Human Kindness in Islam

Nasiruddin was the slave of a king, and very fond of hunting. One day
he came across a very prettybaby deer and picked it up and rode away.
The mother deer saw Nasiruddin take her babyand followed him
anxiously. Nasiruddin, pleased with the baby dear, was thinking
aboutpresenting it to his children to play with. After a time, he
chanced to look back and saw the mother deer following him, her
expression full of grief. He noticed too that she did not seem to care
about her own safety. Moved to pity, Nasiruddin set the baby deer
free. The mother deer nuzzled and licked her baby fondly and the two
deer leapt happily away into the forest. But many times the mother
deer looked back at Nasiruddin, as if to express her thanks.
That night Nasiruddin dreamt that the revered Prophet (صلى الله عليه
وسلم) was addressing him: 'Nasiruddin, your name has been entered in
the list of Allah, and you will one day have a kingdom.But remember
that whenyou are king you will alsohave many responsibilities. Just as
you have shown mercy tothe deer today, you should be merciful to all
Allah's creatures. You should not forget your people by falling into a
life of luxury.'
This dream came true and Nasiruddin did become king, Amir Nasiruddin
Subaktagin, father of Sultan Muhammad.
The moral of the story is that if we wish Allah to be merciful to us,
we must be eager to show mercy to all the living creatures of the
earth.
When a flower blooms, its colour and scent first touch the garden near
it, and then spread. In the same way, a Muslim's actsof human kindness
should first touch those nearest to him, his familyand his neighbours.

Month of Muharram

Question
I would like to know what is the islamic significance of celebrating
the 1st 10 days of Muharram, wherewomen go to the person's house
around asar time and pray, and then sweets, or laan is given out to
the children and women that are present,every day, with the biggest
laan given onthe 10th of Muharram.
Is this just a mere tradition or does it have a shariah significance?
I ask this because i have moved to a new town and it is the first time
i have seen this being done.
Is there any harm in doing it?
What would be your advise to me? I have not attended the prayers, i
have heard of it only.
Answer
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Assalaamu `alaykum waRahmatullahi Wabarakatoh
1. The month of Muharram has significance in the Shari`ah. ALLAH
TA`AALA has mention in the noble Quraan regarding this month:-
إِنَّ عِدَّةَ الشُّهُورِ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ اثْنَا عَشَرَ شَهْرًا فِي
كِتَابِ اللَّهِ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ مِنْهَا
أَرْبَعَةٌ حُرُمٌ
"Verily the number of months according to ALLAH is twelve, in the
decree of ALLAH on the day HE created the heavens and earth, of them
four are sacred."
(Surah Taubah verse 35)
These four sacred monthsare Zul Qa`dah, Zul Hijjah,Muharram and Rajab.
Imaam al-Raazi commentates on this verse; explaining that therewards
for good actionsare multiplied and likewise the punishment for sins
perpetrated in these months are multiplied.
ومعنى الحرم : أن المعصية فيها أشد عقاباً ، والطاعة فيها أكثر ثواباً ،
والعرب كانوايعظمونها جداً حتى لو لقي الرجل قاتل أبيه لم يتعرض له .
(Tafseer ar-Raazi Vol.8 Pg. 54 Darul Fikr)
Mufti Taqi Usmaani explains in Ma`aariful Quraan that the sacredness
of these months where initially toprevent fighting and waging wars.
That rulingwas abrogated. However he states that the sacredness and
respect ofthese months still remain with regards to the
multiplications of good and sinful actions.
2. The tenth day of Muharram is of great significance. Known as the
day of Ashurah.
Nabi (صلى الله عليه و سلم) had attached great significance to this
day. Aiesha (رضى الله عنهما) stated that Nabi(صلى الله عليه و سلم)
commanded with the fasting of Ashurah before Ramadhaan became
compulsory.
حَدَّثَنَا حَرْمَلَةُ بْنُ يَحْيَى أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ
أَخْبَرَنِى يُونُسُ عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ أَخْبَرَنِى عُرْوَةُ بْنُ
الزُّبَيْرِ أَنَّ عَائِشَةَ – رضى الله عنها – قَالَتْ كَانَ رَسُولُ
اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- يَأْمُرُ بِصِيَامِهِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُفْرَضَ
رَمَضَانُ فَلَمَّا فُرِضَ رَمَضَانُ كَانَ مَنْ شَاءَ صَامَ يَوْمَ
عَاشُورَاءَ وَمَنْ شَاءَ أَفْطَرَ.
(Sahih Muslim)
In the light of the Ahaadith it is a good and reward able action to
fast on the ninth and tenth, and to keep in mind the sacredness of the
month. The practices you mentioned are baseless, no proof of such
actions are found inthe Shari`ah. These seem to be purely traditions
and customs that people have introduced.
If these customs are deemed to be part of the shariah then it will be
incumbent upon you thatyou refrain from participating in those
activities. Because that constitutes bid`ah(innovations) which is
strongly prohibited in shari`ah.
And Allah knows best
Wassalam
Ml. Abdul Hameed,
Student Darul Iftaa
Checked and Approved by:
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Darul Iftaa, Madrassah In'aamiyyah

