Reported by `Aishah (RA) said: Some people asked the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) about soothsayers. He (peace be upon him) said, "They are of no account.'' Upon this they said to him, "O Messenger of Allah! But they sometimes make true predictions.'' Thereupon the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, "That is a word pertaining to truth which a jinn snatches (from the angels) and whispers into the ears of his friend (the soothsayers) who will then mix more than a hundred lies with it.'' [Bukhari & Muslim]

Please recite it at least once and write ''done'' below, jazakAllahu khairun
''I seek refuge in Allah from Satan the outcast. - Allah! There is none worthy of worship but He, the Ever Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists.
Neither slumber nor sleep overtakes Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who is he that can intercede with Him except with His Permission?
He knows what happens to them in this world, and what will happen to them in the Hereafter. And they will never encompass anything of His Knowledge except that which He wills. His Throne extends over the heavens and the earth, and He feels no fatigue in guarding and preserving them. And He is the Most High, the Most Great''
أَعُوذُ بِاللهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ "اللهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ لَا تَأْخُذُهُ سِنَةٌ وَلَا نَوْمٌ لَهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ مَنْ ذَا الَّذِي يَشْفَعُ عِنْدَهُ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِ يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَيْءٍ مِنْ عِلْمِهِ إِلَّا بِمَا شَاءَ وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ وَلَا يَئُودُهُ حِفْظُهُمَا وَهُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيمُ
'A 'oothu billaahi minash-Shaytaanir-rajeem. Allaahu laa 'ilaaha 'illaa Huwal-Hayyul-Qayyoom, laa ta'khuthuhu sinatun wa laa nawm, lahu maa fis-samaawaati wa maa fil-'ardh, man thal-lathee yashfa'u 'indahu 'illaa bi'ithnih, ya'lamu maa bayna 'aydeehim wa maa khalfahum, wa laa yuheetoona bishay'im-min 'ilmihi 'illaa bimaa shaa'a, wasi'a kursiyyuhus samaawaati wal'ardh, wa laa ya'ooduhu hifdhuhumaa, wa Huwal- 'Aliyyul- 'Adheem. [Surah Al-Baqarah]
Whoever says this when he rises in the morning will be protected from jinns until he retires in the evening, and whoever says it when retiring in the evening will be protected from them until he rises in the morning. It was reported by Al-Hakim 1 / 562, Al-Albani graded it as authentic

Hadith

Reported by `Aishah (RA) said: Some people asked the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) about soothsayers. He (peace be upon him) said, "They are of no account.'' Upon this they said to him, "O Messenger of Allah! But they sometimes make true predictions.'' Thereupon the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, "That is a word pertaining to truth which a jinn snatches (from the angels) and whispers into the ears of his friend (the soothsayers) who will then mix more than a hundred lies with it.'' [Bukhari & Muslim]

Fathwa, - Highlighting the status ofwoman in Islam

Question
Assalamu Alaikum We are living in a time that the opponents of Islam spreading wrong information about the freedom of women in Islam. But I am amazed to notice that wherever in the world occures any communal problems, the Muslim women are abused and molested by the opposite community but the Muslims are rarely doing the same to the women of other religion. Is it a result of the teachings of our beloved Prophet Muhammad )s a s( to respect women? Can we use this matter to the Dawa purpose? Jazak allah khairan
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 Muhammadis His slave and Messenger.
There is no doubt that there is no other civilization that respected the status of the woman as did the Islamic civilization. This is highlighted in the teachings of Islam in its two authentic sources: the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of the Prophet.
Similarly, Islam advises its followers to be kind to the non-Muslims and to deal justly with them as long as they are not in war with the Muslims; Allaah Says )what means(:}Allaah does not forbid you from those who do not fight you because of religion and do not expel you from your homes — from being righteous toward them and acting justly toward them. Indeed, Allaah loves those who act justly.{]Quran 60:83[. There is no difference in this respect between their males and females, young and old.
Even at war, the Prophetforbade killing a woman unless she is a fighter.Ibn ‘Umarnarrated that a woman was found killed in one of the battles of the Prophetso hedisapproved of the killing of women and children. ]Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[
Moreover,Imaam Maalikreported in “Al-Muwatta’a” thatAbu Bakrused to advise the leaders of his army telling them:"Do not kill a woman or a child or an old aged person, and do not cut down fruitful trees. Do not destroy the inhabited places. Do not slaughter a sheep or a camel except for food. Do not burn palm trees or drown them. Do not steal from the booty, and do not be cowardly."
There is no doubt that this is from the good traits of Islam whose followers abide by in most of their cases, and this is evident from their conduct as well.
Indeed, such good traits should be highlighted by the Muslims and used in calling non-Muslims to Islam and in their dealings with the non-Muslims.
Allaah knows best.

