Poetry: Family

Dear to me are my family,
With them I live happily.

Whenever problems begin to appear,
They are the first to show their care.

I love my family more than a million words could ever say,
And our bonds are strengthened when we stand together and pray.

My best friends are my parents to whom I am in debt,
They are better than the tons of people that I have met.

My siblings make my heart blossom with immense joy,
We laugh when we remember the past and all the broken toys.

I still think about and miss those who have left,
How strange it is that pleasant memories leave us bereft.

Our families will be there for us before any old or new friend,
They love us unconditionally and will always have time to lend.

How foul are we to our families who only wish for our protection,
Yet we curse them and wish that we could have made the selection.

Be happy with who your mother, father, brother sister and family are,
And hold your tongue back before you utter words that will leave a scar.

Keep ties with those who break ties from you and be kind,
They may not know but you do, so do not walk around blind.

And if you still don’t understand the worth of those who inhabit your house,
Then you have lost all respect and have become even smaller than a mouse.

Ask the orphan with regards to the virtue of a family,
For he has nobody to live with happily.

Don't Be A 'Quitter'

Different people are affected mentally by different things. Different situations bring out different characteristics from within a person. Sometimes people are presented with a task which they are not comfortable with but they still dig deep (make huge efforts) in order to complete it. On the other hand there are other people who maintain a ‘give up’ mentality; and that is when a difficult situation is presented before them, they immediately feel it is impossible and beyond the boundaries of reality. As a result, they quit at the first hurdle and decide not to push themselves towards the attainment of their goals. This mentality can be simply put as, “When the going gets tough... I quit.”

As Muslims, when we do not understand how to do something our mentality should not be ‘I quit’. Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam and the Companions radiallahu anhum were presented with the severest of tasks. They were presented with tasks of huge magnitude but they did not carry this ‘I quit’ perception in their pockets. Rather, they had unerring fortitude and belief that they will complete their goals. Had they quit at the first hurdle, then how would this deen come to us? Likewise, it is seen over the period of history that the religion of Allah ‘azza wa jal has not been carried by people who had low self esteem and will power. Rather Allah Ta’ala has specifically chosen special souls to do the service of His religion because of their resolute nature. The greatest honour a person can have in this world is to serve this faith we have been gifted with in whatever way possible; whether it be that a person becomes a doctor and helps humanity or that he becomes a scholar and guides people towards the straight path, the basis of our existence is to serve the deen and this can only be done by men and women of strong, resolute, pioneering character.

When a person is presented a task which is outside of his ‘comfort zone’ he immediately begins to think about all his weaknesses. For example, sometimes a person may be asked to read a book out aloud to his class as part of class reading. As soon as this task has been delegated to him, he immediately begins a conversation within his own self along the lines of, “What if I make a mistake? People will laugh at me and think that I am stupid. Some of these English words are looking really big, what if I say it funny and people giggle?” These types of thought are all fuelling and whisperings from shaytaan khabees and should be ignored (say a’uzoo billahi min ash shaytaanir rajeem). When a person begins to think too much about a specific task, he makes it more complex than it really is. One dear friend of mine once advised me to make big things appear to be small so that the pressure is also reduced.

If we are struggling to perform a certain task than our state should not be that we hold our hands up and say, “I can’t do this!” Rather we should look at the task and say, “I do not have the knowledge on how to do this properly just yet but I will learn very quickly and then attempt to do this again.” It is very important to be optimistic at all times as opposed to being pessimistic and negative. When a person is optimistic and hopeful, he begins to brim with confidence and self belief. This will aid him hugely in completing his difficult task as he has already won half the battle which is within his mind. If our condition is such that we begin shaking at the mere possibility of each task then we will run away from it for as long as we live and we will never gain the experience to overcome our ‘teething troubles’ so as to speak.

Sometimes, to produce a resolute and stalwart characteristics within oneself is really hard, especially if the person is a soft person by nature. In situations such as these, my humble advice would be to use my ‘goli maro bhai’ (fire a bullet to the world) method. A person should not think too much and work by the spur of the moment. It is like when we get an injection from the nurse. We look at the needle and begin to get so scared. Sometimes people begin to cry just by seeing the needle that Allah bachai, this nurse is going to do my zabah (sacrifice)! Then when the time comes we know we can’t get away from it so we close our eyes and hope for the best but as soon as the needle comes in and out, the first words we say are, “That didn’t hurt you know.” This is spur of the moment ‘goli maro’ theory.

May Allah Ta’ala give us all the ability to strengthen our resolve and be from those people who achieve our ambitions. May He take great service of deen from us. Ameen.

Salaat ut Tasbeeh - The Prayer of Forgiveness

From among the statements of the ulama, this prayer has different names. Some call it Salaatut Taubah (repentance), others call it Salaat ut Tasbeeh (praise) and others call it Salaatul Gufraan (the prayer of forgiveness). Whatever the name, one thing which is established is that this prayer is extremely effective in removing the sins of a person. Sheikh Adnan Ali Uroor comments on this prayer by saying, "It is a cleansing for whomsoeever wants to be cleansed and success for whomsoever seeks salvation."

The Ulama of the past also used to hold this prayer with high regards. Hadhrat Abdul Azeez al Azdi rahimahullah would state, "Whoever desires paradise should perform Salaat ut Tasbeeh." and likewise, Abu Uthman Sa'eed ibn Isma'eel an Naysaapoori has stated, "I have not seen anything which is removes calamaties and afflictions like the way Salaat ut Tasbeeh does."

With regards to its authenticity, Ibn Aabideen has stated, "The hadith which in relation to it are reliable because of its many chains and those who consider it to be weak, then it is mere proposition which is unproved. It contains in it a reward which shoul not be left and thus, based on this, some of the Ulama say, 'No-one hears of blessing and leaves it except that he is negligent in regards to his religion."

Thereafter, the great commentator of hadith, Ibn Hajar rahimahullah has stated that the likes of Abdullah ibn Mubarak rahimahullah would pray this prayer and that it has been passed down from the elders.

Abdullah ibn Abbas radiallahu anhu has narrated that he was once informed by Rasulullah, "O Abbas, Should I not present to you? Should I not confer to you? should I not inform you of such an act, which if you practice, Allah will forgive all your sins, whether old or new, intentional or unintentional, minor or major, open or secret. (After describing the method of performing this salaah) Nabi salallahu alayhi wa salam stated, ”If possible, you should offer this salaah once everyday, and if you cannot perform it daily, then offer it on every Friday (weekly), or once a month, or once a year or at least once in your lifetime.” (Abu Dawud Sharif)

The Method

After reciting thanaa and before reciting Surah Fatihah repeat these words (the third Kalimah)

‘Subhanallahi Walhamdulillahi wa laa ilaa ha illallahu wallaahu akbar’ (Glory be to Allah, all praise is to Allah and there is no god but Allah and Allah is the Greatest).

fifteen times.

Then read Surah Fatihah and another surah, these words (above mentioned) should be repeated ten times before the ruku, ten times during the ruku, ten times after standing up from the ruku, ten times in each sajdah and ten times while sitting between the two sajdahs. All four rakaats should be performed in this manner, thus completing seventy five times (tasbeehs) in each rakaat and 300 times (tasbeehs) in four rakaats.

I have made a little picture chart showing the steps on how to pray this prayer. Please take a look if you get confused. Finally, it should be understood that it is not permissible to count the tasbeehaat with one's fingers! Rather it is permissible according the Ulama to use your fingers to press lightly against your body in order to keep count of your tasbeeh.

A Wife's Certificate

Taken from: Ashrafiya

'Arif billah Dr. Abdul Hayy ‘Arifi (Allah have mercy on him) said;

“Brethren! If you want to get a certification and approval for your knowledge obtain it from a Darululoom (maderassa) but for the achievements in tareeqat (i.e. getting rid of blame worthy moral traits like anger, pride, show off etc. & acquisition of praiseworthy moral traits like sincerity, humility, patience, etc.) get it from your wife, because she really knows you (inside out).”

Malfoozat-e-Arifi page 216

WOMENS EVENT: SCIENCE - THE WITNESS OF HADITH

Lantern of Knowledge Educational Institute/Jamia Siraj ul Uloom present

Science: The Witness of Hadith

Sunday 19th December 2010

1pm - 4pm

Sisters only event

Presentations and talks delivered by qualified Alimahs

Food will be served at the event

Lantern of Knowledge/Jamia Siraj ul Uloom, 30-36 Lindley Road, Leyton, London, E10 6QT.

Tel: 020 8539 5183 Web: www.jamia.co.uk

The Greatness of Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam

Note: The following is a transcript of a bayaan given by one of our authors when a group of misinformed people began to draw sketches of Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam on Facebook etc.

In recent times, we have seen many people attempt to ridicule Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam in many ways. The recent attempts that we have seen in relation to Facebook is only another endeavour to tarnish the blessed name of Muhammad salallahu alayhi wa salam. A name which can never be tarnished for as long as the tongues of mankind continue to sound and the pens of mankind continue to etch his praise.

