For children, - Stories of Prayer: Why Prayers are not answered? Muslim Prayer

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One day a Sufi saint Ibrahim Adham was passing through the bazaar in the city of Basra when he was surrounded by people who said to him: "O Ibrahim! Allah (SWT) has stated in the Noble Qur'an that: "Call on Me; I will answer your (Prayer)"; we call upon Allah (SWT) but our prayer is not answered. Ibrahim Adham said: "The reason is because your hearts have died due to ten things so that your supplications have no sincerity as your hearts are not pure and free of contamination." They asked: "What are those ten issues?" Ibrahim Adham replied: 01: First and foremost you have accepted Allah (SWT) but have not repaid His claim. 02: You have recited the Noble Qur'an but have not practiced it. 03: You profess your love of the Holy Prophet of Islam (saw), but are opposed to his Household (as). 04: You claim to have enmity with Shaitan (Satan) but in practice you are in agreement with him. 05: You say that you are fond of heaven but in order to enter heaven you have not done anything. 06: You said that you were afraid of the Hell Fire, but have thrown your bodies in to it. 07: You were busy slandering and criticizing people but were ignorant of your own shortcomings and faults. 08: You said that you didn't like the world but are greedily following it. 09: You confess to the reality of death but don't prepare yourself for it. 10: You have buried the dead but haven't taken a lesson or guidance from it. These are the 10 practices (Ten Reasons) which cause prayers to remain unanswered. "Prayer is not a spare wheel that you pull out when YOU ARE IN TROUBLE, It is a steering wheel that keeps you on the right path throughout your life." 2014-06-05-15-29-05.png -

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Friday Prayers - The virtues of Jumu’ah (Friday) prayer

I would like to know some of the ahaadeeth which speak of the virtues of Jumu’ah prayer. Praise be to Allaah.   Many ahaadeeth have been narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) which explain the virtues of Jumu’ah prayer. For example:  1 – Muslim (233) narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The five daily prayers, and from one Jumu’ah to the next, are an expiation for whatever sins come in between, so long as one does not commit any major sin.”  It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever does ghusl then comes to Jumu’ah, and prays as much as Allaah decrees for him, then listens attentively until the khutbah is over, then prays with him (the imam), will be forgiven for (his sins) between that and the next Jumu’ah and three more days.” Narrated by Muslim, 857  Al-Nawawi said:  The scholars said that what is meant by his being forgiven between the two Jumu’ahs and three more days is that a good deed is worth ten like it, so he will be rewarded with ten hasanahs for each of the good deeds that he did on Friday. Some of our companions said: what is meant by what is between the two Jumu’ahs is from Jumu’ah prayer and the khutbah until the same time on the following Friday, so that it will be seven days, no more and no less, then three days are added making ten in all.  2 – Coming early to Jumu’ah brings a great reward.  Al-Bukhaari (814) and Muslim (850) narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever does ghusl on Friday like ghusl for janaabah, then goes to the prayer (in the first hour, i.e., early), it is as if he sacrificed a camel. Whoever goes in the second hour, it is as if he sacrificed a cow; whoever goes in the third hour, it is as if he sacrificed a horned ram; whoever goes in the fourth hour, it is as if he sacrificed a hen; and whoever goes in the fifth hour it is as if he offered an egg. When the imam comes out, the angels come to listen to the khutbah.”  3 – If a person walks to Jumu’ah prayer, for every step he will have the reward of fasting and praying qiyaam for one year.  It was narrated from Aws ibn Aws al-Thaqafi that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever does ghusl on Friday and causes (his wife) to do ghusl, and sets out early, and comes close to the imam and listens and keeps quiet, for every step he takes he will have the reward of fasting and praying qiyaam for one year.”  Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 496; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi, 410  Ibn al-Qayyim said in Zaad al-Ma’aad, 1/285:  “Causes (his wife) to do ghusl” means has intercourse with his wife. This is how it was interpreted by Wakee’.  Al-Haafiz ibn Hajar (may Allaah have mercy on him) said, after quoting the ahaadeeth which speak of the virtues of Jumu’ah prayer:  What we have quoted, when taken all together, indicates that the expiation of sins from one Friday to the next is subject to all the conditions mentioned above being met, namely doing ghusl, cleaning oneself, putting on perfume, wearing one's best clothes, walking in a calm and dignified manner, not stepping over people, not pushing between two people, not offending others, praying naafil prayers, listening attentively and avoiding idle speech.  And Allaah knows best.