Fathwa, - Children’s Islamic upbringing woman’s major role

Question
I am a woman who loves her family very much. Is my exaggerated love for them considered a sin? If I enter Paradise, will my husband and children be with me? I do not work for the sake of my children. Have I committed a sin by not working?
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.
Allaah The Almighty promised the people who die as believers, as well as their families, to gather them together in Paradise. Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(, }And those who believed and whose descendants followed them in faith - We will join with them their descendants, and We will not deprive them of anything of their deeds. Every person, for what he earned, is retained.{]Quran 52: 21[ Allaah The Almighty told us that by His Grace and Bounty He gathers them in the perfect way by elevating those who are in lower ranks to those who are in higher ranks, not vice versa.
Every Muslim, male or female, should be keen on achieving high levels of faith. They should bring up their children according to the guidance of faith and righteousness in order to attain this great reward.
The questioner’s love for her husband and children is an innate love that does not result in any sin as long as she does not give it priority over the love for Allaah The Almighty, His Messenger and His religion.
A woman will have a great reward if she is mainly focused on upbringing her children properly in an Islamic way, devoting herself for this cause, and observing her husband’s rights. These goals are better for her than the transient earnings of this worldly life that she could have if she were to work. May Allaah The Almighty guide everyone to do what He loves and all that pleases Him.
Allaah Knows best.

Fathwa, - Her friend hates men, claiming Islam gives themsuperiority

Question
Assalamu alaikum. My friend hates boys much saying they r superior. islam gvs them importance etc. How can i advice her in light of islam. She has much wrong guesses. She startd hating from childhood when she saw teachers giving priority to males. Even she says she wont marry anyone. She says u cant make me lyk boys nor remove my hate. i hope u could help by telling how can i deal this islamically.] shes a good believer i hope[
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.
Allaah, The Almighty, made man and woman complementary to each other and a means of tranquility for each other. Allaah, The 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 placed between you affection and mercy. Indeed in that are signs for a people who give thought.{]Quran 30: 21[
• }And We created you in pairs.{]Quran 78: 7[
Ibn Katheersaid: "]Pairs[ means male and female - each of them enjoying the other, and through this means procreation is achieved." ]End quote[
A woman's life cannot be stable without a man and vice versa. Therefore, if a woman hates the male gender as a whole, then it is something against the Fitrah )i.e. natural disposition( that Allaah, The Almighty, has created in women. Just because Allaah, The Almighty, distinguished men with some features not for women, this does not justify hating them. Allaah is the One Who has distinguished men with some features not for women, and He distinguished women with some features not for men. In addition, Allaah forbade His slaves from wishing for the things that He preferred others with, saying )what means(: }And do not wish for that by which Allaah has made some of you exceed others. For men is a share of what they have earned, and for women is a share of what they have earned. And ask Allaah of his bounty. Indeed Allaah is ever, of all things, Knowing.{]Quran 4:32[
Ibn Jareersaid in his Tafseer )interpretation of the Quran(: "Do not desire that by which Allaah has made some of you exceed the others. It is said that this verse was sent down because some women wished for the status and rights of men. Hence, Allaah, The Almighty, forbade His slaves to have such false desires and commanded them to ask Him for His bounty because desires cause envy and hatred without right cause." ]End quote[
This is what may have occurred to your friend and may be what led her to envy and to hate men under the claim that they were preferred to women. Yet she neglects the fact that women have a high status in Islam, as pointed out in Fataawa 163533, 81205and 87751, which are about the status of women in Islam and observing women's rights. Therefore, you should advise your friend and explain to her what we have mentioned above. We ask Allaah to guide us and her and give us success.
Allaah Knows best.

