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Regards,
NAJIMUDEEN M/
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Personal, - Dispute and Arguments bring about Enmity

In sessions, forums and dialogue, it is easy to observe people engaged
in arguments, debate and disputes that may arouse discord and
hostility. This is an evil and incurable characteristic that occupies
many people.
Dispute is Part of Man's Nature
The Noble Quran clearly states that man is naturally argumentative,
despite the evidence, arguments, proofs, clear signs and varied
examples that he sees. Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}And We
have certainly diversified in this Quran for the people from every
]kind of[ example; but man has ever been, most of anything, ]prone to[
dispute.{]Quran 18:54[
Two Types of Dispute
Disputes are either disliked or laudable. They can be commendable when
they are intended to show the truth, to direct others or to call them
to it. This is what Allaah The Almighty ordered the Prophet,
sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, to adopt. Allaah The Almighty Says
)what means(:
}Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and
argue with them in a way that is best. Indeed, your Lord is Most
Knowing of who has strayed from His way, and He is most knowing of who
is ]rightly[ guided.{]Quran 16:125[
}And do not argue with the People of the Scripture except in a way
that is best, except for those who commit injustice among them, and
say, "We believe in that which has been revealed to us and revealed to
you. And our God and your God is One; and we are Muslims ]in
submission[ to Him."{]Quran 29:46[
In this respect the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam,
said:"Struggle against disbelievers with your money, souls and
tongues."
'Abdullaah ibn 'Abbaas, may Allaah be pleased with them, debated with
the Khawaarij )an extreme sect in Islam( at the time of 'Ali ibn Abi
Taalib, may Allaah be pleased with him, in compliance with the
latter's order. Ibn 'Abbaas, may Allaah be pleased with him and his
father, informed and educated them beyond the excuse of ignorance and
then renounced them. Consequently, many of them renounced their
religious innovations. That was an example of a praiseworthy argument
that helps to show the truth with corroborative evidence.
Another kind of dispute, which is the subject of our discussion,
depends on falsehood, and it has many forms:
Dispute to Conceal the Truth
Dispute may be used to suppress the light of truth and to distract
people from it. Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:
}And indeed do the devils inspire their allies ]among men[ to dispute
with you. And if you were to obey them, indeed, you would be
associators ]of others with Him[.{]Quran 6:121[
}They disputed by ]using[ falsehood to ]attempt to[ invalidate thereby
the truth. So I seized them, and how ]terrible[ was My Penalty.{]Quran
40:5[
}And among them are those who listen to you, but We have placed over
their hearts coverings, lest they understand it, and in their ears
deafness. And if they should see every sign, they will not believe in
it. Even when they come to you arguing with you, those who disbelieve
say, "This is not but legends of the former peoples."{]Quran 6:25[
Arrogance is the motivation behind this sort of dispute - the
arrogance that prevents people from accepting the truth and acting
upon it. Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}Indeed, those who
dispute concerning the Signs of Allaah without ]any[ authority having
come to them - there is not within their breasts except pride, ]the
extent of[ which they cannot reach. So seek refuge in Allaah. Indeed,
it is He who is The Hearing, The Seeing.{]Quran 40:56[
This sort of dispute destroys, misleads, blinds and makes those who
practice it losers on the Day of Resurrection. Allaah The Almighty
Says )what means(:
}And of the people is he who disputes about Allaah without knowledge
and follows every rebellious devil. It has been decreed for every
devil that whoever turns to him - he will misguide him and will lead
him to the punishment of the Blaze.{]Quran 22:3-4[
}And of the people is he who disputes about Allaah without knowledge
or guidance or an enlightening book ]from Him[, twisting his neck ]in
arrogance[ to mislead ]people[ from the way of Allaah. For him in the
world is disgrace, and We will make him taste on the Day of
Resurrection the punishment of the Burning Fire.{]Quran 22:8-9[
Dispute in Showing One's Merit and Belittling Others
This is a great evil that few people manage to avoid. It is the habit
of many in their speaking as well as in their sessions and forums.
