Fathwa, - The calendar does not count if it contradicts thecorrect Athaan time

Question
I am from Morocco and inour country there is a united Athaan for the
Fajr prayer according to the astronomical system without considering
the differences in sighting. Is it permissible for me to pray alone so
as to offer my prayer in the due time? Or am I obliged to pray with
the congregation despite thefact that they offer their prayer before
the due time? May Allaah The Exalted Reward you.
Answer
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
, is His Slave and Messenger.
If you are well acquainted with the due times of prayers, do not pray
before the due time.Hence, the calendar should not be relied upon if
it contradicts the due time because offering the prayer after the
beginning of its due time is a condition for its validity. Hence, no
prayeris due unless such a condition is fulfilled. Those in charge of
the calendar should correct this mistake through recognizing the
regional differences of time. Marking the times of prayer is a trust
for which they are responsible in front of Allaah The Exalted. To
clear their consciences, atthe very minimum, they should write proper
statements so as to notifythe people to recognize the differences in
terms of prayer times. Otherwise, the Muslims have to recognize such
differences out of their own responsibility.
Dear brother, adhere to gentleness in terms of advising people in your
mosque so that they delay the prayer to its due time. Allaah The
Exalted Says (what means): { Invite to the way of your Lord with
wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is
best. Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who has strayed from His
way,and He is most knowing of who is [rightly] guided. } [Quran 16:
125].
However, if they do not respond to you, do not offer the prayer before
the due time even if you would offer it alone in your house.
But if you are not well acquainted with the due times of prayers, so
that your saying of the Athaanof Fajr being before the due time is
based on assumption, something heard from others or just claims with
no clear proofs, then you have to join the congregational prayer and
avoid causingdisorder for a matter youare not aware of. Allaah The
Exalted Says (what means): { And do not pursue that of which you have
no knowledge. Indeed, the hearing, the sight and the heart - about all
those [one] will be questioned } [Quran 17: 36 ]
Allaah Knows best.

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Explanation of soorah Quraysh

The verses:
In the name of Allaah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.
Almighty Allaah Says (what means): "For the accustomed security of the
Quraysh – Their accustomed security [in] the caravan of winter and
summer – Let them worship the Lord of thisHouse, Who has fed them,
[savingthem] from hunger and made them safe, [saving them] from fear."
[Quran: 106: 1-4]
Explanation:
Muhammad Ibn Is-haaq and `Abdur-Rahmaan Ibn Zayd Ibn Aslam said that
this Quranicchapter is connected to the previous one, Al-Feel (The
Elephant), because they both assert that Allaah the Exalted protected
Makkah from the elephant and destroyed the People of the Elephant for
the accustomed security of Quraysh (the main Makkan tribe) and
theircommunity in their city, in safety.
It was also said that they were accustomed to travelling in caravans
to Yemen in winter and to Syria in summer for trade and other
purposes, and that they would return to their city in safety without
hindrance becauseof their privileged status as the custodians of the
Sacred House ofAllaah, and that whoever recognised them would respect
them and travel with them in order to protect them. This was their
situation, both in winter and in summer.
According to Imaam Ibn Jareer the correct explanation of this verse is
that Allaah is saying, in other words: "Be amazed at the taming of
Quraysh and My Blessings upon them," because the consensus of Muslim
opinion is that they are two separate Soorahs (Quranic chapters),
independent of each other. Then Allaah indicates to them the
obligation of expressing thanks and gratitude to Him by worshipping
Him Alone, Saying (what means): "Let them worshipthe Lord of this
House." [Quran 106: 1-3]
That is, worship the One True Deity, Who has made their lives and
their city safe and inviolate, as in the Words of Him, the Most High,
which mean: " …I [Muhammad] have only been commanded to worship the
Lord of this city, who made it sacred and to whom [belongs] all
things. And I am commanded to be of the Muslims [i.e., those whosubmit
to Allaah]." [Quran27:91]
"Who has fed them, [saving them] from hunger…" [Meaning of the first
part of verse 4 of the chapter] That is, He is the Lord of the House
and it is He who has fed them against hunger.
