Ramadan Articles - Lest We Forget Them…

Ramadancomes this year while the troubles and disasters afflicting
theUmmah)Muslim nation( are greater than the previousRamadan. There
are the homeless, hungry, frightened, imprisoned people and other
poverty-stricken Muslims in various countries of the world.
What is our attitude towards thissituation?
First:One should acknowledge the favors of Allaah The Almighty upon
him. No matter how bad his condition is, there are people whose
conditions are worse; andnever can he be able to thank Allaah The
Almighty enough for His countless favors.
Second: Empathizing with the conditions of one's fellow Muslims drives
the Muslim to adopt a positive attitude towardsthem. Hence, he would
do as much as he could by supplicatingAllaah The Almighty for them
andhelping them either materially ormorally.
This is one of the many wisdoms of fasting: that a Muslim empathizes
with the condition ofhis fellow Muslims.
One of the righteous predecessors was asked why fasting was
legislated. he said,"So that the rich experience hunger. Accordingly,
they will notforget the hungry people."
This is one aspect of the wisdoms and benefits of fasting. In this
way, the principle of brotherhood and loyalty among Muslims would be
achieved. Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}The believing men and
believing women are allies of oneanother.{]Quran 9:71[ The Prophet,,
said:"The believers in their mutual kindness, compassion and sympathy
are just like one body. When one of its organs suffers, the whole body
responds to it with wakefulness and fever."
It should be known thatRamadanis the season of generosity and
benevolence in every means. We have a good example in our Prophet,.
Ibn 'Abbaassaid,"The Messengerof Allaahwas the most generous of people
in charity, but he was generous to the utmost in the month of Ramadan.
Jibreel )Gabriel( would meet him every year during the month of
Ramadan and the Messenger of Allaahrecited to him the Quran. )When
Jibreel met him( the Messenger of Allaahwas more generous in giving
charity than the blowing wind."]Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[
Ibn Katheersaid,"This is a very eloquent simile where generosity is
likened to the blowing wind in its generality, succession and
ceaselessness."
An-Nawawisaid,"There are benefits in this Hadeeth: showingthe
greatness of the generosity of the Prophet; the recommendation of
being more generous in Ramadan; and increasing generosity when meeting
the righteous people and after leaving them as an effect of meeting
them."
If not today, then when?
This blessed month, which has the atmosphere of generosity and
benevolence, necessitates that we look into the conditions of each
other and that the rich helps the poor.
It is indeed saddening that there are some prisoners who are deprived
of the joy of gathering around the table to break the fast
ofRamadanwith their families and participating in acts of worship with
their brothers and reaping the spiritual benefitsof this month away
from physicalrestrictions.
We want to ask a general question: where are the well-off people?
Where are the rich? Where are the millionaires?
The rich in our Islamic countries especially those
whoseZakaah)obligatory charity( amounts to millions are requested to
come out of the "prison" of selfishness and to get rid of the
restrictions of stinginess and to pay attention to their distressed
fellows.
Brothers and sisters, it is shameful that one of us remains in prison
because of not paying a mere ten thousand rent for his family home.
It is a shame that one of us is imprisoned for a long time because of
just three thousand, for the value of bread and milk for his children.
It is indeed a great shame. Whereis chivalry? Where is mercy towards each other?
Do those people who put their indebted rivals in prison have no place
in their hearts for mercy or pardon? Whoever pardons, AllaahThe
Almighty would pardon him. Whoever shows leniency for indebted people,
Allaah The Almighty would forgive him especially if the creditor is
rich and is not in need of this money.
I present this marvelous treasurefor the rich and well-off people. The
Prophet,, said:"There was a merchant who used to loan money to the
people and he used to say to his servants: `When an insolvent person
comes to you, show him leniencyso that Allaah The Almighty may pardon
our faults.' So when he met Allaah )i.e., when he died(, Allaah
forgave him."]Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[ In another narration,"Allaah
Says, We are worthier to do this than him, forgive him."
The Prophet,, also said:"He who likes Allaah to deliver him from the
calamities of the Day of Resurrection, let him either give respite to
a debtor or grant him remission )of loans( in straitened
circumstances."]Muslim[
If our rich brothers do not hastento do so today, when would they do it?

Ramadan Articles - Farewell Ramadan

When one ponders over the history of nations, they will realise that
all are in the process of constant change. This is the course destined
for them by Allaah and nothing can change that.
If an honourable guest visits you in your dwellings, showers you with
goodness and loves you – which you reciprocate; then the time for his
departure arrives, how are you going to bid him farewell and how are
you going to feel? What separation is then greater and more emotional
thanthat from the beloved guest of the Muslims, the blessed month of
Ramadan?
Ramadanis the month of righteousness and generosity, the month of
forgiveness and liberation from Hell. It is all but gone now and
nothing remains of it but a few days. Yesterday, we were
congratulating each other on the arrival of the month; today we are
consoling one another over its departure and invoking Allaah to accept
all our acts of worship.
In this noble month, many have done good deeds, while others have done
the opposite. These deeds are going to testify for or against us on
the Day of Reckoning. We do not know whether we are going to live to
witness this glorious month again or not. Therefore, the fortunate
Muslim during this month was the one who was able to perfect their
acts of worship with sincerity and self-examination and end it with
sincere repentance, for acts are judged according to their ends.
Our righteous predecessorsused to exert maximum effort in perfecting
their acts of worship and had grave concerns regarding their
acceptance or rejection. 'Ali ibn Abu Taalibwarned: "Have a greater
concern for the acceptance of your deeds than you do for the amount of
deeds you have performed. Do not you hear the saying of Allaah)which
means(:"Indeed, Allaah accepts only from the righteous."]Quran 5: 27[
Fudhaalah ibn 'Ubaydsaid: "To know that Allaah has accepted a single
act of righteousness from me would bedearer to me than this world
andall that it contains." This is how our diligent predecessorswere.
May the peace of Allaah be upon the month of fasting and night
prayers! May the peace of Allaah be upon the month of the Quran and
the remembrance of Allaah! It has now passed like the twinkling of an
eye, yet while it was here it was an arena for those who race to do
good deeds. We have to endeavour, then, to utilise the remaining hours
of it by performing good deeds for Ramadan can never be substituted by
any other month. It is a month in which hearts are refined and sins
are forgiven. It isa month of security and peace forthe frightened. In
this great month, many hands have been raised in supplication, many a
tear has been shed and many a heart has been struck with the fear of
Allaah. Allaah has showered His Mercy and Favor on many of His slaves
in this month -particularly in the last ten days ofit.
When will one who has not been forgiven his/her sins in this month
ever be forgiven? When will the one whose supplication is rejected
inLaylatul-Qadr)the Night of Decree/Power( ever haveit accepted? Ibn
Rajabnarrated that 'Ali ibn Abu Taalibused to proclaim in the last
night of Ramadan: "I earnestly wish I knew those whose acts of worship
have been accepted so that I could congratulate them; and I earnestly
wish I knew thosewhose acts of worship have beenrejected so that I
could commiserate with them!"
Whose loss is greater than he who missed the blessings of Ramadan?
When will the one who did not reform himself during the month of
Ramadan ever do so? When will the one who was not cured from the
sickness of ignorance and heedlessness in this month ever get cured?
For those among us who have committed great sins, these few remaining
blessed days are an opportunity to repent, for whoever is librated
from Hell has indeed won a great reward. As for those who have been
liberated from Hell by our Lord; they should do their level best not
to indulge in sin again. They should not move closer to Hell after
Allaah Almighty Has pardoned them from it. We musthasten, therefore,
to do more good deeds, for some of us may not live to see the end of
this year. Let the negligent ones among us seize the opportunity of
this outgoing month in doing righteous deeds before it is too late.
Let the heedless ones among us wake up and remember the terrible fate
that awaits them; let them try to spend the rest of their lives
doinggood deeds.
Let us look at our present condition in light of the effects
Ramadanhad on us. Let us compare our condition at the start of Ramadan
to our condition now: Was the advent of Ramadan something that made us
become pious? Did it reform our actions and conduct? Did it unify our
ranks against our enemies? Did it remove the hatred and rancour
between us? Did it eliminate the evil deeds committed by our
communities?
We have responded to the call of our Lord by fasting, so we
shouldrespond to His Command in all other matters and at all times. We
must humble our hearts for the mention of Allaah and be united in
adherence to the Book of Allaah )the Quran( and theSunnah)tradition(
of His Prophet,so that the Muslim nation may be saved from calamities.
Zakaat Al-Fitr:
Allaah has prescribed for us, at the end of Ramadan,a great deed with
which we can make amends for our deficiencies within that month. By
doing this,we can also gain immense rewards; Allaah Says )what
means(:"He wants for you to complete the period and to magnify Allaah
for that )to( which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be
grateful."]Quran 2: 185[
Therefore, Allaah also prescribedZakaat Al-Fitr]end of Ramadan
alms-giving[ for us as a sign of gratitude to Him for facilitating
fasting and night prayers for us, to purify us from any obscenity we
may have uttered and as a feeding for the poor and the needy in order
to promote the brotherhood and unity among the Muslims. The amount to
be given is oneSaa']approximately 3kg[ of wheat, rice or any other
staple food of the land. It is to begiven by every Muslim, be they
young, old, male or female. It is also rewardable if it is given on
behalf of the unborn foetus. It is best given between
theFajrand'Eedprayers )on the day of 'Eed( but there is no harm if it
is given a day or two before''Eed.
It is recommended to give it out in foodstuff as it has been
explicitly explained in theHadeethand in accordance with the practice
of our righteous predecessors. So give this charity out, for Allaah
has only asked you to give a negligible amount of the huge bounty that
He has bestowed upon you.
We should continue in our good deeds even after Ramadan and be
constant in observing the five obligatory prayers and other actsof
worship. We should know thatamong the signs of the acceptance of a
good deed is to continue and be steadfast in performing that deed, and
that itis only the evil people who know and worship Allaah in Ramadan
only.