Social Concerns, - The Dayyooth is deprivedof Paradise

The purifiedSharee‘ahof Islam encourages good manners and forbids bad ones owing to the harm that affects individuals and societies when bad manners prevail.
The IslamicSharee‘ahcame to guard the purity of progenies and to protect people's honor against anything that would soil or transgress them. Therefore, it sets the severest forms of punishment for anyone who thinks of violating the honor of others. Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}The ]unmarried[ woman or ]unmarried[ man found guilty of sexual intercourse - lash each one of them with a hundred lashes, and do not be taken by pity for them in the religion of Allaah...{]Quran 24:2[
This punishment is applied to unmarried persons. Married adulterers, however, receive the punishment of stoning to death under theSharee‘ah. The IslamicSharee‘ahalso prohibits marrying a person who is known for practicing illegal sexual intercourse. Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}The fornicator does not marry except a ]female[ fornicator or polytheist, and none marries her except a fornicator or a polytheist, and that has been made unlawful to the believers.{]Quran 24:3[
Not only does theSharee'ahdo so, but it also raises the status of guarding honor so high that a person who is killed in defense of his honor will gain the degree of a martyr. The Prophet,sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, said:“A person who is killed in defense of his honor is a martyr.”
Moreover, theSharee‘ahbrings up its adherents on being protectively jealous about their honor: The Prophet,sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, said about this attribute in a Companion of his:“Do you wonder at Sa‘d's jealousy? By Allaah, I am more jealous than him, and Allaah Is more jealous than me...”
Indeed, there is no good in a person who has no protective jealousy, for such a person moves towards Hell and distances himself from Paradise. He also makes his honor vulnerable to assault from anybody. This is theDayyooth, who is he who does not feel jealous when his honor is violated and who overlooks the indecency and immoral behavior of his family while he knows that it is wrong to do so. By doing this, he exposes himself to disgrace and humiliation.
Arabs and especially Muslims still venerate matters of honor. They respect the person who defends his honor and female family members, even if this means that he sacrifices his life and wealth. They guard their honor with whatever wealth they may have, for there is no value of any wealth when honor is lost. Moreover, if a person disregards this, he will be worthless in this world and in the Hereafter, and will be away from Allaah The Almighty. The Prophet,sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, said:“Allaah The Almighty will not look at three persons on the Day of Resurrection: a person who is undutiful to his parents; a masculine woman; and the Dayyooth."]Saheeh[
This incurable disease does not afflict anyone but the person who lacks a sense of honor and jealousy and whose faith is weak. He does not care about non-Mahram)i.e., marriageable( men visiting his womenfolk, intermixing with them, or them appearing unveiled before them.
In fact, a person would be utterly shocked at seeing such "men" buying clothes for their women that reveal more than they cover, or clothes that are transparent and display the charms of the body. They are happy that people look at the ‘Awrah)nakedness( of their wives or the women whom Allaah has made them responsible for. They boast of their liberation from decency and virtue, and behave immorally and indecently. Such a man is a corpse in the guise of a living person.
Al-Ghazaali, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said,“If a person lacks proper manly fervor, he is unlikely to react appropriately towards any assault against his womenfolk or wife. He will submissively bear humiliation from evil people and will have low self-esteem. This may cause such a person to lack any feeling of protective jealousy regarding his womenfolk. In this case, his offspring may become adulterated. Therefore it is said: ‘Once protective jealousy dies down in the men of a particular nation, the chastity of its women will be weakened.’”
Ath-Thahabi, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said,“A man who realizes immorality in his wife and ignores it because he loves her, or because he owes her money that he is unable to pay back, or because he owes her a large dowry, or because he has young children from her, then there will be no good in him for he lacks jealousy. A person who possesses this attitude is the Dayyooth.”
The Mass Media Encourages theDayyooth
People may think that the mass media shape the Muslim’s personality in an upright manner, but the reality is the opposite. It is in fact one of the greatest encouragers of theDayyoothand a destroyer of protective jealousy. It broadcasts immoral pornographic scenes, obscene advertisements and lewd songs. It beautifies such dissolute men and women and presents them as examples. Women even chant their love of a specific actor or singer in front of their husbands, fathers and brothers, who have no reaction at all. In some media programs, a married woman or a girl may call to express her love and adoration of the actor, paying no attention to the reaction of her male relatives, perhaps, because she is certain they will not object.