This sort of dispute is aroused by a person's feeling of superiority
and intelligence, and his attempts to deprecate the opinions of
others. This is a sign of deviation. The Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu
'alayhi wa sallam, said:"No people have gone astray after the guidance
they used to follow except because of their engagement in
disputes."Then he recited the verse )which means(:}They did not
present the comparison except for ]mere[ argument. But, ]in fact[,
they are a people prone to dispute.{]Quran 43:58[ ]Ibn Maajah,
Al-Albaani - Hasan[
Allaah The Almighty does not like this kind of people. The Prophet,
sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, said:"The most hated person in the
sight of Allaah is the most quarrelsome one."]Al-Bukhaari[
People who build their arguments upon falsehood expose themselves to
the wrath of Allaah The Exalted. The Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa
sallam, said:"If a person engages in a dispute based on falsehood
while he knows that it is falsehood, he incurs the wrath of Allaah on
himself until he stops."]Abu Daawood, Al-Albaani - Saheeh[
Knowing that this sort of dispute is difficult for people to avoid,
the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, assured those who abandon
it that they would thereby receive a magnificent reward; He,
sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, said:"I guarantee a palace on the
outskirts of Paradise for a man who avoids quarrelling even if he is
right."]Abu Daawood, Al-Albaani - Hasan[
These people are in grave danger, and their attitude indicates
deviation in their hearts. Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}It
is He who has sent down to you, ]O Muhammad[, the Book; in it are
verses ]that are[ precise - they are the foundation of the Book - and
others unspecific. As for those in whose hearts is deviation ]from
truth[, they will follow that of it which is unspecific, seeking
discord and seeking an interpretation ]suitable to them[. And no one
knows its ]true[ interpretation except Allaah. But those firm in
knowledge say, "We believe in it. All ]of it[ is from our Lord." And
no one will be reminded except those of understanding.{]Quran 2:7[ The
Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, read this verse and said to
one of his wives:"O 'Aa`ishah, when you see those who dispute
concerning the Quran, be sure that they are whom Allaah intended here;
so beware of them."]Ibn Maajah, Al-Albaani - Saheeh[
Dispute Makes People Lose Out on Good
This sort of dispute causes the loss of good. 'Ubaadah ibn As-Saamit,
may Allaah be pleased with him, said, "The Prophet, sallallaahu
'alayhi wa sallam, once came out to inform us about the ]date of the[
Night of Al-Qadr. However, a quarrel took place between two Muslim
men. The Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, said:'I had come out
to inform you about ]the date of[ the Night of Al-Qadr, but due to the
quarrel that occurred between so and so, its knowledge was taken away,
and maybe this is better for you. Now, look for it in the seventh, the
ninth and the fifth ]of the last ten nights of the month of
Ramadan[.'"]Al-Bukhaari[
As it leads to the loss of good and mars acts of worship, such
disputes were declared impermissible. Allaah The Almighty Says )what
means(:}Pilgrimage is ]during[ well-known months, so whoever had made
Pilgrimage obligatory upon himself therein ]by entering the state of
Ihraam[, there is ]to be for him[ no sexual relations and no
disobedience and no disputing during Pilgrimage.{]Quran 2:197[
With regards to fasting, the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam,
said:"When any one of you is fasting, he must not have sexual
relations..."and the wording that is narrated by Sa'eed ibn Mansoor, may
Allaah have mercy upon him, reads:"...He must not dispute."
This form of dispute causes grudges and enmity among people.
Disputing for Usurping the Rights of Others
The most evil form of all is disputing to usurp the rights of others.
The Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, said:"I am merely a human
being, and you ]disputants[ come to me with your cases. Someone may
present his case eloquently and in a more convincing way than another.
I give my verdict according to what I hear. So if ever I judge ]by
error[ and give the right of a brother to his other ]brother[, then he
]the latter[ should not take it, for I am giving him only a piece of
the Fire."]Al-Bukhaari[
A person from Hadhramawt and another from Kindah once came to the
Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam. The one who came from
Hadhramawt said, "O Messenger of Allaah, this man has appropriated a
land which belonged to my father." The one who came from Kindah said,
"The land is mine and it is in my possession. I cultivate it and he
has no right to it." The Messenger, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam,
said to the Hadhramite:"Do you have any evidence ]to support you[?"He
replied in the negative. The Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam,
said:"Your case is then to be decided by his oath."The Hadhramite
said, "O Messenger of Allaah, he is a liar and cares not what he
swears and has no regard for anything." The Prophet, sallallaahu
'alayhi wa sallam, remarked:"You have no right to demand anything from
him except that ]which you stated[."The man from Kindah then set out
to take an oath. When he left the Messenger, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa
sallam, said:"If he has taken an oath on his property to consume it
unjustly, he will certainly meet Allaah while He is turning away from
]i.e., shunning[ him."]Al-Bukhaari[
The Righteous Predecessors Warned Against Dispute
As disputes that are based on falsehood or not based on evidence
result in such previously-mentioned harms, the righteous warned
against disputes and advised us to avoid them. The following are some
reported citations in this regard.
Prophet Sulaymaan )Solomon(, may Allaah exalt his mention, said to one
of his sons, "Avoid dispute, for it is of little benefit, and it stirs
enmity among brothers."
Ibn 'Abbaas, may Allaah be pleased with him and his father, said,
"What a sinful action it is for you to be disputant."
Al-Awzaa'i, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said, "If Allaah The
Almighty wants evil to befall some people, He keeps them in continuous
dispute and makes them stop doing ]good deeds[."
Muhammad ibn Husayn ibn 'Ali, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said,
"Dispute erases one's religion and implants enmity among people."
'Abdullaah ibn Al-Hasan ibn Al-Husayn, may Allaah have mercy upon him,
was asked, "What do you think of dispute?" He replied, "It spoils old
friendship and severs firm relations. It is at the very least a means
of overpowering others in argument, which is the strongest cause for
the severance of relations."
Ash-Shaafi'i, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said, "Dispute in
religion hardens hearts and causes grudges."
In the past, it was said, "Do not dispute with either a forbearing or
a foolish person - the former will overcome you and the latter will
harm you."
O Allaah, keep us away from dispute and the disputant, and help us to
be upright, and do not let our hearts deviate after You have guided
us.

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Regards,
NAJIMUDEEN M/
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*- Online Translator -*
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Personal, - Everything in the Universe tends to be Covered

Allaah The Almighty safeguarded the Earth with the atmosphere before
women lived on it wearing Hijaab )Islamic covering(. The Earth with
its atmosphere; all types of living cells; and all parts of the plants
ranging from seeds to fruits - are all covered.
