Personal, - Understanding the Value of Time - I

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It is a common practice in most Muslim countries that women allocate the afternoon for receiving or visiting friends, with some differences in the manner of the visits – they may be organized on a regular basis or spontaneous. Whatever the case may be, during the visit a veritable state of emergency is declared at home where extraordinary preparations are made which exhaust one's efforts and wealth and waste time. The day of the visit turns into a virtual competition between families, each trying to offer the most lavish hospitality and appear the most immaculate.
If you ask the majority of women about the goal behind the visit, the most likely answer would be:We meet for entertainment, to kill some time and get rid of boredom.
This answer is surprising, because time is nothing but a person's allocated age, for which he will be questioned. And when will that questioning be? It will be on the Day of the Great Terror. It is the Day when a soul will not possess the power to do anything to benefit itself or anyone else; and the command, that Day, is entirely with Allaah The Almighty.
It was narrated on the authority of Abu Burdah, may Allaah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said:"A slave's two feet will not move on the Day of Judgment until he is questioned about four )things(: His youth, how he spent it, his knowledge, how he acted upon it, his wealth, how he earned it and how he spent it and his body, how he used/wasted it."]At-Tirmithi[
And who will the questioner be? He is the Lord of the Worlds who created the Jinn and mankind in order to worship Him, not for diversion and entertainment. Allaah The Exalted Says )what means(:}Had We intended to take a diversion, We could have taken it from ]what is[ with Us -- if ]indeed[ We were to do so.{]Quran 21: 17[
What will we say to the Lord of the Worlds when He asks us about wasted time? Even if such time is used in deeds that do not include impermissible words and deeds, it inevitably includes vain talk and idle chatter which was dispraised by the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, who said:"The most hateful to me and farthest from Me on the Day of Judgment will be the ostentatious chatterers, transgressing ranters and arrogant loudmouths."
A person who wastes his time has wasted an irretrievable part of his life. The person who does this will have great regret. Does the woman have a free hand and a right to waste her time as she wants? Where are the rights of the husband and the children? When will she fulfill the rights of her community and the Muslim Ummah )nation(?
To whom will she entrust her responsibility if her only concern is going out of her home and partaking in insignificant diversions? One of them could answer claiming that she has fulfilled her rights, believing that her task is restricted to cleaning her house, satisfying her husband, and giving birth to children, and her interest in bringing up her children does not go beyond feeding them, clothing them and helping them to be successful in their studies.
No, O Sister!
You are the one who nurtures future Muslim generations and the one who provides the Muslim community with its pillars: righteous women and men. Your duty )and the duty of every Muslim woman( is to provide our children with a guided upbringing and prepare them through Islamic teachings which will enable them to bear the trust, serve the Ummah and build the long-sought noble Muslim community.
If we neglect our children and interest ourselves only in entertainment, our children will truly become orphans while their parents are still alive.
Even the orphan who loses his parents may find those who treat him with affection and take care of him. However, a child whose parents are preoccupied with means of entertainment can never find those who treat him mercifully treat or feel his suffering. A woman who is always busy with herself will not find enough time to supervise her children, direct them towards goodness, follow them up and enjoy their company, while these duties undoubtedly help her fulfill her mission and satisfy her Lord.
It is true that this world, the venue of tests, is full of troubles and hardships and such meetings are intended for entertainment and amiability. Nevertheless, is entertainment the goal of the woman who feels that she guards one of Islam's forts and is keen that Islam is not attacked through this fort? Or is it the goal of vain women? While entertainment is necessary from time to time, this should not be at the expense of other women and their time.
We often complain about the intellectual invasion perpetrated by our enemies and the fact that we are subject to destruction and infighting. Have we made preparations to face them? At the very least, have we sufficiently protected ourselves against them spiritually and intellectually, that we have the free time to seek entertainment?