Friday Prayers - There is no regular Sunnah prayer before Jumu’ah

Is there any Sunnah prayer before or after Jumu’ah? Praise be to Allaah. There is no regular Sunnah prayer before Jumu’ah according to the more correct of the two scholarly opinions, but it prescribed for the Muslim, when he comes to the mosque, to pray whatever Allaah enables him to pray, saying salaam after each two rak’ahs, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The prayers of the night and the day [i.e., other than the obligatory prayers] are two by two.” (Narrated by Imaam Ahmad and the authors of Sunan with a hasan isnaad; the original is to be found in al-Saheeh without any mention of the day.)  And many saheeh reports indicate that what is prescribed for the Muslim when he comes to the mosque on Friday is to pray whatever Allaah wills he should pray before the imaam comes out. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did not specify whether it should be two or four or more. All of that is good, but the minimum is two rak’ahs to “greet the mosque.”   With regard to after Jumu’ah, there is a regular Sunnah prayer, the minimum of which is two rak’ahs and the maximum is four, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “Whoever among you prays after Jumu’ah, let him pray four (rak’ahs)” (narrated by Muslim, al-Jumu’ah, 8881). And he (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to pray two rak’ahs after Jumu’ah in his house. May Allaah help us all to do that which pleases Him. 

Frid to perform the twelve rak‘ahs (regular Sunnah prayers) on Friday?

How is the hadeeth, “Whoever prays to Allah twelve rak‘ahs in a day and night, a house will be built for him in Paradise”, to be implemented on Friday, as there is no Sunnah prayer before Jumu‘ah prayer? Praise be to Allah In the answer to question no. 14075 and 181043 we stated that there is no regular Sunnah prayer before Jumu‘ah prayer, but there is a regular Sunnah prayer after it.  Secondly:  Concerning the virtue of the one who prays twelve rak‘ahs every day, there is a report narrated by Muslim from Umm Habeebah (may Allah be pleased with her), the wife of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), that she said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) say: “There is no Muslim slave who prays twelve rak‘ahs to Allah each day, voluntarily, apart from the obligatory prayers, but Allah will build for him a house in Paradise.”  The rak‘ahs are mentioned in detail in another hadeeth, in which there is no mention of Jumu‘ah, as in the hadeeth of at-Tirmidhi (415) from Umm Habeebah (may Allah be pleased with her), who said: The Messenger of Allah (sa) said: “Whoever prays twelve rak‘ahs in a day and night, a house will be built for him in Paradise: four before Zuhr and two after it, two rak‘ahs after Maghrib, two rak‘ahs after ‘Isha’, and two rak‘ahs before Fajr prayer.” It was classed as saheeh by Shaykh al-Albaani in Saheeh Sunan at-Tirmidhi.  Based on that, Friday is an exception from the general meaning of the hadeeth, “… whoever prays twelve rak‘ahs to Allah each day…”  This does not mean that the Muslim should not be keen to offer naafil prayers before Jumu‘ah prayer or to do a great deal of that. Concerning the virtue of offering naafil prayers before Jumu‘ah, there is the hadeeth reported by al-Bukhaari (910) from Salmaan al-Faarisi (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever does ghusl on Friday, and purifies himself with whatever means of purification he can, then puts on perfume, then goes and does not push between any two people, then prays whatever is decreed for him, then when the imam comes out he listens attentively, (his sins) between that and the next Friday will be forgiven.”  Shaykh Dr. Bandar ibn Naafi‘ al-‘Abdali, a member of faculty at the University of Qaseem, was asked:  What is the number of confirmed Sunnah rak‘ahs (Sunnah mu’akkadah) that we should pray on Friday? It is well known that the hadeeth mentions twelve rak‘ahs; how should that be done on Friday? He (may Allah preserve him) replied: There is no regular Sunnah prayer before Jumu‘ah prayer, but there is a regular Sunnah prayer after it, which is four rak‘ahs, because it is proven in Saheeh Muslim (881) that Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “When one of you prays Jumu‘ah, let him pray four (rak‘ahs) after it.” In as-Saheehayn it is narrated that Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) used not to pray after Jumu‘ah until he left, then he would pray two rak‘ahs in his house. Al-Bukhaari, 937; Muslim, 882  Some of the scholars reconcile between the two hadeeths by stating that if he prays in the mosque, he should pray four, and if he prays at home, he should pray two. This is the view of Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allah have mercy on him). Others said: rather he should pray six rak‘ahs, so as to reconcile between the two hadeeths. This was narrated from Imam Ahmad, and was also the view of some of the early generations, such as Sufyaan ath-Thawri, ‘Ata’ and Mujaahid. Yet others said: rather he should pray four rak‘ahs after Jumu‘ah in all cases, whether he prays in the mosque or at home, because this was clearly stated by the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him). His praying two rak‘ahs was his practice, and his practice does not contradict his words, because this may be understood in several ways. In my view, this opinion is more sound, that the regular Sunnah prayer after Jumu‘ah in all cas

Darwinism, - Responses to the claim that peptide bonds can be established in thelaboratory