"…And made them safe, [saving them] from fear." [Meaning of thesecond
part of verse 4] Meaning that He has preferred them over other
communities by granting them safety from fear, so let them then
worship Him alone, without associating any partners with Him, without
worshipping graven images or setting up equals to Him; and whoever
responds positively to this command, Allaah will grant him the best
in this life and in the Hereafter, while whoever disobeys Him will
receive neither, as Allaah the Exalted Says (what means): " And Allaah
presents an example: a city [i.e., Makkah] which was safe and secure,
its provision coming to it in abundance from every location, but it
denied the favours of Allaah. So Allaah made it taste the envelopment
of hunger and fear for what they had been doing. And there had
certainly come to them a Messenger from among themselves, but they
denied him; so punishment overtook them while they were wrongdoers."
[Quran 16: 112-113]
Asmaa' Bint Yazeed said: "I heard the Messenger of Allaah say: "Woe to
you O Quraysh! For the accustomed security of Quraysh". [Ibn Abu
Haatim] - - ▓███▓ Translator:-> http://translate.google.com/m/
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Remedies for the heart are within the Quran

Allaah Almighty Says in the Quran (what means): " We send down ofthe
Quran that which is healing and mercy for the believers." [Quran
17:82] And also (what means): "O mankind! There has come to you
instruction from your Lord and healing for what is in the breasts and
guidance and mercy for the believers." [Quran 10:57]
It is narrated on the authority of An-Nu'maan Ibn Basheer whosaid : "I
heard the Messenger of Allaah say : "That which is lawful is plain and
that which is unlawful is plain and between the two of them are
doubtful matters about which not many people know. Thus, he who avoids
doubtful matters clears himself in regard to his religion and his
honor, but he who falls into doubtful matters falls into that which is
unlawful, like the shepherd who pastures around a sanctuary, all but
grazing therein.Truly, every king has a sanctuary, and truly Allaah's
sanctuary is His prohibitions. Truly in the body there is a morsel of
flesh which, ifit be whole,all the body is whole and which, if it be
diseased, all of it is diseased. Truly it is the heart." [Al-Bukhaari
and Muslim]
Diseases of the heart are a mixture of suspicions and lusts which can
lead our souls into turmoil and despair. However, Allaah Almighty has
provided us with a special prescription that will cleanse and heal our
diseased hearts: The Quran.
The Quran provides the healing for many types ofailments:
1. It contains proofs and clear evidences which separate right from wrong.
2. It adequately and clearly negates our doubts.
No book on this earth other than the Quran provides such comprehensive
proofs and testimonies in relation to exaltedmatters of monotheism,
confirmation of Allaah's attributes, the Day of Judgment, Prophethood
and refutation of incongruous doctrines and degenerate opinions.
Although the Quran offers a genuine cure for the evils of suspicions
and doubts, its benefitdepends to a large extent on comprehending its
essence and purpose. Those who are blessed with such faculties would
have the ability to distinguish betweenright and wrong, as clearly and
easily as they can distinguish between day and night.
They would know for certain thatall other knowledge and concepts
prevailing among people are either traditions or false presumptions;
however fanciful and appealing they may appear, these would be unable
tooffer a substitute for the Truth orgenuine matters as encapsulated
in the Quran and would provide no benefit.
The Hadeeth (narration) of Prophet Muhammad compares the futility of
such efforts to: "Inferior camel's meat on top of a rough mountain,
neither the hill is easy to climb nor the camel is healthy enough to
get down the hill." [Al-Bukhaari]
In fact, the knowledge obtained by theologians could be found in the
Quran with a much better elaboration and explanation, for the
theologians are inclined to affectation, wordiness and perpetuating
perplexity. They assume that their attitudes help in refuting
suspicions and doubts, but contrary to their presumption, these
suspicions and doubts are better served by their efforts. If healing
and guidance, knowledge and certainty could not be obtained from the
Quran and the teachingsof Prophet Muhammad it would be impossible to
obtain them from the utterances of those perplexed skeptics.
