The Glory of Faith

Haaroon Ar-Rasheedonce stood looking at the sky when he saw a cloud
passing by. He addressed it saying, "Rain wherever you wish, for your
fruit will certainly come to me anyway." This means that the cloud
would have rained either on an Islamic land or on a non-Islamic one.
In the first case, Muslims would have benefitted from this rainwater
in agriculture and in drinking; in the second case, Muslims would have
also benefitted from this rainwater in the form of Jizyah )a tax( that
would be paid to them by non-Muslims. This example shows the state of
glory, which the Muslims reached in the past when they applied their
religion and worked for it. Nowadays, Muslims are certainly required
to pursue the means of glory.
Glory here refers to power, victory, high standing and invincibility.
It is a word which denotes that a person cannot be overcome or
humiliated. Ibn Al-Jawzisaid,
Some of the scholars of Tafseer )Quranic exegesis( said, "In the
Quran, glory is used in three different senses.
It is used to signify might, as in the verse )which means(:
•}"By the might of Pharaoh, indeed it is we who are predominant."{]Quran 26:44[
•}By Your might, I will surely mislead them all{]Quran 38:82[
It is also used to signify honor, as in the verse )which means(:}Do
they seek with them honor ]through power[? But indeed, honor belongs
to Allaah entirely.{]Quran 4:139[
Finally, it is used to signify dispraised pride as in the verse )which means(:
•}And when it is said to him, "Fear Allah ," pride in the sin takes
hold of him.{]Quran 2:206[
•}But those who disbelieve are in pride and dissension.{]Quran 38:2[
From the above, it is noticed that there is praised glory and
dispraised glory. Praised glory is that which pertains to Allaah The
Almighty, to His Messengerand to the believers. This is real and
permanent glory since it is from and with the support of Allaah The
Almighty who cannot be defeated or resisted. Allaah The Almighty Says
)what means(:}And to Allaah belongs ]all[ Honor and to His Messenger,
and to the believers, but the hypocrites do not know.{]Quran 63:8[.
On the other hand, the glory of the disbelievers is, in fact,
humiliation and disgrace. Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}And
they have taken besides Allaah ]false[ deities that they would be for
them ]a source of[ honor. No! Those "gods" will deny their worship of
them and will be against them opponents ]on the Day of
Judgment[.{]Quran 19:81-82[.
Many people pursued the wrong way to glory, victory and enablement.
Some of them pursued it through money and forgot that money is only a
Fitnah )trial( and a loss if one does not give the right that Allaah
The Almighty has to it. Moreover, this money might be a means of
humiliation. Al-Hasansaid, "By Allaah, Allaah The Almighty humiliates
whoever glorifies money." Indeed, we have seen a many examples of that
in life.
Other people seek glory through their positions and prestige. This may
enable them to achieve temporary glory. However, if this is not
established on justice and good reputation, then it certainly will not
last. Indeed, many a leader and president were enjoying glory and then
became captives in prisons, and their glory turned into humiliation.
What is even more dangerous is when a person seeks glory through the
disbelievers, i.e. by allying himself with them, even if this is
against the Muslims' interests. This is no more than an illusion. In
fact, it is an instant humiliation, and the first people to turn
against such people would be his 'allies' from the disbelievers.
Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}Give tidings to the hypocrites
that there is for them a painful punishment - Those who take
disbelievers as allies instead of the believers. Do they seek with
them honor ]through power[? But indeed, honor belongs to Allaah
entirely.{]Quran 4:138-139[ Consequently, throwing one's self in the
arms of the disbelievers is the shortest way to dishonor and
humiliation because these disbelievers would not accept from us
anything less than disbelief. Allaah The Almighty Says )what
means(:}And never will the Jews or the Christians approve of you until
you follow their religion.{]Quran 2:120[.
Other people still seek glory through their ancestors and tribes, even
if they were misguided. In a Hadeeth on the authority of Abu
Rayhaanahthe Prophetsaid:"If a person attributes himself to nine of
his disbelieving forefathers, seeking through them glory and pride, he
will be their tenth in Hell."
Hence, the unquestionable truth is that a person who seeks glory must
demand it from Allaah The Almighty through obeying Him and avoiding
disobedience. 'Umar ibn Al-Khattaabsummarized this wonderful meaning
in a few words; He said, "We were the most humiliated people, but
Allaah The Almighty has honored us with Islam. If we demand honor
through any means other than Islam, Allaah The Almighty will humiliate
us."
Ibraaheem ibn Shaybaansaid, "Honor lies in modesty, glory lies in
piety, and freedom lies in contentment." When a Muslim lives in
obedience to Allaah The Almighty, he lives in honor and dignity. He
may be afflicted, but nevertheless he has a strong sense of honor.
This appeared clearly in the life of the righteous predecessorseven in
the darkest moments and in the severest and hardest situations.
Situations Which Indicate the Glory of the Righteous Predecessors
When Bilaalwas tortured in Makkah in its hot desert and a great heavy
boulder was put on his chest, not to make him abandon his faith but
only to stop blaspheming his peoples false gods or to keep silent, the
honor of faith showed in his words when he repeated, "Allaah The One,
Allaah The One." This remained as an eternal anthem which the
generations have chanted throughout history. In addition, the words of
Bilaalpoured despair into the souls of those who tortured him. So, who
was honorable in this scene? Was it this weak, tortured slave or the
arrogant disbelievers?
The story of 'Abdullaah ibn Huthaafah As-Sahmiwhen he was taken
captive by the Romans is another example. The king of the Romans tried
to entice 'Abdullaah to abandon his religion, but he refused. The king
offered him half of his money but he refused. Then, he imprisoned him,
tortured him and did not give him any food or water except some pig
meat and wine. After three days, they brought him out and found that
he had eaten nothing of it. When he was asked why had he not eaten any
of it, he replied, "By Allaah, Allaah The Exalted made it lawful for
me because I was under duress, but I would never let you gloat over
Islam." Then, the king asked him to kiss his head in return for
releasing him but Ibn Huthaafahsaid that he would only do so if all
the Muslim captives were released. The king accepted and Ibn
Huthaafahkissed his head.
He then returned to the Commander of the Believers 'Umar ibn
Al-Khattaabwith all the Muslim captives. 'Umarstood up and kissed the
head of 'Abdullaah ibn Huthaafah, and said, "It is a duty upon every
Muslim to kiss the head of Ibn Huthaafah."
Also, Shaykhul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyahwas prosecuted and imprisoned. When
he was thrown in prison, he recited the words of Allaah The Almighty
)which mean(:}And a wall will be placed between them with a door, its
interior containing mercy, but on the outside of it is torment.{]Quran
57:13[. This is the glory of faith and the pride of Islam which make a
person the most honorable one through the obedience of Allaah The
Almighty. Even if all people on earth stood against such a person, he
would still derive his honor and glory from Allaah The Almighty who
can never be defeated. Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:}Whoever
desires honor ]through power[ - then to Allaah belongs all
honor.{]Quran 35:10[.
The state of humiliation which prevails in many aspects of our lives
nowadays is the result of religious innovations, sins and remoteness
from the Sharee'ah of Allaah The Almighty. This is supported by the
Hadeeth of the Prophetwhere he said:"Humiliation and disgrace are the
fate of whoever disobeys my order."A major reason behind this
humiliation is the state of disagreement and disunity that the Muslims
experience. Our enemies take advantage of us one by one; they strike
one of us today and another tomorrow while Muslims take no action, as
if what happens to our brothers does not concern us. History testifies
that we were never like this in the past. When a Muslim woman, who was
taken as a captive by the Romans in 'Amooriyyah, screamed for help
uttering her famous scream, "Wa Islaamaah" )Oh My Islam!(, Al-
Mu'tasimanswered her call with full concern, "Labbayki ]at your
disposal[" and prepared an army which heavily defeated 'Amooriyyah and
rescued the Muslim woman from the hands of the disbelievers. We should
ask ourselves here: what tie was there between Al-Mu'tasim and that
woman except the tie of faith?

