39 hadith found in ' Prayer in Congregation ' of Malik's Muwatta.

8.1.1
Yahya related to me fromMalik from Nafi from Abdullah ibn Umar that
the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace,
said,"Prayer in congregation is better than the prayer of a man by
himself by twenty-seven degrees."
8.1.2
Yahya related to me fromMalik from Ibn Shihab from Said ibn
al-Musayyab from Abu Hurayra that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah
bless him and grant him peace, said, "Prayer in congregation is better
than the prayer of one ofyou on his own by twenty-five parts."
8.1.3
Yahya related to me fromMalik from Abu'zZinad from al-Araj from Abu
Hurayra that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him
peace, said, "By Him in whose hand myself is! I had in mind to order
firewood to be collected, then to order the prayer to be called, and
to appoint a man to lead the people in prayer, andthen to come up
behind certain men and burn their houses down aboutthem! By Him in
whose hand myself is! If one of them knew that he would find a meaty
boneor two good legs of meat, he would be present at isha.''
8.1.4
Yahya related to me fromMalik from Abu'n-Nadr, the mawla of Umar ibn
Ubaydullah from Yusr ibnSaid that Zayd ibn Thabit said, "The most
excellent prayer is your prayer in your house, except for the
prescribed prayers."
8.2.5
Yahya related to me fromMalik from Abd ar-Rahman ibn Harmala al-Aslami
from Said ibn al-Musayyab that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless
him and grant him peace, said, "What separates us from the hypocrites
is being present at isha and subh. They cannot do it," or words to
that effect.
8.2.6
Yahya related to me fromMalik from Sumayy, the mawla of Abu Bakr ibn
Abd ar-Rahman from AbuSalih from Abu Hurayra that the Messenger of
Allah, may Allah bless himand grant him peace, said, "If a man who is
walking along a road finds a branch of thorns on the road and
removesit, Allah thanks him for doing it and forgives him." He also
said,"Martyrs are five: the onekilled by a plague, the one killed by a
disease ofthe belly, the one who drowns, the one killed bya collapsing
building, and the martyr in the path of Allah.' He also said, "If
people knew what there was in the call to prayer and the first row,
and they could find no other way exceptto draw lots for it, they would
draw lots for it. And if they knew what there was in doing dhuhrat its
time, they would race each other to it. Andif they knew what there was
in the prayers of ishaand maghrib, they wouldcome to them even if they
had to crawl .
8.2.7
Yahya related to me fromMalik from Ibn Shihab from Abu Bakr ibn
Sulayman ibn Abi Hathmathat Umar ibn al-Khattab missed Sulayman ibn
Abi Hathma in the subh prayer. In the morning he went to the market,
and Sulayman's house was between the market and the Prophet's mosque.
He passed ash-Shifa, Sulayman's mother, and said to her,"I did not see
Sulayman at subh." She replied, "Hespent the night in prayer and his
eyes overcame him. Umar said, "I would rather be present at subhthan
stand the whole night in prayer.
8.2.8
Yahya related to me fromMalik from Yahya ibn Said from Muhammad ibn
Ibrahim that Abd ar-Rahman ibn Abi Amra al-Ansari said that Uthman ibn
Affan came to the isha prayer and seeing only a few people in the
mosque, he lay down at the back of the mosque to wait for the number
of people to increase. Ibn Abi Amra went and sat down beside him and
Uthman asked him who he was, so he told him. Uthman said, "What have
you memorised of the Qur'an?", and he told him. Uthman said, "If
someone is present at isha, it is as if he had stood in prayer for
half a night, and if some one is present at subh, it is as if he had
stood in prayer for a whole night.
8.3.9
Yahya related to me fromMalik from Zayd ibn Aslam from a man of the
Bani'd-Dil called Busr ibn Mihjan from his father Mihjan that he was
in a gathering with the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and
grant him peace, and the call toprayer was made. The Messenger of
Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, rose and prayed and
then returned. Mihjan remained sitting and did not pray with him. The
Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said,
"What prevented you from praying with the people?Aren't you a muslim?"
He said, "Of course, Messenger of Allah, but I have already prayed
withmy family." The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant
him peace, said, "When you come, pray with the people, even if you
have prayed already."