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Darwinists have been going through troubled times in the face of the fact that protein cannot form spontaneously. They claim that one peptide bond, one of the hundreds of essential preconditions for protein, can be formed in the laboratory. The fact is, however, that even if such research has been carried out, the existence of one chemical bond produced in a conscious and controlled environment in existing living systems obviously comes nowhere near accounting for the existence of protein. Darwinists still have no explanation for how a completely functional protein could have emerged BY CHANCE and fully formed in the manner they claim.
The fact that a single peptide bond has been established, after decades of research, under specific conditions in the laboratory and under the supervision of conscious scientists, indicates that this mechanism cannot form by chance.
This fact shows the enormous complexity in even one single detail regarding protein.
In any case, the establishment of a single peptide bond does not produce even one of the hundreds of preconditions necessary for protein to come into being. By itself, it is completely meaningless.
The whole of the amino acid chain, in specific numbers, sequences and shapes, that will make protein functional has to be bound with peptide bonds. For that reason, that bond has to form individually hundreds or even thousands of time in amino acid for a single protein.
Darwinists who speculate over a single peptide bond have to account for the same complex process for each and every bond.
Darwinists have to be able to account for the formation of a single protein. Chemical reactions are not life. Even if there are hundreds of amino acids all bound by peptide bonds, they will never combine together to make protein. A great many conditions, all of which are individually impossible, would have to be met for protein to form. But the really critical thing, is that proteins have to be present in order for protein to form.

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Darwinism, - The invalidity of he claim that ''theprobability calculations regarding protein formation are wrong''

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Since the greatest and most fundamental dilemma facing Darwinism is that of the initial beginning of life, that is the subject that is most troubling to Darwinists. Darwinists are unable to account for the formation of a single protein even in the laboratory, let alone by chance, and as always they resort to demagoguery as the easiest way out.
Darwinists hide behind the idea that the probability calculations for the formation of a single protein are “wrong.” Even this just goes to show how terrified Darwinists are at their inability to account for a single protein .
It is true that the probability of an average, functional protein in the human body forming spontaneously has been calculated as 1 in 10 950 . But even if there is an error in that calculations, as Darwinists hypothesize, if the true probability were 1 in 10600or 10400or even just 10100or 1060instead of 10950it would still pose an insoluble dilemma for Darwinists. Because the probability in all cases would still be ZERO.
But the point that really needs to be emphasized is this: in terms of protein, it is impossible to speak of any mathematical probability at all. Because IN ORDER FOR PROTEIN TO FORM, OTHER PROTEINS MUST ALREADY BE PRESENT. In other words, it is incorrect to employ the logic of “it can only form with such and such a probability.” Because protein itself has to exist beforehand in order for protein to come into existence. And this is a huge vicious circle for Darwinists.
Even if all the materials needed for protein, and all the amino acids that represent the building blocks of protein, were all brought together, no protein would still form in any way. THE PRESENCE OF DNA AND PROTEINS TO PERFORM THE MANUFACTURE OF PROTEIN AND FULLY EQUIPPED CELLS to organize the process IS STILL ESSENTIAL.
In addition, 60 proteins are needed for a single protein to form, not just one or two. Since these all have different functions, they are all highly specialized.
It is unclear why Darwinists keep insisting on bringing up the fact that protein and DNA are essential for protein to exist “has been known to scientists for a very long time.” It is of course something that every scientist investigating the cell in the 21st century must know. The important thing is not who discovered it, but that it represents an insoluble dilemma for evolution.
It is therefore deceptive for Darwinists to try to gain time by saying “that calculation is wrong, but this one is right.” No matter what Darwinists claim, it is impossible for them to account for the emergence of a protein, in other words, for the origin of life.
The fact that Darwinists are unable to account for a single protein totally eliminates the theory of evolution. All false accounts regarding evolution will all be invalid right from the outset.

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Darwinism, - The invalidity of the claim that ''RNA is the forebear of life''

