The Da'wah of the Prophets

Calling to Allaah is the way of the Messenger Muhammad and his
followers, as Allaah, the Most High, Says (what means): "Say [O
Muhammad]: 'This is my way; I invite to Allaah with insight, I and
those who follow me. And exalted is Allaah; and I am not of those who
associate others with him.'" [Quran: 12:108]
Calling to Allaah was the mission of all the Messengers and their
followers, in order to bring the people out of darkness into light,
from Kufr (unbelief) to true Eemaan (faith), from Shirk (polytheism)
to Tawheed (monotheism), and from the Fire to Paradise. This call to
Allaah rests upon firm pillars, and is established upon foundations
which are absolutely essential. If any of these are missing, the
Da'wah (call to Islam) will not be correct and will not produce the
desired results - no matter how much time or effort is expended - and
this is the reality which we witness with regard to many of the
present-day calls which are not supported by those pillars and built
upon those foundations. These pillars, which support thecorrect
Da'wah, are clearly shown in the Book (the Quran) and theSunnah
(prophetic tradition), and can be summarised as follows:
1. Knowledge of that which one calls to:
Since the ignorant person is not suitable to be a Daa'ee (caller).
Allaah, the Most High, said to His Prophet (what means): : "Say [O
Muhammad]: 'This is my way; I invite to Allaah with insight
(Baseerah), I and those who follow me. And exalted is Allaah; and I am
not of those who associate others with Him...'" [Quran: 12:108]
'Baseerah' is knowledge. So the caller is certain to face those who
are scholars of misguidance, those who will attack him with doubts and
futile arguments in orderto rebut the truth. Allaah,the Most High,
Says (whatmeans): "…And argue with them in a way that is best..."
[Quran: 16:125]
2. Acting in accordance with that which he calls to:
This is so that he will be agood example - his actions attesting to
his words, and leaving no excuse for the opponentsof the truth.
Allaah, the Most High, informs us that His Prophet Shu'ayb said to his
people (what means): : "…I do not intend to differ from you in that
which I have forbidden to you; I only intend to reform as much as I
amable…" [Quran: 11:88]
3. Purity of intention (Al-Ikhlaas):
Da'wah should be made purely and sincerely, seeking Allaah's pleasure
to seek the Face of Allaah (and seeking His Reward)- not for show,
repute, status, leadership, nor desiring worldly goals. If any of
these goals adulterate it, the call is no longer for Allaah; rather it
is for one's own benefit or for the attainment of worldly goals.
Allaah informs us that His Prophets said to their people (what means):
: "…I ask of you for it [i.e., this message] no payment…" [Quran:
6:90] And (what means): : "…I ask not of you forit any wealth…"
[Quran: 11:29]
Let us take a glimpse at the way in which two of the well-known
Prophets, Nooh (Noah) and Ibraaheem (Abraham), may Allaah exalt their
mention, called to Allaah:
Nooh :
The name of Prophet Nooh has been mentioned in the Quran forty-five
times. Let us recall some of these Aayaat (verses) and Soorahs
(chapters). Allaah the Most High and Exalted says what means: "And We
certainly sent Nooh to his people, and he remained among them a
thousand years, and the flood seized them while they were wrongdoers."
[Quran: 29:14] And: "Indeed, We sent Nooh to his people, [saying]:
'Warn your people before there comes to them a painful punishment. He
said: 'O my people! Indeed I am to you a clear warner.'" [Quran:
71:1-2] And so came to pass a tradition by Allaah,the High and
Exalted, in which the propagation faced trials, ordeals etc. Along
with that, barriers were erected by the enemies of Allaah as a means
of standing in the way of the call to monotheism and towardsits
callers. This is the lengthy history of humankind, from the time of
the Prophet Nooh to our present day; full of dedicated powers standing
in the path of Da'wah to Allaah, the High and Exalted, being publicly
insurgent and intimidating, without shame or discretion. Prophet Nooh
remained among his people for a very long time, but none except a very
few believed his call.So the rest were taken away by the flood, as
they were wrong-doers.
Ibraaheem :
Indeed Prophet Ibraaheem was a trueMuslim, avoiding any creed except
that of Islam(submitting oneself to Allaah only, and following His
commands),and believing that Islam is the first and final message to
the whole of humanity. This was also the belief of those who succeeded
him from among his progeny: Ismaa`eel (Ishmael), Is-haaq (Isaac),
Ya`qoob (Jacob), and Al-Asbaat (the twelve descendants of Jacob who
form the twelve tribes of Israel), may Allaah exalt their mention.
They passed this creed on to Prophet Moosaa (Moses) and `Eesaa
(Jesus), may Allaahexalt their mention, and the matter finally
concluded with the Muslim descendents of Ibraaheem .
The story of Ibraaheem in the Noble Quran shows us that the
orderlyconduct of living, the manner of morals, and principles of
behaviour and ethics cannot be implemented and firmly upheld except if
the `Aqeedah (creed) connects the spirit with the body. Indeed,
Ibraaheem was at the peak of his youth when Allaah, the High and
Exalted, gave him maturity and adulthood, as he denounced the
worshipping of idols by destroying them. He ridiculed and mocked them,
and finally smashed them into pieces. Not only that, but he also
ridiculed the mentality of the people, and opposed them, saying (what
means): "Uff to you and to what you worship instead of Allaah. Then
will you not use reason?" [Quran: 21:67]
Thereafter, his people were overtaken by pride,which lead them to
offence, just as it always does the tyrant oppressors and the
powerless alike, when they have no proof. So, they resorted to
outrageous, tyrannical force, and severe punishment; they said to him
(what means): "…Burn him and support your gods – if you are to act."
[Quran: 21:68]
But, Allaah's mercy and assistance for those who call others to Him
totally voided their sayings and nullified their plan (to throw
Ibraaheem intoa blazing fire); Allaah Says (what means): "We [i.e.,
Allaah] said: 'O Fire! Be coolness and safety upon Ibraaheem." [Quran:
21:69] Take a good look at the 'father of prophets'. He suffered, but
was patient;and was gifted. In return,he was thankful, so the generous
end (of this conflict) was befitting to him because of his graceful
patience. From his progeny, the best of nations were sent out to the
people, guiding with the Command of Allaah, and establishing Allaah's
legislature upon guidance and light. So, similar action must be
displayed by the people of Da'wah: being patient in the face of
rejection, and in suffering in the Path of Allaah.