Social Concerns, - What Do Scholars Say about Intermixing? - I

• Imaam Ash-Shaafi‘i, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said in his book Al-Umm, "I do not like women to be buried with men in a single grave as long as there is no necessity. However, if this is necessary, then the man should be in front and the woman in the back along with a separator of dust between them."
Imaam Ash-Shaafi‘i, may Allaah have mercy upon him, hated mixing men and women even if they were dead in the grave not feeling the presence of one another, so, what should we say about college students who sit with the boy’s thigh stuck to his girlfriend’s thigh while they are alive, with desire running in their veins and each of them wants the other?
• Ibn Al-Qayyim, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said in At-Turuq Al-Hukmiyyah fi As-Syaasah Ash-Shar‘iyyah:
Some Islamic jurists rightly stated that it is allowable for the ruler )concerned authorities( to spoil the clothing of women who impermissibly expose their adornment with ink or so if this is suitable. This is considered the least financial punishment, as the Commander of the Believers ‘Umar ibn Al-Khattaab, may Allaah be pleased with him, prevented women from walking with men or intermixing with them in the roads.
Shaykh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said in Al-Fataawa )15/297(,"Unlike the man, the woman should be protected and preserved; hence, she was specified with the command to wear the Hijaab )Islamic covering( and refrain from showing her adornment before non-Mahram )marriageable( men. Therefore, she, unlike the man, must abide in her house and must abide by Hijaab, because the appearance of women without necessity causes temptation, and men are in charge of them."
• Shaykh Ahmad Shaakir, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said,
Imaam Ahmad, may Allaah have mercy upon him, narrated on the authority of Umm Salamah, may Allaah be pleased with her, that she said, “O Messenger of Allaah, why are we not allowed to perform Jihaad )armed struggle( like men? Why do we receive half the share of inheritance available to males?” Thereupon, Allaah The Almighty revealed )what means(:}And do not wish for that by which Allaah has made some of you exceed others. For men is a share of what they have earned, and for women is a share of what they have earned. And ask Allaah of his bounty. Indeed Allaah is ever, of all things, knowing.{]Quran 4:32[
Shaykh Ahmad Shaakir, may Allaah have mercy upon him, commented on this Hadeeth )narration( saying, "This Hadeeth refutes the allegations made by the contemporary liars who are keen on spreading immorality among the believers to be as immoral as the non-Muslims. They encourage women to leave their houses to enlist in the army, where their arms and thighs are exposed and their front and back are shown, intending, in fact, to entertain the young soldiers who are deprived of women in the army; in imitation of the dissolute Jews and Westerners, may the successive curses of Allaah be upon them until the Day of Judgment."
• Dr. Saalih ibn Fawzaan Al-Fawzaan said in his book Rulings Pertaining to Muslim Women:
Today, the enemies of Islam - rather, the enemies of humanity, including the disbelievers and hypocrites who have a disease in their hearts -- are embittered by the chastity and honorable status of the Muslim woman under Islam.
That is because the enemies of Islam want women to serve as a tool of destruction and a trap by which they can seduce and prey on those who have weak faith and those who have a perverted nature, after getting her to fulfill their frenzied desires. Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}Allaah wants to accept your repentance, but those who follow ]their[ passions want you to digress ]into[ a great deviation.{]Quran 4:28[
The Muslims who have a disease in their hearts want the woman to be a cheap commodity displayed before lascivious ‎people. They want her to be an object, exposed before their eyes so they can enjoy her beauty or reach of her what is uglier than that.
That is why they endeavor to get the woman out of her house to work side by side with men, or to serve men as a nurse in hospitals, a stewardess on board planes, a teacher or professor in mixed schools, an actress or singer in theaters, or a broadcaster in the mass media where she would seduce men by her voice and beauty.
Immoral magazines have taken seductive ‎pictures of girls as a means for promoting and marketing themselves. Similarly, some businessmen and companies exploit such pictures to promote their products.
These conspiracies led women to abandon their natural and true duty inside her house, which forced husbands to hire foreign female maids to raise their children and take care of the affairs of their households, and this has resulted in great evil and much temptation.

