responsible for her death. The ruling was slammed by human rights organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, as well as activists. Corrie has since been one of the symbols of the Palestinian cause. An Irish aid ship that set out for Gaza in 2010 named itself after Rachel and her story has been told in several documentary films portraying the plight of Palestinians.

Ayman Mohyeldin www.instagram.com/p/CbBKQvAgkxx/ The Russian invasion of Ukraine can serve as a teachable moment about the double standards that have become glaring and honestly troubling here in the west. The government and major media outlets have a tremendous amount of influence on who is called an invader, who is called a liberator, who’s a terrorist, who’s defending their homeland, who I can donate money to and who I can be publicly sympathetic to on social media. The right and wrong in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine seem unusually clear to all of us and maybe that’s why the words we use to talk about it seem so unambiguous. But why don't we see things as clearly when it involves America and its allies?

Can we blame the Palestinian people for their heartfelt outcry at this? http:// BBC Ukraine conflict: The women making Molotov cocktails to defend their city Telegraph Glory to Ukraine: Civilians take up weapons in the battle for Kyiv

People should talk about Palestine as they do Ukraine, says Egyptian squash star Ali Farag Egypt’s World No. 1 squash player Ali Farag has brutally exposed the hypocrisy of the West and the media on the Ukraine crisis saying the ‘Palestinians have been going through that for the past 74 years.’ As expected, Farag’s speech on the Ukraine crisis was removed from the official video posted on the tournament’s YouTube channel.

The double standards of world leaders and journalists has definitely been made apparent since the Ukrainian crisis happened. The blatant racism clear for all to see Following khutbah is worth a listen and worth reflection. We should educate ourselves and others! Reflections on the Russian Invasion of Ukraine Dr. Yasir Qadhi https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dyqxf8LnYQ

Israel's ban on family reunification Israel is doubling down on its apartheid rule over Palestinians while it and its international accomplices attempt to fend off the label. This week, Israel reinstated a ban on Palestinian family unification as part of its demographic engineering efforts to ensure a Jewish majority in the territory of historic Palestine. Adalah, a group that advocates for the rights of Palestinians in Israel, said that the legislation is “one of the most racist and discriminatory laws in the world, and must immediately be repealed.” The “Citizenship and Entry into Israel” order prohibits Israel’s interior minister from granting residency or citizenship to Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza who marry citizens of Israel. According to Adalah, which will challenge the law at Israel’s high court, “it also bans unification between a citizen or resident of Israel with spouses from ‘enemy states,’ including Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Iran.” Adalah added that “UN human rights bodies have called on Israel to revoke the ban on Palestinian family unification as it violates international law.” Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, has renewed the temporary order banning family unification 21 times over the past 18 years, the rights group added. However, unlike in the past, the current version of the law “explicitly states that its purpose is to ensure a Jewish demographic majority,” Adalah said. Israeli lawmakers and Ayelet Shaked, the state’s interior minister, have said that the legislation is intended to prevent Palestinians from gradually returning to their homeland. More here

Double standards on Ukraine coverage The World’s #1 Squash player, Egypt’s Ali Farag calls out double standards on Ukraine coverage: “We’ve never been allowed to speak about politics in sports, but all of a sudden now it’s allowed…the #Palestinians have been going through that for the past 74 years...we can talk about Ukraine, we can talk about #Palestine.”

Settler violence continues A right-wing settlers group, vandalized the tires of over 30 Palestinian-owned cars in the town of Jaljoulia in 1948-occupied lands. Video here Colonial Israeli settlers have set up a new outpost on a mountaintop on the outskirts of Battir village, a Unesco World Heritage site, in the occupied West Bank city of Bethlehem, sparking concern amongst locals who fear the outpost will lead to further confiscation of their land Source

Israel bans family reunification Israel's Knesset passed a law effectively barring Palestinians from the West Bank or Gaza who are married to Palestinian citizens of Israel from gaining citizenship ora residency in Israel, according to the Palestinian Information Centre. The Knesset approved the Citizenship and Entry into Israel Law (Temporary Order), 2022, by a 45-15 majority vote yestersday. While Israel claimed the law was passed for security reasons, it is believed the law was passed on racist grounds to prevent Palestinians from the West Bank or Gaza who marry Palestinians or Israeli Jews from becoming Israeli citizens in order to maintain a Jewish majority in Israel. The new temporary order explicitly affirms that its purpose is to ensure a Jewish demographic majority. The law also prohibits the entry of Arabs from countries "hostile" to Israel, such as Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Iran, for family reunification purposes. Israel's Knesset passed a law effectively barring Palestinians from the West Bank or Gaza who are married to Palestinian citizens of Israel from gaining citizenship or residency. The Israeli Knesset approved the Citizenship and Entry into Israel Law (Temporary Order), 2022, by a 45-15 majority vote on Thursday. While Israel claimed the law was passed for security reasons, it is believed the law was passed on racist grounds to prevent Palestinians from the West Bank or Gaza who marry Palestinians or Israeli Jews from becoming Israeli citizens in order to maintain a Jewish majority in Israel. The new temporary order explicitly affirms that its purpose is to ensure a Jewish demographic majority. The law also prohibits the entry of Arabs from countries "hostile" to Israel, such as Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Iran, for family reunification purposes. Rights groups have long warned of the seriousness of the law, which the Israeli government claims was enacted for security reasons. Palestinians consider the law racist. middleeastmonitor