The Quran draws its ability of healing the diseases of lusts by its
wisdom and fair exhortation, through the renouncement of earthly
pursuits and the pursuance of the Hereafter. It draws upon parables
and narrations containing lessons to be pondered. If the heart
assimilated these qualities, it would certainly be inclined towards
good deeds and renounce the evil ones.
The Quran also eliminates spiritual diseases which corrupt our
intentions and prompt us towards ill deeds; hence the heart heals and
returns to its normal nature, where its facultative and self-acquired
deeds excel. The body also returns to its normal functioning by
rejecting whatever contradictsthe right guidance, just like an infant
who accepts nothing but milk. In this course of affairs, the heart
feeds on faith and the Quran which provides it with reprimands,
consolidation, support, gladness, joy and invigoration to establish
its authority, as a body is nourished by what develops and strengthens
it.
The heart and the body would not flourish without adhering to the
Quran. Even if they attained some of the desired results from another
source, the attainment would be very minor and would not serve the
purpose and desired end result. - - ▓███▓ Translator:->
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Relate Ka‘b's Story to Your Child

My friend: What is the story of Ka'b and how can I relate it?
I: Don't you know the story of Ka'b, my friend? It is one of the most
effective stories which will help your child stop lying.
My friend: How?
I: Stories have a profoundimpact on changing bad behavior into upright
behavior, and even adults themselves love to listen to stories and
doing so can often change their lives. Thus, Allaah The Almighty
relates a number of stories in His noble Book for us to derive lessons
from and to be motivatedto change our wrong behavior. My friend, tell
me: Don't you like to listen to stories?
My friend: Yes, you are right. I love to listen to the stories that
the Khateeb (preacher) relates in the Friday Khutbah (sermon), and
they often cause many things in my life to change. By the way, whatis
the story of Ka'b? Do you think that it will helpmy children to stop
telling lies?
I: Of course, but you must narrate it in an interesting, exciting, and
simple way which at the same time accomplishes the needed goals in
every stage of the story. Perhaps we hear many stories, but they do
not attract our attention or change our behavior because the narrator
relates them in an incorrect manner. The narrator may be engagedin
exciting and motivating the audiences, yet he forgets to focus on the
aims of the story. On the other hand, another narrator may focus too
much on the aims of the story and highlighting its lessons without
excitement or motivation. Moderation is optimum in all cases.
My friend (smiling): Stop exciting me, my friend, and relate the story
of Ka'b to me!
I (smiling): No, I will teachyou how to relate it.
My friend sat down listening attentively to the story and pondering on it.
Father: Do you know the story of Ka'b?
Son: Who is Ka'b, Dad?
Father: Do you not know who Ka'b ibn Maalik is, my son?
Son (attentively): No, I don't. Father, please tell me his story.
Father: Ok, I will tell you. My son, Ka'b ibn Maalik was one of the
Companions of the Prophet, .
Son: What was his story?
Father: He was the Companion whose truthfulness saved him from the
punishment of Allaah The Almighty.
Son: How?
Father: In the Battle of Tabook, Allaah The Almighty wanted to test
the believers by asking them to go out for Jihaad (armed struggle).
However, joining the Prophet, , in this battlewas so difficult. Do you
know why, son?
Son: Why was it difficult, Dad?
Father: It was a long journey, the weather wasvery hot, and the fruits
were ready to harvest. Everyone would love to sit in the shade and
enjoyeating the fruits. Going out for Jihaad at that moment was a
command from Allaah The Almighty to ward off the enemies and fight the
polytheists who did not like Islam.
Son: What did the people do, Dad?
Father: The true believers set forth with the Prophet, , because they
sought martyrdom to enter Paradise, while the hypocrites lagged
behind.
Son: Who were the hypocrites, Dad?
Father (after a long sigh): Son, the hypocrites are the evilest of
people – may Allaah save us from hypocrisy. The hypocritesare the
liars who say and do what they do not believe.
Son (alertly): How is that, Dad?
Father: The hypocrites told lies to the Prophet, . Each one made up
anexcuse and told a lie to the Prophet, , in order to evade going out
for Jihaad .