Ramadan Articles - Glad Tidings

In a few days, Allaah willing, we will be receiving the blessed month
of Ramadan … the month which the believers' hearts long for.
It is a season for the hearts to regain their purity and for peopleto
salvage their conscience after being polluted by the overwhelming
desires and the pleasures of this worldly life.
Allaah has blessed us with this great month… it is an honorable guest
which our Salaf )righteous predecessors(used to supplicate Allaah
earnestly to make them live long enough to witness. It is the best
month in the year during which Allaah revealed the Quran and blessed
itwith a night which is better than one thousand months, plus
manyother distinct features with which Allaah distinguished it.
Abu Hurayrahreported that the Prophet,said:"O people! You are being
approached by a blessed month. Allaah made fasting within it an
obligation. The doors of Paradise will be opened and the doors of Hell
will be closed, and the devils will be chained. It is a month which
contains a night that is better than one thousand months; he who is
deprived from its blessings is truly the deprived one".]Ahmad and
An-Nasaa'i[
Indeed, this is the best news one can receive; why would the believer
not rejoice when the gates of Paradise are opened andthe gatesof Hell
are sealed? How can any sane person not rejoice to the chaining of the
devils? How can devout worshippers notrejoice when worshipping in one
night is better than one thousand months? Undoubtedly, the virtues of
this month are countless.
This great occasion, however, comes in a time that the Muslim nation
is defeated, surroundedbymany impediments and ailments and the Muslims
are suffering from calamities, disunity and humiliation. Therefore, it
is time to review this painful condition and recognize the real causes
of weakness and ailments.
As we receiveRamadan,it is time for us to bid farewell to all our
sufferings! Wecannot,however, do that except by holding fasttothe path
of the Quran andSunnah, by working hard and being sincere with Allaah.
The Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam,gave a
comprehensiveclarification of the conditions for victory and the
causes of defeat for the Muslim nation by saying:"If people break the
covenant of Allaah and His Messenger, Allaah will send an external
enemy against them who will seize some of their possessions; If theydo
not rule by the Book of Allaah,nor attempt to implement everything in
it, Allaah will spread enmity among them."]Ibn Maajah[
Thus, breaking the covenant of Allaah and His Messenger, sallallaahu
'alayhi wa sallam,or in other words, disobeying Allaah and His
Messenger,, is one of the reasons for its defeat and being subjugated
by its enemies. Likewise, ruling by other than therulings of Allaah is
the reason for the poverty, disunity and conflict which is occurring
among the Muslims.
How can the Muslims expect Allaah to grant them victory while they are
discarding prayers,refusing to pay Zakaah)obligatory charity(and
dealing in interest? What can they expect when alcoholic drinks and
nightclubs become prevalent in their lands? What happens when evil
becomes widespread? The Prophet,was once asked: "Will we be punished
by disasterswhich befall us while we have righteous people amongst
us?' he,replied:"Yes, if evil becomes widespread."]Al-Bukhaari and
Muslim[
Additionally, the unrestrained love for this life and preferring it to
the Hereafter has further weakened the Muslim nation. It is this
predicament that gave its enemies the power to dictate many of its
affairs, seize its wealth, conquer its lands and severely persecute
the Muslims. The Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam,said:"Beware!
The nations all over the world shall join forces against you as diners
gather around their plate of food".The companions asked:"OMessenger of
Allaah! Is that because we will be few in number then?" Hesaid:"No,
rather you will be many, but you will only be as )worthless as( the
scum after a flood. The fear of you shall be removed from the hearts
of your enemies and Wahnwill be put into your hearts".The
companionsasked:"What is Wahn?"He, sallallaahu 'alayhiwa
sallam,answered:"To love this life and detest death".Ahmad and others[
Hence, we must desist from heedlessness as Almighty Allaah has
condemned the heedless andpraised the pious.
If Muslims truly wish for victory, then they must change what is
inthemselves, as Allaah Says )what means(:"…Indeed Allaah will
notchange the condition of a people until they change what is in
themselves …"]Quran13:11[. Obeying Allaah and His Messenger,
sallallaahu 'alayhiwasallam,is the only source of victory. Allaah Says
)what means(:"O you who have believed, if you support Allaah, He will
support you and plant firmly your feet."]Quran 47:7[
The fortunate is the one who uses his time to work for the Hereafter
and neither worldly commitment nor its desiresdistracthim from
fulfilling the rights of his Lord.Letusutilize the opportunity of
Ramadan and try to change the situation of theMuslim nation which
starts with me and you changing ourselves.

