Allah Has Created a Powerful Love among Muslims

The love among Muslims is a naturally occurring love resulting from
a faith-based sincerity. Is not based on any self-interest;
believers love one another solely for Allah's approval. This
sincere love also brings with it a lofty conception of humility.
And when love and humility are combined together, the result is a
powerful bond among Muslims.
The people to whom believers most direct their love as
manifestations of Allah are their brothers in faith. As our Lord
says in one verse, "The faithful are brothers..." (Surat
al-Hujurat, 10), Muslims are one anothers brothers. Therefore, as
with blood brothers, the relationship between Muslims is based on a
profound love, and they watch over and protect one another.
Allah gives love to the heart of every Muslim who loves Him, fears
Him and genuinely strives to seek His approval. Our Lord states that
it is His Presence that creates love among believers:
" As for those who have faith and do right actions, the All-Merciful
will bestow His love on them." (Surah Maryam, 96)
Since these people love Allah, they will also love His creations and
feel affection and compassion for them. They will wish to protect
them and seek the best for them. As Allah tells believers, whom He
has made his best and most virtuous servants:
" Say: 'I do not ask you for any wage for this –except for you to
love your near of kin. If anyone does a good action,We will
increase the good of it for him. Allah is Ever-Forgiving,
Ever-Thankful'." (Surat ash-Shura, 23)
Muslims Loving One Another in This World Is a Moral Virtue of Paradise
It is incompatible with Qur'anic moral values for the bond of love
that Muslims feel for one another to be limited to a small
community. That bond of love must include all sects and communities
and even the entire Islamic world. Allah disapproves of coldness,
and even conflict, between sects and communities. All Muslims must
hope to enter paradise and strive for that by doing good works. But
in order to enter paradise they must love one another. In paradise,
all Muslims are a single community, and verses reveal that Muslims
will recognize one another there, talk with one another, be friends
and love one another:
" in Gardens of Delight. A large group of the earlier people but few
of the later ones.
On sumptuous woven couches, reclining on them face to face." (Surat
al-Waki'ah, 12-16)
Another verse reveals that brotherhood, profound love and devotion
among Muslims is one of the features of paradise as follows.
" We will strip away any rancor in their hearts – brothers, resting
on couches face-to-face." (Surat al-Hijr, 47)
Muslims are a single community in paradise, and there are no
communities or groups that do not love another, and everyone is
equal. There is also an obligation for his model in paradise as
described in the verses to be adopted and implemented in this
world, too. Allah warns Muslims in another verse that they must be
very considerate of one another and that there must be a bond of
love between them, and He reveals that this will be pleasing to
Him:
" Allah loves those who fight in His Way in ranks like well-built
walls." (Surat as-Saff, 4)

The believers are brothers

The believers are brothers, so make peace between your brothers and
fear Allah so that hopefully you will gain mercy. (Surat al-Hujurat,
10)
Obey Allah and His Messenger and do not quarrel among yourselves
lest you lose heart and your momentum disappear. And be steadfast.
Allah is with the steadfast. (Surat al-Anfal, 46)
Allah loves those who fight in His Way in ranks like well-built
walls. (Surat as-Saff, 4)
Hold fast to the rope of Allah all together, and do not separate.
Remember Allah's blessing to you when you were enemies and He
joined your hearts together so that you became brothers by His
blessing. You were on the very brink of a pit of the Fire and He
rescued you from it. In this way Allah makes His Signs clear to
you, so that hopefully you will be guided.(Surah Al 'Imran, 103)
He has laid down the same religion for youas He enjoined on Nuh:
that which We have revealed to you and which We enjoined on Ibrahim,
Musa and 'Isa: 'Establish the religion and do not make divisions in
it.' What you call the idolaters to follow is very hard for them.
