Dua's - ,

When the soul is leaving the body:
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Prophet (SAW)'s Prayers
When the soul is leaving the body
Recite:
اللَّهُمَّ أَعِنِّي عَلَى غَمَرَاتِ الْمَوْتُ وَسَكَرَاتِ الْمَوْتِ
"O Allah, at this (time) of severity of death help me". (Tirmidhi)
At the time of death turn the face towards the Qibla and the Majlis
(gathering) that is present should say the shahada
لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ
loudly in front of the dying person so that he may hear it and recite
it. It is not fard or wajib to recite the shahada at the time of death
and if someone did not recite it,then it makes no difference.
It is stated in hadith that if the following are the last words of a
dying person then he will enterJannah (i.e. he will be saved from the
punishment of sins and there will be no barrier from entering Jannah).
(Hinsul Hasin)
During the last moments a person from amongst those present should
recite Surah Yaseen (as it eases death).
(Hisnul Hasin with Marginal notes)
******************************************
When the soul has left the body
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Prophet (SAW)'s Prayers
When the soul has left the body
Recite:
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِفُلَانِ وَارْفَعْ دَرَجَتَهُ فِي الْمَهْدِيِّينَ
وَاخْلُفْهُ فِي عَقِبِهِ فِي الْغَابِرِينَ وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلَهُ يَا
رَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ وَأَفْسِحْ لَهُ فِي قَبْرِهِ وَنَوِّرْ لَهُ فِيهِ
"O Allah, forgive (name ofthe dead person). Make him among the guided
ones, raise his status and be his deputy among the grieving. O Lord of
the two worlds, forgive us and him and make his grave wide and full of
light". Prophet Mohammad (SAW.) recited this dua after the death of
Abu Salama (R.A.) after closing his eyes. In place of فُلَانُ state
the dead person's name.
(Mishkat from Muslim)
When recited for anotherMuslim then in place of فُلَانُ mention the
name of the dead person and before the name add a"Laam" with a "Kasrah
(Zer)"******************************************
When going to the deceased's house
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Prophet (SAW)'s Prayers
When going to the deceased's house
Every person going to thehouse of the mayyit should recite:
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَلَهُ وَأَعْقِبْنِي مِنْهُ عُقْبَى حَسَنَةً
"O Allah, forgive me and him and grant us a bettersubstitute for grief".
(Hisnul Hasin)
When placing the dead person on the platform or whilst carrying them recite:
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ
(Hisnul Hasin from Ibn AbiShaiba/Mokufaan Ali Ibn Umar
(R.A.))******************************************

Islamic Poetry

Let Days Go Forth
Let days go forth and doas they please
And remain firm when settled is the Decree
Don't be afraid of what happens by night
For the affairs of this world are not to last
And be a man, strong in the face of calamities
And let your nature be that of kindness and honesty
If your faults become toomuch in front of the people
And you wish that they were to be concealed,
Then know that kindness covers all faults
And how many faults arekept hidden by kindness!
No sadness lasts forever, nor any happiness
And you shall not remainin poverty, or any luxury
Generosity cannot be hoped from the miserly
For no water exists in the Fire for the thirsty
Your provision will not be lessened due to life's delays
And it cannot be increased due to your haste
If, in your heart, you possess contentment
Then you and those whopossess the world are equal
And for him upon whosehorizon death descends,
No earth can offer him protection, nor any sky
Indeed, the earth of Allah is certainly vast
But if decree descends, then decree is constricted
Let days be the ones thatbetray you at all times
For no cure can avail a person of death
Imam Al-Shafi'i (RA)

Life

Come spring, they start tobud. Soon, the bare branches sway and
rustlewith an abundance of green leaves. Oh the tree looks so full,
vibrant, and lush! How beautiful, subhanAllah!
Now, imagine if you were a beautiful leaf on such a beautiful tree… if
you were a leaf on the tree… if you, with your ability to contemplate
death, were a leaf on thetree. As beautiful as the season of growth
is, it comes to an end and the leaves on deciduous trees fall one
after another to display the bare branches once again. Just like that,
it ends. A tree full of leaves for a determined season. Just like
that, it ends. If you were a leaf and weregiven knowledge about the
history of leaves before you and what wasto eventually become of you,
you may be grateful for the chance to experience life on the tree
while always mindful that it will end ina short season. While the tree
may hold hundreds of leaves at any given season, you would think about
the hundreds of thousands that have come and gone before you (though
they are no longer visible) and realize that you are nothing but a
passing leaf… while you feel important at that moment, feel so aware
ofyour existence, so sure ofyourself… would you ignore the fact that
so many leaves have come and gone before you andthat the number of
leaves that have fallen increasingly outnumber the number on the tree
at any given season?
Likewise, while we may think there is an undying, ever
improving,global trend to follow – apopular way that may be deemed
secure, fashionable, modern, economically sound, and civilized – we
should try to remember that the only thing that is increasing is the
number of those who have passed through this world of man-made trends
already – death.
The world population currently sits at around 7 billion – can we even
comprehend what this means if all of these people were gathered
together in one place? Now, try to think about the number of human
beings that have come and gone already – no need to think too far
back… just consider the past 100 years alone. Look it up… can we
comprehend such a number? What if we went even further back to 1000
years? Can we comprehend such a number? Can we imaginethat many more
people roaming the earth, competing with each other for resources,
caught up in trends? Can we imagine the impact such a number of people
would have on the environment? Likely not (at least not fully), though
we must try to keep our existence in context with our eventual death…
contemplate, as we've been granted the ability to do so… be ever
grateful to Allah Ta'aala for the life granted to us… and make proper
use of our short time – asthe Creator and Sustainerof life asks us to
use our time…
Peace.

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And Allah Knows the Best!

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Published by :->
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Bid'ah - Innovation in Islam