Ramadan Articles - Ramadan and Community Health

Fasting in the month of Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam
enjoined upon Muslims by almighty Allah as mentioned in verse 183 of
chapter 2:"O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was
prescribed to those before you, that ye may learn self restraint."
Reduced Crime and Higher Morale
The enormous impact of Ramadan on a Muslim society is seen from the
fact that as compared to the other months, the number of all sorts of
crimes and the magnitude of corruption,indecency, vicious behaviour
and immoral acts are all reduced markedly. The rate of crimes in
Muslim societiesis already lower than other societies and it declines
even more in theholy month of Ramadan.
Violence and crime impose a great burden on the health budget of any
country. As a matter of fact in most developedcountries they supersede
the expenditure and agony caused even by the road traffic accidents.In
a Muslim country like Saudi Arabia the crime rate is already much
lower than other countries and it becomes minimal in the month of
Ramadan.
Fasting is not just the act of refraining from food and water; rather
it is a devotion to fulfill the religious duties as well asto behave
in a manner which is harmless to others, so that even if someone
incites a personto quarrel, he has to pacify him by acting upon this
saying of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh),"Fasting is a shield or
protection from the fire and from committing sins, if one ofyou is
fasting, he should avoid quarrelling and if somebody should fight
orquarrel with him he should say I am fasting."
In another Hadith, Allah's Apostle says,"Whoever does not give up
forged speech and evil actions, Allah is not in need of his leaving
food and drink."
Although such good teachings of Islam are not confined to the month of
Ramadan alone, yet they are best observed in this month. Hence, one
can notice a great fall in the crime rate, violence, loss of working
days due to offensive injuries and a great reduction in the cost of
medico-legal expenditure which has a pronounced effect on thehealth
budget of a given community.
There is no doubt in saying that the number of offensive injuries and
trauma cases reported to the emergency rooms in a Muslim country is
far less in the month of Ramadan than in any other month. Ramadan, in
other words, is a training period for the Muslims in which the
foundations of a subtle character are laid whose gains can also be
seen round the year and this has a positive effect on the morale of
the whole society.
Happiness and Reduced Stress
Now, to come to another blessedness of Ramadan. In today's stressful
time when every third person is suffering from a psychological problem
even though it might be a mild depression, the advent of Ramadan means
an era of happiness and felicity forall Muslims.
Social insecurity is the root cause of today's psychological chaos and
bereavement. Ramadan, in contrast, is a month of optimum social
interaction and familiarization with each other. Mosques are thronged
with worshippers, people invite intimate friends to iftar, shopping
centers are packed with crowds and Eid offers a rainbow of joyous
moments, although the real happiness which the believers derive comes
from the fulfillment of Allah's order about whichHe says that fasting
is for Him alone and He will pay its reward.
Ramadan has its own culture, a glimpse of which can be seen at Iftar
when the whole family joins together to dine. Allah's apostle (pbuh)
says,"There are two pleasures for the fasting person: one, at the time
of breaking his fast, and the other at the time when he will meet his
Lord. Then he will be pleased because of his fasting."
Not surprisingly, due to the decreased stress the human body's steroid
level, which is raised in stress and anxiety, has been found to be
decreased among Muslims in the month of Ramadan.
Cleanliness
Cleanliness is the hallmark of Islamic virtues. Although according to
Islamic teachings, a good Muslimoffering his prayers regularly is
supposed to be neat and tidy, in the month of Ramadan personal
cleanliness among the Muslims reaches its peak. I need not mention
that a high level of cleanliness in the days of Ramadan will deter
infections. The zeal to offer prayers in Ramadan continues in other
days as well, more and more people form the habit of offering prayers
regularly, which by itself is a spiritual and health package for
Muslims.

Ramadan Articles - Ramadan for a Novice

I attended my first iftar earlier this month.
Iftar is the breaking of the fast that takes place every night in the
homes of observant Muslims during the month of Ramadan. Hosted by the
Sacramento Area League of Associated Muslims, the iftar I attended was
an interfaith event, intended to educate non-Muslims like me about the
significance of Islam's holiest month.
Arden Fair Mall
I learned that Ramadan isthe ninth month of the Islamic lunar
calendar, the month Mohammed was supposed to have first received
divine revelations from the Archangel Gabriel that became the Holy
Qur'an. For a full lunar cycle, from full moon to crescent, adult
Muslims around the world refrain from food, drink and sexual relations
from dawn to sunset.
The fasting or sawm - theword in Arabic literally means self-restraint
- is meant to build discipline.As Imam Azeez, the spiritual leader of
the SALAM center, explained it, when people deny themselves the simple
permissible pleasures - food, drink, sex - it becomes easier to
refrainfrom the impermissible - alcohol or drugs or criminal behavior.
While attention focuses on foodand drink, the faithful are also
supposed to refrain from foul language, gossip, evil thoughts and even
war during Ramadan.
Fasting is also a way to build understanding and empathy for those who
are suffering. Those who cannot fast because of illness or because
they are pregnant are required to feed the pooreach day that they
themselves fail to refrain from.
Finally, Ramadan, we were told, is about family. At the end of the
day, after prayer, familiesand friends come together for iftars, to
break the fast. By tradition, the first foods eaten are dates and
milk.At the SALAM center that Saturday night, a sumptuous feast of
spiced rice, lamb, fried dumplings and sweets followed, all served in
a joyful holiday spirit.
It felt like Christmas. Our hosts regaled us with tales of Ramadan
back home in Egypt, Syria and Pakistan. They told us themonth is very
much like Christmas, a time when mothers prepare their favorite dishes
and families and friends visit. On the last day of Ramadan, gifts are
exchanged. In fact, in many Muslim countries, Ramadan, like Christmas,
has become the principal shopping season and that has some worried
that, like Christmas, Ramadan will become tainted by commercialism.
But as I've watched the Muslims I know this Ramadan and in the past,it
seems unlikely. The central ritual of Ramadan, the fast itself,
prevents the Muslim holy season from drifting too far from its
spiritual roots.
To deny oneself all food and drink for 12 hours - not even a sip of
water is permitted - is very hard. To do that not just for a day or a
week, but for a full month, represents a commitment to faith that is
rare and precious and real. Certainly, it seems soto someone like me,
who has a hard time walking past the candy vending machine at work,
even after I've just had lunch. So, I left my first iftar impressed
and deeply moved.

