Accuracy of Holy Qur'an

History is a witness to persecutions of scientists by the medieval
Church and the consequent branding of all religions to be
anti-science. This is however not the case with Islam. For Islam is
that religion, which emphasizes on the need to acquire knowledge form
the 'Cradle to the grave'. The Prophet of Islam considered the ink of
a scholar more precious than the blood of a martyr. He did not
discriminate between men and women in this regard and said,
"Acquisition of knowledge is compulsoryfor every believing man and
every believing woman. Although the number of literate people in the
whole of Arabia at the dawn of Islam could be counted on the fingers
of one's hands, the succeeding decades witnessed an enormous upsurge
in scientific development and learning. So much so that the Muslim
intellectuals and scientists surpassed even the ancient Romans and
Greeks. Modern science owes everything to the knowledge that they
obtained from the Muslims.
Moreover, Jabir bin Hayyan the father of Chemistry as he is known,was
from among one of the students of Imam Sadiq (a.s.), the 5th
generation of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.).
But how is it possible for a person brought up in a nomad environment
of the 7th century Arabia, tomention things unheard of at that time.
Some understood by the world only when science entered its infancy. It
wasnot for nothing that the Prophet (s.a.w.) said: "I am the city of
Knowledge."
His message was supposed to last till the day of the judgement.
Histeachings had to stand the test of time and hence in addition to
the above words: "I am the city of Knowledge."
He said, "And Ali is its gate."
So, this discussion is followed by an extract from the saying of lmam
Ja'far as-Sadiq (a.s.) the great-grandson of Ali ibne Abi Talib
(a.s.). The saying is famous as Hadith-e-Mufazzal and the part that we
have quoted is regarding the development of the human embryo. When we
read the words of Imam, we find them in absolute consonance with the
Qur'an. Moreover they are in the language of a common man easily
understood byall.
Dr. Keith Moore of the University of Toronto wasamazed to find that
manymodern discoveries in the field of embryology must have been known
to the author of the Qur'an, for these facts areeither hinted at or
stated explicitly in the Qur'an. This is particularly significant
because the Qur'an claims to be the verbatim word of God. How could
these facts have been known to any human being living in the 7th
century? The presence of these in the Qur'an is proof enough that the
Qur'an did not come from the mind of any human but must have been
revealed from God whose knowledge is perfect and who therefore, knew
what scientists will discover in the 20th century.
Dr. Moore is not the only scientist to have discussed the Qur'anic
verses we will look at in this article. But the fact that he is not a
Muslim puts what he has to say in a different light. No one can accuse
him of inventing things to defend Islam. His findingswill have to be
taken seriously by any seeker oftruth. In what follows weshall draw
from his article entitled "Highlights of Human Embryology in the Koran
and the Hadith" which was presented at the Seventh Saudi Medical
Meeting at King Faisal University on May 3-6, 1982. At the time, Dr.
Moore was Professor of Anatomy and Chairman of the Department, Faculty
of Medicine, at the University of Toronto.
In tracing the history of ideas in the field of embryology, Dr. Moore
observed that the absence of knowledge in this field and the
"dominating influence of superstition resulted in a non-scientific
approach to human development." He noted, for instance, that while
Aristotle made some contributions to the study of embryology, he also
promoted "the incorrect idea that the human embryo developed from a
formless mass that resulted from the union of semen with menstrual
blood."
Knowledge in this field could not progress significantly until the
microscope was discovered in the 17th century. "After it was possible
to examine cells under the microscope, it was reasoned in the
18thcentury that development resulted from growth and differentiation
of embryonic cells."
In view of the above, after Dr. Moore had the opportunity to study
certain statements in the Qur'an and statements of the Prophet (on
whom be peace) in the Hadith literature, he remarked, "I was amazed at
the scientific accuracy of these statements which were made in the 7th
century A.D."
He created you (all) from a single person: then created, of like
nature, his mate; and he sent down for you eight head of cattle in
pairs: He makes you, in the wombsof your mothers, in stages, one after
another,in three veils of darkness.Holy Qur'an (39:6)
Referring to above verse in the Quran, Dr. Moore says: "This verse
from the Koran states that God makes you in the wombs of your mothers
in stages, one after another,within three veils of darkness." Then he
explains his amazement: "The realization that the embryo develops in
stages in the uterus was not discussed or illustrated until the 15th
century A.D.
"The staging of human embryos was not proposed until the 1940's, and
the stages used nowadays were not adopted worldwide until a few years
ago."
It is reasonable to interpret the three veils of darkness mentioned
inthe Koran as:
*.the mother's abdominalwall;
*.the wall of the uterus; and
*.the amniochorionic membrane composed of the fused amnion and
chorion.These three anatomical layers protect the embryofrom external
injury."
And certainly We created man of an extract of clay, Then We made him a
small seed in a firm resting-place, Then We made the seed a clot, then
We made the clot a lump of flesh, then We made (in) the lump of flesh
bones, then We clothed the bones with flesh, then We caused it to grow
into another creation, so blessed be Allah, the best of the creators.
Then after that you will most surely die. Then surely on the day
ofresurrection you shall be raised.Holy Qur'an (23:12-16)
Referring to the above verses in the Qur'an, Dr. Keith Moore says:
"This verse from the Koran states that God made you from a drop and
then changed the drop into a leech-like structure which soon changed
into a chewed like substance that then took the shape of bone and was
clothed with flesh."
To illustrate his point about the accuracy of theQur'an, Dr. Moore
lined up a picture of a leech and a picture of a humanembryo at 24
days old to show the striking similarity between the two. Similarly,
he compared the human embryo at 28 days with a plasticine model of the
embryo with teeth marksdeliberately impressed on it and found the two
to be quite Similar.
Then did he become a leech-like clot; then did (Allah) make and
fashion (him) in due proportion.Holy Qur'an (75:38)
And made his progeny from a quintessence of the nature of a fluid
despised:Holy Qur'an (32:8)
Dr. Moore then turns his attention to the mention in the Qur'an
(75:38) that humans are created froma nutfa, a tiny drop of fluid,
which gushed forth, and that God madethe progeny of men from"an
extraction of despised fluid (32:8)." He also refers to a hadith,
which says: "Not from all secretions is the child made." Then he
comments:
"It is well established thatonly a few hundred of the several million
sperms in the semen are able to pass through the uterus and surround
the ovum in the uterine tube."
Verily We created Man from a drop of mingled sperm, in order to try
him: So We gave him (thegifts), of Hearing and Sight.Holy Qur'an
(76:2)
Surah (76:2) says that a human being is created from a mixed drop. Dr.
Moore comments: "The mixed drop mentioned inthe Koran could refer to
the mixture of small quantity of sperms with the oocyte and its
associated follicular fluid.There are the other references in the
Koran to the origin of man froma small quantity of 'mingled fluids',
undoubtedly the male and female sexual secretions. As we know a
secondary oocyte is expelled from the ovary during a process known as
ovulation. The oocyte and the follicular fluid pass into the uterine
tube, where, if coitus has occurred, they are mixed with several
hundred sperms. The resulting mixture (drop) composedof the ovum and
the penetrating sperm, becomes the zygote or primordium of the
embryo."
Whereas the Qur'an had already mentioned this truth in the 7th
century, Dr. Moore noted that one thousand years later, as late as the
17th century, scientists held on to two misconceptions. Some believed
