ummtaalib

Question: When it comes to womens sajdah in the Hanafi madhab they are required to put their arms on the ground. It seems as this conflicts with the hadith of Bukhari where the Prophet [saw] forbade putting the hands on the ground like a dog. Please give proof as to why women should go against this hadith even if it be for the sake of modesty. Answer: In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh. Women placing her forearms on the ground in sajda is understood from the following: Rasullullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said: عن يزيدَ بن أبي حبيب أنَّ رسولَ الله مَرَّ عَلَى امرأتينِ تصليانِ، فقال : «إذَا سَجَدْتُمَا فَضُمَّا بعضَ اللحمِ إلى الأرضِ، فإنَّ المرأةَ لَيْسَتْ في ذلِكَ كالرجلِ “When you make prostration, keep your body attached to the ground because a woman has not been created like a man” [1] If a woman raises her elbows from the ground, her body will not be attached to the ground. Thus she will go against the dictates of the Hadeeth. The narrators of the above Hadeeth have not been classified as weak and not acceptable. In fact, Imam Baihaqi (Rahmatullahi Alayhi) has classified this Hadeeth as the best “Mawsool” Hadeeth on this topic.[2] عن أبى سعيد الخدرى رضى الله عنه صاحب رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أنه قال خير صفوف الرجال الصف الاول وكان يأمر الرجال أن يتجافوا فى سجودهم ويأمر النساء ينخفضن فى سجودهن وكان يامر الرجال أن يفرشوا اليسرى وينصبوا اليمنى فى التشهد ويأمر النساء أن يتربعن وقال يا معشر النساء لا ترفعن أبصاركن فى صلاتكن تنظرن إلى عورات الرجال Abû Saîd Khudrî (Radhiyallahu Anhu) says that Rasûlullâh (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said, “The best saff for the men is the front saff while the best saff for the women is the last saff. He used to command the men to completely stretch out when performing sajdah while he ordered the women to completely contract during the sajdah. He used to command the men to lay down the left foot and make the right foot upright during tashah-hud. And he used to order the women to practise tarabbu’ (to sit cross legged) and he said, “O women, do not raise your glances in salâh in order to look at the satr of the males.[3] If a woman raises her elbows in Sajdah, she will not be contracting herself as ordered in the Hadeeth. Imâm Abdur Razzâq (211 A.H) رحمه الله has quoted the following hadîth in his Musannaf: وعن على قال إذا سجدت المرأة فلتحتفز ولتلصق فخذيها ببطنها Alî (Radhiyallahu Anhu) says, “When a woman prostrates, she must practise ihtifâz and keep her thighs close to her stomach.”[4] Spreading her elbows will be against Ihtifaaz. Imâm Abû Bakr Ibn Abî Shaybah (235 A.H) رحمه الله narrates the following statement: عن ابراهيم قال إذا سجدت المرأة فلتزق بطنها بفخذيها ولا ترفع عجزتها ولا تجافى كما يجافى الرجل “Ibrâhîm رحمه الله says that when a woman prostrates, she should join her thighs to her stomach without raising her posterior and without stretching her limbs out like a male.”[5] The above will not be fulfilled if a woman raises her elbows in Sajdah. The above Ahadeeth are clear regarding the difference in posture of the man from that of a woman in Salaah. Anyone who has even basic knowledge of Hadeeth would understand the concept of Mukhtalif al-Hadeeth and the sciences of reconciling apparent inconsistencies in Ahadeeth. Not being able to do this will lead one to erroneous conclusions as understood from the question. And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best Moulana Ismail Desai, Durban, South Africa Darul Iftaa Croydon Checked and Approved by, Mufti Ebrahim Desai. 1اعلاء السنن (ج3، ص 26) التلخيص الحبير (ج 1، ص 91) مراسيل لأبي داود 2قال البيهقي: هو أحسن من موصولين في هذا الباب (اعلاء السنن، ج 3، ص 27) 3 السنن الكبرى للبيهقى(ص 223، ج 2 , نشر السنة , ملتان باكستان) و سنن البيهقى (ص 223، ج 2، ادارة التأليفات) المصنف لعبد الرزّاق ، ج 3، ص 138، رقم الحديث: 4932[4] المصنف لابن أبى شيبة ،ج 1،ص 270[5 http://efiqh.com/2012/when-it-comes-to-womens-sajdah-in-the-hanafi-madhab-they-are-required-to-put-their-arms-on-the-ground/

If a womens menstruation cycle had begun whilst fasting Question If a womens menstruation cycle had begun whilst fasting, How should she conduct her self and what if she stops menstruating during her fast? Answer In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuhu If her menses commenced whilst fasting, She is permitted to eat (not in public). If her menses stopped in the day, she should abstain from eating, drinking, etc. in both instances she should make up for the Qada fast after the month of Ramadhan.[1] And Allah Ta’ala knows best Mufti Luqman Hansrot Fatwa Dept [1] (Fataawa Aalamgiri, Rashidiyya, Vol 1, Pg 214) (Ahsanul Fataawa, , Vol 4, Pgs 438, 457) (Fataawa Mahmoodiya, Vol 10, Pg 169) http://efiqh.com/2012/if-a-womens-menstruation-cycle-had-begun-whilst-fasting/