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The RNA world thesis is a supposed savior launched by Darwinists out of a sense of despair at the failure of all experiments regarding the beginning of life. But everyone who understands science and the complexity of the cell will inevitably find it illogical for Darwinists, who have never manufactured even a single protein, to make such a claim. In the absence of a single protein of the first imaginary cell they claim for the beginning of life, Darwinists claim that RNA is responsible for the whole thing, in all its wondrous complexity. But when it comes to how RNA itself first appeared, they are again, as always, silent.
According to the RNA world thesis, a hypothetical RNA molecule that came into being by chance manufactured proteins in some way, after which DNA appeared by chance out of a need for a second molecule to store all this protein information. Darwinists, with their powerful imaginations, are still trying to produce a single peptide bond in the laboratory, but seek to mislead people by shamelessly propagating this impossible and unbelievable scenario.
Extraordinary complexity is a huge and insoluble dilemma for Darwinists who are unable to account for how even a single RNA nucleotide might have come into being.
Even if we assume that the impossible happened and came about by chance, proteins are still essential in order for this entire mechanism to function. In other words, RNA cannot perform its function of producing a protein without proteins already being in existence. Just like other proteins, in order for DNA and RNA to exist and function, it is essential for the cell to exist beforehand, fully equipped and with all its proteins and other organelles.
A second major deception on this subject is the claims made regarding the function of RNA. RNA only contains information about the structure of protein alone. RNA has no mechanism to manufacture protein.
A protein is manufactured in an organelle called the ribosome with the assistance of many enzymes as the result of highly complex processes. The ribosome is a complex cell organelle again made up of proteins. This therefore leads to the impossible assumption that the ribosome, the proteins serving within it, DNA and RNA all came about spontaneously at exactly the same time.
The RNA world thesis, spoken of with embarrassment by many scientists, is one of the most illogical theories yet espoused by Darwinists, who are in a despairing state when it comes to explaining the origin of life. Casually bringing up such an illogical claim and depicting it as major scientific evidence is another element of Darwinist demagoguery.
The eminent University of San Diego California evolutionist Dr. Leslie Orgel, a colleague of Stanley Miller and Francis Crick, refers to the possibility of “life beginning with the RNA world” as a “scenario.” Orgel sets out the characteristics that RNA would have to possess and the impossibility of its doing so in an article titled "The Origin of Life on the Earth" in the October 1994 issue of American Scientist :
This scenario could have occurred, we noted, if prebiotic RNA had two properties not evident today: A capacity to replicate without the help of proteins and an ability to catalyze every step of protein synthesis. (Leslie E. Orgel, "The Origin of Life on the Earth", Scientific American, October 1994, Vol. 271, p. 78)
It is of course impossible for such a RNA to exist.

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Personal, - Duties of Muslim Women During Times of Fitnah - II

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Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}And We have already sent Messengers before you to their peoples, and they came to them with clear evidences; then We took retribution from those who committed crimes, and incumbent upon Us was support of the believers.{]Quran 30:47[
The Companions, may Allaah be pleased with them, were keen on knowing the temptations in order to learn the way of salvation and they did so from the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. The great Companion Huthayfah, may Allaah be pleased with him, would frequently ask the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, about evil so that he would avoid it.
In a Hadeeth )narration( on his authority he said,
“People used to ask the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, about good and I used to ask him about evil for fear that it would befall me. Hence, I said, ‘O Messenger of Allaah, we were in a state of ignorance and evil, then Allaah brought us this good. Will there be any evil after this good?’ The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said:‘Yes’.Huthayfah, may Allaah be pleased with him, asked, ‘Will there be any good after that evil?’ He said:‘Yes, but it would be tainted with Dakhan )i.e., intermixed with evil(.’
I asked, ‘What will its Dakhan be?’ He said:‘There will be some people who will guide )people( according to something other than my guidance and will lead them according to something other than my Sunnah )tradition(. You will see their actions and disapprove of them.’Huthayfah, may Allaah be pleased with him, said, ‘Will there be any evil after that good?’ He said:‘Yes, there will be some people who will invite others to the doors of Hell, and whoever accepts their invitation will be thrown in it )by them(.’