A caterpillar starts its life in a cocoon; the skin covers the organs;
a corpse is shrouded in white pieces of cloth; and then buried under
the earth, men and women alike.
Inanimate objects are veiled:
A sword is kept in its sheath. When a pen loses its cap; its ink dries
up; it becomes useless and is thrown away to be trodden on, because it
lost its cap, which is the source of its protection. Why do our
children bind their books and notebooks? Is it to waste time or to
protect them? You put your head on a pillow which is kept clean
because of its case that protects it from dirt.
Living beings are veiled:
The cell is surrounded with double membranes, inside and outside, to
protect it and regulate the activity of its components.
* The plant cell
It is surrounded by a thick wall which supports it even after death.
* The animal cell
Vertebral cells exist in holes; bone cells are located in tubes; the
female ova is kept in the ovaries; the neurons )nerve cells( are long
and sheathed, so that they are protected from damage and being cut.
Every cell has its own cover; similarly, a woman has to have her
distinctive cover )Hijaab(.
Plants are veiled:
* The seed
Soil is the veil of the seed; it shelters the seed from the sunshine.
The seed lives in darkness in order to grow. The shell is a second
cover followed by a third one. The root has a growing top covered by a
cap whereby the root penetrates the soil.
Deep soil is better for the seed than the surface. Similarly, when a
woman covers herself, she rejects superficiality and thrives
spiritually; when she discards her Hijaab, she brings evil upon
herself and spreads corruption among the Ummah )Muslim nation(.
* The flower
The pistil is in the center of the blossom and is surrounded by petals
that protect it. Allaah The Almighty protects the pistil in this way.
Is the woman not entitled to such protection? What are the means of
this protection? Is not a woman who discards the Hijaab like a
beautiful flower, looking dazzling in her adornment, spreading her
fragrance, and attracting all kinds of creatures towards it? But all
flowers wither and mix with the dust - the difference is that the
flower has no reckoning, but human beings do. Would you like this end?
* The fruit
Consider: What happens to an apple when you cut part of it and leave
it? Why does a banana turn black after peeling it?
Animals are veiled:
* Sea animals
In the sea, we find various types of corals, shells and snails - all
of them form covers to guard mollusks. Surely, blessed Is Allaah, The
Creator, The Originator and The Fashioner!
* Land animals
The butterfly passes through different stages of development. It
receives a great command from the Allaah The Almighty, that it carries
it out. It secretes sticky threads, spins them, and weaves them to
produce a veil for the developing pupae inside a cocoon.
If an unthinking creature obeys the orders of Allaah the Almighty,
then how can a woman who is favored with reason and logic disobey
Allaah The Almighty?
Reptiles have scales; a hedgehog has sharp spines; a turtle carries a
big, heavy shell on its back throughout its life. A turtle has the
heaviest veil that bears witness to its patience. Which woman has the
most precious Hijaab? A woman who spends a fortune on a showy, costly
Hijaab which itself needs to be covered with another Hijaab in order
to be Islamically acceptable; or the modest garb of a woman who
desires the dress of Paradise?
Covers vary from one animal to another, and they may vary among the
same species according to the needs of the animal.
Young birds are protected by the fragile shell of the egg that can
easily break. So, women should not claim that Hijaab is merely a piece
of cloth, for this piece of cloth is sufficient to protect you -
Allaah willing. Eggs hatch, letting chicks come out with light fluffy
hair which later develop into long feathers that protect the bird.
Humans are veiled:
Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}He creates you in the wombs of
your mothers, creation after creation, within three darknesses.{]Quran
39:6[
* The fetus in its mother's womb
The fetus remains safe in its mother's womb for nine months, and the
womb is surrounded by membranes and layers. The three types of
darkness are: darkness of the placenta, darkness of the womb's wall,
and darkness of the walls of the belly.
These membranes provide the fetus with comfort, security, food and oxygen.
* Veils in the man's body
The diaphragm exists in the body and separates the heart and the lungs
from the rest of the organs. It perfectly performs its function
because it is thick, and neither light nor transparent.
On the contrary a woman's Hijaab nowadays is light and revealing the
details of the body. Not only is the woman's Hijaab transparent, but
it is also revealing - as if it were designed to allure, not to
conceal - thus, belying its very purpose.
* The skeleton
It consists of a hard, protective skull where the brain is located.
The brain is the man's treasure, because it is the site of the mental
faculties which distinguish him from animals, and it is located
securely inside a bony container. A skillful doctor's lancet cannot
reach it except after sawing the skull. It is a mighty safe given to
the rich and the poor, and is similar to an iron safe where precious
jewels are kept. Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}...And in
yourselves. Then will you not see?{]Quran 51:21[
* The heart
The heart is like a gift wrapped in multiple layers. There are five
soldiers guarding it: the pericardium, which is light; two soft lungs
surrounding it; a breastbone securely containing them; muscles and
tissues garmenting the breastbone; all of which is covered with
protective skin. Likewise, the mercy, love and wisdom of our Lord
encircles us, so He legislated Hijaab for us.
