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The Ansaar and Us

Their sacrifices were immense and their faith stunning.
T he name of Ansaar never fails to evoke undertones of sacrifice,
submission, and love of Allaah The Most High and His Messenger and
warm sentiments of appreciation in our hearts. There is much for us to
learn from their lives. Is there something common between the Ansaar
of Madeenah and us today? I suggest: Thereis something funda­mental.
Let us look at the story of the Ansaar and reflect on our
com­monality.
The Ansaar, literally the supporters, of Madeenah,were a gift of
Allaah to Islam. Their sacrifices were immense and their faith
stunning. They believed in Islam as soon as they heard Mus'ab ibn
'Umayr recite the words of Allaah to them, and finally invited the
Messenger of Allaah to move to their township.
Poor and war torn, Yathrib, the house of grief, was an apt name for
what is now Madeenah. But Allaah hasdistinguished its people with
hearts that are pure and beautiful, and even today the generous
manners of the people ofMadeenah remind us of their hospitality to the
Beloved Messenger of Allaah. Inviting the Muslims to their land,
andgiving them protection, was tantamount to announcing war against
all the Arabs, particularly the most influential of them, the Quraysh.
The Prophet's loving but so-far non-Muslim uncle, Abbaas, warned the
Madeenans: "You should know what you are getting yourself into... you
better not take my nephew from my protection and then abandon him."
The Ansaar, of course, knew this well. Their faith-filledanswer was:
"Even of the Messenger of Allaah leadsus into the sea, we will follow
him. We will not say what the children of Israel said to Mousa: 'fight
you and your Lord, O Mousa, and we are sitting right here.'"
The Ansaar knew how to keep their word. They surprised any
estimationsof human sacrifice the world had known by how readily they
embraced their pennilessrefugee brothers—the Muhajiroon—and shared
with them all their wealth and property. When the rebellious tribeof
Banu an-Nadheer was expelled from Madeenah without a battle, the
Prophet of Allaah distributed the spoils to the poor Muhajiroon.
TheAnsaar submitted to the decision with their characteristic faith.
The sacrifice of the Ansaar and their preference for their immigrant
brothers at their own expense won them applause even fromthe Lord of
seven heavens, and Allaah, Said what means: "And [also for] those who
were settled in al-Madeenah and [adopted] the faith before them. They
love those who emigrated to them and find not any want in their
breasts of what the emigrants weregiven but give [them] preference
over themselves, even though they are in privation. Andwhoever is
protected from the stinginess of his soul – it is those who will be
the successful." [Quran59:9]
However, the strongest test of the Ansaar was yetto come. The conquest
of Makkah brought a large number of Makkans and other Arab tribes into
Islam. Among them were honorable chiefs and influential leaders who
likely felt they had lost the battle against Islam even though they
had embraced Islam. When the battle of Hunayn followed and more
spoilsof war were secured, the Prophet sought to attract and soften
the hearts of these new-Muslims by giving them the majority of the
spoils, while some went to the poor Muhajoroon, but nothing to the
Ansaar.
The Ansaar were hurt. Did this mean that the Prophet was now going to
forget them, now that has regained his own city, and was he going to
turn his back to them? Why were they deprived of their share ofthe
spoils? Rumors started to go around. Hassan ibn Thaabit, the poet of
the Ansar recited lines of poetry that mean: "Go to the Prophet and
say you are the best among all human beings. Why should you invite
Sulaim tribe to take a share of war spoils although they are mere
Muhajiroon while you deprived the Ansaar who gave shelter, support and
help to Muhajiroon."
We will let Abu Sa'eed al-Khudri, an Ansaari, give the account, as
reported by Ibn Is'haaq:
The leader of the Ansaar, Sa'd ibn 'Ubaadah went immediately to the
Prophet and said, "O Messenger of Allaah, this group of the Ansaar are
displeased with what youdid with the spoils of war. You have
distributed war booty among your people, and have given generous
portions to the Arab tribes, but you did not give the Ansaar
anything." The Prophet asked him, "What is your opinion about it?"
Sa'd answered with the same bluntness, "I am butone of my people."The
Prophet asked him to gather the Ansaar.
The Ansaar were gathered, and no one else but them was allowed in the
meeting. The Messenger of Allaah said, "O Ansaar, I heardthat an
incident that happened recently made you feel ill at ease.... Now, did
I not find you ignorant and guided you to the way of Allaah? Did I not
find you poor and Allaah enriched you of His bounty? Did I not find
you enemies and Allaah joined your hearts together?"