Huthayfah, may Allaah be pleased with him, said, ‘O Messenger of Allaah, describe those people to us.’ He said:‘They will be from among us and speak our language )i.e., from among the Arabs(.’Huthayfah, may Allaah be pleased with him, asked, ‘What do you command me to do if I witness that?’ He said:‘Adhere to the community of Muslims and their leader.’Huthayfah asked, ‘What if they have neither a community nor a leader?’ He said:‘Keep away from all those different sects, even if you have to bite on )i.e. eat( the root of a tree, until you die while you are still in that state.’”]Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[
c- Loving desires and the dominance of desires, including the desire for eating, sex, offspring, money, position and the subsequent attitudes of flattering, ostentation, bribing, loving to show off and staying silent about the truth.
All these desires are temptations unless one fears Allaah The Almighty. This is because the true believer will not speak, move or look unduly, because he is certain that he will be questioned about his hearing, sight and heart.
Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}And of the people is he who worships Allaah on an edge. If he is touched by good, he is reassured by it; but if he is struck by trial, he turns on his face ]to the other direction[. He has lost ]this[ world and the Hereafter. That is what is the manifest loss.{]Quran 22:11[
So, sister, beware lest you should like for yourself and for your family to live on the margin, pursuing desires, or be satisfied with the minor transient pleasures of the world, and decline what Allaah The Almighty has prepared for His righteous slaves in the world and the Hereafter. That is because Allaah The Almighty likes what is sublime and hates what is trivial.
Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}O you who have believed, indeed, among your wives and your children are enemies to you, so beware of them. But if you pardon and overlook and forgive - then indeed, Allaah is Forgiving and Merciful. Your wealth and your children are but a trial, and Allaah has with Him a great reward. So fear Allaah as much as you are able and listen and obey and spend ]in the way of Allaah[; it is better for your selves. And whoever is protected from the stinginess of his soul - it is those who will be the successful.{]Quran 64:14-16[
d- Committing sins and misdeeds and violating sanctities. This leads to widespread loss of life, murder, loss of integrity and trust, withholding rights, consuming Riba )interest(, consuming the wealth of orphans, consuming the wealth of others illegally, not paying Zakaah )purifying alms(, drinking alcohol, neglecting Hijaab )Islamic covering(, committing adultery and sodomy, in addition to other forms of immorality. Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:
•}So let those beware who dissent from the Prophet's order, lest Fitnah strike them or a painful punishment.{]Quran 24:63[
•}Corruption has appeared throughout the land and sea by ]reason of[ what the hands of people have earned so He may let them taste part of ]the consequence of[ what they have done that perhaps they will return ]to righteousness[. Say, ]O Muhammad[, “Travel through the land and observe how was the end of those before. Most of them were associators ]of others with Allaah[.{]Quran 30:41-42[
In a Hadeeth )narration( on the authority of Abu Hurayrah, may Allaah be pleased with him, he said that the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said:“Woe unto the Arabs because of an impending evil! Successful is the one who restrains his hand )i.e. from being involved in fighting at the times of Fitnah(.”]Saheeh[
Allaah The Almighty Is merciful to us and we supplicate Him not to punish us for the actions committed by the foolish people who live among us.
e- Loving the world and having a strong inclination to it. Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}And do not extend your eyes toward that by which We have given enjoyment to ]some[ categories of them, ]its being but[ the splendor of worldly life by which We test them. And the provision of your Lord is better and more enduring. And enjoin prayer upon your family ]and people[ and be steadfast therein. We ask you not for provision; We provide for you, and the ]best[ outcome is for ]those of[ righteousness.{]Quran 20:131-132[
In a Hadeeth )narration( on the authority of Thawbaan, may Allaah be pleased with him, he said that the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said:“People will soon summon one another to attack you as people, when eating, invite others to share their dish"Someone said, ‘O Messenger of Allaah! Will that be because of our small number at that time?' He said:‘No, you will be numerous at that time, but you will be like the scum left behind after a flood. Weakness will be put in your hearts, and terror will be removed from the hearts of your enemies, because you love the world and hate death.’]Saheeh[