Allah chooses for Himself anyone He wills and guides to Himself
those who turn to Him. (Surat ash-Shura, 13)
Those who were already settled in the abode, and in faith, before they
came, love those who have emigrated to them; do not find in their
hearts any need for what they have been given; and prefer them to
themselves, even if they themselves are needy. It is the people who
are safe-guarded from the avarice of their own selves who are
successful. (Surat al-Hashr, 9)
Those who have come after them say: "Our Lord, forgive us and our
brothers who preceded us in faith, and do not put any rancor in our
hearts toward those who believe. Our Lord, You are All-Gentle, Most
Merciful." (Surat al-Hashr, 10)

In the Qur'an, every community has a leader

HADITH: Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) said: "When you are three people,
appoint one from amongst you as your leader. (Munawi, Faidhul
Qadir, I, 431 (Muslim, Nessai, Ahmad)
EVERY HUMAN COMMUNITY HAS A LEADER
(Remember) the day when We will call every people with their
leaders ; then whoever is given his book in his right hand, these
shall read their book; and they shall not be dealt with a whit
unjustly. (Surat al-Isra, 71)
PROPHET ABRAHAM (A.S.) BEING MADE AN IMAM FOR PEOPLE
And when his Lord tried Abraham with certain words, he fulfilled
them. He said: Surely I will make you a leader of men. Abraham
said: And of my offspring? My covenant does not include the unjust,
said He. (Surat al-Baqara, 124)
THOSE IN COMMAND
You who believe! obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in
command among you. ..( Surat an-Nisa, 59)
When news of any matter reaches them they spread it about, whether
it is of a reassuring or disquieting nature. If they had only
referred it to the Messenger andthose in command among them , those
among them, able to discern the truth about it would have had
proper knowledge of it. (An-Nisa, 83)
MASTERS OF DIVINE KNOWLEDGE
Surely We revealed the Torah in which was guidance and light; with
it the prophets who submitted themselves (to Allah) judged (matters)
for those who were Jews, and the masters of Divine knowledge and
the doctors, because they were required to guard (part) of the Book
of Allah, and they were witnesses thereof; therefore fear not the
people and fear Me, and do not take a small price for My
communications; and whoever did not judge by what Allah revealed,
those are they that are the unbelievers. (Surat al-Mai'da /44)
IN THE QUR'AN, MUSLIMS PRAY TO BE AN EXAMPLE TO THOSE WHO HAVE PIETY
..those who say, 'Our Lord, give us joy in our wives and children
and make us a g ood example for those who have fear of Allah ';
(Surat al-Furqan, 74)
EGYPT'S KING: PROPHET JOSEPH (A.S.) BEING GIVEN A HIGH RANK, A TRUSTED ADVISOR
And the King said: "Bring him to me so that I may employ him to my
person." So when he spoke to him, he said: " Today you are with us in
high rank and trusted. "
(Yusuf 54)
PROPHET JOSEPH (A.S.) BECOMING A MANAGER
There, Joseph said: "Now, O king, that you have faith in me, then
entrust ''me with the granaries and the storehouses of the
agricultural and natural products of the land and with the treasuries
of the realm , and you shall find me trustworthy and capable of
guarding the interests of the kingdom and knowing how to manage and
administer affairs cleverly ". (Surah Yusuf, 55)
ALLAH GAVE POWER TO PROPHET JOSEPH (A.S.)
And thus We established Joseph in the land so he could live in any
place he pleased . We grant Our grace to anyone We will and We do
not allow to go to waste the wage of any people who do good. (Surah
Yusuf, 56)
THE POWER OF DHU'L-QARNAYN
They will ask you about Dhu'l-Qarnayn. Say: 'I will tell you
something about him.'
Verily We established his power on Earth , and We gave him the ways
and the means to all ends. (Surat al-Kahf,/ 83-84)
PHARAOH LEADING HIS PEOPLE IN THE WORLD AND ON THE DAY OF RISING
..to Pharaoh and his ruling circle. They followed Pharaoh's command
but Pharaoh's command was not rightly guided.
He will go ahead of his people on the Day of Risin g and lead them
down into the Fire. What an evil watering-hole to be led to!
