ummtaalib

French Rapper Becomes Muslim And Stuns FansThere is already a lot of debate in France about the hijab worn by Muslim women. But fans of a famous rapper have been left amazed after finding out she became a hijab-wearing Muslim. Mélanie Georgiades, known as Diam’s, went through a transformation over the course of several years. And since 2009, she had been unusually absent from the mainstream rap scene, prompting more than three years of controversy over where she was. Diam’s was finally interviewed with French TV station TF1. She talked about her past experience with drugs and even being in an asylum, until she discovered the “serenity of Islam.” It all started when she wanted to pray with her Muslim friend. She recounted, “it was the first time that I touched the floor with head, and I had a strong feeling that I have never experienced before, and I believe now that kneeling in prayer, shouldn’t be done to anyone but Allah.” She then began to learn more about Islam and read the Islamic holy book, the Quran. After becoming more interested in the faith and realising it was the path she wanted to choose, she became a Muslim, leaving her fame and previous lifestyle behind. In her interview, she said her conversion to Islam was “the result of a personal conviction, after understanding the religion and reading the Holy Quran.” She put her fame aside and conquered various hardships in her life. She is now living a happy life, focussing on her spiritual path.

Q. Is it permissible for town people to partake of meals prepared at a funeral house? (Query published as received) A. It is best to abstain from partaking of meals at the funeral home as in many cases, money is used from the estate without prior consent from all the heirs. Furthermore, even if the money is legitimate, the practice of gathering and eating at the funeral home burdens the grieving family. It is from the teachings of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) to take food for the grieving family, not to have them provide food for guests. And Allah Knows Best Mufti Suhail Tarmahomed Fatwa Department Jamiatul Ulama (KZN) Council of Muslim Theologians

It could have been the splash of red or the over abundance of hearts, the young man in a designer jeans that caught his eye, but Sheikh Hamaad stopped under the bold "Valentine's day Specials" banner, set his shopping basket on the floor and watched the young man battling to select an appropriate gift from the heaps of hearts, teddy bears and chocolates. Like a busy humming bird he flitted from shelf to shelf struggling to choose. Sheikh Hamaad approached him as he stood scratching his head, "Asalaamu Alaikum, young man, seems like you're battling to make a choice." "Eish, Moulana, this is more difficult than I thought. And lucky I only have to choose for two of them," he said, picking up another heart decorated teddy bear, examining the price and putting down with disappointment. "For your sisters?" Sheikh asked, feigning innocence. "Naah, just friends, you know how it is. You have to do these things" came the prompt reply. Sheikh Hamaad remained silent and fixed his gentle gaze on the young man, something more than the loud Billabong T-shirt and hipster jeans told him that this young man had more than a spark of intelligence. "Tell me, how many Valentine's gifts do your sisters receive?" "Hey, hey .... Moulana my sisters are not like that. They don't do this boyfriend thing. My sisters .... they are pure," exclaimed the young man an angry frown crossing his face. "Just let the guy try and send my sister's one flower and I will make him eat it. You don't know me!" "Oh," said Sheikh Hamaad without any apology, "And your mother, how many Valentine's gifts does she get?" The young man took a step back and glared at Sheikh Hamaad, "La Hawla Wala Quwwata Illa Billah" his words swallowed by his anger, "how can you even say such things about my mother? My mother, she doesn't do this stuff. She is like an angel. She is pure. How can you say this?" Sheikh paused, waiting for the silence to absorb the boy's anger, then said, tauntingly, "So they don't receive any Valentine's gifts or have boyfriend's at all." "I told you, Moulana, my family is pure and they don't do this junk stuff." Knowing the moment was right Sheikh but forward his reasoning, "So you really don't like your sisters receiving these gifts or having boyfriends." "No ways," came the emphatic reply, "not on my life." "Then don't you think," Sheikh ventured, "that other people would also not like their sisters, mothers or aunts to receive such gifts. Just as you would like your sisters to remain pure, they would also like their sisters to be pure?" The young man dropped his head and shifted his feet nervously, "You have a point, Moulana. Didn't ever think of it like that. I don't want to say ... but you are right. I shouldn't be polluting other people's family if I don't like my family to be polluted. This is all quite wrong isn't it?" "Yes, it's quite wrong," without a hint of reprimand in his voice, "this is not our way." "But," he asked, trying to conceal his embarrassment, "It's not like we doing anything serious. I mean it's only a gift. Not like we doing something physical ... so it should be ok, no?" Without disturbing his calmness, Sheikh Hamaad replied, "Do you like to go fishing?" "Now you are talking my language. Not a Sunday, not one, that we not by the dam," he replied his hands waving with excitement, "We sit the whole day me and my buddies. First we prime the place with milie bombs. Just so the fish know we there. And they come, Moulana. They come for the bait. The whole lot, man ....carpe, bass, white fish, you name it. But what's that got to do with buying gifts." "When Shaytaan wants to trap someone," Sheikh replied serenely, "he first puts some bait. Innocent stuff like gifts, the odd sms, just a hello and then when the time is right .... he will strike and how you say ... you fall hook, line and sinker. Then he's got you and it's not long before he reels you in. So it starts with just a little bait. Just like the little gift that seems so innocent - it's the bait." The young man beamed with this new found revelation and couldn't wait to ask, "You are so right! And you have an amazing way of getting a point across Moulana, you didn't just lecture me but you showed me how it is wrong. Thanks a mil. You must have learnt from a great teacher?" "No doubt, I learnt from the best of all teachers," Sheikh answered, "In fact, the best of all mankind ... The Noblest Messenger of Allah - Rasoolullaah sallallaahu 'alayhiw asallam By Abdurrahman Umar

The Arabic word ‘Islam’ simply means ‘submission’, and derives from the Arabic root ‘Salema’, meaning ‘Peace’. In a religious context it means complete submission to the will of God. God Almighty has chosen His Prophets and they have come to this world enjoining righteous conduct and preaching of worshiping One God. After corruptions within Holy Scriptures and mankind, God Almighty has sent the Last Prophet, Muhammad (PBUH), to the whole of mankind to preach that there is only one religion acceptable to God – Islam. ‘The Religion before Allah is Islam (submission to His will)’ Quran: 3:19 Islam is the religion whereby we recognize God’s absolute authority, and reach an unshakable conviction that God alone possesses all power; no other entity possesses any power like Him. The natural result of such a realization is to devote our lives and our worship absolutely to God alone. This is the First Commandment in all the scriptures, including the Old Testament, the New Testament, and the Quran. The Quran is believed by Muslims as God’s final Message to humanity. BlessedIslam

assalaamu 'alaykum jazaakallah for posting...i like the Pharoah and Musa 'alayhis salaam part, great lesson in those few words. (by the way I moved two of your posts to general articles because they were proper articles) It would be nice if you could post short reminders here now and again which readers can apply to daily life ...

Question: I am a general practitioner in UK . My question is it permissible to practice give Botox injections, facial peels, dermabrasions. Mostly done for patients to look younger and good looks. I am mainly thinking of doing it for earning extra money {being honest} I would like to know If its allowed or not. What would be the answer if the need is for medicational use. Answer: In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh. Botox (Botulinum Toxin Type A) is by nature a poisonous toxin. It has been approved by FDA in US for specific medicinal use, however it has gained more popularity in the cosmetic surgeries. [1] Botox serum uses enzymes from pig’s milk in its initial stage which is later on purified through industrial process. [2] Although the serum may be clinically categorized void of these enzymes in its final product form, it will still be considered an impure substance according to Shariah. Moreover, Botox has been clinically classified as a lethal toxin which if consumed in larger quantities can have devastating effects. Even in the lower medicinal usage, it is not free from some side effects. In some cases it may lead to problems in swallowing, speaking, or breathing, all-over muscle weakness, double vision, blurred vision and drooping eyelids, hoarseness or change or loss of voice (dysphonia), trouble saying words clearly (dysarthria), loss of bladder control, trouble breathing.[3] While these may be isolated conditions, they are sufficient enough for the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) to issue caution against Botox usage.[4] It was perhaps this vital information which pushed many Ulama, locally in South Africa, as well as internationally (Malaysia) to rule against Botox. [5] While many people have used Botox for beauty treatments it has been equally popular in the medical field. Since Botox is essentially a toxin with the ability to weaken or dampen the response in muscles, it has been targeted by many doctors as a temporary relief medication for illnesses due to spasmodic muscles. Some of the practical medical uses for Botox in practice are treatment for inflammation in specific areas, controlling bleeding after intramuscular injection, excessive weakness or wasting in the muscle, swallowing difficulties (dysphagia) or liquid accidentally going into the lungs (aspiration), chronic breathing problems, Diseases or conditions affecting the nervous system, seizures like epilepsy, closed angle glaucoma(eye disease) etc.[6] The medicinal usage is still not void of the potential harmful side effects that could emerge from using this serum, hence, Shariah affords a balanced approach towards its usage. The rules of Shariah are more relaxed in the case of medical need and necessity. However such relaxation is also governed closely by rules. In principle: Necessity renders the restrictions permissible[7] and Necessity warrants (permissibility of the restricted) to the extent of (one’s) necessity.[8] Hence, the use of an impure Botox serum will become permissible for medicinal use only if, The experts of the field opine the need for such a medicine[9] There is no halal alternative available As a doctor one will be responsible in providing a permissible or impermissible service to the consumer. If there is a suitable alternative for skin care treatments then that avenue should be adopted. It is not permissible to use an impure substance to beautify one self. Since Botox is impure because of the use enzymes from pig’s milk it will be impermissible to use it for purely beatification purposes. Facial Peels and dermabrasions or other cosmetic procedures. Facial peels and dermabrasions are skincare procedures which use various techniques like exfoliation of upper layers of skin to rejuvenate a healthier and smoother skin. These procedures are permissible provided that, i. The creams or lotions used do not contain impure or impermissible substance; ii. The procedure does not aim at changing the physical features.[10] iii. The procedure is not harmful to one’s health. At the same time, we also caution that venturing into the skincare procedures should not compromise the general Shar῾ī work ethos (i.e. unnecessary gender interaction etc). And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best Mawlana Faisal bin Abdul Hameed Student, Darul Iftaa Canada Checked and Approved by, Mufti Ebrahim Desai. www.daruliftaa.net http://fatwa.ca/apparel-and-adornment/botox-injections/ [1]“FDA has approved Biologic License Applications (BLAs) for two botulinum toxin type A products (Botox/Botox Cosmetic and Dysport) for clinical use…” Re: Docket No. FDA-2008-P-0061 [2] Muslim Council bans Botox, January 15 2008 accessed Nov. 23 2011. [3] http://www.botox.com/ accessed Nov. 23, 2011 [4] FDA Notifies Public of Adverse Reactions Linked to Botox Use accessed Nov. 23, 2011 [5] Muslim Council bans Botox, January 15 2008 accessed Nov. 23 2011. ; Malaysian Muslims told not to use Botox, July 18 2006 accessed Nov. 30 2011; [6] http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/100000363.html accessed Dec. 01 2011. [7] ففي الأشباه والنظائر لابن نجيم (ص: 73) الضَّرُورَاتُ تُبِيحُ الْمَحْظُورَاتِ [8] ففى المرجع السابق : مَا أُبِيحَ لِلضَّرُورَةِ يُقَدَّرُ بِقَدْرِهَ [9] ففى الدر المختار وحاشية ابن عابدين (رد المحتار) (1/ 210) (قَوْلُهُ اُخْتُلِفَ فِي التَّدَاوِي بِالْمُحَرَّمِ) فَفِي النِّهَايَةِ عَنْ الذَّخِيرَةِ يَجُوزُ إنْ عَلِمَ فِيهِ شِفَاءً وَلَمْ يَعْلَمْ دَوَاءً آخَرَ [10] The prohibition excludes corrective procedures to rectify abnormalities. More information on this can be read in Fatwa #19172

