Jumma Prayer - Praying during the imaam’s khutbah

If a person is praying two rak'ahs on Friday (atJumu'ah) then the
imaam comes in, should he stop praying or not?
Praise be to Allaah.
It seems to me, and Allaah knows best, that ifyou have already
prayedone rak'ah with its two prostrations, then you should complete
your prayer quickly, because of the hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah (may
Allaah be pleased with him), that the Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) said: "Whoever catches up with one rak'ah of the
prayer has caught up with the prayer." (Agreed upon).
But if the khateeb starts his khutbah before you have completed the
first rak'ah with its two prostrations, then you should stop your
prayer, because of the obligation to listen to the khateeb.
Shaykh Dr. Khaalid ibn 'Ali al-Mushayqih.

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And Allah Knows the Best!

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Praising Allaah – I

Many texts in the Quran and the Sunnah indicate the virtue of praising
Allaah and that it is whatthe dwellers of Paradise will say upon
entering Paradise .
The Prophet used to praise Allaah during all times. Furthermore,
supplications - which included the praise of Allaah - before and after
many actions have been reported on his behalf . He used to praise
Allaah after eating, drinking, wearing a new garmentand returning from
a journey. He also would praise Allaah during pilgrimage and upon
receiving good news or sad news. Thus weMuslims must praise Allaah
during all situations in order to attain the great reward of praising
Him.
The virtue of praising Allaah as mentioned in the Quran:
There are many acts of worship which people fail to perform despite
the great reward they yield and despite them being veryeasy to
perform. Allaah rewards for some simple acts abundantly, because He is
The Most Generous and The Beneficent, and regardless how much Allaah
gives, what He possesses will never decrease.
We must perform as many deeds as possible in order to be rescuedon the
Day of Judgment and reach our destination safely. One of the greatest
deeds to perform is mentioning Allaah, and it has many types, the best
of which is that done with the tongue and is connected to the heart.
This is when a person mentions Allaah and ponders upon what he is
saying, and praising Allaah is one such form of mention. Allaah is to
be praised in all situations as He is the only One worthy of praise.
Allaah praised Himself in many places in the Quran and He commanded us
to praise Him. The dwellers of Paradise will praise Allaah as Allaah
informs ussaying (what means): "…And the last of their call will be,
`Praise to Allaah, Lord of the worlds!`" [Quran 10: 10]
And also (what means): "… Praise to Allaah, Who has fulfilled for us
His promise." [Quran 39: 74]
And also (what means): "…Praise to Allaah, Who has removed fromus
[all] sorrow." [Quran 35: 34]
Praising Allaah is a great act of worship that reflects the slave's
contentment and submission to the Decrees of Allaah.
Praising Allaah is a phrase which will fill the slave's scale on the
Day of Judgment. The Prophet said: "The best type of supplication is
(saying): `Al-Hamdulillaah` (All Perfect praise be to Allaah)".
'Aa'ishah said: "The Messenger of Allaah recited frequently in bowing
and prostration: "Subhaanaka Rabbanaa wa bihamdika, Allaahumaghfir lee
. (Far removedYou are from every imperfection, our Lord, and all
praise is for You,forgive me, O Allaah)" . He elucidated that it has
been commanded in the Noble Quran to recite (what means): "So glorify
the Praises of your Lord, and ask for His forgiveness. Verily,He is
the One Who accepts the repentance and Who forgives." [Quran 110: 3]
And he (i.e. the Messenger of Allaah ) acted upon it." [Al-Bukhaari &
Muslim] Allaah commanded us not to forget this mention, namely
praising Him.
The greatest chapter in the entireQuran is Al-Faatihah, and it starts
with the praise of Allaah. The Messenger of Allaah said to Abu Sa`eed
Ibn Al-Mu`allaa : "Shall I teach you the greatest Chapter in the Quran
before you leave the mosque? … It is `Alhamdulillaahi Rabbil-`Aalameen
(i.e., Chapter Al-Faatihah)." [Al-Bukhaari]
The virtue of praising Allaah as mentioned in the Sunnah:
Many texts mentioned this issue to highlight its importance. The
Messenger of Allaah said: "Protect yourselves from Hellfire; say:
`Subhaanallaah, Al-Hamdulillaah, Laa Ilaaha Ilallaah, Allaahu Akbar
(Allaah is free from imperfection; praise be to Allaah; None is worthy
