3a] Are the angels superior or the Prophet and the righteous?

3a]
He also said:
Allah created Adam from clay; because He shaped him and breathed into
him the spirit He created for him, and instructed the angels to
prostrate to him, and He favoured himover them by teaching him the
names of all things and He created himwith His own hand and soon, he
and the righteous among his descendants are superior to the
angels,even though mankind was created from clay andthe angels from
light.
End quote from Majmoo' al-Fataawa, 11/95
Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
Allah, may He be glorified,created from inferior material that which
is superior to that which was created from something else. This is a
sign of His perfect power, may He be glorified. Hence Muhammad,
Ibraaheem, Moosa, 'Eesa, Nooh and the Messengers are superior to the
angels.The view of Ahl as-Sunnahis that the righteous among mankind
are superior to the angels, even though their substance is light and
the substance of mankind is dust.
End quote from as-Sawaa'iq al-Mursalah, 3/1002
He also said:
The righteous among mankind are superior to the angels, because the
worship of the angels is free from any contamination of the whims and
desires of the human nafs; it is done by beings that have nothing to
prevent, undermine or resist it. It is like breathing for the living.
As for the acts of worship of human beings, they aredone despite the
inclinations of their heartsand by suppressing their whims and desires
and going against their natural urges. So they are more perfect. Hence
most of the scholars said that humans were superior to the angels for
this reason and others.
End quote from Tareeq al-Hijratayn, 349-350
There are some scholars who highlighted a different approach to this
issue. Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
Comparing angels to the righteous among mankind is a matter concerning
which there are differences among thescholars, each of whom quoted
texts to support his opinion. But the most correct view is that the
righteous among mankind are superior to the angels on the basis of the
final outcome becauseAllah, may He be glorified and exalted, will give
them reward the like of which cannot be attained by the angels as far
as we know. Rather the angels will be in the abode of thebelievers –
namely Paradise – and will enter upon them from every gate,
congratulating them(with the words): "Salamun Alaikum (peace be upon
you) for that you persevered in patience! Excellent indeed is the
final home!" [ar-Ra 'd 13:24 – interpretation of the meaning]. From
the point of view of their origin, the angels are superior because
they were created from light and their innate nature is to worship and
obey Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, and they have been given
the strength to do that. Allah, may He be exalted, says that among the
angels are the angels of Hell:
"over which are (appointed) angels stern (and) severe, who disobeynot,
(from executing) the Commands they receive from Allah, but do that
which they are commanded"
[at-Tahreem 66:6]
"And those who are near Him (i.e. the angels) are not too proud to
worship Him, nor are they weary (of His worship).
They (i.e. the angels) glorify His Praises night and day, (and) they
never slacken (to do so)"
[al-A'raaf 7:206].
This is the decisive view concerning this matter.
Indulging in discussion of this matter and seeking todetermine whether
the righteous among mankind or the angels aresuperior is a kind of
superfluous knowledge. Man has no need of understanding and learning
about this matter.
End quote from Fataawa Noor 'ala ad-Darb, 8/6
He is right, may Allah have mercy on him. This and similar matters are
things that people have no need to indulge in discussion of and enter
into disputes as to which group is superior and which group worships
more? It is a kind of superfluous knowledge and the Muslim has no need
to know which group is superior and more perfect. What the Muslim
should do is focus on putting his own affairs in order by obeying his
Lord.

And Allah knows best.

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3]Are the angels superior or the Prophet and the righteous?

3]
Do the angels worship Allah better and more perfectly than the
Prophets themselves?.
Praise be to Allaah.
The angels are honoured slaves and do not disobeyAllah in what He
commands them to do; they do whatever they are commanded. Allah
created them and made their innate nature one of obedience and worship
ofHim. Some of them are appointed in charge of the revelation, some
are appointed in charge of provision, some are appointed in charge of
the mountains and some are created to worship, pray, and glorify and
remember Allah.
At-Tirmidhi (2312) narrated, in a report which he classed as
hasan,that Abu Dharr said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace
of Allah be upon him) said: "Verily I see what you do not see and I
hear what you do not hear. The heaven is creaking and it should creak,
for there is no space in it the width offour fingers but there is an
angel there, placing hisforehead in prostration toAllah."
Classed as hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh at-Tirmidhi
In the hadeeth of the Isra'(Prophet's Night Journey) it says: "Then
the Much-Frequented House (al-bayt al-ma'moor) was raised up for me,
and I asked Jibreel (about it). Hesaid: 'This is the Much-Frequented
House. Every day seventy thousand angels enter it and when they depart
from it, they never return to it.'"
Narrated by al-Bukhaari (3207) and Muslim (164).
At-Tabari narrated in his Tafseer (21/127) from Ibn Mas'ood (may Allah
be pleased with him) that he said: Among the heavens is one in which
there is nospace the size of a handspan but on it there is the
forehead of an angel or his foot standing there. Then he recited the
words: "Verily, we (angels), we stand in rowsfor the prayers (as you
Muslims stand in rows for your prayers). Verily, we (angels), we are
they whoglorify (Allah's Praises i.e. perform prayers)" [as-Saffaat
37:165-166].
Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in as-Saheehah,1059
Such worship is beyond the capabilities of any human being, and they
are not able to do it. The angels do not slow down or become tired, as
Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning):
"But if they are too proud (to do so), then there are those who are
with your Lord (angels) glorify Him night and day, and never are they
tired"
[Fussilat 41:38].
What is instilled in humanbeings is human nature, including the
Prophets and Messengers of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon
them); theyare different from the angels in their attributes and
natures.
The angels are able to do feats of worship that no human is able to do.
But the fact that their worship is greater does not mean that they are
superior to the Prophets; the Prophets are to be viewed on the basis
that they are human beings with human nature. It is because they have
risen to such a high status in obedience to their Lord that they have
a particular virtue and sublime position, so muchso that more than one
of the scholars has said that the righteous among mankind are of a
higher status than the angels, because the angels do nothave any
inclination towards evil or disobedience, whereas the righteous among
mankind have these inclinations, but they resist them and overcomethem
in order to obey Allah.
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah was asked about those who obey Allah
among the ummah of Muhammad (blessings and peace of Allah be upon
him): are they superior to the angels?
He replied:
It was proven that 'Abdullah ibn 'Amr said: The angels said: O Allah,
You have created the sonsof Adam, and they eat anddrink and enjoy life
in the world; create for us the Hereafter as you created the world for
them. He said: I shall not do that. They asked Him again andHe said: I
shall not do that. Then they asked Himagain two or three times and He
said: By My Glory, Icannot regard the righteous among the descendants
of the one whom I have created withMy own hand as being like one to
whom I said: Be! And he was (i.e., the angels). This was narratedby
'Uthmaan ibn Sa'eed ad-Daarimi.
It was narrated from 'Abdullah ibn Salaam that he said: Allah has not
created any creation dearer to Him that Muhammad. It was said tohim:
Not even Jibreel and Mika'eel? He said to the one who asked him: Do
you know what Jibreel and Mika'eel are? Jibreel and Mika'eel are
subjugated creations like the sun and the moon. Allah has not created
anyone who is dearer to him than Muhammad (blessings and peace of
Allah be upon him).
I do not know of any one among the Sahaabah whodisagrees with that.
This is the well-known view among those who claim to belong to Ahl
as-Sunnah, the companions of the four imams and others, namely (the
view that) the angels and close friends of Allah (awliya') are
superior to the angels.
End quote from Majmoo' al-Fataawa, 4/344