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''The thunder glorifiesHis praise''

3 billion thunders a year…

A source of energy that moves at a speed of 96.000 km per hour and
releases 30.000 degrees of heat.
Have you ever thought how thunder, one of themost magnificent
atmospheric incidents that Allah creates, is formed and how it is
capable of releasing such a high amount of energy?
During rainfall, thunder and lightning that are made up of bright
lights forming in the course of atmospheric discharge of electricity
are in fact energy resources producing more electricity than
thousands of power plants; besides being a climatic phenomenon. The
answer to the questions of how these natural energy sources are formed
and how powerful they give out light and heat is a wonder of creation
revealing the Ever-Lasting Might and Glory of Our Lord.
A magnificence forming in a split second: Miracle of Lightning
• The energy released by a single lightning boltis greater than the
energy produced in all power plants across the entire America.
• One lightning can light a 100 watt bulb for more than 3 months.
• At the contact point of a lightning to the ground, weather is
warmed up to 25.000oC. The speed of a lightning bolt is 150.000 km per
second and its average thickness is 2.5-5 cm.
• Lightning produces nitrogen molecules that are essential for the
vegetation covering our Earth to sustain its life.
• An average lightning possesses 20.000 ampereof electric power. A
welder uses only 250-400 ampere to weld steel.
• Lightning moves at a speed of 150.000 km per second, that is
almost at half of the speed of lightand it is 100.000 times faster
than sound.
Light released by one lightning is greater than that of 10 million
100-watt light bulbs. That is to say; if every house in Istanbul had a
light a bulb on, illumination from a single lightning bolt would be
greater. Allah announces this glamorous flash of lightning as: "…The
brightness of His lightning almost blinds the sight.." (Surat An-Nur,
43)
How is lightning formed?
Air, warmed by the sunlight rises carrying along the water evaporating
inside it. When this risen air reaches 2-3 km, it comes into contact
with the layers of cold air.
Ice crystals that are formed inside the cloudsat the time of air
rising, release static electric energy formed due to friction. This
electrical energy is loaded positive(+) on top layers of the clouds
and negative (-) on low layers. When the cloud is loaded enough to
ionize the air; lightning is formed.
Why does it thunder?
Lightning heats the air nearby up to 30.000 degrees Celsius in one
millionth of a second. The air warmed up dilates. And it propagates
sound wavesmuch faster than the speed of sound; with a pressure 100
times greater than the normal atmospheric pressure. Similar to the
airplanes crossing the speed of sound, this causes an explosion sound
in the air. And this is named as thunder.
Why does not the light and sound of thunder reach the earth simultaneously?
This is because the sound of thunder reaches us at the speed of sound
(340 m/secondsin air); whereas the visual aspect of the lightning
reaches us at the speed of light (299.793 km/seconds). This causes a
time difference between the two incidents and thus results in the
bolt reaching the earth before the thunder.
What is the difference between lightning and thunderbolt?
When the difference in electric charge becomes greater between the
earth and the cloud, it becomes easier for air tobe pierced and from
earth to the cloud; electrical discharge starts through the conductor
duct formed by the pierced air. The electrical discharge fromthe
clouds is called lightning and the electrical discharge fromthe earth
back to the cloud is called thunderbolt or return stroke.
The fact of lightning declared in the Holy Quran
Surah Ar-Ra'd is one of the chapters in the Quran and it means "TheThunder".
Allah announces that thethunder formed by the lightening repeats His praises:
"The thunder glorifies His praise, as do the angels, out of fear of
Him. …" (Surah Ar-Ra'd, 13)
Strike of lightning reminds us of death
Experiences of those who survived a strike of lightning that causes
thedeath of hundreds of people every year, remind us of death as well
as revealing the helplessness of man in the Presence of Allah.
The possibility of gettingstruck by lightning is one in 700,000; yet
one should not underestimate this possibility as well as the effects
of the lightning. According to the statements made by those who have
been struck by lightning, the electrical current can explode the
buttons and zippers on the clothes and people can faint andfall down.
Due to brain damage, people who have been treated for 1-2 months at
the intensive care divisions of hospitals are having to re-learning
how to walk, how to swallow, or in other words how to live again.
These people have described how they felt, and say it is as if they
"lived death and then were resurrected."
In the Holy Quran, a very similar incident occurredin a strike of
lightning Allah showed to the people of Prophet Moses(as). With a
disgraceful and false courage, the Israelites demanded thatthe Prophet
Moses (as) enable them to see Allah with their own eyes and while
demanding this, they were shown the similar effect of a lightning. The
following statements in the verse "So the thunder-bolt struck you
dead" and "Then We brought you back to life after your death," may be
a sign forthe fact that they felt resurrected after their heart stop
related to the shock as well as the loss of consciousness and loss of
memory they experienced. (Allah knows the best). Here are the related
verses in the Quran:
And when you said, 'Moses, we will not believe in you until we see
Allah with our own eyes.' So the thunder-bolt struck you dead while
you were looking. Then We brought you back to life after your death,
so that perhaps you would show thanks. (Surat al-Baqara, 55-56)

