For children, - Importance of parents extract from Maulana Sadiq Hassan's speech(Disobedience to parents)

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It was a time when the outskirt of Makkah was not safe, full of robbers and thieves. An Indian prince, who carried his life savings (precious gem stones) in a pouch, had to leave Makkah. He had to leave his savings with someone otherwise he would be looted. Indian prince was told about an Iranian sheikh named Abdul Tahir Khorasani, who lived in Makkah, a very trustworthy and pious Momin (Believer in the Divine Laws). The Indian prince left his Amanat (safe custody) with the Iranian sheikh, Abdul Tahir Khorasani. When the Indian prince returned he found out that the Iranian sheikh, Abdul Tahir Khorasani had passed away. The Iranian sheikh, Abdul Tahir Khorasani's family members brought out a box and asked him if his Amanat was in it, however the Indian prince could not see his pouch. The Amanat was so valuable that the Iranian sheikh, Abdul Tahir Khorasani did not even trust his own family members with it and he kept its location secret. The Indian prince was upset, because the Amanat was his life savings.
The Indian prince then thought maybe it would be worth going to Wadi-e-Salaam in Najaf, Iraq, where the pious souls are sent to, he may see the Iranian sheikh, Abdul Tahir Khorasani and ask him about his Amanat. The Indian prince went to Najaf, Iraq, he would spend most of the day at Wadi-e-Salaam for three weeks but he did not meet the Iranian sheikh, Abdul Tahir Khorasani. One day a man from Najaf, Iraq chatted to him and suggested that maybe he should try Wadi-e-Barhoot in Yemen where souls are sent for punishment. The Indian prince reached Wadi-e-Barhoot, and called out for the Iranian sheikh, Abdul Tahir Khorasani. He saw a person coming towards him who was burned from head to toe. The Indian prince got scared and called for the Iranian sheikh, Abdul Tahir Khorasani again, the burnt person said I am Abdul Tahir Khorasani. The Indian prince was shocked and said you, such a pious Momin, why are you getting this harsh punishment?
The Iranian sheikh, Abdul Tahir Khorasani replied, after my death I got a message from Allah (Glory and Greatness be to Him) that the reward for all my good deeds is that on the day of judgement I would be raised with the prophets and my face would shine like the moon. However I have three sins which Allah (Glory and Greatness be to Him) will not forgive and that is why I am being punished. I was told that you loved the Holy Kaaba and doing worship (al-Ibada) so much that you migrated to Makkah, and you forgot your old parents who needed you? I replied that I used to send money every month for maintenance. But parents are those who want their children not their children's money.
The Iranian sheikh, Abdul Tahir Khorasani continued. Once in a gathering I insulted an Aalim. And once I gave Khums to a person who did not deserve it. These three sins Allah (Glory and Greatness be to Him) will not tolerate and will not forgive. The Iranian sheikh, Abdul Tahir Khorasani then told the Indian prince where his Amanat was hidden.
Moral:Today we live in a 'global village', where it takes seconds for news to reach from one end of the world to the other end. Yet how sad that people doesn't care and don't ask about their parents or relatives. So close yet so far. What is then the point of this 'global village'? This is a sin (Gunaah) that Allah (Glory and Greatness be to Him) will not forgive. So teach your children this message, not just through words but through your own actions. Teach them the value of parents through your actions.

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Menstruation and Post-Natal bleeding, - Dought& clear, - * If a woman makes a mistake about when she becomes pure followingmenstruation, is she sinning?

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If a woman does not get a white discharge, and instead she waits for the bleeding to stop, the number of days (of the period) may vary from one month to the next. Is she sinning if she makes a mistake about when she becomes pure, such as if she thinks that she became pure, then after doing ghusl and praying she finds traces of it or, conversely, if she waits and misses some prayers because she thinks that she has not yet become pure, because it is difficult for her to know when she becomes pure without that white discharge? May Allaah reward you with good.
Praise be to Allaah.
Menstruation differs from one woman to another, and the signs that one woman’s period has ended may vary from time to time.
For most women the sign that the period has ended is the emission of the white discharge. For some women the sign is that the bleeding stops.
No matter what the sign is for a woman, it is not permissible for her to hasten until the sign appears, because it is not permissible for her to pray or fast when she is menstruating, until she becomes pure.
The women used to send containers to ‘Aa’ishah in which were the cotton pads with traces of yellow on them. She would say: “Do not hasten until you see the white discharge.”
This was narrated by al-Bukhaari in a mu’allaq report inKitaab al-Hayd,Baab iqbaal al-maheed wa idbaarihi(Book of Menses, Chapter on the start and end of the menstrual flow); and by Maalik, 130
If a woman makes a mistake about the time of the end of her period, based on her own reasoning, then she is not sinning, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And there is no sin on you concerning that in which you made a mistake, except in regard to what your hearts deliberately intend”
[al-Ahzaab 33:5]
And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Allaah has forgiven my ummah for mistakes, what they forget and what they are forced to do. “ Narrated by Ibn Maajah, 2053; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani inSaheeh Ibn Maajah.
But if she thinks that she has become pure and she prays and fasts, then she realizes that she is still menstruating, then she has to stop praying and fasting until she becomes pure, and she should make up the obligatory fasts that she observed during that time, because it is now apparent that they were not valid, because the fast of a menstruating women is not valid.
If she stops praying because she thinks that she has not yet become pure, then she finds out that she was pure, then she has to make up those prayers.
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked (11/280) about a woman who saw a brownish discharge before her usual period, so she stopped praying, then the blood came at the usual time. What is the ruling on that?
He replied: Umm ‘Atiyyah (may Allaah be pleased with her) said: “We used to not regard the yellowish and brownish discharge after the tuhr (white discharge indicating that the period is over) as being of any significance.” Based on this, this brownish discharge that comes before the period does not seem to me to be part of the period, especially since it came before the usual time of menstruation and there were no other signs of menstruation such as cramps, backache, etc. So it is better for her to make up the prayers that she missed during this time.
He was also asked (11/275) about a woman who bled for nine days, so she did not pray, thinking that this was her period. Then a few days later her real period came – what should she do: should she make up the prayers of the days she missed or what?
He replied: it is better for her to make up the prayers that she missed during the first days, but if she does not do that there is no sin on her, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did not command the woman who was suffering from severe istihaadah (non-menstrual vaginal bleeding) and had stopped praying because of that, to do so. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) told her to regard six or seven days as her period and to pray during the rest of the month; he did not tell her to repeat the prayers she had missed, even though making up the prayers she had missed would have been good, because she may have been negligent in not asking before, but even though she did not repeat them there was no sin on her.
And Allaah knows best.