Practical benefits of breastfeeding

Allaah Almighty Says)what means(:"…His mother carried him, ]increasing
her[ in weakness upon weakness, and his weaning is in two years. Be
grateful to Me and to your parents; to Me is the ]final[
destination."]Quran 31: 14[
In this article, we will shed light on some facts discovered by modern
medicine and study that confirm the Wisdom of Allaah, The Almighty,
and the completeness and perfection of Islam.
Human milk, the best food for babies, contains the right amount of
nutrients, in the right proportions, for the growing baby. A living,
biological fluid; it contains many unique components. For example,
lactoferrin )a glycoprotein that belongs to the iron transporter or
transferrinfamily( provides optimal absorption of iron and protects
the gut from harmful bacteria; lipases assist in digestion of fats;
and special growth factors and hormones contribute to optimal growth
and development. The mother's own milk changes during a feedingfrom
thirst-quenching to hunger-satisfying, and comes in a variety of
flavors as the mother's diet varies. Its composition changes as the
baby grows to meet the baby's changing nutritional needs.
Breastfeeding and the immune system:
Human milk is the baby's first immunization. It provides antibodies
which protect the baby from many common respiratory and
intestinaldiseases, and also contains living immune cells. First milk,
colostrum, is packed withcomponents which increase immunity and
protect the newborn's intestines. Breastfeeding as an infant also
providesprotection from developing immune system cancers such as
lymphoma, bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease and celiac sprue, and
juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, all of which are related to immune
system function. Additionally, breastfed babies generally mount amore
effective response to childhood immunizations. In all these cases,
benefits begin immediately, and increase with increasing duration of
breastfeeding.
Babies from families witha tendency to allergic diseases particularly
benefit from breastfeeding. Breastfeeding provides protection against
allergies, asthma, and eczema.
Some conclusions come to by modern medicine concerning breastfeeding:
Breastfed babies:
Get sick less often and get less severe illnesses
Are hospitalized less often and have a lower rate of mortality
Have a lower risk of diarrheal disease
Have a lower incidence of gastrointestinal illness
Have a lower risk of urinary tract infections
Have a lower incidence of respiratory disease
Have a lower incidence of otitis media ear infections
Have a lower incidence of allergies
Have a lower rate of pneumonia
Have lower rates of obesity
Have a lower incidence of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome )SIDS(
Have fewer learning and behavior difficulties
Breastfeeding:
Helps bond mother and child
Confers passive immunity
Is protective against measles and other communicable diseases
Provides optimal growth and neurological development
Prevents malocclusion and leads to better teeth and jaw development
Protects against hypothermia
Provides partial protection against necrotising entercolitis
Provides major protection against bacteremia and meningitis
Reduces the incidence of childhood lymphoma
Enhances visual development
Provides protection against neonatal sepsis
Is less risky for prematurebabies and low birth ratebabies
Artificially fed babies:
Have an increased risk factor for juvenile diabetes
May have impaired antibody response to vaccines
Have a higher risk of inflammatory illness
Have a higher risk of celiac disease, Crohn's disease, ulcerative
colitis,cholera, and neonatal hypocalcemic tetany
Have higher rates of middle ear infections, pneumonia, and cases of
gastroenteritis )stomach flu(
Benefits for the mother from breastfeeding:
Bonds mother and child
Provides the mother hormonal induced contentment
Encourages efficient uterine contractions afterchildbirth
Allows mothers to lose pregnancy weight and size faster
Is convenient since the milk is pre-warmed, clean and always available
Is cost effective and savesmoney
Contributes to natural family planning
Contributes to household food security
Fosters confidence and promotes self-esteem
Reduces the incidence of urinary tract infections
Is protective against cancer )breast, ovarian, cervical(
Lowers the incidence of chronic hepatitis
Reduces the incidence of osteoporosis
Reduces the requirements of insulin for lactating diabetic mothers
Breastfeeding and the environment:
Another important issue related to infant feeding and health is the
interaction between infant feeding method and the environment.
Breastfeeding is a completely natural, efficient use of resources.In
contrast, artificial feeding involves overgrazing of land by cattle;
use of chemical fertilizers to grow the soy; use of valuable
environmental resources for formula production; packaging and
transportation of the product; use of water and fuel for mixing the
product and heating it, for sterilizing bottles and nipples; waste
disposal ofthe cans, bottles, accessories, cartons, etc.
Despite this, the media and some environmental groups tend to play up
issues of environmental contaminants in mother'smilk. In fact, except
in situations of toxic spills or occupational exposureto hazardous
levels, breastfeeding has causedno ill effects in babies. Tothe
contrary, studies comparing breastfed andbottle-fed babies in the same
environment have shown better development and less cancer in the
breastfed babies.

Zakaat on agricultural products

Zakaah is the most important pillar of Islam after Prayer. The word
"Zakaah" means both 'purification' and 'growth'; so, our possessions
are purified by setting aside a proportion for those in need. The
obligatory nature of Zakaah is firmly established in the Quran, the
Sunnah, the consensus of the Prophet'sCompanionsand the Muslim
scholars
One of the most important principles of Islam is that all things
belong to Allaah, and that wealth is therefore held by human beings in
trust. Allaah also has set limits and restrictions on how to dispose
of our wealth in order to strike a balance in the Muslim society.
Allaah Almighty promised those who fulfill this duty a great reward in
this world and the Hereafter, and whosoever doesn'tfulfill it is
sternly warned of the grave consequences.
Zakaah on plants, fruits and grains
Plants and fruits are included in the types subject to Zakaat. Allaah
Says )what means(:"O you who believed, spend from the good things
which you have earned and from that which We have produced for you
from the earth..." ]Quran 2: 267[ And)what means(: "…and give its
due]Zakaah[ on the day of its harvest…"]Quran 6: 141[
Allaah also Says )what means(:"And He it is who causes gardens to
grow, ]both[ trellised and untrellised, and palm trees and crops of
different ]kinds of[ food and olives and pomegranates, similar and
dissimilar. Eat of]each of[ its fruit when it yields and give its due
]zakaah[ on the day of its harvest. And be not excessive. Indeed, He
does not like those who commit excess."]Quran 6: 141[
The Prophetenjoined Zakaah on the agricultural yield as shown in a
Hadeeth narrated by Muslim: "A tenth is payable on what is watered by
rivers, or rains, and a twentieth on what is watered by camels."
Types subject to Zakaah:
The scholars agree that Zakaah is obligatory on wheat, barley, dates
and raisins, almonds and pistachios. There is, however, disagreement
over whether or not all other types of agricultural yield are
exempted.
The majority of the scholarshold the view that all types of
agricultural yield )except vegetables and fresh fruits( which can be
stored, or used as regular food, or dried, and are planted by human
beings, are subject to Zakaah.
As for fresh fruits and vegetables, nothing is confirmed from the
Messenger of Allaahconcerning their Zakaah. However, it is still
recommended to give something from them to the poor and the neighbors
due to the generality of Allaah's statement )which means(:"And spend
of the good things you have earned and from what we brought out for
you from the earth."]Quran 2: 267[
Nisaab of the Zakaah:
Nisaab is an Arabic word which technically )i.e. in Islamic
jurisprudential terminology( refers to the minimum amount of wealth on
which Zakaah is legitimately levied.
Most scholars say that there is noZakaah due on plants or fruits until
they attain the amount of five Wasaqs. Five Wasaqs equal, according to
the majority of scholars, 651.4 kg. The Prophetsaid:"No Zakaah is
payable in less than five Wasaqs of dates or grain."]Muslim[
The time for paying Zakaah:
Zakaah of agricultural products isdue as soon as they are harvested.
So, it is not permissible to delay giving out the Zakaah after the
harvest of the crops. Allaah Says )what means(:"… and give its
due]Zakaah[ on the day of its harvest…"]Quran 6: 141[
Zakaah is due on plants when thegrains mature and are ready to be
rubbed off and on the fruit when it is ripened. In the case of dates,
for example, the indicationwill be their brightness or red color, and
with grapes their sweetness. Zakaah on the grains is only due after
removing the dust, husk, straw and chaff. However, Zakaah on fruits is
due at the time of harvesting. It is sinful for the owner to dispose
ofanything before paying Zakaah.
If the farmer sold his grain after it had matured, and the fruit after
it had ripened, then its Zakaah should be paid by him and not the
buyer. This is because the obligation to pay Zakaah became due when
the produce was still in the owner's possession. On the other hand, if
the owner sold his harvest beforeit ripens, Zakaat should be paid out
by the buyer.
The passage of a year )i.e. possession of property for one complete
lunar year( is not a condition for paying Zakaah on plants and fruits.
It is to be paid once only even if the rest of this kind of property
is kept, or not spent, in many years.
Combining different kinds of grains and fruits to complete the Nisaab:
The scholarsagree that the different types of one product)e.g.
different types of dates( may be added together to complete the
Nisaab. But Zakaah is to be paid out from each type separately.
Likewise, if there are different grades or qualities, Zakaat is to be
paid out from each grade, or from the medium)i.e. not the best nor the
worst(. Thus, different kinds of raisins may also be combined
together, and so can the various kinds of wheat and cereals.
Regarding combining various categories of grains, the scholarshave
different views. The predominant opinion is that no two things can be
combined together to complete the Nisaab. The Nisaab must be
considered on every category by itself. Therefore, barley cannot be
added to wheat, and this is also applicable to dates, raisins,
chickpeas and lentils. However, aswe have mentioned above, different
types of wheat can be combined together because all ofthem belong to
the same category.
The Rate of Zakaah:
The rate of Zakaah differs according to the method of irrigation. If
it is watered naturally without the use of artificial means, then the
due Zakaah is 10 % of the harvest. However, if it is irrigated by
machinery or with purchased water, then the Zakaah payable is5 % of
the harvest.
Ibn 'Umarreported that the Prophetsaid:"On that which is watered by
the heavens )i.e. rain( or springs or its own roots, 10 % of the
harvest is due, and onthat which is watered by a well or a stream
)i.e. purchased water(, 5 % of the harvest."]Al-Bukhaari and others[
In case the land is watered equally by artificial as well as natural
means, then Zakaah payable will be 7.5 % of the crop.
All of the costs involved in harvesting, transportation, threshing,
cleaning, storing, and others should be deducted before Zakaah is
paid.
Ibn 'Abbaas and Ibn 'Umarhold that whatever is borrowed for the
purpose of tilling, planting, and harvesting should first be taken
out. ]Yahyaa Ibn Aadam related this in Al-Kharaaj[