The reason that these efforts have been made is due to a lack of understanding with regards to whom Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam is. This ignorance is not just prominent within the non Muslims but it has seeped its way into the Muslims today. Many of our hearts today are still asleep in relation to the conduct and character of Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam. The reason that his love has not penetrated our hearts is due to our negligence in learning about him. The more we learn about Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam, the more our hearts will be filled with admiration, awe, love and affection for him. The abuse that has been targeted to him in recent times is not something new but rather this is something old and ancient. Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam was made to suffer abuse much worse than what we see today. The people of his time would label him as being insane and this was so disliked in the eyes of Allah Ta’ala that Allah Ta’ala made radd and refuted these people and their like till the day of Qiyamah, He says in the Qur’an

نٓ‌ۚ وَٱلۡقَلَمِ وَمَا يَسۡطُرُونَ مَآ أَنتَ بِنِعۡمَةِ رَبِّكَ بِمَجۡنُونٍ۬ وَإِنَّ لَكَ لَأَجۡرًا غَيۡرَ مَمۡنُونٍ۬ وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ۬
“Nūn. By the pen and what people note down. By the favours of your Lord, You are not a mad man or insane as (people claim). Surely you will get your reward that will never cease, (your rewards is endless which has no limits). Surely, you are of sublime character.”

People will come and they have been coming from the beginning of Rasulullah’s salallahu alayhi wa salam prophethood and these people will continue to come. They will slander and speak falsely about Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam but their words will be like the ashes in the wind. When the wind blows, there words too will be blown and nobody will remember what they had to say. But the Qur’an is the Book of Allah Ta’ala and this means that it is the Word of Allah Ta’ala. And this Word will remain and continue to exist right up to the final hour and until then the statement will remain for the entirety of mankind that

وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ۬
Surely, you are of sublime character.

When it came towards caring and loving those people who were around him, then no person can match Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam with regards to the care and love he showed his ashaab radiallahu anhum. He once said in a hadith,

وأنا أمنة لأصحابى
I am a source of safety for my companions.

The attention and care he would show these blessed souls was unimaginable. He would give time and love to everybody and would not make anybody feel out of place. Hazrat Amr ibn al Aas radiallahu anhu narrates,

كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلّم يُقبِلُ بوجهِهِ و حديثهِ على اشرِّ القوم
Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasalam gave attention, spoke and showed love to the worst person of a nation. So that, the person may feel he is being given special attention.

The love he would give to people in general would be unimaginable. Today, we cannot even give time to our family members or to our spouses and Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam was such a man, that whomsoever would meet him would feel accepted straight away. Today, we only like to speak to those people whom we feel are on the same wavelength as us or on the same level of piety. This is incorrect, Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam was such that in the hadith it comes,

و يجيب دعوة مملوك
“He would accept the inivitation of a slave.”

A servant or slave would have only had a few pennies and so if he invited people for food, what would he cook? But Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam would not refuse, he would go and accept the invitation of a slave aswell and like his, he would care for everyone.

When it came to bringing an aura of happiness and cheerfulness to the people. He would always be smiling and would be cheerful. Abdullah ibn Haarith says,

ما رايت احدا اكثر تبسُّماً من رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلّم
“I did not see anyone smile more than Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam.”

Hazrat Aishah radiallahu anha says,

لم يكن رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلّم فاحشا و لا متفحّشا و لا صخّابا فى الاسواق و لا يجزى بالسيئة السيّئة و لكن يعفو و يصفح ،
“Rasulullah was not foul mouthed, nor would he pretend to be foul mouthed, nor would he shout loudly in the market, nor would he repay evil with evil, however, he would pardon and overlook”

Today, we are the opposite. Our tongues have become so foul that every sentence we utter contians swear words. We use our tongues to break of relations and be so rude to people who are not deserved of it. Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam would never shout loudly in the market. In those regards, he would never shout out and cause attention to come his way unecessarily. There are some people who have loud tendencies, whenever you see them they are shouting and hollering.

He would never shout loudly, nor would he rebuke people, he would never be rude or vulgar. He would always forgive people and would always overlook their mistakes. Today we catch people on their every fault and mistake. Sometimes we hold bitter rivalries with people because of the most silliest reasons. Over secrets which have been kept and over small things.

He always showed extreme modesty, he would never stretch his legs facing someone in a gathering. When he would arrive in a gathering, he would sit wherever there was an empty space. He would not look for the best spot nor would he make someone get up from their place in order to take theirs. Today we are the opposite, whenever we come into a gathering, we want to make sure people stand up for us and that they give us their seat!

He would look down most of the time and would never stare at the skies. He was cheerful, always smiling, even though he might be hiding many agonies. The muhaditheen mention that he would be in a constant state of worry out of fear of what will happen to his ummah in the akhirah but he would always put on a smile in order to bring comfort to the people around him. Sometimes people need to be optimistic and happy in order to keep the people around them in the same manner.

He had a beautiful fragrance that would emit naturally from his body. Sayyidina Abu Ya’laa radiyallahu anhu and others relate that in whichever alley Sayyidina Rasulullah sallallahu alaihe wasallam passed, others who passed later knew immediately that Sayyidina Rasulullah sallallahu alaihe wasallam had just passed there. Once Sayyidina Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasalam blew (made damm) on his palm and wiped it over the back and stomach of Sayyidina Uqbah radiyallahu anhu. It became so fragrant, and as he had four wives, every one of them put on so much itr, to equal that fragrance, but it could not overcome the fragrance Uqbah radiyallahu anhu had.

When it came to his humility, it is recognised that there is nobody more humble than he is. When he would walk, he would swiftly walk from one place to another. The sahabah radiallahu anhum relate how they sometimes would find it difficult to keep pace with him. He would be in once place at one time and then move very quickly. And during this walk, he would always maintain humility. He would never walk in a manner which showed boasting. Allah Ta’ala says in the Qur’an,

وَلَا تَمۡشِ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ مَرَحًا‌ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ مُخۡتَالٍ۬ فَخُورٍ
Do not walk on the earth with conceit, verily Allah does not love any self conceited boaster.

His humility was such that he would not be bothered with the material wealth of the world, he would be satisfied with what he had and would not try and force the issue of wealth. From amongst his dua’s would be,

اللهم قنعني بما رزقتني
O Allah, make me content on what you have provided for me.

His behaviour was such that once, Umar radiallahu anhu entered the house of Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam. And he saw that Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam was sleeping on the floor upon a mat made out of reed. Try it out some day, you will find a mat of this nature will scar your body and cause you pain... Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam is lying on this mat... Umar radiallahu anhu sees the state of Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam and

فبكى عمر
Umar began to cry

ما يبكيك يا عمر؟
What makes you cry O Umar?

والله! ما ابكى الاّ اكون اعلم أنّك أكرم على الله من كسرى و قيصر ، و هما يعيشان في الدنيا فيما يعشان فيه ، و انت يا رسول الله فى المكان الذي أرى!
I swear by Allah! I do not cry except that because I know that you are more exalted in the sight of Allah then the emperor of Persia and the Caesar of Rome. And they are both are at ease in the world and you, O Rasulullah are in this state that I am seeing you in.

What was the response of Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam?

ما لي و للدنيا؟
What is with me and the world?...

Today we find that people are running around after this world. I am not saying abandon it, that is incorrect. Take what you need and live but it is completely absurd that a person would want to spend £600 on a pair of jeans or £500 for his police man goggles. Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam was extremely simple in the manner he lived.

When it came to his relationship with Allah Ta’ala. His fear, reliance, trust in Allah Ta’ala was unparalleled. As for his fear of Allah Ta’ala, he would say “O Allah! Make Your love the most beloved of all things to me, and make Your fear and reverence the most fearful thing in my mind.” Sometimes during his night prayers, he would weep so bitterly that his chest would sound like a boiling kettle.

Today, we cannot even cry, our hearts have become so hard that we find it hard to cry.
As for his reliance, we recall the episode of Ta’if... The situation was such that he had been calling the people of Makkah to Islam but only some would listen. When it seemed that they would not listen anymore, Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam went to Ta’if where again he called people towards Islam.

For ten days he stayed there delivering his message to several people, one after another, but all to no purpose. The people of the Taif did not like this message, the people rushed him through the alley-ways, pelted him with stones and forced him to flee from the city pursued by a relentless mob all hurting him. Blood flowed down both his legs; his slippers were stuck to his Mubarak feet...such was the pain he had to suffer. The mob did not desist until they had chased him two or three miles across the sandy plains to the foot of the surrounding hills. There, wearied and exhausted, he took refuge in one of the numerous orchards, and rested against the wall of a vineyard.

At a time when the whole world seemed to have turned against him, Muhammad salallahu alayhi wa salam. He salallahu alayhi wa salam turned to his Lord and beseeched him. He is the messenger of Allah and he would have been justified if he had asked Allah Ta’ala to destroy these people yet look at the dua’a he prays...

“O Allah! To You do I relate the weakness of my strength, and lack of my planning and my low status in the eyes of people, O the Most Merciful from amongst those who are merciful! You are the Lord of those who are weakened, You are my Lord - to whom do You hand me over? To someone distant? One who will attack me? Or to some enemy in whose hands You have put my affairs? But if Your wrath does not fall on me, there is nothing for me to worry about., however, Your ‘aafiyat (security) is more encompassing for me. I seek refuge of the nur of Thy countenance with which all darkness lightens up, and upon which depends the matters of the world and the Hereafter. May it never be that I should incur Your wrath, or that You should be wrathful to me. It is Your right that forgiveness is sought from You until You are pleased. There is neither power to turn away from evil nor any strength to do good except with Your tawfiq.”