Wa sharrul Umoori Muhdathaatuhaa, Wa kulla Bid'atin dhaialah, wa kulla
dhalatin fin-naar" Al-Hadith (Sahih Muslim). Translation of the above
Hadith: Every innovation is a misguidance and every misguidance goes
to Hell fire.
IMAM SHAFI'S EXPLANATION OF THE ABOVE HADITH:
Kullu bida'tin daiala:"Every innovation is a misguidance"? Doesn't the
term "every" include all innovations?" Such anobjection stems from
themisinterpretation of the term kull ("every") in theHadith to be all
encompassing without exception, whereas in Arabic it may mean"Nearly
all" or "the vast majority." This is how al-Shafi'i understood it or
else he would have never allowed for any innovation whatsoever to be
considered good, and he is considered a hujja or "Proof," that is,
reference without peer for questions regarding the Arabic language.
Thestylistic figure of meaning the part by the whole, or nechdoche in
English is in Arabic: 'abbara 'an al-kathratf biat-kulliyya. This is
illustrated by the use of kull in the following verse 46:25 of the
Quran in a selective or partial sense not a universal sense:
"Destroying all things by commandment of its Lord. And morning found
them so that naught could be seen save their dwellings". Thus, the
dwellings werenot destroyed although"all" things had been destroyed.
"All" here means specifically the lives of the unbelievers of 'Ad and
their properties except their houses.
ARE THERE GOOD OR BAD INNOVATIONS IN ISLAM?
Prophetic saying as stated in Sahih Muslim is known even to common
Muslims, let alone scholars: "He who inaugurates a good practice
(sanna fil-islam sunnatun hasana) in Islam earns the reward of it, and
of all who perform it after him, without diminishing their own rewards
in theleast. " Tirmizi, Page 92.
Imam Nawawi said in Sahih Muslim (6-21):
"The Prophet's saying 'every innovation is a general-particular and
itis a reference to most innovations. The linguists say, 'Innovationis
any act done without a previous pattern, and it is of five different
kinds."' Imam Nawawi also said in Tahzeeb al Asma'wal
Sifaat,"Innovation in religious law is to originate anything which did
not exist during the time of the Prophet, and it is divided into good
and bad." He also said,"al-muhdathat (pi. for muhdatha) is to
originate something that has no roots in religious law. In the
tradition of religious law, it is called innovation, and if it has an
origin within the religious law, then it is not innovation. Innovation
in religious law is disagreeable, unlike in the language where
everything that has been originated without a previous pattern is
called innovation regardless of whether it is good or bad."
Sheikh al-Islam lbn HajarAl Asqalani, the commentator on al-Bukhari,
said,"Anything that did not exist during the Prophet's time is called
innovation, but some are good while others are not."
Abu Na'eem, narrated from Ibrahim al-Junaid, said, "I heard
Ash-Shafi'i saying, 'Innovation is of two types: praiseworthy
innovation and blameworthy innovation, and anything that disagrees
with the Sunnah is blameworthy."
Imam al Bayhaqi narrated in Manaqib Ash-Shafi'i that he
said,"Innovations are of two types: that which contradicts the Quran,
the Sunnah, or unanimous agreement of the Muslims is an innovation of
deception,while a good innovationdoes not contradict any of these
things."
IN CONCLUSION:
Clearly, we can see from the opinions of the righteous scholars, that
to define innovations in worship as wholly negative without exception
is ignorant. For these pious knowers,among them, Imam Shafi'i and Imam
Nawawi, declared that innovations could be divided into good and bad,
based on their compliance with, or deviance from religious law. Can
the latter day scholars of Islam (who came after I 1 00 years) claim
that they understand the Quran and Hadith better than the Sahaba and
the Salaf-Us-Saliheen? If 'every' innovation is a misguidance then the
following too are all innovations which originated two centuriesor
more after Sahaba RA:Reading eight raka in Tarawih; Translations of
Quran; Writing Tafseers; collection and classification of Ahaadiths;
Principles of Jurisprudence; The four schools of Fiqh, Stoned and
carpeted Mosques, use of loud speakers in mosques etc.
Therefore, anything thatdoes not have roots originating to the Quran
and Sunnah is considered a bad innovation. But the following
practices, suchas recitation of the Quran in gatherings; Recital of
Darud-Sharif (Salaat-o-Salaam) in gatherings and Mawlid (commemorating
the birth and Seerah of the Holy Prophet Muhammed (Peace be Upon Him)
has clear and authenticated roots to the Quran and Sunnah. Where in
Quran and Hadith all these gatherings are declared as haram or
prohibited? Proof of such acts is indicated as follows: On Mawlid:
"Abi Qatadat said that the Prophet was asked about fasting on Monday
and he said 'That was the day I was born."' This Hadith is a clear
evidence of the importance of the commemoration of the Prophet's e
birthday through worship. Al-Hafiz ibn Rajab al-Hanbali, in his book
Lataif al-maarif (p. 98), in explaining this Hadith of Muslim said,
"It is good to fast on the days that Allah honored and favored his
servants."
It is incumbent not only on Muslims but on all human beings to rejoice
in his advent, the day of his birth. As al-Hafiz ibn Rajab al-Hanbali
said,"The best favor that Allah has granted this nation is the birth
of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) when he was sent to humanity. " We did not
send you except as a mercy to the whole Universe' (AlAnbiya'107. So we
review and recall Allah's favor of sending the Prophet by fasting on
that day". 'Of the favor and mercy of Allah let them rejoice" (Yunus,
58).
Below is a divine order for all the believers to send Salutations on
Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon HIM). Allah has said in the Quran-
Allah and His angels sends blessings on the Prophet (Peace be upon
HIM)"-. O'you believes! You too send Salutation on beloved Prophet
(Peace be upon HIM)" (33:56)
What does the Quran sayabout Dhiker in gatherings'?
"Those men and women who engage much in Allah's praise. For them has
Allah prepared forgiveness and a great reward." (33:35)
"Those who remember their Lord standing, and sitting, and lying on
their sides" (3:191)
" Men whom neither traffic nor merchandise can divert from Remembrance
of Allah nor from regular Salaat, nor from regular practice of Zakaat.
(24:37)
"Those who believe, andwhose hearts find comfort in the remembrance of
Allah! Aye! It is in the remembrance of Allah that hearts can find
comfort;" (13: 28)
What do the Hadith say about Dhiker in gatherings?
Hadith Qudsi: "Those that remember Me in their heart, I remember them
in My heart; and those that remember Me in a gathering, I remember
them (i.e. make mention of them) in a gathering better than theirs.
(This can include recitation of Quran, Durood (Salat-o-Salaam) and
other Dhiker Allah)
In Bukhari and Muslim: The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said that
Allahhas angels roaming the roads to find the people of dhikr, i.e.
those who say La ltaha ltiabah and similar expressions, and when they
find a group of people (Qaom) reciting dhikr, they call each other and
encompass them in layers until the first heaven -- the location
ofwhich is in Allah's knowledge. (This is to say, an unlimited number
of angels are going to be over that group
Ibn 'Umar reported that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: "When
you pass by the gardens of Paradise, avail yourselves of them." The
Companions asked:"What are the gardens of Paradise, 0 Messengerof
Allah?" He replied:"The circles of dhikr. There are roaming angels of
Allah who go about looking for the circles of dhikr, and when they
rind them they surround them closely." Tirmidhi narrated it (Hasan
Gharib) and Ahmad.
Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri and Abu Huraira reported that the Prophet (Peace
be upon him) said,"When any group of men remember Allah, angels
surround them and mercy covers them, tranquility descends upon them,
and Allah mentions them to those who are with Him." Narrated by
Muslim, Tirmidhi, Ahmad, lbn Majah, and Bayhaqi.
Those who call upon Bida'h (innovations):
For those who insist on scrutinizing Bida'h should rather pay more
attention to Haram and major sins. The following are typical examples
that majority of the Ummah is engaged in everyday and so routinely
which are often overlooked and justified through obtaining Fatwa's for
the purpose of legitimizing their actions:
Buying houses on mortgages (interest);
Holding Credit on credit cards;
Eating non halal meat and foods (MacDonald, KFC, etc.)
Disobedience to parents and ill treatment of either wife or husband;
Sending of children to Islamic school but not practicing Islam themselves
Calling other Muslim brothers Miskeen (poor) based upon nationality
Undue extravagance: Luxuries (Castles, Rolls Royces, Cadillacs etc);
Engaging in fraud and corruption
Celebrating own anniversaries and birthdays yet raise objection on Mawlid. Etc.
Islam cannot be customized to suit individual needs and lifestyles.
This is a great hypocrisy. One can ask themselves how pious and strict
follower of theQuran and Sunnah, am I in reality? Stay away from
haram, shirk and Kufr and try to follow other Hadiths as well in order
to fulfill the claim of being strict followers of Quran and Sunnah.

PROHIBITION OF DEPICTING ANIMATE LIFE

One should realize that the prohibition of picture making is EXTREMELY
SEVERE, that it is counted among the enormities, and the threats
against doing it are very emphatic. ImamBukhari and Imam Muslim relate
that a mancame to Ibn Abbas (Allah be well pleased with himand his
father) and said, "My livelihood comes solely from my hands, and I
make these pictures. Can you give me a legal opinion about them" Ibn
Abbas told him, "Come closer,' and the man did. "Closer," he said, and
theman did, until he put his hand on the man's head and said: "Shall I
tell you what I heard from the Messenger of Allah, Prophet Muhammed
(Allah bless him and givehim peace) I heard the Messenger of Allah
say, "Every maker of pictures will go to the fire, wherea being will
be set upon him to torment him in hell for each picture he made. So if
you must, draw tress and things without animate life in them."
And Imam Tirmidhi relates that the Prophet (Allah bless him and
givehim peace) said, "On the Day of Judgment, part ofthe hell fire
will come forth with two eyes withwhich to see, two ears with which to
hear, and a tongue with which to speak, saying, 'I have been ordered
to deal with three: he who holds there is another god besides Allah,
with every arrogant tyrant, and with makers of pictures."
And Bukhari, Tirmidhi, and Imam Nasa'i relate the prophetic hadith
form Ibn Abbas, "Whoever makes a picture, Allah shall torture him with
it on the Day of Judgment until he can breathe life into it, and he
will never be able to."
The reason for the unlawfulness of pictorialrepresentation is that it
imitates the creative act of Allah Most High, as is indicated by the
hadith related by Imam Bukhariand Imam Muslim that A'isha (Allah be
well pleased with her) said, "The Prophet (Allah blesshim and give him
peace)returned from a trip, and I had draped a cloth with picture on
it over a small closet. When he saw it, he ripped it down, his face
colored, and he said, "A'isha, the people most severely tortured by
Allah on the Day of Judgment will be those who try to imitate what
Allah has created,"
The foregoing hadiths show that producing representation is unlawful
under any circumstances, and just as making a picture is unlawful, so
too is procuring one, because the threat that pertains to the users,
for pictures are only made to be used.
The determining factor in the prohibition of procuring images is the
purposes for which they are procured. For example, someone who buys
cookies with the shape of animals is not doing wrong if his purpose is
to eat, though the maker of them is doing wrong. And similarly with
books containing pictures, if the buyer intends obtaining the text,
then the presence of pictures is the fault of the printer, not the
buyer. The same holds for photographs required for official documents:
the authorities are responsible for the sin, not the individual
forcedto comply.

Masturbation in Islam

Allah (Exalted is He) says: "And those who guard their private parts
from their wives and those (slave-girls) which their right-hands own -
so there is no blame upon them. Then whoever seeks beyond that (which
is lawful), they are the transgressors".
Masturbation is also considered as "seeking beyond" with reference to
the Quranic verse above.
Suhail son of Sai'd (may Allah be pleased with them) narrates that the
Holy Prophet (Allah's' Grace & Peace be upon him) said: Whoever
givesme the assurance (not tounlawfully use) what is between their
jaws and their legs (i.e. the tongue and the private parts), I give
them the assurance of the Heaven.(Bukhari)
Abu Hurrairah (may Allahbe pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet
of Allah (Allah's Grace & Peace be upon him) said: Whoever
Allahprotects, from the evil (sh'r) of what is betweentheir jaws and
between their legs, will enter Paradise. [Tirimzi]
Imam Shamsuddin Zahabbi (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates a
Prophetic narration that, "Seven people are such that Allah has cursed
them and He will not even casta look of mercy upon them on the Day of
Judgment. Allah will tell them to enter Hell with the people who are
going to Hell, except those who repent.
1. One who performs theact of sodomy.
2. One upon whom the act of sodomy is performed.
3. One who does bad deeds with animals.
4. One who marries his mother or sister.
5. One who masturbates." (The words of the hadith says these seven
people but lists five - Kitab-ul-Kaba'ir p.48)
Allama Mahmood Alussi (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates in
Ruh-ul-Ma'ni: "Atta (may Allah be pleased with him) says that I have
heard that on the Day of Judgment one group will be brought in such
away that their hands willbe pregnant. I think theyare the
masturbators." Allama Alussi further says: Saéed bin Jubayr (may Allah
be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet (Allah's Grace & Peace
be upon him) said: "Allah Exalted will inflict punishment on a group
of people because they misused their private parts." (Ruh-ul-Ma'ni p.
291)
Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet of
Allah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "The person who performs
marriage [nikah] with his hands (i.e. masturbates) is cursed." (Fatawa
Razaviyya, Vol. 10, p.80)
Abdullah bin Masood (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the
Holy Prophet (Allah's Grace & Peace be upon him) said: "O group of
youth! Whoever from among you can marry should do so because it keeps
the gaze low and it protects the private parts. And he who cannot
marry should fastbecause fasting breaks lust." (Muslim – Book of
Marriage)
Mufti Waqar-ud-din Al-Qadri (Hanfi) writes in"Waqar-ul-Fatawa" (Vol.
1, P. 269): "If a person is overpowered by sexual desire such that
there is fear of him becoming involved in adultery or he is not
capable of marrying or his wife is so far that he can't go there. Then
it is hoped there is no punishment for the one doing this
[masturbation]. It is written in "Durr-e-Mukhtar" (Vol. 2, Pp 109) (by
Sheikh Alla'ud Din Muhammed son of Ali Haskiffi, died 1088H): 'If
there is fear of committing adultery then it is hoped that there is no
punishment on the one doing this (masturbation)'. Allama (Syed
Mohammed Amin Ash-Shaheerba Bin Abideen) Shammi, (may Allah's mercy be
upon him, died 1253H) has also argued on this quitea lot and decided
that if he does this with the intention of saving himself from
committingsin it will not be a sin and if he does it with the
intention of enjoyment he will be a sinner."
The Holy Prophet (Allah'sGrace & Peace be upon him) said, "No doubt
the virtues wipe away the sins". Therefore a masturbator must
repentsincerely with an intention that he will never commit it again
and do good deeds. According to a Propheticnarration, "The one
whorepents is like the who does not have any sin.":=: :=: :=: :=:
:=::=: :=: :=: :=: :=::=: :=: :=: :=: :=::=: :=: :=: :=: :=::=: :=:
:=: :=:

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And Allah Knows the Best!