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Ruling on Salaat ul Taraaweeh for Women

Is taraaweeh prayer required for women?
Which is better for women, to perform Taraaweeh at home or in a mosque?
Praise be to Allaah.
Taraaweeh prayer is not obligatory for women, and it is still better
for them to perform the Night Prayer at home, because the Prophet SAWS
(Peace & Blessings of Allah be upon Him) said:
"Do not prevent your women from going to themosque, even though their
houses are better forthem." (Reported by Abu Dawud in al-Sunan, Baab
maa jaa'a fee khurooj al-nisaa' ilaa'l-masjid: Baab al-tashdeed fee
dhaalik. See also Saheeh al-Jaami', no. 7458) .
Whenever a woman praysin a place that is more private and more hidden,
that is better for her, as the Prophet SAWS (Peace& Blessings of Allah
be upon Him) said: "A woman's prayer in her house is better than her
prayer in her courtyard, and her prayer in her bedroom is better than
her prayer in her house." (Reported by Abu Dawud in al-Sunan, Baab maa
jaa'a fee khurooj al-nisaa' ilaa'l-masjid. See also Saheeh al-Jaami',
no. 3833).
Umm Humayd, the wife ofAbu Humayd al-Saa'idi reported that she came
tothe Prophet SAWS (Peace& Blessings of Allah be upon Him) and said:
"O Messenger of Allaah, I loveto pray with you." He said: "I know that
you love to pray with me, but praying in your house is better for you
than praying in your courtyard,and praying in your courtyard is better
for youthan praying in the mosque of your people, and praying in the
mosque of your people is better for you than praying in my mosque." So
she ordered that a prayer-place be built for her in the furthest and
darkest part of her house, and she always prayed there until she met
Allaah (i.e., until she died). (Reported by Imaam Ahmad; the men of
its isnaad are thiqaat (trustworthy) ).
But the fact that praying at home is preferable does not mean that
that women are not permittedto go to the mosque, as is clear from the
following hadeeth:
From 'Abdullah ibn 'Umar, who said: "I heard the Messenger of Allaah
SAWS(Peace & Blessings of Allahbe upon Him) say: 'Do not prevent your
women from going to the mosqueif they ask your permission.'" Bilaal
ibn 'Abdullah said, "By Allaah, we will prevent them." (Ibn 'Umar)
turned to him and told him off in an unprecedented fashion, saying: "I
tell you what the Messenger of Allaah SAWS (Peace & Blessings of Allah
be upon Him) said, and you say 'By Allaah, we will prevent them'!!"
(reported by Muslim, 667).
But there are conditions attached to the permission for women to go to
the mosque, as follows:
(1) She should wear complete hijaab.
(2) She should not go out wearing perfume.
(3) She should have the permission of her husband.
Her going out should not involve any other kind of prohibited acts,
such as being alone in a car with a non-mahram driver. If a woman does
something wrong like that, her husband or guardian has the right to
stop her; in fact it is his duty to do so.
I asked our shaykh, Shaykh 'Abd al-'Azeez, about Taraaweeh prayer in
particular, and whetherit is better for a woman toperform this prayer
in the mosque. He replied in the negative and said that theahaadeeth
that state that it is preferable for a woman to pray in her house
apply to all prayers,and this includes Taraaweeh as well as others.
And Allaah knows best.

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3a] Ramadan - A Reminder of Unity

3a]
Thus, Abu Daawood relates(1/307) that 'Uthmaan (raa) prayed four
rak'ahs atMinaa, so 'Abdullaah ibn Mas'ood criticized him saying: "I
prayed two rak'ahs with the Prophet (saws) and two rak'ahs with Abu
Bakr, and two rak'ahs with 'Umar, and two rak'ahs with 'Uthmaanin the
beginning of his rule, then he completed it (i.e. by praying four
rak'ahs). After that the ways became divided withyou all. So I hope
from these four rak'ahs, that two of them would be accepted." Then Ibn
Mas'ood prayed four rak'ahs. So it was said to him: You criticized
'Uthmaan, yet you prayed four? So he said: "Differing is evil."
Its chain of narration is Saheeh (authentic), and something similar to
this isrelated in the Musnad (5/155) of Imaam Ahmad, from Abu Dharr
(raa).
So those who continue splitting-up with regards to the Prayer, and who
refuse to follow the local Imaams in some mosques - especially in the
witr Prayer during Ramadaan - using as proof that this is against
their madhhab (school of thought), then they should reflect upon the
above mentioned hadeeth and athar (narration). Likewise, thosewho
claim knowledge of astronomy and who, due to their opinion, fast and
end their fast alone - preceding or lagging behind the majority of
Muslims, not seeing any problem in doing so - should also reflect upon
the previously quoted proofs. So all of them should consider, and
reflect upon the knowledge that has been mentioned. Perhaps they will
find for themselves a cure for their ignorance and self-delusion, so
that they may then become a unified rank along with their Muslim
brothers - for indeed the Hand of Allaah Subhanahu wa Taa'ala is over
the Jamaa'ah.

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3] Ramadan - A Reminder of Unity