The effect of this powerful dua’a was such that Allah Ta’ala immediately sent an angel to the mountains which surrounded Taif. The angel asked Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam for permission to crush Taif between these two mountains but even then, Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam said,

بل ارجو أن يخرجَ من اصلابهم يعبدُاللهَ وحدَه لا يُشرِكُ به شئا
“No, rather I hope that such people will come from their offspring who worship Allah and do not associate partners to him.”

It is for this reason Allah Ta’ala has said in the Qur’an

لَّقَدۡ كَانَ لَكُمۡ فِى رَسُولِ ٱللَّهِ أُسۡوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ۬ لِّمَن كَانَ يَرۡجُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلۡيَوۡمَ ٱلۡأَخِرَ وَذَكَرَ ٱللَّهَ كَثِيرً۬ا
“There is indeed a good model for you in the Messenger of Allah - for the one who has hope in Allah and the Last Day, and remembers Allah profusely.”

If we were to adapt to his lifestyle, and inculcate the same qualities within us, we would also become beloved to Allah . It is important for us to hold on to the outward and inward characteristics of Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam. If we do not follow his sunnah in following him and changing our appearance to look like him, who will?

Relief & Protection from Jinn Problems

Read the following dua after salah and whenever you feel their effects.

أَعُوذُ بِوَجْهِ اللَّهِ الْكَرِيمِ وَبِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّاتِ اللاَّتِى لاَ يُجَاوِزُهُنَّ بَرٌّ وَلاَ فَاجِرٌ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا يَنْزِلُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ وَشَرِّ مَا يَعْرُجُ فِيهَا وَشَرِّ مَا ذَرَأَ فِى الأَرْضِ وَشَرِّ مَا يَخْرُجُ مِنْهَا وَمِنْ فِتَنِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ وَمِنْ طَوَارِقِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ إِلاَّ طَارِقًا يَطْرُقُ بِخَيْرٍ يَا رَحْمَنُ ماخوذ من موطأ مالك كتاب الشعر باب ما يؤمر به من التعوذ ص950 قديمى كتب خانه

You should also recite the following after Salaah and before sleeping:

•Surah Fatihah 3 times
•Ayat-ul-Kursi 3 times
•The four surahs beginning with قل
3 times
Insha’allah Allah will remove this calamity from you.

taken from Tafseer Raheemi

Being Down To Earth & Knowing One's Worth

Hazrat Maulana Zakariyya sahib would often say, “Know your worth.” In today’s society, that basically translates to “be down to earth”. Different people have different things to boast about. Some people take pride in worldly gains, cars, money etc and then others take pride in religious gains such as knowledge, worship etc. When a person begins to accumulate things which he considers to be extra ordinary, he convinces himself that he is in fact, extra ordinary. When such thoughts and ideas flow through the veins of a person, he begins to feel that every act he does is pioneering. Such a person is in need of becoming down to earth. His ideas in regards to himself has made his two feet leave the ground and he no longer lives on the same planet as everybody else. He feels that different rules apply to him due to his superiority and as a result of these nasty characteristics, people will look at him as being arrogant, haughty and conceited. The reality is, that is precisely what he has become. Once a person becomes known as arrogant and haughty, it is extremely hard for him break this image and become known as a humble person. On the contrary, a person who is ‘down to earth’, who understands ‘his worth’ and meets with people in such a manner that they see him as equal to themselves despite his superiority in worldly/religious gains; he becomes loved by all.

The great Imam Malik rahimahullah was once questioned by a person who had travelled at great lengths to meet him. Imam Malik rahimahullah responded to his question with the answer, “I do not know the answer to your question.” The man was in shock exclaimed, “What will I tell my people?!” and Imam Malik rahimaullah merely finished the conversation with, “Tell them that Malik has admitted to his ignorance.”

This is the humility of a man who was the Imam of Madinatul Munawwara! Despite his vast array of knowledge and his incredible intellect, he still claimed that he didn’t know anything! This was because he learnt knowledge and that knowledge taught him to become humble. There are others who learn knowledge and then use that knowledge to become arrogant. Just look at Shaytan khabees, he learned knowledge with regards to the elements and with regards to fire and clay; he then used that arrogantly and he became mal’oon (one who is cursed).

Be down to earth and a person will be walking on the footsteps of the pious predecessors of this nation like Imam Malik and on the other side, a person can convince himself that he is something and as a result he will be walking on the same path as Shaytan towards the fire.

May Allah Ta’ala give us all the ability to know our worth and give us the ability to become down to earth. Ameen.

EVENT: CHOSEN SOULS PART 2 - ONE DAY INTENSIVE AT LONDON MET

LONDON METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY ISLAMIC SOCIETY PRESENTS:

Chosen Souls - PART 2
Valuable Chapters From Splendid Lives

A Study of Great Islamic Personalities

A deep study of the lives of past scholars who endeavoured to dedicate their lives to piety, righteousness and great worship.

With Sheikh Irfan Sidyot
(Principal & Senior Lecturer of Hadith, Jamia Siraj ul Uloom)

Saturday 27th November 2010
10am - 4pm
London Metropolitan University
Calcutta House,
Old Castle Street,
London, E1 7NT

Lecture Room CM4-05 (4th Floor)
(Further details will be given to participants upon registration)

Closest Tube: Aldgate East

The book, course material and light refreshments will be provided. Tickets can be purchased through the Islamic Society. Tickets can also be registered by e-mailing: calcuttabros@googlemail.com. This event is open to all

TICKETS COST £5, REGISTER TODAY TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT. THOSE WHO ATTENDED PART ONE ONLY NEED TO REGISTER, ENTRY WILL BE FREE.

Two South Africans pedal their way to Hajj

Taken from Arab News

Two young South Africans have pedaled their way to Saudi Arabia to perform this year’s Haj. Nathim Cairncross, 28, and Imtiyaz Ahmad Haron, 25, both from Cape Town, said on arrival at the Saudi border before reaching Tabuk that they felt happy they were fulfilling their dream of performing Haj. “Pedaling our way to the Kingdom from Cape Town was a grueling experience. We wanted to travel this way so that we are prepared to experience the rigors of performing the pilgrimage,” Cairncross, a town planner by profession, told Arab News over the telephone on Monday night.

Both set out on their journey for the annual pilgrimage on Feb. 7 on their bicycles. They pedaled through Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, Tanzania, Kenya, Turkey, Syria and Jordan before reaching the Saudi border. “This is our first Haj. We could have come for Haj by plane, but it was our cherished desire to travel differently, so we chose to use our bicycles, as cycling is what we both love the most,” Cairncross said.

Both pedaled 80 to 100 km daily and took rest in mosques or tents after dusk and set out again after dawn. “People have been very cooperative and courteous. At every place that we passed through, they welcomed us and were happy to know that we were going for Haj. Food was never a problem as people took delight in offering us the choicest dishes. Of course, it was tiresome to pedal throughout the journey, especially when negotiating mountainous regions,” Cairncross added.

Language was a big problem for both of them. “Once we entered the Arab countries, we decided to pick up Arabic, especially while traveling through Syria and Jordan. This suited us well when we reached the Saudi border where the security officials were very friendly and welcomed and greeted us. They were also happy to know that we have undertaken this arduous journey to fulfill our Haj dream,” Cairncross said. “We came with a very small budget and we found to our delight there were people readily prepared to offer us the local cash and meet our needs.”

Both did not encounter any serious problem on their way through nine countries in the course of their nine-month journey. “All we did was to change tires and tubes, and fix the pedal chain from time to time.

Asked why they chose to ride bicycles, Cairncross said: “This gives us a lot of opportunity to meet and interact with different people in different countries. Additionally, we continued with our Dawa work wherever we stopped for our overnight stays.”

Both Cairncross and Haron are students of Islamic law and have studied Shariah. “I joined a university and completed a course in town planning and am working in the field of construction,” Cairncross said.

Both of them are single and love sports. While Cairncross is interested in wind surfing along beaches and seas, Haron, an economics graduate, excels in kickboxing and mountain climbing.

After the pilgrimage, both propose to return home via West Africa.

The Rights of Your Neighbours

Taken from Inter Islam

If one wants to live in peace and harmony in his home, he should find a house where there are good neighbours in a safe neighbourhood and decent society.

Allah informed us that neighbours are an important part of society. Without having good neighbours, people can have a difficult and miserable life. Accordingly, Allah Taa'la informed us to look after our neighbours, to care for them, to keep good relationships with them and to ensure that we have good neighbours. In taking care of our neighbours, Allah Taa'la associated them with the categories of parents, relatives, orphans, poor and needy. In Surah An-Nisa, Allah Taa'la says:

“Serve God, and join not any partners with Him, and do good to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, those in need, neighbours who are near, neighbours who are strangers, the companions by your side, the way-farer and what your right hand possesses: for God loveth not the arrogant, the vain glorious. ( 4:36 )

In this verse, Allah Taa'la categorised for us three types of neighbours that we should take care of. They are:

1) A relative neighbour

2) A strong fellow neighbour

3) A friend neighbour

All of these neighbours, be they Muslim or non-Muslim, are to be taken care of in the best form and in the best manner.

