Fasting on the last Wednesday of Safar

Question :
Please can you enlighten me on the importance of fasting and special
Nawafil on the last Wednesday of Safar?
Fatwa :
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify
that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad
isHis Slave and Messenger.
It is not permissible to exclusively designate the last Wednesday of
the month of Safar for fasting or for any particular supererogatory
acts of worship as this is allocating a particular actof worship to a
particulartime without religious evidence, and this is an innovation.
Allaah Knows best.

The Explanation of SooratAl-Bayyinah (Clear Evidence) - II

The text of the chapter [from verse 6 to the end]
6. Indeed, they who disbelieved among the People of the Scripture and
the polytheists will be in the fire of Hell, abiding eternally
therein. Those are the worst of creatures.
7. Indeed, they who have believedand done righteous deeds — those are
the best of creatures.
8. Their reward with Allaah will be gardens of perpetual residence
beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever, Allaah
being pleased with them and they with Him. That is for whoever has
feared hisLord.
Explanation
Allaah, the Most High, informs us about the end of the unjust
rejecters of faith from among thePeople of the Book and the
polytheists who oppose the revealed Books of Allaah and the Prophets,
may Allaah exalt their mention, sent by Him, saying thatthey (the
rejecters) will be thrown into the Hell-fire on the Day of
Resurrection, to abide therein for all eternity. They will not be able
to evade it, nor will they be removed from it.
" Those are the worst of creatures. "
That is, the most despised of Allaah's creatures. Then He, Most High,
informs us concerning those who are pious, fear Allaah and are true
Believers, confirmingby their words and deeds that they are the best
of created beings. Abu Hurayrah and a number of Muslim scholars have
concluded from this verse that the true believer is superior to the
angels, who are part of thecreation .
" Their reward with Allaah " that is, on the Day of Resurrection .
" Gardens of Eden under which rivers flow; they will dwell therein
forever ." That is, without interruption, without ceasing .
" Allaah being pleased with them-" That is, Allaah's Pleasure is
better and more sublime than the lasting felicity, which they aregiven
.
" and they with Him. " That is, with the infinite Grace bestowed on
them by Him .
" That is for whoever has feared his Lord. "
That is, this reward can be achieved by him who fears Allaah and is
devout with a sincere devotion, who worships Him always as if he was
seeing Him, knowing that, though he does not see his Lord, his Lord
sees him. It is reported on the authority of Abu Hurayrah that he
said: "The Messenger of Allaah said:
"Shall I not inform you about the best of creation?" They (the
audience) said: "Certainly, O, Messenger of Allaah!" He said: "A man
who takes the reins of his horse (and rides it) in the Way of Allaah
(in Jihaad) and whenever he hears the call of one in distress, he
rides to his rescue. Shall I not inform you of the best of creation?"
They said: "Certainly,O, Messenger of Allaah!" He said: "A man who
(even when he) is busy with his sheep, is steadfast in prayer and pays
Zakaah (alms). Shall I not inform you about the worst of creation?"
They said:"Certainly, O, Messenger of Allaah!" He said: "The one who
asks in Allaah's Name, but does not give in His Name." [Imam Ahmad]
Maalik Ibn 'Amr Ibn Thaabit Al-Ansaari said: "When the Soorah (Quranic
chapter) " Indeed, they who disbelieved among the People of the
Scripture and the polytheists… " [Al-Bayyinah] was revealed, Archangel
Jibreel (Gabriel) said toProphet Muhammad : "O, Messenger of Allaah!
Verily, your Lord orders you to recite this Soorah to Ubayy (one of
the prominent reciters and scribes ofthe Noble Quran among the
Companions)." So, the Messenger of Allaah said to Ubayy : "Verily,
Jibreel has ordered me to make you recite this Soorah." Ubayy said:
"Then I was mentioned, O, Messenger of Allaah?" He said: "Yes." Then
Ubayy wept. [Imaams Ahmad, Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]
Imaams At-Tirmithi and An-Nasa'ee have reported something similar.
This Soorah was read to Ubayy Ibn Ka'b merely to strengthen him in his
faith, to convey the Message and as a reminder, not for Ubayy to learn
something which he did not know or to make him memorize it - and
Allaah knows best.
Source: Tafseer Ibn Katheer, Juz' 'Amma