8.3.10
Yahya related to me fromMalik from Nafi that a man asked Abdullah ibn
Umar, "Sometimes I pray in my house, and then catch the prayer with
theimam. Should I pray with him?" Abdullah ibn Umar said to him,
"Yes," and the man said, "Which of them do I make my prayer?" Abdullah
ibn Umar said, "Is that up to you? It is up to Allah. He will decide
on whicheverof them He wishes."

Hazrat Uthman (ra)

Hazrat Uthman (ra), one of the handful of peoplewho first embraced
Islam, had been one of the closest people to ourProphet (saas)
throughout his life. He was the son-in-law of our Prophet (saas) and
the third Caliph. Becausehe was twice honored with being the
son-in-law of our Prophet (saas), he was called "Thun-Nurayn"
(Zunnorain), meaning "the possessor of two lights." He participated in
all the struggles of our Prophet (saas) except for the Battle of
Badr. When Hazrat Uthman (ra) embraced Islam, he was subjected to
torture by the idolaters. When migration to Ethiopia was allowed, he
became one of the first immigrants to Ethiopia together with his wife
Mrs. Ruquayyah, our Prophet's (saas) daughter.
Hazrat Abu Bakr's (ra) communication of Islam became instrumental in
Hazrat Uthman's (ra) embracing Islam. He wasone of the precious
companions of our Prophet (saas) who was exemplary to all Muslims with
his superior moral qualities and beautiful speech.
Apart from his refined and influential manner of speaking , he had an
extraordinarily retentive memory and he committed the Holy Qur'an to
memory. Having a very profound knowledge of hadith, healso made great
services to Islam by writing and recording the revelations.
Hazrat Uthman's (ra) spending in the way of Allah
Hazrat Uthman (ra), who was engaged in commerce before converting to
Islam, was a wealthy and greatly respected merchant of his tribe. When
he was honored with Islam, he spent his entire wealth which Allah had
grantedhim for the spread of Islam and the welfare of Muslims.
In a time when there was a water shortage in Medina, he paid twenty
thousand dirhems, which was quite a sum of money for that time, to buy
the Well of Ruma and donated it to the service of Muslims who were
paying for the water taken from this well. He was also the person who
met all the needs of the army, consisting of ten thousand Muslims, who
would participate in the expedition to Tabuk. This aside, in a time
when there was famine in Medina, Hazrat Uthman (ra) purchased ahundred
loads of wheatthat arrived from Damascus by camel and distributed
them to the needy and the companions of our Prophet (saas) in Medina.
Hazrat Uthman's (ra) Superior Services as a Caliphate
Following the martyrdom of Hazrat Umar (ra), Hazrat Uthman (ra) was
chosen as Caliph by a committee. Because he was considered
deserving of this duty bythe Islamic community, nobody objected to
this decision and everyone offered allegiance to him. Hazrat Uthman
(ra) no doubt rendered one of his most important services in spreading
themorality of Islam during his Caliphate by orderingthe production of
multiple copies of the text of the Qur'an as it exists today, and
sending them to all the Muslim provinces. Duringthe time of Hazrat
Uthman (ra), the copies of the Qur'an were produced, a copy was left
in Medina and otherswere sent to Mecca, Damascus, Kufa, Basra, Egypt
and other provinces. Due to this honorable and great service of Hazrat
Uthman(ra), he was given the name "Nashri al-Qur'an", meaning "theone
who spreads the Qur'an."
During his Caliphate, Hazrat Uthman (ra) achieved many other great
accomplishments, one of which was the establishment of the firstMuslim
navy on the coasts of Syria that madeits first expedition to Cyprus.
Following this first naval triumph, other expeditions were made to
other islands in the Mediterranean in thefollowing years, with great
victories followingthese expeditions.
During his military expeditions both on land and sea, and as a
requisite of the morality of Islam, Hazrat Uthman (ra) always assumed
a just and compassionate attitude. He observed the rights of the
People of the Book and treated them with compassion and justice.
During the conquest of Dabil (Dvin), which was an Armenian city during
the Caliphate of Hazrat Uthman (ra), he granted indemnity to the
Christians, Jews and zoroastrians living in thecity and guaranteed the
protection of their sanctuaries.