The Sunnah: the second form of revelation

Allaah, Almighty, Says)what means(:"This day have Iperfected your
religion for you and completed my favor upon you and have chosen for
you Islam as your religion."]Quran;5: 3[
Amongst the believers there is no doubt about this way of life called
Islam. It is a complete way of life. The Creator ofthe heavens and the
earth has not left anything out of this glorious religion )way of
life( of His. As the above verse states that this religion is perfect
and complete. However, something new has comein fairly recent years
from Satan, concerning the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allaah. Ithas
been suggested by him to the hearts of someof the Muslims that the
Quran, as Glorious as it is,is sufficient enough alone as guidance for
mankind. Meaning that the Sunnah is something that can be left off, or
abandoned. Surely this is a disease that has no place in this
wonderful religion )Islam(.
In order to address this issue we must ask ourselves an important
question. How do we worship Allaah? Do we worship Him any way we want?
Is there a correct methodology to worshipping Allaah? Is it sufficient
for us to say and do whatever it is that we feel is worship and then
call it worship and it will be accepted assuch? Let us consider the
saying of Allaah )which means(:"O you who believe! Obey Allaah and
obey the Messenger, and make not vain your deeds!"]Quran; 47: 33[
You must know that the Quran and the Sunnah donot contradict one
another, rather they complement one another. When Allaah Says in this
verse that theMessengeris to be obeyed, he is not only talking to that
honorablegroup of Muslims that accompanied the Prophetduring his
lifetime. He is speaking toall of the Muslims that will come up until
the Last Day.
Similarly, no one is ready to conceive the notion that when Allaah,
Says)what means(:"O you who believe!"that the only ones who believe
are the Muslims who were with the Prophetat that time and no one after
them believed and no one else will ever believe! This would be grossly
limiting the Quran.
Satan is crafty! He may then try to sway your thinking from another
angle. He may say that the Quran is simple to understand and that it
needs no explanation. For it is true that Allaah Says )what means(:"We
have indeed made the Quran easyto understand and remember"]Quran; 54:
32[
However, although the Quran is easy to understand, it does need to be
explained so that it is properly understood. Allaah Says )what
means(:"And when We have recited it to you ]O Muhammad through Jibreel
)Gabriel([ then follow you its )The Quran's( recital. Then it is for
Us )Allaah( to make it clear )toyou(."]Quran; 75: 18,19[
Surely if the Quran had tobe made clear to the Messengerthen how much
more so to you andI?
Allaah Says )what means(:"…And We have sent down unto you )O Muhammad(
the Reminder, that you may explain clearly to men what is sent downto
them, and that they may give thought."]Quran; 16: 44[
In this verse, Allaah is exhorting the Messengerto not merely recite
the Quran but to explain it as well. Obviously, some explanation is
required even to the most pious of men.
Furthermore, giving the needed details to carry out certaincommands
given in the Quran was another very vital role played by the Sunnah.
For example, Allaah commands us to establish the Prayers and topay the
obligatory charity)Zakaah(, saying )what means(:"And establish the
prayers and give Zakaah )the obligatory charity( and bow with those
whobow ]in worship and obedience[."]Quran; 2:43[ Yet, nowhere in the
Quran does Allaah give the required details to implement His command,
and it was the Sunnah that gave us all the details of the how,
when,who of this command.
Additionally, Allaah Says)what means(:"…)And( if you differ in
anything amongst yourselves, refer it to Allaah and His Messenger, if
you believe in Allaah and the Last Day. That is better and more
suitable for finaldetermination."]Quran; 4: 59[
Once again, if we try to leave off the importance of the Sunnah, then
how do we implement this verse of the Quran? Allaah orders us to refer
our differences to Him. This means for us to seek our answers from the
Quran. He also attaches the Messengerto that particular order when
Hestated for us to refer to Him. If we leave off the Sunnah then this
part of the verse has no meaning. Allaah Says)what means(:"Whoever
obeys the Messenger, has obeyed Allaah."]Quran; 4: 80[
And )what means(: "Say)O Muhammad(: If you)really( love Allaah, then
follow me, Allaah will love you and forgive you your sins." ]Quran; 3:
31[
How can the Muslims of today follow the Prophetand not refer to his
Sunnah? How can we say that we love Allaah and not try to follow the
methodology of His Prophet?
Finally I would like to conclude with a Hadeeth)narration( from the
Messenger of Allaahthat was collected by Imaam Maalikin his book
called Muwatta. TheProphetsaid:"I have left behind two matters. Those
who hold fast to them will never go astray: The Book of Allaah and the
Sunnah of His Messenger."
The reason that many of the Muslims are going astray today is because
they are not only leaving off the Sunnah but they are leaving the
Quran as well! If you are not giving the Sunnah its rights, then you
are not giving the Quran its rights.
Without the Sunnah thenthe second statement of your
Shahaadah)testimony of faith( also has no meaning.

Dought & clear - Is it permissible to givezakaat al-fitr two years in advance by analogy with the zakaah on one’s wealth?