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Menstruation and Post-Natal bleeding, - Dought& clear, - * Is it permissible fora menstruatingwoman to write Qur’aanicverses?

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I like to if a woman is allowed to write Sura in Arabic during mentural cycle.
Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:
It is permissible for a menstruating woman, and also a woman who is bleeding following childbirth (nifaas) to recite Qur’aan without touching it. For more information please see the answer to question no. 2564.
Secondly:
It is permissible for a menstruating woman, and also a woman who is bleeding following childbirth (nifaas) to write Qur’aanic verses, on the condition that she does not touch the letters, because the prohibition only has to do with touching the Mushaf, and writing is not touching.
It says inal-Jawharah al-Nayyirah, which is a Hanafi book (1/31):
It is makrooh for a person who is junub or a menstruating woman to write down Qur’aan if he or she touches the slate or chalk. But if he or she places it on the ground and writes without putting his or her hand on the written letters, it was nothing wrong with that. End quote.
It is permissible for one who is in a state of impurity, or even a dhimmi, to write it without touching it because the prohibition, as stated above, applies to touching it, and this is not touching.
End quote fromKashshaaf al-Qinaa‘, 1/135
Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked:
We are female students in the girls’ college and we have to memorise some Qur’aan. Sometimes the tests come during one’s menstrual period. Is it acceptable to write the soorah on a piece of paper and memorise it or not?
He replied:
It is permissible for the woman who is menstruating or bleeding following childbirth to recite Qur’aan according to the more correct of the two scholarly opinions… The same applies to the piece of paper on which Qur’aan is written if necessary.
End quote fromMajmoo‘ Fataawa Ibn Baaz, 10/209
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked: Is it permissible to write some verses on the chalkboard without having wudoo’? What is the ruling on touching the chalkboard on which those verses are written?
He replied:
It is permissible to write Qur’aan without wudoo’ so long as one does not touch it. As for touching the chalkboard on which those verses are written, the Hanbali fuqaha’ say it is permissible for a boy to touch the slate on which verses have been written in the places that are free of writing, i.e., so long as his hand does not touch the letters – does the chalkboard come under this heading or not? In my view this is a matter for which there is no definite answer.
End quote fromFataawa Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, 11/214
And Allah knows best.

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Menstruation and Post-Natal bleeding, - Dought& clear, - * She bled after having an injection for temporary contraception; what should she do?

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I have a female relative who is married; she is thirty years old, has diabetes and high blood pressure and she had a stroke last year that affected her health in general. Then she had an injection that would provide contraception for three months. Before that time ended, she started to bleed, a light flow that lasted from before Ramadan until after Ramadan ended, and she continued to pray and fast. She also told me that now she has made up 16 days. What is the ruling on this injection in her case? Should she make up the prayers or the fasts, or what should she do? What is the ruling on her situation in general?.
Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:
It is permissible for a woman to use means of contraception on a temporary basis, to safeguard her health if she is unable to bear pregnancy.
Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
It is permissible to use temporary methods of contraception for legitimate shar‘i reasons. End quote.
Majmoo‘ Fataawa Ibn Baaz, 9/434
Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan said:
If this spacing or delay of pregnancy is for health reasons affecting the woman, such as if she cannot bear pregnancy and childbirth due to some special reason or circumstances, such as sickness, then there is no reason why she should not be given something that will prevent pregnancy occurring until the situation that makes it too hard for her to get pregnant and give birth changes. End quote.
Al-Muntaqa min Fataawa al-Fawzaan, 89/20
Secondly:
This woman is mustahaadah (experiencing abnormal bleeding). If her previous menstrual cycle is known, then she should refrain from fasting and praying during the days of her usual period, then when that time ends she should do ghusl and resume fasting and praying.
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked about a woman who bleeds a lot; how should she pray and when should she fast?
He replied:
In a case such as this, when a woman bleeds a lot, the ruling is that she should stop praying and fasting during the days of her period according to her previous cycle before this problem affected her. If her period used to come at the beginning of every month for six days, for example, then she should stop praying and fasting for six days at the beginning of every month; when that time ends she should do ghusl and start to pray and fast again.
How this woman and others like her should pray is as follows:
She should wash her private part thoroughly and put a pad or sanitary towel, then do wudoo’. She should do that when the time for each obligatory prayer begins; she should not do that before the time begins, rather she should do it after the time begins, then pray. She should also do that if she wants to offer naafil prayers at times other than the obligatory prayers. In that case, so as to avoid hardship, it is permissible for her to put Zuhr together with ‘Asr, and Maghrib with ‘Isha’, at the time of the earlier or later prayer, so that she only has to do this once for two prayers in the case of Zuhr and ‘Asr, then Maghrib and ‘Isha’, and for Fajr. So instead of doing it five times a day, she only has to do it three times. End quote.
Majmoo‘ Fataawa wa Rasaa’il Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, 11/220
Thirdly:
You said that she used to pray and fast during the time when she was bleeding. The prayers offered during the time of her usual period are not valid, but she does not have to make them up, because a woman who menstruates does not have to make up prayers.
With regard to fasting, it is not valid during the days of the menstrual period and she has to make them up. She has made up sixteen days; if these were the days of her period or more, then she has done what is required of her and she does not have to do anything more than that. But if the days of her period were longer than that, she should make up what still remains.
And Allah knows best.