From a lecture by Shaykh Muhammad Saleem Dhorat, “UM365 - Allah ki be intihaa rahmat” In this lecture our respected Shaykh (hafizahullah) relates two inspiring, heart softening stories. Despite our disobedience and disloyalty to Allah subhaanahu wata’ala we need not despair of His mercy as He remains loyal and His grace knows no bounds. Once the great Shaykh, Zun Noon Misri was walking along a river bank when he noticed that a scorpion ran towards a tortoise, jumped onto its back and the tortoise started swimming across the river. On reaching the other side the scorpion jumped off and raced towards a tree nearby. Zun Noon Misri, amazed at this scenario had followed and he noticed that a man was sleeping under the tree and it occurred to him that the man was probably a sinful person and Allah subhaanahu wata’ala had sent the scorpion as a punishment. As he neared the tree he noticed a huge python moving towards the sleeping person and to his amazement the scorpion leapt at the python, attacked and killed it. Thereafter it ran back to the riverbank, jumped onto the waiting tortoise which carried its load to the other side where they both separated and went their own way. The great Shaykh wondered at this amazing episode. He sat by the man waiting for him to wake up thinking he must be a very special friend of Allah subhaanahu wata’ala for Him to create such measures for his safety. When the man finally woke up Zun Noon Misri was shocked because he could smell the stench of alcohol on his breath. At that moment he was inspired by Allah subhaanahu wata’ala with the following words, “O Zun Noon, why are you shocked? This slave, sinful as he maybe, is My slave”! The second story is about Musa ‘alayhis salaam and Qaaroon whose enmity for the Prophet knew no bounds. After a long time Musa ‘alayhis salaam’s patience wore out and turning to Allah subhaanahu wata’ala he asked that Qaaroon be punished. Allah subhaanahu wata’ala put the earth at his disposal and Musa ‘alayhis salaam commanded the earth to swallow up Qaaroon. Upon this command Qaaroon sank into the earth up to his ankles. He started pleading with Musa ‘alayhis salaam who ignored him and commanded the earth to continue. Qaaroon sank in up to his knees and his fear increased. He pleaded for forgiveness and promised not to persecute him ever again. Musa ‘alayhis salaam refused to accept as he had indeed been tried much and he commanded the earth once again to continue. Qaaroon sank into the earth up to his waist and then as Qaroon continued to beg for forgiveness and mercy he finally disappeared completely. At this Jibra’eel the Angel descended with a message from Allah subhaanahu wata’ala saying, “O Musa, when Qaaroon pleaded with you over and over again you refused to relent. If he had but turned to Me just once I would have forgiven him.” In these stories lies a great lesson for us. We need not despair of the mercy of Allah subhaanahu wata’ala. Despite our disloyalty to Him, he remains loyal to us and does not push us away! Not only that but every occasion of Hajj, Umrah, Ramadhaan etc are but an excuse to forgive us, His disobedient servants! “He made enmity with Shaytaan when he refused to show respect to Insaan (human). Now Insaan betrays Ar-Rahmaan and befriends the enemy Shaytaan.”

Regarding moments of weakness when thoughts of giving in to sin occur, I would like to mention something beneficial I heard from my Shaykh... When there is desire to sin then one should not fall for the devious tricks of Shaytaan and say, “Allah is Ghafoorur Raheem” or remember the verse of the Qur'an: “Do not despair of the mercy of Allah”. At this time one should remember the verse, “Innallaaha shadeedul ‘iqaab”, i.e. Allah’s punishment is great. Fear His wrath coming down and avoid committing the sin. Remember that a Believer does not plan to sin. In fact he avoids all that leads to sin but sometimes nafs and Shaytaan take over and a sin is committed When this happens and a sin is committed, then now have hope in Allah’s mercy and do not despair. . . Now is the time to once again ignore the whisperings of Shaytaan and turn to Allah with regret and repentance. Now is the time to say Allah is Ghafoorur Raheem!

A Few Examples of Mawlana Rumi’s Analogy Mawlana Rumi ra describes “love for the world” in the following way: A ship needs water to float on. It will remain on the surface of the water as long as the water does not enter the ship. Once water enters the ship, it will sink. Similarly man is the ship and the world is the water. Just as the ship needs water to keep afloat, man needs the world to live. As long as the world remains outside and does not enter the heart, man will reach his destination. If the love of the world enters the heart, then like the ship which allows water to enter, it will sink. Mawlana Rumi ra gives the example of those who give their hearts to those other than Allah: It is the height of foolishness to use a candle or a lamp when the sun is at the height of its journey across the earth, so too is it foolish to turn one’s attention towards the glimmer of earthly beauty, in the face of Allah ta’ala’s Eternal Brilliance. Reflection of the Moon: An individual saw the reflection of the moon in the river and thought to himself, “Tonight the moon has descended into the river, let me grab hold of it because to reach up into the heavens is extremely difficult.” When he stepped into the water his foot cause the soil beneath to move and make the water murky, due to which the reflection was no longer visible. He was thus deprived of the reflection as well as the actual moon which remained unattainable. Mawlana Rumi draws a lesson from this , that as long as we remain distant from attractive young men and women we will attain Allah ta’ala. If on the other hand we run behind the reflection of beauty, we will be deprived of the Original. The Snake Catcher Maulana Rumi ra relates a story of a snake catcher who once went to the mountains. Due to the winter cold and heavy snow, many very big snakes lay motionless, as if they were dead. The snake-catcher picked up one of these seemingly lifeless snakes and took it to Baghdad, with the purpose of using it for a show. Showing it off, he made big claims as to how he had deftly captured the snake – captivating the attention of his audience. However, when the sun began to shine and its warmth cloaked the snake, the coldness in its body disappeared. The signs of life were soon apparent and when the snake began to move, the snake-catcher and all those around, fled. Maulana Rumi ra then explains that our nafs is like that snake. With Tazkia (purification) and mushaqqat (effort), our nafs (self) becomes frozen. It appears to be dead. But give it a little heat from the fire of sin and it will bite again. A little exposure to some past sins and the nafs swings back to life.

In one Hadith it is mentioned that the person who recites Durud once, Allaah opens a door of safety and security for him. Another Hadith states that the person who recites Durud once, Allaah will send ten mercies upon him, forgive ten sins of his and raise his stages by ten. Allamah Shams ud Deen Sakhaawi rahmatullah alaih , has first briefly mentioned the special virtues and the benefits in this world and the Aakhirah in Al Qawl al Badee. He then proved them from the Ahadith in detail. Similarly, Muhaddith Bhopali rahmatullah alaih has mentioned the special blessings of Durud in Nuzul ul Abraar as well as the narrator from whom it has been proven. Herewith we briefly mention the special virtues and blessings of Durud, from which we can gauge what great and lofty blessings and benefits Durud holds. By means of this, every believer will be encouraged to recite Durud in abundance A person synchronizes with Allaah in that Allaah also sends Durud. A person synchronizes with the angels in that they also send Durud. A single Durud of a believer draws ten mercies of Allaah. It is a means of attaining the mercy and Du'aa of the angels. It is a means of attaining the Du'aa and mercy of Rasulullaah e. A single Durud causes ten mercies to descend, ten sins are forgiven and a person's stages are raised by ten. Recital of a hundred Durud is a means of freedom from Jahannam and hypocrisy. A hundred Durud causes a hundred needs to be fulfilled. A hundred Durud is a means of getting to live with the martyrs. A hundred Durud draws a thousand Durud of the angels. A person gets the reward of a 'Qeeraat' for reciting Durud once. Forgiveness is sought on behalf of the person who recites Durud. It causes the forgiveness of sins. It purifies deeds. It carries more reward than freeing a slave. A person's deeds will be weighed in a large scale. A person will enter Jannah together with Rasulullaah e. A single Durud draws seventy mercies from the angels. It causes one to get the intercession of Rasulullaah e. It causes one to get the testimony of Rasulullaah e (in ones favour). It is a means of salvation from fear of Qiyaamah. It causes one's scale to be filled with good deeds. It is a means of getting the shade of the 'arsh. It is a means of getting many spouses in Jannah. It is a means of being the closest to Rasulullaah e on the Day of Qiyaamah. It brings the happiness and pleasure of Allaah I. It is a means of being quenched from the pond of kauthar-pond. It brings the help and assistance of the angels. It is a means of protection from severe thirst on the plains of resurrection. It causes a person to be firm on the bridge of siraat. A person attains the reward equal to fighting in a Ghazwah. A person attains the reward of charity if he does not have wealth to give in charity. It is the most beloved of deeds. It is the beauty of gatherings. It causes poverty and straitened conditions to be removed. The blessings of Durud carry on in ones progeny. It is a means of shaking the hand of Rasulullaah e on the Day of Qiyaamah. It causes the rust of the heart to be removed. It causes one to remember something that he forgot. It is a means of protection from mistakes in the path to Jannah. It is a means of strengthening and enlivening the heart. It brings blessings in the affairs of the recite. It causes love for Rasulullaah e to increase. A person will become beloved and honoured in the sight of others. It will cause one to see Rasulullaah e in a dream. It causes one to attain such light through which a person will over power his enemies. It causes sorrow and grief, calamities and difficulties to be removed. It is a means of being saved from drowning. Blessings will come in a person's wealth. A person will get glad tidings of Jannah or he will see his abode in Jannah in this world. It causes one to be saved from the backbiting of others. It causes one to be safe from accusation. It causes all types of blessings in this world and in the Aakhirah. It causes Du'aa to be accepted, that Durud is accepted, and due to this, the Du'aa is also accepted. [Adapted from Al Qawl al Badee p.98, Jilaa ul Afhaam p.246] Alislam.co.za