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Published by :->
M NajimudeeN Bsc- INDIA

¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤

Chapter 3 MAN AND THE SECRETS OF NEARNESS

Chapter 3
The Search for Man andhis Real Substance
1. Question: Conceptually, why are the descendants of Adam called Insan?
Answer: Insan is an exaggeration noun. It is derived from the word
Onss, which means easily adjusting or adapting to everything. It even
applies to lodging, property, animals and other objects in the
environment. After a while, man becomes so attached to these things
that, if separated from them, he would suffer as much as if he were
inwardly attached to them, leading to all happiness turn into agony.
About his separation from the Presence of His Glorious Supreme Being,
however, he does not feel unhappy. He does not even sense it.
2. Question: Who is man?
Answer: Man is the two-footed being for whom this entire universe has
been created, and he himself has been created so as to acquire Insight
into and become acquainted with Almighty God. So that he may wisely
establish the struggling path against the covert and overt opponents
of Almighty God and of His Almighty's obedient servants; starting from
himself up to whatever extremes he may encounter. He may make efforts
up until the end, for the peace of God's creatures, in order to attain
God's happiness and for the purpose of establishing justice in
thelight of Monotheism.
Sa'dee, God's mercy be upon him, has stated:
"The clouds, the wind, the moon, the sun, and the firmament are deployed
So that you may find a piece of bread and not eat it heedlessly,
They all are involved and obey commands for your sake
It would be unfair, if you do not obey."
3. Question: Who is man?
Answer: Man is the being who possesses exploring perception. From his
contacts with living and non-living things, he wellunderstands and
sees that there will be affection created within him for those things.
As a result of these contacts, he does not learn that if he were to
persistently repeat the Names of Glorious God as well, then God's
affection would also be created in him within the easiest of ways.
Hence, he would be one of the devout servants.
4. Question: Who is man?
Answer: Man is the being who often likes to have special attachments
to hisAlmighty God. Enslaved by his own thoughts, he wanted to reach
this fortune through a varietyof hardships. Whereas in our age, the
shorter and more effective way is the Remembrance of God everywhere,
observing the things, and hence finding His Glorious Artificer's
Perfection and Magnificence.
5. Question: Who is man?
Answer: Man is the being who is created for the purpose of observing
thevarious secrets of things and for utilizing these objects. He is
created thus so that he may better and more truly know the Creator of
this entire open and hidden land and ocean, with all His Perfection
and Glory. Man should still make requests for more favors by
presenting humbleness and by pleading. He should make the necessary
efforts to ensure peace for God's creatures in order to please Him, so
that he may find higher and more valuable grantsand favors.
6. Question: Who is man?
Answer: Man is the being who has rarely raised thequestion: for what
reason, due to what mastery, and for what purpose, are all things
given to him?
Verily! All things are granted and accessible tohim for the purpose of
acquainting himself with Glorious God, the Almighty Creator, the
Exalted Most Great, Almighty Artificer and thePerfectioner and
Completer of this entire Order, Glorified and Exalted be He.
7. Question: Who is man?
Answer: Man is the being who, upon observing someone's accomplishment,
gives out thousands of compliments and rewards. However, on seeing
this Exhibition (the Universe) created by His Holiness, Glorified
andExalted be He, he makes no acknowledgement to His Greatness and
makes no effort to find the truthof Insight with Exalted Him. Man has
rarely paid any attention to seek thisvirtue.
8. Question: Who is man?
Answer: Man is the being who exerts effort, if accessible, toward
getting acquainted and establishing a friendship with heads of
companies and high authorities of society. But he makes no effort to
get acquainted with or find out the Creator and Artificer of this
entire open and hidden order Who is Almighty Great God of theland and
the ocean in this world and in other worlds, and the rest of the
universe. He does notmake the effort of acquiring the least of Insight
into Him.
9. Question: Who is man?
Answer: Man is the being who, the more he becomes enlightened, the
more he tries to fully establish relationships and get acquainted with
enlightened people, evengreat statesmen. Unfortunately, concerning the
establishment of a relationship with his Creator and Artificer, man,
save for a few exceptions, has not accomplished this act. He did not
even create such ambition and love in himself towards this goal.
10. Question: Who is man?
Answer: Man is such a being to whom Glorious God has given the ability
and the perception to successfully invoke and contemplate scientific
and spiritual secrets.
Where man strives to delve, Glorious and Exalted God makes him
discover the secrets and mysteries. But man never asks himself if all
these successes originated from his own brain alone. There are
billions likewise endowed with brains better and more efficient in
every aspect.
One can say that all man'sefforts are merely a pretext and that the
truthis the gift and grace of the most Gracious Almighty God. By
making this thanksgiving, of course, more success will be bestowed
upon the person and, given constancy, this will increase the person's
relationship with the Almighty.
11. Question: Who is man?
Answer: Man is the being who gets angry with his inferiors, whoever
they may be, should they appear to disobey his commands. Furthermore,
he even beats and metes out other punishments asa tool for reform. But
he himself is not obedient infront of those permitted and prohibited
commands of His Almighty, which were created and established to the
benefit of the social life. He does not believe in punishment from the
Glorious Lord of the open and hidden.
12. Question: Who is man?
Answer: Man is the being who admits that there should be punishment
meted out from high authorities to those who oppose them, but from the
Great God Who has created him, Who has brought him into existence out
of non-existence, Who provides him annually, wherever he may be, with
life, and prescribes sustenance and other favors, he, being
narrow-minded, still does not accept a law. He does notthink of any
punishment in cases of violation against Him Almighty, and he
continues to disobey.
13. Question: Who is man?
Answer: Man is the weak being who, in spite of all his self-importance
and pride of wealth and capital, is vanquished by the smallest
microbe.
14. Question: Who is man?
Answer: Man is the being of whom everything is afraid but who fears
not his own self, even thoughall the harm to man, humanity and to
others comes from man.
15. Question: Who is man?
Answer: Man is the being whom every creature trusts. However, men
themselves rarely trust one another without ulterior motives.
16. Question: Who is man?
Answer: Man is the model by which most of the characteristics and
secrets of the animate and inanimate things of the firmament and earth
are revealed. Therefore, some of the philosophershave called him
the"Small Universe."
"Then outwardly you are the small universe
Then inwardly you are the great universe." Rumi
Commentary
Now we are somewhat introduced to the value of humanity's eminent
position and we understand it. Basically, to some extent we have been
ungrateful and have behaved in such a manner. By observing everything,
wee have appreciated its maker, but by observing all thesegifts and
rewards, and the variety of creation in the world, we have not felt
any responsibility towards the Greatness of the Great God. At most, we
have tried to establish relationships with people of high authority,
rank, and position; however, we have not wished to establish any
relationshipwith the Creator and Artificer of this entire universe,
though our creation has existed and exists for seeking this truth in
this small, trial world.
It is a question of demonstrating to His Almighty's All-Seeing
Knowledge, whether we are to be so amazed by His handiworks that we
forget Him Almighty altogether. Or that, during our involvement, we
would behave in the Presence of the Exalted Evolver, revealing our own
pull and attraction while doing good deeds and refraining from evil
actions, or the opposite. In the end we conclude the following:
Are we trying to establisha relationship with and develop love and
affection for Almighty God, or with someone or something other than
Him, whatsoever and whosoever it may be?
Regarding the question of how to establish this relationship, here we
shall draw your attentionto some topics concerning the "Secret
ofUnion." Afterward, we shall draw your attentionto the human
narrow-mindedness and weakness of knowledge, which, in spite of the
Presence of Almighty God, still cause the denialof His Existence.
After that, we will focus your attention on the study of objects,
which are expressive of the Greatness of the Glorious and Exalted
Supremacy.

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And Allah Knows the Best!

