Dought & clear, - Should the one who is slaughtering the sacrifice utter the intention at the time of slaughter?.

If the one who is slaughtering a sacrifice says, "This is on behalf of
So and so," i.e., he names the one on whose behalf the sacrifice is
being offered at the time of slaughter, is this uttering the
intention?.
Praise be to Allaah.
This is not uttering the attention, because if the one who is offering
the sacrifice says, "This is on my behalf and on behalf of my
household," he is stating what is in his heart. He has not said, "O
Allah, I want to offer a sacrifice," as would be said by the one who
wants to utter his intention. Rather he is only expressing what is in
his heart. The intention was already there, from the time he brought
the animal, lay it down and slaughtered it, so he had already formed
the intention. End quote.

Dought & clear, - She gets yellowish andbrownish discharge before and during her period, and that may last all month

I am not married and my period comes regularly every month. But my
problem is that it starts off yellow, tinged with beige and brown, and
sometimes goes on for three or four days with pain in the lower
abdomen, intense agitation and bad mood. Then it becomes black for one
or two days at the most, then red blood comes for between five and
seven days, then it goes back to a brown colour, then yellow, then
after one or two days of the yellow discharge, sometimes there is a
white discharge, the sign of purity (end of the period), or sometimes
the yellow discharge continues until the next period, i.e., it lasts
for a month.
My question is: when should I pray and when should I stop praying?
When should I fast and when should I not fast?
Praise be to Allah.
Firstly:
The yellowish or brownish discharge that precedes the blood is not
regarded as the menses; the same applies to that which comes after
seeing the white discharge (that signals the end of the period),
because Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: "We used not
to regard the yellowish brownish discharge after the white discharge
(that signals the end of the period) as being of any significance."
Narrated by Abu Dawood, 307; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani inIrwa'
al-Ghaleel, 199
With regard to yellowish and brownish discharge that comes after the
bleeding and before the white discharge (that signals the end of the
period), this is regarded as menses, because of the report narrated by
Maalik inal-Muwatta', 130, from Umm Salamah, according to which she
said: The women used to send to 'Aa'ishah, the Mother of the
Believers, small vessels containing the pieces of cotton on which
there were yellowish traces from the menstrual blood, and they would
ask her about praying, and she would say to them: Do not be hasty
until you see the white discharge, referring to that which signals the
end of the period.
This was also narrated by al-Bukhaari in a mu'allaq report (Kitaab
al-Hayd, Baab iqbaal al-Maheed wa idbaarihi; classed as saheeh by
al-Albaani inIrwa' al-Ghaleel, 198
Based on that, the yellowish or brownish discharge that lasts for
three or four days before the bleeding starts is not regarded as
menses, and you should not stop praying or fasting at that time.
The black blood and the red blood that comes after it, and the
yellowish discharge, are menses, until you see the white discharge or
complete dryness.
If you see the white discharge or complete dryness, any discharge
after that, yellowish or brownish, is not regarded as menses.
Please see questions no. 171945, 157020and 82507
Secondly:
If the red blood continues, or the yellowish or brownish discharge
that come after it, before the white discharge or complete dryness
appear – if that goes on for longer than fifteen days, then you
aremustahaadah(i.e., experiencingistihaadahor irregular, non-menstrual
bleeding), according to the majority of scholars. Some scholars say
that istihaadah cannot be proven unless that continues for the entire
month or for the entire month apart from two or three days. This is
the view favoured by Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah and those who
followed him and those who do not think there is any maximum length
for the menses, and their view is closer to the apparent meaning of
the evidence.
If it becomes clear that you are experiencing istihaadah, then in the
following months you should act in accordance with your cycle as it
was in the past. So you should stop praying and so on for the duration
of bleeding, until the appearance of the white discharge (signalling
the end of the period) that you mentioned in your question, then you
should do ghusl. For example, if your period, before experiencing
istihaadah, used to last for ten days, then you should do ghusl after
the tenth day, and do wudoo' at the time of each prayer.
A woman who did not have a regular cycle before experiencing
istihaadah should base her actions on differentiating between
different kinds of bleeding. This has been explained in the answer to
question no. 68818
Our advice to you is to consult a specialist doctor for treatment of
these ongoing discharges.
And Allah knows best.

