EVENT - Huffaz Conference

HUFFAZ CONFERENCE - SUNDAY 1ST FEBRUARY 2009 - AFTER ZUHR (1.00pm)

A TARBIYAH PROGRAM FOR HUFFAZ AND POTENTIAL HUFFAZ (others are also welcome)

CONFERENCE INCLUDES:
Talks by prominent Ulama:

MAULANA SALEEM NAWAB SAHIB
MAULANA MUHAMMAD ALI SAHIB
MAULANA ABDUR RAHMAN SAYED SAHIB

QIRAAT
REFRESHMENTS

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

DIRECTIONS:
CLOSEST TUBE STATION: LEYTON (Central Line)
BUSES: 69, 97 TO JET PETROL PUMP

www.jamia.co.uk

What can we do for Gaza?

The first question is that, "Is this war a sign of the Day of Judgement?" The answer is quite simply, yes.

One of the signs of the Day of Resurrection is that we the muslims will be large in number, but we will be weak and broken.

Thauban reported that the Messenger of Allah said:

“It is near that the nations will call one another against you just as the eaters call one another to their dishes.”

Somebody asked: “Is this because we will be few in numbers that day?”

He said: “Nay, but that day you shall be numerous, but you will be like the foam of the sea, and Allah will take the fear of you away from your enemies and will place weakness into your hearts.”

Somebody asked: “What is this weakness?”

He said: “The love of the world and the dislike of death.” (Abu Dawud)

The Muslims are now seen as the lowest from among societies. Muslim nations have severed themselves from each other in a bid to gain authority. The Muslim brotherhood about which the Prophet salallahu alayhi wa salam once said,

“The Muslim Ummah is like the human body, if one part of the body aches, the entire body aches.”

Is now more like if one part of the Ummah is in pain and suffering, the rest of the Muslim nations will sit back and watch the clouds go by.

The question one must ask is why is this happening? How can it be possible that 4 million Jews across the world are more stronger and fiercer than a group of people who are 2.6 billion in number? The reason is because the teachings of Islam have been left and the way of Rasulullah salallahualayhi wa salam has been thrown away. If a country was to follow the way Allah has decreed that a country should be run. If it stepped in when its brethren are suffering and it tried to bring peace to the towns and cities. Then you would see that the people of that country would be honourable and respected in the eyes of muslims and non-muslims. But in this day and age there is none like this.

The underlying theme now is, what can we do to help?

Well firstly and most importantly we must make Dua. It is the main thing we can do to help. The Prophet salallahu alayhi wa salam has said that:

"Dua is the weapon of a believer."

Dua is extremely important, if a person starts to neglect dua then Allah doesn’t like it because that Muslim isn’t asking from Allah. Dua is such that we should even ask Allah for help when we want to tie our own shoelace! Allah is Al-Kareem He is the Rich the Wealthy, the Possessor of all bounties, He is the Most Powerful, He is the Most Wise, He is the All Knowing and He is Control over all things. Time and time again we see the various attributes of Allah mentioned in the Qur’an. In Imam Nawawi’s Arba’in it has been narrated on the authority of Abu Dharr radiallahu anhu:

“O My servants, were the first of you and the last of you, the human of you and the jinn of you to rise up in one place and make a request of Me, and were I to give everyone what he requested, that would not decrease what I have, any more than a needle decreases the sea if put into it.”

When a Muslim makes dua for his Muslim brother an angel says ‘Ameen’ and makes the same dua for the one who made the supplication in the first place. Now I ask, will an angel ever have his dua rejected when all they do is glorify Allah night and day? Whenever the Prophet salallahu alayhi wa salam and his companions ever had a battle or war or any sort of difficulty the first thing they would do is observe patience and make dua. They would make such dua that when armies 10,000 in number would come to fight a group of Muslim only 346 in number, you would find that the 346 beat the 10,000. It seems impossible and unbelievable but this is the effect and power that dua had.

The second most helpful thing a person can do at this moment in time is also to donate whatever you can to the oppressed people. Sadaqah (charity) is something that removes sins and has only goodness attached to it. There are many ahadeeth regarding charity and here is one. The Prophet salallahu alayhi wa salams said:

“The believer's shade on the Day of Resurrection will be his Sadaqah.” (Ahmad).