(Hud/97-98)
SONS OF ISRAEL ASKING FOR A LEADER FROM ALLAH
What do you think about the council of the tribe of Israel after
Moses' time when they said to one of their Prophets, ' Give us a
king and we will fight in the Way of Allah!'... (Surat al-Baqara,
246)
RULER TALUT
Their Prophet said to them, ' Allah has appointed Talut to be your
king .' They said, ' How can he have kingship over us when we have
much more right to kingship than he does? He has not even got much
wealth !' He said, ' Allah has chosen him over you and favored him
greatly in knowledge and physical strength. Allah gives kingship to
anyone He wills. Allah is All-Encompassing, All-Knowing.' (Surat
al-Baqara, 247)
THE SIGN OF KINGSHIP
Their Prophet said to them, ' The sign of his kingship is that the
Ark will come to you, containing serenity from your Lord and certain
relics left by the families of Moses and Aaron. It will be borne by
angels. There is a sign for you in that if you are believers.' (Surat
al-Baqara, 247)
GOLIATH: THE LEADER OF THE ARMY
When they came out against Goliath and his troops , they said, 'Our
Lord, pour down steadfastness upon us, and make our feet firm, and
help us against this unbelieving people.' (Surat al-Baqara, 250)
KINGS OF THE SONS OF ISRAEL
Remember when Moses said to his people, 'My people! remember
Allah's blessing to you when He appointed Prophets among you and
appointed kings for you, and gave you what He had not given to
anyone else in all the worlds. (Surat al-Mai'da, 20)
PROPHET SOLOMON (A.S.) LEADING
Return to them. We will come to them with troops they cannot face
and we will expel them from it abased and humiliated.' (Surat
an-Naml, 37)
PROPHET SOLOMON (A.S.) LEADING THE TROOPS
Solomon's troops, made up of jinn and men and birds, were assembled
for him, paraded in tight ranks. (Surat an-Naml, 17)
PROPHET SOLOMON (A.S.) HAVING A COUNCIL
Said an 'Ifrit, of the Jinns: "I will bring it to thee before you
rise from your council : indeed I have full strength for the
purpose, and may be trusted."
(Surat an-Naml, 39)
LEADER OF THE ANTS
Then, when they reached the Valley of the Ants, a [female] ant said,
'Ants! enter your dwellings so that Solomon and his troops do not
crush you unwittingly .' (An-Naml 18)
A FEMALE LEADER: QUEEN OF SHEBA
I found a woman ruling over them who has been given everything. She
possesses a mighty throne. (Surat an-Naml, 23)
She said, 'Council! give me your opinion about this matter. It is
not my habit to make a final decision until I have heard what you
have to say.'
They said, 'We possess strength and we possess great force. But the
matter is in your hands so consider what you command.'
She said, ' When kings enter a city, they lay waste to it and make
its mightiest inhabitants the most abased. That is what they too
will do. (Surat an-Naml, 32-34)
THE MESSENGERS BEING THE LEADER OF THE MUSLIMS
It is He Who sent His Messenger with guidance and the Religion of
Truth to exalt it over every other religion, even though the
idolaters detest it. (Surat at-Tawba, 33)
RULING THE WORLD- LEADERS: THOSE WHO ARE GIVEN AUTHORITY
We desired to show kindness to those who were oppressed in the land
and to make them leaders and make them inheritors and establish
them firmly in the land and to show Pharaoh and Haman and their
troops the very thing that they were fearing from them. (Surat al-
Qasas, 5-6)
..those who safeguard their prayer:
such people are the inheritors. (Surat al-Muminun, 9-10)
He said, 'We will kill their sons and let their women live. We have
absolute power over them!'
Moses said to his people, ' Seek help in Allah and be steadfast. The
earth belongs to Allah. He bequeathes it to any of His servants He
wills. The successful outcome is for those who have fear of Allah.'
(Surah al-A'raf / 127-128)
We wrote down in the Zabur, after the Reminder came: 'It is My
servants who are righteous who will inherit the earth.'
Certainly there is a transmission in this for people who worship.