Dought & clear, - Etiquette of Eid

What are the Sunnahs and etiquettes that we should act in accordance
with on the day of Eid?.
Praise be to Allaah.
The Sunnahs that the Muslim should observe on the day of Eid are as follows:
1 – Doing ghusl before going out to the prayer.
It was narrated in a saheeh hadeeth inal-Muwatta'and elsewhere that
'Abd-Allaah ibn 'Umar used to do ghusl on the day of al-Fitr before
going out to the prayer-place in the morning.Al-Muwatta'428.
Al- Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said that the Muslims were
unanimously agreed that it is mustahabb to do ghusl for Eid prayer.
The reason why it is mustahabb is the same reason as that for doing
ghusl before Jumu'ah and other public gatherings. Rather on Eid the
reason is even stronger.
2 – Eating before going out to pray on Eid al-Fitr and after the
prayer on Eid al-Adha:
Part of the etiquette is not to go out to pray on Eid al-Fitr until
one has eaten some dates, because of the hadeeth narrated by
al-Bukhaari from Anas ibn Maalik, who said that the Messenger of
Allaah(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used not to go out
on the morning of Eid al-Fitr until he had eaten some dates… of which
he would eat an odd number. Al-Bukhaari, 953.
It is mustahabb to eat before going out to emphasize the fact that it
is forbidden to fast on that day and to demonstrate that the fast has
ended.
Ibn Hajar (may Allaah have mercy on him) suggested that the reason for
that was so as to ward off the possibility of adding to the fast, and
to hasten to obey the command of Allaah.Al-Fath, 2/446
Whoever does not have any dates may break his fast with anything that
is permissible.
But on Eid al-Adha it is mustahabb not to eat anything until one comes
back from the prayer, so he should eat from the udhiyah if he has
offered a sacrifice. If he is not going to offer a sacrifice there is
nothing wrong with eating before the prayer.
3 – Takbeer on the day of Eid
This is one of the greatest Sunnahs on the day of Eid because Allaah
says (interpretation of the meaning):
"(He wants that you) must complete the same number (of days), and that
you must magnify Allaah [i.e. to say Takbeer (Allaahu Akbar: Allaah is
the Most Great)] for having guided you so that you may be grateful to
Him"
[al-Baqarah 2:185]
It was narrated that al-Waleed ibn Muslim said: I asked al-Awzaa'i and
Maalik ibn Anas about saying Takbeer out loud on the two Eids. They
said, Yes, 'Abd-Allaah ibn 'Umar used to say it out loud on the day of
al-Fitr until the imam came out (to lead the prayers).
It was narrated in a saheeh report that 'Abd al-Rahmaan al-Sulami
said, "They emphasized it more on the day of al-Fitr than the day of
al-Adha.". Wakee' said, this refers to the takbeer. SeeIrwa'
al-Ghaleel, 3/122/
Al-Daaraqutni and others narrated that on the morning of Eid al-Fitr
and Eid al-Adha, Ibn 'Umar would strive hard in reciting takbeer until
he came to the prayer place, then he would recite takbeer until the
imam came out.
Ibn Abi Shaybah narrated with a saheeh isnaad that al-Zuhri said: The
people used to recite Takbeer on Eid when they came out of their
houses until they came to the prayer place, and until the imam came
out. When the imam came out they fell silent, and when he said takbeer
they said takbeer. SeeIrwa' al-Ghaleel, 1/121
Saying takbeer when coming out of one's house to the prayer place and
until the imam came out was something that was well known among the
salaf (early generations). This has been narrated by a number of
scholars such as Ibn Abi Shaybah, 'Abd a l-Razzaaq and al-Firyaabi
inAhkaam al-Eidaynfrom a group of the salaf. For example, Naafi' ibn
Jubayr used to recite takbeer and was astonished that the people did
not do so, and he said, "Why do you not recite takbeer?"
Ibn Shihaab al-Zuhri (may Allaah have mercy on him) used to say, "The
people used to recite takbeer from the time they came out of their
houses until the imam came in."
The time for takbeer on Eid al-Fitr starts from the night before Eid
until the imam enters to lead the Eid prayer.
In the case of Eid al-Adha, the takbeer begins on the first day of
Dhu'l-Hijjah and lasts until sunset on the last of the days of
tashreeq.
Description of the takbeer:
It was narrated in the Musannaf of Ibn Abi Shaybah with a saheeh
isnaad from Ibn Mas'ood (may Allaah be pleased with him) that he used
to recite takbeer during the days of tashreeq:
Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar, laa ilaaha ill-Allaah, wa Allaahu akbar,
Allaah akbar, wa Lillaah il-hamd(Allaah is Most Great, Allaah is most
Great, there is no god but Allaah, Allaah is Most great, Allaah is
most great, and to Allaah be praise).
It was also narrated elsewhere by Ibn Abi Shaybah with the same
isnaad, but with the phrase "Allaahu akbar" repeated three times.
Al-Mahaamili narrated with a saheeh isnaad also from Ibn Mas'ood:
"Allaahu akbaru kabeera, Allaahu akbaru kabeera, Allaahu akbar wa
ajallu, Allaahu akbar wa Lillaah il-hamd(Allaah is Most Great indeed,
Allaah is Most Great indeed, Allaah is most Great and Glorified,
Allaah is Most Great and to Allaah be praise)." Seeal-Irwa', 3/126.
4 – Offering congratulations
The etiquette of Eid also includes the congratulations and good wishes
exchanged by people, no matter what the wording, such as saying to one
anotherTaqabbala Allaah minna wa minkum(May Allaah accept (good deeds)
from us and from you" or "Eid mubaarak" and other permissible
expressions of congratulations.
It was narrated that Jubayr ibn Nufayr said: When the companions of
the Prophet(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) met one another
on the day of Eid, they would say to one another, "May Allaah accept
(good deeds) from us and from you." Ibn Hajar said, its isnaad is
hasan.Al-Fath, 2/446.
Offering congratulations was something that was well known among the
Sahaabah, and scholars such as Imam Ahmad and others allowed it. There
is evidence which suggests that it is prescribed to offer
congratulations and good wishes on special occasions, and that the
Sahaabah congratulated one another when good things happened, such as
when Allaah accepted the repentance of a man, they went and
congratulated him for that, and so on.
Undoubtedly these congratulations are among the noble characteristics
among the Muslims.
The least that may be said concerning the subject of congratulations
is that you should return the greetings of those who congratulate you
on Eid, and keep quiet if others keep quiet, as Imam Ahmad (may Allaah
have mercy on him) said: If anyone congratulates you, then respond,
otherwise do not initiate it.
5 – Adorning oneself on the occasion of Eid.
It was narrated that 'Abd-Allaah ibn 'Umar (may Allaah be pleased with
him) said that 'Umar took a brocade cloak that was for sale in the
market and brought it to the Messenger of Allaah(peace and blessings
of Allaah be upon him), and said, "O Messenger of Allaah, buy this and
adorn yourself with it for Eid and for receiving the delegations." The
Messenger of Allaah(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said to
him, "Rather this is the dress of one who has no share (of piety or of
reward in the Hereafter)…" Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 948.
The Prophet(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) agreed with
'Umar on the idea of adorning oneself for Eid, but he denounced him
for choosing this cloak because it was made of silk.
It was narrated that Jaabir (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The
Prophet(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) had a cloak which
he would wear on the two Eids and on Fridays.Saheeh Ibn Khuzaymah,
1756,
Al-Bayhaqi narrated with a saheeh isnaad that Ibn 'Umar used to wear
his best clothes on Eid.
So a man should wear the best clothes that he has when going out for Eid.
With regard to women, they should avoid adorning themselves when they
go out for Eid, because they are forbidden to show off their
adornments to non-mahram men. It is also haraam for a woman who wants
to go out to put on perfume or to expose men to temptation, because
they are only going out for the purpose of worship.
6 – Going to the prayer by one route and returning by another.
It was narrated that Jaabir ibn 'Abd-Allaah (may Allaah be pleased
with him) said: On the day of Eid, the Prophet(peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) used to vary his route. Narrated by al-Bukhaari,
986.
It was said that the reason for that was so that the two routes would
testify for him on the Day of Resurrection, for the earth will speak
on the Day of Resurrection and say what was done on it, both good and
bad.
And it was said that it was in order to manifest the symbols of Islam
on both routes, or to manifest the remembrance of Allaah (dhikr), or
to annoy the hypocrites and Jews, and to scare them with the large
number of people who were with him. And it was said that it was in
order to attend to the people's needs, to answer their questions,
teach them, set an example and give charity to the needy, or to visit
his relatives and uphold the ties of kinship.
And Allaah knows best.