They answered, "Indeed, Allaah and His Prophet are far more generous
and better."
The Prophet then said, "Don't you have anything to say, O Ansaar?"
They answered, "There is nothing to be said but that Allaah and His
Prophet have the grace and bounty."
The Prophet then said, "By Allaah, you could have said—and if you did,
you would have been truthful and acknowledged—We believed in you at a
time when all called you a liar.We supported you at a time when you
were frustrated. We gave you our money at a time when you were poor
andwe even sheltered you at a time when you were homeless. O Ansaar,
are you upset for a thing so trivial and worldly that I gave to some
people so as to join their hearts to Islam and left you out of it,
believing that your Islam sufficed you? Is it not enough for you that
the rest of the people willgo home with a sheep or a camel, whereas
you willreturn with the Messenger of Allaah? By Allaah in Whose Hands
is Muhammad's soul, you return with a better thing than they went home
with. If not for the migration, I would ratherhave been one of the
Ansaar. If the people moved in one way, and the Ansaar moved the other
way, I would choose the way of the Ansaar. O Allaah, do have mercy on
the Ansaar, their children, and their children's children."
By the time the Prophet concluded his words, their beards were wet
with tears, for the words of the beloved Prophet filled their hearts
withtranquility and enriched their souls. All of them cried out, "It
is enough for us to have the Messenger of Allaah as our reward!"
This is precisely what is common between the Ansaar and us: "It is
enough for us to have the Messenger of Allaah as our reward! As
Muslims, we are oppressed, suspected andharassed in the world; we have
inherited none of the glorious riches or powerful empires of early
Islam. We get no booty for being Muslims, no worldly glory, and no
advantages. Still, we are to struggle in the path of Allaah, sacrifice
in His way, trusting that "He never fails His promise," while nothing
is on our side... except Allaah and His Messenger!

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Our Highly Economical Home - II

Methods to Economize onElectrical Appliances:
Allaah The Exalted has bestowed knowledge upon humans and as a result
of this knowledge there are modern inventions that have made chores
easier, resulting in greatly reducing human exertion, thereby
freeingup time for other things.
Therefore, electrical appliances should be maintained and well taken
care of by reading the user instructions. Some of the general
instructions for taking care of appliances include:
ـ Reading the appliance instruction manual.
ـ Keeping the appliance clean.
ـ Using the appliances correctly and without overuse.
The user instructions for some of appliances are asfollows:
For the refrigerator: to maintain the refrigerator, the following
instructions should be implemented:
ـ The refrigerator should be placed away from sources of heat, and
there should be some space left between it andthe wall.
ـ For the older, frost-forming refrigerator types, ice that forms in
the freezer should be melted continuously without using a sharp knife
so as not to pierce ahole in the fridge's pipes resulting in a
refrigerant gas leak, thus requiring the cooling system to be changed.
ـ Avoiding opening the fridge door frequently orleaving it open for a
longtime for whoever is usingit. Therefore, it may be better to have a
separate large water container placed outside it.
ـ Not to overfill the fridgewith more than its capacity.
ـ During vacations, the fridge should be emptied, unplugged, andthe
door left open.
ـ Ensure that the inner rubber tubing around the fridge door closes
properly, this can be examined by placing a sheet of thin paper
between the door and the fridge every once in awhile to check. If the
door opens easily, this means that the tubing needs to be replaced.
ـ Adjusting the cooling level knob as required.
ـ If the refrigerator remains empty for one reason or another it
should be switched off.
ـ To absorb refrigerator odors, place a box of natural coal [or baking
soda] in the fridge.
The Washing Machine is an appliance that has saved much effort in
washing clothes; therefore, it should be well taken care of by using
it efficiently and considering the following:
ـ Checking to make sure that its electrical plugs are safe to use.
When running the appliance ona wet surface, one shouldstand on
something rubber or wooden that does not conduct electricity to avoid
any electric shock.
ـ For older washing machines that are not automatic, it is necessary
to empty the water from the washing machine, and the hose and basin
rinsed from any traces of soap, and the washing machine should be
returned to its original place.
ـ In the older type washing machines, it is not suitable to soak
clothes for a long period of time to avoid salt and soap deposits
causing inner wall corrosion; soak them instead in a separate
washbowl.
ـ Use fresh warm water when washing.
The Dishwasher: It is important to note the following when caring for
a dishwasher:
ـ Use pure and warm water.
ـ Remove any traces of burnt food from pots before placing them in the machine.
ـ Place cups and plates in the machine in such a way as to leave
spaces between them and enable water to penetrate between the
surfaces.
