ummtaalib

It is sad to see average Americans in the media these days calling for putting Muslims in this country in detention camps with minimum means of survival. I don’t really blame the average American for having that kind of feeling when I look at the way Islam is covered in the media, especially concerning the issue of terrorism. Many words like “terrorist,” “hijacker,” and “kidnapper,” have been alternatively used synonymously with Muslim. “Whenever someone from any country commits a crime, he is referred to by his name and sometimes his nationality. However, when he turns out to be a Muslim even by name, the word “Muslim” always precedes his name in the media, even if he was from the Druze, who are not Muslims and do not like to be referred to as such. The man who was accused in London of putting a bomb in his girlfriend’s purse was talked about as if he were the sole representative of Islam. That particular case is interesting because of the strong violations of Islam made by the perpetrator. First, a Muslim man cannot have a girlfriend in the colloquial sense, let alone be guilty of the crime of impregnating her. Sex outside marriage is considered adultery and is prohibited in Islam. Worse than this was the attempt to kill the innocents on the plane. Not only in peace but also in war Islam prohibits terrorism, kidnapping and hijacking, when carried against civilians, and whoever commits this is a murderer in Islam and is to be punished by the Islamic state. During wars, Islam prohibits the Muslims soldiers from harming civilians, women, children, the elderly, and the religious man like priests and rabbis. It also prohibits cutting down trees and destroying civilian constructions. Many Islamic terms like “Jihad” and “Islam” have been abused by violent groups. Nobody has power over such groups to force them to stop abusing such names. That could happen to Christianity as well by any Mafia group that could call itself “The Christian Crusade Group” for example. In that case, we won’t consider them as representatives of Christianity just as we don’t consider Adolf Hitler the ideal of Christians. When we want to learn about the Christian belief we read the Bible, and hope the Christians will go and read the Qur’an and the Hadith (Muhammad’s traditions) since only these represent Islam. Christian are five to seven per cent of the population of countries like Jordan, Syria, and Egypt, and have been living there peacefully for over 1400 years. Nobody put them in detention camps during the massacre of 70,000 Muslims in Jerusalem during the Crusade wars, which took place in those particular areas, nor were they harmed during the massacre of the Muslims and the Jews in Spain in 1492. It is against Islam to punish those for crimes committed by others, who were violating their Christian faith, which has love as its main teaching. The most misinterpreted term is “Jihad” which is referred to as the Holy War. Jihad is not only a defensive war, as some Muslims try ignorantly to defend it. It is also an offensive war against any unjust regime that does not let its citizens choose their faith. If such a regime exists, then the war is carried against that regime and not against the people of that country. It should never be interpret as a way of compulsion of the belief on others since there is an explicit verse in the Qur’an that says: “There is no compulsion in religion.” Had that been the case there would have never been any Christian, Jews, or non-Muslim in the Islamic world during the past 1400 years. Concerning the case of Lebanon, that country became like a pot with too many fingers dipped in. Nothing is stable over there and not many people are following the teachings of their faiths. There are crimes in Lebanon that are committed under the names of all religions and not only Islam. Sabra and Shattila are not that far away. Everybody is fighting everybody else and there is a lot of overlapping between the groups’ interests. So, I don’t think it is far to judge Islam from what has been done in Lebanon nor is it fair to judge Christianity or Judaism from what we have seen there either. By: Hussain Al-Hussein inkofscholars.com

By getting married you are not just getting a wife, you are getting your whole world. From now until the rest of your days your wife will be your partner, your companion, and your best friend. She will share your moments, your days, and your years. She will share your joys and sorrows, your successes and failures, your dreams and your fears. When you are ill, she will take the best care of you; when you need help, she will do all she can for you; When you have a secret, she will keep it; when you need advice, she will give you the best advice. She will always be with you: when you wake up in the morning the first thing your eyes will see will be hers; during the day, she will be with you, if for a moment she is not with you by her physical body, she will be thinking of you, praying for you with all her heart, mind, and soul; when you go to sleep at night, the last thing your eyes will see will be her; and when you are asleep you will still see her in your dreams. In short, she will be your whole world and you will be her whole world. The best description that I personally have ever read describing the closeness of the spouses to each other is the Qur'anic verse which says: "they are your garments and you are their garments" (Surah Al Baqarah 2:187). Indeed, spouses are like garments to each other because they provide one another with the protection, the comfort, the cover, the support, and the adornment that garments provide to humans. Just imagine a journey in the winter of Alaska without garments! Our spouses provide us with the same level of comfort, protection, cover, and support in the journey of our lives on this earth as garments would do in the Alaskan journey. The relationship between the spouses is the most amazing of all human relations: the amount of love and affection, intimacy and closeness, mercy and compassion, peace and tranquility that fills the hearts of the spouses is simply inexplicable. The only rational explanation for these most amazing of all human feelings is that: it is an act of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala, "And Allah has made for you Mates (and Companions of your own nature..." (Surah Al Nahl 16:72) Only our Almighty Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala in His Infinite Power, Boundless Mercy, and Great Wisdom can create and ingrain these amazing and blessed feelings in the hearts of the spouses. In fact Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala is reminding those who search for His signs in the universe that these feelings in the hearts of the spouses are among the signs that should guide humans to His existence as He says in the Qur'an, "And among His signs is this, that He created for you mates from among yourselves that you may dwel! l in tranquillity with them and He has put love and mercy between your hearts: verily in that are signs for those who reflect." (Surah Al Rum 30:21) But Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala knows that the human heart is not a staticentity, it is sometimes weak and at times dynamic. Feelings can and do change with time. Love may wither and fade away. The marital bond might weaken if not properly cared for. Happiness in marriage cannot be taken for granted; continuous happiness requires constant giving from both sides. For the tree of marital love to remain alive and keep growing, the soil has to be sustained, maintained, watered and nurtured. Remember that our Prophet Muhammad Salallaahu 'aliahi wa'sallaam had found the time to go out to the desert and race with his wife Aisha. She out ran him but later after she had gained some weight, he out ran her. The show of emotions is necessary to keep the marital bond away from rusting and disintegrating. Remember that you will be rewarded by Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala for any emotions you show to your wife as the Prophet Salallaahu 'aliahi wa'sallaam said "one would be rewarded for anything that he does seeking the pleasure of Allah even the food that he puts in the mouth of his wife" Never underestimate the importance of seemingly little things as putting food in your wife's mouth, opening the car's door for her, etc. Remember that the Prophet Salallaahu 'aliahi wa'sallaam used to extend his knee to his wife to assist her up to ride the camel. Try to always find some time for both of you to pray together. Strengthening the bond between you and Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala is the best guarantee that your own marital bond would always remain strong. Having peace with Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala will always result in having more peace at home. Remember that the Prophet Salallaahu 'aliahi wa'sallaam gave glad tidings for those couples who wake up at night to pray together. The Prophet Salallaahu 'aliahi wa'sallaam even urged the spouse who rises up first to wake the other spouse up even by throwing cold water on his/her face. Always try your best to be good to your wife by words and by deeds. Talk to her, smile to her, seek her advice, ask for her opinion, spend quality time with her and always remember that the Prophet Salallaahu 'aliahi wa'sallaam said: "The best of you are those who are best to their wives" Finally, it is common that spouses vow to love and honor their spouses until death do them part. I do believe that this vow is good or even great, but not enough! It is not enough that you love your wife. You have to love what she loves as well. Her family, her loved ones must also become your loved ones. Don't be like my colleague who was unhappy about his wife's parents coming to visit for few weeks. He candidly said to her "I don't like your parents" Naturally she angrily looked at him straight in the eye and said " I don't like yours either"... Also, it is not enough that you love her until death do you part. Love should never end and we do believe there is life after death where those who did righteousness in this world will be joined by their spouses (Surah Al Zukhruf 43:70) and offsprings. The best example in this regard is the Prophet Salallaahu 'aliahi wa'sallaam whose love for Khadija, his wife of 25 years extended to include all those she loved and continued even after her death. It was many years after her death and he never forgot her and whenever a goat was slaughtered in his house he would send portions of it to Khadija's family and friends and whenever he felt that the visitor at the door might be Khadija's sister Hala, he would pray saying "O Allah let it be Hala." A talk by Shaykh Abdullah Adhami inkofscolars.com