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Welcome to Islam, - * Was Muhammad a true prophet

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Muhammad, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, the son of `Abdullaah, is Allaah's Prophet and the Final Messenger sent by Allaah to the inhabitants of the earth. You should know that he sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, is Allaah's Messenger in reality and truth. The evidences that show his veracity are abundant. None but an infidel, who out of arrogance alone, could deny these signs.
Among these proofs:
1. Muhammad, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, was raised illiterate, unable to read or write, and remained like that till his death. Among all his people, he, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, was known as being truthful and trustworthy. Before receiving revelation, he, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, had no prior knowledge of religion or any previously sent Message. He, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, remained like that for his first forty years. Revelation then came to Muhammad, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, with the Quran that we now have between our hands. This Quran mentioned most of the accounts found in the previous scriptures, telling us about these events in the greatest detail as if he, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, witnessed them. These accounts came precisely as they were found in the Torah sent down to Moses, may Allaah exalt his mention, and in the Gospel sent down to Jesus, may Allaah exalt his mention. Never the less, neither the Jews nor the Christians believed anything that he, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, said.
2. Muhammad, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, also foretold of everything that would occur to him and his community after him, pertaining to victory, the removal of the tyrannical kingdoms of Chosroes ]the royal title for the Zoroastrian kings of Persia[ and Caesar, and the establishment of the religion of Islam throughout the earth. These events occurred exactly as Muhammad, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, foretold, as if he, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, was reading the future from an open book.
3. Muhammad, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, also conveyed an Arabic Quran that is the peak of eloquence and clarity. The Quran challenged those eloquent and fluent Arabs of his time, who initially belied him, to bring forth a single chapter like the Quran. The eloquent Arabs of his day were unable to contest this Quran. Indeed, till our day, none has ever dared to claim that he has been able to compose words that equal-or even approach-the order, grace, beauty and splendor of this Glorious Quran.
4. The life history of this Noble Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, was a perfect example of being upright, merciful, compassionate, truthful, brave, generous, distant from all evil character, and ascetic in all worldly matters, while striving solely for the reward of the Hereafter. Moreover, in all his actions and dealings, he, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, was ever mindful and fearful of Allaah.
5. Allaah instilled great love for Muhammad, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, in the hearts of all who believed in and met him, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam. This love reached such a degree that any of his companions would willingly sacrifice his )or her( self, mother or father for him, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam. Till today, those who believe in Muhammad, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, honor and love him. Anyone of those who believe in him would ransom his own family and wealth to see him, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, even if but once.
6. All of history has not preserved the biography of any person in the manner it has preserved the life of Muhammad, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, who is the most influential human in history. Nor has the entire earth known of anyone whom every morning and evening, and many times thereafter throughout the day, is thought of by those who believe in him. Upon remembering Muhammad, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, the believers in him will greet him and ask Allaah to bless him, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam and exalt his status. They do such with full hearts and true love for him, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam.
7. Nor has there every been a man on earth whom is still followed in all his doings by those who believe in him, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam. Those who believe in Muhammad, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, sleep in the manner he, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, slept; purify themselves )through ablution and ritual washing( in the manner he, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, purified himself; and adhere to his practice in the way they eat, drink, and clothe themselves.
Indeed in all aspects of their lives, the believers in Muhammad, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, adhere to the teachings he, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, spread among them and the path that he traveled upon during his life. During every generation, from his day till our time, the believers in this Noble Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, have fully adhered to his teachings. With some, this has reached the degree that they desire to follow and adhere to the Prophet's way in his, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, personal matters regarding which Allaah has not sought of them to adhere to in worship. For example, some will only eat those specific foods or only wear those specific garments that the Messenger, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, liked.