Question: I have a few questions regarding the marriage process. 1. Is it permissible for me to get to know a girl with the intention of marriage? (i.e. texting, video calling, meeting in person) 2. My friends say that it is permissible if the girl involves her mehram (i.e. brother) as a chaperon in the process? As example, a WhatsApp group is created and I add her and her brother and then we chat with each other in the group in the presence of her mahram. Or if I meet her in person at some public place (i.e. cafe) and she is accompanied with her brother. 3. If not, what would be the permissible way to get to know someone within the boundaries of Shariah? As some of the parents in the western countries, have no connections in the community, therefor many single people use Muslim marriage apps to find spouse. Where the prospect is totally stranger and it’s difficult to commit in a relationship of marriage without a clear picture. 4. What's the ruling of texting/calling after engagement? Answer: In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh. In principle, it is not permissible for a person to unnecessarily speak with a non-mahram woman. Shariah has closed all doors that may lead one to commit illicit sins. If a person wishes to marry someone then it is permitted, rather recommended, to look at a potential spouse before marriage provided one is seriously contemplating marriage. See the following hadith: عَنْ أَبِي، هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ كُنْتُ عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَتَاهُ رَجُلٌ فَأَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّهُ تَزَوَّجَ امْرَأَةً مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ فَقَالَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ أَنَظَرْتَ إِلَيْهَا ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ لاَ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ فَاذْهَبْ فَانْظُرْ إِلَيْهَا فَإِنَّ فِي أَعْيُنِ الأَنْصَارِ شَيْئًا ‏"‏ ‏.‏ Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported: I was in the company of Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) when there came a man and informed him that he had contracted to marry a woman of the Ansar. Thereupon Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said: Did you cast a glance at her? He said: No. He said: Go and cast a glance at her, for there is something in the eyes of the Ansar. (Muslim 1424) عَنِ الْمُغِيرَةِ بْنِ شُعْبَةَ، أَنَّهُ خَطَبَ امْرَأَةً فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ انْظُرْ إِلَيْهَا فَإِنَّهُ أَحْرَى أَنْ يُؤْدَمَ بَيْنَكُمَا ‏"‏ ‏. Bakr bin Abdullah Al-Muzani narrated that: Al-Mughirah bin Shu'bah proposed to a woman, so the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said: "Look at her, for indeed that is more likely to make things better between the two of you." (Tirmidhi-1087) If a person is interested in marrying a girl, he should see her and enquire about her from her Mahrams and any other possible avenue. He should thereafter make Istikhara. The girl should also adopt the same procedure. This is in keeping with each other’s dignity, respect and honour. It will not be permissible to interact with a potential spouse by speaking, texting or video calling her. The purpose of looking at a potential spouse is to ascertain their physical appearance and beauty not their character and lifestyle. The most effective method of ascertaining the character and lifestyle of a prospective spouse is through their relatives and other associates. In regards to speaking with one’s fiancé, according to Shariah, an engagement is merely an agreement that the parties will marry in the future. It does not change the fact that the engaged couple are both strangers for one another before marriage. Therefore, it will not be permissible to interact with one’s fiancé, whether this is over the phone, e-mail etc. And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best Checked and Approved by, Mufti Ebrahim Desai (Rahimahullah)

