Those who Fast will be Called from the Gate of al-Rayyaan

Allaah has enjoined upon the Muslims fasting the month of Ramadaan, and He has promised a great reward to those who fast. Because the virtue of fasting is so great, Allaah has not specified the reward for it, rather He said – in a hadeeth qudsi –
“… except for fasting, for it is for Me, and I shall reward for it.”
The virtues of the month of Ramadaan are many. For example, that which Allaah has promised those who fast, namely the gate of al-Rayyaan . This is the name which was narrated in the hadeeth whose authenticity is agreed upon. Sahl (may Allaah be pleased with him) said that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
“In Paradise there is a gate called al-Rayyaan, through which those who used to fast will enter on the Day of Resurrection, and no onebut they will enter it. It will be said, ‘Where are those who fasted?’ They will get up, and none will enter it but them. When they have entered,it will be locked, and no one else will enter.” (al-Bukhaari, 1763; Muslim,1947).
Among the ahaadeeth which explain the reward for fasting are the following:
It was narrated from Abu Salamah that Abu Hurayrah said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peaceand blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ‘Whoever fasts Ramadaan out of faith and seeking reward, his previous sinswill be forgiven.’ ” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, al-Eemaan, 37).
It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ‘Allaah says: “Every deed of the son of Adam is for him, except for fasting; itis for Me and I shall reward for it.” Fasting is a shield and when one of you is fasting he avoidsexual relations with his wife and quarreling. If somebody should fight or quarrel with him, he should say, ‘I am fasting.’By the One in Whose hand is my soul, the unpleasant smell comingout from the mouth of a fasting person is better in the sight of Allaah than the smell of musk. The fasting person will have two moments of joy: one when he breaks his fast, and the other when he meets his Lord; then he will be pleased because of his fasting.’ ”
(Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1771)
Secondly:
It is known that Paradise has many gates, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Adn (Eden) Paradise (everlasting Gardens), which they shall enter and (also) those who acted righteously from among their fathers, andtheir wives, and their offspring. And angels shall enter unto them from every gate.”
[al-Ra’d 13:23]
“And those who kept their duty to their Lord (Al-Muttaqoon – the pious) will be led to Paradise in groups till when they reach it, and its gates will be opened (before their arrival for their reception) and its keepers will say: Salaamun ‘Alaykum (peace be upon you)! You have done well, so enter here to abide therein.”
[al-Zumar 39:73]
In the saheeh ahaadeeth itsays that there are eight gates:
It was narrated from Sahl ibn Sa’d (may Allaah be pleased with him) that theProphet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “In Paradise there are eight gates, among which is a gate called al-Rayyaan, which none will enter but those who fast.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 3017).
It was narrated from ‘Ubaadah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that theProphet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever bears witness that there is no god but Allaah alone, with no partner orassociate, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger, and that ‘Eesa (Jesus) is the slave of Allaah and His Messenger, and a word which Allaah bestowed on Maryam and a spirit created by Him (cf. al-Nisa’ 4:171), and that Paradise is true and Hell is true, will have the right to be admitted by Allaah to Paradise through whichever of the eight gates he wishes, because of his good deeds.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 3180; Muslim, 41)
One of the bounties that Allaah has bestowed upon this ummah is that He opens all the gates of Paradise during the monthof Ramadaan, not just one gate. Whoever says that there is a gate in Paradise called Baab al-Radwaan has to produce evidence for that.
It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that theProphet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “When Ramadaan begins, the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are chained up.”
(Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 3035; Muslim 1793)
We ask Allaah to make us among those who will enter Paradise. May Allaah bless our Prophet Muhammad./ - - - :-> Transtors: 1.http://free-translation.imtranslator.net/lowres.asp 2.http://translate.google.com/m?twu=1&hl=en&vi=m&sl=auto&tl=en

Why is the legacy mentioned first in the aayah, “after payment of legacies that you mayhave bequeathed or debts” [al-Nisa’ 4:12]?