ـ Use the correct quantity of dishwashing detergent, taking care to
use sufficient detergent to clean the dishes without using excess as
too many suds may negatively affect the machine.
The Cooker and Water Heater : To maintain them, the following is important:
ـ Avoid the risks of dangerous accidents; anypossibility of a gas leak
should be totally precluded. Therefore, care should be taken when
using the cooker, insuring that the gas piping is in proper condition
and properly connected.
ـ Should the flame suddenly turn off, turn the gas knob off
immediately, and do not ignite any other flame at that time, and
ensure sufficient ventilation for the room.
ـ Clean the cooker inside and out, so that gas pores are not clogged
with food, as well as for reasons of hygiene and maintaining a fresh
roomfragrance
The Meat Grinder: Take care of the following:
ـ For manual grinders, thedifferent parts should be individually
washed well with soap and water and dried. For automatic grinders,
after disconnecting the appliance, only wash the food compartment. The
remainder should be carefully wiped; taking care that the water does
not come near the motor.To clean, first wipe with a cloth moistened
with soap and warm water, then wipe again with water only.
ـ The grinder blade should be sharpened when it loses its sharpness.
Care should betaken not to leave the machine running for too long for
should the motor heat-up, this may cause it to burn.
ـ Take care not to grind pieces of bone and the like that may be
present in the meat. To push meat through, use the accompanying
utensil and do not use a woodenspoon so that it does not get stuck and
ruin the machine.
ـ Use the grinder only for the purpose for which it was made.
The Dough Maker : take care to follow these guidelines:
ـ Add constituents in quantities that are withinthe appliance's
capacity to process.
ـ Keep water away from the motor. It is sufficient to simply to wipe
it clean with a moist cloth; to minimize yeast growth, itshould be
washed with soap.
ـ Do not leave the machine running for too long, so as not to ruin themotor.
ـ When using the dough maker, make sure that it is balanced and not
tiltedin one direction while it is running.
The Blender: A blender is very useful when juicing fruits and
tomatoes. Caring for the appliance requires the following:
ـ Blades should be taken care of and carefully washed and dried.
ـ Wash only the food compartment and blades,the appliance body is to
be wiped using a moist cloth to avoid any water from coming near the
appliance motor and damaging it.
ـ Do not run the machine for too long so that the motor does not
heat-up and burn.
Fans: Fans are often used in the summer, especially when the weather
is veryhot. To maintain and carefor fans the following should be taken
into consideration:
ـ Clean the outside surface with a soft damp cloth.
ـ The inner fan wings can be wiped when needed by carefully opening
the fan case.
ـ The fan motor should never come into contact with water, for it
would be damaged.
ـ The fan should be oiled once a year by a specialist technician.
The Air Conditioner: to care for the air conditioner:
ـ Do not cover the fans with anything that may impede air flow.
ـ Be sure thick solid wiresare used, as well as high capacity
electrical connectors that can bear the force of the electrical air
suction of the appliance.
ـ Use a vacuum cleaner to clean any dust caught on its outer surface.
ـ Filters may require changing after some timeaccording to the
instructions that accompany the appliance.
ـ Should any peculiar sound be emitted from the air conditioner,
immediately switch off the electrical current, andcall a specialized
technician to check it.
The Vacuum Cleaner: To maintain this appliance and use it for the
longest possible time:
ـ Empty its dust bag whenever it becomes half full. For the bag
type,disposable bags are moreconvenient and less clogging to the
machine.
ـ Clean the filter often - using a soft brush and wipe the inner
surface ofthe vacuum cleaner.
ـ Replace the hose when necessary.
ـ Lubricate the appliance at regular intervals.
The Iron: caring for an iron requires the following:
ـ Clean with a cloth dampened with soap andwater, do not use any
abrasive cleaners so as not to affect the smoothness of the iron's
surface.
ـ Store the iron by wrapping its wire around it, and only after it has
completely cooled down.
ـ Do not fill or empty the iron with water except after disconnecting
it from the electric current.
ـ It is best to use clean distilled water when filling a steam iron so
as to avoid salt precipitation that can result in impairing the
appliance or reducing its water vapor production speed.
ـ When ironing, place the iron in a safe position to ensure it does not drop.
ـ Lubricate an old iron with Vaseline or wax to prevent the formation
of rust when it is to be left without use for a long period of time.
Fine sandpaper can be used toremove rust.
The Sewing Machine: An important machine that is recommended for every
home. To maintain and care for it:
ـ Keep the machine covered in its casing when not in use. Oil the
machine regularly with oil that is specific for sewing machines.