What is the Sharia Ruling with regards to wearing colored contact lenses for females Question What is the Sharia ruling with regards to wearing colored contact lenses for females? Answer In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuhu It is permissible for a female to wear colored contact lenses for beautifying herself only for her husband. If there is any form of deception by wearing colored contact lenses, it will not be permissible. Nabi Salallāhu Alayhi Wasallam mentions, مَنْ غَشَّنَا فَلَيْسَ مِنَّا “Whoever deceives us, he is not from amongst us.”[1] And Allah Ta’ala knows best Mufti Luqman Hansrot Fatwa Dept [1] (Sahīh Muslim Vol. 1 Pg. 99, Dārul Ahyā’ Aturāth Al ‘arabī) http://efiqh.com/201...es-for-females/

Question: 1) Are women allowed to wear false lashes? 2) Are women allowed to wear colored contact lenses (a prescription contact)? 3) Are we allowed to get our hair cut/trim at a salon by a female? 4) Are we allowed to cut our hair in layers? (without imitating men or kafir women) Answer: In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh. 1) It is not permissible for woman to wear false lashes. 2) It is permissible for a woman to wear colored contact lenses by prescription.However, the disguised colors of the eyes should not lead to deception, for example, a boy sees a girl for purposes of marriage. 3) It is not permissible for a woman to cut or trim her hair. 4) It is not permissible. Mufti Ebrahim Desai; Idealwoman.org

Question Are woman allowed to cut their hair and colour it black? Answer In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful Assalaamu `alaykum waRahmatullahi Wabarakatuh 1) It is not permissible for women to cut their hair. The illustrious Fuqahaa have mentioned that if a woman cuts her hair she will be sinful and worthy of curse, even in the case where her husband desires for her to do so. وفيه : قطعت شعر رأسها أثمت ولعنت زاد في البزازية وإن بإذن الزوج لأنه لا طاعة لمخلوق في معصية الخالق ، ولذا يحرم على الرجل قطع لحيته ، والمعنى المؤثر التشبه بالرجال (Darrul Mukhtar, Vol. 6, P. 407, HM Saeed) The above ruling is also supported by the following Hadith: Abdullah Ibn Amr (Radiyallahu Anhu) narrated that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) prohibited free women from cutting their hair up to the shoulders. عن عبد الله بن عمرو قال : « نهى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم عن الجمة للحرة والعقيصة للأمة » (Al-Mu'jam Al-Sagheer Li Tabraani) 2) It is not permissible for men and women to dye their hair black. Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) has said: قال رسول الله -صلى الله عليه وسلم- « يكون قوم يخضبون فى آخر الزمان بالسواد كحواصل الحمام لا يريحون رائحة الجنة ». "There will be people who come later in time who will apply dye that is black like the stomachs of pigeons; those people will not get to smell the fragrance of paradise." (Sunan Abi Dawud, Vol. 2, P. 222, HM Saeed) However, it is permissible to dye the hair any other color as long as it is not for the purpose of following modern-day fashion. It is a sunnah to use mehndi to dye the hair red. ( اختضب لأجل التزين للنساء والجواري جاز ) في الأصح ويكره بالسواد (Darrul Mukhtar, Vol. 6, P. 756, HM Saeed) أما بالحمرة ، فهو سنة الرجال و سيما المسلمين (Raddul Muhtar, Vol. 6, P. 756, HM Saeed) (Fatawa Mahmudiyya, Vol. 19, P. 454, Faruqiyya) And Allah knows best Wassalam Ml. Asif Umar, Student Darul Iftaa Checked and Approved by: Mufti Ebrahim Desai Darul Iftaa, Madrassah In'aamiyyah http://askimam.org/public/question_detail/16450

'AbAbu 'Ali, a man from Banu Kaalil, said, "Abu Moosa al-Ash'ari addressed us and said, "O people! Fear this shirk as it is more hidden than a crawling ant." 'Abdullah ibn Hazm and Qays bin al-Madaarib both stood and said, "By Allah! You should clarify what you have said, otherwise we shall bring 'Umar with authority on our behalf or without it". He then said, "Rather I will explain to you what I said. Allaah's Messenger (saw) addressed us one day and said, "O People! Fear this shirk as it is more hidden than a crawling ant." Then someone whom Allaah had willed to speak said: " And how shall we save ourselves from it when it is more hidden than a crawling ant, O Messenger of Allaah?" . He said, "Say "Allahumma inni a`udhu bika an ushrika bika wa ana a`lamu wa astaghfiruka lima la a`lamu" [O Allah I seek refuge in You from knowingly associating partners with You, and I seek Your forgiveness for that which I do not know] .