Diligence is the Way to Success

There are norms and laws in the universe that man is not permitted to
contradict. Instead, he should abide by them so as to enjoy a good
life and eternal happiness in the Hereafter. One such norm is that if
one works hard, he will find results; if one exhausts oneself a little
bit, he can enjoy a long rest. Indeed reaping noble benefits depends
on experiencing difficulties. Pleasure and perfect qualities cannot be
gained except with some difficulty. If it were not for difficulties,
all people would be leaders.
A Person who Prefers Comfort has Scarce Potential for Success
Work in the worldly life relies upon diligence. Therefore, man is
required to work hard and actively, leaving behind laziness. The Quran
and Sunnah direct us towards this understanding. Allaah The Almighty
Says )what means(:
}And say, "Work, for Allaah will see your deeds, and ]so, will[ His
Messenger and the believers."{]Quran 9:105[
}It is He who made the earth tame for you - so walk among its slopes
and eat of His provision - and to Him is the resurrection.{]Quran
67:15[
The Propheteducated the Ummah )Muslim Nation( in different ways on how
to be diligent. For instance, he urged Muslims to earn a living and
provide from their own work, saying:"Nobody has ever eaten a meal
better than that which he has earned from working with his own hands.
The prophet of Allaah, Daawood ]David[, would eat from the work of his
own hands."]Al-Bukhaari[
The Prophetalso advised us to work hard without giving in to feelings
of frustration, saying:"Cherish that which gives you benefit ]in the
Hereafter[, seek help from Allaah and do not lose heart."]Muslim[
Healso said:"If the Hour comes while one of you has a shoot that he is
able to plant, he should plant it."]Ahmad, Al-Bukhaari in Al-Adab
Al-Mufrad[
Moreover, the Prophetassured people of the assistance of Allaah The
Almighty, that He further increases the high motivation and ambition
of people according to the sublimity of their ambition, saying:"Help
from Allaah comes to the servant according to his
diligence."]Al-Bazzaar[
Of course hard work is exhausting, but it has great pleasure,
especially when the diligent person reaps the outcome of his work.
Ibn Ul-Qayyimsaid:
The sages of every nation agree that welfare cannot be obtained
through welfare, that anyone who prefers comfort will miss it, and
that joy and pleasure depend on the level of risks and difficulties
that are experienced when getting them. There is no joy for a person
who has no resolve; no pleasure for a person who lacks patience; no
bliss for a person who endures no hardships; and no comfort for a
person who has no hard work. If a person is exhausted for a short
time, he will relax for longer. If he endures difficulties for a short
while, this will lead him to eternal welfare. People who will receive
eternal delight ]the people of Paradise[ earned this status due to
their patience in this very short worldly life. Truly, Allaah alone
gives help, and there is no power except in Him.
The loftier one's self is and the higher his aspirations are, the more
a person's body is exhausted and the less his comfort is. Yahya ibn
Katheersaid. "Knowledge cannot be acquired when the body is in
comfort." ]Muslim[
"All those who are sensible undoubtedly believe that perfect comfort
depends on the level of exhaustion, and perfect bliss relies on the
level of difficulties that are endured when achieving it. Comfort,
pleasure and bliss are free of exhaustion only in Paradise, not in
this worldly life. ]Quoted from 'Uluww Al-Himmah by Shaykh Muhammad
ibn Ismaa'eel[
A person who takes diligence to be a slogan in life does not depend on
his ancestors or family background, nor does he rely on boasting of
his fathers and forefathers. Instead he builds his own glory, adding
it to that of his forefathers'.
Quotations from Sages and Scholars
Some sages have said, "Utilize your diligence as long as you are in
good health, and take the opportunity to work while you are at
leisure, for time will not be always on your side, nor will you be
able to restore what you have lost."
A scholar once said, "Work is like an armor that protects a person
against afflictions, and diligence is like a sword that wards off
misfortune."
Another said, "Nothing is better than having a reason that is adorned
with forbearance, a deed that is adorned with knowledge, and
forbearance that is adorned with truthfulness!"
Some scholars have said, "Could it be true and logical that crops are
harvested without prior sowing of seeds, fruits are reaped without the
planting of trees, fire comes from two stones without striking them
together, or that money yields without effort?"
It was also said, "There is a cause for every provision and whoever
diligently seeks something, finds it."
Indeed, what a great saying was that of the Commander of Believers,
'Umar ibn Al-Khattaab"Do not stop pursuing livelihood and
supplicating, 'O Allaah, provide for me!' You know that the sky does
not rain gold or silver. Allaah The Almighty provides for people by
virtue of their interaction."
Therefore, work hard and do not be indolent. Your Muslim nation is
waiting for a push from you like that of 'Umara push that illuminates
the torch of enthusiasm in its heart, amidst the darkness of this
gloomy state of obliviousness. It is also waiting for a cry from you
like that of Salaah Ad-Deen Al-Ayyoobi )Saladin(a cry that plants hope
in the desert of despair. Help from Allaah comes in accordance with
diligence, therefore seek help from Allaah and do not lose heart!

Excessive Ambitions in this Worldly Life - I

Having excessive ambitions in this worldly life is one of the greatest
diseases of the heart. What is the meaning of this disease? What are
its harmful consequences? What is its treatment?
Meaning of Excessive Ambitions in this Worldly Life
Having excessive ambitions in this worldly life is to continuously
strive for its pleasures and persistently indulge in its luxuries
whilst turning away from the Hereafter. Allaah The Almighty Says )what
means(:}...And be diverted by ]false[ hope...{]Quran 15:3[ Commenting
on this verse, Al-Qurtubisaid, "Their excessive ambitions in this
worldly life turned them away from obeying Allaah." Ibn Hajarsaid,
"There is an important rationale behind ambitions in this worldly
life. Having ambitions in this worldly life is not totally dispraised
as without it no one would be able to enjoy his life or look forward
to doing anything that is related to this world. What is dispraised is
having extensive ambitions in this worldly life and not preparing for
the Hereafter. As long as a person is safe from this, he is not
required to totally abstain from having ambitions in this world.
Ignorance and love for this world are the causes behind this disease."
Having Excessive Ambitions in this Worldly Life is Dispraised in the Quran
There are many verses in the Quran that dispraise having excessive
ambitions in this worldly life. The Noble Quran uses multiple modes of
address to warn people against this incurable and destructive disease.
For example Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(:
•}Perhaps those who disbelieve will wish that they had been Muslims.
Let them eat and enjoy themselves and be diverted by ]false[ hope, for
they are going to know.{]Quran 15:2-3[
• When talking about the Jews, Allaah The Almighty Says )what
means(:}And you will surely find them the most greedy of people for
life - ]even[ more than those who associate others with Allaah. One of
them wishes that he could be granted life a thousand years, but it
would not remove him in the least from the ]coming[ punishment that he
should be granted life. And Allaah Is Seeing of what they do.{]Quran
2:96[
•}]Allaah[ will Say: "How long did you remain on earth in number of
years?" They will say: "We remained a day or part of a day; ask those
who enumerate." He will Say: "You stayed not but a little - if only
you had known. Then did you think that We created you uselessly and
that to Us you would not be returned?"{]Quran 23:112-115[
•}Has the time not come for those who have believed that their hearts
should become humbly submissive at the remembrance of Allaah and what
has come down of the truth? And let them not be like those who were
given the Scripture before, and a long period passed over them, so
their hearts hardened; and many of them are defiantly
disobedient.{]Quran 57:16[
Having Excessive Ambitions in this Worldly Life is Dispraised in the Sunnah
The Prophetwarned his Ummah )nation( against having extensive
ambitions in this worldly life, as it is likely to drive the person
away from obeying Allaah. It was narrated on the authority of Abu
Hurayrahthat he said, "I heard the Prophetsaying:'The heart of an old
man remains young in two respects: his love for this worldly life and
his excessive ambitions in it.'" ]Al-Bukhaari[
It was narrated on the authority of Anasthat he said, "The Prophetonce
drew a few lines and said:'This is ]man's[ ambitions, and this is the
instant of his death, and while he is in this state ]of ambitions[,
the nearer line ]death[ comes to Him.'" ]Al-Bukhaari[
It was narrated on the authority of Ibn Mas'oodthat he said, "The
Prophetonce drew a square and then drew a line in the middle of it and
let it extend outside the square and then drew several small lines
attached to that central line, and said:"This is the human being, and
this ]square[ is his lease of life which encircles or has encircled
him, and this ]line[ which is outside ]the square[, represents his
ambitions, and these small lines are the calamities and troubles
]which may befall him[, and if one misses him, another will overtake
him, and if the other misses him, a third will overtake him.'"
]Al-Bukhaari[ It was narrated on the authority of 'Abdullaah ibn
'Umarthat he said,: "The Messenger of Allaahtook hold of my shoulder
and said:'Be in this world as if you are a stranger or a traveler.'"
The sub-narrator added, "Ibn 'Umarwould say, 'If you survive till the
evening, do not expect to be alive in the morning, and if you survive
till the morning, do not expect to be alive in the evening; and take
from your health for your sickness, and ]take[ from your life for your
death.'" ]Al-Bukhaari[
It was narrated on the authority of Ibn 'Abbaasand his father, that he
said, "The Messenger of Allaahsaid to a man while advising
him:'Utilize five things before the coming of another five: your youth
before your decrepitude, your health before your sickness, your wealth
before your poverty, your leisure before your work, and your life
before your death.'" ]Al-Haakim narrated this Hadeeth according to the
conditions of Al-Bukhaari and Muslim, however they did not narrate it.
Ath-Thahabi agreed with him.[
It was narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayrahthat the
Prophetsaid:"Take the initiative to do good deeds before you are
hindered by one of seven calamities: poverty that makes you forget the
remembrance of Allaah, prosperity that leads you to transgression, an
ailment that damages your health, old age that makes you lose your
senses, a sudden death, the Antichrist which is an evil yet to come,
or the Hour, which is indeed even more disastrous and even more
bitter."]At-Tirmithi - Hasan[
When the Prophetwas asked about the scriptures of Moosa )Moses(he
replied:"It was all full of lessons. I wonder at a person who is
certain of death and can still be happy. I wonder at a person who is
certain of Hell and can still laugh. I wonder at a person who believes
in fate and still grieves over hardships that befall him. I wonder at
a person who sees this world and how its wellbeing never lasts for
people and can still feel safe in it. I wonder at a person who
believes that the Day of Reckoning is soon to come and still does not
perform righteous deeds."]Al-Bayhaqi and Al-Bazzaar[