that a tiny human being is contained in the sperm; others believed
that it was contained in the ovum, and in either case that the tiny
human just simply grew larger. The scientist proved both of these
ideas wrong. Spallanzani in the 18th century when he "showed
experimentally that both male and female sex products werenecessary
for the initiation of development."
From a sperm-drop: He hath created him, and then mouldeth him in due
proportions;Holy Qur'an (80:19)
Turning to a new subject,Dr. Moore refers to Surah (80:19) and
comments: "This verse from the Koran states that from this drop He
(God) created him and soon planned his future characteristics and
features." Then he explained his amazement:
"The idea that development results froma genetic plan contained in the
chromosomes of the zygote was not discovered until the end of 19th
century. The verse from the Koran clearly implies that the nutfa
contains the plan or blueprint for the future characteristics
andfeatures of the developing human being."
That He did create in pairs, male and female, From a seed when lodged
(in its place);Holy Qur'an (53:45-46)
Then he mentions Surah (53:45-46) and says: "This verse states that
either a male or a female will be created from the nutfa and that the
sex of the embryo is determined at the beginning." This piece of
information in the Qur'an is way ahead of its time. "The realization
that sex was determined at fertilization was established about 60
years ago when the sex chromosomes were discovered," he says.
Your wives are a tilth for you, so go into your tilth when you like,
and do good beforehand for yourselves, and be careful (of your duty)
to Allah, and know that you will meet Him, and give good news to the
believers.Holy Qur'an (2:223)
There is more to marvel at. Dr. Moore explains that the blastocyst
(the early embryo) implants inthe uterus about 10 days after
fertilization. Then he compares this knowledge with what hefinds in
the Qur'an. "An understanding of the implantation process of the human
blastocyst is also implied in the Koran." Here Dr. Moore refers to
Surah (2:223) where the act of sex is compared with cultivation. He
says: "A tilth refers to the cultivation of land and the comparison of
implantation of the blastocyst to the plantingof a seed is a very
appropriate one. Just as soil covers the seed, the uterine epithelium
coversthe implanted blastocyst. The blastocyst soon develops chrionic
villi for acquiring nourishment from the maternal blood. Similarly the
embryo formed from the seed develops roots for acquiring nourishment
from the soil."
And certainly We created man of an extract of clay, Then We made him a
small seed in a firm resting-place, Then We made the seed a clot, then
We made the clot a lump of flesh, then We made (in) the lump of flesh
bones, then We clothed the bones with flesh, then We caused it to grow
into another creation, so blessed be Allah, the best of the creators.
Then after that you will most surely die. Then surely on the day
ofresurrection you shall be raised.Holy Qur'an (23:12-16)
Looking again at Surah (23:12-16), Dr. Moore points out that the
articlethumma (meaning furthermore) "indicates that there is a lag or
gap between the nutfa stage and the leech like stage." How does that
compare with modern scientific knowledge? Remarkably!Says Dr. Moore:
"It is well established that there is alag or delay in the development
of the embryo during the implantation...The agreement between the lag
or gap in the development mentioned in the Koran and the slowrate of
change occurring during the second and third weeks is amazing. These
details of human development were not described until about 40 years
ago."
O mankind! if ye have a doubt about the Resurrection, (consider) that
We created you out of dust, then out of sperm, then out of a
leech-like clot, then out of a morsel of flesh, partly formed and
partly unformed, in order that We may manifest (our power) to you; and
We cause whom We will to rest in the wombs for an appointed term, then
do We bring you out as babes, then (foster you) that ye may reach your
age of full strength;Holy Qur'an (22:5)
Moving to Surah (22:5) Dr. Moore says: "this verse states that you are
created from a chewed lump which is both differentiated and
undifferentiated." Then he says: "It is well established that the
brainand the heart are only partially differentiated atthe end of the
fourth week when the embryo resembles a chewed substance."
Then We made the sperminto a clot of congealed blood; then of that
clot We made a (foetus) lump;then we made out of thatlump bones and
clothed the bones with flesh; then we developed out of it another
creature. So blessed be Allah, the best to create!Holy Qur'an (23:14)
The sequence of stages mentioned in Surah (23:14) is strikingly
accurate. "This verse states that out of the chewed lump, bones are
made which are clothed with muscles." Dr. Moore relates the conclusion
of modern science: "After the chewed-like appearance, bones develop
which are soon clothed with muscles."
A hadith too is found to be remarkably accurate. The hadith states
that God sends an angel to the developing child "to create its
hearing, vision, skin, flesh and bones." "The ears and the eyes begin
to form in the fourth week", says Dr. Moore, "and are clearly visible
at six weeks, 42 days after the zygote or nutfa forms. Noting that in
the hadith the angel asks God whether the child is male or female, Dr.
Moore points out that the sex of the child is not distinguishable at
this stage. Males and females look alike at this stage and become
clearly distinguishable only in the 12th week. This he has clearly
documented with the help of a diagram culled from his book the
Developing Human: Clinically Oriented Embryology, 3rdedn., 1982.
Finally, Dr. Moore concludes: "The agreement I have found between
statements in the Koran and sayings in the Hadith may help to close
the gap between science and religion which has existed for so many
years."
All of this go to show thatthe Qur'an could not have been the product
ofthe mind of Muhammad (on whom be peace) or any other human being
living in the 7th century. How could he access information that will
not be discovered until the 18th-2Oth century? How could he or anyone
else study the human embryo in its very early stages without using a
microscope? Impossible. But then the Qur'an must be from God as it
claims. The Qur'an says that you and every human being should consider
this bookwith care. Had it been from anyone other than God, you would
have found much discrepancy in it.
Do they not consider the Qur'an (with care)? Had itbeen from other
Than Allah, they would surely have found therein muchdiscrepancy.Holy
Qur'an (4:82)
CONCLUSION
Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq (a.s.) on the developmentof a Human being.
"The embryo in the worldis adjusted, though it is confined within
three distinct kinds of coverings- the outer wall,the womb and the
placenta. This is a time when the embryo can neither manage its
nutrition nor ward off any harm from itself. The menstrual flow is
diverted to serve him as anutriment, just as water carries nutriments
to the plants, so this process goes on till such time as its
constitution is perfected, its skin over itsbody gets tough enough to
stand the atmosphere and its eyes get the capacity to stand light.
When all this gets accomplished, its mother gets labor pangs, which
shake her severely, culminating in the birth of the infant. With the
birth of the infant, the menstrual flow... is diverted to its mother's
breasts. Its taste is altered, so is its color... it becomes a
nutriment of the first order...till such time as his body remains
delicate, his organs and bowels soft and weak. As he begins to move
about and requires tougher nutriment to build up a stronger
constitution, his molars appear to masticate food to facilitate
digestion. He carries on such nutrimenttill puberty... Who then
created man from nothingness and Who becomes the architect of his
worth? Who is ever vigilant to supply his needs from time to time..."
Finally, we may note that the Qur'an is not a Science textbook. Its
purpose is not to teach usscience, but to teach us guidance - the
guidance that will lead us to everlasting life in Paradise, which God
has prepared for those who believe in Him and do right. You can be one
of those. The evidence is before you, and the decision is yours.

