His father is unable to do Hajj for health reasons, and he wants todo Hajj on his behalf

I work in the land of the Two Holy Sanctuaries, and Allaah enabled me
to perform the obligatory Hajj last year. Now my father is in Egypt
and he wants to perform the obligatory duty of Hajj. He is able
financially but not physically, for health reasons. Can I perform the
obligatory Hajj for him and do Hajj on his behalf?.
Praise be to Allaah.
If your father is not able to do Hajj himself, because of old age or
sickness for which there is no hope of a cure and which makes him
unableto do Hajj, then he has toappoint someone else todo Hajj on his
behalf, whether he appoints you or someone else.
If you want to do Hajj onhis behalf, this is good, so long as you tell
him that you are going to do Hajj on his behalf and hegives you
permission to do that.
Ibn Qudaamah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: If a person meets
the conditions of Hajj being obligatory forhim, but he is unable to do
it for a reason for which there is no hope that it will disappear,
such as old age or sickness for which there is no hope of a cure, or
he is too weak and cannot sit firmly on his mount except with
unbearable difficulty, or he is too old, etc, if thereis someone whom
he can appoint to do Hajj on his behalf, and he hasenough money to do
that, then he must do that. This is the view of Abu Haneefah and
al-Shaafa'i. End quote from al-Mughni (3/91).
He also said: It is not permissible to do Hajj and 'Umrah on behalf of
a living person without his permission, regardless of whether it is an
obligatory or voluntary Hajj, because it is an act of worship can be
done by proxy, soit is not permissible to do it on behalf of an adult
of sound mind except with his permission, as is the casewith zakaah.
In the case of one who is deceased, it is permissible to do it on his
behalf without permission, whether it isobligatory or voluntary,
because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
enjoined Hajj on behalf of the deceased, and it isknown that
permission cannot be sought from the deceased.

--

- - - - -

And Allah Knows the Best!

- - - - -

Published by :->
M NajimudeeN Bsc- INDIA

¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤

Henry Irwin (British Architect) designed it forthe Maharaja of Mysore - INDIA

One of the largest palaces in India, Mysore Palace of Karnataka is a
fine example of unique blend of different styles of architecture. The
Mysore Palace is one of the most attractive and gorgeous monuments in
Karnataka. It is also known by the name of Amba Vilas and was the
residence of Wodeyar Maharaja. The Mysore Palace was rebuilt in 1912
after the original palace was destroyed in a fire accident in the year
1897. It was re-designed in Saracenicstyle by a famous British
architect Henry Irwin. One can see the blend of different forms of
architecture and design in the Maysore Palace.
The palace has three stories and a series of square towers with domed
arches. A gold-plated dome about 145 feet from the ground covers the
open courtyard in the center. The architecture has a blend of Hindu,
Mughal, Rajput and Gothic styles. The entrance of the palace has
'Gombe Thotti' or Doll's Pavilion, which has a collection ofIndian and
European sculptures and ceremonial objects. The main gate of the
palace building is known as Elephant Gate and is beautifully decorated
with floral motifs and the royal symbol of Mysore, the two-headed
Eagle. One finds the royal ceremonial elephant howdah decorated with
84 kilograms of gold and other precious stones.
The south of the Palace has the splendid KalyanaMandapam" or the
wedding pavilion, whichis decorated with multi colored stained glass
with peacock motifs arranged in geometrical patterns. One can find
elaborate chandeliers and tall slender wroughtiron pillars imported
from countries like Scotland and Czechoslovakia. The flooris made up
of glazed tiles that have been imported from England. The walls are
decorated with paintings depictingthe celebration of Dusshera festival
during the royal rule.
The second floor has the splendid durbar hall known as 'Diwan-I-am',
which is around 155 feetlong and 42 feet broad. The hall is marked by
an exquisitely decorated ceiling, a glistening floorand sculptured
pillars that are painted in gold. The walls have murals depicting the
eight avatars of Goddess Shakti. There are paintings that depict
scenes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata and also an original painting
of the famous painter Raja Ravi Varma. Towards thesouth on the same
floor is the Diwan-I-Khas (private audience hall), which is decorated
with beautifully carved entrance doors and stained glass ceiling.
The palace is surroundedby twelve temples, spread in the compound.Most
of these are built inthe Dravidian architectural style. The famous
ones include Varashaswamy Temple, which has actually inspired the
design for Sri Chamundeswari Temple on Chamundi Hill. The temples are
decorated beautifully during special occasions like festivals and
other auspicious days. The Department of Archaeology and Museums of
Karnataka Government now looks after the maintenance ofMysore Palace.
The palace has the largest collection of gold items (quantity wise).
The famous 200-kilogram gold throne is kept for display every year
during the festival of Dusshera. Every Sunday night the monument looks
like a heavenly palace as it is illuminated with thousands of light
bulbs.