Social Concerns, - What Do Scholars Say about Intermixing? - II

• Shaykh Ibn Baaz, may Allaah have mercy upon him, answering the advocates of permissiveness and necessity of intermixing between the sexes:
In answer to the Director of San‘aa’ University, Abdul-‘Azeez Al-Muqaalih, who wrote an article in As-Siyaasah newspaper in 24/7/1404 AH, calling for intermixing between the sexes in educational institutions, arguing that both men and women used to perform prayer in the same mosque during the lifetime of the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, Shaykh Ibn Baaz, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said:
There is no doubt that this call represents a serious violation of the Islamic Sharee'ah )Islamic legislation(, because the Sharee'ah does not call for intermixing between the sexes but rather forbids it and stresses such forbiddance. Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:
•}And abide in your houses and do not display yourselves as ]was[ the display of the former times of ignorance.{]Quran 33:33[
•}O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves ]part[ of their outer garments. That is more suitable that they will be known and not be abused. And ever is Allaah Forgiving and Merciful.{]Quran 33:58[
•}And tell the believing women to reduce ]some[ of their vision and guard their private parts and not expose their adornment except that which ]necessarily[ appears thereof and to wrap ]a portion of[ their head covers over their chests and not expose their adornment except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers, their brothers' sons, their sisters' sons, their women, that which their right hands possess, or those male attendants having no physical desire, or children who are not yet aware of the private aspects of women. And let them not stamp their feet to make known what they conceal of their adornment. And turn to Allaah in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed.{]Quran 24:31[
•}And when you ask ]his wives[ for something, ask them from behind a partition. That is purer for your hearts and their hearts.{]Quran 33:53[
There are many other verses in the Quran calling women to remain in their houses for fear of temptation, as long as there is no necessity for them to leave the house.
It was narrated on the authority of Usaamah ibn Zayd, may Allaah be pleased with him, that the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, said:“I am not leaving behind me a more harmful temptation for men than women.”]Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[
It was also narrated on the authority of Abu Sa‘eed Al-Khudri, may Allaah be pleased with him, that the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, said:“The world is sweet and green )alluring(; and verily, Allaah is making you succeed each other, generation after generation in order to see how you act. So, beware of this world and beware of women, for they were the first trial of Banu Israel.”]Muslim[
It is known that when male and female students sit at the same desk, this causes temptation, particularly when the female students do not adhere to the Hijaab )Islamic covering(. There was no intermixing between men and women during the lifetime of the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam -- neither in the mosque nor in markets; rather, rows of women were always behind those of men. The Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, said:“The best of the men's rows )in prayer( is the first row and the worst ‎is the last; and the best of the woman's rows is the last and the worst is the first.”The Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, also used to command his Companions to wait for a while until the women had left the mosque. He also commanded women not to walk in the middle of the road, and used to go to the women to preach to them after the men at the conclusion of the ‘Eed prayer because they were at a distance, unable to hear the Khutbah )sermon(.
• Shaykh Ibn Baaz, may Allaah have mercy upon him, also said in answer to Al-Jazeerah newspaper, issued in 15/4/1403 AH, where some writers suggested mixed education in elementary schools:
This is a very dangerous and evil suggestion. It was narrated on the authority of ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Amr ibn Al-‘Aas, may Allaah be pleased with him, that the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, said:“Command your children to perform prayer when they are seven years old, and beat them for )not offering( it when they are ten, and separate them in beds.”]Abu Daawood[
The Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, commanded us to prevent boys and girls from sharing the same bed after the age of ten because such intermixing may lead to immorality.
• Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, may Allaah have mercy upon him, was asked the following question:"I am a young man from a rich family. I study at a mixed school and this helped me establish shameful relationships with girls. I have committed many sins and I want to know what I should do to get rid of my misery. Is there repentance for me? What are the conditions of repentance?"
In his response to this question, Shaykh ibn ‘Uthaymeen, may Allaah have mercy upon him, called upon rulers to protect their people from the causes of evil and temptation, particularly the Fitnah )trial( of intermixing between the sexes. In addition to sincere intention and true determination, this can be achieved through establishing schools, institutes, and universities only for girls. Women have the right to learn just as men, but they must be separated from men.
Abu Sa‘eed Al-Khudri, may Allaah be pleased with him, reported, “A woman came to the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and ‎said, "O Messenger of Allaah! Only men benefit from your‎‏ ‏teachings, so please devote some of your time to us; a day on which we may come ‏to you so that you may ‎teach us about what Allaah The Almighty has taught you." The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said‏:“Gather on such-and-such a day at such-and-such a ‎place."They gathered and he went to them ‎and taught them what Allaah The Almighty had taught him”. ]Al-Bukhaari[
This apparently proves that a special place should be dedicated to the education of women, since the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, did not tell them to attend with men.
• Dr. Muhammad Ismaa‘eel Al-Muqaddim said in his book ‘Awdat Al-Hijaab:
The example of those who underestimate the matter of prohibited intermixing between men and women under the pretext that they are habituated to adherence to chastity and virtue, is that of a people who put an amount of gunpowder near a lighted fire and then claim that there will not be an explosion because there is a warning written on the gunpowder that it should not burn. This is merely illusion that is removed from reality because it contradicts the nature of things. Those who invented intermixing are now suffering from its catastrophic results and calling to have it cancelled.

Dought & clear, - When they need to write the Gregorian date.