Our beloved Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam informed us that the best person is the one who is good to his neighbour. It is narrated by Ibn Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said:

“The best friend in the sight of Allah is the one who is good to his companions, and the best neighbour in the sight of Allah is the one who is good to his neighbours.” (Tirmizi)

We are living in a rat-race society with very few people who are concerned for others, a society where people are treating one another without due respect, where neighbours don't know one another. Neighbours in the same building may not even know one another . People are scared of one another and the rate of crime has increased tremendously. People may see one another being abused, hurt and even killed but their answer would be, ‘It's not my business to get involved.' They may hear someone screaming for help and no one would respond; everyone will only selfishly think of themselves.

If we wish to reduce the rate of crime in society, then we should establish a neighbourhood where everyone knows one another. We should get together with our neighbours to protect our society, our families and our properties. We should protect our children from drugs, alcohol, rape, adultery and other vices. It is high time that we take the initiative to correct vice in society. There are enough people from the silent majority who would be willing to help and work together to protect society from harm. Neighbourhood watch schemes are a prime example

In a car driven society we tend to drive past our neighbours, parking as close to our houses as possible without taking a moment to greet and talk to our neighbours. Let us help each other and be sociable without contravening Allah's commands. May Allah guide us. Ameen.

EVENT: The Da'wah Conference

Respect for Islamic Books

Many of us have Islamic books in our houses and rooms. We find that as we get more interested in Islam, the literature we purchase also increases. However, many of us lack the correct etiquettes on how to behave witch such books and sadly we see them lying around the house, next to the toaster in the kitchen or used as a coaster in the living room.

The reality is that these books are of great importance and deserved of enormous respect due to the writings within them. Often we will find the blessed name of Allah ‘azza wa jal and Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam written inside. Many books have Qur’anic verses and ahadith and thus are books of a venerated nature. The more respect we show these books, the more we will be able to benefit from them. The more disrespect we show them, the less we will gain from them. It does not befit a book of such a stature that it be left next to the toaster in the kitchen, rather it should deserve a place on a accessible, clean shelf. Such books should be handled with care.

The books which are studied in classical madressas usually have the main text in the center of the page and the commentary/footnotes are carefully etched all around the sides of the page. These annotations are sometimes upside down and at angles which are hard to read. Allamah Anwar Shah Kashmiri rahimahullah would have such respect for his books that in order to read these annotations, he would never move the book that was in front of him but rather he would move himself around the book if he wanted to read something which was written upside down. Such respect for his books contributed highly into making him one of the greatest scholars to have ever emanated from the sub continent.

Similar is the case of the king Bahadur Shah Zafar. After his death, somebody saw him in a dream and asked him, “O King! How did you fare in front of Allah Ta’ala?” He said, “Allah Ta’ala forgave me and he was very kind to me.” The person asked, “Is the reason because you were a very just king and ruler?” The king replied, “No, it was because of one incident that Allah Ta’ala liked so much. I was on a journey and I came to a resting place and we stopped there and when I was about to sleep on my bed, I noticed that on the shelf there was a Qur’an and I couldn’t spread my legs towards the Qur’an. I immediately stood up and sat straight. Now I thought that I would move the Qur’an from there and put it somewhere else but I thought no, I should not do that for the sake of my own rest. So, I tried to turn around and slept the other way but I couldn’t sleep. Sometimes I was sitting down; sometimes I was in some other posture until I spent the whole night in a sleepless state because of the respect of the Qur’an. I did not move the Qur’an for my own sake and I couldn’t sleep on the other side. So Allah Ta’ala said to me, “O Zafar! I liked this deed of yours so much that because of that, I am forgiving you.”

Today we consider such things such a trivial matter but when we look at our elders, we see an intense and burning love for books which are of a deeni nature. It is very important to become humble in front of such books. Many of us out of ignorance and disrespect sleep with our feet pointing towards Islamic books. There was a time where sleep in this manner would be unbearable but today, we are happy to place our feet towards deeni books and then sleep like a grizzly bear with full on snoring.

Similar is the case of sleeping in a high position whilst the books are lower than the feet of a person. It should not be the case that a person sleeps on such a high bedding that there are books on his shelf/desktop etc which are lower than his feet. If possible, he should lower his bed so that he is closer towards the floor and if he cannot do this, then he should look to sleep in another room. If that is really hard then he should ensure that the books are kept in another place where they will not be disrespected.

The following bullet points will inshallah be of benefit:

• Keep your Islamic books in high, dust-free shelves.
• Keep them nicely arranged starting with Qur'anic related books, Hadith related books then Fiqh related books and so on.
• Keep them in good condition.
• Do not use them for any other purpose other than what they are meant for. No 'coaster-ing!'
• Do not keep them in places which denote disgrace, i.e. below the feet.
• Do not point your feet towards Islamic books when you sleep.
• Hold the Islamic books with your right hand as this is the hand of respect.
• Try to maintain wudhu when reading such books. Although it is not necessary, it will be better and respectful. (Note: it is compulsory for one to have wudhu before physically handling the Qur'an)
• When you are carrying a book, carry it above your waist.
• Use nice bags when carrying Islamic books, not just a ripped Tesco bag!
• If one has many books and shelves in proportion to them, then make sure the room in which they are kept is clean and fragranced well.

Finally, I finish on a statement that our teachers would tell us, "Whomsoever acquired anything in this world did so by respect (adab). And whomsoever lost something in this world did so because of (a lack of) respect."

May Allah Ta'ala give us the ability to revere everything which is deserved of respect. Ameen.

Infatuation in Islam (Part 2) - Curing the Problem

The topic of infatuation is a very strange matter. I have already highlighted the problem and the illness which branch out from this feeling (this article can be read by clicking here). Sometimes, the hardest obstacle to overcome is the mind. When the mind has conceded that the body has a problem, man has already lost half the battle. Janan Begum rahmatullahi alayha was a great poet, her husband died at quite a young age and she led the rest of her life as a widow. She never forgot her beloved and was always in his remembrance. About infatuation she once wrote,

“How can a lover conceal his infatuation from the eyes of people,
when both of his eyes are bleeding to disclose his secret love.”

When the mind has conceded that it has been taken over by the remembrance of the beloved, it is really hard to break this train of thought. It requires a person to dig deep inside of himself and strengthen his resolve. I have decided to counter the illnesses that I wrote towards the end of the last article; then wherever necessary, I will add whatever else needs to be mentioned inshallah.

Strengthening one’s resolve

For any difficult goal to be achieved, a person needs to have determination.

Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam said, “Actions are by intentions, and for every man is what he intended.” A person will go as far as his intention; if his intention was one of huge determination, then he will continue to reach the goal despite facing various hardships along the way. On the contrary, if a person’s intention was weak, his determination and resolve will crumble at the first hardship faced in reaching his goal. As a result, he will be left unsuccessful and will continue to try finding new ways of attaining his intended target. The reality is, when battling diseases of the mind and heart, nothing is easy. There is no shortcut, there is no side road which a person can use during testing times, rather everything is done by clenching the fists and getting on with the job. They key principle is, “Never lose courage”. Always keep on going even if it feels a mountain trek in the beginning. Sooner or later, the tawajjuh (attention) of Allah Ta’ala falls upon His slave which results in mass progress. In our context, this means that a person should immediately slap himself (not literally) and leave the thoughts surround the desired one. During times of frustration, such strong feelings may come back but a person should not feel hopelessness, rather he should pick himself up and try again. The resolve should be such that a person feels inside of his heart, “Even if I die, I am going to get this khabees out of my mind and heart!” Such strong resolve is loved by Allah Ta’ala who in turn sees the mujjahadah (effort and struggle) of His slave. Consequently, Allah Ta’ala gives the slave the ability to fulfil his task.

Remedies to the illness mentioned in the previous article:

Constantly being self conscious – The remedy to this is to avoid trying to look good. One who is suffering from this ailment should wake up and roll out of his house without over elaborating his looks. This doesn’t mean he goes to college, university, work with a creased up khurta pyjama! Rather, he wears whatever he finds in his hand. He should not think to himself, “I am going to wear a dark colour because it makes me look mysterious!” The main objective here is not to make much of an effort, after continuously doing this he will not care whether he looks ugly or not as he has nobody to impress. Thus, by not impressing the beloved, he begins decrease in love and concentration for her.