Son (amazed): What did the Prophet, , do with them?
Father: The Prophet, , did not judge them for their intentions but for
their apparent actions and he accepted their excuses.
Son (carefully): Why did the Prophet, , not expose their reality?
Father: Because Allaah The Almighty postponed their punishment till
the Day of Judgment, my son,and how severe the punishment of a liar on
the Day of Judgment will be! You must have heard of the Quranic verse
(thatmeans): } So who is more unjust than one who lies about Allaah. {
[Quran 39:32] Also, you must know that the Prophet, , said, "The sign
of the hypocrite is that he tells lies when he speaks."
Son (attentively): What is the connection between Ka'ab ibn Maalik and
all of that?
Father: My son, Ka'ab ibn Maalik did not tell a lie.
Son: How?
Father: When Ka'b ibn Maalik went to the Prophet, , the Prophet,
sallallaahu 'alayhi was sallam , asked him: "Why did you not join us,
Ka'b?" Ka'b was certain that Allaah The Almighty sees him and knows
what is in his heart. He realized that he might get out of this
situation, but he would not be saved from the punishment of Allaah
TheAlmighty on the Day of Judgment. At this moment, Ka'b ibn Maalik
said to himself, "By Allaah, I will tell the truth."
Son: What did he say to the Prophet, ?
Father: He said, "O Messenger of Allaah, I didnot have any excuse and
I was able to go out with you." He told him the truth, son.
The son (excited): What was the reply of the Prophet ?
Father: The Prophet, , said: "This man has told the truth. Go away
till Allaah decides on your matter."
Son: What happened, Dad?
Father (sadly): My son, imagine! The Prophet, , ordered the Companions
to shun Ka'b ibn Maalik and none of them talked with him. Imagine,
nobody spoke to him for fifty days to the extent that Ka'b was walking
in the streets and greeting people, but nobody returned his greeting.
Even his closest relative, his cousin, did not return his Salaam when
Ka'b offered it.
Son (amazed): Why was all of that? Did he not tell the truth, Dad?
Father: Allaah The Almighty was testing him,son, in order to see
whether or not he wouldkeep firm on his truthfulness despite these
pressures.
Son: Did Ka'b ibn Maalik remain firm, Dad?
Father: Yes, my son. Ka'b remained firm on his truthfulness till
Allaah The Almighty accepted his repentance and revealed Quranic
verses to be recited concerning him.
Son: What did Allaah The Almighty reveal concerning him, dad?
Father: Fetch the Mus-haf (copy of the Quran), son. Let me read the
verse for you. (The child brings the Mus-haf and the father opens it
at Surat At-Tawbah and starts reading the verses.)
Father: Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): } And [He also Forgave]
the three who were left behind [and regretted their error] to the
point that the earth closed in on them in spiteof its vastness and
their souls confined them and they were certain that there is no
refuge from Allaah except in Him. Then He turned to them so they could
repent. Indeed, Allaah is the Accepting of repentance, the Merciful. {
[Quran 9:118]) Do you know what Allaah The AlmightySays after this
verse, son?
Son: What does Allaah The Almighty say, Dad?
Father: Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): } O you who
havebelieved, fear Allaah and be with those who are true. { [Quran
9:119]
Son: Did people talk to Ka'b after that, Dad?
Father: Yes, they did. Ka'b returned to Allaah TheAlmighty with
stronger faith and promised AllaahThe Almighty not to say anything but
the truth. The truth was the thing that saved him, whereas Allaah The
Almighty disclosed the reality of the hypocrites in His Book and they
will taste a painful torment on the Day of Judgment. Now, son, let us
make an unbreakable promise with Allaah The Almighty not to tell lies
ever.
Son: I promise Allaah The Almighty not to tell lies ever.
Father: Whatever the circumstances might be?
Son: Whatever the circumstances might be!
Father: Well done, son. Besure that truthfulness brings about
salvation even if it apparently involves destruction.
At this moment, my friend said: Excuse me! Let me go home to tell my
child the story of Ka'b before he goes to sleep. Assalaamu alaykum.

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