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Published by :->
M NajimudeeN Bsc- INDIA

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Maryam, Um Isa ( the Mother of nabi Isha(a.w)) - Biographies

Maryam (Mary), the mother of Isa (Jesus), wasa pious Muslim woman
during the time of Prophet Zakariyya. She was Maryam daughter Imran
from the family lineage of Dawud (David), the offspring of the
Children of Israel. In the Quran there is a chapter named Maryam which
talks about Maryam, her birth, her story, the birth of her sonProphet
Isa (Jesus), and other things. Allah also mentioned the story of her
mother's pregnancy with her in Surah Al Imran.
Maryam's mother, Hannah, conceived and delivered Maryam when she was
an old woman, at an age when women usually can no longer have babies.
With the birth of a son in mind, Hannah vowed that she would dedicate
the child to the service of the Sacred House in Jerusalem, dedicate
the child for worship, freed from all worldly affairs. Instead
Almighty Allah blessed Hannah with a daughter. She named thegirl
"Maryam," which literally means"maidservant of Allah," and she asked
Allah to protect Maryam and her offspring from evil. Maryam could not
be devoted to temple service as her mother had intended, due to being
a female, under the Mosaic Law at the time. However, as the new born
was marked out for a special destiny to be the mother of the
miracle-child, Prophet Isa, Allah had accepted her for His service.
The Holy Quran says:
(Remember) when the wife of 'Imran said: "O myLord! I have vowed to
You what (the child that) is in my womb to be dedicated for Your
services (free from all worldly work; to serve Your Place of worship),
so accept this, from me. Verily, You are the All-Hearer, the
All-Knowing."
Then when she delivered her [child Maryam (Mary)], she said: "O my
Lord! I have delivered a female child," - and Allah knew better what
she delivered, - "And the male is not like the female, and I have
named her Maryam, and Iseek refuge with You (Allah) for her and for
heroffspring from Shaitan (Satan), the outcast." (Surah
Al-Imran:35-36)
Since Maryam's father had died, she lived underthe care of Zakariyya,
who was the husband of Maryam's sister and the father of John "the
Baptist". He was a great man among Children of Israel at the time, to
whom they would refer their religious matters. She grew up as a
righteous, pure, and pious Muslim woman worshipping Allah and
endeavoring greatly in performing obedience toHim. Zakariyya saw
astonishing miracles occur from her that amazed him.
So her Lord (Allah) accepted her with goodlyacceptance. He made her
grow in a good manner and put her under the care of Zachariyya. Every
time he entered Al-Mihrâb (a praying place or a private room) to
(visit) her, he found her supplied with sustenance. He said: "O
Maryam! From where have you got this?" She said, "This is from Allah."
Verily, Allah provides sustenance to whom He wills, without limit."
(Surah Al-Imran:37)
It has been mentioned that he would find her with winter fruit during
the summer and summer fruit during the winter.
She became the best of the women in the world. It is mentioned in the
Quran that the angels said Allah chose Maryam and preferred her to the
other women of the world.
And (remember) when the angels said: "O Maryam (Mary)! Verily, Allah
has chosen you, purified you, and chosen you above the women of the
'Alamîn (mankind and jinns)."
O Maryam! "Submit yourself with obedience to your Lord (Allah, by
worshipping none but Him Alone) and prostrate yourself, and Irkâ'i
(bow down etc.) along with Ar-Râki'ûn (those who bow down etc.)."
(Surah Al-Imran:42-43)
And as the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, "Many men
reached the level of perfection, but no woman reached such a level
except Maryam, the daughter of Imran and Asia, the wife of Pharaoh."
(Hadith - SahihBukhari 4.643, Narrated Abu Musa Al Ashari )
Maryam was unique in that she gave birth to a son by a special
miracle, without the intervention of the customary physicalmeans. This
of course does not mean that she was more than human, any more than
her son was more than human. When Allah wanted to grant her His
servant and messenger, Isa (peace be upon him), Maryam withdrew from
her family and secluded herself from them. She retired to the eastern
side of the Sacred Mosque in Jerusalem where she prayed. It was in
this state that the angel appeared to her in the shape of a man. As
she thought the angel was a man, she was frightened and asked him not
to invade her privacy:
She withdrew in seclusion from her family to place facing east. (Surah
Maryam:16)
Then, Allah sent His Ruh, the angel Jibril (Gabriel), to her.
And he appeared before he in the form of a man in all respects. (Surah
Maryam:17)
When the angel (Jibril) appeared to her in the form of a man, while
she was in a place secluded by herself with a partition between her
and her people, she was afraid of him and thought he wanted to rape
her. Therefore, she said,
Verily I seek refuge with the Most Gracious from you, if you do fear
Allah. (Surah Maryam:18)
She meant, "If you fear Allah," as a means of reminding him of Allah.
This is what is legislated in defense against (evil), so that it may
be repulsed with ease. Therefore, the first thing she did was try to
make him fear Allah, the Mightyand Sublime.
The angel said to her in response, and in order toremove the fear that
she felt within herself, "I am not what you think, but I am a the
messenger of your Lord." By this he meant, "Allah has sent meto you."
[At-Tabari 18:164]. It is said that when she mentioned the Name of the
Most Beneficent (Ar-Rahman), Jibril fell apart and returned to his
true form as an angel. He responded,
'I am only a messenger from your Lord, to provide to you the gift ofa
righteous son.' (Surah Maryam:19)
She said: "How can I havea son..."
Maryam was amazed at this. How she could have a son when she did not
have a husband nor did she commit wicked acts like fornication? For
this reason she said,
...when no man has touched me, nor am I Baghiyya (unchaste)? (Surah Maryam:20)
He said: "Thus said your Lord: 'That is easy from Me (Allah)..."
(Surah Maryam:21)
The angel responded to her "Verily, Allah has said that a boy will be
born from you even though you do not have a husband and you have not
committed any lewdness. Verily, he is theMost Able to do whateverHe
wills." Due to this, he (Jibril) conveyed Allah's Words,
And (We wish) to appointhim as a sign to mankind (Surah Maryam:21)
This means a proof and a sign for mankind of the power of their Maker
andCreator, Who diversified them in their creation. Hecreated their
father, Adam, without a male or female. Then he created Hawwa (Eve,
Adam's spouse) from a male (from the rib of Adam) without a female
(mother). Then, He created the rest of their progeny from male and
female, except Isa. He created Isa to be born from a female without a
male. Thus, Allah completed the four types of creation of the human
being, which proves the perfection of his power and the magnificence
of His authority. There is no god worthy of worship except Him and
there is no true Lord other than Him.
Concerning Allah's statement:
and a mercy from Us.. (Surah Maryam:21)
This means, "we will make this boy a mercy from Allah and a Prophet
from the Prophets. He will call to the worship ofAllah and
monotheistic belief in Him. This is as Allah, the Exalted, said in
another Ayah,
(Remember) when the angels said: "O Maryam! Verily, Allah gives you
thegood news of a Word from Him, his name will be Al-Masih (The
Christ), Isa (Jesus), the son of Maryam, held in honor in this world
and in the Hereafter, and will be one of those who are near to Allah.
And he will speak to the people, in the cradle and in manhood, and he
will be one of the righteous. (Surah Al-Imran:45-46)
Finally Jibril completes his dialogue with Maryam, informing her that
this matter was preordained by Allah's power and will.
and it is a matter (alreadydecreed (by Allah). (SurahMaryam:21)
This means that Allah determined to do this, so there is no avoiding
it. [At Tabari 18:165]
So she conceived him and she retired with him to a remote place.
(Surah Maryam:22)
Later, Maryam, being human, suffered the effects of childbirth as any
expectant mother would during these times.
And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm-tree: she
cried (in her anguish): "Ah! would thatI had died before this! Would
that I had been a thing forgotten and out of sight!" But (a voice)
cried to her from beneath the (palm-free):"Grieve not! for thy Lord
hath provided a rivulet beneath thee; "And shaketowards thyself the
trunkof the palm-tree: it will let fall fresh ripe dates upon thee.
"So eat and drink and cool (thine) eye. And if thou dost see any man
say `I have vowed a fast to (Allah) Most Gracious and this day will I
enter into no talk with any human being.' " (Surah Maryam:23-26)
When Mary showed the baby to her people, they said that this was truly
anamazing thing that had happened. The newly born baby (Jesus) replied
to the people:
He said: "I am indeed a servant of Allah: He hath given me revelation
and made me a prophet; "AndHe hath made me Blessedwheresoever I be and
hath enjoined on me Prayer and Charity as long as I live; "(He) hath
made me kind to my mother and not overbearing or miserable; "So Peace
is on me the day I was bornthe day that I die and theDay that I shall
be raised up to life (again)"! (SurahMaryam:30-33)
And that is what is reported of the story of Maryam. Even though
Maryam is the mother of Isa (Jesus) and occupies ahighest position
among women, neither Maryam nor Isa have any divine attributes in
them. The Holy Quran makes this clear in the following verse:
They do blaspheme who say: "Allah is Christ the son of Maryam." But
said Christ: "O children of Israel! worship Allah my Lord and your
Lord." Whoever joins other gods with Allah, Allah willforbid him the
garden and the Fire will be his abode. There will for the wrong-doers
be no one to help.
They do blaspheme who say: Allah is one of three in a Trinity: for
there is no god except One Allah. If they desist not from their word
(of blasphemy) verily a grievous penalty will befall the blasphemers
among them.
Why turn they not to Allah and seek His forgiveness? For Allah is
Oft-forgiving Most Merciful. Christ the son of Maryam was no more than
an Apostle; many were the Apostles that passed away before him. His
mother was a woman of truth. They had both to eat their (daily) food.
See how Allah doth makes His Signs clear to them; yet see in what ways
they are deluded away from the truth!
Say: Will ye worship besides Allah something which hath no power
either to harm or benefit you? But Allah He it is that heareth and
knoweth all things." Say:"O people of the Book! exceed not in your
religion the bounds (of what is proper) trespassing beyond the truth
nor follow the vain desires of people who went wrong in times gone by
who misled many and strayed (themselves) from the even way. (Surah
Al-Ma'idah:72-77)
Say: He is Allah the One and Only; Allah the Eternal Absolute; He
begetteth not nor is He begotten; And there is none like unto Him.
(Surah Al-Ikhlas)

Story - , Moons Peak [FINISHED]- The Wolfpac (chapter 17)