The Qur'an The Qur'an can be defined as follows: The speech of Allah, sent down upon the last Prophet Muhammad, through the Angel Gabriel, in its precise meaning and precise wording, transmitted to us by numerous persons (tawatur), both verbally and in writing. Inimitable and unique, protected by God from corruption. The word Qur'an The Arabic word 'qur'an' is derived from the root qara'a, which has various meanings, such as to read, [sura 17: 93.] to recite, [sura 75:18:17: 46.] etc. Qur'an is a verbal noun and hence means the 'reading' or 'recitation'. As used in the Qur'an itself, the word refers to the revelation from Allah in the broad sense [sura 17: 82.] and is not always restricted to the written form in the shape of a book, as we have it before us today. However, it means revelation to Muhammad only, while revelation to other prophets has been referred to by different names (e.g. taurat, injil, kitab, etc.). Other Names of the Qur'an The revelation from Allah to the Prophet Muhammad is referred to in the Qur'an itself by the name qur'an (recitation) as well as by other names, such as e.g. furqan (criterion, see 25: 1). tanzil (sent down, see 26: 192). dhikr (reminder, see 15: 9). kitab (scripture, see 21:10). Other references to the Qur'an are by such words as nur (light), huda (guidance), rahma (mercy), majid (glorious), mubarak (blessed), bashir (announcer), nadhir (warner), etc. All these names reflect one of the various aspects of the revealed word of Allah. The Meaning of hadith [For details on hadith see: A'zami, Muhammad Mustafa: Studies in Hadith Methodology and Literature, Indianapolis, 1977.] The word hadith means news, report or narration. It is in this general sense that the word is used in the Qur'an. [e.g. Sura 12:101.] Technically, the word hadith, (pl. ahadith) means in particular the reports (verbal and written) about the sunna of the Prophet Muhammad. Hadith reports about the Prophet Muhammad are of the following kinds: What he said (qaul). What he did (fi'l). What he (silently) approved (taqrir) in others' actions. There are also reports about him, i.e. about what he was like (sifa). The difference between the Qur'an and Hadith. There is agreement among most Muslim scholars that the contents of the sunna are also from Allah. Hence they have described it as also being the result of some form of inspiration. [For details see kitab al-risala, by Imam al-Shafi'i, Cairo, n.d., especially pp. 28-9. In English: Khadduri Majid, Islamic Jurisprudence. Shafi'i's Risala, Baltimore, 1961, chapter 5, especially pp. 121-2.] The contents of the sunna are however expressed through the Prophet's own words or actions, while in the case of the Qur'an the Angel Gabriel brought the exact wording and contents to the Prophet, who received this as revelation and then announced it, in the very same manner that he received it. The difference between these two forms has been illustrated by Suyuti (following Juwaini) in the following manner: 'The revealed speech of Allah is of two kinds: As to the first kind, Allah says to Gabriel: Tell the Prophet to whom I sent you that Allah tells him to do this and this, and He ordered him something. So Gabriel understood what His Lord had told him. Then he descended with this to the Prophet and told him what His Lord had told him, but the expression is not this (same) expression, just as a king says to someone upon whom he relies: Tell so-and-so: The king says to you: strive in his service and gather your army for fighting ... and when the messenger (goes and) says: The king tells you: do not fail in my service, and do not let the army break up, and call for fighting, etc., then he has not lied nor shortened (the message) ... 'And as to the other kind, Allah says to Gabriel: Read to the Prophet this (piece of) writing, and Gabriel descended with it from Allah, without altering it the least, just as (if) the king writes a written (instruction) and hands it over to his trustworthy (servant) and says (to him): Read it to so-and-so. Suyuti said: The Qur'an belongs to the second kind, and the first kind is the sunna, and from this derives the reporting of the sunna according to the meaning unlike the Qur'an." [sabuni, tibyan, p.52] It is generally accepted that the difference between Qur'an and sunna is as follows: The ahadith from or about the Prophet Muhammad are: The words or actions of a human being, and not the speech of God as the Qur'an is. Not necessarily reported in tbeir precise wording, as the Qur'an is. Not necessarily transmitted by tawatur, except in some instances. Hadith Qudsi [For an introduction to the subject and select sample texts, see e.g. Ibrahim Izzuddin and Denis Johnson-Davies: Forty Hadith Qudsi, Beirut, Damascus, 1980.] Qudsi means holy, or pure. There are some reports from the Prophet Muhammad where he relates to the people what God has said (says) or did (does), but this information is not part of the Qur'an. Such a report is called hadith qudsi, e.g.: Abu Huraira reported that Allah's messenger said: 'Allah, Mighty and Exalted is He, said: If My servant likes to meet me, I like to meet him, and if he dislikes to meet Me, I dislike to meet him.' [Forty Hadith Qudsi, Beirut, Damascus, 1980, No. 30.] While the common factor between hadith qudsi and the Qur'an is that both contain words from Allah which have been revealed to Muhammad, the main points of difference between Qur'an and hadith qudsi are as follows: In the Qur'an the precise wording is from Allah, while in the hadith qudsi the wording is given by the Prophet Muhammad. The Qur'an has been brought to Muhammad only by the Angel Gabriel, while hadith qudsi may also have been inspired otherwise, such as e.g. in a dream. The Qur'an is inimitable and unique, but not so the hadith qudsi. The Qur'an has been transmitted by numerous persons, (tawatur) but the hadith and hadith qudsi often only by a few or even one individual. There are hadith qudsi which are sahth, but also others hasan, or even da'if, while there is no doubt at all about any aya from the Qur'an. Another point is that a hadith qudsi cannot be recited in prayer. Distinctive Features of the Qur'an The most important distinction between the Qur'an and all other words or writings therefore is that the Qur'an is the speech from Allah, revealed in its precise meaning and wording through the Angel Gabriel, transmitted by many, inimitable, unique and protected by Allah Himself against any corruption. SunniPath

