Alhamdulillah the new moon was sighted today from South Africa. Hence the Month of Dhul Hijjah has commenced today (28th November after maghrib). The 1st day and fast of Dhul Hijjah will be on Saturday 29th November 2008. Insha Allah Eidul Adha will therefore be on Monday the 8th of December 2008.
An important announcement I would like to make and I personally feel that it is a very important announcement to make simply because of the great virtue and benefit these 10 days and nights contain...
It has been narrated in a famous hadeeth that The Prophet Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, has said, “One fast during these days is equal to the fasting of one complete year, and the worship of one night during this period is equal to the worship in the “Lailatul-Qadr”. (Tirmidhi)
And the virtues don't end there...
It has also been narrated in a hadeeth to the nearest effect, "No servant fasts on a day in the path of Allah except that Allah removes the hell fire 70 years further away from his face" (Bukhari and Muslim)
It is also narrated from Ibn Abbaas(radhiyallanhu) thatRasulullah(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) said: " No days are as weighty with Allah and so liked by Him for good deeds than the first ten days of Zul-Hijjah ". Therefore in these days increasingly recite: "La ilaha illallah, Allahu Akbar, Al-Hamdu-lillah, Sub-hanallah." (Tabraani).
Ibn Abbaas(radhiyallahu anhu) that Rasulullah(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) said: "There is no day wherein any good action is more beloved to Allah Ta'ala than these ten days (the first ten days of Zul Hijjah)". The Sahaabah (radhiyallahu anhum) enquired: " Not even striving in the path of Allah ?" "Not even Striving in the path of Allah," replied Rasulullah (sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) , " with the exception of that person who left with his life and wealth (in the path of Allah) and did not return with any of it (i.e. he is martyred)". (Bukhari,Tabraani).
Regarding the 9th of Dhul Hijjah (Day Of Arafat)
Abu Qataadah(radhiyallahu anhu) reported that Rasullullah (sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) said: " I have hope in Allah Ta'ala that the fast of Arafaat will be an atonement for the sins of the past and the forthcoming year." (Tirmizi)
A prominant scholar of this day and age, Hadhrat Mawlana Mohammad Taqi Usmani (may Allah preserve him) said,
‘The first ten days of Zulhijjah are among the most magnificent days in Islamic calendar.
Every Muslim should avail of this wonderful opportunity by performing during this period as much Iba’dah (acts of worship) to Allah as he or she can.’
I STRONGLY advise everyone to atleast read 2 rakaat's of tahajjud in each night. And for those brotheres or sisters or feel that they can't wake up in the last third of the night then please do try and pray your tahajjud salaah straight after your esha salaah as tahajjud can also be prayed at that time too. The virtues of these days is immense and the reward that can be gained from just an extra bit of dhikr and ibadat will inshallah help a person in the long run.
May Allah give me and you the tawfeeq and ability to increase our worship in Allah in these next 10 days. Ameen.
P.S: And please do remember me in your duas :D
Friday, 28 November 2008
Tuesday, 18 November 2008
Be Happy and Not Grumpy
Many people now point out to the fact that people of knowledge are too boring and grumpy. Others may say that knowledge can change a person and that those who have it become very formal with people. In recent times, I too have felt this feeling of rejection from various people and it creates the sense of resentment and patronisation.
Islam does not say that you need to frown to prove you have knowledge, the Prophet salallahu alayhi wa salam was the most intelligent from amongst the people and he was the one who smiled the most too. Abdullah ibn Harith radiallahu anhu reports,
Good character is that one intends or works towards cleansing the heart from all bad traits and thereafter demonstrates good character by certain acts like smiling”."
Islam does not say that you need to frown to prove you have knowledge, the Prophet salallahu alayhi wa salam was the most intelligent from amongst the people and he was the one who smiled the most too. Abdullah ibn Harith radiallahu anhu reports,
"I did not see anyone who smiled more than Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa salam."