3]
Abu Hurayrah (raa) related that the Prophet sallallahualaihi wa sallam said:
"Fast when they fast, endthe fast when they end theirs, and sacrifice
the day that they sacrifice." [2]
Al-Bayhaqee relates by way of Abu Haneefah, whosaid: 'Alee ibn
al-Aqmar related to me, from Masrooq, who said: I entered upon
'Aaishah on the day of 'Arafah, so she said: "Serve Masrooq with some
gruel, and make it more sweet." Masrooq said: Nothing prevented me
from fasting this day except that I feared that it may be the day of
Sacrifice. So 'Aa'ishah said to me: "The day of Sacrificeis when the
people sacrifice, and the day of ending the fast is when the people
end their fast." This chain of narration is jayyid (good) due to what
has preceded.
Understanding This Hadeeth:
Imaam at-Tirmidhee says after quoting the hadeeth:"One of the people
of knowledge has explained this hadeeth by saying: Its meaning is to
fast and endthe fast along with the Jamaa'ah and the majority of
people."
As-San'aanee said in Sublus-Salaam (2/72): "In this (hadeeth) is a
proof that being in agreement with the people is accepted in
establishing 'Eed, and that the individual person who believes that it
is the day of 'Eed - because of the sighting of the moon - then it is
obligatory upon him to be in agreement with the people, and that the
ruling of the people - concerning the Prayer, breaking the fast, and
sacrificing - is binding upon the individual."
Ibn al-Qayyim (rahimahullaah) mentioned this meaning
inTahdheebus-Sunan (3/214), and said: "It is said: In it a refutation
of those who say that whosoever knows the positions of the moon due to
astronomical calculations, then it is permissible for him to fast and
end the fast, even if others do not know. It is also said: That the
individual witness who sees the moon, but the qaadee (judge) has not
accepted his testimony, then there is no fasting forhim, just as there
is no fasting for the people."
Abul-Hasan as-Sindee said in Haashiyah 'alaa Ibn Maajah, after
mentioning the hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah which was related by
at-Tirmidhee:"And its apparent meaningis: That there is no room for
individual (opinions) toenter into these affairs, norto act
individually in this. Rather, this affair goes back to the Imaam (the
Leader of the Muslims) andthe Jamaa'ah (united body of Muslims under
the Imaam). It is obligatory upon the individuals to follow the Imaam
and the Jamaa'ah. From this is that is an individual sights the moon,
but the qaadee rejects his witness, then the individual has no right
in these matters, but rather he must follow the Jamaa'ah in this."
And this is the meaning which is evident from the hadeeth, and which
is emphasized by the fact that 'Aa'ishah (raa) used it with Masrooq
when he prevented himself from fasting on the day of 'Arafah, fearing
that it could be the day of Sacrifice. So she explained to him that
there is no weight given to his individual opinion in this, and that
he should follow the Jamaa'ah. So she said to him: "The day of
Sacrifice is when the people sacrifice, and the day of ending the fast
is when the people end theirfast."
Unity is One of the Goals of the Sharee'ah
And this is what is befitting for the easy-natured and tolerant
Sharee'ah (Prescribed Islaamic Law), one of the goals of which is
uniting the people together, unifying their ranks and keeping away
from them all that would split their comprehensive unity - from the
individual opinions. So the Sharee'ah does not give any weight to the
individual opinion in matters concerning 'ibaadah jamaa'iyyah
(collective acts of worship),such as Fasting, 'Eed and Prayer in
congregation - even if the opinion is correct, from one angle. Doyou
not see that the Sahaabah (the Companions) - radiallaahu 'anhum - used
to pray behind each other. So fromthem were those who heldthe view
that touching a woman, or the flowing of blood from the body
invalidates the wudhoo' (ablution), along with those who did not hold
this view. From them werethose who would complete the Prayer
whilsttraveling, whilst others shortened. Yet these, and other such
differences, did not prevent them from collectively praying behinda
single Imaam and deeming it to be acceptable. And this is because they
knew that tafarruq (splitting-up) in the Religion is more evil than
having ikhtilaaf (differences) in some opinions. Indeed, the matter
with one of them reached the extent that hewould not even deem
acceptable any opinion which differed with the great Imaam in the
major gatherings; such as the gathering at Minaa (duringHajj), to the
extent that he would totally abandon acting upon his opinion in that
gathering - fleeing from that which could result from this evil,
because of acting according to his own opinion.

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Fatwaa - Eating out of forgetfulness in Ramadan does not matter

What is the ruling on one who eats or drinks out of forgetfulness
during Ramadan?
Praise be to Allaah.
That does not matter and his fast is valid, because Allaah says at the
end of Soorat al-Baqarah (interpretation of the meaning):
"Our Lord! Punish us not ifwe forget or fall into error"
[al-Baqarah 2:286]
It was narrated in a saheeh report from the Messenger of Allaah (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him) that Allaah said, "I have done
that." And it was narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased
with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
said: "Whoever forgets that he is fasting and eats or drinks, let him
complete his fast, for the One Who fed him and gave him to drink was
Allaah." (Agreedupon).
The same applies if he hasintercourse because of forgetfulness; his
fast is still valid according to the more correct of the two scholarly
opinions, because of this aayah and this hadeeth, and becausethe
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
"Whoeverbreaks his fast in Ramadaan out of forgetfulness, he does
nothave to make that day up and he does not have to offer any
expiation (kafaarah)." (Narrated andclassed as saheeh by al-Haakim).
This wording includes intercourse and other things that break the
fast, if the fasting person does them because of forgetfulness. This
is from the mercy, bounty and kindness of Allaah, for which we praise
and thank Him.
Majmoo' Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn Baaz, vol. 4, p. 193.

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2b] Ramadan 2012, The 13th Day

2b]
There are Signs inthat for people who reflect.In the earth thereare
diverse regions side by side and gardens of grapes and cultivated
fields, and palm-trees sharing one root and others with individual
roots, all watered with the same water. And Wemake some things better
to eat than others. There are Signs in that for people who use their
intellect. (Surat a-Ra'd, 2-4)
It is He Who created the heavens and the earth in six days, then
established Himself firmly on the Throne. Heknows what goes into the
earth and what comes out of it, what comes down from heaven and what
goes up into it. He is with youwherever you are – Allahsees what you
do. (Surat al-Hadid, 4)
An Increase In The Number Of Earthquakes
Doomsday will not come until earthquakes multiply, strife appears, and
murders increase. (Portents of Doomsday, p.109)
Our Prophet (saas) stated in the above hadith that "a rise in the
number of earthquakes" will be a sign that the End Times is nigh.
Indeed, the twentieth century went down in history as one in which
many thousands of people lost their lives in earthquakes. The
devastating earthquake inKobe (Japan), and those that followed one
after the other in Turkey, Taiwan, Greece, and Mexico, are important
signs.
There will be earthquakes in my community. Ten thousand, twenty
thousand, thirty thousandpeople will die. Allah will make this a
counsel for the taqwa, a mercy on believers and a suffering for
unbelievers. (Ibn 'Asakır, Geleceğin Tarihi 1(History of the Future
1), Orhan Baytan, Mevsim Publishings, p. 81)
The days when you can find no homes to shelter you or animals to carry
you have come close. Earthquakes will demolishyour houses. (Barzanji,
Al-Isha`ah, p. 146)
If you see the caliphate has descended to the HolyLand, (al-ard
al-muqaddasa) know thatearthquakes, afflictions, and great events are
nigh.On that day, Doomsday is closer to humanity than this hand is to
my head. (Sunan Abu Dawud)
When the generations that follow my community insult those who went
before (with various pretexts and excuses), expect red winds,
earthquakes and changes of appearance (metamorphosis or stonesraining
from the sky). (Tirmidhi Hadiths, Fitan 39, p. 2211)
In the End Times, when amusements and dancers appear and alcohol is
said to be permitted, there willbe collapse; it will rain stones; and
people will change their appearance. (Sahl Ibn Sa`d, Ahmad Diya'
al-Din al-Kamushkhanawi,Rumuz al-Ahadith, 2:302/8)
Doomsday will not take place until knowledge vanishes, earthquakes
multiply, time is shortened, strife appears, and murders flourish.
(Sahih Bukhari, Ibn Majah)

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2a] Ramadan 2012, The 13th Day