Q. If a person passed away and had Sajdah Tilawah that he had not completed in his lifetime, how will the family repay it? (Query published as received) A. When one recites a verse of Sajdah of the Qur’an or hears such a verse, it is Wajib (compulsory) to make Sajdah Tilawah. It is Makrooh (disliked) to delay the Sajdah Tilawah without valid reason. If one did not fulfill his/her Wajib Sajdah Tilawah before passing away, there is no Fidyah (compensation) for the omitted Sajdahs. The family should make Istighfar (seek Allah’s forgiveness) on behalf of the deceased. (Imdadul Fatawa, Vol:1, Pg: 559) And Allah Knows Best Mufti Suhail Tarmahomed Confirmation: Mufti Ebrahim Desai Fatwa Department Jamiatul Ulama (KZN) Council of Muslim Theologians Website : www.jamiat.org.za

How did Valentine’s Day originate? Valentine’s Day also known as the ‘Festival of Love’ of the pagan Romans dates back to the 17th century when paganism was on the rise in Rome. The Christian heirs of the era have associated many myths and legends with this Roman festival based on ‘spiritual love’. The most popular of these myths was about Romulus who was the founder of Rome. Romans believed that once he was suckled by a female wolf. Every year this event was celebrated by Romans in mid-February with a big festival in which a goat and a dog was sacrificed. The blood of these sacrificed animals was then smeared on the bodies of two strong, muscular youths and washed away with milk. After this ritual the two men would lead a huge parade on the streets with pieces of leather in their hands. They used the leather pieces to hit anyone who came in their way. Roman women welcomed these blows as they believed that it would cure or prevent infertility. The link between St. Valentine and pagan Roman festival: The name St. Valentine is given to two of the ancient‘martyrs’ of the Christian Church. Some say there were two of them while others say there was only one who was martyred by the Gothic Leader Claudius in 296 CE. Half a century later a church was built in the honor of St.Valentine on the site of his death. The celebrating of the Feast of Love continued by the Romans even after they embraced Christianity, however the pagan concept of ‘spiritual love’ was now changed to ‘martyrs of love’. This was done to commemorate the massacre of St. Valentine who was a promoter of peace and love and was supposedly martyred for the same cause. The festival was also called Feast of Lovers and Saint Valentine was considered to be a supporter of lovers. A false belief connected with this festival was that the names of young unmarried girls would be written on pieces of paper and placed in a dish on a table. A young man who wanted to marry would be called to pick a piece of paper to draw a name of a girl. He would then hangout with that girl for a year so that the couple gets to know each other, and then get married. This process was repeated every year during the festival. The Christian clergy abolished this tradition in Italy, as they believed it would cause corruption of the society. In the 18th and 19thcenturies it was revived again in some Western countries where they sold books of love poems in shops. These books were called “Valentine books”and had suggestions for writing love letters. Islam’s stance on the celebration of Valentine’s Day Islam teaches us true love and cooperation for that which is good and righteous. There are forms of love in Islam that are acceptable while others are not. We must be aware that love for Allah and His Prophet (PBUH) must be given the highest priority over all other forms of love. There are occasions in Islam that increase love between people and bring them closer to each other. However, Islam prohibits us to blindly follow the West by adopting their customs and traditions such as the celebration of the Valentine’s Day. Therefore commemorating and promoting that special occasion of Valentine’s Day is Biddah or innovation and has no place in our religion. Islam totally rejects all such innovations. Islam encourages us to love one another all the time throughout the year, and limiting the whole year to a single day is illogical. There is evidence in Quran and Hadith that supports the statements mentioned above: “And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers [Aal‘Imraan 3:85] And the Prophet (PBUH) had said that groups of his Ummah would follow the enemies of Allah in some of their rituals and customs, as it is stated in a hadith of Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri, who narrated that the Prophet (PBUH)said: “You will certainly follow the ways of those who came before you,span by span, cubit by cubit, until even if they were to enter a lizard’shole, you would follow them.” We said, “O Messenger of Allah, (doyou mean) the Jews and Christians?” He said, “Who else?!” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari in al-I’tisaam bi’l-Kitaabwa’l-Sunnah, Baab Qawl al-Nabi (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) La tattabi’unna Sanan man kaana qablakum, 8/151; and by Muslim in Kitaabal-‘Ilm, Baab Ittibaa’ Sanan al-Yahood wa’l-Nasaara, 4/2054) What the Prophet (PBUH) told us 1400 years ago has indeed come true in recent times. Many Muslims today follow the enemies of Allah by imitating some oftheir rituals, customs and that includes the celebration of Valentine’sDay. Muslims should avoid celebrating this occasion by: 1- Not expressing joy and happiness on this occasion. 2- Not exchanging red roses, which represent the ‘spiritual love’ of the pagans or the ‘love’ of the Christians. Hence it is known tothem as the Feast of Lovers. 3- Not sending greeting cards as some of their cards have pictures of“Cupid” (a child with two wings carrying bows and arrows). This wasthe god of love of the pagan Romans. 4- Not exchanging words of love and desire in the cards or verbally. Some of the cards contain the words ‘be my Valentine’. This is the Christian concept of this festival after they adopted from the pagan Romans. 5- Not attending dance parties with mixed gatherings. Why Muslims should not celebrate this festival. In Islam, the festivals are clearly defined and well established, andno additions or subtractions may be accepted. They have been prescribed for usby Allah and His Messenger (PBUH). ‘To each among you, We have prescribed a law and a clear way[al-Maa’idah 5:48] ‘For every nation We have ordained religious ceremonies which they mustfollow’ [al-Hajj 22:67] Agreeing with the whole festival is like agreeing with kufr. Agreeing with some of their minor issues is the same as agreeing with them in some of the branches of kufr. Festivals are the most distinctive things whichdifferentiate religions, so participating in their festivals is like agreeing with the most distinctive rituals of kufr. Imitating the non-believers in general –whether they are idol-worshippers or People of the Book is unlawful. This is indicated by the Qur’aan,Sunnah and ijmaa’ (scholarly consensus): “And be not as those who divided and differed among themselves after the clear proofs had come to them. It is they for whom there is an awfult orment” [Aal ‘Imraan 3:105] From the Sunnah: the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever imitates a people is one of them.” (narrated by Ahmad,2/50; Abu Dawood, 4021) Prohibition of imitation the Non-believers is one of the basic tenets of the Islamic law. Allah sent His Messenger with guidance and the true religion sothat it might prevail over all other religions, and Allah has perfected His religion for mankind. “This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion”[al-Maa’idah 5:3]. Allah has made Islam perfect as it satisfies all human interests at all times,in all places and for all people. Why then do we need to adopt the ways of the Non-believers? May Allah guide us all and protect us from evil. http://www.muftisays.com/forums/sharing-portal/3720/islam-valentines-day-.html

Muslims and Valentine's day- Sheikh Mumtaz Ul Haq on you-tube It is not permissible for a Muslim to celebrate any of the festivals of the non-Muslims. Valentines Day is an innovated festival for which there is no basis in Islam. The clear evidence of the Qur’aan and Sunnah – and the consensus of the early generations of this Ummah – indicates that there are only two festivals in Islam: Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. Any other festivals that have to do with a person, a group, an event or anything else are innovated festivals, which it is not permissible for Muslims to observe, approve of or express joy on those occasions, or to help others to celebrate them in any way. More detailed research on Valentine's day: http://www.central-mosque.com/index.php/Civil/valentine-day-birthdays-and-other-daze.html See also: http://www.muftisays.com/forums/sharing-portal/3720/islam-valentines-day-.html

Operation Death This is the Tale of the Average Man, Who acts contrary to Allah's Plan, If you are reflected herein, Then repent, and commit no sin. 'Twas early in the morning at four, When death knocked upon a bedroom door "Who is there"? the sleeping one cried, "I'm Izrael, let me inside." At once, the man began to shiver, As one sweating in deadly fever, He shouted to his sleeping wife, "Don't let him take away my life." "Please go away, O Angel of Death! Leave me alone, I'm not ready yet, My family on me depend, Give me a chance, O please perpend!" The Angel knocked again and again, "Friend! I'll take your life without pain, 'Tis Your soul that Allah require, I come not with my own desire." Bewildered, the man began to cry, "O Angel! I'm so afraid to die' I'll give you gold, and be your slave, Don't send me to the unlit grave." "Let me in, O Friend!" the Angel said, "Open the door, get up from your bed, If you do not allow me in, I will walk through it, like a Jinn". The man held a gun in his right hand, Ready to defy the Angel's stand, "I'll point my gun, towards your head, You dare come in, I'll shoot you dead". By now, the Angel was in the room, Saying, "O Friend! Prepare for your doom. Foolish man, Angles never die, Put down your gun and do not sigh". "Why are you afraid! Tell me O man, To die according to Allah's plan? Come, smile at me, do not be grim Be happy to return to Him". "O Angel! I bow my head in shame, I had no time to take Allah's name, From morn till dusk, I made my wealth, Not even caring for my health". "Allah's commands, I never obeyed, Nor five times a day, I ever prayed. A Ramadhan came, and Ramadhan went, But no time had I to repent". "The Haj was already Farz on me, But I would not part with my money. All charities, I did ignore, Taking usury, more and more". "Some times I sipped my favourite wine, With flirting women I sat to dine. O Angel! I appeal to you, Spare my life for a year or two". "The Laws of Qur'an, I will obey, I'll begin Salaat, this very day, My Fast and Hajj, I will complete, And keep away from self-conceit". "I will refrain from usury, And give all my wealth to charity. Wine and wenches I will detest, Allah's Oneness I will attest". "We Angels do what Allah demands, We cannot go against his commands. Death is ordained for everyone, Father, mother, daughter or son". "I'm afraid, this moment is your last, Now be reminded, more of your past. I do understand your fears, But it is now too late for tears". "You lived in this world, two score or more, Never did you, your people adore. Your parents, you did not obey, Hungry beggars, you turned away." "Your two ill-gotten female offspring, In night-clubs, for livelihood they sing. Instead of making more Muslims, You made your children non Muslims". "You ignored the Muezzin's Azaan, Nor did you read the Holy Qur'an, Breaking promises all Your life, Backbiting friends and causing strife." "From hoarded goods, great profits you made, And your poor workers, you underpaid. Horses and cards were your leisure, Money-making was your pleasure". "O human you have done enough wrong, You bought good properties for a song. When the farmers appealed to you, You did not have mercy, 'tis true." "Paradise for you? I cannot tell, Undoubtedly you will dwell in hell. There's no time for you to repent, I'll take your soul, for which I'm sent." The ending, however, is very sad, Eventually, the man became mad. With a cry, he jumped out of bed, And suddenly, he fell down dead. O Reader, take a moral from here, Never know, your end may be near. Change your living and make amends, For heaven, on your deeds, depends. www.islaaminfo.co.za