Our current suffering entails that we deal with our reality according to the fundamental teachings of Islam in order to rise from our dormancy. Otherwise, our hopes will remain a mirage and our wishes will remain mere dreams that we hope will be materialized one day. How strange it is that we expect our dreams to materialize without putting in work, efforts or striving continuously towards realizing them! Allaah The Exalted Says )what means(:}And those who strive for Us - We will surely guide them to Our ways. And indeed, Allaah is with the doers of good.{]Quran 29: 69[

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Dought & clear, - Ruling on raising one's voice in sending blessings upon the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allaahbe upon him) between the rak’ahs of Taraweeh

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What is the ruling on raising one's voice in sending blessings upon the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allaah be upon him) and praying that Allaah be pleased with the Rightly Guided Caliphs between the rak’ahs of Taraweeh?.
Praise be to Allaah.
There is no basis for that -- as far as we know – in sharee’ah. Rather it is an innovation so it should not be done. Nothing will be good for the last of this ummah except that which was good for the first of it, which is following the Qur'aan and Sunnah and the path of the early generations of the ummah (the salaf) and avoiding that which differs from that. End quote.
Majmoo’ Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn Baaz(11/369).
And Allaah knows best.

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Dought & clear, - Ruling on Takbeer in Unison Before the ‘Eid Prayer

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Before the ‘Eid prayer, the people recite dhikr (words of remembrance) in unison. Is this an innovation or is it prescribed in the ‘Eid prayer? If it is regarded as an innovation, what should we do? Should we leave the prayer place until the prayer begins?
Praise be to Allah.
The takbeer (formula used to magnify Allah) of ‘Eid is one of the Sunnahs (Prophetic traditions) that were prescribed by the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and it is an act of worship like all other acts of worship: we should limit ourselves to what is narrated and it is not permissible to introduce any thing new into the way it is done; rather that which is narrated in the Sunnah and reports is sufficient.
Our fuqah (jurists) have examined the takbeer in unison that is done nowadays, and they did not find any evidence to support it, so they ruled that it is an innovation. This is because introducing a new act of worship or introducing a new manner in which an act of worship is done is regarded as a blameworthy innovation and is included in the words of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): “Whoever introduces anything into this matter of ours that is not part of it will have it rejected.” Narrated by Muslim (1718).
Al-Shaykh Muhammad ibn Ibraheem (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
The takbeer which was done in al-Masjid al-Haram on the day of ‘Eid was where one person or a number of people would sit on the roof of Zamzam and say takbeer, and the people would repeat after them in the mosque. Then al-Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Baz denounced this way and said that it was an innovation. What the Shaykh meant was that it was a partial innovation when done in this particular manner. He did not mean that the takbeer itself was an innovation. Some of the common folk of Makkah were upset by this, because they were used to it, and this is the reason why he sent this message. With regard to doing the takbeer in this manner, I do not know of any basis for it. The one who claims that this way is prescribed in shariah (Islamic law) has to bring proof and evidence. Moreover, this is a minor issue that should not have reached the level it did. End quote.
Majmoo’ Fatawa al-‘Allamah Muhammad ibn Ibraheem, 3/127, 128
Al-Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Baz (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, and peace and blessings be upon Prophet Muhammad and all his family and Companions.
I have studied what was published by the respected Shaykh, Ahmad ibn Muhammad Jamal (may Allah help him to do that which pleases Him) in one of the local newspapers, in which he says that he finds odd the ban on takbeer in unison in the mosque before the ‘Eid prayer because it is regarded as an innovation which must be stopped. In his article, al-Shaykh Ahmad tries to prove that takbeer in unison is not an innovation and that it is not permissible to ban it, and his opinion is supported by some writers. Because of the fear that this matter may cause confusion for those who do not know the truth, we have to explain that the basic principle with regard to the takbeer on the night before ‘Eid and before the ‘Eid prayer of ‘Eid al-Fitr after Ramadan, and during the first ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah, and on the days of al-tashreeq, is that it is prescribed at these great times and that it has a great deal of virtue, because Allah says concerning the takbeer on ‘Eid al-Fitr (interpretation of the meaning):
“(He wants that you) must complete the same number (of days), and that you must magnify Allah [i.e. to say Takbeer (Allahu Akbar: Allah is the Most Great)] for having guided you so that you may be grateful to Him.”