Hazrat Shaykh Muhammad Zakariyyah mentions in his Khasa'il Nabawi,
"This is the pinnacle of humbleness and good character. Hazrat Jarir radiallahu anhu says that whenever Sayyidina Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wasalam saw me, he met me with a cheerful smile. There now remains no contradiction with the first hadith (in that the Prophet salallahu alayhi wa salam was always in sorrow [see previous chapter]). Many times it so happens that a person is sad and worried, but to keep others happy, or for some other reason one has the opportunity to meet them cheerfully. Those who have in their hearts a mark of love, experience this many times. "
Nowadays, everybody wants to be grumpy in an act of piety so much so that they push people away from them. It becomes hard to approach them in future and a feeling of annoyance becomes ascribed to that person. Let us all be happy and smile at one another, it is mentioned in the ahadith as an act of charity and one which is virtuous. It is a Sunnah which many people do not take heed too, a person must be seen in regular deep contemplation to show that he is pious and that he is in the state of muraqabah and ihsaan!
I have seen some people who have been sinners for many years and the second Allah Ta'ala gives them His Guidance, they feel they can patronise others with less knowledge and not sit jovially with them. Let us all revive this Sunnah of being happy with one another and let us smile at one other, it does not mean that you cannot fear Allah in your heart. One final pearl to finish off on - Hazrat Maulana Saleem Dhorat damat barakatahum said,
"In Islam, good character and manners are not only to show good things overtly. Though smiling at someone is a good deed, it is only meritorious when done with sincerity; if this is done while one has hatred for that person in his heart then it is not good manners but nothing but hypocrisy.
Good character is that one intends or works towards cleansing the heart from all bad traits and thereafter demonstrates good character by certain acts like smiling”."
May Allah Ta'ala adorn our faces with smiles and maintain our happiness. Ameen.
Sunday, 16 November 2008
The Father, The Son and The Donkey
Once there was a father and his son walking through a town and with them they had a donkey. So on seeing this, the townsfold exclaimed: "Look at these foolish people! They have a donkey yet they do not ride it."
So the son mounted the donkey whilst the father walked by his side.
Upon passing another town the townsmen said; "How disrespectful is the son, he mounts whilst his father strolls along."
So the son dismounted to make way for the father.
Those standing on the street corners of the next town said; "What an oppressor the father is, he mounts whilst his son walks!"
Hearing this, the father and son both sat astride the beast and do you know what the inhabitants of the next village said? They said, "Do these people have no consideration for the donkey? They are burdening him with the weight of two!" So the father and the son had only one last option, which was to carry the donkey! The villagers of the next village jeered at them and said, "How foolish! They have a conveyance yet they become its conveyance!"
In the end, the father and the son became soo frustrated that they threw the donkey into a well! (Note: This site does not encourage throwing donkeys into wells)
(Taken from the book: The World of Teens Book 1, Written by Moulana Muhammad Yahya ibn Faruq)
The moral of this story is that don't always think about what your friends or collegues will say, especially the brothers who start to make a change in their lives. We notice nowadays that times have changed, friends no longer call towards the good and forbid the evil but instead people laugh and mock at the good their mate do and encourage evil. This also provides an obstacle for the people who do wish to make a change in their lives because in the back of their mind they will always have these thoughts that such and such doesn't like me wearing a juba because it doesn't fit in with the rest of the group, so instead lemme just wear a topi instead and settle for the minimum. The thing is, is that some people will never be happy with what you do and sometimes the best thing to do is to leave them to themselves.
One last point to note is that my dear brothers and sisters whenever we carry out any actions or good deeds, like wearing a juba or topi to college and for sisters whenever any of you start wearing the jilbab and headscarf, don't worry about what the people will say or think about you, but instead focus on actually doing the deed properly with sincerity and for gaining the pleasure of Allah. Like my beloved Shaykh mentioned in his talk, "If people call you a millionaire, will that make you a millionaire? If not, then similarly, if people call you silly or stupid for doing some good deeds that doesn't make you silly or stupid? no it doesn't, but instead these remarks should be thought of as just "hollow" and should not be taken heed of."
May Allah give us steadfastness in practising the deen of Islam and in following the Sunnah of Rasoolullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam. Ameen.
So the son mounted the donkey whilst the father walked by his side.
Upon passing another town the townsmen said; "How disrespectful is the son, he mounts whilst his father strolls along."
So the son dismounted to make way for the father.
Those standing on the street corners of the next town said; "What an oppressor the father is, he mounts whilst his son walks!"
Hearing this, the father and son both sat astride the beast and do you know what the inhabitants of the next village said? They said, "Do these people have no consideration for the donkey? They are burdening him with the weight of two!" So the father and the son had only one last option, which was to carry the donkey! The villagers of the next village jeered at them and said, "How foolish! They have a conveyance yet they become its conveyance!"