Position of Holy Quran - Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) sayings on Holy Quran About the rank and position of Holy Quran in the Islamic Traditions

Learning and teaching, reading and memorizing,planning and acting on
the contents, there are numerous traditions in the Sunni and Shiite
sources that its studying can display and manifest the importance and
greatness of the Heavenly book. These traditions have been compiled in
the books of traditions under the headings of "books of traditions",
the "book of the excellence of Holy Quran", and the "book ofthe Merits
of Holy Quran".The commentators of Holy Quran especially the
commentators living in the beginning of Islam have narrated these
traditions in their books. In addition to the above, some of the
earlier scholars have made efforts to write books under the heading of
"the book of the Fazl-ul-Quran or the book of Navader-ul-Quran."
Ofcourse, some of these writings could not be transferred to the other
periods. But, in the periods of recent scholars, the late Allama
Majlisi has allocated a part of the nineteenth volume of his book
"Bihar al-Anwar" to the Book of Holy Quran. This part has been printed
in the volumes 89 and 90. Besides, this point that this part of the
book of Bihar al-Anwar, like the other parts of this magnificent
treasure, notonly includes numerous writings of scholars of the
earlier centuries, but implicitly it contains many traditions from
Holy Prophet Muhammad(saw) and the Holy Imams(as). It is a very useful
reference.
Lastly, in the selection of the traditions of these writings, great
emphasis has been laid on selecting the short Quranic traditions. In
some cases, a part of the tradition has been mentioned from summary
viewpoint. We have refrained from mentioning the reference of the
traditionso that it will be easier toread or memorize them. But, those
interested for finding the references of every tradition can refer to
their sources.
01 - The superiority and excellence of the Holy Quran.
a) Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw)said:
"The superiority and preference of the Holy Quran on all other books
and sayings is the same as the superiority of Almighty over His
creatures."
b) Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said:
"The Holy Quranis superior and excellent to everything other than
Almighty Allah (SWT)."
c) Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said:
"One who reads the Holy Quran, then he imagines that somebody (else)
has received better and superior than him, then most certainly he has
considered it insignificant the thing that is honorable and great
before the Almighty."
d) Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said:
"Whenever mischief and seditions surround you like a part of the
darkness of the night then (take refuge and) go towards the Holy
Quran."
e) Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said:
"The Holy Quran is a wealth that no wealth can equal (or reach) it.
And there will be no poverty after it."
02 - the Comprehensiveness and value of Holy Quran.
a) Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said:
"The Book of the Almighty comprises of the narratives and incidents of
the ancients; the news of the future ones; and the rules and
regulations amongst you.The Holy Quran was the measure and weight of
the truth and falsehood and it is not facetious and in vain."
b) Ameerul Momineen Ali (as)said:
"The Holy Quran is beautiful apparently and it is deep and profound
inwardly. Its wonder is everlasting and the curtains of darkness will
not be removed when refraining from it."
03 - Learning and teaching the Holy Quran.
a) Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said:
"The best of you are those who have learned the Holy Quran and teachto
the others".
b) Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said:
"One who teaches an Ayat of the Holy Quran, the Sawab (good deed) will
be earned and returned to them so long as the Ayat is being recited."
c) Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said:
"For the teacher of the Holy Quran, all the particles of the world
seek forgiveness and supplicate for him even the fishes of the
oceans."
d) Ameerul Momineen Ali (as) said:
"Learn and study (Holy) Quran. It is the best of the sayings. Peruse
and think and deliberate on it as it is the spring of thehearts."
e) Imam Jafar Sadiq (as)said:
"It is deserving and worthy of a believer that he should not depart
from this world but that he has learned the (Holy) Quran or is in the
path of learning it."
f) Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said:
"The (Holy) Quran is the (dining) table of the Almighty. Therefore,
utilize it and learn as far as possible."
04 - The Recitation of TheHoly Quran; Its Effect and Its Usefulness.
a) The best of the worships is the recitationof the (Holy) Quran. The
traditions that have beennarrated about reward and good deeds for the
recitation of the Holy Quran is considered as the best of worships. It
is important to mention that during the period ofHoly Prophet
Muhammad(saw); the learning of theword and meaning of the Holy Quran
was considered jointly. Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) recommended the
recitation of the Holy Quran along with understanding their meanings.
The conduct of Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) shows us that he would
teach ten Ayats of the Holy Quran to his companions and till the time
they would not learn and understand the practical rules and science of
the ten Ayats, he would not commence the next ten Ayats. Thus, the
reader ofthe Holy Quran was aware and well conversant of their
meanings.
b) Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) said:
"The Quran is the covenant and programs the Almighty for His
creatures. It is deserving that every Muslim should look at this
divinely testament every day and recite fifty Ayats from them every
day."
c) Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said:
"One who recites ten Ayats of the (Holy) Quran during the night is
from amongst the negligent and the heedless. One who recites fifty
Ayats is from amongst the recites and commemorators. One who recites
hundredAyats is from amongst the humble and meek ones. One who recites
two hundred Ayats will be counted from amongst the one who fears the
Almighty and from amongst the specialones. One who recites three
hundred Ayats will be from amongst the delivered and saved ones. And
one who recites five hundred Ayats, he will be from amongst the
jurisprudents."
d) Ameerul Momineen Ali (as) said:
"In the day of Resurrection, it will be said to the reciter of the
Holy Quran (Qaari) that recite (The Holy Quran) and step above. Recite
as you have recited in the (previous) world. Your status and position
is up to the last Ayats that you have recited."
e) Ameerul Momineen Ali (as) said:
"One who recites the (Holy) Quran is like the one on whose heart has
been inserted the Prophet hood except that"Wahi" (revelations) have
not been revealed for him."
f) Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said to Salman Mohammadi:
"O Salman! Upon you be about the recitation of the (Holy) Quran. Its
recitation is kaffarah (atonement) of sins."
g) Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) said:
"One who recites the Holy Quran and he is a young believer, then his
body and blood will be blended and mixed with it."
H) Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said:
"Surely, these hearts are rusts like rusted irons. Surely (the thing)
which gives it luster and polish is the recitation of the (Holy)
Quran."
05 - The ways and the Manners of The Recitation of The Holy Quran.
a) Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said:
"Discharge (your duty towards the Holy) Quran in a good way and search
for its wonders and strangeness."
b) Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said:
"Recite the (Holy) Quran in the tone of the Arabs and with their
dialects and accents."
c) Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) said:
"The (Holy) Quran has been revealed in a sad and sorrowful manner. So,
you also recite it humbly and sadly."
d) Ameerul Momineen Ali (as) said:
"During the recitation of the (Holy) Quran, express it in a good
manner. And do not hurry in it like as reciting the poems and do not
scatter it like the pebbles." But, install fear and alarm in your hard
hearts through it. Your efforts should not be thatyou should recite
and reach the end of the Ayat.
e) Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said:
"Learn the (Holy) Quran in Arabic. Refrain from adding an extra word
or alphabet in it."
06 - The Recitation Of TheHoly Quran in a beautiful and Melodious Tone.
a) Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said:
"For everything there is an adornment and a decoration. The adornment
of the (Holy) Quran is a beautiful voiceand tone."
b) Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said:
"Adorn and decorate the (Holy) Quran with your (good) voice."
c) It was asked from Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) that which of the
peoples voice in the recitation of the (Holy) Quran is better. He
said; "The voice of that person is better who while reciting the Holy
Quran and his recitation reaches you, you feel that he is feaful of
Allah."
d) Imam Ali al-Hadi (as)said:
" Ali ibn Hussein (Zainul Abedin)would recite the (Holy) Quran in
such a beautiful voice the passer byes who would pass from his house
would swoon and (would be overcome) by his voice."
e) Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) said:
While interpreting the Ayat of the Holy Quran, "The meaning of this
Ayat is that one should recite the Holy Quran in aslow and pauseful
manner and make your voice beautiful with its recitation."
07 - Memorizing The Holy Quran and Its Effects.
a) Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said:
"The most honorable andnoble from amongst my Ummat are the memorizers
of the (Holy) Quran and those who (stay) awake (for worshipping)."
b) Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said:
"The carriers of the (Holy)Quran are those who are included and
covered by the Mercy of Allah."
c) Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) said:
"Recite the (Holy) Quran and memorize it. Allah will not punish the
heart in which the Quran has been placed (in it)."
d) Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) said:
"The memorizer of the Quran and the one who acts on it will be the
companions with the preferable divine ambassadors - the Angels."
e) And from amongst the Duas and supplications ofImam Jafar Sadiq (as):
"O Allah, select and approve for us two works: to recite the Quran in
a good manner and to memorize their Ayats."
f) Imam Musa Kazim (as)narrates from Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) who said:
"The carriers of the (Holy)Quran are the learned persons of the
inhabitants of the Heavens."
08 - The Recitation of TheHoly Quran While Looking At The Moshaf.
a) Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said:
"Looking at the Moshaf (Holy Quran) is (considered as) worship."
As per some traditions, Moshaf is a name, which has been ascribed to
the Holy Quran. This word has not come in the Holy Quran in this form,
but itsderivative of "Sohof" has been used in the Holy Quran on 8
occasions.
b) Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said:
"The recitation of the Holy Quran from the Moshaf (Book) is better
that its recitation from memory."
c) Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said:
"Nothing is more difficultand harder for the Shaitan than the
recitation of the Quran from the Moshaf (book)."
d) Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) said:
"One who recites the Quran from the Moshaf (Book) then his eyes will
enjoy and profit (from itsgood deeds and blessings)."
09 - The Recitation Of TheHoly Quran And Contemplating And Deliberating On It.
a) Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said:
"Woe is upon the one who recites the divine Ayats, but dose not
contemplates and thinks about it."
b) Ameerul Momineen Ali (as) said:
"Beware, there is no good in recitation (of theHoly Quran) and not
deliberating and thinking on it."
c) Ameerul Momineen Ali (as) said:
"Learn the (Holy) Quran as it is the best of the speeches and think
and reflect on it as it is the spring of the hearts."
d) Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) while interpreting the Ayats of the Holy
Quran, the right to the recitationof the Quran is thinking and pause
over every Ayat, which propounds about the Heaven and the Hell.
10 - The Recitation of TheHoly Quran And Acting OnIt.
a) Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said:
"How numerous are the reciters of the Holy Quran, and the Holy Quran
curses them."
b) Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said:
"The one who does not consider the Haram (forbidden) acts of the Holy
Quran as Halal (permissible) does not believe and has no faith in the
Holy Quran."
c) The one who learns the Holy Quran and does not act on it, Allah
(SWT) will raise him as a blind (person) on the day of Resurrection."
d) Ameerul Momineen Ali (as) said:
"By Allah, pay attention to the Holy Quran. It should not be that
othersovertake and take precedence over you in acting and practicing
(onthe Quran)."
e) Imam Ali Reza (as)said:
"(Quran) is the word of Allah (SWT). Do not exceed and trespass
fromits boundary. Do not seekguidance other than from its shadow and
protection or you will be deviated and misguided."
f) Ameerul Momineen Ali (as) said:
"One who recites the (Holy Quran) and then enters the Hell, he is
fromthose who have ridiculedand mocked at the Ayats of the Holy
Quran."