Is it permissible to give zakaat al-fitr two years in advance by
analogy with giving zakaah of one's wealth two years in advance?
Praise be to Allah.
The time when zakaat al-fitr becomes obligatory begins at sunset on
the last day of Ramadan. The Sunnah indicates that it is permissible
to give it one or two days before the day of Eid. See the answer to
question no. 37636
The Hanafis are of the view that an analogy may be drawn between
zakaah of one's wealth and zakaat al-fitr, so they say that it is
permissible to bring it forward.
As-Sarkhasi said inal-Mabsoot, 3/110: The correct view in our opinion
is that bringing it (zakaat al-fitr) forwardby one or two years is
permissible. End quote.
However, what appears to be the case is that bringing it forward ahead
of the time prescribed in sharee'ah is not permissible.
There are two significant differences between zakaat al-fitr and
zakaah on one's wealth:
1.
The reason for zakaat al-fitr becoming obligatory is sunset on the
last day of Ramadan, whereas the reason for zakaah on one's wealth
becoming obligatory is possession of the nisaab (minimum threshold of
wealth at which zakaah becomes obligatory). Bringing something forward
and doing it before the reason for it comes into effect is not
permissible. Hence if a person hastens to pay zakaah on his wealth
before he has possessionof the nisaab, that is not acceptable.
Ash-Shiraazi said inal-Muhadhdhab: It is notvalid to pay it in
advancebefore the month of Ramadan, because that is bringing it
forward and doing it before the two reasons for it [i.e., fasting and
sunset on the last day of Ramadan]. That is like paying zakaah on
one's wealth before one has acquired the nisaab and one full (hijri)
year has passed since that date. End quote.
See:Manzoomat Usool al-Fiqh wa Qawaa'idihiby Ibn 'Uthaymeen, p. 143
2.
The purpose behind zakaat al-fitr is make thepoor independent of means
on the day of Eid, but this purpose is not met if zakaat al-fitr is
brought forward. That isunlike zakaah on one's wealth, the purpose of
which is to make the poor independent of means in general terms and is
not limited to a specific time.
There is also a third way in which we may differentiate between them,
which is: zakaat al-fitr is a small amount, so it does not serve a
great purpose for the poor person if it is brought forward, unlike
zakaah on one's wealth.
And Allah knows best.

Dought & clear - Will anyone come out of Paradise or out of Hell after entering it? What is the reward for good deeds done by thedisbelievers?

With all due respect to the one who answered question no. 21365 about
the two verses (no. 106, 107) of Soorat Hood, you stated that the
people of Hell will abide therein forever and ever and will never come
out of it. However, I read inSaheehal-Bukhaari(Book 2, 12, 72) that
Allah will show mercy to some of the people of Hell and will admit
them to Paradise because of what there is in their hearts of faith in
Him. Which of the two is more correct? If both are correct, how can we
reconcile between them? Based on that, do the verses in Soorat Hood
indicate that some of those who do good deeds will remain for a
similar period in Paradise but in the end they will enter Hell? If
that is not the case, then how will these disbelievers who spend their
lives in the service of humanity then die in non-Muslim countries –
like Mother Teresa – be rewarded?
Praise be to Allah.
Firstly:
We appreciate the questioner's interest in the answers that we publish
on our website and his following up on them. We also appreciate
hisquestion about the apparent contradiction, which is indicative of
his love of learning and his efforts to benefit from what he reads,
insha Allah.
Secondly:
There is no contradiction between what is mentioned in the answer to
the question referred to, and the hadeeths referred to in the
question. To explain further, the people of Hell are of two types:
1.
The first type are monotheists (people who affirmed the Oneness of
Allah) who mixed good deeds with bad deeds. Allah will admit them to
Hell for their sins, and He has willed that they should be punished
there.
This category will be punished in Hell for a while, and Allah, may He
be exalted, is the One Who will determine the length thereof. Then He
will bring them out of the Fire and will decree that they will abide
for eternity in Paradise after that.
These are the ones referred to in the hadeeths mentioned in the
question, in which it is stated that some of those who are in the Fire
will be brought out because of what they believe in of Tawheed (the
Oneness of Allah). They are the people of Hell among the Muslims.
2.
The second type are the disbelievers and hypocrites who do nothave any
belief in Tawheed and who die in a state of disbelief, shirk
(polytheism), atheism or hypocrisy.
This category will be punished in Hell for eternity. Their Lord warned
them that they would abide in Hell for eternity if theydid not do what
Allah, may He be exalted, commanded them to do of affirming His
Oneness (Tawheed) and devoting all their acts of worship to Him
alone. They chose for themselves kufr (disbelief) and they chose to
abide for eternity in the Fire.
These are the ones who are referred to in the verses of Soorat Hood
referred to at the beginning of your question.
Thirdly:
From what we have mentioned above, youwill realise that being admitted
to Hell is not just for one group; rather it is for two groups, one of
which will be brought out of it. They are the monotheists (believers
in Tawheed,the Oneness of Allah) who committed sins that meant that
they deserved to enter Hell.The other group will not be brought out of
it; those are the ones who disbelieved and died in a state of
disbelief.
With regard to Paradise, none will enter it except one group, namely
the monotheists (believers in Tawheed). When a person enters it, he
will never exit from it;rather he will enjoy what it contains, and he
will never feel sorrow or despair, he will never die or fall sick, he
will never grow old or be deprived of that delight after he has tasted
it.
Once you understand that there are two categories of people, those who
believe andthose who disbelieve, those who are blessed(destined for
Paradise) and those who are doomed (destined for Hell), then you will
be able to understand what is mentioned in the Book of Allah, may He
be exalted, of the decree that there will be no exit from Hell, and
that those who are referred to in this case are the disbelievers who
will abide in Hell forever, as Allah, may He be exalted, says
(interpretation of the meaning):
"Thus Allah will show them their deeds as regrets for them. And they
will never get outof the Fire"
[al-Baqarah 2:167]
"They will long to get out of the Fire, but never will they get
outtherefrom, and theirs will be a lasting torment"
[al-Maa'idah 5:37].
With regard to those who are blessed (destined for Paradise) and the
people of faith, Allah, may He be exalted, has decreed that they will
not exit from Paradise, as He, may He be exalted, says (interpretation
of the meaning):
"No sense of fatigue shall touch them, nor shall they (ever) be asked
to leave it"
[al-Hijr 15:48].
For more information,please see the answers to questions no. 31174,
26792and 45804
Fourthly:
Once this is understood clearly, it should be noted that ifthe
disbeliever does something that is deserving of reward, he will be
rewarded for it in this world, notin the Hereafter. His disbelief
prevents his deed being accepted in such a way that he may benefit
from it in the Hereafter, becauseone of the conditions of good deeds
being accepted is that one should be Muslim.
At-Tabari (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
If a person does a righteous deed without fearing Allah – i.e., he is
a mushrik or polytheist – he will be given a reward for that in this
world, such as if he upholds ties of kinship, gives to one who is in
need out of compassion, and other such righteous deeds. Allahwill give
him the reward of his good deed in this world, such as increasing his
livelihood and provision, giving him joy in what He blesses himwith,
warding off from him the harms ofthis world, and so on. But he will
not have any share (of reward) in the Hereafter.
Tafseer at-Tabari, 15/265
Al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercyon him) said:
Al-Qaadi 'Iyaad said: There is scholarly consensus that the deeds of
the disbelievers will not benefit them [in the Hereafter]; they will
not be rewarded for them with joy and no punishment will be reduced
for them, even though some of them will be more severely punished than
others.
Al-Fath, 9/48
It should be understood that Allah,may He be exalted, will not cause
the reward for their deedsthat benefit people to be lost; but their
reward will come in this world and not in the Hereafter. As for the
believer, the reward for his good deeds will be in this world and in
the Hereafter.
It was narrated that Anas ibn Maalik said: The Messenger of Allah
(blessings and peace of Allah be uponhim) said:"If the kaafir does a
good deed, he is fed because of it in this world. As for the believer,
Allah stores up his good deeds for him in the Hereafter and grants him
provision in accordance with his obedience in this world.
Narrated by Muslim (2808).
According to another report:: "Allaah does not treat the believer
unjustly with regard to his good deeds. He blesses him because of them
in this world and He will reward him for them in the Hereafter. As for
the kaafir, he is fed because of the good deeds that he does for the
sake of Allaah in this world, then when he passes on into the
Hereafter, he will haveno good deeds left for which to be rewarded."
You should understand that this reward in this world is not definite;
rather it is subject to the will of Allah. Allah, may He be glorified
and exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning):"Whoever wishes for
the quick-passing (transitory enjoyment of this world), We readily
grant him what We will for whom We like" [al-Isra' 18:18].
Ash-Shanqeeti (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
It should be understood that this matter, for which we have quoted
evidence from the Qur'an and Sunnah, that the disbeliever may benefit
from his righteous deeds in this world, such as honouring his parents,
upholding ties of kinship, honouring guests and neighbours, relieving
people of distress and so on – all of that is subject to the will of
Allah, may He be exalted, as He has stated in the verse
(interpretation of the meaning):"Whoever wishes for the quick-passing
(transitory enjoyment of this world), We readily grant him what We
will for whom We like" [al-Isra' 18:18].
This verse is specific and specifies what is mentioned in general
terms in other verses and hadeeths.
Adwa' al-Bayaan, 3/450
What we have mentioned about Allah, may He be exalted, rewarding
whomever He wills among the disbelievers does not apply to Mother
Teresa, whose original name was Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu. She originally
came from Macedonia and died in1997 CE. She was a missionary nun
whosework focused on helping the poor, destitute and sick, andshe used
her work to try to convert them to Christianity. The deedsof a person
like this cannot be called "good" and whatever provision he or she
gets in this world is not the reward of good deeds; rather it is
provision that is granted by Allah, for which those who disbelieve in
Him will be punished, as Allah, may He be exalted, says
(interpretation ofthe meaning):
"And (remember) when Ibrahim (Abraham) said, 'My Lord, make this city
(Makkah) a place of security and provide its people with fruits, such
of them as believe in Allah and the Last Day.' He (Allah) answered:
'As for him who disbelieves, I shall leave him in contentment for a
while, then I shall compel him to the torment of the Fire, and worst
indeed is that destination!'"
[al-Baqarah 2:126].
To sum up, the deeds of the disbelievers in this world are of two types:
1.
Those that are worldlydeeds such as acts of kindness, in which it is
not stipulated that one should have the intention of drawing close to
Allah, such as upholding ties of kinship, honouring guests, and so on.
Thisis what is referred to in the hadeeth, for which the disbeliever
will be rewarded in this world if Allah wants to reward him.
An-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
It is clearly stated in this hadeeth that (the disbeliever) is fed in
this world because of what he does of good deeds, i.e., what he does
seeking thereby to draw closer to Allahof actions in which their
validity does not depend on the intention, such as upholding ties of
kinship, giving charity, manumitting slaves, hosting guests,and other
good deeds.
Sharh Muslim(17/150)
2.
Those that are worldlydeeds, in which the doer's intention is to
spread his religion and mislead Muslims away from their religion.
These are notincluded in the hadeeth; rather the sternest warnings is
given to the one who does them, because heis turning people away from
the religion of Allah and exploiting people's needs, poverty and
sickness for this evil purpose. That includeswhat Mother Teresa and
other missionaries and promoters of falsehood are doing.
With regard to religious actions in which it is stipulated that one
should have the intention of drawing close to Allah, such as Hajj,
'Umrah and du'aa' (supplication), the disbeliever will not berewarded
for these either in this world or in the Hereafter, because it is
invalid, as some of the conditions of its beingaccepted are not
present, i.e., being Muslim, being sincere towards Allah alone, and
following (the Sunnah). Moreover, disbelief (kufr) renders good deeds
invalid, so the one who does them will not benefit from them at all on
the Day of Resurrection.
And Allah knows best.