2a]
Looking at the Qur'an in general, we see that men and women are
addressed in the same manner. This is yet another indication that
Allah is concerned only with a person's true and heart-felt belief and
not his or her age or gender. In this respect, the Qur'an addresses
men and women together and reminds them that they have the same
responsibilities. There are many such verses, among them:
"Anyone, male or female, who does right actions and believes, will
enter the Garden. They will not be wronged by so much as the tiniest
speck " (Surat an-Nisa, 124)
When revealing things about unbelievers, Allah also addresses them in
the same manner. He reveals that unbelievers and hypocrites of both
genders will be treated alike. For example:
Allah has promised the men and women of the hypocrites and unbelievers
the Fire of Hell, remaining in it timelessly, forever. It will suffice
them. Allah has cursed them. They will have an everlasting punishment.
(Surat at-Tawba, 68)
As these verses make clear, men and women are equal in their trial on
Earth as well as in the reward they receive in theHereafter.
A Response To The Claim That ''If Students Do Not Learn About
Evolution They Can Never Learn About The Diversity İn Nature''
The idea that "If studentsdo not learn about evolution they can never
learn about the diversity in nature" is part of the mass hypnosis that
Darwinists are trying to perpetrate. Darwinists spread the deceptive
idea that someone who is ignorant of evolution can never know about
the diversity in nature in order to spread the fraud that "evolution
is part of science" and use that fraud in order to place evolution
permanently in school curricula.
The fact is, however, that it is evolution that prevents people
appreciating and understanding the extraordinary structures and
glorious variety in life. It is impossible to be aware of beauty and
appreciate its extraordinary nature if one is under the spell of a
false religion that conditions people with the idea that everything
ispurposeless and random. It is certainly impossible to appreciate
beauty as beauty, understand it, be affected by it and feel admiration
for it so long as it is not appreciated.
Evolution is therefore like a plague that prevents people seeing and
grasping the magnificent and glorious diversity andbeauty on Earth.
It is impossible for people who believe in themselves to be descended
from animals, who live devoid of purpose or spirit in an empty and
aimless world, to delight in and appreciate, despite all its glory,
the loveliness of a nature that they believed came about by chance as
the result of accidents anderrors. Even if they praise the beauty of
nature, to whom can they direct that praise? Such people's false god
is unconscious, random and aimless chance. It is therefore impossible
for someone who believes in evolution to love nature and draw any
conclusions from it.
It is only possible to comprehend the glory in nature if Almighty
Allah, the Creator of all beauty, so ordains. Only then can one
appreciate and admire the beauty before one. Only then can one know He
to Whom these beauties belong and understand that all praise must be
directed toward Almighty Allah. One will then rejoice to think that
these delights will never vanish but will exist for alleternity and in
the most perfect and delightful forms in the hereafter. Only then can
one attach meaning to and appreciate beauty.
Allah has created all entities. They are all under Allah's knowledge
and protection. The diversity on Earth is the artistry of Omniscient
and Almighty Allah. Every detail exhibits glorious beauty so that one
can appreciate Almighty Allah.Properly appreciating andunderstanding
the extraordinary beauty in nature is a privilege bestowed on those
who understand and appreciate Allah, in other words, on believers.
In conclusion, the imposition of a child is wrong in this regard, as
it is on so many others. A child can only understand and appreciate
the glory in nature if he is able to understand and appreciate the
greatness of Almighty Allah. Allah tells us that for those
whounderstand and appreciate our Lord's might and greatness and who
look through the eyes of faith, there are "signs," or evidence, in
each and every detail:
Allah is He Who raised up the heavens without any support – you can
see that – and then established Himself firmly on the Throne. Hemade
the sun and moonsubservient, each running for a specified term. He
directs the whole affair. He makes the Signs clear so that hopefully
you will be certain about the meeting with your Lord.
It is He Who stretched out the earth and placedfirmly embedded
mountains and rivers in it and made two types of every kind of fruit.
He covers over day with night.

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2] Ramadan 2012, The 13th Day

2]
I will not let the deeds of any doer among you go towaste, male or
female—you are both the same in that respect. Those who have left
their homes and were driven from their homes, and [who] sufferedharm
in My Way and fought and were killed, I will erase their bad
actionsand admit them into Gardens with rivers flowing under them, as
a reward from Allah. The best of all rewards is with Allah. (Surah Al
'Imran, 195)
Whoever meets Allah, without associating partners with Him, will enter
Paradise; and whoever meets Him as one who associated anything with
Him, will enter the Fire. (Muslim)
A woman and a man are both lower selves. They are souls. They are both
beings that come into being by Allah's breathing into them.
Consequently they have both the very same rights. A woman divorces as
she wishes, if she considers him to be abnormal and insincere. If he
is far removed from faith and religion, she divorces him. Even if she
does not divorce, their marriage becomes legally invalid. (A9 TV,
February 20, 2012)
The Qur'an Addresses Men And Women In The Same Manner
Every society knows all of the traditional arguments about women's
ideal role and place. Their social status and importance in the
family, whether or not they should work, and other social issues have
been discussed seemingly forever. For Muslims, these issues were
settled by the Qur'an: Men and women are equal. The facts that men and
women have different physical builds and that women are generally
weaker than men are irrelevant and cannot be used to reduce women's
value.
What truly matters in Islamic morality is not whether someone is male
or female, but whether or not he or she is a believer who fears and
respects Allah. Each believer is expected to strive to live by the
Qur'an's morality, for the results of this struggle are what Allah
values and will measure inthe Hereafter. Allah revealsthe qualities
that all Muslims, male or female, should have:
The men and women of the believers are friends ofone another. They
command what is right and forbid what is wrong, keep up prayer and
give the alms [zakat], and obey Allah and His Messenger. They are the
people on whom Allah will have mercy. Allah is Almighty, All-Wise.
(Surat at-Tawba, 71)
As Allah reveals, all Muslims, regardless of their gender, have the
same responsibilities: to worship Allah, live according to the
Qur'an's morality, command good and prevent evil, and abide by the
Qur'an's rules.Allah promises everyone who fears and respects
thelimits that He has established for humanity that He will give them
the ability to distinguish right from wrong:
O you who believe! If you have fear of [and respect] Allah, He will
give you discrimination, erase your bad actions, and forgive you.
Allah's favor is indeed immense. (Surat al-Anfal, 29)
Any man or woman who acts on the impulses of theintellect derived from
belief can achieve success in many areas. This depends on their will,
motivation, and persistence. Believers never rest on their laurels,
for it is part of Islamic morality to always strive to be more
intelligent, talented, responsible, and virtuous, as well as to seekto
always improve upon their character. Allah reveals that believers pray
to Him for a character that will make them role models for those
around them.
Islam states that men and women are totally equal. For both of them,
it all depends on their ability to exceed what is expected ofthem by
realizing the full potential of their characterand personality, and by
fulfilling their responsibilities. For this reason, believing women do
not struggle for equality with men, but exert themselves in the race
to do good, defined inthe Qur'an as the effort to win Allah's good
pleasure. For this end, they race to become the person most loved by
Allah so that theymay win His good pleasureand be the nearest to Him.
The equality between menand women is also seen in the fact that Allah
gives them equal rights in this world:
Every soul will taste death.We test you with both good and evil as a
trial. And you will be returned to Us. (Surat al-Anbiya', 35)
Allah gave each man and woman a fixed number of years, holds them both
responsible for their choices, gave them a senseof right and wrong,
and made their base instincts and Satan their enemies. He also reminds
men and women that no one will be treated unjustly as regards the
rewards they are to receive on Earth as well as in the Hereafter:
"Anyone who acts rightly, male or female, being a believer, We will
give them a good life and will recompense them according to the best
of what they did" (Surat an-Nahl, 97)

