The Malaaikah (Angels) of Allah (S.W.T)

1. Angels are the creationof Allah Ta'ala, made from "Noor" (Light).
2. Angels are "Masoom" (sinless). They are purefrom all types of small
and large sins.
3. Malaa'ikah are obedient servants of Allah Ta'ala. They do what
Allah Ta'ala commands them.
4. They are countless in number. Only Allah Ta'ala knows how many
Angels there are.Allah Ta'ala has also shown their exact numbers to
his special servants like the Ambiya (Prophets) and Awliya (Saints).
5. Angels are neither male nor female.
6. They have been given the strength by Allah Ta'ala to turn into
whatever shape or form they wish, whether it be of a human or of
another creation.
7. Allah Ta'ala has given the Malaa'ikah many types of duties: some
Angels have a fixed duty of taking out the soul, some to give
rain,some have been given the task to create the face of a child in
the mother's womb, some to write the deeds of an individual, writing
our daily actions, attending Islamic functions like Zikr,
Moulood-un-Nabi (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) , Urs Shareef, sending
Durood and Salaams upon our Nabi Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi
wasallam) , and taking our Durood and Salaams tohim. Some are in the
constant position of Sajdah, Ruku, and Qiyaam and are busy remembering
AlmightyAllah Ta'ala all the time, etc.
8. There is a river in Heaven wherein whenever Jibraeel (alaihis
salaam) submerges his wings and shakes it, small droplets of water
drip from it. From each droplet, an Angel is created. Indeed, one
cannot estimate the droplets of water that drip from the wings of
Hazrat Jibraeel (alaihis salaam) . Why? Simply, because Hazrat
Jibraeel (alaihis salaam) has 600 wings and each wing is so huge that
when it spreads out, it casts a shadow over the entire sky.
9. Hazrat Jibraeel (alaihis salaam) is the Leader of the Angels.
10. The names of the fourfamous Angels are: Hazrat Jibraeel (alaihis
salaam), Hazrat Mikaaeel (alaihis salaam), Hazrat Izraeel (alaihis
salaam), and Hazrat Israfeel (alaihis salaam).
11. The names of a few more Angels are: Kiraaman Khaatibeen,Munkar and
Nakeer, Ridwaan and Maalik.
12. To believe that the Malaa'ikah as "Kadeem" (always have been in
existence or always will be in existence) or to believe them as the
creators is Kufr.
13. The slightest form of insult for an Angel is also Kufr.
14. Some people call their enemies or oppressors as "the Angel of
death". To say such things is not allowed and close to Kufr
(infidelity).
15. To reject the existence of Angels orto say that the strength of
all good isknown as Angels and that there are no suchthings as Angels
are both acts of Kufr.

What is Destiny (Taqdir) ?

1. Within the Knowledge of Allah Ta'ala, He wrote what was going to
happen in the worldand whatever His servants were going todo.
2. Allah Ta'ala wrote good in some people's fate and wrote bad in
another person's fate.
3. He did not make the person helpless by writing this down, but wrote
down what the servant was going to do.
4. An example of this is that if Allah Ta'ala wrote bad for Zaid, then
it was because Heis aware that Zaid is going to do bad, and ifZaid was
to do good, then He would have written good for Zaid, thus His Writing
and His Knowledge did not make any person compelled.
5. After performing bad deeds you should not say that this happened
because it was Allah Ta'ala's will and therefore it was in my destiny,
but all good things are done with the Pleasure of Allah Ta'ala and all
bad deeds are done with the pleasure of one's desires.
6. To believe yourself as totally without will or totally helpless is
a misguided belief. The Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam)
has referred to those who do not believe in Taqdir to be like
fire-worshippers of hisUmmah.
7. It is forbidden to discuss or debate the subject of destiny. A
person should only think that they are not helpless like stones and
therefore cannot do anything according to their will, but actually
Allah Ta'ala has given humans the power to do as they please and the
reward and sin is based upon this power of will. Hazrat Abu Bakr
Siddique and Hazrat Umar-e-Farooq (radi Allahu anhuma) were prohibited
from discussing Taqdir.