The following letter which Hazrat Uthman (ra) wrote to the financial
and administrative authorities when he became the Caliph reveals his
understanding, which was in full conformity with the morality of the
Qur'an:
"Almighty Allah had created nothing for a vain purpose. He
createdeverything as right. Therefore He accepts nothing but the
right. Take whatever you take as right; and give those things you give
away to the needy. Be especially attentive to honesty. Conduct
yourself honestly and don't be the one violating it, for those
violating it also undertakes the sins of those coming later. Be
attentive to be loyal; do not violate the rights of the orphan and
comply with the conventions. Beaware that Allah is hostile to those
who oppress the orphan."
This aside, he always allowed the repair of demolished churches and
the construction of new ministries and synagogues.
During the Caliphate of Hazrat Uthman (ra), the Muslim army had great
victories against the Byzantine Empire, and Armenia, Caucasia,
Khorasan, Marrakesh, Karman, Africa and manyothers were included in
the territories of the Islamic state.
The first Sermon of Hazrat Uthman (ra)
When Hazrat Uthman (ra) came to the pulpit topreach his first sermon,
he told the following after giving thanks to Allah:
"Muslims! You are indeed living in the blessings of peace and security
in Islam. You have come to the end of your lives with this blessing.
May your life end with goodness. Day and night, you have struggled
with all your might and main. But be well aware that the yeast of this
world is decisive. May the life of this world not deceive you. Do not
be proud towards Allah and take lessons from those who preceeded you.
Do not be idle and insensitive; be alert. Allah is not heedless. Now
where are those men of means who preceeded us and loved this world,
felt attached to it and had palaces everywhere? Hasthis world ever
remained faithful to them? Take at least lessons from it, and do not
overestimate this world which Allah despises. Get prepared for the
Hereafter, which is your eternal abode."
Hazrat Uthman (ra) concluded his sermon saying, "There is a good
example in the followingverse" and read:
I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed satan:
Make a metaphor for them of the life of the world. It is like water
which We send down from the sky and the plants of the earth combine
with it but thenbecome dry chaff scattered by the winds. Allah has
absolute powerover everything. (Surat al-Kahf, 45)
Wise words of Hazrat Uthman (ra)
"Take heed from the past and work for the good."
"Almighty Allah granted this world to you so that you can seek the
life of the Hereafter. He did notgrant it to you so that you feel
inclined to it!"
"Hurry for the good deeds you can do beforedeath catches up with you."
"O people! Avoid opposing the commandments of Allah, for avoidance
from opposing Allah's commandments is a loot… A servant of Allah
should fear from being resurrected blind although he was the oneable
to see. A single word is sufficient for theone who understands wisdom.
Those who are deaf in soul already do not hear the right. Be aware
that that person fears nothing if Allah is with him."
The news of Hazrat Uthman's (ra) martyrdom was given byour Prophet (saas)
Our Prophet (saas) sent amessenger to Hazrat Uthman (ra) to call him
and when he came he told him:
"You will be murdered and die a martyr! Be patient. May Allah give you
patience."
"Never take off the shirt of Caliphate that Allah will put on you for
ten years and six months." While Hazrat Uthman (ra) was leaving, our
Prophet (saas) told him: "May Allah grant you patience. You will be
martyred while you will be fasting and you will break your fast with
me!" (Imam Suyuti, our Prophet (saas) with his Extraordinary Features
, Iz Publishing, Istanbul, 2003, p.729)
Hazrat Uthman (ra) was martyred on 35 Hijr (the year 657 according to
the Gregorian Calendar) by some rebels in his home.
Our Prophet's (saas) words about Hazrat Uthman (ra)
"Uthman is the one with the most sense of shame in the ummah and the
most graceful."
"Every prophet has a companion in the Garden. My companion there is Uthman."
"My Lord! Remove Uthman's grief and sorrow on the Day of Judgment, for
he removed much of our grief."
"Uthman is from me, andI am from Uthman."

Birds' defensive techniques

What precautions do birds take to protect themselves?
Which bird species use camouflage to protect themselves?
How do birds use their mimicking techniques toprotect themselves from enemies?