Recently alot of people have been hesitant about donating money to Gaza for the reason that they aren't sure wether their money will reach the people or not. The scholars have said that if a person donates money in the path of Allah he should not worry about wether it reaches there or not because at the end of the day his deed of donating the money is accepted wether it reaches the place or not. Aslong as our intentions are clean and we try to make the means of finding a proper person to deal with the charity and not someone who is untrustworthy, then we should leave the rest to Allah. Also, one should note that when we do donate money to charity and sadaqa we should keep our intentions that we are doing such acts for the pleasure of Allah and that we should not think that by donating this money we are helping the people in a boastful or proud way that they are relying on our help and support. No, this is not the case. If anything we are helping ourselves because we are the poor and needy in this world and in the hereafter in terms of good deeds. This sadaqa will help us in the hereafter when we are standing in the courts of Allah.

Recently there has been alot of media coverage and advertisements concerning demonstrations and rallies. Concerning this issue one must keep in mind the following; If one goes to a protest, we know that this does put pressure on the government and it does have some sort of effect but during the these times, you will notice that 50,000 people will go to Hyde park to march down to the embassy, but the majority of those people that are Muslims may miss their Zuhar, Asar and Magrib prayers because they are so close to each other and there isn’t no proper place to pray or to even do wudhu. Fardh acts come before everything else. If the people cannot get their prayer then what type of effect will these protests have? Imagine if every protestor before he/she left their house they prayed 2 rakaat nafl salaah and made dua for those in Gaza. That in itself would have more of an effect and virtue than these protests.

Insh'Allah more will be written about this in the coming days.

May Allah bring peace to our Muslim lands and May He bring back unity and respect to this ummah. Ameen.

P.S. Insha'Allah in the next couple of days we will be raising money for the Gaza Appeal in college. So brothers and sisters are requested to try and donate as much as possible. Jazakallah.

A New Year

As a new year has begun both Islamically and in the Western world. Many people will look at the year ahead of them with many ambitions and resolutions planned. However, we must not forget the past years of our lives as they are instrumental in explaining who we are today. We must not look at the past and think that it is done and dusted but we should take lessons from the mistakes we have made and make sure that we do not return to them. Many people are stuck in the thought that we will make this year one which is fruitful but fail to assess why their previous years on this planet have been a shambles. As Allah Ta'ala says in the Qur'an, "So, relate the chronicles, so that they may ponder." Similarly, after narrating the entire story of Yusuf (peace be upon him) Allah Ta'ala says "Surely, in the narratives of these, there is a lesson for the people of understanding." From this we understand that it is not just crucial to plan change for the coming years but to understand where we went wrong in previous years. Inshallah, through this, we will be able to rectify ourselves.

When a student reads the Qur'an to a Qari, the Qari will highlight his student's mistakes with a pen and send him back so that he can rectify his recital before he proceeds to his next sabak (lesson). In the same way, we should highlight our mistakes to ourselves and then rectify them so that we can proceed into the new year confident of not making the same old errors as before.

May Allah Ta'ala give us the ability to rectify ourselves and stay away from mistakes we have promised not to return to. Ameen.

The Month Of Muharram

Muharram is the first month of the Islamic, Hijrah calendar. It is one of the four sanctified months about which Allah Ta'ala says, 'The number of months in the sight of Allah are twelve (in a year) - So ordained by Him the day He created the heavens and the earth; Of them four are sacred: That is the right religion. So wrong not yourselves therein.' (Surah Taubah).

The four months, according to authentic Ahaadith, are the months of Zul-Qa`dah, Zul Hijjah, Muharram and Rajab. The sanctity of these four months was observed in the Shari'ah of all the Ambiyaa (AS).

'Allah Ta'ala made them (i.e. the four months) sacred and increased their sanctity. Hence declared a sin therein more severe and increased the virtue of good deeds and (also) the reward thereof.' (Ibn Katheer).

The Ulama have stated that the actions performed in these months have an effect on what a person does in the remaining months of the year.

THE MONTH OF MUHARRAM

The best of fasts besides the month of Ramadhaan is the fast during Allah's month of Muharram and the best of Salaats besides the Fardh (obligatory Salaat) is the Tahajjud Salaah (performed
after midnight). (Sahih Muslim).

THE DAY OF AASHURA (10th OF MUHARRAM)

The tenth of Muharram, known as the day of Aashura, is a very significant day in the Islamic calendar. Nabi (SA) has exhorted the Ummah to fast on this day. Hadhrat Aaisha (RA) reports that Nabi (SAW) ordered the observance of the fast of Aashura. However, when the fast of Ramadhaan became compulsory, Nabi (SAW) left the fast of Aashura (i.e. the compulsion).