Let alone all that, all those who believe in Muhammad, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, repeat those praises of Allaah, special prayers, and invocations that he, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, would say during each of his actions during day and night, like: what he, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, would say when he greeted people, upon entering and leaving the house, entering and leaving the mosque, entering and leaving the bathroom, going to sleep and awaking from sleep, observing the new crescent, observing the new fruit on trees, eating, drinking, dressing, riding, traveling and returning from travel, etc.
Moreover, all those who believe in Muhammad, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, fully perform - even to the minute detail - every act of worship, like prayer, fasting, charity, and pilgrimage, as this Noble Messenger, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, taught and as he, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, himself performed. All of this allows those who believe in him, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, to live their lives in all aspects with this Noble Messenger, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, as their example, as if he, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, was standing before them, for them to follow in all their doings.
8. There has never been, nor will there ever be, a man anywhere upon this earth who has received such love, respect, honor, and obedience in all matters, small and large alike, as has this Noble Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam.
9. Since his days, in every region of the earth and during every period, this Noble Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, has been followed by individuals from all nations, colors and peoples. Many of those who followed him were previously Christians, Jews, pagans, idolaters, or without any religion. Among those who chose to follow him, were those who were known for their sound judgment, wisdom, reflection, and foresight. They chose to follow this Noble Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, after they witnessed the signs of his truthfulness and the evidences of his miracles. They did not choose to follow Muhammad, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, out of compulsion or coercion or because they had adopted the ways of their fathers and mothers.
Indeed many of the followers of this Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, chose to follow him during the time when Islam was weak, when there were few Muslims, and when there was severe persecution of his followers on earth. People who have followed this Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, have not done so to acquire some material benefits. Indeed many of his followers have suffered the greatest forms of harm and persecution as a result of following him. Despite all this harm and persecution, this did not turn them back from his religion. All of this clearly indicates, to anyone possessing any sense, that this Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, was truly and really Allaah's messenger and that he, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, was not just a man who claimed prophethood or spoke about Allaah without knowledge.
9. With all this, Muhammad, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, came with a great religion in its creedal and legal make-up. Muhammad, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, described Allaah with qualities of complete perfection, and at the same time in a manner that is free of ascribing to Him any imperfection. Neither the philosophers or the wise could ever describe Allaah like such. Indeed it is impossible to imagine that any human mind could conceive of an existing being that possesses such complete ability and greatness Who has subdued the creation, Who has encompassed everything in the universe, small or large, and Who possesses such perfect mercy. Nor is it in the ability of any human being to place a perfect law based upon justice, equality, mercy and objectivity for all human activity on earth like the laws that Muhammad, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, conveyed to all spheres of human activity - like buying and selling, marriage and divorce, renting, testimony, custody, and all other contracts that are necessary to uphold life and civilization on earth.
10. It is impossible that any person conceive wisdom, morals, good manners, nobleness of characters as what this honorable Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam,brought. In a full and complete manner, Muhammad, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, spread a teaching regarding character and manners toward one's parents, relatives, fiends, family, humanity, animals, plants and inanimate objects. It is impossible for the human mind alone to grasp all of that teaching or come with a similar teaching. All of that unequivocally indicates that this Messenger, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, did not bring any of this religion from his own accord, but that it was rather a teaching and inspiration that he, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, received from The One Who created the earth and the high heavens above and created this universe in its miraculous architecture and perfection.
12. The legal and creedal make-up of the religion that the Messenger Muhammad, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, brought resembles the engineering of the heavens and the earth. All of that indicates that He Who created the heavens and the earth is The One Who sent down this great law and upright religion. The degree of inimitability of the Divine law that was sent down upon Muhammad, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, is to the same degree of inimitability of the Divine creation of the heavens and the earth. For just as humanity cannot create this universe, in the same manner humanity cannot bring forth a law like Allaah's law that He sent down upon His servant and messenger Muhammad, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam.