ـ Remove any excess oil or built-up dust particles, so that material
will not become soiled while sewing.
ـ Use a suitable type of thread, and sew clothing in the direction of
its grain to make sewing easier.
ـ Make sure the sewing machine foot peddle remains in a balanced
position when applying pressure on it (if it is the [older] type
without a motor); keeping the feet in a level position on the peddle;
the right foot should be on the lower right corner of the peddle, and
the left foot on the top left corner. When the machine is running with
an electrical motor, use one peddle and discard the other.

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Our Highly Economical Home - I

The economics of a Muslim home are based upon a group of values and
foundations that distinguish it from any other home; and these are:
* Faith that its wealth belongs to Allaah The Almighty, and the
members of the family are merely temporary trustees for it, Allaah The
Exalted Says (what means): } Believe in Allaahand His Messenger and
spend out of that in which He has made you successors. { [Quran 57:7]
* Faith that Allaah The Exalted decreed that some people have more
provision than others; Allaah The Exalted Says (what means): } And
Allaah has favored some of you over others in provision. { [Quran
16:71] Favoring in provisions means in terms of the varying amounts
designated to people, and does not mean that the rich are favored or
are superior to those who are less in material wealth. Rather,
superiority with Allaah The Almighty is in terms of piety and
righteous deeds. The poor have a great rank with Allaah The Exalted
when they are adorned with patience and contentment with what He has
provided them. This does not mean that we should wish to become poor,
for the Messenger of Allaah, , said: " O Allaah, I seek refuge in You
from disbelief and poverty. (Allaahumma inee a'oothu bika min Al-kufr
wal faqr.)" [Abu Daawood, An-Nasaa'i andAhmad] Rather, we are
requested to work and exert effort to earn so as not to be poor.
* Observance of the advice of the Messenger, , to not look longingly
at those that are greater than us in provisions, for he, , said: "Look
at those who are lower [in material wealth] than yourselves, and do
not look at those who are above you; that is better suited for you
such that you do not belittle the favor of Allaah." [Muslim]
* [Having only] lawfully-earned sustenance; Allaah The Exalted Said
(what means): } O you who have believed, eat from the good things
which We provided for you and be grateful to Allaah if it is [indeed]
Himthat you worship. { [Quran 2:172]; for Allaah The Almighty is Good
anddoes not accept other than what is good, as Allaah The Exalted Says
(what means): } O you who have believed, spend from the good things
which you have earned { [Quran 2:267]. Also the Prophet, , said:
"There is no flesh that has been nurtured from unlawfully earned
sustenance except that the Hellfire is more deserving of it."
[At-Tirmithi and Ahmad]. Lawfully earned sustenance is one of the
means for one's supplications being answered; the Prophet, , said:
"…And he eats the forbidden [that is bought by unlawfully earned
money]; and he drinks the forbidden; andhe wears the forbidden; and he
is fed with the forbidden; how then can he be answered [when he
supplicates]?" [Muslim]
* The man's responsibilityto provide the living expenditures. Allaah
The Exalted Says (what means): } Men are in charge of women by [right
of] what Allaah hasgiven one over the other and what they spend
[formaintenance] from their wealth. { [Quran 4:34]. Expenditure is to
be carried out within the limits of monetary capability, for Allaah
The Exalted Says (what means): } Let a man of wealth spend from his
wealth, and he whose provision is restricted – let him spend from what
Allaah has given him. Allaah does not charge a soul except [according
to] what He has given it. Allaah will bring about, after hardship,
ease. { [Quran 65:7]. Also the Prophet, , said: "And he who spends
[from what Allaah gives him] on his wife, children, andhousehold it is
[counted for him as] charity." [At-Tabaraani]
* Moderation in spendingand household management. Allaah The Exalted
Says (what means): } And do not make your hand [as] chained to your
neck or extend it completely and [thereby] become blamed and
insolvent. { [Quran 17:29]
Abu Bakr said, "I dislike that the members of a household spend
theprovisions of days in one day."
A righteous woman once advised her daughter, saying, "Do not charge
your husband except what he can manage, in accordance to his
circumstances; and help to elevate him from being placed in a state
causing him to be weak or to [suffer] hardship; for to carry huge
rocks is easier than to carry debts."
* Realizing the differencebetween moderating expenditure and being
stingy, and there is no doubt that the necessitiesof one era and those
of another differ, and that the necessities of one home differ from
that of another. It is important to take into account purchasing only
what is necessary and will be used.