Thereafter, whosoever desired kept this fast and whosoever desired, (not to keep it) did not observe this fast'. (Sahih Bukhari, Vol 1).

Hadhrat Ibn Abbaas (RA) says, 'I did not see Rasulullah (SAW) anxiously await the fast of any day, which he gave preference to over other days, but this day (of Aashura) and the month of Ramadhaan (Sahih Bukhaari, Vol. 1).

VIRTUE OF THE FAST OF AASHURA

With regard to the blessing of this fast, Nabi (SAW) was asked regarding it's virtue. He answered, 'It is a compansation for the sins of the past year.' i.e. the sins of one year that has just gone by will be forgiven. (Sahih Muslim, Vol. 1).Note: Only minor sins are forgiven. For the forgiveness of major sins, Towbah is a prerequisite.

THE FAST OF AASHURA

Hadhrat Ibn Abbaas (RA) narrates that when Nabi (SAW) came to Madinah and found the Jews fasting on the day of Aashura, he inquired, 'What is the significance of this day on which you fast?' They replied, 'This is the day Allah saved Nabi Moosa (AS) and his followers and drowned Fir'oun and his army, thus Moosa (AS) fasted on this day as a token of thanksgiving. Therefore we too fast on this day.' (Sahih Muslim, Vol 1).Rasulullah (SAW) said, 'We are more worthy of Moosa (AS) and nearer to him that you.' Thereafter, he fasted on this day and ordered the Sahaabah to fast on this day. (Sahih Muslim, Vol. 1)

Rasulullah (SAW) is reported to have said, 'Observe the fast of Aashura and oppose (the way of) the Jews. Fast a day before it (also) or a day after it.' (Baihaqi, Vol 4)
Hence, one should fast for two days: Either the 9th and 10th or the 10th and 11th. To fast only on the 10th of Muharram is MAKROOH (reprehensible) and bears semblance to the Jews.

GENEROSITY TO ONE'S FAMILY

Besides fasting on the day of Aashura, being generous to one's family and spending more than what is normally spent on food, etc. is an act of great merit. It is mentioned in a Hadith, 'He who will be generous to his family on the day of Aashura, Allah will be generous to him for the entire year.'

Taken from Everymuslim.net

P.S: Happy New Islamic Year :D

A Description of Jannah (Qasidah Nuniyyah) - Ibn al-Qayyim Rahimahullah

Ibn al-Qayyim rahimahulllah said, in regards to the description of the Paradise and the delights that it contains:

And if you ask about its ground and its soil, then it is of musk and saffron.

And if you ask about its roof, then it is the Throne of the Most Merciful.

And if you ask about its rocks, then they are pearls and jewels.

And if you ask about its buildings, then they are made of bricks of gold and silver.

And if you ask about its trees, then it does not contain a single tree except that its trunk is made of gold and silver.

And if you ask about its fruits, then they are softer than butter and sweeter than honey.

And if you ask about its leaves, then they are softer than the softest cloth.

And if you ask about its rivers, then there are rivers of milk who's taste does not change, and rivers of wine that is delicious to those who drink it, and rivers of honey that is pure, and rivers of water that is fresh.

And if you ask about their food, then it is fruits from whatever they will choose, and the meat of whatever birds they desire.And if you ask about their drink, then it is Tasneem, ginger, and Kaafoor.

And if you ask about their drinking cups, then they are crystal-clear and made of gold and silver.

And if you ask about its shade, then a fast rider would ride in the shade of one of its trees for a hundred years and not escape it.

And if you ask about its vastness, then the lowest of its people would have within his kingdom and walls and palaces and gardens the distance that would be travelled in a thousand years.

And if you ask about its tents and encampments, then one tent is like a concealed pearl that is sixty miles long.

And if you ask about its towers, then they are rooms above rooms in buildings that have rivers running underneath them.

And if you ask about how far it reaches into the sky, then look at the shining star that is visible, as well as those that are far in the heavens that the eyesight cannot possibly reach.

And if you ask about the clothing of its inhabitants, then they are of silk and gold.

And if you ask about its beds, then its blankets are of the finest silk laid out in the highest of its levels.