Imam Muslim

BIRTH OF IMAM MUSLIM
His name was Abul-Hussain Muslim-bin-Habaj al Nishapuri. He was born
in a distinguished family of Arab Muslims in Khorasanwhich. was a
famous town of Russia. Imam Muslim was born in 817 A.D. corresponding
to theIslamic year 204 A.H. His forefathers occupied prominent
positions during the time of the four Caliphs. He travelled to many
places with the object of learning Hadith,and after completing his
studies in the various centres of learning, he settled at Nishapur. He
spend the rest of his life teaching Hadith.
EDUCATION
Imam Muslim started his studies at the very early age of fourteen
years. In the year 218 A.H. the atmosphere in Nishapur, his
birthplace, was of a religious and knowledge type. Nishapur had great
personalities in this period such as lmaam Rahiwe and lmaam
Zohri.After travelling widely in search of Hadith, he settled in
Nishapur as mentioned above. Imam Muslim was much impressed by the
vast knowledge of Imaam Bukhari (R.A.), in the fieldof Hadith and the
deep insight he possessed on this subject. He therefore attached
himself to Imaam Bukhari (R.A.) up to the end of his life. Imam Muslim
was also an admirer of another great teacher of Hadith, Muhammed bin
Yahya al Dhuli. He attended his lectures regularly. He visited Baghdad
several times and had the opportunity of deliveringlessons there. His
last visitto Baghdad was two years before his death.
IMAM MUSLIM'S TEACHERS
Imam Muslim (R.A.) apart from attending the lessons of Imaam
Bukhariregularly, also attended the lectures of lmaam Ahmad bin
Hambal, Abdullah al Qarri, Qutaibabin Said, Abdullah bin Maslama and
other great Muhadith.
IMAM MUSLIM'S STUDENTS
Imam Muslim (R.A.'s) mostnoted students are Hatim Razi, Ahrnad bin
Salmah, Abu Isa Tinnizi, Abubaker bin Khuzaima and other great
scholars.
CHARACTER AND KNOWLEDGE
Imam Muslim R.A. adhered strictly to the path of righteousness. Hewas
in fact a great saint of a very high calibre. His excellent character
can be well judged from the simple fact that he never ever indulged in
backbiting, a very common human failing. He had a remarkable memory.
Ishaq bin Rahwisaid of Imam Muslim; " I wonder what this personis
going to be?" This was said in his youth. Ishaq Kausar once addressed
lmam Muslim (R.A.) and said; "Your presence in the Muslim community
will always keep it in the good. " Abu Saimah who was a colleague of
lmam Muslim was so attached to him that while lmaam Sahib was busy
compiling the Sahih Muslim, he remained in lmaam Sahib's company for
fifteen years. He never told a lie nor did he ever use vulgar words.
MASLAK
Sheikh Abdul Latief says Imaam Tirmidhi and Imam Muslim were followers
of the Shafee school of thought, although they were both Mujtahids.
Moulana Abdur-Rashid says that Imaam Muslim was a Maliki. The fact is
what was said by Sheikh Tahir Jazari that Imam Muslim is not a Maliki
nor a Hanifi nor a Shafi, but hiscompilation of the sahih Muslim shows
that he was more inclined towards the Shafee school of thought.
SAHIH OF IMAM MUSLIM
Allamah Nabawi (R.A.) says that the Ummat haveaccepted the Bukhari
Shareef and Muslim Shareef as the Kitabs, which follow the Quraan,in
authenicity although the Bukhari is regarded as holding a higher
position than the Sahih Muslim for specific reasons, the sequence
applied in the Muslim is much better than that of Bukhari. It is known
as Al-Jamah as Sahih because it contains the eight different subjects
on Hadis.
AL-JAMAH AS SAHIH MUSLIM
Imam Bukhari (R.A.) concentrated his efforts on compilation of
authentic hadith as well as deduction of Laws from Hadith. This is the
most difficult part to understand in the Bukhari. How he deduced Laws
from the Hadis, Imam Muslim concentrated his efforts only on
compilation of authentic Hadith.

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And Allah Knows the Best!

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Published by :->
M NajimudeeN Bsc- INDIA

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Ibrahim ibn Adham and the man who didn't disobey Allah again

A man came to Ibrahim ibn Adham, may Allah be pleased with him, and
said, "Abu Ishaq, I am unable to control myself.Please give me
something to help me with it"
"If you accept five conditions," said Ibrahim, "and are able to put
them into practice, your disobedience will not cause you any problem."
"Just tell me what they are, Abu Ishaq!" the mansaid. "The first is
that when you want to disobey Allah you do noteat anything He
provides." "Then how will I get anything to eat? Everything on the
earth is from Him!" "So isit right to eat His provision and disobey
Him at the same time?" replied Ibrahim.
"No, it is not. What is thesecond condition?""When you want to disobey
him, move off His land."
"That is even more difficult! Exclaimed the man. "In that case
wherewill I live?"
"Is it right to eat his provision and live on His land and then to
disobeyHim?" asked Ibrahim."No, it is not."
"What is the third condition?" "When you want to disobey Him in spite
of eating His provision and living on His land, find a place where He
will not see you and disobey Him there."
"What do you mean, Ibrahim? He knows everything that happenseven in
the most hidden places!" "So is it right to disobey Him when you eat
His provision and liveon His land and when you know that He can see
everything you do?""It certainly is not!" the man replied.
"Tell me the fourth condition." "That when the Angel of Death arrives
to take your soul,you say to him, 'Give me a reprieve so that I can
repent and act righteously for Allah.'"
"But he won't listen to me!" "Then if you cannotward off death long
enough to give yourself time to repent, and you know that when it
comes there will be no reprieve, how can you hope to be saved?"
"What is the fifth?" "Thatwhen the angels of the Fire come to you to
take you to the Fire, you do not go with them.""They will take me
whether I like it or not!" exclaimed the man.
"So how can you hope to be saved?"
"Enough, enough, Ibrahim! I ask Allah's forgiveness and I turn toHim!"
The man's repentance was sincere and from that time on he was
assiduous in his worship and avoided acts of disobedience until the
day he died.