* The eye
The eye is the most valuable item man possesses. It is like a ball
that fits in the eye sockets to protect it from injury. A woman, like
the eye, puts on Hijaab to guard herself from being exploited as a sex
object. People who misuse the faculties granted by Allaah The Almighty
start with an unlawful look at a non-Mahram )marriageable( woman,
followed by a smile, then a greeting, then a conversation, then a
date, then a meeting, then impermissible exposure of adornments and
free intermixing. The result usually is committing unlawful sex,
diseases, shame, destruction, and finally torment in Hell. Allaah The
Almighty Says )what means(:}Tell the believing men to reduce ]some[ of
their vision and guard their private parts. That is purer for
them.{]Quran 24:30[
* The skin
The skin is a thick tissue which covers the body entirely and hides
the bones, muscles, blood vessels, and so on. Let the woman imagine:
If the skin had been transparent and showing what is under it, what
would people have looked like? Allaah The Almighty Says )what
means(:}We have certainly created man in the best of stature.{]Quran
95:4[
You sterilize the wounds on your skin in order to protect your body;
however, Hijaab protects both your body and soul. How could you
carelessly and indifferently discard it? With your Hijaab, you are a
representative of Islam, a role model for others, and a guide for the
whole world to the existence of a great religion.
With Hijaab, you are a protected jewel, and without it, you are like a
sweet left uncovered for flies to land on. Are you a commodity for
sale, or a corpse on which bacteria and worms gather? No. By Allaah,
you are a well-protected pearl.
So, put on your Hijaab, because everything in the Universe is covered.
Do not behave at odds with laws of the Universe, for deviation leads
to The Fire.

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Regards,
NAJIMUDEEN M/
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*- Online Translator -*
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Personal, - The Benefits of Purposeful Socializing

A Muslim woman should not say, "What do I have to do with people? I
leave them alone and I do not interfere in their private affairs." We
are required to do take an interest in the well-being of our fellow
Muslims in permissible worldly matters, even though a part of the
perfection of one's Islam is his leaving that which does not concern
him. As for matters which imply certain danger to the morals of others
)even if they are worldly matters( one is required to offer advice,
because offering advice with whole-hearted concern is an essential
pillar of the religion.
A believing woman is required to offer advice and invite people to her
religion as much as she can. The story of the noble Companion, Umm
Sulaym, may Allaah be pleased with her, in this respect is a wonderful
example:
Umm Sulaym, the mother of Anas ibn Maalik, may Allaah be pleased with
them, was one of the early converts to Islam from among the Ansaar
)Helpers(. After her husband's death, Abu Talhah, may Allaah be
pleased with him, proposed to her when he was still a polytheist. She
said to him, "O Abu Talhah, do you not know that this deity whom you
worship grew out of the earth?" "Of course," he answered. She said,
"Do you not feel ashamed to worship a tree? If you become a Muslim, I
will accept you as a husband, and will not ask for dowry other than
your acceptance of Islam." He replied, "I will think about the
matter." He went out and then returned saying, "I bear witness that
there is none worthy of worship but Allaah and that Muhammad is the
Messenger of Allaah." Thereupon, she said to Anas, may Allaah be
pleased with him, "O Anas, approve the marriage proposal of Abu
Talhah," so Anas, may Allaah be pleased with him, gave her away in
marriage to him. ]Al-Haakim[
It was a noble dowry for a woman who was a noble caller to Allaah. She
called Abu Talhah, may Allaah be pleased with him, to worship Allaah
Alone and abandon polytheism. Allaah The Almighty opened his heart for
Islam and accepted it, and what a noble dowry it was!
The Children of Isra'eel were destroyed because they abandoned the
virtue of enjoining good and forbidding evil. Allaah The Exalted Says
)what means(:}They used not to prevent one another from wrongdoing
that they did. How wretched was that which they were doing.{]Quran 5:
79[
To avoid people due to the belief that they are not righteous, is like
the old adage which says, "The last resort for curing is
cauterization." That is because when we avoid people because we feel
that our souls are purer than theirs, our hearts, characters and
intellects are better than theirs, in such a case we have not
accomplished anything constructive or beneficial. Rather, we have
chosen for ourselves the easiest road that requires the least effort.
Real greatness is when one intermixes with those people, is filled
with a spirit of tolerance and sympathy for their weakness,
non-observance and mistakes, as well as a spirit of true willingness
to purify, educate and elevate them to a higher level as much as we
are able.
As such, when a pious woman adheres to righteousness and is committed
to the Sunnah )tradition( and firmly follows it, she is required to
contribute in calling to what is good among women. This is a religious
obligation and a woman is considered guilty if she falls short in
this. Regardless of one's level of piety, each one is required to do
as much as one can for the cause of Islamic propagation, using kind
words and wisdom. Addressing His Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa
sallam, Allaah The Exalted Says )what means(:}So by mercy from Allaah,
]O Muhammad[, you were lenient with them. And if you had been rude ]in
speech[ and harsh in heart, they would have disbanded from about
you.{]Quran 3: 159[
She is kind to those who are around her, respects the old and is
merciful to the young. She does not forget that she seeks a sublime
goal and exerts her best to achieve it using a manner that satisfies
Allaah The Almighty and leads to successful results.