In the end, the father and the son became soo frustrated that they threw the donkey into a well! (Note: This site does not encourage throwing donkeys into wells)
(Taken from the book: The World of Teens Book 1, Written by Moulana Muhammad Yahya ibn Faruq)
The moral of this story is that don't always think about what your friends or collegues will say, especially the brothers who start to make a change in their lives. We notice nowadays that times have changed, friends no longer call towards the good and forbid the evil but instead people laugh and mock at the good their mate do and encourage evil. This also provides an obstacle for the people who do wish to make a change in their lives because in the back of their mind they will always have these thoughts that such and such doesn't like me wearing a juba because it doesn't fit in with the rest of the group, so instead lemme just wear a topi instead and settle for the minimum. The thing is, is that some people will never be happy with what you do and sometimes the best thing to do is to leave them to themselves.
One last point to note is that my dear brothers and sisters whenever we carry out any actions or good deeds, like wearing a juba or topi to college and for sisters whenever any of you start wearing the jilbab and headscarf, don't worry about what the people will say or think about you, but instead focus on actually doing the deed properly with sincerity and for gaining the pleasure of Allah. Like my beloved Shaykh mentioned in his talk, "If people call you a millionaire, will that make you a millionaire? If not, then similarly, if people call you silly or stupid for doing some good deeds that doesn't make you silly or stupid? no it doesn't, but instead these remarks should be thought of as just "hollow" and should not be taken heed of."
May Allah give us steadfastness in practising the deen of Islam and in following the Sunnah of Rasoolullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam. Ameen.
Monday, 3 November 2008
Poetry: My Friend & Me
My best friend is always there for me,
He makes dua'a and Istigfaar just for me.
He yells out 'Salaam' when he sees me,
And will always smile as he embraces me.
My best friend always has time for me,
He will always ring and check up on me.
If I haven't spoken to him he will email me,
And if he hasnt seen me he will surely contact me.
My best friend always spends freely on me,
He does not think twice when feeding me.
When we are together he will look after me,
And when it's Eid he will buy gifts for me.
My best friend always prays in Jamaat with me,
He hasn't got time to bun a zoot with me.
He will always have good influence on me,
He will never say anything bad about me.
My best friend is most dear to me,
I stay around him because it is good for me.
I make more dua'a for him than he does of me,
I care for him because hes a part of me...
"A man will follow the religion of his friend, so becareful whom you make friends with." (Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud)
He makes dua'a and Istigfaar just for me.
He yells out 'Salaam' when he sees me,
And will always smile as he embraces me.
My best friend always has time for me,
He will always ring and check up on me.
If I haven't spoken to him he will email me,
And if he hasnt seen me he will surely contact me.
My best friend always spends freely on me,
He does not think twice when feeding me.
When we are together he will look after me,
And when it's Eid he will buy gifts for me.
My best friend always prays in Jamaat with me,
He hasn't got time to bun a zoot with me.
He will always have good influence on me,
He will never say anything bad about me.
My best friend is most dear to me,
I stay around him because it is good for me.
I make more dua'a for him than he does of me,
I care for him because hes a part of me...
"A man will follow the religion of his friend, so becareful whom you make friends with." (Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud)
Friday, 31 October 2008
The Branches of Imaan
Recently I heard a statement I found very funny, “Do you think money grows on trees?” I suddenly remembered a time in my childhood when I asked my beloved mother for something extremely expensive to which she replied, “Do you think money grows on trees?!” I became extremely upset and set out to prove her wrong and so I waited for a sunny day and proceeded into my garden with my green plastic shovel that I got from Blackpool beach and a bag full of pennies. I spent many days watering them hoping that a tree would sprout out. I had envisaged myself jumping up and down underneath a tree that would have £50 under each branch. These memories made me think and Allah opened my eyes to the fact there is a tree which has an entity that is more valuable than money. The tree of Islam which consists of 77 Branches of Imaan. Hazrat Hakeemul Ummat (Allah have mercy upon him) mentions them in his Kitaab 'Furu’ ul Imaan':
The Messenger of Allah (May peace and blessings be upon him) said “There are over 70 branches of faith. The highest is to bear witness that ‘There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah’. The lowest is the removal of harm from the road. Modesty is also of faith.” We will therefore mentions these qualities.