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Welcome to Islam, - * You should know this man

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You may be an atheist or an agnostic; or you may belong to any of the religious denominations that exist in the world today.
You may be a Communist or a believer in democracy and freedom.
No matter who you are, and no matter what your ideological and political beliefs, personal and social habits happen to be.
You must still know this man.
Encyclopedia Brittanica, confirms:“…a mass of detail in the early sources shows that he was an honest and upright man who had gained the respect and loyalty of others who were likewise honest and upright men.”)Vol. 12(.
Bernard Shaw said about him: “He must be called the Savior of Humanity. I believe that if a man like him were to assume the dictatorship of the modern world, he would succeed in solving its problems in a way that would bring it much-needed peace and happiness”. )The Genuine Islam, Singapore, Vol. 1, No. 8, 1936(.
He was by far the most remarkable man that ever set foot on this earth. He preached a religion, founded a State, built a nation, laid down a moral code, initiated numerous social and political reforms, established a powerful and dynamic society to practice and represent his teachings and completely revolutionized the worlds of human thought and behavior for all times to come.
His name is Muhammad,sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, )may Allaah exalt his mention(.
Born in Arabia in the year 570 CE, he started his mission of preaching the religion of Truth, Islam )submission to One God( at the age of forty and departed from this world when he was sixty-three.
During this short period of 23 years of his prophethood, he changed the entire Arabian peninsula from paganism and idolatry to the worship of One God; from tribal quarrels and wars to national solidarity and cohesion; from drunkenness and wickedness to sobriety and piety; from lawlessness and anarchy to disciplined living; from utter bankruptcy to the highest standards of moral excellence. Human history has never known such a complete transformation of people or a place before or since – and imagine all these unbelievable wonders took placein just over two decades.
La Martine, the renowned historian, speaking onThe Essentials or Human Greatness, said: “If greatness of purpose, smallness of means and astounding results are the three criteria of human genius, who could dare to compare any great man in modern history with Muhammad? The most famous men created arms, laws and empires only. They founded, if anything at all, no more than material powers which often crumbled away before their eyes. This man moved not only armies, legislations, empires, peoples and dynasties, but millions of men in one-third of the )then(inhabited world; and more than that, he moved the altars, the gods, the religions, the ideas, the beliefs and souls … his forbearance in victory, his ambition, which was entirely devoted to one idea and in no manner striving for an empire; his endless prayers, his mystic conversations with God, his death and his triumph after death -- all these attest not to an impostor, but to a firm conviction which gave him the power to restore a dogma. This dogma was twofold, the unity of God and the immateriality of God; the former telling what God is, and the latter telling what God is not; the one overthrowing false gods with the sword, the other starting an idea with the words.
Philosopher, orator, apostle, legislator, warrior, conqueror of ideas, restorer of rational dogmas, of a cult without images, the founder of twenty terrestrial empires and of one spiritual empire, that is Muhammad. As regards all the standards by which human greatness may be measured, we may well ask, is there any man greater than he?”
)La Martine,Historic de la Turquie, Paris, 1854, Vol.II, pp. 276-277(.
The world has had its share of great personalities. However, these were one-sided figures who distinguished themselves in one or two fields, such as religious thought or military leadership. The lives and teachings of these great personalities of the world are shrouded in the mist of time. There is so much speculation about the time and place of their birth, the mode and style of their life, the nature and detail of their teachings and the degree and measure of their success or failure that it is impossible for humanity to reconstruct accurately the lives and teachings of these men.
Not so this man. Muhammad,sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam,accomplished so much in such diverse fields of human thought and behavior in the fullest blaze of human history. Every detail of his private life and public utterances has been accurately documented and faithfully preserved to our day. The authenticity of the records so preserved is vouched for not only by the faithful followers, but also by his prejudiced critics.
Muhammad,sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam,was a religious teacher, a social reformer, a moral guide, an administrative colossus, a faithful friend, a wonderful companion, a devoted husband, a loving father – all in one. No other man in history ever excelled or equaled him in any of these different aspects of life – but it was only for the selfless personality of Muhammad,sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam,to achieve such incredible perfection.
Mahatma Gandhi, speaking on the character of Muhammad,sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, says inYoung India;
“I wanted to know the best of one who holds today undisputed sway over the hearts of millions of mankind… I became more than convinced that it was not the sword that won a place for Islam in those days in the scheme of life. It was the rigid simplicity, the utter self-effacement of the Prophet, the scrupulous regard for his pledges, his intense devotion to his friends and followers, his intrepidity, his fearlessness, his absolute trust in God and in his own mission. These and not the sword carried everything before them and surmounted every obstacle.
When I closed the 2nd volume )of the Prophet’s biography(, I was sorry there was not more for me to read of the great life”.
Thomas Carlyle, in hisHeroes and Hero-Worship, was simply amazed as to: “How one man single handedly, could weld warring tribes and wandering Bedouins into a most powerful and civilized nation.”
Diwan Chand Sharma wrote: “Muhammad was the soul of kindness, and his influence was felt and never forgotten by those around him.” )D. C. Sharma,‘The Prophets of the East’, Calcutta, 1935, pp. 12(.
Speaking on the aspect of equality before God in Islam, the famous poetess of India, Sarojini Naidu says:
“It was the first religion that preached and practiced democracy; for, in the mosque, when the call for prayer is sounded and worshippers are gathered together, the democracy of Islam is embodied five times a day when the peasant and king kneel side by side and proclaim: God Alone is Great.
I have been struck over again by this indivisible unity of Islam that makes man instinctively a brother.” )S. Naidu,Ideals of Islam, vide Speeches & Writings, Madras, 1918, P. 169(.
The world has not hesitated to raise to divinity, individuals whose lives and missions have been lost in legend. Historically, none of these legends achieved even a fraction of what Muhammad,sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam,accomplished. And all his striving was for the sole purpose of uniting humanity for the worship of One God on the codes of moral excellence. Muhammad,sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, or his followers never at any time claimed that he was a Son of God or God-incarnate – but he always was and is even today considered as only a Messenger chosen by God.
Michael H. Hart in his recently published book on ratings of men who contributed towards the benefit and upliftment of man writes: “My choice of Muhammad to lead the list of the world’s most influential persons may surprise some readers and may be questioned by others, but he was the only man in history who was supremely successful on both the religious and secular levels”. )M.H. Hart,‘The 100: A ranking of the most influential persons in History’, New York, 1978 pp.33(.
Today after a lapse of fourteen centuries, the life and teachings of Muhammad,sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, have survived without the slightest loss, alteration or interpolation. They offer the same undying hope for treating humankind’s many ills, which they did when he was alive. This is not a claim of the followers of Muhammad,sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, but also the inescapable conclusion forced upon by a critical and unbiased history.
The least you could know as a thinking and concerned human being is to stop for a moment and ask yourself: Could these statements sounding so extraordinary and revolutionary be really true? And supposing they really are true and you did not know this man Muhammad,sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, or hear about him, isn’t it time you respond to this tremendous challenge and put in some effort to know him?
It will cost you nothing but it may prove to be the beginning of a completely new era in your life.
We invite you to make a discovery of this wonderful man, Muhammad,sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, the like of whom never walked on the face of this earth.

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Dought & clear, - {Islamic history and biography}, - - Discussion of numerical miracles in the Qur’aan and use of the solarcalendar