Excessive Ambitions in this Worldly Life - II

The Righteous Predecessors Warned Against Excessive Ambition in this World
The righteous predecessorsunderstood the reality of this world and
their hearts became attached to the Hereafter. Therefore, they advised
their successors not to incline towards this worldly life and not to
turn away from the Hereafter. 'Alisaid, "The things I fear most might
harm you are following whims and having excessive ambitions in this
worldly life, for following whims diverts you from the truth and
having excessive ambitions causes you to forget the Hereafter."
Ibn Mas'oodsaid, "Do not let extended welfare lure you into laxity,
and do not be diverted by false hope; for whatever will come is near,
and whatever is far will never come."
Salmaan Al-Faarisisaid, "Three things make me laugh out of irony: A
person having excessive ambitions in this life while death awaits him,
a person who is heedless while Allaah is encompassing of everything he
does, and a person who laughs heartedly while not knowing whether
Allaah Is angry or pleased with him."
Once a man entered the house of Abu Tharr Al-Ghifaariand started
looking around his house, then he said, "O Abu Tharr, where is your
furniture?" Abu Tharrreplied, "We have another house that we are
moving to ]he meant by that his house in heaven[." The man said, "As
long as you are here, it is necessary to have furniture." Abu
Tharrreplied, "The owner of the house ]i.e., Allaah[ is not leaving us
here, therefore we are in no need of buying furniture."
It was narrated that 'Eesa )Jesus(said, "How sane is the person who
builds a home on the waves of the sea? This is the example of this
world, so do not take it as your abode."
'Umar ibn Abdul-'Azeezsaid in a Khutbah )Sermon(, "Do not let extended
welfare harden your hearts and make you yield to your enemy. By
Allaah, for a person to have excessive ambitions in this worldly life
is a mistake, for he does not know whether he will live until the
morning or not, or whether he will live until the evening or not; and
death may take him at any moment between these."
Abu Muhammad ibn 'Ali Az-Zaahidsaid,
We followed a funeral procession in Al-Koofah and Abu Daawood
At-Taa'iwas among the people. During the burial, Abu Daawoodwithdrew
and sat to a side. I then went and sat near him. He said, "Those who
fear the punishment of Allaah will gain what they desire, even if it
is difficult to obtain. Those who strive for this worldly life are
negligent of the Hereafter; all what is destined is soon to happen.
Know that all the people of this world will eventually be of the
inhabitants of the graves. Also, know that the inhabitants of graves
regret the time, money and effort that they wasted in persuing the
pleasures of this life and are only pleased with the good deeds that
they did during their lifetimes. Sadly, what the inhabitants of graves
regret, the people of this world are competing, fighting over and
disputing in courts over.
Al-Ghazzaalisaid, "Death has snapped the necks of tyrants, broken the
backs of emperors and cut short the false hopes of Caesars, whose
hearts rejected the remembrance of death until it suddenly struck them
and cast them into the earth. Have any of them found haven or refuge
from death?"
Others said, "Many people start their day and die before it ends and
many wait for the next day but never reach it. If only you realize the
truth of life and how quickly it passes by, you would detest excessive
ambitions in this life and its delusion."
Yet others said, "How can a person be happy with this life when every
day deducts a month of his age, and every month eliminates a year of
his age, and every year destroys his life, and his life leads him to
his death."
Muhammad ibn Waasi'was asked, "How do you find yourself?" He replied,
"I have a short life, excessive ambitions in this world and many wrong
deeds."
A man wrote a letter to his brother, saying, "Sorrow over what is
missed from the pleasures of this life is endless and death is close
to a person. Every day decreases his lifespan; and illness gradually
increases in his body day after day. So, start performing good deeds
before death comes to you. Peace be upon you."
Consequences of Excessive Ambitions in this Worldly Life
Having excessive ambitions in this worldly life leads to committing
misdeeds and keeps a person away from obeying Allaah. It is also one
of the causes of violating prohibitions, transgression and plundering
others' rights. Therefore, a person must always recall death and show
due reverence towards Allaah.
The Remedy for this Disease
Ignorance and love of this world are the cause of having excessive
ambitions in this worldly life. Treatment of this disease lies in
being aware of its dangers and harmful consequences, realizing the
importance of performing obligations on their prescribed time and
understanding that procrastination leads a person to failure and loss.
The slave of Allaah has to know that he is required to be where Allaah
The Exalted has commanded him to be, and to avoid acts that Allaah The
Exalted has commanded him to abstain from. One also should make his
motto the same as that raised by Haatim Al-Asammwho said, "I knew that
none would perform my duties for me and therefore I am occupied in
fulfilling them. I saw that people look at my appearance while Allaah
looks at what is concealed inside me, so I realized that it is
worthier and better to be conscious that Allaah is watching me. I also
knew that death comes suddenly and, therefore, I decided to perform
good deeds before it comes."
There is a great difference between having hopeful expectations and
having extensive ambitions in this worldly life. A person who has
hopeful expectations for something will do his utmost in order to
attain it and a person who fears something will flee from it. On the
other hand, having excessive ambitions in this life leads a person to
neglecting the matters of the Hereafter and preparing for it. One who
seeks remedy for this disease has to understand the truth of this
worldly life and how insignificant and valueless it is, and that it
takes the side of those who are mean and cowardly and is their endless
pleasure. Principally, one does not find in this world but what he
dislikes and when he finds something that pleases him, it is but an
exception.
Once, Ibn As-Sammaakwent to Haaroon Ar-Rasheedwhile Haaroon was having
a drink of water. Then Haaroon Ar-Rasheed asked for his admonishment.
Thereupon, Ibn As-Sammaak said, "O Commander of the believers, if you
were prevented this drink of water, would you pay for it with half of
your kingdom?" He replied, "Yes." Then he asked, "O Commander of the
believers, if you drunk this water and then could not urinate it,
would you pay for this ]i.e., to be able to do so[ with half of your
kingdom?" He replied, "Yes." Then Haaroon said, "A kingdom does not
]even[ equal a drink of water or its urination."
Al-Fudhayl ibn 'Iyaadhsaid, "All goodness was collected in a house,
and the key to this house is asceticism in this worldly life, and all
evil was collected in a house, and the key to this house is the love
for this worldly life."
It was said, "This world is like one's shadow; if you try to catch it,
it will escape from you, and if you leave it, it will follow you."
Therefore, you have to ask yourself: "Where are the former and later
peoples? Where are those who filled the world from east to west with
pride and glory? Where are those who furnished their palaces with
silks and gems? Where are those who caused the earth to tremble out of
veneration and exaltation for them? Do you perceive of them anyone, or
hear from them a sound?" Allaah caused them to perish, as He did with
other nations, and exterminated them like disintegrated ruins. Allaah
also removed them from the spaciousness of their palaces to the
narrowness of graves, under stones and rocks and they became so that
nothing was seen of them except their dwellings. What they accumulated
throughout their lives did not benefit them, and what they earned did
not avail them. Both the living and their beloved left them; both
their brothers and friends abandoned them; both their relatives and
non relatives forgot them. It is as if death is not decreed upon us
and that it will only befall others. When we follow a funeral
procession, it is as if the deceased is just going on a journey and
will soon return, then we consume their inheritance as if we will be
immortal in this world.
O people! Fill your life in this world with obeying Allaah and
following the methodology of your Prophetand let your motto be:}And I
hastened to You, my Lord, that You be pleased.{

Dought & clear, - [ Prayers] - Praying in a place under which there is a sewage pipe.

A man has an apartment in which there is a bookstore containing copies
of the Holy Qur'aan. But there is a sewage pipe which passes beneath
this apartment. Is it permissible to pray and recite Qur'aan there or
not? Please advise us, may Allaah reward you with good.
Praise be to Allaah.
There is nothing wrong with this so long as (the apartment) is
separate (from the pipe). Al-Imaam al-Muwaffaq, the author
ofal-Mughniand ofal-Sharh al-Kabeer, said: It is permissible to use
the area above the roof of the pipe and similar places, because the
pipe is beneath and there is a roof over it. It is not allowed to pray
in toilets and similar places, but according to the correct view, it
is permissible to pray and read Qur'aan on the roof over them, as we
have stated above. Some scholars said that it is not permissible to do
that, but the correct view, in sha Allaah, is that it is OK. And
Allaah knows best.
Fataawa Shaykh 'Abd-Allaah ibn Humayd, p. 62

Dought & clear, - [ Prayers] - Rulings and issues about praying on a chair.