Feeling of being unattractive if ignored – feeling unattractive can be from the Mercy of Allah Ta’ala especially in our day and age. Sometimes when people know that they are appealing to the other gender, they tend to go by the proverb, “If you’ve got it, then flaunt it!” and thus a person will wear his/her clothing in a manipulative way. When a person feels unattractive, it can prevent him into going into illicit relationships. His esteem is fragile with regards to interacting with the opposite sex and before he even begins to be flirtatious, he will remind himself, “Yaar..you are the ugly duckling, why would a girl of her calibre be interested in you?!” As a result, this mindset will overpower the want of doing haraam. When a person starts feeling unattractive due to being ignored, he should constantly remind himself, “This person is not my spouse and my beauty will only be for her. What difference does it make to me if this person doesn’t think I am attractive, it is not like I am going to spend the rest of my life with them.” Thus when a person doesn’t receive the attention he was hoping for, he should not feel lowly but should rather pass it off and feel that the only opinion worthy of his time is that of the one he will marry and remain with.

Depression – Depression often stems from loneliness and isolation. Depression feeds on the frailties of the mind and the weaknesses of the heart. As a result, a person finds solitude only in his sorrow. It is a vicious circle which revolves around anguish. It is important to spend as much time with good friends, going out and playing football and having a general laugh. If a person finds that he is constantly falling into sorrow and his eyes are burning with tears, he should do things which cheer him up even if it means forcing oneself. Sometimes, a person finds such happiness in his friends, our friends are always people we look to and smile with. It is important to be with them. Another way is to spend time in dua’a, speaking to Allah Ta’ala about your problems. Explain the contents of your heart by telling Allah Ta’ala the story from the beginning to the end. He hears and understands everything, even the whispers of the heart. Reading Qur’an and Islamic literature can also prove to be beneficial.

Sleepless nights – please read the article Goodnight, Sleep Tight.

Unstable thoughts – These thoughts are from Shaytaan. Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam has given us the remedy for such thoughts. We must say Ta’wuz (A’uzu billahi min ash shaytaanir rajeem) and then change our thoughts. This can be done best by engaging in zikr. Let a person constantly say “Astagfirullah” (O Allah! Forgive me). One should also reflect on his selfishness which is being portrayed by his desire to cause unrest in the lives of others. More details can be read by viewing the following article: Origins of Evil Thoughts

Mood Swings - This is perhaps one of the hardest ailments to get rid off due to the unpredictable nature of a person. Imam Shafi’ rahimahullah would write, “The heart is only called the heart because of its rapid change.” Different things that happen in our life change us. Sometimes this is caused due to factors within our control (such as our own actions) and at other times these changes are caused by factors which are outside of our control (such as actions of others or environmental changes). As mentioned in the other post, sometimes the attention of the beloved can send one into ecstasy and likewise a cold look can send one into deep sorrow. The best way to avoid these mood swings is to avoid the beloved altogether. Some people are such that even though they are not in contact with their desired one, they will speak to those who are in an attempt to find out any news about their life. The best thing to do at this juncture is to ignore and leave everything connected to the person at hand. However, it is also important to try one’s best to leave those things which make a person angry, sad or frustrated. These feelings are such that they provoke the feelings of want and miss. A person then goes into a frenzy and due to missing and wanting the beloved, the mood swings occur. When a person feels he is going into a strop, then he must try his best to avoid the people who are dear to him, in such instances, a person can cause damage to the hearts of others and then regret it later. The bottom line here is, one needs to be patient and slowly over time, these mood swings will occur less. When one is frustrated and then begins to miss the beloved, it is important to busy the mind with something else...go play a nice golf game on Playstation.

Anger – Anger is such a thing which can emanate from mood swings. My respected ustaadh Hazrat Maulana Abdur Rahim Sahib once mentioned,

غصہ کا آنا برا نہيں – غصہ کو لانا اور غصہ نکالنا برا ہے
“The coming of anger is not a bad thing... bringing anger (by force) and then taking it out (on others) is bad”

He then continued, “Anger is sometimes good. Allah Ta’ala gave it to us so we can protect ourselves otherwise we wouldn’t care about what happened to us or our families. So as long as a person is late in getting angry and quick in returning to his normal state he is fine. Also, as long as his anger is not for personal and worldly matters then it and it is for deen, then he is fine too. Remember, “sorry” is the hardest word to say but we should not hesitate to say it when we realise our mistake.”

The advice to a person who is angry is mentioned in the hadith, he should recite Ta’wuz and then do wudhu to cool himself down. If he is standing up then he should sit down and if he is sitting down he should lie down. It is also useful to take deep breaths and blow the matter off. Sometimes, we get annoyed by little things but the main reason of our anger is our infatuation. Then when someone asks, “What is the matter?” we mention the little thing because we are too ashamed to say, “I am more infatuated then Majnoo was on Laila.” Just the way we consider it to be shameful and pitiful when asked about our anger, we should also consider this infatuation to be something lowly and not worthy of getting angry over when we are in a state of calmness. Let’s not blow things out of proportion, that’s one of the greatest crimes a person can do. Though this infatuation maybe something big in your life, nobody other than yourself really cares about it. By constantly remembering this, a person will be able to take a huge weight off of his shoulder and turn it into a feather.

Loss of appetite – Sometimes this can be a great ni’mat of Allah Ta’ala, especially when a person is a bit podgy and has a Krispy Kreme doughnut addiction. The main thing over here is not to starve oneself to the brink of exhaustion but to take healthy amounts of food. Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam would eat moderately himself so this is not a bad thing. However, sometimes we hear stories of sisters who become anorexic due to this and refuse to eat. This is not right, Allah Ta’ala has given the body to insaan (mankind) as an amanat (trust). If our friends were to give us a fragile diamond necklace, we would take care of it and polish it every day so that it returns to its rightful owner in a good state. In the same way, we have to look after our body and condition it well so that when we give our body back to Allah Ta’ala, it is not in a bad condition. It being in a bad state reflect the ingratitude of a person. If a person is really struggling, then he/she should try to eat many khujoor (dates) and drink water in abundance too. Inshallah there will be great barkat in this.

Remedies to spiritual ailments:

Laziness in worship – In such a situation, a person has to force himself onto the prayer mat and pray. He has to constantly make the dua, “O Allah Ta’ala, whether I want to or not, pull me by my forehead onto the prayer mat. O Allah, whether I want to or not, pull me towards the Qur’an and make me read it. O Allah, whether I want to worship You or not, make Your worship compelling upon me.” It is also good to find some pious friends and build up a relationship with the mosque. The more a person goes to the mosque for prayers with congregation, the more he builds up an attachment to the house of Allah Ta’ala and the Qur’an itself mentions that such prayer stops a believer from indulging in immoral activities. If a person has a pious, best friend, it is important for him to trust his friend and explain his situation. By seeking his help, he will have someone to help him who is not blinded by love or by the constant natter of shaytaan with regards to the beloved. When a person is infatuated, his eyes are hazed but a person who is not infatuated will see a situation for what it really is; in effect he will be able to come to the right decisions and provide the right help inshallah.

Increase in disobedience – this is similar to laziness in worship however a person may embark on all sorts of immoral activities if this state comes over a person. It is important to force oneself into the company of the pious or the people of the household. Sometimes, a person only gets into bad things because the people around him are behaving in the manner of shayaateen. If a person can stay away from such people, it would be good for him. I once wrote a poem about this:

If a raindrop falls into the ocean, it is catergorised as part of the ocean,
When insaan falls into bad company, then insaan surely becomes known as bad company.
All the negative attributes that you gain thereafter, will cover you like a coat,
Duplicity, audacity and insolence is what your name will be known to connote.
So save yourselves from this complete and utter foppery,
For it is better to be alone than to have evil company.

Staying away from bad company means staying away from drugs, alcohol etc. Staying in good company means staying in the masjid.

Heavy heart – if a person finds that he has a heavy heart then he should make lots of zikr. Allah Ta’ala says in the Qur’an, “Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find peace.” It is easy to zikr, a person can say laa ilaha illallah and astagfirullah whilst walking. The greatest remembrance is the Qur’an. The more a person reads it, the more its nur (light) enters his heart and destroys the darkness which surrounds it. Also, a person should be punctual on his prayers and try to increase his nafli (extra) worship. Tahajjud is something that can draw a person closer to Allah Ta’ala. Once this closeness is found, a person should make dua from the bottom of his heart and cry profusely. If a person cannot cry, then he should make the face of a person who is crying and be in anguish. By enjoying a good old sob, the heart feels light and happy.

Change in personality – it is always important to read about the characteristics of Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam. He is our role model and his nature was sublime. His conduct was impeccable and he has set for us a shining example. When a person’s characteristics become so foul, it is best to look towards the characteristics of Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam. Purchase books such as Shamail Tirmizi which is available widely with commentary Khasail Nabawi or the Sublime Conduct of Nabi salallahu alayhi wa salam. A person should also look to get Bay’ah with a Sheikh who can then guide him on the path to perfection. For more information on this, please read the book “Path to Perfection” which has been compiled by Maulana Maseehullah Khan sahib rahimahullah.