Riyaa' is when one intends to gain the people's pleasure when drawing close to Allah Tala. It is action of the heart and not the action of the tongue. For example: One can draw closer to Allah Tala in worships ('Ibadaat) or many other things. So the one who prolongs his prostration so that people can see him is showing off. The one who writes an article so that people say he is a scholar is showing off. The one who gives a lecture to impress the people is showing off. The one who gives a khutbah so people say he is a good khateeb is showing off. The one who wears rags so people say he is simple is showing off. The one who grows a beard and wears jalbiyya so people say he is following sunah is showing off. The one who walks with head down so people think he is pious is showing off. The one who carries a small copy of the Quran and reads it in public to show people is showing off. We live in a reality where there is no shame in showing off, rather the great majority of Muslims are naive and unaware of its reality and rules. Riyaa is not discovered by anyone except Allah Tala, even the one who is doing it at times is not aware of it unless he enjoys Khalis Ikhlaas.Riyaa (showing off) is absolutly forbidden. Ibn Majah and al-Bayhaqi reported wiht a hasan isnad on the authority of abu Saeed al-khudri that Prophet (saw) said when he saw them talking about the Maseeha ad-dajjal, he said: "shall I not inform you what i I fear of you more than the Maseeh ud-Dajjal? we said: Yes, Oh Messanger of Allah! he said: It is the hidden Shirk, which is when a man stands up for prayer, then beautifies his prayer for because of another man is looking (at him)." in Another hadith the prophet (saw) said: " A little showing off (riyaa') is shirk." The Riyaa of shirk invalidates the action . Ahmed reported on the authority of Ubay b. Ka'ab with a hasan Isnad tha the prophet (saw) said: "Give good tidings to this ummah of splendor, high ranks, victory and strengthening. Whoever of them worked the deeds of Akhirah for the sake of the world , he would not have any share/reward in the akhirah." Riyaa` is shirk, Allah Tala will ignore the action done out of Riyaa' to the one who associates partners with Allah Tala (shirk), he Allah Tala on the day of judgement will ask the one who does Riyaa, ask for Riyaa from the Shareek (partner one associated with Allah) ie the one for whom the action was done to please other than Allah Tala. Trick of Shaytan with Riya to lessen our Ibadah In between our effort to avoid riya(show off) beware of the Devils whispers! For Example: In between the prayer the Shaytan will try to convince us to shorten the prayer, misguiding us with the reason of Riya. Also when we are about to post a good article, the Shaytan will wishper 'Dont do it people might think you are a show off'. Do not leave an Ibadah inorder to avoid Riya, but instead do more of it, just be sincere and keep in mind that we do it ONLY to please Allah ta'ala. So we have to be careful of both things: 1. Avoid riya(show off) 2. Do not avoid doing good deed for the fear of Riya. Riya is a double edged sword indeed. There is a technique to avoid riya ,which i have heard from an imam, to avoid both of it in one go. Whenever you are in situation when you have to do Ibadat(like salath or giving zakat) while there are people around you, just go ahead and do it while considering that you are surrounded by camels instead of people. In that way we can avoid Riya(showing off) and also will we be saved from decreasing the good deeds in the fear of showing off. The trick is not to care about what others think about your Imaan or good deeds. All that matters is what Allah (swt) thinks of us. Dua against riya. 'AbAbu 'Ali, a man from Banu Kaalil, said, "Abu Moosa al-Ash'ari addressed us and said, "O people! Fear this shirk as it is more hidden than a crawling ant." 'Abdullah ibn Hazm and Qays bin al-Madaarib both stood and said, "By Allah! You should clarify what you have said, otherwise we shall bring 'Umar with authority on our behalf or without it". He then said, "Rather I will explain to you what I said. Allaah's Messenger (saw) addressed us one day and said, "O People! Fear this shirk as it is more hidden than a crawling ant." Then someone whom Allaah had willed to speak said: " And how shall we save ourselves from it when it is more hidden than a crawling ant, O Messenger of Allaah?" . He said, "Say "Allahumma inni a`udhu bika an ushrika bika wa ana a`lamu wa astaghfiruka lima la a`lamu" [O Allah I seek refuge in You from knowingly associating partners with You, and I seek Your forgiveness for that which I do not know] . source: sunniforum.com