The Khulfa-e-Raashideen - Biographies

Sayyiduna Abu Bakr, Sayyiduna Umar Al Farouq, Sayyiduna 'Uthman Ghani
and Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhumul ajma'in) were the consecutive
successors of Sayyiduna Rasulullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam).
These four Khulafaa (pl. for Caliph) are called the
"Khulafaa-e-Rashidun" or the "Rightly Guided Caliphs." Together, these
four Khulafaa ruled the Islamic State for about 29 years. They are
called "Rightly Guided" becausethey ruled the people of that time
exactly according to the Holy Quran and the commands of Sayyiduna
Rasulullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam).
Quotation Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Umar (radi Allahu anhu) has said:
"Those who are desirousof following anyone, should follow the Sahaba
who were the best of community, whose hearts were pure,whose wisdom
was profound and who did not believe in the exhibition of outer life.
They were a people whom Allah had selectedHis Nabi (sallal laahu
alaihi wasallam) and who extended His religion to the world.
Therefore, try to imitate their ways and manners,for by Allah, they
were rightly guided people."
A Hadith on the Status of the Four Khulafa In the book,
"Shawaa'idul-Haqq" , Sayyiduna Shaikh Abu Abdullah (radi Allahu anhu)
narrates the following incident.
Once I visited the Holy City of Mecca and met a man who claimed that
he never felt thirsty. When I asked him the reason for this strange
event, he replied, "Therewas a time when I did not have any respect
for the Sahaba of Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam). One night,
I dreamt that it was the Day of Qiyamah and there were many people in
various queues looking very thirsty and ragged. I decided to follow a
queue. We arrived at theFountain of Kauther and saw that it had four
corners. At each corner were the four Caliphs, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr,
Sayyiduna Umar, Sayyiduna Uthman and Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu
anhum). I thoughtthat there was no need for me to approach the first
three Caliphs as I only believed in Sayyiduna Ali (radi Allahu anhu).
Yet, when Iapproached him, he turned his head away in displeasure.
Feeling extremely alarmed, I approached the other three Caliphs and
they also behaved in the same manner. By now I was very despondent.
"I noticed that Nabi Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) was also
approaching the Fountain. I ran towards him and explained to him the
behaviour of thefour Caliphs. He replied, 'Why should beloved Ali
offer you a cool drink, when you bear hatred and scorn for the
Sahaba?' When I heard this, I asked Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal
laahu alaihi wasallam) whether I would be forgiven or not if I
askedpardon for my incorrect beliefs. He replied that I would be
forgiven. I then recited the Kalimahagain and asked for forgiveness. I
was then ordered to return to the Fountain of Kauther and drink from
it. After this, Iawoke from my sleep. From that night onwards, I have
never felt thirsty. I then warned my family that I would only accept
those as my true family if they accepted my true beliefs.Some of them
did accept".
The presence of the four Caliphs at the four Pillarsof Kauther is also
substantiated by a Hadith. Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi
wasallam) said ,"The Fountain of Kauther possesses four Pillars: one
commanded by Abu Bakr, the second by Umar, the third by Uthman and the
fourth by Ali (radi Allahu anhum)".
Again, explaining the lofty status of these four Caliphs, Sayyiduna
Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said ,"He who speaks good
about Abu Bakr, his religion is well established; he who speaks good
about Umar, his religious path has been well grounded'he who speaks
good about Uthman is enlightened with the Noor of Almighty Allah' and
he who speaks goodabout Ali holds on to a bond that never breaks. They
who speak well of my Sahaba (Companions) are truly Mu'mins".
(Shawaa'idul Haqq)

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And Allah Knows the Best!

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Published by :->
M NajimudeeN Bsc- INDIA

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Henna and its uses in the past and today

"The best thing with which to color your gray hair is henna or katm."
[Abu Daawood and At-Tirmithi]
Jaabir Ibn 'Abdullaah narrated that Abu Quhaafa (the Father of Abu
Bakr) came on theday of the conquest of Makkah with his hair andbeard
extremely white. The Prophet said: "Change his hair color with
something and do not use black."
Salmah, the Prophet's ,maid, said: " Anyone whocomplained to the
Prophet from pain in his head, he would say tohim, 'cup it. ' And when
complained from pain in the foot, he would tell him, 'Dye it with
henna.' " [Abu Daawood and Ibn Maajah]
She also said: "Whenever the Prophet had an ulcer, fester or eczema,
he ordered me to put henna on it." [Authentic, Jaami' al-Usool by Ibn
al-Atheer]
Henna has been utilized since ancient times as a dye to color the
nails, hands, feet and hair. The traditional henna is manufactured
from a plant known as LawsoniaAlba. This plant is cultivated in Saudi
Arabia, India, Sri Lanka, Iran, Egypt, North Africa and Australia
among others.
The effective dye component of henna is called Lawsone. It consists of
fat, resin, manitol and volatile oils.
It is mentioned in the Islamic Encyclopedia of Medicine that the
ancientEgyptians used henna in mummification.
The Egyptian henna is typically a green substance that gives the hair
a reddish brown color. Other colors are obtained by adding other dyes
to the natural henna. Some women in Sudan add a substance called
paraphenylen ediamine to the henna toreduce the time needed for dyeing
from an hour to several minutes. But this mixture can be fatal
although its cause is unknown and this is why people who apply henna
are warned against adding this substance. Henna in itself is safe
anddoesn't have any known side effects. It is 100% natural. The henna
foundin different brands of shampoos in stores and pharmacies is free
of this substance.
Recent medical researches:
Many people in recent years have been inclined to use natural
substances.The idea of returning to using some old substances that
were once used as cosmetics is gaining ground in the medical field.
One of these substances is henna. If we look at the different haircare
products available off-the-shelf like shampoos, conditioners, hair
color and hair creams, we will find that much of them contain henna.
This substance is described in the Hadeeths as being the best source
for hair dyeing. What is the scientific evidence that encourage the
return to the use of henna?
An American magazine specializing in skin diseases, Cutis, once
published an article about henna in its first edition in 1986. Dr.
Natu is a famous professor of skin disease from New York University in
America, stated that henna has several benefits, the most important
being as follows:
1. Its effects are not permanent. It does not stick permanently to the
roots of the hair like other artificial hair colors. Henna starts to
fade after 3 to 6 weeks. Itthen disappears completely and leaves no
residue.
2. Henna is compatible with all natural hair colors.
3. Henna enhances the natural color of hair and gives it shine. One
would have to use it several times before any visible changes in color
appear.
4. Henna strengthens each individual hair, restores damaged hair and
prevents split ends. There are many different shampoos and
conditioners that containhenna and do not give the hair any new color.
They give it beauty and glow.
5. Extensive usage of henna is safe in comparison with other
artificial substances. There are only rare cases of skin sensitivity.
Didn't the prophet say, "The best thing to color your hair with is
henna and katam." Recent medical evidence in our hands proves what the
Prophet said. That is not strange because the Prophet said, "Henna
isthe best perfume for the people of Jannah." If the henna is the
preferred perfume in paradise, it is the ideal hair treatment on this
earth.