Loss of trust in Allah Ta’ala – This is one of the greatest sins a person can do. When a person gets to such a state he should immediately seek repentance, do ta’wuz and slap himself (literally this time). It is important to wake up and smell the coffee. Just because a person does not get his desired object does not give him the right to lose trust in Allah Ta’ala. Allah Ta’ala mentions, “It could be that you like something which is bad for you and that you dislike something which is good for you but Allah knows best and you do not.” The reality is, Allah may have better things in store for us which are far greater and virtuous but what He needs from our side is patience and reliance upon Him. Allah Ta’ala is not out to hurt the believers, He is our Friend and Guardian. Never will there be such a day where Allah Ta’ala turns His Countenance away from us and leaves us in despair. This will only happen if we turn our backs on Allah Ta’ala. May Allah Ta’ala protect us from the fitnah of ourselves and never let us be in charge of our own selves for the blink of an eye. Ameen

The ailments are many and the remedies are many. The above is just a feeble attempt to help those whose hearts may be in peril. If there are others who know of methods and solutions that are far more beneficial, then it is my humble request to be shown towards a better advice.

May Allah Ta’ala guard the gates of our heart and fill our hearts only with the love of Allah Ta’ala, His Rasul salallahu alayhi wa salam and those who it is permissible for us to cherish. May He, out of His Benevolence and Kindness help all those who are mystified by this ailment. Ameen.

Ramadhan Break

Assalamu Alaykum,

We are taking a break during this blessed month in order to engage in our own worship respectively. Therefore we shall not be writing any articles as such during this month unless one of our authors feel an itch in their fingers. There are some nice talks and videos for you to listen to from our respected and beloved Hazrat Maulana Abdur Rahim sahib. Please click on the banner above to be directed towards them. May Allah 'azza wa jal reward you all. Ameen.

EXCLUSIVE: Hazrat Maulana Abdur Rahim - I'tikaf 2009 CD - Buy Now

Alhamdulillah by the grace of Allah Ta'ala, exclusive to Jamal ul Iman is the sale of Hazrat Maulana Abdur Rahim Sahib's I'tikaf programme 2009. During the last 10 days of Ramadhan, Hazrat Maulana lit up Masjid e Quba (Cazenove Road) with his passionate and enthralling Tafaseer & Islahi lectures. People from all over London would come just to listen to Hazrat. The CD is now available for purchase at the cheap price of only £10. If you would like to purchase a copy or make an enquiry, please email jamaluliman@hotmail.co.uk and we will take it from there!

Please note: SOLD OUT!


CD1 - English Tafseer

Track 1 - Day 1 – Surah Ahzab, Surah Saba, Surah Fatir
Track 2 - Day 2 – Surah Yasin, Saaffat, Surah Saad
Tract 3 - Day 3 – Surah Zumar, Surah Ghafir, Surah Haa Meem Sajdah
Track 4- Day 4 – Surah Ash Shura, Surah Zukhruf, Surah Dukhan, Surah Jathiyya
Track 5 - Day 5 – Surah Ahqaaf, Surah Muhamad, Surah Fath, Surah Hujuraat, Surah Qaaf
Track 6 - Day 6 – Surah Dhariyaat, Surah Tur, Surah Qamar, Surah Najm, Surah Rahman, Surah Waqiah, Surah Hadeed
Track 7 - Day 7 – Surah Mujadalah, Surah Hashr, Surah Mumtahanah, Surah Jummuah, Surah Munafiqun, Surah Taghabun
Track 8 - Day 8 – 29th Juz
Track 9 - Day 9 – Qur’an Khatam

CD 2 - Urdu Bayaan

Track 1 - Day 1 – Ramadhan ki fazeelat
Track 2 - Day 2 – Durud Sharif ki fazeelat aur ita’at e rasul salallahu alayhi wa salam
Track 3 - Day 3 – Qur’an parne ki fazeelat
Track 4 - Day 4 – Da’wat ki wazaahat
Track 5 - Day 5 – Dua ki ehmiyat
Track 6 - Day 6 – Dua ka tareeqa aur masnoon dua’ayein
Track 7 - Day 7 – Surah Shams ki tafseer
Track 8 - Day 8 – Mashaikh ki suhbat
Track 9 - Day 9 – Saadiqeen ke saat raho
Track 10 - Day 10 – Aakhri naseehat

CD 2 - Specials

Track 11 - Etiquettes of I’tikaf
Track 12 - Jummuah Bayaan – Jummuah ki fazeelat
Track 13 - Bayaan for Women 1 (English)
Track 14 - Bayaan for Women 2 (Urdu)
Track 15 - Bayaan for Women 3 (English)
Track 16 - Dhikr Majlis Reasoning
Track 17 - Jummuah Khutba (Arabic)
Track 18 - Special Programme for Ulama
Track 19 - Special Q&A for the Youth
Track 20 - Naat – Abd e Bekar – Hazrat Maulana Abdur Rahim Sahib (DB)
Track 21 - Naat – Dil badal dei - Hazrat Maulana Abdur Rahim Sahib (DB)
Track 22 - Naat – Ma’bood Haqeeqi - Hazrat Maulana Abdur Rahim Sahib (DB)
Track 23 - Naat – Jee chata hai – Rajeshtani Scholar
Track 24 - Naat – Zikr – Rajeshtani Scholar

Important Advice for Sisters Attending Uni & The Niqab

Here are two extremely important answers given by most beloved and dear Hazrat Maulana Abdur Rahim sahib with regards to the status of Niqab in Islam and the wearing of it in university.

Tafseer Raheemi

Question 1:
Assalamu-alaikum. A teacher of mine is of the opinion that veil/niqaab is optional. He says: this is to cater for those women who want to adopt such professional fields which may involve relating with others e.g. Doctors, dentists a business woman etc hence it is optional. As a result the vast majority of people here do not where veil. Furthermore, whenever i would attempt to speak on the issue of veil and its obligation , i am often attacked with comments such as : you are being fanatical or that is not within hanafi teachings and the face is no part of the awrah . Can you please comment on this?

Answer:

The veil is indeed obligatory in Islam. There is no doubt about it. A verse was revealed about it:

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ قُلْ لِأَزْوَاجِكَ وَبَنَاتِكَ وَنِسَاءِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ يُدْنِينَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِنْ جَلَابِيبِهِنَّ ذَلِكَ أَدْنَى أَنْ يُعْرَفْنَ فَلَا يُؤْذَيْنَ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَحِيمًا 59
O Prophet! Tell thy wives and thy daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks round them. That will be better, so that they may be recognised and not annoyed. Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful.

The event behind this revelation was when Umar Radhiyallahu Anhu requested the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam to order women to wear the veil. This hadith is in Bukhari:

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ أَنَّ أَزْوَاجَ النَّبِىِّ – صلى الله عليه وسلم – كُنَّ يَخْرُجْنَ بِاللَّيْلِ إِذَا تَبَرَّزْنَ إِلَى الْمَنَاصِعِ – وَهُوَ صَعِيدٌ أَفْيَحُ – فَكَانَ عُمَرُ يَقُولُ لِلنَّبِىِّ – صلى الله عليه وسلم – احْجُبْ نِسَاءَكَ . فَلَمْ يَكُنْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ – صلى الله عليه وسلم – يَفْعَلُ ، فَخَرَجَتْ سَوْدَةُ بِنْتُ زَمْعَةَ زَوْجُ النَّبِىِّ – صلى الله عليه وسلم – لَيْلَةً مِنَ اللَّيَالِى عِشَاءً ، وَكَانَتِ امْرَأَةً طَوِيلَةً ، فَنَادَاهَا عُمَرُ أَلاَ قَدْ عَرَفْنَاكِ يَا سَوْدَةُ . حِرْصًا عَلَى أَنْ يَنْزِلَ الْحِجَابُ ، فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ آيَةَ الْحِجَابِ بخارى – كتاب الوضوء – باب خُرُوجِ النِّسَاءِ إِلَى الْبَرَازِ – حديث 146 – ص 26 ج1 – قديمى كتب خانه

Likewise, there are other verses of the Quran and ahadeeth which show that the veil was to be worn and that all the Sahabiyyaat practised upon it: The women wore it and the men encouraged it. And this practice has been adopted from Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam’s era through the centuries until this age. Therefore, this is also classed under Ijmaa’ (the type of evidence where something has been agreed upon by all the learned people).

Even if a command is not given in the Quran, we must still act upon it because Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam has commanded so, and Allah has instructed us to obey His messenger’s every command:

قُلْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ اللَّهَ فَاتَّبِعُونِي يُحْبِبْكُمُ اللَّهُ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ آل عمران:31
Say, (O Muhammad, to mankind): If ye love Allah, follow me; Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

وَمَا آَتَاكُمُ الرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَمَا نَهَاكُمْ عَنْهُ فَانْتَهُوا وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ الحشر:7
And whatsoever the messenger giveth you, take it. And whatsoever he forbiddeth, abstain (from it). And keep your duty to Allah. Lo! Allah is stern in reprisal.