The works of Shah Waliullah Hazrat Shah Waliullah was born in Delhi on the 21 st of February 1703 A.D. His father, Shah Abdur Rahman was a great scholar and a mystic. He took special pain in the education and the training of his son. At the special age of 15, Hazrat Shah Waliullah had completed his education and then became a disciple (mureed) of his father who gave him spiritual training. When he was 17, his father died, for 12 years he taught in the fashion of his father. Twice he performed the Hajj pilgrimage. He attained a certificate of Proficiency in Hadith from the famous scholar, Shaikh Abu Tahir Bin Ibrahim of Madina, when he was in Arabia, the marhatta turmoid was at its height and his friends advised Hazrat Shah Waliullah to stay in Arabia. As such he left Arabia in 1145 AH and reached Delhi on 14 Rajab 1145 AH. On reaching Delhi, he devoted most of his time in writing books and to preaching in public meetings. The teaching activity was limited to the lessons of Hadith. The political and the moral degeneration of the Muslims had tremendous effects on the sensitive thinking mind of Hazrat Shah Waliullah. His famous book “Al-Tafheematul llahia” minutely pen points all the various defects, shortcomings and vices, which had taken roots in various sections of the Muslims. His aim, metaphorically speaking, was to destroy the rotten moral buildings and to reconstruct a new mansion over it. He bluntly wrote in one of his writings “I have arrived to destroy every old in region at present. The most monumental task he performed was to translate the Quran from Arabic to Persian which was the language spoken by the Muslims at that time in India. His aim was that educated Muslims may have access to the Quran without depending on the scholars who had opposed his reformatory measures. The short sighted ullama gathered and wanted to kill him for his sin of translating the Quran from Arabic to Persian but he continued with his task till he completed it. This task was appreciated by Allah so much so that the Quran is translated to many languages. Apart from the Holy Quran, Shah Waliullah also wrote authentic books on Hadith, the principles of Hadith, Tafseer and on mystical subjects. But the most popular book of “Hujatul Baligdh”. This book explains how Islam was found suitable for all races, cultures and people of the world and how successfully it solves social, moral, economic and political problems of human beings. He died in Delhi on the year 1176 AH corresponding to 1762 AD, behind the central jail. There is a vast ground and a graveyard known popularly as “Mehindin Kakhitta” which contains in it the grave of Shah Waliullah and his progeny. Hazrat Shah Waliullah was fortunate of having children who were great scholars and god-fearing men like himself. His eldest son Shah Abdul Aziz was born in 1159 AH and died in 1238 AH corresponding to 1823 AD. At the age of 17 he had become an accomplished scholar and began teaching like his father. For 60 years, he continued teaching and preaching Islam. The blessing of his knowledge reached every corner of the Indian sub-continent. Because of his versatile genius he was giving the title “Ayatullah”, a sign of God. The second of Shah Waliullah Rafi-uddin. He was born in 1163 AH and died in 1233 AH. His scholarly qualities may well be judged from the fact that when Shah Abdul Aziz had become to teach he passed on his responsibilities to Shah Rafi. Among the work of Shah Rafi his urdu translation of the Holy Quran. The third son of Shah Sahib was Shah Abdul Qadir who was born in 1162 AH and died in 1230 AH. He was also a big scholar by his nature, he loved solitude, and he spent his whole life in a secluded room of Akbar Badi mosque. He did not much attend to literary writings, however, his urdu translation under the title of “Mozih ul Quran” was his monumental achievement which is recognised by scholarly circles. His fourth son was Abdul Ghani. He was a saintly person. His son Shah Ismail Shaheed was a unique personality who had combined in himself all virtues of scholarly and mystical personalities. In short, due to sincere and dedicated efforts of Shah Waliullah and his family the illustrious banner of Islam kept flying over the Indian sub continent despite the decline and fall of the Mughal empire. In Spain, the faith of Islam disappeared with disappearance of the Muslim rule. Many Muslims were killed and many were converted to Christianity. In India however the intention of the British Government did not realize and Muslim India did not convert to the faith of the ruling people despite missionary efforts of the British Government who spent millions of pounds on missionary activities and arranged lectures, debates and seminars to propagate their faith. The failure of the British Government in converting Muslim India was due to the dedicated efforts of Hazrat Shah Waliullah and his noble family. http://www.inter-islam.org/Biographies/biographydex.htm

When you are hurt by the people who share blood relations with you, recall Yusuf [alayhis salaam] who was also betrayed by his brothers. When you find your parents opposing you (in deen) recall Ibraheem [alayhis salaam] who was made to jump into a blazing fire by his father. When you are mocked and abused by your own relatives just because you adopted deen over duniya, recall Rasul Allah [sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam] who faced the same. When you are stuck into some problem and find no way out recall Yunus [alayhis salaam] who was stuck inside the belly of a whale. When you fall ill and your whole body cries with pain, recall Ayoob [alayhi salaam] who was more ill than you. When someone slanders you, recall 'Aysha [radiallahu anhaa] who was also slandered throughout the city. When you feel lonely recall how Adam [alayhis salaam] felt when he was created alone at first. When you can't see any logic in what's going on and your heart asks why this is happening, recall Nooh [alayhis salaam] who built the biggest ship without questioning. Subhan Allah! Allah put all those great personalities in trial so that the generations to follow may learn a lesson in patience and perseverance. May Allah swt include us among His patient and grateful servants. Ameen! Lesson of the Day http://hubbeilahi.blogspot.co.uk/

A true friend is one who shares your joy And one who is with you in times of uncertainty. It is one who wipes your tears away in grief And who cares for you sincerely. It is one who never turns away from you, And bears all your faults patiently. It is one who reveals to others what is favourable to you, And conceals your bad side protectively. It is one who is extremely generous and kind, But will rebuke you gently when necessary. It is one who helps you up when you slip and fall, And holds on to you till you walk steadily. A friend you could rely on for everything, On whom, night and day, you could turn to trustingly. Can anyone be such a friend, One who, despite your faults, always looks on lovingly and compassionately? We search for such a friend far and wide, Constantly and endlessly, But if only we look carefully, we would find one closer to us than our jugular vein, One who will be there for us eternally!