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Personal, - Duties of Muslim Women During Times of Fitnah - I

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Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}Alif, Laam, Meem. Do the people think that they will be left to say, “We believe” and they will not be tried? But We have certainly tried those before them, and Allaah will surely make evident those who are truthful, and He will surely make evident the liars. Or do those who do evil deeds think they can outrun Us? Evil is what they judge. Whoever should hope for the meeting with Allaah - indeed, the term decreed by Allaah is coming. And He is The Hearing, The Knowing. And whoever strives only strives for ]the benefit of[ himself. Indeed, Allaah is free from need of the worlds.{]Quran 29:1-6[
To be tried is to be tested with afflictions or admiration of something or someone, since what may seem good could be evil from the inside, and vice versa. This causes confusion and perplexity.
The disbelievers and the believers are both tested and no one is saved except those who are kept firm by Allaah The Exalted.
Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}And fear a trial which will not strike those who have wronged among you exclusively, and know that Allaah is severe in penalty.{]Quran 8:25[
It was narrated on the authority of ‘Aa’ishah, may Allaah be pleased with her, that she said, “I said, ‘O Messenger of Allaah! When Allaah afflicts the people of earth, who have righteous people among them, with His suppression, will the righteous people perish as the evil people perish?’ He said:‘O ‘Aa’ishah! When Allaah The Almighty afflicts the people who deserve to be afflicted, though righteous people live among them, the righteous people will be afflicted along with them, and they will be resurrected according to their intentions ]and deeds[.’”]Saheeh[
Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}And We will surely test you until We make evident those who strive among you ]for the cause of Allaah[ and the patient, and We will test your affairs.{]Quran 47:31[
Trial and affliction can only exist in the presence of two opposites, such as Tawheed )Islamic monotheism( and Shirk )polytheism(, gratitude and ingratitude, compliance with the Sunnah )tradition( and innovation in religion, orders and prohibitions, good and evil, and riches and poverty. Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}And We did not grant to any man before you eternity ]on earth[; so if you die - would they be eternal? Every soul will taste death. And We test you with evil and with good as trial; and to Us you will be returned.{]Quran 21:34-35[
Out of His grace, Allaah The Almighty Informed our Messenger Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, of many afflictions and trials that would afflict his Ummah )nation(. Thus, the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, told us about them, warned us against their causes and showed us the way out of them. In a Hadeeth )narration( on the authority of Abu Hurayrah, may Allaah be pleased with him, he said that the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said:“Hasten to do good deeds before tribulations come like patches of dark night, when a man will wake up as a believer and by evening he will be a disbeliever, or in the evening he will be a believer and by morning he will be a disbeliever, selling his religion for a little of worldly gains.”]Muslim[
In a Hadeeth on the authority of Umm Salamah, may Allaah be pleased with her, she said that the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said:“Subhaan Allaah! How many afflictions have been sent down tonight! How many treasures Allaah has sent down! Wake the ladies )wives of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam( of these rooms )for prayers(. Perhaps, a dressed woman in this world will be naked in the Hereafter.”]Ahmad and Al-Bukhaari[
Women are peers to men and have an important role to play in society as caretakers in their homes who are responsible for those under their care. The more righteous their families are, the more righteous the society is and vice versa. Hence, women have been entrusted with a great responsibility. This responsibility grows in the face of an overwhelming danger that comprises waves of intellectual invasion, tools of Westernization, and methods of corruption, misguidance and deception.
Hence, women should double their efforts to fulfill their duties and be saved from temptations. The following are the most important duties:
• Knowing the causes of Fitnah )trial( so as to avoid them
The most important of these causes include:
a- Abandoning reference in judgment to the Divine Sharee‘ah )Islamic legislation(, and following desires instead. The Ummah has been afflicted with this. After the Companions and their two successive generations passed away, the Ummah was struck with disunity and this resulted in the development of injustice, grudges, envy, jealousy, vanity, disunity, disputes, weakness and humiliation. This reached the extent that Muslims attacked their fellow Muslims, and blood was shed, lives were taken, sanctities were violated, wealth was pillaged and homelands were lost.
It was narrated on the authority of Abu Moosa, may Allaah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said:“Just before the advent of the Hour there will be much killing. It will not be )Muslims( killing the disbelievers, but )Muslims( killing each other, such that a man would meet his brother and kill him. Rational people and scholars of that time would die and will be succeeded by dust-worth people )worthless people(, many of whom think that they are worthy, while they are worthless.”]Saheeh[
b- Keenness on acquiring worldly sciences and neglecting knowledge of the Sharee‘ah )Islamic legislation(. Many people think of Sharee‘ah knowledge as insignificant and seek it only at the end. This has created a state of confusion and produced many people who invite others to the doors of Hell, because of neglecting the Divine guidance that was communicated by our Messenger Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.

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Personal, - Fasting & Health

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Islam calls on people to take care of their health and preserve it, because it is one’s capital investment in this life. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, told us that a strong believer is better and dearer to Allaah than a weak believer. The reason for this is that a strong believer will be able to fulfill his religious and worldly obligations in the best manner, unlike a weak one who may not be able to handle the burdens of life and its religious demands, and might even become a burden on society.
The fasting system, as prescribed in Islam, helps a Muslim preserve his health and protects it from many diseases, like high blood pressure, being overweight and other diseases that infect those who do not follow the divine system set forth by Allaah.
It this article we will briefly address this issue without going into detail. We will mention some of what physicians have said about fasting and its benefits.
Medical studies have proved that fasting )when done properly as part of a system(, has many health benefits, most important of which is getting rid of the excess fats that cause one to be overweight or even obese, which is one of the most widespread health problems of this age.
It is a known fact that being overweight has negative effects on the body, and especially the heart, which make fasting )as a system( an important factor in preserving and protecting one’s health.
One of the health benefits fasting has is its getting rid of bodily excretions. It has been scientifically proven that the body builds up pus nodules that push its excretions into the blood, which causes many diseases. Fasting is a very important and beneficial means to clear the body from these harmful excretions.
Fasting allows the body’s cells and organs to perform their duties properly. The reason is that fasting gives the body’s organs a chance to relax and take an almost complete rest. These organs work constantly for the remainder of the year, and the fasting month of Ramadan comes as a period of vacation for them, which gives them a chance to take the needed break so that they can resume more energetically afterwards.
Therefore, fasting )as a system( gives the body the required diet and protects it from many endangering diseases. Many medical clinics have resorted to fasting as a part of their treatment plan, which proves the importance of fasting in one’s life in general, and his health in particular.
It is equally important to say that the fasting system is not merely abstaining from eating and drinking from sunrise to sunset and that one is then free to eat in any which way he desires. Absolutely not, one must observe the system of eating at the time of breaking the fast and must adhere also to eating balanced meals and stay away from overeating.
Finally, we would like to remind the fasting people that the main objective of fasting for which it was legislated is to attain piety and to be conscious of Allaah by adhering to His commands and shunning His prohibitions. Allaah says )what means(:}O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous.{]Quran 2: 183[ The verse clearly states the objective sought from fasting being piety and righteousness in order to draw nearer to Allaah.
Therefore, fasting is not intended to be primarily a medical system to treat one’s diseases )though it certainly achieves this(, rather, it is an act of worship intended to make the Muslim a better person with regards to his religious commitment and moral conduct.