Fathwa - Ruling on combining the fasting of the six days of Shawwaal and fasting to expiate an oath

Question
Is it permissible to observe the fast of expiating an oath with the
six days of Shawwaal?
Answer
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.
Some jurists mentioned that whoever fasts the sixdays of Shawwaal with
the intention of making up (a missed obligatory fast), vow or the like
– such as expiating an oath– he attains the reward of the six days of
Shawwaal but not completely.Al-Khateeb Ash-Shirbeenisaid: "Ifone fasts
in Shawwaal to make up (a missed obligatory fast), vow or the like,
does he attain the reward of the Sunnah or not? I do not know that
this matter was mentioned but, apparently, he attains it. However, he
does not attain the said reward, especially he who missed Ramadan and
made it upin Shawwaal because theaforementioned meaning does not apply
to him, (The Prophet's Hadeeth: "Whoever fasts in Ramadan and follows
it with six days of Shawwaal, then it is as if he fasted
perpetually.") This is why some scholarssaid that it is recommended
for him in this case ( if he could not fast the six days during
Shawwaal ) to fast six days in Thul-Qa'idah because it is recommended
to make up for Sunnah fasting. This applies if one adoptsthe view that
the reward is not attained but, if we said that it is attained – as it
appears as previously mentioned – then it is not recommended to make
anything up for them.
Whoever fasts for the sake of expiating an oathin Shawwaal, this
avails him of the obligatory fasting. According to what was stated
byAl-KhateebAsh-Shirbeenihe also attains the original reward of the
Sunnah of fasting six days of Shawwaal without attaining the entire
reward. Therefore,what is better and more preferable is to single
outeach of them with separate fasts to attain the promised reward for
sure.
Allaah Knows best.

Fathwa - Fasting a day to complete(the fasting of) Ramadhaan if people differ concerning fasting it

Question
What is the ruling on fasting a day to completeRamadhaan if people
differ concerning fasting it? When should fasting be observed if this
is valid?
Answer
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.
Whoever misses a day of Ramadhaan should make up for it. Making it up
should not be on a specific day but he should make up for it before
the following Ramadhaan. The questioner said: "If people differ
concerning fasting it". This means that people are differing with
regards to the beginning or end of the month. If the country does not
depend, in determining the beginning or end of the month, upon
astronomical calculationsbut rather on an actual sighting and they saw
the moon and fasted twenty nine days, then they have done what they
were ordered to do. Their fasting is correct and the doubt does not
matter.
However, if they depend upon astronomical calculations and their
fasting was less than what it should be according to the moon sighting
or completing Sha'baan, then they should fast the missed days whether
one or twodays.
Allaah Knows best.

Fathwa - Ruling on foreplay during a make up fast

Question
Is it permissible for a wife to have foreplay with her husband in the
case of a make up fast if he requests it from her?
Answer
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.
Make up fasting is considered obligatory fasting. Therefore, one
should not invalidate it. Foreplay, in itself, does not invalidate
fasting. What invalidates it is intercourse or ejaculation. If one
knowsthat most probably neither of these will happen, then there is no
harm in engaging in foreplay.
If the husband or wife know that fasting will certainly or most
probably be invalidated due to any of these things, then foreplay is
impermissible for them. Itis impermissible for her to obey her husband
if he demands this from her.Shaykh Ibn'Uthaymeensaid: "It is
impermissible for a man to engage in foreplay with his wife if he
knows that this will lead him to ejaculate because some people
ejaculate quickly. As soonas he begins foreplay with a woman or kisses
her for example, or something of the like, he ejaculates. To this type
ofmen we say: 'You may not engage in foreplay with your wife as long
as you fear ejaculation.'" [Majmoo' Fataawa Ibn 'Uthaymeen]
Allaah Knows best.