* Prioritizing expenditures according to earnings, considering first
what is necessary followed by articles of luxury. It is obligatory to
keep away from unlawfulexpenditures, and that includes spending on
devices that cause diversion [from Thikr (mentioning and remembering
Allaah) andobeying the commands of Allaah] and are unlawful; or to buy
food or drinks that the Sharee'ah has prohibited from doing.
* Saving any surplus that remains of the basic needs, as this can be
usedafterwards, especially in times of need and hardship.
* Organizing the budget, and this means distributing the limited
resources to the various needs. The objective behind organizing the
budget is to get the most out of the available resources.
It is important to take note of the following during the organization
of the budget:
ـ Family members should learn how to make decisions that are sound and
wise and help them follow the best course to utilize available
resources and potential; this can aid in accomplishing future
objectives that they hopefor and look forward to in their lives.
ـ Relying on consultation between family membersin order to manage the
budget, under control, asfar as possible. For all the members of the
family to join together in planningthe budget results in each of them
gaining a moral incentive and determination to render the budget
successful, as they all share in the duty of making it work.
ـ Organizing the process of home management and sound planning to
render problem solving for any difficulty facing the family an easier
task, and to balance between the duty of the individualtowards the
family, and the duty of the family towards the individual.
Any successful management process is comprised of five stages, and they are:
* Defining the target
* Planning
* Organizing
* Implementing
* Assessing.
This would happen together with consideration and commitment to the
constituents of the management process, such as for example:
* For each member of thefamily to estimate the value of time and
effort required to accomplish chores.
* Considering the ability of each individual family member.
* To take precautions for emergency situations
* Defining resource volume and dividing the family resources into
twocategories, human resources and non-human resources.
Human resources would include: talents, capabilities, personal
inclinations, energy levels, and preferences.
Non-human resources include: time, income, property, and communityfacilities.
There are factors that affect family resources, such as, for example:
family living standards, family size, place of residence, the current
phase through which thefamily is living, and so on.
Managing food consumption by following certain guidelines, such as:
ـ Knowledge of the quality and cost of the various available food products.
ـ Knowledge of the basic supply alternatives, so that this can be made
useof when certain goods are no longer available or their prices are
raised.
ـ Awareness so as to not be negatively influenced by commercials into
buying products that are not necessary.
ـ Purchasing the basic needs in the required quantities without excess.
ـ Selecting the products that are appropriate to the family income and
are available in wholesale stores that are close to the home.
ـ Taking advantage of purchasing stock in the seasons where the prices
are optimal; for example during tomato season quantities can be
purchased and made intotomato paste for use at times when it is not
readily available and prices soar.
ـ Cooking food in required quantities and avoiding waste; and limiting
the variety of dishes cooked for one meal.
ـ Using leftovers rather than discarding them.
ـ Forms of avoiding food waste include thinly peeling fruits and
vegetables so as not to discard a large portion with the skin.
ـ When setting meals on the table, place only the required quantity of
food; Islam informs us that even a mouthful of food is a blessing that
should be preserved. The Prophet, , said: "If a morsel of food should
fallfrom any of you, then remove any harm that might have stuck to it
and eat it, and do not leave it for the devil; then, after one has
finished [his meal], he should lick his fingers for he does not know
where in his food there is blessing." [Muslim]
ـ Using unbreakable kitchen utensils and keeping expensive china for
special occasions.
Methods to Economize onClothing:
ـ The housewife's knowledge of sewing, clothes design, and embroidery
aids in decreasing expenditure on ready-made clothes. This results in
savings on a good portion of the budget.
ـ Purchasing materials that are leftover at bargain prices and
selecting from them suitable color co-ordinations when designing
children's clothes.
ـ Promptly mending smalltears in clothes before they increase in size.
Loose buttons should alsobe fixed so as to save the cost of purchasing
a replacement.
ـ Following proper methods for washing, ironing and drying clothes to
preserve the clothes for the longest possible period of time.
ـ Taking care of children'sclothes so that they can be used again by a
younger child; to save on purchasing new clothes, taking into
considerationthe psychological and educational aspects related to this
practice; and taking care that not all the younger child's clothes are
those that were worn by elder siblings to avoid any negative feelings
that may result such as feelingthat the parents are favoring the elder
child. Such feelings can result in jealousy and hatred between
siblings. When giving a younger child his elder brother's clothes, he
should be persuaded into acceptingthem with no hard feelings; this can
be achieved by the continual fostering of love between the siblingsand
clarifying that there is no favoring of one over the other and that
his elder sibling only gives him his clothes out of love.

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