The miracle that prevents the sun’s ceasing to exist

A Giant Ball of Fire
An enormous ball of fire that split away from the Sun has a
temperature of 60,000 degrees and is filled with ionised gas
particles. The reactions that take place inside the Sun, which is a
giant nuclear reactor, release enormous energy. The slightest
deviation that might occur in these reactions, which represent the
fundamental source for the survival of human life, would lead to the
Sun being extinguished or else exploding within a matter of seconds.
The fact that such a danger never arises stems from the way that these
processes within the Sunhave been regulated with a miraculous
sensitivity. When we examine the Sun and theSolar System we encounter
an enormous equilibrium. The effect that prevents the planetsfrom
spinning off into the frozen wastes of space lies in the equilibrium
between theSun's gravity and the planets' centrifugal force. The Sun
attracts allthe planets with a powerful gravitational force, while
thanks to the centrifugal force that stems from the rotation of the
planets this gravitational effect is reduced and an immaculate
equilibrium is established. Were the planets to revolve just slightly
slower, then theywould quickly be pulled toward the Sun and swallowed
by it with a huge explosion. Yet none of this ever happens, and all
the planets continue in theirown courses. That is because, as Allah
reveals in a verse: "Each one is swimming in a sphere." (Surah Yasin,
40)
The Glorious Equilibrium in the Sun…
The Sun is a giant nuclear reactor. Inside it,hydrogen atoms are
constantly converted into helium, as a result of which light and heat
are given off. In order for the light and heat that reach the Earth to
be released, four hydrogens have to combine and turn into one helium.
Hydrogen, which has one single proton in its nucleus, is the simplest
element in the universe. The heliumnucleus, on the other hand, has two
neutrons and two protons. The process that takes place in the Sun is
the appearance of one helium element from a combination of four
hydrogens. Enormous energy is released during the course of
thisprocess. Nearly all the heat and light that reachthe Earth is the
result of this nuclear reaction inside the Sun (Harun Yahya, The
Creation of the Universe). However, it is impossible for four hydrogen
atoms to combine and turn into helium in a single moment. In order for
this to happen, a two-stage process is required. First, two hydrogen
atoms combine and give rise toan "intermediate formula" with one
proton and one neutron.This formula is known asa "deutron." A helium
nucleus subsequently appears when two deutrons combine together.
The Strongest Nuclear Force
We may now ask the realquestion. What is the force that attaches two
separate atomic nuclei together? This force if known as "strong
nuclear force," the greatest nuclear force in the universe. It is
billionsupon billions upon billions of times more powerful than
gravity. It is thanks to this force that two hydrogen nuclei are able
to adhereto one another.
However, research has shown that strong nuclear force is at just the
right level to bring this about. Were strong nuclear force just a
little weaker than it actually isat this moment, then thetwo hydrogen
nuclei could not combine. Two protons approaching one another would
immediately repel each other, and thus the nuclear reaction inside the
Sun would come to an end before it had even begun. In other words, the
Sun would never have existed. The well known scientist George
Greenstein describes this state of affairs by saying "if strong
nuclear force were just a little weaker,then the light of the Earth
would never shine."
The Balanced Reaction inthe Sun
But what would happen if strong nuclear force were a little stronger?
Inthat event, a di-proton with two protons would form, rather than a
deutron consisting of one proton and one neutron. In that event, solar
fuel would suddenly become unbelievably powerful, so much so that the
Sun and all other stars like it would explode within a matter of a few
seconds. If the Sun were to explode, then the earth and all living
things on itwould turn into coal in just a few seconds. Yet thanks to
the mercy of Almighty Allah, our Creator, strong nuclear force stands
at exactly the required level, and the Sun performs a balanced
reaction; in other words, it "burns slowly."
All this shows that strongnuclear force has been regulated in such a
way as to make human life possible. Were there to be any deviation in
this, stars such as the Sun would either fail to come into being, or
else would be destroyed in a very short space of time in a huge
explosion. Allah has created the Sunin a very special way, such as to
support human life, and tells us of this in the Qur'an in verse 5 of
Surat Ar-Rahman: "The stars and the trees all bow down in
prostration."
It is Allah, the Lord of theWorlds, Who created theuniverse from
nothing and then designed and arranged it according to His choosing.
After having created them, Allah bestowed a specificorder on the Earth
and sky, using no previous models. The way that thebodies in the
universe remain stable thanks to miraculous balances is one of the
proofs of the perfection of Allah's creation. As Almighty Allah tells
us: "Among His signs is that He shows you lightning, a source of fear
and eager hope, and sends down water from the sky, bringing the dead
earth back to life by it." (Surat Ar-Rum 25)