A brief guide (22 pages) provided by MBCOL (Leicester). This booklet is a guide on what to do when a Muslim dies. It has been compiled with the help of an 'Aalimah (a female scholar) who held practical demonstrations of the bathing and shrouding for sisters on several occassions due to demand. Introduction Grief is the most painful of all human experiences and can bring about stronger emotions than perhaps you have ever felt. It is the process, which allows people to grieve and come to terms with the loss and resulting change in their lives. Grief is a very personal and individual experience and is comprised not of just one feeling, but of many. However, though we may experience different feelings at different times, grief usually follows a general, recognisable pattern. After a loss such as bereavement, the initial response is one of numbness and disbelief. Different people react in different ways and even if death occurred after a long ailment you may feel cold, numb, empty and the situation unreal for a time. You may experience anger, panic, guilt and sadness. This may also be accompanied by periods of restlessness, especially at night when it is difficult to sleep. You may react by becoming irritable or critical of yourself and others, which can lead to feelings of despair. All these are natural reactions to bereavement and it should not be assumed that you cannot cope any more. Muslims believe in the inevitability of death of the human body and not the end of the spirit but the beginning of the life hereafter, which is everlasting. Death must therefore be accepted and dealt with in a dignified manner and according to the rulings of the Islamic Shariah. Practices Following Death & an Insight on Arranging a Muslim Funeral.pdf

The Maktab The Lifeblood of the community It is an indisputable fact that the Ummah is currently passing through a phase of Jaahiliyyah (ignorance). The global onslaught upon the Ummah is on many fronts. However, the most dangerous and unfortunately the most effective is the silent battle that is waged on the hearts and minds of our innocent children. The battle is waged with smiling faces, alluring fashions, deceptive articles and even “exciting” toys which leave subtle messages in the hearts of children. Eventually, Muslim children with Muslim names but western hearts and minds grow up without any spirit of Islam in their lives. Apart from a few practices which they perform in a ritualistic manner, their lives centre on materialism and chasing “fun.” The true purpose of our existence in this earth is then completely lost. Thus it is imperative that we recognise the harm of this battle that is being waged on the hearts and minds of the Ummah. Having recognised it, steps must be taken to safeguard ourselves and our children from the onslaught. One of the most vital efforts in this regard is the effort of the Makaatib. It has become the means of stemming the tide of kufr in many parts of the world. Indeed, it is only by inculcating the awareness of Allah Ta’ala together with a sound knowledge of at least the fundamentals of Deen that will serve as a protection for our children. In the current conditions of fitnah and fasaad (mischief and corruption), lack of Deeni knowledge, Taqwa and a general mindset of materialism, the role of the primary Madarasah, The Maktab has become more important and vital than ever before. In numerous countries of the world, and indeed in our own country, the Makaatib have become a means of saving the Imaan of thousands and reversing the tide of Irtidaad (reneging from Islam). It is not possible to fully appreciate the fundamental function that these Makaatib fulfill in watering the seeds of Imaan which will later flourish, Insha Allah. Every parent should regard it as his/her incumbent duty to find a suitable maktab for their child to attend daily. Parents should be firm on sending their children to learn the Qur-aan as well as other basic tenets of Deen. Jamiatul Ulama (KZN) Council of Muslim Theologians 223 Alpine Road, Overport, Durban