[al-Baqarah 2:185]
And He says about the first ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah and the days of al-tashreeq (interpretation of the meaning):
“That they may witness things that are of benefit to them (i.e. reward of Hajj in the Hereafter, and also some worldly gain from trade), and mention the Name of Allah on appointed days (i.e. 10th, 11th, 12th, and 13th day of Dhul‑Hijjah), over the beast of cattle that He has provided for them (for sacrifice).”
[al-Hajj 22:28]
“And remember Allah during the appointed Days.”
[al-Baqarah 2:203]
What is included in the dhikr that is prescribed on these known days is both takbeer in general and specific takbeer, as is indicated by the Sunnah and the actions of the early Muslims (the salaf). The description of the takbeer that is prescribed is that each Muslim should say takbeer by himself on his own, raising his voice enough so that the people can hear him and follow his example and be reminded by it. As for the innovated takbeer in unison, that is when a group of people -- two or more -- raise their voices in saying takbeer together, so they start together and end together in unison and in a certain manner.
There is no basis for doing this and there is no evidence to support it, so it is an innovation in the manner of takbeer for which Allah has not sent down any authority. So the one who denounces takbeer done in this manner is in the right, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever introduces something into this matter of ours that is not part of it will have it rejected” (narrated by Muslim), i.e., it is rejected and is not prescribed. And he (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Beware of newly invented matters, for every newly invented matter is an innovation and every innovation is a going astray.” The takbeer in unison is a newly invented matter, so it is an innovation. If what the people do is contrary to shariah then it must be stopped and denounced, because the acts of worship are tawqeefi (i.e., limited to what is mentioned in the Quran and Sunnah) and nothing is prescribed therein except what is indicated by the Quran and Sunnah. As for people's views and opinions, they cannot be taken as proof if they go against the shar’i evidence. Similarly, acts of worship cannot be proven on the basis of al-masalih al-mursalah (i.e., that which serves the interests of the Muslim community). Acts of worship can only be proven with a text from the Quran or Sunnah, or definitive scholarly consensus.
What is prescribed is for each Muslim to say takbeer in the manner prescribed and proven according to the shar’i evidence, which is to say takbeer individually.
Takbeer in unison was denounced and banned by al-Shaykh Muhammad ibn Ibraheem, the mufti of Saudi Arabia (may Allah have mercy on him), and he issued a fatwa (verdict) concerning that. I have issued more than one fatwa stating that it is not allowed, and a fatwa stating that it is not allowed was also issued by the scholars of the Standing Committee for Academic Research and Issuing Fatwas.
Al-Shaykh Hammood ibn ‘Abd-Allah al-Tuwaijri (may Allah have mercy on him) wrote an important essay denouncing and banning it, which has been printed and is in circulation. In this essay he quotes sufficient evidence to show that takbeer in unison is not allowed, praise be to Allah. As for what our brother al-Shaykh Ahmad quoted about the actions of ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) and the people in Mina, this does not prove anything, because what he (may Allah be pleased with him) and the people did in Mina does not come under the heading of takbeer in unison; rather it comes under the heading of takbeer that is prescribed, because he (may Allah be pleased with him) raised his voice in takbeer in accordance with the Sunnah and so as to remind the people of it, so they said takbeer, each one on his own. This does not mean that they and ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) agreed to raise their voices in takbeer in unison from beginning to end, as those who say takbeer in unison do nowadays. Thus everything that is narrated from the righteous early generations (may Allah have mercy on them) about the takbeer was all done in the prescribed manner. Anyone who claims something other than that has to produce evidence. Similarly, the call to prayer for the ‘Eid prayer, Taraweeh, qiyam (night prayer) or Witr is all innovation for which there is no basis. It is proven in the saheeh hadeeths (authentic narrations) from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) that he used to offer the ‘Eid prayer with no adhan (call to prayer) or iqamah (final call to prayer), and as far as we know, none of the scholars said that there is a call with other words. The one who claims that has to establish proof. The basic principle is that there is no call to prayer in these cases. So it is not permissible for anyone to prescribe an act of worship, whether it involves words or actions, except with evidence from the Holy Quran or the saheeh Sunnah or scholarly consensus -- as stated above -- because of the general meaning of the shar’i evidence which forbade innovation and warned against it, such as the verse in which Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Or have they partners with Allah (false gods) who have instituted for them a religion which Allah has not ordained?”