How the bird created from clay by the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) came to life

God endowed the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) with various miracles in the life
of this world, as seen in: "... Jesus, son of Mary, of high esteem in
this world and the hereafter, and one of those brought near ." (Surah
Al 'Imran, 45) He came into the world with no father, spoke while
still in the cradle, and cured the sick in a miraculous way.
Moreover, when the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) made a clay object in theshape
of a bird and breathed into it, the birdcame to life by God's will.
This fact is revealed in the Qur'an:
As a Messenger to the tribe of Israel, saying: "I have brought you a
sign from your Lord. I will create the shape of a bird out of clay for
you and then breathe into it and it will be a bird by God's
permission..." (Surah Al 'Imran, 49)
Remember when God said, "Jesus, son of Mary, remember My blessing
toyou and to your mother when I reinforced you with the Purest Spirit
so that you could speak to people in the cradle and when you were
fully grown; and when I taught you the Book andWisdom, and the Torah
and the Gospel; and when you created a bird-shape out of clay byMy
permission, and then breathed into it and it became a bird by My
permission..." (Surat al-Ma'ida, 110)
This bird comes to life independently of any natural cause, by God's
leave and miracle. A living bird emerging from inanimate matter isone
example of AlmightyGod's peerless, matchlessand sublime creation.
Through this miracle bestowed on him by God, the Prophet Jesus (pbuh)
also reveals the illogicality and invalidityof evolutionist thinking.
This is one of His miracles, and an important truth that some Muslims
who believe in evolution ignore.
A similar example mentions the Prophet Abraham(pbuh) and reveals how
God endowsinanimate things with life:
When Abraham said, "MyLord, show me how You bring the dead to life."
He asked, "Do you not then believe?" He replied, "Indeed I do! But so
that my heart maybe at peace." He said,"Take four birds and train them
to yourself. Then put a part of them on each mountain and call to
them; they will come rushing to you. Know that God is Almighty,
All-Wise." (Surat al-Baqara, 260)

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Health - Common painkillers can lead to hearing loss