Family disintegration – III

Neglecting one's family and failing to give them enough to suffice
their needs results in them leaving their homes in order to find a
source of income, and in many cases it leads to women committing
adultery; there are many real life stories proving this, and in these
cases itis not sexual desire that pushed the woman to indulge in this
immorality as much as her need for money.
'Aa'ishahnarrated that Hind bint 'Utbahcame to the Prophetand said: "O
Messenger of Allaah! My husband Abu Sufyaan is tight fisted and does
not give me and my son what suffices us, so I take from his wealth
without him knowing.Is this permissible?' Hereplied:"Take from his
wealth what suffices you and your son without exaggeration."
Allaah the All-Knowing, knows that if there is insufficient money in a
home, it could lead to something evil, so He allows the woman to take
from her husband's wealth secretly without his permission if he is
stingy and does not provide themwith what suffices them; but at the
same time, Islam does not oppress the husband, hence the condition was
set that she takes without exaggeration and not whenever it takes her
fancy.
Disclosing the wife's secrets is another cause of family
disintegration. Some people go as far as to reveal the very intimate
secrets of their wives, which not only causes this problem to occur,
but also reflects malicious manners and a lack of protective jealousy.
The Prophetonce asked his companions:"Is there any of you who, when
wishing to have sexual intercourse with his wife, goes into the room,
closes the door, and covers himself?"They replied, "Yes." Then
heasked:"Is there any of you who later sits with his friends and
informs them about what went on between him and his wife?"His
companions remained silent. After this heturned towards his female
companions and askedthe same questions, and so one of them stood up
and said: "O Messenger of Allaah! I swear by Allaah that both the men
and thewomen disclose what takes placein their bedrooms to others."
Upon hearing this, the Prophetsaid:"The similitude of those who do
this is like that of a male and female devil, who meet on the road and
have sexual intercourse publicly, while othersare watching them."
Undutifulness to parents is another reason behind family
disintegration, because it either causes the child to be expelled from
the house, which breaks thefamily bond, or, the son continues to
oppress one or bothof his parents, causing them to live a humiliated
and oppressed existence in their own home, which deprives them from
living a normal life. This is a common thing in families nowadays;
families suffer grief and anxiety due to the undutifulness of their
children, who may eventually expel their parents from their home.
A real life story and a good example of what we are saying is: …A son
kicked his parents out from their home which they owned, but Allaah
never neglects or overlooks anything - This son'sown daughters began
beating him when he grew old, because he was trying to sexually
assault them.
Bad manners, which lead to immorality and wife beating - these are
more reasons behind the disintegration of families. A man beats his
wife and mother, curses his daughter and supplicates that she becomes
sick with cancer … he neither prays nor fasts … he enters his home
shouting and cursing … he blames his wife for having delivered a
daughter for him, which made her worthless in his sight … he hits his
daughter viciously with an electric wire … this is a true story … this
is a standard result of shunning the path of Allaah … the marks
remained on his daughter's back,even when she got married.
Again, this is normal for people who are not upon the straight path …
when religion is removed from people's hearts and souls they become
worse than beasts, because it is only Islam that makes people behave
correctly and maintain noble manners.
Sinning is another factor behind this phenomenon; a man gambles and
travels for the sole purpose of gambling; when he receives his salary
he squanders itin less than ten days because of his gambling … he does
not worry about his wife or children … he does not attend to their
needs.
Many family problems result fromalcohol consumption, which is one of
the major great sins … when a person is drunk he has nocontrol over
his brain - and families easily break up after this loss of control.
Many families face problems due to the shortage of money, as wellas
the great attachment that they have to this life; this usually leads
to people becoming stingy and selfish.
A western newspaper published an article regarding a couple whohad to
make a choice between keeping their car or their newborn baby girl as
they could not financially afford to keep both. So, they chose to keep
the car and handed the baby over to a foster home, when the father was
asked about this, he commented: "She might find a family who would
take her in for adoption and give her a better life than what we can
offer her." The mother also assured that they made the right choice!
Many parents sell their children in the west … What type of family
bond do these people have? Where is mercy? Where is the love? Where is
the compassion?
Greed and fighting over money adversely affects the family, and that
is why you find men who wish to confiscate their wife's salary, and
fathers who deprive their daughters from marriage due to them wishing
to continue receiving her salary; others convince their sisters to
loan them money which they do not intend to repay while the
Prophetruled doing this as one of thegreat major sins - to borrow
money with the intention of not returning it … this is how money
becomes a cause of family disintegration.
Undoubtedly, another of the major causes of this phenomenon is the
possession ofdrivers and maids in the home, especially when the maid
is not a Muslim, people surrender to them their valuables such as the
car and the house, but the most important thing they surrender are
their children, which they give them to look after.
These people represent a great danger, but people do not take lessons
from what afflicts others,the maids seduce the father and young men of
the house, and likewise the drivers seduce the females. With such a
setup disasters are likely to happen - especially if the household is
not brought up Islamically.
Fear Allaah with regards to your families … fear Allaah in your
households … beware of the wrath of Allaah which He sends upon the
oppressors. We are not only responsible for our own homes, but rather
we have to advise others.
It is true that we have many good families who mix with some of these
bad ones, so they should advise and instruct them, because otherwise
we may be affected by their evil if we are notworking on correcting
it, since we do not live in isolation from one another. We must enjoin
what is good and forbid what is evil, or our families may eventually
become like those in the West.

Family disintegration – II

Furthermore, drugs are one of the reasons behind family
disintegration. This is a dangerous disease that has affected a lot of
the youth nowadays. Our enemies have spread drugs and on account of
our youth not being brought up Islamically, this explosion of drugs is
but a natural result.
Also, unemployment forces young men to deal with drugs to make money
and so do their family problems drive them to use it. Fathers do not
care who their sons befriend, as well, and in this way, they might
make friends with evil people who introduce drugs to them whilst the
parent is heedless.
Family breakdown also results from lack of compassion and benevolence
in the house, on the parents' part. The father returns from work,
eats, drinks, sleeps and then wakes up and spends the night with his
friends; meanwhile, the mother is busy with the new fashions surfacing
in the market and with visiting her friends, and has no time to attend
to her children, who are being looked after by a maid.
As regards working mothers, who become exhausted due to their nature
of possessing weak bodies, work problems affect them physically and
emotionally; therefore, they do not have the time or mind to check on
their children before going to work.
Some mothers admit that they have gotten fed up with their children
and husbands. Furthermore, the father claims that he provides them
with the best food, drinks, toys, computers as well as school
necessities, and that they lack nothing. What a poor man, though! In
truth, they lack something which is very essential– love and
compassion and a good model. These men are only spending to suffice
their children's bodies, whereas they need them to sit and play with
them.
Listen to what Allaah Says regarding Prophet Yahyaa (i.e., John) what
means:"…And We gave him judgment while yet a boy."[Quran 19: 12]
Hence, Allaah bestowed on him prophethood, knowledge and, as Allaah
Says (what means):"And affection from Us and purity, and he was
fearing of Allaah."[Quran 19: 13] It is indeed a bounty from Allaah
that He made him, peace be upon him, an affectionate, merciful, kind
and caring person.
Allaah, then, made this compassion and mercy give rise to something
great, as He Says, referring to himwhat means:"And dutiful to his
parents, and he was not a disobedient tyrant."[Quran 19: 14]
Another of the causes of the collapse of the family is the use of
magic, for people take revengefrom each other by means of it, which
has resulted in Islamic monotheism fading away from people's
practices. Magic is certainly a reality and it does have effects on
people. Allaah Says (what means):"…And [yet] they learn from them
(i.e., the two angels as a test for people) that by which they cause
separation between a man and his wife. But do not harm anyonethrough
it except by permission of Allaah…."[Quran: 2 102]
Surely, no harm can be done except with the leave of Allaah and unless
He has already decreed that it would cause detriment. Allaah continues
to Say (what means):"…And they [i.e. people] learn what harm them and
do not benefit them. But they [i.e. the Children ofIsrael] certainly
knew that whoever purchased it [i.e. magic] would not have in the
Hereafter any share…."[Quran: 2 102]
Accordingly, he who deals with magic will have no share in the
Hereafter, meaning no reward. The penal law for the magician is to be
killed because magicians are really disbelievers. Allaah concludes
this verse, Saying (what means):"…And wretched isthat for which they
sold themselves, if they only knew."
Nonetheless, in the present day, people are confused and unaware of
the reality of magic; they believe that a magician can kill them and
do not rely on Allaah, Who Says (what means):"And whoever relies upon
Allaah — then He is sufficient for him…."[Quran: 65: 3]
Putting one's faith in Allaah stopsthe effect of magic, whilst weak
souls who are not obedient and whose conviction is wavering
willdefinitely be affected. It is they who do not maintain their daily
remembrance of Allaah and the designated Thikr (i.e., remembrance of
Allaah) and supplications at bed time or afterprayers, such as the
recitation of Chapters Al-Falaq, An-Naas and Al-Ikhlaas three times
after the prayer and before going to bed, for these chapters are the
best cure for magic and for preventingit.
Additionally, one needs to be careful concerning who enters the house
and allow only righteous people to come inside, since otherwise, evil
people who might place magic in the house would enter and then people
willhave to start looking for someone to cure them from the spell.
The Prophetwas affected by magic which was done over him by a Jewish
magician; what curedhim from it? It was by means of these three
aforementioned chapters and with the permissionof Allaah, together
with the blessings of the Quran, which hasa great effect on the souls
and heals, provided that people believe in its effect.
Video and television are also amongst the causes of the disintegration
of the family, for these two devices disseminate poison and
immorality. Some people think that it brings the family closer when
they gather towatch a movie on video or television, although the fact
is that they do not talk to each other whilst the film is playing and
if one does try to make a comment, everybody silences him. In some
houses, there is a television set in each room, plus the satellite
dish that you would spot everywhere.
Statistics have proved that television deprives a person from enjoying
his social life and from reading; it helps in isolating him from
others and reduces the levelof understanding between spouses besides
distracting students from their studies. It has also been confirmed
that kidsdo not spend the required amount of time with the rest of the
family after the television hascrossed the doorstep of people's homes.
This is in addition to the types of corruption they are exposed to
because of it.
Continuing the talk about the reasons of breakdown, one of which is
allowing the girls to talkon the phone with just about anybody. A
young man might talkto her, praising and flirting with her, making her
feel like she is floating in the sky; as soon as shereturns from
school, she sits nextto the phone awaiting his call to hear more of
his flirting. Afterwards, he falsely promises to marry her, requests
to meet her and then, this leads to her committing adultery; the
disastertakes places, whereby she loses the most precious thing she
possesses, then he walks out on her and what happens? When people come
to ask for her hand, what can she say? This is all due to the lack of
supervision and thewrong way of upbringing by the parents.
If we do not return to Allaah withsincerity, more collapse will
occurand we will fall to the same level as the disbelievers'
societies, where elders are humiliated and placed in foster homes, and
daughters become rebellious andgo out on the streets; thereupon,we
will be sitting, watching whathappens helplessly.
Are we wise enough to truly return to Allaah and put an end to the
state our families have reached?
You will be held accountable concerning what you are entrusted with,
for these childrenare a trust which Allaah has placed in your hands
and will ask you about on a Day when wealth and offspring will be
futile and only he who meets Allaah with a sound heart will benefit
from his heart that is full of faith.
Each person will be concerned only about his own self and people will
pay no attention to their fathers, mothers, brothers or sisters. This
will be the Day of Judgment, the great, horrible Daywhich is fifty
thousand years long. We honestly need to keep the remembrance of this
day alive in our hearts and minds andstart rectifying our situation.