I WOKE UP TO THE SOUND OF several voices, and theconstant thud of
footsteps pounding into the earth; which made every step sound like
bones crunched in their wake.
I took this as a sign of thebecoming of fall.
Not only that, but I realized my face was curled up into solid muscle,
and I happened to be in the air cradled insomebody's arms and I
automatically thought of Satchel.
"Satchel?" I murmured, nestling further into his comfortable heat.
I heard a grunt, and it made his chest rumble in protest. A male voice
near me sighed.
"If I hear her say that name one more time…"
"I know what you're thinking, but I'm not going to leave her to rot in
the middle of these woods."
The voice carrying me had said. I frowned. That didn't sound like
Satchel at all. I heard the other male chuckle.
"What fun would that be? I wasn't planning on letting her live." I shivered.
I decided I didn't like the other guy. I heard a growl coming from the
solid muscle that held mein his arms. It was more like a possessive
kind of growl.
"Shut it Cairo. You may bemy little brother, but I will hurt you worse
than I did Burrick over there."
"Jeez, just a thought."
"Besides, maybe it will teach Black wolf about rejecting this pack…and me."
He hissed at that last statement, as if the mere thought still held
the scolding rejection just by memory alone. The other voice 'Cairo'
sighed.
"And marking the girl would do what…besides cause havoc amongst
ourpack. She's a liability. Get rid of her."
"We need her."
"We? Speak for yourself. What are you trying to accomplish by keeping
her, replace Nia…?"
The former voice 'Cairo' didn't get to finish his sentence. The
argument was cut off with an enormous howl, and roused me to full
consciousness - since I'd just been carelessly dropped from midair.
The thump winded the breath out of me, and I felt the cold tingle
sensation crawl up my spine as I landed on cold dirt. Tail bone first,
and my head hitting the ground seconds later.
I shuffled on the ground trying get over the pain and opened my eyes
to see two large males' inches from where I lay.
One of them towered over the other, slamming his opponents back up on
a thick tree trunk, with a thick arm shoved into his neck.
They both were bare chest I noticed, and the amount of testosterone
flaming through the air was so thick I was almost choking on it.
The taller one seemed to be at least six five, and the more dominant
out of the two, with his back toward me.
He had a distinct tooth bone and feather hanging from his left ear.
I guessed that one to be the one whom supposedly had been carrying me
and desertedme to the likes of gravel. He growled.
"Say her name again and I swear to god you'll be nothing but butchers
meat after I'm done with you, do you hear me?!"
He shoved his arm forward, cutting off the guys air supply.
The other guy with a military short haircut I assumed to be Cairo
nodded and put his hands up in a calming gesture.
"Shit Trench, I just..." He choked out a word that was inaudible.
"You just nothing . Keep your mouth shut if you know what's good for
you, little brother." He spat those last words as ifthey were poison.
I could see Cairo gulping from here, just from the way his Adam's
apple bobbed with every swallow. They both shared a glare, and then
Trench released him afterCairo lowered his eyes to the ground in
submission.
I was left with the tooth/feather earring guy that I assumed to be
Trench, as Cairo stalked off in the opposite direction, and I jumped
as he slammed his fist down on the trunk, causing bark to flee from
its wrath. I stared and followed the bark to the ground.
that bark could have been me I gulped as I felt Trench's eyes on me.
He was just as intimidating in human form, than he was as a wolf. His
dark golden brown skin color clashed with his gunmetal gray eyes, and
his pitched black thin razor cut hair hung loose around his shoulders.
He frowned.
"What are you looking at?" He snarled. He had an accent I guessed to
be Native American. I shook my head.
"Nothing." I tried to avoid his eyes by focusing my attention on my
surroundings.
That's when I realized wewere still in the middle ofthe woods. No
where near my late fathers estate. Atleast, nowhere I'd ever been.
Even the pine smelled different. If that was even possible. I frowned.
"Where's Satchel?"
I could feel a panic attackcoming on, knowing I was far beyond
sanctuaryand I was trapped amongst a pack of dogs. Well, a pack of
humans that turned into dogs when it felt convenient for them I
supposed.
"That question is irrelevant." He muttered.
I could feel Trench's eyes on me again, and I shuddered.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" I said, covering myself as if I
were naked. He continued to glare at me.
"You have her scent all over you." His voice was barely audible, but I heard it.
"I have what…all over me?" Scent? Who's scent was he talking about? I
shook my head in confusion.
"Nia, you have Nia's scenton you, it's…"
"Nia?" He frowned as if it was obvious I should know the girl. I
sniffed my clothing and sure enough. I could smell the strange scent
coming from me, and I automatically knew who it was. Oh
God! The gray wolf that died while she was caught up in barb was his
mate? She had a name…
"Nia…she was your…mate?" He didn't answer me. He just glared and I
heard a female voice answer.
"She was his wife ." The female smiled. She was beautiful.
Long brown hair down to her waist, dark almond shaped eyes, andsilky
brown skin. She seemed like the nicer oneof the pack.
"I'm Sheeba, this is Trench." She pointed at the gun-metal gray eyed guy. "
"Where have you taken me?"
"Don't worry about that, you're our pup now." I turned to the sly
culprit whom had voiced his two cents. He had long hair tied in a
plait that hung like a rat's tail on his nape of his neck.
Dark eyes that were almost slit and a smirk that looked sleazier than
it did his looks any good. That's when I noticed four more guys
standing aloof, stalking off as if they were securing the perimeter.
And I happened to be in the middle of it, along with Trench. Rats Tail
continued his unnecessary commentary.
"And no thanks to you, it's taken us longer to getto our destination."
He glowered at me, and I found myself shuffling backwards.
Trench loomed over me, taking my attention away from the rest of
them. He knelt at eye level.
"He's right, now we have to camp out here, not something I was looking
forward to." I frowned.
"Why don't you save all your troubles and leave me here then?" I
retorted. He tilted his head in amusement, which made his eyes glow
brilliantly. It was getting dark. How long was I out for?
"Black Wolf killed what was ours, now we have the honor to do the sameto him."
"You're wrong. Satchel tried to help that animal. I watched him
struggle toget her free; I tried to help him free her. It was
impossible to untangle the barb."
It was Rat's Tails turn to get a scolding from Trench when he tried to
voice his opinion.
I was right, he was the authority of the pack, and they bowed down
tohim instantly. I felt secureabout that somehow. Trench seemed like
the more level headed out of the lot. And that was saying something.
"You don't get it do you? Those fences, they 're solely built to trap
animals. And do you know who built those traps?" He was so close I
could smell the venom coming from his breath.
" Black Wolf !" He hissed. "He set those traps because he was so god
damn ignorant, and stubborn. Thought he'd never change. He denied his
transition, he denied his pack and he denies our existence."
"I don't understand."
"No you wouldn't would you. You're just a pup. Tell me, how long you
got to go 'til you're howling up into the moonlight?" This time Cairo
spoke. I frowned.
"Excuse me? Are you insinuating that I am a seed from an animal?"
Cairo raised one eyebrowat me then a confused look at Trench.
Trench sniffed me. He actually put his nose to my neck and sniffed.
"Oh my god, what are you doing?" I felt naked all of a sudden, and
wrapped my arms around myself.
"You're time's soon, I can smell it. Two weeks max."I frowned, hating
the factthat they'd just guessed when my birthday was, despite the
fact that I hadn't told them about it.
It reminded me of what Satchel had told me. He'd said that I shouldn't
have seen him in his transitioning from wolf-to-boy and that I had to
wait until my birthday. For what?
I still didn't know what that meant to be honest, but it was starting
to make me dread my birthday.
"What do we do with her'til then?" Cairo asked.
"We wait till Black Wolf comes for her."
"And if he doesn't?" Trench smiled at me. I would have shuddered if it
weren't for the fact that he was easy on the eye.
Especially the way the moon lit his gray eyes.
"She suffers the same way Nia did. This time, he'll be there to watch."
I refrained from screaming, since I didn't want to look like little
weak child, left in the world of unknown. Yet, I couldn't help but
feeling just like that.
"Sounds like we should do it now, and get it overwith." My reflex shot
out and I slapped him right across the face. Not something I should
have attempted while inches from a werewolf.
An angry wolf at that. I stepped back when he growled, and he started shifting.
"Cairo! Calm down." He wouldn't listen, and it only made him angrier.
Fur sprouted from his forearms, and shoulders, until his whole upper
torso had distorted. It happened in less than ten seconds. He pounced
on me taking me to the ground, and swiped at my neck, scoring down my
right shoulder. I screamed, as flesh tore away.
Seconds later, the beast was knocked off my bodyas Trench had
completelytransformed and tore at Cairo's ear.
The howls in the air sounded obnoxious in the quiet woods, and I
started panting from the blow.
I could feel blood trickling from my neck down to my ear. I was
vaguely aware of the girl named Sheeba kneeling beside me, helping
stop the blood flow as she pressed hard with a rugged cloth.
I turned to the fight going on beside me, and the brown wolf was
huffing, and then rolled on to his back in complete submission as grey
wolf nipped at his throat. The fight was over, but I was still
bleeding…and shivering.
"Please come for me…" I whispered to no one in particular and blinked
tears away, closing my eyes.
Darkness danced at the back of my eyes, and I was fighting consciousness.
I lay on the ground dreaming of ways I would escape my predicament I
was currently in.
But every attempt of possible escaping led me to the realization of
never getting the chance to out run a pack of wolves, especially ones
that were three times my weight, and the fact that I was currently
injured.
Giving up, I let my thoughts glide to the moon, half-aware of a wisp
of something warm being placed on my lap.
The howls faded into the darkness as sleep encumbered me. I refused to
think of anyone but Satchel whileI let darkness enfold, I blacked out.

Fataawa - , Ruling on accepting New Years’ gifts

Question:
Is it permissible to accept the New Years' gifts such as calendars and
diaries etc. from companies that deal with the company where we work?
These companies give these gifts to all the personnel of the
department where I work.
Fatwa:
All perfect praise be to Allaah, theLord of the Worlds. I testify that
there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is
His Slave and Messenger.
It is permissible for these employees to accept the gifts that are
given to them by the services companies through the company where they
work as thepurpose of these presents is advertising. However, if these
presents are a bribe that is given so that the company giving them may
thereby get something that they do not deserve, it would be
impermissible to accept it.
Allaah Knows best.