By Shaykh Amin Kholwadia The word tabi’i literally means someone who follows. Muslims reserve the use of this word for those who met and followed the Companions of the Prophet (upon him blessing and peace). The word sahabi literally means someone who is a companion. Muslims reserve the use of this word for someone who met and followed the Prophet Muhammad (upon him blessing and peace). Alqamah was a great scholar from amongst the Tabi’i group of Muslims. Abdullah ibn Umar was a great scholar from amongst the Sahabi group of Muslims. ‘Alqamah appears frequently as a narrator in the hadith chain of Abu Hanifa. While comparing the juristic acumen (fiqh) of Alqamah and Ibn Umar, Abu Hanifa – who was a Tabi’i jurist himself – made the following remark: “If it had not been for the merit of companionship (with the Prophet Muhammad, upon him blessing and peace), I would have said that ‘Alqamah is more juristically perceptive (afqah) than Ibn Umar.” For Abu Hanifa – and other Sunni scholars – companionship (suhba) has a ranking that is above that of any acquired academic merit. This merit of companionship which Abu Hanfia spoke of was not merely based on a simple romantic allegiance to the Companions. Nor was it a reaction to the socio-political factors of early Muslim history. It was based on a pristine understanding of popular Islamic facts. The parameters of Muslim theology were well-known by the time Abu Hanifa came into learning Islam formally. Sunni principles were rooted in popular Islam. The principles of wahi (revelation) were amongst those that were commonly accepted in the Muslim mind. What follows is a discussion about a Sunni principle in popular Islam. A hadith is a narration – of any sort – from the Prophet Muhammad (upon him blessing and peace). One of the most popular and prized hadith amongst all Muslims is known as the “Hadith of Jibril.[1]” Muslims who adhere to the rules of taqlid – following a particular school of legal thought – and those who do not; and those Muslims who wish to be known as progressive minded in the war-plagued modern world, they all love this hadith very dearly. Some quote the hadith because it calls Muslims to adopt a sense of ihsan (excellence in worship); others quote the hadith on the pulpit during their Friday sermons. There are even those who use the hadith as a summary of Islam itself. Scholars of hadith have written volumes on the commentary of this beautiful hadith. No Muslim dare doubt the veracity of this hadith as it speaks to the mind and soul of his religious intelligence. Even non-Muslim admirers of Islam hold this hadith in high esteem. Abu Hurairah, a companion of the Prophet (upon him blessing and peace), had accepted Islam only three years prior to the Prophet’s leaving this world. Abu Hurairah is one of several companions who have reported this hadith. It follows that many of the earlier Companions must have witnessed the event of this hadith. Hence, this hadith is part of popular Islam. Sunni Muslims believe that only a nabi (a prophet) can be a recipient of communicable wahi (revelation)[2]. Sunni Muslims also believe that Allah uses angels as agents who communicate the Divine Word and message. A non-nabi is not at all privy to communicable wahi since he does not have the faculty to actually receive that level of rational communication. A non-nabi does not have the tools to receive wahi that has to be communicated to other human beings for the sake of procuring their salvation. Hence, tabligh (conveying wahi) is primarily a function of prophets and not of non-prophets. In order for a non-prophet to qualify for the function of tabligh, he/she would have to be prepped to at least potentially receive communicable wahi. Wahi comes from the All Mighty Allah Who sends it down to the world of angels who then act as agents or transmitters of wahi. These angels are not visible to any human being – that is other than prophets. Jibril is the angel who is designated to bring wahi to all prophets. The un-lettered Prophet Muhammad (upon him blessing and peace) had coached the spiritual psyche of his companions with such great dexterity that they became equipped to carry the burden of tabligh (conveying the message to others). As a favor to the Companions, Allah sent Jibril to visit them while the Prophet Muhammad (upon him blessing and peace) was still amongst them. The Companions of the Prophet Muhammad (upon him blessing and peace) saw Jibril with their own eyes and heard him with their own ears. The Prophet (upon him blessing and peace)asked Umar, who went out looking for this person when he left the gathering, “Do you know who that was Umar?” When Umar responded in the negative, the Prophet stated, “This was Jibril. He came to teach you your Din (religion).” The suhba of the Prophet was so intense that it brought down Allah’s providence which came in the form of Jibril coming to teach them what he taught the Prophet (upon him blessings and peace). The companionship with the Prophet (upon him blessings and peace) had now converted ordinary human beings into special human beings who were blessed with the witnessing of the arch angel Jibril. A couple of years later, in his address at the Farewell Hajj, the Prophet (upon him blessing and peace) ordained every companion to carry the burden of tabligh when he said, “Convey from me – even though it might even be one ayah[3] (that you convey).” Through suhba, the Sahaba were now equipped – actually – to carry the burden of tabligh to other human beings. Even though a hadith is a narration from the Prophet Muhammad (upon him blessing and peace), Muslim scholars showed their unique juristic (fiqhi) acumen by naming this hadith the Hadith of Jibril. This is because this hadith is not about what the Sahaba narrated from the Prophet (upon him blessing and peace). It is about what the Sahaba narrated from Jibril. The miracle of Prophet Muhammad (upon him blessing and peace) was that he stamped his spiritual legacy on the hearts of his companions so that they inherited some of his prophetic abilities also. So it is no wonder that Abu Hanifa — and other heirs of the Companions – gave the Companions an academic ranking above the degree of juristic acumen (fiqh). We should follow suit if we love the Hadith of Jibril. Text of the Hadith of Jibril “One day when we were sitting with the Messenger of Allah (upon him blessing and peace), there came to us a man whose clothes were of exceeding whiteness and whose hair was of exceeding blackness. There were no signs of travel upon him although none of us knew him. He sat down knee to knee opposite the Prophet (upon him blessing and peace), upon whose thighs he placed the palms of his hands saying, “O Muhammad, tell me what is Islam (Submission)?” The Messenger (upon him blessing and peace) answered him saying, “Islam is to testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is Allah’s Messenger, to perform the prayer, pay (the charity of) Zakat, fast (the month of) Ramadan, and make the pilgrimage to the Holy House (Ka’ba) – if you can.” He said, “You have spoken truthfully.” We were amazed that, having questioned him (upon him blessing and peace), he should corroborate him. Then he said, “Tell me what is Faith (Iman)?” He (upon him blessing and peace) answered, “To believe in Allah, His Angels, His books, His Messengers, the Last Day, and to believe that no good or evil comes but by His Providence.” “You have spoken truthfully,” he said, and then, “Tell me what is Excellence (Ihsan)?” He SAW answered, “To worship Allah as if you see Him, for if you do not see Him, yet He sees you.” “You have spoken truthfully,” he said, and then, “Tell me of the Hour.” He (upon him blessing and peace) answered, “The one questioned about it knows no better than the questioner.” He said, “Then tell me of its signs.” He (upon him blessing and peace) answered, “That the slave-girl shall give birth to her mistress, and those who were but barefoot, naked, needy herdsmen shall build buildings ever higher and higher.” Then the stranger went away, and I stayed a while after he had gone, and the Prophet SAW said to me, “O Umar, do you know the questioner, who he was?” I said, “God and His Messenger (upon him blessing and peace)know best.” He (upon him blessing and peace) said, “It was Jibril (Gabriel). He came to teach you your religion.” This narration is from Sahih al-Bukhari [1] A translation of the text of this hadith is cited at the end of this article [2] In the case of the Mother of Musa and Maryam, their wahi was not at all communicated to others. In fact, their wahi was meant to be kept hidden from people. [3] The word aya in this hadith refers not only to any of the Quran, but also a hadith. This article was featured in Darul Qasim’s AlQasim newsletter. You can visit the DarulQasim website at www.darulqasim.org.