Cultural India : Indian Religions

India is a land of diversities. This diversity is also visible in the
spheres of religion. The major religions of India are Hinduism
(majority religion), Islam (largest minority religion), Sikhism,
Christianity, Buddhism, Jainism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism and the
Bahá'í Faith. India is a land where people of different religions and
cultures live in harmony. This harmony is seen in the celebration of
festivals. The message of love and brotherhood is expressed by all the
religions and cultures of India.
Whether it's the gathering of the faithful,bowing in prayer in the
courtyard of a mosque, or the gathering of lamps that light up houses
at Diwali, the good cheer of Christmas or the brotherhood of Baisakhi,
the religions ofIndia are celebrations of shared emotion that bring
people together. People from the different religions and cultures of
India, unite in a common chord of brotherhood and amity in this
fascinating and diverse land.
Buddhism
At present Buddhism is one of the major world religions. The
philosophy of Buddhism is based on the teachings of Lord Buddha,
Siddhartha Gautama (563 and 483 BC), a royal prince of Kapilvastu,
India. After originating in India, Buddhism spread throughout the
Central Asia, Sri Lanka, Tibet, Southeast Asia, as well asthe East
Asian countries of China, Mongolia, Korea, Japan and Vietnam.
Christians
Christianity is one of the prominent religions in India. At present
there are about 25 million Christians in India. It is interesting to
note that the Christian population in India is more than theentire
population of Australia and New Zealand or total population of a
number of countries in Europe.
Hinduism
Hinduism is the oldest religion in the world. Hinduism is world's
thirdlargest religion after Christianity and Islam. Hinduism is the
dominant religion in India, where Hindus form about 84 per cent of the
total population. Hinduism is also known as "Sanatan Dharma" or the
everlasting religion.
Islam
One of the prominent religions of India, Islam forms about 12 per cent
of India's population. Though India's contact with Islam had begun
much earlier, the real push came in the 8th century when the province
of Sindh was conquered. Though the Muslims form only 12 percent of the
total population of India but the influence of Islam onIndian society
is much stronger.
Jainism
Jains form less than one percent of the Indian population. For
centuries, Jains are famous as community of traders and merchants. The
states of Gujarat andRajasthan have the highest concentration ofJain
population in India. The Jain religion is traced to Vardhamana
Mahavira (The Great Hero 599-527 B.C.).
Sikhism
Sikhs form about 2 per cent of Indian population. In comparison to
other religions, Sikhism is a younger religion. The word 'Sikh' means
a disciple and thus Sikhismis essentially the path of discipleship.
The true Sikh remains unattachedto worldly things.
Zoroastrian
Though the total number of Zoroastrians in Indian population is very
less yet they continue to be one of the important religious
communities of India. According to the 2001 census, there were around
70,000 members of the Zoroastrian faith in India. Most of the Parsis
(Zoroastrians) live in Maharashtra (mainly in Mumbai) and the rest in
Gujarat.
Guru Nanak Dev
Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji is credited with starting the Sikh religion. He
wasthe first Guru of the Sikhs and is worshipped next to God. His sole
aim in life was to unify the Hindus and Muslims and form a universal
religionof brotherhood and compassion. He believed that true salvation
could be achieved only by devotion of thought andexcellence of
conduct.
Lord Mahavira
Lord Mahavira is often credited with the adventof Jainism in India.
However, Jainism existedeven before Lord Mahavira was born. He
issupposed to be the twenty-fourth (last) Tirthankara according tothe
Jain philosophy. A Tirthankara is an enlightened soul who is born as a
human being and attains perfection through intense meditation.
Adi Shankaracharya
One of the greatest philosophers of India, Adi Shankaracharya founded
the Advaita Vedanta, which is one ofthe sub-schools of Vedanta. Adi
Shankaracharya whole-heartedly believed in theconcept of the Vedas
butat the same time advocated against the rituals and religious
practices that were over exaggerated.