Fataawa - , Gifts to an employee from contractors dealing with his company

Question:
According to the Sharee'ah, is it permitted for us to accept gifts
(like calendars, or dairies, or watches, etc.), at the beginning of
every year, from the Contractors who are working for our company (we
award them contracts)? Please advice.
Fatwa:
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify
that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad
is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalthis mention as well
as that of his family and all his companions.
There is no harm in accepting thementioned gifts at the beginning of
the New Year, but taking the New Year as a festival and celebrating it
is an innovation, and it is imitating the non-Muslims if it is the new
A.D. year, as it is the practise nowadays. However, given that these
calendars and diaries are not associated with the meaning of the
celebration, then they are not included in the prohibition; and they
are considered in general as gifts given at a particular time to
benefit from them for a particular reason related to that time.
Allaah Knows best.

Fataawa - , The ruling on congratulating non-Muslims on their celebrations

Question:
What is the ruling regarding congratulating non-Muslims on their
holidays and celebrations?
Answer:
It is not permissible for the Muslims to congratulate the Christians
for their holidays and celebrations because this would be cooperation
on that which is sin and transgression. Allaah Says(what means): "
…And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin
and aggression… " [Quran 5: 2]. This also leads to repeated visitation
with them, and indicates solicitation of their love and the acceptance
of who they are and their rites. This is not permissible. It is an
obligation onthe Muslim to show them dislike for they oppose Allaah
and ascribe partners and sons to Him.Allaah Says (what means): "You
will not find a people who believein Allaah and the Last Day having
affection for those who oppose Allaah and His Messenger, even if they
were their fathers or their sons or their brothers or their kindred…"
[Quran 58:22] He Almight also Says: " There has already been for you
an excellent pattern in Abraham and those with him, when they said to
theirpeople, 'Indeed, we are disassociated from you and from whatever
you worship other thanAllaah. We have denied you, and there has
appeared between us and you animosity and hatred forever until you
believe in Allaah Alone'…" [Quran 60:4]
Allaah Knows best.

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And Allah Knows the Best!

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Published by :->
M NajimudeeN Bsc- INDIA

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Some of the processesthat take place within the body in a matter of seconds

Various extraordinarily complex and flawless processes take place at
the most amazing speeds in every square millimeter of the body injust
a few seconds.
These processes continue uninterrupted every second, with everybreath
we take, even as we sleep, until the end of our lives.
These events that take place, through our Lord's sublime might, do so
uninterruptedly EVERYSECOND IN EVERY ONE of the 100 trillion cells in
the bodies of ALL THE 7 billion people currently living on Earth.
PROTEIN
• Except for reproductive and blood cells, all the cells in the body
manufacture some 2000 proteins every second. This process takes place
in EACH ONE of the 100 TRILLION CELLSOF ALL THE 7 billion people on
Earth.
• The 100 trillion cells in every adult human body form protein chains
by flawlessly organizing some 150,000,000,000,000,000,000 (150
quintillion) amino acids.
• A ribosome can add 20 amino acids per second to a protein chain.
Protein synthesis takes place in an uninterrupted manner every second
in every cell of the 7 billion people on Earth.
• An average 50 million cells form in the body every second, while
another 50 million die. Two million of these are blood cells.
• Enough DNA to fill a library consisting of 100 volumes, containing a
million pages and 3 billion letters, is copied as every cell divides.
Thiswondrous process of division takes place withthe same perfection
in the cells of everyone in the world.
THE BRAIN
• 10 16 processes take place in the brain every second.
• A single nerve cell can carry more than 200,000 pieces of
information at the same time every second.
• There are around 10 billion nerve cells in the brain, communications
between which is established by 100 trillion connections.
• Every brain cell transmits 300 currents a second. And every nerve
cell discharges its responsibility in 1 millisecond (one thousandth of
a second).
• The brain processes 750 million signals, from inside and outside the
body, every second.
• Four billion pieces of information are exchanged between the two
halves of the brain every second.
• All these processes TAKEPLACE EVERY SECOND IN EVERY ONE OF THE 10
BILLION NERVE CELLS IN THE BRAINS OF ALL THE 7 BILLION PEOPLE ON
EARTH.
• The human eye is able to send 10 million bits ofinformation per
second. Everyone in the world possesses this extraordinary capacity.
ATP
• In lifting a glass, the muscle expends some 10 20 energy molecules
(ATP). They also manufacture even more than this.
• 10 million energy molecules (ATP) are constantly manufacturedevery
second in every one of the 100 trillion cells of 7 billion people in
the world.
• The white blood cells in the veins subject 10 billion cells to a
health check in 2 seconds. That health check is carried out in
everyone who hasever lived or is living now.
• The heart circulates all the blood in the body in 60 seconds. It
does this all the time, in all the 7 billion people alive today.
• Five hundred different chemical processes are carried out in a
single liver cell every second. Every liver cell IN ALL THE 7 BILLION
PEOPLE ON EARTH knows these 500 different tasks and carried them all
out flawlessly.
• Whenever food enters the body, microscopic hairs on the cells in the
small intestine reject those parts of the food that are not useful.
The hairs in question do this in a perfectly organized manner in
everyone on Earth every second.
BREATHING
• In order to breathe, planning is carried out in a region the size of
a lentil in the brain stem, every second:
- A first group of cells gives the command for air to be taken in.
- A second group of cells determines the speed and course of
respiration by halting the activity of the first group with a signal.
- A third group of cells goes into action when we need to breathe at a
high rate and acceleratesrespiration by sending a signal to the
abdomen muscles.
• Every time we breathe more than 300 million sacs in the lungs take
air in by opening and closing. These cells and sacs perform the same
function, without exception, every 3 seconds in all 7 BILLION HUMAN
BEINGS.
• Thousands of hormones in the body send reports to specific cells in
a single second. Each hormone makes decisions, communicateswith the
cells, produces the secretions the body needs, determines the right
level and timing of this, and arranges how long these secretions
should last. Millions of hormones in the bodies of all the 7 billion
peopleon Earth carry out the same processes in milliseconds.
• Some 100 billion processes will have taken place in your eyes in the
time it takes to read this sentence. Thesetake place in a little as a
tenth of a second, and are carried out in the eye cells of everyone in
the world.
• Harmful bacteria traveling from the intestines to the liver
aredigested and neutralizedby special cells in less than 0.01 (one one
hundredth) of a second. These are at work in all 7billion people in
the world.
• There are 10 billion capillary vessels in the human body. The
erythrocytes that travel along these vessels carry oxygen to the
cells. An erythrocyte only remainsin a capillary vessel for between 1
and 3 seconds, and then heads for the heart. During thattime it gives
oxygen to the tissues and takes away carbon dioxide. This distribution
process takes place within this flawless system in all the 7 billion
people in the world.
As you read these words,billions of cells in your brain are working to
understand what you read, and controlling theactions of your muscles
and how you breathe. The brain is aware of theprotein production in
your cells, the transportation of oxygen to the cells by erythrocytes,
the images that enter your eye, sounds that reach your ear, what is
happening in your stomach and liver, the watch strappedto your arm and
everything. It responds to and regulates all of these every second.
This magnificent system in the body has worked flawlessly and
immaculately in everyone who has ever lived, and is still workingso
today. There is no doubt that the Creator ofthis magnificent system in
the body is our Almighty Lord Allah and that Almighty Allah has
knowledge and control of this system at every stage and every moment.
Our Lord says in one verse that:
I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed satan
The keys of the Unseen are in His possession. No one knows them but
Him. He knows everything in the land and sea. No leaf falls without
His knowing it. There is no seed in the darkness of the earth, and
nothing moist or drywhich is not in a Clear Book. (Surat al-An'am, 59)

Allah keeps the entire universe and the systems in it under hissimultaneous control