Family disintegration – I

Allaah has bestowed upon His slaves many bounties and favors which
they cannot count. He has decreed that true Muslim communities can
only be established with the existence of families that are obedient
to Allaah and are nurtured in accordance with His commandments.
Therefore, He has provided Muslims with the elements by which the
family is created, as He Almighty Says (what means):"And of His signs
is that He created for you from yourselves mates that you may find
tranquility in them; and He placedbetween you affection and
mercy...."[Quran 30: 21]
Observe how Allaah constructs the family – He created companions for
men from withinthemselves so that they may attain harmony. He made the
wife the source of spiritual tranquility, but the family still needs a
tangible sort of tranquility, which Allaah describes saying (what
means):"And Allaah has made for you from your homes a place of
rest...."[Quran 16: 80] Hence, the spiritual serenity is found in the
wife and the physical serenity in one's house; together, both of these
shape the family, which forms communities.
Muslims are commanded to manage the family according to Islam and
Allaah has legislated such rules for us whereby we may acquire
prosperity and bond the family closely. This is so that the resulting
society will be righteous and one which performs Jihaad, or struggle,
for the sake of Allaah, as a result of which Islam will spread
throughout the world.
Undoubtedly, when we neglectedthe family, our communities became
corrupt and Muslim countries undeveloped, anxiety overwhelmed people
and life became intolerable.
Today, if we study the situation of Muslim families, we will see that
most of them live a miserable life, in consequence of being distant
from Islamic laws and disregarding them. I will givesome examples of
things that result in the breakdown or disintegration of families.
However, let us first cite an example of a happy, Islamic family,
which lived according to the way Allaah has prescribed. Allaah Says
(what means):"And [mention] Zechariah, when he called to his Lord, "My
Lord, do not leave me alone [with no heir],while You are the best of
inheritors."[Quran 21: 89]
Hesupplicated to Allaah and sought His help, as Allaah Says (what
means):"Kaaf, Haa, Yaa, 'Ayn, Saad. This is a mention of the mercy of
your Lord to His servant Zechariahwhen he called to his Lord a private
call [i.e. supplication]. He said, "My Lord, indeed my bones have
weakened,and my head has filled with white hair, and never have I been
in my supplication to You, my Lord, unhappy [i.e. disappointed].And
indeed, I fear the successors after me, and my wife has been
barren…."[Quran 19: 1-5]
The story goes that Zakariyyaprayed to his Lord with sincerity,
complaining that he became old and weak; he went on to acknowledge
that Allaah always responded to his invocations and never failed him.
Hethen expressed his concern that those whom he will leave behind
after his demise willnot be able to carry out the mission of conveying
Allaah's message and that his wife can nolonger give birth. At this
point, hecommenced his supplication, uttering, as Allaah Says (what
means):"…So give me from Yourself a heir. Who will inherit me and
inherit from the family ofJacob…"[Quran 19: 5-6], not to inherit
wealth, rather, prophethood.
Zakariyyacontinued in his prayer, imploring Allaah to make him (i.e.,
the child) pleasing to Himself. The angels, soon after, came to him
with glad tidings from Allaah about a boy whom Allaah named as Yahyaa
(i.e., John). So, Zakariyyawas not the one naming him or even his
mother, but it was Allaah, The One, who gave the child a name which no
human before him had.Allaah Says (what means):"And [mention]
Zechariah, when he called to his Lord, "My Lord, do not leave me alone
[with no heir],while You are the best of inheritors.So We responded to
him, and We gave to him Yahyaa (i.e., John), and amended for him his
wife. Indeed, they used to hasten to good deeds and supplicate Us in
hope and fear."[Quran 21: 89-90]
Thus, this pious family was obedient to Allaah – the father and son
were Prophets, and the wife was devout because Allaah made her so. The
entire family would rush to please Allaah, bothduring times of
prosperity and adversity; they supplicated submissively and were not
heedless nor indulged unnecessarily in this life. This is how families
used to be.
Let us examine the case of miserable families which are prevalent
amongst our societies today. There is a great danger threatening our
community, namely, the phenomenon of family disintegration, which has
become our trademark, as a natural result of shunning
Islamiclegislations and abandoning the religion.
Many families are collapsing fromthe inside even if they appear to be
cohesive, for, in reality, each individual among them lives his own
life and is in his own world. Everyone has his own concerns and
problems, which no one else shares with him, and nobody senses any
commitment towardsthe others or that he is obliged to do anything for
someone else.
Sometimes, two people within the same household may not even talk to
each other and you would find that the father sleeps in one room and
the mother in another. This is just a plain example and there are many
others of its kind, reflecting the breakdown of families within
ourcommunities.
There are reasons leading to this disintegration of families, such
aswhat the Prophetmentioned:"It is enough a sin that one neglects his
dependents (i.e., those under his care)."There are many fathers who
pay no heed totheir children and households, and do not fulfill their
due obligations towards them.
The following is an example of such negligence: a man divorced his
wife, whilst having children from her, and married another. Later, the
second wife convinced him that his sons are aiming to separate them
and are using magic to achieve this; things thenbuilt up to the extent
of accusingthem of trying to poison him, so he expelled them from the
house. After this, she gave him a choice, saying: 'Either I stay or
your daughter'; thus, he got rid of his daughter and placed her with
her other sister who was married, and although she felt very disturbed
about having to live in a house as a stranger, she had nowhere else to
go.
The father did not spend on the children whom he threw out; some lived
with their maternal grandmother and others with their maternal uncles.
As for the girl, she stayed with her sister and if she were asked
about her brothers, she would reply: 'I do not know, for my father
kicked them out a long time ago and I have no idea where they are
now'.
There is another account of one who was influenced by evil friends,
who made him spend hissalary on prohibitions. He kicked out his wife
and children and hardly ever does he go home. Some of his children are
sick and need special care; school is aboutto start and the kids need
certainthings, yet he is away. The rent is nine months past its due
and the landlord protested to the wife who is helpless and alone; he
knocked at the door requesting the payment, so some virtuous people
helped her out with somemoney, but the husband, acting like criminals,
comes once a month to seize from her whatever donations people have
offered her and leaves. He comes for a few moments each month and
never checks on his children or family.
Indeed, what the Prophetsaid is true:"It is enough a sin that one
neglects his dependents(i.e., those under his care)."
Rushing into divorcing the wife isanother cause of the collapse of the
family. These days, divorce is a widespread occurrence and for
senseless reasons. Neither the husband nor the wife are brought up
Islamically to begin with, and consequently, they fight for the
simplest of reasons and then, divorce happens on silly grounds.
The outcome is that the family falls apart, the children stay with one
of the two parents and are deprived from seeing the other, or are
incited by each of the parents against the other, and soon.
A man divorced his wife when hisdaughter was two months old; she is
now twenty-eight years and she has not seen her father except once. He
never asked about her or sustained her, yet whenever someone comes
askingfor her hand, he refuses and sets down difficult conditions.
Before one divorces, he must think about his children: how willhe deal
with them? Will he visit and watch over them or will he become busy
with his new houseand life and neglect them?