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I read some 'miracles' of the qur'an recently. These included many things such as the 3 stages of embryos, the orbits of planets, etc etc. However, one of them claimed that the word yawm (day) is mentioned 365 times in the qur'an, and the word qamar is mentioned 12 times in the quraan. I forget how many times the word ayyaam is mentioned. However, a friend pointed out that the islamic calender does not have 365 days in it. What does this mean about the islamic calender? That it is wrong? Or that God knew that most of the world would use the Gregorian calender and that this is a sign that it is the correct one?.
Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:
Many people are infatuated by the different types of miracles in the Qur’aan, including the “numerical miracles”. In newspapers and magazines and on the internet they publish lists of words that are repeated a number of times that corresponds to their structure, and words that are repeated the same number of times as their opposites. They also claim that the word yawm (day) is repeated 365 times and the word shahr (month) is repeated 12 times, and they do this with other words too, such as al-malaa’ikah (angels) and al-shayaateen (devils), and al-dunya (this world) and al-aakhirah (the Hereafter), etc.
Many people think that these numbers are true and that this is one of the miracles of the Qur’aan, but they do not distinguish between subtleties and miracles. Writing a book which contains a specific number of certain words is something that anyone can do; what is so miraculous about that? The miracle that appears in the Book of Allaah is not like these subtleties, rather it is far deeper and greater than that. It is the fact that the most eloquent and well-spoken of the Arabs could not produce anything like the Qur’aan, or ten soorahs of it, or even one soorah. It is not like these subtleties that any writer could produce in any book that he writes, or more.
It should be noted that some people have taken this beyond mere statistics. Some of them have used these numbers to foretell when the state of Israel will fall, and others have used them to say when the Day of Judgement will be. One of the latest fabrications against the Book of Allaah is that which they have published saying that the Qur’aan foretold the explosions in the towers in New York! Based on the number of the verse in al-Tawbah, and the number of the soorah and juz’. All of that is toying with the Book of Allaah which is caused by ignorance of the true nature of the miracle of the Book of Allaah.
Secondly:
By examining the statistics presented by those who have published these numbers, we find that they did not get the numbers of some phrases right, and some of them have been selective in the way they counted the words, and that is so that they might reach the conclusion they want and that they think is in the Book of Allaah.
Shaykh Dr. Khaalid al-Sabt said:
Dr. Ashraf ‘Abd al-Razzaaq Qatanah presented a “study of the numerical miracles in the Holy Qur’aan” which he published in a book entitled: “The Qur’aan and the Numerical Miracles, a critical study of the numerical miracles of the Holy Qur’aan.” In the conclusion to this book he reviews three other books: (1)I’jaaz al-Raqm 19(The miracle of the number 19) by Baasim Jaraar; (2)al-I’jaaz al-‘Adadi fi’l-Qur’aan(the numerical miracle in the Qur’aan) by ‘Abd al-Razzaaq Nawfal; and (3)al-Mu’jizah(the miracle) by ‘Adnaan al-Rifaa’i. The author reached a conclusion which he describes as follows:
As the result of my study I reached the idea that the “numerical miracle” as presented in these books is not real at all, and these books are based on conditions that are sometimes selective , in order to prove the validity of this view in a way that will make the reader accept these preconceived results referred to above. These selective conditions sometimes lead the author to go against that which is proven according to the consensus of the ummah, such as going against the spelling of the ‘Uthmaani Mus-haf, which is not permissible at all; or adopting the spelling of some words which appears in some Mus-hafs and without paying attention to the spellings in other Mus-hafs. It also goes against basic principles of the Arabic language with regard to synonyms and antonyms.
p. 197, Damascus, Manaar li’l-Nashr wa’l-Tawzee’, first edition, 1420 AH/1999 CE.
Dr. Fahd al-Roomi said something similar about the selective way in which Dr ‘Abd al-Razzaaq Nawfal chose words in order to reach this numerical balance, such as when he said: The word yawm (day) is mentioned 365 times in the Qur’aan, the number of days in a year. In order to prove this he counted the words “al-yawm” and “yawman” but he ignored words such as “yawmukum” (your day) and “yawmuhum” (their day) andyawma’idhin(on that day), because if he had done that, he would have got a different number. The same applies to the wordal-isti’aadhahwhich refers to seeking refuge from the shaytaan. He says that it is repeated 11 times, but he includes in that the words “a’oodhu” (I seek refuge) and “fasta’idh” (seek refuge) but not “ ‘udhtu” (I sought refuge) or “ya’oodhoona” (they seek refuge) or “u’eedhuha” (I seek refuge for her) or “ma’aadh Allaah” (Allaah forbid).
See:Ittijaahaat al-Tafseer fi’l-Qarn al-Raabi’ ‘Ashara(2/699, 700), Beirut, Mu’sasat al-Risaalah, second edition, 1414 AH.
From this well-founded discussion, the answer to the issue of the word “yawm” and the number of times it appears in the Qur’aan, which is mentioned in the question, is clear.
Thirdly:
With regard to the count (of time) (al-hisaab, mentioned in Yoonus 10:5) that Allaah has mentioned in His holy Book, it is the precise count (of time) that does not differ as the years pass, which is the lunar count (of time).
With regard to the verse (interpretation of the meaning):
“And they stayed in their Cave three hundred years, adding nine”
[al-Kahf 18:25],
some of the scholars have stated that the number 300 refers to solar years, and that the number 309 refers to lunar years. This view was refuted by Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen, who explained in his refutation that the count (of time) with Allaah is lunar, not solar.
Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
“adding nine” means that they added nine years to three hundred, so they stayed there for three hundred and nine years. It may be said: Why doesn’t it just say three hundred and nine?