--

- - - - -

And Allah Knows the Best!

- - - - -

Published by :->
M NajimudeeN Bsc- INDIA

¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤

Hakim ibn Hazm - Biographies of the Companions (Sahabah)

History has recorded that he is the only person who was born inside
the Kabah itself.
Together with a group of friends, his mother had gone inside this
ancient House of God to inspect it. On that particular day it was open
because of a festive occasion. She was pregnant and labor pains
suddenly gripped her. She was unable to leave the Kabah. A leather mat
was brought to her and she gave birth on it. The child was named
Hakim. His father was Hazm who was the son of Khuwaylid. Hakim was
therefore the nephew of the Lady Khadijah, the daughter of Khuwaylid,
may Allah be pleasedwith her.
Hakim grew up in a wealthy and noble family which enjoyed a high
status in Makkan society. Hewas also an intelligent and well-mannered
person who was well respected by his people. He was held in such
esteem that he was given the responsibility of the rifadah which
involved giving assistance to the needy and those who had lost their
property during the season of pilgrimage. He took this responsibility
seriously and would even help needy pilgrims from his own resources.
Hakim was a very close friend of the Prophet, peace be on him, before
the latter's call to prophethood. Even though he was five years older
than the Prophet, he used to spend muchtime talking to him and
enjoyinghours of pleasant companionship. Muhammad in his turn felt
great affection for Hakim.
Their relationship was further strengthened when the Prophet married
his aunt, Khadijah bint Khuwaylid.
What is truly amazing is that in spite of the close friendship between
Hakim and the Prophet,Hakim did not become a Muslim until the conquest
of Makkah, more than twenty years after the start of the Prophet's
mission. One would have thought that someone like Hakim whom God had
blessed with a sound intellect and who was so well-disposed to the
Prophet, would have been among the first to believe in himand follow
the guidance he brought. But that was not to be.
Just as we are astonished at the late acceptance of Islam on the part
of Hakim, he himself later inlife was also amazed. In fact, as soon as
he accepted Islam and tasted the sweetness of iman (faith), he began
to feel deep regret for every moment of his life as a mushrik and a
denier of God's religion and of His Prophet.
His son once saw him weeping after his acceptance of Islam andasked:
"Why are you weeping, my father'?" "Many things cause me to weep, my
dear son. The most grievous is the length of time it took for me to
become a Muslim. Acceptance of Islam would have given me so many
opportunities to do good which I missed even if I were to have spent
the earth in gold. My life was spared at the battle of Badr and also
at the battle of Uhud. After Uhud. I said to myself. I would not help
any Quraysh against Muhammad, may the peace and blessings of God be
upon him, and I would not leaveMakkah. Then, whenever I felt like
accepting Islam I would lookat other men among the Quraysh, men of
power and maturity who remained firmly attached to the ideas and
practices of Jahiliyyah and I would fall in line with them and their
neighbors... Oh, how I wishI had not done so. Nothing has destroyed us
except the blind following of our forefathers and elders. Why should I
not weep, my son?"
The Prophet himself was puzzled. A man of sagacity and understanding
like Hakim ibn Hazm, how could Islam remain"hidden" from him?. For a
long time, the Prophet had dearly hoped that he and a group of persons
like him would take the initiative and become Muslims. On the night
before the liberation of Makkah, he, may God bless him and grant him
peace, said to his companions:
"There are four persons in Makkah whom I consider to be above having
any dealing with shirk and I would dearly like them to accept Islam."
"Who arethey, O Messenger of God?" asked the companions. "Attab ibn
Usayd, Jubayr ibn Mutim, Hakim ibn Hazm and Suhayl ibn Amr," replied