Sha’ban - A Month for Rehearsal The sighting of the Crescent of Sha’ban signals the good news of Ramadan’s imminent arrival. A believer grows in anticipation with the passing of each day. Days like these, are what a believer ‘lives for’. A Month for Rehearsal In addition to it being the most virtuous month - outside Ramadan - to fast, another reason for Nabi (sallallahu’alayhi wasallam) increasing his optional fast in Sha’ban was to prepare for Ramadan as well as to respectfully welcome Ramadan. (Lataiful Ma’arif, pg. 258) This illustrates how Rasulullah (sallallahu ’alayhi wasallam) would spiritually prepare himself in advance for the most auspicious month of the year; Ramadan. It is similar to the Sunnah Salah we offer before and after the Fard Salah. For the Fard fast of Ramadan, we are taught to offer nafl fasts before and after (i.e. in Sha’ban and Shawwal). (Lataiful Ma’arif, pg.249) Similarly, the Sahabah (radiyallahu ’anhum) and Tabi’un (rahimahumullah) would also engage in what we would understand as ‘spiritual preparation’ for Ramadan. Sayyiduna Anas (radiyallahu ’anhu) says: ‘When Sha’ban would commence, the Muslims (Sahabah and Tabi’un) would dedicate themselves to the recital of the Quran.’ (Lataiful Ma’arif, pg.258) Hafiz Ibn Rajab Al-Hambaly (rahimahullah) writes: ‘Since Sha’ban is a prelude to Ramadan, Islam encourages certain deeds in this month that are usually done in Ramadan like fasting and Quran recital. This prepares the soul to welcome Ramadan, with open arms.’ (Lataiful Ma’arif, pg.258) Another form of preparation In addition to the above deeds and their like, there is another form of preparation that is absolutely essential. That is to settle our disputes and cleanse the hearts from jealousy, rancour and I’ll-feelings. A Hadith in Sahih Ibn Hibban, mentions of four people that will be deprived on auspicious nights: a) An alcoholic. b) One who disobeys his parents c) One who severe family ties d) One who harbours ill-feelings in his heart for others People who hold onto old grudges, and do not settle their disputes, nor cleanse their hearts are usually deprived on Allah’s mercy, even on blessed occasions. Therefore it is imperative for a believer, as part of his preparation for Ramadan, to sort out such issues ahead of time. 15th of Sha’ban (Laylatul Bara’ah) The beginning of Sha’ban is a time for us to reset our minds hearts and routines for Ramadan. Barely two weeks into the month, will bring the occasion of the fifteenth night of Sha’ban. This night is labelled as the second most auspicious night of the year, by some Scholars. (Lataiful Ma’arif, pg. 264) Allah Ta’ala, through His wisdom granted the Ummah this auspicious night as a prelude to Ramadan. On that night too, those who harbour ill-feelings are deprived of Allah’s Mercy and Forgiveness. Therefore, one should understand that today is an ideal time to reflect on the above and to make efforts to implement them too. Let’s increase our nafl ‘ibadah from today, so that when Ramadan does arrive, we are well rehearsed and ready to maximise our benefit therefrom. May Allah Ta’ala guide and inspire us all. Ameen. Laylatul Bara’ah will be after Maghrib on Thursday night, 17th March 2022 in South Africa. Al-Miftah Jamiatul Ulama (KZN) Council of Muslim Theologians

Question and Answer: Q. A Hindu couple had been married. The Hindu wife accepted Islam. Can the revert Muslim woman who had been a Hindu wife marry a Muslim man immediately after accepting Islam or does she have to wait for a period before making Nikah? When can she make Nikah? (Question published as received) A. As per Islamic Law, marriage between a Muslim female and a non-Muslim male is invalid. Accordingly, the marriage between a non-Muslim couple is suspended if the wife reverts to Islam. If the husband accepts Islam within three menstrual cycles, their marriage will remain intact. If the husband does not accept Islam, the marriage between them ends at the expiry of three menstrual cycles. Therefore, a non-Muslim married woman who accepts Islam may not immediately marry a Muslim man after her reversion. She may only do so once three menstrual cycles pass after her reversion and on the condition that her husband does not revert to Islam. (Shaami 3/191) NB. If the woman is pregnant, the period of suspension will be until birth. If the woman is in menopause, the period of suspension will be 3 months (90 days). And Allah Ta’ala Knows Best Mufti Ismaeel Bassa Mufti Moosa Salie (The answer hereby given is specifically based on the question asked and should be read together with the question asked. Islamic rulings on this Q&A newsletter are answered in accordance to the Hanafi Fiqh unless otherwise stated.) Fatwa Department Jamiatul Ulama (KZN) Council of Muslim Theologians