Some of the offices of al-Muntada al-Islami are in countries which use
the Gregorian calendar. We use the Hijri calendar, but this causes us
problems when we deal with government departments which do not use the
Hijri calendar, or when drawing up budgets, paying salaries and
preparing financial reports for the appropriate departments in those
countries.
Praise be to Allaah.
There is nothing wrong with using both dates, so long as the Hijri
date is written first, followed by the equivalent Gregorian date. The
Hijri date is based on the lunar months, which are clear and can be
readily observed by anyone who has eyes to see, but the Gregorian
months do not have any clearly visible signs and can only be known
through calculations. Hence the Islamic sharee'ah uses the Arabic
months for the dates of fasting, Hajj, I'tikaaf and so on. Beginning
with the Hijri date is also a manifestation of the symbols and
features of Islam among those who do not know them. And Allaah knows
best.

Dought & clear, - Ruling on celebrating Valentine’s Day.

What is the ruling on Valentine's Day?.
Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:
Valentine's Day is a jaahili Roman festival, which continued to be
celebrated until after the Romans became Christian. This festival
became connected with the saint known as Valentine who was sentenced
to death on 14 February 270 CE. The kuffaar still celebrate this
festival, during which immorality and evil are practised widely. For
more details on this celebration, please see: Celebrating Valentine's
Day .
Secondly:
It is not permissible for a Muslim to celebrate any of the festivals
of the kuffaar, because festivals come under the heading of shar'i
issues which are to be based on the sound texts.
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
Festivals are part of sharee'ah, clear way and rituals of which Allaah
says (interpretation of the meaning):
"To each among you, We have prescribed a law and a clear way"
[al-Maa'idah 5:48]
"For every nation We have ordained religious ceremonies which they must follow"
[al-Hajj 22:67]
-- such as the qiblah (direction faced in prayer), prayer and fasting.
There is no difference between their participating in the festival and
their participating in all other rituals. Joining in fully with the
festival is joining in with kufr, and joining in with some of its
minor issues is joining in with some of the branches of kufr. Indeed,
festivals are one of the most unique features that distinguish various
religions and among their most prominent symbols, so joining in with
them is joining in with the most characteristic and prominent symbols
of kufr. No doubt joining in with this may lead to complete kufr.
Partially joining in, at the very least, is disobedience and sin. This
was indicated by the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) when he said: "Every people has its festival and this is our
festival." This is worse than joining them in wearing the zinaar (a
garment that was worn only by ahl al-dhimmah) and other
characteristics of theirs, for those characteristics are man-made and
are not part of their religion, rather the purpose behind them is
simply to distinguish between a Muslim and a kaafir. As for the
festival and its rituals, this is part of the religion which is cursed
along with its followers, so joining in with it is joining in with
something that is a cause of incurring the wrath and punishment of
Allaah. End quote fromIqtida' al-Siraat al-Mustaqeem(1/207).
He also said (may Allaah have mercy on him): It is not permissible for
the Muslims to imitate them in anything that is uniquely a part of
their festivals, whether it be food, clothing, bathing, lighting
fires, refraining from a regular habit, doing acts of worship or
anything else. It is not permissible to give a feast or to give gifts,
or to sell anything that will help them to do that for that purpose,
or to allow children and others to play games that are part of the
festivals, or to wear one's adornments.
To conclude: the Mulsims should not do any of their rituals at the
time of their festivals; rather the day of their festival should be
like any other day for the Muslims. The Muslims should not do anything
specific in imitation of them. End quote fromMajmoo
al-Fataawa(25/329).
Al-Haafiz al-Dhahabi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: If the
Christians have a festival, and the Jews have a festival, it is only
for them, so no Muslim should join them in that, just as no Muslim
should join them in their religion or their direction of prayer. End
quote fromTashabbuh al-Khasees bi Ahl al-Khamees, published inMajallat
al-Hikmah(4/193)
The hadeeth to which Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah referred was
narrated by al-Bukhaari (952) and Muslim (892) from 'Aa'ishah (may
Allaah be pleased with her) who said: Abu Bakr came in and there were
two young girls of the Ansaar with me who were singing about what had
happened to the Ansaar on the day of Bu'aath. She said: And they were
not (professional) singing girls. Abu Bakr said: "Musical instruments
of the shaytaan in the house of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him)?!" and that was on the day of Eid.
The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
said: "O Abu Bakr, every people has a festival and this is our
festival."
Abu Dawood (1134) narrated that Anas (may Allaah be pleased with him)
said: When the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) came to Madeenah, they had two days when they would play. He
said: "What are these two days?" They said: "We used to play on these
days during the Jaahiliyyah." The Messenger of Allaah (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Allaah has given you instead
of them two days that are better than them: the day of al-Adha and the
day of al-Fitr." This hadeeth was classed as saheeh by al-Albaani
inSaheeh AbiDawood.
This indicates that festivals are among the characteristics by which
nations are distinguished, and it is not permissible to celebrate the
festivals of the ignorant and the mushrikeen (polytheists).
The scholars have issued fatwas stating that it is haraam to celebrate
Valentine's Day.
1 -Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked:
In recent times the celebration of Valentine's Day has become