By Khalid Baig "Say O People of the Book! Exceed not in your religion the bounds of (what is proper), trespassing beyond the truth. Nor follow the vein desires of people who went wrong in times gone by, --- who misled many, and strayed (themselves) from the even Way." [Al-Maidah, 5:77] Both Muslims and serious Christians can learn a lot from Christmas, the annual celebration of the victory of paganism over the religion of Prophet Isa (Jesus Christ), alayhi salam. No one disputes that the event and all its symbols came from pagan religions; it has nothing to do with the birth or teachings of Jesus Christ. For one thing, no one knows with certainty the date of birth of Jesus Christ. "In fact, dates in almost every month in the year were suggested by reputable scholars at one time or another," notes The American Book of Days. For another, the celebration of birthdays is itself a pagan idea, never promoted by any Prophet or Book of God, including the Bible. Early Church leaders opposed it strongly. As late as 245 CE African Church father and philosopher Origen wrote that it was sinful even to contemplate observing Jesus's birthday `as though he were a King Pharaoh."[The American Book of Days]. But the pagan world did have prayers and celebrations during the winter season. Those who worshipped the sun god because of its apparent power, used to become concerned about the fate of their god, in a world of many gods, as days became shorter and air very cold. It looked like the sun was being defeated by the god of snow that brought death and misery with it. "... in Rome, the sun in its winter solstice was at its weakest on December 25 and had to be born anew with the help of bonfires, lights, processions and prayer." [Reader's Digest Book of Christmas]. The Roman pagan celebration was called Saturnalia. The Persians also had similar celebrations for Mithras, their sun god. The evergreens, holly, ivy, and mistletoe plants, which remained green even during this wintertime, were similarly considered by the pagans to have magical powers. The Druids, whose Stonehenge temples can be seen in England, regarded mistletoe with reverence and used to burn it in sacrifice during the solstitial festivities. They also used to hang it in their houses. When you don't know the One True God, even leaves and plants can become god. They thought it brought good luck, fertility, and protection from witchcraft, and was an antidote to poison. Mistletoe is used even today, although the U.N. might consider banning it if the fertility claim proves true! In 1822 a Dr. Clement Moore, professor of divinity, wrote a poem titled "The visit of St. Nicholas." The poem became popular and Santa Claus was born. The reason for popularity? "... the time was ripe. A myth was needed, and the recreation of `old Christmas' was well in the wind."[William Sanson, A Book of Christmas]. Some decades later The New York Sun answered an 8 year old's question: Is there a Santa Claus? The answer has become classic and is worth noting. "Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see." So Santa Claus is divine, and judging from the Christmas celebrations, certainly more important than Jesus Christ himself. Early church leaders wanted to Christianize the pagan festivities, but their operating principle became: When you can't beat them, join them. For as Pope Gregory declared in 601 CE, "... from obdurate minds it is impossible to cut off everything at once." It was a license for another pearl of "wisdom": When in Rome, do as the Romans do. And so they did. First slowly and then rapidly. The Son of God replaced the sun god. Saturnalia was replaced by the ceremony for Christ or Christ Mass, which later became Christmas. For several centuries it was solely a church anniversary, observed by religious services. "At Christmas, men and women were not, repeat not, to dress up or mime; there were not to be auguries, such as superstitions about fire; houses were not to be decorated, no presents given, no well-laden tables, and a strict watch was to be kept on drink." But false religion drives out true religion. Consider Christmas gifts, a carryover from the Roman practice of giving dolls as gift in lieu of their earlier barbaric custom of offering human sacrifices. "The early Church frowned on gift giving as a pagan custom. But the people enjoyed it too much to abandon it, and so finally the Church accepted the idea and sanctioned it." [barbara Rinkoff, The Family Christmas Book]. Evergreens? "The early church forbade the use of them, but here again the custom was too deeply rooted and the ban was ignored. Finally the church accepted the use of evergreens for decoration." And on and on. Now consider this portrait of Saturnalia and contrast it with the original don'ts mentioned above: "... a fortnight of near riot, of drunkenness, noise and games, naked slaves singing, men dressing up as animals and behaving with less dignity, sex, often with perversion." [Reader's Digest Book of Christmas]. Anyone can see which picture represents today's Christmas more closely. With the advent of Capitalism, the old pagans got a new supporter in the form of the adman. George Bernard Shaw observed: "Christmas is forced on a reluctant ... nation by...shopkeepers and the press." This is how they can serve God, and make money at the same time. This in itself is a pagan idea and it is alive and well today. This defeat of Christianity at the hands of paganism must be contrasted with Islam's resounding victory over it. Before Islam, Arabia was a pagan country--big time. But none of the pagan customs survived after Islam. None whatsoever. There was no such thing as `the people wanted it very much so the church allowed it.' Islam completely eradicated not only the beliefs but also the practices and the symbols of paganism. This in itself is a miracle that serious students of comparative religions must reflect upon. Here is a living proof of the authenticity of the last Messenger, Salla-Allahu alayhi wa sallam. The success continued throughout the centuries. The secret of this great success lies in what Stuart Brown (The Nearest in Affection, see book review), deplores as Muslim "antipathy to innovation." The first Khalifah, Abu Bakr, Radi-Allahu anhu, had declared in his first address as the new ruler, that he was a follower not an innovator, thereby setting the tone for all successors. Throughout Islamic history there have been attempts to introduce bida (innovation) as innocent good practices, but unlike Christianity, there have always been rightly guided ulema who fought them strongly. The struggle continues today. Yes, Muslims can learn from Christmas. Those of us who may be wondering what is wrong with Milad Nabi celebrations may do well to realize that Christmas also started as Milad for Jesus Christ.

Words of Worth Shaykh Muhammad Saleem Dhorat (Hafizahullah) 1. Any good that exists in the heart will make its effect apparent, just as a bottle of musk emits its fragrance. 2. Whenever doing anything - good or bad - think to yourself that it may be your last action. 3. It is not possible to aim without a target, so make Allāh your target and then aim. 4. Never delay in securing du‘ās from three people: your parents, your shaykh and your teachers. 5. Dīn is not about doing things to please yourself; Dīn is about pleasing Allah. Read more: http://www.at-tazkiy...words_worth.pdf

Q. At what age should infants be weaned off breastmilk? (Query published as received) A. Infants should be weaned off breast milk by the time they reach the age of two (lunar) years. And Allah Knows Best Mufti Suhail Tarmahomed Fatwa Department Jamiatul Ulama (KZN) Council of Muslim Theologians