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1d] Sunnahs Neglected in Ramadhan

1d]
And our Messenger sallAllahu alaihi wa sallam said, "Beware of
(ghuluww) exceeding the limits in the Religion. Because those who came
before you were destroyedby their exceeding the limits in their
Religion."
So when Allah¹s Messenger, sallAllahu alaihiwa sallam, has made it
clear to us that there is in the matter of a persons taking suhoor ,
latitude and a margin of ease, to the extent that he said, "If one of
you hears the call to Prayer whilst the vessel is in his hand, then
let him not put it down until he has completed his need from it."
So it is opposition to Allah and to the Messenger that a person says
that one who hears the adhaan whilst he has food in his mouth must
spit it out upon the ground. This is not from the Sunnah . Rather this
is contrary to the Sunnah , and is contrary to the clear command of
the Messenger, sallAllahu alaihiwa sallam . And I have been asked many
times, soI will not leave the need for such a question, but rather I
will precede you init, by stating that this hadeeth is to be found in
some of the most famous books of the Sunnah . Fromthem being the Sunan
of Aboo Daawood, and it is the third book from the well-known six
books. Thefirst of which is Saheehul-Bukhaaree , the second being
Saheeh Muslim , and the third being the Sunan of Aboo Daawood.
This hadeeth is to be foundin it, and it is likewise reported by Aboo
Abdullaah al-Haakim in his Mustadrak , and it is likewise reported by
the Imaam, the Imaam of the Sunnah Ahmad ibn Hanbal, rahimahullaah ,
in his tremendous book known as the Musnad of Imaam Ahmad. So the
hadeth is not a strange hadeeth , rather it is a well-known hadeeth ,
and was reported by the Imaams ofthe sunnah in the early times, and
with an authentic chain of narration.
So here I say, to conclude this talk, since perhaps some of you have
questions, which we will answer if Allah wills, so I conclude it with
his, sallAllahu alaihi wa sallam, saying "Allah loves that
Hisallowances be acted upon just as He loves that His prescribed
duties be carried out," and in one narration, "Just as He hatesthat
disobedience to Him be committed."
So there are two narrations, "Allah loves that His allowances be acted
upon just as He lovesthat His prescribed duties be carried out" , and
the second narration is, "as He hates that disobedience to Him be
committed."
So therefore the Muslim should not practice false piety, and (as a
result) refrain from obeying the Prophet, sallAllahu alaihi wa sallam,
in that which he encouraged us upon and clarified to us.
And what has been said is sufficient, and all praise is for Allah, the
Lord of all of the creation."/<alhamdulillaah>

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1c] Sunnahs Neglected in Ramadhan

1c]
So from this ease is his, sallAllahu alaihi wa sallam, saying, "If one
of you hearsthe call to Prayer and the vessel is in the hand of oneof
you, then let him not put it down until he fulfils his need from it."
"If one of you hears the call to Prayer," and he has had his fill of
whatever he was eating, then it is not allowed for him to then have
any more, whether it be a drink, or some fruit."
But as for the one who hears the Adhaan and he has not yet taken what
he needs from the food and the drink, then the Messenger, sallAllahu
alaihiwa sallam, made that lawful for him. So he clearly said, in the
clear and eloquent Arabic language, "If one of you hears the call to
Prayer, and the vessel is in his hand, then let him not put it down
until he fulfils his need from it."
And what is meant here bythe call is the second call, the second
Adhaan . It is not the first Adhaan , which they wrongly call the
Adhaan for withholding ( al-Imsaak ). We must know that there is no
basis for calling the first Adhaan the Adhaan for withholding ( imsaak
).
The second Adhaan is when we are to withhold, and this is clearly
stated in the Quraan, since Allah, theMighty and Majestic, says: And
eat and drink until thewhite thread of dawn becomes clear to you
fromthe black thread of the night.
So eating becomes forbidden at the start of the time of the Fajr
Prayer. There is no separation between these two things.There is no
withholding from food and drink for a quarter of an hour, or less than
that, or more than that, before the start of the time for the Fajr
Prayer. Not at all. Because the Prayer becomes due when the true dawn
appears, and food becomes forbidden for the Fasting person when the
true dawn appears. So there is no separation between these two matters
at all.
So therefore there occurs in the hadeeth agreed upon by al-Bukharee
and Muslim, from the hadeeth of ¹Abdullaah ibn ¹Umar ibn al-Khattaab,
radiyAllahu ¹anhumaa , that the Prophet, sallAllahualaihi wa sallam,
said, "Let not the Adhaan of Bilaal deceive you," meaning, thefirst
Adhaan, "because he gives the Adhaan in order to awaken the person
whois sleeping, and so that theperson who wishes to eat the pre-dawn
meal can do so. So eat and drink until Ibn Umm Maktoon gives the
Adhaan."
Ibn Umm Maktoon, and hisname was 'Amr, he was a blind man, and he was
the one about whom the Saying of Allah, the Exaltedand Most High, came
down: He frowned and turned away, that the blind man came to him."
tothe end of the Aayahs .
So he used to give the second Adhaan , the Adhaan which means that
eating becomes prohibited, and that it is now time for the Fajr
Prayer.
How had he used to give the adhaan when he was blind? This is a
question which naturally occurs to some people. So 'Amr ibn Umm
Maktoom used to climb upon the roof of the mosque, and he could not
see the dawn, but he would wait until someone passing by saw the dawn.
So when someone saw that the dawn had appeared and spread across the
horizon, then they would say to him, It is morning. It is morning.
Then he would give the Adhaan .
So you will notice here that the Adhaan of 'Amr ibn Umm Maktoom was
after the Fajr had appeared, and had been seen by the people whilst
they were walking in the streets. So the when it was said to him, "It
is morning. It is morning," hewould give the Adhaan .
So therefore there is latitude in the affair, since the muadhdhin
would be delayed in giving the Adhaan until he heard the people
telling him, "It is morning, it is morning." And then Allah¹s
Messenger, sallAllahu alaihiwa sallam, said, "If one of you hears the
call to Prayer and the vessel is in his hand, then let him not put it
down until he has fulfilled his need from it."
So Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, spoke truly when He said at the end
of those Aayahs relating to Fasting: Allah desires to make things easy
for you, and Hedoes not desire to make things difficult for you.
and,
And that you should complete the number of days, and that you should
glorify Allah by mentioning takbeer for His having guided you, and
that you should be thankful.
So therefore from the Fiqh that is to be criticised, and which runs
contrary to this Sunnah , is that a person says, "If someone hears the
Adhaan and has some food in his mouth, then he must spit it out." So
this isover-strictness, and ( ghuluww ) exceeding the limits in the
Religion, and the Lord of all of the creation admonished us, and
reminded us, in His Book and in the Sunnah of His Prophet, sallAllahu
alaihi wa sallam, that we should not exceed the due limits in our
Religion. So He said, in the Noble Quraan:
O people of the Book! Do not exceed the limits in your religion, and
do not say anything about Allah except the truth.