30 QUALITIES ARE CONNECTED TO THE HEART
1. Belief in Allah
2. To believe that everything other than Allah was non-existent. Thereafter, Allah Ta'ala created these things and subsequently they came into existence.
3. To believe in the existence of the Angels.
4. To believe that all the divine books that were sent to the different prophets are true. However, apart from the Qur'an, all other books are not valid anymore.
5. To believe that all the prophets are true. However, we are commanded to follow the Prophet Muhammad (May peace and blessings be upon him) alone.
6. To believe that Allah Ta'ala as knowledge of everything from before hand and that only that which He sanctions or wishes will occur.
7. To believe that the Resurrection will definitely occur.
8. To believe in the existence of Heaven.
9. To believe in the existence of Hell.
10. To have love for Allah Ta'ala.
11. To have love for the Messenger of Allah (May Allah peace and blessings be upon him)
12. To love or hate someone solely because of Allah.
13. To execute all actions with the intention of religion alone.
14. To regret and express remorse when a sin is committed.
15. To fear Allah Ta'ala.
16. To hope for the mercy of Allah Ta'ala
17. To be modest.
18.To express gratitude over a bounty or favour.
19. To fulfill promises.
20. To exercise patience.
21. To consider yourself lower than others.
22. To have mercy on the creation.
23. To be pleased with whatever you experience from Allah Ta'ala.
24. To place your trust in Allah Ta'ala.
25. Not to boast or brag over any quality that you posses.
26. Not to have malice or hatred towards anybody.
27. Not to be envious of anyone.
28. Not to become angry.
29. Not to wish harm for anyone.
30. Not to have love for the world.
31. To recite the testimony of faith (kalimah) with the tongue.
32. To recite the Qur'an.
33. To acquire knowledge.
34. To pass on Knowledge.
35. To make dua'a.
36. To make the zikr of Allah Ta'ala.
37. To abstain from the following: lies, backbiting, vulgar words, cursing, singing that is contrary
to the Shariah.
38. To make wudhu, ghusl, and keep one’s clothing clean.
39. To be steadfast in offering salaat.
40. To pay zakaat and sadaqatul fitr.
41. To fast.
42. To perform Hajj.
43. To make i’tikaaf.
44. To move away or migrate from that place which is harmful for one's deen.
45. To fulfill the vows that have been made to Allah.
46. To fulfill the oaths that are not sinful.
47. To pay the kaffarah for unfulfilled oaths.
48. To cover those parts of the body that are compulsory to cover.
49. To perform the ritual slaughter.
50. To enshroud and bury the deceased.
51. To fulfill your debts.
52. To abstain from prohibited things when undertaking monetary transactions.
53. Not to conceal something true which you may have witnessed.
54. To get married when the nafs desires to do so.
55. To fulfill the rights of those who are under you.
56. To provide comfort to one’s parents.
57. To rear children in the proper manner.
58. Not to sever relations with one’s friends and relatives.
59. To obey one’s master.
60. To be just.
61. Not to initiate any way that is contrary to that of the generality of the Muslims.
62. To obey the ruler, provided what he orders is not contrary to the Shariah.
63. To make peace between two warring groups or individuals.
64. To assist in noble tasks.
65. To command the good and prohibit the evil.
66. If it is the government. it should mete out punishments according to the Shariah.
67. To fight the enemies of deen whenever such an occasion presents itself.
68. To fulfill one’s trusts.
69. To give loans to those who are in need .
70. To see to the needs of one’s neighbour.
71. To ensure that one’s income is pure.
72. To spend according to the Shariah.
73. To reply to one who has greeted you.
74. To say 'Yarhamukallah' (May Allah have mercy upon you) when anyone says 'Alhamdulillah' (All praise be to Allah) after sneezing.
75. Not to cause harm to anyone unjustly.
76. To abstain from games and amusements contrary to the Shariah.
77. To remove pebbles, stones, thorns, sticks, and the like from the road.
May Allah Ta'ala give us the ability to grow this tree in our lives and may He pour enough Guidance over it for it to blossom. May the contents of these 77 branches drop into our lives with great impact. Ameen
The Messenger of Allah (May peace and blessings be upon him) said “There are over 70 branches of faith. The highest is to bear witness that ‘There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah’. The lowest is the removal of harm from the road. Modesty is also of faith.” We will therefore mentions these qualities.