The Explanation of SooratAl-Bayyinah (Clear Evidence) – I

In the Name of Allaah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
1. Those who disbelieved among the People of the Scripture and the
polytheists were not to be parted [from disbelief] until therecame to
them clear evidence —
2. A Messenger from Allaah, reciting purified scriptures.
3. Within which are correct writings [i.e. rulings and laws].
4. Nor did those who were given the Scripture become divided until
after there had come to them clear evidence.
5. And they were not commanded except to worship Allaah, [being]
sincere to Him in religion, inclining to truth, and toestablish prayer
and to give Zakaah (alms). And that is the correct religion.
As for the People of the Scripture they are the Jews and Christians,
while the polytheists are those who worship idols and fire from
amongst the Arabs and the non-Arabs. Mujaahid said: " were not to be
parted " means that they (the People of the Scripture) will not cease
until the Clear Evidence came to them. What the 'Clear Evidence' is,
is explained by the following verse (which means): " A Messenger from
Allaah, reciting purified scriptures ", That is, Muhammad, sallAllaahu
alayhi wa sallam, and that which he recites from the Noble Quran,
which was copied by the Heavenly Host (i.e., the angels), on purified
sheets, as in the Words of Allaah (which mean) :
"[It is recorded] in honored sheets, exalted and purified, [carried]
by the hands of messenger-angels, noble and dutiful. " [Quran
80:13-16]
" Within which are correct writings [i.e., rulings and laws] ."
Ibn Jareer said: "It means that amongst the purified scriptures are
Scriptures from theBooks of Allaah, of inestimable value, full of
justice, perfectly correct, without any error, because they are from
Allaah, theAlmighty, the All-Powerful."
Qataadah said: " A Messengerfrom Allaah, reciting purified scriptures
" means that the Quranis mentioned with the best description and that
Allaah extolsit in the most laudatory terms."
Ibn Zayd said, concerning theverse (which means): " Within which are
correct writings " : "It means correct and fair. I say: The Words of
Him, the Most High: " Nor did those who were given the Scripture
become divided until after there had come to them clear evidence " are
like His Words (which mean) : " And do not be like the ones who became
divided and differed after the clear proofs had come to them. And
those will have a great punishment ." [Quran 3: 105] Thatis, the
communities (the People of the Books) before us, after Allaah, the
Exalted, revealed to them proofs and clear signs, became divided and
disputed amongst themselves as to what was required of them by Allaah,
the Most High, in their revealed books. They became involved in major
differences as is made clear by the Hadeeth (narration) in which the
Prophet, sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam, said: "Verily, theJews are
divided into seventy-onedifferent sects, and verily, the Christians
are divided into seventy-two sects, and verily, my community will be
divided into seventy-three different sects - all of whom will be in
the Hell-Fire except one." His Companions asked: "And who are they, O,
Messenger of Allaah?" He, sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam, replied:
"Those who follow the path of me and my Companions ."
And they were not commanded except to worship Allaah, [being] sincere
to Him in religion, inclining to truth… " This is like Allaah's Words
(which mean) : "And We sent not before you any messenger except that
We revealed to him that, there is no deity except Me, so worship Me. "
[Quran 21: 25] For this reason, Allaah Says (which means): " inclining
to truth " that is, professing and practicing the True Religion
(Islamic Monotheism) without associatingany partners with Allaah, as
in HisWords (which mean) : "And We certainly sent into every nation a
messenger, [saying] 'Worship Allaah and avoid false deities.' " [Quran
16: 36]
" and to establish prayer " - whichis the most noble of all physical
activities .
"and to give Zakaah (alms) " - which is to be charitable towardsthe
poor and the needy .
" And that is the correct religion ."
That is the True, the Correct, and the Just Faith - to belong to the
most upright, religious community - a moderate community. Many
scholars, including Az-Zuhri and Ash-Shaafi'i have concluded from this
verse that true faith must include action (not just belief in the
heart), and for this reason, Allaah, the Exalted, Says (what means):
"And they were not commanded except to worship Allaah, [being] sincere
to Him in religion, inclining to truth, and to establish prayer and to
give Zakaah (alms). And that is the correct religion . "
Source : Tafseer Ibn Katheer, Juz' 'Amma/

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Jumma Prayers - , Why is Friday singled out for great importance?.