[al-Shoora 42:21]
This evidence also includes the two hadeeths mentioned above, such as that in which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever introduces anything into this matter of ours that is not part of it will have it rejected.” Saheeh – agreed upon.
And he (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said in the Jumu’ah khutbah (Friday sermon): “To proceed. The best of speech is the Book of Allah and the best of guidance is the guidance of Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). The worst of matters are those which are newly invented and every innovation is a going astray.” Narrated by Muslim in hisSaheeh. And there are many similar hadeeths and reports.
And it is Allah Whom we ask to guide us and al-Shaykh Ahmad and all our brothers to the proper understanding of His religion and help us to remain steadfast in adhering to it, and to make us all callers to guidance and supporters of the truth, and to protect us and all the Muslims from everything that is contrary to His laws, for He is Most Generous. May Allah send peace and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and Companions. End quote.
Majmoo’ Fatawa Ibn Baz, 13/20-23
It says inFatawa al-Lajnah al-Daimah, 8/310:
Each person should say takbeer out loud, but there is no proof from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) for reciting takbeer in unison. He said: “Whoever does an action that is not part of this matter of ours will have it rejected.”
It also says (8/311):
Reciting takbeer in unison is not prescribed; rather, it is an innovation, because it is proven that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever introduces something into this matter of ours that is not part of it will have it rejected.” The righteous early generation (the salaf) did not do that, neither the Sahabah nor the Tabi’een, nor those who followed them, and they are the example to be followed, and what is required is to follow and not innovate in matters of religion. End quote.
It also says (24/269):
Takbeer in unison is an innovation, because there is no evidence for it, and the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever does an action that is not part of this matter of ours will have it rejected.” What ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) did is not evidence for reciting takbeer in unison; rather what ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) did was to say takbeer by himself, and when the people heard him they said takbeer, each one by himself. This does not indicate that they all said takbeer in unison. End quote.
It also says (2/236), volume 2:
Reciting takbeer all together in unison after the prayer or at times other than prayer is not prescribed; rather it is an innovation that has been introduced into the religion. What is prescribed is to remember Allah a great deal, without reciting in unison, by reciting tahleel, tasbeeh and takbeer, reading the Quran, and asking for a great deal of forgiveness, in obedience with the words of Allah (interpretation of the meaning):
“O you who believe! Remember Allah with much remembrance.
And glorify His Praises morning and afternoon.”
[al-Ahzab 33:41-42]
“Therefore, remember Me (by praying, glorifying). I will remember you.”
[al-Baqarah 2:152];
and in obedience to what was encouraged by the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) when he said:
“To saySubhan Allah wa’l-hamdu Lillah wa la ilaha ill-Allah wa Allahu akbar(Glory be to Allah, praise be to Allah, there is no God but Allah and Allah is most great) is dearer to me than everything on which the sun rises.” Narrated by Muslim. And he said: “Whoever saysSubhan Allah wa bi hamdihi(Glory and praise be to Allah) one hundred times a day will have his sins forgiven, even if they are like the foam of the sea.” Narrated by Muslim and al-Tirmidhi.
And it is following the early generation of this ummah, as it is not narrated from them that they recited takbeer in unison; rather that was done by those who follow innovations and whims and desires. Moreover, dhikr is an act of worship, and the basic principle with regard to acts of worship is that they should be restricted to that which is enjoined by the Lawgiver, and the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) warned against innovations in religion and said: “Whoever introduces anything into this matter of ours that is not part of it will have it rejected.”