By Shaykh al-Hadith Mawlana Fadl al-Rahman al-A’zami Translated by Hafiz Muhammad Karolia The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) awakening during the night [of the 15th of Sha'ban] and visiting the graveyard is recorded in some [of the previously mentioned] ahadith. However, visiting of the graveyard is not a special characteristic of this night. Instead, it is proven from another authentic narration that Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace) would visit the graveyard during the last portion of every night. Sayyidatuna ‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) narrates that whenever it was her turn for the Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace) to spend the night with, he would visit Baqi’ (the graveyard of Madinah) and would say: السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ دَارَ قَوْمٍ مُؤْمِنِينَ وَأَتَاكُمْ مَا تُوعَدُونَ غَدًا مُؤَجَّلُونَ وَإِنَّا إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ بِكُمْ لاَحِقُونَ اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لأَهْلِ بَقِيعِ الْغَرْقَدِ Peace be upon you oh dwellers of the Muslim graveyard. Death, which was promised to you has indeed befallen you. You are already journeying towards tomorrow (the Hereafter). Verily, if Allah wills, we will also join you. O Allah, forgive the inmates of Baqi’. (Sahih Muslim, hadith 2126) Imam al-Nawawi (Allah have mercy on him) writes “From this it is learnt that visiting the graveyard, greeting its inmates and making du’a of forgiveness and mercy for them is mustahab (desirable).” (Sharh Sahih Muslim, 1:313) There is another hadith in Sahih Muslim wherein ‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) explains a similar subject matter as was seen in the narration concerning the night of Bara’at (15th night of Sha’ban). (It is a generally accepted fact that all the ahadith in Sahih Muslim are authentic.) She says: “Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace) once entered my room when it was my turn for him to spend the night with. He placed his sheet aside, removed his sandals and kept them at his feet. He spread the edge of his shawl over the bedding and lay down. He lay still until he thought I had fallen asleep. He then took his sheet slowly, wore his shoes and gently opened the door, and (as he left), closed the door very gently. I also dressed, donned my veil and left behind him. He went to Baqi’ where he remained standing for a long time. He thereafter raised and dropped his hands thrice and returned. I also returned. He was walking fast and I did the same in order not to be detected. I· hastened my pace in conformance to his and thus reached home before him. Just as I lay down, he entered the room. He asked: A’isha, why are you breathing so heavily? I replied that there was nothing to it. He said: Tell me otherwise Allah will inform me. I replied: May my parents be sacrificed for thee and then related the entire incident to him. He asked: Are you the same person I saw in the distance? I replied in the affirmative. He gave me a slight push with his fist in my chest, the effect of which I felt, and he asked once again: Did you think that Allah and His Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace) would oppress you? I replied: No matter how much people try to hide something from you, then too Allah informs you. The Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace) then said to me Jibril (Allah’s peace be upon him) came to me. He called me and he concealed it from you. I responded to his call, but I too concealed it from you (for he did not come to you), as you were not fully dressed. I thought that you had fallen asleep and did not desire to awaken you. Besides, I feared that you would become scared. Jibril said to me: Your Lord commands you to visit the inmates of Baqi’ and make du’a for their forgiveness. ‘A’isha questioned the Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace) as to what he recited there. He replied: Say the following du’a: السَّلاَمُ عَلَى أَهْلِ الدِّيَارِ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُسْلِمِينَ وَيَرْحَمُ اللَّهُ الْمُسْتَقْدِمِينَ مِنَّا وَالْمُسْتَأْخِرِينَ وَإِنَّا إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ بِكُمْ لَلاَحِقُونَ ‏ Peace be upon the believing (mu’min) Inhabitants of the home and may Allah shower mercy upon the deceased amongst us and those whose death still awaits them. And verily, if Allah wills, we will soon join you. (Sahih Muslim, hadith 2127) There is no specific reference in this hadith to the night of Bara’at or any other night. Furthermore, it is understood from the previous hadith that whenever it was ‘A’isha’s turn for the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) to spend the night with, he would visit the graveyard. Thus a wide and general application of this practice is understood. Aside from visiting the graveyard on the night of Bara’at, we should ponder as to what extent our practice conforms to the authentic ahadith of Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and grant him peace). Are we following a norm, or are our actions truly spurred by an intention to follow the Sunnah? The turn of ‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) occurred once every week. It can thus be concluded from the above narrations that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) would visit the graveyard a minimum of once a week. Buraydah al-Aslami (Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: “I originally prohibited you from visiting the graves, however I now advise you to visit the graves.” Another hadith on the topic adds that this will cause you to remember death. (Sahih Muslim) This hadith does not restrict the visit to either day or night. We should therefore visit the graveyard whenever we have an opportunity. Remember death and make du’a for the forgiveness of the deceased. We should not suffice with visiting the graveyard on the night of Bara’at and thereafter neglect this virtuous act during the rest of the year. In the hadith, no specific day e.g. Friday, Thursday, etc., has been reserved for the visiting of the graves. We should therefore abstain from giving any particular day significance for this practice. Source

Dua (Prayer) at the Beginning of the Fast Wa bisawmi ghadinn nawaiytu min shahri ramadan I intend to keep the fast for tomorrow in the month of Ramadan Dua (Prayer) at the End of the Fast Allahumma inni laka sumtu wa bika aamantu wa alayka tawakkaltu wa ala rizq-ika-aftartu O Allah! I fasted for You and I believe in You and I put my trust in You and I break my fast with Your sustenance

As I sit here alone, the tears rolling down my face It is not salt, but pain that I taste So I leave now to go stand before You I am helpless and alone, what else can I do? I have asked, I have begged but my sins block my du'a I will come now still begging, forgive me O Allah Forgive me and grant me what it is that I ask For me it is impossible but for You a simple task I try and I try but I do not succeed But I understand and know it is because Your Words I do not heed I hear, yes I hear but I do not always obey Perhaps that is why I am destitute, isolated and why You have written that I will be alone this way I have no to blame but the person in the mirror I see No one else must pay for my sins, no one else, no one else, no one else but me So I stand before You to again beg forgiveness because You said that I can You have told us in Your Book that You are Ar-Rahman I will ask, I will beg but my sins may block my du'a But I will keep asking, forgive me O Allah by Anon sunniforum.com