As such, our call should be in conformity with the verse in which
Allaah The Exalted Says )what means(:}Call to the way of your Lord
with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is
best.{]Quran 16: 125[
* Reconciliation among believing women:
When the devil works to sow seeds of enmity among Muslim women, we
should eliminate it by reconciling them. Eliminating enmity stands as
evidence behind the sublimity of the soul which works to spread
affection and love among others. In doing so, concord replaces
disputes and maintaining ties replaces boycott. That is why the degree
of the person who reconciles people is better than the one who
constantly performs voluntary fasting, prayer and charity.
It was narrated on the authority of Abu Ad-Dardaa', may Allaah be
pleased with him, that he said, "The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu
'alayhi wa sallam, said:'Shall I tell you a virtue better than
voluntary prayers, fasting and charity?'They )the Companions, may
Allaah be pleased with them( replied in the affirmative. He
said:'Reconciling people, for hatred and enmity uproot good deeds,
just as a razor removes hair.'"]Al-Bukhaari, Muslim[
According to another narration, the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa
sallam, said:"It )hatred and enmity( is the razor. I do not say that
it shaves off hair, but it shaves off religion."
That is because planting enmity among others leads to desertion and
cutting off ties among Muslims which is prohibited under Sharee'ah. It
was narrated that the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, said:"It
is not permissible for a Muslim to desert his )Muslim( brother for
more than three days. They meet each other and both of them turn away,
but the best of them is the one who starts with the greeting of
peace."]Al-Bukhaari, Muslim[
Warning against grudge and desertion and indicating that Allaah Is
Angry with the disputing persons until they agree to reconcile, the
Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, said:"The gates of Paradise
are opened on Mondays and on Thursdays, and every servant ]of Allaah[
who associates nothing with Allaah will be forgiven, except for the
man who has a grudge against his brother. ]About them[ it will be
said, 'Delay these two until they are reconciled,' thrice."]Muslim[
When alienation occurs between two Muslim women, we should hasten to
reconcile them and encourage them to overlook each other's faults. A
Muslim woman is required to accept her Muslim sister's apology and not
turn her face away insisting on desertion and declining to accept her
apology. As the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam,
indicated, the worst among people are those who neither overlook
faults nor accept an apology.
It was narrated on the authority of Ibn 'Abbaas, may Allaah be pleased
with him, that he said,
The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, said:"Shall I
tell you who are the worst of people?"They )the Companions, may Allaah
be pleased with them( said, "Yes, if you wish, O Messenger of Allaah."
He said:"The worst among you is the person who distances himself from
others; and who whips his slave; and does not give in charity. Shall I
tell you who is worse than that?"They said, "Yes, if you wish, O
Messenger of Allaah." He said:"He is the person who hates people and
they hate him. Shall I tell you who is worse than that?"They said,
"Yes, if you wish, O Messenger of Allaah." He said:"Those who neither
overlook any mistake, nor accept apologies, nor forgive faults. Shall
I tell you who is worse than that?"They said: "Yes, if you wish, O
Messenger of Allaah." He said:"It is the person whom others give up on
him and do not expect any good from him, and are fearful of the harm
that comes from him."]At-Tabaraani[
The role of Muslim women in achieving reform is summarized in the following:
* Reforming yourself by getting rid of ignorance and purifying your
faith by obligatory and voluntary acts of worship as well as
increasing in obedience to Allaah The Almighty day by day.
* Reforming the affairs of your family and raising your children upon religion.
* Reforming your Muslim sisters in two ways:
a- Directing to what is good.
b- Establishing and maintaining close ties with them through
reconciliation and exchanging visits with them.
Finally, you should know that you are very important and that you play
a great role in this Ummah. Do not imagine that you are marginalized
or at the periphery of community life. Rather, you are half of this
Ummah and you are responsible for producing and raising the other
half. You are a whole nation.
When you are reformed, and with your attempts to reform others the
Muslim Ummah is reformed and our status quo will change. Therefore,
you should fulfill this responsibility and your reward will be
Paradise, Allaah Willing.

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Dought & clear, - Woe to the drinker of wine

A girl drank alcohol before Ramadaan began, then she started to fast
at the beginning of Ramadaan, but one of the sisters told her that her
fasting would be rejected and that Allaah would not accept it because
she had drunk wine recently, and that she had to wait forty days
before Allaah would accept her prayer and fasting. Is this true? May
Allaah reward you with good.
Praise be to Allaah.
Drinking alcohol is a major sin, for wine is the mother of all evils.
It clouds the mind, wastes money, causes headaches, tastes foul, and
is an abomination of the Shaytaan's [Satan's] handiwork. It creates
enmity and hatred between people, prevents them from remembering
Allaah and praying, calls them to zina [unlawful sexual
relationships], and may even call them to commit incest with their
daughters, sisters or other female relatives. It takes away pride and
protective jealousy (gheerah), and generates shame, regret and
disgrace, and puts the drinker in the same category as the most
imperfect type of people, namely those who are insane. It leads to the
disclosure of secrets and exposure of faults. It encourages people to
commit sins and evil actions. It makes people transgress sacred limits
and the one who is addicted to it is like an idol-worshipper.
How many wars has it started, how many rich men has it made poor, how
many noble people has it brought low, how many blessings has it
destroyed, how many disasters has it caused?