A Clear Proof By Shaykhul-Hadīth, Hadrat Mawlānā Muhammad Saleem Dhorat hafizahullāh In this verse, Allāh ta‘ālā proclaims that it is He and He alone who has revealed the Glorious Qur’ān to mankind, which means it is His Word. This claim is followed by a proof to validate it, that Allāh ta‘ālā Himself is its Guardian and Protector. When Allāh ta‘ālā protects something, nothing and no one can ever interfere with it, so the continual preservation of the Qur’ān is a proof that it is the Word of Allāh ta‘ālā. There are many other proofs of the divine origin of the Qur’ān, including its i‘jāz (inimitability) which makes it impossible for mankind to invent even a single verse to match the Qur’ān in its perfection. However, the preservation of the Qur’ān is a proof that even a child can understand. 1,430 years have gone by and it is still plain for everyone to see that not a single change has occurred in the Qur’ān. To fulfil the promise of protecting the Qur’ān, Allāh ta‘ālā has created a comprehensive system consisting of scribes who accurately copy the text; Huffāz who accurately memorise its words; Qurrā who preserve its correct pronunciation and mode of recitation; and Mufassirīn, Muhaddithīn, Fuqahā and ‘Ulamā who protect its meaning and message. Non-Muslim experts also acknowledge that despite the passage of fourteen centuries, it has not undergone even the slightest alteration, not of a single letter or harkat (diacritical mark). It is obvious that a very powerful being must be safeguarding the Qur’ān for it to have been preserved over so many centuries. The Protected Book ‘Allāmah Qurtubī rahimahullāh narrates an interesting story about the preservation of the Qur’ān. Once a stranger attended one of the debates that the ‘Abbāsī Khalīfah, Ma’mūn Rashīd, used to hold at his court. The man spoke eloquently during the debate, and afterwards Ma’mūn summoned him. Sensing that he was not a Muslim he asked him whether he was a Jew. The man replied that he was. Ma’mūn then invited him to embrace Islām and, as a test, offered him incentives for doing so. However, the man preferred to keep his religion, the religion of his forefathers. A year later, the same man attended the court of Ma’mūn as a Muslim and spoke learnedly on Islamic jurisprudence. Afterwards, Ma’mūn called him and asked him if he was the same man who had come the year before. He replied that he was, and upon being asked how he had become a Muslim he told his story: ‘After I had left the debate the previous year, I decided to examine the different religions. Being a good calligrapher I made three copies of the Tawrāt, making some additions and omissions in the process. I took the copies to the Jews and they bought them from me. I then made three copies of the Injīl, again making some additions and omissions, and took them to the Christians, who bought them. Then I did exactly the same with the Qur’ān and took the copies to the Muslims. They checked them and when they noticed the additions and omissions, they discarded the copies and refused to buy them. I realised then that this was a protected book, and that was how I came to embrace Islām.’ Enthusiasm for Memorising the Qur’ān The preservation of the Qur’ān is a great miracle and the means Allāh ta‘ālā employs are also amazing. Parents who encourage their children to memorise the whole Qur’ān are aware of the rewards they and their children will receive for doing so, but the children themselves are not. If you were to ask the students of a typical hifz class what the rewards for memorising the Qur’ān are, the majority would not be able to reply. Despite this, the desire Allāh ta‘ālā places in their hearts to memorise the Qur’ān is such that very few, if any, would dream of giving it up. Wherever you go, you will see that there are never enough ḥifẓ classes and that they are always oversubscribed. Just think: what power is there that is keeping our children committed to memorising the Qur’ān? There are countless other well-known good deeds that promise great rewards, yet people do not adhere to them with such commitment and dedication as to memorising the Qur’ān. Allāh ta‘ālā Himself puts the love of memorising His Word into the hearts of young people. Nowhere in the whole world will you see classes full of children memorising a book that they do not understand. It is a miracle of the Qur’ān that people are able to learn a whole foreign alphabet and how to read in a foreign language without also learning to understand the language, and then to memorise a whole book in that language, and then to keep it in their memories for the rest of their lives. Remarkable Huffāz Throughout history there are examples of people who memorised the Qur’ān at a very young age and also in a very short time. Ibn Labbān rahimahullāh memorised the whole Qur’ān in just one year, remarkable in itself, but even more amazing is that he completed his memorisation at the age of five! Hāfiz Ibn Hajar Al-‘Asqalānī rahimahullāh became a Hāfiz by the age of nine and at the age of twelve led the tarāwīh salāh in Al-Masjidul-Harām. Ibn Shihāb Az-Zuhrī rahimahullāh memorised the whole Qur’ān in eighty days. When Imām Muhammad rahimahullāh went to study under Imām Abū Hanīfah rahimahullāh, he was asked whether he had memorised the whole Qur’ān or not, for admission to his classes was conditional on being a Hāfiz. He replied that he had not, but his desire to acquire knowledge was so great that he returned after just one week and told Imām Abū Hanīfah rahimahullāh that he was now a Hāfiz! Connect Yourself to the Qur’ān After learning something of the miraculous nature of the Glorious Qur’ān, we need to take some practical steps to connect ourselves with it: 1. Connect yourself to the Qur’ān by reciting it regularly. Recite one juz daily, or if that is not possible then half a juz or a quarter, but recite daily. If the remembrance of Allāh ta‘ālā in its various forms such as tasbīh, tahmīd, salāt ‘alan-Nabī, du‘ā etc. are compared to individual ‘vitamins’ that are beneficial to a person’s spiritual health, the Qur’ān can be likened to a multivitamin, for it contains them all. 2. Attend tajwīd classes in your locality in order to learn how to recite the Qur’ān properly, as it is one of the rights of the Qur’ān. 3. Attend the durūs (lessons) of the Qur’ān delivered by the ‘Ulamā in your locality in order to understand the message of the Qur’ān. 4. Practise upon the teachings of the Qur’ān. 5. Spread the beautiful message of the Qur’ān. 6. Respect the people of the Qur’ān, i.e. the Huffāz, Qurrā and ‘Ulamā. Refrain from disrespecting them and talking ill of them at all costs. Sayyidunā Abū Dardā radhiyallāhu ‘anhu has said: May Allāh ta‘ālā grant us love for the Qur’ān, an affinity with it and the ability to memorise it, recite it in the proper manner, understand it and act according to it. Āmīn. Extracted from 'Inspirations' (Part 1) © Islāmic Da'wah Academy