of being worshipped except Allaah; and Allaah is The Greatest).` These
(words) will come on the Day of Judgment preceding the person (who
uttered them in life)and will be behind him, and to his sides."
Meaning they will surround him from all directions as a way of
honoring the person who used to utter them in the worldly life.
Ibn Mas`ood reported that the Messenger of Allaah said: "I met
Ibraaheem on the Night of Ascension (Al-Israa'), andhe said to me: `O
Muhammad, convey my greetings to your nation, and tell them that
Paradise has a vast plain of pure soil and sweet water. It is a plain
leveled land. The plants grow there by uttering: Subhaanallaah,
Al-Hamdulillaah, Laa Ilaaha Illallaah and Allaahu Akbar (Allaahis free
from imperfection; praise be to Allaah; there is no true god except
Allaah; and Allaah is The Greatest)." [At-Tirmithi]
The Messenger of Allaah once said to the companions : "Allaah chose
four phrases for you to utter: `Subhaanallaah, Al-Hamdulillaah, Laa
Ilaaha Ilallaah, Allaahu Akbar (Allaah is free from imperfection;
praise be to Allaah; none is worthy of beingworshipped except Allaah;
and Allaah is The Greatest)` Whoever says 'Subhaanallaah (Allaah is
freefrom imperfection)' will receive twenty rewards and twenty sins
will be expiated from his record. Whoever says 'Allaahu Akbar (Allaah
is The Greatest)' will receive twenty rewards and twenty sins will be
expiated fromhis record. Whoever says 'Laa ilaaha illallaah (None is
worthy of being worshipped except Allaah)'will receive twenty rewards
and twenty sins will be expiated fromhis record. Whoever says
'Al-Hamdulillaah (praise be to Allaah)' will receive thirty rewards
and thirty sins will be expiated from his record." [Ahmad]
We must utilize our time in the mention of Allaah as much as we can,
because it is the easiest thing to do while its outcome is great, it
is the plants of Paradise . It is a very easy profit and an effortless
gain ... but where are those who strive to get it?
Whenever a new bounty is bestowed upon the slave from Allaah, he
should utter the praise of Allaah. The Messenger of Allaah said:
"Allaah never bestows a bounty upon a slave and he praises Allaah, but
the utterance of praise was better for the slave than the bounty
itself . "
Allaah Says (what means): "And if you should count the favor [i.e.
blessings] of Allaah, you could not enumerate them." [Quran 14: 34]
Praising Allaah leads to His pleasures, as in the narration of Anas
who reported that the Messenger of Allaah said: "Allaah will be
pleased with His slave who praises Him (i.e., says Al-Hamdulillaah)
when he eats and praises Him when he drinks." [Muslim]
A true believer praises Allaah in all situations even as his soul is
departing, as the Messenger of Allaah said to Umm Ayman . Why would a
believer praiseAllaah upon his death? This is because he is being
freed from the prison of this worldly life and heading towards the
hoped eternal joyful life in Paradise . One's death is a decree of
Allaah, so a true believer praises Allaah for any Decree that befalls
him. Additionally, a true believer praises Allaah for having enabled
him to utilize this life in His pleasure.
There are many times during which the praise of Allaah is recommended,
and the followingare some examples:
Upon waking up, whilst rising from bowing, during prayer and upon sneezing:
One is amazed when he ponders on the cases were the praise is
recommended. The Prophet taught us that when a person wakes up, he is
encouraged to utter: "Al-Hamdulillaahi Al-Lathee 'Aafaanee Fee Jasadee
Waradda 'Aalayya Roohee (All praise is for Allaah who restored to me
my health and returned my soul)." The Prophet also taught us that when
an Imaam rises from the position of bowing, he should say: "Sami`a
Allaahu limanhamidah (Allaah listened to the one who praised Him)" and
that people should say: "Rabbanaa Walakal-hamdu (Our Lord, for Youis
all praise)" When the Prophet heard a man saying upon rising from
bowing in prayer: "Rabbanaa Walakal-hamdu Hamdan Katheeran Tayyiban
Mubarakan Feeh (Our Lord, for You is all praise, an abundant beautiful
blessed praise)" he said: "The angels were amazed upon hearing this
phrase". Furthermore, when one sneezes, he should praise Allaah
saying: "Al-Hamdulillaah (All praise is for Allaah)."
In the opening of lectures and sermons and after concluding prayers:
Whenever the Prophet used address the people with any issue, he would
open his speech with the praise of Allaah and His glorification.
Likewise, after concluding his prayers, he would praise Allaah thirty
three times.