How often has it created division between man and wife?
How much regret has it generated and how many tears has it caused to flow?
How often has it closed the doors of goodness to the drinker and
opened the doors of evil to him?
How often has it brought about calamity and hastened death?
How much trouble has it brought to the one who drinks it?
It is the source of sin, the key to evil; it takes away blessings and
brings calamity.
Even if it did not have all these evil consequences, the fact that one
cannot have both the wine of this world and the wine of Paradise is
sufficient deterrent.
And the evil consequences of alcohol are many time more than we have mentioned.
From the words of Ibn al-Qayyim inHaadi al-Arwaah.
Allaah has warned us against it in His Book and on the lips of His
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).
1 - Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"O you who believe! Intoxicants (all kinds of alcoholic drinks), and
gambling, and Al-Ansaab (stone altars for sacrifices to idols, jinn,
etc), and Al-Azlaam (arrows for seeking luck or decision) are an
abomination of Shaytaan's (Satan's) handiwork. So avoid (strictly all)
that (abomination) in order that you may be successful"
[al-Maa'idah 5:90]
2 - Allaah has cursed the drinker of alcohol. InSunan Abi Dawood(3189)
it is narrated that Ibn 'Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) said:
The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
said: "Allaah has cursed alcohol, the one who drinks it, the one who
pours it, the one who sells it, the one who buys it, the one squeezes
(the grapes, etc), the one for whom it is squeezed, the one who
carries it and the one to whom it is carried." Classed as saheeh by
al-Albaani as stated inSaheeh Abi Dawood, 2/700.
3 - The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) likened
the one who is addicted to alcohol to one who worships idols. It was
narrated that Abu Hurayrah said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "The one who is addicted to
alcohol is like one who worships an idol." Narrated by Ibn Maajah,
3375; classed as hasan by al-Albaani inSaheeh Ibn Maajah, 2720.
4 - The one who is addicted to alcohol will be denied admission to
Paradise. It was narrated from Abu'l-Darda' that the Prophet (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "No one who is addicted to
alcohol will enter Paradise." Narrated by Ibn Maajah, 3376; classed as
saheeh by al-Albaani as stated inSaheeh Ibn Maajah, 2721.
5 - It was narrated that 'Uthmaan (may Allaah be pleased with him)
said: "Avoid alcohol for it is the mother of all evils. There was a
man among the people who came before you who was a devoted worshipper.
A seductive woman fell in love with him, and she sent her slave-woman
to him to call him to bear witness. He went with the slave-woman, and
every time they passed through a door, she locked it behind them,
until he reached a beautiful woman with whom was a child and a vessel
of wine. She said, 'I did not call you to bear witness, rather I
called you either to have intercourse with me, or to drink a cup of
this wine, or to kill this child.' He said, 'Pour me some of this
wine.' So she poured him a cup, then he said, 'Give me more,' and he
did not stop until he had has intercourse with her and killed the
child. So avoid alcohol, for by Allaah faith and addiction to wine
cannot be combined except soon one of them will be expelled."
Narrated by al-Nasaa'i, 5666; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani inSaheeh
al-Nasaa'i, 5236.
6 - His prayers will not be accepted for forty days. It was narrated
that 'Abd-Allaah ibn 'Amr said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Whoever drinks alcohol and
gets drunk, his prayers will not be accepted for forty days, and if he
dies he will go to Hell, but if he repents, Allaah will accept his
repentance. If he drinks wine again and gets drunk, his prayer will
not be accepted for forty days, and if he dies he will go to Hell, but
if he repents, Allaah will accept his repentance. If he drinks wine
again and gets drunk, his prayer will not be accepted for forty days,
and if he dies he will go to Hell, but if he repents, Allaah will
accept his repentance. If he does that again, Allaah will give him to
drink of the mud of khabaal on the Day of Resurrection." They said, "O
Messenger of Allaah, what is the mud of khabaal?" He said, "The juice
of the people of Hell." Narrated by Ibn Maajah, 3377; classed as
saheeh by al-Albaani inSaheeh Ibn Maajah, 2722.
The fact that his prayers are not accepted does not mean that the
person's prayers are invalid, or that he should give up prayer. Rather
what it means is that he will not be rewarded for them. So the purpose
of his prayer is to fulfil his duty and to avoid the punishment for
not praying.
Abu 'Abd-Allaah ibn Mandah said: The phrase "his prayers will not be
accepted" means that he will not be rewarded for his prayers for forty
days, as a punishment for drinking alcohol. This is like what they
said about the one who speaks when the imam is delivering the khutbah
on Friday: he prays Jumu'ah [Friday prayer] but there is no Jumu'ah
for him, meaning that he will not be given the reward for praying
Jumu'ah, as a punishment for his sin.
Ta'zeem Qadr al-Salaah, 2/587, 588. See also Question no, 20037
Al-Nawawi said:
With regard to his prayer not being accepted, what this means is that
he will not be rewarded for it, even though it is valid, and he does
not have to repeat it.
With regard to what the questioner was told about her fasting not
being accepted, this is based on the view of some of the scholars that
the mention of prayer in the hadeeth quoted above is a warning that no
other acts of worship will be accepted either.