Juwayriyya Juwayriyya bint Harith, may Allah be pleased with her, married the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) in 5 AH, when the Prophet was fifty-eight years old and she was twenty, not long after his marriage to Zaynab bint Jahsh, and as a result of the Muslims ' successful campaign against the Banu Mustaliq who were swiftly defeated after the Prophet's surprise attack. Among the captives taken in this campaign was the beautiful Juwayriyya, the daughter of al-Harith, who was the chief of the Banu Mustaliq. She was afraid that once the Muslims realized who she was, they would demand an exorbitant ransom for her safe release. After the Muslims had returned to Medina with their booty and prisoners, she demanded to see the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) hoping that he would help to prevent what she feared. Seeing how beautiful she was, A'isha was not keen on her seeing the Prophet. But she persisted, and eventually she was permitted to see the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and was taken to him while he was with A'isha. After she had finished speaking, the Prophet thought for a moment, and then said, "Shall I tell you what would be better than this?" He then asked her to marry him, and she immediately accepted. Although Juwayriyya was young and beautiful and of noble lineage, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was thinking of how to save her and all her tribe from an ignoble fate. By marrying Juwayriyya, the Banu Mustaliq would be able to enter Islam with honor, and with the humiliation of their recent defeat removed, so that it would no longer be felt necessary by them to embark on a war of vengeance that would have continued until one of the two parties had been annihilated. As soon as the marriage was announced, all the booty that had been taken from the Banu Mustaliq was returned, and all the captives were set free, for they were now the in laws of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). Thus A'isha once said of Juwayriyya, "I know of no woman who was more of a blessing to her people than Juwayriyya bint al-Harith." After they were married, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) changed her name was Barra to Juwayriyya. It has been related by Juwayriyya that early one morning the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) left her room while she was doing the dawn prayer. He returned later that morning and she was still sitting in the same place. "have you been sitting in the same place since I left you?" he asked. "Yes," she replied. Whereupon the Prophet said, "I recited four phrases three times after I left you, and if these were to be weighed against what you have been reciting since dawn, they would still outweigh them. They are: 'Glory be to Allah and Praise be to Him as much as the number of his creations, and His pleasure, and the weight of His Throne, and the ink of His words.'" Which reminds us of the following ayat of the Qur'an: Say: 'If the sea were the ink for the words of My Lord, truly the sea would be used up before the words of my Lord were completed, and even if We used the same again to assist. (Qur'an 18:109) Juwayriyya was married to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) for six years, and lived for another thirty-nine years after his death, dying in 50 AH at the age of sixty-five, may Allah be pleased with her. Majlisul Ulama

Zaynab bint Jahsh Zaynab bint Jahsh, may Allah be pleased with her, married the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) in 5 AH, when she was thirty-five and the Prophet was fifty-eight, but only after her pervious marriage, which had been arranged by the Prophet himself, had ended in divorce. As with all the marriages of the Prophet Muhammad, there was much for all the Muslims to learn from it. Zaynab bint Jahsh was the Prophet Muhammad's cousin, her mother Umayma being the daughter of Abdul Muttalib, Muhammad's grandfather, who, while he was alive, had ensured the safety of his grandson, thanks to his position as one of the most respected leaders of the Quraish. Thus Zaynab bint Jahsh came from one of the noblest families of the Quraish, and everyone expected her to eventually marry a man with the same high social status. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was well aware that it is a person's standing in the eyes of Allah that is important, rather than his or her status in the eyes of the people. He wanted her to marry a young man called Zayd ibn Harith, whose background was very different to that of Zaynab bint Jahsh. Zayd had been taken prisoner while he was still a child during one of the inter-tribal wars that had been common before the coming of Islam. He had been sold as a slave to a nephew of Khadijah (may Allah be pleased with her) who had given Zayd to her as a gift. In turn, Khadijah had given him to the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) in the days before the revelation of the Qur'an had begun, and the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) had given him his freedom and adopted him as his own son, at the age of eight. The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) had watched both Zayd and Zaynab grow up, and thought they would make a good couple, and that their marriage would demonstrate that it was not who their ancestors were, but rather their standing in the sight of Allah, that mattered. When the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) asked for her hand on behalf of Zayd, Zaynab had her family were shocked at the idea of her marrying a man who in their eyes was only a freed slave. Moreover, Zaynab had wanted to marry the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) himself and in fact he had already been asked by her family whether or not he would like to marry her. At first both she and her brother refused, but then the following ayat was revealed: It is not for a believing man or a believing woman, when a matter has been decided by Allah and His Messenger, to have any say in their decision; and whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger has most clearly gone astray. (Quran 33:36) When Zayd, who had also had misgivings about the proposed match, and Zaynab realized that there was no difference between what the Prophet wanted and what Allah wanted, they both agreed to the marriage, the Prophet providing a handsome dowry for Zaynab on Zayd's behalf. The marriage, however, was not a success. Although both Zaynab and Zayd were the best of people, who loved Allah and His Messenger, they were very different and in the end they could not overcome their incompatibility. Zayd asked the Prophet's permission to divorce Zaynab more than once, and although he was counseled to hold onto his wife and to fear Allah, in the end the divorce took place. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) then was ordered by Allah to marry Zaynab bint Jahsh, while he did in 5 AH, when he was fifty-eight years old, and she was thirty-five years old. In doing so, he demonstrated beyond doubt that in Islam an adopted son is not regarded in the same light as a natural son, and that although a father may never marry a woman whom his natural son has married and then divorced, the father of an adopted son is permitted to marry a woman who was once, but is no longer, married to that adopted son. Furthermore, by marrying Zaynab, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) also confirmed that it is permissible for cousins to marry, and , at the same time, Zaynab was given her heart's desire to be married to the Best of Creation. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) received the command to marry Zaynab while he was with A'isha. After he had received the revelation, he smiled and said, "Who will go and give Zaynab the good news?" and he recited the ayat that he had received. Some say that it was Zayd himself who told her the good news. When Zaynab heard the news, she stopped what she was doing and prayed to thank Allah. Afterwards, she was fond of pointing out that her marriage had been arranged by Allah. It was at this point that the Prophet changed her name from Barra to Zaynab. Zaynab's wedding feast was also the occasion for another ayat of Qur'an to be sent down. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) sacrificed a sheep and then commanded his servant, Anas, to invite the people to partake of it. After they had eaten, two men remained there after the meal chatting. The Messenger of Allah went out and said goodnight to his other wives and then came back and the two men were still there chatting. It was very hard on the Prophet who did not like to criticize people directly, and so he waited patiently until they left. Then Allah sent down the following ayat which is known as "The Ayat of Hijab": O you who believe! Do not go into the Prophet's rooms except after being given permission to come and eat, not waiting for the food to be prepared, However, when you are called, then go in and when you have eaten, then disperse, and do not remain wanting to chat together. If you do that, it causes injury to the Prophet though he is too reticent to tell you. But Allah is not reticent with the truth. When you ask his wives for something, ask them from behind a screen. That is purer for your hearts and their hearts. It is not for you to cause injury to the Messenger of Allah nor ever to marry his wives after him. TO do that would be something dreadful in the sight of Allah. Whether you make something known or conceal it, Allah has knowledge of all things. There is no blame on them regarding their fathers or their sons or their brothers or their brothers' s sons or their sisters' s sons or their women or those their right hands own. Have fear of Allah. Allah is witness over everything. Allah and His angels pray blessings of the Prophet. O you who believe! Pray blessings on him and ask for peace for him. (Quran 33:53-56) Zaynab was a woman who was constantly immersed in the worship of Allah. It is related by Anas ibn Malik that once the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) entered the mosque and found a rope hanging down between two of the pillars, and so he said, "What is this?" He was told, "It is for Zaynab. She prays, and when she loses concentration or feels tired, she holds onto it." At this time the Prophet said, "Untie it. Pray as long as you feel fresh, but when you lose concentration or become tired, you should stop." Zaynab bint Jahsh (may Allah be pleased with her) was with the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) for six years, and lived for another nine years after his death, dying at the age of fifty, in 20 AH, and thus fulfilling the Prophet's indication that she would be the first of his wives to die aftehim. Zaynab bint Jahsh, like Zaynab bint Khuzayma before her, was very generous to the poor, and indeed the Prophet said, when speaking of her to his other wives, "She is the most generous among you." It has been related by A'isha that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) once said to his wives, "The one who has the longest hands among you will meet me again the soonest." A'isha added, "They use to measure each other's hands to see whose as longest, and it was the hand of Zaynab that was the longest, because she used to work by hand and give away (what she earned) in charity." The Messenger of Allah said to Umar, "Zaynab bint Jahsh is one who is full of prayer." A man said, "Messenger of Allah, what is that?" He said, "The one who is humble and earnest in prayer." A'isha also said that Zaynab, "I have never seen a woman so pure as Zaynab, so God-fearing, so truthful, so attentive to family ties, so generous, so self-sacrificing in everyday life, so charitable, and thus so close to Allah, the Exalted." Several years after the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) had died, when Umar was the khalif, great wealth came to the Muslims as a result of their victories in fighting the Persians. The immense treasures of Chosroes, the Persian Emperor, fell into their hands, and when Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) sent Zaynab a pile of gold as her share of the treasure, she called her maid servant and told her to take a handful of it to so-and-so, naming one of the poor people of Medina. One after another, she named all the poor people whom she knew, until they had all received a share of the treasure. Then she told her maidservant to see what was left. All that remained of the large pile of gold was eighty dinars, and this she accepted as her share, thanking Allah for it; but, because she believed so much money was a temptation, she asked Allah that she would never witness such a large distribution of wealth again. By the time a year had passed, when Umar again came to distribute money amongst those wives of the Prophet who were still alive, her prayer had been granted for she had already passed away, may Allah be pleased with her. Majlisul Ulama