وَحَدَّثَنَا نَصْرُ بْنُ عَلِىٍّ الْجَهْضَمِىُّ وَإِسْحَاقُ بْنُ مُوسَى الأَنْصَارِىُّ قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا مَعْنٌ عَنْ مَالِكٍ عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ عَمْرَةَ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ قَالَتْ إِنْ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- لَيُصَلِّى الصُّبْحَ فَيَنْصَرِفُ النِّسَاءُ مُتَلَفِّعَاتٍ بِمُرُوطِهِنَّ مَا يُعْرَفْنَ مِنَ الْغَلَسِ. وَقَالَ الأَنْصَارِىُّ فِى رِوَايَتِهِ مُتَلَفِّفَاتٍ. (مسلم – كتاب المساجد – باب اسْتِحْبَابِ التَّبْكِيرِ بِالصُّبْحِ فِى أَوَّلِ وَقْتِهَا وَهُوَ التَّغْلِيسُ وَبَيَانِ قَدْرِ الْقِرَاءَةِ فِيهَا – حديث 1491)
المتلفعات : مستترات الوجوه والأبدان
المروط : جمع المرط وهو الكساء من صوف وغيره

To say ‘that is not within hanafi teachings’ and other similar comments, disproving what Islam has said is totally wrong. One needs to be very careful in these matters, particularly when refuting what has been said in the Quran as this could lead to one losing his faith in Allah. It is important for us to remain steadfast on deen and endeavour to have faith like that of the Sahabah, who would say:

سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا البقرة:285
We hear, and we obey.

With regards to the face, it is not considered part of the ‘awrah. This is due to the mas’alah of salah, as she is allowed to keep her face and hands up to the wrists open during salah. The rest of her body is awrah and thus if any part of it is exposed the salah will be void.

But this does not mean that it is lawful to expose it in front of non-mahram males. To put it in an easier perspective, according to the laws of our countries the two main private parts and breasts for women are considered to be part of the ‘awrah. But you don’t see women going to work or other public places in a bikini on a daily basis. It is still considered inappropriate and most women would still feel ashamed to expose themselves that much. The reason why the face must be covered is that it is the most handsome and attractive part of the body and as such revealing it could lead to temptation, resulting in adultery.

( وَتُمْنَعُ ) الْمَرْأَةُ الشَّابَّةُ ( مِنْ كَشْفِ الْوَجْهِ بَيْنَ رِجَالٍ ) لَا لِأَنَّهُ عَوْرَةٌ بَلْ ( لِخَوْفِ الْفِتْنَةِ ) كَمَسِّهِ وَإِنْ أَمِنَ الشَّهْوَةَ لِأَنَّهُ أَغْلَظُ (الدر المختار)
الشَّرْحُ
قَوْلُهُ وَتُمْنَعُ الْمَرْأَةُ إلَخْ ) أَيْ تُنْهَى عَنْهُ وَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ عَوْرَةً ( قَوْلُهُ بَلْ لِخَوْفِ الْفِتْنَةِ ) أَيْ الْفُجُورِ بِهَا قَامُوسٌ أَوْ الشَّهْوَةِ ).
وَالْمَعْنَى تُمْنَعُ مِنْ الْكَشْفِ لِخَوْفِ أَنْ يَرَى الرِّجَالُ وَجْهَهَا فَتَقَعُ الْفِتْنَةُ لِأَنَّهُ مَعَ الْكَشْفِ قَدْ يَقَعُ النَّظَرُ إلَيْهَا بِشَهْوَةٍ رد المحتار

Question 2:
Can you shed some light on the need for our Muslim sisters to go more into the field of higher education in universities, to have Muslim women doctors, midwives, dentists and teachers in all subjects?

Answer:
Jazakallah for your detailed question which I have summarised. Please bear in mind that a lady is a wife and mother first and everything else second. Today we need good wives and mothers who care for their husbands and children fully and reap the rewards from Allah.

Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam once saw some ladies approaching with children. He said:

حَامِلاَتٌ وَالِدَاتٌ رَحِيمَاتٌ لَوْلاَ مَا يَأْتِينَ إِلَى أَزْوَاجِهِنَّ دَخَلَ مُصَلِّيَاتُهُنَّ الْجَنَّةَ ابن ماجه ،كتاب النكاح، باب فِى الْمَرْأَةِ تُؤْذِى زَوْجَهَا، ص١٤٥، قديمى كتب خانه
“These ladies bear the child, give birth, then have mercy upon the children. If it was not for what they do to their husbands, they would definitely enter Jannah.”

In another hadith he, Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam said:

المرأة إذا صلت خمسها وصامت شهرها وأحصنت فرجها وأطاعت زوجها فلتدخل من أي أبواب الجنة شاءت حلية الاولياء ، الربيع بن صبيح ، ص٣٠٨ ج٦
“When a woman prays five times a day, fasts through the month of Ramadhan, is obedient to her husband and protects her modesty, then she may enter Jannah from whichever gate she wishes.”

Her kingdom is in her house. She should be provided with her basic needs and taken good care of. This is what Shari’ah teaches us. She should never be forced to earn livelihood or be put in a position where she has to do so.

Now, going into a professional field is of personal interest. Whoever wants to pursue a particular career will definitely do so. We would never discourage any individual from entering the field of her interest. There have been professional ladies in the past, they are available today and they will remain in the future.

What we do need to encourage is for them to study while guarding their modesty. There are limits to everything. They should study while holding onto those limits. Alhamdulillah many young women are doing this.

I once went to the University of Toronto, where I saw many girls in their hijab come to the prayer facilities, perform salah, do their Iftar and go back to the lessons.

Once, a girl who was punctual of her niqab sent in a question. Her superiors were extremely kind. They let her wear the niqab while studying medicine. She was a very bright student. When the time came to go on hospital rounds, the professor called her in office and explained, “I don’t mind you wearing niqab. However, all patients are not the same and some may cringe at seeing you in the niqab, so you should consider your position.” She was reluctant from removing the niqab as she had never opened her face in front of a non mahram.

After some consultation with my colleagues, I gave the answer that, when on hospital rounds, she should remove her black niqab and put on a facial mask. This way, her face will be covered and the patients won’t feel bad either.

The conclusion is that ladies should pursue with the course of their interest and stay within the limits. If unable to cover the face with niqab, they should at least avoid heavy make-up and avoid revealing parts of the body and hugging the opposite gender or any other kind of intimate contact with male students.

Aalimiyya at Jamia Siraj ul Uloom - Enrol Now

Jamia Siraj ul Uloom Annual Jalsah 2010

Dars e Hadith:

First Lesson of Sahih al Bukhari

Guest Speakers:

Hazrat Mufti Saeed Ahmad Palanpuri Sahib Damat Barakatuhum
(Sheikhul Hadith Darul Uloom Deoband)

Hazrat Maulana Abdur Rahim Sahib Damat Barakatuhum
(Senior Lecturer of Hadith, Darul Uloom Al Arabiyya Al Islamiyya, Bury)

Also, Student Qiraat, Bayaan, Naat, Nasheed

Food will be served after the event inshallah.

Jamia Siraj ul Uloom, 30-36 Lindley Road, Leyton, London, E10 6QT.

020 8539 5183 - www.jamia.co.uk

Explanation of the 12 Imams Hadith

Question:
Jazakallah for the post, plz brother can u answer a very important question i have, do sunni's believe in the 12 imams? from what i know there is a hadith on that on the net but im not sure if we should believe in it or not...

Answer:
Assalamu Alaykum dear reader,

You have asked a very good question. The Hadith you have mentioned with regards to the Twelve Imams does exist. It is a Hadith which is agreed upon and Ahadith upon this particular topic are also recorded in both Bukhari & Muslim.

و عن جابر بن سمرة رضى الله عنه قال سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم يقول لا يزال الإسلام عزيزا إلى اثني عشر خليفة كلهم من قريش (متفق عليه – مشكوة المصابيح - باب مناقب قريش و ذكر القبائل

It is reported by Hazrat Jabir ibn Samurah radiallahu anhu, he states that he heard Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam saying, “The strength of Islam will not diminish until (after) the (emergence) of the Twelve Imams. They all will be from the Quraish.”

I have compiled for you the explanation of this Hadith from Mirqaatul Mafateeh, Sharh at Teebi and Mazaahirul Haqq. However, it is important to know that the article at hand is one which delves deep into the interpretation and explanation of Hadith. The simple answer to your question would be, “Yes, we do believe in the Twelve Imams but not as the Shi’ah do.” However, this answer in itself is one which is far too casual and requires much more commentary.

The reality of this issue is that there are many opinions in relation to its actual meaning and the Ulama have shown their reservation for it. It is evident that the summarised meaning of this hadith is, “After Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam, Twelve Imams will consecutively emerge in whose generation Islam will prosper and gain strength. Due to their existence (in society) Islam will regain its grandeur (magnificence) and power. And this is not to say that those leaders will be firm and obedient on Deen but rather it is to say that their leadership will be one of justice and fairness in matters of authority (i.e. they may be sinful in terms of obedience but in terms of their leadership, they are create fairness in society).”