Loud music or noise isn't the onlything that can damage your hearing.
A new study in men hints that popping over-the-counter painkillers
regularly can also lead to hearing loss, especially in younger men.
In the study, researchers found that men younger than age 50 who
regularly took acetaminophen more than two times a week had roughly
doublethe risk of hearing loss comparedto men who did not take
acetaminophen regularly. Acetaminophen is the active ingredient in
Tylenol and certain other pain relievers.
The researchers also found that men younger than age 50 who regularly
took ibuprofen (the main ingredient in Advil) or othernon-steroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) at least twice a week had a nearly
two-thirds higher risk of hearing loss than men who took NSAIDs less
often. Men who took aspirin twice a week had a one-third higher risk.
So should middle-aged men empty the medicine cabinet of these pain
relievers? Not necessarily, because each individual's actual, or
absolute, risk of hearing loss with these medicines is likely fairly
small.
The overall absolute risk of hearing loss in the population is 1
percent per year. Those who take an analgesic have an increased risk
beyond the 1 percent, Dr. Sharon G. Curhan, of Channing Laboratory and
Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston explained in an email to Reuters
Health.
"But if you consider that people continue to take the analgesic
foryears, then after 10 years the risk would be 10 percent in the
overall population and the risk in those taking an analgesic would be
proportionately higher," Curhan said.
"Even though these analgesics are available in the drugstore without a
prescription, they are still medications and there are potential side
effects," Curhan said.
"If individuals find a need to take these types of medications
regularly, they should consult with their health care professional in
order to discuss the risks and benefits and to explore possible
alternatives," she advised.
The findings, published in the American Journal of Medicine thismonth,
stem from nearly 27,000 men enrolled since 1986 in the Health
Professionals' Follow-Up Study. As part of the study, the men, who
were between 40 and 74 years old at the outset, provided information
on analgesic use, hearing loss and other relevant factors every 2
years for 18 years, during which time 3,488 men were diagnosed with
hearing loss.
In the group as a whole, the risk of hearing loss, after factoring out
relevant risk factors, was 12 percent higher in men who used aspirin
at least twice a week relative to men who used aspirin less than twice
a week. The risk was about 21 percent higher in those who used NSAIDs
or acetaminophen at least twice a week.
Among men younger than 50, therisk of hearing loss was higher by33
percent, 61 percent and 99 percent with twice weekly use of aspirin,
NSAIDs, and acetaminophen, respectively, compared to risks in men of
the same age who used these painkillers less often. For NSAIDs and
acetaminophen, the risk of hearing loss increased with longer duration
of use.
In contrast to the findings in younger men, regular aspirin use did
not increase the risk of hearing loss in men aged 60 and older, and
the ties between hearing loss and regular use of NSAIDs and
acetaminophen were weaker in the older men.
Curhan's team points out that very high doses of aspirin are well
known to have toxic effects on the ear. These effects include
reversible hearing loss and tinnitus (ringing in the ears). On the
other hand, low-dose aspirin has been reported to protect against
hearing loss caused by certain antibiotics and excessive noise.
Very high doses of NSAIDs are toxic to the ears of animals, and there
have been a few reports of very high doses of NSAIDs causinghearing
loss in humans.
In their study, the researchers didnot have information on dosages
taken by the men or why they were regularly using these medicines --
only how often they took them. They also did not have information on
lifetime exposure to loud noise, a common cause of hearing loss.
"Hearing loss is the most common sensory disorder in the US and
factors other than age and noise might influence the risk," the
researchers note in their report. Aspirin, acetaminophen and ibuprofen
are the three most commonly used drugs in the US and they could be
"one of the few preventable causes of hearing loss," Curhan said.

Health - Small daily aspirin dose 'cuts cancer risk'

A small daily dose of aspirin - 75mg - substantially reduces death
rates from a range of common cancers, a study suggests.
Research at Oxford University andother centers found that it cut
overall cancer deaths by at least afifth.
The study, published in the Lancet, covered some 25,000 patients,
mostly from the UK.
Experts say the findings show aspirin's benefits often outweighed its
associated risk of causing bleeding.
Aspirin is already known to cut the risk of heart attack and stroke
among those at increased risk. But the protective effects against
cardiovascular disease are thought to be small for healthy adults, and
aspirin increases the risks of stomach and gut bleeds.
However, this latest research shows that when weighing up the risks
and benefits of taking aspirin, experts should also consider its
protective effect against cancer.
Those patients who were given aspirin had a 25% lower risk of death
from cancer during the trial period and a 10% reduction in death from
any cause compared to patients who were not given the drug.
Lasting protection
The treatment with aspirin lastedfor between four and eight years,but
long term-follow-up of around 12,500 patients showed the protective
effect continued for 20 years in both men and women.
Lead researcher Professor Peter Rothwell said the findings might well
underestimate the reductionin deaths that would result from
longer-term treatment with aspirin.
The risk of cancer death was reduced by 20% over 20 years.
Forindividual cancers the reduction was about 40% for bowel cancer,
30% for lung cancer, 10% for prostate cancer and 60% for oesophageal
cancer.
The reductions in pancreas, stomach and brain cancers were difficult
to quantify because of smaller numbers of deaths.
There was also not enough data to show an effect on breast or ovarian
cancer and the authors suggest this is because there were not enough
women in the trials. Large-scale studies investigating the effects on
thesecancers are under way.
Professor Rothwell said he was not urging healthy middle-aged adults
to immediately start taking aspirin, but said the evidence on cancer
"tips things towards it being well worth it". The benefit in cancer
reduction were found from a low daily doseof 75mg.
Professor Rothwell said the annual risk of major internal bleeding was
about 1 in 1,000 and aspirin roughly doubled that risk. But he said
the danger of major bleeding was "very low" in middle age but
increased dramatically after 75.
Sensible time to consider startingdaily aspirin use would be between
45-50, continuing for around 25 years, he said.
Cancer Research UK described theresults as "promising". But Ed Yong,
head of health information and evidence, said: "We encourage anyone
interested in taking aspirin on a regular basis to talk to their GP
first."
Professor Peter Elwood, an epidemiologist from Cardiff University, who
carried out some of the first studies into the effects of aspirin on
health, said individuals should make up their own minds:
"Aspirin should be thought of in the same context as lifestyle changes
such as diet and exercisewhich can help to preserve health."
Professor Elwood said taking aspirin at night and with calcium seemed
to enhance its effects. Hesuggested taking it with a glass of milk as
this could also reduce stomach irritation.