I want to know why Friday Prayer is important and Different then other ?.
Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:
Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, chose Friday to be the best of
days before Him, and He singled it out for major events and great
qualities, which are the reason why Muslims are obliged to venerate
this day and take it as one oftheir Eids or festivals in which Allah
has prescribed rituals that He has not prescribed for other days.
On our website we have previously quoted a great deal of evidence
tosupport this view, whichyou can see in the answers to the
followingquestions: 9211 , 12309 and 13692
Secondly:
Moreover, Jumu'ah prayer has a particular virtue and great qualities
through the barakah (blessing) of this great day.
Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
Jumu'ah prayer is singled out from among all the other obligatory
prayers for having particular characteristicsthat are not found in
other prayers, including the fact that it is offered in congregation,
has a minimum number of worshippers required in order for it to be
valid, the iqaamah is a condition of its being valid, one must not be
travelling in order for it to be obligatory, and therecitation is done
out loud.
There is an emphasis on its imortance the like of which is not
mentioned for other prayers except 'Asr prayer. In the four Sunans it
is narrated in the hadeeth of Abu'l-Ja'dad-Dumari – who was a
Companion – that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah
be upon him) said: "Whoever misses three Jumu'ahs out of heedlessness,
Allah will place a seal on his heart."
End quote from Zaad al-Ma'aad, 1/384-385.
The Prophet's Sunnah also singles out Jumu'ah prayer by encouraging
believers to do ghusl for it and to wear perfume (for men only). It is
also strongly encouraged to come early for the prayer and there is a
great deal of reward for walking to the prayer. Concerning these
specialcharacteristics, Sa'eed ibn Mansoor narrated from Na'eem ibn
'Abdullah al-Mujammir that 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased
with him) issuedinstructions that the mosque of Madinah be perfumed
with incense every Friday at midday, as was narrated by Ibn al-Qayyim
in Zaad al-Ma'aad, 1/370.
Thirdly:
The main reason for venerating Friday prayeris because of the divine
decree that singled out this prayer and this day for special virtues.
This isone of the manifestations of Allah's Lordship (ruboobiyyah), as
He alone singles out for veneration whateverHe Wills of His creation
and whatever times and places He chooses. He is the One Who does
whatever He wills for reasons that He, may He be glorified, knows.
Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, is the only One Who has the
power to create and to choose from among His creation. Allah, may He
be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning): "And your Lord
creates whatsoever He wills and chooses" [al-Qasas 28:68]. If you
ponder this creation, you will realize that this choosing and singling
out are proof of His Lordship and Oneness, and of the perfection of
His wisdom, knowledge and might; that He is Allah, besides Whom there
is no other god, and He has no partner who can create as He creates,
or choose as He chooses, or control as Hecontrols. This choice,
control and singling out,the effects of which are evident in this
world, are among the greatest signs of His Lordship andthe greatest
testimony to His Oneness, the perfection of His attributes and the
truthfulness of His Messengers.
End quote from Zaad al-Ma'aad, 1/40-43
Al-'Allaamah Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) also stated
that this singling out and choice are indicative of the inherent
virtue of the thing chosen, for which Allah blessed this time. By His
knowledge and wisdom, Allah may grantto a certain place, time or
person that which qualifies it to be chosen by Allah and favoured
above others.
He (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
This concept may not be understood by the one who regards all
individuals, deeds, times and places as equal, and claims that there
is nothing inherent that makes one thing better than another, and that
precedence is given to some things over others for no reason. This
view is invalid for more than forty reasons that I have listed
elsewhere. It is sufficient, in order to understand the falsenessof
this view and how corrupt it is, to note that Allah, may He be
glorified and exalted, refuted this false view when He said
(interpretation of the meaning):
"And when there comes to them a sign (from Allah) they say: 'We shall
not believe until we receive the like of that which the Messengers
ofAllah had received.' Allahknows best with whom to place His Message"
[al-An'aam 6:124].
"Allah knows best with whom to place His Message" means: not everyone
is qualified or fit to convey His Message; rather the Message has
those who are suited to conveying it and it cannot befit anybut these
people; Allah knows better than you who these people are. If all
individuals were equal -- as these people claim -- there could
havebeen no argument against them in this verse.
Similarly, Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"Thus We have tried some of them with others, that they might say: 'Is
it these (poor believers) that Allah has favoured from amongst us?'
Does not Allah knowbest those who are grateful?"
[al-An'aam 6:53].
What is meant is: Allah knows best who will give thanks for His
blessings, so He singles them out for His bounty from among those who
will not be grateful to Him. Not everyone is fit to thank Him or to
receive His blessings andbe singled out for this honour. Those
individuals and places and so on that Allah chooses have some inherent
qualities that are not found in other people and places, and itis for
that reason that Allah chose them, gave them precedence because of
those virtues and selected them. This is His creation and His choice.
"And your Lord creates whatsoever He wills and chooses" [al-Qasas
28:68]. Allah does not choose anything and give it precedence except
for a reason that led to it being singled out and given precedence.
Yes, He is the One Who created this reason, as He is the One Who
created it then chose it after creating it.
End quote from Zaad al-Ma'aad, 1/53-54
To sum up, all the characteristics of this great prayer are by the
grace of Allah, may He beglorified and exalted, to His slaves. He
chose it by His decree and singled it out for His bounty and
blessings, thus it attained this great importance in this worldand in
the Hereafter.
And Allah knows best.