DUA ON SEEING ONE’S FACE IN THE MIRROR Allahumma anta hassanta khalqe fa hassin khuluqi. (O Allah! Thou made my physical constitution quite good, make my disposotion good too.)

Muslims are assured for several reasons that the Qur’an is indeed the Word of God. Here are eight reasons : 1. Physical incapacity. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was physically incapable to write the Qur’an. History has him as an unlettered man who could not write anything more than his own name. How could he write a book? 2. Sincerity. The Prophet (peace be upon him) was morally constrained to tell the truth about the origin of the Qur’an. He was noted to be so honest and trustworthy that even his enemies called him al-Amin (the trustworthy). Moreover, he suffered persecution, refused offers to compromise, and maintained his message for a period of twenty-three years. Historians of religion have to conclude that he was sincere. 3. Psychology. The Qur’an speaks to the Prophet, commands him, and even criticizes him. Such contents do not point to the Prophet (peace be upon him) as the self-conscious author. On the other hand, the author declares himself to be the creator of the heavens and the earth. 4. History. The Prophet (peace be upon him) was incapable of writing the Qur’an. The Qur’an details items of history which were not known to the Prophet (peace be upon him) or his contemporaries. And independent studies confirm that the Qur’an was true in what it said. 5. Prophecy. The Qur’an speaks prophetically, detailing what the future holds. Then the future unfolds exactly as foretold. Who could author such a book? 6. Science. The Qur’an draws attention to a wide range of physical phenomena in order to teach moral lessons. The statements were not meant to teach science. Yet modern scientists are amazed at the accuracy of these statements. For example, the Qur’an said things about the growth and development of the human embryo which could not be studied without the use of a microscope. Dr. Keith Moore was professor and chairman of the Department of Anatomy at the University of Toronto. After reviewing the Qur’anic statements he said: "I am amazed at the accuracy of these statements which were already made in the 7th century AD." Such knowledge in the Qur’an points to God as its source. 7. Consistency. The Qur’an challenges skeptics to find errors in it, which, if found, would disprove its divine claim. But no one has yet been able to point to a real error in it. 8. Inimitability. A unique feature of the Qur’an is that no one is able to produce a book that would match its beauty, eloquence and wisdom. The Qur’an itself challenges humankind to produce even a chapter like it. But no one has been able to do it. These eight reasons together form a strong cumulative case in favor of the Qur’an’s divine origin. Hence Muslims can be confident that the belief of Islam, which is based on the Qur’an, is true. Shabir Ally Author : Shabir Ally

Islam is a religion, but not in the western meaning of religion. The western connotation of the term "religion" is something between the believer and God. Islam is a religion that organizes all aspects of life on both the individual and national levels. Islam organizes your relations with God, with yourself, with your children, with your relatives, with your neighbor, with your guest, and with other brethren. Islam clearly establishes your duties and rights in all those relationships. Islam establishes a clear system of worship, civil rights, laws of marriage and divorce, laws of inheritance, code of behavior, what not to drink, what to wear, and what not to wear, how to worship God, how to govern, the laws of war and peace, when to go to war, when to make peace, the law of economics, and the laws of buying and selling. Islam is a complete code of life. Islam is not practiced in the mosque only, it is for daily life, a guide to life in all its aspects: socially, economically, and politically. Islam is complete constitution. Thus Islam keeps the Muslim away from confusion, because Islam is logical and rational. Allah is one. Allah is one Allah has no sons. Allah is not associated with trinity. Allah does not kill to save. No mediation is required between Allah and man. Islam organizes human nature, but does not go against it. There is not a class of clergy in Islam; nor is there celibacy. Islam is complete way of human life. Dr.Al Alkhuli