During Taraweeh prayer, some worshippers need to sit on a chair. We
know that the rear legs of the chair should be placed in line with the
row if the person is going sit throughout the prayer, but my question
is: how should it be lined up in the following cases:
1- When the person sit on the chair during the standing only
2- When he sits on the chair during bowing, prostration or the tashahhud
3- When he sits on the chair during various parts of the prayer?.
Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:
Standing, bowing and prostrating are pillars or essential parts of the
prayer. Whoever can do them, it is obligatory for him to do them in
the manner prescribed in sharee'ah. Whoever is not able to do them
because of sickness or old age, it is Sunnah for him to sit on the
ground or on a chair.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"Guard strictly (five obligatory) As-Salawaat (the prayers) especially
the middle Salaah (i.e. the best prayer - 'Asr). And stand before
Allaah with obedience [and do not speak to others during the Salaah
(prayers)]"
[al-Baqarah 2:238]
It was narrated that 'Imraan ibn Husayn (may Allaah be pleased with
him) said: I had haemorrhoids so I asked the Prophet(peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) about praying. He said: "Pray
standing up; if you cannot, then pray sitting down; and if you cannot,
then pray (lying) on your side." Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1066.
Ibn Qudaamah al-Maqdisi said:
The scholars are unanimously agreed that if a person cannot stand then
he may pray sitting down.Al-Mughni, 1/443
Al-Nawawi said:
The ummah is unanimously agreed that whoever is unable to stand during
the obligatory prayer may pray sitting, and he does not have to repeat
it. Our companions said: his reward will not be less than the reward
for praying standing, because he is excused. It is proven inSaheeh
al-Bukhaarithat the Messenger of Allaah(peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him) said: "If a person is sick or travelling, the same reward
will be written for him with regard to what he used to do when he was
not travelling and was healthy."
Al-Majmoo', 4/226
Al-Shawkaani said:
The hadeeth of 'Imraan indicates that it is permissible for one who
has an excuse and cannot stand to pray sitting, and for one who has an
excuse and cannot pray sitting to pray lying on his side.
Nayl al-Awtaar, 3/243
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah said:
The Muslims are agreed that if a worshipper is unable to do some of
the obligatory duties of prayer, such as standing, reciting, bowing,
prostrating, covering the 'awrah, facing the qiblah etc, then what he
is unable to do is waived for him. End quote fromMajmoo' al-Fataawa,
8/437
Based on that, if a person offers an obligatory prayer sitting when he
is able to stand, his prayer is invalid.
Secondly:
It should be noted that if a person is exempted from standing, his
excuse does not make it permissible for him to sit on the chair to bow
and prostrate.
If he is exempted from bowing and prostrating in the proper manner,
that excuse does not make it permissible for him not to stand and to
sit on the chair instead.
The basic principle with regard to the obligatory duties of prayer is
that whatever the worshipper can do, he is obliged to do it, and
whatever he is unable to do, is waived for him.
Whoever is unable to stand, it is permissible for him to sit on a
chair during the standing, and he should bow and prostrate in the
proper manner. If he is able to stand but it is difficult for him to
bow and prostrate, he should pray standing, then sit on the chair when
bowing and prostrating, and he should bend lower for the prostration
than for the bowing.
See also question no. 9307and 36738.
Ibn Qudaamah al-Maqdisi said:
If a person is able to stand but he cannot bow or prostrate, the
standing is not waived for him; he should pray standing and tilt his
head for the bowing, then sit down and tilt his head for the
prostration. This is the view of al-Shaafa'i...
Because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):"And stand before
Allaah with obedience" [al-Baqarah 2:238], and the Prophet(peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Pray standing." And because
standing is one of the pillars (essential parts of prayer) for the one
who is able to do it, so he must do it, like the recitation. Being
unable to do other things does not mean that this is waived, as is
also the case if he is unable to recite. End quote fromal-Mughni,
1/44.
Shaykh 'Abd al-'Azeez ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
The one who prays sitting on the ground or on a chair must make his
prostration lower than his bowing. The Sunnah is for him to put his
hands on his knees when bowing, and when prostrating the Sunnah is to
put them on the ground if possible; if he cannot do that then he
should put them on his knees, because it was proven that the
Prophet(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "I have been
commanded to prostrate on seven bones: the forehead - and he pointed
to his nose - the two hands, the two knees, and the edges of the two
feet (i.e., the toes)."
If a person is unable to do that and prays on a chair, there is
nothing wrong with that, because Allaah says (interpretation of the
meaning):
"So keep your duty to Allaah and fear Him as much as you can"
[al-Taghaabaun 64:16]
and the Prophet(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "If I
tell you to do a thing, then do as much of it as you can." Saheeh -
agreed upon.
Fataawa Ibn Baaz, 12/245, 246.
Thirdly:
With regard to the placement of the chair in the row, the scholars
(may Allaah have mercy on them) stated that the one who prays sitting
down should have his posterior in line with the row when he is
sitting, so he should not be in front of the row or behind it at that
point, because that is the place in which the body settles.
SeeAsnaa al-Mataalib, 1/222;Tuhfat al-Muhtaaj, 2/157;Sharh Muntaha
al-Iraadaat, 1/279.
It says inal-Mawsoo'ah al-Fiqhiyyah(6/21):
In order for a person's following the imam to be valid, he should not
stand in front of the imam according to the majority of fuqaha'
(Hanafis, Shaafaa'is and Hanbalis).
How do we know whether he is in front of the imam or not, it is judged
by where the heels are. If they are standing level at the heel and the
toes of the one who is praying behind the imam turn out to be in front
because he has longer feet, that does not matter. With regard to those
who are sitting, it is judged by where the posterior is. And with
regard to those who are praying on their sides, it is judged by their
sides.
If the worshipper is going to pray on the chair from the beginning of
the prayer until the end, then he should make the place where he will
sit level with the row.
If he is going to pray standing, but he will sit on the chair when he
bows and prostrates, we asked Shaykh 'Abd al-Rahmaan al-Barraak about
that, and he said that what matters here is the standing position, so
he should be level with the row when standing.
Based on this, the chair will be behind the row, so it should be
placed in such a manner that it will not disturb worshippers in the
row behind.
And Allaah knows best.

* Dought & clear, - [ Prayers] - The green dome in Madeenah: its history and the ruling on its construction and on leaving it as it is.