30 QUALITIES ARE CONNECTED TO THE HEART
1. Belief in Allah
2. To believe that everything other than Allah was non-existent. Thereafter, Allah Ta'ala created these things and subsequently they came into existence.
3. To believe in the existence of the Angels.
4. To believe that all the divine books that were sent to the different prophets are true. However, apart from the Qur'an, all other books are not valid anymore.
5. To believe that all the prophets are true. However, we are commanded to follow the Prophet Muhammad (May peace and blessings be upon him) alone.
6. To believe that Allah Ta'ala as knowledge of everything from before hand and that only that which He sanctions or wishes will occur.
7. To believe that the Resurrection will definitely occur.
8. To believe in the existence of Heaven.
9. To believe in the existence of Hell.
10. To have love for Allah Ta'ala.
11. To have love for the Messenger of Allah (May Allah peace and blessings be upon him)
12. To love or hate someone solely because of Allah.
13. To execute all actions with the intention of religion alone.
14. To regret and express remorse when a sin is committed.
15. To fear Allah Ta'ala.
16. To hope for the mercy of Allah Ta'ala
17. To be modest.
18.To express gratitude over a bounty or favour.
19. To fulfill promises.
20. To exercise patience.
21. To consider yourself lower than others.
22. To have mercy on the creation.
23. To be pleased with whatever you experience from Allah Ta'ala.
24. To place your trust in Allah Ta'ala.
25. Not to boast or brag over any quality that you posses.
26. Not to have malice or hatred towards anybody.
27. Not to be envious of anyone.
28. Not to become angry.
29. Not to wish harm for anyone.
30. Not to have love for the world.
7 QUALITIES ARE CONNECTED TO THE TONGUE
32. To recite the Qur'an.
33. To acquire knowledge.
34. To pass on Knowledge.
35. To make dua'a.
36. To make the zikr of Allah Ta'ala.
37. To abstain from the following: lies, backbiting, vulgar words, cursing, singing that is contrary
to the Shariah.
40 QUALITIES ARE CONNECTED TO THE ENTIRE BODY
38. To make wudhu, ghusl, and keep one’s clothing clean.
39. To be steadfast in offering salaat.
40. To pay zakaat and sadaqatul fitr.
41. To fast.
42. To perform Hajj.
43. To make i’tikaaf.
44. To move away or migrate from that place which is harmful for one's deen.
45. To fulfill the vows that have been made to Allah.
46. To fulfill the oaths that are not sinful.
47. To pay the kaffarah for unfulfilled oaths.
48. To cover those parts of the body that are compulsory to cover.
49. To perform the ritual slaughter.
50. To enshroud and bury the deceased.
51. To fulfill your debts.
52. To abstain from prohibited things when undertaking monetary transactions.
53. Not to conceal something true which you may have witnessed.
54. To get married when the nafs desires to do so.
55. To fulfill the rights of those who are under you.
56. To provide comfort to one’s parents.
57. To rear children in the proper manner.
58. Not to sever relations with one’s friends and relatives.
59. To obey one’s master.
60. To be just.
61. Not to initiate any way that is contrary to that of the generality of the Muslims.
62. To obey the ruler, provided what he orders is not contrary to the Shariah.
63. To make peace between two warring groups or individuals.
64. To assist in noble tasks.
65. To command the good and prohibit the evil.
66. If it is the government. it should mete out punishments according to the Shariah.
67. To fight the enemies of deen whenever such an occasion presents itself.
68. To fulfill one’s trusts.
69. To give loans to those who are in need .
70. To see to the needs of one’s neighbour.
71. To ensure that one’s income is pure.
72. To spend according to the Shariah.
73. To reply to one who has greeted you.
74. To say 'Yarhamukallah' (May Allah have mercy upon you) when anyone says 'Alhamdulillah' (All praise be to Allah) after sneezing.
75. Not to cause harm to anyone unjustly.
76. To abstain from games and amusements contrary to the Shariah.
77. To remove pebbles, stones, thorns, sticks, and the like from the road.
May Allah Ta'ala give us the ability to grow this tree in our lives and may He pour enough Guidance over it for it to blossom. May the contents of these 77 branches drop into our lives with great impact. Ameen
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