Almighty Allah created the universe from a single point with a huge explosion.
While all other explosions damage the existing order, the 300 billion
galaxies in the universe emerged from zero volume, nothing in other
words, with this explosion, known as the Big Bang.
The Milky Way we live in is just one of these 300 billion galaxies.
There are 250 billion stars in the Milky Way. The Sun is one of these
250 billion stars.
The number of stars, such as the Sun, in the visible universe is 10 24
, a stupendous number, more than a billion timesa billion times a
billion. Allah has created the Earth as a living space within the
boundless universe. We live on a world that occupies almost no place
at all within infinity. In fact, not just our Earth but even our
galaxy occupies a tiny place in the universe. So just imagine how
small a place you yourself occupy in this utterly vast universe.
Every single atom in each of these 10 24 stars is under the control of
Allah at every moment. Every movement, speed, speed of revolution, the
temperatures and distances of and between every planet, every one of
the 10 24 stars and 300 billion galaxies are all determined in the
Sight of Allah and are duly created at every moment. Allah
maintainscountless balances on Earth at every second, without our ever
being aware of them. While a flawless equilibrium is being maintained
in the vastness of space, an extraordinary range of extraordinarily
complex and perfect processes also takes place within a few seconds in
every square millimeters of our bodies. For example;
EVERY SECOND AS YOU WATCH THIS FILM...
About 100 billion processes have taken place in your eyes withina second.
50 million cells in your body have died every second.
50 million new cells havebeen created every second to replace those that die.
10 million bits of information has been sent from your eyes to your
brain every second.
10 million energy molecules, known as Adenosine triphospate, (ATP)
have been produced in all your 100 trillion cells, every single
second.
In addition, these processes have taken place every single second, not
just in your own body, BUT IN THE BODIES OF ALL THE 7 BILLION PEOPLE
LIVING ONEARTH AT THIS MOMENT because each of the 100 trillion cells
in the bodiesof all these 7 billion people is under the control of
Allah at every moment.
Are you at all aware of these events taking place inside and around
you at every single moment?
The balances maintainedat every moment are notonly limited to space
andthe human body;
At the same time, quadrillions of plants, from more than 500,000
species, all make photosynthesis, and oxygen levels are thus arranged
in such a way that organisms can remain alive.
WITHIN THE LAST SECOND THAT JUST PASSED BY…
Two million species of animals and plants on the land, under the
ground and in the depths of the seas continued their lives through
their perfect systems.
100 billion birds from 10,000 species and trillions of fish from
40,000 species have spent that second hunting, migrating or looking
after their young. The digestive and respiratory systems of every
single one have functioned in perfection.Their bones, muscles, eyes,
feet and fins have all performed their tasks just as they should.
For example, this fly has beaten its wings 500 times a second. While
it is impossible for a human being to flap his arms 500 times a
second,the trillions of flies on Earth have beaten their wings 500
times within the second that just passed by.
Insects whose numbers reach extraordinary figures of 10 quintillion
(10,000,000,000,000,000,000), from 1.5 million species, have remained
alive through their countless features such as their delicate insect
antennae, the chemicals they use to communicate, the poisons they
employ for offense and defense andtheir hunting and camouflage
tactics.
It is Almighty and Omniscient Allah, He Who is aware of all things,
Who keeps each one of these systems under His control simultaneously.
While many living thingsin the animal kingdom continue their lives in
a flawless manner, with their numbers more than the human mind could
conceive;
IN EVERY SECOND THAT PASSES BY...
Every photon coming from the Sun has traveled 300,000 kilometers; and
thus colors have formed.
Every second, 16 million tons of water have fallento Earth as rain.
The Sun, which is one of the 250 billion stars in the Milky Way, which
itself is one of the 300 billion galaxies in the universe, has
converted 564 tons of hydrogen into 560 million tons of helium and
thus provided light and heat for the Earth.
Are you at all aware of these events taking place inside and around
you at every moment?
Do you know how many leaves there are on all the trees on Earth?
Or how many atoms there are in every leaf?
Have you ever wonderedhow many grains of sand there are on and inthe world?
Or what the number of raindrops is?
Do you know how many billions of types of animals and plants thereare
in the world?
Or can you know how many people have lived ever since the time of the
Prophet Adam (pbuh), how many are living now, or how manywill live up
until the Day of Reckoning? Is it at all possible for you to knowthe
number of cells in their bodies, or how many proteins are produced in
those cells?
But our Almighty Lord knows all these things we've just counted, and
He knows how many planets and asteroids there are in the vastness of
outer space, how many stars there are, and how many electronsrevolve
around the nuclei of their atoms. Each one of these acts occur by the
leave of Allah, Lord of the worlds.Allah is Omniscient and He knows
all things.
THE GLORIOUS NUMBERS AND DETAILS IN THE HUMAN BODY
• Apart from blood and reproductive cells, all thecells in the body
manufacture some 2000 proteins a second. This process takes place in
EVERY SINGLE ONE of all the 100 trillion cells of ALL the 7 billion
people living today.
• The 100 trillion cells in an adult person's body produce protein
chains that flawlessly organize some 150,000,000,000,000,000,000 (150
quintillion) amino acids every hour. Note this; in order to produce
protein chains, every single one of the 100 trillion cells in the
bodies of 7 billion people organize 150 quintillion amino acids -a
number that the human mind would fail to grasp- every hour.
• During every cell division, DNA, a library that consists of 3
billion letters, 1 million pages and 1000 volumes, is copied. This
wondrous process of division takes place with the same perfection in
the 100 trillion cells of each and every single one of the 7billion
people living in the world.
• A ribosome can add 20 amino acids to a protein chain every second.
Wide-ranging protein synthesis thus takes place uninterruptedly every
second in every single one of the 100 trillion cells of all the people
in the world.
• There are some 10 billion nerve cells in the brain, and
communication betweenthem is established by means of 100 trillion
synapses.
• 4 billion information exchanges take place every second between the
two hemispheres of the brain. The brain deals with 750 million signals
coming from inside and outside the body.
• A single brain cell can transmit more than 200,000 pieces of
information at the same time.
• Do you realize that all these processes TAKE PLACE EVERY SECOND IN
EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THE 10 BILLION BRAIN CELLS INEVERY SINGLE ONE OF
THE 7 BILLION PEOPLE ON EARTH?
• The white blood cells in the veins subject 10 billion cells in the
body to health checks every 2 seconds. This check-up has taken place
in all thepeople who have ever lived, and is taking placein the 7
billion people currently living today.
• 500 different chemical processes are carried outin a single liver cell.
• With every breath taken, more than 300 million air sacs in the lungs
open and close to admit air into the body. These cells and sacs
carryout the same tasks, without exception, in the bodies of ALL THE 7
BILLION PEOPLE that breathe in, every three seconds.
THE MAGNIFICIENT NUMBERS AND DETAILS IN NATURE
• The heart of the hummingbird, a tiny bird which has far
betterhearing than human beings and can see ultraviolet rays, beats
300-1200 times a minute. And the hearts of all the hummingbirds on
earth beat 300-1200 times every single minute.
• 40,000 bees have to visit 6 million flowers to make 1 kilo of honey.
• The fastest computers in the world can perform 16 billion arithmetic
processes a second. Yet the honey bee can perform 10 trillion
processes in the same time while expending less energy.
• Bacteria provides the oxygen we breathe. Cyanobacteria, algae and
other micro-organisms in the sea give off some 150 billionkilograms of
oxygen intothe air every year.
• A tiny ant has some 500,000 nerve cells. Thanks to this
extraordinary system, ants are able to use very different forms of
communication. They are able to perform many activities, such as
hunting prey, following one another, building nests and fighting
enemies thanks to this special nervous system.
• More snowflakes than can ever be calculated fall from the skies
every year, and each one is different than all the others.
Allah has created systemsthat the human mind cannot fully comprehend,
the details of which have still not been discovered. Billionsof
details have been combined together and provided for people in the
finest and most beautiful way. Man can only live by means of his DNA
being copied every moment, the breath he takes in, the oxygen he
inhales with every breath he takes, his heart that beats every single
moment, the Earththat constantly revolves, the food cycle, the
watercycle, the nitrogen cycle, all the constantly movingatoms and
countless other details.
Thıs is without doubt a very simple matter for Almighty Allah, Who
creates from nothing, Who ordains all things asHe wishes and Who is
mighty enough to createthem as He wishes at anytime.
I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed satan-
The keys of the Unseen are in His possession. No one knows them but
Him. He knows everything in the land and sea. No leaf falls without
His knowing it. There is no seed in the darkness of the earth, and
nothing moist or drywhich is not in a Clear Book. (Surat al-An'am, 59)
What people who realizethese miracles going on at every moment must do
is to reflect on the greatness of Allah, Lord of the worlds and give
thanks to Him for every blessing and every beauty. Because as we have
been informed in the Qur'an, every person will be called to account
for the blessings bestowed on him when the Day of Reckoning comes.
I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed satan-
He has given you everything you have asked Him for. If you tried to
number Allah's blessings, you could never count them. Man isindeed
wrongdoing, ungrateful. (Surah Ibrahim, 34)

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And Allah Knows the Best!

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Published by :->
M NajimudeeN Bsc- INDIA

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Dought & clear - , She became Muslim in secret and feared that her family might harm her, so she broke the fast one day in Ramadan; does she have to make it up?

I embraced Islam recently without my parents' knowledge. If they knew
they would be very angry and wouldcut off my study allowance for
university.Hence I tried to keep thematter secret. But on thethird day
of Ramadan, I had no choice but to go to a meeting at the University,
and after I arrived I found out that they had prepared dinner that
happened tobe one and a half hours before Maghrib. The problem was not
my refusing to eat with them; rather the problem was that my parents
were also present at this meeting without me having any prior
knowledge of that.I thought about the matter very carefully andI was
afraid that they would find out about mebeing Muslim, especially since
they had noticed my recent interest in Islam and my refusal to eat
with them on the three previous days. If they noticed that I would not
eat with themon this night, then they would undoubtedly find out that
I had embraced Islam, and if that happened, the consequences would be
dire. Hence I decided to break the fast on that day. I broke the fast
and I asked Allah to forgive Me and pardon me.
My question is: do I have to make up this day or offer expiation?.
Praise be to Allaah.
We ask Allah, may He be exalted, to reward you immensely and to bestow
His blessings, both apparent and hidden, abundantly upon you and to
grant you beneficial knowledge and righteous deeds. We congratulate
you for the blessing of Islam that Allah has bestowed uponyou and for
your love forIslam and for following its teachings in the manner
prescribed by Allah.
So long as you are afraidof severe consequences for showing your Islam
openly, you are not obliged to show it openly in front of your
parents. Allah will accepta person's Islam even if he does not show it
openly when he is not able to do so. So long as a person has entered
Islam by uttering the twin declaration of faith (Shahaadatayn), he has
to adhere to its teachings as much as he is able to after that,
without causing any trouble for himself that may prevent him from
continuing to follow thisreligion. Allah tells us that the believer
from the family of Pharaoh concealed his faith from Pharaoh and his
people, as Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the
meaning): "And a believing man of Fira'un's (Pharaoh's) family, who
hid his faith said…" [Ghaafir 40:28]. Some of the Sahaabah (Prophet's
Companions) became Muslim in the early days, when the Muslims were in
a weak position in Makkah, and the Prophet (blessings and peace of
Allah be upon him) encouraged them to conceal their Islam for fear of
trouble. One of these people was the great Sahaabi Abu Dharr
al-Ghifaari (may Allah be pleased with him). The Prophet (blessings
and peace of Allah be upon him) said: "O Abu Dharr, conceal this
matter and go back to your own land, then when you hear that we have
begun to prevail, come (and join us)."
Narrated by al-Bukhaari,3328
As you broke the fast on that day because of yourparents' presence, as
you mention, and your fear of dire consequences if you did not break
the fast, then you are excused for breaking the fast. But you have to
make up that day whenever you are able to do so and areconfident that
no harm will befall you as a result. And you do not have to offer
expiation for that day.
We ask Allah to enable you to do that which pleases Him. - And
Allah Knows the best: -