* The green dome in Madeenah: its history and the ruling on its
construction and on leaving it as it is.
Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:
The history of the green dome
The dome over the grave of the Prophet(peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him) dates back to the seventh century AH. It was built during
the reign of Sultan Qalawoon, and at first it was the colour of wood,
then it became white, then blue, then green, and it has remained green
until the present.
Professor 'Ali Haafiz (may Allaah preserve him) said:
There was no dome over the sacred chamber. There was in the roof of
the mosque above the chamber a waist-high enclosure of brick to
distinguish the location of the chamber from the rest of the mosque's
roof.
Sultaan Qalawoon al-Saalihi was the first one to build a dome over the
chamber. He did that in 678 AH. It was square at the bottom and
octagonal at the top, made of wood, and built on top of the pillars
that surrounded the chamber. Planks of wood were nailed to it, over
which plates of lead were placed, and the brick enclosure was replaced
with one made of wood.
The dome was refurbished at the time of al-Naasir Hasan ibn Muhammad
Qalawoon, then the leaden plates slipped, but they were fixed and
refurbished at the time of al-Ashraf Sha'baan ibn Husayn ibn Muhammad
in 765 AH. It fell into disrepair and was renovated at the time of
Sultaan Qayit Bey in 881 AH.
The chamber and dome were burned in the fire that swept through the
Prophet's mosque in 886 AH. During the reign of Sultaan Qayit Bey the
dome was rebuilt, in 887 AH, and strong pillars to support it were
built in the floor of the mosque, and they were built of bricks to the
correct height. After the dome had been built in the manner described
above, cracks appeared in its upper part. When it proved impossible
to refurbish it, the Sultaan Qayit Bey ordered that the upper part be
demolished and rebuilt strongly using white plaster. So it was built
solidly in 892 AH.
In 1253 AH, an order was issued by the Ottoman Sultan 'Abd al-Hameed
to paint the dome green. He was the first one to colour it green, and
the colour has been renewed whenever necessary until the present.
It became known as the green dome after it was painted green. It was
previously known as the white dome or the fragrant dome or the blue
dome. End quote.
Fusool min Tareekh al-Madeenah al-Munawwarahby 'Ali Haafiz (p. 127, 128).
Secondly:
Rulings thereon
The scholars, both in the past and in modern times, criticized the
building of this dome and its being given a colour. All of that is
because of what they know of sharee'ah closing many doors for fear of
falling into shirk.
These scholars include the following:
1 – al-San'aani (may Allaah have mercy on him) said inTa-theer al-I'tiqaad:
If you say: A great dome has been built over the grave of the
Messenger(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), costing a great
deal of money, I say: This is in fact great ignorance of the
situation, because this dome was not built by him(peace and blessings
of Allaah be upon him) or by his Sahaabah or by those who followed
them, or by those who followed the Taabi'een, or by the scholars and
imams of the ummah. Rather this dome was built over his grave(peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him) on the orders of one of the later
kings of Egypt, namely the Sultan Qalawoon al-Saalihi who is known as
King Mansoor, in 678 AH, and was mentioned inTahqeeq al-Nasrah bi
Talkhees Ma'aalim Dar al-Hijrah. These are things that were done on
the orders of the state and not on the basis of shar'i evidence. End
quote.
2 – The scholars of the Standing Committee for Issuing Fatwas were asked:
There are those who take the building of the green dome over the
Prophet's grave in the Prophet's Mosque as evidence that it is
permissible to build domes over other graves, such as those of the
righteous and others. Is this argument correct or what should our
response to them be?
They replied:
It is not correct to quote the fact that people built a dome over the
grave of the Prophet(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) as
evidence that it is permissible to build domes over the graves of the
righteous dead and others, because those people's building a dome over
his grave(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was haraam and
those who did it sinned thereby, because they went against what is
proven in a report from Abu'l-Hayaaj al-Asadi who said: 'Ali ibn Abi
Taalib (may Allaah be pleased with him) said to me: Shall I not send
you on the same mission as the Messenger of Allaah(peace and blessings
of Allaah be upon him) sent me? Do not leave any image without erasing
it or any high grave without levelling it.
And it was narrated that Jaabir (may Allaah be pleased with him) said:
The Prophet(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) forbade
plastering over graves, or sitting on them or building over them. Both
reports were narrated by Muslim in hisSaheeh. So it is not correct for
anyone to quote the haraam action of some people as evidence that it
is permissible to do similar haraam actions, because it is not
permissible to go against the words of the Prophet(peace and blessings
of Allaah be upon him) by citing the words or actions of anyone else.
And because he is the one who conveyed the command from Allaah, and he
is the one who is to be obeyed, and we must beware of going against
his commands, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):"And
whatsoever the Messenger (Muhammadصلى الله عليه وسلم( gives you, take
it; and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain )from it(" ]al-Hashr 59:7[.
And there are other verses which enjoin obedience to Allaah and to His
Messenger. And because building up graves and erecting domes over them
are means that lead to associating their occupants with Allaah, and
the means that lead to shirk must be blocked. End quote.
Shaykh 'Abd al-'Azeez ibn Baaz, Shaykh 'Abd al-Razzaaq 'Afeefi, Shaykh
'Abd-Allaah ibn Qa'ood.
Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa'imah(9/83, 84)
3 – The scholars of the Standing Committee also said:
There is no proof in the fact that a dome was set up over the
Prophet's grave for those who take it as an excuse for building domes
of the graves of the awliya' ("saints") and righteous people, because
the building of a dome over his grave was not done on his instructions
and was not done by any of his companions (may Allaah be pleased with
them), or by the Taabi'een, or by any of the imams of guidance in the
early generations whom the Prophet(peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) testified were good. Rather it was done by people of bid'ah
(innovation). It was proven that the Prophet(peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) said: "Whoever introduces anything into this
matter of ours that is not part of it will have it rejected." And it
was proven that 'Ali (may Allaah be pleased with him) said to
Abu'l-Hayaaj: Shall I not send you on the same mission as the
Messenger of Allaah(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) sent
me? Do not leave any image without erasing it or any high grave
without levelling it.Narrated by Muslim. As it is not proven that
he(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) built a dome over his
grave, and it is not proven from any of the leading imams; rather what
is proven shows that to be an invalid action, and no Muslim should
feel any attachment to the action of innovators who built a dome over
the grave of the Prophet(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).
End quote.
Shaykh 'Abd al-'Azzez ibn Baaz, Shaykh 'Abd al-Razzaaq 'Afeefi, Shaykh
'Abd-Allaah ibn Ghadyaan, Shaykh 'Abd-Allaah ibn Qa'ood
Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa'imah(2/264, 265).
4 – Shaykh Shams al-Deen al-Afghaani (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
al-'Allaamah al-Khajandi (1379 AH) said, discussing the history of the
green dome that was built over the grave of the Prophet(peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him), and explaining that it is an
innovation that was done by some sultans and ignorant persons who
erred and made a mistake, and that it is contrary to the clear saheeh
ahaadeeth and reflects ignorance of the Sunnah, and that they went to
extremes and imitated the Christians who are confused and misguided:
It should be noted that until the year 678 AH, there was no dome over
the chamber which contains the grave of the Prophet(peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him), rather it was built by the king
al-Zaahir al-Mansoor Qalawoon al-Saalihi in that year (678 AH), when
this dome was built.
I say: He did that because he had seen in Egypt and Syria the adorned
churches of the Christians, so he imitated them out of ignorance of
the command and Sunnah of the Prophet(peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him), as al-Waleed imitated them by adorning the mosque, as was
mentioned in Wafa' al-Wafa'.
It should be noted that undoubtedly this action of Qalawoon was
contrary to the saheeh ahaadeeth of the Messenger of Allaah(peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him), but ignorance is a great calamity
and exaggeration in love and veneration is a real disaster, and
imitation of foreigners is a fatal disease. We seek refuge with Allaah
from ignorance and exaggeration and imitation of foreigners. End
quote.
Juhood 'Ulama' al-Hanafiyyah fi Ibtaal 'Aqaa'id al-Qubooriyyah(3/1660-1662).
Thirdly:
The reason why it has not been demolished:
The scholars have explained the shar'i rulings concerning the building
of this dome and its obvious effects on the followers of bid'ah' who
have developed an attachment to this structure and its colour, and
they praise and venerate it a great deal in their poetry and writings.
Now it is up to the authorities to implement these fatwas, and this is
nothing to do with the scholars.
The reason why it is not demolished is so as to ward off fitnah and
for fear that it may lead to chaos among the ordinary people and the
ignorant. Unfortunately the ordinary people have only reached this
level of veneration towards this dome because of the leadership of
misguided scholars and imams of innovation. They are the ones who
incite the ordinary people against the land of the Two Holy
Sanctuaries and its 'aqeedah and its manhaj. They are very upset about
many actions that are in accordance with sharee'ah in our view and
contrary to innovation in their view.
Whatever the case, the shar'i ruling is quite clear, and the fact that
this dome has not been demolished does not mean that it is permissible
to build it or any dome over any grave, no matter what grave it is.
Shaykh Saalih al-'Usaymi (may Allaah preserve him) said:
The fact that this dome has remained for eight centuries does not mean
that it has become permissible, and being silent about it does not
indicate approval of it or that it is permissible. Rather the Muslim
authorities should remove it and put it back as it was at the time of
the Prophet(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). They should
remove the dome and the adornments and engravings that are found in
the mosques, above all the Prophet's Mosque, so long as that will not
lead to an even greater fitnah. If it would lead to an even greater
fitnah, then the ruler should postpone the matter until he finds an
opportunity for that. End quote.
Bida' al-Quboor, Anwaa'uha wa ahkaamuha(p. 253).
And Allaah knows best.

Be Patient: Key to happiness and success

This is another story which happened in the States. A man came out of
his home to admire his new truck. To his puzzlement, his
three-year-old son was happily picked stone and scratched lines on the
side of the truck. In his anger, the man ran to his son, knocked him
away. And took the little boy's hands and hit it many times as
punishment, not realizing he was using a wrench. When the father
calmed down, he rushed his son to the hospital.
Although the doctor tried desperately to save the crushed bones, he
finally had to amputate the fingers from both the little boy's hands.
When the boy woke up from the surgery and saw his bandaged stubs, he
innocently said, "Daddy, I'm sorry about your truck." Then he asked,
"But when are my fingers going to grow back?" The father was so hurt.
He went back to truck and kicked it a lot of times. Sitting back he
looked at the scratches, little boy wrote "I LOVE YOU DAD." Later then
committed suicide.
Think about this story the next time someone steps on your feet or you
wish to take revenge. Think first before you lose your patience with
someone you love. Trucks can be repaired. Broken bones and hurt
feelings often can't. Too often we fail to recognize the difference
between the person and the performance. We forget that forgiveness is
greater than revenge.
People make mistakes. We are allowed to make mistakes, because we
human beings are not perfect. But the actions we take while in a rage
will haunt us forever.
It takes 72 muscles to frown - only 14 to smile! So keep smiling,
After all, we only live once.
In the word SMILE:
*.S stands for Sets you free
*.M stands for Makes you special
*.I stands for Increases your face value
*.L stands for Lifts up your spirits
*.E stands for Erases all your tensions
A Smile makes us look younger, while Prayers make us feel stronger.
Think about how special a smile is. It costs nothing, but has the
power to enrich all, who receive it.
A smile is the light in your window that tells others that there is a
caring, sharing person inside.
Even a smile or a kind word is considered charity.
Good Life starts only when you stop wanting a better One. So, Live
like a Candle, which burns itself but give lights to others.