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Dought & clear, - The meaning of thewords: “Acts of worship are tawqeefi”

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What does “Acts of worship are tawqeefi” mean?.
Praise be to Allaah.
What is meant when the scholars say that acts of worship are tawqeefi or acts of worship are based on tawqeef is that it is not permissible to worship Allah, may He be exalted, through any act of worship unless this act of worship is proven in the shar‘i texts (Qur’aan and Sunnah) to be an act of worship that was prescribed by Allah.
No act of worship can be sanctioned except on the basis of shar‘i evidence to that effect.
Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning):
“This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion”
[al-Maa’idah 5:3].
Allah, may He be exalted, has completed the religion for us; whatever Allah has not prescribed is not part of Islam.
It was narrated from Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “There is nothing by means of which one may draw close to Paradise and move far away from Hell but it has been exlained to you.
Narrated by at-Tabaraani inal-Kabeer(1647) and classed as saheeh by al-Albaani inas-Saheehah, 1803
Whatever the Messenger (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) did not explain to us is not part of the religion and is not something by means of which one may draw close to Paradise and move far away from Hell.
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Tamiyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
“From examining the principles of sharee‘ah we know that the acts of worship that have been enjoined by Allah or that He loves cannot be proven except through sharee‘ah. With regard to customs, they are things that people are used to doing in their worldly affairs … The basic principle concerning them is that they are not forbidden; nothing of that is forbidden except what Allah and His Messenger have forbidden. That is because commands and prohibitions have to do with the religion of Allah, and acts of worship must necessarily be enjoined. If something is not proven to have been enjoined, then how can it be deemed an act of worship? With regard to customs, if there is no text to prove that a custom is forbidden, how can it be deemed to be forbidden?
Hence Ahmad and other scholars of hadeeth used to say: The basic principle with regard to acts of worship is tawqeef; no acts of worship are prescribed except that which has been prescribed by Allah, may He be exalted; if we do not adhere to this principle, we will be included among those referred to in the verse (interpretation of the meaning):“Or have they partners with Allah (false gods), who have instituted for them a religion which Allah has not allowed?” [ash-Shoora 42:21]. The basic principle with regard to customs is that they are permissible and none of them are forbidden except that which Allah has forbidden. If we do not adhere to this principle, we will be included among those referred to in the verse (interpretation of the meaning):“Tell me, what provision Allah has sent down to you! And you have made of it lawful and unlawful” [Yoonus 10:59].
Hence Allah condemned the mushrikeen who introduced things into religion that Allah had not permitted and they forbade things that He had not forbidden. End quote.
Majmoo‘ al-Fataawa, 29/16-17
Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan (may Allah preserve him) said:
Acts of worship are tawqeefi (i.e., acts of worship are to be based solely on Qur’aan and saheeh Sunnah, with no room for personal opinion); it is not permissible to do any act of worship in terms of time or place or type of worship except on the basis of tawqeef and instructions from the Lawgiver. As for the one who introduces something that was not enjoined by the Lawgiver of acts of worship or in terms of their place, time or description, then it is an innovation (bid ah). End quote.
Al-Muntaqa min Fataawa al-Fawzaan, 16/13
And Allah, may He be exalted, knows best.

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Dought & clear, - The ruling on wearing one's adornment on the Day of Aashooraa

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I am a student in the girls college and there is a huge number of shiah living among us. Currently they are wearing black for the occasion of Aashooraa . Is it permissible for us in response to wear bright colours and extra adornment for the sole purpose of annoying them?! Is it permissible for us to backbite about them and pray against them, knowing that they have clearly expressed hatred for us? And I have seen one of them wearing amulets on which are written mysterious words and she had a stick in her hand with which she was pointing to one of the students, and I was harmed by that and am still being harmed. May Allaah reward you with good.
Praise be to Allaah.
It is not permissible for you to wear fancy clothes or anything else on Aashooraa because that may make ignorant people or those with ulterior motives think that the Sunnis are happy about the killing of al-Husayn ibn Ali (may Allaah be pleased with them both), Allaah forbid that that happened with the approval of the Sunnis.
With regard to your interactions with them by backbiting about them and praying against them, and other kinds of actions which are indicative of hatred, this serves no purpose. What we have to do is to strive to call them (to Islam) and to influence them and reform them. If a person is unable to do that, then he or she should turn away from them and leave the dawah activities for those who are able to do them, and not do anything that may put obstacles in the path of dawah.
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
Because of the killing of al-Husayn, the Shaytaan started to spread two kinds of bidah (innovation) amongst the people: the bidah of grieving and wailing on the Day of Aashooraa, striking the cheeks, screaming, weeping and reciting eulogies ; and the bidah of expressing happiness and joy. So some express grief and others express joy, so they started to like the idea of wearing kohl, taking a bath, spending on their families and preparing special kinds of food on the day of Aashooraa and every bidah is a going astray; none of the four imams of the Muslims or others approved of either of these things (either expressing grief or expressing joy)
(Minhaaj al-Sunnah, 4/554-556).