Al-Mubaarakfoori said inTuhfat al-Ahwadhi:
It is said that prayer was singled out for mention because it is the
best physical act of worship, and if it is not accepted, it is more
likely that other acts of worship will not be accepted either.
Al-'Iraaqi and al-Mannaawi also said something similar.
Based on this view, fasting is not accepted either, but this does not
mean that the person who drank alcohol should not fast, rather he is
enjoined to fast, but it will not be accepted from him, as a rebuke.
Undoubtedly the person who drinks alcohol should still offer the
prayers on time, and fast in Ramadaan. If he omits some of his prayer
or fasting, he will be committing a major sin that is even greater
than the sin of drinking alcohol.
It should be noted that if a Muslim commits sin and is unable to
repent because of his weakness of faith, that should not be used to
justify his persisting in sin or his addiction, or his neglecting to
do acts of worship. Rather he has to do whatever he can of acts of
worship and strive to give up the sins that he is committing.
The Muslim has to fear Allaah and beware of the wiles and snares of
the Shaytaan [Satan]. He should not let his soul become a plaything of
the Shaytaan. If his Shaytaan overpowers him and makes him fall into
sin and disobedience towards his Creator, then he must hasten to
repent, for "the one who repents is like the one who did not sin."
Narrated by Ibn Maajah, 2450; classed as saheeh by al-Busayri as
stated inal-Zawaa'id Haashiyat Sunan Ibn Maajah.
This punishment for the one who drinks alcohol applies to the one who
does not repent. As for the one who repents and turns to Allaah,
Allaah will accept his repentance and accept his good deeds.
We ask Allaah to protect us from the tricks of the Shaytaan and to
help us avoid temptations both obvious and hidden.
Praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the Worlds.

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NAJIMUDEEN M/
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Dought & clear, - Will the prayers of one who drinks alcohol not be accepted for forty days?

Is the report narrated from the Messenger of Allaah Muhammad (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him), which says that whoever drinks
alcohol, his prayers will not be accepted for a period of forty days,
saheeh?.
Praise be to Allaah.
Yes, there are many saheeh ahaadeeth concerning the punishment for one
who drinks alcohol, which say that his prayers will not be accepted
for forty days. This was narrated from 'Amr ibn al-'Aas, Ibn 'Abbaas,
Ibn 'Umar and Ibn 'Amr.
Seeal-Silsilah al-Saheehah, 709, 2039, 2695, 1854.
One of these ahaadeeth was narrated by Ibn Maajah (3377) from
'Abd-Allaah ibn 'Amr who said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Whoever drinks alcohol and
gets drunk, his prayer will not be accepted for forty days and if he
dies he will go to Hell. But if he repents, Allaah will accept his
repentance. If he again drinks alcohol and gets drunk, his prayer will
not be accepted for forty days and if he dies he will go to Hell. But
if he repents, Allaah will accept his repentance. If he again drinks
alcohol and gets drunk, his prayer will not be accepted for forty days
and if he dies he will go to Hell. But if he repents, Allaah will
accept his repentance. If he commits (this sin) again, then Allaah
pledges to make him drink the mud of khabaal on the Day of
Resurrection." They asked, "O Messenger of Allaah, what is the mud of
khabaal?" He said, "The juices of the people of Hell."
Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani inSaheeh Ibn Maajah.
The fact that his prayers are not accepted does not mean that they are
not valid, or that he should give up praying, rather it means that he
will not be rewarded for them.
So the benefit of praying will be that he will have discharged his
duty and will not be punished for not doing it.
Abu 'Abd-Allaah ibn Mandah said: The words "his prayer will not be
accepted" mean that he will not be rewarded for his prayer for forty
days, as a punishment for his drinking alcohol, just as they say that
the one who speaks on Friday when the imam is delivering the khutbah
should pray Jumu'ah but there is no Jumu'ah for him, meaning that he
will not be given the reward for Jumu'ah as a punishment for his sin.
Ta'zeem Qadr al- Salaah, 2/587, 588. See also question no. 20037.
Al-Nawawi said:
With regard to his prayer not being accepted, what this means is that
he will not be rewarded for it, even though it is valid in the sense
that he has discharged his duty and does not need to repeat it. End
quote.
No doubt the person who drinks alcohol still has to perform the
prayers on time. If he were to delay any of his prayers, he would be
committing a grave major sin, which is worse than the sin of drinking
alcohol.
This punishment for drinking alcohol applies to the one who does not
repent. But if he repents to Allaah and turns to Him, He will accept
his repentance and accept his good deeds, as it says in the hadeeth
quoted above: "... but if he repents, Allaah will accept his
repentance." And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) said: "The one who repents from sin is like one who did not
commit sin." Narrated by Ibn Maajah, 4250; classed as hasan by
al-Albaani inSaheeh Ibn Maajah.
And Allaah knows best.

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NAJIMUDEEN M/
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Dought & clear, - Ruling on drinking beer

What is the ruling on drinking beer, noting that there are two kinds
of beer - one with an alcoholic content and one with no alcoholic
content? Is that regarded as an intoxicant?.
Praise be to Allaah.
It is essential to differentiate between the two kinds of beer:
The first is the intoxicating beer that is sold in some countries.