Steadfast Love of Allaah - I

Love of Allaah The Almighty is a degree for which people competeand
which worshippers aspire to;forerunners hurried to realize it and
lovers devote themselves to it, and worshippers are pleasantly
relieved by its breeze. Love of Allaah nourishes hearts and souls, and
delights the eyes. It is life, a light, a cure, and a delight! If a
person is deprived of life, he will be counted as dead; ifa person is
deprived of light, he will move in severe darkness; if a person lacks
a cure, his heart will suffer all diseases; and if a persondoes not
attain delight, his life will be full of worries and pains. Moreover,
it is the people who have steadfast love of Allaah that attain honor
in this life and the Hereafter as they have the greatest share of the
company of those whom they love.
On the day when Allaah The Almighty decreed the fate of creation with
His will and sublime Wisdom, He decreed thata person will be with whom
he loves. How bountiful the blessing on those lovers is!
The Tree of Love is Extremely Sheltering
When the tree of love is planted in the heart and watered with the
sincerity and following of the beloved, it produces all kinds of
fruits regularly, by the permissionof Allaah The Almighty. Its roots
are firmly fixed into the innermost of the heart and its branches are
connected to the Sidrat Al-Muntaha (the furthest lote-tree). Indeed, a
person remains elevated to His Beloved without being hindered by any
barrier. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means):
• {To Him ascends good speech, and righteous work raises it.} [Quran 35:10]
• {Say, [O Muhammad], "If your fathers, your sons, your brothers,your
wives, your relatives, wealthwhich you have obtained, commerce wherein
you fear decline, and dwellings with which you are pleased are more
beloved to you than Allaah and His Messenger and Jihaad in His cause,
then wait until Allaah executes His Command. And Allaah does not guide
the defiantly disobedient people."} [Quran 9:24]
• {And [yet], among the people are those who take other than Allaah as
equals [to Him]. They love them as they [should] love Allaah. But
those who believe are stronger in love for Allaah.} [Quran 2:165]
• {O you who have believed, whoever of you should revert from his
religion - Allaah will bring forth [in place of them] a people He will
love and who will love Him [who are] humble toward the believers,
powerful against the disbelievers; they strive in the cause of Allaah
and do not fear the blame of a critic. That is the favor of Allaah; He
bestows it upon whom He wills. And Allaah is all-Encompassing and
Knowing.} [Quran 5:54]
It was narrated on the authority of Anas that the Prophet said: "By
the One in whose Hand my soul is, a person will not be [atrue]
believer until I become more beloved to him than his father, son and
all [other] people." [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]
'Umar ibn Al-Khattaab said, "O Messenger of Allaah, you are more
beloved to me than everything except myself." The Prophet said: "No
'Umar, not until you love me more than yourself." In response 'Umar
said,"By Allaah! You are more beloved to me than myself." The Prophet
said: "Now, [you have attained it,] O 'Umar." [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]
It is well known that loving the Prophet follows loving Allaah The
Almighty. What does one then think of the influence of loving Allaah
The Almighty on his faith!
Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {O you who have believed, when
the believing women come to you as emigrants, examine them. Allaah is
Most Knowing as to their faith. And if you know them to be believers,
then do not return them to the disbelievers.} [Quran 60:10] Ibn