the Prophet. By the grace of God, they all became Muslims.
When the Prophet, peace be on him, entered Makkah to liberate the city
from polytheism and theways of ignorance and immorality, he ordered
his herald to proclaim: "Whoever declares that there is no god
butAllah alone, that He has no partner and that Muhammad is His
servant and His Messenger, he is safe...
Whoever sits at the Kabah and lays down his weapons, he is safe.
Whoever enters the house of Abu Sufyan, he is safe.
Whoever enters the house of Hakim ibn Hazm, he is safe..." The house
of Abu Sufyan was in the higher part of Makkah and that of Hakim was
in the lower part of the city. By proclaiming these houses as places
of sanctuary, the Prophet wisely accorded recognition to both Abu
Sufyan and Hakim, weakening any thought they might have of resisting
and making it easier for them to be more favorably disposed to him and
his mission.
Hakim embraced Islam wholeheartedly. He vowed to himself that he would
atone for whatever he had done during his Jahili days and that
whateveramounts he had spent in opposing the Prophet, he would spend
the same amounts in the cause of Islam.
He owned the Dar an-Nadwah, an important and historic building in
Makkah, where the Quraysh held their conferences during the days of
Jahiliyyah. In this building the Quraysh leadersand chieftains would
gather to plot against the Prophet.
Hakim decided to get rid of it and cut himself off from its past
associations which were now sopainful to him. He sold the building for
one hundred thousand dirhams. A Quraysh youth exclaimed to him: "You
have sold something of great historical value and pride to the
Quraysh, uncle."
"Come now, my son," replied Hakim. "All vain pride and glory has now
gone and all that remains of value is taqwa - consciousness of God. I
have only sold the building in order toacquire a house in Paradise. I
swear to you that I have given the proceeds from it to be spentin the
path of God Almighty."
Hakim ibn Hazm performed the Hajj after becoming a Muslim. Hetook with
him one hundred fine camels and sacrificed them all inorder to achieve
nearness to God. In the following Hajj, he stood on Arafat. With him
were one hundred slaves. To each he gave a pendant of silver on which
was engraved: "Free for the sake of God Almighty from Hakim ibn Hazm."
On a third Hajj,he took with him a thousand sheep - yes a thousand
sheep and sacrificed them all at Mina to feed the poor Muslims in
order to attain nearness to God.
While Hakim was generous in hisspending for the sake of God, he also
still liked to have much. After the battle of Hunayn, he asked the
Prophet for some of the booty which the Prophet gave. He then asked
for more and the Prophet gave him more. Hakim was still a newcomer to
Islam and the Prophet was moregenerous to newcomers so as toreconcile
their hearts to Islam. Hakim ended up with a large share of the booty.
But the Prophet peace be upon him, toldhim:
"O Hakim! This wealth is indeed sweet and attractive. Whoever takes it
and is satisfied will be blessed by it and whoever takes out of greed
will not be blessed. He would be like someone who eats and is not
satisfied. The upper hand is better than the lower hand (it is better
to give than to receive)."
The kind words of advice had a deep and immediate effect on Hakim. He
was mortified and said to the Prophet: "O Messenger of God! By Him who
has sent you with the truth, I shall not ask anyone after you for
anything."
During the caliphate of Abu Bakr,Hakim was called several times to
collect his stipend from the Bayt al-mal but he refused to take any
money. He did the sameduring the caliphate of Umar ibnal-Khattab
whereupon Umar addressed the Muslims: "I testifyto you, O Muslims,
that I have called Hakim to collect his stipend but he refuses."
Hakim remained faithful to his word. He did not take anything from
anyone until he passed away. From the Prophet, he had learnt the great
truth that contentment is riches beyond compare.

--

- - - - -

And Allah Knows the Best!

- - - - -

Published by :->
M NajimudeeN Bsc- INDIA

¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