By Hazrat Maulana Abdul Hamid Is`haq Saheb (Daamat Barakaatuhum) Bi Ismihi Ta’ala Allah Ta’ala says in the Qur`aan Sharief: “And We have not sent you but as mercy for all the worlds.” [surah Ambiyaa 21 : 107] Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam)’s Ihsaan (favour) upon us is so great, that we cannot ever truly express our appreciation adequately. His Kindness, Compassion, Mercy and Benevolence upon each one of us cannot be repaid even in many lifetimes. If it had not been for his concern, sacrifice and Duas, we would not be the reciters of the Kalima today. Despite our shortcomings and failings, we are still required – in fact, we are commanded, to fulfil his rights to the best of our ability. Some of these rights are : 1.) Imaan bir Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) This Imaan in Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) is a condition of Tauheed. The Imaan of a person is not complete without, ‘Muhammadur Rasulullah'. Without this, a person will not be able to gain any kind of salvation in the Aakhirah. There are 3 aspects of this Imaan: a.) As Believers, we are to have full faith that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) brought and conveyed the Message of Allah Ta’ala, of how we should live and how we should die. b.) We should also have firm Belief that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) is the Last and Final Messenger of Allah Ta’ala. Allah Ta'ala clearly highlights this : “Muhammad is not a father of any of your men, but he is a Messenger of Allah and the last of the prophets. And Allah has the Knowledge of everything.” [surah Ahzaab 33 : 40] Whilst we believe that Hazrat Isa (Alaihis Salaam) is a Nabi of Allah Ta’ala, we believe that he will return to this world and will be an Ummati of our Rasul (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam). He will not be a new Nabi. c.) We should also have firm Imaan that the only way of salvation is following the Mubarak pattern of life of Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam). Allah Ta’ala states explicitly: “There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent pattern for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Last Day and [who] remembers Allah often.” [surah Ahzaab 33 : 21] 2.) Muhabbat-e Rasul Sallaahu alaihi wa sallam (Love) We should nurture within our hearts, such true and sincere love, more than any other after Allah Ta’ala. And the proof of this love is Obedience to Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam). Our Imaan will not be perfected until the Love of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) takes precedence over the love of all creation. Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi wasallam) said: "A man cannot be perfect of Imaan as long as his love for me is not more than his love for his whole family and for all people." (Muslim) It is recorded that on one occasion Hazrat Umar (RA) said: "O Rasulullah! Most assuredly, I love you more than all things, but my own life." Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi wasallam) said: "I swear by The Being in Whose Power is my life! One is not a perfect believer until one loves me more than one's own life." Hazrat Umar (RA) then reflected and exclaimed: "I now love you more than my own life." Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) replied : "Now you are a perfect Muslim." Upon reflection, Hazrat Umar (RA), realized that he would, without any hesitation, sacrifice his own life for his Beloved Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam), which thus made evident that he loved Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) more than himself. Similarly, every Believer should have this kind of love that supersedes the love of his own life. 3.) Azmat-e-Rasul Sallaahu alaihi wa sallam The love of Rasulullah (Sallaahu alaihi wasallam) must be accompanied with Azmat (great honour) and utmost respect. It should not be like the love between husband and wife, or brothers and friends, who take one another for granted and speak to and treat one another in any informal way. For Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam), there is a Command from Allah Ta’ala, that we should have the utmost respect, so much so that the Sahabah-e-Kiraam (RA) were instructed not to even raise their voices in the presence of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu 'alaihi wasallam), because that, in the Court of Allah Ta’ala, is counted as disrespect - which can be a means of loss in one’s good deeds. “O you who have believed, do not raise your voices above the voice of the Prophet or be loud to him in speech like the loudness of some of you to others, lest your deeds become worthless while you perceive not.” [surah Al-Hujuraat 49 : 2] We find in these days there are many matters and issues which are joked about, which are made the brunt of jesting and fun. However, we should never ever make a joke about any single thing relating to our Beloved Rasul (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) or joke about any aspect of the pure Dien of Allah (Jalla Jalaaluhu). This can lead one out of the fold of Islam. 4.) Ita`at-e-Rasul Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam (Obedience): This necessitates, practically, complete obedience and conformity to the beautiful way of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) on every occasion, practising on his Sunnah, together with complementing our actions with the respective Masnoon Duas. Following the Sunnah is the easiest way to reach Allah Ta’ala. It is the road of success in both the worlds. Allah Ta’ala directs us to this great achievement: “Say (O Muhammad (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam)) : If you do love Allah, follow me. Allah shall love you and forgive you your sins; And Allah is Most-Forgiving, Very-Merciful.” [surah Aal-Imraan 3 : 31] 5.) Zikr-e-Rasulullah Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam (Remembrance) We should remember Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) daily with Durood Sharief - which is that special capsule containing the Ibaadat of thinking of Rasulullaah (Sallaahu alaihi wasallam), expressing Shukr (appreciation and thankfulness), Thana (praise) and Dua, and a means of us becoming the beneficiaries to great rewards and favours. SubhanAllah. And we should also bring in this remembrance, the recitation of the beautiful Duas Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) taught us on awakening, sleeping, eating, drinking, etc. as well as follow his every action in regards to living life. Added to this, we should remember Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) with talking about or writing or reading kitaabs about his Seerah, his nobility, beauty and greatness, whereby love is created in the hearts. 6.) Fikr-e-Rasul Sallaahu alaihi wa sallam (Concern) As Ummatis of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam), we should develop within us, that same concern that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) had for the Ummah, for Accountability and for preparation of the Aakhirah. We too should follow in his noble footsteps, making an earnest effort in spreading the message of Islam and sacrificing for the Dien of Allah Ta’ala, and being desirous of all and everyone coming into this beautiful Dien and gaining Najaat (salvation) in the Hereafter. 7.) Ziyarat-e-Rasul Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam: Visiting him in Madina Munawwarah Visiting Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) is one of the most superior forms of Ibaadah, securing the most enviable of rewards. Thus, when a person, has the means, it is greatly encouraged that he undertakes this journey to Madina Munawwarah, presents himself at the Raudha-e-Mubarak and offers his Salaam to Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam), who is alive, listening and responding to the Salaams which are offered and conveyed to him. Rasulullah (Salallaahu alaihu wa sallam) said: “He who visits me, after I have left the world, is just like the person who visits me in my lifetime.” Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said: “My intercession becomes necessary for the one who visits my grave.” May Allah (Jalla Jalaaluhu) grant us the Taufeeq of fulfilling the Rights of our Beloved Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) with deep and sincere love, and may it be a means of our acceptance and Najaat (salvation) in the Hereafter. http://hameediyyah.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/the-rights-of-rasulullah-sallallaahu.html

A Mugger converts Allhamdulilah This is a story of something that happened quite recently in London UK A brother was on a train when a man came up to him and asked for his wallet, intending to rob him, the man may have had a weapon i cant remember Allahu alam. Allhamdulilah the brother said, "I am a muslim and that means i am willing to defend my property, should i die doing so then i will die a shahid and enter paradise, if i dont die then i get to keep my possessions. Its a win win situation for me" The robber looked stunned and walked away.. A week later the brother is on the train again and is approached by the same man, who says, "I've been looking for you all week, i cannot sleep for thinking about what you said, tell me what it is that gives you such faith, what is being a muslim?" Of course the brother told him about Islam and Allhamdulilah the man took his shahada Allhamdulilah to be taken from the gutter by the mercy of Allah to join the ranks of the Believers inshaallah.

Pen Pals to Islam A Young British student writing to her Pakistani Muslim pen pal is the path Allah ta’ala chose to lead this pretty young Christian girl to Islam. The young couple’s affection grew through the correspondence and this eventually led her to visit Pakistan. She says when she first approached her mother regarding a visit to Pakistan she absolutely refused to let her go alone. She insisted on accompanying her daughter and they travelled together, met his family and came back with a good impression of Muslims. The next year the boy’s visit to England led to them discussing marriage. He explained that he could never give up his religion and nor could he have a relationship with her outside of marriage and she said this impressed her. She asked questions about Islam and very quickly decided that Islam and marriage to this young man was what she wanted. When she told her mum, to her surprise she accepted it saying at least it would save her daughter from having a string of boyfriends without a future. She even presented her with a copy of the Qur’an! The young English girl accepted the Islamic way of life, seeking knowledge enthusiastically and was soon a good practicing Muslimah. Today the young couple are happily married with three lovely children who are able to recite the Qur’anic chapters from a young age....As for the mum, she has not as yet accepted Islam however she often visits her daughter and son in law and is happy about the choice her daughter made! May Allah ta'ala grant her Imaan!