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Dought & clear - Which should he give priority to – ‘Umrah or paying off his debt?

I would like to perform 'Umra. I vowed hat if my salary increases I
will perform 'Umra. But I have debts to pay off. Is it permissible if
I go for 'Umra now, or must I wait until my debt is paid? May Allah
reward you!.
Praise be to Allaah.
The rights of other people take precedence over the obligation to
perform Hajj and 'Umrah, so it is not permissible for a Muslim to go
for Hajj or 'Umrah if there is someone asking for repayment of a loan
that he took from him. This is because Islam places a great emphasis
on protecting people's rights and is keen for the spirit of love and
friendship to remain among them, so that none of them will consume the
wealth of others or transgress against them.
Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked the
following question:
I owe money to a number of people. Can I go to Makkah to fast there
with my children, noting that I will be ableto share the cost of rent
with my children?
His answer was as follows:
I will ask you a question:is charity better, or the zakaah that is
obligatory? Zakaah is better.
Is a voluntary act better, or an obligatory one? The obligatory one is better.
Is it logical to start with the obligatory action before the voluntary
one, or vice versa? Reason dictates that I should start with the
obligatory action before the voluntary one. So it is not permissible
for a person to go to Makkah to do a voluntary 'Umrahwhen he is in
debt. A debt must be paid off, but is a voluntary 'Umrahobligatory? No
it is not. Even the obligatory Hajj is waived in the event ofdebt.
Religion is not based on emotions. Even the duty that Allaah has
enjoined upon His slaves, which is to go on Hajj to the Ka'bah and to
do 'Umrah, if a person is in debt, it is waived in his case, and he
will meet his Lord without sin. If a man is in debt and he does not do
Hajj and it issaid that he has not done the obligatory duty, we say
that the words "has not done theobligatory duty" are mistaken. Why is
this a mistake? Because there was no obligation upon him, and there is
no obligation upon him until now. Hajj is only anobligation for the
one who is free of debt.
Hence we say to this brother: Don't be hard on yourself, keep your
money, stay in your country, and save the money in order to pay off
your debt. Do not be like the one who built a castle and destroyed a
country.
We think that this brother has to stay in hisown country.
Yes, if it so happens that someone offers him money to cover all the
expenses and he says Do not give me even a single dirham – in that
case we say: If his travelling for 'Umrah willnot affect his work
through which he earns money, then he should go, because in this case
will it affect his creditor or not? No it will not.
If someone says to him, I know that you owe ten thousand riyals, and I
know that debt must be given precedence over voluntary acts of
worship, but come with me, you and your family,for free, there and
back – can he go with him? In this case we say: If he has a job and
his absence from work will cause him a loss in salary, then he should
not go. But if he does not have a job, and going with him will not
affect anything, then there is nothing wrong with him going with him.
It makes no difference whether the debt is due now or later. But if it
is deferred, and he knows that when the time comes he will be able to
pay it off, then it does not matter, like a man who owes money that is
due in two months time, for example, and he knows that when the time
comes he will be able to pay it off – in that case we say: Go, because
staying in his country will not make a difference to the creditor. End
quote.
Al-Liqa' al-Shahri (no. 33,question no. 4)
This has been discussed previously on our website in the answer
toquestion no. 11771 , 36868 and 36852 .
What you must do is wait until you have paid off the entire debt.
Then if what you did was a vow, you must fulfil it, because it is
obligatory to fulfil a vowto do an act of worship.
But it was merely an intention to do 'Umrah out of gratitude to
Allaah, without making avow, then in that case it is mustahabb to
fulfil thepromise to do 'Umrah, which is one of the greatest acts of
worship by means of which the Muslims draw close to their Lord.
And Allaah knows best.

Dought & clear - Should he issue papers for someone to show that he owns neglected land that belongs to the state?