For children, - Know your Master the Awaited One: Imam Mahdi (as)

The master of the oppressed, the master of true believers, the master
of the age and the master of Earth before Doomsday.
He is the Savior of humanity, the Disposer of justice, the Proof of
God, the Awaited One, and the Heir of the Bible, the Torah, the Noble
Qur'an and all other heavenly books.
He is none other than the 12th and last apostle (Imam) after Prophet
Mohammed (SAW). He has many other titles, among them is also the
Guided One (Al-Mahdi in Arabic). His name is Mohammed son of Imam
Hassan Askari (as). He was born in Samarra (Iraq) on Friday 15th of
the month of Shabaanin 255 AH.
His father our 11th Imam, Imam Hassan Askari (as), was imprisoned
most of his life by Abbasid Caliphs to prevent him from having a son
whom they feared will bring the justice and equity that was promised
and remove tyranny and tyrants from the face of the earth. The 11th
Imam, Imam Hassan Askari (as) was poisoned in prison at the age of 28
in the year 260 AH by Al-Mu'tamid, the Abbasid Caliph.
The Awaited One, the 12th Imam, Imam Mahdi (as) is the only son of his
father, and he was 5 years old at the time of his father's death. His
mother was Nargis Khatoon (sa), for whom this article is being
dedicated.
Nargis Khatoon (sa), the Mother of Imam Mahdi (as) was a Roman
princess. She was the most pure offspring of the then European nations
and races. It was destined that Nargis Khatoon (sa) would go to the
streets of Baghdad to become owned by the most pure of men, the 11th
Imam, Imam Hassan Askari (as) and become the mother of the 12th Imam,
Imam Mahdi (as).
The story of how they met and joined is recorded in many history books
as well as sparsely in the scriptures of holy traditions of the
infallibles (the Prophet Mohammad (SAW), his daughter Fatima (sa) and
the twelve Imams (apostles)). It is in fact a most amazing love
storyin history.
This love story would also give a glimpse of the personality of the
offspring of their holy marriage, the master of the world, the
Anointed One, the twelfth Imam. So to know better our master, the
Awaited One Imam Mahdi (as), it would be appropriate to introduce his
mother Nargis Khatoon (sa) and the amazing love story of her marriage.