However, whatever has presented itself so far in history has not bore testament to this. Through the establishing of Khilafat by Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam, Bani Marwaan (this is the name of a tribe) can claim success to the various leaders they produced. They had leaders who lived their lives in such a manner which did not conform to the principles of Deen. In fact, the believers were troubled hugely by their oppressive rule. There is also an authentic Hadith in which Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam has stated, “After me, the manner of a (proper) Khilafat will be established for thirty three years. After this, leadership will be based upon transgression and disobedience.” It is the agreed opinion of all the Ulama that after Khilaafatur Raashidah (which ended thirty three years after the death of Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam), the manner of leadership which was undertaken would not be called a Khilaafat but rather it would be called a monarchy or general leadership. And it is due to this that Ulama have interpreted the hadith in different ways. From amongst those opinions is:

1. The term “Twelve Imams” is in reference to those Khulafa (Muslim Leaders) who came after Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam in whose reign the appearance of the Muslims, their transactions, their looking after and their benefits were strengthened. The state of the Muslims was fortified despite some of the leaders being sinful, unfair and unjust. The emergence of this frightful state and detriment came during the leadership of Waleed ibn Yazeed ibn Abdul Malik ibn Marwan. He was the twelfth from the Imams (i.e. the Khulafa who succeeded Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam starting with Abu Bakr radiallahu anhu). He came in to power when his uncle Hisham ibn Abdul Malik passed away. In the beginning of his reign, people were united in supporting Waleed ibn Yazeed and this lasted for four years. However, after four years there was an uprising amongst the people and as a result, Waleed ibn Yazeed was killed. Since that day, Fitnah and Fasad (trials and tribulation) have increased and the firm leadership that was once enjoyed has weakened immensely (there has not been such a strong Khilafat since then.) This opinion has been attributed to Qazi Iyaaz Maliki rahimahullah and Hafiz ibn Hajar Asqalani rahimahullah has also inclined to this explanation. He said, “Out of all the explanations and opinions given in relation to this matter, this opinion (of Qazi Iyaaz) is the most acceptable and most preferred.”

2. The second opinion is that the term “Khalifah” has come for those leaders who are fair, impartial but also pious and righteous. They will be called “Khalifah” due to their praiseworthy nature and they will be people who will erect governments. It can also be said that meaning of this Hadith is not that they will appear one after the other consecutively but rather, they will each come at different times. The point of this Hadith was only to highlight their number, not their order in arrival. It is possible that the Twelve will come any time before Qiyamat. Hazrat Imam Turpushti rahimahullah has said that this opinion is better and more acceptable in light of the Ahadith and explanations given.

3. The third opinion is that that these Twelve Imams are those leaders who will erect their leadership after the time of Imam Mahdi alayhis salam. Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam had said whilst talking about the future, “In the final era, those who have correlating lineage with the Quraish will enjoy such peace under the leadership of Twelve individuals (from them) that the Deen will be elevated and Islam will become magnificent.” In another hadith it is related that ‘After the passing away of Imam Mahdi alayhis salam, five individuals will become leaders one after the other. They will be from the offspring of Imam Hassan radiallahu anhu and after they pass, the leadership will come to five individuals from the offspring of Imam Hussain radiallahu anhu. Then the fifth individual from the offspring of Hazrat Hussain radiallahu anhu will give the leadership back to one of the offspring of Hazrat Hassan radiallahu anhu (again). In this manner, the number of Khulafa will reach eleven (one short of the number mentioned in the Hadith). Then, when the eleventh leader has fulfilled his reign as the Khalifah and passed away, his son will be appointed as Khalifah thus completing the number of Imams prophesised by Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam. Each one of these Twelve will be just, pious and spiritual leaders by whose justice, popularity and righteousness Islam will gain enormous respect, power and magnificence.’ If this hadith is considered to be authentic, then this explanation will be considered to be a better explanation of the hadith. In another hadith reported by Hazrat ibn Abbas radiallahu anhuma about the characteristics and beauty of Imam Mahdi alayhis salam, Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam also stated, “Allah Ta’ala will remove every sadness and distress by his (Imam Mahdi alayhis salam) presence. By him, every door of evil and transgression will be closed. After his era, the leadership will come into the hands of those Twelve individuals who will come one after the other and they will look after the leadership for 150 years.”

4. The fourth opinion is that the Twelve Leaders will be present in one era but in different areas where different people will follow them in different ways. This opinions is strengthened by the Hadith in which Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam said, “That time will soon come after me when there will be many leaders.” The point wanting to be made by Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam is that new trials, disagreements and fights will break out to such an extent that it will result in twelve different leaders emerging in different places (during the same era) and each one will make a claim for leadership. The meaning of the Hadith in discussion could possibly mean be that things will be at peace until the era of these Twelve (scattered) leaders. The Muslims will remain impressively united, organise, fortified, strong and will have much respect however, when the Twelve Imams will appear (all in one era), fights, disagreements, trials and tribulations will spread and the Muslims will become disunited and divided.

The Shi’iah have explained this hadith to mean that the leadership will fall upon the Ahlul Bayt (the Members of the House of Rasulullah alayhimus salatu wat tasleem). Some of these leaders were such that even though they were in reality deserved of being the Khalifah, they were not able to due to some occurrence. According to the Shi’ah the Twelve Imams are: Hazrat Ali, Hazrat Hassan, Hazrat Hussain radiallahu anhum, Hazrat Zaidul Aabideen, Hazrat Muhammad Baaqir, Hazrat Ja’far Sadiq, Hazrat Musa Kaazim, Hazrat Ali Raza, Hazrat Muhammad Naqee, Hazrat Ali Naqee, Hazrat Hussain Askaree and lastly, Hazrat Muhammad Mahdi.

Lastly, I would urge you not to search the internet with matters regarding your faith. Do go to your local scholar in your local Masjid.

And Allah Ta’ala knows best.

Long Hair - Part 7

It only takes a glance out of the window to notice that different people like different hairstyles. Sometimes these hairstyles are influenced by role models, celebrities, fashion or friends etc. The bottom line however is that many people consider their hair to be of great importance and rightly so. A Muslim endeavours to look handsome, clean and distinguished (from other trends) in his appearance. The hair for many is part of their beauty. However, even within these hairstyles Islam has set the boundary.

First and foremost, haircuts which are against the Sunnah method and against what Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam has advised are forbidden. Many youth are involved with many different ways to style their hair. Some have their hair wedged in different directions, others have short back and sides etc. The styles vary but from the narrations found in the ahadith it is found that such hairstyles are forbidden. Though it may confirm with modern fashion, styling the hair in such ways gives a person a dishevelled, untidy outlook Islamically. Thus we should abstain from the various haircuts we see donned by sports stars and celebrities. Rather, we should look towards the hair style of our beloved Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam who was the most handsomest of men and he has left for us the most beautiful and elegant of dress codes. Hazrat Maulana Zakariyya rahimahullah summarises the hairstyle of Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam in a short passage in his famous commentary, Khasail e Nabawi. He says,

“There are many narrations on the length of the hair of Sayyidina Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam as has been mentioned before. There is no contradiction as the hair is the thing that grows. If at one time his hair reached the lobes of the ears, then another time it was longer. It also has been proved that Sayyidina Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam shaved the hair of his head several times. A person who relates about his mubarak hair at an earlier time states he had short hair. The one that relates it at a time later than that, states he had longer hair. Some of the ulama have concluded that the mubarak hair of Sayyidina Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam, above the forehead used to reach till half his ears, and the hair of the middle of his mubarak head was longer than that, and the hair of the back of the head reached till near his shoulders.”

The hair of Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam was long. It was not so curly and neither was it so straight. It was wavy and in some narrations it is mentioned that the hair would curl up at the back. When he salallahu alayhi wa salam would the comb his hair, he would part in the middle. In some narrations it comes that Hazrat Aishah radiallahu anha would comb his hair for him which also points towards the closeness of the blessed couple. This too should be practised by Muslim spouses in reflection of Rasul e Paak salallahu alayhi wa salam.

Lastly, I would like to mention the shaving of the head. Many people incorrectly deem the shaving of the head to be an Islamic hairstyle. This was only done by Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam when he would perform Hajj or Umrah. He had performed Hajj once in his lifetime and Umrah was performed four times. In total, the shaving of the head was done five times and there are no narrations to suggest otherwise. In fact, it is mentioned in Mazahirul Haqq that it was against the persona of the Sahabah radiallahu anhu that they shaved their heads bald. There are some narrations of Hazrat Ali radiallahu anhu shaving his hair off (to be bald) but this was due to his fear that the water was not touching his scalp during ghusl. This was his heightened level of Taqwa but generally, the bald head was not a hairstyle kept by Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam or the Sahabah ridwanullahi alayhim ajma’een. In fact, in one hadith, Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam was describing the leader of the Khawarij (they were were a foul, manipulative group who maintained characteristics to disunite the Muslims) who was described as being ‘mahluqur ra’s’ (bald). Some of the Muhaditheen mention that the fact Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam mentioned that his head was bald shows that this is something which is not common amongst the Muslimeen. Had his hair been normal there would be no need to mention it but due to it being against the norm of the Sahabah radiallahu anhu, it was highlighted. However, all this does not mean that a person is not allowed to be bald. It has only been mentioned to highlight and emphasise to the Muslimeen that the only time Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam would shave his head would be during pilgrimage. Besides these times, he would keep long hair. However, if a person wanted to go bald, there is no great problem in him doing so as long as he understands that it is not “Islamic”.

May Allah Ta’ala give us the ability to act upon the blessed Sunnah. May He send countless blessings upon our Master, Sayyidul Kownayn, Hazrat e Muhammad Mustafa salallahu alayhi wa tasleem.