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Dought & clear, - Guidelines concerning imitation of the kuffaar

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What are the definitions of imitating the west? Does everything that is modern and new and has come to us from the west imply imitation of them? In other words, when can we say that something is haraam because it is an imitation of the kuffaar?.
Praise be to Allaah.
It was narrated that Ibn ‘Umar said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ‘Whoever imitates a people is one of them.’” (Narrated by Abu Dawood,al-Libaas, 3512. Al-Albaani said inSaheeh Abi Dawood, (it is) hasan saheeh. No. 3401).
Al-Munaawi and al-‘Alqami said: i.e., dressing as they dress, following their way of life in clothes and some of the things they do.
Al-Qaari said: i.e., whoever imitates the kuffaar, such as in how one dresses, etc., or imitates the evil and immoral people, or the Sufis or the righteous, is one of the people whom he imitates, whether they are good or bad.
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah said inal-Siraat al-Mustaqeem: Imaam Ahmad and others quoted this hadeeth as evidence. This hadeeth at the very least implies that it is haraam to imitate them, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“... And if any amongst you takes them [Jews and Christians] as Awliyaa’ [friends, helpers]), then surely, he is one of them…”
[al-Maa’idah 5:51]
This is similar to the view of ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Amr who said: “Whoever settles in the land of the mushrikeen and celebrates their Nawroz (new year) and Mahrajaan (festival) and imitates them until he dies will be gathered with them on the Day of Resurrection.” This may be interpreted as referring to absolute imitation which implies kufr and as meaning that imitation in part is therefore haraam; or it may be interpreted as meaning that he is one of them to the extent that he imitates them, whether it is in ideas of kufr, sin or partaking in a ritual. It was narrated from Ibn ‘Umar that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) forbade imitating the non-Arabs and said, “Whoever imitates a people is one of them.” This was also mentioned by al-Qaadi Abu Ya’laa. This was quoted by more than one of the scholars to show that it is makrooh to imitate forms of dress of the non-Muslims which are not known among the Muslims.
See ‘Awn al-Ma’bood Sharh Sunan Abi Dawood.
Imitating the kuffaar falls into two categories:
Imitation that is haraam and imitation that is permitted:
The first type is imitation that is haraam: this means knowingly doing things that are unique characteristics of the religion of the kuffaar and that have not been referred to in our religion. This is haraam and it may be a major sin; in some cases a person may even become a kaafir by doing that, according to the evidence, whether a person does that because he agrees with the kuffaar, or because of his whims and desires, or because of some specious arguments which make him feel that doing it will being him benefit in this world and the next. If it is asked, is the one who does that out of ignorance a sinner, such as one who celebrates Christmas? The answer is that the one who is ignorant is not a sinner because he was unaware, but he has to be told, and if he persists he becomes a sinner.
The second type is imitation that is permissible. This means doing something which is not originally taken from the kuffaar, but the kuffaar do it too. This does not involve a prohibition on resembling them, but one may miss out on the benefits of differing from them.
Imitating or resembling the People of the Book (Jews and Christians) and others with regard to worldly matters is permissible only when the following conditions are met:
1 – That should not be any of their traditions or rituals by which they are distinguished.
2 – That should not be part of their religion. A matter can be proven to be part of their religion though a trustworthy source, such as an aayah of the Qur’aan or a hadeeth of His Messenger, or via well-established reports, such as the prostration of greeting which was permitted to the previous nations.
3 – That should not be anything in Islam which refers specifically to that matter. If there is a specific reference in Islam, either approving or disapproving of it, then we must follow what our religion says about it.
4 – This resemblance should not lead to going against any of the commands of sharee’ah.
5 – That should not involve celebrating any of their festivals.
6 – The resemblance should be only according to what is needed, and no more.
Seeal-Sunan wa’l-Athaar fi’l-Nahy ‘an al-Tashabbuh bi’l-Kuffaarby Suhayl Hasan, p. 58-59

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