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1b] Sunnahs Neglected in Ramadhan

1b]
But these time-tables are based upon astronomical calculations which
count the land as being a single flat plane. So they give a time for
this flat plain, whereas the reality is that the land, particularly in
this land of ours varies, varying between the depression of valleys
and the elevation of mountains. So it is not correct that a single
time be given which covers the shore, the plains and the mountains.
No, each part of the land has its own time. So therefore whoever is
able in his place of residence, in his city or his village, to see the
sun set with his own eye, then whatever time it sets at, then that is
the hastening that we have been commanded with in his, sallAllahu
alaihi wa sallam, saying, which we just mentioned, "My Ummah will
continue to be upon good as long as they hasten to break the fast." So
the Prophet sallAllahu alaihi wa sallam, was careful to implement this
Sunnah by teaching it, and by putting it into practice.
As for his teaching, then he, sallAllahu alaihi wa sallam, said, in
the hadeeth reported by al-Bukharee in his Saheeh (no. 1954), "If the
night appears from this side," and he pointed towards the east , "and
the day has departed from here," and he pointed towards the west ,
"and the sun has set,then the Fasting persons fast is broken."
What does, 'the Fasting persons fast is broken' mean? It means he has
entered under the ruling that he should break his fast. So then comes
the previous ruling where the Messenger, sallAllahu alaihiwa sallam,
encouraged hastening to break the Fast, and the Messenger, sallAllahu
alaihi wa sallam, used to implement this, even when he was riding on a
journey.
So it is reported in the Saheeh of al-Bukharee (no.1955) that the
Prophet, sallAllahu alaihi wa sallam, ordered one of his Companions to
preparethe Iftaar for him. So he replied, O Messenger of Allah it is
still daytime before us.¹ Meaning: the light of the sun, so even
though it had set, yet its light was still clear in the west. So the
Messenger, sallAllahu alaihi wa sallam, did not respond to what he had
said, rather he re-emphasised the command to him to prepare the Iftaar
. So the narrator of the hadeeth who said, "We could see daylight in
front of us (meaning: the light of day, the light of the sun) when we
broke our fast," said, "Ifone of us had climbed onto his camel he
would have seen the sun." The sun had set from their location, and the
Messenger, sallAllahu alaihiwa sallam, ordered one of the Companions
to prepare the Iftaar . Why? To hasten upon good "My Ummah will
continue upon good for as long as they hasten to break the Fast."
So what is important is that we notice that the Iftaar which is
legislated tobe hastened must be donewith a few dates. Then wemust
hasten to perform the Prayer. Then after this the people can sit and
eat as they need.
This is the first matter which I wanted to remind of, and it is how to
reconcile the two matters which the Prophet, sallAllahu alaihi wa
sallam, commanded we should hasten to perform. The first being the
command to hasten the breaking of the Fast, and the second being the
command to hasten to perform the Maghrib Prayer. So the Iftaar should
be done with some dates, as occurs in the Sunnah , and if dates are
not available, then with some gulps of water. Then the Prayer should
pray in congregation in the mosque. Then the other matter which I want
to remind of is what occurs in the previous hadeeth, " And they delay
the pre-dawn meal " Meaning: what is required here is the opposite to
the case of the Iftaar . So he, sallAllahu alaihi wa sallam,
commanded us to hasten to perform the Iftaar . But as for the Suhoor
, then it should be delayed. But what happens today is totally
contrary to this, since many people eat their Suhoor before the
appearance of Fajr by perhaps an hour. This is not befitting. This
is contrary to the Sunnah shown by the saying of the Prophet,
sallAllahu alaihi wa sallam, and by his practice. So the Companions
of the Prophet, sallAllahu alaihi wa sallam, used to leave the Suhoor
so late, that one of them would almosthear the Adhaan and he would
still be eating. He delayed the Suhoor .
Indeed there is an authentic hadeeth reported from the Prophet,
sallAllahu alaihi wa sallam, which shows the ease afforded by Islaam,
which is to be counted as one of the principles of Islaam, which the
Muslims are proud of, especially with regard to the matter of Fasting,
since Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, concluded the aayahs concerning
Fasting with His Saying:
Allah desires ease for you, and He does not desire to make things
difficult for you.

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1a] Sunnahs Neglected in Ramadhan

1a]
This is because the people have become used to thinking that Fasting
is just to refrain from the first category, to withhold from the
material things. But there is another category of things which
disrupt the Fast, which we are able to call the non-material things
which disrupt the Fast.
So you have just heard his, sallAllahu alaihi wa sallam, saying,
"Whoever does notabandon falsehood in speech and action, then Allah
has no need that he should leave his food and drink."
Therefore every Fasting person should examine himself and see: is he
just withholding from the material things, or is he also withholding
from those non-material things? Meaning: has he made his manners and
behaviour good when the blessed month of Ramadaan comes? If that is
the case, then he has fulfilled the Saying of Allah, the Exaltedand
Most High, at the end of the aayah :
So that you may become people of Taqwaa .
But as for he one who restricts himself in his Fasting to just
withholdingfrom food and drink, but who continues and persists upon
the evil manners which he was upon previously, before Ramadaan, then
this is notthe Fasting that is desired and required from the wisdom
behind the legislation of this noble month, which our Lord, the Mighty
and Majestic indicates in His Saying:
So that you may become people of Taqwaa .
Therefore we advise and remind our brother and sister Muslims that
they should remind this other category of things, those that are
non-material, which disrupt the Fast, andit is something which the
admonishers and those who seek to direct the people to the correct way
rarely speak about, not to mention the general people, who are not
awareof this category of things which disrupt the fast, i.e., the
non-material things.
This is what I wanted to remind our brothers and sisters who are
present in this fine gathering about, if Allah wills, so that it maybe
cause of their increasing in acts of worship seeking to draw closer to
Allah, the Exalted and Most High, in this blessed month, the month of
Fasting, which is such that we hope that Allah, the Exalted and Most
High, will guide and grant us all the success of fulfilling the due
right of this blessed month, which is that we withhold from both the
material and the non-material things which disrupt the Fast.
Then in addition to this word, I hope that you will pay attention to
some affairs which have been neglected by the majority of the general
Muslims, indeed and also by those having knowledge.
There is a hadeeth which isvery often neglected because of another
hadeeth , because the majority of people are unable to reconcile in
practice and application between them. So this hadeeth is his,
sallAllahu alaihi wa sallam, saying, "My Ummah will continue to be
upon good for as long as they hasten to break the fast and delay the
pre-dawn meal."
So here two matters were mentioned, and they are neglected by most of
the people, and they are: hastening to break the fast, and delaying
the pre-dawn meal ( Suhoor ).
As for neglect of the first matter, which is hastening to break the
Fast, then in the view of some people itcontradicts another hadeeth ,
which is his, sallAllahu alaihi wa sallam, saying, "My Ummah will
continue to be upon good for as long as they hasten to pray the
Maghrib Prayer."
So here we have two commands, to hasten withtwo matters. So it appears
to some people that we cannot hasten to perform both of them together.
But reconciling between the command to hasten with breaking the Fast
andthe command to hasten topray the Maghrib Prayer is a very easy
matter. So it issomething which our Prophet, sallAllahu alaihi wa
sallam, made clear to us by his action and practice. So he,
sallAllahu alaihi wa sallam, used to break the Fast with three dates.
He would eat three dates. Then he would praythe Maghrib Prayer, then
he would eat again if he found that he needed to eat the evening meal.
But today we fall into two offences:
Firstly we delay the Adhaan from its legislated time. Then after this
delaycomes another delay, which is that we sit down for a meal -
except for a few people who are eager and pray the Maghrib Prayer in
the mosque. But the majority of the people wait until they hear the
Adhaan , and then they sit down to eat as if they are having a dinner,
or their evening meal, and not justbreaking their fast.
So the Adhaan these days -in most of the lands of Islaam, is,
unfortunately, I have to say, and not just inJordan, and I have known
this from investigation, in most of the lands of Islaam - the Adhaan
for Maghrib is given after the time it becomes due. And the reason
for this is that we have abandoned adhering to and applying the
Islamic rulings, and instead we have come to depend upon
astronomicalcalculations. We depend upon the timetable.