And Allah knows best.

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Dought & clear, - The bid’ah of superstition about getting married in Shawwaal

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Is what people say about avoiding getting married in Shawwaal correct?
Praise be to Allaah.
Ibn Mandhour said: “Shawwaal is one of the well known names of months, the name of the month which follows Ramadaan and is the first of the months of Hajj.”
It was said that it was called after the drying up of the camels’ milk (tashweel), when it becomes scanty. This is what happens to the camels when the heat becomes intense and there are no longer any dates on the palm trees… The Arabs were superstitious about getting married at that time, and they would say that the bride would keep away from her groom like the female camel when she has been impregnated and lifted (shaalat) her tail. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) declared their superstition to be false. ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) married me in Shawwaal and consummated the marriage with me in Shawwaal, and which of his wives was more favoured by him than me?”
(Narrated by Ahmad inal-Musnad, 6/54; this version narrated by him. Also narrated by Muslim in hisSaheeh, 2/1039,Kitaab al-Nikaah, hadeeth no. 1423. Also narrated al-Tirmidhi in hisSunan, 2/277,Abwaab al-Nikaah, hadeeth no. 1099; he said it is asaheeh hasanhadeeth. Also narrated by al-Nasaa’i in hisSunan, 6/70,Kitaab al-Nikaah,Baab al-Tazweej fi Shawwaal. Also narrated by Ibn Maajah in hisSunan, 1/641,Kitaab al-Nikaah, hadeeth no. 1990. (Lisaan al-‘Arab, 11/277, headingShawwaal).
The reason why the Arabs of the Jaahiliyyah were so superstitious about marrying during Shawwaal was that they believed that a woman would keep away from her husband like the she-camel that has lifted (shawwalat) its tail after being impregnated keeps away from the he-camel.
Ibn Katheer (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “The fact that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) consummated his marriage with ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) during Shawwaal was a refutation of the notions that some people held, that it was disliked to consummate a marriage between the two Eids, lest that lead to separation of the spouses. But that was a false notion.” (al-Bidaayah wa’l-Nihaayah, 3/253)
Being superstitious about getting married in Shawwaal is the matter of falsehood, because superstition in general is part of the “evil omen” (tiyarah) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) forbade when he said, “There is no contagion and no evil omen.” (Sharh Saheeh Muslim li’l-Nawawi, 14/219, 218). And he (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
Said, “Tiyarah(believing in evil omens) isshirk.”
(Narrated by Imaam Ahmad in hisMusnad, 1/440. Also narrated by Abu Dawood in hisSunan, 4/230,Kitaab al-Tibb, hadeeth no. 3910). Also narrated by al-Tirmidhi in hisSunan, 3/84, 85,Abwaab al-Siyar, hadeeth no. 1663; he said, it is asaheeh hasanhadeeth. Also narrated by Ibn Maajah in hisSunan, 2/1170,Kitaab al-Tibb, hadeeth no. 3538. Also narrated by al-Haakim inal-Mustadrak, 1/17, 18,Kitaab al-Eemaan; he said it is a hadeeth whoseisnaadissaheehand its narrators arethiqah, although they [al-Bukhaari and Muslim] did not narrate it; al-Dhahabi agreed with him in hisTalkhees).
Al-Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in his commentary on the hadeeth of ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her): “This indicates that it is mustahabb to get married and to consummate the marriage in Shawwaal. Our companions [fellow-scholars] have stated that this is mustahabb, quoting this hadeeth as evidence for that.”
By saying this, ‘Aa’ishah was aiming to refute the ignorant belief of the Jaahiliyyah, and what some of the common folk still believe today, that it is makrooh to get married or to consummate the marriage in Shawwaal. This is false and there is no basis for this belief. It is one of the leftovers of the Jaahiliyyah, when they used to be superstitious about that because of the connations of the name of Shawwaal which related to the drying up of the camel’s milk and the lifting of its tail…”
(Sharh Saheeh Muslim li’l-Nawawi, 9/209)

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