Question my question is weather pictures are haram in islam i know drawing eyes is haram but if i use a camera and took pictures with that be considered as haram please can you varifiy weather i am allowed to take pictures or not Answer In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful Assalaamu `alaykum waRahmatullahi Wabarakatoh During the time of the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم there existed various ways of producing a picture; e.g. carving, painting, tracing, drawing, etc. The Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم prohibited all these different types of pictures. In other words, the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم declared that pictures are prohibited and not the means of taking the photo. The ruling of picture-making does not change by the changing of the tool with which the picture is produced. The invention of a camera merely marks yet another method of taking a photo. In order to understand this further it is essential that you understand the definition of a photograph. The Oxford Dictionary defines the term ‘photograph’ thus, “a picture taken by means of the chemical action of light on a sensitive film.” The American heritage dictionary has defined it as “An image, especially a positive print, recorded by a camera and reproduced on a photosensitive surface.” The Websters revised unabridged dictionary, “A picture or likeness obtained by photography.” These citations prove that a photograph is a picture (and not a mere reflection). Therefore, they will fall in the ambit of the explicit prohibition which is found in numerous authentic Ahadith. And Allah knows best Wassalam Ml. Ismail Moosa, Student Darul Iftaa Checked and Approved by: Mufti Ebrahim Desai Darul Iftaa, Madrassah In'aamiyyah http://askimam.org/p...on_detail/17346

wish we could be like this!!

According to Dr ‘Abdul Hayy ‘Aarifi, out of the many deeds to do with the inward state which should be acquired under the supervision of a qualified Shaykh, four of them form the basis of Tasawwuf and they are the very moving spirit and foundation of the Faith as a whole. They are easy to practice under all conditions whether on the go or in relaxation and very effective if one acquires constancy in them. Many evil characteristics will automatically become weakened and many good traits will be strengthened. الشُّكْر Gratitude From the moment you wake up look around and acknowledge every blessing, whether worldly or religious and express gratitude and make a resolution of using that blessing in the correct way. Even in adversity, cast a glance at the blessings which surround you despite being undeserving. Gratitude generates love for Allah and relationship with Him is strengthened اَللّهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ وَلَكَ الشُّكْرُ Allaahumma lakal hamdu walakash shukr All praise belongs to Allah. O Allah, for You is all praise and for You, all gratitude ********** الصَّبْرPatience Allah puts man to tests to show the strength of his belief. The inward deed of patience is hard but crucial. To believe that all distress, grief, hardship etc are from Allah and that there is wisdom and mercy in it is a fast working treatment for the shock and for attaining peace of mind and heart in trying circumstances. For patience Allah has promised His company by saying “We are with the patient” اِنَّا لِلهِ وَاِنَّآ اِلَيْهِ راجِعُوْنَ Innaa lillaahi wainnaa ilayhi raaji’oon To Allah we belong and to Him we are sure to return ********** الْاِسْتِغْفار Repentance The human heart is under constant pressure from urges of sinning. How many sins do we commit knowingly and unknowingly? Immediately turn to Allah with regret and remorse and beg forgiveness and have the black spot of sin removed permanently. اَللّهُمَّ اغْفِرْلى Allaahummagh firlee O Allah, forgive me ********** الاِسْتِعاضَةSeeking Allah’s Protection Seeking protection from the unforeseen is just as important whether it be seeking protection from calamities or from sinning, i.e. matters relating to one’s life in this world or one’s faith and the Hereafter. One is often assailed with fears and one should immediately turn to Allah and ask for His protection. لاحَوْلَ وَلا قُوَّةَ اِلاّ بِاللّهِ لا مَلْجَأَ وَلا مَنْجَأّ مِنَ اللهِ اِلآّ اِلَيْهِ Laa hawla walaa quwwaata illaa billaahi, laa malja-a walaa manja-a minallaahi illaa ilayhi There is no might (to guarantee safety against evil) and there is no power (to help acquire anything good) except with the help of Allah. There is nowhere to go and there is no refuge from Allah unless it be toward Him ********** From “A Daily Program of Dhikr and Du’a” by Dr. Muhammad ‘Abdul Hayy ‘Aarifi

Sheikh Saadi (Rahmatullah ‘alayh) mentions a beautiful story, in his Bustaan, of a raindrop which fell from a spring cloud. Seeing the magnitude and vast expanse of the ocean, it was ashamed. Reflecting and introspecting, it thought : “Where am I next to the sea ? Compared with it, I am extinct. I am nothing.” In its contemplative and pensive mood, it regarded itself with an eye of disdain. Whilst doing so, an oyster surfaced from the ocean and took the raindrop within the haven of its care. Destiny then shaped its course that eventually the raindrop became a renowned Royal pearl. For its humility and humbleness, it found itself exalted. Its annihilation, made it existent.

In Mathnawi Mawlana Jalal uddin Rumi (Allah have mercy on him) gives an excellent example to encourage us to give up all that is sinful right now. The sinful desires are like seeds of a humongous, foul smelling, full of thorns and fruitless tree. If one follows them and commits the sin it is like watering the seed. It germinates and grows in the middle of a path. If one continues to follow his desires the seedling gets nutrition. It becomes a sapling and eventually a tree. The leaves, branches and roots spread. And the tree is firmly ‘rooted’. Being in the middle of a path it is a major obstacle. Removing it now is not easy. It requires special equipment and expertise. It would have been very easy to remove the seedling. Similarly, by giving into sinful desires we nurtures the lower self (nafs) and it becomes stronger each day. We may fool himself ourselves with lame excuses, like it is lesser of the two evils, or it is a norm to do these things nowadays, or it is a phase it will pass, or I will give it up after I graduate or get married or have children, etc. We procrastinate. With each passing day the tree of sinful desires (nafs) grows strong, whereas as the sinful individual gets older, loosing the mental sharpness, the emotional vigor and the physical strength as part of the natural aging process.. We have to be wise and not delay. It is easier to give up sins right now. http://www.ashrafiya.com/2012/05/23/stop-watering-it-and-root-it-up/