Dought & clear - , Accepting a gift from a kaafir on the day of his festival

My neighbour is an American Christian, and she and her family brought
me a gift when it was Christmas. I could not refuse the gift, lest she
be offended.
Can I accept this gift, as the Messenger (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) accepted gifts from kaafirs?.
Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:
The basic principle is that it is permissible to accept gifts from
kaafirs,so as to soften their hearts and make Islam attractive to
them, as theProphet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
accepted giftsfrom some of the kaafirs,such as the gift of al-Muqawqis
etc.
Al-Bukhaari gave a chapter in his Saheeh the title of: Accepting gifts
from the mushrikeen. He (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: Abu
Hurayrah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said, narrating from the
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him): "Ibraaheem (peace
be upon him) migrated with Saarah and entereda city in which there
wasa king or a tyrant, and he said: 'Give her Haajar (as a gift).'"
And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was given
as a gift a (roast) sheep in which there was poison. Abu Humayd said:
The king of Aylah gave the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) a white mule and a cloak, and wrote to him. And he mentioned
the story of the Jewish woman and her gift of a poisoned sheep to the
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).
Secondly:
It is permissible for a Muslim to give gifts to kaafirs and mushriks,
with the aim of softening their hearts towards Islam, especiallyif
they are relatives or neighbours.
'Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) gave a hullah (suit) to his
mushrik brother in Makkah, as was narratedby al-Bukhaari (2619).
But it is not permissible to give a kaafir a gift on the day of one of
his festivals, because that is regarded as approving of or
participating in celebration of the false festival.
If the gift is something that will help in celebrating the festival,
such as food, candles and the like, then it is even more haraam, and
some of the scholars are of the view that this is kufr.
Al-Zayla'i said in Tabyeenal-Haqaa'iq (6/228): Giving gifts on the
occasion of Nayrooz and Mahrjaan [two non-Islamic Persian festivals]
is not permissible, i.e., giving gifts on these two days is haraam,
and is in fact kufr. Abu Hafs and Kabeer (may Allaah have mercy on
him) said: If a man were to worship Allaah for fifty years, then on
the day of Nayrooz he were to give an egg as a gift to one ofthe
mushrikeen, intending thereby to venerate that day, he would have
committed kufr and his good deeds would be cancelled out. The author
of al-Jaami' al-Asghar said: If he gives a gift to another Muslim on
the day of Nayrooz, not intending thereby to venerate that day, but it
is the habit of some people to give gifts on that day, then this is
not regarded as kufr. But he should not do it on that particular day;
he should do it before or after, so that he will not be imitating
those people. The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him) said: "Whoever imitates a people is one of them."It says
in al-Jaami' al-Asghar: A man bought something on the day of Nayrooz
which he did not buy before that. If he intended thereby to venerate
that day as the mushrikoon venerate it, then he has committed kufr,
but if he wanted toeat or drink or enjoy himself, then he has not
committed kufr. End quote.
It says in al-Taaj wa'l-Ikleel (a Maaliki book – 4/319): Ibn al-Qaasim
regarded it as makrooh to give a gift toa Christian on the occasion of
his festival, or to give palm leaves to a Jew on his festivals. End
quote.
It says in al-Iqnaa', which is a Hanbali book: It is haraam to attend
the festivals of the Jews and Christians and to sellthem things or
give them gifts on the occasion of their festivals.
Moreover it is not permissible for a Muslim to give a gift to another
Muslim because of this festival, as stated above when quoting the
Hanafi view. Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on
him) said: Whoever gives a gift to the Muslims during these festivals
unlike what he usually usually at other times, his gift should notbe
accepted, especially ifthe gift is something that helps in imitating
them, such as giving candles etc at Christmas, or giving eggs, milk
and lambs on Maundy Thursday which comes at the end of their fast
(i.e., the end of Lent). Similarly, no gift should be given to a
Muslim at the time of these festivals because of the festival,
especially if it is something that helps in imitating them, as we have
mentioned. End quote from Iqtida' al-Siraat al-Mustaqeem (1/227).
Thirdly:
With regard to acceptinga gift from a kaafir on the day of his
festival, there is nothing wrong with that, and that is notregarded as
participating in it or approving of it, rather it should be accepted
as anact of kindness, with the aim of softening his heart and calling
him to Islam. Allaah has permitted kindness and fair treatment towards
the kaafir who is not fighting the Muslims, as He says (interpretation
of the meaning):
"Allaah does not forbid you to deal justly and kindly with those who
fought not against you on account of religion nor drove you out of
your homes. Verily, Allaah loves those who deal with equity"
[al-Mumtahanah 60:8]
But kindness and fair treatment does not mean friendship and love,
because it is not permitted to take a kaafir as a friend or love him.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"You (O Muhammad) willnot find any people whobelieve in Allaah and
theLast Day, making friendship with those who oppose Allaah and His
Messenger (Muhammad), even though they were their fathers or their
sons or their brothers or their kindred (people). For such He has
written Faithin their hearts, and strengthened them with Rooh (proofs,
light and true guidance) from Himself. And He will admit them to
Gardens (Paradise) under which rivers flow, to dwell therein
(forever). Allaah is pleased with them, and they with Him. They are
the party of Allaah. Verily, it is the party of Allaah that will be
the successful"
[al-Mujaadilah 58:22]
"O you who believe! Take not My enemies and your enemies (i.e.
disbelievers and polytheists) as friends, showing affection towards
them, while they have disbelieved in what has come to you ofthe truth"
[al-Mumtahanah 60:1]
"O you who believe! Take not as (your) Bitaanah (advisors,
consultants, protectors, helpers, friends) those outside your religion
(pagans, Jews, Christians,and hypocrites) since they will not fail to
do their best to corrupt you.They desire to harm you severely. Hatred
has already appeared from their mouths, but what their breasts conceal
is far worse. Indeed We have made plain to you the Ayaat (proofs,
evidences, verses) if you understand"
[Aal 'Imraan 3:118]
"And incline not toward those who do wrong, lest the Fire should
touchyou, and you have no protectors other than Allaah, nor you would
then be helped"
[Hood 12:113]
"O you who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians as
Awliyaa'(friends, protectors, helpers), they are but Awliyaa' of each
other. And if any amongst you takes them (as Awliyaa'),then surely, he
is one of them. Verily, Allaah guides not those people who are the
Zaalimoon (polytheists and wrongdoers and unjust)"
[al-Maa'idah 5:51]
and there is other evidence which indicates that it is haraam to take
a kaafir as a friend or love him.
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:As
for accepting a gift from them on the day of their festival, we have
quoted above that 'Ali ibn Abi Taalib was brought a gift on the
occasion of Nayrooz and he accepted it.
Ibn Abi Shaybah narrated that a woman asked 'Aa'ishah: We havesome wet
nurses from among the Magians, andthey have a festival on which they
bring us gifts. She said: As for what is slaughtered for that day, do
not eat it, but eat from their vegetables.
It was narrated from AbuBarzah that he had someMagian neighbours who
used to bring him gifts on the occasion of Nayrooz and Mahrjaan, and
he used to say to hisfamily: Whatever is of fruits, eat it, and
whatever is otherwise, reject it.
All of this indicates that the festival does not make it forbidden to
accept their gifts, rather the ruling is the same whether it is their
festival or not, because that does not involve helping them with the
symbols of their kufr.
Then he pointed out thatmeat slaughtered by a kitaabi (Jew or
Christian)is halaal except that which is slaughtered for their
festivals, which it isnot permissible to eat. He said (may Allaah
havemercy on him): It is only permissible to eat of the food of the
people of the Book, during their festivals that which has not been
slaughtered forthe festival, whether it isbought or received as a
gift. As for meat slaughtered by the Magians, the ruling on that is
well known, and it is haraam according toall. As for that which is
slaughtered by the people of the Book for their festivals and that
which they slaughter as an act of worship to draw close to anything
other than Allaah, as the Muslims offer sacrifices as an act of
worship to draw closer to Allaah, namely as that which they sacrifice
to the Messiah, two views have been narrated from Ahmad concerning
that, the most well known of which in his texts is that it is not
permissible to eat it even if the name of something other than Allaah
has not been mentioned over it. The prohibition on that was narrated
from 'Aa'ishah and 'Abd-Allaah ibn 'Umar … End quote from Iqtida'
al-Siraat al-Mustaqeem (1/251).
Conclusion: It is permissible for you to accept the gift from
yourChristian neighbour on the day of their festival, subject to the
following conditions:
1 – This gift should not be meat that has been slaughtered for the festival.
2 – It should not be something that may be used to help in
imitatingthem on the day of their festival, such as candles, eggs,
palm leaves etc.
3 – You should explain toyour children the belief in al-wala'
wa'l-bara' (loyalty and friendship vs. disavowal and enmity), lest a
love of this festival or a fondness for the giver be instilled in
their hearts.
4 – The gift should be accepted with the aim ofsoftening her heart and
calling her to Islam, not with friendship and love.
If the gift is something that it is not permissible to accept, then
the refusal to accept it should be accompanied by an explanation of
why it is being refused, such as saying, "We only refused your gift
because it is meat that was slaughtered for the festival, and it is
not permissible for us to eat it, or these things are only accepted by
those who are taking part in the celebrations, and wedo not celebrate
this festival, because it is not part of our religion, and it involves
beliefs that we do not believe in" and so on, which is a starting
point for calling them to Islam and explaining the danger ofthe kufr
that they follow.
The Muslim should be proud of his religion andapply its rulings, and
he should not give them up out of shyness or to impress anyone, for
Allaah is more deserving of us feeling shy before Him.

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And Allah Knows the Best!

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Published by :->
M NajimudeeN Bsc- INDIA

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