Consider this: An archaeologist digs deep into the desert sand and finds a piece of an old clay pot. After his investigations, this archaeologist can tell us - from this little old piece of dusty clay - so much about the civilization that existed thousands of years ago that produced it. He can tell us about the types of ovens, temperatures, and dyes that they worked with, the raw materials that they used, and thus assess the level of their artistic skill and technological ability, etc. All this from a small piece of clay lying in the desert. • Did this archaeologist ever see the civilization that produced this pot? • How does he know that it ever existed? He knows because he saw that the piece of clay was produced by someone who designed it, and shaped it, and had the intelligence to be able to heat it and produce the pot, and not only that, they also had the ability to color it and make it look beautiful. A Design needs A Designer To the archaeologist the existence and intricacy of the piece of pottery is conclusive proof of the existence, intelligence and ability of the people who made it. Look around you, at the beautiful sunset on a summer evening, at the moon and the stars on a cloudless night, at the water that you drink, at the trees and how they grow from tiny seeds. Think about yourself, your eyes with which you see, your ears with which you hear, your tongues with which you taste and talk, your hands and your feet, your heart and your brain. Consider how these things are so complex in themselves yet work together in such perfect harmony. From the movement of the galaxies to the complexities of the interaction of molecules, from the dynamics of eco-systems to the intricacies of DNA, all lead to the obvious fact of the existence of the great wisdom, knowledge and power that allows our Universe to exist and function. To any perceptive human being the existence and intricacy of creation is conclusive proof of the existence, knowledge and wisdom of the One who creates, organizes and sustains it. Most people naturally recognize the existence of the Creator, and we find reference to the Creator in all cultures and religions. Even the atheists, communists and (disbelieving) scientists cannot avoid this reality, but avoid the term 'creator', for phrases like 'Mother Nature' and 'the amazing way nature has designed...' How strange in the face of this, that many today reject the belief in the existence of the Creator. Perhaps this is due more to fashion and the desire to justify a materialistic attitude to life rather than real observation and comprehension of reality.

Why dig up the Past? While the disagreements and fights that take place amongst women may not be of a violent nature, they indeed become very prolonged affairs. Their displeasure and ill feelings continue for an extended period of time. What makes matters even worse is the habit of women to dig up the past. Issues which were resolved and forgotten a long time ago are brought up again. As a result a small issue becomes a major problem, especially when past events are recalled and mentioned in harsh and heart - piercing words. To rub salt in the wound she will then also remind the husband of all the favours and good she did for him. All this is done only to please one’s nafs (carnal desire) and shaytaan. It is time we suppress our words of anger and please our most loving Allah Ta‘ala. (Uswatulmuslimah.co.za)

Answer Anger with Sweetness If the husband becomes angry and abusive, never react in the same way. If both husband and wife end up exchanging harsh words, then this results in a very bitter end. When both vent their anger and become abusive, pride and stubbornness overcomes them. Neither of them is then prepared to accept their fault and ask for forgiveness. However if the wife replies to the husband’s anger with sweetness and kindness, then most definitely when he does cool down, he will realise his mistake and he will ask for forgiveness. Sweetness invites sweetness, whereas anger adds fuel to the fire of anger. Uswatulmuslimah

Anas bin Malik ﻰﺿر ﷲ ﻪﻨﻋ relates that Ramadhan arrived so the Prophet ﷲ ﻪﻴﻠﻋ ﻢﻠﺳو ﻰﻠﺻ said, ‘Indeed this month has come upon you, and therein is a night which is better than a thousand months. Whoever is deprived of it is deprived of all good, and none is deprived of it except one who is truly deprived’ [Reported by ibn Majah], He who wastes his time in Ramadhan is truly deprived of the virtues and forgiveness of this month. The sahabah ﻰﺿر ﷲ ﻢﻬﻨﻋ ensured that not a moment passed in futility. They would complete their worldly tasks and free themselves two months prior to Ramadhan i.e. by Rajab. Allah’s acceptance of a fast is not just conditional upon remaining hungry or thirsty but is also dependent upon the fasting of the other bodily organs i.e. the eyes, ears, heart, mind and especially the tongue. Abu Hurayrah ﻰﺿر ﷲ ﻪﻨﻋ reports that Allah’s Messenger ﻰﻠﺻ ﷲ ﻪﻴﻠﻋ ﻢﻠﺳو said ‘Fasting is not merely abstaining from eating and drinking. Rather, fasting is to refrain from futility and indecency. So if someone abuses you or behaves ignorantly towards you, then say: “I am fasting” ’. [Reported by ibn Khuzaymah]. When fasting we should not even shout or raise our voices let alone argue. This is the month in which we should all remain silent as much as possible and not say or do anything which inconveniences others.

Allah, The Most Exalted says: "O you who believe! Keep your duty to Allah and fear Him, and speak (always) the truth". (Qur’aan- 33:70) The Noble Messenger of Allah(peace be upon him) used to say: "Allahumma inni as'alukal-huda wat-tuqa wal-'afafa wal-ghina (O Allah! I ask You for guidance, piety, chastity and self-sufficiency)". (Hadith: Muslim)

Allah, The Most Exalted says: "Truly, nothing is hidden from Allah, in the earth or in the heaven". (Qur’aan- 3:5) The Noble Messenger of Allah(peace be upon him) is reported to have said: 'Verily, 'Allah, the Exalted, becomes angry, and His Anger is provoked when a person does what Allah has declared unlawful". (Hadith: Bukhari and Muslim)

Nasihah (Advice) Moulana Yunus Patel Saheb (Rahimahullah): Unrestricted indulgence in fulfilling the desires of one’s base or animal self has to be curbed for some time to give an upliftment to one’s spiritual self. The object of fasting as described in the Holy Qur’an is “so that you may guard against evil.” Fasting in the auspicious month of Ramadaan, from dawn until sunset, in obedience to the command of Allah Ta’ala is a training whereby the Believer’s trait of God-Conscious is nurtured. Even though he may be in a place of total privacy and seclusion, on the hottest day of the year, he does not submit to the temptation of sipping even a few drops of water for he is convinced that he cannot evade the sight of the All-Observing Almighty. We are required to maintain the same ‘God-Consciousness’ throughout the entire spectrum of our lives—at home: in our relationship with parents, wife, children; in our business dealings, whilst travelling and even when alone—having full conviction that we can never evade the Sight and Knowledge of Allah Ta’ala. Together with the observance of the rules (Masaa’il) governing fasting for its validity, there must also be an effort on purification of the heart from base qualities.

Ask to become a Muttaqee Haaji Faruq Sahib (Rahmatullaahi ‘alayh) used to say that since the month of Ramadhaan is enjoined upon us so that we become of the Muttaqeen (Allah-fearing) so ask Allah subhaanhu wata’ala to make you a Muttaqee as this is what He wants for you.

Unique advice on giving Charity in Ramadhaan One especially beneficial and unique advice given by our respected Shaykh Muhammad Saleem Dhorat (Hafizahullah) was concerning charity. Firstly it should be increased and secondly to reap maximum benefit one should reflect on the following: The Night of Power falls in the last 10 days of Ramadhaan (and in some narrations it could be any night in the month). This night is “better than a thousand months” which according to the calculation made by Shaykh Zakariyyah (raheemahullaah) is “more than 83 years”. Now if one was to give charity every night for the entire month one is bound to attain the reward of the Night of Power and the charity given on that night would be similar to giving that amount every day for more than 83 years! So one should try and give whatever amount one can afford every night during Ramadhaan to attain maximum benefit.