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1] Sunnahs Neglected in Ramadhan

1]
Question: "Could the Shaikh give us some words of benefit for the
blessed month of Ramadaan, on this fine occasion?"
Shaikh al-Albaanee, may Allah have mercy upon him replied:
"Allah, the Exalted and Most High, says in the Noble Quraan:
O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed
for those before you, so that you may become people having Taqwaa.
Soorah al-Baqarah (2):183
So in this aayah , as will not be hidden to all those who are present,
Allah, theMighty and Majestic, informs the Ummah of Muhammad,
sallAllahu alaihi wa sallam, through this aayah , that He has made
Fasting obligatory upon them just as He had made its like obligatory
upon the nations before us. This is a matter that is well-known to
all of the Muslims who read this aayah , and clearly understand its
meaning. But what I wish to speak about is something else, a matter
which very few of the general people notice-‹and this is the saying of
Allah, the Exalted and MostHigh, at the end of this aayah :
So that you may become people having Taqwaa .
So Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, when He commands His believing
servants, or obligates them with some Legislation, (then He) usually
just mentions the command, without explaining the wisdom for it. This
is because the general wisdom behind Allah, the Mighty and Majestic¹s,
placing duties upon His servants is that He should test them by it, so
that it should become apparent (as to) those whowill obey Him and
those who will disobey Him, the Exalted and Most High.
However in this aayah, He mentioned something thatis not found
frequently in the Noble Quraan, which isthat He mentioned the reason
for the order to Fast, by His Saying:
So that you may become people of Taqwaa .
So the wisdom behind the Believers to fast is not just that they
should prevent themselves from enjoyableand permissible and good
things, even though this is an obligation upon the Fasting person -
but this is not the only thing that is required and intended by this
Fasting. So Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, concluded His command
tofast by His Saying:
So that you may become people of Taqwaa .
Meaning: that the wisdom behind the prescription of Fasting is that
the Muslim should increase in obedience to Allah, the Exalted and Most
High, in the month of Fasting, and become more obedient than he was
before it.
Then the Prophet, sallAllahu alaihi wa sallam, clearly stated and
completely clarified this point of divine wisdom, byhis, sallAllahu
alaihi wa sallam, saying, as is reported in the Saheeh of al-Bukhaaree
(no. 1903), that he sallAllahu alaihi wasallam, said, "Whoever does
not abandon falsehood in speech and action, then Allah has no need
that he should leave his food and drink." Meaning: that Allah, the
Mighty and Majestic, did not intend and desire, by the obligation of
Fasting - which is to withhold for a stated time, well known toyou all
- that they should only withhold from eating and drinking. Rather
they should also withhold from that which Allah, the Mighty and
Majestic, has forbidden with regard to sins and acts of disobedience
to Him; and from that is falsehood in speech and action.
So the Messanger, sallAllahu alaihi wa sallam, is emphasizing the aayah :
So that you may become people of Taqwaa .
i.e. that you should, as an act of worship to draw youcloser to Allah,
the Mighty and Majestic, in addition towithholding from food and
drink, also withhold from forbidden actions such as backbiting,
carrying tales to cause harm to people, false witness, lying and so
on, with regard to those forbidden manners that we are all aware of.
Therefore it is obligatory that all the Muslims shouldbe aware that
actions which disrupt the Fast are not just the physical acts, which
are generally known, which are eating, drinking and sexual
intercourse. The Fast is not just that you withhold from this.
Therefore some of the scholars differentiate, and divide those things
which disruptthe Fast into two categories, and this is what I intend
by this talk of mine at this time that is blessed, if Allah wills.
This is especially importantsince those who deliver Khutbahs and
admonish the people during Ramadaan , when they speak about those
things which disrupt the Fast, then they only speak about the material
things, those things that we have just mentioned (eating, drinking and
sexual intercourse). But what they should do, as sincere advisers and
people who give reminder to the Muslims in general, is to concentrate
a great deal upon the second category of things which disrupt theFast.
....

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Help Others and Help Yourself

The Prophet Muhammad (salallahu alaihi wa sallam)said,
"Whoever relieves a believer of a hardship from the hardships of this
world, then Allah will relieve him of a hardship from the hardships of
the Day of Resurrection… Allah is helping the servant as long as the
servant is helping his brother, " [Hadith Tirmidhi /Muslim].
Do you need help? Help others, and Allah will help you.
Helping others doesn't have to consist of anythinggrand. Even a smile
is sadaqah. Removing a harmful thing from the road is sadaqah.
Speaking gentle words to someone in distress, or feeding a meal to
someone who is hungry, or making a donation to help an orphan… or
donating blood, or working a few hours a month for a charity, or
visiting someone who is sick… all those things are valuable. They are
not nothing. Theyare important and worthwhile acts.
Changing the world starts with every person doing one small thing. And
in theprocess, you help your own soul, and you bring happiness to your
own heart, and you get the blessings and barakah of Allah. What a
deal!

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What's the point of going to Jumah?

A Muslim wrote a letter tothe editor of the Jammat newspaper and
complained that it made no sense to go to Mosque every Friday.
"I've gone for 30 years now," he wrote, "and in that time I have heard
something like 3,000 sermons. But for the life of me I can't remember
a single one of them. So I think I'm wasting my time . . . and the
Imaam they are wasting theirs bygiving sermons at all."
This started a real controversy in the"Letters to the Editor" column,
much to the dismay of the editor. It went on for weeks until someone
wrote this clincher:
"I've been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has cooked
some32,000 meals. But for the life of me, I cannot recall what the
menu was for a single one of those meals.But I do know this: they all
nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my
wife had not given methose meals, I would be dead today."
No comments were made on the sermon contents anymore.
"The lips of the righteous nourish many . . ."