Dought & clear - What is the ruling on offering the regular Sunnah prayer that is usually offered after the obligatory prayer, before the obligatory prayer?

Is it permissible for someone to pray the 2 unit of sunnah of esha
salaah beforehand of the obligatory prayer ? If someone prayed it
without knowledge about the ruling, what is the stand ?
Praise be to Allah.
The regular Sunnah prayers are of two types:
1.The Sunnah prayers that are offered before the obligatory prayer.
They are: two rak'ahs before Fajr and four rak'ahs with two tasleems
(i.e., offered two by two) before Zuhr.
The time for this type of Sunnah prayer begins when the time for that
prayer begins, and lasts until one begins to offer the obligatory
prayer.
2.The Sunnah prayers that are offered after the obligatory prayer.
They are: two rak'ahs after Maghrib, two rak'ahs after 'Isha' and two
rak'ahs after Zuhr.
The time for this type of Sunnah prayer begins when the obligatory
prayer is over and lasts until the end of the time for that prayer.
Ibn Qudaamah (may Allah have mercy on him) said: With regard toevery
Sunnah prayer that is offered before the obligatory prayer, itstime
lasts from the beginning of the time for that prayer until the start
of the obligatory prayer. With regard to every Sunnah prayer that is
offered after the obligatory prayer, its time lasts from when that
prayer is finished until the end of that time.
End quote fromal-Mughni, 1/436
It says inal-Mawsoo'ah al-Fiqhiyyah(25/281-282): The regular Sunnah
prayers are connected to the obligatory prayers; someof them are
offered before the obligatory prayer, such as the Sunnah prayer of
Fajr and the Sunnah prayer that comes before Zuhr. And some of them
are offered after the obligatory prayer, such as the Sunnah prayer
that comes after Zuhr, the Sunnah prayers of Maghrib and 'Isha', Witr,
and qiyaam in Ramadan (i.e., Taraweeh).
With regard to whateverof these Sunnah prayers come before the
obligatory prayer, the time for them begins when the time for the
obligatory prayer begins, and ends when the iqaamah for the obligatory
prayer is given, if that iqaamah is given in a group or congregation
(jamaa'ah), because once the iqaamah is given for prayer, there isno
prayer except the prescribed obligatory prayer. But if an individual
is going to offer the prayer on his own, the time for the Sunnah
prayer lasts untilhe begins the obligatoryprayer.
With regard to the Sunnah prayers that come after the obligatory
prayer, such as the Sunnah prayer that comes after Zuhr and the Sunnah
prayers of Maghrib and 'Isha', the time for each of them begins when
the obligatory prayer has been completed and lasts until the time of
theobligatory prayer ends and the time for the nextprayer begins.
End quote.
Based on the above, if a person offers the Sunnah prayer that should
be offered after 'Isha' before he prays 'Isha', it is as if he has
performed that Sunnah before its time. Hence it will not be counted as
a regular sunnah prayer; rather it is a naafil prayer between the
adhaan and iqaamah, for which one earns the reward of a naafil prayer,
not a regular Sunnah prayer.
An-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said:It is mustahabb to pray
two rak'ahs or more before 'Isha', because of the hadeeth of
'Abdullahibn Maghfal, according to which the Prophet (blessings and
peace of Allah be upon him) said: "Between each two calls (the adhaan
and iqaamah) there should be a prayer, between each two calls there
should be a prayer, between each two calls there should be a prayer" –
and the third time he said, "for whoever wishes." Narrated by
al-Bukhaari and Muslim. What is meant by the two calls is the adhaan
and iqaamah, according to scholarly consensus.
End quote fromal-Majmoo', 3/504
For more information please see the answer toquestion no. 128164
With regard to the one who used to do that andwas unaware of the
ruling as mentioned above, then we hope that Allah, by His bounty and
grace, will grant him the reward of one who offered the regular Sunnah
prayer, because he was unaware of the ruling on that matter.
And Allah knows best.