8: Pray in the Congregation & Do Not Delay 9: Be Punctual With Your Sunnah Prayers 10: Eliminate Distractions Before praying ṣalāh, always try your best to remove distractions. Anything which may distract or worry you in ṣalāh will reduce the khushūʿ in your ṣalāh. Ibn Kathīr (raḥimahullāh) says, “Khushūʿ in ṣalāh is only attained by the one who has emptied his heart totally for it, who occupies himself fully for it and does not pay attention to anything else besides it, and who prioritises it over everything else. At that point it becomes a source of comfort and intense joy.” So if you are hungry, eat before you pray. Similarly, if you need to relieve yourself, do it before you pray. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Ṣalāh should not be performed when the food has been presented, nor when one is fighting the urge to go to the bathroom” (Abū Dāwūd). He ﷺ also said, “If dinner is served, and the iqāmah for ṣalāh has been given, then start with the dinner” (Bukhārī). Imām al-Munāwī (raḥimahullāh) explains that the above narrations indicate that it is more important and virtuous to pray with the presence of the heart, than to pray at the start of the prayer time. How to eliminate distractions • Find a quiet place to pray. Avoid praying where others are talking or where there is a noise that is likely to distract you. • Mentally go ‘offline’ for your ṣalāh by ensuring your phone is on ‘silent mode’. Avoid checking your phone between the farḍ and sunnah prayers. • If you have a small child, where possible, ask someone to look after them whilst you pray. • Avoid performing your ṣalāh whilst you have urgent matters waiting. For instance, if you are cooking, then turn off the cooker for the duration of the ṣalāh to stop you worrying about it during your ṣalāh. • Pray where you are comfortable. Avoid anywhere where it is too cold or too hot, as this might hinder your ability to focus. • Pray in clothes which are not distracting. The Prophet ﷺ once returned a garment which had patterns on it to one of his Companions (radiy Allāhū ‘anhum) because it distracted him during his ṣalāh (Bukhārī). • Ensure you are not surrounded by distracting objects. The Prophet ﷺ told his wife ʿĀ’ishah (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhā) to remove a curtain because its pictures had diverted his attention in ṣalāh (Bukhārī). • Pray towards a sutrah (a barrier or a wall in front of you). The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “When one of you prays towards a sutrah he should stay close to it and not let Shayṭān interrupt his ṣalāh” (Abū Dāwūd). The wisdom behind using a sutrah is to prevent your eyes glancing further than the sutrah and, therefore, beyond your place of prayer. It also stops people from passing in front of you, and stops ṣhayṭān from passing by and ruining your prayer. Occasionally, during ṣalāh, we may find ourselves distracted due to thinking about petty matters. On such occasions, we should try to remember the greatness of the One we are conversing with and the majesty of the One looking at us. We should think about death and the hereafter, and rein in our thoughts to bring our minds back to ṣalāh. Learn the fiqh of ṣalāh Learn and regularly refresh your knowledge of the legal rulings of ṣalāh, so that you are not distracted by thoughts like, ‘Is my ṣalāh valid/should I be repeating the prayer, or is sajdah al-sahw sufficient?’ This will help you to pray ṣalāh more calmly and with greater khushūʿ.

Jazaakallaahu khayraa Gives some idea of where and what is happening