There is some neglected land in a place that is remote from the city
that belongs to the state but no one is using it. Is it permissible to
issue papers showing that thisland belongs to some person so that he
can sell it and benefit from it?.
Praise be to Allaah.
Land that has no owner and does not serve and purpose– such as
watercourses, places where firewood is gathered, grazing land and
public amenities – may be taken possessionof by reviving it,
becausethe Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said:
"Whoever revives disused land, it becomes his." Narrated by Abu Dawood
(3073) and at-Tirmidhi (1378); classed as hasan by al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar
in Buloogh al-Maraam (897); he also mentionedother isnaads for this
hadeeth in al-Fath (5/19), then he said: There is some weakness in its
isnaads, but they strengthen one another. See also Irwa' al-Ghaleel
(5/553).
Reviving land may be done by building fences around it, digging a
wellin it and extracting water from it, or diverting a stream of water
to it.
It says in Zaad al-Mustaqni': The one who encloses disused land, or
digs a well in it and finds water, or brings water to it from aspring,
and the like, or diverts water away fromit in order to cultivate it,
has revived it. End quote. See also ash-Sharh al-Mumti' (10/329). If
this person has revived the land in the manner referred to above, it
is permissible to issue papers to him sothat he might take possession
of it.
But if he has not revived it, it is not permissible todo that, because
that involves lying, bearing false witness and consuming wealth
unlawfully.

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Dought & clear - Should he issue papers for someone to show that he owns neglected land that belongs to the state?

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What would you do in the following case?

During a battle in the way of Allah (swt), sayyedina Ali, found
himself face to face with a kafir who attacked him violently. They
were both brave and powerful men, but the kafir was no match for
sayyedina Ali, who soon was sitting astride his chest, ready to finish
him off.
"I invite you to bear witness that there is no god except Allah, and
Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah," saidAli. "Accept Islam, and your
life will be spared."
"Never!" panted the kafir.
Sayyidina Ali lifted his sword and was just about to plunge it into
his enemy, when the kafir spat defiantly in hisface.
Much to the kafir's surprise, sayyidina Ali immediately jumped away
from his enemy and lowered his sword.
"Go away!" said sayyidina Ali, "I cannot kill you now."
"Why did you do that?" asked the kafir. "You could have killed me easily."
"I was fighting you purely in the way of Allah," replied Ali, "but
when you spat in my face, your insult made me angry and if I had
killed you in anger, it would have taken me to the Hell Fire - so I
had nochoice but to let you go. To kill someone in angeror out of
desire for revenge is not bravery, but the act of a coward."
On hearing this, the kafirwas so impressed by sayyidina Ali's
sincerity and self-control that he embraced Islam on the spot: "I bear
witness thatthere is no god but Allah," he said, "and I bear witness
that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah"
May Allah give us sincerity and clean our hearts.

Agony of a piece of wood

A beautiful tradition reported by Al Hasan Al Basri on the authority
of Anas Ibn Malek is the following. He said: The Messenger of Allah
peacebe upon him used to give the Friday sermon while standing near a
piece of wood against which he would lean his back. When the number of
people increased in the mosque he said: Make a pulpit of two steps for
me, which they did. When the Prophet stood up to give the sermon on
Friday the said piece of wood moaned as if it expressed its sad
feeling of missing the Messenger of Allah peacebe upon him. Anas
comments: I was in the mosque and heard the piece moan. It continuedto
moan until the Prophet descended to it and embraced it. Then it was
silent. As a matter offact, whenever Al Hasan narrated this tradition
he would cry and say: O slaves of Allah! A piece ofwood misses the
Messenger of Allah! It is you who should do so.

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Some Superstitions About Paradise