Personal Perception: Key to happiness and success

Different people have different perception. One man's meat could be
another man's poison.
Once Luqman (as), The Wise said to his son, "Oh son! Do not tie your
heart in seeking the pleasure of people. You are not likely to
succeed. Do not pay attention to what people say. Instead tell
yourself always to seek the pleasure of Allah (SWT)."
Luqman (as), The Wise wanted this lesson to be always remembered and
never to be forgotten. He thought of a way. So, he then told his son
to ride a donkey and the son obeyed. The father followed behind on
foot. They traveled in this way for some distance.
After some distance they came across a group of people. Seeing the son
on the donkey, one of them said, "What an impolite and bad boy. The
old father is walking on foot. The young son is comfortably riding on
the donkey. This is no manner to show respect to one's father."
Father and son heard this. The son came down from the donkey. Luqman
(as), The Wise rode on the donkey.
After some distance they came across another group of people. On
seeing the father riding the donkey, the elder of the group said, "Oh
you old man! This is not the way to bring up a son. You make him walk
in the hot sun, while you sit comfortably on the donkey."
Luqman (as), The Wise paid attention to what the people said. He came
down from the donkey. Both father and son walked on foot. The donkey
walked in front. They went a little further.
People seeing them, said, "How foolish you are? You walk behind a
donkey. Why don't you ride it?"
Luqman (as), The Wise and his son once again accepted what the people
said. They both rode the donkey and went further. They came across a
river. There was a bridge to be crossed. Some people were sitting
there. They saw Luqman (as), The Wise and his son riding the donkey.
One of them said, "It is very unkind and cruel of you two to ride on
the poor donkey. The little animal can hardly take all your burden."
So taking this advice Luqman (as), The Wise and his son dismounted
from the donkey. They traveled a little distance further. Looking very
lovingly Luqman (as), The Wise said to his son, "You have heard and
seen what the people said. It must have assured you, by now, that
whatever you do or whichever way you move, one is not able to please
the people of the world." You can never have everyone praise you, nor
will everyone condemn you. Never in the past, not at present, and
never will be in the future.
Luqman (as), The Wise pointed at the flowing river and added, "A
person can build a wall across the river. It will stop the flow of the
water. But it is not possible to shut the mouth of the people from
criticism."
Very clearly, similar is the case in our world today. The tongue has
no bone. It can speak even without thought. There are as many opinions
as there are people in the world. It is very bad to find fault with
the other person, especially when he is doing something good. A person
can feel very hurt when he listens to all the tongues that talk loose.
To avoid getting hurt by loose talk, a person can train himself. He
can discipline himself to think. By thinking he can know what is wrong
and void. When a person is sure that what he is doing will please his
Master, Allah (SWT) the Almighty, then he must never worry what others
speak. Thus, do not be too bothered by others words if your conscience
is clear.
"We must do what we conceive to be the right thing and not bother our
heads or burden our souls with whether we will be successful. Because
if we don't do the right thing, we will be doing the wrong thing and
we will just be a part of the disease and not a part of the cure."

The Myth of the Evolution of Fish with Lungs

Evolutionists resort to evolutionist tales regarding fish with
lungs and maintain that these fish were the first vertebrates to
move from water to dry land. However, the idea of the passage from
water to dry land and the role assumed to have been played in this
scenario by fish with lungs stem solely from blind devotion to the
theory of evolution. Evolutionists are unable to produce any
concrete evidence to support their claims. This can clearly be seen
from Darwinist writings. One sees tales about how fish supposedly
developed lungs in order to be able to make use of the oxygen in the
air and how their fins turned into feet to enable them to walk on
land. But these people are unable to produce any fossil evidence
for their claims. The reason for this is clear: such a passage is
entirely imaginary and there is no scientific evidence to support
it.
On the contrary, the scientific evidence refutes these Darwinist
tales. The weakness of the evolutionary myths about fish with lungs
is a fact explicitly and frequently brought up even in evolutionist
literature.
Fish with lungs are able to breathe air and to survive in dry
periods thanks to an astonishing metabolic arrangement and system.
These fish, which have to rise to the surface approximately every 20
minutes, bury themselves inside a cocoon made of mud in dry seasons
when the waters retract and enter into a kind of summer sleep,
known as aestivation. This time, when their metabolisms slow down
enormously, will last for months, or sometimes even for years,
until the rains begin again.
Some evolutionists claim that these creatures are left over from this
so called period, living transitional forms. According to this
entirely imaginary evolutionist fantasy, the fish in question were
imprisoned in very small bodies of water caused by a drought in the
Devonian Period, some 300 million years ago, and learned how to
walk from one pool to another. Some evolutionists regard these fish
as the supposed ancestors of amphibians (and quadrupeds).
There are enormous difference, in terms of skeletons and organs,
between amphibians and the fish with lungs alleged to be their
ancestors. In a paper published in the Journal of Molecular
Evolution the researchers C. Marshall and H. P. Schultz wrote
that,"Morphological analysis of the "living fossils," the coelacanth
and lungfish, has only lead to confusion regarding possible evolution
of tetrapods." (Marshall C. and Schultze HP. Journal of Molecular
Evolution 35 (2): 93-101, 1992.)
A paper in the Proceedings of the Linnean Society admitted the
dilemma facing the supposed evolutionary origins of fish with lungs
– portrayed as resting on very sure foundations:
"… the lungfishes, like every other major group of fishes that I know,
have their origins firmly based innothing." (Quoted in W. R. Bird, The
Origin of Species Revisited [Nashville: Regency, 1991; originally
published by Philosophical Library, 1987],
1:62-63)
In his book "Evolution: A Theory in Crisis,"the molecular biologist
Michael Denton wrote thatevolutionists described fish with lungs as a
transitional form between fish and amphibians, but said that the
individual characteristics of fish with lungs"in no way represent a
realistic passage between the two." ("Evolution: A Theory in Crisis",
Michael Denton, Adler and Adler: Bethesda, Maryland, 3rd ed. 1986,
p. 109)
The fossil record also deals a heavy blow to evolutionist scenarios
regarding fish with lungs. These have remained unchanged for
hundreds of millions of years and fossils belonging to these
creatures are identical to specimens living today. Not a single
fossil exists to justify the claim that the lungs in this fish
developed gradually. This shows that fish with lungs are rather
evidence against evolution, not for it . It is clear in the light of
the above facts that the idea that fish with lungs represent an
evolutionary phase is simply a fantasy.
What evolutionists are doing is to try to spread a scenario about
fish with lungs as if they were the scientific truth and to ignore
the objections to that scenario that can easily be found in the
scientific literature. This is a blind endeavor to spread Darwinist
propaganda with unscientific myths.
Like all living things, fish with lungs exhibited sublime
complexities far beyond the reach of even the most advanced
technologies. And like all living things they are proof of a flawless
Creation. The idea that fish one day moved from the water to dry
land and developed lungs and feet with the help of blind chance is a
myth. The truth is that Almighty Allah has perfectly created these
animals.

Beauties of the Paradise Which are Missed In The Life of This World

Allah created a sense for beauty in the souls of humans. However,
this disclosure and the development of aesthetic understanding is
directly related to faith and occasion of his mind won by his faith.
Maturation of a person's faith and his or her longing for paradise,
increases the pleasure one gets from the beauties by the will of
Allah.
Allah has informed us about the beauty and the aesthetic
understanding of the environment in heaven which is promised to
sincere believers in the Qur'an. As the verses inform us, Almighty
Allah equipped paradise with blessings which the human soul is loves
and is mostly affected by. Allah created people in "beautiful
appearance", in an instinct to enjoy all kinds of beauty, aesthetics
and art.
A believer takes great pleasure when he sees similar environments in
paradise as places in this world and gives thanks to Allah for these
blessings.
The human spirit takes indescribable pleasure from the beauties of
the nature, numerous different types of flowers, unique view of
green leaves, and landscapes. Natural beauty and the greenery of
lands are the wonderful blessings of paradise. It is antoher beauty
that it is placed nearby the mansions and shadows, inside gardens
and springs. Here are some other characteristics of paradise from
information in the Quran:
Paradise has a pleasant climate which is informed by another
verse"... neither burning sun nor bitter cold... " (Surat al-Insan,
13) that never discomforts people. Heat that makes people sweat
or swelter doesn't belongs to there. Allah will place the
believers"into cool, refreshing shade." in the paradise. (Surat
an-Nisa', 57)
"Refreshing shade" expression in this verse signs that all media and
conditions in paradise would be willed by people and would make
people comfortable and be prepared to comfort people, provide a real
sense of satisfaction for the human soul. Everything and every
place in paradise would be "after one's own heart" for a Muslim.
One of the natural beauties that Allah mostly gave news in the
verses related to paradise is the"outpouring water"(s) (Surat
al-Waqi'a, 31) Human spirit takes great pleasure from water,
especially flowing water. A lake, stream, waterfall or a river
falling through the forest gives great pleasure to people. Images
and sounds of flowing water give peace and comfort to the human
heart. Images and sounds of water falling from high above gives
pleasure to the soul. Aim of the palaces, mansions or ponds which
are made in the gardens of the mansions, pools and fountains or the
natural rivers all comes from this aesthetic longing.
Another beauty that awakes beautiful feelings in the human soul are
sounds. Reason why the music has a very important place in every era
is the deep effect that makes in the human soul. The human soul
takes great enthusiasm, excitement and pleasure from beautiful human
voices, as well as a ripple of flowing water.
Beautiful morality gives the most pleasure to human spirit. Morals
of the Qur'an is the synthesis of all of the beautiful features
which Allah informs that He is pleased with. These lofty morals
include such things as sacrifice, being considerate, ccompassion,
loyalty, honesty, justice, loving, beautiful candor, docility,
peace, brotherhood, tolerance, and understanding.
For example, people love and respect a person who gives his or her
meal to poor people although he is himself in need. Similarly
honesty is one of the occasions that directs the spirit to positive
feelings. Because people feel love and intimacy for the people who
are honest and have beautiful morals. Allah created the human soul
to have love and affection for beautiful morals.
Single responsibility of a person for all of the beauties that Allah
gives him as appealing to the human spirit is properly giving
thanks to Allah and to live a life which Allah is pleased with. The
beautiful results which believers take on the day of judgement and
the punishment which unbelievers will face is informed in a verse
as:
What is the Garden promised to those who guard against evil like? It
has rivers flowing under it and its foodstuffs and cool shade never
fail. That is the final fate of those who guard against evil. But the
final fate of the disbelievers is the Fire." (Surat ar-Rad, 35)