Allah has created every life form with different abilities to protect
themselves from enemies. Camouflage is one of these defensive
techniques. Birds, like some other life forms, make use of this
defensive technique inspired in them by Allah.
The Camouflage Technique That Makes Protection Easier:
The Sun bittern that livesin the rain forests of South America uses
visual signals to protect itself. When approached,the bird suddenly
raises its tail and spreads its wings as wide as it can. This exposes
large spots on the wings, resembling eyes. This sudden movement
frightens predators and causes them to run away.
The pearl-spotted owlet, which has eye-shaped spots on the back of its
head, is another species that mimics large eyes. This imitation face
givento the owl deters predators seeking to sneak up from behind.
The ptarmigan that lives in the Arctic tundra is almost invisible in
winter thanks to its white plumage. Only its black eyes, resembling
pieces of rock, and its black beak can be seen against the snow. When
the snow starts to melt, these birds need to change color right
away.Changing color by molting generally takes a long time, and the
birds collect together on patches of melting snow for greater safety.
For that reason, the females shed their plumage first. As soon as the
females have molted they fly toward the scrub bushesand start building
their nests. This time is lost forthe males, who have become an easy
target with their white plumage. Molting takes 3to4 weeks. That length
of time could prove fatalfor the males. However, the males have
discovered a way of turning from white to brown in just a few minutes.
They turn their feathers from white to brown by diving into a puddle
of mud and thus match their new environment. There is nodoubt that
this changingof color to match the environment takes placethanks to
highly complexmechanisms created in the birds' bodies, and this gives
rise to a great protective mechanism asthese feathers, which are white
on snowy daysand earth colored in other seasons, provide a great
advantage in terms of camouflage.
The bird known as the patoo supports its mimicry with actions. It
lands on a log and is indistinguishable from that log, which is the
same color as its feathers. But when approached, it begins moving in
such a way as to perfect that mimicry even further. It graduallylowers
its tail and insertsit into a hole in the log. In this way it becomes
unclear where the log stops and the bird begins. It then, equally
slowly, raises its head until its beak is perpendicular, and it closes
its eyes. The bird remain frozen and immobile even at just 90
centimeters away. One distinguishing feature ofthe bird is that it can
seewith its eyes closed. There are very small vertical slits in both
eyelids. These protect the bird's sensitive eyes against the sunlight
and thus enable it to see the environment around it.
Specially Secure Nests
Nutcracker birds open nest holes in the soft wood of dead trees. They
have developed an effective protection against nest thieves. After
opening a hole, a nutcracker collects mud from a nearby puddle and
plasters the entrance to the nest with it. It leaves just enough room
for a nutcracker to wriggle through. In this way, larger birds such as
starlings are unable to enter the nest through that hole.
Plovers build their nests on the ground and are therefore exposed to
any number of threats. Whenever a cat, dog or fox approaches, the
plover leaves one of its wings immobile and drags it along the ground,
giving the impression it is trying to flee with only one wing. Once it
has completely distracted the predator'sattention and drawn it away
from the nest it will then fly away itself. Not only the plover but
quite a few species of bird adapt a similar technique in dealing with
predators.
As its name suggests, theburrowing owl, lives in burrows it digs in
the ground itself or those abandoned by other animals. The burrowing
owl faces many predators, such as jackals, cats and stoats. Whenever a
burrowing owl feels itself in dangerit adopts a most interesting
strategy. For example, if a fox starts digging up a burrow belong to a
burrowing owl, the owl starts hissing like a snake and frightens the
predator off.
Allah has created the hoopoe with an unpleasant-smelling scent gland.
They rub the foul smelling fluid from these glands on their feathers
and thus keep predators at bay. This fluid also possesses
antibacterial properties and protects the hoopoeagainst many diseases.
The locust bird, or wattled starling, lives in Africa in spherical
nests. They generally build their nests among thorny branches in
orderto deter predators. It is not, of course, the bird itself that
comes up withthe idea of building its nest among thorns. As Hedoes
with all other life forms too, Allah inspires the locust bird to build
its nest in such a way as to protect itself.