The verses depicting Paradise awake in the reader today the same sense
of grandeur, quality, beauty, richness,bounteousness, well-being, and
prosperity as they did 14centuries ago. All of the values associated
with Paradise have been desired by people of every period of history
and of every social class. For example, the gold, silver, and precious
jewels in Paradise, as described in the Qur'an, are even more in
demand today than theywere in the past.
The Qur'an also mentions that silk will befound in Paradise. Today,
either as clothingor for decorative purposes, silk is preferred as a
high quality material. At the same time, it is a symbol of wealth and
grandeur. All of the precious thingsused to describe Paradise are far
more valuable today than theywere 1,400 years ago.
Again, the beautiful residences, palaces, and mansions mentioned in
the Qur'an are luxurious places desired by everyone regardless of when
they live. Today's villas and mansions are all of this category, and
are marks of distinction, quality, and wealth.
Similarly, the thrones, couches, and cushions ofParadise form a part
of the most comfortable and grand interior decoration. This kind of
aesthetically beautiful furnishing is today displayed in the grandest
of places.
Allah is the owner of all material things, and it belongs to His glory
to find His beloved servantsworthy of all of these beautiful things,
both in this life and the next.
Does Paradise Contain Things Not Mentioned in the Qur'an?
The Qur'an describes Paradise through examples and comparisons taken
from this world, for people can imagine something unknown only in
terms of that which is known to them. However basic the description
might be, it gives a certain idea. The Qur'an's detailed and subtle
descriptions of Paradise's blessings show us that these blessings and
beauties are superior to the best, most beautiful, and highest quality
things to be found in this world.
The Qur'an describes Paradise by giving examples of the most
desirable, high quality, and rarest things. For example, women with
large dark eyes have a rare quality that gives them an extremely
aesthetic and attractive appearance. Therefore, women in Paradise
havelarge, dark gazelle-like eyes. This does not meanthat no women
there have green, blue, or brown eyes, but only serves to emphasize
the excellent quality of Paradise and Allah's statement that the
finestthings here are much finer there. To give another example: The
Qur'an says that every kind of fruit is present inParadise. But, in
various verses, bananas and figs are generally singled outmore often
as the preferred fruits. Of course, these fruits are two blessings
chosen from the infinite abundance of all fruits inParadise.
The announcement that everything desired by everyone exists in
Paradise for their pleasure and to fulfill their hearts' desire is
enough to express the idea that Paradise's blessings are infinite and
far beyond human imagination. Everyone understands the Qur'an to the
degree of his or her faith, intelligence, and sincerity. Thus
disbelievers who read it with ill-intentions will understand the
verses about Paradise according to their own sterile ideas. However,
Paradise's superior beauty is evident to anyone who thinks about such
verses with an open and intelligent awareness. Allah displaysa perfect
design even in the smallest details of this world; surely, it would be
easy for Him tocreate far more excellentthings than these.
Indifference
Some people are indifferent to Paradise, saying: "If it comes; fine.
If it doesn't, that's fine too." However, in the afterlife there are
only two possibilities: Paradise or Hell. There is no option to go to
a place in between.
It is clear that someone who does not appreciateParadise as is due,
who does not long for or desire to attain it, is unworthy of it and
will never be admitted to it. There is only one place for such a
person to go: Hell. For this reason, being indifferent to Allah's
greatest grace and gift to believers and not desiring to enter it, as
well as persisting in this attitude is one of the clearest signs that
heor she belongs among the people of Hell.

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Duas

1. When someone is in a difficulty
-
Prophet (SAW)'s Prayers
When someone is in a difficulty
Recite:
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي عَافَانِي مِمَّا ابْتَلَاكَ بِهِ
وَفَضَّلَنِي عَلَى كَثِيرٍ مِمَّنْ خَلَقَ تَفْضِيلَاً
"All praise belongs to Allah who has saved me from such a condition
which is afflicted on you and favoured me over many creations". The
virtues of this dua is that the reciter will be saved from the
difficulties he has seen.
(Mishkat)
Note:
Read the dua softly so that the person in difficulty may not hear
it,on the other hand if the person in difficulty is engaged in sin
then it should be read aloud so that they may learn a
lesson.*******************************************************
2. When one sees a muslim laughing
-
Prophet (SAW)'s Prayers
When one sees a muslim laughing
Recite:
أَضْحَكَ اللَّهُ سِنَّكَ
"Allah keep you laughing" (Bukhari,
Muslim)*******************************************************
3. When fearing the enemy
-
Prophet (SAW)'s Prayers
When fearing the enemy
Recite:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَجْعَلُكَ فِي نُحُورِهِمْ وَنَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شُرُورِهِمْ
"O Allah, we make you the turner of the (enemies) chest (heart) and
seek refuge in You from their evils".
(Abu Dawood)*******************************************************
4. When the enemy surrounds
-
Prophet (SAW)'s Prayers
When the enemy surrounds
Recite:
اللَّهُمَّ اسْتُرْ عَوْرَاتِنَا وَآمِنْ رَوْعَاتِنَا
"O Allah, save our honourand remove the fear and keep us safe"
(Hisnul Hasin)/

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Improve Our Condition

Whilst is heartwarming to see many using social networking
beneficially, it saddens to see those using it detrimentally.
Language used, pages liked, comments made, images displayed, type
offriends or people followed, hobbies mentioned etc are all indicative
of our condition.
Let us all make an effort to improve our conditionin this regard as
there is always room for improvement – myself included.

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Muhasabah

"In reality, to take account of ourselves on an annual basis is not
adequate. This is why theMashā'ikh have advised that a person should
do muhāsabah (self-assessment) daily.
The method of making muhāsabah is to allocate time to ponder upon the
actions carried out throughout the day. If good was done then thank
Allāh and resolve to continue; and if sin was committed then repent
and resolve to abstain from repeating the same in the future."