(Surat al-Anbiya', 105-106)
And We bequeathed to the people who had been oppressed the easternmost
part of the land We had blessed, and its westernmost partas well. The
most excellent Word of your Lord was fulfilled for thetribe of Israel
on accountof their steadfastness. And We utterly destroyed what
Pharaohand his people made and the buildings they constructed (Surat
al-A'raf, 137)
GUIDING LEADERS
We made them l eaders, guiding by Our command, and revealed to them
how to do good actions and establish prayer and pay alms, and they
worshipped Us. (Surat al-Anbiya', 73)
LEADERS OF FALSEHOOD
When it is the turn of the leaders of falsehood to be cast into Hell
those who preceded them of their people shall be told: "Here is
another crowd to join you in the crowd of your sins. They are not
welcomed in the beautitude of heaven but Hell claims them as her
own".
(Surah Sad, 59-60)
SUCCESSORS IN THE WORLD
It is He who appointed you successors on the Earth and raised some
of you above others in rank so He could test you regarding what He
has given you. (Surat al-An'am, 165)
They said: We have been persecuted before you came to us and since
you have come to us. He said: It may be that your Lord will destroy
your enemy andmake you rulers in the land , then He will see how you
act.
(Surat al-A'raf, 129)
Then Weappointed you after them to be successors on the Earth so We
might observe how you would act.. (Surah Yunus, 14)
He Who responds to the oppressed when they call on Him and removes
their distress, and has appointed you as successors on the Earth.
Is there another god besides Allah? How little you pay heed. (Surat
an-Neml, 62)
It is He Who made you successors on the Earth ... (Surah Fatir, 39)
DAVID (A.S.) THE SUCCESSOR
"'David! We have made you a successor on the Earth,so judge between
people with truth... (Surah Sad, 26)
HUD'S PEOPLE, THE OVERLORDS
Remember when He set you up as overlords following Noah´s folk, and
made you grow so very tall. Remember God´s benefits so that you may
prosper. (Surat al-A'raf/69)
PEOPLE OF THAMUD, THE SUCCESSORS
Remember when He set you up as overlords after Ad, and settled you
down on the Earth. (Surat al-A'raf/74)
PEOPLE OF NOAH, THE SUCCESSORS
But they denied him so We rescued him, and all those with him, in
the Ark and We made them the successors ... (Surah Yunus/73)
VERSES IN THE QUR'AN ABOUTASKING AND WAITINGFOR A LEADER (A SAVIOR)
What reason could you have for not fighting in the Way of Allah –
for those men, women and children who are oppressed and say, 'Our
Lord, take us out of this city whose inhabitants are wrongdoers! Give
us a protector from You! Give us a helper from You!'? (Surat an-Nisa',
75)
Or did you suppose that you would enter the Garden without facing
the same as those who came before you? Poverty and illness afflicted
them and they were shaken to the point that the Messenger and those
who had iman with him said, 'When is Allah's help coming?' Be
assured that Allah's help is very near. (Surat al-Baqara, 214)

Fathwa, - Women's rights to sexual intimacy

Question:
I have some questions about rights to sexual intimacy (all related questions):
1) If a wife has to always fulfill her husband's sexual desires even
when shedoesn't want to, does this mean that he has to fulfill her
desires when he doesn't want to, as well? Can a wife"demand" sex as
husbands can?
2) Is it sinful for a husband to refuse his wife? If refusing a
husband can lead him to other sin, doesn't refusing a wife lead HER to
sin, as well?
3) What constitutes a"valid" reason for refusing intimacy? For
example, even though husbands can enjoy their wives while they're
menstruating by putting a garment over their privates, does she have
to engage in intimacy if she is having slight cramps, not even
a"valid" sickness?
4) Shouldn't the husband just respect that his wife is simply"not in
the mood"? Wouldn't he enjoy it more if she IS in the mood, or is he
like an animal that needs his desires fulfilled ASAP?
Please help me as I have trouble coming to terms with this seemingly
"unfair" concept, even when the couple is mutually respectful and
communicative. If a sister could answer, that would be appreciated.