Why a Shaykh? “Take the example of a person who wants to lose weight. In the initial weeks, with self motivation at its peak, he will exercise regularly, follow a special diet and do all the necessary things required to achieve his objective. However, after a few weeks once the initial motivation wanes, he will return to his old ways and will end up as he started, with no long term benefit whatsoever. In contrast, if this person had taken professional advice from the outset, he would have been able to set a timetable and develop a manageable action plan under expert guidance. This in conjunction with the continued supervision of the dietician would have resulted in long term benefit and success in his objective. This is precisely the example of the relationship between a shaykh and a murīd. A murīd will find great difficulty in purifying his soul and acquiring the recognition of Allāh ta’ala by himself. Thus he needs someone to slowly – but surely – guide him and take him along the path that leads to soul rectification and the recognition of Allāh ta’ala. That someone is the Shaykh.” Courtesy of In Shaykh's Company: a blog maintained by the students of Shaykh Muhammad Saleem Dhorat hafizahullah www.shaykh.org

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed that as one problem was solved, a new one arose. Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to a boil. In the first, she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil, without saying a word. In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She then pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, “Tell me, what do you see?” “Carrots, eggs, and coffee,” she replied. She brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. She then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, she asked her to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, “What does it mean, Mother?” Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity – boiling water – but each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior. But, after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were put in the boiling water, they had changed the water with colour and a beautiful aroma. “Which are you?” she asked her daughter. “When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?” The egg, the carrot, and the coffee all went through the same trial: hot water. And yet, they each reacted differently, the inside of the egg hardened, the carrot softened altogether, and the coffee turned the water into something purely delicious. The same concept applies to us, to what happens to us when we go through our own hot water, don’t you think? We all are going through trials of our own, but only we can decide if we will weaken and loose our courage and strength altogether – like the carrot, or have our hearts harden, and turn cold – like the egg, or to change the situation itself instead of wallowing in the misery of it, choose to improve the circumstances, and revise the entire environment itself – like the coffee. How do you handle adversity? When the hours are the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate to another level? Are you changed by your surroundings or do you bring life and flavor to them? http://idealwoman.org/2012/be-firm-and-prevail/

Once a boy went to a shop with his mother. The shop keeper looked at the small cute child and showed him a bottle with sweets and said ‘Dear Child, you can take some of these sweets. But the child didn’t take any of them. The shop keeper was surprised, such a small child he is and why is he not taking the sweets from the bottle. Again he said take the sweets. This time the mother also heard that and said… beta take the sweets. Yet he still didnt take any. The shopkeeper seeing the child not taking the sweets, himself took the sweets and gave to them to the child. The child was happy to get two hands full of sweets. When they returned back home, Mother asked the child, “Why didnt you take the sweets, when shop keeper told you to take them, not once but twice?” Can you guess the response:- Child replies… Mom! my hands are very small and if i take the sweets I can only take a few, but now you see when the kind shop keeper gave with his big hands how many more sweets I got! Moral: When we take we may get little but when Allah gives… HE gives us more, beyond our expectations…more than what we can hold. Source: Haq Islam

This is a beautiful du’a for those of us who get angry quickly: اللّهُمَ اغْفِرْ لِيْ ذَنْبِيْ ، وَأَذْهِبْ غَيْظَ قَلْبِيْ، وَأَجِرْنِيْ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ Allahummaghfirli dhanbi, wa adh-hib ghayza qalbi, wa ajirni min al-shaytan. O Allah, forgive my sins, remove the rage in my heart and protect me from the Shaytan. (Ibn al-Sunni, 622) http://www.zamzamacademy.com/2012/11/do-you-want-to-cure-your-anger-problem/

Who are the Blind Followers? By Maulana Abu Usama Ayyub. This book discusses the issue of taqleed and responds to attacks made against it. Written mostly in a question/answer form, it handles "difficult questions" on the subject in an easy to understand manner. Second, revised edition. From the publishers: Some of the issues tackled in this book are: What is the need for different madh-habs when there is one Quran and one Nabi? Why do only four Madh-habs exist? Can all four schools of jurisprudence be concurrently correct? If a man claims to be following the fiqh of Imam Bukhari, will he not be on the straight path? Explanation of taqlid through a practical example. Lists of distinguished scholars of Hadith, who lived in different centuries and hailed from various lands, that followed each of the four madh-habs. Is it correct to say "I am a Muhammadi - not a Hanafi/Shafi"? The book consists of twenty-five similar questions about taqlid. At the end of the book a summary has been presented of a debate between Albani and al-Buti. Thereafter, as an example of how easily people are misled, the issue of performing salah with short sleeves has been dealt with in detail. http://www.albalagh....=view&item=1372