'Abbaas commented on this verse saying, "Whenever a woman came to
theProphet to embrace Islam, hewould make her swear by Allaah that she
did not come because she detested her husband, but rather [only]
because she loved Allaah and His Messenger."
It was narrated on the authority of Anas that the Prophet said: "There
are three qualities that whoever has them, will tastethe sweetness of
faith: To love Allaah and His Messenger more than anything else; to
love a person only for [the sake of] Allaah, and to abhor returning to
disbelief after Allaah has saved him from it just as he would abhor
being thrown into Hell." [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]
It was narrated on the authority of Mu'aath in the Hadeeth that
mentions the dispute of the exalted assembly of angels, where the
Prophet said:
I saw my Lord The Exalted in the best form [in a vision]… Allaah The
Almighty Said, "Ask [Me]," and I [the Prophet ] said, "Allaahuma inni
asa'luka fi'l al-khayraat wa tark al-munkaraatwa hubb al-masaakeen wa
an taghfira li wa tarhamani wa itha aradta biqawmin fitnatan
fatawaffani ilayka ghayra maftoon, wa asaluka hubbak wahubba man
yuhibbuk wahubba kulli 'amalin yuqarribuni ila hubbik (O Allaah, I beg
of You [to enable me] to do good deeds, and abandon evil deeds, and to
love the poor, that You forgive me and have mercy upon me, and if You
intend to put people to trial, then let me die without being afflicted
by anytrial. I beg of You, Your love and the love of the one who loves
You, and the love of the deed which brings me near to Your love.)"
Then the Messenger of Allaah said: "It [this vision] is a truth, so
study it [i.e., memorize its words]and learn it [i.e., its meanings]."
[Ahmad and At-Tirmithi, At-Tirmithi - Hasan Saheeh]
Ways to Attain and Strengthen the Love of Allaah
1- Reciting the Quran with reflection. The Prophet said: "Whoever
desires to love Allaah and His Messenger, let him read the Mus'haf
(Qur'aan)."
2- Seeking closeness to Allaah TheAlmighty through voluntary acts of
worship having performed those that are obligatory. In a Qudsi
(Sacred) Hadeeth, Allaah The Almighty Says: "My slave keeps on drawing
closer to Me byperforming voluntary acts until I love him."
3- Mentioning and remembrance of Allaah The Almighty constantlywith
the tongue and the heart. Ibraaheem ibn Al-Junayd said, "It is said
that rememberingAllaah the Almighty constantly with the heart and the
tongue is a sign of loving Him. A person who is fond of remembering
Allaah The Almighty often obtainsthe love of Allaah The Almighty."
4- Giving precedence to what Allaah The Almighty loves over what the
self loves and desires.
5- Realizing and observing the Names and Attributes of Allaah The
Almighty and living their meanings in the heart. 'Aa'ishah said,
The Prophet sent a battalion under the command of a man who would lead
his companions in prayer. This man would finish his recitation with
Soorat Al-Ikhlaas( chapter 112). When they returned, they mentioned
this to the Prophet . He said [to them]: "Ask him why he does this."
They asked him and he said,"I do so because it contains the
Attribute(s) of The Most Gracious and I love to recite it [in my
prayer]." The Prophet said [to them]: "Tell him that Allaah loves
him."
6- Recognizing the Kindness, benevolence, and apparent and hidden
blessings of Allaah The Almighty. Allaah The Almighty Says (what
means): {And whatever you have of favor - it is from Allaah.} [Quran
16:53]
7- Being secluded with Allaah TheAlmighty, when He descends to the
lowest sky, to talk to Him, recite His Words, supplicate to Him and
seek His forgiveness.
8- Sitting with the righteous and sincere lovers of Allaah.
9- Avoiding any means that standas a barrier between the heart and
Allaah The Almighty.