The answer is that this is what is meant, but the Qur’aan is the most eloquent of books, and in order for the ends of the verses to match (in Arabic) it says:“And they stayed in their Cave three hundred (solar) years, adding nine (for lunar years)”. It is not as some people think, that the three hundred refers to solar years and the nine was added for lunar years, because we cannot testify that Allaah meant that. Who can testify that this is what Allaah meant? Even if it so happens that three hundred solar years are equal to three hundred and nine lunar years, we cannot testify about Allaah in this way, because the count (of time) with Allaah is one.
What are the signs by which the count (of time) is reckoned with Allaah?
The answer is that they are the new moons; hence we say that the view that “three hundred years” refers to solar years and “adding nine” refers to lunar years, is a weak view.
Firstly: because we cannot testify that Allaah meant this.
Secondly: because the number of months and years with Allaah is based on the new moons. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“It is He Who made the sun to be a shining glory and the moon to be a light (of beauty), and measured out stages for it; that ye might know the number of years and the count (of time)”
[Yoonus 10:5]
“They ask you (O Muhammad(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)about the new moons. Say: These are signs to mark fixed periods of time for mankind and for the pilgrimage”
[al-Baqarah 2:189]
Tafseer Soorat al-Kahf.
Reckoning time by the moon and the new moons was well known to the Prophets and their peoples, and reckoning time by the sun was only known to the ignorant followers of false religions, but unfortunately many Muslims follow them nowadays.
Dr Khaalid al-Sabt says, in his refutation of those who say that the verse“The building which they built” [al-Tawbah 9:11]in al-Tawbah refers to the explosions in America:
5 (the fifth point) – These connections are based on the solar calendar, which is a calendar that was inherited from idolatrous nations, and which was of no significance to the Prophets (blessing and peace be upon them). Rather the calendar that counts in sharee’ah is the calendar that is based on the moon and new moons, which is more precise. This indicates that what was known to the Prophets was the lunar calendar. In the hadeeth of Waathilah ibn al-Asqa’ (may Allaah be pleased with him) it says that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The Suhuf of Ibraaheem were revealed to him on the first night of Ramadaan, and the Tawrat (Torah) was revealed on the sixth of Ramadaan, and the Injeel (Gospel) on the thirteenth of Ramadaan, and the Furqaan (Qur’aan) was revealed on the twenty-fourth of Ramadaan.” Narrated by Ahmad (4/107) and by al-Bayhaqi inal-Sunan(9/188). Its isnaad is hasan. It was also mentioned by al-Albaani inal-Saheehah(1575). This could not be known unless the calendar was based on the moon and new moons. This is also indicated by the hadeeth which was narrated inal-Saheehaynfrom Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) who said: When the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) came to Madeenah, he found the Jews fasting on the day of ‘Ashoora’. He said: “What is this?” They said: This is a good day, this is the day on which Allaah saved the Children of Israel from their enemies. So Moosa fasted on that day … Narrated by al-Bukhaari (2004) and Muslim (1130). And al-Haafiz (may Allaah have mercy on him) stated clearly that they did not base their count (of time) on the sun. See:al-Fath(4/291 and 7/323).
Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him) said, commenting on the verses“It is He Who made the sun a shining thing and the moon as a light and measured out for it stages” [Yoonus 10:5]and“And the moon, We have measured for it mansions (to traverse) till it returns like the old dried curved date stalk” [Yaa Seen 36:38, 39]: Hence the lunar calendar was better known among the nations and was less likely to involve errors, and it is more precise than the solar calendar, and all people can follow it easily. Hence Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “and measured out for it stages that you might know the number of years and the reckoning” [Yoonus 10:5]. But He did not say that about the sun, hence the months of Hajj, fasting, Eid and other Islamic occasions are based on the lunar calendar. This is by the wisdom of Allaah and His mercy, and so as to protect His religion, as the people may all be able to figure out this count of time easily and avoid mistakes, and so that no differences or confusion would happen to the religion as happened to the people of the Book.
End quote fromMiftaah Daar al-Sa’aadah, p. 538, 539.
It may be understood from the last comment of Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him) that the people of the Book used to follow a solar calendar, and this was stated clearly by al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar (may Allaah have mercy on him) in his response after he attributed this view to Ibn al-Qayyim. Seeal-Fath(7/323).
But in fact it played no role in their religion, rather it was introduced after that by the ignorant among them. End quote.
Concerning the things we learn from the verse“They ask you (O Muhammad(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)about the new moons…”, Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
… and we learn that the fixed periods of time for all nations are the fixed periods of time that were established by Allaah for them – which are the new moons – so these are global fixed periods of time, because Allaah says “fixed periods of time for mankind”. As for what has happened recently, namely the adoption of the European calendar, there it has no tangible basis and it makes no sense and is not prescribed in sharee’ah. Hence you find that one month has twenty-eight days and some have thirty days and some have thirty one, without any known reason for this discrepancy. Moreover these months have no physical sign that the people can refer to in order to work out time, unlike the lunar months which have a physical sign that is known to everyone. End quote.
Tafseer al-Baqarah(2/371).
Al-Qurtubi said, commenting on the verse“Verily, the number of months with Allaah is twelve months (in a year), so was it ordained by Allaah on the Day when He created the heavens and the earth” [al-Tawbah 9:36]: This verse indicates that rulings on acts of worship and other matters must be connected to the months and years that were known to the Arabs, and not those that were used by the Persians, Byzantines or Copts, and they should not be more than twelve months, because they vary in the number of days; some of them being thirty days and some of them being more or less. But the months of the Arabs never exceed thirty days, although some of them may be less; the ones that are less are not any specific months, rather that varies according to variations in the moon’s movement through the sky. End quote.Tafseer al-Qurtubi(8/133).
And Allaah knows best.