May Allah reward you best.
Answer:
In the Name of Allah.
Praise be to Allah.
May Allah's peace and blessings shower upon our beloved Messenger.
Dear Sister,
I pray this message finds you in good health and spirits.
You have raised some very important points:
1) If a wife has to always fulfill her husband's sexual desires even
when she doesn't want to, does this mean that he has to fulfill her
desires when he doesn't want to, as well? Can a wife "demand" sex as
husbands can?
Answer:
The husband is obligatedto keep his wife chaste. While scholars have
distinguished between a man's right to "demand" sex and a woman's
right to "request" sex, it is nonetheless a man's religous duty to
keep his wife sexually satisfied. A woman may not have an explicit
legal right to demand sex in the same fashion as a man; however, this
distinction merely accounts for the inherent temperamental,physical,
and emotional differences between the sexes. Ustadha Hedaya Hartford,
in her excellentguide to Islamic marriage, states that both Hanafi and
Shafi'i scholars hold that a man should make love to his wife at least
every four nights. [Hedaya Hartford,Islamic Marriage: Starting Off On
the Right Foot. Beirut and Damascus: Dar al-Fikr, 2000]
2) Is it sinful for a husband to refuse his wife? If refusing a
husband can lead him to other sin, doesn''t refusing a wife lead HER
to sin, as well?
Answer:
Yes, it is sinful for a man to consistently refuse his wife. Note the
word"consistently." It is a given that sometimes one spouse or the
other won't be in the mood. However, as Ustadha Hedaya says, sex
should never be used as a weapon. There is great blessing in
satisfying your spouse, even if you don't feel like it. A woman who is
not sexually satisfied in her marriage may be led to sin. This is a
possibility for both spouses if they are not receiving their rights.
Scholars emphasize that a man must keep his wife chaste. How can he do
this if he refuses her?
3) What constitutes a"valid" reason for refusing intimacy? For
example, even though husbands can enjoy theirwives while they''re
menstruating by putting a garment over their privates, does she have
to engage in intimacy if she is having slight cramps, not even
a"valid" sickness?
Answer:
Valid reasons include menstruation, postpartum bleeding, illness,
exhaustion, and physical inability. Note that a woman cannot have sex
while menstruating or experiencing postnatal bleeding. However, if
shesimply doesn't feel up to it, then the best thing to do is to
explain to her husband how she feels. Perhaps there are other ways she
can explore to satisfy him. Furthermore,she should let him know that
when she feels better, she looks forwardto having intercourse. This
will create a sense ofanticipation and let him know that she loves
him.
4) Shouldn't the husbandjust respect that his wife is simply "not in
the mood?"Wouldn't he enjoy it more if she IS in the mood, or is he
like ananimal that needs his desires fulfilled ASAP?
Answer:
Yes, both spouses need to understand that sometimes one or the other
won't be in the mood. However, as I stated before, this shouldnot
become a habit. It is very easy to keep puttingoff your husband, but
think of the long term. It may be good to sit downand count how often
youput him off. It may be more than you think. Also worth exploring:
why aren't you in the mood? Is there s0mething he could do
differently? How often do you two just sit and enjoy each other's
company? Talking, laughing, cuddling, and kissing are things couples
should do on a regular basis, not just when they have sex. These
little ways of showing love really do foster a strong relationship and
preparethe couple for further intimacy.
Another suggestion is to look at your husband's timing. Do you have
children? Do you work orgo to school? Perhaps your husband is
approaching you after you've had a long day. There are things you can
do to alleviate this and create a positive, loving environment where
BOTH of you crave intimacy.
Please read these articleson SunniPath. They are of benefit.
*** Turning Sex Into Sadaqa *** www.sunnipath.com/res ources/Questions
/qa00000608.aspx
*** Bedroom: If wife is tired. ***
www.sunnipath.com/res ources/Questions /qa00002906.aspx
May Allah bless you and your husband to find a solution that is
mutually beneficial.
And Allah alone gives success.