Hadees, -

Allah will say, 'This is the Day when the sincerity of the sincere
will benefit them. They will have Gardens with rivers flowing under
them, remaining in them timelessly, for ever and ever. Allah is
pleased with them and they are pleased with Him. That is the Great
Victory.' (Surat al-Ma'ida, 119)
We asked: "(As for) Paradise, what is its foundation?" He [Prophet
Muhammad (saas)] said: "One brick of gold and one brick of silver. Its
mortars are of musk of strong scent, its stones are pearls and
emeralds, and its soil is of saffron. Whoever enters it will be in
bliss and not in want, live in bliss and not die, their clothes will
not get old, and their youth will not end." (Ahmad, Tirmidhi)
In Surat al-Kahf, Almighty Allah says, "They will have Gardens of
Eden with rivers flowing under them." The golden rivers of the
Garden of Eden: Allah has caused human beings to have a great love
of water. One's heart melts when one sees water. One does not know
why, it is purely instinctive. It delights one to see water
flowing, even just a little from a fountain. Because we will love it
in paradise, insha'Allah. "They will be adorned in them with
bracelets made of gold,..." What is gold? A metal you wear on your
arm. Allah has made us love it. Women love gold. They love to be
adorned in gold. Its appearance is most attractive. People delight
in seeing it. It is lovely to see it on a woman. Why? They know it
from paradise. Instinctively. Gold would be just another metal if
Allah did not make us love it. You may as well wear iron or copper.
But Allah makes us love it. It takes one's breath away to see it.
People will also love gold in paradise. Touching gold and looking at
gold."and wear green garments made of the finest silk and rich
brocade,... " people also like silk and bright fabrics. Hazrat
Hassan and (pbuh) and Hazrat Hussein (pbuh) always wore silk,
masha'Allah. They delighted in it. "reclining there on couches
under canopies." (Surat al-Kahf, 31) They recline on wide chairs or
couches.

Story, - Pls come back i cant live without u

hi!!! friends
this is my story of merely one year. but in this one year i saw my
whole life a beautiful one.
i and my boyfrnd met in my cousion wedding where i first saw him.
slowly we become frnds and after a tenure of two months we were in
relationship. actually i had seen him when i was in 6th standard but
then we aparted coz of our study and career. .
we became so much intimated that even we cant think our life without
each other. he gave me the best feeling of love. i still remember our
first kiss wen he was at my home and we did it near our staircase. he
was like an angel for me who filled my life with all happiness of
heaven. then we decided to get marry. so we approached our family. our
parents were ready but my aunty who was also my boyfrnd aunty didnt
agree with this relation. we begged them a lot but they didnt abd
finally we gave up for the sake of our family happiness. but this
didnt affect our relation. now onwards our emotion and feelings get
stronger day by day and finally we decided to meet one more time to
realise whether we could without one another. and that moment came and
i met him on his place. i spend full 5 days with him. and that five
days was the most beautiful days of my life i ever had. in those five
days we loved each other like we never did. and finally we decided we
would again request our parents for our marriage.
finally i talked to my parents but this time they were too much angry
and they refused our relation completely. they warned me not to call
him again. there was big fuss all around and we were just hopeless. i
was shivering on thought of that he will be no more with me through
all my life. days were gone by and again we started talking with each
other. and every day again and again we fall in love more strongly.
finally a day came wen his parents chose a girl for him. i also told
him to move on in his life. and a day came wen he got engaged. he was
happy with his new relation and me too. but something somewhere i was
lonely. he knew my condition but cant help out. and then i decided
that i will be in no more contact with him. fianlly we talked for the
last time and i wished him gud luck for his new life and request him
to break alk his contact and terms with me. he dint want this but i
gave him our love swear to do this. at last we were in no more contact
but still i m missing him in my life. i knw he cant come back but i
dont knw why still i want him back in my life.
still i love him fron core of my heart. . . . and will love always
till i am in this world. . .

Story, - Sad love story

My story sarted few years ago. It was Christmas holiday and I was
spending it all alone at home. Then I was maybe 14 years old. I know
it sounds funny... Oh that silly kids love. So one evening I got text
message from my friend. We started talking. In short time we became
best friends. It was fun, we talked a lot every single day. I felt so
happy. But I saw him just like friend nothing else. But after few
weeks I told to my best friend that maybe I like him. She started
laughing at me. I felt bad because my best friend told me that I'm
silly. She said "look at him, he is funny, he will always be just
friend forget that". From that moment everything changed. We stopped
talking. I didn't even thought about him anymore. We were just
friends. I never knew how he really felt about me. So time passed.
2012 the year that changed everything. It was September. We both were
part of exchange program. The trip started. We went to Germany. I had
such an amazing time. And there was this guy, my best friend now he's
older we are not little kids anymore. I felt something again. He felt
it too. It was party we walked away from everyone. It was so amazing
finally we were together.
He was holding my hands in his hands. It was start of something
beautiful. It was the last day in Germany, we were going home. The
night we stayed in Prague. All of our friends were having a party in
hotel.
We stayed in his room. I was so tired. But at the same time I was so
happy. Because I was in his arms, I felt his heart beating. That
evening I will remember forever. He kissed me for the first time.
Finally I knew that butterflies in your stomach really exsist. After
exhausting 24 hours in bus we were finally home. Everything was so
wonderful we were happy. Still not a couple, but I knew it was going
to happen. After few weeks in October 9th. My birthday came I was all
shining and happy. But strange thing, he didn't even said happy
birthday. I was little bit dissapointed. In the evening I was spending
time with my family we had my birthday dinner. Suddenly I got text
message from him saying "open the door". I opened the door and guess
what there is a lovely guy standing in rain with roses. I felt so
happy. Sadly he couldn't stay. My birthday was on Tuesday, but I had a
party on Friday with my friends.
We were having a really good time. He was at his friends birthday so I
didn't even thougt about seeing him that evening. Well my friends were
pretty funny. They took my phone and asked him to come. And afcourse
he did. That was amazing. And the best part was his gift, his
unplanned gift. He asked me to be his girlfriend. Oh God that was
amazing! But there was a little secret that no one knew about me. The
secret that always made me run from guys and made me to build a wall
that Would save me from falling in love. But he just broke that wall
and came into my life. I tried to stay with him but it was too hard
for me even that I loved him didn't helped. After a week I told him
that I can't do that. I knew I have to make something that he would
forget about me. And that I could forget him. So that's what I did, I
kissed with other guy in party and he saw that. I know his heart was
broken. Mine was broken too.
I loved him so much, but I hade to make him forget about me. So
everything happend how I planned we got into arguments... It was so
bad I couldn't handle it. I cried so much. But in few weeks I
convinced myself that I hate him. Everything seemed to be normal
again. We didn't talked at all. So Cristmas holidays was few days away
from here! I felt happy. We were sitting in cafè with my friends and
suddenly they started to talk about him. Something inside me just
blown up. I started crying. In the middle of cafè... I felt everything
again. It was so painful. I couldn't handle. After few weeks I finnaly
decided I have to tell him how I fell. We talked again I was happy
because he said " everythings fine I forgive you". I asked maybe we
could start again. He said yes. He said that he feels happy too. But I
didn't said nothing about my secret that was killing me. And suddenly
something strange happend. He said "oh I don't know if I want to start
everything again".
That evening when he told me that we were standing in the rain I was
crying. And you know what he told me that everythings will be fine, he
touched my face to make sure that there's no mote tears. He run trough
my hair with his fingers and huged me and that moment he said
"everythings gonna be alrigt". I was too emotional to tell him how I
felt. So I came home crying and wrote him letter. Even though I knew
he changed he wasn't that same guy I loved. I wrote everything, every
emotion was on that paper. I gave it to him. He didn't said nothing.
Just "it's really emotional. I know it's hard". I just felt so sad it
was killing me. After that we still talked. One evening I got a panic
attack because of my secret...
I thought that I will kill myself. But something in my mind said tell
him, tell him your secret. So I did. I told everything. My secret made
even him cry. I was sexualy abused when I was little girl. That's why
I always run. He invuted me to talk to him ne t day. I cried. I dont
know why but he started to talk about us. He had questions why. I had
same questions too. He said maybe someday everything will change.
After that we talked maybe few times. It seems that he forgot that I
exsit. Once he said he will be there forever. But that was a lie. He
was that simple guy that I loved with all my heart. But now he has a
lot of girls around him, that's why he said he doesn't want to be with
me anymore. I think about him every single day. Our friends say that
he was better person when he was with me, but what can I do? I hear
all the time that we are soulmates and that I'm love of his life from
his best friend, but that seems far far away from reality. And after
all I still believe that one day the guy that I love with all my heart
will comeback, will be the same guy who loved me an told me that he
never leave.