Dought & clear - She saw menstrual blood after breaking thefast, but she is not sure whether it came before or after breaking the fast.

One day during Ramadan, shortly after breaking the fast, I saw
menstrual blood, but I do not know whether my period began before
breaking the fast or after. Do I have to make up the fast of that day
ornot?
Praise be to Allah.
One of the basic principles of fiqh that were mentioned by the
scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) is the principle that every
incident is presumed to have begun at the closest time.
What this principle means is that if something happens, andit may have
happened ata time that is closer or a time that is further, and there
is nothing to suggest which of the two times is most likely, then we
assume that it happened that the closerof the two times, because this
is the time at which we may be certain that it happened,whereas the
other is the subject of some doubt.
One of the applications of this principle is that if a person sees
maniy (semen) on his garment, and he knows that it is the result of a
wet dream, but he does not remember any wet dream, in that case he may
attribute it to the latest time that he slept and repeat any prayer
that he offered after that sleep.
This principle was statedby az-Zarkashi in his book al-Manthoor
fi'l-Qawaa'id and as-Suyooti in al-Ashbaah wa'l-Nadhaa'ir; they
alsodiscussed some minor issues connected to it, which you may read in
either of the two sourcesmentioned for further information.
Based on that, if a woman saw menstrual blood and does not know when
it began, was it before Maghrib orafter, then in this case she should
assume that the bleeding began at the closer of the two times. The
closer of the two times in your case leads to the conclusion that it
began after Maghrib.
It says in al-Mawsoo'ah al-Fiqhiyyah (26/194): Under this heading
comes the idea that was narrated from the fuqaha': if a woman
seesmenstrual blood and does not know when it began, she comes under
the same ruling as a manwho sees maniy (semen) on his garment and
doesnot know when it happened. That is, he has to do ghusl and repeat
the prayers from when he last slept. This is the least complicated and
the clearest of the scholarly opinions. End quote.
Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-Mukhtaar ash-Shanqeeti (may Allah
preserve him) was asked about a woman who saw some menstrual blood
after Maghrib prayer, and she does not know whether it came before
Maghrib or after – what is the ruling on her prayer andfasting?
He replied: If she saw theblood and thinks it most likely that it came
beforeMaghrib, then there is no doubt that the fast of that day is
invalid and she has to make it up.
But if she thinks it most likely that the blood is fresh and that it
happened after Maghrib,then there is no doubt that her fast is valid
and she has to pray Maghrib when she becomes pure (i.e., her period
ends and she does ghusl); she should make it up and offer that prayer.
But if she is uncertain, then the basic principle according to the
scholars(may Allah have mercy on them) is that it shouldbe attributed
to the closest time. The basic principle is that the fast remains
valid unless there is evidence to prove that it is not valid, and the
basic principle isthat she has fasted a whole day and has done what is
required of her, unless we are certain that there is any evidence to
the contrary.So in this case her fast is deemed to be valid. As for
the blood, it does notaffect that day. On the other hand, if you say
that her fast is valid, she has to make up Maghrib,and if you say that
her fast is not valid, she doesnot have to make up Maghrib, so if her
fast is valid she has to make upMaghrib, because the time of Maghrib
began when she was not menstruating, and her menses began after
that,so she has to make up Maghrib, because what matters is the
beginning of the time (for Maghrib), not the end.
End quote from Sharh Zaad al-Mustaqni' by Shaykh ash-Shanqeeti
To sum up: your fast is valid so long as you are not certain that the
bleeding started before Maghrib.
And Allah knows best.

Dought & clear - When was prayer madeobligatory? How did the Muslims pray before prayer was made obligatory?.

Is it true that prayer wasmade obligatory before the night of the
Isra'? Did the Messenger pray in the manner that we pray now, with the
samenumber of rak'ahs? When was prayer made obligatory at these
timesand in the manner that we pray now?
Praise be to Allah.
Al-Bukhaari (349) and Muslim (162) narrated from Anas ibn Maalik (may
Allah be pleased with him) the famous hadeeth of the Isra' (Prophet's
Night Journey) in which it is reported that the Messenger of Allah
(blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said:
"Then Allah revealed what He revealed to me, and enjoined fifty
prayers on me every day and night. I came back down to Moosa
(blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and he said: What did your
Lord enjoin upon your ummah? I said: Fifty prayers. He said: Go backto
your Lord and ask Himto reduce it... I kept going back and forth
between my Lord, may He be blessed and exalted, and Moosa (peace be
upon him), until He said: 'O Muhammad, they are five prayers each day
and night, for every prayer there will be a tenfold (reward), and that
is fifty prayers."
The scholars are unanimously agreed that the five daily prayers were
not made obligatory until this night. See the answer to question no.
143111
See also Fath al-Baari by Ibn Rajab (2/104).
Al-Haafiz Ibn Katheer (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
On the night of the Isra', one and a half years before the Hijrah,
Allah enjoined upon His Messenger (blessings and peace of Allah be
upon him) the five daily prayers, and explained that there were
conditions and essential parts and other matters having to do with
them, bit by bit.
Tafseer Ibn Katheer (7/164).
Then Jibreel (peace be upon him) came down and taught the Prophet
(blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) the times of the prayers:
Al-Bukhaari (522) and Muslim (611) narrated from Ibn Shihaab that
'Umar ibn 'Abd al-'Azeez delayed the prayer one day. 'Urwah ibn
az-Zubayr entered upon him and told him that al-Mugheerah ibn Shu'bah
delayed the prayer one day when he was in Kufah, and Abu Mas'ood
al-Ansaari entered upon him and said: What is this, O Mugheerah? Do
you not know that Jibreel came down and prayed, and the Messenger of
Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) prayed, then he
prayed and the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be
upon him) prayed, then he prayed and the Messenger of Allah (blessings
and peace of Allah be upon him) prayed, then he prayed and the
Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) prayed,
then he prayed and the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of
Allah be upon him) prayed. Then he said: This is what has been
enjoined upon me. 'Umar said to 'Urwah: Think what you are narrating,
O 'Urwah! Is Jibreel the one who taught the Messenger of Allah
(blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) the times of the prayers?
'Urwah said: That is what Basheer ibnAbi Mas'ood used to narrate from
his father.
An-Nasaa'i (526) narrated that Jaabir ibn 'Abdullah (may Allah be
pleased with him) said: Jibreel (peace be upon him) came to the
Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) when the sun had
passed its zenith and said: Get up, O Muhammad. That was when the sun
had passed the meridian. Then he waited until the(length of) a man's
shadow was equal to hisheight, then he came to him for 'Asr and said:
Getup, O Muhammad, and pray 'Asr. Then he waited until the sun set,
then he came to him andsaid: Get up and pray Maghrib. So he got up and
prayed it when the sun had set fully. Then he waited until the
twilight had disappeared, then he came and said: Get up and pray
'Isha', so he gotup and prayed it… In thishadeeth it says: He (i.e.,
Jibreel) said: The period between two of these two times is the time
to pray.
Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh an-Nasaa'i.
'Abd ar-Razzaaq narrated in his Musannaf(1773) and Ibn Ishaaq narrated
in his Seerah – as it says in Fath al-Baari (2/286) – that this
happened on the morning after the night in which prayer was made
obligatory.
Al-Qurtubi (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
(The scholars) did not differ concerning the fact that Jibreel (peace
be upon him) came down on the morning following the night of the
Isra', when the sun passed its zenith, and taught the Prophet
(blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) the prayer and its timings.
End quote.
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
Jibreel's explanation of the timings of the prayercame on the morning
following the night of the Isra'. End quote.
Sharh al-'Umdah (4/148)
When the five daily prayers were first made obligatory, each prayer
was two rak'ahs, then after the Hijrah, that wasconfirmed in the case
of travel, and two rak'ahs were added for those who are not
travelling, except Maghrib, which remained as it was. Al-Bukhaari
(3935) and Muslim (685) narrated that 'Aa'ishah (may Allah be pleased
with her) said: Prayer was enjoined with two rak'ahs, then when the
Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) migrated, it was
enjoined with four rak'ahs, but prayer whilst travelling remained as
it had originally been.
The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and his
Companions used to pray before the five daily prayers were
madeobligatory.
It says in al-Mawsoo'ah al-Fiqhiyyah (27/52-53):
Prayer was originally enjoined in Makkah at the beginning of Islam,
because there are Makkan verses that wererevealed at the beginning of
the Prophet's mission that encourage praying. As for the five daily
prayers in the form that is well-known, they were made obligatory on
the night of the Isra' and Mi'raaj. End quote.
See also the answer to question no. 143111
Some of the scholars are of the view that prayer was made obligatory
at the beginning, two rak'ahs in the morning and two rak'ahs in the
afternoon.
Al-Haafiz (may Allah havemercy on him) said in al-Fath:
A number of scholars areof the view that before the Isra' there was no
obligatory prescribed prayer, but prayers wereoffered at night,
withoutany number of rak'ahs being specified. Al-Harbi was of the view
that prayer was made obligatory, two rak'ahs in the morning and two
rak'ahs in the afternoon.Ash-Shaafa'i narrated from some of the
scholars that prayer at night was obligatory, then it was abrogated by
the verse (interpretation of the meaning): "So, recite you of the
Quran as much as may be easy for you" [al-Muzammil 73:20]. So it
became obligatory to pray for part of the night. Then that was
abrogated by the five daily prayers. End quote.
He also said:
Before the Isra', the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon
him) definitely used to pray, as did his companions, but there isa
scholarly difference of opinion as to whether any kind of prayer was
made obligatory before the five daily prayers or not. It was said that
what was obligatory at first was prayer before sunrise and prayer
before sunset. The evidence for that is the verse in which Allah, may
He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning): "and glorify the
praises of your Lord before the rising of the sun, and before its
setting" [Ta-Ha 20:130], and similar verses. End quote.
See also Tafseer Ibn 'Atiyyah (1/204); at-Tahreer wa't-Tanweerby Ibn
'Ashoor (24/75).
And Allah knows best.