Male ducks always have a much brighter plumage than that of
thefemales. This is an important source of protection for females
incubating their eggs in the nest because thanks to their muted
coloring they are in greater safety in their nests as predators cannot
see them as easily. The muted colors of the females that match thoseof
their surroundings and their forms of camouflage make it hardto see
them even from quite close up. Male ducks use their brightly colored
feathers to protect the nest-buildingfemales by attracting
theattention of predators. When a predator approaches the nest,
themale immediately takes off, making a lot of noiseand doing all it
can to turn the predator away from the nest.
When a predator approaches, goldfinches and blackbirds send a warning
by emitting powerful calls. This loud noise and mass movement
neutralizes birds of prey and causes them to move away from the flock.
Small birds generally livetogether in flocks; this communal life has a
verypowerful effect. For example, when starlings sense the presence of
anapproaching hawk they immediately press together and assume theform
of a black cloud. There is nothing the predator bird can do in the
face of this large mass.
Secretary birds only live in Africa. They furnish the nests they build
in trees and high places with leaves, grasses and feathers and renew
these materials every year. Secretary birds mainly feed on snakes,
which they hunt using a most interesting technique. When a secretary
bird encounters a snake, it attacks the snake and tries to kill it
with its claws, without using its beak. If the snake is poisonous, the
secretary bird will use its wings to keep it at a distance and try to
get the snake to swallow a few feathers in order to empty its poison
sac. If it succeeds,the venom is expended harmlessly and it cannot
harm the bird. The secretary bird then attacks the snake, which has
used up most of its venom and therefore no longer represents a danger,
again using its claws. The surface of the secretary birds claws
hasvery few blood vessels, so even if the snake doesbite it, the bird
will not be harmed. It is Allah who inspires all the behavior of
secretary birds, which have a mostinteresting hunting technique and
are even able to cope with poisonous snakes.
These defensive and hunting techniques possessed by birds are just one
example showing that there is no "incompatibility or inconsistency" in
the universe created by Allah, as well as His infinite might and
omniscience. Allah reveals this flawless harmony in the universe as
follows in Surat al-Mulk :
"... You will not find any flaw in the creation of the All-Merciful.
Look again – do you see any gaps?
Then look again and again. Your sight will return to you dazzled and
exhausted!" (Surat al-Mulk, 3–4)
One of the techniques that living things have inorder to survive is
camouflage, the art of self-concealment. Living things need to conceal
themselves for two reasons. The first is when they are prey, and the
second when they are predators. The most important difference between
camouflage and other techniques is that it involves an enormous
intelligence, skill and harmony.
Living things that camouflage themselves have been placed under
special protection with their body structures, shapes, colors and
patterns that closely match their surroundings. Some of these have
bodies that so perfectly match their environments that it is almost
impossible to distinguish them from the plants around them.

Protection of women in the Qur'an

Providing maintenance for divorced women:
Allah states in the Qur'anthat providing maintenance for divorced
women is an obligation for all men of faith:
Divorced women should receive maintenance given with correctness and
courtesy: a duty for all who believe. (Surat al-Baqara: 241)
The amount of the maintenance is to be determined by mutual agreement
of the involved parties. While determining this amount, believers
assume a conscientious attitude and take into account the social
status and the needs of the woman. The appropriatebehaviour Allah
recommends believers is stated as follows:
… But give them a gift—he who is wealthy according to his means and he
who is less well off according to his means—a gift to be given with
correctness and courtesy: a duty for all good-doers. (Surat al-Baqara:
236)
He who has plenty should spend out from his plenty, but he whose
provision is restricted should spend from what Allah has given him.
Allah does not demand from any self more than He has given it. Allah
willappoint after difficulty, ease. (Surat at-Talaq: 7)
Whether well-off or poor, Allah commands believers to support women in
a manner commensurate with their own means. In societies which do not
live by the values of religion, generously supporting an ex-wife, from
whom one can no longer derive any benefits, is regarded as vain
spending. This being so, the people in question try to give the
minimum alimony possible and to this end even resort to fraudulence.