Supplications from the Quran and Sunnah

Islam attached great importance to supplicating, as it is the direct
means through which the slave communicates with his Lord. As Muslims
we do not need any mediators between us and Allaah. In this article we
will highlight some supplications thatwere mentioned in the Quran
andthe Sunnah of the Prophet, .
Supplications from the Quran
Allaah Says (what means): "Our Lord, condemn us not if we forget or
fall into error. Our Lord, lay not on us a burden like that you laid
on those before us. Our Lord, lay not on us what we have no strength
to bear. Blot out oursins, and forgive us, and have mercy on us, You
are our Protector, so give us Your help against the faithless people."
[Quran 2:286]
Allaah Says (what means): "Our Lord, not for naught have you created
that (Heavens and Earth and what is between] Glory be to You, so
shield us from the penalty of the Fire. Our Lord, whom you admit to
the Fire, you have covered them with shame. Our Lord, forgive us our
sins, and blot out from us our iniquities, and gather us with those
righteous (in the Hereafter). Our Lord, grant us what you promised us
through Your Messengers, and do not shame uson the Day of
Resurrection. Truly You, Allaah never break Your promise." [Quran
3:191-194]
Allaah Says (what means): "Our Lord, You are the Master of the
Kingdom, You grant the Kingdomto whom You will, and expropriate the
Kingdom from whom You will. You bring honor to whom You will and You
let whom You will be disgraced. In Your Hand is all the good, for
Youare Powerful over everything. Youcause the night to gain on the
day, and You cause the day to gain on the night. You bring the living
out of the dead and You bring the dead out of the living, and You give
sustenance to whom You will without measure". [Quran 3:26-27]
Allaah Says (what means): "Our Lord, truly You know what we conceal,
and what we reveal, and nothing is hidden from Allaah whether on Earth
or in Heaven". [Quran 14:38]
Allaah Says (what means): " Our Lord, forgive my parents and the
faithful (people) when, the Day ofJudgment comes. Our Lord, avert from
us the wrath of Hell, for its wrath is indeed a grievous affliction.
It is such a bad place tostay and abide". [Quran 25:65]
Allaah Says (what means): "Our Lord, in You we trust, and to You we
return in repentance, to You is the destination (of all Your
creation)." [Quran 60:7].
Allaah Says (what means): "Our Lord, forgive us our sins, and anything
we may have done that transgressed our duty, and establish our feet
firmly (when facing Your enemies) and help us against those that
resist faith". [Quran 3:147]
Allaah Says (what means): "Our Lord, we have wronged our own souls,
and if You do not forgive us, then we are certainly failures
(losers)." [Quran 7:23]
Allaah Says (what means): "Our Lord, bestow on us Mercy from Yourself,
and dispose of our affairs for us in the right way". [Quran 18:20]
Allaah Says (what means): "Our Lord, we do believe, so forgive us and
have mercy on us, for You (Allaah) are the most Merciful of any who
show mercy". [Quran 23:109]
Allaah Says (what means): "Our Lord, Your reach is over all things in
mercy and knowledge, so forgive those who repent and follow Your way
and preserve them from the torment of the blazing Fire. Our Lord,
grant themthat they enter Paradise which You have promised them and
the righteous of their fathers, and their wives, and their posterity
for You are Exalted in might, full of wisdom. And preserve them from
ills, for one whom You preserve from ill – on that Day of Judgment –
You bestow mercy onhim, and that is the supreme success". [Quran
40:7-9]
Allaah Says (what means): "Our Lord, let not our hearts deviate after
You have guided us, And grant us Mercy from Your own presence, for You
are (Allaah) Granter of bounties without measure. Our Lord, You are He
that will gather all the people together against a day which there is
no doubt, for Allaah never break his promise". [Quran 3:8-9]
Supplications Collected From The Prophet :
"O Allaah, forgive my sins, my ignorance, and my extravagance in my
affairs, and that which You know better than I."
"O Allaah, forgive my earnestness,my frivolity, my mistakes and
(wrong) intentions, and all of that I have done."
"O Allaah, purify my heart from hypocrisy, and my actions from show
(dissimulation), my tongue from lies, and my eyes from the breach of
trust and betrayal. For You are "Allaah", Who certainly knows
treacherous eyes and what breasts conceal."
"O Allaah, the Turner (Controller) of hearts, turn my heart to Your obedience."
"O Allaah, I seek Your love, and the love of those who love You, and
let me love to do every good act, which makes me closer to You."
"O Allaah, let your love become inmy heart – dearer than my own soul,
and dearer than my own property, and my family, and even dearer than
the cold water when I am dying of thirst."
"O Allaah, let my love be for Your sake, and my hate for Your sake.
Let me live for Your sake, and act for Your sake, and let me die for
Your sake (as a martyr)."
"O Allaah, instill Your fear in my heart (so that I can fear you even
without seeing you), fill our hearts with faith, and make us guided
and guiders (to others), and strengthen us in truthful speech, in both
this life and in the Hereafter."
"O Allaah, forgive me, have mercy on me, guide me, and support and
provide for me, let there be light in my heart, light in my sight,
light in my hearing, and light in my own soul."
"O Allaah, improve my religion (faith) which is the prevention of my
affairs, and make my life (in this world) good, wherein is my
livelihood, and make my Hereafter good, wherein is my return."
"O Allaah, lengthen my life for me, for more good deeds, and letdeath
be a consolation for me from all evil deeds."
"O Allaah, the true life is but the life of the Hereafter."
"O Allaah, Give us good in this world, and in the Hereafter, and save
us from the torment of the Fire."
"O Allaah, forgive me (my sins) from before, and the sins to follow."
"O Allaah, forgive me what I have done in secret, and what I have done
in public, and forgive all that You know about me which I have
forgotten, and let my secret self [what I conceal] be better than the
apparent [that I reveal]."

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And Allah Knows the Best!

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Published by :->
M NajimudeeN Bsc- INDIA

¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