"Verily, he who has purified the heart is successful and he who has despoiled it has lost." A lot of people have misunderstandings about tasawwuf. Many think that it is something beyond Qur'an and Sunnah. Errant Sufis as well as the superficial ulema, although on the opposite ends of the spectrum, are together in holding this mistaken notion. Consequently the first group has shunned the Qur'an and Hadith while the second group has shunned tasawwuf. Actually, although the term tasawwuf, like many other religious terms in use today, evolved later, the discipline is very much part of the Shariah. The department of the Shariah relating to external deeds like salat and zakat is called fiqh while the one dealing with the internal feelings and states of the heart is called tasawwuf. Both are commanded in the Qur'an. Thus while commanding Salat and Zakat, the Qur'an also commands gratefulness and love of Allah and condemns the evil of pride and vanity. Similarly, in the books of hadith, along with the chapters on Ibadat, trade and commerce, marriage and divorce, are to be found the chapters on riya (showoff) takabbur, akhlaq, etc. These commands are as much a mandatory requirement as the ones dealing with external deeds. On reflection it will be realized that all the external deeds are designed for the reformation of the heart. That is the basis of success in the hereafter while its despoiling is the cause of total destruction. This is precisely what is known technically as tasawwuf. Its focus is tahzeebe akhlaq or the adornment of character; its motive is the attainment of Divine pleasure; its method is total obedience to the commands of the Shariah. Tasawwuf is the soul of Islam. Its function is to purity the heart from the lowly bestial attributes of lust, calamities of the tongue, anger, malice, jealousy, love of the world, love of fame, niggardliness, greed, ostentation, vanity, deception, etc. At the same time it aims at the adornment of the heart with the lofty attributes of repentance, perseverance, gratefulness, fear of Allah, hope, abstention, tauheed, trust, love, sincerity, truth, contemplation, etc. To diagnose and treat the diseases of the heart normally requires the help of an expert mentor or Shaikh. Here are the qualities of a good Shaikh. 1. He possesses necessary religious knowledge. 2. His beliefs, habits, and practices are in accordance with the Shariah. 3. He does not harbor greed for the worldly wealth. 4. He has himself spent time learning from a good Shaikh. 5. The scholars and good mashaikh of his time hold good opinion about him. 6. His admirers are mostly from among the people who have good understanding of religion. 7. Most of his followers follow the Shariah and are not the seekers after this world. 8. He sincerely tries to educate and morally train his followers. If he sees anything wrong in them, he corrects it. 9. In his company one can feel a decrease in the love of this world and an increase in the love for Allah. 10. He himself regularly performs dhikr and shughal (spiritual exercises). In searching for a Shaikh, do not look for his ability to perform karamat (miracles) or to foretell the future. A very good Shaikh may not be able to show any karamat. On the other hand, a person showing karamat does not have to be a pious person --- or even a Muslim. Prominent Sufi Bayazid Bistami says: "Do not be deceived if you see a performer of supernatural feats flying in the air. Measure him on the standard of the Shariah." When you find the right Shaikh, and you are satisfied with his ability to provide spiritual guidance, you perform baya or pledge. This is a two-way commitment; the Shaikh pledges to guide you in light of Shariah and you pledge to follow him. Then the Shaikh will give his mureed (disciple) initial instructions. They include the following: 1. Perform repentance for all the past sins and take steps to make amends, e.g. if any salat has been missed so far in the life, you start making up for it. 2. If you have any unmet financial obligations toward another person make plans to discharge them. 3. Guard your eyes, ears, and tongue. 4. Perform dhikr regularly. 5. Start a daily session of self-accounting before going to bed. Review all the good and bad deeds performed during the day. Repent for the bad ones and thank Allah for the good ones. 6. Perform muraqaba-maut (meditation over death) every night before going to bed. Just visualize that you have died. Reflect upon the pangs of death, the questioning in the grave, the plain of Resurrection, the Reckoning , the presence in the Court of Allah, etc This helps bring softness to the heart and break the tendency to commit sins. 7. Develop humility. Even if you observe another individual committing the worst of vices you should not despise him/her, nor should you consider yourself nobler. It is very much possible that the perpetrator of the vice may resort to sincere repentance while the one who despised the sinner become ensnared in the traps of nafs and Shaitan. One has no certainty regarding one's end. One, therefore has no basis for regarding another with contempt. The essential idea of tahzeebe akhlaq is to bring our natural faculties in a state of balance. The three basic faculties are anger, desires, and intelligence. Anger: When in equilibrium it results in valor, forbearance, steadfastness, the ability to restrain anger, and dignity. Excess will result in rashness, boastfulness, pride, inability to restrain anger, and vanity. A deficiency will result in cowardice, disgrace, and feeling of inferiority. Desires: Equilibrium here results in chastity, generosity, haya (decency), patience, and contentment. Its excess leads to greed and lust. The other extreme results in narrow-mindedness, and impotence, etc. Intelligence: Equilibrium here makes man wise, sharp-witted and one with great insights. Excess here makes one deceptive, fraudulent and imposture. Its lack results in ignorance and stupidity with the consequence that such a person is quickly misled. A person will be considered as having a beautiful seerah (character) only when these faculties are in the state of balance and equilibrium. Internal beauty varies with people just as external beauty does. The possessor of the most beautiful seerah was Prophet Muhammad, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam. The beauty of our seerah is based on its closeness to his seerah. [Condensed from writings of Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi] Further Reading: 1) Fiqh aur Tassuwuf aik Taaruf (Urdu) 2) The Kashf Al-Mahjub (English) albalagh.net

Putting fingers in ears when one hears Music Hadhrat Naafi' (radhiyallahu anhu) narrates: "Once when Hadhrat Abdullah Bin Umar (radhiyallahu anhu) heard the sound of a shepherd's flute, he placed his fingers in both ears (to block the sound of the music), and he diverted his mount from that path. (As they rode o­n), he would say: 'O Naafi', can you still hear (the sound)?' I would say: 'Yes.' He would then continue riding. o­nly when I said: 'I can no longer hear it', did he remove his fingers from his ears. Then he returned to the road. He then said: 'I saw Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) doing like this when he had heard the flute of a shepherd." (Ahmad and Abu Dawood) Source

1. Keep free from eating hi-calorie flesh (gossip) of others - no matter how juicy 2. Switch to fat free truths 3. Avoid artificial tempers 4.Do voice therapy by reciting the Holy Quran 5.Purify your eyes by crying in Dua 6.Do hand reflexology on tasbeehs 7. Brighten your smile with a miswak 8.Take the weight of your shoulders by paying zakat 9. Shrug off those extra kilos of sins by repenting Source

Fasting for Every Part of the Body by Mawlana Obaydullah Suleman “Shaykh ul Hadeeth Muhammad Zakariyyah rahmatullahi alayh commenting on the verse of the Qur’aan ‘fasting has been prescribed for you’ has stated that”: ‘The commentators of the Qur’aan have deduced from this verse that fasting is compulsory for every part of the body. Thus, fasting of the tongue means to avoid all the sins of the tongue. Fasting of the ears means to refrain from all the sins of the ears. Fasting of the eyes means not to look at any form of evil and sin. Fasting of the self means to be free from all carnal desires. Fasting of the heart means casting out from it the love of worldly things. And fasting of the mind means avoiding thoughts about anything other than Allah ta’ala.’ Posted on www.shaykh.org recording the advices/teachings of Shaykh Muhammad Saleem Dhorat September 2, 2010