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Dought & clear, - {Islamic history and biography}, - - Is it proven that ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) wrote a letter to the Nile in Egypt sothat its water would flow by Allah’s leave?

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I want to know the authenticity of the story about Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) writing a letter to the River Nile. It seems to me as illogical, for the Qur'aan and the Saheeh saheeh Sunnah (authentic prophetic traditions) do not teach such a thing. Also, that for droughts, Salah Salat Ul al Istisqa is authentically established.
Praise be to Allah
Ibn Katheer (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
It was narrated to us via Ibn Luhay‘ah from Qays ibn al-Hajjaj from someone who told him: When Egypt was conquered, its people came to ‘Amr ibn al-‘As (may Allah be pleased with him) and said to him: O Ameer, this Nile of ours is used to something and cannot flow unless it is done. He said: What is that? They said: On the twelfth night of this month, we take a young girl from her parents, and we placate her parents, then we dress her in jewellery and the finest garments there can be, then we throw her into this Nile.
‘Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) said to them: This is something that cannot happen in Islam; Islam erases that which came before it (of bad customs).
So they stayed for a while, during which the Nile did not flow at all, neither a little nor a lot, until they thought of leaving. Then ‘Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) wrote to ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), telling him about this. He wrote to him, saying: You did the right thing. I am sending you a piece of paper with my letter; throw it into the Nile.
When his letter came, ‘Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) took the piece of paper on which was written:
“From the slave of Allah ‘Umar, Ameer al-Mumineen, to the Nile of the people of Egypt.
To proceed: If you only flow on your own initiative, then do not flow, for we have no need of you. But if you only flow on the command of Allah, the One, the Subduer, and He is the One Who causes you to flow, then we ask Allah, may He be exalted, to make you flow.”
He threw the paper in the Nile and by Saturday morning, Allah had caused the Nile to flow (to a depth or width of) sixteen cubits in one night, and Allah put an end to this particular custom of the people of Egypt until today.
End quote from al-Bidayah wa’n-Nihayah, 7/114-115
Similar reports were also narrated by Ibn ‘Abd al-Hakam in Futooh Misr, p. 165; al-Lalkai in Sharh I‘tiqad Ahl as-Sunnah, 6/463; Ibn ‘Asakir in Tareekh Dimashq, 44/336; Abu’sh-Shaykh in al-‘Azamah, 4/1424, via Ibn Luhay‘ah.
This is a da‘eef isnad (weak chain of narration) that is not saheeh, and this report cannot be proven with such an isnad. Ibn Luhay‘ah – whose full name was ‘Abdullah ibn Luhay‘ah ibn ‘Uqbah – is da ‘eef as he used to get mixed up, and in addition to that he is mudallis (one who narrates from someone he met something he did not hear). See at-Tahdheeb, 5/327-33; Mizan al-I‘tidaal, 2/475-484
Qays ibn al-Hajjaj is sadooq (trustworthy), from the sixth level of hadeeth narrators (tabaqah) according to al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar; they are the ones who it is not proven that they met any of the Sahabah/Companions (may Allah be pleased with them). See: Taqreeb at-Tahdheeb, 1/25
Sometimes he narrated it as a mursal (the link between the Successor and the Prophet is missing) report and sometimes he narrated it from the one who told him, but the one who told him is majhool and not known.
So the report is da‘eef (weak) and is not saheeh (sound)
If this story were true, everyone would know about it and it would be well known, and it would have been widely narrated through confirmed isnads, because it is an important and significant event, the like of which should not be ignored; rather an incident less significant than this would not be overlooked by historians and narrators.
And Allah knows best.

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Dought & clear, - {Islamic history and biography}, - - She is asking about the best book on the stories of the Prophets

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I need the name of a book that has not been distorted and is trustworthy, about the stories of all the Prophets.
Praise be to Allah.
In the Book of Allah, may He be exalted, you will find the truest, most beautiful and most trustworthy of stories, because it is the word of Allah, may He be exalted, which illuminated the world with its lessons and rulings. Reading the stories of the Messengers and Prophets in the verses of the Qur’aan is one of the greatest ways of bringing benefits and good to the Muslim, let alone the immense reward that is attained by the one who ponders the Book of Allah, may He be exalted. Hence we advise you to be keen to pursue this way of goodness, for the Muslim can never do without the Book of Allah, may He be exalted, no matter what other books he reads.
With regard to the books of the scholars about the stories of the Prophets, the best of them – as it appears to us – are the following:
1.
Qasasal-Anbiya’(Stories of the Prophets) by al-Haafiz Ibn Katheer (may Allah have mercy on him) (d. 774 AH). This is perhaps the best of the books of the early scholars on this topic, as it is distinguished by compiling all of the verses having to do with the story of each Prophet in one place, and making connections between them by commenting on them and quoting hadeeths and reports that have to do with them. It is an encyclopaedic and well organised book that discusses the lives of the Prophets, although it quotes rather too many reports that are not proven and some reports from Jewish sources (Israa’eeliyyaat). However for the most part he points out the origin of these reports, and he states that he only quotes for the purpose of studying them and highlighting their status. So we recommend you to read this book and study it. The one who wants to study these stories with the best annotation should read the bookal-Bidaayah wa’n-Nihaayah(Dar Hajar edn., published under the supervision of Dr. ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abd al-Muhsin at-Turki), becauseQasasal-Anbiya’is taken from the first chapters ofal-Bidaayah wa’n-Nihaayah.
2.
al-Ahaadeethas-Saheehah min Akhbaar wa Qasas al-Anbiya’(The saheeh hadeeths that speak of the lives and stories of the Prophets) was compiled and their isnaads evaluated by Ibraaheem Muhammad al-‘Ali (publ. by Dar al-Qalam in Damascus and Dar ash-Shaamiyyah in Beirut, 276 pages). It is a very useful book that is distinguished by the fact that it includes many hadeeths that speak of the stories of the Messengers and Prophets, and the material is organised with comments in a manner that complements these stories. The author (may Allah have mercy on him) put a great deal of effort into selecting saheeh and hasan hadeeths and reports, and avoiding weak and fabricated material. This may be the best contemporary book on this topic.
3.
Qasasal-Anbiya’by al-‘Allaamah ‘Abd ar-Rahmaan as-Sa‘di (d. 1376 AH). This is a short book that is taken from his bookTayseeral-Lateef al-Mannaan fi Khilaasat Tafseer al-Qur’an, in which he recounts the stories of the Prophets as they were narrated in the Holy Qur’aan, in sequence, and he follows each story with a brief discussion of what we learn from it.
And Allah knows best.

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