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Eyes open at the face of death

This is something that is very personal and important to me. I hope
that you will learn and benefit from it. Let me begin by
saying"Bismillah".
When I first started University I had met another Muslim brother. We
had become good friends, but this friendshipwas not like any other
ordinary friendship, I would have done anything for him, he was like
my real brother.
During our last year of University, this brother of mine announced
that he was engaged and that he was to be married after he graduates
this year and finds himself a job. I was glad for him and so was he.
He talked non stop about getting married, I was sort of getting
jealous of him because the brother had it made for him, finishing
school, getting married, and especially coming from a wealthy family.
One day this brother was to meet me at the coffee shop. He showed up,
but astonishingly he wasn't smiling and wasn't talkingabout his
fiancee. I asked him what was wrong, he asked if we could talk
somewhere privately and we did. Finally I knew why he was upset.
He had told me that he found out that he had a brain tumor which was
malignant, which meant ithad become cancerous. When he told me the
news his voice was quivering and tears were streaming down his cheeks.
I had never seen him like this before. I tried keepingin my tears and
I tried notto show that I was hurt also. I was burning up inside and
things were racing through my mind. Ikept thinking how could have this
happened? A man who had everything made and had everything perfect. I
kept it inside because I did not want him to see me upset.
I saw this brother slowly go down. He had to drop out of school at his
last year because he began to loose his memory and he started to
repeat himself over again. He did not have a chance at school without
his memory. This brother was intelligent, but after he became lost.
He had told his fiancee and her family and her parents did not want
theirdaughter to marry him, because he had no job and basically no
future.
This was hard for him, I remember he would cry to me about her and how
he cared for her and how hopeless he felt.
Later the brother had problems writing and his right eyesight was
fading.The tumor was on the leftside of his brain so it affected
everything on hisright. Because of his memory loss the brother soon
forgot suras and he even forgot how to pray. A year later his right
arm was paralyzed and his eyesight was taken away from him.
It was the hardest thing for me to see. The brotherI loved so much was
going through so much. I began coming over everyday helping him recite
suras.
When I was reciting sura Fatiha to him and he was slowly repeating
after me.I looked at him and I thought, This was the same brother who
was sointelligent and was to finish school, this was the same brother
who came from such a wealthy family, this was the same brother who
talked for days about getting married and raising a family, this was
the same brother who had everything. But now he can barely remember
what I said to him ten minutes a ago, he can't get married, and now he
is struggling to read Qur'an, he was not much of a practicing Muslim
so it was harder for him to recite the Qur'an.
This man was now turning towards Allah, he dropped EVERYTHING and
turned towards Allah. Allah gave him everythingand he could take
everything away just as easily.
A month ago, I had gottena call saying that the brother passed away
and that his janaza is today. I washed his body with a couple of other
brothers and I saw his lifeless body. He was buried and after I
returned home. Thenext day I sat down wondering to myself about the
power of Allah. My brother's death made me realize that we forget what
our purpose of being here is for: To serve Allah. You could have
everything, but do you have anything that is important? I spent six
years knowing this brother, and caring for him. I never once shed a
tear when he was alive and not even when he passed away. But the day
after his death I did cry because I thought about the power of Allah.
I thought about my brother. We always say that we will return to
Allah, but we never really believe it. If we did then we would
struggle to read Qur'an and pray to Allah like my brother did. My
brother had his eyesight taken away fromhim, his arm was paralyzed and
his memory was lost but he still got up every morningand he insisted,
and I repeat insisted on recitingthe Qur'an. But we are able, but we
still do not struggle to read the Qur'an. We do not really believe
that we will return to Allah or else we would struggle for Allah.

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Recognise the bounties of Allah - story of three men

Once Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam related that there were
three men from the Banu Isra'eel. One of them was a leper, the other
bald, and the third blind. Allah Ta'ala wanted to test them, so He
sent an angel to them. The angel first went to the leper and asked
him: "What would you like best?" He replied:"I would like a nice
complexion, a beautiful skin, and that this sicknessgoes away from me
whereby people do not allow me to sit with themand which they hate."
Theangel passed his hand over the body of that person. He was
immediately cured and a nice skin and beautiful complexion appeared.
Theangel then asked him:"What type of wealth do you like the most?" He
replied: "Camels." So he gave him a pregnant camel and told him: "May
Allah Ta'ala give you barakah in this."
The angel then went to the bald person and askedhim: "What would you
like best?" He replied:"That my hair grows nicely and that this
sickness which people dislike goes away from me!" The angel passed
hishand over his head, he was immediately cured and beautiful hair
began to grow. He then asked him: "What type of wealth do you like the
most?" He replied:"Cows." So he gave him a pregnant cow and told him:
"May Allah Ta'ala give you barakah in this."
Eventually, the angel went to the blind person and asked him: "What
would you like most?" He replied: "That Allah gives me back my sight
so that I may be able to see everyone." The angel passed his hand over
his eyes and Allah gave him back his sight. He then asked him: "What
type of wealth do you like the most?" He replied:"Goats." So he was
given apregnant goat. The animals of all three delivered their babies.
In a short time, the jungle was filled with his camels,his cows, and
his goats.
Thereafter, under the orders of Allah Ta'ala, thatangel went in his
previousform to the leper and saidto him: "I am a poor person. All my
provisions for my journey are finished. Today I have no means of
reaching home except through Allah and then through your help. In the
name of that Allah who has blessed you witha nice skin and a
beautifulcomplexion, I ask you for a camel which I could rideand reach
my home." He replied: "Get far away from here! I have a lot of other
commitments to fulfil. I do not have anything to spare which I could
give you." The angelsaid: "I think I recognize you. Were you not a
leper,for which people despisedyou? Were you not very poor, and then
Allah blessed you with so muchof wealth?" He replied:"What are you
talking? I inherited this wealth frommy ancestors." The angel said:
"If you are lying, may Allah return you as you were before."
The angel then went to the bald person in his previous form and asked
him the same questions and he also replied in the same way. So the
angel said to him: "If you are lying, may Allah return you as you were
before."
Eventually he went to the blind person in that same original form and
said to him: "I am a traveller and all my provisions are finished.
Today I have no means except Allah and then you. In the name of that
Being who returned to you your eye-sight, I ask you for a goat with
which I could do my workand complete my journey." He replied:"Without
doubt, I was blind. It was only out of His mercy that Allah Ta'alagave
me back my eye-sight. Take as much as you want and leave behind as
much as you want. By Allah, I will not stop you from taking anything."
The angel replied: "Keep your wealth with you, I do not want anything.
I had only come to test you three. Now the test is over. Allahis
pleased with you and displeased with the other two."
Lesson: Just imagine, that because of the ungratefulness of those two,
all those bounties were taken away and they were left as they were
before. Allah became displeased with them and they are forsaken both
in this world and in the hereafter. Due to his gratefulness, that
person'sbounties remained intact, Allah was pleased with him, and he
is contented both in this world and in the hereafter.

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