Muslim Marriage Stories: Carry me in your ArmsImportance of Marriage in Islam

When I got home that night as my wife served dinner, I held her hand
and said, I've got something to tell you. She sat down and ate
quietly. Again I observed the hurt in her eyes.
Suddenly I didn't know how to say it. But I had tolet her know what I
was thinking. I want a divorce. I raised the topiccalmly. She didn't
seem to be annoyed by my words, instead she asked me softly, why? I
avoidedher question. This made her angry. She shouted atme, "you are
not a man!"
That night, we didn't talkto each other. She was weeping. I knew she
wanted to find out what had happened to our marriage. But I could
hardly give her a satisfactory answer; I hadlost my heart to a lovely
girl called Dew. I didn't love her anymore. I just pitied her!
With a deep sense of guilt, I drafted a divorce agreement which stated
that she could own our house, 30% shares of my company and the car.
Sheglanced at it and then tore it to pieces. The woman who had spent
ten years of her life with me had become a stranger. I felt sorry for
her wasted time, resources and energy butI could not take back what I
had said, for I loved Dew so dearly.
Finally she cried loudly in front of me, which was what I had expected
to see. To me, her cry was actually a kind of release.The idea of
divorce which had obsessed me for several weeks seemedto be firmer and
clearer now.
The next day, I came backhome very late and found her writing
something at the table. I didn't have supper but went straight to
sleep and fell fast asleep because I was tired after an eventful day
with Dew. When I woke up, she was still there at the table writing. I
just didn'tcare so I turned over and was asleep again.
In the morning she presented her divorce conditions: she didn't want
anything from me, but needed a month's notice before the divorce. She
requested that in that one month, we both struggle to live as normal a
life as possible. Her reasons were simple: our son hadhis exams in a
month's time and she didn't want to disrupt him with our broken
marriage.
This was agreeable to me. But she had something more, she asked me to
recall how I had carried her into out bridal room on our wedding day.
She requested that everyday for the month's duration I carry her out
of our bedroom to the front door ever morning. I thought she was going
crazy.
Just to make our last daystogether bearable I accepted her odd
request. I told Dew aboutmy wife's divorce conditions. She laughed
loudly and thought it wasabsurd. No matter what tricks she has, she
has to face the divorce, she said scornfully. My wife and I hadn't had
any body contact since my divorce intention was explicitly expressed.
So when I carried her out on the first day, we both appeared clumsy.
Our sonclapped behind us, daddyis holding mummy in his arms. His words
brought me a sense of pain. From the bedroom to the sitting room, then
to the door, I walked over ten meters with her in my arms. She closed
her eyesand said softly; don't tell our son about the divorce. I
nodded, feelingsomewhat upset. I put her down outside the door. She
went to wait for the bus to work. I drove alone to the office.
On the second day, both of us acted much more easily. She leaned on my
chest... I could smell the fragrance of her blouse. Irealized that I
hadn't looked at this woman carefully for a long time. Irealized she
was not young any more. There were fine wrinkles on her face, her hair
was graying! Our marriage had taken its toll on her. For a minute I
wondered what I had done to her.
On the fourth day, when Ilifted her up, I felt a sense of intimacy
returning. This was the woman who had given ten years of her life to
me. On the fifth and sixth day, I realized that our sense of intimacy
was growing again. I didn't tell Dew about this. It became easier to
carry her as the month slipped by. Perhaps the everyday workout made
me stronger.
She was choosing what to wear one morning. She tried on quite a few
dresses but could not find a suitable one. Then she sighed, all my
dresseshave grown bigger. I suddenly realized that she had grown so
thin, that was the reason why I could carry her more easily. Suddenly
it hit me;she had buried so much pain and bitterness in her heart.
Subconsciously I reached out and touched her head. Our son came in at
the moment and said, Dad, it's time to carry mum out. To him, seeing
his father carrying his mother out had become an essential part of his
life. My wife gestured to our son to come close and hugged him
tightly. Iturned my face away because I was afraid I might change my
mind atthis last minute. I then held her in my arms, walking from the
bedroom, through the sitting room, to the hallway. Her hand surrounded
my neck softly and naturally. I held her body tightly; it was just
like our wedding day.
But her much lighter weight made me sad. On the last day, when I held
her in my arms I could hardly move a step. Our son had gone to school.
I held her tightly and said, I hadn't noticed that our life lacked
intimacy. I drove to office... jumped out of the car swiftly without
locking the door.I was afraid any delay would make me change my
mind... I walked upstairs. Dew opened thedoor and I said to her,
Sorry, Dew, I do not wantthe divorce anymore.
She looked at me, astonished, then touchedmy forehead. Do you have a
fever? She said. I moved her hand off my head. Sorry, Dew, I said, I
won't divorce. My marriage life was boring probably because she and I
didn't value the details of our lives, not because we didn't love each
other any more. Now I realized that since I carried her into my home
on our wedding day I am supposed to hold her until one of us departs
this world.
Dew seemed to suddenly wake up. She gave me a loud slap and then
slammed the door and burst into tears. I walked downstairs and drove
away. At the floral shop on the way, I ordered a bouquet of flowers
for my wife. The sales girl asked me what to write on the card. I
smiled and wrote: I will carry you out every morning until we are old.
The small details of our lives are what really matter in a
relationship. It is not the mansion, the car, the property, the bank
balance that matters. These create an environment conducive for
happiness but cannot give happiness in themselves. So find time to be
your spouse's friend and do those little things for each other
thatbuild a relationship.

Muslim Marriage Stories: Importance of Marriage in IslamSecrets of Happy Married Couples

A man and his fiance were married. It was a large celebration. All of
their friends and family came to see the lovely ceremony and to
partakeof the festivities and celebrations. A wonderfultime was had by
all.
The bride was gorgeous in her white wedding gown and the groom was
very dashing in his black tuxedo. Everyone could tell that the love
they had for each other was true.
A few months later, the wife comes to the husband with a proposal:"I
read in a magazine, a while ago, about how wecan strengthen our
marriage." She offered.
"Each of us will write a list of the things that we find a bit
annoying with the other person. Then, we can talk about how we can fix
them togetherand make our lives happier together."
The husband agreed. So each of them went to a separate room in the
house and thought of thethings that annoyed them about the other. They
thought about this question for the rest of the day and wrote down
what they came up with.
The next morning, at the breakfast table, they decided that they would
go over their lists.
"I'll start," offered the wife. She took out her list. It had many
items on it. Enough to fill 3 pages, in fact. As she started reading
the list of the little annoyances, she noticed that tears were
starting to appear in her husbands eyes.
"What's wrong?" she asked. "Nothing" the husband replied, "keep
reading your list."
The wife continued to read until she had read all three pages to her
husband. She neatly placed her list on the table and folded her hands
over top of it.
"Now, you read your list and then we'll talk about the things on both
of ourlists." She said happily.
Quietly the husband stated, "I don't have anything on my list. I think
that you are perfectthe way that you are. I don't want you to change
anything for me. You are lovely and wonderful and I wouldn'twant to
try and change anything about you."
The wife, touched by his honesty and the depth ofhis love for her and
his acceptance of her, turnedher head and wept.
IN LIFE, there are enough times when we are disappointed, depressed
and annoyed. We don't really have to go looking for them.
We have a wonderful world that is full of beauty, light and promise.
Why waste time in this world looking for the bad, disappointing or
annoying things when we can look around us, and see the wondrous
things before us?
I believe that WE ARE HAPPIEST when we see and praise the good and try
our best to forego themistakes of our spouse. Nobody's perfect but we
can find perfection in them to change the way we see them. It is
necessary to understand the difficulties and be a helping hand to each
other....THAT BRIGHTENS THE RELATIONSHIP.