Some people have a habit of criticising everyone and everything. It is a habit which eventually leads to criticising the Pious, the Ulama, the Sahabah, the Prophets and finally even Allah ‘azzawajal (Na’oothubillaah). Following is an anecdote regarding such a person A traveller, feeling tired decided to rest under a big tree which bore a small berry type fruit called “Bor” in the Indian language. His eyes fell on a nearby vine-like plant on the ground bearing huge watermelons. As is the habit of one who constantly criticises, he thought to himself that the fruit on the huge tree was small while on the ground lay a poor little plant with the huge watermelon. It should have been the other way round, with the watermelon on the tree and the small fruits on the ground. At this thought he sat up straight extremely pleased with himself at this analysis and thought how impressed people would be when he mentioned it. No sooner had the thought crossed his mind when a wind blew and one of the fruits from the tree fell right on to his head! With this his inner eyes opened and he fell into prostration, grateful that it wasn’t the huge watermelon which had fallen on his head! From a speech by Shaykh Muhammad Saleem Dhorat (Hafizahullah)

Question Q. My uncle has given his sons and daughters properties a few years ago as gifts in his lifetime. Now he is asking them not to claim from his inheritance when he passes away because he has already given them their inheritance and the children must leave the entire estate to his wife. Is this correct? (Query published as received) Answer: As you have stated, the properties that your uncle had given to his children in his lifetime are gifts and belong to them. These properties will not form part of your uncle’s estate upon his demise. Whatever your uncle owns at the time of his demise will form part of his estate and has to be distributed according to the Islamic Law of Succession and Inheritance amongst all his rightful heirs. It is not correct for him to instruct his children to forfeit their inheritance on account of him giving them certain assets in his lifetime. The properties that he has given them in his lifetime are not inheritance. These are gifts. Inheritance only comes into effect after a person passes away. The children of your uncle are legitimate Shar’ee heirs and have the full right to claim their shares of inheritance upon his demise. Yes, if after the demise of their father, they wish to cede their shares to their mother without any coercion, they may do so. And Allah Knows Best Mufti Suhail Tarmahomed Fatwa Department Jamiatul Ulama (KZN) Council of Muslim Theologians 223 Alpine Road, Overport, Durban Tel : +27 (0) 31 2077099 Fax : +27(0) 31 2074163 Website : www.jamiat.org.za