However, guided by his conscienceand his compassion, a believer never
reneges on such an obligation. After all, he performs this duty as a
good deed which will earn him the approval of Allah. That he has no
further expectations from her orthat she has fallen in his estimation,
never influences his attitude. Besides, his humane feelings and
compassionincline him to support a person who is in need. For that
reason, those who are well-off make adequate provision for divorced
women to havea good standard of living. Similarly, a poor person does
not shirk this responsibility, by saying, "I have insufficient means";
he fulfils this responsibility in the best way he can.
Not taking back the properties given to women after divorce:
If you desire to exchange one wife for another and have given your
original wife a large amount, do not take any of it. Would youtake it
by means of slander and outright crime? How could you take it when you
have been intimate with one another and they have made a binding
contractwith you? (Surat an-Nisa': 20-21)
In compliance with the command implicit in the above verses, upon the
decision to divorce, a man of faith makes no request whatsoever to
take back the properties he formerly gave to his wife. That is because
these properties were meant to be a safeguard for the woman and
theirloss may put her in difficulty. To prevent such an undesirable
situation, Allah imposes this condition upon malebelievers, thereby
securing the social well-being of women.
Besides, the extent of this property does not lessen the obligation
thisverse imposes upon a man. Even if a believing man has given all
his possessions to his spouse, he does not request the return of
anything after separation.
As is evident, these commands of the Qur'an make manifest the
superiority of the understanding of mercy the Qur'an offers to
believers. At the cost of placing themselves in difficulties,
believers never depart from the Qur'anic notion of mercyconveyed in
these verses, and fully comply with it.
Lodging divorced women:
Thanks to the merciful attitude the Qur'an enjoins upon man, believers
do not leave the women they divorce in a desperate situation without
providing them with adequate means to live. Women may not have a
family that can take care of them or even a house in which tostay.
Considering these and similar conditions, believers, although
divorced, ensure the welfare of women, until they find a way to
support themselves.
Upon their mutual decision, believers allow the women they divorce to
live in their own houses or in some other place under their control.
Their main intention here is to earn the approval of Allah and to
display a compassionate attitude to another believer. Other than this,
they have no other expectation. During this period, Allah recommends
that believing men should not engage in any deed which would do any
harm to women they divorced or put them in a difficult situation. This
affectionate approach displayed towards women is explained in the
verse below:
Let them live where you live, according to your means. Do not put
pressure on them, so as to harass them. If they are pregnant, maintain
them until they give birth. If they are sucklingfor you, give them
their wages and consult together with correctness and courtesy. But if
you make things difficult for one another, another woman should do the
suckling for you. (Surat at-Talaq: 6)
The second part of the verse recommends that believers display moral
perfection while settlingany problems that may arise after divorce,
and that they resolve all disputes in compliance with Islamic rules.
The values that ensure such asettlement no doubt stem from the fear of
Allah a person harbours in his heart, and conscience. Believers, who
value a person primarily because of his or her faith, can in no way
allow anything harmful to happen to him or her, nor can they put that
person in a difficult situation. To come up to this standardof moral
perfection, menof faith provide lodging to and otherwise meet the
needs of their divorced wives, as long as they ask for such support.
Not inheriting women against their will:
You who believe! It is not lawful for you to inherit women by force.
Nor may you treat them harshly so that you can make off with part of
what you have given them, unless they commit an act of flagrant
indecency. Live together with them correctly and courteously… (Surat
an-Nisa': 19)
Allah warns believers against inheriting women against their will,
except in situations in which women commitan explicit indecency. Never
exerting any pressure on women, believing men allow women to make use
of their possessions in any way they please after divorce.
However, we must bear in mind that, being so scrupulous comes from
observing Qur'anic morality. Due to believers' adherence to Qur'anic
principles firmlybased on the fear of Allah, there is no diminution of
the mercy shown by them to women, no matter what the circumstances.
Indeed, even in an environment where there is no one to bear witness
to their conduct,their compassionate attitude never alters. Aware that
Allah witnesses every deed they do, believers commit themselves to
never swerving from moral perfection.
In the Qur'an, there are numerous other verses about the measures that
secure the protection of women with compassionand the prevention of
their suffering. All these explicitly reveal how Qur'anic morality
encourages the showingof mercy to women and how believers commit
themselves to displaying this noble attitude. (For further reading,
see Harun Yahya "The mercy of believers" )