This beer is khamr (an intoxicant) and it is haraam to sell it, buy it
and drink it. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
said: "Every intoxicant is khamr and every intoxicant is haraam."
Narrated by Muslim, 2003.
It is haraam to drink a lot or a little of it, even a single drop,
because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
"Whatever intoxicates in large quantities, a little of it is haraam."
Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 1865; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani
inSaheeh al-Tirmidhi.
The second type is beer that is not intoxicating, either because it is
completely free of alcohol, or because it contains a minuscule amount
of alcohol that does not reach the level of causing intoxication no
matter how much a person drinks of it. The scholars have ruled that
this is permissible.
Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen said:
The beer that is on sale in our marketplaces [in Saudi Arabia] is all
halaal, because it has been inspected by the officials and is
completely free of alcohol. The basic principle concerning all kinds
of food, drink and clothing is that they are permissible until and
unless proof is established that they are haraam. Allaah says
(interpretation of the meaning): "He it is Who created for you all
that is on earth"
[al-Baqarah 2:29]
So if anyone says, this drink is haraam, or this food is haraam, or
this garment is haraam, say to him, Bring your proof. If he brings
proof then we should do whatever is indicated by the proof. If he does
not bring proof, then his words are to be rejected, because Allaah
says (interpretation of the meaning): "He it is Who created for you
all that is on earth"
[al-Baqarah 2:29]
Everything in this world Allaah has created for us. This general
meaning is confirmed by the wordjamee'an(translated here as "all").
And Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): "while He has
explained to you in detail what is forbidden to you" [al-An'aam 6:119]
So if something is haraam, there should be a clear and detailed
indication that it is haraam. If there is no such proof then it is not
haraam. The beer that is to be found in our markets here in the Land
of the Two Holy Sanctuaries (Saudi Arabia) is all halaal and there is
no doubt concerning that in sha Allaah.
We do not think that any alcoholic content in a thing makes it haraam,
rather if something contains a percentage of alcohol which will make a
person intoxicated if he drinks it, then it is haraam. But if the
amount is miniscule and does not have any effect, then it is halaal.
Some people think that the words of the Prophet (peace and blessings
of Allaah be upon him), "Whatever intoxicates in large quantities, a
little of it is haraam", mean that if a small percentage of an
intoxicant is mixed with a large amount of a substance that is not
intoxicating, then it is haraam. This is a misunderstanding of the
hadeeth. "Whatever intoxicates in large quantities, a little of it is
haraam" means that if a lot of something will cause intoxication, and
a little of it will not cause intoxication, then a lot or a little are
both haraam, because you may drink a little that does not cause
intoxication, then you may be tempted to drink more and become
intoxicated. But if something is mixed with alcohol but the alcohol is
a small amount and does not have any effect, then it is halaal and
does not come under the ruling of this hadeeth.
Al-Baab al-Maftooh, 3/381-382.

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NAJIMUDEEN M/
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For children, - Prophet Job/ Ayyub (as) was always Content

Allah (SWT) had granted immense bounties to ProphetJob / Ayyub (as)
such that it has been reported that he possessed five hundred pairs of
bulls for ploughing his fields and hundreds of slaves, who used to
cultivate his farms. His cargo carrying camels were three thousand in
number while his sheep totalled seven thousand.
In addition to this, Allah (SWT) had also granted him good health and
numerous children. On his part, Prophet Job / Ayyub (as) perpetually
praised and thanked his Lord, and when faced with two acts of
obedience, he would always choose the more difficult of the two.
But then, he became the object of Divine trials - not for having
committed any sin but rather for raising his rank and status - such
that Allah (SWT) took back all the bounties that He had given him and
afflicted his body with an incurable disease.
However, despite the severity of the adversity, when Prophet Job /
Ayyub (as) ever abandoned thanking, praising and remembering Allah
(SWT), the Satan got into the act. He began whispering into his wife's
mind as a result of which she started to complain of the hard times
that had befallen them and would moan: "Everyone has deserted us and
we do not possess anything."
Prophet Job / Ayyub (as) said: "For eighty years we had been receiving
the bounties of Allah (SWT) and so we should not complain for seven
years of hardships but instead continue to remember Him in all
circumstances!"
But his wife continued to complain and protest, and persistently
placed before him irrational ideas till eventually, enraged, he
hollered: "Go away from me such that I do not set my eyes upon you
ever again."
When his wife had left him, Prophet Job / Ayyub (as) found himself
alone and without a caretaker; going into prostration, he began
praying to his Lord and communicating with Him. On this occasion Allah
(SWT) answered the prayers of His servant, who had continued to praise
and thank Him, and once again granted him all the bounties!
Meanwhile his wife thought to herself: "Though he has driven me away,
it is inappropriate for me to leave him alone. He has none to look
after him and he may perish out of hunger." With this in mind she
returned to the place where she had left him but found him missing,
while in his place, sat a youth. As she began to weep, the youth asked
her: "Why do you weep?" She replied: I had left my old husband here
but I do not see him anymore. The youth said: "If you were to see him,
would you recognize him?" She said: "Yes."
Having answered him, she then looked at him hard and realised that he
possessed a great resemblance to her husband. The youth then said to
her: "I am the same Ayyub." (Anecdotes for Reflection, Vol 3, Dhikr)

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