And if you ask about the faces of its inhabitants and their beauty, then they are like the image of the Moon.And if you ask about their age, then they are young ones of 33 years in the image of Adam, the father of humanity.

And if you ask about what they will be hearing, then it is the singing of their wives from among the Hoor al-'Ayn, and better than that are the voices of the Angels and the Prophets, and better than that is the Speech of the Lord of the Worlds.

And if you ask about their servants, then they are young boys of everlasting youth who resemble scattered pearls.

And if you ask about their brides and wives, then they are young and full-breasted and have had the liquid of youth flow through their limbs; the Sun runs along the beauty of her face if she shows it, light shines from between her teeth if she smiles; if you meet her love, then say whatever you want regarding the joining of two lights; he sees his face in the roundness of her cheek as if he is looking into a polished mirror, and he sees the brightness from behind her muscles and bones; if she were to be unleashed upon the World, she would fill what is between the Heavens and the Earth with a beautiful wind, and the mouths of the creation would glorifiy, praise, and exclaim greatness, and everything between the East and the West would be adorned for her, and every eye would be shut from everthing but her, and the light of the Sun would be outshone just as the light of the Sun outshines the light of the stars, and everyone on the face of the Earth would believe in the Ever-Living, the One who Sustains and Protects all the exists.

And the covering on her head is better than the World and all that is in it, and she does not increase with age except in beauty; free from an umbilical cord, childbirth and menses, and pure of mucous, saliva, urine and other filthy things; her youth never fades, her clothing is never worn out, no garment can be created that matches her beauty, and no one who is with her can ever become bored; her attention is restricted to her husband, so she desires none but him, just as his attention is restricted to her so she is the sole object of his desire, and he is with her in utmost safety and security, as none has touched her before of either humans or Jinn.

And if you ask about the Day of Increase (in reward) and the visit of the all-Mighty, all-Wise, and the sight of His Face - free from any resemblance or likeness to anything - as you see the Sun in the middle of the day and the full Moon on a cloudless night, then listen on the day that the caller will call:

'O People of Paradise! Your Lord - Blessed and Exalted - requests you to visit Him, so come to visit Him!'

So they will say:

'We hear and obey!'

Until, when they finally reach the wide valley where they will all meet - and none of them will turn down the request of the caller - the Lord - Blessed and Exalted - will order His Chair to be brought there.

Then, pulpits of light will emerge, as well as pulpits of pearls, gemstone, gold, and silver.

The lowest of them in rank will sit on sheets of musk, and will not see what those who are on the chairs above them are given. When they are comfortable where they are sitting and are secure in their places, and the caller calls:

'O People of Paradise! You have an appointment with Allah in which He wishes to reward you!'

So they will say:

'And what is that reward? Has He not already made our faces bright, made our scales heavy, entered us into Paradise, and pushed us away from the Fire?'

And when they are like that, all of a sudden a light shines that encompasses all of Paradise. So, they raise their heads, and, behold: the Compeller - Exalted is He, and Holy are His Names - has come to them from above them and majestified them and said:

'O People of Paradise! Peace be upon you!'

So, this greeting will not be responded to with anything better than:

'O Allah! You are Peace, and from You is Peace! Blessed are You, O possessor of Majesty and Honor!'

So the Lord - Blessed and Exalted - will laugh to them and say:

'O People of Paradise! Where are those who used to obey Me without having ever seen Me? This is the Day of Increase!'

So, they will all give the same response:

'We are pleased, so be pleased with us!'

So, He will say:

'O People of Paradise! If I were not pleased with you, I would not have made you inhabitants of My Paradise! So, ask of Me!'

So, they will all give the same response:

'Show us your Face so that we may look at it!'

So, the Lord - Mighty and Majestic - will remove his covering and will majestify them and will cover them with His Light, which, if Allah - the Exalted - had not Willed not to burn them, would have burned them.And there will not remain a single person in this gathering except that his Lord - the Exalted - will speak to him and say:

'Do you remember the day that you did this and that?'

and He will remind him of some of his bad deeds in the Worldy life, so he will say:

'O Lord! Will you not forgive me?'

So, He will say:

'Of course! You have not reached this position of yours (in Paradise) except by My forgiveness.'

So, how sweet is this speech to the ears, and how cooled are the righteous eyes by the glance at His Noble Face in the Afterlife...

"Some faces that Day will be shining and radiant, looking at their Lord..." (Surah Qiyamah:22-3)