Dought & clear - Pilgrim doing ‘umrah in Ramadan not fasting if he has come from far away.

If a family does 'Umrah in the month of Ramadan, is it permissible for
them notto fast during their stay in Makkah al-Mukarramah, or should
they stop eating as soon as they arrive in Makkah?.
Praise be to Allaah.
If the pilgrim doing 'Umrah in Ramadan comes from a far land such as
Najd or elsewhere, then he is a traveller and he may break the fast on
the road, whether he is coming from Riyadh or al-Qaseem or Haa'il or
Madeenah. He may break the fast on the road and in Makkah. But if he
has decided to stay for more than four days, then when he reaches
Makkah, to be on the safe side he should fast and it is better to
fast, because the majority of scholars are of the view that if he has
made a firm decision to stay for more than four days, then he must
offer the prayers in full and not break the fast.
But if he has decided to stay for two or three or four days and no
more, then he may break the fast or he may fast, he may shorten the
four-rak'ah prayers to two rak'ahs, or he may offer the prayers in
full with the people. If he is alone, he should pray with the
congregation, but if there are other people with him, he has the
choice: if he wishes he may pray two rak'ahswith the people who
arewith him, or if they wish they may pray four rak'ahs with the
people in congregation. If their stay is more than four days, then
they should fast and offer the prayers in full, accordingto the
majority of scholars. End quote.
Shaykh 'Abd al-'Azeez ibn Baaz (may Allah havemercy on him).
Fataawa Noor 'ala al-Darb, 3/1231

Ethical Stories: What GoesAround Comes Around!(Carpenter Story)

An elderly carpenter was ready to retire, and he told his boss of his
plans to leave and live a more leisurely life with his wife. He would
miss the paycheck, he could get by, but he needed to retire.
The contractor was sorry to see such a good worker go, and he asked
the carpenter to build just one more house as a personal favor.
The carpenter said yes, but in time it was easy to see that his heart
was notin his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used
inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end adedicated
career.
When the carpenter finished his work, the contractor came to inspect
the house. He handed the front-door key to the carpenter. "This is
your house," contractor said. "It is my gift to you."
The carpenter was shocked! What a shame! If he had only known he was
building his own house, he would have done it all so differently.
So it is with us. We build our lives, a day at a time, often putting
less than our best into the building. Then with a shock we realize we
haveto live in the house we have built.
If we could do it over, wewould do it much differently. But we cannot go back...
You are the carpenter of your life. Each day you hammer a nail, place
a board, or erect a wall. Your attitudes and the choices you make
today build your "house" for tomorrow...

Ethical Stories: What GoesAround Comes Around!(Waitress Story)

One day a man saw an old lady, stranded on the side of the road, but
evenin the dim light of day, he could see she needed help. So he
pulled up in front of her Mercedes and got out. His Pontiac was still
sputtering when he approached her.
Even with the smile on his face, she was worried. No one had stopped
to help for the last hour or so. Was he going to hurt her? He didn't
look safe; he looked poor and hungry.
He could see that she wasfrightened, standing out there in the cold.
He knew how she felt. It wasthose chills which only fear can put in
you.
He said, "I'm here to help you, ma'am. Why don't you wait in the car
where it's warm? By the way, my name is Bryan Anderson."
Well, all she had was a flat tire, but for an old lady, that was bad
enough. Bryan crawled under the car looking fora place to put the
jack, skinning his knuckles a time or two. Soon he wasable to change
the tire. But he had to get dirty and his hands hurt.
As he was tightening up the lug nuts, she rolled down the window and
began to talk to him. She told him that she was from St. Louis and was
only just passing through. She couldn't thank him enough for coming to
her aid.
Bryan just smiled as he closed her trunk. The ladyasked how much she
owed him. Any amount would have been all rightwith her. She already
imagined all the awful things that could have happened had he not
stopped. Bryan never thought twice about being paid. This was not a
job to him. This was helping someone in need, and God knows there were
plenty, who had given him a hand in the past. He had lived his whole
life that way, and it never occurred to him to act any other way.
He told her that if she really wanted to pay him back, the next time
she saw someone who needed help, she could give that person the
assistance they needed, and Bryan added, "And think of me."
He waited until she started her car and droveoff. It had been a cold
and depressing day, but he felt good as he headed for home,
disappearing into the twilight.
A few miles down the road the lady saw a small cafe. She went in to
grab a bite to eat, and take the chill off before she made the last
leg of her trip home. It was a dingy looking restaurant. Outside were
two old gaspumps. The whole scene was unfamiliar to her. The waitress
came over and brought a clean towel to wipe her wet hair. She had a
sweet smile, one that even being on her feet for the whole day
couldn't erase.The lady noticed the waitress was nearly eightmonths
pregnant, but she never let the strain and aches change her attitude.
The old lady wondered how someone who had so little could be so giving
to a stranger. Then she remembered.
After the lady finished her meal, she paid with ahundred dollar bill.
The waitress quickly went to get change for her hundred dollar bill,
but the old lady had slipped right out the door. She was gone by the
time thewaitress came back. The waitress wondered where the lady could
be. Then she noticed something written on thenapkin.
There were tears in her eyes when she read whatthe lady wrote: "You
don't owe me anything. I have been there too. Somebody once helped me
out, the way I'm helping you. If you really want to pay me back, here
is what you do: Do not let this chain of love end with you."
Under the napkin were four more $100 bills.
Well, there were tables toclear, sugar bowls to fill, and people to
serve, but the waitress made it through another day. That night when
she got home from work and climbed into bed she wasthinking about the
money and what the ladyhad written. How could the lady have known how
much she and her husband needed it? With the baby due next month, it
was going to be hard...
She knew how worried her husband was, and as he lay sleeping next to
her, she gave him a soft kiss and whispered soft and low,
"Everything's going to be all right. I love you, Bryan Anderson."