Why is the word wasiyah (legacy, will, bequest) mentioned in the
Qur'an before the word dayn (debt?) when we know that the debt must be
paid off before the legacy is given?
Praise be to Allaah.
Al-Qurtubi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: "What is the reason
why the legacy is mentioned before the debt, when thedebt takes
precedence according to scholarly consensus, i.e., the debts of the
deceased must be paid off from his estate before his will is executed…
this may be answered in five ways:
1 – What is meant is that these two issues take precedence over the
issue of inheritance, and the order in which they are mentioned is not
indicative of which one is more important. Hence the bequest was
mentioned first.
2 – Because the legacy is less binding than debt, it is mentioned
first to showthat it is nevertheless important, as when Allaahsays
(interpretation of themeaning):
"What sort of Book is this that leaves neither a smallthing nor a big thing…"
[al-Kahf 18:49]
…
4 – The legacy is mentioned first because itis the share of the poor
and needy, and the debt is mentioned second because it is the share of
the lender who can seek itwith force and who has a strong argument to
support his case.
5 – Because the legacy is something that is initiated by the person,
it is mentioned first, whereas the debt is something that is well
established and clear whether he mentioned it or not.
See al-Jaami' li Ahkaam al-Qur'aan by al-Qurtubi, vol. 5, p. 74.
Some scholars added two extra points:
"The legacy is mentioned first because the legacy is an act of
kindness and upholding family ties, unlike the debt which usually
results from a kindof neglect. So the phrase starts with the legacy
because it is of greater virtue.
And it was said that the legacy is mentioned first because it is
something that is given for nothing in return, whereas the debt is
given in return for something. So payment ofthe legacy is harder for
the heirs than payment ofthe debt, and paying the legacy may be
thought of as a form of waste, unlike the debt which the heir will pay
with condifence."
See al-Tahqeeqaat al-Mardiyaah fi'l-Mabaahith al-Fardiyyah by Shaykh
Saalih al-Fawzaan, p. 27.

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She is asking about the zakaah on white gold, and about a house that is haunted by the jinn

She is asking about the zakaah on white gold, and about a house that
is haunted by the jinn
~
1 – In shops and gold souqs they sell a metal which is white like
silver; some people call it white gold and some call it platinum. Do I
have to pay zakaah on it, and is the rate of zakaah on it the same as
zakaah on yellow gold?
2 – There is a certain markthat appears on the forehead of some men,
which people call the signof prayer. My husband does not have this
mark even though he prays all the prayers regularly in the mosque and
is very religious. Is this mark what is referred to by the aayah
(interpretation of the meaning): "The mark of them (i.e. of their
Faith)is on their faces (foreheads) from the traces of prostration
(during prayers)" [al-Fath 48:29]? Why don't all men get this mark,
and why don't women get it? Does its absence mean anything?
3 – We have been living in a rented apartment for five years, and we
have felt and noticed many things that make us think that the
apartment is inhabited by jinn. In the last few days I have seen a
glass cup in the kitchen, flying and throwing itself against the wall,
crashing to the ground in pieces of glass. We don't know what to do.
4 – I am a Muslim woman and like many others I amfilled with grief at
what America and the Jews are doing to the Muslims. I donot know what
is my duty before Allaah with regard to this matter, and what I can do
so that I will be free of blame before Allaah. Is there anyspecific
thing that I shoulddo?
Praise be to Allaah.
1 – If it is gold or silver, then zakaah has to be paid on it. To be
certain ofwhat it is, you should consult the experts in thatfield.
2 – This mark does not necessarily appear on the forehead of every
person who prays. Rather people vary in the nature of their skin, and
the fact that it appears does not mean that a person is righteous.The
well-known view among the mufassireen is that the phrase "The markof
them (i.e. of their Faith)is on their faces" refers to the light of
obedience.
3 – You have to read Soorat al-Baqarah in the house once a day for three days.
4 – Strive in making du'aa'for your brothers there, that Allaah may
answer your prayers; and give charity to them as much as you can.

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How to deal with papers on which Allaah’s name is mentioned

What is the sharia's rulingabout personal names found in newspapers
etc that include either the prophet's name or Allah's name (Abdullah,
AbdulKarim)? How may these papers be disposed of or destroyed?
Praise be to Allaah.
These papers on which Allaah's name is mentioned should be keptand
protected against being handled with disrespect until you have
finished with them. Whenyou have finished with them and no longer have
any need of them, they should be buried in a clean place, or burnt, or
kept in a place where they will be protected against disrespect, such
asin a cupboard or on shelves, etc

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