Fathwa, - Her husband does not pray in the Masjid all the time

Question
Assalamu Alaicom! I would like to know the ruling on a man who is not
always praying at the masjid. My husband works at a very far place, he
is taking the bus for his transport, at this heat, he would arrive at
home very tired. Sometimes, he had to wait more or less 30 mins
everytime for the bus from home going to the terminal then another
waiting time from the terminal to his workplace, same pattern after
work. His work finishes at 3pm but he arrived mostly at 5pm. For that
reason, he wud easily fell asleep after eating and praying asr, I need
to wake him up for Maghrib but sometimes he can't make it in the
Masjid because he's saying dat he is tired and can't make it there,
after he prayed Maghrib he would again sleep and some times pray at
the masjid for Eisha, some times not and would pray Eisha very late in
the evening, he'd say dat he feels very weak and tired. During salatul
Fajr, most often, he still can't make it in the Masjid. In this
situation, I am very disappointed, is his situation a valid reason for
not praying in the Masjid? tired and weak from work? This is always
the subject of my nagging. I hate his attitude. I would love him more
and really want him to be always praying at the Masjid no matter what
because I believe it is wajib for every man, he also knows the
importance. What should I do to make him love it and make it a top
priority? We are currently experiencing a very hard financial dilemma,
the company is giving them their salary very late, every after 3
months, we would only get 1 month, not enough to pay for the house
rent and the expenses, our debts are left and right. I am not
complaining on this matter because I know that this is a matter of
test, I praise Allah for everything but sometimes, I can't help but to
think that maybe we're failing in doing ibadah that's why our
sustenance is getting short. As I have read in some other Islamic
articles that, provisions will be less to those who are low in doing
ibadah/good deeds..
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.
We thank our dear sister for her keenness to make her husband offer
prayer in the mosque in congregation; however, she should not fight or
quarrel with him. There is absolutely no doubt that offering prayer in
congregation in the mosque is one of the best acts of worship.
Whenever a Muslim man is able to maintain praying in congregation in
the mosque, it is more appropriate for that entails a great reward.
However, if he experiences difficulty and exhaustion, then there is no
blame on him to offer it at home, especially if he is able to offer it
in congregation along with his family. Although some scholars view
that the congregational prayer in the mosque is obligatory, the
majority of the scholars are of the view that it is not. Also, many of
those who view that it is obligatory do not view that it is obligatory
to perform it in the mosque, rather they believe that the obligation
is fulfilled by offering it in congregation in any place.
Ibn Qudaamahsaid in Al-Mughni:"It is permissible to offer it - i.e.
the congregational prayer - at home and in the desert. It was also
said in another narration )from Imaam Ahmad( that attending prayer in
the mosque is obligatory if someone is close to the mosque because it
was narrated that the Prophet, said: "There is no prayer for a
neighbour of the mosque except in the mosque. However, what supports
our view is the saying of the Prophet: "I have been given five things
which were not given to any amongst the Prophets before me: The earth
has been made for me )and for my followers( a place for praying and
for performing Tayammum )dry ablution(; therefore my followers can
pray wherever the time of a prayer is due." ]Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[.
'Aa'ishahalso said: "The Prophet, prayed at home when he was sick. He
prayed sitting down and some people prayed behind him standing up, so
he gestured to them to sit down." ]Al-Bukhaari[. Also, the Prophet,
said to two men: "If you have already prayed at your resting places
and then came to a mosque with congregation, pray with them too and it
will be a supererogatory prayer for you."]End quote[
Again, the scholars who are of the view that offering congregation in
the mosque is obligatory )upon men( allowed that one may not attend it
in the mosque for some excuses. In fact, we do not mention this as a
form of taking matters lightly; rather, it is to clarify that the
matter is easy. So, if one is exhausted and finds difficulty to go to
the mosque, then there is no blame on him, Allaah Willing, to pray at
home although it is more appropriate to go to the mosque as we have
stated previously. In any case, it is not permissible for one to delay
prayers beyond the time when they are due.
On the other hand, there is absolutely no doubt that a person may be
deprived of provision because of sins that he commits.Thawbaannarrated
that the Messenger of Allaah, said: "A person may be deprived of
provision because of a sin that he commits." ]Ahmad[
However, we hope that you have an excuse because of the difficulty
from which your husband suffers and thus do not worry. For more
benefit, kindly refer to Fatwa 17133about the causes of being deprived
of provision.
Allaah Knows best.

Fathwa, - There is no harm in carrying the name 'Baasit'

Question
Assalamo alikum Brother, My name is Basit Minhas and i am from
Pakistan.Unfortunately my parents named me Basit Minhas without using
Abdul.Now i am named Basit minhas on all my official Documents and all
my family members and friends call me Basit without saying
Abdul.Kindly tell me is there any sin or not because i heard that some
names of Allah can be used without using Abdul. Is "Basit" one of
those.Because if have to change my name officially it will be a lot of
work to change on all my documents and people know me by Basit.And
will I be questioned on day of judgement if i say people to call me
Abdul basit but still they call me Basit.Kindly reply me brother
anxiously waiting for your reply. jazakallah.
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.
There is nothing wrong with having the name ofBaasit. That is because
it is permissible to have one of the names that are common between
Allaah and His creation. This is proved by the approval of the
Prophet, of some of the names of the Companions that are used for
Allaah such as'AliandHakeem. Also,Baasitcan be added to them.
It was stated in Ad-Durr Al-Mukhtaar byAl-Haskafi: "It is permissible
to have the names 'Ali and Rasheed, which are common )between Allaah
The Almighty and people(. That is because their meanings concerning us
)human beings( are different from their meanings concerning Allaah The
Almighty." ]End quote[
Allaah Knows best.

Fathwa, - Expiation for missed fasting may be delayed until one is able to offer it

Question
I have 375 missed fasts as for today...I have to give Fidya of 3500kg
of rice. As I am not able to make up 375 in a year..what is the best I
can do right now? Even if I do give 3500kg this year, next year I will
have to give Fidya again for 375days.. and the year after but I do not
wish to tax my husband each year and I have no personal income.
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 have missed fasts, then you have to make them up, whether they
are few or many. You are not obliged to make them up in order; rather,
it is permissible to divide them according to your ability.
We wish that the sister who asked the question could have mentioned to
us more details about her missed fasts and the reason behind delaying
making them up so that we may know whether expiation is obligatory on
her or not. Anyway, if she has to offer expiation, then the expiation
is obligatory on her wealth not the wealth of her husband. However,
her husband may offer expiation on her behalf with her permission.
As for expiation, it is to feed one poor person the amount of one Mudd
)of staple food( for each day. So, if she missed fasting 375 days,
then she has to offer 375 Mudds. A Mudd is equal to the amount of two
handfuls scooped up by someone with hands of average size, equaling
750 grams approximately, i.e. it is less than one kilogram.
Accordingly, what the questioner mentioned that she is obligated to
offer 3500 kilograms is incorrect; rather, it is just 281 kilograms.
According to most scholars, expiation does not multiply when the
fasting is delayed for many months of Ramadhaan.Ibn
MuflihAl-Hanbalisaid in Al-Mubdi'i: "If several Ramadhaans pass, then
one is not obliged to offer more than one ransom because repeated
delay does not increase the obligation, like if someone delayed the
obligatory Hajj for years, he would not be obliged to perform it more
than once." ]End quote[
The opinion we adopt here in Islamweb is that expiation does not
multiply )with the multiplication of the years(. For more benefit,
kindly refer to Fataawa 83400and 101245.
On the other hand, if she does not have what she offers expiation
with, then ransom will remain obligatory on her and whenever she finds
what she can offer as a ransom, she may offer it. But, she will not be
sinful if she delayed the ransom because she is not able to offer it.
Allaah The Almighty says )what means(:
• }Allaah does not charge a soul except ]with that within[ its
capacity.{]Quran 2:286[
• }So fear Allaah as much as you are able.{]Quran 64:16[
Al-Buhootisaid in Kashshaaf Al-Qinaa': "Feeding that is obligatory
upon the one who delayed making up missed days of Ramadhaan until
another Ramadhaan came is not waived." ]End quote[
Allaah Knows best.