widespread, especially among female students. It is a Christian
festival where people dress completely in red, including clothes and
shoes, and they exchange red flowers. We hope that you can explain the
ruling on celebrating this festival, and what your advice is to
Muslims with regard to such matters; may Allaah bless you and take
care of you.
He replied:
Celebrating Valentine's Day is not permissible for a number of reasons.
1- It is an innovated festival for which there is no basis in Islam.
2- It promotes love and infatuation.
3- It calls for hearts to be preoccupied with foolish matters that
are contrary to the way of the righteous salaf (may Allaah be pleased
with them).
It is not permissible on this day to do any of the things that are
characteristic of this festival, whether that has to do with food,
drinks, clothing, exchanging gifts or anything else.
The Muslim should be proud of his religion and should not be a weak
character who follows every Tom, Dick and Harry. I ask Allaah to
protect the Muslims from all temptations, visible and invisible, and
to protect us and guide us.
End quote fromMajmoo' Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen(16/199)
2 - The Standing Committee was asked: Some people celebrate
Valentine's Day on the fourteenth of February every year. They
exchange gifts of red roses and wear red clothes and congratulate one
another. Some bakeries make red coloured sweets and draw hearts on
them, and some stores advertise products that are especially for this
day. What is your opinion on the following:
1- Celebrating this day
2- Buying things from the stores on this day
3- Storekeepers who are not celebrating it selling things that may
be given as gifts to people who are celebrating it?
They replied:
The clear evidence of the Qur'aan and Sunnah - and the consensus of
the early generations of this ummah - indicates that there are only
two festivals in Islam: Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. Any other
festivals that have to do with a person, a group, an event or anything
else are innovated festivals, which it is not permissible for Muslims
to observe, approve of or express joy on those occasions, or to help
others to celebrate them in any way, because that is transgressing the
sacred limits of Allaah, and whoever transgresses the sacred limits of
Allaah has wronged himself. If the fabricated festival is also a
festival of the kuffaar, then the sin is even greater, because this is
imitating them and it is a kind of taking them as close friends, and
Allaah has forbidden the believers to imitate them and take them as
close friends in His Holy Book. And it is proven that the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Whoever imitates a
people is one of them." Valentine's Day comes under this heading
because it is an idolatrous Christian festival, so it is not
permissible for a Muslim who believes in Allaah and the Last Day to
observe it or approve of it or congratulate people on it. Rather he
has to ignore it and avoid it, in obedience to Allaah and His
Messenger, and so as to keep away from the causes that incur the wrath
and punishment of Allaah. It is also haraam for the Muslim to help
people to celebrate this or any other haraam festival by supplying any
kind of food or drink, or buying or selling or manufacturing or giving
or advertising etc., because all of that is cooperating in sin and
transgression and is disobedience towards Allaah and His Messenger
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). Allaah says
(interpretation of the meaning):
"Help you one another in Al-Birr and At-Taqwa (virtue, righteousness
and piety); but do not help one another in sin and transgression. And
fear Allaah. Verily, Allaah is Severe in punishment"
[al-Maa'idah 5:2]
The Muslim must adhere to the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah in all his
affairs, especially at times of fitnah when evil is widespread. He
should be smart and avoid falling into the misguidance of those who
have earned Allaah's anger and who have gone astray, and the evildoers
who have no fear of Allaah and who do not have any pride in being
Muslims. The Muslim must turn to Allaah and seek His guidance and
remain steadfast in following it, for there is no Guide except Allaah
and no one can make a person steadfast but Him. And Allaah is the
source of strength. May Allaah send blessings and peace upon our
Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions. End quote.
3 - Shaykh Ibn Jibreen (may Allaah preserve him) was asked:
Among our young men and women it has become common to celebrate
Valentine's Day, which is named after a saint who is venerated by the
Christians, who celebrate it every year on February 14, when they
exchange gifts and red roses, and they wear red clothes. What is the
ruling on celebrating this day and exchanging gifts?
He replied:
Firstly: it is not permissible to celebrate these innovated festivals,
because it is an innovation for which there is no basis in Islam. It
comes under the heading of the hadeeth of 'Aa'ishah (may Allaah be
pleased with her), according to which the Prophet (peace and blessings
of Allaah be upon him) said: "Whoever introduces anything into this
matter of ours that is not part of it will have it rejected."
Secondly: it involves imitating the kuffaar and copying them by
venerating that which they venerate and respecting their festivals and
rituals, and imitating them in something that is part of their
religion. In the hadeeth it says: "Whoever imitates a people is one of
them."
Thirdly: it results in evils and haraam things such as wasting time,
singing, music, extravagance, unveiling, wanton display, men mixing
with women, women appearing before men other than their mahrams, and
other haraam things, or things that are a means that leads to
immorality. That cannot be excused by the claim that this is a kind of
entertainment and fun. The one who is sincere towards himself should
keep away from sin and the means that lead to it.
And he said:
Based on this, it is not permissible to sell these gifts and roses, if
it is known that the purchaser celebrates these festivals or will give
these things as gifts on those days, so that the seller will not be a
partner of the one who does those innovations. And Allaah knows best.