'Aisha bint Abu Bakr Gradually the Muslims who remained in Mecca left the city and traveled to Medina to join their beloved Prophet, and amongst them was a little girl called 'A'isha, the daughter of Abu Bakr. Soon after arriving in Medina, 'A'isha, who was now nine years old, as married to the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), who was now fifty-four years old. It was at this point that she left her family's household and joined that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). 'A'isha later reported that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) had told her that Jibril came to him and showed him a picture of her on a piece of green silk and said, "She is your wife in this world and in the next world." About her wedding, she related that shortly before she was to leave her parents' house, she slipped out into the courtyard to play with a friend. "I was playing on a seesaw and my long streaming hair became disheveled," she said. "They came and took me from my play and made me ready." They dressed her in a wedding dress made from fine red striped cloth from Bahrain and then her mother took her to the newly built house where some women of the Ansar were waiting outside the door. They greeted her with the words, "For good and for happiness, may all be well." Then, in the presence of the smiling Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) a bowl of milk was brought. The Prophet drank from it himself and then offered it to 'A'isha. She shyly declined it, but when he insisted she drink as well and then offered the bowl to her sister Asma' who was sitting beside her. The others who were present also drank from it, and that was all there was to the simple and solemn occasion of their wedding. Her marriage to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) did not change 'A'isha's playful ways, and her young friends continued to regularly come to visit her in her own room. "I would be playing with my dolls," she once said, 'with the girls who were my friends, and the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) would come in and they would slip out of the house and he would go out after them and bring them back, for he was pleased for my sake to have them there." Sometimes he would say, "Stay, where you are," before they had time to leave, and would also join in their games. "One day," 'A'isha said, "the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) came in when I was playing with my dolls and said, "'A'isha, whatever game is this?' 'It is Solomon's horses,' I replied, and he laughed." On another occasion, during the days of the Id al Adha, two young girls were with 'A'isha in her room, singing a song about the famous battle of Bu'ath and beating a tambourine in time. "The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) came in," said 'A'isha, 'and lay down with his face turned away. Then Abu Bakr came, and scolded me, saying, 'What is this musical instrument of Shaytan doing in the house of the Messenger of Allah?' The Messenger of Allah turned towards him and said, 'Leave them alone, for these are the days of the 'Id.'" After a while, 'A'isha asked the girls to leave, and the Prophet asked 'A'isha whether she would like to watch the Abyssinians who were giving a fighting display with their weapons in the mosque and she said yes. "By Allah," said 'A'isha, "I remember the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) standing at the door of my room, screening me with his cloak, so that I could see the sport of the Abyssinians as they played with their spears in the mosque of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). He kept standing for my sake until I had enough and then I went back in, so you can well imagine how a young girl enjoyed watching this display." Some might have viewed the marriage of Muhammad and 'A'isha as an exceptional marriage, but then the two partners were exceptional people. The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was the last of the Prophets and the best of creation; and 'A'isha was a very intelligent and observant young girl with a very good memory. 'A'isha (may Allah be pleased with her) spent the next nine years of her life with the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), and she grew into womanhood, she remembered all that she saw and heard with great clarity, for to be the wife of the Prophet was even more than extraordinary. So much happened around him - the Quran continued to be revealed, ayat by ayat, and people's hearts were constantly being turned over and transformed, including hers and she was a witness of so much of all that took place. It is not surprising, therefore, that a great deal of the knowledge that we still have today, about how our beloved Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) lived and behaved, was first remembered and then taught to others by 'A'isha. It is thanks to this exceptional marriage, between a man nearing the end of his life and a woman still near the beginning of hers, that we know so much about the both of them, and this is what makes it so much easier for those who wish to follow in their footsteps to try and follow their example. Whereas Khadijah was already a wise and mature woman when she married the Prophet Muhammad, 'A'isha was a spirited young girl who still had a great deal to learn when she married the Prophet, (may Allah be pleased with her, and peace be upon him) she was very quick to learn, however, for she had a clear heart, and a quick mind and an accurate memory. She was not afraid to talk back in order to find out the truth or make it known, and whenever she beat someone else in argument, the Prophet would smile and say, "She is the daughter of Abu Bakr!" Musa ibn Talha once said, "I have not seen anyone more eloquent than 'A'isha." 'A'isha (may Allah be pleased with her) became so wise that one of her contemporaries used to say that if the knowledge of 'A'isha were placed on one side of the scales that of all other women on the other, 'A'isha 's side would outweigh the other. She used to sit with the other women and pass on the knowledge that she had received from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and long after he had died, and as long as she lived, she was a source of knowledge and wisdom for both women and men. Abu Musa once said, "Whenever a report appeared doubtful to us, the Companions of the Prophet, and we asked 'A'isha about it, we always learned something from her about it." On one occasion, the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said to her, "O 'A'isha, here is Jibril giving you greetings of peace." "And on him be peace." She said, 'and the mercy of Allah." When she was telling Abu Salama about this, she added, "He (meaning the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) ) sees what I do not see." As well as being extremely intelligent, 'A'isha became a very graceful young woman. When she first came to live in the Prophet's household as a young girl, a strong and lasting friendship grew up between her and Sawda, and Sawda took care of her along with the rest of the household. When 'A'isha grew up, Sawda, who was by then an old woman, gave up her share of the Prophet's time in favor of 'A'isha and was content to manage his household and be Umm al Mumineen - 'The Mother of the Believers' - a title of respect that was given to all of the wives of the Prophet, (may Allah be pleased with them), which confirmed what the Quran clearly states that no man could marry any of them after they had been married to the Prophet for: The Prophet is closer to the believers than their ownselves, and his wives are as their mothers. (Qur'an: 33:6) O you wives of the Prophet, if any of you is openly indecent, the punishment for her will be doubled - and that is easy for Allah. And whoever of you submits to Allah and His Messenger has right action, We shall give her a reward twice over and We have prepared a generous provision for her. O you wives of the Prophet, you are not like any other women. If you are fearful of Allah then do not be soft in yspeech, lest someone whose heart is sick is attracted to you, but speak words that are wise. And stay quietly in your houses, do not make a dazzling display like that of the time of ignorance before and establish prayer and pay the Zakat and obey Allah and His Messenger. Surely Allah wishes to remove impurity far from you, O People of the House, and to purify you completely. And remember that ayahs of Allah that are recited in your houses and the wisdom. Surely Allah is Alpervading, All Aware. (Quran 33:30-34) It is sometimes difficult to picture what life must have been like for the wives and the Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) because the light that emanated from him and through them was so unique. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) had no shadow because he was light and this light illuminated the hearts and minds and understanding of his followers, giving them insight without blinding them. The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was truly a mercy to all the worlds, and no one with a clean heart could possibly forget this, least of all the Prophet himself. O Prophet, surely We have sent you as a witness and as a bringer of good news and a warner; and one who calls the people to Allah by His permission, and as a shining light. (Quran 33:45-46) It is said that people were awed by the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) when they were in his presence, and that they sat and listened to his words with their eyes lowered, as if they had birds perched on their heads, and that they would do anything for him, so great was their love for him. It was because of the perfection of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) that everyone was commanded to ask blessings on him: Allah and His angels pray blessings on the Prophet; O you who believe! Pray blessings of him and ask for peace for him. (Quran 33:56) It was because of the Prophet Muhammad's unique station with Allah that his wives and his Companions were expected by Allah to behave with such respect and courtesy towards the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him); and that his wives could not possibly marry anyone else after having been married to him: When you ask his wives for something, ask them from behind a screen. That is purer for your hearts and for their hearts. It is not for you to cause injury to the Messenger of Allah, or ever marry his wives after him. To do that would be something dreadful in the sight of Allah. (Quran 33:53) During the nine years that 'A'isha was married to the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) she witnessed many of the great events that shaped the destiny of the first Muslim community of Madina al Munawarra: It was during the course of their marriage that she direction of the qibla was changed from Jerusalem to Mecca, thereby more clearly distinguishing the Muslims from the Jews and the Christians, and it was during the course of their marriage that she must have listened to many of the Jews and the Christians an the idol worshippers who came not to listen to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) but to argue with him, in the hope that they could find a plausible excuse to justify their rejection of him. It was through exchange such as these that 'A'isha learned to distinguish what was true from what was false. As the prophetic guidance continued to be revealed through the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), 'A'isha's way of life - along with that of all the Muslims - was gradually reshaped and refined: It was during the course of their marriage that drinking alcohol was finally forbidden, that it was made clear what food was halal and what food was haram, that it became necessary for women to wear the hijab in public and when praying, that the guidance as to how to fast was revealed, that paying the Zakat became obligatory on all Muslims, and that all rites of the hajj were purified and clarified. In fact every aspect of life, from birth to death and everything that happens in between, was illuminated by the way in which the Prophet behaved - and it was this way of behavior, the Sunna, that 'A'isha helped to preserve and protect, not only by embodying it herself, but also by teaching it to others. 'A'isha was once asked to describe the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), and she replied that he was 'the Quran walking', meaning that his behavior was the Quran translated into action. She did all that she could to do likewise. Thus she not only knew and embodied the Sunna, but also she memorized the Quran by heart and understood it. It was during the course of their marriage that, amongst others, the battles of Badr, and Uhud, and Al-Khandaq (the Ditch) were fought. These were the three major battles against the Quraish, that shifted the balance of power out of the hands of the kafirun and into the hands of the Muslims. Although she was still very young, 'A'isha participated in them all, bringing water for the Muslims warriors, and helping to look after the wounded. She witnessed life, and she witnessed death - both in the way of Allah and in the way of the kafirun - and she understood both. Indeed one of the meanings of her name, 'A'isha', is 'life'. It was during the course of their marriage that the Jews plotted and tried to kill the Prophet on more than one occasion, without success, and were punished for this. First the Banu Qayunqa and then the Banu Nadir were from Medina; and then Banu Qurayza - who had broken their agreement with the Muslims during the battle of al-Khandaq and conspired to exterminate all of them - were subjected to the punishment that was decided by the man whom they themselves had chosen to judge their actions, Sa'id ibn Mu'adh. In accordance with the commands contained in their own book, the Torah, all the men were killed - with the exception of four who accepted Islam and all the women and children were taken as slaves. It was after this event that another tribe, the Banu al Mustaliq began to prepare to fight the Muslims, and accordingly the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) led an army against them. Often when the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) went to war, he took one of his wives with him. He did not choose anyone in particular, but simply drew lots and took the wife whose name came out. When he went to fight the Banu al-Mustaliq, the lot fell to 'A'isha, and she it was who traveled with him. 'A'isha who was now thirteen years old, was small, slim, and graceful, so that it was difficult for the men who carried her litter to know for certain whether or not she was actually inside it when they lifted it up. On the way back to Medina, after the Banu al Mustaliq had been subdued, the Muslim army stopped for a rest, but then the Prophet unexpectedly ordered the army to continue the march back. Unknown to everyone else, 'A'isha had stepped out of her litter for a few minutes and had left the camp, seeking some privacy. On her way back she had noticed that her onyx necklace was missing and so she retraced her steps to try and find it. When she had at last found it finally returned to the camp, it was to find that everyone had gone. The men who had been carrying her litter had thought she was still in it, and had picked it up, strapped it to the camel and marched on. 'A'isha, who trusted completely in Allah, sat down, and waited, hoping that someone would notice her absence and come back for her. Fortunately she did not have long to wait, for a young Muslim man named Safwan ibn al-Mu'attal, who had fallen behind the army after taking a rest, reached the camp during the night and found her lying fast asleep. Safwan immediately recognizing her, because he had seen her in the early days before Allah had commanded Muslim women to wear the hijab. "Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un!" - "Surely we come from Allah and surely to Him we return!" he exclaimed in surprise, waking 'A'isha up with the loudness of his voice. He did not say anything else, and a'A'isha put the scarf that had fallen off her head while she was asleep back on, Safwan made his camel kneel down close to her so that she could climb up on to it; and then, leading the camel with his hand, he set off on foot after the army, hoping that they would soon catch up with it which they eventually did later the next morning, since the army had halted for a rest during the hottest part of the day. Unfortunately, some hypocrites who had seen Safwan and 'A'isha arrive alone together began to gossip and spread slanderous lies about them. Eventually the story reached the Prophet himself (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and by then the whole community was talking about what might or might now have happened before the two young Muslims. Naturally the muminun were certain that noting bad had happened, but the munafiqun thought otherwise and were not afraid to insinuate that was the case. As a result of all this gossip, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and his household came under a great strain, and in fact 'A'isha herself fell ill, not because she was aware of what the hypocrites were saying about her, but because the Prophet did not seem to care for her as much as he had done before the campaign against the Banu al Mustaliq. Finally, someone told her what some people were saying. This made 'A'isha even more ill, so with the Prophet's permission, she went to stay at the house of her parents. When she arrived, she said to her mother, Umm Ruman, "Mother! What are the people saying?" She replied "O my daughter! Do not make too much of the business. By Allah, seldom has there been a woman of beauty with a husband who loves her and who has co wives but that people say a lot against her." A'isha said, "Glory be to Allah! The people have really been saying this?" 'A'isha said, "I have spent the entire night until morning unable to stop weeping and could not sleep at all. Morning found me still weeping." In the meantime, when Safwan was confronted with the allegations that had been made, he replied, "Glory be to Allah! By Allah, I have never removed the veil of any woman!" Since there had been no revelation to clarify the matter, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) asked Barira, who was 'A'isha 's maid servant, if she had seen anything in 'A'isha' s behavior that was at all doubtful. "By Him who sent you with the truth," she replied, "I have not seen nothing wrong with her, other than that she is a young girl and sometimes she falls asleep while she is kneading the dough and a lamb comes along and eats it!" Some of the companions who were present scolded Barira and told her to come to the point. "Glory be to Allah!" she replied. "I know as much about her as a jeweler knows about a piece of pure gold!" The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) also asked Zaynab bint Jahsh for her opinion, since he valued it highly. Although she and A'isha were frequently at odds with one another and Zaynab's sister Hamna, was the one of those who were actively gossiping and spreading the rumor, she replied without hesitation, "O Messenger of Allah," she said, "I will not repeat anything that I have not heard with my own ears and seen with my own eyes. By Allah, I find nothing in her but goodness." The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) then tried to vindicate A'isha's honor by calling everyone to the mosque and publicly defending her reputation, but the hypocrites who had started the trouble in the first place only made matter worse, so that arguments broke out all over the mosque, and people had almost come to blows over the matter before the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) calmed them down and silenced them. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) then came to Abu Bakr's house, where A'isha had been crying her heart out, and in the presence of her parents said the shahada, and then continued, "If you are innocent, then Allah Himself will protect your honor, and if by accident there has been a lapse on your part, then seek the forgiveness of Allah and He will pardon you, for when a slave admits a fault and turns to Him in repentance, then Allah also turns and accepts that repentance." A'isha said, "When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) finished what he was saying, my tears stopped so that I was not aware of a single tear. I said to my father, 'Answer the Messenger of Allah for me regarding what he has said.' He said, 'By Allah, I do not know what to say to the Messenger of Allah,' I said to my mother, 'Answer the Messenger of Allah for me regarding what he has said.' She said, 'By Allah, I do not know what to say to the Messenger of Allah.'" A'isha said, "I am a young girl who does not yet recite much of the Qur'an. By Allah, I know that you have heard this story that people are saying and it has become fixed in yourself and you have believed it. If I were to say to you that I am innocent, you would not believe me. If I were to confess to something to you and Allah knows that I am innocent you would believe me. By Allah, I can only say what the father of Yusuf said, Patience is beautiful, and Allah is my protection against what you describe. (Quran 12:18)" Then I turned over on my bed, Allah knowing that I was innocent and hoping that Allah would proclaim me innocent. However, by Allah, I did not think that any relation would be sent down regarding me. I thought too little of myself that something would be said in the Qur'an regarding me, however I hoped that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) would have a dream in which Allah would exonerate me. She had hardly finished speaking when the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) received a direct revelation of some more ayahs of the Qur'an, and when it was over, he smiled and said, "Do not worry, 'A'isha, for Allah has revealed proof of your innocence." A'isha's mother, who had been standing next to her, said, "Get up and thank him." "By Allah," exclaimed A'isha, whose title, 'Siddiqa', means 'the truthful one', "I will not thank him and praise him but rather Allah Who has given the revelation that has protected my honor!" Then the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) went to the mosque and recited what had just been sent down: Surely those who fabricate the lie are a group from among you. Do not think it is bad thing for you; no it is good for you. Every man will receive what he has earned for this sin, and whoever had the greater part in it will have a great punishment. Why did the men and women believers, when they heard it, not think good in their selves and say: 'This is clearly a lie?' Why did they not produce four witnesses? Since they did not produce witnesses, they are certainly liars in the sight of Allah. If it were not for the grace of Allah, and His mercy on you in this world and in the next world, an awful doom would have overtaken you for what you repeated. Since you received it with your tongues, and repeated what you did not know anything about with your mouths, you thought it was a trifle, but in the sight of Allah it is serious. Why, when you heard it, did you not say: 'It is not for us to repeat this, Glory be to You (O Allah), this is a serious rumor.' Allah warns you to never repeat anything like this again, if you are indeed believers and Allah makes the signs clear to you; and Allah is Knowing, Wise. Surely those who love to spread around slander about those who believe will have a painful punishment in this world and in the next world; and Allah knows and you do not know. (Quran 24:11-19). A'isha forgave those who had let themselves be caught in the slander and in later years would not hear anything bad said about them. The fact that A'isha' s honor and reputation had been protected by a revelation from Allah could not be ignored by anyone, and from then on everyone was more aware of her high station with Allah. It was also during the course of A'isha's marriage with the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) that the Muslim commexpanded so rapidly that Mecca was eventually conquered by the Muslim army, and preparations were made for the first of the many battles that were successfully fought against the Greeks and the Persians after the letters from Muhammad inviting Heraclius and Choroes to embrace Islam and worship Allah alone had been contemptuously ignored. This extraordinary expansion - even the idea of which would, at the time of Khadijah' s death (may Allah be pleased with her) have seemed like a wild dream was heralded, in 6 AH, by the treaty of Hudaybiyya, by virtue of which peace was declared between the Quraish and the Muslims for ten years, and the right of the Muslims to enter Mecca and do 'umra unharmed was recognized by the Quraish. Although the Muslims had to wait for a year before they could do umra, that year was not long in passing, and in the interval the Jews of Khaybar, who like the other Jews around Madina had attempted to destroy the Muslim community by breaking their peace agreement with the Muslims and supporting the idol worshippers were fought and defeated. After the Jews of Khaybar had been defeated, a Jewess managed to serve the Prophet some poisoned meat, which itself informed him that it had been poisoned, so that he only had a small taste of it. Even though one of his companions who had already eaten some of the meat subsequently died, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) forgave the Jewess and let her go free. The Jews of Khaybar were permitted to stay on their land provided that they paid a yearly tribute to the Muslims. As a result, some of the Muslims began to grow more wealthy than they had been in the past. Indeed on one occasion, the Prophet's wives, led by 'A'isha and Hafsa, asked him for some money that he did not have for there was never one night that he lay down to sleep with any money in his possession. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was distressed by this not because he did not have the money to give to them, but rather because it was this that apparently they desired. At this time, both Abu Bakr and Umar visited him and they found the Messenger of Allah seated, surrounded by his wives who were all silent. Abu Bakr said to himself, "By Allah, I will say something to cheer up the Messenger of Allah!' So he said, "Messenger of Allah, if I were to see the daughter of Kharija asking me for money, I would strike her on the neck!" The Messenger of Allah smiled and said, 'These ones you see around me have asked me for money." SO Abu Bakr went to grab A'isha and Umar went to grab Hafsa, both exclaiming, "DO you ask the Messenger of Allah for something he does not have!" The women said, "By Allah, we would never ask the Messenger of Allah for something he does not have!" This was not the only marital problem which he experienced at this time. There was a great deal of rivalry between some of the wives and also Hafsa had told A'isha something which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) had told her not to disclose because it was something which would increase the friction between the wives. Some sources say that he had told her that Abu Bakr and Umar would rule after him. In any case, he stayed away from them for a whole month, during which many of his Companions began to think either that he was going to divorce them or that he had already done so. IT is related by Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that he went to visit the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) who was staying alone in a small upper room, in order to find out what was happening. First of all he visited his daughter Hafsa, who was weeping, and asked her if the Prophet had divorced his wives. "I don't know," she sobbed. Then he went and asked to see the Prophet. After he had been given permission to enter, Umar climbed up the ladder and into the small room: "I visited Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and he was lying on a mat. I saw down and he drew up his lower garment over him. He had nothing else on, and the mat had left its marks on his sides. I looked around at what stores Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) had, and saw only a handful of barley equal to one sa' and an equal amount of mimosa leaves in the corner of the room and tanned leather bag handing nearby, and I as moved to tears. HE said, 'Ibn al Khattab, what is making you cry?' I replied, 'O Messenger of Allah, how can I not cry? This mat has left marks on your sides and I can only see what I have seen of your stores. Caesar and Chosroes are leading their lives of plenty, while you are the Messenger of Allah, His Chosen One, and look what you have!' 'Ibn al Khattab,' he answered, 'isn't it enough for you that for us there is the next world, and for them there is this world?' 'Yes,' I said. Then I said, 'O Messenger of Allah, what has happened with your wives? If you have divorced them, then truly Allah is with you, and His angels, Jibril and Mika'il, and Abu Bakr and I and the believers are with you.' And seldom have I talked like that and hoped that Allah would testify to the words that I uttered. And so it happened that the ayahs of choice were revealed: If you both turn to Allah in repentance, then that is what your hearts desire; and if you help each other against him then surely Allah Himself is his protector, and Jibril, and the righteous from among the believers, and as well as that, the angels will help him. It maybe, if he divorces you, that his Lord will give him wives who are better than you, who submit, who believe, who are devout, who are repentant, who worship, who fast, whether they have been previously married or are virgins. (Quran 66:4-5) In fact the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) never divorced any of his wives, and as we grow more aware about how they lived, may Allah be pleased with all of them, it is clear that they possessed all of the qualities of the women described in the last ayat. Perhaps this ayat served as a reminder to them, a reminder that they would remember for the rest of their days which for most of them lasted long after the Prophet's (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) death. Returning to Sayyiduna Umar's account of his visit to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) during the month of separation from his wives, Umar then asked, "O Messenger of Allah, have you divorced them?" and he replied, "No." So after talking for a while longer and how in Mecca the men tended to dominate the women, whereas in Medina the women tended to dominate the men, which is what the womenfolk from Mecca had learned to do after they had made hijrah to Medina - Umar climbed down and stood at the door of the mosque and called out at the top of his voice: "The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has not divorced his wives!" After the month was up, the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) first went to A'isha's room. She was delighted to see him, but grew more serious when he said that some ayahs had been revealed to him which required him to put two options before her. "Do not make a hasty decision," he said, "and consult your parents first." He then recited these verses: O Prophet, say to your wives: 'If you desire the life of this world and its adornments, then come, and I will make you content, and I will release you with a fair release. But if you desire Allah and His Messenger and the abode of the next world, then truly Allah has prepared an immense reward for those of you who do good.' (Quran 33:28-29) "Is there any need to consult my parents?" replied A'isha. "Indeed I desire Allah and His Messenger and the abode of the next world." And her response was followed by all of his other wives. A'isha remained true to her word both during the lifetime of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and afterwards. Once, when the Muslims were favored with great wealth, she as given a gift of one hundred thousand Dhirhams. She was fasting when she received the money, and distall of it to the poor and needy, even though she had no provisions in her house. Shortly after that, her maid servant said to her, "Couldn't you have brought a dirham's worth of meat with which to break your fast?" "If I had thought of it," she replied, "I would have done so!" After a year had passed following the treaty of Hudaybiyya, the Muslims traveled to Mecca and they were able to complete all the rites of the umra, doing everything as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) did it. In accordance with the terms of the treaty, the Muslims left after three days, when their umra had been completed. Not long after this, the Prophet sent an army of three thousand Muslims northwards to the borders of the Byzantine territories in what is now Palestine to chastise the tribes there for killing the messengers whom he had sent to call them to Islam. The tribes called on the Emperor Herclius for support, and when the Muslim army arrived at Muta, they found themselves facing an army of two thousand men. Many of the Muslims died as shahids on the day of the battle, but thanks to the tactics of Khalid bin Walid, the Greeks withdrew the next day, and so the Muslims were able to return to Medina relatively unscathed. When the news of the battle of Muta finally reached Mecca, the Quraish mistakenly believed that the Muslims had been thoroughly defeated by the Greeks and decided to renew their opposition to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). In doing so, they deliberately broke their treaty that they had made at Hudaybiiya, by allowing their allies to attack and kill some of the allies of the Muslims who lived near Mecca. Accordingly the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) marched on Mecca at the head of an army of ten thousand Muslims. Despite everyone's fears, he conquered it with hardly a drop of blood being spilled. As always, the mercy and forgiveness that he displayed towards those who had relentlessly opposed him for so many years changed people's hearts, and many of the people of Mecca now embraced Islam as a result. Having pardoned all of the Quraish, with the exception of four men who had all committed murder for personal reasons, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) smashed all the idols and destroyed all the paintings that had been placed inside the Ka'ba by the idol-worshippers. The sanctity of the sanctuary of Mecca had been restored, and at long last the Muslims were free to come and go in Mecca as they pleased. In the midst of the peace and rejoicing, however, news came that the tribes of Hawazin and Thaqif were preparing to attack the Muslims. The Muslim army that had conquered Mecca, swelled to twelve thousand by some of the men from the Quraish who had just embraced Islam, marched to a place called Hunayn. For the first time in their experience, the Muslims actually outnumbered the enemy, of whom there were only about four thousand. This nearly proved to be the Muslims' undoing, for many of them felt secure because of their large numbers rather than because of the reliance on Allah. When the enemy suddenly attacked at dawn, showering down arrows from the hills, the Muslims were taken by surprise and many began to flee. A small group stood firm with the Prophet, one of whom was Umm Sulaym bint Milhan, the wife of Abu Talha. Although she waspregnant at the time, she had armed herself with a dagger to use against the kafirun. Fortunately the strong Muslims rallied round the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and although there were only six hundred of them, their concerted effort, fighting valiantly in the way of Allah, turned the tide of the battle until those who had turned away in the initial panic and confusion had returned and the battle was won. After the battle of Hunayn, the only continued resistance to the Muslims was from the north and north-east, from the Byzantine and Persian Empires. Having heard that the Greeks were preparing a huge army of thirty thousand men and marched out in the heat of the late summer to do battle with them. After a long, hard, hot march, the Muslim army reached Tabuk, and here they learned that the Greeks had retreated back to their own territory. Accordingly, having made peace treaties with all the border tribes, the Muslims returned to Medina, in time for many of them to go on the pilgrimage to Mecca. Those who had made weak excuses in order to avoid going on the expedition to Tabuk now felt great shame and regret. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) himself did not go on the pilgrimage this year, for people were coming to Medina from all over the Arab lands to embrace Islam and to pledge allegiance to him. It was this year that came to be known as 'the Year of the Delegations', during which, at one point, the Prophet became so exhausted from seeing people that he had to pray sitting down. So instead, Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) led the pilgrims. It was during this hajj that the ayat in the Quran that forbade the idol worshippers from ever entering the sanctuary of Mecca again were revealed; they were made public during the hajj by Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) who was sent straight from Medina to Mecca as soon as they had been revealed, so that as many people as possible would hear them. The following year, when the time for the pilgrimage drew near, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) announced that he was going on the hajj, and as a result everyone wanted to do it with him. The Muslims who did not live in or near Medina either first traveled to Medina in order to accompany him on the journey to Mecca, or else traveled to Mecca from every part of Arabia and joined him there. Amongst the people on what has become known as 'the Farewell Pilgrimage' of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was A'isha, for the Prophet asked all of his wives, may Allah be pleased with them, to accompany him, to ensure that they all fulfilled this particular obligation that every Muslim owes to his or her Lord. It was an extraordinary pilgrimage. There never had been, and there never has been, and there never will be, another hajj quite like it, for at its heart was the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and around him were his family and Companions, may the blessings and peace of Allah be on them, and during it the ayat of the Qur'an was revealed: This day I have perfected your deen for you and have completed My blessing on you, and have chosen Islam for you as your deen. (Quran 5:3) It was also during this hajj that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) gave his famous Farewell Khutba, whose words still ring in our ears and echo in our hearts all these centuries later. When he had finished speaking to the thousands upon thousands of Muslims who were gathered around him on the plain of Arafa, he raised his voice slightly and asked, "My Lord, have I delivered the message?" And thousands upon thousands of voices from all around him answered his question: "Yes, you have." And many of those who were present passed on that message to those who ere not present, and so it has continued, right up until today. And one of those who was present was A'isha, of whom the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) once said, "Learn some of your deen from this red haired lady." Meaning A'isha. This is not surprising, for she is one of the four people who have transmitted more than two thousand hadiths, the others being Abu Hurairah, Abdullah ibn Umar, and Anas ibn Malik. Many of these are about some of the most intimate aspects of personal behavior and hygiene which only someone in A'isha's position could have learned. It was during the course of his marriage with A'isha that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) married several other wives, usually to strengthen ties between important families and tribes, or to relieve the hardship of a woman who had been unexpectedly divorced or widowed, or in order to clearly demonstrate whom it wapermissible for a Muslim to marry, but above all because all of his marriage had been decreed by Allah, and because all of his wives were exceptional women. Ibn Kathir: Wives of the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam

“What use is a flower which is bereft of fragrance? What use is a heart which is empty of Allah?”

Hazrat Sawdah After the demise of Hazrat Khadijah , the Holy Prophet Muhammad was much worried and grief stricken. He had to look after his child and attend to the household chores, adding considerably to the agony of the death of his loving wife. This also caused hindrance in his Prophetic mission. Seeing him worried and distressed, Hazrat Khawlah bint Hakeem , wife of Hazrat Uthman bin Maz’oon , suggested to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu-Alayhi-Wasallam) that he badly needed a companion to help him in running his house and looking after his children, and proposed the name of Hazrat Sawdah who was an elderly widow. Hazrat Sawdah and her late husband Hazrat Sakran, were early converts to Islam, and also had the honour of having migrated to Abyssinia. Therefore, they were very much close and dear to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu-Alayhi-Wasallam). On return from Abyssinia, Hazrat Sakran (Radhiyallahu-Anhu) passed away. Hazrat Sawdah (Radhiyallahu-Anha) was now left a forlorn widow with a baby. On receipt of the suggestion, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu-Alayhi-Wasallam) considered it carefully. The mission of Prophethood now demanded much time, but due to him being preoccupied in household affairs, he could not devote enough time to his heavenly mission. He therefore accepted the proposal also taking into consideration that an early convert to Islam may be helped and honoured, and approved Hazrat Khawlah (Radhiyallahu-Anha) to negotiate for his marriage with Hazrat Sawdah (Radhiyallahu-Anha). Proposal to Hazrat Sawdah Khawlah (Radhiyallahu-Anha ) went straight to Hazrat Zum’aa bin Qais , the father of Hazrat Sawdah (Radhiyallahu-Anhuma), and after exchanging compliments conveyed the message of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu-Alayhi-Wasallam). Hazrat Zum’aa (Radhiyallahu-Anhu) was much pleased and remarked that: “Hazrat Muhammad (Sallallahu-Alayhi-Wasallam) comes from a very respectable family and is a perfect gentleman and that any father would feel proud of marrying his daughter to him.” He further suggested to Hazrat Khawlah that Hazrat Sawdah should also be consulted in this connection. Hazrat Khawlah then went to Hazrat Sawdah and conveyed the message of the Prophet (Sallallahu-Alayhi-Wasallam) and added that Hazrat Sawdah had already obtained the approval of her father for the marriage. Hazrat Sawdah [Radhiyallahu-Anha ] expressed her consent and happiness in the marriage. The marriage was settled and Hazrat Sawdah was married with Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu-Alayhi-Wasallam ). The Nikah Khutbah (sermon) was read by Hazrat Sawdah’s (Radhiyallahu-Anha) father himself. Hazrat Sawdah was 55 at the time of this marriage. By this marriage the house of the Prophet (Sallallahu-Alayhi-Wasallam) was once more aglow with warmth and happiness. Hazrat Fatimah and Hazrat Umme Kulsoom (Radhiyallahu-Anhuma ) were the two orphaned daughters of Prophet[s.a.w.] Hazrat Sawdah (Radhiyallahu-Anha) used to love these two daughters very affectionately, so much so that nobody could even doubt that she was not their real mother. Hazrat Sawdah (Radhiyallahu-Anha) had no children from the Prophet (Sallallahu-Alayhi-Wasallam ) However, from her first husband (Hazrat Sakran ) she had a son named Hazrat Abdur-Rahmaan (Radhiyallahu-Anhu). He fell a martyr fighting in the battle of Jalula. Narrations of Hazrat Sawdah Five traditions are said to have been narrated by Hazrat Sawdah (Radhiyallahu-Anha). Out of these one finds place in Bukhari Hazrat Sawdah (Radhiyallahu-Anha) was generous, hospitable, kind and affectionate. Hazrat Umar (Radhiyallahu-Anhu) once sent her a purse full of Dirhams, she at once distributed those coins. She was distinguished in self-sacrifice. She was ready to forego her rights and privileges for the sake of others. She was also jovial by nature. Hazrat Sawdah used to please the Prophet (Sallallahu-Alayhi-Wasallam) and her friends through healthy jokes and jest. Inter-Islam

Hazrat Khadijah When none believed me, Khadijah (R.A) did. She made me a partner in her wealth.”Those are the words of our Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu-Alayhi-Wasallam) about his wife the great Muslim lady, Hazrat `Khadija-tul-Kubra’ (R.A). Khadijah (R.A), married the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu-Alayhi-Wasallam) when she was 40 and he was 25. They had six children: two sons, Qasim and Abdullah (also known as Tahir and Tayyib), and four daughters: Zainub, Ruqaiyyah, Umm Kulthum and Fatimah (Radhiyallahu-Anhum-Ajmaeen). Khadijah (R.A) lived with the Prophet (Sallallahu-Alayhi-Wasallam) for 25 years and was his only wife during that time. When the revelations came from Allah and Muhammad (Sallallahu-Alayhi-Wasallam) was made the Last Prophet, it was Khadijah (R.A) who accepted the faith and became the first Muslim. She was 55 years old at that time. Her acceptance of Islam greatly helped its spread among the Makkans. She stood by the Prophet (Sallallahu-Alayhi-Wasallam) all the time. In moments of trial and difficulty the Prophet (Sallallahu-Alayhi-Wasallam) used to come to her and she consoled and comforted her husband and encouraged him. Khadijah’s (R.A) wealth was used for the cause of Islam. The Prophet (Sallallahu-Alayhi-Wasallam) remained busy in preaching Islam and his devoted and loving wife looked after the children and family affairs. The Prophet (Sallallahu-Alayhi-Wasallam) and Khadijah (R.A) had many sorrows. they had to bear the death of their sons Qasim and Abdullah (Radhiyallahu-Anhum) in their infancy and in the fifth year of Prophet hood (Hijrah) their daughter Ruqaiyyah (R.A) left them and migrated to Abyssinia (Ethiopia) with her Husband, Hazrat Uthman bin Affan (Radhiyallahu-Anhu). Ruqaiyyah (R.A) left her parents at a very young age and returned after four years; that time was a long and painful separation for her parents, Khadijah (R.A) and Muhammad (Sallallahu-Alayhi-Wasallam). During the Prophet hood, the Quraish did all they could to stop the Prophet (Sallallahu-Alayhi-Wasallam) preaching Islam. Nothing worked. The Prophet (Sallallahu-Alayhi-Wasallam) continued his mission, relying on Allah. Hazrat Khadijah (R.A) was his source of encouragement and comfort. She also had to bear enormous strain and suffering during the boycott at Sha’bi (the valley of) Abu Talib for three years. The great Muslim lady Khadijah (R.A) passed away on 10th Ramadhan in the tenth year of Hijrah, 620 CE, at the age of 65. Her death was a great loss to the Prophet (Sallallahu-Alayhi-Wasallam). He said: “I cannot bear the scene, I believe that Allah has kept much good in it.” He loved Khadijah (R.A) so dearly that after her death he used to remember her often. Hazrat Khadijah’s (R.A) status was such that the Angel Jibraeel (Alayhis-Salaam) used to bring salaam (greetings) for her from Almighty Allah. Young Muslim Sisters should know how devoted Khadijah (R.A) was to her husband and how much she did for him for the cause of Allah. Any Muslim of today would feel proud to have such a wife. The world could be changed by great Muslim ladies like Hazrat Khadijah (R.A). Inter-Islam

By Qari Mawlana Muhammad Tayyib al-Qasmi Summarised by Mawlana Moosa Kajee Their din is Islam which incorporates ‘aqa’id (beliefs), ‘ibadah (worship), mu‘amalat (social dealings), akhlaq (character) as well mu’asharat (social conduct). Their group is that of Ahl al-Sunnah wa ‘l-Jama’ah which is based totally on the Qur’an, Sunnah and the understanding of din in the light of the Sahabah which has reached us through a direct sanad (chain). Their fiqhi madhhab is Hanafi since the akabir (elders) of the Dar al-’Ulum were Hanafi, but at the same time refrain from slurring or insulting any of the other imams or their madhahib since all the imams were on haqq (truth). They have preferred staunch taqlid over giving their nafs a free reign and following their whims and fancy. Their spirituality is based on Tasawwuf which conforms totally to the Shari’ah, comprising of purification of the soul, beautification of one’s character and establishing a connection with Allah . Their beliefs (in the field of kalam (beliefs)) are Maturidi, a part of the Ahl al-Sunnah wa ‘l-Jama’ah who are on haqq, neither believing only in that which their intelligence accepts without considering the Qur’an, Sunnah and Ijma’, nor denying that one’s intelligence is a useful tool which clarifies the beliefs of Islam. Their chain of Tasawwuf is mainly Chishti, but in fact a combination of all chains which are on haqq. They are generally given khilafah (permission to accept pledge of allegiance) in all four famous chains i.e. Chishti, Qadiri, Naqshbandi and Suhrwardi. Their fikr (intellectual inclination) is according to the fikr of Shah Wali Allah which is a combination of naql (divine promptings) and aql (rational and intellectual promptings). Their principles and ideology regarding din are according to that of Mawlana Muhammad Qasim Nanautwi who had expounded on the beliefs of the Ahl al-Sunnah wa ‘l-Jama’a using logical and rational proofs and reconciled the differences between the Asha’ira and the Maturidiyya. Their ideology regarding the furu’ (subsidiary laws) of din i.e. fiqh is according to that of Mawlana Rashid Ahmad Gangohi who had figured out the intricacies of the field and expounded on it. Their nisbah (connection) is Deobandi since their starting point was the Dar al-’Ulum in Deoband. To achieve the spread of this school of thought, the Dar al-’Ulum was founded on these objectives: To spread the teachings of the Qur’an and Sunnah and to bring alive all branches of din through the system of ta’lim (teaching) and ta’allum (learning), since every facet of din is dependent upon knowledge. Thus the ‘ulama of Deoband gave greater significance to knowledge over all other branches of din. Islah and tazkiyah nafs (spiritual reformation and purification of the soul) through the medium of Tasawwuf and spiritual training. To protect and establish the personal and social interests of the Muslims by giving importance to fiqh (jurisprudence) and Islamic justice. To keep alive the spirit of jihad and self-defence by continuous training. To reform the society through the means of lectures and sermons which will aim to correct the incorrect beliefs of the masses, removing misconceptions regarding Islam and root out bid’ah (innovations). To bring alive the Sunnah by combining fikr (concern) for the reformation of the people and ‘amal (practice) by promoting the Sunnah lifestyle. To spread Islam and its beautiful teachings to all foreign non-Muslims by explaining to them that true wisdom lies in the way of the anbiya’ (messengers), not in their superficial wisdom and so-called progress. To fill the vacuum void of writing and authoring by presenting Islam according to the necessity of the hour. To keep Islamic brotherhood alive and to establish an Islāmic Khilāfah. To maintain freedom and independence in their expression of knowledge so that their teachings remain free from the influence of strangers by avoiding any assistance from the state and sufficing upon the sincere assistance, albeit limited, of the Muslim public. Thus it is not the system of the ‘ulama of Deoband to limit din to a few aspects labouring under the misconception that this is the entire din. Rather every aspect and branch of din is firmly adhered to in a just, enveloping maslak (ideology). (‘Ulama of Deoband. Azaadville: Madrasah Arabia Islamia. 1432H, 2011C. p. 13-6)