Dought & clear, - Ruling on pledges of allegiance to one’s homeland.

What is the ruling on the call made by some who say that it is
obligatory to be loyal to one's homeland?
Praise be to Allaah.
What is obligatory is to be loyal to Allaah and His Messenger, in the
sense that one takes others as friends or enemies for the sake of
Allaah. His homeland may be not Islamic, so how can he be loyal to his
homeland? But if his homeland is Islamic, then he must love good for
it and strive to achieve that. But his loyalty must be to Allaah, so
that whoever is a Muslim and is obedient towards Allaah is his friend,
and whoever is opposed to the religion of Allaah is his enemy, even if
he is a member of his family or from the same country, and even if he
is his brother, uncle or father, etc. Friendship must be for the sake
of Allaah and enmity must be for the sake of Allaah. As far as a
person's homeland is concerned, he likes it if it is Islamic. He must
promote goodness in his homeland and strive for it to remain Islamic
and for its situation and its people to remain stable. This is what is
obligatory upon all Muslims. We ask Allaah to strengthen and guide us,
you and all the Muslims. May He make our intentions correct and our
deeds righteous. May Allaah bless our Prophet Muhammad and his family
and companions.

For children, - Islamic Jokes: Holy Prophet Muhammed (saw) and Old Woman(Islamic Humour)

Holy Prophet Muhammed (saw) smiled often and would make jokes with
members of his community. For example, An old woman came to our Holy
Prophet Muhammed (saw) and said: "O Messenger of Allah, pray to Allah
(Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala) that I will enter Paradise." Holy Prophet
Muhammed (saw) said jokingly, "O Mother of so-and-so, no old women
will enter Paradise." The old woman went away crying, after hearing
from Holy Prophet Muhammed (saw). Then Holy Prophet Muhammed (saw)
sent one of his companions to tell her that, she will enter Paradise
by becoming a young lady, because the Paradise is for only young
people.
Holy Prophet Muhammed (saw) said: "Do not laugh too much, for laughing
too much deadens the heart." At another place, Holy Prophet Muhammed
(saw) said: "If you knew what I know, you would laugh little and weep
much."
Imam Jafar as Sadiq (AS)said: Avoid incorrect jokes and humors, as it
is the cause of enmity and grudge. Also Imam Jafar as Sadiq (AS) said:
The believers laughter should be only a smile. At another place Imam
Jafar as Sadiq (AS) said: Beware of joking, because it causes rancor
and drives into malice. Joking is the lesser revilement.
Making Fun of People just for the sake of Laugh
Holy Prophet Muhammed (saw) said, "Woe to whoever lies while quoting
someone so that others laugh. Woe to him!"
Imam Jafar as Sadiq (as) said, Do not make fun of people since it will
ruin one's honor and dignity. The Prophet's companions used to gather
together and tell jokes until the following verse was revealed: "Has
not the Time arrived for the Believers that their hearts in all
humility should engage in the remembrance of Allah ..." (Noble Qur'an,
57:16) Then after Holy Prophet Muhammed (saw) recited this verse they
stopped their joking and vain talk.